Dark Valkyrie

Nine: Confessions

Nine: Confessions

"It's been four days," Fishlegs said as the Riders sat by Hiccup's bed. "Why hasn't he woken?" Heather stole a glance at the still shape lying motionless on the bed, a little scruff darkening the line of his jaw and his skin pale before she sighed.

"I was talking to Gobber and he tells me that Gothi explained that he may never wake...or if he does, he may remain paralysed or blind," she sighed. "We were technically too late: the antidote should have been given before dawn. It's a miracle he's still alive."

"Oh...it's all my fault..." Fishlegs murmured. "I should've gotten to the fruit sooner. I shouldn't have needed to go all the way to Vanaheim and then we could have given him the antidote sooner and..." Reaching out gently, Heather rested her hand on his arm, gently curling her fingers to still his anxious ramble.

"Fishlegs!" she said urgently, staring into his eyes. "I'm glad it was you-because none of us would have realised that the fruit we need and the fruit from Vanaheim were one and the same. Only someone with your amazing botanical knowledge would have realised that."

"But I was too slow and..."

"Fish-you sent Iggy to us," she reminded him. "And we helped you. We sent the fruit back by the fastest dragon we had and it worked! Hiccup is still alive!" She lowered her eyes. "Frankly, that was something none of us expected when we returned." The husky man gently took her hand and nodded.

"I know," he sighed. "I mean, Hiccup is my best friend...he's the only one who understands me, I think." He looked at the still shape. "I mean, we chat for hours and hours about dragons. He listens to my theories and I listen to his. We debate about dragon behaviour and relationships and how we can deal with them...and loads of other stuff..." He swallowed. "Sometimes, we find ourselves thinking exactly the same thing and finish each other's sentences. It's...like the brother I never had. And I have never properly apologised for how I treated him when he was desperately trying to be accepted and I was safely in with the cool kids." Heather stared into his green eyes and frowned.

"You know, no one ever talks about that," she murmured. Fishlegs rubbed his arm and looked at the floor.

"Well, it's kind of because we all feel horribly bad about it-and terribly guilty," he admitted. "I was his friend when we were much younger-and so was Astrid. But as he remained small and clumsy, we kind of drifted apart. Astrid concentrated on her training and I joined the gang just to avoid being picked on. And I really started growing while Hiccup remained small. The others bullied him-sometimes quite badly. His father was disappointed in him and really Gobber was his only friend until he shot down Toothless." Heather stared at the unconscious shape and sighed.

"You know, this sounds so unreal," she admitted softly, watching Hiccup's chest gently rise and fall. "When I first arrived, he was clearly your leader. You all accepted him-sure, you argued and Snotlout was...well, Snotlout. But everyone acknowledged he was the one in charge. That was why I worked so hard to stay with him. I-I can't believe that he wasn't always your friend..." Fishlegs sighed.

"And you know what? I don't think most of us have ever properly apologised either," he said slowly. "He has never asked and he has forgiven us...because he doesn't bear grudges..."

"But I think Astrid may well have apologised," Heather murmured. "Quite a lot..." Blushing, Fishlegs nodded.

"Even though he's my best friend, she's the one he wants to be with," he agreed. "I mean, she is a fierce warrior...and beautiful...and he has been in love with her forever...and they're betrothed...and she loves him..."

"And she doesn't know he's still alive," Heather realised. "Fish-do you think Iggy can find her?" He shrugged.

"But he doesn't know where she's gone and he's scared of Sneaky, her Terrible Terror..." he protested. Taking his hand, Heather stared at the motionless auburn-haired Rider.