The Gray Area (1/2) - A Viggo Love Story (HTTYD/RTTE)

37. Just Viggo

"Is that..what I think it is?" Viggo muttered to himself as he released Sessa's hand and approached the egg. He picked up the bristly bundle and breath out in awe.

"The King of Dragons'...egg?" Sessa wondered as she peered around Viggo to see. Indeed, she could feel a small soul growing in the shell. "It's much smaller than I'd have expected."

"Indeed," Viggo agreed with a small laugh. He held the fragile egg to his chest with one arm and offer the other to Sessa. "We should bring it to the riders, no doubt," he decided as Sessa's hand slipped around his bicep. Then, the two left the caves.

• • •

Outside, the sky was abuzz with dragons of all shapes and sizes. Viggo came to a hault at the sight as he and Sessa finally found their way out of the caves. "Now, isn't that a sight..." He muttered in awe.

Although Sessa couldn't see what Viggo saw, she could indeed see the hundreds of blue, whispy souls soaring above. She smiled and took in the vision, like blue water-paint spilled on white paper. "Sessa, Viggo," Fishlegs' voice rang through the sky as Meatlug flew their way. As they landed, Fishlegs finished his question, "where've you two been?" His voice was both concerned and suspicious.

"We've eliminated Krogan as a threat," Viggo answered with a cool grin. "I trust that Hiccup has dealt with Johann."

While Fishlegs wasn't exactly comforted to hear that Krogan had been 'eliminated', he was relieved to know that this battle finally over. He then caught sight of the egg in Viggo's grasp. "Oh my Thor, is that an egg?!" He gasped, rushing excitedly over to Viggo.

"I believe so," Viggo answered, holding the egg out to Fisglegs. The bigger Viking took it and cradled it like a baby. "Krogan was trying to make off with it," Viggo went on, adding, "but I've no doubt it will be safe now with you and your friends."

Just then, the twins and Heather landed, having spotted Fishlegs with the two night riders. "Wait--you're giving it to us?" Fishlegs asked in astonishment.

Sessa's gaze fell blankly on the ground as she asked in confusion, "why would we want it?"

Viggo smiled down at her. "Couldn't have said it any better myself," he agreed, turning his smile back to Fishleg's. "We've no business raising a King of Dragon's," he went on matter-of-factly, "that's more your area of expertise, is it not?"

"Woah," Tuffnut gawked as he hopped off of Belch, "a baby King of Dragons?!" He ran over to see it, but frowned as he reached Fishlegs. "Hey, that's not a baby dragon, it's just an egg," he huffed.

Ruffnut came up beside him casually and wacked him in the back of the head. "The baby dragon's in the egg, idiot," she sighed.

Before long, all of the dragon riders had reunited in the Berserker village. The citizens were outside of their homes, beginning to celebrate their victory. Dagur gave a short speech, thanking Hiccup and his riders and praising his own warriors. When he finished, the celebrating commenced.

Spotting Dagur standing alone, Viggo decided to take this chance to talk to him. With Sessa still attatched to his arm, the two made their way over to the chief. "You've become quite an admirable chieftain," Viggo complimented, earning Dagur's attention, "much more so than I ever was."

Dagur raised an eyebrow in surprise, but still replied calmly, "..thanks." There was an awkward silence between them for a moment. Then, Dagur sighed as if to give in. "I guess..you two did alright today.." He grumbled, then gave a half smile, "I heard you took down Krogan. And for that....thank you."

"He was an awful human being," Sessa responded in distaste, her vision slowly beginning to return with the sun setting. "He deserved exactly what he got."

Dagur nodded, looking from Sessa to Viggo. Again, he sighed, a seruius frown taking over his lips. "Listen, I get what you're trying to do," he told Viggo, "you want redemption, and to be forgiven...I just don't think I could ever forgive 'Viggo Grimborn, Chief of the Dragom Hunters'."

Now it was Viggo's turn to frown. He pursed his lips for a moment in thought before choosing his words carefully, "it's just Viggo now, actually." Sessa felt her heart jump when he said this. "As you said, 'Viggo Grimborn' can never be forgiven," he went on, "so as of this day, he will no longer exist. The Grimborn name will be no more."

He finally understood why Sessa always got so defense of her name. 'Just Sessa'. Because she was no longer who she once was; a part of her died in the hurricane years before, along with the rest of her family. The Oakeart name died. And on this day, so did Viggo Grimborn. He no longer wanted the weight that his last name carried, to be feared because of what he once was. So it was Viggo now. Just Viggo.

Dagur couldn't help but smile a bit. "You really are changing for the better," he observed with a short laugh.

Viggo returned the smile. "Please," he begged humbly, "I understand that friendship may never be in our cards..but allow us to be allies from this moment forward."

"Allies with the night riders..." Dagur muttered, as if to test how it sounded aloud. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, staring off into space, before shrugging, "that does have a nice ring to it..." Finally, he met Sessa's and Viggo's eyes again with a grin. "I'll have to talk it over with Heather first," he warned, "..but I think that's an OK idea."