Three: Alone

Sverre Magneson asked to stay on New Berk when his Tribal party headed back east to their home and Chief Hiccup willingly granted him the chance to prove himself. Between himself, Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins, they put the young man through his paces. Hiccup checked his skills with the sword and found them good enough to satisfy him that the young man would be capable of protecting Zephyr and New Berk. Snotlout took him through weapons assessment while the twins took him up and down, over and under New Berk, probably testing him through a number of trials involving innovation, adaptation and dealing with the unexpected Thorston-style.

He was a young man of twenty-two, a couple of years older than Zephyr, an inch or so shorter than she was but he held himself upright and his movements were graceful. His blue eyes twinkled with good humour and his light brown hair was tied back off his face, a couple of small braids appearing behind his ear after he moved from Berk, woven by Zephyr's nimble fingers. He was measured and calm though he had his own opinions. But he listened and debated, never letting a debate linger once it was over. He had an irreverent sense of humour and even pranked the twins-with the help of Fishlegs, who he rapidly befriended.

In fact, Hiccup found the young man readily welcomed into New Berk and growing closer and closer to his daughter. Nuffink, when he returned from his latest voyage, had a man-to-man chat with the outsider about his intentions and satisfied himself that the man's affections were real. But even so, Hiccup made it plain he would not approve any sort of formal attachment until the man had been on New Berk for at least a year. Zephyr had huffed and sulked and yelled at him for that, showing all the prowess her mother possessed in arguing but Hiccup was adamant in his ruling: she was his firstborn and if he wanted her, if he truly loved her, Sverre would wait.

And wait he did. All through the cycle of the seasons, he integrated himself into Berk life and on the first day of his second Spring in Berk, he approached Hiccup and asked for Zephyr's hand, asked for permission to become Betrothed. And looking over at his daughter, her eyes filled with love for the young man, he had given his consent.

They married in the Summer, with the sun high in the sky and the whole of New Berk bright green and stunning. Sverre's father did make the journey for the wedding, though his brothers thankfully stayed away. Hiccup conducted the ceremony that married his Heir and his other children stood by her, huge smiles on their faces, making Hiccup long even harder for Astrid. He knew her expression, seeing in his mind the beautiful blue eyes shining with pride and love for her firstborn and images from his own wedding, a quarter of a century earlier. The entire Tribe turned out and cheered for their Heir and as Hiccup wound the golden fabric around their hands, he knew an era was ending.

Zephyr was already on the Council and over the next few years, her friends and counsellors joined the Council. Hiccup saw his generation still in their prime but proud to see their offspring step forward and start taking their place in helping to lead Berk. Zephyr moved into her own home with Sverre and with Nuffink at sea for so long, it was suddenly just Hiccup and Asti. Hiccup's son had inherited his wanderlust and skills with mechanisms, navigation and maps and he travelled far and wide on behalf of Berk, trading and making new alliances. Hiccup saw much of himself in the boy-including his own sassy sense of humour-and he wasn't the least bit surprised when the young man returned with a girl with long raven hair, deep caramel eyes and honey brown skin, her features exotic enough to tell him that his son had lost his heart to a girl from a far off land.

Fink and Abeya, the stranger, married a mere month after they arrived back on Berk and though Hiccup offered to build them a home, the young man said he would share with Zeph and Sverre-or Hiccup, when they were home on Berk. Abeya was from a seafaring people and she and Fink were a perfect pair as they sailed away from Berk once more, charged with a mission from the Council and Hiccup's most heartfelt best wishes.

Zephyr quickly gave birth to three healthy and bonny sons on consecutive years and Hiccup suffered agonies and flashbacks every time-but she seemed blessed with easy births and uneventful pregnancies. After being married for two years, Fink and Abeya arrived back from a particularly long trip to the east with a newborn daughter with raven hair and bright green eyes, her gummy grin instantly reminding Hiccup painfully of Toothless and abruptly missing his dragon badly as he hadn't for many years. But he cradled his first grand-daughter in his arms and felt his lips lift in a smile once more, wishing he had Astrid at his side to hand the child to and hearing her verdict.

"She's beautiful," he managed roughly, his gruff voice expressing his emotions perfectly,. Zeph had hugged him and Abeya-who had always been in awe of the tall and stern Chief-leaned up and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you," she said in accented Norse. "You have made us so welcome. And we will be settling on Berk now we have family. My children will need ground beneath their feet, not a deck." Looking up, Hiccup saw his son wink but there was a proud look in his green eyes as he slid his arm around his wife.

""I will still sail-but my home will be properly on Berk now," Fink confirmed, his eyes still on the woman who had stolen his heart. She fluttered her eyelids and gently rested her hand on the medallion that Hiccup had given his son to gift to his girl on their Betrothal. The same medallion his father had given to his mother and he had given to Astrid now hung around his son's wife's neck, the warm amber light of the setting sun gilding the metal. "If that's okay with you, Dad?" Hiccup smiled, his eyes still fixed on the squirming bundle in his arms.

"That will be perfect," he said.

oOo

It was when Asti began to grow up and spend more time away that Hiccup's loneliness kicked in full force. Since Zephyr became more involved in the Council and her friends, it had largely been Hiccup and Asti. He had cooked for her in the evening, teaching her the skills her mother had never really mastered. He always listened to what she had been doing, recalling all those evenings when his own father had ignored him or never shown an interest because Stoick could not understand or relate to his clever, unVikinglike son. And he missed his father now as well, wondering what Stoick would think of the new village. Or Astrid. Careful he didn't stifle her, Hiccup still made sure Asti spent time with her peers but he took her to all the places he and Astrid had loved and made sure she was steeped in the history of the dragon riders and all the tales of Hiccup and his friends. And the importance of keeping the Hidden World and the location of the dragons a secret.

As neither Heir nor son of the Chief, Asti had more time and flexibility to develop her interests. Her time was filled with training, teaching the young ones, studying with Archivist Fishlegs and his son Fishnut on the history of Berk and learning trade contracts and military strategy from Snotlout-though Hiccup did remind her that Snotlout's grasp of strategy started and ended with 'run in there and blow it up then set it on fire'. She excelled with the axe and the sword and was every bit as lithe and athletic as her mother had been. But she was slow to anger, patient and kind and very determined, a young woman who was beautiful, accomplished, witty and playful.

Suddenly, the young men of the Tribe were trying to court her, falling over their feet to compete for the beautiful and gently mocking young warrior and with her older sister and brother, she managed to scare them off. But Nuffink approached Hiccup and let him know that Asti had been seen spending more time with Bean, Tuffnut's son. Though he had never married, the male twin had a long term relationship with Earwax, a squint-eyed sheep herder who lived in the heights above the village. She was pretty, crazy and had a wicked sense of humour-a perfect match for the male twin who had finally accepted that he couldn't spend all his time with his sister and her family. The unofficial couple had built a rather eccentric house that included a large sheep barn as well as zip lines and four different entrances. Ruff loved visiting with her kids and Earwax was a kind woman and a mean cook. When she had produced her son, Tuff had been proud and briefly tried to shape up-but he had been unable to maintain the effort and had resumed his crazy ways, though he provided for his family.

Bean was a lanky blonde with deep brown eyes and a ready grin. Despite his crazy parents, he was actually a serious and thoughtful young man-though he was a champion rock climber and woodsman. He had developed a lot of skills in woodworking and had been apprenticed to the village smith, Hardnose, who Gobber had reluctantly apprenticed when Hiccup had thrown himself into running the village. When Gobber died, Hiccup himself had finshed the man's training, ensuring that the village had a competent and hardworking smith to service their needs. Hardnose wasn't half the smith his Chief was but he had always respected the man's skills and innovation, though Hiccup knew he envied him as well. Bean had been an unusual choice for an apprentice and Tuff had been mortified at that his son was accepting responsibility-but he was clearly secretly proud as well.

Over the next few weeks, Hiccup had observed his daughter and noted the look in her eyes when she spoke to Bean, the small smile when she was with him and the way she spent hours with him in the forge as he worked on fixing weapons. The expression on her face and her smile echoed the one that he recalled from his youth, when Astrid would sit with him in the Forge on Old Berk, keeping him company as he upgraded Toothless's prosthetic tail, repaired her axe or worked on another project. Bean's expression was the mirror of hers, reminiscent of Hiccup's own smile when he realised that an amazing and beautiful young woman actually chose to spend time with him rather than the other, more buff and Vikinglike young men.

So one evening, Hiccup had gone down to the blacksmith's shop, smiling gently as he ran a hand over the sturdy beams that Gobber and Eret had constructed when they built the place. Eret had remained on Berk for a couple of years after Gobber died until one day, he had announced he was leaving, returning to his Tribe back up north. Hiccup always suspected that the man had found living among the Vikings after Gobber had passed too hard, with every inch of the place reminding him of his partner. Thor, he knew the feeling all too well-but he had his family and his responsibilities as Chief to anchor him. For Eret son of Eret, always the outsider, his kin were all up north and the decision had been easy. Hiccup had been truly sorry to see his friend leave but he had given the man his blessing and he had been given a raucous send-off and a fully-provisioned ship for his journey.

He blinked as the clang of metal on metal jerked him to the present. Bean was hammering a sword straight, causing Hiccup to smile once more. It seemed a Berkian trait to use weapons for other than what they had been intended and end up damaging them in the most peculiar ways. He recalled it had driven Gobber crazy and had led to more than a few tirades against uncomprehending Vikings who had presented a corkscrew-shaped sword or an axe bent into a right angle. And then he realised: the clangs had stopped.

"What can I do for you, Chief?" Bean asked, his voice low and clear. His cheek was smudged with soot and he was sweaty and flushed but his grip on the hammer was steady and there was respect in his eyes. Hiccup started, feeling almost embarrassed to be caught daydreaming and he fumbled as he drew out his sword. The blade was magnificent, one of his best pieces, the handle embossed with Night Fury motifs on a scale pattern, the metal a black Hiccup had achieved by incorporating just the smallest pinch of crushed Night Fury scales. Bean's eyes widened.

"Could you sharpen her for me?" the Chief asked and the young man frowned.

"Are you sure you don't want to...?" he asked, knowing that Hiccup almost always serviced his own weapons. But the Chief dipped his head with a smile.

"I'd be grateful if you would," he said and offered the weapon again. Nodding, the young man accepted the weapon and began to sharpen it as Hiccup limped to the stool and slowly lowered himself to the seat. Having had a missing lower leg for all of his adult life, he was finding his hip and knee were more and more painful as time went on, the stresses of walking on an unyielding metal prosthesis that was a little shorter than his natural leg damaging the joints over his active life. Some days, it was agonising just to walk but between phantom pains and various injuries, Hiccup had lived with pain all his adult life so he had gritted his teeth and just gotten on with it. Cold days were the worst so the heat of the forge was a welcome relief from the cool night wind.

"Is everything okay, Chief?" Bean asked, his eyes firmly fixed on his task and the Chief looked at the younger man. The two men had interacted intermittently, especially when Hiccup was helping to train him in techniques that Hardnose admitted he wasn't so skilled in but as Bean's skill increased, the lessons had become very infrequent. And as he tried to throw his mind back to some of the embarrassing talks he had endured as everyone had pressurised he and Astrid to marry, he gave a small smile. Funny-the person who finally made the decision for them was the one person who had never exerted any pressure.

"When I was a little younger than you, I used to spend a lot of time in the forge, back on Old Berk," he began, his voice thoughtful. "My girlfriend Astrid used to come in after training or after her chores were done and sit with me. We would talk for hours, about anything and nothing. About hopes and dreams. About the future." Hiccup's green eyes locked onto the young smith. "I know Asti is spending a lot of time here with you."

"We're doing nothing...um...inappropriate, sir," Bean said quickly. "She's just fun to talk to and interesting and-and wonderful!" Hiccup heard the affection in the young man's voice and he felt a frisson of jealousy. Asti was his daughter, his last precious piece of Astrid and though he knew one day she would find her own husband, the reality was suddenly facing him. And yet...

...and yet, he approved of this young man, a thoughtful hard-working young Viking. A smith, as Hiccup himself had been. A man with a sense of humour. A man who clearly cared for his daughter. And a man that his daughter certainly liked as well. The Chief smiled.

"I'm not going to give you a scary 'don't come anywhere near my daughter' speech because that is not my business and because she has her mother's temper as well," he said. "Seriously. I would never hear the end of it-and I suspect her punch is as fearsome as my late wife's." His lips curled in a smile. "And I am not going to try to encourage you in the same way your father tried to encourage me to propose to Astrid. I know this may not come as a shock but he is really really bad at pep talks." Bean chuckled.

"Neither he nor Auntie Ruff have any sort of filter," he admitted. "It made growing up...interesting...almost like having two older siblings, not two adults."

"The twins have always been allergic to the 'A' word," Hiccup admitted. "Even though they are two of my closest friends. They have always been there for me since we fought the Red Death."

"I think Dad has always been proud that he was a dragon rider, even though I know a lot of my generation think they are just myths," Bean admitted.

"Asti has seen the dragons," Hiccup said quietly. "She believes."

"I've seen Dad's armour in the Archives," Bean admitted. "And the carvings of the dragons on the houses and the columns of the Great Hall. They are consistent-meaning they are based on something that people actually saw. They were part of our Tribe for only a short period of time-but they made a huge impact."

"They brought my wife and I together and gave me the chance to prove what I was worth to her," Hiccup said. "I suspect you don't need that-because I think Asti already knows what you are worth." He slowly levered himself to his feet and winced. "All I ask is that you are careful with her heart. To me, she is the most precious thing on Berk and I would not want her to be with someone who did not love her as much as I do." Bean handed him back his sword, sharpened to a perfect keenness and polished beautifully and the Chief inspected it with a small smile. "And a man who puts so much care and attention into his work should be as careful and dedicated in his relationships."

"I-I love her!" Bean blurted out. Hiccup paused and his lips lifted in a smile.

"Does she know?" he asked gently. Bean shrugged and suddenly Hiccup was reminded of his younger awkward self, lacking in confidence and a stammering mess when it came to declaring his feelings to the girl he loved.

"I-I've never actually said..." he mumbled, his hands nervously playing with the edge of his leather apron and Hiccup smiled.

"Then tell her-and see what she says," he told the younger man. "I have learned from experience that women usually know-but that they need to hear the words. Preferably on a daily basis. If you love her, I can say now...it is always worth the risk." Bean walked forward and grasped his hand.

"Thank you, Chief," he said honestly, his eyes filled with hope and new determination and the Chief felt his heart swell with pride. He knew Astrid would have approved. Hiccup smiled as he turned away.

"I suspect it won't be too long before you are calling me 'Dad'," he commented and walked out into the night.

oOo

Asti and Bean married as the leaves were turning on a wonderful warm day in the village Plaza, before the now mossy statue of Chief Stoick the Vast. The young woman looked stunning in her simple white gown, similar to one that her mother had worn decades earlier and the crown of golden leaves and red berries mad her look like the Princess she was. For the third time, Hiccup wrapped the golden cloth around the hands one one of his children and said the words that confirmed their marriage. The village cheered and whooped and Bean kissed his new wife passionately before they all headed to the Great Hall for a celebratory feast.

Earwax and Fishlegs had stood by the young man, for his father had died over the summer, when Tuffnut tried one trick too many and fell from the highest cliff on New Berk while trying to scratch the words 'Ruffnut is a Butthead' on the rocks. His twin had known immediately and had come to find Hiccup, who had led the villagers in the grim task of recovering the body from the rocks below. Asti had comforted Bean and the Chief had been truly pleased that she was there to help the young man through the loss but there had been no comforting Ruffnut. Her children were grown and though she loved Fishlegs, she had always been closer to her twin. Hiccup had watched her fade, day by day as she had given up her desire to live any longer and within a month, she was gone as well. The Healer, Brenna, told Fishlegs that his wife had died of a broken heart but to Hiccup, it had seemed more like a broken soul, missing half of itself once her twin was gone.

Hiccup had found the double loss difficult to bear and he had spent a lot of time with Fishlegs, comforting him and being there as the man had been for Hiccup. Their five children were constantly in and out of the house, making sure the husky former rider was cared for but it was only with Hiccup that he could lower his guard. And Hiccup was truly concerned because Fishlegs hadn't cried. The man who cried at weddings, who was emotional to a fault was strangely calm. So after the initial toasts, Hiccup had left the happy couple and his other children and their partners at the top table and instead had joined the solitary figure sitting in one of the big chars by the fire. Fishlegs looked up with a wan smile.

"How do you cope?" he asked quietly, sipping his mug of mead thoughtfully. Hiccup had hoped Fish would go out and get drunk after he lost his wife but instead, he had retired home with a cup of mint tea and had remained calm and pensive. Just as he was now as Hiccup took the seat beside him. "I mean, you lost Astrid all those years ago...but I can't get my head around it."

"And I hurt every day," Hiccup said in a low voice. "Every morning, I get up and think of a reason to keep going that day. At first it was my kids. Then it was the village. And my friends. And my grandkids." Then he paused. "But in truth, none of them really need me any more. Asti will move in with Bean and I'll have an empty house-and no Astrid to talk to."

"When Tuff died, I knew she was lost," Fishlegs said, his voice wavering for the first time since the funeral. "I knew she loved him more than me-because he was her twin and they had this weird bond that they had shared forever. She knew when he died and it was like all the joy died that instant. I could see the life vanish from her eyes. So I had a few weeks to adjust to the fact she was dying. I mean, it's difficult to live with only half a soul and a broken heart. She knew our kids are grown and safe and they would look after me. And she's happy now." Hiccup reached out and rested his hand on the bigger man's shoulder.

"Fish..." He paused. "She did love you. She chose you. But she was always closest to Tuff-even though they both had their own families."

"I mean, who gets killed writing 'Ruffnut is a Butthea...' on a cliff?" Fishlegs said in a voice that cracked more with every word. His eyes shone with unshed tears and he swiped them away as Hiccup grasped his shoulder. Just for a brief moment-but it was enough. Fishlegs nodded and looked up seriously. "You know it's just the two of us left?" Hiccup nodded.

"I think Heather may be alive on Berserk but we haven't had word from them for years," he admitted. "I know Gustav was killed in that pirate attack and I've sent four ships to search for Snotlout's ship after that storm...but there hasn't been any sign. For five whole months since he vanished."

"I wouldn't put it past him to turn up next week, swaggering in like old times and proclaiming he was the most awesome Viking ever lived," Fish smiled.

"Helga, Treelout and Boarlout are holding up well," Hiccup said and then sighed. "I think they're holding onto the same hope. And I think it will hit them hard when the winter storms come in and he doesn't return. When hope is lost."

"We will have to be there for her," Fishlegs said. "I mean, I need to finish the Chronicles of the Dragon Riders-I've only got our last few rescue missions and the conflict with the Warlords and Grimmel to write up-and then I can hand over some of the Archive and teaching duties to Fishnut."

"Rufflegs will be taking it hard," Hiccup sighed, casting a glance over to the girl, sitting by her husband. "Losing her Mom, her Uncle and her father in law in quick succession. Boarlout is taking it hard as well-but at least he has some common sense. And little Hooklout is a good kid: he distracts Ruffie pretty effectively." Fishegs chuckled.

"That's because little Hooklout is anything but a good kid," he reminded his friend. "Any grandson of Ruffnut was never going to be anything but a total force of Loki. I'm shocked their house is still standing." Hiccup gave a wry smile.

"Should I be worried about Asti and Bean?" he asked, glancing over to the happy couple, who were dancing to pipes that were playing 'For the Dancing and the Dreaming' as was traditional at all Berkian weddings. "I mean, any child they have will be Tuffnut's grandkid. Should I expect the full Loki?" Fishlegs chuckled.

"I think Bean and Asti are two sensible young people," he said slowly, sipping his mead. "And I think your daughter will channel her inner Astrid and become the mother she was." Hiccup swallowed, his eyes prickling as they hadn't for so long at the mention of his wife. Suddenly, Fishlegs wrapped his arm around Hiccup's shoulder.

"Sorry, Fish-I'm supposed to be cheering you up," the Chief said gruffly, swallowing again. The husky former rider shrugged.

"I think we need to cheer each other up," he admitted. "Of course I miss her. She's here, in my heart and in my memory and in our home and children and everywhere on Berk. So even though she's not here now, I can still sense her. And I find that incredibly comforting. And I know, one day, when we are all gone, we'll soar the skies once more together." Hiccup blinked and nodded, then managed a small smile.

"You're right, Fishlegs," he said in a calmer voice. "My youngest daughter is wed and with the man she loves. I have four grandchildren-with another on the way. The village is safe and secure. The storehouses are full and the armoury is well-stocked also. And we are still here. So tonight, my friend, let's raise our mugs to our friends and to the new life Asti and Bean are starting together." Fishlegs gently clanked his mug against Hiccup's.

"To our friends and loved ones," he said. "And to the future they have left us."

oOo

Sitting alone in his Chief's chair at the feast, Hiccup rested his chin on his fist and glanced across the village. The Winter had been hard and a number of villagers had died in the outbreak of Eel Pox that had swept through the Tribe-among them Spitelout, who had never recovered from the loss of his son and had been suffering from memory loss over the last few years-and Fishlegs. The last loss had hit Hiccup the hardest, for he was now the last Dragon Rider alive on Berk, for all the other members of the Dragon Riders and the A Team had all passed on. Word had finally come through from Berserk, which was grim as well, for a plague had swept the island, killing many of the populace...including Heather, Dagur, Mala and Dagur's oldest son, Oswald. Berserk was now being ruled by his younger son, Dag-Erik and the young man had written to Berk for aid. Hiccup had dispatched supplies and was considering offering the young man one more form of assistance-but that would mean confirming the decision he had been considering since he realised the scale of the disaster.

Slowly, he rose and winced. His hip was agonising some days and he was using a staff now to help him limp along. He cast his glance across the Great Hall, seeing a sea of faces, all of whom he knew. He was almost the oldest there, with maybe a couple of fishermen having a few years on him. Carefully, he limped through the knots of people laughing and smiling, the children running back and forth. A small child slammed into his legs and bounced off and a small black-haired blue eyed little boy looked up at him from the floor. Easily, Hiccup bent forward and grabbed the little boy's pudgy hand, hauling him back to his feet. The boy grinned, his gappy smile infectious.

"Thanks!" he said and then he frowned. "Why have you got a metal leg, mister?" Hiccup's eyes widened: he had gotten used to everyone knowing what he had done but this was a small child who clearly had not heard the tale. He smiled, his eyes twinkling.

"A dragon bit it off," he said as the child frowned and then shook his head.

"Dragon's don't exist!" he said firmly. "They're just myths." Hiccup cocked an eyebrow, still smiling.

"Ah, but I'm so old that there were dragons when I was a boy," he told the child. "Where they went, only a few of us know. There were great sky dragons and brown scuttling dragons, huge sea dragons as big as the blue whale and a black dragon, a Night Fury that no one had ever seen. One day, they left and went to a Hidden World. And they may come back, when we are worthy of them. Here on Berk, we believe in dragons-because they were real."

By now, the boy's eyes were round and he was staring up in surprise at the Chief.

"Hooklout! Where are y...oh, sorry Chief!" The unmistakable shape of Rufflegs scurried up, her long face reminiscent of her mother and kindly blue eyes similar to her father. She scooped up her small son. "This one gets away like nothing I have ever seen. I'm sure he gets it from Mom and Uncle Tuff. I mean, from what I heard, they were legendary..." Hiccup gave a smile and nodded.

"They were," he said cheerfully. "How are you holding up, Ruff?" She gave a brave smile.

"It's hard, sir," she sighed. "I mean, losing both my parents so close together and my father-in-law as well. Boarlout has been incredibly supportive-well, he's lost his grandfather as well, though it was probably a blessing, given he couldn't recall who we were any more and..." She stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry-I'm rambling."

"It's no problem, Ruff," he reassured her. "It was good to talk to Hooklout." He gave a small smile. "I enjoyed it."

"Thank you, sir," she said and steered the young boy away, a small voice floating up as the boy walked away, his hand clamped in his mother's.

"Who was that old man, Mommy?"

"That's the Chief, Hookie."

"But he's so old..."

That's true, Hiccup thought as he limped through the throng, leaning harder on his staff. Old and infirm. It's time. And he walked up to Zephyr, standing chatting with Asti and Bean and Fink. He cleared his throat and his children all looked at him, eyes widening. They all stopped talking and Hiccup stared into the eyes of his grown up offspring and sighed.

"It's time," he said and Zephyr started.

"But you're still fit and strong and..." she began but he smiled sadly and shook his head.

"My hip is very stiff and I can barely walk some days," he corrected her. "I could never lead them in battle, if required. The Tribe is stable and Spring is coming. It's time for a fresh start. Inform the Council: you become Chief tonight." Her eyes widened.

"Dad..." she breathed.

"Zeph-I'm old and tired," he said. "New Berk is just Berk for you. None of you recall our home of over three hundred years, of eight generations of Berkians. All my generation are gone and it's time you had your turn. You are ready-and now your children are growing, you can dedicate yourself to the village. You children are all grown and don't need me anymore."

"Dad..." Her voice was choked but he was smiling.

"Gather the Council," he repeated sternly. "I will draw the mark on your brow, just as Gothi did for me when i was twenty, when my father had been slain by Drago Bludvist and the village attacked. We had defeated his Bewilderbeast and his dragon army and Toothless had just been made Alpha...and then Gothi made me Chief. My father never lived to see his proudest moment. I have probably lingered too long...but I didn't want to make you Chief while your kids were too small. I was neglected as a child by my father and I didn't want you to make the choice between duty and family. And I'm sorry...I never wanted to lose your Mom so soon. I clung to the village too long. It's yours."

They stared at him. Fink stepped forward and rested his hand on his father's shoulder.

"Dad-you are the best Chief our Tribe has ever had," he said gently. "Please stay..." But Hiccup shook his head.

"I'm not needed any more," he said. "And I'm lonely, Fink. You have your families, your voyages, your duties. Take the lead now. I need to go to Berserk and support Dag-Erik. He asked for help-because he wasn't trained to rule and many of his advisers perished in the plague as well. At least there, I can be of use."

"You're still needed here," his son told him but he shook his head.

"No-my time has passed," he murmured as the Council walked up and he limped onto the dais, by the Council Table. He turned to face the village and suddenly felt a weight lift from his shoulders. "People of Berk. It is time. I have served this village for thirty-seven years as your Chief and I have made sure that Berk is strong and prosperous. Many of you may not recall, but we moved here thirty-six years ago. And when I led the migration, I said then what I say now: We are Berk. The people, not the place! Wherever we are, Berk is. And I know my people will be in safe hands." He gestured and Zephyr walked forward, kneeling as he took a piece of charcoal, smudged it on his fingers and swiftly drew the Chief's symbol on Zeph's lightly freckled brow. He beckoned her to stand up.

"The Chief has come home! Long live the Chief!" he shouted and cheers broke out as she turned to face her people. Sverre moved to her side, as did her sons and she smiled and took their applause as Hiccup limped aside, quietly skirting the crowd and heading out the doors into the night. He blinked as the cold air hit his face and he stared up at the brilliant stars, facing towards the west.

"Time to go home," he murmured.