Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm back! Also, please understand that I'm in University right now and the main thing on my mind is maintaining a high GPA. Updates might be a while now for each chapter but I assure you I will try my best.
Now ... on with the chapter.
000
"What?!" Spitelout's voice echoed through the Jorgenson home. He had just spent the last two hours sailing back to shore while watching the former runt and his future daughter-in-law tow the damaged ships back to Berk's port, and even had to be the one towed when Hiccup offered to pull Stoick's Ship back to port. If he had been in command of the vessel, he'd rather have it sun than towed by a dragon. But since his brother-in-law was there, Stoick graciously accepted the offer and before he knew it, the ship was back home, and Hiccup and Astrid flying off into the village. He had wanted the day to end so badly; just to head home and retire in front of the fire for a well earned rest. But no. His son had to tell him that Astrid and Hiccup were in bed together.
"You mean to tell me that she is impure?!"
"That I don't know, dad. I really don't know!" said his son. Spitelout let his face fall in his hands. This had to be the worst day in his life.
"I can't believe this" he muttered. Snotlout was standing in the centre, in front of the hearth and in front of his mother and father. His mother also had an exasperated look. She was looking forward to a marriage between her son and the Hofferson girl. But if she was impure, that would bring shame on her family, and theirs also if he married her. "And you didn't know this even when they came back?!"
"How am I supposed to know what happened when Astrid went in search for him? I don't think she's told anyone about her and Hiccup. I mean, why would she? She'd be attracting attention to herself" Snotlout reasoned.
"Then why didn't you tell the Elders or even her father when you found out about them ... that they were about to have sex? In his own house?" asked Spitelout.
"I couldn't do it!"
"Why couldn't you, Snotlout?" his mother asked.
"Because Hiccup made a threat of his own when I confronted him about it."
"Are you, my son, actually taking a threat seriously ... from a Hiccup?" Spitelout asked, propping his chin on his knuckles.
"You would too if he threatened your image. I mean, come on, dad?" Snotlout asked, in disbelief that his father wouldn't know it. "What would people think if they found out Hiccup and Astrid are in an affair when her hand is promised to me? What would other tribes and their Chiefs think when they find out I lost a woman like her to Hiccup? My name ... our name would be humiliated!" he explained. "And before you say anything, Hiccup told me this and don't for one second say it's shit because you know very well that it is a likely outcome if this were to get out" he said.
He was right. Hiccup had made a smart threat. The Jorgensons prided themselves on their image, name and legacy. And having a legacy of a Hiccup stealing the heart of the most desired girl in Berk ... maybe even the whole Archipelagos ... will tarnish their line forever. They couldn't afford this information getting into the streets of Berk.
"I'll have a talk with Stoick and the Elder Counsel. You, Hiccup, Astrid and her father will also be there" said Spitelout, standing up and heading for the door.
"Wait, you're going to call him now?" Magnhild asked, Snotlout's mother.
"Might as well. About an hour or so until midnight ... and I very well know that the Elders don't retire until midnight. Stoick wouldn't be asleep as of yet and neither would Arnbjorn. You have to come with me, Snotlout" he said, opening the door. Snotlout followed his father without question and shut the door behind them.
"So we're doing this in the middle of the night to keep it a secret from everyone else right?"
"Yes son" replied Spitelout.
"But how do you think Uncle Stoick will react?"
"Oh, I'm sure he knew about this affair" Spitelout said in a low voice.
"How would you know that?"
"Because a Chief knows everything that goes on in his village."
000
Stoick had made for his house the moment he came back. He had to think of what to do the moment Spitelout knocked or burst through his door. He knew Snotlout would tell him the moment he returned. He just had to prepare. But what could he think of? Spitelout was no fool. He would be able to see right through his eyes that he himself knew about the secret relationship and never reported it. If Spitelout brought that up in front of the Counsel, which he most surely would, and if he's not able to convince them that his brother-in-law is lying ... the most severe consequence is banishment for conspiracy against the Heir of the tribe.
On the humourous side, he couldn't let go of the irony in that instant. He just had to stay calm and cool. That was his best bet. He had to act surprised, he had to act angry and he'd have to march up to the prison to speak to Hiccup about the consequences. But at the same time, he couldn't banish his son again ... after just finding him and having a decent shot at making up for his past mistakes. He just couldn't let this go.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Here we go" Stoick muttered, getting up from his chair in front of the hearth and proceeding to quell the loud bangs of Spitelout's fist on his door.
"Come on, Stoick! Open up!" he yelled.
"What is the matter, Spitelout?" he asked, with a tired face as he opened the door. He wasn't faking tired the part. All the stress of making sure his people got back safe and the problems Hiccup and Astrid were getting themselves into were really adding into his years.
"Your son is the problem as always" his second-in-command said as he made his way into the Chief's house.
"Please don't wait for me to ask you to come in" Stoick muttered as he closed the door.
"This is serious, Stoick!"
"Okay, Spitelout ... now tell me, what did my son do this time?"
"Slept with my future daughter-in-law. That's what!" Stoick did his best to look surprised. His surprised expression was his body and face going stiff, and his eyes hardening their glare.
"What?" he asked, sitting down at the table opposite of Spitelout.
"You heard me. That boy slept with Astrid and he has to pay!" Spitelout banged his fist on the table.
"And by slept, do you mean they consummated?" asked Stoick.
"I'm sure as Hel they did."
"Do you have proof of this accusation?" the Chief asked.
"Why not go and ask the two lovebirds? Might as well hear their lies" Spitelout sneered, getting up from the table and walking to the door. However, he stopped his march and turned to look at Stoick. "Did you know about them?" he asked, gaze not hard, but not light either.
"Ar' you really asking me ... the Chief ... whether I knew about Hiccup and Astrid?"
"Well, considering how I've noticed how attached you're becoming to him, I've made an assumption that you want to take him back as your son" he said.
"You're right. I do want to take 'im back as my son ... but as of still he's a branded traitor to Berk. Therefore, if what you say is true, that Hiccup has consummated the Hofferson girl ... I will carry out the just penalty" Stoick said with an emotionless voice. He had to make Spitelout buy it.
"Very well. You can go and retrieve your boy while I go call Arnbjorn, Ingrid and their daughter. Snotlout has already made his way to the Great Hall where the I expect the Elders are waiting patiently for us" Spitelout said with a small smile before closing the door. Stoick let out another sigh. It wasn't easy lying to the face of your second in command when he was staring you down. But that was another skill that came with his years of experience as Chief - the skill to build up appearances and convey the wrong emotions. But now, he had to make way for sadness and despair at the thought of interrogating Hiccup in front of the Elder Counsel ... and there was no way he could go easy on him.
He got up from his seat and walked out, already with the prison in sight.
"Chief!" a man called. He looked down the steps leading to his house and saw two men walking to him. "Spitelout has assigned us to help you escort the prisoner to the Hall" one of them said.
'This is just perfect' Stoick thought. Now there was no chance he could tell Hiccup what was going on. He couldn't be seen acting kindly with him either. His men would surely spread the rumours. It's not that his men didn't respect him, they were soldiers who were under Spitelout's command. So it was their rightful duty to report to him if something out of the ordinary transpired between Hiccup and Stoick.
"Very well. Follow me" he said, leading the men to the prison.
000
"So what's going to happen?" asked Toothless. Hiccup was sitting on his bed in his cell, observing his fingers to pass the time. He had flown back there after saying goodnight to Astrid to keep people from getting suspicious. And he wasn't allowed to sleep anywhere else other than the prison.
"My dad said he'll tell me what the plan is. But I suspect that, and this is from knowing Snotlout and my uncle, that they would have confronted him about this and he's most likely on his way" said Hiccup. He was already hitching up a plan in his mind. He had even prepared on how to react based on how his father spoke to him. It always paid to be prepared for different situations.
"I hear people coming" Toothless said, pulling away from the window and walking to the front. He saw Hiccup's father and two other men behind him coming to the prison. "Your father's coming with two men and he doesn't look happy" he warned.
"Oh boy" Hiccup muttered, rubbing his face. He knew his father would have to act angry to keep others from getting suspicious.
Stoick saw Toothless looking at them as they approached the building. "Don't worry. We'll be returning him shortly" Stoick said as he walked inside while the two men stayed at the entrance.
"Get up. Spitelout has called for a trial. He has accused you of sleeping with Astrid" Stoick said in a professional tone.
"What!?" Hiccup asked. He didn't need to act. He was truly surprised that Spitelout accused him of such an action.
"Please turn around. This is normal procedure" said the Chief. He pulled out some chains he kept at his belt and opened the cell gate.
"Are you serious? I'm going to be brought in chains there again?"
"I can't be shown favouring you ... at least not yet" he said in a hushed tone, checking behind him to make sure the men didn't hear him. Hiccup sighed, and with reluctance, turned his back towards his father and brought his hands behind his back. Stoick moved quickly. He tied the chains in a tight knot, making sure Hiccup wouldn't be able to escape them.
"I'm not going to escape if that's what you're worried about" Hiccup said in an annoyed tone.
"I'm sorry son. But I have to" his father said as he led him out. The men moved aside to let Hiccup and the Chief pass and followed them, Stoick keeping his hand on Hiccup's back, leading him to the Hall. Toothless followed them as well, making sure to keep his distance. He didn't want Hiccup getting hurt if he made a wrong move. The walk to the Hall was made in silence. Both father and son were thinking about how to act when they would be asked questions. Hiccup was preparing more so than his father. He also had to make it look like his dad knew nothing about him and Astrid.
When they opened the doors of the Hall, Hiccup was surprised to see Arnbjorn and Astrid sitting at a table in front of the Elder Counsel. He also saw Spitelout and Snotlout sitting across from them, both staring daggers at Hiccup. And last but not least, he saw the Elder Counsel sitting at the head table, facing them. The Elder Gothi was among them today, staring sympathetically at Hiccup.
"I'm sure you know why you are called down here, Hiccup" Thurmond said. He was seated in the centre seat of the five Elders.
"The Chief did say I was accused of sleeping with Astrid Hofferson" he said. He saw the expression on Astrid's face. She had not been told what this was about but she expected it had to do with them - but not on the level of sleeping with each other.
"That's what this is about?" she burst out, looking from Hiccup to Snotlout to the Elders.
"Miss Hofferson, you will get your chance to speak once it is your turn" Vern said. Astrid looked at her father and saw him warning her with his eyes to not burst out again. She huffed angrily, folding her arms across her chest and crossing her right leg over her left knee.
"Back to the matter at hand, Hiccup, do you understand the consequences you will face if you are found guilty?" Thurmond asked.
"Yes I do" he replied. Stoick had since moved to the front to stand beside Gothi. The two men that accompanied him had left the moment they entered the Hall since this was a trial that was meant only for the ears for the people in the Hall.
"We will start with Snotlout Jorgenson first" and Thurmond summoned him to stand in front of the table. "How did you come to know of the affair?"
"About a week ago, I was heading over to the Hoffersons' house to pay them a visit. When I neared the door, I could hear noises and moaning coming from above me. I walked back a few steps to see Astrid's room still lit and it appeared the noises were coming from there. Out of curiosity and good faith as a future husband, I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong. So I climbed up the side onto the roof above their front porch and slowly crept to the open window. And when I looked in, I saw Hiccup on top of Astrid. They were definitely kissing. They were both topless and by the looks of it, were about to have sex."
"You lying half-troll!" Astrid screamed as she lunged from her seat with the goal of ripping him limb from limb. Snotlout did jump back a few steps but was lucky Arnbjorn had quick reflexes. He quickly snaked an arm around his daughter's waist. Astrid knew who was obstructing her from her target but she didn't care as her legs and arms moved frantically, and a glare that could have frozen Thor himself.
"Arnbjorn, please restrain your daughter!" Vern called out.
"Astrid" he called out, but got no response. "Astrid!" he called more loudly this time. This stopped her attempt at breaking free from him but didn't eye contact with her. He slowly pushed her back to her seat, all the while noticing the heated gaze she kept towards Snotlout. "You'll get your chance to speak, but from now on ... control your damn anger" he said, making sure he made eye contact with her. She only nodded in response, taking heavy breaths to calm down from her outburst.
"If that's so, then why didn't you do the right thing and knock on the door and tell her parents?" asked Thurmond.
"I didn't want to be in the awkward position of answering to her mother about why I was looking into her window" he answered.
Both the teens sighed and shook their heads, casting Snotlout hate glances. They couldn't believe what he was saying just to save his own skin. Their frustration didn't go unnoticed by Stoick, Arnbjorn, Spitelout and the Elder Counsel. "Do you two feel something else happened?" asked Vern.
"Something else definitely did happen" Hiccup said. "What Snotlout is saying is a complete and utter lie."
"So you deny being in bed with Astrid?" Asmund asked, one of the members of the Elder Counsel.
"That's where it differs. Yes we were in her bed together..." he looked at Astrid and she nodded in response, "...but we didn't have sex, the crime I'm being trialed for. We were just kissing. Nothing else."
"Then what about his fact of being topless?" Asger asked the both of them.
"I still bore my breast bindings. He was shirtless. I am still a pure maiden if that's what you're wondering. Hiccup would never dare to do something like that" she defended.
"She'd have beheaded me if I even thought about forcing her into sex" Hiccup laughed a bit, getting a knowing smirk from Astrid.
"And do you want to know the real reason why Snotlout was on her roof?" asked Hiccup, taking a few steps forward so that he was now standing in the centre of their small circle.
"Go on" said Thurmond.
"He had the intention of spying on Astrid. Hoping that she would have been changing into her nightgown. If you don't believe me, you can ask Snorre, Magnus, Ivar and Knut" Hiccup said.
"What do they have to do with this?" asked Spitelout.
"Because it was their idea to have Snotlout spy on me for his and their sick pleasure" Astrid answered.
"That is a complete and utter lie" Spitelout retorted.
"My daughter would never lie about something like that" Arnbjorn said. Astrid looked up to her father in surprise. She expected him to be furious about hers and Hiccup's little affair. She never expected him to come to her defense.
"Well she kept a hidden affair with a traitor a secret from you and your wife, and you still take her word? Are you not mad that she brought more shame on your already stained name?" Spitelout asked.
Astrid saw her father fold his arms across his chest. She knew that he wasn't even close to being calm. Her father wasn't one of those 'quick to shout types'. He usually kept a calm demeanor of himself but when she heard him yell, it was as if all Hel had broken loose. "Do not take my calm demeanor LIGHTLY Spitelout!" he yelled that single word, stunning everyone in the room. "I am mad at that boy for coming into my house and ending up in bed with my daughter ... believe I am" he said. Hiccup had shrunk back a bit to the edge of the circle. This was the first time he was seeing this side of Mr. Hofferson. "But she is still my daughter ... my only daughter who is betrothed your son ... your son who was trying to see my daughter naked!" he yelled.
"Are you seriously going to believe those two?" Spitelout asked, gesturing to Hiccup and Astrid.
"Come on, Spitelout. This is your son we're talking about here. Since when does he come to check up on Astrid? He never did that when the contract was sealed nearly two weeks ago. And for your information, I witnessed Snotlout leave with Snorre and his group ... which means that Hiccup and Astrid are telling the truth; that your son was there to spy on my daughter."
"How dare you!" Spitelout yelled, getting to his feet.
"Enough, both of you!" Thurmond yelled. Arnbjorn and Spitelout both backed off each other, heeding the Elder's words and authority. "This is a trial, not a personal squabble. Back to the matter at hand. We will now hear Astrid's side" he gestured to her. She nodded in response, getting up, straightening out her spiked skirt and walking to the centre.
"Thank you, Counsel Elders. I would like to confirm what Snotlout saw was true. Hiccup and I were kissing. We were in my bed. He was shirtless and I was as well, but I still wore my bindings. We never had the intention of going farther than that. This whole trial of Hiccup having sex with me is pointless because we never did it."
"Am I right in assuming you two are in an affair and this wasn't some one night event?" asked Asger.
"You are" she took a deep breath, looking towards Hiccup who gave a solid nod in agreement. "I'm in love with him."
"Please ... this is obviously some ploy that she's trying to get out of the marriage with my son. Trying to bring pity upon herself that her only other choice was a branded traitor" Spitelout spoke.
"Then you obviously haven't seen the man Hiccup has become ... in fact the Viking he always was" she defended.
"Him? A Viking? Do you hear yourself speaking, Astrid?" All eyes turned to Snotlout now. "I know he might have trained dragons and is the Dragon Master we've been hearing in tales but he wasn't a damn Viking when he was here. He was weak, puny ... useless!"
"Don't you dare call him that again! He was never useless!" she turned her attention to the entire room now, looking to every person as she spoke, "He was only deemed useless by us. I saw how he tried so hard to gain our respect. It was unfortunate that it always blew up in his face and caused more chaos than good ... but he only wanted to prove himself after we kept belittling him ... proclaiming that he wasn't a Viking and was to be treated as a mistake. I believed that until I turned him in. He trusted me ... to keep Toothless a secret and I broke it. I only realized then that what would have happened if he stayed back, if I didn't come to the Chief. It was a blessing in disguise when Chief Stoick sent me to find Hiccup, five years later. That's when I saw and learned the new him. Only then had I realized all of us, me included, were responsible for his abuse when he lived here. When he left, he escaped his prison. He had no one to hold him back and look at him now" she gestured with her hand to Hiccup.
"He's more than any of us expected him to become. Much more. And if you think I began developing feelings for him when I found him ... you're all dead wrong" her voice became a tone lower and softer as she said it. Everyone looked at her, even Hiccup, with wide eyes. "I always had feelings for him. I never acted out on mine because my younger, naive side sought to follow the villages' laws ... which meant ignoring and completely shunning him. I've learnt a lot since then, and it's also thanks to Hiccup, that I follow what I believe in and stick with it. And the truth is that I love him and I will always love him" she finished, walking back to her seat beside her father.
All eyes were on her; disbelief in all of the men's minds at what she had spoken. Stoick couldn't believe that Astrid Hofferson, the next Viking protege and the most successful of her generation, was in love with his son ... and had been to a lesser extent even before he ran away. She saw something in Hiccup that he even didn't see. And it gave him all the more reason to help his son in anyway he could.
Hiccup couldn't believe that she had liked him in the first place. All those years he spent gazing at her as she walked by the forge or crossed his path in some way ... she had feelings for him. That was why Snotlout was angry at him. He said Astrid had her attention on him; a soft spot where she would gaze at him and, maybe this is hopeful on his part, but, imagining a world where they could have been together.
"Thank you for your answer, Miss Hofferson" Thurmond said with a small nod of his head.
"Does anyone else wish to speak before we leave to convene about what has been said?" asked Vern.
"I do" Spitelout said. "Well, not me exactly ... I call upon the Chief to step forward" he said, looking at Stoick. Hiccup and Astrid glanced to each other for the briefest of seconds before looking at Stoick. He kept a neutral look plastered on his face as he walked to the centre.
"Why would you call upon our Chief?" Asmund asked.
"To see if he knew about the affair" Spitelout answered straightforwardly, before looking back at Stoick. "Now, I know you want to get Hiccup back as your son, Stoick. That is evident. And what better way to help him than getting the girl of his fantasies with him. Am I right?" he asked with a smile.
"I already told you Spitelout, I didn't know about my son's and the lass' affair. And whatever punishment the Counsel has in store for him, I will not intervene."
"Even if you want to? That takes some tremendous will power, doesn't it? But that's besides the point. You knew about their affair Stoick and you were hoping to help him get the girl so that you could redeem yourself to him."
"How can you even say that?" Stoick asked in a hurt voice after a few seconds of silence. "How can you even assume that that action will redeem myself in the eyes of my son? What I did to him ... or the better term is what I never did for him can never be forgiven. I am his father and I was never there for him! I saw him as a burden instead of a son. There is no Viking ... no human, on this world that would even think of forgiving a person like me for the crime I've committed. So no Spitelout, I never knew about their affair, because if I did, I would have arrested Hiccup on sight and sent him away ... permanently" he answered.
"That's enough Spitelout" Thurmond said. He wanted to cease proceedings before events got out of hand. "The Counsel has listened to everything that each person has said and now will convene in the discussion chambers for the final verdict on the accusation of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, former heir and resident of Berk, sleeping with Astrid Kari Magnhild Hofferson" he said, before standing up with the rest of the Counsel, and walking to the chamber, followed by Gothi, leaving the Hall in silence.
Hiccup sat at an open table, his hands still tied behind his back in chains while Stoick watched him from afar, deep in his thoughts about how to get them out of this situation. Arnbjorn, meanwhile, had sat beside his daughter, who he refused to make eye contact with. "How could you do this?" he asked quietly, without turning to look at her.
"Papa ... if you want to blame anyone, it's me, not Hiccup. I took him upstairs, I was the one who pulled him in for the kiss. Please don't blame him" she pleaded quietly with him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Snotlout and his father discussing tactics, or whatever, as well.
"Astrid ... I knew what happened in your room" he said, and saw his daughter's face go up in alarm. "Your mother told me. She told me that you are in love with him, and I respect that ... I really do. In fact I like the young man now, what he has become. I'll be honest, he'd be the perfect man for you" he said, with a grim smile.
"But" she knew there was a 'but' in there somewhere.
"But he's a branded traitor, dear. Only the Chief has the power to revoke that status and even if he did, I couldn't back out of the contract now. Not when I've refused many others, including Spitelout's three previous attempts. I'm sorry, Astrid ... I truly am" he said, placing his hand over the both of hers which she laid against her lap. She looked into her father's eyes and saw the hurt and sorrow in them. She knew then that it pained him deeply to give his daughter away, especially to someone like Snotlout whom he knew well. She knew that he thought it would set her for life. That she'd take on a new name and not have to live with the shame the name Hofferson bore. She'd be the Chieftess of the tribe; second in command. People would look up to her even more. But she knew Snotlout wouldn't give her that kind of image. She was not one of those girls who were usually outspoken. She'd made sure to put Snotlout in his place. But knowing the fact that she'd have bare an heir for him, cook his meals and it will be her duty and obligation to stand behind her husband and be his most undoubted supporter. She wouldn't have minded, right now, if she was marrying Hiccup. But Snotlout...
Hiccup was going through his own thoughts right now. He had to step up his plans if he wanted to win her hand in the duel. He knew Snotlout was a good fighter. The only thing he was good at. And it has been a while since he has trained. There was only one person who could help him, but if he wanted to be ready in time, he'd have to call him now.
They all heard the chamber doors open and saw the Counsel members walk out one by one, taking their seats at the table. They all held their breaths, waiting nervously for the verdict. But it seemed like it wasn't good for Hiccup, based on Gothi's solemn expression. That's when Thurmond stood up.
"The Elder Counsel has reached a verdict. After fifteen minutes of deliberation we have decided it is inconclusive to know whether Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and Astrid Kari Magnhild Hofferson have indeed slept with each other. Two of us believe that they haven't and the other three cannot come to a conclusion based on lack of witnesses and whether, if all, the act was committed. Due to this predicament, Miss Hofferson and Snotlout Jorgenson are required to consummate the marriage on their wedding night" the news hit her like a boulder. She wouldn't cry at this. She couldn't cry at this bit of information.
"Also, due to the knowledge of the affair and affections between Mr. Haddock and Miss Hofferson, Hiccup is forbidden of being alone in any circumstance with her, cannot be seen with her, and in no way even lay his eyes on her." Hiccup couldn't believe what he was hearing. "The same goes for Miss Hofferson. The Counsel has also decided that she will need her own escort to make sure she doesn't break the terms we set today. And that escort will be her future husband, Snotlout Jorgenson." Hiccup heard the quietest of whimpers from her. She had her head down and her body language said one thing ... defeat.
He then looked to Spitelout, who was smiling broadly at the outcome of the trial. This was exactly what he wanted.
"But Snotlout Jorgenson will be required to shadow the Chief in every task he has to do and do whatever he commands ... as punishment for having the intention to spy on his fiance." Hiccup found no humour or comfort in watching the grin disappear off his cousin's face. "Also, Miss Hofferson has the option to stay in her home, under the guidance of her parents who have to make sure she doesn't sneak out or attempt to have any contact with young Hiccup" said Thurmond. Arnbjorn nodded in response, feeling terribly sorry for his daughter.
"And if Mr. Haddock or Miss Hofferson break the terms of the trial, Mr. Haddock will be permanently banished from this tribe. These restrictions are in order to protect the purity of the upcoming wedding and the Counsel see it as the best interest of the entire village; that there is no affair and that young Jorgenson and Miss Hofferson will marry. The trial is over" Thurmond announced as he and the other Counsel members stood up and made their way out of the Hall.
Arnbjorn looked to Astrid and could easily tell, that she was crying silently. She rarely cried. He could only remember two or three times that she's ever cried in her life. "Let's go home" he said softly, placing a gentle hand on her back. She didn't give a reply. She only got up and made her way to the door ... not looking at anyone. Arnbjorn sighed in defeat as he got up and followed his daughter.
"Nice work in ruining my daughter's life" he said as he passed Spitelout and Snotlout, who was unusually quiet and boasting about this victory to Hiccup.
"She brought this on herself. And it wouldn't have happened if you had been a more attentive and caring father" he shot back. In any other circumstance, Arnbjorn would have released his vicious right hook at the man. But not this time.
"You're right. I wasn't a good father. I was too busy managing her life, deciding what would be best for her instead talking to her and helping her decide what would be best. I controlled her life" he said, his voice breaking at the end of the sentence. Without another word, he walked out of the Hall.
"Come on son" Stoick said, patting his back. Hiccup didn't bother to make eye contact with his dad. He just stood up and began to make his way to the door.
"See Hiccup? You tried to make things work but you'll always be a screw up" Snotlout remarked. He didn't reply because he knew that if he turned around, he wouldn't be able to control his anger. No, Snotlout would face him in the duel. Then he would show him what a screw up he really was.
The walk back to the prison was as if he was walking to his execution. It would feel like that if he lost the duel. There was actually a good chance that Snotlout would kill him to show everyone his power and authority and to set an example. But one thing's for sure, he wasn't going to go down so easily. Toothless had waited patiently for them outside the Hall. He had seen Astrid run back home in urgency, and with his keen hearing, he heard distinct sobs coming from her. He had begun following Hiccup once his father and he came out. He tried to ask him what was wrong but he didn't respond. That could only mean things didn't go well.
When they reached his cell, Stoick unlocked the chains and let Hiccup walk into his cell. "What are you going to do?" he asked, watching Hiccup sit down on his bed.
"Stick with plan A. Except this time, I can not lose this" he replied, looking back to his father. For the first time in his life, Stoick was seeing his son differently. It was the way his eyes were. They were bold, moist from a bit of silent crying, but they showed determination and a fire that couldn't burn out. His son had truly changed.
"And how are you going to do that?"
"Simple. You accept me back as your son, and I challenge Snotlout. But I'm not stupid. I'll need training since it's been a while" he said, getting a notepad from one of his suit's many pockets and taking out a pencil.
"Could you bring me a Terrible Terror?" he asked, without looking up.
"Of course, but why son?" Stoick asked as he stood by the doorway.
"Because I'm sending a message to a close friend of mine who trained me. And with his help, I won't lose."