Chapter 32: What If?
What if Stormfly hadn't been there to save Eret?
"And get rid of him."
I'm not strong enough to break free from Drago's men's grasps as I watch in horror as my husband is impaled by weapons.
I can't look away even as they let me go to him.
I crouch down next to Eret and cradle his head in my arms as I begin to cry.
"Eret?"
"I'm here, love. But I'm...I'm afraid I won't be for much longer. Becky, darling?"
"Yes?"
"If you ever meet my parents and sister, tell them...tell them I love them. And that I'm s-sorry."
"You'll be fine, okay? We'll...we'll go to Berk and be free. We can start a new life together. Please, Eret. I can't live without you."
"You'll have to. Live for me. Live on for me. Please. Do this for me. And know this, Rebekah Nordisk...I have always loved you. And I always will."
"I love you, too, Eret."
He exhales for the final time and I gently lay his head back down. I cover my mouth with my hands and scream. I begin to sob.
"Becky..."
"Astrid, I can't talk to you right now. I just can't."
I hear footsteps and a shadow looming over me.
"Get up. Now."
I comply.
"Drago...kill me. Please."
"I would miss you as my wench. You're mine, and mine alone. Nothing will ever change that. Get to my chambers. Stay there. I'll come get you after I dispose of those friends of yours."
I comply again and head to Drago's chambers, whispering "I'm sorry"s to my friends and siblings along the way.
Soon, I hear splashes. I try not to scream again.
I lost Eret.
Now I lost my friends and my adoptive siblings.
I decide to do as Eret said, and live on. And live on I shall...but as Drago's personal wench.
He comes in and...you know the rest.
Some time passes, and we soon reach the Alpha's sanctuary.
I sneak out of Drago's chambers. I see Hiccup challenging him.
I have to get to him in time.
So I can be with Eret again.
So I can be with my friends and siblings again.
So Hiccup can live on.
I run across the snow and ice and I get there just as Toothless...
I gasp for air. Hiccup holds me in his arms.
"Hiccup, I..."
"Shhh. Don't speak. We're going to get you and the others home. Where's everyone else?"
"They drowned and Eret...Eret..."
"Shhh. It's not your fault. You'll be okay. We can...you and I can...start...over...we'll get you to Gothi and you and me. It'll be like old times. Okay? You'll be okay, Becky. I promise."
A woman I don't recognize and Stoick come over to us.
"Oh, son. Is that the girl you rescued all those years ago?"
"It is, Mom. Do you have anything to, um...?"
"I'm afraid it's too late for her, son."
"Hiccup."
"Becky? What is it?"
"If you ever meet Eret's parents and sister...tell them...tell them he loves them and that he's sorry. Do the same for my parents."
"I will. I promise."
"Don't blame Toothless for this. Blame Drago."
I exhale for the final time and see a bright light.
I walk towards it.
I touch it and I'm sucked in.
"My love?"
I look up.
"Eret!"
I run towards my husband and he envelops me in his arms.
"What are you doing here, love?"
"Long story short, I sacrificed myself for Hiccup. Drago got control of Toothless and he fired...I almost didn't get to him in time."
"I should've known you'd do something like that."
"Where are we?"
"Welcome to Valhalla, sweetheart."
"MOM!" I run towards my biological mother and she hugs me.
"It's okay. Mama's here."
"Mom...I want you to meet someone." I lead my mother over to Eret.
"Mom, this is my husband, Eret. Wait a second...Eret, what about Ruffnut? Tuffnut? Astrid? Fishlegs? Snotlout?"
"They're all here, love. They're all here. There's someone I want you to meet as well, my darling."
I take one of Eret's hands and one of my mom's hands and Eret leads us over to someone. Someone who looks familiar, yet not familiar all at the same time.
"Becky, Amora. This is Ruby. My mother. She was the one who greeted me here."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Ma'am? Oh, no, dear, call me Mum. Or Mom. Either is fine."
"Okay, Mum. Thank you."
"For what?"
"For raising such a wonderful son."
"You're welcome."
I pull my own mother to the side while Eret reunites with his mother.
"Mom, where's Dad?"
"Sweetheart, I meant to tell you. Your father...he wasn't actually your father. Your actual father, believe it or not, is Loki."
"So you cheated on Dad."
"No! It wasn't like that at all. I met Loki, or Anthony, as he was called when he was -"
"Wait, Anthony? I knew an Anthony on Drago's ship. He helped me through -"
"Your son's birth, I know."
"So, that was actually -"
"Loki? Yes. It was. For a time, at least. Anyway, I met Loki before I knew the father you knew."
"So, do you think that I could…?"
"When you're well-rested, I'll send Loki to your and Eret's room. By the way, would you like to formally meet your son?"
"My…my son? My son is here, in Valhalla?"
"Yes. He was an innocent baby. Odin granted him passage into Valhalla."
My mom and I – with Eret and my mother-in-law in tow – head over to where the others are, where my adoptive sister is cradling my son (!) in her arms.
"Your mom said you should be the first one of us to hold him, since he's your kid and all, but I just couldn't resist."
"I forgive you, Ruffnut."
"Oh, I'm not apologizing."
I give my adoptive sister a look.
"Alright, gods, I'm sorry, okay?"
"I forgive you."
"Thank you. Here. He's yours. Yours and Eret's. And about me going after Eret, I'm sorry." Ruffnut places my son in my arms as my mom looks on, beaming.
"I didn't realize the bond you two share together. Eret told me everything when we arrived. How you two met. Every moment you shared together when you were alive. Everything."
"Thank you, Ruffnut."
"You're welcome."
"Have you met my dad?"
"Your dad? Why would I-?"
I look to my mom, who nods at me.
"Tuffnut, c'mere."
"What's up, sis? Gods, it feels so good to say that to you again, Becky."
"Thanks, bro. Anyway, my father, my real father, is…Loki."
Their jaws drop.
"Loki…the Loki? As in, the god of mischief and master of pranks? That Loki?" Tuffnut asks.
"The one and only." We look and, lo and behold, there he is. The god of mischief himself.
And my father.
Eret walks over to me as my adoptive siblings begin to literally worship my biological father.
"He's beautiful, love. So beautiful."
"Thank you." I lean on my husband as we stare at my – our – son.
"I hate that I wasn't there."
"He may not grow up, and he'll forever be a newborn, but I'll love him all the same."
"As will I, Becky. As will I."
I soon meet my biological father, and we – my family, friends, and I – all enjoy each other's company in paradise.
