500 followers and 82000 views (not reviews XD)! Thank you so much!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 27

Hiccup massaged his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Each time he opened them, they were aching terribly. The dried tears were stinging his eyes, and the exhaustion kept reminding him that he hadn't slept that night at all. But closing them didn't bring him solace. Each time he dared to drop his eyelids for longer than a split second, he kept seeing his house burned down and Zephyr lying motionlessly in his arms. Each time he closed his eyes, the suffering of his flesh was being replaced by the suffering of his soul. So, fighting off the exhaustion, he kept them open, wishing that he would just fall asleep suddenly, without realizing it. Perhaps a few mugs of ale would help me, he wondered in his mind.

His talk with Stoick has also greatly depleted the remnants of his strengths, but he couldn't allow the blissful nothingness to take him away for a few hours yet. As before, he managed only to listen as Cami, Eret, and Heather talked with each other, discussing the details of their quest. They were sitting in the newlywed's house; Hiccup joined them after leaving the Great Hall, sometime after the end of his talk with Stoick. Normally, such meetings would take place at his own house, but it was impossible at that moment. His home was destroyed, and he didn't feel strong enough to approach the ruins, both physically and mentally.

"How much of our supplies have the dragons taken away?" Hiccup asked suddenly, interrupting whatever it was that his three friends were talking about. He didn't even bother to look up; his eyes were fixated on his daughter's favorite toy. Eret cleared his throat before replying.

"Not that much," he said after thinking for a few seconds. "We have managed to hide or protect most of our sheep. They have also stolen a few nets with fishes, but nothing that we won't recover from. To sum it up, we will have to tighten our belts, but I don't think that starvation is a serious threat to us. That is if no more raids happen."

"That reminds me, why do you want to take some of our supplies to Berk?" Heather asked the question that everyone else had in mind. "They've rejected your offer of trade. We don't have to help them."

"It's not a matter of helping them, but helping ourselves," Hiccup replied calmly. He hissed quietly, feeling the pain in his abdomen.

"Care to explain?"

"Remember what Astrid said three weeks ago when they first arrived here?" Hiccup replied with a question of his own. "She said that Berk, most likely, won't survive the winter, and Gobber said the same thing when I've been working with him in the forge. He also said that their livestock is getting smaller and smaller with each week, and the dragon raid here has only confirmed it. If we go to Berk without our own supplies, we will starve there before we can make an expedition to the Helheim's Gate. Besides, if we move enough livestock to Berk, the dragons will be more willing to raid there instead of here," Hiccup continued, watching as the realization hit his friends.

"You want to make a target out of them," Cami summed up.

"Better them than us. Berk lies directly between Helheim's Gate and Dreki, so it should be enough to get the dragons' attention," Hiccup replied. "Besides, they will see this as a sign of our good will, and that's all they need to know, and Dreki will be safe," he explained, leaning back in his chair.

"And what next?" Eret asked.

"We shall wait on Berk for the spring to arrive," Hiccup informed them, staring at a random spot on the wall. "While we may reach their island in the winter, Helheim's Gate will be inaccessible right now. And it will give us enough time to prepare the attack and think about the strategy."

"Do you have an idea already?" Heather queried.

"Not yet," Hiccup replied with a shake of his head. "But I will think of something," he added with another hiss.

"You should rest, Hiccup," Eret commented. "You're still weakened from the fight and from… yesterday's events."

"I don't need rest," Hiccup protested weakly. "I won't rest until Zephyr's death is avenged."

"Hiccup," Heather spoke softly. "Go get some rest. I assure you that one day won't make any difference, and we need you to be at your best if you want to plan an attack. Right now, all there is to do is to build the boats. Believe me, no one will have it against you if you use this time to recover."

"I'll have it against me," he countered. "I can't allow myself to rest now."

"Hiccup," Cami said, leaning forward and resting her hands on the table. "We'll manage one day without you, trust me. And if you rest, I'm sure you'll be able to come up with a better plan than if you started doing it right now."

Hiccup was ready to protest, but his body was more willing to listen to his friends than his mind. He was fighting against the urge to close his eyes, knowing that he would find no rest if he did. The idea from before came back to his mind. Perhaps drinking myself to sleep is not such a bad idea, after all, he wondered. Hesitantly, Hiccup nodded his head. He put his hands on the table, using them as support while standing up; his whole body was shaking slightly.

"You can go to my house if you want," Heather offered, looking at him sympathetically. Hiccup shook his head immediately, rejecting the offer. "Then where will you go?"

"I still have the forge," he said, slowly walking towards the door. His right hand, covered with bandages, was pressed against his abdomen; Zephyr's toy was in his grasp.

Toothless was waiting for him patiently outside, along with Mirage, Windshear, and Skullcrusher. The four dragons were keeping each other company as their riders talked inside of Eret's and Cami's house. The Night Fury lifted its head when it heard the sound of the door opening. The black dragon immediately approached Hiccup after noticing him leaving the building. The young chief smiled weakly at his friend, patting his snout. Toothless licked the palm of his friend, earning himself a soft chuckle from his rider. Hiccup dried his hand against his clothes.

"Let's go, bud," he said, urging Toothless to follow him. The Night Fury complied immediately, walking right next to its rider.

Hiccup was glad that Eret's house was located above the rest of the village because he had no desire to talk to other people, especially the Berkians. He walked up the hill, heading towards the Great Hall for a small barrel of ale and a mug. His steps were slow and heavy as his muscles refused to work faster; his fingers were gently caressing the small toy.

Toothless whimpered next to him quietly. Hiccup looked down at his friend, quickly noticing his sad expression. The Night Fury pressed its snout against the miniature version of itself, whimpering again.

"I know, bud," Hiccup whispered, taking in a shaky breath. "I miss her too."

Toothless whimpered again, lifting his head. His eyes were focused on something, and Hiccup followed his gaze to see what his best friend was looking at.

"Perhaps it is a good idea, bud," he murmured, looking at the sky. It's been quite a long time since they've had an opportunity to fly. Hiccup didn't have to think twice; flying was not only necessary for Toothless, but it also helped him to clear his mind when he needed it. Nodding his head slowly, he mounted Toothless' saddle and nudged his side with his leg. The Night Fury immediately recognized the sign that its rider was ready.

Toothless bent his legs slightly before leaping high into the sky. Hiccup was gripping the reins tightly, feeling the cold air on his face. The temperature was already freezing, and it was even worse the higher they got, but he paid it no mind, even though he was slowly beginning to lose feeling in his hands.

It took Toothless only a few seconds to reach the layer of the clouds. The black dragon leveled its flight, soaring effortlessly through the air. Hiccup wrapped his cloak more tightly around himself and leaned back to lay on the Night Fury's back. He pulled a small lever that allowed Toothless to fly without his help.

"How did I manage to screw up so much, bud?" he asked, hoping that his dragon would be able to provide him with an answer. "The last time it happened, it was when Sigrid was killed," he murmured weakly, unsure if Toothless had actually managed to hear him. "I promised myself back then that I wouldn't allow something like this to happen again, that I wouldn't allow my loved ones to suffer anymore. Ever since then, I've tried to be the perfect Viking, the one my father always wanted me to be. I have tried following our laws to the letter, hoping that it would allow me to keep my promise. But now, when I thought that I was doing the right thing, I've managed to screw everything up again. I have done everything in accordance with our laws, and still, it wasn't enough. You know what's worst, bud?" Hiccup asked, turning his head slightly to glance at Toothless. The Night Fury let out a small growling sound as if it wanted to ask 'what?'. "That if I didn't have my head so high up in my ass, it's possible that Zephyr would still be alive. If I had agreed to help my father, perhaps the raid wouldn't happen, or we wouldn't have been here. And by doing everything I could to protect my daughter, in the end, I've done the exact opposite," he summed up, taking in a shaky breath. "I've killed her, Toothless," Hiccup whispered, sobbing gently. The Night Fury grumbled slightly, though the young chief had no idea what it could mean. His vision became blurry as the tears began gathering in his eyes. I've killed her, he repeated in his mind.

Hiccup had no idea how long they've been flying when Toothless began the descent. Unfortunately for him, the flight didn't give him the solace he had thought it would. At least, there is still ale, he thought dryly, straightening himself up in the saddle. Hiccup had to admit that he was glad that Toothless was already returning to their island. He had no strength to keep flying, and truth be told, the positive feelings he always felt while being high in the air, like excitement, adrenaline, and pure joy, were missing as well.

Toothless landed softly right next to the Great Hall. The Night Fury bent its legs to allow its rider to leave the saddle with ease. Hiccup smiled gently at his dragon's deed, sliding off of its back. His feet hit the ground with a soft thud and a small scraping sound of the snow crushed under someone's boots. Hiccup entered the large room, heading towards the part where the kitchen was. At that moment, the Great Hall was completely empty, allowing the young chief to remain alone. It didn't take him long to find what he came for; he left the Hall with a small barrel of ale and a single mug.

Toothless was sitting right in front of the door, waiting for his rider to return. The Night Fury's muzzle curled up into its own version of a smile when Hiccup returned to him. The young chief smiled back, attaching the barrel to the saddle. He patted Toothless' snout, telling him to head back to the forge.

Hiccup walked side by side with his friend, staring blankly at the path that led to the place of his work. It was located higher up the hill, above the remnants of his house; just as before, his steps were heavy. His mind seemed to be working on its own accord, against his heart, as he kept remembering how many times he walked down this path with Zephyr, either heading towards their home or to the forge. A single tear ran down Hiccup's cheek, disappearing in his beard. His memories kept tormenting him, reminding him how often his daughter would run to their house or to the forge, either playing with him or with Toothless.

The Night Fury must have remembered those times as well because it let out a pitiful whimper. Once again, Toothless pressed his snout against Zephyr's toy, sniffing it slightly. Hiccup glanced at his friend, not bothering himself with holding back a sob.

"We will avenge her, bud," Hiccup whispered, tightening the grip on his daughter's toy. Toothless growled in agreement.

The forge was cold and empty when they've entered it. The interior didn't change a bit since the last time they've been there, on the day when the Bog Burglars arrived at Dreki. Except for the fact that Zephyr wasn't there with him. Hiccup shivered slightly.

"This is going to be our home for some time," Hiccup announced. "Could you, bud?" he asked, gesturing at the hearth. It took Toothless only a few seconds to reach the large furnace and ignite the coals that were there. Hiccup moved closer to the fire, sighing contently when the heat has finally reached him. He moved his stiff hands over the coals, twitching his fingers experimentally above the fire. The numbness was slowly abandoning him, and the feeling was returning into his digits.

As soon as he felt a little warmer, Hiccup detached the barrel of ale from Toothless' saddle, opening the lid immediately. He immersed the mug in the wooden container and raised it, filled to the brim with alcohol. Hiccup lifted the small dish to his lips and bent backward, opening his mouth. The ale quickly began making its way down his throat and into his stomach. It took him only a few seconds to empty the first mug.

Hiccup sighed contently, wiping away the remnants of ale from his beard and mustache. He coughed a few times, looking around the forge. After a few seconds, and refilling his mug, Hiccup started walking towards a large chest that remained hidden under one of the desks. He kneeled in front of it.

After placing the mug on the wooden floor, Hiccup lifted the lid of the chest, coughing violently again. He had no idea how long it's been since the last time he opened that chest, but it had to be a few years at least, if the amount of dust was any indication. There was only one word capable of describing what was inside – everything. Most, if not all of his journals from his travels, the early drafts of various maps, and drawings of his own inventions, and more. Hiccup scanned the chest's content, looking for one specific item. He picked up one of the scrolls, unrolling it. It turned out to be a detailed map of Paris which he had drawn years earlier. Hiccup stared at it for a few seconds, recalling his time in the capital of Frankia. He smiled weakly before placing the parchment back in the chest.

It took him quite some time, but, finally, Hiccup has managed to locate what he's been looking for. It was a map that he hoped he would never be forced to take out from his chest. He took in a few shaky breaths before standing up from the ground, holding the rolled-up parchment in one hand and the mug of ale in his second one. With hesitant steps, he approached one of the desks.

He blew at the scroll, observing as a large layer of dust rose into the air. The tiny motes rested on shelves or traveled further into the depths of the forge, carried by warm air, coming from the hearth. Some of them penetrated Hiccup's nose and mouth, causing him to cough again. After clearing his throat a few times, the young chief finally placed the large scroll on the table, unrolling it with shaky hands. He quickly grabbed a few metal objects and placed them on the corners of the parchment to prevent them from rolling back.

Hiccup took a sip from his mug, scanning the detailed map that he had created some time after returning to the Archipelago. He placed Zephyr's toy on the table, right beside the parchment, and removed his pipe from his belt. He quickly found a small sack with dried leaves that was always hanging above his hip. He removed a handful of plants and poured them into his pipe. Then, Hiccup walked closer to the hearth, picking up a pair of tongs. Using the metal tool, the young chief grabbed one of the coals and brought it to the opening in his pipe where the dried leaves were poking out from. He touched them with the burning stone and started inhaling immediately, causing the plants to fire up quicker. Satisfied with what he had achieved, he tossed the coal back into the hearth and placed the tongs at the edge of it. He returned to the desk, beginning to fill the forge with a thick layer of slate-blue clouds.

Hiccup bent forward, leaning against the desk. His eyes were focused on the map in front of him as his hands kept lifting alternately mug and pipe to his lips. The drawing on the parchment represented a single island, located far to the north. Every single sea stack was included there, creating a labyrinth of smaller or bigger dots. The island itself was of average size, though the huge mountain in the center of it, and rather small beaches, created an impression that it was smaller than in reality. Hiccup breathed in heavily as he kept studying the map of Helheim's Gate. He didn't know what he had hoped to find in that piece of parchment, but it was still better than nothing. It will give me something to focus on before I drink myself to unconsciousness, Hiccup said to himself, chuckling dryly at the thought. He raised the mug to his lips and emptied it, quickly refilling it with more ale.

That's it for today; thank you for reading it. I'm sorry that this chapter was shorter and that nothing has happened today, but there really wasn't much I could have done in this update. If you're waiting for another confrontation with the Berkians, then brace yourselves because it will happen, but I cannot just include them all in one chapter. Thank you for all your kind reviews, and see you the next time!