Chapter Text
Eira had never been fond of returning to Berk since she agreed to permanently join her younger brother's gang as their healer—or nanny, as Snotlout once put it. Naturally, there were many more reasons for her occasional reluctance to visit the home island she had called home for over twenty springs than her brother and his rather curious band might have realized. Her main reason, in the form of her father, was sitting right in front of her in their hut, watching her closely. Between them on the table lay a board for Maces & Talons. Finally, after a long moment, Eira extended her hand toward one of her pieces, deftly moving it to the other side of the board. Now, all she could do was wait for a reaction, and she hadn't even managed to take a sip of the remaining beer in her mug when her father's clenched fist struck the table. The pieces next to the board jumped and fell off, scattering in all directions.
"I could have predicted you'd trap me in one of your schemes again," he said, the sound of the chair being pushed back sharp in the prevailing silence of the hut.
"You taught me well, Dad," Eira replied, savoring the last of her beer. She looked at her father with her wild green eyes, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "And since I won..."
Her father sighed in that particular way he did when he realized he couldn't even start an argument with someone. Years ago, he had understood that any quarrel with this young woman was futile. However, a smile appeared on his face, one of the few that was sincere and full of pride.
"I was going to send him away anyway," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You know, it's not just you he's irritating. From the son of the Chief of the Hymir clan, I expected... well, never mind. By evening, he will no longer be on Berk."
"You could have refused his offer," she set her mug on the table and stood up. "Dad, I... I know you want the best for me."
"But? Don't look at me like that; I know that tone," he leaned against the table and looked at her meaningfully.
"But you said I could choose for myself, right?" she began to play with the bead at the end of one of her braids. "I'd like someone who... well, you know. Someone who would treat me like you treated Mom."
Stoick wanted to say something, even opened his mouth but immediately closed it. In moments like this, he wished Valka was with him. His wife would have handled this much better. Eira was already a grown woman, and as the only daughter of the chieftain, she had to marry. However, over time, Stoick realized it was easier said than done. Traditionally, the news that the chieftain of the Hooligan Tribe was looking for a suitor for his daughter spread quickly. Not even a month had passed when more and more young men started arriving at Berk. And truth be told, Stoick was... disappointed. He wanted the best for his daughter, that was not up for discussion. Eira was his firstborn, his little girl, and as she grew up, Stoick saw more of Valka in her than he ever thought possible. Eira was tall for the women of their clan, strong, wise, and, thanks to her mother, intelligent and beautiful. The mere thought that someone could hurt her, use her, or not respect her as she deserved filled Stoick with anger. And each new suitor did nothing to calm that anger.
These men, if they could even be called that, were not what Stoick wanted for Eira. Most of them applied only thinking about the dowry, about how their position would rise if they became Eira's husband. But none of them so far had been interested in her as a person, which immensely irritated both Eira and her father. Stoick loved his children, which is why he knew that forcing them to choose a partner would only hurt them. He had been very fortunate in life. He loved his wife more than anything in the world, and her loss still pained him despite the many years that had passed. Therefore, he allowed Eira to choose, because he wanted her to be as happy as he had been with her mother.
He sighed, realizing there was nothing he could do for now. "I know why you flew with Hiccup." He raised his hand, seeing that she wanted to respond. "I understand, it's neither easy nor pleasant. That's why I thought..."
"Yes?" The spark of hope that flared in her eyes confirmed that he had to go through with it.
"I'll talk to the village elders. They aren't happy with the ones who are coming to the island either." His gaze drifted to the game board still on the table. "My daughter deserves better than those brats who think they're men. So, for now, I won't accept anyone. You can also find..." He paused as Eira hugged him tightly. "...find someone yourself." He finished, hugging his daughter in return.
"Thank you, Dad. You won't regret this." She stepped back, a wide smile on her face.
"I know, now off you go before I change my mind." He said it seriously, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Eira hugged her father once more, promising him that everything would be alright. She grabbed the bag she had prepared earlier and left the hut. Stoick was left alone. He picked up one of the fallen pieces from the floor, then another, until all were back on the table. Carefully, he started putting them back in the box, and an idea began to form in his mind. When he closed the box, a small symbol burned into one corner caught his attention.
He gently traced it with his finger. For a moment, a memory returned to him, one of the few he didn't like to recall. Amid all the chaos of finding a husband for his daughter, he had completely forgotten that there was only one person in the archipelago whom Stoick might consider worthy of his daughter's hand. The thought quickly turned into an idea, which he swiftly dismissed, although... No, he couldn't do that now, not when he had just promised his daughter he would let it go for a while. But on the other hand, they were both of similar age, and if Stoick was sure of one thing, it was that Sigurd had raised his grandson well, so Eira would be in good hands. So... No, he couldn't, and that was final. Maybe in some time, but certainly not now. He put the game board on the shelf, perhaps a bit too forcefully, as the noise echoed in the empty hut. There was also another problem, one of those that couldn't be easily or pleasantly solved. Stoick and the entire clan of Berk no longer hunted dragons, thanks to his son. However, Stoick knew that the one he had in mind could not be convinced, not after everything life had put him through from a young age. Stoick knew better than anyone that sometimes a person is scarred in ways that do not heal, wounds too deep to forget, especially those marked by dragon fire.
With a sigh, he left the hut and slowly walked towards the Great Hall. He quietly thanked the gods that at least he wouldn't have such problems with his son. Hiccup could deny it all he wanted, but the Hofferson girl and he were more attracted to each other than they cared to admit. Stoick had even spoken with her parents, and they had already given their consent, so it was just a matter of waiting for their children to come together on their own. He stopped in front of the Great Hall doors, preparing for his conversation with the elders, knowing that no matter how the discussion went, he would end up with a headache.
Gothi had that specific expression she usually reserved for Eira when she correctly prepared a remedy. At first, Eira was puzzled, not understanding what was happening until she saw what was written in the sand right in front of her.
"I saw your father enter the Great Hall, and I know exactly what that means. When will you stop babysitting your brother and start seriously looking for a husband?"
Eira sighed in irritation, leaning against the stair railing. Gothi was the only person in the clan with whom she could freely talk about this. It wasn't just the ironic fact that Gothi couldn't tell anyone, but it was something more... personal. Gothi had been training Eira to be a healer since Eira was eight years old. Over time, they grew very fond of each other, and since Gothi had no children of her own, she treated Eira like family. As one of the elders and the village healer, she understood what Eira was going through and openly disapproved of all the suitors.
"Gothi, please, not today. I barely won against my father, and for now, I'm taking a break from all this." Eira lifted a sack full of packed herbs onto the table and began sorting through its contents. She sighed again upon hearing Gothi's staff scrape against the sand. She knew exactly what the older woman would say.
"I know that those who sailed to Berk are not suitable for you, but you're not getting any younger. If you spent more time on the island instead of flying around with your brother and his band..."
"We've talked about this, remember? If the only reason all these men are coming here is my dowry and who my father is, they might as well forget it. I won't be anyone's trophy." One of the pouches fell out of the sack, spilling its contents on the floor. Eira cursed under her breath and started picking up what had fallen. She heard the rustling of sand again.
"I understand that. But you are the daughter of our chieftain, and like your father, you have duties to our clan. I know Stoick allowed you to choose a husband, but that doesn't mean you can delay it until Ragnarok."
Eira took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I know exactly what I have to do. But I won't be a wife to someone who looks at me and only thinks about the size of the chest in which my dowry comes." She practically hissed the last words, trying to tie the herb pouch. "Besides, my father promised to take a break from this because he's as frustrated as I am. And I don't blame him since everyone is trying to buy me like... like a sheep at the market!" Her voice echoed. The sack contained everything she needed and even a few things she forgot to mention. She was about to take everything and say goodbye when Gothi started scribbling in the sand again.
"I have a proposition for you."
Those few words made Eira freeze. She had honestly planned to quickly say goodbye and leave, explaining that her brother was probably already waiting for her, but she knew what she was really doing. Eira was running away, and if she were honest with herself, she was tired of it. With unconcealed irritation, she leaned against the stair railing, waiting for Gothi to continue. What started to appear in the sand was... not what she expected.
"I have a distant relative in another clan, far to the north. If I remember correctly, she has a grandson about your age and if..."
"Gothi, with all due respect, I don't need matchmaking. I can manage perfectly well..." Gothi interrupted her, poking her with her staff.
"I see how well you're doing. This grandson is the chieftain of his clan. You could become the wife of a chieftain, which in your situation, is even advantageous."
"So, you dissuaded my father and the rest of the elders from all the suitors because you want to match me with your relative's grandson? I know you mean well, but for now, I'm done with this, understand? Maybe when the thought of marriage stops making me nauseous, we can talk about this grandson." She picked up the sack of herbs and started walking slowly toward the stairs. "And if you think this mysterious grandson is suitable for me, he should come here himself." She began descending the stairs without looking back. Gothi watched her with concern and worry until Eira disappeared from her sight.
Every time the gang returned to Berk, it involved a certain risk. Of course, flying on dragons, they covered the distance between their base and Berk in a few days, but their base remained unguarded, as did the dragons inhabiting it. However, the supplies they flew in for were essential to life at their base, making the risk worthwhile.
Eira usually didn't have to check what the gang took with them; everyone except the twins—for obvious reasons—always took only the essentials. Her dragon was already waiting for her, an old female Monstrous Nightmare named Firewing, who was a calm dragon, although Eira and the gang knew that if necessary, she could ignite, literally. After making sure all her belongings were securely fastened to the saddle, Eira leaned against the dragon and sighed.
Her brief moment of peace was interrupted by Astrid, approaching her with Ruffnut. Since Eira had left Gothi's hut and came within the gang's sight, she felt their watchful eyes on her. However, she had no intention of bringing up the subject she knew they would inevitably ask about. She didn't even need to turn around to sense Astrid's presence behind her.
"Eira, we all know you hate this topic, but we saw your father enter the Great Hall, and..." Astrid didn't know how to ask the right question. Eira sighed, knowing her friends were just curious. She turned towards them, leaning against the saddle.
"Okay, I'll say this once today, and I don't want to hear about it again for the next few days, okay?" She took another breath, rubbing her temple. "For now, the plan is to return to the base. Father is also tired of all these pathetic excuses for men who think they can buy me like cattle at a market, so until further notice, we're not accepting any proposals."
After she spoke, a pleasant silence fell. Even the twins decided to behave, knowing well that an irritated Eira was a dangerous Eira. She flinched slightly when Hiccup placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Listen, I know what you have to do isn't easy, but..."
"But what, Hiccup?" she looked at him, irritated. "Do you know how exhausting it is? The entire clan expects me to marry a wealthy, influential man so our clan can make an alliance. All I ever hear is how important it is for everyone, how Berk will benefit. But do you know what no one does?" She looked at him, at all of them, with frustration. "No one asked if this is what I want, no one even considered if I want to be a prize for whoever offers the most, for whoever presents the best deal."
She suddenly stopped when Hiccup hugged her tightly. Over the past few years, he had grown and was slightly taller than her. It was probably something she needed because she melted into his embrace, taking a sharp breath. Her frustration diminished, and after a few more deep breaths, she pulled away slightly to look at her younger brother.
"Better?" Hiccup looked at her with his sometimes exaggerated concern. Eira snorted, nodding.
"I needed that. You know, father was convinced to take a break from it; he was really upset with that guy from the Hymir clan."
"Oh yes, the guy was annoying." Hiccup hugged her again and then let go.
"You better pray to the gods I don't find someone who will love teasing you, little brother." She nudged him with her elbow, a mocking smile on her face.
"Eira, you wouldn't... right?"
"Ha! That would be hilarious. Surely there's someone in the archipelago who doesn't even have to try to make your blood boil. If he's handsome..."
"Eira, it's not funny!" He tried to be serious but couldn't hide how amused he was.
"Of course it is, just not for you, little brother." She wanted to say more but was interrupted by her father, who, along with Gobber, had left the Great Hall and was heading towards them, clearly displeased.
For a moment, Eira feared the worst, which in her case would be that the elders didn't agree to stop searching for a husband for her. Her father had that expression she knew all too well, and she knew someone was in serious trouble.
"Which of the usual suspects was sinking boats with their dragon this morning? I have my suspicions." Stoick threw an irritated glance at the twins.
"Boats? What boats?" Eira asked, curious, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.
"Bucket and Mulch saw everything, so don't even try to convince me that anyone else in the entire archipelago could have done such a thing!"
When her father wanted to, he could look terrifying. The twins immediately began confessing, but Eira and Hiccup knew well that whoever sank the fishing boats couldn't have been from their gang. They had all been packing supplies together since the morning and would have noticed if the twins had suddenly disappeared with their dragon.
"Dad, I know the twins sometimes cause a lot of trouble and damage, but even they aren't stupid enough to sink our boats. Besides, we've all been packing since morning."
Eira approached her father, placing a hand on his forearm. Since the day her mother was taken by dragons, it became clear to everyone that if there was anyone on Berk who could calm their Chief's anger, it was his daughter. Stoick sighed, clearly calming down.
"If it's not the twins, then we might have a bigger problem than I thought."
Finding the destroyed boat wasn't difficult. During the flight, it occurred to them that it could all be the work of just one person. Eira hadn't thought about Dagur since they sent him to the prison on Outcast Island. The mere thought that someone as crazy as the Berserker Chief could tame a dragon, especially one from the Sharp Class, which they discovered by finding sharp spines on the ship, made Eira feel a knot in her stomach.
They returned to Berk quickly and entered the Great Hall, wanting to discover as soon as possible which dragon they needed to look for. Stormfly's magnetic fire activated the Dragon Eye, while Hiccup and Eira carefully turned the rings until what appeared on the wall resembled what Bucket claimed had attacked his boat.
"That dragon is a Razorwhip!" Fishlegs, clearly excited about the new dragon species, immediately approached the wall and began reading the runes with Eira.
"Okay. Razorwhip. Sharp class dragon. Long, spiny, barbed tail," Fishlegs began, clearly pleased with himself.
Eira's smile waned as he continued. "Very aggressive. Very dangerous. This symbol indicates it can use its tail to wrap around a victim and literally squeeze the life out of them."
"Unless it's in a hurry. Then it just slices you in half," Fishlegs added with a flinch.
"Does it have any weaknesses, Fishlegs?" Eira asked, desperation creeping into her voice. "Maybe the eyes?"
"No, it has poisonous tears. This dragon has no weaknesses, I'm sorry," Fishlegs said, scanning the wall again but finding nothing helpful.
"Eira, don't worry, we'll find him," Hiccup said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Fishlegs, where does this thing live? What does it eat? If we figure that out, we might be able to find it."
"I found it! Sea slugs! Hiccup, this dragon eats sea slugs!" Fishlegs turned to everyone with a broad smile.
"And it just so happens that we know several islands that abound in sea slugs," Hiccup said.
They had already searched most of the islands where the rider and his dragon could potentially be hiding. Eira looked at her younger brother worriedly. "Hiccup, what do we do when we find the dragon? It's very dangerous, and if it's Dagur flying on it, we have to be very careful."
"We'll worry about that when we find them. Guys, look! Smoke!"
"A campfire."
Eira decided to fly high with her dragon to survey the island from above, while the rest of the gang searched closer to the ground. After some time and not finding anything unusual, Eira turned Firewing back to the spot where the gang had found the fire pit. Landing, she didn't expect to see someone she hadn't seen in years.
"Heather?" Eira dismounted as soon as Firewing landed.
"Hi, Eira, it's been a while."
"Heather!" Eira ran to her and hugged her tightly.
It turned out that Heather was in trouble, and serious trouble at that. After Eira managed to persuade her to return to the base with her and the gang, Heather finally gave in and flew with them. When they landed and stabled their dragons, Eira declared that Heather could stay in her hut.
Eira's hut was located near the club and arena, partly leaning against a steep slope. The hut was cozy, with the entire ground floor dedicated to the herbs and medicines Eira made, with a bed for the sick. The entire upper floor was her bedroom with a large bed, a chest for clothes, and many shelves full of books and scrolls. When Heather sat on the bed on the ground floor, Eira searched her shelves for something to drink. Finding a bottle of juice, she poured some for herself and Heather.
"I heard you're looking for a husband," Heather said, never one to mince words around Eira, something Eira was sometimes grateful for.
"Don't even remind me. After three months, I'm coming to the conclusion that there are no real men in the archipelago."
They started laughing and had a pleasant evening, mostly gossiping and catching up. Eira complained about every candidate who dared to come to Berk, and Heather could barely keep a straight face. At some point, they both agreed it was late and they should go to bed.
Heather waited until Eira turned off the light in her bedroom, waiting a bit longer to make sure she was actually asleep. She sneaked out of the hut as quietly as possible, heading to the stables where her dragon was already waiting for her. Eira came out of her hut just in time to see Heather flying away. It irked her a bit that her friend still forgot Eira wasn't just a healer in the gang. Hiccup joined her quickly; they both had a feeling something was wrong with Heather. Wanting to find out the truth, they decided to follow her. They flew high in the clouds, so she wouldn't see them. Hidden on one of the rocks jutting out of the sea, they watched as Heather landed on a moored boat and spoke with someone. The moon had just come out from behind the clouds, illuminating everything with a pale light. To their surprise, standing on the boat with Heather was Johann.