Heir and Pride

Chapter Fifteen

He knew it was mad and dangerous and he really should be concentrating on finding a way out of his dilemma but here he was, trotting throughout the dangerous night-time forest heading for the cove. The return of his father had caught him by surprise but he knew, after being described as the worst Viking in Berk, that he wouldn't carry on being the worst son in Berk. And that meant seeing if he could help his Dad.

There were a lot of unnerving noises, ranging from twigs cracking to the definite slither of scaly bodies over the mossy earth and Hiccup sped up. His pockets were stuffed with dragon nip but he doubted that would be sufficient against an enraged Monstrous Nightmare and frankly, he didn't want to test it. His belt knife would do little but provide an attacking dragon with a little roughage.

He almost laughed with relief as he made the cove and dived in, finding Toothless hanging upside down from a huge tree root. The dragon cracked open a weary green eye as he approached and sniffed: he could usually tell when his little Viking was unhappy or hurt. But he just smelled...worried. He slithered to the ground and nuzzled the boy, feeling the skinny arms tighten gratefully around his head.

"Hey, bud," he murmured. "I don't want to weird you out or anything but I have a plan and I really need your help..." He lifted the object he had been carrying: a small earthenware flask. "I...er...need your drool," he said.

Toothless sat back on his haunches and tilted his head, his pupils wide and benign, watching Hiccup walk back and forth, explaining his plan. His skinny shoulders moved up and down and his hands were in almost constant motion. The dragon wondered if he would be able to speak without them. He decided to have a try when they next played. But Toothless loved his little Viking and would help him, if he could.

"...so I really need your saliva to put in Dad's mead to see if it can make him any better," Hiccup finished, turning to look at the dragon. "I-I know it's strange with how badly he's treated me but he's my Dad. And I know he's been a really bad father but I love him. And it's my fault he was hurt. If I can make him better in any way, I gotta try."

His wide green gaze was hopeful and pleading, a look Toothless couldn't resist. So when Hiccup approached him and extended his hand, the dragon opened his mouth and licked away, almost filling the small flash with his saliva. Hiccup carefully stoppered it-and then had to endure a thorough licking for waking the dragon. He gave a small laugh and hugged the dragon as Toothless nuzzled him carefully all over. Then the dragon walked back to a bare patch of earth, fired it to warm it up and curled up.

"Thanks, bud!" Hiccup called and looked helplessly at his saliva-drenched self then started making his way back to the village. This time, he heard nothing, saw nothing. He had been so strongly scent-marked by the Night Fury that every other creature on Berk was scrambling to get away from Hiccup. Oblivious, the boy trotted happily back to his home. And then he paused at the door, taking a deep breath and then sliding in.

The fire was dying down and he automatically fed the flames, then quietly made his way to the mead Stoick kept and poured the saliva in, agitating the pitcher to ensure it was well mixed. Then, with a silent prayer to Thor and Odin, he poured his father a mug. He walked to where the big man was dozing in his chair and gently shook him awake.

A huge hand clamped round his throat and Stoick swung upright in an instant, his useless hand swinging in search of an axe. "DAD! IT'S ME! IT'S HICCUP YOUR SON! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!" he shouted as Stoick finally woke up, releasing him. Staggering back, choking, the boy looked up in trepidation but then lifted the mug. "S-sorry...I-I brought you a mead before bed," he stammered, unnerved. The Chief's eyes narrowed but he relaxed and graciously accepted the drink, draining it in one long draught. "More?" Hiccup asked hopefully.