I'm sorry for the huge delay... and the short chapter... there are some things going on in my life, and my family's life, that are really hard on us all. The last few months have been hard, the next few will be harder, but I promise I'll try to write as much as I can.
For those of you following Fall of the Dragon Rider, I will upload a new chapter really, really soon, and I am sorry it's all been taking so long. You guys deserve better.
Despite everything, I hope you enjoy this little chapter.
The Adventurous Adventures of Hiccup and Wrenlou
A Blacksmith's Apprentice, Part IX
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Wrenlou asked while he watched Hiccup pull a tunic over his head, "it's okay to wait a few more days you know. They'll understand."
"Maybe," Hiccup said, "but I just want to finish this thing. I don't want to put it off forever."
"Your hand isn't even healed yet!" Wrenlou protested helplessly.
Hiccup shrugged, looking around for his boots. "It's not the first time I burned my hand on something in the forge. I'll work around it. I'll be fine, really I promise."
"But," Wrenlou started, but he stopped when Hiccup turned to face him.
"Do you doubt me?" the boy asked, "is that it? You doubt that I can do this, don't you. I really thought you wouldn't do that, not you..."
There was disappointment in his voice, and Wrenlou looked down.
"It's not just about you anymore," he said softly, "it's about me too."
"Oh yeah," Hiccup said, crossing his arms, "and how's that."
"You're MY patient," Wrenlou said, "I'm responsible for your health and safety at the moment. If you go off and get sick, it'll be my head on the chopping block. I know it may sound selfish, but this is the only chance I have to become a healer. If anything happens to you..."
His voice trailed off and he lowered his gaze again. Hiccup dropped his arms to his sides, staring at the ground.
"I... I hadn't thought of that," he said softly, "I'm sorry... I suppose... I think I can wait a few more days if you think that's better."
Wrenlou smiled and nodded. "Yes. Thank you."
"But I do want out of here," Hiccup scowled, glancing around the room, "I've been here for five days or so, I want my own room and my own bed."
"Fair enough," Wrenlou nodded, "but lets get some food first, okay? I bet you're hungry too."
Hiccup smiled and nodded, quickly following Wrenlou out of the room. The sun was shining now, no trace of the storm that had left him hospitalized in the first place. The streets were clean and dry, riders running back and forth on missions and errands. He stopped for a moment, smiling as he took it all in, then he hurried after Wrenlou.
0-0-0-0-0-0
"You sure you're ready now? I mean, it's only been a week..." Wrenlou started, but Hiccup grumbled.
"ONLY been a week?" he asked, "it's been a whole week since I worked on my project. I'm a whole week behind on schedule. You all passed and everything, and I haven't even FINISHED yet. I waited long enough, I'm going to finish my project now, and nothing can stop me."
"Okay, alright," Wrenlou said, stepping aside to let Hiccup through the door, "but promise me you'll be careful with your hand. It's far from completely healed and I really would hate it if the wound got infected.
"Good grief you SOUND like a healer," Hiccup grumbled, closing the door behind him, "I guess you at least have that down then."
"I'm just watching out for you!" Wrenlou protested, following his friend, "it's no fun getting infections! And what if it costs you your hand! Those things happen you know. I remember his one guy in Lightcity, not sure what his name was... but anyway, he got in infection in his leg and they cut the whole thing off!"
"I'm not going to get an infection," Hiccup said, "I have you watching over me don't I? I'll be fine."
Wrenlou sighed. "You're as stubborn as a hatchling..." he mumbled, "I'll be in the Hall when you need me."
"Not a hatchling," Hiccup said softly, so that Wrenlou wouldn't hear, "a Viking.. as stubborn as a Viking."
He smiled a little, heading straight to the forge. He tried to ignore the fact that he walked with a slight limp due to the burn on his foot, but he kept his back straight. The moment he set foot inside the forge, two strong hands grabbed his shoulders, pushing him against the wall. Mendo's sweaty face was just inches from his, the man's eyes burning with the same intensity as the fire they used to forge the weapons. Hiccup's heart skipped a beat, as the seconds seemed like hours. Just as sudden;y as he had grabbed the boy's shoulders, the larger blacksmith pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again you hear me? Not ever..." the man mumbled, before pulling away again, the stern look once again on his face.
"Hiccup Haddock, when your Master tells you to put the hammer down and come inside, you listen, understood?"
"You're not my Master yet..." Hiccup mumbled, which earned him a light smack on the back of his head.
"Don't talk back to me!" Mendo bellowed, then his expression softened. "Do you know how lucky you are to be alive? If not for the healers..."
"I'm sorry..." Hiccup mumbled, "really. I... I didn't know that would happen, I swear."
"Be more careful next time," Mendo said, "listen to your superiors. I don't know how it was where you came from, but here adults really just want the best for you."
Hiccup smiled weakly and nodded. "I promise I will be more careful," he said, "now, Master Mendo, may I finish my third test?"
"I thought you'd never ask!" the smith answered with a grin on his face, "I kept all the pieces safe in here."
He opened a chest and pulled out a sheet, the four corners tied together. It clinked when he set it down in the table, eyeing it with a worried look.
"Now... I don't know what you intent to do with all... that," he said, "but you do remember the third test... correct? What it was?"
"Sure!" Hiccup said cheerful, grabbing the knot and heaving the make shift bag of the table, "make a weapon with the metal I found. I'm on it! Trust me."
He slung the bag over his shoulder, took a hammer from the anvil and walked towards the small furnace. He shuddered a little, thinking back to the storm and the sudden bright flash of light.
"It won't happen again..." he mumbled to himself, "this time, at the first sign, the first whisper of thunder, and I'm finding the deepest cave to hide in..."
He shook the uneasy feeling and set he bag down, fumbling a bit with the knot. When he finally managed to untie it he found that Mendo had indeed put all the pieces he had already made together. Even his notebook was bundled up with the rest.
"Okay... now... where was I... ah yes. Right. Here we go again."
He stoked the fire up and took the hammer. Before he raised it he glanced at the sky, which was clear blue, with a few small, white, fluffy clouds. He grumbled a little and gripped the hammer tighter, raising it above his head before letting it come down on the anvil. He was finally going to finish his final test.