Chapter 7
Toothless landed loudly on the wooden deck outside of the Edge's small healers hut. Having been built to handle only one patient at a time it would be a tight fit with two but Hiccup was sure they would make it work. Without waiting for Heather and Fishlegs to land, who were only moments behind him, Hiccup launched off of Toothless–Astrid still tightly wrapped in his arms.
The entire flight Astrid had stayed silent, still unconscious. Only letting out slight moans intermittently between her shivering. Which only caused Hiccup's worry for her her to grow. He prayed to whatever God was listening that the blast had not done unseen damage that they couldn't repair.
Two more loud thumps could be heard behind him as he carried Astrid into the healers hut. His mismatched gate drumming quickly across the wooden floor matching the pace of his racing heart. Once he reached the hard bed he gently placed her trembling form down. Pulling up the patchwork quilt, covering Astrid up to her chest, hoping it would warm up her frozen body in some way.
Just as he finished pulling the quilt up Heather and Fishlegs entered, the latter carrying Eret's large limp body. It was right after they started their trek back to the Edge, when Hiccup mad the decision to pass over Eret to Fishlegs. He knew the extra weight would tire Toothless out to a point that could end up slowing the entire group down.
Fishlegs set the large man down against the wall to the right before racing over to several chests and pulling out extra blankets and clothes. Heather opted to make a bee line for Hiccup, and Astrid. Assuming that Fishlegs could care for the man just fine on his own.
Quietly Heather took her position beside Astrid's bed, moving Hiccup a little back from his spot next to her–where he had been quietly sitting, her icy hand between his own. She looked over Astrid silently, assessing any and all injuries. Besides her dangerously low temperature and her unconscious state the only other injury that Heather could see was a sever shoulder dislocation.
Gritting her teeth Heather knew what had to be done and she was glad that Astrid would not be awake for it. "Hiccup," she said turning towards him, breaking him of his worried trance.
"Yes."
"I need you to pick her up and put her flat on the floor." She told him directly as she moved away from the bed. Hiccup briefly shot a questioning look at Heather but a stern glare had him quickly sliding his hands under Astrid's back and knees and placing her carefully in front of Heather.
"Alright stay on her right side and keep her from moving Okay?" Hiccup gave her a shaky nod before taking his place on the floor to the right of her, while Heather gently maneuvered her right foot under Astrid's left arm as she carefully brought the left arm towards her.
"Now I have to pop her shoulder back into place and even unconscious she probably going to respond, so please just keep her from moving." Again Hiccup only gave her a nodded response, though this time with a more determined look on his face.
Grasping Astrid's left hand between her own Heather took a deep breath and began to slowly pull the arm towards her. While she pushed off of Astrid's side. Almost immediately a low groan escaped from Astrid's mouth, sending Hiccup into action–crouching lower towards her face. Wiping her sodden bangs with one hand, the other holding her firmly to the floor–he spoke quietly to her. Telling her everything would be fine and that it would be over soon. Praying mentally that he wasn't lying to her even if she wouldn't know any difference.
Not a moment later another groan came out louder than the first before turning into an audible sigh as Astrid's shoulder slid back into place. Heather let out a sigh of her own as she finished, looking up she met Hiccup's gaze and gave him a single nod before gesturing for him to put her back on the bed.
Picking her up, careful of her left shoulder, Hiccup quickly placed Astrid back on the bed and was about to pull the quilt back over her when Heather's hand shot out and stopped him.
"No, I have to get these wet clothes off of her. Which means you need to leave. Go get yourself dried off Hiccup." Hiccup was about to object when he looked down at Astrid'a shivering form and paused. He was still pretty frozen feeling despite all the activity and if he was this cold then Astrid would be far worse off.
Giving Heather a slight nod Hiccup backed away from the pair, giving Astrid one last meaningful glance before turning fully away. On his way out of the room, Fishlegs sided up beside him, carrying an armful of wet clothing.
"How is he?" Hiccup asked quietly as looked past Fishlegs and to Eret as the two men continued walking to the door.
"Cold and unconscious but he'll be fine after some rest." Fishlegs told him. Hiccup nodded in agreement, glad that Eret was going to be fine. While he still had many issues with the man and didn't particularly like him, he did save Astrid. A task that earned Eret, thanks and whatever it took to get him healthy again. Even it meant more rude future remarks about Hiccup's body mass compared to every other Viking in the archipelago.
Hiccup pushed aside the door, letting Fishlegs out first, giving him one last opportunity to sneak a glimpse at the woman who was rapidly becoming someone incredibly important to him. Thankfully Heather had yet to disrobe Astrid of her dress, so he could still drink in her image without the thread of guilt that would accompany it if he saw any sliver of flesh that lay beneath the soaked fabric. He finally turned around and let the door fall back into place after a few more moments of letting his gaze trace over her pale profile. With a deep sigh, worry still surging through him he made his way towards his hut.
He had only taken a few steps when Toothless came quietly up to him, concern showing in his large green eyes.
Looks like I'm not the only one worried about Astrid. Hiccup thought as he laid a hand on his friends smooth head, rubbing the scaly skin gently.
"She's gonna be okay Bud." He warbled at him quietly, in an unconvinced tone. "C'mon, Bud I need dry clothes, then we can come back and check on her." Hiccup motioned subtly in the direction of his hut before walking towards it. Toothless faithfully following beside him.
. . . . .
Not long after he left, Hiccup, with Toothless by his side arrived back at the healers hut; barefoot and wearing just his plain long sleeve red tunic and green leggings. Leaving behind his leather armor and vambraces behind in his hut to dry–as well as his leather boot. The same boot that he had gotten the day he had met Astrid.
Astrid. He thought with an audible sigh as he slid down the outside wall of the Healers hut. His thoughts finally starting to clear of worry for her health knowing she was in good hands with Heather, only to be replaced by worry of how he would explain her rescue. The Edge. Toothless. Everything.
Hiccup anxiously ran a hand through his bangs, before vigorously scratching the side of his head. As if the action would help his thought process.
"Thor, how am I going to explain all of this?" He said aloud to no one in particular. Toothless only showing a mild reaction to his words, his ear flaps raising briefly then lowering back into place. Hiccup shot him a quick side eye and then turned his attention back to the abnormally quiet Edge, with all the other riders gone. Hiccup found the peace to be slightly unnerving. He had grown accustomed to all the noise and crazy antics of his friends and fellow riders. Them not being here only seemed to emphasize the problem at hand in his mind.
Letting out yet another sigh he was about to drop his suddenly very heavy head into his awaiting hands when the door beside him slid open. Heather pausing beside him as she met his worried gaze.
"You can see her now." She said as she adjusted the heavy wet dress in her arms. "But be careful of her left arm. I have it in a sling, since that shoulder needs time to heal." Hiccup rapidly nodded as he stood up.
" Heather, I-I don't know how to thank you. I–"
"I know Hiccup." Heather said cutting him off, "I know how important she is to you but…Hiccup you have a lot of explaining to do and not just to her. We're your friends and I know you wanted to keep things private for the moment but unfortunately that moment ran out the second you pulled Astrid from the ocean." Heather's piercing green eyes never wavered from his as she spoke. Proving to Hiccup just how serious she was.
Hiccup closed his eyes in resignation and gave her a single nod, knowing the jig was up and he would have to slip all the details about what was going on between he and Astrid. Not that there was much to speak of yet and who knew what would become of them after he told her who he was.
"Okay, can I steal Toothless for a moment. I need him to help me dry these clothes." She said smiling in the Night Fury's direction.
"Sure. Go on Bud. I'll be inside for a while anyways." Toothless happily bounded over to Heather. Before following her towards the club house.
Taking a deep breath Hiccup pulled back the door and entered the candle lit healers hut. His eyes quickly slid over Eret's sleeping form on the floor. Happy to see the man with more color to him and still asleep. He did not need him waking up prior to him seeing Astrid and hopefully getting his scrambled thoughts in order. And if he was honest with himself, explaining who he was to Astrid would be a lot easier without Eret's overbearing persona around.
After his quick examination Hiccup moved his gaze toward Astrid as he crossed the room. He faltered in his steps briefly as he caught sight of her. She still laid on the bed sleeping yet this time she wore a simple cap sleeve blue tunic instead of her fancy gown almost making her look like a normal Viking woman and not a lady of status.
Almost being the key word.
Instead she looked even more Goddess like than before. Her hair which had always been kept in a tight braid, spilled all around her pale face like waves of gold. The candle light reflecting the myriad of colors that lay beneath and around her.
Sweet Freya, I didn't think she could get more beautiful. He thought adoringly as he finally reached her bed and knelt down. Feeling the slightest bit unworthy.
He raked his gaze over her golden hair and to the pale complexion of her face. Color still not yet having returned to it. Gently he brought a hand up to her soft cheek only to hesitate prior to it making contact with her skin. Letting the hand hover in the air for a moment before dropping it back to his side. His uncertainty winning out. Instead Hiccup decided to go the safer route and intertwined their hands chastely.
When Astrid gave no recognition of what he did he settled in beside her, sitting on the wood floor next to her low bed. He was silent for a moment trying to decide what he should do now that he was there. A sudden wave of exhaustion ultimately chose for him, causing him to lay his head down beside their intwined hands. Taking one last glance at Astrid's peaceful face and the calming rise and fall of her chest, Hiccup closed his eyes and quietly drifted off to sleep.
. . . . .
Pain.
It was all she could feel. Her whole body ached, the worst pain coming from her shoulder. Sluggishly Astrid opened her eyes, blinking back the soft light that filled them slowly. Closing her eyes again to block out the light, she went to lift her right hand to assist when she felt an unfamiliar weight on it. Blinking her eyes open again, Astrid angled her head downward, trying to see what was weighing her limb down–only to see a mop of auburn hair instead of her hand.
Curious, she moved her hand again, this time the head connected to the hair moved turning over and facing her. Still asleep.
Shock and confusion flooded Astrid as she drank in Hiccup's peaceful sleeping features. More questions than she could answer hitting her at once.
Where am I? What happened? Why do I hurt so much and why on Midgard is Hiccup asleep next to me?! Astrid thought rapidly. Knowing she couldn't answer those questions herself Astrid moved her arm again, hoping the nudge would finally wake Hiccup.
Hiccup let out a low groan as his vibrant green eyes fluttered open, staring lazily at her confused face for a moment before snapping open fully.
"A-Astrid! You're-you're awake! Oh Thor you scared me." He went to give her an embrace, completely forgetting about her injured shoulder. Which earned him a loud hiss from Astrid, causing him to shoot back quickly.
"Sorry-sorry-sorry!" He said as he backed off a bit but not to his original position, opting to stay closer to her. Astrid flashed Hiccup a half smile in forgiveness
"I-it's," she coughed trying to clear her impossibly dry throat to tell him it was okay but finding herself just far to parched. As she coughed Hiccup clued into her distress and picked up the mug of water, from a nearby table and handed it to her. Astrid accepted the water happily and with Hiccup's help was able to lean far enough forward to take several greedy gulps. Manners be damned.
"Whoa there, slow down, I don't need you choking on anymore water." Hiccup chuckled slightly as he kept a firm hand on Astrid's back. Unconsciously giving it a gently rub as he did. Her golden hair caressing his skin.
Once she was finally done Astrid brought the cup down with a satisfied sigh, "thank you, Hiccup. I-I don't think I've ever been so thirsty." With a smile Hiccup took the empty mug and sat it back on the table.
"Well it makes sense considering what happened, salt water isn't the most thirst quenching drink." Astrid shot Hiccup a curious look.
"What are you talking about? Salt water?"
Hiccup's eyes widened as Astrid asked the question, "Astrid do you not remember what happened? Your ship? The explosion?...Nothing?" His mind became frantic trying to run through possible amnesia scenarios. While Astrid seemed to be absorbing his questions. A blank look on her face as her mind worked over time.
Explosion?...what explo–
Suddenly Astrid's thoughts were cut off as her memories rushed back. Leaving the Northern Markets. Sailing back. The storm. Hurting her shoulder. The explosions. Eret carrying her…Eret!
"Eret?! Is he okay? Where is he?!" She asked quickly.
Hiccup moved slightly and pointed to the far wall and the still sleeping man, "he's right there, he's fine–just asleep." Astrid visibly relaxed seeing Eret's prone form.
"I-I remember now…we were heading back from the Northern Markets when we hit a storm. It was terrible and-and water started coming into my cabin so I ran out into the hall which is where this happened." She gestured to her injured shoulder before continuing. "And then…the ship exploded around us. I-I've never seen anything like it. Eret picked me up and ran and-and…" Astrid trailed off as the rest of her memories became fuzzy. Hiccup sat there taking in all that she had said. Since seeing the Valkyrie ripped apart from the inside Hiccup had been trying to figure out what exactly had caused such massive blasts. Unfortunately Astrid's description of the events on board gave him little to go on. The only comparison to the blast he could come up with was its striking similarities to a zippleback explosion.
But that can't be right…
"…save us?" Astrid's voice filtered into his ears at the tail end of her question. His thoughts making him miss the first part completely.
"Um- sorry what was that?"
Astrid let out a small chuckle, "I asked how did you save us? I don't remember seeing another ship." Hiccup loudly gulped at the question.
She just had to ask that question. The one I have absolutely no answer to.
"So uh-well, I was traveling back from the Northern Markets too and…and I just came upon your ship in distress. So my friends and I headed toward your ship and I got there just as you and Eret went into the water. I-I didn't even think and dove in after you." He finished quietly, replaying the whole horrible event in his mind.
Astrid stared in awe at the man next to her telling her that he had dove into frigid sea waters to save her and Eret. At the risk of his own life.
"I got you both out of the water and, I left some of my friends behind to pull the other men out of the water and came straight here with you and Eret." Tiptoeing around the truth as he told her what happened.
Astrid let out an impressed sound as a smile crept up her face. "Hiccup…thank you. You're amazing." She told him genuinely as she grasped his hand in hers again. The two spent a moment staring into each other's eyes before a sleepy moan from the side of the room broke the moment Astrid's eyes darting to her lap as she let out an awkward cough, while Hiccup's narrowed on the still unconscious Eret lying on the floor.
Even asleep the guy interrupts us. He thought his annoyance for the man coming back full force.
"So," Astrid cleared her throat again before continuing, "you said you came straight here, where exactly is here?" Astrid gave the small hut a good look over for the first time since waking up.
"I brought you to my home…well this isn't my home, this is the healers hut and-and the island it's on isn't exactly my home. M-more of a second home, an outpost really, but I live–"
"Hiccup, slow down. Just one thing at a time." She disarmed his anxious rambling with her words. Calming his nerves that seemed to be getting more and more frayed by the second. He knew he couldn't dance around the subject of who he is any longer but the words of how to tell her just kept evading him.
"Okay, one thing at a time." He ran his hands once threw his hair nervously, "you're in a healers hut on an island my friends and I call the Edge."
"The Edge?"
"Yeah." Astrid quirked an eyebrow up at his short and non detailed answer.
"And what do you do on the Edge?" She asked curiously. Trying to pry out any more information out of this very strange acting Hiccup.
"Uh-well you see, the thing is-my friends and I we-we–"
Suddenly Hiccup was cut off by several loud thumps outside of the hut. Drawing both of their attentions to the door.
"What was that?" Astrid asked curiously eyeing the door.
"Oh that?" Hiccup chuckled nervously trying to cover up the higher pitch that his voice had just taken.
"Yeah that. It almost sounded like–" four distinctive roars rang out at that exact moment and Hiccup could have sworn his stomach dropped onto the floor.
"Dragons!" Astrid's face immediately paled as she said it. Pushing herself farther up the bed. She might have recently discovered an affinity for small terrors but she knew those roars–And they were not terrors.
"Great timing guys," Hiccup muttered under his breath prior to turning back to Astrid's frozen form. Her bright blue eyes wide as she looked past him towards the front of the hut. His friends voices now starting to waft into the small space. He could now clearly hear the twins arguing about something trivial, while Snotlout hit on Camicazi.
I guess there's no time like the present. He thought as he took a deep breath and grabbed a hold of her single hand. Locking her gaze as she swung it away from the door.
"Astrid, do you trust me?" The words seemed to flow out of him on their own volition.
Astrid heard him, felt his hands on hers, his caring green eyes locked with her own that seemed draw her into a trance, so despite the loud roaring right outside the door and the anxiety drumming in her gut she felt an unexplainable feeling of trust wash over her. Silently she gave him a small nod which he returned before getting to his feet. Carefully helping her off the bed. Keeping their hands intwined Hiccup nervously led her towards the door, their bare feet and his prosthetic taping lightly across the wood floor the only sound between them.
Finally they reached the door and stopped. Hiccup's hand hesitating on the doors edge for a moment, casting one last glance at the blonde woman beside him Hiccup took in a deep breath–and as if he was ripping a thorn from his skin he pulled the door back quickly. Exposing them both to the early morning light.
Astrid squinted at first, the barely dawn light still much brighter than the soft candlelight of the hut. By the time her eyes had adjusted Hiccup was no longer standing beside her, instead he now stood in front of six large dragons of all different types and a group of people she had never seen before.
Her eyes instantly shot open and a small gasp escaped her mouth at the sight of people around her age standing amongst dragons. Together. Peacefully. Not fighting savagely like she was used to seeing daily–but standing side by side as if they were...
…A-A team… She thought as her mind flashed back suddenly to the conversation she overheard two days prior between her two brothers.
"We need to find a way to stop Haddock and his dragon riders for good. They are costing me far to much gold."
Astrid immediately spied the leather wrapping around their scaly bodies all different sizes and shapes to accompany their unique forms.
Dragon riders…
"Oh Gods." She quietly whispered as realization for who exactly she was with staring at washed over her. Her breathing began to increase into harsh puffs as she stumbled back a pace hitting the open door.
Hiccup stepped away from Astrid as soon as they got outside to stand next to all of his friends and their dragons. The timing of their arrival was not convenient at all for his explanation of how a Night Fury became his best friend and now lets him ride on him. If anything the sight of so many dragons and strangers was sure to overwhelm her but that couldn't be helped now. He had to work with what he had. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves he watched her open her eyes fully against the brightening dawn. Her beautiful blue eyes immediately shot open as she took in the dragons, her gaze sliding over them critically. Until her emotions shifted on her face going from shock to a form of dread. He heard her whisper a quiet 'Oh Gods' before stumbling back into the door. Spurring action from him finally.
"Astrid I-I know it's a lot to take in but please just listen to me." He watched her snap her gaze towards him before falling on Toothless. The look of dread morphing now to a look of horror. His nervous rambling only increased as he saw the situation deteriorate. "I-I'm sorry this isn't how I wanted to tell you. Honestly I didn't know how I wanted to share this with you but–"
"What kind of dragon is that?" She breathlessly asked her eyes never leaving Toothless. Who to his credit was giving her the biggest set of puppy dog eyes Hiccup had ever seen. Clearly trying to help ease Astrid's palpable fear and anxiety.
Hiccup reached over and lovingly set his hands on Toothless's head and gave her a shaky smile, "this is Toothless, he's a Night Fury." He would have continued telling her about his best friend if at that exact moment Astrid hadn't let out a choked sob before covering her mouth quickly. Her eyes starting to brim with tears.
"Astrid?" Hiccup asked as he took several slow steps towards her, his hand extended out, as if he was trying to calm a frightened dragon.
"Stop! Don't come any closer!" She said throwing her non injured hand out halting his movements. Astrid watched as Hiccup stopped abruptly, his barefoot suspended in the air for a moment before stepping back once.
"A-Astrid?" He repeated his voice plagued with nervous stuttering at her drastic change of behavior.
"We need to find their base. Haddock and his Night Fury need to be stopped!"
Astrid's heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest while simultaneously breaking as she remembered all of what her brother had said. The mysterious dragon riders who did something that she thought was impossible up until a few days ago, were standing right in front of her. They were no longer faceless images she had conjured up in her imagination–no they were normal looking Vikings, all around her age no less.
And the man, Haddock, who her brother made out to be their leader and rode a Night Fury. Who foiled her brother's dragon trapping business and made a permanent enemy of Viggo. A very very deadly enemy.
Was none other than Hiccup.
The same Hiccup who had made her laugh and showed her that she could be more than just a pretty face in a gown. Who had rescued her out of the ocean more than likely from the back of a dragon. But most importantly it was the same Hiccup who had very quickly captured her heart like no one had ever done before.
And he was her families enemy all along.
Hiccup watched stunned as Astrid slowly broke down. Her body almost shaking as she kept her eye directly pinned on Toothless. Casting a quick glance at his friends they seemed to be just as concerned by her reaction. Not knowing whether to approach her or keep their distance.
Finally after what felt like an eternity Astrid pulled her gaze from Toothless and met his own. Her eyes suddenly looking flat, no longer the vibrant blue he was used too.
"What is your last name Hiccup?" Her voice broke several times just getting the simple sentence out.
Hiccup's eyebrows furrowed at the strange question. Not seeing how it was relevant to what was happening right now.
"Why do you want to know that? Astrid, what does my last name have to do with anything?" Hiccup emphasized his question with a rapid wave of his arms, gesturing to nothing in particular.
"It has to do with everything." She told him vaguely pinning him down with her now dull gaze. Which only seemed to confuse him further. He wanted to see her brilliant blue eyes not these dull imposters.
"That–that makes no sense! Astrid–"
"Just tell me your last name Hiccup!" Astrid shouted at him, cutting him off. Finally pushing him far enough to get her answer.
"Haddock! It's Haddock! My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third!" He shouted loudly right back at her, ultimately regretting his tone the moment the words left his mouth. As he watched her beautiful blue eye go completely lifeless and she slowly slid down the door to the wooden deck bellow. Her body falling into a boneless heap on her knees, only being kept up by the hut behind her.
"You know you never asked me what my last name was Hiccup." She told him in a monotone voice while he stared wide eyed and baffled at her defeated form. "Even after the incident in the boot makers, where all I had to do was show my face for him to do whatever I wanted. Or the fact that I have more gold than the Gods and I have a keeper always by my side, ready to kill anyone who even looks at me wrong...you still didn't ask who I really was." Astrid took a swipe at her eyes which were rapidly filling with tears. Knowing what she was going to say next would destroy any and all of the blissfully wonderful feelings Hiccup had for her. The tender looks and sweet words would no doubt come to an end, taken over by his hatred for her Brother's.
Taking a deep breath as she steadied her voice the best she could, "allow me to properly introduce myself, my name…" she tightly shut her eyes before opening them again and looking straight into Hiccup's confused gaze. "My name is Astrid Grimborn, Sister to Ryker and Viggo Grimborn." She told him only briefly staring into his shocked green eyes before dropping her gaze to the wooden deck. Not wanting to see the hate that she knew would be directed at her soon.
Hiccup felt like all the air in his body had left with her words. Leaving him breathless and in physical pain from the horrible revelation. Astrid…beautiful, sweet Astrid…is Sister to Viggo Grimborn. The most evil man in all the archipelago. He thought hopelessly unable to take his eyes off Astrid's small hunched body.
The rest of the group was in a similar state as Hiccup as they listened to Astrid reveal who she was. None of them could believe the girl that Hiccup had taken such and obvious liking too was the sister of their greatest enemy. Making her their enemy as well.
While everyone was frozen in place still digesting the sick reality of what had been revealed, they all failed to notice the large shape moving in the doorway of the healers hut. Until he had staggered fully out of the hut, all the while rubbing his head gingerly. Stopping abruptly Eret took in the sight before him, his arm dropping slowly from his aching head as his eyes raked over the dragons and riders. Finally resting on Hiccup's now ashen colored face.
"Well soil my britches…"
. . . . .
My bad on the long wait time guys got caught up in updating one of my other fics and the holidays. But now I'm back with hopefully sooner updates for all my stories!
So now they know the truth, wonder how they will deal with tha fallout?
