Letting go of the Past

by KingGodzillaTheApocalypse

My first fanfic! please give me some credit. based and inspired by the best story I've read "The past defines the future -NFS lover". Hiccup left berk after Astrid tells everyone about his secret. 5yrs have passed Astrid realized her actions, now she wants to apologize to him, will Hiccup forgive and forget the past and start over as friends? or more than friends? (HICSTRID!)Enjoy!

10. Chapter 10: Choices

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HTTYD

GUYS I'M REALY SORRY FOR THE LONG UPDATE, BECAUSE I HAVE TO STUDY FOR OUR FINALS AND IT WAS REALLY DAMN HARD. (HOPE I PASS) OH…AND TO ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW THERE WILL BE A HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3, I SAW IT ON A MOVIE APP ON MY IPHONE. IT SAID THAT IT WILL BE REALEASED AFTER ONE YEAR AND EIGHT MONTHS. THE APP WAS MOVIE HYPE….ANYWAY HERE'S CHAPTER 10

Chapter 10: Choices

ASTRID'S POV

I started to tear up again when I read his name, but these tears are not because of the pain and the guilt that I felt for years because this time, it was actually tears of joy. I couldn't help myself to be happy because this one piece of paper could change everything from now on, because this single piece of paper could finally lead me to him...I-I could finally find him...and all of my sufferings are finally going to end, but the only problem now is...will he accept me again, or more importantly...will he forgive me.

I only searched the part of the letter that was going to help me find him. I searched the letter for a moment and then I saw it, it says that: "...you're going to find me in a place that can be only found by dragons, so it's a good thing you have Azriel because there's no way a human could climb this mountain. The place is approximately a hundred fifty miles north from there to here...with Azriel's speed in flying, maybe it will only take you four days to a week to get here...I think, so when you have reached a continent keep going north and head straight into the snowy mountains, you'll know when you're still on the right path when you see a valley and a deserted village. Then when you get to the snowy mountains, you will find me up on the highest mountain that has a cave, facing east. Up there, you'll see a house...and that's where I am....There are t..." Then I stopped myself from reading the rest, because I already found what I was searching for in the letter and reading other people's letter is just wrong. So I quickly folded the paper and tied it back on the terrible terror's leg.

"Okay 150 miles north, highest mountain, cave facing east and only found by dragons..." I reminded myself three times so I wouldn't forget. "Okay you're good to go" I said at the dragon. If I didn't knew that dragons could understand us, I would think I'm crazy right now because I'm talking to the dragon. I looked back at the Terror who was still staring at me with a tilted head. I guess the dragon was confused at my command..

"Umm...sorry, but I'm not Heather, she's at the village right now" I told the dragon. It kept staring at me for a second before it took off. After that I quickly went back to the village and headed straight back to the docks. When I got there I saw that everyone was already there including Chief Redwood talking about something then I saw Gobber turned his gaze on me. "Oh...there you are lass" He said gesturing at me getting everyone's attention. "Where were you? We were waiting here for like...an hour" Ruffnut asked me. Then I replied what most people do when they go to the forest. "I-I went to the woods for a walk..." I replied while all of them looked at me with a questioned face.

I knew that answer wasn't normal coming from me and I think the answer they were expecting is, "I was training in the woods" or somewhere along those lines. Then I saw that Ruffnut was opening her mouth to ask something but chief spoke first, cutting Ruffnut on what she was going to say, "Anyway...I'm going back to the Berk, You and Snotlout are coming back with me" Chief Stoick said. "What? Why are we leaving this early? I mean the weapons aren't fixed yet so why are we leaving?" I asked in disbelief because the place that I'm going to needs a dragon and the only way to get one is through Heather, but I doubt that she'll let me get one if I told her the real reason why I wanted a dragon because this is Hiccup were talking about, the boy we...treated like an outcast, but now I want to redeem myself to him...and that is only going to happen if we only meet each other.

Then I continued, "and most of all, why...him?" I said pointing to Snotlout. I'll gladly go back to berk if he just wasn't the one that I'm going back with, and the others would be gone for days so that means...oh shit, you have got to be kidding me. "Can't I just stay here and help with the repair?" I said to the chief to avoid getting stuck with troll face over there...speaking of the troll, "You can't stop it babe...were meant to be with each other" He said trying to hit on me...again. I turned around to face him. He was moving his lips forward with his arms open, waiting for me to kiss him...well not in a million years. So I punched him in the face to stop that disgusting thing he was doing, then I looked back at the chief who was shaking his head at him in disappointment. He turned to me and said "Both of you can't stay here because the two of you are one of the best dragon killers on berk and we don't know when a raid is going to happen so might as well have the two of you back there" He said.

I'm starting to hate that part of myself, the part of being one of the best dragon killers on berk because I just realized that Hiccup is right about dragons, they're kind and gentle creatures and the proof just happened right in front of me a while ago. Come to think of it...I'm now regretting that I killed a dragon. "We'll leave in twenty minutes...so don't go too far" The Chief said. It's inevitable that I will go back to berk with just...Snotlout, I sighed in disappointment, "okay" I replied. "Good now get yourselves ready" He said, then I looked back at Snot-face over there who was grinning at me and raising his eyebrows repeatedly like an idiot, "I swear if you don't stop now, you'll get back to berk...in pieces" I threatened him with an angry face. "Okay...I'm stopping now" He said with a weak laugh before he went to the ship. "Hey Astrid...good luck with the honeymoon" I heard Tuffnut say behind me, "wrong move" I thought before I turned to him and punched him in the stomach, "I am hurt, I am very much hurt" He said clutching to stomach in pain. "You still have anything to say?" I said with a very serious tone. "Okay...okay, point taken" He replied still gripping on his stomach.

(20 minutes later...)

"Were all set, chief" I heard Snotlout say to the Chief, who was currently talking with Chief Redwood and with Gobber. I can tell that whatever they were talking about must be important because they have this serious look on their faces and when snotlout actually told him that were ready, he said, "you go ahead...I'll be there in five minutes" and they continued to talk. "It must be about Hiccup" I thought, but who could blame him if he wanted to know something about Hiccup, even if he was the one who banished him from our tribe, even disowned him...it's still doesn't change the fact that Hiccup is his son.

It became clear that they were talking about Hiccup when I saw a tear fall down the Chief's face because there were no other reason why the Chief would cry about unless it was about his son. I was now getting intrigued on what the other chief told him to make our Chief to even drop a single tear. Then I was about to go to the Chief Stoick to ask what did he say to him when Gobber suddenly came in front of me, "Lass, if you're going' to talk to him or ask him anything' maybe it's best to ask him later'" He said, Now whatever they were talking about, I'm sure that it really is Hiccup. I doubt that the chief will even talk to if I ask him later so instead, I asked Gobber, "Uh...not that I'm interfering, but..." "You wanna know what we're talking' about...do you?" He said cutting me. Then I just nodded in response.

I can tell that whatever this news is it wasn't good, because I can see hurt in Gobber's eyes as he look down. He sighed, "We were talking about Hiccup...and news jus' got to Redwood that there was a boy and a dragon that was being held up as a prisoner...by Romans, the boy was captured because they saw him riding the dragon...and there we all know that there is no other person who can ride a dragon...besides Hiccup...and we also know what Romans can do...so there might be a chance...a chance that he's...he's already dead" when he said that, I felt something inside me collapse, like something shattered into pieces. I realized that I was about to cry again but I kept my composure because that must be wrong, "no, no, no, no, that must be wrong...I can't accept that...I just found out where he is...so he must be alive" I said in my mind, reassuring myself but I can feel that tears were starting to build up in my eyes again.

Gobber placed his hand on my shoulder, still looking down and said, "Try not to tell this to the others...okay" He raised his head and looked at me, "because...I don't know what I will do to them if they celebrated about this..." He told me with a serious voice. It was clear that he wanted to cry for Hiccup because I can see that tears were also starting to build up in his eyes. "Okay" I replied before Gobber walked away

Right now, I'm feeling that I should tell them that I know where Hiccup is but there is something also telling me that I should not, because I was thinking that if I did tell them that I knew where Hiccup was they could think that I'm a traitor and that could put a shame on my parents, and I do not want to do that to them...and what would I tell them if they asked where I got that information, I couldn't tell them that I found it on Hiccup's letter that was for Heather...Heather would kill me if she knew I did...and besides, I don't think Hiccup wants to see any of us...well except Gobber I think.

"Astrid let's go..." the chief said to me. I looked at him and saw that his eyes were red from crying. But I just went to the ship and never spoke anything about Hiccup to avoid making things worse than it is now.

"Well...see you in a couple of days" Ruffnut said as I went aboard the ship, "Yeah...I'll see you back there...if I survive with that troll over there" I said gesturing to Snotlout who was securing the ropes of the sail. Ruffnut chuckled, "If I were you...feed him to a Scauldron if you see one pass by" She said with a laugh. I smirked at her suggestion, "I would...if he wasn't the next chief in line" I said, but I really wish he wasn't the next one to be chief because he can't even handle his work properly... what he always does was to slack off.

Then, "okay Gobber I'll leave the rest of them to you" I heard Chief Stoick say to Gobber as he walked at the gangplank to the ship. "Oka'..." Gobber replied with a gloomy tone I guess he was still mourning from the news he just heard...that was about Hiccup. I turned back to Ruffnut and said, "I guess we're leaving"... "Yeah... see you back there" she replied. After that the boat sailed back to berk.

NORMAL POV

(Middle of the ocean - 4 hours to berk)

Astrid was getting irritated at Snotlout because for three hours, he has been hitting on her non-stop, even if she has punched him several times. Sure, he was going to stop but after a few minutes he was at it again. "One more word Snotlout and you're going to get it this time" Astrid said gritting her teeth in annoyance. "Get what...A kiss?" Snotlout said, attempting to flirt with her. He started to make a kissy face at Astrid...again. Astrid snapped, she couldn't hold herself any longer, so she grabbed her axe from her waist and came after him, "You wanted a kiss...Take a kiss from my axe!" she said, really angry. Then Snotlout tumbled on a barrel causing for him to fall on his butt.

Astrid then raised her axe at the boy, then suddenly the chief spoke, "would the two of you stop it! You're not little kids anymore for thor's sake!" He yelled at the two of them, getting irritated at their behavior. Astrid then, started to calm down, while Snotlout stood up from the floor.

Stoick looked a t snotlout, "Snotlout you need to stop doing all...this" He said gesturing to the situation, but that line hit something inside him because the last time he used that was on his son...Hiccup. And because of that, Stoick felt depressed causing him to calm down from his anger. Astrid was the only one who saw that while Snotlout... "There is no stopping this...even a dragon can't" He said puffing his chest up.

"Snotlout you handle the ship...I'll be back later, I'm just going to take rest" the man ordered the boy. "Yes sir" Snotlout replied before he took over to control the ship. Then Stoick proceeded below deck, to his quarters. He sat on the side of his bed, thinking of Redwood's words from a while ago,

(4 hours ago – Warwhales' Docks)

"Stoick may I have a word" Redwood said. Redwood was tired of seeing his daughter crying every time she remembers her friends. As a father, he had to find a way to end his daughter's pain, so he sends out a couple of his men throughout the whole archipelago two years ago to search for her daughter's friends...but without his daughter finding out about it, because Redwood was avoiding to get Heather's hopes up if his men did get back with a lead but turns out to be a false one.

So far, the news he received was all about Hiccup, while for Scunner...still no news, but the news that he just received a while ago should not be spoken to anyone...especially his daughter, because this news is not a good one, but he was going to let the boy's father know about it to make him realize all his actions to the boy for all those years they mistreated him. To let him know what he might have just lost.

Then Redwood saw that Stoick was coming with Gobber along his side, "What is it?" Stoick asked. "News just got here...and it's about your son...Hiccup" Redwood stated at the man. Stoick started to look serious, getting interested on what Redwood has to say about his son, "what about him?" Stoick asked with a straight face. On the outside, Stoick looks like he doesn't care about a damn thing about him because of his son's punishment five years ago, but on the inside he really cared for him all these years.

But Redwood doesn't know that so he said, "You need to show some care for the boy Stoick...because you don't know what you might have just lost". Stoick and Gobber looked at him with a questioned face. Then redwood continued, "...A boy and a dragon has been captured by the Romans as we speak...the boy was captured because they saw him riding the dragon...Now those Romans did saw him riding the dragon...it's either they will kill him on sight...or they will interrogate him on how does he take control of the dragon...but I know how your much son loves his dragon friend, so I don't think he will give any information about it...and because of that there might be a chance that he's..." he stopped for a while because the news was also hard for him to take in because the boy was like a son to him also. "He's what?! What happened to him?" Stoick said worried about his son.

Redwood was surprised at Stoick's reaction...even Gobber was, because Redwood thought that he never cared about his son according from the stories that Hiccup told them. Redwood continued, "There might be a chance that he's...he's already dead" He stated. "No that can't be right!...right?" Gobber said, worried for Hiccup. "Let's always hope that he's still alive...because my daughter is still hoping they're still out there...and I don't want to let her down...so let's hope for the best that the boy's still alive" Redwood said to reassure their selves and hope that the boy is still alive. Then Redwood realized that Stoick did not say anything when he said that the boy was possible dead. He looked at him to see that he had a blank face.

Stoick felt like his heart was broken into pieces because all this time he has been hoping that his son is still alive and having a life out there, but now that he knew that his only son, Hiccup, the son that he promised to his wife that he would take care with all his life, is now possibly...dead. "Were all set Chief" Snotlout said, breaking Stoick in his thoughts. "You go ahead...I'll be there in five minutes" he replied and turned back to Redwood, "When did you hear about this?" Stoick asked. "Yesterday...and if you want to know where we heard this...as I said 'captured by Romans', so he's on the Roman Empire" He stated. Then the three of them turned silent.

Gobber looked at Stoick. He can see that the he had a gloomy look on his face, "Stoick it's getting really late I think you should go...you left Spitelout in charge there...and we don't kno' what will happen to berk if he's still in charge, and I think it's better to head back while the tides are still calm" Gobber said, breaking the silence. Stoick looked and realized that Gobber was right, but that didn't stop him to still feel sad because of the news he just heard from Redwood. After that they sailed back to berk.

(Present time)

Stoick was still at his quarters, thinking about his son. "Hiccup...Son, I'm sorry…I'm sorry because I wasn't the father you expected, the father who should have been there for you all these years…" He said to no particular. "I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you...". When he said that, it hit something inside him...he remembered his promise to his wife when Hiccup was just a baby, "Promise me...that you'll protect our son...No matter what happens..." were the words of his wife, the day before she was taken by a dragon.

Stoick started to cry because he just realized that he had already lost his wife, and now...his only son could be possibly dead, "Valka...I'm sorry...I couldn't protect you...I'm sorry I couldn't protect our son" he said looking down, crying. While that was happening, he didn't know that everything that he just said was heard by Astrid. Astrid was about to go to her cabin when she heard Stoick's confession about Hiccup and His wife. When she has heard everything Stoick said, she felt sorry for the man. She was now feeling again that she should tell Stoick about Hiccup's place, so the man could ease up a little bit, she thought

"I need to tell him about Hiccup...he has the right to know where Hiccup is...because that's his own father...and I just heard what he said, he's also sorry for the things he did to him...like me" She said in her mind. Then after a few moments of hesitation and thinking, Astrid decided that she will now tell Stoick about Hiccup's place.

She was about to knock on Stoick's door when suddenly the whole ship shook causing her to lose balance and fall on the floor. Stoick was disrupted in his thoughts because of what just happened. Astrid got up and rushed to the deck and after a few seconds Stoick was too.

"Snotlout what happened!" Stoick asked rushing to the boy. Then he looked at the front of the ship but there were no sea stack or anything to crash into. "Chief!" Astrid suddenly yelled while pointing something at the water. Stoick and Snotlout quickly rushed to Astrid's side and looked down the water to see what she was pointing at.

Then what they saw was shocked them...it was unbelievable, because what they saw was a huge...and when I mean huge, I mean really, really huge dragon. Even though it was already nightfall they can still see shape of the dragon's body from underwater, and it was really enormous because it was strong enough to shake their ship. What they saw on the gigantic monster was its black scales, three rows of giant spikes from its head to tail...and its size was wider than their ship. Good thing it didn't stood up from the water because they can tell that if it did stood up it can lift the ship up and those spikes could destroy the ship in half.

Then Astrid saw something more shocking, she was the only one who saw it because Stoick and Snotlout already backed out from the railing of the ship in fear. What Astrid saw was a man...a man in black metal armor standing at the back of the dragon while holding onto a spike...and that man was looking at her, she spotted the man because of the bubbles that was coming out of his helmet, then the dragon did this loud humming sound before it disappeared into the vast ocean.

"W-what w-was that?" Snotlout said stammering at his own words because of fear. Well no one could blame him because any human who will see a titan-size dragon like that could shake in fear. "Whatever that was it something that we should not mess with" Stoick said before he stirred the ship back to its course because the huge dragon drifted the ship when its spikes rammed the ship, good thing that the bottom of the ship kept intact and wasn't breached. "Let's get out of here...before that monster comes back for us" Stoick said getting worried what will happen it did come back for them.

Then Stoick looked at Astrid who was blanking out, still thinking of the man who was looking at her while ago while riding the monstrous dragon's back, "Astrid...Astrid, are you ok lass?" Stoick said snapping Astrid from her thoughts. "I'm okay...just having a hard time processing all of...that" she said looking at where the large dragon was spotted with the man. She didn't tell them about the man on armor that she saw because she thought that maybe it was just her imagination and it's really hard to tell if she really did saw was a human because you can hardly tell anything from the mist that was surrounding the sea and anything you see during the night can be wrong because of the dark sky. "You get some rest...it's been a long day" Stoick said at Astrid.

"I'll just wake you up when we arrive...you too Snotlout, you've done enough" Stoick added. "Finally I can have a beauty sleep for my handsome face" Snotlout exclaimed. Astrid can feel her dinner was on her throat when Snotlout said that. "Hey Astrid want to sleep with me" Snotlout said starting a trouble between them...again. "Not in your freaking life time!" Astrid yelled before she headed down below deck to her cabin.

When she got to her cabin she laid down herself on her bed immediately to get some rest because what happened today was a lot to take in. First is she discovered that Heather was still alive and was the long lost daughter of a chief, second is that Heather has a Giant white red eyed Dragon as a best friend, third is she realized what they knew about dragons all those years was wrong and Hiccup was right about them, Fourth is Hiccup's possible location, and last was the enormous dragon with a human riding it.

On top of all that, what really got her interest was Hiccup's possible location because if that's where she will really find him...her problems could end. The only problem left is will Hiccup forgive her for what she have done to him and forget everything what happened in the past and another problem that was bugging her is where she will get a dragon that will help her get to him because as Hiccup said, to find his place you must have a dragon because only dragons can find the place and that's the only way she'll find him.

Astrid kept thinking thing about him, which got her frustrated and eventually she got tired and drifted off to sleep.

(Meanwhile...)

HEATHER'S POV

"Heather...Heather wake up" I heard Azriel say, trying to wake me up, "What?...what happened" I said, raising up my head, "You fell asleep" Azriel said. Then I started to remember what happened a while ago...with Astrid's crying and telling me everything she felt all these years "Oh..." I said. I looked around to see that the Hall was still empty, "Wait...how long was I out for?" I asked Azriel, "two hours at least...I think" she said. "And you didn't wake me up!" I retorted.

"Hey, I fell asleep too okay...and how the hell do I know that you wanted to..." Then we were disturbed by the sound of the doors of the great hall opening with my mom standing at the doorway. She was trying to catch her breath. My mom must have been running from the house to here. Then I rushed to her side to help her, "mom what's the problem? Is there something wrong? Something happened?" I asked her, but she was still panting from exhaustion, "mom...what's wrong..." "come with me" She said before she grabbed my hand and dragged me off.

When we reached the base of the stairs of the great hall I pulled my hand out of her grip because it's killing me, seriously, "mom could you stop, what's all the fuss about?" I asked her because I really hate getting dragged into something I even don't know, "you'll know it when we get back to the house..." she said with a smile before she ran off towards the house. Now I'm really curious on what's this all about, but I know that whatever this is, it must be something good because of her smile, so I just followed her back to the house.

When we arrived at the house, Azriel bumped her nose at my shoulder to get my attention, "I'm going to hit the hay early because I am really bushed...just tell me in the morning why your mother is dragging you about" she said. She must be tired from today's work with the expansion of the great hall and everything. "Okay...so see you tomorrow then" I said. "Okay then...goodnight" she said before she went off to her stable to sleep. "Goodnight" I replied back, before I walked towards the house. When I opened the door I saw mom sitting at the right side of the table, but what caught my attention was the bluish green Terrible Terror that was sleeping at the table.

"Hey who's the new guy..." I said and then I remembered that she was dragging me here for something, "was this what you're talking about?" I asked lifting the small dragon to my arms, "Yes dear" my mother replied. "Uh...having a dragon isn't new here mom" I stated with a little sarcasm in my voice. "I know" she said. "Then why did you call me here for?" I asked, getting curious again on what my mother was really up to. "I found him sleeping in front of the door... First I thought it was just some stray dragon from the island...but I realized that it was from someone else when I..." then she paused for a while as my mother gets something in her pocket, then she continued, "...when I found this...tied to his leg"

Then she handed me a folded piece of paper, I looked at her with curiosity in my eyes, "Sorry that I read it...because I really didn't know what it was...", judging from what she have just said, this must be a letter, "but from who?" I thought

I unfolded the letter and read it... Hi Heather…it's me Hiccup,

My eyes grew wide when I read those first few words. I looked back at my mother, who was smiling at me and then she nodded her head, gesturing for me to continue,

Hi Heather...it's me Hiccup, sorry that I only decided to let you know about me after two years, I'm really sorry. The reason of this letter was to let you know that I'm still alive and to tell you where I am...and also because...well...I miss you, Toothless does too...he miss both of you very much, you and Azriel. By the way, did you know that our dragons can understand us all these years…I thought I was going insane at first but then Toothless explained it to me…he said that it was because of our bond with them is getting deeper we can now actually talk to them…and if that happened we can now even talk to other dragons. Oh…the Terror I sent you is still having a little trouble in speaking our language so he still can't talk very much, but…yeah, he's still learning.

Oh...and Heather, sad to say this but…I still haven't found Scunner. I tried to find him when I left, but on the places I've gone he's still nowhere to be seen, I tried asking people but none of them don't actually know him…but let's try not to lose hope and have faith that he will still come back.

And to tell you the reason I didn't go back there because I have a...let's say a family to keep and to protect. If you're thinking about a wife and a son or a daughter you're wrong, the family I mean is…well a family of dragons. There are a lot of new species of dragons that I want to show you.

Oh and about my place,...you're going to find me in a place that can be only found by dragons, so it's a good thing you have Azriel because there's no way a human could climb this mountain. The place is approximately a hundred fifty miles north from there to here...with Azriel's speed in flying, maybe it will only take you four days to a week to get here...I think, so when you have reached a continent keep going north and head straight into the snowy mountains, you'll know when you're still on the right path when you see a valley and a deserted village. Then when you get to the snowy mountains, you will find me up on the highest mountain that has a cave, facing east. Up there, you'll see a house...and that's where I am.

There are two tall mountains exactly. These two mountains are separated by the valley…you'll see it when you get there. Go to the left mountain because that's where I really am...Don't go to the other mountain because there is something that lies inside there, and it's bigger than Azriel, and that dragon certainly hates humans...I know because I already met him and to tell you it wasn't a good meeting. I guess some dragons can't be friendly sometimes...anyway I'll tell you everything when you get here

And Heather if you did get here, let's try not to talk about the past...I am still having problems with letting those memories go…especially...Astrid. So yeah...I'll be expecting you to visit anytime.

You're friend, Hiccup

I fell down my knees, crying with tears of joy, "Oh my god's…are you ok dear?" my mom said, trying to help me sit on the chair. "Dear, what's wrong?...I thought you should be happy because you're finally going to see your friend after all these years…" she said trying to calm me down. "I really am happy…these are just tears of joy…" I replied with a weak smile but still crying. "Oh dear... Come here…" she said before she embraced me in her arms and rubbed my back, trying to calm me down.

I happily returned her embraced and continued to cry on my mother's shoulder. My feelings are in a jumble right now because I really feel happy, excited, and a little bit of sadness at the same time. I felt happy because Hiccup finally decided to show up after two years. I also felt excited because in a matter of days, I'm actually going to see him…well I have to go to him to see him technically…but still I'm actually and finally going to see him again. And I also felt sadness because three years have already passed by…and there's still no sign of Scunner.

Then we were distracted as the door of our house opened with my father standing at the doorway. I quickly stood up and rushed to tell him the news. "Dad look...a letter arrived...and it was from Hiccup..." I told him with excitement. My father looked at me with a puzzled face so I handed him the letter and he quickly read it. When he finished reading it, he looked at us still with that questioned look. "Are you sure this was from the boy?" He asked seriously.

"Uhhh?...dad he wrote his name at the bottom...didn't you read it?" I said pointing at the letter. He turned his gaze back at the letter, like he was studying it, "It's just..." then my father stopped. From that point on, I knew there must be something wrong. "Dad, what's wrong?" I asked getting nervous on what he was going to reply to me because judging from the way he reacted...it wasn't good.

"Dad!...tell me what's wrong?!" I demanded. "Heather calm down and take a sit first..." "Dad, stop stalling and just tell what it is!" I said because I was tired of waiting things like this. I just found Hiccup and now there's something wrong...again, the gods must really hate me. My father sighed "One of my men that I sent throughout the archipelago to find your friends just came back with news..." "Wait...since when did you did that?" my mom cut in. I can't help it but to feel irritated at my mother when she said that, because my father was about to say it and she just had to cut in. But either way, I'm also interested on when did my father did ordered his men to search for Hiccup and Scunner.

"I told them about the situation on why your friends have left...well not everything of course... then they just volunteered to find him so I send them out to different parts of the archipelago ...and that happened two years ago" my father stated and placed Hiccup's letter on the table. I felt a sudden relief back there, when he said that he didn't tell them about everything because I don't want people to know that they left because of Freya's goddamned powers to make people fall in love...besides it's also embarrassing.

"And you didn't tell me" I retorted, "Me and Azriel could have freaking helped them to search for Hiccup or Scunner" I added with a scowled face because I could have known where they were much earlier if I did help, but on the contrary, this was my father's reason, "that's why I never told you about this... the areas they have been most sighted are the most dangerous places.!...they were even seen heading into uncharted areas! Places where people get almost killed every time they cross into those places..." He spat back, getting irritated at my childish attitude. He sighed, "...and the news that just came was from one of those places..." my father said, looking down.

After a few seconds of silence, my father returned his gaze to me. I can see it in his eyes that whatever he is going to tell right now isn't good. "...the informant told me that...a man is being held as a prisoner... the reason he was captured is because he was sighted befriending a dragon...and the man we're talking about is in Rome as we speak" he stated.

"t-they're in Rome!" I yelled in surprise, "No, no, no, no,...Hiccup just told us that he's in a..." "Yes, we know, we know...that he's in a far continent that only dragons can find...but read it again..." My father said, gesturing to the letter on the table. I looked at him with a questioned face, "What do you mean read again?" I asked, "Look he said that it will take four to a week to get here...if you were riding on your dragon" my father stated. "What do you mean?" I asked curiously because I still don't get what he means.

He was about to speak again but my mother laid a hand on his shoulder like she was trying to say she should handle this, like she knew where my father was going with this "Hiccup said if you're riding Azriel but that letter came from a Terrible Terror...and Terrible Terrors are not much fast in flying are they…so there's a possibility that this letter have already been written...maybe a month ago...and the news we just heard may also be…true" she stated.

I tried to process everything in my mind because this thing is really confusing me, "If Hiccup is in Rome...And if the Romans did see him with a dragon...they would capture him ...and take him for interrogation...and if Hiccup didn't give them what they want...he'll be..." then it hit me, "NO, HICCUP IS STILL ALIVE!" I yelled at them as tears started to fall again. "No he's still alive...No, He can't be dead!...please tell me he's not dead" I sat down again on the bench, thinking if he's dead or not. "Gods please tell me he's alive...please..." I thought.

Then I felt a sudden urge to run and go to where Hiccup said he was to check on him if he really is still alive...I hope he is. "I'm going to go to him...now...I can't take this anymore" I said as I ran for the door, but my father caught my arm, "Dad let me go...I want to see him" I said, still crying. He was looking at me with serious eyes, then pulled me back away from the door, "Heather would you stop acting like a child and think about what you're going to do first" He said with a serious face.

"There's no more thinking to do dad!...The two of you said it yourselves...Hiccup might be in trouble and I'm not going to just stand around here!...I'm going to see him...Now!" I said to him, trying to reason with my father. Then I tried to run pass him but he stopped me again. "Can't you see!...You're not just endangering your friends life if you go to him right now, you're also endangering yours and everyone's life here in this village!" He said glowering. "Why I will endanger mine and everyone's life in here! And can you please explain to me why I will endanger Hiccup's life if he himself is facing danger right now!" I spat at him. I can feel my eyes were stinging as I try to hold the tears back.

"WOULD THE TWO OF YOU CALM DOWN" my mother yelled all of the sudden with an angry voice, breaking the argument between me and my father. "There are already people already sleeping at this time of hour, so mind keeping your voice down" my mother said trying to not to yell at us. "As for you young lady, that's not the way to talk to your parents" she scolded me, "Now sit there and listen to me cause I will explain everything why your endangering Hiccup's, yours, and everyone's life here" she said in a strict way.

I followed my mom's orders and sat down the table because my mother can be pretty scary when she gets angry, like when she first met the berkians today, the time when she realized that the people who treated us like an outcast was on our Island. I mean how does a forty-two year old women embed a great blade to the ground, "I guess there are some people who should not be underestimated by their age" I thought.

"Now listen," she said sitting down beside me, "First is, you're going to endanger Hiccup's life because what if those berkians here knew about you going after him…they could tell it to Stoick and that man could send a few men to follow you and when they do they might arrest you and Hiccup…Stoick could also misunderstood that we've been keeping his son a secret from him…and because of that Stoick could wage war between our villages…now that's when you endanger everyone's life here" she explained with a serious face, which I understood of course, but there was one thing that can't happen, so I asked before my mother could speak again, "But how will they capture us…we have dragons and they don't, Azriel would kill them once they got near us…same goes for Toothless too, I don't think he'll let anyone harm Hiccup…besides the place where Hiccup lives can be only found by dragons…so there's a hundred percent chance that they would not find us" I stated, but my mother smirked at me and said, "I know…but this is berk were talking about…the most stubborn and persistent Vikings we'll ever know"

"Well…I'm not going to argue with you with that" I replied with a slight humor, and then my mom laughed weakly at my reply. Then after a few seconds, she looked back at me and returned to being serious, "…and last is you're going to endanger your life because what if the rumors about Hiccup is true…I know that you will try and rescue him…but this is Romans, the people who wanted anything that can be used for power…gold, riches, weapons,…even dragons…so even if you have Azriel by your side, I doubt that she can hold off an entire army, as those Romans will try to capture her, even if she's that scary and big, some people will still try and capture both of you for power…and that's the whole reason why I'm not going to let you see Hiccup right now" she said with a serious face, which is really scaring me. I nodded in reply and said nothing anymore… "Wait…what did she say?...she's not going to let me see Hiccup!" I said in my mind.

"WHAT!" I shouted in surprise as I stood up from the table, "You're not going to let me see him!...Why?" I asked. "I didn't say you could never see him…I said 'I'm not going to let you see him right now '" she said with an irritated tone, I guess she was getting irritated because I was yelling again even though she already told me not to.

"Then when am I going to see him?" I asked, "I hope it's not going to be too long" I hoped because I'm kind of feeling excited about seeing him again. "Ask your father?" she said looking at my father. I can see that he was thinking of when I'm going to leave and then he looked at me, "You're going to leave after the berkians leave our island so they wouldn't know anything about this," he stated, "and while they are still here, try not to talk about the boy…oh, and keep that mean act of yours towards them and don't act all happy about this because that would totally make them suspicious" my father explained and which is all right, "Then it's set I'll leave after three or four days" I stated. My parent's looked at me with a confused faces, "I already estimated the time that it will take me and Gobber to fix those weapons…three days if those mutton-heads from berk doesn't make any mess, and if they did…four days" I explained to them.

"It's all set then, you're leaving at the third day...I'll make sure they don't interrupt you in your work" my father said with a smirk. I can tell already that he has a plan to keep them occupied for me, "Count me in…" my mother said with a smile. "I'm off to bed then…" I said so I can wake up early tomorrow to start fixing those weapons early at dawn. "Goodnight" I said before I took the letter from the table and went up to the stairs to my room.

When I got to my room, I quickly removed my clothes and changed into my nightgown and then I got to my bed thinking about Hiccup, I can feel my heart racing because I'm really excited about meeting him because after two years, finally that 'dragon boy' decided to show up. "But…god's please let those rumors be wrong…please" I said in my mind, begging the gods to let those rumors to be wrong because I don't know what I'll do if those really are true.

But then I remembered the reason why Hiccup left. I felt my heart like it was going to burst, I can also tell that my face is starting to blush when that came into my mind. Well…to be honest...I also did start to fall in l-lo-love for him before he left. Then because of that I buried my face to my pillow because of the embarrassment I'm feeling. "Get a grip! What do you think will happen if he knew that you're starting to fall for him again…he'll think that those two years of staying away from me will be nothing" I thought to stop myself from feeling that way. I want to slap myself right now because of that, "Besides I think Hiccup still loves…Astrid" He said it himself in the letter he sent, he said that he's still having problems with those past memories, especially her.

But on top of all that, I'm certainly sure of one thing though, "I'm finally going to meet you again Hiccup" I smiled at that thought before I closed my eyes and not so long after that I fell asleep.

NORMAL POV

(Berk)

It was already daybreak when Stoick, Astrid, and Snotlout arrived at berk, there were only a few people who greeted them at the docks, most of them were the people who works on the docks and the docks master of course, and the others were the early birds from the village. They went to their houses as soon as they got down from the ship. Snotlout went to the Jorgensen's house to continue his 'beauty sleep' that he calls. Stoick went to his house to only have breakfast and head back again to work because he's the chief, and if you're the chief you'll hardly get enough sleep, while Astrid also went back to her house. But Astrid didn't know that something terrible was waiting

Astrid walked back home still wondering about where she was going to get a dragon. She already got the idea of taking one from a dragon raid but she placed that idea aside because the last time she did that it didn't turned out good and it gave her a scar as a remembrance.

Astrid was now standing in front of their house. She was about to open the door when she heard her parents talking to each other, and it was like they were having a conflict about something. Eavesdropping wasn't Astrid's thing but she can hear the tension between her parents while they were talking to each other, "What are they talking about?" she thought. Astrid placed her ear at a small gap of their door to hear a little more clearly on what her parents were talking about. "What's more to think about this Ingrid…they already offered it! This is the thing we always wanted…"

"Let me stop you there Arnbjorn, the thing 'you' always wanted not me!…" Astrid heard her mother said.

"What does papa always wanted?" she thought, and then her mother spoke again, "this not the way it's supposed to be…we will first hear our daughter's opinion before we decide anything…because what if she disagrees…"

"Astrid will accept the marriage contract that the Jorgensen offered no matter what happens!...and that is my final decision! Besides I already signed the contract, there's nothing we can do anymore" Arnbjorn proclaimed.

Ingrid, Astrid's mother was about to speak again but their door slowly opened with a creaking sound. They saw Astrid with a shocked expression written all over her face. Astrid's parents exchanged glances at each other before they looked back at her,

"WHAT!" Astrid exclaimed at her parents.

"I AM NOT MARRYING SNOTLOUT!" she yelled in total denial. "Yes you will" Her father said, "and that is my final decision!" her father confirmed.

"Why? Why? Am I going to marry snotlout?" Astrid asked. "Why papa? Tell me one good reason why I should marry that-that troll-face!"

"He's the perfect man for you" Astrid's father stated, he turned around from them and took a piece of bread and continued to speak, "he has the perfect image of a true Viking and you are the best shield maiden in berk and that makes the two of you a perfect match"

While Arnbjorn was saying all those things, Astrid turned her gaze at her mother, but still listened to what her father was saying, "mama do something!" she mouthed to her mother while gesturing her hands at the situation, but Ingrid didn't know what to do because she was still shocked that Astrid found out about her getting married to Snotlout.

Knowing that her mother can't do anything now, Astrid looked back to her father, "That's not a reaso…." Then Astrid stopped because she finally figured out why her father wanted her to marry Snotlout, and that reason alone is enough to anger her, "You wanted me to marry him because they're rich? You wanted me to marry him because of reputation? You want me to marry him because he's the next chief? Do you?" she said gritting her teeth.

Arnbjorn was caught off guard when Astrid said those words because those were one of his main reasons; actually, those were 'only' his main reasons. However, he was still going to push the marriage, even though he's already caught by his own daughter.

"That reason overweighs-", "Tell me...that's the reason why you wanted me to marry him, isn't it?" Astrid said with a low voice. But her parents can also hear from that voice that Astrid is really angry, but they didn't know that it wasn't just all anger but in that voice was also sadness.

"Tell me…that's your reason, isn't it?" Astrid repeated, "And what of it, the wedding will still go on-", "in other words you sold me for your own selfish needs" Astrid mumbled in a low voice,

Arnbjorn didn't hear what Astrid said, "What did you say?"

"YOU SOLD ME FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH NEEDS! YOU SELFISH BASTARD!" She shouted in anger.

Arnbjorn didn't like that response very much and that angered him. And because of anger, he slapped Astrid in the face, causing her to fall down on the floor "how dare you talk to your father like that!" He scolded her.

Ingrid was shocked at what her husband did, she rushed to Astrid's side and kneeled down to help her stand up but Astrid refused and looked back at her father with a scowled face. Then what her parents saw shocked them, Astrid was crying.

"What! Now you're going to beat me up after you sold me…Go ahead do it! I don't care anymore!" she cried out

Arnbjorn now regretted what he did to his daughter, so he started to calm down and tried to talk this thing out, "Astrid I'm sorry, you have to understand that we're doing this because we think this is the best for you…" he said in a low voice.

That snapped a nerve in Astrid, "'YOU THINK THAT'S BEST FOR ME! YOU THINK THAT'S BEST FOR ME!" she yelled, "How can this be best for me! I never even wanted this…let me remind you, this is what you wanted and not me!" she reminded him "Did you even think about my opinion about this? Did you even think what my reaction is going to be? Did you even think what I would feel about this?…." she said looking at her father.

Arnbjorn was speechless; he didn't know what to say because everything that her daughter said was true. Arnbjorn didn't even how Astrid will react at this and that's because of, as Astrid said, his own selfish needs.

Astrid can see it in her father's reaction that she was right, she can see that everything she said didn't even came to his mind, "See you didn't even thought about that!" she exclaimed before she stood up, "papa...I already became the best in dragon training, the best shield maiden on the Island, the first teenager to kill a dragon when I was fifteen," she said, "Isn't that enough for you?" she asked in a soft voice but still crying.

Arnbjorn finally realized his actions, he wanted to cancel the wedding now, but alas he already gave his word to Spitelout and signed the marriage contract. He can't take it back because once you gave your word for marriage you can't take it back because taking it back suddenly could start a conflict between the two families, and conflict between families can go to the point where they will try to kill each other.

"Astrid I'm so…" was all Arnbjorn said as Astrid turned around and ran off to nowhere,

"Astrid!..." he yelled as he tried to catch her but Astrid was already far away from them.

"What have I done…what have I done" Arnbjorn thought and then he remembered that Ingrid was still there.

Arnbjorn turned around to see his wife staring daggers at him, he swore he could see smoke coming out of her face, "If our daughter didn't come back to us, or if anything happens to her…I'll shove this spear down your throat!..." she threatened while emphasizing the spear in her hands. "And while you're still there…try to think again about that stupid marriage contract" Ingrid added before she turned away from him.

Arnbjorn sighed and sat at the table. He was left pondering about his decision, thinking whether he was going to call off the wedding or not. But he didn't know that because of this 'talk' that they just had, something bad was waiting for him and for his family.

ASTRID'S POV

"I can't believe him! He wants me to marry…him! HIM!...of all people, why it must be him!" I yelled in my mind while I ran off to the woods. I swear I want to kill both of them for this, my father and Snotlout. I bet that…that Snotface is already boasting it to the whole village about him getting married to me. Then out the blue, I tripped on something that caused me to stumble and fall on the ground.

I stood up and saw that I was already at the forest and then I did what I always do when I'm stressed or frustrated. I took my axe out and started throwing it at the trees.

"AAAAHHHHHH!" I shouted on the top of my lungs while I threw my damned axe to those damned trees. I went to the tree to pull my axe out, but it was stuck tight to the tree. I have been doing this over and over for an hour already, but my anger wasn't near to subsiding because of that stupid, damned marriage shit.

I struggled to pull the axe out of the tree but it was no use it was stuck tight. but I still tried to pull it out. When I was doing that, I suddenly felt a drop of rain in my arms, but when I looked up, I didn't see any clouds or signs of dark clouds that can cause rain, the sky was clear as ice, there were no clouds just a few birds and the sun, then I realized it really wasn't rain…it was actually tears.

Knowing that it was tears…I just had to let it out, I guess I was crying because my life is finally over because of that damn marriage…and there's no way on getting out of this situation. I can't stand up to my parents, "even though I already did", but that alone won't stop them…and besides what's the point on going against them, my father already signed the stupid contract…there's nothing I can do anymore. All I can do now is wait for that stupid wedding day and then...I Mrs Jorgensen for the rest of my life.

"I HATE THIS FUCKING LIFE!" I yelled and punched the tree when that thought came to my mind...It was disgusting. Then my axe fell out from the tree. I picked it up and starred at it for a second. Then at that moment, I suddenly realized something. I realized that I can still change my future and that damn marriage wasn't the end for me, I realized that I still have two choices, the first choice is to stay here with my friends and family that I knew since I was a little, and then get betrothed to the man I never even loved. Or…I can…I can leave berk and live another life with Hiccup, live a life with dragons, exploring the world with them. But the only problem is…will Hiccup forgive me and give me another chance to start over again…as friends. But once I did that there's no more turning back. Once I chose that that will mostly be it. But if he doesn't…"Lord Odin and Lady Freya…I put my life in your hands" I thought…but I hope he does forgive me.

Then it's settled, I'll leave my life here on berk and start a new one…with Hiccup.