A Son of Ice and Fire

A/N: Not going to lie, I was a bit stuck for what to put into this chapter and that's why it took a few days. At least the extra time has allowed me to make this chapter meaningful, and not just a few pages of nonsense :)

Eye: No, in the end he didn't. I needed to show how conflicted Hiccup was between the two choices, but for now Hiccup is back at Dragon's edge

Guest: Yeah that's true. If Valka is Rhaegar's older sister, then Jon is actually Hiccup's cousin. Having Valka be Daenerys' older sister could also have a larger impact later on.

Odinson: The Iron throne definitely isn't worth all the hassle, I agree. I haven't actually seen the TV show Vikings, but it is on my list. When I get some time, I'll give it a watch, then we'll see what happens from there :)

Guest: Valka and Lord Randall Oswaldson were married. This will be explained more later on in the story (Valka/Stoick reunion.)

Batmd: A Stoick/Catelyn conversation wasn't something I had planned, but I'll look into it and see if I could fit one in.

Guest: Drago probably has the hook spear by the next time we hear about him. I don't think I have to tell you which side of the war Drago will be on, it definitely won't be Hiccup's ;)

Guest: To Chicken, or not to Chicken. That is the question. The truth is, I hadn't even thought of adding it into the story, but I may do in the future.

Guest: Dagur x Mala came out of nowhere in RTTE6, I don't know if I'll be able to add it to this. Maybe Mala will be added into my story later then I could do that, but I'm not promising anything.

Chapter 37: Better late than Heather

Hiccup

Slowly creaking open, the heavy gate guided us inside. This is the thing I dreaded most. The looks. The stares. Some relieved, some angry, some just plain disappointed. Everyone seemed to be there. My mum, sister, Gobber and almost everyone else. Everyone except Astrid. Please don't tell me she had enough and went home. No. She wouldn't have gone without Heather. Surely not. Dismounting gracelessly, almost tumbling to the ground, I managed to flick my eyes up to meet the glistening emerald eyes of Heather. A fearful look, and with her hands pinned nervously to her body, she looked back towards mum. She went to take a step forward, but instantly retracted her foot. No. I can't have this. She's my sister. I can't have her looking at me like this. I took an unsteady step forward, as Cami jumped down from the saddle to make sure I didn't hit the dirt. The pain, although numbed slightly, was still jarring with every twitch. I shuffled closer, reaching my arms out. Come on Heather. Trust me. Still reluctant, she remained motionless, biting her lip nervously. One last push, and I inched closer, taking her hands in mine.

"Please, Heather, I don't want to do without you. Please, sister." I declared hopefully. As she raised her head to meet mine, a wavering look of hope flashed in her eyes, before it snapped to one of guilt and returned down towards the ground. "I shouldn't have left. I'm sorry. I'm back now, and I'm never leaving again. Believe me." With wet cheeks, she nestled her head into my chest. The burning pain of the wound almost bringing me to tears as she pressed tightly to me. Although grimacing heavily from the pain, I ignored Cami's attempt to break us apart and I just brought my arms around to hold her.

"Is that true, lad?" Gobber voiced apprehensively.

"Every word. Every single word. I'm not going anywhere." I reassured. "I didn't want to leave you all for so long. Can you forgive me?" A gentle smile crossed her lips as her gaze shifted up to met mine.

"Hiccup, I can't lose you again. I just can't. Promise me you won't do anything like that again." Mum stated nervously, stepping towards us.

"My place is here. And here I'll stay." I replied happily. With a relieved sigh, she rushed forward, wrapping us both in her arms. The warm embrace, a nice reminder of the comfort of home. Mother's smile, so perfectly passed down to Heather, beamed at me, as the two of them released their pincer-like grasp. I breathed heavily, already feeling the blood flowing, like venom through my veins. Like a damn starting to crack, stitches begun to break, a telling signal of the upcoming flood. Just a few more minutes. Hold it together.

"Hiccup, you need to rest." Cami pointed out abruptly. As I turned to face her, one more fissure seemed to open, and a trickle glided out, painting the inside of the shirt red. I can deal with this. Just please don't get any worse.

"I'm fine Cami. Honestly. If I can't handle a bit of a family time, what good am I?" I joked nonchalantly, but as one more of the wound's shackles broke, the hole in my chest erupted. No. No. No. "Actually, ignore that, help me. Please." I breathed frantically. I saw the look of panic on her face, as she turned to order commands.

"Get him inside now. Get the maester. We need to get that wound stitched back up as soon as possible." She barked roughly. No-one rushed to her aid, but as I turned, the damage was clear to see.

"Hiccup?" Valka muttered, eyes wide open in horror.

"Just a scratch. Nothing to be worried ab…" I started, before the full effects hit me, and my head started spinning. A hundred fearful eyes shone down upon me, like I was the lead in a hit tragedy. With heavy breaths, and clenched fists, I staggered forward. "I'm all right. Don't worry. I'm… I'm… I'm…"

"Get him inside. NOW!" Cami ordered once more.

One firm arm from Gobber, and a gentle shoulder from Heather ushered me deep inside the castle. Cami in front, roaring at people to move out of the way, and my mother and a few others tiptoeing behind, we arrowed through every passageway on our way. Minutes flashed by in a matter of seconds. Faces skipped by, like the skimming of a stone. There for a second, then gone the next. The blackest of stone seeming to shine brighter than any sunset, as all pain seemed to fade, to melt away into a constant state of fuzziness. My fingers were in front of me, winding and stretching, as I wriggled my hand, but my entire arm felt foreign. The door slammed open with almighty force from Cami's boot, but as wood clattered against wood so instantaneously, only a muffled bang rung in my ears. Laid back on my bed, Cami quickly stripped me of the shirt. The thick wool soaking up the blood like a sponge, but not enough to hold it all. The loud gasps engulfed the room, as nothing but flesh and blood was now in view. Heather and Valka began to cry, while Gobber just rocked back on his peg-leg, a look of sorrow on his face.

"No tears. Please." I begged. "I promised you I'd always be here. I'm not going anywhere…"

Astrid

I heard the call, and an immediate burst of life pulsed throughout the castle. I wanted to go, but I couldn't leave Alvin. Not yet. I need to know what he tried to say earlier. I have to know. A face burning with the heat of a dragon's flame, and eyes painted as black as a night, the gentle wheezing as the man slept gave at least the slimmest chance for hope. The maester had groaned, and tried to force me out, but I stood firm. He would have to drag me out of that door himself or get Valka to do it. With neither of those options having impressive odds, Mildew had to suck it up, and spent the majority of his time grumbling and muttering under his breath. Please do something so I can punch you. Please. Come on. Do it. Unfortunately for me, I doubt a few nasty glares and a bit of name calling isn't enough to give me a reason to knock the vile old man out, like snuffing out a candle.

"I prefer to do my work in private, wench." Mildew snarled, as Alvin began to arouse from his slumber.

"I'm just watching, maester, work away." I smiled back. Hopefully being upbeat can annoy him enough to stray just that bit too far out of line. Oh, I hope so. "My name is Astrid, by the way."

"I don't care what your name is, bitch, just get out of my way." He replied viciously. I could feel the anger boiling within me, but I uncoiled my fist and once more put on a pleasant smile. Last chance Mildew. One more and you are done. "I can't help Alvin with you there distracting me." Even in a state where he can barely open his eyes, the man laying half-dead on the bed let out an angry grunt, but it soon turned into a higher pitched growl in pain. I reached down, resting the damp towel on his forehead, as he coughed heavily.

"I'm sure Alvin appreciates my help." I beamed back happily. "Why don't you just tell me what else I can do to help him?"

"Help him? You can't help him. He's beyond even my help." He snapped cruelly, shaking his head disapprovingly while looking at the bed-stricken man.

"You can't just give up. You are oathbound to serve and save people." I countered back, suppressing every urge to leap from my chair and strike at the repulsive figure opposite me.

"Are you that naïve? This isn't a fairytale. There is no magical mystery cure. Maybe I should have let you die as well." He barked bitterly. Teeth clenched in fury, and legs already prepared to be up and at him, I could feel myself being only inches from releasing every primal compulsion to beat him to a pulp. Taking a deep breath and locking my knees firmly together to prevent me from acting, I had just about calmed down when he muttered the three final words under his breath. "Stupid blonde whore." I slammed my fist down on the bedside table, raising to my full height, as the boiling blood under my skin made me physically shake with contempt. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to break him into a thousand pieces and no-one will ever find what is left of him. As my first step moved towards him, the main door slammed open, and a flustered looking Heather rushed in.

"YES! THERE YOU ARE!" She exclaimed, rushing over towards the bed.

"Heather, this better be good. I'm sort of in the middle of some…" I started, but she quickly cut me off.

"Sorry Astrid. Don't need you. Mildew come now!" She ordered abruptly. The maester let out a mocking laugh but was soon being dragged towards the door by his arm.

"I think I need him more." I said coldly, while cracking my neck loudly. Heather just ignored me and sped up her kidnapping of the old man.

"Ayyyy, OW! What do you think you're doing? You have no right. You…" The old man grumbled scornfully, as he was being roughly tugged towards the door.

"While I am definitely enjoying this and everything, could you tell me what's going on?" I asked lightheartedly. A good old-fashioned punch to the face would have been better, but this, this is at least a start.

"No time. Mildew let's go. NOW!" Heather yelled loudly. Mildew dragged his heels sharply into the floor, crossing his arms across his chest in defiance.

"You have no power here, girl." Mildew berated. Why does she get called girl? I get whore and wench, she gets girl. How is that fair?

"If Hiccup dies, Mildew. You die! Let's go. NOW!" With one last shove, they had both left the room, leaving me stood there speechless. Hiccup is back. And what? He's dying. What is going on? I soon had enough of the questions and set off to get answers. Yet just as I started to walk away from the bed, a large, rough hand reached out, gripping onto the leather sleeve along my forearm.

"Mil…dew." Alvin croaked, as I snapped back around to face him. Levering himself up on the bed by his elbows, he wheezed heavily, clawing at his neck as she shook violently. I crouched at the side of the bed, trying to ease his pain. The blotchy red rash that had spread across the man's bare skin stopped me from doing more physically to help him, so I just held there as he forced himself to speak. "All… Mildew. Put… in water." He rasped.

"He did this?" I asked him gently. With bloodshot eyes he nodded fiercely, mustering all his strength in an attempt to climb out of the bed. Knowing it would only making his condition worse, I quickly placed my hand on his leather chest-plate, preventing him from getting up. "Alvin. You need to rest." I said firmly. "If he did put something in the water that did this to you, and all the horses, then he knows how to cure you. Trust me. I won't give this up. Just stay here and get some sleep, all right? I'll be back soon." He gave a weak nod, before planting himself back firmly against the mattress. A fire burned in his eyes, his upper lip curling vengefully, as he slowly turned to lay on his side with an angry growl. Please don't do something stupid Alvin. Mildew won't get away with this, I will make sure of that! If I have to break every bone in that scrawny body of his, he will not get out of this one.

Gently closing the door behind me, I didn't even think before I started to sprint down the corridor. I slowed my steps, as the soft sound of sobbing reached me. Candles burned along the hallway, as I traversed my way to the edge of the doorway. Before I could even see what was going on, I was nearly knocked to the ground, as Heather tore out of the room. A firm hand grasping her wrist, I held onto her, as she fought and struggled to get away. She clenched her hand into a tight ball, but as she turned to strike me, she opened her eyes for the first time. Consumed with fear and guilt, a shadow clouded them in a layer of fear. Her fist began to shake uncontrollably, inches from my cheek, before she wrapped it around my neck as she draped herself on me.

"It's all my fault. I did this." She wept heavily. No. He's not dead. He's not.

"Tell me what's happening, what's going on in there?" I asked forcefully. I tried inching closer to the open door, but she wouldn't let me move.

"Don't go in there,please don't." she begged, with both hands on my shoulders to hold me back

"Just let me see, I have to know." I insisted, pushing her back.

"No! Don't!" She pleaded once more, but I shifted quickly past her, to peer inside.

The smell hit me, almost as quickly as the horrific sight. A vile lesion was painted down one half of his chest, as he struggled sharply and sweated profusely on the bed. Oh, my Gods. How did this happen? No. He must survive this. His mother with his hand in hers, as she cried while brushing her other hand through his hair. Closed eyes, and soft mumblings was all Hiccup could offer, as Valka whispered softly to him. Gobber was slumped in a chair, tears in his eyes, the look of a broken man. Another girl was pacing back and forth, an angry scowl on her face, as she looked over him. Diminutive in stature, with blonde hair which is far shorter than mine, Camicazi's face seemed tight and pinned with distress. Why is she here? She was at the council meeting earlier, why is she back? Did she do this? No, of course she didn't. What am I thinking? Someone must know what's going on.

"Aaaarrrrgghhhhhh." Came Hiccup's blood-curdling cry, as Mildew shoved the hot metal against his bare flesh. I subconsciously moved my hand over my stomach, my own wound now seeming so pathetic and insignificant. As he bucked fiercely on the bed, wincing with the pain, a devilish smirk passed across the maester's lips. Gods I want to make than man suffer, but without this, Hiccup might actually die from an infection. Calm down, Astrid. As the maester cauterized the wound, fully sealing the entire length of it closed, the release from the pain overtook Hiccup, and he stopped his writhing. The next moment, he was out gone, laying motionless as Valka cradled him in her arms.

"Hiccup. Hiccup. Stay with me. Come on." She begged, shaking him softly, with no response. She pressed her head to his heart, before taking one heavy breath. Gobber rushed to her side, pulling her back slowly, as she gave him a relieved nod.

"When he wakes, re-stitch that wound up. He should be fine." Mildew grunted, packing away his things and hobbling towards the doorway. He cast one look of aversion my way, before barging past me on his way down the corridor. My eyes followed him, as he plodded away, until they met Heather's, who was slumped against a wall a few feet behind me. I slowly approached her, kneeling gradually in front of her.

"He'll be fine, I think he'll want to see you when he wakes up." I stated softly to her. I reached out, ready to pull her up if needed. But as I lifted her, she didn't resist. She raised herself slowly, as her eyes flashed open with a sense of hope I had been missing for so long. Even a small smile crossed her lips as I led her back towards the door. "Stay with your family, they need you now more than ever. He won't want to wake up without you there." I grinned at her, as she let go of my hand temporarily and started heading into the room.

"What, wait, you're coming in too." She urged, as I halted at the doorway.

"It's not my place. I'm not family, or…" I started to spout nervously. But, as I'd done to her only minutes earlier, she roughly clutched my wrist, dragging me in to the room.

"You have no choice, my lady, I'm sure he won't want to wake up without you there either."

Hiccup

Two bewitching blue eyes shone like a morning sunset after a long night, as my eyes popped open. Where I am? But as more features from the room slowly started to develop in the background, I still couldn't look away. Even as time passed, I was hooked, even the laceration down my chest couldn't drag me away. Thank the Gods I'm not dead. But I am still in this bed. Half-naked. Staring at Astrid. Snapping out of my daze, I backed up on the bed, resting the back of my head on the headboard. The wider view of the room now visible, I looked over to the other side of the bed, where both Heather and mother were sleeping peacefully. No-one else is here, so Gobber and Cami must have left since yesterday. I hope Cami at least stayed the night, I owe her a lot. I doubt I'd still be here if not for her. Those thoughts soon were pushed to the back of my mind, as my eyes soon returned to Astrid.

"How you feeling?" She asked quietly.

"Like someone nearly cut me in two." I chuckled. The motion, however, caused a surge of pain, and I was soon clutching my chest.

"Easy, Hiccup. You don't want to overdo it." She responded gravely, shifting nervously.

"Think I've already done that." I sighed heavily. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? You left me… us." She corrected instantly. "Then you return like this, bleeding and nearly dead. What are we supposed to make of that Hiccup?" She trailed off with a sad tone, a shake of her head in disappointment. She hates me. Of course, she does. No wonder she didn't want to see me yesterday.

"You're right. About everything. I realised as soon as I left that I couldn't go South. I couldn't do that to all of you." I admitted doubtlessly. She raised her eyes back up to meet mine, a slight flicker of anger sparking within then.

"Then why did you go?" She hissed, as quiet as a snake in the grass, but still with a venomous undertone.

"I needed to know I'm not useless." I responded bluntly, taking her back a bit. "While I was out there, with the people I swore to protect, I could actually help them. Know I was doing something right, y'know. And I couldn't even do that without screwing everything up again."

"You're not useless!" She remarked strongly. She went to jab me in the arm but stopped at the last moment. "Sorry, old habits die hard." She giggled lightly. "Honestly, you're not useless. Why would you ever think that?"

"All I've ever done is mess everything up. I try so hard to make things change. It just makes things worse." I answered defeatedly. "This just proves it." I laughed joylessly.

"So, this is from the war? You did go South then?" She asked, arms across her chest as she tutted in discontent.

"This? No. No way." I defended. "I never even stepped a foot South of the castle."

"You didn't?" She responded softly.

"No. Not a step. This beautiful slash you see here, this is from a group of bandits that attacked Cami's village. At least now they won't have trouble with them again." I answered cheerily.

"So, if these bandits are dealt with, then what exactly did you mess up?" She questioned intently.

"I just took off and abandoned you for two weeks. I won't be surprised if everyone hates me." I answered glumly.

"No-one hates you Hiccup, except maybe Mildew, but he hates everyone." She chuckled. "I'm still a bit annoyed you just vanished without even saying goodbye, but I'm glad you're back." She smiled brightly, with a sunrise glow in her cheeks.

"I'm sure I can make it up to you. Unless Gobber's made you that axe you wanted." I teased. She shook her head gently, biting her lip nervously and looking down. With a gentle sweep, she brushed the bangs from out of her eyes, raising her eyes back up to meet mine. A contagious smile beamed across her lips, and I was powerless to stop myself from mirroring it.

"I will hold you to that, but only when you're less like… this." Astrid giggled, gesturing towards me.

"Ah, I'm so offended, my lady. This isn't enough for you." I joked. I might as well take advantage while she won't actually hurt me. It clearly worked, as even her button-nose turned red.

"I didn't mean… I was only…" She stammered.

"OWWW!" I exclaimed, as she punched me in the thigh. I looked over, but mum and Heather were still fast asleep. At least I didn't wake them up. "Thanks for that, one more gift to add to the collection." I sniggered, as she was holding her chest in laughter. Suddenly, something must have clicked, as she quickly reached for something inside her coat.

"Talking about gifts, I believe this belongs to you." She said blissfully, reaching out and placing my metal ring in my palm. I could only look down at it with delight. "Next time you leave that for me, I will chase after you and hunt you down Hiccup Haddock." She commanded, wagging her finger.

"Of course, my lady." I responded seriously, gesturing a bow, before I cracked into laughter.

"Oh, and this is yours too." She said, more nervously this time. She reached immediately into a pocket just inside the inner left of the red fur jacket. Tentatively she handed over the slip of folded paper. I recognized what it was instantly, but I slowly removed it from her palm and opened it up. The drawing was as close to her as I could make it, but it would never even come close to seeing her in person. How can you possibly recreate those hypnotic azure eyes or that breathtaking smile on paper? One answer. You can't. As she looked down, a bit saddened, I reached over and placed it back in her palm. Her fingers instinctively curved around it, as I placed my hand over hers.

"It's yours, it will always be yours." I said softly, as her face lit up. For a few moments we were the only two people in the world, as everything else zoned out.

"awww, you two are so ..." As I quickly span my head around, she was sat there, head tilted slightly as she chuckled quietly, looking at us. Before she'd even finished speaking both of us called her name loudly under our breath.

"HEATHER!"