"Alright, everyone quiet down - The elder has decided"

Gobber points to Astrid - a expectant expression written on his face. Said expression drops, accompanied by small gasps from other vikings as the elder shakes her head. Gobber then points to Hiccup, sporting a 'Please tell me your joking' look.

Vikings begin cheering when Gothi nods her head, and before long the other teens are rushing to Hiccup, lifting him onto their shoulders.

"You've done it Hiccup - You get to kill the dragon!" Gobber cheers.

Astrid watches them carry Hiccup away, a dark expression plastered onto her face. She could hear Hiccup speaking over the crowd.

"Great, I'm so..."

In the Cove:

"... Leaving. Come on bud. You and me are taking a little vacation trip...forever" Hiccup says upon arriving at the cove, his green eyes scanning for the jet black creature living there. He spots the black mass, lying lazily in the shade of a small cave.

Walking over to the night fury, he scratches him in his favourite spot, before speaking up again.

"Hey, bud. We're leaving here. Ok?"

Toothless opened a lazy eye, a gave a small confused croon.

"Toothless, I cant stay here bud. If I do, they'll make me kill the dragon. I cant kill a dragon, I probably could've if I never met you, if I didnt know the truth about your kind. Not only that, but you aint safe here, for much longer."

Hiccup explains, scratching the night fury on the underside of his chin.

Toothless crooned what Hiccup could only assume was 'I'm a night fury, why wouldnt I be safe'

"Toothless, we have to leave. I cant kill that dragon. And you wont be able to hold out against the entire village when they find you. You'll be killed, or used in training, and I'll be killed or exiled for keeping you hidden. It's not safe here anymore bud." Hiccup explains once more.

Toothless croons in a more concerned manner, and Hiccup easily understood what he was asking. 'What about the other dragons'

"Toothless, after we get away from Berk, we'll come back here after dark and break the dragons outta here. I promise. Ok bud" Hiccup calms the dragons worried mind. Hiccup then goes onto explain his escape plan to the dragon, who either shakes or nods his head at certain points.

"Alright bud, it's getting late. I gotta head home, otherwise they'll come looking for me. Bye bud." Hiccup says, noticing the sun is close to setting. Getting up, Hiccup turns to leave the cove.

Climbing out to the top. Hiccup glances back once more at his only true friend - other than Gobber - before turning and heading back to the village.

Hiccup arrives outside the village, to hear cheering coming from the great hall.

"Sounds like most of the village is still partying. Why am I not surprised" Hiccup asks himself sarcastically.

"What are you doing here?" A voice calls out, startling Hiccup.

The viking boy whips his head around to face the owner of the voice, gulping when he saw it was Astrid.

"Oh, hey Astrid. What, what are you doing here?"he asks nervously.

"I could say to same to you." She growls, before grabbing Hiccups collar (he's wearing the same flight suit he was in the scene where Astrid confronts him in the cove) "Whats this?" She asks, curiousity piqued.

"Ok, you go...got me, I've been making... Outfits. Yea, go ahead and laugh, tell everyone. Hahaha." Hiccup lies to her, not sounding at all convincing.

"I dont believe you. Are you training with someone?" She asks, not taking her eyes off his.

"Me, training? No no thats ridiculous." He continues to lie.

Astrid loses her paticence at his obvious lying, throwing Hiccup harshly to the ground she grips her axe tight at his neck, stopping him from getting away.

"Stop Lying and tell me what I want to know. Now" she growls darkly, lowering her axe ever-so-slightly.

Hiccup gulps, but steeles himself.

"No. I'm not telling you anything. Why should I?" Hiccup speaks up, his voice now calm, collected and stronger than before.

This new Hiccup shocked Astrid, but she shook it off. "Because if you dont, you'll end up missing an arm or a leg." She threatens, now sounding not at all fazed by his recent reply.

"Go on then. Cut my arm or leg off." Hiccup speaks up, not sounding at all scared of Astrids threat.

Now it was Astrids turn to be scared, Hiccup seemed so powerful now - even Snotlout caved whenever Astrid threatened him with something - so to have Hiccup not even falter in his words seemed so... unnatural. Despite Astrids new fear, she remained stoic on the outside, tightening her grip on the axe handle to keep it steady. Time seemed to stop, as no-one spoke, staring into each others eyes.

What they saw shocked them both.

Astrid saw new things in Hiccup, strength, courage, determination. Three things never associated with the cheifs son. The fact that Astrid could also see no underlying fear to suggest this new Hiccup was just him trying to look tough scared the shieldmaiden even more.

What Hiccup saw, both surprised him, and upset him slightly - though he did not show it. He saw fear, the one thing that was never associated with Astrid Hofferson, period. But what upset him was the cause of the fear, he could see - plain as day - that he was the source of her fear. She was scared of him.

Suddenly the sound of a door being opened seperated the pair, as vikings began pouring out the great hall, drunkenly wobbling their way back home. Stoick followed out shortly, looking more sober than the rest. He arrived home just as Hiccup climbed into bed.

Walking upstairs to his sons room, he entered - before sitting down on a small chair.

Stoick smiled at Hiccup, before he spoke.

"I'm so proud of you son. I know I haven't said that, but I'm really proud of you, I always have been and always will be. Your mother, is proud as well son. She smiles down on you from Valhalla.

I am so happy, Hiccup. I love you, son" he says to his son, before leaving the room to go to sleep in his own room.

Hiccup was awake, and therefore heard his fathers words. Tears began to form in his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away.

'He... he loves me. No. Not true. He doesnt love ME, he loves the Hiccup in the arena, the one chosen to kill the Nightmare, not the real Hiccup' he tells himself, wishing that he was wrong. Hiccup knew now that leaving Berk would be all the more tougher - emotionally.