Fallen For You - Part 2

It wasn't more than a week later when Hiccup, beyond the belief of a select few, finally woke up. The reaction
he received was overwhelming, especially for the boy who had been exiled not long before the battle.

As it was, he appeared to be taking the reactions in stride. He accepted the prosthetic that Gobber had made with a mournful look on his face. The irony of his missing leg was not lost on him, it was the same side that toothless was missing.

Hiccup had managed to hold out his strength for a few hours before the crowd had to be told to go home. Currently he was upstairs in his room resting; the adrenaline from Astrid's kiss and the rest of the day had finally worn off.

Astrid, however, was still lingering on the memory of the kiss and the young man that had received it.

She had just pushed her way through the crowd of well-wishers, most obviously surprised that Hiccup had indeed awoken. Once Astrid had reached the center of the crowd her breath caught in her throat. The emotions she had been feeling for the past few weeks came flooding back at the sight of Hiccup truly alive and walking around, mostly, he relied heavily upon a staff that Gobber had fashioned for him to use until he was used to the leg. Upon seeing the boy that had stolen her heart and given the overwhelming emotions she was feeling at the time, her actions were perfectly understandable. She walked right up to Hiccup and hit him on the shoulder, her response to his unasked question of why was simple; "that's for scaring me." What happened next would be recorded in the annals of history for times to come. Before he could even comment on how much he hated getting hit she had grabbed his tunic and pulled Hiccup toward her, their lips locking in a mind-blowing kiss that lasted for several seconds. Upon releasing him and stepping back a bit Hiccup mumbled something along the lines of getting used to it. Astrid had a smile on her face the rest of the day, Hiccup hadn't been much better. Hiccup had floated through the festivities of the day before his strength gave out and he returned home.

With the memory of that moment deeply rooted in her mind, Astrid made her way up the stairs to check on him, a smile planted firmly on her lips as she did so. Knocking gently a few times, only to receive no reply, she pushed his door open only to stop in shock at the scene before her.

His room, while normally cluttered in an organized manner, was currently trashed. There were torn sketches and articles of clothing thrown all over, some were even ripped to pieces. What stood out was the fact that Hiccup wasn't there. It took her a moment to realize that the pack he normally took during his many outings to the forest wasn't there, either.

It took her brain a moment to process this information. Almost before she realized it her feet took off, her body knowing the direction he had gone before her mind could even register the fact he was gone.

Setting a new personal record, Astrid made it to the blacksmith's shop in next to no time at all. While the hour was late and there should be no lights on in the shop, Gobber was currently
swimming in the bottom of a mug or two of ale, there was a small light flickering from the window. Pushing the door open she entered, not sure of what she would find.

"Hiccup?" she called into the darkness of the shop, the flickering candle casting poor illumination. The forge was currently cold, the embers glowing with a red light that reminded her of the first time she had ridden Toothless when she and Hiccup had discovered the Green Death. The memory didn't help to dispel the dread that the candle light created.

"Hiccup!" she called again, worry beginning to rise within her.

Her only response was the sound of rustling papers as a limping figure detached itself from the shadows surrounding the forge. Slowly it approached her, unsteady on its feet, looking as though it was just learning to walk, weight mostly supported by a wood staff. In a way it was true, Hiccup had to relearn how to use a prosthetic to get around and to coordinate it with his remaining natural leg, soon he wouldn't need to use the staff to help support his weight.

Stumbling a bit as the metal of the foot caught an uneven plank; he was able to recover before she could even raise her hands or move to catch him.

The silence that followed swallowed them both whole, the only noise was the sound of their breathing and the strange metallic clink and wooden thump that now followed Hiccup.

As he approached she noticed his pack swinging from his right arm, creating a counter-balance for his weight. Behind him the embers continued to glow and the candle flickered, their combined light created a truly hellish atmosphere and allowed Hiccup to look less like himself and more like a demon as he approached.

"Hiccup," she breathed in relief as she raised her hand to touch his arm. She was startled to have the hand ignored and brushed off as he limped passed her, a second pack filled with papers slung across his back, the tanned leather carelessly knocking into her as he passed.

"Hiccup?" she called out to him as he continued to ignore her, her anger beginning to build as he did so. "What are you doing?"

"Leaving," he replied without stopping or turning to regard Astrid.

"Do you need any help getting home?" she asked knowing that his body was still in shock from all that had happened.

He only shook his head before answering.

"I'm not going home, I'm leaving. Don't you remember? I have no home now, I was exiled and I intend to leave tonight."

"But, Stoick..." she began only to be cut off as he turned to face her, rage the likes of which she had only seen on his father clouded Hiccup's eyes. This rage was mixed with something else she couldn't place, some nagging emotion she should recognize.

"The chief made his opinion very
clear when last we spoke at length. He swore that I wasn't his son, nor was I a Viking. Therefore I have been exiled, a point which you yourself made perfectly clear the day we fought the Green Death."

She shivered at the anger and
sadness that poured from him in waves, their force causing her to retreat as he took a step toward her.

"You remember that conversation don't you?" he spat, only waiting for her nod before continuing. "That conversation changed nothing! Nothing but losing a leg and getting my best and only friend back."

Hiccup had to pause for a moment to rein in his anger, he knew the girl before him wasn't at fault, she was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time and Astrid didn't deserve the anger directed at his father. Taking a few calming breaths he continued.

"Now, while I was unconscious... I dreamed of you Astrid. I dreamt of many things about you, but do you know the one dream I held onto, the one dream that helped me to survive?"

Once again she was rendered speechless at this new and terrifying Hiccup, this wasn't the man she had fallen in love with, this was a monster! Even with his anger visibly diminishing, his apathy was shaking her to her core; all Astrid could do was shake her head in response once again.

"I dreamt that you told me you loved me, we began dating and things were wonderful..." Hiccup grasped for words a moment, "a horrible joke isn't it? I know you could never love me, no one could. Do you know what I did find when I woke? I woke to find this," his gesture took in not only his new leg but the village as well, his voice dripping with venom, "and do you know what the first words out of the chief's mouth were? Nothing, absolutely nothing."

Hiccup took a step toward Astrid, his words coming fast with fiery fervor. "He didn't recant his banishment; claim me as a son once again. No, he just stood there and said nothing as Gobber explained all that had happened to me. Do you know what that's like?
What it feels like to have your whole world stripped from you twice in one lifetime?"

He only stopped advancing on her when her back hit the shelf of the forge, the red light making his face even more demonic than it was before.

"No," he said with a sigh, the rage draining from him completely as depression took its place. "No, you have no idea what it's like; you still have your family to go home to, a family that loves you, a family you never disappointed by just being born."

With a sigh he backed away from her and turned to face the door. For a minute or two he only stood there unmoving, Astrid could feel the hope begin to well up in her at his hesitation. Maybe he was going to stay after all. But sadly he began to walk again, his limp hindering the swift exit Astrid was sure he wanted. He did stop for a moment as he reached the door, but her hopes were dashed once again as he only turned to speak over his shoulder to her.

"Goodbye, Astrid. May your life be long and your children all fair-haired. Give Snotlout my regards; I'm sure your wedding will be beautiful."

He shrugged the packs into a more comfortable position and tightened his furs around his body. Hiccup was about to place his hand on the door handle when his world went dark once again.

.o.O.o.

The sound of a sharpening stone against a blade pulled him from the darkness; it was a sound he had become
quite familiar with in recent days. There was only one person he knew who sharpened their blade in the manner he knew was being used, Astrid. She had a
habit of roughly and quickly running the stone over the blade of her ax when she was upset, and by the speed she was using she was really upset.

Stifling a groan as the slight movement of his turning head caused the bump on the back of his head to throb.
The sore spot was no doubt from where Astrid had hit him, at the sound of his muffled groan, the ringing of stone on metal ceased.

Lifting a hand to his forehead, he heard the sound of stone and blade come to rest against wood.

"Finally awake I see," Astrid commented with a mixture of anger and fear lacing her words as she shifted forward in her chair, the wood creaking at her movement. "I hadn't expected you to be out so long. But then again, I did hit you with a pair of long handled tongs."

"They're called Box Jaw tongs," he explained as he slowly opened his eyes and carefully turned his head to look at her.

"What?" she replied with a tilt of her head.

"The tongs you hit me with, they're called Box Jaw tongs, used for holding the steel for making knives. But that's not important," he said with a sigh as he pushed himself up to rest against the wall of his workshop in the forge. "What is important is why you decided to hit me with them in the first place."

"Why?" Astrid echoed in shock as she sat back in her chair, eyes wide with anger. "You were leaving, that's why!"

"I do believe that I have the right to leave if I want to," he replied simply as he stared at her.

"Not when you plan on leaving the village forever, you don't."

"Oh?" he asked as he continued to watch her, "why is that? What's here for me? For years you have beat me up, both emotionally and physically. You've laughed at me behind my back and to my face. You've even exiled me, so please tell me Astrid, what reason is there for me to stay?"

"I know your father apologized to you that day of the battle. He told you he was proud to call you son, I know he said that, he told me himself. I also know he was relieved to see you back in the world of the living when he greeted you. He cares about you Hiccup, we all do."

"Does he now?" Hiccup asked with a smile that was too malicious to be on his face. "You're right Astrid, he did say that. He did say he was proud of me, but you know what he didn't say? 'Welcome back to the tribe, you're one of us. You have a home to belong to once again.'"
He spoke with gestures and posture mimicking that of his father. "No, not once did he say anything that would even make me think that, all he did was comment
on how I tried my best to die but failed at even that simple task. Why did he do that I wonder?" He paused for a moment to let that thought sink in.

"The same reason you never stopped the others from hurting me, even though you knew it was wrong. Heck, it's for the same reason you took such pleasure in hurting me that day at the lake when you met Toothless; you don't care. The only reason you don't want me to leave is guilt. If I left you wouldn't be able to justify the way you had treated me all those years, a few days of kindness does not wash away a life time of pain."

"You honestly believe that, don't you?" she said in a stunned and gentle voice, a combination he had never heard her use.

"Yes," he replied as he stared her right in the eyes, "Yes, I do, with every fiber of my being. I have nothing to prove me wrong."

"Do you know how many people believed that you wouldn't wake up? Almost every single person in the village, even your dad, believed that you would die."

"I'm so sorry I disappointed all of you," he said with a roll of his eyes as he folded his arms across his chest.

"I said almost everyone Hiccup." She was firm about this. "Now stop sulking and pay attention. I never stopped believing you'd wake, and neither did Gobber. Between the two of us we took turns watching you as you recovered. Eventually Gobber was able to convince Stoick you'd wake. From what Gobber told me it was my example that inspired Stoick to believe."

Hiccup was quiet for a moment and in that time Astrid felt her hope rise only to be dashed by his next words.

"Now tell me again... why did you and Gobber stayed with me. Was it the guilt, the lack of closure on my part? Maybe the fact that Gobber would be losing an apprentice and didn't want to train up a new one? What about you Astrid, what was your guilt? Was it the fact you stood by and did nothing while the only thing I loved was ripped from me by my
own father? Was it the fact you were so cruel to me over the years and needed to apologize, or some such nonsense, to clear your conscience?"

Hiccup's intensity was now fully focused on her. "Please Astrid, enlighten me as to the real reasons you watched over me, I know it's not because you cared, I would know, I've cared about you for years. One flight on Toothless, that's all it took for you to realize that you suddenly care about me? I'm sorry, but I find that hard to believe."

During his small speech he had turned to kick his legs off the small bed he kept for the late nights in the forge, the metal of his prosthetic clanging like the echo of battle as it hit the stone floor. His natural foot made a more subdued thump as it joined its metallic mate on the stone.

"What would make you realize that you don't care and it was all just a misunderstanding, a walk through the forest, a swim in a lake, or perhaps a piece of bad fish?"

Once his feet were settled, his arms came to rest on his knees, his face buried in his hands for a moment before he began to speak again, Astrid, for her part, had remained silent through his entire rant, whether it be from guilt or another reason Hiccup knew not.

"I'm so tired of being a failure, of not even being able to step out my front door without the rest of the village running in terror from the damage I have yet to cause. Some people are always late for the events of life, I was never even invited. Do you know why I wear long sleeves when no other Viking on Berk does? It's to hide the bruises and scars from being beaten up by all sorts of Vikings in the village, not just you guys. Did you ever wonder why I was late arriving anywhere after I had screwed up somehow? It's because I was being beaten by whomever I had done anything to- okay, okay... not everyone did that, but enough people did."

His confession wasn't over, and he hadn't dared to look up from his hands to look at Astrid while he spoke. "Haven't you ever wondered why I was so sarcastic and nonchalant about pain, why I would involuntarily flinch whenever anyone raised a hand toward me, even if not in anger? You'll know pain when you have to learn how to set your own broken ribs at the age of 6 and then learn how to hide that injury from everyone else. I mean really, how big of a failure can a person be to not die when they wanted in their heart of hearts just to do that simple task and make everyone happy?"

He had to stop to collect his thoughts and emotions; he had gone from being angry at Astrid preventing him from leaving to depressed about not dying. He had to take a moment to center himself.

"The healer mentioned something once, while you were delirious with fever," Astrid's soft voice broke through his meditations and forced him to look up from his hands at her. "She said that she had seen stronger men die from less because they just gave up, but not you. You fought to wake up for some reason, no one knew why or for what, they just knew you were still alive. All I know is that I was thankful that you were still alive each time I came to watch over you."

She stopped for a moment to place her hand on his shoulder, the action causing him to flinch and pull away from her before she could even touch him. With a sigh she continued speaking, hand falling to her lap.

"I know I have treated you poorly in the past, that I've hurt you. For that I am truly sorry and I know no amount of words can ease the pain you've been through or heal the scars. In the past, you have been a failure, but you're not anymore. You're a hero now, you saved all of us. You are what a true Viking should be. I know you Hiccup, I saw it in you the night we had our flight, the same one that changed my opinion of you. I know you, Hiccup."

Astrid's hands clenched into fists in her lap, her eyes never once leaving Hiccup. "You'll fight for what you believe in, even if it means losing everything and everyone you love, even if it means losing those that love you. While you were sick you fought, you fought to get better and no one could even begin to guess why. I don't know why you fought; all I know is that it wasn't to act like this."

"You're right Astrid," his muffled voice said from within his hands.

"I am?" she replied with some surprise.

"You are, I didn't fight back to end up like this. I don't know why I fought to hold on, all I can remember is a feeling, a warmth. Sigh. I felt ... safe, protected ... loved. I fought because I felt wanted, even if for just a moment."

"You are wanted Hiccup, the whole village wants you now. They need you to help with Dragon Training." She said with a small amount of hope returning.

"I didn't mean wanted in a useful way, I meant wanted in a loved way."

"Oh," she said.

"Yeah," he answered as he stood to his feet and began pacing, or as good of pacing as he could manage without his staff. "Oh is right, who could ever love me? I mean I've failed at everything I've ever done except screwing up, that's my only achievement in life, being a failure. I failed my father by being born. I failed Toothless by shooting him out of the sky. I failed you by even thinking you could feel anything but hate for me. I could go on and on, after all who would ever care about a walking, talking, fish bone?"

During his pacing Hiccup had been staring at the floor as he gestured and vented, now that he had finished with this part he turned to begin a new rotation of pacing and ranting. However, as he did he came face-to-face with an angry Astrid Hofferson, nothing new or different for him.

"Now you listen here Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, I am through listening to you belittle yourself like this, so let's make a few things clear. First, the others may have hurt you in more ways than I can even begin to consider, but from this moment on I can guarantee you that there are several people and dragons who will always be there for you should you ever need them." Her angry blue eyes were just getting closer, and this made him take his first step backwards.

"Second, you may have been a failure, but you are still a hero to this village. All the changes that have been made, the ramps, the dragons, the happiness, are all because of and for you. Third, you may have injured Toothless and made him dependant on you, but you didn't fail him, you freed him. Toothless and the other dragons are now free from the tyranny of the Green Death because of you. Let me tell
you right this minute, I for one am glad you were born, I know Stoick is as well!"

During this litany she had been pushing him backwards until he came to rest against the wall of the workroom, the candle beside him casting flickering light on her face, making her more beautiful than before.

"You also need to know that I don't hate you, Hiccup. You know that flight we went on? It awakened in me feelings and emotions that had long been buried in favor of being a Viking. That night you showed me that it was safe to be honest with myself and that I didn't have to be the best Viking in order for people to like me, I just had to be me. I can never thank you enough for that, if nothing else. I learned another thing that night, aside from everything about Dragons being wrong. I learned that it was safe to care about other people and that it was okay to love someone."

Hiccup could feel what remained of his heart shatter at the last statement. Any hope he had of her caring for him in any way was gone. She had just admitted that she loved someone; she had no need for a failure in her life. So closing his eyes and taking a deep breath he spoke.

"Love?" he whispered out as he felt her presence move back a few feet.

"Yes," she answered back just as softly, "I'm in love with the greatest Viking Berk has ever known."

He knew that he had never stood a chance of having someone like her care about him, even if it was just as a friend. He knew he was lucky to even have Gobber as a friend, he also knew that he had no chance of finding a wife.

Being the failure that he knew he was, he knew that the Haddock line would die with him, he couldn't even count on Snotlout to carry on the name as he was Hiccup's cousin on his mother's side. Snotlout would only be able to carry on the Jorgenson family line; all he had to do was find a wife, which he apparently already had, add to that the fact he would be next in line for the position of Chief and Snotlout had it made. The Jorgenson line would carry strongly on while the Haddock line would die within this generation, if not sooner.

"I'm happy for you," he finally managed, his eyes still closed, this time they were fighting back tears, the pain adding another reason for him to leave. "I'm sure you and Snotlout will have a good life." Even as he said this he couldn't keep looking at her, the pain was too great. So turning his head away he continued. "I'm just sorry that the Haddock line will have to die with me, if only I could have been the Viking Dad wanted me to be." The last part of his congratulatory statement was meant to have been muttered solely under his breath, however it was still loud enough for Astrid to hear.

Suddenly he felt her presence appear before him, tensing in anticipation of being struck he was unprepared for what did happen. All thoughts fled as two arms encircled his neck and a pair of lips brushed against his. His eyes shot open in shock the instant he felt the featherlike touch.

"Astrid?" he was able to mumble, senses still in shock.

"Yes," she replied as she kept her arms in place, using her body weight to press him against the wall.

"What about Snotlout? You can't kiss me when you belong to another."

"Oh Hiccup," she said with a smile as she leaned her head against his chest. "It has never been Snotlout, it's always been you."

Hiccup closed his eyes at these words, hoping beyond all hope that they were true and not a dream or some sick joke. Sadly he knew that when he opened his eyes again it'd be to find Toothless staring at him following his coma, he knew that all this is nothing but a dream.

"How I've wanted to hear those words for so long," he said after a few moments, Astrid's head still resting against his chest. "But I know they're not real, that you're not real. This is all a dream brought upon by a fever induced delusion; after all, no one could love the village idiot."

"Hiccup," Astrid's voice called to him, "open your eyes, this is real. Open your eyes and see the person who does love you, even if you are an idiot."

Reluctantly he did open his eyes, his green landing on her blue. For a moment he was captivated by the beauty he saw before him. Her hair shone almost orange in the ember light, her eyes had become a stormy dark blue and her lips had become a crimson line across her face. Her perfect lips were only broken by the gleaming white of her teeth as she smiled at him, hints of her pearlescent teeth glinting at him.

"All... I can... gulp... I can see is you," he replied carefully after almost losing himself in the depths of her eyes, unaware of the effect he himself was having on the strong Viking girl. For her part, she too was fighting an almost losing battle with falling into his eyes. She saw so much pain and loneliness there, she was drawn to it like a moth to flame and her desire to erase those feelings from his eyes was overwhelming.

"That's all I want you to see Hiccup, me. I promise you, right here and now and before all the gods in heaven, I am sorry for the way I have treated you and offer my life in repayment."

"What are you saying Astrid?" he weakly asked, scared to hear an answer yet strangely begging for one.

"That I will give you my life to make up for all I and the others have done to you. I'm asking you if you, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, would take me as yours, from this day forth."

Silence, much like that which had followed him into oblivion following the death of the Green Death, rose to surround the pair. All Hiccup could hear and sense was the beating of his heart, the air moving shallowly into and out of his lungs, the warmth radiating from where Astrid was pressing against him. He felt, upon closer notice, the feeling of her heart, beating in time with his own; her breath coming in even and full rhythm somehow matching his own shallow breathing breath for breath. He could feel it, through the connection created by her body pressing against his and her arms around his neck that they were in tune. For some unexplainable reason, both their bodies had become synced with each other in the short time they had been speaking.

For the brief moment that he had noticed this fact the world had slowed and lost all color. Now as the realization of her request hit him the colors and sounds came rushing back, had it not been for the wall he was sure he would have fallen. He knew what she was asking, but couldn't bring himself to even think it, he had to be dead or dying to be having this dream. He knew that acknowledging that which he most wanted, when it was offered in his dream, would break the spell of death and allow him to fully pass on to the other realm. Yet try as he might he knew he couldn't dismiss her request and not answer, he had never been able to deny her a thing before. With a mental sigh he accepted that which she had asked, that they would be married. With this confession he was ready to pass on, hoping he had found favor with at least one of the gods.

"You want to be married," he spoke out loud, the audible confession the missing key to the passing of souls. Having pronounced his death sentence he waited for the Valkyries or another bearer of souls to collect him for the afterlife. Needless to say he was surprised when all he found was Astrid still holding him just as she had been moments before.

"I do," she answered, her voice soft. Fear, although she would never admit it to any one, Astrid Hofferson was not afraid of anything, especially a boy and his answer, gripped at her hear and threatened to turn her blood cold. "I was so frightened when I thought I would lose you that I know I can't go another day worrying about you if you aren't with me. I want to be with you Hiccup; I want to make your life as good as you have made mine, even if I don't deserve it."

"Astrid," he whispered before his voice gained strength. "I want to be with you too, I love you. I... you know I do. I've loved you for years. But I can't, you deserve better than I can give you, I'm nothing. I'm a one-legged blacksmith apprentice, not even a journeyman or master, I have no real future. You need a man who will be able to provide you with all you could ever want." The aura of failure was radiating from Hiccup as said this, hearing and feeling it broke Astrid's heart, but not as much as his next words. "Please, I beg of you, find someone else to love and let me disappear in peace. Everyone will be better off if I did."

"I deserve a man I know will fight for what is right and will protect me with his dying breath. A man I know will be a good father to our children and a leader the people can look up to for years to come. Is that the kind of man I deserve, Hiccup?" She demanded with a hint of anger tingeing her voice.

"Yes," he replied after a moment to swallow to the tears that threatened to fall even as he gently undid her arms from around his neck and held them between them, trying to get some distance from her and the pain he knew was coming when she left. "That is exactly the person you need to find. If and when you find him I will be happy to bless the marriage, if I'm still here."

"That's what I thought," she answered with a smirk before throwing her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips. Breaking apart she placed her head against his chest once again and sighed happily. "Then I have found him, the man I want to be the father of my children. You are the one I want to give them russet hair and green eyes to mix with my own. You, Hiccup. You are exactly the man I want. No other could take your place. You're the son of the Chief, the next in line. You saved the village from a 300 year war with the dragons and brought peace with our once enemies. You opened my eyes and saved my heart from a lifetime of sorrow. You Hiccup, you are the one I want, no other."

At this point Hiccup had finally come to the conclusion that this was all real and happening to him. The final sign had been the mind-blowing kiss that had threatened to turn his one remaining leg into mush. This girl before him... this beautiful, talented, fearsome girl, wanted to spend the rest of her life with him and raise their children. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Hiccup had a brief moment of joy when he actually entertained the thought of marriage. The strange thing is that the moment had lasted longer than a brief glimpse; it was still going strong in his heart and mind.

"We," his voice cracked for a second before he gained control again, his arms coming up to wrap around her waist. "We'll have to speak to my father and arrange something with your parents."

"I know," she said from the folds of his tunic, a smile gracing her face as she took in the scent that was his and his alone. "But we can do that in the morning. For right now, can we just take a flight on Toothless; I don't care where so long as I'm with you."

Fighting back the smile, yet unable to keep the joy from his voice, he answered her with a hug even as he spoke.

"Of course, anything you want. Let's go find where that useless reptile got off to, we can talk more tomorrow."

Releasing her he made his way to where his staff had been left, removing the packs from his back he placed them on the table. Staring at them a moment before turning to Astrid, Hiccup extended his arm to her. She gladly took it and helped him to walk to the door of the forge.

While they both knew there would be difficulties on the road ahead, the closest being those of the details of the wedding arrangements between parents, they knew they would be able to get through the troubles together. Yet even as one adventure ended another began in much the same way as the first; a pair of teenagers soaring through the night sky on the back of a Night Fury, arms wrapped around the other for more than just the prevention of falling off. This time it was for the preservation of love. After all, much as when he had fallen from his dragon the first time he had fallen much harder for the girl now clinging to his waist. He knew that this was one fall he never wanted to stop.

The End.