Hi guys! So I bet you all hate me for not writing for a while but my life took a turn for the busy (surprise surprise) after I posted the last chapter. A play that I wrote was chosen to be performed by professionals at a festival and at my school, I was in a show, I had an internship that consumed my time, I just graduated high school and I'm prepping for college (I'm majoring in acting btw :D), and frankly I kind of lost motivation to write. I have had ideas for the story in the head but haven't really gotten the chance to write them down either. But since I appreciate you guys so much, I'm gonna start taking time out of my day to write. I think I'll have more time now that summer is upon me and this is the time of year when I start laying around in the heat trying to find things to do with my life. Well, here you go!

Chapter 6

Astrid sat on the chair facing the door and stared at the small rays of light poking through the cracks. The lights were taunting her and beckoning her to open the door. If she did open it, the light would spill in but her secrets would spill out. The entire town prowled around her house just waiting for that door to open so they could see what was going on. If she opened the door, there was a chance that goodness, light, and hope would come but darkness would inevitably follow and everyone would know. So Astrid sat by the door and was completely unknown to the people behind it wondering what she was up to. She sat and stared for the longest time. She began to feel something stirring inside her. Emotions, sickness, weariness, something. She felt it bubble inside her and twist and turn until all she wanted to do was cry and run out the door into the rising sun all the while never looking back. But she remained still and stared. A single tear fell down her cheek and hit the floor as the sun continued to shine.

Soon there was frantic knocking at the door. Astrid came back to reality when she heard it and scrambled to answer it. It was still the very early hours of the morning and most of the town was just waking up. If she was to open to door now was her chance. She quickly pried it open and was met with two all to familiar faces.

"Ruffnut, Eret? What on Earth are you doing here?" Astrid whispered.

"Can we come in?" Eret asked.

"Yes of course, where are my manners? Come on in." She gestured for them to come inside and quickly closed the door. The two people stood in the middle of the room and looked oddly joyful.

"Where's everyone?" Eret asked.

"Hiccup is sleeping. Valka's down at The Great Hall and Toothless is flying. Is everything alright?"

"It's never alright, Astrid. But... It might be soon. Um.. How is he anyway?"

"He's been fine so far, except I heard him last night sobbing and saying that he didn't want to die. I don't know how much longer I can do this."

"Not much longer," Ruffnut chimed in matter-of-factly. Realizing how rude that sounded, she quickly corrected herself. "I... I mean, we found an answer, right Eret?"

"Aye, we did. But you know I can't tell her. You have to."

"Tell me what?" Astrid asked, both annoyed and intrigued.

"You might want to sit down for this, Astrid. It's a shock to me and it'll be to you to." Ruffnut took Astrid by the shoulders and led her to the seat she was just in. She knelt down to her level and softly spoke to her, obvious joy in her tone now.

"There's a way we can save him, Astrid..." She began

"What?!" Astrid practically yelled as she shot up out of her seat.

"Sh, sh! Don't wake him up, we don't want him to know! Sit down, sit down," Ruffnut gently guided her back to her seat. "Let me explain. See, Eret knew of this gem since he traveled a lot and has come in contact with it. It's protectors made him promise not to tell anyone about it. However, he dropped the secret and Halvard confirmed it. I'll spare you all the minor details because all you really need to know is there is a gem on Outcast Island that can save Hiccup's life." It all happened so fast and Astrid hardly processed it. But when she did, it hit her like a ton of bricks. She grabbed her abdomen and stood up, leaning against the chair for support.

"I wanted to tell you sooner but I just couldn't." Eret mentioned.

"I...I.." Astrid struggled to form words. "I don't know how to feel right now. I should be jumping for joy and going to Outcast Island right now but... I... You all lied to me. You said.. You told me... You don't know how many times I've cried over this you haven't even seen him suffer!" Astrid got progressively angrier and louder before practically shouting the last part of her speech through tears. The last 24 hours was an emotional roller-coaster for her but the ride hasn't stopped yet. In fact, it was getting worse. There was no doubt that she was getting the gem but she was lied to. It wasn't your average white lie either; it was the world's worst lie. It was a secret that should not have been kept for as long as it was. Hiccup has been suffering and so has Astrid. She sat there and watched while he died thinking there was nothing she could do. Discovering the gem was one thing but knowing of it beforehand was another. No amount of healing gem could ever heal the pain she endured.

After Astrid's outburst the room fell silent. The awkwardness hung in the air as Eret bowed his head and softly whispered.

"I made a promise." A tear escaped from his eye.

"I thought you'd be off the walls, Astrid. We can save him." Ruffnut said disappointingly.

"You don't get it, do you? The pain I endured was unfathomable. The pain I'll endure for the rest of my life is unfathomable. I almost walked away. I almost gave up! I almost ended up like Valka. Walking away from my family only to realize the problem I walked away from could have been easily solved. She missed out on twenty-some years of his life and I would have too! You can play the I was lied to too card, Ruffnut but it won't match me. I'm not mad, I just... I don't know how to feel right now.. I need... To go."

"I'm getting the gem, Astrid. Your place is here right now."

"Watching him suffer and die? I don't think so, I'm going to get it and come back. I need to do this, for him... For me. For all of us."

"But you vowed to him."

"It's not like I'll die too."

"But this is Alvin we're talking about." Eret chimed in after collecting himself. "I may not know much about him or his band of misfits but I do know he's dangerous." He held up his bandaged wrist as proof.

"Eret's right, Astrid. This is far too dangerous and Hiccup needs you. If you die I the process..."

"Then we'll both be together."

"And I suppose Valka, Toothless, and Stormfly are going to be okay with it too?"

"Because I won't risk losing some else I love!" Astrid raised her voice and turned to face Ruffnut.

"Oh." She replied, bowing her head and feeling like her old, stupid self.

"I need to go. For my sanity and your safety. He'll understand, I'm sure. He doesn't want to die and I'm offering to save him. I'm going. Alvin probably wants the Book of Dragons in return so instead of going to the trouble of finding and breaking into a mine I'll just talk to him and offer a trade..."

"And bring the entire village of Berk down." A voice said from behind the trio. They all turned around to face a horrid looking Hiccup. He looked like death itself and was visually weak. He leaned on the door frame for support and breathed very heavily. He did not look like he should be standing or even be alive. In just one short day he deteriorated so much.

"Hiccup!" Astrid rushed over to him and led him to the nearest seat which was the couch he was on the night before. As he sat he coughed a little and let out a huge sigh. Eret and Ruffnut made their way over as well.

"I can't let you go." He managed to get out.

"How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough. Astrid, I need you." He began to cough again and leaned forward. Astrid rubbed his back and politely asked someone to bring her a glass of water.

"I know honey," she returned to Hiccup. "But it's the only way to save your life."

"Let me go instead. What's Alvin going to do kill me? I'm already dying."

"What!? You can barely stand! Hiccup!"

"No, see I can do it. I'll fly in on Toothless and when he sees how bad I am he'll... Take pity on me. We can't risk the book and... Alvin... Needs me. I know everything. He won't let me die." Eret returned with a glass of water and Hiccup hastily drank it.

"Then what? He'll keep fighting us and attacking us for it. The book is what he wants so let's give it to him. We'll always be one step ahead of him and this will avoid a war."

"No, it'll start one. You don't get it, Astrid. You don't... You don't..." Another fit of coughing took over Hiccup and he began hacking and gasping for air. Astrid continued to whisper things to him but they were drowned out by his coughing. The all too familiar liquid of blood started to appear in his fingers as he coughed into them. Astrid quickly grabbed a nearby rag and shoved it in his hands. There was nothing else she could do. The trio just sat and listened to his fit for what seemed like forever. And once it stopped, Astrid turned to her friends with tear soaked eyes and blood on her shirt.

"Now you see?" She softly whispered. Her two friends stared at her not believing what that just saw. Never before have they seen someone in such bad shape. It broke their hearts and ripped apart their souls. Astrid picked a half-alive Hiccup up with ease and began walking him back to his room. Before crossing the threshold she slowed down and looked her friends in their tear laden eyes.

"Go." They both whispered in unison, staring at each other as Astrid carried her husband in her arms. The same feeling as before arose in her but this time, it nearly made her sick.

SO I DID IT! Hurrah! Okay, I hate myself now too for not writing in forever so I'm soooo sorry! Updating isn't my forte, I realize that. But actually what I learned (and this isn't a ploy I swear) is that the more reviews it get, the more inspired I am to write. You guys keep me going! So keep on doing that! I'll try to be writing when I can but updates will be sporadic, sorry! It's what works best for me. I'll try to finish the story before the summers over but I will DEFINITELY have it done by Halloween, mark my words. You guys rock :)