It's been awhile but here is chapter 8. I hope you enjoy.
Thanks to my beta Fireloom for the continued support and editing! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed or followed.
The flight was a long one, yet they didn't stop once. Hiccup hugged the saddle the entire time, ignoring the numbness in his legs and arms. Had he not left so early he wouldn't have arrived until the next day, but the island was coming into view beside the moon. Despite the dire situation that had led him here he couldn't help but feel happy to finally be home. Even Toothless seemed excited to finally see the island, or perhaps he was just excited to stop flying.
Bursting from the ice cocoon were two dragons and their riders, scouts come to see the approaching fliers. Hiccup slowed to greet them, easing his aching body into a more upright position. He had to use his hand as a ballast. Toothless slowed even more when he heard the pained moan that escaped Hiccup's lips.
One of the scouts recognized Hiccup, he said something to his partner before calling out, "Prince! We weren't expecting you. You could have sent a letter!"
"I figured that it'd be faster to come in person. You know... Nightfury and all." The scout chuckled, flying past Hiccup slightly so he could turn around again. He flew wingtip to wingtip with the major and his beast. The other scout had headed back to the mountain to announce his arrival.
"It's nice to see you, Hiccup. It's been awhile, hasn't it?"
"War does keep one busy." Hiccup grit his teeth as Toothless started to lean into the turn for the entrance.
"You okay?"
"I flew here from Berk without stopping... Everything hurts, even my legs." The scout smiled and his own dragon turned into the entrance as well. Soon they were bursting into a cavern filled with dragons.
The dragons at the mountain outnumbered the people 3:1, and as soon as they entered the flurry of colourful wings and the mixture of cries was could be overwhelming. To Hiccup though, it was all part of home.
The entire space was covered in green moss and lichen. With help from geothermal heating, the inside remained a lovely temperature despite the fact it was encased in a sculpture of ice. Toothless landed right away, only to be mobbed by a group of curious dragons. They hardly noticed Hiccup sliding off him and stumbling away.
The scout that had greeted him, waved as he ran off to report back. Hiccup just nodded in return and leaned against a nearby wall, wishing the pain away. It took mere seconds for the council to appear, a man to help Hiccup walk was supplied and a doctor to check on him was summoned. In minutes he was feeling like a prince again, pampered but constantly attending meetings.
The council didn't wait for the check up to end, they didn't even let him go to the clinic. The doctor came to the meeting room, where Hiccup was eased into a wooden chair and had his feet propped up on another. The doctor got busy, and so did the council. He ended up repeating what he had been told in the letter from the army while having his wound redressed. Meaning his explanation was interrupted by a few "ow's" and at least two different, "it's still too tight." The doctor was basically a vet moonlighting as a general practitioner, who also had a hard time remembering humans weren't as hardy as dragons...
The council listened to the story and spoke briefly between themselves. Then the leader of the council, Valka, spoke, "We have rescued five dragons around this area," she gestured to a cluster of islands on the map laid out on the table. "They all had injuries that appeared to be from other dragons, we just assumed they were from a battle and took them in. Perhaps some of them are the missing dragons. Still I'm shocked that you would see the need to come all this way just to clarify that we are not kidnapping humans."
"Sorry," Hiccup said sheepishly, "I think the military is getting to me, I can't trust anyone. I already feel better just being here, I realize it was foolish now."
"Well, I can't say that I'm not glad to see you anyway, Hiccup."
"Me too mom," Hiccup said with a smile, she rolled her eyes not bothering to remind him to call her by her title during meetings.
"Maybe you should stay awhile, request some leave? It might be good for you to remember what you are fighting for." Hiccup could see the sympathy in her eyes. He slid his eyes away.
"I know what I am fighting for." He mumbled.
"When was the last time you and Toothless went exploring? When was the last time you spent your day in the forge slaving over hot coals to make something for no reason, Hiccup? You don't have time to enjoy your life anymore, you can hardly blame me for wanting you to take some time to look at what you can have without a war. When we finally end this, I want you to be excited because of our win, not still reeling because you've been a soldier for too long."
She paused for a second, collecting her thoughts. With a hard look Valka started again. "You're on the fast track to becoming an Admiral for an army that is still technically your enemy, you don't even want or need that position yet you have to fight for it. So I just want you to taste what you're really fighting for again."
He sighed, "yeah I get it, but I need to save these soldiers. One of them is a friend." He looked for the understanding in his mother's eyes and found it. The rest of the council did not interfere until Valka nodded for them to go ahead. They began their familiar little fight-discussions.
"Since this is a serious situation, and it seems you have no plans for a break perhaps we should prepare for you to leave immediately?"
"No," another councilman interjected, "let the clan see him, it will raise the moral. I feel that our decision will have to be made soon."
"Yes, I agree with Killi, we should let him visit his friends, perhaps even he could use the moral upbringing."
"Does the rest of the council agree that he should stay for a short period before returning to his station?" There were a number of murmurs of agreement and it was settled. Hiccup, having gotten used to having his choices made for him, consented with silence.
The kids were gathered around him, telling him one after another about the dragons they befriended and how they were all doing in their lessons. The elder kids told of their flying exploits and some about how they were already in working positions. The adults mostly spoke of important happenings; marriages, births, deaths and the like.
They could see his eyelids drooping as the night wore on, and it came to no one's surprise that as Hiccup made his way around his home, visiting and talking, he became sleepier and slower in his movements.
He finally fell asleep visiting the dragon nursery, a baby nightmare curled up in his lap and Toothless fast asleep, acting as seat for Hiccup. The council didn't dare wake him right away, as the people of the clan seemed at ease with the oddball back in place. It was truly a wonder how a figurehead simply being there could bring such calmness to the clan.
When the night was half way through the council finally woke him, ushering him back up to the top of the mountain. His mother stood waiting with his saddle and several charters and scrolls.
"To help with your mission," she said stacking the papers into the saddlebags after she had tacked up Toothless. She watched Hiccup get on the dragon with a smile on her face. "I noticed that you already have a packed lunch, it's not very Hiccup-like to pack ahead. Did someone make it for you?"
"Mom!" He hissed. She just gave him a goofy smile. He rolled his eyes, "I'll miss you."
"Good job changing the subject. You know that I miss you too son, but the war will end soon, so then we won't have to worry about each other so much." She hugged Hiccup, who hugged back. He really did miss her.
"Now go be good, stay safe and good luck with the lunch-packer."
"Bigger worries mom, like, hmm I don't know… The war maybe?"
Valka just laughed him off, and gave Toothless a quick pat. After a few more good byes the two were off again, they would not arrive in Berk until the afternoon the next day. Though they wasted an hour at a nice island where they split the packed lunch.
He arrived back at Berk just before the storm ravished the island... He had only been gone a day and a half but that was all the time it took for the storm to move over the large cliff facing village. As he and Toothless circled the academy the first few raindrops started to fall from the menacing grey clouds above. They could see the barracks; a steady trail of smoke pouring from the chimney.
As soon as they landed Toothless bounded over to his cage, briefly stopping to greet the other dragons. Hiccup just continued to the barracks, carrying the leather satchel filled with the charters and scrolls. As he reached forward to open the door it swung open, nearly smacking him across the face. Astrid tumbled out looking slightly flustered, holding the door half closed behind her, blocking his view with her body.
She looked up at Hiccup, then coolly straightened herself. "Welcome back Major. Where 'ya been?"
Hiccup flinched as another raindrop fell onto his face. "It's where I'm going that concerns you," he grumbled. She just stood there giving him a confused look. With a roll of his eyes Hiccup started to move around her and into the barracks. "You're in my way."
"Oh."
The other students sat at the small table where they ate supper, spread out on the table was a haphazard pile of cards and a few silver-grey coins in the middle, though curiously enough none of the students had cards in their hands. His students had turned into delinquent gamblers in a day and a half...
Fishlegs was the first to speak and his comment stung a little, "you came back!"
"Of course I came back," he murmured, Astrid followed him in and closed the door behind her. Outside the rain could be heard growing steadily heavier.
"Are we going to start training again?" asked Ruffnut.
"It's raining right now numb-nut," Tuffnut jeered.
"I know that. I meant later lame brain."
"Not today," Hiccup answered hastily, stopping the other twin from continuing the sibling bickering. "I have some work to do so maybe not for awhile either. Are the dragons all well?"
"Yeah, I took care of them." Astrid said, she had returned to her spot at the table along with a smirking Snotlout. Each one turned in their seats and stared at Hiccup, leaning towards each other, obscuring his view of their game.
"Thank you Astrid. Now I've got to… get to that work. So, I'm going upstairs, be, uh, be good." Hiccup stumbled over his words, suddenly feeling awkward being stared down by all his students. He gave them a lopsided smile and headed up to his room.
He heard the students relieved sighs; though he didn't see them brush away the cards to reveal a charred letter.
Hiccup poured over every inch of the charters that lay in a circle around him. He sat on the ground reaching over a map to mark a note on another. Lines covered the maps like frost on a window, they obscured Hiccups view of all the names of towns and islands. Yet slowly a pattern was forming.
Outside the rain was beating against the side of the house, thunder so loud it shook a jar of Hiccups' pencils off his desk. Hiccup gratefully reached over and picked up one of the unbroken ones as his had grown dull, then simply continued working. Below him he could hear the faint footsteps as the other went about their day. As time trickled forward, the faint smell of supper drifted into his room.
But his mind threw all that away when he finally finished his work, a series of lines and dots marking the soldier positions when they were taken and their routes, which he knew from the armies' documents. Of course, the Vitikean army was missing the final key to the puzzle, the location at which the missing dragons were rescued. Hiccup had managed to trace it all to a supposedly uninhabited island a days travel from Berk.
It was an instant reaction, going from sitting on the floor to packing his bags for travel. He rushed about grabbing clothes, a blanket, canteen and other travel supplies. He had two leather satchels stuffed full when he was finished. He grabbed his sword, which had gotten no use since he had arrived in Berk, he also checked to make sure his armor wasn't in need of repair.
When he was finally satisfied with his packing he started towards his door, only to be reminded of something when his hand touched the handle. The loud crash of thunder outside and a surprised yelp from one of the boys told Hiccup he wouldn't be leaving just yet, he would have to wait for the storm to end.
With nothing left to do but wait, Hiccup walked over to his bed. He clambered in and under the unmade covers. It wasn't long before he drifted off. The exhausted prince lay half on-half off the bed, sleeping soundly through the raging storm.
A knock at his door woke him from his dreamless sleep. He listened for a second, not to the knock but to the outside. No rain, he thought. Birdsong.
"Overslept... No, no!" Hiccup growled. He was up and out of his bed, reaching for his bags within seconds. Outside his door, the knocking became a voice.
"Overslept for what?" Astrid asked.
"For nothing. What are you doing here?" Was his clipped reply, he grabbed his boots and hurriedly put them on. He kicked his maps out of the way trying to hide the careful set up he had left it in overnight. Then he opened the door for Astrid.
"I was wondering if we were having lessons today?"
"Nope, sorry, no lessons. I have to go so if you could just…" Hiccup tried to slide past her, but she held her arm out, resting on the edge of the doorway.
"Where are you going again in such a hurry? Don't think your little disappearances haven't been noted. I want to know what's going on. You hardly even addressed being refused your transfer. No one drops that kind of news that fast, so you better start talking." Astrid bounded out as she took a moment to peer past him into the room.
"I don't..."
"Whatever it is, it'd better not involve that." She quipped, nodding towards the maps scattered on the floor. In his haste Hiccup had managed to scatter them about but the one that sat on top was the one he should have hidden. The location circled several times with lines running to it from berk and written in pencil the words "fastest route" boldly above it.
"I- I know this looks bad but trust me. You see…" Behind him a draft from downstairs rolled glass jar of pencils, causing even more to topple out. Astrid looked past him curiously but he moved to block her view. "Haha you got me! I'm planning a vacation for a friend! I'll be down in a sec so…"
Astrid started to look to the other side of the door. Hiccup moved with her. She glared at him spitefully then with a humpf moved back.
"If you're going to be like that then fine, but this is for running off," and as she spoke she drew back her leg and kicked him in the shin. Hiccup gasped but aside from gripping the door frame a little harder and taking some weight off his leg, he didn't move. He was about to tell her "nice try" when she spoke again, cutting him off.
"And this," she stopped mid sentence and Hiccup pulled back his leg so her only option was the metal one. But with a smirk she stretched her leg forward before he could react and hooked it behind the prosthesis. Then bracing herself with the doorframe, she yanked forward. Hiccup fell back and slammed against the ground, "is for everything else." she finished. With Hiccup on the ground, she had a clear view of everything, including the packed bags.
"Your leaving!?"
"Just for a little." He muttered, taking Astrid outstretched hand. With his secret discovered, he went back and grabbed the bags, pushing past and down the stairs, she followed behind him each step of the way.
"You're going to go find the missing soldiers, aren't you?"
"How did you-? My mail again... I thought I burnt that. "
"You tried. Snotlout took it out with the iron as you left."
"Well that's just great. I'm writing you all up now since it seems that is what you want." Hiccup snapped back. He noticed that none of the other students were in the barracks. He had canceled lessons yesterday though so perhaps they figured he would cancel them today too. Astrid just stayed back to check. Seeing no reason to linger he pushed open the door and started off towards the dragon's pens.
"You can't seriously think you can do this alone, can you?"
Hiccup didn't reply instead he started to push open Toothless's gate, which had been forced closed during the storm.
"If you plan on running away again then you'd better think twice." Said Fishlegs. Hiccup turned and was surprised to see the rest of the cadets standing behind him. They all had various pastries from a bakery in the upper town, they had gone out for breakfast.
"Ym merfh wisfe tof speef helpf from mh morhls deflthest whephon." Tuffnut spoke something unintelligible through his mouth full of muffin.
"Um?" Tuffnut said something else equally as understandable as the first thing and then Snotlout and Ruffnut called out something too, both with mouthfuls of food.
"I uh… Actually I still don't know. Astrid?" He finally asked confused.
"I think they are trying to say that they want to come too, we all want to help." She said good-naturedly. A few vigorous nods confirmed the statement.
"I don't know, it is a long trip on the back of a dragon, and it is all time sensitive. I can't be slowed down because of beginners."
"We won't slow you down," Fishlegs started, then reconsidered what he was saying, "well, we technically will slow you down because you have a Nightfury, but our assistance may be helpful in other ways." he finished hopefully.
"Nice Fishlegs." Snotlout barked angrily, then looked back expectantly at Hiccup.
Hiccup thought for a minute, looking at the hopeful faces. Perhaps the company would be nice. "Go pack a bag quick, if you're not back in ten minutes I'm leaving without you."