Hi guys! Thank you for all the lovely reviews- it really brightens my day!:) Anyway the story continues…
Chapter 9- Final message
I couldn't sleep that night. And it wasn't because of the pain- however vice like it was. Images of Dagur slaying my last hope tore through my head. Flashing pictures of Astrid's eyes turning from that deep mysterious, alive blue into the cold grey nothingness blinded my eyes- I couldn't get away from them.
Lily had come to the house multiple times to check on me and was now sleeping downstairs in case something happened- Dagur hadn't only left with Stoick- the Berserkers had also burned down Lily's house and all the supplies. Thank Thor she's thought to bring extras to the cove otherwise we'd be stuck. Many people had got hurt during the attack due to trying to escape, but no life-threatening cases.
I sighed and turned over again. The burning ache in my head had reduced to a dull ache but it still wouldn't stop. I heard the footsteps before I saw her. Lily came into the room, sat on the edge of my bed and felt my forehead. "You're getting hot again." She said with a sigh. "It's all that stress. You're too young to handle it." She shook her head.
"Mmm," I made a noise in the back of my throat and turned onto my back as Lily collected some ice and placed it on my forehead. I sighed contentedly. "Thanks," I murmured.
"What you thinking about?" She asked. I frowned and looked up at her. "Well been as you can't sleep and I can't sleep because my patient can't sleep, you may as well tell me- it sometimes helps."
"It won't."
"Just give it a try." She said giving me a warm smile.
"Just the bad dream thing and Astrid and everything: My father, Dagur. What do I do Lily?" I said exhausted of everything.
"Think of the happy times and try to get some sleep. Don't think about tomorrow or Dagur or Your father, Astrid, Toothless. Just think about being free."
"That's impossible." I said. "I only felt free with Toothless."
"Says the man, who did the impossible and trained dragons; who showed the world nothing was impossible." Lily raised her eyebrows at me.
I said nothing but shifted again in defeat. That's when Lily did something no one had ever done before. She hugged me; held me close. Not like a friend or a father. But like a mother. Cradling me in her arms and nothing could stop the tears dripping down my face like a waterfall after that.
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My eyes shot open to the brightness and warmth of sunshine. I was an opposite of the weather. Instead of a warm, loving heart, mine was cold and broken. The pounding in my head had decreased rapidly and I was now left with a slight ache that increased only a little when I moved my head. I pushed myself into a sitting position with my right arm not wanting to damage my shoulder or broken wrist further. If Dagur was coming I needed to be as strong as I could get. I swung round into a sitting position and grabbed my prosthetic from the side of my bed- it had been washed of blood and elevated so it fit my new leg or more like stood in for what was left of my leg. I strapped it on and slowly put pressure on it. Blinding pain shot up my leg through my spine and I ground my teeth together- I couldn't show weakness when Dagur was around- ignoring the pain as best as I could I stood up and made my way agonizingly slowly down the stairs trying not to think of Toothless on the way down. He would've carried me down if he's been here. He would've helped me up and protected me if I fell. I closed my eyes and opened the front door, willing the cool morning air to wash away the haunting memories that I knew would never leave me. Lily was nowhere to be found.
I made my way into town- everywhere was quite only the terrible terrors singing on the rooftops could be heard. Their screeching chorus reminding me horrible of Toothless once more- it was all I could do not to burst out crying right there and then. The few people who were out early acknowledged me with nods and smiles; I tried my best to smile back but they never reached my eyes. Sighing I hobbled into Gobbers store.
"What d'ya think you're doing Hiccup!" I jumped and nearly tripped over a nearby stool.
"Coming to see you and grabbing a knife." I deadpanned.
"Ha-ha. That's not what I meant. You should be in bed still!"
"Dagurs coming today Gobber what do you expect me to do; go to sleep?"
"Lily's gonna kill you," Gobber mumbled as he got back to sharpening an axe.
I turned away and, stumbling, went to the back room of the shop where I knew I would find an array of weapons at hand. I glanced around the many knives, axes, swords and bludgeons and took the first dagger I came to. It was small and light, easy for me to slip into my back pocket and remove when I needed it. I made my way further through the forest of metal weapons into the sea of shields. I swear my heart stopped for a moment when my eyes landed on my shield. Still shining like the sun. I lent down and held it in my hands letting for a moment the memories run wild through my head. My reflection rebounded into my eyes. Distressed and full of heartbreak. I thought of the day I made my shield.
We weren't allowed to fly then- my father had put a ban on flying and Toothless had been nagging at me for hours. I had been so board and I thought that if we weren't allowed to fight on dragons we had to defend ourselves in other ways; which was how I can up with the idea of the shield. If only I could fly now. If only Toothless could come back. Dropping it to the ground with a bang I turned on my heel and half ran out the back room my breathing having turned quick and harsh at the swarming memories; my eyes welling up with tears.
"You alright Hiccup?"
I nodded my head in response to Gobber's question. "Yeah I'm good. What's the time?"
"8 O'clock." He answered looking at me as if waiting for an order.
"Get everyone to the great hall and we'll figure out what to do when Dagur gets here." I said biting my lip. Gobber walked up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"Your father would be proud of you, I know it. We'll get him and Astrid back, I promise. Us Berkians can work as a team as well as a swarm of bees when threatened." He smiled at me.
"Thanks Gobber." I gave a small smile but I knew it looked cold and lost.
I made my way quickly through the shop and out into the sunshine. I didn't even feel the warm, it was like I was constantly indulged in icy water; nothing could get rid of it. There were quite a few villagers milling around now but I ignored them and walked with a set purpose, back toward my house to see if my father had anything that could help us, until Spitelout came panting and running up through the village.
"Hiccup!" He gasped handing me a spy glass- my invention had spread around the whole village; everyone owned one. I looked at him in confusion, bending down on his knees he said, quickly and breathlessly, "Dagur and the armada!" Without another word I ran to the edge of the village- trying not to wince as pain shot up my leg like lightning bolts- where we had a perfect view of the sea and placed the glass to my eye.
Then I saw it- Dagurs armada gaining distance toward Berk with every second. The Skrill, scarlet and murderous, on his cream sails. I turned round to face the villagers, all of whom were looking at me expectantly, terror written upon each of their faces.
"Get everyone to the great hall, now."
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How my father did this every time is a mystery. I found myself wishing I had paid more attention when he took control over meetings like this; when the Berkians were out of control with worry. Villager's voices were sending drills through my head.
"What are we going to do?!"
"What if he rips the village apart?!"
"What do we do about Stoick?!"
I moaned and put my head in my hands willing the pounding- that had started to go away but was now increasing dramatically- to leave me in peace.
"Hiccup!" I heard Fishlegs shout from within the crowd- he came up and stood next to me on the higher ground the rest of the academy trailing behind him. "How are you Hiccup?!"
"'m good, you?"
"Er, I'm ok actually. As long as I got Meatlug I'm brill!"
I knew my face fell. I could see it in his expression. "Oh Thor Hiccup I'm so sorry."
"Ha, way to go Fishlegs!" Snotlout shouted.
"Shut up Snotlout!" He snapped glaring at Snotlout. "Hiccup I am so, so sorry."
"No really it's fine, I'm ok Fishlegs." Fishlegs nodded hurriedly at my words his face full of apology. I just tried not to think about it.
"I'll leave you to er, sort them out." He said gesturing to the rest of the village.
"Yeah, good luck with that." Ruffnut said.
"Yeah! They're like a band of baboons! Just like us!" Tuff shouted turning to Ruff, they bombarded into each other; the noise of their helmets crashing together rebounding round my skull. I sighed and looked over a Gobber who was looking at me with raised eyebrows. I closed my eyes turning to the mass of Berk's population- which wasn't, in fact, very big considering the amount of noise they created.
"Shut it!" Gobber's voice arose like lighting in the hall reminding me horribly of my dad. The villagers ceased at once to silence. Gobber looked over at me, "there all yours."
I nodded my head in thanks. "Right," I took a deep breath trying to think like my father would and trying not to think about my father or Astrid trapped in Dagurs cold blooded hands. What is he doing to them? Are they ok? I shook my head; clearing my thoughts.
"Spitelout, I want you to go to the edge of the village and keep a close eye on Dagur- if you spot Astrid, my dad or anything unusual, tell me immediately." He gave me a curt not and strode out the hall.
"I could have done that." I heard Snotlout whisper from within the small mass of Berks population or more like shout; not covering his words in the slightest.
"Shall we go to the cove Hiccup?" Someone called out.
"But Dagur knows where it is."
"Where do we hide?"
"We're Berkians- we don't hide!"
"Ok, ok. Settle down everyone." I said quickly before another shouting match could begin. Dagur knows where the cove is now and there's no point in hiding he'll just find us anyway." Thor, this is going to be so much harder than I thought. "Ok, make sure everyone is in the great hall when Dagur arrives, we'll wait for him here. That way we'll all be together and we won't be hiding. Collect all the weapons you can and keep them on guard- don't fight him when he comes; let's see what he wants first. Er, that's it."
At once a big hustle started, everyone following my bad orders. I sighed and sat down on a chair my leg throbbing like hell. Lights seemed to flash before my eyes and I closed them and lay my head back willing them to stop. I opened them again in disgust- I couldn't rest. Not with Dagur closing in on Berk with every second. Not when Astrid and my dad were in danger. I went to get up but Lily's hand closed in on my good shoulder and she pushed me back into the chair.
"Ah, ah, ah." She said shaking her finger. "You are not getting off this chair Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the 3rd."
"I have to help." I argued back somehow breathless.
She just raised her eyebrows. "I don't think so. The best way you can help is by resting so you can help the village when they need you most."
I shook my head increasing my dizziness. Lily felt my head. "Again; you're getting hot again." She sighed and pushed my back into the chair. "Ok now there's no way you're getting off this chair. Not with another fever. Just proves you shouldn't have got out of bed at all." She mumbled the last bit to herself but didn't hide her words.
I sighed in defeat and let my eyes shut on their own accord greeting the terrifying blackness that haunted with my nightmares once more.
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"Hiccup? Hiccup wake up."
"Mmmm, whasist?" I asked opening my eyes blearily.
"Dagur's just landed on the docks were all in the hall like you said; no one's in the village." Lily said. I shot out the chair promptly to fall over with a cry of pain. Feeling my eyes well up I grit my teeth against the pain my leg insisted on giving me.
I heard Gobber sigh from one side of me. Lifting me up gently, and avoiding my shoulder wound, he cast a concerned look toward Lily then turned and placed me sturdily on the ground.
"Stupid leg," I mumbled glaring at the metal as if it would cower under my gaze.
The whole village were packed in the great hall either looking at the door or at me. "When did he get here?" I asked Gobber.
"Just now…" The door slammed open and in walked Dagur silencing Gobber's words. My heart plummeted into the depths of the world. Certain stillness cast itself over the hall at Dagur's arrival. Every eye was locked on Dagur.
I swallowed hard and grit my teeth. "Where are my dad and Astrid Dagur?" I asked him looking him straight in his bloodthirsty eyes that seemed to glint with menace in the firelight that cast shadows over the hall walls.
"Oh. So you are still hanging on by the threads just as I hoped. Well that's about to change Hiccup; your nightmares, well hallucinations, are about to become real." I shivered and tried to ignore the flashing images appearing before my eyes at his mention of 'nightmares.'
"Well you took care of Toothless a long time ago, so actually not all of them can become real." I said fighting against the terror working its way up to my heart.
Dagur smiled menacingly sweetly. "No, some of them already have." He paused for effect. "Anyway, I have a little choice for you Hiccup." He beckoned to one of his men just outside the hall and Savage walked in dragging Astrid in chains.
"ASTRID!" I yelled. Dagur laughed sending spikes of fear up my spine. She had blood pouring out her arm and her face was cut and scratched. Her wrists were raw and covered in multiple burns and blisters from all the chains and blood flowed freely from them. All I could do was stare as the piece of my heart Astrid had stolen started to crumble bit by bit. Her eye lids fluttered but she didn't open her eyes to reveal the light I so needed to see deep within her centre.
"Oh, you really think that's all Hiccup." Dagur sneered and in strode three Berserkers holding down my father, who was also in chains; and also had numerous cuts and bruises. Not to the extreme point of Astrid but it was enough to rip through one of my final precious threads.
I glared at Dagur; steeling myself against the pain that throbbed from my heart. "What's the choice then Dagur?"
He smiled sweetly again then said in mock baby voice, "Well if you choose for Astrid to live then precious daddy dies and if you choose precious daddy to live then Astrid dies."
His voice became cold in an instant. "Your move Hiccup."
Oooooooooooooo! What's gonna happen next? Dun Dun DUN! I love writing cliff-hangers but hate reading them- they annoy me so much! I'm such a cruel person;) Don't forget to review!:)
