Untold
Chapter 29 - I'm With You Part VI
Summary: Continuation of I'm With You
A/N: Woo! Thanks for being so patient with me, I had terrible writer's block! For anybody wondering how long this arc is gonna be, I'd say maybe five more parts? Lots of ground to cover! :D I love you all for your reviews, and my love grows with each one. So please keep leaving them? :D
"Jorgenson!" Gobber bellowed importantly, scowling at my brother, who was lagging behind. "C'mon, get up here! Quit bringing up the rear!"
Spitelout's face twitched in annoyance. "I'm sorry if my pace is bothering you," he began sarcastically, "but I'm not exactly leaping for joy over here, going to fetch dirty Outcast scum. Forgive me for thinking my tribe is more important than that traitor."
There was that word again, traitor. A part of me registered that Spitelout had just said something against Hiccup, and that I should probably defend the boy, but just as I opened my mouth, Gobber beat me to it, which was lucky. I had nothing to say anyway.
"You're forgiven," Gobber replied casually.
Spitelout took a threatening step forward.
"Drop it," I ordered, trying to muster up the anger to glare at them. But everything about me in that moment was numb and hollow. My hope had returned, warm and bright and glowing, when I'd agreed to go after Hiccup, but the longer I thought about him, the less hope I had had. It seemed very unlikely now that, if Hiccup wasn't a spy, if he'd truly run from Outcast Island…then why would Alvin let him back into the fold? What made Alvin want him back?
It was starting to look more and more likely that Alvin had just decided to kill him for his betrayal. But the instant my mind tried to go that route, my heart began to ache like an actual, physical pain. I couldn't let myself imagine it.
Snotlout, my nephew, who was lagging behind his father, sent me an apologetic grimace as he approached Gobber and Spitelout stalked off, shooting Gobber an infuriated look.
"Any weapons that need repairs?" Gobber barked at him.
Snotlout saluted respectfully. I vaguely registered that Gobber was being more of a chief than I was in that moment and I wasn't sure if I should actively try to change it.
"Sir, yes, sir," Snotlout reported. "Three axes, one mace, six swords."
"Good lad," Gobber nodded. "I'll get on those."
"Anything else you need me to do, sir?" Snotlout offered, his attention fixed on Gobber. Beneath the numbness, I felt a tiny hint of approval for the boy in front of me. He had been pale and shaken when Alvin had taken Hiccup back, but ever since then, he'd gained dark circles under his eyes and thrown himself into every bit of work he could find with vigor.
"It's good for him, Stoick," Gobber had knowledgeably explained to me as he polished a spear. "It's good for Snotlout to keep busy at a time like this. I think he liked and looked up to Hiccup, and it's not good for him to dwell on it."
There was plenty to keep a strong young lad like Snotlout busy these days, and he was doing a good job taking care of all of it.
Gobber considered for a moment, looking Snotlout up and down. The boy looked like he was about to collapse from exhaustion, but his eyes were alert and bright.
"Grab some more supplies from the storage bunker," Gobber ordered. "And when you're done with that, you can help the Hoffersons in collecting water. I'll give you another job from there."
"Yes, sir," Snotlout nodded once before racing off to fulfill these tasks.
Gobber began to slowly stump away in the direction of the forge, to repair the weapons. A part of me wanted to ask him to stay behind, or give me a job to do. Everybody else was staying busy. Why couldn't I?
More to the point, why couldn't I find a task that occupied my mind as well as my hands? Because, no matter what I did, Hiccup was always at the forefront of my thoughts, sneaking into my mind. Why couldn't I just focus on my jobs instead of him for just two seconds?
I watched Gobber disappear into the crowd, the cry of seagulls ringing in my ears. I turned away to watch the waves crash and break and foam over the rocks, watching the rocks emerge, utterly unbroken and as strong as ever.
My mind jumped to Savage hitting the back of Hiccup's head; my heart clenched, my vision tinted red. All I could do was hope and pray that those waves weren't wearing that rock down, that it would continue to come out whole and perfect and healthy. All I needed was to know that he was staying strong until I could hold him in my arms. And if I could do that, then I could breathe again.
