The End of the Edge

Astrid sat by his bed for three days. She didn't eat, barely slept, and drank enough to keep her alive.

"Astrid?" came the gentle voice, accompanied with a hand on her shoulder. Astrid blinked her eyes open, realizing she had fallen asleep on the chair. She groaned, running a hand through already messy hair.

"Erik?" she asked, shifting slightly on the chair. Bad move. Her back was stiff from sitting for hours.

"Astrid," Erik said again. "You need to get some rest." Astrid groaned again, standing up on tired legs.

"No," she protested. "I need to stay with him. What if something happens. What if I'm not here…" she trailed off, tears forming once again in her eyes.

"I understand," Erik said, prompting a suspicious eyebrow raise from Astrid.

"Since when?" she asked, curious about what exactly he was talking about. Erik gave her a small bitter smile.

"I wasn't always a hunter," he explained, shrugging. He led them both outside, allowing Astrid to finally get some fresh air.

"I lived with my mother for the first part of my life. But throughout it all, I knew something was wrong. She was always worried. I felt like if I ever left. Or if she did. I would never see her again." He shrugged, blinking back a few tears.

"And eventually, I was taken."

"By Viggo?" Astrid confirmed. Erik just nodded duly.

"I just don't know anymore," she admitted. "By all means, he should be dead by now. The dragon root arrows will kill a human. But… but even after three days… he's still alive."

"It's Hiccup," Erik reminded her. "He's a survivor. So do not doubt that he will survive. He's fighting. Even if you can't see it. He's fighting with everything he can to get back to you." Astrid smiled, allowing a solitary tear to drip soundlessly to the ground.

"Who knew you could be so sensitive." She smiled slightly.

"I wouldn't have been without my mother," Erik said honestly. "She taught me everything I needed to know."

"Have you ever considered," she paused for a moment. "Have you ever considered trying to find her?" she asked. Waited patiently for an answer.

"I found myself wanting to. But I never dared search for her. Because I was not sure what would happen if I did find her. My father was merciful that night. His only goal was getting me. But if he saw her again…" he trailed off, allowing Astrid to realize what he was implying.

"Now come on," Erik said, brushing off their previous conversation like they were talking about dinner. "I'm sure Fishlegs wouldn't mind sitting with Hiccup. As for you. Food. And sleep. Now."

Hiccup was still unconscious. After three days, and heading into the fourth. Astrid knew he couldn't survive much longer. She'd messaged Stoick the day before, telling him to come as quickly as he could. Now, she saw he was here.

"Where's my son?" he demanded, hopping off Skullcrusher. He almost ran to Astrid, the terror very clear on his face.

"I'm so sorry," she choked out, half breaking down in front of him.

"There there," he soothed, putting an arm around her. "What's happened? What's wrong with Hiccup? You said he wasn't waking up?" Astrid nodded jerkily.

"I'll take you to him," she said, brushing hair out of her eyes. Stoick watched her leave, a mixture of pity, empathy, and agony washing over him. She'd already taken on so much. And to be forced time and time again to fight for her life. She had a real spirit. That's for sure.

"I… he's unconscious," Astrid said hesitantly. She opened the door, leading the way into Hiccup's room.

"Oh son," Stoick gasped, running to his bed. Astrid hung back, allowing the father to have a moment.

"What did this to him?" he managed to choke out, sounding strangled.

"A dragon hunter arrow," Astrid said, voice cracking again. She pointed to the wound on his side, where the arrow had torn through.

"Oh Hiccup," Stoick muttered, rubbing his eyes, trying in vain to wipe back the tears.

"The other riders have been trying to figure out an antidote," Astrid said, desperate to try and reassure him. The look in his eyes was breaking her heart all over again.

"Do you know if there is one?" he asked, a tiny spark of hope in his eyes.

"We're working on developing one," Astrid said, trying to look hopeful. But she saw the hope in his eyes whither and dim.

"Astrid Hofferson?" came a voice from the doorway. Astrid spun around to see Mala limping forward.

"Mala!" she exclaimed, rushing over to help the queen.

"I'm quite alright," Mala said, quickly covering the wince when she stumbled over a raised floorboard.

"Not even," Astrid refuted gently. "Come on. We should go to the other riders. And after that, you are going back to bed," she said, only hoping that the queen would listen.

"It's a deal," Mala said, leading the way out.

"What happened?" Stoick asked softly.

"She was cut by one of the hunters," Astrid explained. "She was defending the edge."

The entered the doors to Fishlegs' hut, where the rest of the riders were gathered.

"Mala?" Fishlegs asked, not expecting to see the queen so soon. "Aren't you supposed to be on bedrest?" he asked, gesturing to her leg.

"I'm not dead," she retorted. "Besides, I may be able to help. I just haven't been able to actually see the facts you guys have."

"Any progress?" Astrid asked, the flicker of hope in her heart igniting again. Snotlout shook his head sadly.

"There's nothing in any of the books about the effects of dragon root to humans." Astrid closed her eyes, the flicker dying just as quickly as it came. It was her daily heartbreak. She would come in, daring herself to pray for a miracle. Only to watch her nightmares unfold again. It was like she was the one getting shot with an arrow.

"Dragon root?" Mala asked, tipping her head.

"It's a plant similar to dragon nip. But much more potent," Fishlegs explained.

"It makes the dragons go crazy," Tuffnut added on.

"You mean the fighting fruit?" Mala asked, eyes lighting up.

"You've heard of it?" Astrid asked, blue eyes quickly brightening.

"Yes," Mala said, her lips curving into a smile. "And we have the cure."

Hiccup closed his eyes again, unwilling to face the light again. A concerned growl forced him to finally wake up though. He'd been recovering for the past two days. Astrid had gently explained what had happened to him, while he hung between wakefulness and sleep.

The skrill's blast had killed Johan instantly. But the arrow had already been fired. He'd been flown clear, at least being spared from a shocking painful death there. Toothless had dived to get him, but he was still injured. The hunters had been captured by the rest of the riders as well as Berk and Mala's people.

"Ah son, you're finally up," came the booming voice of his father. Hiccup smiled, and forced himself up. He sat up, pushing the covers away from his shoulders. He almost choked when he saw what his father was holding. A ring. One that he had found.

"What's this son?" Stoick asked, giving him a knowing look.

"What, oh that?" Hiccup asked, trying to downplay it. "I just found it. Well, I mean I found the diamond. And I made the ring part out of a piece of gold I found on Viggo's ship."

"Aye," Stoick said, waiting to ask the bigger question. "So, what are you planning to do with this ring of yours?" he asked, already knowing the answer. Hiccup blushed bright red.

"Well, I was thinking of giving it to Astrid," he said, head down. "Along with a… a… a proposal…" The next thing he knew was the crushing of his bones as his father gave him a massive bear hug.

"You're a right good lad," Stoick said, giving him an affectionate pat. "And proposing with a ring. What a good idea. Better than the usual. You're a good lad. Now, go get her."

Hiccup wiped his hands on his pants, feeling sweat collect again. He held the ring in his pocket, although it felt more like a boulder, weighing him down.

"Oh, hey Hiccup," Astrid said, walking up to the rider. "I was just out looking at the sunset." She pointed to the fiery glow on the horizon.

"Uh, yeah," Hiccup said, taking her hand. He led them to the highest point on the edge, a hill overlooking the bay.

"Look Astrid," he began, biting his lip nervously.

"I… I really need to tell you something."

"You can tell me anything," Astrid said kindly. This was it. Hiccup took a deep breath. And pulled out the ring.

"This is for you," he said, handing her the ring. She gasped, blue eyes lighting up with delight.

"It's beautiful," she said, slipping it onto a finger.

"There's something that comes along with it," Hiccup admitted, now barely able to breathe. Astrid raised her eyebrow, but allowed him to continue.

"Marry me," Hiccup blurted out, half a question, half a begging plea. Astrid simply smiled, holding his hand.

"Happily," she said, kissing his cheek. Hiccup felt a huge weight lifted from his chest. Yes. She'd said yes. He broke out into a grin, pulling her into another kiss.

"And the Edge?" Astrid asked, looking deep into his eyes. Typical Astrid. She'd said yes to his proposal, then moved on like it was nothing.

"Let's go back to Berk," Hiccup suggested. "We can start something new there." Astrid happily leaned her head into his chest.

"Yeah. Something new."

At that concludes an epic story. For more than a year, I've allowed it to guide me on an amazing journey. It's been so much fun to bring this characters to life in this story. And you guys have been amazing. However, I'll be back. Probably. Who knows what the future will bring. I would happily revisit the characters in the future, with a new arc. But for now, thanks for everything.

NightLightning21