WOW! Summer is busier than I expected! Hope everyone is still around! :)
Chapter 4
Hiccup was near considering going to sleep himself when his father finally walked in through the door, pinching the bridge of his nose. He sat in his chair with a thud, his voice low and exhausted.
"The men have agreed to come along and find this…thing. Do you have a picture?" he looked to his son who moved slowly, still surprised at the fact his father actually wanted him to draw. Stoick's eyes widened at the drawing of the dragon, looking at it's dangerous features.
"Dad…I dunno if it's such a good idea. I mean, this dragon…what if he's just like what our dragons used to be? A worker for something even bigger?"
"Son, I don't think that's what this was. I know it's nice to think that-" Stoick spoke over anything his son had opened his mouth to say, sighing before he continued, "but this was too random of an attack."
Hiccup was ready to disagree when a soft thudding of feet descending the stairs turned his attention. Astrid made her way to the table, sitting in a vacant chair, wrapping the fur more tightly around her shoulders, sleep still in her eyes.
"You should have woken me up…"
Stoick sent a suspicious look between the two, his gaze resting on his son who shook his head, relieving his father's suspicions. Astrid had been completely unaware of the exchange as she slid the drawing over to herself, stifling a yawn.
"That looks really good…so what's the plan?" her eyes turned on the chief, flashing with the excitement of a possible adventure.
"We leave to find this thing. I've already discussed it with the rest of the men, we leave in two days time. We'll go to Bashem first… then well..we'll take it from there."
"Dad, we don't even know how to defeat this thing! It could be suicide!"
"Hiccup, we don't have a choice. As chief it's my duty to protect this village-"
"Then I'm coming with you."
"Hiccup…" Stoick stared at his son, meaning to voice his refusal when Hiccup cut him off.
"Danger for a viking is just an occupational hazard right? If I'm going to be chief someday than I might as well start learning. That and I'm the only one of the men that's seen this thing, and without me and Toothless you probably don't stand a chance. I'm going."
Stoick knew by the determined look in his son's eyes that he was not going to win this battle. And, the gnawing voice in the back of his head told him that Hiccup was right.
It was very early morning as the ships were loaded, fewer ships than normal as many of the men opted to ride on their own dragons. Hiccup strained his eyes through the dim light, looking around for Astrid and his friends. The rest of the kids, save for Hiccup, were ordered to stay home at Stoick's command. He said that it wasn't that he didn't appreciate what they had done before, but that he wouldn't risk losing any of them. The only reason Hiccup was coming was because of his vast stubbornness. A trait, Stoick was proud to say, had been inherited from he himself.
They had been sailing all day, taking up anchor at a small island, when Hiccup, who had taken to walking along the deck of a ship to stretch his legs while Toothless napped, heard what sounded oddly like a sneeze coming from a crate. Slowly he opened the lid to see a head of blonde hair pop up.
"Astrid?"
"Hi…Hiccup." Astrid looked around the deck, and seeing no sign of her father in the cloudy moonlight, climbed out of her hiding place.
"I thought you were back home with the others."
"Well…I was. But then I decided I couldn't let you have all the fun." She smirked to him, that was until Hiccup's face fell in horror. She turned to see what had scared him so much and quickly wished that she had not. For towering over her was her very own father, his face twisted in anger.
"Astrid Hofferson!" his voice boomed across the water as he glared at his daughter. "I thought I told you to stay home." His voice lowered to a deadly quiet, which made him that more menacing. Astrid opened her mouth to apologize but he cut straight across anything she might have said.
"Completely disobeyed me. I have half a mind to send you back home on the back of a dragon if we didn't need them. I told you this was too dangerous a trip for you. You might be a good fighter Astrid, but yer not indestructible. If Hiccup weren't going to be chief one day even he'd stay home!" Hiccup felt his face burn red as he looked down and away from Gunnar, slowly bringing his gaze to Astrid, whose face was bright red, eyes threatening to burst with tears at any moment.
"I told you to stay at home and you deliberately disobeyed me! And all for what? I suppose adventure? To look tough! I thought I raised you better than to act so...stupid. I am very disappointed in you Astrid." And with that he turned, stomping off.
"Astrid?" Hiccup spoke quietly, his hand reaching out hesitantly towards her.
"Astrid...your dad just doesn't want you to get hurt... he's just angry..." sure, it seemed that simple in his mind, but he had a feeling it was somewhat more than that that was bothering Astrid. Either way, he could only hope that it would help her. "Astrid?"
It took her a moment to meet his gaze, clearly trying to keep her emotions in check by becoming interested in something on the floor. Hiccup gently touched her arm and that was where she met her breaking point. Half-slamming into his chest, Astrid began to cry. And it was then, for the first time ever that he could remember, Hiccup saw Astrid Hofferson's spirit break.
Yowch...tough fatherly love? Or just a major jerk? Find out next! RxR :)
