Seven months later…

"Zephyr, will you just let me handle this? You have a whole list of things you need to work on anyway!"

"I dunno Laeli…"

"Zeph, for Thor's sake, I've got this." Zephyr chewed her lip and tapped her foot, she was waiting, "My dear sister from another mother, you have a wedding AND a coronation to plan. Both of which are your own. Shoo."

"Fiiineee."

"If Tannr needs help, just go get Eyarr."

With an impatient huff, Zephyr finally left me at the entrance to the docks. I turned to the small group of men waiting for me to negotiate with them.

"So eh… that's the Chief?" One asked; tall, burly, brunet, and covered in tattoos.

"Technically, yes, her ceremony is being planned," I explained, fighting my slight grimace, "I'm her second in command, so here I am."

After maybe half an hour of chatting with the men, I was able to sort of finalize a new trade connection with New Berk and some island to the northeast named Thunder Ridge.

I sent them into the village to further talks with Hiccup and Fishlegs so Zephyr could work on her plans in peace and then proceeded down to the docks.

In the 7-ish months since mine and Eyarr's wedding, we'd settled into our routine — both in the village and at home.

I had taken up the job of teaching sailing skills, especially to the village kids. But I also helped regulate who could or couldn't come to dock their ships, plus I would be tasked with assisting with repairs, and loading supplies, among other things, and keeping track of traders.

I would be tipped or paid generously because of how important it was to man the docks. So it put food on the table.

Eyarr, meanwhile, became more or less the village "handyman", so to speak. Sometimes he'd help out in the forge, sometimes leather working, household repairs, or assisting with building houses, as he had a variety of talents, and so he began offering his services, which were gladly received.

Life had finally settled down after all that turmoil. Saoirse was more accustomed to her blinded eye but still needed help with a few things, so Nuffink and Zyrah helped her as much as Saoirse would allow them.

Zephyr and Tannr were preparing for their wedding, and it was going to be a big deal. Many of New Berk's allies' chiefs and their families would be in attendance. Plus! Tannr's baby sister, Hilda, was also coming, and Tannr and Nyr were super excited to see their sister again. The wedding was planned to be on Freyja's Day, so it would be extra romantic, which, shockingly, was Zephyr's idea. And it was a little funny.

I was waiting for Hilda's ship to pull in; she had communicated that she would arrive maybe a week before the big day. So it was my job to wait for her to arrive and bring her to her brothers.

As the day came to an end with the sun beginning to set, I began double-checking that the boats were tied to the proper locations and all the ropes were tightly secured. It was pretty easy, especially having a couple of extra hands. Once my assistants and I were done, I bid them goodnight.

"Finally, you're done." I just rolled my eyes at the sound of my husband's voice.

"Based on that tone, so are you."

"Sure am. Ready to settle in for the night?"

"Sounds perfect."

Even after a long day on the docks and directing boats, I still had the energy to help Eyarr make dinner. Among other things, heh. The night was inviting and very romantic for us.

We had actually started trying to conceive a baby, and had been trying for a couple of months now. Despite meticulously tracking my cycle, no baby.

But we weren't too devastated about our attempts falling through. We were focused on our life and just being a married couple. Life was stable on New Berk, not just for Eyarr and I, but for most of the village and our friends and family.

Nuffink and Saorise had their own house now, feeling more comfortable as a couple themselves, still making the adjustments necessary for Saoirse's blinded eye.

Tannr and Zephyr still remained in the Haddock house but with a separate wing. Mainly so that Tannr could still learn his chieftain duties from Hiccup and Astrid.

Tannr's mother and father, Zyrah and Konall, continued their life, living peacefully. Zyrah had decided that she would no longer be giving sword-fighting lessons to New Berk's children, feeling that she did not have the same energy and strength she once did. She was already totally blind, but after a minor fall, she nearly took out her left eye on accident, and Ana told her that maybe it was time to put the swords down. And understandably reluctant, Zyrah gave in.

Her other son, Nyr, the eldest of hers and Konall's twins; was taken under Fishlegs' wing. Fishlegs was New Berk's curator of the only library in the village. Nyr had never really expressed interest in settling down with someone and getting married, rather focused on learning and studying. Nyr had eagerly taken Fishlegs' offer to help with the upkeep of New Berk's books and other documents. Ruffnut, Fishlegs' wife, was supportive of it, and Nyr became close with the couple's two children, Daftnut and Oafnut.

…No one ever said that the Thorstons were ever good at naming things, no less kids.

With an abundance of good fortune all around, New Berk felt like a fairytale.

Zephyr had also begun forming her official council once she was crowned chief. It was already agreed upon that I was her second-in-command, and she had contemplated asking Eyarr to be a part of the council as well, but he politely declined, stating that he respectfully couldn't be a part of any governmental body. She attempted numerous ways to convince him, attempting to rationalize with him that his expertise in the outside world beyond the Archipelago would be beneficial, but the answer was still no.

That said, he tentatively offered some occasional advice when he felt necessary, which Zephyr was pleased with the compromise, so it was a start.

Two days later, early in the morning, as I was preparing breakfast for myself and Eyarr, who was still asleep, I heard a knock at the door. I called for the visitor to come in, and much to my surprise, it was Hiccup.

"Oh! Good morning, Hiccup." I greeted. A visit from him this early in the morning was extremely unusual for him and only occurred if he needed something important to be done.

"Good morning, Laeli. I apologize for stopping by so early," I offered him a bowl of pork and eggs, which he accepted.

"You only stop by if there's something important happening," I remarked, and he nodded.

"You're correct."

"So? What's going on?" He carefully explained that he needed my help with something, but didn't clarify what. He seemed anxious, glancing up the staircase where Eyarr was still asleep.

"He's still asleep, he won't be up for a while." I crossed my arms, "what's going on? Does this have to do with Zephyr's wedding?" He shook his head, furthering my confusion, as Zephyr's wedding was all the community was chattering about. I had overheard gossip from some older women about the important guests who were attending, and that a few of them saw it as a perfect opportunity to present their own daughters.

Whatever.

"Finish up your food and then come with me. I've assigned a substitute at the docks for you for today." Huh?

"Should I be worried?" I asked as I followed him out the door, closing it gently behind me. He shook his head again.

"No, of course not. But it's important you keep this between us for the time being. It's a project I've been brainstorming for some time now."

"…I do not like the sound of that," I admitted.

"Just trust me." We made our way to his and Astrid's house, and I fought back a yawn as we made our way inside his workshop. I could see the scattered blueprints of various mechanical designs pinned to the walls and haphazardly laid about his desk. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. I was used to the precise mess that was his workshop. I avoided stepping on a few screws on the floor, taking a seat on a chair across from where he sat, crossing my arms.

"Okay, so what gives?" I asked. He wordlessly brought out a pine box, setting it down on his desk. He opened it, and removed a cylindrical metal object, setting it across from me. "Uh, what is that?"

"This," he said, then unfolding a blueprint that he had also removed from the pine box as well, "is what I've requested your help with." His expression shifted to one of a more serious nature, which worried me. "After you and Eyarr returned from your travels, and your mention of seeing the Hidden World for yourself… it got me thinking. Only myself, Astrid, Zyrah, Konall, you, and Eyarr have physically been to the Hidden World ourselves, and have seen inside. Only six of us. For over 20 years, it's been my goal to protect the Hidden World and make sure no one can find it. You remember the legend that my father told me, correct?" I nodded.

"Well, I decided it was time to try a new approach. I've only just started this, and I will continue to work on it until I feel it's perfect." He explained, tapping the metal cylinder.

"Okay? So how does this involve me?"

"Because of your navigational skills. Tell me, how did you and Eyarr find the Hidden World without dragons?" Gods, I hadn't thought much about it since it occurred, but to humor Hiccup, I explained how I memorized the positions of certain stars and constellations relative to the time of year. As well as the positions of the sun and moon. It was a long-winded explanation, and I didn't want to delve too deep into the technical stuff, but that was about it.

"So, the Hidden World can be found using dragons, or by using the stars, sun, and moon." He concluded, to which I confirmed with another nod.

"Essentially, yes."

"Good, pretty much what I figured. So, my final question to you is, have you ever heard of a cryptex?" I shook my head. He briefly explained what a cryptex was, and how he came to hear about such a thing. He explained his inspiration came from a device he possessed many years ago that contained many secrets about dragons and the different classes they belonged to.

"So, what I am requesting from you, is to help me create a cryptex that contains the exact location of the Hidden World."

"Huh? Why?" A wistful smile crossed his face.

"Because… my one hope has always been that the dragons can safely rejoin us, without fear of being hunted down. That humans and dragons can safely and peacefully coexist, work together for common goals, and share bonds with each other. Not as pets, but as lifelong companions, which is what Toothless and I fought for so many years, a fight that so many others joined because they genuinely believed in that idea, even my father. I don't care how long it takes, I just hope that maybe… our descendants can accomplish what we haven't, and live in a better world." He turned to me again, "I believe that a cryptex will provide our descendants with the answers they'll need to bring the dragons back, but only if it is done precisely and accurately."

"You seem pretty confident that your descendants can accomplish such a task, or would even be willing," Hiccup sighed, turning to the window and clasping his hands behind his back.

"Both Zephyr and Nuffink understand how important this legacy is, and they agree to uphold it, especially as my children. And you yourself have stated how vital it is to remain connected to our heritage; to share the stories of our elders."

"That I have…"

"And… I know you have your own legacy to maintain for when you and Eyarr eventually have kids of your own as well." All right, I could sort of see where he was leading with this.

"Okay, let me see if I got this guess of mine correct; you want to create a codex that will lead your descendants to the Hidden World when the time is right to reintroduce dragons into a future society where they can coexist peacefully."

"That's right! And frankly, this extends to the rest of my inner circle as well, as we were among the first." I nodded, half-frowning as I thought about it. It was an ambitious, yet exciting prospect, if a bit haunting with the reminder of how different the world would be by the time dragons could even be possibly brought back.

It was the responsibility of every older generation to pass on wisdom and the right tools to help better the future, granted, not every generation contributed to that bit of human nature, but it was a concept most of us mutually agreed upon. And sure, not everything worked out according to plan, but every attempt was always worth the try.

"Alright… I'll help," I finally said, "just show me what I can do."