I'm not done crying about the second movie yet so here. Have some more feels.
Screams in the middle of the night used to mean very different things.
Valka nearly stumbles out of her bed, the shrieks startling her into a different time. She feels around the dark, almost unfamiliar room for a weapon while cycling through a hundred different possible scenarios. No flames. No smoke. No sights of sheep being stolen or catapults launching boulders.
Valka grasps the handle of an axe and starts down the stairs, half-expecting a Nightmare making a surprise appearance by the hearth, or maybe a brainless intruder. She hopes it's the Nightmare, because then she wouldn't have to use the axe. She's been out of practice.
Instead she finds her son shouting and thrashing around in his bed. A frightened Astrid chants his name desperately, trying to grab his shoulders and shake him out of it.
"Hiccup! Hiccup, snap out of it! You're here, we're right here!"
"No no no no, NO!" is all he responds, repeatedly flinging her arms off of him and attempting to leave the bed.
"Astrid!" Valka calls out. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"I don't know!" Astrid grabs Hiccup by the waist, locking her arms around him. She struggles to hold him back, tugging him back with every phrase she manages to squeeze out above his bloodcurdling screams. When did he get so damn strong?
"He started tossing and turning,"—tug—"and before I knew it,"—tug—"he shot out of bed,"—tug—"and started screaming,"—tug—"he hasn't stopped since!"
Valka stares, wide-eyed as Astrid continues to fight. Hiccup looks so uncharacteristically small, so helpless, she thinks. His freckles were ashes on his sickly pale skin. Wild hair sticks to his forehead, damp from exertion. The only other time she had seen him like this was more than twenty years ago, and she could practically say that he hadn't changed at all were it not for the bags under his eyes that he had inherited since chiefdom. His eyes darken as his fit escalates, and both women know not what to do until he finally chokes out a new word.
"Dad!"
Thinking fast, she throws her axe to the floor. "Astrid! Let go of him!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes, just trust me!" Astrid hesitates, locking eyes with Valka. The likeness they have to Hiccup's—or rather, the other way around—is so chilling it almost makes her shudder. She swallows and finally releases Hiccup from her grip.
Valka rushes up to the bed, snaking her arms under Hiccup's and forcing him into an embrace. The screaming doesn't stop. She closes her eyes, and begins singing softly into his ear.
I'll swim and sail on savage seas
with never a fear of drowning
and gladly ride the waves of life
if you would marry me
No scorching sun nor freezing cold
will stop me on my journey
if you will promise me your heart.
Slowly, he ceases struggling and his arms drop to his sides. Breaths fall out ragged, throat raspy from screeching. Astrid comes back to the bed now, tenderly stroking his back. Tears well up in Valka's eyes as she continues her beloved melody.
And love me for eternity
My dearest one, my darling dear
Your mighty words astound me
But I've no need for mighty deeds
when I feel your arms around me
Her voice cracks on the last line and tears fall more freely. Hiccup hugs her back fiercely, sobs spilling out of him like a cruel gift from Freyr. Valka moves only to stroke her hand through his hair.
"I know, son. I know."
EDIT: Thank you for reading, everyone! I've had a couple people follow this story but unless the gods strike with another idea, I just planned on leaving this as a short one-shot! Please feel free to comment/review, though. :)