Chapter 29: Reflecting On The Past

Stoick sat isolated from the others. Most of the Vikings had gone to sleep, some were on guard. Stoick sat, leaning against a log of wood, his eyes fixed on the dimly lit campfire in front of him. The chief of Berk was thinking. Thinking about all that has happened, how things could have been different. Maybe if he had listened all those years ago except for letting his rage and pride blind him, Hiccup would have been with him. Stoick sighed at the thought. Oh, what he would not do to get back with his son, the only family he was left with besides his brother.

"Aigh Stoick. Ya okay buddy?" Gobber's sudden call snapped Stoick out of his thoughts.

He looked up and saw his friend standing beside him, holding one jug in his right hand while his hook was replaced with a jug attachment. Gobber handed him the jug before sitting beside him.

Stoick looked into the jug and found it filled to the brim with honey coloured liquid. The strong smell of honey and herbs hit his nostrils. "Where did you get this mead?" Stoick asked out of curiosity.

"Brough' a pin of this good stuff with maself." Gobber cheerfully replied and took a sip from his jug. "So, what is on ya mind Stoick? Ya have been real quiet for a while."

"It's,... Just thinking, Gobber. Just thinking." Stoick replied and took a sip. "Do you think things would have been different if I listened to Hiccup all those years ago?" Stoick asked, staring up in the sky.

Gobber sighed and also looked up at the sky. "Maybe." The blacksmith replied "Maybe things would have been different."

"What was he like Gobber?" Stoick suddenly asked.

"Huh?" Gobber turned towards his friend.

"Hiccup, what was he like before he left?" Stoick said again "It's just, it's just he is my son, but I never got to know him before all this."

"Hiccup, he was a rather interesting lad. Probably the best apprentice I ever had. Always enthusiastic to help out. There was something about him. Something that made him very different from others. Different in a good way." Gobber told his friend, smiling fondly at the memory of his former apprentice. The old blacksmith took a big gulp of his mead before continuing" Ya know Stoick, that lad really wanted to make ya proud."

Stoick looked at his friend, eyes wide with shock. Gobber barely took notice of it as he continued "He tried hard. Really really hard, to get yah appreciation. To make ya proud Stoick. He wanted to be recognised by his father. Was it too much for him to ask Stoick?"

Stoick looked down in shame when Gobber turned to look at him. The remorse and guilt he felt at that moment, couldn't be described. And it was only made worse as Gobber spoke again,"You have no idea Stoick how hard it was for me to try to comfort Hiccup every time he cried, trying to reassure him that everything will be alright."

"I really am the worst father, ain't I?" Stoick said with a sigh.

"To sum it all up, yeah." Gobber replied.

"I really wish I had listened that day, except for giving into my anger." Stoick said. "I really miss him, Gobber. I really want to go up there and hug him. Tell him how sorry I am for all this. Tell him how much I missed him."

Gobber put his hand on Stoick's shoulder in an attempt to comfort his friend. The old blacksmith always had a soft spot for the auburn haired boy. Hiccup was like his own son. Like everyone on the day five years ago, he was shocked when his apprentice claimed himself to be a Dragon rider.

But at that moment he had a realisation. Hiccup was able to do something that no Viking ever could. He made peace with a Dragon, a Nightfury nonetheless. It was at that moment he knew that Hiccup was destined to do something greater. So he did whatever he could to ensure Hiccup met his destiny. Even if it meant that he'd have to let go of him. He helped Hiccup one last time so that he could escape.

Gobber also feared what Stoick would have done to Hiccup that day if the boy didn't make it out. He knew Stoick well enough. The chief of Berk was way too stubborn and he would become someone entirely different when he would be angry.

If he, if he got a hold of Hiccup that day….. Gobber couldn't even imagine what Stoick may have done to his own son in fit of rage. Imprisonment or banishment would have been the least bad thing, but at worst Stoick may have….. He may have blood eagled the boy.

Gobber felt his heart skip a bit at just the thought of his godson getting blood eagled by their own father.

"What can I do to fix this?" Stoick asked no one in particular.

"I don't know Stoick. What's done is done. There is nothing we can do to change the past. And we don't know what the future holds for us either. The only thing we can do is fix our mistakes now." Gobber replied.

Stoick turned towards his friend. A small smile could be seen on his face. "You know, for a guy as crazy as you, you're pretty wise at times." Stoick said.

"Well ya learn a thing or two after getting whacked by Gothie for years." Gobber jokes.

Stoick couldn't help but chuckle at the joke made by his friend and Gobber joined in. The chuckle soon turned into a full out laughter as the two friends enjoyed each other's company.