The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Twenty: Almost a Hero

Twenty: Almost a Hero

Their arrival back in the village around dawn caused nothing short of a commotion as everyone stared at Astrid, who was already being mourned as being lost. Both looked exhausted and Astrid's wounds needed tending but people kept staring as they walked down the village to stand in front of the Chief in the Plaza. Stoick's mouth dropped open in utter amazement.

"Astrid?" he mouthed. "But they said...I thought...you were taken..." She nodded.

"I was, Chief," she admitted clearly, "but Hiccup saved me."

Silence fell over the village.

"Useless?" Snotlout's voice echoed across the Plaza and Astrid's fists tightened in fury.

"Clearly not since he saved my life!" she yelled. "What have you ever done for this village or anyone but yourself?" Hiccup gently caught her hand and pulled her back.

"Easy, Milady," he soothed her softly. "You're safe here and he isn't worth it."

"But...how?" Stoick mouthed, his cool grey-green eyes wide with shock. He had prepared himself to comfort the boy who used to be his son, to share his desolation over the loss of Valka, the boy's mother and sympathise with another who had seen their love stolen from them by the curse that was dragons. Yet here Hiccup was, Astrid by his side and quietly confident. Emerald eyes flicked up and he looked embarrassed.

"Um...shot down the dragon and...um...it let her go..." he said, stammering, rubbing the back of his neck in a sure sign he was very self-conscious. "But...I had to try because I can't lose Astrid." The girl smiled at him, her eyes relieved.

"I have never felt so relieved as when I saw you," she assured him before turning back to the Chief, assuming her usual responsibilities after a raid. "Do you need any help with the clean-up, sir? There seems to be a lot of damage..." Stoick blinked and shook his head.

"A number of the houses were protected but we lost more food," he told her. "I don't feel the Berserkers were of much help..."

"That's for sure," Hiccup murmured darkly and Astrid gave a small smile at his residual protective anger.

"Easy, babe," she soothed him, her hand finding his. "I guess they've gone and left us to clear up without them..." Hiccup leaned closer to her.

"You need Gothi," he reminded her gently. "Once you're there, I'll go and help Gobber..."

"'E should be Outcast!" a voice piped up-Hiccup recognised Mildew with a shudder. "'E angered the Berserker Chief and almost wrecked the Treaty!" Fists suddenly clenched, Hiccup raised his chin and turned to face Mildew, who was standing centre of a crowd of angry-looking villagers.

"His stupidity and recklessness caused Astrid to be taken!" he retorted. "The man was telling me it was Astrid's fault she was taken while the woman I loved was in the clutches of a dragon being taken to her death. Who here wouldn't shout at the idiot who had caused that?" There were murmurs.

"And Dagur were 'elpin' us fight the raid..." Mildew began but Stoick walked forward.

"Even the most generous of us could see his efforts were making the damage worse," he announced. "And the only reason why he was here was to try to shoot down a Night Fury. And we all know how well that activity goes for the village!" There were audible chuckles and snorts.

"And they weren't working with us in any case," Gobber added. "They were disrupting the Chief's battle plan-and in some cases, doing exactly the opposite! Dagur has signed a Treaty and he will abide by it-unless we give him reason not to. And his 'brother' yelling at him certainly isn't it." There were sniggers from Snotlout and the Fire Crew at the description of Hiccup but the young man blushed.