Chapter 6: In which nothing is ignited but Hiccup's face

Hiccup's mind could not calm down. Astrid – his bride (wow, he couldn't wrap his head around that concept) – was laying beside him in bed. He'd never shared a bed with anyone before, let alone a girl! Hiccup hoped the rapid pounding of his heart didn't wake her like it was keeping him awake.

The corner of Hiccup's lip tugged into a crooked smile as he stared at the ceiling. They had only shared a short kiss at their wedding and hadn't touched since their dance as bride and groom. But Astrid had asked if he would stay and that was enough.

He glanced over at the girl beside him in the gathering light of the early morning. She was oblivious to how deeply she affected him. Astrid was lying on her side, her front facing him. There was a peacefulness about her features that he'd never seen before. A lock of hair rested on her cheek and Hiccup resisted the urge to tuck it behind her ear.

He was, quite frankly, resisting many urges at the moment.

He'd never dare to touch her without permission, even though he had every right to now. Hiccup wouldn't force anything upon Astrid, out of respect and a healthy sense of caution for his safety.

Heaving a sigh, Hiccup exited the confines of the furs. He couldn't take it any longer. His body was far too tingly and restless to stay put. Hiccup gazed at Astrid one last time, the longing shelved heavy on his chest, and quietly descended to the ground floor of their house.

Hiccup yelped as he stumbled along the path leading to the forge. The hand firmly attached to his wrist wasn't letting up as if it were to let go, he'd be left behind. Astrid had begun acting peculiar when her mother arrived on their doorstep.

Their voices had floated down from bedroom, and Hiccup had heard every single word. Heat radiated from his face as he listened to the conversation. He didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it was hard to ignore.

Rubbing palms over his hot face, he nearly choked on his porridge at the question of Astrid using the dagger on him. Then a smile broke out as Astrid gently defended him. It was the one thing she'd said that hadn't snapped out of her mouth since her mother had arrived. Hiccup's mind traveled back to the night before as they sat on the bed next to each other. That tender moment between them meant more than any moment he'd spent with his new bride so far.

There was nothing tender about their walk to the forge. People stared as they tromped through the village and Hiccup flashed a sheepish grin at every bystander. Usually newlyweds didn't leave the house for at least a week (sometimes even weeks, which Hiccup wondered what could possibly keep them entertained for that long). It was probably an odd sight seeing him and Astrid out and about the morning after their wedding.

As they closed in on the forge, Gobber bulked at them. "What in Thor's name are you two doing here?"

Hiccup shrugged as Astrid finally released her grip. "Out for some good ole' weapons training."

Gobber scoffed and addressed Astrid, "You're gonna teach our boy here how to use a weapon instead of launching it with one of his contraptions?"

"What can I say?" Astrid peered around in search of where the spare weapons were stored. She glanced at Gobber with a gleam in her eye. "I'm up for a challenge."

"You two do know I'm standing right here?" Hiccup huffed, throwing his arms out.

Astrid laughed, going back to her search, and Gobber slapped him on the back. "Don't mind us, lad."

The older man slung a shoulder around his young apprentice. He glanced over at Astrid who was testing out the weight and feel of the spare swords. "Since you're out and about today, I take it the wedding night was a bust?" Gobber said in a hushed tone.

Hiccup pulled a face, taken aback by Gobber's suspension. "What?" He crossed his arms, sounding like he was convincing a wall. "No, it was great! We need some…air." He wasn't even convincing the wall.

Gobber squeezed his shoulder, sympathetically. "It's all right, lad. You don't have to put on a front with me. And you don't have to be ashamed either. You two will learn in time. You have your whole life to practice."

Hiccup glanced over at the fiery coals wondering if it'd be less painful to throw himself in there instead of having this conversation with Gobber. Was doing the deed the only thing anyone was worried about when it came to marriage? He struggled to push Gobber's meaty arm from his shoulders.

"Thanks, Gobber, for that stirring advice." He finally broke free of the blacksmith's hold and practically jogged over to Astrid. "Hey, you found a weapon yet?"

Astrid turned sharply, and Hiccup jumped back as the hilt of a sword that nearly slammed into him. "Try this one. I found it hidden in the back of the pile. It's a smaller sword. Maybe you can handle it."

Hiccup frowned, reaching to grab the sword that was basically a glorified dagger. "What confidence you have in me," he muttered, but regretted the statement the second he saw Astrid grimace like she'd been stung. He felt the weight of the sword, testing it at different angles and it felt good. He smiled at his wife, trying to make up for his snark. "This'll work."

Hiccup had watched hand to hand combat before, but never had he been on the receiving end of said combat. Astrid had showed him defensive positions. Now they were putting that knowledge to use, and Astrid wasn't taking it easy on him.

Hiccup could barely keep up with her swings. The sword was light enough to move quickly, but his reactions were ridiculously delayed. Astrid's axe had swung dangerously close more times than Hiccup was comfortable with. Was she trying to kill him off that quickly?

After several frustrated sighs from his bride, Astrid called for a break. She found a spot on the ground and began sharpening her axe in the most meticulously slow way.

Hiccup stood awkwardly close by, watching her and wondering how much disappointment was flowing through her thoughts at the moment. His father's disapproving words and scowl stuck in him like a thorn, but Astrid's silence burned like a Nightmare's flames. He scratched the back of his head, the sword loose in his grip. He was about to throw out a snarky remark to cover for the ache in his chest when Astrid gave him a side-long look.

"What're you doing just standing there?" She nodded to the spot beside her. "Take a break, Hiccup."

Hiccup plopped down beside her, though not too close. He'd been up close and personal with her axe for the better part of the hour. He was tempted to watch her. The slow precision of the grinding stone from the edge of the blade sliding to the middle. Hiccup had sharpened many axes, but he'd never looked as cool as Astrid doing it.

He averted his gaze somewhere completely different and totally safe. The ground. Hiccup leaned forward, grabbing a lone stick off the forest floor. He swept aside the leaves that were hiding the dirt. The stick scratched at the ground as he weaved his arm about.

He hadn't realized he'd caught Astrid's attention until her voice broke his quiet concentration.

"What're you drawing?" Her curiosity was genuine.

"I had this idea," Hiccup pointed to his drawing of a sword, flames licking out from its blade, "of a flaming sword that can ignite on command."

"That's a pretty cool idea." Astrid nodded as she met his eye. Hiccup's heart swelled a little at her compliment. "But you'd have to be gifted from Odin to have a sword like that."

He frowned. "Yeah, maybe so."

Astrid tapped his shoulder with her wrist. "Breaks over. Let's work on some offensive moves now."

Hiccup got to his feet, his gaze lingering on the flaming sword in the dirt. Maybe one day he'd invent a sword that ignited on command. Maybe one day he'd proudly get to show Astrid the 'pretty cool idea' of his. Maybe one day he'd show the whole village he was worth something.