You may notice that this story will not progress quite as quickly as Becoming did … after all, Winter is a long and plodding season. Action will not be forthcoming for a little while.

Berkian Eddur - 2

Winter in Líf's Holt

Chapter 2 - Sicknesses

Three-quarters of the sicknesses of intelligent people come from their intelligence.

― Marcel Proust

"There you go, isn't that better?"

The tiny nadder, barely taller than Astrid herself, was lying on his belly, looking up at the girl with a whine and pleading eyes. Another warm cloth, steeped in herbs and fragrances from the steaming bowl, came down on the little things' head, resting just in front of the spike crest and down his snout. He thrilled in thanks, tired eyes falling closed.

Gustav was looking at Baldr with a desolated face, rubbing his poor dragon's body and probably feeling utterly helpless. Astrid drew him into a hug and kissed his head, making the younger boy squirm uncomfortably; he didn't shrug her off, however. After a few moments, the young boy relaxed into her, fiddling with his own helmet in his hands.

"Will he be ok?" he asked in a thin voice. Gustav had been a bit of a bully in the past few years, his hero-worship for Snotlout having taken him down a sorry behavioural path. However, he was a slight boy, thin and gangly much like Hiccup had been at his age, swimming in his fur and tunic reaching his knees. Hiccup himself had beaten the bad attitude out of him with hard work and discipline, and it left the thirteen-year-old boy with a much sweeter disposition. Astrid gave his head a pat, letting the child be upset as it was the best sign. Little Baldr had become his constant companion, and Gustav's attachment to the dragon (as well as, Astrid secretly thought, his new hero-worship for the right man) was helping him grow into a better man than he would have.

The poor nadder, still so young, had caught the sneezes, which nadders sometimes suffered from this time of year according to Hiccup. Giving their scales a good rub with fish-oil and putting hot compresses with herbs on their snouts were the only remedies he'd used till now that had any success, though he'd been communicating with the Goethi (somehow) about what proper herbs to use.

Astrid rubbed Gustav's arm as the boy kept petting his nadder, who crooned up at him and shifted his spiney head into his tiny lap, taking all the space up. It was so sad to see, when one or the other of the dragons had begun ailing from the sickness, sometimes even the nightmares were affected (to much more disastrous consequences). But Astrid couldn't help thinking of Hiccup, out there on his own, stopping with whatever task he was doing to go help sick, wild dragons.

It made her feel warm, to think of it, and lucky that she had been engaged to a man with such kindness. He'd admitted himself that his life outside of Berk had been hard, that he had had to be on the ball all the time in order to survive, let alone live well. And yet here he was, knowing these cures because he had taken time out of precious preparations and training and travels to be as caring as Astrid knew him to be. That thought led to others; ones that sometimes made her to look at him and speculate, and wonder how he would be as a father.

As if on cue, the very man came around the barrier they had erected in front of the enclosure where Baldr was being kept (an idea she couldn't believe Hiccup hadn't thought of) to take all the escapee spine shots. Dartbolt was next to him looking anxious, her three terrors clinging to various parts of her body, while her younger sister Dartfoot was in Hiccup's arms, busy worrying her finger and a head tucked under his chin, with the ever present night fury peeking in behind them. She almost huffed at herself, but it gave her chest a jolt every time she saw him with a child in his arms - which seemed suddenly to be way too often, as between the new status of Hero of Berk, and Toothless' propensity to be found out playing with the children, he had become the little-ones' idol overnight.

"How's he?" Hiccup asked gently, bending on a knee and putting Dartfoot down next to her sister, who instantly took her hand. "Baldr's still young; he needs more care than the others when he gets the sniffles." He was all business right away, passing a hand on the dragon's scales, who did not mind him one bit, and checking the horns and wings. "Hmm, you're doing a good job with the fish oil, Gustav, keep it up. But you're going to have to stay here the night; you have to keep at it, otherwise he'll be worse in the morning. Do you think you can do that, or shall I take him over for you?"

Gustav bit his lip and looked at them, having straightened out of his embrace with her after seeing the others arrive. "I don't want to go, but my mama…"

"I'll talk to her," Hiccup said. "Do you think she'll be opposed to it?"

"I … don't know…"

"It's alright," Hiccup said with a patient smile. "I'll go myself, and if she doesn't approve I'll come and tell you to go home. I'll take care of Baldr myself for you."

"But, sir!" Sir? Ha! Astrid gave Hiccup a look that went unnoticed, but her eyes traced over his face even more appreciatively than usual. Who would have thought, when that jaw came in, that he'd look …

"None of that. Baldr's health comes first." He stood, offering Astrid a hand she didn't need, but which she took anyway. "Dartbolt; straight home, you hear? I'm trusting you with your sister."

"Of course, sir," she said - there it was again! This time Hiccup did catch Astrid's eyes, and judging by how his cheeks coloured, the look she was giving him was rather telling, and she tried to smoothen her features out.

The two adults walked out of the arena, watching the younger children scampering off towards their homes. Already the sun had set, the long twilight taking hold as all the torches in the village shone starkly.

"Thanks for coming down," he told her as they made their way towards Gustav's hall. "I know how busy you are; you almost never catch a breath to go train or fly with Stormfly anymore, and now you wasted the last hours of light down here with us today." He looked thoroughly chagrined, and she couldn't help the smirk that rose to her face. Then he continued. "Sorry, to be such a hassle."

"Don't be ridiculous. I've been learning my fair share on nadders these last months. It's more than alright for you to ask your village and your friends for help," she said with a smile, changing 'family' for 'friends' at the last moment.

"That's not what I meant," he said quietly, looking at the darkened path. He took up a torch from a column, which Toothless kindled for him. "I've been … a bit of a bother, since I came back, between being another mouth to feed and all the …" He shook his left knee, his prosthetic jingling slightly as the metal bits clicked against each other.

"You are being ridiculous," she said, appalled. "What kind of people would we be if your father or I held that against you? You did it for all of Berk. It's no chore at all." She blushed at her own vehemence, glad for the darkness, and continued. "Really."

He sighed, and Toothless gave him a nudge with his flat snout. Astrid looked on and waiting for the man to talk; as talkative as he used to be as a child, it was like waiting for raindrops to fall into her mouth in a light drizzle now. The darkness gave her courage, and she took his hand; when he jumped, she just squeezed it and smiled at him. He gave a half-smile back.

"I didn't mean it like that, either," he replied.

"You've forgotten how to make sense, then," she said with a teasing voice, and was gratified when he laughed.

"Yeah, I suppose. It's just …" He stopped, even stopped walking. "This is not easy to …" he waved the torch in front of his face eloquently as he blew a breath. "Ok. Well, the truth is, I got used to doing things on my own. It's been a long time, and I'm used to being … independent."

A cold hand gripped her chest, but she only nodded when he looked her way for a second. The fact that he pressed her hand in his helped.

"Dad's reinstated me as heir. In fact, he said it'd always stayed that way, but I took that from you." She shook her head and he looked at her seriously. "It's a responsibility I want to face, and I guess… being back on Berk, and unable to do all those things I got used to doing, well, um, it's made me feel more than a little," he choked on the word, "useless."

Astrid stepped close to him before she could stop herself. "Hiccup, you never were…"

"Yes, I suppose everyone has their role," he conceded, though the sadness of his backhanded compliment to himself made her frown deepen. "But that doesn't change the fact that I need to find that sense of … doing things, again, under my own steam."

"And you will, you know," she replied, voice even. "You haven't changed at all since you left - same hard head that got you into trouble, same pig-headedness and determination not to listen, and same drive to do things you've always had. It's just your success rate that's taken a different direction." Saying that made her happy, for some reason.

"Thank you, for summing that up," he said wryly. She smiled at him, cocking her hip.

"You'll be fine, Hiccup, I know you will," she said with conviction, and he seemed to cheer considerably from her support. Ducking his head, he walked forward again.

"In any case, I have to make this afternoon up to you." He cut her off before she could protest. "No buts! If Gustav's mum doesn't want her son home, I'll give a hand with your chores. And she wants him there, I'll pitch in tomorrow, alright?"

"You have enough chores of your own," she replied with a shake of the head.

"And you gave a hand there today, so it's only fair. Come on, tit-for-tat?" He grinned at her, and she huffed but nodded, smiling back. In all honestly, her chest felt the lightest it had yet, and she became captivated by the twinkling stars that began to blink into existence above them. The silence for the rest of their walk was comfortable and warm despite the weather.

She let his hand go when Gustav's mother answered the door, feeling suddenly self-conscious of so much outward affection with a man who wasn't her husband yet. Their situation was particular, and so strange; any other couple would have been married weeks after the handsal and betrothal were made. Any courting would have taken place afterwards, with the contract sealed and dealt with, and the couple safely married. But they had been engaged for five years, him absent for all of them. Their contract was sealed, but they were not married. Astrid had moved into his house before he had ever known it, and now here they were, caught between two roles, unsure which rules guided their relationship behaviours, what was expected of them or allowed.

Gustav's mother most certainly wanted her son home, which caused Hiccup to sigh despondently, but nod and turn back towards the arena.

"You don't need to come all the way back with me," he said with one corner of his mouth in a smirk. Damn him, how good it looked on him. "Dad will be back from the docks soon, and he'll be hungry as a gronkle. Go home; I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Baldr's health comes first, but don't you forget your own," she said quietly. He tilted his head. "You're doing great, Hiccup. Your mobility … You'll get there, you'll see. Just don't push yourself, alright?" She grabbed his tunic, visible under the half-armour he was wearing.

"Astrid…" he began with a soft smile, and everything inside her seemed to melt. Between the darkness around them, cut only by his torch, the quiet and the privacy of a late Winter's night on Berk, it felt like she could do anything, especially if he kept smiling at her like that.

"Send Toothless with me," she said with a grin, already making plans at the back of her mind to join him in his night vigil of the sick nadder. "I'll put some supplies for you to pass the night in his saddle-bags. I won't let you spend a sleepless night on your- without comfort." Oh, darn it all!

Hiccup looked at her suspiciously, his green eyes shining in the torchlight in a way that told her he wasn't buying it.

"What are you planning?" he asked, and she knew she was caught.

"I'll stay with you," she said. "I can help with Baldr, because I've passed through it with Stormfly already."

"What, no!" he said, colour rising up his cheeks and stepping back. "I'll be fine, trust me," he said in a softer voice, clearing his throat when she couldn't help looking as disappointed as she felt with his strong refusal. So much for that. "Look," he took her free hand, "I'm serious. You have dad to take care of too, and he's going to be tired and hungry. I'd feel better to know that he's been fed and settled. He's got a lot of pressure on him with The Thing so close at the moment, and we have to help him as best we can."

"You're a good son, Hiccup," she said, smiling as she shook her head, mollified and convinced. "Your father should really be proud of you."

He blinked at her, and for a moment she didn't realise how strangely her statement echoed the last thing she'd told him before he left. They stood there, looking at one another and at a loss what to say, before Astrid couldn't take the stasis anymore. She freed her hand from his, and punched him lightly in the side.

"Oh, aw, what…" he complained, looking at her with confusion and rubbing his 'wound'.

"Wuss," she teased, "that was for calling yourself useless." He gave a slight pout with sulky eyes. His lips were puckered - and a woman could only be expected to resist for so long. The hand in his tunic fisted, and as she pulled him down while she got on tiptoes, she kissed him. It was chaste, and short, but it set all her nerves on fire, and it was immensely gratifying to find his head following her down as their lips separated with a modest noise. She drew her bottom lip into her mouth, tasting a slight saltiness there that made her senses sharpen, and made her notice how he was looking at her lips with rather dilated eyes, how the crisp night air and torch-burn felt like breathing fine wine, and how good he smelled.

When he looked her in the eye, he blushed crimson however, and began throwing his eyes about. Toothless gave a rather vocal growl, beginning to trot away with a huff.

"That was for the axe," Astrid said, feeling suddenly awkward. Freya have mercy on her, what had possessed her! But she could still feel his lips on hers and … Freya's eyes, she- she wanted to do that again.

"Oh, oh right!" he said, waving the torch around aimlessly. After a few more seconds, he gave a stretch (was he doing it on purpose?!), a rather forced yawn and pointed after his dragon. "Right, um, I should really … er… long night, you know, best- best get started and … stuff."

She almost giggled. Giggled. "Oh, yes, well. I have to go get to … taking care of dad - er, your dad, and… stuff."

They looked at one another for a moment, before he thrust the torch at her. "You take this, I'll be fine, Toothless can see in the dark, and …"

"And he's left you behind," Astrid observed, this time really giggling as she fumbled with the torch like an amateur. Hiccup gave an 'ack' and ran off, stumbling in a way that finally did her in as she ran to the Haddock hall, energy she did not know she had pumping through her, laughing long and hard for no apparent reason. Stoick kept looking at her funny while she cared for him with the utmost diligence, but seemed unable to bring her ludicrous smile and occasional chuckle under control. Toothless came and went, saddle bag and an extra package tied in twine stuffed with everything she could think of, from books to furs to food, both hot and cold. The dragon himself left after being sneaked a few of her best fishes, and after having gotten a kiss on the muzzle for good measure.

When she went to bed, her axe was polished carefully and lain beside her, with its head under her pillow and handle parallel to her in the bed, as always, for easy access and protection. Tonight, however, she fell asleep clutching it.

=0=

Hiccup couldn't have slept if he wanted to that night.

She'd kissed him. Kissed him. Kissed him. If Thor called him up now, he'd … probably be mightily annoyed. But he'd have a grin on his face that could only be described as obscene. He'd almost kissed her back, too, but then he'd seen her suck her lip into her mouth, and … oh, gods in Asgard, if he'd kissed her then he would not have been able to stop. What would her hair smell like? What would her tongue feel like, warm and wet against his? And - oh gods, warm and wet…

He shuddered, trying to push the thoughts away and swallowing his thickened throat. The nadder beside him, his head in the human's lap, gave a gargle of discomfort, and Hiccup immediately began massaging the poor thing's snout. Toothless was lying behind him, taking a cat-nap, but mostly awake.

"Asgard," Hiccup whispered when the tiny one was settled, and Toothless opened one eye. "Sorry, bud, just …" he really couldn't stop the grin that spread his lips. "She kissed me, you know. For the axe, I suppose, but it counts! It's got to count…" His dragon gave him a toothless grin that looked ridiculous, and Hiccup returned it, probably looking just as utterly stupid while not caring a whit. He stroked the nadder in his lap fondly, Baldr thrilling a thanks as he purred, and then plonking out of consciousness as Hiccup carefully scratched him under the chin, putting him to sleep now that he was well enough to sleep safely.

His mind returned to musing and fantasising - he could kiss her in the morning, on the way out, maybe. A good morning, or a goodbye. A see you later? Hm, well, he wondered if she would kiss him when she brought him lunch - maybe not in front of the others, especially since Snotlout and Tuff would never let him hear the end of it. Well, and Tuff was also in whatever sticky situation he was in … so then they would have to move to the side, somewhere quiet. And private.

And maybe this time she would let him kiss her properly. Feel her against him as he hugged her, soft and strong. Would she put her fingers in his hair, her arms around his neck? Would she say anything in his ear when he touched her, and how would her body feel under his palm-

He sat up with a start, staring wide-eyed at the opposite wall of the enclosure. What on earth was he thinking! Astrid gave him one kiss, one! And he went about methodically undressing her in his head -

Bathhouse steam, toned, supple legs, blonde hair down, and long, long swathes of pink, puckered skin.

He shook his head, groaning into his hand as he tried to dispel the image of their first washday seared through his head again. Knowing what his beautiful Astrid looked like underneath her clothes was not helping him keep his head screwed on straight at all. He'd turned around so quickly that he'd forgotten his foot was undone, and he'd fallen and made a terrible scene out of it, when all he'd wanted to do is turn and give her some privacy. He hadn't been able to look at her without seeing her naked for a long, long time, and he could see her blushing when she came beside him as well - she'd probably noticed what an idiot she made of him in the bath-tub-

And oh gods washday. Washday was going to be a disaster. If he couldn't keep his head screwed on straight now, what was he going to do when he was naked, and she was dressed in a wet-plastered shift, skin showing through the transparent water-logged cloth?

He could already feel himself go stiff and uncomfortable. He'd been able to control himself, somewhat, to date (unless she had her fingers in his hair), but her kiss seemed to have opened a dam, with thoughts and wishes and desires flooding him from all sides. Sepha had been kind to him, aware of his innocence and ineptitude. They had taken comfort in one another and she had taught him how to please a woman, always teasing him that he would one day make his 'Astreed' call out his name the same way she had called her late husband's. All those things were coming back full force.

So now here he was, a horrible horny scoundrel thinking of her so inappropriately that she'd kill him if she knew (and he'd deserve it). He wasn't an innocent now, not anymore. His mind was making sure to show him every single thing he'd wished he were sharing with Astrid instead, every desire his mind had ever cooked up.

He settled back against Toothless with a huff, and the dragon rolled his eyes at him after giving him a sniff. "Yeah, I know, bud. Ignore it, ok?" he said, disgruntled that his own dragon was commenting on his horniness too. If only he could get in and out of the bath on his own, he could avoid so much embarrassment to her and himself that …

Now, wait a minute…

A few seconds later, he had charcoal and a journal out of Toothless' saddle bag. This might just work.

=0=

The Goethi sat perched on her high stool, sorting herbs into bunches and then letting her pretty little terrors take them up to the hooks, hanging them headfirst to dry. She adored her little monsters, because they saved her so much work, and when she was feeling less spry than usual, they even grabbed her arms or clothing and carried her up or down the long flight of stairs to her house.

The first time she'd landed in the village, staff jangling and terrors flapping their wings to deliver her from the sky like a wrinkled up Valkyrie, she had cackled for days at how the people in the plaza jumped. Gobber had screamed like a little girl.

She had to do it again during the Thing. It would be fun to see if any of the chiefs behaved like sissy-girls in front of an old woman and a couple of half-krona dragons. She knew that Brawlknife from when he was a lad, always getting into scrapes with Stoick and Wolftooth when the Things were hosted on Berk. And his son was just like him, straight up drama-king and all around entertaining to watch as she made him squeak by reading his future with the most serious face, lights shady while rattling her staff.

She was still chuckling to herself over the memory of the last time she'd done that, with the Meathead heir clinging to Hiccup so the sceptical, smaller boy could barely breathe, when there was a soft knock on the door. Her little devils went to open it for her, all of them crowding around the new-comer like the brainless, happy things that they were. A particularly quiet one uncurled from her shoulder, sniffing, and Goethi knew who it was before she even looked up.

She smiled at Astrid, who carefully stepped through the gaggle of terrors with arms open for balance, laughing when a couple of them flew up to perch on her hands. The red one with green eyes perked up and flew towards her with a cry, and Astrid greeted it fondly as she let it climb onto her shoulders and nuzzle against her face.

"Hey there, Harbinger," she said in a murmur as the young girl walked towards Goethi, scratching its chin. "Been good today?" Goethi snorted; as if these little devils were ever 'good' - and that's the way she liked it. Harbinger was the only one with a name out of the terror pack that had congregated around the old healer, because she couldn't call them, so she never bothered to name them other than with distinct taps of her staff. She couldn't understand why Astrid had chosen such an ominous name, but she really didn't care to get Gobber to ask.

"Good morning, mother Goethi," the girl said, always the respectful lass. Goethi gave her a smile and a pat, the red terror travelling from Astrid back to hers and settling around her shoulders again. "I'm sorry to bother you this morning, but I've come for the herbs. I've run out, and that man won't come for them himself if left up to it, I just know it."

Goethi smiled up at her conspiratorially, causing Astrid to give her a sunny smile and bite her lower lip. With some help from her flapping dragons, she descended from her high stool and went to her jars, bringing out the necessary herbs and then smashing them into a paste as she added water and honey. Harbinger sniffed with interest, but all the terrors knew by now not to touch it unless she gave it herself. Luckily, her hives yielded plenty of the precious, golden syrup. Her mind was almost lost to musing before she spotted something unusual in the young maid's appearance.

Her hair was … ah, it was up in milkmaid braids today, possible because she was elbow deep in flour at the mill, and the usual braid would get in the way, or could get caught in a wheel. It had the effect of uncovering her neck and giving Goethi a clear view of the axe head glinting behind her shoulder. She craned her neck, and once Astrid caught the movement she surprised Goethi by blushing and tilting her body so that the elder woman could see better.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said, her voice taking on a girlish quality Goethi had never before associated with Astrid. "He made me a new one." There was no need for the old healer to be told who he was, and she chuckled, making the colour rise on Astrid's cheeks even higher. "Said it was nothing special, too! He's an idiot."

Goethi shrugged and waved her hand in resignation, making Astrid laugh sweetly again; it made Goethi's chest light. The poor girl had suffered loneliness long enough to atone for the same feeling she'd given Hiccup, and it was good to see them find each other at last. She waved a hand towards the axe and Astrid obligingly unholstered it, holding it just so in order to let her older, but sharper eyes have a look at it. The terrors were thankfully quiet (probably still nervous at the sight of a weapon), and Goethi began fingering the metal, polished to a shine and covered from blade to blade of the double-axe in intricate decorations indented into the metal with a black sheen. She ran her digits over them, noting some of the patterns presented bumps that were not immediately visible to the eye. She turned the axe sideways, letting the light from her windows fall on it at an angle, and she almost exclaimed in surprise.

Runes blazed into life, hidden on the inside of the blackened dents that made the knotted patterns. She waved Astrid closer, and the young girl's eyes flared as she found the wishes for strength and protection, prayers to Magni, Frigga and Thor shining to life as Goethi turned the axe just so, each arc sunken into the blade shining and spelling out it's secrets in the muted daylight glow.

When Goethi glanced at Astrid, she found her looking at the axe with half-lidded eyes, flushed cheeks, and a fond expression on her face that warmed the heart, as if she was looking at a favourite child. Goethi chuckled and gave her a knowing eye; Astrid blinked and blushed hard at being caught. Continuing to cackle in amusement, she turned back to her poultice and herbs. Oh aye, if the boy was courting her, he was doing it right. That wasn't just an axe, it was a love-letter in the shape of one.

Returning to the concoction she was making, Goethi dusted some powdered root on to dry it sufficiently and then wrapped it in a cloth, handing it to Astrid. The girl put it carefully in a pouch on her belt, then holstered her axe and stepped towards the door. Goethi was about to move back to her high stool when she saw Astrid falter.

"Mother Goethi…" she began, going stiff with discomfort, wringing her hands. Goethi waved a hand for her to go on, and Astrid pursed her lips but continued. "I was at my old hall yesterday, and I noticed that Ætta, Agni's little one, seems to be coming down with … a cough." Goethi stopped smiling right away, and Astrid paled. The old woman knew that Astrid was very fond of her young niece, named after her, especially now that the brother who had fathered her was dead. And little Ætta adored her implacable aunt. But a Winter sickness was not to be trifled with. Right away, she began gather another set of medicinal plants, putting them in her mortar and beating them vigorously. She tacitly pointed to a pot, and Astrid quickly complied, hooking it over the ever-blazing fire and adding water and whatever Goethi handed her. With quick hands for her old age and arthritis she smashed the last few herbs together, adding some willow bark powder last to make sure it stayed potent. With gestures, she got Astrid to add the strong ale in the corner to the brew, and the strong smell filled the hut in no time; it was not unpleasant, but it turned both their stomachs, as the only time it was smelt was when there was a sickness in the village that needed to be fought.

Astrid was looking at the pot with hatred, and Goethi knew that she was remembering the last time she had smelt this; when Hiccup had almost been at Hel's doorstep, his fever riding high and almost taking him from them.

Goethi sighed silently, slipping from her stool at last. She should be used to it, really she should. She was so old that she had forgotten the name her mother had given her, and contented with her title of Goethi. But every time one of these wretched sicknesses broke out, it made her ill with fear. And somehow, it was always an old friend, or one of these sweet little younglings, who always gladdened her day when they came up to her house to do chores for their parents ...

And poor Ætta, barely three summers old …

Goethi tapped the stone grate to get Astrid's attention, and quickly wrote a few symbols that were universally recognisable, and was very sorry to see Astrid go paler.

"Quarantine…?" Her voice shook, looking at Goethi with fearful eyes. "Surely it can't be that bad …"

Goethi merely shook her head. Astrid bit her lip, then glanced at her axe worriedly.

"Should I also be … I went to visit." The old healer walked up to her, gave a tug in her tunic and waiting for the girl to bend diligently to her height. She examined her eyes and mouth, and although it may be too soon to tell, she looked like she had withstood the exposure well. Still, Hiccup had only been eight weeks out of bed … Quickly, she shuffled over to the pot and ladled some into a cup, force-feeding it to the girl boiling as it was. She gagged, but drank it. The old woman then filled a large bottle with it and gave it to Astrid.

"I'll tell Stoick, then. How am I to get this to them, though?" Goethi made another well known symbol. "Mother? So mother can come in and out?" She nodded; Brunhilda was a woman of exceptional constitution, probably due to the amount of apples she was constantly munching on, and cider she drank. Still, much like the Goethi herself, she was one of the few who could withstand most illnesses. "What of the rest?"

Goethi thought about it and wrote down a few simple runes. Astrid squinted at them slightly, before nodding.

"Very well. All those who have been in constant contact with her … and will it be a week, or more?"

The exchange continued, until Astrid was satisfied that she had all the instructions she needed to give her mother. With a sigh, the young girl rose from the kneeling position she'd taken to read the rickety and uneven runes that Goethi wrote - no one had ever taught the old woman how to write, so she'd had to make up her own squiggles after her vow of silence.

"One … one last thing," she said, stopping at the door. "Are you sure that I am safe? For … you know, for Hiccup."

The Goethi smiled up at her with a nod, and Astrid left, shutting the door behind her quietly. The old woman kept looking at the door pensively as she got back onto her high stool, once again going back to the job of sorting her herbs, even as the smell of the sickness brew filled her hut.

Perhaps, it was about the time to train someone new how to do that, too.

=0=

"Over there!"

Hiccup and Toothless swerved together, cutting the air at the lead of the small pack of dragons in his scouting troupe. Snotlout was once again borrowing Flat's head, who still seemed somewhat puzzled that his rider had somehow morphed into a male. Fishlegs was bringing up the rear, Meatlug keeping up only just, but giving the burly man enough time to take notes and map their course.

Icy Winter wind cut through the eye-holes of his helmet, making his eyes water. It was impossible to miss the spectacle before them, however, as a seeming endless stream of water dragons passed beneath the surface of the ocean, all letting out their keening calls and flopping up in a splashing arc when they saw their dragons, as if in greeting.

"Scouldrons," Hiccup said, to his team, listing off the ones he was seeing. "Thunderdrums, Sidewinders … aaand an Oceanzap, great. Up, guys!"

He pulled on Toothless, and his friend stiffened his wings and stalled right away. The other riders around stopped more sedately, circling around to come back around the night fury. They rose upwards, and Hiccup hovered in the high winds over the sea dragons, now swimming a distance below, and noticed that Meatlug, especially, seemed to be looking at the dragons with longing.

"Hm, I've never seen this before," he said, and the other three men looked at him with worry. "It almost looks like a migration."

"A migration?" Fishlegs said, sounding slightly worried. "I didn't know sea dragons migrated?"

"Neither did I, and none passed by my island while I was there. Then again, I either wasn't there, or was too busy trying to keep warm this time of year. And they're passing far enough from Berk to be missed by any madman out in a fishboat during this time of the cycle."

"They don't seem to be headed for Berk," Snotlout said, still standing in his stirrup as he looked after the weaving shapes under the choppy waves.

"No, they seem rather to be moving past it, towards the South." He folded his arms, sitting up in his saddle as he chewed his lips in thought. "Well, I'd best tell dad. The ships from Hopeless will be coming through this route."

"Do they have dragons?" Tuffnut asked as they turned towards Berk, wind from the North in their face once again. Hiccup shook his head.

"I didn't go there. It was … too close," he said, and left it at that, urging Toothless on faster.

He luckily avoided all other comment, not daring to look at Fishlegs' face when they landed. Asking Hoark as he passed by, he found out his father was helping Mulch near the mills, and quickly made his way there. The grain was being ground and stored as flour in some quantities deemed enough to cater for the visitors who would soon invade Berk. Hiccup walked up behind his father, who was counting the sacks of oats and grain that were entering the mill as Mulch ticked them off on parchment, Silent Sven standing by with folded arms. Toothless trotted off, no doubt in search of someone to bribe out of a fish or two with pleading, dilated eyes.

He took his helmet off, running a hand through his hair and throwing it under one arm as he tapped Stoick on the arm. His dad turned towards him and smiled.

"Back so soon?" he said, almost genially. The day's chores must be progressing swiftly and well. Hiccup felt his back go rigid as he reported to the village chief; old habits die hard.

"Yes, sir," he said, almost blushing when it escaped his mouth, and some giggling came from the door of the mill. He looked in to spy a gaggle of women and maids, all wearing clothes appropriate to mill-work and hard at it, then shook his head and returned to the matter at hand. "There was another pack of sea-dragons, this time larger than the last according to `Lout and Tuff. There were various species that don't usually tend to be together, but they were more or less of the same size. They don't seem about to stop here, but it may be a bit risky to let the fishing boats out right now. And they seem to be on the route South, so I'm not sure if they'll stop to create mayhem at Hopeless."

His dad gave him a shrewd look over his mustache. "You intend to go see whether this meyhem has taken place, then?"

Hiccup puffed a breath, back still rim-rod straight as he considered it. "Not overtly. I don't want to expose us too much. Cami and Thug sent letters to say that most of them are coming by dragon for the Thing - so I think they're ready to disclose the secret to all the allied tribes now that … er … the battle let it out, shall we say. Seeing how fast the dragons are, they'll be here before everyone else … probably to get this decision out of the way before others come. If I go exposing this before there's been a collective decision made …" He shrugged. Stoick put a hand on his shoulder.

"Spoken like a true future chief," Astrid said as she exited the mill, patting flour off her clothing. Hiccup openly stared; her hair was up in two braids wrapped around her head, her armour missing. She was in a simple woolen tunic that reached down to her mid-tie, her usual leggings covering her down to her boots. This new, domestic Astrid had him almost gasping as he simultaneously wished he was looking into his own future, and couldn't quite believe that he was seeing Astrid. She was giving him a smile and a look through her lashes that made his insides melt until they felt like his chest had gone concave inside his ribs, and his skin flushed hot. Ah, Freya's heart, he was utterly pathetic, a puppet in her hands whose strings she could tug at will and leave happiness or heartache behind.

"Off already?" Stoick asked neutrally.

"I'm going to speak with mother," Astrid replied, a frown lowering her brows. "And taking some flour - I've traded with Sven separately."

"Never a doubt, my dear," Stoick said with a smile.

"I'll come with you," Hiccup said before he could stop himself, giving his dad the helmet and hefting the sack before she could argue.

"I don't …" Astrid looked at his father, who shrugged. Hiccup turned back to her with a tilted head and she sighed, coming close to him.

"My niece is sick. Goethi put her in quarantine as a precaution, and mother is in contact with her all the time." She looked up at him, worrying her lower lip, and it took all of him not to kiss it from between her teeth.

"I'm not that much of a wuss," he replied, ducking his head so that only she could hear, and feeling immensely gratified when she blushed scarlet. He could make her go that colour; it was an achievement not many could boast of. "And while I'm not the strongest Viking around, I've never even had the Winter and Summer fevers."

She sighed. "Fine." She reached out tentatively, as if to take his hand, but dusted more flour off her tunic instead. He hefted the sack, and she tried to reach for it, but he danced out of her reach and caught her wrist. He didn't let go.

"Nope, as long as I'm around, I'll spare you this," he told her cheekily, fully expecting a punch to the shoulder, but he had his armour on. A chorus of 'awww' startled him, and he found a number of girls, older and younger, peeking out from the mill, Silent Sven looking like he was mildly exasperated. When he realised he'd had an audience while he openly flirted like a true-bred idiot, he felt his face go hot. His dad was giving him that look where he was obviously smiling under his beard, and Hiccup swore that if he wiggled his brows like Gobber loved to do, he … he didn't know what, but it wouldn't be pretty.

Astrid, however, seemed to take a different approach to things. Her cheeks were flushed too, but judging by the furrow in her brow and the thunder in her expression, someone was going to get hit - probably him. He flinched when she reached for him, but instead of a fist to somewhere soft and tender on his body, her hand slid out of his grasp, her arm slid through his elbow, and she glared at the other mill girls, dragging him off.

Oh wow … well, they did have a contract, so it didn't have to be about feelings, but she'd kissed him yesterday, so maybe she did have some regard for him? Enough to be a teeny bit jealous?

Whatever it was, he was positively strutting, crossing the village with her on his arm. Anything that made her walk arm-in-arm with him was worth it.

The sigh she gave dampened his mood, however, and he looked down at her to find a rather long face; not very encouraging, but he got the impression that it may not be connected to him from the way she kept leaning into his side, almost seeking comfort. He pressed her elbow to his waist softly. When she looked up at him, he raised a brow, and she evaded his eyes for a while but he insisted quietly until she desisted.

"Sorry," she said. "I'm just so worried about Ætta, that's all. She's only three summers old, and the Goethi startled me, when she put her to bed. I thought it was only a cough, something honey and mead and a few herbs can get rid of, but…"

"I'm sure she's just being cautious, because of the Thing," he tried to reassure her, but he was startled to see Astrid suddenly blush furiously as a hand rose to wipe a tear off her cheek savagely, her eyes going redder as they overflowed.

"It's just that… she's only three. She's not going to understand why she can't go out to play with the other children, or why the medicines taste bad, or why she can't even go to the outhouse when we've just trained her out of the pot…" She bit her lip almost cruelly as he watched her with wide eyes, and he could have sworn she swallowed a sob. "Oh Frigga, this is ridiculous!"

She tore her arm away from him, stomping towards the back of a barn. Hiccup followed her instantly and found her hugging her middle, leaning against the wooden structure.

"Hey," he said in a soothing voice he'd learned while dealing with wounded fire-breathing beasts. This was… not all that different, actually. He'd never seen Astrid this vulnerable, and he respected that. "Astrid."

"No, it's alright, I'm being ridiculous," she said, but it was obviously forced. Wordlessly, and very, very gently, he turned her around. Her cheeks were still blotchy, her eyes red and tears were streaming down her face. Her entire body was rigid, and she was looking at his belt with angry conviction. He carefully reached for her face to see if the gesture was desired, but when she didn't move (and didn't twist his hand off) he cupped her cheek and swiped the tears away.

The gesture seemed to undo her as she closed her eyes, gave a sob and stepped forward into his chest. He went rigid at first, his arms coming up almost of their own volition as the sound of her soft sobbing hit his ears

"Ætta's so small. And so many children her age who get the sickness don't…"

"Shh," he said softly, putting a hand on the back of her head and wishing more than anything that he wasn't wearing his armour. He didn't dare press her to it, and her hand rose to his chest but found no purchase in the hard leather other than a cold buckle. "I'm sure she'll be ok. You caught it early and she'll get lots of love and care, I'm sure." He paused, letting her cry quietly. " … she's really important to you, isn't she?" he murmured.

"She's named after me, I'm her godmother," she choked out, already evening her breathing. Hiccup's hand rubbed her back and head, and he bent down to put his cheek on her tied braids, almost wishing he could shield her completely. "She's this … wee little thing, with bright eyes and two braids coming down her back, my old helmet and a toy sword…"

"Sounds like someone I know," he said, trying to keep his voice light. Astrid gave a blubbery laugh. "I'd like to meet her."

"Maybe after," Astrid said, her voice back in control; she moved to look at him, but didn't push out of the circle of his arms. She wiped her cheeks against her shoulders until Hiccup brought his hand up and did it for her. Astrid sighed, leaning into his palm and looking up at him with an expression that made his chest hurt. "She can't come out for a week at least, and if all goes well and she's ok, she's going to be so sorry that we've punished her for nothing. A little bit of time with Toothless and the other hero of Berk will cheer her right up."

Hiccup chuckled along with her. The situation with the poor little child sounded so horribly dire … he wished there was something he could do but the medication he knew was limited, and mostly self-taught. He doubted he knew something Goethi hadn't already forgotten about. Still … he raked his brain, trying to think of anything he used when he'd had fevers.

Astrid distracted his thoughts with a sigh, relaxing into his embrace and resting her cheek on his breast-plate. Egged on by how close to her he felt at that moment, he leaned down slightly, and kissed her on the forehead. She didn't look angry, or annoyed that he'd overstepped their boundaries. Her slightly swollen eyes were half closed as she leaned her cheek further into his hand.

"Thank you, Hiccup," she said. "For this."

"Hey, it's no big deal." He lowered his forehead to rest it against hers, pushing the loose hair out of her eyes first. "I mean it." He swallowed thickly as he looked at her, words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.

But … if Astrid had the courage to be this vulnerable with him, if she didn't mind him seeing her at her weakest … granted, she already had that advantage over him, seeing him recover as she had, but … the least he could do was trust her with his softer sides, too, wasn't it? Believe that if she could open up to him and know he wouldn't judge her for it, that she would do the same.

"I'll always be there for you, Astrid," he said finally, almost choking on it when she looked up at him with wide eyes. "Whether you want me to or not," he said, adding a bit of humour to his voice, and gladdened when she chuckled. "Especially when you don't want me to. In fact, you'll probably start finding excuses to spend time with Toothless soon." She laughed again, and he felt like he could take on the Red Death again, on his own, and win. "Ok, so we need to get your mum this flour before any more of it gets lost on the wind…"

He untangled himself reluctantly, looking around for the sack he hadn't even realised he'd dropped and hoisting it up again without surrendering his hold on her completely. He pressed her into her side, where she stayed willingly, and they almost fell over until they could coordinate their step, flesh feet and metal foot nearly tangling. Astrid rested her head against his shoulder, one arm around his back and the other on his waist, while he had his arm securely around her. She didn't seem to care who saw her like that, and in that moment, neither did he. He was too worried about her.

But there was one thing he could do. Once he got her safely to her mother's hall, he and Toothless were going on a roundtrip to Thor's rock.

=0=

There is something I would like to point here. While I was writing this story, I tried in many, many ways to get Astrid to cry for herself. Thor knows she will have reason to on more than a few occasion as I took an ice-pick to her heart. However, she summarily refused, the scene devolving into drivel or else veering entirely off course every time I tried. And yet, Astrid has cried at the drop of a fish for other people. It made me like her character even more.