Disclaimer: I do not own How to train your dragon or anything near it at all… just the story
~True Love's Kiss Chapter 10~
Helping Hands
Okay, so maybe she was a bit delirious, but she didn't remember the ground feeling this soft or silky. She snuggled deeper and turned, only to find a pillow. Still keeping her eyes closed, she hugged it tighter and breathed in its scent. It smelled like royalty…
That was when she snapped awake. She sat up strait and whipped her head around her surroundings. This was most definitely not her room. She looked up, and fought a blush as soon as she saw the prince. Fortunately though, he was in a deep sleep as he probably fell asleep on his desk, doing something. She quietly stood up, and noticed that his cape was the blanket she was wrapped in. She took it in her hands gently, before starting to fold it neatly, as she fixed the bed along with it…
Just as she was about to leave the room, curiosity got the best of her and she changed courses and went towards the desk, where the prince was sleeping. She took a peek over his shoulder and noticed that he had started to draw up some tail, and there were a few small samples of different cloths beside it. She quirked her head sideways, where does he get all this stuff? She then picked up some metal she also noticed, and realized they were of different weights, so they're probably not all metal.
There were also some writings on the drawings, some measurements and all, along with some suit thing she doesn't recognize, but it sure looked like a suit meant for flying. She had to hold back a snort as she thought of it impossible. She didn't know the prince loved to tinker with stuff. She looked over a few drawings and hoped to find some inventions he was planning to make. Unfortunately, her curiosity left her common sense to remain quiet as she was shuffling the papers, succeeding in waking up the prince…
At first he thought it was just the wind, but it wasn't that windy today so he thought it was Toothless who was flying by his window, but he remembered that Toothless couldn't fly anymore, not with that half tail fin of his of course. But then he heard some metals being placed back on to the table, and the shuffling continued. His head was turned towards his bed and realized that the lady knight was nowhere on it sleeping. He slowly turned his head to take a peak if it was her, when he found her immersed in looking over some of his inventions back then…
He watched her, amused as he saw her shift her gaze from one drawing to the next. Soon enough she found some mini catapult he had built, and was just about to stop her, when she had already launched it. "Ow!" he yelped as the stone hit his forehead. Astrid squeaked and immediately placed the invention down and winced a she saw the small wound. At least he was still awake…
"Sorry," she said, "I didn't really know it was loaded." She explained and touched his forehead, which only made him wince, since it was still hurting, "Sorry." She said again and he sighed…
"Nah, it's fine." He said, "I probably should learn to be careful with my inventions anyway." He said and put the mini catapult away, "So how are you doing this fine morning m'lady?" he asked teasingly, missing the faint blush on her cheeks…
"Fine… until I hit you." She replied and he smiled at her…
"Really it's fine," he said, "I get wounded all the time with my inventions, and I'm the creator." He said and she rolled her eyes at him, "What?" he asked and she gave him a punch in the arm, "Ow!" he yelped again, gods, she could really pack a punch, "Why would you do that?"
"That was for not being careful." She said and turned on her heels, resuming the notion of getting out of the room he was in. He just rubbed his arm, not sure what to say next. He decided he wasn't going to push her buttons, but he just had to open his mouth…
"Well, that's a nice way of thanking the one that let you sleep in his bed, and apologizing for hitting his head." He said to her sarcastically. Astrid stopped in her tracks and sighed. She turned once more and walked up straight to him, stopping only right in front of him as she crossed her arms across her chest…
"What do you want?" she asked and he shrugged…
"How about we just start over?" he offered his hand, and she twitched. He was too kind and forgiving for his own good. Plus he wasn't much of a negotiator. She'll need to teach him that probably… but then again, maybe not…
"What were you planning today?" she asked and he blinked at her…
"What?"
"I don't like repeating myself." She stated and he rolled his eyes…
"Well I'm sorry m'lady, I'll try not to do it again." He retorted, and she was rally beginning to rethink the reason why she even wanted him to wake up. He seemed much more agreeable when he was sleeping. "Anyway, I was going to start working on bringing him back to the air, but I don't really know which one of these would best fit, or be used for flight, or as a substitute for half of Toothless' tailfin." He finished as he sat back down on his chair and started to analyze the materials…
"Fishlegs can help." She said and Hiccup stared at her…
"Uh… Fishlegs?" he really wasn't much for recalling names, "Which one was he again?" he asked and she stared at him incredulously…
"The biggest guy by the table? The with that spouts invaluable facts every now and then due to his use of statistics?" she explained, hoping he'd remember Fishlegs before she'd have to drag the poor guy to help Berk's prince. Hiccup had been recalling for a moment, before his eyes brightened…
"Oh yeah! That would be a good, no, excellent idea! He could help me with the measurement, the balance of these stuff plus with the-" and Astrid decided to mute him from that point. Not that she wasn't interested, it was just she didn't understand, and would probably have no idea what he was going to say more…
"Okay, so I'll get going then." She said Hiccup paused rambling…
"Go? Go where?" he asked as he stood up to follow her…
"Back to the others." She stated and he nodded his head in understanding…
"Yeah, okay, I'll, uh, see you around… I suppose." He mumbled and scratched the back of his head. Astrid just opened the door and was about to shut the door, when Hiccup pulled it open once more, "Oh, can I, never mind…" he trailed off. Astrid paused the door from closing and opened it…
"Can you what?" she asked, and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly…
"Uh, you know, take Stormfly out for a spin, but we won't take too long, I promise." He said and she tilted her head…
"Oh alright!" she exclaimed, "She needs her morning flight anyway." She mumbled and walked away as Hiccup whooped in joy inside his room. As soon as Astrid arrived inside their room, Ruffnut was already up and geared on her armor and raised an eyebrow at Astrid…
"And where have you been?" she asked as she continued to strap her weapons, "Didn't see you on bed when I woke up, and we both know I wake up before you." Astrid rolled her eyes and continued to prepare herself for their day…
"Oh you know, here and there, around and about, under and over, nowhere and everywhere." She replied and Ruffnut snorted…
"If you were, you're definitely part troll." She was then hit in the head with a sheath of a dagger, "Hey!" she exclaimed and Astrid just ignored her, "Moody person, I swear she's more bipolar than that mood dragon of Camicazi-" thwack! She was hit by a shoe in the head, "Alright that's it!" she then stomped towards Astrid and pounced on the girl, who had just about enough time to dodge the girl before she was hit on the face but, unmistakably, Ruffnut's fist…
"This is so on!" Astrid exclaimed and it turned into a full out brawl between the two knights…
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Tuffnut was busy turning and flipping his food, expecting it to be more extravagant than back at home, but to his disappointment, it seemed normal. He turned to Fishlegs, who was eating to his heart's delight, "Uh, not to destroy your appetite or anything, but are we on Berk?" he asked and Fishlegs stopped eating…
"Yes, we are." Tuffnut turned to his food…
"Then why are our food looking like the ones back on Outcast island?" he said, "There's nothing great here at all." He continued and poked around…
"How can you say such a thing?" Fishlegs exclaimed, "Berk has the resources and the dragons, they've got good trading capabilities even after four years of falling behind and they are the richest in all the barbaric archipelago-"
"Yeah, that seems great and all, but where are all the good food?" he stared at his plate, even lifting it up to check what's under, "I don't see it." Fishlegs sighed…
"That's because they're saving it until the engagement party and the wedding feast, they want everything to be perfect for Prince Hiccup's betrothal." He explained…
"Well, why didn't you say so earlier?" Tuffnut said, finally feeling satisfied, "Let's go talk to the king then to move up the wedding!"
"Move up the what?" asked Astrid as she walked towards them, rubbing her shoulders and neck and shot a glare at the other blonde who was stretching her back…
"Gods Astrid," groaned Ruffnut, "You got me good…" she stated and shoved her brother aside, causing him to tumble backwards as she sat down and ate his neglected meal…
"Hey!" he piped up, "That was my food!"
"Oh, sorry, I thought you didn't want it since you were so busy complaining."
"Give me my delicious food!" he demanded…
"Try and get it," Ruffnut said and swallowed a bite before Tuffnut pounced on her, causing another brawl to get lose. Astrid sighed and sat down beside Fishlegs, before taking a few pieces of bread and chicken and ate her breakfast. A few moments later, Heather finally came down, beaming at them…
"Good morning knights!" she exclaimed, "How are you?" she asked and both Fishlegs and Astrid exchanged glances. They weren't used to seeing Heather this happy…
"Uh, we're good," Fishlegs stared…
"Yeah, good, good as new." Astrid added, Heather nodded and proceeded to get her breakfast…
"Don't you think it's a fine day today?" she said as she sat down, "A perfect day to fly our dragons over Berk, see the view, just relax…"
"Oh, yes! Thank you for reminding me!" Fishlegs exclaimed, "I have to check up on Meatlug afterwards, how about you Astrid? Are you checking up on Stormfly?"
"Huh?" Astrid asked as she stared at him, "Oh yes!" she then turned to Heather, "Princess, would you like to come with us while we check the dragons?" she shook her head…
"Oh no, please go before me, I'll wait here for the prince." She said and smiled at them. They both nodded and proceeded to go to the stables. They were talking about the most basic things, and once they reached the stables, Astrid had just remembered something…
"Uh, Astrid, where's Stormfly?" Fishlegs asked as he looked around and only saw two dragons, Ruff and Tuff's Zippleback, and his own lovable Gronckle. Astrid groaned as soon as she remembered why her dragon was nowhere in sight…
"Sigh, I guess I'll have to catch up later." She mumbled and turned, "So what else should we do?" Fishlegs just shrugged and resumed to taking care of his Gronckle…
After a few moments of staying there, analyzing the stables, the doors swung wide open, and a whistling filled the air, and in came a big burly boy, but not quite tall than both of them, but he held himself high and saw them. His eyes landed on Astrid and his lips immediately formed into a smirk. Astrid inwardly groaned, 'Not another one,' she thought and turned back to pay attention to Meatlug more…
"Well Hel-o," he greeted as he came near them, successfully ignoring Fishlegs who was fidgeting in his place, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" he asked, obviously trying to make a move, Astrid rolled her eyes and turned to him…
"Aren't you a sore sight for the eyes?" she rebutted and he kept smiling at her, which made Astrid try to at least resist the urge to punch him…
"I'm Snotlout Jorgenson." He introduced and still she would spare him a glance…
"And I'm not interested." She stated…
"I'm Fishlegs!" Fishlegs butted in, feeling kind of left out, but when the other boy gave him a glare for interrupting their moment, he let out a short squeak, before getting his dragon, "Well, I best be getting off now so… bye!" and he rode on his dragon as they flew out the stables. Astrid just stared at the large boy flying away. She could not believe he would just leave her there with a stranger! She was not a people-person. In fact, she has very poor interactions with them that usually results into either one or both of them being seriously injured…
"Well babe, now that the third wheel's gone, how about a bit of time alone and some- UGH!" Astrid shoved him aside towards the hay, "You should come by some time! You look like you work out!" he yelled after as he tried to spit some of the hays out of his mouth, "Hey, this isn't so bad." He mumbled to himself as he lied back down on the hay before Hookfang, his dragon that managed to snuck in blew the hays on fire, "AH!" he yelled and immediately dove to the nearest water supply…
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Hiccup had been in the cove for hours end now, and had only realized just how hungry he was when his stomach grumbled. Toothless and Stormfly both looked at him before they started to spit back part of their undigested fish for him. "Uh, no thanks, I think I should probably be getting back now." He stated and started to pack up, when he heard a distant fluttering of wings…
"Oh Prince Hiccup hi!" he heard and saw a large boy riding atop a Gronckle, "Prince Hiccup!" he waved at them and Hiccup waved back, the boy landed and got off from his dragon and approached them, "Whoa! So this is what a night fury looks like up close…" he muttered and Hiccup smiled at him. It was nice to see that someone was as interested with the dragons as him, probably even more. "Oh and his tailfin." He pointed out, "So, what are you going to do about it?" he asked and Hiccup shrug…
"I don't really know, I mean, all the metals around seemed pretty great, but, I want something lightweight, yet still extremely durable, but I can't find one."
"True, no man can produce that kind of metal," he said and Hiccup stared at him…
"Fishlegs… right?" he asked and he brightened up…
"Wow, you actually remembered me!" he exclaimed, "This is so cool, after one introduction the prince remembered me!" Hiccup chuckled nervously; better not pop his bubble out. "So this is where Stormfly been all along," he added, "Anyway, as I was saying, no metal produced by man may not be a suitable material for the tail, but from a dragon," he then patted his dragon affectionately, "Specifically Gronckle iron would fit the description."
"Gronckle iron?" Hiccup asked, "Amazing, they can produce such metal? What is it?" he asked, eager to know. He didn't know he'd missed this much in four years. If only he had been awake. Another regret as to why he was the unfortunate recipient of the curse.
"Gronckle iron is extremely lightweight. It may not look like it'll do much damage, but it can cut a sword even ten times its weight. That's how durable it is. It's more suitable because aside from being extremely durable, it won't add too much weight for the night fury and damage his tail too much with the extra weight." He finished proudly, "Oh, we've brought some by the way, how much do you need?"
"You've brought some?" asked Hiccup, "How did you know this by the way?" he asked…
"It's more of an accident really," stated Fishlegs, "I mean I just kept feeding Meatlug more and more rocks and then boom, she vomited some pile of metal and then we tested it out." Hiccup stared at the night fury's tail before shifting back to Fishlegs…
"Come on," he quickly mounted up Stormfly, "Let's get this tailfin done." Fishlegs nodded and immediately they flew away. "I'll be back bud," Hiccup stated, "And fortunately, I'll be able to get you flying already." Toothless warbled to him and Hiccup held out his hand. Toothless touched his snout to his human's hand and snorted, a sign telling him to go. Hiccup nodded and reluctantly flew away, leaving his dragon behind. The flight back to the castle was a bit silent, solely because Hiccup was too busy thinking about Toothless, while Fishlegs was too awkward to start a conversation with the prince…
"So…" FIshlegs started, "How're you feeling?" he asked and Hiccup stared at him and smiled…
"Fine… I guess?" he asked before sighing, "Everything just seems so… different." He says, "I sleep for a moment, more like four years, and the world seems different than what I had come to know." He finishes and Fishlegs listen attentively…
"I can see where you're coming from," he says, "More like what you're feeling. Sometimes I wake up every day, and I always think about what's coming, but then when I look back, I realized that there were just too many things that had changed." He said, "We live every day, not seeing the changes, but the moment we look back, we realize everything had changed." Hiccup smiles at him lopsidedly. Soon enough, they were already back at the palace…
"Four years have done you good my prince." Hiccup heard and looked up, he stared at the guard for a moment, before his eyes widened and he held his head in his hands…
"Eret?!" he exclaimed, "You've grown!" he pointed out, and the royal guard laughed at him…
"You've grown too Prince Hiccup." He rebutted but Hiccup shook his head…
"Not like you! I mean, wow, look at those muscles!" he exclaimed before slumping, "Why didn't I get those?" he mumbled to himself…
"Stormfly!" they heard, and the dragon squawked approaching its rider. Astrid rushed to her dragon and hugged her as Stormfly snuggled and nudged her back. Hiccup smiled as he watched the two of them. His smile falters a moment as he remembers Toothless, and wonders what he was feeling right now. Eret cleared his throat as he approached the young prince…
"The king wants an audience with you, young lord." He says and Hiccup sighs…
"Of course, the daily meeting and preparation and catching up must not be delayed any longer. The gods only know how long we've fallen behind." He says sarcastically. As usual, Fishlegs doesn't get it…
"I beg to differ though, even after four years, Berk is still unrivaled whether by its unusual terrain, and beauty, or by their riches and dragons."
"And I rest my case." Hiccup says before walking in the palace, "See you guys later." Eret and him walks side by side, "I still don't like it."
"Don't like what, Prince Hiccup?" asked Eret…
"This!" he exclaims, and Eret quirks up an eyebrow…
"Waking up?"
"No!" Hiccup exclaims before sighing, "The marriage." Eret nods in understanding…
"Well, I've been hearing rumors about Berk during the four years we've been sleeping."
"Oh?" Hiccup asks, no one had mentioned it to him at all. Even his father had been tight lipped about it whenever he asked. "Do tell me, no one's been saying anything about it."
"Well, it's not quite a good story," Eret says unsurely, "But all I know is that there had been many deaths in the quests. I mean, the villagers had seen giant tunnels, skeletons on the grounds near the market, broken stalls, missing things, bloodied sheets." He admits, "I can see why they don't want to say that to you though, but I figured you need to know. You have the right to know." Hiccup nodded at him and smiled. He placed a hand on Eret's shoulder before he stepped inside his father's study.
All those lives lost, that was something he didn't even want to think about, but he couldn't help but feel guilty. Not only did the dragons have a hard time during those four years. The humans who went through the quest to wake him up hadn't survived either. He wonders how many families he had been responsible for killing their beloved family member. How many people had tried in vain to return to their families? How many dreams had he broken before he was finally awoken?
"Ah, son, you're finally here." His father said, his thick accent booming through the large study, "We need to talk."
"Not now dad," he said, "I have to say something first." Stoick quirked up an eyebrow, but nodded nonetheless to his son. Hiccup proceeded to talk, "This is ridiculous!" he started, he had gotten the whole speech planned out in his head, but usually, in the presence of his father, every plan gets thrown out of the window. "Did you know we probably killed countless of people and dragon by giving them that deal for my hand in marriage!?" he exclaimed, "And what about this whole marriage anyway? Who came up with that!?"
"The curse said only true love's kiss would break the spell." He explained, "I'm pretty sure you'll love whoever wakes you up directly." He states calmly, making Hiccup lose his cool all the more…
"Love!?" he shouts, "I barely even know her!"
"You knew her."
"But I don't! I know the basics, everything everyone will know. I don't love her."
"Knowing her doesn't mean you can't fall in love with her." He states, "Which is why we are waiting until you're twenty years of age."
"And what if I fall for someone else?!" he asked and Stoick shakes his head…
"You won't."
"But what if-"
"Enough Hiccup!" his father finally says, and Hiccup shuts up. Stoick sighs, "I know it's a lot to take in, but Heather's a great girl. And about those lives that were lost for your sake, we're honoring them tomorrow. I was going to ask you about the academy, but a little bird tells me you've been out all day with Toothless."
"You mean Gobber?" he asks, knowing the answer. Stoick blinks before clearing his throat…
"Alright, we're done. Oh, and you have to meet with the wedding planner this afternoon, Heather's going to be there." Hiccup holds back a groan and sighs instead. There's no use fighting the inevitable now.
"Of course, father." Calling him father was rare for Hiccup, he usually uses the word 'dad' instead. The use of the word means he's clearly accepting his father's decision, but he's not happy with it. Hiccup walks out and refrains from shutting the door, not that he could really shut the door. It was too heavy for him, when he spots Astrid, looking sheepishly at him, "You heard?" he asked, not really comfortable knowing that someone could have heard him saying those things, especially about their princess…
"Heard? Heard what?" she asked awkwardly, "I didn't hear anything, was it supposed to be a secret? Because if I did, I won't tell anyone, I swear." She asks, smiling awkwardly as well. And Hiccup just laughs soflty…
"It's fine, if you did hear though, which you insist you don't," he gives Astrid a stare, indicating he's not believing her, "I apologize for the things I had said."
"It's fine," she says, "I understand marrying a complete stranger seems scary, but two years is a lot of time to get to know Princess Heather."
"So you were eavesdropping." Astrid slumps as her covers been blown already. Expect the prince to come up with a brilliant and creative plan of gaining a confession from the culprit, "You're guilty as charged Milady." He teased and Astrid scowls…
"Oh shut up." She mumbles and Hiccup just laughs.
AN: Okay, so that's chapter 10 everyone :3 hope you enjoyed it. Don't worry, things will get real interesting soon ;)
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