Chapter 6-The Feast
Astrid still laid on the floor leaned up against the chair that her dear old Husband sits in when he bosses her around as she waited for him to come home and beat her senseless as her thoughts went to Hiccup as she thought about how he was handling being in the village he hated all on his own and what it was like for him to see his father as well as when he saw Snotlout kiss her she felt a pit in her stomach making her feel sick at him kissing her then she felt sad about the thought of hiccups face watching it happen when she came to that image a light knock came from the door knowing it wasn't Snotlout due to him usually slamming down on it
"Ast...i know you're here can I um come in?"-it almost sounded like angles to her because she was so glad it was him she walked over and opened the door to see the tall shape of hiccup dawning his horned mask
"evening milady"-he said with a small bow, she smiled at the adoring nick name he used since they were ten he always knew how to make her smile so she gave a curtsey and giggled
"evening my knight in scaley armor"-he chuckled as he saw the puffiness in her eyes and her Knees scraped a bit he scowled under the mask
"may I come in?"-she moved from the door way and gestured for him to enter, he slowly walked in and surveyed the quaint and quiet home something he wouldn't consider from his cousin he soon heard the door shut and he unbuckled his helmet to be able to see her properly he soon noticed she wasn't wearing her Kranson
"what happened to your um.. Kranson..?"-he asked nervously hoping his thought wasn't true soon she was playing with her hair and shyed away from his gaze
"um well snot thought that me and you um...consummated so he deemed me to be unfit to wear it.."-she slowly held out her hand to present the broken pieces of her Kranson, soon hiccup was Infront of her and picked up the pieces
"would you like me to fix it for you?"-he asked in almost a whisper, she nodded her head and stowed the pieces in a pouch on his armor she wrapped her hands around waist and kissed his cheek and buried her head in his chest piece
"thanks.."-she whispered almost inaudibly, but he heard and wrapped his arms around her waist and stared at the door with a scowl-'he is going to pay very soon'
After a few hours it was dark and time for the feast to celebrate Astrids safe return, after a while of relaxing in her hut and just talking while she laid her head on his lap like when they were kids, he escorted her up to the great hall with everyone's eyes on him warily as he walked behind Astrid silently threatening anyone who dared to touch her soon they reached the cheifs table and Astrid sat down with a plate of food was already prepared next to Snotlout
"thanks 'Guy' but I can take her from here"-Snotlout said with a stern hand on Hiccups shoulder and a passive aggressive tone Astrid looked back at him with sad eyes but he only nodded his head and walked over to the food table and grabbed some cooked cod and watered down honey mead and sat at a empty table in the corner
"so you saved Astrid..?"-a shy voice came from next to him, he looked over to see a small boy about what looked to be 11 years old with jet black hair and brown eyes and noticeably very skinny sitting next to him wearing a Blood red tunic and long brown leggings and worn and torn boots, the boy stared at him waiting for a answer while hiccup only smirked a little
"why yes I did, she was Attacked by a monstruous nightmare in the woods"-the boy's eyes lit up and looked in awe of him he bit back a chuckle as he gave the boy his full attention
"where you scared?"-he asked still giving him that look of wonder
"nah I wasn't scared, dragons act like they're tough but they just a bunch of cranky babies"-he chuckled remembering the time toothless whined about a terrible terror stealing a fish of his pile, but the boy only seemed to gaze at him in envy
"how are you not scared of them?"-he asked with a determined look in his eyes
Hiccup looked at the boy and used his finger to point at his head-"fear is all in here, get rid of that and believe in yourself don't listen to anyone else you will be great"-giving the same speech his father gave him when he was a boy, the kid looked at him and gave him a firm nod and soon a voice broke into the conversation
"leave the guy alone useless he don't need you rubbin off on him"-as soon as he heard that nick name he turned around to see Snotlout with Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorsten behind him glaring at him and the boy soon the kid coward behind him and he new what was going on
"he is fine I don't mind talking to him"-he said with a large scowl behind the mask he was raging at the fact Snotlout was using the same name he use to call him to some kid who was so much younger then him
"well I need a word with you so he needs to scram"-he gave a scowl and a pointed thumb gesturing behind him
"eh well to bad what ever you got to say to me you can say to my friend here"-gesturing to the cowering boy behind him as well as a bit of anger behind his words
"well birds of a feather sure do stick together huh?"-Tuff said with his sister chuckling
"so mister I don't know who you are but stay away from my wife got it? I know what you two did in the forest so don't get any ideas got it?"-putting a pointed finger in his chest plate, Hiccup having enough brushed his hand away from him and stood up to be a little above eye level with the other three
"listen I don't know what you are talking about you listen here I don't take orders from you only the chief and second Astrid goes where she pleases she isn't your wife yet and third stay far and I mean far away from both me and the kid here understand?"-he put his hand on the device hanging from his belt as glared at the three mutton head standing in front of him, Snotlout looked at him and the boy with a scowl and walked away with the twins soon he felt something hug his torso he looked down to see the kids arms wrapped around his torso and his face buried in his lower back then the kid jolted back when hiccups hand patted his head
"s-sorry sir.."-the boy coward away from him and hiccup got on a knee and put his hand on the kids shoulder
"your good kid why don't you stick with me for a while huh?"-the kids eyes brightened up and he hugged hiccup he chuckled and hugged him back as he let go he looked around the hall and asked
"where's your parents?"-the boys hold on him tightened and he got the message and patted his back soon he stood up and they went back to eating casually talking about different topics not noticing someone staring from across the hall
Astrid felt a nice warm feeling at seeing the two she new the boy had a rough life and things hadn't been well for him but seeing hiccup being so caring to him made her heart flutter but soon that feeling was diminished when she saw Snotlout and the twins walking back towards the chiefs table and Snotlout sitting next to her giving a sloppy kiss on her cheek, if she could barf she would but Stoicks voice overpowered the hall as he stood up to make a toast
"Hello everyone!"-he shouted and got everyone's attention-"We Gather here tonight to celebrate the return of the future chiefess and my future daughter in law!"-he shouted with everyone yelling in celebration raising their drinks for a toast and everyone went back to eating with some music playing in the background soon Snotlout jumped up looking drunk as ever and ran up to dance with some of the local viking women she huffed a bit angry at the fact he wont even dance with her even if she hated him
Dragging her out of her thoughts a hand was presented forward and a voice deep and Nasly spoke and her heart melted
"would you care for a dance milady?"-the armor man said as she looked up to see hiccup dawned in his mask but she could see past it and could hear the ever growing smirk
She giggled-"why thank you kind sir I would love to"-she stood up and took his hand and he took her to the floor to dance with her they were laughing the entire time at her and hiccups clumsiness but still had fun the most fun she had since she was a kid then it clicked the only funs she ever had was with hiccup always with him she smiled and kept dancing
Soon getting tired and walked over to the table were hiccup was sitting with his new friend giggling and laughing-"your not so bad of a dancer there mister"-she said out of breathe
He only laughed and sat down taking a sip of his mead-"not to bad your self milady"-he said laughing behind the mouth piece of his mask she smiled and sat next to him while the three sat and talked soon though trouble brewed as a very drunk Snotlout walked over with equally drunk twins
"cmon babe we need to 'hiccup' head home so we can make luvvvv"-he said drunkenly giggled at that last part Astrid only snarled and retorted
"why Snotlout that would be frowned Apon before marriage"-she stated as a fact, he only snarled and she took a step back while hiccup sensed the tension and readied himself in case of conflict
"i don't care bitch get over here and lets goooo home"-he went to reach for her but she took a step back
"no im staying here"-she stated a little more angrily, finally he had enough and went to lunge at her but hiccup grabbed him by the collar and threw him back on his butt landing with a thud which got everyone's attention
"she doesn't want to leave so suggest you keep moving and don't start a issue"-he said with a scowl as he stood protectively Infront of Astrid and the kid with his hand back on his belt, Snotlout got back up and threw his mug on the ground letting the mead splash on hiccups boots he soon got into hiccups face scowling
"move away from my Fiancé before I have to do something drastic"-in a dark voice hiccup stood his ground and before Snotlout could do anything Stoick came behind him and pulled him away from hiccup
"now now gentlemen I don't see the need for a fight in here the lady can make her own decision"-hiccup only nodded and turned away to sit back down when a mug hit his head, he turned to see Snotlout away from Stoick who was only looking shocked, and Snot with a menacing look plastered on his face hiccup only looked at him wanting for him to strike when he heard his drunk cousins voice
"me..you...fight...winner gets Astrid"-he stated with a weird nast smirk on his face he only looked over to Astrid who was shocked while he looked back at his father who was equally as shcoked as the rest of the hall, with silence that could but cut like butter hiccup gave his answer
"Deal.."-he stated so quietly that he thought no on could here but everyone did and gasps shook the room soon all eyes were on the pair
"tomorrow, noon, arena, be there"-he said angrily before staggering off with the twins and his family Stoick only watched him walk out with utter shock at the proposal and hiccup turned to Astrid to see her confused face as she looked at him soon the hall cleared out with just her hiccup and the kid who was asleep on the bench Astrid hadn't said a word and hiccup sat there in utter silence as he waited for the answer but he got it when he felt a really hard punch to his shoulder and looked over to Astrid who looked really mad
"why did you do that?!"she hissed trying not to wake up the kid hiccup only looked confused not that she could see it anyways all she saw was red
"i thought.."-"No! Im fine! I would have been fine! I don't need you to stick up for me!"-she stated getting more and more aggravated with every word hiccup only looked at her mortified thinking he did the right thing 'I thought he was abusing her...she said she didn't like him..I thought'
"hiccup we aren't little kids anymore we don't need to fight over petty squabbles and as much as you may not want to believe it I'm happy with Snotlout!"-she had then realized what she said and it hit was like a hit to the head-'LIAR'-then her features softened she reached out a hand to try and reconcile but he stood up before she could
"ok..."-he buckled up his helmet and took the sleeping child in his arms and they walked outside the hall Astrid sat there in shock at what just happened he had just defended her put his honor and life on the line for her to get her away from an abusive relationship and she yelled at him?! What was she thinking! All he did was save and protect her without asking for anything in return and she goes and does this?! At this realization she started quietly sobbing and cried herself to sleep
She got that same nightmare a few times that night but woke up to no hiccup to comfort her