Hiccup blinked as Astrid moved in front of him. His jaw dropped when she grabbed his waist and pulled him close. Over her shoulder he saw Gobber wink at him. Snotlout looked ill and turned away to stare beyond the circle. The twins were not paying any attention and Gyda seemed to be meditating while leaning against Shadowfire's foreleg. Hiccup looked up when his father chuckled and removed his arm. Stoick winked at him and walked around the circle to Gobber. Astrid's lips brushing against Hiccup's ear, kept him from hearing whatever his father said to the blacksmith.

"Please hold me," Astrid whispered, so low Hiccup barely heard her.

When his mind comprehended her words, he hesitated. He wanted to, but he had still ordered them, her, into this disaster. Astrid's arms tighten their hold.

"Hiccup," she whispered, a bit more firmly than before. "Please hold me."

Hiccup slowly, reluctantly, encircled her waist. Astrid hummed. Hiccup frowned. She should hate him for dragging her out here where the possibility of death to cold was real. She should not want anything to do with him. Hiccup jerked as the thing within him roared and it seemed as if a fog lifted from his mind. He sighed. His arms tighten their hold. His chin fell upon her spaulder, not caring that the metal dug into his skin.

"There you go," Astrid whispered. "Don't blame yourself for any of this, Hiccup."

"How-"

Astrid hummed again. "I know you, Hiccup," she whispered. "I know you're blaming yourself for us being out here. You're not a fault."

"I gave the order."

"Hiccup?"

Hiccup lifted his head, looking to his right. Astrid lifted her head but did not move from Hiccup's arms. Fishlegs stared at the two of them, tapping the first fingers of both hands together in front of him.

"You had to give the order," Fishlegs began softly. "You were right. We will need Sven's sheep over the winter. His is the biggest flock. Magnus and Agnar's flocks wouldn't be enough to cloth us all." Fishlegs paused and put his hands behind him, standing straighter. "And," he coughed. "And Meatlug and I.. we'll follow you anywhere, Hiccup."

[Anywhere, Alpha,] Meatlug said.

Hiccup turned as Tuffnut and Ruffnut walked around Shadowfire's continued stream of fire. The twins stopped near to Fishlegs. They stared at Hiccup for a long moment in silence then smiled.

"Us too," Ruff said.

"What she said," Tuff added.

[We agree,] Barf began.

[With our riders, Alpha,] Belch finished.

Snotlout snorted. "Muttonheads," he muttered. "That's not how you declare allegiance."

He sauntered around the column of fire. Astrid shifted out of Hiccup's arms, only to move to his left side and intertwine her fingers with his. Snotlout grunted but clapped a hand upon Hiccup's left shoulder. He then stared at his cousin.

"Where you go, I go, cousin," Snotlout said. "I mean, you couldn't handle it on your own anyways. I've always gotta get you outta some mess." Snotlout lifted his hand and spun to face the twins and Fishlegs. "That's how you pledge allegiance. Take notes."

Hiccup chuckled and shook his head. Snotlout was no longer actively challenging his authority or making remarks about being a better leader but it seemed no one could convince the young man that he was not the gods' gift to Berk that he thought he was. Hiccup suspected that like his own sarcasm, Snotlout used such words to deflect attention away from what he truly felt.

[My rider is boastful to the point he could fly on his own,] Hookfang said.

"Hey!"

[But I agree with him on this: Where you go, Alpha, I will go.]

Shadowfire's stream of fire stopped. He lowered his head enough that he could curl his neck and stare at Hiccup. Gyda stepped away from his foreleg. She grinned.

"I've already told you I'd follow you to the edge of the world even though the world is round," she said.

[I will follow you, my alpha,] Shadowfire said. [Hey, Mom? You thinking Son of Man?]

Gyda laughed. "Well, the first part of that song and the chorus would fit right now. The second verse…"

Gyda's grin faded and Shadowfire's horns twitched, flattening against his skull.

"Son of man?" Stoick asked.

"It's a song from back home," Gyda said.

"Why did ye both look as if someone ye loved died when ye mentioned the second verse?" Stoick asked.

Hiccup blinked as Gyda flinched and Shadowfire jerked.

"The second verse is just a bit sad is all," Gyda said slowly. "Given that it was written for a different tale where the main hero's parents were killed while the hero was a baby."

"I see," Stoick said, and Hiccup got the impression his father did not fully accept Gyda's explanation. "Sing the song."

"Chief?" Gyda asked.

"Sing the song. Yer son asked about it and ye said parts of it would fit right now. Sing the song. I think we could do with some singin' right now anyways."

Gyda looked up to her son. "Do you want me to?"

[I'm okay,] he said. [Will you keep them warm?]

Several small chitters came from the three Gronckles. Hiccup watched as ten Fireworms crawled down from the Gronckle's backs and half jumped, half glided to the part Shadowfire's flame had cleared of snow. All ten Fireworms began to glow. One of them chirped.

[Thank you,] Shadowfire said before he began to sing.

Astrid moved around and buried back into Hiccup's arms while Shadowfire sang. Hiccup automatically tighten his grip and pulled her close. She laid her chin on his left shoulder while both of her hands rubbed his back. Hiccup let his chin fall, the words of the song hitting him hard. Astrid's attention when he thought she would be angry over everyone being out here was a balm to his soul. When his chin hit her tunic and not her spaulder, he jerked upright. Astrid snickered softly and pushed against his back. Hiccup did not fight her but placed his chin back upon her shoulder. They stood there as Shadowfire finished singing.

The rest of the teens began to ask Gyda and Shadowfire questions about any other songs from their time. Hiccup noted his father and Gobber alternated between staring at Gyda and Shadowfire or monitoring the Fireworms, the other dragons, and the snowstorm. Hiccup knew he should also pay attention to the dragons and ensure they were doing well, but Astrid began to whisper in his ear again and his focus centered upon her.

"That song was right about everything except one part. You will always have someone to help guide you and someone to hold your hand. Me."

Hiccup shifted so his lips rested against her ear. "Thank you," he whispered.

The thing within him gave a smug sounding purr.

Kirika: Hehe, funny you should suggest that.

Prince: Hi, welcome and thank you for reading and reviewing. Astrid and the other riders have something within them but not the exact same thing Hiccup does. And I shall keep my lips sealed on what this all is. Oh, no, he was cold. He just didn't care. He was mad at himself for putting them in danger and didn't really register the cold air. Besides, he may or may not have some help in keeping warm and that I will keep quiet about as well.

SnowBriar: You're welcome. And the story will be here.

K. H: Hehe, yep, more chapters.