ANNNNNDDD I'm at college. I'll try to keep updates at the same time, but I might be late for reasons. Please bare with me. Also, I will be late replying to reviews. :)

Anybody in the Grand Rapids, MI area, hit me up!

Of all the viking buildings they could have put him, he was most thankful for the forge. The building was mostly open. Large doors could swing down and close off the windows. This allowed the boy to survey the village and still see the sunset in the evening. With the openness came the cold wind in the evening, which would be cancelled by the intense heat of the glory hole. Yes, this definitely beat being up up in a house or barn somewhere.

Hiccup recognized his uncle Spitelout, though not until his name was mentioned, and Gobber, his father's right hand man, as they easily lifted his vessel and delivered him to the forge. With a nod, Spitelout left while Gobber remained.

"So, Stoick's given me a new project, aye?" He scratched his chin. "Been a long time since I done anything but sharpen swords or make weapons. Should be fun, too." He amended. "Name's Gobber. The kids say you can't understand anything I'm talking about. I don't believe them. But, I can see you're uncomfortable in your new surroundings. Take as much time as ya need to adjust. If ya need anything, just…splash around and get my attention." He grinned.

Gobber's calm and casual banter with the boy helped to sooth his nerves.

Though, as soon as he was beginning to relax, the village elder entered the shack, followed by Stoick and Astrid. The blonde hoisted herself up on a counter not too far away, to get a good look, while Stoick crossed his arms and waited.

Goði addressed the boy of the water. She stared into his eyes, glanced at his finger nails, and pried his mouth open to examine his tongue. Finally, she went to his tail and unwrapped the shoddy bandages. With the tail elevated, the blood was not pouring out so badly. But still, the fleshly gray meat of his tail was visible as the scales had been torn away. It was an awful wound. Goði dipped a rag in a clean bucket of water and pressed it to it. It stung, he would admit, but she knew what she was doing. After the wound had been washed of blood, she sprinkled a bit of salt on it. He winced as he white knuckled the barrel. She rewrapped his tail and then addressed the vikings in the room, scratching her message onto the dirt floor. Gobber translated.

"His injury heals much differently then a human's. Once the scales grow back in a few days, he'll stop bleeding. But it's likely that his fin will never grow back."

Hiccup rested his head against his arms, forlorn. That's what he had feared. He sniffed and rubbed his arm over his eyes.

Wordlessly, Stoick left. All he wanted to know was that the boy was okay, but to see him in pain…that was too much. Goði left ingredients for an herbal tea with Gobber, and then left herself.

Once the company had left, Hiccup allowed a low moan to rip from his throat. Everything hurt, especially his heart. He had seen the face of his father, but the man didn't recognize him. The disappointment was crippling and made tears leak from his eyes.

He wanted Toothless.

Hiccup buried his miserable face in his arms and wept. His shoulders heaving with the occasional sob. Only the crackling of the fire echoed in the forge as the young man mourned his losses. Loss of home, friends, and his mobility. But…according to Stoick, it wouldn't last forever. He could at least be thankful for that.

Gently, a hand rested on his damp head. He lifted his green eyes to Astrid, whom he had forgotten about.

She bit her lip, seeming to be thinking, but then gave him a half hearted smile. "I know you don't understand me…but…I—…" She stopped. Apologizing was not in her nature. In any other circumstance, she would have tossed her head up and denied that it was her fault. He deserved it, he did it to himself. But to see him like this…so weak, so hurt, something kindled inside her. Something like sympathy, maybe?

Finally she sighed, "I'm sorry. It's going to be okay." She confirmed. With that, she turned and left the forge. All whom remained was Gobber.

"You should feel honored. Astrid doesn't apologize. She's broken Snotlout's arm countless times and she even killed one of Mildew's sheep. That girl has no remorse." The man made himself busy making up the tea. "You must have made a good impression on her."

Hiccup sniffed a bit.

"Of course, Stoick was pretty adamant about you staying, she might have said that to make sure you were okay. Maybe she believes in the whole curse thing after all." He gave a steaming tankard to the lad. "Here, drink this. But be careful, it's kind of hot."

Hiccup sipped it gingerly.

"I know the truth, boy." He stated outright.

Hiccup spat out his drink.

"Mermaids are ruthless creatures. If you get on Astrid's good side, and then take her back to the water with you like you plan, well, you'll have to deal with me."

Hiccup rolled his eyes. These humans were so close minded.

"I saw it happen before, you know, when I was a lad." The man pulled up a bench to sit. "I was on a ship with some boys my age. We stole some of our parents ale and were sailing through the night. A party cruise, if you know what I mean. Everything was fine, until some pretty thing surfaced from the water and rested at the edge of our boat. I knew it was fishy, but I was kind of drunk, so I wasn't thinking so well.

"She starts singing. A pretty little tune, and immediately, the other guys were in a trance, leaning forward towards the water. I was the only one nae effected, because I don't care much about girlies." He chuckled. "I saw what was happening and POW! knocked the devil back into the water with an oar! The boys came out of their trance, but had no memory of the event. No one believed me at home either."

Hiccup looked absolutely mortified.

"So until you came along, no one believed me when I said there were mermaids. Though, as far as I know, through stories and such, there aren't any mermen…which thinking about it, doesn't make much sense, right? Ah, what do I know? You're sitting here after all, aren't you?"

The boy nodded dully. His man was making him extremely uncomfortable.

"And of course I mentioned the mermaid curse because I was cursed by the mermaid I whacked in the face. See!" He waved his arm. "She sent a Nightmare after me. He attacked me, and with one bite, swallowed it whole. I could see the look on his face, I was delicious! He must have spread the word because it wasn't a month later that another one took my leg!"

Hiccup sipped his tea, awkwardly.

"Where was I goin' with this…?" The meathead scratched his head. "Ah! Yes!" He gave the boy a hard pat on his shoulder. "I don't want to be cursed again! So I'll treatcha like my own son! Just don't be draggin' our ladies off into the bay!"

Hiccup shook his head, for the first time, actually giving the man an answer.

"Good lad! So, a tail then, hmmm? Shouldn't be too hard. I made my arm and leg, after all."

Hiccup rested his cheek against his arm with a sigh. He had been worried too much. A paranoid man like Gobber would fix him up well and have him back in the bay before winter set in. In just a few weeks, he might even get the answers he was looking for.

—

'A long day' would be an understatement. Astrid climbed the stairs to her loft in the Haddock home, and kicked off her boots. Her armored skirt and shoulder pads clunked to the floor as well. She flopped on the bed, ready to slip into unconsciousness. But to her dread, the room had become hot and uncomfortable. Pulling herself to her knees, she pushed the latch on the window open just a bit to let the cool night air in. She spared a glance outside, never tiring of the view.

The night was serene. The sun had completely disappeared under the horizon, only stars out created light to see bare silhouettes. The lake was still as the grave, the multitude of stars reflecting in it's surface. All in all, the scene looked like the heavens were covered with a blanket and spilled out in-between weaves. She rested her head in her hands and gazed at the miraculous picture.

Suddenly, there was singing. A soft tenor singing a lullaby. She peered into the darkness, searching for a face. Of course, she was silent, afraid of scaring away whomever it was. His chorus was crisp, sung with deep melancholy. His rich voice resinated across the still landscape with each note. He sounded young, not much older then Astrid, but with class that radiated even in song.

The girl gave into the subtle urges and closed her eyes as his voiced crashed over her like a wave. This sound was so crisp, so beautiful, no one in the village possessed such a voice. Is this what people say was a siren? A haunting and beautiful sound that lead sailors to their deaths? Surely, this was the voice of an god.

Before she knew what was happening, she was asleep at her window.

—

Hiccup remembered why he hated humans.

They were as dumb as rocks.

It had been about three days, and they had remembered to feed him twice. That is, Gobber remembered. The man was a little absent in the head sometimes.

The heat from the forge had evaporated a large portion of the water in his barrel, and now what was there only came up to his belly button. What water was left was filthy with his own waste. Talk about disgusting. Granted, he could survive without it for a few days, but he wasn't sure he wanted that to happen.

"Quieter than a mouse, he es!" Gobber said, speaking to a customer. "'Asn't said a word. Just sits there all calm like an' watches me work. I like ta think he's blessing' me."

Hiccup always felt awkward when that topic came up. He had no magical powers that he knew of. Nothing like the mermaids who actually did curse humans. He was only an outlier.

"Well, thanks for re-stringin' my bow, Gobber. I'll bring then chicken over tomorrow."

"Anytime Angus!" The peg-legged man saluted.

Though Hiccup dreaded how dense these vikings could be, there was one redeemable quality that he found of amazement.

How had such fragile creatures learned to so easily manipulate metal? Gobber was the master, he knew that, and no matter how many times he witnessed it, the ability to turn a hunk of rock into a masterpiece was astounding. Then Gobber would go and touch the metal before letting it sufficiently cool, and burn himself.

Hiccup rolled his eyes. Yep, still an idiot.

Gobber was sucking on his wound when the door slammed open. "THAT'S IT! I can't take it anymore!" A furious voice shouted.

"What's wrong lass?"

Astrid tossed her thick braid over her shoulder and slammed her axe into the table. "It's Stoick! Usually I can just throw my axe into the trees for a while, but this…this is just too much!" She sighed. "I broke my axe too. I just need someone to talk to."

"Well, dear, you caught me at an awkward time. I have to go see Goði for a moment. But I'll be back soon, and then I'll fix your axe."

"But—…"

"Talk to him," the man jabbed his thumb towards Hiccup. "'E's a good listener. Sat through my story of the Boneknapper, and managed to look interested the entire time."

"He was probably in disbelief that you were talking to him for so long." She quirked her brow.

He waved his hand. "Bah! You wanted someone to talk to, I'm just giving you the option. Either way, I'll be back in a bit." With that, he crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him.

Astrid hopped up on the counter and crossed her arms and legs in frustration.

Hiccup watched her, his head resting on his forearms. He puffed up his cheeks and glanced around.

"It's a shame." Astrid finally said. "I have to come here and borrow my chief's best friend, because I don't have my own."

He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Don't get me wrong. I have friends…those kids in the boat are…nice…but, I can't talk to them. Ruff is the only girl, but she tells her brother everything. They're both perverts anyways. Snotlout is just as bad, and he's really dense. He thinks everything I say is to be taken as flirting. And he does most of the talking, and it's always about him. Actually, he makes everything worse! Then there's Fishlegs, who's afraid of me and never knows what to say…" she rubbed her leg awkwardly. "So I come to Gobber, and sometimes the advice he gives me is not all that sound in the first place."

Gobber was right, the boy was a good listener. He pinned her with those deep green eyes that seemed to pull at her. Before she knew what was happening, her soul was pouring out of her mouth, all to this stranger. This…creature with no name, no home, no origin.

"I used to sit…at my parent's grave, and talk to them. But, after a while, I realized that they were in a different place, and couldn't hear me anymore." She scrunched up her lips. "I don't dare talk to Stoick. He's my main problem. Always hiding stuff, but still ordering me around. I guess I owe him the benefit of a doubt, since he took me in and all…" She huffed. "I just wish he'd treat me…like his daughter."

Hiccup's eyebrows rose in utter surprise, and a bit disappointment. So much had changed in his absence. His father had attempted to replace him, and managed to make someone else suffer as he did.

Astrid let out a groan as she pushed her palms to her eyes. "I don't even know why I'm saying this, you can't even understand me."

"I don't know," Gobber suddenly said, entering the shack.

Astrid jumped an inch. "You should be glad I didn't have my axe in hand!"

He was unperturbed. "I'm sure. Mutton?" The man held out a plate piled with meat.

"Uh..no thanks."

He shrugged and set the food by Hiccup, who reach out and took some, not waiting for permission. He tore into it with relish.

"As I was saying, I think he can understand us, he just chooses not to speak."

She eyed the young merman. "Then he better continue to keep his mouth shut."

Hiccup gulped.

"I don't think you need to worry about that, lass. He likes ya!"

"Oh, he does?" She smirked.

Hiccup blushed. He did find her very beautiful, and her voice was entrancing, and even then, she was the smartest human he had come across.

"He does!" She laughed. "Sorry, that's too bad."

His eyebrows furrowed in sadness.

"It'll never work. I have legs, you have fins." She teased.

He rolled his eyes.

"Besides, I don't even know your name."

He gazed down to the floor, he dare not give it.

"Well, if you aren't going to tell me, then I might as well name you myself." She pursed her lips and grinned. "How about Hiccup?"

He stared at her in something akin to horror, trying to figure out how she had guess it, and on the first try! Did she know? Did she remember? It couldn't be so!

Gobber seemed to be stricken as well. "Lass, of all names…why that one?"

"Why Gobber, Stoick said it himself. The reason he could stay was because he reminded him of his son."

"B-but—! That's so cruel, Astrid!"

"He deserves it." She sneered.

"Alright, what did he do this time?" Gobber prodded.

Astrid turned so she could lay on the counter, her ankle resting on her knee and her foot jiggling rhythmically. "I've been studying under him for how many years now? And he still treats me like a dumb child! I can think for myself! Tonight, I was trying to get out the answer out of him about this—…" She pointed at Hiccup. "Thing! But all he says is, 'you wouldn't understand' and 'don't worry about it.' Well, I'm going to be chief someday! I want to know why he does what he does! He needs to stop sheltering me!" The blonde threw her hands up in the air.

Gobber picked up the broken weapon and surveyed it. "'E loves you, ya know."

She scoffed.

"He just…wants to protect ya."

"Okay, yeah, I get it. He lost his son, and he's afraid of losing me. I get that! But harboring a mermaid is not something I can just brush aside! He won't touch the topic, no matter how I approach it, and it's so frustrating!"

Gobber worked with the axe in silence, gathering his thoughts. Hiccup gazed at both humans, trying to get an insight into the incident.

"He's right, in a way. You won't understand."

"I don't understand that a father can feel the pain of losing his son, when a boy who looks like him is caught stealing from us? Gobber, it's been ten years. Stoick doesn't remember what Hiccup looked like. He's driving himself mad!" She huffed hard and bore her gaze into the ceiling. "Our people have other things to worry about. But this new Hiccup has the chief's mind in other places."

"Lass, until you lose a child, you won't understand his pain."

She bolted upright. "What about the pain of losing a parent!? Huh? Does that pale in comparison?" She snapped at him, furious. "And you!" she turned her attention to Hiccup, "What are you staring at?! Haven't you seen someone have a breakdown!?"

Only a few days into his capture and things were already getting interesting.

Astrid was genuinely bothered by his staring. Not because it invoked that feeling of being examined like Snotlout's stares tended to, but these deep forest eyes saw right through her like no one else had. They saw through her tough act, her fake leadership, and her calm mien, and saw the scared child that remained from years gone by. He had brought out feelings and emotions that she had kept tucked away deep inside her heart. And he did it all without making a sound. She hadn't felt this raw in a long time, even Gobber looked afraid of her sudden outburst. "Stop looking at me like that!"

He didn't. Orbs of omniscience held her own, making her lip tremble.

"What, are you stupid or something!?" She yelped in a last ditch effort.

Insulting his intelligence was where he drew the line. "I absolutely am not! I'm just particular with words, and choose to utilize them only when the situation dictates."

The look on her face was priceless. "You—…you do speak! And all this time…what, are you just shy or something?"

"I told you, I only chose to speak when I need to."

Gobber started chuckling, "you lost your fin, and you're stuck in a barrel of water. Only when the lass calls you stupid do you feel the need to speak? I sense a proud one here!"

Hiccup scoffed.

Astrid stole her still broken axe from the table and held the blade to his throat. "Alright, Fishboy, start talking! Why were you stealing from us?"

His fingers curled around the crest of the axe and he moved it away from his neck. He shrugged.

"Silent game again, huh?" She kicked the barrel and toppled it over. "I don't think so!"

Hiccup sprawled out on the floor, the water dispersing into the dirt.

Mercilessly, she dropped her axe handle on his stomach. "That's for withholding information!"

"Okay okay!" He held up his hands in defense. "I was hungry!"

She sneered at him, skeptical.

"I lived my whole life eating fish, I just wanted to store up food for the winter." That was enough of an explanation for her.

And it worked, she handed her axe back to Gobber and righted the barrel. "I guess I can't be angry at someone who was trying to survive. But we didn't have a surplus of food, your theft took a toll." She poked his chest.

As if he didn't already feel guilty. The girl grabbed him by the forearms as Gobber lifted him by his tail and they righted him back in the barrel, even though it was empty.

"Do you need water?" She asked.

"Not this minute." He shrugged.

"So," Gobber interrupted. "Now that you're speaking, how about you tell us your name?"

He found this as an opportune time to lie. "Hiccup is fine." He put on his best pathetic look. "I don't have a name."

Astrid's heart clenched. "No parents?"

He shook his head.

"Where do you live?" Gobber asked.

"A cave. When I can...the winter is easier there."

It was evident that they both bought his sob story as they looked at each other. "I'll...I'll talk to Stoick, maybe he'll let you stay here through the winter. That way, you won't have to end up stealing from us."

"That would be very nice, thank you." He shyly spoke.

Suckers.