Dragon tales
Story 1 problems already
Chapter 5 Worry
Authors note: back again^^ so has anyone figured out what caused the illness yet? I have dropped a few hints (very very sneaky ones) before this chapter and this one also sheds a bit of light on the subject^^ anyway Im so so tired now- it is so late- so I hope you enjoy it please leave a review and I'll post the last part of this story tommorow- but right now I'm going to sleep... See you tommorow
Hiccup was thankful he'd brought in the bucket of snow, because the bucket was proving just as useful as the actual snow.
Jack was really- really- sick. He just seriously hoped Astrid would be back soon- he needed Goathi's wisdom on the whole thing. How could they help? What was wrong with him? He felt certain she'd know. She had helped when the other dragons got sick a long time ago.
He remembered they'd gotten ill because of some new flowers Mildew had deliberately planted around the village. He supposed it was a good think Jack wasn't sneezing ice, since he was human, but he now wondered if something similar happened here. Had something new to the Sky Dragon made him sick? Nothing massive in the island had changed since his last visit, but,maybe. He could never be sure. He had to wait and see what Goathi said.
When it seemed he was finally done throwing up and was settling down- or really just lying down, as he was far from being settled- again, he replaced the snow filled bundle on his forehead. But he squirmed and moaned beneath it.
'Cold... Off...' The dazed, dizzy thoughts came through to him and he frowned, concerned. Jack never felt cold.
"Jack, you're burning up. We need to keep your temperature down." He said.
'Freezing.' He insisted, trying to turn his head to throw it off.
Hiccup sighed, worriedly. This was bad. If snow was doing nothing to help him... he didn't finish the thought, but what if the gods really were about to take him from him... He couldn't stand that. He knew what life without Jack was now, and he couldn't bear to go back to it...
He remembered the heart break as he thought their previous goodbye was going to be forever... It really would be forever if he-. He stopped again. He just... He couldn't kneel at the Sky Dragon's grave stone again. No. Jack, he... he was going to get through this. He'd promised- he'd said he wasn't going to leave him ever again! He'd promised! He couldn't- he was not dying on him!...
No. He'd never break a promise. And he'd never leave him. He wouldn't ever do that. He was overreacting. It was just a little bug... But, still, fate did have a cruel, artistic streak. They both expected Jack to long outlive Hiccup. Now there was the possibility he might die before Viking- no. He wouldn't!... Right?
He went into Jack's mind. He had to see for himself how bad it was...
Cold... Tired... Hot... Sluggish thoughts... The battle to keep his stomach calm... The pain in his head... He was in a really bad way. And then a sudden, horrible thought occured to him. Would it get worse?! He didn't know if he'd pull through as it was, but if things worsened, he really might-.
He withdrew from his mind, more worried than ever. Jack was so lost in his illness, he didn't even notice the brief visit... He hoped Astrid came back with good news. The door squeaked, and he stood hurriedly, as it creaked open.
"You boys still in there? Hiccup, your father's gone off to work and I told him I'd..." Valka stopped, as she saw the scene in the room. "Jack?" She frowned.
"He's not feeling so good. Can you send dad a Terror saying I'm gonna stay and look after him?" Hiccup asked her. She nodded, still worried over her son's friend who'd saved her life.
"How's he doing?" She wondered.
"Well, he's a little feverish- and he's been throwing up a bit." He explained, attempting to hide his worry. No such luck- there's no hiding a worry from a mother. She saw immediately just how concerned he was over him.
She walked over to him, putting a, slightly hesitant, hand on his shoulder.
"He'll be fine, son. You know that." She told him. "Dragons get over illness a lot easier than we do. And this is Jack we're talking about. Didn't you tell me about how he recovered from near death, over one night, once? And I think both you and I know he's too stubborn to let a little bug stop him. Besides- after all the other impossible things he's done... Well, I don't think getting over a bit of flu's going to be very high on his list of achievements." She reassured him. He smiled. She really knew how to ease all his worries.
He was being a bit stupid, huh? He was glad he had his mother to set him straight. He'd made some of the arguments to himself already, but they always just seemed empty until now. He'd be fine- he was sure of that now. He couldn't help but worry- though, he supposed, he couldn't help that.
"Thanks mum." He muttered, gratefully. She cupped his head with her hand.
"Okay." She smiled, staying there for a moment before standing up. "I'll go and send your father that letter." She promised. "And, be careful, son. We don't want you catching something too." She told him, as she left.
Him? Catching Jack's illness? Oh Thor, that was something he hadn't thought about. He could get sick from this, couldn't he. He was being around him a whole lot, and with their link as well- wait, could the illness spread across that too? He had no idea, but, you know what, whether he caught it or not, he didn't care. He was looking after Jack until he was a hundred percent sure he was better again. Or until he was well enough to plan and execute a successful escape.
He slid his hand onto his forehead, checking his tempriture, yet again... Well, no improvement, but at least he hadn't gotten any worse.
'Too hot for you?' He heard the still vague, but mildly taunting, question appear in his mind.
'Don't flatter yourself.' He responded, cheering up slightly. At least he wasn't so sick he couldn't make a joke- even a terrible one. Then he heard wingbeats outside. Astrid!
He ran over to the window where Stormfly had just gracefully landed and Astrid had stood- carefully, but skilfully- on her back.
"Help me up." She requested. He grasped her outstretched hand, until she found window ledge, and hauled herself in. She didn't even seem to be affected by the effort.
"Well?" Hiccup asked, praying for good news. She hesitated... and then she walked close to him. Hiccup noted how ominous that felt.
"I don't know whether it's good or bad, but Goathi told me a few things... Oh, and she gave me this to help." She informed, holding out a bottle with some foul smelling liquid inside. Oh, great- medicine. Jack was just gonna love that. He took it from her, as she continued explaining. "She said to give him two spoons every hour." Great. He could do that. That was good- but did she say anything else? What it was? Anything else to help cure it?
"What else did she say?" He asked, placing the bottle down on his desk. She seemed even more hesitant, nervous even, about what she was going to say next. Hiccup felt dread settle in his stomach, as he braced himself. What was it? Was it bad?
"She... she said..." Astrid began, obviously not wanting to say it, and trying to think of how to phrase it. Hiccup's was suddenly more worried than he was before his mum came in.
"She said he'd been poisoned." She told him, straight and blunt.
Hiccup's eyes widened as he stepped back, stunned and horrified...
"Poisoned." He repeated in a whisper, struggling to believe it. Wh... what? Poison? Who would-? Oh Thor, no. How could anyone-?
"But she also said it wasn't done with malicious intent." She added. He froze...
What?!.. But how?! How could someone have poisoned him, but not mean to hurt him?! You don't accidently feed someone poison!
"One last thing." She finished. "She said that his condition, over the next twenty four hours, will tell us if he's gonna make it." If he... if, he makes it... He leant against the wall... So it was bad. Poison... and if he didn't show any improvement over the next twenty fours, he was going to-... He forced himself to breath out a deep, shaky breath in a failed attempt to calm himself... Poison.
'...Hic.. cup?' He heard the worried, confused thought from Jack. 'What's.. matter?' he asked. He couldn't tell him. He just couldn't. He couldn't tell him he was-. Thank Thor he didn't have the strength to read his thoughts anymore- wait, he didn't have the strength to read his thoughts anymore? Oh no. Please, Odin, say this was only temporary.
He steadied himself as best, and put up his best mask.
'It's nothing.' He replied. 'Just overreacting.' He told him. The evasive 'nothing' only making Jack desperate to know what was going on.
'Hiccup... What is it?' He practically, demanded. No- he just couldn't!
'Trust me, Jack, just trust me... I mean it, just... Trust me.' He pleaded, using those two words that had been the beginning strength of their relationship- the foundation of their bond. Trust. But would he really do it? He knew he trusted him, but would he drop it? He felt him hesitate- he knew he was really curious as to why and what he was hiding from him.
But, then, he felt him relax.
'... 'Kay, Hic.' He said, letting the matter go and sinking back into his mind, wearily. He sighed out in relief. He trusted him. He knew he should never have doubted him.
He might be ignorant about it, at least, but he just couldn't get it out of his head. He couldn't stop thinking about what Astrid just said. Twenty four hours- one day, to determine whether he'd get better or not... He would make it. He promised himself. And he was going to do everything he could to make that happen.
"Well... alright. Thanks Astrid. You're probably best going off to the academy, now before Snotlout teaches them how not to train their dragons." He said to her, keeping his mask firmly in place. She smiled at the comment and, satisfied he'd be okay, left him to it- besides, he was right about Snotlout (the last time he tried to teach the kids one of them ended up hanging from Hookfang's mouth).
After she left, Hiccup let the mask drop. He was so unbelievably worried. One day- with a real possibility he wouldn't make it...
He gaze eventually strayed upon the bottle on his desk. Two an hour. Best get this over and done with. Jack and medicine- oh this was going to be simply delightful. Do not make him suspicious whatever you do, he told himself.
"Alright, Jack. Astrid's brought some medicine, to help get you better." He told him, praying he hadn't heard tales of the notoriously foul liquid.
'Medicine...' He heard him musing. 'Where have I heard that before?...' Oh Thor, so he did know. He hurriedly unstoppered the bottle and- wait, no spoon! Oh, darn it!
"Well. I've just got to go get the spoon, don't mind me. Just going into to the kitchen, getting a spoon, for nice, lovely stuff that'll make you feel better, and stop you throwing up, and..." He rambled on, as he dashed into the kitchen (not like he was trying to distract him, or stop him remembering what it is, or anything). He held up the bottle, by way of explanation, to his mum as he passed through. He really did not like that amused look she got as she realised what he meant. He quickly grabbed the utensil and returned to the bedroom.
He saw slight confusion on Jcks face. Oh why'd he have to do that when he was nervous?! Jack knew something was up now- from the way he went on. To those who knew Hiccup well, there was a common knowledge: a rambling Hiccup, was a suspicious one. And now Jack was the one thing he didn't want him to be- suspicious. Uh oh, he's onto his evil plan.
He tipped the medicine onto the spoon- and, before he could even see, smell or otherwise acknowledge the stuff, he'd shoved it in his mouth.
His face instantly soured, as he spluttered slightly. Hiccup really prayed he wouldn't throw up on him, as covering his mouth with both hands to stop him spitting it out.
"Swallow it." He commanded, keeping firm pressure on his jaw until he had no choice. He did as he was told (oh, the horror).
Hiccup finally took his hand away. That could've gone worse at least and- oh great, he had to do another one. How was he meant to do that?
Jack was just enjoying the taste, disgust and revolt coming from him.
'Gross!.. Ugh! What was-?! Ergh!' he grimaced, pulling a really unhappy face. Then, he saw the next spoon getting filled. He clamped his jaw.
Hiccup glared sternly at him.
"Jack, you know you need this to get better." He told him.
'Nuh uh.. Do it 'self, thanks.' Oh great, he was going to be really stubborn with this, wasn't he.
"Jack, I'm not arguing with you. Open up." His mouth stayed shut. Hiccup tried to prise the spoon through, but he couldn't get past his teeth. This wasn't working. He changed tact. "Jack. Do it for me." He tried, playing the 'you promised to do anything for me' card.
His Sky Dragon would do anything for him right? He'd almost died for him several times, surely this wasn't a big ask. What was he saying, this was Jack (stubborn even by Viking standards). Jack blinked, expression not changing an inch.
'Nope. 'll fight a Bewilderbeast for you, Hic- but not that.' He refused.
Oh, come on, seriously?! This was ridiculous! He was being such a big baby! Well, sure, he'd ben exactly the same when Gobber tried to feed him this stuff- but that didn't matter! He was having his medicine.
But, wow, he was a special kind of special, wasn't he. He'd fight to the brink of death and achieve the down right impossible, but the big, bad Sky Dragon had finally met its match. The horror of medicine. How was he supposed to do this?! How had Gobber done it? Oh...
Now he remembered. But, please say he wouldn't have to-.
"Jack, don't make me do this the same way Gobber did." He warned. All he got in return was stubborn refusal and a 'no way, no how, not a chance' glare. He rolled his eyes skywards. Odin, why him? Its for his own good, he reassured himself- and he asked for it.
He punched him, hard, in the arm.
"AHHH-." He cried out, only to have it cut off as the spoon finally found its target. He slumped back onto he bed in defeat, glaring at Hiccup all the way.
'Worth the drama, Mr Mighty Sky Dragon?' He asked him. Jack just continued glaring.
'How long do I have to put up with that dung stuff?' He whined. Hiccup rolled his eyes. Oh, come on, it didn't really taste that bad-okay, maybe it did. But it would get him better, wouldn't it. He decided to deliver the delightful news.
"Two spoons an hour." He announced.
He got a long pained groan in reply.