Hiccup could hear his name being called in a distant, warbled way. He felt himself being lifted up, and there was a dull, pulsing pain in his side. Everything swirled, and he drifted into unconsciousness.
When he woke up, he was back in his room. As he started to sit up, pain shot through his right side. He cried out and lifted up his shirt. His waist was wrapped in gauze. Just then, Astrid ran upstairs.
"Oh, gods! Hiccup! You're awake! When I heard you yell, I thought it was my imagination, but...you're alright!" Hiccup began to smile at his girlfriend, but Snotlout's words penetrated his mind. You don't deserve Astrid. I do.
Hiccup was about to say something , but Astrid punched his arm. "Wh-What was that for?"
"What do you think it's for? You were gone for three days, Hiccup. No one knew where you were. And when Snotlout told us about your 'little chat'...Hiccup, we were scared to death about you. I know Vikings are supposed to be tough and all, but..."
Hiccup looked down, away from Astrid. "Why...why are you here?" Astrid stared at him for a moment. "You're kidding, right? Hiccup, we thought you were dead! You were just...gone, no note, no 'clues,' nothing! And we all thought th-"
"No, that's not wh-I mean, why do you...care about me?"
"Why? Hiccup, you are one of the most talented, caring Vikings that I've ever met! Anyone who says something different...oh gods, what did Snotlout say? I swear to Odin I'm going to-"
"No! He...he was right. I don't deserve you, Astrid. I don't deserve to be chief. Astrid, I don't even deserve to be alive."
"Hiccup, stop! You know that's not true!" Hiccup stared at his lap. "That dragon should have taken me instead of my mom."
"Hiccup," Astrid bit her lip, "Look at me. Please." Her pleading tone pulled Hiccup's eyes to Astrid's. "If that dragon had taken you, you'd never have met Toothless. And I'd be stuck with Snotlout crawling all over me 24/7."
They both smiled. "Everything we know about dragons is from you, Hiccup! You've stopped the violence and war that had lasted for centuries. You showed us...all of us...that we were wrong. Without you, we'd all still be fighting - against our own dragons - and, stubborn Vikings that we are, I don't think we would have changed. You've changed our thinking, our actions, our lives, Hiccup! Not just anyone can do that. I don't know anyone else brave and kind and smart enough to do what you've done. Lead by example, admitting your mistakes and changing. Just like a chief would."
"You really think so?"
"You know I do, Hiccup."
He paused. "Thanks, Astrid."
"Whatever you're going through, remember you have me to lean on every step of the way."