Twenty Two: Lost

The return to Berk was swathed by night and it was raining but the solid shape of Stoick the Vast was still pacing up and down the Plaza, ostensibly checking that the village was secure but in reality, waiting for the Riders to return. The night patrol nodded greetings and he acknowledged them absently, peering into the mist as he retreated back into the shelter of the forge.

Gobber looked up from where he was unbending a sword that seemed to have been transformed into a corkscrew and gestured to his friend.

"Tek a seat," he said, his hammer prosthetic steadily flattening the curved sword. "I don't know what that yakbrain Lars does with his weapons but if he can manage to go a week without turning them into scrap, he's doing well." Stoick frowned and quietly lowered his bulky shape onto Gobber's carefully reinforced stool, reaching automatically for the flask of mead that the blacksmith kept in the middle of his tools. He didn't mention he had seen Lars using his sword the previous day to hammer some nails into a fence that he had been knocking down and then repairing all using just his sword.

"Aye-he's not the sharpest weapon in the armoury but he is a good cheesemaker," he commented, sipping Gobber's mead. He grimaced: the man insisted on brewing his own and Gobber's mead could double as metal polish-and probably had, Stoick thought wryly.

"I can tell yer worried but Hiccup's friends will find him," Gobber reassured him.

"Why did he go in the first place?" Stoick asked wearily. "I mean, he is still recovering from being poisoned by that honourless cur, Viggo, and he is safest here."

"He's Hiccup," Gobber smiled. "He overthinks everything. He tends to brood and he always comes to the worst possible conclusion. I mean, I got to know how his mind works pretty well when he was meh apprentice. And whenever he felt he had disappointed you-or you had ignored the boy because he wasnae what yeh thought ye wanted in a son, he took it hard. Can ye imagine what he thinks now, with that brand on his flesh?" Grimly, the Chief nodded.

"I wish he knew that we will face this together," Stoick sighed. "I mean, he is my son and it took me far too long to realise what an amazing young man he is-but I know who he is now and I couldn't be more proud in him. I just want him home..." Gobber peered up and then his eyes twinkled.

"Ye can ask him yerself," he commented as roars echoed through the rain and shapes coalesced, drenched and flying fast, led by the iridescent shape of Skullcrusher who arrowed without hesitation towards the forge, followed by the other dragons. Stoick was up on his feet in an instant, running into the rain to see the dripping shapes of the Riders landing, his eyes fixed only on the black shape of Toothless and the bowed young man on his back. Hiccup was soaked, his auburn hair darkened and plastered to his head and his left shoulder bare and wounded. Stoick stared at him as his son lifted his head.

"Sorry, Dad," he murmured as Stoick lunged forward, wrapping his only child in his arms, swathing him in his warmth and concern.

"I was worried, son," he said gruffly, feeling Hiccup wrap his arms around his father. "I know how sick you have been and that man is still out there. Anything could have happened." Hiccup looked up. "And I know you had Toothless with you-but I still worry. It's an occupational hazard." Leaning against his father and sighing, the young man tightened his grip.

"Sorry, Dad," he repeated. "I-I just had to go. I-I needed some time..." His throat was curiously thick with shame and unfamiliar emotion. "I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I shamed you. I'm sorry I'm not your son, not the Heir you need." He pulled back. "They know." Stoick stared into his ashamed face.

"Son..." he murmured but Hiccup bowed his head.

"They saw..."

"And we have an idea, sir," Fishlegs piped up as Tuff immediately stuck his hand in the air.

"Me! Me! Me!" he said urgently. His sister slapped her hand over his mouth as Fishlegs helped drag the twin back. Stoick frowned.

"But maybe we should get some rest first?" the husky rider offered, reading the Chief's expression.

"Hiccup has nearly died recently," the Chief confirmed, his hand feeling his son tremble. "Let him rest." And then he looked over to Toothless. "Thank you for looking after him, dragon. Now can you make sure he stays put and gets some rest?" Warbling, Toothless bobbed his head as Hiccup stumbled with weariness.

"S'okay, bud," he murmured. "Just a little tired. I'll be better after a nap..." And then he sagged in Stoick's arms as his father caught him.

"Gobber-can you come up to the house as well?" the Chief asked, his eyes concerned. "And fetch Gothi. I want him checked out before I can relax."

"Sir..." Heather began but Stoick shook his head, lifting Hiccup tenderly.

"I nearly lost Hiccup," he sighed. "I have to be sure. I have to try to protect him..." And then he headed up towards the house. Snotlout voiced everyone's opinion.

"Hiccup isn't going to be too happy when he wakes," he said.

oOo

Stormfly's hiss awoke Astrid and instantly, she was alert. Soundlessly, she rolled to a crouch, the axe clamped in her hand, her head forward as she listened for sounds in the velvety cloak of the night. She had been sleeping in her little hut, positioned discreetly back from any vegetation and elevated to ensure clear approaches and unimpeded view of anyone closing.

It hadn't taken long to throw up the hut, for making a home from nothing was a skill that had been developed on Berk over three centuries of war with the dragons. And for the first fifteen years of her life, Astrid had helped rebuild her neighbours' and friends' homes on a weekly basis. Smiling, she had recalled the old saying: Give a Hooligan two planks and a handful of nails and he'll build you a hut in an hour.

But Astrid had focussed on security and safety when she had constructed her new home-knowing in her heart that it would probably only be temporary and that she would end up moving on, as she had already-and her heart ached at the memory of Hiccup when they just arrived on the Edge. And that smile as he had explained his plans for the base on the Edge, when he had carefully but meaningfully placed her hut right next to his-and as far away as possible from Snotlout.

Astrid-you can build the most heavily fortified bedroom in the Archipelago.

And damn him, his eyes had been twinkling as he had said that, challenging her to construct a small fortress for a hut-which she had. And he had discreetly helped her, with he and Toothless helping her lift the ballista into position. And maybe, even then, he had been hoping one day, they would construct a home together...

There was the slightest crack of a foot on a dry leaf, about ten feet to her left and she lifted a hand to hold the Nadder in position. Eyes open a crack but still feigning sleep, Stormfly tracked the approaching intruder as Astrid frowned. There were two sets of breathing from the other side of the hut...and the rustle of the dry grass behind the hut as at least one more hostile approached. Silently, she pulled her blanket from the bed space and shoved it, her plate and anything else valuable into the pantry she had dug into the cold earth to the side of the single space and covered with a simple board. Now there was only the girl and her dragon at risk and as she paused, she heard a roar and the flash of flames.

They had fired her hut.

But she didn't panic because it wasn't another, hostile dragon-Stormfly would have warned her of that-and ordinary fire was not a problem, She scuttled over to the Nadder, who had risen to her feet and ducked into the protection she offered under her wings and her body, not even considering the door. It would be blocked or surrounded by enemies who would rain steel and death on her as she emerged, choking and disorientated. But they had made a fatal mistake: she didn't care about her hut because it wasn't her home. She wouldn't be fighting to protect the little construction or racing out unprepared. Instead...she would wait.

Curling around her, Stormfly gave a little trill and closed her wings to ensure that Astrid was protected from the inferno that developed. The wood was dry and unseasoned so it had burned fast and hot, smoking due to the sap still in the planks and roaring and popping as it yielded. There was a crash as the light roof fell in and a roar of triumph as the cowardly attackers assumed their triumph. Reaching a hand up to rest lightly against her dragon's chest, Astrid tapped twice and Stormfly's head snapped up. Focussing on the sound of the nearest voice, the dragon locked on and gave a roar-and then fired a single blast of her rock-meltingly hot flame.

There was a scream as the attacker was partially cremated and the burning debris was blasted out of the way-and in that moment, the girl burst through the flames, her axe swinging to take the head of the man next to him, bisecting the half vaporised man as well. She was aware of the shapes of three other men, one more than she had expected, gilded by the flames and they had lost the element of surprise. Stormfly roared and pounced onto the man to the left while Astrid threw herself at the men to the right, ducking under the swipe of a mace and parrying a slice at her side with a single-headed axe. Spinning as she ducked, she snatched a knife from a sheath at her back and hamstrung the man, wheeling away as he bellowed and staggered back, his leg almost buckling. Before the man to his left could move, the axe had swung round again, burying deep in his gut. His urgent scream pierced the night air, above the howls of the man being savaged by Stormfly. Pulling her axe out, the opponent gasped, his guard dropped and Astrid clinically finished him off, before ruthlessly arching her axe down one final time and decapitating the man she had hamstrung.

Stormfly looked up, her opponent no longer moving and gave a small croon. Instantly, Astrid walked to her side, checking the kills before resting her hand on the dragon's surprisingly soft nose.

"Stormfly, my good girl," she murmured, her hand caressing her nose horn. "Thanks." And then she cast a glance at the inferno, the partially collapsed remains that had been her hut. Sighing, she gestured and the dragon batted a blazing wall aside so she could retrieve her belongings and her food and then, once she had bundled them expertly up into her almost-completely packed saddlebag, she looked at the bodies of her attackers. And then she grabbed the nearest one and gestured to Stormfly.

"Girl-can you help me put them in the flames?' she asked, patting him down for any identification or weapons. Efficiently, she and Stormfly tossed the men into the pyre that had been her home and then she stood back. She had kept their weapons and any coins they had on them. The next market she came across, she would exchange the weapons for food and necessities and then she would seek another remote haven. Somehow, Johann's bounty hunters had found her again and she would just have to keep moving.

For a long moment, she closed her eyes, imagining Hiccup's face, his goofy smile and twinkling eyes and wild auburn hair. For a second, she could hear his voice, light and teasing her gently as only he dared and she could feel the warmth of his hand on her waist, pulling her against his body.

No matter how much her heart hurt, she was a danger to anyone around her. Johann would never give up and it was all she could do to keep ahead on him. For now, she had to disappear again...and hope that Hiccup remained safe in the care of his friends, family and dragon.

"Goodbye, my love," she murmured as she mounted Stormfly and they flew off into the night, even as the remains of her hut collapsed over the charred bodies of her would-be assassins.

oOo

When Hiccup woke in his own bed, he was aching and sore, fragments of memories swirling around him before he sat up with a jerk.

"Toothless!" he called and was answered by a reassuring croon as the Night Fury raised his head. "Oh thank Thor," the one-legged Viking sighed and lay back for a moment. He had been wracked by nightmares and very weird dreams, filled with dragon hunters, Tuffnut covered in wobbly tattoos and Snotlout riding a Gronckle of all things. And Astrid, vanishing into the clouds on Stormfly. He had been crying for her, chasing her on Toothless but no matter how fast the Night Fury flew, Stormfly just pulled farther away. He sighed, scrubbing his face with his hands to erase the images that rolled around his memory.

"I know I'm home-and running wasn't the answer," he murmured and slowly sat up. "But I can't stay here forever, bud. We both know that. At the moment, Dad is right-because I am still healing from what Johann and Krogan and Viggo did to me. But as I get stronger, I will go out there again. Because there are other Hunters and other enemies to fight. And Astrid is out there, alone and in danger. So I need to heal, change this brand and get out there to find her."

Toothless gave a small warble and rose, scrambling over to nudge against the lean shape. Smiling, Hiccup hugged the blunt head, closing his eyes.

"Not sure what I'd do without you, bud," he sighed. Toothless rubbed adoringly against him, leaning into the affectionate gesture and Hiccup felt his face stretch in a smile. "Thanks. Now let's go and see Dad..."

Stoick was waiting with a plate of meat broth as Hiccup limped down the stairs, his damaged leather armour in his hand and a fresh dark red tunic over his skinny shape. Thick brows dipping, the Chief frowned for a second before he stood up and forced himself to smile.

"Son!" he said cheerfully. "Come down! Sit! You need some feeding up!" Sliding into the chair, the auburn haired Viking gave a wry smile.

"Still a fishbone," he commented. "And you would know about feeding up, Dad." Stoick rolled his eyes.

"Was that a crack about my weight?" the Chief asked his son, placing the bowl in front of him. Hiccup gulped.

"Maybe..." he mumbled but Stoick sighed.

"Son-I worry about you because you are my son as well as my Heir-and I care about you." He paused. "I love you, son." Hiccup sighed.

"I know, Dad-and I love you too...but I know you must be ashamed because I am branded and can't be your Heir..." The Chief scowled and folded his arms.

"I know why you ran," he explained. "And I hope you found what you were looking for..."

"Well, Astrid wasn't there," Hiccup told him, taking a spoonful of his broth, "but I found there are still Hunters out there. It reminded me that it isn't over, that I can't give in." The Chief took a sip of his watered-down ale and sighed.

"You have to be careful," he reminded his son-but Hiccup shook his head.

"Oh, I know that, Dad," he reminded his father. "But I can't live in fear. And I have my friends. They came up with a way of dealing with the brand." He took a quick breath. "We'll convert it into a tattoo."

Stoick frowned.

"Ye want to look like one of those Heathen Britons?" he growled as Hiccup shook his head and chuckled.

"And you know I said you would say that," he murmured as Toothless made a laughing sounds as well. "Dad-it will not be visible...but of anyone sees where the brand is, it will be covered with the tattoo and will look just like a tattoo, not the mark of a slave." He lifted his chin. "It is my choice."

"Please check with Gothi," Stoick asked him with concern. "I know you have done far crazier things, son-but you have nearly died and aren't recovered yet. I don't want you to start something that could make you worse..." Hiccup sighed.

"Well, I certainly won't let Tuff do it-he can't really draw," he admitted. "I'll be the one in charge of the design. And Fishlegs and Heather will supervise." He paused. "They all want matching tattoos as well, Dad. And I couldn't be prouder or more touched that they would do that for me..." Stoick rose and gently rested his hand on his son's shoulder.

"Aye, yer friends are an odd bunch-but they mean well and would fly to the ends of the world for you," he commented. "As would I..."

"And Astrid...but she has run, to try to protect me," Hiccup said softly. "Dad-I have to deal with the brand so I can safely go out there and find her. I cannot spend the rest of my life without her. I cannot have a world, a life without her..." Giving a gentle squeeze, Stoick nodded.

"Aye-she's a remarkable lass...and the only one who can help you with what you want to do and be who you were born to be," he said. "Eat your breakfast, son, and then we can discuss this with Gothi and see how we can do this safely..." Glancing over at Toothless, who was managing to look smug even as he was eating the basket of fish that Stoick had collected for breakfast, Hiccup smiled.

"Thanks, Dad," he said. "And then once this is sorted...I can go to find Astrid."

oOo

Her latest home had been raided and another few bounty hunters had been consigned to the flames as Astrid found herself in the market on a small island. The village was called Dibbling on the island of Ugly Warts, a place as unappetising as it sounded. The people were almost as tough and tasteless as the Hairy Hooligan Tribe but much less welcoming, suspicious of an outsider from so far away as she walked through the little stalls. The farmers from the surrounding settlements and smaller isles came in once a week or so to sell or trade their wares and quietly, Astrid had sold the weapons from the dead men, keeping a nicely weighted dagger and a bow and had used the money to get soap, bread, jerky and salt.

Sure that she had finished, she walked idy through the remaining stalls and found a bolt of sturdy woollen cloth that could be used to make a skirt and top, something that she could wear when she approached a new village as something other than the fierce Valkyrie she was. Mentally running over her store of money, she bartered hard for the cloth and won her prize at less than she had anticipated and was just heading for the edge of the market and the little path to the cave where Stormfly was hiding when she froze. Voices were echoing from round the forge, from a little shadowed alley that was clearly concealing several people...

"Everybody clear?"

"Yes, Princess Outpost!"

"Snotlout-I've told you before-I don't like being called that."

"And you know I wasn't paying attention!"

"He's just grumpy because he screamed like a girl when he got inked."

"And you know I don't like that saying either! I mean, I never scream!"

"You do, sis. When you're screaming at me that you're going to sell Macey because you've banged your foot on her again!"

"You know Astrid would axe your legs off for suggesting girls scream..."

"Maybe you should change it up to 'screamed like a Snotlout'? That's much more accurate.."

"Shut up Fishface! It's because Gobber was extra rough and my awesome toned body is such a temple that any violation of its sanctity and integrity causes pain which is not just physical but also spiritual..."

"Oh. My. Thor! I didn't know he knew any long words!"

"Heather, Heather-maybe you want to come back to my hut when all of this is over and we can compare vocabularies..."

"Ugh. And he's back..."

"I still can't get over the fact that Gobber of all people is an awesome tattoo artist! I mean, I should go and learn from the master..."

"Tuff-you know Gobber has banned you from coming within fifty paces of the forge since that last incident where you almost blew up the whole forge because you were worried that Macey was getting cold so you put her somewhere warm. And in doing so, you blocked the exhaust of the forge, causing an explosion..."

"But..."

"Mulch and Bucket got hit by bolas and had to go to see Gothi! And the grain storehouse burnt down!"

"Guys-can we get back on point? Astrid could be here. The sightings we've got and intelligence we've gathered all lead in a line in this direction, away from the Edge and Berk. We have to find her. I mean, we've seen people who look seriously like Bounty Hunters here and she's in danger...I mean, she's Astrid and awesome and can handle anything...but I need to find her, I need to talk to her..."

And I would love to be with you, Babe-but it's too dangerous, Astrid thought as she backed away silently. Her stealth skills had always been far better developed than anyone's except Heather's and she knew she should retreat now before they even knew she was here. While Johann is focussed on me, he will dismiss you as an invalid and irrelevant. You need to heal...and find a way to deal with him. I can't risk you.

She turned away and her heart fell.

And how can I ever face you again after what I have done? I have killed without mercy and without hesitation to find what I needed and punish those who hurt you? You are a man who gives people second, third and fourth chances. You forgive and help and nurture while I...destroy. I am no longer worthy of me. You should let me go. I said goodbye. It's safer this way. It's better this way. It's all I deserve...

And she flipped her hood up and sprinted up the track towards her concealed dragon. By the time Hiccup and the others had searched the market, she was long gone.