After Hiccup's dramatic and pitiful display, Gobber picked up the giant sword I had fixed. He handed it to Hiccup, who struggled to hold it. I felt bad. Hiccup grumbled inaudibly under his breath, shooting daggers into Gobber's back. He lugged his way to the sharpening wheel near where I stood and gave me a look.
"Gobber didn't mean that," I said, hoping my smile was comforting. "Besides, being here isn't so terrible. You get to stay out of trouble and away from all the danger!"
Hiccup slowly averted his gaze, and I followed it to his strange contraption-the same contraption we'd just seen fail. When he deadpanned, I awkwardly laughed.
"I meant to say minimal trouble..."
"Do you think I've got to change all of this, too?" Hiccup asked, gesturing to himself.
I shook my head. "No. Don't mind Gobber. Sure, it seems like someone's cast a curse on you with the mayhem you cause, but it's not entirely your fault. You've still got great things about you. You're an inventor! With more practice, who knows what you can make."
"...Maybe work on being comforting, but thanks, El. I'm no inventor, though. Everything I've ever made has blown up in my face or somehow managed to attack you. I don't understand how you're so happy not being out there with the action! It's killing me. Killing!"
"Who said I was happy? My mum doesn't even know I'm out here. She thinks I'm still cooped up at home, away from danger. I don't get it. I might not be a dragon killer, but I'm still a Viking. I should be out there!"
Hiccup sighed. "One day, you'll get out there. And I will, too, because killing a dragon is everything around here. Imagine if I killed a Nadder. It'd be sure to get me at least noticed!"
"Maybe, but their sharp spikes can be flung at will, and I don't think you're fast enough to outrun one. Not to mention they have the hottest fire of all dragons, which can turn a Viking to ash in seconds," I rebutted.
The Book of Dragons is a valuable source.
"Well, Gronckles are tough. Taking one of those down will surely get me a girlfriend," Hiccup muttered. He stared wistfully out the shutters, his green eyes looking for a particular blonde.
"Why would you want a girlfriend? Why not just befriend a girl or anyone?" I asked.
"What girl would want to be my friend?"
"Me."
Hiccup fell silent and quickly looked away with a flustered frown and pink cheeks. I didn't expect him to react like that. Hiccup mumbled that I didn't count, though I don't understand how that is the case.
"Also, Gronckles are one of the toughest dragons around. Their hide is ridiculously thick, and I doubt you'd want to get cornered by one of them when their bellies are full of magma," I continued.
Hiccup cleared his throat and brushed the loose strands of his hair out of his face. "What about a Zippleback? They're exotic. Two heads mean twice the status!" he said.
"That is not how maths works. It takes the mightiest Vikings to tackle a Zippleback-better yet, one with no sense of smell."
"There's the Monstrous Nightmare-"
"-Only the best Vikings go after those," I interrupted.
"That's only because of their nasty habit of setting themselves on fire! I could tackle one if I had a shield."
"A Monstrous Nightmare's mouth is so big it can swallow Vikings whole. Would you want to end up as one's next meal?"
"That doesn't matter. Even if I can't kill any of those, there's still the ultimate prize-the only dragon no one has ever seen..."
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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍'𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 - httyd
Fanfic❝Who knew a song could be so dangerous?❞ Elspeth Rydenmere, daughter of the village's songstress, moved to Berk when she was three and has been living there since. With her own musical capabilities and knack for sneaking away from her mum, she grows...
