Hey all! Just a note before everyone gets their hopes built up too high... I am going to be posting these epilogues on Fridays only, just to drag out the story a little longer while I plod away at the second one. That will give me two weeks, plus two weeks worth of holidays from work that I can spend writing. Unfortunately, there will still be a bit of a break between the end of this one and the start of the next one.
I won't start posting the sequel until it is at least most of the way done, as this series is a little too involved to write on the fly. That, and the next one is gonna be a big one. Hopefully it won't take me too long to get it written. I can at least promise that it won't be years between stories or anything like that. As I said before, the entire trilogy is pretty well laid out in my notebook. It's just transforming it from messy point form into elegantly flowing prose that requires some serious time. Lol. Anyways, enjoy :D
CB73: The opening lines of chapter 34 gave me the chills when I re-read it. It really does set the stage for everything that happens in the rest of the chapter, as Hiccup rains fire and brimstone down on the queen for nearly killing his mate. Now everyone knows, you do NOT touch Astrid. And they all thought Stormheart's death was bad...lol. Nine-Realms-Dangerous is a fantastic way to describe my Hiccup :P
Draconic king: Intense is right :) I had so much fun writing that ending! Lol
CommanderGreya: Indeed, I was partially inspired by Code Musica's HTTK, and I give him a shout out right at the start of chapter 1, as well as other places throughout in the author's notes. I was also heavily inspired by the Inheritance Cycle series, as well as many, many other sources. Despite being initially inspired by HTTK, I have worked very hard to make this story my own. The characters are very different versions from the ones he portrayed, the lines are even more blurred between Good and Bad, and the storylines will be very different. Still, I absolutely love his fanfic and I just had to draw a few tidbits from it as they were too perfect to throw away, but I do make sure to give him a shout out every time that I do. Except for the ring. That is a mixture of an ouroboros, the tail-eating-serpent symbol that originated in Ancient Egypt and symbolized eternity/the cycle of life, and the colours of Slytherin house in the HP movies. It is not a symbol of Loki, like in HTTK. It is more of an artistic representation of what the ring is and does, and the initial similarities in the design do not mean the same thing at the end of the day.
Thank you very much for the praise, though. I am glad that you have enjoyed it so much. Hearing it called a 'masterpiece' just makes my year :D I worked very hard researching and building the world that I wanted to create. I wanted to make my Hiccup and Astrid more rounded characters. Not born as superstars, but slowly developing through trials and angst instead. Growing together into the power couple that we knew they could be. The first instalment was challenging, as I already had a world and characters that I had to mould my story around in a believable way. I am glad that I managed to make my OC's at least as well developed and likeable as our main, and already well known, cannon friends. The next two books will require a lot more of my own creativity and a whole lot more mythology, as I build entirely new worlds and characters purely from my imagination. Lol.
OechsnerC: Thanks :)
Guest: *evil laugh* indeed. She definitely fucked up. Hiccup went phsyco...lol. I'm glad you liked it :) I'm busy working on the sequel as we speak, so hopefully I'll be able to start posting it soon. In the mean time, at least there's still the epilogues.
Rainnnn: I completely agree. It's like she somehow totally forgot that Drago was a bastard. You think she would have already had a plan, after fighting him for twenty godsdamn years! When she does come back in mine, she will be smarter and more badass, just like the rest of them. She's just gotta face her fears. Which, if she's half the dragon lady that I want her to be, she will crush with unrelenting honesty and strength, along with heavy helpings of humility. I have allowed myself to have high hopes for Valka Haddock. Lol
Hiccup just keeps terrifying Berk, is more like it. The council is probably all thanking the gods that Bertha gave them a boon, now. Lmao. Ya, Midgard doesn't really stand a chance against him and I don't think the other realms will be much better off once Astrid gets trained up. I have big, big plans for her *insert evil grin here*. Also, Hiccup's army may just be a tad bit of foreshadowing (wink, wink), but I'm not sure how many people will be able to guess what he's actually planning to use it for...lol. As for the next story, there will be a slight delay as I won't start posting it until it is mostly complete. Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait, though, as I am not really taking any real breaks from writing it. Just from posting until it is done.
_
As they made their way back to Berk in the ships, Stoick stared up at the black dragon carrying his son. An uncomfortable feeling pressing on his chest. He had thought that he knew his boy well. Had always felt that his relationship with the child was necessarily rocky. The boy was going to be chief one day. Stoick could not afford to coddle him as he might like to. Though his criticism had sometimes led to strained silences and uncomfortable fights, it was for the best. His son knew that his father loved him.
It was only after he had run away that Stoick had begun to realize that he was wrong. The boy had only ever tried to make him proud. Instead of accepting his uniqueness and encouraging him, Stoick had chased him away. Gobber had been the boy's father. Much more so than Stoick.
It had hurt him deeply to hear of all the times Hiccup had confided his private pain to the blacksmith. Stoick had never known that all his tough love had caused the boy to believe that he was a failure. That he would never be good enough to earn his father's love and respect. Gobber had not sugar coated his feelings about Stoick's behaviour. Refusing to let his friend make excuses for why Hiccup had left.
Then his son had returned. Stoick had been overwhelmed with joy to see him in the arena that day. Not needing to hear excuses for why the boy had left. He already knew. Just as he understood why his son had hidden from him until now. Stoick was just glad that he had finally come home to them. Alive and well after all these years.
He had even allowed himself to feel an unearned sense of pride at the man his boy had become. Strong, handsome, and sure of himself. Incredibly tall and imposing, but with a reserved sense of power befitting of his status. In short, the man he had always hoped he would grow up to be. Stoick was finally sure that his son was ready to be the chief that Berk needed. It wasn't until the whole episode with the Meathead man that Stoick had started to wonder if perhaps his tough love had twisted Hiccup into something much darker.
He had watched with a mixture of apprehension and pride as his son boldly faced down the entire council and explained away murder as justice. He spoke and carried himself with such an air of authority now. The way Stoick had always envisioned his son addressing the council one day, but under very different circumstances. Instead of a rousing political speech, he was describing his execution of the man with a cold sense of detachment. As if it hadn't bothered him at all to take a human life.
Of course Stoick had been required to execute prisoners before. He had also taken the lives of soldiers during skirmishes, in the days before the tribes signed their treaties. He still carried every single death with him, like a weight on his heart. Apparently his son was not burdened by this same sense of remorse.
On the other hand, Hiccup had displayed great kindness and insight when he had requested the council leave Heather out of their questioning. It was a bold move. One that he himself would have made to protect the victim of such an atrocity. Bertha certainly had no issue with the man his son had become. In fact, as they had learned of the way in which Hiccup had killed Stormheart, Bertha was absolutely thrilled that he had forced the man to suffer. Most public executions were quick and clean. She personally felt that the raping bastard didn't deserve such a respectful death, and thought that Hiccup's way was much better.
Thanks to the male Thorston twin, everyone had eventually learned of the despicable comments the man had made towards Astrid. Stoick, himself, had felt an unreasonable amount of rage at the sickening words uttered about his son's betrothed. The fact that Hiccup had chosen to keep these facts to himself, however, had been almost more chilling. Instead of trying to excuse his behaviour through the guise of passionate fury, Hiccup had taken full responsibility for the brutal murder. Explaining coldly that he was simply executing the man for his crimes. As if he really did know that none would be able to punish him for his actions anyways, even if they wanted to.
When Hiccup had proclaimed that he carried the authority to punish criminals, Stoick had wondered who's. Ilweran had made this same claim during his own statements in the hall. They were both members of some Order that carried ultimate authority over all the lands. Stoick had never heard of such a thing and had to admit that he had been doubtful such a powerful group of people could exist. After today, he no longer doubted the truth of those words.
His son and the other young man were not normal. They barely even seemed human. He had watched the dragons falter as the Red Death had tried to take control of them. Hiccup and Ilweran had already explained to him that this might happen. Then he had seen them recover as something stronger blocked her influence. Though he didn't understand it, his instincts had told him that the two men had something to do with this.
Then he had been forced to stand by helplessly and watch as his son and Ilweran clutched at their heads in agony. As if something was attacking them from the inside. He had seen the one girl fall from the sky, unconscious, as Astrid screamed in pain at some invisible torture. The other riders simply staring in confusion at the horrifying display.
He had watched in awe as his son pulled himself free of this strange evil. The look in Hiccup's eyes when he had turned to his father was that of a god about to unleash furious destruction on the masses. It was unnerving and threw him for a moment. Following that, they had all witnessed an open display of powers well beyond anything a mortal man could fathom.
It was during this horrific death of the queen that he had realized the sad truth. His son had not really come home. He couldn't. Hiccup didn't belong in this world anymore. This was confirmed when he had looked into his son's glowing eyes as he was returning to embrace Astrid. The blonde warrior being the only one on that beach not looking at Hiccup in fear and wonder. Only an overwhelming gleam of love shining in her eyes as she waited restlessly for him to reach her. Nothing could have made it more clear that those two were meant for each other.
They would need to talk once things settled down in the village. Stoick already knew what his son would need to tell him. He found that, this time, he would be okay with it. His boy could look after himself, and he would have Astrid beside him. He had indeed become the man Stoick had always wanted him to be. He had also become so very much more. He felt Gobber come up behind him to place a hand on his shoulder.
Gazing up at the night fury as well, he said, "tha' boy is a stronger and better man than either one of us. He'll be alrigh'; and so will you."
Stoick nodded his agreement as he allowed a single tear to flow down into his beard.
*
The Red Death had continued to burn as the Vikings and riders loaded themselves onto the ships and pushed away from the shore. After coaxing Stormfly onto one of the ships, Hiccup had lifted Astrid up onto Toothless with him, as both her and Stormfly were physically exhausted after the queen's attack. Once they were in the air, Toothless and Tintallë had hovered above the island as the armada made its slow way back towards open ocean. The five of them quietly watching the otherworldly fire finish its work. Removing all traces of the monster that once was.
As the last of the Red Death's gigantic body was devoured by the flames, Hiccup looked down at Astrid. His disquieting eyes drinking in her face, as if to ensure himself that she was safe. Then he made a curious gesture with his hand as he closed his eyes; his brow furrowing in concentration. It was almost as if he was gently closing his fist around something to snuff out its light. In utter amazement, she watched the strange emerald fire on the beach instantly begin to die down before disappearing entirely. Not even leaving a scorched scar on the beach where the queen had burned. A bright flash of green bursting from Hiccup's closed hand at the same moment the flames vanished.
Once he had opened his eyes again, she asked him what that spell had been. Gazing at her calmly with his sinisterly glowing eyes, he simply stated, "Surt's Fire." Astrid stared back at him in confusion, as the words held absolutely no significance to her. Whatever they meant though, it didn't sound too bad.
Ilweran, however, let out a gasp. "Surt's Fire? The 'Destroyer Of Worlds'? I had thought, maybe... but I never really imagined..." he whispered quietly. Almost as if he didn't believe it, or didn't want to believe it. Astrid didn't understand what he was so upset about. It had just been weird green fire. Sure, it had looked dangerous at the time, but the only one that it had hurt was the queen; and who the heck was Surt anyways?
Hiccup turned his gaze on Ilweran and shrugged. "Yep, that would be the one."
Ilweran simply stared at Hiccup for a moment longer. Then he suddenly exploded. "You know how to use Surt's Fire?! Never mind actually, of course you fucking can! You just did! More importantly, you know how to control it?! You realize that you could have destroyed EVERYTHING! You could have lost your mind, and lost control of it, and... and..." He seemed to be searching for words terrible enough to fit the moment as he waved his hands around angrily.
Finally dropping his hands back to Tintallë's saddle in frustration, Ilweran scowled at Hiccup. "How in Helheim did you even learn how to use that spell? I do not know of anyone other than Surt himself that can. Except for you apparently... It is such an ancient curse that no one even remembers the incantation anymore. Explain yourself!"
Astrid was shocked. She had never seen Ilweran angry before. Sarcastic, bitter, and scornful, yes, but never angry. Hiccup though, simply chuckled. Toothless rasping his own laugh as well. Seeming completely unaffected by their friend's outburst.
"Yes brother, I can use it and I can control it. Obviously. I found the incantation on a scroll I stole from a library in Rome, of all places. Quite possibly the only really useful thing that I got from the Romans. Well, aside from one other thing..." he trailed off. A slightly shifty expression ghosting over his face as Toothless chuckled again. With his own soft, and somewhat dark, laugh, Hiccup turned back to Ilweran.
"I would have never dared try it with my relatively limited human powers, but I did study and learn it well enough. Then I practiced with it after my transformation until I had it perfected. I have known how to use it for years. It is completely safe as long as you are focused enough. Though I will freely admit that if Astrid had not survived her encounter with the queen, I may have just decided to let it keep burning. I am not proud of it, but there it is..." he held one hand out to the side, as if offering some invisible gift of peace to his friend.
Astrid's exhausted mind was starting to catch up to the conversation, however. Surt's Fire, she thought distractedly. Why does that name sound so familiar? Surt's Fire... Surt...
"Oh. My. Gods! SURT'S FIRE," she suddenly shouted. Looking at Hiccup accusingly. He gave her a wary nod, hunching his shoulders in as if expecting her to start hitting him. Admittedly, she was close. "SURT's Fire. As in THE Surt? The fire giant that sets Yggdrasil alight with cursed fire, burning down all of the worlds during Ragnarok? That Surt, Hiccup? Am I understanding this right? You used his world destroying fire? So, if you had accidentally lost control of it, or decided to just let it burn out of anger..."
"...That would have been the end of Midgard and everything in it," Ilweran finished for her with an exasperated eye roll. "You are absolutely insane little brother! Whatever am I going to do with you? Thank you for not losing your mind and forcing me to have to try and capture or kill you, as I fear I may not have come out of the endeavour in one piece," he chuckled gently with a shake of his head.
Before Astrid could comment on that last statement, Ilweran suddenly settled his glorious amber eyes on her with another chuckle. "...and thank you for not dying Astrid. Apparently this whole world is in your debt." There was a bright spark of laughter in his golden gaze, and Astrid found that she couldn't really be mad either. After all, it wasn't as if she was not already well aware of the fact that her lover was exceptionally dangerous. At least he hadn't lashed out with a spell that he couldn't control while he was in his furious rage...
Still, she punched Hiccup on the shoulder once for good measure before gesturing towards the armada. "Well, on that terrifying bombshell, should we start following the blasted ships back to Berk? I would hate to have saved all of them, only to have them drown at sea. Besides, my dragon is down there."
Barking out a laugh, Hiccup said, "as mi'lady wishes," before Toothless and Tintallë swung around to catch up to the ships. Astrid already resigned to riding back to Berk on Toothless. Stormfly was much too exhausted to fly and Astrid felt too exhausted to keep herself upright on the saddle. Hiccup had kept her seated in front of him. Claiming that it was so that he could hold onto her. This turned out to be a good idea.
Her mind and body were still recovering from her brush with death and she had fallen asleep in his arms shortly after they left the island. Not waking up again until they were already halfway back to Berk. Stormfly had rested with Borealis on Stoick's ship for the first couple of days, while Minden recovered in the hold. Once Stormfly had regained her strength, she was immediately back up and checking on her Rider. With a little help from Hiccup and Toothless, Astrid managed to maneuver back onto Stormfly while still in the air. Hiccup looking overly relieved at the sight of the two of them, flying together under their own power again.
Stormfly had been quick to fill her in on what she was missing on the ships. Of course, Hiccup and his terrifying display was the biggest topic of gossip, but it was certainly not the only hot news. It had amused Astrid to no end when she learned that Snotlout had been watching over Minden ever since the armada had left the nest. "Clearly he's not too torn up about losing you to Hiccup. I expect his tragically broken heart is beginning to finally heal, as he guards the bedside of a fair elven beauty..." Stormfly had joked, causing Astrid to snort a very un-ladylike laugh. Hiccup and Ilweran both joining in once she had relayed the nadder's words to them.
Astrid had watched, pleased, as the storm in Hiccup's beautiful eyes died away during the remainder of the flight back. Leaving only the warm and familiar emerald behind. At one point she had begun to ask him about what it was like to invade a mind. Then, remembering Ilweran's words along with Hiccup's unsettling voice and eyes, she had decided that today was not the day. Perhaps later, after she understood more about the arcane world. Thinking back to that day in the cove, she recalled him telling her why they had not wanted to defeat the queen with magic.
He had said that the only spells that could do it were dark and forbidden; claiming that few knew how to use them. Clearly he was one of those few. Ilweran had said that Hiccup was the most powerful rider he had ever seen. It made her wonder then, why Hiccup had refused to teach her magic. He had told her that she would be trained by some of the best spell casters in all the realms. Why not him? He was obviously one of them. She resolved to ask him about it once they had left for Asgard.
The villagers that had remained on Berk were overjoyed to see the return of their warriors. As news of their victory circulated, Astrid found herself caught in a veritable storm of Vikings as everyone tried to get to Hiccup and Ilweran. It seemed that the people believed they would receive some sort of blessing from touching the two Riders. As if he and Ilweran were true gods that had come to save them.
Astrid felt a gentle brush against her mind and opened it up to Hiccup. "This is why we try not to use magic on Midgard" he said to her and she laughed out loud as he rolled his eyes. Hiccup maintaining one arm around her the whole time. Holding her close to his side as if afraid to let her go. She wrapped her own arm around his waist, grateful for his comforting presence. There was to be a victory feast the following evening of course. Tonight was for treating any wounded and celebrating quietly with family. Hiccup felt that this would be as good a time as any to give Astrid's family the news.
They had met with her parents together to explain about her leaving. Understandably, they hadn't handled it too well at first. Thank the gods that Ilweran was there too. His calming presence did much more to ease their minds than Astrid's questionable behaviour with Hiccup. Though her family was not immune to the sense of awe and wonder that Hiccup now evoked amongst the villagers. Her father and brothers had been on the island to witness the power of the Riders first-hand, after all.
Astrid was sure that her father was secretly filled with pride as he envisioned her joining the ranks of these mythical beings. What finally settled it was the sack of jewels and gold pieces that Hiccup offered them as compensation from the Order. Apparently that's where he had been when he'd left for those couple of days after she had bonded with Stormfly. Astrid had thought the bride price the Jorgenson's had paid for her was excessive. It now seemed quite reasonable compared with what Hiccup had brought.
It was easily five times the bride price for a chief's family. When she argued that she wasn't worth that much, Ilweran stepped in and confirmed that every rider was incomparably valuable and the compensation reflected that. He said the amount they offered was not extravagant, but customary. It still seemed ridiculous in her mind. Though her opinion may have been slightly biased. Possibly due to the bitter fact that her parents had sold her to Snotlout without a care. Yet now they hesitated to allow her to go with a man she truly loved because they were concerned for her. The dirty hypocrites.
Hiccup only returned to the cove to gather up the remainder of his supplies before returning to the village. He spent that night with her and her family, since Ilweran, Minden, and Eret were all currently residing in Stoick's house. Astrid sat by and watched as Hiccup joked and laughed with her brothers and father as if they had been doing this for years. Even though she was leaving this realm soon, it still made her happy to know that her lover and her family could get along so well. What had surprised her the most though, was her mother.
Astrid had grown up knowing that her mother had come to Berk from a distant land. Brenna Hofferson boasted a petite frame and medium tan skin tone that was very different from the woman of the north lands. Along with her softly curling blonde hair the colour of sunlight, delicately beautiful features, and slight accent, it all plainly displayed that she was not from around here. Astrid and her brothers had never thought much of it. Many people from the island had not been born here. Sailors would go out on the trade ships as single men, often to return with wives from another island. Astrid had always assumed that her mother had been one of these brides.
As they talked around the hearth, Hiccup had begun to open up a little more. Speaking of some of the places that he had been and the things he had seen. Her mother had been listening quietly, but she suddenly spoke up now. "So, you did make it as far as Rome then. I had wondered..." Everyone turned to look at her in shock. Astrid and her brothers had never heard her mother speak of this. Astrid herself only knew of the place because of Hiccup's letters all those years ago. Hiccup looked the most surprised. He studied her mother intently, his expression inscrutable.
Finally he replied, in a deliberately calm tone, "yes, I did. I saw much of the empire while I was under the employ of Emperor Hadrian. Serving as a mercenary alongside his Imperial Guard." Hiccup and her mother locked eyes for a long moment. Everyone else in the room looking between the two of them in confusion. At last her mother broke the silence.
"That," she said quietly, "explains a lot." Hiccup nodded once, clearly in confirmation of her thoughts rather than her mysterious words. Brenna Hofferson then rose from her chair and made towards Hiccup. At her approach, he too stood up. She pulled him into a tight motherly embrace as the rest of the family stared in confusion. Hiccup hesitating for only a second before wrapping his arms around the much shorter woman to return the hug.
Astrid was starting to remember something however. As a child, when Astrid had heard her mother speak of her homeland it was almost always the same. Although, she would sometimes speak briefly of its richness and beauty, that was not common. Mostly Brenna had spoken of how, in the absence of dragons, the people had fought brutal battles with each other instead. Killing their neighbours over wealth, territory, or difference of religion. "Such senseless things to take a life for," her mother had told them. A look of deep sadness clouding her sky blue eyes.
It was the reason that, though Astrid knew that her mother was a competent warrior, she had never seen her raise a weapon in combat. Brenna claimed that she had seen enough violence in her youth and despised the thought of harming another creature because of it. Choosing not to even go out on the hunt for boars with their family, despite being an exceptionally skilled archer. Astrid's mother could understand the pain that had shaped and moulded Hiccup into the man that he was now. Had very likely lived through similar events. She was the only one amongst them that could truly imagine what horrors he may have witnessed.
As Brenna released Hiccup, she placed her hands on either side of his face and gazed up into his eyes. "You have done well Hiccup. You may feel like a monster sometimes, but you have maintained your good heart through it all. I can see it in your face every time that you look at my daughter. Don't ever let that go. I am so proud of you."
At these words, something fractured behind Hiccup's eyes. He wrapped his arms around her mother and buried his head in her shoulder as she held him close again. Running her hands gently through his mop of auburn hair as she murmured to him in a strange language. Astrid had never heard her mother speak anything other than Norse before. Now, it sounded almost as if she was singing Hiccup some sort of foreign lullaby.
Her father, who had remained silent through the whole display, suddenly rose to his feet as well. Moving to stand beside his wife, he placed a gentle hand on Hiccup's shoulder. Of course Mom would have told Dad much more than us about her life before Berk, Astrid thought with dawning clarity. Finally Hiccup raised his head again, a soft smile gracing his handsome face. His eyes, radiant and complete orbs of emerald once more.
"Gratias tibi, Brenna," Hiccup said in that same strange language. His tongue seeming to roll and trill the letters around in a curiously sensual melody, as his voice took on a more pronounced version of her mother's own accent. Brenna grinned up at him as a happy warmth lit up her dainty face.
"Te gratissimo omni, Cicaro," her mother trilled back. Her words sounding just as unusual and melodical as Hiccup's had. He bowed his head to her in a show of respect before looking towards her husband.
When he met Troels' eyes, the older man smiled gently before pulling Hiccup into an embrace as well. "Take care of my daughter, young man, or you will have to answer to me," was all Troels said as he released him. Hiccup barked out a laugh.
"Yes, sir" he said with a mock salute. Everyone started laughing and the tension was broken. The rest of the night filled with easy banter and lighter topics. Although Astrid had taken advantage of a momentary lull in the conversation to ask Hiccup what the language was that he and her mother had spoken. "Latin," he said easily. "It is the most widely used dialect in the Roman Empire, and most everyone can speak it if they are from any of the provinces."
"So my mom is Roman," Astrid asked curiously? "She never told us where exactly she was from." Hiccup met her eyes for a moment, and she could see that he was deciding just how much he was allowed to tell her. Whatever he had glimpsed in her mother's mind was not really his to share, after all.
Finally, he said, "for all intents and purposes, yes. Although the Roman Empire consists of various diverse groups of peoples from all different backgrounds. Being 'Roman' is more of a social identity, rather than an actual ethnic group. More accurately, your mother is Greek, but her home was within one of the many provinces of the Roman Empire."
"The Roman Empire is really that big? Is it as big as the archipelago?" Astrid couldn't even comprehend how one governing body could rule over that much land. How do you keep tabs on that many people?
Hiccup shook his head, as a slight shadow rose up to darken his eyes. "It is much bigger than the lands of the archipelago, Astrid. With expansive military patrolled borders surrounding it that protect the citizens within from the barbarians lurking just beyond the gates." Then his mouth twisted into a startling grimace. "At least, that is what they tell their people in order to justify their actions..." When she tried to get him to explain what he meant by that, he just shook his head again. That same dark shadow still haunting his gaze. Sensing that he was done talking about it for now, she moved her attention back to the rest of the family.
Eventually, Astrid had to admit that she was getting pretty tired. Finally standing up and proclaiming that she was going to bed. Astrid was somewhat surprised that her parents didn't even comment as she took Hiccup's hand and pulled him to his feet. Dragging him with her to her room as they all said goodnight. When Hiccup reached the door however, he paused after ducking across the threshold.
Following his gaze, she realized that he was staring at the sketches covering the wall behind her bed. Sketches that he had sent her in the years before he had left Midgard. His eyes were filled with wonder as he looked to her. "You kept them? All of them? All these years?"
"Of course I did. All of the letters that you sent me are safely hidden under a floorboard in here too. Whenever I felt like I was at my lowest over the last five years, I would take them out and read them again." Hiccup looked like he wanted to say something to that. Perhaps apologize for his absence? She wasn't sure, but she didn't need to hear it anyways. Walking back over to him, she pulled him towards her as she raised herself up to meet him. Pressing her lips to his. He returned the kiss before shooting one more glance at the wall of sketches.
Then he grinned down at her, "and you called me a romantic idiot." She laughed and punched him lightly before he pounced on her. Kissing her mouth hungrily as he gently pushed her back towards her bed. Somehow managing to not break the passionate kiss while pulling his own tunic off along the way and tossing it aside.
"You ARE the romantic idiot," she gasped against his mouth. Suddenly finding herself on her back, with her sleeping furs beneath her and a shirtless god above her. Wrapping her legs around his hips and pulling him close, she smirked up at him. Running one hand over his toned chest while tracing his lower lip with the tip of a finger to give herself room to talk. "What was that thing you said to me right before our fight with the queen? You know, that thing that distracted me so much that a monstrous nightmare nearly killed me?"
"What? You mean 'stay safe'?" Hiccup replied with feigned confusion. Moving his lips to her jawline, he mumbled against her neck as he kissed his way slowly down towards her collar. His warm breath ghosting over her flesh and causing delicious tremors in her belly. "I am not sure why that would have distracted you so much..." he muttered dryly as he nibbled at her skin. Giggling and punching him again, Astrid simply shook her head as a blush crept up her cheeks.
"You know what I mean, dork," she growled quietly as she tried to collect her hopelessly scattered thoughts. Gods! Why did he have to be so good at this! She was not about to let him back out. He had been the one to say it first, and he was going to say it again now!
One of his hands strayed under the bottom of her tunic. Brushing tingling trails of fire over her skin as he gazed down at her, making her shiver. Smirking, Hiccup let his voice drop into a sultry purr of pure velvet. "Oohhhh! You mean the part where I told you that I loved you..."
Her whole body seemed to shudder at his tone. Her breath catching in her throat as desire coursed through her. He watched her reaction for a moment with a slightly bemused expression. Then, with a roguish grin, he raised a hand and snapped his softly glowing fingers once. Next thing she knew, she was suddenly completely naked from the waist up. Her eyes flew wide in surprise, but before she could utter a shocked squeal, he quickly pressed his lips to hers.
"Sorry mi'lady. I have just always wanted to try that," Hiccup chuckled against her mouth. Running his hand down over her now bare and goosebump covered skin. Gently circling one taut pink bud and coercing another lewd moan out of her as she arched her breast into his palm. She knew she was being far too loud and that her parents would probably hear her, but she just couldn't seem to control herself. Opening her eyes, she saw his shining with a devilish green light. His mouth twisted up into a wicked smirk.
"How in Hel's realm..." she started loudly, but he cut her off with a quick kiss.
He released her lips as he murmured quietly, "magic is not only reserved for battling monsters, my dear. It works equally well for pleasure purposes." His words and tone wrung a breathy laugh out of her and she dragged him down to her. Claiming his mouth hungrily as he ground himself against her. Soft, lusty mewls escaping her lips, despite her best efforts.
When he pulled back this time, somehow his perfect elven features were shining through, despite the fact that he was still wearing his ring. His luminous green eyes seeming to peer straight into her soul as his gorgeous mouth pursed into a mockingly serious frown. Dropping his voice into a deep and sexy musical timbre, he scolded, "you are being terribly noisy mi'lady. Do not make me silence you as well as strip you. Now, where were we? Oh, yes. I remember now."
She had almost giggled, but his abrupt change of expression stopped her in her tracks. His already luminous eyes had suddenly begun to smoulder with the heat of the sun, as the familiar predatory light filled them. Making her feel as if she may actually burst into flame just from his gaze alone. Switching back to that wonderfully luscious purr, he said softly, "I love you Astrid Hofferson. With everything that I am; and I always will. I am yours for eternity."
Then he quickly arranged his face into a look of feigned concern. "If you still want me, that is..." he asked gently. Allowing barely a hint of humour to leak through in his voice. Letting the words hang in the air between them. It took a few moments of simply gaping at him in shock for it to sink in. The ease with which he had said those words was astounding.
The delicious tone of his voice mixed with the painful perfection of his face and body instantly sent hot tongues of need searing through her veins. The absolute conviction he had spoken with, devouring her sanity just as thoroughly as the cursed fire from Dragon Island. When she finally figured out how to breathe again, she cried out, "of course I want you!" Then instantly blushed a deep scarlet at her own surprising lack of volume control tonight.
With a wicked grin, exposing glistening white fangs, he leaned down to claim her lips again. Allowing his hands to wander down over her skin. Leaning back to follow their path with his glorious mouth. Placing tender kisses every few inches along her body until he reached the top of her leggings. Those same delicious trails of tingling fire coursing through her at every single spot his lips touched. Leaving her panting and moaning as she writhed beneath him.
"I love you too," she finally managed to gasp. Trying to raise herself up on her elbows so that she could see his face.
Looking up at her with a feral glint in his green eyes, he gave a soft chuckle before he began to work her leggings down. Gently nibbling the sensitive skin by her hip as he muttered against her stomach, "I know. Now, for the love of Thor, quiet down little missy or your father will skin me alive with a salt knife..."
_
Honestly, Stoick's part at the beginning of this chapter almost always made me want to cry every time I read it during editing. It just feels so sad to me, especially the last few lines/paragraphs, but also the beginning. I'm sure this was exactly how Stoick felt all those years. The realization of what his tough parenting had done to his relationship with his son must have been incredibly painful for a father who really did love his son... he just didn't understand his boy, and he almost lost him forever because of it.
Reminder all, next update will not be until next Friday, instead of Tuesday. Thanks for sticking with me through this journey! I have been busy writing the sequel but it is not nearly complete enough for me to guess on a post date. If you want to follow the trilogy, you will either have to continually check back, or follow me. Lol
*Cicaro directly translates to 'shaver' in Latin, but it was often used as a term of endearment meaning 'darling' or 'dear one'. Ultimately, Hiccup is thanking Brenna for her comforting words and actions, and she is responding with the Latin equivalent of "you're very welcome, darling." Adorable...