How To Train Your Mandalorian;
CH I; Arrangements
Characters: Hiccup Haddock, Stoick the Vast Haddock, Gobber, Astrid Hofferson, Snotlout Jorgenson, Spitelout Jorgenson, Ruffnut Thorston, Tuffnut Thorston, Fishlegs Ingerman
Ships: Hiccstrid, for now
Description:
Mandalorians, fiercest warriors in the galaxy and often some of the most stubborn organics, or inorganics, you'll ever meet. Enter the idea to colonize a planet in wild space well outside of normal territory. This world was called Arteo. Watch as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock The Third tries to make himself a proper Mandalorian as he and his people face the threat of dragons.
Chapter Description:
Astrid tries to find her friend, while Hiccup must work over this new revelation and deal with his own troubling new finding.
Disclaimer:
I do not own Star Wars, I do not own How to Train Your Dragon. I am but a humble fan trying something I haven't done before in mixing these two together, may Disney, who may soon be the entertainment overlords please spare me their wrath and lawsuits, I wouldn't have much to give them anyway.
Mando'A dictionary
Buir- parent, father or mother
Manda- heaven, afterlife only for the warriors
Kama- beltspat/leg cover, serves as armour
Dar'manda- No longer Mandalorian
Di'kut- idiot
Hic'ika- little Hiccup, term of affection
Shabla- screwed up
Hettir- burn
Aranar- defend
Ad'ika- child
Ast'ika- little Astrid, term of affection
Beskar'gam- iron skin, the traditional name of Mandalorian armour and nigh indestructible
Dar'yaim- hell, place you want to forget
Ba'vodu- aunt or uncle
Kad- sword/saber
Buy'ce- helmet
Di'kutla- foolish/idiotic
Berk, late morning after the Dragon Raid
Astrid stalked through the streets, her vibro-axe glinting form its place on her back while a dagger and sword lay upon her belt over her studded kama. Her helmet was covered in soot and ash marring the paint job Hiccup had given it only a few weeks earlier. The blues and golds of it contrasted each other in a beautiful way, and much to Astrid's surprise looked quite similar to one of the dragons currently penned up in arena. However the scowl currently hidden beneath her buy'ce was because once more Hiccup had failed to arrive at her house for their morning training session. They'd made an agreement, every time Hiccup used an invention that caused some kind of damage or sent him running he'd have to train with her for an extra two hours. It was more than a little infuriating to find that her best friend had once more managed to disappear. Her first destination had been the forge only to find the power generator off and the building developing a bit of frost on some of its interior. Flicking the switch and bringing the power levels up Astrid couldn't help the glances she spared towards the curtained off room where Hiccup did a majority of his work. His emerald green eyes flashed in her mind and she nearly drew the axe to break something at being so confused. Hiccup sent her into a weird state… no matter how competitive she could be it all seemed to die around the boy, unless he made some kind of sarcastic comment to bring a rise out of her, but otherwise she actually did want to see him succeed. Her hands turn one of the power cartridges Hiccup had pitched about a week and a half ago. They'd power a small heater allowing Mandalorians on the airships could land and shutdown the vessels during travel to conserve power and give it time to recharge via the power cells without risking the crew. She still remembered being stuck out in the forest during last winter with Hiccup on one of their trainings where they had been forced to huddle together for warmth. Astrid's cheeks went bright red, but that was only because the temperature of the building was starting to return, at least that's what she told herself. Examining the whole of the Forge hadn't taken long and had yielded her no results as to where her friend had run off to. But the designs palstered in flimsi on the wall caught Astrid's crystalline blue eyes, or more specifically the design of the weapon she and the other teens had found ruined at the cliffs when they'd gone to see if Hiccup had done what he'd said.
Astrid recalled that Hiccup had said something about Raven's Point. Spinning on her heel she moved with all the speed she could dmuster. Their training ground was hidden in the forest near there, hopefully Hiccup wasn't stupid enough to go searching for the dragon by himself and was waiting for her there.
One and half hours later
A low growl burst forth from the young woman as she swept her axe through a tree cleaving a good piece of the unoffending plant out. The greens and browns of the forest were already starting to mesh with dull grey's of the rocks and the small low lying ground plants. A few needles from the trees peppered her armour in retaliation for attacking the poor tree and she simply brushed them off. The woods were silent, the chirping of birds and small squeaks of whatever mammals lived here having gone deathly quiet as Astrid cut her way through her anger, leaving slash marks and deep divots in the trees as she walked. So focused on the sun pushing past it's apex Astrid didn't see the branch until she raised her head to get hit straight on.
"Son of a Dar'manda di'kut!" She wailed before swiping her axe clean through the branch and letting it strike the forest floor. Her next swing took out a small sapling on the right and as she tried to find her next target she caught the broken tree. It's bulk was supported by the ground and next to it roughly twenty or thirty feet long was a massive amount of displaced earth, rock, and tree roots. Though she swore she watched something move ducking behind a rock just to the left of the tree. Carefully working her way down the incline, keeping a record of every avoided rock and tree root, if a dragon was out here she didn't want to alert it to her presence… hopefully she beat Hiccup here.
That was shattered as she heard his excited yell of yes ring out towards. Pulling her head above the broken tree trunk she stared at the beast. It's skin was as black as the night sky, the sun's light reflecting off it and giving the appearance of stars. The durasteel cords had it in a bind, wrapped and pressing deeply into its scales and haunches. It was trapped, and Hiccup had brought it down. By the Manda! Astrid held herself short of vaulting her hiding place and tackling Hiccup in a hug.
"I'm going to kill you Dragon. I'm gonna cut out your heart and take it to my father. Then I'll be a true Mandalorian..." Come on Hiccup finish it already. Do it Hic'ika! Kill the shabla beast!
"I am a MANDALORIAN!" The young woman watches as her best friend's sword arm starts to tremble. Astrid can see it happening before her friend, watching the scene play out as she came to a realization. "I did this..."
The shame on his voice was palpable… Astrid locker her fingers around the haft of her axe, ready to jump at a moment's notice, incase Hiccup missed. With a shout she saw the light reflect off the blade as it moved towards her burying it in a nearby tree. Astrid ducked low as the boy turned around. Her mind started racing, trying to find a way to save Hiccup from himself. Then Hiccup ducks back around and Astrid can hear the sawing of durasteel cords. No. No no no no no…. Astrid is about to jump as the sawing stops and her heart leaps into her throat.
Just visible to her as she peaked over was the black beast using its paw to shove Hiccup against the rock. Astrid froze, her brain commanded her muscles to jump over, the defend her friend, her hammered in her chest and every command to move was countered in her head by a single thought, but what will happen to Hiccup. So she sat, sweat beading on her forehead, knuckles going white from pressure holding her axe, and her mind racing thousands of miles a second to figure a way out for both of them.
While the debate was waged within her form the dragon opened its jaws and let loose a roar that threatened to burst Astrid's eardrums. Then fast as a fleeting shadow the beast twisted and ran flapping its huge wings once, twice, and disappearing from view below them.
Hiccup didn't wait for another invitation and sprinted as fast his legs could carry him. Astrid slowly stood, gazing out the way the dragon and noting the sword buried in the tree.
"Stupid boy…" reaching out and giving the sword two good rugs Astrid held the weapon before looking at the ground. Thankfully, now she's thanking the beast! The dragon had cleared away Hiccup's tracks in its assertion of dominance and attempt to flee. The cords looked like a dragon had but through them, so she stopped down and took the knife. Now all she had to do was get Hiccup alone and figure out what was going on.
Berk, Hofferson Home, that night
Astrid slammed the door open. Her armour was finally clean… drenched in the rain and shimmering as water ran off it like she were one of the homes she was coming into. Her bodysuit and the cloth connecting her shoulder plates were so soaked they felt like weights on her entire body. The extra weapons were dripping water from their tips and onto the carpeted and wooden floors within the home. Her father, was prepping the evening meal and turned to stare at his daughter who dragged her feet through the house, every step leaving a wet imprint of her boot.
"Young lady where h've ya been? We've been scourin' the town fer ya! And what's with the extra weapons?" Her father, Hettir, turns to look at his absolutely down trodden daughter. His eyes held no contempt despite the sharp tone of his voice, more than likely he was worried because of her late night. Astrid simply kept walking heading for the stairs at the other end of the living and eating space.
"Astrid lass? Are ye finally home?" calls a far more feminine, and much less sharp tone from the down stairs. It was a Mandalorian design, having most of the living quarters down and buried within the hillsides and terrain, making the house have a lower profile and keeping the sleeping people safe while also allowing for a defensible location within the home… not that the dragons cared about getting in, they had more interesting ways of dealing with people hiding from them.
"Yes Mom!" Astrid drops her axe, sword belt, and the extra weapons at the top of the stairs and heads down. "Sorry I'm late I came across Hiccup in the woods training, he got distracted after our training session and forgot his weapons..." It wasn't exactly a complete lie… Stopping at the first landing Astrid swung into her room and quickly began pilling off the wet clothes and armour hanging them on their rack to dry on the right side of her doorway, she'd have to get here weapons after dinner but first her mother no doubt would need help getting up the stairs. Taking a flight down and reaching the second to last landing Astrid rapped the door with her knuckles.
A hiss escapes the door and reveals the much larger woman. Standing at almost five foot ten with blonde locks twirled by a deft hand and milky blue eyes stands the Hofferson matriarch, Aranar. Her body suit doesn't have all the plates attached to it, but there were a few connected at the wrong points making the armour look like a five year old had put it on.
"Take my arm Buir, I'll lead you up." A grip like iron snatched Astrid's offered arm. "How was your day?"
"Oh your Buir keeps tryin' ta tell me what ta do. I just let him think he's in charge…" Aranar let's out as her daughter leads her up the steps and to the table. The meal went quite uneventfully, the only notable piece being the lack of conversation and how Hettir kept glancing at his wife every few seconds. Not that their daughter noticed, Astrid was closed off hidden within her own mind as she tried to work through everything that had gone on between that black dragon and Hiccup.
"Ad'ika, there's some things we'd like ta discuss with ya," Her father calmly matches Astrid, who was still off in her own world. "Ast'ika? Hello? Arteo to Ast'ika?"
Astrid's face rose to see her father as he snapped in front of her face. Astrid's eyes slowly drew back in and her wide eyed stare died. The heat started to feel a bit oppressive as Astrid glanced from one parent to the other. "Sorry, guess I just got carried away in my thoughts, what is it Buir?"
"Dear, you know that it's the end of the raiding season, and that means another Nest hunt. I'm going on it." Hettir answers taking his wife's hand and intertwining the fingers. "Ast'ika your Mother and I had to make a decision, and if we had had more time or could have found you sooner you would have been included as well. As it stands however… that's not the case."
"What is it Buir, you make it sound like you're going to hang me out as dragon bait." Astrid takes the last bite of her meal and raises the small glass of Tihaar to her lips.
"Dear, someone asked for your hand in marriage." It was like a devil had taken control over the girl as she managed to turn and spit the Tihaar out before slamming her fist against her chest and taking a few struggling breaths.
"What!" Astrid spun on her parents, her glare could have withered fully alive plants, but not a Mandalorian. "I'm-"
"Ast'ika… You're 17 years old, well past marrying age, and on top of that you're not only one of the best warriors in the town, but a strong lass as well. Manda knows how many times Snotlout tried to get his father to take a meetin' with us over your hand. I wouldn't hear of it though… this one came from the one person we couldn't turn down Astrid… I am sorry." Hettir lets his head fall, eyes focused on his lap while Astrid sits staring, scarcely breathing, and not making a single move.
"Who am I supposed to marry Buir?"
"Hiccup Haddock."
The rest of the night was like a blurry holo film. Astrid could barely keep her focus as she tried to do the many tasks her parents had requested, but every thought in her head ended in one of two ways. The first was that she was going to marry Hiccup Haddock… her best friend, and for some reason she couldn't seem to get past the butteflies moving about in her stomach over that thought. The second was that entire world had changed, a dragon that didn't go for the kill, a husband, and her life's most important choice being taken from her.
The next morning
Berk, Forge
Hiccup kept slamming away at the durasteel of the sword, by the Manda you would think that it would just get into place by now. The hiss is what catches Hiccup's attention first, it's not the same as the forge's hearth and metal melter which had been in the background most of the morning. Stoick had tasked the boy with making every piece of the gift for his impending marriage, and while Hiccup was still less than pleased by his father signing away his life, at least he did it to someone who didn't hate his guts, at least not yet... Hiccup raised his head his emerald eyes going wide as he caught sight of Astrid leading her mother and father into the forge, making a beeline straight for him.
As quickly as he could Hiccup pulled the halfway off body suit onto his body, his arm getting caught in the sleeve, and sending him off balance and careening towards the wall.
"Woah!" Astrid dropped her mother's hand launching herself and catching Hiccup's left arm pulling him out of the way and straight into her arms, one of the unused anvils at her back to keep them both upright. Of course Hiccup manages to pull his right arm into the sleeve and zip up the bodysuit, his cheeks flaming red at the closeness between he and Astrid. The young woman's body rebels as well, her cheeks going as crimson as the shirt Hiccup had abandoned on one of the wall's pegs. Hiccup smirked as he watched how Astrids cheeks matched his own.
"Ahem." Hettir grunted from his position next to his wife at one end of the forge. "As happy as I am to see you two… enjoying some time given your current predicament I would prefer my daughter to have a warm body next to her on her weddin' night."
Hiccup pushed away from his friend falling backwards into a line of slugthrowers which promptly clattered over the top of him. Astrid quickly slapped her hands dover her mouth, a smile pressing into them as she cut off the laugh building in her chest. Hettir just let a small smile tug at his lips and patted his wife's hand.
"Hiccup, how have you been?" Aranar used the wall to guide herself closer, pulling her hand free of her husband's grip. Hiccup smiled at her and pushed off his arms into a standing position.
"Not bad Mrs. Hofferson, though I'd be better if I had gotten the say in what was going on." The boy never questioned speaking his mind in front of the Hoffersons, they'd always kept him out of trouble when possible and hadn't chided him.
"Dear Hic'ika, I wish a lot of things had been different about all this, but would you admit that maybe its not the worst thing in the world?" Hiccup slowly let his eyes wander back to Astrid who was holding her arm and rubbing circles in it as she tried to match his gaze. His hand ran through his short hair and let the smile take over his face.
"No Mrs. Hofferson, I would argue that this is most definitely not the worst thing in the world." Astrid's blush returned in full force as she quickly found the wall extremely interesting. A hiss announced the final pair. Gobber and Stoick pushing their way into the forge, in Stoick's hands two bags.
"Ah, everyone's her' guess we should get to startin'. Hiccup and Astrid, this weekend you will take the marriage vows all Mandalorians hold sacred, but before this can be done there are a few things important to take care of. First only a true Mandalorian may take the sacred vows, and a true Mandalorian is only as such when they wear Beskar'gam. At the request of the Hofferson's I've retrieved for them one the armours held in my home for safe keeping. For Hiccup I give to you your Ba'Buir's armour which he wore when defending Berk against the Outcast attack. Hiccup, I know I haven't and that I won't always be here for you, but when you wear this you take with you the history of Haddocks into battle to guide your hand and to fight like a true warrior of Mandalore." Stoick set the bags down before the two 17 year olds, the pair only noticing now that Gobber also had a bag and was making his way to Stoick. "Now for the Hoffersons, you have taken great care of Astrid, you have seen her well through her years with you and have served not only as great warriors but have passed your ways onto your daughter. May the Manda accept you with open arms, but even more than that I must thank you for helping care for my son. My responsibility to watch out for them as time moves forward, but for you only the finest of thanks and some shared wealth between our families is the least I can do."
Stoick handed the bag off to Hettir and bowed before the Hofferson patriarch. Astrid's shoulders tensed beneath her bodysuit before a light hand caught her and kept her from moving. Turning to give an icy glare Astrid stops as she looks at Hiccup.
"We accept your gift Stoick the Vast, may you forever have our family's gratitude," and in a voice barely heard by Astrid. "Ya know we didn't do this for the money Stoick, ya didn't need to give us so much."
"You will be family soon enough, and while some might have forgotten our ways I haven't. Family is always the most important thing we have." Stoick nodded to the Hoffersons before motioning to Gobber, the four adults heading for the door. "Now, the young couple may reforge their armours to their liking, and nothin' else."
The dark tone caught the pair of teens in their wide eyed stares at the bags before them. Their heads snapped up to watch the four adults leave and a crimson flush pulled over their faces at Stoick's overture. The door hissed shut and Astrid and Hiccup were finally alone for the first time since they'd become engaged.
"What in dar'yaim is going on! We're engaged!" Astrid's shouts were thankfully bounced back into the building instead of reaching out into the town. She pulled back her arm and left a red mark on Hiccup's shoulder before she could help herself.
"OW! Wha' was that fer?" Hiccup's accent pulling through as he gritted his teeth and rubbed the now sore piece of his body. "I didn't do it! I came home from the forest and found out when Dad told me."
"That was for the engagement and for skipping training yesterday. Manda Hiccup it's like you don't want to try sometimes. I swear you're almost as stubborn as I am." Astrid groused picking up the bag and letting it thunk onto the nearby table. As she examined the buy'ce before her water pooled at the corner of her eyes. The blood red and ocean blue of the armour were in contrast, but the pattern was without a doubt her ba'vodu's, Fearless Finn Hofferson, the man who'd taught her how to wield an axe, and who had seemingly disappeared in the night during a raid where he hadn't time to put on his armour before charging into the fray.
"He would have wanted you to have it. He always sung your praises. His little Ast'ika took her first swing of an axe. Ast'ika just threatened a shabuir with his own dagger. He loved you more than he loved the air he breathed in his own lungs Astrid." Hiccup's voice carried over to her before Astrid melted into his hands on her shoulders. She swiped the few offending trails of water on her face and fought down the urge to turn around and hug Hiccup for comfort.
"What happened Hiccup, why did your dad do this?" Astrid composed herself by directing the topic. Her hands slowly lowered the helmet as she pulled out the rest.
"He said it was for my good and the good of the clan. Said that we need to learn to fight dragons and that maybe you could turn me into the warrior he hadn't ever tried to teach me to be…" Hiccup looked at his grandfather's armour before him, it was the closest to fitting him, his grandfather having been quite a small man but a ferocious fighter. "Of course he would pawn that off onto someone else too, though I didn't think he'd do it to the person who was already training with me."
"You're doing better Hiccup, I know it doesn't mean much but you're as much an artist with a kad as you are with a pen. Dar'yaim in a short time I bet you can give me a run for my gold with your sword against my axe." Astrid turned seeing Hiccup just staring at the armour of the man who even as small as he'd been was far larger than Hiccup was, and probably would ever be. She gave his arm a slight squeeze. "We always said we would stand by the other, I guess we never could have guessed we'd be this close, eh?"
"Astrid, if you don't want to do this just say the word." Her eyes narrowed and she prepped her arm.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, do you not want to marry your best friend?" Astrid was waiting, her arm ready to cold cock Hiccup if he said what she was thinking.
"I'm just a fishbone Astrid-" It was as far as he got fore a set of four knuckles cracked against his still sore shoulder and sent him into the table. "OW! Would ya stop doin' that!"
"If I'm gonna marry you I'm putting up with that self-depreciation even less than I did when we were just best friends. Now why don't we get started?" Astrid stood looking at Hiccup with her hand cocked on her hip and her head a slight tilt to it. Hiccup just let a sigh blast from his mouth and shook his head, was this what he was going to have to deal with on a daily basis.
Hours later
Berk, Great Hall
By the time the pair had finished with the work for the day the sun was nearly set beneath the horizon. It had left both of them covered in sweat beneath their body suits and red in the face, Astrid's hair was a mess while Hiccup's was barely touched. All in all they appeared like they'd tussled with a Gronckle or just had furious session in the forge. Wandering through the town as the sky above them darkened further with every minute. Hiccup and Astrid were drifting more towards each other than away as they made their way for the Great Hall, it was everything the pair had hoped to one day achieve, yet there was a nagging in the pit of both their stomachs. Hiccup's a fear that it wouldn't last forever and that Astrid would finally see him like the rest of the clan, useless. Astrid wondering what Hiccup had done in releasing that dragon and if she could truly help him.
The doors to the Great Hall parted allowing Astrid and Hiccup to pass unopposed to the table where Stoick was currently sitting beside the Hoffersons, Spitelout and Snotlout, and Gobber. The two exhausted teens practically dropped into their chairs as a pair of plates were pushed in front of them. A screech rung out through the hall as Stoick pushed himself to standing, drawing the attention of the gathered Mandalorians.
"Now while you are all preparing for the Nest Hunt at the end of the week, I must admit there is somethin' else fer all of us to be celebratin'. The Hoffersons and Haddocks now announce the marriage between Astrid Hofferson and Hiccup Haddock. Fore the end of the week they shall be joined by the sacred vows."
The hall responded with shouts, pounding of mugs onto the tables and stomping of the feet. Stoick's eyes brightened as the volume increased. A wedding was just what the doctor ordered to get the town back in the spirit, especially after the burials that had happened just yesterday. Astrid and Hiccup stole a few quick glances at each other as Mandalorians began making their way forward to congratulate them. The pair only managing to navigate the constant questions due to their knowledge of each other.
The next morning Hiccup rubbed his aching head, it felt like someone had driven a nail into it then hammered the thing down so it pierced his brain. His body was even more clumsy than normal the effects of the alcohol having not completely worn off. The pounding on his forehead only rose in anger as he went about pulling clothes on. Stepping down the stairs he found his father passed out on the couch in the living room and just shook his head. He had to train with Astrid and finish forging their armours for the wedding, by the Manda… I still can't… Marrying Astrid Hofferson might just be what finally kills him, not even one of his inventions or mistakes. Stepping out the door clad in red shirt and brown pants pulled over his body suit with an empty weapons belt.
The breeze caused his hair to stand on end, cutting through the two layers of clothes and piercing to his bones. The dark clouds rolling in from the West threatening to unleash a torrent like they had two days ago, the day Hiccup had freed a dragon… He pushed the memory from his mind, something to deal with at a later time. The sun had barely crested over the sea around Berk setting the water aflame with a brilliant orange glow. If Hiccup wasn't so enamoured by the sunrise he might have noticed the person sneaking up on him.
"How's it going Useless," Snotlout spit at the back of Hiccup's head, his Bantha-fur vest and armoured form blocking Hiccup from turning around. "Gonna try and go and get your new girlfriend? Cause I would recommend you just turn around right now, if you know what's good for you."
"Hi cuz, you're so receptive of news. Who would have guessed!" Hiccup spun on the shorter, but far more muscled teen. "Want to tell me how I'm useless? Go ahead, it's not gonna change a thing, and it would be di'kutla to think any other way."
Snotlout pushed himself closer and jabbed his finger into Hiccup's chest. The force sending the taller teen stumbling back a few steps with each jab. "You listen here Useless, I don't care about you and there's nothing you can do about it. Honestly I'm starting to wonder why ba'vodu keeps you as his heir. So either get good, or I'll find you and no one will ever discover the body."
Hiccup wanted so very hard to take his cousin's threat seriously, especially with the way his brows were pulled together and how he bared his teeth at him, but the whole scene was just so funny. How had he ever feared his cousin, this was nothing like letting a Night Fury do the exact same thing to him. "Yah Snotlout, though I think they'd find the body pretty easily, knowing you you'd probably parade it through the square just to let everyone know who was better."
Snotlout's arm came back and Hiccup braced himself, for a blow that never came. Cracking his eye open Hiccup watched Astrid with a vibro-knife held to Snotlout's throat. The other boy looked about ready to piss his armour, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open that he'd been found out.
"Snotlout. If you so much as touch my fri- my fiance I promise that you won't have to worry about hiding the body, because I'll know who did it. You might be able to beat Hiccup alone, but I seriously doubt you could say the same about me." Astrid shoved Snotlout forward, the boy trying to catch himself before collapsing onto his face. Hiccup smiled before a pain shot through his left upper arm and quickly rubbed the spot. "Come on Hiccup, you left your sword at my place, let's go practice."
The innuendo wasn't lost on the lanky 17 year old as Astrid grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the forest. Soon Astrid released his arm and they were standing in a small clearing, the dirt dry despite the downpour that had turned it into mud not but 48 hours ago. Astrid tossed Hiccup his sword and knife, then settled into a ready position. Across from her Hiccup did the same and held the sword so that it's point was aimed at Astrid's center. The young woman's axe was similarly aimed, and without not but a twitch of her foot she launched herself forward.
The clang and clash of blades was soon lit up further by a dance of sparks as Hiccup matched Astrid blow for blow, even throwing a few ripostes her way. Quickly the sounds of the forest faded to them and the only thing that mattered was the dance the pair were intertwined in; attack, parry, riposte, step back, step forward, on and on they danced and fought from one side of the clearing to the other. As sweat poured from Hiccup's face Astrid finally called it, using the curve of her axe to pull Hiccup's sword from his hand and kicking him to the ground. She had him right where she wanted him. Putting the blade to his throat Astrid felt her lips pull to a smirk.
"Do you yield Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third?" Astrid pushed more weight onto the leg against Hiccup's chest.
"Yes M'lady, I yield." Hiccup waited for the pressure to drop, or the blade to move away, but instead as he looked up he saw Astrid's eyes harden and gaze at him, trying to bore a hole in his head. "Astrid?"
"You freed a dragon, and it didn't kill you. Why didn't you just stab it Hiccup? You had it right where you wanted it, just like I have you right now." Hiccup's emerald eyes started darting around the clearing, finding his sword but a few feet away and out of reach if he stayed here. "Answer me Haddock."
Hiccup grabbed at Astrid's leg, pushing it off his chest and rolling over the ground snatching his sword in his left and pulling the dagger in his right. Astrid hissed and stood up, twirling the axe in a few circles before charging forward once more renewing her attack.
"Why Hiccup! Why did you free a dragon?" Hiccup parried her strikes with his sword and when that didn't work he deflected them with the dagger. Twisting away he stepped back garnering some room to move. Astrid let her diamond shining eyes lock with Hiccup's as his gaze hardened like beskar and he stepped back swinging his sword for her head. Astrid stepped back just parrying the blade as he pushed her, moving fluidly from one form to the next.
"What do you know! You watched me! Why not try and speak up on my behalf! I thought we were friends Astrid, dar'yaim we're engaged! Why not just talk to me!?" Astrid used the haft of her weapon to catch the last attack, but she lost her footing tumbling down as gravity grabbed her.
Striking the ground Astrid went to get up only for Hiccup's dagger to embed itself right next to her head and the sword to do the same on the opposite side. Hiccup sat straddling her, water pooling in his eyes. "I saw myself Astrid… that creature knew it was going to die, and it accepted it… just like I'd accepted all those beatings and dressing downs in front of the whole town… I saw myself in a dragon, how pathetic of a Mandalorian am I?"
Hiccup rolled off her onto the ground next to her. Waiting for her to shout, scream, take an axe to his head, anything. Instead of that however a shadow falls over him and a hand appears in front of his face. Reaching out to it Hiccup takes Astrid's offered hand and is pulled up.
"Hiccup… I, I can't comprehend what you may have seen when you were looking down at that dragon, but I know that I've never seen a dragon spare a human life. I… I froze when I watched it pin you to that rock and no matter how much I wanted to vault over and plant my axe into its hide I couldn't. Because I couldn't do that you are still alive, because a dragon spared you. That said we start dragon training in a couple of days, and you not only need to know how to fight, but you might have to kill dragons."
"Astrid… I can't kill dragons. I sat there looking down at that thing and all I could think was that I had done that, to me it felt like I'd shot a bola at you and were threatening my best friend with a sword. I just can't do it." Astrid rubbed her hand along the length of Hiccup's arm and dusted him off a bit.
"Well, then I guess we have two options. We can lie about this and find some way to get you out of Dragon Training, or we can track down this dragon and see what makes it so different from the others."
A/N:
Yes, I've gone there, may whoever lives above us spare me. I've done the star wars and marriage au at the same time while having Astrid as Hiccup's only friend. I hope you enjoy this and I'll be trying to post this somewhere between weekly or twice weekly depending on when I post the prologue. Obviously we've gone into major different territory. Also something to know is that I've decided to do artwork for the characters, but if anyone would like to volunteer a cover art I would be quite happy as I don't really have time to do it at the moment.
For those wondering about RW3Y please know it hasn't stopped I just hit a bit of writer's block and felt like working on my first HTTYD fic given that the third movie came out recently and I want to see it so bad. Please leave a review and I wish you all the best. Thanks for reading!
-Six out