Astrid slowly got up as she realised it was starting to get dark. Stormfly was right behind her and gave nudge motioning to go home. Astrid took one last look at the tree and then climbed on her dragon's back.
"Come on Stormfly, lets go." The deadly Nadder and her rider took off ever so elegantly and head home.
But unbeknownst to them a certain auburn haired viking had been there watching them the whole time.
Hiccup -
Hiccup was just having a walk in the woods when he heard a voice coming from deeper in. It was a very familiar voice and one he had come to love. He knew it belonged to astrid so he followed back to where it was coming from.
He spotted her standing with Stormfly from afar was smart enough to know not to come any closer. He hid behind a large pine tree where he could see what she was doing but was still hidden himself. Everyone knew it was a bad idea to creep up on Astrid when she training.
But he was confused as to why she wasn't destroying trees with her axe like she would any other time and why she was so intrigued by that oak tree.
From where he was hiding he couldn't see anything but a plain old tree with nothing special. He kept a close eye on that tree and as soon as Astrid moved just slightest, he got a glimpse of some kind of carving with writing on the insides.
The only problem was he couldn't read anything. He was too far away.
He waited for what seemed like hours (but probably wasn't)
He actually thought about going up to Astrid and talking to her because he was so impatient to see what was on it. But she was holding an axe so he thought better of it and just waited.
He waited again for what seemed like forever but was thankful that Astrid hadn't noticed him. Finally she snapped out of her thoughts and head home with Stormfly.
Hiccup waited a few minutes just to make sure she wasn't still around, then quickly walked over to see what was on the oak tree.
He saw squiggly shape when he was far away but once he finally had a good look at it, he didn't expect it to be a heart. And what shocked him even more was the words engraved neatly inside.
He slowly gazed across each word, taking in what it meant one bit at a time.
"I'm sorry Hiccup, for everything."
He was absolutely stunned to see his name on it and had no idea what she was apologising for. If anything he should be the one saying sorry after all the work he made them do back at the edge recently. He continued reading the next part.
"I wish I could change it all but I can't"
Change what? He was fairly certain that this carving was quite old but he couldn't place exactly when she would have engraved these words. If she wanted to change something back at the edge or was unhappy with his plans, she would have told him, right?
"You might never wake up and it's all my fault"
Ok, now he was really confused. What in Thor's name is she blaming herself for. He has been unconscious soo many times because of his crazy ideas he's lost count. He's been in a lot of near death experiences too. What makes this one so important?
Then it finally hit him.
The battle with the Red Death. Of course! Why didn't he realise. That is the one thing she still blames herself for. Obviously Hiccup doesn't blame her but for some reason she can't get over what happened.
He wishes she could just learn to forgive herself but Astrid is one stubborn viking.
He let those words sink in, then moved on to the next line.
"I finally realise I love you but it might be too late"
He had to read that line twice just to make sure he got that right.
"I finally realise I love you but it might be too late"
Yup, he definitely read it right. His heart melted right there as he read those words… He couldn't believe it. The most amazing girl on Berk loved him back. His day just couldn't get any better.
He finally moved on the the last bit.
"I promise that if you wake up, I will never let anything happen to you, ever. I love you Hiccup…."
He felt like he was going to faint because of the impact those words had on him.
He had never thought that Astrid could be so caring. But she has been for the past 4 years so why does it surprise him?
After calming down a bit, Hiccup figured that he needed to talk to her. Be honest that he had read her message. Tell her that he loves her too.
But for some reason he couldn't find the courage to actually tell her all this.
Instead, he had a brilliant idea.
He took out the knife he had under his belt. The knife he never used for anything but pencil sharpening.
He grasped the leather handle tightly and began to engrave his own message, right under the one Astrid did.
"It's not your fault Astrid, it was never your fault. Stop blaming yourself. Also... I love you too and I promise I'll never let anything happen to you either, milady. - Hiccup
aaaannd finished, this the second part to my first fanifc ever... please review, i really want to improve. thanks for reading!