He didn't go for Astrid that evening. As the council drifted off, all seeming to feign deafness except Valka who snuck off without being noticed, Gleb pulled Hiccup aside.

"Boy- er" Gleb Hofferson seemingly thought better of his address, "Hiccup, listen.. I understand you are trying to take all of this in, and it has come as quite a shock… I would appreciate it if you would leave my daughter me from now"

"What?" Hiccup breathed, "B-but sir-"

"I am adamant, Hiccup" Gleb said sternly "It is for the best I believe. I think it best she hear the news from me. And I would kindly ask you to refrain from speaking to my daughter".

"This isn't fair" Hiccup whispered, tears pricking his eyes, "Sir this isn't fair! I've done nothing but love your daughter-"

"So you would understand why I want her protected" Gleb's voice was kind. Rational, stern, but kind. Hiccup looked at Gleb in distressed shock. He couldn't move or speak from sheer dismay. Gleb sighed and dropped a hand onto Hiccup's shoulder, giving it a strong squeeze, before turning to walk away. After a few paces he halted and called softly over his shoulder, "I- er – want you to know son.. that… I was on your side. I was looking forward to making you my son-in-law… Please forgive me. I truly was on your side"

Hiccup lie awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Toothless cooed beside him on the floor. He knew his rider was upset, but he wasn't sure why. He wasn't sick, he smelt fine and other than looking sad, he didn't seem like he was hurt. Confused and worried, Toothless nudged Hiccup's hand, which had been dangling limply off the mattress. His rider's head lolled to the side to look at him. He forced a weak smile.

"Hey bud" he whispered, rubbing his nose "It's ok". Toothless gave him a concerned look and lowered his head to the floor with a depressed sigh. Hiccup sighed also, returning his gaze to the ceiling.

What am I going to do? Astrid…

Click.

Click. Click. CLICK.

"What the-" Hiccup sat up. Immediately his question was answered when Toothless glanced at the window with concern. Hiccup followed his gaze, squinting in the moonlight. He was just in time to see a pebble shoot through the open window, falling onto the floor with a tiny click. He slowly got out of bed and, with his metal leg moaning, shuffled over to the window. If he'd been aiming to get there just in time for a pebble to hit him in the eye, then he timed it perfectly.

"Ouch! What the-? Astrid! What are you doing?"

"I'm writing a song – what does it look like I'm doing!?" Astrid hissed lowly, to avoid waking up any sleeping villagers "I'm trying to get your attention! Now get down here, or let me in! It's freezing out here!"

"I-" Hiccup swallowed, thinking of Gleb Hofferson "I can't Astrid"

"Why not?" she hissed "Oh forget it! I'll let myself in!"

"No no!" Hiccup groaned. Sorry Gleb, he thought. "I'll come let you in. Just – wait a moment!"

Cursing the gods for giving him all the bad luck in Berk, Hiccup snuck downstairs, clunking his metal foot once of twice on the stairs. He'd frozen, for fear of waking up his mother. He didn't want to see her. She'd closed herself into is father's room and hadn't spoken to him since he arrived home depressed and raging. He'd overturned a table on the way to the stirs (which remained that way it seemed) and smashed a plate that had – accidentally on purpose – been thrown at a wall.

The front door opened with a low creak. Astrid pushed through, shivering and rubbing her arms for warmth. She immediately rushed to the dying fireplace and held her hands out towards it. She smiled at him over her shoulder.

"You" she grinned "Should be flattered I'm here Hiccup. I will be in a lot of trouble when I go home"

"W-what?" Hiccup stammered nervously "Why?"

"No idea" She shrugged, unconcerned "Da was doing his very best to keep me in the house tonight. Something about being concerned for my wellbeing, afraid I'll get hurt blah blah blah – Oh my god, aren't you freezing? It's like an ice cave in here!"

There was a warble and a loud series of clumsy thumps which alerted the two to Toothless' entrance. He wiggled his hind happily at the sight of Astrid and padded loudly over to her. She laughed and scratched his chin. He dropped loudly to the floor, letting her rub his belly. Hiccup shushed the two loudly, running to his father's room and peering in, making sure Valka was asleep. To his surprise – she wasn't even there.

She must have left. Good.

"Hiccup what is with you?" Astrid chuckled, grabbing his shoulders from behind and lightly massaging them, "You're so tense babe. I take it the meeting was Thor-awful"

"Wait" Hiccup spun on the spot, grabbing her frantically by the shoulders and shaking her a little "Why are you here?"

"To see you!" She told him "Seriously! What's the matter?"

"You-" Hiccup stammered, stepping back from her, "You d-don't know? Your dad was going to tell you-"

"Tell me what?" she laughed incredulously, her eyes starting to fill with panic, "Hiccup please – tell me"

"Oh this is bad" he dropped to the arm chair in defeat, head in his hands "This is very bad. So bad. God awful bad-"

"HICCUP!" His head shot up to look at her, his eyes pricked with tears "I mean it! Tell me! Now"

"I don't know how to" he whispered, taking her hands "I just don't know how"

Astrid's face softened when she saw tears rolling down his cheeks. He didn't even seem aware of them, which frightened her. Dropping to her knees in front of him, she gave his hands a squeeze.

"Babe" she whispered, "You can tell me anything. You know that"

"How?" he sighed "How can I?"

"Well," she smiled encouragingly, "I always found that speaking helps"

"I'm serious Astrid"

"So am I"

There was a minute of awkward silence. At least Astrid felt it was awkward. However, she felt it was only right to be patient and wait. After a few more moments, Hiccup took her face, and brought her lips to meet his, kissing her softly, slowly. She accepted it, pulling him closer by the shirt. Her fingers suck up into his hair, playing with the braids she's twisted not too long ago. She groaned in passion, reaching her other hand under his shirt and up his back. He shivered and broke away, forehead leaning against hers. His tears had wet her face. She waited.

"I'm getting married" he cried softly, holding her close "To Joan the Fair"

Astrid froze, the information not sinking for a moment. She let him go, frozen to the spot.

"W-what?" she stammered "What did you just say?"

"I'm getting married Astrid" he whispered again, more tears rolling down his face "The council have made treaty arrangements to merge the two clans in marriage. It- It's marriage …or war".

There was silence. Astrid stood up abruptly, walking few paces away from him. Toothless warbled, rushing over to her.

"Go upstairs Toothless" Astrid told him, pointing upstairs "Please" Confused but obliging, he did so. But not without a glance back at the pair before he disappeared out of sight.

Astrid's back was to Hiccup. She held herself, staring at the door, unmoving and silent. Hiccup called her name.

"Astrid"

"When" she whispered. Hiccup blinked.

"When what?-"

"When does it happen?"

Hiccup stood up slowly, watching her like he would watch a feral dragon, unsure of what to expect.

"In a fortnight I'm to sail to Skulldale" he answered quietly, "I'm so sorry Astrid"

Astrid stroke over to the door quietly, peering over her shoulder once to whisper "Congratulations" before slipping out the door and closing it with a click behind her.

Astrid's right Hiccup thought. It is cold in here.