Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Hiccup was being supervised in the forge once again. Gobber and Gothi were with the other teens for dragon training and the chiefs and heirs were having their meetings in the Great Hall. Hiccup hadn't gotten any sleep last night and she still had no idea how she was going to defeat the dragon.
When dragon training was over it was revealed that they were down to the final five. Astrid was the main candidate for getting first, Ram was a close second, followed by Delilah, Jaime, and Snotlout. Ruffnut had tried to pull Hiccup away from the forge a few times but hadn't been successful.
When Hiccup finally got a break she decided to find Fishlegs. Albeit he was with a few of the other teens and so Hiccup slipped a message to Ruffnut to pull Fishlegs away. Snotlout saw this and also decided to follow. They ended up meeting in between houses so that they wouldn't be spotted. If the other teens were confused they didn't show it, neither did they follow.
Fishlegs was nervous and Hiccup excused Ruffnut and Snotlout. The two stuck close by but also far enough away to not be suspicious.
"What's this about Hiccup?" Fishlegs asks her.
Hiccup pulls out her sketchbook that shows the dragon's head. "What do you know about a dragon that looks like this and is the size of a mountain? There's nothing like it in the Book of Dragons."
"If it's not in the Book of Dragons, what makes you think I know anything about it?"
"If anyone has th answers, it would be you. What about any if the books you've gotten off of Johan?"
Fishlegs takes a closer look at the drawing. "Not that I recall, however it looks like this particular dragon relies mostly on sense of smell and not it's vision. How do you even know what this dragon looks like of there's no information on it anywhere?"
"Let me worry about that. Is there any way to defeat something like this?"
"All dragons have thicker skin, a dragon of that caliber is probably no different. If there was a way to kill it from the inside there would be a chance but an external kill would be impossible."
Hiccup's eyes light up and she gets an idea, it's dangerous but she knew it would be the only way. "Thanks Fishlegs!" Hiccup then rushes off.
"What was all that about?" Snotlout asks.
"I don't know. She said something about a dragon the size of a mountain but that makes no sense."
"What are you doing Hiccup?" Ruffnut asks.
...
Hiccup heads to the chief's hut and when she gets there Dagur and Stoick are sat at the table. She bows her head to both of them before she starts on her tasks.
"She's here now, why don't you ask her for her opinion on the matter?" Dagur challenges.
"Boy, you are pushing your limits!"
"Maybe, but I also know that you don't trust me, especially now that my father is gone. This would benefit both of our tribes and you know it, there would be no more need for a yearly treaty signing once an heir is born. It'll also unite our two tribes for generations to come."
"Hiccup come here!" Stoick yells at her. She nods her head and stands beside the two. "Would you want to marry Dagur?"
"Dagur is right that it would benefit the two tribes. I'm the event of a war the Berserkers would have the Hooligans backs. Not only that but each tribe would be fine if they strictly traded with one another, especially in the event of a war time between two or more feuding tribes. Besides the Berserkers and Hooligans have had nearly fifty years of peace between the two tribes, blood ties would set that treaty in stone."
Stoick looks shocked by all that Hiccup has said. He sighs before he pulls her chin up to look him in the eyes. "Do youwantto marry Dagur?"
"I would."
"If you want to say no, you can tell me."
"I want to marry Dagur. He's one of the better candidates out of the heirs and he's already chief so he already has more resources."
"Alright, we can sign a treaty including marriage. However I won't allow for the two of you to marry this week."
"In all due respect Stoick, we're going on a hunt for the nest within the week and it might be better to have the possibility of a babe in her belly before then, especially because those trips are a suicide mission."
"Do you plan on leaving my daughter a widow so soon?"
"No but there's always the possibility that something could happen."
Stoick sighs. "Fine, the two of you will be wed by the end of the week! I'll talk to the seamstress about getting you a dress in this short notice. I'll announce it in the Great Hall tonight. We'll shed the blood of the dragon in the arena followed by your wedding night. The next day we'll set off for the nest. Don't make me regret this!"
Stoick then walks out of the hut and Hiccup squeals before she jumps into Dagur's arms. Dagur catches her and spins her. They both break out into a fit of giggles.
"I can't believe he actually agreed!" Hiccup tells him.
"I'm more surprised that he wanted your opinion on the matter."
"I am a little surprised by that as well bit he agreed!"
Dagur bends his neck and gives her a fearsome kiss that she returns with equal fervor. The moment was interrupted by none other than Ram and Jaime entering the hut. It was too quick for the two to separate and so they were caught in their embrace.
"Father's finally getting rid of you, isn't he?" Ram asks.
"That isn't the correct term. Your father has decided that the best way to maintain peace between the tribe is through a marriage that will lead to blood ties that will outlive us for centuries."
"When are you leaving?" Jaime asks.
"We'll be getting married by the end of the week," Hiccup tells them still looking at Dagur. Her grip has loosened but his has tightened.
"When is he going to tell our mother?" Ram demands.
"I'm sure that old witch already knows. She helped orchestrate this in the first place, she's already ready to wash her hands of the Hiccup," Dagur tells them pulling Hiccup closer to him causing her to blush.
There was a knock on the door at this moment and Hiccup and Dagur separated at this point. Ram and Jaime opened the door to reveal Gobber.
"Is your father here?"
"He just left to talk to the village seamstress," Hiccup answers shocking Gobber.
"So something finally got through that thick skull of his. I guess congratulations are in order. Don't think that this bit of freedom allows for you to slack off! You'll still be expected to keep up with your responsibilities!"
"Don't worry Gobber."
Before Gobber can leave Jaime points out the state of the hut.
"Well your sister was cleaning it until your father asked her a question and well I've been holding her hostage since. Before you speak you should know all of the facts. When one of you becomes chief you'll understand that you won't be able to speak out right away unless you want to cause a war."
"Simce when have you ever practiced patience boy?!" Gobber demands.
"I have one of the best fleets in these waters! Few would dare try to start anything. Besides, just because I'd rather rush into a battle doesn't mean I always rush, some things take time if you want to see a victory through till the end."
Gobber simply waves him off and leaves.
"With this marriage that also means we'll have access to your fleets, so why should we hold our tongues?"
"You're not chief yet Ram. Some things you'll find out the hard way if you just rush into a fight. If you haven't noticed from the meetings, the slightest things sets off these old chiefs that have had their power too long. They're ready to start a war at a moments notice."
"At least we're more sane than you'll ever be, I don't think we'll have to worry about our deaths any time soon, not unless you cause a war that requires us to be involved."
Dagur's anger starts to flare up but Hiccup grabs his hand and begins to rub soothing circles into his palm.
"So has he been your admirer this whole time or is he your new shiny thing that you just happened to pick up?" Jaime asks.
"Draw whatever conclusions you want you'll just tell that witch anyway!" Dagur comments and Hiccup turns towards him and gives him a look not to say much more. Dagur gives her a look as well, one that would make any number of his men cower.
"She cowers in front of anyone else but to him she actually challenges him. He must not be that scary if that's the case."
"I suggest you two leave before I show you true Berserker rage!" Dagur glares at the two with his face turning red in anger and while also trying to stave off his Berserker rage. The two decide not to push their luck any farther and rush off, probably to report to Kara. Hiccup takes that as her cue to wrap Dagur in her arms. After a few minutes he wraps her tightly in his arms. Maybe a bit too tight but she didn't mind.
"Better?"
"Better. Are you okay?"
"I'm always okay." Hiccup gives him a reassuring smile. Dagur slowly releases her but they're still in their embrace.
"Have you come up with a solution yet?"
"You're not going to like it."
Dagur pulls her farther away from him and analyzes her. "So you do have an idea?"
"A dragon of that caliber is only going to be defeated in one way and one way alone. It has to be killed from the inside out."
"Okay, and how does that work?"
"Before a dragon can spit out fire gas builds up in their maw. When that gas begins to build up a shot of fire will have to be thrown inside the dragon's mouth, there won't be another way."
Dagur looks at Hiccup before he thinks for a few moments. "Absolutely not! You are not going to risk your life!"
"No one else knows how to ride dragons Dagur and the chances of a flaming ball from a catapult reaching that thing before it fires would be slim."
"Can't we just chain up a dragon and get it to fire into it's mouth?"
"Dagur, this thing controls dragons!"
"Then how did your Nightfury escape that beast's control?"
Hiccup looks at a loss for words. "I don't know but maybe it's because his loyalty is closer to me than it is to that thing!"
"The answer is still no, you aren't risking your life for the sake of the tribes! I'll divert them as much as possible and we'll come up with a different plan when we reach Talon. We'll sneak Toothless below deck on the ship that you'll take back to Talon."
"What about your men, what are they going to think?"
"They won't question a direct order from their chief!"
"And if that doesn't satisfy them?"
"Then they'll have to deal with me! We'll come up with a better plan, I promise. I'm not risking your life!"
"Fine, fine, fine. What if they find the nest? They won't know what they'll be facing."
"We'll figure it out if they get that far. Being a viking is an occupational hazard after all."
"Dagur! Don't say that! You better return to me after this excursion. I can't be a widow not even a month into our marriage!"
"But you'll be safe. We'll just have to make sure that there's a babe in your belly before I leave and then your place in the Berserker tribe will be sealed and your father and Kara won't be able to touch you ever again." Hiccup turns away with tears in her eyes. "Don't be scared, there's nothing to fear. You're just thinking of the worst case scenario in that Hiccup brain of yours."
"Dagur, you better return to me or there will be nothing stopping me from dragging you back from the afterlife!"
"You'll have to be careful though if there's a babe in your belly."
"Nothing and no one will replace you Dagur, not even if I had a mini version of you with me. There's no guarantee I'd survive the birth anyway. If I didn't have you or Toothless there'd be nothing left to live for."
"Well you'll at least have that dragon with you, safe from harm and in one piece."
The two didn't get to finish their conversation as they both heard the front door begin to open. Hiccup separates fully from Dagur and begins to look busy. She wipes the unshed tears so no one notices.
"What are you still doing here? I heard you were distracting the runt!" Kara demands.
Dagur glares at her. "I was just leaving actually. We were just discussing the arrangements for after we were wed."
"Oh? I heard you were holding her captive? Not allowing for her to get any work done."
"I guess I was but I won't tolerate slacking off once we're wed. I've heard all about her disappearing acts as well. I wanted to make sure that wouldn't happen under my watch. If that's the case maybe I should reconsider the wedding."
Kara looks a bit worried but quickly schools her features. "Fine, do with the runt as you please but until the wedding she has to keep up on her chores and tasks. Until then she is still the property of Berk!"
"Understood."
Dagur then walks out and Kara decides to make Hiccup's life harder by spilling her bucket. "Obviously he's not your admirer! Did your admirer just decide to run and hide away with the crowd because he doesn't truly care for you or your well-being or is he being threatened by the Berserker chief? This admirer of yours is cowardly. At least you'll be securing a strong marriage and a strong alliance will come with it. Finally you'll be providing your worth to this tribe."
Hiccup simply nods and continues with her cleaning. Kara eventually gets bored but she does make sure to push Hiccup to the floor before she leaves.
TBC...