Following his father's death Hiccup is determined to do Stoick proud and fill his shoes in Berk. And he does... by slowly chipping away at himself. Sensitive Toothless knows his boy is getting lost but that's not the only troubling thing happening...
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"bleh blow blue dow doer oh oh dit!"
"Noh lihe yow werr abowa be sligh in hah, wa ii?"
"I saw hii! Was goina do my signature move. First a back hand and a upper right hook and on to a body slam. Totally would have worked if you hadn't ruined everything."
"Bet you could have taken on all those tiny dragons too," Fishlegs grumped "Hey everyone! Snotlout could have single-handedly saved us all if I hadn't jumped in and saved his-"
"Hey Astrid,"
I opened my eyes to find Tuffnut's face way too close for comfort.
"I don't know about everyone else but I for one am happy to see you haven't exchanged your axe for a harp yet. OW!"
"Sorry," I said, shaking my hand. "Reflex punch."
"Astrid!"
Snotlout, Fishlegs, Gobber, Ruff and Tuff surrounded me.
"Are you feeling well? Do you hurt anywhere?" Valka's voice came from behind. Her face was strained and she looked older. Her eyes searched mine, and as she put a hand on my forehead her mouth moved like she wanted to say something.
"Yeah when they carried you in like that we thought- we thought-" Fishlegs gulped.
"There's only one way you get a Hofferson off her feet," Tuff finished. "Either marry her or k.ill her. Since you're already married..."
"I'm fine, guys."
I looked around at all the faces. Fishlegs was ashen and he had a swollen lip, the twins both had black eyes (though, in hindsight that might have been their own doing), and Snotlout looked as if he'd been trampled by a rumblehorn. He held a rag up to his bleeding nose.
"Snotlout you look horrible. What happened?"
"Great question Astrid! Ask Fishlegs." He snarled.
Fishlegs turned to me irritably. "I saved his life. Now I'm kinda regretting it."
I took a good look around. The Great Hall had been reduced to a prison. Iron bars had been driven into the stone floor to create holding cells. Guards stood at attention, each holding a spear in hand, a sword on their belt, and a nasty attitude. If anyone so much as poked a finger between the bars they were likely to get it chopped off.
Our cell was furthest from the doors so I had to stand to see anything.
All around were fearful faces. Faces of every man, woman and child that lived on Berk. Faces that were all turned to me.
