AN: Surprise! No, this story is not abandoned... ^^" and that won't happen either, I'll keep going.
This chapter's title comes from the song Go Solo by (apparently) Tom Rosenthal, though I prefer the version by Megan McGee. It's currently one of my favourite songs. I listen to it all the time, and this one line felt pretty appropriate for this chapter.
Also, I don't know whether anyone noticed? Lord Jack of Blackshire got already mentioned in passing at an earlier point in the story. 10 brownie points to whoever knows/finds where. ^^
***Shoutputs***
Once again thank you all soooo much for every single comment! ^^
To MajorPain67: ... no?
To KaijuKnight: I really like your description of Thuggory... very fitting.
To Berry: I only ever spoke the truth about Thuggory. O:)
To Whiskerface: Hahaha... haha... hahahaha... oh, don't tempt me. Killing Heather...Now, wouldn't that be an idea... But given how very much I don't like her, that could quickly turn into bashing, so I better keep my hands off her...
Daniel left about three months ago, in-story. And he's supposed to come back for Astrid's betrothal directly after the Dragon Hunt.
To Sian HTTYD fan: It's been great to read from you again! Thank you so much! ^^
To jschrader: You're right, Thuggory doesn't know the King knows about the traitors, and not about the plan to lure them out, either.
To Guest: Oh, believe me... I wish it was all written already, too.
. o O o .
Chapter 49: Nothing's Going To Stop Me
Hiccup knew that she was awake.
She was lying half across his chest, her breathing calm and even. Her fingers moved slowly, drawing random shapes onto his skin, and a few strands of her hair which had escaped from her night braid were tickling his chin. Outside, the sky was just starting to turn grey, the sun not even rising yet. And yet, he knew that she wasn't asleep anymore, just like she had to know that he was awake as well. His hand was absentmindedly caressing her back, after all.
But even though neither of them were sleeping anymore, there was some sort of unspoken agreement between them that they didn't want to wake up yet. Very likely, this was the last hour of quiet intimacy they would get for a while. Today was the last day of preparations before they would all travel to Oramond. And even though they still had the coming night, there was no way it would be this peaceful and calm. Not with the busy day that lay ahead of them and with how early they would have to rise in order to not get discovered before the journey began.
So Hiccup just lay there, basking in the softness of her touch–her entire body really – and enjoyed the time they had left as best he could. The last two days had been tense; Astrid had made no secret of how little she liked their plan, but there really wasn't anything else they could do.
One week, he reminded himself. Only one more week and then their problems would all be solved. Hopefully…
They didn't move or talk, not until Ruff's knock came from the door.
"Come in," Astrid called. Her voice was thick, as if she was on the verge of crying.
When Ruff came in, she looked apologetic. "It's time to get ready for breakfast. The high lords won't accept you missing it today."
Astrid nodded, her cheek still against his chest. "We'll be ready in a minute."
Once Ruff had left the room, they reluctantly got up. Hiccup gave himself a moment to watch her as she put on a dressing gown over her thin night shift, taking in her barely hidden curves and smooth skin. She was so beautiful, perfect. He'd never minded the sight of a pretty body, but with her, it was still different. The appeal she had on him was almost ridiculous, his desire for her more intense than logic could ever explain. When she caught his gaze though, he quickly averted his eyes and instead bent down to pick up his tunic.
But, of course, she'd noticed. "Saw something interesting?" she teased, her tone lighter than the mood before.
Hiccup swallowed. Playing dumb wasn't really an option, was it? Besides, he owed her better than that. He looked up and met her eyes, the teasing spark in them making his stomach flutter. "You know I like looking at you, how attracted I am to you," he said, his voice soft, apologetic. "Just wait a little longer, and I promise that I'll show you just how interesting I find you, as often and as much as you like."
She snorted, then stepped to where he stood and wrapped her arms around his middle, sighing. "The only promise I need is that you'll come back," she murmured for the umpteenth time. "Promise me that nothing will go wrong."
"I'll come back to you," he replied with conviction. "Don't worry."
Astrid didn't react though, only held on tighter to his chest. And she was trembling.
Grimacing, Hiccup wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. They'd had this same exchange so many times over the last two days, but it seemed as if she still wasn't entirely convinced.
He nudged her until she lifted her head and his lips could reach hers, glad when she didn't resist his obvious attempt at distracting her. It was a firm kiss with his hands cradling her head, full of promises and assurances, of confidence and joy, and he only let it end when she'd stopped shaking. With a soft sigh, he let his forehead rest against hers.
"Nothing will ever keep me away from you," he murmured into the small space between them. "You'll see, in a few days, all this will be over."
Her hands tightened in his tunic over his chest, her eyes screwed shut. "I just hope you're right."
"It will work," he said, trying once more to appease her. "So far, everything worked as planned, didn't it? The bola-shooter is fully functional again. We've planned to where Eret, Dagur, and I will travel together and which would be the most sensible route for me to go from there; you've seen the maps and plans. And with the messenger's badge your warder procured for me, I can travel along the roads without anyone questioning it. And once I reach the swamplands, I'll know what to do; it's what I've spent years training for.. This is it, the way the Gods want me to take."
Slowly, Astrid nodded. "I guess you're right," she mumbled. But she still didn't sound convinced.
. o O o .
On his way back through the hidden tunnels to Eret's suite, Hiccup couldn't help but wonder about Astrid's ongoing reluctance.
On the one hand, he could understand her. He wasn't exactly looking forward to parting from her either, no matter for how long. They still had tonight, but that was only a small solace. Thinking about not being able to hold or even see her for five days … that just felt wrong.
And yet… He couldn't help it; he just knew that this Hunt was the right solution. This was the way the Gods wanted him to take, he was sure of that. It felt right, the natural thing for him to do.
He breathed a heavy sigh. Only one week, and then their problems would all be over. After the uncertainties, chaos, and pain of the last months, this was nothing.
When they reached the end of the tunnel, Hiccup thanked Tuff with a silent nod and peered through the tapestry to make sure that the room on the other side was clear before stepping through.
"Hiccup? Is that you?" Eret's voice came from the front room.
Amused, Hiccup raised an eyebrow at the alarmed tone in his voice. "Who else?" he called back with a light chuckle. "Or are you expecting anyone?"
The amusement dropped off his face when he joined his cousin, though. Eret looked worried, a little pale even. In his hand, he held a bundle of splotchy cloth. "Do you know what this is? Or where it comes from?"
When he held it out to Hiccup, the cloth fell open, revealing a knife in a decorated sheath and a heavy ring.
Hiccup came close, frowning. "No, I haven't seen these before," he said as he took the cloth to take a closer look. "Where did you get them?"
Eret nodded at a chest of drawers in the corner of the room. "I found them in there. Last night, I… heard something. As if someone was rummaging about. But by the time I'd gotten up and out of my bed-chamber, nobody was here anymore." Grimacing, he rubbed at the wound on his chest. "I thought I'd only imagined it. But I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I checked the room to see whether something had been stolen… and found this bundle hidden beneath a tunic in one of the drawers instead."
Hiccup's eyes widened in shock. "Someone was here?"
"Apparently." Eret nodded grimly.
"Shit!" Hiccup cursed. "But how did they get in? Screw that – What if they'd attacked you? I should have been here! I–"
"They didn't," Eret interrupted him. His voice was tense but quiet. "They didn't even come into my bed-chamber."
"But–"
Eret shook his head. "Doesn't matter now. What matters is this: Why did they hide these things here?"
Hiccup pressed his lips into a thin line but didn't say anything else. And what was the point anyway? So easily, Eret could be dead now – killed in his sleep – while Hiccup hadn't been here to watch over him.
But he'd made it clear that he didn't want to talk about that now, so Hiccup opted to inspect the knife and ring more closely. Both pieces were speckled with dark spots, and when he tried to rub them away with the cloth, it came up in a dark red.
"I… think there's blood on them," he muttered as he repeated the process, always coming up with the same result. "On the knife and the ring."
Eret nodded. "Yeah, that's what I thought, too. Still, why would anyone hide them here? Was it a thief and they just randomly came in to hide their stolen goods? Just a coincidence because we forgot to lock the door? Or is it something else, some new ploy to try and discredit me?"
Hiccup was only listening with half an ear, inspecting the items for anything that could help them find answers. The knife and sheath surely were valuable but not special enough to give them a lead. The ring, however… "There's something etched into the ring," he mumbled, his mind focused on cleaning the object in his hand. "I think it's a crest… Or an emblem."
"Really?" Eret perked his head up. "What is it? If we can determine the owner, that hopefully brings light into this riddle."
Hiccup squinted. With the blood sprinkled across it, the emblem was difficult to identify. "It's an animal, I think. A… a bear, maybe?"
His eyes widened as the meaning of his own words sank in and he shared a worried look with Eret. Wordlessly, he handed the ring back to his cousin, and after a short inspection, Eret nodded in confirmation. "Yes. That's the crest of House Jorgenson."
. o O o .
Astrid was chewing on the inside of her cheek as she followed Tuff through the castle's corridors. Breakfast with her father and the others was the last thing on her mind right now, but Ruff was right. They wouldn't accept her missing out on this last opportunity for a calm morning before the hunt and her betrothal would make everything more hectic.
She wouldn't get around playing her role, would have to appear calm and composed. But inside, her mind was racing. This Dragon Hunt, Hiccup leaving everyone behind and heading out to kill a dragon… No matter how many times Hiccup or the others tried to convince her, she just couldn't shake off the feeling that it was wrong. She couldn't even say why, just that something made her guts twist every time she thought about it, and–
"Oh, don't be ridiculous!" she chided herself, one hand raised to rub at her forehead. It earned her a raised eyebrow from Tuff, but luckily, she got spared any comment when they reached a corner and saw Eret heading in their direction. Astrid even let out a relieved sigh at his sight. Certainly, he would be able to stir her mind toward easier thoughts. He always was.
"Good morning, Sir Eret," she greeted him, a slight smirk playing around her lips. It was the correct way to address him, but still. Keeping the act up felt ridiculous.
Eret looked up, startled at her voice. Hadn't he noticed her?
"Swanja!" He halted in his steps, then seemed to catch himself again and gave a polite bow. "Milady. I hope you had a good night's rest?" He held out his arm for her and she accepted it as they made their way to the breakfast room.
"Yes, I did. I was very comfortable," she replied with a tiny smirk. When she closed her eyes, she could still hear Hiccup's heartbeat as if from deep within her.
Eret didn't react as she'd expected though, no laughter or teasing reply. And even as she tried to keep the small talk up, Astrid could tell that he wasn't really paying her much attention. As if he was distracted by whatever else he had on his mind.
"Did something happen?" she eventually asked, her voice lower than the inconsequential chatting before.
Eret grunted, looking apprehensive as she glanced up at him. "Yeah. Though I'm not sure what to make of it yet." He lifted his free hand in which he held a bundle of dirty cloth she hadn't noticed until that moment. "Someone placed this in my rooms last night. A valuable knife and a ring with the crest of House Jorgenson on it. And the only reason I can come up with is that someone wants to try and paint me as a thief. But… Even that doesn't make much sense? Why would I steal something like this? And who had access to them in the first place? It's… weird ."
Astrid paled slightly and paused for a moment in her steps. "Do you… You don't think Snot has something to do with it, do you? To somehow end or avert 'our betrothal'?" The thought made her feel a little sick. No matter how strange Snot had been acting since her birthday, he was still one of them, their brother… wasn't he?
Eret hesitated but then shook his head, sighing. "No, I don't think that. I don't want to think that. I just hope that Snot and uncle Spite can shed some light on the matter."
Astrid nodded. "Can I take a look at these things?" She didn't expect to actually be helpful with this, but this way, she at least wouldn't feel left out.
"Sure."
He held the bundle up to reveal its contents, and she withdrew her arm from his to inspect the objects within. However, she didn't get the chance to take a closer look. Without her noticing they had reached the breakfast room and just as she was about to reach for the decorated knife, Tuff opened the door for them.
She looked up out of reflex and let her hand sink, aware of the fact that their time of talking freely was over. Whatever Eret had found was momentarily forgotten though when her eyes fell on the assembled men in front of her. They were all already there – and by 'all' she meant all . For the first time in days, even Snotlout had left his room. But as happy as she was to see him up again, that wasn't what drew her attention.
Usually, everyone took their seat right after they arrived and dove into conversation with those around them. But today, everybody aside from Snot was standing in a tight cluster around his chair. He looked better than the last time she'd seen him – had that really been on the day of the tournament when he and Eret had gotten injured? – but that didn't mean that he looked well. He was pale, with dark shadows under his eyes, and there was something weary in the way he sat there with his shoulders slumped and arm resting on the table for support. And there was a tension in the air. Astrid couldn't quite grasp it but it was undeniably there. Had something happened?
Most of the men had looked up upon their arrival, but while both their fathers and Oswald just greeted them with short nods, Spitelout's gaze stayed on them. His eyes turned to slits, his expression changing into an angry scowl. A moment later, he was stomping toward them.
"Where did you get these?" he barked, and snatched the knife and the ring from Eret's hand.
"I…" Eret blinked, apparently just as perplexed as Astrid felt. "They… they were in my rooms. Hidden in a drawer. I-I brought them so…"
But he didn't get the chance to say more. Spitelout had turned on his heels and was heading back to the others. Without a word, he handed the items to Snot who took them into shaking hands and nodded after a short inspection.
"Yes," he croaked in a brittle voice. "These belong to Gustav. He got the ring when he became my squire. And this knife is a family heirloom, given to him by his father before we left Westhill."
Astrid and Eret exchanged a confused look. That answered at least some questions, but at the same time raised so many new ones. Before they could ask even one of them though, Spitelout came right back at them and grabbed Eret by the collar of his shirt.
"What have you done to the boy?" he snarled. "Where is he?"
"I… W-what?" Eret could only stammer, and stumbled as Spitelout pulled him down to his height.
Shocked by this assault, Astrid froze in place, unable to react or help Eret in any way. Never before had she witnessed any form of violence between members of this family, not like this.
"Get your hands off my son!"
Eret II appeared next to them – Astrid hadn't even noticed him approaching. He grabbed Spitelout's arm and only then did Spitelout let go off Eret.
"But he killed our boy!"
"We don't even know what happened to him yet," King Osmond intervened.
"What?"
Astrid's exclamation was accompanied by Eret's at the same time, but she hardly noticed. Her eyes darted back to Snot who looked even more tired and resigned than before.
"What happened?"
"As of yet, we know next to nothing." It was the King who explained. He sounded tired and worried, but also threw a firm look at Spitelout. "All we know is that Snotlout's squire left last night on an errant and has yet to return."
"But now that his things have shown up, there's no doubt anymore!" Spitelout snarled. "See? There's even blood on the ring and knife. If that's not enough for you then I don't know what is."
"Aye, I fear that you're right," Oswald now joined the conversation as well. "But ask yourself, do you really believe that it's been Eret's boy here who did it?"
Spitelout grumbled but didn't say anything. Instead, the King now joined the group by the door as well and laid a hand on Eret's shoulder.
"Tell me what exactly happened," he ordered. "Where did you find these things?"
Eret gave a quick account of what had happened, of how he'd heard noises during the night and gotten up to investigate, only to find no one was there, and of how he'd found the bundle in the morning. It scared Astrid, thinking about how easily someone had apparently slipped into Eret's rooms, but not as much as the next question.
"And what about Hiccup? His bed is in the front room, is it not? Didn't he notice anything?"
Astrid's blood seemed to freeze in her veins and she had the impression that Eret had been about to throw her a glance but had caught himself at the last moment.
"No, he didn't hear anything. He sleeps deeply."
The lie slipped easily off Eret's tongue and Astrid prayed that nobody would doubt him. They couldn't say the truth, after all, that Hiccup hadn't even been there. That he had an iron-clad alibi for whatever had happened last night because he'd been with her…
But her prayer went unheard. "Are you sure the boy was asleep?" Spitelout probed with narrowed eyes. "He could have hidden these things there himself and then only pretended to be asleep."
"Yes, I am sure, uncle!" Eret replied, angry now. "I trust him."
"And why would he do that anyway?" Snot was coming over now, too, with Dagur right behind him. "Be reasonable, Father. Neither Eret nor Hiccup have any reason to harm Gustav. Or me, for that matter."
He shared a look with Eret, and Astrid was glad that, despite the awkward distance of the past weeks, there was still something of their former friendship left.
Spitelout grunted, reluctantly. "I guess you're right," he muttered, even as he didn't sound satisfied. "But that doesn't answer the question of what happened to the Larson boy. I gave his family my word that we would look after him."
"And we will get an answer to that question," the King promised. "But we won't find it here. I'll send men out to search for him, and once we've eaten, we can see what else we can do."
. o O o .
It was a strange day.
Hiccup had expected it to race by in the blink of an eye, this last day before they headed to Oramond for the Dragon Hunt. It was the last day he could spend with Astrid without unknowing eyes watching her, precious hours in Eret's rooms where they could at least talk freely and be near each other. In addition, he had a lot to do, packing Eret's and his own things for the journey as well as secretly preparing his own venture without any other servants noticing.
But even though all this still was true and time seemed to fly by like a dream, at the same time it was also dragging slowly, like wading through mud. Astrid and her servants were here as she was officially spending this day with her betrothed-to-be, but the atmosphere was tense and anxious. They'd told him about Snotlout's squire and now they were waiting for any news on the matter. Given that they'd found his things hidden here and splattered with blood, there was not much hope for his fate, but still…
Astrid was even more reclusive than during the previous days, even as she sat in his lap with her head resting against his shoulder and his arms holding her. Every now and then, she was trembling or twitching, caught in troublesome thoughts she wouldn't yet share with him. But he could feel her restlessness, could sense how taught her nerves were as if they were pulling on his own mind as well.
The worst was that he didn't know what to do to help her. He wanted to remind her that everything would be okay and that in a week, they would be free. But those words hadn't helped her much this morning, and repeating them now would accomplish even less.
Neither of them had really known Gustav, but that didn't mean that his – presumed – fate didn't affect them. It was a tragedy, and Astrid's resentment of pointless deaths would only make her more sorrowful. So instead of reassuring her with words that would only sound empty, he leaned his head against hers, his lips brushing along the line of her hair, and tried to relay his reassurance through their bond, to let her feel his support instead.
Maybe it worked as she grew a little less fidgety but before either of them could truly relax, there was a knock on the door. They both looked up in bewilderment as did Astrid's servants from where they'd been talking quietly near the window, and even Eret and Dagur came to join them from the other room.
They all shared a puzzled look, before, with obvious reluctance, Astrid stood up and hurried toward the set tea table. Hiccup waited until she, Eret, and Dagur were all seated and then went to open the door.
Who could it be? A messenger probably, either delivering news about the plans for the Hunt or maybe about Gustav. But with how hostile the Duke of Westhill apparently had been this morning, would he really send news to Eret directly?
However, when he opened the door and saw who stood outside, he huffed in surprise.
"Sno– Sir Snotlout? What… uhm, What can I do for you?"
The other man smiled weakly past the grimace on his face, sorrow and pain clear in his posture and features. "It's all right, no need for formalities. I'd like to talk to Eret, if that's possible?"
"Uhm…" Hiccup hesitated, threw a glance back to the others watching him. They all shared a surprised look, then Eret nodded with a shrug. "Yes, it is. Please, come in." He opened the door wider for Snotlout to step inside and closed it again behind him.
"Ah, I see everyone's here," Snotlout commented in a dry tone. His eyes wandered around the room, from the tea table to Astrid's servants at the window, and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. If Hiccup had to guess, he'd say the other man looked uncomfortable. Then he sighed. "But that's good, I guess. Saves me some effort. Can I… can I sit with you?"
It took Eret a moment to react before he nodded. "Uh, of course." He stood to get another chair for Snotlout which he accepted with a grateful nod.
Just a moment later, Ruff appeared next to him with another set of tableware. Hiccup winced, realising that it would have been his job to serve his master's guest. But Ruff had reacted so quickly, and… and she looked strange. She had a tight expression on her face as she reached past Snotlout to set the table for him, and seemed weirdly tense altogether. It wasn't something he'd ever seen before in Astrid's usually so relaxed maidservant.
"So… do you have any news?" Eret eventually asked, cautiously.
Snotlout reached for his fresh cup of tea, but let his hand sink again at that question. His lips tightened as he nodded. "Yes. They found Gustav. He… his body apparently got thrown into the river. They found him caught in the embankment a small distance downstream. Someone cut his throat, took everything that was valuable, and just… just threw him away as if he was worth nothing."
Concerned silence fell over the room. It wasn't as if anyone here had expected another outcome, but having it confirmed was still jarring.
"I'm so sorry." It was Astrid who spoke first, her hand reaching for Snotlout's to offer comfort.
He looked up at her with a weak smile. "Thank you. He… he was a good lad. So diligent and eager. I've known him for all his life, and…" He trailed off, his voice breaking.
"We're sorry, too," Dagur murmured.
Eret nodded. "Aye. And I know it's early, but… Were there any traces of hints as to who did it?"
Snotlout gave a short scoff. "No. From what it looked like, it was an ordinary robbery. And if his knife and ring hadn't shown up with you, that's what everybody would believe happened, too."
"But… you know that I had nothing to do with it, right? I mean, why would I–"
"I know it wasn't you," Snotlout interrupted Eret, then gave a nod toward Hiccup. "And not him, either, no matter how much Father apparently wants to believe that."
At that, Hiccup frowned. "That sounds very much as if you already know who did it."
It probably wasn't his place to make such a comment. With Eret and Dagur, it was easy to forget the differences in their ranks; they were friends. With Snotlout, it was different, despite their relation. But he just gave Hiccup a long and tired look, then he grimaced and nodded, hesitantly. "You're right. I know who did it. Or, at least I know who's responsible."
"And… are you going to share your knowledge or do you want us to guess?" Dagur asked when Snotlout didn't go on.
Snotlout glanced from one to the other and then sighed. "It's… I can trust you, right? That you won't tell anyone?"
Hiccup cocked his head, a little bemused. He'd only known Snotlout for a few weeks now, and in contrast to Dagur, those hadn't been nearly enough to establish any form of friendship, let alone trust. But he also remembered how he and the others had behaved during the first days here, how they all knew each other for so much longer. For them, these past weeks were not enough to truly damage their years-long friendship. So after reassuring nods from Eret and Dagur, Snotlout went on.
"You know how Father has this tight net of spies all over the Kingdom, right? How he knows about so many things. Well, I thought I could give it a try as well. It's annoying, knowing that Father knows so much but won't tell me anything. So… Last night I sent Gustav out to spy on someone. I knew they were up to something but Father wouldn't listen to me. I thought it was a brilliant idea, but… well, when Gustav didn't come back as planned I knew something must have happened." He paused, his hand balling into a fist. "It's my fault that he's dead now…"
"It's not your fault," Dagur said into the silence that followed, sounding surprisingly sincere. "It's the fault of the one who killed him. Don't put that on yourself."
"Who was it then?" Eret asked. "Who did you send him to spy on? They must be the one who put his things in here, too."
Snotlout looked up and nodded, snorting. "Oh, without a doubt it was them. It's such a typical attempt, trying to drive a wedge between us but not understanding anything."
Eret's face darkened, and Hiccup noticed that the same was true for everyone else in the room as well.
"Thuggory!"
It wasn't even a question, but Snotlout nodded anyway. "Aye. He approached me a few days back and made some slide comments. He apparently thinks that… I don't know, that I would be on his side now after Swanja chose you."
There was some shuffling, and at least Dagur and Tuff threw covert glances at Hiccup. Logically, Hiccup knew that Snotlout was as much a member of this tight group as Dagur or Eret, but the idea of including him on the secret about Astrid's and his relationship didn't sit well with him. However, it didn't seem as if Snotlout had noticed anything anyway, he just went on without a pause.
"He hinted that some things might change soon and that he could offer me some privileges if I were to support him. It was laughable, as Grand Duke I'm going to be of higher rank than him one day, but he at least seemed to think that his offer was genuine. Father didn't think much of it when I told him though. Or rather, he didn't tell me what he was thinking. There was something he wouldn't tell me, but that's nothing new. So… Gustav and I talked about it and he offered to try and find out what Thuggory was up to. He'd learned a few things already, was good at sneaking and staying invisible. But… but I shouldn't have let him go! He promised to be careful and not risk anything, but…"
He broke off, grief clouding his face, and he trembled. The teacup slipped from his shaking hands, the hot brew spilling across the ground.
"Oh, shit!" he cursed, stumbling to his feet and pushing his chair over in the same motion. It landed with a loud crack , making everybody wince. "Fuck! I… I'm sorry. I'm–"
"Hey, hey, it's okay!" Eret assured him, standing up as well and placing a hand on Snotlout's shoulder to calm him down. "You've been through a lot."
He maneuvered the still shaking Snotlout to sit down in his own chair as Ruff appeared with a rag to mop up the spilt tea and pick up the remains of the broken cup. This time, Hiccup moved as well, picking up the fallen chair and placing it to the side and out of her way.
"I'm so sorry," Snotlout murmured again. He reached out as if to help, but one single glare from Ruff made him freeze and then slump back in his seat. Hiccup felt a surge of pity for the man. He looked… no, not truly broken. But certainly tired and hurt.
Once the worst of the mess was taken care off, Hiccup carried the chair back to the table, but Snotlout shook his head at him. "No, it's all right," he said. "I better leave now, anyways. I still have to write a letter to Gustav's family. Gods, I don't even know what to tell them…" Snotlout got up from his chair but kept one hand on the table, clearly still not fully stable on his feet.
"Tell them that he died fighting an enemy of the crown," Eret suggested in a soft voice. "Maybe it wasn't on a battlefield, but that doesn't make it any less true."
Snotlout huffed but nodded. "Something like that, yeah."
At the door, Snotlout hesitated and turned back to the others. There was a battle on his face, words he wanted to say but held back for some reason. Eventually, he just shook his head though. "Good luck with the Hunt. Or rather... have fun?" He shrugged. "Whatever works, I guess."
Dagur chuckled and Eret had a smirk on his lips as well when he clapped Snotlout's shoulder as a farewell gesture. "Thanks. And thank you for coming in person to deliver this news. I feel better now knowing who was behind this cheap attempt at defaming me."
Snot nodded. "Be careful. He won't hesitate to do whatever is necessary to get what he wants."
. o O o .
Eret and Dagur were discussing what Snot had told them, helped out by Tuff's occasional comments, but Astrid didn't feel like participating. Not because she had nothing to say; she knew enough about Thuggery and his twisted thoughts. It was just that talking about it seemed rather pointless. They all knew what he wanted and that he was ruthless in the pursuit of his goals, what good would talking about it do?
Not that her own thoughts were that much more fruitful though… In fact, her mind was going in circles. There were two things Thuggery wanted: power and, well… her. That's how it had always been. And he'd already proven that the lives of others didn't matter to him, that he was more than willing to sacrifice a pawn when they'd lost their usefulness or were in his way. Maybe Eret was right and he was relatively safe from an open attack. But…
Hiccup's hands landed on her shoulders, heavy and warm, but even though she'd been lost in thoughts and hadn't registered much of her surroundings, she didn't even flinch. Something inside her had felt that he was coming closer, always knew where he was. And his touch was so welcome, radiating safety. It made her melt into his hands in an instant, a small sigh passing her lips as she leaned into him.
Without a word, he massaged her shoulders. It helped loosen some of the tension in her body – a tension she hadn't even known she was holding until that moment – but it wasn't what she needed, not really.
She had to talk to him. She had to make him see reason. With this new development… Her fists tightened in the folds of her dress. Gustav was dead. Thuggory hadn't hesitated to kill him, and he'd merely been a spy. What would he do if he got word of her feelings for Hiccup and their plan? If Hiccup wandered around on his own, unprotected, then there was nothing stopping Thuggory from killing him, too.
Eret threw her a curious glance when she stood, always so tentative, but nobody said anything when she took Hiccup's hand and led him away from the table and toward the other room. Not even Ruff was doing so much as throwing her a cautioning look from where she stood near the window again, her arms tightly wrapped around herself and lost in her own thoughts as it seemed.
Once alone with him, she turned to look at him, holding his hands as if they were all that kept her grounded. There was a guarded expression on his face and he seemed to know what she wanted to say. But she had to try anyway.
"Don't go," she pleaded, her voice low but urgent.
Hiccup visibly suppressed a sigh and squeezed her hands in a gesture of reassurance. "Astrid, I have to. I need to do this. You know that."
She pressed her eyes and lips shut for a moment, fighting to hold herself together, then shook her head. "No, you don't. There's got to be something else we can try, some other way. Just don't leave, please. As long as we're together, we can find another way. There has to be another way!"
This time, he did sigh. "No, there's not."
He brought his hand to her chin, silently begging her to look at him again, and she did. How could she not? She felt so brittle, relying on him and his strength – but she also knew that it was the same the other way around. He needed her strength, too. So she opened her eyes again, seeing the sorrow and apology in his eyes. But also his determination and seriousness.
"Astrid, there is no other way. We've spent so long looking for a solution, and this Hunt is the only option we have. Don't you see it? It's only one week until you have to make your choice; we can't risk wasting this chance. This is the way we have to pick, there is nothing else."
With trembling lips, Astrid lowered her gaze but didn't close her eyes this time. Yes, she did see his point, knew that he was right. But still…
"But it's too dangerous," she whispered. "Thuggory wouldn't hesitate to get you killed if he gets the chance, even if only to get to Eret. And if he somehow learns about us..."
"Then I won't give him that chance." He spoke with conviction, and when Astrid looked back up, there was her favourite crooked smile on his lips. "The plan is already that I travel faster than anyone else. And I have all advantages on my side, I know the area, know the people living there, know how to travel long distances. Even if anyone was to follow me on purpose they'd have a hard time, let alone by chance. And I have the highest motivation to make it back alive." He caressed along her cheek, then let his hand drop to her chest, placing it over her heart as he leaned in to rest his forehead against hers. "I promise that I'll be careful. Trust me, nothing bad will happen."
He was so confident, so optimistic...
With a shaky sigh, Astrid gave in. There would be no way to change his mind. And, well, she did trust him…
She mimicked his gesture, her hand on his chest, and breathed, "I swear to all the Gods, if you let something happen to you, I'll come after you. I'll tell you that I told you so. And then you'll regret not listening to me when you had the chance."
Hiccup chuckled softly, his nose brushing along hers. "Duly noted."
Pushing all her worries back into a corner of her mind for now, she basked in this moment of intimacy as best she could. Maybe she just had to convince herself that Hiccup was right, that everything would be fine. And maybe, if she tried hard enough, she'd eventually believe it, too.
Their embrace shifted, slowly, until his hands settled on her hips and their lips touched. It was a strange kiss, soft and sensual, but with a slow-burning urgency beneath the surface. Teeth tugged at lips and fingers dug into fabric and flesh, betraying the desire for more. At that moment, Astrid didn't even care that they weren't alone, she just wanted to be near him, as close as was possible.
When they parted, they were both a little breathless but still unwilling to put more distance between them than was necessary. Hiccup's thumbs drew small circles over her hips, making her tremble just the tiniest bit.
"Mmh, I can't wait to be back here in a week," he murmured into her hair. His breath tickled.
Astrid chuckled weakly and snuggled closer to rest her head against his shoulder. "At least we still have tonight." It wasn't much, given that they would have to part almost in the middle of the night with how early they would have to be ready to head to Oramond. But at least it was something, some last reprieve before they had to part, and she intended to enjoy those few hours as best she could.
"Uh, about that…" Hiccup shuffled and pulled away, giving her an apologetic look. "I was thinking… With how this Thuggory – or whoever else it was – broke in here last night, I think it would be better if I stayed here tonight. Just to be sure, you know? It is part of my duty to keep an eye on Eret after all. And what if this man decides to take some more direct measures after his actions from last night had no effect?" He shook his head. "I should be here in case someone sneaks in again."
Astrid's shoulders fell in disappointment. That was not what she'd wanted to hear. But she also couldn't deny Hiccup's logic. Eret's safety was not something she would argue about, and with how their fathers had already questioned Hiccup's lack of reaction this morning, him staying here tonight was probably the wiser choice anyway.
"I'm sorry," Hiccup murmured. "You know that I'd rather spend the night with you."
Gulping, she nodded. "I know," she whispered. "But it's a good idea, I guess. Staying here to make sure nothing happens." She paused, her gaze dropping. "Doesn't mean I have to like it, though…" Again, she felt for his heartbeat with her hand pressed to his chest, listened to the thrumming of their bond deep within her.
Hiccup took her free hand and brought it to his lips. "It's only for a few days. And then, everything will be so much easier."
Astrid nodded and forced something like a smile onto her face. She couldn't help but feel as if Hiccup had said these words to assure her just as much as to ensure himself. But she also knew that Hiccup had made his decision and she had no sensible arguments she could bring up to change his mind. Nothing but her gut feeling that something would go terribly wrong.
"Milady?"
Astrid turned to see Tuff standing a few steps away from them.
"It's time for us to return to your rooms. Tomorrow is going to be an arduous day with all the travelling; we should all try to get as much rest as we can."
"Okay." Reluctantly, Astrid conceded and took a step back from Hiccup, even as her hand slid down to grasp at his, holding on to him for a moment longer.
Hiccup squeezed and gave her another reassuring smile. "We'll see each other tomorrow then."
"Tomorrow." She nodded, trying to suppress her sadness and disappointment. Yes, they would see each other tomorrow. But it would be during the long ride toward Oramond, with too many eyes around to even exchange a smile, let alone anything else. In fact, this now was probably the last unobserved moment they would have together until the Hunt was over. Neither of them knew Oramond well enough to dare sneak around at night and then on the day after tomorrow, the Hunt already started and he would leave.
On their way back to her rooms, Astrid didn't exchange even one word with her servants. In itself, that wasn't unusual, but where on other days, she dreaded to be forced to keep her composure, today, she was grateful for these quiet minutes. She needed them to get some order into her head.
On the one hand, she couldn't really blame Hiccup for being so eager and enthusiastic about the Hunt. In a way, she felt it too, this hopeful relief. Somehow, the Dragon Hunt was the opportunity they needed, the solution to their problem. The way for them to be together. And he was right, it was the only way, anyway.
But still, letting him leave felt wrong . Something would happen, she just knew it. Something bad . And no matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she was being illogical and was just overreacting, she couldn't smoother her anxiety. If she let him leave and go through with his plan… then she would never see him again.
For the fraction of a second, Astrid paused in her steps.
An idea had sparked in the back of her mind just now. It was a chaotic idea, wild, so bold that it almost scared her. But Hiccup had made his decision so now it was on her to decide what she could live with… and what not. It only took another minute for them to reach her rooms, but until then, her decision was made.
Once alone in the privacy of her rooms, Ruff addressed her with some request, probably to follow her into the changing room so she could get ready for the night, but Astrid cut her off directly.
"I'm sorry but you aren't done for tonight," she said in a calm but determined voice. "I know this doesn't happen often but what I'm going to say now is an order. You'll have to act quickly, without questions, and nobody must learn about it."
The twins exchanged a look. They raised their eyebrows, cocked their heads, and then gave a small nod, all in identical ways that made them a little intimidating.
"What do you need us to do?"
Relieved that, at least for the moment, they didn't resist, Astrid said, "Ruff, I need you to pack a few more things. We should sit down and make a list to see what exactly we need. And Tuff?" Her expression turned apologetic. "I need you to deliver a message to Freya's Temple."
. o O o .
AN: Uh oh... Astrid, what are you up to?
I feel like I have to apologise. Not much happened in this chapter considering how long this update took. But from now on, a lot more things will happen.
I don't know how quickly I can update in future. The next chapter is already written as a first draft, but editing is hard. We'll all see, I guess. ^^"
