The hammer and bar disappeared. Gyda walked through the barrier, heading back to her seat.

"It didn't shock you," Tuffnut said.

Gyda stopped as she reached the male Nadder's side. She stared across and then shook her head. "No, it did not. Do not try to cross it though. It will shock you."

"I don't believe you," Snotlout growled, standing.

Before anyone could say or do anything, he ran forward, swiping at the barrier with one hand, as if to swat it aside. His yell of pain had everyone holding their ears. Gyda sighed. She walked over to the barrier then looked at Gothi.

"I have a room you can take him in order to treat his injuries."

Gothi nodded before pointing at Spitelout and Gobber. Both men got up and moved to help Snotlout, who was holding one hand, to stand. Gyda walked the length of the barrier. Gothi, the men, and Snotlout followed. Before they reached the back of the cavern, Gyda paused, staring at Spitelout.

"Be warned, try anything, and you will join your son."

"He won't, lass," Gobber said. "Even without me hook, I can still take'm."

"I give you my word," Spitelout said. "I will not try anything. You warned him and he did not listen. It is his own fault."

Gyda nodded. She looked back at Shadowfire. "Son, take Hiccup and the dragons out the west exit. Berkians," she added, looking at the Vikings. "Wait here. The barrier will remain. Once I get them settled, I will come back. While Gothi treats Snotlout, I will take you to a place where you can eat. Then we'll finish watching the tale."

With that, Gyda snapped her fingers. The barrier flared. The part between Gyda and the Vikings with Snotlout pulled back, split and ran to either side of the room. It still remained between the Vikings and Hiccup and the dragons, but now it separated Gyda, Spitelout, Snotlout, Gobber, and Gothi from everyone. Hiccup stared. Gyda had stood up for him. She called him friend. She told him had worth. Gobber and Gothi were not a threat to her, he knew that, but Snotlout and his father were another matter. Even with his uncle's promise, Hiccup worried.

[Alpha,] Shadowfire said. [Do not fear for my mother's safety. She is not without a means to defend herself. Come, I shall take you all to a place where we can get some food. I do not know about you all, but my belly is ready to sue my muzzle for non-support.]

"Huh?" Hiccup asked.

Shadowfire giggled. [Sorry. It is something I hear Mom say often. It means I am hungry.]

"Oh."

"Wait," a new voice said.

Everyone turned to see Astrid stand and walk down the barrier to where Gyda and the others still stood. Gyda, having stepped near to an archway, paused and moved back to the barrier.

"Yes?"

"I want to go with Hiccup and the dragons," Astrid said, earning gasps from the others in the tribe.

Gyda's head tilted. "Why?"

Astrid turned around, looking back towards Hiccup. He stood near to the back of the group of dragons, watching.

"Hiccup," Astrid began. "I am sorry. I was wrong. I should have stood up for you. I should have spoken up for you." She turned back to Gyda. "I want to go with him because I see he is right. I want them to know I support him. May I?"

Gyda looked up at Hiccup. "It is your call, my friend."

Hiccup blinked. He glanced at Toothless who moved around the Zipplebacks to come stand at Hiccup's side. Toothless gave a gummy smile.

[I will stand by whatever you decide, brother.]

Hiccup smiled and faced Gyda. "Let her through."

Gyda nodded. She walked through the new barrier line until she stood opposite Astrid with the original line between them. She stuck her hand through the shimmering light.

"Grab my hand and do not let go."

Astrid did.

"Walk forward."

Astrid did and though the barrier crackled, she did not cry out in pain. Hiccup breathed a sigh of relief when she made it through entirely. Gyda smiled and released Astrid's hand. Astrid nodded before walking towards Hiccup and the dragons. Hiccup met her halfway, Toothless and the Terror to either side of him. He smiled when she did nothing more than glance at the dragons, even when the others gathered close to both of them.

[Come on, Alpha, Lady Alpha,] Shadowfire said. [If you will all follow me.]

"Lady Alpha?" Astrid asked.

[You did give Alpha that human sign of affection,] the Terror said before he nuzzled against Astrid's leg.

"Uhm," she said, looking down, then to Hiccup's surprise, she knelt and scratched the side of the Terror's head, earning a coo from the dragon.

She stood and stared at Hiccup then looked up at Shadowfire.

"Where is this place you are taking us?"

Shadowfire laughed before he walked around and headed for a darkened area opposite from where they stood. As he neared, torches flared and revealed a massive archway. Torches flared down its lengths. He curled his neck, looking back at them.

[This way.]

He walked into the archway. Hiccup and the other followed. They soon came to another cavern. The dragons, except Shadowfire, cheered. Hiccup looked around and saw four large basins filled with various fish and one filled with a myriad of rocks. The dragons stared at them, licking their lips. Hiccup chuckled as he and Astrid moved aside. The dragons looked at Hiccup then towards the basins. Hiccup frowned, tilting his head.

[You are Alpha,] Shadowfire said softly. [They will wait until you eat before they do, unless you direct them to go ahead.]

Hiccup blinked. "Oh, no, go on, guys. Don't wait on my account."

The dragons cooed and all headed over to the basins. Hiccup watched them, smiling, before remembering that he was not alone. He turned, finding Astrid looking around the room. He watched her quietly, still in awe that she would apologize and join him. She turned and Hiccup felt his face warm. Now that they were here and the dragons busy, he had no idea what to say or do.

"I am sorry, Hiccup."

"You said that already."

"But you didn't say anything about it."

Hiccup sighed, looking away. Just barely in his presence and she was annoyed once more. Could he actually do anything right? He flinched when he felt a hand upon his shoulder.

"Sorry. That was harsher than I wanted it to be. It's.. I'm not..." Astrid stopped and took a deep breath. "I trained to protect the tribe. To protect the island. I was to regain my family's honor after Uncle Finn." She paused. "I trained to guard against the dragons but I failed to see the threat inside."

Hiccup stared at her. "Inside?"

Astrid tipped her chin towards Toothless, who was helping the Terror get some fish from one of the basins. "He and Gyda were right. Even if the dragons stopped raiding us tomorrow, we'd not survive."

"Why do you believe that?"

"We have fought too long and too hard, Hiccup. Without the dragons to fight against," she shrugged. "Who else would we fight? The rest of the Archipelago? Each other?" She paused. "I fear it would be each other and that you'd be one of the first to fall."

Hiccup blinked. Her words were surprisingly deep and he found himself admiring her more than he already did. Snotlout would not have come to any conclusion she just posed. The twins would not either. Fishlegs might but he would not speak up. Astrid; her mind was sharp and her will strong. She would state what she felt, no matter who or what stood against her. While he hoped and prayed the last line meant more than what she would ever want it to be, he was touched she cared enough to worry about him. Very few people did.

"Hiccup?"

He jerked, realizing he had been staring at her in silence. His cheeks burned and he ducked his head.

"Sorry," he said, softly.

Astrid sighed. "Stop, please. You have nothing to apologize for. I should have known you'd take a moment to think over my words. You don't act without thought, unlike most of the tribe."

"Astrid," Hiccup began, with a great deal of hesitation. "Uh..what… what happens now?"

Astrid stared at him for a long moment. "I'm not going to ask your forgiveness, Hiccup. I don't deserve it. I am going to make it up to you. I will help Mom train you, if you want and I will keep you safe from everyone."

"Uh,.. could….uh, uhm, could we start with.." Hiccup stopped, blushing and looking away.

"Hiccup?"

"Can… can I call you friend now?"

Astrid blinked then looked down at her feet. Hiccup jerked, backing away.

"Sorry. Sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."

He made to walk away, certain her annoyance was beyond her wish to be anywhere near him at that point. A hand on his arm had him freezing.

"You want to call me friend?" Astrid asked, softly. "Even after all I put you through? Even after I failed to keep you, a fellow tribe member and my chief's son, safe?"

"Yes," Hiccup said, still looking away from her. He did not want to see her pity when she tried to gently refuse. "I've always wanted to call you friend."

There was silence for several heartbeats then Hiccup blinked when Astrid stepped in front of him and hugged him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Hiccup stared over her shoulder, frozen and unsure what to do. No one willingly hugged him. No one wanted to ever get that close. He spied Toothless and Shadowfire watching. Shadowfire grinned, set back on his hindlegs and brought his forelegs up. He then curled them in toward each other, as if grabbing something close to him. Hiccup blinked. Toothless shook his head before lifting his wings and curling them forward and towards each other. Hiccup realized what they were trying to tell him and blushed. He slowly brought his arms up and encircled Astrid's frame. When she did not jerk away or push him away, he relaxed and placed his chin upon her shoulder.

"No," he whispered. "Thank you."

S.H: I'm glad you love the story and I'm glad you find it funny and sincere. While abuse and neglect are ugly and serious issues, that doesn't mean at tale about them has to be dark and depressing and writing such a tale is a fine line.

Hehe, seems more people like the idea of Gyda's genealogy. I might have to ask her about it at some point. And you're right. Gyda told Hiccup in the first chapter that neither she nor Shadowfire were from the archipelago