Um… yeah… things are bad again. Gobber asked me to come in late today, I am currently helping stock things for the scouting trip to the West Isles to look for the source of these dragons.

So I'm working the bellows and suddenly I hear a ring from the front, aka a customer. I go to check it out.

It's my mom!

"Hello… do I know you?" she asks kindly.

Oh... Oh… so… she doesn't… recognize me?

I smile back, "I'm not sure we've ever really met, ma'am."

She frowns a little, "Are you sure? You look really familiar."

"Maybe you've seen me around town while I've been running errands for Gobber."

She smiles back, suddenly more sure of herself, "Yes! Yes, that makes sense. What's your name, anyhow?"

I know it's vicious, what I say next. Maybe I should've lied? I don't know. But I didn't feel like lying, I was hurt enough.

"Hiccup," I say and watch as cogs turn in her head, "Here you go, ma'am." I hand her her order.

.

I arrive home on Berk. There are lanterns hanging from every house.

I run into my house, relieved if not bloodied and bruised. But it's OK, my sorcerer's healing will clear up the wounds in no time now that I'm in a safe, secure area.

Not to say, of course, that it wouldn't if I was in danger, I just find it easier to heal myself when I'm comfortable.

I can already feel the wounds closing, all that's left over is the dry blood.

I walk into the hut with a slight limp but otherwise alright.

It's been like… what even? A month?

Nobody's home and for a brief moment I wonder if the tribe migrated to Tomorrow, after all, winter's settling in, so it'd be the sensible thing to do.

But after five minutes thawing out by the fire I hear footsteps. I turn my head and in walks my father.

He stops and stares at me, his breath catching in his lungs and for a brief second I wonder if he is going to attack me, I mean, after all, there's no guarantee that he knew I was alive, and as Vikings we are incredibly superstitious, so seeing your presumed-to-be-dead son sitting in your house, not in the best of conditions but also not dead, I'd assume it would freak some people out.

He draws his sword. "Who are you?"

I decide to skip my sarcastic remark and simply assure him that it is me, despite how chilling the Stormblade looks even from where I'm sitting.

"Father," I say, walking towards him, "It is I, Hiccup."

"How is this possible?" he said, white as a bone, "We just held your funeral!"

Funeral? How on earth did that work? They didn't have my body to put in the boat? What did they burn?

"But father."

"No, I demand to know what witchcraft this is!"

"Father," and I decide to do something bold, something that will most likely get me killed.

I close the distance between us and envelop him in a hug.

The Stormblade drops, thank goodness, that sword always gave me the creeps.

Surely he understands that no ghost would be able to touch him physically, for he hugs me back and then he is crying. I wonder if he felt anything like this when I was a babe and he left me on the mountain to die… I wonder if my mother felt anything like this either…

"Hiccup," he says, withdrawing from the hug.

"Father."

He never does ask what happened to me, I think he's mostly just content that I'm safe.

.

I am holding the gem, now in daylight seeing as how the end of the tunnel led to a small hole in the cove. I still don't know how we missed it, but the Wodensfang keeps insisting that it was an enchantment.

The gem is captivating, to say the least. I feel drawn to it, but the Wodensfang says that it is because it was forged from the blood of my ancestors.

Whatever the reason, I need to give it back to the Queen. I tell the Wodensfang and he offers to come with me.

We head to the beach when I suddenly feel a hand on my wrist and the next thing I know I'm being dragged to the side. The Wodensfang doesn't realize at first but when he does he looks alarmed.

The man responsible appears to be a hermit.

"Where're you going with that there gem?" he asks, his eyes, one blue and one green, glinting in the sunlight.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

done!

-httyd4eva

peace out yo;P