The Viking send offs were the next day and Astrid cried in Hiccup's frail little six year old arms. They watched as the fire tipped arrows shot through the sky and landed on the two chained together pyres They stood there for hours after everyone had gone home. Eventually Hiccup eased himself and her onto the sand. Hours later on the beach he was watching a sleeping Astrid. The poor girl had cried herself into incoherence.
He sat there and let his anger boil. It was those dang dragons that caused her so much pain, that killed her parents, that made her cry. He never wanted to see that face again. So twisted in agony. It almost brought him to tears. No, but no. He wouldn't cry he couldn't cry for Astrid's sake he he wouldn't. As long as he lived she would never cry again. He vowed then and there that no dragon would ever hurt Astrid again. He swore on his life she would never cry again and if she did he would destroy the very thing that caused her pain.
Eventually Hiccup fell asleep himself lulled by the gentle waves and the setting sun.
Sometime in the night a little woman got tired of looking at the beach on a not so little hill/mountain hobbled down to a very large chief's house and knocked on the door with her staff. A time later Stoick the Vast opened the door and looked around until his eyes landed on the old lady. He immediately straightened and said,"Well hello there Gothi! What do I owe this pleasure?","Cut the crap Stoick!", her old voice not used in years scared Stoick the point of paleness.
"Hey Stoick, who's at the do-",he cut himself off when he saw old lady. "Uuh, Gothi nice to see you?", Gobber fumbled.
"Stoick-", Gothi tried,but was cut off by a gasp. She looked at Gobber and whacked him over the head."Stoick, where are Hiccup and Astrid?", she questioned calmly. "Hiccup's in his room and I don't know where the Hofferson child is.",he answered."Ooh Valka why on earth did you leave him here.",she muttered bitterly. "What'd you say Gothi?","Ooh nothing. Are you sure Hiccup's in his room?",she asked again."Yes Gothi I'm sure.",Stoick said a tad annoyed.
Gothi snapped she brushed past the two men and muttered",Only fools are sure." and stomped up the stairs. She swung the door inward and let it bang on the wall.
All three of them looked around the room. The bed was made perfectly not slept in. Although papers were strewn everywhere on the floor and little wooden models of things and every thing on his Hiccup sized desk was all jumbled in a pile. The lone trunk at the end of the bed was spilling with clothes of every shade of green imaginable. To be honest it didn't look like a five year old room it looked like a mad scientist's workshop. Messy to the ordinary eyes but perfect in it's creators. And yet no little mad genius to be seen.
Gobber walked further into the room and started to examine the wooden models and the drawings. Gothi shrugged expecting as much. And Stoick paled,"Hiccup?",he asked panicked.
"Calm child, follow me.", she said, they followed her, although Gobber was reluctant to leave.
She led them out of the house, down the hill, threw the plaza, and across the village until they got to the beach. Stoick eyes widened at the sight. There Hiccup was sound asleep with a tiny Astrid curled at his side. His arms wrapped around her protectively. "Hiccup... ",Stoick whispered. Gothi walked forward as if it we're normal. She stood next to them for time before she looked up at the two Viking men." Are you two going to stand there or are you going to help me?",she asked plainly. The two hobble over to them. Stoick shook Hiccup which resulted in him getting whacked over the head with Gothi's staff and Hiccup lazily opening his eyes and mumbling a bit and going back to sleep.
"Don't wake them up!", she whisper shouted at them. "Pick them up but make sure they stay asleep, and follow me.", she finished. Stoick picked them up as gently as possible for a Viking and followed Gothi. Gobber toddled behind them. She led them through the village and up to her home.
Gothi led them in and pointed at an empty cot pushed headboard first against the wall. "Ok Gothi, enough with the games can me and my son go home now?", the ever charming Stoick bellowed,"Hey don't forget me,",said Gobber",my house burn down!",he finished."Shhhh...",she commanded them. They silenced."Listen to me Stoick, the girl is suffering. She has just lost her parents her only family on Berk to the dragons. Hiccup has decided to take on the burden of consoling and giving her a shoulder to cry on. He doesn't realize that she need's more than a friend. She need's a family Stoick and that's where you step in."
"What do you mean?", Stoick asked generally confused. Gothi and Gobber sighed. "Chief it's obvious. The girl is homeless she needs to be around familiars like Hiccup and what better way than you adopting her.",Gothi explained. Realization dawned on him and he stared wide eyes at Gothi. "I can't do that Gothi.", he said matter a factly."Why by Oden not?", she asked."I can't take care of that little girl."
"Yes you can you must."
"I'm not going to Gothi."
"You will"
"I can't!"
"Why!",she snapped back
"Because I can barely take care of Hiccup as it is! I know it's not him who makes it difficult, but I don't know where I went wrong. I literally can't take care of another child.",Stoick finally answered truthfully.
To be honest Gothi was more than stunned. She never expected him to respond like this. Anger and denial, but fear and doubt of his parenting skills was all new. She was happy he let it out. Then an idea struck her,"Alright Stoick how about this, I will take care of Astrid until she calms down and if she still needs Hiccup he can come over. If she starts to show signs of loneliness here she goes home with Hiccup the same night she shows sadness over not being close to her only "family", so to speak.",Gothi breathed.
Stoick blinked, he had just poured his heart out to the old woman and she still insisted he take in the Hofferson girl under still to be defined outcomes. Gobber nudged his shoulder and he looked at his brother in arms, Gobber nodded and Stoick blinked.
He turned around,"Alright Gothi I except.",he said a little more than defeated. The old woman smiled.
"Can I take my son home now?", Stoick asked in a small voice" You can try!", she said a jingle in her voice and a smirk on her lips. Stoick whirled an eyebrow and went over to the still sleeping children. Her took Hiccup's little arm and tried to pry it from around the litter Astrid. "Naahh...",the little Hiccup crawled still fast asleep. He then tightened his grip on Astrid and she snuggled closer. Stoick's eyes widened Gobber smiled knowingly at the pair. Gothi let the bottom of the staff drop on the floor drawing Stoick's attention. She motion for the door and the Vikings followed. When Gothi shut the door she began to laugh so much so that she leaning on her staff for support. Gobber was grinning like a maniac and Stoick was generally confused.
Gothi drew in a large breath and spoke,"Well boys, I'll see you.",Bye Gothi!", Gobber said cheerfully and started for the Chief's house. Stoick stared at the back if Gothi dumbfounded.
"Stoick you comin'? Hiccup's in good hands and so is Astrid!",Gobber hollered over . Stoick shook out of his trance and followed the peglegged man to his home all the way thinking about the Hofferson girl.