Heir and Pride

Chapter Nineteen

Hiccup was trembling, his gut roiling and heart hammering in his chest as his father dragged him up to the Great Hall. It was the only place they could speak away from the utter chaos in the village. His father's grip was bruisingly tight on his skinny arm and he could barely keep his feet. His father was moving fast, his arms swinging and the boy felt the tiniest sense of achievement that his gamble with Toothless's saliva had seemed to have worked. Stoick was functioning almost as he had prior to the disastrous attack and if nothing else, Hiccup had righted that wrong.

Then he was thrown through the door into the dim space and his father advanced on him, the sunlight outlining the man before he slammed the doors behind him. Hiccup backed up, his small shape hunched and anticipating a blow. Stoick was madder than he had seen, his face scarlet with rage and huge fists clenched. The boy swallowed again as his father approached and blinked fearfully.

Stoick's fist swung and the boy flew to the floor, clutching at his cheek. He was breathing hard and wondered if his father would let him live.

"I should have known!" Stock growled, advancing again towards the sprawled boy. Hiccup pushed himself up to his feet, his knees wobbling and he lifted his bruised face to face his Chief. "I should have seen the signs!" Hiccup took a hitching breath.

"Dad..." he began, not knowing how he could ever explain it and knowing that his father wouldn't listen anyway. This was his disappointing son, the embarrassment, the runt-and now a traitor. His eyes gave a mute appeal to his father, hoping against all hope that there was a shred of him left in this raging giant.

"WE HAD A DEAL!" Stock screamed and punched the boy again. Hiccup slammed to the ground and felt blood begin to trickle from his mouth. He painfully lifted his head and stared up. He was terrified but knew that this was his only chance to explain.

"I know!" he said quickly, a shaking hand wiping blood from his lip. "I-I know we did but that was before..." He got to his knees. "I...er...oh, it's all so messed up!" He pressed his face into his hands but Stoick was humiliated beyond words and utterly uncomprehending. He could never understand how his boy, his own flesh and blood could perpetrate such a betrayal. He reached forward and snagged the boy's tunic, now spotted with blood. Hiccup flinched as he was hauled up, his feet dangling off the floor. Stoick lowered his face to within inches of his son's.

"So everything in the ring-a trick?" he hissed. The accusation was vicious. "A lie?" Hiccup was trembling at the rage in those eyes. There was no love or affection left there.

"I screwed up! I-I should h-have t-told you b-before now," Hiccup said urgently. He was stammering badly now: he always stumbled over his words when his father was yelling at him-and Stoick had never been so angry. And he knew it just enraged his father further. "I...just...you..." He then he stopped. He knew what he had to say-and he guessed what it would cost him. "Take this out on me," he said hopelessly. "Be mad at me! But please-just don't hurt Toothless!"

Stoick threw him straight across the hall and he slammed into the wall with a low cry. Pain erupted across his back and head as they impacted and he slammed to the ground, the wind knocked out of him. He blearily raised his head as Stoick advanced on him, his face showing amazement as well as fury. It was ever worse that the Chief had guessed. He loomed over the little shape as Hiccup painfully tried to rise to his feet.