He finished late that night watching the sun slip down behind the horizon. Soon the forge twinkled its light back to the moon. Cold wind slipped into the drafty forge cooling his skin as he pumped the bellows.
He was mostly goofing off tweaking his own sword with a hunk of metal. It was another one of his secrets. There was a mob of gronkles on the far side on the island. Hiccup had been feeding the gronkles different kinds of minerals and stones trying to figure out the famed Gronkle Iron recipe (the blacksmith in him demanded it). Ultimately it didn't work; Hiccup blamed not being able to get close enough to the dragons; though Hiccup was able to make various alloys. They were stronger and more malleable than the bronze and wrought iron that was commonly used by the Vikings. The real trick was getting the metal after the gronkles puked it out.
He mostly discovered just how much hotter dragon fire is than anything a forge could do. He had been tempted to try and build a better furnace but one look from Gobber when he suggested shot that idea down.
He placed the lump right into the white heat from the furnace pumping the bellows into the scorching heat. He kept at it until he saw the metal not glowing but softer and squishy. Pulling out the tray with tongs he spread it out against the tray and grimaced as part of the tray metaled in with the gronkle metal.
Putting it back in and working the furnace to a retched heat it finally, finally, was glowing hot. He poured it into the mold and cooled it slowly.
It was agonizingly slow work cooling the sword evenly. He kept at it through the night, his back slick with sweat. He was black from the coal dust covering his tunic and apron, his skin smudged and itchy.
After that he opened the furnace wide to cool off rubbing his sweating face down with a dirty rag. His hair was plastered to his skull and thick with sweat
An hour later the sword was cooled. Heating the metal slowly he carefully hollowed out the core of the blade before pouring the last of the alloy through the middle. While it was cool Hiccup carefully scratched the base near the guard carefully, carefully putting a tiny bit of red phosorous and sulfur. He covered it with sand and carefully cooled the blade.
On the outside of the blade he smoldered a thin crystal chamber that he had drilled holes into.
Brushing the sweat from his brow he grinned at the blade. Experiment #9 of flaming sword was a success. He tested the weight noticing the weight of the blade. He wasn't finished the grip, he made a mental note to balance the blade after he did his second smolder coat around the fuel chamber.
If it worked it was going to be the coolest blade ever crafted. The tubes on the blade would be filled with Monstrous Nightmare gel. The tube had holes in it so it would leak onto the blade and coat it. The spark pad just above the hand guard should produce enough of a spark to light the gel on fire.
That had truthfully been the hardest part. Hiccup grimaced scowling at the little pad. The metals he was using where incredibly explosive; which was a nightmare and a half to keep hidden from the other villagers.
He wasn't supposed to be inventing, Chief Stoick's orders. Sighing he marched to his small room at the back of the forge. Loosening the panels on the false wall Hiccup tucked the sword way along with his inventing journal. Carefully he put the boards back up brushing down his finger prints.
It was late, the moon was much higher than he intended. Quickly he packed up locked up the furnace and left the forge jogging up the hill towards the small hut hidden and sitting next to the forest.
The winter winds whistled through the trees. Sea spray salted the winter air soaking the rock in a layer of thin ice that glimmered under the waning moonlight. The wind cut through the thick furs sewn together tightly.
Dark red hair, nearly black in the moonlight, tossed in the fierce night wind blowing ice from the gapping mouth of the ocean. Lights under the village homes where flickering, casting warm orange shadows against the cold shadows of the moon. The moon was nearly at its zenith, the stars flickered between wispy clouds. From the black of the forest the raven cawed loudly to the wind. Another merely a black blur among the shadow of the trees replied cackling.
Huginn and Muninn spoke again as Hiccup passed under them shivering as he trudged up the hill to the small dark house. He ignored the ravens stopping on the snow dusted stone before his modest home. His hand brushed against the small straw offering to Tyr hanging in the doorway as he entered the house.
It was small; one room with a pit in the center filled with burnt firewood and ashes piled near by a deer pelt and a big black caldron in the draftiest corner a bucket. In the opposite corner sat a little shrine. The whole hut was small, barely big enough for Hiccup to lie down in, especially after his big growth spurt when he was 17.
Hiccup peeled the damp fur cloak off hanging it over the fire on a beam of wood. He checked his fire hanging pot. Three thick beams of wood lashed together over the fire. A pot hung from a thick chain so the pot didn't smother the fire but cooked.
Slipping outside to bring in more wood Hiccup piled the wood stacked by the door way that was dry into the fire pit and fiddled with the flint. The spark caught the tinder and he carefully poked the small flame to catch the larger logs.
Soon the small flame began to warm the drafty house. Scowling Hiccup walked the outer edge marking with a short charcoal stick where he needed to fill in the holes. He checked the vent and cleared it just to be sure. Pilling the dead branches on the cold ground he lay on them feeling them prick against his back and tunic pulling the heavy wolf pelt over his thin body.
Shivering and hungry he slipped into an uneasy sleep. Listening to the wind and patters of rain in between the raven's braying their collected secrets for Odin's ears only.
It was a cold dawn; the sun hadn't risen yet though the sky was warming to an eggshell blue promising another cool autumn morning. The grass crunched as Hiccup walked out of his small hut. Shivering he pulled his furs closer to his body rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
He caught a whiff of his furs wrinkling his nose. He would need a bath soon; his cloth also needed a serious wash. The coal, dirt and sweat on the tunic was starting to breed its own habitat. Thinking back, Hiccup was pretty sure he had forgotten last wash day.
Like always.
He took another whiff.
Oh Odin, it was pretty bad.
The well was on the other side of the village he jogged down the hill the empty bucket drumming against his long legs. Already there was a small line of people standing before the well waiting to draw water for the day.
He slipped into line behind the younger daughter of the Inngerman family holding two buckets for the large clan; something he used to have to do for his own family. Over the hill he spotted Harald, Astrid's younger brother bouncing up the hill back to the Hofferson clan.
As Erinn Ingerman filled her buckets he wondered if Astrid was awake. Erinn finished filling her buckets lugging them back up the hill to her family home. Hiccup clipped his own bucket and dropped it into the well with a splash. He let it fill for a moment then started heaving the bucket up over his shoulder. As he pulled the bucket from the well he caught sight of Astrid leaving her family home. Her hair glimmering as the sun just peeked over the horizon.
He would have to hurry or he would be late for work. His feet took him breathlessly after the woman made in Freya's image. A hand tossed her braid onto her shoulder brushing the large hood smooth over her shoulder pads.
"Astrid." Hiccup called beaming as she stopped turning towards him.
"Morning" A smile crossed her face her eyes darting sweeping the premises. Quickly she step forward pressing a chaste kiss on his lips. Hiccup sputtered his face breaking into a goofy grin. His heart did a little flip of joy.
"Well good morning" Hiccup grinned leaning forward for another quick kiss. She ducked out of his embrace just as Ingrid Jorgensen, Snotlout's little sister, stomped around the side of one of the large family homes.
"I'm still mad at you, you know." Astrid reminded Hiccup shootinging him a meaningful glare, "Have you spoke to my father?"
Grimacing Hiccup didn't reply blushing looking out at the rising sun over the ocean
"Hiccup!" Astrid growled correcting her volume she hissed, "We are running out of time, Snotlout came by last evening and spoke to my father! You promised you would at least ask for his permission to court me!"
"I…"
"That was a week ago!" Her eyes flickered and she stubbornly refused to let the tears brimming on the edge of her eyelids show, "Do you even care?"
"Astrid you know I am trying my damnedest!" Hiccup retorted feeling the rolling discomfort curl in his stomach. "I'm not Stoic's son anymore I don't have the wealth I use to. I… could easily be rejected because of my dishonour."
He looked up at Astrid's unforgiving face, as she snapped out bitterly "And keeping our courting a secret is better."
"Astrid you know I love you." Hiccup sighed, "I'm sorry. I really was meaning to. I've been working on this gift. I'm almost done, I was hoping it would be enough for a bridal price. That's also why I've held off."
"What is it?"
"A sword" Hiccup replied, "I found some metal during my three years away, and I've been trying to find the right melting point."
"A sword? That's, wow." Astrid eyes brightened, "You can afford that?"
"I found the metal and I am making it myself." Hiccup shrugged, "So it wasn't as expensive as it might have been…. Don't tell your dad that. If he asks it is worth more than the price of Asgard's walls."
Astrid snorted rolling her eyes at Hiccup, "I'm sure he'll believe that."
"Why, it is the truth milady." Hiccup grinned leaning down to peck her cheek.
"Are you trying to distract me?"
Hiccup blushed as Astrid giggled, "Caught red handed huh?"
Astrid rolled her shoulder, "Talk to father tonight before he decides to do the unthinkable."
"A Hofferson and Jorgensen?" Hiccup chuckled, "That would be something."
"Not something I want to happen." Astrid shot back, "I'm going to mad at you until you talk to my father."
"But I'm not done the sword"
"You can finish it later. This one is more important." Astrid replied sweetly rubbing her hand over his arm, "I know you are worried but have a little faith, my father likes you and he knows I love you."
Hiccup looked at Astrid her hands lingered on his arm, "You look tired. Did you sleep alright?"
"No dreams if that's what you're asking." Hiccup replied, "I can take care of myself Astrid."
"Better get used to it." Astrid put her hand son her hips flashing a brazen grin, "If I'm your wife I'm going to nag all day long!"
"Odin help me."
Rolling her eyes Astrid peered up at Hiccup through her fringe. His insides melted into glop burning with the swelling desire to have her in his arms. His eyes caught Ruffnut and Tuffnut down the road shoving each other.
Clearing his throat he stepped back, "Tonight right? I'll ask him to speak after the meeting in the Mead Hall tonight."
"Good." She stepped closer, having no idea what she did to him. A smirk spread over her face at his burning face. Nope; she totally knew the blubbering mess she put him into "Because I really don't want to know what Snot-hat's betrothal gift would be."
"Probably something stupid like an axe of gold." Hiccup chuckled forcing his hand rising to brush Astrid's cheek down, "Completely useless since gold is too soft to hold an edge."
"Shows his status as Stoic's foster son" Astrid shrugged, "My family may be in good standing but we are not the richest."
"I'm sure Cami will make him eat his words." Hiccup chuckled taking a firm step back that she didn't close this time
"If he makes her mad"
"When he makes her mad" Hiccup quipped back
Hiccup gave Astrid a dead-pan look. Laughing she nodded, "Yeah, when."
She walked with him back up the hill to his tiny shack, keeping their intimate looks and touches to themselves as the village began bustling with activity.
"This is going to be a really important meeting with the tribes, isn't it?"
Hiccup sighed and nodded frowning, "Yeah. Berk is in serious trouble if the rumour that the Berserkers have allied with the Outcasts is true."
"We barely won the war four years ago." Astrid muttered, "And the dragon raids are getting really bad despite Fishlegs' Dragon Book."
Hiccup hummed in agreement wondering if Astrid would believe him if he told her he was the actual author. Dismissing the idea he stopped before his little hut. Putting his bucket down by the doorstep.
"Want a bite?"
Shaking her head Astrid hands pulled out her axe twirling it "No thanks, I better head down to the Kill Ring I've got those little devils to train before I let Gobber unleash all that dragon fury on them."
"Small mercy" Hiccup laughed ducking down he kissed her softly rubbing his calloused thumb across her cheek, "Have a good day milady."
She blushed turning to holler over her shoulder, "Tonight! Don't forget or you'll be having a chat with the business end of my fist!"
Hi again!
Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments and for following this story!
So I have a few notes which you can skip if you want to:
1) Norse Religion- so I've made a few references to Norse mythology and thought maybe I should explain them a bit. In this chapter the names Hiccup gives to the ravens are Odin's messengers, they go and tell him all they see. The story that hiccup mentions with the walls of Asgard is a myth of how Loki tricked a giant out of a really steep payment and accidentally got pregnant with a horse with 8 legs. The payment the giant demanded was the Sun, Moon and Freya.
Also I want to mention that because the Vikings believed in more than one god not everyone in the village worships the same gods. The main gods of Berk are Odin and Thor. Heads up, Hiccup doesn't pray to Thor regularly anymore. It's not a big thing, but may seem a little weird because we are use to monolithic religions.
2) Black smithing- the forging Hiccup does in this chapter is based on my own assumptions and what I have researched. Back in the viking era most blacksmiths used iron ore mixed with charcoal to strengthen the metal. Basically hiccup used the gronkles to make a metal alloy, which is stronger than iron and charcoal.
Also I didn't make inferno collapsible because it would make the sword too brittle to use in battle. The most important thing is a sword has to be flexible but tough or else the blade will break, and they totally do. Making the sword collapsible makes weak points at each of the sections that folds down, so it wouldn't be able to withstand a ton of pressure... say from a giant axe.
No I could totally be wrong but I can't see a collapsible sword being able to withstand an axe blade. So if you happen to know a thing or two about metal work let me know. I wrote what I thought in my 100% ignorant mind how inferno MIGHT be made. The sulphur and phosphorous is supposed to mimic a match creating a spark that lights the gel.
So that is the notes for this chapter. There is still some more set up that we have to get through before the meat of the story can five year gap is basically a whole other story in and of itself. I hope I am being pretty clear about what happened but there is bits and pieces I am withholding on purpose. Suspense and all that jazz.
Thanks again for all your awesome responses!
Have a great evening!
