Chapter 2

Astrid was downstairs sitting in the chair bouncing her leg and staring at the fire pit in front of her. Stoick was pacing the floor. Toothless was lying down on the other side of the fire pit thumping his tail up and down, his gaze never leaving the door to the room above. They were all waiting for the healer to come down and confirm what they already knew- Hiccup was blind. She had been up there for sometime-did it take this long to acknowledge that Hiccup couldn't see? Astrid just stared ferociously at the fire pit in front of her. A thousand questions were going through her mind: Is this permanent? What does this mean for his future as chief? Since Hiccup can't fly Toothless, how will they get him to fly? What will happen to the dragon academy? If Hiccup gets captured by Alvin, will they kill him since he's now useless? Hiccup's not useless, not anymore, no! – He never was and he still has that marvelously configured brain….but how will he help us when he can't see the situation? Astrid thought back to when Hiccup saved them all, slaying the mighty beast and losing his leg. Everything happens to Hiccup-why?Suddenly, everyone stopped and all eyes went to the bedroom door that slowly opened and a middle aged woman exited. She had very freckly skin and faded red hair that was going gray. A bag was hanging over one shoulder with the strap diagonally across her chest and carried a staff. Slowly the woman made her way down the stairs. Astrid quickly stood up next to Stoick both intensely watching her every move. The healer first addressed the black dragon.

"You can go up but be careful with him." Toothless crept up the stairs and entered Hiccup's room. The healer stood before Astrid and Stoick and just stared at them. It seemed nothing needed to be said. The question now was how to deal with the matter at hand. Finally the woman spoke. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you that Hiccup is blind, obviously from his hit in the head. This does pose a great problem however and many things will have to be done to treat it. I suggest you move his bed downstairs, make it easier for him to get around. He will constantly need help; the dragon may be a constellation but I'm sure Toothless will listen and obey Hiccup so I suggest human help and supervision. I know you're busy chiefin' Stoick so maybe Astrid can watch him." Two pairs of eyes focused on the said girl. Astrid tried to keep herself from blushing and maintain a solid face. All she could do was quickly nod in hopes the conversation would move on. "You should also know that he will be suffering mentally and psychologically. It's not easy for someone to suddenly lose their sight and adjust to their new life. It comes with dependence. And it's not easy for anyone to be independent one day and dependent the next. He will fight back and insist on doing things himself but just comfort him. Let him try and maybe help him without letting him know. Overall, I can't say exactly how he will respond to this but try to picture yourself in his shoes and how you would react. Lastly Stoick, I would tell something to the village; give them a head's up." Those words made Astrid cringe in remembrance. Stoick just nodded. "I told him to not move until one of you came up. If you need anything you know where to find me." The healer moved towards the door to leave.

"Do you know if this will be…. permanent?" Astrid asked just catching the healer before exiting, standing in the doorway.

"No, I don't and I hope not. All we can do is pray that he will get his sight back."And with that the healer closed the door and left. The two just stood there for a moment, letting the whole situation sink in.

"I'm gonna…" Stoick started to break the silence, "I'm gonna let the village know. Gobber and I will be back later to move the bed." Astrid just nodded and then Stoick left. She didn't know how long she stood there after the chief left. I probably had been a while. Her thoughts were swimming; she felt lost. Finally she headed upstairs. Astrid stopped in the doorway and looked at Hiccup. He was sitting on the bed, his head was turned towards the door as if he was trying to see who was coming in; Toothless was next to him with his head in Hiccup's lap. It hurt Astrid to see his cloudy eyes knowing that it meant he couldn't see her.

"Who's there?" It was Hiccup's question that alerted Astrid that she must have stood there awhile. She didn't mean to hurt him like that; by teasing him at a 'guess who' game.

"It's just me." Astrid walked forward and sat on the bed next to Hiccup. He didn't move. They sat there like that. Time seemed to stretch. She wasn't quite sure what to do, or what to say. Should she act like nothing happened and just continue with how life used to be? Or should she pamper to his every need? Finally she got an idea. "Would you like something to eat? I'm sure you're hungry."

"Nah, I'm good." As soon as Hiccup answered his stomach growled. Astrid chuckled.

"Yeah right. Come on, I'll go fix you something to eat." She grabbed his wrist and pulled him off the bed. Astrid helped him downstairs and sat him in a chair. Toothless, of course had followed them and sat next to his rider. She then headed over to the kitchen area at the back of the house and began to cook. She kept looking over to him sitting motionless in the chair, quiet. How could she get him to interact? "Hey do you know where the pot is?"

"Yeah," Hiccup stood up and began to walk over to the kitchen "it's in the-" he tripped over a near-by firewood pile; Toothless though quickly noticed and stuck his head underneath Hiccup to break his fall. Astrid was frozen. She watched as he scratched Toothless behind the ears as a silent thank you. The dragon helped him stand and stayed by his side guiding him to the kitchen. "It should be in the cupboard in the back. Here, help me." Astrid guided him to where he pointed. Hiccup opened the cupboard where Astrid could clearly see knives and the pots.

"Here, I see it. Why don't you let me get it?" Astrid reached forward to move Hiccup's hands away and retrieve the pot but he slapped her hands it a blind attempt to push her away.

"I can do it." Eyes wide with surprise, Astrid took a step back and watched Hiccup take out the pot and set it on the counter. He closed the cupboard and faced her, "Why don't you let me cook for the both of us?"

"No, Hiccup, I'll cook, don't worry about it. Besides you might cut yourself."

"I won't cut myself; come on Astrid-it's me." Astrid thought for a moment and pictured Hiccup holding up a knife ready to cut the vegetables that his hand was holding onto. He would be cooking in a kitchen that he couldn't see.

"No, you didn't even see the knives in the cupboard."

Hiccup blew off that hurtful comment. "So?"

"So you might hurt yourself. Now let me cook this time and I'll rearrange the cupboards so that later you won't hurt yourself. Your dad wouldn't mind that right?" Maybe I can get him to forget about cooking later.

"My dad might not but I would. I'm the one who cooks." Astrid was silent; she didn't realize how far this 'Hiccup being blind' stretched. He cooked. This had to be what the healer mentioned of the independent thing. "Why don't you just let me cook?" Hiccup broke her train of thought.

"No, but if you're so determined to cook I'll let you help me." Astrid didn't want him to cook at all but she didn't want to deny Hiccup either especially after considering what he's been through; it wasn't event his fault.