Chapter 2

On a high cliff, a little north of the village of Berk; Chief Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III sat upon his knees with a map spread out before him on the soft grass. He weighted each corner down with heavy stones. He pulled his notebook from his pocket and began to flip through its pages until he found his most recent sketch. He tore the page out when he found it and arranged it, just so, on his ever expanding map. The sketch depicted a diagram of a fairly large island which he had only just discovered on his most recent scouting mission.

The island was about a three day journey Southeast of Berk. Hiccup carefully attached the page to his map using a small bit of dragon-spit glue. He sat back on his knees and gazed at the map that had taken him years to create. He payed particular attention to its newest addition.

He had only seen the island from the air so far. The body of land was significantly larger than Berk. It was beautiful with high bluffs, rolling hills, and majestic mountains. There was a vast forest that stretched over a majority of the land and a very high hanging valley with a waterfall cascading from it. Judging by the weathered castle and surrounding village he had observed, it was inhabited by a well established people. Whether or not these people he had stumbled upon could be friend or foe to Berk still remained to be seen. Though he was intrigued by this majestic land and though he wanted to land and explore, he had already been away from Berk far longer than he had planned. Instead he headed home with plans to return to the alluring continent some time in the near future.

"There is my prodigal son," his mother's voice stirred him from his thoughts.

"If it isn't my prodigal mother," Hiccup replied sarcastically without turning around. He was focused on his map and was drawing symbols in certain areas of the newest addition.

"Touche', " she replied as she removed her helmet. She leapt down from Cloud-jumper and walked over toward her son.

"You're four days later than you said you'd be," she said, "we were starting to worry."

"Sorry," Hiccup replied still focusing on his map, "I went a little more South than I had planned to." Valka sat down on a large stone beside Hiccup and glanced over his shoulder at the newest addition to his map.

"You've made a new discovery I see," she said, "it's a big bit of land too."

"The biggest I've found so far," Hiccup replied, "unfortunately it's already inhabited, so no-go for New Berk, but maybe we could get some decent allies out of it."

"So you took your time getting back so that you could get a good feel for this new land," she replied questioningly.

"Basically," Hiccup nodded.

"I see," she replied, "and it was not at all an excuse to avoid the village?"

"Here it comes," Hiccup sighed in aggravation as he gripped the bridge of his nose.

"I know things have been difficult for you since you've taken full responsibility as Chief," Valka went on," and with everything that happened with Astri..."

"Mom, I'm fine," Hiccup interrupted.

"Hiccup," Valka said. He stood up quickly and turned to face his mother. She gazed up at him skeptically.

"Really, I'm fine," he insisted, "okay!" Valka sighed as she stood up.

"I know I haven't been the best mother," Valka replied, "I wasn't there for much of your life, but I'm here now and you can talk to me, about anything."

"That's great mom," Hiccup huffed, "I'll remember that, if ever I have something I want to talk about."

"Hiccup," she sighed.

"Okay, seriously mom," Hiccup began to pace as he spoke, "I'm not avoiding the village, or anything else for that matter. You know I've been really busy with important...chief...stuff."

"Hiccup..."

"I've been adding to the map."

"Hiccup..."

"Not to mention trying to find a more sustainable place for Berk...and..."

"Hiccup," Valka yelled. He turned to face her suddenly. She smiled at him, though concern still shone in her eyes. She came over to him as she gazed up at him lovingly. She placed a hand gently on his stubbled cheek.

"So much like your father," she said softly, "you carry the world upon your shoulders, but you forget, you don't have to do it alone." Hiccup smiled sadly.

"I miss him," he replied softly.

"So do I," she replied holding back tears, "so do I."

They both were suddenly distracted when Toothless swooped past them mere inches from the side of the cliff where they stood. He did a loop de loop and then shot straight back up into the sky, disappearing beyond the clouds.

"He's getting much better at flying on his own again," Valka smiled.

"Yeah," Hiccup replied gazing up into the clouds.

"He's a lot happier with the new tail fin," he went on, "I think he likes having his independence." Valka turned to her son. She watched as he turned his attention back to his map. He knelt down and carefully began to fold the delicate paper and then slipped it back into his notebook.

"What about you Hiccup," Valka questioned, "are you happy?" Hiccup snorted at her question as he stuffed his notebook into the pocket of Toothless' saddle.

"Of course," he scoffed, "beyond happy, my life is perfect actually, thanks for asking." He turned and walked past her and over to the edge of the cliff. He crossed his arms over his chest and gazed out into nothing.

"Hiccup," Valka said softly as she came up behind her son, "you know, it's okay if you're not okay. You don't have to be strong all the time and you certainly don't have to pretend you're okay for me." Hiccup sighed heavily as he glanced briefly in his mother's direction. He then turned his eyes back to the horizon.

"You're not going to let this go," he sighed as he glanced at her once more from the corner of his eye, "are you?"

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Valka replied, "but you can't run from it any longer. The wedding is today and as Chief you must attend." Hiccup rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Don't worry mom," he replied in frustration, "I'll be there to perform my chiefly duties!" He turned away from her quickly. He walked back over to Toothless' saddle and began making some minor adjustments here and there as he tried his best to avoid the topic that his mother was trying to bring up.

"Hiccup," his mother sighed, "I didn't mean..."

"Look mom," Hiccup interrupted as he stood once more, "whatever Astrid and I had is over, I know that! It's been what, two years, I'm over it, okay, I've been over it!"

"Saying you're over it is one thing," Valka replied, "watching the girl you once loved marry someone else is another." Hiccup sighed heavily as he stalked past her.

He plopped down onto the soft grass and threw his legs over the edge of the cliff. Valka silently sat down beside him. She smiled slightly as she watched Toothless and Cloud-jumper flying playfully through the clouds. She closed her eyes as the gentle breeze blew through her hair. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Without a word, she reached for her son's hand and gripped it tightly in her's for a long moment.

Hiccup sighed heavily as a million thoughts swirled through his brain. So much had changed in the past few years. He'd found his mother, but lost his father. He'd become chief of his tribe. Then he and Astrid decided to go their separate ways. Now the only girl he ever loved, the only one that had ever given him a real chance, was moving on with someone else. He sighed again as he kept his eyes on the distant horizon.

"I really am over it and I'm legitimately happy for Astrid, it's just hard," Hiccup paused, "it's hard to see her find the kind of happiness that I'm just not meant to have."

"Hiccup," Valka questioned, "how can you believe that you are not meant to be happy?"

"Because I'm not mom," Hiccup replied in aggravation, "I'm meant to be Chief, I'm meant to lead our people! I have to make hard decisions and sacrifice myself for the good of the village."

"Well that's the biggest load of dragon dung I've ever heard," Valka replied in aggravation of her son's woeful demeanor. Hiccup turned to her in surprise.

"You are being ridiculous," Valka said, "you can be a leader and still find love, you don't need to sacrifice yourself or your happiness just because your meant to lead us! There is more to your life then being Chief!"

Hiccup huffed at his mother's words. Perhaps he was being melodramatic, but that didn't change the way he felt. In his heart he longed for more than he felt he deserved. To be honest, he'd never really known true happiness in Berk. Sure, he had moments of happiness here and there; befriending Toothless, finding his mother, seeing his parents reunite, gaining his father's pride, and finally being recognized by his tribe. But the closest he'd ever come to true happiness was when he was with Astrid.

Though their relationship seemed ill-fated from the start, the moments he had shared with her were among his happiest and seemed irreplaceable. For the most part their relationship was good, but in the end they found that they were just two very different people on two very different paths. Though their paths seemed to coincide for a time, they eventually had taken their natural course away from each other.

By all means, his path should have continued with her's, he should have been happy with what they had, he should have wanted the life she did. For the most part, he was happy, but he often found himself feeling restless and dissatisfied. He was constantly on the move, leaving little time for her or their relationship. Though he tried, he simply could not settle his nomadic soul, he could not still his adventurous heart and he could not quiet his longing for discovery. He always felt as if he were searching for something more, there were new lands to discover, new dragons to study, and new people to meet.

Though he led Berk as Chief, he found his soul could not settle there. Though he loved Astrid, he could not give her what she wanted. His heart was only half in and she wanted it all. He knew it, she knew it, and it was only a matter of time before they had come to a crossroads. However, knowing they were better off apart, didn't make it any easier to see her eventually move on. His mother squeezed his hand tightly in reassurance, distracting him from his thoughts. He turned to her and smiled weakly.

"I should have been happy," he muttered, "Astrid would have chosen me, if I'd just..."

"Settled," his mother replied. Hiccup looked over at her and nodded. He sighed heavily once again as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"It's just...how I feel...I mean...how I've always felt, it's...it's just so...complicated," Hiccup replied.

"Yes," Valka sighed, "love can be complicated, but only if you think too much." Hiccup smirked at her.

"What are you saying," he scoffed, "are you saying I...I complicate things?" His mother shrugged matter of factly.

"Oh well, that's just...just great," Hiccup replied.

"I'm only saying that maybe it's not as complicated as you make it seem Hiccup," Valka replied.

"Oh, okay," Hiccup replied, "well by all means then, uncomplicate it for me."

"Okay," Valka replied, "put simply, you and Astrid were just not meant to be." For a moment Hiccup just stared at his mother with a dumbstruck look on his face.

"Well that was just a little harsh," he replied.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh," Valka replied, "but when it comes to love, true love, you shouldn't have to overthink things. With true love, there is no doubts, no second guessing, and nothing could dare come between you." Hiccup gazed at his mother in surprise.

"You need to stop punishing yourself for what happened with Astrid and move on," Valka said firmly, "don't close your heart completely just because you've been hurt once." Hiccup nodded as he pondered his mother's words. He turned his eyes back to the horizon.

"Hiccup, when you find the one you're meant for," Valka continued, "you'll know it, without question, "you'll feel it in your soul. True love will bring peace to your restless heart. Hiccup stayed silent for a long moment as he listened to his mother's words.

"Is that how it was for you and dad," Hiccup asked. Valka frowned slightly as she turned her eyes to the ground with an expression of guilt and sadness upon her face. She turned back to her son and smiled weakly.

"My Stoic was a good man," Valka replied, "I loved him with all my heart. The day I married your father, I hadn't a doubt in my mind nor my heart. There was never a question that he was meant for me and I for him." Hiccup nodded as he listened to his mother's words.

"But," Valka sighed, "just because love is true doesn't mean it's easy."

"When cloud-jumper took me," Valka continued, "I knew that we were wrong about the dragons, I knew I couldn't be a part of the killings any more. I had in my head that Stoic would never change. I thought that he'd never listen to me, that he was too bull headed to ever accept what I'd learned about our enemy. I should have put more faith in him. I should have at least tried to return." She looked up at Hiccup with tears in her eyes.

"Mom," Hiccup sighed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "I'm sorry." Valka shook her head.

"Don't be sorry," Valka replied, "it was my choice, and the choice I made cost me a lifetime with my family. I have to live with that." Hiccup smiled at her in reassurance.

"I know we missed out on a lot, mom," Hiccup replied, "but you're here now and that's all that matters." Valka smiled at him as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Aye," she replied, "I am here now, and I'll be damned if I let you wallow any longer." She jumped up suddenly and whistled into the air.

"How about a race," she smiled mischievously as she quickly put her helmet on.

"Oh you're on," Hiccup replied with a determined look in his eye. He leapt from his place, threw his helmet on, and whistled to Toothless.

"Meet you at the village," she laughed as she leapt from the edge of the cliff and landed directly on cloud-jumper's back.

"Hey that's cheating," he yelled out.