Astrid
"She'll be alright, Hiccup. Now please leave."
The sounds echoed in my head. My mother's voice sounded cold, sharp, and—as usual—unfriendly. I didn't hear Hiccup's voice in response that fast. As I gently pulled the covers down my face, to reveal just the eyes. I only saw my mother's broad back as she stood at the door of what seemed like...my room?
What was I doing in my old bedroom? Wait, how did I even get in here?
"Tell her to see me before doing anything else, as soon as she wakes up." Hiccup said.
Mom sighed, my eyes tried to peek and see if they could get a glimpse of Hiccup at the door, but all I could see was my mother's body blocking his way inside. He was too slim. Enough to be shadowed by her tall and wide figure.
"Listen ta me, Hiccup. As difficult as this may be for yeh, I know my daughter very well. She won't want ta face yeh anymore."
Says who!?—I thought—is she mad!?
"But—"
"Enough, Hiccup." She cut him off. "Astrid has lots ta do once she wakes up, least she'll have time is ta see yeh and stay for a chitchat. Yeh better get used to it. Oh, and please put that bloody damn blue reptile of hers in its cage."
"Stormfly, will want to go with Astrid." Hiccup said between gritted teeth. "And I find it unnecessary to lock down a dragon."
"She won't need it." Mom hissed.
"She'll want her." Hiccup responded.
"I want her." My voice seemed to have startled them both. Mother turned to the side and Hiccup inclined his body to his left to get a peek.
I was sitting already on my bed. Holding the covers up to my chest, covering my breast bands.
Hiccup hadn't seen me completely layer-less. He might have had the confident to remove my armor from me, to loosen my braids. I might have opened those sacred doors for him, but has he seen me completely bare? Not really...
Tonight, I might be wearing my breast bands, and it still might not be that strange to us. But having my mother in the same room made me feel completely naked. Truly uncomfortable.
Hiccup managed to slide himself into the room without thinking what my mother would do to him for breaking his boundaries and simply walking into a bedroom with an almost nude maiden.
I wanted to smile up at him, but as much as I tried to build a little one for him, my lips felt awfully heavy instead. So did my eyes.
Making his way to my side, he climbed on my bed and sat right in front of me. His hand found my cheeks and rubbed them gently. "Feeling alright?"
I nodded. Though he seemed not to buy it after I saw him frown unconvinced, "Liar." My eyes dropped. Unable to face him. Unable to answer. His fingers traveled their way to my chin and lifted it, quite forcing me to look at him. "Patience," he whispered. "Everything will turn out well."
My eyes welled up at his last word. Forgetting for a chance that my mother was right at the door, "How will it?"
"I—"
"Hiccup," My mother interrupted.
Hiccup sighed, though he delayed in moving from my bed, he cleared his throat and walked back to my mother. "There is nothing left to do." She said.
That reached its goal to strike my heart. Hiccup flinched, his limbs froze and as he turned to face her, his gaze was surprisingly sharp. Palms becoming tight fists, teeth clenched, "I still have hours of spare."
"Best ta give it up, boy."
Big-boobied Bertha would let no one talk her back, so she took a stronghold on the door and closed it before Hiccup could say something else.
"He won't." I said.
She moved to my drawers and opened all cabinets. Taking loads of clothes and walking to my desk, where a big and wide opened bag rested.
"Have you?" She asked.
I just laid back on my bed, bringing the covers up over my shoulders and turning my body to the side, giving her my back. I wasn't feeling like answering any further questions related to the same useless subject. Not with her, not with anyone by chance. "How did I get here?"
"Try remember for yerself."
I frowned at her sudden coldness. No, it wasn't sudden. It had always been like that between us. Little the affection from a proud warrior like her, reminded me every day on how much I began to enjoy Valka's warm approaches. But, as much as I tried to remember what brought me back to my old home, to the warmth of the bed I basically spent all the nights of my life up till this moment, my thoughts were still a blur.
All I could think of as I mumbled, was, "I walked out on Hiccup after the dance, after that I don't remember more."
She must've heard my low mutters defying the desires of keeping them to myself as she banged closed one of the drawers, having me shrink my head in my shoulders at the loud sound of it. "Hiccup followed you, so did I. Yeh began swaying side to side in the middle of the stairs and fainted. If it weren't for Hiccup, ye'd be well unconscious right now."
Was that true? Why can't I remember anything? Oh dear Odin, please, don't make me forget such an important event...again!
"Yeh drank Achlys brew." She explained, "I could smell the fruit once I got closer to yeh. I told Hiccup I was going ta take yeh back home but he insisted in bringing you here himself."
Achlys fruits. I've heard of it.
According to what Fishlegs has taught us all about those mysterious fruits that weren't found that easily, if taken on a low to normal dose, the effects may be simply a temporary clouding of the memory. If taken on large doses, then there would be permanent lack of memory, loss of sight and hear proceeding death.
In all ends, those were vastly dangerous. But, who would have done such a thing? No...Not who, how on Earth were those fruits found since they do not grow here on Berk anyway?
This was all confusing to me. Last time I forgot how I got home, did I also drink Achlys?
Hm, seems like now I do have some heads to trim down.
Good, some violence might do me good.
The memory on how Astrid walked out those massive doors and disappeared into the darkness was all he could think of.
"Astrid! Wait, wait!" Running through the crowded place, trying to keep her insight, Hiccup remembered how he ran after her that last night they danced together within the sight of most of their Village. As he passed through the half open doors, he brought himself into a quick halt once he found her swaying side to side as she walked down the stairs.
Hurrying down the steps to her, his girl's feet tangled themselves and she tripped. Her body instantly losing her balance and collapsed.
A strong hand caught her head before banging against the hard stoned step. Eyes closed, breath heavy and deep.
Hiccup moved her closer, bringing her body up his lap as he kneeled underneath her and removed her damp bangs from her cold forehead. "Astrid? What, but—"
He couldn't speak. He was not only confused on what just happened before his eyes, but he was afraid it was something serious. It had been the second time in less than a week that she had fainted like this.
It definitely wasn't normal.
She had an immune system that was as strong as a dragon's. She could pretty much stand anything.
"Yeh better not be the one responsible for her constant fainting, Hiccup."
A daring, low tone pierced his ears, having his entire body freeze in terror as he glanced up to meet the sharp gaze of Astrid's mother.
She wasn't happy alright.
"I—I don't know what you mean, Bertha."
"Yeh know pretty well. Yeh may be chief, but if yeh have something to do with her sudden sickness, then I will certainly never forgive yeh for dishonoring my daughter."
"Bertha, I can assure you that her sickness has absolutely nothing to do with what you are thinking." He shook his head, eyes straight, sharply serious back at her to see if she dared threat him once more.
She kneeled down by her daughter and touched her forehead for temperature. "It better not." She spat back.
Hiccup's brows relaxed as he looked back down at an unconscious Astrid. It had to be something else.
They haven't done anything that would put them in that kind of position and he trusted her enough not to even think about her betraying him with another man. A few days ago, his rate of trust might have been doubted because on what was spread about her and the new dragon rider.
But Hiccup trusted Astrid more than anyone in the entire cosmos. Gossip wasn't going to get between them.
Bertha leaned forward and sniffed into Astrid's now lighter breath. Pulling back and nodding in understanding, "Let's take her home."
"Should we call for Gothi's help?" Hiccup asked.
"No need for that. She will be alright, she just needs the rest."
Bertha moved to pull the girl from Hiccup's embrace so she could pick her up in her arms but Hiccup frowned and tightened his hold on Astrid, blocking any possible way for her to take her daughter away from him. He extended his back and snaked his other arm over her chest. Suddenly keeping her possessively close.
"Let me." He said.
Bertha glared at him, but Hiccup ignored her and looked back down at the unconscious girl resting in his arms. He moved just enough to lift her, carefully laying her head on the stone as he moved to a more comfortable position beside her, slid a hand down and underneath her thighs, the other behind her back and with every strength he had—and didn't have— he lifted her into his arms.
They walked in silence to Astrid's home. Bertha opened the door for him and he made his way up to Astrid's bedroom. Bertha hurried herself to the room and lit the candles so Hiccup could be well aware of his steps. Then he laid her in her bed. His hands trailed down her legs and found her boots, taking them off and placing them neatly by the bed.
Just before his hands landed on her chest, intending to remove the straps that were hooked on the ring that was meant to keep her fur hood well held, Bertha gripped on his hand and yanked him from her daughter's side.
"Not this time." She said.
Hiccup swallowed hard and loud. Forgetting how he shouldn't be touching Astrid. Forgetting the reasons why she wasn't exactly his wife-to-be anymore, why he didn't have any more rights for affections toward her. How it was wrong of them to share those kisses and cuddles in the past three days. But, did they even care? No.
Though this wasn't Astrid, this was her mother. A fearsome woman that was never willing to accept a union between Stoick's scrawny son and her daughter. A prideful mother that only thought of strong alliances, war, and family beneficence. She always thought Hiccup was never to be capable of economically sustain a family and that his offspring would turn out to be as weak and useless as he was.
But Astrid thought otherwise. Astrid rarely found herself dealing with her mother and Hiccup arguing on what was best for her. At those kind of times, she always preferred to go and get lost with him. Try and forget why her mother was being too harsh on their relationship.
One of the reasons why Hiccup usually avoided contact with Bertha, was because he didn't want Astrid to be affected by how her mother treated him. Being the Chief's son didn't ring any fortunate bells to Bertha. It just wasn't enough for her.
No wonder why she had been so eager to meet the third promised day. She wanted her daughter to marry Billus. She wanted Astrid to be the key for an everlasting alliance that would protect Berk from further disasters.
With that last thought, Hiccup glanced one last time at his sleeping beauty and allowed the hefty woman drag him out of the room. "I'll stay here until she wakes up."
"Yeh have more important things ta take care of." She then slammed the door on his face. Having him wait with unbelievable patience behind that door. Pacing back and forth, waiting for a sign of alert, news that could assure him Astrid was to be alright.
Vanished the memory, Hiccup paced without rhythm through the stoned roads of the village, gazing down at his moving feet, palms wide open on his sides, fingers cold and lips chapped dry.
His feet led him to an empty, dark forge. Only the light rays of daylight allowed his eyes to find the obstacles he had to avoid, not to trip and fall. Toothless had gone to unknown grounds. Guessing he might be somewhere with Stormfly, cherishing those last few hours he wished he could share with Astrid.
It surprised him how smart Toothless turned out to be. He knew something was up.
Even though neither Hiccup nor Astrid could ever confirm there was truly something between their two dragons, they always knew how the two of them communicated in a way that made them all understand something special had grown between both dragons.
For the past three days, Toothless had found his ways to assist Hiccup on all he needed with, but he made several glances at directions Hiccup couldn't understand. Then, after knowing all work for him was done, Toothless would run off and out of sight. Next thing he knew, people were talking on how they saw Toothless somewhere in the village walking alongside the female Nadder, sitting on a mountain nearby, or even fishing together.
Perhaps a very strong friendship. Who knows? They still hadn't figured out whether dragons were interested in mating with a different class. Guess that was still left to figure out.
After leaving Astrid's house, he made one last trip to the Dragon Training Academy, and searched inside the supply rooms for something he could use to keep Astrid on Berk for at least a longer period of time.
But he had no luck. His eyes felt heavy, tired. He spent all three days completely restless, not having even the slightest chance of getting closer to what he hoped he could find. But, what exactly was he looking for?
Not even Hiccup knew what he was searching for. He just wanted to find something that could at least put a small halt to the arrangement, laws that could be used as suggestions for a better way of forming a good alliance between tribes. Anything.
Once his feet took him to the Blacksmith Shop, his eyes found the bed he'd been working on every time he found the time between his busy chief schedules. Frowning in curiosity as he notices the project's half uncovered, he walked toward it and suddenly felt a small wave of irritation as he threw the covers back over the bed.
He could have sworn he'd warn Gobber and Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins not to touch any of his projects for they were highly delicate and precious to him.
All of his projects were, but the ones he poured his entire heart and feelings in were most valuable to him. Those, were usually the ones he made for Toothless or Astrid.
But then it hit him, what if it was Astrid the one who had found this unfinished surprise?
"It wouldn't be of much importance if I'll lose her soon enough." His words ghosted daringly out of his lips without any concern from his brain, making him feel as if it were spines that slit open their way out of his throat.
His lips brought a small, pained smile when within his thoughts, images of how he pictured his future with the woman of his eternal dreams were to be.
As his hands slowly uncovered the bed once again, just enough for him to appreciate the unpolished wood frames, he imagined once again her long curls all over her bare back, stubbornly taking most of the bed for herself.
His hand floated to his vision of her and moved to trace down the small of her back, drawing with his fingers the small depth of skin that evidenced her spinal cord existed in the middle of her back.
When his fingers moved upward to find their way to her head, his vision of her vanished as soon as his sight became opaque by the well that daringly took over his emerald eyes.
Soon after, small and silent tears rolled down his cheek.
Believing that there was another way, even when he still couldn't find anything, Hiccup took in a deeper breath, allowing his tears roll down his stubborn eyes, especially now that no one wandered around to catch a glimpse of him.
With every painful pound of his heart, his feet retreated. Backing away from the bed that soon made him realize how he at times, had to learn how to give up.
"I'm sorry, dad." He began. Low of voice. Struggling to find ways to speak without feeling as if it was like swimming through an iced river. "I didn't make it. I told you, I'm not the kind of man you always wanted me to be, I...have failed on nearly everything I should hold on to and know that should be valuable to me. I know, I should have known how to balance the burden and not carry it on my own. I should have learned when you once taught me that in a relationship, burdens are to be shared and not reserved within. I ruined your plans, my plans. And I... I tried. I swear I tried but I can't seem to be able to do anything about it. And that's what truly angers me. Not being able to do anything, even as the chief. You said, it was better to sacrifice in order to prevent a disaster. But, Astrid?"
Mentioning her name cut his own words off as his lungs begged for a quick breath, "Why does she have to be the sacrifice this time? I never thought I had to give up the thing I love most, hel, I never even imagined I was ever capable of caring for someone like that. Now that I know how much she truly means to me..." He looked up at the fair skies out the openings of the forge "...I'll have to give her up."
His words meant something, of course. But they were all hollow. Aside from pain dripping from every single one of them, none had any true meaning to his knowledge. He spoke of how he felt, how everything orbiting him turned out to be, but none of that did he truly believe. His mind still remained on the possibilities of finding hope somewhere. Despite everything else.
Yet, words were partially stronger than he expected, as they made his feet continue backing up, and a sudden thump against a wall shelf making all the nails, hammers, cans, knives and whatnot fall over his head and make loud noises once contracted against the ground. His knuckles cleared his eyes and he chuckled. Thinking on how now he had to clean all this mess before Gobber comes in and scolds him for being overly messy.
As he kneeled, Hiccup began taking the hammers first and placed them back on the shelves. When he kneeled the second time, brushing his fingers on the stoned floor, and grabbing every nail he found, his eyes caught a well rolled script threatening to fall out of the metal vase that had fallen from the shelves and landed not so far from him.
His hands let go of the nails and took a hold of the roll. Standing up, he unrolled the old-yellowed paper in his hands and frowned as he began curiously reading its content.
Hiccup's eyes then widened once he analyzed the meaning of each sentence. "Wait a minute..."
His chest rose and fell mimicking his heart's usual rhythm. Next thing he knew, he had flashed out the shop, yelling "Toothless!"
But Toothless was still nowhere to be spotted.
That didn't stop Hiccup from running his breath out through the streets, sending soft prayers to the gods above him not to allow his usual clumsiness to have him trip on his prosthetic foot and fall on his face. Fortunately—for once—the gods might seem to be on his side as he felt a sudden force push him to run even faster.
Toothless was laying on his stomach, on a tall land not so far from the anchorage. His head facing forward, resting sadly on his paws as he watched—from the distance—how Stormfly climbed on the biggest boat and Astrid locked herself into the main cabin.
The fair female Viking was willing to give up her power of will for the sake of her village, for the benefit of those she loved the most. Her ghosted presence was there, she didn't feel like saying any goodbyes, to hear blessings from the elders, to even look at anyone. It had been her last choice, along with trying her best to avoid everyone on the ship, especially Billus' future approach intents. thinking, that now nothing was left for her to say or do. Decisions were already made for her and all she had in mind for the moment, was nothing but all those memories she intended to keep vivid in her heart and sight, just to make her voyage less painful, less torturing...less lonely.—Asides from also keeping herself from just wanting to rip someone's heart out and crush it with her own hand—
Naturally, the Alpha Dragon wasn't happy with the thought of having Stormfly leave to unknown lands, where he wouldn't be certain on how she will be treated. Only the impolite look on the sailor's faces as soon as she reached port said it all. They all glanced at the female dragon with not caution, but displease.
All the while, Astrid glared back at all of them as if her eyes threatened them loud enough not to dare touch her dragon and even though Toothless wanted to convince himself that being with Astrid would mostly guarantee her protection, it still wasn't soothing enough.
They could protect each other very well as dragon and bonded rider, but Toothless wanted to be the one protecting the Blue Nadder, as much as Hiccup wanted to with the reserved warrior whose life's course had drastically changed.
He snapped alarmed once he heard Hiccup call out for him, moving his ears side to side. Head shooting back up as he recognized the direction from where this familiar voice was coming from when he saw Hiccup run toward him, faster than he would think of.
Toothless tilted his head to the side in confusion when Hiccup yelled, waving his left arm in direction to the docks, holding the roll tightly on his right "Toothless! Stop that ship!"
Toothless blinked, but as he saw how worked up Hiccup was, Toothless didn't wait any longer. With the orders of halting the voyage, he was content enough. So he jumped from his restful spot, got ahead of the agitated human and ran down the wooden ramps, skipping one over the other to avoid the annoying spirals he had to make in order to reach the sand.
When he saw the ship begin to float away from its assigned dock, the Night Fury took in a deep breath and beamed a plasma shot at the sails, making the ship stumble side to side and soon halt its further navigation.
Every sailor ran alarmed to the railings of the ship, throwing ropes to the men at the docks, but they were too far to be pulled back to land.
Stormfly trotted over to the ship's pore, squawking at the Night Fury as Astrid dashed out of the cabin, curious to know what was going on when Hiccup climbed on the Night Fury's back, ignored how Bertha rushed herself toward him and moved the pedal backwards.
Sooner than thought, Toothless abandoned the grounds and glided to the ship, landing right in front of Stormfly and Astrid, who had her hand resting on the Dragon's wing comforting her so she wouldn't get scared and suddenly start shooting spikes all over the place.
"Wait!" Hiccup exclaimed as he climbed off his dragon, "This voyage is canceled!"
"Hiccup?" Astrid mumbled, he glanced down at her, but as breathless as he was, he tried to keep his serious posture and turned to face back at Osch and his son who were walking past Astrid and getting closer to the fatigued dragon trainer.
"What on Thor's name is going on here, Hiccup?!" Osch irritably said.
"Now you'll have to fix my sails! Do you know how precious they are? We got them from Athens!" Billus said. Crossing his arms over his chest.
"I promise, I will fix them. But first, you must know something very important." Hiccup said.
"Then spit it out at once, boy!" Osch said. Resting his knuckles on his sides.
"Astrid—she can't go with you." Hiccup breathed.
"What?" All three—Osch, Billus and Astrid—said in unison. Then Osch frowned back down at the young chief before him, "We have discussed this before, Hiccup. It's been decided."
"No, listen to me. She—" he breathed "She can't go anywhere with you because of this." He showed them the roll in his hand.
Osch snarled unconvinced and snatched the script from Hiccup's hand, unrolling it and beginning to read.
"You know, this kind of interruption to a fair deal will cost you, Hiccup." Billus carelessly said.
Hiccup grinned impossibly audacious and slowly walking closer to Astrid," I am aware of that. But if any treaty is meant to be formed, then it can, but it cannot involve Astrid or compromise her in any way."
Billus seemed eager to know what the young chief meant by that, so he went over to his father and peeked for some reading over his father's arm.
Astrid stepped forward, closing the gap between them, "What is going on, Hiccup?" She whispered just for him to hear.
His lips stretched into a brighter smile, cheeks flushed in dark pink for the exercise, chest still uncontrollably rising and falling, but both of his hands found hers and encased them in his own, lacing their fingers together. His eyes glistened, his teeth shown as he took in a deep breath and let away a long sigh of relief "My dad, Astrid. My dad has taken care of everything without us even knowing."