Chapter 6: New Berk.
A few weeks after Prince Ryder was coronated and crowned the King of the Isle of Night, the people of Draconia left under the ruling of their new king, King Valentine. The newly rebuilt Royal Palace of the Isle of Night stood tall and proud, its spires reaching towards the dark sky like fingers grasping for the stars. Inside the grand halls, the air was filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement, as the kingdom prepared for a joyous celebration. King Ryder Ridaris of the Isle of Night stood at the centre of the bustling courtyard, his regal attire shimmering in the flickering torchlight. He exchanged warm greetings with his subjects, a smile never leaving his face as he welcomed them to the grand feast in honour of his recent coronation.
Astrid Hofferson, with her fiery red hair cascading down her back, moved gracefully through the crowd, her emerald eyes alight with excitement. She caught sight of King Ryder and made her way towards him, a bright smile on her face. "Your Majesty, the palace looks more magnificent than ever," Astrid said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
King Ryder turned towards her, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Thank you, Astrid. It's all thanks to the hard work of our people. I couldn't have asked for a better kingdom to rule."
Chief Stoick the Vast Haddock, a towering figure with a booming voice, approached the pair, a proud smile on his weathered face. "A grand celebration indeed, Your Majesty. The Isle of Night has never looked more resplendent."
Valka Haddock, Stoick's wife and a vision of grace and elegance, joined the group, her brown hair glinting in the torchlight. "It warms my heart to see your kingdom thriving once again," she said, her voice as soothing as a gentle breeze.
"It is a kind sight to see what we have built over the past few weeks." says King Ryder looking out at the city from his window.
"Well, our people are ready to start building our new home." says Stoick turning to the young King.
"Very well, then I shall give you the proper send off." says King Ryder as Bodil enters the chamber. "Bodil, send word to the dockmaster that Berks ships will be leave the docks for their new home."
"Of course my King." says Bodil leaving the chambers.
"We should probably get going then." says Stoick as he shakes hands with the King. "It has been an honour knowing you King Ryder, perhaps our people shall meet again."
"Your people are always welcome here Chief Stoick." says King Ryder shaking the chief's hand.
"Goodbye my King. Maybe next time we can discuss our alliance's terms." says Stoick as the people of Berk exit the King's Hall.
"Of course. Know that you will always be welcome here. I have even started working on the plans for a new district to be built in your name." says King Ryder gesturing to his map laying on the table.
As the ship sailed away from the Isle of Night, the chilling memories of battles and losses slowly faded into the horizon. Chief Stoick stood tall at the ship's bow, his weathered face scanning the vast ocean ahead. Spitelout, with a grin on his face, patted Stoick on the back. "New beginnings, Chief. We'll make Berk stronger than ever."
Meanwhile, in the midst of the bustling deck, Astrid Hofferson leaned against the railing, her gaze fixed on the disappearing outline of the Isle of Night. Her parents, Sven and Gunhild Hofferson, approached, concern etched on their faces. Gunhild's voice was laced with worry as she spoke, "Astrid, dear, we need to talk to you about the King."
Astrid's brow furrowed, a hint of defiance in her voice, "Mother, the dance at his coronation meant nothing, it was just the tow of dancing away." She paused, a blush creeping up her cheeks, recalling the unexpected moments shared with the King.
"Alright then Astrid, it looked like more than that from our point of view." says Gunhild Hofferson.
Sven's eyes narrowed, his tone stern, "I agree with your mother Astrid, even though they agreed o help us rebuild Berk, an alliance will need to be built, arranging a marriage between you and the King could do just that."
Astrid nodded, her gaze distant as she pondered the weight of her responsibilities. The sea breeze danced around them, carrying whispers of uncertainty.
Back at the bow, Stoick and Spitelout's conversation turned towards the untouched island within Draconia's borders, their voices filled with determination and hope. The ship cut through the waves, propelling them closer to their new home. As the sun began its descent, casting a golden glow over the water, laughter erupted from the crew as they shared stories and camaraderie.
The sun beat down on the group as they stepped off their ships onto the sandy shores of the new, uninhabited island. Astrid Hofferson took a deep breath, the salty air filling her lungs as she surveyed the untouched landscape. The rest of the Berkians followed suit, their eyes full of determination and hope.
Stoick the Vast Haddock stood and started to speak, his voice echoing across the beach. "This is it, folks! Our new home! Let's get to work!"
Fishlegs Ingerman nodded, his glasses sliding down his nose. "We need to set up camp first. We can't start rebuilding Berk without a place to stay."
Valka Haddock looked around the island, with a soft smile. "We can make it work. Let's gather supplies and find a spot for our camp."
Snotlout Jorgenson nodded and began organizing the group, assigning tasks to each person. Spitelout Jorgenson and Gobber the Belch started unloading the supplies from the ships, while Gunhild Hofferson and Sven Hofferson began scouting the area for a suitable campsite. As the Berkians worked together, the sounds of hammering, sawing, and laughter filled the island. Gustav and Silent Sven hummed a tune as they gathered wood for the fire, their boots crunching on the sandy ground. The mood was light, despite the hard work ahead. Astrid's heart swelled with pride as she watched her people come together, united in their goal to rebuild their home. She picked up a hammer and joined in the work, her muscles working in rhythm with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Hours passed, and the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the camp. The Berkians sat around a crackling fire, the smell of roasting fish filling the air. Laughter rang out as they shared stories of their adventures and plans for the future.
"Tomorrow, we start rebuilding Berk," Stoick declared, his voice filled with determination. "But tonight, we celebrate how far we've come."
The group cheered, toasting to their success with mugs of mead. The fire crackled merrily, casting dancing shadows on their faces. The night was alive with the sounds of joy and camaraderie. As the stars twinkled above, Astrid felt a sense of peace wash over her. The journey had been long and arduous, but they had finally found a new beginning on this unexplored island. She looked around at her friends and family, their faces illuminated by the firelight, and knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. And so, with the sounds of laughter and the crackling fire swirling around them, the people of Berk settled in for their first night on their new home, ready to face whatever the future held.
The next morning whilst everyone ate their food, Sven and Gunhild Hofferson went to talk with Stoick.
"Excuse us Stoick, but we were hoping you could arrange something for us?" asks Sven Hofferson whilst taking a seat at the fire.
"Of course, anything for my lifetime friends." says Stoick as his wife takes a seat.
"Well, we were hoping that you could arrange our daughter Astrid and King Ryder Ridaris in a marriage to make our alliance stronger." says Gunhild.
"Next time I converse with the High King of Draconia, I will ask." says Stoick leaving the fire to keep rebuilding Berk.
The crackling of the fire provided a comforting background noise as the people of Berk gathered around, preparing to start another day on their new island home. Stoick, with his booming voice, called out instructions to the villagers, directing them on how to best rebuild their community. Astrid stood beside him, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble while Snotlout and Fishlegs worked on constructing a new hut. Sven and Gunhild Hofferson were busy gathering materials for the next project, their laughter ringing out as they joked with one another. Valka and Gobber were deep in conversation, discussing the best ways to fortify their structures against any potential threats that may come their way. Stoick's trusted advisor, Spitelout, was overseeing the training of some young Vikings, teaching them the skills they would need to defend their new home.
As the day wore on, the sounds of hammers and saws filled the air, mingling with the shouts and laughter of the villagers. Stoick's deep voice carried across the island, a reassuring presence for all who heard it. The sun beat down on them, warming their backs as they worked tirelessly to make Berk once again a place they could all be proud of.
Cheers went up among the villagers, their fear turning to triumph as they realized they could truly make this new island their home. Stoick clapped Astrid on the shoulder, a proud smile on his face as he looked out at the people of Berk. This was just the beginning of their new adventure, and together, they knew they could overcome any challenge that came their way.
A few weeks after they had finished building the village, Stoick and Valka stood by the docks looking out into the horizon.
"Well, we finally did it." says Stoick looking back into the village as Astrid and the younger generation join them at the docks.
"We did, all of us." says Valka resting a hand on her husband's shoulder. "What have the other tribes said about our monthly meetings?"
"I have only heard back from Berserker Island. They said they will begin to sail further." says Fishlegs pulling out the letter sent from Dagur the chief of Berserker Island. "The letter also states that nothing is left on Berk, apparently Dagur sent his scouts to investigate the land but all they recalled was burnt ships, and massive piles of rubble."
"Keep us up-to-date Fishlegs." says Stoick looking out to sea. "Send a message to King Ryder, let him know I have a proposal to make."
"Of course chief." says Fishlegs rushing off to write a letter.
"What kind of proposal Stoick?" asks Gunhild looking at her daughter.
"I will ask the King if he can arrange a fleet of ships to guide the other tribes here for a meeting." says Stoick putting a hand on Astrid's shoulder. "Do not fear lass, we won't wed you off yet."
"Thank you Stoick." says Astrid as she runs back to the village.
In the heart of the dense forest, Astrid Hofferson stood alongside Stormfly, her loyal Deadly Nadder. The morning sun filtered through the thick canopy, casting dappled light on the duo as they prepared for their training session. Astrid tightened the straps on Stormfly's saddle, her movements precise and deliberate. Stormfly let out a contented hum, a sound that reassured Astrid of their unbreakable bond.
"Ready for some flying drills, girl?" Astrid asked, her voice laced with determination. Stormfly responded with a resounding screech, her wings unfurling in anticipation. Astrid smiled, affectionately patting Stormfly's scaled neck before mounting her.
With a swift kick, Stormfly took to the skies, the wind rushing past Astrid's face as they soared through the forest. The trees below blurred into a sea of green, branches swaying in the Nadder's wake. Astrid's heart pounded with exhilaration, the thrill of flight coursing through her veins. As they circled back towards the clearing, Astrid guided Stormfly through a series of intricate manoeuvres. They weaved in and out of the trees with precision, their movements fluid and synchronized. Stormfly's powerful wings beat against the air, propelling them higher and higher. Suddenly, a flock of startled birds burst from the treetops, their shrill cries filling the air. Stormfly let out a triumphant screech, a primal sound that echoed through the forest. Astrid's laughter rang out, a joyous sound that blended with Stormfly's exuberant cries. The duo landed gracefully in the clearing, their chests heaving with exertion. Astrid dismounted, her eyes shining with pride as she gazed at Stormfly. The Nadder purred, a low rumble of contentment that reverberated through the clearing.
"We make a great team, don't we, girl?" Astrid said, running a hand along Stormfly's flank. The Nadder nudged her affectionately, a silent affirmation of their bond.
As the sun began its descent, Astrid and Stormfly settled down by the edge of a tranquil stream. The sound of rushing water accompanied their peaceful silence, the day's training forging an unbreakable connection between human and dragon. Contentment settled over them like a warm blanket, the rustling leaves and chirping birds creating a symphony of nature's song. Astrid closed her eyes, the rhythmic hum of Stormfly lulling her into a sense of peace. In that moment, amidst the tranquil beauty of the forest, Astrid knew that she and Stormfly were destined for greatness. Their bond was unbreakable, their spirits entwined like the roots of the ancient trees that surrounded them. And as the stars began to twinkle overhead, they both knew that their adventures had only just begun.