Wanted: Hiccup Haddock III

Chapter 16

3rd Person POV:

With Inferno, Hiccup had lit the campfire at Throk's camp. An hour 1/2 or so later the fish Throk caught was cooked and cooled. Like Hiccup, Throk used leaves for plates. They didn't have to worry about water because a river ran nearby.

Both were quiet as they ate. While they cooked the meal, they had discussed what they would do in the morning: The next island over had the Northern Markets, so they only had to swim a short distance to get there. Throk had a friend there who would lend them his ship, and from there they would sail to Berk, which would take 3 days to a week. Simple. Hiccup should have been happy. He was going home.

But he wasn't. Well, he was happy to go home, but he wasn't happy with himself. In fact, he was hating himself.

When Hiccup finished eating he sat in silence, despondently staring at the fire. To others, it would seem he was looking through the flames. Throk noticed Hiccup's despondency, and was confused. Shouldn't he be happy that he was going home? Happy he would see his friends, father, and his dragon friend?

"Something seems to be troubling you, Hiccup Haddock. What is it?" Throk asked. Hiccup stared at the fire, thinking of how to answer. A minute later he spoke, voice slightly choked.

"Before you found me, I was on another island. I had a dinghy, which I escaped on from another ship, so I could've rowed to Berk. Instead I searched the forest for a dragon and just my luck, I found a Timberjack. After taming and naming him Splinter, we set off." A lump was beginning to rise in Hiccup's throat, making it harder to speak.

"I spotted an island from the sky. We were about to land when those Hunter ships came and attacked us. It all happened so fast. A net swallowed us up, but thanks to Splinter's wings it took us only seconds to break out. I tried to fly Splinter upwards but I didn't see they had started to fire Dragon Root arrows at us." Hiccup told a shuddery breath, trying to put the lump at ease, to no avail.

"Only when we started falling did I see arrows sticking out of his back. We fell into the sea, and Splinter couldn't keep himself afloat. So..." Hiccup's voice gave out, and the tears spilled. He covered his face with his hands, trying to compose himself. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he had only been there to watch Splinter die.

Throk had been quiet all through Hiccup's explanation. He knew dragons meant a great deal to Hiccup, but they also meant a great deal to himself and Queen Mala. So he could understand Hiccup's despair.

"Hiccup Haddock." The latter glanced up at Throk. "You musn't blame yourself for what happened. It was those blasted Dragon Hunters who killed you friend, not you." Hiccup was surprised at Throk's advising words. He never saw Throk as a comforting person, yet here he was giving him consolation. He was thankful for it.

"Thank you Throk." 

"You're welcome, Hiccup Haddock." He replied, and returned to his normally stoic voice. "We must head off to bed soon. It is best if we have an early start to the Northern Markets."

"Where exactly will we be meeting your friend, again?" Hiccup asked. "We will be meeting him on the northwestern outskirts of the Markets."

"Alright."

.  .  .

The two woke at the crack of dawn and left the campsite for the water. When they reached the shore, Hiccup could see Throk was right about the Northern Markets being close. The island looked to be around half a mile away. Shouldn't take more than half an hour to swim there.

Hiccup took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He braced himself for the icy, cold-to-the-bone Islandic waters. A moment later he threw himself into the water. It was well below freezing. Reaching the surface and gasping for breath he searched for Throk. He found Throk already a meter away, swimming. "Come on Hiccup Haddock!" Throk called in between strokes.

Hiccup followed, trying his best to catch up.

As Hiccup predicted, they reached the island within half an hour. Throk made it onto shore just before Hiccup. Both were very grateful to leave the water. However, when they began to make their way to Throk's friend's home the wind picked up, whipping their bodies. Hiccup couldn't help but think the wind will freeze us before we get there.

It almost did, but thankfully it didn't take long to reach the safe house. Smoke could be seen escaping from the chimney. Thank Gods he has fire. Thanks to the swimming he had done, he had soaked Inferno. He wouldn't be able to use the sword until he got to Dragon's Edge to fix it.

Throk knocked on the door, and waited patiently for them to be let in. Hiccup swore he heard Throk's teeth chattering. The door opened, and revealed Throk's friend. He was a beefy man, wearing a simple brown tunic and brown tights. He looked to be middle-aged, balding, and with a pair of brown eyes.

"Throk my friend! How are ya?" The man lunged forward and grabbed Throk into a bear hug. Hiccup couldn't help but smile. The man's accent had an interesting twang, as if he was from the Western Hemisphere. "Hello to you too, Fergus. I'm doing well." Throk replied hoarsely, and "Fergus" let him go. "Oh sorry! I just get excited to have friends over." That's when he spotted Hiccup. He grinned widely. "So are you the one everyone is after?" He asked.

"Apparently so. I'm Hiccup." Hiccup held out his hand, and Fergus shook it with enthusiasm. "I'm Fergus. It's nice to meet ya, son." He looked Hiccup up and down, no doubt noticing Hiccup's wet and skinny frame. "Well you boys must be freezing after swimming in the sea! Come in, come in. I'll get some blankets for ya." He pressed himself to the door and gestured them inside.

Throk and Hiccup were very grateful when Fergus gave them two thick blankets each, and two cups of steaming stew. The fire crackled away as they sipped the stew. They drank quickly, knowing Fergus had to leave early for his job as he was a popular merchant in the Markets. However this led to their throats blistering.

"Boys, slow down. I don't want ya to hurt 'selves." Fergus chuckled, his belly bouncing with his laughter." Hiccup couldn't help but blush, and slowed down. It didn't matter now, there was only an 1/8 left of the stew. "So. Where ya boys headed, again?" Fergus asked. "Berk." Hiccup replied. "My home island." He added. "Really? Heard the people out there ain't the kindest." Fergus commented. Hiccup silently agreed, remembering his days as an out-casted young boy, bullied by the villagers and the other kids. How ironic, that those same villagers and kids became his friends.

"Yeah, certainly not the kindest." He said slowly. Was that considered betrayal?

"If that's true, then you're certainly different than them." Fergus concluded, winking at Hiccup benignly. Hiccup smiled and bowed his head. "Yeah." He muttered quietly. Suddenly, a rough knock was heard at the door. Fergus immediately stood up and called out "Who's there?"

"We're here for him." A deep voice replied. Hiccup felt his stomach drop to the floor. Did these Hunters ever give up? "Who's 'him'?" Fergus asked. He was stalling. "I think you know exactly who 'him' is." The voice said. "We're here for Hiccup Haddock."

Hi everyone! It's been a while. I'm happy to announce I'm no longer on hiatus! But I will be posting less often due to in-person school, homework, and testing. Only a few more chapters, and this story is done! Hope you all are doing well!

-Goth80sMovieGirl14