Trouble Already
Hiccup's POV
I woke up with a pounding headache and a throbbing feeling in my left side. Forcing my eyes to open, I took in my surroundings with a blurry vision. I seemed to be in a bedroom, it had a familiar smell of forest, rainwater and charcoal, I knew I wasn't in Gothi's hut because her place smells of medicine and herbs. I try to sit up, but that was a mistake as when I tried to, my left side exploded with pain so instead I rolled over to my right side and got a better view of my surroundings. The first thing I noticed was that the bed was a little bit small for me as my feet dangled off the edge. The room was cold, even though the window wasn't open to let the Winter wind in, all the furniture was covered by a white sheet, except the bed, wardrobe and a small chair next to me. There were drawings of inventions and people, on the bedside table was a small painting done by a child of a man, a woman and their son, with my vision clearing I recognised the family. It was my family. I had painted it when I was seven years old. My dad hadn't thrown it out?
Finding some strength, I sat up slowly wincing at the pain and I realise where I am now. I'm in my old room. Everything is just the way I left it, except for the cobwebs and layers of dust but, pretty much everything looks normal. I see Toothless sleeping on the floor next to me, his wing is in a splint and his front leg bandaged up, and speaking of bandages, it was only now I notice the tight wrappings around my waist where the injury was. The wound didn't hurt as much then it did yesterday, so I'll have to be careful with what I do. A loud yawn caught my attention and I look to see Toothless waking up, he stretched his legs and back out slowly, like an overgrown cat trying not to irritate his wing and leg.
"Hey Buddy" I quietly and hoarsely called in Dragonese.
This caught his immediate attention, as he suddenly turned around and leapt onto the bed, he began to lick and nuzzle me, being careful about my injury. Toothless then laid down on top of me, purring with affection and nearly cutting of my breathing.
"Oof" I exclaim "Toothless, you're heavy, I can't breathe"
"I know" he cheekily replied. Eventually he got off me, allowing air to full my lungs.
I realise that someone -most likely my dad- removed my dragon scale cloak and riding vest, looking around the room I didn't see any of the two nor my staff. Clattering from downstairs came to my heightened sense of hearing; when it came to hunting with Toothless, my senses of sight, hearing and smell improved. I could hear sounds that humans couldn't hear, see far distances that would take a spyglass to see and can smell anything in a 1 kilometre radius. I determine the voices radiating from the kitchen below as my father and Gobber, and by the smell of things someone was cooking. I hope it's not dad, he maybe the greatest chief in history but he can't cook to save his life. The only thing he could cook was, fish and cabbage soup, but even then it had its flaws. The smell from downstairs wasn't a pleasant one, my guess it was burnt chicken and boiled vegetables. Yeah, trust dad to do the cooking. Slowly I got up off the bed and made my way towards the door, with Toothless following closely incase my legs gave out. Cradling my wound, I push the door open, slightly creaking, and limped to the top of the staircase, from downstairs the voices got louder, and the smell of dad's horrible cooking intensified. Whoever taught him how to cook, didn't do a very good job.
Gathering courage, i made my way down the stairs, trying to not make a sound. Glancing into the kitchen i see my father and Gobber sitting at the dinner table, heavily engaged in a conversation, above the fireplace were two big fat chickens, getting overcooked and a small cauldron filled with boiling water and cabbage. I cringe at the sight of it, along with Toothless and listened to my dad and Gobber speak.
"Where could he have been all these years?" asked my father, with his head down and mind in deep thinking "And why didn't he come back?"
"Maybe, because he couldn't come back," states Gobber "or didn't want to. Not that i blame him, since we didn't really treat him all that well"
My dads head shot up and looked confused at Gobber's words "What do you mean?" he said aghast. Gobber just gave out a heavy sigh. "He never told you, did he? Well, 'bout time someone did," i watched as my father crossed his arms and rested them on the table, leaning forward he eagerly listened to Gobber, who told him things about my past life on Berk, that i kept to myself as to not cause more trouble, Gobber was the only one who knew what was going on. "When Hiccup was a lad, 'bout five or six, he started to be pushed around by the other kids. Snotlout being the worst. Came into the forge with grazes and bruises all over him, he just claimed he tripped and fell down a hill, I believed him at first seeming as how he's always falling over. But I soon became suspicious when he came to work one morning crying his eyes out. The boy was a wreck. That's when I found out about Snotlout and the others. From then on the beatings got worse. At first i just shook it off, thinking the teens would soon get bored and go find something else to do but I was proven wrong when one day i found Hiccup in the back room, curled up in the corner with bleeding cuts and a broken arm. I tried to help him, but he wouldn't allow me, he just kept saying he 'wasn't worth it'. Never had i seen him so broken."
I remembered that day. I was on my way to the forge when Snotlout came from behind and jumped me, it wasn't long till the twins joined in. That beating session went for twenty minutes they broke my right arm in two places, I was ten at the time. I never told anyone about it, except Gobber already knew what was going on. My fathers voice brought back to reality.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked
"Because I made him promise not to," I spoke unexpectedly. Both Vikings heads shot up and turned sharply towards me. "I didn't want to cause anymore trouble and seem weak to you, so i just decided to face it on my own. But, that was a decision i regret" The floor suddenly became interesting as i said this. The house was filled with deafening silence, no one knew what to say or was too unsure if they should say anything. I made a quick and curious glance at my Father and Mentor, they both were staring at the table, heads bowed in regret and finally understanding, never have i thought i'd live to see the day where my dad would come to his senses and listen to what i say.
"And to answer your question dad. Why didn't i come back? Well, what would you think of me, being alive and living with a dragon, a Night Fury to be exact. How could i come back? Besides, I never did have a good life here" I look to the fireplace and added, "You do realise you're condemning the chickens to Helheim, right?"
"Ah good," my father said standing up "That means it's ready"
"I think it was ready two hours ago" I mutter to myself.
A hour passed and we were all seated around the table with a plate of very burnt chicken and boiled vegetables, Toothless laid down on the floor next to me, his triangular head resting on his paws i knew Gobber and my dad were still weary of him, but as long as he didn't do anything rash everything would be OK. I picked at my food with a metal fork, keeping myself in my own mind; with Toothless not being able to fly for one and a half months we can't get back to the island, hopefully things there will be alright. I was so cooped up in my own mind that i didn't realise my father asked me a question until Gobber nudged my shoulder.
"Sorry" i said "What did you say?"
"I said: Where have you been all these years?" my dad replied
"I've been living on an island Northeast of here, as well as other places"
Stoick just nodded, processing the information. I continued to pick at my food not daring to take a bite of it, even Toothless won't eat it so, to satisfy him a bit I gave him the rest of the fish that Trader Johann gave us yesterday, he was a little upset that I didn't have any but reassured him that I'll ask some dragons to go fishing for us and, see if they can find another Salmon like that. Toothless was dozing off, regaining his strength so he could heal better, unlike me who should be in bed taking it easy instead of having an uncomfortable conversation with my father. We could never talk to each other without the feeling to kill the other or an awkward silence.
"You're not hungry?" Gobber asks
"No, not really" i reply. Actually i was starving, but i don't want to risked having my stomach upset for the next week. Gobber gave a small amused chuckle "Haven't changed that much, have you? Still the skinny and sarcastic apprentice from five years ago. But, you have developed some new skills, like last night, bested Stoick in a fight, i didn't think that it was possible. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
I hesitate at answering. I didn't want to tell them, what would they think? I'll never know till i find out, so i reply carefully and slowly. "I was...taught by..." I take a deep breath "...The dragons" Both Vikings stared at me in shock.
"Taught by dragons?" my father asked.
I nod. "They taught me a lot of things. Like hunting, fighting, being stealthy, as well as other things," They were still shocked at the information i told them, so i decided to give them so time to process it. "Hey, do you know where my dragon scale cloak is?"
"Yeah, on the chair over there" Gobber answered. I nodded my head in appreciation, got up from my chair and grabbed my cloak, sliding it over my shoulders and buckling the silver Night Fury clasp and also grab my staff that was leaning against the wall next to the chair and head for the back door.
"Where are you going?" my father asks
"Just for a walk. I need some air" and with that I left for the forest.
Being back in the old forest brought back most of my childhood, since I spent all my spare time in it. I remember when I found a hollow tree and used it as a place to keep something secret, but that ended when the others found out about it and destroyed it. After i left Berk, i left the past behind me, rarely thinking about the people and never considered of coming back to stay or let anyone know i was alive, i was a different person, i wasn't 'Hiccup the Useless' anymore but 'Hiccup the Dragon Rider' and 'Little Sparrow, whisperer of the dragons', those are the names i am going to live up to. But now I'm not so sure if I want to leave again.
I wander the forest not caring of where i'm going, I've walked these woods since I was four years old and know it like the back of my hand, dump me in any part of the forest I'll know the way back. I missed the crisp and moist air, it was always comforting and relaxing, it allowed me to clear my head when I was troubled. Continuing down the shallow and nearly invisible dirt path I notice a lot of the trees have been chopped down, even the one where I used lean against and draw or sometimes fell asleep if I stayed there too late. A low and sad coo made me stop, and turning around to find that Toothless had followed me clearly worried.
"You alright?" he asked
"Yeah. Just a little uneasy being back" i answer
"I don't blame you" Toothless states "It's not everyday you return to the tribe that you left behind to keep a dragon safe. But you and i both knew that this day would come"
"True. Though i didn't think it would happen now"
"Neither of us did. But now it's happening, and you have to make a choice. If Berk allows you to stay, then you have to choose to be with your kind or continue the life you've been living the past five years. It's your choice, no one can tell you otherwise"
"Why can't I choose both?"
"You can if you want. However it will be very difficult to live two lives at once"
Toothless was right. I have to choose between my life on Berk or my life with the dragons. With Toothless having a broken wing it gave me a chance to think things over, but I don't want to choose something over the other, I don't want to leave Berk again and I don't want to abandon the dragons. How can I do both things at once? The snapping of a stick brought me back to reality, Toothless growled and got into a defensive stance as did I, holding my staff out in front of me ready to defend and attack.
"Who's there?!" I yell "Show yourself!"
My patience was growing thin after a few moments, but was pushed away when whispering and footsteps came to my ears. All of a sudden an axe came flying from the left of me aimed at my head, i managed to dodge it by jumping upwards and landing on the handle of the axe just as it hit the tree next to me in a crouch position. I recognised the axe as Astrid's, and who else has such accuracy and power?
"Nice try Astrid" I call "better luck next time"
A frustrated scowl emitted from the woods and was soon carried on by fast approaching footsteps, judging by the sound of it there were five people. And I can guess who all of them are. Toothless growled louder as the rustling of leaves grew closer. Seconds passed and as i guessed, five figures emerged from the bushes brandishing weapons and murderous glares platered on their faces. Except for one. The one didn't wear any hatred, but wore astonishment and a little fear was Fishlegs. All of them had changed over the years, they had grown taller and upgraded their Viking attire.
Fishlegs, had wore his considerably large brown fur tunic; the fur was combed down instead of sticking up like it did five years ago, the think brown leather belt held three small rectangular compartment bags and a dagger sheath, his arm braces were covered in brown fur and tied with a length of leather, the small helmet placed on his head had its horns replaced by metal dragon wings, he had grown some facial hair and one of his sideburns had a braid in it. Judging by the glint in his eyes, he was trying to hide happiness and joy.
"Hiccup?" he asked in hushed tones. I answered with a smile.
Taking a look at the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut, they too had renewed their look. Tuffnut had resorted to a somewhat deadly and dangerous appearance, the boots he wore were covered in sharp metal spikes, his pale blue tunic replaced by a dark blue one, and the also blue trousers switched to red, a dark brown fur vest that was stained dark blue in some areas, resting on his right shoulder was a sharp horned shoulder guard, his hair was now in dreadlocks, he kept his helmet the same and still wore the dragon tooth necklace.
Ruffnut stood beside her brother with a considering but disgusted stare, a spear in her hands. Her look was a bit girly, as the clothes she wore were yellow and purple. The wrappings on her arms were purple along with a long waistcoat-like garment and boots, the tunic, her fur vest and leggings were yellow and she also still had her dragon tooth necklace. Ruffnut then approached me until she was standing right in front of me and ignoring my personal space. The distance between us was about four inches, and i could tell she was examing me as her eyes kept moving to inspect different areas of my face.
"Whoa. Hiccup, you got hot. Hotter than Snotlout" she announced.
"That's a lot of crap!" Snotlout exclaimed "No one can get more beautiful than me"
I watched (with mentally bleeding eyes) as my older cousin emphasized his words by kissing his arm muscles, i looked away and clamped my mouth shut as my stomach did a few flips. I presumed Snotlout was named heir after my 'death' as he did have Haddock blood, his father Spitelout was Haddock by birth but changed his last name when he married Snotlout's mother. Snotlout had taken the image that resembled my father a bit, he wore a bluish green armoured vest with a black bear fur shoal with the Jorgenson's clan symbol on the buckle, his trousers were striped like my dads, brown leather braces tied tight by the wire like laces wrapped around his forearms, his belt with his family symbol on it hadn't changed as well as his helmet, and he too had grown facial hair.
"Sorry Snotlout," said Ruffnut "but Hiccup is definitely hotter than you" I blush at this, and couldn't believe she said that.
"Hey Fishbone," Astrid called "You going to let me get my axe?"
It was then I realised I was still crouching down on Astrid's axe from when she threw it at me. With an annoyed sigh I jumped down and grabbed the handle and pulled the blade out from the tree and gave it back to Astrid who snatched it from my hands. Out of all the five she had changed the most, she switched her blue shirt to a bright red one, she had kept her metal shoulder guards but had connected a fur hood to them that slithered around the back of her neck, the spiked skirt she wore five years ago was no longer slitted but joined together by fur, Astrid's boots went up to the bottom of her knees and were covered with beige coloured fur down to the ankles, she had exchanged the wrappings on her arms to a thick glove-like fur and her leggings now a brilliant dark blue with protective knee pads. When I turned around, everyone was looking at me in disbelief, their eyes were either going to pop out or their jaws were to the ground or both. What confused me was that Astrid stared at me in hatred.
"What?" I asked to everyone
"You just pulled out Astrid's axe" answered Tuffnut
"So? What's the big deal?"
"Two reasons," an annoyed Snotlout said "One: Last time we saw you, you couldn't lift any weapon except a dagger"
"And two," continued Ruffnut "Astrid has the most powerful throw any Viking has ever seen. Only Stoick and herself could get it out of the target with some difficulty. But you just pulled her axe out as if it was the easiest thing to do in the world. Not to mention, you also dodged one of her attacks"
"But more importantly!" shouted Snotlout "since Hiccup is back now, Stoick is most likely going to name him heir again!"
"Now that does make sense" stated Toothless. I roll my eyes at him.
"Snotlout, you don't have to worry. I'm not back. I'll be leaving as soon as my dragons wing is healed. I have no intension to stay and become the heir of Berk"
"Never the less, I'm going to make sure that I keep my status"
"Be my guest" I offer. A sharp blade of a weapon roughly poked at my shoulder. It was Astrid. She was pointing the blade of the axe towards me with a menacing glare.
"You don't belong here" she finalised
"No arguments here" I said as me and Toothless started to walk off, heading deeper into the forest.
"Hey!" Astrid shouted "We're not finished! Get back here!"
"Catch me if you can!" I shout back, I switch to Dragonese "Go hide in the cove, Toothless. I'll met you there"
"Ok. Be careful"
I nodded in response and watched as he quickly made his way to the cove, I took off in the opposite direction breaking into a sprint. Not too long after, I heard running from behind me and picked up my pace a little. As I suspected the others had followed me and were charging like a wild stampede of yaks. It was like running from the Whispering Death again, except this time I knew what I was doing. They didn't know these woods like I do, I know all the secrets. With the others in chase, I guided them through the thick trees. Astrid was yelling insults at me, she probably learnt them from the twins. I jumped onto a low tree branch, leaping to others and occasionally swinging on vines.
After about ten minutes of running, I started to grow tired. Since I haven't had anything to eat or drink in the past twelve hours I was losing energy, and fast. Turning in the direction of Thor's beach, I slowed my sprint hoping to store some energy for later. I was going to need it as the 'Unclimbable Wall' was about a hundred metres away.
The 'Unclimbable Wall' was twenty feet tall, and nearly as hard as a diamond. Many Vikings have tired to climb it but it was impossible, the surface was too smooth and vertical to climb and had narrow creases for hand holds. People tried to use tools and weapons, but the rock it was made of was so dense and tough that they could only lodge their equipment in about a centimetre, if you were strong enough, and when you tried to pull yourself up your tool or weapon would slip out. The highest anyone has gone is about one metre.
the distance between me and the wall was closing and fast. I rumage through the pockets concealed wthin my cloak, and pulled out a set of gloves, they were made of black leather that buckled at the wrists, dragon claws that i made out of silver covered my fingers. I mostly use these for Monstrous Nightmares and to climb cliffs and walls, these gloves have saved my life more than ten times, and now it's going to be eleven. I only have one shot at this, if i screw it up i'm in a whole heap of trouble. The wall was now ten metres away and i could hear Snotlout's enthusiastic cheering grow louder.
"Yeah! We got him now!"
Five metres away. Four. Three. Two. One.
I put all my strength into my knees, crouch down and leap, my arms reaching out for the wall, as if i was embracing it. Once the claws of my gloves touched the surface of the rockface, i transferred half of the strength from my knees to my arms, using it to pull myself up. I couldn't stop. Keeping my eyes and focus locked onto the top of the wall, i gained speed and let my actions carry me all the way. My arms pulled and legs pushed, i was like a cat climbing up a wooden post. I felt like i was flying with Toothless, letting my heart guide my movements, and trusting my it by knowing 'i can do this'.
Shortly, i found myself at the top of the wall, lying on my back panting for breath. I smile starts to crawl its way on my mouth as well as a laugh forms from my throat. I did it. I climbed the 'Unclimbable wall'. Sitting up, i look over the edge of the cliff and see the young Vikings staring up at me in disbelief and shocked, utterly flabbergasted and gobsmacked. Astrid's expression suddenly changed to annoyance and loathsome.
"Hiccup!" she roared "Get back down here"
"Now why should i do that?" i asked teasingly
"Because, we all challenge you to a fight." Snotlout replied "Bring your weapon of choice, no armour. If you lose, you give up your title of heir and leave berk forever"
"And, if i win?"
Astrid spoke before Snotlout "That's for you to decide"
I thought for moment. There was no getting out of this, the person who's challenged can't decline, especially if it was for the role as heir. Might as well get this over with.
"Alright." i answer "When and Where?"