I am back to Brave! Hope everyone had a wonderful start to their new year. I celebrated mine in Dublin…there were so many people! Of course, we made the mistake of going into the largest bar in the city on New Year's Eve. That is an experience I will not repeat!
Here we go…Review Replies:
Jesusfreak (anonymous): A lot of people got the movie for Christmas. Popular gift. Haha. I usually go out and buy movies I like as soon as they release on DVD, but I told my parents I was waiting until after Christmas for HTTYD 2 because I felt bad that I kept taking all their gift ideas. I had a great Christmas. I hope yours was awesome too!
Angryhenry: Finally your waiting is over. Here's the next chapter.
Noctus Fury (anonymous): I know I'm going to sound like a horrible fan, but I haven't watched my new HTTYD DVDs yet. I got so many movies and I haven't had time to watch any of them. I've only seen DotDR one time, so I definitely need to rewatch that one again. I don't think I agree about Gobber. When he says that line, he's smiling and I doubt he'd do that if his best friend married the girl he liked. As much as I don't agree with making Gobber gay, the evidence is kinda stacked. Honestly, I'm kinda more Big Hero 6 than HTTYD at this point. I just don't know what BH6 stories I want to write yet. My phone now has BH6 wallpaper instead of HTTYD. I noticed that Hiro and Hiccup did look similar and that's what originally peaked my attention. I didn't notice Tadashi and Hiccup, though, but now that you mention it… The plot is a lot like HTTYD, I agree. Can't say I remember Iron Giant all that much, but I've heard that comparison before as well. As for updates, well…we'll see. Haha. Okay, this is a long reply. Cut to the chapter!
Next chapter starts…now!
Chapter 53: What Is Wrong With Hiccup?
Astrid continued to stay by Hiccup's bedside throughout the day, leaving each night to sleep so she could return again the next day. The days passed slowly and Hiccup was still just as silent as he'd been when Stoick had found him clutched in Toothless's paws on Dragon Island.
Outside, Berk changed. Vikings and dragons had officially made peace and lived together in the village. Vikings built stables and feeding stations for the dragons —very simple designs that Hiccup would surely upgrade…once he awakens. The dragons, in return, provided the Vikings with transportation and other services that they would never have thought possible during the warring times. Astrid couldn't wait to see Hiccup's reaction when he finally woke up and took his first glances at the new Berk. When would he finally wake up? It seemed that he had been sleeping forever and Astrid was not prided for her patience (because such a thing did not exist).
Occasionally, Stoick would stop by to check on his son. Sometimes her friends would drop by as well to see how Hiccup was doing. The answer was always the same. No change. Sometimes they would stay for a little longer. Other times, they would leave soon after hearing Astrid's updates (which were quite bland).
Several days ago, Gobber had stopped by to check that the prosthetic fitting had been successful. Seeing no signs of infection, he had told Stoick that Hiccup could be moved from Gothi's hut and back to his home where he could rest peacefully until he decided to wake up and return to Berk. Stoick had left with Gobber to move Hiccup's bed down to the ground floor of the house before returning to take Hiccup home. Astrid had walked with them as Stoick carefully carried his limp son back to the Haddock house on the hill.
At Hiccup's house, Stoick had gently laid Hiccup down upon his moved bed as Astrid grabbed a nearby blanket. Stoick and Gobber then stepped aside to let Astrid near to the bed to lay the wool blanket over Hiccup. Hopefully he'll be comfortable, she had thought.
Now, days later, Astrid was still there by Hiccup's bedside. Everything was calm and silent, just as always. However, it did not stay that way. Astrid was grasping Hiccup's hand when she felt his grip begin to tense. She had found this strange; usually Hiccup was so calm and still. Looking up, she saw that Hiccup, though still asleep, had started to writhe a little and beads of sweat were popping up across his forehead. Though Astrid had no idea what was happening, she knew that it wasn't good; she had to tell someone. That would mean she would have to briefly leave Hiccup's side, but she thought little of that. Right now, she just needed to find someone who knew amputations better than she; she left quickly to find Gobber.
Racing through the village, Astrid dodged Vikings and prayed thankfully that none of them stopped her on her way to the forge. She felt bad for leaving Hiccup alone in his house, but she simply reminded herself that she did it only to help him and she felt better. As expected, she found Gobber hard at work in his forge. He looked up as he heard his rush into the shop.
"Astrid, what's up? Has there been a change in Hiccup?"
"Yes, Gobber, but you need to come quick. I think something's wrong with him. He started to tense up and writhe in pain…and I think he's developed a fever."
Hearing Astrid's description, Gobber immediately dropped his tools. "You were right to get me, Astrid. Hiccup needs immediate attention."
"Why?" Astrid yelled out, as she ran to catch up with Gobber as he bolted out of the forge as fast as he could on his real and prosthetic legs. "What is wrong with Hiccup?"
"Something that any person with a fake limb risks," Gobber explained. "Hiccup's body is rejecting the new leg…and it's causing a very nasty sickness—fever, chills, pains. I was hoping this wouldn't happen to Hiccup…"
"Maybe that's all that it is!" Astrid interrupted Gobber with words of encouragement (more so for himself). "Maybe he's just sick. I mean…it's been pretty hard for him to eat while he's been asleep and…all."
"Well, let's hope…" Gobber answered, but Astrid could hear that he wasn't convinced.
Arriving back to Hiccup's house, Astrid could immediately see that Hiccup had not gotten any better. She stepped aside to allow Gobber the space he would need as he checked over Hiccup. As Gobber looked over the boy, Astrid watched the blacksmith's facial features for any sign on a diagnosis.
Finally, after several minutes, Gobber stepped back from Hiccup's bedside. "It's just as I feared. Astrid, stay here and continue to watch over Hiccup. I need to bring Gothi here."
Gobber left and Astrid waited (for that was all she could do at this point) for him to return with the Elder. Usually, she would be seated beside Hiccup's bed, but right now she was much too nervous to just sit around. It's a good thing I thought to go alert Gobber.
Luckily for Astrid, she did not have to wait too long for Gobber and Gothi to return. They're back quick. Hiccup's condition must really need to be tended to immediately.
Astrid could tell that Gobber had briefly explained Hiccup's condition to Gothi on the way back to Hiccup's house because the Elder set right to work with placing medicinal ingredients into a bowl and mashing them up into a disgustingly-green paste. "So, while Gothi's working on this…stuff for Hiccup, can you explain to me what exactly is going on with Hiccup?" Astrid, her curiosity getting the best of her, asked Gobber.
"It's just as I feared when you explained it, Astrid. Hiccup's body is rejecting the new leg and the strain is creating a rather nasty fever. Gothi is creating an ointment that will, hopefully, reverse the infection that is ravishing around the area where Hiccup's fake leg meets his real skin.
"But...he will be okay, won't he?" Astrid wasn't sure she wanted to hear Gobber's answer, but she asked the question anyway.
"Only time will tell, but if Gothi administers this ointment early enough, then Hiccup should be just fine. I mean…this very same thing happened to me a long time ago…and I turned out alright."
Astrid turned back to watch as Gothi carefully applied the green paste around Hiccup's inflamed skin. The young Viking was so focused that she almost did not hear Gobber's next words.
"These moments right now are extremely crucial. If Hiccup can pull through this, then he will be just fine. If not…well…you know the rest, I'm sure…"
Well, like always, I had that final line visualized in a different way, but I just couldn't put it into words. It's late and I'm tired. Hope the chapter turned out okay. At least it's posted a whole night earlier than planned. You're welcome.
P.S. I've recently become obsessed with Big Hero 6 and it's been so hard in this chapter to remind myself to write Hiccup instead of Hiro. Haha.
Coming Up Next: The crucial moments have passed. How has Hiccup fared?
Thank you all for reading and supporting Try To Be Brave!
Posted: January 24, 2015
3 days remaining until my 24th birthday!
