A Son of Ice and Fire

A/N: This is the first chapter using a viewpoint other than the usual gang, and if it goes down well I'll start adding others in when it fits. I've now got a solid idea on what I'm using in the next few chapter, so they should be out a lot quicker. Hope you enjoy and let me know your thoughts :)

Guest: I like the idea of a gas version of wildfire, that could be the version of zippleback gas used in Hiccup's flame sword when he makes that later in the story.

Sam Hill: I know I've made the family relationships a little bit all over the place, but I do really like the changes I've made. Eret and Fishlegs' history will be detailed a lot more in their next chapter, especially showing how they're cousins :)

Guest: Mala and Brienne do actually look quite similar, that is a good idea that they could be related.

Guest: Viggo already has his burn scar in this story. I think it was mentioned quite early on, that's why he designed the helmet to almost as if show his scars off proudly. I haven't mentioned how he got the burn across half his face, but I will talk about it later on.

Guest: There are 2 ways I am thinking of taking the storyline for the twins. In my most recent draft, it will take longer for them to get to Essos, but once there, I may add the head butt handshake :)

Guest: Eret x Ruffnut isn't something I'm currently planning, but I will be working on this story for many more months so don't count it out completely. I have a few relationships I have in mind, but it'll work itself out over time.

Guest: Ingerman family history in the next Fishlegs chapter :)

Odinson: Yeah, I could see a Thorston possibly starting off from the hill tribes. Maybe one of their ancestors was an ultimate trickster and managed to somehow take power from another house just through Loki-ish skills.

Chapter 39: Sins of the father

Astrid

"Awww, you two are so ..." I shifted from one pair of emerald eyes to the other, as her soft voice swept through the room. Oh no. Don't say she was watching all of that. I'm never gonna hear the end of this.

"HEATHER!" I yelled, beating Hiccup to calling her name by a fraction of a second. Sweeping her hair silkily behind her ear, she gave me the queen of all innocent smiles. Unfortunately for her, she didn't realise that three pairs of eyes were focused directly on her.

"mmmm." Valka mumbled dozily, her head no longer resting on her daughter's shoulder but instead a few inches away staring at her. "I've told you not to shout, Heather, can you listen to me for once."

"ME?" Heather exclaimed, pointing to herself. "Don't look at me." With a swift flick of her wrist, her finger now pointed directly towards us. "Blame them."

As if following a map, Valka's eyes were guided directly towards us. I saw her eyes flicker to life for a second, before she rushed over towards us. Hiccup removed his hand from mine, to wrap it around his mother as she rushed in to hug him. I afforded myself one last stealthy look at the drawing in my palm, before refolding it and slotting it gently back into my coat. Glancing back towards the bed, Valka was still holding him, tears of relief more than anything gliding down her cheek. Thank the Gods he came back. Caught in the moment, I didn't notice Heather at first. With her head bobbing side to side on the back of her hands and her elbows at shoulder level, she was staring intently at me. Finally catching my attention, a wide smile crossed her lips. Don't do it Heather. Don't do it. Almost instantly, she stopped smiling, instead tensing her cheeks to form a pout across her lips. Only when she started batting her eyelids did she finally get to me, and the mischievous look in her eyes told me she knew it. Please stop. You are so gonna pay for this. I raised my fist just enough for her to see, and she spluttered for a second before bursting into laughter.

"Heather, you okay?" Hiccup asked, his eyebrows pointing down as he looked at her in confusion. Valka opened her eyes, as she reluctantly released from him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she also turned to stare at her daughter who was muffling her giggles with the inside of her coat. Not getting an answer anytime soon, Hiccup just blinked a few times and sighed, before looking awkwardly down at himself and rubbing his hands together just below his chin. "Right, never mind." He said defeatedly. Cupping his hands around his mouth and nose, he breathed heavily. Only then did I see him physically shaking.

"Hiccup, are you okay?" I asked softly.

"Fffff…ine. Don't worry." He replied sheepishly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You're not fine." I said sternly, reaching over, and placing a hand on his upper arm. A bicep like a block of ice, ice flowing through his veins, seemed to melt under my touch. "You're freezing. Let me get you a coat."

"Just a little ch… ch… chilly that's all. Maybe I could do with a coat. Or four." He chuckled, even as his muscles began to convulse. "There should be a few large ones in dad's room. Could you…?" Before he finished, Valka began to take off her coat, laying it over his chest, to keep him warm in the meantime.

"…Of course. I'll be back in a minute." I said, getting to my feet, and heading for the door. Approaching the door, a loud grumbling came from behind, instinctively spinning me around. Hiccup was clutching his stomach, looking down embarrassed. "One plate of food coming up as well." I japed, before turning to Heather. "Can you get the clothes? I'll be back with the food as quick as I can." A quick nod from her prompted my exit.

On my way down to the kitchens, I took advantage of the route to check in on Alvin. An open door, and blotches of red shimmering on the black rock under foot. Oh no. I rushed ahead, slamming into the door frame, as I fought to scrape off every second. I'm too late. An empty bed, sheets stained crimson, sat lonely in the middle of the room. A red trail led from the bed, almost under my boots, leading down the hallway. I'm too late. Mildew got to him first. Guilt racked through me, as I darted down the corridor, passing room after room within mere moments. Marks on the rock became fewer and farther apart, as I followed them, each drip of blood filling me with more and more regret. I should have been there. Protected him. I pushed on, until I finally reached the last drop of blood. The last clue on the treasure map, now I only needed to find the prize at the end, none other than Alvin himself. He better be okay.

Alvin's booming voice suddenly belted out, the sheer volume reverberating through the entire castle. A few high-pitched wails followed, as three women sprinted past me, eyes full of fear and panic. I zeroed in on the sound, charging around the corner and barging through the heavy steel doors of the kitchens. Where is he? Mildew you better not hurt him. Yet the second I saw them, I realised it was not Alvin I needed to be worried for. With a strong throw, the larger man shoved the maester against the wall. Mildew whimpered, as his back struck against it, collapsing into a heap on the floor. As I rushed in, he gave me a look I never expected. Apologetic and pleading, begging me to save his life. Just looking at him, I felt something I thought I'd never feel for him. Pity. Pointing off to one side, his nose lays crooked, bent and broken out of place. The grey in his mustache now soaked red. Heavy black bags under his eyes, and his head hung low in resignation. He held his hands up defensively, the frail old fingers shaking uncontrollably, as Alvin's grasp drilled through his guard and clutched at his neck. A vengeful, anger-fueled growl erupted from Alvin's mouth, as he dragged the old man to his feet, and pinned him to the wall.

"YER DID THIS TO ME! YER GONNA TELL ME HOW'T FIX IT OR I'LL KILL YA. RIGHT 'ERE. RIGHT NOW." Alvin bellowed, an inch from the other man's face, spraying the maester with a layer of spit. The maester recoiled under the attack, but couldn't move. He looked to the furious eyes of Alvin, then once more appealed to me. I can't believe I'm actually thinking about helping Mildew. He needs to pay for what he did, but not like this.

"Alvin." I started cautiously. He snapped around to face me, with brown eyes as cold as the dirt. "We need him to tell us the cure. I want this as much as you, but killing him will not help anyone."

"IT'LL 'ELP ME." He grunted, changing his focus once more on the bedraggled shape at his mercy. "THIS TRAITOR MUST DIE. HE DIES BEFORE I DO."

"You're not going to die. You'll be fine." I said calmly, taking a step closer towards the two.

"She's right." Mildew pleaded. "If you've survived this far, the worst is already over."

"So, it was you all along. You killed all those horses. You're the cause of all this death and mayhem." I snarled angrily at him, clenching my first as I reached Alvin's side.

"No, my Lady. I promise. I didn't mean for it to do all this. I swear it. I swear it on the Gods. It was a mistake." He whimpered, crying floods of tears that trickled red down Alvin's fingers.

"A MISTAKE!" I snapped, slamming my fist on the wall an inch from his ear. "This isn't something you can pass off as just an error. You poisoned them. All of them."

"No, Lady Astrid. I swear it. I didn't. It was only meant to strengthen the horses up. Ready them for Winter. I had no idea this would happen. No idea. Please believe me. I didn't mean it. I didn't." He begged once more. Alvin's hold on his throat was strong, as the maester attempted with all his might to melt himself into the wall to get away.

"Alvin, please. Your life isn't worth it to end his pathetic existence." I said, placing an arm on his shoulder. He stared intently at Mildew, before turning to me, then back to the maester. Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and released his hold. The maester took a deep gasp of breath, before attempting to rush off as I helped Alvin. I chased after him, stretching out my foot to hook onto the old man's shin. The lack of momentum caused him to fall off balance, toppling forwards, with his chin slamming hard onto the ground. I turned to Alvin with a smile. "Don't worry, he will pay for this."

"GUARDS! TAKE THEM. BOTH OF THEM!" Came a loud voice from the entrance to the kitchens. I looked over to see Hiccup slowly making his way in, with Heather at his side. Five guards accompanied them, and separated to either side and came towards us. Is he serious? Mildew's the only one who should be punished. He caused all of this."

"'ICCUP, AFTER ALL 'IS DONE, YOU'RE TAKING 'IS SIDE!" Alvin sneered at him, reaching to his waist for his sword. Hiccup stood motionless, a giant green coat on him that almost went to his knees. He stumbled on his feet, as Heather held him on one shoulder to keep him steady.

"Alvin, I'm not taking his side. I don't know what's happened. I want to believe you. Just give me time to get the facts sorted. Work with me here, just for today." Hiccup spoke pleadingly.

"Jus' like yer father. First sign o' trouble and yer turn on me. I'll not 'ave it. I WON'T 'AVE IT!" Alvin yelled, fully drawing his sword. Two of the guards rushed over and pulled the nearly unconscious Mildew off the ground, taking him past Hiccup and away out of sight. The other three men formed an arch around Alvin, as his eyes flicked between them. The stablemaster's great sword swung at the air heavily, the piece of metal so large one swing could split a horse in two with one strike.

"Alvin, listen to me. Mildew will pay for his treason. Don't you do the same." I reasoned with him. Please Alvin. Mildew's not worth it. Don't do this. "You will not suffer for this, I'll make sure of that." Speaking softly, I stepped between two of the guards towards him.

"Astrid, don't…" Hiccup voiced from the far side of the room.

"… He won't hurt me. Will you, Alvin?" I asked, as I came within his range. I was a few feet from him when I could finally see a slight flicker of doubt in his eyes. I stepped closer, speaking more quietly. "I know the truth. Hiccup will listen. Trust me." The man raised his sword, eyes locked on me at all times. Oh Gods. I've misjudged this massively. Fuck. I'm gonna die. No. No. No. Don't do this. My fears soon dissipated, as the colossal clang of his blade hitting the floor echoed all around. He dropped to his knees, hands on his head, as the three men just about managed to surround and shackle him. With one more solemn look towards me, I nodded back to him for assurance, as he got dragged away.

"HICCUP, I HOPE YOU A HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR DOING THAT!" I turned to yell at him. He raised one hand to try to cut me off, as his other clutched at his chest.

"Just give me a second." He breathed heavily.

"YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO…" I started again, but I saw the pain on his face as he rested against one of the side walls near the entrance of the massive room. Heather held him carefully, shooting me a look telling me exactly what I should have already realised. Now is not the time, Astrid. He doesn't need this now.

"…Please, Astrid, just calm down." He said quietly.

"Mildew is the cause of all this. That's all you need to know." I stated firmly. "I'm sorry, are you okay?" I added, after seeing him grimace, his hand still pressed against the coat, just below his shoulder.

"I'm fine. The walk down here took a lot out of me." He said with a weak smile. "Please start from scratch, I need to know everything that's happened while I was away. Everything…"

Valka

These doors. These walls. These faces. I'm home, but every single thing feels different. I spent over two decades here, but now I'm nothing more than a stranger. I never expected life to continue as if nothing had happened, but I couldn't have foreseen how far out of my depth I would be back here. This place I called home. The place I fell in love. The place I imagined raising my family. This doesn't feel like home. Not anymore. The memories within these walls haunt me, reminding me of everything I gave up. Everything I lost. Every day drags by, as if the castle is draining me, but I must stay strong. Hiccup is back now, I can't let him go again. I won't!

With everyone down in the cells dealing with Alvin, I took my chance and went to visit an old friend. The forge was already in sight as I left the cradling warmth and ventured out into the cold. Dark skies loomed overhead, as I felt the gentle kiss of a flake caress my cheek. My hand soon followed it, and I couldn't help but smile as soft snow pattered all around. Even with the danger of Winter, the understated beauty of the North will never cease to amaze me. I raised my hands in the air, feeling the delicate brush of the cold against my fingers. Snow settled reluctantly on the castle's peaks, a thin layer of white across every rooftop, but the weak storm could only melt into the ground underfoot. I trudged across the increasingly mushy ground, carefully pushing the door open before going inside.

His eyes were focused profusely on his work, using the hammer attachment on his left arm to strike at some steel. He looked up at me with a smile, stopping his hammering and unscrewing the tool. He jarringly slotted his usual hook back into its place, screwing it closed with an ear-numbing screech until it locked in place. He looked as strong as ever, one foot less than when I left all those years ago, but he still stood proudly as he staggered towards me.

"Is he okay, Val?" Gobber asked hopefully, ushering me inside and closing the door quickly behind me.

I moved further into the room, perching on the edge of one of the tables. "He's been up for an hour or so now, he should be fine."

"So, why are yer here?" He asked bluntly. "Yer should be with him now." He took a step towards me, resting on his peg-leg as he scratched his chin with his hook.

"I want to be with him. I do. But I need to know some thigs first. I don't want to risk upsetting him and him leaving for good this time. I can't deal with that again." I admitted, taking a deep breath.

"He gave us his word, Val. He won't break that." He said confidently.

"How could I know?" I said sadly, overcome with guilt. "I don't know him, Gobber. I look at him and I see my son, but I know nothing about him. Is he smart? Is he brave? Is he as stubborn and boneheaded as his father? Please tell me." I sniveled. He hobbled towards me, placing a firm, rough hand on my shoulder.

"Why now? You've been back for weeks. Why ask now?" He asked, eyebrows fused together as he looked questioningly.

"I wanted to give him time to adjust at first, but then he was gone. When he left, I couldn't bring myself to ask you. It would only make it hurt more. If he is to stay, I need to know what happened." I said softly. He nodded nervously, stepping past me, and pointing to a small room at the back.

"Come with me. It's better if I show yer." He said softly. I rose to my feet, following him to the back of the forge to a small room. "Hiccup's entire childhood was built from this room. This was his get out. His getaway." He waited outside the door, gesturing for me to enter. Placing my hand gently on the wood, I pushed it open, slowly entering into the room. Wow. I could barely even take it in. Beautiful sketches and designs on the walls and intricate contraptions and weapons sat on the table. I stepped forward, brushing the tips of my fingers across the top of the wooden chair, looking around in awe.

"I never understood how Stoick was so blind. I tried Val. I did. I couldn't make him listen. I couldn't get through to him." Gobber added ashamedly.

"Stoick? What did he do? Tell me Gobber." I asked with alarm bells ringing. My hand coiled tightly around the backrest of the chair, as I turned around to face him.

"The truth. The truth is that when yer left, the lad lost both his parents. Gods I had to almost bludgeon Stoick round the head before he finally listened. Hiccup is so much like you, Val. So much. Stoick knew it. I knew it. Everyone knew it. It just reminded Stoick how he failed you. So, in the end, he failed Hiccup." Gobber said sadly, not being able to meet my eyes.

"No, Gobber, he wouldn't. He would have cared for him and loved him and treasured him." I said defiantly. "He wouldn't." You better not have, Stoick. You better not have. I closed my eyes as I turned back around, picking up the beautiful dagger on the deck and gripping the handle tightly.

"You know how much I wanted to tell Stoick. I hated lying. Knowing you were out there when everything came crumbling down. It nearly broke me." Gobber said solemnly, wiping a tear out of his eye. "I love that boy, like he is my own, but nothing will ever be able to repair the damage his father has done."

"No. I know Stoick. He wouldn't have…" I protested.

"…The Stoick you knew. He died seventeen years ago." No. No. Please don't say that. I didn't even realise I was doing it, until I heard the scratching as the tip of the blade dragged across the wood. I almost immediately dropped the blade, landing with a thud, as it bounced on the table before settling on its side. Gobber must not have noticed or saw fit to question it, but instead just tried to reassure me. "Hiccup kept strong. Kept going. Even as Stoick pulled him this way and that, he never lost himself. It's been hard, but over the last year and a bit, we've got through to the stubborn old fool. Forced him to see. Forced him to listen. I've fought so hard to get them together, I just hope that time wasn't spent in vain." Gobber sighed, his words trailing off at the end.

"I know you will have done all you could, Gobber. Thank you. You always were one of the best men I've ever known." I smiled, reaching out to hug him. He stepped forward, carefully holding me within his arms. "So how do I get through to Hiccup?" I asked tentatively. "What am I supposed to say?"

Gobber stepped back, rocking back on his foot and taking a deep breath. "Just be honest with him. Trust him. Stoick always made him feel as if he wasn't ever going to be good enough, so Hiccup believed him. Put your faith in the lad to step up, because he will. Especially for his family." He stated proudly, a look of hope in his eyes.

"I hope you're right." I sighed. "I struggled with Heather. She was wild and rebellious; I couldn't give her the childhood she needed. We were always on the run, always scared and fearing for our lives. When we did get settled, she bonded closely with a runaway we took in. He was her brother figure. She admired him. When he betrayed us, she grew violent. Angry. Cold. I was so scared she would hurt someone, or herself. It seems like I failed both of them." I wept, tears now streaming down my face, as I collapsed onto the chair with my head in my hands.

"Hey. Hey. Yer didn't fail them." Gobber argued, rushing over, and kneeling in front of me. "Yer've two amazing children. They're both alive and strong because of what yer did. Never regret that." I rubbed the wetness from my cheeks away, as he gave me an open smile. "One thing's for sure, that girl of yours definitely seems to have taken Stoick's temper." He chuckled, his happy expression enticing me into smiling back. "I doubt it'll take Hiccup long to get used to it." Gods, she does take so much after Stoick. Her strength, her relentlessness, her ability to bottle up everything until she explodes. So much like him.

"She's not normally like that, I don't know why she got so angry. She hasn't been like that since we left Volantis." I replied.

"What changed?" He asked slowly.

"Astrid." I replied frankly. "She definitely got closer to her husband before we had to leave…" Gobber's eyes widened, and I couldn't hide the chuckle I was trying to suppress. "…Yes, she is married. I'll tell you that story later. Back to the subject, it was Astrid that finally got through to her. I think Heather always thought she'd be alone, having to fight the world by herself. I couldn't get through to her, but Astrid did. Now they're almost inseparable."

"She does seem to have that kind of effect on both of your children." He laughed. "Hiccup's definitely not going to be leaving again any time soon."

"I don't think they… No… What?... Really?" I mumbled disbelievingly. Gobber just chuckled. Wait. Is that what Heather was laughing at earlier?

"Don't you see it? It's the exact same way Stoick looked at you." He beamed, but his tone turned glum "But, just like you and his dad during the rebellion, Hiccup and Astrid are on opposite sides. You know exactly what happens in war. You know this won't have a happy ending..."