Astrid remained on top of Stormfly watching all around her. The patrol was quite boring. But, she knew that was a good thing. For the most part she was alone. Heather was about half a mile away, watching on Windsheer. They knew if there was trouble they could count on each other.

She took in a deep breath and let her exhaustion escape. A few days ago she was vomiting and achy all over. Today, those symptoms seemed almost non-existent. Other than the mild headache she had, she felt much better. Now that Hiccup was home and up and moving independently, and his mind seemed to be back in the right place, her worry was minimal.

"Astrid, would you like an apple?" Heather asked her.

She hadn't realized how close Heather was to her and it startled her. She smiled gently and accepted the apple. She was actually hungry. Just then she realized she had not eaten any breakfast.

"You are looking a little thin," Heather said to her gently. "You okay?" She received a nod in reply, and Astrid bit into the apple a few more times. This seemed to satisfy Heather.

"I've been pretty manic over Hiccup," Astrid replied. "I haven't had a scare like I did with him."

"Even when he lost his leg?" Heather asked.

Astrid chuckled. "You know, I've thought about that in all honestly. I mean, he was pretty bad for a few days. But, I was still just a kid then. I wasn't completely grasping what all was going on. Yeah, I felt for him, and I grieved with him when he was in pain and struggling through that recovery. But, I barely knew what life was even at fifteen. I wasn't so-sensitive then." Saying it aloud actually scared her a little bit. "Heather, I was once this might-mini warrior. Now, I'm the chief's wife and all that seems to consume me is worrying over him."

Heather smiled gently. "I think we are just growing up, Astrid. Our lives have changed a lot since we were kids. We are still warriors. I think-you just have a lot more going on than what we did a few years ago. It's starting to get to you. With Hiccup, I was worried about him, too, and my heart ached I couldn't be with you when you found him. I wanted to-but it just didn't work out that way." Heather was quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when he was recovering. From the sound of things, it seemed kind of bad there for a little while-"

Astrid nodded. "He's functioning now. Since Cecil appeared again, he seems more whole again. I still feel bad I didn't believe him."

"I think Valka kind of made you feel that way."

Astrid sighed. "I don't know what to believe with that whole situation. I mean-Cecil took care of Hiccup but almost murdered Valka years ago. He killed and slaughtered dragons for Drago. But-somehow he still has kindness in him to take care of Hiccup." She turned to Heather. "You trust him, don't you?"

"I do," Heather said. "There was one time in the caves that I nearly took my weapon to his head. I wanted to move Hiccup sooner, but Cecil was worried. I think he genuinely cared for Hiccup's life at the time. He knew he wouldn't do as good of a job as Valka or Gothi-But he feared the ride would kill him. Eventually, he knew he had no choice but to move him to the boat. When we were separated because I had to go after Windsheer and get matters settled there, I could see the concern on his face. He was relieved when we found him safe in the boat. Having him almost take off my head at the caves, us arguing over Hiccup's well-being. It made me trust him. I couldn't help but."

Astrid bit her lip in thought for a moment. If only Valka could hear Heather speak like this. But, she was being stubborn. She chuckled at the thought of her being stubborn. Heather looked at her curiously.

"It's funny," Astrid said. "We always say how stubborn Hiccup is, and Stoick always told me how stubborn Valka was when he would get frustrated with Hiccup over things. They both are just a like."

"Maybe that's why they are having a hard time getting along right now," Heather said gently.

"Valka-she's been trying to help him run the village. Hiccup really wasn't ready to take over when Stoick died. I've found him working late into the night at his desk many times. Instead of it being inventions and ideas like he used to, it's letters from other tribes, to do lists...I kind of miss the old semi-carefree Hiccup. Dragon's Edge was just a small sliver of leadership than what it is here."

"Is he happy, Astrid?" Heather asked.

Astrid shrugged her shoulders. "Most days I think so, but as I said, he is stubborn and hides the truth."

"He's doing a good job here, Astrid."

"What about the Berzerkers?" Astrid asked suddenly. "I just realized you've probably been gone too long!"

"Believe me, they will survive," Heather said. "They survived without me for a long time. I'd rather stay back here and help you guys. This place-I always felt welcomed here."

"And you know you always will be, right?" Astrid asked.

Heather nodded. "Of course."

...

By mid-day a storm had begun to roll in. No lightning had been heard or sighted. Despite Eret's requests to move the patrol to shelter, Hiccup told him no, that he would be staying where he was until it grew too dangerous.

"Hiccup, you do realize your wife and mother risked their lives out in that storm to bring you in that night, right?" Eret said. "You wouldn't be doing them any favors staying out here."

"If Dagur comes-"

"He won't get too far this way in this storm," Eret said. "It doesn't look like it'll be here for long. Come on!"

Hiccup sighed and Toothless cooed, indicating he agreed with Eret. Finally, Hiccup agreed, and led the way back to land.

...

Suddenly, a crack of lighting struck the sky, and Astrid and Stormfly fell out of the sky. Heather dove towards the trees to try to catch Astrid but she was lost inside.

"Astrid!" Heather screamed. She and Windsheer circled, looking for her in the tree tops. Another gust of wind and another lightning bolt crack, Windsheer led herself and her rider to safety in the clearing.

...

"She what!" Hiccup cried.

"She's in the woods," Heather said to him.

Hiccup headed towards the Great Hall doors. Despite the rain, he was going out to look for his wife.

...

Astrid felt achy all over as she regained her consciousness. Despite feeling the weight of a few blankets and the heat from a fire, she felt somewhat cold. She took in a deep breath to try to relax her mind.

"You are awake," she heard a voice say to her. She recognized it right away. Opening her eyes gently, she saw a blurry version of Cecil sitting beside her. He was soaking a rag in a bucket. "Just relax."

"Hiccup-" his name escaped from her throat.

"Once this storm clears I'll get him," Cecil said to her gently. "You fell from the sky."

"Stormfly-"

"Easy," he said to her gently. "She's fine. Couple of bruises but she's okay. I promise."

Astrid went to sit up but a sudden wave of pain hit her temples. She found herself falling back against the makeshift pillow. Her head throbbed violently. She felt nauseated almost instantly, but the pain in her head was dying down. She felt something cold pressed against her forehead. She could tell she had a pretty good sized bump on her head.

"When this storm clears out, I will take you to Hiccup," he said to her. "But-I wouldn't skimp on seeing Gothi on this one. You fell pretty hard." He head a hand above her head and lazily put up two fingers in front of her face. "How many do you see?"

"I think you are holding up two," Astrid breathed. She wouldn't have been surprised if she cracked a few ribs in the process as well.

"You'll be okay," he said to her. "This storm shouldn't be here much longer. It is already dying down. Would you like something to drink?"

Astrid tried to say she did, but she slipped back into unconsciousness again.

...

"Astrid!" Hiccup called for her. In the middle of the woods, just as night was falling, he could barely see anything in front of him. Only his mother and Toothless were with him, looking with him for her. The others he had sent back onto patrol once the storm began to break and no lightning had been sighted for some time.

"Assssstttttt-riiddddddd!" he called again. He half expected to hear Stormfly squawk but he did not.

"We will find her," Valka said to him. "The woods aren't that big."

"What if she's hurt and can't call for help?" Hiccup said to her. He rubbed his shoulder, partly from nerves-and partly because since the weather had cooled off it was feeling rather stiff.

"We will find her," was all Valka said again. Hiccup was growing rather impatient with her again.

After five more minutes, just as it was becoming almost impossible to see in front of their faces, Toothless sensed someone approaching them. He pushed both Hiccup and Valka back behind him, and stood in front of him.

"Toothless-It's probably Astrid," he said to him. But Toothless didn't let Hiccup pass him.

As the shadow approached, Hiccup noticed Toothless ease up a bit. He knew then it was Cecil. He turned to his mother, who had a look of pure discuss on her face. She had reached for large limb to hold for protection.

"Cecil," Hiccup breathed. "Are you are little far from the cave-"

"You need to come quickly," Cecil said to them. "Astrid's hurt."

Instantly, the three of them hurried toward the cave. It was a good ten minute walk back to the cave. Even though Hiccup pushed for an answer from Cecil, he didn't speak. Even Valka didn't speak. Hiccup knew the tension was growing in the silence. He figured neither spoke because they didn't want to fight in front of him or Astrid.

Once at the cave, Hiccup rushed to Astrid's side. Valka could see Astrid had a big bruise and knot forming on her forehead, and a scratch here and there, but other than that she looked okay.

As Valka went to approach them, Cecil stepped in front of her. Immediately she went to strike him, but he grabbed the branch in her hand. He did not pull it from her grasp. He simply held it and glared at her for a second.

"Give them a moment," he said gently. "She's been calling his name in her sleep."

Valka glared at him. "Where exactly did she fall at?"

"I heard her dragon his the trees about thirty yards from here," he replied back. "I recommend Gothi comes to see her." After a few more seconds of keeping eye contact with Valka, Cecil let go of her branch, turned his back, and stepped aside.

Valka glared at him from where she remained standing. She realized she hadn't taken in a breath for a bit when her chest started to hurt. Cecil made her nervous. But she refused to show it to anyone.

After looking over Astrid, and getting her to sit up, they decided to try to get her back to the village. She swayed, and Hiccup wasn't strong enough to carry her back to the village that far. Sitting on Toothless wasn't an easy task for her either. Her head swayed and she said she felt nauseated. Despite Valka's thoughts, Cecil gently carried her back to the village and up the stairs to the bedroom.

"Mom, would you mind getting Gothi?" Hiccup asked her. The main focus of his attention was watching after her. He laid down beside her and pulled the covers up over her. He had gone into protective mode over her.

Before Valka could quickly fire off and speak her mind, Cecil had already headed towards the door. "I'll fetch her." With that he disappeared out the door.

Valka paused for a moment, staring at the empty doorway for a moment. Cecil had left as quickly as he walked into the bedroom and sat Astrid down. Valka let herself release a breath. That was when she realized she had felt like she was walking on eggshells around Cecil. She knew it was obvious she wasn't trusting him. And he didn't seem to care. If he did, he wasn't wearing it on his sleeve...not like he used to.

I wasn't expecting to do another update tonight but this had been on my mind for the last three weeks it seems. Trying to merge the gap between Cecil and Valka has been hard. But, I think she's getting there.