A/N: And so here is the next chapter. Managed to finish this before I went away and gave it a quick read today in between putting washing from my time away in the washing machine. Really enjoyed writing the first scene so hope everyone lies it.

So enjoy and don't forget to review!


Chapter 8

Hiccup knocked on Eret's door, praying the older Viking would be in. He breathed a sigh of relief when Eret finally opened the door. "Chief, what a pleasant surprise," Eret said. "What can I do for you so late?"

"Astrid sent me," Hiccup replied. "Said you seemed a bit off earlier when she came to check on you and wanted me to see how you were. She's worried about you."

"Oh right. You'd better come in." Eret stepped aside to let Hiccup in and closed the door behind him. "Do you want a drink or anything?" Eret asked going to pour himself some more ale for himself.

"That would be great, thanks," Hiccup answered as he sat down. "So, what's wrong?"

"It's kind of hard to admit to."

"I take it, it has nothing to do with the effects of having a Deadly Nadder spike in your leg."

"Not directly, no." Eret placed a mug of ale down in front of Hiccup before sitting down opposite the young chief with his own mug. "Listen, I know I should be honest here, so can you promise me you won't kill me for what I'm about to tell you," he said.

"You have my word," Hiccup said.

"Last night, something happened that hasn't happened as vividly as it did for a long time."

Hiccup realised what Eret was getting at. After Snotlout's comments the day before, and then remembering how the night before had ended with Astrid tending to Eret's leg wound, it didn't take a genius to figure out the reason Eret had been so weird around Astrid earlier. Hiccup bit back a smile, finding it hard to be mad when Eret was clearly feeling awkward about it. "I think I understand," he said. "You've been having fantasises about Astrid."

"Yeah," Eret said. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I thought I was over it," he said. "But after last night, it's all coming back."

"So this isn't the first time this has happened?" Hiccup asked.

"When we first met, I'll admit I thought she was hot. Probably would have hit on her straight away if she wasn't threatening me with a stick."

"Well you were holding her dragon captive. Although she still would have beaten you into the ground if you'd hit on her anyway."

"Yeah, there is that."

"You should have been here when we were growing up. Snotlout had constant bruises from the times he hit on her and got thrown against a wall as a result."

"How long did it take him to realise it was best not to hit on her?"

"Oh years. I think a lot of the other guys around our age learnt a lot sooner not to hit on her and treat her with the respect she deserves."

"That used to be so easy for me. I really fell for her during the time we spent after she kidnapped me. The more I got to know her, the more I fell and somehow the easier it got to hide what I was thinking. And it wasn't like she was ever going to be with me. It was obvious during that time and since how in love with you she is. So I got over it. We're nothing more than friends and I'm ok with that."

"Until last night, when a fantasy was almost a reality."

Eret took a long sip of his ale. "This wasn't meant to happen," he said putting his mug down. "She's marrying you. She loves you. I've seen the way she looks at you and she will never look at me that way. I should be over this. And I honestly thought you'd be more mad at me for this."

"I gave you my word that I wouldn't kill you," Hiccup said giving a small smile. "And to be honest, I'm so used to seeing men hit on her and knowing what they might be thinking about her I'd be more surprised if you told me you'd never fancied her."

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"All the time. But I know Astrid can handle herself. She'll deal with them if anyone tried anything. And given how you acted around her earlier just by remembering what happened last night it's not like I'm worried you'd do anything. I trust her and I trust you."

"Thanks. That means a lot."

Hiccup look a sip of his ale, realising something. "You know you can't avoid her forever. She's already really worried about you. You're gonna have to tell her," he said putting the mug down.

"Are you crazy?! She'll kill me!" Eret exclaimed.

"She might not. The two of you get on well enough that she might let you live. I just think the two of you need to talk this through. It might help."

"If you say so Chief."

"Of course don't hold me responsible if I turn out to be wrong."

Eret gave a small laugh. "Right, of course," he said before going to take another sip of his ale. He was actually glad to have talked things through instead of keeping it all bottled up. He just hoped talking to Astrid about it would go just as smoothly.


The next morning, Hiccup was woken up by knocking on the door. By the time he'd got a pair of trousers on and got downstairs, his mother had opened the door and was now sitting with Astrid at the table. "Morning sexy," Astrid said, seeing Hiccup coming down the stairs.

"This is a pleasant surprise," Hiccup said joining the two women at the table and giving Astrid a quick kiss. "What can I do for you this early in the morning?"

"How'd it go with Eret last night?"

"Great."

"Is he ok? Does he need any more treatment?"

"As far as the spike wound goes he'd fine. Although I think the two of you need to have a chat sometime today."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Well, ok, maybe something. But it's better you hear it from Eret. Just don't kill him ok?"

"Why would I want to kill him?"

"You'll find out when you talk to him."

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," Valka said as she got up to start breakfast.

Hiccup got up too. "Well I'm gonna get changed," he said going up behind Astrid and placing his hands under her shoulder amour. "Unless this beautiful maiden wants to join me up there."

Astrid laughed. "No way, not today," she said. "I want that new bedroom to remain a surprise for the wedding night."

"Ok. I'll see you in a bit." Hiccup gave Astrid another quick kiss before he headed upstairs. Astrid watched him go, smiling to herself as she thought of how close it was to the wedding and morning like this being a regular thing.