Homeland [Mericcup]

Chapter 12- The Motherland

A.N. Galchobhar is pronounced Gal-cho-var, with a broad Scottish "ch". Enjoy!

A storm was clouding Astrid's thoughts as she flew above the ocean, her frustration having persisted since her departure from Berk. She left the island in a rush to avoid hearing any more pleadings from her friends, who had agreed to recruit Vikings while she negotiated in Scotland.

"We need someone to be informed on the situation in Scotland, and it can't be Merida or me," had said Hiccup, as Astrid had been furiously saddling Stormfly. "She is the voice of her cause, and I'm representative of Berk, clans will only follow us if we're the ones spreading the word. In the meantime, you're the perfect envoy to Scotland along with Queen Elinor!"

"I just don't see the point. Why not all leave together, once the recruiting is done? Why do I have to go alone?" Astrid had said without facing Hiccup.

"It's more effective, we have to help out as soon as possible. We need to have someone on the island on behalf of Berk that knows what's going on to keep Merida and me updated. Plus, knowing you, you'll have so much fun anyway, getting to lead drakkars to Caledonia and dragon riders alongside them!"

"You make it sound like a hunting trip."

"Well to you it practically is. Just think, you get to be the head of a Berkian fleet until we arrive! Doesn't being the boss sound like fun?"

"I guess... But negotiating Stoick's already difficult terms with the Scottish leaders? Not so much." She had then turned to face him. "They already don't like Vikings, especially if they have dragons, so what makes you think they'll greet us with open arms? If they refuse us along with the terms and I'm stuck on the ruddy island without a purpose, it'll all have been for nothing. You'll turn up with an army only to have to double-back North once you arrive!"

"But Queen Elinor will be with you, you don't have to negotiate alone! She's the voice of both people, your translator, your guide. Stop worrying!" Hiccup had tenderly reached out to hold her hands.

"I just... I just wish I didn't have to do this without you and Merida."

"It'll be fine, we all know you can do this."

Astrid still wasn't buying it. "We'll see... Just do your job well." She'd then pulled away her hands and mounted Stormfly before Hiccup could say another word. "See you in a few weeks." With that, Astrid had bolted into the blue horizon without looking back.

Now she was at the head of a small group of dragon-riders, scouting ahead of the four drakkars out of sight behind them. Each was manned by at least sixty men and women, one of them carrying the Queen of Scotland back to her homeland.

They had been flying for nearly whole a day, and the exertion was taking its toll on the dragons. They had stopped the night before on a small series of islands, and upon the break of dawn, the squadron of Berkians was up in the air. The armada of ships was still behind as was expected for lack of speed, and dusk was quickly approaching.

As the stars slowly awoke in the sky and darkness crept in from the East, Astrid could see a dark shape growing across the southern horizon. It stretched slowly, a blunt dark line gradually thickening into a undulant landscape of velvety green and blood-red hills. As she flew closer and closer she could see rocky coastal mounds cut off bluntly into seaside crags that shattered into the water bellow.

Before the night could completely obscure the landscape from the dragon-riders, they made for the coastline and landed on a small peninsula that was crowned by a ruined castle. 'A victim of Alvin's first attacks, no doubt,' Astrid thought as she admired it from the bottom of the hill it was poised upon. Some small trees had started growing from the inside, and vines intermingled with mortar where fire and time had damaged the walls. The ground was littered with fallen brickwork that was slowly disappearing under moss and lichen.