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━━ chapter twenty-four
home

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     WHEN VALKYRIE was six, she broke her ankle. She had slipped on the ice after Astrid had dared them all to climb the slope to touch the tip of the catapult in the middle of one of the longest winters Berk has known. It was a stupid idea, but Valkyrie had been determined to do it. Her and Astrid always had competitions. And she had done it. She had climbed to the top when none of the others could. She had touched the wood, cheered, and then slipped. On the tumble down, she had snapped a bone, and it was one of the most painful physical experiences she's ever faced. But now, she laughed about it. They continued to climb the length to this day, sit there and watch over Berk━eat and laugh and tell stories while their dragons played and rested below. It had become their place. Now, it was nothing but ruin. 

     This was her home. This was where she was born, where she grew up━all of her memories, all of the laughter, and running across the streets, jumping and shoving people off the docks, threatening to drop those they hated into Old Man Björn's Well ... so many memories, so many chapters of a story Valkyrie wanted to continue until she passed. Adventure, growth, life. Places where she snuck off to with Hiccup, fields she ran after the Twins after they turned over Sven's yaks, places she and Astrid hid to avoid their parents after they jumped off the cliffs again. The arena Val met Zephyr, the Cove where she first saw Toothless, where she first kissed Hiccup on the cheek. 

     Berk was her home. Berk was her. It was her life, it was her heart, it was the place she got married, the place she gave birth to her daughter━the place she's defended ever since she could. The place she wanted Linnea to grow up, to run the fields, to climb the cliffs and to feel the morning air breathe through her hair. 

     It was never supposed to go up into fire, barely saved by the work of Vikings and dragons to douse it all. Homes burnt, defences destroyed, all that work, all that time, all of those memories━half of it turned to ash under Valkyrie's feet. 

     It felt as though Valkyrie had turned to ash with it. She tasted embers on her tongue, felt the smoke in her lungs, tried very had not to crumble apart when only one option was left: to leave. 

    She hugged Linnea tight to her chest, keeping her close and safe as the entire village of Berk argued under the dim torch light of the Great Hall. Valkyrie felt her daughter slowly cry herself back to sleep, terrified and hating all the loud noise. Valkyrie wished she could take her away, back to her home, but there was nothing left of the house she was going to grow up in. Nothing left for her to feel comfort aside from her mother's arms, and Valkyrie could tell that while Linnea might not know, she could feel it. She knew something wasn't right, and it made her sob until she hiccuped, and finally until she exhausted herself, still whimpering little sounds as she drifted off━eyelids heavy, probably with a headache, and no doubt pains in her stomach. 

     Valkyrie just held her, trying very hard not to cry herself. Zephyr was beside her, despite barely fitting in. He refused to leave her side, setting his head onto the table and peering up at her with those eyes━that knew what she felt, that felt the same. Valkyrie looked down and she saw her best friend who was just as upset about losing everything, about having to leave. Berk became Zephyr's home, too. He had once wanted to escape, to leave the arena that brought him so much pain, but he grew to love it. He grew to love the Viking that once wanted him dead, just like she grew to love him. They gave each other freedom, gave each other adventure, gave each other a place to find comfort, family, home. 

      There was thunder outside; Valkyrie was yet to decide whether it was Thor foreboding a warning, an omen, or a goodbye. 

     "All right, all right!" Hiccup raised his voice over the growing disgruntlment of Vikings. He stood at the centre of the long table, holding his hands out. At his side, Snotlout banged his goblet, as if to help, but then it tipped over and spilt the brew onto his pants. Eret frowned at him, while Hott let his head fall into his hands on Hiccup's other side. "Everybody━settle down, please!" The loud noise dampened, but didn't stop━the mutters just under their breaths, their dislike prominant on their faces. 

     Valkyrie saw her mother and father in the crowd, standing with Asrifth, Mak and Erik━Mak now towered over the lot of them. They always believed he'd go from being the smallest to the largest. She met his gaze, noticing a small burn on his cheek. Mak replied with a look that said, you okay? She managed a reassuring smile, rubbing Linnea's back softly as she finally seemed to relax. If she hadn't been with her grandparents, Val was terrified what would've happened. As soon as the fire started, Val's mother took her granddaughter to the Great Hall with Zephyr, while Toothless, Val's father and her brothers all worked to save what they could of Berk and the Sanctuary, letting all the dragons out so they could rush to safety. 

     They all suffered a few burns and scrapes. Asrifth had a bandage around his palm, Erik supported a cut on his arm while Mallory the Dragonbone held a new battle wound that'll turn into a scar on his calf. Valkyrie hated seeing her family hurt, especially her father, but she learnt very early on that a Viking without a scrape at the end of the day was not a well day earned. Her father always came back from morning raids with burns and gashes and broken bones━her mother constantly had a field day. 

     Across the table, Fishlegs was slowly returning to consciousness. He slumped against the wood, eyes dreary and arms slumped with little feeling. Where the bolt had struck had been bandaged, but the effects of whatever poison it held were still taking a hold on Fishlegs's state, slurring his words and making it hard for him to move. 

    "Fishlegs?" Hiccup checked him. Valkyrie noticed he tapped the table━he was nervous. "Do we know anything on the Deathgripper?"

     Fishlegs tried to pull himself up. He raised a finger, but as soon as he did, he fell back, hitting the ground. Astrid jumped, watching with a raised brow as their friend started to snore. 

     "Argh!" yelled Spitelout from the crowd, furious at the sight. "Let me at 'em!"

    "I'll give him a piece of my mind!" shouted Astrid's father. "And by mind, I mean fist━" he threw his punch sideways at his cousin, who toppled back over Astrid's uncle. She threw her gaze up to the ceiling, slowly shuffling further down her seat in embarassment. 

      Valkyrie moved her hand up to Linnea's hair, hoping to keep her asleep━but she knew she'd wake up soon; all this noise would wake even the deepest of sleepers. Except Gothi ... she was snoozing in the back upon her staff, her flock of Terrible Terrors whistling on her shoulders. 

     She could already feel her stirring. Growing tense in her shoulders. Valkyrie rubbed her back, she kissed her cheek, desperate to keep her calm with everything around them. She felt Valka join her at the edge of the table, sitting down beside Zephyr to softly whisper words of sweet nothings to Linnea. Valkyrie watched her mother-in-law, filled with gratitude. 

     "Did you miss the part where we almost died?!" Hiccup told the village, exasperated. "Have you seen my house?!" They went silent at the level of his voice. Hiccup shook his head, setting his jaw as he pressed a hand down━he wanted to make sure everyone knew just how serious this was. "This is a new kind of enemy," he stressed. "And I underestimated him, now that's on me, but I will not do that again!"

     Snotlout leapt up to his feet, slamming his fists down onto the table as he did, "We're Vikings! We don't run from a fight! At least, I don't!"

     "What do you mean, you don't?" Astrid spoke up, incredulous. "You ran as soon as your backside caught fire."

     He glowered at her, burning bright red, "Shut up, Astrid."

     "I agree with Hiccup," declared Eret son of Eret. He walked up to the chief, ignoring Snotlout's beady eyes that followed him. "We haven't seen the last of Grimmel. He's a predator, single minded and patient━he won't stop until he gets what he wants." He stopped at Hiccup's side, and they shared a nod.

     Valka stood up away from Valkyrie, gesturing a hand to the ex-trapper, "I agree with Eret." At those words, Snotlout's jaw fell, aghast that she'd pick Eret's side over his. Astrid rolled her eyes. "We have to take this threat seriously."

     "Grimmel is just a sign of the times," said Hiccup. "Our enemies are getting smarter, more determined. We're not just over crowded, we're are exposed, and vulnerable." Valkyrie tilted her head, suprised to hear him admit it. "Short of full-blown war a━and risking everyone we love I don't━" Hiccup stopped. There was a break in his voice. He sighed, pressing his hands back onto to table as if scared without it, he'd drop. He took a deep breath, glancing over at Val, but she found herself having to look away. She knew it hurt him, but she didn't want him to see how much this hurt her. He clenched his hands, but set his gaze back onto the Vikings standing there, waiting for him to finish. He prepared himself for how they'd react. "I don't see a way of staying here any longer."

     They all expected the outrage. 

     At the shouts and yells of fury, Linnea was startled back awake. Valkyrie stood up when she broke into tears again, turning away from the table. Zephyr rose his head, watching her go as she stepped away, trying to get Linnea to take a breath and calm herself before she got worked up. She felt more than Zephyr's eyes on her. Hiccup's burned into the back of her skull━not angry, not disappointed, not even hurt, but with doubt. He let the sound grow, stepping over him and making him shrink back, unable to quieten the village down. His confidence had wavered the moment she left the table. 

     The Vikings all called out yells of anger, words that struck Hiccup with a piercing blade, like: "What would Stoick think of this━?"

     He was grateful when an axe pierced through the air and struck the tabe with a loud thud! Immediately, the hall went silent, everyone staring at Astrid who had stood up, having had enough. "HEY!" She shouted, seething. "Hear him out!"

     When no one made any objection, she huffed, satisifed with herself and sat down with a nod. Hott stared at her, a bit wide eyed. He then pointed to her to say, you all better listen to her. 

     Hiccup could breathe again. He met his friend's gaze and she gave him a determined scowl. He nodded, thankful. With the quiet, Linnea's cries started to stop. Valkyrie kissed her cheek again, "It's okay, bub," she whispered to her. "You're okay ..."

     She turned back around, already seeing Hiccup's gaze on her. She didn't want him to search for her guidance. She wanted him to face the crowd like she knew he could━he was always relying on something else; whether it be Toothless, her, or his father. His faith in himself never showed long enough to ground him. 

      She was going to follow him, no matter how much it hurt her to leave. Because she believed in him. But others find it hard to believe in a chief when he doesn't even believe in himself. 

     Hiccup ran his fingers down to lean against the table, heavy-minded and heavy-shouldered. "If we want to live in peace with our dragons, we need a better plan."

     Gobber frowned, "So ..." he spoke up from Valka's side, "... what are you saying, Chief?"

    He glanced at him, "I'm saying we have to disappear. Off the map. Take the dragons to a place where no one will find them."

    "And where might that be?" asked Valkyrie's father.

    "He's talking about a quest," Val answered him, moving Linnea to rest on her hip. She made her way back to where she had been sitting before, her chair empty beside the wood of the chieftan's, but eyes settled on her with adamant attention even without her presence there. "A quest for the Hidden World."

     "The Hidden what?" squeaked Mrs. Ack.

     "Out to lunch," Ruff muttered to her brother from where they sat at the front of the crowd. He chuckled, shaking his head at her gesture. Hiccup scowled at her, not helping, he told her as some of the Vikings laughed with them, agreeing. 

     "My father was obsessed with it when I was a boy," went on Hiccup. He pointed to the map he had laid out. "He made notes and maps in search of the ancestral home of all dragons. Tucked away somewhere beyond the edge of the world. It may be the solution we need. We are dragon people. It's where we belong. Look━" he raised his voice as the disgruntled comments grew again, "━I know this is our home. My father left me to protect it. But Berk is more than this place. We are Berk! The people, the dragons, our legacy, our children." Valkyrie pursed her lips, glancing at Linnea who watched her father with bright eyes that no longer shined with tears. "I say Berk is wherever we go!"

     There was silence after his speech. Some mutters, some glances, but no one seemed ready to agree. But there was one in the crowd who grinned. Who jumped to his feet and threw his hands up into the air. Tuffnut cried out, "I'M WITH HIM! WHO ELSE?!" with every confidence in the world. And for Hiccup, that was enough. 

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     EVERYONE WAS packing to leave. Boats were hinged to ropes over their largest dragons. All of their belongings were stored in baskets, crates and longships━soon enough, Valkyrie saw everything she had once known be pulled apart or left, abandoned. Defences, food, cattle and sheep, baby dragons and supplies. Anything they could carry, they could, and soon, Berk━that had been buzzing with life just hours before━had become a town for ghosts. 

    They were to leave as soon as they could━before the sun could even get the chance to rise. As soon as Valkyrie realised how much little time she had left with her home, she was gone. She took Zephyr and she took flight. Linnea was helping her Uncle Erik in packing hay from the Sanctuary, safe and happy, not realising that her future that Valkyrie had planned was falling apart at the seams.

     Valkyrie didn't know where she was going. She just flew. She passed the homes, the cliffs, the sea stacks and the trees━places she's searched, she's walked and she's fought. Caves she explored, tunnels she ran through, an island she knew every piece of. 

     As she dived Zephyr towards the deeper parts of the forest, Valkyrie felt tears well. She blinked them back, but they didn't work. She broke out into a small sob, leaning forward and letting her head rest against Zephyr's neck, whole body trembling as she finally let it all out. She felt like a part of her was being torn away. Everything about her. 

     Zephyr squawked at her, worried, and she felt him take control of the flight. Valkyrie felt them descend smoothly, past trees and past rocks. Into a place that was familiar and home in itself. A secret oasis within Berk; hidden by rocky ledges that fell down onto a cove of grass, hanging trees and a glistening lake. Birds chirped in their nests, fish swam in the waters ... none of it seemed touched like the rest of Berk. It was like that no matter how many years passed, it stayed the same. It stayed just as beautiful, just as peaceful.

     When they landed, Valkyrie looked up, her cheeks red and her breath hitched as she took in the Cove. Nothing had changed since the day she first followed Hiccup into it. The night that changed everything for her. The beginning of the person she was now. 

     Somehow, Zephyr knew that this was where they had been heading all along━this was exactly where Valkyrie needed to go. 

     Sniffling back tears, Valkyrie swung her leg off her saddle. Her boots touched the grass, and she saw memories around her. She saw herself on that boulder, glowering at Hiccup when they were just fifteen. She saw that same night, the evening in which she came back with a whole new perspective━the day where he showed her who he was ... the day she realised her belief in him became unconditional. She saw days of playing in the water, running in the grass, training with her friends and learning new tricks. This place was a safe haven━a home within a home. 

     Valkyrie walked up to that boulder. She knelt down in front of it, her fingers reaching out to feel the surface. It would be like nothing ever happened. All of it turned to ash like everything else. But there was something about the Cove that━for a moment━made it all freeze in time, where Val could look into the waters and see a reflection of her younger self; where she could relive it all again like a book. Where, still settled at the bottom, was the mallet her father had given her━the mallet she chose to discard towards a new life. Old and rotting, but still resting there at the lake bed. 

     Zephyr walked up to her. He ducked his long neck under her arm and she chuckled, resting against him as she reminisced it all. Every sngle moment. She wondered whether one day, when she was old and grey, she'd forget it. She'd forget her stories and her adventures, but the feeling of it all━that will never go away. She knew that much. Perhaps it'll live on in her, instead of the land around her, but Valkyrie didn't know how to carry it. She didn't know what she'd be without this island. Even when they left, even when they flew off for months at a time, Berk was always there to welcome them back; welcome her back. And now, she'll probably never see it again. 

     Valkyrie wanted to leave something behind. Something that'll be here long after she was dead and gone. She stared at the boulder, and reached for her dagger. An ornate dagger━small but special to her. Reaching out, Valkyrie started to scrape into the stone. It sparked and it scathed, but she didn't care. She just felt like a part of her will never leave, now, in the name she wrote. Valkyrie the Vicious. 

    Just like this place will always be a part of her, she will always be a part of it. 

    There was a curious purr above her. A warble that followed with paws landing onto the grass behind Valkyrie. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing Hiccup slowly step off Toothless's saddle. They shared an awkward glance that turned apologetic, sitting, finally, into an understanding that was breathable━they both knew why the other was here. 

     "Are you okay?" Hiccup asked her, walking over to kneel down beside her. Valkyrie nodded, then, she shook her head. Hiccup stared at the name she had written in the stone, murmuring, "Me neither."

     "Came here to say goodbye?" she whispered. 

      "Yeah," he reached down to take her hand. "So much happened here, I can't just leave it without seeing it one last time."

      "This is our home," Valkyrie spoke, her voice cracking in the back of her throat. "This is where we were born, where we grew up. This is where we found our dragons. This is where we've bled and we've fought. Where we made friends, were we lived. This was supposed to be our home until the end. I can't just━" she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. It hurt. "I can't just say goodbye. It doesn't feel right."

      Hiccup kissed her head amongst her hair. She had no flowers in it. They had burnt with the house. Valkyrie hadn't found the strength to grab more. They'd just wilt, anyway. "I know," he said to her softly. "But I have to protect my home." Hiccup tucked her bangs away from her eyes, remembering the time he'd watch her from afar when they were young. "And it's not just the grass, and the trees, and the wood in which we build our houses. That can change. Grass regrows, trees fall, houses are rebuilt. What doesn't change, is the people who build those houses. The people we love. No matter where we go, I know I'll have you, and we'll have Nea, and Toothless, and Zephyr. We'll have Astrid, and the Twins, Snotlout and Fishlegs━we'll have our families, our friends, our memories, and the memories we'll make. And we'll be home."

     He picked up a flower that had been growing in the base of the boulder. Valkyrie watched him pick it apart like she's always done. She watched him hold it against her, checking whether the colour would suit and smile, like the real flower had always been her. Hiccup slipped the flower into her braid. 

     "That's for the memories," he whispered. Then, he leaned in to kiss her cheek, "That's for everything else."

     Hiccup took the dagger gently from her fingers. Valkyrie's shed a few more tears as he wrote his name below hers. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. She smiled. 

     Then, more dragon cries followed. Valkyrie glanced up, and her eyes widened to see the whole team. Astrid landed Stormfly down by the lake's shore. Hookfang clambered down with Snotlout barely holding on. The Twins spooked Toothless by landing Barf and Belch right behind him. Fishlegs managed to stomach an entire flight, still looking very queasy. And Hott took a spot beside Astrid, scratching Spikemoth's scales.

     "Guess we all came here for the same thing, huh?" he said. 

     Hiccup chuckled. He held up the dagger and Valkyrie stood back, watching as one by one, they each came in and wrote their names on the stone. Astrid, Hott, Fishlegs, Snotlout and the Twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut━every single one of them marked their memories, their hearts, their childhood onto a place that will never be touched. Will always stay the same no matter what. A place where time would never reach. 

       A place that will always hold a special place inside them as their home. 

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     a/n: i'm so upset we didn't get a callback to the cove in the hidden world. and i mean like actually going back to it. it would've been so meaningful. oh well, i did it instead. 

     (this isn't edited)

     (fuk they've grown up).