DISCLAIMER: One drink of this magic potion, and I will have the power to make HTTYD all mine foreveEEEUGH! What the…oh man…it's Yaknog! *gags* And you can really taste the yak…
SPOILERS: This fic is considerably AU, so none except a few already widely-known aspects of plot and characters are involved.
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Boundless
PREVIOUSLY: At her nudging, the hand stroking Sharpshot stilled, the energy it took to produce that bit of movement seeming to transfer to his face as mouth began to twitch and his eyelids began to flutter…the wonderful and welcome signs of a person coming back to life. She smiled as she watched those long lashes finally part to reveal that beautiful emerald she had been so longing to see…gods how she'd missed those eyes. He inhaled and exhaled deeply through his nose, chest visibly rising and falling with the action, gaze never leaving Astrid's as he acknowledged her the best he could.
"H-h-hey."
Chapter 9
The sound of Hiccup's voice – weak and scratchy as it was from hours of disuse and likely also from the injury to his throat – had Astrid's heart soaring…yet aching for him at the same time. Almost immediately he broke into a small fit of gasping, painful-sounding coughs, breath wheezing in and out as he fought to catch it. Astrid's hand instantly went to his hair to soothe him, nimble fingers caressing the silky auburn strands and reminding him that he wasn't alone. "Don't talk, okay?" she whispered as she continued the motion. "You were hurt, you've been out for a while…don't strain yourself on my account."
Giving his hair one more stroke, she removed her hand to reach into her belt pouch containing the items she'd procured from the healer's stash. "I brought you some stuff that I hope helps." She opened the first jar of ointment, deciding it would work best for treating his welt, and scooped a fair amount of the thick white substance onto her fingertips. "Hold really still, okay?" When he nodded, she gently pressed one coated finger to the side of his neck, testing his reaction to the bruise being touched before applying the rest of them and rubbing in slow, circular motions. She felt his body stiffen a little at first, but then ultimately relax as she continued her careful ministrations.
"Wha' 'appened…?" came the hoarse but already more strongly spoken question.
"You were hit here," Astrid responded softly, finishing rubbing the salve into the injury. "By Viggo, remember?"
Hiccup took a minute to search his thoughts, staring blankly at the ceiling of his room before his eyes cleared in sharp recollection. "Oh…right."
Wiping her greasy hands onto the washcloth that now lay unused in the straw, Astrid echoed his statement with a little more force behind it. "Yeah…right." Much like he had just remembered the blow, she now also had just recalled the events that surrounded it…specifically her surprise discovery about the clay pots as her stare landed on the one she'd brought down with her. "That's all you have to say?" She blinked hard and turned her eyes, now glittering with anger, back to him.
"W-well…you did tell me n-not to talk," Hiccup got out with slight difficulty, causing the sudden tension between them to quickly snap.
"Now isn't the time for your sarcasm, Hiccup!" she quietly but pointedly rebuked. "When I was carrying you out of the dining hall, I accidentally knocked over two more of those water pots…they fell from clear up on the shelf, but you know the funny thing?" She glared at him, icy blue eyes boring into increasingly guilty-looking green ones. Just as she suspected…he'd known exactly what he'd been doing. Infuriated, she stood and picked up the water pot that sat beside her before dropping the object onto the ground from chest-height, watching in satisfaction as Hiccup noticeably flinched at the impact.
She then quickly retrieved the completely intact vessel before any liquid could seep out around the lid, sitting it right-side up once more and re-pinning Hiccup with a stern stare. "They don't break from a simple fall…do they." It wasn't a question, and the brunet winced with the knowledge that he'd been found out. When he began to open his mouth, no doubt to offer up a defense for what he did, she pounced right back on him in determination to keep striking while the iron was hot.
"Why, Hiccup?!" she yelled as loudly as was safe…and then her voice abruptly softened, all the ire draining out as quickly as it had come. "Why…why did you do that?" She lowered herself to her knees beside him again. "That pot would've had to have been thrown down in order to break, not just dropped. Why would you do that for me…?"
His expressive eyes were as calm and certain as hers were questioning and stricken when he looked back at her, a tiny quirk of his lips causing her heart to skip a beat. "You just a-answered your own question," he said simply, the rasp almost completely gone now from his voice. "I did it for you. He was gonna hit you a-and all I could do was distract him 'cause I…I-I couldn't watch that." Raw emotion replaced the calmness upon the words.
"You couldn't…you—" Astrid choked out, incredulity overwhelming her at the double-standards of his confession. "And how do you think I felt watching you get hit?! Watching you take the damn blow when it should've been me?!" She was alarmed to feel tears pricking at her eyes but knew there was no stopping herself now. "It should've been me, Hiccup…" she repeated in a gentler tone. "I saw you go down, and I couldn't even go over to you when I did because of Viggo, and when he finally left you were just laying there not moving with this huge bruise forming and I…"
Her hand stretched out then of its own accord, fingers coming to rest feather-light on his throat and relishing the steady pulse she could feel beneath the delicate skin. Scrunching her eyes tightly shut at the harrowing memory of having had to search for his pulse hours earlier, she didn't move to swipe away the tear that escaped as she reopened them. "I thought he'd broken your neck," she finished in a heartsick whisper.
"Oh no," Hiccup instantly shook his head, mortified at the fact that he'd made the young woman cry when he'd never seen her do it before. "No, Lady Astrid, it's okay…I'm okay." He caught her shiny blue eyes with his jade ones, smiling appreciatively into them before covering the hand she had on his perfectly unbroken neck with his own, squeezing gently. "Thanks to you."
"What…?" she furrowed her blonde brow lightly in confusion. "I didn't—"
"You brought me down here," Hiccup interrupted with the surety she lacked. "Carried me down here, no less, to where I'd be safest, treated my injury…Lady Astrid—I mean…" His voice was full of wonder and gratitude. "There is no one else…absolutely no one on this entire island…who would've ever done anything like that for me." He removed his hand from hers to reach up and thumb away another tear that was sliding down her unblemished cheek, warmth flushing through them both at his tender gesture. "I can never repay you enough."
"Well…consider us even after what you did for me," Astrid smiled back at him, taking that hand in her own and lowering both his and hers down to rest against his chest. "Even if your total lack of regard for your own safety did piss me off…that doesn't mean I'm not grateful that you had such concern for mine. So the thanks is mutual." Her smile widened then into an impish grin as she playfully winked at him. "Wasn't that hard to carry you down here anyway, string bean."
Hiccup's light giggling at her fond teasing made everything she had been through that night all worth it. "Nah, I suppose not with a tough woman like you. And hey…" He touched the hand that wasn't held by hers to the side of his neck. "My bruise feels better already…you're pretty good at that nursemaid kinda thing, too."
"Oh, you're sweet," Astrid laughed with a self-deprecating shake of her head. "But I'm really not…I just did some of the stuff I've seen our own village healer do when I or one of my family members was the patient." She smirked at the thought of the old woman. "Gothi doesn't say a word, but she sure can make a mean poultice."
"You paid pretty good attention, though...if I do say so myself." He matched her smirk. "And I most certainly do."
Butterflies came to life in Astrid's stomach. Gods, that boy sure had a talent for turning a girl's words from before around on her in the most insightful ways. She had to get out of this room now before she lost control over herself and did something stupider than the things she'd already done. If Viggo had seen any part of their exchange, the man would've gone ballistic. She would be berated to no end, probably publically shamed, and Hiccup…well…he would likely be publically executed, with her as a literal captive audience in the front row.
Swallowing thickly at the thought, she decided a change of subject was in order. "Your bed buddy is here with you, you know," she said with a nod to the space beside him. "I think we're keeping him awake with all of our talking."
"Oh!" Hiccup happily exclaimed upon turning his head and seeing the little orange fluff ball curled patiently next to his hip. "Hey there, Sharpshot! Guess you've been guarding me while I was out, huh?"
"Like a watchdog," Astrid confirmed, then backtracked. "Err…I mean…watch-cat, of course."
"Dog…? Ohhh, she didn't mean it, Sharpshot," he cooed mockingly at the feline while throwing a wink at her in turn. "It's just in her nature to be insulting sometimes."
"I'll leave this water here in case you get thirsty or need it for your throat…toothpick."
"Always with the weight," Hiccup teasingly sighed.
"Mutton-head," Astrid fired back.
"Or not."
Astrid shot a glare at him. "No, I actually mean that one," she said with a shake of her head. "Yes, I'm grateful for what you did, but Hiccup…" Her fist met his upper arm before she could stop it in a swift, albeit controlled punch that caused him to yelp more in surprise than in pain. "That's for scaring me!"
Because gods, had he ever scared her…but just as surely as he'd saved her. And with that thought, her body once again betrayed her self-restraint. Only this time, her fist was replaced by her lips…and his upper arm was replaced by his smooth, freckled cheek.
"That's for…everything else." She stood so fast it nearly made her dizzy – or maybe it was that kiss! – and turned to the door, not even looking back at him to see how hard he now had to be blushing…gods knew she certainly was. "Get some rest, Hiccup," she bade softly, pausing as she exited his room. "You've earned it."
"Y-y-you too, L-Lady Astrid. Umm…'night."
"G'night…dork."
His huff of amusement could be heard through the door as Astrid closed it behind her, then leaned against its frame for a few seconds to collect her thoughts and analyze her feelings. Because yes, she knew for sure now, she had feelings for that boy…and thanks in no small part to her little impromptu smooch, she was beginning to fear that they were inching past the boundaries of mere friendship.
Gods help me…
She pushed away from the wood at the realization and set off up the stairs for her room, hoping that maybe she could just sleep it off but at the same time, knowing it was impossible. Those vibrant green eyes, that bright smile, the shy and sweet yet witty personality…just the comprehension that all those and every other wonderful thing about him could've been gone from her life forever in the blink of an eye – or the strike of a fist – had been enough to bring her to tears. She hadn't even cried when she'd left her home and family, for Thor's sake!
What is that boy doing to me…?
As she trudged warily and wearily down the hall to her room, she wasn't quite sure. All she knew for certain was that she couldn't imagine how it would feel to ever lose Hiccup now…
And she definitely never wanted to find out.
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"You know, I haven't forgotten how disappointed in you I am, dearest."
Astrid winced at the cold words as she sat at the dining table with her fiancé, breakfast untouched. She had a feeling this kind of talk was coming sooner or later – she was actually surprised she hadn't gotten it when she was stuck in his war room – and had, as a result of both the subsequent dread as well as her conflicted emotions concerning Hiccup, experienced yet another night of tossing and turning. Not that the man now staring at her with his sharp brown eyes even cared about the bags starting to form under her blue ones, of course…
"Here I gave you a show of good faith…and you let me down."
"And I apologized for it—"
"Don't…" Viggo warned darkly. "Don't give me attitude…it was hard enough to keep my anger dormant when last we spoke. And my patience is very thin as I have already been quite vexed today on how to handle the situation. On whether to keep my slave under your management...or hand him off to someone else."
"Someone else…?" Astrid's heart suddenly leapt into her throat, though she kept her tone calm. "And with the same slave…what about his injury?"
"What other one would it be," came Viggo's flat response. "And the healer's hut was vacant this morning, so it's safe to assume he was cured enough to be returned to his room sometime last night." He examined his nails idly as he spoke. "Furthermore, I care not if the boy is still in pain…his slipshod display with the water pots has hardly earned him a reprieve. He will be going today to replace what his clumsiness lost me…and by all rights, this time I should assign Scythe to escort him."
"Scythe…?" No matter how hard she tried, Astrid's addled brain couldn't place the name with a face…until Viggo did it for her.
"My loyal captain of the guard, dearest. I believe you've met…?"
Oh gods NO!
It felt like all the air had suddenly been sucked from the room. She had met that nasty brute of a man, all right, and there was no way she was letting him get his filthy hands on Hiccup ever again. Just the thought of the boy alone in the woods with that creep was unthinkable…so much so that her mind had gone blank on what to do, what to say—
"However…" Viggo cut into her rising panic, "I realize if our union is to be a successful and prosperous one, compromises must be made on both sides…and forgiveness offered. Therefore, I hope you will grant it to me in regards to yesterday evening." He attempted to smile sincerely at Astrid, but it only came off as sly and slimy to her. "I have a bit of a temper and sometimes I simply lose control of it. I never meant to hurt you or even my slave…not to that degree, anyway."
Liar! Astrid's brain screamed at the man. But she held back and only assented. "Of course not," she shrugged, faking buying into his apology. "I have quite the temper myself, in case you haven't noticed."
"I have indeed." He smirked wryly. "We make a good match."
Like Hel we do! Astrid thinned her lips, silencing her inner thoughts, then forced a smile with gritted teeth.
"And for a show of the restored faith I have in you," Viggo continued, "I'm willing to give you a second chance with my slave and forego the use of Scythe. In fact…you can go ahead and fetch the boy from his room, if you will." He gulped down a final bite of his meal and pushed his bowl away. "Before the two of you leave for the cove, he can clear the dishes as well."
Oh thank Thor, thank Thor… Astrid gladly nodded as she quickly stood from the table. "Of course…I'll be right back." She swallowed her pride and bowed slightly to her future husband. "And my sincerest gratitude to you for reconsidering." So much more than you know…
As calmly and collectedly as she could, she then exited the dining quarters, waiting until she was sure she'd put enough distance between her and Viggo before quickening her pace. Only as she got closer and closer to Hiccup's room did the extreme tension in her body begin to slowly, finally abate…she still had her excuse to keep seeing the young slave. I can still keep him safe…
Astrid found the boy barely waking when she came in, and she couldn't help but smile fondly at the sight. His freckled nose twitched slightly, his dark lashes fluttering and feet shifting about he came to, seemingly as energetic and fidgety when half-asleep as he was when fully up and at 'em. Sharpshot popped his furry head up at her entrance, fixating his yellow eyes on her intently as if to determine she was a friend before apparently finding her worthy and then rising, yawning, and finally trotting off into the hall to go do whatever cats did in the morning.
"Good watch-cat," she quietly complimented as she closed the door behind the feline…but apparently not quietly enough.
"Unnnnhhh…" came a drawn-out groan followed by a languorous stretch of long limbs, both of which – along with the fact that he'd changed into his sleep shirt at some point during the night – caused a small amount of heat to suffuse Astrid's cheeks. "Hmmm…whassit?" She watched as one brilliant emerald eye cracked open, then the other, both of them blinking a couple of times before finally widening into full wakefulness…and surprise of what they had woken to. "As'rid…?"
She laughed affectionately. "Close enough."
"Okaaay…ummm…" He blinked again, harder, and rolled over onto his side to better greet the young woman now sitting next to him in the straw. "Soo…not that I'm complainin', but the first thing I normally see every morning is orange stripy fur…"
Not flowing golden hair like sunshine, or sparkling eyes clear and blue as the ocean…oh man, could I be anymore loopy and lovesick this morning—wait, oh no no no, I didn't mean to think the L-word even though she kissed me but wait, I only thought of it in the form of a compound word…yeah, there, see…? So, not so bad, just an accident, the kiss probably was too, like I said I'm just not used to waking up to a beautiful g-g—gaaah! Stop that, brain…focus, Hiccup!
"So, um," he cleared his throat in embarrassment upon noticing his voice had nearly been starting to squeak…almost as if his babbling inner voice was threatening to break through. "M'sorry if I seem a little…ah—"
"Awkward?" Astrid supplied cheekily, causing Hiccup to blush.
"Yeah…" he surrendered. "Exactly that."
"It's all right," Astrid said with a pat to his shoulder. Awkward is adorable on you anyway…wait, what? Ugh, stop that, brain! "So…" she cleared her throat as well. "You feeling okay?"
"Better than I was last night for sure," Hiccup answered honestly. "I think you severely underestimate your medicinal skill." He sat up and smiled at her, refreshed from a peaceful night's sleep…if that much pinker in the cheeks at the memory of the surprise smooch she had given him right before bed. "So, uh…what's on the agenda for today? You two eating breakfast this late?"
"Already did it," Astrid replied, standing to begin folding his blankets for him – and then abruptly pausing in her removal of the one across his lower half with a blush of her own. "You're okay to, umm…I mean…" Her gaze flicked from his to a random corner of the room to escape his endearingly bemused expression. "Uh…your leggings?"
The boy's auburn brows barely furrowed in thought before shooting back up in shock, completely vanishing beneath his bangs. "Oh geez, um, yeah I'm good! I mean—" The pink in his cheeks had turned to blazing red. "Still there! Still got 'em, I slept in 'em!" He frantically pushed the blanket off his legs and thrust it into her arms, almost as if it was burning him. "Here, all yours!"
"Why, thank you," Astrid grinned, having regained her composure even as the young man had lost his…and continued to do so.
"Oh gods, n-not that you're my maid or anything, really I should be doin' this for you even though I'd never trespass on your personal space and—"
Her hand suddenly grasped his chin, effectively stilling the motion of his mouth. "Personal space is overrated," she smirked, playfully squeezing his burning cheeks before releasing him with a light laugh. "So, what were we talking about again before…all that?"
"Um…" Hiccup scratched at his very slight stubble – more to absorb the reality of Astrid's fingers having touched it than to convey any sort of deep reminiscing. "Uh…something?"
"Oh, yeah," the blonde snapped said fingers as it came to her. "Breakfast – Viggo got one of the barracks slaves to prepare it again…but he does want you to come and clean up the dishes."
"'Course he does…" Hiccup rolled his eyes derisively. "Gods forbid he should ever have to do such difficult manual labor." He winked at Astrid, his flushed face finally starting to return to a normal tone. "But don't tell him I said that."
"Not a word," Astrid smiled back. "But after dishes, it's back to the cove for us. Naturally, his spoiled majesty can't go without that water…I think if only because it would mean he hadn't gotten his way. Perish that thought."
"Astute analysis," Hiccup agreed as he pushed himself to his feet, then stretched his arms over his head with a loud yawn.
"But first I want to know," Astrid continued, quickly averting her eyes for propriety's sake from the slice of bare skin – flat, firm, and freckled – that was revealed as the hem of his shorter and looser sleep shirt rode a few inches up over his stomach at the motion. "I want to know…" Dammit…focus, Astrid, before you're the one all flustered instead! "I want to know that you're okay to make the trip…that you feel up to it."
Hiccup, ever oblivious to any involuntary nerves he had provoked within the young woman, flopped his wiry arms back down to his sides and nodded cheerfully. "Yep…takes way more than a fist to the neck to keep all this raw Vikingness contained." He jokingly flexed one of his slight biceps at the words, sending Astrid into a fit of giggles that had his heart leaping.
"All right, then, manly man," Astrid returned his good-humored jibe as she grabbed the water pot she'd used to treat him off the ground. "We'd better get going…and I'm on thin enough ice with my husband-to-be already, so remember what we practiced."
"Got it! Defenses down, pretenses up…submission is my mission…the less of my nerve, the better I serve— "
"Okay!" Astrid cut in, shaking her head in amusement despite herself. "You clearly remember…" She snatched Hiccup's light green tunic from where it hung off the back of the wooden chair, tossing it to the boy. "Let's go…I'll wait in the hallway while you change."
TBC…
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A/N: What did I tell you about those waves, readers? Yep…though did I mention it was still hurricane season back when I typed this chapter – and now is once again as I post it? Not that my great little landlocked state of WV is typically all that affected by those, but…just a little figurative fact for y'all to keep in mind.
So, stay tuned for a big development next chapter – not a hurricane per se, but maybe just a little bit of lightning…and something something…now how did that go again…? ;-)
-PWK