For this new chapter, there's one thing I need to mention first. I am not a professional or a medical student or anything like that. If there's anything in the story that is scientifically incorrect, please don't laugh. I am trying my best.

Thanks for the review. Thank you for reading my story.

--

Fishlegs took the knife and started to work. Hiccup watched as he cut the shaft. His palms started to sweat. Fear was bouncing inside him,against his bones, creating a nasty sound in his brain. A mute alarm.

Fishlegs looked at him in concern. 'Hiccup, now pull it out.'

Astrid looked like a piece of crumpled paper. Broken and painful. Her blood was pooling on the ground. Hiccup opened his mouth but suddenly lost his voice. His throat felt dry and weirdly tense. At last, he swallowed and whispered in her ear. 'Astrid. you ready?'

Astrid nodded slightly with her eyes shut. Hiccup helped her up into a sitting position. He turned her towards himself and set her head on his left shoulder so that she could lean on him. He took a deep breath and started slowly pulling the arrow. It was sticky and hard to grasp. He felt Astrid suddenly tense in his arms. Her breath went quick and difficult. He tried to be as gentle as possible but the blood started gushing out every time he pulled. He stopped, defeated. Tears blurred his vision.

'Hiccup just pull it out quickly. She's running out of time!' Fishlegs squealed. He looked like he could faint any second. Snotlout ran over with the cabinet.

Hiccup couldn't control his trembling hands. Even when he found he lost a leg he didn't feel this hopeless. He grabbed the arrow, closed his eyes and pulled. He felt warm blood splashing on his face. Astrid screamed. It got muffled by his armor but still, It tore his heart into thin pieces. His tears were stinging his face but he didn't care. The blood was running down fast now with nothing to stop it. The red pool was getting terrifyingly bigger and bigger. The breath of hers on his neck became shallow. It was light and no longer raspy, but too light to actually be there. He felt her body go limp. He held her face, terribly scared and shouted. 'Astrid! Astrid come on! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...Don't leave me! I'm begging you. Just don't...don't leave me.' He began to sob and tightened his embrace. Astrid didn't stir. She didn't respond. For the first time in his life Hiccup thought his world fell apart. ' Please just take a look at me! I'm still here...don't go...'

'I think she needs stitches!' Fishlegs took the cabinet and rummaged in it. He was throwing the unwanted stuff out like a maniac. He got the needle and threads out and took Astrid from Hiccup's arms. Hiccup sat on his heels, totally exhausted.

God if you have to take someone just take me. Let her live. Let my Astrid live.

Hiccup held her hands .They were cold. Beautiful as ever, but cold as ice. He checked her pulse. It was feeble but still there. How long could it stay? Hiccup couldn't help thinking about this question even though he refused to.

'Astrid please stay...Please hold on. I still need you.' Hiccup put his forehead on her hands and whispered. His voice was raspy from all the shouting and crying. The birds' song got frozen in the autumn wind and dropped on them, sounding like an elegy for someone they didn't want to think about. Fishlegs was doing his job as fast as he could. He cut her shirt and revealed the wound. He quickly finished the stitches and started wrapping the wound with the bandages. They got soaked by blood when they made contact with the skin. Fishlegs had to keep wrapping until the bleeding finally stopped.

'We're done. It should be good. Now we need to take her to her hut.' He took a look at Hiccup and said.

'So ...so she's alright now, right Fishlegs? She is going to rest and...and she'll be fine?' Hiccup snapped out of his exhaustion and asked breathlessly, searching madly for any sign of affirmation on his face.

'I...I am not sure...This is all that I can do for now. Snotlout will go get Gothi...But now I cant...make any promise. But she is Astrid. She does the best at surviving.' Fishlegs suddenly didn't know how to look at Hiccup's eyes. He didn't have enough courage to see the pain in them which urgently needed to be told that everything was under control, so he decided to stare at his boots instead. Hiccup found all his strength gone. He couldn't even manage to stand up. He tried so hard but his knees kept failing him. His tears left clean lines through the bloody handprint on his cheek.

'I'll take her to her hut. I think you need some rest too.' Fishlegs took Astrid, carefully avoiding Hiccup's eyes.

'No. I...I'll come along.' Hiccup struggled up, still swaying slightly. His eyes were scarily red and puffy.

Fishlegs wanted to say something but eventually just sighed. ' Snotlout, go get Gothi.'

Snotlout nodded, quickly scrambled up Hookfang and took off. Fishlegs climbed on Meatlug. Hiccup got on Toothless and followed. The dragon looked at his rider with his two big green eyes worriedly. He warbled softly, trying to cheer him up. But Hiccup didn't respond like he usually did. They landed in seconds. Fishlegs carried Astrid upstairs and put her in bed. She was crimson all over. The blood on her neck dried and turned into a deep brown color, in sharp contrast to her pale skin. She was just too pale like she could break down to dust right away. Her bangs were wet and stuck on her forehead. It killed Hiccup every time he saw her like this. He got the blankets out and covered her body, trying to make her warm. Fishlegs turned and left, closing the door.

Hiccup took her hands in his, softly blowing her fingers. They were freezing.

'Don't let go, Astrid. I love you. I need you to stay.' He pressed her hand on his cheek and breathed.

I can't live without you. I don't know how to. Please don't leave me.

Please don't leave me.

He just sat there, not moving. A tear rolled down his face.

--

Yeah, tiny chapter. So, enjoy... I hope. Even though the story is going ridiculously slow.