686Chapter 10: Dramatics
Dramatics
Hiccup felt very well in the morning. Apparently, soup and hot Hobbit-brewed tea sipped in front of a fireplace helped greatly against colds. Not only was he relieved to be feeling better, but he was also very excited that Frodo was going to have a chance to see the Shire from the sky.
However, there was an important task to finish first.
"Do you think this is enough for him?" Frodo warily asked.
The Hobbit had prepared a plate of freshly-cooked, sizzling bacon and sausage. The plate was perhaps a little small relative to how much Toothless could eat, but the delicious smell more than compensated for the relatively small portion size.
"I think he will appreciate it. He can eat anything except eel."
"Eel?"
"Yeah, he really didn't like that the last time I tried to give him some. Now that you mention it, I should ask him why he didn't like it."
"Well, I get my bacon and sausage straight from the Cotton family farm, so I know where it comes from."
They left Bag-end shortly thereafter and strolled down to the barn at the end of the row. Toothless was already awake and was reclining on his back while resting on the hill behind the barn, apparently sunning himself even though it was still early in the morning.
"Good morning, bud!"
Toothless yawned, rolled onto his feet, and stretched everything. Then he sniffed and froze, his eyes narrowing on Frodo.
"Frodo, what is that you have?" he stared directly at the plate.
Frodo smiled widely and stepped closer, setting the plate down before Toothless.
"I made you the bacon and sausage that I said I would. It is not much for a dragon, but..."
The plate was cleaned off in seconds by a very pleased and apparently hungry dragon. Then Toothless looked up at Frodo and purred softly after licking his jaws clean.
"Thank you. That meat was very good. Very fatty and juicy."
"Glad you like it!" Frodo beamed.
Hiccup stepped forward with a cheeky grin. It was time to put his plan into motion.
"Bud, how about some flying."
"I will never say no to that."
"And we let Frodo fly with us."
Toothless blinked in surprise and spun on Frodo.
"Truly? You want to fly?" he barked.
"Well, yeah. It would be amazing if you don't mind me flying with you."
Toothless looked back at Hiccup, and they both nodded together. Toothless then crouched down and waited as Hiccup retrieved the saddle.
"You must be very eager," Frodo observed while smiling.
"How can you tell?"
"Your tail," Frodo laughed.
Toothless did not bother stilling his tail. He waited patiently as Hiccup returned and the ropes and pulleys went into position.
Hiccup noticed Frodo watching the process with curiosity.
"That is quite a system you have there," Frodo said, clearly impressed.
"Yeah, not many people back where I'm from could make something like this. Too complicated for them."
"I understand. Most Hobbits don't use anything more complicated than basic tools."
The last strap was tightened, and they were ready. Mostly.
Hiccup hopped on Toothless's back and extended a hand to Frodo.
"How are we going to do this?" Frodo nervously asked.
"Just hold onto me. We will be fine. Toothless, think you could take it easy for him? No crazy spins or anything."
"Yes, I understand," Toothless nodded.
Frodo climbed up and sat behind Hiccup, holding onto his shoulders.
"Ready?" Toothless rumbled.
"Ready!" Hiccup eagerly answered.
Toothless extended his wings and crouched while looking up to the sky. He did not bother restraining his thrum of pleasure.
"Oh my," Frodo gasped.
They jumped.
Frodo held tightly to Hiccup's shoulders as they ascended.
Come on, Frodo. This is nothing.
Then they leveled off, and the verdant hills, slopes, and fields of Hobbiton passed underwing as they glided with the wind. The usual crowd of Hobbits pointed up at them in apparent awe.
"Wow!" Frodo gasped.
"I know. Something special, isn't it?"
"It is. You are also, Toothless."
Toothless's purr of approval was audible over the wind.
"The first time we flew together was not as... relaxing as this," Hiccup chuckled.
"Why not?" Frodo wondered.
"Because he," Toothless slapped Hiccup with an ear, "was trying to get us killed!"
"Was not! I didn't know how to work the tail yet," Hiccup flicked the same ear with a finger.
"Which almost crashed us into rocks!"
"Not my best moment, but it worked out in the end..."
Toothless just huffed and angled their flight higher up toward the clouds. Once up around the lowest clouds, he leveled off and glanced back over his shoulder. Hiccup looked his usual calm and attentive whenever they went flying. Frodo looked absolutely in awe and could not tear his gaze from the land far below and the distant horizons.
The simple sharing of flight, to give wings in a way to one who has no wings, stirred something in his soul-fire. This giving of peace and joy to another made him feel warmer inside than the largest pile of fish he had ever enjoyed.
Frodo let go of Hiccup's shoulders and then held his arms out wide, as if to embrace the wind itself. The Hobbit's curly hair whipped in the wind.
Maybe he has the soul-fire of a dragon also.
Toothless then closed his eyes and merely glided in the warm wind. The bright sunlight warmed his hide and wings as he wheeled about in a wide loop over the Shire. Overcome with feeling, he took a deep breath and roared aloud, announcing his flight-joy for the entire world to hear.
Both Hiccup and Frodo added their voices as well.
Toothless sighed wearily.
Work was tiring. But the work was done now, and he was resting in his den. After explaining his reasons for wanting them, he had a pile of rocks brought in and arranged to make a rocky ground he could lay on after flaming. More importantly, the rocks would hold heat from his fire better than dirt could. That would make for even more enjoyable and restful naps.
He hid his head under his tailfin and flew his thoughts to everything that he knew of this Shire. The Hobbits gave him his space, and few of them were openly afraid of him. It helped that they were not hostile as a way of life.
Hiccup was more accepted for sure, mostly because of his skill in making things and fixing things but also because he could go into the Hobbit dens to join in their bonding ceremonies.
As for himself, he was content to do work, be kin to Hiccup and the four Hobbits he and Hiccup knew best, and live in peace. The Shire was a good, peaceful range in which they could both live long.
But it still felt like it was missing something.
He sighed and listened to the sounds of the activity outside. Many young voices were eagerly clamoring and drawing closer.
What?
The voices eventually quieted just outside his den.
"Master Toothless?" Sam's voice cried out.
What is he doing here? Is there more work to do?
Most of the work he had been doing in the farms had been in some way with Sam's family-pack or others who knew Frodo. But it was strange for one of them to come to his den now.
Toothless reluctantly got to his paws, trotted over to the entrance of his den, and nosed open the door. He glanced outside and froze in amazement.
Standing just outside his den were Sam, a pawful of Hobbit children, and their sires and dams just behind them. They were all so small in comparison to Hiccup, but the young were especially so. Their eyes were very wide as they stared at him.
All the children were holding fish in their paws.
"What is this, Sam?"
"They," Sam waved a paw at the children, "wanted to come meet you, Master Toothless."
He slowly walked out of the den to them. Several of the children gasped as he approached. Then he lay down before them and softly purred to them.
It felt very warming inside to see how happy and eager they were to meet him.
"Hello little ones," he hummed.
"Wow!" "He is so nice!" "Does he have warts?" "Can I pet him?"
Sam blushed at the last question.
"Uh, well... only if he does not mind."
A Hobbit girl eagerly stepped closer. Her brown eyes were very wide and awed as she stared at him.
He was absolutely powerless to resist whatever influence she had. Maybe two-legged creatures had power in their eyes instead of the paws. Maybe they only had great power in their eyes when they were young.
"What is your name, little one?"
"Ruby! Are you really toothless?" she exclaimed.
He chuckled and gave her a gummy smile.
"I can be, and that is my name also. Toothless."
Ruby chuckled and covered her mouth with a paw. Something about seeing her so happy made his tail sway in happiness of his own as a warmth flared in his soul-fire. Then she shyly held up the fish in her little paws. He was more than happy to oblige her and let her toss the fish into his jaws.
The other Hobbit children, apparently encouraged by seeing Ruby so close to him, also approached. None of them had any remaining reluctance.
Even better, he got a very nice midday snack from all the fish that they brought. Being friendly to Hobbits, while good on its own and being some bonding, was also useful because Hobbits liked food and were willing to give him food also!
I wonder if young ones are less afraid than adults. They might be because they know less bad, if any, from others.
"You can fly, yes?" they clamored.
"What do you think these are for?" he ruffled his wings for them to see.
"Can we fly with you?" "I want to fly!" "That'd be fun!" "Flying!"
Their parents looked shocked and wary by their young ones' enthusiasm at the idea of flight.
His ears fell slightly at the eagerness the young showed. While it would be very warming to show these young Hobbits flight, much as he had done for Frodo, he could not do it now. Not without Hiccup here to work the tailfin, at least, and Hiccup was busy working.
He could not fly on his own.
"Sorry, but I cannot fly unless my friend is here with me."
They looked and sounded disappointed with that, based on their groans and frowns.
"We can play now if you want!" he offered.
"Yes, playing!" "Fun!" "Tag!" "Ball!"
Even as he played with them and let them pet his neck, feel his wings, or climb on his back to slide down his wings, he occasionally glanced up at the clouds and felt a slight chill inside.
While the loss of the tailfin was, all considered, a good thing because of what he gained, it did cause some problems at times, such as now. There was some amount of good that he could not do on his own.
But he could still run along the path while batting a ball back to them. They then kicked the ball back to him while laughing. They were easily amused.
Their parents followed to watch the play; he understood their desire to watch over their young.
His play kept getting fouled by the sight of the puffy clouds high above; the clouds were beckoning to him. He kept looking up at the sky while regretting what was lost.
I need to fly later once Hiccup is done with work...
That faint feeling of longing did not fade even after he was left alone to have an afternoon nap in his den.
He dreamed of spinning with joy through the sky and clouds, dipping a wingtip into the thick clouds that flowed like an ocean below him, and chasing after a dark shape that teasingly fled ahead of him.
Hiccup and Toothless were sprawled out on top of Bag-end, resting together in the long grass under the tree after the end of a tiring day. Another peaceful week had passed since they had taken Frodo on his first and only flight. None of the other adult Hobbits had expressed any interest in doing that, nor had the offer been given to anyone.
The days had passed quickly between Toothless working and swimming in the Bywater or the Brandywine River and Hiccup working at the forge and repairing the mill. Hiccup also used the time to learn more stories and even some runes, though he needed a lot more practice before he was even close to being able to read.
Everything was peaceful.
Then a crowd of Hobbits came storming over the slopes and marching along the dirt paths. That alone was strange, but the fact that these Hobbits were carrying pitchforks was even stranger.
"Bud, you see that?"
"Yes, what is happening?" Toothless warbled.
"I don't know..."
They hopped to their feet and strolled down in front of Bag-end. Then they realized where the crowd of Hobbits appeared to be going.
"Hey, does it look like they're headed for your barn?"
Toothless softly growled and started for his den; he felt protective of it since these Hobbits did not look like they were happy about something.
"Hiccup, Toothless, wait up!" Frodo cried and ran out to meet them.
"What is going on?" Hiccup asked.
Frodo gave an open scowl that was so very different from how the Hobbit always looked. Frodo never looked angry or frustrated with anyone. Something was truly bothering Frodo.
"I know these Hobbits. Don't worry about them; they won't hurt you, but they will try to cause trouble."
"Who are they?"
"The Sackville Bagginses, Lobelia and Otho..." Frodo whispered.
"Aren't those the ones who hated Bilbo and wanted Bag-end?" Hiccup asked.
"And still do to both."
Then Frodo's eyes lit up along with him giving them a wry grin.
"Wait here, I'll be right back!"
Frodo ran off toward Bag-end, dashed inside, and then swiftly returned before the crowd arrived.
"Let's go to your barn!" Frodo shouted.
They all started running down to the barn.
"What was that for?" Hiccup whispered.
"Insurance..." Frodo winked.
Hiccup and Toothless gave each other a glance and a shrug.
The crowd thundered up the dirt path, but most of the Hobbits paused when they saw Toothless calmly sitting on his rear outside the barn. Hiccup and Frodo stood with him in support.
Two of the Hobbits in the crowd did not stay at a distance; rather, they strode forward without hesitation. They were an older married couple. The man was unremarkable, but the woman was dressed in a prim yellow dress, and she also carried an umbrella. Hiccup found that confusing.
There isn't a cloud in the sky. Maybe it's for shade?
"LOOK AT THAT! There it is! The demon!" the elderly woman screeched while pointing her umbrella at Toothless.
Hiccup, Toothless, and Frodo all looked over their shoulders toward the slope behind them.
"Where?" they all laughed.
"Right beside you! The dragon!" the woman shouted again.
"Lobelia! That is not polite at all!" Frodo objected.
"Polite, you little brat! Nothing polite about your blasted uncle cheating us out of what we rightly deserve!"
Lobelia stopped in front of Frodo and put a hand on her hip while waving her umbrella at him. Hiccup barely stifled his laughter at how absurdly and harmlessly threatening she was being.
She must have noticed because she started haughtily glaring at him. He had to admit that there was something courageous about how fearless she was.
Yikes, not a pleasant Hobbit lady at all...
"You, Outsider, take your... creature... and begone!"
"Pardon me, miss, but..." Hiccup began.
"I'll not pardon you!" Lobelia interrupted.
Huh?
"What I mean is that we are welcome here in Hobbiton. We earned our place here."
She waved her umbrella at him.
"Bah, all a trick! Your being here is just more proof of what we always knew!"
"What is that?" Frodo crossed his arms with a scowl.
Otho vigorously pointed a finger at Frodo.
"We knew that Bag-end is secretly filled with tunnels of gold and jewels! You and Bilbo have been hiding it from us all along!"
Frodo laughed.
"And I will say again as I always have that there are no secret tunnels of gold."
Lobelia smiled, as though she was very pleased with herself.
"Then explain the dragon! We know from the old stories that dragons show up wherever gold is hidden!"
Everyone stared at Toothless as he remained still under all their glares. Even Hiccup frowned, realizing that her words were at least consistent with the stories that the Hobbits told of dragons. What she said made some sense, even though he knew that her worry obviously did not apply to Toothless.
Then Toothless lifted his head and chuckled, his tail swaying in amusement.
"I live in my den, not in Bag-end. The gold must be in my den, true?"
The gathered Hobbits reluctantly nodded and grumbled in agreement. Toothless then directly addressed Lobelia and Otho and used his tail to point at his barn.
"You are free to search for the gold and treasure in my den!"
Lobelia and Otho started in surprise at being addressed by him.
"The only treasure we know about is over in the Downs," Hiccup explained.
The comment about the Barrow-Downs set off a stream of muttering from the crowd of Hobbits, many of whom looked like they had forgotten what they were doing there.
"The Downs?" "That was them?" "Well, that changes everything..." "They killed the wight?" "Gracious..." "Most unusual..."
Lobelia and Otho did not appear pleased.
"And further," Frodo smiled cheerfully, "the Mayor himself agreed to allow these two fine people to live here as payment for their deeds. I have the signed and recorded agreement of residency right here if you care to read it!"
Frodo then pulled out from a pocket a long roll of paper filled with verbiage. The very bottom of the paper had a space on which there were three signatures: one Hobbit's name, a name signed in Viking runes, and a massive pawprint.
"Foiled again," Otho grumbled.
Then Lobelia snapped with a burst of frustration. She stepped toward Frodo and started beating at his head and shoulders with her umbrella while shouting something very impolite.
Everything happened very quickly as everyone screamed in alarm and a dark blur struck like lightning.
Toothless darted forward to Frodo's side, grabbed the umbrella in his jaws, and yanked it away from Lobelia. Then he sat down behind Frodo while softly growling in Lobelia's direction. The umbrella was still hanging from his jaws.
Lobelia shuffled backwards in open alarm, but she fell over her own feet and tumbled onto the dirt path.
"Monster! It is a monster!" Otho shouted as he helped her to her feet.
Toothless bent down to the ground and dropped the umbrella at Frodo's feet. No one had a chance to say anything before Otho and Lobelia turned away and started running down the path.
However, they could not outrun Frodo as he ran after them with their umbrella in hand.
Hiccup went over and leaned against Toothless's side as everything settled down. Together, they watched the crowd of Hobbits begin muttering amongst themselves or otherwise break apart.
"Did I do something wrong?" Toothless softly warbled.
"No, bud. You did really well there. That could've gone much worse."
"Why do the not-Bagginses want Frodo's den?"
Hiccup shrugged.
"If I remember right it was some old, imagined offense from long ago."
Frodo ran back up the path to them; he was now without the umbrella.
"Thanks for that support, Toothless. It helped a lot."
"Truly? How so?" Toothless asked.
"Well, you didn't bite or flame them. That helped. Also, no one really likes the Sackville-Bagginses."
"No, why not?" Hiccup asked.
"They're very grouchy, as you can imagine. Always have been."
"They were always unliked?" Hiccup wondered.
Despite his own frustration with the two Hobbits, he knew well how miserable it was to be unliked by ones own tribe.
Frodo nodded.
"Yeah, they do not do themselves any favors on that. They are rather well-off for Hobbits, but they keep their wealth to themselves. They're also generally unpleasant, which doesn't help anyone want to be pleasant to them."
Hiccup sighed in agreement.
"That does sound like a vicious cycle."
They almost remind me of Mildew. No one really likes him either. Maybe they just need an opportunity to do something that people like. That would probably help them be happier.
"Well, I'm absolutely beat," Pippin said from outside the forge.
"Hard day of work, huh? I know the feeling," Hiccup groaned, wiping the sweat from his brow with a rag.
He tossed aside the rag and strolled out from the forge to join Merry and Pippin. They were both smoking Old Toby while leaning against a wagon. They also looked very exhausted and short of breath, definitely because they had been working at...
"Work? Nah, we were running from old Farmer Maggot," Merry cheerfully answered.
"Huh?"
"We helped ourselves to some of his cabbages, carrots, and a few bags of potatoes and mushrooms," Pippin explained.
"And we might have had to run from his field to escape his hounds," Merry added.
Hiccup glanced between the two in amusement.
"You were stealing his crops?"
Merry and Pippin looked at each other and nodded as one.
"I prefer to think of it as quality control."
"Exactly, Pip. Someone has to test the crops before he starts selling them at market. We wouldn't want to buy inferior produce!"
"Plus, he always has a large harvest. He doesn't really miss what we took, no pun intended."
Merry grinned widely at that idea.
"Yep! He is probably thanking us for helping him. He now has a little less work to do at harvest time."
"Merry, I like your thinking!"
"Always looking out for you, Pip!"
Hiccup only shook his head.
Ah, the Shire is a wonderful place where such mischief is truly harmless. Breaking into the storerooms or helping themselves to part of the harvest would not have been ignored back on Berk.
"So, Mister Haddock, are you ready to join us for a few pints down at the Green Dragon?" Merry kindly asked.
He was very thirsty after a long day of work, and the companionship was always heartwarming, amusing, or both.
"Sure, why not?"
"Great! Frodo and Sam are going to be there also. Let's get a move on!" Pippin eagerly said.
Hiccup was not a stranger to the Green Dragon anymore. He knew most of the barmaids by name, and he had his favorite brews to enjoy. He, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin also had a table that they frequently claimed as theirs.
At least, they sat at that table when the Hobbits were not carried away by a festive mood and dancing on tables. Even that revelry was more of a Merry and Pippin thing to do. Frodo and Sam behaved far more seriously in most matters.
"The usual, Mister Haddock?" Rose Cotton kindly asked.
"Yes, please," he answered.
"I'll have a bottle of the 1347, a fine year that one was!" Pippin exclaimed.
"A pint of the brown, please," Merry added.
"Will do. Mister Gamgee?" Rose asked.
Sam reluctantly looked up and met her even gaze.
"I... I'll have a house ale."
Rose winked at him and whipped around to bring the requested orders.
"So, where is Frodo?" Hiccup asked.
"He had to go get something before coming down here," Sam explained after tearing his gaze away from Rose.
Hiccup looked around the Green Dragon at all the other Hobbits present. Many of them were older, kindly folk. There were families spending time together and talking about various matters relating to the Shire, such as gardening, trade, and gossip.
Some of them were glancing at him or whispering about a certain black dragon. The looks he was getting were more those of curiosity than they had been before.
None of them are hostile; everyone is peaceful toward us, mostly. Definitely true that they're all happy to have more coin also.
The Hobbits' voices all around blended into a drone of merriment and conversation.
"My lad is shaping up to be a fine farmer!" "Come on you old windbag, pay up!" "Did you hear that Linda and Isembold are engaged!" "Hooded strangers on the border, I swear." "Didn't pay me near enough for my produce!"
Rose finally arrived with the drinks for them all.
"Should we wait for Frodo?" Hiccup asked.
Merry looked up at that question, and his eyes brightened when he glanced over at the door.
"Aye, we should wait for him. He just got here. Frodo! Over here!" Merry waved.
Frodo noticed them, approached through the crowd, and took his place with them at the table.
"Where were you? We've been waiting for... forever," Pippin groaned dramatically.
Frodo held a hand to his chest and assumed a lofty voice.
"I was meeting with the Mayor about a very important piece of business. Something that I've been meaning to do for a while now."
"What is it?" Hiccup asked.
"Everyone is happy with all the extra coin that people got from the treasure hoard in the Downs. I thought it would be fair to include you and Toothless in the cut since you two were the ones who cleaned out the Barrow for us."
Frodo reached into a pocket on his jacket, and he pulled out a modest coinpurse which he then handed to Hiccup.
"That is for you and Toothless."
Hiccup inspected it and counted a decent number of gold and silver coins inside. This was perhaps a couple month's worth of wages.
"Not sure what I'll need to buy with it, but thanks anyway," Hiccup stowed the coinpurse in a pocket.
"Alright, he is here. It is time to begin!" Merry eagerly began.
"Begin what?" Hiccup warily asked.
Merry and Pippin picked up their mugs and winked at him.
"Drinking contest!" they both chuckled as one.
"A drinking contest? I don't know about that. I was never any good at that before..."
Nor did I ever really try...
"Well, everyone has to start somewhere. Plus, you're bigger than a Hobbit, and that gives you a distinct advantage," Pippin explained.
Hiccup looked down at his mug of beer. Hobbit brew was fairly strong in his experience so far. Then he glanced up at the jovial Hobbits all around but especially at those sitting with him.
"What are the rules?" he asked.
"Excellent!" Merry rubbed his palms together.
"The rules are simple. Are you paying attention? Here it goes. We drink. Talk about anything we want. And the last one still sitting unaided at the table wins!" Pippin grabbed his mug.
"Wins what?"
"Bragging rights!" Merry laughed.
Okay, that is very like Berk. What about...
"Restroom breaks?"
"Of course, but you have to keep the beer down," Merry explained.
Within moments all five of them had their first mug in hand. The amber foam in Hiccup's mug looked and smelled very appealing.
Oh well, what is the worst that could happen?
"Tloohlhess..."
Toothless lifted his head at the very strange call Hiccup made from outside the den. It was well after sundown, and he had not been expecting a visit tonight or that Hiccup would sound so twisted.
"Hiccup?"
The entrance to the den opened with a crash as Hiccup entered. He did so while swaying wildly from side to side and struggling to stay on his feet. His eyes didn't focus on much.
Something was very wrong with him.
What did you do to yourself?
Hiccup stumbled up next to him and rested against his neck. He apparently needed that help, else he would have fallen over.
"Hiccup, what is wrong?"
"Wrong? Nuffing! I won! I won!"
Hiccup lifted a clenched paw high into the air, a clear sign of triumph.
"You won. Good. At what?" Toothless purred.
"A drinking contesht! I went to tha bottle to heal my heart an' drown my woe! And under a dark wing I will lie and let the shtars go shailing by!" Hiccup sang in a silly voice.
"Were you drinking the happy-water?"
"Beer and ale, that's what it's called, bud."
He sniffed and confirmed that Hiccup's breath smelled very much of the happy-water-beer-ale drink. The drink made a human act very silly and do twisted things like forget how to walk or stand or talk well.
"Do you want to sit down?"
"Nope! I want to fall down!"
Hiccup then collapsed in place and leaned against his side.
"That's betta!"
"Yes, I think you should stay here tonight."
"Ghood plan. Uh, actually nope, I have to go!" Hiccup promptly got to his unsteady feet.
He shook his head and grumbled softly at Hiccup's twistedness.
"You are not going anywhere else. Not after all you drank."
Hiccup thought for a moment in apparent confusion and then looked back at him with pleading eyes.
"But Tooodlessh, I have to go! Now!"
"Where do you have to go? It is best if you stay here with me," he hopped to his paws and sat down to block the entrance to the den.
Hiccup reluctantly nodded and then stumbled away from him toward a corner of his den.
What are you doing? If this is...
Hiccup started relieving himself in the corner of the den.
Toothless rolled his eyes and collapsed in place in total exasperation.
I should have known...
He patiently waited as Hiccup did what needed doing. Hiccup finally finished relieving himself and then returned to him, leaning against his side in relief and exhaustion.
He could not find it within himself to be frustrated with Hiccup.
"Toooothless, did you know that you are my besht friend, my bruder?"
"We already knew that! Even if you did just mark my den," he muttered.
Hiccup looked completely oblivious to what he said.
"Okay, good! Jusht wanted to make shure that we knew!"
He grumbled softly and lay a wing over Hiccup to keep him close and warm. His friend did not look like he was in a good condition to be going anywhere else.
This beer and ale is too thought-twisting for him. He did say that he won, so he either defended his status or won more. That is good of him.
They lay there in each other's company for a while, neither of them saying anything. Hiccup eventually realized that something was on his own mind because he raised a paw and hit himself in the forehead.
"Toothlesh, are you... happy?"
He raised an eyeridge in response.
"What do you mean?" he warbled.
"With the Shire and living here... It is good, them not being afraid of you. Me being able to work for them and be usheful for once in my lyfe."
He nodded in agreement. The changes that he could see in Hiccup were definitely for the better.
"You are much happier now than you were back on... Berk."
"Yeah, I guessh I am. I wonder if we're really meant to..." Hiccup did not finish his thought.
He looked around at Hiccup and saw the confusion on his friend's face.
"What?"
"I rememba Gandalf telling ush that we can make uh differensh shomehow. And as nice as the Shire ish... I wonder if this ish truly our home. It feelsh shmall in a way."
"Small?"
"Yeah, there ish a whole, wide world to shee. Elvesh, Dwarves, different human peoplesh. The world ish not in books or mapsh..."
Then Hiccup groaned, holding a paw to his head and softly moaning for a few moments.
"I guessh alsho because we're alone here. Sheeing all the happy Hobbits together, hushbands and wives, and kids, makesh me feel... I wish that..."
They both sighed as one at that, and he leaned slightly against Hiccup. Their isolation from their own kinds was something he indeed thought much about. Doing so always gave him feeling of empty chill.
"True, we will not find a female for you unless we go to other human peoples."
Hiccup rolled his eyes and swayed his head from side to side, possibly because of difficulty staying upright.
"Same with you, bro. We gotta find you a female Night Fury shomewhere in the world. You'll find her and have lotsh of babiesh! A whole flock of Night Furiesh!" Hiccup waved his arms wildly in the air.
As soul-fire-warming as the idea was, this discussion had given him a perfect way to tease Hiccup. He gently nudged Hiccup's shoulder with his nose and chuckled to himself.
"And you will also when we find you a good female! You will make many human hatchlings."
Hiccup waved a paw at him in annoyance.
"Uh, no. Humansh don't have hatchlings. We don't... hatch... from eggs."
"I know that. You already told me."
"Yup. We're born. Shtraight out of the mom's belly. No egg. The baby shtill needs both parentsh for years afterwards. Bashically usheless after they're born: can't talk, walk, or feed themshelves at all," Hiccup explained.
Toothless thought about it and was surprised at how similar their kinds were.
"Many dragons are like that even though we come from eggs. We need our sire and dam for many winters until we are grown enough to hunt."
"Yeah, I guessh we're not all that different in lyfe."
Toothless sighed and closed his eyes. The thought of sires, dams, and little ones was soul-fire warming and chilling at the same time.
Despite his twisted-thinking, Hiccup gently reached over and scratched under his chin.
"I can shee it now, Toothlesh. We will both have familiesh of our own, and our kidsh will grow up together. Playing, learning, teasing, fighting, laughing, flying... living..." Hiccup wearily sighed.
"Flying the winds of life together. I would like that very much," Toothless softly hummed.
A peaceful quiet came over them as they settled down to rest. The voices from beyond faded until the only sounds were their breaths and the calls of night creatures.
"Oh, Toothlesh, I almosht fergot. We got shome of the treashure."
Hiccup took out a pouch and held it in a paw.
"Treasure? What is it?"
"Jusht shome of the coin from that wight's cave-Barrow-place. Shome gold and shilver. The Hobbits wanted us to have shome alsho."
Gold and silver?
"And they gave that to us?"
"Yeah, not shure what we can buy with it. Think you can keep it shafe?"
Hiccup dropped the small pouch at his side and leaned back against him.
Keep the treasure safe? Sure, I can do that.
He reached out with a paw and gathered the pouch of treasure to his side.
"Good night, Toothlesh. I'm done now..."
No sooner had Hiccup said that than he slumped in place, lay his head on the ground, and started snoring. His mouth hung open very absurdly.
Toothless chuckled at Hiccup's twistedness and covered him with a wing to help keep him warm. Then he closed his eyes and lay down while faintly purring with peace until he too fell sleep.
There was a faint shadow inside: a quiet voice that spoke in a whisper to his soul-fire.
It felt very good to keep his precious, his treasure, close and safe