This is a lot like my one-shot 'The Pit' in the 'The Vikings Have Their Tea' series. I'm a sucker for this stuff.
I prefer my one shots to contain confessions of love. So this is RTTE, where Blindsided didn't happen. Also I haven't watched the show (in order) in a long time, so events aren't canonical. *shrug*
This was DEFINITELY supposed to be a oneshot, but it's just way too big.
THIS IS MY 70TH FANFIC WHHHHOOOOOO!
She didn't come back.
Astrid had gone on patrol hours ago, and hadn't returned. A simple mission, she said. An easy, no conflict, no engagement, scouting mission, just a few islands away. Hiccup had nothing to worry about! She was the best fighter of them all, she could certainly hold her own.
But she didn't come back. Not by nightfall.
Worse still, Hiccup hadn't noticed because he had been so busy. He'd even taken dinner in his hut and elected to not socialize.
It was Fishlegs that clued him in. "Uh, Hiccup?"
"What's up, 'Legs?" He asked, with half-baked enthusiasm. He was exhausted.
"Astrid hasn't come back yet."
He frowned. "From where?"
"From her patrol?"
Hiccup's eyes blew wide. "Her patrol?! The one she left on this morning?! Why didn't anyone say anything?!"
"I don't know!" Fishlegs cried. "I was experimenting with Gronkle Iron, and Snotlout was sprucing up Hookfang's stable and I don't even know where the twins were."
Hiccup shook his head. "Doesn't matter! We round everyone up, and we go looking for Astrid!"
—-
The island was about an hour's flight away, and Hiccup lamented and feared the entire time. Of course, since it was so dark, it was hard to tell where the island was. At least, that's what Hiccup expected, but when they arrived, there was a fire blazing on the beach.
"There!" Hiccup pointed, before going in for a landing.
"Is it safe!?" Fishlegs yelled back.
Hiccup didn't care. He swooped in, his eyes sweeping the beach for any sign of life. So far, it was just debris burning down, the remains of a hunter camp. It looked like the fire had been much bigger earlier.
He saw a smear of blue, and raced to it.
Stormfly laid on her side, unmoving. She looked awful, bloody from where her scales had been scraped. Her tail was bare of spines, and her horns were sawed off.
Astrid was nowhere to be found.
"No…" Hiccup was quick to hop off of Toothless, and ran to investigate. He knelt at the Nadder's side and petted her snout. Thank the gods, she was still alive, just gravely injured.
"You're okay girl, you're going to be okay," He calmed her, while Toothless nuzzled her side.
The rest of the riders arrived then, looking just as horrified as Hiccup had felt.
"I'm going to look for a net or some rope," Snotlout said, hollowly.
"ASTRID?!" Hiccup called out to the surrounding area. "ASTRID!" His hope for her being hiding around here was small, as Astrid would never voluntarily leave her dragon. "The rest of you spread out! Search everywhere!"
There were no arguments as the riders fanned out and searched the island. Even Toothless joined the search, while Hiccup tended to Stormfly.
There was no sign of her. They spent the whole night on that island, combing every cave and bush for Astrid, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Hiccup?" Fishlegs finally asked. "We should take Stormfly back to the edge. I think…they probably took Astrid."
Hiccup wordlessly nodded.
They worked carefully to maneuver Stormfly onto a net, and then each dragon took a corner and flew her back to the Edge.
Though he was exhausted, Hiccup was the only one that didn't retire to rest. He continued awake through the day, massaging oil onto Stormfly's irritated skin and stitching up the worst of her wounds.
Astrid would want her to be pampered.
—
It was a while before there was activity from the hunters. Until then, the riders had to suffer in silence, not knowing, only assuming the worst.
Hiccup withdrew into himself. Each rider took turns bringing his dinner to him, and keeping him company. Even if he didn't speak, they just sat with him.
He spent most of his time not out searching in the dragon stables, helping Stormfly. She and Toothless were about the only beings he spoke to.
When Snotlout returned from patrol with a hunter sighting, Hiccup knew it was time to get to the bottom of things.
They flew straight at the ship. No talking, no scouting, just started blasting. When the sails fell and the ballistas were shot to pieces, Hiccup shouted down. "Who's in charge here?!"
"That would be me!" Ryker called as he emerged from the ship. "You'll pay for all the damages you caused, boy."
"I'm only returning the favor. Where's Astrid?"
"Who?"
"Astrid Hofferson! Are you deaf!? The blonde viking that rides a Nadder with us!"
Ryker chuckled. "Oh that's her name? I thought her name was Mud."
Toothless sent a plasma blast into the ship at his feet. "I didn't come here for jokes! Where. Is. She?"
"Ohh he's so angry!" Ryker chuckled. "Well, I must say, that whore of yours is long gone by now. Imprisoned at one of our camps and beaten for all the knowledge she had. Then, disposed of. No need to waste precious resources, right?"
The sound that ripped from Hiccup's throat was horrible, agonizing, down to the soul pain. He sobbed, covering his face with his hands.
"Boy, if you can't handle the death of one of your riders, you shouldn't be fighting this war! You're over your head."
Hiccup grit his teeth and snarled, "Sink the ship."
"But Hiccup–" Fishlegs tried to protest.
"SINK IT!" Hiccup shrieked, as Toothless loosed two more blasts into the hull of the ship.
The other riders obeyed, feeling not too remorseful either. Then they headed back to the Edge.
—
Hiccup did everything he could to keep busy. It wouldn't do to break down. Not with everything they had been working so hard to accomplish on the Edge.
The team was falling apart. While everyone was sad that Astrid was gone, things started to pick up as they had been. Snotlout was bullying the others, the twins were causing chaos, and Fishlegs was too scared to stop any of it. Hiccup didn't care. He wasn't leading. Wasn't issuing commands. Wasn't distributing chores. He just did whatever he could by himself.
He spent plenty of time on Stormfly though.
The Nadder was beginning to perk up. She didn't seem strong enough to fly yet.
Hiccup changed. Became hardened, cold. He didn't even use sarcasm these days. The other riders just gave him time and space, knowing that Hiccup was dealing with his grief.
He had loved her. Everyone knew it. They obviously loved each other from back in the days of the Green Death. How much time had they wasted with uncertainties? They could have had more.
But now it was too late.
Hiccup showed no mercy to the Hunters. When a camp or operation would crop up, they would destroy it. Hiccup didn't even care if people died.
Word got around the Edge when Fishlegs made the observation that Viggo hadn't been seen in a while.
"Maybe he got reassigned?" Snotlout mused.
"Maybe he got eaten!" Tuff suggested.
"Would serve him right!" Said Ruff.
"What do you think happened, Hiccup?" Asked Fishlegs.
The other boy continued to compare maps on the table in the corner.
"Nice try, Fishface, but you know he doesn't talk to us anymore."
"I try to include him when I can. Maybe one day he'll come around."
Then after three months of absence from Astrid, hope dawned on the horizon.
Hiccup was on the watchtower. No one else had duty, and instead of forcing someone else to do it, he took it himself. Toothless was free to go visit Stormfly or the other Edge dragons.
The hunter activity had been very low in the last few weeks, and Hiccup hoped they were making a significant dent on their plans. Either way, he expected a boring watch.
Instead, at some time mid-afternoon, he caught a glimpse of a small boat making its way towards the Edge.
"What is that?" He wondered, as he took out the spyglass.
It was a boat, but only in the most literal sense. A dingy, rigged with a sail, some oars, and one occupant. It was still too far out to tell who it was. But considering the size of the boat compared to the vast seas, it was either a scout, or a lifeboat.
Hiccup sounded the horn and then descended from the tower to greet their 'guest'.
"What is it?" Fishlegs asked, appearing winded.
"One tiny ship. Not sure if it's a scout or someone in peril. Where are the others?"
Fishlegs shrugged. "Off racing maybe?"
Hiccup snarled. "Of course they are. Look, I—can you and Meatlug take a wide lap of the island? See if you see the others or any other ships?"
Fishlegs saluted. "On it, Chief!"
Feeling at least a little more composed, Hiccup descended further down the Outpost.
Toothless appeared not long after, warbling curiously.
"We'll wait on the docks. You stay close, okay bud?"
Toothless nuzzled his hand in response.
They stood at the end of the dock, waiting. A scout would come close, just close enough to look, and hopefully see them and retreat. But if this was a lifeboat, it would try to dock there.
Depending on the occupant, Hiccup may even show compassion.
The ship only came closer, and through the spyglass, Hiccup watched as the sailor struggled to stay afloat and on course. They wore a hood, no, a blanket tied into a hood, concealing their face and probably protecting them from the harsh sun on the open ocean. The boat was roughshod, cobbled together from scraps. The sail had so many holes in it, Hiccup wondered if it was even doing anything.
Once the boat was close enough to speak to, Hiccup shouted out. "Who goes there?!"
The sailor jolted, seemingly not even noticing that Hiccup was there. He tore his hood off, revealing a face Hiccup never wanted to see.
It was Viggo, but so badly scarred on one side of his face, he was almost unrecognizable. "Hiccup Haddock, I throw myself at your mercy!"
Hiccup snarled. "What do you want, Viggo?!"
"Refuge, sanctuary, a warm bedroll, or even some food. Whatever you deem merciful enough to give me."
"And why should I? After what your men did to Astrid, why do you think I'll even give you a crumb?! Why shouldn't I have Toothless blast you to bits where you stand?!"
Viggo sighed. "Please Hiccup, understand I had nothing to do with what happened to Astrid. I had already been relieved of my duties…and on my way to punishment."
"And I should believe you, why?"
"Because I've brought you a sign of goodwill."
Hiccup shared a look of suspicion with Toothless.
"Show me your hands!" Hiccup demanded.
Viggo withdrew one from inside his makeshift cape and held it up.
"Both hands!"
"I must regretfully state I only have the one." He untied his cape, revealing he wasn't wearing a shirt. His torso was marred with hideous, infected scars and wounds. His left shoulder had a pitiful amount of bandage over it, but clearly showed an empty socket. No arm whatsoever.
The sight made Hiccup's stomach lurch. If this is the way the hunters treated one of their own, what had happened to Astrid?
"Oh gods…"
"I have no weapons. I'm sick and dying. I am no threat. Please, I beg you, just hear me out."
Despite the immense grief he was dealing with, Hiccup admitted he still was merciful. "Fine. Do you have a rope?"
"I'm afraid not."
Hiccup took one from the dock, and tossed it to Viggo, who immediately tied it to the front of his boat. One mighty tug from Toothless, and the boat was in front of him. Now, he could see inside the boat, where there was seemingly no supplies, but something covered by a woolen blanket on the floor.
Hiccup held his hand out to Viggo, who took it and weakly pulled himself onto solid ground. He immediately collapsed on a crate, breathing harshly.
"Now what's this token of goodwill?" Hiccup demanded, rather callously.
Viggo simply pointed at the blanket.
So Hiccup knelt, and pulled back the cover, only to recoil in disgust and cover it back up.
Viggo had brought the body of a dead woman; blonde hair cut short and partially shaved, brutally tortured, mutilated, and mostly naked. Her leg was broken, and bent awkwardly. She was horribly skinny, and not only were her ribs visible, but there was a harsh indent for her waist. Huge, thick lacerations decorated every part of her body. The rest of her skin was some sort of gruesome purple, blue, or green.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" Hiccup snarled.
Viggo seemed rather surprised with the reaction. "Hiccup…that's your beloved Astrid."
His shoulders fell and tears sprung to his eyes. He took another look, putting his disgust aside to actually look.
It was. It was Astrid. Without her beautiful golden hair, and all the blood…he hadn't recognized her.
He hung his head and covered her back up. "It…it is…sorry, I just…" he sniffed, not sure what he was feeling. Grief? Rage? Disgust? "Thank you for bringing her body back. She deserves a proper burial."
Viggo protested again, staggering forward, "no! She's still alive!"
"What?!" For a third time, Hiccup removed the cover, and this time, leaned down to search Astrid for any sign of life. He felt her neck, and her wrist, feeling the faintest pulse. Then she breathed a short, hollow breath.
"Oh gods, Astrid!"
"I'm sorry, Hiccup," Viggo elaborated. "She could speak when we left, but three days at open sea…"
Hiccup said nothing, but loosely wrapped Astrid up in the blanket and lifted her into his arms. She was so light, so frail. He stood with ease and started towards the clubhouse.
Viggo decided to just follow, and he confessed everything. "We were held at Bleakrock Isle, a prison for traitors and enemies of the hunters. I was thrown in there after our last encounter. Apparently, my failure was seen as treason, and they thought I was going too easy on you and your riders. They assumed that meant I was working with you and that I was a mole. So…off to prison."
His story sounded genuine enough. The wounds and missing arm looked to be inflicted by man, and not by dragons.
Hiccup said nothing, only continued up through the Clubhouse and over the bridge to his hut.
Viggo walked right behind him, and continued. "I was there about a month before they brought Astrid in. Bleakrock has a few areas, depending on the perceived crimes of the prisoner. Astrid and I were the only ones in our area, with cells right next to each other. At first, she doubted that I was being honest about my incarceration. She thought it was a trick, maybe to lull her into a false sense of security, which I must admit, would have been a good tactic…"
Hiccup flickered his gaze over in annoyance.
"But, she came to realize I was just as trapped as she was after a few days. We never left our cells. The cruel justicars came to us and inflicted all sorts of torture upon us. I think after she saw me flogged for the eighth time and I cried like a child, she realized then that I had been fired."
Viggo paused, hoping to see any emotion on Hiccup's face. Maybe he'd smirk at hearing that he cried?
But no, he remained stony, and continued walking with purpose to what appeared to be his hut.
"I was there to be punished, but your girl was being interrogated. They demanded knowledge, anything. Weaknesses, locations of outposts, plans, names of family members, but she didn't crack. Your girl didn't say a peep. She barely screamed."
Hiccup breathed deeply, not sure how to feel about that. "Would she be in this state if she had talked?" He croaked.
"They probably would have outright killed her," Viggo said honestly. "Gotten what they needed, and…well."
At this point, they arrived at Hiccup's hut. Hiccup switched into work mode.
"See those furs in that crate in the corner?" He asked Viggo. "Put them on the ground."
Viggo did as commanded, intrigued by Hiccup's uncharacteristic stoicism. He was used to anger and to his, frankly pathetic, attempts of intimidation.
But he was not used to blank-faced Hiccup.
Hiccup set Astrid very carefully down on the furs. Then he went over to his desk and cleared it with a swipe of the arm, all manner of tools and scrap metal clattering to the ground. He then picked Astrid back up and laid her bare on the table. He adjusted the lamp to see better, and then began to cut away the scraps of cloth that hid Astrid's wounds.
They weren't doing much for her modesty anyway.
"Toothless, go wait outside," he said calmly. "Let the others know where we are, but don't let them come in. We want to give Astrid some form of privacy." Though that last sentence was stated bitterly, like it didn't even matter anymore.
"Viggo," he snapped.
"Yes?"
"Up those stairs, in my bedside drawer, I have a medical kit."
"I'll get that."
Hiccup huffed in frustration as he studied Astrid once more. Where were the others? He needed supplies, but also needed to get to work! And he also still didn't trust Viggo to be remotely helpful.
But Viggo dutifully returned with the medical kit. "Anything else?"
"Do you know how to work a forge?" He pointed to the one within his hut.
Viggo sauntered over to it. "Rudimentary. What do you need?"
"Bring the heat up and place those three pokers in it. I'm going to stitch up the larger wounds, and cauterize the rest."
Viggo winced at the thought, but did as commanded, thankful that the bellows could be operated with one hand. Once the pokers were in the ash, he returned. "What next?"
Hiccup pointed to the chair. "Sit, keep talking."
Viggo was really just grateful to sit for a second. He watched in a daze as Hiccup wetted a rag from a waterskin and started cleaning the blood from Astrid's skin.
Once he caught his breath, he continued, "I'll skip over everything they did to us. I'm sure Astrid will tell you in due time. But eventually, they stopped coming. That meant they were giving up on us. Or rather, done with me and giving up on Astrid. There would be no more food, water, or any patrols. Basically, we were as good as dead. And I thought we would both die there. Astrid maintained a stiff upper lip the whole time, even when I told her they were leaving us to starve. She persisted that she wouldn't die. Either you would find her, or Odin would send a miracle."
Hiccup's face screwed up in agony. He felt awful that she had been waiting for him. He had looked for her. He had done everything in his power to find her. But…it just wasn't enough.
"The miracle came in the form of an old friend of mine," Viggo continued. "He served faithfully under my command and said he owed me a favor from back then. He had been assigned the unfortunate task of disposing of our bodies once dead and preparing the cells for the next occupants. He said as long as the cells were empty, no one would be the wiser. He had prepared that pathetic boat you saw, and gave us a way out of the prison without being spotted. I was the one that demanded that Astrid come with."
"So you could have a bartering chip?" Hiccup sneered.
"Well, yes, but also because I started to grow a little soft spot for her. Three months of captivity is plenty of time to talk."
"I thought you said she didn't speak."
"Not to the justicars, no. But she eventually started talking to me. Loneliness? Boredom? I didn't ask. But she started reminiscing about your lives on Berk. She told me about how you introduced her to Toothless, how you kidnapped her and took her flying."
"She called it kidnapping?" He balked.
"Was it not?"
He had a point. Hiccup shrugged, and switched over to a needle and silk thread.
"She told me how you lost your leg," Viggo said quietly. "I actually asked her about it, and she told me. I had always been curious. Now I must say, I always respected you, but to find out you took on that beast of a dragon? Remarkable."
"Save your flattery," Hiccup snipped. "I certainly don't need it."
"Of course. I only meant that…well, Astrid's stories were so detailed, so intimate, it felt like I was there. She has such a high opinion of you, you know. I think you might be her hero."
Hiccup tried not to let his words affect him, but his mouth pulled hard into a frown.
"I'm no hero…I thought she was dead. Your brother said she was dead, and I believed him."
"But she's not," Viggo said, softly. "And she's tough. She'll recover."
Hiccup sighed, finishing off his first line of sutures. Only a hundred more to go.
"I always guessed there was something between you two. The chemistry was unmistakable. But as Astrid told me of your adventures, I figured it out. My life with the hunters is over. I've lost my home, my family, my very purpose. I was prepared to die in that dungeon, but Astrid's words gave me…something of a reason to keep going. I decided that I was going to reunite you two. And hopefully find my next mission once I had."
"How noble," Hiccup murmured.
"But I respect your suspicions, so once I regain some strength, I'll be off."
"Let's just see," Hiccup said, less harsh this time. "You brought Astrid back to me. I'll want to know her opinion before I decide anything."
"Thank you, I appreciate it." He swallowed thickly. "Could I perhaps have some of that water?"
Hiccup tossed him the waterskin and he fumbled with it, trying to catch it with one arm.
"Hiccup!" Fishlegs' voice came from the bridge. "I still can't find the Twins, but Snotlout's here."
"Yeah, and I was doing something important, so what's the big deal?"
"Viggo's here. He brought Astrid. They were imprisoned together—"
"Astrid's here?!" Snotlout cried, opening the door.
"Wait, don't come—!"
Snotlout burst into the room, only to freeze in abject horror at the sight before him.
"—in," Hiccup finished lamely.
"W-wh-wh-wha…?" Snotlout blubbered.
"She was tortured," Hiccup spat. "And I need you to get the med kit from the Clubhouse so that I can tend her wounds."
"Sh-sh-she…" he pointed.
"Move!" Hiccup demanded.
Snotlout snapped to attention and hustled away.
"What can I do?" Fishlegs asked, standing in the doorway, but not looking in.
"Write a Terror Mail to Berk. Ask for Gothi to come, and let the Hofferson's know that Astrid's here and alive but gravely injured."
"I will. Do you still want me to look for the twins?"
"Only if they're going to be helpful. I don't need to worry about their mess right now."
"Got it. I'll let them know what's going on if I see them. I'll be back once I send those letters." And he closed the door behind him.
Hiccup let out a sigh, this time of relief. Things were moving, people were being helpful.
Hiccup moved onto another deep cut, cleaning it first before starting to stitch it closed. But as the needle pierced skin, Astrid let out a terribly sad cry of pain.
Hiccup stopped moving, his breath in his throat.
"…V-Vi…go?" She murmured.
Hiccup tried not to be angry that she asked his name first.
"I'm here, Astrid," Viggo called over calmly.
"Wh-where…are we?" Her voice was so dry, so cracked, it was hardly audible.
"We made it to the Edge. You're home, Astrid."
Her breathing picked up, her chest shuttering with a sob. "H-Home? H-H-H-Hiccup?" She squeaked.
"Hi," he whispered, petting her messy hair with a gentle hand.
She sniffed and tears started rolling down her cheeks. "Hiccup…" she sobbed. "Hiccup…"
"Yes Astrid," he spoke tenderly, his face so close to hers. "I'm here. I'm here."
Slowly, she opened her eyes, and blearily looked at him. Those big beautiful blue eyes were bloodshot and full of sorrow, but still so full of life.
He smiled at her, running his knuckle over her cheek.
She started weeping, full body, gut wrenching sobs. "H-H-Hiccup…" she whimpered.
He shushed her, a warmth forming in his chest, right where his heart used to be.
"I n-n-never thought…" she choked out a sob. "I never thought I'd see y-your stupid face again!"
Hiccup couldn't help but bark a hapless laugh. "Oh come on, really? You just got back and you're already being mean to me?"
"I-I-I love your stupid face!" She wailed.
He leaned forward and pressed his cheek to hers, the closest he could get to hugging her in this fragile state.
"I m-m-missed you…" her hand weakly reached out and grabbed him, only able to find a loop in his armor.
"I missed you too," he whispered in her ear. "More than you could ever know."
"Hiccup!" Snotlout called, "I'm back with the med kit! I think I found every bandage on the Edge!"
"S-S-Snotlout!" Astrid called. "Is that my Snotlout?!"
Hiccup straightened up. "Astrid, you're naked. Let me get you something—"
"Don't care…w-w-wanna see Snotlout!"
Hiccup shrugged. He was about to tell him to come in, but it seemed like he heard it all from outside.
"No offense, but I can't…look at her. All the––gore." He gulped.
Viggo got up and picked up the wool blanket she was wrapped in earlier. He brought it over, and both he and Hiccup draped it over her carefully.
"You can come in, Snotlout," Hiccup called.
Sheepishly, Snotlout slunk in, arms full of medical supplies. He dropped them on the table by Hiccup and then approached Astrid from the other side. "H-Hey Astrid, how's it going?"
"Snotlout…" she cooed, raising her hand out to him. Hiccup had never heard her say his name with such affection.
Apparently, neither did Snotlout, as he got teary-eyed. He took her hand, holding it gently. "It wasn't the same around here without you. Never thought I'd miss having you pick on me all the time."
The corners of Astrid's mouth twitched in amusement. "Were you good for Hiccup? Did you help?"
"No," Snotlout laughed weakly. "Same old pain in the neck as always."
Astrid still had her finger hooked in the loop on Hiccup, and she tugged on him. "I leave for a few months and everything falls apart?"
Hiccup nodded. "Yeah. You know I have no authority over these muttonheads."
Astrid chuckled, but the laugh turned to a grimace and a whimper.
"Alright, Astrid, I'm going to have to continue bandaging you up. It's not going to be fun, I can promise you that."
Snotlout shuffled away, standing over by the door, but not really ready to leave yet.
Hiccup peeled back the blanket, but kept her bottom half covered. Might as well keep her as comfortable as possible. "You've got…some of this skin is black and dead. I have to cut it away before I stitch it up."
"I trust you," she breathed. "It can't hurt more than…than what they did, right?"
He frowned, feeling guilty. "I hope not. I'll try to be careful, but a medic, I am not." He took out a knife and held it up to the light, checking the edge. "Snotlout, could you take Viggo to get some food?"
"What? Me? But he's scary!"
"Trust me, this…is going to be so much worse."
Snotlout grew pale. "Yeah, okay…um…you like chicken?"
"I'll eat a rock if I have to," Viggo responded, getting up and leaving with Snotlout.
Now alone, Hiccup took a deep breath and let several tears fall.
"H-Hiccup?"
He wiped his eyes just as quickly. "It's fine, just uh…just not something I ever wanted to do." He picked up the knife and forceps from the medical kit and got to work.
By the gods was Astrid ever tough. She groaned, and dug her fingers into the blanket. She curled her toes and gnashed her teeth. She cursed Hiccup, his family, his lineage, and every Berkian that ever lived, but she did not scream.
Hiccup went somewhere in his mind. A coping mechanism he had gone to before when he had to deliver stitches. Astrid was made of leather, that soft, warm, tough material. Her wounds were rips in armor, and they needed to be patched.
It was better than the alternative. If he really thought about what he was doing to Astrid, he might have another mental breakdown. And he had had enough of those lately.
"B-break…" Astrid croaked. "I need a break…"
Hiccup set the tools down, his own hands shaking. He retrieved the fresh waterskin Snotlout brought and took a little sip, before bringing it to Astrid. He slid his arm underneath her shoulders and lifted her to half sit up, half lean against him, then brought the waterskin up for her to drink from. She weakly held it with her trembling hands. She'd pull away for a moment to take deep breaths, but she ended up drinking the whole thing.
"We'll get you more water soon, and some food," Hiccup noted as he took the skin away from her. Then he attempted to lay her back down, but she protested.
"W-wait…"
"What's wrong?"
"Would you…just hold me for a minute?"
His heart fluttered, stirred by her innocent request. "Of course." He kept one arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest so he could wrap his other arm around her waist. Her face fell into his neck but she seemed thankful for it, as she nuzzled him gently.
"Thank you," she breathed again.
"Anytime. Really."
"I'm…not going to be very useful around here for a while," she chuckled slightly, but Hiccup heard it for what it was, an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. "Or ever," she added with a choked sob.
"I don't care," he tried to comfort. "Wherever you want to be, we'll take you there. If you want to stay on the Edge, I'll take care of you."
"But Hiccup…"
"Astrid, I was so lost without you. You've been with me since the beginning. You were the first person I showed Toothless to. I want you in my life, in any capacity. Even if you were blind and paralyzed from the neck down, I'd strap you to my back and carry you with me everywhere."
"You don't mean that…"
"I'm pretty sure I do. I've always been honest with you, Astrid. I found out how much I depend on you for strength, so feel free to depend on me for anything. Don't worry about what comes next. Just worry about getting better."
Astrid took a shaky breath. "Okay, I'm ready for you to keep going."
"Okay. I know it's not pleasant, but the sooner we get these open wounds closed, the sooner you'll start feeling better."
She nodded.
Gently, he laid her back down. But he was courteous enough to fetch his pillow for her.