Chapter 9
I don't trust her

Sometimes, the tears we cry
Are more than any heart can take
We hurt, just keep it inside
Small wonder that it starts to break

A splash of water came floating around the cove with an echo when another stone had hit the smooth surface of a small pond.

"I am not overreacting." The young Chief reached out for another rocky shard, and flung it with agitation into the very middle of the lake, in the same way he'd been doing it for the last ten minutes at least. Tired, Toothless murmured, and – not even glancing at his Rider – he shifted his body in a more comfortable position.

It really was becoming annoying.

"And I'm not prejudiced," Hiccup continued, deaf to his dragon friend's non-verbal comments. "Why, because I don't begin every single day paying her my respects? I'm rushed off my feet with all that is to be done here, and they're surprised I don't spend my time chatting with a girl with whom I have nothing to do, except for temporarily living on the same big island! I'm starting to think that she isn't the only one affected by that storm, because all of the gang act as if something heavy had fallen on their heads. Good gods, what have I done to deservethis?"

With even more energy, he took another swing, shoving the next stone into the air. "Did I make sure she would get a place to stay at? Yes. Did I appoint people responsible for her feeding? Yes. Am I forbidding anyone to hang out with her? No! So what do they want from me, to personally check on her every hour, making sure she's all right? Dear Odin, I didn't have half of that time for Astrid!"

This time, Toothless decided to open his eyes, however, it seemed like he only did that to be able to roll them. He rose his head slightly, and fixed his sight on the back of the man who stood a dozen or so steps away from him, wondering for how much longer he would be forced to listen to that meaningless, wrathful blabbing.

It wasn't, of course, the first time Hiccup had acted that way, admitting to his companion – and to himself – all of the feelings that swirled in his exhausted, wounded heart. As long as the Viking was showing the pain that was inextricably bound with every memory of Astrid, Toothless pitied him, ready to do whatever it takes, if only it could help his anguished friend a little.

Now however, listening to the young man's moaning, which only grew stronger with time, couldn't make him feel anything but anger – at this point he very much desired to approach Hiccup, and whack his tail against that empty, stubborn head of his; or better yet, push him down right into the icy depths, above which he was leaning.

Maybe that would calm him down a bit.

The sound of splattered water made the dragon realise that the young Chief's whining wasn't going to end any time soon. He snorted.

"Besides, the whole island is at her service, no matter if she herself wants it or not. It was enough for her to smile to convince Gobber to retreat in that nasty quarrel between him and Spitelout. Gobber! Of all stubborn, cranky, getting-his-own-way people, he was the one to yield under her request. Thor, Heather could learn from her!" Hiccup was definitely winding up, and even though he was to some extent aware of it, he couldn't be more far from refraining from the spiteful comments that were springing onto his lips.

He felt that if he didn't speak out now, when he would be heard by nobody except the bored Night Fury, there would come a moment when his patience would reach its limit, and force him to share his opinion with the first person he met; and whoever that person would be, they would most likely be much more affectionate towards the dark-haired girl, than him.

It was quite possible for him to do it in the presence of Whisper herself.

Toothless, on the other hand, even if not agreeing with his friend's ideas, did not contradict them with his own. He didn't voice them anyway.

"What, that I envy her the attention she gets?!" Hiccup suddenly cried out, making his companion wonder who on earth Hiccup was answering. "I don't need their interest, I'll do just fine without it. I've got used to the people on this island never giving a care for what they should, constantly poking their noses into others' business instead. Maybe they will at least give it a rest, and stop bombarding me with those stupid hints of theirs, which in most cases, I really couldn't need less. It's really not what it's about."

Another pebble crashed against the shining water mirror. And another. And one more.

"The thing is, I don't trust her. Just think of it, Bud. She appears on a beach, with no one knowing when and how; there's no trace of anything that could be a ship, neither on the island nor anywhere close to it; she can't tell where she's from, or even what her name is… Heather was at least found under some wreckage of a boat. But Whisper?" He winced at the very sound of her name. "She wouldn't have swum more that those few hundred feet into the sea, and that territory has been thoroughly inspected by Fishlegs and Eret.

"Besides, that resemblance with Heather won't make her any good, either," he took it up again after a while, turning towards Toothless, in vain hope that his argumentation would find favour in the dragon's eyes. Seeing, however, that there was no sympathy on the latter's side, he waved his hand in a resigned gesture, and shifted to face the lake again. "Come on, we all know how it ended last time. It was enough for some random beauty to step onto the shore to make all of them lose their heads and hearts for her. All of us," he added more quietly, ashamed with the recollection of his own thickness, which had put them at such a great risk just a few years back.

"Her ship was taken over by pirates. Her whole island is under siege!"

"The only thing 'under siege' is your brain! You're not thinking clearly!"

"Well, that's what I'm trying to do now, only that there's nobody who'd care to listen! Good gods, Astrid, if this is how it looked like from your perspective… No wonder you were mad," Hiccup answered his own memory that had kept planting him the flickering images of his past, not even noticing when he had come from pouring his heart to discussing his problems with his late fiancée.

"Of course, you were the only one who had not been deceived by big green eyes and pretty phrases. But that's the point! We were all taken in by Heather's tricks, and it almost ended up in a disaster, and now everyone – everyone, Gobber, Gothi, and my own mother included – is making the same mistake! And they call me the naive one? I know we haven't had to worry about any grand conflicts for a while – we've been at peace with the Outcast for years now, with Dagur's new attitude the Berserkers are no longer a problem, Viggo is no longer a problem… But the dangers don't end there, do they?

"I'm not saying Whisper is working for the Hunters. She doesn't have to work for anybody, but as for now, the only proof of her goodwill towards Berk are her words and her present behaviour. Then again – it was exactly like that with Heather."

Feeling as his prior, unhealthy excitement was being replaced with an even less healthy resignation, Hiccup raised his hand, in which he still held a few stones of different size and weight. He sighed, once again painfully realising that even though he was entirely genuine in his turning to Astrid, she could not for the world respond to his words. Almost carelessly, he tossed the shards ahead of him, watching as one by one they disappear in the pond.

He shook his head over his own thoughtless actions.

"We've burnt our fingers more than once because of gullibility, Bud. First with Heather, then with Drago… I don't trust Whisper, and I think Astrid wouldn't either."

"Astrid would kick your butt for even thinking so," he was mercilessly cut off by a firm female voice coming from behind his back, even though its owner was with no doubt separated from the young Chief by a considerable distance. "And then she would punch both of your shoulders for imposing the same on her."

Hiccup turned back abruptly, roused from his thoughts and completely taken aback with the presence of anyone else than Toothless and himself. He was welcomed by a joyful, yet a little ironic expression on the young woman's face – the same woman, whose name he had already pronounced so many times that day.

"Heather!" he cried out, confused, inwardly cursing his wretched habit of out-loud thinking. "Hey… Hey, Heather. That… I mean, it's good to…" One of the girl's brows rose distinctively, causing him to realise what it was he was doing, stuttering and floundering as if he had been fifteen again. He shook his head, and thus calmed, he glanced at Heather one more time; then he rolled his eyes as an answer to her short, clear laughter. He looked at her again. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to gather blackmail material for the rest of the month," she answered, gracefully sliding off the saddle, and patting the neck of her silvery mount. "You must be pretty out of shape, brother, if you let me sneak up on you like that."

Hiccup crossed his arms on his chest, and rolled his eyes again.

"I'm getting old, apparently."

"Right, you'll be twenty-two in no time. You could say you have one foot in a grave already."

"Oh, really? Which leg, may I ask – the one I still have, or the one I successfully lost six years ago?"

"Oh gods, not the leg jokes."

"You've started it!"

Heather gave the man an imploring glare; then she left Windshear on her own, and almost jumping, she ran towards him. Hiccup had hardly had time to spread his arms, when the girl zealously crashed against his chest.

"I've missed you so much!" she called out almost in the same second, embracing him tightly. "We've been away for way too long."

"And so have I, Heather." The Viking smiled weakly, returning the gesture, feeling as – regardless of his will – he finally relaxed, free from the tension that hadn't left him for a minute for so many weeks. "So have I."

Long ago Hiccup had learnt to treat Heather like his own sister. The fact that they weren't actually related – on the contrary to the assumption he had made at some point of their acquaintance – was of no importance to either of them.

"So, how's life here, on Berk?"

Hiccup sighed deeply.

"Hiccup?"

"Don't ask."

"Is it really so bad?"

"Mhm."

"Alright. So how is your life?"

"A million times worse."

"You mean…?"

"I'm a dead man, Heather."

She pushed him away on the arm's length, and eyed him carefully. Hiccup met her gaze; maybe if he hadn't known her for so long, he would have believed in the concern that had reflected on her face. However, he was all too well acquainted with the sparkle that appeared in her eyes right after to let himself be deceived by such a poor sham.

He certainly couldn't count on any kind of pity on her side.

"Oh, so it's all normal for you. I almost thought it was something real this time."

She stepped back and chuckled cordially at the sight of his hurt expression; she nudged him playfully, only to focus all of her attention on the Night Fury the next moment, as the dragon was eagerly demanding a proper greeting. Watching that scene, the young Chief crossed his arms once more, casting unbelieving glares at the blissfully unsuspecting Toothless.

"It's good to know there's someone whose sight actually makes that oversized lizard happy. He practically stopped paying any mind to me. Yes, I'm talking about you, you ungrateful reptile."

"Maybe if you spared him from some of your meditations, he would be reacting a bit more enthusiastically." The warrior did not cease to tickle the dragon's jaw, clearly amused with her friend's pretensions. "Besides, it's not that bad."

"Did you see him three minutes ago?"

"Yes…?"

"Then you can judge his enthusiasm yourself. I'm breaking my back, opening my heart, and all he does is grumble and snort. I think he has had enough of the sight of me too, because most of the time he just lies with his head down, and his eyelids closed. So much for gratitude."

"Perhaps, but from what I observed, it was you standing with your back to him." Heather winked at him knowingly, and turned to the dragon that was wriggling around next to her. "Alright, Toothless, enough of that. Go and keep Windshear company, and I'll use that time to extract something from our dear Chief."

"Why does it sound as if you were about to start a hearing?"

"Because I always do that?" The girl shrugged and having got past the Viking, she approached a huge stone situated right next to the water's edge. It was a moment after when she was sitting on top of it, pointing her hand at the place by her side. Hiccup did not protest. "What, would you prefer me to beat about the bush, circling around the subject until you start talking? What am I supposed to do, hold casual conversations about the weather?"

"I'll never understand how someone could think that all those 'weather conversations' can be casual," the young man threw in, sitting next to her. "They always make me think of the most embarrassing situations in my entire life. Thank Odin no one is really trying to have them on Berk."

"What a relief."

"However, we can still swap roles, and for once let me do the questioning first."

"That's boring."

"Doesn't matter."

"Alright, dragon boy. Go on."

Hiccup cleared his throat in a theatrical manner.

"Your wish is my command. So, how are things on your side of the sea? Your real brother is doing well enough?"

"We'll live. Dagur is as deranged as always, but… I guess that's a part of his charm. Except for that, he seems to have everything under control, though, of course, he still happens to throw the too-bumptious commanders overboard when he think they deserve it. Fortunately, there were no fatalities so far. Thank the gods."

"And the village?"

"Still standing. The latest storm pestered us a little, there are a few dwellings that -" Heather stopped short, noticing a sudden flash of worry on her companion's face, after which she hurried with an explanation. "No, no, it's nothing serious! A few roofs that have been blown off, a few rooms that have been flooded… Nothing we haven't already dealt with. We'll manage."

"You sure?" Hiccup looked everything but convinced. "If you need some help, we could -"

"Hiccup, it's fine. I know you would help us if there was a need for that, but I can't hire your people when there's so much to be done on Berk. The storm might have spared you this time, but I know that even without it you have plenty to think of."

"You don't need to question me to get your information, do you?"

"I have my sources."

They both fell silent for a while, observing their four-legged friends, as they were zealously playing with one another. The young leader smiled softly, happy to see Toothless finally staying in the company that would find pleasure in the same activities.

He had used to play like that with Stormfly, too.

The girl sitting next to him noticed the sadness that suddenly reflected in the Chief's eyes, and immediately reconstructed his way of thinking in her own mind. She, like nobody else, understood what was happening in his soul in the moments like this.

Thus, instead of asking, she decided to go back to the suspended topic, and confidently announced, "As I was saying, it's all under control. If it wasn't, I certainly wouldn't be visiting you right now."

Hiccup winced, snatched from his thoughts, and looked at her questioningly, "Yeah, about that. What brings you to Berk on this beautiful day?"

"My desire to see you, of course."

"Ha, ha. And for real?"

"Listen, I've been planning that visit for a long time, and I really don't need an excuse to come here. However… It sort of happened that Johann needed to be escorted, so I'd decided to combine business with pleasure."

"Ha, I knew there was something more," the man called out, with a note of vicious note playing in his voice; then he froze for a second, and rapidly turning towards the girl, he asked, "Wait, Johann is on Berk?"

Heather raised her eyebrows in astonishment.

"You didn't know? I was sure you were intentionally hiding from him here."

"What? No, I wasn't -" Hiccup groaned, and hid his face in his hands. "Goodness gracious, can this day become any worse? I forgot, I completely forgot he was to come at this time, and this once, I'm not in the village! I have to go there, give him a reception -"

"Hiccup, calm down," the warrior cut him off, and grasping his wrists, she forced him to uncover his face. "Nothing happened. Half of Berk came to the docks to meet him, and in that half was Valka, Eret, and the rest of the gang. And Johann isn't some official personage who must be welcomed like a King every single time. If there's anything you must discuss with him, you'll have plenty of time to do it. You know better than anyone that his visits are never too short for that."

"Can't disagree with that one." The Chief chuckled nervously, still not entirely composed. "Gods, something is wrong with me."

"I could tell." Heather let go of his hands. "What's going on?"

"Everything," her friend muttered.

"Details, Hiccup. Something happened during those few weeks of my absence, I can see it."

"I'd be wasting your time."

Clearly determined not to answer her, the man turned away, fixing his sight on the opposite side of the pond.

Fortunately – or not – the dark-haired woman wasn't the kind of a person that would easily give up on their own resolutions. She tipped her head back, leaned on her hands, and with no further introduction, she gave him more of a statement than a question, "So you've got a guest on Berk."

Hiccup stiffened, and then groaned again.

Bingo.

"Tell me, what is it that girl did to you, so you have such a problem with her?"

He glanced at her, reluctantly.

"I don't trust her."

"Alright, I've heard that much. But what did she do? Except for having the misfortune of landing on Berk in the same way I did? No, wait; I suppose she really was caught up in a storm." She ignored her companion's weary sigh. "So what is it?"

"I don't know!" he cried out at last, throwing his arms into the air in a hopeless gesture. "I just don't trust her! She vexes me like nothing else. Her voice, her look, her facial expression – everything in her seems wrong. One moment she's staring at you with a look of a frightened animal, and in the next she's wallowing in pride, giving you the most outraged glare that has ever been cast. I swear, Heather, if looks could kill, I would've had both of my legs in a grave for more than two weeks now. And before you tell me I'd probably deserved it – maybe I had! But please forgive me, if that doesn't make me feel any better about her. I don't like her, I simply don't like her. You can't be friends with everybody. The whole island loves her – I don't. That's all."

It was probably the first time when the young leader of Berk was so frank in expressing his feelings towards the brunette girl who had been staying in his village for the bigger part of the month. Even that day, which he had mostly spent on venting before Toothless on all the troubles that, in his opinion, were implicitly caused by Whisper herself, he did not manage to get to that final, summative, illuminative conclusion.

"That's new," his companion murmured; this time her voice was free from the casual sarcasm. "It has always been the other way round with you."

"Please, Heather. You have no idea how many times a day I get to hear that line."

"Maybe because it's true. You've changed, Hiccup."

"The circumstances have changed."

His green eyes were now shining with this kind of stoutness that Heather – just as the rest of their friends – could not bear seeing. His set jaw was like a pitiless proof that there was a line that had been crossed, a border, beyond which there was nothing except for dull, helpless despair.

It wasn't like his expression reminded her of pain she had managed to forget – fairly speaking, when it came to the loss of her best friend, the young Berserker wasn't doing much better than the Viking sitting so close to her.

That was the reason why it was so easy for her to recreate his tangled thoughts. It was exactly the same trouble she had been going through herself.

Even if her relationship with Astrid differed significantly from what was between her friend and Hiccup – there was no romance between the girls, to be sure – for Heather, the blue-eyed warrior remained the dearest creature in the entire world. There was no other person in her life – neither Hiccup, nor Fishlegs, nor Dagur – that had ever meant to her as much, as Astrid Hofferson had.

Against her better judgement, she sighed, lowering her gaze on her own knees. Automatically, Hiccup turned towards her, and cursed his own egoism, which had made the girl's good mood falter so easily. He poked her lightly, and gave her a weak smile.

"Don't think about it now," he hummed. "And you're right, I have changed. I shouldn't have snarled at you like this."

"I know what it's like." Heather returned the smile; she was positively relieved.

"It doesn't excuse me. Believe me, I'm well aware of how differently I behave – but what does it change, if I can't do anything about it? And all of those comments only make me want to try less."

"I suppose we just miss that careless, dorky Hiccup we used to know so well."

He only shook his head.

"I was dorky with her. For her. You know that."

They both turned back abruptly at the sound of a breaking branch; of course, it was nothing else but a part of a game their winged friends were playing with such a zest. The young Chief looked at the other leader, and picked up the temporarily abandoned thread, hoping to give their conversation a little more pleasant course.

"So what is it exactly you'd like to know? You were supposed to extract information from me, and instead, you're agreeing to my moaning and complaints. What do we start with?"

"There is only one issue making me intrigued now," she answered, and the usual pertness could be heard in her words again. "So if only you are capable of speaking calmly about… Wait, what is her name, actually?"

"Whisper."

"Loki, help us. Really?"

"Yes."

"Like in, Whispering Death?"

"I see you share my thoughts on this one." Hiccup laughed hollowly, recalling his own connotations. "A Twins' idea, but she personally accepted it."

"Wow. Fine, so what about her?"

He shrugged.

"Tell me what you know, and I'll tell you the rest."

"Not much, in fact. All I've heard is that you're being absolutely horrible towards her, but we've already discussed that one."

"Who told you that?" He glanced at her, offended.

"I talked to some people at the harbour."

"Eret?"

"Thor help me, no." Heather started, and seeing her interlocutor's amused glare, she added, "What? You can't be friends with everyone, right? I was talking to Snotlout, but it doesn't matter now. All I know is that she's kind, helpful, and can't remember a thing. Is that true?"

Hiccup confirmed.

"And she cast a spell on the island?"

"Heather, I beg you -"

"The whole island is at her service. Heather could learn from her!"

"In the name of… Are you ever going to stop mocking me?"

"I'm just making sure I got it all right. It all adds up so far. Anything else I should know?"

"She's said to be a good cook, but I don't think that it changes much."

"Not the most popular skill amongst the Hooligans, you should appreciate that," the girl muttered and then, as if dazzled, she widened her eyes, leaned towards Hiccup, and with a sudden excitement she whispered, "Is it true she's wearing Ruffnut's clothes?"

Her companion blurted something as a response, quietly enough not be heard distinctively; yet Heather didn't need that.

She covered her mouth, shocked.

"Odin almighty, it is true."

"Mhm."

"And how does she look?"

"Awful."

"Seriously? Your mum said she was pretty."

"Maybe, but… I'm sorry, Heather, but even you would look bad in those clothes."

The young woman pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh. No matter how much her opinion of Ruffnut improved throughout the years, she still wasn't able to accept her friend's attitude towards her own looks.

"And you let that happen?"

"I am not her dresser. If Whisper doesn't mind, why should I?"

"Technically, you're right. But you know, just because she doesn't complain, it's doesn't mean she actually likes it."

"A suggestion from her would be enough to fix it, trust me."

"If you say so." Heather jumped off the rock and whistled at Windshear, who appeared at her side shortly after. "There's just one thing that keeps me wondering. I understand you don't have to feel an undying love for her, but from everything you've said it seems she's just a normal, pretty likeable girl, ready to help and not expecting much for herself. So why such resentment? Do you seriously think she could be trying to hoax you?"

"Honestly? No, I don't," Hiccup answered baldly, joining her. "I don't know where it comes from myself, Heather. I just have some bad feelings about her. I can't explain that."

"Bad feelings, you say."

"Yeah, I know, it's ridiculous." He sighed, resting his hands on his hips, watching his friend check the lashing straps on her saddle. "But I still can't help it."

"Sure, I get it."

"No, wait." He shook his head. "I don't want you to be led by my opinion – no one else seems to share it so far. Go meet her, and judge for yourself what you want to think of all this. Who knows, maybe there is something wrong about me, stopping me from seeing that charm everybody is talking about. It may turn out that you two will become the closest of friends; you could really use someone like that."

As he was pronouncing the last phrases, Hiccup did all of his might to optimistic and sincere at the same time. He truly didn't want his prejudice (alright then, he might have been a little prejudiced) to influence the relationship between the two women. Against his good intentions, however, Heather's reaction was quite the opposite to what he had hoped for – she froze in the middle of her work, still standing with her back facing him, not able to do much more.

Then, she slowly turned towards him, giving him the same longing glare he knew so well from his own reflection.

For the hundredth time that day, he felt like slapping his own face.

"You're not the only one who finds her irreplaceable," she answered him quietly, forcing a weak, unbelievably sad smile. Before Hiccup had a chance to say a word, she had jumped onto the silver dragon's back, and having calmed her emotions down a bit, she added, "Don't play foreboding, Hiccup, it really isn't your thing. I'll see you in the village."

She grinned a bit more widely, and without further goodbyes, she made Windshear take to the air, leaving the dark-haired Viking with no one except his loyal Night Fury – and with thousands of thoughts he could not deal with.

Author's note: Stop playing Obi-Wan Hiccup. Just stop.

Well, here we are, with another chapter, finally being Jerkcup-free. Well, almost. Either way, I'm pretty proud of it, and I hope you liked it too! I know not many people are fans of Heather, but I personally like her a lot, and writing her interactions with Hiccup was a lot of fun to write.

I'm really grateful for all the reviews you gave me for the last few chapters. Our favourite blackmail is over now, so you don't have to worry about that, but I hope you'll spare a minute, and let me know what you think. Oh, and I have some good news! I'm determined to update this story from now on, so I'm setting the deadline on Tuesday 21st, exactly four weeks from today.

I'll see you then.

God bless you all!
Margaret