Growing Pains
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Continuation of the last drabble...it's not Hiccstrid, it's actually Astrid talking to Valka about her being a late bloomer and about marriage. I don't know why I wrote this, so don't judge, haha.
SUMMARY: Astrid talks to Valka about some personal things.
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"So dear," Valka began. "Hiccup told me you were concerned about something last week." She was seated in the sitting room with Astrid whilst teaching her how to properly sew leggings, a skill that the said girl still hadn't yet mastered.
The blonde blushed slightly. "Yeah," she admitted, her voice soft.
"Care to talk about it? Stoick and Hiccup won't be back for a little while." Much to Hiccup's dismay, Stoick had decided to take him out for the day so he could observe a chief's daily duties and get a chance to practice some of the tasks on his own.
Astrid chewed on her lip before responding with, "I guess we could. I mean, it's kinda embarrassing, but..."
Nodding in understanding, Valka said, "I know, sweetheart. Hiccup had a talk with me about it. He said that the other kids were teasing you because you haven't grown breasts yet."
"They had a right to, I guess." The girl shrugged. "It's not like it's a lie." She picked at a twisted stich that was in the leggings she was working on.
"But it bothered you. Hiccup said their comments made you cry, and that's not okay."
Astrid sighed as she brought her face up to meet Valka's gaze. "I just...I just don't know why I haven't started changing yet. Ruffnut has, and she's only twelve. And when girls my age from other islands visit, they all have curves in the right places. I don't get it."
The Viking woman picked up the sewing from Astrid's lap and put it aside before reaching over and embracing the girl. "Every young woman is different. You know, your mother didn't need to wrap her chest until she was fourteen. I remember she was so excited when she finally got to wear bindings."
Astrid chewed on her lip. "Oh. She started that late?"
"It wasn't late, dear. Like I said, everyone is different." Valka released her from the hug. "And let me tell you, puberty isn't as exciting as it sounds. You need to worry about wearing enough wrappings so there's no bouncing up there, you start your monthly cycles, and you have to wash yourself more often."
"Will my...will my breasts look awkward while they're growing?"
"A bit, yes, but the awkwardness will pass soon enough. And you need to remember that nobody should be looking at them except yourself, so you won't need to impress anyone."
Astrid sighed. "I guess. I'm just tired of seeing a body that I hate every time I take a bath, though."
"Honey, don't hate your body. It's part of what makes you special."
"But Valka, what about marriage? My uncle told me that when I turn fourteen, he's going to start accepting offers from potential husbands. He said he's gonna wait to have me wed until I'm seventeen or eighteen, but if I grow late and slow, then..." She trailed off.
"Then what?"
"I don't want to have to show my awkward body to a man whose gonna be dissatisfied with it. And besides, what if I'm not even ready to carry babies? I've heard some of the women around here saying that my mother died in childbirth because she had me before she was fully ready."
"She was seventeen," Valka said. "Which is quite young. She married your father when she was sixteen because of an alliance that had to be formed between us Hooligans and the Hakon tribe. It wasn't a love match, sadly, and there was lots of pressure on them to produce children so the alliance could be kept throughout the generations."
"So will I have to marry outside of Berk?" Astrid's eyes widened.
"I don't know, dear. It depends what your uncle says. But I do certainly hope that whatever the case is, you find someone that you are completely head-over-heels for. Stoick and I went through a lot to get our parents to allow us to marry, which is why we decided we're going to let Hiccup choose a wife for himself when the time comes."
"But will anyone really love me if I don't grow big breasts and get as curvy as most women do?"
"If it's true love, none of that will matter, sweetheart."
Biting her lip, Astrid paused before asking, "Do you think Hiccup would ever make an offer to my uncle to marry me?"
Valka smiled. "It could be possible. He's very fond of you, dear."
"I...I...well, I just didn't know because he and Fishlegs always talk about how pretty Heather from the Odingoth tribe is whenever she comes here. And you know, she looks way more like a woman than I do." The girl looked down as she thought about the way her best friend looked at Heather as opposed to herself. With Heather, she often caught his eyes wandering to her breasts and butt, but with herself, none of that fascination was evident.
"Honey, a healthy relationship is about a lot more than just looks. And I have to add that Hiccup has been asking to have you sleep over for a long time. He says he misses the company from you that he used to get all the time when you two were younger. I told him that the only reason we stopped unnecessary sleepovers and started putting you children in separate rooms when they did need to happen was because you both were getting a little old for all that to be appropriate." Valka reached over to push Astrid's bangs out of her face. "My point being, he likes you."
"But could we have a sleepover? We could both stay out here in the sitting room if it would make you feel better. I just...I miss talking to him while I'm waiting to fall asleep."
"I'll ask Stoick," the Viking woman promised. "And if he's okay with it, we'll see about having you over for the night sometime soon."
"Thanks." Astrid smiled. "Thanks for everything. I really am lucky that you're so willing to chat like this."
"You're most definitely welcome. And if you have any more concerns about becoming a woman, marriage, men, or anything of the sort, don't hesitate to ask me. Remember, you should never be ashamed about any of this, alright?" Valka pulled the girl into a hug and kissed her forehead.
"Okay. I'll try not to be."
"Good. Now, let's get back to our sewing lesson."