Heather

**Heather nic Oswald** is a former thrall given by King Adalwin ua Imair of Vedrarfjord to Fishlegs clan Ingerman. She is also secretly a spy for Adalwin, who holds her parents hostage.

## Biography

### Background

Heather was the daughter of a fearsome viking chief, Oswald the Agreeable of the Berserker tribe, but was given as a ward to one of his allies at age six. When she was ten, her father was murdered by her brother Dagur and she was adopted by her foster parents, Murray and Griselda. She was eventually captured and made a thrall by Hallr the Stone, and sold to Adalwin ua Imair, where she was trained as a sex slave and spy.

### Book I

After Adalwin's failed attempt to steal dragons from Berk, he sent gifts as an apology, including Heather and nine other thralls. Heather was given specifically to Fishlegs, as a "pleasure thrall". She is freed and finds work as a cook in the village kitchens.

During the Battle of Berk Sound, Heather attempts to steal the Book of Dragons from Fishlegs, but he catches her and takes her prisoner. After the battle, Stoick and his councilors interrogate her.

### Book II

Despite being officially accepted into the tribe, Heather faces an escalating harassment campaign, from pranks to attempted murder by saddle sabotage. Things eventually come to a head when one of Eochaid mac Niall's men tries to rape Heather and she defends herself. The Eirish say that they were told it was okay, which leads to the revelation that Vigdis clan Hofferson was behind the harassment. For her crimes, Vigdis is banished, and her husband and children leave with her. Fishlegs formally takes Heather as his concubine.

After an attempted poisoning at Thawfest 1042, Stoick asks Heather to become his spymaster.

### Book III

Recognizing that she needs people trained as spies, Heather attempts to convince Toiréasa to work for her.

Heather travels with Hiccup's Grand Tour through the Mediterranean to set up Dragon Mail stations. In Rome, she nearly catches Alvin and Delilah, getting a tip to their location from someone Viggo Grimborn paid. In Constantinople, she unofficially meets with Inga Roswynnsdóttir, who agrees to keep her informed of goings-on in the Roman capital.

Fishlegs and Heather's son, Oswald, is born some time in March 1043. She becomes Mormaer of Murchadh when Dagur abdicates his position after surrendering to Hiccup.

### Book IV

Heather and Fishlegs are formally married on June 3, 1043.

## Relationships

### Fishlegs clan Ingerman

Despite being a spy, Heather finds herself falling in love with Fishlegs, which makes it hurt all the more that she has to betray him and the Hooligans. During the chaos of the Battle of the Sound of Berk, she tries to steal the Dragon Manual and attacks Fishlegs, but he stands in her way and takes the punches. After the revelation of her spying and the rescue of her parents, Heather and Fishlegs grow closer, and eventually enter a romantic relationship. When the culprit behind Heather's harassment is revealed, Fishlegs formally asks Stoick for permission to take her as a concubine while they gather the dowry she needs to marry him.

### Toiréasa

Toiréasa and Heather were both trained as Adalwin's spies. They were rewarded for betraying each other, and find it hard to trust each other now.

### Dagur mac Oswald

Heather had to flee her birth tribe when her brother Dagur murdered their father. She still yearns for revenge. After Dagur surrenders to Hiccup and becomes his sworn thane, Heather is still angry that Toiréasa didn't kill him, and refuses to let him interact with her or her family.

## Personality and Traits

Heather suffers from post-traumatic stress after everything she's been through.

She is bisexual with a preference for men.

She can speak and read many languages, including Norse, Gaoidhealg, Saxon, Latin, *langue d'oil,* Hen Gymraeg, and even some Low Franconian.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 116: Game, Set, Match
2. ↑ Chapter 130: Paradigm Shift
3. ↑ Chapter 49: Things Fall Apart...
4. ↑ https://athingofvikings.tumblr.com/post/175372793980/vigilantsycamore-so-athingofvikings-is-getting
5. ↑ Chapter 63: Gambits