Chapter 44: Burning (Part 2)
(Becky's POV)
I wake up to the sound of screaming.
I look over at the cradle, where Ruby (five months old) is, but she's sound asleep.
I look to my right to see Eret screaming in his sleep, pleading for Drago to stop.
I want to wake him, but I know that if I do, it'll only leave him more scared than before.
So I wait.
It takes fifteen minutes for him to stop screaming.
He bolts up, and I'm surprised his screaming didn't wake Ruby.
He looks at me, wide-eyed, his hand where his branding scar is.
It must be burning again.
"Eret, are you okay?"
He shakes his head "no".
"Just stay there. Let me grab Ruby. Then I'll drop her off at Ruffnut and Tuffnut's and then we can go to Gothi's."
Eret nods wordlessly at me.
I grab our daughter and hold her close to me after swaddling her, and then help Eret down the steps of our house and head to Ruffnut and Tuffnut's.
My sister opens the door.
"Hey, Ruff. This is kind of last minute, but could you guys watch Ruby for a while? Eret's branding scar is burning again."
"Of course, sis."
I hand over Ruby to her Aunt Ruffnut.
"Thanks, Ruff. We'll hopefully be back soon."
"Okay. Do you need one of us to go with you?"
"No, thank you. We'll be fine." I lie, knowing both my brother and sister get cranky when they don't get enough sleep. Not that they'd ever take it out on me, Eret or Ruby. But still.
Eret and I head to Gothi's, and she motions for him to lay down, so he does. He eventually falls back asleep.
Gothi, a woman of few words, tells me he's feeling phantom pains.
Nothing can be done to prevent or help them, except rest.
I excuse myself to go on Gothi's porch. She's moved her house down to ground level, knowing she's getting old and, now with Hiccup and Astrid married, they will need her when Hiccup and Astrid have children.
I sniffle, feeling helpless, knowing I can't do anything to help Eret or prevent his phantom pains.
"Are those tears I hear coming from my sister?"
My brother.
I nod.
Tuffnut rushes to my side and puts his left hand on my back.
"Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Come here."
Tuffnut wraps me up in his arms.
I begin to sob.
"It's gonna be okay. I'm here. I've got you. Tuffnut's got you."
A few minutes pass before I calm down and Gothi emerges.
She motions for us to come in.
Eret's sitting up in the bed and I rush over to him and wrap my arms around him.
"I'm sorry I left, Eret. I just needed some time to myself and I ended up breaking down, which I know makes me weak –"
"Honey, just because you broke down, that doesn't mean you're weak. You were overwhelmed. That's okay."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Soon, Eret comes home and I go to get Ruby.
I thank Ruff and Tuff for being there for us when we need them.
"Anytime, sis. You know that we'll always be there for you guys when you need us."
"Thanks, guys."
I head home, Ruby in my arms, knowing that I've got my family to lean back on.
No matter what.
