Arrows to the Heart:

Hiccup spent the next two weeks in a flurry of activity.

His days were packed with all of the training exercises that Stoick could squash into them, leaving Hiccup exhausted but happy. They also happened to be the most exciting thing happening in the village at the moment, so instead of preparing for winter like everyone should have been doing, Hiccup ended up with a vast and varied audience that came and went as people made excuses to 'stop by for a quick peek at the Heir's progress'. (At least they were getting some extra exercise.)

And his nights were spent camping, to prove his original point of independence.

With Astrid. (Happy sigh.)

Annnnnd every other teenager who thought camping away from the parental units was a fantastic idea. (Groan.) This was such a hit, that it became an end of summer tradition on Berk for years to come. (Possibly for the parents even more so than the kids if the number of babies born nine months later was any indication.)

The good news was that Hiccup had made another real friend in the form of Fishlegs. During the inevitable late night babbling that occurs when you put so many teenagers in the same place with no supervision, Hiccup had discovered that Fishlegs was actually very intelligent and that they shared the same love of learning as much as they could about everything they could. And since Fishlegs had dedicated himself to finding out everything possible about dragons, something that Hiccup had only been able to do on the sly, he spent hours quizzing the bigger but younger boy, much to Snotlout's disgust.

The bad news was that Hiccup never found more than a moment or two alone with Astrid per day, so their displays of affection were restrained to quick pecks on the cheek and some covert hand holding. Anything more and the other kids teased them unmercifully. As in, Hiccup had heard about a hundred different renditions of, 'Hiccup and Astrid, sitting in a tree, G.' and thought he might go batty if he heard it even one more time.

So when an opportunity for some alone time showed up, our feature couple were all over it like a yak on the first patch of grass in the spring.

"Today's lesson is archery," Stoick said to his eager pupils, pulling a six foot length of beautifully carved supple wood out from behind his back.

He chuckled when every single young face fell in disgust. Weren't expecting that, were you? "I know it's not the most intimidating of weapons, but there's always a time and place for a good bow. Hunting, for example. Not many animals will let you within axe reach," he joked.

Now, Stoick didn't usually train the children, having too many other chiefy type things to deal with, but because he'd dedicated himself to catching Hiccup up on his training, he'd somehow ended up teaching all of the other teenagers in Hiccup's age range as well, even though they had already had all of these lessons. (The novelty of it, or something.)

Snotlout grunted in dismissal. "I'm already good enough at the bow and arrow. I don't need to practice more."

Stoick raised a bushy red brow as Astrid blatantly rolled her eyes at Hiccup, smirking knowingly. He took that to mean that Snotlout was barely proficient, at best. Thank you, Astrid. Let's have some fun with the next generation of Louts, shall we? "All right, then, Snotlout." He held out his unstrung bow and a quiver of arrows that Gobber magically appeared with. "Take this, string the bow, and shoot an arrow into the bullseye of yonder target," he said in his no-nonsense Chief voice, pointing at the furthest target available, clear across the very large clearing, "and you can go. If you fail, you'll be staying for the lesson. Or… you can muck out the sheep pens without having to prove yourself."

Snotlout's eyes widened in horror at his options. No matter what he did he would look like a fool. But pride had him snatching the massive bow out of the Chief's hand. Maybe I'll get lucky. "Fine. I'll shoot the target," he sneered as he unwound the string from around the wood that towered over his head.

It took every ounce of muscle power he had to bend the bow to make the string reach, bracing his foot in the center and grunting with the effort. The not-so-subtle sniggers from the other kids just fuelled him on, determination finding new feats of strength that he didn't know he possessed.

Ha! he crowed internally when the wood was finally bow shaped and the string attached. Even bent, it was still just as tall as him. Gods, I will never be able to draw this properly. But they don't need to know that. Yet. Snotlout turned and smirked at his audience of peers. "I'd like to see any of you do that faster."

"You're on, " Astrid said, unable to resist a challenge. "AFTER you shoot it."

Snotlout curled his lip up at the girl. Gods, I hate her almost as much as I like her. She's probably going to make it look easy. Why do I do this to myself all the time?

Gobber nudged Stoick with an elbow and whispered, "I didn't think the boy would even be able to string your bow. I'm reluctantly impressed."

"So am I," Stoick mumbled back, watching with fascinated eyes as the short and stout boy doggedly notched an arrow into the massive bow and lined up with the target on the other side of the clearing. "Bet it doesn't even make it halfway," he said under his breath to his longtime friend.

"I say three-quarters," Gobber stage whispered back, observing the boy's teeth gritting efforts at pulling the string back towards his ear.

"Loser buys the beer tonight?"

"You're on."

Five seconds later, they picked their jaws up off the ground. "Who wins if he actually managed to shoot within a handspan of the target?" Gobber asked.

No one? Snotlout? Nah. Stoick shrugged and stepped forward to take his bow back. He clapped the boy on the back. "That's actually better than I expected, young Snotlout. But you still have to stay for the lesson."

The dark brown haired boy practically beamed at the backassed praise and then all but strutted back into his place with the other teens. "Yep. I dare any of you to top that."

"Oh, I'll do better," Astrid said, sneering at the annoying boy who was always so full of himself. "And I'll even hit the target."

Stoick laughed, shaking his head at the feisty girl. "That won't be necessary, Astrid. I didn't bring my bow up here to watch the lot of you try to shoot it, but to use as a demonstration weapon so I don't break the wee twigs that you half-grown children need to shoot with."

Astrid crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the Chief, disgusted that she'd been denied her chance to show up Snotlout. And at being called a child.

Hiccup, sensing her ire, whispered to her, "I'm sure we can 'borrow' Dad's bow when he's away sometime and you can practice with it."

She softened, shooting her fiancé a grateful look.

Meanwhile, Gobber had been walking down the line of teens, handing each of the trainees a four foot bow, already strung, while Stoick had continued talking. "As I was saying before, the bow is a very useful weapon to have. It can even be used against dragons, IF you're a particularly good archer and can target the weak places like the eyes. But don't miss; you'll just piss them off." Stoick laughed at his own wit.

The exceedingly large man was still grinning when he turned his focus on his son. "Hiccup. Have you and Astrid practiced with a bow at all during your secretive training sessions?"

Even though there was no condemnation in his father's voice, Hiccup still couldn't meet his eyes, instead staring at the weapon in his hands as he restlessly ran his hands over it; there would always be that lingering sensation of guilt. "No, actually. The bows are kept in the storehouse and it would have looked funny if Astrid was seen carrying one of them around for no good reason. It's not exactly her weapon of choice, as we all know." This last was said with an amused look towards said girl who currently had her favourite axe strapped to her back.

Astrid grinned back, nudging Hiccup with her shoulder.

Stoick snorted in amusement. "True, true. Never seen the girl with a bow, that I can remember. But can you use one, Astrid?"

She raised a brow at the stupid question. Does he not know me at all? "Of course I can shoot a bow. Mother made sure that I'm better than proficient with every possible weapon known to Vikingkind."

Stoick let out a great belly laugh, shaking his head. "Of course she has. Alga won Best Female Warrior at the clan gatherings three years in a row back when she was a teenager. They don't let her compete anymore. I'm not allowed to compete, either," he couldn't help but boast a little.

"I can't wait till I'm sixteen and I can compete," Astrid said with a determined glint in her eyes. "I fully intend to equal Mother's performance."

"I have no doubt you will, M'lady," Hiccup said, firmly in the supportive fiancé category. His eyes caught hers and he was very pleased to see a hint of colour grace her cheekbones and her pupils expand. Ooooo. She likes that one. M'lady it is.

"Gag me with a spoon," Snotlout muttered.

Astrid's eyes shot to the other boy and she glared imaginary daggers. "That can easily be arranged, Jorgenson, so shut it with the commentary or you WILL regret it."

Snotlout gulped and backed up a step. By the Gods, she can be frightening sometimes. What is wrong with me that I'm turned on by it? "Yes, Astrid. Sorry, Astrid."

Stoick snorted under his breath. That girl is something else. She'll be a good mate for Hiccup when it's his turn to rule. No one would dare oppose him with her by his side. "Right. All taunting aside, let's see what you've got, Astrid."

"Gladly," the girl said. She traded her axe for a quiver of arrows and slung it across her back, handing the axe to Gobber for safekeeping. Then, after taking up a solid stance, she notched an arrow and drew back the string to her ear and sighted along the shaft to the nearest target about ten feet away. A deep breath in and out for absolute stillness, and then she let fly.

The arrow landed dead center in the target and sank almost halfway through, prompting a quiet whoop from Hiccup.

"Good," Stoick praised. "How about…" He never got to finish his sentence as he watched in pleased admiration as the girl whipped out another arrow and sent it flying to the next furthest target about twenty feet away. The arrow also landed dead center. She continued to loose arrows until all five targets set on a diagonal line, including the furthest one that Snotlout had almost hit, had a vibrating arrow sitting in the center of each.

Their curious audience of 'passers by' cheered louder with each successful bullseye.

Stoick was VERY impressed. Girl actually does have a shot of equaling her mother in the annual Barbaric Archipelago Games. "Very good, Astrid. Since you've already taught my son the basics of every other weapon, why don't you also show Hiccup how to use a bow while the others give me a demonstration of their skills?"

Astrid beamed, pleased that she'd impressed the Chief. "Sure."

As she turned to Hiccup, who was grinning at her rather dopily with pride, she heard Stoick say, "How bout you first, Fishlegs?"

"O… o…okay," the poor boy stuttered out. Astrid mentally winced. Fishlegs was easily the least skilled with a bow of all of them, (or any weapon, for that matter) but not for lack of trying. He just couldn't seem to figure out how to make his big body work for him instead of against him. If he ever did… watch out, world.

She put her bow down on the ground and focused on Hiccup, who was already holding his bow more or less correctly and drawing back the string experimentally, getting a feel for it. "That's good, Hiccup. But you'll have to pull it back further than that to make an arrow get anywhere."

"Oh. Sure." Hiccup put a bit more effort into it and then released the string. It snapped forward and he could feel the released power of the bow. Sweet. I think I like this weapon.

Astrid turned Hiccup around so he was facing away from the group of teens and towards a cluster of boulders that didn't have any bystanders lingering by them, and then handed him an arrow from her quiver. "All right. Now point your bow at the ground and nock the arrow into the string and hold it steady with your fingers. Make sure the top of the triangle of fletching feathers is pointed outwards." She leaned into him as she helped him do what she described. "Now rest the shaft on top of the knuckle of your left hand. Good."

Hiccup could barely concentrate as her (very) hands on instructions continued and was grateful they were facing away from everyone for their own safety. (In case he accidentally shot a wild arrow.) Astrid was practically breathing in his ear as she spoke softly and her chest was pressed into his back as she basically wrapped her arms along his. His body also thought that Astrid's proximity was worthy of notice and was overheating in less time than it took to actually pick a gap between boulders to aim at. Thor, this must be the sweetest torture ever. Please don't let it ever stop. And thank you to whomever for inventing long tunics and fluffy vests that cover things best left not seen by the public.

"Now pull back. Further. Further. Look down the shaft."

Thor help me, she said shaft again. I might go insane if I hear her say that even one more time while she whispers in my ear. Somehow, Hiccup kept his eyes open and managed not to groan out loud, but it was a close thing. Very close.

"Stay focused on your target. Deep breath in. Slow breath out. Freeze. And release."

Hiccup did. Nearly in more ways than one. But the snap of the string skimming alone his forearm was enough of a distraction to pull his focus forwards again. Frozen in place with Astrid pressed to his back, he tracked the path of his arrow.

It landed where he'd pointed it.

As if he'd been released like a coiled spring, Hiccup jumped a foot in the air, fist raised in triumph. "Yes!"

Astrid laughed. "Easy there, flyboy. That was a massive target. Let's see how you do with a real target and without my help."

Hiccup was all for it.

He turned around and faced the closest target which now had four more arrows poking out of it. None buried as far as Astrid's, and none as close to the center as hers, but at least the other teens had hit it.

Now fueled by excited adrenaline, Hiccup repeated all of the steps Astrid had walked him through, focused with narrow eyed determination at the dead center of the target, and let fly with another arrow.

It landed right beside Astrid's arrow.

Hiccup did the jump of joy again.

Astrid was suitably impressed, although not terribly surprised, since he'd already proved himself to be adept at aiming throwing knives. His hand to eye coordination was better than most and he was an excellent judge of scale and distances. "Very good, Hiccup," she praised. "Try the next one."

Stoick's focus was drawn away from the teenagers now making attempts at hitting the furthest target by the cheers of the watching crowd. (Who most certainly weren't cheering for the twins, Fishlegs, or Snotlout.) He turned just in time to see Hiccup aim an arrow at the second closest target. A rapid look at the first target showed two arrows in the center. A fluke? Stoick refocused on the second target.

The boy hit the bullseye, right beside Astrid's arrow. Again.

Stoick raised a brow in surprise. Didn't know he would be that good at something. Ever. And then he felt bad for thinking it. I should have more faith in my son. He is MY son after all.

"Well done, Hiccup!" Stoick called loud enough to be heard over the crowd of cheering onlookers. (For the most part, the village as a whole had decided to root for Hiccup as he trained, eager to make up for their years of derision, even if it had only been in their minds.)

Hiccup grinned at his dad. "Thanks! This weapon doesn't care how tall you are or how strong you are. It's all about angles and precision and focus."

Stoick mentally rolled his eyes. Such a Hiccup thing to say. But he's right. "How about you try your focus on the next target, Son?"

Hiccup did so eagerly, holding out a hand for an arrow, eyes already pinned to the target in question.

Astrid was grinning when she placed the arrow in his waiting hand. Now that's the kind of single minded focus that's going to make him a very good husband indeed, as long as he turns it on me every once in a while. She had no doubts whatsoever that Hiccup would be more than willing to put his considerable ability to concentrate on puzzles and problems towards making her a very satisfied girl. And she'd return the favour, of course, with great pleasure.

Hiccup was just about to release his next shot when Hector came striding into the clearing, calling for Stoick with some urgency.

Distracted at the worst possible moment, Hiccup turned his head and thus the bow. His shot went flying wide of the target by a good two feet. He stared at the arrow imbedded in the ground in dismay. Odin's saggy ancient ass! What terrible timing!

Hector raised an unimpressed brow at the poor attempt but did his best to not look too disappointed. He patted Hiccup on the shoulder consolingly as he walked past. "That's alright, Hiccup. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it with more practice." Lots and lots more practice.

Hiccup's mouth opened to protest that he really was better than that but gave up when Hector strode on without another look. Whatever. He'll see if he hangs around long enough. I wonder what he wants? he thought as he watched Hector hand his father a rolled up note.

Astrid held a hand over her mouth to hold in the giggles at the various expressions crossing Hiccup's face. Gods, my dad couldn't have timed that any better. Hiccup needs to learn to ignore distractions. And I have the perfect way to do it. But maybe when we're alone. I doubt he'd appreciated it if I stuck my tongue in his ear or smacked his ass with witnesses present.

Thor, it's been forever since we've been alone. I'm feeling rather… affectionate… right now, and would like me some cuddle time with my sweetie.

Everyone, go away.

Please.

As if the belated afterthought had actually been heard by the Gods, Stoick crumpled the parchment in his massive fist and then walked the few steps over to Astrid and Hiccup. He frowned at them for a moment while he apparently came to a decision. Astrid raised a curious brow and Hiccup tilted his head sideways a bit.

"What? What is it, Dad? Bad news?"

Stoick frowned some more, drumming the fingers of one hand on his crossed arms. "No. Not precisely. Trader Johann has brought news of an impromptu Chieftains meeting on Berserker Island. Since the weather appears to be holding into a late fall, I'm inclined to go."

Hiccup only had a moment to be disappointed that he was going to be left behind yet again, for Stoick immediately continued with, "And you're coming with me, Son. It's time you learned to sail. And the other Tribe leaders have been asking to meet you for years, no point in disappointing them any longer."

The boy was instantly transported into a state of euphoric shock. "That's… That's… Dad… Great... Thor."

Stoick grinned at Hiccup's attempt at speaking past his fumbling tongue. "Glad you approve. And to make your day just a little bit better, Astrid can come too."

While Astrid's jaw dropped at the unexpected treat, Hiccup whooped with joy, and Hector bellowed, "WHAT?!"

Stoick smirked at his friend who still hadn't quite forgiven him even though they pretended their relationship was basically back to normal. "Don't worry, buddy, you and Alga are coming as well. I can't sail a Viking longship all on my own, after all."

Hector huffed, and stalked off, muttering about insufferable jackasses.

Stoick pretended not to hear.

He focused on the kids again. "You two, go pack up your things from that camp of yours. I expect you down at the docks to help load the ship within an hour, understood?"

Hiccup and Astrid nodded, wide eyed, hearts pattering with excitement. She shrugged out of her quiver and they took off like a shot. In her rush, Astrid even forgot the axe she'd left with Gobber.

The older, bald, one handed, and long mustachioed man looked down at the weapon in his real hand and snorted. That's a first. Priorities change, I suppose.

Both Hiccup and Astrid had the same thought as they ran; the faster they got their things and packed up, the more time they would have to do other, more interesting, things. For who knew when they would next have an opportunity to be alone? Certainly not on a crowded ship with their parents hovering nearby.

It took them fifteen minutes at a dead run to make it to the camp near the far side of the island. It took them another five to unpitch their tents and pack whatever scattered belongings they had in them into bags that would go straight to the ship. Which gave them just enough time to catch their breath before they promptly lost it again by attaching to each other by the lips in a sudden clash as Astrid tackled Hiccup down to the forest floor amongst the cluster of tents, straddling his waist as she buried her hands in his hair to hold him as tightly as possible. Not to be completely outdone, Hiccup wrapped an arm around her waist and held her just as snugly as his other hand cupped the side of her face, fingers delving into the silk of her thick hair.

Their tongues and lips and teeth did all the talking for the next minute, aside from a few strangled groans and needy whimpers. Even their minds were essentially turned off as their focus narrowed down to One. Single. Thing.

Connection.

After their near desperate passion was satisfied, Astrid pulled up a fraction, panting, hands planting on either side of his head, and smiled into Hiccup's brilliant emerald eyes that were more black than green at the moment. "Gods, I missed this. I think we're going to have to try a little harder to find some 'us' time."

Hiccup smiled widely, licking her sweet flavour off his lips. (Which made Astrid's breath hitch again.) "I completely agree, M'lady. 'Us' time is going to the top of my priority list. Just… don't ask me where we're going to find it with our current schedule of work and training."

"Things will calm down once the snow buries us in for the winter," she reassured.

He trailed a hand up and down her slender back, wondering how far he could get away with touching her. Probably not past the belt yet. But, Thor, does she ever have a narrow waist. And I can feel the beginnings of the flare of her hips. So. Freaking. Hot. His other hand ran over the length of her long braid and came to a stop at the leather thong that held it together. I wonder… "Astrid?"

"Hmmmm?" she asked as she all but drooled over the sexy long eyelashes he possessed that she'd been eyeing enviously for years. Why do the boys always get the nicer eyelashes? It's seriously not fair. Not that I begrudge him his; his eyes wouldn't be half as gorgeous without them. But… come on.

"Can I undo your braid? I love seeing you with your hair loose."

That caught her attention for real. "You do?"

He nodded, fiddling with the tie hopefully. "I do. Your hair is like spun sunlight, dappled with silvers and golds. And it's so thick and soft. I think it's… you, are the most beautiful thing ever."

Astrid's heart melted into a puddle of lovestruck goo. Not that she hadn't already been in love with him before, but geez, could he get any more perfect? She swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat. "Ohhhhhh, Hiccup. Of course. Undo it." She could rebraid it on the way back if Hiccup carried her bag for her.

Smiling in thanks, oblivious to how he'd just rocked her world yet again, Hiccup pulled the leather tie off the end of her hair. It immediately started to unravel because of how soft and luxurious it was. He pulled off her studded leather headband and then helped the freedom of her locks along by running the fingers of both hands through the silk of it gently until it sat in waves around her shoulders, hung past her face and tickled his, and cascaded halfway down her back. There's so much of it. So unbelievably beautiful. "I am the luckiest boy alive," he whispered in awe, hands trailing through her hair and down her back in a mesmerized pattern.

Astrid blushed becomingly. "I think I'm pretty lucky too, to have you." She leaned down and kissed him gently, sweetly, before tracing a finger over the lines of his face from his adorable nose to his elegant cheekbones to his strong jawline. So ridiculously cute, she thought with a mental girly sigh.

Hiccup captured her hand in his and brought her finger to his lips, kissing the tip.

Astrid liked that. She tilted her head and kissed his hand in return.

"I have a confession to make," he said with a rueful grin, eyes meeting hers over their joined hands.

"What's that?" she asked as she entwined her fingers with his, leaning back a bit to study him. She blinked at the extra hardness she felt against her rear end, but pride made her stay where she'd put herself.

And then the look on his face had her wriggling ever so slightly out of sheer Loki-like mischievousness.

Hiccup's mind shorted out for a moment or ten at the new position, but then he tugged his hand out of hers and grabbed her waist, pulling her forward, back into safe territory. Any more of the sweet torture of her heated weight on him where she really didn't need to be and things were going to get embarrassing. "Uhhhhhh, yeah. Confession. Right." He blinked a couple times, rebooting his brain back to a minute ago. Now that she was in a safer zone, kneeling above his abdomen, and he could think again, he raised a hand and ran it through her hair, letting the silken strands sift through his fingers like a waterfall of gold. "You remember the day I almost burnt my foot right through?"

Curious, Astrid nodded. "Yeah?"

"That was the first time I noticed you were a 'girl' per se. Your hair had come half undone, so you pulled it out the rest of the way and BOOM. Just like that. I SAW you. I've been hopelessly in love with you ever since."

And… her heart melted again. "Hiccup. Gods. You're killing me with your words right now."

His mouth quirked up. "Yeah, well, you were killing me with your body a minute ago. You gotta watch were you sit. There's only so much stimulation a male can take before they turn into imbeciles with only one thought left in their brain."

Astrid burst into a peal of delighted giggles, leaning forward to rest her head on his shoulder. She calmed after a minute, taking a deep breath, which gave her a good whiff of his scent; fresh perspiration and pine needles. Yum.

Hiccup smiled at the side of her blonde head indulgently. She could laugh at him if she wanted. He didn't mind. He was trying to be funny, after all. He stroked her hair and back as her giggles slowly subsided.

Burying her hands in his shaggy mess of hair again, she raised enough to smile at him. "I have a confession also; I've loved you longer. Like, at least a year longer. I think the first time I knew was when you made my current headband for my twelfth birthday. There's a reason I wear it all the time other than its intended purpose. It's because YOU made it."

Hiccup cupped her face again in his long fingered hand, rubbing his thumb over her plump lower lip in a gentle caress. "Now you're the one killing with words, M'lady."

Her brilliant blue eyes shone as she smiled coyly at him, kissing the pad of his thumb. "That was the idea, babe. Fair's fair."

His eyes lit up. "Oh. Is that how it is? Well then…" He growled playfully and rolled them over in a sudden move, pinning her beneath him with his hands on her shoulders, making rumbling noises of hunger as he nipped at her neck and jaw and ear with tiny bites. "I guess... It's my… Turn… To kill… You with… My body…" he said between love bites. "You look… Very edible… Right now."

Astrid giggled and wiggled, only half-heartedly trying to pull him off by his hair because she loved it but had to keep up the appearance of protestation. When she couldn't take the tickling bites and kisses anymore, she rolled them back over. "My turn," she warned, a fiendish light in her eyes as she leaned down to return the treatment.

"HHHHHHMMMMM, HHHH, HHHHMMM!"

The sound of a loudly cleared throat had Astrid flinging herself off of Hiccup in a flash of tangled limbs that eventually sorted themselves out.

She looked up in horror, expecting to see Stoick, or worse, her father.

Instead, she sighed in relief when it was only Fishlegs, his bulky silhouette unmistakable as he pointedly faced away from them. Thank Thor. Stumbling up onto her feet, Astrid pushed her hair out of her eyes with a slightly shaking hand.

Hiccup was almost as quick off the ground, but he remembered her headband and hair tie. He fished them out of the forest debris, then handed them to her and she smiled at him. Brushing himself off, Hiccup walked over to the other boy. "Hey. Watcha doin' here?" he asked as casually as he could manage.

Fishlegs glanced at him, blushing worse than Hiccup was, amusingly. "I, um, was sent by your father to make sure you don't get sidetracked. Turns out he was right," he added in a mumble. I certainly got an eyeful of cavorting Hiccstrid that I didn't need to see. Now I'm going to have to fight off that image every time I go to sleep at night. And, Thor, why does Astrid have to be so bloody beautiful? It really isn't fair for one's peace of mind.

Oh Gods. Now Hiccup was definitely the one blushing worse. "Uhhhh. Thanks."

Fishlegs glanced at Astrid as she appeared beside Hiccup, carrying their bags, which she handed to him. "Don't mention it. Please."

The couple nodded, still blushing, and they all made their way back towards the village in awkward silence.

By the time they made it to the docks, though, things were back to normal as Astrid coaxed Fishlegs into talking about his latest research into dragon lore. Her hair was once again braided and you'd never know that any canoodling had been going on.

If you didn't count the pine needles in Hiccup's hair.