Chapter 2 About more or less important issues

                                    

                                          
  He untied his apron and laid it on a counter near his private workshop. He sighed once again and cleaned his and Gobber's workplace.
                          
  Sky cleared. Older Mages and Rune Warriors started heading to the Mead Hall. The boy sneaked past the guards, using his lean bodyshape. Then, he stopped behind a pillar. From there, he could see everything and everyone without a chance of anyone spoting him. 
                          
The meeting started when Chief Stoick got up and stood on a stone rim of a firepit. Over fire there was a hanging symbol of Berk - a dragon, pierced by a sword. Stoick's voice rumbled through the Mead Hall like a distant thunder. No one, including hidden boy, had any problems with hearing it.  
                          
- How many livestock ve lost? - the Chief asked, not giving a glance to anyone.
- We hope that... - started one of farmers.
- HOW many casualties? - Stoick boomed, loosing his cool for a moment. A farmer sighed angrily and started once again:
- Those beasts took five yaks, ten sheeps and three weeks worth portions of fish. If we will divide the rest, somehow we will survive this winter. 
- Well. I thin' tha' som o' us coulda use a wee less feedin', don'cha thin'? - Gobber exclaimed and swung his prosthetic arm with mounted cup of mead. Some of Rune Warriors rubbed their bellies self-consiously.
- It'sa NOT a joke, Gobber! I thing that ve should throu our fishin' nets onc' mor, an' then... - Stoick took a dagger and pierced it through a map, lying on front of him. Precisely, a sign that meant "Hellheims Gate" 
- One last journey, befor' the ice sets in.
As if on cue, all Vikings started to shout:
- Those ships never come back!
- Who will take care of the Village?
- Who knows if there won't be any raid, when we will be gone?
Stoick looked at Gobber and blacksmith nodded his head gladly. 
- Gobber here vill take care o' de village and de Dragon Trainin'. Now, who's vith me? - Stoick threw his fist in the air, waiting for enthusiastic shouts of agreement. None came.
- Ve're de Hooligans! Rune Warriors, Vikings! It'sa ocupational hazard! - his voice was more and more desperate. After a minute of murmurs, he sighed deeply and then gave a mischevious smile that could earn congratulations of twins.
- Dose who stay, look after Hiccup. 
                          
The boy, hiding behind a pillar, started mentally crying. His own father was just using him... Like that. The worse part was that most people and warriors agreeded to go, rather then stay. Was he really this little "Stoick' embarasment", everyone entitled him?
                          
  Yep. You all read it right. This lean, auburn-haired runt of the Village was Berk's heir and Chief's son. Now you may welcome Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third! An official Viking - repellent from the island of Berk. Son of Stoick "the Vast" Haddock, mage of strength and earth control runes. 
                          
His father never treated him right. He sometimes just went out of house to "tend to the Village" or to "fulfill his duties as a chief". He rarely spent nights at home, or just was going to bed late and getting out early. Hiccup always thought it all was to avoid him. From time to time, the teen was wondering if Stoick was really his father, or just a poser. Gobber was always more of a father figure towards Hiccup than Stoick. And he was used to ignoring, but THIS was... Like a treachery. 
                          
Hiccup sighed once again and continued to listen to the conversations.
- I'm gunna go pack my undies - said Gobber, slowly standing up from his bench.
- No. I just said tha' yoo vill stay an' train new recruits.
- Yep. An' Hiccup vill stay in the forge. Razor sharp blades, molten steel, great deal o' time fer himself... What can go wrong?
Stoick sat gravely on a chair, next to the table and put his head in his hands.
- Tell me, my friend. What do I do with him?
Forgemaster took a sip of mead from his prosthetic mug and laid it on a table with loud 'boink'.
- Send him to the Training!
- But I'm serious.
- So am I.
- He vill kill himself befor' ya vill release de first dragon.
- Yoo can't know tha'!
- Actually, I can.
- If he would be her', he woulda say somethin' like "Thanks for having faith in me, dad".
- How do ya know tha'?
- And yoo? About de Arena and dragons? 
                          
  The Arena was a big circle, dug in stone, covered by steel crates. It was a place, where Vikings fought with dragons during Training and for fun. All dragon species that raided Berk were there, except for the Night Fury. There was only one of those in Archipelago. Besides, Hiccup felt that this dragon won't bother them during next raids...
                          
Vikings continued their conversation:
- Since he was little, he was... different. I take him fishin', and he goes... trollhuntin'.
After hearing this comment, Hiccup bowed down his head a little, but he still listened.
- But trolls exists! And dey steal socks... but only left ones... What's with dat? - said Gobber in defending tone. Then, he gestured to his prosthetic right leg. He was missing some left socks lately... He hated trolls for that. Some mead spilled from his mug while waving it.
- At least I kno' now why he believes in that. But when I was a lad...
- Aaand he's startin' - murmured Gobber under his nose. He took another sip from his mug, but his stone tooth fell in. He sighed and started taking it out. Stoick, not giving his actions any attention, continued. He stood up and began his story in a tone he always used when his son did something bad.
- My father told me to bang my head into the rock. And ya know what happened?
- That rock split in two, blah blah blah... But yoo must understand that Hiccup is different. An' different doesn't equal worse! Give him a chance, like de rest of youth and let him join de Training. If somethin' vill happen, I'll keep him outside with me. He'll hel' me befor' we start or calm down dragons after fights... - said Gobber in a "duh" tone. When he was met with no reactio, his face fell. Then, he lit up with understandment. 
- It'sa because of Valka, isn't it?
                          
  Hiccup gasped suddenly, hearing his mom's name. Gothi said once that her daughter was taken by dragons. Boy couldn't remember it. He was barely six or seven months old. He couldn't even sit properly. 
                          
He had only one picture of her, back home. He was a lot like her. The same auburn hair, button - like nose, eyeshape and freckles. Even eyecolour was similar! She had triangle - shaped face, thin lips and lithe silhouette. She often braided her hair.
                          
Many people told him that she was against killing dragons, just like him. She stated that it could make the three hundred year old conflict even worse.
                          
Hiccup would give everything to have her with him.
                          
  Stoick sighed and nodded his head. He sat on a chair once again and put his head in his hands. Gobber at least took his tooth out of his mug and put it in its place in gum. He used his prosthetic as a hammer and fitted it properly.
- Aye jest... Don't wanna lose de lad.
- Well, ya show it in a strange way. Yer still mourning 'bout somethin' that happened those fiveteen yers ago! - Gobber's voice was still raising. - Ya say that yoo care fer him. But have ya ever shown it te him? NO! When talkin' te him, yer a lying, non - feeling, irresponsible yak shi...
- STOP! - boomed Stoick and used his earth control rune to make stone floor rumble. - I DON'T CARE FER THIS LAD BECAUSE I WANT TO! ITS JEST THE LAST REMAINDER OF VALKA, THE LAST PERSON I EVER LOVED!
                          
It was silent. Hiccup put on a mask of calm fury that was buzzing inside of him and stepped from behind a pillar. Stoick's palms were put firmly on the table, his face was redder than his beard. He was standing above Gobber, not noticing the boy, making his way towards them. In a moment, he locked his furious gaze with stern green eyes of his fa... Chief Stoick, he spat out with venom:
                          
- Aren't remainders to be cared of?
                          
  He stepped silently to the door and left through them, leaving them open. Gobber stood up and limped to him. Near the entrance, he glanced sternly at his best friend and went out of the Mead Hall. 
                          
  Stoick was left alone in the light of flickering fire.