Uniting the Tribes

It had been weeks since his father died, weeks since he became chief, defeated Drago and began rebuilding his village but for Hiccup it was still all new, like a wound still fresh and bleeding. He dealt with it as he always did, as he was taught to, by appearing strong for his tribe and hiding his fears under a smiling mask. It was hard keeping up the facade, especially with those he loved and kept close and for the first time he was actually happy that his mother had not been there to raise him and see through the mask like he father could or even Astrid, Snotlout and Fishlegs. Hell, even Tuffnut had got good at reading Hiccup but his sister, Ruffnut was still too busy trying to decide who she liked more Eret, Snotlout or Fishlegs. The latter two had begun fighting harder for her affections after realizing she did sort of, kind of, liked them. It was all rather complicated. So while Hiccup was able to put up a strong front before his village and mother his friends began to worry as he withdrew from dragon racing to focus on dealing with the villages problems. And considering the number of homes destroyed in the attack, including Hiccup's, there was a lot of problems and many people calling the Great Hall home. Even with a large number of dragon helpers it would be months before the village was completely rebuilt.

It was Gobber, Hiccup's mentor and father's best friend that finally decided something had to be done. He had watched and cared for Hiccup since the day he was born. He had been like a second father and closest friend to the young man for a very long time and he knew better than anyone when something was wrong with him. He could see the way the bridge of Hiccup's nose would pinch when someone called him chief, the way tears would brim his long lashes only to be quickly blinked away and replaced by a smile that never met his eyes. And since Hiccup and his mother were presently staying at his hut until Hiccup got around to building a new one. Normally the chief's hut was always the first to be rebuilt but Hiccup was reluctant to do so until the rest of the tribe were safe in their new homes, especially families with young children and the elderly – Gobber was sure Hiccup just wanted old man Mildew back at the top of his mountain so he didn't have to listen to his daily complaints anymore. But Gobber knew the truth about why Hiccup was waiting so long. Hiccup didn't know how to live without his father's protective – if not overbearing – shadow. Camping out for a few days or weeks with Toothless or his friends was nothing compared to returning to a home where his father would never be again. Gobber had organized a team of the tribes best artists to work on a statue of Stoick the Vast as a memorial of the great chief and as a gift to Hiccup to show they would never forget the great man his father was and how much they all loved him and he hoped Hiccup liked it and took it for what it was, their former chief watching over them as well as guiding their new chief from Valhalla. After all the young chief could often be found sitting on the roof of Gobber's hut staring up at the stars and talking to his father's spirit and asking what to do next when he was unsure. Many nights Gobber or Valka would listen as he spoke to the ghost of his father, desperate for an answer yet getting none. Others they would awaken to the boy sobbing in his sleep while Toothless tried to comfort him. It was all very disconcerting even if expected. So Gobber consulted Spitelout, Stoick's brother and second-in-command, and came up with a plan he hoped would work.

The riders often met up at night at one of the lookout towers where they had a big bomb fire and roosted fish or chicken and talked about nonsensical stuff. It had become tradition for them sometime after the peace treaty between the Berserkers and Outcasts. It was where they celebrated their victories and teased each other over who has the fastest or smartest dragon. This was often Snotlout's doing. He liked to boost the most and would purposely engage Hiccup in competitions to try and prove who was better. Hiccup almost always won but as his older cousin Snotlout felt it his duty in life to bit on the younger man and "keep him in line". So when Hiccup began missing their little get togethers Snotlout was the first to complain and go searching for him even when Astrid, Hiccup's girlfriend and intended, told him to let Hiccup be and give him his space. She was almost always at Hiccup's side but had come to realize that until he came to terms with his father's death and how it came to be, that there were times he would need space and time to himself and that it might be some time before he was back to himself. But Snotlout was much like his father and would hunt Hiccup and pester him until he either joined them and got so pissed that Toothless would start growling at Snotlout.

That night Snotlout had grumbled angrily as he stormed away. "You used to be fun, dragon boy," he yelled at Hiccup before pausing at the door to glare at his cousin. "After Toothless pulls that stick out of your ass come see the rest of us up at the tower."

Valka had stood up when Snotlout spoke so disrespectfully to her son but Gobber grasped her arm and shook his head. This was mild compared to some of the stuff they boys said to get other. And in deed Hiccup wasn't even fazed by it. He went about his work seemingly without a care for what Snotlout said, Gobber saw it, the tension in his slim shoulders and slight shimmer of tears but as always he blinked them away and put on the happy little mask that hid his heartache.

"Lad, he's right, you know," Gobber tried, touching the young man's shoulder. Valka looked absolutely horrified by this. "You need to have a little fun now and then. You can't bury yourself in work all the time. Why your father was bad for that when he first became chief, always trying to prove himself to everyone. But the thing is it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks, it's what you think. And working yourself to the bone isn't going to change that. You need to take time to be you and maybe have a little fun too. Why don't you go see your friends? I know they miss you, especially Snotlout in his own strange way."

The young chief gave him a sideways look, much as he did when he was teen and charged with being with replacing his father after the Berserkers captured Stoick. It was a look full of doubt, fear and uncertainty. "Like I really want to hear Snotlout boost about beating Fishlegs at the dragon races," he finally said with a huff.

"Astrid won," his mother pointed out.

"I know," he answered. They had made plans to be together that night but Hiccup was so bone tired that he had begged her forgiveness for again cancelling their night together so he could finish up a few things and then get an early night's sleep.

"And Fishlegs actually got more sheep than Snotlout. He was just one ship behind Astrid after getting the black ship," Gobber added, feeling rather proud of Fishlegs.

Hiccup looked up in surprise. "Really?"

Both elders nodded.

"I bet the others will be drilling that into Snotlout for weeks to come," Gobber said, fighting to keep a grin off his face. It was always good to see Snotlout get his own medicine thrown back at him.

"I don't know. Bucket and Mulch…"

"Are fine. They've been worried about you, too. You need at least one night of freedom and fun."

The young chief looked toward his mother who smiled gently and nodded at him. But he still looked doubtful as he walked toward the hearth. "I don't know. Drago and his Alpha did so much damage. It's going to months before the village even begins to recover. There's a lot of work to do and…"

"Are you planning on making excuses all day or getting out there and having a life?" Valka suddenly said, surprising both men. She stood up and strolled toward her son with a motherly smile and cupped his face. "You are so much like your father, always putting other people's needs before your own. But you'll be no good to anyone if you allow exhaustion to consume you. You need to be out there, with Toothless and your friends soaring the skies. Then come home, get some sleep and worry about tomorrow tomorrow."

He stared up at her, completely speechless then glanced to Gobber and Toothless before finally nodding. "I…alright. I guess an hour or so can't hurt," he finally agreed.

"Take all night if you like," Gobber chirped, all but shoving his new chief out the door, surprising Hiccup who stumbled into Snotlout's father, Spitelout who was coming to see Gobber.

His father's former second-in-command, now Hiccup's, caught his nephew before he could fall and helped straighten him. "Easy, boyo," he said merrily. "Have you seen Snotlout?"

"Oh…uh…hi. Yeah, he's at the tower, or at least on the way," Hiccup said, always feeling rather small and out of place around his uncle. They didn't exactly have the best relationship due to the rivalry between their families. Stoick had been chief and as his younger brother Spitelout became his second. Due to a few personal issues Stoick was unable to have children right away although he and Valka tried hard so when Snotlout was born he automatically became Stoick's heir and future chief of the tribe. This all changed when Hiccup finally came along three years later. Hiccup was the rightful heir and this stung Spitelout who's big dreams for his son was suddenly dashed. A lot of the abused Hiccup suffered through as a child at the hands of the other children was caused by the hurtful rumors his uncle spread in an attempt to get the tribe to see Hiccup would never make a good chief. That all changed after Hiccup and Toothless defeated Red Death. Hiccup had lost his left lower leg in that battle but had gained the respect of his tribe, including his uncle. But although that hatred was gone there was still that rivalry, especially between him and Snotlout.

"Ah…are you on your way there?" Spitelout asked, an odd glitter in his blue eyes.

Hiccup ran a hand through his shoulder length auburn hair and shrugged. "Yeah," he answered but quickly straightened. "Why? Did you need something? Is everyone okay at the hall because I can find more blankets or get more firewood or…"

The dark haired man chuckled and slapped his shoulder playfully. "No, no, boyo. Everything's fine. We can speak later. You look beat. Make sure you get plenty of sleep tonight."

Blinking in surprise Hiccup could only give him a strange look before agreeing to meet up with him later. After all if Spitelout was working on battle plans and how to defeat Drago then he needed to know but at the same time Gobber was right and he needed a break. He was of two minds on what to do but in the end it was Toothless that made the decision for him. The ebony Nightfury bumped his large head against Hiccup's rear then behind his knees to trip him up before darting between his legs so that Hiccup landed on the saddle on his neck. Once Hiccup was situated he flared his wings and took to the air, intent on meeting up with their friends and dragons at the tower.

Spitelout watched the two fly off with a longing smile. He had his own dragon now but he didn't fly like his son or Hiccup. He had a small fear of heights that he would never admit to. Still he loved to watch the riders fly and the dragon races were one of his favorite events next to the Thawfest. He let out a long breath before turning away and entering the hut. He headed toward the large table where Gobber was already setting down a tankard of mead while Valka made herself comfortable next to the hearth, her long legs tucked under her lithe body. There was no doubting where Hiccup got his physic.

"So, did you tell?" Gobber asked, taking a seat across from Spitelout. They weren't exactly the best of friends but they got along well enough when it came to the duties of the village and often shared the workload that came with being second in command.

"Nah, the lad looked like he might faint if he got any more bad news," Spitelout explained after downing almost half his mead. "Poor kid's been working day and night. He's going to put himself in an exhaustion induced coma before the week's out. I remember Stoick doing that shortly after Dad died. It's that Haddock stubbornness. I'm happy I took after Mom."

"Aren't we all," Valka teased only to gain a glare from her brother-in-law.

"Aye, lass, and aren't you a proud mother having a son as stubborn as your old man and as wild as you." He lifted his tankard to Gobber. "Now wasn't that a brilliant combination? And look what happened, they all became dragon hearts."

Valka only chuckled. "Is that so bad?"

"No, Val. Not at all. It's all still new to me I suppose. And that is why I need to sit the boy down for a talk."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't be so melodramatic. You're making it into a big deal when it's not."

"No, Stoick made it a big deal. And it would have been a grand affair had he not died. And if I were chief it would have been grander still with much drinking and…"

"Bashing heads together at port for the simple sake of seeing whose skull was the thickest. You always won that you know," she teased which made Gobber laugh. "Remind me again why I left my little piece of paradise?"

"Because you're a good mother whose son desperately needed her," Gobber answered before Spitelout could make a rude comment.

"Ah…yes, that was it, not this oaf. Mind you his brother was always the cuter of the two."

Spitelout fumed while Gobber chuckled and refilled his mug. "Aye, aye…you always were a picky one. High maintenance if I remember."

It was Valka's turn to glare at him. She opened her mouth to retort but Gobber jumped in before it could turn into one of their old arguments. Twenty years hadn't changed either of them much.

"So have you figured out how to tell the lad yet? I'm assuming you've already spoke to Snotlout about this whole ordeal?" the blacksmith asked as he kicked his legs up and the table and leaned back in his chair.

Valka's gaze moved from Spitelout to Gobber, her frown growing at the sight of the man's feet – or rather foot since his right lower leg had been replaced with a chunk of craved wood – on the table. "Gobber," she said sternly.

Gobber glanced at her in confusion, blinked and then blushed slightly as he quickly got his feet off the table. Yep, twenty years hadn't changed her one bit. She was still a terrible cook, sassy and extremely picky. "Sorry, ma'am."

Spitelout gave a snort and there was no hiding his grin. He took another drink before getting back to the issue at hand. "No, I haven't talked to Snotlout about it yet. I've been meaning to but it's not exactly a subject I ever thought I'd have to bring up with him."

"Surely when Stoick told you he was naming Hiccup chief it must have come up."

"I knew Hiccup would say no or run off so there was no point."

Silence reigned over them for several long minutes as each of them fell into their own thoughts about Stoick's last days. No one had thought he would have died as he did, doing the one thing he always did, protecting the one thing that meant more to him than life itself. He had given his life to protect Hiccup's. It was an act worthy of valor, an act that ensured the survival of his child and a foe intent on ruling the world, something that Spitelout would happily do for his own child but it had also brought with it a lot of confusion since this battle took place without the Hooligan army standing at Stoick and Hiccup's back and had revealed that Valka, long thought dead, was alive and well. There were some who blamed Hiccup for Stoick's death, that the boy had done away with his father to gain power. It wasn't unheard of. In fact, their sister tribe, the Berserkers, chief had done just that not four years ago. But anyone who knew Hiccup knew that he was not the time to do such things. He was a peace keeper. He fought hard to keep the peace between the tribes and when not attending to duties, racing, or exploring he was often visiting other tribes for treaty signings or helping those friendly to dragons to train them if they wanted while protecting dragons from those who weren't. It was long and tiring work but it was what Hiccup excelled in and for that Spitelout would always admire him but now it was time for Hiccup to half someone who could stand at his side and help him in ways Spitelout simply couldn't.

"I simply don't know how to broach the subject of my retirement to either of them," he told Gobber honestly. "I can no longer be Hiccup's second in command."

"And you don't think Astrid is right for the job?" Valka asked, a little surprised but seeing it in the man's eyes.

"Love has a funny way of interfering sometimes," Spitelout explained, seeing her growing anger. "Astrid is an amazing leader and will be the perfect wife for Hiccup. She will lead us well but she will still be his wife. He needs someone who is not afraid to challenge him, who will not run after him when he's being stubborn or angry. He needs someone who will lead in his stead yet back him up when it really counts."

Valka glanced at Gobber, her face full of doubt. "I don't like this."

"Neither do I," Gobber agreed as he stared at his mead. "But the boy has grown up a lot over the years and proven himself to be a loyal friend if not a noisy one." He looked Spitelout in the eye. "He'll keep Hiccup on his toes. Snotlout has my approval to be Hiccup's new second-in-command." He downed the rest of his mead and wiped his mouth with the back of his arm. "Of course getting Hiccup's approval is another story. He might have someone else in mind."