The forge was quiet as Gobber took a break from his work. Well, as quiet as it could be with a hyper eight-year-old demanding to be measured when he noticed Gobber had taken a moment to rest.
"Thee Gobber? I'm taller." Hiccup said standing up straight against the post Gobber used to measure Hiccup's growth. "Dad meathured me at home thith morning. I'm thtill not very tall though."
Gobber used his hook to mark Hiccup's height on the wooden post. "Course yer not," he said eyeing the new notch with distaste, not liking how fast Hiccup was growing. "I put bricks on yer head when ya aren't payin attention. Not working completely though." He said grinning at Hiccup's horrified face.
"You do what?!" Hiccup felt the top of his head for bricks. "Why? Why would you do that?"
Gobber shrugged, "Cause you've grown enough, I reckin," Gobber said, getting out his tools for work with a sigh. Stoick had left Hiccup with Gobber while he went out hunting for the day. It would have been nice to join a hunting party again, but with a peg leg the woods were hard to manage; as he had been reminded of recently.
"No I haven't," Hiccup said. "I'm the smallest. I haven't grown enough."
Gobber ignored him and set to work as Hiccup pouted in the back for the rest of the morning. He came out for his midday meal, but continued to pout throughout the afternoon when he couldn't make Gobber swear to stop putting bricks on his head. Hiccup stayed in a sour mood all through his lesson, an activity the boy usually found interesting, and kept an eye on Gobber until Stoick came to pick him up.
"Hey Stoick, how was the hunting?" Gobber asked, hanging his apron up.
"Dad! Gobber'th putting brickth on my head! Make him thtop." Hiccup said running to his confused father and pulling on his arm.
"It was good, got a buck." Stoick looked down at Hiccup. "What are you talking about?" He asked. Gobber was shaking his head with a silly grin.
"Tho I don't grow anymore!" Hiccup pulled Stoick's arm again and pointed at Gobber with a very unthreatening glare. Gobber shrugged.
"He's pulling your leg, Hiccup." Stoick said, "He hasn't put any bricks on yer head. Have you felt these bricks?"
Hiccup shook his head, still shooting Gobber dirty looks.
"Even if he did that wouldn't stop you from growing. I just measured you this morning and you'd grown, right?"
Hiccup nodded. "But not very much."
Stoick rolled his eyes, "That's because you insist on being measured every couple of months."
"Are you thure?" Hiccup asked eyeing Gobber cautiously.
"Yes Hiccup. Gobber isn't putting bricks, or anything else, on yer head. Now come on, it's time for supper."
The Nightmare was still mad at her mate, but the raids were dangerous so she said her goodbyes properly, bumping noses and rumbling. Once he was gone the Nightmare left the cave, the black hatchling having being returned to the nest a few days ago. She landed in the woods and walked quietly to the village, staying hidden in the trees. The Nightmare crept up behind her hatchling's nest in her old hiding place. She would only watch and wait to make sure her hatchling was safe, that was all. At least that's what she told herself; she would respect her mate's choice to leave the hatchling with the Vikings. For now.
Hiccup was allowed to play outside after supper as Stoick talked with several villagers about the village defenses, making sure they were stocked and ready to go. After that Gobber invited himself over for a mug of tea.
"Gobber watch!" Hiccup called from his swing, right before he let go of the ropes and left the seat. He almost landed on his feet, but balanced wrong and fell on his bottom. "Ow. I almost got it that time." He said getting up.
"Hiccup Horrendous what have I told you about doing that?" Stoick thundered from his chair. Forget the village duties; sometimes keeping Hiccup from injury seemed like a full time job.
"Don't." Hiccup said before he grinned at Gobber, "But I'm getting better at it."
Gobber opened his mouth, but Stoick cut him off, "If I see you do that one more time the swing's coming down."
"Yeth thir." Hiccup said as he got back on his swing.
"Ya know, that kid's weird," Gobber said.
Stoick bristled, "He isn't weird. He's – different."
Gobber laughed, "I don't mean that way. I mean," Gobber scratched his chin, "He's Hiccup, but he's also you and Va- his mother. It's weird. I don't like it."
Stoick gave Gobber a blank look with his eyebrows raised, "What? Hiccup, not higher than the fifth step."
"Like the swing. That's Hiccup through and through. Yesterday, in the square, you were busy and Snotlout was trying ta make the lad do something he didn't want to do and he looked so much like you as he gave his cousin the what for. Then he has his mother's mischievous grin. It's weird. Gives me the willies," Gobber said with a shudder.
Stoick shook his head, "That's the way of it, Gobber." He cringed as Hiccup got off the swing so fast he fell with an umph. The boy got up and ran into the bedroom and ran back out.
"Walk, Hiccup." Stoick said. Hiccup didn't even slow as he ran to Gobber.
"Gobber, I almotht forgot, I found thith!" Hiccup climbed onto Gobber's knee. Gobber pulled him up and Hiccup showed him a somewhat squished clover. "Ith it a lucky one? I thought thith," He pointed out a nub on one of the leaves, "Wath a fourth leaf. I'm not thure, ith it?"
Gobber pulled the boy in closer to take a better look, drawing out the moment by pretending to be stumped. "Hmm, it's close lad. I think it's only part of the third leaf there."
Hiccup frowned, at it, "I thought it might not be. Oh well." He wriggled out of Gobber's arms, put the clover on the table, and ran back to his swing, deciding to lie on his stomach to twist the ropes and spin it.
"It's like cuddling a fish at times." Gobber commented.
"What?" Stoick said before letting out a laugh, it was true when he thought about it.
"Him. He's about as wriggly as a fish. Stays still about as long."
"Thought he gave ya the willies," Stoick said, drinking his tea. "Gonna start calling him 'fish' too?"
"Nah," Gobber waved his hand. "Sparrow works better for now. Though, I suppose that can't last for much longer as he's getting older. Need heavier bricks I think. And jus cause he gives me the willies doesn't mean I wouldn't like a cuddle from time to time."
Stoick snorted. "He has to be ill or half asleep for that. Even then he doesn't really sit still." Speaking of which it was bedtime. Ugh, time to start the routine. "Hiccup, get ready for bed."
The boy didn't even slow the swing down. "Do I have to?"
"No arguments, young man. Bed. Now."
It was the darkest part of night when the Nightmare felt them coming. They were still too far away to see, but they called to each other with trills and rumbles both too high and low for Vikings to hear. The sounds also travelled farther than normal sounds, allowing dragons to communicate in the sky.
The Nightmare lifted her head to watch the sky; they would be here soon. Her hatchling's nest was dark and quiet. The Vikings didn't see the raid coming.
"Dragons!"
The Nightmare chuckled as nests opened and tired Vikings came rushing out. She would have watched the fight if she didn't think it more important to watch the Viking's nest for her little one. His sire was already out in the fight. If she wanted to she could probably take her hatchling back. Stupid Viking, leaving her hatchling unguarded.
A nadder broke away from the raid to approach her hatchling's nest. The Nightmare bristled; it was the nadder from before. The Nightmare was in the woods and didn't have time to attack; however, the nadder only circled the nest sniffing once and left. Confused, the Nightmare crept forward. Why wouldn't the nadder break in? Sniffing at the nest she realized why; her hatchling wasn't here. She wasn't sure when he left, but one thing was certain, her little one was out in the raid. The Nightmare looked down the hill at the Viking village. There were fires everywhere with ferocious dragons attacking and idiot Vikings running about with sharp weapons they could barely control. In all that chaos her hatchling was lost, being hunted by a deadly nadder. Most likely for Her.
After what happened the last time Stoick left Hiccup at home during a raid Stoick wasn't about to take any chances. When the call came Stoick got Hiccup out of bed and out the door; keeping a firm hold on the boy's hand. Stoick kept Hiccup close as they made their way through the village to the forge. Hiccup stayed quiet the whole way, wide eyes watching the sky as he clutched his father's hand.
"Gobber!" Stoick called.
"What's up, Stoick?" Gobber asked coming toward Stoick. "Why ya down here? Oh." Gobber stopped when he saw Hiccup tucked against his father's side.
"Can he stay here? I don't want to leave him at home."
"Of course. Come on, lad, get inside." Gobber ushered Hiccup away from his father and into the forge. "I'll keep an eye on him. Don't worry, Stoick, he's safe here."
Stoick nodded and left to join the raid, keeping an eye out for any Nightmares.
Hiccup stayed in a corner where he could be out of Gobber's way yet still within Gobber's sight. It was loud out there, not that Hiccup was afraid. He had had enough of dragons for a while, that was all.
"Alright lad, they need me out there. Uh." Gobber looked down at his charge as Hiccup blinked up at him. "How 'bout you hide? So yer father doesn't take one of my remaining limbs for leaving ya here alone." Gobber opened a cupboard and cleared it out, "Here. In ya get."
Hiccup stared at him, "You want me to thtay in there? That'th not very thecure."
"I'll secure it. You just wait there and don't come out until yer dad or I get you. Okay?"
Hiccup looked at the cupboard, "Are you thure about thith?"
"Yes, it'll be fine. In ya get." He pushed Hiccup into the cupboard with the flat of his axe. "Now stay put. I'll be back." Gobber shut the door and put an axe handle through the door handles. Certain that it was locked Gobber ran out into the fray. He didn't see the nadder perched on the roof of his stall.
It was dark in the cupboard and it smelled like iron. Hiccup hugged his knees. There was just enough room for him to sit with his knees drawn up. He wanted the raid to end soon. A crash sounded from the forge, as if something had been knocked over.
"Gobber?" Hiccup called. He tried to open the cupboard so he could see. It wouldn't open; the door was jammed from the outside. "Gobber? Is that you? Let me out."
Something hit the door and Hiccup heard the loud breathing of a dragon. He scooted to the back of the cupboard, only another inch or two away from the door. He knew it couldn't be that easy; that the Nightmare would be back for him. The dragon kept banging at the door, trying to get inside.
Stoick had been watching for it and was not surprised when the Nightmare showed up. The other dragons and fires were being handled effectively so Stoick went after it. The dragon was preoccupied with searching, most likely for Hiccup. The Chief was determined to get rid of the beast once and for all.
The Nightmare, however, was determined to avoid Stoick which only served to aggravate the Chief further and kept disappearing in the chaos. The raid was winding down and still Stoick had not been able to engage the devil. He checked to his right and saw Gobber take down a gronkle. At least some people were able to have a good fight. Wait…
"Gobber! What are you doing out here?"
At least Gobber had the mind to appear sheepish, "Helping?"
"Where's Hiccup?"
"He's fine, Stoick. In the stall hiding; safe and sound."
"He better be," Stoick forgot about the Nightmare and strode to the forge, Gobber falling in step with him.
"It's fine, Stoick," Gobber said as they entered the forge, and came face to face with a nadder. Their surprise gave the nadder enough time to squawk in their faces before pushing past and taking off. Stoick glared at Gobber.
"Hiccup?" There was no answer. What if they were too late? "Hiccup!"
"Dad?"
Oh thank Odin.
Hiccup's voice was muffled. "Dad I wanna get out."
"Relax, Stoick. See?" Gobber knelt next to a cupboard and took the axe handle out and opened the door. Hiccup stayed in the back of the cupboard.
"Ith the dragon gone?"
"Yup. Scared the beastie away," Gobber took his axe off and reached into the cupboard for Hiccup, "See? Safe and sound." He pulled the boy out and onto his knee.
"You had him locked in there? What if there was a fire!" Stoick grabbed Hiccup's arm and checked the boy over.
"Huh, that is a good point."
"A good point?" Stoick thundered holding Hiccup close against his side. Gobber shrugged and Stoick shook his head. He guided Hiccup out; he learned from last time and would keep Hiccup close. No roaming away this time.
"Oh, Stoick. No harm no foul, eh?" Gobber said coming along with them. Stoick glared at him and Gobber shrugged, "Engh, worth a try."
Stoick stared straight ahead, paying Gobber no attention. Stoick would not encourage such reckless behaviour. Gobber could have gotten Hiccup killed.
"Hoark! Report." Stoick called.
"Only a few beasts left. Nothing destroyed, though several fires were lit."
Stoick could feel Hiccup tugging on his belt and squeezed the boy's shoulder to reassure him that he was fine. "Once all the beasts are gone I want all attention on-"
"Dad!"
Oh what now? Hiccup pointed behind them once he had Stoick's attention. The nadder was still here and was landing, out of striking range. It cocked its head and swung its poisonous spikes at them.
Finding either her hatchling or the nadder during the raid was proving difficult enough without her hatchling's sire following after her. The raid was ending by the time she was able to search more efficiently.
With the commotion dying down the Nightmare decided to fly a circle around the village. The smoke from the fires would provide adequate cover. She would not leave until she had found her hatchling. She saw her hatchling's sire come out of a building, followed by the strange limbed Viking. Angling down the Nightmare came closer while staying out of sight. Sure enough her little one was with them. And the Nadder sneaking up behind. The Nightmare had been right. She watched as the nadder took off from the roof and swooped in behind them. The Nightmare circled again to get into a better position as the Viking turned to face the nadder. The blue dragon shot out her spikes right as the Nightmare dove to intercept the attack on her hatchling. Her only thought was on protecting her hatchling. If the other Vikings got saved in the process so be it. They were not her concern right now. Most of the spikes bounced off the Nightmare's scales. Three of them pierced her wing. When one spike tore into her wing right below her shoulder blade the Nightmare howled in pain and shot a blast of fire at the other dragon. While the poison wasn't a problem the pain of a torn wing was.
The Nightmare moved forward, keeping herself between the nadder and her hatchling. Cocking its head the other dragon took a few steps back rumbling. The display of nonaggression didn't fool the Nightmare; she saw how the nadder was trying to catch sight of her hatchling. They had both forgotten about the present Vikings until a net was thrown over the nadder. The nadder had enough fire to burn her way through the net and fly away with one last angry squawk at the Nightmare. She took a quick look around to see the Vikings' positions. There were too many Vikings to make a grab at the hatchling, and his sire was keeping him close anyway. The Vikings were closing in on the Nightmare so it was time to leave. She spread her wings then yelped. The spikes in her right wing made getting away impossible by flight. Lighting herself the Nightmare lashed out at the Vikings around her, roaring her displeasure.
"Watch its head!" Someone shouted. Ropes and nets were no good while she was on fire, but that could only last for so long. She turned and shot another flame.
"Ah!"
Her hatchling! She had almost burned her hatchling! The little one was clutching his sire's coverings with wide eyes watching her with fear.
"Gobber, get him out of here!" the Alpha shouted, pushing the little one away. The large Viking strode towards her. She moved defensively, attempting to show no lack of strength but her flame was dying. She only enough for one shot. Opening her mouth the Nightmare readied her flame as the Viking advanced, hammer in hand. This was it; she had him. Deep breath, hold-
"No!" The hatchling shouted, terror clear in his voice. The Nightmare didn't know who he was yelling at but his cry threw off her aim. Her shot went blazing into the sky and her energy depleted, her fire quickly died. The Nightmare bared her teeth menacingly but she knew he was in trouble. She was alone and vulnerable and at the Viking's mercy.
A/N: Surprise, a cliff hanger. I never use those. Can I say I am so excited because this story is finally coming to the part that I have been waiting for since I started :)
The brick thing was inspired by something my grandmother always used to say when I was a kid. Didn't bother me like it does Hiccup though.
Anyone here into SNK or Attack on Titan? I am caught up with the manga and watched the anime twice. It's bad, so bad; I'm behind on my editing and typing because of it. And now my sister is trying to get me to write a fanfic for it. We have an idea but I have so much to do with my HTTYD stuff. You should check out her tumblr, her username is Noristar and her artblog username is pkinscorner, because she came up with a SNK AU where they're all animals and is doing pics and little comics that she'll begin posting soon and they are awesome. Plus, if you ask nicely you might get more HTTYD from her. She does have a Toothless speedpaint on Youtube under the username Pkbucket if you'd like to check that out.
KaliAnn: I know, I feel bad for her too (She gets named soonish, that scene is written, I promise) Toothless didn't really care in the end. I don't think he's coming back, it was more like a cameo.
Thearizona: Glad to see you here. Lol I haven't even posted the chapters where I'm mean to Stoick yet. I think that's chapter 22 but I'd have to check, although those 27 days were no picnic… for now the Drake has her convinced but the end of this chapter took quite the turn…
Everyone else: Thank you for all the support :)
As always, special thanks to CB for the edit.