No one brought up the incident the next morning while eating breakfast. Hiccup poked at his bowl of overly moist cereal and didn't even dare himself to glance up at his father. His chief helmet was resting at the center of the table while he took a sip from his mug. The pillow and sheet was left dangling in the ceiling until they can find a way to get it down. They didn't want to risk burning it with it singing the floor.
The whole morning, neither of them bothered to talk about what happened, even with the evidence dangling literally over their heads. Maybe, Hiccup thought, sitting at the table wrapped in a spare quilt, no one was saying anything since it was two weeks before Snoggletog. Then again, maybe it was just his father's way of biding time, waiting for the right moment to formally announce his decision to send Hiccup to a shrink.
As for the dream itself, Hiccup knew better than to call it that. It had felt real. It felt too real. Whether his visit happened in waking life or within a dreamworld, however, was another question. But unlike any other dream, the nightmare with the mist remained fresh and alive in his mind, every horrid detail still sharp and clear. A shudder ratcheted its way up his spin as he peers over to the blanket and pillow still lodged into the ceiling. They can easily go to Grandmamma to get it down, but the memory of it will never be as easy as making it disappear.
As he reeled through the images of his dream, the woodlands, the mist, the house, and Snotlout.
Hiccup suddenly dropped his spoon. It clanged loudly against his bowl.
He launched up from his seat.
"Hiccup?" his Dad asked from the other end of the table. He didn't bother to answer. He raced to the door, and burst to the outside.
The morning air hit him cold, its moisture flooding his lungs, reawakening all the pangs from last night. A deep ache seeped from his bones and resurfaced in his muscles as he forced himself to move. The snow whipped at his boot. He raced through the Square and to Snotlout's house. Running up the steps he ferociously pounds on the door.
"Snotlout!" he calls. "Snotlout open up!"
The door rattled and Spitelout appeared in the door. A look of surprise came over his face, though Hiccup didn't know if it was for him or the fact that Hiccup didn't have a heavy coat on.
"Hiccup, what are you doing here?" Spitelout asks.
Hiccup, a little breathless, tries his best to speak fluidly. "I'm, here to see Snotlout. I want to make sure, he's okay."
A questionable looks comes across Spitelout's face. Unconvinced. "May I ask why you need to see him?"
"It's a bit complicated." Hiccup swerves. Behind him he can hear his father calling him.
Without waiting for Spitelout to reply, knowing it would lead to more delay, he pushes his way through and rushes upstairs. He hears Spitelout call after him in anger upon the intrusion, but Hiccup needed to see for himself if Snotlout was okay. Why wasn't it enough that Hiccup was concerned for Spitelout's son, aka his cousin.
Rushing upstairs, Hiccup was relieved to hear Spitelout talking to his Dad, who made it to the door in time to stop him from grabbing Hiccup. He could overhear the conversation, but Hiccup needed to find him before things got ugly between the two brothers.
Upstairs, Snotlout wasn't in his bedroom. Hiccup spins on his heels and dashes down the steps, he can see Spitelout going to reach for him, and Hiccup ducks and slides in between his legs and springs up to race to the backdoor.
Oh, please, be okay. Please be okay!
Prying it open, he finds Snotlout with Hookfang feeding him a wicker basket of fish. Hiccup breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hiccup? What are you doing here?" Snotlout asks.
Before Hiccup could come up with an explanation, a heavy hand clamped on his shoulder. He swallows thickly, expecting to see a raging Spitelout, but he finds his father. "Oh, please pardon the interruption. But we just wanted to pay a quick visit to see our family."
Snotlout raises an eyebrow of suspicion, and Hookfang walks over and breathes in Hiccup's face. Despite the dragon breath, Hiccup smiled. He petted Hookfangs' snout and let the relief course through his body.
"Come along Hiccup. It's time we go see Grandmamma for your training." Stoick urges and Hiccup nods and shows himself out. Spitelout is still standing in the doorway, arms folded, but his expression is less tense. Don't know what Stoick said to him, but at least it spared him the wrath of Spitelout.
As Hiccup steps outside, the cold finally seeps into his skin. Stoick follows him out and drapes a cloak over his shivering body. Hiccup, grateful for the cover, spares his father a shy smile and buttons it down to his feet. Pulling the hood over his head, Hiccup makes his way back to his house where he finds Toothless waiting. The Night Fury hurries up and nuzzles Hiccup where he scratches the dragon's ear. As he readies the saddle, he feels a stare at the back of his head.
He turns and finds his father, brows furrowed in concern.
In a moment of daring, Hiccup walks over and wraps his arms around his father. Stoick returns his hug and takes a deep breath.
"I'm sorry dad." Hiccup mumbles.
"Are you sure about this, son?" Stoick asks.
"What other choice do I have?" Hiccup retorts. "Things are getting worse, and this is all happening as I stopped my magic training. If I can find a way to understand it, maybe I can stop it."
Stoick places his hands on Hiccup's shoulders and gives him a reassuring grip. "I know things are looking bad, but you can do this. I know you can."
"Thanks dad."
Hiccup then mounts Toothless and the two make their way to Grandmamma's house. Hiccup ran a few phrases through his head, trying them all out, then letting them mellow in his mind. Each one clanged lamely against his internal ear and sounded vaguely insulting. He knew it wasn't going to be easy convincing Grandmamma to take him back given that he stopped the magic cold turkey. But hopefully she had one of her visions and will take him back without Hiccup needing to explain himself much. As they flew over the cottage, black smoke belched from the chimney and the cottage's windows give of a muted yellow glow. Up ahead, Hiccup could still see the Pentagram and the grass. It still remained empty of the snow and the flowers powered through the frigid weather to continue to bloom.
Landing Toothless off to the side of the Pentagram, despite what happened the previous night, there was a secret joy as he approached the home. But there was another part of him, a stronger part, that held him back and kept him from betraying any emotion. It brought with it a wave of cold detachment that sent a slow freeze over the initial impulse to start spilling out everything that had transpired to Hiccup's all-too-sudden departure from magic.
Knocking on the wood door, Hiccup couldn't get past the uneasy feeling of being watched as he glanced at the windows with their shades pulled halfway down, to look like glowing eyes examining all who dare to walk up the steps to the home.
Hiccup swallows deeply as he hears the tumbler latch click, and at the last second he remembers to pull his sleeve over his hand to cover the ten-point star. Then with one quick motion, the door was pulled open.
Grandmamma, dressed in a long tunic with studded gauntlets, stands in the doorway. Her face was devoid of emotion, but Hiccup could still feel that level of expectation, like she was waiting for an apology. But before Hiccup could even say a word Grandmamma beat him to it.
"Hiccup sweetie! You're alive!" she squeals as she wraps him in a hug.
"Uh, last time I checked." He says through an awkward laugh. "So listen, Grandmamma, I just wanted to say-"
But with a hand, palm facing him, he stops and Grandmamma speaks.
"First thing's first, come in I need to give you something." She says as she pulls Hiccup through the threshold of the home.
Hiccup was grateful to be relived of the cold, but it curries him as to why Grandmamma was so willing to welcome him back with open arms. Hiccup doesn't say anything as he watches the old woman waddle over to a table draped in a purple cloth and with a skull with a melted candle on the top, a normal candelabrum posted next to it. Hiccup watched as she drew out a mahogany box. Grandmamma goes over to Hiccup and practically thrust it toward him.
"Take this."
Hiccup frowned at the small, flat, post-card box, uncertain whether he should accept it. Grandmamma continued to hold the box steady. At last Hiccup's curiosity outmuscled his indecision. He took it. Grandmamma retracted immediately and went over to her podium.
"What?" she said. "Don't look at me like that. It's not a freaking tarantula. Would you just open it already?"
Hiccup clasped the box between both hands and carefully opened the hinged lid. Inside, the thin chain of a silver necklace glimmered. A tiny charm in the shape of an open hand rested in the middle of a black velvet cushion, its fingers with delicate filigree. In the center of th palm, a tiny iridescent opal lay nestled in the dish of a circular setting.
The necklace sparkled like moonlight on water.
Hiccup let out a small sound of surprise. The pendant was so beautiful and intricate that he had no doubt the stone it held was genuine. It struck him as an extravagant token. At the same time, the well-worn state of the box gave him the impression that the charm was old – an antique, if he had to guess. Though the pendant had five fingers, it looked different from any representation of a hand he'd seen. It had two thumbs, the tips of which curved outward on either side. It hung from the chin so the fingers would aim downward, toward the wearer's feet.
"It's called a hamsa," Grandmamma said. "Belonged to my great-grandmother."
Hiccup looked up. He clamped the box shut with a sharp snap and, shaking his head, held it back to Grandmamma. "I can't accept this."
"Take it sweetie. Besides, you apparently need it until we can get your powers under control." She blurts
Hiccup looks to her startled. He hesitated trying to think of a tactful way to say what he was thinking. "So does this mean you'll take me back?"
"Of course honey. I never had anything against you. I understand if you're frightened, but you just need to learn to get past that and keep trying until you're comfortable."
"I understand." Hiccup smiles.
"Good!" Grandmamma says with a clap of her hands. "Now let's get this thing on you and begin out training."
Grandmamma then plucked the necklace free of its velvet bed. The chain untraveled like a silver snake. The hamsa dangled at the end, the opal gleaming, as iridescent as the sparkling snow that coated the world outside. She unlatched the necklace and stood. Hiccup kneeled down to get to Grandmamma's level, and she lowered the chain over his head and latched the clasp in place.
"So what's this thing called again?" Hiccup asks as he rises.
"A Hamsa. It is thought to protect against the "evil eye" and is a popular motif in both Jewish and Middle Eastern jewelry. The name "hamsa" comes from the Hebrew word "hamesh," which means five. "Hamsa" refers to the fact that there are five fingers on the talisman, though some also believe it represents the five books of the Torah." She explained. "The eye is thought to be a powerful talisman against the "evil eye."
"What's the "evil eye?" Hiccup asks.
"The evil eye is a certain "look" that can cause bad luck for the person at whom it is directed." She says. "This "look" often originates with a person, though not always intentionally. Legends about the evil eye give both regular people and those with certain powers the ability to cast the evil eye."
Hiccup nods informatively and then it dawns on him. She knew he'd need the talisman. That can only mean . . .
"You saw what happened?" Hiccup blurts.
He didn't to explain the whole thing for Grandmamma to go rigid. Then she relaxes and turns. "Yes." She simply answers.
Hiccup bites back a flood of questions that threaten to pour forth from his mouth. He knew she'd know, and yet there were still questions he wanted her to answer. Did she see what happened to Snotlout, does she know about the mist, the star? No doubt she'd be willing to answer, but with the feeling he's walking on eggshells as it is, he decides to store them away for later. Or at least answer them on his own.
The hamsa explains that she saw the mist, what it's capable of, and that it's after Hiccup. And since this was the most important question on his mind, relief floods him along with the worry of what could happen if it comes to the village. But Hiccup tries to focus back on his magic.
Through the course of the next few days, Hiccup practiced day and night with his magic. Grandmamma would assign him homework spells and Hiccup would practice in the backyard. Toothless wouldn't be far from him, he practically stood by Hiccup's side for everything. Stoick would watch from the door, that undeniable look of concern on his face, but as the days progress on, his features soften to an understanding and allowance.
The best part would be that the dreams have, not ceased, but eased as Hiccup starts to gain more control of his powers. As he gained more control, it felt as though he could have better control of his dreams. Maybe the answer really was in going back to the magic. It seemed to have its benefits, and the talisman Grandmamma gave him that added sense of protection. Hiccup had advanced further than any student Grandmamma ever trained. He's proven his worth and capability and had mastered nearly all the points on the Pentagram.
As the days past, Jolene seemed to stop by more than once a day. She would pay constant visits to the house, they two would talk all afternoon. He would give her flights around the village and they'd watch the sun set over the horizon. He even took her to the Academy where she watched them train dragons. She seemed a little precautious when she found out about Hiccup's hamsa, but he assumed it was because he thought she assumed it was more feminine. With his magic squished into the schedule, Hiccup nearly forgot about the Academy. But that didn't stop him from noticing Astrid and Heather's looks towards Jolene. Jealousy was the first thing that came to his mind, but he knew better than to simply brush off any of Astrid's 'feelings'.
For some time, things seemed to have simmered down to where calling it normal was a possibility. Five days before Snoggletog, Hiccup took a walk through the village to pick up a sack of flour for his father, Toothless strolling along at his side. With his heavy cloak wrapped around himself, Hiccup trudged his way through the Plaza toward Mulch and Bucket's wheelbarrow. As he was passing, a flash of dark kept catching his eyes. To make sure he wasn't hallucinating it, he stopped at a local food stand, pretending to inspect the fruit while his eyes scanned over the arms of both old and young men.
Hiccup swallowed thickly as he kept seeing the ten-point star.
There were more than one on several Vikings' arms. Hiccup had to wonder if it could be a sign that he was asleep right now, that all this as a dream. If he was in a dream, then that would explain why he's seeing the ten-point star. His had since vanished, and now it's reappearing on all of the men in the village. The virus was still a logical answer to everything, but Hiccup had since learned better that not all things can be explained.
Am I dreaming again?
But the world around him, the people, Toothless, the market and the weather, it all seemed so normal, so real. Hiccup looked up. A dry piece of fabric, suspended against the far ledge, hung where it always had. The two men wearing tunics and heavy coats checking the freshness of the fruit. Glancing around, Hiccup could even see a small footprint of a Terrible Terror placed between two burlaps sacks filled with apples.
Then again, Hiccup reminded himself, that this was exactly what made dreams so tricky. Because no matter what, if you were in one, a dream always seemed real. This was how all the other dreams started, always with him in the village. Could he have dreamed the events of that past few days, though? Or was that how it always wen, and he just forgot about all that later, after he woke up?
Hiccup stepped to his left two steps to avoid suspicion, and watched as another man came over to the stand. As he reached out a hairy arm to pick up an orange, Hiccup saw the ten-point star at the middle of his forearm. But there were more than one, trailing up and disappearing under the sleeve of his tunic.
Maybe he wasn't dreaming. Maybe these marks were spreading because it really is a virus of some sort. But if he couldn't be certain by looking at a clock, then how else could he tell? Leaving the fruit stand, Hiccup went to Mulch and Bucket's wheelbarrow where he just went and picked up the sack with his name written on a piece of paper. Slinging it over his shoulder, he pressed on, trying to decipher if it was a dream. A
As he neared the Academy, Hiccup swiveled to face the entrance. As he passed it, Hiccup recalled something else Grandmamma had told him. He had confessed about his dreams he's been having and Grandmamma gave him techniques to try a long with the magic.
She said that if he could wake up in his dreams, if he could realize he was in one, then to some extent, he could control things that happened. One thing was certain. If he was dreaming, then that had to mean he would be able to do things he couldn't in waking life. Or at least, something he'd never tried before.
Mounting Toothless, Hiccup secured the sack of flour to Toothless' saddle, they flew off to the woods.
Standing in the Cove, the water gently rippling across the surface. Autumn birds chirping in the vacant branches. Hiccup took a deep breath, gazing at the long span of land in front of him. His cloak resting on a rock next to Toothless who looked to him in curiosity.
If this was a dream, then he shouldn't have to think about it.
Hiccup broke forward into a sprint. Hiccup lifted his arms. Bending forward, using his gained momentum, he launched in a round-off. The world blurred, becoming a mesh of light and streaking colors. Catapulting into a midair Arabian, knees tucked in, he became weightless. Then, bam, his feet met the bare ground, ankles jarring from the impact on the hand, cushion-free surface.
But like a windup toy set into motion, there would be no stopping.
A millisecond later and he'd completed the second round-off, pulled through the hands-free whip, and finished the back handspring, air whistling in his ears.
His feet slammed the ground and he pushed off for the last time, hard as he could. Clutching his arms in tight, he launched upward, recognizing somewhere in the back of his mind that this was the longest pass he'd ever attempted.
The air greeted him, holding him like a stray leaf in its nonexistent grasp as he twisted once, twi-
The ground rushed him, as fast as the teeth of a speeding Night Fury. He completed the rotation and his heels connected with the dirt floor, but like a spinning plate, the ground whizzed out from beneath him.
He heard Toothless cry out and gave his own strangled cry, which the ground pounded out of him as it slammed him back hard, like the palm of a giant hand.
Hiccup lay motionless, his muscles going slack.
There was a moment of silence as he stared up at the rows of fluffy clouds, high, high above. He focused in a patch of algae on a rock near the waterline of the lake, and it helped steady his swirling vision. Then his ears began to ring, the blood rushing through his skull loud enough that he didn't hear the sound of heavy footsteps until a moment later toothless converged on him.
Hiccup struggle dot sit up, his entire body humming with a mixture of adrenaline and embarrassment. Well, at least it was just Toothless. Even though he felt no immediate pain, he knew better than to think it wasn't coming. It would. Later. Tonight. Worse in the morning.
Toothless cooed.
"I'm fine, buy." Hiccup manage to croak. His voice sounded small and far away I his still-ringing ears. He felt suddenly tiny himself, too, as though he were a gnat in a room with an elephant.
Slowly, achingly, Hiccup brought himself back to his feet.
No, Hiccup thought as his head began to pound.
This was defiantly not a dream.