CB73: Indeed, I think only something drastic would save Hiccup from Astrid's wrath.
ChilledKitsune: Sharpshot is still around, just not in Midgard. It's taking some time for the Red Death to recover enough strength to call back and control all the dragons from the nest, but I'm sure that time will come. As for Hiccup's mom. He has not revealed himself to Stoick, so how would he tell Stoick about Valka without doing that? Even after he does reveal himself, I doubt that he would spill the beans to Stoick. Hiccup owes nothing to his mother, but he would still keep her secret because the truth would hurt his father, whom he does care about. It's also worth noting again that Valka is NOT a bonded rider. She's just a woman that chose to leave her family behind and live with a nest of dragons. Not the same thing. Would you tell someone you love that the person they thought was dead for over 20 years was actually alive, and just staying away because they don't want to come back and likely never will? I wouldn't. What good would it do anyways, other than to crush Stoick? Seems more vindictive than honest to me...
Guest: It is all about to explode. Lol
Rainnnn: I agree. I really wanted to give Gothi a back story instead of having her as just a mystical fill-in character with all the answers. As for Minden and the 'big presence', guess you'll just have to read on and see ;)
_
When Astrid awoke the following morning, she was in a towering rage. Her mother had been frantic when Troels got back into the house carrying their apparently unconscious daughter in his arms. Astrid had woken up briefly, only to be smothered with care after her father had repeated Hiccup's words about how she had almost frozen to death. In truth, Hiccup wasn't exaggerating, but that was hardly the point. He had managed to divert her again!
Not only that, he had tried to feed her a pile of ridiculously outrageous lies. Likely in a poorly enacted plan to distract her from why she was angry in the first place. It was the type of thing she expected from Snotlout, not Hiccup. The fact that it seemed so entirely out of character only making her even more angry at him. Boy was Hiccup in for a surprise if he thought it had actually worked.
Still fuming, Astrid stomped her way towards the arena. Ready to bash some skulls during the mandatory sparring session. Maybe she would even ask Hiccup to spar with her for once, since he was the one she really wanted to hit. Of course she knew that she would never be able to beat him. If she could get a few good shots in though, it would be worth the embarrassing defeat.
Arriving at the arena before anyone else, Astrid was surprised to see only Hiccup there waiting for them. Ilweran was conspicuously absent, which was more than a little odd. Although Hiccup had come and gone occasionally, the other man had always been something of a constant. As soon as everyone had arrived, Hiccup told them that they would be staying at the arena today. This was also very strange, and the recruits looked around at each other in confusion. Hiccup simply carrying on with the lesson as if nothing was amiss. Studiously ignoring Astrid's constant glares.
Feeling angry and reckless by the time it came to divide into sparring groups, Astrid made her move. She had noticed that a collection of villagers had been gradually arriving in the stands. Clearly here to watch the sparring. Cami and Heather were waiting for her, but she bypassed them. Stepping away from the lot, she knew that she would be drawing everyone's interest. Good, she thought. He won't be as likely to ignore me if there are this many witnesses.
"Master Scáth," she started sweetly. Her tone deceptively questioning as he turned to gaze at her. "I was wondering if maybe you would spar with me for a change? I'm so used to fighting the others you see, and it would be nice to have a new challenger." She smiled innocently at him.
Slowly, almost insolently, the dark rider walked towards her. His hands folded behind his back and his posture obnoxiously relaxed. Coming to a stop right in front of her, Hiccup lowered his head to be on a level with hers as the hood shadowed his face. Even though she couldn't see his eyes very well, she could still feel the weight of his gaze on her like a pressure on her chest. "I do not think that would be wise Miss Hofferson," he drawled mildly.
Her forced smile immediately dropped into a frown, but Hiccup cut her off before she could ask him why not. "You will divide into your peer group as I have requested. Perhaps some day, if you are ready, I will accept your challenge." Astrid was glaring daggers at him now, but Hiccup just leaned forward until his masked mouth was almost touching her ear. "You are even more irresistible when you are angry. If we were alone right now, I would take great pleasure in punishing you for your insolent mouth."
The brush of his breath on her neck sent an involuntary shiver down her spine and straight to her core. There was something distinctly dirty about his whispered words. The way he spoke of punishing her making it sound unexpectedly sexual. He had never talked to her like that before, and for some unknown reason, Astrid found she actually kind of liked it. His overwhelming magic calling to her body in the same irresistible way that it always did, and she hated him for it!
Well, she really hated herself for it. This show of emotional weakness that she normally would not tolerate. "Fuck you," Astrid muttered in a poor attempt at her previous bravado. Unfortunately her stupid voice wavered.
"Perhaps later beautiful. I have a lesson to teach right now," Hiccup purred back. She could feel the telling flush rising up her chest as desire blazed in her belly. Her whole body reacting to his words without her consent, and she sucked in a quick breath as he leaned away from her again. "Nice try, Astrid" he said lightly. Chuckling quietly as he walked away.
Trembling slightly and looking around, Astrid saw that everyone was indeed staring at her. Snotlout looking positively murderous at her blatant display of desire for the dark rider. Way to go genius! Now you just look like a flustered and lusty idiot, she thought to herself as she moved away to spar with Heather and Cami. They both were smart enough to not say anything about what had just happened or Astrid's reaction to Scáth's nearness. Not even asking what he had said to her, despite her embarrassingly obvious blush and slightly dazed expression. Though Cami was definitely sending her speculative looks and grinning a lot.
"Oh, shut up," Astrid hissed at the other girl. Cami just grinned even wider and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, causing Heather to burst out laughing. At least they were laughing, until Astrid raised her axe and ran at them with a loud war cry.
*
Hiccup was trying hard to contain his mirth as he strolled through the other recruits. Covertly watching Astrid attack Cami and Heather with relentless fury. Those poor girls would definitely have some bruises after today's spar. He had known that Astrid would be furious with him after last night. She was nothing if not predictable.
He had expected her to rage and storm at him from the moment she arrived at the arena. What he hadn't expected was for her to call him out for a challenge in front of the entire academy and multiple villagers. Clearly he should have been paying a little closer attention to her angry thoughts, and maybe he could have tried to talk her down sooner. He really hated having to embarrass her like that, but it just couldn't be helped. The whole point of this training was to show the clans that they were more powerful as allies working together than as separate warring factions, and the dragon riders would be the ultimate symbol of that.
This was the reason he and Ilweran had agreed to allow the villagers to watch the sparring today. It was to showcase all that their young warriors had managed to achieve in a matter of months. Their strength and skill offering pride and hope to everyone who witnessed it. It would not do for Scáth to defeat Astrid with startling ease and bring all of their hard work crashing down. Of course Hiccup supposed that he could have simply let her win, but he also knew Astrid would never forgive him for that.
Hiccup was just wondering how much longer Ilweran was going to take, when he finally picked up the sound of many flapping wings in the distance. Smiling widely behind his mask now, he called a full stop to the sparring. Everyone turned to look at him with confusion as they lowered their blades and relaxed their stances. They were normally required to spar until even the strongest amongst them was ready to drop from exhaustion. That's what a real war was like after all, as Hiccup knew from experience. True warriors kept fighting long after most had already given up hope.
"If you would clear everything away for the day, I have a little surprise for you," Hiccup offered in a brighter tone. After they had all rushed to store the heavy sparring weapons on the shelves he added, "if you could all please follow me out to the square." The group assembled themselves quickly. Marching in an orderly fashion out of the arena and over the bridge, and Hiccup couldn't help marvelling a little at how far they had all come. Especially those from Berk. As they had received a head start on the training, he and Ilweran had pushed them much harder than the rest. It would be tough to find more able warriors anywhere in Midgard.
Arriving in the empty square, they all began looking around curiously. Savouring the moment for a second longer, Hiccup glanced around silently at their mildly anxious expressions before finally speaking again. "Allow me to introduce..." he started. Waving one arm towards the east where a large shape could be seen moving swiftly in their direction. "…Your dragons!"
It was as he'd expected. The recruits immediately broke rank in their excitement. Some even jumping up and down like children to try and get a better view of the beasts as the dragons began to descend. Landing in a brightly coloured and noisy mass. Hiccup was soon shouting over the din just to get the recruits to settle down, while at the same time reminding the watching villagers to stay clear of the area and remain calm.
After everyone had calmed down a bit, Hiccup finally allowed the trainees to approach the dragons. Giving them free rein to practice their new skills as he merely wandered through the hoard and kept his eyes peeled for any trouble. Finding himself impressed while he watched the group mingle. Every single one of the recruits were treating the dragons with the proper respect. Even Snotlout, who had been a constant thorn in the Riders' sides for the last 2 months straight, was minding his training now as he faced these wild creatures.
Thinking that they would all probably be alright on their own for a while, Hiccup began to make his way over to Ilweran and Minden instead. The two of them currently standing off to the side of the group by their own dragons. Out of nowhere, Hiccup suddenly felt a tingle shoot across his back. This was followed by a low burn radiating over his mark. Looking up, he met Ilweran's eyes and knew that the other man had felt it too.
No way! Surely this was just a crazy coincidence. Turning his head to scan the group of Vikings and dragons, Hiccup's startled gaze fell on one couple in particular. Astrid was standing before a striking blue and white nadder. An immediately recognizable blue and white nadder with a lovely golden crest. Her hand was on the dragon's snout and they were staring into each other's eyes in a way that was intimately familiar to him. Hiccup could have laughed out loud.
In barely a heartbeat, he was at her back. Weaving through the crowd like a shadowy blur and waiting impatiently for the moment she turned around. Not even caring if someone else noticed his unnatural speed for once. He was just too excited. Toothless, reading Hiccup's emotions through the bond, discreetly coming to land behind him as well.
*
Astrid had been wandering amongst the dragons since they had landed in the square. Searching for the one she would train, but none really seemed to appeal to her much. They were all fine dragons of course. They just weren't the one she was looking for. In all fairness, Astrid herself wasn't even sure exactly what she was looking for, but she felt she would recognize it when she saw it.
She had almost given up hope when she suddenly felt it. A strange pull in her gut. Following it, she was confronted with a beautiful blue dragon that was instantly familiar to her. It was the nadder that she had released from the pen in the dragon kill ring all of those years ago, and it was regarding her with the same curious gaze it had that night. Astrid knew without a doubt that this was her dragon. Though how she knew this she couldn't say.
Stepping right up to the nadder, Astrid reached her hand out to it instinctively. Driven by the same strange compulsion she had felt ten years ago. "Hey girl! Do you remember me," she grinned. "It's so good to see you again. I'm glad you made it away safely and managed to stay free of that evil monster." The dragon considered her for a moment longer as she tilted her head from side to side. Then she lowered her regal crown and cautiously pressed her snout to Astrid's outstretched palm.
The effect of this touch was instantaneous. A warm, tingling sensation started in Astrid's palm and then continued its way up her arm. Once it reached her shoulder, the curious heat seemed to fan out across her back. Almost like someone was pouring hot water over her bare skin. After the tingle faded she was left with only a dull burn over her back that felt as if she'd just received a sunburn.
The dragon pulled her snout away, but Astrid remained rooted in place with her arm outstretched. Staring at her hand in wonder and confusion. What had just happened? "How about that? I guess some dreams do come true," came a quiet voice from behind her. Breaking into her thoughts and reminding her that she was not alone here.
Turning on the spot, Astrid saw Hiccup standing near her. She hadn't even heard him approach. Toothless was even sitting patiently behind his rider as both of them stared at Astrid and the nadder. "What? What was that all about," she asked him. Actually forgetting to be angry in her bewilderment.
"That," Hiccup replied calmly, "was a true bonding. Welcome to the Order, Astrid Hofferson." Then he pulled his mask up and dragged her towards him. Leaning down to kiss her as Toothless casually spread his great wings wide to create a privacy barrier between them and the rest of the crowd. Astrid was only surprised for a moment at the startlingly public display before the magic of his touch won her over. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed herself against his body as the familiar warmth spread through her chest again.
Honestly, this man was unbelievable! She had been determined to hurt him and scream at him only a few moments ago. Now she was extremely close to having her way with him right here in the village square. What in Helheim was wrong with her? She used to be a warrior, for Thor's sake!
All too soon, Hiccup broke the passionate kiss. Leaning his face forward to whisper against her ear. "Later," was all he said, but it still made her knees weak. That one word seeming to hold a world of promises. Looking up into his eyes as he leaned away, Astrid saw that the green orbs were alight with giddy happiness. Hiccup just grinned at her before giving her one more quick kiss. Then he stepped back and replaced his mask as Toothless furled his wings back up. Glancing around now, Astrid was at least pleased to see that no one seemed to be paying much attention to them. Especially since she likely still looked more than a little punch drunk.
After every one of the other recruits had managed to pair up with a reasonably willing dragon, Hiccup instructed them all to divide up by species. Then each group was sent to a different location to spend time getting acquainted. Locations that he had apparently already selected ahead of time, where mishaps would cause the least amount of damage. Instead of following orders, Astrid opted to stick with Hiccup now. Shadowing his steps and not even caring how it looked, as her nadder followed behind with Toothless.
According to Hiccup, Toothless was currently explaining the bonding process to the other dragon. When Astrid complained that she didn't understand it either though, Hiccup simply chuckled. "I will explain everything to you later Astrid," he soothed placably. "Right now I have a lesson to direct. That, and there is someone that I would like you to meet."
At this, Hiccup began to make his way over to Ilweran and the beautiful woman beside him. Apparently to introduce Astrid to this stranger, and confirm to Ilweran that he had found the new bonded one. As soon as Hiccup got close enough to them, the young woman beside Ilweran bounded forward. "Scáth," she cried as she leapt at him. Hiccup catching her in a tight hug and spinning her around, before glancing at Astrid and seeing her glare.
Laughing, Hiccup set the woman down gently and took a step back. Holding her at arms length now. She was dressed in skin tight armour of the same style as Hiccup's and Ilweran's. The body hugging shape, along with the pinks and greens throughout it, seeming to illuminate and accentuate her inhuman beauty. She was also at least 6 feet tall, perfectly slender, and absolutely gorgeous. Being almost as perfect as the Riders, she looked like she belonged in Hiccup's arms. Probably more than I do, Astrid thought with an angry jolt, and hated the girl instantly for it.
"It is good to see you again. It feels as if it has been ages," Hiccup grinned as he looked her over. "You have not changed much. Still the overly exuberant wild child. Apparently the cold northern air has done nothing to settle your crazy." Then he dropped his hands from her shoulders and turned slightly to gesture towards Astrid. "Minden, this is Astrid Hofferson. Astrid, allow me to introduce Minden. Ilweran's daughter," he finished pointedly.
Astrid had been been glaring daggers at the open display of affection between the two. Hoping that her rage alone might kill this harlot who was touching her man. Now her jaw actually dropped open in surprise instead. She had been sure that the young woman beside Ilweran was his sister, and possibly Hiccup's lover, when she had first seen her. After all, she only appeared to be a few years younger than Astrid herself and her features were unmistakably similar to Ilweran's. The idea that she was Ilweran's daughter just didn't seem possible. Then again, Hiccup had claimed that the Riders were immortal, so maybe...
Looking at the other girl with new eyes, Astrid asked interestedly, "are you a bonded rider too?" Minden was clearly caught off guard slightly by the question. Her bright amber eyes flicking to Hiccup and he nodded at her and her father in return. His own eyes twinkling above his mask.
Seeing this, Minden turned to smile at Astrid. "No, unfortunately," she admitted with a dramatic sigh. "Just a regular old dragon rider from Midgard. Congratulations though! You must be so excited! Borealis and I are close, but it's just not the same." She reached back to place an affectionate hand on the neck of a dragon behind her then, and Astrid gasped.
It was a hobblegrunt, as she remembered from her lessons. It was also one of the most beautiful dragons she had ever seen (other than her nadder of course). Its hide nearly as strikingly unique as Tintallë's lovely combination of white and gold. Glistening with an array of deep reds, pinks, and greens, the patterns on the scales began to flash and wave at Minden's touch. Reminding Astrid strongly of Aurvandil's Fire, and the shifting colours were almost mesmerizing.
Astrid wasn't sure how long she was staring at the hobblegrunt, but thankfully Hiccup's voice finally snapped her out of her trance. "Would you mind helping us with the new riders and dragons," he asked Minden. "I would like to get them all comfortable with each other today so that we can get them up in the air tomorrow. The Hel-spawn twins from Berk chose a zippleback, of course. Them and the changewing riders should keep you more than busy enough. Just try not to hurt them or destroy too much stuff, alright." The woman consented with a devilish grin. Blowing him a kiss and winking at Astrid before she left with her dragon in tow.
After watching Minden for a moment longer, Astrid turned back to see Ilweran smiling warmly at her. Then he suddenly darted forward to pick her up in an unexpectedly exuberant hug. Spinning her around as she let out a surprised giggle. "Congratulations beautiful," he chuckled as he set her back on her feet. Placing a quick kiss on her cheek and throwing a wicked grin at Hiccup, who growled and made a rude gesture at his friend. Ilweran returning it with another laugh before heading off to lead the gronkle and nadder group instead.
Cheeks still hot from a mixture of excitement and giddy embarrassment, Astrid allowed her gaze to follow the white rider as he sauntered across the square. Her eyes eventually falling on Fishlegs and Heather who were standing at the tree line and obviously waiting for her to catch up. Both of them were staring between her and Ilweran in shock, but Astrid just shrugged and waved at them to go on without her. Then she turned her attention back to Hiccup. Before he could speak though she blurted out, "I'm not leaving to go join the groups! You can't make me!"
Chuckling at her outburst, Hiccup reached out to brush a stray lock of hair out of her face. Making Astrid blush even deeper at the boldly public act of tenderness. "I was not going to," he drawled. "I was going to ask if you would like to help me, since you seem to have such a natural skill with dragons." Hiccup tilted his head back now so that she could see his eyes clearly under his hood. They were shining with happiness mixed with a sort of vindictive glee. "I am going to assist those riders that chose monstrous nightmares. It might amuse you to know that your betrothed unknowingly picked the one that you set free from the kill ring; and it remembers him."
"Oh gods! Well, I guess he's toast," Astrid quipped with another giggle. The both of them laughing at that as they set off towards the ramp down to the docks. Walking side by side with their arms nearly touching, and Astrid couldn't even be bothered to care what anyone might think of it. She was in too good a mood.
*
When he and Astrid arrived at the beach, it was complete bedlam. There were random spot fires of gel burning on the sand and a few of the more overeager Vikings were already nursing small injuries. Snotlout running towards the cold surf with his pants on fire. The scene before them suddenly reminding Hiccup exactly why they had chosen to send this particular group to the ocean. Still, this day was definitely worth every moment of chaos he would need to endure here. Astrid had bonded with the nadder, and Snotlout was on fire. It was absolutely perfect.
Calling everyone to order, Hiccup started them with basic trust drills. Everything calming down slightly after that, as the approach became somewhat more orderly. Unfortunately it still wasn't going quite as well as he'd like it to. The volatile dragons were butting heads with the volatile Vikings and it was taking a lot of extra persuasion through food on the dragons' part. Toothless had delivered a hefty bucket of fresh fish to the beach this afternoon, but after only an hour of this, it was clear they were going to run out far too soon.
Snotlout was having an especially difficult time, as the ruby red nightmare seemed dead set on torturing the stocky man. Letting him get just close enough to touch him before suddenly flaming up. As comical as it was to watch Snot run into the ocean repeatedly though, they really did need to make some progress today. Casually sidestepping he and Astrid out of the way of yet another splash of fire, Hiccup glanced over at where Toothless was laying on the beach by Astrid's new nadder. The massive night fury watching the chaos through amused eyes beneath half closed lids. Apparently moments away from dozing off.
"Hey lazy bones, you can nap any time," Hiccup shot at his blood brother jokingly. "Why don't you make yourself useful for a change and get us some more fish instead?" Toothless rolled his great green eyes as he grumbled and blew a smoke ring at Hiccup.
After a few moments, Toothless huffed at him again. "Tintallë told Ilweran and he's going to send Eret over with some fish. Apparently the gronkle and nadder riders are getting along much better with their dragons than this lot," he chuckled. Flicking his ear flap towards the group on the beach. Then he gave Hiccup a gummy grin as he added, "seems Eret has been watching the group with Ilweran the whole afternoon. Well, watching one particular member of that group."
"It wouldn't happen to be a raven haired maiden that paired with a green nadder, would it," Hiccup asked with a smirk. Unable to stop the quick burst of laughter as Toothless confirmed this, and Astrid glanced sideways at him in confusion. Hiccup just shrugged and gestured vaguely towards the group on the beach. As if to say he had been laughing at something he had seen. It wasn't in his nature to spread rumours, but Hiccup and Ilweran had both definitely noticed Heather eyeing up Eret whenever the girls were hanging around the forge. They had been teasing the Celt for weeks now. Ensuring Eret that she wanted him too, and trying to get him to make his move.
Hiccup was pleased that his old friend finally seemed to be getting up the nerve. Eret had been a lonely bachelor for far too long and Heather was a nice girl. Nice looking too, though no one compared to Astrid in Hiccup's mind. When Eret showed up with the buckets of fish, Hiccup made sure to wiggle his eyebrows suggestively at his friend. Eret rolling his eyes in return before pausing to watch Snotlout run screaming into the ocean again. His helmet on fire this time.
Snorting loudly at the display, Eret shook his head as he placed the pails on the ground. Turning to glance at Astrid afterwards with a bemused expression. "They honestly expected you to marry that man," he asked in humorous disbelief. "In what realm would a screaming wuss and a gorgeous Valkyrie make a good pairing?"
That had Astrid laughing as she shook her head at the Celt. "How in Helheim are all of you charming scoundrels unwed," she mused out loud, and Eret grinned at her. "I really have no idea why they thought I would be able to tolerate him," Astrid offered with a shrug. "Maybe his parents were hoping that I would be able to toughen him up a bit."
All three of them laughed at that idea, before Eret leaned closer to her. "So, Ilweran told me that you have apparently earned a place in some elite dragon riding group Astrid. Is that true," he stage whispered. Looking around to make sure no one was close enough to hear.
Astrid's face broke into a huge smile as she gazed back at her sky blue nadder. "So it would seem…" Eret grinned deviously at Hiccup before swooping in and hugging her too. Picking her up and spinning her around as he congratulated her, just like Ilweran had. She was laughing and blushing as he set her back on her feet, and Hiccup couldn't completely fight off an eye roll; even as he smiled beneath his mask. Then they all noticed that Snotlout was watching the three of them with a furious scowl on his face.
Eret simply turned to face the beach again. Clearly unfazed by the threat in the smaller man's glare. Offering Snot a cheeky wave and a smile instead as he left one arm casually draped over Astrid's shoulders. Snot glared at the large Celt for a moment longer before turning back to his dragon. Visibly muttering under his breath, and Eret winked at Astrid.
At the sound of Astrid's answering laugh, Snot glanced back over his shoulder at them, before huffily chucking a fish towards his nightmare. It landed on the dragon's snout, just below its eyes. The beast glared at him for a moment before rearing up to close its huge mouth over him. Picking Snotlout up and shaking him as his legs and arms stuck out comically. The muffled sounds of his yelled curses coming out through the gaps in the dragon's slimy lips.
"Huh, that's a new training technique. What do you call that one," Minden asked as she arrived by the group. Crossing her arms and chuckling at the scene.
Hiccup shrugged. "I have honestly never seen that one before either, but I like it. I think I am going to call it 'The Snotlout'. Granted it does not seem to be very effective, but it is highly amusing."
"You could say that again," Ilweran laughed as he joined them too. "I could watch this all day."
"As could I, but someone should probably get him out of there," Hiccup agreed with a sigh. When no one made any effort to move, Hiccup added, "well let us not all go rushing in at the same time to save him." Then with a growled oath he said, "fine, I guess I will do it then," and Eret laughed as he finally volunteered to help.
As he and Eret approached the nightmare with their hands out in front of them, palms forward, Hiccup was more than a little tempted to just turn back around and simply let the dragon maim the annoying man. Unfortunately that wouldn't be good for the whole peace incentive… "You should probably spit that out bud," he told the nightmare grudgingly. "You have no idea where it has been." Toothless rasped a laugh at that while the nightmare eyed Hiccup and Eret interestedly instead. Once they were close enough though, Hiccup reached up and scratched at a spot under the nightmare's chin to get him to open his mouth. Eret standing ready below to catch the falling Snotlout.
While Snot now looked extremely confused to find himself in the arms of the burly Celt, Eret just grinned down at him. "You smell like dragon breath," he pointed out dryly. "You should probably take a bath. Here, let me help you." With that, Eret chucked Snot into the ocean. He and Hiccup chuckling and bumping their fists together as they strolled back to join the group. Everyone else bursting into laughter too as they watched Snot splutter and curse from the water.
Turning back to face the floundering man as well, Hiccup reached out to put a casual arm around Astrid's shoulders now. Making a mockery of Snot's earlier attempts to display ownership over the beautiful blonde, as rather than pushing him away, Astrid leaned into the Dark Rider's side easily. When her arm snaked around his waist in return, Hiccup just couldn't seem to stop himself from being an asshole. Pulling his mask down, he met Snot's glare of pure hatred as he offered the man a gratified smirk in return. Seeing only startled rage in his cousin's mind as Snot finally saw the handsome, and very clearly not disfigured, face hidden beneath the disguise. As expected though, there was not a single hint of recognition amidst the storm of chaotic fury. Not that Hiccup was surprised.
With another wicked grin at Snot, Hiccup pressed his lips to Astrid's hair before readjusting his mask. Astrid shivering and leaning tighter against him in response, and he trailed his hand down her back to rest on the slender curve of her waist instead. Holding her in an unmistakably intimate way, and not even caring who saw it. He was taking her away from here soon enough anyways. "Just a question," Hiccup started again as he glanced towards Ilweran and Minden now. "Who exactly is instructing the recruits you were supposed to be looking after?"
"Fishlegs," Ilweran answered without missing a beat. "That man really has an aptitude with dragons. I am almost surprised that he is not a bonded rider."
"Yep," Minden agreed brightly. "We got the mystery class dragons to mingle peacefully with the boulder and sharp class dragons, and all it took was a very large blonde man with a very squeaky voice. He's a gooder, that one. Not really my type physically, but then again, there really is only one perfect man in my opinion," she added with a wicked grin and a wink at Hiccup.
Chuckling softly at her obviously flirty words, Hiccup pulled Astrid pointedly closer against his side. "Ever the flattering temptress," he purred back at Minden. Watching her body respond to both his magic and his tone, just as he knew it would. "Unfortunately there is only one perfect woman for me too, and she is already right here. All the others are just going to have to use their imagination if they want to ride this dragon. Sorry," he added with another chuckle.
Minden's eyes flicked towards Astrid in surprise now. Really looking at the blonde warrior for the first time since meeting her. Amber orbs keenly noting the tender way Hiccup held her, along with the way Astrid was gazing up at him as if she couldn't look away. Her cheeks stained a delicate pink from his words, even as her eyes sought out his. Blue locking on green as they got lost in their own little world yet again. So much love and desire pulsing through the air between them that it was suddenly all Hiccup could do to stop himself from causing a very uncomfortable scene. Well, uncomfortable for everyone else that is.
Fortunately the spell was broken by Eret before Hiccup could get carried away. "Ugh! Get a room you two, for Thor's sake," the large Celt grumbled. "Seriously! Is it like, rutting season for dragon riders or something?"
"It's always rutting season for dragon riders handsome," Minden joked. Everybody bursting out laughing at the look on Eret's face. Still chuckling, Ilweran gave an eye roll as he gestured towards the beach with his head. With a sigh, Hiccup nodded as he skimmed his hand across the small of Astrid's back. Feeling her give another tempting shiver of longing at the caress, but Ilweran was right. The sooner they got this blasted lesson over with, the sooner they could leave. Still, Hiccup made sure to aim one last mocking wave at Snotlout when he caught him scowling at the group from the water's edge.
_
Astrid is finally a bonded rider. Hooray! All their problems are solved! Or are they...
I will fully admit that I gave Cami and Heather the same type of dragons that Midoriko-sama, author of the becoming trilogy, gave them. Those fanfics are some of my absolute favourites! I was originally going to give Heather a changewing, because she is kind of one herself, but then I was hoping to give her some character development through the trilogy instead. So a nadder for her vanity it is, since there weren't any razorwhips in the sanctuary.