Well, the day has come. Hiccup sets out today. Wow…this sounds like it should be the start of the chapter, but, alas, it's just the opening A/N.
Before I forget, another special story announcement for my amazing readers! I have started the process of creating another story (in addition to "Let It Go") focusing on a HTTYD character that I don't usually write about. It is called "The Chief's Heir" and it loosely based on the movie "The Lion King". Anyone interested in seeing this story posted in the (perhaps!) near future?
Review Replies:
aaquater: You're right! I never thought of Toothless that way, but in the last chapter, that is a very accurate description. Nicely done! Also, thanks! It just wouldn't be right for Hiccup to leave without having one last little bit of alone time with his girlfriend. Haha.
snoopykid: Thanks! That village…hmm, guess we'll find out about it pretty soon!
Next chapter starts…now!
Chapter 6: Astrid Bids Hiccup Farewell
Everyone in Berk was awake early today; they were all there to wish their chief's son well as the boy set off on his mission that would take him away from the island. Astrid had arrived at the village center first and had watched as it slowly filled up with other members of her tribe.
As much as Hiccup had claimed that he had to leave right at morning's first light, Astrid could tell that he seemed to have pushed this off slightly as the sun had continued to rise slightly above the horizon. Speaking of Hiccup, there he came now, walking into the village center with Toothless on one side and his father on his other side.
Leaving for an undetermined amount of time to see to a mission used to be a normal and, sometimes, everyday occurrence on Berk. When the Vikings were still at war with the dragons, it was common for higher-ranked Vikings, such as Stoick the Vast, to lead a search party out into the unknown. However, since Hiccup had mediated a truce between the two warring sides, no one had left Berk to complete a mission. There just was never any need. Even when Hiccup and his class of dragon riders were given missions by Stoick, they would set out early and (except for a few of the missions) they could all but guarantee to all safely be back on their homeland by the time the sun disappeared again below the horizon.
Stoick parted the crowd so he could stand in the middle to address them and Hiccup before the latter's departure. "Today, my people…is a very important day…for Berk…and for my son. Hiccup, though only aged 16, will soon embark on a quest worthy of a man…and of a Viking!"
There were soft cheers among those gathered and Astrid watched the crowd again part, but this time to lend a path to Hiccup and Toothless. The boy walked hesitantly to the center so that he could stand by his father. Astrid could see that he tried to look confident and undeterred by what lay ahead of him, but she also knew him better, well enough to see through this; he was nervous and unsure. She couldn't blame him. Heck, even she, fearless Astrid Hofferson, would be at least a little bit frightened to embark on a quest like this with no other human companions.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III," Stoick continued and Astrid wondered how often Hiccup had ever heard his father pronounce his full name in such a soft tone. The only reason Astrid even knew Hiccup's full name is because she had heard Hiccup's father yell it many times when frustrated with the boy. She was glad that those days were gone and Hiccup need not worry so much about upsetting his father and everyone else in the village. "On this day, we ask Odin's protection on this named person, my son, my heir. We ask for safe travels and a safe return." Then, as Astrid watched, Stoick turned to address his son in a conversation that could easily have been a private father-son talk. "Hiccup, be careful out there. The blessings of everyone in this village go with you on your journey."
Hiccup made to mound Toothless and Astrid knew that if she wanted to see him one last time before he left, now would be it. She pushed through the crowd so that she could get to her boyfriend. A strange feeling of nervousness had crept into her mind. He'll be fine, won't he? He has to be. Finally making her way up to Hiccup, Astrid delivered a swift and hard punch to his upper arm. "That's for agreeing to go on this mission without me," she told him, explaining herself. Not that it mattered all that much. By now, the rest of their tribe knew about their habits; Astrid had done this right after he'd woken from that strange sleep, right after he'd learned that he no longer had a lower left leg.
"Really, Astrid, we're doing this again even though I'm leaving like…soon?" His voice was deadpanned, but Astrid saw in his eyes that he anticipated what came next.
Astrid brought her lips up to touch Hiccup's, but the kiss deepened as she let her longing, her nervousness, her sadness show to him. When they broke apart, she finished with her standard reply. "That's…for everything else."
"Astrid…"
She did not know if he had something to say to her, but Astrid cut him off anyway. "Make sure you come back safe and soon, please, Hiccup."
"I'll do my best."
Typical Hiccup…never making any promises that he can't keep…That was one of the many things that Astrid liked about her boyfriend.
Hiccup leaned down, a little hesitantly, to give Astrid one last kiss. The two held onto this show of affection for as long as they possibly could, knowing that once it was broken, Hiccup would be leaving. When they both were practically dying from lack of breath, they broke apart. Astrid heard no sounds from the villagers who had observed this final act of love between the two young Vikings. Right now, though, Astrid could care less what her tribe thought about the relationship that had formed and strengthened between her and Hiccup. Who knows when she'll be able to do this again?
Unfortunately, Hiccup did not linger much longer after the kiss was broken. Astrid watched helplessly as he patted Toothless's neck and urged his friend into the air. Toothless, being a Night Fury, had unrivaled speed, but Astrid could see that Hiccup was choosing to take the flight at a slower pace than usual.
All around Astrid, the villagers of Berk waved and shouted farewells to Hiccup. Astrid, though, could only stand mesmerized, watching as Hiccup and Toothless grew smaller until they were just a small black shape in the distant sky. "Be brave, Hiccup," she whispered to no one, the crowd already having dispersed and returned to their daily lives. "Good luck. I love you."
I'm feeling generous. No massive cliffhangers tonight. You'll get enough of those in Try To Be Brave. Sorry for the delay. I had to work this chapter a bit because I wrote out where I wanted it to go and then realized that it was so short. It still isn't very long, but…it'll do. Well, it's almost 3:30 AM here, so I'mma just gonna go sleep now. Hope you entered this short and pretty uneventful chapter.
Next chapter: More of these inaccurate predictions, but…I'm gonna say I'll try to have the next chapter posted on Friday night after 11 PM US East Coast time.
As always, thank you all for reading and supporting Wheel in the Sky!
Posted: January 19, 2014
