The Outcast King

Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions.

Rated: M for Mature

Disclaimer: I do not own Dreamworks Dragons or HTTYD. Though I wish I did :p Oh! And I don't own any of the songs used in the story, all songs and lyrics belong to their original artists and creators!

Chapter 29: Something New

Both of them were so happy to be boyfriend and girlfriend and best of all, Hiccup didn't feel guilty for loving Astrid the way that he did. He did love Camicazi, always would. She was the mother of his children, and always held a special place in his heart until the end of time just as he'd promised her. He never expected to love again, especially not the one he wanted from on Berk. Most of all, he never anticipated Astrid to love him back. This was the start of something new for him, and her. They couldn't wait to see where it took them.

Hiccup and Astrid had agreed to take things slow because it was still new, Astrid having a relationship and Hiccup moving on. Astrid knew that Hiccup being chief meant sooner or later he would be expected to take another wife by his village, the question laid with when Hiccup would be ready to go through that all again or if he'd ever be for that matter. Astrid didn't blame him if he wasn't. So here they were sitting together on the beach on an island labeled on Hiccup's map as the Isle of Night or so it said when Hiccup finally showed it to her.

"This map is incredible, Hiccup. You and Cami did all this?" Astrid asked in shock looking over it. It had been a book originally then as Hiccup unfolded the pages it turned in to a massive floor map of the Archipelago and beyond.

"One by one. Started with Berk, like here in the middle and I just expanded. Every time we traveled and found a new island, I would draw it on the map, and Cami would name it." Hiccup chuckled a bit.

"Gods Hiccup you really did get around...all this skill, its amazing." Astrid exclaimed.

"Well I did have a lot of time on my hands. So...you heard my story. What's yours Astrid? Ya know of the last 6 years?" Hiccup asked her. Astrid sat back a little looking up at the sky with a sigh of contentment as Hiccup closed up the map and put it away.

"Well after you left it was pretty quiet...the raids got worse, everyone started wishing you were back to help with the dragons...given you could stop the raids on outcast island, you could of done it for us..." Astrid began.

"I had Toothless for it...Couldn't of done it without him." Hiccup smiled.

"Well either way...our raids got worse every time, happened 3 times a week too. We all wanted you back, after two weeks is when your father decided to start looking for you. He looked for months, Hiccup. He'd leave for 3 weeks, return for one. Spitelout and Gobber were in charge. And he always drank, Gobber had to stay there a while to make sure he didn't hurt himself. He was so upset for what he'd done. After a while...he gave up the searches, assuming you had died and made it his mission to find the nest for revenge. So started those searches..." Astrid explained.

"Huh...if he assumed I was dead then why did he say my name automatically when I stopped the raid on Berk..." Hiccup questioned.

"Because you came in on Toothless. And that's how you'd left...still find it funny he said it was you, and realized that you never denied it was you. I didn't even catch on to it...But...after your dad stopped the searches for you...me personally...I got upset about it...I never...believed you were dead...well not until you as Strike said that you killed yourself...I hated that thought, thinking I'd...never be able to apologize to you for that day on Berk when I told your dad about Toothless but I just...it all happened so fast. I am...sorry about that...I feel like its was my fault that you left..." Astrid looked down.

"Astrid, stop. It wasn't your fault...I was leaving one way or another. That's what I was doing when you showed up that day. I knew I couldn't kill the nightmare and I was...sick of lying to people about what I was doing. I wasn't...defeating dragons...I was...training them...using things they liked to bring out their playful sides. And I hated the attention I got...being in the spotlight. That's not me, Astrid..." Hiccup sighed.

"Seems like you stayed in the spotlight though, chief." Astrid giggled a bit.

"You know what I mean. But go on, this is your story...you stopped with my dad looking for the nest?" Hiccup asked her.

"Right well after he announced giving up the search for you...I–I ran to my house and started crying because I didn't want to believe you could be dead...blaming myself for it. But anyway your dad started sending out search parties in all directions but never towards outcast island being enemies and all, guess that explains how we never found you. Raids were bad for us, as I mentioned..." Astrid trailed off holding her forearm, Hiccup noticed a deep old scarred over gash there and lightly ran his hand over it. "Got my fair share of battle scars..." Astrid laughed a little.

As Hiccup looked more he saw them on her arms, a few on the face and neck. Astrid lifted her shirt a little and he saw the ones on her sides. "Astrid...I'm sorry...I–I should of been there. I shouldn't of stayed away so long...I could of...helped..." Hiccup closed his eyes while Astrid fixed her shirt.

"Now its my turn to tell you not to blame yourself, Hiccup. We had cast you out...you never knew we changed our minds and when you left...you had been happy to leave and thought if you came back that we'd kill you on sight. None of us...blame you for not returning. And besides, you had a lot going on here. Making Dragons Edge, getting married, having kids...having 3 kids took up a lot of your time and be honest, Hiccup...if you hadn't learned we found the nest...would you of ever come back?" Astrid asked him.

"I suppose not...So I know the story from there. What else happened, couldn't of been just my dad looking for the nest for 6 years?" Hiccup asked.

"Well when he was searching, Berk was calm I guess besides the raids. Snotlout was always trying to get with me...I–I dated him for a little while, like a month at most but ugh I hated it. I just...couldn't be with him. He was so cocky...and rude. I guess...in the long run...my heart already belonged to someone else. Being with Snotlout, only made me think about you more. So when that day came that you arrived on Berk to save us...and Stoick said your name...there was this weird feeling in me. Like I knew you...and that's...one of the reasons I begged for you to bring us with you...I wanted to know more, figure out the feeling I had..." Astrid explained.

"Being honest here, Astrid...when I saw you begging me to take you with me...I watched your eyes, and don't get mad at me for saying this...but I saw...Camicazi there. Your eyes, the truth in them was easy to see. When I saw you the first time...I saw her, almost like it was her telling me to let it happen. Like she was pushing me to let you come back with me..." Hiccup sighed, he didn't want Astrid to get upset that he was bringing Cami up.

"So you let us come because you felt like Cami was telling you too? Maybe...she knew it was...what you needed?" Astrid offered.

"Possibly. Like I said, Cami was anything you needed her to be. Even a guide...With the fight of the Red Death being so close in reach...everything was piling up at once, Snoggletog, the race...You know? And when I saw you nearly get killed by that queen...I can't even tell you how scared I was, Astrid. It was...like reliving Cami's death all over again. I saw her, same position. Like she was telling me that if I didn't move right then...I'd lose someone else. And it forced me to move, and I saved you..." Hiccup stated.

"Hearing that, seems like she knew that this...is where we would end up. Think about it, Hiccup. You saw Cami in me, pushing you to let us come to dragons edge. You saw her telling you to save me or you'd lose me...and when I saved Runa...admit it...it was just like losing Cami again, wasn't it. I heard the shock in your voice when I told Runa it was my choice to save her...from the story you told me about Camicazi's death...she said the same thing to Runa when she blamed herself. Everything...has pushed us together, Hiccup..." Astrid said as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Seems that way, doesn't it. I guess...only the Gods know our fates and Cami being up there with them now...she knew I needed to move on, that's why she came to me and told me too. He heard both our pleas for help and pushed us together...So...if we're still playing questions here...when did...you realize you were in love with me?" Hiccup asked.

Astrid blushed a little, "It went in stages for me...the official moment was when you saved me from Dagur..." Astrid replied.

"What do you mean by stages? Take me through it, now I want to understand..." Hiccup responded.

"Well...it started I guess when we were flying that morning and I asked you those questions, when we landed on the beach where Camicazi's memorial stone is. Just...the fact you were talking about it, letting me be there and listen...I don't know. Made me feel good I guess. What really got me was...when you grabbed my wrist and asked me to stay with you. You'd been so secretive about Cami until that day, never letting anyone in and I felt...honored that you opened up to me of all people about it." Astrid told him.

"I trusted you and had forgiven you for the past. I'd always wanted just even one chance to be able to talk to you on Berk but hey, I was invisible so...anyway...what was the next stage for you?" Hiccup asked.

"Next it was...when we were here, the night I convinced you to just forgive Stoick. In truth I suppose it was the hug you gave me, thanking me that got my feelings for you roaring like a bonfire...after that night, it just grew and grew Hiccup. I couldn't stop it, I wanted too because I knew you still loved Cami but...my heart betrayed me in that sense. I wanted to tell you so many times how I felt but...it was just never a good time. Then...the day of my test...Fishlegs said something to me, he figured out I liked you...he said I was always around you and the kids, that I was quiet and blushing when you were near me..." Astrid blushed a little.

"What did he say to you?" Hiccup questioned.

"It started with him asking if I liked you. I nearly choked on my breakfast that morning over it. I asked why he would think that and he told me that it was because I get so quiet around you, and that even at that moment, I was blushing. I told him if he said anything, I'd kill him. He said it had been obvious and I sighed and told him, 'I do...I do like him...Gods, I'm falling in love with him, Fishlegs...I tried so hard not too but...I can't stop it and what's worse...he's not over his wife, I doubt he ever will be...' and then...shockingly enough. He told me this, 'Of course he's not, Astrid. That was his wife, first woman he ever really loved. Mother of his kids...No matter how many years pass, he'll always love her. That's not something you stop, just like with Valka and Stoick. Separated for 21 years, but still as in love as they day they got together, and still in love now. Hiccup will always love Cami, Astrid. But...and as much as it sucks to say this...if they were meant to be...she'd still be with him, still be alive and we wouldn't even be here right now...the reason we all ran in to one another again is because Hiccup came to Berk to stop us going after the queen because he wanted to kill her for taking his wife...Everything that happened, has happened for a reason. Hiccup knows this, or we wouldn't be here. He chose to give us another chance, he forgave us...and you know...not for nothing but his kids love you, and he's always smiling around you or his family. I think you should tell him, Astrid. How's he ever going to know if he has feelings for you or not if he doesn't know how you feel...think about that for a while...'." Astrid smiled softly.

"And that's when you decided to tell me?" Hiccup asked.

"Not right away, I said I'd wait until we were alone first...I pushed it aside for my test. That's when I made my choice to stay on Dragons Edge too...I was going to tell you both when we were alone. Then your kids pushed us in to dancing and in the moment...it felt right. I didn't care who was watching...I was scared but...I wanted to tell you and then we got interrupted by Dagur...and you know the rest." Astrid told him, Hiccup smiled softly. She had liked him for a while then, "And that's one of the questions I wanted to as you actually..." Astrid stated.

"What?" Hiccup asked now.

"When Dagur showed up and the whole...contract thing. Why did you...jump in to save me?" Astrid tilted her head a bit.

Hiccup looked down slightly with a half-chuckle. "Well I saw the daggers coming at you, instinct was to move you out of the way." Hiccup told her.

"I–I figured that. Chief protecting his people but...the contract, when Dagur wanted me...how did you...figure out the contract was void? Why'd you...say I was under contract to marry you? No hesitation either...Which Cami pointed out according to you." Astrid remarked.

"At first, I didn't know what I could do to stop it. I knew you were scared to go with him, and if it hadn't been for him saying what he said...I wouldn't of figured it out. I had read the contract when Dagur gave it to Stoick, glancing over it. I knew I wanted to stop it...it scared me. And I think that's when my feelings for you came back to the surface...Dagur is a psychopath and I knew that if you didn't do what he wanted willingly...he'd hurt you, rape you, whatever he wanted and that just...made my blood boil. But I wasn't in this fight, it wasn't something I could stop. My only idea at the time was give up dragons edge, rename myself Stoick's heir, and ask you to marry me then and there...but it wouldn't work...it was what Dagur said that got me to realize the contract was void." Hiccup began.

"What keyword did he say? I still don't understand." Astrid asked.

"He said you can thank your mom and chief for this. That's when it clicked. You had just become a member of my tribe, no longer a hooligan tribe member. Which meant that Astrid Hofferson, hooligan tribe member of Berk...no longer existed by law. Its like...being married in to another tribe. As soon as you became a dreki tribe member, Stoick was no longer your chief. I was, still am. That meant that the contract was void because you weren't a hooligan anymore. It was Dagur who screwed himself..." Hiccup chuckled.

"That's...clever as hell, Hiccup. I didn't even process it...but why say I was your bride? How did that...make him stop?" Astrid looked at him.

"Because the contract also had stated if you had no contracts for your hand, he could take you. I didn't want a war, not that he'd win so first thing that came to mind was say you were already mine. Not only were you under my protection being a tribe member, but also you were my fiancé and that meant he couldn't have you. But you know Dagur, he pushed. You know the rest, Astrid. I kissed you, brought back all my old feelings for you, kicked Dagur's ass for disrespecting Cami's name, and sent him running...and now...here we are." Hiccup smiled looking at her.

"So...instinct to protect me kicked in...I never did thank you for that...it saved my life, 3 times actually...the daggers, the contract, him trying to take me as his, even the sword, 4 times...and the queen...5 times all in two months...I hope it doesn't become a habit that I always need saving." Astrid giggled a bit.

"You're welcome, Astrid and don't worry about it. Its my esteemed pleasure to rescue you..." Hiccup said making her blush.

"Okay so...last question and then we're going back because I'm starving..." Astrid asked now.

"Shoot." Hiccup replied.

"What's next for us?" Astrid said.

"Meaning?" Hiccup arched a brow at her question.

"I'm not...rushing anything just...you know what people will expect of us..." Astrid blushed a little more.

"Well, honestly. I haven't really thought about it, Astrid. I just assumed for now...we date, be boyfriend and girlfriend, see where things go. I know what they will want...for me to get married again, have a chieftess, maybe even another heir...But for now...lets just take it one day at a time. I'm sure we will know when its time to...take another step in our relationship and if we don't recognize it...I'm sure someone up there will...ain't the right, Camicazi?" Hiccup laughed looking up. The wind circled around them. "See. Told ya." Hiccup chuckled.

"Alright then. One day at a time it is. So are we going back?" Astrid asked him. He stood up and helped her up nodding.

"We are. We have to tell the kids, I'm sure they'll be ecstatic to hear about it..." Hiccup smiled at her as Toothless and Stormfly walked over and the two mounted their dragons.

"I hope so." Astrid replied.

"Astrid, my kids love you to pieces. They will be happy, now lets get back. It's almost lunch time." Hiccup told her. She nodded as the two of them took off back to dragons edge.

(3 Hours Later)

Now rolling on lunch hour, people made their way to the great hall as Hiccup and Astrid landed in the main area of the village and got off their dragons smiling. Hiccup offered his hand to Astrid as they walked towards the hall together, reaching the doors 10 minutes later. Astrid took a deep breath. "I'm ready." She said with a smile. Hiccup nodded as he opened the door and walked in with her, the room instantly came to a hush now as they watched their chief walk in, holding Astrid's hand like a couple of lovers would.

"Daddy!" Runa, Viggo, and Thora exclaimed rushing away from the main table and in to his arms, he crouched down to catch them in his arms smiling. He kissed the tops of their heads gently as they stepped back and he looked at them happily. "We missed you." Viggo said.

"I missed you kids too and...I have good news for you." Hiccup said lightly.

"Ooh is it about you and Astrid?" Runa asked with a big smile.

"It is. Now why don't you all go sit back down and I'll tell everyone." Hiccup winked, the nodded and rushed back to the table as Astrid smiled while Hiccup got up and walked with her towards the main table. "Dreki tribe...now I know...everyone is wondering what is going on so...I'll tell you. After the events of last night with Dagur the Deranged...I came to realize that my while I will always love, Camicazi...my heart years for another. Miss. Astrid Hofferson...She's the one I liked before I was cast out, the one I never believed I'd have a chance with and now...she's the one I've made my girlfriend." Hiccup announced. The room began to clap softly, happy for him and her.

"Yes...after much discussion about things, we realized we can't deny what our hearts what so we decided to be together and take things slow and we hope...that you'll all respect that given the circumstances." Astrid added lightly.

"No rush, chief! Take your time, we all want your happiness since that's all you want from us is ours." Alvin jumped in now as the room began to cheer for them. Hiccup and Astrid smiled, thank Thor it went smoothly for them.

"Kiss! Kiss her daddy!" Thora giggled out. Hiccup shrugged as he smiled looking at Astrid, she blushed deeply as Hiccup wrapped his arm around her waist and leaned in close.

"I love you, Astrid." Hiccup said softly.

"I love you too, Hiccup." Astrid replied as they closed their eyes and kissed gently, the room bursting in to applause for them. They broke apart after a moment and stared in to one another's eyes.

"See! Told ya they would of kissed if the dummy hadn't shown up!" Runa said pointing at her father and Astrid. Astrid blushed darkly hiding her face in Hiccup's chest at what his eldest daughter said.

"Runa, we would not have...we were only...dancing last night..." Astrid mumbled out embarrassed.

"But you two were looking at one another just like you are now! It's the look daddy had for mommy before she went with Odin...he loves you!" Runa exclaimed giggling.

"She's...not lying, Astrid. If Dagur...hadn't shown up when he did...I was...going to kiss you. The dancing is what reawakened my feelings for you...the kiss Dagur wanted as proof is what made me realize I was in love with you..." Hiccup shrugged a little.

"Y–you really were...planning to kiss me?" Astrid asked him with shocked eyes.

"Mmhm...hope you're not mad?" Hiccup asked.

"At you? Never. As long as you dance with me again because that was just...amazing. I felt like it was just us in the room..." Astrid said softly.

"If it's a dance you want...it's a dance you will have. But...I thought you were hungry?" Hiccup chuckled lightly.

"I think I can wait a few more minutes..." Astrid replied.

"Then...lets dance." Hiccup smiled at her as she nodded to him while he offered a bow to her, then his left hand. Astrid took it with her own. She felt Hiccup adjust his right arm around her waist now, as she rested her right hand on his shoulder.

"Tell me from the heart, in your eyes I see the pain. Its tearing you apart...Let me take it all away. You know someone believes in you. When they love you no matter what you do. You know you are home. And you you're not alone...When you hear me say..." Hiccup began softly with a smile as Astrid leaned her head against his chest lovingly listening to him.

"Whenever you're in trouble. Whenever you may need me. I will fight for you. I will help you through. Whenever life's deceiving...I'll give you new meaning. No matter where you are...You're always in my heart. Whenever you're in trouble, I will be right here..." Hiccup sang to her, now she lifted her head up staring in to his eyes.

"Sometimes you're gonna find...Nothing goes the way you planned. But whatever's on your mind, I will try to understand. You know someone is by your side. Whenever they help you through the darkest night. You know you are home. And you're not alone...When you hear me say..." Astrid sang now taking Hiccup by surprise but he stayed smiling and listened.

"Whenever you're in trouble. Whenever you may need me. I will fight for you. I will help you through. Whenever life's deceiving...I'll give you new meaning. No matter where you are...You're always in my heart. Whenever you're in trouble, I will be right here..." Astrid recited the same chorus back to him. They smiled at one another singing together now as if in perfect sync knowing that the other one was thinking.

"Cause now's the time. To share what you're feeling inside. No matter how long it takes. No matter how many mistakes. Oh, now is the time...To reach and you will find. That whenever you need me to care...I'll always be there! Ohhh! Whenever you're in trouble. Whenever you may need me. I will fight for you. I will help you through! Whenever life's deceiving...I'll give you new meaning. No matter where you are...You're always in my heart! Whenever you're in trouble, I will be right here." They sang in unison. Voices softening now as the dance slowed and the looked in one another's eyes, "Ohhhh, I will be right here. Whenever you're in trouble...I will be right here..." Hiccup and Astrid finished together.

"I love you, Hiccup Hogerson." Astrid said softly.

"I love you, Astrid Hofferson." Hiccup replied as they kissed once more, the room up roaring with applause for them. Yes, it was a good day indeed. Perhaps one of the best Hiccup ever had in his life aside from his wedding, and the birth of his children, and adopting Runa, and killing the Red Death finally. This was definitely the start of something new and Hiccup couldn't wait to see where it took them.