Chapter two: Support and the dream

Later that day.

The people of Berk were gathered in the great hall to discuss about the fire weather. Hiccup was standing at the door, he peeked in and he could see worried people, he tried to listen. He could hear them talk about both the weather... and his marriage? Whaa...? Hiccup went in, the talking stopped and everybody looked at him. Hiccup ignored them and sat down in the chief's chair. When he sat down he cleared his throat, "So, as you may know, the fire weather will be tough. This is not normal for it to come in the spring. According to Gothi the weather will last for over a month, maybe even two, and that would be the longest fire weather in Berk's history."

The people started talk again. They seemed even more worried. But Hiccup got their attention again, "But we can handle this. We just need a group of people who can be ready at any time for a house- or wildfire, and we need some extra people at the hospital house."

When the discussion was done Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Eret and two other vikings were the voluntaries to join the group of firefighters. Hiccup was going to meet them at the stables later, but now when the great hall was empty, only Hiccup left he sank down in his chair to return to his mixed coming-to-life-nightmare's feelings with sadness and anger. The tears fell and his heart was beating weak, he leaned down to hide his face in his arms on the table. But then he got surprised by a book slammed down on the table in front of his arms, he lifted his head with a wince. He looked at the book, it was a normal sized book with a mark on it and some runes. He turned to see where the book came from, he saw Gobber, but this time he didn't have his usual smile, he looked sad.

"You know lad, it wasn't easy for ye father either. He sat like this very often when he had trouble, that's when I gave him this book and told him this: Trust me when I say, you're not alone."

Hiccup turned to the book again, he read the runes. It was written The Love Dare. "What do you mean with this Gobber?"

"I mean, lad, marriage are hard. Especially for chiefs, but when he's new... it's even harder." he placed his hand on the book, "Hiccup, this book has saved many marriages. So let me ask what I ask ye father: Is there anything in you that wants to save your marriage?"

"I just want it to be like it was before, we were happy and calm, it was like it was before we got married -I just want peace. But I can't 'cause she wants a divorce."

Hiccup's anger rose a bit when he thought about the fight.

Gobber sighed, "I just want ye to know, that you made a promise to the gods to never ever leave ye partner behind." Gobber was about to walk away when he stopped and turned to Hiccup again, "-Especially in a fire."

Hiccup stared at Gobber.

"Think about it, and if you really want Astrid as your wife" he gestured to the book, "ye might wanna try it." and by that he left the great hall.

Hiccup didn't know what to think, he turned to the book and focused on the mark, it was the mark of Freya, the goddess of marriage and fire. He opened it and read the first page, "The Love Dare, 40-Days Love Journey." "This 40-day long journey can not be taken lightly. It is a challenging and often difficult process but an incredibly fulfilling one. If you will commit to a day at a time for 40 days the results could change your life and your marriage. Consider it a dare from others who have done it before you."

Hiccup didn't know what to think, should he do it or not? He knew it would be hard, especially when Astrid said she wanted divorce. But he wanted to save his marriage to his Valkyrie. He actually regret everything he said, but the angry part of him didn't regret it. Suddenly the anger won, he just left without the book. But then at the door he turned to the book again, seems like everything is hard with that book, it's even hard to ignore it! But Hiccup left the great hall, he needed to think about it.

Astrid was standing on the docks, she had contacted an old friend. The boat was coming to the docks and she was ready to greet them. When the boat reached the docks a rope was thrown to Astrid and she grabbed it and tied it to a pole. A young raven haired lady got up from the boat, she went to Astrid, "Almost one year ago, right Astrid? Good thing we still kept contact." Astrid gave her a hug, "Welcome back to Berk, Heather."

"So, why was I needed? You said it was urgent so I came as fast as I could."

"Yea, but we can't talk here, we need to go somewhere. Maybe at my place."

They went to the Haddock's house, Astrid checked if Hiccup was there, but as the chief he was of course not there. Astrid let Heather in and told her to sit down in the little sofa of fur they have close to the fireplace. Astrid checked if Hiccup or anyone else saw them and then sat down next to Heather.

"Heather, what I'm gonna tell you is really personal so I don't want you to tell anyone else, ok?"

"Of course, you know that I still owe you one."

"Ok, here we go." Astrid took a deep breath, "I think I've made a big mistake with my marriage."

Heather got shocked, "What happened?"

"Yesterday we had a fight."

"Really!? About what?" she could see a tear coming from Astrid's eye.

"He never have time to help me with the house, and when he does he flies away with his friends. It feels like he doesn't care about me anymore."

Heather looked sad, she placed a hand on Astrid's shoulder, "Astrid, I'm so sorry. I wished there was something I could do."

"It's okay, I just... try to get through it. I don't think being a wife is the thing for me, at least not for a chief."

"But I thought you loved Hiccup, you looked so lovely when you got married."

"Yea, it was so romantic, we really loved each other."

The girls didn't hear the squeaky noise of a prosthetic upstairs, it was Hiccup who needed his little knife, he reached for it on the table but stopped when he heard the conversation downstairs.

"I mean, if I could go back to my wedding day I would tell myself to not do it."

Hiccup felt his heart stop beat for a moment.

"Wha- I thought you were doing great. Why is this all happening?"

Astrid sighed, "I don't know, it just feels like I don't know him anymore. And I keep thinking if I'm a good wife or not."

"You are. It's just maybe hard to get used to it, or maybe you guys weren't ready to get married yet. I mean, you're only 22!"

"Yeah, but for some reason I feel like it was even a big mistake to even get to know him."

That was when Hiccup lost all hope, he just wanted to scream but couldn't 'cause that would be heard by many. He sneaked out through the window and he met Eret who looked really worried.

"I just can't do this, Eret."

"I've been there, it's a hard place to be."

"What?!"

Meanwhile inside the house.

"Astrid, I'm so sorry. But... do you still love him?"

"One part of me hates him so much I want to leave him immediately... the other part..."

"Yes?"

"Loves him unconditionally."

Heather pats Astrid on the back, "I'm glad you still have some love for him."

Later that night, Hiccup was sleeping with Toothless since he's not Astrid's favorite right now. He was dreaming about something. Something bad.

He dreamed he was walking around in the village, it was empty and quiet. He looked up in the sky and saw red clouds and smoke, he heard a voice calling for him. It was almost screaming for him, he heard fear in it. Then he recognized it, it was Astrid. He ran towards the voice, he came to the stables. He saw Astrid standing in the middle of the big cave, she looked scared.

"I'm coming Astrid! Hold on!"

He ran as fast as he could, when he arrived to his wife she had turned her back to him. He placed his hand on her shoulder, "Astrid?"

She turned around looking confused, "What are you doing here?"

Hiccup got really confused, "I heard you calling for me."

"I didn't. Leave me alone." she was about to walk away but Hiccup stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Astrid, wait! What is going on?"

"Let me go! Who do you think you are?" she turned to him.

"I'm your husband, Hiccup."

"M-my what?! I'm not married!"

"Yes you are, see?" he raised his hand where his ring was, but when he looked at his hand... the ring was gone. Now he got scared.

"I don't see anything. You know, just 'cause we're friends doesn't mean we are married."

"What do you mean just friends? We have loved each other since we were fifteen. You told me you even loved me before I met Toothless!"

"What are you talking about?"

They stared at each other, Hiccup with tears in his eyes and Astrid just looking confused. Then slowly Astrid walked away, towards a light. Hiccup fell down on his knees and let the tears fall, why is this happening, why doesn't she remember me?

Hiccup felt some kind of warm light shining on him, he looked up and noticed he wasn't at Berk anymore. It was white everywhere, he sat up straight and looked around. Then in the corner of his eyes he saw a shadow, it came from the direction Astrid disappeared in.

He got on his feet, "Astrid!"

But when he saw the shadow grow he noticed it was much bigger than Astrid, he even noticed this shadow had a helmet with long horns and was quite wide. Wait a minute! Long horns, quite wide... and looking closer he had big auburn colored beard and a big fur cloak. "Dad?"

Stoick was the right person, he came towards his son with a serious look.

"Dad? Is it really you? Why are you so serious?"

And for the first time he can hear his father's calm voice in a nightmare, usually he just hear screams.

"Son, we need to talk."

"Tell me about it, my life hasn't been the same lately."

"Exactly, you know it wasn't easy for me either. It went the same direction, until the Love Dare happened."

"Dad, I- I can't do it. Astrid wants a divorce! I even heard her regretting she even got to know me! And every time I step into my own house I feel like I'm on enemy grounds. I just... -And mom's trying to help us but it seems like she's always taking Astrid's side! It's like mom's trying to fix me even if there's nothing wrong with me! I can't..." Hiccup sighed. Stoick walked closer to him, he looked into his eyes.

"Hiccup, your mother just tries to do her best to be the mother she never had the chance to be. And just so you know, if you're looking for a perfect mother I'm afraid there's no one out there. But let me just say that Gobber is right about the Love Dare. It have saved a lot of marriages, and even if it's tough it still makes a pretty good result."

"But dad, this is different, this time it's a hiccup who has to go through it."

"Yes, a hiccup. A hiccup who saved Berk many times and a hiccup who made peace with the dragons. And one of many hiccups who made things people thought were impossible. You remember Hamish the second, he made you understand it all."

"But dad, I can't... That was when I..."

Stoick shook his head, "Please, son, do it for me, for Berk... and for Astrid."

Hiccup felt hope, he sighed, "Forty days?"

"Yes, forty days. Take it one day at a time and see what happens." Stoick nodded.

Hiccup felt a tear coming from his eye, then he felt a big hand on his shoulder. He looked into his father's eyes, "Thanks dad. I miss you."

"I miss you too, son. But you know I will always be with you. Always.

They pulled in for a tight hug, Hiccup felt more tears. Then... dragon skin?

He opened his eyes and saw Toothless staring at him, he looked worried.

"Bud? Wha- what happened?"

Toothless replied with a worried growl, and Hiccup realized he had woken Toothless up. It was a nightmare and a sort of message-dream from his father.

"I'm okay bud, I just..." Hiccup stopped when he saw Astrid, she was sleeping in the bed and with the moonlight shining on her she looked like a sleeping angel. Then he felt Toothless give him a nudge, he turned to his friend and saw Toothless trying to get something behind him.

"What do you have there, bud?" Hiccup whispered, then he dropped his chin when he saw what Toothless had in his mouth. It was The Love Dare.

"Bud, how did you... -never mind, thanks bud."

Hiccup opened the book, he read the first page.

"Day 1: Love is patient. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2. TODAY'S DARE: The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret."

"That's right bud, it's better to not say anything instead of something you'll regret. Trust me, I know."

Hiccup looked through the window, the sky started to turn a bit red. The sun was coming, along with a new day, and the first day of the Love Dare. Hiccup took a deep breath, "Alright. I'm gonna do this. For Astrid."

Sorry it's a bit late, and if there's anything wrong with it I'm really sorry. And just so you know... I had a lot of feels while writing this.

Have a lovely day! =)