Chapter 5: In which a new way of mornings happens

Astrid rolled over, hugging the pillow that cushioned her head. She sighed and cracked open her eyes, blinking away the sleepiness. Her head snapped up. This wasn't her bedroom. The thudding in her ears began to calm as memories cropped up.

The wedding to Hiccup.

Their uneventful wedding night.

She'd fallen asleep at the snuffing of the candle, the exhaustion setting into her bones and taking her over.

Astrid groaned into her pillow as the disorientation dissipated. This would be her bedroom; a bedroom she'd share with another human being for presumably the rest of her life. It'd take some time to get used to.

She peeked over her shoulder to discover the other side of the bed was empty. She was normally an early riser (save for this morning that she afforded a little indulgence to rest after such a vigorous lead up to the wedding day) and wondered if Hiccup was the same.

With a decisive sigh, Astrid left the pleasant confines of the cozy furs. There was no door to their bedroom, nor a changing curtain, and she certainly didn't feel like dealing with the awkwardness of Hiccup walking in on her dressing. Would he stop and stare, or would he avert his eyes? He had every right to cast his gaze on her naked body, but Astrid couldn't imagine him doing such a blatant act (at least not yet).

She quickly exchanged the wedding night gown for her formfitting everyday attire, which was quite a relief. She tucked the gown into the depths of her wardrobe trunk assuming she'd never revisit it again.

The crackling of a fire caught her attention as she descended the stairs. There at the firepit was Hiccup.

"Good morning!" he greeted brightly and the smile he graced her with was a welcome sight. He gestured toward the pot hanging above the fire. "I put together some breakfast for us."

"You cook?"

Hiccup shrugged a shoulder, slightly abashed. "Yeah, a little bit."

Astrid plopped down on the stool beside him with an exaggerated sigh. "Thank Thor, because I'm clueless around the kitchen." She didn't know why she felt so comfortable admitting that embarrassing bit of information to her husband, who in all rights should have expected her to provide him with nourishment.

"It's not that hard." The spoon clanked against the pot's sides as Hiccup stirred what Astrid assumed was porridge. "I'll have to teach you some basics."

Astrid felt her cheeks heat up, the embarrassment suddenly kicking in. "Thanks."

A bout of silence fell around them, the only noise being the spoon scratching the pot. Hiccup peered over the pot's edge, scooping up a spoonful of porridge and examining its consistency. With a nod, he turned back to her. "Can you hand me a bowl?"

Astrid jumped to attention, grabbing up one of the bowls Hiccup had set down on the stool between them. He poured the steaming hot porridge into the bowl, handling it carefully as he handed it back to Astrid.

"Careful. It's hot," he warned, gently. "There's honey and milk on the table," he added as he leaned over to retrieve his bowl to be filled. "I didn't know what you like in your porridge. I guess it's one of those things I'll learn about you."

The comment left him visibly flustered. There were many things he would learn about her in time. Though Astrid wished to stay guarded in her privacy, she was thankful it would be Hiccup who would learn those things. At least he seemed thoughtful and considerate, unlike some other Vikings their age.

Astrid tried to nonchalantly observe Hiccup from across the table as he prepared his porridge. One drop of honey and two drops of milk, she noted. If he were to learn about her, she would learn about him as well.

They ate in quiet companionship for a few minutes, the only sound being the crackling of the firepit. Astrid kept her eyes cast to the table, her bowl, anywhere but at her new husband. She hoped this awkward phase would pass quickly, because there was no way she would be able to live like this the rest of her life. She wished a conversation starter would pop into her head, but her mind was drawing a blank and it aggravated the hel out of her.

"Did you sleep well?"

Astrid flinched at the sudden voice filling the silence. She snapped her eyes up to see Hiccup looking at her. "I did," she chuckled stiffly, "like a log."

Hiccup nodded, looking pleased.

"Are you an early riser?" she asked as the previous thought came to her.

"Not really," he admitted, absently spooning his porridge and pouring it back into the bowl without looking at it. He flushed. "I couldn't sleep most of the night, so I got up and thought I'd make breakfast."

"Oh." Astrid averted her gaze to the shallow amount of porridge left in her bowl. He hadn't slept most of the night and it was most likely because of her. She didn't know what to say. Should she make a remark? Apologize? Ask why he couldn't sleep? She couldn't stand the confusion bustling in her head anymore and suddenly stood up, cringing as her chair scraped the floor loudly.

Hiccup's eyes were wide as he peered at her from across the table.

"Thanks for breakfast," Astrid tried to put on a cheerful front. She stepped into the kitchen, the creeping feeling of eyes upon her back. Hiccup was watching her. When she glanced over her shoulder, the back of his head was all she saw. Astrid shook her head. It was going to take time and a whole lot of willpower to adapt to living in a house with someone other than her parents.

She set the dirty bowl down by the sink and was about to make an excuse to leave when she realized someone would have to clean the used dishes. Her mother had always taken care of that chore. In all honesty, her mother did nearly every chore around the house.

Ingrid Hofferson was happy with her home being a certain way. Even from childhood, Astrid could be on the rough side and broke one too many dishes for Ingrid's liking. She'd be shooed out the door with an ax being pressed into her grasp while Ingrid made sure the household was kept up to her standards.

Astrid growled to herself. How was she supposed to take care of the household if she had no clue how to do it? Hiccup had already proven a better housekeeper and they weren't even married an entire day yet!

She turned around to address her husband. "I'll wash the dishes. Just leave your bowl here."

"Okay," Hiccup agreed then pointed to the pot still hanging over the fire. "Leave the pot there. Maybe we can heat it back up for lunch."

Of course, Astrid was going to leave the pot there. Cleaning the pot too hadn't even crossed her mind! She had the urge to throw the bowl instead of clean it, but she resisted. There'd be plenty of time to take out her unwanted aggression later in training.

A polite knock on the front door caught their attention, both looking at the door questioningly.

"I'll get it!" Astrid jumped at the chance to avoid the strange inadequacy she wasn't used to dealing with. She threw open the door and inwardly groaned at the sight of her mother standing there.

"Oh, your dressed," Ingrid remarked carefully, eyeing her daughter up and down.

"Good Morning to you too, mother." Astrid planted a hand on her hip, frustrated beyond measure now. The person responsible for her wifely inabilities had just materialized on her doorstep. "What are you doing here?"

"To check…" Ingrid leaned in close, a little smirk playing on her lips, "the marriage bed."

Astrid had forgotten about the blood she dripped on the furs the evening before. The sting of the cut on her ankle hadn't reminded her of impending visit to check if the deal had been sealed.

Even though she knew absolutely nothing happened, the fact that her mother thought otherwise was more modifying than what Astrid figured it would be. She waved her mother inside, Ingrid greeting Hiccup as they walked to the bedroom. Hiccup had waved back without an ounce of embarrassment. Maybe he'd forgotten why her mother was here; Astrid sure wished she could.

"There, mother!" Astrid threw her hands out over the bed, presenting the spot she'd chosen to display the evidence.

Ingrid examined the spot carefully. Astrid noticed her mother's brow knit together. "This is more than I expected." The older woman eyed her daughter. "Was Hiccup a bit rougher than I assumed he'd be? He's such a wee lad but seems to be a bit scrappy. Did you have to pull the dagger on him at one point?"

Astrid didn't think she could possibly become any modified than she had been. She was wrong. Her face was as hot as the sun as she tried to find words. "Hiccup was fine. He was gentle. He's a good guy."

She wasn't lying. Hiccup had proven to be a good guy and he was gentle with her, though not in the sense Astrid was making it out to be.

"Are you satisfied?" Her patience had worn dangerously thin.

Ingrid nodded slowly. "The Chief will be satisfied. I think he was the most concerned."

Astrid's eyebrow quirked up at that statement. Did the Chief really think so low of his son?

"Though Stoick would never admit it," Ingrid added. She clapped her hands. "My work here is done. I'll leave you two newlyweds to your day."

Astrid followed Ingrid out. Pleasantries were once again exchanged by her mother and husband. Ingrid had always been civil to Hiccup, though she was probably relieved that it was her daughter that held responsibilities to take care of him rather than herself. Astrid reasoned she was the only one brave enough in the entire village to be responsible for Hiccup.

Astrid stared at the back of the door for several moments. Her fingers itched for her axe. The muscles in her arm twitched to swing the weight of it into a tree. She had to get out of this house and release the pent-up frustration that had crept up upon her throughout the morning.

She moved to snatch her axe hanging on the wall near the door but paused mid-grab as her gaze caught onto the ornate hook her axe hung from. The day before their wedding, Hiccup, with his nervous neck-scratching and fumbling over words, showed her the special hook he'd made for her.

Beautifully crafted flowers weaved around the 'A' rune above the hook. Astrid had been touched by the thoughtful gift. It seemed Hiccup thought more of her than she did of him. That realization made her turn around. They were a team now, whether she liked it or not, and she wasn't about to leave him behind like every person on Berk had.

"Do you own a weapon?" The question spilled out far too snappy, but in the frustrated state she was in, Astrid didn't pay it any mind.

"Me?" Hiccup pointed to himself as he stood up from dousing the firepit.

"No, the troll at the dinner table. Yes, you!"

Hiccup's shoulder did that little rise and fall she noticed he did quite a lot. He grinned confidently as he raised his fists attached to those toothpick arms of his. "If you consider thunder and lightning here."

Astrid rolled her eyes at the cheesiness that seemed to flow out of her scrawny husband. She stepped over and punched his arm. "A real weapon, Hiccup."

He shrank back, rubbing the attacked spot on his arm. "No, not the kind you're talking about."

"You have spare weapons at the forge, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"Come on," she grabbed his wrist, making Hiccup stumble as she yanked him out the door. "We can stop by there before heading to the forest."