Hello! Apologies if this chapter isn't great but I had to re-write half of it twice. My desktop wasn't saving properly but now it's all worked out.
Reviews
Hawkmaid: Thank you so much! My chapter lengths are only like this because no one like short chapters and people get bored from reading long chapters.
Calvin: Nuffink isn't a very important character in this story, because in my brain he doesn't fit with this concept. He will make very small cameos here in there though.
Mariah: It's a secret until the 6th chapter or so. *grins* Her parents help her throughout the 'healing process', but mostly Hiccup and Valka actually. Nuffink isn't that important so he will only make small cameos here in there.
Guest: Thank you!
Mariah (again): Thanks! Zephyr will make a good chieftess won't she? SPOILERS! She won't.
On with the chapter!
Haddock Household
"No. No. NO WAY." Hiccup stated stubbornly shaking his head also as a no.
"Dad it's just a picnic!" Zephyr exclaimed impatiently. After Hrithik asked her out, she told her friends who were all super happy for her. Except for Mirabelle. She just seemed jealous but tried to not so subtle-y hide it. She then went to tell her parents. Her mum was happy for her but of course, told her to be careful and not do anything crazy. Now here she was with her father. She and Hiccup were very close and Hiccup was the overprotective type. So naturally, he said no. Honestly. Zeph had been expecting that.
"No way am I letting you go on a date with that guy!" Hiccup said spluttering
"It's just a picnic Dad!" She exclaimed for what seemed to be the 20th time
"It always starts as a picnic! Next thing you know you're holding hands all the time, making out in random places, going out alone together all the time and then, you're married." To this statement Hiccup threw up his hands in frustration
Zephyr crossed her arms on her chest and gave Hiccup the look she inherited from her mother. You know. THAT look when Hiccup did something idiotic and nearly died. And Snotlout said Zeph was like Hiccup...
"Dad, you and mom did all the stuff you said when you guys were my age!" She pointed out stubbornly. Damn these Haddocks could put up a good arguement.
"This is different!"
"HOW?!"
"You're my daughter!" At this point Hiccup is exasperated and Zeph furious.
"How exactly does that have anything to do with this?!"
Hiccup made a sound that sounded like a mixture of a groan and sigh. But suddenly, his emerald eyes sparkled, indicating he had an idea. He smirked to himself.
"Alright. Fine. You can go." Hiccup said interrupting a rambling Zephyr
Zeph stopped and gawked at her father. Sure she wanted to go, but this was rather unexpected from him. Before he could change his mind however, she darted up the stairs to her bedroom to get ready.
Hiccup sighed. He didn't want to do this to Zephyr, but he had to break up the date between her and Hrithik. If she knew what he had done in the past she wouldn't go out with him either.
He went to go ask the Ingerman triplets for a bear call and costume.
At the edge of the forest with Zephyr
Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. Breath-
"Hey Zephyr." a masculine voice said interrupting her breathing
Zephyr turned around to glare at the idiot who had disturbed her breathing. When she saw the idiot, err, handsome man who interrupted her she gave him a sheepish grin.
"Wow. You look stunning Zeffy!" Hrithik exclaimed. He wasn't wrong though. Zephyr had put a lot of effort in her outfit. She had changed from her plain tunic and leggings plus vest. She was now wearing a light blue sleeveless tunic with a dark blue tunic and blue leggings. Her longish hair which had previously been in a high ponytail, had been done in a side braid and she was wearing a silver pendant from her grandmother. To finish off the look she was wearing a leather black belt around her waist. (Where else?)
Hrithik was actually speechless. Viking women were generally not that pretty and Zeph was just drop dead gorgeous.
"T-t-thank you." She stammered out
"Shall we go?" asked Hrithik giving her his signature dimpled grin and offering his hand in a gentlemanly manner.
Zephyr then gave him a very un-Zephyr like giggle much to the amusement of her brother who had been watching the entire scenario from behind a yak cart with his friends, Farren, Eret's rather clumsy son and Delphi, Tuff's adorable younger daughter
"We shall." Zephyr said before taking the offered hand and the pair disappeared into the woods together.
At the picnic with Zeph and Hrithik
"Oh wow! It's like from a storybook!" Zephyr exclaimed. In the clearing of the woods. There was a picnic blanket spread with a large assortment of food already there. The candles were a nice touch too.
"A storybook?" Hrithik asked confused. His confused smile turned into a mocking grin. "You mean the ones in the archive in the Great Hall?"
"Yeah! I really like reading." Zephyr admitted sheepishly
Hrithik let out a rude laugh
"Reading? Oh that's so lame. And I thought you were cool." Hrithik said not giving a shit about Zeph's hurt expression
He continued laughing while Zephyr looked away clearly embarrased. What was his problem if she liked to read? Maybe Dad was right. Maybe Hrithik wasn't the good guy she had always thought he was.
He eventually stopped laughing, finally aware of Zephyr's hurt presence
"Let's eat." He said. Zephyr stared at him in shock. He had been laughing at her for the past 5 minutes and now he was acting like nothing had happened! Of course Hrithik didn't notice her glare.
The duo started to eat. after the meal, Hrithik moved forward to kiss her. Wait. This was going too fast. Zeph was actually starting to doubt if she even liked him and he was trying to smooch her. Was that all that mattered to Hrithik? Did he just see women as possesions? Something to be owned but not shown love for.
Before he could smooch her, a bear call was heard loud and clear nearby. Hrithik's face turned to that of fear. Zephyr wasn't scared however. She was suspicious. Bears generally lived in the eastern side of the island where the caves were. What was one doing in the northern part here in the woods?
This thought didn't occur to Hrithik. The 'bear' roared once more and he took off leaving a still suspicious Zephyr behind. Zephyr was just mad at Hrithik now. First, he teased her about HER likes and then tried to kiss her after teasing her and now he had left when he was scared. What a coward, she muttered before peering in the bushes to discover the 'bear'.
"Dad is that you?" The bushes rustled slightly confirming her thoughts. She sighed sadly and crossed her arms. Rubbing the back of his head awkwardly, Hiccup emerged from the bushes. He was heart broken to see tears forming in his little girl's eyes.
"I am so sorry-" Hiccup started before being stopped by Zephyr.
"I-I-It's not because o-of you Dad." Zeph said. Frantically rubbing away at her eyes. "I'm just mad at myself for not realizing that Hrithik was a huge jerk in the first place." She said before finally letting tears take over.
"Oh sweetie..." Hiccup reached out to give his daughter a hug but she turned away and started to run.
Run. As fast as she could. The tears were making it impossible to see anything in front of her yet she still ran. Her tunic was crumpled and her leggings muddy. Her hair started to come undone from her braid but she didn't care.
She stopped running when she reached her destination. The place she came to relax. She took a few calming breaths and stared at the sky. everything would be alright.
Little did she know here life would turn upside down very soon...
I was literally so pissed at Hrithik and then remembered he wasn't real and calmed down. I hate it, HATE IT, when people say they don't like reading or reading is dumb or lame, because I assure you it is not. Reading is a huge part of me and unlike Zephyr I would (and have!) started screaming at people if they say they don't like reading.
Moving along...
Thank you for reading this chapter! Please leave a review on your opinions of this story and the next chapter will be updated by this weekend.
Until next time though, bye!
PS if you all want to know what Hrithik did that made Hiccup not trust him, you will find out in chapter 7.
