I own nothing.
Day 1 - The Arrival
Hiccups newer council along with the old one, comprised of the village elders, stood with Hiccup that day to accept the chiefs and visitors from other tribes.
After becoming chief Hiccup appointed new members to the council, a new generation to forge the future of Berk. First Astrid, his sunstone when voyages seemed uncharted and the ocean vast. Next Fishlegs, who brought reason and calm to decisions. Hiccup added Snotlout, because he was his cousin and would have to replace his father, Spitelout, someday –and the young man had gained tactical skills over the years, in addition to growing loyal and brave.
Hiccup had reluctantly offered Tuffnut a position out of obligation, but his friend refused, saying, "with great power comes great time wasting, such as council meetings and impressing people." Both walked away from the offer thinking they got the better deal.
Hiccup knew that Ruffnut made serious and better decisions without her twin, and her accomplishment often went unnoticed, so he asked her to join. She responded almost as strangely as her brother, first accusing Hiccup of trying to seduce her with power, then accusing him of up to something more sinister- he never figured out what that sinister motive was. But, finally she accepted, offering some decent suggestions on rebuilding Berk after Drago's attack.
Finally, Hiccup added his own mother to the council. He feared people disliking her for being gone so long, but his own willingness to accept her back and her efforts to rebuild the town and teach new things about dragons won everyone over, making her a village celebrity. Especially after she took over the dragon academy.
The first longboat to arrive slid up to the dock. With a clack the oarsmen threw out a rickety sea worn plank. A gruff young man in his late-20s. Grasped the arm of a delicate blond woman and hoisted her unto the makeshift bridge.
She wobbled, looking as though she'd faint or fall off the plank. The man continued to grasp her arm and she leaned heavily against the brutish looking fellow. Her face was a mature version of Astrid's. One would describe Astrid as cute and strong, but the other girl was pretty, with a frame as delicate as a sapling, except for the swelling 7-month bump growing below the layers of her pale pink dress.
"Ingrid!" Astrid called, bouncing at Hiccup's side as her hand slipped under his arm.
Her sister looked over and gave a light smile. As soon as she placed a foot on the dock she tried to break from the man's grasp, looking as though she might need to vomit over the side of the pier. However, the man held her and firmly told her she would be fine.
She steadied and the couple approached their hosts, the woman moving slowly and holding her belly with her free hand.
As they came closer Hiccup tensed and slipped from Astrid's arm then stood as tall as he could.
"Welcome, Cousin Gunnar," Hiccup greeted the heftier Viking, "I trust you had a pleasant Journey?"
The other man stood eye to eye with Hiccup. Hiccup had filled out in the shoulders and chest, but remained lean. The other man had thicker muscles, but they were covered with fat. His head was shaved and he had a thick brown beard, which made him look deceptively older.
With no enthusiasm, the man replied, "Cousin Hiccup."
Hiccup reluctantly hugged his cousin, their mutual pats on the back like fish flapping on a ship deck.
"You're bigger," Gunnar, Chief of the Brawler Tribe, added stepping back.
"Happens," Hiccup froze a smile to his face.
Gunnar looked over at Astrid, his eyes moving up her body, Hiccup noticed they lingered too long on her chest, and put his arm around her shoulder, drawing her back to him.
Hiccup shifted attention to Astrid's sister, "Ingrid, you look as radiant as Freya herself. Astrid and your parents are ecstatic you came. Elie and Leif are at home preparing for you."
Ingrid's ocean-blue eyes, as intoxicating as her sister's, met his for a moment, almost taken in by his charming smile, but then shifted beyond him. "I'm happy to be here. Good for you, Astrid, I'm…hoping you have a nice wedding."
Astrid moved forward, giving her a hug. Ingrid lifted her arms, but held back true affection. She broke the embrace abruptly and looked down to her belly, where she planted shaky hands.
"We've cleared out the North Field for you, Gunnar," Hiccup said, "Your people can camp there. But Ingrid is more than welcome to say with her family."
"No, she'll stay with me. And my other girls."
"Other girls?" Astrid asked.
Gunnar gestured to two petite girls who had exited the boat and now stood behind Ingrid. One, olive skinned with sleek black hair cascading to mid-thigh, the other a kitten-faced red head with curls restrained in a messy bun. Both girls looked down and stayed mute.
"Kelly, the red-head, I took in a raid. For Catalina, I traded some fine mead at the thralls. A good deal."
Astrid looked at her sister, "They're servants?"
She sensed Hiccup sucking in a tense breath as he moved closer to her. "Thralls are slave markets," he muttered.
Gunnar laughed, "Dear Astrid, let us not be polite, call them slaves. I know it's not a 'Berk thing', but I'm sure Ingrid would agree they do the things she doesn't want to. More time to sleep all day." He smiled and looked at her like a dog eyeing meat on a table, but Ingrid's eyes refused to meet anyone else's, like her mind was trying to be elsewhere.
From the spot next to Astrid, Valka spoke up, "And what does your mother think of your enslaving people?"
"Aunt Valka, nice to see you resurrected. Although, it's not like I ever really knew you. And clearly you don't know your sister. My mother."
Gunnar turned around and yelled back at the ship, "Mother, your not dead sister wishes to see you!"
An older woman, similar to Valka but more worn by time, shuffled off the longboat, assisted by two young boys in shabby clothes.
"Valka!" The bent woman called out, "So many years. Your son must be happy to have you back after all this time. Though, I suppose he never knew what he missed." The woman's raspy voice dripped with insincerity. "When I heard, you'd returned from the dead. I was so happy mother and father went before us. They would have died of shock."
She came up to her sister exchanging an obligatory kiss on the cheek. She stepped back, "Um, I can tell you've been around dragons. You've got that old fishy burnt scent."
"That's probably Toothless." Hiccup gestured to the black dragon sitting at his side opposite Astrid. "He's like one of the family. Just had to come out and meet you, Aunt Laga."
The old woman snorted, "Not part of my family. But then the harsh Northern weather here in Berk makes you people do strange things. And think those strange things are acceptable."
"Like owning people is acceptable?" Astrid looked at her sister.
"Wow, I love family reunions." Hiccup quipped. "How about you settle in? Lunch is available in the great hall. We have a big feast tonight, so don't fill up on the rabbit stew that's there now. By the looks of it you have enough help to unload."
"Yes, because we have slaves to help." Gunnar addressed Hiccup, but the comment was for Astrid.
"We have dragons." Ruff spoke up.
Hiccup made a hand motion for her to be silent. He needed his hostile family to get off the docks and settled away before they caused trouble in front of the other chiefs.
Gunner gave her a dirty look, then directed his attention back to Hiccup, "Could you help me with something back this way?"
"Sure," Hiccup replied in an unsure voice.
"Isn't that guy your cousin, too." Ruff whispered to Snotlout.
"Ugh – no, my mother is Stoic's sister, hence I'm from the non-crazy side of Hiccups family." Valka gave him a look and he shrugged.
Astrid watched Gunnar and Hiccup walk toward the ship, Gunner took Hiccups arm and leaned close to him, talking quietly as though, sharing a secret. Hiccup suddenly yanked his arm away and pushed Gunnar back.
"What?" Gunner said loudly, a smirk on his face.
Hiccup turned and walked off yelling, "Snotlout, Fishlegs, show Gunnar's people where they are staying."
Gunnar yelled at them, "Never mind, I got it."
Astrid asked, "What was that about?"
"Gunnar's trying to get under my skin, like when we were kids."
Gunnar shouted after them,"Hey Hiccup, remember all the fun times we used to have? Like during meals –"
"If you want to talk later, Gunnar, that's fine. I don't feel like it right now. Just keep unpacking."
"Do I need to unload something or not? Because I didn't come down here to be a porter." Snotlout huffed.
"No, let his people get it." Hiccup watched Gunnar get back on the longship. In a hushed voice he addressed his people, "Gunnar is – to be left alone. Do not engage him, be polite, be hospitable, but don't drop your guard. The Brawler are hostile and Gunnar is unpredictable. And we need to keep peace."
After Gunnar and his people unloaded what the needed from the ship, more longships made their way into the dock. The other visitors arrived without the same level of tension and drama, but rather kind words and sympathies for the loss of Stoic and congratulations for new chief.
Even though these moments and greetings seemed pleasant on the surface, with each passed condolence and gift of a kind word, Astrid sensed Hiccup weakening, he never showed it outwardly - it was the way he rubbed his forehead when no one was looking. It was the way he looked out to the horizon when he didn't have to talk. It was the way he subconsciously touched his heart at the mention of his father's name.
"I suppose we should head to the great hall for dinner." Hiccup said once the last ship unloaded.
The rest of the council had long since left, escorting visitors to campsites and guest houses. Only Toothless and Astrid remained at Chief Haddock's side, hoping no one saw them alone.
Astrid wrapped her arms around him and he responded with a weak smile.
"Something's bothering you?"
She looked at him, while he fixed his gaze out at the horizon.
"I see something crazy headed our way." He took her chin with his hand and turned her head to the place where the ocean met the sky. Two dragons and their ridders approached.
"Heather and Dagur!"
"Yeah." A genuine smile lit Hiccups face. "Let's ride out to meet them."
"Toothless probably wants to get off this dock. Stormfly is at the stables, probably eating dinner, would you give me a ride?"
Hiccup mounted Toothless and pulled Astrid behind him, "Hang on, m'lady."
The trio took off, flying out to the crepuscular horizon to meet their old friends. It had been so long since the couple had ridden on one dragon, Astrid forgot how she loved Hiccup's warm face pressed next to her's as she breathed in his sent – the scent of dragons, like smoky leather with a hint of pine sap. This stolen moment of closeness seemed like something too good for them these days, an indulgence beyond gold, that stole time from another important something.
Toothless sailed up to them, the four friends met in mid-air, then raced to Berk.
They all landed on a cliff on the edge of town.
"Sorry we have such a small tribe here." Dagur apologized running his hand through is crazy hair.
"We're trying to get everything back home harvested and stored in time for the winter. Being that we are still re-establishing our tribe and still setting up Berserker Island, we couldn't spare ships or additional people. Not to mention the hit we took from that sheep epidemic."
"That you guys came at all means so much," Astrid said embracing Heather.
Hiccup shook Dagur's hand. "Trust me, brother, if anyone understands the trials of taking care of a tribe it would be me."
"Yeah, about that, I have a few issues I've been working with and I would love your input, if you don't mind."
Hiccup laughed, "I'm honored that you'd think of asking."
"Well it's been hard to form other alliances…"
"You mean your reputation and title of 'deranged' isn't winning other leaders over?" Hiccup slapped him on the back. "I'll introduce you to some people."
Astrid and Heather shared a knowing glance. It was comforting to see the men once enemies coming together and now sharing details of being young chiefs.
Hiccup looked back at Heather, "Would you guys want to stay at Astrid's house? Heather, I know Astrid would want to spend time with you, and they were already planning on hosting her sister, whose husband wants her to camp out with him. You could help her and the family with wedding stuff."
"That would be great!" Astrid said, "But, don't you want Dagur to stay with you? I mean with your mom moving out you're in that big house all alone."
"Dagur can't be without his sister, I mean they've already spend so many years apart."
Dagur wondered, "I mean a few nights, when we do live together now isn't going to make that much-"
"The Hoffersons would be offended if only one of you stayed with them, and right now I'm poor company. Heather can sleep in Astrid's room, and Dagur can sleep in Ingrid's room. It's probably girly, he'll like that."
Dagur laughed sarcastically. "How did you know?"
"OK." Astrid shrugged. "We'll be happy to have you."
"Great, you girls should get to dinner, catchup, and we'll see you there. Dagur and I will unload the dragons and get them set for the night." Hiccup turned the girls around and pushed them toward the great hall.
"Are you sure you don't need help?" Asked Astrid.
"We can talk chief stuff, which you girls aren't interested in and you can talk girls' stuff, which we aren't interested in."
"You just said Dagur like girly." Heather folder her arms.
"Did I? Well he likes Chief stuff more."
"I do?" Dagur realized that shouldn't have been a question.
Hiccup continued to push the girls along. "You ladies go on and save us a seat."
"Don't you have the chief's seat?" Heather said.
"Yes, make sure no one takes it. I'm the chief here. If someone takes it you'll know what to do."
The girls gave in, walking away.
"OK, even I think you're acting strange. Wait, you're not getting cold feet are you?" Dagur said when the girls were out of earshot. "Because if so, I can help you disappear."
"No. I didn't want Astrid to hear the real reason I want you and Heather at her house. You see I have a cousin, Gunnar - when we were kids, he tormented me, but not in the usual way I was picked on. He would say creepy stuff, like threaten to kill me or tell me about hurting people. I'm not sure he ever did anything 'immoral', but he's not right in the head."
Dagur looked down, "You know you did call me 'deranged'?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "And I might have treated you that way too…"
"I'm not saying that before Heather you weren't different, but you had pent up anger. Plus, there was a method to your madness. You've changed. I thought maybe he did to, like it was just a phase, you know just weird kid stuff, but today he took me aside and said something disturbing - something creepy. About Astrid, something that makes me think he'd hurt her to get to me."
"What do you need me to do?"
"First, I need you and Heather to keep an eye on Astrid and her family, keep them safe. If anyone asks, you and Heather are staying there because Heather and Astrid are old friends and you want to be near your sister, and of course that's all true. Don't let anyone know that you're over there because of Gunnar. I can't let him know I suspect anything. If he thinks my guard is down, he'll get sloppy."
"I can do that."
"And, Brother, I wouldn't be asking for your help, if I didn't think you've become a better man."
Dagur smiled, drawing in a long pleasant breath. The two gathered the dragons and started toward the stables.
"What do you think he's planning?" Dagur asked.
Hiccup looked up to the great hall where guests everyone was gathering for the night's feast, "Whatever it is, it isn't good."