Note : Long chapter incoming! A lot of dialogue here… and drama..ohw.
Shout out :
cosmicblader12: Haha xD See how you like him after you read this chapter, I'm sure you would have Toothless blast him to pieces!
Guest : I.. you'll see. XD (sorry)
Sissi1789: Merci! Here's more :D
httydfangirl123: Thank you! and here you go :D
CHAPTER 4
Days went and Hiccup was more and more forced to handle the patrols alone, since the rest of the group would rather stay with Thoril to build the Edge back up. Even if it pained him to admit it, the man had proved himself rather useful for the most physical chores.
How could he have missed the opportunity to show off his strength and agility after all?
Snotlout was won over in every instance. Regularly, the two of them would train together. Ruffnut would always sit close by for that matter, and Hiccup was pretty sure none of them were really aware of that.
It's not like he had a problem with the twins anyway, since he found him in their hut this morning.
''That's it, press it gently.'' He heard from outside.
He frowned slightly before entering the hut where he found Thoril and Ruffnut squeezing a plant above a recipient Tuffnut was holding. A transparent liquid seeped from it and dripped into the pot.
''Cool !'' Tuffnut marveled
''Huh guys? Weren't you supposed to fill the Monstrous Nightmare gel's stock you burned last week back up?'' Hiccup interrupted, placing his hands on his hips.
''Would you believe it, my dear Hiccup, it's exactly what we are going right now!'' Ruffnut said proudly.
Hiccup raised an eyebrow at that, unimpressed.
''Yeah, we found something ten times cooler than Monstrous Nihtmare gel! This magic oil,'' he showed the bottle, forcing Thoril to quickly fetch another to gather the liquid, ''can catch fire in one instant!''
''So, no more Monstrous Nightmare gel needed!'' Ruffnut concluded.
''I discovered this plant during one of my travels, it saved me more than once.'' Thoril told him.
Hiccup prevented himself from rolling his eyes, or course it was his idea.
''Okay, so where are you going to plant all of them?'' He asked, gesturing to the pile of plant behind them.
''Oh, that's only one part of the crop! We already planted them all over the island.'' Ruffnut said.
''What?! If this plant is really inflammable, isn't it a bit dangerous to plant it everywhere, because of -oh I don't know… fire breathing dragons?'' Hiccup said incredulously, throwing his arms out to illustrate his point.
"No risk, the plant only reveals its active ingredients once the oil is extracted, if a dragon accidentally ignites it, there will be plenty of time to handle it''. Thoril explained.
"You're forgetting we're talking about twins, we can't leave these explosive things all over the place, believe me!'' Hiccup retorted as he crossed his arms.
"It's not cool, Hiccup, the one time we were doing something good...'' Tuffnut pouted.
"Don't worry, bro, he just doesn't understand our genius.'' His sister comforted as she took him outside.
"I think the more you keep forbidding them everything, the more they'll want to blow things up.'' Thoril spoke calmly.
"Yes, because you've known them for so long that you know how they work.'' Hiccup says sarcastically.
"I've known them for long enough to see that they don't get enough consideration from their leader.'' Thoril replied with a frown.
Hiccup visibly tensed at that.
"I know my teammates, their qualities, their limits. But if you need a little demonstration then go ahead, install flammable plants everywhere! See what happens!'' He says, stomping towards the exit.
"You'll know where to find me when the situation is out of control!'' He added before disappearing from his sight.
But Thoril was certainly not going to stop there and intended to share his knowledge of plants with everyone, especially Fishlegs. The latter was more than happy to learn more about medicinal plants, in return he shared his extensive knowledge of dragons, especially the Gronks.
"It's impressive, everything you know about dragons.'' Thoril complimented him as he dug into the ground.
"Oh, my knowledge of dragons is nothing compared to Hiccup's.'' Fishlegs replied by gently placing the plant in the fresh new hole.
Thoril stopped digging and wiped his forehead.
"Did he teach you everything?
"On how to train them, yes. But I did study the habits of new species on my own. I regularly manage to complete the book of dragons thanks to my researches!'' He says proudly.
"What book?'' Thoril asked, and Fishlegs froze, embarrassed. He didn't know if he was supposed to talk about it or not...
Under the insistent gaze of his guest, Fishlegs quickly broke.
"The book of dragons, it lists all the dragon species, their eating habits, their habitats... ''
"Oh, that's great! And where is this book now?
"In Hiccup's hut, why?'' Asked the dragon trainer, raising his eyebrows. But Thoril ignored his question.
"Why is it Hiccup who keeps the book if you're the one completing it?''
"Well, because he's our leader, and he uses the information to prepare the missions.'' Fishlegs replied, as if it was obvious.
"It's not normal, if you're the one filling out the book, you should be the one giving the directions, why give all the credit to Hiccup?''
"Well, I don't know... He's good at it, and maybe…Maybe he doesn't trust me?'' Fishlegs asked sadly.
"There's only one way to find out, ask him to keep the book of dragons.'' The other man suggested.
"I don't know if that's a good idea..." The blond hesitated.
"Fishlegs,'' Thoril said firmly, grabbing his two shoulders, "you have the right to own this book, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.''
Fishlegs returned a confident look at his friend and nodded.
The next day, Hiccup was at the clubhouse doing research on the plant Thoril brought back to the twins. He chewed his cold fish as he read, everything he had explained about its properties was true, but he couldn't find the page indicating where this plant was growing, maybe Fishlegs had lost it?
And speaking of the devil, the blond just came in to join him.
"Hey Hiccup, what are you doing?'' He asked in a trembling voice.
He seemed anxious.
"Oh, some researches on the inflammable plant. About that, you didn't forget the page about where it grows, didn't you?
"No, Thoril filled out the card, as I've never seen this plant before...''
"Okay, then I'll ask him, no problem.'' Hiccup replied by putting the cards away.
Fishlegs in the meantime was not moving an inch except for his leg which trembled nervously. Hiccup noticed right away and pressed his lips together before talking.
"Is there something you... would you like to talk to me about?'' He asked cautiously.
"I'dliketokeepthebookofdragons!'' Fishlegs spoke so quickly that he understood only part of the sentence, but it was the most important one.
"You want the book of dragons?'' He reformulated, and his teammate nodded sharply.
"I'm able to handle the book alone, since I'm the one who fills it out, I have the right to keep it!''
Hiccup, a little taken aback by this request, tried to calm his friend down.
"I'm sorry Fishlegs, but you know how dangerous this book can be in the wrong hands.''
"You don't believe I can keep him safe, do you?'' Fishlegs looked him right in the eye.
"I didn't say that, but I'd rather keep it close to me, just in case.'' Hiccup explained.
His friend shook his head, the corner of his lips facing down and his eyes full of pain.
"I thought you trusted me more than that..." He said as he left. Hiccup, not understanding his reaction, began to follow him.
"Fishlegs, wait!''
"No, it's okay, I've got the message.'' His friend answered him firmly before flying away with Meatlug, leaving him alone and shaken.
'What just happened?' He thought
It was at this moment that Astrid and Stormfly arrived. When he saw them, a weight was lifted from his chest. The sensation lasted only a moment when he saw the expression of anger on his fiancé's face.
"Hey Astrid, are you all right?'' He asked as she hoped down from her dragon and drew her axe.
But why was she walking towards him with her axe brandished like that? She screamed with rage before planting her axe not far from Hiccup's feet, who protected his face with his forearms.
"You dare ask me if I'm all right? I waited for you all afternoon!''
Hiccup relaxed his posture but remained ready to block further blows.
"What do you mean, waited for me? I've been busy all day, you know that.'' He really didn't understand what she was talking about.
"What about this? You wrote it yourself! I'm sure you'd already forgotten the moment you sent it to me..." She waved a piece of parchment in front of his eyes, he took it and started reading.
"Meet me at the waterfalls on Melody Island, signed Hiccup- I never wrote that!'' He protested, which seemed to make her more angry.
"If it's not you, then who is it? No one here can imitate your handwriting!''
"No one.'' He confirmed. "Except..." He whispered to himself. Who else but Thoril could have done such a thing?
Astrid shook her head, disconcerted with her boyfriend's negligence.
"I don't know what I was hoping for anyway, you think so much about dragons and the Edge that you don't spend any more time with the group... with me.'' She complained.
"That's not true! We often meet, it's just that there's a lot of things to—'' Astrid cut off his excuses.
"How long has it been since you last ate at the clubhouse with us?''
"Uh..." Strangely enough, Hiccup couldn't remember it, but Astrid answered in his place.
"Three weeks! Three weeks since I bring you meals in your hut everyday and hope you notice.'' She said sadly.
Suddenly Hiccup felt bad, he had of course noticed the meal trays on the table, and he had never taken the time to thank her.
"Astrid, I'm sorry..." He said, reaching for her.
"Me too.'' She says coldly as she takes her axe back, while taking care of avoiding any contact with him. This simple action was like a knife to the stomach for Hiccup.
What has he done?
Astrid adjusted Stormfly's saddlebags before turning to him. He swore her eyes were filled with tears.
"Maybe you didn't write that message, but I wish you did.'' She said, her voice breaking.
Hiccup was frozen on the spot as he watched her leave. And found no words to stop her, the rider just lowered his head and clenched his fists.
He stood here for a long time before returning in his hut.
He had never felt so exhausted, so much he decided not to work on the dragon's eye and collapsed on his bed instead.
However, he had trouble sleeping, the words of Astrid and the other still clouding his mind. Toothless purred as he approached the bed, his trainer smiled and scratched behind his ear. His dragon seemed to be the only one on the island who didn't blame him.
He had to settle all this, talk to his team, and fast.
The next morning, he went to the Zen garden hoping to find Fishlegs there. But he was quite surprised at who he found instead.
Astrid and Thoril training hand to hand.
Both exchanged blows with vigor, judging by their soaked clothes and their laborious breathing, they had been there for a while. Astrid finally managed to bring Thoril down, announcing the end of the fight.
"Okay, okay, that was great, you're progressing really fast!'' The young man congratulated her as he propped up on his elbows.
"I have a good teacher.'' Astrid replied by holding out a hand. She screamed in surprise when he grabbed her and pulled her forward, making her fall over him. He then placed himself over her, one hand on each of her shoulders.
"You've let your guard down again.'' Thoril reprimanded heartily, his face too close to hers for Hiccup's comfort.
The two fighters then noticed the presence of a third person. Astrid, visibly embarrassed, quickly broke free and smoothed out her clothes.
Hiccup was frozen on the spot, an unknown feeling ran right through him from side to side, like a mixture of anger and despair.
"Hiccup! Do you want to train with us?'' Thoril asked, the stranger was in no way embarrassed by the situation.
"You seem to be doing very well without me.'' He replied coldly before deciding that he had seen enough.
He thought he heard Astrid call him, but he continued to walk back to his hut on foot. Thoril managed to catch him at the clubhouse and grabbed his arm. The Viking's reaction was immediate.
"Leave me alone!'' He shouted as he ripped his arm out of his grip.
"What's going on?'' Thoril asked.
"What's going on? Oh, nothing! A stranger arrives out of nowhere on our island, freely accesses our equipment, our knowledge without anyone seeing any inconvenience!'' He replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Look, I understand that you don't trust me, but I never intended to hurt you..." The stranger replied by raising his hands as if to prove his point.
"And I'll make sure that doesn't happen, don't worry.'' Hiccup says firmly.
"Something tells me that's not the real problem.'' Thoril insisted, clearly determined to get things straight.
"Well, I suppose you can read minds in addition to fighting eels with your bare hands?'' Hiccup asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's about Astrid, isn't it?''
His body stiffened just by hearing the question.
"What about Astrid?'' He asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"You're in a relationship, right?
"It's none of your business..." Hiccup looked away.
"She's incredible, you're very lucky.'' Faced with the silence of the dragon trainer, the stranger continued,"And it's true that she and I get along well, but we're just friends, that's all. At least from my point of view...''
The young man looked up with surprise. 'How dare he?'
"Okay.'' He began as he reduced the gap between him and Thoril, his index finger pointing towards him.
"I don't know what you're playing at, but know that here, you're a stranger. And until you prove yourself, you are neither her ally nor her combat partner, much less her friend. With her or everyone else!'' Hiccup spat, his voice had reached a dangerously high level.
"What, because you decided to?'' Thoril replied, surprised by the excess anger coming from the other man.
"Exactly!
"So that's how you run things huh? Your friends see you as a fair leader, but not me. You push them to their limits without listening to what they have to say to you!'' The stranger criticized.
"If I push them so hard, it's for them, to prepare them for difficult times!'' Hiccup explained, trying not to leave room for guilt.
"By making choices for them?
"Some choices are difficult to make, kicking you off the island won't be one.''
The two rivals turned their heads when they heard a gasp of horror. All the dragon riders were there, for how long, no one could tell.
Thoril took the opportunity to leave, obviously upset with the leader's last words.
"Nooo!'' Ruffnut cried as she fell to her knees dramatically.
"How can you!'' Her brother outraged.
"You want him to leave?'' Snotlout asked, dumbfounded.
Just as he thought the situation couldn't be more unpleasant.
"Guys... We can't trust him!'' He told them by gesticulating towards Thoril's hut, "We can't let him walk around with you know who in the wild.''
"Who? "Viggo?'' Tuffnut asked, making the chief face palm.
"Shh! You shouldn't have said that! That's the purpose of the game. You know who knows who knows about the one who... knows.'' Ruffnut did not finish his sentence, plunged into confusion.
"It doesn't matter if he knew it or not... Were you really going to kick him off the island without telling us?!'' Astrid stepped in.
"Astrid..." Hiccup began, before being interrupted by Snotlout.
"He's jealous, that's why.''
"What? Nonsense!''
"Oh, come on, Thoril is just better than you and you can't stand it!''
"What do you mean, better than me?'' He asked, crossing his arms.
"Well, you know, nicer, stronger, smarter..." Tuffnut listed each fact with his fingers.
"Brawnier." Ruffnut added lovingly.
"Okay, that's enough. Don't you find it weird that he has absolutely no flaws?''
"And why is that a problem? You have to stop seeing evil all around, Hiccup.'' Astrid reprimanded.
"Not to mention, he's helped us many times.'' Fishlegs went one further.
"Precisely, he invents training sessions in which our dragons are never involved! He's trying to distract you.''
"Didn't it cross your mind that it maybe was exactly what we needed?'' Astrid asked.
"Well… Statistically, the group has never been so cohesive since Thoril arrived.'' Fishlegs observed a little timidly.
"Yeah, truth is the only problem here is you!'' Snotlout pointed his index finger at Hiccup.
"Me?!'' He couldn't believe it.
"Yes, you! You just can't stand that Thoril is a better leader than you are. I know that, you felt the same with me.'' Snotlout added cockyly.
"All right, if I'm the problem, then I'm leaving.'' Hiccup said as he threw his arms up in the air in frustration. He had enough of this.
"But don't you dare tell me I didn't warn you!'' He added before leaving.
"Yeah, that's right, good riddance!'' Cries Snotlout.
"Snotlout!" Astrid hissed as she hit his arm.
"Ouch, what?"
The group watched their leader leave, each one of them more or less upset by the discussion they had just had.
But everyone knew who was the most upset of them.
For several days, Hiccup preferred to avoid the others and set up the last defenses outside the Edge. Several times he passed over the huts with Toothless, each time trying to ignore the high activity below.
However, there came a time when the base began to transform so much he couldn't ignore it anymore. The chief decided to take advantage of his friends' absence to take a closer look.
"Let's see what they're up to.'' He told his dragon, who let out a cry of acquiescence.
The two friends flew over large metal gutters that overlooked the huts thanks to thin pillars. Strangely, this kind of construction was not foreign to Hiccup, but he did not immediately know why.
All the gutters converged to a large tank, visibly filled with water, which was placed on a freshly built wooden platform. He landed next to it, thus did not notice Thoril approaching towards him as he descended from Toothless' back.
"Hi Hiccup, do you like our new fire system?''
The rider jumped in surprise and turned to him. Judging by the tone of his voice, the young man did not seem to take into account their last confrontation. And even if it wasn't the same for him, Hiccup decided to remain cordial.
"Yes, that's exactly the kind of structure..." He trailed of, looking up once more. The blacksmith didn't know if it was because of the new angle, but he had clearly seen it somewhere.
"That I would have imagined..." He whispered the end of his sentence, and suddenly it clicked in his head.
He had imagined this system, the tank, the trapdoor system to release the water in the gutters, the rocking system to pour the water over any huts on fire...
"Not bad, huh? It's practically an automatic system, all you need to do is-'' The impostor began to explain before he was cut off.
"I know how it works since I invented it.'' Hiccup said dryly, forgetting his desire to remain cordial.
Something illuminated Thoril's gaze, defiance or satisfaction, he didn't really know. He also noted the way the corner of his mouth was raised, as if he had decided to build this fire system only to provoke him.
"I'm sorry, Hiccup, I thought I was doing the right thing.'' He said, feigning innocence.
"By stealing my plans? How did you even get them?'' He did his best to keep his voice calm, but his body was sending a lot of opposite signals.
"Fishlegs lent them to me, he trusts me enough to take care of the work.''
"Fishlegs put his trust in people too easily..." He whispered, but not low enough for not being heard over.
"Is that why you refuse to give him the book of dragons?'' The other asked, crossing his arms.
Upon hearing this question, Hiccup's eyes narrowed in fury. His friend's reaction a few days ago really was out of character, he blamed it on fatigue, but now everything was clear.
"You're the one who put that idea in his head!'' He thought out loud.
"He just wants to prove himself, like every one of them.''
"But they don't—'' He sighed angrily, trying to calm down, "They don't need to prove anything to me. You've only been here two weeks, what are you even trying to do?''
"There's no need to stay long to see that your team is falling apart.''
"Thanks to your efforts, yes, but we're stronger than that.'' Hiccup assured him.
"Do you want to know what I saw during those two weeks?'' The other asked, he didn't give him time to answer before continuing.
"An absent leader, who no longer has an ounce of consideration for his team, who only gives orders before disappearing, who does not listen to the requests of his teammates, even the most intimate.'' Thoril could not hide his lopsided grin when he referred to Astrid.
Hiccup was boiling from the inside. He knew it, he was the one who imitated his writing.
"She knows I'm not the one who wrote it.'' He defended himself, but this only made his interlocutor giggle.
"This piece of paper was only used to push poor Astrid to tell you what was wrong, but obviously it wasn't enough to open your eyes.'' Thoril sighed dramatically before continuing his monologue.
"What a pity, she stays alone days and nights, spending her time waiting for you, sending you signal after signal in vain. You're slowly losing her, but you don't notice anything.''
Hiccup felt his heart beat faster and faster as the other threw one sentence after the other. His fists clenched without him noticing, and his nostrils flared.
"Don't worry, when you break her heart, I'll be there to take care of her.''
That was the one sentence too many.
With a scream of rage, he began to reduce the distance between him and Thoril, his fist raised. Suddenly a black curtain fell in front of him, Toothless' wing blocked his way, he turned to his dragon who purred sadly.
"You should listen to the dragon, what would your friends think if I told them you attacked me for no reason?'' The brunet asked him with a satisfied look, as if he had been expecting such a reaction from the beginning.
"They'll eventually find out you turned them against me.'' He growled, trying as best he could to calm down. He wasn't supposed to play into his hands.
The dragon lowered his wing when he saw that his rider had calmed down.
"The more you will try to prove that I am your enemy, the deeper you will sink. Don't make that mistake or you'll lose them forever.'' Thoril says sadly.
"I won't let you hurt them.''
"Who said anything about hurting them?''
Hiccup help Thoril's gaze for a long time, trying to discern a muscle movement, a glint in his eyes that could betray his sad expression.
What if he's wrong? If one could prove that Thoril was not dangerous, what would he look like to his teammates?
"Well, if there's nothing else you want to tell me, I'll go get some rest.'' The stranger interrupted his thoughts.
Hiccup's throat was so tight that he didn't answer and stared at the ground instead. With a scream of frustration, he suddenly kicked a rock, surprising Toothless who purred sadly.
'This week couldn't get any worse.' He thought.
Only Thor knew how wrong he was.
Meheheheh…..
Sooooo what do you think? Did you change your mind on Thoril? Next chapter might confirm your hypothesis if you have one, or completely change it… xD