Chapter 2: In which time is spent together

Astrid watched as her father signed her over. Arranged marriages happened sometimes. She wasn't being bought, by any means, even with the bride's price. No, she was still a free woman and had a right to her own possessions and the chose to annul if it were to ever come to that. Hiccup Haddock would not own her, but she would be expected to be dutiful to him.

She knew how to be dutiful. She'd been taught from a young age what would be expected of her as a strong Viking woman and shieldmaiden of her tribe. She went above and beyond expectations when it came to training for war. Astrid Hofferson took her duties seriously.

She glanced over at Hiccup. She felt her features were as sharp as a thorn bush as she stared at him. He appeared beyond nervous, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his tunic, looking far too young for such a life-changing event.

At least he wasn't making goo-goo eyes at her. She knew there were worse choices than the Chief's son – that Jorgensen boy being one of them. Astrid inwardly shivered at the thought of being betrothed to Snotlout. No, Hiccup Haddock was a better option, even with his continual indiscretions.

She left the Chief's hut without a word to her future husband. They'd known each other their whole lives, and yet, she could count the conversations they'd had together on one hand. A tiny part of her was curious about him. Who was Hiccup beyond the screw ups and sarcastic jokes? She'd find out soon enough.

The next three days were filled with constant wedding preparations. Astrid's mother was bubbling with excitement for the wedding. She'd started sewing the wedding dress, Astrid having to endure fittings and being poked by pins. All she wanted to do was disappear.

On the day of the feast to announce the betrothal, she's had enough and ran away to the woods while her mother was busy with preparing the feast. She balled the left side of her long, flowing dress into a knot and took off into the forest.

She hadn't expected to meet up with anyone out there in the solitude of the trees. But it seemed Hiccup had the same idea of running away from responsibilities for a little while.

She didn't know what to expect from this encounter with Hiccup. She half assumed he'd try to play it cool, but what she got was an honest portrayal. Hiccup seemed just as nervous as she was (though she'd never let on that she was) and unsure how to interact with her. That honesty lifted her mood, at least on the inside. She was still cautious to show Hiccup anything other than the hard-as-nails warrior she was training to be. He needed to earn her trust, and one short conversation wasn't enough for that.

The betrothal feast was possibly the most awkward experience she'd ever had (granted, the wedding to come would be the pinnacle). She snuck a glance at Hiccup, his face wearing the gloomiest of expressions. Was his mood sour because they were being put on display? Or maybe he was feeling down from her coldness towards him earlier.

Astrid's heart stirred a little for the boy who she would spend the rest of her life with. If they were to ever be happy with each other both of them would have to work at it.

As the Chief joined their hands together, Astrid gave Hiccup's hand a little comforting squeeze. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and they're line of sight met. His tense smile melted into a small but genuine one. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad being married to Hiccup Haddock. Only time would tell.

The wedding preparations were absolutely ridiculous. Astrid knew a lot went into planning a wedding, especially one for the Chief's son, but did it really have to be this elaborate? Her mother was beside herself, and Astrid was about to chop a hole in the wall of their hut if she didn't get away from the madness!

She left her mother fretting over the flower displays.

The sun was sinking on the horizon; escaping to the woods with her ax was not an option. She wasn't in the mood to hang out with the rest of the teens from dragon training in the Great Hall. She received enough of the twins constant teasing and Snotlout's lamenting over their non-existent relationship during dragon training. Astrid wasn't sure where she was going until her feet led her to the blacksmith shop.

Her curiosity about Hiccup itched at the edge of her thoughts every day since the marriage contract was signed. She'd wanted to speak with him again, to have a normal conversation between two people and no focus on the whole marriage ordeal.

Peeking inside the shop, Astrid caught a glimpse of Hiccup's thin form swinging a hammer. She watched as he flattened a piece of metal before dunking it into the cooling barrel. His back turned to her as he returned the metal to the flaming hot coals. She'd never seen him at work before. He appeared so calm and relaxed, as if he were in his element right there surrounded by his craft.

She was rather enjoying observing him until a voice rang in her ear, and Astrid's heart jumped into her throat.

"Astrid!" Gobber greeted, merrily. "Come for a wee visit with Hiccup?"

"I-" Astrid looked over to where Hiccup was working, and caught his eye. He definitely heard Gobber announce her presence.

"Hey…hey, Astrid!" Hiccup dunked the piece of metal he'd been crafty into the cooling barrel before setting it down and walking over. His face was smudged with soot. His bright green eyes beamed at her.

"I'll leave you two kids to talk. The big day is approaching fast!" Gobber said with a twinkle in his eye before lumbering away.

"Good to see you," Hiccup stumbled out, "do you need anything?" He leaned in as if sharing a secret. "I know people on the inside. You can get your axe sharpened no charge from now on."

She leaned in closer to him, placing a hand by her mouth and whispering, "I'll keep that in mind."

Hiccup straightened up, a little smile gracing his face. He gestured to the shop. "You wanna come in?"

"Sure." Astrid followed him to where he'd been working. She'd never actually set foot into the smithy before, using the counter out front to make her requests to Gobber whenever she stopped by. The air was quite warm as she assumed it would be. The shop was probably the warmest place during the winter months.

"What're you working on?" she asked, remembering the metal she'd watched Hiccup craft earlier. She caught a glimpse of a drawing on a paper sitting on a table close by, the letters of her name scratched on it catching her attention.

Hiccup cleared his throat, trying but failing to nonchalantly stuff the piece of paper in the pocket of his apron. "Just the frame for a shield." Astrid could already tell he was hiding something but didn't pry. "What brings you by?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I was out for a walk, trying to escape my mother's planning madness. If it were up to me, we could have the ceremony right here right now and be done with it."

A sharp wave rolled up Astrid's spine as her words sunk in. Her cheeks began to burn, and it was not from the heat within the smithy. How could she be this blunt about their wedding? It was a delicate subject; the most important event in her life that would literally follow her through her entire life.

Hiccup's eyes were wide from her statement, but he soon let out a little laugh. "Go get an apron and rub soot on you, so at least we'll match for the occasion. I wouldn't want to out dress my bride."

As if her heart was being tugged by a string that stirred in her chest at his last two words. Hearing him call her that overwhelmed her senses. She could handle speaking of the wedding and the marriage to come with anyone else, but to hear those words from Hiccup – those two words that spoke exclusively of her from him – sent a crashing alarm through her.

Through all the wedding preparations she had to endure, none of it made the marriage more real than hearing Hiccup call her his bride. The atmosphere surrounding her became stifling and she needed to get out, her mind a mess of confusion.

"I better go," she said quickly, "it's been a long day." What a lame excuse, she chided herself, but if she stayed any longer, she would turn into a bundled wreck of nerves and that was the last state she wanted Hiccup to see her in.

Hiccup's disappointment wasn't lost to her. He'd been delighted to see her, and now he hung his head.

"Yeah, I need to get back to work anyways," he said without an ounce of gusto.

Astrid tucked a stand of hair behind her ear, her hand hovering there at the base of her neck. "Bye, Hiccup."

"Bye, Astrid."

She ignored the longing in his eyes as she walked out of the blacksmith shop. Astrid let go of a deep breath she'd held in, the reality of her being a bride suddenly piling upon her.