Thankee, mi frieundlees. This has been an adventure for all of us, me included. And now, we reach the end. The story will continue in Firesoul. And, finally, thississa bigga fullstop.
Epilogue
Three weeks later, all was calm as Astrid contemplated that victorious morning.
Flames had licked the horizon as Drago's boats sailed out on the waves. Drago's dead had been laid out on the decks and the boats lit from afar. No matter how dishonourably they had fought, they still deserved a proper Viking funeral. Mulch had been given a hero's send-off; Bucket had led the archers and spoken the traditional words. It was the most serious she had ever heard the man sound.
She suddenly sat up straight. There was something she had forgotten to do that day. She left the house, passing her snoozing Nadder, and located Toffa's house. She knocked and cautiously stepped inside.
There was a fire blazing in the hearth, and Toffa was seated in front of it, sewing together a large pelt for a cloak. Astrid cleared her throat and the seamstress turned around.
"Astrid! How nice to see you! You haven't gotten Mad Yak Disease since I last saw you, have you?"
There was no response to that. Toffa grinned.
"I thought not. Still, you have to check. Sit down!"
Astrid sat gingerly beside Toffa.
"I forgot to say thank you," she said. "You saved me that day. Thank you for helping me."
The seamstress set down the furs.
"You know, something that everyone seems to have forgotten is that Gothi is my great-aunt."
"What has that got to do with anything?" Astrid asked, in spite of herself.
"She once told me, when I was a little girl, that there would come a day where a hiccup of a child would be brought to me to help mother after his own mother was lost to him. She said that this boy would play an important part in Berk's fate and that I had to do anything I could to help him and keep him safe. At the time, I was thinking something along the lines of Ew, being a mother to someone else's kid? But all things considered, I think she was right. Of course, she always is, which makes for very boring bets with her. Gave them up years ago. Hiccup is a remarkable boy, and he wouldn't have given his heart to you unless he was confident you were a kindred spirit, somewhere on the inside. So who would I be kidding if I told myself you weren't just as important as he was? You'll be known for many, many years into the future, Astrid. We only get one life. You've been lucky enough to be graced with a wondrous fate. Make sure you fulfil it."
Astrid nodded, unsure of what to say, and left the house. When she was almost back to her house she looked down and realised there was a golden length of string around her wrist. She wasn't quite sure how it had gotten there, but when she looked at it, it sent a tingle up her spine. She looked towards the skies.
We only get one life. Toffa had said.
So I'm going to live it, she thought. Ignoring the rapidly setting sun, she walked up the hill to Hiccup's house and knocked on the door. He opened it and smiled.
"Wait a second," he said, and vanished from sight before returning with what appeared to be a carved piece of ice on a string.
"It's Bewilderbeast ice," he said. "It never melts, unless a dragon breathes fire directly on it."
Astrid stepped inside and wrapped her arms around the young Viking.
"I have a present for you too," she said, and closed the door behind her.