The Outcast King Chapter 32, a how to train your dragon fanfic

After their kiss, Astrid just beamed with excitement and joy looking around at everything. The food, decorations, the people there. Oh it was amazing for her, and Hiccup planned it all himself? Explains why he was so busy all week, he was doing this. How on earth did she miss Cloud Jumper, Hookfang, Barf and Belch flying in? It was Hiccup, he could pull anything off and she'd never know because he was so calm and easy going. For Thor's sake he hid himself out outcast island for 6 years and has been chief for 5 of them and they never knew. He made them believe he was dead, they never suspected a thing. Of course he could pull off a surprise party.

"Oh Hiccup...thank you so much. I was beginning to think you forgot..." Astrid said softly.

"Please...I could never forget yours because it's a month after mine babe. I've been working on this since my own." Hiccup chuckled to her.

"Its amazing...you're the best. Thank you." Astrid said lightly.

"Don't thank me just yet...this day only gets better. Now lets go say hi to your mom and my parents?" Hiccup suggested to her, she nodded as they walked over to them. Astrid hugged her mother tightly then Valka and Stoick before stepping back to greet Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. Fishlegs was there too but they'd seen each other through out the day, he was clearly another one on the case of keeping her distracted.

"Happy birthday dear." Asta said gently to her daughter.

"Thanks mom...gods this is incredible...Hiccup did you plan all this yourself?" Astrid asked looking up at him.

"Planned yes, pulled off not without trouble since you're so nosey babe. It was all the village who put it together...When you were on the beach, these guys arrived and they've been hiding out at the inn and mom's house since. The kids were in on it too, they kept you busy for me." Hiccup chuckled at her.

"Did you like it, Astrid?" Asked Viggo.

"Were you surprised?!" Thora giggled out.

"I love it and yes, I was very surprised...still am..." Astrid breathed out still taking it all in. She really was blessed to have amazing family and friends that came together like this.

"Good because today is all about you, I made sure everyone got their work done ahead of time so we'd all be here to celebrate." Hiccup smiled, Astrid hugged him again tightly. It was amazing, truly it was. This by far had to be the best day of her life since realizing Hiccup was alive after being told by him he was dead. Everyone was here and celebrating her turning 22, not even this many people showed when Hiccup turned 23 a month ago then again, Hiccup wasn't big on parties for himself.

Astrid looked around at everything, the people there. Her tribe members, family, friends. What shocked her most of all was seeing Stoick, Valka, and her mother there. All her friends were there too. Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. Hiccup's kids whom she adored. Runa, Viggo, and Thora. And finally what made it best of all was Hiccup being there, he was the one who made it all happen. It was still unreal to her though, that all of this started because they had cast Hiccup from the Hooligan tribe 6 years ago, almost 7 now. And once he left Berk, he made this place. It was like all his hidden potential was unlocked and went wild.

This much Astrid could tell by the lovely explanation of Hiccup's fly suits earlier. Alvin and Balder said that two of the prototypes failed numerous times in the last two years but Hiccup kept working at them, and finally I guess today perfected it to perform the action he wanted which was to glide through the air long enough to join back up with Toothless and keep going. It was actually a brilliant idea that she wanted to try but now was not the time to worry about it, it was her birthday party and she was going to enjoy as long as she could.

"So, what now?" Ruffnut asked calmly.

"I don't know. Whatever the birthday girl wants to do, its her day." Hiccup shrugged smiling. It was fun for him to see that the twins and Snotlout had grown up a lot in the last few years, they were acting their ages and let go of their childish like antics and mind set.

"I just want to have fun, maybe I get a dance with you as my birthday present?" Astrid hinted to Hiccup.

"Today, Astrid you can have anything you want to have. If it's a dance you want, then a dance my lady shall have." Hiccup said with a small grin.

"I didn't mean right now...I'm starved so lets eat." Astrid giggled happily.

"Well Astrid, there's a pretty big spread over there of food. Help yourself babe." Hiccup said motioning to the large food table. Astrid smiled making her way towards it with Hiccup and his kids in tow behind her and then her mother, Stoick, and Valka following, then her friends, then the tribe. It was like a procession line, with her leading because it was her birthday.

Astrid got her food and waited for Hiccup and the kids before they made their way to the main table to sit down and eat, once they were there others got their own and took their seats. While people ate they talked among themselves, it last an hour or so before Astrid got up making Hiccup stare at her curiously. "I know its my birthday and all but...I wrote something for you, and I want you to hear it..." Astrid said softly to him.

"Ooh you mean like a song?" Runa asked.

"Exactly. So...mind if I...take the floor?" Astrid asked looking at Hiccup.

"Your birthday babe, you can do whatever you want though I didn't need anything. Have you and my kids in my life is more than enough." Hiccup chuckled a little. Astrid smiled as she made it around the table and stood across from him taking a deep breath.

"Ca–can I get everyone's attention please?" Astrid asked loudly, the room got quiet. Usually only the chief made announcements. "Thanks...I gotta say, this place...this tribe is amazing and every day I'm here...I find something new I love about it. I love living here with all of you, and the dragons and I know we all know who to thank for it. Our handsome chief over there." Astrid laughed a little pointing to Hiccup who blushed as the crowd clapped and agreed. "But for me...he's given me so much more than a place in the tribe, or the knowledge to fly and train dragons...he's given me trust, understanding, hope, joy, and above all...love. So the last week I've been working on something for him and since its my birthday...I want to give it to him. A thank you for all he's done for me, for loving me." Astrid smiled as he nodded for her to go ahead.

"For all the times you stand by me. For all the truth that you make me see. For all the joy you bring to my life. For all the wrong that you make right. For every dream you make come true. For all the love I find in you...I am forever thankful baby. You're the one who holds me up. Never lets me fall...You're the one who see me through, through it all!" Astrid sang out smiling at him.

"You give me wings and make me fly. You touch my hand I can touch the sky. I lose my faith, you give it back to me. You say no star is out of reach. You stand by me and I stand tall. I have your love I have it all! I'm grateful for each day you give me. Maybe I don't know that much, but I know this much is true...I am blessed because I am loved by you...!" Astrid's voice was amazing, Hiccup loved it and apparently so did everyone else. The group of Vikings who play instruments had started playing a soft tune to go along with her voice.

"You are always here for me. The tender wind that carries me...The light in the dark shining your love into my life. You are my inspiration. Through the lies you are the truth. My world is a better place because of you..." She sang to him as he got up and walked towards her while she was singing still, approaching her he took her hand and span her around lovingly with a smile.

"You are my strength when I am weak. You are my voice when I can't speak. You are my eyes when I can't see. You see the best there is in me. Lift me up when I can't reach. You give me faith 'coz you believe...I'm everything I am...Because you love me." Hiccup pulled her close against him, staring in to her eyes gently as she smiled and continued the song. "You are my strength when I am weak. You are my voice when I can't speak. You are my eyes when I can't see. You see the best there is in me. Lift me up when I can't reach. You give me faith 'coz you believe...I'm everything I am...Because you love me. Oooh...I'm everything I am..." Astrid lessened her voice again as Hiccup leaned in close to kiss her, "Because you love me..." She finished as Hiccup pressed his lips to hers lovingly. Astrid blushed returning the kiss as the room began to clap for them.

"You are incredible babe, you know that?" Hiccup said pressing his forehead to hers.

"Not more than you. Everything I am today, right now is because of you..." Astrid smiled softly to him.

"Alright how we agree to say that we just bring out the best in each other then?" Hiccup chuckled.

"Agreed." Astrid nodded as he hugged her lightly.

"Time for presents for the birthday girl!" Hiccup called out now making Astrid blush darkly, presents? On top of everything else today? People had gotten her stuff, wonderful.

"Bu–but I didn't...need anything...seriously the party is more than enough and having family and friends around..." Astrid said quickly.

"Not getting out of it, Astrid...come on. You get my chair to sit in?" Hiccup bribed.

"Yo–you're chief chair? Is that even allowed?" Astrid asked.

"It is if I say it is. You suddenly forget I'm the chief babe?" Hiccup laughed lightly leading her towards it as Fishlegs and Snotlout brought it over. They set it down as Hiccup set her in it and she giggled now, no one was allowed in this chair but Hiccup and he was letting her sit in it. "Alright, I mentioned before it wasn't required to do so but anyone who got her something, line up!" Hiccup announced, Astrid blushed more. "Ms. Hofferson, I believe you asked me if you could go first being she is your daughter." Hiccup said offering his hand to Astrid's mother, she took it as he brought her before Astrid.

"Thank you, Hiccup...Astrid, I thought long and hard about what to give you for your birthday and honestly, the only thing I could think to give you now that you live elsewhere and are no longer on Berk...I want you to have this and I'm sure...you'll recognize it too." Asta said as she pulled out a necklace and Astrid gasped quickly covering her mouth, instant tears formed in her blue eyes.

"Mo–mom...that's..." Astrid started and Asta nodded smiling gently.

"Yes...It was your father's. And now that you don't live on Berk where you can be close to him...I want you to have it, so you'll always have a piece of him with you wherever you go in life." Asta said as she lightly placed it over her daughter's head and let it rest around her neck. It was a semi-thin leather piece of string holding a circle pendant, on the front was an engraving of a small family. A man, a woman, and a little girl. Characters to represent her father, mother, and herself. On the back was a simple set of words 'Always With Me'.

"Dad...never let this out of his sight...why are...you giving it to me?" Astrid asked trying to control the tears lightly falling from her eyes.

"Because he'd want you to have it sweetheart. To always have a piece of him with you. So you know he's always with you, that we both are. Distance can't separate a family, Astrid. Not time, not distance, not even death. The ones we love who we lose are never far. And I want you to hold on to this and remember those words." Asta said smiling, Astrid nodded as she hugged her mother tightly. "Now, no more tears. Only smiles." Asta said gently. Astrid wiped her eyes to compose herself, she hated crying in front of people.

As two more hours passed, Astrid received many things from people in the tribe. Cookware, utensils, clothes even. All things she hadn't needed but was grateful to have just in case. The last people to approach her were Valka, Stoick, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Hiccup's kids, and finally Hiccup although he was standing beside her. Valka and Stoick were first holding something folded in their hands, presenting it to her. "We didn't know what to get you either, we were almost positive that Hiccup takes care of all your needs however...a tradition we've always had on Berk was that the soon to be mother in law would give her soon to be daughter in law the dress she wore when she got married." Stoick began as Astrid's eyes widened a bit.

"We know you and Hiccup aren't set to be married right now but, for when it happens...you'll already have the dress I wore, which was presented to be by Hiccup's grandmother, who wore it when it was presented to her by her mother in law. This dress has been in 10 generations, and now we give it to you." Valka explained softly.

"But don't look at it yet since its also tradition the groom doesn't see it until the wedding day." Stoick reminded.

"Thank you..." Astrid replied as she hugged them both. They smiled and moved out of the way so her friends could come forward. Fishlegs had a saddle made for Stormfly for her, Snotlout gave her a new dagger since her other one had broken and wasn't reparable. The twins give her a blanket and pillow. Finally Hiccup's kids approached her as Hiccup stood behind them holding a wrapped object. Odd since no other gift had been wrapped but theirs.

"This is from all of us." Hiccup said to her as he handed it to the kids, who handed it to Astrid. She smiled as she untied the strong holding the wrapping on the gift, once it fell her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in shock. It was...her father's ax. She thought she'd lost it, not to mention it was past its sharpening limit so she used it as a wall decoration. How had Hiccup gotten it. She left it on Berk, she meant to go back and get it but never had because she always forgot to get it last minute.

Astrid had no words, she looked over it. It was the same ax, just redone. The handle was reinforced but the original woodwork was still there and the ax head was sharpened, also reinforced with some designs etched in the metal.

"Do you like it?!" The kids asked her.

"I–I love it but...how...?" She began.

"I remember on Berk how much you loved this ax, never left your sight. But when you came here I noticed you didn't have it anymore so one of the times we were on Berk and you were busy with the kids, I asked your mom if I could take it to fix it up for you." Hiccup smiled.

"But...Hiccup this was past its sharpening limit. Gobber...told me if he tried it would shatter it completely...How did you... do it?" Astrid asked.

"Gobber doesn't know what I do about using dragon assisted weapons. Your ax is made out of Gronckle Iron, strongest, lightest metal in existence...I'm sure you noticed how light it was." Hiccup said softly, she nodded getting up and swinging it around. "I know it was past its sharpening limit, so I did shatter the original head on the axe and melted the pieces with the Gronckle Iron. Now your ax is stronger, lighter and still very much useable." Hiccup told her.

"Hiccup its...wow. So light...it looks brand new...But...strongest metal in existence?..." Astrid questioned arching a brow.

"No way. No metal is that strong." Snotlout remarked.

"Wanna bet on that? That ax can slice through a rock and wouldn't break." Viggo retorted.

"I don't believe it. Prove it." Snotlout said. Hiccup held his hand out as Astrid handed the ax to him.

"Draw your hammer then." Hiccup told him, he did so and took his position. Hiccup flung the ax in to the air, caught it with one hand and brought it down over the hammer in one swift motion. At first nothing.

"See, couldn't even–..." Snotlout started as the hammer split in two, the pieces of the metal head fell to the ground at his feet.

"You were saying?" Hiccup asked with a grin. Snotlout's mouth dropped open with wide eyes as Hiccup handed Astrid her ax back, she was just as shocked.

"Y–you broke my hammer!" Snotlout stammered.

"I'll make you new one. Told you, Gronckle Iron is the strongest metal we know of. All of our weapons are crafted from it, even my shield and sword. Nothing stands up to it, its virtually indestructible to everything we've put it against." Hiccup looked at Astrid now with a calm smile. "I knew how much it meant to you so I wanted to make sure you'd always have it. It was the kids idea actually, they asked why it was on the wall and your mother explained. I just did the work on it, literally. Just me." Hiccup said to her.

"I love it...its amazing, Hiccup. Thank you...and you too kids. You don't know how much it means to me to have this back..." Astrid said as she rested on the chair and hugged the kids, then hugged Hiccup tightly.

"You're welcome!" The kids said happily.

"So what now?" Astrid asked looking up in his eyes. This was it, time to ask her to marry him. He was a little nervous but knew everything would be fine. He'd asked her mother and he just had a gut feeling Asta told his parents, who also had a feeling he would propose after the last trip to Berk when he admitted he wanted to but was afraid of a repeat. That's why they probably gave her the dress, go figure. They almost blew his surprise to her. But now it was time to finally ask her, he'd been waiting for this all week, for this moment. It had been a long time coming, 6 months before he felt he was remotely close to ready for it. He knew that most Viking unions didn't hold long dating times.

Dating was reserved mainly for families to see how the couple did before starting a contract up, and in truth Hiccup and Cami had dated about 6 months too before she said she was pregnant and he proposed to her. He knew Astrid wasn't pregnant because they'd never had made love, another thing he was afraid he wasn't ready for. He knew she was waiting for him to respond to her question.

"Astrid I...do have one more gift for you. One from just me." Hiccup told her.

"Oh Hiccup, I don't need anything else...I've got more than I know what to do with. Nothing tops my ax or necklace from my mom..." Astrid giggled a little.

"This one is small, and I promise you will like it better than anything else you got tonight." Hiccup said softly.

"Alright, I'm ready then." Astrid replied.

"I hope so...Because its taken me months to be ready..." He whispered to himself. He took a breath as he took her hands in his staring in to her eyes with his own. "Its funny...I always know exactly what to say in situations but here I find myself unable to find the words to tell you how much I love you. I had something prepared for this, I went over it...Odin knows how many times before today and now that its here...Everything I wanted to say seems to of left me." Hiccup chuckled a little.

"When I met you, when we were on Berk. All I wanted was for you to notice me, to give me a chance because I was hopelessly in love with you. Alas, mi'lady I was rather invisible to you and when I was cast out...I thought I'd never have a chance in Valhalla of seeing you again so I buried what I felt for you. And then...we met again and now I have no choice but to believe its fate that brought us together, Astrid. You are...an amazing woman. You're kind, caring, strong, protective, smart, and beautiful. My children adore you as much as I do and honestly...I can't see myself with anyone else." Hiccup paused as he saw Astrid's eyes widen a little.

He reached under his chest armor and pulled out a red velvet pouch, he opened it dumping something in to his palm but not letting her see it yet. He took her hand as he brought himself to one knee and she gasped. "I'm not good at speeches but I'll give it a shot for you babe. When we met again, I had no idea you would impact my life so much. You've been there for me whenever I needed someone to be there for me. You've seen me at my best and worst. I've laughed with you and cried in your arms. You know me better than I know myself sometimes, you see things in me that I don't right away. You show me the type of love and affection people wish they could experience. We've been through Hell and back and you're still here. I honestly feel like the luckiest guy in the world for having someone like you walk in to my life. Your voice calms me and your touch excites me. All I ever wanna do is hold you in my arms. When I'm with you, I have not a single worry in my life. You're honestly my best friend, my other half, my heart and soul. I can't imagine the rest of my life without you in it. I don't even want to consider the idea of it. I can keep pouring my heart out but I think you get the picture." Hiccup smiled now as he held up the ring to her.

Tears already started falling from her eyes. "I love you, Astrid Hofferson and I promise I will forever. Will you...do me the greatest honor and become my wife?" Hiccup asked lovingly. "And just think, becoming my wife means you automatically gain 3 amazing children who love you as much as I do and you can wear that dress my mom and dad gave you. So what do you say babe? Will you marry me?" Hiccup smiled, he just had to add it in.

He saw her laugh a little and nod to him. "I will. Yes, I will absolutely marry you Hiccup!" Astrid said excitedly. Hiccup slipped the ring on her finger as he stood up and hugged her while she wrapped her arms around his neck , he chuckled and swung her to the side, dipping her low before kissing her passionately. The room burst in to applause for them, everyone so happy and thrilled their chief had proposed finally. Hiccup pulled Astrid back up to her feet breaking the kiss as she leaned against him smiling now.

"I told you this day only got better..." Hiccup said softly.

"Best birthday ever." Astrid replied as the kids came over hugging them.

"So does this mean that Astrid is going to be our new mommy?" Runa asked happily.

"Yes it does." Hiccup said to them.

"YAY!" The kids cheered as Hiccup and Astrid smiled.

"I love you, Hiccup." Astrid said to him.

"I love you too, Astrid." Hiccup responded as they kissed again. The rest of that day, in to night was everyone celebrating the birthday, and now engagement of Hiccup and Astrid. No one was more happy than them of course and now they just couldn't wait to finally get married.