Chapter XII

We came back to the stall to think. It was almost night when we were sitting in silence lost in our toughts. Suddenly,my dad appeared in the doorway. We jumped and quickly covered up the desk which was filed with drawings of Toothless and Heartbeat.

,, Dad! You're back!".

,,Hello Mr Stoick!".

,,Hello kids." he said not looking at what we were trying to hide.

,, Gobber's not here, so..." I said pushing the sketches onto Rina.

,, I know. I came looking for you." he said. We stopped cleaning.

,,You were?" I asked surprised.

,,Can you give us a minute Rina?" asked my dad.

,,Sure. See you later Hiccup." she said leaving with the sketches.

,, You've been keeping secrets." he said after a small pause. I tought he found out about Toothles and Heartbeat and my legs gave out.

,, Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?" he asked again.

,,I don't know...".

,,Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it." he said giving me a look.

,,Oh?" I asked uncertain.

,, Let's talk about those dragons." and with that said my heart stopped circulating.

,, Oh gods. Dad I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you. I just didn't know how to-" but then he started laughing violently.

,,You're not upset?".

,,What?! I was hoping for this!"

,,Uh...you were?". I wasn't so sure we were talking about the same thing anymore.

,,And believe me, it only gets better! Just wait til you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time. Hiccup's elated expression sinks. And mount your first Gronckle head on a spear. What a feeling!" he said laughing and then I finaly realised he was talking about the arena.

,,You really had me going there, son. All those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen! Odin, it was rough. I almost gave up on you!" I said geting back up on my feet, grimacing in the irony of it all.

,,And all the while, you were holding out on me! Thor almighty! Ahhh. With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about." he said grabbing a stool and sitting. His massive frame nearly filled the tiny room.

Pause. I averted my eyes nervously and dad adjusted, awkwardly clearing his throat.

After a long, uncomfortable silence...

,, Oh, I... brought you something." he said giving me a horned helmet.

,, Wow. Thanks." I said looking over it.

,,Your mother would've wanted you to have it. It's half of her breast plate. Matching set. Keeps her close, y'know?" he said tapping his helmet.

,,Wear it proudly. You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal." he said proudly. I felt realy awful and not because I was holding a half of my mothers breast plate. I didn't know what to say and apparently neither did he.

I squirmed and forced a yawn.

,, I should really get to bed." I said.

,, Well..uh..good night." said dad leaving the room awkwardly, and leaving me with more burdened than ever.

,,What happened? Did he say something?" asked Rina coming back.

,,Not much but I think we're finaly starting to comunicate like a father and son." I said but then remembered his words and how happy he was and that put me in a bad mood.

,,What's that?" she asked looking at the helmet in my hands.

,,You don't want to know.".