Chapter Eight
A/N: In response to...
InfinitiumAce: Lol, I wrote that chapter because lately I've been getting tons of PMs and reviews asking for some Hiccstrid so I figured I must be starving you guys or something... XD Otherwise, I would have simply moved on with the plot. And no, actually Alvin isn't going to be the bad guy in this fanfic. I've actually been trying my darndest to keep him in-character and say he'll 'be good' until all this blows over. And absolutely not! I LOVE long reviews, they're the best kind in my book! :D
NightFury999: Haha, I wouldn't worry too much about Alvin. It's the invading army on Berk that we'll need to think about pretty soon... And sorry XD You'll hopefully get your answers in the coming chapters.
Breyannia: Your enthusiasm for this amuses me greatly! XD And the High King would actually be the Roman Emporer (since that's the time-frame we're working with) so...whatever he looks like at this point in time XD
OinkyThePiggy: Yep, but I doubt Astrid is worried about kissing Hiccup in front of people at this point XD She was practically ripping her hair out with worry not less than ten minutes ago. She's likely just relieved to have him back.
PT: Lol, thank you! :D I try to be surprising and have plot twists and whatnot and I'm glad you appreciate my efforts. XD
rachlie: Yay! :D I'm glad you like it! And yes, Hiccstrid and Fatherly!Stoick are two of my favorite things in fanfictions...so I tend to write that a lot.
"Ouch!" Hiccup flinches as Gothi's bony hands draw the bandages a little too tight around his shoulder. The elderly medicine woman offers an apologetic smirk and loosens the gauze a bit, motioning for Gobber to hand her a rag so she can clean some of the blood from the boy's skin.
The Blacksmith obeys and then hobbles over to sit down across from his apprentice, a huge grin on his weathered face. "I'm glad you're feeling a little better, lad." He says. "It's good to have you back. You and your father both."
Hiccup smiles through the pain and jerkily nods his head. "Yeah...I'll bet it's a relief not to have to be in charge anymore, huh Gobber?" He jokes, wincing and grabbing the edge of the table when Gothi applies some kind of medicine to his wound, making his shoulder scream in protest.
And his mentor chuckles quietly. "That it is. Your father is better cut out for it than I am." He agrees.
Hiccup's expression suddenly dims and lowers his gaze, eyes filling with thought. "I know how that feels..." He grumbles as he stiffly rolls his good shoulder to work some of the stiffness out of it. Sleeping on a boat for several hours will do that...
Gobber frowns, sensing Hiccup's distress, and opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted when the drape over the mouth of the makeshift hut is pushed aside and Astrid steps inside, Toothless close behind her.
The dragon's ears perk up at the sight of his Rider but is steps are slow and heavy as he trudges over to meet him. His limp seems more and more defined as time goes on...and Hiccup finds himself frowning in concern. Toothless's leg is getting worse, not better.
"Thanks for feeding him, Astrid." He mumbles as he tries to lean down to stroke Toothless's head. But his attempt is thwarted when Gothi scoldingly smacks his wrist, silently telling him to sit up straight so she can finish his bandages.
"It's no problem." The girl replies, sinking onto the stool beside Gobber's. She seems more relaxed than she has in days, now that Hiccup is here. "Although he didn't eat much... Is he feeling okay?" She asks, her brow knotting as she watches her friend's Night Fury curl up and lay down on the ground beside him.
"I don't know..." Hiccup admits, worry evident in his voice. "Gobber, could you check his leg for me? I'm worried it might get infected..."
"Sure thing, Hiccup." Gobber says as he kneels down beside Toothless and gently pulls back the wrap over his wounded thigh, inciting a small whimper from the dragon. "Ahh, yep. It's not infected yet but it's certainly irritated. Gothi," He says looking up. "Once you're done with Hiccup, would you mind mixing up something for Toothless?"
The elder nods her head as she finishes tying up Hiccup's shoulder, patting his back to tell him he can get up now.
"Thanks, Gothi." He says as he stands, absently cradling his right arm with his left. Then, he kneels beside his dragon and reassuringly scratches Toothless's chin. "Don't worry, buddy. Gothi'll fix your leg and you'll be good as new."
Toothless purrs and leans his head into Hiccup's hand, seeming to appreciate his comforting words. Although he tenses up as soon as Gothi gets near his wound and Hiccup has to remind him she's only trying to help... The old woman unwraps his painfully inflamed thigh and gets to work on easing as much pain as she can for him. Soon, Toothless relaxes again and closes his eyes to rest.
Hiccup shifts his weight so he's settled more comfortably on the floor, his hand resting on his friend's back to remind him he's here. And eventually, he too lets his eyes fall shut and leans his head against the wall. However, before he can recline too much, he feels a subtle nudge against his hip and looks up.
Astrid smiles softly at him when she says, "You go get some rest, Hiccup. I'll stay here with Toothless and make sure he's okay." She extends her hand to help him up but he doesn't take it.
"Thanks, Astrid...but I'd rather stay here for now." He mutters, nodding his head in his dragon's direction. He doesn't doubt that Astrid would be able to keep an eye on him...it's just that he's worried about Toothless and it feels like they've been apart a lot ever since he woke up. For now, he'd much rather stay by his friend's side and help him if he needs it.
And when he glances back up at Astrid, he finds her watching the two of them with a knowing look on her face. "Alright." She sighs with a small shrug. "If you say so." Then, the Viking girl strolls toward the hut's flap, pausing only long enough to say, "I'm gonna go check on Stormfly. Be back in a little while." before she leaves.
With that, Hiccup sits back again and returns his attention to Toothless, who is trying with all his might to ignore the pain in his leg as Gothi works on him. "It's okay, bud." Hiccup whispers as he continues to stroke his dragon's back. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here with you."
A whimpering sound is his only response and it tugs at Hiccup's heart in a way that makes his breath momentarily falter.
"Gothi, isn't there anything you can do to...numb the pain or anything first?" He practically pleads. "Seems like it hurts a lot..."
She only shakes her head and relentlessly goes on working, Hiccup watching her with a conflicted expression. However, he's pulled from his anxieties by a slobbery lick across the back of his hand.
Toothless drones and nudges his Rider's hip with his nose, purring gently. His way of saying 'I'm fine, don't worry.' The Night Fury warbles slightly in his throat when Hiccup smirks at him and affectionately rubs his neck.
"I know." He mumbles. "I guess we're both just a little over protective, huh?"
At that moment, unbeknownst to Hiccup or any of the other Hooligans, a small sail boat large enough for only one occupant is slowly drifting toward Outcast Island. Its inhabitant's dark eyes seem to glimmer with amusement as he draws nearer and nearer to the jagged mass of cliffs and mountains.
Glancing down at his now shredded clothing and bleeding wounds, he sighs wearily. Just more scars to add to his ever-growing collection. However... With a little frown, his gaze drifts to the satchel at his feet.
Sorry Stoick, Aelius thinks. Seems I've 'failed' your little mission... With that, he chuckles to himself and leans back in the boat, allowing the breeze to carry his vessel to its destination. He's in no hurry, after all. Might as well delay the inevitable for as long as possible...
