Love in the Time of Dragon Riders 3 (HTTYD FanFic)

Chapter 23: Plan

Hiccup’s P.O.V

“Citizens of Berk!” I shouted out over the crowd that clustered in the great hall. “I know you are probably wondering why you have been summoned so close to… to tomorrow.”

“That’s right! We should be getting rest and sharpening our blades not listening to you drabble boy!” Shouted a voice I didn’t recognize.  

“Yeah!” Agreed someone else.

“We want Stoick back!”

I wanted to hide away, message my dad, tell him to come back. I wanted him to come and command the tribe and lead us to victory. But my dad wasn’t here. Berk needed me and I wasn’t going to let some random person convince me I wasn’t good enough.

“Yeah well, my dad isn’t coming back for awhile. I have been appointed in charge and you will listen to me!” I shouted. The hall fell silent. “They come tomorrow, we need a plan!”

The hall erupted again as everyone began shouting ideas.

“Please! Please one at a time!” I shouted trying to gain their attention to limited success. “Bud?” I asked looking at Toothless who was seated calmly behind me. He stood up on his hind legs and beat his wings not hard enough to lift him off the ground, but hard enough to send a gust of wind over the crowd, he then let loose an earsplitting roar which echoed throughout the hall.

“Thanks” I whispered turning back to the crowd. “One at a time, if you have any ideas please step forward.”

Glen’s older sister stepped forward, Cody held tightly to her hand as he nervously looked up at me. “We need to get the children to safety!” There were a few shouts of agreement.

“Yes, how do you propose we do this?” I asked

“Send a few of the elderly with them, maybe down into the underground tunnels, or even off Berk, maybe send a few dragons to protect them.” I nodded, her plan was effective and the tunnels would be a perfect place.

“Very well, who will step forward to look after the children?”

Gothi and a few elderly men and women stepped forward. I thanked them and they stepped back into the crowd.

“If I may contribute?” Astrid asked stepping up to me from the side were the riders were standing with their dragons.

“Of course,” I smiled.

“It would be too hard to approach them as they will be coming from over the water. So position our troops outside the Great Hall and around the village. Have catapults on the beach, Archers on the rooftops. Possibly two layers of dragon riders, the originals on the front line followed by the less experienced ones. It gives the troops behind us the best chance they have.”

I quickly thought through Astrid’s plan watching the battle play out in my head.

“That could work, thank you.”

“When we spot them, Night Furies could fly over the top and drop rocks, as long as they are hidden in the clouds they won’t be seen.” Glen piped up.

“Yes, but what if it isn’t cloudy?” I said spotting the loophole. Though I doubted it would be sunny tomorrow, winter was approaching.

“We could gather wild dragons, I’m sure they would be able to help if I talked to them.” Glen added. I nodded that would definitely be worth a try.

“We have enough to work with for now, you are dismissed, we will call you back to receive your instructions for tomorrow.”

I turned to the riders.