Ah, the biter sweetness of a cliff hanger and the subtle relief that follows. The joys of writing :-).
Chapter 8: The Letter
It was with the heaviest of hearts that Stoick returned to the shores of Berk. Skullcrusher made land fall and all around him dragons and their riders filled the empty square. Toothless's anguished cries wracked his heart over again. It was his own grief made into sound.
"What now, chief?" Someone called.
"We fight back." Stoick boomed over their heads. Silence hissed back at him, the dreadful sound, and made his own that much louder. "We take down Dagur, and his entire army, with Thor's vengeance, without hesitation. Burn their ships and drown their soldiers."
Fists were raise around him and a war whoop resonated. Stoick caught his breath in his throat and swallowed what emotions may threaten to come out. For now, there was no time to mourn. For now, there was only battle.
X
The commotion outside was the sound of retuning Vikings. Dragons landing and their wings coming to a halt. Stoick's boom rang over them, a deathly silence in it's absence, a silence which stung Astrid's chest like a arrow. She pushed herself out of bed and threw herself out of it. She stumbled to the floor. Picking herself up, she clamored down the stairs.
Astrid made it to the doorway and wrenched it open. The day was gloomy but it was nothing compared to the faces of the Vikings she saw. Even the dragons shared their misery.
"What?" Astrid mumbled to herself.
She heard the horrible shrill cries of a wounded night fury. The sharp arrow jabbed in her chest twisted as she ran out to find him. The crowd parted and she could feel their eyes watching her. But she didn't care. Not right now.
Toothless was crumbled on the ground, his tail curled around him, the artificial tail fin broken and torn and snapped in multiple places, the saddle burnt and empty.
"Hiccup?" Astrid mouthed.
Toothless let out a moan and his large green eyes fell upon her. He unfurled himself and came to her, nosing her gently in the stomach, letting out the most pitiful sound she'd ever heard. It sounded like a cry. He sat down at her feet. She held his large head in her arms as the dragon wallowed.
"Toothless, what happened?" Astrid asked, but somehow she already knew. Tears pushed at her eyes. Her breath fought back. She buried her face on Toothless.
Stoick's steps stopped nearby. A large and heavy hand landed on her shoulder. She looked up, not trying to hid the distraught tears, and when Stoick's face mirrored her own grief, she couldn't hold them back anymore. They ran down her cheeks.
"No," Astrid coughed.
"I'm sorry, dear." Stoick whispered. If he spoke any louder his disquiet would have been clear to the entire village.
She knew that Stoick had to be strong. This was a time of war. The chief had to be the mast of the ship. He had to told them together. But she had nothing to tie her bravery to, nothing to anchor her Viking pride. The darkness could do as it may. The dead could wander the village. She didn't care. With Hiccup gone, she crumbled.
Stoick lifted her and carried her back into her house. Toothless slumped behind him. He sat her back into her bed and instructed Ingrid to make something warm. He would see if he couldn't bring something stronger back by. It would be a rough night.
Astrid wished the sleep would take her. She didn't want to be in this world any longer. But when she wanted it, it felt far away. She sat up and held her knees tight. Toothless curled into a corner and sulked. Stoick was right. This would be a long night. A long forever.
What would she do?
X
Back outside, Stoick felt the hammer in his chest loosen just a little. Seeing Astrid fall apart had given him the boost that he had needed. It was easier to be the strongest when others needed him to be. He headed toward the Great Hall. There should be a barrel of mead that would ease the pain, even just a little.
He held the barrel on his shoulder and was halfway back to the Hofferson house when he was stopped by Gobber.
"Stoick, it's Trader Johan!" Gobber pointed with his hammer-hand toward the docks.
Stoick squinted toward the sea. Between Berk and the blockade there was a moving dot.
"How did he get through?"
"I guess we'll have to asked him." Gobber said, then mumbled, "If he's still alive."
Stoick dropped of the barrel at the Hoffersons and followed the rest down to the docks where Vikings were waiting anxiously as Trader Johan's ship drifted closer to the docks. Someone was moving on board and when he was close enough he waved to them, showing he was just fine.
"Johan? You're early." Stoick announced.
"Yes, I was given an urgent delivery. I skipped several stops to make it here as soon as possible." Johan said.
"How did you make it through?" Gobber asked as Johan dropped his gangplank.
"Oh, with my trader's promise not to harbor weapons, and with a few persuasive gifts." Johan shrugged. "But they laughed, a bit menacingly, that it wouldn't matter if I did. A bit too sure of themselves, if you ask me."
"They've got wicked sorcery on their side." Gobber said.
"Aye, the dead is it?"
"How did you know?"
"That's not the first story I've heard. It seems strange things are happened all over the archipelago." Johan said. He scanned the crowd. "Where is Master Hiccup? I must give him this letter."
Stoick couldn't bring himself to say it. But at the silence that his question stirred, Johan drew his arms back to himself and cleared his throat.
"He isn't here." Stoick said at last. "But Astrid is. I'll take it to her."
"Uh, I've been sworn to delivery to either Hiccup or Astrid and no one else." Johan said.
"Well, then you'll have to take it to her. She's on bed rest." Stoick sighed. He pointed Johan to the right house and promised to guard his ship and treasures with his life.
X
Astrid couldn't sleep. She could see him sitting there, beside her bed, with that worried look on his face. If only she had gone with him. If only she had made him stay with her. If only.
She had crossed the room and sat down with Toothless. He laid his head onto her lap and pouted. She had left the cup of mead half-drunk on her beside table.
"I know, I miss him too." Astrid said.
"Excuse me," came a strange voice downstairs. "I'm supposed to delivery this to Miss Astrid."
"Oh, she is upstairs." Ingrid answered.
"Thank you, Ma'am."
Astrid sat up and waited for him to climb the stairs. Toothless gave a quick sniff to the air and then settled back down in her lap. Trader Johan appeared at the top of her stairs. It was strange to see him out of his ship.
"I apologize for the interruption," Johan said.
"What do you have for me?" Astrid asked.
"A letter." Johan said. He pulled it from his shirt pocket. "From Mister Chuck."
"Oh!" Astrid hadn't even thought of that. Her face fell. Hiccup usual brought them to her and they read them together. "Thank you."
Johan crossed the room and put the letter into her open hand. He stood a bit awkwardly fiddling his fingers. "I am terribly sorry, Miss."
"Thank you." Astrid's voice was dry.
Johan tipped his head and left the same way he'd come. Astrid waited until she heard the door close to open the letter. With a shaken hand she pulled the paper from inside. It was from Chuck and written with a hasty hand.
Hiccup and Astrid, I hope you get this soon. Something has happened in the temple. People are vanishing. The island is covered with this fog. Shadows are alive and move. Lydia says it's because the malice has spilled. I know it might be out of place to beg for your help, but I didn't know where else to turn. I know Astrid can communicate with the dead. If anyone can save us, she can. Please, help us.
Chuck
Astrid read it over and over. She jumped up, leaving Toothless moaning with the lack of his pillow, and jumped down the stairs two at a time.
"Astrid?" Ingrid called as she bolted through the front door.
She ran until she caught back up with Johan. He hadn't made it halfway to his ship yet and came to a stop when she called.
"What is it young Miss?" Johan asked.
"Please, I need to know where this island is!" Astrid motioned to the letter still clutched in her hand. "I need to go there."
"Oh, well, I was asked to keep it a secret. The people there are very distant." Johan shuffled his feet.
"Johan, the dead will keep spilling out unless I can close the rift." Astrid said with clenched fists. She may have been sick but that didn't mean she still couldn't bully men into doing what she wanted.
Johan coward back a few steps and sighed. "I can show you. I have a map on my ship."
Johan led Astrid to his ship where Stoick and Gobber stood protectively at the end of the gangplank. When Astrid followed Johan into the ship's hull, they both followed behind. A large map covered one wall of what looked like makeshift office.
"It is about here." Johan pointed southward, to a tiny dot on the map.
"That's only about a two day's flight from here." Astrid said. She wasn't sure how the distance on the paper reflected real distance.
"What? You're not thinking of flying, Astrid?" Stoick interrupted.
"I have to get there as soon as I can, Stoick." Astrid turned to speak to him. "All of this otherworld stuff is happening because of something that happened on that island. If I can get there I might be able to fix it."
"And if you can't?" Stoick asked.
"Then it doesn't matter anyway." Astrid said lowly.
Stoick caught his words.
"But you can't fly, lass. You're asking to drown." Gobber said.
"He is right." Stoick said. "You're not flying anywhere in your condition."
Astrid looked at Stoick knowing that she'd already lost the argument. And she knew he was right. As much as she'd like to be on Stormfly, it as asking for trouble. In determination, she turned to Johan. "You can take me there on your ship. You know the way."
"Aye." Johan nodded. He looked between them all with a wary suspicion.
"That sounds like a better plan." Gobber said.
Stoick inhaled, keeping his eyes on Astrid, and exhaled slowly. "Fine. But do your best to make it back, regardless. I don't want to loss the both of you."
"Yes, Chief." Astrid nodded.
"Aye, I'll take you there. It'll be dangerous goings. Best be prepared." Johan nodded. "We'll leave when you're ready."
Astrid had little to pack. It was mostly provisions of food and water. She held a metal pendent that Hiccup had made for her. It was a simple and smooth metal droplet on a thin leather rope. While she had been grateful for the gift she didn't like wearing it. It felt like an extra weight around her neck. She tied it around her neck and dropped the pendent down her shirt. It set against her chest, cold on her skin, but reminded her of Hiccup. She could see him on the day he'd given it to her, nervous but excited, with the pendent enclosed in his fist.
What was she going to do? She couldn't stay awake, Hiccup was gone, she was…she didn't want to think about it. The world was crawling with darkness and ghosts. She didn't much care if she died on this venture.
With her few things packed she through the satchel over her shoulder. The small child that hid under her bed was peering out at her. For the first time she saw something she hadn't bothered to look for. Fear.
"Don't worry, soon you'll be where you should be." Astrid told the fearful child. It sulked further underneath her bed, wide dark eyes pinned on her, hands twitching on the floor. "Soon, everything will be better."
Because up was the only way to go.
X