Where I Belong
Author: Nightstar Fury
Rating: M
Pairing: Hiccup/Astrid
Disclaimer: I don't own the HTTYD movies, or any of the HTTYD series such as Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk, or Race To The Edge.
I Want More
-Hiccup's POV-
Nothing had been right since I'd been captured by Drago Bludvist and I knew that, but at the same time no one else did. No one knew what I saw, went through, suffered on that man's ship and as long as I could...I'd never let them know. I had been held prisoner for a total of four days after going in to save my mother from that madman. They said they'd let me go if I told them how to train and ride dragons but I refused to so I was tortured, whipped, beaten, starved...and raped. I thought for sure I was going to die but Toothless had saved my life. He outsmarted the men, he blasted them, and then set me free and we both got out of there alive. I was wounded, and exhausted but I didn't care one bit. Toothless saved me and we both made it back to Mom's nest. I know I blacked out right away but at least I'd made it back.
When I woke up again, I didn't tell them anything. All I said was it didn't matter because I was home and alive, my mother and I talked then I forgave her and we returned to Berk the next morning. A week after returning, I became Chief and I thought everything would be okay since I was home with family and the tribe but it wasn't. I put up a strong front for the village so no one would ask questions but my nightmares were getting to me and making my parents and girlfriend worried. Toothless knew what happened to me and I knew he wanted me to tell them but I...just couldn't. I didn't want them to know what happened to me at the hands of Drago Bludvist but I knew if I didn't get a handle on it soon, they were going to figure it out. I had issues with a lot of things now: I didn't like people behind me. I didn't like large groups of people around me laughing, I couldn't even make out with Astrid anymore. I just couldn't do it,-everything was making me remember what happened.
It's got to a point where I can't even sleep anymore. I get a few hours before the nightmares take me back, then I just can't sleep after that. It's been going on for weeks and my exhaustion was definitely showing when my parents and Astrid tried to get me to talk, I played it down that I'd just been really busy but it didn't last. I was so tired, and malnourished because I hadn't been sleeping or eating that after walking away from them, I blacked out mid step.
(Hours Later)
I groaned as I slowly opened my eyes with a hand to my head as I forced my still-tired body to move so I could sit up. "Hiccup?!" I heard Astrid's voice say quickly and filled with worry. "Thank Thor you're okay...You have no idea how much you worried me when you blacked out..." she cried softly.
"Sorry...I'll take it easy from now on..." I mumbled and forced a smile for her.
"Hiccup, you blacking out like that can't just be from overworking yourself...I know...something else is wrong and I want you to tell me...Please. We want to help you...You've been so...distant lately." Astrid said now. I looked around: my mother and father weren't there but I assumed they couldn't be far. Toothless was in the room too but I expected nothing less. My friends was never far from me.
"I'm okay, Astrid. Don't worry..." I had to say something to get her mind off things, off me. Then I remembered something: my father a few days ago pulled me aside with my mother, and Astrid's parents. They told me that they'd finished contract negotiations and everything was set. All I had to do was ask Astrid to marry me and we could start the wedding preparations. I looked outside and saw that it would be sunset in about an hour, I could take her on a date. Just us...She loved those and I could propose. Maybe if I moved forward in my life, I could move on from what happened to me. I smiled now taking her hands in mine. "Hey...We haven't been on a date in a while and I'm free tonight...What's say you and I grab the dragons, a basket, blanket, and go spend the night on the beach under the stars?"
Astrid's eyes widened as she blushed. "Ju-just us? On the beach, all night?..." She asked.
"Yeah, why not? We're both 18 now and I don't think you're parents will mind you staying with me one night. I am the Chief after all, Mi'lady. Come on, what do you say?" I asked her as I took the blanket off and got to my feet then pulled her up with me against my body in a loving embrace. Her blush deepened as she nodded to me. "You get the blankets and pillows, I'll take care of the rest and meet you there just after dark okay?"
"Alright. Great! I can't wait!" Astrid giggled now as we shared a quick kiss and she rushed out. I sighed as my parents came in now.
"Did ya ask her already?" Stoick arched a brow.
"No. I am tonight though. We're going to the beach and spending the night there. Toothless and Stormfly are coming too," I smiled.
"Spending the night?" Valka asked.
"Yeah? Why not? It's not we're going to another island-we'll be right on Thor's beach. And home tomorrow by breakfast," I replied.
"You seem to be feeling better?" Stoick said now.
"Yeah, guess I really did just need some sleep. I'm fine, I promised Astrid I'd take it easy from now on. I got a date to get ready for, see ya tomorrow." I stated as Toothless followed me while we began getting things ready for the date tonight on the beach. I couldn't wait to propose to her, everything would be okay after this. I'd be engaged and soon to be married, what could be better than that right? Besides, as soon as my Dad informed me that they'd be starting a contract for Astrid and I, I had made her something. Following Dad's idea, I made her a necklace with designs and our initials on the back.
(Later That Night)
Just after dark, I'd gotten the basket with food and mead in it along with two cups, plates, and some utensils to use ready. I attached it to my back with the straps and then got on Toothless. I double checked my saddlebag to make sure I had her proposal gift in there, then we took off towards Thor's beach. Sure enough, Astrid was already there and laying out the blanket for us to sit on...later to sleep on. Towards the upper half of the blanket she had two pillows and another blanket for us to lay under. She even went as far as getting two baskets of fish for the dragons to eat. I landed with a smile and got off Toothless who went to sit beside Stormfly. I put the basket down and pulled her into my arms lovingly as I kissed her.
"Well hello to you, Chief." she greeted me after the kiss.
"Hello, Mi'lady," I replied to her as we sat down on the blanket after kicking off our boots to one side. I pulled out all the food for us, some chicken and potatoes with bread and corn. Nothing extravagant but enough for a peaceful dinner between a Chief-myself-and my girlfriend, soon to be fiance. I knew she wouldn't say no, in fact she'd hinted towards it many times. Unfortunately there were still some laws and traditions I had to follow and I didn't mind if it meant I'd get to marry Astrid soon. I pulled out two finer mugs, smaller ones that I'd made to be nicer than the big mugs we used in the hall during dinner. I opened the mead and poured two, one for her and one for me. We tapped them together, smiling and took a sip. Then we just started talking about the village, ourselves, plans I had or possibly new inventions. It was great, and we ate while we talked. As it got later, I knew it was time and the mead didn't take long to hit either of us. I knew one more cup or two and we'd be done so I wanted to ask her before we got there.
"This feels great...I've missed these little dates of ours," Astrid sighed out leaning on my shoulder as our hands were intertwined with one another while we were looking out over the sea to the moon before us, shocked that it was a full moon tonight.
"Me too. Sorry I've been so busy lately...I don't want you to think that I don't have time for you, Astrid..." I told her.
"I know you're busy but you gotta ease up on yourself...you scared me when you blacked out today..." Astrid frowned a bit, I saw her worried face as I faced her and lifted her chin so our eyes would meet then I kissed her softly and smiled.
"Well I guess you're going to just have to live with me, and trail me all the time to make sure I don't over do it," I replied.
"Hiccup, if I could live with you...trust me I would. But you know it's forbidden for an unmarried woman to live in a man's house..." Astrid answered.
"I am the Chief, I know the rules. but...it's not forbidden if the woman is about to be married and happens to be engaged to the Chief..." I hinted slowly. Astrid arched a brow at me and I knew she was catching on.
"What are you getting at exactly?" Astrid asked now. I reached under my pillow and pulled out the necklace as I adjusted myself to one knee before her with the necklace resting in my palm. She gasped, bringing a hand to her mouth in shock with wide eyes that were beginning to water. Tears fell from her eyes slowly and silently as she looked over the pendant necklace in my palm. It was gold, both chain and pendant. On the actual disk it was the Berk crest with a blue sapphire and a green emerald in the center, the color matching her eyes and my own locked in an infinity symbol. Something to symbolize us locked together forever, and on the back was my chief seal along with our initials. HHHIII & AH. It had taken me almost two weeks to perfect, and Gobber was the only one who knew I'd made it. "Oh Hiccup...It's...beautiful. Did you make this yourself…?"
"Of course I did, painstakingly too...I carved it all by hand and it took hours which is...one of the reasons I've been so tired lately...After work I go to the forge to work on this. It took two weeks...and I've been waiting for this night since Dad told me I'd become the Chief-since as you know the chief takes a wife, and gives an heir...As Chief, Astrid...before any other male in this village of marrying age...I get to choose my bride, my wife, my chieftess...A year ago, we met and you've been an amazing friend and girlfriend to me...But I want more. Our parents have been working on a contract since before I became Chief but it couldn't be finalized until just a week ago since everything that happened with going to the nest, talking to my mom, coming back, becoming Chief...Now that it's all settled, I want you to become my Chieftess...my wife. Will you marry me, Astrid?" I asked her softly with a smile.
"Yes! Oh my Gods, a thousand times yes I'll marry you!" Astrid practically yelled out, I smiled wide as I placed the necklace over her head and let the chain rest on her shoulders while the pendant hung right above her breasts. She tackled me down in a kiss and I kissed her back. Nothing could make this night more perfect.