Astrid couldn't recall a time when she felt more alive than she had riding on Stormfly's back. The rush of the wind had pulled her hair and stung her eyes, but she welcomed it. She urged Stormfly on, testing the Nadder's speed. Stormfly did not disappoint. She tucked her wings and streamed along the surface of the sea at speeds Astrid couldn't have imagined she'd ever experience. She squeezed her knees tightly to Stormfly's body, the Nadder showing no signs of her rider's cling bothering her. Hiccup and Toothless maintained the same speed, soaring along beside them at a short distance. Astrid glanced over at their merged silhouette lined in the moonlight. Astrid wasn't sure how far or for how long they'd flown. All she knew was that her heart thumped wildly when she thought about doing it again.
"I can start work on making saddles. We can take the gang up one at a time. Get them used to riding and the feel of how to work with their dragons. One of us could fly with them on the initial flight. I mean, every dragon is different, and it could be good for us too to know how to fly them—"
Hiccup chattered away as they trekked to the arena to feed the dragons. Him and Astrid had flown the better part of the night before, barely getting a few hours of sleep afterwards. The lack of sleep had been worth it. Astrid was still rubbing sleep from her eyes, but somehow, Hiccup was as energetic as ever.
Astrid laughed to herself. She readjusted the basket of food for the dragons that she insisted on carrying, despite Hiccup's chivalrous protests.
Hiccup was about ready to burst. "We should tell the gang today!"
Astrid would have agreed if not for the all too familiar bellow that reached them before it reverberated off the cliff-face. It snapped their attention to where the great horn resided near the harbor.
"They're back," Astrid gasped, catching sight of the three ships in the distance.
The ship at the head of the small fleet was coming in rapidly, having lines of rows sailing it to shore. Crowned at the bow of the ship was a massive figurehead that they both knew well. Stoick the Vast nobly stood, his fur mantle swooshing in the misty sea air.
The ship docked and the gangplank lowered. The first body to lumber off the ship was none other than their mighty chief. His body held the weight of more than just his physicality. He carried a burden on his shoulders that could be seen even as far away as the cliffs. Gobber greeted his old friend with a hearty slap on the back. They exchanged bits of dialogue that was most likely questions concerning the campaign, which judging by the ships was a sore topic. Stoick suddenly paused at something Gobber said. They exchanged more dialogue before moving on and disappearing under the shadow of the cliff edge. Right before they were out of sight, Stoick's somber mood had seemed to lift just a tad. Astrid wondered what Gobber had said to make that happen.
They were so caught up in viewing the ship's arrival that Astrid didn't come back to herself until she heard an audible swallow next to her. She glanced at Hiccup, but his eyes were still glued to the happenings below. Vikings ambled off the ship as the other ships began to dock along the harbor. One blonde Viking in particular caused Astrid's heart to leap. A smile spread across her face.
She tugged Hiccup's arm. "Come on! Let's go! If we hurry, you can catch up with your dad and I can see my dad."
Hiccup stayed rooted to the ground. "You go ahead and find your dad."
Astrid's brow furrowed. "Don't you want to see your dad?"
Hiccup shrugged as if it was no big deal even though it was written all over his face that it was. "I do. I guess. Just not right now." Astrid could see him visibly deflate. "The dragons need to be feed. You go ahead, Astrid. Go see your dad. I know you miss him."
Astrid didn't push. She knew how strained Hiccup and his father's relationship was. She offered a small smile as she wrapped him in a supportive hug and gave him a quick squeeze. She smiled to herself when he sought a little comfort nuzzling into her neck.
With a promise to catch up with him later, Astrid dashed down the pathway to the docks. She weaved through the crowd of disembarking Vikings finding their land legs once more, carrying weapons and crates and bags of supplies. It appeared the fleet had engaged in some trade along the way, as well, with wares that were not found in their part of the Archipelago.
Excitement bubbled up in her gut as she spotted the one person she had trekked down there in search of. Halsten Hofferson was a man of medium stature. He was of rather slender build, but his shoulders were broad and strong. His head of golden locks favored his daughter's and brushed his neck in a short braid. His beard was thinner and shorter than most. He didn't quite fit the standard of Viking men on Berk, but he was a force to be reckoned with, just like his daughter.
Astrid called out to him and practically launched into her father's arms. Halsten caught her up in his capable hold. Astrid's boots left the wooden planks of the dock as she embraced her father. Halsten set her down after a significant greeting. He cocked his head at his daughter, a little bewildered but happy to see her.
"Astrid," he chuckled out, surprised but delighted, "what was that for?"
Warmth crept in her cheeks, and she was embarrassed that they were most likely stained an obvious pink. "I'm glad you're back." She'd never been one to display such shows of affection publicly. If she hugged her dad – and she did, despite her outwardly stoic upbringing – it would be within the confines of their home where only Ingrid Hofferson witnessed the loving affection between father and daughter.
Halsten patted his daughter's back, encouraging her to walk with him through the swarm of people and off the crowded dock. "How's your mother?"
"She's well. I don't get to see her very often, but I know she stays busy." Astrid recalled the times she'd spent with her mother since her father had shipped off on the campaign. Those times were too few and far in between. "I know she's missed you."
Halsten nodded his head, solemnly. "I've returned and she will not have to do without anymore." Astrid could feel her father's smile as he leaned toward her. "How's my daughter?"
Astrid had so many things she wanted to say. So much had happened since the campaign had launched two months prior. Astrid felt a twinge in her chest. She couldn't tell her father any of it. She had to keep her excitement to herself. She settled for something vague. "I'm fine."
Halsten's face fell just a bit. "Is the Chief's son treating you well?"
She could clearly hear his concern. Halsten had not been the most thrilled person to have Hiccup Haddock as a son-in-law. Whereas Ingrid Hofferson carried a glimmer of hope that the hapless son of the Chief could change his course to a better direction, Halsten had strong reservations. Maybe because the Chief's son was married to his only daughter. His hand had seemed to be stuck in a casing of rock when he had signed the married contract, reluctant but persuaded by his Chief to give his only daughter away.
A smile broke out on Astrid's face. This was one area in her life she could share. "Hiccup is treating me good." She ducked her head, trying to conceal her blush at the very thought of her husband and their discovered affection for one another. "We've really gotten close." She paused for a short beat, reigning in her wayward thoughts so that she could face her father again. "I'm happy with him, dad. I really am."
The village came into view as they rounded a corner of the path. Halsten watched her, searching for a proof of her claim. When he thoroughly examined her, he clapped a hand on her back. "Good to hear, Astrid. Maybe my mind can rest for the time being." He tugged the end of her braid, teasingly.
Astrid shooed him away, laughing. "Will you stop!" A happy bubble of emotion rose in her chest. She didn't realize how much she had missed her father until this moment. A question filtered through her head. The images of the burnt spots on the ships and the evidence of a dragon attack answered the question she was about to inquire of.
"How did the campaign go?"
Halsten's features drew into a somber shape. "We were no closer to seeking the beasts out than before. We sailed around the initial fog that always plagues us, but it seemed to be wrapped around that place so tightly, we could never find a way passed it. Stoick knows the dragon's nest must be in there. It is the perfect hiding place."
Astrid knew all too well how perfect of a hiding place it was. The area around the nest wasn't called Helheim's Gate for no reason. It was a treacherous way of passage through the dense fog and jutting sea stacks. All on top of surprise dragon attacks.
"They found us. The dragons. We fought—" Halsten paused, seeming at a loss for a moment for the right words. As if he were checking his memory to be sure he was remembering correctly. "The dragons seemed strange. Like, they were trying to chase us away instead of obliterating us as it had been on the last two campaigns."
Astrid hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath as her father recalled the experience. She knew in her gut that the dragons they'd encountered had to be the Nightmare's rebellion. They were the only group of dragons there that would possibly do such a thing. She longed more than anything to tell her father why the band of dragons had chased them away instead of fighting them to the death. She longed to tell him that dragons were good. That they could live in peace with them. She wanted to share her secret, but no, this wasn't the time or place. It wasn't her secret to tell. Hiccup deserved to reveal the good news. It had been an unexpected fortune when the rest of the teens discovered their secret. But, Hiccup deserved to be the first to tell others besides their little group.
"We were fortunate to not lose a soul," Halsten continued, drawing Astrid back.
"Yeah—" she replied, carefully, "you were."
Astrid suddenly wanted to get back to Hiccup more than ever – as if an invisible string was yanking her in the direction she'd last seen him. She embraced her father once more, promising she'd stop by to visit within the next day or so.
She rushed off to the arena thinking she'd find Hiccup there, possibly still feeding the dragons or even gathered with the other teens. She jogged to a halt when she found the arena empty. The basket of food they'd brought for the dragons sat against a wall. She lifted the lid to find it empty. The dragons had been fed, but where had her husband ran off to?
Astrid made her rounds through the village to all the places she knew Hiccup could be. Many Vikings that had come fresh off the campaign greeted her. Their elation and relief to being home after such a long journey was evident on their faces. When she didn't find Hiccup at all his usual haunts, she had a sneaking feeling exactly where he'd gone. She was just about to dash off in the direction of the forest when she heard her name.
"Astrid! There's my daughter-in-law," hailed Stoick, "but where is Hiccup?"
Astrid mustered a smile that she didn't quite have the emotion to create at the moment. Her mind was solely on Hiccup. He wasn't anywhere in the village. There was only one other place she knew he had to be. She didn't know why she was so anxious over the idea that he'd disappeared again. If he was with Toothless then he was safe. She trusted the Night Fury with her life, but especially with Hiccup's. But, just the thought that he'd disappear without telling her again made her stomach churn.
"That's who I'm looking for," Astrid played it off nonchalantly. "I'll let Hiccup know you're looking for him. Good to have you back, Chief!" She hurried away before Stoick could inquire any further.
She dashed off toward the forest. Her feet carried her without hardly a thought as to where she was going. She knew the path well. She weaved through the boulders that made a natural barrier around the cove and came to a halt at the drop that led into the cove. She peered around and listened for any signs of life. Her shoulders slumped at the same time her heart dropped into her stomach.
He was gone. Again.