This was a new feeling, there is a warmth I'm not used too, something more than the fur blankets and the bedding. Something that moves. Blinking my eyes open, it's now a dark and cold early morning on Berk, not that I could tell it was cold. I feel his arms wrapped around me, pulling me in closer as his soft breath tickles my neck. I must've rolled over in the night, but he never lessened his embrace.
I can see the stars filtering down from the window in his roof, barely providing enough light for me to make out any shapes in the house. Though, there is an unmistakable purr from the Night Fury that had, at some point, made its way to the heated rock in his room and is resting comfortably there.
A smile crests my face as I close my eyes, another one of his soft breaths tickles the back of my neck, and his body is warm with our legs crossing. I feel the urge to stretch and span out, but I feel another urge to nestle in and melt. Gods, I'm not normally this mushy but, it's Hiccup. I can't really place when he broke in and stole my heart but it's his to keep. Slinking my hands up, I find his and softly hold them as his arms are around me. His breath hitches as I feel his embrace tighten.
"Hiccup" I say softly through a smile as I scrunch closer, closing all gaps between our bodies, still gazing out of the roof window. He doesn't answer at first.
"So, it wasn't a dream." He answers softly, nuzzling his face into the back of my neck and head before softly kissing my neck and shoulder. Prompting me to giggle softly.
"No. It really wasn't. I could stay like this for ever, Hiccup." I mutter softly, closing my eyes and smiling as I feel his lips trace my neck.
"Me too, Astrid, me too." He answers, his voice barely above a whisper and the words I could tell, were only meant for me. His answer warms my heart, in ways I never truly believed possible.
We lay there, in silence for a moment before I tug at his grip and he loosens it, allowing me to roll over and face him. I could wake up to this man for the rest of my days and never want for anything more, and from the look in his eye, he feels the same. Nuzzling up, I peck him lightly on the lips before burying my face in his chest, and I feel his arms retighten around me as our legs relock. His lips peck my forehead and I let out a long breath.
Hmmm, hmm hmm hmm hm hmm hmm hmm, hmmm hmm hmm hmm hm. I hear him softly humming and as I glance up, I notice a tear in his closed eye amid the hum and a smile.
"Babe, are you okay?" I ask softly, snaking up to be eye level with him and wiping the tear away. He nods, but not convincingly. His eyes stay closed for a moment as he continues to hum the tune, it's the one Valka told me about. I peck him lightly on the lips again and rest my head on the pillow, so our noses barely touch. His eyes barely open and meet mine.
"Did I ever tell you what happened when my dad found my mother in that dragon nest?" Hiccup asks and I'm suddenly reminded of the conversation I had with Valka the night I found him on the cliff. Shaking my head and smiling, I nod to him to continue.
"They, uh, my dad he.. My mom was unaccustomed to him being there, to me. She dropped some of the food when he tried to help her and went to fill some water. And my dad, uh, my dad.." he trails off, and I can tell he's trying to his hardest not to just burst.
"It's okay, babe." I say softly and kiss him again. Reassuring him that I am here to stay, no matter what. He sighs and smiles.
"My dad, he started to whistle a tune that made her freeze. And then he, he started to, uh. He started to sing, Astrid. My father, Chief Stoick the Vast, started to sing. And eventually, they were singing, together. And dancing. It was, it was perfect. I replay it in my mind every night." He stammers as my face softens. I hadn't heard the whole story, lest by his perspective, and only knew bits of the song.
"What was he singing" I ask softly, I want him to continue.
"Don't laugh." He says sheepishly and I press my forehead to his and nod.
"Promise." I reassure him and he nods with me, then he starts the hum, closing his eyes. I can just see him playing it out in his own mind.
"Hmmm hmm hmm hm hmm hmm hmm, hmmm hmm hmm hmm hm… I'd swim and sail, on savage seas, with never a fear of drowning. And gladly ride, the waves of life, if you will marry me. No scorching sun, nor freezing cold, will stop me on my journey. If you would promise me your heart, and love me for eternity." He starts, and I feel a heft on my heart as I smile. I see the smile crest his face as he relives the memory.
"My dearest one, my darling dear, your mighty words astound me. But I've no need for mighty deeds when I feel you arms around me. But I would bring you rings of gold, I'd even sing you poetry. And I would keep you from all harm if you would stay besides me" He continues, taking a breath as I can almost picture them dancing together in my own head.
"I have no use for rings of gold, I care not for your poetry, I only want your hand to hold. I only want you near me. To love to kiss to sweetly hold, for the Dancing and the Dreaming. Through all life's sorrows and delights, I'll keep your laugh inside me. I'll swim and sail on savage seas with never a fear of drowning. I'd gladly ride the waves of life and you will marry me." He finishes, finally opening his eyes and gazing into mine.
I didn't notice until just then that a tear had made its way down my own cheek and was caught by his finger as he pulls me in for a kiss.
"And then… he was gone." He says quietly against my lips, his voice breaking. "It wasn't fair. None of it was fair." He continues and I let him.
"I know, Hiccup."
"It wasn't even that I needed to step into being a Chief after the talk. It was. That was the happiest I've ever seen him, he looked like he was completed. Like a hole in his heart he always hid was finally filled and he could genuinely smile. I would've gladly taken the Chiefing chair and title and let him and my mom retire. Just to spend the rest of their days together." Hiccup vents. He's needed to get this off his chest.
"It's okay, babe. What happened, happened. We can't change it. We can change how we grow from it." I say softly and he nods, looking me square in the eyes.
"I know, and it's made me understand just what I have with you, and what I never want to lose." He adds, before pulling me in for another kiss.
"Me neither, Hiccup." I confirm softly. "Come on, let's go for a early morning ride on Toothless. Stormfly is back in her stable, it can be just us. We can catch the sunrise." I add with a smile and he nods.
I know one thing for sure, if there was one person I could trust, after everything we've been through. It was Astrid. I never really vent like that, and I've never told anyone else about that day in the caves with my parents. Gobber was there, sure, but Gobber is Gobber. Though the prospect of a dark ride with Astrid in the morning, watching the sunrise together as we soar above the clouds. I couldn't think of a better way to start the day.
Of course, it didn't take much convincing to get Toothless to go along with it and minutes later, we were soaring high in the sky. The amount of ground, or sea, Toothless could cover in minutes was incredible. And feeling Astrid wrap her arms around my waste and bury her face into my back was amazing.
Toothless settling in for a comfortable glide, the air currents keeping us in the air. We had no direction, no mission. It was just us. I glanced back to her and smiled. "So, uh, what brought on the Daggers?" I asked and I felt her shift uncomfortably.
"I just, I never got you a betrothal gift. I never knew what to get, I still don't." I heard her answer behind me, and I felt warmer.
"I told you last time, you already got me the greatest gift I could ever ask for, you." I confirm, taking a hand off Toothless's saddle and cuppings hers as they tighten their embrace around me.
"I know, I know. I just wanted to show you that your worth it to me." She answers shakily and I can only shake my head with a smile. "Remember when I got poisoned, what we said then, it's truer now than ever. I can't imagine a world without you in it." She adds.
"Me neither."
"What about you, you already gave me the betrothal gift your father gave your mom. What's with this new one?" She asks and I shrug.
"Same, I guess. I wanted to show you that you were worth it. I wanted to give you something unique, something from me. Something you could wear with pride as we fly together." I explain
"And I will Hiccup. I love it."
"And I love the daggers. I'd be lost without you, Astrid. I rely on you, probably more than a Chief should." I admit with a sigh and I just feel her squeeze.
"Impossible. We're not married yet, but I will always support you, Hiccup. You need advice, tactics or even someone to punch Snotlout." She says and we chuckle. "Seriously, babe. I've got your back."
"Literally, it would seem" I jest prompting her to bury her face into my back and I feel her nod amid the flight. "Thank you." I say, leaning into Toothless and whispering. "Keep it steady, bud." And I hear him purr in acknowledgement as she leans in.
Locking Toothless's tail in place so he can guide comfortably, I tug at her embrace and feel her loosen as I unlatch my leg and spin around on Toothless's saddle, now gazing into her eyes I wrap my arms around her.
"Uh, Hiccup? Isn't this a little dangerous?" She questions as I feel her arms snake back around me and burying her face in my chest.
"We'll be fine. It's a nice soft night, no storm clouds or the like in sight. I've locked his tail wing so he can just carry us softly on the wind. Besides, it's not often I have the opportunity to look into your eyes from several hundred feet in the sky like this." My finger finding her chin and tipping it up so she looks to me.
Straightening her posture, she comes eye level and smiles as I pull her in for a kiss. It was perfect.
For the first time in recent history, we didn't have an enemy to worry about, we didn't have a mission to accomplish or a threat to face. We had our sorrows and our daily lives, such as they had become. But most importantly, we had each other. Feeling her lips press to mine, her arms snake around my back with mine around hers as it brings us closer together. My back to the cold wind, shielding her from it allowing us to just enjoy each other's presence.
I've loved this woman for as long as I can remember; and I'm not sure when she started loving me back. But one thing I was sure of is that I will live for this woman, I will be better for her and only leave her when it's my time for Valhalla. And even there, I'll wait to meet with her again and live with her for eternity.