The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Two: Outcasts

"He mended and rebalanced my axe," she told them coldly, talking forward and pulling it from he target, feeling the sleek blade slide easily from the wood. "He delivered it in person. That deserves thanks."

"It's his job," Yaklegs pointed out.

"And yours is to be training-but seeing precious little of that," Astrid reminded them. "Unless you all want twenty?" Predictably, they all grabbed their axes and began throwing-but their aim was poor and the clatter of metal on the stone floor of the Arena echoed loudly. Astrid slung her axe back in position and watched. Somehow, she knew Hiccup would have a few more axes to mend by the end of this lesson...

oOo

The next day, all hands were needed at the docks because the fleet had been out and for once, all the fishing boats returned laden with huge catches. Everyone was needed to help unload, gut and salt the bounty before it was stowed in the emergency store houses and caves to provide for the hungry people of Berk. Gobber had remained at the forge and sent his assistant down to help. Predictably, he was jeered mercilessly.

"They'll need the catch carrying by more than one fish at a time!" Snotlout sneered.

"Maybe we can find him a couple of herrings he can manage?" Tuffnut Thorston, the male twin added. He and his sister Ruffnut were both eighteen, lanky with long blonde hair, long faces and grey-blue eyes. Ruffnut had three thick braids that she treated with fish oils and stank while Tuff had his long hair in dreadlocks which were just as unpleasant.

"Maybe an eel?" Ruff suggested, equally scornfully. The pair were tough, cruel and merciless, taunting Hiccup along with their friend Snotlout. More than once, they had helped him beat the young blacksmith and Hiccup kept a wary distance from them. He silently accepted the small cart he was given, loaded it with a net of fish and began to push the heavy load all the way up the very long zigzag ramp all the way up the village at the top of the cliffs. He was much stronger than he looked because spending all his days hammering out metal and lifting maces and war-hammers soon cured weakness. But none of that mattered because everyone had already made their judgement and he was landed with the taunts.

Snotlout winked to the twins, then walked past the toiling Hiccup and deliberately slammed the cart aside, knocking the precious net of fish over as the cart overturned. Silvery fish flowed over the ramp and many over the side directly down onto the docks and into the harbour.

"WHO DID THAT?" Stoick roared and every eye turned again to the lean shape, desperately gathering up the spilled food, his motions angry at the deliberate act...until he heard the thud of steps and looked up-into the furious face of his father.

"Don't say it," Hiccup said bitterly. "It was an accident. Someone knocked the cart and it overturned. I can..."

"Are you trying to ruin us, boy?" his father roared. "Is there no limit to your clumsiness or incompetence?"

"Hardly fair when the cart was knocked over by someone else!" Hiccup protested.

"You were responsible for that cart of food and you have wasted it! We need every fish..." the Chief snarled.

"And I will pick up every one," Hiccup said determinedly. "I know how serious things are, Dad. I..."

"What did you call me?" The Chief's voice was arctic and the young man stiffened, dipping his head. It had been instinct...that even three years hadn't knocked out of him yet.

"S-sorry, sir," he mumbled, shrinking back. "I-I'll pick all the fish up..."

"Why can't you just do what you're told?" Stoick growled and for a moment, Hiccup looked up, his green eyes defensive. "Why can't you be like Snotlout?"