Hi, guys. So sorry I didn't update yesterday, so I hope you like this chapter. :) Byyyyyyeee!
The first thing Hiccup registered was a throbbing, burning ache in his head, as if someone were smashing it with a hammer repeatedly. He moaned softly, tossing his head to the side as if doing so would stop the pounding.
"His fever's holding, but at least it hasn't gone up any higher." Hiccup would recognize that voice anywhere; the voice of his mother, sounding both full of concern yet colored with relief here and there. There was a hand against his cheek, and Hiccup leaned into it like a dog seeking attention. He knew without opening his eyes that it was Valka's hand.
"What are we going to do, Valka?" another voice – Astrid's voice – asked. Astrid sounded worried; nothing else. Just worried. Maybe even more than worried. What was she doing here? Hiccup thought.
The second thing Hiccup registered besides the voices of Astrid and his mother was the fact that he felt like he was burning. He felt like he was being burned alive over a furnace. He felt like he was in an operational and occupied forge with no windows or doors or any way to get fresh air circulating, and he knew what that felt like from experience. It wasn't something he was fond of.
"What can we do that we aren't already doing?" Valka said. She sounded upset, and Hiccup guessed that she was upset because she felt helpless. He knew what it was like to feel helpless, and he also knew that he hated the feeling. A sharp pain stabbed his stomach, and he whimpered, nuzzling into his mother's hand.
"Shhhh," she whispered, her tone changing altogether. It went from angry and upset to calm and soothing in just an instant. She ran her thumb over his cheek gently, her touch feather light. "Shhhh, rest."
Hiccup tried to open his eyes, but it didn't work. His lids felt so heavy, and he felt so tired. He wanted to sleep. Sleep sounded amazing. At the same time, however, he didn't want to fall asleep again. He wanted to say something to his mother and best friend, maybe to reassure them that he was alright. He tried to speak, but it came out as a strangled, choked sob.
"No, it's alright," Valka said soothingly, her voice surprisingly calm. "Don't cry, sweetheart. You're alright. I'm here."
It was at that moment that he realized he was crying. His tears were slipping in between his tightly shut lids, and he couldn't stop them. Everything hurt. His head hurt, his leg hurt, his stomach hurt, he couldn't breathe without it hurting, he felt like he was being roasted alive...
Another moment later, he felt like he was freezing to death. It was a strange sensation; one moment the room was sweltering hot and the next moment it felt like he was in a blizzard without a coat.
"Take a breath, Hiccup," Valka said. Hiccup swallowed before doing as she had said, breathing through his mouth. He coughed a few times, an each time made him feel worse. It worsened his headache, and made him feel even more helpless and pathetic. "That's it..." Valka whispered. "Easy...easy...deep breaths, sweetheart..."
"His fever's holding strong," Astrid said worriedly, squeezing his hand. Strange, Hiccup didn't feel her holding his hand until now.
"I know," Valka said. "We need to fetch the healer if he gets any worse."
The healer. Hiccup didn't want Valka or Astrid sending for a healer. He didn't want to feel weak. He hated feeling weak, even if it was the truth. He absolutely positively despised it. He couldn't make them get a healer.
"N...n..." He cut himself off by a single, harsh cough. "N-n-no heal..." He couldn't believe how raspy his throat was. He was certain that Valka and Astrid couldn't make out a thing he was saying. He figured it just sounded like delirious blubbering.
"Shhhh," Valka said. "You don't have to speak. Rest. Relax, Hiccup."
His stomach twisted, and he couldn't stop the whimper of pain that pushed past his lips.
"I know," Valka said. "I know, I know it hurts. Just hang in there." It was meant to be reassuring, but for some reason, it didn't make Hiccup feel any better. His stomach flipped, and he knew that he would have to get rid of whatever he had left in his stomach sooner or later.
"What can I do, Valka?" Astrid asked, trying to be helpful although to Hiccup, her words sounded fuzzy and barely recognizable.
"We'll need some more snow in a bit," Valka said, "but probably not for another little while. There's nothing else you can do right now-"
"Mom..." Hiccup gasped out as his stomach churned yet again. He felt wretched. Valka was about to shush him again, but he held up a shaky hand an instant later to stop her. "Mom...s-sick..." he choked.
Both Astrid and Valka were silent for a moment, trying to figure out what Hiccup was talking about. It was Astrid who discovered it first.
"Are you going to be sick?" Astrid clarified, and Hiccup nodded. As soon as he did, Astrid got up to find a bucket while Valka helped Hiccup into a sitting position. As soon as Astrid found what she was looking for and set the bucket in front of Hiccup, he turned and vomited into it.
"That's it," Astrid said an instant later. "I'm getting the healer." She stood up and raced away without another word, leaving Valka with her sick son. The mother held her boy in a sitting position as he leaned over the bucket, sobbing for a reason Valka didn't fully know.
"Hey," Valka whispered, her hand running up and down Hiccup's back in a comforting motion. "It's alright."
Hiccup didn't feel alright, but he kept from saying that out loud. Instead of speaking, he fell against Valka sideways, his head on her thigh. She immediately draped her arm over him, her fingers running through his hair. He sighed, silently craving her motherly, gentle touch.
"Astrid will be back with the healer soon," Valka promised, whispering for a reason she didn't fully know. "We'll get you checked out, alright?"
Hiccup nodded. He hoped that Astrid and the healer hurried. He was feeling worse by the second.