Talks
Hiccup stood there awkwardly as his former friends and heirs stared at him like he were a stranger. He quickly came to the conclusion that they no longer recognized him. No surprise, given how long it'd been since they'd laid eyes on him. He'd probably not recognize himself if he hadn't been the one to go through all his changes.
The heirs stared at him with narrowed eyes. Insulted at his perceived impudence. Being heirs to their respective chiefdom, Thuggory and Camicazi were in higher social standing than most. So it could be seen as rudeness for a stranger to so brazenly walk up to them and greet them as if they were old friends.
Overcoming his surprise, Hiccup made to clear up the misunderstanding. "Guys, it's me. Hiccup." The heirs only stared at him, his identity not clicking in their memory. "From Berk," he added. Still nothing as brows arched.
Hiccup gave an annoyed sigh. "Stoick's fishbone?" he offered in defeat.
At that he saw the gears in their heads turning. Then almost simultaneously their brows rose and their eyes bulged in their sockets. They reeled back in shock like were some inexplicable and impossible creature from a world beyond.
"Hiccup!?" they cried in unison and bafflement.
"That's me," Hiccup said with an amused chuckle.
"You're alive?!" Thuggory asked, incredulous.
Hiccup paused before glancing down to look at himself. He looked back up and shrugged. "Last I checked."
"We heard you died!" Camicazi cried, still stunned and unsure if the person before her wasn't some kind of apparition.
"Well, the rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated," he responded calmly.
At his response their expression went blank. The heirs lapsed into silence as they took of final look at him. Hiccup stood before them, unsure what else to say. He was contemplating recalling past shared events between them; to further prove his identity when Camicazi's lips began to quirk upward.
Then Thuggory gave a snigger before they both erupted into laughter. Thuggory and Cami exchanged looks while Thuggory pointed a finger at him. Hiccup's eyes shifted between them, unsure as what they found so funny.
"Yup," Thuggory finally spoke up after his laughter began to die down. He wiped a tear as he composed himself. "You're definitely Hiccup. Only Hiccup would use all them fancy words instead of just saying, 'Nope'," he said with one last chuckle.
Hiccup gave a quiet chuckle as Thuggory stepped forward. He stayed calm and still as the big man came over to his left side and raised a beefy arm up.
"Ah it's good to see ya Hiccup!" he cried out heartedly as he gave him a hard clap on his shoulder blade.
The force of which nearly dislocated Hiccup's shoulder. Hiccup was nearly sent to the floor, but barely managed to stay on his feet. He looked away to hide a wince of pain before standing up and offering his old friend a good natured, but strained, smile.
"Good to see you too Thug," he said back. "By the gods," he said under his breath with a grimace.
Meanwhile, the Bog heiress came around to his other side. Her eyes looked him up and down a few times, taking in the man her childhood friend had become. "Well look at you Haddock. You shot up like a weed, didn't you?" she commented.
Hiccup turned to her and blushed bashfully under her gaze. "Uh, yeah. Just time and puberty I-" he started.
"But don't think this changes anything Haddock," Camicazi said with a growl and a matching glare as she shoved her dagger in his face. "I can still kick your ass."
Hiccup blinked as his mouth opened and closed a few times, at a loss for a witty the retorts he was known for. But he needed none as her eyes softened and the thin line of her lips curved into a smile. She lowered her dagger and sheathed it at her belt. "Oh I'm just kidding Hiccup," she said jovially.
She threw her arms around his waist and gave him a hug. Hiccup froze for a moment, the action from the heiress not what he was used to in their youth. She pulled back to look him in the eyes. "It's good to see you Hiccup. You dumb boy," she teased, the latter remark something Hiccup had heard many times before.
At the familiar insult Hiccup gave a snort before returning the hug. "Good to see you too Cami," he said softly. He gave her a light squeeze before he felt her grip loosen, signaling him to do the same as they released each other and took a step back.
They smiled at each other for a moment before Hiccup raised a hand, presenting his palm face up. "Now give it back," he said firmly.
Cami cocked her head in question. "Give what back?" she asked in confusion.
"Whatever you just took off my person," Hiccup answered. "Give it back."
Her mouth fell open in shock and her eyes shone with hurt. "Hiccup!" she said aghast. "You really think that the first thing I'd do after reuniting with you after all these years is steal from you?" Her lip quivered and her eyes began to moisten with unshed tears.
But Hiccup only stared and continued to hold his palm out. Behind him Thuggory rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Seeing that the men were unmoved by her performance, Cami dropped the act. "Well you'd be right," she said with a mischievous giggle and unrepentant smile. She reached a hand behind her and a moment later it reappeared with Hiccup's tanto in hand.
"You used to always fall for that. I see you've gotten a bit smarter since the last time we saw each other," she said with a wink before placing the knife back onto the owner's hand.
"Some things never change, right Hiccup?" Thuggory asked with a laugh.
"I guess so. But I'm kinda glad for that," Hiccup replied honestly.
The heirs moved to stand before him so they could speak face to face.
"So where have ya been Hiccup?" Thuggory asked curiously.
"Yeah. The rumors say that you died in some battle with a giant dragon bigger than anything any Viking had even see before," Cami interjected.
"Well actually-"
"They also say you befriended a dragon?" Thuggory added.
"Oh well that's-"
"And it was a Night Fury at that," Cami added.
"Yeah, his name is-"
"Oh and look at these swords!" Cami said excitedly and she bent down to take a closer look at the two swords at Hiccup's waist.
"Guys!" Hiccup cried sharply. They were bombarding him with too many questions at once. "Look-it-its a really long story."
"Well our parents will be talking and shouting at each other for a while. How about you catch us up and we have some of my tribe's famous meat pies?" Thuggory proposed.
Hiccup was struck with nostalgia as a familiar sequence of events unfolded before his eyes. Starting with Thuggory, who was always the biggest and strongest, trying to be the leader and take charge.
Camicazi's eyes narrowed and she stepped forward. And never one to let a boy tell her what she was going to do, offered a counter proposal. "Or we can have some of my tribe's signature wine?" she offered smugly.
This of course would cause an argument with the Meathead heir. He looked at her and sneered, "That bog water your tribe calls a drink?"
Cami's head turned so fast she may have caught whiplash. She glared up at the bigger man with venom. "And what would you know about a good drink, beef-for-brains!?" she challenged hotly.
Thuggory bent down to get into her face with bared teeth. "What did you say you little sneak thief!?" he barked back.
"You heard me you-" she started snarling in response.
"Guys!" Hiccup cut in. As always he butted in to play peacekeeper and mediator between the two. Suggesting a solution that should have been obvious to everyone. When they looked toward him to see what he had to say be continued. "How about we have both? I haven't had either of those in years."
The heirs thought it over before smiling.
"Great idea!/Good idea!" they said in unison.
Hiccup shook his head in amusement as he reminisced. It was nice to see not everything/everyone had changed.
Meanwhile, inside the local Great Hall the various chieftains who'd agreed to The Thing were gathered and discussing the latest threat plaguing them all. That threat being the Vandals. And being Vikings it meant their discussion were rather...loud.
The chiefs were in a large room with large chairs arranged in a circle. Two hearths at opposite ends of the room warmed the building. There eight chairs, with only four of them being occupied. They sat across from each other, leaving a chair between them.
"Those damnable Vandals!" shouted Mogadon, chief of the Meathead Tribe, from his chair. He was a large man, dressed in furs and leather of a brown hue. Over his right eye he wore an eyepatch and at his shin he sported a peg leg. His mouth and face were barely visible from his fluffy beard that curled at the ends.
"Who do these bastards think they are?! They dare to attack our ships?! They dare to skulk about in our waters!?" he spat in outrage. He was almost frothing at the mouth in rage as his clenched fists laid on the arm rests.
"Agreed Mogadon!" Stoick bellowed in assent.
"I also agree!" came a voice just as harsh, albeit feminine. The others looked to the only female in the room. She was a massive woman who nearly matched the males in stature. She was Big-Boobied Bertha, chieftess of the Bog-Burglar tribe.
She was blonde shieldmaiden with hair tied into two thick braids that fell down either side of her head. She wore a horned helmet with curled horned. At her chest she wore a metal breastplate that heroically contained her most infamous pair of weapons, her massive bust, from which she got her epithet. Many tales were told of both men and beast that she suffocated with her mighty mammaries.
"Our ships have also been attacked relentlessly by the bastards!" she snarled.
"Something has to be done!" Mogadon shouted as he slammed fist down against his chair.
"Agreed!" Bertha shouted in response. "But first!" she cried, a bit softer, before looking to Chief UG of the Uglithug Tribe. "Tells us UG, how fares Princess Tantrum after her ordeal?!"
UG looked to the chieftess with a nod and a smile, having friendlier relations to the Bogs and their leader than the other men. "She fares well, Bertha. Thank you for your concern," UG answered happily.
"Aye, that's good to hear," Stoick added with a nod of agreement to UG.
"But tell us UG," Mogadon began to inquire. "Do you know why Ulrik took her?"
UG's brows knit together in fury at the mention of his daughters kidnapper. "Aye, Mogadon," he replied through gritted teeth, still seething at the thought of the man rotting away on his island's dankest, darkest, and coldest, cell. He went on to relay that after bit of forceful interrogation Ulrik had revealed he'd been in league with the Vandals.
Stoick brought a hand to his beard, stroking it in thought. He'd suspected this. It all seemed to coincidental that this group of raiders show up and then a kidnapping attempt had been made on a chief's daughter.
"Did he reveal more?!" Mogadon shouted.
"Nay. That's all the cur offered. But we'll see if a few months in a cold cell will loosen his lips yet," UG finished with a growl.
"So!" Bertha started, leaning forward in her seat as she looked to all the other chiefs. "What are we to do about these upstarts!? It's bad enough that they dare to invade our waters and steal out ships, but now they even threaten our lines!"
"I have a proposal!" Stoick chimed in. They looked to him. "An alliance! A show of force between our tribes against these raiders!"
The chiefs lapsed into silence as they mulled it over. The tribes were mostly friendly in their relations. Though the Hooligans were more closely allied to the Meatheads while the Uglithugs were in turn closer to the Bogs. Bertha was also known to see Stoick as something of a rival, and Vikings were well known for their thickheadedness and solving disputes with violence. This made alliances hard to maintain, especially with more egos in the mix.
Stoick searched the faces of his fellow chiefs before his attention fixed on Bertha. He saw something in her eyes, and a smile slowly forming on her face and he knew he needed to be wary of her.
One didn't get to be one of the only female leaders and lead one of the strongest tribes in the Archipelago by using strength alone. One also needed cunning and Bertha had it in ample supply. She leaned back in her seat with an easy going smile, smelling an opportunity at hand.
"I'm in agreement with this proposal Stoick," Bertha said aloud to break the silence. "But first, I have another matter I'd like to discuss with you?"
"What could ye possibly have to discuss of more concern than the Vandals, Bertha?" Stoick asked with an arched brow.
"A very important matter. It concerns your son and heir, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III," she revealed.
"What of my son, Bertha?" Stoick demanded.
Taking his question as an invitation, Bertha pressed forward. "Well Stoick, for the past few years now no one has seen a hair or heard a whisper of your heir. But now, his name seems to be echoing across the whole Archipelgo. Almost as if being carried upon the wind," she said as she waved her hand about like something floating along a breeze.
"I hear that he's a hunter of the Vandals, a warrior capable of fighting a whole horde of men single handed, that he appears to be a demon from Helheim itself. Its even said that he bested Ulrik the Unbeatable, a warrior who even my Camicazi only managed to fight to a draw."
"Hiccup?" Mogadon asked skeptically, remembering the scrawny boy from all those years ago.
"So Stoick, do tell, where has your son been all these years?" Bertha finally asked.
Stoick took a breathe, torn between pride and displeasure of the attention and infamy his son was garnering. He didn't like so many eyes on him, watching, searching, for weakness of fear.
"My son, Hiccup," Stoick started. "Has been on a journey. Learning to be a warrior in his own right and becoming a man all his own," Stoick answered calmly, his voice not wavering.
"Is that so?" Bertha commented.
"It is," Stoick stated bluntly.
Bertha hummed in thought. "We do speak of the same Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, right Stoick? The same boy who could barely lift a practice weapon? Who could be mistaken as flagpole in his youth? Who could never hope to best my Camicazi in battle? That Hiccup, Stoick?" Bertha pressed.
Stoick silently seethed at the mention of his son spoken in such a way. Of course back then he would have heartily agreed with the statements. He would have even sorrowfully lamented his woes to anyone who would listen about all the ways he found his son inadequate. He cursed himself more and more.
"Get on with it Bertha," he bit out.
"In the past I'd think you'd gone mad Stoick. For even suggesting that boy could be anything but the scrawny fishbone of a boy that a medium sized wind could blow over at any moment, much less a warrior," Bertha said with a laugh.
"But, from the testaments from UG," she said as she looked to her fellow chieftain, "and after hearing the accounts of my own sailors being saved from the Vandals by a warrior atop a black dragon that could only be a Night Fury, carrying swords the style of which hasn't been seen before, and wearing an armor unlike any worn in these waters I'm forced to accept the truth," she finished.
"I'm in agreement with your proposal of an alliance Stoick," Bertha said, reiterating her early words. "But perhaps after the matter is dealt with you and I can discuss making the relationship between our tribe more...cordial?" she suggested slyly.
"What are ye up to Bertha?" Mogadon asked suspiciously.
"Stay out of this Mogadon?!" Bertha snapped at him. "I'm speaking with Stoick," she said before looking back to the Hooligan chief.
"What are you suggesting Bertha?" Stoick asked, wary of her intentions and where she was going.
"I speak of the possibility of permanently joining the Hooligans and the Bogs," she stated.
"And how would you propose that be done Bertha?" Stoick pressed.
"By marriage of course."
It was silent for a moment. The three males stared at Bertha in shock. They were gobsmacked that the very word had come from her mouth.
"Bahahahahahahaha!" Mogadon bellowed out in laughter. His stomach shook as he guffawed at the idea of the two chieftains being wed. "I think you're a little old for Stoick, Bertha! You're not exactly a young maiden anymore," Mogadon said with snorts and chortles.
But Bertha was calm as she looked toward the Meathead chief. "I meant, Mogadon, marriage between Hiccup and my daughter," she revealed.
That immediately silenced the man. He was wide eyed at the realization. Stoick was still to shocked to say anything. But he was quickly starting to see what Bertha's true intentions.
"I see what your game is Bertha!" Mogadon cried.
It was obvious to the others as well that Bertha was after the secrets of dragon training. Berk had kept a tight lid on the secrets to taming and riding dragons. The last thing they wanted was for dragons to become the new weapons of war between Vikings. The other tribes had inquired, some more forcefully than others, but had been firmly denied in their endeavors.
But with something like a marriage of a rider from Berk, such as Hiccup, to a member of another tribe, especially one so closely related to said tribe's chiefdom; it was inevitable that those secrets would be passed along and fall into the chief's hands.
"What? Our heirs aren't children anymore. Such a thing isn't at all uncommon among us Vikings," Bertha scoffed. "And my Camicazi is quite the beauty. If I do say so myself," she argued while looking to Stoick.
"Now wait just one second! If Berk should join hands with any tribe it should be the Meatheads!" Mogadon shouted in protest.
"You don't have any daughters Mogadon," Bertha stated flatly.
"I have other female relatives in my line closer to the boy's age," he rebutted.
"And I have Tantrum!" UG joined in.
Soon the room was filled with the shouts and cries of the arguing chiefs as they vied for Stoick's approval for his son's hand in marriage. They began making promises and deals of trade to sweeten their respective offers. All the while Stoick looked on in a daze, wondering if he was really witnessing these powerful chiefs that he'd known for decades fight for the opportunity to wed a relative to Hiccup.
Outside the hall, in a longhouse where people could dine and talk while escaping the elements, three of chieftains' heirs were catching up. Hiccup sat across from Thuggory and Camicazi, a nearly finished meat pie on the table before him and three mugs with a flagon of wine between them all.
Hiccup told the other two his story. From shooting down Toothless, to the battle with the Red Death, to his journey outside of Viking territory to Japan, and the events up to his return to Berk. He made sure to be vague and give little details of dragon training, as he'd been warned by Stoick against sharing.
"And that's my story," Hiccup finished. He grabbed for his mug to take a sip of wine. All the whole he looked over the lip to see what they thought.
The other two stared and blinked as they absorbed it. It sounded far-fetched. But Hiccup had never been a liar in the past. An embellisher, perhaps. But never a liar.
"By Thor!" Thuggory cried loudly with a laugh. He slapped the table and grinned. "That's one Hel of a story Hiccup!"
"So...you believe me?" Hiccup asked, lowering his mug and looking between them.
"I do," Thuggory said with a nod.
"Yeah, you've never been a liar," Camicazi said from beside the Meathead heir. She sat sideways, arm laying on the table while the other held a leg to her chest.
"Plus, after your rumored battle with the Red Death the dragons behavior changed immediately. They don't raid us anymore. We hardly have any incidents with them anymore," Thuggory added as he took a few gulps of wine.
"It was hard to believe, but the truth seems hard to deny," Thuggory expressed. Then he looked Hiccup in the eye and held his gaze. "There's also definitely something different about you."
"Is there?" Hiccup asked curiously.
"Definitely," Thuggory affirmed. "There's just something in your eyes. I can see it. You're strong," Thuggory commented.
"Yeah. And I'm a bit of a sword buff myself," Camicazi chimed in. "Those swords are definitely foreign," she said knowingly.
He nodded in confirmation. "I saw Tantrum the other day," he said to push the conversation off of him. "She's...uh…" he paused, trying to find the right words.
"Still Tantrum?" Cami offered with a chuckle.
He laughed lightly at the perfect summation of the Uglithug heiress, "Yeah."
"I know. Can you believe my father actually suggested I consider marrying her?" Thuggory said as he wiped a hand down his face. The other two laughed at his expense at the thought of him, or anyone for that matter, being forced to wed the spoiled "Princess" that was Tantrum.
"I know," he said in exasperation. "I'd sooner tie myself to a boulder and be thrown in the ocean than be forced to marry that woman," he groaned. He shuddered as a brief image of him in wedded misery to the Uglithug heiress flashed through his mind.
"At least you aren't forced to spend time with her," Cami bemoaned. "My mom forces me to visit the tribe. To 'promote the relationship with your fellow heiress' she tells me. She sucks," Cami said miserably.
The men chuckled, empathizing her sentiments. Hiccup looked between them and was surprised to find how comfortable he was with them. There was no more anxiety about trying to fit in with them. No fear that anything he'd do might be subject to ridicule. They were even in consensus about their mutual dislike of their fellow heiress and could talk about their disdain like old friends. He marveled at how much time and maturity could change things.
"So guys, tell me about these Vandals?" Hiccup inquired.
The other heirs immediately scowled at the mention of the group.
"Not too much to say. Some band of raiders that just seemed to pop out of nowhere. Started out as a minor annoyance, attacking the small villages and tribes. But then they started growing bolder and then they started going after the ships belonging to the bigger ones," Thuggory explained.
"The scum. The Bogs have been getting it the worst. Guess cuz we're a mostly female tribe they think we're easier targets," Cami said with an angry glower. She then looked at Hiccup, "A group of our sailors say they were saved by a person on a black dragon. That was you right?" she inquired.
"Yeah. I was passing by. Decided to help out," Hiccup confirmed with a shrug.
"Well on behalf of the Bogs, you have our thanks," she said sincerely. She reached out to grab the flagon. She raised it and motioned to his mug. Hiccup lifted it up and let her refill it as a show of gratitude.
"Of course, Cami," Hiccup said with a nod. He lifted the mug in appreciation. "So what other tribe is here besides ours?"
"Just our parents and Chief UG," Thuggory answered.
"No Oswald the Agreeable or the Berserkers?" Hiccup asked.
"Oh, guess you haven't been told yet. Oswald was killed," Thuggory revealed.
Hiccup flinched and blinked in surprise. "What!? Seriously?"
"Seriously," Cami said in response.
"By who?"
"Dagur," Cami answered.
"That psycho son of his?" Hiccup asked incredulously. They nodded in confirmation. "Well that can't be good for anyone," he said ominously.
"Yeah. But the tribe is splintered now," Thuggory added. He went on to recount how Dagur had started targeting other tribes. With Berk being targeted to discover the secrets of dragon riding. But after being repelled on multiple occasions and going against the principles of Oswald's rule the tribe had become divided, with approximately half rejecting Dagur's rule while the other half remained loyal.
"So he disappeared with half of the tribe and no one has seen him since," Thuggory finished.
"Woah," Hiccup murmured in shock.
"There's rumors that the half that rejected Dagur are looking for Oswald's other heir," Thuggory revealed.
"Oswald had another kid?" Hiccup asked with a raised brow.
"Not that anyone else knows. Like I said, its a rumor," Thuggory replied with a shrug.
Hiccup hummed in thought, trying to recount if Astrid had mentioned Berk's conflicts with the Berserkers.
Then as if reading his thought Thuggory spoke up, "Hey Hiccup, whatever happened between you and that girl you were always talking about?"
He flinched and felt his face growing warm. "What girl?"
"You know, that girl," Thuggory pressed. He put a finger to his chin and stroked his beard. "It was something flowery. Daisy? Rose? Lily?" he muttered as he tried to remember.
"Oh! I remember!" Cami chimed in. She turned to the table and set her elbows down onto it. She smiled teasingly while looking at Hiccup. "It was-" she then paused as she gave a longing sigh while placing her chin on her raised hands. "Astrid," she said like a love struck teenager while giving a dreamy look.
Thuggory crowed in laughter and slapped the table, "Yeah, that was it! Astrid!"
"Oh I did not sound like it," Hiccup said as his face began to redden.
"You so did," Cami shot back with a smirk.
"Yup. Totally did," Thuggory said in agreement.
Hiccup continued to blush bashfully. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "It's actually going good. We're ah...courting now," he revealed.
The other blinked in surprise before smiling and congratulating him.
"Nice Hicc!" Thuggory said in approval.
"Well look at you, lady's man," Cami said with a wink.
He muttered his thanks in embarrassment and raised his mug to his lips to hide his goofy smile.
"Hiccup!" someone suddenly called. The heirs looked to the direction of the call to find Spitelout approaching them.
"Spitelout?" Hiccup said to him.
"Your father is ready for you," the big man replied.
Hiccup gave a nod as he rose of from the bench. "Got it," he said in understanding. He looked to the other heirs. "Good catching up guys. I'll see you later."
The heirs smiled and raised their mugs and said their goodbyes. With that, Hiccup followed Spitelout to the Great Hall. Outside a few guards and the right hands of the chieftains inside stood in waiting. Spitelout led him up to the guard and spoke with them, explaining who'd he'd brought. The guards nodded and stepped aside. Spitelout did the same before motioning toward the doors with his head for Hiccup to enter.
Hiccup nodded and did so, pushing open the wooden doors and entering the building. He walked toward the circle of chiefs as they eyed him. He saw their expressions shift between surprise and awe at his appearance.
Soon he was standing in the center of them all. He first looked toward his father. "Father," he said with a bow. Then he turned and greeted the other chief with a bow, bending at 45 degrees and holding it for a moment as he'd learned.
The chiefs looked on curiously at the gestures of greeting. It was a bit odd, but not greatly so. They took a moment to look the boy over from up close. They could hardly believe it was the same child from their memories. He was different, and not just in appearance. Their was a sort of aura about him. A strength that seemed to emanate from his person, almost making it seem like he was bigger than he was.
They gave their greetings in turn with murmurs and nods.
"Son. The chiefs and I have agreed to strengthen our alliances until the Vandals are dealt with," Stoick said to his son.
"I see. Well I think this is a good idea," Hiccup said in approval.
"Stoick believes you and your dragon riders would be most beneficial in our efforts," Bertha commented. "I'd like to hear your opinion on the matter."
"Well I'm in agreement with my father. The dragons riders and I can cover a wider range in a shorter time frame. We can also relay messages and communications much faster than a boat. All of which should greatly aid in dealing with the Vandals and protecting your own ships," Hiccup offered.
The chiefs hummed, greatly liking what the young man had to say. The chiefs asked more questions that Hiccup was answered with little effort. Stoick had luckily managed to have the matter of political marriages dropped for the time being, arguing that the Vandals situation should be the priority for the foreseeable future.
He smiled proudly as he watched his son discuss details with the chiefs. All the while he could see the making of the great chief he'd always hoped his son would become.
And he hoped in time his son would reclaim his position and embrace his destiny as the future chief of Berk.
Meanwhile, flying the skies above Berk was Astrid. She was returning from a midday flight with Toothless. She'd been diligent in her duties to tend to the Night Fury. She flew him several times a day and had been amazed to actually experience his capabilities.
Toothless was fast. She had to begrudgingly accept that he was even faster than Stormfly. As Hiccup had said he loved speed and performing midair tricks that she'd hesitated to perform with her Nadder. And his destructive capabilities were astounding. She felt a newfound respect for her partner's mount.
She directed Toothless to land near Hiccup's home. She dismounted before removing the Night Fury's saddle and tailfin. As she tended to the dragon she heard the sound of footsteps. She glanced behind her to find the twins approaching, grins on their faces and a dangerous glint in her eyes.
She looked away and muttered insults about them under her breathe as they grew nearer.
"Hey Astrid! Looking good girl!" Ruffnut started.
"No," Astrid said firmly in response.
The twins blinked, confused by her response. They shared a glance before Tuffnut continued, "No what?"
"No. You cannot ride Toothless," Astrid answered before looking them in the eyes. "The answer is no," she repeated in a firmer manner.
"Oh come on Astrid!" Ruffnut said as she and her brother dropped to their knees and raised clasped hands a pleading gesture.
"Yeah! Just imagine all the pranks and destruction we could reap with a Night Fury!" Tuffnut whined. "Just think of all the glory we could bring to Loki! Have a heart!"
"I don't give a yak shit about you bringing glory to Loki," Astrid said unwavering. She removed Toothless' saddle and gave him a scratch before beginning to lead him to the feeding stations. "I'm not letting either of you ride him, so just drop it."
"KILL JOY!" Ruffnut shouted at her shrinking form.
Astrid rolled her eyes and shook her head. She watched as Toothless took a drink and helped himself to some fish. She smiled in contentment before being shoved from behind. She yelped as she nearly toppled over before turning around to be met with the snout of her own dragon. Stormfly gave a demanding squawk for attention.
Astrid laughed as she began to stroke her dragon's face. "Hey girl. I'm sorry. Are you feeling neglected?" she cooed to the Nadder. The dragon rumbled at her touch. Having to split her time tending both dragons had left Stormfly feeling jealous.
"It's just for a few more days girl. I promise. Then it'll just be you and me again," she assured her. The Nadder gave a squawk and nuzzled her rider.
Toothless came around her other side and gave a warble that caught Stormfly's attention. He gave a hop before crouching down and playfully growling. The Nadder bobbed up and down excitedly as Toothless initiated a little dragon playtime.
Astrid giggled at the antics of the dragons before directing them to go play somewhere outside the village. They ran off together while Astrid made for her parents' home. She entered to find her mother in the kitchen preparing dinner.
"Mom," Astrid greeted.
"Astrid," her mother said back as she tended to the stew she was cooking.
Astrid sat at the table and enjoyed the smell of the stew already beginning to permeate the room. Her mother stirred the cauldron with a wooden spoon, occasionally pausing to lift it from the broth and take a sip. Her mother hummed, assessing her work before turning away to look for more spices.
Astrid had never had the patience to learn how to cook. She usually just went to the Great Hall or ate whatever her mother served. She never really saw a reason to cook. She'd always intended to be the greatest dragon slayer of all time. So what good would it do to have her in a kitchen preparing a meal.
Her thoughts then drifted to Hiccup. She gave a small sigh. She missed dearly. They'd hardly spent a day apart since his return and not having him around just felt so...strange. She found that odd, as she should be accustomed to his absence more than his presence given his time in Japan. She wondered if he was okay? Had they safely made the journey to the Shivering Shores? Had his ship been attacked by Vandals?
She banished the thought away. Hiccup would be fine either way. He had Stoick and some of the chief's best men at his side. And of course he had himself. There was no way some low life raider could take Hiccup and his swords.
She wondered if he was eating. Hiccup always complained that Viking food was tough and tasteless (so dramatic) and she knew from her time on ships that the rations sailors ate were less than desirable. She suddenly thought back to the horrid fish she'd tried to make for him. The look on his face when he'd tried it made something within her start to smolder.
Something about Astrid was that he was a bit of a perfectionist. She was hard on herself. In her youth she would practice swings and maneuvers again and again, over and over, and for countless hours until she perfected her form and technique. And that part of her was having a hard time accepting that she wasn't capable of making an adequate meal that even a Viking couldn't stomach.
She pressed her lips together and watched her mother continuing to cook before speaking up, "Hey mom?"
"Yes dear?" her mother said with her eyes on her almost finished stew.
"Do you think you can show me how to cook something?" Astrid asked.
Her mother's head snapped up and she stared at her daughter with eyes wide in shock. Astrid sat there awkwardly as her mother just continued to stare in silence, looking at her as if she'd grown another head.
"Mom? Are you ok?" Astrid asked her mother in concern. Her look and silence were starting to unnerve her.
Astrid's mother didn't respond. She only turned away to find the cover to the cauldron before removing it from the fire. Then she went to the window as her daughter watched in, confused still by this strange reaction from her mother.
Her mother went to a window and opened it before staring outside. She looked wistfully out over the village and took in a breath of air. "So the day has finally come," she said to the wind. She looked to the sky, "Can you believe it mother?"
"Ugh. Mom! Is this really necessary?" Astrid demanded with a scowl.
Her mother turned around with a happy smile. "Well I'm just honestly surprised dear. I never thought the I'd see the day you come ask me for cooking instructions. But I always hoped," she answered.
"I just think it'd be good to learn," Astrid asserted.
"For Hiccup?" her mother asked.
A rosy blushed rose from her cheeks and she leapt up. "No! I-I just think that I should learn how to make something," Astrid insisted.
"For Hiccup?" her mother repeated.
"NO I-" Astrid started. But her reply died on her lips at her mother's knowing look. She sighed and looked away toward the floor. "Ok. Yeah-I guess its kind of for Hiccup...maybe," she mumbled.
Her mother clapped her hands together in glee. "Oh dear that good. It's about time you start learning to be a wife," her mother declared.
Astrid head snapped up and her face turned fully read. "Wife!? No! Mother I just want to learn to cook!"
Her mother put her hands on her hips and cocked her head. "So you don't wish to be Hiccup's wife one day? You just want to be a woman who cooks for him for the rest of your life?"
"Well no, but-"
"Astrid my dear you can't cook, you loathe cleaning, and you can't mend clothes," her mother listed off on her fingers. "Besides your skills in battle and your skills with dragons, what can you offer as a wife?"
"Is that really important mother? I mean Hiccup will probably be chief one day. He'll have money and he can just hire someone to do that," Astrid rebutted. She was suddenly feeling as if her entire self was being put under a microscope as her mother pointed out all the ways she was inadequate.
"So you'll just have your husband spend your household money on things his wife could be doing?" her mother chided. She tsked at her in disapproval. "If Hiccup is to be chief Astrid then you will be wife of the chief. And that means you, above all, must set an example."
"But mother that isn't me! I'm a warrior and a dragon rider! I don't have time for-for-"
"For what, Astrid? Wifely duties?" her mother challenged. "You won't always be on the battlefield or dealing with dragons. Especially when the little ones come."
Astrid's face was inflamed at the mere mention of hypothetical children she and Hiccup may have. She struggled argue against her mother. Her mouth opened and closed as she searched for something, anything, to say. Her mother's words were ringing with truth. Shoving facts in her face that she'd pushed to the back of her mind and ignored. Her mother approached her and placed her hands on her shoulder. Astrid looked up to her mother with eyes full of uncertainty.
"Astrid. My daughter. My love. My little warrior. You've learned to be a fighter. You've learned to be a dragon rider. Now, its time for you to learn how to be a wife," her mother said softly.
Astrid's head fell. "What if...what if I ca-"
"You can," her mother encouraged. "You can because you're Astrid Hofferson, and because you can do whatever you set your mind to. Just like you always have." She put a finger under her daughter's chin to her head up.
She could still see the uncertainty and doubt in her daughter's eyes. She hadn't seen that in them since she was a child and would come to her with all her problems that could be fixed with a hug and a kiss.
"So my dear. Are you ready to learn?" her mother asked.
As she'd hoped she could see a spark ignite in her. She watched as the girl squared her shoulders and prepared to face this new challenge. Perhaps the hardest in her life.
With a deep breath Astrid mentally prepared herself, set to put her all into this new endeavor. After a pause she answer with a firm and unwavering. "Yes."