The Lost Boy IV - The Hidden World

13 - Protector or captor

Hiccup had been five, maybe six at that time, it was a few months before they had found Joke. In his little nightdress, he was cautiously steping down the stairs in the middle of the night, but froze as he spotted his father, sitting in front of the fireplace. The man was crying.

He hesitated and wanted to get back to his room, but the step creaked, exposing him to the chief. Stoick turned and saw his son, who curled on himself. The chief sniffed and wiped his eyes.

''Son, you should be asleep.''

''I was thirsty...''

Hiccup felt bad, he didn't wanted to surprise his father, even less to spy on him. The man understood it and smiled, holding out a hand to him.

''Come here.''

The little boy smiled and let his plush on the stairs before runing to his father. Stoick sat him on his knees and let him help him hold the stool to shake to embers in the fire.

''Dad, are you... gonna get us a new mom ?''

Stoick smiled again, despite his sad face, and hugged his small son before kissing his head.

''I don't want another. Your mom... was the only woman for me. She was the love of my life.''

He hugged his son again, both looking at the crackling fire. Silence remained for a short moment, before the chief spoke again.

''But with love comes loss, son. It's part of the deal. Sometimes it's hard, but in the end...''

He looked back at his son, with softness, contemplating the slightest trait he had in common with his beloved Valka.

''It's all worth it. There's no better gift than love.''

Hiccup couldn't help but think about his father's words during the rest of the way back. He was back on Toothless' back, Joke on Lumiverse's. Both dragons had not made any noise from the beginning on the journey, just faint vibrant sounds that seemed sad. Both Furies were soaring in a none-motivation-way, as if lost in their thoughts. Hiccup looked at his hubsand, both of them were saddened to see their friends like this. Seemingly, this visit to the Hidden World had shaken them.

They flew for a bit longer before going back to New Berk, it was early afternoon but the clouds were making it a pretty dark day. When they finally landed, the vikings dismounted their friends, still in deafening silence. Lumiverse was the first to move as she walked slowly to Toothless and rubbed against his side, before looking at the horizon, towards west, with longing eyes.

Joke felt his heart ache seeing how she seemed nostalgic of this beautiful place they had just discovered. Toothless, for his part, gaze between the horizon and the camp. Hiccup looked there too, the construction had progressed again while they were out. He spotted two hutts being built at the top of hills. Dragons flying there were carrying bags filled with rocks.

Somehow, this view he had known for the past nine years ached his heart. He couldn't help but compare them to the ones living in the Hidden World. As he was losing his sight on them, he drowned in his thoughts.

He thought back to what Elska had told him, concerning the fact they were relying too much on the dragons. He also reminded something she had said at the Sanctuary, three years prior, debatting on the limit between friendship and ownership.

''There's a fine line between being a protector and a captor. This is the subtility between being a queen and a tyran, I must protect them as I must protect their freedom.''