HiccupXAstrid - Combat Lessons
The salty-sea air filled the small village of Berk as vikings came to and fro doing their business. Some going to the barrack to polish their swordsmanship or to repair their fishing nets. However, most of them were having their daily ride on their dragons who were impatient to be off.
A blonde teenage girl was walking through the streets. She was wearing a sleeveless green and blue striped woolen shirt with spiked shoulder pads. Strapped behind her back was a battle-ax. She stopped in front of a big house; the chieftain house.
But Astrid wasn't interested in seeing the chief of the vikings. She was looking for someone else. His son exactly. She entered the house and went to the back. She knew that Hiccup's workshop was behind the house. As Astrid poked her head into the workshop, she saw drawings and diagrams of Odin-knows-what and Hiccup's unfinished projects. There were, however, no signs of Hiccup or Toothless, the Night Fury and Hiccup's best friend.
"Looking for Hiccup?" boomed a voice.
Astrid whirled around and stood face-to-face... well, face-to-stomach, with the viking chieftain; Stoick the Vast. Despite his gruff tone and awesome bearing, he was really kind.
Astrid, unsure on how to address her chieftain, nodded. Stoick, his eyes twinkling, said, "He is at Gobber's place polishing his smithing."
"Thanks", Astrid said before running off. Gobber the Belch was Hiccup's mentor in weapon making and Hiccup also have his own workshop behind the blacksmith for making harnesses for dragons. After a long jog, she reached the workshop and heard the banging of metal on metal. Opening the door was Hiccup shaping a broadsword.
Hiccup was shorter than Astrid by an inch and a metal false-leg was attached to his left leg after suffering injuries from battling the Green Death. At first, Hiccup was distressed that he couldn't ride Toothless anymore but the new harness that Gobber made for Toothless was suited for Hiccup's new leg. After a few weeks, Hiccup got used with his new leg and had less difficulty in walking around the village.
Hiccup finished shaping the sword and now attached the hilt to it. Along the progress, a giant, dark shape laid in the dark corner, napping. Toothless found it difficult in catching forty winks when his young friend keeps hitting that hammer over a blade. Noticing Astrid, it growled; to aware Hiccup that there was another presence.
"I see you're busy at work already", Astrid said as she entered the room.
"Hey Astrid", Hiccup turned around, a smile on his face. "Finished your morning training already?"
"Yup", Astrid confirmed. "So what masterpiece have you come out with?"
Hiccup grinned. "What do you think?"
The broadsword was narrow and long but razor sharp. The hilt was shaped like a dragon, the Monstrous Nightmare or the Bad Nadder Astrid wasn't sure. When she grabbed the sword and swung it, she nodded approvingly. It was light and it was comfortable to hold the hilt. It was a good weapon of destruction.
"Your weapon-making have been improving", she said, grinning, as she handed the sword back to Hiccup, who shrugged.
"After hanging with Gobber for the rest of your life, you'll get the hang of it."
Astrid giggled. "It's a perfect weapon for you."
"Oh no! I doubt I could handle it! Maybe I give it to Tuffnut or Snoutlout to try it."
"Then why did you made it for?" Astrid smile faded. "To give as a present?"
"Well", Hiccup. "Weapon-making is a kind of a habit of mine."
"Ridiculous! Isn't it time for you to learn how to fight?"
"But we're not fighting dragons anymore."
"Then what about pirates? Rival-vikings? Or Romans?"
"But they never bother us."
"What if they do?"
"But..."
"Don't start another sentence with but!" Astrid snapped.
"Sorry", Hiccup apologized. "The point is, I can't fight with this leg of mine so..."
"Stop making excuses, Hiccup!" Astrid exploded. "You can fly on Toothless for Thor's sake! If a battle does come, what role are you going to play?"
"Erm...", Hiccup said. "Strategist? Or engineer?" He added a bit too hopefully. "Besides, I've been inventing a new cannon that not only capture flying targets but also..."
Astrid, like most female vikings, lost her temper. "THAT'S IT!" Hiccup jumped at her voice. Even the listening Toothless was startled. "Hiccup! From today onwards, you're starting combat lessons! NOW!"
She roughly grabbed Hiccup by the collar and dragged him into the broad daylight. When they were going out, Astrid grabbed the newly made sword and a wooden shield in her left hand while her right was dragging Hiccup. Following behind them was Toothless, dragging his sleeping tail. Both humans and dragons on the streets stared as Astrid was dragging the chief's son as if he was a rag doll.
"Ouch", Hiccup said as he felt his buttocks rubbing against stones and sand. "Astrid, who is going to train me? Gobber is busy with repairing the ships so he is kinda busy at the moment! Dad have other matters to deal with..."
Astrid stopped and pulled his face until their eyes met. "There's no problem. I'll be training you!"
*
"Come on!" Astrid barked. "Lift that shield to your chest! Do you want a spear impaled to your chest or something? Get that fighting stance properly. An amateur could swing a heavy axe at your head before you could say 'Thor's hammer'! Put more energy into swinging that sword!"
Astrid had dragged Hiccup to where she had discovered Hiccup's and Toothless' forbidden friendship. She now turned it from a sanctuary to a private training ground. As Astrid barked out orders, Hiccup followed her instructions, grunting and panting. Luckily for him that the sword he had made was meant for fast fighters.
When Astrid made her announcement of tutoring him in combat, he had two feelings; happiness and wariness. The former was the girl he loved will be his private teacher. The latter was Astrid was a strict and stern teacher. Strong too when she slammed that axe of hers onto his shield. At least he could hold on for one minute.
Toothless was lying on top of a rock, watching Hiccup and Astrid exchanging blows at each other with one eye. He snorted. If those two young vikings were his enemies, he could easily tear them limb from limb. Astrid could prove to be a strong adversary, there no doubt, but he still can beat her. As for Hiccup...
After a few minutes, the fight was heating up and Astrid had to double her actions. Even her strongest attacks were blocked by Hiccup's shield. Then, Hiccup stopped attacking and lifted his shied high until only the head is showing and softly tapped his sword at the side of his shield. He slowly marched forward towards Astrid.
Astrid frowned. There was something familiar with Hiccup's movements. Shrugging, she brought her axe onto him, only to fall to the ground as Hiccup moved aside at the last moment and made a jest stab to her back. Astrid rolled away from his sword and onto her feet. She charged again and her axe met resistance, only to jumped back quickly when Hiccup made another stab at her stomach. Her eyes widen in surprise. How in Odin's helmet did Hiccup's swordsmanship improved?
Toothless shook his head in admiration for his friend. During one of their flying trips, they spotted a Roman Galley sailing towards one of their own ports. On board, some of the new legionaries were practicing field combat and fighting techniques. Toothless and Hiccup were above the clouds so they could observe their training without being detected. Look as if Hiccup had memorized their formations and was now using it against Astrid. Even though Hiccup was doing well with the Romans' way of fighting, there were some flaws...
Astrid, who by now was suspicious what formation Hiccup was using, growled and charged for the third time. But instead of using her axe, she used her right foot as a bartering ram and kicked Hiccup's shield. Because Hiccup was using his metal leg as support, he stumbled and fell hard onto the ground. He groaned as he tried to get up but was stopped by Astrid who planted her foot onto his chest.
"All right, Hiccup", Astrid panted, sweating heavily. "That was impressive but where in Valhalla did you learn how to fight like a Roman?"
Hiccup became uncomfortable. "It's a long story... Ouch!" he cried when Astrid's foot dug deeper into his chest.
"I've got time!"
Hiccup had no choice but to tell Astrid about his and Toothless' observation on the Roman Galley and their training exercises. When he finished, Astrid increased her strength on her foot, causing him to gasped. "You idiot! What if they spotted you? You and Toothless could have gotten yourself shot by arrows!"
"A- Astrid", Hiccup choked. "C- calm - d -down..." Astrid released her foot from Hiccup's chest and lifting him up to his feet. "Toothless was good enough to hide in the clouds..."
Astrid turned an angry glance to Toothless, who shook his shoulder as if to say, "Don't get me involve with this. Go solve your own problems."
"And besides", Hiccup continued. "Romans used only javelins to throw. There were no archers in a Roman Legion."
Astrid raised her eye-brow in suspicious. "And how did you know they were no archers in a Roman Legion?"
Hiccup calmly answered, "I read about it in Gobber's Art of War."
Astrid nodded, satisfied. Then without warning, punched Hiccup on the arm; causing him to stumble and to rub his arm. "That's for being reckless!" she said.
Then she pulled him closer to her and kissed him on the mouth. She released him and said, "That's for your hard work today."
Toothless rolled his eyes. Can't she try something different than the same old antics?
Astrid picked up her axe while Hiccup collected his sword and shield. Astrid grinned at him. "Great job in surprising me! Okay, tomorrow you can have a day off."
"What?" Hiccup said. "I don't mind doing another class tomorrow."
"Not you, I need a break. See you tomorrow anyway."
"See you!"
Astrid waved farewell and sprinted back to the village. Toothless walked until he was at Hiccup's side, giving his friend an accusing look. Hiccup didn't read Gobber's Art of War. It was mainly about screaming at the top of your lungs and charging while waving an axe.
Hiccup gave Toothless a rueful grin. "I wonder if I should have told Astrid that I had History lessons from Camicazi when I was younger."
