Yes, here's your update. No, Astrid's not dead. And she gets to curse a little more.
So, enjoy, and sad to say, this is the second to last full chapter. Or third to last, as there is an epilogue. :D
"...the last time she ate? When's the last time she drank?" Someone was saying in a low voice.
"I dunno," Astrid heard Snotlout say. "She was missing the whole day. First she ran off into the forest and wasn't at breakfast, then she was at the arena for Hiccup's challenge. The rest I don't know."
"Thank you, son." She heard her father's deep voice.
"Mmmm...ow, son-of-a..." She moaned as she moved around in the bed she had been placed in. Her head was pounding and her muscles ached terribly. There was a terrible pain in her side that she wished would just stop, dammit...
"Shhh," A woman's voice quieted her. Cool water flowed into her mouth and soothed a burning throat she hadn't noticed. "There you go."
Slowly, she opened her eyes. She was in a large room, one that stretched away on either side. Curtains surrounded the little bed. She realized that she was in her own house, but that they had gotten a nurse to watch over her. She was a sweet, round woman, who was pouring water from a small pitcher into her open mouth.
Snotlout, Spitelout, and Magnus stood around her bed. "Father?" She blinked away her blurred vision and saw he had a large smile on his face.
"Yes, my dear, it's me." He took one of her hands and held it between both of his. He was comfortingly warm.
"Mmm, what happened?"
"You were in that epic fight with the Queen of Dragons!" Snotlout said excitedly. Comprehension dawned upon her.
"Oh, that's right, of course...but why am I here?"
"Poor child," The nurse said sweetly. "You lost blood. Do you remember what happened?"
She stared up at the ceiling and thought for a moment. The rocks wouldn't have done that much damage...there was the fall, but I wasn't hurt...oh.
"The...the Queen of Dragons...snapped at us, one of the spikes grazed my side and hurt the dragon I rode..."
"Ahh, yes, that explains the scar on your left side." The nurse nodded. "And you have a gash across your stomach."
"She fell repeatedly on the rocks. The Queen was very close to crushing her," Spitelout said, gesturing to her.
"To think, my daughter fought the Mother Dragon!" Magnus said gleefully.
Astrid smiled weakly. Snotlout and Spitelout excused themselves after Magnus thanked them, but not before Snotlout got a good look at her again. Spitelout caught him and smacked him upside the back of his head.
She looked down at her form through the thick blanket. She was completely undressed with no idea as to how she got that way or where her clothing had gone. Quickly, she gathered the blanket to her in an effort to make sure she was completely decent.
Someone with a deep, rumbling voice requested entrance to the little makeshift room.
"Are you decent, dear?" The nurse asked kindly.
"Oh, yes, as decent as I'll be."
The nurse smiled and called for the visitor to enter. Astrid drew the blanket up to her neck as the curtains opened and Stoik walked in. "It's good to see she's awake," He said to her father.
"Oh, yes, it truly is!" He nodded.
"Astrid, I came here to thank you personally." Stoik pulled something out of a pocket in his cape. "You conducted yourself with honor and bravery, something that we value highly in our Vikings. Your sacrifice saved this village and opened our eyes. I believe I speak for all of us here in Berk when I give you this."
He handed her the little package. Inside lay a sliver medal shaped into the graceful figure of a dragon, one of the oldest and most honorable medals a Viking could receive.
She smiled widely and thanked Stoik for the honor. Magnus smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "You don't know how proud I am," He said quietly.
"Thank you, Stoik," Astrid said in awe. She was only fifteen...it seemed impossible that a girl of her age would receive a medal of honor.
"No, thank you. And thank you for helping my son."
"Really, it wasn't anything..."
He shook his head. "It meant everything. Maybe, when he is older, I will be lucky enough to call you daughter."
"Daughter?" She said in disbelief.
He gave a slight hint of a smile. "We'll see, Astrid."
Again, I would love your helpful hints. Maybe something to spice up the next chapter, hmm?