A Son of Ice and Fire
A/N: This is a bit of a shorter chapter, but the next one will practically carry on straight from this with the same characters. I didn't want to wait to post one massive 5/6k words chapter in two or three days, so I hope you understand why I split this up for you :)
Chapter 29: My hero
Astrid
Warmth. I don't know why but that's all I can feel. Like I'm being gift-wrapped in a blanket of clouds and being sent personally to see the Gods. I must be dead. Damn it. Couldn't I have at least made it to twenty. No. I'm not dead. I refuse. I'll kick and scream until they take me back. I'm not leaving my family. My friends. No. Not today. YOU HEAR ME. NOT TODAY. AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH. I tried to scream, but not a sound came out. My body completely weightless, everything around just pure darkness, I wanted nothing but to break down and cry. No. I don't want to die. As the ghastly blackness swarmed all around, one small sparkle in the far distance snagged my attention. I urged myself towards it with all my might. With every breath, I could feel the light growing larger and larger. Tingles began to pulse through my veins and I felt my heart beat powerfully again. I coiled my hands into fists, and I charged towards the beam at full speed, not slowing for even a moment. As the darkness was forced into the background, only hope lied in front. I pushed on, screaming, as all I could see now was white.
"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH." I breathed hard, as the white light faded, and I sat up stiffly. Where am I? What's going on? I better not be dead. As my eyes readjusted, I looked down to see the blanket drooped around my waist, my legs outstretched on a mattress, and the biggest bedroom I have ever seen seeming to expand miles in every direction. My fists still clenched, I realised there was something held tightly in my left hand. I slowly looked down to my side, to be met with the sight of black braided hair resting against my shoulder, and her hand clutched tightly in mine. Heather. Oh, thank the Gods. I must still be alive. I felt the twitch in my grasp, as she wearily raised her head and her eyes met mine. Without a second's hesitation, she launched herself at me, arms flung around my back as she cried into my neck.
"I thought I'd lost you. You have no idea how worried I've been." She sobbed. I went to respond, but the sharp pain in my lower chest soon stopped all rational thought.
"OWWWW!" I yelled, clutching my abdomen. Heather soon jolted back, with a look of apology and fear. I took a deep breath, biting my lip to not scream out again. As she tried to back away, I grabbed her arm and pulled her in close. "Come here sister. Just be careful." I said softly. She gave an uneasy smile, but once more moved in close. As we held there for a few minutes, I closed my eyes, silently thanking anyone and everyone for bringing me back to her. I slowly patted the other side of the giant bed. "Please just sit with me, just for a few minutes. I don't want to be alone again." I saw the tears forming in her eyes, as she quickly scuttled around and slipped in beside me, resting her head on my shoulder. I smiled widely, tilting my head to rest on hers, as we just sat there in the peace and quiet.
"I'll just get going then. Not even a thank you." A snide voice spoke loudly, breaking the silence. I quickly snapped my head to face it. Slowly dragging himself to his feet, the elderly man grunted and began to hobble towards the exit. I quickly noticed the chain around his neck, clanking loudly as he plodded away.
"Maester!" I called out. The man slowly turned around to face me. "Thank you for everything. I mean it." The man grumbled under his breath, before opening the door and heading out without a second look back. I sat upright, a look of confusion plastered across my face. Heather turned to look up at me. Those bright, green eyes always making me smile, no matter where I am.
"You shouldn't be thanking him. He practically did nothing. Just bandaged the wound and applied a few herbs. Mother could have done that." She said calmly. "If there's anyone you should be thanking, it's Hiccup. He carried you up here and made sure you were looked after and treated." Heather finished with a smile.
"Hiccup… As in your brother Hiccup?" I asked cautiously. She simply nodded. "So where are we now?"
"I think it's his father's room. It was a bit of a trek up here, but he said it's the warmest room, so it would be the best for you to recover. I thought you would still be out another day or two, so it seems to have done the job." She said cheerfully.
"Even death can't beat me back for long." I teased, earning a soft jab on the arm from her.
"Don't joke Astrid. I thought I'd lost you. You were unconscious on my horse for two days before we got here. I nearly didn't let you go when he asked me to let him take you inside." She said sorrowfully.
"What, so I actually did get carried inside." I facepalmed. "Bet he loved that. What a great first impression."
"It was actually kinda cute," Heather snickered. "If not for the you nearly dying part." This time it was her turn to receive a punch to the arm.
"Heather. I can't believe you." I scolded but couldn't stop giggling halfway through. "So, where are your brother and mother?"
"Just wait here, I'll get them." She squealed excitedly. She almost jumped off the bed, rushing to the door. She turned back to me, putting up a single finger and mouthing 'one minute' to me, before she skipped through the door. I finally laid back, staring at the ceiling. I heard a faint scream from across the corridor of her telling them I was awake, but before a second has passed, my eyes had closed, and I had drifted off.
Hiccup
I looked to mum first, but we both soon turned and followed Heather out of the room. As we crossed the wide hallway, Heather was beaming, jumping up and up in glee. Yet as she opened the door to father's quarters, her excitement instantly died. She rushed over to Lady Astrid's side, kneeling by her side, and carefully shaking her.
"Astrid. Sister. Wake up. Come on. Speak to me again." She whimpered. I slowly walked across, crouching by Heather's side as I reached over and rested the palm of my hand on Astrid's forehead. I removed the hand, taking a deep breath, before turning to Heather and twisting her gently to face me.
"Shhh Shhh. The fever seems to have passed. She is okay." I started, but she kept nervously looking over to the other girl. I reached a hand out, cupping her cheek, as she stared at me. "Trust me Heather. It's been a long day. Let her sleep, and in the morning, we'll check back up on her."
"Are you sure? What if something…" she asked anxiously, tears forming in her eyes.
"I won't let anything happen to her. She has been through a lot; her body needs time to recover from these injuries. She shouldn't have been up by now at all, that tells me she is strong. I'll check in on her later if that puts you at ease." I smiled at her, and although I could see the hesitation in her eyes, she nodded and returned the smile. Raising to my feet, I held out my hand and she took it, slowly raising to her feet.
"He's right, dear, there's nothing more we can do for her today. Let her sleep, we can see her first thing in the morning." Mum said softly from the doorway. Heather looked past me towards her and nodded, before burying her head deep in my chest. I held her close, as she breathed heavily.
"She'll need you at her side to help her recover, sister." I urged. "You must have been on the road for weeks, you need to rest as much as she does."
"But…" Heather protested.
"But nothing, Heather, you can't help her if you, yourself, are in need of help." I said in a level tone. "By getting her here as quick as you did, you saved her life. You took care of her. Now let me take care of you." As we broke apart, I wrapped my arm around her waist as we walked side by side out of the room. "Come on, I'll show you two to your rooms." I said with a yawn. It had been a long day, and right about now all I wanted to do was collapse. It only took a minute, but I found two spare rooms very close, next to each other just down the hallway. "I'm sorry this isn't much, but at least here you two are close to each other. With a bit more time, I'm sure I could sort something a bit more permanent out." As we stopped in the hallway, Heather turned to face me with an apologetic look.
"Thank you so much, for all you've done for us Hiccup, but I don't know how long we'll be staying." She said softly. "I don't want you to be hurt when we have to leave." She looked towards Valka, who stayed silent, nervously biting her lip. "That's right, isn't it mum?" Heather asked her, with a shaky tone.
"I don't know how long I'll be staying, dear. I need to see your father again. I've waited so, so long. I can't leave until I see him again. I'm sorry. I have to stay here until he comes home." Mum sighed. Heather just looked at her in disbelief, as if she was abandoning her.
"I want to see him too, but that doesn't mean…" Heather argued, before I cut her off.
"… Please, can we speak about this tomorrow?" I pleaded. "There is no use arguing now. You know where to find me if you need anything. Have a goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." I finished, before turning and heading back to my room.
As promised, I quietly opened the door, and checked in Astrid. I could hear her breathing heavily as I entered, panting almost. Her body was shaking, and her brow was heavy with sweat. As I approached slowly, I could hear her murmuring under her breath, slowly growing loudly.
"No. Please don't. Don't let me die. No. I don't want to die. AAAAAHHHHHH." With the final scream, it shook her so violently she snapped awake. I quickly rushed over, holding her arm as she nearly fell out of the bed. She pulled back in shock, trying to get as far back as possible, pulling her hands up into fists in front of her face. She pinned her back up against the headboard, a look of terror on her face, as she tried kicking out.
"I'm not going to hurt you, my lady." I said calmly, lifting my hands up so the palms faced her, "I'm only trying to help." A sudden flash of reality, must have hit her, as she stopped panicking and slowly unclenched her fists. She slowly lowered her arms, reaching down to place one hand on the bandage. The movement must have re-opened the wound, as she sat there grimacing heavily. "What happened?" I enquired carefully, slowly sitting on the far end of the bed.
"I lived it all over again." She said, with a tear in her eye. "But over, and over, and over again. There was no stopping, no end. All I could feel was the pain as they stabbed me over and over and over." She wept, tears starting to fall.
"Hey, hey, you're safe now. No-one can hurt you anymore. It was just a nightmare." I comforted. Her hands were still shaking, but I saw a sense calmness return in her eyes. "Do you want me to fetch Heather back to be with you?"
"No. Please no. I don't want her to see me like this. I don't need her to worry about me. I'll be fine." She pleaded, pausing to cough heavily halfway through., as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"That's what family is for. I can see how much she cares for you. I'll go and get her for you." I said determinedly. I began to slowly step back, but she lurched forward and grabbed my hand.
"No. Don't leave me alone." She begged. I could see the fear in her bright blue eyes as she held on tighter to me. "Just… sit with me. Until… I fall asleep. Please." I eagerly nodded to her, sitting closer on the edge of the bed as she began to relax. With my spare hand, I cautiously lifted the fur blanket from being scrunched at her feet over her, to a point just below her shoulders. "Thank… You." She said softly.
"Anytime, my lady." I said comfortingly
"Astrid… call me Astrid." She said with a smile, finally seeming to have calmed herself down.
"Sure thing, Astrid. My name is Hiccup. You're safe here." For the first time, I saw a glint of light shine in her eyes. Like a weight had been lifted and she could just stop fighting. "I should leave you to sleep, I hope you feel better in the morning." I went to get up, but she clutched even harder onto my hand. I looked down at her hand, then back to her eyes. The fear had returned, that was clear, so I cupped my other hand around hers. "Do you want me to stay?" She nodded shyly, but as I smiled at her, I saw the tension holding her begin to fade. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere." I said softly. She gave one last smile, before it turned into a yawn and she began to close her eyes.
"My hero." She murmured, before allowing herself to fall into her slumber. I felt her hold on my hand loosen, as she returned to peaceful sleep. I just sat there smiling, before the tolls of the day finally caught up to me, and I was soon fully out as well.
