The Wounds of War: Part Two

Three Weeks Later

Morning sunlight pierced through the cracks in the shutters. Hiccup awoke, restless. I need to move, he thought, I need to move. He lifted his head. No pain. So far, so good. He shifted his arms so that his palms lay flat on either side. Bracing, he pushed up.

Excruciating pain wracked his gut and shot through his back. Hiccup cried out, collapsing back onto the pillows. Tears stung his eyes. He covered them with his fists and yelled in frustration.

The door lock clattered and the hinges creaked. Footsteps raced in, accompanied by Astrid's voice.

"Hiccup, are you all right?"

"I've been lying here for weeks!" he yelled, "I can't move! I can't do anything!" his voice cracked. He kept his fists over his eyes.

Astrid opened the window, letting in the fresh morning light, then walked over to the bed, pulled over a stool, and sat down. She laid her hand on his arm.

"I'm weak," Hiccup continued, his voice choked with tears, "Don't look at me, please."

Astrid lifted his hand from his eye and enclosed it in her own. She watched tears of shame fall from Hiccup's closed eye. "You nearly lost your life, Hiccup; of course you're physically weak. You have to give it time."

"How long have I lain here?" he asked.

"Three weeks, today."

Hiccup swallowed a sob and covered his eyes with his arm. "I just wanted to move into a different position. I can't stand lying like this anymore."

"I will help you," Astrid said.

Hiccup opened his eyes and turned to look at her. "How are you not ashamed of me?"

"Because the strength of your heart is greater than the strength of your arm. Your strength is in your compassion, in your love for your people and for the dragons. Granted, I didn't see that at first. All I saw was the klutzy son of the chief who couldn't stay out of trouble even if he tried. But after Toothless…I saw you for who you really are," Astrid smoothed her thumb across his hand, "I love the man you are, not the man you think you should be."

Hiccup sighed. "Can you help me sit up, please?"

Astrid smiled. "Absolutely." Scooting the stool back, she climbed into the narrow bed behind Hiccup's head, squat, and hooked her hands beneath his arms. "Are you ready?"

Hiccup exhaled and nodded. "Go."

Astrid heaved him upwards.

Hiccup groaned. "Ah! Stop, stop, stop!"

Astrid sank to her seat, leaning Hiccup against her chest. "Right here?"

Hiccup gave a ragged exhale and sank the back of his head against her shoulder. "Yeah. I can't go any higher."

Astrid ran her fingers through his hair. "We'll try full sitting up later, then?"

Hiccup nodded. "Yeah." He looked out the window, taking in the sights of Berk as if he'd been gone for years.

"It's a beautiful day, today." Astrid said, reading his thoughts.

Hiccup chuckled a half smile, and brushed his fingers along her arms, rested gently around him.

"Tell me."

He felt her rest her chin on his head. "The sea is a gorgeous blue all the way to the horizon, and the sunshine on the waves is like light through the trees…sparkling. And the wind…it's gusty today, filled with the scent of sea spray, and perfect for kite flying…or dragon racing, but we do that everyday."

Hiccup furrowed his brow. "How's Toothless?"

"He misses you. He keeps looking expectantly at me, hoping you'll be by my side, but he deflates instead, warbles sadly that you're not there. He's been spending most of his time on the Thor's Doorstep cliff, where you two often are."

"I wish he could be here."

"You know Bjorn won't let him in here. It's a fight just to get loved ones in, even if it is for the best."

They remained silent, resting in each other's comfort, Hiccup stroking Astrid's arm, and Astrid stroking Hiccup's hair.

Three Weeks Later…

Hiccup sat up, grimacing as the rope of pain twisted around him. He placed his hand to his stomach, as if that would make the pain stop. He waited until it subsided, then quickly shifted his legs over the edge of the bed, his right leg stopping at the calf. His prosthetic leg leaned against the bed.

Hiccup gingerly leaned down and grabbed it, his teeth grit. Taking bracing breaths, despite the sharp stabs, he clicked the prosthetic into place, listening to the soft clunk as the steel foot hit the floor.

Here comes the hard part, he thought. Gripping the edge of the nightstand, Hiccup bent forward and pushed himself up, pushed himself through the stabbing sting, grunting.

"Astrid!" he called.

Bjorn's door opened and Astrid walked in, immediately to his side. Hiccup lifted his arm and slid it towards her shoulder, but not before his knees gave way.

Astrid caught him, sliding his arm around her shoulder, holding him up.

"Are you sure you want to do this today?" she asked.

"I have to see him," he replied, "If I go any longer, he'll think I'm dead…and he'll blame himself."

"You can barely stand."

He looked into her eyes. "I have to start sometime."

"Did Bjorn say you could do this?"

"He said I could start moving around, that it would be painful, but that it would rebuild strength."

Astrid gave him a look. "I don't think he meant climbing all the way to the top of Thor's Doorstep."

Hiccup hung his head. "Astrid, please." He lifted his head again and looked into her eyes. "I need to see him."

Astrid sighed. "All right. But we're going slow! And if you've reached your limit—"

"Then you'll just have to carry me."

Astrid shook her head. "You're as stubborn as your father, you know that?"

Hiccup just smiled.

Astrid chuckled, and together they walked out the door and into the village.

Later…

Hiccup closed his eyes and breathed as deep as he could. The feel of the wind in his face, in his hair, wafting scents of wild grasses and flowers, Oh! Even the Halls of Valhalla couldn't compare to that feeling.

Astrid and Hiccup slowly reached the top of Thor's Doorstep, the cliffside he and Toothless frequented, Hiccup's breathing haggard, but Astrid's arms strong.

"We're almost there," she said.

Rays of evening sunlight cast everything in gold, the grass below them and the rocks above them.

Struggling up the last hillock, they reached the fields at the top, a grand open space where sea and sky melded into one. Hiccup looked up to see a black mass huddled at the far end of the field. "Toothless!" he breathed.

Astrid put her fingers to her lips and gave a sharp whistle.

Toothless's head perked up and turned around. Seeing Hiccup, he chuffed happily as he whipped around and glided towards his friend, stopping just short of knocking them over.

Hiccup held out his arm, palm facing outward. "Hey, Bud."

Toothless stuffed his nose into Hiccup's palm and chirruped.

With his free hand, Hiccup wrapped his arm around his best friend's head, and touched his forehead to his scaly nose, caressing the smooth glassy scales. "Thanks for saving me, Bud."

Toothless warbled in protest and looked at Astrid.

"Yes, I know Astrid saved me, but you helped. You both saved me. I owe my life to both of you."

Toothless purred and nuzzled Hiccup's head. Hiccup laughed. "I've missed you too."

Ten Years Later…

Hiccup and Astrid circled each other on the sparring grounds, short swords and shields in hand, dust puffing around their feet.

Astrid moved first, thrusting her sword in quick succession to the center and to the left. Hiccup blocked each strike, the tip of her sword sounding a dull thunk each time it hit the wood shield.

Hiccup parried her movements but added the element of surprise by striking just shy of her face.

Astrid tilted away and blocked his trike with her sword. The audacity in her husband's bearded smile brought her old rage back. Half smiling, she thrust him backward and released her fury.

Together they parried, thrusted, and blocked each other's moves. Over the years their sparring had turned from true battle reenactments to a dance, where each strike and step was more in tune with the other. They smiled at each other as they fought. Strands of Astrid's wheaten hair whipped about her face as she thrust high.

Hiccup blocked the strike but stopped short. Dropping the sword and shield, he put his hands to his stomach and sank to one knee, groaning through his teeth.

Astrid stopped, adrenaline keeping her sword and shield in hand. "Still?" she asked.

Hiccup nodded. "They don't call it mortally wounded for nothing," he said through clenched teeth.

Astrid placed her sword and shield on the ground. "Do you want to stop?"

Frustrated, Hiccup sank to his seat and kicked his sword away. He covered his face with his hand; a strangled sob escaped.

Astrid walked to her husband and knelt in front of him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"What if I've reached my limit?" Hiccup asked, removing his hand and looking into his wife's face, "What if this is as good as I'll ever get in combat? How am I supposed to protect and defend my people if I can only fight for so long? How am I supposed to lead an army to war when moving wrong cripples me?"

"You lost your leg at 15, and you didn't let that stop you."

"This is different. Amputations can be survived. It was a loss, yes, but one I could overcome. This? I'm not the man I was before it. I can't protect my people in combat when all I'm good for is sparring."

"The fact that you can spar, that you've taught others to spar, you've done a world of good—"

"I'm a shame, Astrid! A failure!"

Astrid slapped him. She swallowed guilt at his shocked expression. Her hand tingled.

"Who taught the entire village we were wrong about dragons?" she said, "You did. Who was the first Viking to ride a dragon? Who stopped the Dragon Hunters and freed them from both Drago Bludvist and Grimmel? You did. Who explored the islands beyond Berk and saved everyone from certain destruction? You did. Who found the Hidden World and saved not only his best friend, but all dragons?"

Hiccup hung his head. "I did."

Astrid scootched closer. "You are not a shame, and you are not a failure. I did not marry you because of your battle prowess. I married you because of your ingenuity, your courage to do what is right, and your compassion for beasts that everyone else fears. You are not your father, Hiccup. Stop trying to be him."

His eyes blurred. He wiped away the coming tears. "I just…wanted him to be proud of me…as a leader."

"He is. I know he's watching you from Valhalla and bragging to everyone about what a great leader you've become, and how proud he is to call you his son."

Hiccup covered his face in his hands and sobbed. "I'm not the leader I wanted to be…"

Astrid touched her forehead to his and took his hand in her own. "Remember what your mother said? You have the—"

"The heart of a chief and soul of a dragon, I know."

Astrid placed her hand firmly over his heart and looked him straight in the eye. "You have the heart of a chief. The heart, Hiccup. It's enough. More than enough."

"But does it make me a man?"

Astrid leaned in and kissed him hard until he kissed her back. When they had finished, she looked into his eyes again.

"It makes you the man I am proud to call my husband, proud to call the leader of Berk, proud…and honored, to fight alongside, to lead with, proud and honored to have borne you two glorious children. The way you lead may be different, but it has made all the difference."

Hiccup placed his hand behind Astrid's head, and pulled her in, kissing her again.

"I am honored to have you as my wife," he breathed as they released, "Honored that you would choose to fight alongside me in whatever battle, honored that you would lead with me…and," he chuckled, "I'm so proud to have you for our children's mother…"

Astrid placed her hand on his face, smoothing his beard. "You are the strongest man I know, Hiccup, Stoick's Son, and you will always be the man of my heart."

She got to her feet and held out her hand. Hiccup smiled and took it. She pulled him up.

"Come, my heart," she said, "a dragon adventure awaits us, one sorely in need."

Hiccup chuckled and embraced her. "Do you think he'll remember me? It's been so long since we let them go…"

"You saved his life once upon a time. Hearts don't forget that."

"No, they don't." They clasped arms around each other and walked towards the sea. "Let's go grab the kids," he said, "It's high time they met Dad's best friend."

The End