Hey guys! Thank you for being patient and waiting an extra week for this chapie. Thank you all who are still on this adventure with me.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Aftermath
Smoke flittered into the air above smouldering piles of broken houses and broken bodies as the sun's rays splashed over the ground from behind Berk's peak. No one moved, no sound broke the silence of crackling embers and creaking timbers. Hiccup slowly walked down what used to be the main path, his lips parted in horror and his arms shaking. Blood was on the ground sticking to his boot, making his prosthetic slip on the stones, numbing his nose with the smell of iron. The other villagers slowly returned to the main village, some carried by Barf and Belch and Thornado while Meatlug and Fishlegs painstakingly cleared the sealed entrance of the tunnels to let the rest emerge.
Most villagers looked and cried out in misery, others sat on the ground with their heads in their hands. The dead were an equal combination of enemies and allies. Some faces were familiar and others were strange. Hiccup didn't linger on any of them, moving on as soon as he knew it wasn't Astrid. He couldn't care about anyone else. He couldn't bear the thought of finding her like he did the week before.
He hadn't slept since Astrid's funeral, and he couldn't find her anywhere. Toothless stepped carefully behind him, staying quiet. Matrons tied their skirts around their knees to keep them off the ground as they pulled injured people from under fallen debris. Most were not as lucky as those few survivors. Burns, gashes, breaks, bruises, everything hit Hiccup's eyes light a flame too close to his face.
He heard a sound from a distance and looked up. Snotlout and his father Spitelout were in a scuffle, Snotlout shoving away from Spitelout to get to a body. Snotlout ran to the figure on the ground and froze. He fell to his knees, grabbing the body as Spitelout looked away painfully. Swamplout ran over to them, looking up at his grandfather before Spitelout scooped him up and began climbing back up the hill with him as Snotlout screamed in grief. He was holding Wormha in his arms, his wife and mother to his child, and Hiccup tore his gaze away.
Toothless bumped his back with his snout, pleading for some sort of comfort. Hiccup rubbed his head and trembled. He heard a chortle ahead and his head snapped up. He knew that sound. He broke from Toothless, racing forward, jumping over and ducking under rubble to get to the Nadder. She was huddled against a house that barely stood, her wing mangled and her breaths heavily. Hiccup skidded to a halt and grabbed her head gently with his hands, urging the dragon to open her eyes. He looked over the crown of spikes and noticed the saddle was burnt to bits.
"Stormfly?" he asked worriedly. "Gods, your wing…"
He crawled over to it and hovered his palms over it, not wanting to touch the raw flesh. But the damage was clear as day. The webbing of the wings was gone, leaving behind nothing but the wing's skeleton. She was a downed dragon, and he saw no way he could fix it. He sat back and put his head in his hands.
He felt lost. He couldn't find Astrid, his friends were injured, his village was broken. He had a sister he never knew about and his mother was trapped somewhere and had been for years. He had a chance to stop them, if only he tried harder.
"Hiccup?" a voice asked gently. He didn't look up from his knees, nausea building inside him.
"She's gone, Fishlegs," Hiccup murmured. "They took her."
"And Ruffnut, too," Fishlegs added sadly. "Tuffnut's down, Stormfly's down, Snotlout's mum is gone…" Fishlegs sucked in a breath. "A lot of people."
Hiccup stood weakly, nodding at his friend. "We'll get them back," Hiccup promised. "Dad and I will figure something out."
Fishlegs paled and his massive body shifted back slightly. He looked up to the Great Hall and back to Hiccup, his huge cheeks turning red.
"What's wrong?" Hiccup asked suspiciously.
"Um…" Fishlegs swayed and wrinkled his face, the soot and grime from the battle still caked on his face. "In the tunnel, with the villagers, a Whispering Death attacked the survivors. Stoick fought it off, but…"
Hiccup stepped closer. "But?"
"He was bitten."
At first, the information didn't make much sense. Dragon bites back in the day were common. But Whispering Deaths were not common in the old days. Hiccup rubbed his mouth, dreading the circumstances.
The two dragon riders hiked up the destroyed pathway to the Hall, silently stepping over the carnage. When they made it to the Hall, the injured were lying on the floor in rows waiting to be helped. He recognized Tuffnut lying on the floor, groaning as his dragon curled around him protectively. His torso was bandaged and he was well under the influence of the sleep drug to keep the pain at bay. Hiccup remembered the drug as if he could taste the bittnerness on his gums, the powder used to keep him asleep as the Skrill wound healed. He couldn't imagine how much of the sleeping draught the villagers would need now.
Fishlegs motioned to the conference room at the back of the Hall, his eyes avoiding his friends. Hiccup entered hesitantly, seeing a group of people crowding around a makeshift bed atop the conference table the alliance had met at the day before. He felt his eyes droop. He hadn't slept in days. Not with how insane it had been.
On top of the table, face passive, was his father and chief, surrounded by people including Juniper, Gobber, Gothi, and Rose. Why Rose was there, he didn't know nor care. He couldn't look at her. Not with Astrid gone. Stoick waved Juniper away groggily, his bandaged arm limp on his lap, his skin cold and clammy. He reached out to his son, and Hiccup looked around the room like a lost Dragonling.
"Dad?" he asked quietly, approaching the edge of Stoick's bed. Stoick sighed and looked over. Hiccup noticed he had the Book of Dragons in his lap opened to the Whispering Death entry. Then, behind Stoick, was Gobber holding a small chest in one of his hands. On it was the inscription of the chiefdom oath of Berk.
"My boy," Stoick said tiredly, breaking Hiccup's gaze from the chest. He had a hand held out to him. That never happened. Hiccup, unsure of what to do, placed his lean, long hand in his father's fat fist and leaned in. "There has been an… interesting turn of events…"
"Whether you mean the fight or your health…" Hiccup trailed off. Even his awkward joking protective barrier was weak. He stayed quiet as his eyes began to burn and his heart began to ache.
"Just a bite," Stoick said, "but a nasty one at that."
"Whispering Death venom," Fishlegs respectfully added. Hiccup looked up quickly, alarmed. But Fishlegs raised his hands even faster. "We have some antivenom, we gave it to him already."
Hiccup furrowed his brow. "So what's going on, then? Is he going to be okay?"
A tired grin tugged at Stoick's mouth. "I thought you practically wrote this book."
Hiccup looked down. "It was a joint effort, I don't write those parts. Riding, anatomy, not venom."
Juniper rested a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. He didn't like the feeling of her comfort trying to force its way into his spirit. He shifted uncomfortably. "The antivenom is a painful process," she explained. "It has to race against the necrotic factors of the poison before it's too late. We couldn't wait so we gave it to him."
"Why would that be a bad thing?" he asked. "If my dad is sick, then fix him, I wouldn't care."
Gobber rubbed his eyes. "Everyone is trying to beat around the bush," he groaned. "The antivenom will put him through too much pain and –"
"He's Stoick," Hiccup pressed.
"Son," Stoick said quietly. Hiccup looked over. "Listen to me."
Hiccup swallowed. Stoick placed a hand over Hiccup's, enclosing his hands with his. "They're going to force me into a slumber, to give me my best chance."
The room froze. Hiccup's exhaustion made the walls move around him, but they stood still at the same time. The sounds disappeared and reappeared as if they were parts of a dream, disappearing when he thought of them. He looked around the room again and saw the tired and saddened faces of those closest to his family.
"You've taken down the biggest dragon and trained the fastest," his father said hoarsely. "I've been at your beside as a baby with the cough, when you lost your leg, when you saved Snowdrop…"
He squeezed Hiccup's hands and Hiccup closed his eyes, a sob tearing through him. Stoick's voice shook.
"I don't want you to watch me go through that," his father finished. His voice cracked. "And I'm not ready to leave you yet. I won't do that to you, son."
Hiccup felt his face fall against his father's hand.
"I've already decided," Stoick said, taking in a breath. "Rose told me about Astrid. I know it's hard, and it hurts and you hate the world and everyone in it. But… Berk needs you. I need you."
Gobber stepped forward with the chiefdom chest. He opened it and retrieved a book, which he opened and showed to Stoick regretfully. Stoick, with Hiccup's head on his hands, felt the pull of slumber at his eyes. He read the oath.
"I, Stoick the Vast, seventh chief of my blood –"
Hiccup snapped his head up. "No, dad, wait!"
" – hearby pass on my title as chief and protector of Berk –"
"Please!" Hiccup begged, his body convulsing, breaking. "I can't!"
" – to my son and heir, Hiccup… Horrendous Haddock III…"
Stoick's eyes began to droop. Hiccup bit one of his knuckles. He wanted to let go, to run away, but he couldn't bring himself to.
" – until such a time… when I am back to health… or pass to Valhalla… in front of the witnesses of the village…"
Gobber pulled the book away and looked to Hiccup. "Do you swear to protect Berk and her people, and swear your faithfulness to her land, respecting the past seven generations of your forefathers?"
Hiccup's eyes were fixed on his father, who stared at him, urging him to accept. He was fading into the dreammland quickly, and Hiccup's world was changing too fast for him to keep up. It was too rash, too instant. Hiccup bore down a sob and tried to shake his head, tried to reject it. But he had no choice.
"I do…" Hiccup choked. Stoick's hands relaxed around his.
"That's… my boy…" he whispered. Hiccup watched him relax and let go. His body went limp and his forced sleep took over. There was a silent lull as the news sunk in, seeping over him like Sun Sap all over again. His dad was dying. It was so stupid, the fact that something so little had the hugest consequences. Juniper still had her hand on Hiccup's shoulder and she gave it a tiny squeeze.
"We're doing the best we can," she said gently. Hiccup didn't say anything. "You should try to get some sleep," she suggested. "The past few days have left little room for it."
Gobber scoffed. "Leave the boy alone. The last thing he needs is an understatement."
He was the first to leave, stepping past Rose and lumbering out the door, muttering to himself and taking shaky breaths. Juniper bit her lip sadly and left Hiccup as well. Rose was about to follow when Gothi stepped up behind her. The wise woman looked up at her and smiled a gentle, grieving smile that showed all her wrinkles. Rose smiled tightly but Gothi looked at her, then Stoick, and back to her. She sighed silently and reached up to Rose's face, patting her cheek gently. Rose blinked as Gothi left to the rest of the Hall. Rose watched after her, knowing Gothi knew, when Hiccup turned to her.
"You told him Astrid was gone," he said hoarsely. Rose licked her lips and nodded lightly. "How did you know?"
Rose's green eyes flicked upwards back to Hiccup, who was glaring at her with bloodshot eyes. "I'm sorry?"
"You've been here the whole time, how could you possibly know?"
Rose shifted uncomfortably as Hiccup stood. "I… I heard…"
Hiccup leapt out of his seat, tearing away from Stoick. He glowered at Rose, shaking, fuming, wind whistling out of flared nostrils. Rose paled. Hiccup snapped his hands forward, grabbing Rose by the collar and slamming her against the wall. The air flew out of her as Hiccup shook her again and again. A choked cry escaped her lips, her body rattled.
"STOP LYING TO ME!" Hiccup screamed. His vision went red, his knuckles numbing at the tension. Rose's shirt began to tear. She whimpered, her lip quivering. "STOP!"
"Hiccup!" she cried.
Hiccup slammed her against the wall again. She gasped, her head lolling slightly, her breaths ragged. She pushed against him as he shook her ferociously. "I should have never trusted you!" he screamed. "I should have gone after them, I should have stopped them!"
Rose grunted as she was slammed again into the stone. A drop of blood dripped from her nostril, dripping onto Hiccup's fists. It streamed over her lips, coating her gritted teeth.
"Hiccup!" Gobber cried. Hiccup body was ripped away from Rose, a huge arm scooping Hiccup away. Gobber forced him back, stepping in between him and Rose, who cowered and wiped her nose with the back of her hand, her body shaking and her breathing whistling by. Hiccup stepped back, his vision returning to normal, his face contorted in hate.
"I will never forget this," he spat. "I will never – never – forgive you!"
"This is not her fault!" Gobber yelled.
Hiccup shook his head, pulling on his hair in agony, growling and on the verge of falling apart. He heard Toothless run into the Hall as people protested. The Night Fury rushed into the doorframe, his eyes thinned to slits, his teeth barred. He ran to Hiccup, slithering around him. Hiccup clutched for the reins.
"Get me out of here," Hiccup begged as he pulled himself into the saddle. Toothless barked, running out of the room and flying out of the Hall. Gobber ran after them until he realized they left, and turned to Rose, who kept her eyes down as she stanched the bleeding with her sleeve. He pursed his lips and motioned to the door.
"Odin help me," he muttered. The villagers were murmuring at the scene of Hiccup and looked to Gobber, who smoothed his moustache and hobbled into the fray, shaking his head. He climbed the stairs of the platform slowly, his legs killing him from the battle, and he turned sorely to face the survivors.
He didn't know what to say at first, but he knew he had to say something. Families were broken, hearts were aching, rage was bubbling, and he was on the edge, facing the awaiting refugees. He took a shallow breath, the best he could do.
"Our chief… Stoick the Vast of House Haddock… has relinquished his right to Berk."
The Hall stayed silent for a moment. Some people stared, lost and stunned. Others gasped. Some cursed and looked away. Then, the room erupted with protest.
"No! It's not possible!"
"You're lying!"
"What if Alvin comes back?!"
Gobber raised his hands, waving them strongly, trying to quiet the crowd that pressed against the edge of the platform.
"Hey!" he yelled, trying to quiet the crowd. "Listen to me!"
The crowd hushed slightly, the room buzzing.
"Stoick is not well," Gobber said firmly. "The matrons have forced him into a sleep to give our former leader a chance to survive; I think we can all agree that we'd rather not kill him outright."
The crowd mumbled to each other, some hysterical, others tense.
"He has passed the alliance to his first-born and only heir, Hiccup."
"As if that will help!" someone yelled from the back of the Hall. Some people, most from the other clans in the alliance, nodded in agreement, barking at Gobber.
"Shut it!" Gobber bellowed, out of the ordinary for him. The Hall went silent, some people grumbling. "Hiccup was the one who changed the face of the alliance. He stopped a war between Vikings and dragons and I can't think of a better person who can take on Alvin. If he can take out a Red Death, he can take out an Outcast... I'm sure of it."