Chapter 14: In which suspicion sparks

She wanted to stay mad at him. She wanted to stew in anger over the broken promise and the assumption she wanted to give up on their marriage. But she just…couldn't.

Hiccup was an idiot, but he was her idiot. There was no denying at this point that she wasn't just performing her wifely duties. No, she truly cared for the clumsy dork.

After the two near-death experiences in the last few days, Astrid decided to step up weapons training. It wasn't particularly natural for Vikings to use their left hand, but Astrid saw some benefit for learning to wield a weapon with the lesser used appendage.

Hiccup voiced some doubt, but he followed her direction. The longer they sparred, the more Astrid noticed how different Hiccup's movements were. Precise. A solid hold. Swift defense. He was actually…good.

Astrid stared at his left hand as they paused for a break. A scene from their bedroom flashed into her memory. He always used his left hand to write or draw. After a moment's thought, it hit her that she'd seen him use his left hand to swing a hammer as well in the forge.

"Why has it taken me this long to figure it out?"

Hiccup looked at her curiously. "Figure what out?"

"Your left hand is your strong hand."

A sheepish expression crossed his face. "You noticed that, huh?"

Astrid caught the inward shame he must have been feeling. "Yes. There's nothing wrong with that, Hiccup. It's another thing that makes you, you."

The relief was visible throughout his whole body. "Thanks, Astrid."

"So, how is he in bed?"

Astrid snapped her head up as she replaced a shield on the stand. Just because she was sitting out of training for a few days didn't mean she couldn't help out. Her eyes were wide as she faced Ruffnut. "What?"

"How's Hiccup in the sack? I bet he at least inherited something from Stoick the Vast," Ruffnut elbowed her, suggestively, "if you know what I mean."

A disgusted grimaced twisted Astrid's lips. "Eww, Ruff! That's a thought I could have lived without."

Tossing a hammer carelessly into the wooden storage box, Ruff rolled her eyes. "At least give me some kind of hint on the Hiccup Haddock experience."

Astrid held off replying as she fiddled a little too long with straightening the shields. "There's not much to say."

Ruffnut gasped as her eyes lit with realization. "You two haven't done it yet!"

If Astrid could have died from mortification, she would have fell flat out right there. She clapped a hand over Ruff's mouth, flicking her eyes to the teen boys close by. "Don't say that too loud."

Ruff casually discarded Astrid's hand, revealing a sly grin. "What's the deal then? Hiccup couldn't lift it?"

The far-too-personal question irritated Astrid, but she was glad Ruff had lowered her voice.

"No, nothing like that." Astrid frowned. She couldn't believe she was about to admit this to Ruffnut Thorston, of all people. "We got thrown into this marriage with no experience or prior affection for each other, at least on my end," she added, knowing full well that Ruffnut had observed Hiccup's crush on her beforehand. "We want to take it slow. Get to know each other before we hop into anything like that."

"But you have kissed him, right? Tell me you've kissed this boy!" Ruffnut shook Astrid's shoulders, dramatically.

"Yes!" The sudden warmth heating her cheeks made Astrid duck her head as she escaped the other girl's hold. "We have kissed, and–" The caress of Hiccup's hand scorched her waist and sped up her heart. She wished he would gain the courage to touch her other places. "We've cuddled and sometimes held hands." The last two were a bit of an exaggeration, but to Astrid, the little physical affection they'd had so far felt massive to her.

"Awww…" Ruffnut tilted her head, melting as if she'd just seen a cute little bunny. "Aren't you two adorable." She straightened up, slapping Astrid's back. "Whenever you two get to the," she made a clicking noise with her tongue and winked, "tell me everything."

"Where'd you disappear to after training?" Astrid asked as Hiccup walked through the front door. She'd come home earlier to begin their evening's supper of potato and yak stew, snagging the cooked meat from a vendor on the way home. "Gobber was not pleased you dodged work."

"He'll get over it. I'll put in a extra hours tomorrow," Hiccup blew off quickly. He shrugged a shoulder. "I went for a walk in the forest,"

Astrid arched an eyebrow at his hand suspiciously behind his back. "What are you hiding?"

Hiccup grinned and presented her a powder blue flower. "Evening, Milady." At first, he looked rather suave as he gave a slight bow, but when Astrid could only stare at the flower, his confident demeanor began to falter. "I saw it and it reminded me of you. I don't even know if you like this sorta thing. I probably should learn if you do or not since you are my wife and all. And husbands give their wives things. Right?"

He was rambling, and it was all because of her speechlessness. Being called someone's wife still held a small amount of disbelief for her.

Astrid shook herself out of whatever it was that had her. He'd keep going if she didn't stop him. "It's fine, Hiccup. I like it. Thank you for the flower," she smiled sincerely as she accepted the blue flower. She caught the sigh of relief that pulsed Hiccup's upper half.

"Oh!" Astrid carefully set the flower down on the kitchen table and retrieved a book. "Gobber wanted me to give you this." She plopped the book in Hiccup's waiting arms. "Read it. His orders."

Hiccup skimmed over the title. His mouth formed an 'O' as his eyes lit up. "The Book of Dragons! Perfect!"

He tugged off his vest and tossed it onto the hook next to Astrid's axe. He was in such a hurry he didn't notice he'd completely missed the hook and the vest had fallen in a furry lump on the floor. Astrid watched Hiccup dash up the stairs, shaking her head at his enthusiasm. Only Fishlegs could mirror such excitement over reading a book.

Astrid contemplated leaving the vest there for him to pick up, but she sighed and picked up it anyways. Under the vest was Hiccup's notebook lying face down. Must have fallen out his pocket. She picked up the notebook and was about to close it when the sketch on the open page caught her interest.

A dragon she didn't recognize spread across two pages. It was symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing in an observational way. All except one part if it. The left tail fin was gone, charcoal smudged on the page as if it'd been rubbed away.

Astrid's brow knitted together. Where'd Hiccup get an idea to draw this dragon? Was it a species he'd conjured up, or a theoretical drawing of one that exist? She slapped the notebook shut with one hand and slipped it back into his vest pocket. The pot of stew needed tending to. The question would have to wait.