Astrid's Tale

Chapter 11

I stood beside the arena, where so much had happened today. I fought back tears and walked away. I often went on walks, usually at night, to clear my head, but I definitely needed one now.

I woke up this morning in a flurry of emotions. I was confused about what Hiccup would do. I was ecstatic remembering the kiss last night. I was in self-conflict about telling others even a tiny portion of the things that happened yesterday. I was sad that Hiccup might have to kill a dragon, or be killed by one.

I had met Hiccup by the arena before his final exam. I wished him luck, and he made me promise not to let anything happen to Toothless if things went wrong.

His question had caused chills to go down my spine. I was trying to forget all the ways things could go wrong, and he had reminded me of them.

I asked him to promise me that nothing would go wrong. He gave me an apologetic look, and Gobber swept him away.

The gates opened and he walked through, putting on his helmet. Even from behind, I could see that the confidence he wore was fake. I watched him from behind the gate as he picked up his weapon- a dagger- and a shield.

The doors swung open, and the Monstrous Nightmare sprang forward, flames coating it's entire body. It climbed around the chained roof, before lowering itself down to the ground to greet Hiccup.

It walked towards him, and Hiccup backed up, throwing away his weapons. People began to raise to their feet, but he didn't stop. Without breaking eye contact with the dragon, he lifted his hands to his helmet. "It's okay," Hiccup assured the Nightmare. He looked up to his father. "I'm not one of them." Hiccups hands quickly threw the helmet to the ground. Everyone watching gasped.

"Stop the fight," Stoick said through gritted teeth.

"No!" Hiccup yelled, extending his arm to the dragon, "they're not bad, just let me show you."

Hiccups fingers were only an inch from the Nightmare's snout. Hope, a feeling I never truly felt before, surged through my veins. Maybe he could do this!

"I said, STOP THE FIGHT!" Stoick bellowed, driving his hammer into the metal barriers.

My heart sank.

The dragons eyes snapped wide open, startled by the noise. The Monstrous Nightmare seemed to remember that humans and dragons don't mix, breaking out of his trance, and lunged for Hiccup, biting into air.

Before I could even fully comprehend the situation, I was raising the gates with my axe, and slid under to join Hiccup.

It was a blur from there. I ran around, trying to fight and distract the Nightmare. Anything to keep Hiccup alive.

The dragon shot fire, nearly getting me. I saw Stoick lift up the gate, and I ran to him. He pushed me back, out of the arena.

Frantically, I look for Hiccup, and saw he was pinned under the dragons claws. I was about to run for him, willing to die if it means keeping him alive, but a piercing shriek stopped me.

"Night fury!" Someone calls, and everyone ducks down.

Toothless blasts the barriers, and jumps into the arena. He wrestles the Monstrous Nightmare from Hiccup.

Hiccup runs to Toothless, who has successfully fought off the Nightmare. He grabs Toothless' head, and tries to push him away. "Go, GO!" He yells.

Stoick runs over to the two.

"Stoick, no!" I call, but he doesn't hear me.

Toothless, thinking he is a threat, jumps on top of Stoick. He opens his mouth to fire.

Everything seems to go in slow motion.

"No!" A single voice screams. Toothless turns to Hiccup, with a curious expression on his face.

I'm about to cry out, but the other vikings bound Toothless in chains before I could form words.

They drag him out if the arena, and Stoick glares at his son.

"No, please!" Hiccup pleads, "just don't hurt him."

"Put it with the others," Stoick demands, shoving Hiccup away. Stoick walks out of the arena, and Hiccup chases after him.

•••

I walk up to a lookout point where Hiccup is standing. My head us throbbing from the thinking of these past moments. I can't even imagine how Hiccup is feeling.

Towards the docks, ships are setting sail. Toothless is on the front boat with Stoick.

Hiccup must've tried to explain, and at some point, revealed the dragon island.

When I saw Stoick getting ready to go, he didn't look happy. Anger was present in every move he made, but he seemed sad as well.

"It's a mess, you must feel terrible." My voice is hoarse as I approach Hiccup. "You lost your best friend, your tribe, your father."

"Thank you for summing that up," He stares down at the leaving boats, "I should have just killed the dragon when I found it in the woods."

"Yep, most of us would," I turn to him, "Why didn't you?"

"I dunno. I couldn't."

"That's not an answer."

"Why is this suddenly so important to you now? I wouldn't!" Hiccups bursts.

"You said wouldn't that time," I pointed out, hoping he wasn't mad at me.

"I wouldn't, okay?" Hiccups voice begins to rise, "100 years, and I'm the first viking who wouldn't kill a dragon!"

I stare at him. "First to ride one though."

He looks me in the eye, his face expressionless.

"So what are you gonna do?"

"Probably something stupid," he mutters.

"Okay," I laugh, "but you've already done that."

His eyes go wide, and a grin fills his face. "Then something crazy!"