Chapter 8

A New Face

Hi! This chapter comes quite early, but don't get used to that. The thing is, I have the big lines in my head already when I write a story, so at times, when I'm not inspired for the next chapter, I write scenes for another. Some scenes in this chapter were already written since long, that's what allows me to update early. I'm updating Dragon's Prince after that, promise.

A special thanks toward Arizona for pointing out some mistakes, I fixed those, it's always useful when someone helps me with that!

Enjoy!

Astrid found Fishlegs again in the morning and they decided to go to the woods. They wanted to be alone to speak, and they had always walked through the forest on Berk when they wanted privacy.

"So, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine Fishlegs, don't worry."

She was still angry, but it was a colder rage. The boy knew her too well to ignore that.

"She wasn't that stronger, maybe it was only misluck, one can't win every time."

"I know, I know…I wanted to thank you by the way, for what you said."

"No problem."

They reached the border of the woods, they were far enough from the houses and therefore they would be in peace.

"But you know, even if you're angry right now, you need to get to know them a little more."

She stopped there, right in her tracks.

"Are you talking about those two bitches?"

"No, I'm talking about other people of this island. That kind of things will happen again if you don't make any friends, if they all dislike you, being chieffess here will be Helheim."

He was right, that was she hated and loved about him: he had that habit to be right way too often. He continued:

"I'm also angry at those girls, but it's only them you have to blame, maybe the others are better. And that kind of things happens because no one here knows you, except Eret and Heather. I spoke with some sailors on the ship, they were all slaves."

"You told me that."

"I heard some stories, all sad. They are people who were taken and expected to obey anyone who would buy them. I guess they are defiant toward someone supposed to be their chieffess and who they hardly know."

"Fishlegs…" She sighed. "It's not the problem. I wouldn't have been angered if they had only wanted me to show my worth, it would have been legitimate. But they didn't only do that, they wanted to humiliate me and submit me. It's hypocrite of them to claim they fight against slavery and then treat me like some merchandise."

"You're right, I totally agree with that, but it was only those girls. Heather and Eret don't agree with that, and maybe others disagree too. You need to know those people, otherwise you'll judge them badly too."

She nodded, he was right, damn right. She needed to make friends, she couldn't remain alone and surrounded by enemies. Eret and Heather had been kind to her, so what about the others? Once again her mind went to Hiccup and remembered how unhappy the boy had been before she and the others decided to side up with him. Yes, it would be good to try.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice startled them, and they saw Heather with her dragon, she got down and she seemed sad despite her smile. Astrid remembered her expression yesterday, the girl had seemed almost wounded, but Fishlegs was right (once again), maybe she wasn't ready to speak.

"Hi. Just talking, we'll also take a walk in the woods."

"Can I join you?"

"Of course!" Fishlegs replied hastily, "I mean, why not?"

They both stood up and Heather showed them a path through the woods. Windshear flew away instead of following them and played with other dragons in the woods. They continued to speak all the while.

"Astrid, I'm sorry because what happened yesterday is…Partly my fault."

"What do you mean?"

"I wrote a letter to Camicazi on the boat, to report her the situation and let her know we were going to come back soon. I told her how furious you were, and that you…You weren't feeling very friendly toward dragon riders and Fury. I didn't mean to undermine you, all I wanted was to let her know you wouldn't be happy to come here and I thought that she would understand just like me. But I was wrong."

Astrid wondered if that was the reason why she looked so upset yesterday. It seemed bigger than that, but maybe she was wrong. She just shrugged:

"People would have learned anyway. Plus, you only told her what happened, you're not responsible for her reaction."

Heather smiled to her, but she still felt a little guilty. Fishlegs, who had listened, asked:

"How did Fury react when he learned?"

"He doesn't know everything yet, but he will. I'm pretty sure he'll be angry. He probably didn't expect that to happen."

The Hooligans looked at each other, Heather was a good person, but was she blinded by her friendship toward him, or was she right? After all she misjudged Camicazi.

"I'll join people in the Great Hall at noon, there will be a council, But I can stay with you in the meantime and show you our sacred oak trees."

The two accepted gladly, they weren't very religious, but it didn't mean they would never pray to the gods.

"I especially like oak trees, they are so majestic and fascinating," he murmured.

"Me too," Heather replied. "It gives away something very peaceful."

They walked like this for some times, until Heather had to go back. The two Hooligan couldn't join her, Fishlegs wasn't part of the tribe, and Astrid wasn't yet. She waved goodbye to them and promised to join them once more.

When she went to the Great Hall, she saw Hiccup and Eret on the way, the older man was explaining him what happened, and she joined him to tell him what she heard. Hiccup knew something happened, but he didn't know what exactly, that's why he had commanded them to come for the council and asked Eret to tell him what he knew. Hearing it all just made him boil with rage: how dared they say such things to her?

"They are in the Great Hall," Eret said, "what are you gonna do?"

Hiccup knew perfectly he couldn't just order them to leave Astrid alone. Oh, not that anything forbad him, and they would have obeyed. Yet, if he did that, Astrid would appear weak, it would make everyone think she needed protection. He couldn't do that to her, she could gain their respect by herself, he was sure of that. However, he couldn't let that pass without a word either. When the chief entered, everyone turned their heads toward him. He was furious, that was obvious, and even though she was usually not afraid of him, even Camicazi didn't like to see him like that. Hillevi was the most anxious.

"Apparently the two of you seems to think very lowly of me, and see me hardly better than the rats who sell slaves! From what I heard, my future wife can be thankful that I'm not beating her, and being engaged to me lowers her to a simple present! Is being my bethroted such a degrading thing for a woman?!"

Actually, he was furious for Astrid, not himself, but he knew it was important to show them the stupidity of their behavior, and that they insulted him too. It would give more weight to his words.

"We never said that!"

"It was maybe not your intention, but in the end that's what you did. You pretended to defend me but all you did was insulting both me and Astrid in a low way. And is that how you consider people? Is that how you consider women: as things to be offered? No one here is an object!"

The young woman blushed even more at this, everyone in the hall was looking at her, some didn't know what happened already and whispers were heard.

"We were just challenging her and we wanted to defend you..."

"Silence! I don't need to be defended, I can handle my personal life! And you have the right to challenge her, I'm fine with it, but you didn't just do that. You, Bog-Burglars who are supposed to refuse men's domination, you tried to force Astrid into mine! And when I never asked for it! You spoke of me as if I would act like the people I fight, you insulted the people we're saving, you spat on our believes and on my reputation!"

"You're serious?" Camicazi was baffled: "I agree, Hillevi shouldn't have said that, but don't accuse her of spitting on your face when that girl insults you as well!"

"I would react like her if I had to be married by force, no matter how respectable my betrothed would be! I can't blame her for a reaction I would have in the same situation. And you two would do the same as well, maybe you would be worse! And what were you expecting? That you would beat her and suddenly she would love me and respect me?! If anything you gave her a worse opinion of me and of this island!"

This time they had no answer to give. Heather was looking at them with a deadly look. At first, she blamed mostly Hillevi, but she had heard what Camicazi said and she remembered the first encounter on the docks. This time, her friend went too far.

"Her reaction is what I expected, however I wasn't expecting my tribe, and especially those I trust, to dishonor our values and my name. Having to take a wife in such a way is not a subject of pride for me even if it was necessary, I don't need you to worsen it."

"Maybe Hillevi and Camicazi should spend time helping the healers with the newcomers," Heather suggested coldly. "It would remind them the importance of respecting people properly."

"Will you stop that!" Shrieked Cami. "Okay, some things we said were wrong, but we had the right to be angry! Why should I tolerate her to insult our ways, our tribe and our chief like that?! Am I supposed to bow to her..."

"Oh shut up, don't try to play the victim! You're the one who created conflict, take on it! No one is asking you to bow or any of that, but treating her like you did was just despicable!"

"Well I'm sorry, but I'm a strong one and a warrior, I'm not some nanny! If she wants to cry her heart out, I'm not here to give her my shoulder. Swearing to your chief means defending him, and I'm not taking whining like this…"

"A lot of us did cry after being taken away from our homes," declared an older woman in the assembly, "I don't consider myself as weak for crying when everything was taken away from me."

"And we aren't supposed to defend our chief no matter what he does, e have the right to think on our own," a man stated

Those interventions stunned Camicazi a little, she had forgotten the other people, and it was indeed true; a lot of people here had cried, yet she had fought for them nonetheless. Also, blind obedience was despised on Endris. Heather spoke once more:

"Trying to force a woman to submit to a man is surely the definition of strength! And let me tell you that for someone who hates whining so much, you're making quite a lot! What are you gonna do next? Throw a tantrum because she is not nice enough?!"

Shame grew in Camicazi, she also remembered what Heather went through before Hiccup saved her and realized that she was probably very hurt. She was proud and hard-headed, yet deep down she was starting to feel really guilty. Hiccup's words had an impact on her, and now Heather was also starting to show her something she didn't want to see. Now the way she went to defend Hiccup seemed less dignified that she thought, and stupider as well.

"Just imagine how you would feel if you were dragged in for an arranged marriage and then insulted because you aren't submissive enough?! Or if you saw me or our chief being treated like that? And, just as Fury said, you're a Bog-Burglar, you're supposed to stop men from dominating women, you should side up with her if you still had some of those values!"

Several people agreed with Heather on that. Hiccup silenced them and spoke once more:

"Hillevi, I don't want you to come in the Great Hall or for any council anymore. You'll go to the healers and work under their orders as Heather suggested, you'll come back when I'll judge you deserve it. Camicazi, you'll do the same, except that councils will still be open to you."

None of them protested but they were angry, and they left quickly. The chief looked at Cami once more, he would have to speak to her later. After this, he exposed his decisions to his people. The vigilance had to be increased, and anyone who had a sight or an information about Ryker or Viggo would have to report it as soon as possible. He also informed merchants that the prices would rise a bit, and they required volunteers for the mission which consisted in attacking Outcasts and pirates. Many young warriors volunteered for that, hasty to go on adventure.

It didn't take very long, and they all eventually sat on the table to eat their lunch. Fury went with some of his people and they spoke of what happened. Some stood with Astrid, other with Hillevi; he worked on convincing them that even though it was normal for them to want to defend their chief, Astrid's behavior was also normal. Most of them knew what it was to be captive after all, and even though he was giving her good conditions, she wasn't here because she wanted to. Eventually, he managed to convince them.

Once the lunch was over, he was about to get out, when Eret's hand on his shoulder held him back.

"Can I speak to you in private?"

"Of course?"

They went outside and found a place where they would alone, by the cliff. Both their dragons joined them, they sat and faced the sea. Toothless put his head on Hiccup's lap.

"Hiccup, it would be time I think."

"What are you talking about?"

"This secret identity thing was good when you were still building your tribe, saying you were Hiccup of Berk would have been dangerous, but now...It would be good to reveal who you really are."

"Not now."

It was ridiculous, he knew it, he had confronted himself to many dangerous things, almost died countless times while building Endris, fighting against slave traders and other tribes, and exploring new islands. But saying who he was...And it wasn't the only problem: even if he had wished to tell everyone who he was, Drago was still here. If the madman learned who he was, what kind of consequences would appear? Maybe he would threaten to attack Berk, and Hiccup didn't want that. Fury had no past, but Hiccup had, and it could be dangerous in Drago's hands.

"Hiccup, you proved your worth, you have power now, it's not like back then when our tribe was still fragile and vulnerable. You have built something impressive."

"Fury did that, not Hiccup."

"Last time I checked, they were the same, it's just time for people to know. That mask and that fake identity didn't help as much as you think."

Hiccup huffed but couldn't help and think of what Eret just said. Of course it did, Hiccup of Berk would have been pursued endlessly by his uncle, and would have never got the credibility to build a tribe, even with Toothless. But it was true that in the end, Fury's mask only gave him more confidence, the rest had been done by Hiccup.

"You know...When I had doubts about my capacities as a leader, or when I was in big danger...I would always repeat myself: 'You're the son of Stoick the Vast, you're not going to fail.' I miss him, and I know he would probably say the same things you did."

"And he would probably proud to see how many people you saved. And Astrid and Fishlegs would understand, if you told them. They are good people, I spoke with them, even if Astrid is angry right now."

He hadn't seen Fishlegs yet, but it had touched him to know he would meet him again as well. They had been close after all. Yes, he wished to tell them who he was, but it was too soon.

"I wish I could tell her and Fishlegs who I am, but I don't know them anymore, I need to know what kind of persons they became first before revealing them who I am. If they ever let that leak out, maybe Drago and Viggo will take advantage of it. Plus, with everything that happened, maybe waiting a little will be good for Astrid too. She got enough emotions. Even Fishlegs will have a big shock."

Eret remained silent it was true he didn't consider this. Knowing who Fury really was would have made no difference with other enemies, but Drago and Viggo were different. The two had ways to use even the slightest things in twisted ways. They had already been dangerous when they were fighting apart, but now that they were together…And it was true indeed that it would be a lot to bear for both Hooligans to sooth their feelings a little before learning the truth.

O o O

Heather had joined the two Hooligans once more to spend some more time with them and show them some other parts of the woods. At a point, when Fishlegs was looking at a kind of flower he never saw before, Astrid turned to Heather:

"Hey…I wanted to tell you that it's okay about the letter, don't beat yourself over it."

"Yes...I...I'm still sorry. As I told I don't tell my story to people easily, but I can tell you I know what is it to be treated like...a merchandise. And I saw horrible things done to slaves. That's why I didn't like what Cami and Hillevi did. Fury was furious too."

She explained him what was told. Astrid wasn't sure what to think of that, at least, Fury wasn't stupid enough to order anyone to leave her alone. Still, she would have to speak to him, she couldn't know his intention by hearing him through Heather. Yet what she heard started to make her see him in a better light. When their walk was over, Astrid went back to Fury's home in the late afternoon, thinking a lot about her conversation with Heather, when she saw a young woman inside the house. Astrid was a little stunned, she still had her axe in hand, and the stranger jumped in fright when she saw her.

"Oh Thor! Oh, I wasn't expecting anyone to enter right now! Wha...What are you doing with this axe?!"

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"I'm Kalisha, the maid."

Astrid sighed and felt stupid: Fury was the chief of the tribe, he had to have at least one maid. Plus, she always came home to find food prepared and the place clean, she just didn't pay attention. She put her axe down, and the girl smiled at her. She was a plain girl, but she had a beautiful smile which made her eyes shine. That name, Kalisha, it reminded her of something, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"I cleaned the house, I was about to prepare dinner. Your name is Astrid if I'm right?"

"Yes, Astrid Hofferson. I didn't see you here before."

"I usually come at the beginning of the afternoon, when no one's there, so I can move around easily without bothering anyone. You must be hungry, I'll hurry up to prepare dinner!"

Astrid took off her vest and she saw Kalisha putting some meat and vegetables on the table as well as some honey. She sat at the maid's side and took a knife to help her, she never had a maid in her life and it would have made her uneasy to have someone work while she was doing nothing.

"Oh you don't need to..."

"It's alright, I used to cook back home...My mother would kill me if she knew I was getting lazy!"

Kalisha chuckled at this.

"Your mother and mine have something in common it seems. Prepare the meat for me while I'll cut the vegetables."

As the two girls cooked together, they started to get to know each other, it was quite soothing to have a casual conversation after everything that recently happened. She learned that Kalisha was coming from an island south.

"Honey is way less rare in my home town, when I was sold to the Berserkers I must admit it's something I missed."

"So, you were a slave?"

"Yes, thankfully, I'm not very beautiful, so I was only a domestic slave. Not that I enjoyed it, but it was still better than what some girls go through. When I was finally freed and brought here, it felt like a rebirth."

"I always thought slavery was a stupid thing," Astrid declared, "we don't have slaves on Berk, and we did very well without it."

"Yeah, exactly!"

She smiled once more and Astrid mimicked her. She seemed to be the kind of person who had something to cheer up people. She put honey on the meat and Astrid was quite curious to taste such a meal, she had never thought of doing such a thing. It smelled delicious already, Kalisha continued the cooking alone as she didn't need any more help, still chattering all the while.

"You should come at the well of women, that's where a lot of us meet, to talk without men, it's the one above the marketplace. Heather comes often, it would allow them to know you, they are quite intrigued, they even asked me questions about you, even though we never met until now!"

"Really?"

"Yes. Once we learned you would marry the chief, a lot of people tried to know more about you, you've quite a reputation! They say you managed to steal back gold from pirates and even killed the captain of the ship, that you searched for a treasure in a haunted and deserted village and that you participated to the rescue of the daughter of a chief who had been kidnapped."

Astrid felt a little embarrassed and flattered at the same time. She didn't think her reputation could have reached Endris like this and it felt strange that this girl knew so much about her.

"You said I could meet your friends to the well above the marketplace?"

"Yes, I'll be there tomorrow as well, our dragons will probably be with us, but don't worry they are very nice."

"I'm not scared."

"Oh, that's not what I'm saying, but a lot of foreigners tends to be on the edge. You were trained to kill dragons all your life, weren't you?"

"Yes, of course."

"Riding them is much funnier, well from what I heard at least, I'm afraid of heights, needless to say it's not really fitting into a tribe of dragon riders!"

They both giggled at this.

"Heather tried to help me with that, but it was useless. So instead, she'll teach me to read and write."

"You never learned?"

It came out by itself, but she immediately realized the stupidity of her words and could have slapped herself: of course Kalisha never learned to read, she had been a mere domestic slave. The girl shook her head, Astrid was about to say she would help her if she wished, but she was interrupted when she heard the door open.

O o O

When Hiccup came back home, he was really nervous. Would she be as angry as yesterday? He was happy to find her talking with Kalisha. The girl was joyful as usual, and Astrid was smiling; obviously, Kalisha's charm had conquered her. The thin girl turned toward him, and her smiling face brightened a little more while Astrid's one faltered.

"Chief! I'm done with the dinner and the cleaning. Honestly, your dragon really need to stop bringing his kills home."

"You found bones again?"

"Yes, hidden in a corner, as if I wasn't going to see those!"

Hiccup threw a look at Toothless which let the dragon knows he wasn't happy with him, the beast's ears flattened and Astrid could have laughed at the way he acted: like a guilty puppy.

"My apologies for him, Kalisha. Eret should be home by now, and I imagine he wouldn't like me to keep his fiancee away from him."

"Eret? Wait, you're his fiancée?"

"Yes, I am!"

"Of course…Now, I remember, he told me your name on the boat, I didn't remember it."

"It's alright. I didn't want to speak marriage for now, Cryda and Vami are already talking so much about it every time we meet, it's becoming stressful! You'll meet them tomorrow, maybe they'll be so curious about you they'll give me a break!"

Truth to be told, Kalish hadn't wanted to tell her that because she would have felt uneasy talking about marriage before a girl who had been brought for an arranged one. But Astrid would have learned about it anyway. Astrid smiled to her:

"I'll come tomorrow morning, promise. Tell Eret that I'm sorry if I kept you too long!"

"It's not so bad for him to wait for me a little, it reminds him I have to be appreciated!"

The young woman left them and only the two betrothed and the dragon remained. Hiccup gave his dragon his dinner and sat at the table with Astrid. They tasted the dinner, and Astrid had to say it was excellent, probably one of the best meal she ever ate. She turned to Fury:

"I heard you spoke about me during your council."

"Yes, we did, I was explained everything this morning. I'm sorry about what happened, what they said, and it was wrong of them. I'm not the only one who think so."

She wasn't really expecting apologies. He went on:

"This situation isn't easy for you, I know it, and it was wrong of her to say those things. I know you're angry and I would be so if I were you."

Astrid was quite surprised at this, she had seen he wasn't a savage, but she wasn't expecting him to talk like that. In spite of what Heather told her on the boat, she had been expecting a madman like Dagur the Deranged or a very cruel one or a rapist before she met him. Yet for now he behaved decently, though not being cruel toward her was only fair.

"Is that why you proposed me to choose when we would marry?"

"I guessed it would be easier for you."

"I thought it was only about your face."

"Well, for now it's better if I hide my face, but you'll see me eventually. You know…I didn't want to hurt you, nor the people of your tribe. It's easy to make the amalgam between a chief and his tribe, I know it's Spitelout who decided to start this war, not your entire tribe, even if some of them might have wished it. I heard you weren't even among the warriors who attacked Endris."

"Indeed. I was on a quest."

"I couldn't let that attack pass, but I didn't want to end things in a bloodbath or condemn Berk. We got a solution which was perfect for that, but you paid the price of it even though it wasn't your fault. I'm sorry."

Suddenly, she felt very conflicted. She hadn't forgot her anger, she was still incredibly sad, and a bit scared by all of this. Yet she knew all that made sense, and she had blamed Spitelout much more than the Endrisians for what happened. She remembered how they spoke about it with Fishlegs. A marriage was indeed the best way to end things, but there had still been something wrong in all of this. Plus, they were riding dragons, and all her life she had been taught to hate them. That hatred had gone worse since one of them devoured Hiccup. However, hearing him say that he understood her felt good.

"We both agree it's Spitelout's fault."

"I heard you said I ruined your tribe."

"I said that out of anger, though in a way you did, even if you had a good reason to attack. I can't overpass that too easily, no matter the reason. But I do know Spitelout is the real one to blame, we spoke about that with Fishlegs. Look, you're maybe not a monster, and you're probably not as bad as Spitelout but that doesn't mean I want you as my husband or that I even like you."

It was true, it was very true, what was he expecting? Even if she admitted they weren't at faults, it wouldn't mean she would like them. But no, he had to try. Of course, what happened made her angry, but his words seemed to do something to her.

"Did you have something with Camicazi or Hillevi?" Asked Astrid suddenly. "Heather told me Camicazi is only your friend but…I wanted to hear it from your mouth."

"No. Camicazi and I were always friends and nothing else. As for Hillevi, we never were close, she never was a lover or even a close friend of mine."

Maybe he didn't feel anything for her, but she wondered if Hillevi had feelings for him. He looked at her and tried something clumsy:

"You know…You're furious for now, but things could work out better than you think. Give at least the island a chance. It could become your home."

"I doubt that, honestly."

There was no anger in her voice this time, just sadness. She finished her dinner quickly and left him, missing the resolve in his eyes. He left the house after she locked herself in her room. The next morning, Astrid prepared herself to go to the marketplace. She hadn't forgot Kalisha's words and she knew that she had to meet more people. Plus, it would provide a nice distraction. As she got out of her room, she found her husband-to-be waiting for her.

"Before you leave, I would like you to come with me."

"Why?"

"I want to show you something. Or, more exactly, give you something, but it's outside."

She hesitated, though she didn't want to appear obedient, she was also curious. As if he was reading her mind, he insisted:

"Aren't you at least curious to know? You can leave if you don't like it."

"I have to meet Kalisha to the marketplace."

"It's still early, the merchants are still preparing themselves. And she'll probably stay to the well all morning. It won't be very long."

She shrugged and accepted. The way his eyes brightened a little allowed her to know he was smiling and she let him lead her, wondering what he had planned. The morning wind was blowing softly, and the village was still peaceful, waking up slowly. She had to admit the place was strange but entrancing under the morning sun. She soon understood he was leading her toward the dragon-training area. When they came in, Astrid saw that the dragons had open stables, they could come in and out as they wished, they weren't locked up.

"What are we doing here?"

"Well, I told you this place could be your home, and you told me you doubted that. It's true indeed that it would be difficult, you're in a foreign land, surrounded by people who ride dragons and you know no one. So, consider that this is my first gift to you."

"You want to give me a dragon?!"

She couldn't believe it, he couldn't be serious! But very obviously, he was.

For those who don't remember, Heather speak of Eret's fiancée in chapter 5. I originally wrote a conversation where Eret speak of her, but it would have made the chapter too long. The scene between her and Astrid was among the first ones I wrote, in my head she was somehow Mrs Pott from Beauty and the Beast, except they have very different looks.

Guest who said Cami wouldn't beat Astrid in a fair fight: You can't say that for sure, we never saw them spare. In my opinion they are at the same level, Astrid lost for reasons which will be explained later, but I'm not picturing her as weaker. Also, Astrid can't run away, the marriage contract has to be made to ensure peace and that's why she still wants to honor it, otherwise Fury will choose another girl, something she wanted to avoid in the first place. Now it doesn't mean indeed that she has to be happy about it and she would be absolutely in her right to demand a divorce. Now things will work between, there will be Hiccstrid, but it won't be because Astrid will be like 'oh I got beaten, now I'll be all nice'. I don't write that answer because I'm angry or anything, in fact I'm glad to see that some people understand Astrid's feelings, I just wanted to bring some precisions.

Don't hesitate to review!