His mother was waiting inside of the hut when Hiccup went home. His day had consisted of war meetings, rebuilding structures, angry and scared vikings, finances and finding out Victoria had escaped.

He closed the heavy door behind him and braced himself against the frame. His head dipping low between his shoulders.

"Quite a mess isn't it." His mother's voice filled the silence.
He turned around to see her rocking back and forth in a chair by the fireplace. He noticed a few grey hairs strung through her long brown braid. Her simple green dress was covered in dirt from all off the work they'd done that day.

"Thanks for stating the obvious. Didnt know that already." He began to climb the long stairs to his bedroom, peeling off his leather covering.

"What are you going to do." She said following him to the base of the steps. He stopped climbing and turned around.

"I am going to build berk back as soon as possible and then I am going to go back out there and get-"

"No." She said firmly. "This has to stop."

"What. What has to stop?" He threw his hands up. "People getting hurt? Yes that has to stop."

"That's not what I meant." She put her foot down. "I know how you just left. Leaving Astrid in charge."

"Yeah so? Your point?" He said annoyed.

"No more running, Hiccup."

"What do you mean running! Ive done nothing but go into danger."

"That may be, but you keep running from the truth."

"What truth?" He said aggravated. "Oh gods." He pinched the bridge of his nose.

She climbed a few steps and put her finger on his heart.

"That you need your tribe. You can't do this alone. You cant protect everyone. And in trying to, people got hurt." She held his chin between her hand. "It is time for you to stop trying to carry this weight alone."

" Your wrong about this one." He stabbed a finger towards the ground. "This is my burden." 

" It is all of ours too. We carry it together." She looked him dead in the eyes. "No more running."