Chapter Thirteen

A/N: If you haven't noticed...I really like Gobber. XD

In response to...

XxPinkMustachexX: Yeah, probably not. XD

The Wolf Raven: I'm glad it's better than you'd expected :)

Yondaime Namikaze: Me too, I like small class sizes. And yay! I'm glad you liked the chapter & found the people in-character. Good ol' Gobber, jumping kids in the alley! XD And as I've said before, I love long reviews! So no worries :D

Jo: Ha! XD Yes it did, Jo. Yes it did.

Gobber tries his hardest to act casual as the soldier barges inside. He isn't even sure Hiccup has had enough time to hide yet. If not... He tries not to think about what the guard will do if he catches his friend's son. Instead, the Blacksmith avoids staring at the door his young apprentice disappeared through a moment ago. The door to his workshop is still slightly ajar.

Hiccup can hear the soldier approaching. His hands shake violently as he tries to hold still, not wanting to slip and make a sound that would draw attention to his already precarious position. Pressing his lips together to muffle his rapid gasps, he squeezes his eyes closed too. Please don't see me...please don't see me...! He silently begs. Please...just walk away...! Don't come in here...!

But despite his pleads, the workshop door swings open and a heavily armed guard comes slinking in. His sword is drawn, glinting in the dim light. The man looks back and forth, bending over to glance under the desk and even throwing open the wardrobe in the corner... Thankfully, he comes up empty.

Hiccup can see Gobber watching him with a nervous expression. It seems the Blacksmith hasn't noticed Hiccup's hiding place either yet... Maybe it's better than he'd anticipated. Which works just fine for him. Although it is getting quite difficult to stay like this...and the fact that his arms and legs are trembling with exhaustion now doesn't help either. Come on! Leave already! He urges. I can't stay up here forever!

At that moment, as if he'd heard the boy's thoughts, the guard straightens and turns to Gobber. "Looks like it's all clear." He offers a curt nod and strides out of the room.

Almost as soon as he closes the shop's door, one of Hiccup's tired arms give out and he tumbles onto the floor, landing heavily from where he'd been perched in the low rafters overhead with a pained "OOF!" The teen rolls onto his back and tries to steady himself. His whole body feels shaky now.

That's when Gobber walks over, looming above the boy with a flabbergasted expression. "Where were you?!" He demands, obviously curious.

"Rafters..." Hiccup pants without even trying to sit up.

"Wha...? How?"

The boy grins weakly. "Hey, when you're the shortest Viking in town, you learn how to improvise..."

Of course, his mentor only chuckles and leans down to help the poor kid up. Hiccup takes his hand with a mutter of thanks and tugs himself to his feet, wobbling for a moment before regaining his balance.

"So...what now?" Hiccup asks quietly.

"It's too dangerous to go outside now. Especially since they're on high-alert for you at the moment." Gobber tells him. "But they've already checked this place out so it should be safe enough. You can stay here tonight."

Hiccup grimaces. "Are you sure...? What if they come back...? You'll get in trouble for hiding me."

But the Blacksmith only snorts. "You act like I'm afraid of them or something! Listen, lad. I stood with your father in that fight until it became obvious we couldn't win. I plan to stand with you, too. Even if it causes trouble..."

He...isn't entirely sure what to say. That kind of undying loyalty...he feels he doesn't deserve it. Not after all the things he could have done to avoid this situation. It's...it's his fault this all happened. If he hadn't gotten caught by Ymir, his father wouldn't have had to give up...

And apparently, all that guilt shows on his face. Because suddenly, Gobber places a rough, calloused hand on his apprentice's shoulder. When Hiccup looks up from the space between his feet, he finds Gobber is still smiling.

"You can do this, lad." He assures him. "And I'll have your back the entire time. Remember, you've done more impossible things than save a few Vikings..."

Hiccup hesitates, still reluctant. But, really...what other choice does he have? Right now, he and Gobber are the only ones willing to stand up to Ymir. And...after all...maybe Gobber isn't wrong. Maybe...maybe Hiccup really can do this.

So with a little nervous smile, Hiccup nods. "Alright...what do we have to do?" He asks.

The Blacksmith chuckles and releases his shoulder with such gusto that it nearly knocks him off his feet. "Atta boy!" He laughs. "But we can work on a plan in the morning. Right now, it's late. Get some rest... Thor knows we're going to need it tomorrow..."

Hiccup watches him hobble out of the workshop and over to the fireplace, where he flops down onto the stool and continues tending the fire, scraping the coals around with the tip of his hook, which he blows on to cool down.

The boy's smile fades and quietly closes the door, sinking down onto the cot in the far corner. As he lays down, he marvels at how badly his limbs ache. From the strain of escaping the prison, to hiding in the rafters...he's had a terrible night. It's no wonder the threat of sleep is already jabbing its way into his consciousness.

He rolls onto his side, closing his eyes...just as he's done a hundred times before in this cot. The very bed that his father made Gobber drag in here when Hiccup had fallen asleep one too many times at his desk. He remembers endless hours of sketching new ideas for Toothless's tail, so late into the night that he couldn't bear the thought of walking all the way home. So instead, he and his dragon would curl up here in his workshop to sleep.

Toothless... Once again, he finds himself fretting over the well-being of his best friend. What if he's hurt? Or...or worse? Who knows what Ymir has planned for the dragons? Only one thought is demented enough to almost make that idea fade into the background. When I wake up tomorrow...I'll only have one more day to save my dad. And if I make a mistake...the whole village will pay the price.

He frowns, a pang going through his chest at the thought of letting everyone down. Hiccup pulls his legs up to his chest and buries his face in his arms. He vaguely realizes this is the same way he used to sleep when he was little... Those few years after his mother- Stop. He scolds himself. He doesn't need to think about such upsetting things, especially right now... I'm not going to mess up. I will save everyone... Now that I have Gobber's help, I know I can... Just...just go to sleep. Things will be better in the morning.

So the trouble boy drifts off into a dreamless sleep, momentarily comforted by his own assurances.

If only he knew how much worse things would when he next woke...