Sigrid The Relentless - How to Train your Dragon

2. Dearly Betrothed

The news of her mother's death spread like wildfire. The people of Berk believed she'd been taken by Odin, been eaten by the dragon that took her, after she heroically protected her children. She would be remembered fondly, as an example to all mothers, and as their Chieftess.

It'd been eight years since that night. And it seemed that Valka's death had lit a fire deep in Sigrid's soul, filling her with determination to become the greatest viking Berk has ever seen. Maybe, if she had been stronger that night, her mother would still be here. 

Stoick saw the hurt in his daughter's eyes, everytime she raised the axe that was way too heavy for her, ready to throw herself into Berk's many battles. Eventually, every attack would be the same; dragons would infiltrate, Stoick would be called upon, and Sigrid would try to run along with him, which ended with the small girl being picked up and thrown back into the Chief's hut. But every time she'd try again, resulting in a lonesome tantrum in her bedroom, kicking and failing to throw her axe at the closed door.

The twelve old was stubborn, to say the least. Much like her father, Gobber would say. The Berkians joked that the bright red hair was indeed a bad omen in a Chief's family, as if their hellish spirit showed through in their appearance. This became especially true when her younger brother, Hiccup, with deep chestnut hair, appeared to be nothing like remaining family members. Even at eight years old, the boy was small, hunched over with not a sight ofpotential muscle mass on his body. Sigrid shouted, burped after chugging a horn of milk, and was already throwing bolas. Meanwhile, Hiccup stuttered, reeked of insecurity and was seemingly no good at anything...well...viking.

But today wasn't about that. No, today Berk would be the honorable host of the Chief of Berserker island, as they had been every year for the signing of the annual peace treaty. Four years ago, Oswald the Agreeable - Chief of the Berserkers - decided to bring his son, Dagur, with him to these signings, which in turn made life miserable for the children of Berk. 

The boy was a tyrant, unhinged and filled to the brim with burning mania, so unlike his gentle father. Ever since his first visit, he had proven the Berkian's once joking theory to be scarily accurate, red hair is a bad omen.

"But what if I just happened to do something important when they arrive, would that be a problem?" Sigrid tested her father, following him around Berk as he prepared for the Berserkers.

She'd use any excuse to get out of seeing that maniac Chief Oswald called a son, which really tested her father's patience.

At least Hiccup took it with stride - and lots of fake smiles - even if he had more reason to hide from the tyrant, who threw knives at his head any moment he could. Target practice, Dagur called it.

"Yes, that would be a problem." Stoick's tone told Sigrid that this was not a time to argue. But like her father, Sigrid was stubborn. "Not only would it be a lie, it would be impolite."

"Well, tell them I'm sick. Can't be impolite then!" Sigrid grinned as if she just concocted her master plan.

She watched her father's thick brow furrow, hand reaching up to rub the growing lines between, sighing at his daughter's antics.

"You're staying with us, and that's final."

Sigrid groaned. Maybe she could bribe Hiccup to hit her over the head with a hammer, but then she realised he probably wouldn't be able to lift it. She could ask some of the other children, but she didn't really know them, so she couldn't trust them enough to not snitch to her father about her plan, or accidentaly kill her in the process. 

Stoick's ceremonial belt, engraved with their tribal crest, sat proudly on his firm stomach, as he stood at the dock of Berk watching the ships come closer. The black Skrill crest clearly noticeable on the  flag swaying back and forth on the ship, as the wind pushed it forward.

At his side stood his daughter and son, both glancing at each other nervously. They really weren't looking forward to this. Sigrid had been forced into a ceremonial outfit of her own, with a light colored sheepscoat pulled over her shoulders, held together with a crest of her own. She felt extremely uncomfortable dressing up in front of Dagur, of all people. She'd already mentally prepared for the uproar he'd cause as soon as he caught sight of her ridiculous uniform.

But it turned out that the embarrassment of wearing stupid garments for the Berserkers was the least of her worries. After a day trying her hardest not to kill Dagur, the Hooligans and Berserkers had settled down in the great hall, where the peace treaty would be signed by the Chiefs, and the Berserkers would leave Berk until next year.

"We have an announcement." Stoick spoke, his voice echoing through the hall, as he rose from the chair after Oswald the Agreeable signed the scroll.

The Berserker Chief sat besides him with a grin, excited about the news that was already known to him, but unknown to the children at the table.

"Oswald and I have come to an agreement, one that will settle the peace between Berk and the Berserkers once and for all." Stoick started, as Sigrid leaned in, suspicious.

Dagur didn't seem to care much about Stoick's announcement, as he preferred to pick at the tip of the small blade he carried. Yawning obnoxiously before staring at the Chief's daughter, trying to see if she would react to his antics - positively or negatively.

"In eight years time, our eldest children will marry to unite our tribes as a part of one another.-"

No, surely not. Sigrid wanted to dissapear into her stool. 

"-In the time of Sigrid's twentieth year. On the day of the peace treaty signing, Sigrid will go with the Chief to Berserker Island to marry Dagur, where she will stay."

No!

At least one of the children seemed delighted at the announcement, as Dagur turned towards Sigrid with a wide grin. Sigrid didn't return that same excitement, in fact, if looks could kill; he'd be dead.

She couldn't believe her father would do something like this to her. Did she do something to anger Frigg, when she seemed to keen to succumb her to such a fate? 

Eight years was a long time, Sigrid tried to tell herself, and she not-so-secretly hoped that year would never come. The day she'd have to leave her family and tribe behind, never to see them again. Ugh, Odin, why did Dagur have to be like that. Sigrid was doomed. 

During her twentieth year of living, she would be taken away from Berk, and forced to live the life of a Berserker Chieftess, besides a maniacal husband, and fight in all his wars. She'd lose her freedom, but hey, atleast Berk would be safe. Wow, thanks dad. 

If only her mother was here, she would've never allowed this to happen.

But Valka wasn't here, and Sigrid was completely alone.