Okay and once again, a new chapter! Okay before I blather on about how I feel, I'm going to take a moment to thank my most repetitive reviewers.

Toothless is Best

Alpha B. A. 7

Ember Neutron

XDragon WingsX

DoomsdayBeamXD

johnnylee619

Firenze Fox

Kitty.0

Seagate

Gryffindor4life

I really appreciate ya'll sticking with my story so far!

Now to what I normally do. This chapter introduces another OC, also there is a game reference in this chapter. I'll give a piece of dragon candy to the ones that figure out what it is!=^-^=

Disclaimer: I will no longer be doing this, so this is the last time cause I'm sure ya'll know by now that I don't own HTTYD.=^-^=

Ch. 12 - A Scorched Hammer


Smoke flew up from the chimney of the old metal works. Toothless and Hiccup landed at the back of the stall near a storage barn. Hiccup dismounted Toothless and quietly moved over to a window in the stall where smoke was flowing out. "You okay in there Balimund?"

He waved the smoke away with little progress slightly leaning through the window. "Balimund?" A large crash was heard as metal clanged through the stall. "Ah for the love'a-" Hiccup rolled his eyes as he climbed through the window. "You really need to organize this place better."

A coughing was heard before a flap on the roof of the stall swung open. "I keep it this way so I can find everything."

"Yeah, well that and get yourself killed. Stacking swords and axes precariously isn't smart." As the smoke cleared the charred man became visible. He was tall, blonde and had his hair pulled partially back. He wore what looked like a green tunic covered in a brown blacksmith's apron.

"Smart or not, it's how I do things. How ya been Hiccup." He climbed down the ladder in his stall and took a place next to the young Viking.

"Pretty good actually."

The smithy wiped the soot off his mustache and grabbed the tongs from the fire. "Nice to know you were havin fun. I ran out of Dragon powder, and now my orders are piling up." He placed the misshapen steel rod into the water.

Hiccup then pulled up the sack he brought. "Well I ran out of the mineral mix for it, but Loki should be able to make up for it. The key ingredient aside from the Dragon Flint was magnesium after all."

The man took a moment to think before a smile spread across his face. "That sounds brilliant Hiccup! Only back for a few minutes and already coming up with innovative ideas! I missed that!"

Hiccup crossed his arms and looked to the man. "I was only gone a few weeks."

The smithy gave him a wild smile. "Weeks can be years waiting in the prime of your youth! I want to enjoy mine!" Balimund then reached for the bag. "Thanks Hiccup! Now what do you need?"


Hiccup's pov

Seems he hasn't forgotten our working relations and he's straight to the point as usual. "I was hoping to do some leather working while I was here."

He smiled widely as he pointed to a far shelf. "You're in luck. I just got some fine leather in the other day. Help yourself to it." Balimund carried the sack over to the forge and yelled. "Loki! It's time to hammer the iron!" It only took a few minutes for the dragon to come to its master's call and poke his head through the stall's back door next to the forge. "There's my Loki's Breath!"

Loki or Loki's Breath, which was his full name, was a red Nadder. He was a little bigger than Stormfly and his personality was relatively self-centered when it came to anyone but Balimund. He had fallen into Balimund's storage shed several months ago, and thankfully I was here because Balimund wanted to lop it's head off immediately. I convinced him not to, and he became quickly attached to him when Loki showed he'd be good around the forge. Now Balimund's the only one even allowed to touch him, though he has allowed me a couple of times, he usually gets very testy when I try.

"Alright Loki, why don't you have some of this eh?" He tossed a piece of the Dragon Flint into his mouth and got a pleasurable growl in return. "Thought so."

After the dragon gobbled it down he looked at the man expectantly. "Don't worry, you'll get some more, but first you got to help me by lighting up my forge." Loki happily complied as he shot a blazing breath into the man's forge. "Now that's a hot fire!" I swear metal working is all he ever cares about some times.

"Alright I'll just be using this work bench then."

"Sounds fine." He didn't even turn to look. He's so caught up now I bet I could tell him his house was on fire and he wouldn't move. I turned and headed to the workbench next to the tanning rack. I came down here for a reason and I need to get started.


After a few hours of working I had almost finished when Balimund got curious and came over. "What are you up to over here eh Hiccup?" He was now more charred than before and a little worn looking. I was just finishing the last of the stitching when he spoke.

"Well first, Bo'mar asked me to make him a saddle for Balrog because he finally let him on his back."

"Oh, I heard him say something like that I think."

I rolled my eyes as I finished. "You'd probably remember it better if you weren't trying to break into my room at the time." I turned to see his face, but it didn't have an ounce of regret on it. This man took life by the horns and wasn't the type to feel bad about past events unless they were big. "Anyway, he needed a saddle that wouldn't burn through, so I lined it with a piece of sheet metal in between the leather layers. It won't keep all the heat out, but he should be able to easily sit on him now." I held up my handy work to show him.

"I see you're as crafty as ever." He took it from my hands and went over the leather work. "Not bad, I'll have to remember this design." He handed it back to me and I folded it up and held it under my arm. "And what of this?" He had picked up the other saddle that I had made earlier. "This is a Nadder saddle if I'm not mistaken."

"Well, yeah….. I brought a girl with me and she rides a Nadder."

He grinned from ear to ear. "Ah, you brought Astrid with ya eh?" How would he even know that!?

"I never said it was her."

"But is it?"

I sighed in defeat. "Yeah…."

His smirk grew somewhat mischievous. "Finally maken your move eh. Bout time too! I thought you'd be taken long before. Some girls came by a few times lookin for you while you were gone, and I had to be the one to tell'em you were head over heels for another girl!"

I could feel my face burn and looked away. "I-it's not like that with us."

"Yet!"

"Wai-what!?" He started to take off his apron. "What are you doing?"

He then took a towel and started to wipe off more of the soot. "I wanna meet her of course! If you brought her with you she's up with Bo'mar right!? Then I'm coming back with ya to see the lass who's got your heart!" I hated this particular trait of his. Once he's decided on something he tends to take it all the way. He's never one to stop half way if he can help it. "Let's go Hiccup!"

He dashed out the back of his stall to where Loki was waiting with Toothless. I grabbed the other harness and followed him out. "Wait! You can't just come because you feel like it!" He didn't stop and hopped on Loki's back before I could get another word in. I watched as he took off, and kicked myself for telling him in the first place. "Alright Toothless, let's go after him." Sometimes he is just too much for me.


No one's pov

The Nadder landed on the cliff gracefully only moments before the Night Fury. Balimund hopped off Loki and began leading him inside the cave. "Oh, I just can't wait!" Hiccup chased after his quick pace followed by Toothless.

"I swear you listen worse than my dad!"

The smithy just kept up his pace through the cavern. "I'd much rather do than listen Hiccup, you know that!" As they came upon the main cavern a quiet humming was heard.

"Is that Bo'mar again?"

Balimund laughed. "He must be happy to have a lady's company after all these years." The humming stopped followed by the old man spotting the two strolling in.

"Hey Hiccup, you finish your business?" He looked at the over excited Balimund. "Let it slip didn't ya?"

Hiccup responded dryly. "Yeah…"

Balimund took a good look around the small chamber. "So where is this lovely lass?" An ax flew by and embedded itself into the cavern wall, just missing the excited man by an inch.

"Looking for me?" Astrid stood at the entrance to her cavern, arms crossed.

Balimund remained quiet for a moment, glancing to the ax and then back to her. "Got yourself a live one eh?" He turned to pull the ax out of the wall and looked it over. "Your work I presume?" Hiccup nodded humbly. "Ya did good." He then reached out the ax to the female Viking. "Here ya go lass, I believe this is yours."

Astrid stepped forward to take it. "So what were you up to this whole time?" She waited for a response as she looked over the blade's edge.

"Ah, he was busy making a little somthin special for you."

She immediately moved her gaze to Hiccup with what could have been a slight blush. "What is it?"

Hiccup pulled the smaller saddle out from under his arm and showed it to her. "I remember you saying how stiff you got after riding for a long time on that quick fix one you had so I made you a better one."

She took the leather bundle from Hiccup and looked it over. She traced the edges with her hands and looked back to Hiccup. "You didn't have to."

"I-I wanted to." They had a bit of awkward silence before the loud smithy broke it.

"You two are adorable!" He grabbed them both under his arms and hugged them. "Even Loki is in aww of that!" The Nadder in question was just by the old man holding one wing over his eyes in what looked to be embarrassment. "Aww Loki, you're such a romantic." Loki responded with a soft growl and shook his wings. He then strutted forward to Astrid and sniffed her. "You like her too Loki?"

Hiccup was able to wrench out of the man's grip. "I bet he smells Stormfly on her." Balimund let go of Astrid and touched his fist to his palm. "Oh yeah, I forgot she rode a Nadder."

"So you ride one too?" Astrid scrutinized the Nadder in her face.

"Yeah, he's great isn't he?" Astrid tried to reach her hand to the Nadder , but it pulled away and growled.

"I guess…"

"He does that to everyone, trust me."

"Why don't you try out the new saddle lass? I'm sure Hiccup would love to see how well he did." Balimund moved further into the cavern to the where it splits off in several places. "Where is that Nadder of yours?"

Astrid, taking the queue, whistled on her fingers and out came Stormfly shuffling to her owner. "Good girl." Stormfly lowered her head to receive Astrid's approving attention.

Balimund immediately started to circle the two. "Oh, ain't she a beauty! What do you think Loki?" The red Nadder made his way over as well, only to receive a bit of hostility from Astrid, whom wasn't too happy about being growled at. The Nadder worked his way to the other side of Stormfly to better acquaint itself with her. A few indiscriminate growls were heard between the two of them before Loki returned to the smithy's side.

Balimund cocked his head to the side in his attempt to read the Nadder's expression. "She didn't?" The man pats the dragon's head. "It's okay Loki, there are plenty of dragons in the sky."

Hiccup then came to a realization. "Oh, Bo'mar, I forgot to ask you something. Dragons have been disappearing in large numbers everywhere."

"Yeah and then a whole swarm showed up to attack Berk." Balimund's surprise was a stark contrast to the old man's calm.

"Do you know why this is happening? Better question, will you let us in on it?"

The old man laughed at the young man. "You know me too well. If I told you what was going on, the Norn would have my head. What I can do, is point you in the right direction."

Hiccup rolled his eyes, confirming he'd expected such an answer. "So this direction is?"

"It's about a day's flight due north of here. There's a village called Brattsholt, where you should find an answer to that." Hiccup handed the man his new saddle and he strolled off into his respective tunnel.

"I always love all the little details he includes in his suggestions."

Astrid looked over to Hiccup. "So what? Are we going there?"

He nodded in response. "Yeah, but let's wait till morning okay?" She nodded back.

"Alright you two, I hope ya don't mind if I join ya for dinner, I'm starving!" Hiccup laughed at the man and Astrid joined in a little.

"I think I'm starting to understand him a little."

"You've only glimpsed the surface."


Hiccup's pov

That couldn't have ended fast enough. I swear I think he almost opted to sleep here. His excitement over bringing the girl I told him I liked with me, was way over the top.

I led Toothless into the room again where he immediately took his spot on the char mark. "I bet you're just as tired as I am." Toothless yawned and started to heat up his bed. I wish I could just drop into bed too, but I've still got to bring a few things to Astrid. I just hope I can look her in the eye at all when I walk in there.

As I expected, Balimund was sure to make any further conversation between us completely awkward. I grabbed an extra buddle of bedding from under the table where I noticed a tail sticking out. "Hey Scorch, still sleeping?" A slight peek under the table answered that question. Scorch had hollowed out a little cave under my desk pretty quickly after I found him and can almost always be found under here. I almost forgot just how long he tends to sleep after long trips.

I took up the bundle and headed out of the room. "Here's to secretly hoping she's already asleep." I turned down her cavern and was immediately disappointed. From the shadow cast by the single torch, it appeared as if she was pacing.

"-but how am I supposed to tell-" I think I cut her off as I entered the room. She stopped pacing the moment I entered and sort of, looked away.

"Sorry if I interrupted something…. I uh, brought some bedding for you." I held out the bundle to her, while at the same time, trying to not seem nervous. I was failing pretty badly at it…. She took it rather quickly and returned an awkward smile.

"Thanks Hiccup….." She turned away and sighed.

"What's wrong?" She obviously looked down and I'm guessing it had everything to do with Balimund. "Okay I know he's kinda of….. well anyway, Balimund was just being himself."

She shook her head. "That's not it. While the guy is rather…. It doesn't matter. I'm just a little disappointed that I haven't been able to do much of anything. You've been doing things like making weapons and even a saddle for me, but what have I done? I forced myself onto you and you've been having to watch my back ever since."

Well that's uncharacteristic for Astrid. It kind of makes me wonder just how long she's felt like this. "Look, I'm not trying to make you feel useless; I'm just doing what I can." I pulled up a chair, one of the few pieces of furniture in her cavern, and sat down.

"I'm good at making things, so I make things. You're good at fighting, so you fight. You saved me quite a bit of trouble with Valdor at Boar's Head." She seemed to be listening intently as she leaned against a table on the far side of the room. "Whatever we come across tomorrow, I'll definitely need your help with it."

She thought for a moment before responding. "Then why did you try and leave alone in the first place?" She's always been one of the more perceptive Vikings, not a good thing at this point though.

"When I first left, yeah I wanted to do it alone, but you followed anyway. After only a day, traveling with you made me realize how much fun it was. Before it was only me and Toothless, which wasn't bad, but having another person to talk to is different." I couldn't help but enjoy the company of the girl I've had a crush on, or even love, for years. "I just want you to know I trust you with my back alright? It's not like you to doubt yourself like this."

She brushed her hand through her bangs and sighed. "Alright then, if you trust me, I'll be sure not to let you down." A reassuring smile spread across her face.

I stood up and walked to the exit. "That's more like the Astrid I know. Be sure to get some rest; tomorrow is bound to be exciting in one way or another." I walked out of her cavern.

At least I know she's cheered up a little. Maybe if I delegate more she won't feel like a burden. I mean she's got years of dragon slaying experience, which is bound to come in handy right? Maybe not so much for slaying, but maybe catching when they get out of hand. This is bound to be way more productive then going solo on Toothless.


And another chapter bites the dust! I'm starting to really enjoy doing this. On another note, while I do enjoy putting these up, I feel like I'm getting less of a response now, so I've decided (This has nothing to do with last times randomness) to update only once I've had 5 reviews for the previous chapter. In other words, I'll post again or within 48 hours or so after this chapter gets 5 reviews. I'm not trying to be unreasonable, but I really like to hear what ya'll think. It also makes me type more enthusiastically when I hear what ya'll think of my stories. Also, if you haven't already, I've posted concept art for some of the characters on my profile page. Until next time ya'll!=^-^=