(HTTYD) To Protect Its Own

Do you fear me?

Astrid POV

Hiccup ran off on his dragon, flying to the direction of the kill ring.  The pair sharply flew up, leaving everyone in a cloud of dust. I coughed under the dust, waving my hands to clean out the air.  Stoick and Gobber watched Hiccup in awe, as the former heir was on the unholy offspring of lightning and death.

"He is as hard-headed as you ever were," Gobber said with a shake of his hook. Stoick nodded, his eyes never leaving Hiccup's small figure. We heard a cough behind us, turning to see Trader Johann with a crate of goods.

"So who is it I give Hiccup's goods to?", questioned Trader Johann while gesturing to the big crate. Stoick raised his hand, quickly taking the crate from Trader Johann's hands. "Wait! There's one more!"

Trader Johann went back downstairs into his ship for a few minutes. Everyone was quiet. I bet everyone was all thinking about the same thing. Hiccup had made a life for himself. Sure, it was unconventional, living with dragons. But Hiccup was powerful. With weapons made of that Grunkle Iron, that fighting ability at his disposal, and the deadliest dragon at his side, he was capable of many things. Hiccup could've crushed us and we would have never known.  Trader Johann came up with a tied roll of parchment in his hands. A red wax seal closed the paper, a boulder-like dragon as its imprint.

"Ok, this message is for him." Stoick gingerly took the scroll from him, curiously tracing the seal.

"What is this?" Trader Johann shrugged his shoulders.

"Something I learned about Master Hiccup throughout these years. He's a secretive man, even to Trader Johan. And he won't be giving answers anytime soon."

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I paced back and forth, contemplating whether to get closer. Berk heard those roars coming from the kill ring. Though the sounds ceased after some time and we all assumed that Hiccup has calmed them down. Hiccup never came back to the village and Stoick, as much as he wanted to hide his emotions, was worried. So I decided to just check on him. For only a little bit.

I was now steps way from the kill ring's entrance. I laid back on the stone wall, letting out a long breath. I can do this. I peeked out, looking for Hiccup. My eyes widened.

Hiccup was in the center of the kill ring. I was surprised at the sheer amount of dragons surrounding him, asleep and resting. There was Toothless, the Nadder and her baby, a Gronkle, and even a Monstrous Nightmare. I realized that they were all the other dragons we've kept in the kill ring. It was amazing how Hiccup was surrounded by all of them, acting like it is normal. He was sitting down and there seemed to be papers laid out in front of him.  An oil lamp was next to him, so I can see his face was set in deep thought, his fingers on his chin.

"What do you want Astrid?" I quickly hid in surprise, eyes wide. How did he know?!

"How-" Hiccup's eyes went up to the gate, where I was peeking from.

"I can hear you, you know. Living with dragons eventually sharpened my senses." Hiccup interrupted with a roll of his eyes, chuckling. His hands gestured for me to come inside, his eyes never straying from the papers. I stayed still, not daring to take a step inside. Hiccup's eyes went up, meeting mine. He wasn't smiling nor was he sneering. HIs face was indifferent, calm and curious.

"Are you afraid of me, Astrid?" I scoffed at his claim. How dare he? Astrid Hofferson is fearless. I stepped into the kill ring, refuting his statement.

"Please, I'm not afraid of anyone." Hiccup let out a warm laugh, shaking his head. It made me irritated.

"Yeah, you shouldn't be." He said, with a smile. It was a sad smile and my heart squeezed in response to his expression. I made sure to not show my concern, though.