Fifty-One: Furies galore.
After I left him, I went straight to see Major Gothi. She was my direct superior and I trusted her implicitly…and she knew about what had happened to Hiccup. She read my face perfectly and we went into her office: I had been here a lot already for my assessments, reflections and feedback and I knew she was precise, calm and fair. So I made sure the door was locked and I quietly and determinedly spoke to her. I told her what Hiccup and I had discussed, what he had revealed…and I asked her if it was true.
Her eyes were sad as she stared at the desk for a long time…and then she nodded. Then she began to type and in the mechanical, emotionless voice that her synthesiser generated, Gothi told me what had happened to Hiccup, how he had been ambushed outside Pen One, too far from help and how he had been beaten savagely before being raped. How he had staggered back the mile-long trek to his room and had hidden, badly injured and wracked by utter shame and self-loathing. How he had cut himself before overcoming the impulse and how he had seriously considered suicide. And how he had been treated covertly by Gothi and Gobber so that no one would know of his true injuries. And she confirmed that, to the best of her knowledge, it had only been once, though her observations revealed that Dagur definitely had his eye on Hiccup…until he had defected.
And she had not, for one moment, believed that Hiccup was a traitor.
That made me feel about a million times worse because I had…in no small part due to how convincing he had been. He knew how to insult me, how to press my buttons and I had taken the bait. He had played me…but only to his disadvantage. And, he had explained, after he had finally calmed and sat next to me on his miserable, hard bed, his hand tentatively twined with mine, that he knew I was hopeless at acting and that I had a temper which would make me draw the wrong conclusion. I had punched him then-in the shoulder, obviously-for being a brilliant and daring smartass and knowing me too well. I know I can't act: I am direct, forthright and honest-always have been, always intend to be. He told me then that he couldn't have explained what he was doing, even if he had been granted the chance because I wouldn't convince them: I just wished that he hadn't convinced me.
After Gothi, I went to see Gobber and explained what we had discussed. He confirmed Gothi's tale and also that he hadn't believed Hiccup was a traitor. "That laddie is clever, determined and brave. And he loves ye wi' all his heart. He would ne'er betray his lass."
"You didn't hear him, Gobber-he was really convincing," I grumbled, my cheeks flushed with shame. He gave a low chuckle.
"Aye-the lad has a rare talent for mimicry and putting a brave face on," he revealed. "He had to act that everything was normal, that he wasn't abandoned or ignored or beaten through his whole life. And he's got very good at it." I ran my hands through my hair.
"Yeah…wished I'd known just how good he was before this," I murmured then looked up into Gobber's big face. "Stoick won't let this go, will he?"
"He's sworn tae court martial the boy," he confirmed. "Laddie had always been a disappointment tae his father and finally, his father has a legitimate means o' punishing the boy for every second of humiliation he feels for having such a son…" I scowled.
"What, you mean having such a brave, clever determined son?" I asked. Gobber shook his head.
"He's nae the son he wanted," he sighed. "Stoick wanted a Snotlout. But he got a Hiccup-sarcastic, unconventional, brilliant, caring-and missed the fact that under that scrawny exterior, there is the equal o' his father in determination, bravery and loyalty."
"But there isn't," I said bleakly. "He admitted he was afraid of being tortured-and hatched the plan to appear to co-operate to get me and Toothless away…"
"Yeah-because bein' beaten and tortured and locked in a cell is so much more productive than getting free run o' the enemy's base!" Gobber said sarcastically. "And yer here, aren't ye, lass?" I nodded, cheeks flaring with shame.
"He just doesn't value himself at all!" I exploded. "I mean, he is so amazing but he doesn't see it! He's brought Toothless back-and the Terrors…" I didn't mention the baby Night Fury because I wasn't sure how Gobber would react…and I wanted to check it out for myself. "And…he thinks the General will send him to some secret military intel prison, a black hole where he will vanish forever…" With a start, Gobber stared at me, jaw hanging loose.
"He said that?" he murmured.
"Stoick told him he wished Hiccup had never been born," I revealed softly. "He keeps blaming him for his mother's death, even though she was killed by Drago…but just before we went after the Terrors, he said that. It completely broke him, Gobber. I think he thought they were starting to have a relationship…and Stoick shattered him. He blamed Hiccup for the Terrors getting out when it was Tuff who released them off his own back. And then Stoick threatened Hiccup with jail and grounding if he didn't get them back!"
"I know losing Toothless would kill him," Gobber groaned. "And Stoick is determined to do just that to him." I stood and then paused.
"Sir…a court martial requires a panel of senior officers, does it not?" I asked. Blue eyes narrowing, Gobber nodded, his blonde unibrow dipping.
"Lassie, what're ye gettin' at?" he asked.
"Under the provisions of the Armed Services Act 2006, a court martial needs a judge and a jury of three to seven commissioned officers," I explained. "And there are only four commissioned officers in this base. Assuming this base is run under British Military Justice provisions per the Judge Advocate General…"
"I think Stoick imagines he's still in the US Army," Gobber said gloomily. "He'll run a military tribunal of the senior officers-with him as chair." I folded my arms.
"We all know the huge problem with all of this," I sighed. "None of us are officially in either-well, I am RAMC but on indefinite secondment. And Hiccup is definitely not part of any military organisation. He's a civilian…"
"With a military rank…" Gobber reminded me. I groaned: I had insisted he had a rank in order to get the respect and co-operation fro the Riders…but then I smiled.
"He actually has a Naval Rank," I smiled. "Not many ships round here…"
"I have a duck for me bath, does that count?" Gobber volunteered, his eyes twinkling. "So yer his defence counsel. lass?" I froze. Had I just volunteered? And then my heart kicked me hard: of course I had! If I wanted to make up to Hiccup, to apologise for not trusting him and make sure I didn't lose my amazing and oh-so-desperate boyfriend. I nodded.
"I am," I confirmed. "And you'll be in the Tribunal?"
"I would hope," he said with a wink. "But Stoick is a man on a mission…"
"And a man who eats and breathes military protocol," I realised. "This will be by the book."
"Though Odin only knows which book," Gobber grumbled. "He's probably rewriting it as we speak!"
"Then it's lucky I'm a quick study," I told him and headed for the door. He frowned.
"Where're ye goin', lass?" he asked in surprise. I gave a small smile.
"I think Hiccup needs all the friends he can get," I reminded him. "And I'm off to get them…"
I headed out to the glen…though not alone. I decided to take Cami and Ruff, my girl-friends, because I needed to talk to them in private about Hiccup. Of course, Tuff found out his sister was coming out and tagged along, uninvited. The Snotlout came looking for Tuff and he and Gustav called Eret and Fishlegs so in the end, almost the whole team were trudging out of the side-door, wrapped up against the bitter wind. I rolled my eyes: just for once, it would be nice not to have to bring the boys. Tuff was capable of some amazing feats but a lot of the time he was an idiot; Snotlout was tentatively hitting on me again because Hiccup was apparently out of the picture and Gustav was like a damned twelve year old. I sped up and stalked down the glen as Cami and Ruff trudged after me. Gustav, Tuff and Snotlout had found at small amount of snow and had started a snowball fight.
"Wait up!" Cami called, trotting to keep up. I paused and looked round, to see her and Ruff scrambling after me. "Not...not all of us are as fit as you, Astrid!" I huffed but waited as they caught up.
"Okay, spill!" Ruff said sternly. "I know you wanted just us on this...walk... What's on your mind. You've been in and out of meetings ever since you visited Captain Traitor in the cells!"
"He's not a traitor," I mumbled. Ruff snorted and Cami folded her arms.
"I think he is," she scoffed. "He didn't deny it. And you saw him working with the enemy..."
"Yeah...he was...under cover..."
They're stared at me...and then both burst out laughing. "C'mon, that is the oldest line in the book!" Ruff scorned. "The thought that the dork could go undercover..." I glared at her.
"Unfortunately, he is really good at pretending he is what he isn't," I told her tartly. "Case in point: pretending to be a military commander when he has no training, rank, experience or senior support!" That shut them up.
"But he was away for days and days!" Cami protested. "He would have run sooner if he was undercover..."
"Only when the trusted him enough to get Toothless..." I reminded them. "He would never go without Toothless..." Ruff gave a grudging nod as we ambled down the slope, avoiding patches of ice.
"I suppose," she grumbled. "But you thought he was a traitor..." I turned and glared at her.
"I was wrong, okay?" I snapped. "I was a total bitch-idiot. God, even blondes would be embarrassed at how stupidly I behaved!"
"Um...all blondes here..." Cami reminded me.
"Yeah-no blondist comments here-blondie!" Ruff put in. I shrugged.
"My point is... Hiccup was totally convincing...but I know him. And he...he told me something that convinced me, something he never wanted me to know, I suspect...as a gesture of good faith. I checked it out: he was on the level. And now he's facing court martial and life in prison because I was an idiot and his God-damned father will ONLY ever belief the worst of his son. And because the fool will do anything for his dragon!"
"Okay, convince us," Cami said, her eyes narrowing. I recalled she was from a clan of scammers and thieves: it meant she was pretty astute and could smell bullshit at a thousand paces.
"He got me away on Stormfly," I explained.
"You stole her!" Ruff scoffed.
"My helmet was on her when I got her to throw Hiccup," I explained.
"So what? They must've..." Ruff argued.
"I was wearing it when captured!" I retorted. "Why would they stow it in her saddle?"
"Wait...Stormfly threw Hiccup?" Cami asked.
"I did shoot at him as well!" I added.
"Wow...remind me NOT to hack you off!" Ruff grinned, recalling how many times I had shot him when he was captured…or surrendered.
"Even so...Hiccup never loses his seat...no matter how mad the dragon..." Cami mused. "He's an exceptional rider." She stared at me. "You may have a point...one single small point..." I shrugged.
"And what was this big secret?" Ruff pressed. "C'mon, Asty...you can tell us..."
"Actually, I can't," I said quietly. "He told me in confidence and it was something incredibly personal. I am convinced..."
"Is it about Dagur?" Ruff asked eagerly. "I knew they were an item. I..."
"They aren't...weren't...an item!" I snapped. "Do you have any idea how hurtful that is to him that you and the rest keep trotting out that...shit? Dagur was absolutely awful to Hiccup and tormented him for years. Dagur is the last person he has any feeling for...except hatred." Shocked at the vehemence of my tone, Ruff actually backed up a step. "He loves me. He still loves me. And he's broken that he thinks he's blown it with me..."
"Has he?" Cami asked thoughtfully. I stared at her and then shook my head.
"No," I sighed. "Just because he's a total idiot and he made an outrageously bad decision with the best of intentions doesn't mean I've given up on him." I turned away. "I still love and want him. I just need to stop the General burying him..."
"And you know we're with you, right?" Cami asked me...and I managed a wan smile.
"I'd hoped," I admitted, "though you did a good job of beating him up!"
"Actually, we came second to Lieutenant 'fists-of-steel'!" Ruff grinned and I managed to look slightly smug. Then I scanned the glen and sighed. I knew he was there.
"TOOTHLESS!" I bellowed. "I NEED YOUR HELP! HICCUP NEEDS YOUR HELP!" The others gave me a 'really?' look. Ruff rolled her eyes.
"Even Tuff wouldn't try that!" she huffed.
"Yes, he would! He tried calling his com when he lost it!" Cami reminded her. "But really Astrid?C'mon, sister...it isn't gonna be as simple as..."
The answering roar that echoed through the glen felt like a personal triumph...as did the appearance of a black shape with a red prosthetic tail, bounding down the slope at top speed towards me. Because I was watching for her, I saw the little grey shape bouncing after Toothless and my grin widened.
"Toothless!" I laughed as the Night Fury galloped at me and knocked me down, licking me furiously. "Yuk! That so doesn't wash out!" I scrambled up but the over-eager dragon kept on licking and gently head-butting me, purring excitedly. "Yeah, I missed you as well...and I know Stormfly will be so happy to see you, buddy!" I could almost hear the others' jaws drop at how affectionate Hiccup's dragon was being to me. "What? I go flying a lot with Hiccup! Of course, I know Toothless!" I reminded them, stroking his face gently...and then I crouched down, peering at the slate grey shape behind him.
"No way..." I heard Cami murmur.
"You got ta be kidding me!" was Ruffnut's verdict.
"Hi, Myrkr," I said gently, staring at the timid shape huddling behind the bigger dragon. Big green eyes inspected me carefully and noted how relaxed Toothless had been with me. "I'm Hiccup's friend, Astrid. I was hoping you'd be my friend as well..." And then I stretched out my hand and lowered my head, looking away. There was a pause...and then a collective intake of breath as the soft, warm rounded muzzle pressed into my hand. I smiled and looked back at her, stroking her gently and cooing to the nervous little dragon.
"How does he do it?" Cami asked, shocked. "He already rides the rarest dragon in the world and when he runs off undercover...or whatever...he gets his hands on another one!" Toothless crooned and nudged me with his saddlebag: it was really full and I rubbed little Myrkr while reaching out and staring at a large-ostrich sized-jet black egg. I had never seen one of these-though I had seen the other eggs in the Hatching Pit-but I instinctively knew which egg Hiccup would snatch.
"I think you should make that a hat trick!" I advised them and Ruffnut huffed.
"You know, I think Snot will be hugely pissed off," she grumped. "He originally wanted Toothless and now Hiccup is cornering the market..."
"Did I hear my name?" the sergeant in question asked, arriving. He was covered in snow. The others-Tuff, Gustav, Fishlegs and Eret-were all trailing behind, looking as of they had been caught in a blizzard as they finally caught up with us...and then they all gasped.
"I don't believe it" Snotlout gasped. "How does he do it?"
"He's Hiccup!" I grinned, still stroking the little Night Fury. "This is Myrkr. He rescued her from Drago. And I guess he snatched the egg from that nest up in Franz-Josef Land."
"But how are you...?" Eret asked in shock. I stared and then I realised-I was still the newest rider: I shouldn't be able to do any of this…but I knew why. I shrugged.
"Maybe Hiccup is contagious?" I suggested.
"Ooh! Ooh! Let me guess? Is it Plague? Botulism? Distemper?" Tuff asked eagerly.
"Um...I think only dogs can get Distemper..." I pointed out.
"Are you sure?" he asked me suspiciously. Giving him my coldest glare, I folded my arms.
"Which one of us has a medical degree, Tuff?" I asked him pointedly. He subsided.
"Er, is it you Lieutenant Doctor Astrid sir?" he guessed.
"Correct," I said smugly...and then my com buzzed. "Hofferson. Go."
"Lassie, whate'er yer doing, now would be a smashing time tae come back," Gobber said over the com. "The General is heading down to see his son!" I froze and looked at the rest of the Team. Sharing glances, Snotlout spoke up for them all.
"Go!" he said swiftly. "Um, I think the General may tear him limb from limb..." I was already leaping onto Toothless's saddle as Myrkr whimpered. I patted my lap and the little Night Fury bounded onto the saddle with me. Carefully-because I could see she had half-healed wounds and a splinted broken wing-I wrapped an arm around her and leaned forward.
"C'mon, Toothless-Hiccup needs us!" I said and without hesitation, he shot into the air, leaving the others gasping and Tuffnut of all people scowling.
"Huh! I had dibs on T!" he grumbled as we vanished towards the Base.
oOo
The first Hiccup knew he had another visitor was the entry of a second guard, who commanded him to walk to the bars and put his hands through so they could be shackled, immobilising him. It was something he profoundly hated because he had been restrained too many times with too many bad outcomes but the guards threatened him with tasers and he knew they wouldn't hesitate to taser him into submission then shackle him up anyway. Wearily, he complied.
The visit from Astrid had been a blessing and a curse, for it had brought back full force everything he had lost. She had been justifiably mad and he cringed at how ineptly he had explained himself. It wasn't as if he hadn't rehearsed the conversation every minute since his capture, when his last sight had been her steely glare as she shot trank after trank into him...but the sight of an angry Astrid Hofferson had turned his brain to mush and he had stumbled over his carefully prepared speech. And then she had asked him the question.
It had been the one thing he had sworn never to tell her, the most shameful confession he could make that he knew totally undermined him as a man...especially to the girl he loved. But it was also the most personal and private secret he could offer, his ultimate gesture of good faith...so he had told her...and she had forgiven him. The memory of her arms, strong around his shaking body, her warmth seeping into him was almost too much to bear because he craved her so much...and he knew now when he lost her, it would be a thousand times worse. But he couldn't see himself being allowed his freedom...if his father had anything to do with it.
So when the guards snapped to attention and saluted, he felt his throat dry. Helpless and shackled, he could only stare up in horror as General Stoick Haddock stomped into the room. The cold grey-green eyes narrowed with disdain as he glared at the helpless prisoner…and then they opened the cell door and he walked in.
There was an aeons-long awkward moment as the soldier stared at his son and then Hiccup swallowed. "Really, Dad?" he asked pointedly. "What d'you think I'm gonna do? Jump you? Escape? Fight my way through you, the two men in here and Grimsdaal who's standing at the door when you could literally beat me to death with one hand tied behind your back?"
"You are a traitor!" Stoick snarled.
"And that automatically makes me Superman, right? At least get these damned shackles off! I can hardly talk to you chained facing the bars…and I presume with you being here that you did want to talk to me?"
Stoick paused for a long moment, then nodded to the guard. Hiccup was breathing hard with relief as he heard the click and felt the cold pressure in his wrists ease as the shackles were removed. Immediately, he stumbled back away from his father, rubbing his wrists and warily watching the much larger man. Hiccup was tall and lean, skinnier than he had been before he left BERK-but his father topped him by a head and probably weighted three times as much, a vast mountain of a man sheathed in a crisp General's uniform. The contrast couldn't have been more obvious.
"Thanks," Hiccup said carefully: he knew his father better than Stoick would have believed and he could sense the explosion coming, Mentally, he steeled himself: whatever Stoick said would be cruel and painful.
"Why did you betray me, boy?"
Yup. As expected. It was always about Stoick. "I had to make a choice in a situation which was untenable," Hiccup tried to explain. "There was no hope in being captured again, no point in being beaten to a pulp for the nth time and lying in a cell until I got handed to Drago to be executed for the crime of being your son. I made a command decision to do what I could to get Astrid and Toothless away…and maybe find out something useful." Hiccup watched his father's face as he spoke, his calm delivery masking his deep unease. Because though he had used language Stoick should understand, his father always spoke another language as well-disappointment in Hiccup. It was something he was fluent in.
"So you surrendered because you were a coward and hoped you could find some intelligence to save your worthless life!" Stoick growled.
"Um…probably wouldn't have put it like that…" Not to you. I did to Astrid because I will always be honest with her, because I love her...
"YOU SHAME ME!" Stoick bellowed and Hiccup recoiled a pace. His father had gone scarlet with rage and his massive fists were clenched so tightly the knuckles showed white. "All I expect is that you show the courage and loyalty expected of a Haddock!" he shouted, advancing in his son.
"Have you any idea how ridiculous that actually sounds?" Hiccup attempted, backing away rapidly…until his back hit the bars of the cell and he was cornered.
"And…and THIS! Stoick sneered at full volume. "You are here, accused of treason, imprisoned awaiting trial for your life…and you make jokes? Have you any idea how serious this is?" Hiccup stared up into the enraged face of the man towering over him, trapping him back against the bar and gave a small nod.
"Er…kinda in the moment here," he muttered. "I know exactly where I am and what I'm facing. I know that my father dragged me into a secret military operation and ignored me. I know I'm not part of any military organisation. I know I have no military training. I know I have been effectively forced to lead a group of soldiers who have given me no respect but a cart load of shit for years. I know I have been tortured by traitors within this very base and my commander-my own father-disbelieved my word and just screamed at me to co-operate. I know I was in the hands of men who were about to inflict yet more horrific pain and then hand me over to the man who had started to carve me up as a way of getting to you. I know my best friend-my dragon-and the woman I love were prisoners and I had to do something to alter the odds because you people would NEVER have found us. And I know I came back because I trusted that I would be given the same chance and understanding that you granted Dagur and Heather and even your own gods-damned traitor of a brother!"
Stoick hit him.
oOo
I arrived in the observation station to hear Stoick call his son a coward and listened to Hiccup's very measured and calm appraisal of his entire time in BERK. I shot Gobber and Grimsdaal looks: we were all watching, listening and recording…and then we saw Stoick pull back his arm and punch the prisoner.
There was a brief moment where we all stared as Hiccup slid down to the floor, blood trickling from his nose before Stoick grabbed a meaty handful of his now-bloodstained T-shirt and punched him again.
"Oh shit, he'll kill him," I breathed and saw Gobber reaching the same conclusion. As one, we raced from the station and burst into the cell block, shoving the guards aside. Stoick had grabbed his son again and had thrown him hard against the wall, watching him slide pretty limply down and sprawl on the floor. "STOP!" I shouted as we arrived at the cell, entering without invitation.
"Get out, Lieutenant!" Stoick growled. "That's an order!"
"I'm afraid I cannot obey that order, sir, because it would make me an accomplice to murder," I told him shortly. "Step away from the prisoner. That's enough!" There was a pause…and then he grabbed Hiccup again.
"Stoick!" Gobber's voice was rough, strained. "Please…ye canna do this. Dinnae throw away yer career on this!"
"Sir!" I added, seeing him draw his arm back. I drew and cocked my weapon with one swift movement. "Release the prisoner!" The General froze at the click as the hammer cocked.
"That's treason!" Stoick growled, his eyes swinging to glare fiercely at me.
"Oh, everythin's treason to you, Dad…" Hiccup mumbled blearily.
"Shut up…" I said through gritted teeth. "Not helping…"
"Sorry…" he mumbled thickly. "Thought…"
"SIR!" I repeated, very obviously levelling my weapon at him. "You are to release the prisoner NOW! I am pretty sure you recall the Geneva Convention? About humane treatment of prisoners…?"
"This organisation is not under that protocol!" Stoick growled.
"But we both are, aren't we?" I reminded him. "We are serving military officers and our actions are bound by it-no matter what you may try to tell yourself. The prisoner is an irritating smart-mouthed kid…"
"Pretty sure I'm a few months older than you…" Hiccup murmured. I gave him a brief very sharp look.
"But he is a prisoner and hasn't been convicted of anything," I reminded him. "And this young man is your son. Do not do anything you may ultimately regret. You came here to talk to him. I suggest you try that first…"
"Lieutenant…" Stoick growled, his furious gaze locking on me.
"I will have you removed from command again, sir, if you continue-because you are not behaving rationally," I snapped. "He has made some very big mistakes but he was acting under command prerogative and that grants him some significant discretion to manage a dangerous field situation where he cannot possibly run his plan past a more senior officer!"
"Is that going to be his defence?" Stoick scoffed, slowly lowering his hand. He turned back to look at the limp shape in his hands, the bloody face and dazed forest green eyes turned towards him. With a dismissive movement, he tossed Hiccup across the cell. With a clang, he hit the bars and slid down, hands rising to cradle his aching head, throbbing from the impact against the bars.
"Among others," I said, lowering and holstering my weapon. He glared at me and then turned back to the huddled shape at the back of the cell.
"You really are a disgrace," he breathed to his son and Hiccup flinched as if he had been struck.
"Dad…please…" he begged softly. "I had to try something else because they would get Toothless and Astrid and I would be killed. I'm not a soldier, Dad. I never signed up to die in defence of the country or the world or anything like that. I'm a computer geek and a dragon rider! I can only do what I think is right to try to protect the people I love. I never betrayed anything."
"YOU BETRAYED ME!" Stoick shouted at him. "You betrayed my reputation! You betrayed my honour! You betrayed every hour I have spent in the service of our country, fighting to protect us from obvious and unseen threats to our way of life! You betrayed our forebears and our distinguished history of service and dedication! And you betrayed me because I thought you were behaving like the son I had hoped for-a proper, courageous, effective soldier!"
"So I wasn't the person who matched up to your impossible ideal," Hiccup said despondently. "I was just who I am…I was just the person who got Astrid and Stormfly and Toothless and the Terrors and myself out of their hands along with another dragon egg, the location of Drago's nest and a baby Night Fury. Sorry. I can't be a dream…I can only be Hiccup…"
And it was obvious, looking at the General, that he hadn't registered what his son had said, hadn't acknowledged the amazing feats he had achieved and the intelligence he had brought back…though Gobber snatched a sudden, shocked look at me. I gave a very small nod…and then the Colonel stared at the battered prisoner much more intently, silently promising to have a very long talk with Hiccup about what he had said…and get those details while they were still of value. No, all Stoick saw was someone who had surrendered to the enemy because they were afraid, not the reasons why they had done that or the ultimate aim and outcome. It struck me that, for a man who worked with intel and counter-terrorism, Stoick had a very rigid and inflexible mind…especially where his son was concerned.
"You have shamed me for the last time…" Stoick snarled to the slumped shape, pressed back against the bars and staring hopelessly up at the implacable shape of his father. "You will face the Tribunal for your fate. But know this: as of now, you are not a Haddock. YOU ARE NOT MY SON!"
And with that, he shoved past me and stormed from the cell and out of the block. Pausing for just a heartbeat, I raced forward and skidded to my knees by Hiccup, raising a hand to his bloody face. He was literally shaking, his eyes wide with terrible hurt. Wordlessly, he pressed against me, burying his bloody face in my shoulder and wrapping his arms around me. I just held him fiercely, feeling him shake and looking helplessly up to Gobber.
"It's over," Hiccup whispered. "I've lost him."
And that broke my heart too. Because he had always hoped, always striven to please his father, to make him proud…but now, finally, he had given up.
