I am so sorry for it being 12 days since I last updated but it's the end of the school year by me so that means studying for finals and stuff. I have almost no time to do this anymore. But I assure you that as soon as summer gets here I'll be trying to write a lot more. Thanks for the patience.
Please review, share, and enjoy!
Chapter 7
Lofa waited for Vakker to get to the middle of the field. She didn't have the cocky smile that they were so accustomed to seeing on the face of Thor's champions. Instead was the determined look of a warrior.
She wanted to shut Vakker up. Her childish belief in the idea of love made her sick and it was time to end it.
Lofa was an attractive woman. A woman many men would want as a wife. But, she had this knack for voicing her opinion a little too loudly. She was strong willed like most Viking women but even they would bend on occasion.
Not Lofa.
She had given up on love to be honest. She covered it with her outward disdain for the idea and the denial of its existence.
Vakker reached the center of the field where she had watched friend and foe fight and fall.
Vakker held her axe in a ready position. Lofa returned the stance with her spear. The women had no love for the other.
This was going to be a viscous battle.
With Astrid
Astrid had finished her "practicing".
She was trying to follow the Chief's advice. After all he knew what she was going through without Hiccup. She thought that maybe if she told someone about how sad she was it would make it somewhat…better.
Now she was thinking who she could go to.
Fishlegs was nice. But, he was so… strange. She didn't pick on Fishlegs. In fact she treated him nicely. But she had a limit.
Tuffnut. Yeah, maybe when Berk's summer lasts all year.
Ruffnut possibly. The two were best friends. But, she would probably just laugh at her. Besides none of them even knew about Hiccup's state.
There was always Snotlout. He was in the same boat. For some reason he needed to talk to Hiccup. Of all days it could have happened, it happened when Snot needed to talk to him. He might be a good candidate.
But one name kept coming up in her head.
Gobber.
He was very good with teens. That's why he was the dragon training teacher.
She went to the forge to find him.
She entered the forge. "Gobber?" She called out. There was no response.
She started looking around. She had been in the forge plenty of times. She had to get her axe sharpened a lot. And now that she and Hiccup were together she was here even more often.
Astrid went over to the fire pit where there was a large sword. It was glowing red. It was obviously not finished.
She shrugged. How hard could it be?
She threw on a pair of gloves that she assumed belonged to Hiccup. She grabbed the pair of tongs she saw forgers use many times. She grabbed the piece of hot iron and moved it over to the anvil.
She placed it down.
So far so good.
She looked for the hammer. She grabbed it. She swung at the sword. She kept doing it.
"Hiccup?" Gobber's voice said. "You're back?" He entered the forge. "Oh. Hi Astrid."
Astrid gave a curt wave.
"Wait!" He said. "Astrid? What are you doing?"
He hobbled over to where the girl was working on the sword.
"Just helping," She said nonchalantly.
He looked at the sword and held it up. Astrid had been hitting the same side for a couple minutes. It was bent and no longer a sword.
Astrid had a look of absolute shame. "Sorry Gobber," Astrid said. "I thought it would be easy,"
Gobber looked at the ruined sword and then back to Astrid. He just started laughing. "Swords are swords," Gobber said. "I can always make more. It's the thought that counts,"
Astrid smiled weakly. And to think she had come here for help. And she had ruined his sword and was about to ask him to listen to her problems.
"Do you have a minute?" Astrid asked him.
"Of course Astrid," Gobber said. "What can I do ya for?"
With Vakker
Vakker looked over the woman she wanted to rip to shreds since last night. She looked like a decent fighter.
Lofa did the same.
Vakker made the first move. She inched closer to her enemy and swung her axe for the other woman. Lofa blocked with her shield. She returned with a stab for the girl's chest. Vakker blocked and retreated slightly.
Vakker was right back on the offense. She swung at the other woman. She battered her shield. Lofa's arm was beginning to ache from the constant attacks.
But she held firm. She finally countered by throwing her shield to her side just as the axe connected.
Vakker lost her balance slightly but recovered just in time to dodge a spear. She once again laid off from her attacks just to catch her breath. Lofa took the time to stop the ache in her arm. It went away fairly quickly.
The two women looked at each other. They still held the hatred that kept their fight going. They began quick attacks on the other one and retreating right afterward.
Each shot was blocked and parried. The two were evenly matched.
There was no major advantage or disadvantage. The two were the same age and build. They had no way of gaining an upper hand.
It would be a long fight.
With Stoick
Stoick kept his strong demeanor. For the sake of his tribe he maintained his confident look. He was the Chief they needed.
None of them knew what happened to Hiccup. Most of them didn't even notice his disappearance.
Stoick walked through the village observing the daily routines of his tribe's members. But, as he walked he could not help but think of his son.
He worried. Who falls asleep for days on end?
This was such a strange event.
He felt lost in his thoughts. He could not help but think of his wife. She had not died in her sleep. Stoick wished she did. Well, he truly wished she hadn't at all.
Stoick shook the thought from his head. He could not afford to think of her at a time like this.
He had to be optimistic.
He was the Chief. He was the embodiment of the tribe's strength and bravery. If he was weak the tribe was weak. And Stoick always refused to be weak.
But Stoick always ignored one important fact about himself.
He was human.
With Vakker
The fight had gone on for quite awhile. Both women were finally beginning to tire. Their viscous swings and stabs were finally becoming slower.
Vakker and Lofa once again stepped away from each other.
Gone were the looks of hatred and disgust. Now they were replaced with ones of exhaustion and fatigue.
Vakker came up with an idea. Despite her weariness her brain was still functioning. She just hoped her body would co-operate with the plan.
She just stood there in a ready stance. Waiting for her opponent to make a move.
Lofa did. She moved towards Vakker with her spear ready. She lunged at the other woman but was blocked.
Vakker began her slow retreat. Lofa stayed on her.
There were a few mow stabs as Lofa followed Vakker, but none made it through Vakker's defenses.
Vakker then skipped a step and stabbed strongly for Vakker.
Finally!
Vakker sidestepped the blow and quickly hooked the head of her axe on the top of Lofa's shield and pulled her towards her. As she did so she swept her leg as she came forward.
Lofa fell forward and landed on top of her shield. Before she could roll of do anything to get herself out of the situation, Vakker brought her axe down as fast as she could on Lofa's back.
The axe cut clean through the spinal cord.
Lofa died and Vakker won.
With Hiccup
"Wow that was a long fight," Hiccup observed.
"And a good one," Stolt said.
"I'm not getting any sleep tonight," Svartur said.
With Loki
"Well," Loki said looking toward his brother.
Thor held up a hand. "Save it,"
"You're no fun," Loki said.
"How about we call it a day?" Odin said.
Both brothers looked at each other and nodded.
"Good," Odin said.
With Hiccup
Vakker returned to her team. She barely broke the tree line before she collapsed on the ground completely spent.
Stolt went over to her and helped her to a more comfortable place.
Svartur and Hiccup waited to see who the other team would send out next.
But, no one came.
"I think we might be done for the day," Hiccup said.
"I think so too," Svartur said.
Suddenly they were in Valhalla again. They were greeted by Finkaren.
With Astrid
Gobber just looked at the young woman before him. She had just emptied out her burden about Hiccup. That while she may not be losing her sanity in his absence but she was certainly under a lot of stress not knowing what was going on with him.
Astrid stared back at Gobber waiting for his response.
Gobber always knew what to say when it came to kids but this was a situation that wasn't exactly common. He was at a shortness for words. He had to think.
Gobber finally came up with something.
"Have you tried staying with him?" Gobber asked.
"Gobber, I'm trying not to think of him," Astrid said. "Being in the same room as him isn't going to help that,"
"Then don't try not to think of him," Gobber said. Astrid looked confused. It was the Viking way to get over your problems and act like they were gone. At least emotional ones. Physical ones were usually cut to pieces. But, this was not a problem she could cut with an axe.
She preferred those kind of problems.
Gobber continued. "Ignoring a problem does not solve it," He said. "Confrontation usually does,"
"How do I confront someone who won't wake up?" Astrid asked becoming slightly angry.
"You're not trying to confront Hiccup," Gobber said. "You confront what is bothering you. And from what you told me it's that you can't talk to him. Go tell him that. Even if he won't hear it, maybe saying it out loud with him in the room might… help to ease your mind. Maybe."
Astrid thought it over. Then she began to smile. She was glad she had come to Gobber.
She thanked him and began to run for Hiccup's house.
With Hiccup
Hiccup and the other champions were allowed to spend the rest of the day doing what they like in the large cabin that held the champions' barracks.
Most stayed in the common room and talked about today's fights. Others formed different conversations.
Hiccup stood with Svartur, Adla, and Skytt.
Adla was commenting on how great the both of them were with their respective weapons. Which reminded Skytt…
"You plan on showing me that weapon of yours?" Skytt said.
Hiccup shrugged. He took the crossbow off his back and held it out for Skytt to inspect.
Skytt whistled. "It certainly is… different." He said. "Where did you get the idea?"
"Romans," Hiccup said. "They use this… larger version. I made it smaller and the blade… well… at the time let's just say I wasn't using swords."
Svartur gave him a strange look.
Hiccup sighed. "Everyone else knows," he said. "You might as well,"
Hiccup quickly told Svartur the story of how he hurt Venn and the oath that came right afterward.
"I didn't even know," Svartur said. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"It wasn't exactly something I went around bragging about,"
"Still," Svartur said.
"This would probably explain why Var isn't your biggest fan," Skytt observed.
"Yeah that's what Loki told me," Hiccup said.
"Well at least she has a good reason," Svartur said. "Vali was just bored from what I've heard,"
"You're just angry his champion killed you," Adla said.
"Shut up, you ass," Svartur said.
"Alright guys relax," Hiccup said.
Svartur and Adla stopped their bickering despite the fact that it was all in good fun.
They continued to talk. Adla was enjoying himself. He never knew how much fun Svartur and Hiccup were. He found himself looking back and thanking his former self for not being one of the countless others who relentlessly tortured Hiccup.
Skytt had heard the stories of Hiccup. Even before the Battle of the Green Death. Of course the stories changed dramatically after said event. But, now Skytt spoke to the famous Viking that was once a pain in the sides of every Viking but now a hero to them all and he couldn't help but try to imagine why anyone would pick on him.
He was different, that was for sure. He was not strong by any definition of the word. But he was funny, considerate, and a generally good guy to be around. Even though Skytt had only known Hiccup for a day so far he found himself admiring the young man. He admired his courage and resilience. Skytt made himself a promise.
If Hiccup ever needed help in Midgard he would be the first one on the ship to fight for him. He couldn't explain it but there was a feeling that he couldn't shake.
A feeling that that day would come.
With Astrid
Astrid arrived at the Haddock house. She entered and ran up the stairs. She opened the door to Hiccup's room and ran inside.
She was tripped on her way in. She hit the ground hard.
She rolled to her back to find Snot standing over her with his hammer raised. He saw her and relaxed. "Astrid?"
"Yes you idiot," she said.
"Sorry," Snot said helping her up. "I didn't know who it was. I needed to protect my cousin,"
It's comforting that he gives a shit.
"It's fine," Astrid said shaking off the feeling she had to beat Snot to death with his own arm.
"So why are you here?" Snot asked.
Astrid began to blush slightly. She didn't know how weird this was going to sound. "I have to… talk… to Hiccup,"
Snot blinked. He was going to ridicule her for wanting to talk to someone who wasn't even awake but he rethought it. Not because of the definite beating he would receive.
What held him back was the fact that he had been doing the same thing a moment ago.
"Sure," Snot said. "I understand,"
Astrid gave him a wary look.
Snot raised his hands. "You gotta do what you gotta do,"
Astrid thanked Snot as he left the room.
Astrid pulled up a chair to the side of Hiccup's bed. She sat down he looked at him silently.
In today's day and age people sleeping for extended periods of time aren't too stressful for families. Doctors can say they that their vitals are fine. Sometimes the doctors cause the coma for medical reasons.
But in Viking times, if someone slept for a couple of days it usually meant one thing.
Death.
She pushed her fears of him passing away out of her head.
"Hey Hiccup," she said awkwardly.
There was no response.
"This is so stupid!" Astrid said getting up and pacing the room. She stopped and took a breath. She had to do this.
She sat back down.
"Hey Hiccup," she repeated. "I don't know why you won't wake up but everyone's getting worried,"
She stopped and closed her eyes.
"I'm getting worried and I'm getting… scared," she said fighting off the tear that was forming in her eye. Astrid wasn't used to feeling fear. "You have to wake up soon. Toothless, you're dad Snot, Gobber and everyone else is really concerned and… I can't believe I'm doing this!"
She stopped herself from once again trying to talk herself out of it.
"You mean so much to me Hiccup," Astrid said. "If I lose you…" She felt the tears returning and quickly stopped the thought from fully forming. "I love you Hiccup. Please come back."
Astrid got up and kissed him goodbye.
She turned and exited the room looking back and silently praying that Hel had not gotten her hands on him yet.
