The forge laid silent yet it did not sleep. It breath like a man, quiet, firm, focused. Such was things for one particular boy who could not find the heart to rest.
Hiccup looked to the Gronkle Iron rod currently being heated within the furnace. And as soon as he felt a sense of satisfaction at what he was seeing, he grabbed the rod with a tong, and forcefully slid the it to one of the holes at the anvil.
He shimmies the rod through and as soon as it poked pass a whole inch, he pulled the heated rod with another tong and pulled hard.
By the time the rod was pulled out, it had began to cool, and thinner and longer than it was before. And so he reheated it again only this time, he pulled it through a smaller hole.
The process repeated itself several times. Enduring heat, sweat, dirt and the physical strain in his muscles. And when he finishes his work hours later, all of it felt inconsequential as he smiled in satisfaction at the thin Gronkle Iron Wire that laid before him.
His eyes turned to the boxes of molds beneath the counter. And with careful movements, he uncovered the items. Nodding at the gears of various sizes that needed only a little polishing. So he put them through grinder with renewed sense of vigor.
One by one, he laid down the smoothened pieces next to a set of shiny springs. Each a different size, each for different purpose and meticulously laid down in order.
With a bit of excitement, he moved to his private room beside the forge where he laid the items atop hus desk, pins a design sketch at the wall in front of him and pulled up a Gronkle Round Shield.
His green eyes scanned every item, every piece, and matched their places with every detailed sketch and design. So with a satisfied nod, he flipped the shield on its back revealing an elongated dent opposite of the shield boss.
And there, he placed his gauntlet.
With a clear drawn design right before his eyes, he begun his assembly. His fingers moved expertly, as he placed every rod, every coil, every gear and every joint. Listening to every scrap, to every clink, and for every piece that falls into place. His eyes didn't blink, nor did he deign the sweat dripping at the corner of his brow a drop of concern. He remained afixed, entranced and with every form it takes, his heart swelled with pride. And once he was done, he smiled. From one ear to another, he smiled. In complete bliss, was that the sweat clinging on to him amounted to nothing. That the salty air was never cold. And the sun itself, spilling from the window...it was nothing compared to the satisfaction of a blade ork done. As if a piece had clicked unto place. With one less question and trial to face.
He has done it. To finally feel like Hiccup himself and before him was proof as he held a modified recreation of his "Crossbow Shield".
—.—.—.—.—
"Ya' know... yer' lucky we have too much of the damn thing. Otherwise I wouldn't have let ya' play with 'em." says Gobber as he stared at the contraption from the door.
"Not a toy Gobber..." Hiccup says, slightly annoyed. "Besides, I'm the one who discovered the metal."
"Aye ya' did... with me coin."
Hiccup winced. Remembering how rare some of those rocks were. Luckily for them, a couple of southern traders and Trader Johan had the materials he needed. While he knew which minerals. There was still the question of how much he needed what for. And a question of source that can provide a steady supply while applying caution.
'I can't afford to order from the same merchant. I might as well announce 'ingredients' and with how vikings love sharp things... it's only a matter of time before the existence of the Iron spreads.'
"Well go on then lad. Show me what me coins worth eh?"
Hiccup equiped the bracer, clenching his fist and finding minimum resistance in terms of wrist movements and fingers despite the excessive plating around them. The rivets that held each segment showed great promise.
Even Gobber nodded, seeing the value of the application and also the cost and time to even implement them on one piece of armor.
Hiccup tightened the straps around his forearms, snapping the belts in place. The shield, while large has a diameter reaching three inches passed his elbows and stopping just before his knuckles.
Hiccup then lifted his arm forward, finding ease at the lightweight materials and with a pull of a hidden string, the shield snapped into three pieces. The top half and lower half sides, formed the wings of a crossbow with the middle piece snapping up. Showing a the tip of an arrow inserted within, a crossbow bolt primed and ready.
*whistle~ Gobber can't help but show his appreciation at the contraption. And smiled a little softly as Hiccup snapped his fingers in an unfamiliar pattern, snapping the shield back in place with a impressive clicks of metal.
He wanted to congratulate the boy, but Hiccup wasn't done yet when a loud snap was heard and the shield detached itself from his forearms. Catching it with the same hand.
"It's a little awkward to hold when detached but, it has its uses." said Hiccup as his hidden blade then unsheath from his vambrace.
"Hmm... why not move the hidden blade of ya' to yers' atop your wrist lad?"
Hiccup blushed a bit before attaching the shield back to his forearms. This time it took longer, something Gobber noted while he cackled out a laugh at the kid.
With a pat at the kids back, he praised. "Not bad laddie...not bad."
For a time, peace was with them. Nothing but the sounds of the villagers double checking everything. Moving what they could to the Great Hall. Some had even moved their most prized belongings to the empty cages at the Dragon Pit.
Despite the looming threat hanging above them, the sounds of the waves, the cold salty wind and the midday sun gave them some wanted sense of peace.
But life... is not often kind.
"Gobber!" Flynn came running. Beads of sweat adorning his brow, and with haggard breath, he says..."Outcast ships."
The village quieted. Everyone who was once moving paused. In a breath of a wind... a call to arms erupted in silence.
"Two days... someone's eager to wipe us out." Gobber remarks. As he lazily twiddles with his beard.
"Someone smart." Hiccup adds knowing that any hope of reinforcements isn't due for another sunrise.
"Aye. But then again Alvin can be cleaver if he wants to be."
"For someone with only two limbs, you seemed eerily calm about this." Hiccup remarks, a bit of accusation spilling from his lips as he clenched his hands open and closed. Unaware of the shaking of his arms.
"Oh I am scared lad, just not of Alvin."
"Wha-"
"Don't worry about it lad. Get to yer' post."
Hiccup had questions, but time was something he learned to value. He clenched his fist hard and punch the wall making the wood groan slightly from the impact. And with the sting of pain, Hiccup got dressed.
He wore his signature green tunic, with brown pants tucked beneath his furr trimmed leather boots with a strip of his favorite iron around the toes and ankles. A glove of the same make at his other hand. With an added a belt, with a quiver of crossbow bolts hanging on his right side.
His sword strapped on his waist by a bardic, hanging by his left. And his new shield on his left arm.
And as he stepped out armor ed like a warrior. Flynn, Halvard and Gobber all nodded at his new look. Young, very young, but promising no less.
No words were exchanged, only a knowing look. One where they hoped to see each other survive, but with their hearts hardened enough to accept whatever comes... or whoever doesn't.
—.—.—.—.—
He stood stoicly at the bow of the ship, watching as a familiar island begun to loom beyond the horizon.
His eyes as black as the night sky, gazed fiercely at his prize. His hair, clumped and wavy that reaches pass his shoulders whipped against the wind. As his hands held the reigns of the boat, sailing towards a place he once called home.
"Alvin. Should we not wait a little longer?"
The bear sized man turned towards the one who spoke. A head shorted and not nearly as wide but the familiar glint of cruelty and greed, visible trough his eyes and face despite caution on his words were familiar enough.
Savage, a man who lived up to his name, looked to him donning the average Outcast armor adorned with spikes of dragon kills and sharp rocks from their island.
Alvin remained unsure, yet when his eyes drifted to the bright light of the mid-day sun. He promptly nodded and answered with a grunt.
"Nay, we move forward."
"Not to question your command Chief, but the cover of the night will be-"
"Pointless." Alvin interrupts. "Do you think them stupid Savage? Do you think them fools that you would believe that Stoick isn't already on his way here?"
The Outcast gulped, along with those who were of hearing distance. Alvin then turns fully to them. Smiling widely from ear to ear.
"That is why we will burn this place down before he comes."
A glint passed through their eyes, a sinister glint that was shared among them. And with united movements, they heaved their rows and sailed forward.
Their muscles stretching with heat as they rowed with strength and vigor. A powerful heave shared by three other longships beside them.
And as Alvin looked behind, he sneered satisfied at the groan of wood and the stretching of ropes. While his eyes devoured the floating platform that they towed. Manned by two dozen people, waiting in preparation to unleashed their own war machines against Berk's own.
His attention then returned to the now fully awake island of Berk, the echoes of his mother's warning rang within him.
"This spark has changed! No longer is it one of dissension and challenge, no longer is it of peace and weakness! But a fire...a fire that will devour our lives whole!
You cannot allow this- this! Usurper! to grow. Sail to Berk and together! We shall put this foolish Ambitions to rest! And with his blood- You! Will! Be!-"
"...king. I will be King."
And as they sailed forward, and the warhorn of Berk echoing across the island and sea.
Alvin the Treacherous shouted. "Forward!"
—.—.—.—.—
A conflict, a battle or war. The term didn't matter when one side intends to live and the other intends to exterminate them.
And so there were no screams, no flinch, no hesitation as they stood behind walls of dirt and stone. Bathed in the destruction passing through the stoic warriors of Berk.
Houses crushed by boulders the size of a car. Another crash, and splinters flew. Each one bouncing off of their leather and reinforced Gronkle Iron armor.
And as more and more boulders came flying, they stood behind a rocky defense. Watching intently as they waited for their chance to begin their own retaliation.
The thirty of Berk's warriors stood at an outlook with view of the docks. Donning bows and arrows, with some of them clamoring into action.
And as a boulder was loaded, Gobber nodded as they took aim and with a roar of his own, he commanded. "Nock!"
"Load" Spitelout mirrors.
"Draw!" "Brace!" the sounds of strings drawn mixed with the clanking of gears and stretching of ropes.
And as they waited patiently, watching and observing as the ships drew ever closer, he signals as he roars.
"Loose!"
Fire arrows rained down, boulders rolling against the wind and crashing towards the ships.
And while three of the catapults fired, only one struck true while others splashed harmlessly against the sea. Yet that they didn't mind, not till their arrows sent their hearts hammering as they bounced off of their enemies shields.
Their retaliation signaled that the battle has begun and the Outcasts relished in the feeling. Making their presence known as they smashed their weapons against their shields. Mocking and cheering at the same time.
For several minutes, Gobber and Spitelout stood side by side, overseeing the clash. A few arrows got lucky with kills, some caused minor injuries but both combined barely reached a dozen as more and more remained unscathed.
Another crash, and this time it made them flinch as a boulder smashed through one of their own catapults.
Pissed off at their enemies war engines, Spitelout himself manned one of the catapults. And with a release, the rock sailed a beautiful arc, crashing true at a longship right at its center. Splitting the ship in half along with much of the crew.
The Berkians cheered, and for several more minutes, the exchange continues in their favor. Leading to the Outcasts losing two of their five longships.
Yet their warriors remained unbroken. Making the island itself overcome with grim understanding as the first boat hit the docks, the cheers of atleast hundred Outcasts that still made landfall was loud and heavy.
But the Hairy Hooligans did not lose composure as it this clash they have truly prepared for.
And with a grip of his Gronkle Iron framed shield, and a Gronkle Iron Axe attached to his other arm. Gobber shouted. "Forward!!!"
—.—.—.—.—
At the edge of the island. A lone ship rocked softly atop the waters, leaning heavily against the rocky cliffs.
"Are yer' sure about this?" one of the Vikings whispers.
"Alvin gave his orders."
"Aye but... this- this is.... it's not natural." he whispers with caution, but the other didn't head him.
He then removed a tarp, uncovering a large caged beast, two long horn atop it's long snouted head. With spikes along the fins, crawling from its nose to it's tail. It was a dragon easily twice the length of a dinghy and just as wide, sleeping soundly with small burst of flames from its nostrils.
With careful movements, they made sure not to wake the Monstrous Nightmare despite the wave of heat and uncertainty, before they fought it off.
They unboxed a small container, and pulled out exactly what Alvin had given them. A glass vial filled with purple smoky concoction. And as they pressed the vial against the Dragon's nose, and uncorked it.
*RAAARRRRRGG!!!"
It's loud roar echoed loudly against the chaos of the night. Trashibg it's body against it's cage... Smashing it's horns and muscular limbs against all four walls, shaking it's head as if trying to fend of a nuisance. And with another loud roar it calmed down.
"Is... Is it-"
*FOOOOMMM!!!
There was no warning as a single breath, took their lives. With it's dead done, the dragon the turned it's attention to the looming mountain not far from its location. And with a loud rumble that sounded like a cackle, it ran like a wild beast, eager for prey.