Hiccup walked down the tunnel not looking to either side. His focus remained forward and the end of his quest. He had to find this. He had to do something his father had never done. Maybe then his father would see him for who he was and not whatever painting he seemed to prefer. Hiccup did feel Astrid's hand in his, keeping a steady grip. He did appreciate each brush of Toothless' wings and the comfortable weight of his Terror brother upon his back. He heard the shuffling of his friends' feet and paws. Astrid squeezed his hand and he did glance over. She smiled. He returned it.
"Uh, is it getting hot to anyone else?" Snotlout asked as they entered a darken cavern. "Cause I'm really hot."
A low screech had the dragons stiffening and then growling. Lorekeeper moved around Hookfang and stood over Hiccup and Astrid. He snarled something in the Old Tongue. Hiccup blinked as the floor lit up. Fishlegs gasped.
"Fireworms," he whispered. "No wonder it's getting so hot in here."
Lorekeeper brayed in the Old Tongue. The Fireworms faced them. One scuttled forward and chittered. Lorekeeper looked at Toothless and tossed his head, making sure not to hit those under his chin. Toothless tipped his head and looked at the Fireworm. He warbled and cooed for a bit before shifting to face Hiccup and bowing. Hiccup heard shuffling and glanced over his shoulder, not all that surprised to find the other dragons bowing to him as well. Then he felt Sharpshot hopped down and did not have to look to know his Terror brother was also bowing. Hiccup sighed, still not used to it.
The Fireworms all shuffled as one group, causing their glow to resemble a wave. The one Fireworm that walked forward chittered again. Toothless gave a soft croon. The Fireworm scuttled closer and chittered again.
[The Tiny-fireglow wishes to know why you are here,] Toothless said. [Shall I tell her, brother?]
"Uh, yeah, okay."
Toothless sat up and began a series of bays, croons, and warbles. The other dragons all straightened and those bonded to humans sat next to their riders. Sharpshot resumed his spot on Hiccup's back. As soon a Toothless finished the Fireworms all jerked, their glow shifting from one side to the next. Hiccup's head tilted when all of them bowed to him. At least he thought it was bowing. They were not that far off the floor while standing so Hiccup honestly was not sure what their position was. The Fireworms then straightened and all but twenty scurried out of the cavern. Hiccup frowned. The heat level in the cave lowered but not enough to keep from feeling as if he had fell into the forge. He heard Astrid hum in relief as a cool breeze curled around their upper bodies. Hiccup glanced over his shoulder. Gyda held her hands up and Hiccup saw tendrils of wind circling them. The Fireworm chittered again and Toothless warbled.
[She says her siblings will stay out of the cavern so that you may find what you are looking for. She and those of her age group will remain as they are the oldest.]
"Oh, can you tell her I said thank you?"
Toothless warbled. The Fireworm chirped. Toothless shifted so he could use his tail to point at Gyda. He then crooned and warbled again. The Fireworm chittered. Hiccup lifted his eyebrow. Toothless chuffed.
[She wondered where the cool wind came from. I explained.]
"Ah, okay." Hiccup squeezed Astrid's hand before releasing it. He pulled the rolled parchment from his shoulder bag and check the wording as he, Sharpshot, and Toothless walked among pedestals with various things that looked like they would connect to the two others they had already found. "Something pure and something strong. Look first to yourself and you won't go wrong," Hiccup said, reading the words Hamish the Second wrote.
"Something strong?" Fishlegs asked. "That sounds like iron."
"Iron's not pure," Astrid said, and Hiccup had to hide his smile.
It seemed Astrid had listened to him when he spoke of metals and blacksmithing on their daily walks. Hiccup caught her eye and did smile at her. She winked back at him. Snotlout, standing nearby, snorted.
"Oh, please, just pick already."
Hiccup chuckled and looked at the pieces on the pedestals. "Look to yourself," he whispered.
He stepped away from Toothless. One of the pieces caught his eye and he walked closer. He tilted his head, noting he could see himself. He reached for it.
"Careful," Astrid said. "It could be a trap."
Hiccup glanced over. He intended to give Astrid some reassurance but stopped. Shadowfire moved around the cavern, halting by the pedestal Hiccup was reaching for. The bigger dragon did not step down into the depression in the floor though. The cool wind vanished. Hiccup looked over, finding Gyda standing beside Shadowfire. She did not look at him but seemed to be looking at the rest of the cavern.
"Gyda?" Hiccup asked.
Gyda looked down. "Hm, choose, my friend."
Hiccup frowned but picked up the one he had chosen. For a moment nothing happened. Hiccup stepped back. The floor shifted. It gave way under him. Hiccup fell back. Shadowfire snagged the front of his tunic. Toothless jump beside Astrid. Shadowfire sat Hiccup down beside Astrid as well. Hiccup noted everyone was looking up. He did as well and his jaw dropped. A barrier stretched over everyone, keeping rocks falling from the ceiling from crushing them.
[Mom can't hold that long!]
Hiccup spun. Gyda knelt next to Shadowfire, a grimace on her face. Hiccup's eyes widen.
"Everyone down!" Hiccup hollered. "Shadowfire!"
Shadowfire seized his mother's robe. Lorekeeper grabbed Hiccup, dropping him onto Toothless' back. The other dragons grabbed whatever human stood near. All dove. The dragons went to fly from the hole. Hiccup noted something upon the ground.
"Wait, there's a slot on the ground there!"
The dragons hovered. Those holding humans sat them down then landed themselves. Shadowfire curled his neck around his mother. Hiccup looked up. The barrier remained. Hiccup dismounted, hurrying to kneel by the slot. He pulled the metal pieces they recovered and slotted them together before placing them into the slot. He spun them right. A stone doorway opened to Hiccup's left.
"Everyone move," Hiccup ordered, noting sweat upon Gyda's forehead.
Shadowfire grabbed his mother and ran through the door. The others followed. In the next room, Shadowfire set Gyda down and crooned. Gyda took a deep breath. They heard rocks strike the floor of the previous room. Gyda then laid back against Shadowfire's neck.
"Gyda?" Hiccup asked, kneeling beside her.
Shadowfire hissed, teeth bared. Toothless gave a low growl. Shadowfire jerked and laid his head down by Hiccup's metal foot and crooned. Hiccup glanced from the dragon to his brother.
[He's asking for your forgiveness,] Toothless said.
"For what?"
[He hissed at you when you neared his mother. You are alpha.]
Hiccup grunted. "Shadowfire, please quiet down and look at me."
Shadowfire did as ordered.
"You have nothing to ask forgiveness for. You were just protecting her. I'm proud of you for that."
Shadowfire crooned. Hiccup held out his hand, palm facing Shadowfire, and turned his gaze. He did not have to wait long before feeling warm scales. Hiccup turned back and smiled.
"You did good," he said softly.
Shadowfire crooned again. Hiccup looked over at Gyda.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Gyda took several deep breaths, head pillowed upon her son's neck. "Barriers under constant attack are harder to maintain," she whispered.
"You look like you ran around the island twice," Tuffnut observed.
Gyda took more deep breaths. "To keep the rocks from killing us all, I had to use a strong barrier. Holding that spell and the weight of the falling rocks overwhelmed me."
Hiccup shuffled back as Gyda shakily, and with Shadowfire's head as a brace, stood. Hiccup scrambled to his feet.
"Gyda, you should rest," Hiccup said.
"Should but the end of the quest is here and all will be needed at its end."
Hiccup frown. "Gyda," he said softly.
She smiled. "I am okay, Hiccup. Shadowfire will keep me upright and when we get back to the village I will go straight to the Hofferson's and lay down. I promise."
Hiccup's eyes narrowed and he blew an exasperated breath out of his nose. "I will hold you to that," he said firmly.
He turned and everyone headed down a tunnel. They entered another cavern and Snotlout gave a shout of joy.
"Look at all of that treasure!"
He went to rush forward but was checked by Hookfang gripping the back of his tunic and picking him up.
"Put me down, Hookfang!"
"Snotlout, given that the floor gave way even with the right choice, rushing forward doesn't seem safe," Fishlegs said.
"Years will wear down even the best crafted buildings," Gyda whispered. "Unless proper care is maintained."
"I doubt anyone's been in here since Hamish the Second put the treasure in here," Astrid said.
"Right. Everyone wait here," Hiccup said turning towards the stone bridge that connected the arched entrance way and the treasure.
Hiccup blinked when Astrid moved to the side Toothless was not standing beside. Hiccup looked over at her and frowned. She stared right back at him.
"You're not going alone," she said. Her eyes flicked to the others in the room for a half a heartbeat then she stepped closer and lowered her voice to the point Hiccup barely heard her. "I watched you almost fall and I couldn't stop it. I won't let that happen again."
Hiccup smiled. He entwined his hand with hers. They moved on. Toothless and Stormfly followed. They paused at a pedestal with a scroll held by an arch of stone upon its top. Hiccup glanced at Astrid. She squeezed his hand once and let go. Hiccup reached over, sliding the scroll out. He held it up, squinting in the low light. He heard Sharpshot chirp then blinked as light fell across the parchment.
"Sharpshot's holding his mouth open and his fire is resting in his throat," Astrid whispered.
Hiccup blinked again. He could not see it for himself, not with how his Terror brother hung off his back. He resolved to ask Sharpshot about that trick later, though. Still it fulfilled its purpose. He could see to read the runes written along the edge of the rolled parchment.
"This treasure's been passed from father to son," Hiccup said. "I leave it to you the next worthy one. For only a hiccup could have gotten this far. From one to another be proud of who you are."
Hiccup frowned, unrolling the scroll. He and Astrid gasped. The scroll had a drawing of Hamish the First and Hamish the Second but it did not look like the one hanging in the Great Hall.
"Hamish the Second was a hiccup!" Hiccup cried upon seeing how skinny and small Hamish the Second was. Hiccup turned to Astrid. "He knew. He knew only another hiccup would be able to find this place."
Astrid smiled, covering Hiccup's hand with one of her own. "He said be proud of it, Hiccup," she whispered.
Before Hiccup could respond the ring holding the scroll depressed and the pedestal slid into the floor. Another two rose equal distanced from each other. One had a quill, with tattered and torn feathering. The other had an old one-handed war hammer. Hiccup frowned but noted some markings on the floor. He knelt, wiping dirt and dust off the runes.
"In between the body and mind. A choice must be made in what you find. At this moment you must look to yourself. As only one path will give you true wealth."
"That makes no sense," Snotlout cried. "The wealth is right there in front of you."
Skin met skin and Hiccup turned. He found Gyda with her forehead laying in the palm of her right hand. The mage then pinched the bridge of her nose before opening her eyes and whispering something to Shadowfire that had the dragon snickering. Hiccup shook his head, realizing Gyda was as exasperated by Snotlout's line of thinking as he was.
He stood and stared at the two pedestals. He reached over picking up the quill. The cavern shook slightly but no rocks fell. Behind the treasure a stone wall shuddered and then slid down revealing trees and grass. Hiccup, with Astrid, Toothless and Stormfly following, moved to the new opening. He stepped out, looking around. His eyes widen.
"We're at the cove," he said. "Hamish must have found it and used a cave to hide the treasure."
"You mean we could have found this door and skipped everything?" Snotlout yelled. "I'm gonna slap Hamish!"
"You're going to slap a dead man?" Ruff asked, sounding as if she had been giving the greatest Snoggletog gift ever.
"Ooh, if you do, we're bringing snacks," Tuff said. "Disturbing the dead should bring out all sorts of chaos."
"No one is disturbing the dead," Hiccup said. "Besides Hamish was probably burnt on a funeral ship."
[Humans burn their dead?] Lorekeeper asked.
"Honored warriors are," Hiccup replied. "It's so the Valkyries can see them and escort them to Valhalla."
[What is Valhalla?] Toothless asked, slowly pronouncing the word.
"The home of Odin, the All-Father," Hiccup said. "Honorable warriors receive entry there upon their death." He tilted his head, curiosity peeked. "How do dragons honor their dead?"
Lorekeeper glanced around them and then faced Hiccup and bowed. [I am sorry, Alpha. That is a tale I cannot share with so many listening.]
Hiccup frowned, slightly hurt by Lorekeeper's refusal. Toothless stepped closer and nuzzled against him.
[Only those most trusted are told that tale,] Toothless whispered. [He'll probably tell you when your friends are not all around. They are trusted with much but not that.]
Hiccup tilted his head but ultimately nodded his understanding. He frowned when the twenty Fireworms from the first room appeared at the archway. The oldest scurried through human and dragon legs, stopping in front of Hiccup. Hiccup knelt. The Fireworm bowed and chittered.
[Brother, she acknowledges you as their alpha,] Toothless said. [She wishes to apologize for not coming to you before now.]
Hiccup frowned. "You have nothing to apologize for," he said. "You didn't know until now." He gestured to the treasure. "We'll take all of this but once we are done, the cave can be yours. We visit the cove beyond the opening quite often though, but if you wish none disturb you then I will warn any who travel this way to leave you be."
Toothless cooed and brayed. The Fireworm bowed to Hiccup again, chittering.
[She understands, Brother,] Toothless translated. [She also does not mind visitors but she asks that any request permission to enter the caves. Too many of her kind in one room can harm the humans of the nest and she would not wish that.]
Hiccup smiled. "Okay, I'll let everyone know. Thank you for allowing us to come in your home and sorry about the floor up there."
The Fireworm glanced at Toothless and gave an inquisitive chirp. Toothless cooed. The Fireworm chittered and chirped.
[She says don't worry about it,] Toothless said. [There were actually wondering how to get the lower part of the cavern anyways. The hole helped them.]
"Oh, good," Hiccup said. He looked over his shoulder. "We'll get the items and leave. If you or the others ever need anything I or my friends will help. Just..uh, please don't set the village on fire, if you can help it," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Toothless warbled and cooed. The Fireworm chirped.
[She promises.]
Hiccup nodded and stood. The Fireworm scurried through the humans and dragons again. She and her siblings chittered. The other dragons responded and the Fireworms left. Hiccup looked at Toothless, eyebrow lifted.
[She was just saying goodbye.]
Hiccup nodded then turned to the others. "Okay, we'll take all of the treasure to my father and he'll divide it."
"I can divide it here, if ye prefer."