Hiccup was bored. The flight from the edge to Berk was long and, well, boring. Snotlout and the twins were joking around near the back but even that sounded half hearted. Ever since they took down the dragon hunters once and for all, things have been going really slow. They only lasted a few more weeks at the edge before deciding to go home. To Berk.

Hiccup was brought from his thoughts by a small sound. He listened more closely and realized that Astrid was humming something. He had never heard her sing before but she was pretty good. Then again, Hiccup mused, he never got the chance to ask her to sing for him. They had broken up a few months ago after about a month and a half of dating, and even though that had parted on good terms, they hadn't spoken much after that.

"Hey look! We're here!" Snotlout cried as Berk appeared on the horizon. They flew faster toward it and soon they were upon it. Hiccup had sent a terror mail to his father to let him know what was going on and that they were coming home soon, so there was a small party of Vikings waiting for them in the plaza. They mostly consisted of everyone's parents and close friends.

Everyone dismounted and ran over to their families. Once everyone had been caught up on what all happened and assured that no one was hurt the party started to disband leaving only the riders in the plaza.

"I can't believe this is happening. I mean, I never thought we would leave the edge and come back here so soon," Astrid said. "Ya," Tuff agreed. "But we gotta go, Mom and Dad said that they have a surprise for us so, later!" The twins ran off in the direction of their parents house. "That's weird, my parents said that they have some surprise news for me too, so I'm going to find out what what it is." Fishlegs announced and wandered off to where his parents house was. Snotlout left soon after, claiming that Hiccup and Astrid were being weird, so soon it was just them.

"So, uh, do you wanna go for a walk?" Hiccup asked awkwardly. Astrid gave him a small smile and they started walking to her house. Astrid lived deeper in the woods than most people and Hiccup didn't want her to be lonely during her walk. They fell into an uneasy silence, trying every so often to make small talk and failing miserably. Just as they were almost to Astrids front door, Hiccups eyes widened and he yelled "Astrid! Look out!" And pushed her to the ground. She fell with a thud and when she looked up she gasped and ran to the nearest tree and climbed up to the lowest branch, about seven feet off the ground.

Hiccup was frozen in an odd pose with a look of fear on his face. And circling him was what looked like a Speedstinger. But not just any Speedstinger. This looked like a Stinger chief. It circled Hiccup, stinging him over and over. Every time the Stinger jabbed Hiccup, he made a noise of pain. Chief Stinger venom must hurt, Astrid realized.

Astrid didn't know much about Speedstingers but she knew that being stung more than once, especially by a Stinger chief, could not be good. She looked at the Stinger and realized that she had seen it before. This was the Stinger chief from the pack that attacked the edge a while back. Great, she thought. Another dragon who wants revenge on Hiccup. She brought out her axe and hopped down from the tree. The Stinger tried to sting her too, but she managed to fight it off and soon it was sprinting for the ocean.

"Oh no, Hiccup!" She rushed over to him and saw that he was barely breathing. "No, no, no," she muttered as she dragged him into her house. Her parents were out at the yak races and Stormfly and Toothless were getting food so it was just her. She found a Terrible Terror and sent for Stoic, Gothi and Fishlegs. They got there within minutes and rushed over to where Astrid lay Hiccup on the floor.

"Oh, no no no," Stoic muttered. He turned to Astrid and demanded to know what happened. She told him the whole story and what she thought about this specific Stinger and what that has to do with it wanting revenge on Hiccup. Fishlegs and Gothi compared notes and came to the conclusion that the venom would wear off in a day or so.

"But since he was stung by the chief and more than once, it might take a week or more for him to be able to move fully again, but we don't know for sure." Fishlegs was saying. "But he's going to be ok, right?" Astrid asked. "Yes, he will be fine, maybe a little stiff though. But as of right now, he can see and hear us, just not move." Fishlegs assured her and Stoic.

Astrid looked at Hiccup, and gently moved his arms and legs into what she hoped was a more comfortable position for him. "Don't worry, you're going to be ok," she assured him.

She was interrupted by a screech that sounded like Tuffnut.

"What in Thor's name was that?" She asked as she jumped up. "Ah, his parents must have told him," Stoic muttered. "Told him what?" Astrid asked. Stoic looked uncomfortable as he told her that her parents would fill her in. Then he bent down and picked Hiccup up, thanked Astrid, Fishlegs and Gothi for their help and carried him back to the village, Gothi trailing him.

Fishlegs looked like he wanted to tell her something, and right as she was about to tell him to spit it out, he burst and told her.

"My parents betrothed me!" He said excitedly.

"What!?"

"I know, I couldn't believe it either, but I'm getting married in a few years!"

"What!?! To who!"

Fishlegs smiled and blushed as he said, "To Ruffnut." "Ruffnut? But you guys were already married and hated it!"

"Ya, but it's better now, and besides, the weddings not for years. I'm sure she'll get better," he said. Astrid was about to ask him something else but he started humming and slipped out of the house to where Meatlug was waiting.

"Betrothed. To a Thorston! Poor guy," she muttered, closing the door and walking to her room.

A few hours later, when her parents got home, she came out and filled them in.

"Oh, poor boy," her mother said. "I know how close you two were, before you broke up. But we have some news that might cheer you up!"

"Really? What is it?" She asked.

"Well, your father and I found you a husband! Isn't this exciting!" Astrid looked like she had gotten hit between the eyes. Then, when she recovered from the shock she told them what she thought.

"WHAT!?!" She screeched. "HOW COULD YOU!" Once she calmed down she asked who it was. "Well, it's not that Jorgensen boy, Snotlout, is it? Not him, he's awful, and we were considering Hiccup before you broke up, but we didn't want that to be weird for you, and that Fishlegs boy is betrothed to Ruffnut so, you are betrothed to Tuffnut Thorston!"

Astrid blinked and then screeched "WHAT!?!" Even louder than the first time. Suddenly she understood why Tuff had been screaming earlier.

"Now lass, it's not up for discussion, in a few years time, you are marrying Tuffnut Thorston and that's the end of it." Her father told her.

Astrid backed away from her parents, not believing that they would betray her like this. When she hit the door, she fumbled for the handle and ran out side and into the woods, slamming the door behind her.