Chapter 21 – Come fly with me
They were going up the stairs, their backs straight as they met a huge back of a man. The man was talking to one of the guests as they showed him their invitation. Hiccup went up when they left and the man turned around to look at the next ones he had to check on. They could see a golden tooth stuck between the shining white ones.
"Hiccup!" the man exclaimed before he realized the blonde next to him.
"Gobber?!" Astrid asked shocked, her jaw dropped.
"Astrid?!" Gobber imitated her for his jaw also dropped at the sight.
"What are you doing here?" both asked at the same time while Hiccup just looked confused between his two acquaintances.
"You two know each other?" Hiccup asked the two, his eyebrows raised and his eyes wide awake.
"Yeah. Why is she here?" the man asked, irritated as well as confused.
"She'll be my dance partner this year," Hiccup answered, smiling at the announcement.
"Well alright. I guess the troop behind you are the others?" he speculated as he counted the limousines. "Anyway, enjoy your stay. I've already seen Spitelout. Seems like the lad of his didn't feel up to the party tonight. So you can relax." Gobber tapped his shoulder, signaling him to get in. When Astrid was about to pass, she leaned towards the man a bit, whispering, "Ruffnut and Tuffnut are here as well." She then returned to Hiccup's side and vanished in the crowd. "This will be a long night," Gobber muttered to himself as he let the rest of the Crew pass as well.
Hiccup was guiding her along a corridor where a large and open door lay at the end of it. Astrid did not know much about politics but she did recognize some people. "Is that…?" Astrid began before Hiccup chuckled and nodded. "Michael Bloomberg. Well, he certainly did get older. Although I don't know why he invited him. Probably had his reasons," he added and guided her to the heart of the Grand Hall. There were several buffet tables as well as empty tables and chairs to rest on. When his eyes lay on a large woman, his face paled and he dragged Astrid behind a pillar. She looked at him irritated. "What-?"
"That's Big-Boobied Bertha."
"Who?"
"The defense secretary of Berk. Remember the news when the Romans were about to declare war to Berk?" he asked her while he glanced every now and then to the big woman.
"Yeah. But it ended with Berk and the Romans negotiating and forming a peace treaty. What about it?"
"Well, the truth is, Bertha threatened them that she would bomb their city if they made a move against Berk. She even said that she might as well get fired. She didn't care. She's one hell of a woman," Hiccup said, a cold shiver running down his spine by just imagining what she could do.
"Why do you know this?" Astrid asked, curious how he came upon such an information. Journalists would die for such a revelation.
"Eavesdropped on Gobber talking to her," Hiccup sighed and went with her to a table, getting two glasses of champagne for them. Astrid gladly took it and sipped a bit on it. "And it doesn't make it easier to know that she has some crazy plan about getting me and Camicazi engaged," he added which resulted in Astrid spitting out the champagne that was in her mouth out of shock.
"Smooth…" Hiccup commented with a chuckle, handing her a handkerchief. She wiped her mouth and turned to glare at him. "What was that?" she asked, daring him to repeat the sentence again. Hiccup held up his hands in order to stop her mind from tracking into the wrong direction. "He never accepted the offer! And Cami and me never looked at each other that way. So it's only an one-sided plan, you know?"
"No, I mean, she's Cami's mother?"
"Ah, yes. Bertha is Cami's mother. Crazy, right?"
Astrid sighed and sat down at the nearest chair that she could get. She rubbed her temple as she put one of her legs across the other. Hiccup's eyes wandered down to her movement and blushed at her bare legs. His mind quickly traveled to the land of adulthood, fantasizing about things that he would never dare to say out loud. Astrid had her free hand on her lap and when she noticed his stare at her legs, she smirked. At least she knew that he was only interested in her. She made a gesture with her hand on her lap, telling him to look up to her again. He saw that movement as well and his eyes came up to her eyes again. They smiled at each other, Hiccup sitting down next to her, enjoying his drink with his beloved, waiting for the signal that was to come.
There was a stage at one side of the hall, a piano in the front while there were several chairs and music stands placed in a half-circle around the piano. In the back were drums as well as a bass, a harp and an acoustic guitar. After a while, the hall was full of famous and important people in the society. Hiccup and Astrid held their masks ready when they heard the large door falling shut. Then, a familiar man, that people normally only saw on TV, went onto the stage. He had an auburn beard, the same color as his hair. Everyone went silent as they waited for their host to start the party officially.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 13th political assembly in Berk! Well, we have the whole night to exchange words, so we will delay it and enjoy the performance that doesn't need them!" Stoick shouted, his voice carried through the hall with as much confidence as he held on. The crowd clapped and knew what was going to happen next and they eagerly anticipated it. Most of them have been on this party every year and it was just two years ago when the Crew first performed in the hall. It left such a great reaction on the guests that Stoick decided to make it a tradition, much to Hiccup's displeasure. When Stoick finally went off the stage, Thuggory got on it and behind him several people with their instrument by their side.
The Grand Hall had a special structure. There were pillars at the side of the hall that supported the seating places above. The platform above was formed like a 'U', the stairs being positioned near the door, which means that those who sat above could look down to the performance. Under that platform hung several cameras. Tuffnut, completely in his element, bought everything that he had in order to record them from several angles. He also sat at the corner of the platform, all the cables that connected to the cameras going along the edge of the rail, ending at his laptop and adapters. He was checking on the sound and altered it into a comfortable volume.
The musicians took place on their respectable seat on the stage with Thuggory standing in front of them. There were five boys and five girls standing at the side of the stage, each having a microphone in front of them. The lanky boy took the mask that was on the music stand of the piano and put it on. It was the same mask as the dancer's. It only covered the eyes, two holes for them in order to see through it. At the side of his mask was a black feather attached to it. The girls had a white mask, the feathers the same color as their dress. The boys had a black mask, their feathers a matching color to the one of their dance partner. Thuggory gave a modest bow to the audience before he sat down on the grand piano. He cracked his fingers quietly before he gave the drummer the signal. The drummer was pouncing four tacts until Thuggory joined in. He was playing along with the drum for another few tacts before the crowd shifted. All the dancers began to move.
The girls were all standing on the table, in a frozen pose. There was a rose laying on the table beside the girls. The boys were standing in front of the girls, their backs turned on them, legs spread and hands lying over each other a bit below the belt. Their heads were turned downwards. Then the sound of violins echoed throughout the hall, followed by the bass and cellos in the next tact. The bass and cellos were playing the same chords over and over again while the violins played the melodic part. Thuggory accompanied the whole piece with deep notes and a staccato way of playing. He then took a deep breath before he began to sing.
I have a dream, you are there.
High above the clouds somewhere.
Rain is falling from the sky
But it never touches you
You're way up high.
When Thuggory began to sing, all the boys pivoted on their foot, turning towards their partner on the table. They went down to one knee in a swift motion, their left hand reaching up to their chest as the other hand is stretched out above their head, ready for their partner to take. They slowly moved their head, looking up to their goddesses. The girls held out their right hand, moving it like a leaf in the wind, taking the hand of their partner in an elegant manner. The boys stood up, their backs straight as they helped the girls step down on a chair and then down to the ground. The boys then took the rose that lay on the table and put it gently on the hair, attaching it on the braid so it would not fall off. The crowd was fascinated how well the dancers have mixed themselves into the audience. They quickly gave the dancers the free space that they needed in order to get to the dancefloor.
The strings began to play a bridge in order to give the dancers the time that they needed to get on the floor. When every pair assembled in the middle of it, the boys left the girls standing on the one side while the boys took three steps forward, standing with their backs to the girls.
No more worries, no more fear.
You have made them disappear.
Sadness' try to steal the show,
But now it feels like many years ago.
Astrid took three steps forward, just as she had practiced and stood behind Hiccup. She put her right hand around his torso and lay it flat over his chest. Hiccup turned his head to the left side, freezing it there while he slowly stepped to the right side.
And I
I will be with you every step!
Hiccup held his arm on height with his shoulder and Astrid took his hand, taking a small step towards him.
Hey!
Hiccup turned his head to the right side while Astrid turned it to the left, both facing the same direction.
Hey!
Both turned their heads into the other direction.
Tonight, I found a friend in you
And I'll keep you close forever.
Hiccup and Astrid pulled away from each other, Hiccup still holding onto her left hand with his right one. He then pulled her back, Astrid spinning into his arms before their chests were pressing against each other, feeling the heartbeat of the other through the fabric and their breath on their ear. Astrid's hand found itself on his shoulder, holding onto him in order not to fall out of balance.
Come fly with me! - Thuggory sang.
Ohh! Ohh! - The choir sang.
Into a fantasy! - Thuggory.
Ohh! Ohh! – The choir.
Where you can be
Whoever you want to be!
Come fly with me!
Hiccup bounced, switching his step as Astrid made a small jump with a scissoring step in between Hiccup's legs. It was followed by a sudden body twist and a Sentada, where Astrid jumped as she sat on Hiccup's bended leg. When she came off his leg, they broke their embrace. Astrid then spun away from him while Hiccup took long and fast steps to catch up to her, standing behind her as she broke the spin and fell with her back down. Before she hit the ground, Hiccup had caught her with his arm, his leg bent in order to support her weight.
We can fly all day long.
Show me the world, sing me a song.
Tell me what the future holds.
You and me will paint it all in gold!
- The strings played another bridge. -
And I
I will believe your every way!
Hey!
Hey!
Cuz I, I have a friend in you,
Will always stay together!
Hiccup pulled her up again, pivoting on his foot to shift the weight while Astrid stepped with her toes on his, walking and dancing on his feet. After a few steps, Astrid went off his feet and turned with her back to him. She held out a hand and Hiccup did the same, holding it, while they moved together in one direction.
Come fly with me! – Thuggory.
Ohh! Ohh! – The choir.
Into a fantasy! – Thuggory.
Ohh! Ohh! – The choir.
Where you can be – Both.
Whoever you want to be! – Both.
Come fly with me! – Both.
Hiccup held her hand on her waist and as he pulled his arm behind her waist over her head, she rotated a bit, altering the position of her hand, so that her hand would go along with his. Hiccup pulled his arm back over her head again, causing her to spin once before the ended in the same stance again.
- Thuggory -
And I
I will be with you every step.
Tonight, I found a friend in you
And I'll keep you close forever!
Hiccup lifted her up, her arms tight around his shoulder to stay midair as she held herself onto him with one of her legs angled around his leg and the other one stretched out. Hiccup rotated on the same place, slowly so she would not fall off.
- Thuggory and the choir -
Come fly with me!
Into a fantasy!
Where you can be
Whoever you want to be!
Come fly with me!
He put her down to the ground again, one hand on her waist and the other holding hers. She was currently facing him before she turned her back to him again, swinging her hips down his front, going onto her knees all the while he held her hands. She came back up, turned back to him and both twisted their body and made jerking movements before they took the basic stance again.
- Thuggory and the choir -
Come fly with me!
Ohh! Ohh!
Into a fantasy!
Ohh! Ohh!
Where you can be
Whoever you want to be!
Come fly with me!
Hiccup was breaths away from her, dragging her with him as he back-stepped, lifting her again before she held onto him. She let her legs spread while he swung her, pivoting on his feet as he rotated around himself. When her feet touched the ground, they both turned towards each other, jerking their heads in the opposite direction that their partner faced as they neared the end. They were switching their steps, kicking, lifting and jumping before Hiccup pulled himself away from her, merely five meters away as he came to a stop. He waited for Astrid do her solo part, twisting her feet, crossing them while her arms went to the air, stretched out, slowly sliding back down to her side as she slowly moved back to him. And when she was a meter away from him, she spun again, back into his arms and stopped with her right leg angled and lifted around his left leg, her arms around his neck while his arms found themselves tight around her waist, holding her.
Hey!
The strings stopped playing, the drums ended with a loud pounce as Thuggory played the last note. Every pair was in the same stance, the girls pressed against the boys. The dance came to an end.
A/N:
Alright, this chapter is longer than the rest of the chapters because I didn't want to stop in the middle of the dance. I do not own the lyrics for they belong to Alexander Rybak and his song 'Into a fantasy'. I actually quite liked the lyrics which is why I took it over. I took small changes to make it more fitting for the situation. Well, what do you think? I got the motivation from the Tango dance scene of Step Up 3. If you watch it again, you might see some similar moves that I described in here.
Again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!
Date of Update: 13th October 2015
~ KeGzZ