Secret of a Dragon (An HTTYD Story)

Chapter Nineteen: Trial and Error

I want to make one thing clear before I start. The whole Hiccstrid vs Hiccstal fiasco probably made everyone think that this was gonna be an adventure/romance story. I put the vote out to decide the main pairing, but it doesn't mean it's going to be included like in other stories.

I. Can't. Write. Romance.

I'm terrible and I don't like it.

So there are going to be hints of it throughout the story, but nothing major. At all. And don't ask for it. It's not happening.

Sorry.

Enjoy!

"Well, I can show my face in public again!"

A hearty laugh sounds from above, followed by cheering. Hiccup feels like doing anything but. 

"If someone had told me that in a few short weeks, Hiccup would go from well, being, uh... Hiccup, to placing first in Dragon Training? Well, I would have tied him to a mast, and shipped him off, for fear he'd gone mad! And you know it!" Stoick adds.

Gee, thanks, Dad.

The Vikings continue to laugh and shout.

"But, here we are," says Stoick in a much calmer tone, "and no one is more surprised, or more proud, than I am."

Hiccup looks up, staring through the top of the entrance tunnel in the direction of his father. 

"Today, my boy becomes a Viking. Today, he becomes one of us!"

The following cheers only serve to fuel Hiccup's crushing guilt. What he is about to do in the arena will not only humiliate himself if it goes wrong; it will destroy the reputation of his family.

"Be careful with that dragon."

Hiccup registers Astrid's voice and doesn't turn to reply. "It's not the dragon I'm worried about."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Put an end to this. I have to try," he says, his gaze finally falling. He slowly looks at Astrid, choosing his next words carefully. "Astrid, if something... goes wrong, just make sure they don't find T-Toothless."

His voice almost fails on the last word. How can he even stand to call her that, after last night?

"I will. Just... promise me it won't go wrong." Astrid's eyes are filled with a concern he has never seen. He opens his mouth, but a sound from behind interrupts him.

The gate clanks in place, and Gobber's voice follows immediately. "It's time, Hiccup. Knock 'em dead."

Hiccup suppresses a flinch at the choice of words. His feet feel heavier than normal as he moves into the arena, his arms the same as he places his helmet on his head, every part of him filled with dread and fear. The metal gate slams shut behind him. He realizes he never promised, but it wouldn't have meant anything anyway. Hiccup could never promise something like that. 

He glances up into the crowd. The first Vikings he sees are the other teens. Snotlout stands on the wire railing while the others stand behind him, but they all match each other with enthusiasm, except for two. To Hiccup's surprise, Crystal is crouched close to the wire between Snotlout and Autumn (who only watches closely), her eyes filled with grief and worry. As his eyes pass over her, she gives him a halfhearted smile, which he does not return. He turns back to the arena, staring at the ground in front of him, fighting back a rising nausea.

The weapon rack is upon him far too quickly. He hefts a shield onto his arm and scans the assorted weapons. His eyes go over a hammer, a sword, and others, but he ignores them. Of course he isn't going to kill this dragon, but he needs to take something for the trial to start.