Heir and Pride

Chapter Thirty Six

Stoick's head swung round to stare at him.

"What do you mean 'No'?" he growled. Hiccup blinked and felt his entire body tighten with fear.

"I mean NO," he said firmly. "I will NOT become your Heir again. You didn't want me. You called me a disgrace to Berk, a disappointment, an embarrassment. You told me you were ashamed that I was your son. You made Snotlout your Heir and stated you were proud you had such a fine Viking as your successor. So keep him. I refuse."

He stared across the stunned village, the room suddenly silent. The crackle of the fires sounded astonishingly loud and his green eyes scanned the faces. There was shock, astonishment and anger that he had rejected the honour they bestowed upon him. He saw the twins with sagging jaws, saw Olaf Hofferson look at him with worry and Fishlegs mouth something...maybe 'Are you okay?'.

"It is my WILL!" Stoick shouted.

"You never listened to me," Hiccup said breathlessly, his eyes pleading to Gobber and Gothi to help him. "You imprisoned me. You stop me going out. You have prevented me riding. You're isolating me. And you ignore everything I say or want. I was your Heir but you took that away."

"And I want you back!" Stoick snarled. "I have named you my Heir again."

"No," Hiccup said quietly. "You made your choice, Dad. I made mine. I want to leave. Let me go."

"No, son-you came back," Stoick said, trying to be reasonable. "You forgave..."

"NO, I NEVER FORGAVE YOU!" Hiccup shouted desperately, staring at at the shocked villagers. "I never forgave you. You were never sorry. You just went back to exactly how you were. You talk over me, make me do only what you want-and take away everything that makes me...me. I won't become your Heir. I won't become YOU!"

Stoick grabbed the boy by the tunic and his face darkened red with rage. He shoved him across to Hoark and nodded. "Take him to my house," he growled. "I will deal with him later." Then he turned back to the village. "He is tired and ill," he said angrily. "That is the fever speaking. Hiccup is our Heir once more and he will make us all proud."

But as the boy was hauled out the door, all he could hear was the fury on his father's voice and he knew that he would pay a terrible price.

oOo

When the door slammed open, it was dark and late and he was trembling-cold, hungry and afraid. After making a fire and lighting candles, Hiccup had folded the fine cloak away and scooched up to his room on his rear. He had grabbed a little water and made up the draught Gothi had instructed and he was longing to take off the wooden peg leg...but he felt he needed to be able to stand on his own two feet when the worst happened. And as Stoick raged up the stairs, he knew it was about to.

"You little bastard!" Stoick roared and lunged at him. Hiccup staggered back out of range, swallowing.

If only. I would be safe then, he thought despondently.

"I told you that you would pay!" he swore. "That Nadder is..."

"If you harm one scale on her, Dad, I will shame you and Berk to every visitor that ever sets foot on the island!" Hiccup swore, suddenly calm. "I will never be what you want me to be! And I will damage you! You know I can!" Stoick stared at him, then raised his fist and hit him. Unstable, unprepared, Hiccup went down with a crash, his head spinning and tasting blood in his mouth. He lay on his front, breathing hard.

"You will not defy me," Stoick swore. "I promised I would make your life Hel!"

"You already did!" Hiccup shouted at him, raising his head and staring up. "You did for years, tearing my confidence to pieces. Tearing me down in front of the village. Never standing up for me or even asking if I was okay. My life was Hel before-and you have managed to make it worse! Way to go!" He suddenly felt numb. Stock lurched forward, his fist clenched and he felt a shudder of fear run through him. "It's easier, isn't it, Dad? After that first time, hitting me? Each time, it's easier to raise a hand and strike me." Stoick grabbed his hair and hauled him up, then put his full force into a slap that spun the boy around and dumped him on the wooden floor once more.