Twenty-Three: New Friends

Tiril Gunnarson crouched down behind the low thicket, her grey-blue eyes narrowing as Dogsbreath, Sven the Dim, Lars and especially Snotlout were crashing through the forest. If they found Hiccup and Toothless, they would ruin the young man and certainly have him killed. And though a small part of the girl blamed the blacksmith's apprentice for her cousins' disgrace, the rest of her knew that their own actions and especially Snotlout's treachery were to blame.

"It was all them, Uncle. I just wanted to shake him up and remind him who was the real Heir...but they wouldn't stop. Tuff kept hitting him and then they both stripped him. They led me away, laughing and I went with them. I never planned to kill him. The twins just thought it would be a laugh..."

Liar, she thought, her legs tensing. They trusted you and thought you were their friend. Then she erupted from the thicket and dashed across the path, making sure they caught a glimpse of her before she dived through the bracken, hearing them crashing along behind her. She giggled and carefully ducked through a gap between the trees that her cousins had shown her and waited until she heard the screams. There was a patch of brambles and a bee-hive that they had blundered into-the screams were a clue-and she sniggered as she heard them lumbering towards her. And then she ducked through and ran straight into Dogsbreath.

"Hello, Tiril," he growled. She struggled and then gave a broad smile.

"Hey, Dog-what're you doing here?" she asked cheerfully. Snotlout appeared, brambles sticking out to his hair and vest.

"Where's Hiccup?" the Heir growled, his face angry and Tiril managed a shrug.

"D'uh! Not my problem!" she snarked. "I'm looking for sting berries."

"As if we would believe..." Sven began but Snotlout narrowed his eyes.

"What for?" he demanded. The girl laughed at him.

"Ask the twins," she scorned him. "They'd know. Thorston secret!" Instantly, he snatched her braid and tugged her head back, leaning close so the bramble sticking off his helmet brushed her face.

"Imagine I am looking for Useless and find you instead," he breathed. "Think how frustrated I am..." She smirked.

"It makes a fantastic paste that can burn like a bee sting of you apply it to sensitive skin," she revealed, tugging her head free.

"And why aren't you watching to see what Useless is doing up here in the forest?" Snotlout demanded.

"Hey! You're not the boss of me!" she protested.

"I will be soon, Tiril-and you better remember it!" he menaced as he nodded and gestured to Dogsbreath to release her. "Show me where these berries are. I think we can have some fun feeding them to Useless..."

"Oh, you can't eat them," Tiril told him quickly. "They can be pretty poisonous..."

"Perfect," the Heir said. "And then no one could point at me and say I was to blame for Useless curling up and dying. Helheim-they may even blame Astrid's cooking! That would serve them both right..." The girl stumbled back, Yaklegs's words echoing around her head and a heavy, cold weight settling in her stomach.

No, I wouldn't want to live in a village with a Chief who would poison his own cousin and frame an innocent woman for his murder, she realised. It's no prank... But she grinned and beckoned to the larger, older teens. "This way!" she invited them and darted off in a specific direction.

"After her!" Snotlout yelled and they ran heedlessly after her as she allowed a small grin to lift her lips. She was light and lithe and they...weren't. This should be fun to watch...

oOo

"He's up to something-I can feel it!" Snotlout growled, slamming his mug of ale down on the table that evening. Tiril had led the pursuers in a merry dance and finally stranded them in a bog that had taken then half an hour scramble out of, stinking and soaked. Dogsbreath was furious but Snotlout had stopped him going after the girl, reminding him that the Thorstons were allies of the Jorgensens and pranking was what they did. Except...

...she had been leading them away from where they were searching for Hiccup and Astrid. Though, Snotlout had to admit, it was a very Thorston thing to do to leave them stuck in the mud. Snotlout shook his head and stared at his cronies, still mucky and stinking. They were Vikings through and through and they didn't do baths very often...though he was making sure that Sven, Lars and especially Dog were staying firmly on the opposite side of the table from him. And, of course, everyone else was giving their table a very wide berth.

"Snotlout-we've been searching the forest for weeks and we haven't found anything! Maybe he just goes for walks in the forest..." Sven the Dim suggested, downing his mead. Snotlout rolled his eyes.

"And I'm Gothi's older sister," he snapped.

"Well, he does go into the forest with Astrid a lot," Dogsbreath mused slowly. "Maybe they're not just walking?" Snotlout stared at him.

"What-are they sitting down as well?" Sven asked. Lars chuckled.

"I guess you could do it sitting..." he sneered. Snotlout banged his fist on the table.

"If she is already putting out for that scrawny fishbone, then I don't see why I shouldn't have my share," he growled. "But I'm not convinced. Keep looking...but first, I think we need to speak to Hiccup and ask him what he's hiding up in Raven Point."

"And Astrid?" Lars asked, his face cruel.

"I think we need to ask her what's been going on as well."

oOo

Hiccup had promised to meet the younger teens in the cove that afternoon an hour before sunset because they were all keen to try bonding with a dragon after their visit was cut short by Snotlout the previous morning. Tiril had got back safely and had winked at him as she trotted past the forge, teasing Gustav that he couldn't keep up with her.

Gobber had been his usual self-cheerful and brash, bad-mouthing the ornery citizens of Berk and their complete disregard for their weapons and Astrid had brought him some lunch from the Great Hall as he had struggled to reshape an axe that Egil the Bald had managed to bend into a curve. Swiping sweat from his red face, Hiccup had thanked her and sat by her, sharing the food and checking that she was safe. The knowledge that Snotlout was making very personal threats against Astrid publicly had set his skin crawling and he was very much on edge.

But after she had gone off to train the younger teens, he turned back to his work It was mid afternoon and Gobber had ambled off to have a chat-and a mead-with Stoick at the Elder's Meeting while most villagers were off doing their afternoon chores. He was so deeply concentrated on his task that he heard nothing until the clang of a weapon on the anvil had him looking up-into the cool blue eyes of the Heir. Eyes widening and backing away, Hiccup found his arms snared and a hand slammed over his mouth. He tried to struggle, desperately fought to break free-but it was too late. Calmly, Snotlout lowered the shutters to the forge so the villagers would imagine the shop was closed before he walked towards his imprisoned cousin.

"Shout out and I will kill you and do the same to Astrid," he threatened calmly. Hiccup paled, emerald eyes wide and dark with fear-before he bit the hand over his mouth.

"They'll know it's you if I am dead and the Chief will make sure you pay properly this time," he breathed daringly. "No one is in any doubt to your jealousy and hatred of me, Snot. So do yourself a favour and go." A fist like an iron bar slammed into the lean Viking's middle and he sagged in Dogsbreath's fierce grip.

"Don't tell me what to do, Useless!" Snotlout sneered. "Now I want to know what you have been doing in the forest with Astrid." Lifting his head, still breathing hard, Hiccup glared at him.

"Walking," he said gruffly. "I turn up beaten again and who are they going to blame?"

"No one will know," Snotlout hissed, leaning close. "There'll be nothing to see...but if you make a noise, I'm gonna do this to Astrid-but where everyone will see..." He cast around and saw a sword sticking out of the fire. "Perfect," he gloated and grabbed at the sword.

His scream echoed round the forge and he dropped the red-hot metal, holding the wrist of his burnt hand and frantically looking around until he saw the bucket of water Gobber and Hiccup used to quench hot metal and thrust his burnt hand in. His sigh of relief echoed round the space.

"Grabbing hot metal will do that," Hiccup commented painfully. "That'll be sore..." Glaring furiously at him, Snotlout saw the thick leather gauntlet and pulled it on, then grabbed the red hot sword and grinned cruelly. "Snotlout-they are going to see if you..." Lars instantly hauled his red tunic up, and he cast a suddenly fearful glance at the Heir, wishing he hadn't removed his leather vest in the heat of the forge. HIs stomach heaved as the red hot metal hovered over his skin.

"If I hear any screams, I'm doing this to Astrid's face," Snotlout threatened. "Now what are you doing in the forest?"

There was a hiss and Hiccup suddenly found his world concentrated to the searing pain in his stomach, his lips pressed together and teeth gritted. His eyes were screwed shut, though tears leaked out and a cold sweat stood out on his brow as his entire body shook with pain. Finally, the metal was pulled away and he lifted his bleary gaze.

"W-walking," he groaned.

"Don't believe you," Snotlout sneered and traced the hot metal across his pale, faintly freckled skin.

"NNNGH! M-maybe...s-sitting down..." Hiccup gasped as soon as he pulled the metal away.

"Told you!" Sven the Dim said triumphantly as Lars rolled his eyes, his grip on Hiccup's arm tightening as he jerked back, the groan barely audible, though his whole shape was trembling with pain. After another long moment, Snotlout dug the sword back into the fire.

"You must enjoy this..." he breathed. "Good, I'm happy to keep going..." Hiccup swallowed the vomit in his throat, blinking muzzily against his spinning head.

"Hate...to put...you out..." he groaned as he tried to jerk his heaving body back. Snotlout concentrated and traced another sizzling line over his skin, grinning at the desperate grunt of pain his cousin gave.

"I can go on all day," the Heir sneered.

"Good..." Hiccup gasped, his legs completely buckling with only the bruising grips on his arms holding him up. "Sure Gobber will be delighted...t'find you here..." Suddenly, Snotlout's hand was tight around his throat and he choked, emerald gaze wide with sudden fear and shock.

"You are not to say word to anyone, Useless-or I will do this to Astrid...how do you think that pretty face will look with burns over it? And maybe give her something else to remember me by since no one will want to look at her or touch her after I've finished..." Snotlout hissed.

"Sure...she'll remember...without any reminder..." Hiccup choked out as the grip eased for a second until the fist cracked across his face. And I love her no matter what she looks like. No matter what you try to do...though I would die to stop you... He flew sideway, slamming against the anvil, curled on his side. He didn't move until they slammed out of the forge and then bit down on his lip, stifling a pained whine. Six oozing burns were marked across his pale stomach and he finally eased his tunic down over the wounds. "Sure I will too..." he whispered, resting his head on the ground.

For a long moment, he lay, listening to the pounding of blood in his ears and the crackle of wood in the fire. Eventually, he took a shuddering breath and pushed himself up into a shaky sitting position, before dragging himself across the floor and painfully pulling himself to his feet. Head gently spinning, he reached up and managed to snag the little sticky pot of ointment that Gobber always kept if he or his assistant got too close to the hot metal in the forge before he sank onto the stool, soothing the paste over the wounds with a shaking hand. Achingly, he wound some old bandages around his skinny middle to protect the injuries and finally eased the tunic properly down. And he stayed there for a very long time, breathing hard and wondering how he could managed to conceal this from the others.

He was slow and very measured as he arrived at the cove, keeping his body still and teeth gritted as he carefully clambered down to be greeted by an over-eager Night Fury. Toothless knocked him to the floor and he yelped, arms wrapped across his middle, shielding his body from the eager licking and butting that the dragon.

"Easy, bud," Hiccup said quietly. "Bit sore here. I'm gonna need your help and we have to make sure Astrid doesn't know..."

"Doesn't know what?" she asked pointedly, walking over to stand by him and offering him a hand as she pushed the Night Fury back. His grip closed round hers and she easily pulled him to his feet.

"Pulled something while I was in the forge," he said hoping she would buy his lie. He knew he was a horrible liar but he had to try. Her hand instantly dropped to his middle but he gently caught her questing touch and pushed it away. "Um...really sore," he admitted honestly as she stared into his face, quick eyes seeing the faint bruise from the punch on his pale skin. Her touch ghosted the welt and he sighed.

"Babe?" she murmured softy. His hand covered hers.

"Snotlout paid me a visit," he sighed. "Um...made some threats against you, punched me a couple of times...nothing I haven't had a hundred times before..." She sighed.

"You know, I hate that he feels he can do that," she murmured. "And are you sure he just gave you a few punches? He has been combing the forest for weeks..." He smiled and his emerald eyes lit with his gratitude at her concern.

"He knows he can't do anything too obvious, or people would ask questions," he reminded her and pressed a small kiss on her lips. "But thank you, Astrid." Then he turned to the waiting teens.

"About time," Tiril commented. The young couple looked up and Hiccup smiled.

"If you hope to win the friendship of a dragon, you have to be patient," he told them pointedly, turning carefully to face them. "And you need trust. The dragon has to trust you and you have to trust the dragon. You have to wait for it to come to you and recognise you as the one for him."

"Or her," Tiril put in. They stared at her. "Hey-I was just putting it out there!" she protested.

"Hey-I am trusting you," Hiccup pointed out. "Be careful in the forest-I'm not sure that Snot and his gang aren't still out there looking for us." He paused. "And what we are doing is treason, pure and simple," he reminded them sternly. "So anyone who wants out now is free to go..."

"No they're not," Astrid reminded him, reaching for her axe. "Anyone who wants out now is heading direct to Valhalla..." Hiccup turned back to face her and sighed.

"Knowing the truth about dragons isn't the same as training your own..." he said calmly.

"It's as close as," Fishlegs pointed out. Gustav was more direct.

"This isn't getting me my Monstrous Nightmare!" he whined.

"Hey-you may just get a Gronckle!" Tiril teased him, not noticing that the Ingermans both blushed.

"Hey, Gronckles are awesome, able to eat rocks, with armoured hide, immune to dragon root and..." Fishlegs began but Tiril raised her hand and made a talking gesture.

"Bored now," she commented. "Look-no one's guaranteed anything-or even if a dragon will bond with us-isn't that right?" There was a pause and Hiccup nodded.

"There are no guarantees-never said there would be," he told her honestly. "I can give you a shot and help you try. All I can do. The rest is up to you." The younger teens shared a glance.

"We accept," Yaklegs said firmly as the auburn-haired young man swung his leg over the Night Fury's back.

"Fly me up, bud," he murmured, leaning forward over the saddle and feeling the dragon launch, flapping easily over the lip of the cove and into the forest proper. Astrid watched him vanish then gestured to the entrance.

"I'm not as patient as Hiccup," she commented, leaping lithely up and vanishing though the crack. "Guys-you'll have to help Fish through..." And then she scrambled up top-to see Hiccup sagging forward on Toothless, his head turned away-though his posture spoke of pain.

"He's hurt," Tiril commented softly, arriving swiftly at her side. "He doesn't want you to know."

"He doesn't want anyone to know," Astrid replied thoughtfully. "He's spent the last three years without anyone to talk to-and years before that as well. And you know Hooligans...no point in showing weakness-all it earns you is scorn..."

"Who's earning scorn?" Gustav asked, bright-eyed.

A roar silenced them all and they all turned to the lean shape on the Night Fury.

"Not Toothless," Hiccup told them as they all spun, the bushes behind them rustling. And abruptly, a brown lump shape flew out, ridiculously small wings flapping furiously. Fishlegs's eyes widened in shock and sudden excitement.

"Oooh!" he squealed. "Aren't you just beautiful!" Heedless, he took a couple of steps forward. "You are so cute. I can't imagine you being a mean dragon at all..."

"Um...Fish...Gronckles do still attack us during raids...." Hiccup pointed out dryly though Fishlegs wasn't listening, almost quivering with excitement at getting so close to his favourite breed of dragon. The dragon paused, surprised. The large human facing her wasn't retreating and wasn't afraid. In fact he radiated...excitement. And he certainly didn't look threatening. So she landed.

"Hiccup..." Fishlegs murmured. "What do I do now?"

"Approach her slowly, keep talking and then offer your hand, palm forward and look away..." the auburn-haired man said calmly.

"That's insane!" Gustav hissed.

"You give her your trust...and she will respond, Fish," Hiccup assured him. "Trust me." There was a pause and then Fishlegs nodded, smiling and looking into the yellow eyes, noting the black pupils had widened and looked more friendly.

"Um...my name's Fishlegs Ingerman and I really love Gronckles," he said as he inched close. "You guys are so tough and so brave and I would really love for you to be my friend..." He extended his pudgy right hand and paused, then turned away, closing his eyes and holding his breath.

He heard his brother gasp at the same time as he felt the lumpy warm hide of the dragon press into his palm and he warily opened his eyes to meet the happy expression on the Gronckle's face. Fishlegs grinned and gave a little squeak.

"Oooh-hello!" he said eagerly and embraced the dragon, feeling the heavy body wiggle as the dragon wagged herself, her thick tail almost as thick and heavy as her head. "Who's a handsome boy then?" Hiccup face-palmed as Toothless made a very obvious laughing noise.

"Um...try again," Hiccup suggested, resting his hand against his middle. Astrid frowned and then looked back at the dragon.

"Fishlegs-stop insulting the girls," she advised him and his eyes popped wide.

"You're a girl?" Fishlegs asked in shock as the Gronckle licked him eagerly, her cute face expressing her happiness. Gustav was laughing uncontrollably and Tiril was holding her sides and giggling. "Awww...don't worry, girl. I love you. You're...my Meatlug!"

"Trust Fishface to even find a lame name for his dragon," Gustav commented to Yaklegs, who elbowed him in the side.

"Hey-he's my brother!" the younger Ingerman protested.

"It is a lame name!" Gustav retorted.

"Not as lame as Toothless," Tiril added.

"At least that's descriptive," Yaklegs argued.

"Ah-hem!" Astrid said, folding her arms and glaring at them. "Do you want to carry on or shall we just discuss dragon names?" The three teens looked up, all embarrassed, as Fishlegs glared but Hiccup walked over towards them, stiff but focussed. He was pale but his eyes were glittering as he smiled.

"Let's see if we can find you some dragons," he said.

No one was surprised when Yaklegs bonded with a grey and brown Gronckle that he named Stoneskin or that Meatlug and Stoneskin immediately began to nuzzle affectionately against each other. Gustav was clearly set on his Monstrous Nightmare, annoying Astrid by describing a Deadly Nadder that almost pinned his ears to the trunk of a spruce as 'too spiky'. What shocked her even more was that Tiril had fearlessly approached, offering her hand to the green and white dragon that paused, chirped warily before pressing her beak-like face into her hand. She had called her friend 'Jadespine' as Gustav laughed on and continued his search for a suitable dragon. He got hit in the face by a Terrible Terror, had another Deadly Nadder almost impale him and got batted aside by a green Zippleback that lumbered off almost in a huff. But the young teen was undeterred, stubbornly peeking through the undergrowth until he found a young brown and purple Monstrous Nightmare, quietly dozing...until Gustav happened on him.

"Yes!" the black-haired boy exclaimed as the others watched on.

"Keep an eye on him, bud," Hiccup murmured. "If he looks like he's about to be cremated, could you rescue him?" Toothless rolled his eyes but nodded as his rider leaned against him.

"But not too soon?" Astrid asked, drifting over. "Lightly toasted would do just fine..." Hiccup cast her a small smile, knowing she didn't want the annoying but harmless young man hurt any more than he did.

"Give him a break," he suggested gently. "I know he's mini-Snot but his heart's in the right place...most of the time..." She leaned against him and he calmly wrapped an arm around her. And they both watched with a smile as the determined younger teen approached the Monstrous Nightmare cheerfully, barely containing his excitement and offered his trust without hesitation. There was almost no pause before the dragon pressed his face into Gustav's hands and the boy gave a whoop of triumph.

"YEAH! Monstrous Nightmare it is!" he yelled as the dragon butted him and then licked him eagerly. "Gerroff!" he added.

The sounds of steps crashing through the forest quietened them again and Hiccup gestured urgently for them to lead their dragons back to the cove. But they were closing and though his eyes were dark with fear, he gestured for Toothless to grab Astrid.

"Take them back to the cove, Milady," he said desperately. "Snot and his gang can't find them now."

"Then let me..." she began but he shook his head, Snotlout's obvious threats rolling around his head.

"No-I'll lead them away!" he said stubbornly and turned to Toothless. "Take her, bud!" he commanded and the Night Fury grabbed her in his paws and launched. She gave a scream and cursed as the black dragon gave a small warble and the other dragons all grabbed their new riders and headed after the Night Fury. Hiccup watched them go, then turned away, shambling through the bushes, making enough noise to distract the pursuers. His middle was hurting fiercely at the exertion but he could hear the sounds of pursuit coming after him. Breathing scorching his chest, he tried to speed up...and then a shape reared above him.

Hands grabbed him and he thrashed and fought fiercely as ropes wound around him. And then a huge shape in unfamiliar, mismatched armour reared above him.

"Now what 'ave we got 'ere?" the captor growled.