Chapter Text
Twenty-Seven: For Berk…
The Cemetery was silent for all of three seconds before there was complete panic and a rush for the townward gate. All decorum was forgotten as the citizens of Berk elbowed each other aside while Hiccup sighed and stared up at the approaching Gronckle, watching the panicking Fishlegs circle and land by the funeral party. Leo rolled his eyes and walked towards the worried man.
"Calm down, Fish," he said tiredly. "Tell us what you saw…"
"Oh Thor!" the younger Dragon Master whimpered. "There are a huge host of Outcasts, Bandits and dragons on their way…"
Hiccup frowned, his eyes still fixed on the stampeding Berk citizens: all of them were ample in size and trying to squish through the stone gateposts of the cemetery. He supposed it would have seemed reasonable…but there was no fence either side of the gateposts, which stood in glorious isolation. Nevertheless, the citizens were pushing and shoving to get through the narrow space and ignoring the acres of unimpeded exit to either side.
"Um…are they for real?" he asked, gesturing with his left hand at the scrum. As he watched, one of the gateposts was knocked over. Two of the Svens were now fighting and Drunken Olaf was swigging from his flask of mead. Astrid turned to look and sighed.
"Berk-the only town where everyone's weight is higher than their IQ," she murmured. "Except yours, babe…" Hiccup shrugged his bony shoulders.
"Thanks…I think…" he said dryly. "Okay…I can see expecting any coherent thought from the citizens may be an issue. What sort of dragons, Fish?"
"Whispering Deaths, Armourwings, Nadders, a Razorwhip and a huge white red-eyed titan wing Whispering Death…"
"A Screaming Death," Leo murmured quietly. "Oh Thor…" Hiccup turned hi ahead at the tone and stared at his Uncle: the tone was despairing.
"Leo?" he asked thoughtfully. The man slowly raised his forest green eyes and there was extreme anxiety there.
"Screaming Death…is a giant variant of Whispering Death…just immune to sunlight, worse tempered and hideously powerful," he explained. "There's one born a century…in a red egg, if I recall…but it would have to be with Alvin and Drago," he sighed, covering his face with his hand. Hiccup walked to him and frowned.
"Can I help?" he asked softly but Leo turned away, his head down and shoulders hunched.
"I can't do it, Hiccup," he murmured ashamedly. "I-I can't face Alvin again…and certainly not another Whispering Death…" Hiccup quietly caught the man's shoulder.
"You won't have to, my friend," he promised. "I will stop him. After all…he killed my mother, kidnapped me and maimed my Uncle. I think it's my turn to stand up to him." Leo's head snapped up and the tiniest smile lifted his lips.
"Val would be proud," he murmured as Gobber clapped his other shoulder, drawing a hiss from his lips as he jostled his bullet wound. Hiccup frowned and glanced at Astrid, extending his hand and feeling her fingers slide between his, curling reassuringly in a gentle grasp.
"Gobber-where does the Town Council meet? Is there Town Hall?" he asked. There was an embarrassed pause.
"Not as such, laddie," Gobber mumbled, glancing at the girl.
"What Gobber is trying to say is that the Town Council meets in his saloon!" Fishlegs helpfully supplied. Gobber groaned.
"That health hazard? Really?" Leo asked with a frown.
"Well we couldnae meet in th' Town Hall tae more…since Dagur burnt it down!" Gobber protested.
"Can you round up the Council so I can talk with them?" Hiccup suggested, his green eyes shadowed with thought. "I need their help…because we need a plan to stop Alvin once and for all!" Astrid linked her arm through his and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"I'm with you all the way, babe," she smiled as they walked towards the cemetery entrance. The gateposts had been demolished and they ground was flattened by the stampede of Berk citizens. "But I don't hold out much hope that we'll get much help from the townsfolk…" Hiccup shrugged.
"No change there," he muttered.
They arrived back at Gobber's before the rest by dint of flying on Toothless and Stormfly. Leo, Gustav and Gobber travelled with the twins on the hearse and were following behind as the dragons landed in the yard before dismounting and walking in. Hiccup stared at the room and his jaw dropped.
"What the Hel has he done to this damned room?" he demanded. Astrid slowly soon round and inspected the room.
"Hmm…it looks a little grubby," she admitted, her azure eyes flicked over every surface.
"This place was spotless when I cleaned it!" Hiccup protested. "I mean…it looks even dirtier than when I arrived! And how is there stew on the ceiling?"
"The twins?" Astrid suggested, righting a couple of chairs and starting to gather up plates of stew…well, some brownish meal that appeared welded to the plates. Hiccup sighed and grabbed the plates, spoons and glasses and took them into the kitchen. There was a short scream as he caught sight of the kitchen. Astrid righted the rest of the chairs and peered around. Apart from the stew on the ceiling…and on the walls, the bar was sticky and the rug had dusty footprints on. She heard the pump going in the kitchen and a groan. She stared around and gently walked into he kitchen, finding the tall shape of the gunslinger staring despairingly at the sink full of filthy dishes, cups and pans.
"Babe?" she asked, coming to rest a hand on his back. He sighed.
"I can't do this," he whispered. "I-I…it's all too much, Astrid! I just managed to work it out when it was me and Red and my vengeance…but now I'm in the town I came from with-with the woman I love and my Uncle and my dead father and…and I really have no clue what to do!" She rested her cheek against his back and wrapped her arms around his lean shape.
"I know the guy who befriended a Night Fury, rescued my brother and saved me will find a way," she told him softly. He slowly turned to inspect her, his warm green gaze sweeping over her smiling face.
"I think he may have lost his motivation," he muttered. She stared up into his face and beckoned him down, pressing her lips firmly against his, finding his hands sliding down her back to grip her slender waist.
"I sincerely hope you've got a better one now," she mumbled into his lips and she felt him pull back and give his lopsided smile.
"I could get used to it," he admitted as the door banged and the rest of the Town Council noisily made their way into the Saloon. Hiccup kissed Astrid again as he heard Gobber loudly take the drinks order and the murmur of appreciation. Chairs scraped and creaked alarmingly as the Council took their seats…and Hiccup sighed, allowed Astrid to adjust his star and walked into the Saloon. Gobber was serving meads all round and Hiccup grabbed a couple of small glasses for Astrid and himself…and then he looked around the Council.
They were not exactly an inspiring group. Gothi was there, perched on the most comfortable chair with a huge mug of mead, her staff still gripped in her other hand. Gobber was at the bar, serving two of the Svens, Lars the shopkeeper and Fishlegs. The twins had occupied a table and were arguing with Leo, who was wearing an exasperated expression that Hiccup recognised from he mirror. Astrid accepted her mug and slid onto an unoccupied chair as Hiccup-who had taken his place as the Sheriff on the Council an hour earlier-leaned against the bar.
"We have a problem," he began. "Alvin the Treacherous and many of his Outcast men are returning with his half-brother, the feared bandit Drago Deathbringer. They have come to wreak vengeance on Dagur and his Berserkers…but they no longer exist. So they are going to attack us with no reason…"
"We could try to parlay and explain that to him," Fishlegs suggested in a worried voice. He was not a man for combat.
"Not sure that will work," Leo spoke up grimly.
"How do you know?" Lars asked him sharply. Leo sighed and gestured to the bandaged remains of his left and and the prosthetic.
"Tried it once?" he suggested. When Lars looked spectacularly dim, he sighed. "Alvin tortured me then fed me to wild Whispering Deaths to end me…" Lars's eyes widened in shock.
"Well, maybe he just didn't like your attitude…!" the shopkeeper told him smugly.
"You want attitude…?" Leo began, his remaining eye flashing.
"Okay…maybe that isn't the smartest option," Astrid spoke up before Hiccup could growl in defence of his Uncle. "Anyone got any ideas for how we could maybe resist Alvin and Drago?"
"Paint the town Red!" Tuff called out with a grin. Hiccup's head snapped round in shock.
"What? How-how would that help?" he stammered.
"It would be awesome!" Ruff told him, fist-bumping her twin.
"WHY?" Hiccup stuttered.
"Oh-I know!" Ruff suggested. "We could built an exact replica of the town two miles away from the real town so that they attack that instead of us…"
"And when they discover it's a fake Berk?" Hiccup asked in a faint voice.
"Hey-no one hates Berk enough to attack it twice!" Tuff told him as if it was obvious.
"Oh Gods," Hiccup groaned. "Any sane suggestions? Anyone?"
"We could buy him off?" Gobber suggested.
"With what?" the larger Sven asked.
"I have Dagur's house…and buried under there is his gold…but I doubt that would be enough…" Astrid revealed.
"Unless you throw in the most expensive dragons…say a Skrill…and a Night Fury…" Fishlegs suggested.
"NO!" Hiccup and Leo said simultaneously.
"You cannot hand Alvin any advantage like that!" Leo told him sharply.
"Toothless is mine!" Hiccup added grimly.
"And Drago is a vicious madman who uses dragons to subjugate those he attacks and conquers!" Leo finished.
"That ain't happenin'!" Gobber echoed. "Stoick used tae read meh reports about the man. He is evil, pure and simple! Ye canna give him any help!"
"But he will wipe us from the face of Midgard!" Lars protested. Hiccup narrowed his eyes: the man was clearly a troublemaker and liked at the sound of his own voice. Hiccup took a slow breath: Astrid was right-he did have something to live for.
"Not if I can help it," he said calmly. "Twins-have you buried the Berserker brothers?"
"Uh, dude-who do you take us for?" Ruff asked him in an offended voice. "They were underground by nightfall! And we did it for free…"
"Can you dig them up?" Hiccup asked them pointedly.
"Um…do you understand what an undertaker does?" Tuff asked pointedly. "We're not like a bank, where you can make deposits and withdrawals! Once in, they stay in!"
"Except Drunken Olaf!" Gustav piped up from the back. "You've buried him three times already!"
"Well, he keeps falling unconscious in the middle of the Plaza!" Tuff protested.
"And we'll be right one day!" Ruff added. "Eventually…"
"Can you dig them up?" Hiccup growled through his teeth.
"Of course we can!" Tuff said in an offended voice. "Though they won't be pretty…"
"I just need Al to be able to recognise Dagur!" Hiccup snapped. "Despite the fact that it is the stupidest plan known to man, I am going to try to talk to them…and prove to them they have no quarrel with Berk."
"And if that doesn't work?" Astrid asked.
"Two options," he said. "We have an army unit and three Marshals as our guests. They can do their duty and protect the citizens of Berk from a real enemy!" Gothi frowned and scratched on the floorboards, despite Hiccup's wince.
"Good plan but they don't seem tae be men who do their jobs!" Gobber read and scowled. "Yer old witch. That's hardly reassurin'!"
"We have to try," Hiccup sighed. "But if they don't take the opportunity before they arrive, then I will see if either of them is a man. And see if they fancy a duel for the town of Berk!"
Silence met his declaration…and then the twins leapt into the air, whooping in excitement. "YAY!" they screamed. "AWESOME DESTRUCTION! RYDER ROCKS!"
"Though they may just try to kill me…which is why I'm going on Toothless," Hiccup said.
"I'm going with you!" Astrid said immediately. He spun to face her, his eyes wide with worry.
"No, Milady!" he told her very firmly.
"I can come if I want!" she snapped, irritated. "I'm not helpless…"
"But I will be!" he reminded her. "Astrid, I have lost my mother, my supposed father, my wife, my previous dragon and my real father. I cannot lose you…that would finish me! And I can't do what needs to be done if I am using at least half an eye to watch over you…and I would, Milady, because that is who I am. I didn't save you from Snotlout to allow you to be captured and suffer Thor knows what under Alvin!" Her eyes widened, the expression softening with sympathy as she recalled his wounds.
"Babe, I…" she murmured. "I-I just want to help…" He closed to her side and pulled her to her feet, his hands gently curling around her upper arms, thumbs stroking her skin gently.
"Then watch the town and Gustav and Gothi and Gobber for me," he asked her gently. "And…Leo…" They was a pause and her eyes met his. "Please…I know I can trust you." She swallowed, blinking hard at the grim tone in his voice and nodded.
"Hey, I want to go!" Gustav protested. "Hookfang is pretty powerful and could help!"
"And i dinnae want tae miss out on this fight!" Gobber added.
"What about us?" Tuff asked pointedly.
"Oh, you're coming with me!" Hiccup said calmly. "And you, Fish!"
"Are-are you sure?" Fishlegs protested. "I would be so much more use here…"
"Fish…I need you with me," Hiccup said quietly. "Because Leo can't come…and I need a Dragon Master…" The older man stiffened. "We move out in an hour. Everyone else-warn the town. Get the women and children to Astrid Hofferson's compound…the former Berserker compound. At least there, they can be protected. Gobber-would you come with me? I think I need to talk to the soldiers and Marshals before I leave!"
oOo
The Marshals were housed in the cells, watched over by Grump. Admittedly the Hotburple wasn't the best guard-dragon…which was to say he was asleep the entire time…but he prevented escape simply by forming a physical barrier to actually getting out. The people of Berk had been very hostile and after the death of the Sheriff, the Marshals had decided they ought not to cause more bloodshed. Admittedly the food in cells was good but they were locked up when they were supposed to be restoring order to the town…but even Larson had to admit they had done more harm than good in dealing with the auburn-haired gunslinger. So it was little surprise when the door to the cells opened and the large one-legged one-armed man poked his head in, the brown bowler still jammed on his head.
"Out, Grump!" he growled. "If yer dinnae move, I'm putting yer up fer adoption!" The heavy dragon unwillingly opened an eye and backed out of the cells to cursing from the two-limbed man before the tall shape of the gunslinger walked in, his hat tilted back on his messy auburn hair and his bright green eyes thoughtful. The old man hobbled in beside him. All three Marshals stood in their cells as the gunslinger faced them…the silver star bearing the word SHERIFF attached to his vest.
"We all have a problem," the new Sheriff said. "Drago Darkheart is a few miles out of town with Alvin the Treacherous and an army of bandits. There's too little time to evacuate…even if you could persuade this ornery bunch to leave their homes anyways! So it would be timely if the US Marshals we have in town could do something useful for once!"
"What the Hel are you doing with that star?" Olson growled. Hiccup sighed.
"Lucky me-the Town Council decided they wanted Stoick's son as Sheriff," he said sarcastically. "I mean, my extensive knowledge of law-enforcement…all from the wrong side, I freely admit, seems to be qualification enough!"
"You may not have rustled that dragon but you have broken a host of laws!" Larson growled. Hiccup shrugged.
"Wouldn't have if the law hadn't let me down in the first place," he said coldly. "I didn't ask to be kidnapped as an infant, to have my mother killed and be raised by one of the kidnappers…or to watch him killed, to have no clue where my home or family was, to fall in love and watch my wife raped and murdered and be beaten within an inch of my life when our dragons were stolen. Where was the law then? I visited my sheriff each time…and nothing was done. So I did it."
"So it was justified?"
"No one else made the killers pay," Hiccup said. "No one else had the nerve to finish off the Berserkers who murdered Astrid Hofferson's father and kidnapped her. The same men who beat and tortured me and, when I had escaped, terrorised the town until they caught Leo and tortured him in the centre of the plaza. Somehow, the people of Berk trust me because I freed them from the gang that had taken over the town!"
"The Council vote was unanimous!" Gobber added. "Now, yer were called in by Stoick tae deal with the gangs. The second gang is coming in with a bandit wanted all over the country! What're yer gonna do? Run away wi' yer tails between yer legs because yer broke the law, tried tae hang an innocent man and helped a traitor try to steal a Night Fury from his bonded Rider and murder the Sheriff…or do yer duty and protect the people of this town from Alvin and Drago?"
Hiccup folded his arms and scowled. They had agreed he would do the talking…but Gobber was massively indiscreet and furious at the death of his best friend.
"What he said!" he added sarcastically. "He seems to be in charge of the Town Council." Larson face-palmed.
"Those lunatics?" he groaned. "Are any of them from the jury?"
"All of them…except Drunken Olaf," Gobber admitted. "But we also include Ruffnut, the other undertaker and, of course, the town's richest and leading citizen-Astrid Hofferson. And the Dragon Master and well, my old friend Leo Gudmundir deserves to be on the Council for his experience and skills." Arvidson rolled his eyes.
"You would never convict him, would you?" he realised.
"Viking sensibilities would absolve him o' any blame given all he has suffered-and all he has done fer the people here in Berk already," Gobber confirmed.
"The people need everyone they can get to protect them," Hiccup said coldly. "I am not asking you to face him. I will go-with some friends…but if that fails, I need a plan B."
"You want three US Marshals as your plan B?" Arvidson snarked.
"And the Army," Hiccup added. "Their Major may well have been a traitor and a liar but those men looked genuine. Maybe they will want to defend the town as well?" Larson stared at him calculatingly.
"You gonna ask them…Sheriff…?" he sneered.
"Nope. You are!" the gunslinger said firmly. "They'll trust you." Larson frowned and glanced at his comrades. All of them would have executed Hiccup out of hand but now the situation had changed-and they were facing a threat greater than they could have guessed. All had heard of Drago…and knew the damage he could inflict on the little town. Then they reluctantly nodded.
"Okay," Larson said, lifting his chin. "Let us out of here and…"
"I think I'll get you to talk to the army guys first," Hiccup said, his green eyes narrowing. "Once you've convinced them, then I'm letting the rest of you out of here…" Larson frowned.
"You're really Stoick's son?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Looks like it," he said in a toneless voice. "And thanks to your friend the Major, I'll never get to know him. So all I can do is what he would have: a Sheriff protects his own. Protects Berk. Even at the cost of his life."
oOo
Toothless was fidgeting eagerly, his saddle laden with a couple of rifles as well as his Rider. Hiccup checked his gun was fully loaded and sighed…before he heard running steps and looked up to see Astrid racing towards him, her skirts in her hands as she sprinted across the Plaza.
"Oh no-you are NOT going without saying goodbye, Mister Skinny!" she snapped.
"Pretty sure that's Sheriff Skinny to you, Milady," he smirked as she flung herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest. "I wasn't going anywhere," he murmured, feeling her trembling.
"You better not," she said as she raised her head, her blue eyes shining with emotion. "Or I'll fly Stormfly to Valhalla to fetch you back!"
"Pretty sure her wings will get tired before you get anywhere near," he murmured, kissing her forehead. She grabbed his vest and hauled his head down for a proper, very passionate kiss. And then she punched him in the shoulder. "Owww! That's hardly gonna entice me back!"
"Well, I gotta give you some reasons to come back…"
"What-fear?" he protested. Her lips crashed into his again and when she finally pulled away, he was breathing heavily, his expression very slightly goofy. "Hmm…though it could well be worth it!"
"Keep your mind on the bad guys," she warned him as the twins arrived on their Zippleback, Gobber angered up on a very reluctant Grump and Fishlegs hovered in on Meatlug, his Gronckle.
"Always, Milady," he reassured her, "but my heart will be with you, here. Now I actually have something to live for!" He glanced up and his eyes darkened for a second in disappointment. "Have you seen Leo?" he murmured. She sighed.
"He's sitting with Star," she said softly. "I-I think he's terribly ashamed he can't face Alvin again…"
"He's done more than enough!" Hiccup murmured, still holding her close. "I really should go talk with him…" And then he stopped, because he knew time was running out. The Marshals had emerged from the jail and the soldiers were lined up along the side of the Plaza, their Nadders all saddled and ready to meet the enemy. She raised a hand to stroke his face.
"I'll talk to him if you promise to take care," she said gently. He kissed her once more, a chaste hiss then pulled back.
"Promising nothing," he sighed, "because they have to be stopped."
"And this crazy plan is the best you could come up with?" she asked. He shrugged, reluctantly letting her go.
"Not a lot to work with, to be honest," he said dryly.
"Um…allies on dragons here, listening!" Fishlegs spoke up.
"I said not a lot, not nothing!" Hiccup said dryly to the eavesdroppers. "Come on-they're getting closer and we need to make them an offer they can't refuse…"
"One of Gobber's stews?" Tuffnut suggested.
"No-his Home Brewed Mead!" Ruff amended with a roar of laughter.
"And we're outta here!" Hiccup cut in before Gobber exploded. "Let's go! Twins-have you got the presents?"
"You got it, H!" Tuff called. Hiccup sighed as Toothless rose from the ground.
"H? H? I mean, where's the respect?" he grumbled.
"Hey! That's extremely respectful…for us!" Ruff reminded him. He sighed.
"Somehow, I knew that was the answer," he said as he led his little group out of town, flying low and fast towards the canyons tot he sound, the swirling wind blowing the dry, gritty dusk up into their faces. Hiccup had his scarf across his lower face but Gobber was coughing and the twins were whooping and choking in equal measures. But they rounded the bend int he canyon and stopped, aghast.
Before them hung a fearsome hoard, over a hundred men and dragons, many common types like Gronckles and Nadders but a few were were exotic-Whispering Deaths, an Armourwing which a sallow-skinned one-armed brute of a man with one black dreadlocks, a scarred face and cruel black eyes was riding and a Giant White Whispering Death with burning red eyes and ten times the size of the Alvin's 'regular' Whispering Death mount.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my…it is a Screaming Death," Fishlegs whimpered. "We're done…they're hyperaggressive, invulnerable to daylight…in fact they have no documented weaknesses at all…"
"Thank you, Fishlegs…really making my day here," Hiccup muttered as the little party hovered ahead of the vanguard. He raised his hand and waved a white scarf Astrid had given him.
"Are yer surrendering, Ryder?" Alvin shouted. Hiccup scowled.
"Oh, hi, Al!" he called amiably. "No-but feel free to if you want!" Please….
"I'm good, boy!" the gun merchant shouted back. The young Sheriff turned his attention to the one-armed man on the armoured dragon and his expression hardened.
"And you would be Drago Darkheart," he shouted.
"I am Deathbringer!" the man roared, waving his arm around and swinging a ferocious bull-hook. All the dragons in the army lowered their heads, cowed. Toothless gave a puzzled warble and Hiccup unconsciously patted his head.
"Yeah, bud, I know," he murmured under his breath. "I don't like him either…" Then he signalled the twins, who were transporting there coffins lashed to the backboard of al old wagon. They dropped it from about them feet and them Barf'n'Belch's powerful clawed paws ripped the lids off the coffins, exposing the less than healthy looking bodies of the Berserker brothers. A couple of Alvin's men went green and vomited while Drago's men looked away to the sounds of retching: even the gun runner swallowed once, though his face twisted in a triumphant smirk.
"I see yer took care o' me competition, boy!" he announced. "I owe yer one…mebbe I'll let yer live after this…now Berk is mine…"
"Not so fast!" Hiccup snapped. "You abandoned Berk-and any claim on it. Dagur and his gang are gone. Berk is free! And we certainly don't want or need you…" Drago scowled and roared at his dragon: immediately, it lifted its head and incinerated the coffins containing the dead Berserkers. The twins on their dragon got out of the way just in the nick of time…but they were scowling and leaning forward tensely in their saddles, ready to attack, gas already trailing for Barf's mouth… Toothless gave a fierce roar and the Screaming Death instantly replied, causing all the dragons to shake their heads in disorientation.
"It's scream disorients them…" Fishlegs gasped as Hiccup fought for control.
"Step aside, boy, and we won't hurt yer…" Alvin said slimily but Hiccup tightened his grasp on the saddle.
"Can't do that, Al-even if I wanted to let you. But I don't. Berk is my home and I don't want gangs ruining it…" And then the sun gleamed on his star. The huge gun runner burst out laughing.
"They made you Sheriff?" he roared with laughter. He was almost helpless. Drago was chuckling cruelly, measuring up the skinny, lanky shape and finding it wanting…but Hiccup dropped his hand to his pistol and his green eyes narrowed.
"Yes," he said coldly. "Don't you recognise me, Al? Twenty years ago, you tried to kidnap me and my Mom? But you bodged it. Mom was killed…and one of your men, Espen Randall, ran off with me. He raised me as his own…until I finally returned to Berk…to get my revenge…" Alvin's eyes popped wide and he almost fell off his Whispering Death with laughter.
"You're Stoick's scrawny pup?" he sneered. "Oh this is rich! This why they made yer Sheriff? Ter keep the bloodline in charge of Berk? Hope yer made yer peace with Odin, boy, because this will be the shortest tenure as Sheriff in the town's history…"
Toothless roared and every dragon started as the lanky shape stood in the saddle.
"NO!" he shouted. "You face ME! We duel for Berk…if either of you is man enough to stand up to me!" His lips twisted in a sarcastic smile. "I mean…look at me! What are you two big men scared of?"
But Alvin knew. He recalled the four coffins filled by his men on Ryder's first day in Berk, men gunned down by the lightning fast stranger…the man now facing him. But he couldn't allow Dago to take the challenge…because then Berk would be his, not Alvin's. The Outcast nodded, his big head, his dark eyes calculating…
"Challenge accepted!" he roared.
"For Berk?" Hiccup checked firmly. Alvin nodded.
"We fight for Berk," he confirmed.
"And the weapon?" Hiccup asked, knowing he was better than any of them with any rifle or pistol. Alvin gave a yellow grin, eyeing his trump card.
"Dragons!"
