Work Text:
3-4 years ago
Hiccup was exhausted.
The type of bone-weary exhaustion that comes after holding onto a dragon that can fly faster than Thor himself, and destroying countless dragon trapper ships.
He was coated in soot, his armour-yeah, let’s not look at that. He grimaced, gripping the saddle that bit tighter, the worn leather familiar in his hands.
“It’s getting late bud!” He cried to Toothless over the rushing wind in his ears, “Time to head home?”
Toothless roared in agreement, and Hiccup settled in for the flight back to the edge.
He could see dark island shapes in the distance, illuminated by the now full-moon rising high into the sky, casting the world in a silvery light.
He leaned back a little as they began to dip, Toothless blending easily into the night sky, as he clenched and relaxed his hands, trying to get some feeling back into them.
That’s when he saw it.
Bright, warm, orange-yellow light.
A light that couldn’t be replicated by men.
Dragon fire.
“Quick pit-stop, bud?”
Toothless dived, Hiccup scrabbling to shift into position, tensing flat against the Nightfury, once again regretting his decision to handle this alone.
They landed in the shadowy parts of a clearing in the forest, Hiccup scanning the surrounding area. He was right.
Three-no four dragons, circling a group of Vikings.
Unrecognisable ones, maybe Meatheads?
He slid off Toothless, landing silently on the ground, hand easily slipping to his belt for his sword.
“Stay low,” he whispered, eyeing the Vikings, who had now slipped into a tight group, weapons unsheathed as the dragons circled closer and closer.
The moonlight then reflected off of red scales, tusks escaping from hissing mouths.
Deathgrippers.
By Thor’s Hammer.
Of course it was Deathgrippers. Because nothing can ever be easy. Rolling his neck, he hunkered low, Toothless making a low humming noise in his throat, the air beginning to heat up around them. Hiccup leaned forward, slightly.
Waiting.
Waiting.
One Deathgripper leaned on its back legs.
Now.
He sped forward, taking out a small dagger to slice the back of its leg, slicing through the soft flesh, before spinning to his feet, taking out “Inferno”, and igniting the blade.
All four dragons' eyes snapped to it.
He could hear whimpering from behind him, but turned slowly, waving the blade through the air easily.
Toothless slunk out, purple flames licking at his mouth as he snarled at the Deathgrippers. Hiccup focused on what he could see through the soot-stained helmet, squinting at the circled group of viking, and began pacing back toward the forest, gesturing at the Vikings to hurry away from the deadly dragons. Deadly for them, anyway. Hiccup was used to this. Deathgrippers typically preferred hunting in packs, and their venom was lethal and-oh. Currently dripping on the ground, turning the foliage a cursed black grey.
Okay, now he was glad he hadn’t brought either of the twins with him. Knowing their track record, they definitely would have gotten hit by that.
Or Chicken would have.
And Hiccup could not put up with Tuffnut’s mourning for an extended period of time so-yeah.
Reaching into his saddle, he slid one hand across it until he finally found it, cool metal in his hands. Deathgrippers were sensitive to sound. He inhaled slowly, hand tightening.
He pulled, a screeching sound echoing off the metal, like an unholy banshee scream, echoing even in the small clearing illuminated by Inferno and Toothless.
The dragons stepped back, heads twitching.
He pulled again, scraping the metal off metal, like a Valkyrie scream of war. He pulled harder again, stepping forward as one dragon startled, pushing back. The dragons glanced, poison still dripping from their fangs.
Then he pulled one final time, pacing forward with Inferno, Toothless rising up, shooting a warning blast, like a thunderclap in the forest.
The Deathgrippers let out faint roars, then all took off at once, their wings beating together hurriedly as they sped from the island.
Hiccup flicked his wrist, Inferno disappearing back into a smaller sword, and gently petted Toothless, eyes following the Deathgrippers until they had vanished into the clouds that had began to cover the moon’s light.
Without a word, he slid back onto Toothless’s back, and they too took off from the clearing, leaving a trail of death and smoke behind.
“Back to the Edge I think,” Hiccup said, “That’s enough for one night.”
Toothless, in response, flipped upside down, and Hiccup watched his helmet slip off his face and splash into the waters.
“Useless reptile.”
Toothless laughed in response, and Hiccup relished the feel of the cool wind on his face, after the last few hours with that helmet on.
It had been a long day.
He could see the lights of the Edge in the distance and could feel his posture start to relax at the sight of it.
It was good to be home.
**********
Present
“Are you sure?” Hiccup asked her anxiously, hands thrumming on the leather saddle the way he did when he was anxious.
Astrid rolled her eyes, reaching out to grasp one of his hands in hers, running her thumb over the callouses, “We’ll be fine, Hiccup. It’s just a few days. Besides, Gobber and your dad are so excited to see you.”
He sighed, “And you definitely won’t come?”
Astrid laughed, “Last time we left Snotlout on his own he nearly got eaten. I’ve much more faith in you than him.”
“How flattering. You trust me not to get eaten.”
Astrid punched his shoulder, ignoring his pretend outcry of pain. Hiccup had been working the forge for years, and with his new armour, and his.. Growth spurt, she was sure it didn’t hurt half as much as he pretended it did.
She tipped her head back to look him in the eyes, still unused to having to do so, remembering the years where she had been taller than him.
“Be careful. I love you.”
“I love you too, milady," Hiccup said, squeezing her hand.
Astrid let go, and turned, tossing her hair over her shoulder, “Oh, I was talking to Toothless.”
Hiccup’s offended gasp followed her and she burst into laughter.
What?
He was cute when he was offended.
And if she got a kiss out of that?
Worth it.
She watched the black shape vanish into the bright blue sky, and even after all these years, she was awed by their speed together. The innate ability Hiccup had with dragons, none of them could match it. It really was something magical.
She shook her head, turning from the observation ledge, heading over to the stables, meeting Stormfly as the Deadly Nadder swallowed another fish whole, her scales gleaning like jewels under the sunlight.
“Hey, girl,” Astrid cooed, running a hand over her dragon’s neck, “How are you?”
“Great, thanks for asking,” Snotlout said, biting into an apple, “Feels great to be the man in charge.”
Astrid raised a brow, “Right. Because Hiccup would leave the guy who nearly got eaten-by other humans, I would add- in charge while he’s gone.”
Snotlout snorted, taking another bite, “Please. We all know I’m just letting Hiccup be in command.”
Tuffnut came in then, holding yet another basket of fish, “If anyone is letting Hiccup be in charge, it’s me. We all know I’d run this place better.”
Ruffnut elbowed him hard in the side, “Run this place into the ground, more like it. Or blow it up.”
Tuffnut dropped the basket, “Like you’d do better?”
“I would!”
The twins rammed helmets, yelling at each other.
Astrid inhaled deeply, pulling a face at the smell of raw fish. How Hiccup managed to-well manage that, she would never understand.
She headed to the far wall, grabbing her freshly polished saddle off it, before throwing it over Stormfly, tightening the straps Hiccup had made so carefully under the dragon’s underbelly, crouching low, blowing a strand of blonde hair out of her face.
“Where are you going?”
Fishlegs.
The Viking stood there, thumbing through a book, but they all were staring at her, eyeing the saddle.
Astrid blinked, “For a flight?”
They all walked to the wall then, grabbing various saddles, the twins elbowing each other all the way.
She raised her hand, the other going to her axe, “No. You’re not coming.”
They all continued moving, “As if you could stop all four of us.”
Astrid was very tempted to let Stormfly set the barn on fire.
Instead, she allowed-all four of them- to accompany her on her flight.
The wind whipped through her hair, fresh and sea-worthy, and she trailed her hands through the clouds.
Nothing could beat the adrenaline rush of flying. She could feel her heart hammering beneath her ribs as she and Stormfly dived and loop-de-looped through the great blue sky.
One hand left her saddle, reaching for the betrothal pendant around her neck. She held it tightly, smiling at the feel of the cool metal. She wouldn’t be here, if not for Hiccup. None of them would be.
She turned to where he would normally be, flying with them, and felt her smile flicker slightly.
It was pathetic that she missed him a mere hour after he left. But she did. And there was this warm, buttery feeling in her chest when she thought of him.
“You and Hiccup, hm?” Heather’s voice taunted her.
Her and Hiccup.
She shook her head, glancing down.
And almost fell off Stormfly in her shock, shaking in the saddle before she could lean forward and regain her balance, staring below.
It was an island.
With-and she was pretty damn sure she wasn’t imagining this- a statue.
Of Hiccup. And Toothless.
She stopped in mid-air, rubbing her eyes. Surely she hadn’t missed him so much she was hallucinating a statue of him-right?
She blinked a few more times.
Still there.
“Holy Odin,” She muttered.
The rest of them hovered beside her.
“What are you-” Snotlout started, and then stopped, jaw hanging open.
“Is that-?” Fishlegs said, squirting, “Hiccup?”
Tuffnut and Ruffnut began to laugh.
Astrid stared at the statue for a minute longer, before leaning forward, “Let’s go, girl.”
She dived down, aiming for the beach near the statue. It wasn’t large, she wasn’t quite sure how she had spotted it from the distance.
Hellheim, it might not even be Hiccup, it could be a statue of their founder, or a god-
She landed on the sandy beach and peered up at the statue again.
Definitely Hiccup.
The face had some sort of helmet, but it was Toothless prowling beside them, and a sword that looked like it was flame in the dull rock. And of course, Hiccup’s insignia.
Oh Thor.
What had he done this time?
She dismounted Stormfly smoothly, dropping onto the pristine beach. It didn’t look like there were any settlements on this side of the island. She could see smoke in the distance though, and rolling her shoulders, and grabbing a spare axe from her saddle bag, she began to head toward it, Stormfly by her side, and noted the other footfalls after her.
“Look! There’s stuff here!” Tuffnut reached to the foot of the statue, grabbing a big basket full of food she didn’t recognize.
Ruffnut grabbed a small fruit, humming when it reached her mouth “Holy Loki! These stuff melts in the mouth” she quickly grabbed more, putting it in Barf and Belch’s bag
“Whatever happens,” Snotlout said, voice loud in the still air, “We are not telling Hiccup that there is a statue of him.”
Astrid rolled her eyes, “You’re just jealous because there isn’t one of you.”
Tuffnut and Ruffnut glanced at the statue as they walked past it, “Do you think Hiccup would care if we took this and brought it back to the Edge?” Tuffnut speculated, eyeing the statue up and down, as if trying to see if it would fit in his cabin.
Astrid pinched the bridge of her nose, “If you did that, he would kill you. And then I would go down to Helheim, and drag you back up here, to kill you myself.”
The twins raised their hands in unison, stepping away from it, “Whatever you say,” Ruffnut said, voice sing-songing as she glanced at the statue a final time.
And then, much to Atrid’s dismay, grabbed a smaller version of the statue made of wood that was next to the other things and put it in her bag, giggling.
With that, they left the beach and headed into the forest.
***
Astrid sliced through stray branches, checking around for any treaded path, or clear way. She glanced up through the dappled light, trying to catch sight of the smoke.
“The branches are too tightly woven for us to fly up,” She called to the others, “We’re going to need to find a clearing, and try to track the smoke from there. Because whoever made that statue made it for a reason, and I want to know why.”
“Oh, are you jealous?” Ruffnut teased, “Someone made a statue of your boyfriend!”
Astrid resisted the urge to throw an axe at her friend.
Barely.
“There aren’t any dragon tracks,” Fishlegs noted, “Usually there would be some Terrible Terrors tracks, maybe even some burns on the trees, but there’s nothing. It’s as if something has scared them off.”
Astrid gripped her axe, tightening her fingers until they were white, “We go slow, and quiet. I mean it. We don’t know who-or what is here.”
They all nodded, even the twins looked semi-serious, resting a hand each on Barf and Belch, the Zipplebacks four yellow eyes narrowing.
She inhaled and exhaled slowly, the scent of pine and smoke and.. rot?
She crept forward, raising a hand to the others to slow down, and get low. Gently peering below her, she manoeuvred her way around stray branches until she came to a clearing.
And what a clearing it was.
There was an altar there, with a singular object placed on it.
Astrid wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh, or cry.
Hiccup’s old helmet, the one he had lost to the ocean one day, after destroying dragon trapper ships, lay innocently on it, gleaming in the sunlight pouring into the clearing.
Around it, was a trail of death. The land was black and bleached with it, rotted.
Venom. Dragon venom of some sort, though she couldn’t be sure. Fishlegs would know.
She crept closer, eyeing a blast that looked familiar, probably Toothless.
But she had never heard of this. Never heard of a confrontation with a dragon that had led to this.
“Oh I’m going to kill you Hiccup,” She muttered, and just as she was about to walk over to the altar, where she could see a book, covered in a hide of some sort, she heard footsteps.
Diving back beneath the branches, she crouched low, waiting.
Then she heard voices, and childish laughter.
She dropped a knee into cool mud, and only just about stopped herself from cursing, and then a Viking started to speak.
“It was here, we met Him, here He saved us.”
Astrid raised a brow. Of course Hiccup had saved them. Of course he had.
Shaking her head fondly, her eyes widened as the man continued, adjusting his helmet.
Which had Hiccup’s insignia on it.
Had Hiccup accidentally started a cult?
“We call Him Hjalmar,” the man continued, “And He appeared out of the shadows, creating a sword of pure flame to scare off Hel’s Beasts, who tainted the ground they stepped upon.”
He pointed down at the dead tracks on the ground, and the children “oohed” and “ahhh” at it, pushing over each other to see it more clearly.
She raised a brow.
Hel’s Beasts. Really?
“Hjalmar, unlike them, made the ground blossom, keeping its youth, and health.” The man then pointed at the living grass, which did have flowers, but hardly growing from Hiccup’s footsteps.
The kids reached out hesitantly, even as the man nodded toward them.
“With His sword of pure flame, He controlled the dragons, saving my life, and countless others. His vǫrðr, accompanying Him, glowing purple with lightning. And together, the Two screamed in the Ancient Ways, a dialogue long forgotten, but one of the Gods, and the Valkyries war cries. And defeated the dragons, forcing them back to whence they came. They scarred that tree, as a warning to all who would threaten us.”
He then guided the kids, who were also wearing Hiccup’s insignia on their clothes, over to the tree, where they all laid their hands against it.
“And now, did everyone bring their gifts?” The man eyed the kids, that all made positive sounds, each one taking a different object on their hands. Some had animal bones (thankfully not dragon’s), others had fruits like the one Ruffnut ate, breads, cakes or whole meals, while some brought more personal objects, like toys and books.
They all sat on the honest-to-the-Gods altar and each one placed their things, thanking Hiccup, or better yet, “Hjalmar”. The last one carried a blanket weaved with the image of what she could only guess is “Hjalmar” and “vǫrðr” slaying beasts made of shadow and flesh. He hesitated to put the object next to the others, and the older men crouched next to him.
“What seems to be the issue, boy?” He asked gently
“It’s my favorite blanket! What if it’s torn? Or- or some animal get to it and destroys everything and I can't sleep with it again?” He murmured, his eyes shining with tears
The man cooed and passed his hands on the kid’s hair
“Oh, don’t worry! Hjalmar always protects His gifts and only allows dragons to eat the offerings. I’m sure He’ll bless your blanket” He said softly and the boy smiled, putting his “offering” next to the others under the applause of the kids, before they moved on and presumably to the path for their village.
Astrid put her head in her hands. She could see Hiccup saving them and thinking nothing of it. For him, that was just a normal day. How was he to know he had changed people’s lives, and made himself into a mythological figure?
Oh, she wanted to scream.
But she also knew Hiccup would despair if he thought people were worshipping him, for something he perceived as “common decency” and “kindness”, was more than most people would do in a lifetime. But he did it everyday, without flinching.
Because he was Hiccup.
He also was ruining her day because this was going to require a hell lot of explaining.
She eyed the insignia again and touched her necklace- that had the exact same symbol..
A godsdamned cult.
Oh Hiccup.
***
The twins burst into laughter, doubled over, leaning on each other. Fishlegs looked curious. Snotlout?
Snotlout looked scandalised.
“Are you sure we should do something?” Fishlegs asked, shifting from side-to-side, “All of this seems pretty ingrained into their belief system. And we would destroy their way of life.”
Astrid waved her hand, “His helmet’s only three, maybe four years old. It can’t be that ingrained. And who’s to say they wouldn’t believe us? We ride dragons too. And we know Hiccup. He could lose his mind if he heard about this.”
They all glanced at each other.
He probably would.
“Speaking of Hiccup,” Tuffnut mused, “I wonder what he’s doing right now?”
***
Hiccup stared at his dad, unimpressed, “You want me to do what?”
“Meet the Bog-Burglurs. They’re only here for a day. Besides, you remember Camicazi. She wants to see you.”
Hiccup turned to Toothless, who was laughing at him.
“Ah, you’ll be fine, lad,” Gobber said, “They’ll steal the socks off your feet, but they’ll smile as they do so, so no harm done.”
Hiccup stared down at his foot, “They’ll find it hard to steal the socks off my feet Gobber.”
Stoick patted him on the back, making him stumble, “That’s the spirit! And after they leave, we’ll go fishing!”
“If we still have fishing rods left,” Gobber remarked.
***
Astrid stared at the village. It was similar to how Berk once was, sheep running amok, children laughing in the streets.
Similar.
But of course, the fact that her-that Hiccup’s insignia was everywhere was more than a little off-putting.
And Astrid was really, sincerely trying not to judge them, but- the even bigger statue of Hiccup and Toothless fighting against what she now recognized as a Deathgripper, because of course it was, in the center of the village, with similar but more elaborate gifts on the base.
What had started off as Hiccup meaning well, really had escalated.
Gods, sometimes she really, really, really wished he was a little less well-meaning. Rolling her shoulders, she headed for the entrance, slipping off Stormfly’s back, and gesturing for the others to follow, their dragons staying well behind, bribing them with fish to stay out of the town’s sight. They didn’t want to start a panic.
Just maybe stop a cult.
A young girl, around their age, caught sight of them then, and paled, hands going to a brooch on her shoulder that was-
Oh for Freya’s Sake.
Astrid balled her fists in frustration, before forcing herself to relax. This was fine. They weren’t going to cause a scene. She raised her hands, slowly, displaying that she wasn’t a threat.
“Hi,” Astrid started, impressed with her own calm demeanour, “My name is Astrid, and these are my friends, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, Fishlegs and Snotlout. We would like to meet one of your village elders?”
The girl squinted at them for a moment longer, before she brightened, “Of course! Hjalmar prevents all bad things from coming here, so you must all be friends! Welcome!”
Astrid fought back the scowl that attempted to cross her face at the pure naivety.
“Hjalmar, you say,” Tuffnut asked, sauntering forward, “And who might that be?”
The girl blushed red, “He is our guardian. The Noble One of the Sword. We decorate our village with His sign, because we are under His protection.”
Astrid could see everyone’s brows rising, including her own. Hearing what the man had said to the children, and seeing it on a mass scale were very different things.
Oh this was so much worse than they had thought.
“Hjalmar,” Astrid repeated, “The statue?”
The girl nodded, “Our hero,” she grinned dreamily.
Ruffnut cackled, poorly disguising it with a cough.
“Well,” Fishlegs said, lacing his fingers together, “We have news, of, um, Hjalmar, and when we saw your statue, we thought you might want to be the first to know. So, village elders? Your chief.”
The girl brightened more, if it were possible, “News?! Of course, right this way!” She brushed down her skirt, that was in red, and skipped hurriedly toward what looked to be the town hall.
They all followed, albeit nervously.
***
Astrid had tried. Really, she had.
But when she had caught Ruffnut’s eye when one of the ladies of the town spoke about “Hjalmar” heroically saving her, she burst out laughing.
The silence was loud.
Astrid closed her eyes for a long minute.
All of the villagers were staring at them, over the feast that had been prepared in the main hall. For somewhere alight with fire, it felt very cold all of a sudden.
“Are you mocking Hjalmar?” Chief Daina asked, as she leaned forward, “Hjalmar saved my son’s life-my life as well. Are you insinuating that we are lying, honoured guests?”
Astrid shook her head hurriedly, wracking her brains. Oh, she really wished Hiccup were here to explain it all himself.
***
“I sort of need that to walk Camicazi,” Hiccup protested.
Camicazi peered down at his leg, “You sure? I think you could probably ride your dragon without it.”
“Camicazi!”
***
Astrid fidgeted for a second, and then sighed, “Chief Daina, your “Hjalmar” is actually why we wanted to speak with you.”
The Chief nodded, raising a dark brow, “I’m aware. Ingrid spoke of news you may have.”
Astrid nodded again, hand going for the pendant at her neck, pulling at it as she tried to figure out how to explain it, when she heard a loud gasp.
A man was staring at her.
Staring at the pendant.
She covered it with her hand, “What?”
He pointed at her, “You are not from our village.”
Despite her situation, Astrid raised a brow, "Obviously not.”
“But you bear His Sign. His Symbol. We’ve had to replicate ours from memory, but yours if perfect. Not a mistake to be seen.”
She frowned, glancing at the others, “What do you mean?”
“We didn’t realise,” The chief murmured, staring at her as if she was a ghost.
Snotlout leaned back, “Realise what?”
“He sent you,” The chieftess said, placing her hands to her heart, “Hjalmar has heard us, and sent You, all of You. But You, dear girl, honoured one,” the chief dipped her head in respect, “You are His chosen. His priestess. You grace us with Your very presence.”
Astrid blinked.
***
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Rufnut demanded, staring at the Chief in the now empty hall, a woman dressed in black and white to her left, Hiccup’s symbol in red as the two shared looks at Astrid, who continued running her fingers over her pendant.
“I do not think it wise to allow Hjalmar’s Chosen to leave,” The Chief repeated in a calm voice, “He has sent Her for a reason, and we intend to honour His wish.”
Astrid swallowed.
Hiccup was going to be coming back to the Edge tomorrow morning. Maybe in the afternoon if they were lucky. And if he saw the Edge empty, he’d go looking for them. He’d land here.
They might never let him leave.
Well, Toothless would probably handle that fairly easily, and Astrid knows from experience that Hiccup is fast, and seriously good at running, escaping and blowing things up.
But she didn’t want him to see all this. She knows exactly how he’d feel.
Responsible.
“How long do you intend to keep us here?” She asked the Chief, facing her straight on. The Chief averted her eyes for a brief moment, before straightening, “Until Hjalmar tells us otherwise.”
Astrid bit her lip, before relaxing, glancing at the others.
Follow my lead.
She grinned, “You’ve caught us out. I’m impressed. I dare say Hjalmar will be too. He knew his chosen people were wise. Clever too.”
The Chief’s eyes widened, “You have spoken with him?”
“Spoken with him?” Astried laughed, “I am his betrothed, mortal.”
Inwardly she prayed, frantically.
Please don’t smite me, please don’t smite me.
The Chief took a step back, falling to one knee, and the priestess- at least, Astrid thought she was the priestess, mimicked the Chief.
“I am impressed,” She drawled, “And as are the rest of my companions. We chose these forms to be unassuming. Surely not even Hjalmar’s chosen could recognise us like this. But you are an astute people.”
The Chief nodded frantically, “Thank you my lady.”
Astrid tried not to screw up her face at the words.
Only Hiccup called her a nickname. Only Hiccup called her ‘milady’.
Folding her arms, she stood straight, “We will return to Valhalla posthaste, and instruct him to return to you, to visit you once more.”
The Chief nodded dipping her head lower, “You are too kind.”
“I suppose we are,” Ruffnut chimed in, “But, you have impressed us. Do not take it lightly mortal.”
They all nodded.
The Chief and the priestess stayed bowing for a while longer, while Astrid wracked her brains for a way to leave. Luckily, Fishlegs had thought ahead.
“We must leave the confines of your village in order to shed these mortal forms, unless you wish for this place to be nothing but brimstone and ash,” He declared.
The Chief shook her head, and rose to her feet, head still bowed, and led them out of the village.
Slowly, they all walked away, until they were out of sight, then they broke into a sprint, whistling for their dragons.
Astrid could feel her heart pounding in her chest, that the villagers would know it was a lie, that they’d be chased and followed.
But all she could hear was their own panting breaths, and then they were in the sky.
“Seriously,” Snotlout cried, “No one tell Hiccup!”
***
“And that’s about it,” Tuffnut said, placing his chin on his fist as he paced before Hiccup.
Hiccup blinked, glancing at them all.
Fishlegs looked horrified. Ruffnut only smirked. Snotlout looked up, his face like he wanted to jump out a building, and Astrid just folded her arms.
“So it was just a regular day around the Edge then?” he asked, turning to Astrid and raising a playful eyebrow.
“And you guys left Ruffnut and Tuffnut alone for too long?” He said, and promptly ignored Tuffnut scream of protest and Ruffnut patting his back, cackling.
Astrid beamed up at him, and he lost himself in her blue eyes for a second.
“Pretty much. Nothing unusual on our side. You?”
He shuddered, “Lost all my socks.”
“Trolls?” Snotlout asked, tilting his head.
Hiccup frowned “You could say that.”
***
2 days later.
“Tuffnut?” Hiccup walked into Tuffnut’s cabin, peering around. The place seemed all but empty, not even Chicken’s squawking could be heard.
A weird wooden statue caught his eye.
He strode over, grasping it carefully and lifting it up.
Carved on the bottom was “Hjalmar”.
He paled.
“TUFFNUT!”