Chapter 6 - Lost at Sea
Hiccup buried his head under his furs trying in vain to ignore the insistent banging on his door. He gave a small sigh of relief when the banging stopped only to let out a startled yelp as the door to his room came crashing open.
He dared to peak over the edge of the furs and came face to face with a very angry Astrid.
"Morning," he said warily.
"Get up," she told him curtly.
Hiccup groaned.
"What have I done this time?" he asked sighing.
"Nothing…it's just….oh just get up will you," Astrid said and slumped into a chair with her arms crossed.
Hiccup swung himself out of bed reaching for his prosthetic as he did so. Sleeping with it on was just too uncomfortable. When he was happy it was securely in place he stood and stretched before going over to sit next to her.
"Come on, out with it," he said making sure to sit a suitable distance away so as not to present an easy target. Astrid looked like she wanted to hit something this morning.
Astrid continued to sit there, her arms crossed, staring at the wall.
"It's nothing…I just didn't sleep very well that's all. Cami kept us talking for most of the night."
"Oh," Hiccup said and looked closer at Astrid.
"What did you talk about that kept you up most of the night?"
Astrid gave him a glare before leaping from her chair and starting to pace the room.
"This and that…it's just….well yesterday was quite intense and…I," she trailed off and stopped to look out of the window.
For all Astrid's belief that Hiccup wasn't good at noticing the signs he could hardly miss them when they were thrown in his face. He stood and walked over to her. Standing behind her he laid his hands gently either side of her arms and started to rub, trying to sooth her. He had a fairly good idea what was on her mind. Yesterdays conversations had revolved around a very central topic, one that he had been avoiding up to now.
"Hey," he said gently. She leaned absently back into him still looking out of the window at the sun that was just starting to rise.
"God I wish I had Stormfly with me. I could really do with a flight right now to clear my head," she said longingly.
He wrapped his long arms around her and kissed her hair.
"I know what you mean, I miss Toothless," he wasn't trying to divert the subject he just didn't think this was the right setting for it.
"Why don't we go for a walk," he suggested.
Astrid turned to him and smiled.
"That's a great idea," she said sounding happy for the first time since coming into his room.
"Ok, turn you're back while I change," and he moved across the room to where his knapsack had been dropped along with his sword.
"Really Hiccup," she said raising an eyebrow at his shyness.
"Look just turn your back ok, I'm nothing special to look at," he said exasperated.
"Oh I don't know," she said with a sly smile but turned around when he glared at her.
Astrid listened to the sounds of rustling fabric behind her and smiled as she watched Hiccup in the polished metal mirror opposite her. Hiccup wasn't the scrawny boy of fifteen any more. His shoulders had filled out nicely with his work as a blacksmith, training and his flying on Toothless and whilst he could not have been described as heavily muscular he had just the right proportions in all the right places to keep her interested. Oh he was special all right, at least to her anyway.
"Ok, you can turn back now," he said as he buckled on his sword belt. Now they had been accepted as guests they were permitted to carry weapons again. Hiccup was glad about this, being unarmed with Alvin and Dagur on the loose was an unsettling feeling.
Astrid turned around and waited for him to join her at the door. As he did so he noticed the mirror.
"Did you…," he started too ask but stopped when he noticed her broad smile. Astrid grabbed his hand and dragged a now furiously blushing Hiccup out of the door.
They moved across the courtyard quickly after stopping briefly to pick up a cloak for Astrid and some bread and cheese for breakfast from the kitchens. They had no particular destination in mind just to explore the temple compound. Astrid was quiet during their wanderings and Hiccup wanted to say something to comfort her. He knew he was now in territory with her that he was uncomfortable with, no that wasn't the right word, terrified was more like it.
They rounded a building and stopped. Before them there was a large lake which looked very similar to the one in the Toothless's cove back home. The early morning sun was making the surface glow with a fiery light. If ever something could be classed as romantic this spot was it.
Making his mind up Hiccup grabbed Astrid's hand and pulled her towards the lakes edge. Once there he took off his cloak and laid it on the ground. He gestured to her to sit which she did. They looked out across the lake for a while in silence before Astrid gave a heavy sigh. Hiccup looked over at her and took a deep breath himself. It was now or never.
"Astrid…", he started to say and she turned towards him.
"Umm," she said absently.
"Astrid…you know I love you….right," he said tentatively.
She smiled and placed her hand on his cheek.
"I know, but it's nice to hear you say it."
He smiled shyly at that.
"Astrid…I would do anything for you."
She kissed him.
"I know, Hero."
He took her hands in his own and looked at the cloak beneath them before taking a large breath.
"Astrid, last night…I didn't answer Cami's question," he felt Astrid grip his hands a little tighter, out of fear or anticipation he wasn't sure. He took another deep breath.
"I want to ask you something first."
"Go on," she said slightly breathless.
"Why me?...I mean why did you choose me? There are so many others to choose from. I'm nothing special."
"Hiccup…," she started to say but he cut her off.
"No let me finish. Astrid you are the most wonderful person I've ever know, I've loved you for as long as I can remember. I would do anything for you but….your a warrior and aside from my title I don't have anything to offer, I'm not at all like a normal Viking."
He took another deep breath.
"I don't deserve you. You deserve someone so much better. I don't want you to do something you will regret," he paused desperately hoping Astrid would speak.
The pause was long and with a sinking feeling in his chest Hiccup started to pull his hands away from hers. He had messed up. Putting his fears out there had been a mistake, had she seen him as weak? He froze as she tightened her grip.
"Hiccup…why would you think that?"
He kept his eyes on the ground.
"Hiccup, I love you…I didn't always realise it but I do love you. I love you so deeply it hurts."
He looked up at her.
"You mean that?" He said desperately.
She kissed him on the lips.
"Yes Hiccup, I mean it."
They continued kissing, more passionately now and it was awhile before they broke apart breathless, their lips swollen.
Hiccup cupped a hand around Astrid's face and took another deep breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.
"Astrid will you…" but he never got to finish his sentence as at that exact moment the mood was broken by the sound of his name being called and running feet.
"HICCUP."
They both started violently and turned to see Sven running over to them looking harassed. He reached them and put his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath.
"Thank Thor…I've found you. Hiccup…your father…is looking…for you," he gasped.
He took longer slower breaths to allow him to speak more clearly.
"You need to come…now."
"What's the urgency?" Hiccup asked in confusion.
Now with his breath back Sven looked at him.
"We've been looking for you all morning. When your father went to your room to get you for this morning's Chief's meeting and found you gone he went into a panic. He's accusing Alvin and Dagur of harming you…I think he's about to declare war."
"Odin's ghost," Hiccup cursed as he leapt to his feet. Astrid did likewise.
"We've got to stop him," Hiccup said and with that set off at speed towards the great hall, Astrid and Sven in tow.
As they rounded the corner of the building they were confronted with a frightening scene. Stoick was facing off against Dagur and Alvin in front of the great halls main doors, all of them with their weapons drawn.
"WHERE'S MY SON," Stoick shouted at the pair.
Dagur sneered at Stoick.
"Don't know and don't care. Good riddance to the little runt."
Stoick snarled and stepped forward. Hiccup took blind action and ran across the yard and placed himself between the three Chiefs.
"DAD NO. STOP," he shouted, standing in front of his father and raising his hands.
Stoick looked at his son in first disbelief and then relief.
"Hiccup, you're safe," he exclaimed, lowering his sword.
"Yeah Dad I'm fine. Care to explain why your about to start a war?" Hiccup said giving his father a dark look.
"I thought…when we couldn't find you…that they…," and he gestured to Dagur and Alvin with his sword. "had done something to you…After last night, I thought that…"
"Dad I was with Astrid. Didn't you think to check if she was missing as well before tearing up the complex and drawing your sword?" Hiccup said exasperated by his father's rash actions.
Stoick had the decency to look ashamed at this and could not fail to notice the disappointment in his son's voice.
"Well said young Hooligan," a voice said from behind them and they all turned to see the Elder standing at the top of the steps looking down on them. She started to descend towards them.
"Your son is quite right Stoick. I am also disappointed in thee for breaking the temples sacred rules. I understand that not all tribes here are willing neighbours and some enmity may exist between you but within these walls you swore to uphold our laws. Whilst we may permit you to carry weapons it is forbidden to draw them, as well you know. This being a test of your willingness to accept peace rather than war. The Hooligan's of all tribes present here should understand this. Was it not your own ancestor that taught us a better way, a peaceful way of showing our devotion to the gods?"
"It was reverend Elder," Stoick said looked ashamed at the floor and accepting the rebuke.
She glared at the group before nodding her head.
"Let us continue then," she said and turned, heading back up the steps.
With a mummer of conversation breaking out now the entertainment was over the crowd climbed the steps behind her.
Dagur and Alvin gave Hiccup and Stoick a final sneer before turning and following, leaving Hiccup alone with his father. Hiccup looked at his father and crossed his arms. Stoick raised his hand.
"I know what you're going to say Hiccup and your right."
Hiccup shook his head.
"Why Dad, why start a fight with Alvin and Dagur and here of all places?" he said exasperated.
"Because I don't trust them," Stoick said stubbornly.
"Well neither do I but that's no reason to…." Hiccup started to say but Stoick cut him off mid sentence.
"….and I care about you too much to risk your life with those two on the loose." Stoick finished.
Hiccup looked a little taken back.
"Y...you do," he said in shock. He had never heard his father say that.
"Of course I do. I admit I might have overreacted but I'm not going to let those two harm you."
Hiccup laid a hand on his father's arm genuinely touched. It was the closest Hiccup had every heard his father come to saying 'I love you' and it meant a lot to him.
"Thanks Dad."
They stood there for a while in awkward silence before they heard a polite cough behind them. They both turned to see a misty eyed Astrid standing there.
"Shouldn't you both be somewhere," she said politely.
Hiccup nodded and turned back to his father.
"Look Dad the Whale will be here later on today. Let's put those two out of our minds for now. They can't do anything to me within the temple walls and they know it. We've only got to put up with them for a few more days and then we can be on our way back to Berk."
"Your right son," Stoick agreed nodding and the three of them climbed the steps and made their way to the main hall.
After several hours of listening to the Chiefs talking and arguing over trivial and mundane subjects the only word Hiccup could think of that summed up the meeting of the Chiefs was 'boring'. He tried to stifle a yawn as another of the Chiefs stood. They were gradually moving around the table each Chief standing in turn to raise a subject but after several hours they weren't even halfway round. None of the subjects were particularly interesting and Hiccups attention had wandered rapidly. He wasn't the only one struggling. He watched as Camicazi's head drooped and she received a hefty elbow to the ribs from her mother. Thuggory wasn't fairing much better, he seemed to be staring hard at something trying to stay awake. Hiccup had been quite prepared to give the meeting his full attention, to set a good example and make his father proud but he was fighting a losing battle. He started as he received his own elbow wake up from his father who looked at him with a scowl. Hiccup sat up straighter and tried his hardest to pay attention.
After several more hours of tedious talk there had finally come a much needed respite for food and drink. Hiccup had been quickly despatched, being smaller and lighter, to squeeze through the crowd to the food table to get food for his father and himself. He now carefully wound his way back carrying a plate of bread, cheese and meat. He made his way safely to where his father was seated and sat down beside him holding out the plate.
"Well done Hiccup, it's always best to get in there first," Stoick said smiling.
"So what did you think?" Stoick asked as he grabbed a hunk of chicken from the plate and bit into it.
Hiccup was silent for a moment. He didn't want to be insulting but he didn't think he could hide how boring he had found it. After all he had received several pokes and elbows during the meeting.
"Well…..it was an experience," he said tactfully.
His father finished chewing and looked at him.
"That boring huh," he said knowingly.
Hiccup looked a little awkward but decided honesty was the best policy.
"Yeah, it was, sorry," he said apologetically.
"Nothing to apologise for, I know it's not the most interesting part of the event but its tradition," Stoick agreed with a shrug.
Hiccup smiled and reached towards the plate himself picking up a piece of cheese. He took a hungry bite and looked around, he couldn't see Astrid anywhere.
"Dad, do you know where Astrid is?" He asked turning back to his father.
"Aye I do. I sent her to the beach to watch for Gobber. The other boats should be here soon," Stoick said taking another bite from the chicken.
Hiccup felt a little disappointed that she wasn't there but pleased none the less that she had been given a job to do. Astrid didn't take well to be being bored, it normally resulted in things getting hit or smashed with an axe.
"Hiccup...," Stoick said getting Hiccups attention.
"Hiccup...look I know it's none of my business son...well it is...but...well have you thought about moving onto the next step with that girl? I can see you are both happy together."
Hiccup groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew where this was going.
"Look son she's not going to wait forever and if you let her get away, well it's going to be your own fault."
Hiccup looked at his father and sighed.
"You're the second person to tell me that. Look I love her, I want to be with her, I want to marry her and I was about to ask her this morning but...well...I got interrupted."
"Oh...Sorry," Stoick said guiltily realising now that was the reason both Hiccup and Astrid had been missing that morning.
There was an awkward silence between the pair. Desperate to change the subject Hiccup decided to ask his father something he had been wondering about since that morning.
"Dad, why did the Elder say that the Hooligans of all tribes should understand peace more then the others? What did we do?" He asked.
Stoick looked relieved at the change of subject.
"Well the battles and sacrifices between tribes at the 'Time of Offering' became so bloody that the fighting spread. Something had to be changed. All the tribes met under a banner of truce to decide what to do but it was difficult to resolve. We had been doing it this way for so long and the Gods required a sacrifice each year to keep them appeased. No one wanted to upset the Gods. It was our ancestor Hamish I that suggested the alternative. He put forward the idea that each of the tribes should make sacrifice in turn but not necessarily of their own blood. He suggested that each tribe should choose something precious to them, land, shelter, crops, animals, clean water, plunder and bring it for sacrifice to the gods each year. At first the tribes were sceptical that this would appease the Gods but for the sake of peace it was agreed."
"So there were no more…human sacrifices?" Hiccup asked tentatively.
Stoick sighed.
"No not quite, it took a while for all of the tribes to come around to Hamish's proposal but thankfully the practice of human sacrifice fell out of use. In fact the whole event became more of a festival rather than a ritual as the years moved on. Each of the tribes would bring more and more offerings to the temple trying to outdo each other. It's now become an annual competition to see who can please the gods the most to gain their favour. And of course the Hooligan tribe has been the best for as long as I can remember. Hamish saved many lives that day."
Stoick turned to look at his son.
"In fact he was very much like you Hiccup. You saved many lives the day you showed us that we could have a peaceful coexistence with dragons," he said this whilst smiling broadly and clapped Hiccup on the shoulder with pride.
Hiccup rubbed his shoulder with a grimace but smiled at his father, happy at the complement.
"Your father is quite correct young Hiccup," a voice behind him said and Hiccup turned to find himself face to face with the Elder, she smiled at him.
"You are indeed a child of peace. You only fight when it is necessary and seek a peaceful option where others would make war. Your future as Chief seems bright. You and your tribe are indeed lucky to have this boy Stoick, he is blessed by the gods," she praised Hiccup.
Stoick inclined his head in thanks.
"I know reverend Elder," he said, his voice bursting with pride.
"It is time to reconvene," she said turning to move back towards the table.
"We will be watching your progress closely young Hooligan," and with that left them for her position at the head of the table.
Hiccup turned to his father in shock. Stoick stood and beamed at his son.
"Ready for round two?" He said and Hiccup nodded. Right now he was ready for anything.
They retook their positions and looked towards the head of the table where the Elder now stood.
"It is time to recommence our discussions. Who will be the next to address this council?" she asked looking towards the opposite end of the table.
Everyone turned to look and Hiccup caught his breath when he saw Dagur stand.
"Reverend Elder and honoured Chief's I wish to bring a point to this council that requires your approval. When I arrived on this island I brought with me someone who you all know well. He knows that he is currently unwelcome owing to his previous behaviour but he has expressed a wish to repent and to be one of us once again," he said.
Hiccup pulled a face of disgust and disbelief at this. He wasn't the only one, others murmured their disbelief around the table or shook their heads. Dagur continued, raising his hand to accept the dissent.
"Now I was like you at first. When Alvin first came to me to ask for my help I to felt that his betrayal his sacrilege of this very temple was without forgiveness. However I was moved by his sincerity and began to gradually realise that he truly did wish to seek forgiveness from us all. He showed that he had considered this a great deal and came prepared with the necessary offerings. I was moved by his need to repent and so I agreed to bring him to this council and state his case to you."
Dagur paused and looked around the room. Hiccup and his father glared back at him as did several others including Mogadon, Thuggory, Bertha and Camicazi. Dagur ignored them and continued.
"My dear father Oswald the Agreeable taught me that as a Chief you must learn to forgive those that truly wish to repent. I believe that Alvin has shown to me that he is sorry for his past behaviour that he wishes to make amends. I therefore propose to this council that he should be given a second chance a chance to prove to you that both he and his tribe have changed for the better." Dagur stopped and looked at the Elder.
The Elders face was unreadable but Hiccup suspected that she was not happy about the proposal. However it seemed that without a good reason to reject the proposal she had no choice but to put it to the vote and addressed the council.
"Those in favour in accepting Alvin and his Outcasts, formerly the 'Hysterics', to rejoin this council raise their hands. Know however that in doing so you accept Alvin as a brother Chief once again and give him the same rights as you yourselves," she said looking around the room at each Chief.
One by one there were hands starting to be raised around the room. Some kept theirs firmly on the table or under it in the case of Hiccup and Stoick. Hiccup hoped that the votes of no would out weigh the yes's. His heart sank as a quick count up told him that Alvin had been accepted if only by a slim margin. The Elder was counting as well and seemed visual unhappy about the result.
"It would seem that by a narrow margin your fellow Chiefs have voted to once again accept you. However pay heed, Alvin of the Hysterics this is a close vote, not all here accept you back willingly. You will therefore need to do much to gain their trust once again."
Alvin stood.
"Ar thank you all for this chance to prove myself and my tribe once again. We only want to make peace now not war," and with this brief acceptance speech he sat down again amongst a smattering of murmured satisfaction.
In appearance Alvin seemed genuine but Hiccup caught the look he threw Dagur. It was not one of gratitude or relief after winning such a critical vote but instead a look of manic triumph. Sensing he was being watched Alvin turned and looked directly at Hiccup across the table and gave him a sneer. Hiccups clenched his fists and purposely turned away. Alvin and Dagur may have convinced some of the Chiefs that he was sincere but he couldn't fool Hiccup. Alvin and Dagur were up to something and he desperately wanted to know what. Whatever it was he had a horrible feeling it would mean trouble.
The elder had just indicated for the next Chief to stand when there was the sound of raised voices from the other side of the main door.
"Look you have to let me in, it's urgent. I need to see my Chief," a muffled female voice could be heard and Hiccup recognised it at once as Astrid's
"I'm sorry miss I can't let you in. Only the Chief's and their heirs are allowed into this room while the council is in session," a guard could be heard to say politely but firmly.
"If you don't move out of my way I'm going to kick you out of the way. I have to see my Chief."
The commotion was starting to attract attention and the Elder was giving both Stoick and Hiccup a meaningful look that said in volumes 'go sort that out'.
Hiccup quickly got up from his seat as the meeting recommenced and trying to keep a low profile, with difficulty, he quickly made it to the door, opened it and dove through it closing it quietly behind him.
He turned and was greeted with the sight of a rather irate Astrid having a stand off with one of the guards in yellow robes.
"Hiccup…," she started to say before he quickly grabbed her arm and moved her away from the door with a murmured apology to the guard.
"Astrid, what in Odin's name has got into you? You know the meeting can't be disturbed unless it's for a good reason," he said this slightly exasperated. He just couldn't understand Astrid's behaviour.
"Hiccup, the other boats have arrived."
He shook his head in disbelief he couldn't believe she had disturbed the meeting for this of all things.
"Astrid, that's not sufficient reason to disturb the meeting. It can wait till afterwards."
"No Hiccup you don't understand," she said and he suddenly noticed the note of panic in her voice.
"What is it?" He said suddenly concerned.
"The boats have arrived…..but….the Blue Whale isn't with them," she said slowly.
Hiccup was a little slow to realise what she was saying.
"What do you mean it isn't with them?"
"Hiccup….it was lost…..at sea…the boats were attacked by wild dragons when they passed through the fog and the storm."
Hiccup looked at her in shock.
"What happened to the crew…is Gobber?" He asked fear rising in him.
She shook her head.
"No, they were rescued by the other boats but they are also badly damaged. They barely made it here at all."
She grabbed his shoulders firmly.
"Hiccup do you know what this means?"
He gave her a blank expression still trying to comprehend what she had just told him.
"We don't have anything to offer the Gods…..with out an offering…." she said trailing off.
Hiccup looked at her in fear, finally realising what she had been trying to tell him. Without an offering to the Gods the Hooligans would be outcast. The other tribes would be free to declare war on them. If they didn't come up with something before the end of the offering period it would be end for them all.