CHAPTER 11: Talks

Sat on one end of the table in the room of the council hall, Eret and Gobber were situated directly besides each other, with Yurlin opposite them on the other end. The atmosphere was tense. Not a single voice beyond the big wooden doors could be heard - and it wasn't a particularly windy day today, but the small gusts of winds bouncing off the outsides of the building could be heard. It was that quiet and tense.

Yurlin was holding onto a letter - the one Hiccup had written and packaged to be sent to him.

"I have to say," Yurlin said, "I feel like I'm in some sort of fantasy reality meeting you two. The Hairy Hooligans are a great tribe after all!"

"Well you know, we've had our ups and downs..." Gobber said, scratching the back of his neck, "but aye, it's much appreciated."

"You're telling me. I've heard your story and am deeply sympathetic to your Chieftan. I know how much hatred your tribe has for the vermin - that is, Drago Bludvist and his collaborators. I share the same hatred. It's been my dream and obsession to make an alliance between our two tribes since I first became the leader."

Eret was surprised at how much Yurlin knew about their encounters with both Grimmel and Drago. He was only just meeting Yurlin now, but something felt off about him. Gobber was surprised at the open praise and how friendly Yurlin was talking - as he too had only just met Yurlin, it felt strange for a Chieftan to be talking highly of their tribe, one they only just met five minutes ago.

"We were told to come here from Alvin and Dagur and the rest of them - somethin' about your treaty withdrawal or whatever?" Gobber asked.

Eret simply sat back and crossed his arms, keeping a solemn face. In the back of his mind, just the fact Yurlin had barred the others, Alvin, Dagur and Heather etc, from attending this meeting, made him feel like something wasn't right here.

"We tried building a coalition of tribes against the Warlords and Drago - but they just lacked the energy, they lacked the authenticity. They told us what we were doing was, to simplify it, excessive. Nothing can be excessive about eradicating Drago and his irk. Your tribe should know that - both of our tribes practically speak the same words, we're of the same kind, we're, in blood and race, the same!"

Gobber didn't quite know where to take the discussion - all the Ancient Chieftan was doing at this point was just throwing praise on Hiccup and the other Berkians. He could see Yurlin keeping hold of the letter on the table.

"And it's on that basis, Gobber is it? and Eret - we must join in an alliance. If you need us to make it clear to those other Chieftans that we're all for peace, then you can hear it from myself - we have no territorial demands to make, we will never be unreasonable, and the Ancient Tribe stands for peace, I know your tribe desires that after all you went through, and so do I!" Yurlin proclaimed.

Eret and Gobber looked at each other. Gobber simply shrugged at him and looked back at Yurlin, who had his palms together on the wooden table.

"I don't suppose Hiccup would see any harm in this - that letter I gave ya, it's from his own words."

Upon hearing Gobber say that, Yurlin carefully held the letter and opened it up.

Dear to whoever it may concern,

I am writing to you on behalf of my tribe, the Hairy Hooligans. Truth be told I've not got a fully clear idea on what's been going on down in the archipelago for the last ten years but I'm having this letter delivered to you at the request of Dagur and Alvin. Alfa Yurlin, is it? this is Hiccup who's writing to you.

I've heard your name a few times and although I cannot and will not commit to meeting you, given I'm now a dad with two kids - their safety being my priority, I've sent Gobber and Eret, apart of our senior vikings, to meet you just to talk about the situation. I know Drago Bludvist is still alive and it breaks my heart to have heard that.

But let me just say, I am grateful for the alleged words you've mentioned about my dad, Stoick the Vast. I do miss him, and if you truly mean what you said as I've been told by Dagur and the rest, then I do appreciate it. My tribe has enjoyed the peace of the last ten years, we'd like to keep it that way for the future for all of our kids.

Many thanks, Hiccup Haddock.

"And this is from Hiccup himself?" Yurlin interrogated.

"Aye."

Yurlin felt a Hooligan-Ancient alliance was more likely than ever now. That letter was much more positive and open than he'd have expected.

"I just want you to think about this, for when you go back home and inform your Chieftan of our talks today - I can be the deterrent to the Warlords - I am the polar opposite of those vermin in what I stand for and believe in. My tribe will act as a border on this whole archipelago against Warlord aggression. What I must do is ink a letter of my own to your Chieftan for him to read. We must conclude a treaty of sorts!" Yurlin declared.

Eret was surprised at how quickly all of this was unfolding. He decided to jump in after Gobber had pretty much led the talks at this point.

"Do you really know that much about us?" he asked Yurlin, "because I used to work for Drago Bludvist, I knew Grimmel back from where I came in my younger years. I faced their wrath and came out the other side, nobody can tell me they know them more than me?"

"You used to work for Bludvist?" Yurlin questioned.

"Yeah, circumstances changed me into the man I am today. I'll never look back at my past with anything other than shame. Drago was a threat, Grimmel was a predator. I just didn't realize soon enough."

Yurlin simply looked at Eret for a couple of seconds blankly before continuing. It was of interest to him that he used to work directly with Drago. He cleared his throat.

"That is fascinating, in a good way to me. Very good way indeed. I hope to be the Chieftan to kill off their ideology once and for all but it seems to me that you saw it for what it was and is. All the more reason for our tribes to cooperate. I do like a bit of pragmatism, for I return the favour."

Yurlin grabbed a wooden inked pencil and a bit of yellow-coloured paper, and he started writing down the contents of his reply to Hiccup that he wanted Gobber and Eret to return to him.

"For your tribe is of my upmost respect, allow me to arrange a boat trip for you both back to your island when the time comes to it. It's the least I could do. I've had the upmost pleasure in meeting you both, and let me make it absolutely clear - if your Chieftan agrees to my proposal of a treaty, there's no doubt that our tribes will be the pillars of peace. Your tribe will control your flank, mine will control the flanks near our island. We will be an unstoppable force against the threat of Warlordism."

Gobber and Eret nodded.

"Likewise, I'm glad I can go back to our old' Hiccup at home and inform him of your desire for support for the loss of his dad - it really hurt the lad."

"I'm sure it did - that's why a treaty is paramount for both of our tribes. Here, let me just conclude my letter and within it I'll outline the bullet points of an agreement."

Alfa Yurlin started writing on the yellow paper.

Dear Hiccup,

I have had the upmost pleasure in meeting your two Berkians - Eret, and Gobber. Our meeting today has so far felt warm, good faith and highly engaging. We've talked about everything, from standing up against the threat of Warlodism and the unvikings, and a potential pact between our two tribes. I know your tribe very well and I understand the sensitive backstory you have with your dad. No boy at your age should have lost his father.

Stoick the Vast is somebody I consistently refer to in my speeches to the Ancient men and women. He was the epitome of what I want to see in the world. I know, as his son, you hold the same values, and I am angry for you in how he was killed. Drago Bludvist must be stopped at all costs and it's in our duty to hold any aggression of his back that he may wish to impose on the archipelago. In light of our meeting with Eret and Gobber, I've outlined many areas for which a pact could be arranged.

The Ancient-Hooligan treaty would cover many areas for us to work on, in light of Drago Bludvist's continued existence.

#1 - Barge and Naval agreement. This part of the treaty would call for our barges and boats to work together, where we control designated areas of the seas of the archipelago. Our tribe will cover the central archipelago seas and your tribe can cover the other half.

#2 - On land agreement. In a world of uncertainty with the Warlords rearming and rebuilding with Drago at their helm, it must be incumbent on our tribes to patrol and monitor the islands of these seas to ensure stability. The Ancient men will cooperate with your own men to maintain such stability by monitoring various islands. Where an enemy is encountered, we work together to destroy them.

#3 - Alliance against the Warlords. Fundamentally, this part of such a treaty is where I feel we will meet the most common ground, and why I am so passionate about it. You see, I have it in my intention to eradicate the world of Drago and his irk, and I'd like to say that in achieving this, I will be serving a purpose for yourself and your tribe. A strong, fearsome Ancient tribe will act as a barricade between your tribe and the other tribes, against the Warlords.

My conviction in this area lacks any doubt. If you join us in this goal, which is what my proposed treaty will ultimately culminate in, we will crush once and for all the very vikings who destroyed your father, the vikings of Drago's type. A great war to end all wars will be raged against Drago and the world will see everlasting peace once and for all.

If you'd like to reply further, my men will be taking your two vikings back home to your island - inform them if you'd like to take anything further.

Fear not, Hiccup Haddock, the great son of the legendary Stoick the Vast - my tribe is all about peace, we have no unreasonable demands to make, we will not pursue aggression, we will not threaten the balance of power, but when it comes to the Warlords, war is inevitable. But it is a war that once won and fought, and I know we will win it, peace will be truly guaranteed forever and ever, for 1,000 years to come - in thanks to your tribe, and the new Ancient tribe that has come about under my leadership.

Such a war will only last for a few weeks, because the Warlords only need their doors kicked in and the whole rotten foundation will come crumbling down like an abandoned hut! so there need not be any worries about causalities. I'm empathetic towards your situation so such an assurance is one I'm inclined to make to you.

God bless you, Hiccup.

Alfa Yurlin, Leader & Chieftan of the Ancient Tribe.

About ten minutes of watching Yurlin scribble his letter together had concluded - he folded the paper up and looked across to Eret and Gobber.

"When you get taken back home, you'll be escorted by a couple of my men - should you want them to follow you up to your island to give your Chieftan a summary of our meeting here, they'll be happy to do so. I feel like something great is on the cards here, gentlemen," Yurlin said.

Eret just couldn't get this thought out of his head that something wasn't right about Yurlin. Nonetheless, he prevented himself from mentioning his true thoughts.

Yurlin stood up and walked over to Gobber and Eret sat on their chairs, handing them the letter he had written to be given to Hiccup.

"You now know me, I know you, it's only a matter of time until the Warlords get their doors kicked in, and with me and Hiccup at the forefront of such a kicking. God bless you both!" Yurlin said, as Eret and Gobber stood up themselves.

They shook hands with Yurlin.

"Appreciated fella," Gobber said.

As Eret nodded at the Ancient dictatorial Chieftan, he still couldn't shake off the thoughts he had about Yurlin - something was off, and a bit suspicious in his view. He also couldn't stop interrogating in his head why Yurlin insisted on having them be sailed back to New Berk by his men and not Dagur, Alvin, Heather, Atali, Mala, and all the rest. Maybe Yurlin was genuine in his desire and respect of the Hairy Hooligans - but Eret felt like he could smell a rat for whatever reason.

Gobber on the other hand felt not only flattered but respected. He couldn't quite see the forest through the trees, and to him he felt like he achieved what was set out for him by the rest - to find out why the Ancients withdrew from their own treaty with the other Chieftans, assurances from Yurlin that in the long term it wasn't anything bad, and the admiration and desire of a pact between the Ancients and Hooligans.

It was now simply a matter of returning home to New Berk to bring back the news and letter - another full day of sailing was inbound.