9Hiccup had taken his father's death hard. He couldn't let it show, of course. He had to be strong for Berk, for his image throughout the archipelago, and even for Astrid. Only she was able to see through the guise on occasion to see how much he was hurting inside. He realized now more than ever how much he relied on her for support, which is why he set the wedding date as soon as the major repairs were completed.
Whenever he felt like there was time to get away, he would fly around the island with Toothless. Often Astrid accompanied him, but once and a while he was by himself. He tried to enjoy the time as much as he could; after all, he would only be a bachelor for a short time, and he would never be as free as he was at this point in his life ever again. However, whenever he was alone like this, he could not help but shed the tears he had been holding for so long that no one else should see. Sometimes he even found himself yelling at the gods for letting his father die.
His mother helped as much as she could, but she could not understand what he was going through. She might understand his love for dragons, and his love for her Stoic, but never having been there for him for twenty years, she did not know him. He had been an outcast for most of his life. His father had suddenly started caring for him, and he was suddenly the most famous Viking in the archipelago, just for training Toothless. Ever since then he had had so much responsibility on his shoulders. The gang as well as all of Berk and its allies looked up to him, and if it hadn't been for his father's support, he may not have lived up to the expectations.
And now his father was gone, and yet more responsibility was placed upon his shoulders. The chiefdom he had been brought up to one day inherit. Marriage, however, was something different. Despite his love for Astrid, he was expected to wed anyways as part of becoming chief to provide Berk with a suitable heir in case he were to befall a fate similar to that of his Father. And this was a responsibility he had to prepare for all on his own.
At last the day of the feast came. Ships from all over the Archipelago were arriving. Hiccup took a seat at his throne in the great hall and waited for Astrid to arrive, as Toothless lay next to him. "You tired bud?" Toothless looked up at him. "Yeah me too. Long week hu?" Toothless turned his head to the sound of Vikings entering the hall. Hiccup stood to greet them.
Hiccup had to stay throughout the feast. At one point he woke himself up after dozing off to find that most of the Vikings had either left to their homes and ships for the night or were asleep in the great hall. The feasting had lasted all night long and it would be a surprise if anyone awoke again before noon. Spitelout, Gobber and several other Vikings were still feasting however. He hobbled over to join them.
"Chief, you can go ahead and head home," said Gobber. "Just us here, and ya' need the rest."
"Aye, you're right. I'm headed to bed." Toothless woke up and joined him out the door as the remaining feasters gave a shout of laughter at something Spitelout said.
Hiccup had made it to the door of his home, but as he was about to open it he heard a large thud and mischievous laughter from behind him. He turned to see Ruffnut and Tuffnut jump off their dragon.
"Awe man," wined Tuff. "He's already awake!"
"Shouldn't you two be asleep?" Hiccup asked.
"Oh, we never sleep after a feast," said Ruffnut. "There's just too much fun in scaring people this tired."
"Yeah," said her brother. "Except, I think the last guy was so drunk he thought I was his neighbor's dragon breaking in again and nearly hit me with his axe." This earned a high-five from Ruff.
"Do I have to remind you two again, as chief, to stop stirring up animosity!? You are up too early!"
"Fine. But, didn't you say we should be early risers?"
"Yeah. The sun's almost up," said Tuff. Hiccup looked to see that yes, the sun was starting to rise.
"Look, can't you guys just go fly around some until people wake up more, please?" A very annoyed Hiccup entered his hut and slammed the door behind him.
Tuffnut looked at his sister. "What's with him?"
Hiccup stopped by his Dad's room before he headed upstairs. It was very large, and would do nicely for him and Astrid. It was hard to sort through and move his father's things and he could only bear to do a little each day. It was mostly cleared out now, and he had Gobber and Valka's help in renovating it to accommodate the new couple after the wedding. He had a new bed brought in, and a fireplace out of gronkle iron. He had yet to put his desk up, though he had the wood for it against the wall. Against the other wall were chests and shelves, along with a bench his father had built for his mother. Valka thought it was fitting that it go to Hiccup and Astrid.
His mother had slept in this room up until recently, sorting through her husband's things when Hiccup was busy, or, because he didn't want to. She had moved her things to another hut she had built nearby, so now Hiccup had the house to himself. He still slept upstairs in his own bed, and after he moved downstairs his upstairs room would be for guests and one day, for his child after him.
Out over the ocean, a single ship glided through the water. It was very large with several white masts and a black flag perched up top. As the sun started to rise, men began to come out on deck. Some wore ragged clothes while others were dressed proudly, with swords strapped to their waists and their hair tied back and covered in sea spray, with wind-worn faces. Many did not dress as Vikings would, and from the air only one could be seen with a horned helmet atop his head. They shouted and cheered as though in celebration. Suddenly, a young woman with dark hair, once pinned up but half-undone by rough handling, was dragged up onto the deck. She wore a large, lacy dress torn to shreds at the ends and her hands were tied behind her. She was also gagged.
The men cheered and sang as they pushed her around. One of the men, who was young with dark hair and handsome features took a swig from a bottle before approaching the girl. "Well, chaps, I guess we better stop all this."
Everyone stopped singing and pushing her around at the same time, looking at the one who had spoken with confusion and anger. "Why?" shouted a large man nearest to her. Even she who was being tormented turned to see what he had to say for her.
The young man simply smiled before bowing with his alcohol in one hand before the girl. "Because, she's a woman!" Instantly all the men on board burst into a round of laughter, while the speaker stood up again smiling as he was patted on the back. Before the girl could be grabbed once again, all the laughter suddenly stopped as she could hear footsteps approach her from behind. She turned to see a man staring at her. He removed her gag. Calmly, she spoke to him. "You are the captain I presume?"
"Yes, milady."
"Why have you taken me?"
"Oh, don't worry Lass, you arn't t' be 'armed. You're simply a ransom."
She did not respond. "You're father's a ship cap'n, and he will trade his ship and his gold for your safe return."
"My father has no gold," she said proudly. "But he does have the largest armada. He will hunt you down before he slaughters all of you like the pigs you are!"
"I wouldn't say those things if I were you. Where we are, he 'll never find us until he accepts our terms."
Suddenly a shout was given out by one of the men. "Dragon!" All the men ducked as a dragon flew overhead, with two heads and incredible speed.
"But- but they do not exist!" The hostage cried.
The dragon passed overhead once more before flying away. Just a blur through the sky, and it was gone in the clouds once more. "You'll find that a lot of things exist out here you have never even heard about, milady," said the captain.