Notes
This is probably the shortest chapter so far but I thought it would be too long to attach to the previous one, anyways – enjoy.
"It makes total sense", Artichoke couldn't wait any longer to let his theory out. There was no other explanation to it all. "It's like a giant beehive, they're the workers and that's their queen!". He hopped off the saddle a bit before they settled on the ground. "It controls them!". That's why they keep insisting on taking the Villager's food, they weren't only feeding themselves, they had to feed that- that mountain-big monster. Artichoke didn't know Toothless that well, but Hiccup's tone made it seem like she wasn't behaving like usual. It maybe some instinct, some uncontrollable magic that makes them bring it food. And they just knew where it was after so many generations of their ancestors looking for it. They would end this interspecies war and they could finally be a part of the world; they could gather the other islands of the Archipelago and- gods, there was so much to be done. "We gotta tell Gobber and as soon as your dad comes back, we-".
Hiccup cut him off with a "no!" as she pulled his arm to stop his way out to the cove. The night was above them, but he could see her worried expressions through the moonlight, thoughts running loose just like his were, despite the lack of excitement, of course.
"No, not yet", she insisted, biting her lower lip, and turning to Toothless, who was now eating whatever Hiccup had brought her before he cornered them both for answers. "They'll kill Toothless". She's right. He would kill Toothless, even. He was certain he would either kill the dragon or die trying when he first saw it. Any Viking would think the same thing. "Arti, we need to think this through, carefully". The dragon was uninterested in them, unaware this very conversation could kill her.
"Hiccup, we just discovered the dragon's nest", Artichoke insisted. Toothless was, indeed, something he never saw before in his life, but where did that queen bee control ended? What about all the other dragons who constantly attacked them and burned their houses down? "The thing we've been after since Vikings first sailed here, and you want to keep it a secret?". It wasn't worth it. It couldn't be worth it to risk saving their own for one particular individual. "To protect your pet dragon? Are you serious?".
"She's not a pet" Hiccup took a step forward to the boy, determination soon dissipated in worry and sorrow. "Artichoke, she is not a pet. She's... Way more than that, she's the best friend I ever had, ever will have, regardless of how bad of a Viking I ever were, she understands me, I- I can't risk losing her".
She's family. And, even if just as formalities, they were family now, so...
"Okay". He replied. Still in shock, still not agreeing with the whole situation. Once again, he cursed himself for never noticing how hard it must actually have been for her. To not fit in. And being the Chief's daughter... They'd only ever see failure, pointed out in big headlights, than if she was just someone else's kid.
"Give me some time, ok?", she replied when their new moment of silence became too long. "I'll figure something out".
"Okay", he agreed again, still unsure of how to process everything. He looked at her satchel, forgotten in the grass since he confronted her. It made sense... That she wanted to leave... They'd kill Toothless, yes, but they'd also kill her. Could be selfishness, but even with that thought, he didn't want her to go. To just wake up one day and have no signs of her in the village. "Just promise you won't leave".
"I promise". Good.
With that, he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. She had those big, shining green eyes looking like him again, making him feel self-conscious, smaller, weaker. So he gave her arm a soft punch, more to wake himself off of her glare.
"Aw!".
"That's for kidnaping me".
She just looked back to Toothless, as if the dragon could answer what was that for, though he just informed her. The dragon shrugged and focused its attention back to the pond. "And that's for- um". Artichoke grabbed her flying harness, knowing it would bring her closer with little to no difficulty. He hadn't thought this through. He hated how he did want to be close to her, but also hated the butterflies she gave him, how cute it was her stuttering contrasted with the power it had over him. He let go of the harness, picking up her satchel off the floor.
"We should go back". He said, simply, not looking back and praying to the gods that he either wasn't or couldn't be seen blushing.
"W-what? What are you looking at?". Artichoke couldn't keep a smile into the darkness of the woods as he heard Hiccup talking to the dragon.