Chapter 149
Hiccups POV:
Mornings light came way too early for me knowing that today I'd once again need to deal with the chiefs and heirs constantly pestering me for things. I looked down at Blanca and saw her gently smiling in her sleep and had to say she looked so peaceful that I was actually thinking of just letting her sleep in and enjoy holding her in my arms. Fortunately, the morning light shining onto her eyes making her let out a silent groan as she turned her head away from the light while she snuggled deeper into my chest. I then heard her mutter.
"Please tell me it's not morning." I stroked her hair.
"I would but I hate lying to you too much to lie now Blanca." She sighed and snuggled deeper into my chest. "Come on Blanca I need to get up and greet the day along with the visiting tribes." I tried to get up but Blanca pushed me back into the bed.
"Just five more minutes." I chuckled.
"You know if it were like any regular day I'd have no problems just laying here in bed with you but we've got guests to deal with and I'm pretty sure members of those other tribes will be causing trouble in some way." She just sighed.
"Do you ever think you're just being paranoid?" I sighed and shook my head as I looked to the ceiling and stroked her hair.
"In my past experiences when dealing with people who have that greedy look in their eye I need to be paranoid since they often have something planned that leads to trouble."
"Isn't that why you have those little metal birds keeping an eye on them?" I shrugged.
"True but they only allow me to watch them and nothing more." She sighed.
"Hiccup just be grateful you can keep an eye on them so if they do try something you can be prepared to stop them." I nodded.
"You're right love but I'm still worried." For the first time in the morning she opened her eyes as she smiled.
"I know you're concerned but I know whatever trouble they cause you can handle it." I smiled at her. "Now go back to sleep, we were up late last night."
"And you're the one who wanted to stay up to begin with."
"Doesn't change the fact that you enjoyed it as much as I did."
"Maybe more my love but it also doesn't change the fact that I've got work I need to do today." She sighed before she sat up.
"All right but when they're gone we go back to the way things were." I smiled.
"You mean when I hold you in my arms every morning and let you wake up on your own?" She giggled and caressed my cheek.
"You forgot one important part of our morning my sweet husband." I raised an eyebrow.
"What did I forget?" She ran a thumb over my cheek.
"This!" She then leaned in and gave me a long lingering kiss before she pulled away as I just smiled.
"How could I ever forget that?" She just giggled and got off me and off the bed.
"You should get ready for the day." She picked up her dress from the floor where she left it last night. "Breakfast will be on the table in ten minutes." I nodded as I watched her dress before she left the room throwing a little more swing in her hips and I chuckled as I muttered.
"That teasing serpent." I shook my head and hopped out of bed. "Well time to get ready for my day."
I hopped out of the bed and walked over to a basin of water while picking up my pants to begin getting ready for my day with the feeling that things weren't going to be easy today. Once I was fully dressed I made my way down to the dining room where Blanca and Verta were just finishing the final touches to placing breakfast on the table. I smiled at the sight of the fresh fruit, boar meat and bread on the table along with a picture of water in the middle for all of us to enjoy. It was then they noticed me and smiled as Blanca said.
"We're almost done preparing breakfast Hiccup, could you go wake up Dagur and Mala for breakfast?" I nodded.
"For you my sweet, anything." She just giggled as Verta rolled her eyes while I made my way up to the guest room where they were sleeping.
Five minutes later
We were all sitting down at the Breakfast table enjoying the food with Mala enjoying dried boar meat with a sliced up orange and apple between it. I didn't know what it tasted like but I doubt it was nice but she was pregnant so she had cravings but as I looked at her pregnant belly, I turned to Blanca and I couldn't help but picture Blanca with a pregnant belly carrying our own little bundle of joy. I was brought out of my daydream when Dagur asked.
"So brother, any plans for today?" I turned to him.
"Dealing with the visiting chiefs and heirs along with their people."
"You make it sound like a bad thing." I raised an eyebrow.
"Are you kidding?" He opened his mouth to reply. "Did you see the looks in their eyes?" He raised an eyebrow. "They had a look in their eyes that I know all too well since whenever I see that look it means all chances of a peaceful quiet day have gone up in flames." I groaned and looked down at my plate. "Chances are chief Nigren's going to drive me nuts when I go to the village." Mala replied.
"Sounds like you have experience with him." I looked up at her.
"I do from the last time him and his family visited Berk to sign a peace agreement." I threw my head back. "Three days I had to deal with him pestering me, first to try and arrange meetings with foreign traders and when I beat his son it was to be his daughter bodyguard." Dagur then said.
"I can understand your annoyance brother, he doesn't seem like the guy who knows how to accept a simple no."
"And his daughter doesn't get when a guy just isn't interested." I then looked up. "Then there are the members of the Spearwing tribe." Verta then asked.
"You mean that tribe of hunters who tried to buy your animals?" I nodded.
"I have the feeling that they'll be causing some trouble later on." Everyone nodded as Dagur said.
"Now that's something I can believe." I turned to him.
"You know them?" He nodded.
"We've run into each other during my younger days and I can guarantee Lokiroht is not someone who gives up what he wants easily nor is that heir of his."
"So what do you recommend I do?"
"I recommend you have someone keep an eye on them." Blanca placed a hand on my lower arm making me turn to her.
"Hiccup, don't you have one of those small bird automatons watching them?" I smiled at her.
"Blanca you're as smart as you are beautiful." She just blushed and looked down in embarrassment with a small smile as Mala asked.
"Small bird automatons?" I turned to her.
"Small automatons I designed to look like small birds with peer stones connected to my eye allowing me to see what they see so I can keep an eye on things." Dagur then said.
"And you have one of them watching the Spearwing tribe?" I smiled.
"I have one watching all the tribes."
"Well then check up on the other tribes." I nodded and activated the connection.
"Let's see now." Images started appearing in my left eye replacing the dining room table. "The Wave Breakers and Storm Tamers are just getting up, Bone Crushers are doing morning stretches, Stone Cutters are just getting off their ship, Moon Cutters and Grown Hills are sleeping in and the Spearwing tribe is-" I paused seeing Lokiroht, Vaatu and a group of men were looking over a rough sketch of my map.
"What's going on with the Spearwings brother?" I watched, as Lokiroht pointed at a section on the map that I now saw was a rough drawing of my island.
"It looks like they're planning a little visit to my island."
He opened his mouth to reply but I held up my hand and watched Lokiroht pointed at different sections of my island while he spoke about the different animals in the sections since I could hear him through the peerstone. From what he said he'd be keeping me busy this afternoon so the men could sneak onto my island to capture my animals and a few of my dragons. I growled hearing how he intended to hunt them down when they were back on their own island where they'd also have free rain on them without me being able to do anything about it. I could see Vaatu was eager to skin them and watch the life die from their eyes while Zeva on the other hand was just looking forward to getting her hands on their pelts so she could turn them into dresses for her own use. She claimed the jaguars pelts were unique and going to make others green with envy due their beauty and unique patterns. I growled at the sight of them before I wondered what I should do about them until I heard Lokiroht said.
"Alright boys, you all know what to do while we keep the boy busy and remember to deliver the caged beasts into the hidden compartment on my ship." He then smirked. "By the time the lad realizes his pets are gone, they'll be in the secret store room and he'll have no proof that we're the ones who stole them." They all laughed as I clenched my fists in anger while I growled but stopped when I felt a hand on my fist and turned to see Blanca looking at me in concern as she asked.
"Hiccup, what's wrong?"
"That beast Lokiroht is planning to steal my animals while I'm on Berk today so he can hunt them down on his own island with Vaatu." Hearing this she hissed letting her scales come out a bit.
"We should confront him." I sighed and shook my head.
"It'll just be my word against his word."
"We can't just let him send men to come and steal the animals." I knew how protective Blanca was since she'd gotten close to some of the animals before an idea came to me.
"Maybe we should let them come to the island." They all looked at me as if I was crazy but before anyone could say anything I continued. "They don't know that we know so we have time to prepare for them." I then turned to Verta. "Verta gather the snake guardians, we've got to prepare for our guests." She smiled.
"Consider it done master." I rolled my eyes when she said this as she stood up and began to walk out but stopped and turned back to me. "By the way there are times I wonder what my sister saw in you to make her fall for you but then you get that mad glint in your eye and I know why." Before I could reply Blanca wrapped her arms around my real arm.
"Verta that's not what made me fall for him." She then leaned her head on my shoulder. "But I will admit I do love when he gets that glint in his eye." She looked up at me. "Makes my heart beat a bit faster." I blushed before Dagur said.
"I'm all for romance and all but could you two save it for after breakfast?" I turned to him and nodded.
"You didn't hear me complain when you and Mala were all lovey dovey during the time we were at war with the dragon hunters." That shut him up as I stood up. "Now if you'll all excuse me, I need to go get Toothless and talk to the snake guardians."
Five minutes later
I was sitting on my throne in the snake guardians cave, Blanca on her own throne next to me, Toothless sitting on my left side and Zhang Yong sitting on Blanca's right. I watched as the last of the snake guardians slithered into the room before Verta jumped to the front and kneeled before me while bowing as she said.
"Everyone is present and awaiting your orders master!" I smiled and nodded.
"Thank you Verta." She just nodded and took a few steps back into the crowd. "As you all know Berk is currently hosting multiple visitors from different tribes including the Chief of the Spearwing tribe Lokiroht and his heir Vaatu." There were nods from the guardians. "The Spearwing tribe are a tribe who specialize in hunting and Lokiroht enjoys hunting exotic animals and after the tour yesterday he's laid his eyes on our islands animal inhabitants wanting to hunt them for pelts." There were cries of outrage since most of them had grown fond of my animals but I held up my prosthetic hand up silencing them. "He tried buying them from me but I turned him down flat out without hesitation." There were murmurs. "Sadly Chief Lokiroht doesn't take no for an answer but I have one of my Scouter automatons keeping an eye on him so I know what's coming today." All murmuring came to an end and silence filled the room. "He plans to keep me busy while a group of his men sneak onto the island to steal the animals which they will then hunt down on their own island where I won't be able to do anything." There were cries of anger and outrage until I held up my hand silencing them. "Fortunately we have a few things that give us an advantage which he doesn't know about." Silence filled the room. "He doesn't know that I know nor does Chief Lokiroht or his men know about the existence of you all as those of you he did see were in your snake forms which gives us the element of surprise." Verta then stepped forward.
"What is the plan master?"
"His men are coming here to hunt and being from the Spearwing tribe they know what it's like to hunt but what I want you all to do is turn these hunters into the hunted." There were murmurs of confusion as they turned to each other hoping they might know what I meant but they were all silenced when I held my hand. "I want you to allow them to come onto the island and enter the environments but keep the animals hidden." I then smiled. "When you feel they're in deep enough pick them off one by one using hunting methods to lure them away or distract them." I then held my hand up. "And when they're alone" I closed my hand into a fist. "take them down hard but make sure their comrades don't hear you." They all smiled. "And just to plant a little fear and unease in the remaining hunters leave something of the ones you abduct." They all nodded. "As for those you capture, take them straight to the dungeon until I get back and from there we'll decide what to do with them." I then stood up. "Remember when you see those men show them what happens when you try to steal what belongs to us and hurt those we care about and show them the fear their prey feels." They all cheered at this as I walked down the steps. "Now if you'll all excuse me I need to get to Berk and will send Ikan with a letter letting you all know when the people are on the way and when they get here make sure they find out what the true meaning of fear is." They all cheered at this as I made my way out with Toothless, Blanca and Zhang Yong following.
3 hours later
I was making my way up to the great hall with Blanca on my arm, Toothless at my side and Zhang Yong walking next to Blanca with a smile on my face. We'd arrived on Berk two hours ago after I spent one hour helping my animals into the various buildings in the environments they called home so they'd be safe during the hunt. When we arrived on Berk I spent one hour talking to my parents explaining what I learnt the Spearwing tribe was up to and what I was doing about it. My parents weren't too happy to hear about Lokiroht planning to steal from me but I told them that I had it all under control and they didn't need to worry. I sent Ikan back with a message to the snake guardians half an hour ago after I saw Lokiroht send out his men shortly after he found out I arrived on Berk and through the eyes of my Scouter and saw the group of fifteen men had finished unloading their gear and were getting ready to begin hunting. I smiled before Blanca asked.
"What are you smiling about?" I turned to her.
"Our islands unwanted guests are about to embark on their little hunt." She smiled.
"I hope they learn what happens when you come onto our home and try to hurt our animals."
"Blanca, with your people dealing with them I have no doubt that those hunters are going to be having nightmares for months after today."
She giggled before we entered the great hall and made our way to where Dagur and Mala were eating and we made our way to them. When we sat down they smiled at us before Dagur whispered.
"So has the hunt begun brother?" I smiled.
"It has!" I took a sip of my drink. "Those poor hunters don't know what's waiting for them in those jungles." Dagur chuckled.
"I'd love to see the looks on their faces."
"Don't worry, I'll give you an accurate description on each." We were brought out of our conversation when Chief Bassmouth walked up with three leather bags the size of my fist walked up. "Good day chief Bassmouth and how are you today." He looked at me.
"I'm fine lad but I was wondering if you'd thought about my request for those ship designs?" I nodded.
"I'm still thinking about it sir." He then held up the three bags.
"I'll trade you those designs for these." He dropped the bags onto the table allowing them to open and reveal their contents. "There are a few benefits to belonging to a tribe of sea nomads." I looked into the bags and gasped since one was full of blue pearls, one was full of black pearls and the other purple peals. "Pearls of this color and quality aren't easy to come by." I picked one up from each of the bag and examined them. "If you're worried about them being fakes then don't be because I don't con people." I nodded.
"Alright chief Bassmouth you've got yourself a deal but what designs would you like."
"The ones for your fishing boat, the long travel one and that one you use to carry large loads." I nodded.
"Fortunately I was hoping to discuss business with you and brought the designs with me." He smiled until I had my spider packs legs come out of my coats back making him jump back with a yelp. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you." He opened his mouth to reply but closed when the legs seemed to stab into my back and pull out the designs in cylindrical containers and offered them to him. "You'll find the designs in these containers." He just stared at me before he shouted.
"WHAT IN ODIN'S NAME ARE THOSE THINGS COMING OUT OF YOUR BACK?" This caught the attention of everyone as I had the legs place the containers on the table and pull back into the coat.
"Relax, they're part of my spider pack." I took off my Grootslang coat and turned around to show him my pack and saw him back up into a crowd that had now formed. "This pack was forged from the skull of a jorogumo I defeated in Japan and has been a major asset to me in many of my travels with its abilities." Chief Grant then asked.
"What's a jorogumo and what can that thing do?" I turned to him as I created an illusion of the jorogumo I faced next to me.
"A jorogumo is a spider demon from Japan that lures men in with her human form only to kill and devour them." I ended the illusion. "As for my spider pack, it can hold multiple items while not only remaining light as a feather but also seeming to have endless space." He nodded. "It's also a powerful weapon." Nakala then asked.
"How can that thing be a weapon when it's just a fancy satchel." She raised her goblet to her lips but before it could touch her I had the top left leg raise and launch a red crystal that struck the goblet and knocking it out of her hand making her turn to me.
"Along with that, these legs can strike with incredible speed and enough strength to punch through metal." I then walked over to the wall. "Plus they have enough strength to carry me up mountainsides." I had the legs spread out and begin carrying me up the wall. "Very handy thing to have around." I then lowered myself back down. "Now if that is all." I turned to chief Bassmouth. "A pleasure doing business with you chief Bassmouth." I had the legs grab the bags of pearls and throw them into the mouth of my spider pack while Bassmouth just nodded. "Now if you'll all excuse me my lunch is waiting for me so if you have any more questions please save them till after I've eaten." Everyone nodded as I put my coat back on and returned to my meal while secretly watching the hunters now on my island who were now searching my Mayan jungle with my snake guardians watching before I whispered. "And the hunt begins." I then took a bite out of my chicken leg while secretly enjoying the show on my island as one of the men near the back was just grabbed by the legs and pulled into the bushes by one of my snakes using his tail.
Nightfall
All the men on my island were officially captured while the chiefs and heirs had officially taken an interest in my equipment with Chief Nigren asking how much my spiderpack would cost. I turned him down flat out claiming it was not for sale but he was nothing if not persistent and kept making me ridiculous offers. Sadly he wasn't the only chief annoying me since after lunch was finished the chiefs all asked for a demonstration of my entire arsenal god made weapons and some of the other gifts. This took three hours and reminded me of why I didn't show them my weapons yesterday since I wanted them off my island as soon as possible. I could tell my weapons had gained a lot of attention, mainly from the Bone Crusher tribe, Chief Gilford, Nail, Crystal, Rayne and a few other people who wanted to buy them from me. Most of them including Chieftess Marrow stopped bothering me after I told them that the weapons only worked for me and allowed some people to try hold them and got a good laugh when I saw the defenses activate and cause trouble for them. This got more people off my back about it but sadly more than a few of the people didn't get the fact that only I could wield them and claimed that the weapons needed a strong will to use them.
Now I was making my way up the steps of the great hall with three of my Anubis warriors, on either side of the line of men my snake guardians captured on my island between them. The men were shackled together by the feet and their hands were shackled behind their back ensuring they wouldn't escape or try anything. Leading this group behind me was Blanca and Verta with Toothless and Zhang Yong following at my sides. When we reached the doors I signaled everyone to stop and turned to them as I said.
"Come in only when the doors open." They all nodded as I turned to Verta. "Verta come in with us and wait for my signal to open the doors."
She nodded and we walked in to the great hall before my eyes landed on chief Lokiroht who was talking with Nail and my fists clenched. Blanca put a hand on my shoulder making me turn to her as she gave me a look that clearly told me to calm down and wait for the time to strike. I nodded before I walked up to chief Lokiroht who stopped eating to look at me when my shadow landed on him. He had an almost mocking smile on his face as he said.
"Can I help you with something lad?" I gave him a fake smile.
"I just wanted to return something to you." He raised an eyebrow as I turned to Verta and signaled her to be ready to open the door to which she smiled. "I believe these belong to you." I snapped my fingers and Verta opened the door before the men were lead in by my Anubis warriors and brought to him as he stared in shock while I glared at him."Did you honestly think you could get away with trying to kidnap my animals?" His eyes widened as he choked on his drink but before he could reply I held up my hand. "Save your excuses, all of your men already confessed after they were captured." He stared at me and growled.
"Fine, you caught me lad but I wouldn't have needed to do this if you'd just sold those beasts to me to begin with and when you refused what was I supposed to do." Blanca answered.
"You could have just accepted my husbands decision." He turned to her.
"You stay out this you filthy foreigner." My blood boiled at this before I switched my arm into its dragon claw form while grabbing chief Lokiroht by the throat with my real hand as I threateningly whispered.
"You talk to my wife like that again" I held up the dragons claw while channeling a red crystal igniting the palm. "And you won't like the consequences." He gulped. "Now keep your men off my island or the next ones won't be returned to you alive."
I thrust him back into the table and began walking to the front door where Verta was waiting but before I could reach it she gasped at something. I turned around to see Nail charging at me with a dagger raised but before he could reach me Blanca stepped in front of me and hit him with a blast of her magic throwing him back into the pillar. All conversation came to an end as everyone turned to see what happened before chief Gilford asked.
"What was that?" I wrapped an arm around Blanca's waist.
"A little bit of magic." Blanca let out a small flow of magic taking the shape of white ribbons.
"Your wife knows magic?" I nodded as Blanca said.
"My magic's mostly used for combat and occasionally other things but nothing to manipulate the mind." They all nodded as Chieftess Marrow asked.
"Where'd you learn magic lass?"
"It comes with my species."
"Your species?" I turned to her to ask her if she thought this was wise but she turned to me.
"Hiccup, with the men who are outside people are going to find out." Chief Grant asked.
"Find out what exactly?" I sighed.
"When I first met Blanca she'd lost her memories and didn't know about her magic or what she was capable of and I promised to help her find out the truth." He nodded. "As we travelled together though I began to develop feelings for her and before I knew it I'd irreversibly fallen in love with her." She smiled at me. "And when we discovered the truth about her my feelings didn't change a bit." I turned to her. "Despite the fact that she felt we needed to part ways and shouldn't meet again." Blanca then leaned her head against my shoulder I wrapped my arm around her.
"I was mistaken to ever think that." I smiled at her before chieftess Luna asked.
"Why did you think you two couldn't be together?" Blanca looked at her.
"I believed we couldn't be together because at the time I believed the world was heartless." She began to change into her human snake form making everyone gasp and back up in shock. "For centuries my race had been lead to believe that were demons when in truth we were meant to be guardians of the people." I then continued.
"That lead snake demon I told you all about in my trophy room was the one who deceived them for centuries until she betrayed her people and drained them of their power." Blanca turned back to her human form. "When she fell I met with the gods and the one who created her before I was given command of the snake guardians." I then smiled at Blanca. "And given the right to marry the white snake who I'd fallen in love with." She smiled and leaned into me before Ulrik then said.
"So you chose to marry a slimy snake monster over a normal human." He crossed his arms. "Who would have thought that a man who fights monsters would end up marrying one?" My fists clenched. "I always thought you took a few blows to the head but to marry a freak," He shrugged. "there must be something wro-" That was as far as he got before I used my ox flame boots speed mode to slam into him and have him pinned against the wall by the neck with my real arm while my prosthetic arm in its dragon claw form was pulled back to strike him.
"Don't you dare insult my Blanca, I risked my life and was willing to give up my humanity to be with her and I'd do it again in a heart beat and you know why?" He opened his mouth to reply but I answered. "Because I'd had chances at love before but let them slip through my fingers and I wasn't going to make the same mistake with Blanca."
"But you had tons of girls breaking down the door to get you including my sister." I snorted.
"Those girls only cared about the fame, fortune and what they could get by marrying me." I loosened my grip. "Blanca looked at me and wanted me for the person inside, not my fortune, not my connections, not my fame, not anything else and for me finding a girl like that is very rare and whenever I did they'd be taken from me." I looked down in sadness before I turned back to Ulrik as my eye patch unwound revealing the eye of the dragon. "I am only going to say this one more time, if you ever insult my Blanca again then I'll won't be so gentle." I then lunged forward so our eyes met. "Got it?" He gulped and nodded. "Good." I then let him go and dropped him to the ground and for a moment there was silence until Umbra asked
"Excuse me Hiccup but may I ask how you and Blanca came together?" I smiled at her as I walked back to Blanca's side.
"Now that is a question I'm happy to answer." I turned to Blanca who smiled. "I'm always happy to show how I met the woman I love." I held up my prosthetic after returning it to its usual form and released my golden spider before I began the illusion of how Blanca and I came together.
2 hours later
I'd just brought my illusion of how Blanca and me met, to an end with everyone staring as I said.
"And that Vikings and shield maidens is how me and Blanca came together." I looked around to see everyone staring while Umbra was dabbing her eyes with a piece of material as she said.
"That was so romantic." I nodded.
"Thankyou, now if you will all excuse me, it's late and I believe all of us should be getting to bed." Everyone nodded as I made my way to the door with Blanca on my arm. "Have a pleasant evening everyone." With that said we left.
Five days later
It's been five days since I showed everyone what happened when I first met Blanca and in that time a lot has happened both with the visiting tribes and me. To begin with most of them have accepted Blanca for what she is but there were still a few people who looked at her with either fear or disgust but we just ignored them. Besides that I'd made friends with a few of the visitors like Geode who as it turns out was the runt of his tribe but was treated well for his knowledge on rocks. When I first delivered the stone samples to him he asked me more than a few questions about them such as where they came from and what they were used for. Then there's Sea Breeze who spent a large amount of time on my island in the jungle since she loved swinging on the branches and vines with my monkeys. I couldn't fault her for this nor could I deny I enjoyed joking around with her when I was enjoying a run through the jungle. I'd also been talking to Levi and learnt he dreamed to be one of the world's greatest explorer which is why he was interested in my maps and I was happy to lend him a few to a few places like Alexandria and Rome but not places like the Mayan cities or the Indian lands since I didn't want them messing around in the more isolated places. Then there's Umbra who was interested in my farming methods since she liked gardening and she was a kind girl who enjoyed helping out her people.
Of course things weren't all great since I had to deal with the broken hearts or plans of the bridal candidates and their chiefs but the main bridal candidates who were causing me trouble were Freya and Stella. Freya flirted with me nonstop whenever Blanca wasn't around despite the fact that I told her I was happy with my marriage to Blanca. Stella on the other hand was a bit more difficult to deal with but fortunately Umbra warned me about her and what she was like. Apparently she was as good at manipulating people like chieftess Luna but unlike chieftess Luna she manipulated people to get what she wanted. She'd almost gotten me a few times but I was always able to figure out her game and get out of her trap before she could trick me into giving her my dragon training secrets or where my vault was. The whole reason I didn't show them my vault during the tour since I knew it would mean I'd never get a moments peace since more than a few of them would be constantly bothering me or having their bridal candidate try to get me so they'd have a clean shot at my fortune. This would of course put Blanca in danger since I wouldn't put it past them to try and do something to her to get to me.
Besides that I'd also had to help Astrid out with a few things such as dealing with some of the single male visitors who were trying to get her into their beds. One of the main people though was Ulrik who figured since I was married Astrid was once again on the market so he once again began trying to woo her. Unfortunately his father was too busy trying to convince me to sell to him to help his son by offering them a marriage contract but sadly this made Ulrik more determined in his efforts. He once even tried spying on Astrid when she was changing by peeking in through her bedroom window but Verta was doing a patrol of the village for me and caught him before he saw anything. His father was discussing business with me at the time so when he was brought to him he just said boys were boys and told Verta to leave him alone so we could continue our business. Sufficed to say I wasn't happy with him brushing off his sons behavior and brought an end to our meeting right then and there.
Things haven't all been fun and trouble though since there's also been business between the visiting tribes members and me. Chief Grant for example gave me five of his tribes' best statues in exchange for ten sets of gronkle iron tools made for sculpting and mining. Chieftess Marrow bought a whole mess of the weapons I keep in my armory for three chests of gold, which were sent straight to my vault but it caught the eye of a few people. Sadly Chief Nigren was one of the more annoying people who would not leave me alone when it comes to what he wanted. He kept bugging me no matter what I said I was doing and I'm including when I was using the outhouse or just enjoying some peace with Blanca. He wanted my ship shed designs and my bathhouse designs badly despite the fact that I wasn't interested in selling to him after what his son called my wife. The only peace I seemed to get when I was in Berk now was when I was helping Gobber in the forge catch up on the orders that had piled up since Gobber had to help out with the visiting tribes.
Now I was enjoying the peace in my library while Blanca and Verta were taking a bath with Umbra who requested the use of the bath for tonight's party where we'd finally be saying goodbye to the visiting tribes. As I sat there on my chair quietly reading with Zhang Yong snoozing at my feet while the ladies were busy preparing for the evening I couldn't help but wonder what those girls were talking about. I knew it was none of my business and I just needed to let them enjoy their privacy since if I sent in one of my scouters to spy on them Blanca would kill me. For now it was best I just relaxed and enjoyed the peace, Odin knows I wasn't going to get any at the party.
Bathhouse
Nobodies POV:
The girls were in the changing room taking off their clothes except Umbra who was twitching nervously seeing Blanca and Verta undress so casually. This was something both girls noticed so Verta said.
"There's no need to be shy, we're all girls here." Umbra looked down.
"It's not that." She looked down. "You're both beautiful while I'm just ugly." They both stared at her before Blanca asked.
"What makes you say that?" She looked at them.
"My entire generation." She looked down in sadness. "When I was younger they'd always make fun of me and tell me how I should cover myself up like my mother so I did." Verta then said.
"I'm guessing you were the runt when you were younger." She nodded before Blanca said.
"Hiccup was tormented when he was younger to with everyone calling him weak but he didn't let them define his life." She walked up to Umbra. "And like my husband you mustn't let their words define how you see yourself when I'm sure beneath your shroud you're beuatiful." She then gently placed her hand on Umbra's shoulder. "Now show us the beauty you have hidden under your shroud." Umbra smiled and nodded.
"Alright, I trust you but promise you'll try not to be disgusted by my ugly face." Verta then said.
"You seem to have forgotten that we grow scale on our faces and turn into snakes." She nodded and slowly undressed removing her shroud last allowing her long brown hair to flow down between her shoulders while also framing her face as Blanca and Verta stared making her look down in sadness.
"I told you I'm ugly." Blanca replied.
"You look beautiful." She looked at her.
"Really?" She nodded.
"Yes, you really need to have a little more faith in yourself and your appearance." She nodded. "If you still don't believe us then after we're done in the bath I'll lend you a dress I made to go to the party in and you can ask some of the people there their opinion on your looks." She nodded with a smile as Verta said.
"Come on, let's go take that bath now." They both nodded before they all made their way to the bath where the steaming water was waiting for them.
One hour later
Hiccups POV:
I was making my way up the stairs of the great hall with Blanca on my arm while Verta and Umbra were following behind us. Verta was wearing a mist green kimono with her hair tied back forming two rings that sagged behind her head and Umbra was wearing a navy blue kimono with light blue star patterns on it with her hair in a loose braid that went back down behind her back. I admit when I first saw her face I was shocked since it was the first time I'd ever seen her without her shroud and she was drop dead gorgeous but still in my eyes she didn't match Blanca in beauty, she came close though. I could see Umbra was nervous but Verta reassured her as I pushed open the doors and lead them in. When Umbra walked in though many men stopped talking to stare at her as chieftess Luna walked up smiling as she said.
"It's been a long time since I last saw your face Umbra, I was beginning to forget what you looked like." She just smiled at her mother before she answered.
"Blanca and Verta convinced me to lift my shroud and show my face to everyone." She turned to Blanca and Verta.
"Good work you two, I've been trying to get her to show her face for years and she never listens." She then turned to me. "Be careful Hiccup, if they can convince my daughter to show her face then there's no telling what they can convince you to do." I just chuckled.
"Don't worry." I wrapped an arm around Blanca. "The things she convinces me to do are things I'm always happy to do." Blanca blushed and gently swatted my chest as Luna just smiled and walked away as she said.
"Oh, to be young and in love again." I just rolled my eyes and walked into the Great Hall with Blanca on my arm knowing it was going to be a long night.
Three hours later
The party lasted three straight hours and two minutes into it I was ready to slam my head into the wall all because chief Nigren was still trying to buy my designs. He offered to take me down to his ship claiming he only had his top merchandise out to trade for my bathhouse and ship shed designs. He pestered me for an hour before Blanca convinced me to go down and at least see what he was offering in exchange for my designs. On the deck of his ship he had it all, furs, clothes, weapons, jewelry, books and so much more but all these things had one thing in common and that was none of them interested me since I had most of these things including the books he was offering. He wasn't happy when I turned him down claiming he knew the reason why and when I asked him what he thought it was he claimed I wouldn't sell to him because I hate him.
When he said this I let out a short chuckle at this before I told him that wasn't the reason why I wouldn't sell to him, he simply just didn't have anything I wanted, needed or didn't already have. I then explained that he may annoy me with his constant pestering, his daughters constant flirting and talking bad about my wife and his son may be a major pain in my butt however despite all this I didn't hate him but respected him for looking out for his people. After that I left his ship but not before he told me that he might not have anything I want now I'd not heard the last of him and that nobody says no to him. After that we returned to the party to try and enjoy the evening and I had to deal with people trying to take one more shot at convincing me to train dragons for them. I did have a little bit of a laugh when Umbra couldn't get a moments peace since she found herself constantly surrounded by boys flirting with her. When she was able to talk to me and Blanca she told us she was considering putting her shroud back on since the attention she was getting was driving her nuts and she liked it better when they were ignoring her. The rest of the night was spent trying to enjoy the party but it was a hard thing to do with how everyone kept pestering Blanca and I. The only upside was that Verta was also having a hard time since despite her being a snake more than a few men found her to be attractive and wanted to either make her their wife or just spend the night with her in their bed. One of them made the mistake of actually giving her a slap on her ass, which resulted in her releasing her tail and using it to slap him into the wall.
Nobody messed with her after that and when the night was over I could not have been happier since it was not only an end to the nightmare that was the party but also the end of something else. This was the final night I'd need to deal with the visiting tribes and I'd be able to go back to simply enjoying my days either on my island working or enjoying a walk through the village. Things I could not enjoy since while the visitors were here I needed to spend my days on Berk socializing with the visitors and whenever I did set foot into the village I was constantly swarmed by our guests. Tomorrow I was going to be happy when they left since it also meant I wouldn't have to deal with Freya and Stella's constant flirting. I was looking forward to having the peace return to my life but what chief Nigren said made me worry since I knew I'd be dealing with him in the future. I just hoped this trouble wouldn't affect Blanca, my tribe or Astrid since she'd already had enough trouble because of Ulriks constant attempts to claim her as his.
AN: And with this chapter I bring an end to this Berk adventure and shall be moving onto a new adventure in the next chapter. For those of you who are wondering if we shall see Chief Nigren and his family again the answer is yes since there's more to their tribe than meets the eye. Anyway don't forget to review kindly and enjoy your day but stay safe in these troubling times with COVID-19 causing so much pain in the world. Till next time this is Porcupain signing out.