Chapter 6
Considering how much of my childhood had been spent there, it was only natural that Dad and Gobber couldn't keep me out of the forge forever. Still, they had done a pretty good job of it; this was my first visit in weeks. It smelt just like I remembered: like charcoal, with that sharp, tangy undertone of molten metal. It was also still very hot; when I wiped my brow, my hand came back wet.
Exhaling deeply, I put my hammer down and rubbed my hands together. "I think that's everything, Gobber."
"Are the embers still burning?"
"No," I said.
"Did you light anything on fire?"
"Surprisingly, no," I said. "Everything's fine to go."
"Oh?" Gobber tapped his chin. I think he was trying to think of something I did wrong. "Oh! Did you sharpen Astrid's axe? Wouldn't want to forget that, eh?"
I ignored the sly note in his tone.
"That is also done." I grabbed Astrid's sharpened axe, and let the heel hit the ground.
Wait a second. This was Astrid's favourite axe.
I quickly let go of it, and pretended I hadn't touched it. Ever.
"So," I walked up behind Gobber, hands locked behind my back, "you need anything else?"
"No, that's everything, lad."
"Alright, I'll just be on my way . . ."
"Not so fast." Before I could leave the forge, Gobber snagged the back of my shirt with his hook and pulled me back. "Hiccup, what's going on with you?"
"I-I . . . I . . . I" I stuttered that one word over and over again. Gobber knew something was up? What was I supposed to tell him! I certainly couldn't tell him the truth. And how did he know I was up to something, anyways? I thought I had done a fantastic job at hiding it.
Gobber's eyes narrowed. "Spit it out, lad."
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about," I said. "Nothing's wrong. I'm perfectly fine, and –"
"And that's just it!" Gobber broke into a huge grin. "You're so happy, so peppy! Reminds me of when I was a boy."
A tad insulted, I said, "And I wasn't before?"
"You were about as happy as a limp toadstool," Gobber said. "But now? You're glowing, Hiccup. I've never seen so much light in your eyes."
I couldn't myself from smiling. "Yeah, well, I've been having a good week."
"Finally getting along with the other teens, are you?" Gobber put his arm around my shoulder, hobbling beside me as I walked out of the forge. "See, I knew this dragon training business was a good idea."
I snorted. Poor Gobber had no idea that dragon training was the worst thing that ever happened to me. "Yep. Real good."
"It's a good thing I told your Dad so, eh?" Gobber winked, nudging my shoulder. "Otherwise you'd still be in there grinding down swords by your lonesome."
I laughed.
Then, it hit me.
"Hold up, did you . . . did you talk my dad into letting me train with the others?"
"I sure did!" Gobber said proudly. "And look at the good it's done."
Something heavy dropped into my stomach. The gentle warmth from the forge that had clung to me suddenly vanished, replaced by the bitter cold of the night air. I shivered, rubbed my arms, accidentally (or maybe deliberately) wriggling free of Gobber's arm.
"Oh. Uh, that's great." I managed a crooked smile. "Well, thanks for talking to him."
"Something wrong, Hiccup?"
"No! Nothing's wrong." I looked down as I suddenly noticed the intensity of his stare. "I just thought that, well . . . that Dad made that decision on his own."
Silence. Seeing that I was staring at the ground, I couldn't see Gobber's reaction. I felt him, however, squeeze my shoulder.
"He'll come around," Gobber said. "Once you start slaying those dragons, he won't be able to stop talking about you!"
I swallowed hard. "Once I start killing dragons."
"That's right! Now, how about we see that joy again?" Gobber stuck his finger into my face, forcefully stretching my mouth into a rough smile. "Don't you worry, Hiccup. Fighting dragons is easy! Soon, you'll dragging home corpses larger than your Dad!"
I know Gobber was trying to comfort me, but it was having the opposite effect. Every time I tried to think about killing dragons, I would see Toothless bound by rope again, helpless. Sometimes, I'd see him rolling in the grass, or trying to eat my hair.
I didn't know what I was going to do, but I couldn't kill dragons. Not now, not ever.
Suddenly, I heard something. It sounded like a low buzz at first, but then it got louder, sharper.
And someone blew the warning horn.
"Dragons!" Gobber shouted. He pushed me sharply from behind. "Go on, Hiccup. Grab your weapon, and let's go make your old Dad proud!"
My legs moved automatically. Behind me, Gobber was cheering with excitement, but the only emotion I felt was dread.
Review Responses:
Licorice: And here it is! :)
randomreader WITH a profile: Thank you! As for how Hiccup is going to end up riding Toothless... yeah, haven't gotten there yet XD
Jazz: Thank you! Updates are weekly, and are sometime between Saturday and Monday (with an occasional additional update midweek).
icephoenix: Tsk, tsk. On your phone at a sleepover? For shame! X) I do take some pride in knowing that my story was more exciting than the party, however ;)
