The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Twenty Three: New Friends

oOo

"He's up to something-I can feel it!" Snotlout growled, slamming his mug of ale down on the table that evening. Tiril had led the pursuers in a merry dance and finally stranded them in a bog that had taken then half an hour scramble out of, stinking and soaked. Dogsbreath was furious but Snotlout had stopped him going after the girl, reminding him that the Thorstons were allies of the Jorgensens and pranking was what they did. Except...

...she had been leading them away from where they were searching for Hiccup and Astrid. Though, Snotlout had to admit, it was a very Thorston thing to do to leave them stuck in the mud. Snotlout shook his head and stared at his cronies, still mucky and stinking. They were Vikings through and through and they didn't do baths very often...though he was making sure that Sven, Lars and especially Dog were staying firmly on the opposite side of the table from him. And, of course, everyone else was giving their table a very wide berth.

"Snotlout-we've been searching the forest for weeks and we haven't found anything! Maybe he just goes for walks in the forest..." Sven the Dim suggested, downing his mead. Snotlout rolled his eyes.

"And I'm Gothi's older sister," he snapped.

"Well, he does go into the forest with Astrid a lot," Dogsbreath mused slowly. "Maybe they're not just walking?" Snotlout stared at him.

"What-are they sitting down as well?" Sven asked. Lars chuckled.

"I guess you could do it sitting..." he sneered. Snotlout banged his fist on the table.

"If she is already putting out for that scrawny fishbone, then I don't see why I shouldn't have my share," he growled. "But I'm not convinced. Keep looking...but first, I think we need to speak to Hiccup and ask him what he's hiding up in Raven Point."

"And Astrid?" Lars asked, his face cruel.

"I think we need to ask her what's been going on as well."

oOo

Hiccup had promised to meet the younger teens in the cove that afternoon an hour before sunset because they were all keen to try bonding with a dragon after their visit was cut short by Snotlout the previous morning. Tiril had got back safely and had winked at him as she trotted past the forge, teasing Gustav that he couldn't keep up with her.

Gobber had been his usual self-cheerful and brash, bad-mouthing the ornery citizens of Berk and their complete disregard for their weapons and Astrid had brought him some lunch from the Great Hall as he had struggled to reshape an axe that Egil the Bald had managed to bend into a curve. Swiping sweat from his red face, Hiccup had thanked her and sat by her, sharing the food and checking that she was safe. The knowledge that Snotlout was making very personal threats against Astrid publicly had set his skin crawling and he was very much on edge.

But after she had gone off to train the younger teens, he turned back to his work It was mid afternoon and Gobber had ambled off to have a chat-and a mead-with Stoick at the Elder's Meeting while most villagers were off doing their afternoon chores. He was so deeply concentrated on his task that he heard nothing until the clang of a weapon on the anvil had him looking up-into the cool blue eyes of the Heir. Eyes widening and backing away, Hiccup found his arms snared and a hand slammed over his mouth. He tried to struggle, desperately fought to break free-but it was too late. Calmly, Snotlout lowered the shutters to the forge so the villagers would imagine the shop was closed before he walked towards his imprisoned cousin.

"Shout out and I will kill you and do the same to Astrid," he threatened calmly. Hiccup paled, emerald eyes wide and dark with fear-before he bit the hand over his mouth.