Twenty Eight: The Enemy of All

Trader Johann's very familiar ship, the Yakmina, was found floating a mile or so off the coast of the Shivering Shores. She looked apparently undamaged-but there was no sign of the colourful shape of Johann on board or in the seas close by. With no evidence of violence and no signs of a struggle, the ship was towed into the main harbour and the Chief sent word to all the surrounding Tribes. The Dragon Riders of Berk obligingly sent out patrols to look for the missing Trader, but unfortunately came up dry. Presumed lost, the Chief kept Johann's ship for a year and a day in case he returned, but after that day, he sold the vessel and the goods and used the money for the public good.

The disappearance and presumed death of Trader Johann was talked about for a while among the Vikings of the Archipelago, but as time passed and other Traders adopted his routes, he was finally forgotten.

oOo

Life on Berk was strange as Astrid tried to readjust once more to being among her family and Tribe. Her parents had been overjoyed, silently hugging their daughter and welcoming her back without any admonishment-though the worry in their eyes was chastisement enough for the errant daughter. The other Riders were welcomed as heroes and they settled back into their old roles-though all were restless, staring at the horizon far more than they had previously. All volunteered for long patrols and any sort of mission off Berk-because they were used to no longer being restricted by its constraints.

Still hyper alert, there had been a few incidents when people had sneaked up on Astrid or approached without warning, trying to pat her on the shoulder and greet her. All had been understanding about their bruises and-in one case-the broken wrist but the people of Berk soon learned to announce themselves to Astrid before they approached the serious and always-alert warrior. The Berk Guard had asked her if she wanted to rejoin them-but she had demurred, reminding them that she needed to check with her Betrothed and readjust before she committed to anything.

She remained close to Hiccup at all times, watching him with an unsettling intensity and sitting by him as he recuperated and tried to build up his stamina working in the forge. When he wanted, they sparred and she never pointed out any deficiency of his technique or stamina, merely silently wrapping her hand around his as his grip faltered and brushing a kiss on his cheek. And he knew that he was steadily improving, every muscle worked hard by Astrid as she quietly and determinedly set about repairing him. He never minded her presence, always seeking for her whenever he left the house and finding her waiting. Gobber went as far as making sure there was a special 'Astrid chair' ready whenever Hiccup came to help out because he knew she would be there, gently tidying or just talking to her beloved.

Stoick and the Council had requested a report from her on her actions because they needed to assess the risks of her actions to the Tribe. Everyone there had sat silently as she honestly detailed her adventures, how she had ruthlessly and methodically destroyed the Hunter organisation of Viggo Grimborn, how she had annihilated his Tribe and erased them from existence-though she had spared the weak and infirm-and how she had killed Krogan without hesitation. Finally, she recounted her encounter with Johann and how she had warned Berk and then run, knowing the Bounty Hunters would be on her tail. And finally, she reported how she and Hiccup had devised the plan to end Johann once and for all.

Stoick had sat back in surprise at her actions and blown his cheeks out. The young woman facing him, a slender and beautiful Valkyrie, had done more than a host of seasoned warriors. And while her actions had primarily been against the Dragon Hunters and those who had kidnapped his son and abused him so terribly, then planned for him to die, the destruction of the Hunter Tribe would be the sticking point. And he knew why she did it-it was an action of astonishing ruthlessness and determination in order to protect Hiccup from ever being claimed as a slave by anyone of that clan-but it was not a justification that he could share with anyone without betraying Hiccup's shame. And Dagur's words rolled round his head, now more than ever.

What will you do, Stoick, if the Council of Chiefs asks you to stop Astrid? What will you do if they ask you to kill her for taking the vengeance that I know we all crave? Will you risk isolation or war for one vengeful Rider?

"A Chief protects his own," he murmured under his breath. "The problem is-which of my own take precedence? My future daughter-in-law and son, who fight for dragons...or my people, who may be harmed by the consequences of our Tribe being ostracised by others?"

oOo

"Milady? Are you here?" Hiccup's voice quietly echoed round the sea stack, seeing the shape sitting with her legs dangling over the edge, the wind lifting strands of her flaxen hair around her pensive face. She looked up and he was shocked to see her eyes swimming with tears, deep shadows clustered under the desolate azure gaze. Immediately, he rushed forward as Toothless settled by the worried Stormfly. Taking her hand, he sat beside her, feeling her lean against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"I see them," she whispered. "The people I killed. The men who were only doing their jobs. Men who went to work to provide for their families. Men who didn't understand how amazing dragons are and just hunted them to put food on the table. Men I killed without a thought." Protectively, he wrapped his arm around her and held her close, feeling her tremble.

"Men who have tried to kill us on numerous occasions," he reminded her. "Men who set traps for us, who captured Stormfly and left you to die in the ocean. Men who helped attack the Edge and tried to annihilate us. Men who captured us all. Men who helped Krogan and Viggo torture me and tried to kill me. Men who helped blockade Berk and starve our people. Men who supplied dragon fights and markets, who attacked the Defenders of the Wing and tried to depose Dagur. Men who had no thoughts about the evil they did, just to increase their profits."

"They were people," she whispered. "They had wives and children."

"That you spared," he said gently, lifting her chin.

"Only because you would have," she admitted.

"But you spared them," he told her stubbornly. "Viggo didn't care about the old and women and children of Berk. He was happy to let them starve and suffer. You ended their village but you gave them their lives. It was more than they would have given any of us."

"But..."

"Astrid-we all do things we're not proud of," he sighed. "I killed the Red Death. And it was necessary-but I did it. I shot Toothless down. I maimed him and took his flight away. And then, when I found him, I didn't kill him. No, instead I cut him free. He spared me when he should have killed me. I lied to Dad. I lied to you. I lied to everyone. And when I befriended Dagur, I lied to you all as well. If I had been more forceful, he wouldn't have had to go and almost get himself killed. I lied and ran away to the Isle of Night, causing you to have to come and rescue us. And I don't want to be Chief, Astrid. I want to remain and Rider and an explorer. And I can never tell Dad that."

"Hiccup-I'm pretty sure he knows-though he's as stubborn as you and isn't going to give up in trying to train your for the role," she sighed. "And you did things you thought were right at the time."

"So did you," he insisted, staring into her eyes. "You ended the War with the Hunters. You did that. I had been trying for months and months and failed-but you succeeded. All on your own. I mean, how does that make me look? I think I should change my name to Hiccup Hofferson when I marry you..." She chuckled and leaned forward to kiss him.

"Shame. I was looking forward to becoming a Haddock," she told him.

"Okay," he conceded as she kissed him again. "I'll do whatever what you want. As long as we are together." Her fingers slid between his, curling to remind him that she was going nowhere.

"I'm not running again," she said and then she sighed. "That person, the one who went on the rampage against the Hunters and the people who had hurt you...she was like another person. I was so hurt and angry and afraid...it was like poison, a fever that took me over. And when I was there, everything just made sense. There was no room for mercy, for sympathy, for anything but striking first and striking last. Because if I hadn't...I would have been dead. And they would have won..."

"Astrid..." But she pressed a finger to his lips.

"I have been thinking about it since I came back," she explained, her frown furrowing as the breeze gusted and she shivered. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "And I was grieving. I was afraid and angry and didn't want to accept it. I think I thought, at some level, that if I killed them all, if I kept destroying our enemies, then it couldn't be true. That we couldn't win and lose at the same time. And when I saw you, alive, I felt such shame that I had become a monster, a person that you would be ashamed to know." Hiccup gave a wry smile.

"Well, my father was almost called Stoick the Vindictive and one of my closest friends is Dagur the Deranged, who tried to destroy Berk and me more times than I care to recall," he reminded her. "Alvin the Treacherous is our ally despite him trying to attack us for over twenty years. Not to mention Heather who lied and betrayed us when we first met her. I know plenty of people who have made mistakes in their past. Thor, I have made so many myself. But you saved Berk when it needed you most. We were losing against Viggo and his Hunters, against the Fliers until you came in and turned the tide. Your tactics were what we needed to save the entire Tribe. And you came back. Milady...my love...I am never ashamed of a second I spend with you. I am proud to know you-and proud that you are my friend and my Betrothed..."

"And I couldn't be prouder to be your Betrothed," Astrid said...and then her face fell. "But will the people even accept me after what I have done?"

"If the wedding had mead and food, they'd accept me marrying a bad-tempered Changewing," he told her wisely as she frowned.

"Are you comparing me to an ill-tempered acid-spitting chameleonic dragon?" she asked him dangerously. He gulped.

"No? Not at all. No sirree. Because that would be a quick way of ending up axed to small pieces..." he said quickly as she suddenly grinned.

"Far too easy to tease, Babe," she told him as he exhaled in relief.

"And I live to fight another day," he sighed. "Should we go back?"

"Can we stay here a little longer?" she asked, looking back out to sea. "The sun is setting and I always think back to that sunset where you finally admitted what you feel."

"I said I wanted it to be perfect," he recalled. She smiled.

"And I said I thought it looked pretty perfect," she reminded him, looking back to the westering sun, the sky a golden orange, the huge disc dipping halfway below the horizon. A few clouds were edged with gold and orange and purple as the sky overhead and behind them already started to fade to a deep blue. He leaned towards her.

"For old time's sake," he mumbled and lifted a hand to gently rest against her cheek as she leaned in as well.

"My Hiccup," she whispered as their lips met. Deaf to the roars of their dragons and blind to the beauty of the sky, the pair remained locked together until long after the sun had vanished and night enfolded the little sea stack. Nuzzling against her gently, Hiccup sighed.

"Time to go home," he breathed. She nodded.

"Your Dad will think I have kidnapped you," she murmured.

"I wouldn't mind," he told her. "But then he would send Snot and the twins after us and we would never hear the end of it." She chuckled.

"Maybe it's safer to go home," she concluded. He nodded and rose stiffly to his feet, still holding her hand.

"You know...whenever you are ready, Milady, I will make you my wife," he said quietly as her eyes widened.

"Wow, I must have really gotten better at kissing," she quipped. He looked away, dipping his head and she felt a pang of shame at the joke, for she had known that Hiccup was a man of his word and had dreamed of marrying her since he was much younger. Just as he knew she was always the one more skittish about taking the final step, fearing it would lose her the identity she had worked so hard to forge But for a second, she felt a pang of guilt that maybe, he imagined she never wanted to go through with the ceremony...because she did. So she smiled and squeezed his hand to reassure him. "I know we're not ready yet...but yes, Hiccup-when the moment is perfect, we will marry."

oOo

Arriving back on Berk, the pair found Gobber and Stoick waiting for them, along with Spitelout and Astrid's father, Arvid. The two young Vikings circled the Plaza, seeing the serious expressions on the men's faces. Sharing a concerned look, the pair landed Toothless and Stormfly right in front of the Chief.

"Son! Astrid! We've been waiting for you!" the Chief boomed. "Where have you been?"

"Wow, Dad-awkward much!" he said dryly. "My Betrothed and I have been having a little talk on that sea stack round the coast from Thor's Beach and watching the sun set..."

"As long as talking is all you've been up to," Arvid grumbled, causing Astrid to roll her eyes.

"Dad! Hiccup is s perfect gentleman," she told him. "We only kissed..."

"You know, a real man would have tried a bit more than that," Arvid retorted.

"I have an axe and can beat anyone who tries to take advantage," she reminded her father as he sighed.

"That's my daughter," he sighed.

"Dad-what's wrong?" Hiccup asked directly. "Not that I don't appreciate a welcoming committee of scary-looking Vikings and I know you worry I may drop dead at any minute...but I know something is wrong. That's your 'I'm about to tell Hiccup some terrible news he won't like and then I'm going to have to yell at him' face."

"I have one those faces?" Stoick asked in surprise.

"Yeah, actually yeh do," Gobber piped up, scratching his chin with his hook. "Looks just like that one, in fact."

"I thought this was my 'stern but professional and imposing' face," Stoick replied.

"Nope, that's yer 'telling Hiccup off' face," Gobber replied cheerfully.

"And this is my 'Hiccup is getting worried' face," the auburn-haired Viking cut in. "Gobber? What's going on?"

"Yeh Dad is better at explaining," the blacksmith said with uncharacteristic coyness. Astrid dismounted and walked to stand at Hiccup's side-and she saw the sorrow in her father's eyes.

"It's about me, isn't it?" she guessed as her father nodded.

"The Chief received a formal communication from the Council of Chiefs," Arvid explained.

"The Council of Chiefs have expressed their concern about the actions of one of the Berk Dragon Riders," Stoick reported. "They are concerned that we may use dragons against anyone who is our enemy."

"Which is a possibility," Gobber added.

"So they have demanded that the Rider is brought before them for judgement," Stoick announced.

"Dad-no..." Hiccup breathed. "Astrid did it for me. She saved the Tribe. She stopped the Hunters. She made us safe. I'm not letting them blame her for doing what we were trying to do. If not her, then the Riders would have stopped them."

"She wiped out a Tribe!" Spitelout pointed out.

"They tried to starve the Hooligans to death," Gobber retorted.

"It doesn't matter what the rights and wrongs are," Stoick told his son sharply.

"It should," Hiccup told him spiritedly.

"...because if we don't at least go and face them, Berk will be isolated...if not declared Outcast," Stoick told him sternly.

"Hey-we can cope..." Hiccup began.

"No-we can't!" Stoick shouted.

"Told you," Hiccup mouthed.

"Berk has been damaged by the Hunter attack and though we are mostly repaired, we still need supplies," the Chief said sharply. "And a Chief protects his own."

"No-the saying you should quote, Dad is that the needs the many outweigh the needs of the few," Hiccup said bitterly. "That's what you told me when there were Bounty Hunters on my tail. That's what you should have said when I was poisoned. But Astrid believed the needs of the one-of one you love-outweigh everything else. So she tore the Archipelago apart to repay those who had killed me."

"And I would have done the same," Stoick mumbled into his beard.

"And what do they want from me?" Astrid asked, her grip on Hiccup's hand tightening. "Because I cannot give up Stormfly. She's my girl, my best and most loyal protector. And it wasn't her fault-she did what I asked her. And I would do it again-for Hiccup. I love him."

"They may outcast you," Arvid said in a broken voice.

"Aye-or they may just kill you," Spitelout added.

"I won't allow that," Stoick promised. "I'll talk to my allies-and yours. Alvin and Dagur will stand by me..."

"But many won't," Arvid guessed. "Because none of them will want a precedent to be set..." Hiccup stood shoulder to shoulder with Astrid and faced his seniors boldly, absolute determination in his emerald eyes.

"I will stand by her," he said. "I will fight for her-because she fought for me. We're all going to meet the Chiefs."

"Thor help them, facing Stoick and you," Gobber commented. "Stubborn as rocks, the pair of you. I'll pack my good skivvies." Arvid looked up.

"And I'm coming as well," he said. "You are my daughter and I am proud of the warrior, of the woman you have become..." Astrid walked forward into his arms and felt him hug her tightly. "This time, we all face it together..."