The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Fourteen: Troubled

Fourteen: Troubled

Back in the village, Hiccup put his head down and worked hard in the forge, slaving at menial tasks for all he was worth. He had returned from his 'walk' and set to labouring, polishing weapons, pumping the fire and manning the hatch...anything that could distract him from the massively stupid choice he had just made. Hel, he had just spent the night with Astrid in his arms, his father was sort of almost acknowledging he existed and there were a small number of people who even thought he wasn't totally 100% useless...and then he had to go and befriend and start treating a dragon. And not any dragon-the deadliest dragon of them all, a Night Fury.

Toothless.

Strange how giving something terrifying and deadly a name made it seem less threatening. Toothless tended to fly invisibly during raids, blasting catapults-and the people on them-with unerring accuracy and he had jumped Hiccup. The young man had stared up into the face of a raging monster, about to blast him into Valhalla and he had named him Toothless.

Honestly, what is wrong with me? It's the stupidest name and why in Thor's name would I befriend a Night Fury anyway?

Because I'm Hiccup. Maybe I've been punched in the head one time too many. Oh Thor, that really is a horrible thought. Am I insane? Or just-as I suspect-massively stupid, stubborn and unVikinglike? Do I really believe that dragons are not the rampaging monsters everyone else believes and that it is possible to befriend them...him? And that the knowledge may lead to some way of making peace and ending three hundred years worth of war with them?

Yeah-like that's gonna happen! I'll be caught by Snot when he gets out of jail and they'll execute me in the Plaza.

He stopped and rubbed his sweaty face. His hand was hurting again but he needed the distraction because outside, life was normal. Astrid was teaching weapons to the fire crew and the younger teens, fish were being caught, livestock were being tended and the villagers were going about their usual tasks. Gobber was singing badly-as usual-and Hiccup had a pile of swords to polish up. Wearily, he took a seat and began to shine the grimy weapons, even when Gobber headed off for his midday meal. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't hear the visitors at first...until a small stone hit the back of his head and he looked up-to see Else, Hilde and Gustav standing at the hatch. Exhaustedly, he stood up and walked towards them.

"We know what you're doing," Else sneered menacingly and Hiccup couldn't stop his eyes widening.

"Wh-what?" he managed, wondering if he had been followed, if he had been spied upon...

"You think you can supplant my brother?" she continued and he tried to calm his breathing. He shook his head.

"I think you are mistaken," he told her evenly. Hilde stared at him unforgivingly.

"He's in jail because of you!" she said coldly, even though she knew the truth. He made a so-what gesture.

"Actually, he's in jail because of himself," he shot back more harshly than he had intended. "And he tried to frame Astrid, who came and saved my life. Otherwise I would have died of my injuries and of the cold. It must be some Jorgensen family trait, blaming other people for your crimes!" Else stiffened but Hiccup turned to face her, his eyes hardening. "Your brother tried blaming Astrid and then the twins for his attack on me which he orchestrated and led. And now you you try to blame ME for Snotlout trying to kill me!" The girl bunched her fists.

"That's a blood insult," she hissed and Hiccup leaned closer to her.

"Good," he breathed, just for once allowing his anger at how he was treated to peek through his facade. "Of course, you do know that by calling insult, you have to face me to answer it? Not your precious Daddy or your brainless brother-you, all alone? So I look forward to seeing you in the Arena. How many seconds do you think you'll last before I kill you? I beat Thuggory, a skilled Meathead warrior and Heir who has been trained from the second he could walk: you are nothing compared to him!" And he couldn't deny there was a small shameful surge of pleasure at seeing the anger and sudden fear in her face. She paled and backed away, lowering her eyes and mumbling a retraction. "What was that?" he taunted her. She swallowed.