Heir and Pride

Chapter Sixteen

"We're leaving!" he announced to Toothless as he arrived in a very sunny cove later that afternoon. He was miserably carrying a basket that contained everything he valued-and that was a pretty poor showing. A couple of spare tunics and leggings, his journals, a few medical supplies, some jerky and a canteen of water: not much to show for fourteen years as the son of the Chief of Berk. It had taken far longer than he had anticipated to get away and sneak out of the village without being mobbed: it seemed word of his triumph had got out. He was just grateful he had left Toothless saddled and harnessed from the previous afternoon. He glanced around the cove: it was one of the happiest places he could recall.

"Let's pack up!" he called to the dragon. "Looks like you and me are taking a vacation." He scanned his green gaze over the cove: he couldn't see the dragon anywhere. "Forever," he finished miserably, dumping the basket down and wearily adjusting his flight vest.

The scrape of a whetstone on metal had him scrambling backwards in shock. Astrid was sitting on the rock just above him, sharpening her axe. He felt his throat constrict and his palms go sweaty with fear. She had found him. Oh gods, that was it. She would kill him. Or Toothless. Or just call his Dad and he would kill them both. Oh gods...

"What the...er...what are you doing here?" he asked her, trying to appear calm. He wasn't and she could tell. She knew everything about his miserable life.

"I just want to know what's going on," she told him mildly, though her eyes were furious. She jumped down and began to advance on him. "No one gets as good as you do!" she menaced. Hiccup couldn't take his eye off the axe. He really really regretted making and repairing it now. Love does stupid things. Astrid was taller than him and he knew from bitter experience that she was far stronger, with a punch that rivalled Snotlout. She was definitely a much better fighter. "Especially you!" she sneered. She punched him in the chest and he grunted in pain, whimpering a little as he backed off, unsure what she was going to do. He swallowed and stared up with fearful eyes. "Start talking!"

"Er...er...I..." Hiccup stammered. She continued to drive him backwards, a handful of slaps and punches keeping him moving when he startled until she closed to a few inches and rested her axe very worryingly against his arm. He froze, his eyes pleading.

"Are you training with someone?" she demanded.

"Training?" he whimpered, backing away again.

"It better not involve...this!" she sneered, grabbing his riding vest and hauling him easily off his feet. He stared into her eyes and read only hatred. There was nothing there to appeal to, nothing of the girl he loved.

"I-I know it looks really bad but you see..." he tried, attempting to manoeuvre her away from Toothless's favourite napping spot. The crack of a twig sounded and she punched him aside, tossing him to the floor as if he was nothing, kicking him brutally and treading on him as she walked over him. His pained cries sounded in the cove but he clutched at his middle and scrambled bravely to his feet.

"You're right, you're right!" he shouted, trying to distract her away from the noise. He ran forward and tried to intercept her. "I-I'm through with the lies! I-I'm making...outfits! So you've got me," he said, offering himself up to shame and ridicule. His father would probably exile him just for that alone. "It's time everyone knew..." He tried to restrain her, hoping to distract her with the prospect of letting her beat him up. "Drag me back. Go ahead!" He steeled himself. Go ahead. This is for you, bud.