Places we can hide • H.H

A trade for a trade

I hunched over the map we'd been working on since after the Red Queen. My eyes glaring at the small image of Berk that we had drawn two years back, we ran from there nearly three years ago. Sighing I rubbed my eyes as I felt Toothless nudges me gently, "I'm okay bud just a little tired is all.." I heaved resting my head in my hands.

"Do you ever regret it?" I heard Maeve's voice speak up from my doorway, I looked over and saw her with her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the doorway. "Never..." I answered lowly listening as she approached us, I felt her arms slip round my shoulders as she rested against my back, "do you?" I mumble glancing out of the corner of my eye to see her reaction, she paused for a moment a look of thoughtfulness crossed her features.

"Honestly... sometimes I do, on the days that the world seems to be against us I often think that maybe my life would have been easier back in Berk by Astrid's side.." she sighed shakily, I reached out hooking my arm round her waist pulling her around and into my lap, she then looked me in the eyes with a small smile, "but then I think of all the things we've done, all the places we've been to, all the dragons we've helped and I say to myself on Berk I would have been made to fight these creatures that I hold so dearly to me why would I want that life.." whilst she allowed her finger to put braids in my hair. "That life would have stopped me from doing so much, it would have stopped me from becoming who I am today and it would have stopped me from being with the person I believe in most" she admitted lowering her head slightly as I watched her continue on, "I do miss Berk because my sister is there but this.. this island, these tree houses, our dragons.... you.. it all makes this place like home and this is my home and I do not ever regret my home" she finished quietly but proudly, I couldn't help but smile, hearing her words made it all worth it knowing that I'd been able to give this to her made it all worth it.

"I'm glad you feel like that.. I don't regret bringing you along... I don't think I ever will either" I say calmly bringing one of my hands up to rest on her cheek. "This place we've built is special it will always be special but what makes every bruise worth it is knowing that I've made you happy.." I told her sincerely, she hummed leaning into my touch, "you never really have to try" she replied coolly as her hands played with the hair at  the nape of my neck. I sighed lingering thoughts of the threats from Dragon hunters and the Vikings like those who lived on Berk who had yet to accept Dragons seemed to weigh heavily, I tried to hide the fact that I was worried by the fact that we'd seen hunters on the outer edges of the Barbaric Archipelago even closer to us than we'd ever seen them before.

"What's wrong?" Maeve spoke up her eyebrows creased as she looked at me worriedly, sighing I stroked her cheek gently as I shook my head. "If I told you to leave and go back to Berk for your own safety would you?" I asked curiously trying to ignore what was wrong for a little longer, "I'd fly straight back here, shout at you possibly hit your head or something for doing something so stupid... Berk isn't home anymore, you and our dragons and everything we've built here is my home" she stated in a stern tone as I nodded pleading with the gods that such a thing wouldn't happen. "What's making you worry?" She asked her hands moving to rest on my cheeks as she seemed to look me over, "I'm worried about the hunters... I'm worried about the dragons.. I'm worried that there's something even bigger at play here" I told her she nodded along to my words.

"Whatever it is we'll beat it and we'll beat it together"

———xxx——xxx———

My eyes darted over to where Maeve was observing some of the fruits that were on sale at one of the stores I turned back to Trader Johan, "Dagur couldn't have escaped, outcast island is the hardest prison to escape from and now if he's working with dragon hunters then there's nothing stopping him" I growled, Johan began digging through one of his chests filled with maps. "Dagur was last seen here three days ago.." he stated pointing to one of the marks on the map he held in his hand, "after your father Stoick defeated him when he threatened Berk, he was sent to outcast island... from there he stole my ship and headed due south east to here" he continued to explain moving his finger to a new location, "until he made his way here along the Northern trade route before meeting with those Dragon hunters that he's associated with now.." the trader finished telling me. "How many ships did you say they have?" I questioned noting the path routes he would have taken to get to where he was last seen, "word has it there's anywhere between fifteen to thirty ships.. but I wouldn't take my word for it Master Hiccup, whispers often get distorted in the winds.. but just to be on the safe side Master Hiccup I would keep Mistress Maeve away from heading to far east" the old trader cautiously warned.

"Thank you Johan.. for the information and the warning, umm I think I've got some dragons teeth and some..." I began to say reaching into my satchel before being stopped, "no no no Master Hiccup, this little bit of help will cost but nothing.. you've kept the peace for months so allow me to give you this as a gift... I also have something for the mistress Maeve... her sister traded it to me months ago with a heavy heart, apparently it brought her pain to hold such an item" he explained before routing round in a nearby chest before producing a box.

Taking it gingerly from him, I opened the latch to see a small dagger inside along with a necklace wrapped round the hilt if it. Looking at the carvings on the inside I could make out both Astrid's and Maeve's names carved on the lid, "what did she get for this?" I asked curious as to what could have been worth this, "I gave her a Gronkle iron axe, by definition it was worth more than a dagger and a necklace but when I saw the meaning of it I remembered how I was still in correspondence with you... it was kinder of me to give it back to her sister than to trade it with someone else" the man explained to me, I turned my head still being able to see Maeve who had moved onto look at medicines and herbs.

"Thank you Johan.. it'll mean a lot to her.." I say moving to put the box safely away in my satchel. "No worries Master Hiccup.. it's always a pleasure working with the dragon master himself" he praised whilst waving his arms in the air, I shook my head slightly grinning, "the same for you Johan" I say waving goodbye weaving through the crowds of people towards Maeve. I felt myself being pushed from side to side before I shivered to the floor as something wrapped round my waist whilst the feeling of myself being lifted up from the ground happened, soon enough Maeve's dragon Shadow appeared beneath me chirping gleefully. "Hilarious.." I muttered rolling my eyes at the Changewings playful manner, we walked towards his owner who had Toothless by her side almost standing guard protectively, she was busy discussing something with one of the traders before spotting me.

"Good doing business with you" the man at the stall spoke aloud handing over a small crate like box of Willows bark to Maeve as she nodded before turning to Toothless who lowered his shoulder to let her tie it to his saddle. "Wanna swap dragons?" I laughed as we stood beside them, "Shadow!" she giggled scratching her Changewing under the chin, "is this where you disappeared off to keeping our leader in check?" Maeve grinned looking up at me. "Saved me from falling over earlier in the crowd" I said patting the dragon in appreciation, "good boy Shadow" she cooed pressing a kiss to his muzzle, Toothless growled not enjoying the lack of attention, "sorry Toothless, thank you bud for helping me carry supplies" she purred scratching his chin as he had a pleased face on.

"Real mature" I rolled my eyes at the dragon, he seemed to laugh as Shadow growled lowering himself down to let me off his back, "thank you Shadow" thanking him as I switched dragons with Maeve. "Got everything we need?" I heard her say as we began flying, "Yeah, I think I've got an idea on where Dagur's going next" I told her as we flew back home to the 'edge' as our friend Heather had named a few months a couple years back when we were looking for a place to call home.