If you look back to Chapter 11: Astrid, in the middle of the chapter, Valka tells baby Hiccup that while the people of Berk have good hearts, their judgment is poor. In this chapter, the Berkians are about to meet a character that they poorly judged just as they had misjudged the dragons. In fact, it's the very character of the franchise that not only fooled the Berkians and the rest of the HTTYD heroes but also fooled us, the audience.
Chapter 18: Johann's Arrival and Gobber's Offer
Berk
June 12
Hiccup sat cross-legged on the soft green grass of his backyard as he finished the flower crown he had been working on all morning. As soon as it was complete, Hiccup held it up and smiled proudly at the blue and yellow flowers he had twisted together in a circular shape. Placing it on his head, he giggled.
As he looked up a little to catch a glimpse of the colorful flowers and vines resting on his head, his attention was drawn away to the big blue sky that he loved looking at so much. Now he was looking fully up as he watched a flock of seagulls flutter high above him.
Hiccup sighed longingly. He thought all birds were so lucky to have wings that helped them to glide in the air while humans were stuck with their feet on the ground. What he wouldn't give for a pair of his own wings. Then he could fly to wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Just at that moment, Stoick walked out from the back door.
"Hey, Dad, how do I look?" Hiccup asked, pointing to his crown.
Stoick's eyes widened at first at the sight of the blue-and-yellow flower crown on his son's head and then he narrowed his eyes disapprovingly.
"Hiccup you look absolutely ridiculous," Stoick replied.
"But I think it looks lovely," Hiccup protested but smiling as he said so. "And I think would look just as lovely on you."
"I look just fine with a helmet, thank you very much," Stoick said. "Now please take that thing off."
"Then what am I gonna do with it?" Hiccup asked as he obediently but reluctantly removed the flower crown.
"You could give it to someone in the village," Stoick replied.
"Like who?" Hiccup asked.
Before Stoick could answer, Gobber was at his side in a flash.
"Stoick, I'm so glad I found you," the blacksmith panted.
"What is it, Gobber?" Stoick asked seriously.
"Hey, Hiccup, nice flower crown," Gobber complimented, turning to Hiccup.
"Thanks, Gobber," Hiccup smiled. He held out the crown. "Do you want it?"
"Oh, no thanks, laddie," Gobber replied.
"Gobber, you were about to tell me something important?" Stoick reminded his friend.
"Oh, yes, Stoick. I was working on sharpening some swords and screwing some shields when I decided to come by and give Hiccup here a very special offer."
"An offer for Hiccup?" Stoick asked, surprised.
"An offer for me?" Hiccup asked at the same time, also surprised.
"Yes," Gobber continued. "So I was just leaving the forge on my way to your place when I looked out towards the ocean and saw a ship coming our way – to the docks!"
"A ship?" Stoick said, his eyebrows raised in suspicion.
"Whose ship is it, Gobber?" Hiccup asked.
"Not sure," Gobber answered. "I didn't recognize it. Must be a traveler wanting to make a rest stop or…"
"Or an enemy?" Hiccup finished.
Stoick narrowed his eyes determinedly. "I'll have to go check it out. Gobber, keep an eye on Hiccup."
"With pleasure, Chief," Gobber replied, saluting.
"Can't we come along and help you, Dad?" Hiccup asked.
"No thanks, son," Stoick replied.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Just stay in the house until I come back."
And with that, Stoick headed down the hill and towards the direction of the docks.
"Well, get along, little Hiccup. You heard your dad. Let's get into the shelter," Gobber said as he nudged Hiccup on the back of his shoulder with the scrub brush attached to his left stump of an arm.
Hiccup stepped through the back door and into the house with the flower crown in his hands and Gobber right behind him.
"I hope whoever's on that strange ship you saw is someone nice and not mean," Hiccup said, concerned. "I don't want anything awful to happen to Dad."
Gobber tousled Hiccup's hair with his good hand. "Not to worry, Hiccup. Your dad knows what he's doing. If it's someone good, he'll welcome them to Berk with open arms. If it's someone bad, he'll chase them out of here and they'll never come back."
"You're right but I admit that I'm still worried," Hiccup said.
"I know, how about I fix you a nice wee snack?" Gobber said, slipping his hand and scrub brush under Hiccup's armpits, lifted him up and placing him in a chair. "That'll distract you from your worries. This should also give some time for me to give you my special offer. Of course, this is the kind of offer that will require your dad's approval whenever he gets back."
Hiccup was curious about what Gobber wanted to offer him but he was too worried about his dad to even care. And food was most certainly not going to distract him from his worries.
"Now what may I serve you?" Gobber asked.
"I don't care," Hiccup said, suddenly getting an idea. "But I would like a drink to go with my snack. But my favorite cup is in one of the top cupboards and I can't reach it. Would you get it for me, please?"
"It would be my pleasure, lad," Gobber said with pride.
As Gobber walked towards the top cupboards, Hiccup, as quietly and quickly as he could, slid out of his chair and hurried out the front door, flower crown in hand.
As Gobber opened the doors of the top cupboards, he asked, "Hiccup, is your favorite cup in the left cupboard? Or the right?"
No answer.
"Hiccup?"
He turned to the chair Hiccup was sitting in. Except no one was sitting in said chair.
"Hiccup!"
It was too late. Hiccup was already hurrying down the hill and heading into the direction of the docks as fast as his legs could carry him.
By the time he reached the top of the wooden walkway that went along against the stone wall, he could see that the strange ship was already nearing the docks. He had certainly never seen this ship before. It looked like any longship would look life – it was made out of wood with a carved dragon head stempost and round shields attached to either side of it. It also looked worn from years of travel and several barnacles clung to the ship's sides. The Berkians always kept their ships in good condition. Plus, the new ship's sail was plain – no tribal crest at all. All Viking tribes had their crest designed on the sails of their ships so that others would know which ships belonged to which tribes.
But if this is an enemy, then he must be hiding out from the law and he keeps his sail plain so that nobody will recognize him or his ship, Hiccup thought.
He drew his attention away from the new ship and skimmed through the docks hoping to find his father. There! Stoick was standing at the edge of the dock. He had his sword drawn, ready to face the ship's owner in case he was an enemy.
Hiccup pressed his back against the stone wall and held out his arms on either side as he quickly and quietly made his way down from the walkway to the docks. Then as fast as he could, he hid behind one of the tall round pilings used to tether the ships. Hiccup peeked slightly to make sure Stoick hadn't heard him coming but Stoick was so focused on the approaching new ship that he didn't even seem to notice.
Hiccup moved his head a little more so he could see who was on the ship. He was able to see a single man standing on the other side of the railing. The man had dark hair with a matching beard and was dressed in foreign-looking clothing.
"State your name stranger," Stoick demanded, sword at the ready.
"The name's Trader Johann, sir," the man answered, speaking in a high-pitched, foreign-sounding accent. "But just call me Johann. Everyone I meet and know does. I am a merchant from very afar as my name would suggest."
Oh, so this stranger is just a merchant, Hiccup thought. Then he must be good. After all, most merchants were good. They always provided towns and their citizens with food, supplies and treasures they had collected from their travels.
"A merchant, eh?" Stoick said.
"Please tell me, would this place be the island of Berk?" the man called Johann asked. "In my travels, I've heard many stories about an island deep within the very heart of the Barbaric Archipelago so I've decided to find it myself in hopes that its citizens would be good enough to lighten the load on my beautiful but weary ship."
"Well, that's very generous of you," Stoick said slowly but sounding more trusting. "And yes, this is the island of Berk."
Even Hiccup found himself becoming more trusting of this nice-sounding stranger.
"And judging by your attire, you must the Chief of this island," Johann said, looking thoughtfully at Stoick. "Not only had I heard about this island but also about the Chief who ruled it. A Chief who ripped the head of a dragon clean off its shoulders on the very, very day he was born thus earning himself the title, Stoick the Vast. Please assure me that would be you."
"Yes, it is!" Hiccup blurted out. "He's Stoick the Vast and he's also my dad! And he did rip a dragon's head off when he was born!"
Hiccup gasped as he put his hand over his mouth. He had completely forgotten that he was supposed to be hidden. It was too late anyway. Both Stoick and Johann turned to his direction.
"Hiccup, what are you doing here?" Stoick demanded. "I told you to stay in the house!"
"I was in the house, Dad, but I was worried about you and wanted to make sure you were all right," Hiccup admitted as he sheepishly moved away from the piling.
"I'll do the worrying around here, Hiccup," Stoick said, still unhappy that his son wasn't inside their safe house.
"Now, now, Chief Stoick, don't be too hard on the boy," Johann said kindly. "I find it very touching that a child would worry so about his parents."
"Well, I still think it should be the other way around," Stoick retorted.
At that moment, Gobber arrived at the docks. He panted heavily as he put his hand and scrub brush on his knees.
"There you are, Hiccup," Gobber breathed heavily.
"Gobber, I thought I asked you to keep an eye on Hiccup," Stoick said.
"I was keeping an eye on him but he gave me the slip," Gobber said, shooting Hiccup a quick stern glance despite his exhaustion.
"Gobber, that's Trader Johann," Hiccup said, gesturing to the trader. "He's no enemy. He's a good merchant who wants to trade us his treasures."
"Well, in that case, welcome to Berk, Trader Johann," Gobber panted.
"Poor man," Johann said. "You'd better rest up before I can show you the wonderful items I've collected over the years."
"You look like you could use some rest yourself, Johann," Stoick said. "Why don't you come up to the Great Hall and we'll offer you some lunch. On the house."
"Well, that's very generous of you, Chief Stoick," Johann said politely. "Just let me anchor my ship before I first lay eyes on this island I've been searching for so long."
Fifteen minutes later, Hiccup, Stoick, Gobber and Johann were inside the Great Hall eating lunch. The four of them sat together at one of the tables. Johann and Stoick sat on one side while Hiccup and Gobber sat at the other side.
Hiccup was happy to sit at this particular table because Astrid was sitting in the table right next to theirs. Sitting at that same table with Astrid were four other kids the same age as her and Hiccup. There was Fishlegs Ingerman, a chubby, cheerful boy who always wore a tiny helmet perched on top of his short blonde hair. There was also Snotlout Jorgenson. He had short black hair and was short in height but rather burly for his age. The last two children were the Thorston twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut. The two always wore devious looks on their faces and both had blonde hair that was so long, it practically ended way past their knees.
Anyway, Hiccup was listening in fascination as Johann told them stories of his travels. At the other table, Fishlegs looked even more fascinated than he did. Even Astrid, who'd rather practice somersaults and backflips than listen to bedtime stories, couldn't help but listen in on the conversation. Only Ruff, Tuff and Snotlout weren't paying attention. Ruff was playing with her thick braids, Tuff was picking at his fingernails and Snotlout was listlessly stirring his bowl of soup. Spitelout, Snotlout's father, stood over his son and was paying more attention than Snotlout ever was. Even some of the other villagers had gathered around to listen to their visitor's stories.
"I thought I was done for when I saw that sea of snow heading in my direction," Johann said dramatically. "Fortunately there were a couple of nice-sized boulders close by. I stayed behind it the whole time, remained calm and didn't move until it was all over. And that's how I survived the avalanche of Mount Everest."
The villagers murmured in amazement.
"Amazing!" Fishlegs squealed.
"That's nice, Johann, now do you have any gold doubloons for us on that ship of yours?" Snotlout asked.
Spitelout lightly whacked his hand against the back of Snotlout's head.
"Ow!" Snotlout complained, rubbing the back of his head.
"That's not a polite question to ask, boyo," Spitelout chided. "But as long as we're on the subject, Johann, you got any sapphire jewels? I do enjoy that nice blue color."
"You know, it's funny how you and your dad want gold and sapphires respectively, Snotlout, 'cause they happen to be the same colors as Hiccup's flower crown," Ruff said, pointing to Hiccup's flower crown resting beside him.
Hiccup looked down at his flower crown. He had nearly forgotten that he was still carrying it around.
"Hey, you're right, sis," Tuffnut said, also noticing the crown. "They are the same colors as gold doubloons and sapphire jewels. Hey, Hiccup, did you make that yourself?"
"Uh, yes, Tuff, I did," Hiccup answered slowly.
The twins and Snotlout burst into laughter which made Hiccup blush with embarrassment.
"You're even less manly than Fishface here," Snotlout teased.
The adults didn't tease and laugh but they did look at him and murmured things about him being odd and different which made him blush. Even Stoick was looking a little embarrassed himself.
"Well, I for one think it's a beautiful flower crown, Hiccup," Fishlegs said politely.
"Thanks, Fishlegs," Hiccup said, picking up the flower crown. "And I didn't make it for myself. I made it for…uh…for…"
"Astrid," Gobber concluded for him. "He made it for Astrid."
"For me?" Astrid asked, surprised.
"Yes, sir-ee, Astrid," Gobber said. "Hiccup made it just for you. Right, Hiccup?"
"Uh, right, Gobber," Hiccup said shyly as he picked up the crown and held it out to Astrid. "I made it for you."
"Oh, how kind," Fishlegs said romantically.
"Looks like you already got yourself a boyfriend showering you with gifts, Astrid," Ruffnut teased.
"Seems I'm not the only one bringing gifts for that special someone in your life," Johann said.
Now it was Astrid's turn to blush. In fact, she looked even more embarrassed than Hiccup and Stoick did a minute ago.
"It's a nice flower crown, Hiccup," she said. "But no thank you. I don't wear flower crowns."
"But I worked so hard on it," Hiccup said, hurt. "What am I supposed to do with it now?"
"Why don't you give it to me, Hiccup?" Johann suddenly offered. "You could swap it for one of the marvelous treasures on my ship. And I'll find someone who would be happy to wear your pretty flower crown, perhaps the Princess of Madurai."
"You'd do that, Johann? Really?" Hiccup asked, feeling better.
"Of course," Johann said, sitting up from his seat. "In fact, why don't you all come over to my ship right now and help yourself to collecting whatever you'd like."
The villagers made excited cries, obviously excited and eager to seeing what they can get their hands on whatever was on Johann's ship.
Stoick stood up and laughed. "All right, everyone. I know you're excited but we still need to head over there and observe Johann's treasures calmly and quietly."
Everyone quieted down and nodded in agreement.
"All right, let's go," Stoick said, waving his arm.
All the villagers followed their chief and the trader, still excited but calmer. But as they made their way to the docks, their jittery excitement was slowly returning.
Once the crowd arrived in front of Johann's docked ship, everyone's eyes widened when they saw what was on it: all kinds of sparkling, colorful necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry, vases and plates with colorful patterns and shapes and weapons that seemed fresh out of a blacksmith's forge. The scents of exotic spices and produce filled the air around the ship and made everyone's mouths water.
"I've saved all these particular treasures and supplies especially for the island I've been wanting to visit for so long," Johann announced. "And if you all don't mind, I'll have the young ones pick out what they'd like to bring home with them first."
The children (minus Astrid) all bounced and murmured with excitement.
"All right, children, relax and remember what I said about looking around calmly and quietly," Stoick said. He turned to Gobber. "Gobber, I think you and I had better climb on board with the children just to keep an eye on them."
"Good idea, Chief," Gobber said.
"We can look after ourselves, Chief," Snotlout protested, only to be gently whacked on the head by his father again. "Ow! Uh, I mean, thank you for offering to look after us, Chief. We feel so much more secure around your presence."
"That's better," Spitelout said with a smile.
As Spitelout turned his back, Snotlout sneered and stuck his tongue out at this dad.
One by one, Stoick and Gobber lifted the children onto the deck of Johann's ship, well, minus Astrid of course. When they reached out for her, she held up her hands, motioning for them to stop, and said rather rudely, "I can climb onto the ship all by myself, thank you." And climb up onto the ship all by herself she did. Once the children were on board, Stoick and Gobber climbed onto it themselves.
"Now then, I think I'll start with young Master Hiccup, here," Johann announced.
Hiccup felt flattered at being called "Master" from someone he had just met. 'Thank you, Johann."
"Now may I present you with, hmm?" Johann asked.
"Well…" Hiccup started. "I don't suppose you have a pair of wings, do you?"
The kids and the adults looked at him as though he had just sprouted an extra head like a Hideous Zippleback.
"Well, that's an unusual request," Johann said thoughtfully.
"Indeed," Stoick said, looking embarrassed again.
"Why in Thor's name would do you with a pair of wings, Hiccup?" Gobber asked.
"Uh, to fly, of course," Hiccup said, making flapping motions with his hands.
Snotlout and the twins burst into laughter again. Fishlegs looked horrified and Astrid looked disgusted. On the deck, the adults looked at each other in astonishment and murmured again.
"A flying human? That'll be the day," Snotlout chortled.
"Hiccup, humans are not meant to fly," Stoick said in a practical manner.
"I know but I still it's nice to dream about soaring through the clouds and stars and glide alongside birds and other flying creatures," Hiccup replied.
"I'd rather be dreaming about slicing off Zippleback's heads than soaring and gliding and other such silly things," Astrid retorted.
"I admire the sky and flying creatuers as much as you do, Hiccup but I think I'd rather admire them right here on the ground where it's safe," Fishlegs said.
"Astrid and Fishlegs are right, son," Stoick said. "Why don't you ask Johann for something more practical?"
"Like what?" Hiccup asked.
"Like this empty journal and this mug of charcoal sticks?" Gobber suggested, picking up said empty journal and mug of charcoal sticks. "I've seen some of the drawings you've made on some blank pieces of paper and on the ground. You could fill this journal here with more drawings and notes and ideas and you'll have these charcoal sticks to use to write them down."
"A marvelous idea, Mr. Gobber," Johann said excitedly.
"Yeah, Hiccup, you could draw yourself sprouting a pair of wings you want so badly and then take off into the air with them right before you go…ker-plop!" Snotlout teased before bursting into laughter with the twins again.
Gobber stomped on Snotlout's foot with his peg leg.
"Ow! What?!" Snotlout complained.
"Okay, I'll take the journal and sticks," Hiccup said, as he handed Johann his flower crown and reached out for the journal and charcoal sticks Gobber handed him.
"Now, then, why don't you be next, Master Fishlegs?" Johann suggested.
"Well, I guess I'll have that book on rocks and minerals in exchange for this ball of yarn," Fishlegs said, pulling a ball of yarn from his pocket. "It's too bad you don't have the one thing I want the most."
"And what would that be?" Johann asked, handing Fishlegs the rock-and-mineral book.
"A pet," Fishlegs said sadly as he took the book and handed Johann the yarn. "My mom won't let me have any pets until I'm older. She says they're too much responsibility. And maybe she's right. Still, what I wouldn't give for something to call my own and sleep right next to me and lick my toes and tell bedtime stories to…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all want pets," Snotlout interrupted hastily. "Now where do you keep the gold doubloons, Johann?"
"Boyo!" Spitelout warned from the deck.
"I mean, do you have any suggestions of what I could get, Johann?" Snotlout asked with a sheepish smile.
Snotlout didn't get any gold doubloons but he did get a new dinner plate much to his disappointment ("You could paint it gold and pretend it's a giant doubloon," Gobber suggested) and he handed Johann a handkerchief…which he blew his nose into. Astrid traded in a small burlap sack for a new dagger. As for the twins, they bickered and almost knocked over some items before Johann offered them a pair of necklaces with a sharp tooth hanging from the black strings. In return, the twins offered the trader a pair of apple cores.
"Is everyone satisfied with their new items?" Stoick asked.
"Yes, Dad," Hiccup replied.
"Yes, Chief," the other kids answered (Snotlout answered in a grumbling sort of way while the others sounded content).
"Good, now Gobber, Spitelout and I will all escort you back to the village while the rest of the adults pick and choose what they want from Johann's ship," Stoick said. He turned to Johann and added, "Thank you, Johann. Feel free to return here anytime you'd like."
"And next time bring some gold doubloons," Snotlout added.
"I'm warning you, boyo!" Spitelout warned.
"I mean, thanks for the dinner plate, Johann," Snotlout said with feign politeness. "I've been meaning to get a new one."
"That's because you used your last one as a target for throwing rocks," Spitelout pointed out.
"I keep telling you, Dad, I was practicing my throw like you wanted me to," Snotlout protested. "How was I supposed to know it was gonna shatter the first time?"
Johann stifled a chuckle. "Well, whatever happened to your old plate, I'm glad you love your new one, Master Snotlout. And not to worry, Stoick, I will be returning to your wonderful island soon enough and with more treasures than you could ever imagine."
"That would be wonderful, Johann and thanks again," Stoick smiled.
"Yeah, thanks, Johann," Hiccup said. "You will find someone nice enough to wear my flower crown, will you?"
"I don't know anyone who wouldn't want a flower crown as nice as yours, Master Hiccup," Johann said kindly.
Stoick and Gobber lifted the kids out of the ship and onto the deck (minus Astrid who once again climbed out of the ship on her own) and they, along with Spitelout, began to walk back up the path to the village. While Fishlegs was busy flipping through the pages of his new rock-and-mineral book, the other kids began talking about Hiccup's earlier request of a pair of wings.
"A pair of wings to fly, ha," Snotlout muttered.
"If people do learn to fly someday, I'm gonna eat my helmet," Ruffnut announced.
"I'll eat my helmet too," Tuffnut chirped. "With hot sauce. Lots and lots of hot sauce."
"I bet I could eat more hot sauce than you," Ruffnut retorted.
"Wanna bet two yak butter parfaits on it?"
"You're on."
The twins ejected a healthy amount of saliva out of their mouths and into their palms. Then they shook on it.
"Ugh," Astrid scoffed.
Stoick shook his head.
"Kids will be kids," Gobber told his friend, shrugging.
Hiccup was getting quite fed up with being teased and called different so he shot Snotlout and the twins his angriest look.
"You guys just wait 'til I'm Chief then I'll get my revenge on you for your teasing!" he declared.
"Woah, take it easy, Hiccup," Gobber said. "You're scaring Fishlegs."
And indeed Fishlegs was starting to get ahead of the group, his face still buried in his book and he was shivering and whimpering in fear.
"Oh, uh, sorry, Fishlegs," Hiccup called.
"No worries," Fishlegs squeaked.
"He's not scaring me, Dad," Snotlout told his father.
"Glad to hear that, boyo," Spitelout said proudly. "Jorgensons never get scared."
"Thorstons never get scared either," Tuffnut announced, also proud. "I'm not scared, are you, sis?"
"Nope, not one little bit," Ruffnut said.
Hiccup noticed that Astrid seemed to be looking right at him. When she realized she was looking at him, she hurriedly turned her head away and ran her fingers across the silvery blade of her new dagger. Hiccup could've sworn she had been looking at him with an impressed, proud expression.
…..
After Gobber had returned to the forge and Hiccup and Stoick had escorted Snotlout and Spitelout, Astrid, Fishlegs and Ruff and Tuff to their houses, the father and son returned to their own house.
"Well, I'm gonna go upstairs and start working on my new journal, Dad," Hiccup said, beginning to climb up the stairs with the journal and mug of charcoal sticks.
"Wait, Hiccup, before you do, I want to have a word with you," Stoick said. He sounded and looked serious.
"I'm sorry I didn't stay in the house like you asked me to," Hiccup said, approaching his dad. "I should've listened to you."
"Yes, you should've but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about," Stoick said.
Hiccup looked surprised.
"I want to talk to you about what you said to the other kids about getting revenge on them," Stoick said, kneeling down in front of the boy so that they were in eye contact. "What I'm about to say might be important for you to remember in the future. A true leader never takes revenge against his own people."
"Not even the bullies?" Hiccup asked.
"Not even the bullies," Stoick said, shaking his head. "What a Chief really does is make decisions that he knows is what's best for his people…even though sometimes those decisions may not always be what's best for him. Do you understand?"
"I think so," Hiccup said. "When I said I wanted revenge on Snotlout and the twins, I didn't mean it like I wanted to banish or execute them. I just thought I'd make them janitors and have them clean up the Great Hall or make them work in the barns and clear out yak dung every day."
Stoick put a hand over his mouth and Hiccup could tell he was trying not to laugh.
"But I'll remember what you said about making decisions about what's best for everyone," Hiccup assured him.
"Good," Stoick said.
"I'm glad Trader Johann was no bully," Hiccup said. "He's really nice."
"He sure is," Stoick said, nodding. "A wee bit odd but nice."
"And all those places he's seen and the things that he's done," Hiccup said. "I can't wait 'til he comes back."
"I'm sure he'll be back before you can say 'Loki'," Stoick smiled.
…
Off the coast of Berk
June 12
Several hours had passed since his visit to Berk and now Trader Johann was finally far from it. He let out an exhale of relief, glad to finally drop the friendly, goody-two-shoes act for the time being. The goody-two-shoes act was just a smokescreen of his true nature. He was secretly a greedy, evil man who wanted nothing more than to become even richer than the richest people in the world. And selling food and supplies was certainly not going to get him to achieve his goal. He knew that he would have to do something else to get want he wanted. But what? Whatever it was, he would be patient.
Johann couldn't help but smile to himself of how naïve and gullible the people of Berk had been around him. Even their so-called magnificent chief had fallen for his act and Mount Everest story which he had pilfered from an Asian merchant who went through that experience before he killed him and made off with the goods he was about to sell. There was no way on Midgard that he, Trader Johan, would do something like that. He'd sooner freeze to death than hide from an avalanche.
Then he frowned again as he thought about the pesky children that he had met today. He only offered to serve the children first so they would be out of his hair before serving the less-annoying, more-mature-but-still-naïve adults. He hated all children in general, but there was something about Berk's children that really made him want to rip their heads off.
That fat boy, Fishlegs, had had a lot of nerve coming to ask him for a pet. Why the very thought of it! If there was one thing he hated as much as children, it was animals of any kind. He only preferred animals that had been cooked as food or made into clothing. Then there was that greedy boy, Snotlout who had done nothing but pester him about gold doubloons. I know a place on his body I'd love to shove up some of those gold doubloons he wants so badly, Johann thought.
Those long-haired twins were almost more annoying and troublesome than that Snotlout boy, bickering and almost knocking into things and breaking them before he offered them those tooth necklaces. As for the girl, Astrid, she had been lucky that she had gotten her hands on the dagger before he did so he could use it to slit her pretty little throat.
Better be careful with that dagger, little Miss Astrid, he had thought when Astrid selected the dagger. It's all fun and games until someone's eyes get stabbed out…even your own.
And then there was the chief's son, Hiccup. Okay, so he was the less annoying of the six brats he had met today but he still had the nerve to spy on him from the docks when he thought he was having a private introduction with Stoick. Why can't children mind their own business? And as for asking him for a pair of wings to go flying in the sky, it was a ridiculous thought indeed. Even more ridiculous than Fishlegs' desire for a pet and Snotlout's demanding of gold doubloons.
Johann decided to put his mind off of his recent visit to Berk as well as the next one. He looked up at the sky that the Hiccup boy was so much in love with. The sky was a mixture of orange, gold, purple and navy. The sun was halfway below the horizon and a few stars were just starting to pop up.
"Time to get started on cooking my supper," Johann said aloud to himself.
He approached the pile of items that the people of Berk had traded in return for something rare or fancier and gathered Hiccup's flower crown, Fishlegs' ball of yarn, Snotlout's filthy handkerchief, the twins' apple cores and Astrid's burlap sack in his arms. Then he headed down to his cabin below deck. He tossed the yarn, the handkerchief, the sack, the apple cores into the ship's stove then he paused and took a look at the flower crown.
"Too bad," Johann said, pretending to sound regretful. "The Princess of Madurai truly would've loved this crown but I'm afraid I'll have to offer her something else."
And with that, he tossed the crown in the stove with the rest of the children's items. Then he struck a match against the stove's exterior metal and tossed it on top of the items.
Johann grinned wickedly as he thought about his next visit to Berk and watched as the yellow and blue flowers, apple cores, the snot-covered handkerchief, the yarn and the sack disintegrated in the flames.
…..
Temporary Island #1
June 12
Toothless sniffed at some blue and yellow flowers as he stood in front of the meadow of his new island. He had been living here for a couple of weeks now and although it wasn't his family's island, it was very comfortable and welcoming.
Not only did this island have this meadow full of wildflowers but there was also a cool, clear stream for drinking. It also had a field of tall, sweet-smelling grass. This particular tall grass smelled so sweet in fact that Toothless had a hard time getting himself out of it the first time he visited the field. All he wanted to do was roll around or rest on top of the soft, tall blades and inhale its sweet, soothing smell forever.
Other dragon families lived on the island as well. Not Night Furies but spike-headed Deadly Nadders, large, lazy but tough Gronckles and small and sometimes-pesky Terrible Terrors. When Toothless had first arrived at the island, they had all been surprised to see him. He could tell that they had never seen a dragon like him before but they made no attempt to drive him out of their home. Toothless mainly kept to himself and didn't bother the Nadders, Gronckles and Terrors. And in return, they didn't bother him either.
In fact, some of them were in the meadow along with him. The Gronckles were sprawled out amongst the flowers, the Nadders were preening their vibrantly colorful scales and the Terrors were playfully scuffling with each other.
Toothless had an urge to play himself. Spreading his wings, he took off and glided about a foot over the ground, keeping himself over the flowers. He rushed past the other dragons which made them look up at watch him glide over the flowers.
Even above the flowers, Toothless could still smell their scent. The flowers' smell was full of sweetness and nostalgia. They made him think of Noserubber. Oh, how she loved to smell the flowers as well.
Toothless flapped a little higher over the flowers and began to make his way to the sky instead. The sun was nearly setting and Toothless could already make out a couple of stars popping out against the purplish-navy part of the sky.
Other Nadders, Gronckles and Terrors were flying about as well. The Nadders glided with their colorful, freshly-groomed wings stretched out on either side of them. The Gronckles' wings flapped rapidly making them resemble giant bumblebees. The Terrors kept close together, never leaving each other's side.
Although Toothless enjoyed the other dragons' company, he still wished his family could be here right beside them. He missed the evening flights they shared together.
…..
Berk
June 12
Sitting cross-legged in his front yard, Hiccup looked up from his new notebook and at the evening sky. Although the sky wasn't fully dark, Hiccup could still make out the stars that sprinkled it. He loved counting the stars at night. He had been counting them for a few nights now. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to go flying through them like swimming with fish in the ocean. If only he had a pair of his own wings to find out for sure. Sadly, Trader Johann didn't have any wings to give him. It seemed silly thinking asking a trader for wings and he felt even sillier asking him in the first place and getting teased for it as a result.
Oh, well. If he couldn't be up close with the stars up in the sky, at least he can still look up at them on the ground where he always was and always will be from the looks of it. He pointed his finger at a star to finish where he had left off.
"534, 535, 536, 537…" he muttered.
He had just gotten to 553 when the front door opened and Stoick poked his head out.
"Dinner's ready," Stoick announced. "Time to come inside, son."
Hiccup wrinkled his nose as the smell of smoked eel wafted out into the open. Not one of his favorites.
"But I'm counting the stars, Dad. I'm just up to 553," Hiccup said, hoping that would get himself out of going inside to eat eel despite knowing that there was little chance of that.
"Well, you can finish counting tomorrow night. Now come in before your eel gets cold."
Sighing, Hiccup gathered his notebook and pencil and followed his dad into the house. Stepping inside, he could see Gobber already seated at the table where three platefuls of eel were resting.
"Nothing like a smoked eel cooked the good old fashioned way, right, boys," Gobber said cheerfully.
"Right," Hiccup muttered as he seated himself and looked at the dark red Bloodvein Eel at his plate.
Cutting himself a slice, he popped it into his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut as he forced himself to chew it before swallowing it.
"Hiccup, don't make faces while eating your eel. It's good for you," Stoick said.
"Especially Bloodvein Eel," Gobber said. "Cures eel pox you know."
"How can something that's good for you taste so yucky?" Hiccup asked.
"It's a mystery, Hiccup," Gobber replied. "Still, you should consider yourself lucky you've got something "yucky" on your plate especially with those pesky dragons always pilfering half of our winter supply."
"Don't remind me, Gobber," Stoick groaned.
"Sorry, Stoick."
Hiccup knew that his father and Gobber were right so he finished his eel without complaint but not without making more faces. Gobber and Stoick had also finished their eels. Then Gobber stood up and cleared his throat.
"Now that you've finished your supper, Hiccup, I still have something very special to offer you," he announced.
"Oh, yeah, the offer," Hiccup said.
In his excitement in meeting Johann and seeing all his treasures, he had completely forgotten that Gobber had an offer for him.
"I want you to hear this too, Stoick, because it requires your approval," Gobber said.
"Very well, Gobber, I'm all ears."
"What's the offer, Gobber?" Hiccup asked.
"Well, laddie," Gobber started. "You know that I work at the forge right?"
"Right," Hiccup said. "That's where you build or fix all the weapons, right?"
"Right," Gobber said. "It's a fun job most of the time. It can also be a wee bit risky. And it can also be difficult trying to do everything all by myself. It's also a bit lonely when the only company you have are customers who are always coming and going."
"What exactly are you trying to say, Gobber?" Stoick asked.
"What I'm saying is that lately I've been thinking that I could use an assistant to help me around the forge," Gobber answered. "That's where you come in, Hiccup."
"Who, me?"
"No, Ruffnut and Tuffnut. Of course you."
"Gobber!" Stoick warned, impatience growing in his eyes.
"Sorry. Hiccup, how would you like to be my assistant?"
Hiccup's eyes and smile widened. "Really? You mean it?"
"Well, it's all right with me as long as it's all right with your dad."
"Can I, Dad?" Hiccup asked, turning to Stoick.
Stoick looked doubtful. "Well…"
"It would give him something to do in his spare time," Gobber pointed out. "A purpose, you might say."
"Yeah, Dad, a purpose!" Hiccup said excitedly.
"And it would help him bulk up some muscles that every Viking should have."
"Yeah, Dad, big, strong muscles like yours!"
"And I'll be around to keep an eye on him while you get all your chiefing done."
"Yeah, Gobber will watch me. You can trust him. Please, Dad?"
"Yeah, please, Dad?" Gobber asked with pleading puppy-dog eyes.
Stoick pondered for a moment then he said seriously, "Well, Hiccup, as long as you promise to listen to Gobber and do whatever he tells you to do."
"I promise."
"And you'll have to be extra careful when you're in the forge. Don't touch anything sharp or hot."
"I won't. I'll be very careful."
Stoick thought some more before a smile crept onto his face. "Well, then…I guess it's all right with me. You can be Gobber's assistant."
"YES!" Hiccup cried, striking the air with his fist before running to hug his father. "Thank you, Dad! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Stoick couldn't help but laugh and stroked the back of Hiccup's hair. "You're welcome, son."
"You know, I thank all the gods and goddesses in all of Valhalla that your dad said yes, Hiccup," Gobber said.
"Why do you thank them, Gobber?" Hiccup asked, turning to the blacksmith.
"Well, for one thing, I have been in desperate need of an assistant for quite some time now," Gobber said. "And for another, I've already had this made for you."
He reached into his vest and pulled out a brown child-sized apron.
Hiccup's eyes widened with excitement. "A blacksmith's apron just for me!"
Stoick shook his head. "Unbelievable, Gobber. You made him an apron before asking if he could be your assistant. What if I had said no?"
"Then I would have used it a flag to hang outside the stall," Gobber replied.
Hiccup giggled and Stoick shook his head again.
"Put it on me, put it on me!" Hiccup chirped, bouncing with excitement.
"All right, all right, Hiccup, hold still," Gobber chuckled.
"I'd better help you tie it on Gobber," Stoick offered as he and his friend knelt down behind the boy.
Hiccup was still bouncing just a little bit as Gobber brought the small apron down in front of him and Stoick tied it to his back.
"How do I look?" Hiccup asked, turning to face the two men and spreading out his arms.
"Like you're all ready for work," Gobber said proudly.
"Ooh, can we start now?" Hiccup asked excitedly.
"Hiccup, it's late," Stoick said. "Nobody works at night."
"Except maybe the Chief," Gobber added.
Stoick raised an eyebrow at his friend.
"Oh, yeah," Hiccup said, his face melting with disappointment.
"But we can start first thing tomorrow morning, if you'd like," Gobber suggested.
"Can we?" Hiccup asked, his face lit up with excitement once more.
Gobber nodded approvingly.
"All right!" Hiccup hugged his father again. "Thanks for saying yes, Dad."
"You're welcome, son," Stoick smiled, patting Hiccup's back.
Releasing himself from Stoick, Hiccup went to hug Gobber.
"And thank you for the offer, Gobber. I promise to be the best assistant you ever had."
Gobber patted Hiccup's back. "I'm sure you'll be the best assistant I will ever have."
…..
And that's Berk's introduction to Trader Johann. Looks like he is an enemy after all.
My inspiration for that sequence of Stoick telling Hiccup how Chiefs never take revenge against their people comes from one of the many deleted scenes of the franchise. I discovered the sequence in one of the bonus features from the How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World DVD and Blu-Ray. The bonus feature is entitled Creating an Epic Dragon Tale and if you stop at 3:01 of the video, you'll see Dean DeBois standing in front of a storyboard. If you look closely you'll see a square piece of paper with the sequence written on it. The sequence follows 11-year-old Hiccup being bullied by some kids and vowing to get revenge on them when he becomes Chief. Stoick overhears this and tells his son that a Chief makes the right but painful choices for his people. Here's a link to the bonus feature below:
watch?v=oYAUzIEFxiU
Although Hiccup was 11 in that sadly-deleted sequence, I wanted to add that scene and fit it somewhere into my own version of what happened long before he met Toothless.
Also, notice how the flowers Hiccup makes for his crown and the flowers Toothless smells in the meadow of his new island are the same color?