The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Twenty: Almost a Hero

"Stand down, Mildew," Stoick ordered him. "No one is being Outcast."

"Then 'ow did 'e shoot down that dragon? It were long gone and..."

"I have one of my devices hidden up in Raven Point," Hiccup cut in. "I ran there because the dragons were going slowly and circling to fly back as a group once the whole raid was over. I-I've seen them go that way before. I got lucky and shot down the Nadder that had Astrid. She fell onto the cliffs and it took ages to get her back." He looked at her and wrapped an arm around her, seeing her pale. "Now, I need to take her to Gothi. She's injured..."

"That's ain't an explanation!" Mildew protested. "And them dragons was really fast! 'E's lying!"

"So what are you suggesting, Mildew?" Stoick asked him irritably. "The dragon just brought Astrid back? Maybe Hiccup flew after him?" A ripple of laughter ran through the assembled villagers.

"With those stick arms?" Lars scoffed. "As if!"

"We all know the boy has dragon-fighting devices-which nearly destroyed the village on a number of occasions," Sven added cheerfully. "By chance, he must have managed to get one to work!"

"We're just glad it wasn't in the village!" Thorstein yelled. "The Berserkers did enough damage without Hiccup adding to it!" But the tone wasn't threatening, merely relieved. Hiccup's arm closed tighter around the swaying shape of Astrid and he leaned close.

"It'll be fine, Milady," he murmured into her ear as he steered her away from the crowd. "Now lets get those wounds tended..."

But a number of pairs of suspicious or unfriendly eyes trailed the tall shape as he tenderly escorted his girlfriend down the village towards the Elder's house. Snotlout turned to his sister and their cronies.

"I don't believe Useless could have done the impossible," he growled, ignoring the evidence of his own eyes. "There's something very wrong with his story. Search the forest and find out what he's up to!"

oOo

Astrid had insisted Hiccup go back to the forge once she as at Gothi's and he had walked tiredly through the village and slipped into the forge, where Gobber was pounding a mace cheerfully and singing horribly.

"I'm a Viking through and through..."

"And I'm not," Hiccup commented as Gobber caught sight of him. The blacksmith tossed the weapon he was mending aside-further denting it-and lunged at his assistant, giving him a bone-crushing hug. Hiccup stiffened for a moment and then realised he was being crushed. He patted Gobber and struggled for air. "Gobber...need to breathe..." he gasped as the big man released him with an embarrassed look.

"Laddie! Ye managed ter save yer lass!" he exclaimed, his big face suddenly filled with admiration. Hiccup nodded and stared at the floor.

"Um...yeah..." he mumbled but Gobber grabbed his shoulders as best a man could with one hand and one hammer, his eyes more serious than Hiccup had seen for a long while.

"No, I don't think yer understand what yer've done," he said seriously, looking at the self-conscious young man.

"Saved Astrid," Hiccup said quietly but Gobber was shaking his head, his face suddenly enthusiastic.

"No," he said. "Well, yes...but you did something more. You brought back someone who was taken, something we thought was impossible. You rescued her. You gave us all hope." Emerald eyes flicked up guiltily.

"Um...I...what?" he asked. Gobber gave his wide grin, something Hiccup had seen too little of the past three years.

"Yer gave us hope that the impossible is possible!" he exclaimed. "Oh, I know yer father still gives that 'Vikings can move mountains' speech on occasion but no one really believes it. Sometimes, when yer've take too many blows, yer start tae give up."