Nothing to Fear

Chapter Twenty: Weakness

In the wake of a tragedy, sometimes it can be almost unnerving how fast people tended to move on. But to those the tragedy affected the most, moving on seemed to be an impossible feat. Finn was a prime example. For weeks, he shut himself in his room, not even coming down for meals. On the rare occasions he did come downstairs, he was sullen and moody. But Hiccup and Astrid couldn't figure out what to do with him and anything they tried only seemed to make it worse.

Mara was over periodically to make sure Finn wasn't wasting away completely. But soon her sights were set on someone else entirely.

"Hiccup," she said firmly as she descended the staircase yet again, "if you don't start taking care of yourself, you'll be the next to go."

"What?" Hiccup exclaimed, nearly knocking over his bowl of porridge in surprise.

"You heard me." the healer crossed her arms and fixed him with a steel gray gaze that would make a stronger man than him run away in fear. "You haven't slept at all since Benen died, have you?"

"Well... yeah, of course I-"

"No." Astrid interrupted impatiently. "He's dozed off here and there but he won't relax."

Hiccup gave his wife an exasperated gaze made only more pathetic by the dark circles under his eyes. Mara cleared her throat loudly so that he would turn back to her.

"Right then," she said in a brisk voice, "you need to get to bed. I'm sure your wife can handle your duties for the day."

"Mara-"

"No arguments! I won't have you dropping dead from exhaustion. There's been enough tragedy." Mara insisted. "Go upstairs, draw the curtains, and get some sleep."

Astrid almost smiled at the chastised look on her husband's face as he obeyed the healer's orders. He looked like a child being punished for something. Mara, satisfied that the chief had done what she'd told him, turned to the Haddock matriarch with a frown.

"As for Finn, he needs to eat more." she said in a slightly softer voice. "He's already started losing weight."

"I've tried." Astrid sighed deeply, placing her head in her hands. "I take food up to him three times a day but he just nibbles at it no matter what I say."

"Grief is a difficult process." Mara put on her coat as she spoke. "And goodness knows he's going to need some more time. But he needs to keep up his strength."

"I know." Astrid mumbled. "But with him and Hiccup and Adri never being at home..."

Mara paused as she was adjusting her coat. Slowly, she sauntered forward and sat down next to the frazzled woman, who still didn't look up.

"I know things are difficult now." she said softly. "But you'll get through it. You always do." she smiled slightly at the words she knew were probably empty. "I know that's what everyone says. But I've watched you and Hiccup weather storm after storm. This one really is no different."

"I know." Astrid sniffled and did her best not to cry. There had been enough crying in the Haddock house over the last few weeks. "Easier said than done."

"I know." Mara replied, patting the woman on the arm. "But if you need someone to talk to, my door's always open."

"Thank you." Astrid looked up and gave her a small smile. "I really appreciate your patience."

"It's all part of the job." Mara gave her one last consoling pat on the arm before straightening up. "Now don't let Hiccup go to work today and make sure he sleeps until he starts to look almost human again." Astrid chuckled appreciatively at this. "And please don't let Finn lose any more weight. He'll waste away into nothing if he doesn't start eating properly."