Twenty Two: It means everything to her.

A terrified scream left Hiccup's throat as they accelerated up into the frigid sky, the leathery flap of the Night Fury's wings the only sound. Suddenly aware he may attract unwanted attention that could prove fatal to them both, he snapped his mouth shut and clung on for dear life. The dragon soared high, the trees shrunk to small blobs and the shapes of the longhouses of the village lost amid the mist. Slowly, he forced himself to breathe and concentrate on what was happening, isolating each sensation one at a time.

The air was freezing cold, rippling his clothes and what bits of his hair that Toothless hadn't licked into a sticky mess. The dragon's muscles were rippling powerfully underneath him, the warmth seeping through the skin into his trembling body. And he could hear the leathery flap of wings above the hiss of the wind…but otherwise it was quiet and peaceful. Cautiously, he opened his eyes to see the sky surrounding him, the island of Berk far below, the dragon flying him through the night. Breathing hard, he leaned forward and a smile stretched his lips.

"Wow," he said as he searched the island below them. "This is…amazing…" he breathed. "But can we go a bit lower?"

Toothless crooned and his ears flickered before they banked and Hiccup yelped, his grip around the neck tightening. He knew his arms were getting tired and his legs were aching from being clamped around the dragon's shoulders.

I'm on the back of a dragon, he realised, leaning a little to see the ground, hundreds of feet below. Everyone knows that dragons are ferocious and bloodthirsty, that all of them should be killed on sight. And I'm on a Night Fury, a dragon you should hide from and pray it does not find you. But he came to find me, to see me and and take me out. And-and I trust him…more than I do many of the Vikings in the village. So what does everyone know?

They soared over the forest, the dragon taking only the most occasional flap to maintain altitude while they circled-until they reached the clearing and then Toothless gave a small croon. The space was devoid of any signs of life and in that moment, Hiccup realised that the dragon had been waiting for him. Finally, they swept in and backwinged as they landed. Finally, Hiccup sat up on the dragon and exhaled.

"Wow," he breathed. "That was just…wow. I mean it was insane and if anyone finds out, I will certainly be executed as a traitor…if they don't execute me, revive me and then execute me again. But Thor, it was the most amazing thing I could ever imagine…" The dragon gave a happy croon and allowed the boy to dismount. And then he nudged Hiccup towards a deep shadow at the very edge of the clearing and Hiccup, in shock, realised that Astrid was huddled there. He gasped and crouched down by her: she was freezing. She looked up, blue eyes sad.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her teeth chattering. "I should've stopped him sooner." Without hesitating, he began to rub her freezing arms, feeling the cold skin above her bindings.

"Are you okay?" he asked her worriedly. "Your skin is like ice…" She gave a shuddering breath.

"I had to get out of there," she mumbled. "He was shouting at Mom and Eva and yelling that I was a disappointment, a shame on the family name! And all for coming to check you were okay after Snot's cowardly attempt to murder an unarmed boy who was doing better than him! And he wants me to marry that-that pig?"

"I'm sorry," he said hurriedly. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have…" Her head snapped up and she frowned, her delicate blonde brows knitting with incomprehension.

"Hiccup-you did nothing," she sighed. "You did better than all of us in that class. You didn't push yourself forward or deny anyone a go-you just took your chance when it came. You did your preparation before class-I can guarantee that no one else did." He gave a self-deprecating shrug.

"I had him," he admitted. "That gave me the edge. But if anyone finds out, they'll call me a traitor and kill me…" She gave a low chuckle.

"Well, I think that flying in on the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death itself, a dragon no one else has ever really seen properly, would give them complete cause to reconsider," she commented. "I mean, why shouldn't someone study them for better ways to defeat them? Isn't that what Bork did anyway?"

He sat back on his heels and looked confused. "Bork?" She looked surprised and then she sighed.

"Of course you wouldn't know," she explained. "The author of the Book of Dragons, seven generations ago was a Berkian who studied the dragons who were attacking us. He came to a conclusion about their strengths and weaknesses…

"Extremely dangerous, kill on sight," Hiccup quoted and she smiled.

"It was kind of repetitive," she admitted.

"You've read it?"

"Cover to cover," she admitted. "A warrior should prepare for her battles-and whether that is practice, fitness or gaining all possible intelligence about the enemy and his numbers, strengths and tactics."

"And I bet no one else thought about that-except Fishlegs who geeks on this stuff anyway," he commented.

"But no one knows anything about him," Astrid reminded him, gesturing at the Night Fury, who was cleaning his face with a damp paw like a cat. "Apart from Unknown-unknown-unknown and 'hide and pray it does not find you'."

"You really did read it all," he said in surprise. She smiled.

"You can be an adequate warrior just by turning up or just practising with weapons," she reminded him. "But a great warrior works on the other stuff-tactics, intelligence, fitness and the relationships and qualities of her fellows." She sighed. "I have trained all my life for this but he wants me to forget it all and become Snot's brood mare." Hiccup shook his head.

"It's wrong," he agreed. "But your Dad can't do anything until Spitelout and the Chief come back-and I know the Chief won't want to ratify any contract because he knows you really don't want this marriage."

"And if they don't come back?" she asked hopelessly. He gave a grim chuckle.

"I will have to leave the island because Snotlout will destroy me," he reminded her. "He will make me a slave once more."

"If that happens, then I will leave with you-because I cannot be given to that pig," she said firmly. Then Hiccup face-palmed.

"I've been thinking about this all wrong," he groaned. "We can find out what is happening with the Search." And he looked over at Toothless. Astrid's eyes widened.

"Are you insane?" she asked him and he chuckled.

"I think that's a given," he admitted. "But my entire life is depending on this and if I do nothing, I will end up enslaved and abused and forced to watch my best friend married and raped by Snot." There was a warble. "Okay-best human friend?" he asked and looked at the Night Fury, which was giving him another look. Astrid suddenly burst into giggles.

"Oh my Thor-I never realised that they could actually be so…human…" she laughed and then she sobered up just as suddenly. "But if they are so sensitive and funny and kind…then how can we fight them? How come no one never realised this?"

"I guess something happens," he murmured. "When I first met him, he was friendly and interested…and then something happened. Almost as if he heard something calling. And then his eyes went…fierce, his pupils became narrows slits and he flew off…into the Raid." Astrid frowned.

"Maybe…they don't all want to raid us," she murmured and then she shook herself. "But they do." Hiccup looked over to Toothless, who was jumping on dried leaves that were blowing lightly round the clearing.

"Maybe he can help," he murmured and then saw the dragon sniff a patch of bright green grass-and then collapse. Lying on his side, purring and pawing away, he was blissfully oblivious so the boy scrambled up and walked over and picked up a handful of the grass. Thoughtfully, he offered it to the Night Fury and the dragon gave a contented purr before drooling with delight. He sighed and pocketed some of the grass-just in case.

"I should have known you weren't ready for practice after that blow," Astrid apologised and gave a small, self-conscious rub on her arm. "Look, I should head back. It's very late…"

"Or we could go back together?" he suggested. "Maybe…if he's willing…we could fly back to the village?" She chuckled.

"My father would love that," she chuckled. "Not only a disgrace for associating with 'that slave' but now betraying three hundred years of Hooligan history. I'd be auctioned off to a trader, at best…" But seeing his face, his suddenly stricken expression at the quiet joke about her possible fate, she smiled. "Why not? This could be my only ever chance to fly on a dragon. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?" And then she smiled. "I am Fearless. And that would be…amazing."

Apparently Toothless sensed Hiccup's offer because he ambled to his feet and dipped his neck again, warbling with his toothless grin once more. The skinny boy gave a grin, his sticking-up hair and bruised face not detracting from the gratitude in his expression. "Thanks, bud," he said gratefully as he swung his leg over the neck with a little more confidence. Then he turned to Astrid and offered her his hand. She smiled, swatted it away and sat confidently behind him, her hands resting very lightly on his narrow wait. "Um...you may want to hang on a bit tighter. Not for any inappropriate reason but because…well, the last time was pretty rough."

The dragon warbled in what almost sounded like an offended way.

"Okay, not rough," Hiccup backtracked urgently. "Maybe more…incredibly fast and awesome and um…is that okay?" An answering croon calmed the flutter of anxiety in his throat as her arms wrapped more securely around him. And then there was a sudden jolt and Hiccup had to swallow his scream as they rocketed into the cold night air, the moonlight gleaming off the rimed edge of the frozen grass. A shriek sounded behind him and the arms clamped so tight around him that he almost couldn't breathe. Toothless flapped furiously, suddenly levelling off high above the island. He could feel Astrid's head pressed against his shoulders and as he looked ahead, his breath taken by the view, the path of the moon over the inky sea stretching into the distance, he felt suddenly at peace.

Maybe this was the payback for the horrible life he had endured for the last few years, for slavery and abuse and rejection. Maybe the torment was given to him because he was destined to experience this most amazing, most magical flight. And even if it was just for this night, perhaps it was enough. But in his heart, he wanted more. He wanted to fly with Toothless forever, to savour the freedom high above the constricting land, to cast off the shackles-real and metaphorical-of his mean and despised state and soar above the clouds. To be a Dragon Rider, not the abused slave and outsider who would never be part of the Hooligan Tribe of Berk.

"Are you okay back there?" he murmured, feeling Astrid shift. She was strong-which he already knew-but there was a gentle caution in her grip, which had relaxed just enough to hold her safe and close to him. She was warm and as she shifted, his heart fluttered again. She lifted her head.

"I'm good," she replied and then she stared. They were alone in the night, surrounded by the brilliant, star-filled sky as far as the eye could see. To the north, there was a flicker and then green and purple curtains of light writhed and weaved as the aurora danced and they hung there, transfixed. "And this is…beautiful. It's amazing." She paused. "You're amazing-you know that?" He looked down and saw Toothless angle his head just slightly, looking at the boy from the corner of his eye.

"No, I'm not," he mumbled. "I'm nothing and nobody. No one wants me-not my parents, not my Tribe, not…"

He felt the impact on his shoulder and he flinched but Astrid was sitting close and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Muttonhead," she told him sharply. "I want you. The Chief wants you. He wants you!"

"Well no one else…"

"Fishlegs. Gobber. Bucket, Mulch and Not-Very-Silent Sven. Eva…." She sighed. "You are my friend, Hiccup. You are the only person I can confide anything in. I have lived in this village all my life. You've been here a few weeks-and you are the closest person to me!"

"Me?" he gasped and she chuckled.

"Yes-and I'm not giving up my friendship with you just because my father is prejudiced for no good reason-since our family is shamed anyway-and you don't believe you are worth befriending," she told him firmly. "Look, at the moment, you and Eva are the two people keeping me going. So don't you give up on me, Hiccup. And I won't give up on you-ever!"

He blinked, his throat thick with the sudden emotion. He didn't even notice as Toothless circled over the harbour and came down lower over the village.

"I promise," he whispered as she nodded. Toothless suddenly dinked and they realised he had seen the member of the Berk guard, patrolling the village. But lower, they were against the silhouette of the peak of the upper village and invisible.

"There's my house," she smiled and leaned, pointing and immediately, Toothless hovered sideways and allowed her to drop lightly onto her roof. She looked up into Hiccup's face. "See you tomorrow at Dragon Training?' she asked and he nodded.

"I promise," he repeated as she ducked through the hatch and the Night Fury took them up. Hiccup smiled as he rested his hand on the dragon's flattened head. "Thanks, bud," he murmured. "This was absolutely perfect. Magical. And I can never thank you enough." The dragon warbled as they landed lightly on the roof. He solemnly licked Hiccup once more. "Will I see you again?" The dragon nodded. "Tomorrow?" Another nod. Unbidden, the boy lunged forward and hugged the dragon's neck.

"Thank you," he breathed. "This has been the most perfect, magical night of my life."

oOo

He was tired the next morning but he woke, tried to rinse the dragon slobber out of his hair-which took a lot of rinsing, sluicing and scrubbing-and sped down to breakfast, finding Gobber already up and munching his way through a pile of jerky and dry bread. Hiccup gratefully ate what he was given and followed his mentor down to the forge, helping Gobber to set things up and run through a round of sharpening and polishing while the fire reached working temperature. And as Gobber observed him, he realised something had changed: Hiccup was more assured in his own, quiet way.

The boy was definitely a quick study and he had learned and adapted to what the two-limbed blacksmith expected seamlessly. Everything was ordered how Gobber liked it, the forge had never been cleaner and Hiccup was a hard-working and efficient young man who never shirked and when he had finished a task, went looking for another one. In fact, Gobber knew he only had a relatively small amount to teach the young man, because he had almost completed his apprenticeship. So when the fire was hot enough, he beckoned Hiccup over and gestured to the items lying on the counter.

"There ye are, Hiccup," Gobber said calmly. "That's your task for the day."

"Astrid's axe," the boy said and a curl of shame irrationally ran through him. If he hadn't broken it, of course, he would be dead but even so, he had broken her weapon and he felt duty-bound to fix it. He nodded.

"Show me what ye can do, lad," Gobber invited him and stood back with a small smile on his lips, watching the boy collect the pieces, locate a suitable sized crucible and begin to melt the iron down as he set to making a suitable mould to start the process once more. Idly repairing a few handles and minor issues with a bow, Gobber watched his apprentice work deftly and expertly until the metal was cooling. And as it was cooling, the boy whipped out the book that Stoick had given him to act as journal and deftly sketched design for the blade. Brows shooting up at the deft and accurate drawing, Gobber gave a small smile of approval-before squinting at the sky through the hatch and checking the light.

"Time for Training, lad," he said and the two closed up and headed down for the Arena. Hiccup was deep in thought as the blacksmith squinted at his head. "Hmm. Whatever the old bag used on your head, it's working better than usual. That wound has really healed up." Hiccup glanced up and smiled.

It's not Gothi-it's Toothless, he realised. Yet another thing I can't tell anyone.

There was a welcoming committee camped outside the Dragon Killing Arena as they ambled down the hill, with Alva Jorgensen, the Thorston parents, Hobnut and Fungi, and the scowling shape of Ivar Hofferson. The students were all visible inside the Arena as Gobber ambled to a halt, Hiccup standing silently beside him, his shoulders hunched and head down. Alva Jorgensen was the first to speak up, her hateful eyes briefly sliding over the hunched shape.

"We demand that you readmit Snotlout!" she snapped. "He is the Heir and he has to take Dragon Training!" Gobber folded his arms and scowled back at her.

"He did take Dragon Training," he pointed out. "And he was thrown out for attacking another student in an unprovoked attack!"

"It was provoked by that slave being in the class-where he had no right to be!" Ivar Hofferson sneered. Gobber hiked up an eyebrow, aware that Hiccup had flinched at the vicious words.

"I note yer telling me this with the Chief safely off the island," he said sarcastically. "Because ye all know what he would say. The lad is free and Stoick insisted the boy should have Dragon Training, since the island he came from never had dragon attacks."

"But it's not right," Alva protested. "He's a filthy little bed slave. He's lazy and defiant and deceitful and…"

"And ye know no one believes your lies, Alva?" Gobber asked her bluntly, cutting across her diatribe. "You're describing your own son, not Hiccup. Maybe, if you spent more time teaching your son right from wrong, to work hard rather than expect everything to be given to him, then perhaps you would be able to criticise without being a total and utter hypocrite. Ye-and all these other fools-want Hiccup to pay for any perceived wrong-even when it isn't, such as saving yer daughter and the others in the fire crew from a Dragon attack-while you want to excuse an unprovoked attempt to murder another student in Dragon Training."

"Hey-you said Hiccup had attacked your son first!" Hobnut said, glaring at Alva. He was the image of his son, an older slightly more raddled version and he seemed generally easygoing-until someone took him for a fool.

"He shouldn't have been there!" Alva hissed. "That…slave…stole my son's victory!"

"From the twins' accounts, your son was the first one knocked out of the class," Fungi added. She was almost an older version of Ruffnut, her white-blonde hair in two fat braids and deep grey eyes filled with impatience. "I mean, everyone knows Snot is a lazy braggart and he was so busy boasting that he would win the class that he wasn't paying attention to the actual dragon!"

"In fact all of our children stood a fair chance of victory, not just your idiot boy," Ivar commented dryly. "I was there and observing the lesson. The slave was the last one to face the dragon, after all our children had failed. You cannot blame him for your son's incompetence."

"But Gobber should have taught him what to do!" Alva protested.

"I believe in learning on the job-always have, always will," the blacksmith grinned. "I taught generations of fighters. And I decide how we teach and who is in my class. If ye didn't like it, ye can set up your own Dragon Training Class after discussion with the Chief!" Ivar stared at the class through the open gate to the Arena, seeing his daughter talking to Fishlegs and the twins, demonstrating how to use the shield to parry a dragon blast. He took a sharp breath.

"The Heir should be given a second chance," he determined. "It was a stupid action born of frustration and…"

"And if the lad had been badly injured or killed, I'm sure all you fine upstanding citizens would have brushed it under the rug!" Gobber snapped. "But have a single one of you muttonheaded cronies considered what happens then? He kills someone he doesn't like in a fit of rage because he messes up and there's no come back? What then? He'll think he can literally get away with murder-is that the village ye want to live in? But I tell you-as the Council member here, I won't allow it. The Chief wouldn't allow it. There has to be consequences or the whole village will descend into chaos!"

To Alva's dismay, both the Thorstons nodded and even Ivar scratched his chin. Of course, Gobber was correct and he could tell that Snotlout was verging on out of control, a sadistic and self-centred boy who was the worst person who could possibly become Chief. Yet Ivar wanted to ensure his family honour was restored and marrying his daughter to the next Chief was his best option. And to ensure the Jorgensen family looked favourably on the match, he would have to push aside his reason, his sense and his duty to his daughter.

"If you don't allow the Jorgensen boy back into class, I will be forced to withdraw Astrid," he said. Hiccup gasped and shrank back, knowing that the loss of her chance at Dragon Training would break Astrid's heart. She was far and away the best student there and it was unjust that her father should even consider taking that away from his accomplished warrior daughter just so Snotlout could continue. Gobber looked at Hofferson with undisguised disgust and then glanced at the Arena.

"You are a despicable Viking," he said with contempt. "You would stop the best warrior of her generation taking Dragon Training so you can sell her in a crass attempt to regain your honour. But there is no honour in this." And then he turned to the shocked shape of Hiccup, his face pale with anger and dismay. "I think we should hear from the wounded party in this. Hiccup-what is your judgement?"

All eyes turned on the boy and he felt his chest tighten in anxiety and hopelessness. For one brief day, he had felt good about he class because Snotlout wouldn't be there…but he would never do anything to harm Astrid. And he knew how much Dragon Training meant to her as her personal way to avenge her beloved Uncle Finn. For her father to threaten to remove her just to help Snotlout was abhorrent.

"Dragon Training means everything to Astrid," he said. "And no one who cared for her would ever even consider to take it away from her. Snotlout tried to kill me…but it isn't worth it to deprive Astrid of the class. So I guess…he can come back."

"You were right about the worth," Alva sneered. And she marched up to Gobber. "Don't think I'm letting this drop, by the way. The Chief will hear about this when he gets back!" Gobber grinned in her face.

"Oh he will," he told her brashly. "From me." And then he turned away from the group. "Come on, lad-we've got a class to run."

But they had barely got into the Arena and set up the dividers when a stocky shape appeared at the gates. Snotlout gave an unpleasant smile at the group.

"Guess who's back?" he said, swaggering forward. He stopped by Hiccup and leaned close. "And look out, Useless. This class is dangerous and a runt like you could get squashed just like that!" He snapped his fingers under Hiccup's nose. The auburn-haired outsider flinched.

"Like that?" he repeated, backing away. Snotlout smiled.

"You're gonna die…" he breathed.