Symphony of Shadows

65. Lesson

A/N: Next chapter will be out on Sunday at around 9pm American Eastern Standard Time:)

The crushing weight of loss suffocated Astrid as she realized what had happened.

Gobber was dead.

Hiccup was as white as a ghost, and he looked on in disbelief. His face quickly contorted with horror, then rage. She watched helplessly as he fell to his knees and grief overcame him. Astrid reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder to tell him he wasn't alone. But Hiccup barely reacted. It was clear that he was utterly consumed by his emotions, and she couldn't imagine what he must be feeling. Everyone in the village knew that Gobber had a soft spot for Hiccup, while everyone else treated him with irrelevance. 

But that was who Gobber was, a mentor who you joked around with and looked up to. He might not have had any children, but it had always been Gobber who offered a helping hand. He forged everyone's first swords and axes, taught the children how to hold them, and chatted your ear off while he sharpened the blade. Even if you weren't related, he was Uncle Gobber. Astrid was willing to bet that he'd been more of a father figure to Hiccup than Stoick ever had. 

Everyone was teary-eyed—if not downright sobbing. Ruff and Tuff were having meltdowns, Fishlegs was sniffling awfully loud, and Snotlout was unsuccessfully trying to hide the fact that he was crying at all. Hel, even Stoick's eyes glistened, and she swore she saw his cheek moisten with a stray tear or two. 

Astrid knew she'd trained herself to numb any feeling during battle, so instead, she felt hollow. Empty. A never-ending void that seemed to accompany icy darkness into her heart. 

When would the loss ever stop?

She was so tired of losing. Of feeling the steel punch of despair. Over and over. 

Realistically, there had to be an end, but right now it felt like it never would be. 

Astrid fought to bring herself back to reality. There would never be an end to their pain if Viggo won. He'd make sure of it. She would rather endure the pain than watch the desperation in the faces of everyone she loved. Their distress brought her more suffering than anything else. 

Ingrid. 

Where was that treacherous bitch?! Astrid was going to finish what she started. 

Scouring the field, she locked eyes with the traitorous cunt. Ingrid clutched her bleeding hand as she made a run for the docks. How predictable. Astrid whistled for Stormfly and mounted her Nadder. A fire blast would be too easy of a death. No, this was personal, and Astrid was going to enjoy every second of it. 

The Shellfire and Viggo would have to be dealt with later.

"Running away again, you filthy coward?"

Astrid called out from above before Stormfly swooped down in front of Ingrid. She jumped off the saddle and smiled as Ingrid realized she wouldn't be granted mercy. This was the time to do it. Everyone else was distracted, and she likely wouldn't get another opportunity to deliver justice. 

"So desperate to prove yourself, aren't you? You ungrateful ingrate, I made you into who you are!"

She bared her teeth at Astrid and launched into a defensive stance. She'd only beaten Ingrid a handful of times in combat. The old warrior had decades of experience on her side. But if Astrid had motivation before, she had pure drive now. Her axe felt perfect in her grip, and she rolled her shoulders to warm up her muscles for a fight. Adrenaline poured into her bloodstream. 

"No, you wanted to make me into another version of yourself. But you failed—I'm better."

Ingrid's sneer fell briefly before she faked a lunge forward and ran back. Was she retreating already? But she stopped running to reach for something on the ground. A sword.

Now it would be an equal fight. Except for the bloody hand. That would be her weakness. But Ingrid knew all of Astrid's fighting techniques. She'd be able to know what was coming and dodge any attack easily. 

Think, Astrid. Think.

But her time had run short as Ingrid charged straight for her. There would only be one way she'd win this fight. Astrid had to change her approach, and there was only one fighter she could think of who would be unpredictable to her old mentor. 

Instead of parrying the blow like she'd been taught, she stepped to the side at the last second and dropped low to sweep kick. Ingrid stumbled, and Astrid rejoiced only momentarily before pain bloomed in her ribs. She hissed at the sword slice that caused it and swung her axe when Ingrid smirked. Her weapon made contact with Ingrid's arm—right above her already injured hand. The bitch grunted in pain, and Astrid smiled. 

Good. 

Sword met axe as they clashed. Astrid surged forward but was then pushed back by the blow of the sword pommel against her chest. She struggled for air, and Ingrid exploited the vulnerable moment by giving her a powerful shove to the ground. Her axe was knocked out of her grip just out of reaching distance. Escape was impossible as Ingrid's heavy boot pressed down on her chest. The cold tip of the sword made her wince as it dragged along her throat. Astrid wriggled, but the boot on her chest pressed harder against her lungs, and her breaths became shallow. 

"It's a pity. You could've joined Viggo and me if you weren't so meddlesome."

Ingrid fake pouted and Astrid's heart dropped to her stomach as the sword's blade cut through her skin. She could feel the warmth of her blood coating her neck. 

Was this how she would die? 

Astrid used all the air left in her lungs to spit out her last words.

"At least I know I lived with honor."

She refused to close her eyes as Ingrid lifted up the sword to swing down...

A dark figure tackled Ingrid to the floor, and Astrid immediately fought to catch her breath. Astrid could almost cry because she knew exactly who it was.

Hiccup. 

He'd come for her. Over and over again. 

She looked on as an exhausted Ingrid tried to fight but was no match for a vengeful Hiccup. Every move he made was intentional, but he fought like he had nothing to lose. His speed and burst of energy were tiring Ingrid out by the second. 

However, he stopped and looked back at Astrid. Their eyes met, and he gave her a nod. She knew all too well what he meant. This was her fight, and he would only finish it if she could no longer go on. She shook her head and winced as she stood. No, she was fine. She could do this. 

For her. For Berk. For her mother.

Astrid grabbed her axe where it lay abandoned on the grass and dragged it behind her. This ended now. 

Ingrid's eyes widened, and she stepped back, only to trip on a rock behind her. She scrambled on the ground, trying to put distance between her and Astrid—but it was no use. With one foot, she crushed the mangled hand and relished Ingrid's blood-curdling scream.

"This...is my last lesson."

Astrid only hesitated to watch as Ingrid's eyes widened in shock before her axe split Ingrid's throat open. Blood spurted everywhere, but Astrid felt nothing. 

Nothing at all.