Chapter 13

The next morning proved to be incredibly dreary. Rain had been on and off since the middle of the night. Only letting up for short periods before torrents drenched The Edge and all those who occupied it.

Heather and Fishlegs had dropped by Astrid and Eret's temporary lodging during a small break in the rain earlier that morning. Dropping off a basket of food and mugs of water and to tell the pair that until the rain stopped for good to stay in their hut. Direct orders from Hiccup, who like the rest of the riders was staying holed up in his hut as well, riding out the storm.

Astrid thanked the pair, though she felt a twist in her stomach as she realized Hiccup had sent them over. Instead of coming himself. Most likely because he was still unable to face her after yesterday's incident.

She still hadn't said a word to Eret since their unceremonious exit from the clubhouse the night before. Her anger for her friend and keeper far to great to have any sort of conversation with the man that didn't involve immense amounts of yelling. So instead the two avoided all contact, eye, physical, everything and sat in silence. Eret keeping himself busy working out, while Astrid read the small library of medical scrolls the riders kept on hand.

Anything to distract herself.

Astrid had just finished a particularly interesting scroll, that gave detailed instructions on treating the scourge of Odin, when there was a knock on the door to the healers hut. Eret shot Astrid a questioning look before opening the door. Only to find a slightly fidgety Hiccup standing there. His gaze darting up and down bashfully behind his bangs.

"What do you want?" Eret asked without preamble. Clearly not happy to see the lanky leader of the dragon riders.

"Hello, to you too." Hiccup mumble sardonically, scratching the back of his head as he snuck a quick glance past Eret at Astrid's silent form. Her eyes darting just as nervously and obviously at him as his own.

An awkward silence passed over the three, as Hiccup continued to stand in the huts doorway. Trading glances on and off with Astrid, Hiccup almost forgot the reason he had come to the hut in the first place.

With an obvious eye roll Eret finally spoke up. "I'll ask again. What do you want?"

"Eret. Behave." Astrid warned quietly. The first words she had spoken between the two since the night before. And if he continued on his current path, they would be the last words for quiet a while. Instantly Eret shut his mouth. Catching the warning tone in Astrid's words.

Seeing her keeper finally quiet Astrid moved forward toward Hiccup, stopping right beside Eret. "How can we help you, Hiccup?"

"Well I was hoping to speak with you Astrid." Hiccup glanced at Eret's narrowed amber eyes briefly before connecting back with Astrid. "Privately," he added. Eying Eret again.

The storm that had been raging all night and into the morning was currently just a slow misty drizzle. But with audible thunder and looming dark clouds in the distance Astrid knew it wouldn't be long before the storm was hitting them once again in full force.

Without hesitation Astrid gave Hiccup a silent nod before reaching behind her and grabbing a wool blanket to drape over her bare shoulders. Still not quiet used to having so much skin exposed yet, she covered herself.

"Astrid, where in Midgard are you going?" Eret frantically questioned as she passed him.

Pausing just long enough to answer him Astrid caught Eret's confused gaze. "He asked to speak to me alone, Eret. So, we are going some where. Alone." She told him pointedly, leaving no room for discussion as she drew the blanket closer around her shoulder and headed out the door. Past Eret and stopping next to Hiccup.

Hiccup watched the exchange tentatively, quietly surprised that Astrid was so fervently passionate about speaking with him. After last night he was more than prepared for a negative response from her. Her anger completely justified in his mind due to his actions, or non-actions as it was.

Seeing that Hiccup wasn't going to make the first move to leave, Astrid took the initiative and began swiftly walking away from the two silent men. Heading where, she really didn't know. Hiccup waited only a breath after she started walking to follow her. Not bothering to utter a goodbye or even a glance at Eret before falling into step beside the determined blonde.

The pair walked slowly in an un-comfortable silence. Crossing wet bridges in no particular direction. It was only when they stepped onto the platform of the stables did Hiccup speak up.

"I uh, see you're not wearing your sling." He said, pausing and pointing limply toward her free arm.

Astrid nodded, "yeah, it was feeling better this morning so I decided to ditch the sling. Hopefully I won't regret that decision."

Hiccup smirked and the pair fell back into a momentary silence. "Um, so how about we check on the dragons?" He asked, hand scratching the back of his neck in that nervous yet endearing way Astrid was beginning to cherish.

With a tentative nod, Hiccup led Astrid into the stables, where all the riders dragons were carefully stored away in their assigned pens.

"We put them in here during storms. You see, the thunder and lightning can spook them and unfortunately no matter how well bonded and trained a dragon is, if they get spooked instincts kick in. Which can end up being very dangerous for even the most experienced rider." He told her, gesturing to all the slightly on edge dragons, as they paced their pens in unrest.

Astrid nodded. Still marveled by the fact that this man and his friends could accomplish such an enormous feat, like training a dragon. When for thousands of years before them no one had even come close. Or even tried. Mainly her brothers and all of the Hunter tribesman before them.

Astrid spied an empty bench towards the back of the stables and without asking strode over to the simple wood bench and sat down. Leaving enough room beside her for another person. Specifically, the auburn haired man that had accompanied her to said stables.

Thankfully, Hiccup didn't need further instructions and sat down beside her.

"So," Hiccup began hesitantly, "I wanted to apologize for last night." Astrid's eyes widened at his words. "I-I wasn't mad. Well, not at you at least. I was more surprised than anything." Hiccup's hands balled in his lap and his gaze turned to the floor as he gave his account from the night before. "I know who you are Astrid and I-I don't blame you for your brothers actions…but I have to admit, it's going to take me some time to not have some kind of reaction to their actions." He paused and pulled his eyes from his mismatched feet and toward Astrid. Determination now lacing them. "But I promise, I won't ever react, or as it was, not react, like I did last night. Not ever again."

Surprised couldn't cover what Astrid was feeling right now. She had accepted Hiccup's invitation to speak because she had been the one planning on apologizing for the night before. Not him. As far as Astrid was concerned, Hiccup had done nothing wrong as he took in Eret's taunts and jabs.

Still in her astonished state Astrid could see Hiccup waiting for a response and uttered the first thing to came to her mind.

"I didn't go to the fights." She blurted out.

"Um, what?" Hiccup questioned, throughly confused.

Astrid cringed instantly at her words. Stupid, stupid stupid. She internally scolded.

She cleared her throat, "the fights. The dragon fights, in Rome. I-I never went to them. Ever." Realization finally dawned on Hiccup as she clarified her remarks.

"Even back then before I knew all of this." She gestured to the penned dragons. Who seemed to be getting more and more restless as the rain picked up outside. Thunder booming ominously closer to The Edge.

"I couldn't – no – wouldn't go to the fights. They are absolutely barbaric, especially when it was those poor slaves fighting." Astrid shook her head, as of the action would erase the images of the solitary time she made the mistake of being outside the coliseum after a fight. Seeing the mangled bodies being carted away by mules had turned her stomach to the point of vomiting behind a wall and still did now.

A gentle hand on her shoulder and caring green eyes brought her out of those horrid memories. Grounding Astrid back to the present. Back to the small bench she and Hiccup occupied, inside of the large dragon stable, where a storm was building right outside the doors.

Astrid shot Hiccup a grateful smile, "thanks, but like I was saying, I never went – I never did really anything when it concerned my families business. But I did benefit from it. Trips. Gifts. My ship, that's now at the bottom of the ocean." She told him with a hint of shame tinging her voice.

"I'm not completely blameless in this. So you're allowed to be angry at me. I'm angry at me, Hiccup." With both hands now free Astrid gently lifted Hiccup's hand from her shoulder. Warming the chilled flesh as she surrounded it with her own. Once that was done she continued.

"And while I appreciate your apology, don't bother. I came with you today because, well…I thought you were mad at me and I was planning on apologizing... to you." She finished sheepishly. Hands still surrounding Hiccup's as she glanced at him timidly.

Hiccup's mouth gaped as he struggled to find his words. "Y-you thought I was mad, at you?" Hiccup couldn't hide the astonishment from his voice, especially when Astrid gave him a tentative nod.

"Astrid. I-I was never mad at you. Eret? Yes. But-but, not you." He corrected fervently. Hiccup never ever wanted Astrid to think he was mad at her. Especially for something or someone, so obviously out of her control. And if anything was clear to Hiccup, Eret was not one to be controlled easily.

Astrid felt the nervous ball of tension imbedded in her core unwind and slowly dissipate at Hiccup's words. She hadn't even been aware herself of how much she feared just the notion that Hiccup was angry with her. Feared that their budding friendship and possible more was snuffed out before it could even flourish and grow properly.

"So, just forget that." Hiccup squeezed their conjoined hands in reassurance, bringing a wide smile to her face. "Not mad at all. Not even a little bit." Hiccup let out a nervous laugh, focusing on their linked hands. "Actually–" He began before an ear-splitting eruption of wood and noise rang out around them.

Drowning out any and all further words in one spectacular second.

For Hiccup, storms had always been a fascination to him. A marvel of the Gods, Thor in particular. A quick shower could nourish dry lands, bringing bountiful crops and full lakes for livestock to drink from. While a long drawn out rainfall could cause rivers to swell and villages to flood. And from a distance the impressive flashes of lightening amongst the clouds, the wide sheets of rain falling down and the loud blasts of thunder could easily be seen as somewhat beautiful.

His fascination had even gotten him in trouble in the past. When he learned the very painful lesson that metal attracts lightening.

But none of what he had seen or experienced before could prepare him for the swirling monster of a storm that was bearing down on them now. As lightening, that burned brighter and hotter than any dragon fire imaginable ripped a hole through the stables roof and ignited the surrounding wood almost instantaneously into a flurry of flames.

Hiccup's instincts took hold the moment the lightening struck. Pulling Astrid down to the floor and throwing his body over hers. Shielding her smaller frame from the falling debris. A mixture of fractured wood and flames, that was now raining down upon them.

"Hiccup!" Astrid shrieked, her face pressed tightly against Hiccup's shoulder as he curled his body around her own.

The eruption of sound, wood and flames had taken Astrid by complete surprise. Leaving her only able to duck slightly before Hiccup's keen reflexes kicked in and took them both to floor. No doubt having honed such rapid knee-jerk abilities from his years of dragon riding and training.

Once the initial debris from the lightening strike had fallen Hiccup unfurled from Astrid, taking in the rapidly deteriorating scene around them. Every dragon was now in an absolute panic as the fire spread through the roofs rafters and down the walls. Thrashing and pounding against their locked cage doors. Fervently trying to escape the flames and smoke that meant imminent death for any and all creatures.

Hiccup let out a choked breath, gathering Astrid in his arms as he stood them up. "We have to free them!" He practically shouted, barely able to hear himself over the roar of the fire and the sound of the collapsing stables. Astrid needed no further instructions, knowing exactly who needed to be freed and who had to do it.

Without any further discussion Hiccup pulled away from Astrid, leaving her standing alone as he raced toward the locked dragon pens. Smoke filled Astrid's lungs as she took several stumbling steps towards the closest pen to her. A smaller one filled with several panicked night terrors.

Astrid made quick work getting the frightened terrors out. Who upon seeing the open door, quickly fled toward the giant double door entrance. Along with the several dragons Hiccup had already managed to release on his own. Once they had all been freed, Astrid moved on to the next caged dragon.

Barf and Belch.

The usually mischievous dragon now looked anything but . Smashing its dual heads into the door and walls; trying desperately to escape it's now smoke filled pen.

Astrid grasped for purchase on the roughly forged metal lock as she attempted to open it. The heavy metal lock caught immediately, stopping Astrid from opening the door. Never before had Astrid cursed her sheltered, pampered life as much as she did now. The lifestyle had afforded her great opportunities. Education. Travel. Luxury, many could only dream of. But at a cost.

It had left her weak.

Physically, pathetically, weak.

With all of her limited strength Astrid pulled and pulled on the lock. Dented from what looked like a piece of the fallen roof. The hot metal began to cut and blister her skin as her muscles and still injured shoulder screamed in protest. Begging her to stop, pleading to not push any further.

Instead she doubled down her efforts. Readjusting her bloodied grasp before wrenching the lock with everything she had in her.

And if by a miracle or maybe her own stubborn determination, the door opened.

Swinging wildly and throwing Astrid unceremoniously back to the stables wooden floor.

Astrid let out a choked laugh as she sat up. Choosing in that moment to ignore the smoke burning her lungs, her aching bloodied hands and straining muscles to watch Barf and Belch flee. Proud couldn't even begin to describe what she was feeling right now. And when she wasn't sitting on the floor of a burning building she vowed to take a moment and celebrate her accomplishment. But until then…

"Are you okay?" Hiccup's nasally voice wheezed beside her. Drawing her attention from the now gone dragon and toward the only other person in the building.

Hiccup's face was smudged with ash and sweat beaded his brow. His chest heaved with every breath. Exhaustion written over all over him. And yet, despite all of that his eyes stayed solely focused on Astrid. Worry only for her surging in them and none for himself. Mustering up a nod, Astrid reached for Hiccup's outstretched hand and stood with his assistance.

"They're all free. We have to go!" Astrid nodded again and felt herself being pushed forward by Hiccup.

Astrid had just crossed the threshold of the stables, rain hitting her like a wall, when she heard the sickeningly familiar crack of lightening striking far-far to close. The sting of electricity licked across Astrid's skin. Standing the hair on her arms as she was flung forward onto the deck of the stable. Astrid landed roughly in the stables deck, skidding a short distance before coming to a painful rest.

Muscles strained in protest as Astrid sat up. Bracing herself with one arm behind her, she looked back at the still aflame stables. And that's when she saw the most heartbreaking sight she could have ever dare imagine.

Hiccup.

Splayed across the stable floor.

Limbs angled like that of a broken doll.

Completely still.

.o.o.o.o.o.

Who doesn't like blindsided with a twist?

-Lizby