The Lost Heir: Book Three: The Final Hour

Epilogue: Forged Alliances and Old Friends

The sun's gentle rays began to stream through the woven thatch that veiled the window of the master bedroom inside the Chieftain's hut. The morning light cast a warm glow upon mine and Hiccup's slumbering forms. He had me tucked against his chest, wrapped within his cozy embrace.

As the first light of day broke through, Hiccup's emerald gaze fluttered open and he groaned, moving to rub the sleep from his eyes. I hummed, opting to attempt and burrow myself further into his embrace as he chuckled deeply.

But the sharp shrieks and chorus of gleeful screams and laughter brought the wake up call of reality as two little balls of pure sunshine burst our bedroom door inwards, disturbing the once peaceful morning atmosphere.

My eyes flickered open, meeting the silhouettes of the harbingers of all that noise. Ailith and Bjorn leaped onto our bed, their little faces alight with such joy and excitement as they scrambled all over the covers, I couldn't help my grin myself. Bjorn stood up and began hopping all over the bed, giggling with glee, his tiny fists raised in triumph.

"Mama! Papa!" He squealed, "It's time to wake up! It's council day, it's council day!"

Hiccup chuckled as he removed himself from my grasp, making me let out a playful huff of discontent, even as I watched my husband reach out and snatch up both of our children into a bear hug.

"Alright, you little rascals," He growled playfully, burying his head in their necks, blowing raspberries as they squirmed and shrieked with glee, "That's what all this commotion about? A boring old council meeting? You two hate going to those."

Ailith pushed his face away from her neck, chewing on her lower lip as her freckled cheeks were rosy with excitement, "uh-uh, papa, we're excited 'cause mama's friends are coming today! And we get to meet them!"

Bjorn started nodding his head frantically, "Do they have kids, mama? Kids like us? Kids our age?" He started to ramble and I sat up, drawing my hands through my sleep mussed hair.

"I don't know, my little bear." I smiled, even as the little blonde boy deflated sadly, "I haven't seen them in a very long time."

Ailith was quick to ease her brother, "But, they could Bjorn, you never know!"

He perked up again, and was suddenly leaping off of the bed, barreling for the door, "C'mon, Ailith!" He urged his sister, already forgetting about the previous conversation as another idea came to his scattered mind, "Mama, can we go play with Stormfly?"

I gazed at Hiccup, a questioning look in my eyes at the mention of the dragon formerly owned by Astrid Hofferson.

My husband's lips quirked up in a half grin, and a knowing look in his eyes. One that I immediately understood and caved to, even if I knew the rules, the ancient rules of my people that now as my tribe and Hiccup's tribe were one, the former Berkians adopted eagerly.

"Alright, fine. But remember-" I went to chastise them, but Ailith beat me to it.

"Don't go flying, or we'll be grounded." She monotoned, "We know, mama."

I chuckled, giving them a little grin before they were racing out of the room and down the steps. As soon as we heard the front door slam shut, Hiccup pounced onto me, smothering me beneath his bare, broad torso.

I let out a gasp and a flurry of laughter fell from my lips as he pressed sloppy, adoring kisses along my neck all the way up my jaw, until he planted a final one upon my lips.

"Okay, okay, my love, we have to get up now." I mused, even though the urge to simply lay in his embrace for a few more minutes was nearly overwhelming.