Lost

Chapter 38

The moment I'm at the bottom of the stairs I'm engulfed in a tight embrace. I hug back and for a minute everyone is silent. Then she releases me and holds me out at arms length. Her eyes are sparkling with relief and tears brim her eyes as she looks me over.
"Hi mom."
She lets out a forced laugh as she smiles bigger.
"Hi Hiccup."
I smile and laugh myself. It's insane what I've been through.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do I need to fetch Gothi?" She starts throwing questions at me before I can blink.
"Yes yes and later," I rush back. She gestures over to the table and I walk over to sit down with Astrid close behind.
A plate of fish and bread is automatically set in front of me along with a glass of water. I inhale the water in an instant and start chewing down the food. It's been so long since I've had a decent meal that I forgot how good it felt to be full. Astrid and Valka just kind of sit and watch while I eat. Wait, why isn't Astrid eating? I look over at her with a mouthful of bread and raise my eyebrows in a questioning gesture. Her eyes widen and she shakes her head.
"I'm fine Hiccup. I ate an hour ago when I woke up," she smiles at me. I finish my food in one more bite and then realize how awkwardly quiet it's been. I lean back in my chair and take a hold of Astrid's hand under the table, bringing it over to rest in my lap.
"I'm guessing you want to know what happened mother?"
She shakes her head in agreement and slightly leans forward in her chair. I silently laugh at her eagerness and fake a deep breath.
"On that day I had off, I obviously went flying and there was a thunderstorm ahead that I wasn't paying attention to. It got really windy and dark. Then Toothless was hit by lightning and we crashed. Next thing I knew I was waking up on an unknown island with a shattered leg and a concussion with Toothless nowhere to be found." Once I started I couldn't stop. I know I was babbling but I needed to get it out of my system. I tell her everything up to Astrid's rescue.
"I show up at the tree to see it bursting with flames. I had no idea what to think until Astrid came running over. I thought we could finally leave but then mister chief had to show up. I was fighting this guy while I saw Patch get hit unconscious and Astrid was grabbed by the chief. I.. killed the guy I was fighting without a second thought." I hesitated on the word, not knowing what mom would think. I meet her eyes and she smiles sadly.
"It was the right thing. He was going to kill you and you needed to win quickly to save Astrid." She kindly tells me.
"Wait a minute Hiccup. Where is that friend of yours, Patch? Didn't you tell him you would bring him back here?" She asks so innocently. My breathing hitches in my throat and my face paled.
"I um, uh and um.. I.." I can't do it. I look over at Astrid with wide eyes and make eye contact. She squeezes my hand and nods her head reassuringly. She knows how hard this is but I still have to say it. I slowly look back at mom and take a shaky breath in.
"Well um after I uh got up to face the chief, he told me he had to get rid of the threat: me. So he uh threw a knife but then Patch.." I choke on his name and run a hand through my hair.
"He jumped in front of me to shoot an arrow at the chief, killing him and freeing Astrid. I was so happy, completely oblivious to what was happening right next to me. So when I looked over... Patch was already falling down and.. I caught him, realizing that the knife hit him instead of me."
"Hiccup you don't have to go on if you don't want to-"
"No mom, I have to." She nods and I continue.
"He still cracked a joke even though he was dying in my arms. We were like brothers even though the time we spent together was short." Tears drip down my face and I don't make a move to wipe them away.
"Then he.. He died, in my arms. We had to leave right then that I couldn't even burry him. I just left him. That knife was for me! I should've-" my voice cracks and I look down at Astrid's hand entwined in mine. Arms guide me into a hug and I know right away that it's mother. I let go of Astrid's hand to wrap my arms around mom tightly, letting the tears flow. It feels good to finally get the story out. I know I'll have to explain to the village what happened, but I don't think I'll have the strength to share Patch, not yet. Maybe later I'll be able to tell someone about the funny personality he had, the jokes he made, and the heroic decision he made that ended his life and saved mine. I will tell the story in the future, but I can't cry in front of the village. Everyone else may not have known Patch, but he will always be around watching over me and Astrid. He's just one of those people, even in spirit.
Me and mom made eye contact and she spoke to me without having to speak. She smiled as did I.
"You would've loved him mom. He wanted to learn about dragons and have one of his own," I smile at the memory of his excited eyes when I told him about Berk and its dragons. Mom smiles back at me and pats my cheek.
"I already do and I'm glad you're home safe," She smiles and gets up.
"I will go get Gothi and you two stay here okay?"
"Ya mom," I respond. Then she's gone. I turn back to Astrid.
"I knew you could do it," she exclaims to me with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Not without you milady."
I lift her hand up to kiss it but stop instantly when her smiles turns into a wince.
"Hey what's wrong?"
"Nothing it's just my wrist. I fell on it when I was running towards the tree house and it's probably broken."
I look down to find her right wrist swollen and purple.
"Astrid! Why didn't you go see Gothi sooner? It's definitely broken," I look back into her eyes with worry.
"Because I kinda wanmphulko.." She mumbles the last part so I can't hear.
I rub my hand up and down her arm.
"Astrid what was that?"
"I said wantyphko.." Now I know that she doesn't want to admit whatever she is trying to say to me.
"Astrid..."
I rest my hand on her cheek and make her look into my eyes.
"Because I'm scared and I wanted you with me too." I smile at her words.
"Then we'll get checked out together, okay?"
She nods in response and I lean in to gently connect my lips with hers in a gentle kiss. We separate to the sound of the front door opening and I turn around to see mom and Gothi.
They shut the door behind them and I turn back towards Astrid. We smile at each other and turn back to Gothi with all her medical supplies in hand. Wait what is that smell? Is, is that me? Wow okay I am in much need of a bath after this.

Author's note:
Okay yes that was a long slightly boring chapter I'm sorry! It's almost over though! I promise the ending will be more enjoyable^_^ keep smiling
~H