A Son of Ice and Fire

A/N: Well, this chapter was a lot longer than I originally planned, and a scene I was going to add to the end of this will have to wait until the next chapter. When I write action scenes, for some reason they always tend to go on far longer than I plan :)

Guest: I'm thinking that House Hofferson might have been founded by a warrior Princess (Astrid's role model) just like what Nymeria did in Dorne. I probably think the wildlings didn't pass the wall that way is because they probably don't know how to build boats. I was re-watching GOT season 3 and the scene where Ygritte was amazed at the windmill just shows how primitive their lifestyle is.

Guest: I've got 3 dragons planned for certain at this point, but depending on where the story takes us I can add more in down the line.

Guest: The Hiccup/Stoick reunion is very close now.

Guest: Yeah, I have no idea what is with the twins' obsession with Yaks XD

Guest: I think all the Stark children are worgs in the books, but I haven't got round to reading them yet. I'll probably fully read them when GRRM finishes ASOIAF.

Guest: The three eyed raven is Brynden Rivers, isn't he? I don't know why the TV series didn't tell us his true identity.

Guest: I didn't think about that, but it would make sense for the area controlled by House Haddock to be called Berk :)

Fire beard: While that would make a great twist, I don't see a reason why the Lannisters would try to have her killed. They already killed Rhaegar's children to gain Robert's favour, and it was him that had the pure hatred for the Targaryen family. I like the suggestion, and if you can give me a good reason why it would fit, I could include this plotline later on.

Guest: Just letting you know, no-one is safe in this fanfic, as you'll find out by the end of the season (laughs evilly to myself.)


Chapter 55: Not today, not ever

Heather

It still all seemed so surreal. Walking through the charred black walls of the Harrenhall with every eye on us. Mum had always taught me to always look over my shoulder, but there were too many people here, and it was starting to overwhelm me. Eventually we were led through one of the great halls and towards a room in one of the castle's towers. Mum and I were told to wait outside, and the young man leading us knocked on the door and quickly entered. Despite the thickness of the door, the booming voice on the other side couldn't be muffled. Mum let out a deep breath, and her eyes were already glistening, as she gently creeped the door open.

"I mean, what kind of vile, spiteful, twisted…" Came the booming voice of a man at the far side of the room, and I huddled as close to Mum as I could. The room was dim, but the faces of the men were easily made out. They are stared in our direction with steel glares, all except one. He stood higher than any other, but as he looked at us, he seemed to shrivel on himself like he had seen a ghost. Maybe he has. Mum was scanning the room, but I couldn't take my eyes off of the man. His long green shirt and brown leather armour, as clean and polished as in Hiccup's drawings. Everything about him was scaled up, even his beard hung down to elbows. I almost didn't hear it when he spoke next, the sound so quiet it barely reached across the room. "V-Val?"

When she began to cry against him, I had no idea what to do. I saw the Lords silently gesture to each other, and I eyed them with caution until the moment the room was left with just the three of us. Just looking at Lord Stoick, I finally understood what Hiccup had talked about, having to live up to someone like that. My father. My actual father. I quietly waited, as the two talked quietly, but when my mum shrieked, "THERE'S NO HOME TO GET BACK TO!" I realised I couldn't stand by any more. Even after Mum explained what happened, at both the edge before we left, as well as all those years ago when she first left, the man's eyes kept flicking between the two of us. And when the subject switched to me, the news hit him like a bucket of freezing water. "Heather," Mum started, looking over her shoulder at me, before she turned back to face him, "she's your daughter, Stoick."

Every word I had planned to say suddenly vaporised into nothing. My mouth moved, but my voice was lost. Of all the things I'd use to describe myself as, shy isn't one of them, and I couldn't explain it. Leaving Volantis, the only place I'd ever really known, to come to Westeros and marry a complete stranger, that was scary. I was nervous, but got over it and took it in my stride. But this is different. With him looking at me, I could barely dare to breathe. What is wrong with me? He didn't even have to do anything, but yet I felt I was being judged and suddenly felt inadequate. Is this what Hiccup felt? More seconds of awkwardness passed, but eventually he took a step forward.

"Heather, that's a beautiful name," he started. I didn't know how to respond, so I just stood blankly. What do you say to that? Well I suppose this is as difficult for him, as for me, probably more so. At least it's a start.

"Thanks," I said cheerily, smiling at him.

"So, err, how are you?" Stoick said nervously. He was shifting uncomfortably, and it was clear he had no idea what to do.

"All things considering, I'll manage," I replied honestly, "I'm so sorry about Hiccup, I had no idea what happened. I wouldn't have let him stay if I had known." He closed his eyes and nodded, before he forcefully composed himself and stood up tall.

"When you saw him, was he happy?" Stoick asked slowly. I took a step forward so I was at my Mum's side, and she gave me a sad smile.

"I can't believe he is gone, but if he is, then he sacrificed himself for the people he cared about. Gods it's so unfair!" I flared. Stoick reached out instinctively with his arms, but stopped and began to retract them slowly. "Everything was good. The castle was in good spirits, mostly. He was happy. I know that. And while I'd like to take some of the credit, it wasn't me who was the cause." Stoick looked at me quizzically, then he looked towards Mum. She must not have given him anything, as his eyes flicked back towards me. "Astrid…"

"With all the bad choices you made regarding Hiccup," Valka said firmly, "the one good decision you made, to bring her to Dragon's edge, probably evened the scale." She crossed her arms and sighed heavily.

"Val, please," Stoick pleaded, placing his hands on her arms.

"Don't 'Val,' me, Stoick!" Mum said strongly. "Gobber told me how you treated him. Made him feel like he was worthless. He's our boy. Our son. How could you do that to him?" She was almost in tears at this point, and ripped away from him.

"You don't know what it was like," he said quietly, lowering his head to the floor. "How he'd spend his days climbing the walls and trying out all these ridiculous inventions, endangering both himself and everyone else. How he'd draw and sing, just like you used to. How he'd look at me, and all I could see was you. Losing you broke me. Don't blame me, because it was you that left me alone."

"HOW DARE YOU?" I screamed. "SHE DID THAT PROTECT YOU, YOU…" I continued, until Mum came behind me, and wrapped her arounds my stomach. I looked up at her and she nodded slowly, before she looked up at Stoick.

"You think you were alone," Mum sighed, "You have no idea. I was pregnant, on a boat sailing to Gods knows where, with only the food and gold that the Hoffersons had given me to survive. Did you have to beg in the streets, praying for the generosity of strangers just so you could feed your child? Did you go to sleep fearing you and your baby wouldn't wake up the next morning? NO, Stoick. I don't think you did."

"Mum?" I said, as I looked at her in shock. Why didn't she tell me this?

"It's alright dear," she said reassuringly, but it was clear she was reliving those past memories. She straightened up fully, and maintain her stare directly at Stoick. "I was sitting on the street, cradling Heather in my lap , when a man stepped infront of us. Randyll Oswaldson, he introduced himself as. A fifth son of a Lord from a minor House in Dorne, he had sailed to Essos to get away from the war. He must have recognized me, somehow, even in the state that I was, and he offered me a room for the night." Stoick seemed to grow angry, but Mum just immediately shook her head. "No, not like that. He didn't want me to warm his bed. He was… just a good a man. He'd had two previous marriages that had failed and it turned out he couldn't have children. So when he saw me and my daughter starving, he took us in. He didn't love me, but we did marry, and he loved Heather as if she was his own."

"Valka, I had no idea.." Stoick said, with eyes wide open..

"You think that every time I looked into my daughter's eyes, I didn't see you or Hiccup? You think every time she was that stubborn I wanted to slap some sense into her, that it didn't remind me of you? You lost your wife, but I lost my husband and my son. All those years away I suffered, to protect you and Hiccup. All you had to do was love our son. That's all you had to do," Mum cried, and I turned around to pull her into a deep hug as she began to weep against my shoulder.

"I do love him. I'll always love him," Stoick said firmly. I could no longer see him, but I could feel his presence behind me, looming as if he was about to attack.

"Maybe you should have told him that," I snapped. Not seeing his face just gave me a new sense of confidence, and my filter was long past gone. "From what I've been told, he wanted to be like you, and every time you shut him down, it only made the cut deeper. Without you there, Gobber said he'd never seen him as happy. Maybe being free of you was the best thing for him." I closed my eyes and waited for the response, but only silence filled the room. A loud thud soon cracked the fragile peace, and I turned to see the man sat in a chair with his head in his hands. And then I heard it. Faint at first, but it was soon clear. He was crying. Actually crying. The pang of guilt shot through me instantly. I've done it again. First my brother, now my father. Why can't I just keep my mouth shut? How do I keep doing this?

Without thinking, I made my way across the room and wrapped my arms around him. Considering the position he was in, the hug was ungainly and awkward, but it was needed all the same. At first he was still, frozen by the foreign touch, but he eventually gave in and pulled me in. "I'm sorry," I whispered. Being in his arms felt weird, as if being cradled by a giant teddy bear, and as he let out a small chuckle I could feel the vibrations against my cheek.

"Gods, you must be my daughter," he laughed, "only my children can get to me like that."

""I didn't mean it. That was an awful thing to say," I quickly backtracked

Stoick let go, and then slowly raised to his feet and looked me in the eyes, "No, you did mean it. And I deserved it. All I wanted to do was keep him safe, but all I did was push him away. He died hating me," Stoick croaked, as a tear trickled down his cheek.

"No. No." Mum protested, and I looked behind to see her shaking my head violently. "Just before we left, he made sure he told me to tell you that he loved you, and that he was sorry."

Stoick acknowledged it with just a single, sombre nod. "He should have run," he stated quietly. "He should have gone with you."

"If you didn't drill all that northern honour into him, maybe he would have," Valka sighed, "but I can't blame you for that."

"If even Astrid couldn't get him to leave, there was nothing that could have been done," I added.

Stoick's eyes switched from sorrow to confusion, as his brow wrinkled, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"It doesn't matter now," I murmured, puffing out my cheeks.

"No, please. Tell me. I want to know," Stoick practically begged, as if to cling onto the final memories of his son.

"Well, the two of them were pretty much inseparable from the first day we arrived," I explained, "It only got more serious from then on, and she was even planning to stay. That was until…"

"…Until the castle was overrun," Stoick interrupted. "So, where is she? Don't tell me she's…"

"…No, she's not dead," I butt in, "she's safe, for now. Actually we need to talk about that…"


With regret, I told him about how I had to go with her, and despite his protests, there was no changing the overall outcome. Even Mum had to step in at one point, and to my surprise, she actually agreed with me. I don't know whether it was because she agreed with me, or if she couldn't handle the guilt if something happened to Astrid and she could have stopped it.

I turned back towards Stoick, "I'm sorry, it's how it has to be. I can't leave her alone."

"I understand," he sighed dejectedly, "please take some of my men with you, it'll keep you safe."

"Two women travelling alone, slightly suspicious. Two women and a dozen armed guards, quite a lot more so," I chuckled, even bringing him to a small smile. "I care about her, I really do, and I must make sure she gets home to her family. If not only for my own sake, but for Hiccup's, I have to keep her safe."

"And you really do agree with this, Val?" Stoick asked, looking over my shoulder at her. I turned to see her nod, but she couldn't hide the pain in her eyes.

"I don't want her to leave any more than you," she said with a sorrowful smile, "but I know I can't stop her."

"Or you don't want to." Stoick bit back.

"Dad, I know this is hard, but given we only have a day or so, can we just spend the time getting to know each other instead of arguing," I said, as I grabbed one of his hands. "I won't be gone forever, and when I get the chance, I will come and visit. I promise."

"I believe you," he responded, his voice soft yet hoarse. "Just don't leave it too long, alright? I'm not growing any younger."

I reached forward and hugged him again, smiling wildly, "I won't."


Astrid

The first day, where Heather and her mother had rode towards the castle, had been very uneventful, and the second has been very much the same. With the night drawing in, I huddled close to the small fire I had built. She should be back by now. I sighed, and just stared into the flames. All I can do is wait. But as I just sat and watched,the sudden squeal of my horse snapped me from the tranquillity. I jumped up, but I was too late. The panic in the horse's eyes was clear to see, and I didn't reach it in time before it sprinted away into the woods. The saddlebags flapped from side to side, as its sleek black form faded from view, with all our belongings along with it. That wasn't what worried me though, because as the faint sound of hooves grew ever quieter, only an eerie silence remained.

I slowly reached down, lowering myself to grab the handle of my axe, as I snuffed out the fire with my boot. The place we had chosen to camp was well situated, and the height advantage meant any threat could be seen far in advance, to three of the four compass points. I stared intently at the woods to the east, the only place danger could present itself. The trees thinned out the further of the hill towards me, and I hadn't a moment to gather myself before an arrow whistled past. Even though it had long past me, I ducked, predicting a further storm. Only when the third one whizzed a foot over my head did I realise that I was being toyed with. Like I was a child they were playing a game with.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" I called out. Silhouettes flashed in the distance, but they were closing in. I clasped my weapon tighter, steadying myself, as the first of the men appeared through the treeline. With bright red armour lined with curves of gold, the Lannister colours burst from the woods like a wave. Five men. No, six. No, seven. No. This not happening. This is not happening. I began to walk back, as the first man plucked another arrow from his quiver and let it loose so it implanted in the ground between my feet.

"What do we have here?" The man smirked, removing his helmet to reveal a grimy young man. His skin littered with spots, and his hair so greasy its blonde colour was tinged more of a mud brown. "You know, it isn't safe for a lady to be out here all alone."

"A lot safer than being with you," I growled back. He gave a sly smile and then preceded to fire another arrow at my feet. "GET BACK!" Neither he, nor his men showed any signs of slowing down, as they advanced towards me. The first man stowed his bow on his back, and walked calmly up to me.

"Come on, we're all friends here," he grinned, as his slimy gaze wandered over me. "it has been a long day, we just want a bit of fun." Fun? FUN? They don't mean… Oh Gods no. That's not happening. Not today, not ever. I scooted further back, pulling my weapon higher to try to dissuade them, but they weren't stopping. "I haven't seen a pretty young thing like you in years."

"You lay a hand on me, you lose the hand. Same goes for anything else you even to try to put near me," I warned. "I'M FEARLESS ASTRID HOFFERSON. IF YOU THINK YOU CAN BREAK ME, YOU ARE WRONG!"

The man just laughed, "feisty one, you are. I like that. Won't be so gutsy when we're done with you. I've never had a highborn before, I'll enjoy this." Too confident in his own abilities, or just ignorant to fact there is a possibility that a person without a piece between their legs can fight, he sauntered so close to me that he was within striking distance. He was barely three feet from me when he first reached for his sword.

The other men in his group just stood a good distance back, clearly confident the man was capable. One of the six turned and ran off back into the woods, but the other five just stood and watched. Only when I struck at their man first, did they react in any way, and all began to reach for their weapons. My focus wasn't on them, at the minute, only on the man infront. My axe struck at him the moment he had unsheathed his sword, swiping it from his hand. In a moment, I lunged at him again, but he rushed me and clasped his hands tightly around my wrists. The boy was barely over eighteen and was almost as short as me, giving me confidence I could beat him. I was almost overpowering him, lowering the axe closer and closer to his skull, when he twisted and dodged the blow. While he tried to recover his sword, I kicked him in the groin, leaving him defenceless and at my mercy. This is for planning on raping me! Without wasting a moment, I slashed my axe across, and the only thing he did was to raise his bare hands to block the blow. The steel swerved through the air in silence, before the swift crack of bone and a high pitched wail followed. The soldier stared down at his arms, both suddenly void of hands and he screamed so loudly it could probably have been heard from Harrenhall itself.

"KILL HER! KILL HER!" He yelled, as he sprinted away as fast as he could. He barely made it far, before he fell to the floor in a pool of his own blood.

Two men charged forward, swords out and eyes full of fury. The taller of the two lunged first, and I blocked it firmly with the handle of my weapon. His metal carved along the edge of the wood, splintering off small pieces of wood as it slid down towards the head of my axe. I swung the end of the handle upwards, hitting him square in the jaw, as I returned to my original stance. He cracked his neck and spat crudely onto the ground, but before he could attack again, the other man had attempted to surprise me. He swiped low, and I had to jump back to avoid his blow. On the return swing, the tip of my blade sliced at the man's chest, but with his armour, all I did was cause a scratch against the metal plate. He struck at the bare skin on my arms, but I deflected the blow and his momentum threw him past me. Before he could block, I sunk my metal deep, and with precision. The thin gap between the bottom of his helmet and the top of his chest-plate was open, and my steel plunged between them and into the back of the man's neck.

The taller man growled, seeing his fellow soldier just fall flat forward, landing on his face completely lifeless as his blood soaked into the dirt. He looked once more at the fallen soldier, before he stared at me and charged like a madman. His sword swinging in his hand, he advanced with speed, but without care.. Before he even got a chance to take his swing, I swivelled sharply and implanted my axe through the centre of his armour. I wondered for a second if the weapon had hits its mark, as the parting in the red armour wasn't clear, but the bright red metal was soon covered by a deeper red that poured from his heart. I ripped the weapon from the man's chest, and he dropped to the floor instantly. I glanced once more at the axe with a thin smile. Even now, Hiccup is keeping me safe.

I stared intently at the remaining three men. They hadn't even attempted to help, and as they didn't move, it became clear they had no intention of doing so now. They all still carried their swords in their hands, and if they all started to attack, I knew I might not be able to fight them all off at the same time. I moved forward confidently, as the whimpering of the first man to attack me became the only sound in the still air. His screams echoed all around and getting closer to him, it was clear he was crying. He rocked himself on the floor, as he cushioned his arms in a cross against his chest. The pool of blood was growing ever larger, and the colour was draining from his face.

"Kill me," he whimpered, as I stood over him. He rolled over so he was on his back, apparently allowing me a cleaner shot, and I held my axe above him. I took a deep breath, but just as I was about to strike, he twisted at the last minute and jabbed something into my calf. I looked where he was laying, and realised it was where I had stood before all this chaos. While one arrow was still planted into the soil, the other was now in my leg. WHAT? HOW? I don't even know how he managed to hold the arrow between his forearms, but it was pretty impressive. I hobbled back, and got a better look at the arrowhead jabbed into my skin. In his state he was weak and his thrust was soft, meaning he hadn't done much damage, but as he fell back to the ground he just gave me a final grim smile. "Fucking whore," he grunted, "I'm just sad I won't see the day that you…"

The man's final statement was cut short, as I ripped the arrow from my calf and plunged it directly through his eye. His smile stilled, leaving only a blank stare, as his head rolled to the side and he laid still in the dirt. Exactly where he belongs. I left the arrow there as a message, and I pulled my axe back out and advanced towards the remaining men. "WHO'S NEXT?" I growled in a low, almost demonic voice. I couldn't fully see their expressions their helmets, but as two of them began to back off, their answer was clear.

I watched in relief as they began to retreat towards the woods, but before I could wipe the sweat off my brow, a dozen more soldiers stormed out towards them. Oh come on. This really is my lucky day. I looked down at my leg, then back up at the advancing men. Blood was trickling slightly down from my calf, and it would hinder my movement, but I wouldn't go down without a fight. One man stepped forward, and all the others stepped out of his path as he walked up towards me. He had long red hair, shaven into a undercut and his lower jaw was lined with faint stubble. He walked with certainty and stood tall above me as he approached. The man looked around at the bodies of his men, and his eyes shone with anger as he stared at me.

"What is the meaning of this?" He scowled. I kept my axe out firmly in my hand, as I narrowed my eyes back at him.

"Honestly, if you're going to try and rape me as well, can we just get on with the fight?" I huffed. The man visibly tensed back, and then snapped his head around at one of his men.

"You told me that you had found Lady Hofferson. You didn't think to mention that these men planned on raping her? You know that they need her pure," he barked at him. Pure? What the hell is that supposed to mean. And who is they?

The soldier he was talking to shrinked into his shell, "that's why I came to get you. So you could stop it."

The red-haired leader just closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, then turned back to me. "I'm sorry this has happened, my Lady, I truly am. I can't control all of the men, all of the time, and I can only apologise you had to go through this experience," he said firmly, and it seemed genuine. He looked over at the three remaining men that had been present during the first attack. "And these, did these men participate as well?"

I looked over at them, and for a moment I was undecided. Sure, they didn't help them, but they didn't help me either. "They didn't attempt to join, but they didn't attempt to stop it," I finally stated.

"I see," the man replied boldly, "I'll see they are punished accordingly." He took a further step towards me, and although I was feeling slightly more comfortable, I still held my axe firmly. "I mean you no harm, my Lady, but we have strict orders to bring you back to the capital if we found you."

"On whose orders?" I snapped back.

"Lord Tywin's himself," the man stated immediately. "Please don't fight us, we can do this the easy way or the hard way." I looked at the man, his expression serious and his stance firm. The men around had formed an arch, and could easily take me down before I even got a chance to swing more than once. This is a losing battle. At least this way, they shouldn't treat me badly. I bit my lip, but nodded to him, as I swivelled my axe so I was holding it at the end of the wood closest to the blade.

I reluctantly held it out to him, "please keep this safe for me, it means a lot." He eyed me curiously, but still he nodded as he removed it from my grip. "So, what now?" I asked.

He looked at me, and for the first time, he smiled, "Now, we go and see the Commander."