Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD nor it's characters

Miracles and Grief

Another day, another raid. The war between Vikings and dragons had lasted for more than 300 years already and no matter how many they killed; they kept coming. It seemed more came to replace the ones Vikings had eliminated.

A large man with a long red beard and his hair tied in a braid walked through the village. On his head he wore a helmet with long horns and a furred cape signaling his status as chief. That man was Stoick the Vast, chief of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe.

Stoick sometimes wondered why they still fought. It was exhausting and their homes would hold for two weeks, three the longest. But then he opened the door to his home, and he remembered why he continued to fight. The reason was sitting next to the fireplace.

His beloved, Valka.

She looked up when the door opened and smiled when she saw him. She was about to stand, but he stopped her. "You shouldn't strain yourself my dear."

Both looked down to Valka's stomach and Stoick felt his heart melt. His Valka was pregnant. The healer Gothi had confirmed it about a week ago and he couldn't have been happier in his life.

Putting his hand on her belly he stroked it lovingly, already impatient to see his child. "Hello there little one."

Valka chuckled. "We've just learned about them, and I already love them." She put her hand over his and they shared a quick kiss.

"I do as well." They looked at each other and Stoick wondered how he'd gotten so lucky to have a woman like her in his life. She was everything a man could ask for. Strong, talented, smart, a great shield-maiden and a beautiful woman.

Stoick moved to the kitchen to prepare dinner with a smile. Men would usually let women do the food, as it was their job they'd say, but the women of Berk were strong and men with that mindset were quickly put in their place. Stoick didn't mind making food for them, it brought a smile to Valka's face and let him forget about his problems for a while.

Ever since they'd gotten the news, Stoick had become a bit of a worrywart. It had annoyed Valka, but she knew he meant it well and with their lifestyle, his worry was understandable. One of them may not survive one day and that possibility scared her more than any dragon out there.

Valka smiled when her husband came out and served them their dinner. He made sure she ate nourishing food and always put a bit more on her plate, which Valka didn't mind at all. Stoick had become a decent cook since their marriage. The pair would enjoy every moment of peace they could get, and Valka prayed that their child would make it into this scary world.

Over the months that followed, Valka's pregnancy become more and more visible. Her and Stoick had wanted to wait until she'd passed the first trimester to announce the news to the village. The announcement had resulted in a huge celebration. They'd gotten congratulations from everyone and even Stoick's brother-in-law Spitelout had congratulated them.

All seemed to be going well until one night, another dragon raid hit the village.

Dragons and Vikings were fighting, the beasts filled the night sky and roared in anger.

"Stoick wait!"

Stoick turned at saw his six and a half months pregnant wife follow him out of the house. "Valka! Stay inside!", he ordered, but she didn't listen.

"You forgot your axe, Stoick.", she said slightly out of breath.

Thanking her with a kiss he brought her back into the house and left again. Before, he usually just rushed in, the plan being to kill as many dragons as he could. Now he was more careful and strategic. He not only had a wife to come home to now, but also a child. A child he wanted to meet so badly and was ready to do anything for it. A child he wanted to raise together with the love of his life.

So, he fought with all of his strength and the people of his village along with him. The beasts seemed to sense their increased determination and strength and fought harder to get kill them and steal their food. But they were losing, the Vikings had already killed several of them and they hadn't gotten a chance to steal much of their livestock.

'CRASH!'

Stoick normally would've ignored the noise. Another house crumbling down was a part of the raids, yet something in his gut told him to look. Trusting his gut instincts, he searched for the destroyed building and felt time stop when he saw which house it was.

"Man the catapults! Keep fighting!", he ordered but didn't stay to hear if they'd heard his orders or not.

Running to his house, he cursed whoever built it so far out of the village plaza. In the side was a huge burning hole and some part next to it had collapsed and the fire was spreading. Bursting through the entrance he felt his heart stop for a moment.

Valka lay injured on the ground and dragon with four wings and two spines branching off it's flat face was roaring at another dragon. Stoick saw it fly out of the house. He identified the remaining dragon as a Stormcutter, which had never been seen in the raids. But that thought went out of his head, when he saw the beast was slowly approaching Valka. Despite her injuries she stood up, sword in hand and did nothing but look at the lizard.

Thinking that the Stormcutter must've chased off the other to get the prize himself, the chief roared and charged at the dragon with his axe raised. He threw his weapon and it hit it's mark, as the reptile roared in pain and turned away. Stoick rushed to his wife and scrutinized her form. She had a gash on her forehead some burns and blood spattered on her the dragon.

About to breathe out in relief, he felt a rare emotion squeeze his heart as Valka suddenly clutched her stomach in pain and bowed over.

Fear.

"Valka?!"

A roar interrupted what she was about to say and Stoick turned to the Stormcutter with fury in his eyes. This monster was the reason Valka was injured.

Running to the dragon he picked up his axe and swung it, but this time it dodged and retaliated with a snap of it's teeth. Stoick evaded and lunged at the dragon again, this time punching it in the snout and followed with another. The Stormcutter paused after the assault and shook it's head. It looked at Stoick and then Valka before it turned and flew off.

Stoick growled, there was no way he would let it leave after what it had done, but Valka's painfilled cry stopped him.

"Valka! Are you alright? Gobber!", Stoick called urgently.

"Stoick?", his friend called as he hobbled into the house, mustache swaying with his movements, and he looked at his friend and wife. "I'll get Gothi."

Focusing on Valka, he saw her face scrunch up in pain again and he gave her his hand to hold. He hated this feeling and this situation. He would never forgive himself, if Valka or their child died. He was the chief for Thor's sake! He was supposed to protect everyone in his village!

Gothi soon arrived with Gobber in tow and rushed to them. She took one look at Valka and started shooing them out, which Stoick strongly protested, "I'm not leaving her!" Gobber grabbed his friend's shoulders and Stoick turned his eyes on him. Gobber could see the emotions swimming in the chief' eyes, anger, worry, fear and so many other ones.

"Get out of my way Gobber!"

"Stoick, Gothi is their best chance right now, so you've got to let 'er work."

The chief was reluctant to leave, this was his wife and child, he should stay with them. Yet Gobber was right. If he stayed, he would only be in Gothi's way and risk endangering the two further. His broad shoulders slumped with the conclusion, and he let himself be led outside by Gobber. His friend looked at him with concern, but Stoick avoided making eye contact and started ordering his men to start on the repairs. He needed a distraction until he got an update.

After hours Stoick was finally allowed back into the house and his heart broke when he saw Valka. She was lying in bed her injuries treated and bandaged, but her face was pale and she was sweating. Gobber saw the change as well and winced, looking at his friend with worry.

Gothi noticed their presence and left Valka's side to explain the current situation. She drew her symbols on the ground and Gobber translated, "Valka was lucky, she didn't get too injured... The babe on the other hand is another story."

"Wha-what's wrong with the baby?", Stoick asked weakly, not even caring about his stutter. Right now, he wasn't Stoick the Vast or the chief of Berk. Now he was just Stoick, husband to Valka and to-be-father who might not get to be a father.

"It... Valka had gotten hit in the stomach and the babe's not doing too well..."

Stoick felt his world crumble to pieces. Those words were worse than any hit from a bludgeon. The possibility of something like this happening existed, that Stoick knew, but it becoming reality... Stoick couldn't find the words to describe how he felt. In his state of shock, he fell to his knees and felt himself being caught by Gobber but didn't react.

He didn't know how long he'd been kneeling there. Gobber and Gothi had left at some point and only then did he let his tears fall. The only sound disrupting the silence were his sniffles and Valka's heavy breathing.

"Stoick...?"

Stoick's head shot up at his wife's weak call and he moved swiftly to her, automatically taking her hand in his. Valka's usually bright green eyes were tired and pained and her grip is weak. Stoick took the rag that was next to the bed and went to get a bowl of cold water to wipe of her sweat on her forehead. Valka sighed at the cool relief on her heated skin.

"How are you doin' Valka?", Stoick asked softly.

"As well as I can be... But the babe... ", she trailed off and laid a worried hand on her swollen abdomen. The pain now gone and her baby not as active as they usually were. Her concern filled eyes found Stoick's and he sighed. He couldn't hide this from her, and he told her what he'd been told and held her as she cried. He felt her pain and tears reappeared in his eyes.

Stoick held Valka until he felt her become limp in his hold, having cried herself to sleep. He wiped her tears and laid her down in the bed, covering her in the fur blankets. He kissed her forehead and silently left their bedroom and moved to the fireplace. He felt more tired than even after a raid and his limbs felt heavy. He put some wood into the hearth to chase away the winter's chill.

As he sat there, he contemplated ways to save his child. He couldn't just give up on them. But saving them was almost impossible, unless they used sorcery which didn't exist. Stoick once again cursed the dragon's existence. If he were to lose his child, he wasn't sure if he would be able to recover and he doubted Valka could. As he stared into the flames, his hope for a miracle burned as well. There just had to be a way and he would not rest until he found it.

Over the weeks that followed Stoick had searched and searched for a solution next to his duties. Gobber determined to help his friend searched as well. Gothi was doing her own research as well while paying close attention to the baby as Valka was confined to bed rest. The searching had proved fruitful as not three weeks later Gothi had gathered Stoick and Gobber in her hut and was scribbling her discovery into it.

She'd learned about it from a sailor who'd been harboring in Berk for a few days and was an old friend of hers. He'd told her about a dragon who had remarkable healing abilities and was very mysterious. It was said to have remarkable results when used in medicine, but the issue was finding that dragon. He'd given her an old scroll with all the information on it with a warning that the dragon was also one of the most dangerous ones as not much was known about it.

Stoick knew it could be a scam, but it was also a chance.

As they read the contents of the scroll, they learned the dragon was a Night Fury. Which made them look at each other with dread. Night Fury's were well known and at the same time not. The book of dragons contained nothing about it, just a fear inducing warning and it's title.

The unholy offspring of lighting and death itself.

All they knew was that it's scales were as black as night, had great speed and strength as well as precise blasts that could bring down a whole house. It was incredibly elusive, even Bork the Bold hadn't been able to write more information about it.

"Does it say where we can find it?", Stoick questioned and Gobber continued reading the scroll, "It says that Night Furies never have a specific home, always on the move." The chief slumped at that. "But they can be found south, as they don't do too well in the cold and when with hatchlings, they stay on the same spot for multiple months.", Gobber finished, and Stoick punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"That is not the sentence to take a pause on Gobber!"

"Sorry..."

Stoick sighed and rubbed his head. Now that they had the information, they just needed to prepare a boat and inform the village of their absence. Going south could take days and finding a Night Fury could take even longer.

"Gobber, we leave today", he ordered and moved to make the necessary preparations.

"Today?!"

"The sooner we leave the better." They were moving through the village and the Vikings looked at them curiously.

"Alright, I'll pack my undies.", Gobber sighed and wobbled to his house.

They had left not long after. Stoick had left Spiteloud in charge and Gothi to keep him in check. The two were heading south, which had taken a few days and they started checking the islands that they'd come across and crossed each one off their map. No matter how many islands they'd searched and found no results, Stoick hadn't given up. He would check every island he if necessary.

They boarded the maybe twentieth island, Stoick wasn't sure he'd lost count by the eight. Gobber and him met up and his friend shook his head and he sighed. Another island to cross off their map. They started to solemnly walk back to the beach when bushes rustled nearby. Preparing their weapons, they slowly moved to the bush and tensed when it rustled again.

Suddenly two black blurs shot out tumbling in the ground and kicking up dust. The creatures stopped their fighting and the dust dissipated, revealing them to Stoick and Gobber. The chief gasped when he saw the two creatures.

They were Night Furies!

Finally, their days of searching had paid off. Gobber shared his excitement, but then the Night Furies, hatchlings likely judging from their size, noticed them and all four didn't move.

Suddenly the Furies ran into the forest and Stoick immediately followed. They ran and had to bat away branches and avoid tripping over roots and rocks. But no matter how fast they were, the dragons were faster, and their dark scales gave them an advantage in the thick forest. He stopped in a small clearing and panted. "No..." He leaned on his knees more out of despair.

Gobber patted his shoulders as he noticed something not far from them. "Stoick."

"Not now Gobber."

"No Stoick look!"

He looked to where the blacksmith was pointing and noticed something amiss with the plants. They'd been placed as if hiding something. Signaling Gobber to move forward they brushed the leaves aside and what they saw shocked them both.

Before them was a cave, but what caught their was the two Night Furies from before, who were play fighting and a third was watching them while scratching their, what they guessed was, ear. Stoick couldn't believe his eyes. Not only had they found the rarest dragon known in the Archipelago, but they'd found it as hatchlings.

Stoick looked around for the parent, but they were nowhere to be found. Likely having gone out for food.

"You know, they're quite cute when ya ignore the whole 'offspring of lightening and death itself' thing.", Gobber commented.

Stoick ignored Gobber's comment. "We have to act now, as long as the parent is away." His friend nodded and the two sneaked until they were close enough to grab one and get what they needed. Just when one's ear twitched, they struck and caught one. The others fled into the cave roaring in distress.

Their time running out, they got the beast to salivate into a bottle, grabbed a few scales and left running. The enraged roar of the parent making the situation that much more dire. They quickly reached their boat, strong wing beats following them and an angry roar. They pushed their boat into sea and started rowing for their lives, but then heard a sharp whistle, and they were sprayed with water, the blast having missed them, or having been a warning from the Fury. They didn't stay to find out.

They rowed until they felt they were a good distance away and only then did they relax.

"We've done it Stoick!", Gobber yelled a big smile on his face that Stoick happily returned. His child would be alright now. They celebrated for a short while, but quickly made their way back to Berk. The gods seemed to be on their side, because they had good wind for most of the way and returned to Berk quicker than they thought they would.

Berk celebrated their success, and they made their way to Gothi, who started preparing the medicine immediately. They'd been gone for more than a few weeks and the village had suffered a small raid, but the Vikings had held their ground. The chief's house had been left unharmed and the dragons had quickly left again. Valka was still in bed and pale but gave him a happy smile at his safe return. Stoick was glad the baby had held out; they were a survivor and seemed to have gotten both parent's stubbornness.

The medicine took two days to prepare and was given to Valka as soon as it was ready. Stoick feared the medicine was a scam when he didn't see any improvement and felt despair grab hold again. Then one morning he walked into the room to see Valka sitting up in bed. The sickly pallor having been replaced with a healthy blush and her strength seeming to be returning.

Stoick scooped her up in a tight hug and laughed joyous tears and Valka had a big smile as well. The village soon got the news of her recovery and the skies seemed to brighten and the sour mood had left Berk. Valka had to continue to take the medicine in doses until just short of the due date. The baby was due somewhere between February and March.

Since her recovery was going swiftly Valka was allowed to be out of bed and move around. She had reached the eight-month mark, and all seemed to be going well. The baby was active and kicking causing Valka some discomfort which she was willing to tolerate. It was better than when she'd felt almost nothing from the child. The dosage of the medicine was slowly being reduced and every check they went, Gothi gave them a conformation for the babe's good condition.

It was one evening when the two were walking home from the plaza, Valka felt a pinch in her stomach. Passing it off as the baby kicking again, she said nothing and continued walking. But the pains came again and again. She knew that it couldn't be the babe, that was too much activity for them. Realization hit her as the pains became more and more insistent and dread filled her stomach.

"Stoick!", she called urgently, and he appeared a second later. He searched for an injury with his eyes, but when he found nothing, his worry increased. "I'm in labor Stoick.", she said alarmed and scared. His eyes widened and he looked at her stomach, before he collected himself and lead her over to the chair. "I can't be in labor Stoic! It's too early!"

Stoick knew that. But there was nothing they could do to stop the birth. He ran out of the house to call for the midwife and Gothi. Valka sat next to the fireplace, breathing heavily a hand on her stomach. She stood up and walked in circles, having been told by other mothers that walking helped speed the process along.

She almost bowed over when another contraction hit, this one more painful than the last ones. Soon Stoick returned with the midwife and the healer, and they moved into action immediately. They got warm water, blankets and herbs and then it was just a waiting game. A few hours later Valka's water broke, and she was put into bed in a new change of clothes.

As the birth continued Stoick noticed something amiss with Valka. She was sweating and crying, which he could reason with the birth. But she was slowly becoming paler and seemed to have a hard time catching her breath and Gothi was paying close attention to her.

"Gothi! Something's wrong.", he said alarmed. Though Gothi ignored him and continued working, the midwife spared them only a worried glance before she returned to Valka's side.

Stoick was about to demand an answer when Valka called for him. He rushed to her and held her hand. She looked tired and in pain and winced when another contraction hit, her hand clutching his in such a vice grip he even winced a little. When the pain subsided, she breathed hard, the midwife giving her something to drink, and Stoick patiently sat next to her.

After another breath she looked at him, her eyes filled with love and looking as beautiful as always, Stoick thought.

"I'm... not going to make it Stoick.", she suddenly said, and Stoick felt his heart stop.

"Wha- what? Valka what are you sayin'?"

Valka only smiled and placed her hand on his cheek, tears gathering in her eyes. "Gothi had told me, because of my injuries from the attack, that I would not live long after the birth of our child." Tears now ran down her face. "I didn't want to tell you, because you already had so much on your shoulders, and I could see that this pregnancy had been hard on you as well."

Tears now ran down both their cheeks. "You were so happy about the babe, and I didn't want to ruin that.", she said and grunted with the arrival of another contraction. Stoick could only look at his wife in despair. He cursed the gods for Valka's misfortune. She'd been doing so well...

"No... no no no! You're going to make dear! I know you will!", Stoick said desperately and held her hands tightly. Valka only watched her husband with sadness. She could see the denial on his face as clear as the stars in the sky. But Stoick could see the truth and it felt like a stab to the chest.

"Stoick... I'm scared...", she admitted her voice so small and wavering, that the chief had a hard time hearing her.

"You're going to be alright Valka." He tried to sound reassuring but couldn't and Valka smiled then focused on the birth again as a contraction hit. Both of them ignoring what had been said, but not forgetting. The next hours were filled with Valka's grunts and screams, Stoick's comforting words and the midwife's instructions. They'd gotten her to eat and drink, but she was losing strength, yet the prospect of meeting her baby pushed her on.

After another push Valka was wondering, if she was making any progress at all. "I can see the head! Keep pushing Valka!", the midwife cried a smile on her face and Valka pushed hard screaming. Soon the shoulders followed and the rest of the baby, but no cries were heard. Stoick tried to get a look at the child, but they were swaddled in a towel and turned away from him.

Heavy breathing grabbed his attention and he turned to Valka. She was still as pale as before, tear tracks on her cheeks and eyebags. "The baby why aren't they crying?", she asked fearfully, and Stoick couldn't answer. The gods wouldn't be so cruel, would they?

"Chief?"

He looked at the midwife as she stood before them and held their baby. He looked at her with hope and she smiled hesitant. "The baby's alright, but she's very small and... There's something else..."

The parents were happy with the news but confused at the last part. Stoick was given his daughter and he removed the blanket covering her.

She was the most beautiful little thing he'd ever seen.

She was small, his hands seemed enormous around her. She had a bit of soft brown hair on her head and freckles on her face. She had his nose and Valka's eyes and face. She was a perfect mix of both. But he then noticed something on her shoulders. Gently turning her over he startled at what he saw.

Small black dots covered her shoulder blades and ran down her spine. Touching them his eyes narrowed at the different texture. They were rough, round and black. They looked like... scales.

Night Fury scales.

The Nighty Fury saliva and scales in the medicine must've affected her somehow when she was still developing.

"S-stoick?"

He turned to Valka and his eyes widened. Valka's condition had worsened. "How... is she?"

The chief wordlessly handed her the child and Valka looked at her for a moment before she started crying with a smile. She brushed her little cheek and their daughter cooed. "Isn't she beautiful Stoick?", she whispered.

Stoick agreed, but he frowned at the scales on her back. Valka looked at him when he hadn't said anything and seemed to know what he was thinking. "The scales don't change who she is, Stoick"

"Valka she's part devil.", he almost hissed.

"They're not devils Stoick."

He said nothing, knowing this discussion would lead to an argument he didn't want to have. "Maybe she's the key to this whole war.", Valka suddenly whispered, and he turned to her eyes wide. He leaned Valka against himself when she seemed to be struggling to breathe. Valka cried as she could feel her body slowly failing her. She cuddled her baby close. "What should we name her?", she asked.

They both looked at her small form. She was starting to fall asleep but was woken up by a small hiccup which had startled her. They'd thought she would start crying but she didn't, and she hiccupped again.

"I think we should call her... Hiccup", Valka said amused.

Stoick laughed softly in agreement. Hiccup did fit her well. Usually, it was tradition to call the runt of the litter Hiccup and with her being so small it fit, but it was also a good thing that that wasn't the only reason they had given her the name.,

"I think it's perfect.", he whispered just as Hiccup hiccupped again.

Valka suddenly started coughing and the midwife took Hiccup into her arms as Gothi rushed to her side. Stoick looked at her in alarm, which amplified when her hand came away bloody from her mouth.

Valka leaned back into his chest breathing heavily. The healer looked at Stoick and he could see what she was saying.

Her time was running out.

Valka seemed to know it too. She held out her arms to the midwife who carefully put Hiccup back into her arms. She moved Hiccup's head to her chest and Stoick turned away. Though he looked to her again when he felt her hand on his. He avoided looking down to give her privacy, but she smiled, and he hesitantly looked down to their child.

Valka inwardly chuckled at her husband. But she wanted to have at least this one moment as a family before... She sighed. She'd known for months and yet, the thought still scared her. Valka was sad she couldn't see her child grow up. Grow into a beautiful woman. See her fight for her village, have her first boyfriend, her marriage, she would never meet her grandkids. Instead, she had to leave the two most important people in her life.

All these thoughts brought tears to her eyes. She tried soothing Hiccup to sleep as she cried. She couldn't hold back her sobs when she felt strong arms envelop her.

Stoick cried as he held the love of his life, his soulmate. Hiccup seemed to sense the atmosphere and their moods, because she too had tears running down her face. The family cried together, felt each other's grief and pain as they held each other.

Valka had passed away a few hours later, while being held in her husband's arms and holding her baby in hers.

The funeral had been enormous, all the villagers had attended. Valka had been well liked by everyone and an incredible warrior. The gods must've seemed sad as well, because there had been no sun. The clouds were dark, and the island was surrounded in light fog. Valka's body was set adrift on a boat and set on fire by arrows, which Stoick had shot the first one.

Her soul would rest amongst the other warriors in Valhalla. A place she'd been taken to too early yet deserved her place there all the same.

He held Hiccup in his arms as they watched the boat burn and listened to the speech in Valka's honor.

Hiccup fussed and Stoick soothed her. He promised himself while standing at the shore that while he still lived, breathed and his heart still beat in his chest, Hiccup would not be killed by these beasts or become one of them. The scales he felt through her shirt a stark reminder of what else ran through her veins.

"I promise Valka. I swear it on my life."

Hello! and yes I know it's been a long time and I apologize for that. But I've started a new job and I have to go to some business school along with it and the homework is killing me! But anyway I'll try to post more regularly. I've given this one a rewrite as I didn't like the first version of it. I still don't know where I'm going with this though, but I hope y'all will like it. So, byee!

I don't know how to describe a birth or a death, but I tried, so hope I did a good enough job.