Dagur watched the older Berserker walk away. As he did, the redhead started pacing. He was unsure what he wanted to do. The chief did not want to go to Heather. It would just ruin the good time she was having, getting to know Oswald. He also did not want to go to the dragons. He was in no mood to fly or play catch. The Berserker was not so angry anymore that he worried about anyone's safety, but he still felt terrible.
"Bad, Dagur," he thought, frowning. "He and Heather had so much fun out there today. You probably just ruined it for them both now."
With a sigh, the Viking decided he would go to a watchtower to see if he could spot anything. As he did, Oswald was furiously marching towards the docks. The man stopped when he saw the familiar face of an older Berserker.
"Ingrid, hello," he greeted.
"Hello, Oswald."
"How have you and your lad been? His name's Arne, isn't it?"
This made the woman's demeanor turn sullen. Oswald could tell and felt concerned.
"What happened? Is he in Valhalla?"
"No, he's in prison."
Oswald's eyes widened. "Great Thor. I didn't even notice. I just went there. Why?"
"He was part of a coup against the chief and Heather."
This made the man's eyes widen even more until it seemed that they might pop out of his head. "A-a coup? When? How-why did this happen?"
The mother sighed unhappily. "He did not want to be allies with the Berkians. He and his friends worked with Savage to usurp the throne."
"Who's Savage?"
"He was one of Alvin's Outcasts until he joined us. Then, he was Dagur's right hand for a while."
Oswald continued to feel confused. "What do you mean 'for a while?' Wasn't it just until they broke out of prison?"
Ingrid shook her head. "No, Sir. Personally, I thought Dagur became much more violent after prison."
"After? What did he do then?"
"He raided villages, other Vikings' ships, continued to pursue the Dragon Riders, and then joined the Dragon Hunters."
Oswald's face was pale and he felt ill. The mother saw this and stepped forward. He lifted a hand to stop her.
"I'm fine. I just…need to sit down, I think."
The Berserker stumbled away from her until he got on the ship. Oswald felt like he could not get there quickly enough. As soon as he got to the edge of the ship, he leaned on the side and breathed in the salty air. It reduced his feelings of nausea, but his head continued to spin.
"My son," he thought miserably, "is a monster. How could he make it seem like he started a war and then turned over a new leaf? I thought he spent those years working to become a better person, but he only got worse."
Another wave of sickness hit the man and it nearly won. He leaned over the edge just in case but was glad that it was not necessary.
"Raids," he lamented. "He was part of raids. Berserkers haven't done that since we had Skrills." A troubling thought occurred to the man and he put a hand to his mouth. "If he was working with the Hunters, what if he still is? Maybe this was all a ploy of his. He never changed. He's just fooled Heather somehow into thinking he has. My sweet, naive daughter. She's oblivious to his cruel ways." Oswald let out a gasp. "That's probably why he went searching for me. Despite what everyone thought, he knew he didn't kill me yet. He wants to now so that I won't be a problem. Heather's a problem too with that dragon of hers. He'll kill us both in our sleep before we know it! I've got to warn her!"
Oswald rushed off the ship in search of Heather. He found her walking around the village and nearly tackled the brunette to the ground.
"Dad!" she yelped in surprise. "What's wrong? Are we under attack?"
"Not yet," he said in a hushed voice, eyes shifting to see any possible danger. "We will be soon. I'm certain of it."
Heather felt herself becoming anxious, then paused to consider something. "Dad's not used to the Flyers and Hunters being around. This might all be too much for him right now. Until he remembers everything, I think it'll be better if he doesn't get involved in any more fights with them. It's making him paranoid."
"Dad," she said reassuringly, "it's going to be okay. We'll be fine and keep our people safe."
"It won't be okay unless we hide from him."
"'Him?'"
Before Oswald could answer, they heard the sound of another signal being called. The man nearly leapt out of his skin. Heather only felt more pity because of this.
"Maybe you should go home and rest," she suggested.
"No! I'm not leaving you again. Not until this is settled."
The last thing Heather wanted to deal with was another attack at that moment. Hesitantly, she began approaching the watchtower, but she did not see Flyers or Hunters. Instead, she saw dragons heading to the stable. The Berkians were saying goodbye to their reptilian friends for the time being and Hiccup was in the middle of one of Dagur's signature hugs. Futilely, the Berkian was trying to breathe, but he gave up and decided he could survive without air long enough for the chief to let go. With a smile, Heather ran up to join them.
"Astrid!" she exclaimed happily.
The visitor hugged her. "We heard about you finding Oswald. I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks!"
Fishlegs nodded. "How's it been having the family back together?"
Heather's smile faltered slightly and her eyes moved to her brother. The blonds followed her gaze to Dagur who had just released Hiccup.
"Is it that bad?" Astrid asked.
"It's not bad per se," Heather told her. "It's really great for the most part. It's just…it's different for me than it is for Dagur."
Tuffnut heard her and came over. "Of course it is! I mean, you didn't pretend to kill Oswald and then have to start acting like family again. Talk about awkward."
The Berkians and Berserkers turned to him, an uncomfortable silence occurring. Snotlout rolled his eyes at the twin.
"Yeah, awkward like it is right now."
Dagur had a slight frown on his face as he looked at the ground. Stoick had accompanied the other Berkians and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Awkwardness between a father and son doesn't mean there isn't care," the elder Viking said.
The Berserker gave him an appreciative smile. "Thanks. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you. He's always thought of you as a friend."
"I'm glad," Stoick said. "I consider him the same."
The Vikings started to leave the stables, but Heather stopped them.
"Before you all see him, his memory isn't exactly accurate," she said.
"How inaccurate is it?" Hiccup asked.
"He thinks I grew up here."
The Berkians' eyes widened.
"Neither of you told him?"
"I didn't want to," Heather admitted. "So, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't either."
The visitors glanced at one another, then shrugged.
"We won't tell him," Astrid promised.
"Thanks! It's just for a few more days now."
The brunette turned to lead them where she had last seen the father, but he was gone. Heather frowned in confusion.
"He was just here. I'm not sure where he went. With this crowd, it might take some time to spot him."
"I'm good at finding people," Dagur volunteered. "I'll get him if you show everyone the post-Gushat changes we've made."
Snotlout laughed in triumph. "I'm never going to get tired of him being called that."
The redhead smirked at the Jorgenson and kept walking. He soon realized that the twins were following him.
"I thought you would go with the others," he said.
"Berserker Island isn't berserk when you're not around," Tuff complained.
"It's boring," Ruff added.
"Yeah, I can relate to feeling that way. I guess, some extra eyes can't hurt."
"And we've got the best eyes this side of the Archipelago!" Tuff cheered.
"That side too!" Ruff said, pointing. "All sides!"
Dagur began wondering if they would be more helpful or distracting, but he did not mind the distraction. They were getting his mind off Oswald even though the man was precisely where his thoughts needed to be if the search was to be successful. Dagur noticed his father's tracks on the ground and followed them, shooing Tuffnut out the way when the Berkian kept pouncing on the grass to get a better look.
"You know, you kind of mess them up when you do that," the Berserker commented.
"Yeah," Ruffnut chided. "You have to do it like this."
The blonde dropped to her stomach and moved like an inchworm along the side of the tracks. Seeing this made Dagur laugh.
"Okay, that's technically better. Slower though." He spotted a raven-colored braid rushing into a building. "Well, thanks, you two for the company because your actual searching was awful. I just found him."
Dagur left the siblings to go into the building. It was one of their armories. He had an unsure but hopeful smile on his face when he saw Oswald. This expression was not shared by the other man. Oswald looked positively terrified. He held a shield up to his chest.
"Don't get any closer," he requested.
The redhead stopped approaching and stepped back. He could see the fear on Oswald's face. Dagur had been the cause of terror for so many Vikings, but none stung as much as seeing that look in his father's eyes. He took a breath and held up his hands peacefully.
"I won't," he promised. "I won't hurt you, though. It's me."
"I know who you are, Dagur," Oswald said. "I know exactly who you are now. You won't kill Heather and me."
"You're right! That's the last thing I want to do."
Oswald moved further back towards the wall. "Why should I believe that?"
"Because you're my family," Dagur said passionately. "I'd never hurt either of you."
"Just everyone else, hmm? Don't give me that 'new Viking' yak dung. I saw you with the Flyer."
"He threatened Heather! What was I supposed to do?"
"Stay calm. Why is that so difficult for you?"
Dagur huffed. "Look, Dad…"
He stepped forward as he spoke and saw Oswald move back again. Closing his mouth, Dagur backed towards the door.
"The Berkians are here," he said. "Gobber stayed behind, but I thought you'd want to see Stoick."
"Stoick's here?" the Berserker asked, eyebrows lifting.
Dagur nodded, unsure about what else to say. Oswald also seemed at a loss. Neither had time to make a decision before the twins burst through the door.
"Oswald!" they greeted cheerfully.
The man did not recognize them and just looked at Dagur.
"They're Ruff and Tuff. 'Girlnut' and 'Boynut' work too."
Tuffnut made a face. "Eh, it's not really the same if it's not coming from Dagur. Sorry, Ossie. We don't know you like that."
Oswald seemed uncertain how to respond to the comment and Dagur almost chuckled at his perplexed expression. Deciding to focus on the Vikings he knew, the father left the building, still keeping an eye on the redhead. Following the familiar sound of his friend, Oswald kept walking until he found the Berkian chief. It almost seemed strange for Stoick to see him again. After nearly four years of thinking he was dead, it was like seeing a ghost.
"Oswald," he greeted, smiling. "It's good to see you, old friend."
"Emphasis on old," Oswald said with a grin, gesturing to the gray in his beard.
"The same can be said for me," the Berkian retorted. "How have you been?"
After a short pause, the Berserker responded. "We have so much to discuss. I'll pour you a drink of mead like you used to do for me."
Oswald gestured to be followed and Stoick went with him. The Vikings entered a building, but as soon as the door closed, the Berserker began looking around them suspiciously. Stoick watched him in shock.
"Oswald, what are you doing?" he asked when the other man started checking under tables.
"Making sure that no one is in here. I'm not sure who all is part of it. They might even be part of another coup."
Stoick blinked at him. "Um, what exactly are we talking about?"
"The fact that Heather's and my life are both in peril."
"What happened?"
"Dagur."
Stoick had a doubtful expression which frustrated Oswald. The dark-haired man pointed at the door.
"Did you know that he used to work with the Dragon Hunters?"
"Yes, I knew that."
"So, you see why I feel the way that I do."
"He's changed."
"Has he? I saw him about to kill someone. He claimed that it was because of the Flyer threatening Heather."
A sheepish smile crossed Stoick's face. "I almost killed someone when he spoke badly about Hiccup not long ago."
"You're different. He lost control. You probably just wanted to kill that man."
"Is that better?"
"Yes! Losing control is a sign of instability." Oswald began sharpening a knife, then facepalmed. "And I left Heather out there with him. I just said I wouldn't do that."
"Oswald," Stoick said, putting his hands on his shoulders to stop him from rushing out the door. "Dagur's not going to hurt her. Even if he tried–which I highly doubt he would–my son and the others are out there. They wouldn't let him."
"I have to find a way to stop him, Stoick. I didn't know what he was doing while I was away. If I did…"
"Would you have responded differently when he found you?"
"How couldn't I?"
The redhead let out a heavy sigh. "There were few Vikings who disliked your son more than I did. I mean, even before he started a war, I can think of more than once when I was about to kill him," Stoick said, chuckling a bit until he saw the frown on Oswald's face and cleared his throat. "But I don't want to anymore. My point is that I've come to see he's different. If I can, I'm sure you can as well. It's probably a lot to take in through being told, so just watch and see for yourself. You'll know how he is."
Oswald still looked uncertain. "Is he crazy?"
Stoick did not expect that question and pulled back slightly. "Do you remember him being crazy?"
"You're avoiding my question."
"Not necessarily. We might have different opinions about it."
"Then, in your opinion, is he crazy?"
Stoick tried to not cringe. Oswald saw this and scowled at the floor.
"He tried to tell me that he was. I didn't believe him. I couldn't have had a crazy son."
"He's not a bad one. Isn't that ultimately what matters?"
Oswald lifted his eyes to the other man, clear that he could not disagree more. Stoick gestured to the outside.
"I remember when Dagur was our enemy. I can assure you that if he wanted Heather dead, he wouldn't protect her the way Hiccup's told me he does. For you, he probably would've left you on that island to die or killed you as soon as he found you and disposed of your corpse."
"That's a sensible explanation you gave me. In fact, I dare call it a sane one," Oswald said, a tone of snark in his voice.
"He's always been off, not stupid. Say what you want, but his actions have some type of reason behind them even if they don't make much sense. This wouldn't make any sense unless he wanted you both to be fine."
"I hope you're right," Oswald said, feeling completely lost.
"I am. Now, I believe you promised me a drink," Stoick reminded him.
The Berserker went to grab some cups and the alcohol. While he did, the younger Vikings were still out talking with one another.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Fishlegs asked Heather. "It's risky. It could cause more damage."
"It seems like it could cause damage to tell him things as well," the Berserker told him. "Maybe I'm actually helping him by hiding this for now. Earlier today, he seemed like he was having some sort of paranoid freak out because of the Hunters and Flyers. I think the last thing Dad needs is to be given any new information."
Though the Berkians did not agree, they respected her wishes to keep this secret. While Fishlegs and Astrid were with Heather, the others were with the chief.
"The Flyers haven't been seen anywhere else," Hiccup informed him. "I'm surprised they've been here."
"And Heather and Dad saw some Hunters close to us too. It's like they're all just starting to surround us. I don't like it."
"Maybe they want to add some craziness to this island," Tuff offered.
"I don't want whatever craziness they plan on bringing."
"It still just doesn't make sense," Hiccup commented, hand on his chin. "Even outside of targeting you for being their enemies too, this seems like a lot of special attention."
"That's what I was thinking too! It doesn't add up. I can't get anything out of that Flyer. Wish I could just crack open his skull and get the information that way."
Dagur brought his hands in front of him, imagining it to be where the man was located, and opened the pretend head. As soon as he did, he looked away from the others.
"I won't do that, though."
After a moment, Snotlout had a worried expression on his face. "You look bad."
Dagur put a hand over his face. "It's more than a look. Dad's scared of me now. He found out about some of the things I've done."
"I mean, you were a kinda scary Viking," Tuffnut commented, receiving a scowl. "Correction: are a scary Viking. Better?"
"You're not really helping," Hiccup told him.
"When do they ever?" Snotlout asked. "Look, I say you just tell Oswald and get it over with. Dads are…tough to deal with sometimes. I doubt it'll get better with time, so at least you won't have to stress about his response if you already have it."
The chief shook his head. "I promised Heather to wait. I can't do that to her."
Ruff nodded her head. "It's that darn younger sibling thing. They get us to do anything, don't they?"
Tuff shoved her. "You never do what I want."
"And then they're never grateful on top of it!" the other twin argued.
Dagur watched them for a moment, expression only becoming unhappier. "You two have always been around each other. You know that you'll be there for one another."
Tuff stuck his tongue out at Ruff who made a face right back at him.
"Yeah, I guess so," the boy twin agreed.
"I don't know if Heather knows that with me. I have to keep proving it."
Hiccup furrowed his brows. "You can't spend the rest of your life trying to prove yourself."
Dagur started laughing, then abruptly stopped. "That," he said.
"That?"
"Yes, that," the chief repeated, pointing at the friends. "That nervous look the four of you just shared. That's why proving myself is exactly how I have to spend the rest of my life. Outside of Strykie and Shattermaster, there's no one I don't have to prove myself to."
Hiccup did not know what to say and his friends felt the same. He wanted to say that the Berserker could start fresh, but even he knew that there were times when he got concerned around him. How could he say that no one else would be worried? Dagur knew he was at a loss for words and flicked his wrist.
"Doesn't matter. Just a few more days, then Heather and I will tell him together. Didn't mean to make this visit weird…even though you were the one who brought up this subject," he said, squinting at Snotlout.
The Berkian lifted his hands. "Hey, I was trying to help, unlike some twins I know."
This caused the blonds to tackle Snotlout, each one taking an arm. The brunet yelped and wrestled with them. Hiccup and Dagur half paid attention to them until the redhead snapped his fingers.
"Did you bring the Dragon Eye with you?"
"Of course."
"Good because I just remembered where another lens is. I'll get that and maybe we can try to figure out why the Flyers keep showing up here."
"That would be great."
Nodding, Dagur left to head off for the docks. His gaze moved to the building Stoick and Oswald had entered for a moment, but he forced himself to keep going. It really did not matter. He had to convince himself of that. So what his father thought he wanted to kill him and his sister? At least he had experienced a short time of Oswald's idyllic fantasy.
"Before long," he thought ruefully, "I'll be missing the days when he just was scared of me. Can't wait."
