Twenty-One: Fear or Hope?
Hiccup slid off Toothless, absently patting the dragon's flattened head and feeling the approving grumble that shivered through the sleek shape. His emerald eyes were inspecting the saddle for any signs of slippage or any chafing on the dragon's thick neck and his dexterous fingers slid gently over the straps, checking for any laxity or signs of wear.
"How's that for you, bud?" he asked thoughtfully as he crouched down and checked the stitching. "No rubbing?" Toothless gave a slightly insulted grumble. As if his tough hide would be worn down by a piece of cured yak skin! "Hmm-stitching is very secure: that double stitch technique seems to be holding well…" He looked up and smiled. "So I guess you can build a saddle for a dragon."
He rose and walked to his bag, handing the dragon a couple of large cod, which Toothless instantly ate, giving his toothless gummy grin back at the young man as soon as he had finished licking his lips.
"How did it go?" Astrid asked, walking forward from the entrance to the cove. She was in her spare blue top, her armoured shoulder-pads and her familiar armoured leather-panelled skirt-but she was still moving gingerly due to the bandages around the wound in her side, even several days later. Toothless's ear-flaps pricked up and he bounded towards her like a puppy, licking her eagerly. She giggled and tried to push him away. "Argh! I'm reliably informed that doesn't wash out!"
"Definitely not, Milady," Hiccup confirmed with a grin, his eyes sparkling as he looked up and walked towards her. "And you, useless reptile-really not feeling the love…" Toothless gave a laughing noise and Hiccup rolled his expressive eyes, his face still lifted in a smile. "Yeah-you can try to explain it now…" And Toothless instantly whipped round, the tail fins moving in perfect synch as he bounded forward and leapt on Hiccup, pinning him effectively and licking him until his face was drenched with slobber and his hair sticking up wildly. "GAH!" the blacksmith's apprentice managed, trying to wipe the tenacious stuff off his face and out of his mouth…because it tasted foul. Finally, he managed to push the over-eager dragon off, sitting up to a peal of laughter from the blonde.
"Wow-you were right about that stuff being sticky…" she chuckled, seeing his dismayed face and wildly disarrayed hair.
"Why thank you, Milady," he managed sarcastically, scrambling up and scrubbing his face and hair in the little lake, managing eventually to sluice most of the saliva out. "The saddle seems to work well-and I'm glad I added in the footrests," he commented, running his hands through his soaked auburn hair and finger-combing it sort of back into place. "And Toothless was remarkably tolerant…well, after I had chased him down and put the saddle on…" He splashed his face and scrubbed the last vestiges of saliva away, smiling to himself at the memory of chasing the Night Fury round the cove trying to get the saddle on. Toothless had thought it was a game and Hiccup had almost given up… He scrubbed his face again and swiped it dry on his sleeve, then turned to look at Astrid…
…and froze. There was a shape behind her, moving cautiously and his eyes widened.
"Astrid!" he said in a suddenly calm voice. "No sudden moves. There's a dragon behind you!"
Her eyes widened and he knew it had to be because she was angry because Astrid Hofferson was fearless. Her hands clenched into fists and she stared at him in a silent plea before she reached for her axe. But as she turned to face the creature, he saw Toothless move, his back arching and teeth snapping down. In a second, he was at her side protectively, his tail curled around her and the watching Hiccup felt a surge of pride at his friend's actions. But he rose quietly, his eyes locked on the creature and he felt a thrill of recognition.
It was the Nadder, the blue and gold dragon that had saved his life-and later taken Astrid. She was hanging back, her pupils wide and friendly and her manner non-aggressive. And he could see her limping as she moved, the deep, raw wound from Toothless's attack still ugly on her flank and hip. As he watched, Toothless gave a low growl of anger and she backed up a step.
"I recognise her," Astrid said in a furious voice. "That's the dragon that took me!" Her hand closed on the haft of her axe and slowly drew it.
"So do I," Hiccup said, inching forward. "Keep still, Milady. Toothless will protect you…" Her head snapped round, eyes flashing with rage.
"I don't need protecting!" she yelled. "I am a Viking of Berk! A Hofferson! I fear nothing!"
"Astrid…it isn't attacking you…" he tried to reason but she turned on him, her face locked in a scowl of rage.
"It took me to my death!" she shouted. "I'm not giving it another chance to try again…!"
"It's not aggressive," he tried to reason with her, his eyes filled with concern. "Astrid-look at her. She's wounded, uncertain, frightened…but she came here. She escaped from the Chief."
"She's not welcome!" Astrid growled, her hands tight on the axe. He jumped forward and grabbed the weapon, holding it still.
"Please," he begged her, staring at her furious face. "Don't do this. You know they aren't what we thought! She was under the control of her Chief-and she couldn't resist…"
"I…don't…care…" Astrid snarled, fighting to wrench the axe from his hands and he hung on with all his might. Her fury gave her strength and he knew she was normally as strong as he was.
"Please…Toothless saved your life," he argued, his voice passionate and eyes begging for her to listen. "What will he feel if he sees you slaughter a wounded dragon that has come here? She didn't have to come here. If she was hostile, she would avoid us. But she didn't."
"She almost killed me!" Astrid yelled in his face. "I have wounds in my shoulder from where her damned claws bit into my body as she hauled me away to drop in that pit! Hiccup-get out of my way! I won't hesitate to go through you…"
"Then you'll have to," he told her calmly. "I can't let you do this, Astrid! This isn't you!"
"What are you talking about?" she snapped. "Of course this is me! I…"
"You're smarter and braver and cleverer than this," he told her urgently. "You know they aren't mindless. You are the only person who knows what happened. Just…look at her!"
"Hiccup, I am looking at her!" Astrid raged at him.
"No you're seeing a mindless beast," he scolded her and her eyes flared with more anger which made him cringe inwardly. But he persisted. "Look at the animal facing you…"
"You really are…" she growled. "I see an enemy!" His face fell and his eyes looked defeated at the cold tone, the brutal words that he had hoped they had gotten past.
"If I can't even get you to listen, then there is no hope," he told her and the sudden change in tone made her pause, just for a second. And in that moment, he moved himself between her and the dragon, his tall form standing facing the furious Viking, his exposed back to the dragon. "Then look at me, Astrid. Look at Hiccup the Useless, who can't kill a dragon and wants you to spare this one-even though she took you under the control of the Chief of the Nest-because she is wounded and afraid and not an enemy. So if she attacks, she will kill me and you will be rid of me. If not, you can go through me and you will be rid of me. But either way, I won't have to see you kill a defenceless beast that came to us wounded and scared."
Breathing hard, she stared up into his face: pale and defeated, knowing he was risking everything with her for a dragon that had tried to kill Astrid. And a tiny curl of guilt at his unhappiness broke through the veil of anger that was swathed around her because she did care for him, more than she could admit to herself. But more…he was Hiccup-he saw things differently…even to the point where he was risking his life and his relationship with her.
Right here and now…do you love me?
Yes. With every beat of my heart.
Forcing herself to push back against the anger, she wondered what he had seen here, what it was that he had noticed. So she edged sideways slightly to look at the dragon-really look at her-and her blonde brow furrowed.
The Nadder was a beautiful creature, marked in mainly blue but also with white and gold, her crown of spines golden and framing her proud face. But she was hanging back, her head lowered with spines flattened backwards and motions wary. There was an obvious limp as she moved, favouring her right side but Astrid finally saw a proud creature, wounded and afraid, fleeing a cruel Chief and seeking sanctuary the only place she could think of.
With the only human who had given her trust.
Her eyes slid up to Hiccup, his knuckles white as he clung to the axe-and then she forced her own hands to relax. He staggered back, tearing the weapon from her grasp and she walked past him to peer more closely at the dragon, eyes narrowing as she stared at a creature just like her-proud and fierce and wounded, needing to take a chance that could change her life. And then she walked forward, staring at the dragon.
"You didn't want to do it, did you?" she murmured. The Nadder dipped her head, offering a small caw. "You were in danger there-that monster kills you as well, doesn't it?" Another caw. There was a soft thud as her axe hit the ground and Hiccup turned to watch her. The girl stopped, mere feet from the dragon and looked at her. Astrid's azure eyes swept over the dragon and confirmed her acid yellow eyes had large pupils, the look almost a plea. "I wanted to kill you…but Toothless hurt you to save me. If you had wanted to attack, you would have… You came to us for sanctuary, didn't you?" And she offered her hand.
There was a pause-and then the dragon pressed her nose into the outstretched hand.
Eyes widening, Astrid stared at the dragon offering her friendship and then she smiled, her other hand moving up to scratch under the chin, avoiding the sweet spot because she didn't want to spook the dragon. "Hey, girl," she murmured. "You want to be friends, right? I think I can manage that." She took a deep breath. "I understand you had no choice. Sometimes none of us have a choice with what we do, okay?"
The dragon gave a small croon as she lifted her eyes and glanced over to Hiccup, seeing his expression wary.
"Well, it's true!" she protested. "I mean, look how I've had to behave…and…" He made an aimless gesture.
"You've done well and you've made a new friend," he reassured her tonelessly. She looked at him, conflicted, before the dragon butted against her side and she winced before turning back to caress her scaly face.
"Hey, I'm not ignoring you but I think we need to see about that wound to your side," she said gently. She heard Hiccup move behind her and she smiled, then turned to him to see him walking away from her. Rolling her eyes, she ran after him, grabbing his arm and pulling him round to face her. "Hiccup!" she said more sharply than she intended.
"It's okay," he said, shaking his head but she wasn't letting it go. She punched him in the shoulder and he winced, gripping at the point of the impact.
"No, it isn't!" she snapped. "What did I say to you when you rescued me?"
"Um…called me a mutton-head…thanked Toothless…said you had been caught…" he reeled off softly.
"Not to use the word 'useless'. Because you're not. You're amazing!" she told him. "You saw she was wounded and scared and wanted a friend. And when I looked at her again, I saw she was proud and brave and scared and trying to hide it and…and I saw myself…" Her eyes stared up into his and she sighed. "Why do they do that? Let us see ourselves in them?"
"I think that's just who they are," he suggested softly. "Astrid, I…"
"And why did you step in the way?" she demanded. "I couldn't bear anything to happen to you! You know that!"
"I…"
"And I never want to be rid of you, you mutton-head!" she scolded him sharply. "Don't you know that by now?" He paused and for a second there was a flicker of uncertainty so she rested her hand against his cheek. "Look, I think we just had our first fight…"
"Um…I thought we'd had way more…"
"…as a couple…" she finished, dragging him closer and kissing him gently. He leaned into the kiss, hands sliding up to cup her cheeks, finally pulling back.
"I thought…" he mumbled and paused and she read his insecurity bright in his eyes.
"Oh, you fool," she sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you?" He managed the slightest smile and sighed.
"Probably a few more times," he admitted. "Because everyone I loved and trusted has let me down before…" Then she hugged him fiercely before stealing another small kiss.
"Hiccup-I am never letting you down," she promised and then she giggled as the Nadder inched forward and butted her impatiently. "Though someone else is vying for attention." Hiccup gave a smile then.
"So now I have another feisty female to keep me in line," he sighed. She grinned.
"Feisty?" she teased him.
"Ferocious? Fearless? Any other F words you want me to use?" he asked her, sounding more like himself. His mouth quirked up in his lopsided smile.
"Those will do just fine, dragon boy," she reassured him. "Now are you going to teach me how to look after this dragon?"
oOo
Up on the lip of the cove, Yaklegs' mouth was pretty much hanging open at everything they had seen and heard. He glanced over to call Tiril but she was already crawling back, a thoughtful expression on her face so he scrambled after her, concerned by her determined look.
"Tiril!" he hissed but she gave him a small triumphant smile.
"Got him," she said decisively. "Snot will want to know this!"
"What? No-wait!" he protested as they scrabbled to their feet and he instinctively grabbed her hand, stopping her running off without him. "Think about it!" She snapped back to look at him, eyes blazing.
"Why?" she asked him pointedly. "We've got him! As soon as Snotlout hears, he'll tell the Chief and Hiccup and Astrid will be arrested and executed!" Her eyes narrowed. "That will serve him right for getting my cousins exiled to Eel Island…" Yaklegs stared at her and sighed inwardly: stubborn and mischievous, she wouldn't be easy to persuade. But something told him he really had to try…because the part of him that had listened to his older brother excitedly enthuse about dragons was reminding him that what he had just seen was extraordinary and completely exciting. And he really really wanted to try that hand thingy out for himself…
"And you think helping Snotlout murder his only rival for the Heir of the Tribe will bring them back?" he asked her.
"Look, Hiccup got them sent away and…" she replied sharply but he shook his head.
"Tiril, much as I like your cousins, we both know they helped beat the crap out of Hiccup and left him to die," Yaklegs told her, seeing her face crease into a scowl. "Hiccup didn't deserve that, no matter what Snot said."
"Then…"
"The problem was that Snotlout blamed the twins for everything and got off with almost no blame!" he pointed out and she ripped her arm away, fists balled as she stared at him.
"And whose fault is that, fat boy?"she sneered, ignoring the hurt that entered his eyes. He bit back the protest-that his Mom always said he was husky-because he knew she was right as well. His shoulders sagged.
"Mine and the rest," he admitted. "I mean, Else is his sister but the rest of us…well, we are all cowards because we didn't want to anger Snot…"
"And I'm not going to hide this from him when he can use it against Hiccup," Tiril snarked back. "If I can prove I'm on his side, maybe he'll ask the Chief to let my cousins off…"
"He won't," Yaklegs said heavily, staring at her. She folded her arms and glowered at him, breathing hard. "Look, we know he's now best buddies with Dogsbreath, Lars, Sven…I can't see him putting himself out for anyone…"
"So you want to go behind his back?" Tiril challenged him. "He's gonna be the next Chief!"
"And you think your cousins want to be friends with him in the future?" he shot back. She sighed.
"I guess," she said noncommittally. "I mean, we all have to live on Berk and if you're not with him, you're against him, right?" Yaklegs ran his hands through his short blonde hair, almost dislodging his helmet. "He's gonna win and when he finds out we didn't give him the means to kill Hiccup, we may as well all head for Eel Island…"
"Honestly-would you want to live on a Berk where he's the Chief?" he sighed. "I mean, his friends will do okay and the rest…well, you've seen him. He's lazy, arrogant, self-centred, cruel…" He paused. "And Hiccup is a much better Heir."
"Except he'll be horribly executed in the Plaza for making friends with a dragon…" she pointed out. Yaklegs shook his head.
"Or not," he suggested. She scowled. "Look-how awesome is it that he can ride a dragon? And he rescued Astrid when she was taken by a dragon! Now we know how…but just think what we could do if we were able to fly a dragon…?" Her brow cleared and her eyes sparkled.
"Get the twins back! Then let's…" she began but he shook his head.
"Let's talk to my brother first," he suggested urgently. "Look, he knows them both and he can help us find out what's going on…"
"…and then help us with the twins," she insisted and knowing she could still betray the couple, he nodded.
"Come on," he said determinedly. "Let's go and see Fishlegs!"
oOo
Fishlegs had been shocked when they found him in their home, working on a lesson for the younger kids on dragon types and weaknesses and had told him what they had seen. Well, shocked was rather an understatement: he had fainted.
After they had managed to bring him round, he had given a little squeak and blurted out:
"A Night Fury? Really?" Yaklegs had nodded and the older brother sat up and his face lit up in a complete frenzy of excitement. "And he was riding it?"
"And as we watched, we saw Astrid tame a Deadly Nadder…" the younger brother explained but Fishlegs was on his feet in an astonishingly short space of time for a large-or husky-man.
"Really?" Fishlegs squeaked, grabbing his younger brother's shoulders tightly. "You mean it can be done?"
"Well-obviously!" Tiril snarked, folding her arms and glowering at the two brothers. Both were mildly geeking out about the concept of dragons not being enemies-and though Tiril wasn't in any way romantic, she did like Yaklegs and there was a kind of enjoyment in seeing him so enthused. And the wild, Loki-worshipping part of her had always wondered what it would be like, soaring over the village-and causing complete mayhem… "Look, are we going to ask them what they're up to or should we return to Plan A and tell Snotlout…?"
"NO!" the two brothers said in unison.
"No what?" Gustav asked, poking his head round the door. He was extremely bored because Hilde and Else were together, training in the forest, Snotlout was doing Chief training with Stoick and Dogsbreath and Lars were throwing their weight around, teasing the boy that they were Snotlout's friends and the rest were just wannabes.
"Nothing…" Yaklegs said rapidly, knowing Gustav was the biggest Snotlout fan in the village. Astrid's nickname for him-miniSnot-was rapidly gaining traction and not to Gustav's displeasure either…though the boy wished his hero would be more…heroic. Sometimes, it was very difficult to admire someone who was so cruel and dismissive of the people who were supposed to be his friends and supporters.
"C'mon…" he whined, scooting into the room and making puppy eyes as much as he could manage. He liked Tiril as well but she just tended to laugh at him-as she was now-and Yaklegs was definitely not telling him everything. He paused. "I promise not to tell Snotlout!" he burst out suddenly and they stared at him. "What?" he added defensively. "That's what you're worried about, isn't it? That I'll tell whatever you're talking about to him?" he shook his head. "Look, I admire Snotlout and I want to be like him…just not totally like him, okay?" His shoulders slumped. "I can understand keeping secrets from him. He…" He paused and looked ashamed. "He and Dogsbreath laughed at Mom because she's poor and the little ones all have hand-me-downs. He said I was alright but I needed to start losing the baggage…" He paused and his expression spoke volumes.
"Hiccup has a dragon," Tiril said softly. "He can fly it. And Astrid tamed a Deadly Nadder!"
"You're kidding!" Gustav gasped. "Wow! Just wait until Snotlout…"
"No!" Fishlegs snapped. "You can't tell him! Thor-he'd grab Hiccup and have him slaughtered and then Astrid would be unprotected…and we know what Snot was planning…" Gustav paled and slapped his hands over his mouth.
"…mmmry.." he mumbled through his hands. "Marnt mris my mrimess…" Tiril gave him a sideways look.
"What?' she snapped.
"Can't risk my Princess…" Gustav said and then looked embarrassed. "Oops…"
"Well, I think Astrid has already chosen Hiccup," Yaklegs pointed out.
"They were really cute actually," the girl admitted with a sigh. "Okay-so we go and speak to them? And see if they'll help with the twins…" The Ingerman brothers rolled their eyes together.
"Tiril-we have to see if they will take us to see the dragon first…and then maybe Hiccup can take you to see your cousins…" Fishlegs suggested. "I mean it explains so much…how he managed to rescue Astrid and bring her back…" Gustav frowned.
"Wait-does that mean he isn't a hero?" he asked, a faint edge to his voice. He was secretly admiring Hiccup as well for his amazing rescue of Astrid and was really hoping this wouldn't mean he had to stop worshipping his new role model. Fishlegs clapped him reassuringly on his shoulder.
"If anything, it makes him braver," he admitted. "He must have flown after her and wrestled her back from the raiding party. Thor, that sounds even more amazing!" Yaklegs nodded sombrely.
"You think we've misjudged him?" he asked his brother and the older boy looked at the three younger teens and nodded slowly, seeing three pairs of thoughtful and watchful eyes.
"Even when he was younger and smaller, he was always kind and brave and determined," he mused. "And when he was disowned, he always worked very hard. But yeah-a guy who can tame a Night Fury and train it to allow him to ride it is pretty awesome." He pulled his shoulders back. "Okay," he sighed. "We better get this over with. We'll wait until it gets dark and they'll be back by then…" He paused. "And guys-let me do the talking…"
oOo
They had spent much of the afternoon in the cove with the dragons, getting Astrid used to handling 'Stormfly' as she had named the Deadly Nadder. Despite being initially shy, the wounded dragon had allowed Toothless to carefully lick the raw injury, coating it with his sticky and tenacious saliva. Stormfly had submitted, before racing back towards Astrid and nuzzling her beak-like muzzle into the girl's hand. Astrid-and Hiccup-were rapidly learning that she responded very well to compliments and preened a lot.
They had walked back to the village carefully, aware of Snotlout's cronies patrolling and muttering thanks to the Gods that they hadn't uncovered the cove…though Toothless was able to come and go as he pleased. Yet he chose to spend most of his time in the cove, waiting for his friend…and Stormfly had settled down close by him, taking her lead from the Night Fury, though still on alert and jumpy. Astrid had gently ghosted a touch on his hand as they toiled up a steep slope towards the crest of the rise and felt her cheeks warm as his gentle emerald gaze swung to inspect her.
"I want to apologise," she said in a rush.
"Okay, where's the real Astrid?" he asked her with a playful frown. "I've never heard her apologise…" She swatted his shoulder.
"Mutton-head," she grumped. "You were right. Killing her would have been…ridiculous."
"Ridiculous?" he teased her.
"Completely stupid? Worthy of Snot?" she tried and he shuddered.
"Milady-never compare yourself to that…guy…" he said stiffly, his fingers curling around hers gently. "I understand. I…"
"No…because she's amazing…and she's bonded to me, hasn't she?" she guessed and he nodded.
"I guess," he confirmed. "She certainly likes you. And I think you may get her to trust you enough to fly on her…" Her blue eyes widened and for a moment, Astrid Hofferson was speechless. His lips curling in gentle amusement at her discomposure, he leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss while he had the chance, before accepting the punch to the shoulder he had earned. "Owww…I was just trying to shock you back to reality!"
"You, sir, are getting very sassy," she scolded him playfully. "Now let's grab some food and then head home. I'm exhausted…" He nodded seriously-because Astrid wasn't sleeping well. Woken by her horrific nightmares, he had comforted her as best he could, his arms closing around his fierce and brave and completely traumatised girlfriend and holding her close until she finally relaxed into sleep. Hearing her desperate screams and her broken words cracked his heart and though he had saved her, her whispered words of goodbye to him as she thought she was being taken to her death made his eyes sting in sympathy. It was wearing them both down…but Astrid had the wounds and blood loss to go with it and she was struggling.
"As you wish," he smiled, gently pulling her towards the Great Hall and gathering bowls of thick fish stew with rye bread, apple pie and mugs of watered ale. Snotlout and his cronies were seated in their usual place, jeering at the former Heir and the girl and they did their best to ignore them…though Astrid caught some hissed words that make her shiver. She stole a quick look at the Heir and saw the glint of menace in his eye then turned back to Hiccup, a sensation of threat prickling the back of her neck. Suddenly, her appetite was gone, though she forced the food down…but Hiccup wasn't fooled. He watched her for a few moments, then rose and grabbed a rag, wrapping it around their apple pie, bread and her bowl of stew. Carefully, he lifted the food.
"I think you need your bed, Milady," he said calmly and grinned at her, his calm emerald gaze soothing her. She moved to his side and nudged him lightly with her shoulder, not wanting him to drop the meal.
"Don't you get any ideas, mister skinny," she teased him and was rewarded by a light blush on his pale cheeks.
"Um…still thinking nothing!" he assured her quickly, a small smile tilting his lips.
"Hey! Astrid!" Snotlout yelled. "When you actually want to go out with a man, call me! Rather than that…" Her head snapped round, eyes blazing as she glared at him, hearing hiccup stiffen to the words.
"He's ten times the man you'll ever be!" she snarled back. "You yak-brained son of a half-troll!" And then she grabbed her axe and stormed from the Hall. Hiccup paused, carefully not looking at Snotlout and then followed her. She was already about a third of the way down the long stair to the village and he carefully followed her, watching as she slowed, then stopped, turning to look up at him with a shadow in her eyes, her face worried.
"Are you okay?" she asked him worriedly and he nodded, watching her with equal concern.
"I kind of filter out most of what Snot says," he admitted, "because otherwise I may go crazy. Are you?"
She stiffened and then she forced herself to smile. "I'm a Hofferson," she reminded him. "I fear nothing." But her eyes and her posture told him the opposite though he would never call her on that. "And I have my axe. If that one tries anything, I'll return him to his parents in pieces…"
"Just…be careful, Milady," he murmured softly. "He doesn't play fair, he gets others to do his dirty work and he never takes responsibility. If he goes after you, it won't be him you have to deal with." Her eyes widened and then she nodded.
"That stew is getting cold," she reminded him with a smile. "Thanks for bringing it, Hiccup. I-I'll feel better eating with you back home." And though he said nothing, the simple use of the word allowed a burst of warmth in his chest. It was one of his greatest achievements that she had somewhere to live now and as they walked back to the new house, he couldn't help smiling again.
They had just finished the stew and pie and were sitting by the fire, planning how to take Astrid's relationship with Stormfly forward, when there was a knock on the door. Patting her shoulder, Hiccup rose and cautiously unlatched the door, peering through the gap and smiling as he saw Fishlegs. He opened the door wider and smiled as he beckoned to the husky boy.
"Hey Fish," he greeted warmly. "What can I…"
The bigger young man pushed his way in, rapidly followed by the trio of Yaklegs, Tiril and Gustav. The black-haired young man slammed the door and latched it again behind him as the quartet turned to face Hiccup, who had backed away. Astrid looked up, caught the anxious look on Hiccup's face and spun to her feet, grabbing her axe and preparing for battle. Tiril glared at them.
"We know," she said.