My little Flower (HiccupxOC, part 1 of Grimborn Family AU)

Chapter 105 - Epilogue

It was now three weeks since that fateful day of the executions and things were only slowly going back to normal on Hunter Island. Grief still hung heavy over the town. Almost one hundred people had died in the battle and their loss was to be felt. Hands of fathers, brothers and sons that were desperately needed were now lacking in the rebuilding process. With Solsteinn's help Viggo could at least provide for his tribe through the winter.

But that was not on his mind this crispy morning as he made his way through the awakening town, thick fur cloak tugged tight around his body. Ahead of him a man emptied a bucket into the gutter and a woman, who beat dust from a fur rug, called a morning greeting to him, but Viggo did nothing more than nod in her direction.

He reached the edge of the forest when he finally found her. Nanna was crouching on the ground, digging into the frost hardened earth for roots or whatnot. He did not know and he did not care. There were more urgent matters on his mind.

"You are early," the old woman called over her shoulder and Viggo noticed the hint of amusement in her raspy voice. He stopped in his tracks, surprised. How did she always know it was him before he even spoke? Giving himself a little shake he let himself drop onto a nearby tree trunk and rested his hands on his knees.

"Three weeks," his jaw clenched around the words, "It's been three whole weeks and she won't come out. She barely eats. By the gods, she won't even talk to me. I didn't think I would ever say this, but I am at my wit's end."

"She's mourning," Nanna said without looking up from her task, "Give her time."

"How much longer?" Viggo balled his hands to fists and got back up, a wave of familiar anger welling up inside of him, "I swear if Hiccup crosses my path again. . .you said it, you knew they were doomed and still I put my trust in him. Now she's fading away in front of my eyes and there's nothing I can do about it." He started to pace, hands folded behind his back and his brows furrowed. Not only had Hiccup broken his sister's heart, he had also taken the dragon eye from him - again.

"It was fate," Nanna put her small axe down and regarded Viggo intently with clear blue eyes, "But she'll get through it, if you give her time."

Viggo snorted. "Every day I come to you and every day you give me the same answer."

"For you keep asking the same question." Nanna said, deadpan.

"Well I wouldn't if it was getting better," he snapped, "But it only turns for the worse. I fear she's caught a fever, she was sweating - almost burning up when I looked after her. With all those dragons constantly around her who knows what disease she's caught - the dragon flu for all I know!"

"The dragon flu concerns dragons, you know that."

"Of course I know that, but with the dragon blood who -"

"Alright, alright," Nanna cut him off and got to her feet. Viggo stopped pacing and watched her brush dust and dirt from her brown dress. "I'll fetch my herbs and look after her if it puts your mind at ease."

-----

Lilly lay curled up in her bed, knees drawn up to her chest under her nightdress and her fur blanket abandoned on the floor. Dark circles were visible under her eyes but she didn't cry. Her tears had stopped coming a while ago. She stared at the wall of her room with blank eyes.

When Astrid, Valka and the dragon rider's left, she had waited all night at the cliff in hopes for Hiccup to return and talk things out. Then she waited the next day and the following. Then days turned into a week and a week into another.