Chapter 17: Renewed
Berk, Day 11 since Hiccup's Departure
Astrid was once more in the blackness and dark of another vision. Around her echoed shrieks of dying men and bangs of clashing blades. A battle raged in the darkness, one she could not see, but only hear.
She ducked as a dark blade whistled over her head. Spinning around, she swung her axe viciously at her attacker's neck. Her blow struck home, and her axe sunk into flesh and bone as the creature's neck. It let out a dying shriek before it crumbled to the ground and vanished into dust. Astrid ignored it, and sprung forward once more, into a black cloud of dust.
"Hiccup!" she shouted, fighting her way through the blackness. "Hiccup, where are you?"
There was no answer. Only roars of dragons and the crackling of flames.
"Hiccup!" she screamed desperately. "Where are you?"
Still there was no reply, and Astrid found herself in front of a massive red door. With a battle cry, she kicked them open, and they slammed against the stone walls with a boom.A blast of hot air struck her, and she realized that the entire place was in flames, great tongues of fire dancing along the edges of the room.
In the center of the fire, she saw him. It was Hiccup, standing tall and proud with his back to her, facing an iron throne. At his feet lay a pile of dead and injured bodies, some still writhing in pain or groaning in their death throes. Hiccup was doused in black gore, covered from head to toe in the dripping, disgusting blood of his slaughtered enemies. Hanging limply from his left arm was a round, black shield with a strange red dragon crest, scarred with burns and arrows. In his right hand he held a sword of fire.
"Hiccup!" Astrid shouted, dropping her axe and running towards him.
Slowly Hiccup turned around to face her. He was helmetless, and his long brown hair billowed in an invisible wind that Astrid could not feel. The right side of his head was caked with his own dried blood, which flowed from directly above a jagged, ugly scar over his left eye. As his gaze met hers, he smiled in content, letting his shield fall to the floor with a clang.
"Astrid," he whispered.
Astrid, with a joyous cry, spread her arms and tackled Hiccup in a giant bear hug. Hiccup opened his left arm to receive her, and…
She passed right through him.
Gasping in shock, Astrid recovered her balance and whirled around. Hiccup was facing her, a sad smile on his pained face.
"I'm dead, Astrid," he whispered. "Remember?" He reached out with his free left hand. It looked perfectly normal at first, but as he stroked her cheek lovingly, there was nothing there – only a cold breeze as his fingers touched her skin.
"No!" Astrid shouted in fear. "You can't be! Hiccup, you're not dead, you're not!"
Hiccup looked sorrowfully down at his chest. Astrid followed his gaze, and gasped.
Hiccup's chest was torn open, and there was a gaping hole in his black armor. Blood was flowing like water from the mortal wound.
"They killed me," Hiccup said quietly. "I am gone, Astrid. My body is shattered. I have to go. Toothless is waiting for me in Valhalla."
"Hiccup, no!" Astrid cried, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I won't let you, I love you, and you can't just leave me now!"
Hiccup shook his head. "You can't cheat death, Astrid," he whispered, even quieter than before. "It is my time now. Tell dad to make Fishlegs the new chief. He's the only one left I can trust. I must go now. I love you, Astrid. You need to get out before it's too late."
He began to fade into a white mist, becoming transparent and ghostlike.
"NOOOOO!" Astrid screamed, reaching forward.
"I love you," Hiccup whispered, before vanishing into nothing. His sword clattered to the ground, the flames that engulfed the blade vanishing, revealing a jet black steel weapon. A cold breeze howled, and what was left of Hiccup was blown away with the chill of death.
Astrid fell to her knees and screamed up at the heavens.
"WHY?!" she yelled. "Hiccup! Come back to me, come back, I love you, you can't go!"
Falling on her face, she sobbed uncontrollably, the flames that surrounded the area slowly creeping towards her. All was silent except for the crackling of the firestorms and the sobs that emitted from Astrid. Even the mangled bodies that surrounded her had ceased to struggle and looked bleak and forlorn.
"Lady Hofferson!" a voice shouted faintly from the darkness. Astrid heard it, but did not reply. She was oblivious to everything that moved.
"Lady Hofferson!" the voice was closer now, and Astrid soon heard footsteps run up to her prostrate form.
"Lady Hofferson, we need to go!" a man shouted, touching her shoulder. "This whole place is about to collapse, and we have to be out of here! Are you injured?"
Astrid did not answer, and continued to sob uncontrollably on the floor.
"Come on, Astrid!" the man shouted, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Get up! We have to leave! Now!"
"No!" Astrid screamed at him, as he lifted her to her feet. "I have to stay! Hiccup is dead, I can't leave him!" She looked up at the man through her tear-filled eyes. He wore a blue and gold helmet with a dragon crawling down the top to form a threatening nosepiece. Behind the menacing helm were a pair of gleaming blue eyes. The man was huge.
"I know that!" he shouted back, dragging Astrid to a standing position. "Hiccup is dead, and you will be too, if you stay here! He would want you to live! Come, Lady Hofferson, or I'll carry you out!"
"No!" Astrid screamed, hitting the man with her fists as he tried to move her away. "I am staying here!" Her hands struck weakly against the man's blue and gold armor, bouncing harmlessly off a strange leaf-shaped emblem on the man's chestplate. His armor was also slippery with black blood.
"I'll carry you, then!" the man shouted, over the roaring of the flames. "Come on!"
Grabbing her by her waist, he slung her over his shoulders like she weighed no more than a baby. Astrid struggled, but she was no match for the man's sheer strength.
"Pu me down!" she shouted, hitting at him. "I'm staying here!"
"Oh no, you're not!" the man replied grimly. "We are both leaving this accursed place NOW!"
Turning, he ran out of the room, pushing through a wall of fire to get to the door. Astrid was seared by the heat as they passed through. Scarcely had they done so when there was a great crash, and the room they had just left collapsed with a deafening roar. Blocks of stone hurled past and shattered on the ground nearby. One struck the man carrying her, and he pitched to the ground with a cry, his helmet clattering away on the floor. Astrid fell off his shoulders and landed underneath him.
Looking up, she found herself staring into the face of the man who saved her. He had long brown hair with pointed ears, but a broad, strong face. The man was an elf.
Astrid's attention was diverted from the elf in the next instant, for the wall behind them began to fall on top of the two soldiers.
"LOOK OUT!" Astrid screamed, as the massive tonnage of rock fell on them. The elf twisted around and threw a leaf-shaped shield over the two of them in a desperate attempt to block the oncoming pile of stone. Then it struck them, and all went black.
Astrid woke up with a scream, clawing at the blankets of her bed.
"Astrid!" Someone asked anxiously. "Astrid, are you all right?"
Astrid sat up in bed, gasping for air. Once again, this dream had been vividly real. It was too real to have just been a dream. Something was happening to her. She was seeing visions, and in this one, Hiccup was truly dead. She needed to talk to Gothi about the meanings of these images.
"Astrid." Someone grabbed her shoulder and she started, whirling her head around to look at the person who had awaken her.
"Astrid?" Heather asked, concerned. "What's the matter with you?"
Astrid looked away, breathing hard.
"I had another vision," she whispered. "This time – I saw him, Hiccup. He was gone. He vanished. It was so real. I -" Astrid closed her eyes and bowed her head. "He's really dead, isn't he?"
Heather sat down next to Astrid and put an arm around her friend's shoulders.
"Yes, I think he is, Astrid," she said comfortingly. "It is hard to accept, I know. Losing a loved one is the hardest thing you will ever have to endure. I know it. I've had to go through it myself."
Heather wrapped both her arms around Astrid consolingly. "Yet, as difficult as it is to bear, you must get up and move on. Hiccup is dead, and your island is looking for a new leader, someone they can get behind and follow to their deaths. Snotlout is too stupid, and Fishlegs isn't enough of a soldier. They needyouout there, Astrid. You are a warrior, a thinker, a fighter. You need to go and support your village. Forget Hiccup. There will be a time to grieve for him, but that time is not now. I was sent to wake you. We're leaving for the raid on the Bog in twenty minutes. Stormfly is waiting. She has had plenty of chicken and rest. I made sure of that."
Astrid managed a smile.
"You remembered the chicken," she laughed, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Yep," Heather replied with a smile. "How could I not? Stormfly was the first dragon I ever rode on my own. I never forgot anything about her. I should get my own Nadder soon."
Astrid rose. "You really should, Heather. I'll help you pick one out when we get back from this raid." She paused, looking at Heather with a frown. Her friend was dressed in Berkian armor, with a black cloak and a black bow and arrow. "Are you coming with us, Heather?"
"Yes," Heather replied, standing. "I couldn't bear to stay behind while the rest of the teens had all the fun. You guys fought for me and my tribe when we were attacked by the Outcasts, and I plan on returning the favor. I've become a pretty good warrior, if I do say so myself." She patted the bow on her back. "And I can shoot really well with this thing."
"How are you flying with us?" Astrid asked curiously. "I thought you didn't own a dragon."
"Oh, your mother lent me hers for the raid," Heather explained. "Spike is quite the Nadder. In fact, she's almost as good as Stormfly. I'll use her for this trip, and then after I return her to your mother I'll have to get my own."
"I'm surprised mom let you use it," Astrid said, picking up her axe and strapping it to its usual spot on her back. "Usually she doesn't let other people ride her dragon. What made her allow you to take Spike?"
"Weeell," Heather admitted, "she kind of wanted me to make sure you were safe. I mean, she thought you would be really angry at the Boggies and would try to do something rash. When I asked her if I could borrow her dragon to go with you guys, she let me take Spike so long as I promised I'd keep an eye on you."
Astrid sighed, buckling her knife belt to her waist and picking up her cloak.
"Everyone is looking after me now," she grumbled. "First Fishlegs, and now you. I should talk to my mom about this whole 'look after me' nonsense. I think I can take care of myself."
"Wait, why is Fishlegs keeping an eye on you?" Heather questioned, curiously.
Astrid's smile immediately faded as she recollected the reason.
"Because Hiccup asked him to," she whispered. She closed her eyes once more, tears forming. "Even as Hiccup went off to his death, he made sure that someone was looking after me. He always cared so much about me. Why did he have to die? Why?" Astrid buried her face in her hands, tears starting to flow once more.
"Oh, don't, Astrid!" Heather cried, stepping forward and embracing her friend. "I didn't mean to make you think of it again, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She buried her face in Astrid's shoulder, squeezing her comfortingly.
"There's still a chance, Astrid," she whispered in her friend's ear."Maybe the Boggies are keeping him captive on the island after all. He could still be alive."
Astrid nodded, wiping her eyes. "I really, really hope so," she sobbed. "Ineedto find out during the course of the raid. I know Fishlegs will organize the attack somehow so that I can search the dungeons for Hiccup. Legs is as concerned about Hiccup as any of us, and won't pass up a chance to find him."
Heather nodded, releasing Astrid. "He'd better. I know Snotlout's supposed to be chieffor this attack, but we all know it's going to be Fishlegs that will do the real leading. He's a pretty impressive tactician, if you hadn't already noticed."
Astrid agreed. "He sure is, Heather. "And I won't tolerate any of Snotlout'sgobbledygook. If he tries to take control of the operations, I'll knock him out, especially if he refuses to let us look for Hiccup. Maybe I'll kill him instead. That would be a better thing for all of us."
Heather chuckled. "I would greatly appreciate seeing that."
Astrid grinned, throwing on her black cloak. "Is everyone dressed properly, Heather? I mean, in dark clothes? We're going to be attacking at night with only a few dragons, so stealth is absolutely vital to our success."
Heather chortled. "Um, yeah, Fishlegs made sure of that. He also added a fresh feature as well." Heather straightened up."Astrid, I regret to inform you that Stormfly is no longer blue."
Astrid stared. "What?!"
Heather laughed lightly. "Yep. Fishlegs went and painted every single one of our dragons with black char, so they could blend in perfectly with the night sky. Now they all look like demons from the underworld. It's actually pretty awesome. I'm guessing the paint won't stay on Hookfang, though, because as soon as he lights up, it'll all melt off."
"That's a good point," Astrid agreed. "But at least its Snotlout's dragon, so the Boggies will shoot at him first."
Heather laughed at the joke. "Poor Snotlout. It's got to be tough being someone everybody hates."
Astrid shook her head. "He's SO stupid. I swear, he's going to try and court me, as soon as Hiccup's funeral is over. I swear, if he does that I'll kill him." Astrid shook her head sadly. "Hiccup. I need to find him on that island, or else I will be lost."
Heather grabbed her friend's shoulders and looked deep into her eyes.
"Keep up hope, Astrid," she whispered. "There's still a chance. Maybe he's alive after all."
High Asgard, Day 12 since Hiccup's Departure
Hiccup woke with a start. It took him a second to remember what had happened to him the previous day, but slowly it came back to him. He had killed The Wolf, terrorized the citizens of Asgard, and strangled Odin's Little Seer. Then he had been beaten unconscious by the guards.
Groaning, Hiccup realized that he was very, very sore. Glancing down at his chest, he tried to move his arms, but couldn't. Looking at them, he saw that they were shackled to the bed by his wrists with thick iron chains. Apparently they had taken no chances with him when he had been in his maddened state. His hands were still caked with black dried blood, and his fingernails were still clawed and menacing. The next thing he noticed was that his arms were completely covered in sores, scratches, and bruises. The guards had been brutally vicious when they thrashed him yesterday. It was no wonder that his entire body ached. He was no doubt battered to the point of where he could hardly move.
Hiccup also noticed that he was still wearing his black, bloody, mangled armor. They had not bothered to clean him or disrobe him before throwing him back in his bed. Sighing, Hiccup closed his eyes and relaxed on his pillow, trying to soothe his troubled mind. It was difficult, since his arms were held firmly against the posts of the bed, but Hiccup really didn't mind. If they were going to keep him chained here all day, then so be it. He needed the rest.
Then he heard the door open, and footsteps sounded on the carpeted floor. His eyes tightly closed, Hiccup heard a soft thud as a tray was set on the table. No doubt he was about to begin another horrid day of training.
"Go away, Asgeirr," Hiccup groaned, his eyes still closed. "I've had a long week. I need to rest."
"I am not Asgeirr," a sweet voice replied.
Shocked, Hiccup snapped upright. His arms were chained, but he still was able to sit up in bed. His body ached in pain as moved, but he ignored it and stared down at the one who had spoken, wondering who could have come instead of Asgeirr. It was Odin's Little Seer.
At first Hiccup thought that she would be terrified of him, and rightly so. But the way she spoke and acted showed no sign of fear at all. Instead, she smiled at him and spoke.
"You look terrible, Riddari."
Hiccup saw with sorrow that the girl's neck was still marked from when he had strangled her the day before. Five distinct red wounds marked the spots where his claws had dug into her smooth neck. Hiccup bowed his head in sadness.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I never meant to hurt you. I was not myself yesterday. I was insane, and had no control over my actions. Forgive me."
The little girl's smile did not leave her face. "There is nothing to forgive, Riddari," she replied soothingly. "In fact, it isIwho should be beggingyourpardon. Even if you had not been driven mad, you would still have been justified in doing what you did to me. I gave Asgeirr all that I knew about you, and I did know that he would use it to hurt you. I am sorry for that, but I regret nothing. This training, brutal and unkind as it is, is necessary for you to be able to fight on the same level as the Gods."
She walked up to the side of his bed and reached for his handcuffs, intending to release him.
"Don't take them off," Hiccup warned. "I may go mad again, and I don't want to hurt you."
"I am certain that you won't," the girl answered. "You are quite calm now. I think you shall be fine."
She laid her hands on the iron shackle, and itmysteriously fell off his wrist with a clang. Walking around his bed to the other side, she freed his left hand also.
With a groan, Hiccup raised his arms and rubbed his wrists. As he got a closer look, he saw just how badly he had been beaten by the guards. His lean, muscled arms were now completely purple from the bruises. It looked disgusting and painful, which it was.
The girl picked up the cup of milk from the tray and handed it to Hiccup.
"Drink, Riddari," she commanded firmly. "You are weak."
"Yes, Sweet Little Girl," Hiccup answered, taking the cup from her and drinking.
The girl stared at him wonderingly for a second.
"What did you call me?" She called asked softly.
Hiccup took the cup from his lips and looked down at her from his seat on the bed. "I called you a Sweet Little Girl," he answered. "You don't have a name, so I had to call you something, and that seemed to fit your character best. Do you not like it?"
The girl shook her head. "No – I like it very much. Do keep calling me that, please. It is so much better than any other name I have been given."
"Sweet Little Girl," Hiccup stated, musing. "What does that mean in Old Norse?"
The girl smiled. "Aiah," she whispered.
"Then Aiah you shall be to me," Hiccup stated, smiling at her.
Aiah looked happier then Hiccup had ever seen her before. Her aura of light seemed to glow brighter in the dim light of his room.
"That is the best name anyone has ever called me," she whispered happily. "Do you know how I came to be, Riddari? How I was never able to be given a name?"
Hiccup nodded. "Aye. Asgeirr told me. You were created when a complex magical experiment went awry. You are not human, are you?"
Aiah shook her head. "I am not. In fact, no one knows what I am, not even myself. Naturally, when I was first brought into existence, I tried to run and play with all the other Aesir children. But I was too strange for them. I was above their understanding, and so they feared me. Everyone feared me. Even Odin does not truly like me; he values me for my powers and nothing more. No one I have ever met actually liked me for who I am – except you. Thank you, Kappi." She was radiantly happy.
"Kappi?" Hiccup asked. "Why did you call me that? What does it mean?"
Aiah laughed. "Well, if you are to name me, it is only fair that I name you also."
Hiccup grinned. "Anything is better than the name Hiccup. Call me whatever you like."
Aiah smiled. "Then I shall name you Kappi, Riddari. It means hero in the ancient Norse language. You are to be the hero and champion of Midgard, and the title fits you." She clapped her hands happily. "You are now Kappi to me."
Hiccup nodded. "Kappi. I like it." With a final smile, he gave her back the metal cup and tried to get out of bed.
"No, you shouldn't get up just yet!" the girl cried. "You are injured -"
Hiccup tried to slide out of bed and failed. His sore muscles refused to work properly, and he collapsed on the floor with a groan. His entire body was covered in sores and bruises, and he ached so badly he could hardly stand.
"Aiah, I feel so weak," Hiccup groaned, writhing on the floor. Aiah reached down and touched his shoulder, even as Hiccup slowly rose to his feet with a wince of pain.
"Those guards really pitched into me yesterday," Hiccup moaned, straightening his back. "I am sore all over. I don't know how I'll be able to go through another training session today."
Aiah walked up to him and looked at his back. Her fingers traced the spot where The Wolf had mercilessly torn open Hiccup's back in the death struggle from the day previous. The armor was utterly shredded and ruined.
"What do they do to you in there that causes this?" Aiah asked in awe. "I repaired your armor from last week, and there were some damages that simply looked terrible. I know that they do horrible things to you in your training, but I have always been curious as to what. I asked the elf Kaldr about it when he passed several years ago, but he refused to tell me, saying that I would not like to hear it. What kind of torture do they put you through to make the armor look like this, Kappi?"
Hiccup did not reply, but instead hobbled over to the basin of water on a shelf in the corner. Taking a deep breath, he plunged his head in, washing the dried blood off his face and his hands. Water dripping down into his eyes, he raised his head and groped for something to dry off with.
"Here," Aiah said, and handed him a towel. Muttering thanks, Hiccup took the white cloth and dried his face and hands, wiping off the last remains of the sticky blood. He now looked at least decent.
"Do you want to know what they do to me in there?" he whispered. "I'll tell you what they do. They put me in front of this demon, a man with a wolf's head. He uses the memories, sounds, smells, and words from my past to drive me insane – the same information you gave Asgeirr. When he does this, nothing remains to me but the desire to kill this creature. I try, but he always wins. He mangles me, eats me, and tears me to shreds with metal claws of Dragon Iron. It was not until yesterday that I finally managed to control my own mind, and I won. I killed him."
Hiccup's tone began to grow angry.
"I was promised that as soon as I killed the damned beast, I would pass the Level, and I would never have to face The Wolf again! But Asgeirr lied to me. I killed The Wolf, but the guards came in and healed him, and then he told me that I will never pass. I will always have to fight him! Every day I will get beaten and tortured! I have no hope now. Nothing will save me. I am lost!"
"Kappi," Aiah warned. "You are growing angry again."
Hiccup froze, realizing that Aiah was right. He was beginning to go insane once again, his anger clouding his judgment. With a helpless moan, he sat down on his bed and buried his face in his clawed hands.
"What have I become, Aiah?" he whispered fearfully, trembling in both anger and fear. "I am no longer myself. The boy you met when I first arrived on Asgard could never have killed a beast by tearing his throat out; he could never have strangled a girl, even his most terrible fit of rage. And yet, barely a week later, I am doing it without even thinking. I saw myself reflected in your eyes yesterday, and I looked exactly like The Wolf, the demon that lives only to cause pain and death. I am afraid that is what I am becoming. What is happening to me?"
Aiah walked over to him and jumped up to sit next to him on the bed. Reaching up, she tugged his hands away from his despairing face and turned his head to look at her, tears trickling down his cheeks.
"You must remember who you are," she said, placing a hand over his chest. "You must always think of why you fight. Consider not of what you have to do, but rather why do you it, andwhoyou do it for."
Aiahreached over to Hiccup's pillow and took up Astrid's Nadder scale which still lay there. She placed it over Hiccup's heart and spoke again.
"You are Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, Riddari of Midgard, Savior of Berk, Pride of your Father, the Love of Astrid, and my Kappi. If you bind to that, then no demon from Hel, no God of Asgard, and no wolf-headed man can stand in your path." She smiled up at him. "Think always of that, and that alone, and you cannot be led astray." She paused. "I shall have to go soon, Kappi. Asgeirr is coming in a few minute to resume your training."
"Asgeirr can wait," Hiccup growled, getting up off the bed. "He's a worthless liar. I have lost all my respect for him."
"Asgeirr is a good man, Kappi," Aiah replied, following Hiccup's example and standing. She placed the Nadder scale back in its treasured position by his pillow. "He, like me, is only doing what is necessary for the preservation of Midgard. If that means lying and deceiving you, then it has to be done."
Hiccup sighed, looking down at her. "You may be right, Aiah. But I am still unhappy with him. He could have at least told me that I would never truly beat The Wolf. He could have had the common decency to let me know beforehand. Did he? No."
Aiah smiled sadly. "Alas, nothing is perfect," she said. "But we must fight on regardless of the cruelty and hatred of the world. Be courageous, Kappi, and you can never fail. But now I must say farewell. I have remained her too long, and I do not think I shall be able to see you again. I was not even supposed to be allowed to meet you today, but I needed to see you."
Hiccup knelt down and embraced Aiah, burying his face in her golden hair.
"I'm going to miss you, Sweet Aiah," he whispered. "I shall do as you ask, and fight on."
Aiah hugged him back, her arms wrapping around Hiccup's neck. "I shall try to come and see you whenever I can, Kappi," she replied. "I hope all goes well for you." She let go of Hiccup and kissed him on the forehead. "May the blessing of the Gods go with you, Kappi."
Hiccup rose. Reaching down, he brushed a lock of Aiah's golden hair behind her ear.
"I hope to see you again soon," he said sadly.
Aiah smiled. "I hope so as well. Remember what I told you."
Hiccup smiled, and Aiah turned and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Hiccup stared longingly after her for a minute, and then sat down at the table with a sigh. Aiah had brought in his food for him, and he attacked it, feeling suddenly ravenous.
However, he had barely started to eat when the door burst open again. Hiccup rose to his feet as Asgeirr stormed in. The man was livid with rage, and strode over to where Hiccup was standing.
"WHAT THE HEL WERE YOU THINKING?" he shouted at Hiccup. "You broke out of this area and terrorized everyone in the damned palace, and then you went and strangled Odin's Little Seer! It was absolutely outrageous. Odin nearly had you executed for it! The whole palace is now wild with fear of a crazed lunatic that was on the loose! What were you thinking!?"
Hiccup had listened to Asgeirr's outburst looking like he was about to explode. As his trainer finished, Hiccup snapped. Grabbing the table, he flipped it over, sending his food and his tray flying onto the ground with a crash. Leaping across the wreckage, he seized Asgeirr's collar with both hands and slammed the man against the wall.
"WHAT WAS I THINKING?!" Hiccup roared. "I WASN'T THINKING AT ALL! I WAS STARK RAVING MAD! THIS IS NOT MY FAULT! YOU CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN, ASGEIRR, NOT ME! I DIDN'T ASK TO BE PUT IN FRONT OF A WOLF THAT TURNS ME INTO A MONSTER, YOU PUT ME IN THERE! DON'T BLAME ME FOR WHAT I DID! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, ASGEIRR, NOT MINE! DON'T BE POINTING FINGERS AT ME!"
With a final shove, Hiccup released Asgeirr's collar and stepped back. His trainer said nothing. He merely stared in awe at Hiccup's ferocity. Hiccup took a deep breath and calmed himself.
"I understand that your job is to train me, Asgeirr," Hiccup growled. "And you have a right to be concerned that I broke out of this place and nearly killed someone. But you had no right, NO RIGHT to blame ME for it. You made me endure a style of training that encouraged such radical and savage behavior. You should have expected something like that to happen."
Asgeirr still did not reply.
"You are a worthless excuse for a man, Asgeirr," Hiccup spat out. "By the Gods, you couldn't even tell me that I would never beat The Wolf. You say that life is unfair, and I understand that, but when you told me that I would eventually pass I trusted you, and now that trust has been broken. I can no longer believe anything you say. I don't even know that I will ever see my dragon again. I can't believe anything you say about anything, because you could be lying once more. Today for once I want the truth. Am I going to have to fight The Wolf again?"
Asgeirr smiled savagely. "I make no promises, Riddari. You will go to Ragnarok and you will have to deal with whatever I have decided to make you face. I am the master of your training, Riddari, not you. You are nothing. Until you have passed my training, your thoughts mean nothing. Your desires are nothing. I really don't give a slimy yak-shit about you. Until I have deemed you worthy to ride in the name of Asgard, you will always be Useless."
Hiccup shook his fist at his trainer, clenching his teeth in rage.
"Do NOT call me that again," he snarled. "For I will kill you if you do! Blast it, Asgeirr, you sound like The Wolf! You are a disgrace. I no longer trust you. I will not listen to your so-called teachings and barbarous insults. I have no choice but to blot you out, Asgeirr. I will go and do my best to pass your demonic training because I can comfort myself with the thought that I must complete it some time. But I spit in your face. You are nothing but scum, Asgeirr."
He turned and walked to the door. Asgeirr stood utterly still for a full second, then snapped into action. He kicked the metal cup from the mess on the floor and caught it. As Hiccup opened the door, Asgeirr threw it at him, harder than he had ever done before.
Hiccup, without even looking, struck the cup to the floor. Without a word, he stalked angrily out into the hall, closing the door behind him with a bang.
Hiccup's mental state was indescribable, and he staggered clumsily down the hall. He had been soothed by Aiah's presence, and had originally felt strong and reinvigorated. However, Asgeirr had ruined it all. Hiccup had been riled once again, and this time he did not try to calm himself down. The aching sores from all his bruises were taxing him, further straining his patience. Stalking to the door of his training room, he made no attempt to banter with the guards as he usually did.
"Sorry, guys, no letters for you today," Hiccup growled. "I am really not in the mood for any jokes at all right now. I am just going to go in there and get killed by the damn Wolf. I know how to beat him now, but why should I even try to? I'm never going to ever be rid of him."
The guards did not answer, as always.
"Well, I hope you two weren't a pair of the men that kicked the crap out of me yesterday," Hiccup grinned. "If you were, though, I just want to let you know that you did a good job. I am sore all over. I literally feel like I am going to collapse at any moment. I didn't even eat anything this morning, either. That was a BAD idea. Oh man, I am going to have a long day."
The door clicked.
"Well, here goes," Hiccup growled, reaching for the knob. "Wolf, I'm coming for you, but I don't even know why."
With a quick jerk, Hiccup wrenched open the door and sprang in, immediately looking on the floor for a stone. He found one, pounced on it, and struck himself in the mouth, breaking his teeth and making them jagged and sharp once again. Spitting out thebroken pieces, he looked up with a growl, ready to face The Wolf in another hard-fought battle to the death.
But The Wolf was not there.
Hiccup stared in amazement, still poised on all fours, ready to strike. When it became clear that no attack was forthcoming, heslowly stood up and surveyed the new entity in the room. It was a large man. He wore a suit of brown leather armor, just like The Wolf, but in no other way was he similar. He was clean-shaven, and tall with flowing silver hair that fell behind pointy ears. The person was an elf.
As Hiccup continued to survey the stranger, he noticed more. Across the elf's back was strapped a silver sword of decent proportions. In one hand he held a white cloth and a small knife, and the other was twisting the buckler on his forearm, which was the same kind The Wolf had worn. It began to fix Hiccup's injuries. As the healing magic took effect, Hiccup's teeth, which he had only just destroyed, were mended.
"Welcome to Level 2 of Phase 1," the man smiled. "I am your new Master, and my name is Alaedlar. I am an elf from Alfheim, and am here to train you in the art of swordplay, in which I am the best. Here."
Alaedlar stepped forward and handed Hiccup the knife and cloth.
"Clean the blood off your face, Riddari," he commanded, "and trim your sharp fingernails. You shall need them no more. Fighting with a blade is much more civilized than tearing each other to bits."
Hiccup took the cloth, tears in his eyes.
"I passed Level 1?" he whispered. "I will not have to fight The Wolf again?"
"Never," Alaedlar smiled. "You have beaten The Wolf and learned to master your mind. The first part of your training is over, and I must say you did a marvelous job. The final step was to see if you would manage to recover your mind after being lied to and abused, and you have demonstrated that you can. It was a remarkable performance, Riddari. Previous trainees have taken months to beat The Wolf, and you managed to do it in a mere eight days. Congratulations."
Hiccup laughed and cried tears of joy as he wiped the fresh blood off his chin and lips. It was the last time he would ever have to smash his teeth. Tossing the cloth to the stone floor, he took the knife offered by Alaedlar and happily cut each of his fingernails back down to their normal size.
"Thank you, claws," Hiccup muttered as he cut. "You served me well. I almost hate to lose you."
After he had trimmed each one of his sharp nails, he handed the knife back to Alaedlar. The elf took it and placed it in a small sheath on his boot.
"Come with me, Riddari," he smiled. "The next Level of your training is about to begin, and it is drastically different than the first. I have a new suit of armor for you to wear while you are under my command. That worthless heap of rubbish you are wearing now will never suffice. Pah! You need a proper soldier's attire. You must have elvish gear."
Wrapping a strong arm around Hiccup's shoulders, he led Hiccup off to a door in the side of Ragnarok.
"Who are you, Master?" Hiccup laughed. "I have not been treated half decently since I came here. All that I have experienced is pain and betrayal, and yet here you are, handling me like I'm an old friend of yours."
Alaedlar laughed. His voice sounded even and clear, like pouring water slowly over smooth rocks.
"I am here to train you to fight with a sword," Alaedlar said. "I am not here to baby you or coddle you, but I am also not here to brutalize you, as The Wolf was. I shall be a hard trainer, but my goals are to make you the best swordfighter on Asgard, not to teach you to master your thoughts or to endure mind-boggling pain. I am an elf, and our systems of teaching are much less – violent than those of men. You are my student now, and while I am required to beat you and educate you, I can be friendly and kind in the process."
Reaching the side door, Alaedlar removed his arm from Hiccup and opened the massive stone entrance. Swinging the door open, Hiccup laughed in both awe and surprise.
Along the walls of the room were three suits of leather, sturdy armor. The first was a bleak brown suit with the Asgardian crest on the chest and shoulder buckles. The second was gold and blue, with a strange leaf crest. And the third was the one that caught his eye. It was sleek and black, with a red Asgardian crest. It looked menacing and efficient, and Hiccup could tell immediately that it was meant for him.
Alaedlar gestured at it.
"This suit of training armor is yours, Riddari," he said. "Take off the worthless rubbish you have on now and don that beautiful work of art. I have waited a long time to see it worn."
Hiccup grinned, and tore off his old black armor at once. With a laugh, he tossed it on the ground and kicked it away. Walking up to his new awesome suit, he immediately began to put it on. It was a similar make to that of his old one, but it was clear that the fresh one had beenconstructed by a better smith. It fitted like it was made for him. It left his biceps bare, but it covered his forearms, chest, shins, and legs. There was a helmet to go with it – a savage black magnificence with a dragon crawling over the top.
"Leave the helmet, Riddari," Alaedlar said. "We have no need for it at this point. Are you finished gearing up?"
"I am!" Hiccup laughed. "This new suit is fantastic."
"You aren't wearing it right," Alaedlar stated, surveying his posture. "When you were fighting The Wolf technicalities did not matter, but when you are fighting with a sword you must have every strap tightened and every buckle secure. Nothing is loose; it must all be fitting and comfortable."
He walked up to Hiccup and tightened all his buckles and straps on his arms and legs, making sure that each one was in its proper place.
"All right.Nowyou are ready. Make sure you always put your armor on properly in the future, Riddari. And now it is time to give you a sword."
Alaedlar walked over to the wall, where a rack with three swords hung. As was the same with the armor, they were all different colors. One had a brown stone in the hilt, the other had a blue gem, and the one on the top had a dark black jewel. Alaedlar took the black sword off the rack and held it respectfully and lovingly.
"This is your weapon for the next three years, Riddari," he stated. "And as such, let me tell you how to treat it. As a soldier, your sword is your life. Without a sword you are nothing. Without you the sword is nothing. Together you are one. You never leave your sword. From now on, as soon as I hand you this blade, it must never leave your person. Whenever you are undressing, whenever you are bathing, whenever you are in bed with a girl, and even when you are simply taking a piss, this sword ALWAYS goes with you. You shall sleep with this sword at night. You shall treat it like a Goddess. You can kiss it, hug it, and cuddle with it. It is a part of you. As such, it shall be named after you as well."
Alaedlar gestured at the other two swords on the rack. "These two blades were carried by the previous two trainees. They are named the Zia and the Kala, female renditions of the names of the soldiers that fought with them. Since your name is Hiccup, this sword is to be called the Hicca. Hicca shall go with you wherever you go, from now on. Hicca is your best friend. Hicca shall keep you safe. Hicca is your damned girlfriend from now on. You NEVER, EVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT HICCA. Even if Odin himself tells you to put Hicca down, you do NOT do it. Is that clear?"
"It is, Master." Hiccup replied. "I shall treasure the sword always."
Alaedlar held the handle out to him. "Draw your weapon, Riddari."
Hiccup reached slowly for the hilt of his new sword. Carefully, he closed his fingers around the handle. As he did so, he felt the smooth surface mold to fit the exact shape of his grip. Every crease on his palm matched perfectly with the handle of Hicca.
"Take up your weapon, Riddari," Alaedlar smiled. "And may the Gods guide your hand in battle."
With a grim smile, Hiccup took a deep breath and drew the sword with a ring. Its shiny silver blade glistened in the light of the room. It was a marvelous weapon. The blade began at a normal size, then thinned out slightly before it expanded again and peaked at a razor sharp pointon the tip.
Alaedlar was speaking. "Hicca is magically enchanted to match the exact fit of your hand. She will never dull, never wear out, and will always serve you well. Be worthy of the blade, Riddari, for it is a wonder."
Hiccup slid his finger down the edge of the blade, testing the sharpness as he had done a thousand times in Gobber's forge. It was sharper than any sword he had ever seen in his life.
"Hicca is a marvel," Hiccup said with wonder. "I shall treat her with the utmost respect and honor. She will never leave my side."
"Actually, Riddari, you shall carry Hicca on your back, not your side," Alaedlar stated. "Having the sword at your side is useful for combat and ceremonial riffraff, but when you are walking, running, and doing pushups, which you will be doing a LOT of in my training, it is much handier to carry it on your back. Here, this is how you attach the sheath to the armor on your back."
Alaedlar walked behind Hiccup and showed him how to strap Hicca's black sheath onto the buckles of the armor.
"There," he said solemnly. "Sheathe your sword, Riddari."
Hiccup carefully reached over his shoulder and slid Hicca back into her case. There was a smooth clickas the blade locked itself to the scabbard.
"Soon you shall learn to draw it and sheathe it in the blink of an eye," Alaedlar told him. "But the time is not now. We have one more thing to attend to."
"What would that be, Master?" Hiccup asked, excitedly.
"Your leg," Alaedlar said, pointing to Hiccup's metal prosthetic. "I can train anyone to become a master of the art of swordplay, but not if they are a cripple. You must have a better leg for me to be able to teach you properly, Riddari."
"You're giving me a new one!?" Hiccup laughed. "Ha ha! Finally! I hope it has blades on it!"
"Not exactly, Riddari," Alaedlar said, with a broad smile on his face. "We have something completely different in mind. Come with me."
Leading the way, Alaedlar left the room, Hiccup hurrying behind him.
"Where are we going?" Hiccup asked of his new trainer.
"Out of here," Alaedlar replied. "We are going to see someone who can give you the best leg you could possibly dream of. Now be silent and listen to me. From now on you are no longer a demon that seeks to kill and destroy a maddened man with a wolf's head. Beginningright now, you are a man who is trying to become a knight of Asgard, and as such you shall act accordingly, my good Riddari. We are about to leave this room and go into the public area of Asgard."
"We get to go out of here?!" Hiccup shouted, happy as a clam.
"Yes, we get to go out of here!" Alaedlar laughed. "And this time, you shall not go around traumatizing little children and horrifying women. You shall walk straight, keep your shoulders square, and look everyone in the eye. You are now the bearer of a sword of Asgard, and as such you are to act as if you are above every man, woman, and child you see in the hallways, unless you happen to look upon a God or Goddess, in which case you show them the respect they deserve. Since you are a rider and a soldier, you need to act like it. Be proud, strong, and tall. Look like someone who knows exactly what he is doing. And WHATEVER you do, do NOT strangleanybody,let alone a damn Goddess! My God, I am shocked that Odin did not have you at least flogged for that outrageous misconduct. If you do the same today, I will flog you myself."
Hiccup laughed. "I have no intention of strangling Aiah again today," he grinned. "I only did it yesterday because I was insane. Since I no longer have to face The Wolf, I am confident that it shall not happen again."
"It had better not," Alaedlar replied. They had reached the doors of Ragnarok and Alaedlar opened it.
Immediately the two guards snapped to attention and knocked their spears on the floor, shouting simultaneously, "Hail, Lord Alaedlar!"
Alaedlar saluted the two golden-clad men with a wave of his hand. "At ease, soldiers," he commanded, and the men relaxed once more as he passed. Hiccup snorted.
"I've been trying ever since I've been here to get those guards to talk to me," he said, shaking his head. "And yet, as soon as you pass, they speak without even being asked to. Humph. That's not exactly fair."
Alaedlar laughed, his rich voice echoing in the narrow hallway.
"They shall treat you with the same respect when you become the Captain of Asgard," he explained. "I am both a visitor and a Lord, and so they are required to salute me. Once you are their commander and a proper soldier, they shall treat you with the utmost respect as well. Now, however, you are less important to them than shit on the bottom of their boots."
"Thank you very much for boosting my pride, Master," Hiccup said sarcastically. "Seriously, couldn't you have used a better analogy than shit?"
Alaedlar shrugged, grinning. "It was the most accurate analogy I could come up with, Riddari. And now, you need to look sharp. We are about to leave your training rooms and walk among the common-folk of Asgard. Remember, your job is to NOT look common, for you are a soldier and a dragon rider."
Alaedlar paused by the door Hiccup had picked the previous day. With a twist of his wrist, he turned the knob and went through. Hiccup followed Alaedlar, remembering the advice his Master had given him. Together the two men walked into the same hall that Hiccup had entered the day before.
Once more Hiccup was the center of attention, but in a radically different way than his last appearance. Instead of being reviled and feared, he was gazed upon and admired.
"This is most likely the best thing about being a soldier," Alaedlar said. "The honor and respect you get from the people you defend. It is a marvelous feeling, is it not? Being looked upon with pride and not shame and embarrassment?"
"It is," Hiccup replied, walking shoulder to shoulder with the big elf. "I have been looked on with shame and embarrassment for almost all of my life. This is a most welcome change."
Alaedlar nodded.
"I have been informed of your past, Riddari. It was discouraging to listen to. All those years of being disgraced and humiliated must have been vastly unpleasant. However, those days are over now. You are soon to become greater than every man, woman, and child that walks the face of Midgard. Never again, if you pass this training, shall you be looked down on."
Alaedlar stopped in front of a door, and then turned to face Hiccup, placing a strong hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
"Listen to me, Riddari," he said. "We are about to go into this room and meet a Goddess. She is regal and powerful, and it is imperative that you donotoffend her. Treat her with the utmost respect, and don't say or do anything stupid, like you did last time you were here. Do you understand?"
"I do, Master," Hiccup replied, bowing his head. "But why are we seeing a Goddess?"
Alaedlar did not answer. He merely knocked loudly on the golden doors, and they opened from the inside as if by magic. Striding into the room, Hiccup stopped in awe.
Standing before him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She looked to be around twenty years old, and was dressed in a magnificent blue dress that matched the awe-striking color of her eyes. Long, flowing golden hair fell behind her back past her waist, which was so pure it looked like a waterfall of gold. Her beautiful features were made even more appealing by a kind smile that stretched across her smooth face.
"Riddari Hiccup," Alaedlar said, "You are standing in the presence of Eir, the Goddess of healing. She has a gift for you."
Hiccup could only stare in amazement at the sheer gloriousness of Eir's appearance, and made no attempt to speak. Instead, Eir did.
"Welcome, Riddari," she said, her voice sounding bright as sunshine and smooth as silk.
Hiccup did not reply. Instead, upon hearing her voice, he fell to one knee and bowed his head.
"It is an – an honor, Goddess Eir," Hiccup stuttered. "I have never seen anyone so beautiful as you."
Eir laughed, and it was the sweetest sound Hiccup had ever heard. It even outclassed Aiah's soothing voice.
"Rise, Hiccup," Eir smiled. "Rise, for I do not like to be bowed to. That was an order, not a request."
Hiccup slowly raised himself to his feet and looked up. Eir had walked closer to him and was now standing directly in front of him. She was so close Hiccup could smell her. She felt like a combination of wild honey and roses.
"Give me your hands," Eir commanded, looking down at Hiccup's bruised arms.
Hiccup said nothing, but unquestioningly did as he was asked. He raised his arms with his palms facing upward. Eir, with a comforting smile, reached out and laid her own palms on his.
Hiccup gasped as energy flowed through his sore body, instantly alleviating all the pain and sores from his welts. His strength was instantly reinvigorated, and he felt like a newborn man. Eir's hands seemed to glow as they transferred power to Hiccup's body. Hiccup's arms and hands changed from their mottled purple color to their usual texture.
Eir had her eyes closed, and winced in pain as she made contact with Hiccup. She closed her eyes tightly.
"You have endured GREAT amounts of pain, Riddari," whispered softly, her eyes still closed. "From the day of your birth you have always felt hurt of some kind. First you were weak and sickly, and had to undergo the torture of being bullied and reviled. Then you lost your leg, and you have endured that for over a year. Now, in the last week alone, you have experienced more pain than most people feel in a lifetime. I am greatly impressed, Riddari Hiccup."
"Thank you, Eir," Hiccup whispered in reply, warm energy still coursing through his body, refreshing him and renewing his old strength. "But why are you doing this for me? What are you here for?"
Eir opened her eyes and tightened her grip on Hiccup's hands.
"I am here to give you what you have desired for a year," she said, still quietly. "I am here to take away all your afflictions and make your physique perfect. I am here to heal your leg, Riddari Hiccup."
Hiccup's eyes widened, and for a second a sweet, desperate longing showed in his green eyes. Then it faded, and he bowed his head.
"I cannot," he whispered.
Eir gaped in astonishment. "What?" she asked, incredulously. "Never before has anyone asked that I NOT heal them. Why do say such a thing, Riddari?"
Hiccup released Eir's hands and stepped back. Beside him Alaedlar was staring in disbelief, and Eir was still standing in shock with her sweet, oval mouth wide open. Hiccup spoke.
"There is nothing I would desire more than to have my leg restored," he said. "But this injury -" he gestured to the metal prosthetic, "- represents a part of my life. This is one of the things that bonds me to my dragon, Toothless. We are both cripples, and that relationship holds us as one. I cannot let you heal me without granting the same mercy to my dragon. We are compatible. We are one and the same. I cannot be given a blessing that he is left without."
Eir relaxed and then laughed, her sweet voice echoing in the room.
"A true dragon rider you are, Hiccup Haddock," she smiled. "Not even willing to be healed for the sake of your love for your dragon. But allow me to tell you that Toothless has already been cured. I saw him on Alfheim several days ago, and there I re-grew his damaged tail. He made me promise afterwards that I would do the same to you, and I gave him my word. So you shall be healed, Riddari Hiccup. If you prefer to think of it this way, be it not of my will, but of your dragon's. There is no more need to be called a cripple. You must fight as a hero of all of Midgard, and such a hero must be able to perform at his best. So I insist, and so does Toothless,that you be given a new leg."
Hiccup was astounded.
"You healed Toothless?" he gasped, his voice cracking. "You saw him? Is he all right?"
"I did," Eir smiled. "He was most appreciative. He is now training on the kingdom of Alfheim with the best of the Elvish riders. He greatly desires to see you again, and he also wants you to be healed with him. So let me do this for you, Riddari."
Hiccup bowed his head in acceptance.
"Heal me, Eir. I have always wanted to be able to walk and run normally. Now that Toothless is healed, we can still be one. It is an honor and a blessing to be re-made. Please, heal me."
Eir smiled, her brilliant blue eyes sparkling.
"You greatly intrigue me, Riddari," she laughed. "And I shall heal your leg. Be still."
Hiccup stood tall and straight as Eir reached out with her hands. She closed her eyes and cradled Hiccup's head in her palms. Warmth and energy flowed from her, and she moved her lips, beginning to chant a spell.
Hiccup froze as soon as Eir touched him. Once again, energy flowed from her warm hands into his body, coursing through him like rivers of light. It was an indescribable feeling, giving him refreshment, life, and peace.
All was well until Eir began to chant, and then something abruptly went awry. He felt a presence enter his mind, beginning to mingle with his thoughts. It was a soothing, calm presence, but it was there nonetheless, and it reminded Hiccup too much of losing control of his being, as if he was in Ragnarok once more. He felt like he was losing himself, as he had felt so many times before.
With a shout, he wrenched his head away from Eir's hands, breaking her mind away from his. With a cry of alarm and rage, Hiccup drew Hicca from his back in the blink of an eye and pointed it frantically at Eir's neck.
"Get out of my head!" he roared, shaking in fear. "I think you mean well, but I will NOT have anyone entering my mind again! I have had more than enough of that in the last week! Goddess or not, IWILL kill you if you do that again!"
The beautiful Goddess took a slow step backwards, and there was a ring of steel as Alaedlar drew his own weapon. Hiccup gasped as the cold metal of Alaedlar's blade pressed against his own throat.
"Put the sword down, Riddari," he commanded.
"No," Hiccup snarled, looking at him with a desperate look of fear and anger. "Hicca ALWAYS stays with me. I shall not set her down if Odin tells me to, and I certainly shall not if you ask it." He breathed deeply and calmed himself. "But I shall sheathe it on the condition that NO ONE touches my mind again!"
Alaedlar reached out and grabbed the blade of Hicca and forcefully lowered it from Eir's neck.
"I warned you not to do anything stupid, Riddari," he growled, as it became clear that Hiccup was recovering. "And THAT certainly was. Do not EVER point a weapon at a Goddess. Next time she may decide to turn you into a toad." He lowered his own sword from Hiccup's neck. "Put Hicca back."
Hiccup was now fully returned to normal. With a final, trembling breath, he nodded and sheathed his sword, falling to one knee.
"Forgive me, Eir," he apologized. "I have had – bad experiences with people entering my mind. I am sorry, but even if you do mean to heal me, I cannot let you do that again. I will go mad."
Eir nodded slowly.
"I see. I should have thought of that. I give you my deepest apologies. Do stand, for I forgive you."
Hiccup rose to his feet and looked back up at Eir. Up close, Hiccup could tell that she about an inch shorter than he was.
Eir was twisting a braid of her golden hair thoughtfully.
"If I cannot enter your mind, then I must use a different method of healing," she stated. "Do you object to that, Riddari?"
Hiccup shook his head. "No. As long as you do not go into my head, you can heal me in whatever way you see fit."
Eir smiled. "So be it. I shall do it this way." Reaching forward, she took his head in her hands once again. Leaning in so close Hiccup could look deep into her eyes, she kissed him.
Right on the lips.
Hiccup was stunned. A Goddess, a sweet, beautiful Goddess, waskissinghim! His first instinct was to break away, but Eir held him firmly in her hands and pulled him into her, deepening the kiss. Her tongue danced against his, and he lost all sense of time of space. The sensation of her lips on his, her tongue on his was the greatest, most magnificent feeling he had ever had. Pure energy radiated from her lips, and, even as she kissed him, she chanted magical words into his mouth. Golden, soft light flowed from Hiccup's mouth, down to his chest, through his stomach, and then pooled in one spot at the stump of his severed leg. It began to throb eagerly and itch terribly in anticipation. Eir ceased her chant.
Then pain, searing, terrible pain shot through Hiccup. With a cry, he broke the magical kiss and fell on his back, yelling in agony. He writhed as his stump began to tremble and shake, nerves twitching and skin unfolding. Hiccup felt someone tear off his metal prosthetic, but he did not care. The only thing that remained to him was the terrible, terrible pain. It shot agonizingly through his leg, blotting out all else. Not even The Wolf had ever made him hurt so badly. He was brought back to the fateful day when he lost the limb. Once more he was struck by the tail of the Red Death and knocked off Toothless. Once more he was engulfed by hot flames, and once more Toothless opened his mouth and bit his leg, pulling him to the safety of his wings.
Then the pain abruptly ended, and all remnants of the agony faded into nothing. Gasping for air, Hiccup opened his eyes and looked down at his foot.
His prosthetic leg was gone, discarded on the floor. In its place was a smooth, new limb that had a real foot and real toes, which wiggled on command. Hiccup gasped in amazement and joy.
He had a new leg.