Hello guys! In this chapter, plans are made to be set in motion soon, a short version of Valka's life from joining Hiccup till now. The drama is going to start soon so stay tuned.
Helga strolled along the cobblestone path, casting wary glances at both the dragons and the inhabitants of Drogon's Edge. It had been a full month since their arrival in the home of these winged creatures, and she despised every moment of it. Her hatred extended beyond the dragons to the people, particularly to Empress Astrid Hofferson, once the beauty of Berk and now easily the most captivating woman in the entire Archipelago.
The time away from Berk had been kind to Astrid, enhancing not only her physical features but also her marriage with Hiccup. Helga couldn't escape the constant comparisons, and it got on her nerves. Astrid consistently beat her in every aspect, beauty, strength, and intelligence. The fact that Astrid had managed to secure Hiccup's heart and build a family only intensified Helga's irritation.
Astrid had always been the one to surpass her, even in the game of life. During Astrid's supposed death, Helga had briefly enjoyed the spotlight, but now it was evident that her fate was to forever linger in Astrid's shadow.
The once popular notion of Helga becoming the most popular girl on Berk quickly changed, leaving her trailing behind the blonde, and always finding herself at the bottom.
Even Hiccup who had been a meek fishbone on Berk was now a very handsome and powerful person. Every girl from Berk was falling head over heels for Hiccup and it annoyed her that Astrid had beaten her yet again, by tying the knot with him before her.
Her frustrations were fueled further, as Snotlout had distanced himself from Helga, a clear sign of his crush on Astrid. It was evident to her that he harboured ambitions of ousting Hiccup to claim Astrid for himself. This realization fueled Helga's resentment further, as she understood that Snotlout had been drawn to her not for her personality but solely for her beauty and popularity. In a sense, she reciprocated that personality, she too, might have chosen someone like Hiccup for his handsome and powerful qualities, but she had at least come to terms with her defeat.
Snotlout, however, displayed an ego as big as Ymir himself. His grand plan involved overthrowing Hiccup, subjecting him to humiliation before ultimately killing him and taking Astrid as his own. Helga couldn't help but view the plan as nothing short of 'stupid.' Despite her awareness that it was destined to fail, she reluctantly joined Snotlout, driven by her desire to eliminate Astrid and restore her honour.
Mildew, driven by his hatred towards aligning with 'fire-breathing demons,' had also thrown his lot in with them. Spitelout assumed leadership of the group, fueled by his want for power and the realization that, with Berk now officially allowed to stay on Dragon's Edge, eliminating Hiccup and his offspring, to stop Zephyr from claiming the throne through blood right, would make them the Royal Family.
Supporters, including Snotlout's lackeys, villagers, and the rather enthusiastic 'Mini-Snotlout' Gustav, had rallied behind this ominous cause. Their collective anticipation heightened as they awaited the perfect opportunity to execute their plan…
Snotlout strode with outgoing confidence toward the castle, flanked by his loyal companions who mirrored his smug expressions.
In his mind, the plan his father had meticulously laid, outplayed like a brilliant masterpiece. The plan was set to unfold the very next night, using the guards' distraction as they focused their attention outside the castle and on the surrounding oceans. After all, why would the guards be looking within the castle walls when they knew their people to be remarkably loyal?
However, what they failed to consider was the loyalty of the Berkians. The guards believed that the Berkians had become their new allies. In reality, a small group of Berkians would like nothing more than the head of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock.
As Snotlout smiled at the thought of the plan being successful, the impending night held the promise of executing a scheme that, in his mind, would prove to be nothing short of genius.
The plan itself was rather simple, Spitelout would divert the attention of the Berkians, while Mildew and Gustav took charge of distracting the guards stationed near Hiccup and Astrid's room. Snotlout, Helga, and Dogbreath were assigned to infiltrate the royal quarters to eliminate the Emperor and capture Astrid so that Snotlout could have her for himself. The responsibility of ending the princess's life fell upon the twins.
Should the plane be successful, Snotlout and Spitelout would become the new ruling family of the Draconian Empire by the break of dawn. The brilliance of the plan was evident to the Vikings involved, oblivious to the critical flaw in their ' brilliant plans'. The impulsive nature of the Vikings prevented them from contemplating the fact that Hiccup wasn't merely a random Emperor, he was the Emperor of the Draconian Empire, which meant he had a dragon, possessing senses far superior to those of humans. A dragon that would defend its best friend at any cost…
Astrid had a horrible feeling in her stomach as she ran to the adjoining bathroom to her bedroom, to empty her breakfast. She soon was sitting on the edge of her bed, thinking to herself while slightly panicking…
Astrid's mind raced with a mix of emotions as she considered the possibility of being pregnant. The realization hit her like a wave, and the panic set in. She couldn't help but replay recent events in her mind, connecting the dots to her missed period and the bouts of nausea.
What could have been distracting her mind for so long that she didn't even notice this?
Hiccup. Hiccup had been so distracting, as he often was. Hiccup's presence in her life had left her oblivious until now.
The mixture of anxiety and self-blame intensified as Astrid acknowledged her distraction and the potential consequences of her actions. Her usual composed demeanour wavered as she let out an uncharacteristic whimper, a sound-reflecting her inner turmoil and regret.
"Oh, gods," she whispered, the weight of uncertainty settled on her shoulders. Astrid, known for her strength and determination, felt a tremor of anxiety shaking her entire body.
With a newfound urgency, she rose from the edge of her bed and made a beeline for the healer's room in the castle. With each step fueled by a mixture of fear and determination, Astrid's mind raced with thoughts about what lay ahead. The healer would provide answers, and confirm her suspicions.
As Astrid hurried down the stairs, worry displayed all over her face. Stormfly, trailed closely behind, sensing Astrid's distress. The urgency of her steps echoed through the castle halls as she approached the main section where the healer's room was located.
The healer, Grilda, had her healing room on the first floor so it could be accessed by the rest of the tribe easily. Grilda herself had wisps of silver hair framing her weathered face and wore the lines of a life well-lived. She reminded Astrid a lot of Gothi, the village healer of Berk. Clad in simple attire, she moved delicately and with grace.
Amid her concern, Astrid's thoughts swirled with the gravity of the situation. She and Hiccup had been careful, well aware of the responsibilities that came with bringing a child into their world.
Astrid had been drinking that tea recipe religiously, specifically to prevent a surprise of this magnitude. Though not foolproof, the efficiency of the drink had given her a sense of security, allowing her to take certain risks with Hiccup. Risks like the act of locking her legs around him when he really should be pulling away. She had taken those small risks in the name of pleasure.
Zephyr, their first child, had already added a layer of responsibility to their lives. While Astrid knew she could love another child born of their union, the timing was far from ideal. The war had stolen all of Hiccup's attention and energy, and adding a baby into the mix would only just complicate an already challenging situation.
A sense of unpreparedness washed over Astrid as she contemplated the potential consequences. The burden of war planning and leadership on Hiccup, and the thought of introducing a baby into such a time filled Astrid with anxiety. The realization that they couldn't afford another child at this moment fueled her determination to seek answers from the healer.
Steeling herself, Astrid stood in front of the large wooden door leading to the healer's room. She knew loitering around wouldn't help her situation, so before she could think twice and convince herself otherwise, she cracked her knuckles against the door, going still and listening for a response.
She heard the sound of shuffling feet on the other side of the door before it swung open, revealing Grilda. The elder woman leaned on her staff, looking at Astrid up and down.
"Uh… hi, Grilda." Astrid managed, ears growing hot with embarrassment. "Can I come in?"
Grilda bowed down in a gesture of respect while stepping aside, allowing Astrid to enter the room. The room itself was decently sized, with multiple empty beds lining one of the walls to the shelves, which were lined with countless bottles of medicine, each marked by a label.
Grilda asked Astrid to sit on the chair placed at the centre of the room facing the old healer. Astrid did as she was told as her dragon curled up around the legs of the chair.
Astrid nervously thrummed her fingers together, as Grilda stood beside her, "What seems to be the problem, your majesty?" Grilda asked. Astrid gulped, averting her eyes from the elder as if the truth were something shameful.
"Well, I… I think that I might be pregnant… again, Grilda." The healer blinked and nodded gesturing for her to continue, "I've been feeling nauseous and tired the last couple of days. And I'm fairly confident that I've missed my moon's blood." Astrid said, "It's the same feeling I had in the months before Zephyr was born."
Grilda stroked her chin with her tiny finger, and she waddled up to Astrid and began examining her. It was a quick inspection, and after a few moments Grilda smiled softly and announced, "Congratulations Empress you are indeed with a child… it looks like it is almost two months into your pregnancy…"
Astrid smiled slightly and nodded as she thanked the healer while leaving. Astrid remembered the healer telling the same thing to her and Hiccup when they had come to see if Astrid had been pregnant with Zephyr.
She was scared, she seemed to be getting scared and nervous very often these days...
They were in the middle of a war for Thor's sake, Hiccup was already pushing himself and throwing a child into the mix would only stress him out even more. She didn't want that, she wouldn't be that selfish… she's Fearless Astrid Haddock she could handle being pregnant for a few months without help.
Hopefully, the war will be over by the time her belly starts to show… and honestly how hard could it be? She had already been through this once, the second time has to be better right?
But then again, Zephyr was planned, they were living in peace and had no problems occurring at that time. The situation now was a complete contrast to how it had been during Zephyr's birth, with the rising threat of Grimmel, she had to help with the fight.
She was too stubborn and headstrong for not taking part in the war, and the only way she would be able to take part in the war was if Hiccup or anyone, for that matter, didn't find out.
So she now had to wait till the war was over and only then, break the news to her dear husband, that was her plan…
The sensation of freedom is what she felt with each soaring flight, a feeling that remained unchanged even after twenty-two years of riding dragons. Seated atop her Stormcutter, Valka's brow furrowed as she clutched a scroll she received the previous day.
It revealed that the people of Berk, her home tribe, had been discovered by Viggo in the ocean after the Berkians had escaped a vicious attack by Grimmel. They were now being treated as refugees at Dragon's Edge.
Valka and her dragon cut through the air with a speed rivalled only by Mjolnir. Despite the many years since she parted ways with Stoick, Valka vividly recalled her boar-headed ex-husband and the love they once shared. Their love had brought a son into Midgard, Hiccup, whose upbringing had taken a different path than she had envisioned. Instead of taking after his father, he had turned out more like her.
She still regretted her decision of leaving Hiccup, he had to endure the abuse and torment inflicted upon him daily on Berk. She wished she had been there to stop that, to help him grow, to be a mother…
Hiccup had forgiven her, and for that, she was eternally grateful. She also held a deep affection for Astrid, recognizing the pivotal role the young blonde played in her son's growth. The bond between Valka and her daughter-in-law had flourished, leading Valka to provide constant guidance and support to the young couple, she even assisted Astrid during her pregnancy.
Even after twenty-two years of solitude without family or meaningful relationships, Valka found herself happy with her new family, she now once again had a son, a daughter-in-law, a granddaughter, and a boyfriend…
Eret who was around thirty-nine, possessed kindness, strength, and an unwavering commitment to helping others, a quality that made Valka like him. His alliance with Hiccup, offering knowledge, advice, loyalty, and friendship, further solidified his place in her heart.
For the past three weeks, Valka had been occupied aiding small dragon packs in the southern regions, ensuring their safe migration through the perilous Dragon Trapper territory. She wanted to eagerly see her friends and family but her return wasn't motivated by personal pleasure, rather, she was heading back to support Hiccup in the impending conflict against Grimmel. A letter from her son revealed his concerns about the war and, more significantly, the unexpected arrival of the Berkians.
She was like her son and daughter-in-law, a runaway… She feared the Berkian's reactions or the sense of betrayal they might have upon learning she was alive. This worry was only heightened as she became concerned about Stoick's potential reaction to discovering she was not only alive but romantically involved with the Chief of the Night Owls, Eret.
Despite her fear, Valka was determined. She wasn't about to let fear stop her from confronting her past and standing up for Hiccup. A fierce determination to address the mistreatment he endured on Berk fueled her, and the mere thought of facing her ex-husband and his tribe brought a smile to Valka's face.
Having lived alongside her son for several years, Valka had come to understand the remarkable qualities that made Hiccup. He was a natural leader with unparalleled intelligence, he stood out as one of the brightest minds she had encountered, Viggo being the only individual to come close to challenging his intellect. Hiccup's caring nature extended to everyone and everything around him, often accompanied by a curiosity that, occasionally landed him in trouble.
During her time with them, Valka had the opportunity to meet Eret, the individual who played the crucial role of a spy in the war against Drago. Beyond the exterior of muscle, she discovered a kind-hearted, humble, and intelligent person. Eret's guidance extended not only to Hiccup but also to other emerging leaders like Camicazi, Dagur, and Alvin. Through his support, they evolved into the powerful leaders they are today.
As Heather and Viggo contributed to planning war strategies and sharing vital information among enemies, Astrid emerged as Hiccup's primary pillar of support. Valka recognized the depth of trust and love between her son and Astrid, knowing that Astrid would be there in an instant to assist Hiccup whenever needed. Valka developed a strong liking for all of them, particularly appreciating Astrid's ferocious attitude.
Since joining her son's Empire and actively participating in missions, and the final war against Drago, Valka had earned a position of power and respect within the council of the Draconian Empire. Motivated by a promise made to Hiccup upon joining the council, Valka pledged never to leave or run away from Hiccup or his family again.
This promise was not going to break, even as her past unexpectedly resurfaced. Hiccup needed her and she was going to help him with her life if needed, that was her plan…