I just wanted to kind of start this out with a few warnings. The greater majority of this fic will not contain the graphic depictions of violence, but there will be chapters that include anything from vague references to clear-cut descriptions. I will include a warning to the beginning of any chapter that describes anything explicitly violent. As for the relationships, for the most part they are m/f, but I do have headcannons about some characters that are not heterosexual (be that bi, gay, lesbian, poly, what have you), so I have included those tags more in case those relationships come into play for whatever reason. This is not at all a smut fic (I am so bad at that and will not subject any of you to such a cringy experience), so obviously nothing explicit. However, depending on which direction the plot goes, sexual activity may or may not be mentioned, but all parties would be over the age of 15 (please keep in mind that based on the Viking Era, coming of age would be recognized at age 16, rather than today's 18/21 recognition of adulthood) and it would be consensual among all parties. These are the three biggest concerns I have at the moment that I wanted to address beforehand, but if anything else comes up I will be sure to address it at the beginning of the chapter.
That being said, I hope you enjoy!
Zephyr took a deep breath of the salty sea air, standing on the edge of the cliff by the Skydocks and feeling the wind rustle her hair. It wasn't the same as flying on dragonback, but it was the closest equivalent she could get. She heard her father sigh as he approached behind her, squeezing her shoulder with a gentle hand. "I hope you like the sea air, Little Warrior. That's all we're going to be breathing for a few days."
Zephyr smiled. "I'm hardly a 'little warrior' anymore, Dad."
"Ah, I know," he sighed heavily. "But let your old man dream for a little longer before his firstborn comes of age." He kissed her hair and smiled.
"You still have two years," Zephyr jested.
Hiccup chuckled and playfully tugged on her single, long braid. "Perhaps, but I used to have 14 more. You have no idea how fast those years flew by for your mom and me." He brushed a rogue strand of hair from her eyes and cupped her cheek in his hand. Zephyr could see his eyes glaze over for a moment, his mind drifting back to some time long ago she didn't remember. Suddenly, he cleared his throat and scratched his nose. "Alright, go say goodbye to your siblings. We've almost got the ship ready."
Zephyr rolled her eyes and chuckled, turning her back and retreating to where her brothers were entertaining their youngest sister with Nutmeg Ingerman. If he was struggling this much already, how was he going to act when she actually turned 14 next month?
"Don't be too rough on Mom while I'm gone, okay?" Zephyr told her brothers as she lifted her sister Willow up into her arms. "She's got enough to worry about as it is."
"What do you mean? She's only pregnant with a fifth baby, and 37 years old, and acting Chieftess, and her husband and oldest kid are going on a sea voyage," Nuffink listed sarcastically, ticking each one off on his fingers. "What could go wrong?"
Zephyr rolled her eyes. "And those are exactly the types of things you won't say to her. Or around her. Or to anyone else."
"Do Sephie have to go?" Willow asked quietly, playing with the end of Zephyr's braid and avoiding her eyes.
Zephyr hugged her three-year-old sister close and rested her forehead against hers. "Just for a little bit, Willow. But Daddy and I will be back soon, okay?"
Willow didn't answer; she kept her head and eyes down while Zephyr hugged Spero to her side.
"It'll be okay. You still have Mommy, right?"
"Yeah... But I want sissy too." Willow snuggled her head into Zephyr's neck.
"Willow, it's okay," Spero said, playing with Willow's foot. "Zephyr's coming back. She's just got to go visit some friends for a bit."
"You two keep an eye on her, alright?" Zephyr told the boys. "You know she gets lonely."
"Don't worry, Zeph, I got it. I can do it," Nuffink reassured her. "Just focus on the trip and learning from Dad."
Zephyr smiled and released her hold on Spero to wrap Nuffink in a tight squeeze. "I know. Second hand man, right?"
"Always," Nuffink smiled as he pulled away.
"And even if he doesn't, I'll be here to beat him back into shape," Nutmeg said, stepping up next to Nuffink and elbowing him.
Zephyr chuckled. "Thanks, Meg."
"Not changing your mind, are you, Zeph?" Hiccup asked. He lifted lanky little six-year-old Spero into a hug and the boy locked his arms and legs around his father, resting his head on Hiccup's shoulder as they shared a tight hug.
"You're not getting rid of me that easily," Zephyr said, rolling her eyes.
Astrid had followed Hiccup over and smiled at her daughter. Nuffink took Willow and hugged her to his chest, allowing Astrid to properly hug her eldest. "Take care of him out there, okay?"
Zephyr locked her arms around her mother. "Always, Mom. Don't work yourself too hard, please."
Astrid rolled her eyes over Zephyr's shoulder. "I don't even know if I'm actually pregnant, Zeph. It's just a precaution."
"You've given me three siblings, I think you'd have a pretty good idea of what it feels like by now," Zephyr teased.
Astrid playfully scoffed. "Alright, get out of here before I decide to ground you instead." Kissing her daughter's cheek, she released her and turned to her husband, who was now dancing with Willow in his arms to try to cheer her up.
Zephyr smiled at the scene as she hooked her arm through Nuffink's, pulling him towards the docks with her and away from the rest of their family. She took a deep breath. "I know you know this, but I'm serious about watching over Mom. I'm really worried about her. She's getting a little old to be giving us more siblings."
Nuffink chuckled at Zephyr's last comment before growing serious. "I know, Zeph, I got it. I'm worried too. Just let me handle it, okay?"
Reaching the docks, she turned to look at her brother. With her and her father gone, Nuffink was the next oldest in the family to take care of their mother. Not that she typically needed it, but he, Hiccup, and Zephyr were all concerned for Astrid's health, especially as they remembered the difficulties she had with Nuffink and Willow's pregnancies. But still only ten years old himself, Zephyr felt guilty putting that on him.
"I'm not a little kid, Zephyr, I can handle it," Nuff reassured her, as if reading her mind.
Zephyr half smiled at him. Being the oldest children of the Chief seemed to have quite the maturing effect on them. Uncle Snotlout always teased them that she and her siblings never properly learned how to be real kids. "I know you can, I just..."
"Zephyr, stop," Nuffink laughed, playfully punching her shoulder. "Tell Uncle Dagur I said hi, okay? If I can't tell him about all the stuff I've learned from Tuff, then I need you to do it for me."
"Thor Almighty, I can't imagine having the three of you in a room together again," she groaned.
"Hey, it was all Tuffnut's idea."
"That doesn't make it any better!"
"You're just mad because it was at your birthday celebration," Nuffink smirked.
"No, I was mad because you three created a large clearing across the island by accidentally setting it on fire!"
Nuffink shrugged. "I don't see the problem, we put it out before it spread too far."
Zephyr shook her head and started to turn away. "Maybe I should tell Dad that I'll stay-"
"No, no, Zephyr," Nuffink said, still laughing, and reached out to grab her wrist. "I'll behave, I promise. I know how important this is to you."
She sighed, pulling her brother into one last hug. "Please don't burn down the village while we're gone."
"You have my word. No intentional fires."
Zephyr grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back so he could see the scowl on her face.
Nuffink rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, no unintentional fires either."
She crossed her arms.
He groaned. "Alright! I promise you, the village will still stand by the time you return!"
She raised her eyebrows.
He gave her an unamused look. "And every moment leading up to it."
Narrowing her eyes, she conceded, "That'll have to do."
Their father appeared behind her, squeezing her shoulder and leaning over to mutter in her ear, "Now you know what growing up with the twins was like." Zephyr shook her head and laughed as he bear-hugged Nuffink. "Don't give your mom a hard time, alright?"
"For Thor's sake, do I have to promise you too?!" Nuffink cried. "No fires, no explosions, no collapsing buildings, no destruction! You have my word!"
Zephyr smiled and ruffled his hair before prancing off to the boats, making Hiccup laugh as he followed her after kissing the top of his son's head.
Standing in front of the gangplank, she looked up at the massive sails above her. She took a deep breath and nodded her head. It wasn't as good as flying, but it would have to do.
"Everything's all set," Hiccup said. "Last chance to back down."
Zephyr smiled. "Not a chance."
Hiccup took a deep breath of the salty sea air, standing on the deck of the ship as they sailed off and letting the wind rustle his hair. It wasn't the same as flying dragonback, but if he closed his eyes, sometimes he could still feel like he was gliding above the surface of the water on the back of his best friend again.
He looked up to find his daughter standing in the crow's nest with Astrid's father, Vidar Hofferson, enthusiastically looking out over the waves as he told her a story Hiccup couldn't hear. He smiled and sighed to himself.
Eret followed his gaze. "She's much more enthusiastic than I was on my first sailing expedition, I'll give her that. Especially after three days of sailing and two nights sleeping on beaches."
Hiccup shook his head, half listening. "Maybe I should have left her at home. To take care of Astrid, you know, and help with the village."
"She's got to learn sometime, Chief. She'll have to learn all of it, unless your plans have changed."
"Yeah, but is she too young?" Hiccup turned to Eret. "When I was her age, chiefing was the last thing I wanted to think about."
"Oh, please," Snotlout interjected, joining the two at the stern of the ship. "Zephyr is nothing like you, with all do respect, cuz."
Hiccup sighed as Eret agreed with a laugh. "I'd have to agree with that, based on the stories I've heard."
"Hiccup, look, I know we've had our differences," Snotlout continued, playfully elbowing Hiccup, making the chief smile. "But you weren't exactly the most... Involved kid of our generation. Yeah, sure, you were more worried about creating the next great dragon killing machine, but Zephyr... Zephyr's different. She's been ready to learn about chiefing since she could walk."
Hiccup pursed his lips and looked back up to his daughter. "I just don't want to push her too hard."
Snotlout scoffed. "She's got enough Astrid in her. Even if you were pushing her too hard, you'd know."
"Fair," Hiccup laughed. But then he shook his head again as his eyes fell back on Zephyr. "Gods, did she even ever let herself be a kid?"
Snotlout followed his gaze. "Did any of us have a choice?"
The three men fell silent, looking back on their individual pasts.
"I guess not," Hiccup quietly agreed.
"She's got it a lot better than any of us had it, though."
"Aye, I can agree there," Eret said.
"Thank the gods," Hiccup muttered. "That was my goal all along, though. Building a better home than we ever had before. Or at least a safer one."
Snotlout smiled. "You did good, Chief. It was rough for a while, but it was worth it."
Hiccup nodded absentmindedly, eyes falling to the deck.
"You did Stoick proud."
He turned his head now to see Snotlout smiling back at him with... Was that pride? "Thanks, Snot."
Snotlout gave him a pat on the back and playful salute before walking down the length of the deck, checking in on the crew.
Eret sighed. "I'll never understand that man."
Hiccup chucked, still smiling after his cousin. "You get used to it."
"If you say so, Chief." Eret took in his surroundings for a moment before musing, "We should be approaching Old Berk soon. The sea stacks are getting a bit denser."
Hiccup motioned forward. "Lead us in, Sail Master."
"Yes, sir." Eret took his place towards the bow of the ship, calling orders as he walked. "Alright, men, let's listen close this time. I don't want a repeat of last year's near accident."
A chorus of "yes sir!" rang out as the men scrambled to their places. It wasn't a particularly large crew, but large enough to handle the sailing and cooking and other necessities for the trip.
"Vidar! Can I trust your eyes?" Eret called up the length of the mast.
"Aye, sir!"
When Hiccup looked back to his daughter, he found her watching wide-eyed over the edge of the crow's nest. As her eyes swept the deck, they locked with her father's. He was met with an enthusiastic smile and wave.
Hiccup chuckled to himself. "Come on down, Little Warrior!"
She nodded again, smile never faltering as she scurried down the ladder to rejoin her father.
"Are we almost there, Dad?" she asked as she bounded up to him.
"Just about."
"Well what are we standing back here for?!" She grabbed Hiccup's hand and dragged him along the deck, earning a round of side smiles and chuckles from the crew. Hiccup laughed at his daughter's enthusiasm, happy that she was so excited to see where her tribe had come from for the first time.
"Slow down, sweetie, we're still a ways out," Hiccup laughed.
"That's okay!" Zephyr climbed the front of the boat so she could clearly see the water ahead. "I don't want to miss a thing."
Hiccup chuckled and shook his head as he turned back to discuss the route with Eret.
Zephyr must have realized shortly after that she was a bit preemptive with her enthusiasm as she steadily climbed back down to the deck, leaned against the side of the boat, and eventually entertained herself by following the whorls in the wood with her finger.
But then Hiccup saw the statues emerging from the distance.
He waited until they were large enough for someone to see them clearly if they didn't know what they were looking for. And then with a smile and a throat thick with emotion, as it always was on this yearly voyage, he wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulders. "Zephyr, look," he said, pointing out across the water as the harbor statues grew. "This... This is Berk."