Chapter 7

Gobber reached out for the door and pulled it open slowly. "What exactly are we doing here?" Hiccup asked nervously. Gobber sighed and hung his head.

"He's not doing well Hiccup," Gobber said, "We think it could be any minute now."

"Any minute now until what?" Hiccup yelled. Astrid took his hand and squeezed it, but he shook her way. "What is happening?"

"His shot wound became infected Hiccup," Gobber said, "We have never seen a wound or infection like this before. There's nothing we can do." Hiccup's eyes widened and he looked around confused.

"What do you mean there's nothing you can do?" he yelled at Gobber, "There must be something you can do! You're not going to just let him die!"

"Hiccup," Astrid snapped. She took his hand again, "Come on." She pulled him into the room and Gobber closed the door.

"You have to say goodbye to him," Astrid whispered but Hiccup shook his head.

"I can't Astrid," he stuttered, "I can't do this."

"You have to," she said. Hiccup didn't move, so Astrid gave him a little shove toward the bed where his father was laying. Astrid stepped outside to give them some privacy.

Hiccup stood a few feet from the bed, unable to move closer to the broken man that was now his father. He tried to swallow but there was a large lump in his throat. "Dad," he whispered. His father stirred slightly.

"Hiccup," he whispered and Hiccup forced a smile and a nod, "Is the navy gone?" Hiccup nodded again.

"Yes," he whispered, "The dragons came to help. The navy is all gone."

"Good," Stoic said, "You'll make a fine chief." Tears welled up in Hiccup's eyes as he smiled at his father. "You and Astrid will rule over this island well. Better than I ever did." Hiccup took his hand in his and his father smiled at him.

"I love you dad," Hiccup whispered.

"I love you too son," he said, "Don't worry about me Hiccup. I get to see your mother again and I know it's your time to be chief now. I couldn't be prouder of you." Hiccup lowered his head onto his father's hand and cried.

Outside others had gathered outside Gobber's workshop after hearing the news. Hiccup was sitting on the back porch alone. "Hey," Astrid said from behind him. Hiccup didn't move or say anything back to her. "You okay?"

"Not really," he said. Astrid sat down next to him.

"I know," she said, "That was a stupid question. I don't know what else to say." Hiccup said nothing for a moment before turning towards her.

"Its my fault," he said, "I watched that soldier shoot him and I didn't do anything."

"It is not your fault," Astrid said, "What would you have done? Jumped in front of him and gotten shot yourself? While that may have saved your father, you would be the one who was dead and we would have never gotten the British off the island. We would have lost our home. Don't think it's your fault. There's nothing you could have done."

"I'd rather him be here now then me," he said.

"He would have never forgiven himself if you died for him," she said, "He would have lived miserably and we would have all eventually been killed by the British. Besides, I'm glad you're still here."

"If its not my fault then why do I feel like this is eating away at me?" he asked. Astrid looked at him sadly.

"Because," she said, "Whether it was your fault or not doesn't make it any less horrible. Your father would not want you to dwell on this. You're chief now and he knows that you are going to be a great leader for all of us. That's the Hiccup he wants to see." Hiccup smiled at her slightly. Astrid pulled him in close to her and kissed his head, "Everything will be fine, eventually."

The next day was Stoic's burial. He was buried up on the highest hill on the island, alongside the chiefs from the past 300 years. All Hiccup could think about as they lowered his father's body into the ground is how he would some day be buried right next to him. Astrid held his hand as they began to pile dirt into the hole, and Hiccup saw his father for the last time.

Directly after the burial would be Hiccup's recognition as chief of the tribe and he was nervous. While Astrid and his father had faith in him, he knew that he had just been ridiculously lucky in the past and was unsure how he would handle everyday matters. As they descended from the hill, he and Astrid were silent. The reached the main hut and while the others filed into the seating around the center, Hiccup stepped into the center of the room and faced the elder of Berk.

Once everyone was seated and quiet, the elder put her hands up in the air and started the ritual chant. The other Vikings chanted along with her as Hiccup stared at the ground.

When the chant was over the elder picked up the hat and belt that were next to her. Hiccup recognized the belt to be his fathers and the horns from his hat. He knelt as the elder approached him. She placed the hat on his head and the belt around his waist. He rose slowly and looked out at the crowd with a grim expression.

"Chief," the elder proclaimed. The crowd cheered, but Hiccup remained still as the crowd began to file out of their seats and toward him to congratulate him. But before they reached him, he felt a warm, familiar hand encroach his and pull him out the back door, unnoticed.

"I thought you might want to avoid all that," Astrid said as she and Hiccup made their way up to what was left of Hiccup's house.

"Thanks," he said and squeezed her hand. "I can deal with the chief stuff in the morning." Astrid nodded as they reached his front door.

"Well," she said, "Goodnight." She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before turning away.

"Wait," Hiccup said. Astrid turned back to face him again. Hiccup pulled her in for a real kiss. She smiled at him when they broke apart. "Stay with me," Hiccup whispered, Astrid nodded as he pulled her in again for a harder and longer kiss.