Layout is a little weird for this chapter, as FFNet is not allowing me to bring up the toolbar in the document manager. Anybody know why that would be?..
*Note: I fixed the layout issue and now all of the chapters should be fine. I did alter a tad bit of wording in this chapter as well. It was an editing mistake on my part, and I only now realized that it may make things very confusing in later chapters. Nothing too serious though, and I will put an additional disclaimer at the start of the chapter it affects.
CB73: It is always rutting season for dragon riders after all. Lol.
DeathBerryHime: I agree. They probably shouldn't taunt Snot like that. Me feels that everything may be about to blow up in their face soon... At least Astrid is an immortal bonded rider now too :)
Guest: I'm sure word is spreading around the village about their obvious affection. Hiccup will have to reveal himself soon.
Rainnnn: I absolutely love Minden too! As for Snotlout, do you really think he's currently capable of NOT doing something stupid? Lol ;)
_
The lesson had seemed to drag on forever. Of course, it had been hilarious to watch Snotlout run around with his pants on fire. It had also been wonderful to let loose and be herself with the boys. Simply laughing and joking with Hiccup and the others, as if they were alone in the cove instead of surrounded by riders-in-training. She had been worried a few times that they may have pushed Snotlout too far. That he was nearly mad enough to go to her parents to complain about her behaviour. It was definitely a possibility, but she was too excited to care right now. That was a problem for tomorrow.
If anyone had seen Hiccup and her touching or kissing, she would deal with it later. Right now she was out on her first flight with her new dragon. After the other recruits had rounded up the new arrivals and penned them up in the academy for the night, the vikings had been sent home early. This had left Hiccup and Ilweran with plenty of daylight remaining in which to teach Astrid the basics. Minden tagging along to watch, and help out where she was needed. Also to give Astrid support, girl to girl, as she put it.
Astrid was pleased to discover that it didn't really require much assistance from the boys. The nadder was patient with her and riding was instinctual. She soon realized that as long as she didn't try to overthink it, flying with her new dragon was as natural as walking. The two of them working together to understand the others desires. Almost seeming to read each other's thoughts. It was wonderful and gloriously free.
They were taking the standard route that Hiccup and Ilweran had been patrolling every night. Not really expecting a raid, but staying alert just in case. The queen had to be sending out her minions somewhere. She would need food in order to regain her strength, but so far she they hadn't come to Berk. This was probably a good thing, as they'd only had two dragon riders to defend the entire village. At least until today. Now they had twenty-one more including Minden, though the others would need some serious training before they would be much help in a fight.
Night was beginning to fall and they were quite a ways out from Berk, so Hiccup signalled that they should start heading back. Just as they made to circle around, Minden spotted a small group of dragons flying towards the village as well, some distance away from where they were hovering. It appeared the small pack had not spotted them yet, as they seemed intent on their target. After getting the attention of the other three, she pointed to the dragons and said, "those ones weren't with me. Were you guys expecting any other visitors?"
"Yes we were, but only unwelcome ones," Ilweran replied dryly as Hiccup chuckled. Both of them turning to look at Astrid and her nadder.
"I guess you two are about to get your first taste of arial battle," Hiccup remarked as he met Astrid's gaze. "I would like to ask you to stay out of harms way and let us take care of it, but I know better than to tell you what to do. As a warrior of exceptional skill, I doubt that you would listen to me anyways, so I will not even bother. Besides, you deserve the chance to test your limits," he offered with a grin before glancing back at the other two.
"These are the first raiders we have seen so far, and they likely will not be expecting to fight other dragons. I figure that if we just frighten them, they will probably retreat. There is not enough of them to launch a full assault and they seem to be more of a scouting party anyways." Ilweran was all business as he addressed the group. "Minden, Astrid, you two get in front of them and come straight up the centre. Separate the pack with a couple of well placed warning shots. Hiccup and I will circle around behind and close in from the sides. That way they should already be scattered before they catch sight of the huge night fury and nightmare."
Astrid had a moment of nerves as she thought about diving headlong into battle during her first ever flight with her dragon. The nadder, seeming to sense this, looked back at her and gave a reassuring chirp. Then Minden swooped over and grinned widely at her. "You ready," she asked brightly, as if this was just another practice drill.
Swallowing down the last of her fear, Astrid grinned back at the willowy blonde. "You bet I am!" Both girls laughed as they knocked their forearms together before spurring their dragons around to head off the pack. Following Minden's lead, the two of them circled around underneath the raiders. Coming up from their blind spots, the first two warning shots caught them completely by surprise. There were startled screeches as the pack split.
Before they could regroup, there was a recognizable scream from Toothless. The dragons panicked at the sound and turned in the opposite direction, just as a blast of orange flame from Tintallë cut them off. They swung back around, but were stopped by an exploding blast from Toothless. As they growled in fear and made towards Astrid and Minden again, Astrid's nadder suddenly reared up and launched a barrage of spines at the front of the pack. Astrid gripped tight with her knees, trying not to fall off. Bori releasing a fire ball at the group a split second later.
That was it for the raiders. With a few more terrified screams, they turned tail and took off into the gathering night. Heading back in the direction of the nest. As she watched them fade into the last rays of sunset, Astrid quickly attempted to reseat herself on her nadder and get a tighter grip on the rope she was using as reigns. If the nadder made any sudden movements, Astrid was likely to take an unplanned bath in the ocean. Hiccup glided over to hover beside her, watching her struggles with appraising eyes.
"Hmm, it appears that I will need to make you a saddle sooner rather than later. I had been planning to make them all at once, but yours is definitely priority." She shot him a confused look at that, and he just smirked at her. "With how much of a natural you are, I imagine that you will want to be up in the air as often as possible. A saddle will help you stay on your dragon, which will give me some peace of mind at least." Allowing that with a laugh, Astrid scratched her nadder's neck affectionately.
Leaning down towards her crest, she asked, "would you like that girl? A nice saddle made just for us by the best blacksmith in all the realms?" The nadder squawked happily at her, making Astrid laugh again. Realizing as she spoke to her that she hadn't given her nadder a name yet. Thinking of the way she had charged through the pack of wild dragons. Blasting, spinning, and throwing spines like a whirlwind.
"Hey girl, what do you think of 'Stormfly' as a name? Seems pretty fitting to me." The nadder looked at her for a moment, seemingly considering the name. Then she gave a cheerful squawk. Opening her huge mouth in a wide grin. Taking that as an affirmative, Astrid grinned back at her. "Stormfly it is, then."
With another happy chirp, they swung around to head back to Berk with everyone else. Hiccup chuckling beside her as Toothless warbled grumpily at him. "I know bud," Hiccup smirked at the night fury. "Astrid gives WAY better names than I do, but it is much too late now. You will be Toothless, the Terrible Night Fury forever."
Laughing, Astrid grinned at the two of them as she offered, "don't feel bad Toothless. You're a handsome and terrifying boy dragon with an adorable name. Stormfly is a pretty girl dragon with a tough and scary name. That makes you even." Toothless just rolled his eyes and huffed at her, making the whole group laugh as they leisurely soared back towards home. Hiccup replacing his mask as both he and Ilweran pulled their hoods back over their heads.
*
Hiccup could hardly contain his enthusiasm as they glided silently back to the island. The day had been perfect. First, Astrid had bonded with the nadder, which solved all of his problems and guilt over her unwanted marriage contract. He had noticed Snotlout watching the two of them suspiciously as they had arrived at the beach together. It only served to remind him of Snotlout's whispered warning to Astrid that first night in the mead hall. Making him stand recklessly close to her and interact with her much more openly than usual.
He had placed his hands on her in a blatantly casual manner, just to rub it in Snot's furious face that he could. Openly revealing the fact that she let him, and revelling in the other man's jealous anger. Boldly showing the idiot his face just so he could smirk at him. Confident in the fact that Snotlout would never recognize him. His cousin had barely given him a thought when they were living together on Berk, other than to track him down and beat him up. It would never occur to Snot that the godlike man fondling his purchased woman now, was in fact his long lost runty and useless cousin.
It had also given him a great deal of satisfaction to watch Snotlout run away screaming as the red nightmare chased him around. It was a good thing he had sent this group to the beach. His mood lifting a little more every time Snot ran into the ocean with something new on fire. Even more so when he thought of sitting down with Astrid's parents tomorrow and explaining the situation to them. Her contract would have to be cancelled and her bride price returned to the Jorgenson family.
As a bonded rider she could not be permitted to stay on Midgard and marry a mortal. She must be brought to Asgard and presented to the Council. He parents would be compensated heavily for this by the Order to make up for the lost labour or bride price income. It was the customary way amongst all of the realms. It helped to eliminate some of the hardships to the family caused by the loss of a son or daughter to the ranks of the riders. It also meant that they could hopefully avoid having the awkward conversation with Astrid's parents about her previous betrothal agreement.
Now her and Stormfly had accompanied them on their nightly patrol. Since she was a bonded rider, she no longer had to follow the carefully regimented training schedule of the others. She was free to fly as often as she pleased. As they had chased off the wild dragons, it was impressive just how quickly the pair had taken to each other. When he had first flown with Toothless, it had been a hilarious disaster. Though to be fair, both he and Toothless had been learning to fly at the same time since he was using an artificial tail fin.
It shouldn't really have surprised him, he thought bemusedly. Astrid never did cease to amaze. She was absolutely perfect, and a natural at almost everything she tried. His own personal warrior goddess. It seems that she had found her match in Stormfly. The two of them were marvellous together. A beautiful and dangerous team of warriors, right from the start. Watching them work had been one of the best highlights of this already glorious day. Now though, he just wanted to get back on the ground and finish what they had started that afternoon.
As they reached the shores of Berk, Ilweran and Minden headed off towards the village. Minden shooting Astrid a sly grin and a wink first, saying, "be careful with that dragon." Astrid followed her with a bewildered expression before looking back at Hiccup. He simply shrugged at her, chuckling quietly behind his mask, and turned Toothless towards their camp. When they came in sight of the cove, he tore his hood and mask off impatiently. Before they touched down, Hiccup had already leapt off the side. Racing to Stormfly at top speed and catching Astrid in his arms as she was mid-way to the ground.
"What..." she started, but he pressed his mouth to hers and spun her around in his exuberance. When he finally set her on her feet and released her, they were both laughing. Then he looked at her for a moment with a wicked grin before pulling her back towards him. Before she could say anything, he was kissing her deeply and running his hands over her. She moaned into his mouth and pressed herself against him.
Pulling back to let her catch her breath, he moved his lips to her neck. Nibbling and kissing his way greedily down to her exposed collarbone. He bit down on the sensitive spot as she sucked in a sharp breath. Her knees going weak as his arms held her up. He was being rougher than usual since he wasn't worried about shaming her anymore. Tomorrow they would break the news to her parents, so it didn't matter if they saw the love bites. Not that her parents could do anything to Astrid or the Riders anyways. The three of them would be leaving this realm soon enough. Besides, she was a bonded rider now too. She was no longer required to follow the humans' stupid rules about chastity and marriage.
It had been too long since he had last had her anyways. He probably wouldn't have cared either way, if he was honest. His usually tenuous grip on his self control was slipping more in his excitement, and he didn't even care. Rather, he revelled in her gasp of pleasure as he in fact deliberately left his marks of ownership on her beautiful skin. Her reaction making it blatantly obvious that she wanted it too. She shuddered in his arms and moved her hands up to twine into his hair and pull him closer. Tilting her head back to allow him more access.
"What has gotten into you? You ignore me and evade me for weeks. You piss me off to the point of wanting to hurt you physically, and now you can't keep your hands off me." She laughed as he hummed softly and ran his tongue over the new bruise he had left at the base of her throat. At her question, he nipped her neck gently and brought his face back up to meet her eyes.
"I am sorry about the last couple weeks mi'lady, but you are mine forever now. I do not plan to keep my hands off of you ever again. You can hurt me later. Or now, if you really want me to stop," he added with a smirk.
"No, I really don't think I want you to stop. You said I can hurt you later and I'll hold you to that," she joked, before giving in completely and simply kissing him back. Her tongue twisting and gliding with his in a sensual dance. Releasing her hands from his hair she began to tug at his clothes, trying to push his cloak off of him, almost roughly. Stepping away, he practically tore his weapons, cloak, and armoured shirt off before pouncing on her.
She laughed against his mouth as she ran her nail tips over his bare skin, leaving trails of sweet pain in their wake. Shivering slightly at her touch, he began to tug at the hem of her tunic. Loosening it from her skirt before dragging it over her head. Almost tearing the fabric of her bindings in his urgency to remove them as well.
Dropping to his knees as he kissed and nipped his way down her perfect chest and taut stomach. He pulled her boots off before sliding down her skirt and leggings. Pausing for a moment to admire her glorious body bathed in the moonlight, before he gently pushed her back towards the boulder behind her. Once she was close enough to hop onto it, he ran his hands down from her hips to her thighs. Then lifting them one at a time so she would know to balance herself, he placed her legs over his shoulders as he reached out to connect their minds, knowing that this time, she would feel it.
Astrid was taken off guard at first. Bracing her hands on the rock behind her, she looked down at the mop of auburn hair between her thighs. Suddenly, she felt a soft brush against her consciousness, and she somehow knew that it was him. It was almost like a gentle hand running over her mind. This was immediately followed by a deliciously savage hunger that overwhelmed her senses. The image of her own naked body flashing before her eyes, coloured with the distinct flavour of a lust that was not her own.
She gasped in surprise as he grinned up at her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Like he was the hunter and she the prey. That look, combined with the curious sensations in her mind, sent her reeling. She didn't know how he was doing it, but it was driving her wild. Her womanhood was right in front of his face and she felt a blush rise in her cheeks. Before she really had time to wonder what he was planning, his mouth was on her and she sucked in a ragged breath through her teeth.
His tongue running slowly up the full length of her slit hit her like a lightening strike. Her whole body arching towards him and her toes curling as he stopped at the top to circle her sensitive bead a few times. His warm breath ghosting over the delicate flesh. Cooling the moisture that was already coating the apex of her thighs. Taking her hands off the boulder to knot her fingers back into his hair, she allowed herself to watch him devour her. It was making her incredibly aroused as she watched his tongue gliding lazily back down to plunge into her hot depths.
He was taking his time. Seeming to revel in the taste of her as he moaned softly against her skin. That same delicious desire that was not her own was washing over her, taking her higher. She could see the shine of her moisture on his lips. Taste a strange salty sweet taste on her tongue that she knew was from her, and abruptly the smoulder inside her switched to a raging blaze. How in Hel's realm is he doing that?!
Then he slid one hand up from her thigh. Pressing his fingers into her as he brought his tongue back up to tease her pleasure pearl. Curling his fingers around to stroke the place he knew would bring her to climax. Suddenly she found that she didn't really care how he was doing it, she just didn't want him to stop. Clutching her hands tighter into his hair, she pulled herself towards him, grinding back against every stroke.
Her mewling cries were embarrassingly loud, but she couldn't seem to stop them. The inferno inside of her was spreading too fast. Burning every shred of resistance in its path. She was almost pleading with him to slow down, but she didn't really want him to. He was being rougher than usual with her and she just wasn't really sure if she was supposed to be enjoying it this much. Instead of withdrawing, he simply drove his fingers even deeper as he wrapped his lips around her pleasure centre and suckled. It was exactly what she needed, and she threw her head back as a cry left her lips. He seemed to be following her thoughts instead of her words.
This strange idea took over, and she began to let her body lead the way. Her usual pleas for pause were half-hearted at best, but he never stopped to let her catch her breath. Instead he touched, kissed, and stroked every single place that her mind could dream of, exactly when she wanted him to. Her body was on fire. An intense pressure that she had never felt before was beginning to build in her core. Stealing her breath and robbing any control she had over her own body, as base instincts and lust overruled any lingering shred of propriety. Her cries for pause turning to lewd cries of desire as she gave herself willingly to his dominant fancy, surprised that she wanted it so much.
Wrestling himself out of his own trousers with his other hand while she was too lost to notice, Hiccup could feel the heat building fast as her lust surrounded him. Feeding the flames of his own desire as he let himself get lost within her mind. Locked inside her, he was giving her exactly what she wanted as soon as she knew that she wanted it. Some of the unexpected desires catching him by surprise. The moment she gave her control over completely to him, her thoughts rocked him to his wicked core. His little creature of light wanted some pain...
There was a curious sense of overwhelming pleasure igniting inside her as he sang to her body. Pulling all the stops to satisfy his woman. Giving in to the surprising domination she longed for, he brought his mouth to her tender inner thigh and bit down. Definitely harder than he normally would have. She gasped with shock as she clutched painfully at his hair. Abruptly, her body seized violently around his fingers as she let out a loud moan. An unexpected flood of her sweet juices rushing out of her as she shook and gasped through her orgasm.
He gently unwound her legs from around his shoulders as he got back to his feet, wrapping them around his waist instead. Pushing himself roughly into her slick opening while she was still clenching and quivering. Her answering cry was oil on his fire and her eyes flew open to gaze at him with heady lust. Not even giving her a moment to adjust, he began to rock himself into her at a hard and fast pace. Knowing how overly sensitive she was from her first orgasm, as the new mixture of pleasure and pain took her even higher.
Connected like this, he could feel everything that she was. Her intense passion at his aggressive dominance was calling to the monster within, making him want to give her more. She was crying out loudly at every thrust and he paused only long enough to drag her to the ground beneath him. As she clutched at him, he brought his mouth to hers. Tasting herself on his lips, she groaned deeply and kissed him even harder.
He reached back to grab her hands in his. Raising them over her head, he pinned them in place with one hand as he fondled and teased her relentlessly with the other. Switching between gently skimming his hands over her skin, and roughly squeezing and groping her breasts. Feeling her muscles clench around him deliciously as the spikes of carefully controlled pain stoked the raging fire inside her.
She struggled under him, trying to pull her hands away. Locked in her mind with her, he knew what she wanted. Deliberately flexing to hold her tighter, causing her to moan and grind against him. The pleasure that she was taking from this forced submission was causing the beast inside to purr with happiness. She was his in every possible way, and she was absolutely perfect.
Pulling one of her legs up and pressing her knee to her chest, he let himself sink even deeper into her hot folds. She was panting and writhing beneath him, ripping all his carefully constructed walls down as he watched her come apart in his hands. He knew that she was torn between wanting to drag this out and let her body rest for a moment, and wanting to see where it would take her if she didn't. He had never let the monster out to play with her before though, and he doubted he could reign it back in now.
She was pinned beneath him by her own leg as he restrained her hands, forcing her to take every inch he gave her. The beast was out of the cage and it was in charge now. Reaching one hand down, he lifted her hips to give himself even better access. Slamming into her as she rose to meet him. Finally releasing her hands, he fisted his other one into her hair instead. Tugging at it as she cried out and arched her body towards him.
Surprisingly, she wanted this just as much as he did. Responding beautifully to every rough bite or gentle caress as he gave her whatever she needed in the moment. Reading her thoughts and body like a sensual instruction manual. Her nails sinking deep into his skin as she tore bleeding gashes into his back, completely lost in her uncontrolled passion. Trading pain for pain as her desire consumed her. He didn't care. He wasn't really hurting her, and his own wounds would heal.
He could feel her next climax building as she muttered wordless pleas to the gods. Almost sobbing in her ecstasy. He brought his hand up from her hip and gently caressed her firm, round backside before placing a hard slap on it. Biting down on the delicate skin of her neck at the same time. The intense mixture of degradation and pleasure pushing him right to the edge.
He felt her walls clench violently around him again as she came with another flooding release. A ragged scream tearing from her throat. Finally, as he'd wanted to do since that first night, he plunged himself as deep as he could into her and released his seed. She clung desperately to him as her second orgasm rocked her, not letting him move away. Not that he was going to.
He smiled as he felt her pulse and squirm around his twitching member. He would still keep up the charade afterwards to avoid the awkward conversation. That was for another time. For now, it was enough that he knew he didn't need to pretend at being careful anymore. He laid his head on her heaving chest and listened to the sound of her heartbeat, racing for him and him alone. Seems Snotlout would get to keep his hands, and his life, after all...
*
As Astrid floated back down, she remembered that Hiccup was still inside of her. She couldn't find it in herself to be worried about it right now. She was too content and exhausted. He had never been like that before. He was usually so careful. Touching her with patient and gentle caresses, being ever conscious of leaving any marks on her skin that might give them away. This time he had viciously ravaged her. Forcing her to submit with just his body alone. It was rough, sexy, and wonderful.
Her ass cheek ached where he had slapped her, and her neck and thigh felt like they may have some bruises. Somehow, she wasn't upset by either of these things. She had never imagined that she would desire pain, or that it could feel so good. Apparently, something about Hiccup brought out a darker side of her that she never even knew she had. All she felt was deliciously satisfied, as his warm body pressed her into the grass.
Focusing on calming her embarrassingly loud breathing, she looked down to where his head was resting on her chest. Feeling her shift, he raised his eyes to meet hers. Grinning at her as he released her leg so that she could bring it back down to wrap around him. Reaching up his other hand to finger the silver pendant she was still wearing. She laughed at the look on his face and brought her fingers up to trail through his silky tresses.
"That was unexpected. Was it the sight of me riding a dragon that did you in?" she joked.
"I will admit that it helped drive me over the edge, yes," came his chuckled reply as he dropped his hand from her necklace. He pulled out of her body and mind then, and her whole body clenched painfully as if reeling from a strike, causing her to let out a hiss. Gods that was intense!
"Sorry," he muttered as he dragged her up from the ground with him. "I probably should have warned you before I did that. Next time..." he trailed off with smirk, looking her over with. Then he grinned wider as he said, "I think a quick wash is in order." He chuckled again as an image of her with tangled hair and sweaty, flushed skin flashed before her eyes. Dear gods, was that what she honestly looked like right now?
Putting her hands up to feel her rat's nest of hair, she huffed out a sigh. Then she shot a look at him and noticed that once again, he was not sweaty at all and his sex rumpled hair only looked more attractive. How in the name of Loki does he manage that? Stupid elves, she grumbled to herself. Looking towards the pond and shuddering slightly. "That water will be freezing, Hiccup! I'm not getting in there!"
"I would hope not," he said with a curious glint in his eyes. He walked across to a small depression in the ground that was lined with rocks and whistled for Toothless. She had noticed it before, but never really thought much of it. As he turned his back to her, Astrid got a glimpse of the gouges she had left in his skin. It looked like he had been attacked by a wild dragon for Thor's sake! Deep parallel scratches oozing a steady trickle of blood covered his back.
He glanced at her and must have understood the look on her face for he quickly said, "Do not worry about it. I have suffered much worse wounds from much less enjoyable circumstances." With that he waved his hand and an emerald glow began to sweep over his back.
He turned back to greet Toothless and she watched in astonishment as the green light licked over him. Sealing all of the bleeding cuts and leaving only pink lines behind, as of days old injuries that are almost healed. He then muttered a strange word and she gasped as a sphere of water lifted from the pond and came to rest in the depression. It released its shape to fill the small hole, turning it into a crude bathing pool. Then he nodded at Toothless, who shot a single small fire ball into the water and it began to steam.
Looking over his shoulder, he motioned to the pool with one hand. "What? How did you think I have been bathing myself? It would be awful hard to hide from the tribe if I was getting naked in the village every day." He allowed a soft chuckle at the look on her face.
Too shocked to think up something clever or witty, she simply replied honestly, "Not that way."
He laughed loudly and coming to take her hand, dragged her over to the pool. She climbed in to find it wonderfully warm and just deep enough to sit in comfortably. Hiccup climbed in behind her and gently helped her to untangle her hair. After they had gotten out and dried off, she dressed quickly as Hiccup waved a hand and released the water in the pool back to the ground.
"So, you can use magic. I'd wondered after your sword and my axe. Oh, and let's not forget your ring. Though I was really hoping there was a chance that someone else had made them for you. My limit for crazy had pretty much been reached with mind control, but now..." she trailed off as she watched him struggle back into his trousers.
"Yes, I can," he replied simply, choosing to ignore the rest of her comment. "You will be able to as well, after some training. Speaking of magic and you..." he wandered over to Toothless and grabbed a small cloth sack out of one of the saddle bags. He went to sit on a log by the fire pit and whistled distractedly as he began to take out small bundles of unknown herbs. Another blue-purple burst came from out of the dark and ignited the wood sitting ready in the pit.
Astrid wandered over to see what he was doing as he placed a small cooking pot on one of the rocks around the fire. Summoning more water from the pond into the bowl, he began adding the dried plants to it as it came to a boil. He then removed the pot from the fire, produced a mug, and poured the tea into it. Passing it to her, he said, "Drink!" She took a curious sniff. It smelled like mint, and something else she couldn't identify.
Blowing on it to cool it, she asked curiously, "what is this?" He shot her a look out of the side of his eye and shrugged.
"Now is not really a great time for you to be with child. You know, the battle with the Red Death and all that."
"Oh" was all she could think to say as realization struck. He had released his seed inside of her. Gulping down the hot tea, she made a mental note to get the recipe from him later so that she could make it herself next time. Looking for a topic change, she recalled his words with a gasp. "Wait! I'll be able to use magic? How?"
"All bonded riders can. It just takes a lot of training to master it is all." He shrugged as if this was no big deal.
Hiccup began to explain to her all about what would happen now that she had bonded with Stormfly. She would have to leave Midgard to receive training since magic use was highly restricted in this realm. He said there was no other option. She would have to return with him and Ilweran after they defeated the Red Death. She was free. Free of her arranged marriage, and free to be with Hiccup. He wouldn't have to leave her behind, and she wouldn't have to watch him go. Sighing, she allowed the relief to wash over her. Though his words did bring to mind another question.
"Is that why you and Ilweran didn't just kill the Red Death with magic? Because you're not allowed to use it in front of people?" Taking the empty mug back from her, he seemed to consider his answer.
"Yes, and no. Yes, because it is forbidden and as members of the Order we are supposed to uphold the laws of the Æsir. If it was simply about the law, we may have just done it anyway and begged forgiveness afterwards. We did not though, because it would take an immense amount of energy to kill her with magic and that would likely kill us as well. There are spells that would be able to do it, but they are dark magics that few know how to use and are dangerous at the best of times. Either way, it would be ideal to finish her off without magic instead."
In a convoluted way, Astrid guessed that made sense. She really had no idea how magic worked so of course she wouldn't realize that it had limitations. She had always just assumed that if you could use magic, you could do anything. Apparently she had a lot to learn before she could be a proper rider. It was all too confusing to cram into one night anyways, so she dropped the subject for now. She instead broached the question that had been on her mind since meeting Minden.
"You and Minden seem very friendly with each other..." she grumbled, looking towards the fire instead of at him. Though he had not shown any interest in Minden today, that didn't mean that he never had. After all, Astrid had certainly not been his first five years ago, and she seriously doubted that she had been his last either. Though resigned to it, she still didn't want to see the telling look of discomfort that would surely be on his face. After all, Minden was exceptionally beautiful, absolutely perfect, and a wicked flirt that very obviously wanted him. What man could resist that, and why would they even want to try?
Instead of awkward silence, Hiccup surprised her by barking out a laugh. She looked at him in confusion, only to find his eyes alight with humour. "You are not the first one to think that and it is a fair assumption. Minden is exceptionally beautiful, and you would know that I was lying if I said otherwise. Still, there is no romantic relationship between us and there never has been. We get along well, and we understand each other, so we seem closer than we are. I care for her, but it is in a purely platonic way and she understands that. My heart has only ever belonged to you Astrid, and I have not really desired any woman other than you in many years."
He chuckled then, his eyes shining brightly in the fire light. "Though, I should warn you. Thanks to Ilweran being her father, she possesses the free spirit of the elves. This means that she has a wicked mind and is a shameless flirt. She has been trying to take my clothes off for years because she thinks it is hilarious that it upsets me. I assure you, it is harmless. Though I may just have to set you on her if she tries again. It would be nice to not have to worry about losing my pants all the time..."
Astrid couldn't help but laugh at that. "Don't worry babe, I'll protect your pants," she joked. Grinning widely at him. "No one gets to take them off of you, but me."
"Thank you, mi'lady. My pants and I are in your debt. As a matter of fact, you can take them off as often as you would like. Preferably not in public, though I am willing to try almost anything once," he grinned back, making her laugh again.
Leaning against his side as he put his arm around her, she asked, "how does Ilweran have a daughter almost the same age as us when he himself is no older than you; and you are only 25 years?"
"That is a topic that you will have to broach with Ilweran himself. Suffice it to say that he is older than he appears. Though for obvious reasons, while we are here she will be posing as his sister." Hiccup just shrugged as he gazed down at her.
She suddenly remembered his insane excuses from last night. The ones that suddenly didn't seem so insane now. She was a bonded rider. That meant that she would be leaving this realm, she would get to meet Odin Allfather (though after Gothi's warning, she wasn't sure if she really wanted to), and she would be able to use magic. This was awesome! Then it hit her. Ilweran had a 20-year-old daughter...
"Oh my gods!" she exclaimed. Sitting up abruptly and causing Hiccup to look at her in surprise.
"What?" he asked. Slightly alarmed by her sudden outburst.
"Hiccup, am I immortal now too?" She looked at him and watched the unease flicker across his face. His eyes shifting to the side uncomfortably for a moment before they came back to settle on her face.
"Yes," was all he said. Just one word. As if it there was nothing else that he could think of to say about it. To be fair, she was honestly having a hard time wrapping her head around the idea. Spending eternity with the man of her dreams; young, beautiful, and powerful as gods forever. It seemed too good to be true. Who wouldn't want that? Anyone who found out would be so jealous, but she already knew that she couldn't just tell people. It was supposed to be a secret, and she was starting to realize why. As she thought about what she would say to her parents, she realized that this was not the blessing it seemed.
Her family was not immortal. Everyone she had ever known was going to die, and she wouldn't. Her parents, her brothers, Gobber, Ruff and Fish, Cami, Heather, Eret; all of them were going to fade away with time, while she remained frozen. The place she had grown up in would fade too, the people moving on. One day, she would come back to this world, and she might not recognize it at all. At least she would have Hiccup. It must have been so much harder for him to not have anyone these past 10 years.
She couldn't even imagine how horrible it would be to live forever while she had to watch him wither and die without her. How mad she would have been herself as she withered and aged while he did not. It would have made her furious, despite her best efforts. When she met Hiccup's gaze again, these thoughts were heavy on her mind.
"No wonder you were afraid to come back, and no wonder you didn't want to tell me. I don't even want to think about how I am going to explain this to my family. How do you tell everyone you love that you have to leave them forever? How do you explain to them that you will never age, but you can't tell them why? How do you watch everyone you love slowly die around you, while you're forced to live on without them?"
"It was the one thing that I was most afraid to tell you, that is true, and for those exact reasons. I figured you would likely learn to hate me after a while, as you were forced to wither while I remained young. Still, I promise we will figure out something to tell your parents, and I will be there beside you the whole time." He smiled at her before looking up at the starry sky. "Unfortunately, you really should get home. Stormfly can stay here with Toothless if you would like, instead of returning to the academy. We will meet with your parents after training tomorrow. Ilweran and I will explain everything to them."
"Well, almost everything," he conceded, winking as he stood and reached out to her. Giggling and blushing like a godsdamn maiden, she took his hand and rose to her feet. Kissing him goodbye before making her familiar way back through the forest, as she wondered how he always managed to win her over. She had been furious with him this morning, and now she was just a hopelessly romantic fool all over again. At least now she finally had some proper answers.
Too lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the figure crouching in the shadows at the edge of the forest; silently watching her return home. Shaking hands clenched into tight fists.
_
Uh oh...