Chapitre 25: Chapter 25: Regrets
As Stoick and Gobber made their way back to the camp, they noticed their fellow Vikings busy in their routine. Some were working on repairing the ships, some others were attending to the injured, some others were guarding the camp and the remaining were resting. The Vikings immediately sprung on their feet as they noticed the presence of their chief.
"Chief, are you okay? Did you talk with Hiccup?" One of the Vikings asked.
Stoick sighed and answered,"I did talk with him."
"So, what did he say?" An eager Viking asked while the rest were eagerly waiting for the answer.
Stoick let out another sigh and decided it was better to let them know what actually happened. He proceeded to say something, but Gobber beat him to it.
"Well, what he said includes both a good newz and a bad newz." Gobber said.
Stoick glared at his friend who just sheepishly smiled at him and slowly moved out of his way. Stoick let out a frustrated sigh and turned back to the Vikings, who were curious about what Gobber was saying.
"Gobber is telling the truth. I talked with Hiccup. And he gave us two days to get our ships repaired and get out of here. And he has threatened us not to trespass or harm the Dragons. Or the results might not be very preferable." Stoick announced.
The Vikings were shocked at this news. Some were murmuring among themselves. But one thing was certain that most were nervous and uncertain about their future. Some were even outraged by all this.
"How can he do this!? This is outrageous! It is unfair!" One of the Vikings yelled out.
"That runt can't do this to us!? We are his tribe! He is meant to provide for us!" Another one said. And one by one some others also joined the commotion, condemning Hiccup for such measures.
Then Mildew stepped forward. "You see Stoick. All these men are against that runt of yours. We propose that you take us to that coward and we kill him and those miserable beasts and claim this land as ours!"
Listening to this, Gobber couldn't control himself anymore. Walking up to Mildew, he punched the old man in the jaw, making him stumble back and fall on the ground.
"Keep ma Godson's name outta ya freakin' mouth!" Gobber angrily shouted at Mildew, making the old man cower in fear. Gobber then turned to the other protesting Vikings. "Ya all call yourself his tribe, but none of ya could bother to help that lad when he was with us. 15 years he was tormented and abandoned, but nobody did anything. And now when ya need him, he's suddenly part of Ya tribe."
Many of the protesters shrunk under Gobber's glare and criticism. Stoick stepped between them before the commotion could get worse.
"It's been a long day. I think we should rest for now and plan out what to do tomorrow." Stoick announced.
"Aigh, that sounds good." Gobber said without removing his glare from Mildew, who was cowering under his gaze.
The men then broke off and went back to where they were before all this commotion. And Mildew made sure that he stayed out of Gobber sight. Many of the Vikings were now reflecting back on their life. Especially on all those times when they had been harsh on Hiccup. They felt guilty of how they had treated Hiccup. While there were some who still thought bad about Hiccup, the rest were engulfed with guilt as they realised, this day wouldn't have come if they had treated Hiccup a little better.
If they had accepted him as one of their own. They had pushed him so far that he found comfort living among the creatures that have been their enemies for centuries rather than his own tribe. And where did it take him? He's now the Night rider. One of the, if not the most, powerful person in the whole Archipelago. Probably the whole Midgard. And they? They were the ones now living in misery.
Stoick sat in front of a campfire, alone. Gobber went for a walk to calm himself. Stoick was deep in thought. The guilt and regret of never being there for his son was eating him away and the worry of how he will fix up this mess and get back his son was stressing him. Stoick was willing to do anything, even befriend the Dragons if it meant he could restore his relationship with Hiccup.
"Stoick." The sudden call broke Stoick out of his thoughts. He looked up and saw Ingrid and Harold approaching him. "Stoick, where is Astrid?" Ingrid asked.
"Wait, she isn't here?" Stoick asked as he got up from the place he was sitting.
"No, she didn't return after she went with you." Harold said.
It took a moment for Stoick, but he eventually understood the situation. As the realisation sunk in, he couldn't dare to look them in the eye and stared down at his feet. Seeing this, Ingrid and Harold felt a bad feeling growing on their stomach.
"Stoick, answer us. Where is Astrid? What happened to our daughter?" Ingrid asked, with desperation lacing his voice.
"Astrid,... she...she may have ran away." Stoick finally answered, still refusing to meet their eyes.
The Hoffersons were confused by this statement. "What do you mean by that? Tell me Stoick, what happened to my daughter!" Ingrid pleaded as she held onto Stoick's shoulders and forced him to look at her.
"Astrid took us to Hiccup's house. And there they had some sort of fight and Astrid ran away from there. I thought she came back to camp but then when I came back I couldn't see her. And now I realise she has run away somewhere." Stoick confessed.
Ingrid gasped and stepped back as she covered her mouth with one hand. Harold quickly got beside his wife and held her to comfort her.
"I'm, I'm sorry Ingrid. I didn't know that Hiccup and Astrid had some sort of history between them…" Stoick tried to say, but Ingrid cut him off.
"Stoick, they didn't just have a history. Hiccup and Astrid were courting. But because of your invasion, he now thinks Astrid betrayed him and hates her." Ingrid said.
Stoick's eyes widened as he heard this. And then, he realised the full extent of what he had done.
" Oh Thor, what have I done… " Stoick gasped out as he looked down.
"Stoick, we have to find Astrid. I'm afraid that she, she might do something to herself. I can't, I can't lose her Stoick." Ingrid pleaded, trying to hold back her sobs as her husband comforted her best to his abilities.
"Wha-What happened to Astrid?" suddenly someone asked.
They looked back and saw Snotlout, Fishlegs and the Throston twins approaching them.
"Astrid ran away somewhere on this island after Hiccup yelled at her." Stoick said, informing them of the situation.
"What? But why would Hiccup yell at her? They loved each other so much." Ruffnut couldn't help but ask.
"Astrid told us that Hiccup thinks that she betrayed him to Stoick and hates her for that." Harold told them, shocking the gang.
"Now that's just messed up." Tuffnut commented.
"I second that." Ruffnut said.
"I third that." Fishlegs followed up.
"But how can we go to find her when Hiccup has clearly warned us of trespassing?" Stoick said, feeling stressed out about the situation.
"Uh, we can go there." Fishlegs suggested.
"What?" Stoick asked.
Snotlout then stepped forward. "Uncle Stoick, what Fishlegs is suggesting is that, He, I and the twins can go to the island and search for her. We've been here long enough for us to navigate through this island without much problems. And we have our own Dragons too, so we would be safe."
Stoick contemplated this suggestion, but then he saw Ingrid Hofferson. The strong woman he knew was pleading with the gang to find her daughter while the said young men and woman consoled her along with her husband. Seeing this, Stoick couldn't help but approve of the plan as he felt sorry for the woman and shame and guilt for what he had done.
"Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, I think your plan might work and entrust you to bring back Astrid safely." Stoick told the gang.
"We won't let you down, Uncle Stoick." Snotlout said with determination.
Now with the approval from Stoick, the gang soon head out to the island.
(Sometime later)
The gang were searching for Astrid for a while now. They've managed to evade the patrolling Dragons and were still looking for their lost friend. But strangely they never encountered their own Dragons. After a long while of searching, they finally found Astrid on a cliffside overlooking the sea. The blonde shieldmaiden was sitting on the ground weeping. This shocked the gang as they've never seen Astrid cry.
The gang was unsure of how to approach her. Finally, after thinking for a few moments, Ruffnut decided to take the first step and approach her best friend.
"Astrid." Ruffnut called out.
Astrid looked back and stared directly at them. She was very shocked to find them here. She quickly looked away and tried to wipe away her tears. Ruffnut approached her and sat beside her. The female Throston twin grabbed and rubbed her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. Astrid couldn't help but lean into the embrace as she broke into tears again.
"Hey, it's okay. It's okay. Everything is gonna be fine." Ruffnut said, trying to sooth her friend.
"He-He hates me now, Ruff….. I I lost him again." Astrid said while sobbing.
Hearing this, Ruffnut forced Astrid to look at her and said,"Astrid, there's no way Hiccup could ever truly hate you. He's just upset with all that happened today. I'm sure that it will all be fine and go back to how it used to be once he calms down."
"But, but, what if it's too late?"
"Astrid, there's no such thing as too late. And you're Astrid Hofferson. The fiercest shield maiden in the whole Archipelago. You can't give up this easily. And remember what Hiccup said? He doesn't hold grudges and prefers to give another chance. There's still hope, Astrid."
"Yeah, after all who'd say no to you, Astrid the freaking Hofferson." Snotlout butted in.
Ruffnut glared at the raven haired Viking, making the said boy yelp and hide behind Fishlegs. Ruffnut sighed and turned her attention back at Astrid,"Astrid, we should go back to the camp now. Your parents are really worried about you."
Astrid just nodded as she wiped her tears away. The gang, now reunited with their friend, returned back to the camp.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone