Well…that was a positive reaction to the last chapter. As I mentioned in the closing AN last time, this is, like, the Nörrik-Heather bonding section. Call it filler if you'd like, but it's essential if this is going to be a Heathercup fic, because I'm not big on the idea of the "timeskip—and now they're a couple". That's not how real love works. You don't skip the "getting to know you" stage and go right to the "lovers" stage. This isn't actually a rant, by the way. Just an explanation of my thought process.
By the way, if you follow my Twitter account, you may have seen the preview of this chapter. Well, now you can read the whole chapter! Enjoy!
Review Replies:
deeed22: I can see how it could be kinda filler-ish, especially the end of the chapter. I think the Heather-Nörrik interactions are important, though.
Gordon519: Huh…well, what do you have in mind? (Now, I'm curious. Haha.)
Cottonmouth25: Glad that you enjoyed it. Haha.
The-real-dragon-rider: Good question! I never actually thought about it. Probably not as part of the story, but maybe I could write a piece or two for an extra.
Pegueng: I'll keep that in mind. Usually, I prefer to read and write shorter chapters, but sometimes longer can be better. Haha. I guess that now that he has Heather, he doesn't want Astrid anymore. He barely even thinks of her now.
warorpeace: Thanks! Envious of their relationship? Haha.
random123games: Thanks! Here's the next chapter.
Noctus Fury (anonymous): Nörrik making a "thank you" gift for Heather…that sounds like an interesting idea. That may just happen. Haha. More Heathercup in this chapter!
chelseybun (anonymous): I didn't take your review that way. I understand, though. I had a really tough time with the last chapter and I guess it showed. Hopefully this one is better. Also, I don't have much time to read anymore (seriously, I read about one chapter each week. Haha.) but I'll put that one on my list to read if I ever get time.
Chapter 28: Forever Trying
Hammer to metal, the clanking sounds drove Nörrik on. Finally, he'd gotten the time to begin work on his own project and he was not going to waste a second. His drawings and notes were face-up beside him, but he could also envision the finished product. It would be nothing special…yet. Just a prototype that he could tweak as he thought of improvements.
The work was slow. Pound the hammer to the metal, slowly shaping it into the shape he'd envisioned, cool in water, reheat the metal in the forge, and touch up the work. Over and over. Again and again. Nörrik's entire focus was on his work. It was a little harder than usual because he needed to sit upon a stool that Brokkr had provided, but that was still better than trying to balance the crutch while working.
Nörrik was so engrossed that he almost did not hear the approaching footsteps. Keyword: Almost. "Hey, Heather," he greeted without looking up from his work. Ever since their kiss a few days ago, the atmosphere between Nörrik and Heather had grown just slightly awkward. Nörrik did not know what to say to Heather and it seemed that she was giving him space. Neither seemed to want to bring up that night and the moment between them.
Heather walked closer and examined Nörrik's work. "Wow, it's really starting to take shape."
Finally Nörrik glanced up. "Yeah, it's only taken all day," he replied with a smile. "How's everything going for you?"
Heather returned the smile. "Well, I guess. The work has died down now that everyone's recovered from the explosion on Dragon Island."
Dragon Island. That's the name that Nörrik and Heather had come up with for the island where the Red Death had made her residence. Just hearing that name drew Nörrik back into his work. His visit to Dragon Island was the reason why he was creating this project in the first place.
"Well…that's, uh…good," he replied, hoping that the words "Dragon Island" did not start any unwanted flashbacks. He'd been lucky so far not to have any, but Heather's mother had told him that it wasn't uncommon for someone's mind to sometimes "replay" the events of horrible and tragic moments in that person's life.
Nörrik resumed his work and placed the carefully-bent metal back into the fire. He still needed to shape it just a little more and the metal had cooled too much for him to hammer it into shape.
"So…will it be finished today?" Heather asked Nörrik in an attempt to spark some conversation.
Without taking his eyes from the flames that curled around his shaped metal, Nörrik answered, "Probably not. It's already starting to get late and I still have some minor shaping tweaks that I need to make before I attach the metal foot to the wooden leg post that I've been designing. I'd say that it'll probably be about another day or two before I can actually test it out." Nörrik found it a lot easier to discuss his current project with Heather. Maybe it took his mind off of the kiss they had shared. Though Nörrik felt that he wanted it to mean something, he did not know what Heather was thinking and the idea of bringing it up again scared him. Though, he thought, it must not have scared her away since she still comes to check in with me here at the forge and we still talk at home and all. Maybe…could she feel the same way that I do? Is that even possible?
"Well, you'll have to let me know when you get it finished and are ready to test it out. I'd love to be there to watch you walk without that crutch again," Heather replied with a smile.
"I'll be sure to," Nörrik answered, returning the smile. "I'll be home in a little bit. Talk with you then?"
"You bet." Heather made her way towards the forge entrance. "See you then."
888
As predicted, it took Nörrik almost two more days to finally finish his project. He probably could've completed it in one day, but his drive for perfection had extended his work by another day until he felt satisfied that it was finally worth testing.
Heather and Toothless sat with Nörrik on a grassy plain just on the outskirts of the village. Carefully, Nörrik exposed his left leg (or, rather, what was left of it). He placed the flat top surface of the wooden peg leg against his skin and gently, but securely, tied it into place. He took a deep breath, trying to still his nerves. It felt like it had been forever since he'd walked without the crutches. How much practice would it take to walk unsupported?
Slowly, Nörrik pushed himself up to a standing position. At first he wobbled unsteadily and he could see both Heather and Toothless ready to spring up and catch him if he lost his balance. Nörrik's arms flailed as he tried to find his equilibrium. It took several minutes and a few near falls before he finally steadied and stood in place. The crutches lay discarded in the grass nearby, but Nörrik did not move to pick them up. He wouldn't need them anymore.
Now that he could stand and balance again on his two feet, Nörrik's next trial was to walk. This part of the process, Nörrik knew, was going to have to be taken in baby steps, but, if all worked out, the slow progress would all be worth it again soon enough. He took a step with his right foot first. Easy enough. The prosthetic that he'd designed slid a little, but not enough to throw Nörrik too off-balance. The challenge came when he tried to take a step with the new metal leg. Almost immediately, Nörrik stumbled and dropped toward the ground. Toothless caught him before he could hit the ground. As Toothless righted his friend, Nörrik saw Heather relax and ease back down into a seated position; she had shifted to catch Nörrik, but Toothless had been faster.
Just as I thought, Nörrik told himself as he stood still to find his balance once again, this is going to take some time.
888
Over and over again, Nörrik tried walking with his new leg and each time ended in failure. Though he'd tried to remain optimistic, he was finding it harder and harder to even try. Maybe walking with crutches for the rest of my life wouldn't be that bad, he was beginning to think.
Heather remained his faithful friend. Each time Nörrik stumbled, she was there to offer her support. "At least you took an extra step this time," she'd tell him or "Hey, that was new record. You'll have this mastered in no time!"
Nörrik practiced all day and by the time the sky was growing dark, he still could only walk a very short distance. Sure, it was some progress, but Nörrik wasn't satisfied. Somehow, he'd thought this would be easier. He'd learn to walk before as a young Viking, so why was it so difficult to teach himself to walk once again?
Heather must've seen the look on Nörrik's face as her friend pulled himself onto Toothless's back. "Really, Nörrik, all things considered, you did really well today," she encouraged him. "I mean, think about it. I'm sure you didn't learn to walk the first time all in one day. It took many falls before you finally could master it. Just give it some time and it'll eventually come naturally."
Nörrik cast his gaze down to Toothless and ran his hand across his friend's black scales. "I guess so." He couldn't bring himself to speak with optimism.
Heather stepped closer and placed her hand gently on Nörrik's shoulder. "We'll try again tomorrow and we'll keep trying until you can beat me in a race…without tripping."
This response finally gained Heather a small smile from Nörrik. "We'll keep trying forever then because I could barely run with both of my legs. Now I have…this," he answered, gesturing down to his artificial leg hanging down by Toothless's left side.
"Then we keep trying forever," Heather replied with a gentle laugh. "I have no complaints about that."
Nörrik helped Heather climb up to sit behind him on Toothless before setting off toward home. "Yeah, I'm sure you'd think differently if it were you that needed to relearn how to walk," he muttered.
888
The next day was more of the same. Nörrik worked hard to just place one foot in front of the other and Heather and Toothless watched from the sidelines, ready to catch their friend if his momentum should shift.
It took all morning, but when Nörrik, Heather, and Toothless decided to take a lunch break, Nörrik could almost confidently walk over to the spot under a tree where Heather had set up their lunch. Sitting down and standing back up would be a different story, but walking was almost second nature to Nörrik. Again.
"Looks like you're getting more comfortable walking," Heather commented as they ate.
"I suppose I am," Nörrik answered, glancing down at his newly-fashioned artificial leg. "I guess you were right…this time."
"This time?" Heather answered with a smile and a raised eyebrow. "I'm always right. You're just too stubborn to admit it," she laughed.
Nörrik tried to think of a witty comeback, but nothing seemed to work, so he just resorted to answering, "Also true…well, the 'too stubborn to admit it' part, that is."
They both ended up laughing and eventually Toothless joined in too. A light-hearted mood had settled over them again and Nörrik was grateful that he was slowly growing accustomed to walking with his prosthetic. Baby steps.
"So, I guess that means you're ready to try running, then," Heather spoke up, breaking Nörrik from his thoughts.
So much for baby steps. "Not really, but…wait, you were actually serious? You're expecting me to beat you in a race?"
Heather stood up. "Of course I was serious! Now, come on, you're going to learn how to run. Again."
Shakily, Nörrik stood up and waited a moment for his balance to steady. This really is going to take forever. I'm really not looking forward to this at all…but I guess there's no getting out of it either.
888
Learning to run again was definitely a lot harder than learning how to walk. Nörrik already expected to experience great difficulty, but he had not anticipated this. Even just the smallest shift in his speed sent Nörrik back to the ground. There's no way I'm ever going to be able to run again. This is impossible.
"You're acting like this is impossible!" Heather called to him from across the grassy plain. "What are you going to do if your life depended on running away from a potential danger?"
Nörrik rolled his eyes but did not bother rising from the ground. "Then I guess I die," he yelled back.
"Nope. Sorry. Wrong answer," Heather called back to him. "Now get up and keep trying until you don't fall. Then, we'll race."
Knowing that he had no other choice, Nörrik slowly and shakily rose from the ground. "She's just lucky that I love her," he muttered to himself, careful to not let Heather or Toothless hear. Now was not the time to tell her how he felt. He'd do that after he beat her in their race…if he ever beat her in a race.
888
Nörrik raced across the plain. He felt the wind rush through his hair as he ran at top speed. It had taken a few days, but he could run again. Looking back, Nörrik saw that Heather was gaining ground on him. Darn it! No. I have a chance at actually winning this one and I'm not going to—
The metal of Nörrik's artificial leg hit something slick and down he went. The fall knocked the wind out of his chest and Nörrik lay there, gazing up at the sky and gasping for breath, as Heather caught up to him and looked down at him.
"Too bad," she teased with a laugh as she extended a hand down to help Nörrik back up, "I thought that you might actually beat me this time."
"Yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say. 'Again'. Fine, let's race again then. I will beat you this time!" It had taken a few days, but now Nörrik finally felt competitive; he wanted to beat Heather…and not just so this "training" could be over. He wanted to win. Just once. Just once to prove that he could.
"Okay," Heather consented. "If you're sure, I suppose we could race one more time today."
"Oh, I'm ready," Nörrik answered with a competitive smirk. This time for sure! He could just feel that this would be the race where he would finally beat Heather. He ignored the feeling of the mud that had soaked through his shirt from his earlier fall. Right now, he would put his full competition into the race; this time he would beat Heather.
"Ready," Heather started the countdown.
"Set," Nörrik answered, lowering his weight just slightly.
"Go!" they both yelled as they took off as fast as they could toward the finish line.
Nörrik shot forward, racing past Heather as he had last time. This time, though, he made sure to divert around the mud puddle that had proven to be his downfall in the last race. He did not look back. Last time he had and it had resulted in another loss.
Up ahead stood the two trees where Nörrik and Heather had agreed to place the finish line. All I have to do is pass between those two trees before Heather and then I win. Each step brought him closer. Almost there!
With a final burst of speed, Nörrik blew past the two trees and it took several more steps before he could bring himself to a halt. Turning back, he saw Heather cross the "finish line". I…did it. I won! I beat Heather!
Heather turned to Nörrik and applauded his efforts. "Nice race."
Nörrik cheered, jumping into the air to celebrate his victory. "Yeah!" On the way down, his metal foot hit the ground wrong and he tumbled to the ground. "Ow." He looked up to see Heather glancing down at him. "Hey," he reminded her, "I crossed the finish line already and I did not fall until after I'd crossed it. This doesn't count."
Heather laughed at Nörrik's worry. With a smile, she extended a hand down to help him up. "You're right. I guess you beat me fair and square, so…you passed. Are you ready to go home now and put this test behind us?"
"Definitely," Nörrik agreed. "Now that I can walk and run on this new leg and I've extensively tested it, I know what I can improve on and tweak for perfection." Seeing the look that Heather gave him, though, Nörrik dropped the subject, "…but those tweaks can definitely wait for another day. This new leg is good enough…for now."
Probably a horrible ending, but…I could not—for the life of me—decide where I wanted to end this chapter. That's why it ended up being 2,500 (or so) words. You're welcome. I could go on and on about my thought process for this chapter, but it was so scattered at times…and I feel like that would bore some of you. Hope the chapter was enjoyable enough, I guess.
Thank you all for reading and supporting Flame!
Posted: June 3, 2016
