Authors note: back again^^ hope you're enjoying it!... Erm... I've run out of things to say XD so I'll just let you get on to reading the chapter^^ please let me know what you think (I love hearing your thoughts^^) and I'll see you tommorow! Enjoy!
His stomach fell into a bottomless pit and fear starting to knaw it's way back up through it. He lifted a shy hand to signify it was him she was looking for. If he wasn't so worried about what he was about to do, he might've been embarrassed by the snickers that ran through the room at his dumb name that he hated so much.
The woman spotted his barely raised hand and, after a quick 'this way', she led him up into the stage wings, where he could see the entire huge expanse of the massive, open stage. It was empty except for the single grand piano sat dead at its centre, and the smartly dressed announcer who was rambling on about something- probably something about his performances in previous stages of the tournament, he honestly wasn't paying attention to any of it. He was too busy shaking in his shoes as he imagined what lay on the other side of those curtains. He was trying not to think about how the words 'full house' meant that the venue's four thousand seat capacity had been filled, and that was exactly how many people were sat ready to stare at, scorn and judge him. Expecting a masterpiece of pure perfection, when he wasn't sure he could even move right now.
He saw the announcer gesture off expansively towards him as he walked off towards the far curtains. Hiccup watched him wander off backstage, wishing more than anything that he could follow him.
"That's your cue." The stage organiser informed him...
He froze.
Move, he told himself... Just move...
No... He couldn't do it- he couldn't do this! His legs turned to jelly. No...
Then, through his emotional turmoil, he felt the presence of a ghostly hand pass over his own... and suddenly found that he could move again.
He took a long, deep, shaky breath and ascended the steps onto the stage. Without stopping, he walked on out, past the safety of the curtains, and under the burning glare of the stage lights. Thank goodness for those blinding lights. If it weren't for them he'd have no choice but to face the terrifying audience, but they covered his vision just enough that he could get away with ignoring them as long as he kept his eyes on the piano.
He didn't dare even glance out of the corners of his eyes. He couldn't see the audience, but even just their weighty hollow presence to his left was enough to terrify him. He could feel the pressure of their expectant gaze burning into him the whole way- following him as he crossed the stage to the piano. He was so scared he wanted to turn around, run away and never come back. But he didn't slow down, and didn't stop. If he did- or if he spared even the tiniest glance to his left, he knew he'd just freeze with terror... and he didn't even want to think about what'd happen then.
The massive, open stage left him horribly exposed- the instinct to flee becoming more and more urgent the further he walked. The piano seemed an eternity away. The only thing that kept him going was the presense of a silver white hand drifting over his own. He drew all the strength he could from that touch... and, with the ghost at his side... he successfully made it to the piano.
He sat down on the stool- conscious of how lacking in grace the movement was. He probably looked so stupid. He wasn't supposed to be here. Even now, a little voice nagged at the back of his head. Telling him he wasn't good enough. Telling him he didn't belong. He stared sullenly down at instrument before him. The ebony black and ivory white keys suddenly felt incredibly daunting. He knew musicians were supposed to work with their instruments, but the piano never seemed to want to work with him. His 'relationship' with it, if you could call it that, was awkward and strained. After all that stress and panicking- now faced with the keys, he suddenly found himself panicking even more.
He didn't know what to do.
His mind was filled with an awful, dreaded blank- all the while, whispers of voices started to rise up in the back of his mind. Hideous laughter; every bullying comment that had ever scorned him for his choice to play this instrument; his father's disappointed words and heavy, disapproving scowl. He didn't know what to do. He was almost shaking. What did he do?! He looked up, helplessly- desperately seeking out his glowing Angel... and the whispering voices seemed to chase away... as the image of the shimmering spirit gave solice to his turmoiling mind.
His soft silver glow, under the artificial stage lights of the giant hall, had turned him pure gold. He had his shining violin resting on his neck in readiness to play, but his bow hand rested calmly at his side. Looking straight at him, as he waited, patiently, for his signal. He nodded, reassuringly. When you are ready, he could almost hear him saying.
Hiccup was stunned for a moment, when he noticed the brilliant, golden instrument resting in his hand. They really were doing this together... He truly was here for him... He wasn't alone.
He let the thought give him strength, as he looked down once more- placing his finger up upon the keys, as he searched for the notes to play... But the sounds of the music seemed to have escaped his thoughts. The notes and chords seemed to have just flown out of his mind, and he was left snatching at vague ideas. He had a few hints of what he wanted to produce flying about through his mind, but he just couldn't concentrate! He didn't know where to start!
The pressure from the audience was too much- the silence from the instrument was suffocating. Their terrible judgement was growing- and he knew what came next. Those terrible mutterings were about to start spreading through the hall... No. Not again. He couldn't let this happen again! What did he do? What did he do?!
The voice of his salvation answered his maelstrom of terror.
"Close your eyes..." The boy murmured, the words almost effortlessly pulling him into a trance.
He didn't even think about what he was doing. He surrendered his faith entirely onto the spirit. Putting his trust in him that he would never lead him astray.
He closed his eyes.