A/N: Lots of reaction for the last chapter-thanks, I read them all. Now Snotlout may be gone but it's unlikely he will just accept his fate...especially with where he's ended up. And please be aware that Astrid may seem a little OOC (at least initially) because being attacked as she was can do that to you. Remember, this is my version of how this Berk would react-other versions are possible but not in this story.

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Twenty Seven: A Different Solution

Things were different the next day, though different good or different bad was hard to tell. Hiccup was still tense, his senses on edge and on alert in case any of the remaining Jorgensens or their friends and allies made a move on him or on Astrid. After visiting Gothi to have their wounds tended, they had headed home to rest and try to process everything that had befallen them. Hiccup was more sore than he had realised and Astrid had remained stoic and quiet until they had reached the house.

And then she had sat down, even quieter and Hiccup had become very worried. Astrid was fierce and brave and always feisty: she only went quiet when she was really upset, so he had sat achingly by her, eyeing her as he had after she had been kidnapped by Stormfly, as if she was about to explode. But when he had inched closer, she hadn't growled at him or glared back, merely sat slump-shouldered, her head down. So he had gently reached over and lifted her chin with a finger, peering into her azure eyes that were pooled with unshed tears.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I failed."

"Oh-no, no, no..." he said urgently, his face stricken. "It was all my fault. I should have stopped him ages ago..." But she looked at him then, tears slowly streaking her bruised cheeks.

"I should have been able to stop them," she said softly. "He wanted to...to...and I should have stopped them. There were only four of them..."

"You fought as hard as you could," he reassured her gently. "Even the best warrior can be overpowered by a sneak attack from behind! You were amazing..." But she gave a short, bitter laugh and shook her head, swiping at her eyes.

"I'm ruined, babe," she told him slowly. "This is Berk, remember? And what Snotlout did...what he said...no one will believe..."

"I believe," he assured her, hesitating to touch her because of her injuries...but when he read the misery in her eyes and realised she assumed he was repelled by her, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to face him. "Milady, look at me." Unwillingly, she met his emerald gaze. "What do you see?"

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third," she replied slowly.

"No," he told her gravely. "You're seeing Hiccup the Useless, disowned son of the Chief, former Heir of Berk and a mere apprentice to the village blacksmith. You are the most beautiful, brave, fierce, determined warrior in the village. And every second I spend with you is a gift from the Gods. And nothing has changed. You are the same person you were this morning."

"But I'm not," she sighed, pulling away. His grip around her tightened. "Hiccup-let me go. I release you from your Promise. You don't want me any more." His hands tightened fiercely around her shoulders.

"Astrid, I have loved and wanted to be with you since I was ten," he told her. "And nothing has altered. You are the same person you always have been. And no matter that you were attacked and wronged by Snotlout, you are still the most amazing woman on Berk. Astrid, I-I am in love with you."

"But you can't be," she said, her voice crackling. "Hiccup-Snotlout is gone. You finally have a chance...and I can guarantee that the village will shun me for what happened. I will damage you." He pulled her close.

"Please don't do this?" he begged her softly. "Astrid-this is exactly what he wanted. He wanted to tear us apart. He wanted to claim you by...taking what wasn't his. But if you cast me aside now, then he has won. He'll have broken us anyway. And it would all have been in vain."

"Babe, I...I don't know if I can cope with being stared at, being whispered about..." she breathed as he wrapped his arms tightly around her body.

"You can," he assured her gently, a hand stroking her back gently. "You're Fearless Astrid Hofferson, remember? And if Snotlout hadn't had three men with him, he'd already be neutered."

"Wish they'd let me before he went," she mumbled, though she was shaking.

"Stay with me, Astrid," he pleaded gently. "He's taken my birthright, had me thrown from my family and my home...don't let him take you. No matter what happens, no matter what people say, I love you. I will never give up on you-so don't give upon me. Please..."

Sobs shook through her and she buried her face in his shoulder. He hugged her fiercely, kissing her hair and mumbling reassurances. But she had curled in his arms and cried until she finally fell asleep when he had carried her gently to the bed and lay there, falling asleep with her cocooned in his arms.

Come morning, he woke with her still in his arms, a shiver of anxiety running through him that had nothing to do with the cold ambient temperature. Astrid was pressed hard against him, her arms wound tight around his lean shape but he could tell from her breathing that she was awake and wanted to wait for him. "Morning, Milady," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep. "How are you feeling today?" She lifted her head, more life in her eyes today.

"Better but bruised," she admitted. "You make a lovely pillow..."

"I am available until the end of the world for that duty," he reminded her, staring deep into her eyes. "Just...promise me you won't abandon me, Astrid. No matter what Snotlout tried, don't leave me. There should always be a Hiccup and Astrid-and I will fight to make sure there is." His hand rose to gently stroke her cheek.

"I think you already did," she reminded him, her hand sliding over his bandaged shoulder. "Okay, babe. I trust you. But you need to be prepared to hear the villagers talk about me and not be very kind. And I know they will see you as a replacement for Snotlout."

"Who replaced me in the first place," Hiccup said slowly and sighed. "And I will care about what they say. But only because it's you..." She sat up and ran her hands through her dishevelled hair.

"I think you need to get up, babe," she said smartly, seeing his tired face. "A grumpy somebody will want his ride...and I think I want to see my girl and fly as well." Aching and groaning as he realised he had stiffened up terribly during the night, he slowly sat up and they dressed and headed out to see the dragons.

But once they had returned, Hiccup could feel the eyes on him and the glances trailing over Astrid. There was no missing the bruises on her face or the marks around her neck and though she was walking tall and proud, there were whispers and Hiccup saw Mrs Larson lean towards Mrs Dagmar and mutter a few words, to be met by a nod and a pitying look...and that was when it struck him.

They had believed Snotlout.

And though Astrid was blameless, she was tainted by the crime supposedly done to her. As he watched, eyes followed her and whispers shushed through the Plaza. Her students followed her down towards the Arena for training but he noticed that two of the younger girls were held back by their mothers, hissed whispers warning them they didn't want to be in the company of the shamed girl. And he knew it shouldn't upset him-but it did, because it wasn't her shame.

Gobber watched him closely as he hammered away at Mildew's plough and a handful of other swords and weapons, his motions mechanical and his face very thoughtful. The blacksmith wasn't a very empathetic man, but he could read his apprentice well enough-when he wasn't completely drunk-and he could see that Hiccup, far from being relieved at the exile of his principal tormentor, was more anxious. In fact, he was so distracted that he called Silent Sven 'Lars' and broke Mildew's plough again...not that Gobber really cared about the last one. But when Hiccup stopped, wiping his forehead with his hand and breathing hard, Gobber rested a hand on his shoulder and forced the young man to look at him.

"Spit it out, laddie," he said without preamble. "I'd ha' thought yer would be happy, what wi' yer lass safe and Snotlout sent tae Outcast Island!" Hiccup glanced up, his emerald eyes dark with concern.

"Is that what you think?" he asked sharply. "Snotlout and his friends attack Astrid, try to rape her, dishonour her in front of the village and eventually get exiled. But thanks to that idiot, Roar Arvidson, everyone imagines it happened and that Astrid wanted it. Or deserved it. Or whatever. And she wants to break off her Promise because she imagines that she isn't good enough for me!" His arms waved around frantically. "I mean, I'm Hiccup the Useless, the most despised dishonoured and ignored person on the island. And she thinks she isn't good enough for me? I mean, I will never be good enough for her...but the gossips are already out...and Mildew is due back in town later..."

"Ah-yer can't allow yerself tae be upset by that old goat..." Gobber said, trying to be helpful-but Hiccup shook him off angrily.

"Gobber-he said to my face that my father should have drowned me at birth! And if he starts on what happened to Astrid...Thor, I may end up being exiled for killing him!" He gestured across the Plaza. "They are already calling her a 'whore' just like Snotlout said. I mean-what is wrong with them? She was attacked, she fought for her life, they choked her and beat her and it took all of them to hold her down just so Snot could get near her and they are implying she wanted it?" Gobber shook his head, a mournful expression on his big face.

"Aye...we're not the biggest thinkers in this Tribe," he admitted. "But they are thinking now. And what they're thinking is that with Snotlout gone, they need a new Heir. The Elders are meeting tae discuss it...so I need tae leave you tae mind the store..." Emerald eyes widened in shock and dismay.

"Sorry-what are you telling me?" Hiccup asked him sarcastically. "That the same people who sneered at and abused me for years, who were cheering when I was removed as Heir and-and disowned by my own father and were cheering for Thuggory to kill me in the Arena-that those idiots want me to just become the Heir again?" Gobber scratched his chin with his hook, looking embarrassed.

"That's about the size o'it," he confessed, not able to meet the blazing emerald gaze. Suddenly Hiccup turned away.

"Just go," he sighed. "But Gobber-this isn't what I want. I gave up on being the Heir years ago-because why would I want to lead this Tribe when none of them like or trust me? Why would I give up my life and hopes and dreams for people who have shown me nothing but cruelty and dismissal? A Chief protects his own-but you have made me feel anything but a Hooligan. Have your meeting but I am not the answer."

Gobber watched him as he turned back to the next sword and sighed, then began to pound the hot metal once more. No, laddie-yer wrong, he thought. Yer the answer tae everything.

oOo

Hiccup found Astrid in the cove with the dragons, her posture defeated, She was standing quietly, stroking Stormfly's face and murmuring praise and compliments but her hair was windblown and cheeks red, showing she had already been for a flight. Toothless warbled a greeting and Hiccup felt his mouth stretch in a grin as he hugged and played with his excited dragon, all the while checking the girl. Finally, he turned to Astrid.

"Afternoon, Milady! How's your day been?" he asked brightly, his eyes sparkling and hoping that he was wrong. She looked up.

"Just perfect," she said sarcastically. "Three of the younger class didn't come...presumably because their parents were worried I would ruin their little Vikings and Valkyries by my mere unclean presence. The rest all looked at me like I was about to explode or shatter or burst into tears..."

"Like that would happen," Hiccup added gently, his hand reaching for hers. She moved it away.

"They were all respectful and argumentative-the same as usual-though Else did make a snide comment about 'Snotlout's concubine'," she admitted tightly.

"And...?" Hiccup asked, moving nearer. She was holding onto the Nadder, her back half-turned to him and she made no move to face him.

"She had to drop and give me fifty," Astrid reported in her usual brisk tone and Hiccup smiled.

"That's my..."

"Stop! Just...stop..." she said and slowly turned to face him. He stiffened. "I heard them talking. All of them. The women, the men, the old...even Mildew..." She stared candidly into his suddenly apprehensive face. "They all believe that you will be made the Heir by the Council...just as they all believe that I am shamed."

"They're wrong on both counts-you know that!" Hiccup told her quietly. "I don't want..."

"But you'll be talked into it for the sake of the Tribe," she guessed calmly. "And I cannot shackle you with a woman who is shamed and despised as your Promised. You will need to marry someone with rank, power, position for the Tribe. So I release you-and end it. We are not Promised, Hiccup. It's over."

He stared at her, his mouth dry and chest suddenly tight with pain.

"No-you can't!" he blurted out, reaching for her-but she recoiled, staring coolly back at him.

"Remember what I said when we discussed this, Hiccup?" she asked him pointedly, her hand resting on Stormfly for reassurance. "We had a deal. I agreed to be promised to you-despite your concerns-but I said if I wanted to break it off, I would ask to do so."

"You also said I couldn't get rid of you that easily," he said in a pained voice. "But Snotlout has won. He's taken you from me. He's got everything he damned well wanted!" She looked at him for a second, then threw herself onto Stormfly's back.

"Please-just respect my decision," she said quietly. "I can be the Shield Maiden I was always meant to be. And one day, they will stop looking at me like trash and judge me by my deeds, not by his lies. And you will thank me for freeing you from my shame."

"You think I haven't had all that a thousand times over?' he asked her hoarsely. "I'm Hiccup the Useless. And I couldn't even hold onto the woman I love. I've lost my birthright, my family, my father...and now you."

"You'll thank me one day," she repeated, though her voice was wavering. "Please...don't make this harder than it is. I...I still want to be your friend..."

"Astrid..." he said as she leaned forward.

"Up, girl..." she urged the Nadder and as they launched, Hiccup stared.

"NO!" he yelled. "No-Astrid! Don't leave me!" And he turned to the watching black dragon. "Bud-we have to stop them..."

Toothless read the scene and felt suddenly confused. The two humans were still very much in love-their pheromones proved that-but the female seemed very unhappy and was leaving his Viking. The Nadder seemed confused as well and his human friend was desperate. So he did the only thing he could: he threw back his head and roared powerfully, the sound echoing round Raven Point. There was a squawk overhead and the Nadder wheeled down, landing obediently in front of the Night Fury. There were rumbles and small roars as Meatlug, Fanghook, Jadespine and Stoneskin all landed as well, eyes locked expectantly on the Night Fury.

Astrid stared at the black dragon, the 'unholy offspring of lightning and death itself' that had just commanded her dragon-all the dragons-to land. And no matter what she did, Stormfly wouldn't budge, her eyes fixed on the acid green eyes of Toothless, the Night Fury, so Astrid turned her baleful glare onto Hiccup.

"Hiccup-stop whatever he's doing and let me go!" she snapped but he walked forward, his eyes locked on hers. He reached up and grasped her round the waist, lifting her reverently and lowering her to the ground. "What are you doing?" she snapped, her hands automatically resting on his shoulders for balance but his hands tenderly cupped her cheeks, lifting her face to stare into his.

"Be honest with me, Astrid," he said quietly, the plea obvious in his voice. "Just this once..."

"I have never lied to you," she reminded him proudly, her azure eyes staring up defiantly into his emerald gaze.

"Then by Freya, don't start now," he told her. "Do you love me, Astrid?" She tried to pull away but she was still captivated by his eyes, even as he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips, his eyes briefly closing before he pulled back to stare into her face. "Do you love me?"

"It's...impossible..." she whispered. "I will just hurt you..."

"You're killing me by leaving me," he breathed, "Do you love me, Milady?" She swallowed, her eyes shining. She nodded.

"But..." She got no further as he kissed her again-and this time she responded, tears streaking her cheeks as she kissed him back. And then she buried her face in his shoulder as he swathed her in his embrace, hugging her fiercely.

"No buts," he mumbled against her hair. "Stay with me. Love me. Let me sort it out. And I will. Just...trust me." She mumbled against his neck and he lifted his head slightly. "What was that, Astrid?"

"Stubborn ass," she grumbled, feeling him nuzzle against her hair. "I'm trying to protect you..."

"And I'm protecting you, Astrid," he said seriously. "Do you think it will help anything if I apparently dump you? It means I lose the person I love, it validates Snotlout's lies and makes me look like a complete swine." He shrugged. "And how can you protect me when you've left me?"

"I could manage," she grumbled, but her arms were tight around him. "But be prepared for the looks and the whispers."

"And you don't think I haven't been tuning them out for years?" he reminded her, kissing her forehead. She finally offered a wan smile. "Milady-I will never stop fighting for you. Just promise me that you won't give up-because I will figure it out." She smiled and kissed him again before looking away at the dragons.

"Then figure this out, babe," she told him. "Why did they all land when he roared? What did he do?" Hiccup slowly turned to look at Toothless, who was sitting on his haunches, his ears pricked and pupils wide, offering a gummy grin. He gave a small barking roar that almost sounded like a laugh and the other dragons all roared in response. Hiccup's emerald eyes suddenly widened in shock.

"Oh Thor..." he breathed. "Now I finally have a way to show them about dragons!"

oOo

Eyes were on them as they emerged from the forest, a sensation that instantly put Hiccup's senses on alert. He was always wary because Snotlout and the twins had made his life a living Hel for years before they had been exiled-but he was painfully aware they had supporters and allies who could ambush him and end him without breaking sweat. He reached for Astrid's hand and felt her fingers lace with his, closing in a reassuring grasp around his. From the corner of his eye, he saw her lift her chin and walk proudly at his side, eyes fixed straight ahead and ignoring the curious glances that raked the pair.

It was uncomfortable to walk down the plaza with everyone staring, whispers rustling between people like a vicious breeze. Hiccup swallowed, emerald gaze darting from person to person...until a familiar and hated voice rang out.

"Yer all fools!" Mildew sneered. "'Ow can yer believe that coward could be yer Heir again-especially when 'e's still goin' with his cousin's leavings!"

They both stiffened and Astrid's grip tightened as Hiccup made to pull away. "No one would care if I killed him," he growled through his teeth.

"I mean, who would want a twig as the Heir, a boy who nearly destroyed the village so many times as the man responsible for protecting us?" Mildew persisted. "A runt who should have been drowned at birth and almost started a war with the Berserkers? Especially one with such poor judgement in standing by a shamed whore?"

"That's it..." Hiccup growled but Astrid held him back.

"Ignore him," she hissed. "His opinions mean nothing!"

"But they listen to him!" he reminded her, seeing the faces of the observers move through thoughtful to unfriendly and hostile. "Not that I wanted to be the Heir anyway..."

"Mildew is right!" a voice echoed across the Plaza. Hiccup recognised a man named Bjorn who was a close ally of Spitelout. "We don't want him!"

"He's a liability!" another voice added.

"Hey! He saved Astrid after she was taken by a dragon!" Gustav protested.

"And 'e never explained that properly!" Mildew sneered. "I'll wager she was dropped soon after she was taken and all yer did were ter pick 'er up!"

"Mildew's right!" Mrs Larsson shouted and Gustav rolled this eyes.

"No, he's not, Mom!" he hissed as she glared at him.

"Of course he is!" Roar Arvidson growled. "There's no way that fishbone could fight a dragon off! He's just a liar!"

"And that girl...she should hide her face for what happened!" Mrs Harildsson added.

"Hardly the best warrior in Berk if only four men could take her down!" Knut added, his eyes narrowed. Astrid had clashed with him in the past for slacking over his duties in the clean-up after a raid.

"You take that back!" To Astrid's surprise, that was Hilde, her fists clenched in anger. "Astrid is the best warrior in Berk and if you could fight off four men half as large again as you all at once, then I'd be surprised!" Knut was a wiry middle-aged man with a scruffy beard who was only a shade taller than Astrid in height. It was well-known that Astrid had wrestled him into submission with one hand.

"And Hiccup isn't a liar! He's a hero!" Yaklegs added.

"He's just the same disappointment and failure he was! And that shamed hussy of his!" Mildew sneered, waving his staff as the murmurs and yells grew louder.

"Shut yer yap, Mildew! Yer talkin' rubbish as usual!" Gobber yelled as he limped up to elbow his way through the crowd. Hiccup's knuckles were white as he gripped Astrid's hand tightly and her other hand was clamped around her axe, the blade gleaming in the weak sunlight. Turning like a snake, Mildew leered at the bulky blacksmith, his eyes narrowed with malice.

"I'm right and yer know it!" he taunted the blacksmith. "None of us wants this disowned apprentice as our Heir. We want Snotlout back!" That quietened the crowd-because though he had whipped them up, they all had major reservations about the Jorgensen boy. Even the dim inhabitants of Berk realised he was the worst possible choice of Heir.

"Well, he's Outcast so that ain't happening!" Gobber told him rudely then looked up the slope at the young couple. "Yer okay?" Hiccup managed a wan smile.

"Wouldn't be Berk without a baying mob," he said dryly. "Just a standard warm Berk welcome. Sorry-our walk took a bit longer than usual. I'll get back..."

"No, lad-we need ye up at the Great Hall!" Gobber said urgently. "The Elders want tae speak with yer." Eyes widening, Hiccup shook his head.

"Um...no," he said quietly. "Come on, Gobber-they're almost having a riot here over who will be the next Heir..."

"That was an order, by the way," the blacksmith told his apprentice firmly. Mildew's face was red with rage, his eyes bulging as he yelled and there were very animated arguments happening between half the villagers. Despite his enormous misgivings, Hiccup could see that this conflict was no help when they still had dragons raiding them and enemies all around and he knew he would need to speak to the Elders. He could already guess what they would propose and he knew what his answer should be. Then he looked at Astrid: she had believed he would become the Heir again and that her recent ordeal would taint her. His grip on her hand tightened.

"Astrid is coming as well," he said determinedly.

"Laddie-they wanted to speak to you alone..." Gobber began but stubbornly, Hiccup shook his head.

"They speak to us both-or I don't come at all and they can come and speak to me here," he told his boss. Blue eyes narrowing, Gobber stared at him for a long moment and recalled how stubborn his apprentice was...and then he looked at the village, still in chaos, tempers being stirred and animosities stoked by the old goat, Mildew. Abruptly, he turned and lumbered back to the long stair back off up to the Great Hall.

"Come on then," he grumbled. "Thor, between the son and the father, how's a man to have any sort of peace around this village?"

oOo

Gustav grabbed Yaklegs's arm and pulled him back into the little gap between two homes, then resting against the side of the Halvardson's home and checking for anyone nearby.

"What's going on?" he hissed, staring at the larger boy. "I mean, they were kind of liking Hiccup-until Mildew started stirring them up."

"It's worse than that," Yaklegs told him unhappily. "Everyone seems to have turned against Astrid because of what Snotlout said." He leaned closer, his eyes wide. "Gerda and Else Jorgensen and Gerda's sister, Tonje Jonsson have been spreading rumours and lies about Astrid throughout the village. They've claimed...well...that she wanted what they did."

"And that's a lie," Hilde said, rounding the corner. She had noticed that the boys and Tiril had been going off into the forest for some weeks and she had gotten really suspicious about what they were up to. And though they had all just claimed they had been training with Astrid, Hilde hadn't believed them-mainly because Yaklegs had looked very shifty. At her appearance, Yaklegs squealed and jumped a couple of inches in the air, while Gustav gulped and gave a very fake grin.

"H-Hilde!" he said. "Um...yeah...you're right..."

"Of course I am," the girl snapped, folding her arms and narrowing her brown eyes as she stared at the two boys. "Now, my patience is running out. What are you two hiding?" The boys shared a glance.

"Us? Hiding?" Yaklegs managed in an unconvincing squeak. Gustav tried to brazen it out.

"I mean, why would we hide anything?" he asked with a fake smile. "All we're doing is training in the forest..."

"And since when did you-and especially you-care about training?" Hilde growled, glaring at Yaklegs fiercely and the husky boy blushed but tried to look hurt.

"I care!" he protested.

"Then why aren't I being invited?" Hilde demanded. Gustav glanced at Yaklegs, silently willing him to remain quiet.

"Hey-your aunt is Phlegma the Fierce!" he reminded the angry girl. "Why would you need extra training? I'm mini-Snot! And Yaklegs is fat...sorry, husky...we really need extra lessons just to get to your standard!" Hilde marched forward and glared into his grey eyes, causing him to start sweating under her exacting examination.

"I know you're lying, Gustav-your mouth is moving," she growled. "What are you doing in the forest?" There was a pause and Gustav thought quickly: Hilde was very astute and would see through an outright lie. And the sturdy girl was decent and trustworthy...except her best friend was Else Jorgensen. It was a difficult decision, though everyone knew that Hilde respected Astrid...and she had spoken up for Astrid. He gambled.

"We are training-with Astrid and Hiccup," he revealed to a gasp of shock from Yaklegs. The husky boy elbowed him hard.

"What are you saying?" he hissed. Gustav cast him a look.

"What...with Astrid and Hiccup?" Hilde asked suspiciously. "I mean-he's no warrior..."

"Even though he defeated Thuggory and Snotlout in single combat?" Gustav pointed out.

"A good point!" Yaklegs added, then withered under Hilde's scowl. "Shutting up..."

"So we're training with them because they're the only ones to get away from being taken by a dragon," Gustav added. "And because we are training to...to deal with the raids and protect Berk!" Yaklegs's eyes widened in shock.

"We-we are?" he squeaked. Rolling his eyes, Gustav nodded.

"Yes," he said. "We are training to protect Berk..." He paused and grinned at Hilde. "You want in?"

oOo

The doors yawned open and the cool afternoon was replaced by the dim, fire lit gloom of the interior of the Great Hall. The Elders were seated around the table closest to the fire pit, shadows dancing behind them and Hiccup paused on the threshold before advancing, his hand still closed around Astrid's. Gobber pushed the doors closed behind them and then almost galloped back to his place at the top table, winking indiscreetly as he passed.

"Come closer," Stoick invited them, before casting a glare at Gobber. "I thought I asked to speak with Hiccup." Gobber mumbled something which sounded suspiciously like 'damned stubborn Viking not unlike some Chiefs I could mention,' as he sat down and took a sip of his mead, yelping as Gothi whacked him over the head with her staff.

"Well, I needed to speak to you all," Hiccup said clearly, his emerald eyes boldly sliding over each and every one of the Council of Elders. "And I wanted Astrid here to hear this." Predictably, she looked at him suspiciously but he gave her a small smile before turning back to the Elders. "It's okay," he mouthed. "I can fix this."

"I need to speak first," Stoick said gruffly, rising to his feet and staring gravely at his son, the shadows of his heavy brows deep on his face. He looked older and his face more lined than Hiccup had realised, emphasised by the stark lighting. "I am not getting any younger, Hiccup, and three years ago, I acceded to pressure from within this council and from within the village to remove my only son as Heir. Those who made the recommendations, who were so vociferous were not without their own agenda...and I was foolishly swayed by their words. So I removed you as Heir to Berk and disowned you as my son."

"Thanks, Chief-like I can't remember all that," Hiccup replied sarcastically. "I always wondered why I suddenly stopped being your son and found myself thrown out of my home and generally despised by everyone." Stoick scowled at him and Astrid leaned close.

"Note to Hiccup-maybe antagonising them may not be the best start?" she suggested and he shrugged.

"I know what Dad is going to say and he's not going to apologise," he said. "He's going to sell it as all in the interests of the Tribe." He sighed. "And not at all in the interest of you or me."

"Um...yes," Stoick said, his voice wavering for a second. "But subsequent events-your conduct, your willingness to help the Tribe, your bravery in facing Thuggory, the cowardice, brutality and dishonour of Snotlout...all of those convinced me that I had been wrong. That being told by Snotlout's father that his son was better than mine was not an independent assessment."

"Really? Thor, that's a revelation!" Hiccup snarked.

"Snotlout has been Outcast...and Berk is without an Heir," Stoick said. "And after a long discussion amongst the Elders..."

"Mainly you telling us we were idiots," Gobber said under his breath but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"...I have the duty and pleasure to request that you resume your birthright, Hiccup. I want you to become the Heir to Berk once more!"