The sound of an alarm clock beeping woke her from her vast sleep.
Brawling in her ear, she reached for her phone and turned it off. She opened her eyes and looked at the numbers on the screen.
8 AM. That was okay, she guessed.
Astrid normally had the tendency to wake up very early, and go for a jog or something in that manner. But ever since she lived in the castle, she didn't come up to it.
It probably had to do with all the stress from her ghostly housemates, she thought with a bit humour.
Astrid's mind went back to yesterday, and she was still baffled at the thought of meeting Hiccup, a ghost, let alone spending a whole with him.
Speaking of Hiccup, where would he be?
Okay wait, first I'll get ready and make some breakfast, then we'll look, she decided and with that, she stood up from her bed, grabbed her stuff and went to the bathroom.
The fresh brown bread jumped out of the toaster, while she reached for a plate from the cupboards, which was placed far too high for a reason.. Astrid surely wasn't small, but that placement was just ridiculous.
Out of nowhere, a hand appeared next to her, easily picking up the plate from its spot.
A quick wave of panic rushed over her before looking besides her and seeing Hiccup's face, his lips turned into his customary lopsided smile.
He glided past her and retrieved the toast, putting it on the plate.
" Butter? " He asked over his shoulder, while he opened the drawers to pick up a blunt knife.
" Yes, and while you're at it, can you please get me a glass of milk too? " Astrid grinned as she leaned onto the counter, crossing her arms. Finding she enjoyed banter like this.
Hiccup gave her a playful look, all the while while he was spreading the butter onto her toast.
" That can be arranged, Ms. Hofferson " He joked, before his eyes widened, silencing himself.
Astrids head turned towards him, raising her eyebrows. Sure, she had told him her name, but not her surname..
Hiccup turned his attention back to her after cursing at himself, " I just overheard you and the saleswoman talking, that's where.. I got your last name " He sheepily added the last part.
Astrid shook her head, why did she even make a fuss about this?
The events of the past few weeks just made her this jumpy, she guessed. There was nothing wrong, especially now that she looked at Hiccup's awkward and guilty form.
Astrid lifted her chin and raised one eyebrow, mocking him with a teasing look in her eyes. " Now, where is my breakfast? I am not paying you for doing nothing. "
Hiccup's face relaxed again as he jokingly saluted her, " It's almost ready, miss! " Before quickly finishing the final things until it was ready to be served.
While she ate her breakfast, Hiccup sat besides her at the long, old looking banquet table.
It was an comfortable silence, once in a while they made some small talk, but the remainder of the time was spent in stillness.
When Astrid stood up and gathered her dishes, Hiccup's voice spoke up.
" Hey, uhm.. I've been thinking " He rubbed the back of his neck, something she noticed he did a lot, " Maybe I can take you to meet the others? "
Meeting his kin, a room full of dead Vikings, she processed.
It was a bit thrilling to her, but they also lived in this castle, and she would have to meet them someday..
Why not now?
Astrid hesitantly nodded, " I'd love to. " Offering a smile afterwards.
She saw his eyes turning happier, the corners of his mouth turning up, forming into a relieved smile.
He stammered a bit before saying; " Okay, yeah great! Then, shall we? " He stood up from the wooden chair, waiting for her, eyes smiling.
Swallowing the slight nervousness she felt, she stood up and followed suit.
" I know you probably have bad memories about going back here, but nothing will happen as long as I'm with you. " Hiccup said as he stood at the beginning of the nightmarish spiral staircase leading into darkness.
She really was going to go back down there again, what?
Hiccup looked at her with eyes that she could only describe as pleading. Her mind was telling her to turn back around and leave this instant.
But her parents raised her to be fearless, so she would be.
Astrid walked down, not missing how Hiccup's face changed into a relieved expression while he lead her back down in that hellish pit.
It was the same as how it was a few days ago, the same sounds of water, the same stifling air.. Not the kind of things she wanted to see, hear, or smell again.
After a few minutes, they were all the way down. Astrid looked around uneasily, still fearing something might show up all off a sudden.
" It's gonna be alright, " Hiccup voice interrupted the silence, she turned to catch his eyes.
" I already told you, nothing is going to happen while I'm here with you. "
Astrid gave him a small nod, honestly feeling kind of embarrassed. It felt like a cliché horror movie, starring her as the naïve girl who was afraid of literally everything.
Hiccup walked all the way to the left, to a.. Door. How hadn't she noticed there was a door?
Probably because right after you were here, you got chased back up by a pissed off ghost.
Hiccup turned the lid, which seemed very heavy, with a bit of difficulty she noted.
He gestured for her to follow him, before feeling a strange gust of wind when she entered, and she heard him quickly close the door after them as they entered another staircase.
But this was different, a lot different.
She overlooked some sort of large hall, two stairs lay before her, one went all the way down to the hall, the latter stairs lead right down before spiralling a bit again until it went out of sight, and every once in a while she saw doors on the right side of them.
But if the had to use one word to describe it, it was; huge.
" Never guessed this was just under your nose huh? " Hiccup remarked sarcastically, scratching his neck as he looked around, far less amazed then her.
Probably because he spends most of his time out here, she figured out.
The loud booming voice of a laugh interrupted the silence in the large hall, it came from all the way down, where she faintly saw a light burning.
Astrid looked at Hiccup, a question clear on her face.
He laughed awkwardly, " That's charming, and the source of that would be Gobber, come, I'll take you down. "
Astrid nodded with sweaty palms, following him yet again, looking around herself to take in her surroundings.
This was far more.. Inhabited. Sure, it still looked like what you'd imagine as "cellars" with stone walls and the cold temperature all around you, but she could see decoration on the walls, and a little bit of furniture now and then.
And it was inhabited, for sure. Because how else could she explain the voices she currently heard which were getting louder and louder?
It wasn't the same since they were basically dead, but you get the point.
Eventually they arrived and stood before a set of large wooden doors, she could hear a dozen of conversations and light coming through under the door.
" Lets introduce you then. " He said before pushing open the wooden door that stood before them.
Hiccup catched her eyes, and gave her a reassuring smile, before the both of them entered the room, which had slowly but surely fallen quiet.
The room resembled something like a great hall, candles were lit all across the room, wooden tables and banks everywhere, and just like in the hall before, it was decorated in what she supposed was Viking-ish culture.
Then, her eyes fell on the sight of a dozen of Vikings sitting at said tables and banks, completely silent and staring at Hiccup and her with their radiating eyes.
" I- eh.. Want to introduce you to our new landlady.. " Hiccup spoke, gesturing behind him towards her.
He turned his luminious green eyes toward her, and his hand vaguely gestured towards in her direction.
" Astrid. " The way her name rolled off his tongue formed a pleasant feeling deep inside her, quickly she tore her gaze away from his and addressed the swarm before her with her eyes.
A bit awkwardly, she took a step forward and looked around all the new faces.
" Never expected there would be a dozen of Vikings underneath my house, but I'm glad to finally meet you all. " She spoke, giving a smile, hoping her nerves wouldn't reflect on her face, while the rest of the room was still as silent as ever.
How was she supposed to act when there were more than 20 ghosts staring at you, completely silent?
She felt Hiccup's form floating behind her, and it reassured her to know at least he was there to support her.
Finally, a broad bold man with one of the longest blonde moustaches she has ever seen, stood up.
" Pleased to meet ye too, lassie! He wouldn't shut up about ye, so we were already wonderin' when he came tae introduce ya! " He said with a wink.
The room came alive and roared with laughs and cheers, while she was sure Hiccup - And her - Would've rather just sink into the ground.
The man stepped forward and he introduced himself as 'Gobber', so that was the man Hiccup referred to a few minutes ago.
He lead her to sit besides him at one table, where she saw they were playing games previously, and Viking after Viking introduced themself to her.
The room had changed from tense silence, to a room full of life.
Buldering voices laughing and conversing and sounds of chairs scraping against the floor, and the occasional complaining when someone lost in the games they were playing.
She heard the wildest stories, and in return, she told them about hers, though she wouldn't reveal too much of it, nor the things she didn't want to tell them.
She really felt like she got on along fine with them, after all.
It was thrilling and scary to meet a group full of Vikings, but it wasn't as scary as she imagined it to be previously.
Of course Hiccup made it a lot easier, he was there to introduce her to them and gave her the mental support if needed.
" Am telling ye! He shot right off intae the woods that one, had to look for 'im for 2 hours! " Everyone burst out laughing, even Astrid herself couldn't contain to let out a laugh herself.
Now that Hiccup wasn't here he wasn't there to stop them from telling embarrassing stories about himself.
Now that she was thinking about it, she looked around, searching for the auburn mop of hair and his tall form.
She lightly stood up from her chair to look over the shoulders of the massive Vikings around her, and just catched sight of Hiccup talking to a mountain of a man with a braided red beard when a shot of pain surged through her leg right to her bandaged foot.
The pain was unexpected so she let out a pained whimper when it did, quickly holding her damaged foot.
Unfortunately, it caught the attention of the people around her on the table.
Gobber caught sight of her bandaged foot through the pink slippers she wore. " Wha' happened with yer foot, lassie? Lost yer footing? " He asked with light concern.
Astrid looked up at the mustached man, rubbing her foot with her hands, trying to ease the pain a bit.
" Kind off.. I had a little accident a few days ago.. " She wasn't blatantly lying, she just wasn't sure if she should mention all of what happened that night, especially when she heard what Hiccup said about them.
" Where ye got tha' wound too? " He nodded at the patched up wound on her forehead, shit, she forgot that one for a second..
As nonchalantly as possible, she covered her hand over it. " Yeah. " She mumbled, looking back to see all jollyness wiped off the Vikings faces on her table.
She saw Gobber exchange some looks with the other Vikings at the table. Astrid realised their jolly conversation was over just by the looks on their faces.. Did they know..?
The atmosphere has changed drastically in just a few words exchanged.. Where was Hiccup?
" Astrid " His nasal voice interrupted the thick, uncomfortable silence at the table.
She looked at him with relief and confusion written all over her face. " Come, I'll escort you back upstairs. "
Astrid quickly nodded and saw Gobber had disappeared beside her to talk to the same man Hiccup had talked to.
She had stood up and followed Hiccup, who left a floating hand on her upper back to lead her out of the room.
Astrid glanced over her shoulder one last time, catching the gazes of some, while others were simply staring down and others quickly joined Gobber and the other man.
They went back upstairs in silence, and Astrid couldn't help but wonder if she did or say anything wrong to cause this sudden departure.
When they were upstairs again, she realized it was already dusk. " I should get started on dinner " She mumbled, not sure why she even said that out loud, already turning away. " No, I'll cook for you. "
She caught his eyes, and couldn't help but smile a bit, thanking him in silence. And so they went on, walking to the kitchen.
The next few days were filled with the same routine.
Getting up, breakfast, working and researching on her computer, sometimes going out to town to get groceries, making dinner, eating said dinner, bathe and going to bed.
For some reason, Hiccup barely showed up anymore and hung out with her, and when he did, it was only minimal.
She really thought they were kind of progressing into a friendship, but she was mistaken, apparently.
After his company, she found out she really missed someone to talk to, even if she hadn't known him for long.
Astrid closed her bedroom door and made her way to bed, while undoing her braid. One by one, her blonde tresses flowed freely against her back.
She finally laid down and pulled the covers over her form, checking her phone before putting it beside her on the nightstand.
Then she closed her eyes and turned to her side, after a while of tossing and turning, she finally fell asleep.
Knocks. She heard knocks.
Dozing and still half asleep, Astrid opened her narrowed eyes and turned around to the door.
Her vision still had to recover to the light shining through the window into her room, just when she could see fully she heard Hiccup's voice on the other side of the door.
" Astrid, can I come inside? "
Astrid shook awake a little bit more by his voice, he was here, Hiccup was here.
" Yeah yeah, come inside! " She answered back rushed, her voice a bit rougher than usual because of the fact she just woke up.
She leaned down and picked up a vest that laid on the ground on the other side of her bed, and quickly threw it on, covering the damaged skin on her shoulders and back.
When she turned back, she found Hiccup standing by the closed door, in her room.
He looked at her a bit unsure, then to her bed, contemplating if he was allowed to step any further.
Astrid patted the space on her bed beside her. Hiccup floated to the bed, leaving a trail of mist behind him.
He slowly sat down, and scratched his neck, opening and closing his mouth, before actually beginning to talk;
" I feel like you deserve to know why I've been gone the last few days.. " He began, turning his face up at last so they could clearly look at eachother.
Astrid nodded, both a sigh of agreement and that he could begin explaining.
" That accident, it was never supposed to happen, " Astrid raised her eyebrows, but before she could open her mouth he began talking further.
" That.. Thing, along with a few others, we banished them years ago. But a little time before you came, they were just.. Here again, we don't know how and why it is even possible. "
" We searched and searched for any reason, how it was possible, and how we could banish them for good. That's why I was gone. " He looked away, ashamed and disappointed in some way.
Astrid was taken aback by his explanation, she looked away in thought. " But, what are they.. Who are they? "
Hiccup looked back at her, the same intense look in his eyes, if not, even more intense than before.
" Most of them used to belong with me and my kin, but not anymore. They betrayed us, so they were cursed differently than us. "
Astrid felt chills creeping up her body, and found relief knowing they and Hiccup with the others were different kinds of ghosts.
" They feed on fear and live to fear, they can't scare us anymore though since we're kind of the same, but mortals, " He quickly gestured to her, " Are a different story. "
Okay, this did not help to let her feel safe at all, judging by the look on her face, he noticed her worry.
He reached out and came closer, before his eyes widened and stopping himself just when he was about to touch her shoulder.
" It's okay Astrid, we've only seen one so far. They won't even attack you all of a sudden.. And it's highly impossible there are more coming, but we just gotta.. Be careful, and prepared.. Just in case. "
Astrid breathed in and out, closing her eyes for a second. When she opened them, Hiccup's face was creased in worry, looking at her.
" Okay.. " Astrid ran a hand through her hair, looking down, before vaguely seeing Hiccup's eyes following her hand that brushed her hair unconsciously.
Silence.
" Thanks, Hiccup. "
They watched eachother, and he gave an uncertain smile. " You deserved it, even if it's not good news, I felt like you needed to know. "
Astrid shifted uncomfortably, thinking back about the accident.
" I'll make sure nothing happens. I promise, Astrid. "
His eyes were on her, focused and direct. With that he stood up, and shifted to the door.
" I'll see you tomorrow..? " Astrid asked real quick, hopefullness in her eyes. She hoped he didn't note the slight desperation in her voice. He glimpsed at her with a soft look, " Yes.. " He spoke, " Good night, Astrid. "
Her lips turned upwards, and she settled back in the bed.
" Good night, Hiccup. "
He watched her, discrete. Heart hammering at her chest as his piercing eyes roamed around her one last time before leaving and gently closing her door.