Hiccup's POV

Her body goes limp and those beautiful brown eyes flutter shut as one last breath passes her lips. I stay completely still, holding her in my arms for what feels like an eternity as what happened finally starts to sink in. Her forehead is still against mine, but her cheeks have lost colour and she...the essence of her as a human being...is absent.

"Hiccup..." Astrid says behind me, her voice thick.

Her voice brings me out of my trance, sending me into an even deeper downward plunge into sorrow.

"No...no...no no no!" I wail, hugging Thora's limp body against me desperately. "Please wake up, Thora, please. Please!"

"She's gone, Hiccup. She's gone," Snotlout says, placing a hand on my shoulder. I don't have to look at him to know that he's crying, his voice far too thick for him to be without tears.

"Thora...Thora..." I shudder as I lower my head, my hand pressed against the back of her head. I keep wishing that she'd wake up or that her magic would somehow heal her.

"Hiccup," Astrid repeats. "It's too late."

"No, she's gonna be okay." My voice drops to below a whisper, "She has to be okay..."

Nightstar lands on the ground and gallops over to us. Her face falls as her wide nose nudges her best friend. She makes some small noises in her throat and I shake my head, hardly able to look at the dragon.

The female Night Fury roars in complete agony and collapses to the ground. Toothless rushes over to her and surrounds her with his wings, rumbling noises sounding in his throat. Dark Moon and Emerald whimper and snuggle each other comfortingly.

Astrid looks up and her eyes widen. I tear my eyes away from Thora, looking in the same direction.

Fishlegs, the twins, and Eret have returned with Fiske, but they aren't alone. The Vikings of Berk have trickled from the Great Hall in their footsteps. My mom runs from the crowd, followed closely behind by Gobber.

"Hiccup! Your head, it's bleed-" She stops at the sight of Thora. "Oh gods. No..."

"Odin help us," Gobber mutters, taking off his helmet. He looks to the gathered community. "Take off your hats you lot."

Everyone takes their hats off and I can feel their eyes boring into my back. Here's their chief, sobbing and crying on the battlefield, holding the limp form of their hero with their enemy's body lying nearby. She saved them all, but she isn't here to see it.

How could a battle so short end so badly?

"She's dead?" Ruffnut squeaks, clinging to her brother as though he's an anchor.

"Yes," I croak. I cough, trying again. "Yes."

Mournful cries rise from the crowd and my mom kneels down next to me, touching the cut on my head. I don't notice the sting as she wipes my face. Her face glistens with tears, but I keep my eyes fixed on Thora, my should've been bride.

I stand up carefully, lifting Thora with me. Her head remains resting on my shoulder, but I can no longer feel her warm breath against my neck. I turn to the crowd, nodding solemnly as I take off in a stride towards my house.

"Hiccup!" Eret hollers. "Wait!"

I don't stop. I stare straight ahead, my steps heavy yet quick. I hear the flapping of leathery wings as my four Night Furies drop down beside me. Their ear plates stay drooped and Nightstar doesn't take her attention off of Thora, her eyes misty and heartbroken.

"I feel you," I mumble to the forlorn dragon.

As I pass Thora's house, a small flap in the door rustles and Thunder Song comes bounding out of her house. He streaks over to me, following us with a curious look on his face.

Once inside my place, I go to my room. I place her on the bed, finding it hard to pull away from her. Thunder Song jumps onto the bed and nuzzles her hand, begging for her to pet him. I take in a shaky breath, remembering the Snoggletogg when Dark Moon and Emerald were born and how I got her the tiny baby Terror.

I collapse onto the end of the bed, burying my face in my hands, not caring that her blood still coats them. The iron smell fills my nose, only reminding me that it's all my fault that she's gone.

Someone please wake me from this nightmare.

I feel like my heart has been torn from my chest, then stabbed and ripped into tiny shreds. It's all my fault. I went after Alrek believing that if I fought him, Thora wouldn't die. The irony is mocking me now.

I want so badly for her to wake up and comfort me. Sure, she was odd at times and incredibly introverted, but she was softer around me. She showed more weakness around me.

"The old m-man was right. Love is m-my downfall," her voice echoes in my memories. "I was k-keeping more secrets, Hiccup. I'm s-sorry."

It was always secrets with her, but maybe that's what drew me in. She was mysterious, but she was fun and brilliant at the same time. Even in death, she approached with a stoic calm that I rarely see. She never did anything for her own good, but right now I wish she had thought about herself instead of me.

I press my ear to her chest, the hollow emptiness inside encasing me in a blanket of despair.

"I'm sorry, Thora. I'm sorry. It should've been me," I sob. I scream and kick the nearest table in anger, sinking to the floor and punching the rug over and over again. "Damn everything. Damn you, Alrek. Damn you for taking her away from me."

I break down and sob into the floor, my entire body trembling with cries.

I didn't even get to tell her that I love her.