CHAPTER 21: COPING

Gobber had declared a week off from Dragon Training. He needed the time to grieve, and he figured so would Hiccup.

Thanks to Énjal and Astrid's comforting help, life in the Haddock household carried on. Stoick had been hit hard by Valka's death because he had loved Valka very dearly despite their having had an arranged marriage, as did most Viking nobility. Not all such marriages resulted in close bonding, perhaps less than half.

The two ladies had not moved in, but they spent a good three days doing what they could to attend the needs of father and son. Since Hiccup had never really known his mother, he returned to a more normal state faster than his father.

Hiccup felt comfortable enough to leave the lodge knowing that Énjal was there for his dad.

After Hiccup and Astrid tended the breakfast dishes, he took her by the hand and lead her outdoors. Once outside he released her hand because he didn't want to come off as being presumptuous. Astrid was a little dismayed when Hiccup released her hand, but then again he began to ask her something.

Signing to the best of his ability Hiccup stated, "I think my dad is in good hands with your mom. Would you like to give me a hand in the forge?" Since sign language lessons weren't going to happen now for at least a few more days, Astrid decided to carry on as she had at the beginning. Hiccup would speak when he didn't know enough ASL, and then Astrid would interpret what he said for his own sake. In this way Hiccup could continue to learn on the fly.

"I'd love to help you. What did you have in mind?" Astrid happily volunteered.

"Well, I needed to get out of that lodge. I'm really not going to be any help to my dad. I didn't know my mother. I am sad about not being able to get to know her now, but life still goes on. I wanted to get to started on Esdra's order for the door signallers she asked for."

"Yeah, sure." Astrid said in answer. "It will give us something to do as well. I actually liked helping you out with the ones you made for mom since it was different from my usual fair. I don't mean interpreting. Working for you is actually my first contract, so there is no way this has become boring yet."

Hiccup came back with, "You might find this boring after a while. First all I am going to do is make 20 sets of components, after that we can assemble them. Now I didn't get to discuss anything with Esdra in terms of what she needs these signallers for. Does she want them for people's homes, or for the Scholar's Institute?"

"Oh. It never occurred to me to ask for clarification. I'd say make ten single units for now, assuming they will be for the use of deaf professors in their office chambers. As they will be for interior doors only, they wouldn't need the reflector fins."

"So you do have a bit of an engineer's mind in that pretty blond head of yours." That earned Hiccup a one armed charlie horse. "I didn't say dumb blond!" He whimpered, so Astrid gave him an apologetic kiss. "Oh man, that is thee best pain reliever." Hiccup sighed with a goofy smile.

"Well don't expect a kiss everytime I sock you. You won't learn unless you deserve one." Astrid simpered back with a wink. She was actually grateful that Hiccup was coming out of his funk a little.

When they walked into the forge they met a rather disgruntled Gobber.

Astrid had given him permission to speak to hearing people since obviously most of them wouldn't know ASL. As he was still new to speaking with his hands he had yet to learn fingerspelling as well. She had told him during her little lessons in his house that when he encountered another deaf person, such as her mom or Esdra in the future, he had to keep his lips buttoned and really work at signing or using charades or actions to convey his messages. The more he resorted to sign language, the faster he would learn.

"Good morning Gobber. Are you alright?" Hiccup asked of the blacksmith.

"Not rreally. How's yer dad doing?" Gobber replied, Astrid interpreting.

"I would say about the same as you then."

"I would say yer underrstandin' o' sign language has grreatly imprroved, if yer interprreter herre is actually worrkin' for ya."

"I still have a long ways to go Gobber, but Astrid is good at teaching me. You might see her interpret twice only so that I can learn what I don't know yet. She interprets what you say, and then she interprets what I say. Since I can still speak, I don't need an interpreter to speak TO hearing people, only to learn what they say to me."

"Well boyo, unforrtunately I have even morre disturrbin' news for ye. I'm not surre yet I can trrust a sixteen yearr old girrl with such sensitive news."

"Gobber, I trust her, and not only with my secrets, but my life."

Astrid had to swallow a lump over this revelation. Clearing her throat Astrid spoke up. "Please excuse my Interruption Master Gobber-"

Gobber at once interrupted Astrid, "What's this Master business? I'm not a slave owner norr do I wanna be. That is just so wrrong, let alone havin' the son o' the Chief as mah slave? Arre ye daft girrl?"

Both Astrid and Hiccup chuckled a little at this which just infuriated Gobber more.

"Honestly Gobber, that's not what I meant. Perhaps you don't use the formal titles here on Berk. At least on Bog Island in the Scholar's Institute, they use a teaching system for various trades. Beginners are called Apprentices, skilled trade workers are Journeymen, and the top of their fields are referred to as Masters. In this case Hiccup has referred to himself as your apprentice, and since I don't see a third person here that would make you Master of this smithy."

"Oh-uhum-I'm sorry lass for blowin' up at ye. I dinnae have such a high education level. In case ye couldnae tell, I'm also a little testy."

Astrid continued, "If it helps to ease your concern, as part of my trade, I've had to take an oath of confidentiality-"

"Of what?" Gobber again interrupted confused by such a big word.

"Secrecy. Sorry about that Gobber. I got used to using big words, because of what I needed to learn as part of my education. This oath is so binding - I mean serious that if ever I revealed something of what one of my clients said I would be banned from my trade." explained Astrid.

Feeling somewhat more assured Gobber continued with his sensitive news. "Yer motherr wasn't only sent ta us as ye saw her, she had been murderred."

Tears again filling his eyes Hiccup cried out, "What? How do you know this?"

Gobber didn't answer him as he was choking up again himself; he just handed Hiccup the letter that had been found on Valka's person.

Attention Stoick the Vast Chief to the Hooligan Tribe of Berk:

Happy Anniversary! At least I hope it is. Here is my gift to you.

This is what happens to those who defy me.

You were lucky once, you won't be lucky again.

When I am ready, I will come for you, and all of your tribe. Following the fall of Berk so will the rest of the Archipelago fall. No amount of preparation, or alliances formed will be able to save you.

Sincerely yours,

Drago Bludvist

Dragon Master

"Who is this Drago Bludvist?" Demanded Hiccup.

"Can I answer him Gobber? Stoick told us about him on my journey here."

"Yes lass, go ahead." Gobber answered with great difficulty and relief.

So Astrid recapped to Hiccup the tale of her little adventure to the Island of Berk.

"Those sea dragons actually saved you? That's incredible." Gasped Hiccup almost not concerned with the ravings of a madman who called himself a dragon master. Hiccup meant that in the negative context as well.

"Now ye know how dangerrous this madman can be. Yer dad willnae take this lyin' down. That monsterr needs ta be stopped at any cost." Gobber nearly sobbed out.

Astrid nodded, then Gobber asked, "What brrings ye ta the forrge this morrnin' Jourrneyman Hiccup?"

Astrid looked to Hiccup with a big grin on her face and did her job, mind you she had to write down "Journeyman" for Hiccup to understand. It will be so much better when he can learn his fingerspelling. Thought Astrid. She would have to ask her mother to make that one of the first lessons since she was certain Hiccup would not be her mother's only pupil.

"Why did you call me Journeyman Hiccup, Master Gobber?" Hiccup said with a crooked grin.

To herself Astrid had to tell herself I'm a professional, I'm a professional, I'm a professional-Gods I love that quirky smile of his? Oh no, did I just sign that?! Apparently not as no one had reacted, meaning Hiccup since Gobber had not learned any ASL as of yet.

In response Gobber said, "Well until I learrned from Astrrid here aboot the thrree levels o' trradesmanship, I just called ye mah apprrentice. Well, afterr seein' those two doorrbell systems of yers with flashin' stuff on'em, I think I can safely assume yer skills arre way above the level of an apprrentice."

"Thank you Gobber. That means a lot to me." Hiccup said with sincerity, then turning to Astrid, "Well apprentice Astrid, are you ready to get to work?"

Laughing Astrid had to sign-speak "When you are chief." And she gave a mock salute.

That caught Gobber off guard. "What?! What's this apprrenticeship business? Isn't it mah job ta find yer replacement?" Snickered Gobber.

"Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you, I received an order for twenty units of my doorbell systems, and Astrid agreed to help me since she helped me with the unit I installed for her mother." Hiccup explained.

"So that's why Énjal was slobberin' all overr ye the otherr day in the Grreat Hall." Said Gobber with a wide eyed look of revelation. "But why twenty units? I can see Gothi maybe needin' one with herr hearin' fadin'." Gothi's hearing was not in decline, but a lot of people assumed so since she was so old, frail looking and mute.

In an attempt to evade a complete answer Hiccup told him, "I guess a lot of people like the bell itself, and the spinning things that go along with them."

Gobber could actually see that some people would find they had a bit of an entertainment value to them. "So wherre do ya think ye arre goin' ta get all yer raw materrial frrom ta make 'em with, jourrneyman?"

"Well Gobber, if you are willing to give me a little credit, I will pay for what I can and pay the balance when I'm paid. I've basically made them out of tin, so I really don't need a lot of material. I could clean up a lot of your unused scrap metal for you that way."

"Ah, Hiccup I was just kiddin'. Yoo've put in a few good winters forr me. Considerr it mah investment in this little invention o' yers." Was Gobber's happy response.

Nearly joyful despite recent events Hiccup said and signed, "Thank you Gobber."

As it turned out there was enough scrap metal to create the ten units Astrid suggested to start off with, and quite likely enough for the remaining ten.

The next day all three falcons finally returned. It was assumed they'd run into foul weather that had delayed their return, since all three triplicate scrolls still had their seals intact. Gobber received them from Spitelout, as Stoick had left instructions for Gobber to deal with any inbound correspondence while he sequestered himself. Gobber happily relayed messages to Énjal, Astrid and Hiccup about the good news regarding the soon to start ASL classes. The second part of the letters completely baffled Gobber. A request for twenty of Hiccup's door flashers, ordered by the Scholars Institute of Bog, for twenty silver marks each, plus an additional ten silver marks installed. Was his apprentice, no journeyman, now able to foresee the future?

There really wasn't a lot for Astrid to do during the forging and shaping process. That was Hiccup's domain with Astrid knowing nothing about the forging process. It was a good thing Hiccup was deaf because the noise he made would have seriously endangered his hearing. It bothered Astrid enough she had to excuse herself. This however got her thinking and she decided to try cooking up a project of her own.

"Since you're going out, Astrid," and he scribbled down a couple of notes quickly, "can you please drop these off to the potterers and weaver?" They were requests for twenty pots for his lanterns, as well as forty wicks.

"No problem boss." she signed with a wink.

After she delivered Hiccup's messages, Astrid went to the baker, Bjorn, and discussed her idea with him. His was perhaps the only normal sounding name on Berk, she mused.

"Now that is an interrestin' idea. Ta bake somethin' not ta be eaten. Let's give it a swirrl." Astrid grimaced at the pun with an "ooh" sound making Bjorn chuckle.

This little creation of Astrid's wouldn't benefit Hiccup but certainly anyone else who worked in a noisy environment.

She was not a baker but she figured the baker would know how to introduce air bubbles into the tree sap she wanted to use to make plug-ups for the ears. Hiccup would probably take three to four days just creating his components.

So Astrid went to tap a few cedar trees to extract their gummy sap. This sap would not attract insects. Not the same pine sap used by Hiccup to make his mistake correctors, he ones he used on the back end of his charcoal sticks. Because it was such a thicker sap than Maple sap, it took at least 24 hours for Astrid to collect enough to work with.

Once she collected about four mugs of sap she took it to the baker. Bjorn explained to Astrid that he would try a process similar to baking sourdough bread. This sourdough produced bubbles that made bread flour rise.

"Sounds like the right idea." Astrid approved. They tried four different processes before Astrid was happy with the consistency she was hoping for. She was going to be her own test subject.

Because they had baked her project like rolled up clay snakes, she then sliced them in lengths of two fingers wide. She took two of them, squeezed and rolled them between her fingers, and carefully inserted them in her ear canals. Her own body heat allowed them to expand again, and as they did, the world around her grew quieter. Not dead silent, but much much quieter. Astrid gave Bjorn two thumbs up with the sign for "Thank you". Bjorn copied her and she told him what it meant. She left Bjorn happily practicing his one sign of ASL.

She came back to the forge on the third afternoon to see Hiccup happily pounding away, and even singing a little. He wasn't bad considering he was deaf, but then he was going by memory. She re-inserted her new ear blockers to see how she could tolerate Hiccups noisy banging. A bonafide success. She kept several pairs for herself, and gave the rest to Gobber, explaining what they were for and how to use them. When he needed more all he needed to do was collect more cedar sap and baker Bjorn had the recipe to make them.

Since Astrid wasn't around to distract him when he was working in the smithy, he was nearly finished making the components of all twenty door winkers. He decided to finally call them winkers as that is what it appeared to make the lanterns do. Once he had made a few units worth of components, he got into a rhythm that allowed him to work faster.

Hiccup modified his design a little with removable fins. That way if it turned out that Esdra needed them to work outdoors he could just add the fins to them.

Seeing the multiple parts Astrid signed to him in surprise. "Wow! You've been a busy buddy. I thought you were only going to make ten flashers to start with?"

"I was on a roll so I figured just to get them out of the way." Hiccup remembered to sign back. "And I thought Esdra would appreciate prompt delivery of her order. I also made them as convertible units, so that way they can be used inside or out."

Proudly Astrid told him. "You just keep getting smarter and smarter." She said with a wink and a kiss on the cheek.

"Be careful milady or I might get a fat head."

"That's easily fixed. Then I'll just call you Snotlout." Astrid quipped back.

"Gods forbid!" Hiccup laughed out loud. "If ever I do I give you permission to deflate my ego."

Astrid laughed at that. "I really doubt that will ever become necessary."

"There!" and Hiccup dipped a winker canister in the cooling bucket. "That was the last of the metal components. Tomorrow I'll blow the glass shades for the lanterns."

"You blow your own glass as well?" Astrid asked impressed.

In explanation Hiccup told her. "We're not a huge population here, so we tend to be jacks of all trades where equipment allows. This being a forge we tend to do most heat related work here."

"Never mind deflating your ego. If you have one then you earned it." Astrid meant every word.

Blushing Hiccup just thanked her for the compliment. "Care for some lunch? My treat."

Astrid laughed since a communal kitchen in the Great Hall provided food to any who wanted a quick and easy meal. As communal meals went, lunch was the big one. The individual families still preferred to have breakfast and supper together.

When they entered the Great Hall together, Hiccup was relieved to see his dad had rejoined the land of the living, in the company of Énjal. Mind you he still had a disturbing expression on his face that bothered Hiccup.

After seeing his son enter the Great Hall, Stoick waved him over along with Astrid. Standing, Stoick cleared his throat and pounded an empty stein on the table. "I would like ta thank ye all forr yer supporrt, and yer respect forr mah prrivacy overr the past severral days."

Astrid dutifully started translating suddenly aware she had become a bit of a spectacle. This didn't bother her as she was trained in many different environments. However as Berk only had a deaf population of two as far as she knew, many more people were obviously distracted by this unusual form of communication.

Here and now she was still interpreting more for her mom than Hiccup, but at least now he might understand a little of what she was converting to ASL. "I would like ta give extrra thanks to mah new frriend Énjal Hofferrson forr her perrsonal supporrt in mah time of grrief. As most of ye arre awarre by now Hiccup has lost his hearin'. Énjal's daughter, Astrid, is an interprreter of Archipelago Sign Language. Hiccup still needs to learrn this new language and we rreceived verry good news this morrnin'. The Scholarrs' Institute of Bog Island has grranted perrmission to Énjal and Astrrid to teach ASL to any who wish to learrn it. Drragon trrainin' will start again tomorrow mornin'. Despite this unforrtunate interruption it will be the final day for this batch of recrruits. The winner will be chosen tomorrow morrnin' by Gothi to deterrmine who will be chosen for their firrst drragon kill."

Astrid gave Hiccup a quick nervous glance, but he seemed surprisingly calm despite this news, unless he hadn't understood everything. She would make certain afterwards.

"Afterr which ASL lessons will occur everry otherr day forr those who wish to take them. Thrree days frrom now the winnin' candidate will demonstrrate his or her winnin' forrm by killin' a Monstrrous Nightmare beforre the entire village. If the winner is successful and uninjurred then they will join Berrk's attack on the drragons at Helheim's Gate." This had both Énjal and Astrid looking perplexed and disturbed. Astrid's mom had not been told yet that their long lost Guardian had been found, and she had come to love and respect that black dragon as much as Astrid had. Énjal had come to share Astrid's belief that dragons were actually good, smart, and gifts of The Heavenly Powers.

Even Gobber looked at Stoick questioningly. "Thank ye for yer attention." Stoick resumed his breakfast and became lost in disturbing thoughts.

Astrid waved to Hiccup to join her at a more private setting. "How much of that announcement of your dad's did you understand?"

"Not a lot unfortunately. I think I caught something about the winner of Dragon Training will be chosen tomorrow, and your mom and you beginning classes." Hiccup answered her.

"Where's your slate? Astrid asked. Because it had to be bigger than a notebook and a little clumsier he had resorted to using a satchel slung over his shoulder and chest to carry it in. Using it, Astrid filled in for Hiccup a lot of missing detail.

Hiccup mouthed an obscenity because he had only learned the one bad word in sign language so far. The one he and Gobber adopted as Snotlout's name sign. "He's tried to find that nest in the past and it's always been a disaster. The only way, we, found it is because we were on Toothless. That's probably the only way we would find it again. Like I said before, our Armada would be no match for the beast we saw. That's probably what defeated our ships and warriors in the past."

Frustrated by his as of yet limited "signabulary" Hiccup told Astrid, "Never mind what I said about not wanting to win this competition, I changed my mind."

"I know we haven't gotten to know each other all that long, but Hiccup, you would never kill a dragon." Astrid said shocked and dismayed. Neither teen realised that Énjal was following their conversation. This last statement from her daughter greatly interested her.

"That's not my intention Astrid. I want to win so I can turn the kill ring into a demonstration. A demonstration on how to train a dragon. If I can train a Night Fury I know I can train a Monstrous Nightmare."

At the sign Hiccup had made up for "Night Fury" Énjal politely excused herself from Stoick's company and kissed his cheek. She then moved well away from the head table to join Astrid and Hiccup.

As Énjal had quietly approached from behind Astrid, she was startled to see Hiccup look up at someone behind her.

"This is the correct sign for 'Night Fury'." Énjal demonstrated by first using the sign for "Night" by holding her right arm horizontally flat, and then dropping her left flattened hand down over it with her fingers bent down about ninety degrees, simulating the setting of the sun, then changing to claw shaped hands which she firmly raised to her shoulders, palms in, shaking them slightly at her shoulders, as if angry with a stern face.

Hiccup understood her just fine, and at first his face showed great anxiety. He really hadn't wanted anyone else to know about Toothless other than he and Astrid. However he then remembered Astrid's story and how her mom had also ended up thanking the black dragon.

"What's this about a Night Fury?" Énjal asked.

Turning to Astrid Hiccup asked her to tell her mom about Toothless, as she would be faster.

Énjal would have nothing to do with that. "Consider this your first official lesson. I see you have already learned a good amount from my daughter. I am patient. If you struggle you may ask Astrid for help but to me she will not interpret for you. Understood?"

With a chagrined look on his face he signed, "Yes". Then just to make certain he signed as well, "I understand."

Surprisingly Énjal declared, "Good. I'm listening now." That statement threw Hiccup for a loop as Énjal was deaf. Curiously he looked at Astrid, confusion playing on his face.

Astrid laughed and explained, "When I was little my mom used to tell me 'One hears with their ears but listens with their minds and hearts'."

With a nod Hiccup proceeded to regale Énjal with his story about Toothless."

"So you took his tail, and he took your hearing?" Énjal asked with a sardonic smile.

With a simper Hiccup shrugged his shoulders and signed back to Énjal. "I guess we're even now."

"Like Astrid, I love your new name for Guardian. I never would have known he has retractable teeth." Énjal commented with a big smile, and had to practice the new name name sign for Toothless several times. "Speaking of names, did Astrid give you a name sign yet?"

Hiccup made the sign he had remembered Astrid using for his name. Énjal giggled at this and explained to him that was simply the word "hiccup" and not his name. "Did Astrid explain that it is usually a deaf person who is to name you?"

He excitedly signed, "Yes! When I showed her my name for Toothless, she said it was actually more appropriate that I came up with his name."

"I have a more dignified name for you, if I may?" Énjal asked.

"Yes, please." Was Hiccup's happy response.

"Just as in Norse there is an alphabet In ASL. This is the letter 'H'." Énjal demonstrated by holding her left middle and index fingers closed together, horizontally, knuckles facing out in front of her chest. Hiccup copied the hand and finger shape.

Now for Hiccup's new name she brought both hands to the corners of her mouth in "H" shapes, then pointing all her fingers out she fluttered them as she pushed her hands out slowly forward.

"That must be the sign for 'Dragon'? Hiccup asked. "So my name is 'H Dragon'?" Astrid snickered at this and told her mom what he had said vocally.

Énjal slapped his hand playfully for his slip up. "Not at all you silly boy! You don't say it, you just sign it. When introducing yourself, you first give your name sign, then you fingerspell it so people actually know what your name-sign will mean. Since you are the resident Dragon Master I felt this to be a more dignified name for you."

Hiccup stood up, walked around the table, and gave Énjal a warm embrace. "Thank you for transforming my name to something so majestic. One little problem with what you said. I'm not a dragon master. If Berk thought I loved dragons as my mother had, they would probably exile me. It's a good thing only four of us know ASL. Well mostly you two."

"That will be rectified shortly. I know Stoick mentioned starting classes after tomorrow's dragon training, but we can hold a first class right now. Let me go talk to Stoick. By the way, Hiccup, your father is a wonderful man." Confessed Énjal.

"He is. I just wish I could get him to overcome his hatred of dragons."

Sign of the Chapter - Cope: Hold both hands flat, fingers closed, thumbs out. Hold your dominant hand palm down near your shoulder. Hold your opposite hand near your ribs, palm up. Swoop them together so they nearly touch out in front of your chest. Cope.