HICCSTRID IN THIS AND FUTURE CHAPTERS! :D I LOVE HICCSTRID! :D Enjoy chapter 14!

Astrid dreamed about Hiccup.

When she woke up, she didn't remember any of it, as it was the case with some dreams, but she knew that, whatever it was, it hadn't been especially pleasant. She didn't remember what she had dreamed about, yet still, she remembered that it gave her the creeps.

She felt someone forcing something down her throat, and instantly, she protested, kicking her feet and flailing her arms. It was her instinct. For all she knew, these people could have been attacking her. Then, someone pinned her arms and legs down, and she was overcome by darkness.

When she opened her eyes again, she was greeted by her mother and her father, who were both looking down at her with concern.

"Mom?" Astrid asked, squinting at the figures hovering over her. "Dad?"

"Astrid," they breathed in unison, hugging their daughter.

"Oh, thank goodness you're alright," her mother said. Astrid could hear the tears behind her voice. The woman pulled away. "You're alright," she repeated, almost as if she couldn't believe it.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" Astrid said. She was fine, indeed. She didn't have a headache, no trace of a fever, or any other things having to do with her illness. "Hiccup got back then, with the cure?" she asked hopefully.

"That's right, Astrid," Astrid's mother said. There was something behind the woman's eyes for a moment, but it left as soon as it came.

Astrid breathed a sigh of relief. "So he's back," she said, smiling. "Where is he?" she asked hopefully, sitting up in the bed.

Suddenly, whatever emotion was hidden behind her parents' eyes showed, and Astrid's smile faded.

"Mom…" she said in a grave tone of voice, "where's Hiccup?"

Her mother kept her head bowed. Astrid's father turned to his daughter, a solemn expression on his face.

"Hiccup came back wounded," he explained.

"But where is he!?" Astrid demanded.

"He's at his house, I believe," her mother said slowly. "But Astrid, please don't-"

It wasn't any use. Astrid was on her feet (albeit a bit shaky) and out the door, breaking out into a sprint. There was something they weren't telling her, and if they weren't going to do it, then she was going to find out for herself.

One way or another.

"Astrid!" she heard her parents yell from behind her, but she didn't slow down. She didn't even think about slowing down. She ran straight up to the Chief's house, and barged into the abode without even knocking.

Hiccup's bed had obviously been moved downstairs, because that's where the boy was laying. Stoick was sitting on a stool parked by the bed, holding Hiccup's hand while dabbing his son's forehead.

Hiccup was groaning and tossing his head just slightly, although he appeared to be unconscious. He was so pale he could have been dead. The arm Stoick wasn't holding on to was wrapped securely in gauze and in a sling wrapped around Hiccup's shoulder.

"Stoick," Astrid said, trying to find a way to show the Chief that she was there without using too many words. Stoick glanced up at her for just a moment before his eyes moved back to his son. Astrid followed his gaze. "Hiccup."

She crossed the room, sitting down on the side of the bed and putting her hand on Hiccup's forehead. He was burning up, his bangs matted with sweat and plastered to his pale skin. Hiccup leaned unconsciously into her touch, and she swept his bangs off his hot head.

He gasped as if he were confused, but Astrid's hand against his cheek shushed him. When he whimpered, Astrid whispered softly to him.

"Shh," she soothed, tracing some of his freckles with her thumb. "Easy there, Dragon Boy." Hiccup didn't calm down, though. He looked as if he were immense pain, along with the fact he was trying to open his eyes. "No, don't," Astrid said, scooting closer to him and smiling softly. "You've done enough, Hiccup. You deserve to rest now."

It took a few moments, but in the end, Hiccup's breathing deepened, and he slept soundly. Stoick watched Astrid and Hiccup's exchange before looking back at the girl.

"What happened to him?" Astrid asked. Now that Hiccup was sleeping deeply once again, her tone had gone from soft to demanding in a matter of seconds.

"He hasn't been conscious enough for anyone to find out, Astrid," Stoick said. "He was suffering from blood loss...passed out as soon as he got back."

Astrid stared down at Hiccup sadly. Something bumped her from behind, and she turned around to find Toothless looking at her. She patted the dragon's head.

"He was infected, too," Stoick said, nodding in Toothless' direction. "The venom Hiccup got went a long way. We've cured all the infected, and have more left over."

"That's good, I guess," Astrid said. "But what about Hiccup?"

Stoick shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "From what the healer told me, Hiccup was bitten. Clear teeth marks, straight through his arm. If it was the dragon he spoke of while asking me for leave to go, then there is still venom in his veins."

"But the cure," Astrid said. "We have the cure. We can fix it." When Stoick didn't reply, Astrid felt her heart drop. "Stoick?" she asked hesitantly. "We can fix it...can't we?"

Stoick looked at her for a moment, before shaking his head once again. "His body isn't strong enough," he said, his voice lowering. "He doesn't have the strength to fight off the poison, and the cure...it won't do anything if Hiccup's body rejects it. He's been rejecting it ever since we started. He just can't keep it down."

Astrid sighed, running her hand over Hiccup's forehead. "Poor thing," she said regretfully.

Stoick nodded, just before rising to a stand. He laid Hiccup's arm back down on the bed beside the boy, and then made for the door.

"I need to go get a healer," he said. "Would you mind-"

"Not at all," Astrid interrupted. "Yeah, I'll stay with him." You couldn't keep me away, she added silently.

Stoick nodded. "You're a great friend to him, Astrid," he said. "Thank you."

Astrid forced her blush away. "Any time," she said.