The Return of the Dragons

Part 25 She Stays - Hiccup POV

My stomach lurches as my ship jolts to a stop. A dismal wind howls over New Berk. The grey skies huddle over the island in a fog encasing it as it were in sadness and worry... just like my heart. I shiver in the morning air. The weather has been getting colder and colder as winter is coming.

As tears blur my vision, I look out over the ocean where my Sieglinde rests. My poor baby was hardly big enough to be born let alone to die. Oh precious girl I'm so sorry I couldn't save you!

My mind turns to Astrid. Poor thing she is heartbroken. First losing her baby and now her other two children's lives are at stake. More than that her body is loaded with hormones from being pregnant and she is an emotional wreck.

I need to be there for her. I need to be her rock.

I step off the ship and onto the dock. Picking up the rope I had tossed over onto the dock I fasten it to the dock.

"Watch your step sweetheart." I say. Carefully stepping over the gap between the dock and the boat she trips and falls into my arms. It was an accident but I take the opportunity to hug my daughter. "It's okay, I've got you." I say.

That was only a few months ago and already so much has changed. I remember holding my sweet daughter to my heart and rocking back and forth with the ship to comfort her. I remember those precious tears she said in concern for my safety. She's got such a tender heart. I just wish I could find her.

And my son also. I can tell how much he wants to be brave and strong and I just know in my heart he went with his sister in part because he wanted to show me he can be brave.

Tears are coming still to my eyes. Oh my precious children where are you!

I walk into New Berk shrouded in sorrow. But again I think if my Astrid. I need to be strong for her. I look around and the people are going about their business. Gobber is slowly working at the smithy. Fishlegs I can see is headed to the school to teach the kids. Where is Astrid? I assume she is probably at my mom's house.

I climb up the hill to my mom's house thinking ever of my poor Astrid. We have been through so much together, but this is about the hardest thing we've ever been through and she's taken it pretty hard.

I enter my the house to find my mom by the fire seeming to be in deep thought. I see worry in her eyes as she leans forward resting her chin on her hand. The white streaks in her hair glow in the firelight. I go to her and I rest my hands on her shoulders.

"She is not well Hiccup." She says without turning her head.

"Where is she?" I ask.

"She is still in bed." My mom answers.

I bend down and give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek and turn away to go find my wife. I come to our bedroom door and softly tap at it. Then I open it very softly. And there, in a wad of covers and a pool of tears is my poor Astrid. I can hear her softly sobbing and my heart shatters.

I go over to the side of the bed behind her and sit down next to her. All I want to do is to pull her into my arms and kiss her and I do just that. "Come here sweetheart." I say as I pull her to my chest.

Once she realizes that I am there she quickly wraps her arms around me and begins to cry into my chest. Her hands clench onto me tightly almost inflicting pain. I try to still her shaking with a firm but gentle hold on her. Slowly I rub up and down her back and stroke her beautiful blonde hair with my other hand.

"Shhhhh. It's okay Astrid." I whisper as I hold her in my arms. She looks at me with red eyes "Did you find them?" She croaks in a voice strained from crying.

I sigh. "No baby." I say, "but everyone in the archipelago has agreed to help search for them. We will find them Astrid. I will bring them home if it kills me."

"And so will I." She says sitting up.

My eyes widen on that statement. "No Astrid! You are not well; I can't let you do that!"

"But Hiccup, they are my children too!" She cries getting red in the face. She is getting that don't-argue-with-Astrid expression and my heart melts a little. Of course she wants to go; she's Astrid! But no! This time I am really putting my foot down. She is not going. I have lost Sieglinde, I have lost Zephyr and Nuffink, but I am NOT going to lose my Astrid. Never!

"No Astrid!" I cry getting firm with her. "I won't allow it!"

I can see her flinch as I say this. Her face gets redder. I know she's not happy.

"Hiccup, I can't just stay home while my children are out there in danger!" She cries tears coming to her eyes.

I am getting even more frustrated. I am not going to lose this argument! Astrid is my wife and she needs to listen to me. "I don't care Astrid!' I shout. "I am putting my foot down and that's final.

She gasps and I see tears flow down her cheeks as the deepest times I ever spoke echo in our ears. I stand up and without a caress for my tearful bride I turn around and stumble out of the room. I look at my mom who is staring at me with a gaping mouth in shock.

"Make sure she stays." Is all I have to say and a moment later I am out the door. I am going to find my kids... ALONE!