The Voyager and the Rogue

Chapter 70

The day I had been dreading for months now had finally arrived, and I felt a weight in my chest as I bid my only daughter goodbye as she departed with Cian. This was how my parents felt when they said goodbye to me all those years ago. And the realization was so much more painful than I had imagined.

Noma was 17 now, a few months shy of 18. She and Cian had completed their plans for what they sought out on the mainland. Our family and friends had come to the docks to say goodbye and to help load their ship for their journey. I could sense Noma's antsiness, as the feeling was all too familiar.

Next to me, I could tell Eyarr was struggling to hold himself together. Nuffink and Saoirse were equally emotional to see their eldest son off for the first time. We were all a mess, yet I was the strongest, having once been in Noma's position, and I understood her perspective; that didn't stop me from wishing she would stay home, but I knew I couldn't stop her, just like my parents couldn't stop me, and neither could Zyrah and Konall when Hilda left.

Someone would always leave New Berk one way or another to see what the rest of the world had to offer. But Noma had Cian, they weren't alone, and that was enough to give me peace of mind.

With the ship prepared, and the young couple ready to embark, I hurried to my daughter's side right before she stepped foot off the dock. She gazed up at me with those big brown eyes, and I fought back tears, my heart flashing back to when she first opened her eyes in my arms.

"Mom?" Pursing my lips together, I held her cheeks in my hands, trying to formulate the words. Holding back tears, I brought her close, pressing our foreheads together; sharing Hongi.

"You'll always be with me," she softly assured. I pressed a kiss to her forehead, and then paused, contemplating my next choice carefully. Noma watched me intently, unsure of what I was about to do. Swallowing the pit in my throat, I reached back, fingers trembling as I undid my necklace. Removing it for the first time in decades. The air was silent and still around us as I took my daughter's hand in mine, opening it and gently placing the shell in her outstretched palm.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, and I could tell she was doubtful, her eyes shifting rapidly as she attempted to read me. But I wordlessly assured her, gently closing her fingers over the shell.

Her ancestors would guide her, and she would find her way, just as I had, just as my mother did, and so many before us.

"Follow the stars, let Fetia guide you. Never forget where you came from, and when you are ready, the stars will guide you home, as they did with me."

Her hand trembled, and she swallowed, fighting back her tears. She clipped the necklace on, the shell sitting just above her breast as she took in a steady breath.

"I'll make you proud," she whispered as she stepped aboard, Cian taking her hand and helping her down.

"You already have."

Watching her ship sail off into the horizon was one of the most painful things to witness, but one of my proudest moments as a mother, watching one part of my legacy chase her dreams.

And seemingly in an instant, the years passed us by, and I watched as Hiccup and his generation of riders grew old and more frail by the day. Snotlout had already gone to Valhalla after dying of an arrow to the heart from a skirmish out at sea. Minden and Nora were devastated, but they knew he had found his place.

Zyrah was the next to go, and her death hit hard, with her blindness preventing her from knowing that we were all there as her soul departed. We all maintained the belief that Valhalla and the gods would restore her sight so she could enjoy the afterlife with no qualms or worries. Blueheart would be utterly heartbroken once she learned her rider was gone, but something told me that the bond she and Zyrah shared would let her know.

Two and a half years after Zyrah's death, Tuffnut and Fishlegs passed within a week of each other, with Ruffnut grieving her twin and husband. Tuffnut never married or had children, so Ruffnut was left to grieve with her and Fishleg's two sons and their families.

It was quite hard to watch the Riders grieve as they lost their spouses and closest friends. But my will to remain strong for the rest of the riders and their families crumbled away when Hiccup fell horribly ill. Ana did everything she could to treat the mysterious illness, attempting to quell his fever, but it soon became evident to her and Dustin and her newest protegee that Hiccup didn't have much time left.

She urged all of us to come to the Haddock household where Hiccup was now bedridden, with Astrid clinging to him, running her thin fingers through his white and gray hair. His beard had grown considerably, and despite Nuffink's offers to trim it, Hiccup refused, though he did not refuse Astrid's desire to braid his hair.

It was utterly inexplicable to how Hiccup fell so ill so suddenly. Zephyr begged Ana for an answer, but the healer couldn't offer one, just as lost as we were. I could tell she was struggling to be strong for us, just as I was trying to be strong for the others. But with a mutual understanding, we acknowledged our shared struggle.

Zephyr, Tannr, Nuffink, Saoirse, and their kids gathered around Hiccup's bed, refusing to leave his side. Against the wall, Konall, Nyr, Eyarr, Torin, and Íma stood silently, Torin leaning against his father. I stood like a lone island in the center of the room, near the foot of the bed, watching silently as Ana, Zephyr, and Astrid spoke softly with Hiccup. Eyarr chatted to Torin to distract him from the situation.

While being lost in my thoughts, I heard Astrid calling me.

"Laeli, come," she said, gesturing me to come to Hiccup's side. Zephyr stood, allowing me to take her seat as she and the others backed away to give us space.

"Hiccup?" I whispered, feeling uneasy. He cracked his eyes open, the wrinkles creasing as he focused on me.

"Laeli," He whispered back.

"What is it?" He swallowed, taking my hand in his.

"You need... to take the Eye." He said, his voice straining barely above a whisper. I widened my eyes slightly.

"Wait, what? No, no."

"Laeli, you need to take it. You know it will not be safe with me." I saw the pure conviction in his eyes, he was trusting me with everything we put into building the Eye and keeping its secret safe. And I would never say no. Fighting back tears, I nodded, accepting, "I'm counting on you to do what is necessary to keep it safe." He said, gripping my hand tightly in his.

"I know," I admitted softly.

It was a tremendous responsibility to shoulder, but it was a responsibility I was willing to take. Doing this for Hiccup, in a way, I felt like I was doing it for my mother... my ancestors. Those that had left a legacy within me, and that I had passed to my daughter.

Three days after gathering by Hiccup's bedside, Ana broke the news that he had passed in his sleep. It was utterly devastating, and I felt like I had lost a parent, a best friend... It did hurt to not be there in his final moments, but I felt comforted knowing he had departed this world knowing he could rest with his knowledge being passed on to the right people.

The entire community gathered at the docks as Astrid, Zephyr, and Nuffink sent Hiccup's ship out to sea. They rejoined us, lining up together, with Zephyr lighting her arrow. She and I shared a glance, a connection of sisterhood and grief. Zephyr swallowed as she aimed, and exhaled, releasing her flaming arrow, it landing perfectly. Myself, Eyarr, Tannr, Nuffink, Saoirse, Astrid, Ana, and Ruffnut, as well as our children, all aimed, and following Astrid's lead, loosed our arrows as well.

The ship caught quickly, the wind pushing it further and further away as it became fully engulfed. My heart felt heavy as we watched the ship slowly burn and begin to sink beneath the waves. In a whirlwind of emotions, I felt lost as to whom to call upon for Hiccup's safe passage into the afterlife.

I prayed to whatever deity of the pantheons I worshipped, whoever would listen. Turning my gaze towards the sky, closing my eyes.

The dragons will come back; maybe not in my lifetime, or Torin and Noma's... but someday, I knew the right people would come by the secrets left behind, and if they listened to the echoes of the past, the lives that came before them... they would find their way. They would answer the dragon's call, and the call of the ocean, just like Hiccup and my mother did.

Someday, the call of the ocean would be answered once more.