How To Train Your Dragon

9: Dad, Astrid, a Dragon and a Plan

Hiccup and I sit in the back of the blacksmith in my brother's work space. My brother is laying his head on the slanted desk. His journal with the drawing of Toothless is open beside him and more drawings as well as the layouts for Toothless' fake tail, saddle, and the paddle design out around him. He flicks is charcoal pencil up the desk and it rolls back down, he flicks it up again and it rolls back down, and repeats.

I get up to leave when I see the shape of our father in the door way, I pull Hiccup's vest and he looks up. Then he jumps to his feet. "Dad! You're back." He hurriedly begins gathering the papers up so dad doesn't see. "Gobber's not here so.."

"I know." Dad says and he pushes his way through the little door way into the room. "I came looking for you two."

I exchange a glance with my brother.

"Y-you did?" Hiccup asks closing his journal and gathering the papers under it.

"You've been keeping secrets from me." Dad says, his voice deep.

"Uh, we- we have?" Hiccup puts his elbow on the journal.

"Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?" Dad asks turning his head a bit.

Does he know? Only Hiccup knows that I can speak with dragons. And we haven't seen dad till now so he couldn't have told him.

Hiccup straightens and looks at his desk, lightly tapping his fingers against it. Slowly he says, "I don't know what you're.."

"Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it." Dad says, his voice even deeper.

"Oh." Hiccup glances at me, but I am frozen to the spot. How did dad find out? Where we being watched? What will happen to Toothless? What will happen to me?

"So." He says, taking a step closer to us. I take a step closer to Hiccup. "Let's talk... about that dragon."

The journal slips off the desk and Hiccup immediately straightens saying, "Oh gods. Dad, I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you, I just. I-I-I- I just didn't know how to, uh-"

Hiccup breaks off as dad starts laughing. I give my brother a confused look before we start to laugh along, not knowing what is so funny. "You're not upset?" Hiccup asks finally.

"Upset?" Dad asks with a smile. "I was hoping for this!"

"Ahh... you were?" Hiccup glances at me again.

"And believe me. It only gets better!" Dad says. "Just wait till you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time, and mount a your first Gronkle head on a spear. What a feeling!" I start to feel a little sick as he speaks. I don't want to feel that from the dragons.

Dad gives Hiccup a punch in the arm, knocking him back. "You really had me going there son. I mean, there was hope for Whisper ever since she first picked up a bow, and all those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen from you. Odin, it was rough, I almost gave up on you, but all those years you were holding out on me! Thor all mighty!" Dad sits down in a chair and scoots it forward a bit to Hiccup. "With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about."

Hiccup looks at me. I shake my head, I can't speak. He holds out his palm, but I shake my head again as nothing comes to mind. Dad scoots closer thinking Hiccup is about to say something. He doesn't and a long silence is drawn out.

"Oh." Dad says reaching behind him and pulling out a helmet with horns. "I brought you something." He straightens one of the horns. "To keep you safe in the ring." He hands the helmet to Hiccup.

"Wow." Hiccup says rubbing his hand over it. "Thanks."

"Ah, your mother would have wanted you to have it. It's half of her Brest plate." Hiccup poles a face and takes his hand off it. Dad taps his helmet. "Matching set. Keeps her... keeps her close you know." He reaches back again and pulls out a necklace. It is two strands of beads, the top strand is black, and the bottom strand is blue. I can't help bit think of a Waterfright. He hands it to me. "This was your mother's necklace. The beads represent the legendary Waterfright, because your mother was also legendary." I step forward and he clasps the beads around my neck. I tear up a bit. The beads fit perfectly, they settle high, an inch below my throat, curving over my chest. "Wear them proudly. Both of you. You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal."