Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

51: Nothing I Want

Fifty-One: Nothing I want...

Recuperation was a lot longer than he had anticipated, hampered by the persisting inflammation in his stump and the weakness left by being so close to death for so long. Gothi and Astrid had been shocked by all his wounds and his wife had insisted that everything was properly treated while he was so ill so he found a lot more bandages and stitches than he had expected when he woke.

The crew, in fact, were settling quite happily in the port, abiding by the laws-mostly-and lending their skills in helping rebuild Berkisport. The twins were holding lessons on gunnery for the Berk Naval officers and both were struggling through the stolen book on 'Sticky Balls' that despite their worries did give a lot of useful information about blowing things up. Fishlegs had scoured the Berkisport archives for anything he could find on dragons and was almost in raptures at finding more on his new favourite subject. He had confided in Hiccup that he wasn't planning on staying a pirate forever and really wanted to go seeking any more hidden dragons if he could find a ship and crew.

Astrid had made a good recovery: still stiff and sore and under serious injunctions not to overdo things or overstretch her wounds but able to walk and move mostly normally. Arild's arm was out of his splint and his bruises had faded. He was washed and clean and dressed well though still skinny and bright-eyed with messy jet hair and insatiable curiosity. To the surprise and consternation of most of Berkisport, Stormy had settled on the roof of the townhouse, supplied daily with a large basket of fish, straight off the fishing boats.

Gothi and Stine had decided that Hiccup would be put through a complex and ruthless programme of rehabilitation and had started him moving the day after he finally woke from his fever. Grumbling and weak as a kitten, he had struggled through the exercises with the same determination that he had shown in dealing with every other disaster he had faced. Surprisingly, it had been Gobber-himself a double amputee-who had been the most concerned about his recovery and he had been a regular visitor, carefully measuring the young pirate for a bespoke prosthesis that the man was already building. All Hiccup knew was that it wasn't a simple wooden peg, it would be far more responsive to movement and would enable the Captain to regain much of his agility...if Gobber could ever complete the device. But in the meantime, he was confined to crutches.

It had been immensely hard for Hiccup, being taken back to the ship by carriage and easing out then moving slowly on crutches to his ship. Sven and Roar, who were waiting, cheered and raced to help him aboard, clapping his back...then apologising as he winced. And then he had limped to his cabin, staring around the only place he had called home since he was driven from Berk. Laying his crutches aside, he sat on the edge of the bed, feeling beneath and grabbing the soft pouch of gold and gems that was his accessible stash. Instinctively, he patted the pillow and retrieved Astrid's sapphire pendant and he smiled at her naivety in leaving jewels on a pirate ship. Then he grabbed his journal and stuffed them all into his satchel, slinging it across his body and heading unevenly for the door...but as he reached it, a huge shape intercepted him.

Governor Stoick 'the Vast' Haddock of Berk.

His father.

He froze and his green eyes narrowed, backing up a tiny hop because he was still reasonably unstable on his crutches and the last time they had really spoken...well, Hiccup had still been in a cell, getting married...

"I want a word with you," Stoick said gruffly.

"Not mutual, Governor," Hiccup said coldly, his hands tightening around the crutches. "I need to get back..." The Governor didn't move and he stared up at the huge shape, feeling his breathing accelerate and his heart galloping in his chest. He was feeling very vulnerable-unarmed, down a leg and concealed from casual observation in his cabin-and facing his father brought back all of those memories.