Uniting the Tribes 14

Drago's body wasn't given the same send off to Valhalla as Stoick's. It was set ablaze where it fell and watched over by Dagur and his Berserkers, not willing to take any chances of the madman somehow surviving. Some of the other tribes began milling away once the battle was over and the pirates captured, many of the warriors either escorting the captures pirates to the Slavelands or back to their respective islands while their chiefs returned to Berk to discuss what this joint venture now meant for their tribes. Hiccup was reluctant to leave. As much as he hated the death of anyone or thing he had to see this through. He had to make sure the man who murdered his father and nearly took his best friend was gone for good and unable to hurt another living being.

Astrid hugged him from behind, her head on his shoulder as she watched along with him just as she had as they watched his father's ship burn. "It's over," she whispered, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. "Your father would be proud."

He squeezed her hands and laid kiss against her knuckles. "Maybe," he whispered back, unsure what his father would have thought of him being willing to spare Drago's life and it being Alvin who took it. He hugged her warm arms to him, letting her snuggle against his back more firmly.

They spent most of the day on Dragon Island as Drago body burned until there was nothing left but ashes and cooling embers. The remaining Vikings returned to their ships and dragons and began heading back to Berk. Hiccup was the last to turn away from the scorch marks, watching with curious eyes as the growing north wind stirred the ash and blew pieces far and wide.

"Come on, babe," Astrid said, giving him a squeeze. "Let's go home."

He gave a small nod. "Yeah"

He was surprised to find Snotlout had waited for them while Spitelout, the Twins, Fishlegs and over half the Hooligans had headed back hours ago once the battle was confirmed over and enemies all in irons. Snotlout, like Gobber, Valka and even Gustav, had stayed to make sure it was all over. The short, stout man came up next to Hiccup and looked his cousin over with worried eyes. "You okay?" he asked when Hiccup finally met his gaze.

"No," Hiccup said honestly, hugging himself as Toothless rubbed against him. "But I will be."

Snotlout didn't look convinced but he let it go having learned long ago not to push Hiccup too far or his cousin would shut down and go into a shell again. So he gave Hiccup a playful punch to his shoulder and then mounted Hookfang. "Meet you at Berk!"

Rolling his eyes in annoyance Hiccup climbed onto Toothless while Astrid went to Stormfly and together they headed home as well. That night there was much celebration as tribes that were once enemies now rejoiced together over the defeat of a common threat. Hiccup was clapped on the back, given bear hugs – despite the pain to his side he bit and tongue and bared through it – and reassured over and over again that he was going very well as chief of the Hairy Hooligans. This came as a surprise since many had once taunted his father for having such a small and unusual child but now they smiled at him and bowed their heads in respect. They also showed Astrid and Snotlout an amazing amount of respect as well, congratulating the latter of the two for his ingenious plan which of course went straight to Snotlout's head and had him bouncing around with one of his stories of how he had been the one to inspire Hiccup to train dragons. Thankfully there was always one person Hiccup could count on to deflate Snotlout's bubble.

"Yep, that's our Snotlout," Tuffnut laughed as he threw an arm around Snotlout's shoulders. "He did inspire Hiccup. It's was sort of a science experiment really. Hic has been trying to train Snotface here since they were babes and decided dragons were much easier. And he was right. No one can tame this man." He burst into laughter at the horror on Snotlout's face.

Hiccup held back a snort of laughter. Okay, that was a bit of a stretch but maybe closer to the truth than Hiccup ever considered before. Of course that led to a little bickering feast until Cora intervened and drew Snotlout's attention away from Tuffnut faster than a freshly baked mutton. Tuffnut looked utterly perplex as the older boy walked away without so much as a parting remark.

"I'm losing my touch," Tuffnut grumbled to Hiccup as he passed.

Smiling, Hiccup watched his cousin for a few minutes. Snotlout definitely wasn't the same kid who used to tease and pick on him. Granted, he was still brash and full of himself but now he also looked at the bigger picture. He would stop and think before acting and he actually cared about those around him much more than he usually let on. Had Snotlout not found him and reacted as he did things could have turned out far differently and Berk may not be standing now and the twelve tribes of the Archipelago might have been destroyed. Hiccup owed everything to Snotlout.

Gobber placed a large hand on his shoulder. "It's time for your big announcement, lad," his mentor said in a gentle fatherly voice, having helped Stoick raise Hiccup from the time of his birth. "Have you made your choice?"

"Yeah…I think so…I don't know. I want Astrid by my side but Snotlout proved himself to be much more capable than I ever thought possible."

Gobber nodded. "That he has. It's a tough choice. Perhaps for this one you need to listen to your head rather than your heart."

That was hard but Hiccup tried as he walked to the low stage where his father's throne sat waiting for him. His friends smiled at him as he passed; Ruff and Tuff, Fishlegs and Camicazi, Dagur, Thuggory, Snotlout and Cora, Toothless, and…Astrid. He softly at her and she returned it with one full of love and nervousness.

"Go get'em, babe," she said encouragingly but it was her unspoken words that got Hiccup, the way her lovely blue eyes flicked to Snotlout and her shoulders would tense ever so slightly before relaxing and returning to Hiccup. "Go on. You know who the best choice is."

And suddenly he did and he was no longer afraid. He knew those he cared for would always stand next to him regardless his choice. They were a team, the original riders, the auxiliary riders, the warriors who fought for his father and now not only their allied tribes but all of the Archipelago. They would rally together to defend one another against any who threaten them. Be it man or dragon they would stand together and right to defend their homes and protect their loved ones.

"Vikings!" he yelled out as he took his place on the stage. It took a moment and a rather ear piercing whistle from Spitelout to make everyone hush. Once they did Hiccup thanked his uncle and then started his speech. "Thank you once again for coming to our aid. It was greatly appreciated and I know if my father was still with us I know he would be moved by the support each one of you have given us. Thank you." There was an uproar of cheers and applause and Hiccup waited a minute or two before raising his arms in an imitation of his father's gesture to quiet everyone down without yelling. "Now I was planning on holding this off for a few days but after the events of the last few days I decided to go ahead and do this tonight. Spitelout, my father's brother and loyal second-in-command has decided he would retire. Those who were close to my father would know that he had planned to retire earlier this month and name me chief but sadly that's not how I came to be chief. Had I…had things not happened as they did he would be here today and the transfer of power would have gone far more smoothly." He blinked away tears, realizing he was rambling rather than getting to the point. "But Spitelout is here and so I would like to call him up here to stand next to me as I name his successor."

There was silence as his uncle made his way through the crowd to climb up on the stage next to Hiccup.

Hiccup blinked away a few more stray tears as he turned to his uncle. "Spitelout Jorgenson, you have served my father faithfully, not only as his second but as his brother and one of his best friends – despite the occasional argument." He gave a lopsided grin that made his uncle shake his head in amusement. "And you hope I can count on your council during my reign. This is both a sad and happy day for our tribe as you step down for your post and another fills your place."

Spitelout smiled down at him and Hiccup never noticed just how similar was to Stoick. Not so tall and his hair was much shorter and he was clean shaven but it was in the line of his jaw and curve of his brow, just a bunch of little things that no one else would probably notice but Hiccup now did. It was those things that marked them as brothers and reminded Hiccup that he still had family on Berk, not just a long lost mother that he was just getting to know.

Hiccup turned back to the crowd. "I wish I could say I've thought long and hard about my choice and the fact is I haven't. When my father gave me the Dragon Academy there was only one person I truly and whole-heartedly trusted to stand at my side and support me or even tell me off when I was being stupid. And I always thought she would be my second-in-command no matter what. But someone else as also proven worthy and able to keep their head while under fire and – as unlikely as it may seem – can lead should something ever happen to me."

The sudden hopeful look on his usually reserved uncle's face was priceless.

"Snotlout Jorgenson, will you come up here?" Hiccup called, glancing at his cousin with at big grin that only grew at the shock on Snotlout's face as Astrid shoved him toward the stage with a laugh.

"Get up there you big lug," she teased sounding more than happy for the usually arrogant young man.

But Snotlout wasn't arrogant this time. He was lost and confused and not really sure what was going on, perhaps due to drinking a little too much – which he was sure he hadn't unless Tuffnut or Thuggory had spiked his mead – or the fact that his father hadn't had a chance to tell him of his retirement with everything that had happened the last few days. So Snotlout stood next to Hiccup, shifting about nervously and looking more like a kid of fourteen than a ground man about to be second only to Hiccup.

"Now I haven't had a chance to review exactly how this happens since all the important records are still covered in ice at my hut so I'm going to wing it," Hiccup announced. He turned back to Spitelout. "Spitelout, do you argue to handover all powers vested in you as second-in-command of the Hairy Hooligans to your son and heir, Snotlout Jorgenson?"

Spitelout smiled proudly at Snotlout. "Yes."

"Snotlout, do you accept the responsibilities of being second-in-command of the Hairy Hooligans, second only to your chief – me – and willing to protect your people at all times, no matter the cost?"

His cousin looked at him, his eyes wide as if it just dawned on him that this was really happening. "You want me as your second-in-command?" he asked in disbelief.

Hiccup smiled softly. "Yeah, I do. Today wasn't the first time you saved my ass and I bet it won't be the last."

"Aw man…you're going to make it a habit, aren't you?"

The young chief was lost for words and completely floundered, making Snotlout snort.

"Yeah, fine. Someone has to keep you out of trouble and keep this tribe running smoothly."

Now there was the Snotlout Hiccup was looking for and he laughed. "I now deem you my second-in-command. Odin, help us all!"

That got a roar of laughter and applause but most of all it got Hiccup a rare hug from Snotlout that was more like a bear hug as the shorter man squeezed him and lifted him right off the ground. It sent a shockwave of pain through Hiccup and his gasp was the only reason Snotlout put him down.

"Me?" Snotlout asked still in disbelief even as his father slapped him on the shoulder and their friends gathered around them.

Hiccup shifted and gave a grunt at the pain in his side. "Yeah, you. You saved my ass, 'Lout. Maybe all the tribes. You deserve it."

Snotlout a toothy grin and pulling a move from their childhood grabbed Hiccup by the back of the head, pulled him down just a little and ruffled his hair. "You are crazy! I like it!"

Hiccup only laughed.

The party went one for much of the night but Hiccup only stayed for a short time. Snotlout was now the life of the party, thrilling people with stories of the rider adventures or dancing with Cora and avoiding Dagur who had figured out that his baby sitting had a crush on someone. Hiccup wandered toward his destroyed hut next to the Great Hall. He had been avoiding it since the Bewilderbeast attacked Berk a month ago. It was utterly destroyed, the wooden walls crushed by all the ice. There was nothing left yet something in him said this was where he should be.

"Are you haunting me?" he called out to the frozen remains of his home. "Are you telling me I'm not good enough, that I can never lead as you did? I already know that, Dad. I knew that long before you died."

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked, coming up beside him.

He shook his head. "It's nothing," he said quickly.

A grunt made Hiccup jump in surprise and he turned to see Gobber hobbling up to them. "You sound like your father," he grumbled with a shake of his head. "When your grandfather died and Stoick was forced to become chief he used to ask the exact same questions. Always thinking it wasn't good enough when in the end he became one of the greatest chiefs in our lifetime, just as you will."

"You don't know that," Hiccup argued.

"He did," Gobber retorted, presenting his charge with a bundle of parchment. At Hiccup's confusion he smiled gently. "I've been waiting for the right time to give you these but given everything that's happened…"

"What are these?" Hiccup asked, taking the bundle in his arms. Astrid took half when it looked as if he might topple over.

Gobber's smile turned said. "Letters. Your father had so much he wanted to tell you and never could find the words. You weren't always the easiest kid to talk to."

Hiccup felt a little lost as he stared at the top of the parchment, his name scrawled on each envelope in his father's messy script. "He wrote these for me?"

His mentor nodded. "He left them for me to take care in case anything ever happened to him. I think you're ready."

His young chief gave a short nod. "Yeah…"

Gobber left them with the letters and it would take many days before Hiccup read through them all. In fact not all the letters were addressed to Hiccup and that sort of took everyone by surprise. The riders gathered at their usual haunt, high up on the lookout tower where Snotlout once again cooked Stoick's special beans but this time he brought a few extra bottles of whiskey. Everyone sat around the bomb fire listening as Hiccup read some of the less personal letters out loud. He actually made him feel a little better being able to share some of the things his Dad thought were important for him to know.

"Okay, let's try this one," he said, flipping through the pile he had already read to one that was more directed toward the group. He rotated his shoulders then leaned back against Astrid who was sitting behind him and adding a new braid to his hair. Then, in his best Stoick impersonation began. "Hiccup, my proud and joy…" The twins snickered at that but Eret smacked Tuffnut in the shoulder and got them to shut up with only a look. Hiccup rolled his eyes and continued. "I know being chief will be hard. It is never easy. You once asked how you can be a chief and still a good friend and that is not always possible but as I watch you and your friends grow I think you might have a real chance of accomplishing a relatively good medium. You and Astrid formed a bond I envy. She is as strong as she is beautiful and will keep your path straight and true. I can see the love the two of you have for one another and I can't wait for the day the two of you give me grandbabies."

Astrid nearly choked and actually hit him for saying such a thing.

"Hey, he said it not me," Hiccup objected, waving the letter at her.

"Yeah, well it's hitting a little too close to home," he grumped before her eyes widened and she covered her mouth.

Hiccup raised a brow then his mouth formed a surprised "O". "Are you?"

She gave a little nod and a moment later he swept her up in a hug and twirled around.

Snotlout smirked in happiness as he handed out the bowls of beans. "Read the rest."

Instead Hiccup shoved the letter into Fishleg's hands, letting him read the rest of it and while Fishlegs was a good reader in fumbled over Stoick's words. No one could really read Stoick's writing with the exception of Hiccup, Gobber, Valka, Spitelout and Alvin but at that moment Hiccup no longer cared. He had lost his father but now he had been given a blessing. He and Astrid were going to have a child. A child. And he remember something his father once told time when Hiccup attended his first funeral when he was very young. When one life ends another begins.

"You're going to make a great chief, Hiccup. You have an odd but tight group of friends. I have watched as you took a ragtag group of kids that once tormented you and mold them into a well-functioning team that learned how to rely on each other. You took a whole tribe that once looked down on you as useless and make them respect and adore you. One day I won't be with you anymore and that's okay. You're going to be just fine without me, Hiccup, and you're going to lead our people into a new era. I love you, my little peacekeeper," Fishlegs read.

Hiccup only held Astrid close, his cheek on her head as he gazed up at the stone craving of his father against the rock wall and smiled. "I love you too, Dad." - Fini