27 And There Was Much Rejoicing
When given free reign, Stormfly would take every opportunity to seek out rising thermals and glide on the wind and since Astrid felt in no hurry to get back to Berk, she let go of the rope completely and let the dragon fly free while she lay back to contemplate her new life and two possible futures, both with and without Hiccup.
She hated to think about the second possibility and that was why she had been trying to keep so busy. In the morning, when Olvor had requested breakfast, Tuffnut had been tickled and Stormfly had learnt how to dance, all of those mind numbing and exhausting thoughts had disappeared, but only for a short time. Now that her mental holiday was over, they had returned with a vengeance and demanded to be contemplated.
Fortunately for Astrid a distant sound broke into her mind before fear and regret could take hold. The sound caught her attention because it was exactly like Stormfly's cry, which was odd because she was riding on Stormfly so it could only be…
Sitting up with a start, Astrid grabbed the rope around the base of Stormfly's neck and guided the dragon around in a gentle port turn and sure enough, a Weyr of about forty dragons, many of them being Nadders and most of them with riders, filled the sky behind her.
"Good afternoon Chief" Astrid called as she drew alongside Stoicks Zippleback "and what brings you to this neck of the clouds."
"A dragon; what else?" this line was rapidly becoming the new Viking pun of choice.
"Is there any news of my son?"
"He hasn't woken up yet but Gothi has redressed his leg and put something on it to dull the pain. Olvor says his heart is still strong, the house is warm and Gobber is working on a new leg for him and a tail for Toothless so mainly good news."
"Unlike your arrival I hear."
"Oh… you've heard about that."
"Odd and Sigrid told me all about it."
"I'm sorry Chief, I can't even explain why…"
"Don't worry Astrid, Olvor and I have an arrangement that will get you off the hook."
"Y…you do? err… thank you Chief."
She did not yet understand what he meant, nor did she know that Stoick had lied about his 'arrangement', but she knew if the Chief was on her side, then her prospects were good. So Astrid followed Stoick lead and let the matter drop. Looking around the sky, Astrid noticed someone who was conspicuous by her absence and so she had to ask.
"Where's Sigrid and Buttercup, still back on the island?
"Ah… I'm afraid my news is not as good as yours."
"Knock knock Gothi" Gobber called through the door.
"May I please have another look at your patient m'dear?"
Gothi eyed Gobber suspiciously as he entered with a parcel under his arm which he placed on a nearby table and removed the cloth wrapping. What lay within was beyond description, but Gothi decided there and then to hit Gobber with it if he didn't give an explanation a darn good try.
"What we have here, oh wisest of the wise, is a very special leg for a very special boy with a very special dragon with a very special need."
'Okay' she thought 'he's having a red hot go at an explanation after all.'
"You see unlike myself, Hiccup is young and still has most of his leg so I have put in this firm spring mechanism that will cushion each step and even enable him to run, once he gets used to it of course." Gothi nodded with approval so he continued.
"And this little flat bit where the foot should be can slip… into…"
Gobber struggled with the pedal that would control Toothless's tail and almost dropped the lot until the pieces finally clicked into place.
"There; I know it looks a bit clumsy but the parts are made to be attached to a leg and a dragon so trying to fiddle with them using a hand and a hook is not easy. So what do you say Gothi, can I see if it fits please?"
He pleaded with a slight bounce like a small child begging for a second helping of ice cream as Gothi pondered the pieces. After a closer inspection of the part that would attach to Hiccup's leg, she gave her approval and Gobber went to work fitting the revolutionary new prosthetic. At first glance, Gothi thought it looked a little too long and pointed it out to Gobber by hitting him on the back of the head.
"OWW! What the… oh don't worry about that" he explained while he rubbed his head.
"When Hiccup stands on it the spring will compress and 'Hey Presto' two legs and both the same length."
A little more pondering and Gothi smiled and nodded her approval.
As the afternoon wore on, Berk continued to change more and more as minor alterations were completed and major ones were begun. It was all for the express purpose of making life with dragons possible. At Gobbers request, the first feeding station was put in place near his forge. The blacksmith had big plans for saddles, harnesses, lifting rigs, net throwers and all kinds of things that he referred to as 'Hiccup Inspired Brainstorms' so he wanted to be able to keep a dragon in one spot while he worked on it and food was usually the best method for achieving that goal.
Olvor had just finished helping to install a second feeder under the rock overhang behind the old arena, now partially converted into a dragon stable, when she felt a sudden urge to check on Hiccup and so she bid her fellow workers adieu and started the climb up to the Chiefs home. Gobber had commandeered Toothless once more and was trying to get the annoyed Night Fury to stay still while he attempted to fit the new and hopefully improved flying rig. As they wrestled, Olvor began to understand why Gobber had made such a fuss about getting the first feeding station. It was such a shame that they weren't at the forge, but outside Stoicks home instead.
"Come on Toothless" she bent down a put her hand on the wriggling dragons head "let Gobber do his job and you'll be ready to fly with Hiccup when wakes up."
After Hiccup, Toothless considered Astrid to be his closest friend and she was often in the company of Olvor, so he had come to accept the doctor by association and although the dragon did not understand her words, her tone was very comforting. Taking advantage of the brief calm that came over the dragon, Gobber finished attaching the tail and began to thread and adjust the control lines.
"What I really need now is someone who has had experience riding a tailless Night Fury."
With a loud thump, Stormfly landed fifteen feet away as Astrid dismounted and ran to them.
"Ah good" Gobber smiled "here's one now; could I get you onto the dragon's saddle please Astrid?"
"Yes Gobber in a minute I have to talk to Olvor."
The urgency in her voice made both Gobber and Olvor concerned.
"What's wrong Astrid?" Olvor enquired.
"I have a message from Chief Stoick; he says you should get some of the villagers who were here when we arrived yesterday and go to the Great Hall. Stoick will join you there soon... and he said you should hurry."
Olvor had been expecting something like this and she hoped it would be relatively painless.
"Right then; you head down to the arena and send over anyone who was here when we arrived and I'll round up some between here and the hall." Olvor told the young girl.
"Hang on" Gobber was annoyed "I need her here. She's the only person awake who has ever ridden a Night Fury before."
"And as soon as you're done, get back here and help Gobber before he starts to cry."
"No need to be like that; there's nothing wrong with being a sensitive Viking." he pouted.
Soon Astrid was entering the arena where a small group of Vikings were making renovation plans. Among them were a few of the men that Olvor needed including Mulch, so Astrid knew she now had a chance to make things right after the disrespect she had shown him the last evening.
"Excuse me Mr. Mulch sir."
He was quite small for a Viking and he had a very cheerful face that was mainly covered by his large, well kept beard as was his stomach.
"Ah hullo Astrid and how's young Hiccup doing?"
"Err… I'm not sure sir, he was okay when I last saw him, but I bring an urgent message from Olvor. Chief Stoick is returning and she would like you to meet her in the Great Hall right away."
"Ah yes, the ceremony will need to be performed as soon as Stoick arrives. Come on lads; it's time to put things back in order."
Astrid wondered what the ceremony might be, but she knew it was for the elders and warriors only. She wasn't on Dragon Island anymore and she knew it would not be a good idea to gate crash again, so helping Gobber was her only option.