The Wounds of War
Astrid kept an eye on Hiccup as he fought Drago, the clash of steel on steel audible. She ducked an incoming blow and wrested the double bladed axe from her opponent before slashing her dagger across his throat. Blood sprayed as he collapsed to the ground.
Another opponent assailed her, this time from behind. She turned just in time to catch her opponent's blade on her own, another woman. As they fought, she kept watching Hiccup fight Drago from her peripheral.
Hiccup alternated between thrusts and blocks, his skill having much improved over the past five years, but Drago was relentless, swinging and thrusting his own sword with all his strength. As skilled as Hiccup had become, he struggled. Drago's force was too much.
Watch your left! She thought. Barely missing a fatal blow, Astrid glanced away to block her opponent, shoving her away.
Fear thrust her heart into her throat at the sound of a garbled cry from Hiccup's direction. She turned to see Hiccup clutching his midsection, Drago's sword protruding from his back.
"Hiccup!" she screamed. She ran towards him.
Drago turned towards her, his sword sliding from Hiccup, blood stained. Hiccup collapsed.
Astrid screamed and swung her blade with all the force she could muster. Drago barely had time to block her strike. The clang of steel reverberated, both blades shivered.
Astrid continued to strike, relentless. The more she thrust, the less Drago blocked. She nicked him in the shoulder and the chest. Drago stumbled. With a final yell, Astrid swung her blade and removed Drago's head from his body. Blood spattered her face and dripped from her blade.
Not waiting to watch his body fall, Astrid turned, panting, and ran back to Hiccup. She dropped her sword in the grass as she fell to her knees at his side and pulled him into her lap.
Hiccup groaned and clutched his midsection tighter. Blood eeked through his fingers and stained the grass beneath him.
"Astrid…" he breathed.
"Don't you die on me." Astrid tore off the sleeve of her tunic and pressed it to Hiccup's stomach. He clenched his teeth and moaned.
Hot tears pricked the corners of Astrid's eyes. She swallowed a sob. "TOOTHLESS! WHERE ARE YOU?" she screamed at the sky. Hiccup's breathing was shallow. "Hiccup…"
He turned his head and looked into her eyes. He gave a weak smile. "Thanks for saving me."
Astrid ran her fingers through his russet hair. A tear dripped down her face. The sound of heavy flapping caused her to look up. Toothless rode the currents, gliding to a stop in front of them.
"He's dying," Astrid said to the Night Fury, "I can't heal this," she indicated the wound in Hiccup's back, "Do something."
Toothless warbled and looked at her, as if to say, "What do you want me to do?"
"Close the wound," she puffed her cheeks and mimicked the motion of blowing.
Hiccup tensed. "What are you asking him to do?"
Toothless nodded and took a few steps back.
Astrid pulled Hiccup closer, exposing the wound in Hiccup's back.
"Astrid, what are you do—"
She flinched as Hiccup screamed in agony as Toothless cauterized the wound. She held him tight as he gasped for breath. Toothless backed away and sank his head, a worried coo escaping his mouth.
Hiccup's fingers clutched the leather belt of her armor, his knuckles white, his breathing heavy and ragged
"I'm sorry," Astrid whispered.
"Don't be," he replied between gasps, "You—did—what you had to."
"Don't you dare go to Valhalla without me."
Hiccup chuckled, the corners of his mouth turned upwards. "You'd—kill me—if I did." His eyes rolled and his head lolled to one side, his breathing stopped.
"Hiccup?" He didn't move. "Hiccup!" she screamed. She rolled him onto his back and bent her ear to his chest, listening. She choked in relief at the sound of the beat of his heart. She had to get him to safety. Toothless warbled. "We have to get him to the surgeon, now." Astrid got to her feet in a squatting position, then heaved Hiccup from the ground and onto her back. He was heavier than she had expected, considering his lankiness. Grunting with effort, she walked over to Toothless, and gently laid Hiccup at his feet. Then she slowly mounted. When she was secure in the saddle, Toothless flapped and gained just enough altitude to pick up Hiccup with his claws. When he was safely enclosed, at Astrid's urging, the Night Fury sped into the sky, back towards Berk.
When Toothless hovered just high enough off the ground, Astrid jumped off, and ran to the surgeon's house, calling, "Bjorn! BJORN!"
The front door banged open, the blonde-haired stocky town surgeon in the doorway. Scanning, he saw Toothless gently drop Hiccup to the ground. He bolted from the door, and past Astrid. Astrid skid to a halt, then made an about face. Bjorn ran as he carried Hiccup in his arms and into the house. Astrid followed, shutting the door behind her. Toothless wailed outside.
"Is he alive?" She panted.
Bjorn laid Hiccup on the table and tore his shirt, tossing the blood-stained fabric away. He leaned his head to Hiccup's chest and listened. "Barely," he replied. He grabbed a jug of clear alcohol, uncorked it with his mouth, and poured it over the wound. "What happened?"
"Drago ran him through."
Bjorn stopped and looked at her. "He what?" Not waiting for an answer, he turned back to Hiccup and pushed him onto his side. He stared at the cauterized back wound. "He should be dead," he said incredulous. He turned back to Astrid. "How did you cauterize this?"
Astrid nodded towards the door. "Toothless."
Bjorn shook his head. "That dragon beats all…"
"What can I do to help?" Astrid voiced after a moment of silence.
Bjorn pointed towards the billows. "I need hot water." Astrid obeyed, filling the iron cauldron with water from the trough, and hung it on the hook in the fireplace. Then standing behind the billows, she pumped up and down, forcing gusts of air to encourage the flames.
When the bubbling boil of water sounded she stopped, wiping the sweat from her brow. She grabbed a bowl from a shelf and filled it with the water, handing it to Bjorn, who cleaned the wounds. When he had finished, he grabbed a large needle and sinew threads. Astrid took it as her cue to leave, quietly slipping out the door.
Astrid ambled absentminded over to Toothless. She put out her hand. Toothless placed his muzzle against her palm and moaned. Astrid wrapped her arms around his head, and let the tears fall freely. "Odin, save him," she whispered.
Golden lamplight flickered against the wall, casting shadows. Astrid sat by Hiccup's bedside, her hand resting on his. Her eyes passed over Hiccup, shirtless except for the bandages and healing herb poultice binding his middle. He breathed…slow, breaths catching when intake caused pain.
She smoothed her thumb across his hand. "I should have taught you better," she murmured, "I should have taught you how to fight someone bigger and stronger…I thought sparring me would be enough…I was wrong." Astrid removed her hand from atop his and smoothed his hair back. Sweat beaded his brow.
Astrid swallowed the tightness in her throat. "I failed to protect you…and now…" She sank her head to his chest and wept. "Oh, Hiccup…don't die, please! Berk needs you. I need you. Hjartað Mitt…"
As she wept, she felt a slight brush against her hand. Lifting her head, she saw Hiccup's finger lightly brush her fingertips. She turned her face towards his own, heart racing as his eyes slowly opened.
"Astrid…?"
She took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "I'm here. I'm here."
Hiccup tried to shift his body, but lightning pain shot through him. He cried out.
"Don't move, you idiot!" Astrid said, "Bjorn barely saved you as it is!"
A pained laugh left Hiccup's lips. "You know me; I act first and then think." He turned his head to face her, rustling the fabric of the pillow. "Thank you, for—"
"Hiccup, don't. I didn't save you." Tears fell, unbidden. "I was supposed to protect you. I shouldn't have let you fight him."
"I'm the chief now, babe. I had to protect my people…our dragons—"
"You weren't skilled enough."
"You taught me well—"
"But not enough. Drago overpowered you through sheer force. He ran you through…"
"I'm used to taking on enemies who are bigger than me."
"But I failed you!" Astrid cried, her vision blurred.
Hiccup squeezed her hand. "No you didn't," he rasped, "You killed Drago. You called for Toothless. You told him what to do. You brought me safely back to Berk. You did. You're the one I owe my life to."
"But I almost lost you. If Toothless hadn't come…we'd be sending two longboats to Valhalla instead of one…"
"And thanks to you and Toothless, we're still only sending one."
Astrid smiled. "I love you, Hiccup."
Hiccup smiled back. "I love you too."
Astrid leaned in and kissed him, grateful for the warmth of his lips against hers.