Duplicity || HICCUP

CHAPTER SIX

Hiccup had left Aja completely alone for the day, for once, having gone to lead a dragon raid in Astrid's place. However, turns out that wouldn't matter because she unfortunately had run into Gobber on her trek to the Great Hall for some lunch, roping her into being his personal assistant for the time being, since she "had nothing better to do," as he had said.

A breeze swept through the forge from the open windows and doors, carrying with it the scent of ash and metal. Aja's hands were smeared with soot and grime as she finished sharpening a sword, the sound of a hammer clanging against anvil filling the background.

Gobber limped over, his own prosthetic leg being a wooden peg, and peered over her shoulder with an approving nod. "You know lass, ye ain't half bad at this," he remarked as he examined the blade, spinning it around with his good hand.

She wiped the sweat from her brow, a small smile breaking through. "I used to do this with my father," she replied, a flicker of nostalgia crossing her features, remembering the days spent with him in a sun-drenched metalshop. "He said it was good to know how to craft a weapon, so I could make the best to fit myself."

She hadn't shared more than a few brief exchanges with Gobber since being on Berk, and they were always when she was with Hiccup. She'd notice him hovering in the background though, always keeping a watchful eye. She didn't know if they were related in a way, like an uncle of sorts, because Hiccup interacted with him differently than he did the other adults in the village, less formal, and he let Gobber touch him. That was something Aja picked up on, Hiccup only let certain people touch him. She had watched the few times Hiccup didn't even flinch or react when Gobber's beefy arms wrapped around his narrow shoulders, the strength of them even sending him stumbling sometimes.

"Good skill to have. Smart man," he said, setting the sword down and leaning back, crossing his heavily scarred arms over his broad chest.

She nodded, "Yeah, he was..." Her voice trailed off. She was used to being on her own at home, her father always being on missions, busy leading the village, she barely got to see him, and yet, she missed him now.

Gobber watched her, picking up on her distant expression. "Stoick passed just a year ago," he said, his words gentle.

Her brow furrowed, trying to recall the relevance of the name. "Stoick?"

"Hiccup's father," he said, his gaze shifting towards the window. "That's him on tha mountain." He gestured with his hook hand, and Aja moved to peer outside, spotting the towering stone Viking that had been carved into the mountainside along the Great Hall. She had seen it before, but didn't know it was Hiccup's father.

She wasn't sure if it was Gobber's intention, but she did feel a little less alone, knowing someone else had gone through something similar to her. Yet, she felt sympathy for Hiccup, that he had to lose his own father so young, that he had to become chief so suddenly, finding it frustratingly unfair.

Her attention was suddenly broken and drawn to a series of squawks that echoed from the courtyard. She looked to see Astrid soaring in on Stormfly, still clad in her dragon scale armor, meant to mimic the aesthetic of her own dragon.

"Hiccup here?" Astrid asked as she dismounted, stepping into the forge and eyes scanning around frantically.

"He left for a raid this morning," Gobber replied.

She groaned, sound rich with frustration. "Well, tell him to find me when he's back," she said, tone impatient.

"Aye." Gobber returned back to work on the ax he was repairing.

As Astrid turned to leave, Aja felt her diminishing opportunity for answers slip away. Did she find the scouts? Did she find something from her fathers ship?