The village was fast alseep in that hot summer night. Gronkles' snorts could be heard from a long distance.
Astrid layed awake in her bed, the heat and thousands different thoughts forbiding her to sleep quietly.
She jerked up when she heard a faint movement outside her window. Removing the curtains she peeked out just in time to see a shadow running in the dark. She grabbed her axe and jumped out the window, careful not to wake her parents or her Nadder who was sleeping peacefully in the corner of the room.
She walked silently through the wooden houses til she came to the big statue representing the former chief.
The shadow she had seen before stumbled at the statue's feet and sat down.
With a pang in her chest she let her axe fall to the ground and walked over slowly.
As she approached she could make out the details more easily: a green shirt and brown leather pants. Hair sticking in every direction, blown by the gently breeze and a glint in the night that belonged to a fake leg.
"Hic" she whispered.
Her boyfriend winced and turned. He relaxed when he saw her "Oh, it's just you" he mumbled "You scared me"
He once again gave her his back and looked up at the fiery face of the deaced man.
Astrid sat beside him "Couldn't sleep?" she asked.
Hiccup nodded. She knew how hard he found to sleep after that winter. He usually slept two hours a night to be occupied for all day long with chief duties. He was always tired even if he tried to hide it, but she knew better.
He was haunted by nightmares he had told her once, nightmares about that day in the bay, when he had watched his father disappear in the waves of the sea.
"Sometimes I just think it's all just a dream" he said all of a sudden "And that he will come back from Thor knows which task"
She didn't know what to say so she just stretched her hand out and squeezed his cold and skinny one. He looked at her and despite the dark she could see the tears in his sulken green eyes.
"Oh Hiccup..." she chocked pulling him to her. He buried his face in her neck and broke down in a silent cry. She stroked his hair gently, trying to get him as close as humanly possible.
"I'm just so tired" he weeped. She shut her eyes and tried to not to cry as well. She had never seen him so broken. He always acted brave, as every proper chief should have.
She took his face in her hands and looked at him "Let go, babe. You're human. You're allowed to feel bad. I'm here for you"
He blinked and more tears escaped his eyes "I want to sleep but I can't. I just keep seeing him falling, Astrid"
Astrid brushed his hair out of his forehead, then pressed her lips to his. He tilted his head and responded to the kiss gently.
When they pulled away she kissed his cheek and said "You're sleeping with me tonight. And if the nightmares come, I'll be there to hold you. Okay?"
"Okay"
They made their way to her house and climbed back in her bedroom. Once in bed, Hiccup rested his head on Astrid's chest and she stroked his hair softly "Sleep" she murmured "I'm right here"
He nodded and snaked his arms around her body "Thank you. You don't know how much I love you"
She was taken aback by his last sentence but then she smiled and kissed his head "I love you too"