Heir and Pride

Chapter Eighteen

The entire village was at the arena the next morning, banners of the houses of former winners hanging from posts all around the arena. There was a roar of excitement and everyone was in a good mood: the graduation of a dragon training class was always something to be celebrated-especially this one, with the unexpected and astonishing identity of the winner. Stoick stood forward at the Chief's dais and looked across his people in a very good mood. He waved his hand to quieten them but nothing would calm this exuberant crowd who were so relieved for their beloved Chief so he raised his voice instead.

    

"Well, I can show my face in public again!" he bellowed cheerfully. There were laughs and cheers from the crowd and he accepted them in good grace. There were a few disgruntled faces-mainly among the Jorgensen and Hofferson families. This time, when he waved his hands, the ruckus quietened noticeably. "If someone had told me that in a few short weeks, Hiccup would go from...well, being Hiccup..." More laughs sounded, many of them still scornful. "...to placing first in dragon training, well, I would have tied him to a mast and shipped him off for fear he had gone mad!" More raucous laughter. Everyone understood the sentiment. "And you know it!" Stoick added to more cheers and laughs. He allowed them to laugh for a moment, then adjusted his helmet and quietened them again. "But...here we are!" he announced. "No one is more surprised-or more proud-than I am. Today, my boy becomes a Viking. Today, he becomes ONE OF US!"

    

The cheers and roars were raucous and good natured but to Hiccup, listening in the entrance tunnel to the arena, he heard the words with a sick feeling in his stomach. They reinforced every insult, every scornful laugh or action towards him over the years and he felt his hands tremble at the reminder. His father's words-actually relatively good-natured and expansive-had reiterated his utter scorn for his boy and his total lack of confidence in him. He could feel his heart fluttering in his chest and his breathing accelerating. And his palms were slick with sweat. He peered out nervously and he could see the villagers-his neighbours-all watching all around the arena and he knew now how much he was going to disappoint and shame Stoick. He wished he had been able to tell his father before but Stoick's enormous pride in his son had meant he could not bring himself to. He was afraid to. Now, he was out of time...and his only plan was hugely risky at best.

Then Astrid walked down the tunnel to stand just behind him and he felt a tiny flicker of hope. She had come, just as she promised. So if-when-he died, he would die with a friend.

    

"Be careful with that dragon," she told him with concern.

    

"It's not the dragon I'm worried about," he admitted, watching the Chief take his huge carven seat overlooking the arena. He knew Stoick would be the problem. Even if he succeeded, Stoick may take it very hard. Or probably won't listen at all. He NEVER listens to me!

    

"What are you going to do?" Astrid asked him, gently laying a hand on his and he glanced at her with a wince.

    

"Put an end to this," Hiccup said wearily. He took a deep breath. "I-I have to try." He turned back to face her and finally met her eyes. "Astrid, if something...goes wrong...just make sure they don't find Toothless!" Look after him-or set him free. Please.

    

"I will," she promised, eyeing him worriedly, "but promise me it won't go wrong!" He stared at her and was about to reply but Gobber rounded the corner and called him in.