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Hiccup was allowed out of her cell to help Gobber with the weapons and Gothi with the injuries because this raid had been particularly bad and they wanted to at least make the island look halfway decent before the other tribes arrived. Kara hadn't been able to revisit her conversation with Hiccup either. Nor did Kara have the time to bring it up to Gobber or her father as they hadn't tried to bring the subject up. Gobber was pulled away from teh forge a few times so that they could start with the elimination process. Gothi was as well and so people were approaching Hiccup with both injuries and weapons that needed fixed. Bucket and Mulch were placed in charge of her as the damage to their farms had been minimal.
Hiccup had plenty from the villagers that Dogsbreath and Wartihog were eliminated that first day because they had tried to do a combo move on the dragon but succeeded in making themselves bigger targets. They were sent to Gothi's hut to be treated as they both had severe burns and possible head injuries.
Rumors were also circulating that Astrid could possibly lose her number one spot to none other than Ram. This of course led Astrid and Asmund to train on the outskirts of town. Astrid had also done quite a bit of training on her own in the woods. Ram was apparently doing nothing to prepare himself as he was a natural talent. Ram may have been the chief's son but this was also his first year in dragon training and so it wasn't expected of him to win his first year.
Next year dragon training would be split into two different groups, not only because the groups were going to be too big but also because if someone younger won this year it wouldn't give a fair chance to the older ones. With dragon training however the top two were exempt from training the following year, the person in first place just won the honor of killing the Montrous Nightmare.
...
Soon enough the other tribes had begun to arrive. Everyone was dressed in their best efforts and Stoick was dressed in his ceremonial clothes along with the rest of his family, Hiccup included. Kara stood to Stoick's left followed by their children. Gobber stood to Stoick's right and Hiccup stood a little ways behind the group.
The first tribe to set foot on Berk was the Meatheads and the chief was announced accordingly. The two chiefs exchanged a handshake before Mogadon exchanged a few words. "I see you still keep the runt around. She should be of marrying age soon if she isn't already, then you can finally wipe your hands of her."
When Stoick should have responded it was Kara, "Are you offering?" Mogadon chuckles before glaring at Hiccup who is looking rather meek at the moment. Stoick and Gobber also glare at Kara for speaking out of turn.
"Goodness no! Thuggory deserves someone of a much higher standing. He needs someone strong who can help him rule over his household and give him many healthy sons!"
"Have you already a bride picked out for your son?" Stoick asks.
"Not quite yet. He's been helping me run the tribe as I'll be stepping down once he weds. I don't think I'm quite ready for that adjustment yet but within the year we'll be hosting a competition for any eligible ladies. We'll be sure to invite a few of the ones from here, it'll give him more of a choice."
"That's not a bad idea."
"It's how our tribe has done it for years. That's how I got stuck with my first wife. She was an ugly thing but she gave me my five boys and she put many men into early graves."
"Father may I be dismissed? Ram and Jaime wish to show me their arena," Thuggory asks.
"Go ahead, so long as Stoick approves."
"Aye, that's not a bad idea, however I'm sure the other heirs will also be interested."
The next tribe to be introduced was the Hysterics. Norbert had let out a howl at being introduced and his son followed his lead.
"Norbert."
"Stoick."
The next tribe to be introduced didn't come as a shock but their chief certainty did.
"Presenting the high Chief of the Berserker Tribe, the cracker of skulls, slayer of beasts, the great and fearsome..." The Bersereker herald begins.
"Oswald the Agreeable?" Gobber along with many others question.
"Dagur the Deranged!"
"Dagur?" Hiccup questions softly moving from her spot from behind Gobber. This movement did not go unnoticed by Kara and that was when she knew. Kara moved from her spot and pulled Hiccup between her and Stoick. Stoick gave her a confused look but Kara simply looked towards Hiccup and Stoick was quick to understand. Gobber just looked confused.
"What's going on?"
Stoick didn't have a chance as Dagur had disembarked. When Dagur did he had a manical look and grin on his face.
"Did you finally off the old man?" Norbert asks with no tact.
Dagur looses his look and instead looks bored. "I'm afraid that'll be a story for the feast."
"I hope that your father is still in good health," Stoick tries.
"My father simply lost his taste for blood. I am however starving!" Dagur looks at Hiccup and sees that she's avoiding his gaze but he also notices the grip Kara has on her arm. "You know you must stop carting the Hiccup around everywhere with you Kara. The other tribes might think that you celebrate such weakness." Dagur then grabs Hiccup from Kara surprising everyone gathered.
Hiccup looks at Dagur with her own look of surprise at the fact that he is purposely trying to irk Kara and Stoick. She knows that him mentioning her weakness was simply a ploy.
Before anything else can happen the other tribes begin to offload and Stoick and Kara are forced to greet them as well. This allows for Dagur and Hiccup to flee into the background a bit better.
"You never told me."
"It was a recent adjustment. I'll tell you the full story later."
"I think Kara and my father suspect."
"Let them. I have a plan to get you off this island, hopefully by the end of the meetings but if it can't be that soon then you won't be here another full year, I can promise you that at least."
"Thank you. Can I be looped in on this plan?"
"Well the seeds of doubt are already in place. Many thought me to be the wild child of Oswald and so they won't know what to expect with me in charge. I'll simply say that Stoick doesn't trust me and so the only way to cement a treaty that will outlive us for generations is to unite our tribes with blood."
"Do you think they'll fall for that?"
"Let's hope that they do."
Dagur and Hiccup's position since being out of the limelight had changed as their elbows were joined together rather than Dagur simply gripping onto her. When all of the chiefs were done dismounting it was announced that the Bog Burglar's ships were finally spotted. Stoick had allowed the heirs to leave to the training arena and the other chiefs had begun to gather around one another again, Stoick trying to come up with arrangements for them all. Dagur took that as his cue to leave Hiccup but she stopped him.
"Meet me on the outskirts of the woods tonight. There's something that I have to show you and tell you."
"You could tell me now."
"There's to many people right now and we both have responsibilities. Just promise to meet me later."
"I will. Hopefully I'll also get a chance to speak to Stoick as well."
The two separate and the Hooligan tribe slowly disipitates and Stoick begins to lead the chiefs around. Ram and Jaime take the lead with the other heirs. Kara is distracted talking with Gobber and wrangling in her other children that Hiccup takes this as her chance to flee into the woods.
...
"I'm sorry I've been gone so long Buddy. Hopefully, soon we can get you out of here and out of hiding." Toothless approaches her immediately and begins to nuzzle her. "Let's go fishing and get you some proper grub. I have something I need to bring up with you as well."
Hiccup begins to resaddle Toothless and get all of his gear on and once that's done the two go on a short flight making sure to stay as far away from the ships as possible. They scoop down low and grab Toothless plenty of fish to eat. They settle on the same patch of land they did less than two weeks ago. The same Terrors as before had even decided to try the same trick of stealing fish from Toothless but Hiccup just patted him before handing each Terror a fish. They cuddled up to her like a cat after. Toothless grumbled but was glad that they were finally leaving him and his fish alone.
"Oh, you big grumbling baby. We'll swing around again and get you some more fish." Hiccup switches between petting the Terrors and Toothless. When Toothless is done with his fish he nuzzles Hiccup up and pushes the Terrors away from them.
Toothless then gestures the sky to Hiccup. "We can go for a flight first and then we'll get more grub in your stomach. Are you ready to push our limits?"
Toothless nods eagerly and they set off again.
The two spend two hours in the sky but it feels longer and freeing for them both. They make sure to grab more than enough fish for Toothless and they spend more quality time together. Hiccup is once again leaned up against Toothless but this time they're in the cove.
"Toothless, tonight I'm going to bring someone to meet you. His name is Dagur and he's the chief of the Berserker tribe. He may come off as a bit crazy but he's a great guy. He's the only one that I feel like I can truly depend on and that cares about me as much as I care about him." Toothless grumbles. "You know I didn't mean it like that. I know that you care about me and I care about you. He was just the person, the only person that accepted me for me before you came into my life." Toothless huffs and rolls his eyes. "I know, I know. If anyone can change his mind though, it'll be him and if he doesn't then we'll leave. We'll be free of everyone and everything but I want to at least try."
Toothless huffs again but this time he gets up and he moves his head and looks her in the eyes. "I'm not lying to you, not now and not ever. I want to try, if he won't change his mind then not only is he not the one but then it means no one can truly change." Toothless warbles at her sadly. "I have hope though, hope that he can see what I see."
Hiccup and Toothless press their heads together. Before they both give their good byes. Hiccup promising to return later in the night.
TBC...