Peacemakers
Hiccup squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. Then he waited, nervous and eager about what would follow. He glanced across the square to where Far-Flight, Sky-Dancer, and Toothless were patiently waiting. They silently nodded back to him in reassurance.
The seconds passed until the door swung open with a creak.
A middle-age man with brown and gold hair stood in the doorway. He had carelines on his face and brow, and he looked rather older than he should for his age. The years of commanding and leading among the Rohirrim had left their marks on him.
"Good morning, Master Haddock," Gamling greeted him.
"Good morning, Master Gamling. I want to speak with you."
"Father, who is it?" Adney shouted from within.
"It is Master Haddock."
Adney strode up behind her father.
"Morning, Haddock! You weren't kidding about not being a great dancer."
"Like you'd know anything about that..."
She chuckled at that, and he joined in before again giving Gamling all his attention. The man had the same kind, knowing look he remembered him having.
He totally knows already.
"Sir, are your parents back yet?"
"No, they are still attending to the wounded in other villages," Gamling answered.
Hiccup paused and took a breath.
"I and my family would like to speak to you and your daughter."
"Very well. We can do that outside," Gamling answered.
Gamling and Adney followed him outside and around the houses. They walked until they met the gathered Furies who had followed them and were now waiting on a flat, grassy part of Edoras. He stood before them and turned to face Gamling.
"Sir, I wish for your daughter's hand in marriage. Here is the bride price."
He stepped forward and held out the gold ring which Gamling took and inspected.
He knew that the ring was a fit for her because she had let him get correct measurements before he made the mold.
"You forged this yourself?" Gamling asked, impressed.
"Not entirely on my own. My brother helped. Dragons can be helpful in the forge... when they aren't melting them."
"I heard that!" Toothless barked.
Adney and Gamling chuckled.
"Anyway, sir, I love your daughter, and I want your permission to marry her."
Gamling gazed at him without speaking for a long time.
"I have one question for you. If you do marry her, where would your loyalty lie between the dragons and Rohan? I know that you swore an oath to the dragon pack."
It was a very difficult question since there should not be a distinction. Being loyal to one did not mean not caring for the well-being of the other. But it was also fair of Gamling to be concerned about his own daughter's future, should something terrible happen.
It was a question which deserved nothing less than the total truth, even if that truth might not be what Gamling wanted to hear or what he himself wanted to have to say.
He took a breath and calmly stared back at Gamling.
"Sir, the dragons are my family, and I am one of the pack with them. I promised them my loyalty, and I will always want what is best for them before any other tribe or people."
Gamling stared him down, eyes narrowed and brow furrowed, and then slowly nodded.
"I see. True at heart and loyal to your own. I can ask for no more than that."
Gamling faced Adney, held out the ring, and paused, his hand shaking.
"Dear daughter, you are a woman: a girl no more. Do you wish this?"
She took the ring, palmed it, wiped away a tear, and then kissed her father's forehead.
"Yes, father. I do."
"Very well. Master Haddock, son, you have my permission and my blessing."
With the approval obtained, Adney ran to him and threw her arms around him. He gladly returned the hug while all their family watched, smiling and purring in approval.
Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer came forward after the hug.
"You will be the life-mate of our cub. We name you as kin to us. We will protect you and provide for you and your cubs as we would our own," Far-Flight hummed.
Adney bowed to him.
"Thank you, Far-Flight father... Sky-Dancer mother."
Far-Flight snorted softly in amusement.
"Is there another ceremony?" Sky-Dancer asked.
Adney nodded.
"There would normally be a feast hosted by the families, but there's no point so soon after we all had a feast," she said.
"What happens instead?" Hiccup asked, holding her shoulder.
Adney glanced at her father, whose eyebrows lifted.
"How about we have the wedding today?" she proposed.
"Today?" Hiccup gasped in surprise.
"Why wait any longer? We've waited a few months already."
"Well, if you're fine with that, I won't object."
"I am."
"Good. Speaking of waiting..."
He grinned and spun her to face him. Then he kissed her in full view of their families. Gamling was smiling at him after he finished, though the man also looked a little sad. The proud commander of many Rohirrim and a survivor of the war, wiped a tear from his own cheek. His soon-to-be father-in-law.
He stepped over to Gamling.
"Thank you, sir. Father."
Gamling embraced him with a bear-hug. It had been a long time since he had been hugged so by any human other than Adney.
"You are an honorable man. You have changed Rohan so much already for the better," Gamling said.
"Just by being himself," Adney chuckled.
Gamling frowned slightly as he glanced between Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer and his own small house.
"Though, there might be a problem with having your... parents over for dinner at my house."
Weddings on Berk had been grand festivals held in the Great Hall. There was a lot of ale drunk at those parties. There were also strange traditions, such as those involving carrying the wife, what kinds of gifts to give, extensive use of flower petals for decoration even though flowers didn't really grow in that quantity on Berk or surrounding islands, and the mortifying tradition saved for the Chief's son whose duty was to produce an heir. He would have had to endure that with whomever he married if he had stayed on Berk.
This was nothing like any of that.
He, Adney, Gamling, Wynfryth, Toothless, Moonbeam, Breath-Of-Sky, Mystery, Far-Flight, and Sky-Dancer were gathered in the Golden Hall, which was, aside from the dragons, rather empty now late in the afternoon but before dinner. King Eomer, Theoden, and several attendants were present.
The King and Theoden both grinned when they were told of the occasion.
"Which version?" King Eomer asked.
"The shorter one, my King," Adney answered.
"Bring the cord!" King Eomer instructed one of his attendants.
A simple white length of cord was brought out from storage. Eomer took the cord and approached them.
Adney clasped Hiccup's left hand, and they both raised their arms. She slid a ring onto his left hand ring finger, and he did likewise for her right hand. Eomer then wove the cord several times around their wrists, and he spoke.
"You stand in the presence of the King and witnesses from both families. We shall remember your oaths today."
Eomer faced Hiccup.
"Do you take her to be your wife, to have and to love to the end of your days?"
"I do," he said.
Eomer nodded and faced Adney.
"Do you take him to be your husband, to have and to love to the end of your days?"
"I do," she said.
Eomer stepped back and smiled.
"It is done. You are husband and wife."
Eomer then undid the cord and had it taken away.
"That's it?" Hiccup asked, surprised.
Adney kissed his cheek and chuckled.
"There is a much longer version spoken in Rohirric, but you don't know that tongue, so we went for the short vows," she explained.
"Fine by me."
Theoden approached.
"I am happy for you both. Eomer King and I wondered if this would happen. Haddock, the house that you have been staying in is yours and Adney's for as long as you need it."
His house was a very simple one with only a single main room, but that was common to almost all the dwellings in Edoras. None of them, with the exception of the Meduseld, were meant to be fine or extravagant. She had already told him that she didn't need much in the way of a house, at least not anytime soon.
"Thank you, sir. I'll... we'll be staying there for a long time."
Theoden, Eomer, and the attendants departed, so he and all his family left the Hall. Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer gently nuzzled him and Adney before they glided away to their barn.
Toothless then nudged his shoulder.
"Are you both mates now?"
"Yes, we are officially mates now, life-mates even," he sighed in exasperation.
Adney chuckled and rolled her eyes, probably since she was amused by the choice of words.
"Good! What happens now?" Toothless asked.
Hiccup gazed at Adney, at his wife, with longing and a wide smile, both of which she returned.
"I have an idea, but I need some help with that."
"What! My help?" Toothless wondered.
"You wouldn't mind the saddle for a flight, would you?"
"A flight? Should I be worried?" Adney asked.
Toothless flew peacefully above the clouds while Moonbeam glided at his side, brushing his wingtips. He carried Hiccup and Adney with him on the calm flight. They were doing nothing but holding each other, lost in the peace and joy of flight for the second time together.
He wanted this to be good for them as new mates starting their lives together. He also respected that Hiccup and Adney wanted to be alone later. That preference was common to both their kinds.
I knew that her soul-fire would fly like his! That shared flight was a good idea!
They flew in peace, no one saying anything aloud until the last of the sunset faded beyond the mountains. The moon was already bright in the sky, so he and Moonbeam roared together at it, sending their joy into the sky and over the wind. Then, after a long and calm flight, he turned back to Edoras in a peaceful glide.
The pack was gathered together as usual on the slope, except for those who were flying far beyond for their work. Some of their packmates had started staying more often in villages or with the Rohirrim who were tending the herds. At least they stayed out when they were flying the furthest. They always preferred to be back with their kin whenever possible.
Maybe we should officially introduce her to the pack. She is almost part of the pack through him now. Later.
He gently touched down and pranced to a stop beside his den. Moonbeam also landed and stepped up next to him while Hiccup and Adney got down. Hiccup took the saddle off him and tossed it in his den.
"Thanks for the flight and for not scaring her," Hiccup teased.
"Yeah, thank you Toothless, or should I use Burning-Star?" Adney asked.
"Whichever one you want to use. I do not mind either way," he answered.
"Alright, I like Burning-Star more. It's not as silly. Whoever would name a dragon 'toothless' must have issues with naming things."
"And there it is. I knew this had to happen," Hiccup groaned.
Moonbeam chuckled.
"It is good that your mate can fight you with words," she said.
Hiccup smirked.
"Oh, can she?"
"Yes, she can," Adney laughed.
"Not if I do this!"
Hiccup did the kissing thing with Adney, which she was eager to return as she hugged him and did the kissing thing with him.
Moonbeam grunted in confusion, and Toothless just shrugged his shoulders.
Humans...
Hiccup then grabbed Adney's hand and pulled her away to their den. Laughing and doing more of the kissing, they dashed inside and closed the door behind them.
Silence followed.
He wanted to tease Hiccup more, but he decided not to. Those two clearly had no problems with wanting each other, which was very good. They needed to be left alone for a long time.
We will not see them for a while.
"I do not understand the mouth-touching," Moonbeam muttered.
"Me neither. It is a twisted human thing to do."
"Should we try it?" she warbled.
Why not? It cannot hurt.
"Yes, we should."
He stepped over to her and rested his muzzle against hers. They blinked while rubbing closed mouths.
Doing that did not spark any inside-warmth, not like nuzzling noses or stroking tails did anyway.
"That did not help," he snorted and stepped back.
"No, it did not," she huffed.
"If there was food sharing, I would understand," he mused.
"Yes, sharing fish would be good bonding," she agreed.
"I do not know why humans do not like that food-sharing. Maybe the holding paws and arms helps the kissing," he wondered.
"Humans," they both snorted.
She started for their barn-den. He followed her inside and closed the door behind him with his tail. He snuggled up against her in the straw, wove their tails together, lay a wing over her, and sighed with peace, losing himself in her purring. Now, away from all other scent-distractions, he could again smell how she was slightly different in a way that did not spark any wanting but did spark protectiveness. It was a normal want to keep his mate warm and safe as she carried their growing cub.
His thoughts flew far back to the Shire and to the night when Hiccup drank too much happy-water-beer. While Hiccup's thinking was twisted, the happy-water-beer almost made him speak more truth, or say things that he would be reluctant to normally say.
That was the first time Hiccup had said that it would be good for them both to have families who grow up together. Their young would always know as family and as friends those from the other kind, even from very early ages.
It would be very good.
Hiccup now had his own mate and would have a warmer life-flight. That was good for him. But...
Was his own soul-fire both warmed and slightly chilled by that? The chill was probably that Hiccup would necessarily give more of his life-flight to her, which was only fair since he was doing the same with Moonbeam. He and Hiccup had their own life-flights to fly.
But it still felt like a part of his soul-fire was not pleased and did not want to... let go?
To lose something?
From his hoard?
His breath caught as his pendant glowed very faintly. Moonbeam slept on, her sleep completely undisturbed. But his thoughts were troubled as he stared into the pendant's light.
The first time it had truly flared with light had been when he dove deep into the Long Lake and saw Smaug's bones and remaining treasure. He had seen and known, deep in his soul-fire, that he was a true Middle-earth dragon who needed a hoard. Maybe that had been because the Ring had sparked to life a twisted soul-fire in him. The only answer he could shape then was that Hiccup could be a living hoard and something... someone that was precious and which he had to protect and keep to himself in some ways.
But so much had changed since then.
He found his sire, dam, blood-brother, Moonbeam, and all the rest of the pack. They were precious too, but they were not truly his as something to hoard. His pendant could help free his thoughts from twistedness and temptation, but it was not the source of life-warmth. That warmth was from kin, from family.
Hiccup was part of his family, but Hiccup was not something to hoard or keep to himself. Adney would now have part of Hiccup's life.
It was as if he had a faint echo of Hiccup's problem, except that his own problem was not very strong. He knew that he was truly happy for Hiccup to have a life-mate of his own. If letting Hiccup have and be happy with a mate, just as Hiccup had done for him and Moonbeam, was part of growing up and letting go, he could gladly do that. Both of their lives would be warmer because of it.
Hiccup held Adney in his arms long after she had fallen asleep. He stayed awake longer, just wanting to feel her, twirl her hair, and hear her breathing.
One piece of his father's advice that had always mortified him to think about was that how to make his future wife happy in the bed chambers was something that was best learned on the job.
That was true, but both he and she were beginners at this part of life, so neither of them really cared. Embarrassment simply did not apply at the moment.
He looked around their meager bedroom and the little he could see in the dark. Theirs was still a poor house for now, not that she truly cared about that either, and the house could probably use some better furnishings. The floor certainly wouldn't be a place to toss their clothes.
Well, except on special occasions such as today.
Hiccup stood on the ledge with Toothless at his side. Elven robes and spread wings fluttered in the morning wind.
They both remembered that this was the same place where they had a fight and restrengthened their bond many months ago. It was where they both took those crucial steps toward learning to fly on their own.
"She knows that we'll only be gone a while, maybe not even all morning, right?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes, I told her. She is fine, and Far-Flight can help her if he must."
Toothless started pacing.
"Nervous, bro?"
"I just want to see this place, this good cave that will be ours. This is not... us being thrown out of Rohan, is it?"
"No. Helm's Deep and the caves there are still part of Rohan. It's within the borders anyway, and King Eomer would still be willing to help the pack with food if that's needed."
Toothless warily warbled with a twitching tail.
"And we would not need to fly there?"
"Out with it. What are you worried about?"
Toothless sat down before him. The Fury looked troubled.
"I did not want to have to go live there with you living here with Adney."
"Oh, bro, you don't have to go there. No one in the pack does. And if you do want to fly there for a while, that's fine with me. It's your life."
Toothless snorted and looked to the east.
"Yes, it is just that after many months of you being there almost all the time... I feel warmth for my little brother."
"I know. Breath-Of-Sky is really special," Hiccup grinned.
"Not him, well, yes him also, but you too!"
Hiccup twisted one of Toothless's ears.
"I know! Just teasing. I love you too, bro."
"Useless human..."
Flame-In-The-Night and Snowfall flew up above them, so Hiccup hopped on Toothless's bare back. They joined the Alpha pair as the flight turned for the west, the sun rising at their tails as they flew above the golden plains.
The Helm's Deep valley looked very different in the daytime instead of at night, let alone in the rain. Arriving in peacetime instead of when it was under siege by over ten thousand Uruk-hai definitely helped.
Hiccup could tell that there had already been a lot of work done to repair some of the Keep. There were no signs of battle, except for that the Deeping wall was still broken where it had been blasted. A few people, normal guards stationed at the Keep, were standing on the walls and observing their arrival.
But he also noticed how the sunlight illuminated the cave out of which the stream flowed into the valley. The cave's mouth was rather large and had more than enough room for a Fury to fly into.
Still, they alighted on the ground by the stream outside the cave, just in case they would run out of room by flying. They had no idea how large the cave truly was.
He stood between Toothless and Flame-In-The-Night with Snowfall beside him.
"Alright, time to see another hidden world!" Hiccup cheerfully said.
The Furies purred and followed him into the cave. It was clear that this was a path that was at least infrequently used. They passed crates, ropes, and random supplies as the walls, which looked like flowing rock, of the cave widened. The murmuring stream flowed on in peace beside them as they walked out into a massive chamber filled with a constant, echoing crash. A faint breeze blew into their faces, suggesting some open passages up ahead in the mountains. The dirt path led ahead up into the depths of the chamber, but none of them looked at that.
Rather, they were all staring at the white rocks which grew up from the ground; the black stalagmites hanging from the ceiling many fathoms above; the waterfall which flowed into the stream that exited the caves; the sparkling crystals in the walls and the ground and the rocks that glittered with reflected light; and the enormity of the cave.
"Well, okay, this is amazing," Hiccup breathed in awe.
"True, this is not like Erebor or the deep caves in the Northern Waste," Toothless hummed in wonder.
Flame-In-The-Night purred and fired a shot up into the open air. All the crystals flashed with mirrored light.
"This is not the same as the hidden world that I knew once, but this is very good. There are no other dragons to fight us for space and perches," he said.
Snowfall darted over to the stream, drank from the water, and hopped back to them while looking up at the heights.
"The water is clean and good for drinking. We could make many perches where we could rest," Snowfall agreed.
"And," Hiccup added, "the humans will fix that wall that was broken outside. With that wall repaired, nothing will be able to get in that way. Nothing on the ground, anyway."
The Alpha pair glanced at each other and purred in agreement.
"This place is good for the pack. We will claim it!" Flame-In-The-Night declared.
"Want to explore this place a little more while we're here?" Hiccup asked as he got back on Toothless.
"We should," Toothless readily agreed.
The Alphas leaped for the sky and began flying deeper into the Glittering Caves.
"What did you say about dragons not living underground?" Hiccup teased.
Toothless snorted.
"We are not living underground always. This is a place for us to go if we need to, very much like that Tolfalas island."
Hiccup frowned.
"Do you think many of the pack will want to live here... a lot?"
Toothless hummed, tail twitching as he thought.
"Some might, but I think that the sires and dams will also want their cubs to know good humans. They will not hide themselves away here. They also cannot do that because there is no food under this ground."
"Yeah, good point. Still, it's good for the pack to have its own place here. I wonder what the other hidden world was like."
Toothless put a paw to his pendant as it faintly glowed. While there was a lot of light in these caves, none of the crystals or rocks made light on their own. His pendant had the only light-making rock.
"We will never know!"
He slowly swept out his wings to give Hiccup warning, and then he followed the Alphas into the underground sky to explore more of the Glittering Caves.
Hiccup took a break from working the forge. He sat down on a stool, munched on some bread, and thought.
The last month had passed in a haze of activity. For one, he and Adney worked on improving their new home, adding simple furnishings to make it just a little better to live in. He also helped oversee the food situation for the pack, making sure that everyone, expecting mothers first and foremost, got enough. As it was there was just barely enough to go around. Still, having a greater cushion of food might relieve the strain on Rohan's herds, the hunting available in the wild, and the fish in the waters.
Maybe we can start trading with Gondor for fish by working or doing something to earn our keep. Snowflame, Eowyn, and Windripper had visited a month month ago to meet their relatives. The three of them had flown in together after leaving from Ithilien, which was where Eowyn was living now. She was to be married to Faramir, the two of them having fallen for each other during her time healing after the battle at Minas Tirith. Eowyn had bashfully chuckled at how endearing and forward the two Furies were with each other, though she understood that they were the dragon equivalent of married.
The two Furies were living happily together, being put up by Faramir and Eowyn and treated with all respect. But there were others who remained suspicious. There was no fear that the situation would come to violence against Snowflame or Windripper, since Faramir had publicly granted them status and protection on his life, but there was some unease because of something else. Eowyn had explained that there were occasional sighting of shadows flitting high above the Mordor mountains.
It was possible that there were still more wild Furies out there. No one had reported any attacks or incidents yet, but the worry was still there.
That detail led into the last event which had happened only the prior day. A herald from Gondor had arrived in Edoras with a message and a summons.
King Aragorn had invited him, Toothless, and Moonbeam to meet him in Dol Amroth in a couple weeks' time. The message had not given a reason for the summons, but he had a guess based on what Aragorn told him at their last meeting.
"Are you sure that you're good to fly this?" Hiccup asked.
Moonbeam huffed in his face and rolled her eyes.
"I would tell you if I could not fly! If Lightning could fly from the cold ranges all the way down here in her last moon-cycle of cub-carrying... I can fly now! Do you think I am weak? I am not weak!" she huffed.
He stepped back in alarm and defensively held out his hands.
"I... uh... never said you were... I'm sorry."
Her ears fell as she gave a weak warble.
"No! I am sorry, Hiccup. I... grrr... carrying a cub twists thinking!"
He put a hand on her forehead without any hesitation.
"It's alright. I understand. Should we say farewell to our parents?"
"Yes, we should," Toothless agreed, already wearing the saddle and a bag of supplies.
He always wore his pendant now, just to be safe, but it also helped in meetings with other peoples.
They left the barn together and walked to their parents' barn where they were expected. Sure enough, Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer got to their paws and walked out to join them. Sky-Dancer had plenty of energy and did not get as snappy.
"You are flying to the city by the water?" Far-Flight asked.
"Yes, we are," Hiccup answered.
"And we will fly straight back here afterward," Toothless added.
Sky-Dancer purred and licked all three of them on the cheek.
"Fly fast, dear ones."
"Dam, I am your cub. How can I not fly fast?" Toothless laughed.
Theirs was a calm, peaceful flight over the White Mountains. There was no great urgency driving them on into the south. They rested on the southernmost spur of the mountains after the first day of flight. On the second day of flight, they passed over fields and farms, eventually with the ocean coming into view. They passed over more fishing villages and saw growing signs of civilization, roads, farms, and people.
Then they saw the place that was unmistakably their destination: a white city on a massive headland that jutted out into the Bay of Belfalas. The headland had large, white cliffs against which waves crashed. A large wall, much like that at Minas Tirith, surrounded the exterior of the city. The homes and buildings included banners and white towers, also similar to those at Minas Tirith. There were fountains and gardens throughout the city, and there were docks down the cliffs in sheltered coves where ships were moored.
Hiccup was stunned by the craftsmanship and design that went into the city.
Yep, the same people must have worked on Minas Tirith and Dol Amroth.
Toothless and Moonbeam glided on the warm afternoon winds while circling above the city. He could see many humans looking up at him and Moonbeam. Best of all, he could see no weapons being drawn.
Aragorn must have told them about us flying here! He is the King-Alpha.
"Where should we land?"
Hiccup pointed toward the furthest portion of the city. A large building made of white rock had many banners with swans, and there was also a wide, open courtyard with fountains before the building.
"Try there. That might be a citadel."
Toothless turned his flight for it with Moonbeam following closely behind. They both touched down in the courtyard and sat down with Hiccup standing between them. The armored guards up ahead at the door did not move.
It was only a few seconds before an attendant approached from the citadel. The man had long hair and robes, which made him look like an Elf.
"Masters Haddock, Toothless, and Moonbeam, we have been expecting you. My name is Silvarion, liege of the House Imrahil and King Elessar."
"Well met, Master Silvarion. King Elessar wanted us to come here to meet him. We have come," Hiccup answered.
"And he shall meet with you shortly. I shall bring him the summons. Please remain here in this courtyard."
They sat down together to rest after Silvarion departed to take word.
The warm wind flowed from the ocean, bringing with it the smell of the sea and the cries of distant gulls. The fountains nearby kept bubbling while the fruit trees gleamed with their hanging crops.
"This is different from Minas Tirith, but it is not very different," Toothless observed.
"Yeah, I think that the same people helped build them."
Moonbeam huffed.
"Will they bring food for us? I am getting hungry."
Hiccup and Toothless glanced at each other in worry. Her getting hungry and snappy could be a problem. Not that she would do anything truly bad, but letting tempers fly at all would not be good.
"They better. I'm sure they will. Aragorn will understand," Hiccup reassured her.
She grumbled.
They waited more as people started appearing outside the fence and on the other side of the courtyard. Men, women, and children, all dressed in various robes and work attire, arrived and stared at them from afar.
No one approached.
"We should go meet them," Toothless hummed.
Together, they approached the crowd of people that had gathered to see them. Fingers were pointed and people shouted various things to each other.
"What are those?" "The good dragons!" "Beautiful!" "Get back, son!" "Get them out!" "Killed my cousin!"
Toothless stopped walking when he saw that there were many people in this crowd who were not happy to see him and Moonbeam.
What did we do to them? No, they probably knew kin at Minas Tirith...
He stood tall and proudly so that his pendant showed clearly, even if its light was too faint to see.
"Hello, humans! I am Burning-Star!"
"Get out!" "Don't want your kind here!" "Amazing!" "Why is it here?"
Hiccup stepped forward and crossed his arms.
"We came from the dragon pack living in Rohan! We want peace!"
Scoffing, muttering, and nods of agreement followed throughout the crowd.
A clear trumpet blared from the citadel as a group of people exited. A company of guards and servants bearing banners of the white tree and silver swans walked ahead of two people of prominence.
King Aragorn, now officially known to everyone else as Elessar, bore a long cloak, wore the livery of Gondor, and had Anduril at his hip, a full and fine beard, and a crown upon his brow. He held Queen Arwen's hand, both of them walking regally and with power.
Without any hesitation, Hiccup, Moonbeam, and Toothless approached them. The guards and servants stood aside to let their King and Queen through.
"Well met, good dragons and Master Haddock," Aragorn greeted them.
Hiccup wasn't sure exactly how to greet him. Strider was no more.
So he bowed his head.
Toothless and Moonbeam followed his lead, bending their heads toward Aragorn.
"No, please rise," Aragorn immediately said.
So they looked up at him in surprise as Aragorn stepped forward.
"My friends, you are not my subjects. You bow no one."
Aragorn went down on a knee and bent his head toward them. Arwen, the guards and attendants, and everyone in the crowd followed their King's lead.
Hiccup, Toothless, and Moonbeam beheld this in awe and wonder.
Hiccup especially noticed that even those who were discontent still followed their King's lead in this.
Well, it's not so bad here after all.
They walked alone with Aragorn around the citadel and out to the sheer cliffs below which the waves broke on the rock with a regular crash. Several ships were visible out along the shore in both directions.
They stood there with the wind fluttering their robes and wings.
"It is good to meet you again, King Aragorn," Hiccup said.
"You have become much more than Strider the Ranger in the wild," Toothless hummed.
Aragorn nodded.
"I would not be here upon the throne were it not for others. You dragons are not mine to rule, but I would aid you however I am able."
Hiccup smiled at that.
"You might like to hear then that some of the pack, mostly the new Furies who were rescued, went to Tolfalas. They wanted to be more away from humans."
"I am aware. I received reports of dragons living there."
"King Eomer also gave the pack the Glittering Caves to be theirs," Hiccup added.
"So I heard. I did not think that dragons would wish to dwell underground, but those caves are wondrous indeed," Aragorn said.
Toothless grumbled.
"We are not living underground. Those caves are only a place where we can rest, sleep, or be on our own for a time if we need to," he explained.
Aragorn nodded.
"I understand. I see that you brought Lady Galadriel's gift with you."
Toothless paused and nodded.
"Yes, I always wear it now. It helps me much."
Aragorn faced Moonbeam and smiled at her.
"And how are you, Moonbeam?"
"I am well," she purred, "but hungry. Carrying a cub makes me very hungry... and twisted sometimes."
Aragorn's eyebrows rose as he looked to Toothless. Toothless smugly purred and nudged Moonbeam's shoulder.
"We are with cub. My sire and dam are too," Toothless said.
Aragorn laughed with mirth.
"What joyous news this is! You all have my congratulations. I await the day that I can say the same about myself and my Queen. In due time. Fear not, I shall have fish brought for you both, Moonbeam and Burning-Star."
"You have my thanks," Moonbeam purred.
Aragorn paused and then, oddly, frowned as he stared out into the Bay.
"Haddock, Burning-Star, you both flew to Erebor, Dale, and Lake-town on your journey to the North, correct?"
"We did. We met Kings Dain and Brand," Hiccup answered, wondering why Aragorn brought this up.
Aragorn nodded.
"Then you should hear the news of what happened. Dale and Erebor were attacked by Men from the East: Men allied with Sauron. There were a couple dragons, Night Furies, who attacked as well."
Hiccup deflated and sighed as Toothless and Moonbeam winced. This was the first any of them had heard of it.
"What happened?" Toothless whispered.
"The dragons led the attack. Both Dain and Brand fell in the battle, though Dain killed the dragon that slew Brand. The other dragon was also slain. The people of Lake-town and Dale retreated and took shelter in Erebor. They withstood the siege there and pushed the foe back only after many casualties."
Hiccup and Toothless said nothing as they closed their eyes, remembering their brief time in Dale and Erebor and the leaders they had met there.
"That's terrible. Did you hear about Lorien?" Hiccup whispered.
"Yes, I heard that part of the woods was put to the flame by an army from Dol Guldur," Aragorn answered.
Hiccup shook his head.
"It's more than that. There were three Night Furies there. Galadriel dealt with them. We didn't know there were any more out there."
Aragorn started pacing, his robes whipping in the breeze.
"Lady Galadriel must have kept the knowledge of that attack secret, for none of my messengers brought news of that. Yes, she does not want to spread any more fear of the dragons. There is enough of that already."
"How bad is it?" Toothless warily asked.
"There are rumors of dragons in the Shadow Mountains of Mordor. My advisers tell me that there is still great fear and bitterness among the people. Some speak of the dragons as the dark wings of Mordor. I have issued a royal decree naming the dragons in Rohan and those on and around Tolfalas as allies and not to be disturbed. Tolfalas is named under Gondor's protectorate, though our might is weak still. No man of Gondor shall set foot on Tolfalas without the dragons' permission."
"That is good. Thank you," Toothless hummed.
Aragorn continued while frowning.
"Even so, some rumors still spread about the dragons being a trick meant to turn on humans and betray us. Such rumors cannot be truly addressed except by those to whom the rumor relates."
"We would not turn on you!" Toothless growled.
Aragorn nodded.
"I am aware. The people are more afraid of that which they have never met aside from through rumor or stories of death and war. They assume the worst. That is the main reason I requested your presence here. You are not my subjects, and I cannot order you to do anything, but there is a request I have for you, for you three even."
"What is it?" Hiccup asked.
"I recall that you, Haddock and Burning-Star, went to the various villages among Rohan to help spread peace and make introductions. If you are willing, I would ask that you do this throughout Gondor, as you are able. Meet with the villages and cities, speak with them in peace, and let them see who you are. You would be peacemakers with my leave to go whither you will throughout my lands. Would you do this?"
"Would you give us a moment?" Hiccup asked.
Aragorn nodded and stared out to sea.
Hiccup, Toothless, and Moonbeam stepped aside to speak.
"What do you think?" Hiccup asked.
"It would be good to make more peace in Gondor. We do not want the humans here to hate us or not trust us," Toothless offered.
"I agree that letting rumors spread would be a bad idea. Change doesn't happen if no one works for it," Hiccup mused.
"But I do not want to be flying too much while carrying my cub later," Moonbeam pointed out.
Hiccup frowned, entirely agreeing.
"True, we both have family duties to think about. I still think we should do this, but we will balance the duties."
"I agree. My dear mate?" Toothless asked her.
"I can do this, but I will not fly as much as you both. I will stay more with the pack."
Hiccup scratched her neck to her gentle purring.
"That's fair. I wouldn't want you to do too much. It's not just you, after all."
She hummed and nodded.
"Can we tell Aragorn and then get some food?"
"We better, or you might need to eat me!"
She winced and looked away.
"Human blood tastes very wrong," she whispered.
"Oh, yeah, sorry for reminding you of that."
On that troublesome reminder, they left to walk the short distance over to Aragorn. The King crossed his arms on his chest, awaiting their answer.
"We will do it. Moonbeam won't fly as much as me and Burning-Star, but we will, as the dragons say, fly this flight," Hiccup said.
Aragorn nodded.
"Very good. We can discuss with my counselors the times and places for visits later so that I can have word sent beforehand. The work of rebuilding this world will be long and tedious, but no less worth doing despite that. Minas Tirith and Osgiliath will be many, many years of hard labor."
Hiccup nodded and continued with the next issue.
"There's something else we want to speak about. Food has been somewhat of a problem in Rohan and is why some of the dragons left for Tolfalas. Could the pack come to an agreement with Gondor? Could we do some kind of work in exchange for food? Flame-In-The-Night and Snowfall wanted me to ask about this."
Aragorn stroked his beard while gazing out to sea.
"The ships are bringing in more fish now that the corsairs have fallen back. Our herds in Lamedon and Lebennin are large as well. Yes, I believe that we could come to an agreement to employ dragons in the rebuilding or on other tasks in exchange for food. Have you any ideas?"
"They can help with rebuilding, as you suggested. Another would be helping with fishing in the Bay of Belfalas. They're actually really good at finding the fish in the ocean."
Aragorn nodded.
"That could be arranged. The best place to do that from would be here at Dol Amroth. I can have a dwelling made for them to live in while they are here. There are also enough fishing villages along the coastline for them to help work at."
Toothless warily hummed.
"Would doing that work be safe for us? What about humans wanting to hurt us?"
Aragorn frowned and began to pace with his hands behind his back. There was a very distant look in his eyes.
"There might always be a chance of that. As long as the dragons are back here at Dol Amroth by the evening, I would not fear much for them. I can also issue formal proclamations regarding the dragons' safety while here. Does that sound amenable to you?"
"It does. I know for a fact that some of the pack would like to work near the water more," Hiccup answered.
"Very well. We can discuss the terms later."
"Hiccup," Moonbeam grumbled and nudged his side with her nose.
Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Speaking of food, Moonbeam is rather hungry right now."
Aragorn seriously nodded.
"I understand. What a pregnant dragon wants, she gets. I will have fresh fish brought immediately. You three are welcome to rest in the Citadel if you so desire."
"Thank you, Aragorn. We shall," Hiccup said and bent his head in respect while the Furies purred.
The four of them walked together along the cliff, hearing nothing but the whistle of the wind and the roll of the waves.
"How is everything else going?" Hiccup asked.
"Life goes on as we tend to our wounded and return to the days of peace. We remain watchful for any remaining servants of the Enemy, long in his service and bitter at our victory. Life will never be the same for many who survived, but there is hope still."
Aragorn closed his eyes and smiled widely.
"There is something that I would have you see, if you can spare a few minutes."
"Is this a surprise?" Toothless asked.
"Yes, a most joyful one that was unlooked for," Aragorn whispered.
They followed Aragorn around the citadel and entered with him at his leave. Along the way, he sent off a servant with instructions to bring several baskets of fish. The citadel's interior was similar to the one atop Minas Tirith, with large columns, polished stone floors, and glass windows.
Toothless and Moonbeam made sure to not scratch the floor with their claws.
Hiccup wondered what Aragorn could be so excited to show them.
Aragorn led them through a side passage, past several guards, and out into an open balcony and courtyard that had a garden, small pools, fountains, and banners of swans and the White Tree. Several gardeners were present and busy at work throughout. In the center of the courtyard stood a platform ringed by marble and filled with soil in which a sapling, no more than four foot high, had been planted. The sapling had long leaves which were dark above and silver beneath, and the slender crown had a cluster of flowers whose white petals shone like stars.
"Is that a White Tree?" Hiccup breathed in awe.
"It is. Gandalf and I found it in the mountains behind Minas Tirith. I bore it hence and brought it here to tend so that it may grow and flower into the glory that it shall be. The symbol of Gondor lives."
Moonbeam shuffled closer and stood behind Hiccup as she crooned at the sapling.
"That is a tree like the dead one in the other city, true?" she asked.
"Yes, that's right," Hiccup answered.
She purred.
"I like the tree. It has a good color."
Aragorn and Hiccup laughed freely.
"You would think that," Hiccup chuckled.
"I agree that it has a good color!" Toothless added.
"You would also, bro."
Aragorn chuckled again and noticed someone over at the entrance to the citadel.
"Your food is here. Let us go eat and then discuss the arrangement with the pack."
They left the courtyard of the new White Tree behind to return inside the citadel. Before entering, however, they paused on the balcony and took in the view of the entire visible city. They beheld the white spires, domes, streets, fountains, trees, walls, the shoreline licked with white foam, and the verdant vista inland.
Hiccup crossed his arms as the thought about Dol Amroth and Minas Tirith. This city, just like Minas Tirith, was very different from the settlements in Rohan. The Rohirrim lived far more off the land without trying to change it or build many permanent dwellings. They were a far more nomadic people, whereas the people of Gondor did make cities, roads, and far more machinery.
Both were entirely valid ways to live.
Hmm, the pack is more like Rohan than Gondor anyway. I don't think any of them would want to live in cities like this one. Dragons don't need to build homes like humans do. Maybe eventually...
"What do you think, bro?" Hiccup asked.
"About what?"
"This city."
"These big human nest-cities are strange, but they are good for you humans," Toothless answered.
"The food!" Moonbeam grumbled.
"Right this way!" Hiccup chuckled.
They followed Aragorn inside for a meal, discussions, and a night of rest before they turned for home in the morning.
Toothless glided off the shore of the Bay of Belfalas while Hiccup was speaking with a captain on one of the remaining boats by the shore. Flame-In-The-Night and Starlight flew at his side, following the fishing boats below. The plan was for no more than two or three packmates to help with this work at a time.
A full moon-cycle had passed since he and Hiccup had spoken to Aragorn about the pack helping out with catching fish in exchange for a portion of the catch. In that time, Aragorn had his people make a large building inside Dol Amroth's walls to be used by the packmates who were working. The building was like a large barn made of stone and was on the edge of the cliff. Most importantly, the building was near Aragorn's Citadel, which meant his guards would help keep it safe. That was in addition to his Alpha-command to all of Gondor that the dragons of the pack were not to be harmed.
Hiccup had taken care of most of the work by speaking with the captains on the ships out at shore and by introducing him, Flame-In-The-Night and Starlight to those humans.
The work was not going to be difficult, since hunting for fish came naturally to Night Furies and many dragons. All they had to do was help the boats find the flocks of fish, and use exploding shots of fire to force the fish toward the boats and nets. There was more involved in the work, such as having an order the packmates would follow in doing the work, coming to trust the captains and other humans who work the boats, and carrying back the portions of fish the pack was given.
It was also likely that packmates would fly to this ocean just to hunt on their own. The fish brought to the pack so far were not the freshest, not living and wriggling anyway. Being able to hunt as family-packs and teach the fledglings and cubs how to catch their own fish was important. Cooperation with Gondor was important, but being able to provide for themselves was part of being free.
Flame-In-The-Night and Starlight dove toward the water, having seen a large flock of fish. He watched them as they started shooting shots of fire to scare the fish toward the boats. His packmates knew what to do, so he turned back and glided for shore. Dol Amroth was barely visible far off on the horizon, and several smaller villages were along the roads the humans of Gondor had made along the coast. The coast to the north was rockier with more steep cliffs.
He dove and carefully landed on the large boat where he left Hiccup. Sure enough, Hiccup and the captain were speaking, though Hiccup came over to him after he landed.
"How does it look out there?" Hiccup asked.
"Very good. We saw some fish. Our kin know what to do."
He, Hiccup, and the captain stood together on the deck and watched the distant waters where the two other Furies were visible.
"Wonderful. Captain Mihuros understands what you all will be doing, right captain?"
Mihuros respectfully nodded.
"Yes, Masters Haddock and Burning-Star. I and my crew understand. You can be assured that none of us have any great dislike of the good dragons. Even if we did, we have orders from the King."
Toothless nodded once in approval.
"Good to hear. Many of your kin are not pleased to see us."
"Not that we blame anyone," Hiccup added.
Toothless sadly hummed as he remembered the last few meetings with people throughout Gondor. He, Hiccup, and Moonbeam had flown to four villages, as King-Alpha Aragorn had asked. The meetings had not gone very well. Angry people had showed up to shout at them. Males showed off burn marks or broken limbs, and females and young cried or yelled about lost kin. He, Hiccup, and Moonbeam had even needed to flee one of the villages for their own safety. A group of males had appeared with weapons in their paws and anger in their eyes.
Mihuros waved a paw at the deck of his boat.
"Will you both be joining us today, or have you other duties to attend to?"
He glanced at Hiccup.
"I do not think we have other work, do we?"
"King Aragorn wanted to meet us later to get a report, but we have time for a flight and fishing, if you want."
He purred, liking that suggestion. Any opportunity to fly with Hiccup for fun was always welcome. It had been moon-cycles since they flew just for the joy of flying.
Hiccup considered the island as it came into view on the horizon. This was his first time seeing Tolfalas for himself.
The coastal island was rather barren and rocky, but it also had patches of trees lower on the slopes of the central mountain. The shallow waters around the island were clear and blue, and the sandy shores lacked any docks or buildings at all. The island was completely uninhabited. Well, it was uninhabited by humans anyway.
"Found them!" Toothless barked.
They could clearly see the conspicuous dark shapes resting on the sandy shore. Hiccup laughed when he saw them sprawled about on their backs. Very little was more relaxing to the Furies than dozing on the sands heated by the midday sun.
"They look like they're having fun!"
"So will I soon!" Toothless chuckled.
Toothless glided in after announcing himself with a roar. He touched down with a splash on the warm sands, and trotted to greet their packmates. Everything was peaceful and calm as the warm and salty wind blew from out of the west, and the waves lapped at the shore behind them.
Ashen-Whisper and Tempest-Cloud rolled to their paws and strolled to greet them.
"Warm flights, Burning-Star and Hiccup," Ashen-Whisper purred.
"Warm flights to you and your kin," Toothless answered.
"What are you doing here?" Tempest-Cloud asked.
"We came to meet our packmates and see the island for ourselves," Hiccup explained.
Ashen-Whisper huffed, his tail swaying on the sands.
"There is not much to see. There are no caves, but we do not need any. There are no ground-prey to hunt, but the waters have enough fish for us and more packmates."
"Good to hear. Any problems with humans?"
"None. We have not seen any of their boats."
Hiccup nodded, unsurprised that Gondor had kept up its agreement. Everyone living at Tolfalas, all the adults anyway, were the packmates most likely to benefit from being left on their own.
"Where is everyone else?" Toothless asked, looking around the beach.
"Dances-In-Shadows, Sun-Spark, and their cubs are probably hunting for fish and snappers in the shallow waters on the far side of the island. Cloud-Swimmer should not be far away. Dark-Fire and Jumps-At-Fire are usually walking among the trees or resting in the middle mountains, if they are not hunting. Do you want us to show you the island?" Ashen-Whisper asked.
"Sure. We'd like that."
Toothless coughed and lay down on the sand.
"After a nap."
Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Have I ever told you that you are the laziest dragon ever?"
Toothless snorted in amusement and closed his eyes. Hiccup ignored the temptation to toss a handful of sand at him, since Toothless was legitimately tired after the long flight over several days to get to Tolfalas.
Instead, he walked down to the shore, took off his shoe, and dipped his toes in the surf.
The next couple days would be a welcome distraction from the activity back in Edoras. While they both came out here to the pack's island partly just to check on how everyone was doing, since someone flew here every few weeks for that purpose anyway, this was also an opportunity for them to explore and see new places together. It felt important to do so while they didn't have other obligations that would get in the way of such adventures.