Until They Can Return in Peace - How to Train Your Dragon

Chapter 28 - Narrator

*Hey guys! This one is a little shorter than usual but I wanted to update! There may be more later today as well!

Thank you for all the votes and comments!*

- k.r.

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The winds of autumn began rolling through the trees of Berserker Island as little Gunnar, the son of Chief Dagur and Queen Mala ran round the grass. His parents were on a picnic with him this beautiful day.

"Sir a message from New Berk", a man in a helmet and ragged clothing approached the family.

Dagur takes the scroll and opens it so his wife could see.

He reads it carefully and quickly.

"Hiccup and Astrid had a son!", Dagur says and Mala is over-joyed at the sound of a second Haddock baby in the family.

"He says... we need to remain vigilant as the remaining rogue Rebellion and Fractious members still roam the Archipelago"

Mala nods reassuringly as her four year old son leaps into her arms. His strawberry blonde hair whipping left and right in the wind.

The guard bows in respect and leaves the family to their afternoon.

—

He heads through the trees and down into a pit where hidden stairs were built underneath the cliff side.

Several rows of guards and doors later, he returns to his position as head guard of the Berserker-Defender tribe. His position... guarding the cell of Heather the Hateful.

She sat against the dark, cold brick wall. Her ankles were chained to prevent movement and the untouched metal plate with stale bread resembled her decayed state.

"Seems as if your old friends have a new child", the head guard said to her in a cynical way.

Her matted hair hung so loosely over her eyes as she glared up from the floor, disgusted. Everything in her that was filled with vengeance multiplies as he goes on about how she would be there if it wasn't for her actions.

He also interestingly mentioned that Dagur, Mala and Gunnar will be heading over for a visit soon.

She then dwelled upon the thoughts that floated around in her mind.

One day.

One day she will break free from this prisoned state and she will find the Hidden World to make her revenge complete.

For now, she will sit.

Sit and let it grow and grow until the very word or thought of anyone who had done her wrong completely and utterly urges her to burst into a rage to break out of this Thor-forsaken holding cell.

The cell that her dear brothers and family put her in.

__________________

Nuffink was already a month old when his parents were celebrating four years of marriage. Hiccup had been so busy with chiefing that he hadn't been home much of the whole month. Astrid was increasingly better but a little distraught over the absence of her husband and stress of two children.

Zephyr was a big help to mom, however. She knew how to stand on a stool and wash the dishes and carefully move the logs around in the fire to keep it aflame.

Astrid's tired eyes failed her as Hiccup walked in the door.

"Happy Anniversary M'lady! Are you okay?", he asks taking the squealing baby from her arms.

"Yes... happy anniversary", she tiredly greets her husband and kisses him briefly with a peck. "Nuffink was up half the night and he would NOT go down for his morning nap".

She slams her aching body in one of the kitchen chairs.

Hiccup starts to feel guilt build in his diaphragm as he rocks his restless son, "shhh buddy. Mommy needs some rest".

"Daddy!", Zephyr runs down from up stairs and hugs her dad's leg.

"Hello my beautiful Zeph", he scratches the top of her head.

Hiccup looks over at Astrid with longing and regret.

"Astrid... I'm so sorry...", he says and she looks up at him with glossy blue eyes. There's a look of hesitancy on her face.

"For?"

"Just neglecting to let you do more Chieftess duties with me...", he says with such pain in his chest it tugs tears.

She doesn't say anything for a short minute as Hiccup continues to try to calm Nuffink down.

He is now angry crying and Hiccup doesn't know what to do.

This goes on for another few moments, causing Astrid to sigh in defeat.

"He likes his left side, head on your arm and his left arm hanging down under it. Stuffed dragon in his hands and sway left and right", Astrid says rather sternly as she stands to walk up the stairs.

Hiccup does as he is told and it works almost immediately.

But he can't help but cry at the fact that he knows nothing about how to help with his son.

—

Astrid sits on their bed with such heaviness and of she were honest with herself... loneliness. Two emotions that shouldn't be felt on an anniversary.

She looks over at Hiccup's desk that has two frames above it.

A drawing of Toothless, and above that was a large painting of Hiccup and Astrid on their wedding day.

The emotions and passion she felt on that day were still deeply woven into her soul. She loves him so dearly and no one can ever change that.

She wasn't upset that she isn't Chiefing with Hiccup, but the fact that he hasn't been much of a father or husband the last few weeks.

Hiccup is NOT who he has been the last four years, and she has no idea why.

A tear slips from her eye as she hears a "step, clink" up the stairs.