Running Away

Chapter 19: Remembering the Fallen

Astrid's POV 3 months later...

I woke up yawning and stretching. I turned to my side and Hiccup wasn't next to me. Toothless wasn't there on the floor either. I swing my legs over the bed and Stormfly comes over nuzzling me.

Hey girl...do you know where Hiccup and Toothless went.

No idea, I'm a heavy sleeper.

In the past three months Hiccup has been teaching me the language of the dragons. I got dressed and Stormfly and I flew out the roof panel. I flew around the village until I spotted Hiccup and Toothless. By the statue of Stoick who died one year ago. Today. Oh crap. Their heads were down in sorrow sitting on the ground. Not paying attention to anyone.
Hiccup's POV

Toothless and I were up well before dawn both of us knew what day it was. We both felt as equally guilty. We flew out the roof panel and to my dad's statue I had built. Toothless and I sat on the ground our heads low.

I'm really sorry Hiccup...
It wasn't your fault bud. They made you do it...
I shed tears letting them hit my leg. I let the emotions wash over and I cried and cried and cried. I looked over and Toothless was crying too. I heard a sound. I saw Stormfly landing not far from us and Astrid climbing off. Tears were in her eyes too as she came over. She next to me putting her hand on my shoulder and began crying with us. She raised her head a few minutes later and looked at me.

I finally looked up as well, "What?"

"Babe, I gotta go okay? Just meet me at the cliff at sunset." She kissed my cheek.

I looked over at her and smiled at the little baby bump she was forming. I stifled a sob, "Okay..."

What do you say bud? A flight to sanctuary again? To go back into the memories...
You and I both know we'll break down crying again if we go there.
How about a regular flight? Do some stunts? Go to Itchy Armpit?
Sure...Toothless laughed at the ridiculous name I gave the island.

I wiped away my tears and climbed on Toothless. Taking another look at the statue and bowing my head we took off. It felt good to be in the sky again. After my dad dying one year ago today I needed this flight. We flew into the clouds only to dive down into the view of the ocean.

*Time Skip*

Toothless and I headed back to Berk after spending most of the day at Itchy Armpit. No one bothered me. No one came looking for me. Best of all, no one pestered me about my chiefly duties. The sun was setting as I landed on the cliff Astrid told me to meet here. There was a boat at the beach below us and the whole village was here. The gang, my mom, Eret, and Gobber were standing near the edge all holding bow and arrows. The village hung out in the back with their heads hung low. Astrid came up to me kissing me in the cheek.

She handed me a bow and arrow when I asked, "What is all this?"

Gobber spoke up, "Astrid had the idea of honoring your father. Sending a ship out to sea and then blowing it up. She said we should do this every year."

I turned back to Astrid and squeezed her tightly, "Thank you so much. This means a lot. It really does."

Gobber spoke again with a speech, "May the Valkairys welcome you and lead you through great Odin's battefield. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we may hear you rise from the depths of Valhalla. I know you've taken your rightful place at the Table of Kings. For a great man fell one year ago today. A warrior. A chieftain. A father. A friend."

That was my cue. Toothless lit up the arrow tip carefully and the wind took the boat to sea. I had a feeling a dragon pushed it out but whatever. I aimed and fired the arrow igniting a small piece of the ship. The gang, Gobber, Eret, and my mom all fired arrows at the ship making the whole thing light on fire. Toothless roared sorrowfully followed by the other dragons.

I shed a few tears and began my speech, "I'm really sorry Dad. So is Toothless. I'm really trying to be a great chief, but I don't know how. I don't how I can be as great as you ever were. I'm trying. You're missed by everyone here. I really wish you met mom again. Astrid and I got married a few months ago and now she's pregnant." I choked a sob finishing with, "I'm really sorry..."