The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Twelve: Success and Failure

Twelve: Success and failure

Fishlegs had taken some convincing because he would need to help with the building-such as it was. Hiccup had already identified a couple of struts from defunct dragon-fighting devices and Astrid and Fishlegs located some old water troughs that were surplus to requirements in deserted pastures on the other side of the mountain. Once the concept had been explained, though, Fishlegs was very enthusiastic because he insisted that if it worked, he wanted his house modified next-and Hiccup had gladly agreed. The Ingerman family was vulnerable as well, for the boys' father, Boarlegs, had died two years earlier from a Gronckle attack, and with both Fishlegs and Yaklegs having duties during the raid, he was concerned for his mother, alone in the house.

There had been some interest and a lot of sneers from the fire crew as Hiccup had clambered up the ladder and begun hammering the strut to the front of Astrid's new house.

"What are you doing, Useless?" Gustav had called cheekily, his eyes narrowed. "Are you going to destroy Astrid's house as well as her prospects and respect?"

He had flinched at the words but had inclined his head enough to glare at the scrawny lad.

"No," he said quietly. "I'm making your job easier."

"What? Are you going to stop fighting dragons?" the younger boy sneered and Hiccup's fists tightened.

"I don't fight dragons," Hiccup snapped. "I'm no good at it-we all know that. I should be in the forge but some idiot-let me think, maybe your hero Snotface?-stamped on my hand and stopped me smithing. So now all the weapons repairs are backed up. Be sure to thank Snotlout for that!"

"Hey! It's not his fault he was drunk!" Gustav protested hotly.

"Really think it is," Hiccup shot back, seeing the boy start to become flustered.

"Shut up, Hiccup!" Gustav snarled. "It was all the twins..." Hiccup twisted to look the boy full in the eye.

"Really? Do you actually believe your hero is so stupid and weak-willed to be led along by the twins...?" he challenged the younger boy. Gustav's face transmuted into a look of panic, realising it was a trick question.

"Um...I..."

"I know," Hiccup told him softly. "I was there, remember? Unlike you and all the rest who lied for him. So if anything happens to Astrid's home or the Ingerman home, I will come back from Helheim and kill you-clear?" Gustav gulped: for a second, Hiccup sounded awfully like an Heir, the commanding edge to his voice one he recognised from Stoick the Vast. For a fleeting second, the younger boy wondered why Hiccup had been cast aside when he could manage to scare him so much with a few simple words that he was certain Hiccup meant with all his soul. "Now, you can help Fishlegs in carrying those troughs down the hill. If this works, it will make your job easier so fewer homes are lost. Does that sound like something worth trying?" Withering under the piercing emerald glare, Gustav nodded.

"Y-yes," he mumbled and raced off up the hill-as Astrid approached.

"It won't make a difference," she pointed out as Hiccup turned back to his work, grimacing as he tried to hammer the strut into place with his wrong hand.

"I know, but I certainly felt better for it," he commented with a small smile.

The second strut had been placed far back on the house and two long troughs were attached end to end and balanced on a long wooden pole. A simple pulley held the trough upright and a rope released the tension. Standing back proudly, Hiccup gestured.

"There," he announced. Astrid, Fishlegs and Yaklegs-who had joined Gustav in helping-all stared blankly.

"Um...what does it do?" Yaklegs asked. Hiccup pointed.