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Meeting with the Other Chiefs

In the late afternoon, before dinner, Hiccup and Berk's council had scheduled meetings with the visiting chiefs. Even if his father had been good at these kinds of things, Stoick hated this sort of politics as much as his son. Being too willing to compromise made a chief look weak, but not keeping people happy made allies into enemies – a hard line to walk.

Hiccup needed it though, he wasted valuable time that morning babysitting Gunnar, when he should have been socializing and firming up alliances.

"Where's Fishlegs?" Hiccup askes as the council gathered.

"Working on the project we discussed earlier." Valka replied.

"Of course," Hiccup mumbled, another way Gunnar wasted resources.

Astrid gave him a curious look, but he shook his head, dismissing her curiosity, "Let's start. Snotlout, your father will teach you his role. You will announce visitors and what they want."

"Sure." Snotlout still looked like death, but Hiccup wanted him to rise to the challenge, and hopefully straighten up, and pace himself for the rest of the week. From the nudge Spitelout gave his son and Ruffnut's side glance, he knew others felt the same.

Spitlout pushed the first paper to Snotlout to read before he made the announcement, "First, we have our closest neighbors to the north - Hamish Erickson the Golden and his son Reed Erickson of the Rus Tribe. They wish to renew (and maybe increase) our trade agreements. For a wedding gift they brought mead, furs, sheep, and a basket of kittens for Astrid."

Astrid told them, "I gave the kittens out to some children, but kept a little black for Stormfly. It cuddled with her last night."

Hiccup made eye contact with her, with a look that suggested he wanted to be cuddle, but quickly turned back to business before others noticed, "I see no problem with continuing trade. Let them in."

The Rus father and son entered. Both had long golden hair and stood as tall as Hiccup, but Hamish was thick and flabby, while his son was taunt and young. The pair had the same long pointed noses and thick foreheads, with smaller deep-set eyes, common in nomadic people from the far north as it protected them from snow blindness.

Hiccup stood to greet them, "Thank you for the practical gifts. We'll put it all to good use. Especially the mead tonight. And the mice have been a bit worse this year, so the cats will be helpful."

"Good to know, they're a good traditional gift for brides, we didn't know if they'd be practical, we thought maybe some dragons ate mice. Or maybe even ate cats" Hamish stated.

"Ours only eat fish, but maybe there are some out there that eat mice and cats. If so, I've not found them." Valka said.

Gobber gave Hiccup a look signaling the conversation should move along. "You want to continue trading? I'm more than happy to do that."

"Could we increase it?" Hamish asked.

Hiccup sat and gestured for them to do the same. "I don't see why not. I'll have my man, Eret, work the details out with you, he oversees our trade."

"The tattooed sailor?" Reed asked. "Seems pleasant."

"Good, he'll be the one making sure everything goes back and forth OK. I'll even have him go with the next few shipments to personally oversee it."

"Won't his wife miss him?" Reed asked.

Astrid and Hiccup exchanged glances.

"He's too busy to marry," Hiccup dismissed, noticing a grin twinge on Reed's face. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Hamish answered, "Chief, you know, we really appreciated what you did with the dragons those years ago. We have no use for them ourselves, but they did cause quite a bit of damage before you took out the Red Death. So, for that, I respect you and won't take arms up against dragons, as long as they don't threaten our livelihood," The old man shifted in his seat. "You're young, and your father's not here to help you, some might take advantage of that."

Hiccup leaned forward in his chair, "That would be unwise."

"Oh yes, I see the Night Fury sleeping behind your chair. Like I said, I respect you. That's why I though it right to tell you, although I won't harm dragons, I can't say the same for people."

Hiccup resisted the urge to look at his council, keeping his eyes locked on Hamish's gray ones. He had to make it clear he ruled Berk, and relied on no one else.

Hamish had to shift his gaze away, "I know from your reaction last night that you don't want slaves here, but you have to understand – without the threat of dragons our population exploded. People live longer and feel certain about the future, which makes them comfortable having more children. Now, we've too many folks, and most are young, thus we've not enough to keep up with the work, and well, more babies, means we've got some mothers dying in child birth.

Hiccup noticed Hamish squirm as he continued, "We'd like more women added to our stock. Chief Gunnar approached me and made mention he'd be willing to advise us on how the slaving's done and he can bring us inventory."

Astrid spoke up, voice dripping with disgust, "If I understand correctly - you want our permission to enslave people? And to force women to bear your children? Are you serious?"

Hiccup looked at Astrid, gods how he loved her. While her honest words might have sounded callous, they called out Hamish's intentions and opened to door for him sooth the situation in a way which protected Berk's values, but kept the peace. Did she do it on purpose, or was it just serendipity? It didn't matter, it just reaffirmed her indispensable importance.

He spoke, "Chief Erickson, you want my blessing, so you don't have to feel guilty about doing something abhorred. You think that because I've become powerful, my support will condone your poor ethics."

The old chief stuttered to come up with a response, but Hiccup filled the silence, "Sir, I can't approve what you do with your people. I don't agree with it. But, I can't stop it. I can ask you to reconsider, as the good man I know you are, but please don't give into such atrocities."

"We should think about harder about this," Reed told his father.

Hiccup realized they disagreed. He made eye contact with the younger Erickson and exchanged nods. He made a mental note to have Eret try to talk to Reed when he went to oversee trade with the Rus. If he could keep good relations and keep the Reed, the Rus heir, convinced slavery was a bad, maybe he could stop them from taking that path.

Hiccup made comfortable small talk to keep things amicable before the pair left.

After that Hiccup met with three more leaders. The others wanted similar things - show respects, renew alliances, and continue trade. One had a dragon issue that Hiccup decided Valka and the twins could handle. He keeping the twins busy to keep them from destroying things was always on his mind.

But the issue of slavery kept resurfacing. The more people mentioned it, and its advantages, it became clear to Hiccup Gunnar had planted the seed in the mind of the other leaders. But the big question on Hiccup's mind – was Gunnar doing this to get at him, or was he just that into slavery? Maybe Brie was a part of a lager plan - make Hiccup appear to accept it and get others to think about it. Then, Gunnar would bring up the value of slaves, and get other chiefs to trade with him, making him richer and stronger. And if he could get others to start to follow his ideals, was there a greater threat of them seeing him as a stronger leader and ally? One that they would turn to instead of Hiccup? And even someone they would align with if Gunnar went against Hiccup.

000

A Not So Boar-ing Dinner

Hiccup started drinking as soon as he arrived at the hall for dinner. He still joked with guests and gossiped with his people, but in between conversations he rubbed his forehead and took longer swigs from his mug. He always tried to abstain from drinking more than he should, trying to keep control and set a good example, but tonight he just needed something to wash away the stress and myriad of worries clogging his mind.

Before the kitchen staff put out dinner, Dagur and Heather called together the original group of dragon ridders.

"I want to make a toast to all of us who stuck through it at Dragon's Edge," Heather announced. "And even though he wasn't there, Eret, you're included in this."

"He fits in so well, sometimes it seems like he was," Astrid joked as she bumped his shoulder.

Eret nudged back, giving her a friendly wink.

"Hey, get your own partner." Hiccup put his arm over Astrid, who leaned into his chest. Eret winked at Hiccup, who ignored him.

"Moving on…" Dagur pulled a dark bottle from behind his back. "This is Bezeker Akevitt, if it doesn't make you go blind, it will give you one Hel of a night."

"Nice," said the twins in unison.

"Everyone, hold out your glasses you only need a shot, AKA one really big sip for those who don't do real drinking."

"That's no one in this group." Snotlout bragged.

"Not what I heard," Astrid teased.

"Ladies, please. I expect you both to represent tonight," Dagur tipped a healthy swig of the amber liquid into everyone's mug. "Now we toast, close our eyes, choke it down in one gulp, slam it down, then open your eyes, and make sure you still have your sight."

Hiccup, already starting to feel the effects of the evening's drinks, grabbed his drink first. "A toast to the good times we had."

"And those to come," added Astrid.

"The partying," Ruffnut raised her glass.

"Making enemies friends," said Dagur.

"Reconnecting with friends," Heather looked at Fishlegs.

"I'll second that one," he replied.

"Ugh- to all you love birds getting a room," Snotlout rolled his eyes.

"To punch and puke, I forgot how much we loved that game," said Tuffnut.

Hiccup shook his head, "What? No. No one liked-"

"And with that – let's drink!" Astrid pushed her mug into the middle of the group.

Everyone else followed, by clinking mugs and saying "Skol!"

They all closed their eyes, threw back their drinks. Some chokes and sounds of disgust could be heard before mugs slammed on the table.

"Open your eyes!" Dagur ordered.

"Gross!" Ruffnut stuck out her tongue. "Hey, Astrid, you wimped out. Your drink is still there."

Astrid looked down, "I drank it!" She protested. "I did!"

"You lie! It's full!"

"I swear, it tasted like fire and ice at the same time."

"And it had a hint of caraway?" Ruffnut mocked "That's how everyone describes Akevitt."

"Maybe it's the blindness thing," Tuffnut interjected. Dramatically adding, "Me thinks, Astrid might have some post trauma stress from that one time she lost her sight. The risk that such a powerful drink might return her to that state might be too much for the poor girl."

"Ah, brother, a stoot observation." Ruffnut raised her cup.

"But what is 'a stoot' and how does it observe so well?"

Astrid looked around. She knew she drank it, the powerful drink still sizzled in her throat.

"Ugh" Hiccup took her cup and split the shot between her mug and his. "Try to solve problems, guys." His patience was done for the night.

"Whoa pace yourself, brother," Dagur warned. "Drinking too much of this causes people to release emotions they've been keeping in check."

"Whatever," Hiccup shrugged. He returned Astrid's mug then clinked it, "Skol!"

Still confused and aware Hiccup's coordination had started to fade, Astrid shut her eyes and again let the cold strong liquid burn her throat.

Hiccup slammed his mug down first. Astrid opened her eyes to see his attention wandering, "Looks like dinner is coming out. Let's go eat."

The drinks seemed to flow faster that night. Normally Hiccup's slurred words at his dinner speech would worry Astrid, but the collective lack of sobriety in the room kept most folks from noticing.

When he sat down to dinner and dove into his mea, as though it were his last, Astrid reached a delicate hand over and touched his arm, "Are you OK?"

He pulled it back, "I already told you I'm tired. Lay off." He took another deep drink, finishing it. "I need another drink. I'll get you another too."

She opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it, not wanting to contradict him when he seemed so distant. She watched him walk over to the keg, stopping to talk to Dagur and Tuffnut. Tuffnut's music from the night before had lured a giggling buxom girl under each arm, while Dagur had three girls captivated by the crutch which relieved his sprained ankle.

Hiccup talked to them for a few moments, saying something funny that made the girls laugh. One of Tuff's chesty new friends put her arm on his shoulder, while one of Dagur's girls filled Hiccup's mugs before handing them back with a wink.

Astrid tried to make out their conversation, while Hiccup said something else that made them roll with laughter. Tuff's girl, who touched his shoulder leaned closer, whispering something in his ear, he blushed and nodded his head in response, before taking the drinks and returning to Astrid.

Astrid watched him put their drinks down and sit, "Drink for m'lady."

"What were you doing?"

"Getting us drinks, hence, the drinks I just came back with."

"You know what I mean. Those girls – what did you say to them? Who are they?"

Hiccup looked back to Tuffnut and Dagur, giving a friendly wave back at them, "Those girls? You mean Tuffnut and Dagur, they're not girls."

"You know what I mean, the girls with them. You spoke to them and I want to know what was said," Her voice started to get louder.

He took her hand and kissed it, "Nothing a classy maiden like you should concern yourself with."

"I am going to concern myself with it," she yanked her hand away.

He leaned over to her, the sharp smell of alcohol invading her space as he whispered, "Astrid, people are watching. We'll talk later."

She recalled the things Ingrid said and felt anger rising from her chest, her fingers gripped the smooth wood of her armrests, "I will not be placated like some dragon you train and keep in a stall. I'll run you through with my ax if you don't tell me."

He moved away from her and finished his drink in a few gulps, slamming the mug down. When he finally spoke to her, he kept his voice controlled and cold, "There it is. You can't just leave it alone, Astrid. And why be violent? We're going to be married. I don't care how Viking you are - why would you say that to me? I would have told you another time, but not now. That girl said something inappropriate, about Tuffnut, not me, and it's not the sort of filthy stuff I want to say to my fiancé at dinner. So, lay off."

He rose, to anyone who didn't know him well it would have seemed normal, calm. But, Astrid knew, she stoked his anger and he the only way he could deal with something that upset him was to give him space. Maybe he'd think about it and calm down, but she worried he might not. What if this time was different? He was changing. Just like Ingrid warned.

000

Since posting this I've gotten some worried reviews about cheating. POSSIBLE SPOILER: Even though it seems we are going down that path. There will be absolutely NO cheating in this story. I understand that the idea of anyone cheating is very upsetting. I ask that rather than posting an angry message, although you have every right to, you recognize that this is a long story and you must allow time for things to work themselves out. More on the thoughts of the characters and how why they are at this point in there lives will be explained. If I just dumped long spoilers and explanations, it really wouldn't be story telling, it would be pouring out ideas. I could write a story where everyone is perfect and nothing happens, and I might do that someday, but sometimes conflicts need to arise to move things forward. In the end those conflicts will work out. Additionally anyone worried about Hiccup's drinking, you also have to trust that will work out and lessons will be learned. Remember: If you stopped watching HTTYD after Stoick chained up Toothless, you would have missed seeing Hiccup become a hero and getting that kiss from Astrid in the end.

If anyone would like to ask me about specific choices I made, or where the story might go, please feel free to calmly PM me. I understand women in Viking culture. More about why Astrid's sister and her clan's thinking will be explained later as well. I took many liberties with Viking history, but would be happy to talk about why I took those liberties.