Hello all you people who are awesomer than me, here is chapter 4! Shout-outs the next chapter! Also, I need some ideas for this story, so if you have any, give 'em here! :D I might update faster...I probably won't use all of them, but yes, ideas are good. :) Enjoy chapter 4! :D
Astrid found Gobber pounding away at the forge, singing the song he only sang when he was "really happy" (according to Hiccup, anyways). She ran straight into the forge with a loud shout of "Gobber!"
Almost instantly, the sound of metal against metal stopped, and Gobber walked towards her, unscrewing his hammer hand and putting on his hook instead.
"Good mornin', lass!" Gobber greeted. Astrid panted, short of breath from her run over. "Is somethin' wrong?"
"Yes," Astrid said between gasps, putting one hand towards Gobber when he took a step forward. After a few seconds, Astrid regained her breath enough to speak in full sentences without gasping every few words. "You need to take up acting Chief today, if you could," she said. Then, she paused; Gobber…as acting Chief? She remembered the time Gobber had helped – "helped" – Stoick with his duties as chieftain. It hadn't ended well…
"With Fishlegs," Astrid added hastily. She knew that Fishlegs was another great choice, since he thought reasonably and used his brain.
"What's the matter, lassie?" Gobber asked. "Is somethin' wrong with Hiccup?"
"Yes," Astrid said. "He was injured yesterday, and now he's sick."
"Ah, poor lad," Gobber said sympathetically.
"Yeah," Astrid agreed. "And if you could keep it just between you, Fishlegs, me, and the Haddocks, that would be great. We're not announcing it to the village yet…for obvious reasons."
"Right," Gobber said. "Don't want the entire village on his doorstep demandin' to be told what's happenin'. Sure, Astrid, I'm always glad to give Hiccup a hand."
"Thank you, Gobber," Astrid said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"You don't have to thank me," Gobber said. "I'll let Fishlegs know."
Astrid nodded, just before she ran off again, back towards the Haddock residence to help Valka with whatever she could.
When she opened the door, she found Hiccup leaning over the bucket again, coughing and gagging. It looked as though he were in pain, his breathing raspy and wheezy.
"Shhhh, shhhh, it's alright," Valka soothed, pressing a cloth against Hiccup's forehead, holding it in place while he was sitting up. Valka looked over at Astrid.
"His fever spiked," she said urgently. "I need to find some herbs to try and help bring it down. All his shivering is driving it up."
"S-sorry, Mom…" Hiccup whispered. Valka pressed the cloth against his head after re-wetting it, shushing him softly.
"Shhhh, it's not your fault," she said. "Don't blame yourself, sweetheart. Don't do that."
"Where are the herbs, Valka?" Astrid asked.
"One of the cabinets, if I have any on hand," Valka answered, nodding in the direction in which she spoke of. Astrid instantly spun around and opened the nearest cabinet, searching for the herbs Valka had spoken of.
"What do they look like, Valka?" Astrid asked.
"They look like rosemary, with a very interesting smell," Valka said in response.
Astrid searched in earnest for another five minutes, coming with no conclusion. "I can't find them, Valka," she said, walking back towards Hiccup's mother. "Where can I get them?"
"I'll get them if you stay with Hiccup," Valka said.
"Oh," Astrid said. Valka didn't look thrilled about having to leave. After all, what mother wants to leave their son while they're sick? "Are you sure I can't do it?"
"Positive," Valka said. "I already know where to find them, so it will take longer for me to explain and write out a list then it will to actually find them. There are a number of herbs that will help, and I think I should get as many as possible."
Astrid nodded. "I'll stay with Hiccup while you go," she said.
"Thank you, Astrid," Valka said in response, relief coating her voice. She carefully untangled herself from Hiccup's limbs, laid him back down and then stood up, letting Astrid take her place on the couch.
"Take care of him, Astrid," the older woman said.
Astrid looked up at her and nodded. "You know I will," she replied. Valka nodded offhandedly, already running towards the door. She opened it and ran outside, shutting it behind her. Astrid re-wet the rag – it was already feeling humid due to Hiccup's rising fever – and then placed it back on his forehead. She took his hand in hers, and then noticed that although his forehead was burning, his hand was freezing. She rubbed her thumbs over his knuckles, breathing onto his hand in an attempt to warm it up. However, it wasn't getting any better. He still felt ice cold; all but his forehead.
Astrid bit her lip. She didn't know what to do. She was torn between taking the blanket off and throwing another one on. In the end, when Hiccup's shivering finally got to her, she stood up and went up to Hiccup's room.
As soon as she got there, she was slammed into by a blob of black scales. Toothless growled at her momentarily, until he turned and bounded down the staircase. Astrid decided to ignore the Night Fury for the time being. A blanket, yes, she was looking for a blanket.
She grabbed the one off Hiccup's bed and raced back downstairs with it. Toothless breathed plasma into the hearth, making the flames rise higher. He must have nudged Hiccup at some point and felt his body temperature, and was trying to react accordingly.
Unfortunately, Astrid didn't know whether they should have been making the room warmer or colder.
Astrid threw the blanket over Hiccup and then tucked it around him. Afterwards, she soaked the rag once more and put it back on his forehead, reaching under the covers for his hand.
Toothless crooned sadly, watching Astrid and his rider with concern in his eyes. Astrid turned her head to look at the dragon, and then nodded. Toothless' ears perked up, and he approached the bedside, laying his head on Hiccup's chest, purrs erupting from his throat.
Astrid reached over and grabbed Hiccup's other hand, holding both in her own two hands, rubbing them together. After a while, warmth began to return, even if slightly. It was strange; keeping a cloth on Hiccup's forehead to make his fever stayed low while at the same time trying to warm the ailing boy up.
Astrid waited for Valka to return, hoping that the herbs helped Hiccup, because so far, his fever was not going down.
In fact, it seemed to be going up.