Astrid shivered, the cold seeping into her flesh more than usual. She stared out the entrance of the cave, at the downpour of rain, thunder and lightning outside. "Do you think they're okay?" she asked over her shoulder.

Hiccup was pacing in the cave within. "I'm not sure," he said, worry evident in his voice. "I mean—if they're even together. What if they got separated as well?"

"We'll just have to wait the storm out," Astrid replied.

Hiccup kicked a rock, and then yelped in pain when he found out the hard way the rock was secured to the ground. "This is absolutely ridiculous," Hiccup said, crouching down and placing his hands on his head.

"I'm sure they'll be fine," Astrid said, turning and walking towards him. "There are lots of caves in this area—I'm sure they found someplace to hide and wait out the storm."

"I know…" Hiccup muttered. "I'm just worried. Toothless can't fly on his own, and Eret doesn't know how to fly on him."

"You don't want Toothless flying on his own," Astrid reminded him. "He'd probably crash or something worse in this weather."

"True," Hiccup agreed.

He stood abruptly, storming over to the far end of the cave and sitting down against the wall. He placed his head on his knees, which were drawn up to his chest.

Astrid watched all this, and sighed with both annoyance and pity. Pity because he was clearly struggling. Annoyance because he refused to tell her or Eret what was going on.

She walked over to him, sitting down next to him. "Do you want to talk?" she asked him.

"There's nothing to talk about," he muttered.

"Yes there is," she said.

When this elicited no response from him, she continued, "This is kind of like our first meeting."

"What?" He peered at her.

"We met during a storm like this, remember? It was months ago, but still. You had me tied up."

"Oh." Hiccup frowned, "I'm sorry about that."

She shrugged. "We've come a long way since then, haven't we?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Hiccup agreed. "I consider you a close friend now."

"Me too," she said. "But for close friends, we don't know much about each other." Hiccup was silent, and so she continued, "My father is a lord of Berk."

"I know," he mumbled.

"I have a twin sister," she continued, "Named Alfhild. She looks almost exactly like me, and yet she's still the prettier one," Astrid rolled her eyes. "She's also spoiled rotten. And can't take care of herself in the slightest. She's always in need of rescuing."

"She's the one who was cursed, right?" Hiccup asked. "The one you're going to The North for so you can save her?"

"She's in The North," Astrid said, placing a gloved hand over her heart. She could feel the cold, as if icy shards were inching towards her own heart. "That's why I'm so cold all the time."

She received no response from Hiccup, so she continued. "She and I were very close. Best of friends, despite our differences. We attended boarding school together—she was the best student to graduate from there in all its history. She was even going to marry the future king of Berk."

"Prince Snotlout?" Hiccup asked.

"Yes," Astrid nodded. "King Stoick's nephew. I kind of hate him but also not."

Hiccup raised an eyebrow.

"It's complicated. He's…" she made a face. "He's annoying but he can be a good friend sometimes."

"So… why was your sister cursed—or kidnapped, by the fairies?" he asked.

Astrid sighed. "Though my sister and I are barely discernable from each other, my sister is often heralded as the beautiful one. Maybe because I devote most of my time to the art of war," Astrid paused, and continued, "And she often let that go to her head. One night—I don't know why, she made the claim that she was more beautiful than even the queen of fairies."

Hiccup blinked, staring at her.

"Fairies are jealous creatures," Astrid said, "And the queen of fairies is the most jealous and temperamental one of them all. She was angry, and jilted, I suppose, that a mere human would deign to be considered more beautiful than she. She came in the night, and spirited my sister away to The North. That is why I am on this quest. To bring her home. Or die trying."

"You'll succeed," Hiccup told her firmly, "And you won't die. I'll see to that."

Astrid glanced at him, smiling slightly. "What about you? You grew up in the Cove, correct?"

"Ah yes," Hiccup said, snorting, "If we both live to see the completion of our quests, I'll have to bring you there. It is, without a doubt, the biggest helhole there is in all the Nine Kingdoms. The only upside was Toothless and Gobber."

"Gobber? Gobber?" Astrid said, sitting up straighter. "What do you mean—Gobber?"

"The man who raised me—found me in the woods," Hiccup said, staring at her. "Why?"

"He didn't leave to go to the capitol a year ago, did he?" she asked him.

"Yes… he did…" Hiccup said slowly, "Why?"

"Because…that's one of Stoick—King Stoick's best friends," Astrid said, staring at Hiccup, awed. "You were raised by the man King Stoick trusts the most?"

"I…" Hiccup paused. "I knew he left for the capitol to be the king's personal blacksmith, and I knew he knew the king, but I wasn't sure why… You say they were best friends?"

"Yes," Astrid said, still shocked. "Gobber left the capitol about twenty years ago… couldn't take much more of royal life, apparently. But he returned at the request of King Stoick."

Hiccup glanced down at his knees. "Is he missing a hand and a foot?" Hiccup asked her.

"Yes!" Astrid said. "He is."

Hiccup exhaled slowly. "What are the chances…" he muttered. "This is almost too surreal."

"Indeed it is," she agreed, leaning her head against the stone wall behind them. "You said he 'found you'. Do you know who your parents are?"

There was a long pause, and she turned to look at him. He was studying his hands carefully, before saying, "I don't."

She frowned, and said, "So they might still be alive?"

He shrugged. "They abandoned me in the woods. I can't say they cared very much about me. To be honest… I don't think I even want to know them. But…" he sighed. "I can't help but wonder. What they are like… where they are… who they are..."after a moment, he said, so quietly she almost didn't hear him, "What they are…"

"Perhaps you will one day," she said.

He shrugged again. "I doubt that," he said. "How could I? How could they possibly know? And what if it's already happened? What if I did somehow meet them and I didn't know it—or want to know it?"

"What are you talking about? Are you alright?" she asked, frowning. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

"No," he said shortly.

She set her jaw, irritation flaring up inside her. "Hiccup," she said, "You will tell me what is happening to you."

He glanced at her, surprised.

"I know something is going on," she said. "Ever since you were cursed… ever since we ran into the fairy—something in you changed. You've been gloomy—moody—and annoying."

He stared at her.

"And don't even try to deny it," she snapped. "You've been an absolute pain to both Eret and I. It's a wonder we put up with you."

"That's—you wouldn't understand…" Hiccup said after a moment.

"You're right!" Astrid exploded. "I wouldn't! Because you won't let me. If you just explain what's going on… I can help you. Or at least, offer an ear and comfort."

She gazed at him pleadingly, but he said nothing.

"Why won't you tell me?" she asked, softer.

"You would hate me," he said.

Her shoulders fell slightly, and her anger ebbed away. "No, I wouldn't," she said, reaching out and placing a hand on his. "Hiccup… I won't hate you. No matter what it is you're holding in."

He shook his head.

She let go of his hand and wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. She felt him slide closer to her, wrapping and arm around her and drawing her close to him. She shivered against him, but suddenly, she felt warm. She could not tell if the strange, other-worldly heat was coming from him, or if being this close to another person made her warmer, but the chills soon subsided. She looked up at him, and found him looking at her. She was reminded of that moment in the barn. And later in UG's castle. How they almost…

She placed a hand on his cheek, drawing him into a kiss. His other hand found itself on her waist, seeming to pull her even closer to him. She gasped as he deepened the kiss, raw desperation emanating from him. His hand left her waist to cradle her neck, until finally they broke apart.

She looked up at him, to see a strange glint in his eye, and for a moment thought his eyes may be glowing in the dark. But suddenly it was gone, and his hand dropped away from her. "I'm sorry…" he whispered.

"No…" she shook her head. "No, it was me—I initiated the kiss."

"But I—" he stopped himself.

"I enjoyed it," she assured him. "But I am still a noblewoman. So nothing can…"

"Right," he nodded, beginning to remove his other arm from around her.

"Wait," she said softly. "For some reason, I'm warm when I'm this close to you. Perhaps we can just… stay like this for a while."

He looked at her in uncertainty, and nodded.

They settled into each other's arms, silent and content.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks so much for reading!

I know there have been a lot of updates lately, so sorry! I want to finish posting this story soon so I can focus on other things/have one less thing to do when things get busy again for me. Please bear with me!

See you soon!