Hiccup stopped just outside of his house. A small crowd formed around Hookfang who stood in the middle of the stone circle of the plaza. Snotlout hurried down the steps calling back for Hiccup and the others to follow. Hiccup shared a glance with Astrid. She shrugged but took his left hand and walked beside him. Stormfly, who had waited outside moved to Astrid's left side. Toothless walked on Hiccup's right side. Sharpshot, feeling better after laying down for a bit, rode upon Hiccup's back, head peeking over Hiccup's right shoulder.

The crowd parted as they passed. Just as they reached the front, Hiccup's eyes widen. A teenage girl with black hair laid unconscious upon Hookfang's back. Snotlout had her wedged between the spikes that ran either side of Hookfang's spine. A net woven around the spikes kept the girl from falling off. Snotlout climbed onto Hookfang and untied the net. Gyda walked over. Snotlout handed the teenager down to her. She stepped back and Snotlout climbed down.

"Hookie and I went flying. We saw a boat pushed onto the beach at the bottom of one of the sea stacks out east. She was laying the boat like this."

Hiccup looked around. Phelgma stood next to her empty cart at the bottom of the Great Hall stairs.

"Phelgma!" Hiccup called. "Can we borrow your cart?"

"Aye, chief."

The woman pushed the cart through the opening the crowd formed for her. Gyda laid the teen in the cart. Hiccup looked at Astrid then glanced up the mountain. Astrid grinned, squeezed his hand, and mounted Stormfly. Stormfly bowed to Hiccup. Another opening allowed Astrid and Stormfly to move out of the circle. Once free of the people and dragons, Stormfly flared her wings and rose. Hiccup watched until they landed on Gothi's extended walkway.

"Chief."

It took a moment before Hiccup remembered he was acting chief. He looked down. Phelgma grinned at him then gestured to the cart.

"I'll take her to my farm. Gothi can look her over better in a bed than this."

Hiccup nodded. "I'll bring Gothi over when Astrid and Stormfly return." He looked behind him. "Ruff, will you go with Phelgma and help her?"

"Sure, boss man," Ruff said.

Phelgma began pushing the cart out of the village. Ruff walked with her, Tuff and Barf and Belch walking behind them. Hiccup turned to Snotlout.

"Was there anything else in the boat with her?" he asked.

Snotlout shook his head. "She has a horn carved from a walrus' tusk tied to her, but nothing else except her clothing. Nothing we can use to find what tribe she's from."

Hiccup looked over to Gyda as the people slowly returned to their jobs since the excitement was over. The mage stared after Phelgma. Hiccup walked around. Gyda's brow was furrowed and she looked as if she had seen something that unsettled her. Hiccup frowned. His gaze shifted. Those with the cart reached the bridge that connected Berk with the sea stack Phelgma's farm resided upon. Hiccup turned back to Gyda.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

Gyda blinked and her face cleared. She faced Hiccup then looked out towards the ocean. She said nothing only shook her head. Shadowfire, standing nearby, moved closer and lowered his head until he was in his mother's line of sight. She stared at him. Shadowfire tilted his head so he could stare at his mother. He chittered something that did not sound like the Old Tongue the dragons sometimes used. Gyda sighed. She looked to Snotlout.

"Did you see any other ship or boat?" she asked.

Snotlout frowned then shook his head. "I didn't even see hers at first. Hookfang pointed it out to me as we banked around a different sea stack."

Gyda turned to Hookfang but the dragon shook his head. Gyda grunted. Before Hiccup could question her actions, Stormfly landed and Astrid aided Gothi down.

"Phelgma took the girl to her farm," Hiccup said when Astrid looked around and then at him. "She thought it easier for Gothi to check her while the girl was laying on a bed as opposed to the cart. Gothi, if you want, you can ride on Toothless."

Gothi nodded. Hiccup aided her onto Toothless back. He then climbed on. Sharpshot crawled around, laying on the saddle in front of Hiccup to allow Gothi to grip Hiccup's tunic. Astrid, Gyda, and Snotlout mounted their dragons. Soon all three were in the air and heading for Phelgma's farm.

Hiccup's eyes narrowed as he read the runes Gothi etched into the dirt. He heard Astrid hiss and looked over. Her hands were fists and she glared out towards the water. Hiccup reached over, placing a hand on her right wrist. She stared at him. Hiccup felt the arm he held relax. Her fingers entwined with his but the other hand remained a fist. Hiccup did not blame her. Gothi believed the girl had been given something to render her unconscious and the Elder was not sure how long it would be before the teen awoke.

"Phelgma," Hiccup began only to have the woman hold up a hand.

"She not be leavin' 'ere, chief. I'll send fer Gothi and ye as soon as she wakes."

Hiccup nodded though an idea ran through his mind. He turned to step away but Astrid did not move. He paused, facing her. She stared at the hut as if she could see through it. Hiccup frowned and stepped closer.

"Come with me to the cove," he whispered in her ear.

Astrid jerked and stared at him. She nodded, releasing his hand, and moved to mount Stormfly. Hiccup walked over, climbing onto Toothless back.

"Snot," he said, "go back to the village and tell Gobber I'll be back in a few moments."

"Sure, Hiccup."

Snotlout mounted Hookfang. Hookfang bowed to Hiccup, then flared his wings and rose into the air. Hiccup looked at the twins.

"Guys, could you go find the Terror Elder and as many Terrors you can and ask them to meet me in the cove?"

"Sure," Tuff said.

Barf and Belch bowed to Hiccup. The twins mounted their chosen heads. The dragon took off, banking around and headed inland. Hiccup turned to Gyda.

"Will you take Gothi back to her hut?"

Gyda tipped her head, gesturing to Shadowfire. The dragon lowered until his belly lay fully upon the ground. She then aided Gothi into Shadowfire's saddle.

"Elder, please sit there," Gyda said pointing to a spot just behind some handles Hiccup installed into Shadowfire's saddle. "And hold those. That would be safer than riding behind me and gripping my robe."

Gothi nodded. Gyda climbed on behind the woman. Hiccup held up a hand. Shadowfire stared at him and did not rise.

"Gyda, meet us in the cove later."

Gyda snickered, eyebrow lifted. Hiccup saw Gothi smirk and Phelgma grin. Hiccup grunted and rolled his eyes.

"I need to speak to Astrid alone," he said, only to have the three adults giggle and the dragons chortle. Hiccup sighed. "And I need to speak to you, Gyda, so when you drop Gothi off, will you meet us in the cove?"

"Sure, Hiccup," Gyda said.

Shadowfire rose to his full height which placed his riders above where Stormfly held her riders. Hiccup saw Gothi's eyes widen and her hand grip the handle she held tighter. Gyda murmured something Hiccup did not hear but it served to relax the Elder. Shadowfire carefully bowed to Hiccup before moving to the edge of the sea stack. He slipped off the edge. He rose and headed for Gothi's hut.

Hiccup turned to Phelgma. "Thank you," he said.

Phelgma nodded. "The lass can stay with me 'til we find what's up, Chief."

Hiccup nodded and climbed onto Toothless' back. Toothless and Stormfly bounced into the sky. They banked east and headed for Raven's Point. As soon as they landed in the cove, all the dragons, even Sharpshot, moved to lay in the shade of a tree far enough they could watch their humans but give them a form of privacy. Hiccup led Astrid to the very boulder she sat upon while waiting for him the night she learned of Toothless.

"Please sit," Hiccup whispered.

Astrid did but said nothing. Hiccup sat down beside her. He reached over, grabbing her right hand. He pulled it into his lap and began rubbing it just like she had done for him earlier. Astrid hummed.

"I see why Dad like this," she whispered.

Hiccup smiled. "Are you okay?"

"No. That girl is our age, Hiccup, and someone harmed her and until she wakes and tells us who, I can't hit them with my axe."

Hiccup continued to rub her hand. She hummed again. He smiled, letting her hand go.

"Take your spaulders off."

Astrid looked at him, eyebrow raised. She snorted. Soon her metal shoulder guards rested upon the rock next to her. Hiccup gestured. She smirked but spun so her back faced him. Hiccup reached up, moving her braid over her shoulder. He then began kneading her shoulders and neck just as she had his. Her chin fell and she moaned. Hiccup smiled, realizing why she was adamant about doing this for him. Hearing her enjoy his attempt to relax her made his heart beat faster and pride to well within him.

This time no door opened to let in an outspoken blacksmith. This time as Astrid slumped, boneless, Hiccup caught her and pulled her back against his chest. She pillowed her head upon his shoulder and he enclosed her in his arms.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"No, thank you. You showed me how to do this after all."

Astrid hummed. The sound echoed through Hiccup's chest.

"When I can lift my arms again, I'll finish rubbing your shoulders."

Hiccup chuckled. He nuzzled against her hair then place a soft kiss upon her cheek.

"We'll find out what happened to that girl," he whispered. "You'll get to swing your axe. I promise."

"You do know the way to my heart."

Silence fell. Hiccup relished in the fact he could hold Astrid like this. He had often dreamed of doing something similar after he turned thirteen. Each dream left him bitter and depressed the next day but that was the past.

"Astrid," Hiccup whispered.

"Hmm?"

He knew many would believe he would have hesitations about things in their courtship given his past. While that was true to a point, he understood courting couples could do some things people who remained just friends would not. Even with all he had endured, he knew he was permitted to do those allowed actions. However, he would ensure one thing was known to Astrid.

"If I do anything in our courtship you don't want me to, don't hesitate to let me know."

Astrid sat up so she could stare at him. She leaned close and pressed her lips to his. Hiccup returned the kiss. Several heartbeats later, she pulled back.

"I trust you, Hiccup," she whispered.

Hiccup smiled. "Still tell me, please."

Astrid sighed then smiled. "Sure, Hiccup. The same goes for you. Let me know if something I do hurts you or upsets you. I'll listen."

"I know."

Astrid caressed his cheek then moved back to her previous spot. Hiccup shifted so that his legs bracketed hers. She laid her arms over his as they enclosed her waist. Her head pillowed onto his left shoulder again. A gentle pair of lips pressed a tender kiss to the side of his neck. Hiccup nuzzled her hair. Silence fell once more.

"Oh, to have Bucket here."