I'm very honoured by everyone who has read this story this far! This should be the last chapter, where all is resolved. However, I have a new story coming out soon, so keep watching my space here. It will have Hiccup and the twins in it. Also, other one shots may crop up here and there about the other characters, seeing as I don't write a lot about them. Anyway, Hiccup is sick! We must get on with the story to find out what happens!
The musical accompaniment of this chapter starts with Forbidden Friendship. When Astrid gets on Stormfly's back, skip to See You Tomorrow and listen right through to the end part of Test Drive.
(Note to self, base a story on Hiccup and Toothless at some point~)
Astrid walked slowly down the long, dirt track, watching the waves lap at the cliff-face below her feet. In her hand were clasped three precisely sharpened throwing axes. She could just as easily gone into the forest to practice her accuracy, but she felt as though, after a week without the dragons, she could do with the walk just to get away from the hoards of sick Vikings. Some, like Ruffnut, had recovered quickly, but the rest were taking a very long time about it. She huffed an angry sigh and looked up at the pale blue sky. How could it be such a bright day when she felt so dark inside? It made her want to throw one of axes at the Gods who had made it so. Clenching her teeth, she contained her anger and satisfied herself knowing that she could vent it all in the arena. Killing wooden boxes always made her feel better.
She thought about Snotlout, lying cold in his bed, too weak to get out and not wanting to eat. He was such a drama queen, and she knew for a fact that she would already be out doing things in his position. She thought of Fishlegs, who contented himself with reading books, propped up in his bed, drinking warm yak milk and eating what small bites he could manage. Then, there was Tuffnut, who was already trying to take out his anger on his sister, and was therefore being avoided by almost everyone. Luckily, his parents weren't afraid enough not to care for him. But everyone, everyone missed their dragons. That is, everyone but Hiccup. Her brow creased as she thought about the state he was in, tucked up in his bed with Toothless by his side. I mean, he's always been frail, she thought, but he looks worse than ever. Pale skin, sunken eyes, he doesn't even talk to Toothless any more, let alone anyone else. She bit her lip nervously, the urge to send an axe flying into the rocks around her overwhelming her. Just calm down, she told herself firmly. What would Hiccup think if I lost my cool over him? Shaking her thoughts away, she rubbed her forehead with her free hand.
Her eyes caught on something heading her way through the sky. It looked like a large bird, flapping sporadically, rushing somewhere. As she watched, it dipped and dived in the sky like it was dancing. She wondered what kind of joy could make a creature do such a thing. As the bird got closer, she realised how big it really was. Almost as big as a...
"Dragon..." She breathed. "No way... but..." She squinted closer. The creature flew faster and faster, heading straight for her. She didn't know whether to run or fight, just standing there with a rather bemused look on her face. Silhouetted against the sun, it was hard to tell what colour the creature was, but if she had to make a guess, she would say it was perhaps... cyan.
"No..." She breathed incredulously. It swooped down and landed a few feet away. A Deadly Nadder, cyan and yellow in colour, with sharp yellow eyes. It hopped from foot to foot, chattering as it watched the incredible change in emotion in the girl's face. Her mouth hung open in disbelief, and then she cried out in joy, tears of elation blurring her vision.
"Stormfly!" Dropping her axes, Astrid galloped forward and threw her arms around the Nadder's neck, sobbing openly. "You're back! Oh, I missed you so much!" Stormfly chirruped apologetically, nuzzling her rider for something to eat.
"Don't you ever go off like that again, you hear me? Not ever!" the blonde laughed, wiping her face clean of the salty-sweet tears. "Wait... if you're back... that means..." A light came on in her eyes as she looked around her. The sky was full of dragons. "The dragons are returning! That must mean... Stormfly! Take me to the village!" Tossing herself into the saddle that the Nadder was still wearing, she dug her heels into her flanks and watched as her dragon spread it's wings. Flying again send chills running up and down Astrid's spine. Her skin turned to goose-flesh. A wide grin was plastered on her face as they shot at speed towards the village.
Her axes lay abandoned on the track behind her.
The chaos of Vikings and dragons reuniting in the streets of Berk caused an uproar of the kind never before seen. Astrid looked down from her saddle, high above the town. She could see the twins gripping onto their Zippleback with such determination, she was almost unsure whether they would ever let go. Snotlout was running circles around Hookfang the Monstrous Nightmare, apparently with no illness at all. There was Fishlegs, tackling Meatlug to the ground, and here was a group of children chasing a flight of Terrible Terrors through the streets. But, through all the joy, The chief of Berk stomped through the village, a dark look still adorning his face. Gobber seemed to be chasing him and trying to insight some of the celebrations into him. He barked something over his shoulder, and the blacksmith retreated.
Astrid put a clenched fist to her lips, concern written all over her features. She was about to dip down to speak with Stoick when, all of a sudden, there came an almighty roar, and Toothless leapt from the Chiefs roof, skittering around like an excitable puppy. The door to the shack opened, and Hiccup appeared, looking haggard but curious. Stoick gave a cry of pure happiness and raced towards his son, gathering him in his arms and squeezing him tight.
"My boy!" He was heard to shout. "You're awake! Oh, Hiccup, you're back!"
"Yeah, dad..." He heaved for breath as his father let him go, leaning on the thick-set man for support as he caught his breath. Toothless was instantly upon him, radiating joy as he licked the boy's face.
"Whoa there, bud!" Hiccup laughed. Astrid swooped towards him, leaping off Stormfly even before she landed and standing before Hiccup, her happiness barely suppressed as she drank in the sight. Biting her lip, she raced forward and grabbed him, hugging him tightly. She felt his hands on her back, struggling to find a place to go, and so she pulled back and looked him in the eye.
"Hey, Astrid..." He breathed, smiling lopsidedly.
"Oh, Hiccup..." She didn't hold back before giving him a short kiss. "That's for getting better..." Hiccup instantly shied away, afraid of what might come next, and Astrid certainly lived up to expectations as she delivered a swift punch to the arm. "That's for everything else!" She snapped in mock anger, before laughing at his whine of pain and assuring him that she really was glad to see him.
"Everyone! To the Great Hall! I call a magnificent feast!" Stoick boomed, to the cheers and whoops of the Viking crowd, who, with their dragons, began to march up to the entrance of the Hall.
"Actually, dad... I think I'd rather stay here" Came a feeble voice from behind him. Hiccup looked into his dad's eyes and smiled weakly. "I don't think I could manage a whole feast right now..."
Stoick clapped his son on the shoulder, powerfully enough to almost knock him over. "It's okay, son. You and Astrid can stay here. Have a feast of your own. Just you rest and come with us when you're good and ready." Although the chief of the Hooligan tribe might have been slightly put out by his son not wanting to feast, he understood his son's meaning and he hid it well behind that broad, bearded smile. Turning to go, he gave Hiccup one last pat on the arm and then followed the rest of the tribe to their great feast.
Toothless gave a grumbling yowl, which Stormfly eagerly added to with a shriek. They were both ravenous. Astrid turned to Hiccup with a soft smile, leading the boy back indoors and sitting him on a chair before the fire, blankets wrapped around him.
"I'll get the dragon's dinner. You stay here with Toothless and stay warm." She said breezily, as if the gesture was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Astrid, you're amazing..." Hiccup slurred, his eyelids drooping. It gained a broader grin from her, before he slipped off to sleep.
The gnashing, smacking sounds coming from the corner would have put any normal person off their food: however, the two Vikings sat cross-legged beside the fire were well used to the sounds of dragons eating while they ate their own dinners. Astrid watched Hiccup push the small breast of chicken around his plate for a while as she picked at her own.
"Are you going to eat that or are you giving it flying lessons?" She quipped. He looked up at her questioningly.
"I guess I'm just not that hungry." He replied shortly. His gaze fell onto the plate before him.
"You've got to eat something, Hiccup." Chastised the young girl, and then she added; "If not for yourself, for me."
With a grunt, Hiccup took a bite. It was like watching him eat raw fish. He chewed it slowly for a long time, then laboriously swallowed. Toothless peered over his shoulder expectantly, looking from the food to Hiccup and back. The dragon smacked his lips.
"Oh come on! Being mothered by Astrid is bad enough, now you're joining in!"
Astrid couldn't help but laugh. The Night Fury was so comical in his mannerisms and the way he acted towards his rider. Begrudgingly, Hiccup ate as much of his food as he could, before putting the plate on the floor for Toothless to finish off.
"Hiccup..." Astrid began. She met his gaze and held it. "There was something you said, just before you collapsed in the fields... something I couldn't stop thinking about..."
"Yeah? Which was...?" Hiccup asked curiously.
"You said, "I've been sick for a very long time". I mean, you could have been out of it at the time, but..."
"It was true. I had been." Hiccup stated before she could even finish. "I was sick, all through the journey, from around the end of the cliff walk, but I knew I couldn't stop. I had to keep going because... because I felt like I'd be letting you down if I stopped. I was the leader, like my dad, and leaders have to be strong in the face of adversity. They have to stand up and be brave. So... I was." He finished simply. Astrid looked at him admirably.
"Oh Hiccup... you certainly were that..."
She leant forward, very slowly, and their lips met.
Toothless hid his head behind his wing.
All done! That's all, folks! I really hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Stay tuned for new stories and don't forget to read my other one-shots. Oh, and R+R! That's what keeps me writing!
For now, this is Dissidia180 signing off!
How To Train Your Dragon and all characters in this story are copyright of DreamWorks Animation and Cressida Cowell. The Sickness and all events in this story are Copyright of Dissidia180