The winters on Berk were always harsh this time of the year. Half the village had to retreat to the Great Hall to live out the snowstorm. Some of the houses were built sturdy and windproof with large fireplaces on both floors and could withstand any type of weather. Those usually belonged to the upperclassmen of the tribe. For the large majority however, shelter was only to be found inside the meade hall.

It was just past evening and stocked beyond capacity. Mostly women and children but also quite a few males both elderly and in their prime years.

In midst of the crowd stood out a small lithe blonde with fiery eyes. She was strikingly beautiful but it was usually overlooked due to her runt status in her family. Astrid struggled with basic household chores and as a warrior she was often underestimated and undervalued when compared to her older brothers. The Hoffersons were a decorated warrior family, known for their skills and competencies in battle. Astrid desperately wanted to prove herself as someone who was on par with the rest of her clan and follow her grandmother's footsteps into becoming a shieldmaiden. The only problem was that every time Astrid attempted to prove her worth, chaos was sure to follow. Somehow she always managed to aggravate the situation despite her good intentions.

It was very frustrating for the Hoffersons. After that fateful incident with Finn Hofferson, their family's name had suffered greatly and Astrid's antics were opening up old wounds again.

Someone nudged the young blonde and she looked up to see Chief Henrik's youngest nephew smirking at her. He was lanky but a head taller and the star pupil of their generation. Astrid naturally disliked him of course. "Are you going to stand here and sulk all day, Hofferson? Not that there is much else for you to do around here."

"I didn't ask for your company, Mikael. Leave me alone," she spat, folding her arms over her chest and raising her chin up high.

The dark haired boy laughed. "It's not my fault that you set Gothi's house on fire and let the Monstrous Nightmare escape."

Astrid curled her fists. "It was an accident!"

"Sure," Mikael grinned and then tugged on her braid in an attempt to provoke her.

Astrid slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me," she hissed and then grabbed her axe, rushing away from him.

"You will never beat me Astrid," Mikael called out after her. "Just give up already."

The girl in question whipped around one last time, throwing him a deadly glare. "We'll see about that," she whispered to herself.

-,-

Whilst everyone was sleeping Astrid decided to sneak out to the forge where her second oldest brother Trygve worked late into the night. He was the sibling Astrid stood the closest to and the only one to support her all the way through. Astrid had memorized the entire Book of Dragons with his help and even learned about cartography in case she was planning to set out on voyage like her grandmother once did. Astrid visualized herself finding the Dragon's nest and defeating the Vikings' greatest enemy. It would certainly boost up her status and earn her the most promising warrior title.

Astrid would often daydream of this scenario and get lost in her own thoughts. Until reality usually nudged her awake.

Trygve didn't look up as his baby sister entered the blacksmith shop, already expecting her company.

"Heard you got mouthy with the Chief's nephew again?" he commented in an amused tone.

Astrid scoffed, rolling her eyes. "That was nothing. Just wait until dragon training begins, I will show him who the real warrior is."

Trygve smiled a little but just as quickly, his beam turned into a frown.

"What's wrong?" Astrid asked, detecting a slight shift in the mood.

Trygve shook his head. "Mom and dad are under a lot of pressure.. and you aren't exactly helping matters," he sighed.

Astrid bit her lip, eyes cast downwards. "I just want to be one of you guys," she mumbled. "I thought you understood that."

Trygve sighed again, drawing a hand over his tired face.

"Astrid.. you can't."

The blonde visibly flinched at his words, betrayal striking her fine features. "You are taking their side," she breathed out accusingly, backing away. "Of course you are."

"No. No, I'm not-" Trygve tried to assure her but Astrid was already out of the door. "Ast, where are you going?" he yelled as he saw her take to the pathway that led into the woods. "Ast! Get back here, you will get yourself lost!"

Astrid didn't stop at his command, keeping her coarse straight forward. She began hurling her axe at the trees angrily along the way, swinging blindly in the dark.

Unbeknownst to her, a green-eyed dragon secretly watched her from his hiding place.

She walked for what felt like hours until she was deep into the forest beyond anyone's reach. It was eerily dark and cold. She could hear footsteps behind her but ignored it, knowing it would most likely be Trygve.

"I don't want to talk about it," she huffed, folding her arms over herself stubbornly.

When she received naught but dull silence in return, she eventually turned around to fully address her brother but was then surprised to see that no one was actually standing behind her.

A chill ran up her spine as she realized she was all alone in the dead of the night.

Something sharp hit the back of her head then and her entire world suddenly turned pitch black.

-,-

Astrid's squinted her eyes open and was greeted by sweet freckles and serene forest green eyes.

"Are you okay?" Hiccup whispered groggily, concern woven in his voice.

It took Astrid a moment to realize she might have said something in her sleep and woken him up. She blushed and shook her head. "I'm fine. I.. uh.. I still feel like this is a dream, you know.. almost as if I'm not really here."

Hiccup didn't say anything, patiently waiting for her to continue.

Astrid sighed. "Everything is so.. different. I don't how to explain it. It's not just the surroundings but the people as well. None of this feels real," she mused out loud. "On Berk everyone knew me and my family inside out. Here.. I am just a stranger," she whispered. "A stranger that doesn't really belong."

Hiccup smiled faintly. "You miss your old life."

"I do.. but at the same time, I don't?" she admitted with a humorless chuckle. "I keep imagining returning back home and wondering how I will go on with my life after all of this. How can I forget all that I have seen? How can I forget.. you?" she merely whispered the last part. "And what if.. I don't want to forget?"

Hiccup hesitantly lifted a hand up to brush a few golden strands off her face. "I know I will never forget you," he confessed, staring deeply into her blue pools.

Astrid's cheeks grew hotter but she also couldn't bring herself to look away. There was something in his gaze that drew her in.

The sound of the door opening downstairs unfortunately disrupted the moment.

"Hiccup, sweetie, are you awake?" Hiccup's mother Vivian called out as she stepped inside the hallway with her suitcases. "Your shoes are still here.. and what is this? Huh."

Hiccup froze up. He had not expected his mother back until the end of the week.

This could ruin everything.

He needed to act quickly as he could now hear her ascending the squeaky stairs. The last thing he wanted was to explain to her why there was a hot, foxy Viking girl lying in bed with him.

That would be all kinds of awkward he reckoned.

AN: I'm sensing that the interest has waned a bit and I myself have become a little unmotivated. Hopefully the next update will be up soon.