X

"You awake?" Vessa questioned, nudging the girl cuddled with her husband and child. It was a lovely sight, a shame to disturb really. But her mistress had responsibilities to others.

"Mmmm, g'way Vessa." Hiccup commanded with half-hearted wave.

"Come on, someone wants to see you." Vessa insisted, giving her a small shake.

"Who needs to see me right now?"

"Someone very impatient."

"Enough with the cloak and dagger, who? If it's not important I'm going back to sleep." In response Vessa snatched up Orvar. That got Hiccup's attention, although bleary.

"Hey!" She sleepily reached out for her son which Vessa held just out of reach.

"Got your attention, didn't I?" Her handmaid said with a smirk, moving back more causing her sleepy mistress to reach further, and nearly fall out of the bed.

"What in the name of the gods is so important?" Hiccup groused, leaving on her forearms, glaring at her handmaid from beneath her messy bangs.

"I know you just had a baby and killed an enemy chief and all, but you seem you have forgotten about someone important." Vessa told her, putting her free hand on her hip.

"Who Vessa?" Hiccup groaned, a small sound echoed into the room. A small warbling purr. Hiccup's eyes snapped open and she jolted up.

"Toothless!" At the sound of his name, the beast gallivanted into the room, stopping short of the bed like an excited puppy. Hiccup ignored the shooting pain of movement and grappled at the beast's muzzle, who warbled in response. Dagur groaned at the noise, trying his best to ignore the ruckus.

"Buddy, I'm so glad you're okay!" Toothless chirped in response then stiffened. He drew back and nosed at Hiccup's belly, questioning with a curious noise. Hiccup smiled and turned his head to see Vessa and the little boy in her arms. Toothless garbled oddly with his tongue hanging out, bounding to Vessa leaning his front down like a playful dog. He looked to Hiccup as if to ask permission and Hiccup nodded. The night fury drew up and sniffed the infant, cocking his head then warbling happily, going as far as to lick the newborn's face. Orvar, didn't cry as Vessa expected but rather cooed at him, reaching to grasp at his frills. Hiccup laughed loudly, causing Dagur to toss a pillow at her head.

"Be quiet!" He barked before burrowing under the furs. Hiccup chuckled and motioned for Vessa to leave and Toothless to quiet down. The dragon settled at the side of the bed, content as can be, purring softly. Vessa nodded and left the room, cradling Orvar in his swaddling.

X

The Berkians had been given some rooms in one of the wings of the former Chieftain's home. They had been treated like royalty since their release. They had been given copious food and drink but had yet to see Hiccup. Resting the berserkers said, recovering, no condition to see anyone but immediate family. Gobber had been consistent in asking every day to see her. But no luck. Astrid had to admit she was curious as well. Fishlegs seemed ultimately relieved to have been released, the twins had hardly left the side of the other, Snotlout was quiet and pensive. They had been there for three days before Vessa came back for them. By the then the lot of them had been fairly stir crazy. She had approached in her brusque manner, minus the infant.

"Mistress is feeling well enough to see you now." Gobber immediately stood and went. The twins, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Snotlout stayed behind. They had the decency to glance at the Roman with tired eyes, but she ignored their presence entirely.

Gobber entered the room with bedridden goddaughter, humming to a little bundle in her arms on her lap. Dagur was conked out, probably given something to make the stubborn boy sleep to accelerate his healing.

"Gobber!" She exclaimed at seeing him. Gobber took a seat in the chair at her bedside and marveled at her. It was an amazing sight. He had basically raised little girl with her father. He had been with Stoick in the waiting room when she was born. He has reassured his friend that the tiny, sickly baby would live. He was there when the infant girl lost her mother to dragons. He was there for every first, her steps, words, missing teeth and smithing accomplishments. He had seen it all. He had watched her walk to her groom and worried endlessly. Gobber had told the girl she would find a way it make it work, he didn't believe himself but he needed her to do so.

And she did. The little girl who everyone thought wouldn't last a moon's turn from her birth had grown into a hero. It was strange to see, to see this girl grown into a woman of great power and worth. Stoick even had hesitated to give her to Dagur, knowing the boy's reputation to some extent. But she would be a chief's wife, she would be away from him and would grow strong in her husband's household. He had prayed that greater responsibility was all that would be needed for her to grow into the woman he'd always hoped she'd be. Gobber knew well, how he hoped Hiccup would share her parent's trouble in childbearing. He prayed that she would be fully grown before conceiving her first. But here they were. She had a son, who could technically compete with Snotlout's claim.

Snotlout was a capable boy, he was nothing compared to Astrid, but in some respects, men could never compete with women, and vice versa. Snotlout was a fine, strong lad, bit foolish in heart, spoiled by his high birth, and corrupted by his father's prideful ways. He was the son of the previous chief's bastard daughter and was the closest male relative by proxy. While men and women where considered mostly equal they couldn't escape the fact that Hiccup was a hiccup, and Snotlout was strong. Stoick was a good and wise ruler, as boys he had more than a little crush on him. Snotlout though, was no ruler, no wise bastion of thoughtfulness. That was meant to be Hiccup. And while he was glad that Hiccup found happiness with her husband. He couldn't help but think Berk would have benefited from her ruling at Snotlout's side. No argument at this point. What fewer singers they had, sang tales of her triumphs as well as her beauty.

Now Gobber was not interested in women per say but he could realize that Hiccup and her mother were no beauties. Childbirth had improved their figures aesthetically, but at the end of the day, their beauty appealed more to Romans than their home tribes. But here, he couldn't help but think her beautiful. In his humble opinion there was something beautiful, about a mother holding her healthy child, especially if she were smiling. Her smile to the infant boy was something to warm the harshest of hearts. The proud smile of the girl he thought of as a daughter, was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He sat beside her, looking to the infant in her arms. The child had fair hair and grey eyes, not uncommon for newborns, and had Hiccup's nose and ears, that was sure. The infant starred at his godfather, god-grandfather? Hiccup just smiled.

"My son." She said simply, the first words she had spoken to him since the birth of her son.

"A fine child, boy to boot."

"Boy, girl, Dagur doesn't care. He'd proud of our child, regardless of gender."

"Ah would 'ope so, no other man would be worthy of ya." Hiccup smile wider at his response.

"He is a good man, when you see what he did to protect me, you will love him too."

"Ah doubt I'll ever love that boy. But 'e makes ya happy, as long as 'e does that, that's all I care 'bout."

"We've named him."

"Really, whatcha gonna call him.?"

"Orvar, keep it quiet though, speaking a name before a month is bad luck."

"Gods, yer mother's daughter, even if yer name were known she forbid anyone sayin' it."

"I wouldn't know, Dad barely talked about Mom growing up. She was a vague ideal to follow. I love her in some abstract sense I suppose but I never knew her."

"She would be proud of ya. That much I'm, sure. Seeing her runt grow into a good woman, and one who loves 'er husband an' child, aye, it would make her proud." Hiccup's face melted into a warm mile, unlike what Stoick had seen before.

"I hope so, Father loved her a lot, I can't help but value her opinion."

"Oh child, she loved ya from birth, she an' yer dad, no one ever thought ya would live, an' ya did, she knew ya would only after yer Da said as much. He'll be proud when he learns of his grandkid." Hiccup smiled again, hugging the baby.

"Would you like to hold him?"

"O' course." She handed Gobber the tiny baby. The infant was quiet, looking up at him with big infantile grey eyes, trying to know what to make of him. The child calmed quickly, due to his mother's presence.

"Aye, he will be a good leader to 'em Berserkers!" Hiccup laughed, it was strangely genuine laugh.

"It's too early to know if his disposition will match his father's." He knew well what the girl was saying.
I don't know if he'll inherit his father's madness. Hiccup was not shy about that, she knew her husband was less than sane she was no fool, or willing to ignore facts such as that. If the boy came out to be mad in later years, she would be sure to steer him.

"True, it's hard ta know so early." Hiccup smiled again, it was progressive of him to keep an open mind for her children. Gobber knew that Stoick had a strong opinion about the father anyway, but keeping an open mind was something well accepted by his goddaughter. It often made him wonder why he was so eager to marry his daughter outside the tribe, insuring a way to keep his own line established, which Stoick did put stock in. Gobber loved his friend, not in the romantic way, well maybe a little, but it still shocked him to see his friend was so eager to dispose of his only child by the woman he loved to a boy who was known for his poor and barbaric behavior.

"From what little ah know of Dagur. He's proud of ya."

"He is. He loves me, dearly."

'O dun doubt it, yer a special girl, Hiccup, ya wouln' be a respected Chief's wife withou' it."

"Ah hope he grows to be liken ya."

"Well there's a thought."

"He'll be strong, ah, think, the way ye are."

"Hiccup?" The handmaid froze, seeing him as if she knew how much she had forgotten herself. It didn't surprise Gobber. He knew the two were close. And he knew what the girl used to be. Granted the girl knew little of him and clearly knew better than to trust a stranger she only knew through reputation, even that of her mistress.

"What is it Vessa."

"You'll be addressing the tribe soon. We need to be sure you look appropriate."

Vessa led her mistress into a storeroom of sorts. There were chests piled with fine clothing, furs and jewelry. Hiccup allowed Vessa to help her strip down and replace her ragged wool nightgown with a silk green hangerok with a white linen under gown. Vessa braided her hair in a style more Roman than Norse but it would do, especially with all the gold pins shaped like dragons holding them in place. She picked up a shawl made of mink fur and draped it over her arms. Vessa helped her fasten the brooches of her gown, also made to look like dragons. With jewels, heavy earrings, she felt a bit like child in her mother's garments, but Vessa said it made her look like a conqueror. The look was finished with berry juice of her lips, rimming her eyes with kohl and few well-placed pinches to her cheeks. Vessa took one last look and patted her cheek with a satisfied expression.

"Go knock em' dead."

X

Hiccup was sitting in what was once Alvin's chair. She thought it a laughable sight, a hiccup, through a grown woman, sitting in the chair of a former chief, dripping in his wealth. She didn't understand that the sight was powerful. Every man and woman in that room knew what she had done to capture that seat. The idea of warrior women was not unusual but a woman still weak from childbirth killing a man easily three times her size and how the girl just sat there with a steely gaze made her all the more intimidating. This was a bride of a madman, who tamed dragons and men alike. With her conquest of luxuries piled on her small frame, she looked every inch a conqueror. Her dragon, the most feared of species curled around her chair like a large dog or cat. But his nature reared whenever someone he didn't like got too close. The dragon showed his teeth to all, even making a show to gather gas in his maw until Hiccup swatted him for it. Toothless was her partner and she hated to do it, but these men needed to know what kind of power she had, not how compassionate she could be. She would apologize later and spoil Toothless when they got home.

The remaining tribesmen of the outcasts assembled before her, looking up into her unyielding gaze, keeping a sharp eye for any suspicious action. Her eyes seemed to mimic the eyes of the beast at her heels. At her right stood the intimidating form of Herald, hand on his axe to her left was the roman girl, dressed opulently, but less so than her mistress. In the roman's arms was the swaddled form the infamous newborn that had been the root of all this trouble. Her husband was noticeably absent but after the beating he'd been given it was probably for the best that he remained out of sight. She starred down the murmuring men, cleared her throat and spoke.

"Men of the Outcast tribe, I haven't assembled you here to kill you. I have brought you here to talk." The murmuring stopped.

"For nearly twenty years you have followed Alvin, and for twenty years it has brought you nothing. You live in squalor and struggle to survive on this barren rock." She let a heavy pause sit over the crowd.

"But I am your chief now." She declared, putting hand to her chest, covered in looted finery the tribe had stolen from others over the years.

"Alvin was traitor who promised riches and couldn't deliver. He led his loyal men to ruin and death. He brought you all here. Alvin was weak, even with an army of men he couldn't even manage to get a young, crippled girl in the throes of childbirth to bend to his will. Instead he died at my hand, with my newborn in my arms. I have no claim to brute strength, but my mind is as sharp as any axe. I tamed a dragon, I tamed my husband, and I have slayed Alvin."

"I have no intention to punish you all for your treachery. Your twenty years of exile has been punishment enough. However, I have won this island and I can choose who stays and who goes. Now today you will have to make a decision." Much to everyone's surprise, she stood. It was weak and a touch wobbly when she rose, bracing herself on Alvin's chair. Her makeshift prosthetic did its job and supported her. It hurt, it ached, her body was screaming to sit down, but the awe in the faces of the men every discomfort worth it.

"Fight for me, swear loyalty to me and I will make every effort to see you return to your true home on Berk if you so wish it. I am the daughter of Stoick. I have borne an heir to Berk, my word holds weight there. Many of you will be able to see your families again, for the first time in years and return home as kin instead of enemy."

"However, I am no tyrant. I will not try to force loyalty. If you don't want to follow me, fine, then leave this place and don't return. The choice is yours, but if you choose to stay but not swear loyalty to me…." She trailed off and made a small gesture with her left hand, Toothless roared, spitting flamed into the air, causing all to recoil.

"I don't think I need to finish that thought. You have a day to make your choice, dismissed." She waved her hand the men dispersed. When the last of them left through the large doors she collapsed back into her chair.

"Ugh." She grumbled, hand to her face.

"Good work, I think they're all scared to Hel of you." Vessa chuckled

"That was the idea."

"Aw was someone scared little miss adorable wouldn't be able to pull off scary."

"I can be scary."

"Thus was a one off, you're about as scary as a baby rabbit."

"I am the daughter of Stoick the Vast, I can be scary."

"But you're not Stoick the Vast and you don't even have the energy to stand up right now."

"Just shut up and help me."

"Oh, not sure about that, I got this huge weight attached to my chest!' Vessa crowed dramatically.

"Gods…." Hiccup groused.

"I mean, how did you even pushed the little guy out?!" She continued, bouncing the baby.

"Vessa, stop."

"Oh the humanity!" Vessa cried, bending backwards, putting a hand to her brow in mock distress, but being sure to secure the 'Little Prince'.

"Oh my gods…."

"I'll help you back to yer room, Mistress." Harold offering helping her to her feet. Hiccup accepted his help with a smile.

"Uncle, just call me Hiccup."

"As you say." He nodded supporting her on his massive arm.

"Uncle? When did this happen. You little flirt, getting cozy with the in-laws!" Vessa squealed girlishly behind the Cheiftess and her uncle by marriage. Hiccup looked over her should with an exasperated glare.

"Vessa, it's, ugh, just don't stay that in front of Dagur." Hiccup finally told her, defeated.

"Of course I would never." Vessa proclaimed, putting on her big doe eyes, hand to her cheek.

"We both know you would." Hiccup replied, unconvinced. Vessa's innocent expression melted away with a flirty grin.

"Guilty."

X

"Are you sure you'll be okay here?" Astrid asked quietly looking at her once kinsman. Hiccup was dressed normally again, her hair properly braided and tied, her newborn on her lap and the hel-beast curled around her chair keeping a wary eye on them all.

"Oh I'll be fiiinee, the shaman herself said I should be ready for travel in a day or two, Dagur too! We'll be home before long. Bedsides, this way my dad will know about his grandson sooner and make preparation to be there for his naming ceremony." Hiccup waved off their concerns cheerfully, on a high from all her recent success.

"Besides, I bet everyone's worried about you, dad probably heard about my capture by now and I want him to know about the baby before he gets too freaked out."

"What d'ya want us to say 'bout Alvin?" Hiccup's eyes glazed over in an odd way, her glee vanishing and a sort of reserved tranquility in its place.

"It's done, tell him whatever you feel he needs to hear." She said softly, curling her arms around the baby.

"Are you okay?" Ruffnut questioned, watching her strange expression warily.

"I don't like killing people." The stiffness in her tone was an immediate warning to end the conversation in its tracks. Toothless picked up his head and starred them all down.

"But-" Tuffnut tried to speak but Hiccup cut him off.

"I don't like killing people." Then the conversation was over. They watched in shock as the dragon crooned and nuzzled her cheek, Hiccup nuzzled back and crooned in response. Then she turned back to them and gave a weak sort of smile.

"But anyway, be sure Dad knows he's got Mom's eyes, like me."

"Of course lass, he'll be happy to hear it, and even more so ta see it." Hiccup strained her grin.

"I'm sorry I can't see you guys off, if I'm getting outta here soon, I need to rest. I've already pushed it with my little demonstration. I'll be fine." Her kin smiled back, albeit weakly, and left the room, escorted to the dock. Hiccup watched from her window, her attention drawn back at the movement in her arms.

"Hey there, did you like your mom's kinsmen? They're a little rough but you'll find everyone in these parts is. Your dad's are far worse after all. If you live, and I know you will, you'll be their chief, they'll love and respect you as they do for me. Soon you'll get to meet them all, you'll meet your aunt and uncle, your cousins and your grandpa. Your grandpa is a great guy, a little rough around the edges, but he's gonna spoil you rotten. You're going to grow up loved, little one. I promise." Hiccup kissed the baby's brow and look out the window and out to the sea.

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Princess: Ugh, it had been a hard heavy year full of bad luck and disappointments. But enough with self-pity. This chapter was genuinely hard to write. I have several points planned out but sometimes going from point a to b is a hassle. I've already written the rough for the next chapter and half, writing is weird like that. So Hiccup is healthy and well and becomes chief of the Outcast tribe. Though Berserker men will be ruling as her proxy. And now everyone in the archipelagos will be either terrified, impressed or both. So next chapter, Stoick meets his grandson and has a talk with Dagur. This is gonna be fun. I'll be writing more for Hiccup's peers when we get to the Race to the Edge, because with each episode I fall more in love with the twins.

Points to whoever can figure out whichever section I wrote when I was very drunk.

Reviews:

MMM: Well he will know.

: whoops, thanks for catching that

Biku-sensei-sez-meow: Thanks, I hope the script thing is a

Guest: That actually how I originally planned it. He would die in the Alvin confrontation, hiccup would kill Alvin and would become acting Chief of two tribes overnight, becoming a much harder version than her canon counterpart. She raises her son to be tough and strikes fear in the hearts of those who were one cruel to her.

Crazy7634: I'm glad it exceeded expectations, I've read plenty of gender bend and I try to avoid many of the tropes, like gender bend character is prettiest thing ever, helpless and girly etc.

MySweetYoai49: As I would kill them before they die canonically.