It was beautiful sun rise, the sky around was an ombre of cold blues that warmed up to a bright vibrant orange as the sun began to rise. This moment was just perfect, Hiccup couldn't remember the last time he just sat down as realised how perfect the moment was. But last time he wasn't sat on the hill top, breakfast picnic next to him, Astrid curled up next to him with her back leaning on his chest sighing happily and his best bud, playing with stormfly as Stoick ran after them like the wild child he was.
" Look, look" Stoick came stumbling over, nearly falling over his own feet. He ran straight into his parents arms sitting on top of them as all three watched the sun rise from the sea.
" here it comes daddy, watch mommy, it come out of sea, it been sleepin in the sea at night and now it come out." the three snuggled in together as the bright orange filled the space around them, toothless and stormfly lying next to their riders. As the sun came up, Stoick's little green eyes widened as the sky went from a cold blue to a vibrant warm orange, just the simplest thing made his day, the colours reflecting in his eyes, as his mouth opened slightly, watching as natures beauty presences itself.
Astrid's eyes however were latched onto Stoick, loving the way he sat between her and Hiccup's legs, his little legs spread wide, sat straight up and his eyes glued to the sun rise. She loved to watch his face as his eyebrows raised and his lips part as he watched in awe.
She turned to Hiccup, his eyes were on Stoick too, however when she moved a little, rubbing against his side he turned to look at her, giving her that goofy smile that brought her back to before they were married, before they were engaged, before he was chief. Back to when they were Hiccup and Astrid.
They will always be Hiccup and Astrid.
" Daddy?" they both turned to the voice that broke their stare and looked down to where Stoick now sat facing them.
" Yeah buddy?" Hiccup moved next to her, only to soon find his arm wrapped around her shoulders, immediately feeling the heat and warmth coming from him.
" daw me a picta pease?" he waddled closer, more on his knees, dropping to his hands occasionally, he came up to his fathers leather armour reaching to one of the hidden flaps where he knew his daddy kept his drawing note book would be.
" whoah!" Hiccups hands clasped over Stoick's tiny hands, moving them to the side so he can reach in and grab his note book. Unbuckling the leather straps, pulling out the book to Stoick's sight watching his little emerald green eyes brighten. Re-buckling the straps to his leather suit, he held his leather bounded book in his other hand, it wrapped together with thin brown laces.
" this what you looking for bud?" Stoick bounded over falling on to his farthers chest trying to grab the book from his grasp.
" okay, okay, calm down" sitting up with Stoick still sat on his chest, sliding down to his lap with his Hiccups hand wrapped around him.
" daw a picta, daw a picta" Hiccup opened the book, Astrid moving closer to the two, leaning on his husbands side.
" what should I draw?" unwrapping the laces and pulling out his charcoal pencil.
" sunwrise" his tiny stumpy finger pointing to the bright colourful sky that was the sunrise.
Placing his pencil on his page sketching out the out line of the ocean and the sun rising from the sea, shading in the ripples the reflection the sun left in the sea, and leaving a hazy mist from where the vibrant orange turned into the cool blue.
Stoick sat watching on from Hiccups lap, letting his farther take his little fingers in his and taking them along the page to help smudge in the lines to create shading, little giggles escaping from him as the tips of his fingers began to tickle when his finger was dragged along the page, or when Hiccup would take his smudged finger and drew on his small face, making him all dirty.
After a while, when Astrid stepped in being the 'responsible' parent and cleaning up Stoick's dirty face, Hiccup ripped a few pages from his book, handing Stoick those pages and his pencil and letting him wander a little far out, still in the eyesight of his parents with Toothless curled around him when he plopped down on the grass. The two still sat where they were, sun rise been and gone, watching as their little boy tried to draw Toothless from where he sat, pencil clutched in his hand and his tiny tongue sticking out at the corner.
" He's so like you" Astrid spoke out after having a few moments of silence to themselves. She felt his arm wrap more firmly around her as she was now lying on his chest.
" Hmmm, hopefully he grows into being more like you, strong minded, knows how to do everything right, knows where his path may take him, " she pulled from his arms, looking up at him.
" you really think i knew where i was going from the moment i learned to walk?" he shifted under her, his hands moving slightly but still not letting go.
" well you always wanted to be a shield maiden and thats what you became, the best at axe throwing, you're a general, you're amazing at battle strategy, you know who you are." his hands caressing her face moving the stray pieces of blonde hair that blocked her face from him.
" and you don't?" he shrugged at her.
" Hiccup-" she sat up properly, straddling his lap and letting his hands fall to her hips and stroking the tops on her thighs. " do you really think when i was Stoick's age that i knew i would be a dragon rider, that i would be teaching children how to train dragons, that i'd now be a mother myself. Or that i would fall in love with the craziest, most stubborn, idiotic viking i ever met in my entire life, never mind i'd marry him, marry the chief of all people. You really think i knew that was going to happen." he smirked, looking down to where his hands rubbed the sides of her hips.
" I hoped-" his eyes shot up towards her, looking at her as she smirked down at him.
" not when i was Stoick's age, but when we were teenagers and your farther started to suggest it, and we were becoming closer, i did hope." she leaned down and pecked his nose before raising back up, still sat perfectly on his lap, leg either side of him.
" you never told me that, " his hands moved slightly, just pulling her a little closer.
" ahh well, i did have a reputation to hold, its not like i could tell everyone that i had fallen for village fishbone now could i." teasing him as she watched his green eyes roll and him taking her in his arms, lifting her up and throwing her on the ground and climbing on top of her.
" oh really!" he landed on top of her, she laughed in his arms as her legs still stayed on either side of him, wrapped around his waist firmly while her hands found his head of hair.
He watched that smile of hers grow," well i might have married you not just because you are a fishbone, you are the chief after all" she winked at him and he couldn't hold in the laugh that came out.
" oh i see how it is, you married me for my title, well milady i now know where I stand." she didn't say anything else, just ran her fingers through his auburn hair, fiddling with the few braids she had placed there herself. He didn't want to stay in this position much longer, no matter how much he would have liked to, he didn't want to push his luck with his wife, after all she was still having nightmares.
So he picked her back up, lying back on his back again and letting her rest on top, however now she came down to his level, nuzzling her face in the crook of his neck. " no, I didn't fall in love with a chief, i fell in love with a boy, a boy who literally swept me of my feet and showed me a world that i was meant to be in. A world where vikings and dragons become friends and there is peace between the two species, i'm more me when i'm with Stormfly, when i'm on the back of a dragon, when i'm with you than i was when i was being told i had to be the best shield maiden in Berk. I have you to thank for that."
All he could do was smile, bringing his arms around her, gaining her heat from her body as she stole some of his to keep one another warm while the wind blew on the cliff top.
" This is such a perfect moment" he whispered, he heard her hum into his neck. " knowing my luck someone's about to come storming over and ruin it." he then heard her groan.
" uuhhhh, Hic don't ruin the moment." she kissed his neck with hundreds of little pecks.
" In about 5 -"
" Hic"
" 4-3"
" Hiccup!"
" 2 ..." she moved against him, making him look down towards her, and before he could say anymore she covered his mouth with hers, leaving a sweet linger when she pulled back.
" no one is ruining my moment with my husband" she kissed his again and of course he had no objections, he did not stop her as her hands found his hair again and her fingers scraped his skull, he allowed a moan to escape his mouth since he gained a little giggle from her, an extra bonus for him.
As their mouths collided, feeling the heat the two created, it brought the young chief back to before they were married, when he could feel the spark whenever their hand touched and they sneaked a make out session behind Gobbers workshop, they were lucky if they didn't get caught twice.
" Chief?!" that name was going to be the death of him. The two pulled apart and by the look on Astrid's face she heard it too.
" one" her groaned letting his head fall back onto the grass. But when he looked up he only saw the famous Astrid smile.
" what?" he didn't get an answer, just her, kissing him again, ignoring the distant calls of his name getting closer to where they were.
" Chief?! Chief?! Chie- oh, OH!" the sun was blocked by a figure as Hiccups second hand man himself climbed off a heavily armoured Skullcrusher, trying to avoided looking as the young couple locked lips.
" err chief?" Eret still stood awkwardly, looking in the direction where young Stoick sat drawing with Toothless wrapped around him protectively and Stormfly marching around them.
When he finally turned his gaze back to the chief and his wife, Astrid was no longer lay on top of him, she was now sat on his lap looking over her shoulder towards him.
" You, Son of Eret better have a good reason for ruin my personal time with my husband." her eyes narrowed as the larger man shifted where he stood.
" well, there are ships approaching Berks shores-" Hiccup sat up at this moment, Astrid still on his lap.
" Drago ?" his once happy and care free tone was now surrounded with worry.
" no chief, its Norbet the nut job, from the looks of it, it looks as if they have been attacked" Astrid turned back to Hiccup, he saw that look before, it was the exact same look she had given him when her water broke and their home was under attack, she was scared.
So he put on his work face, went into his role as chief and made an order, " stand down and let them in, they're our allies and we will support them just like they supported us."
He felt the back of his neck being rubbed, and a warm smile from his wife made him feel he had made the right decision, his eyes were still on Eret as he nodded at his order and jumped on the back of Skullcrusher.
" Ai chief, I'm on it." he buckled himself in but before he set off Hiccup got himself up with Astrid brushing herself off. " Eret wait!"
" get the people to put up healers tents we need all hands on deck, err get the great hall set up with hot food and warm drinks, and the children lets get reading sessions to distract them from all this, the kids will be distraught already, might as well cheer them up a bit."
" you got chief." Eret took off with skull crusher heading down off the cliff towards the village, leaving the Haddocks alone. Hiccup turned back to see Astrid picking up Stoick from where he was sat, Toothless and Stormfly bouncing around the two as she swung their son on her hip.
" you two going to be okay?" he came over grabbing her free hand with his, and with the other hand stroking his sons hair.
" we'll be fine won't we sweetie" she bounced him a little to perk him up. He looked up from the sheet of paper he held and turned to his farther, " yeah!"
" where you going dada?" his farther's fingers stroked the light auburn hair out of his blue eyes, he always hated saying good bye not knowing if he would be able to tuck his son into bed or kiss his wife good night, or if he'd come strolling in, in the morning being unable to keep his eyes open before he could say good morning to his family.
" i have to help some friends of mine, they're coming over and i need to help them" he saw the disappointment in his little face and he knew that it was his fault, he'd promised to spend the whole day with him.
"why daddy goin?" his bottom lip sobbed a little and he couldn't help but lift his tiny little body out from Astrid's grip and resting him on his hip.
" cause i have to buddy, what's this?" he pointed to the piece of paper Stoick held in his hands, the one he had ripped out of his sketch book. The boy fumbled with the page a little before he handed it to his farther, letting him unfold the page and look at his drawing. It wasn't perfect, but what do you expect from a toddler, the drawing was of toothless and stormfly, on a cliff with the sea at the bottom. It wasn't a perfect picture, but it was perfect to Hiccup.
" do like it daddy?"
" i love it buddy, is it okay if i keep this for today? I just love it so much " Stoick's smile widened as he nodded and Hiccup finally placed Stoick back in Astrid's arms again. And he put Stoick's drawing into a secret pocket, similar to the one his sketch book is in.
He turned to Astrid once Stoick was safely in her arms again, no words were said, they didn't need to be, he knew she was okay and that he'll see her later on, but before he left he couldn't help but kiss her, it was more needy than the previous kisses before when they were alone, she could feel it as he held on her waist and didn't let her go until the very last second.
" I'll see you later, yeah" she smiled and nodded kissing his cheek before sliding out of his hands and walking over to stormfly, she placed Stoick on the saddle first before climbing on gracefully herself.
He stood waiting till she looked back one last time before she took to the skies and was no longer in his sight, a coo next to him snapped him out of his gaze as he saw two big green eyes staring back at him.
" alright bud, lets get going."
xx
Eret landed in the middle of chaos, vikings weren't the best under pressure and with no one hearing from the chief, these so called warriors were panicking way to over the top.
" what do we do?"
" are our dragons safe?"
" what about the women and children"
" give me an axe and i'll tear down their ships with one hand and my eyes blindfolded"
" it's the gods, the god of lightning tell us what to do"
Eret climbed off Skullcrusher, he immediately saw familiar faces in his friends, ever since Heather went back to berserker island with her brother he had been hanging out with the crazy bunch.
" Eret, you godly of a man, have you heard from the chief?" tuff came over, breaking from the original chat the group was having before Eret came along. Before he even opened his mouth Snot lout came from behind the male twin with Ruff practically glued to his side.
" He's not even that godly, if anyone is godly it would be me, you know why? Cause i'm Mrs H's favourite, and that means I'm next in line after Hiccup" his smug smile was directed towards Eret, however Ruffnut was literally swept off her feet.
" Well technically," Fishlegs came peering out from the other side of Tuffnut, he had his nerdy look on his face, " now Hiccup has a son, if anything were to happen to him, Stoick would be chief-" he didn't get chance to finish his sentence when Snotlout interrupted abruptly.
" but he's two?"
" yes but, the law claims that the chiefs next of kin with take their place as chief if anything were to happen to Hiccup, Stoick would be chief however it would be probably Astrid who would take on the role till Stoick is of age-" he didn't continue any further, he could see by the look on their faces he was boring them.
" well that sucks, so, Eret the ex trapper, you heard anything from our beloved not to be seen chief."
Snapping back into reality after being completely invisible a few minutes ago Eret remembered his orders. " yes chief says welcome our allies, pop up some healers tents, open the main hall get hot food and drinks on, some entertainment for the kids too-" it was at this point Ruff questioned what was going on.
" why? What's happened?"
" our allies have been attacked, and we need to help them, so Fish your on healer duty, i know your no good with anything to do with blood so i'm leaving you to the organisation of it all, Tuff, well you're on entertainment, gather the kids together and set up some entertainment in the great hall, and you guys," he looked over to Snot and Ruff, the two had concern in their eyes," I don't want to push you, and neither does the chief, you've been through so much already so if you think you can help with food and drinks that would be great, however if any of you think you can help in the healers tents too that would e great as well."
The two nodded, still unsure of what to do, and as much as he would like to comfort his friends Eret had other places to be, his next stop was the group of council men, where Gobber and Valka were stood with them as well.
" hey look, maybe this one can tell us whats happening" he heard Gobber say as he came closer.
" Eret my dear can you tell us what's going on? Have you heard from Hiccup yet?" Valka spoke before Eret could get a word in.
" err yeah, It's Norbet and by the looks of their ships it seems the Hysterics Tribe has been attacked by Drago's forces. Hiccup has given orders to let them dock and set up healers tents to help those who are injured. He also suggested setting up some hot food and drinks in the great hall, and some volunteers to take the kids up to the great hall and distract them from all this, tuff is already up there getting the entertainment set up-" the council men all mumbled in agreement, some offered to go down to the dock to help set up the tents, some offered to go to the great hall and sort out food and drinks.
That left Gobber and Valka, " right, well i best follow that old git spitlout" Gobber started, hoisting his pants up as he spoke. " i'll help him and the others down at the docks." he stroked Valkas shoulders and patted Eret on the back before walking off towards the dock.
" what bout you Mrs H, i heard you have a talent with those hands of yours," he pointed to her hands however her face held a confused look.
" pardon?" his face was mortified when he realised what she was thinking. " oh no! I-I mean you'r-re a healer, aren't you?"
Her face soften and she answered with a small smile, " i used to be, i lived on my own for 20 years, self taught myself how to path someone up. But these past few years, stuck in those awful cages, i've healed to many wounds and I don't think its best that i go down to the healers tents, it'll bring back to many memories" her small smile turned into a sad smile, and Eret could only nod in agreement.
" of course,"
" I'll just go up to the main hall, help with Tuffnut and entertain the kiddies, i think thats where i'll be best" Eret smiled at the chiefs mother as he agreed with her doing what she thought is best.
" Alright Mrs H, see you later"
" you too darling"
And the two parted ways.
xx
" Mommy what's going on?" Astrid jumped off Stormfly and landed on the floor gracefully, Stormfly then crouched down further so Astrid could have better access of getting Stoick off. Grabbing him under his arms and hoisting him up and off Stormfly's saddle and onto her hip.
" well, one of our friends needs our help, so we are going to help them" she patted Stormfly's back for her to go off and started walking through the village.
" has daddy gone help fwends?" he played with her braid as she walked through the village heading towards the great hall where she knew she could put him while she helped the others.
" yeah both me and daddy are going to help our friends" as she got closer to the great hall she noticed Valka, helping a bunch of children towards the great hall.
" Val?!" she ran with Stoick sat on hip where Valka had now stopped with the other children for her daughter in-law to run over. " Astrid sweetheart, how can I help?" everything around them was manic, people running round, supplies in their hands heading towards the docks where the healing tents were set up. Astrid dodged the people with Stoick still in her arms, as the cool winter breeze blew harshly and she tried to keep the heat between them.
" Val you taking the kids up to the great hall?" she finally came to a stop just before the steps, she watched as Valka hushed the children towards the great hall and turned towards her.
" yes I am, me and Tuffnut will entertain the children while all this happening, i would help but i've healed to many wounds these past few years, I-i can't do it anymore, it brings up to many memories." Astrid nodded in agreement, she knew what Valka had done with past few years, trying to save lives and losing people right in front of her own eyes. But most of all she knew that Valka healed her wounds when the captain and his crew men would throw her in her cell and left her to bleed out with Valka rushing to stop the bleeding.
" Okay, well I'm going to help, would you mind taking Stoick with you?" she asked motioning to the boy still in her arms.
" well of course I can," making her way down the steps over to her grandson and taking him from his mothers arms, " hello sweetie" she placed a small kiss on the side of his head and looked down at the boy, his blue eyes shining up at her, he had his mothers eyes for sure. However other than that he looked just like Hiccup, his hair a little lighter maybe, but he was a spitting image of his farther, especially his nose and smile, that's what Valka saw in Stoick that resembled his farther the most.
" Hiya gamma!" he brought his little hands to her face, touching her cheeks as she leaned into his touch, " where mommy goin?" he turned to his mother who still stood there watching the two.
" Mommy is just going to help daddy with our friends who need our help and then i'll be right back promise" she moved closer so he could touch her cheek as well, letting him stroke her face as away of comforting himself.
" pwomise mommy be back? wread me a bed stowry? " he gave him a small smile as she looked into those small blue eyes.
" i promise both me and daddy will be back" she kissed his fingers then gave a look to Valka to tell her to go before Astrid could have the chance to change her mind and take Stoick with her.
She didn't move just yet, she watched him as he watched her over his grandmothers shoulder while Valka made her way into the great hall, waiting till the last second before he vanished into the great hall before making herself move, and heading towards the docks.
xx
He did always hate leaving his son, he didn't like it when he was on his own for two years cause he felt like he was abandoning him onto someone else, however now Astrid was back he should feel better but he hated leaving her too. As Toothless landed down softly by the docks he could tell why Eret was so on edge, everything was manic.
The healers tents had luckily all been put up but as the boats were coming into dock every viking and his dragon was running wild to sort everything out and as soon as he put his foot on the ground, he day had begun as he had already got gobber and spitelout coming up to him.
" oh chief there you are." Gobber came walking down to where him and Toothless had just landed.
" so what's the plan?" Spitelout spoke up.
" the plan is to eventually get everyone in the great hall, for now get the injured in the healers tents, get as many people stable and up to the great hall, try and get families reunited there and then we can go from there, anyone seen Norbet? As chief i think i should see to him." the young chief took another look around before looking at the older council men.
" there!" Gobber pointed to the ship just docking," that's Norbets ship, he'd be on there if anything" his old mentor patted him on his arm.
" thanks, right help as many people as you can and get them to the great hall where they can reunite with their families, anyone who is not injured or children get them to the great hall too for entertainment and distraction, hot food and drinks as well." the two council men nodded in agreement before running to two separate tents.
Hiccup on the other hand headed towards the docks as the chief of the Hysteric's tribe boat docked on his island. Walking down the wooden planks to where people were off loading the boat, he noticed many council men from previous council meeting for the alliance, he gave then nods, made it clear that there was food and drinks in the great hall and for those that were injured, the healers tents were just up the hill.
He noticed Norbets son, Starkard the psychotic, hence the name why Hiccup kept his distance, he was the eldest out of Norbets three children, his wife had died after his third and final child was born. After Starkard there was Nadia the nutcase his daughter, she was known for her beauty and had married a wealthy man across the seas, however she fell pregnant and unfortunately died in childbirth. Norbet always makes the comment of how Astrid reminds him of her. then finally his youngest, a boy, Willard the whack-job he was only 14, whereas his sister would have been 22 and his older brother is 28. As you can tell Willard came as a shock to the Hysterics tribe.
As Hiccup walked up to the boat he could see the two boys holding up their farther under his arms and around their shoulders, he immediately jumped in to see if he was of any help, " Norbet you alright?" as he got closer he could see the injury he must have got from battle, an arrow through his left shoulder, it was coming out the other end, a clean shot. There wasn't;t much blood to be honest but a wound like that could get infected.
" oh hush boy, don't ye worry, these two wee idiots have been flustering over wee nothin, do nay tell me you're gonna do the same" he took his arms from his boys and walked off the boat with ease, Hiccup on his heels.
" what happened?" he asked, of course it was a stupid question he knew what had happened but it was the only think he could think of at the moment in time.
" well the wee bastard took a shot at me, do nay worry wee iccup, you should see the other guy." thats when Willard stepped in from behind, the teenager full of spark and energy.
" you should have seen it, he took his head off with his bare hands, it was awesome" in that moment his farther shot him a glare and Willard remembered his place. " chief" he quickly added on the end of his sentence and his farther happily nodded.
" don't worry about titles here Will, just call me Hiccup please." the four walked up to the healers tents and Hiccup guided him into the one where Gothi was stationed.
" well look here, a wee little old lady," he eared himself a whack onthe head as Gothi brought down her stick on him, he would have yelled too however Hiccup was quick to intervene.
" err this is Gothi, she is head healer, n-not to mention our elder, please show her the respect you would your elder. And also she is mute, so he won't really answer back, but she can still hear" the chief and his sons nodded, Norbet taking his seat on the pop up bed, he knew he had no power over the hooligan tribes elder, he would have to so the same respect to her as he would do his own.
" i honestly do nay know the fuss over a wee arrow, my people need more assistance than wee little me" he gestured to the arrow in his sholder but Gothi held her finger up and he immediately shut up, Willard sniggering quietly.
" it doesn't matter Norbet, you have an injury, get it healed and then head up to the great hall for some food and drinks, you two" he gestured to his two sons, one much younger than him, the other a little older, " you guys should do the same, go get some food and fuel up, us berkians have got it from here" the two immediately looked to their farther, their chief and only moved when he gave them a nodded.
Once they had headed out Hiccup waited to see if norbet was fine on his own before he left too, to see where his assistance was needed.
xx
Astrid made her way down to the healers tents, there were so many she didn't know which one to go to, all she could see was blood, so much blood she could see now why Valka had decided to stay back up top. Viking with arrows sticking out of so many places, she was passing tents so quickly she nearly missed her name being called.
" Astrid!" she turned to see mila in a open tent, Mila's hands was on a womans abdomen as she was bleeding our from an arrow piercing.
" oh my gods," she walked into the tent looking down on the two, " what happened?"
" none of that now, i need you down here holding this arrow in place just like I"m doing," she knelt down on the opposite side of Mila, her hands hovering over hers. " o-okay, w-what do I do?"
" place your hands where mine are, we are going to swap places, you are then going to hold the arrow in place and plug the blood from flowing out. I am then going to cut out the arrow and then hopefully stitch her up without any more blood loss okay?" Astrid shook her head as her now hovering hands began to shake.
Bt Mila had not time for this, " Okay, now switch" it was like instinct as soon as Mila let go of the wound Astrid found her hands plugging it in and stopping the blood flow from escaping.
" You're going great Astrid honey, i'm just sanitising this knife and needle, i'll be with you in one sec." To be honest Astrid wasn't paying attention to Mila's words, just on her hands and making sure they didn't move.
However when the body underneath her began to move it became harder to hold her hands still, " errr Mila, she is beginning to wake up" the woman groan beneath her as Mila stayed calm in the corner, " it's fine, the pain should knock her back out again"
Astrid watched as the woman below began to toss and turn a little, she was a little older than her, early thirties to mid thirties if that, her hair was darl raven black, like Heathers but shorter, and her skin a pale colour, however Astrid couldn't tell if that was to do with the amount of blood she was losing with all this moving.
" shhhh, shhhh, you have to stop moving, you have to" she tried to calm her but the women kept trying to say something.
" i - i - I h-h h-have t-t-oo f-f-ind he- h-h ave t-to f-find-d" the words were just slipping out and not coming out in full sentences.
" have to find who?" Astrid pushed, sill firmly holding down the wound.
" f-f-fin-n-nd-d-" and the she was gone, well not gone, but the pain must have knocked her out as he body stopped moving but she still kept breathing.
" see what did i tell you" by this point mila was back with a sanitised knife and needle, but Astrid's mind was on the lady she held her hands over, wondering who she wanted to find and also bringing back horrid memories of the time she helped patch up a certain little patients arm.
xx
( 2 years ago)
It was another quiet day, unlike this morning where they worked and worked till they couldn't even walk, they now were back in their cells, they usually get put back on their cells when the ship docks at another island.
" where do you think we are now?" Ruffnuts voice echoed throughout the few cells, she was picking one of the holes in her leggings at the time.
" who knows, who cares" Astrid replied, flipping to her side trying to get comfy on the cold stone like floor. She had lost the will to live anymore, it had been weeks, and nothing was heard from Hiccup, she knew he was trying to find her, she knew. But the damage had already been done and what those men had done to her could never be taken back.
She just wanted him to come for her, wanted him to come and take her home, to a warm bed with warm food and his arms to take her in his. She wanted to see her son, no doubt had he probably grown since his birth, but not by much, he was Hiccups son after all.
The large steel door opened snapping everyone out of their trances as a guard cam in holding a vary unusual prisoner, a small girl with caramel brown hair tied in plaits and her hands and feet chained up. She looked no older than a 5 year old, so small and young. Her cell door opened and she was threw in harshly, he whimpers was only shut down by the guard that threw her.
" shut it you little cunt" he locked the door and left through the steel door he once entered in, no one made a move till the door shut, Astrid immediately making sure her new cell mate was alright.
" hey, you okay little one" the little girl immediately scurried away from her into the nearest corner of the cell, Astrid couldn't blame her, she was no older than five and scared, scared out of her mind.
" it's okay, i - I'm Astrid, what's your name little one?" the girl looked up from her cut on her left arm and looked up to her, her green eyes catching the light, she sort of reminded her of Hiccup if it hadn't have been from her caramel brown hair and the fact she was a girl. Astrid could only smile at the girl trying to make her feel welcome in the shabby, nasty cell they were currently in.
" err, I - my name is Kari" a small tear left her eye falling down one side of her soft cheek. Astrid slowly leant forward, making sure she didn't scare her too much, and wiped it away.
" well hello Kari, now that we have fully been introduced would you allow me to help with that nasty cut on your arm, please?" she motioned to the cut on her left arm, it looked deep from where she was sat, but at least the blood was still red and not turning black, thats when the infection starts kicking in. The girl nodded, holding her arm out towards her.
Astrid immediately took her small arm in her hands, taking a soft approach looking at the cut properly, from the looks of things it wasn't too back, not infected and not as deep as Astrid thought.
" well good news Kari, it's not that deep and we can have it cleaned up and all sorted." she ripped the bottom of her shirt and started to dab away the blood and clean it all up.
" you wanna tell me what you are doing here?" the girl didn't answer straight away, she kept wincing every time her cut began to sting, after it started to calm down and the bleeding began to stop she finally looked up to Astrid.
" the nasty men wanted to speak to my mommy and grandpa, they hurt my arm when i started to cry for them" she watched Astrid as she bandaged up her sore arm with a piece of rag she had previously ripped from her rugged top.
" and what does the nasty men want with your mommy and grandpa?" she was carful with the knot, carful she didn't tie it to tight.
" m-my grandpa a great chief. A chief of the Wilderwestern tribe." now it made sense, she was royal blood, and that meant she was worth something to Drago and if not she was at least leverage for her mother and grandfather.
" I see, well don't you worry i'm sure your mommy and grandpa will sort everything out for you and you'll be out of here in no time" once finished and moved next to her and sat beside Kari, back leaning against the bars of her cell.
" okay, why are you here?" she held her arm close looking up to Astrid.
" ahh well, my Husband is a chief, and they are keeping me and my friends here because of that" she caught the looks off the others at the mention of her husband it had been three months now, the marks on the wall confirmed it. They didn't even speak much of those six weeks they had spent on bone island, since then they had spent the rest of the days on the ship, working ridiculous hours.
" your husband is a chief too!" her voice had suddenly changed from quiet to exciting.
" yes"
" my mommy always said i'd marry a handsome chief one day, and live happily ever after" Astrid could only smile and laugh at the little girls imagination of a happily ever after, when she was Kari's age she had never in her wildest dreams thought she'd marry a chief never mind Hiccup Haddock.
" well maybe one day you will," she stroked the little girls hair, it was all tangled and knotted from before, but she still had a bright smile on her face as she looked up at her.
" is he a handsome chief? " her grin grew wider and Astrid couldn't help but laugh, " ha, well yeah he is handsome, as vikings go anyway. He has a mop head of thick auburn hair that i love to tie braids in and he had bright emerald eyes too, just like yours however yours are more forest green. He's not the bulkiest in the village-" she heard snotlout snigger but he soon shut up when she shot daggers with her eyes, " but i'm not into all that stuff. However between us girls he has quite a bit of muscle from all the forge work he does, and all the dragon riding-" the atmosphere in that cell suddenly changed, Kari practically jumped from one end to the other.
" He rides dragons?!" he voice was full of excitement and awe.
" yes he does, in fact we all do" she gestured to all the others in the cells, snotlout and ruffnut giving a quick wave over to them and valka gave her a quick smile.
" oh wow!" she couldn't stop staring at them all, she was completely in awe with them all.
" oh oh oh! i know who you are now, my grandpa told me that there was an island where the chief and his people would ride dragons. My grandad told me that the chief and had a baby bot not long ago, i love babies" Astrids smile soon faulted, her mind was suddenly was brought back to that baby boy she held in her arms for only a few minutes and that baby boy who she had not seen since that day. A few tears fell from her eyelids and down her cheeks.
" oh no, why are you crying?" Kari walked over and crouched down next to her, while Astrid continued to wipe away the tears that fell.
" oh, erm nothing, it's just, err that was my baby, and i've not seen him in a long time that's all." she soon felt Kari's small hand stroke her cheek.
" I'm sorry, i'm sure you will see your baby soon" Astrid could only smile at the girls innocence.
" yeah-" before the conversation could continue the large metal door opened and the pirate crew member entered with the captain not far behind, they didn't say anything till they were all in the cell room, and the captain walked up to the cell Astrid and Kari was in and pointed to one of the girls.
" grab her, Drago wants her for leverage" his big thick nasty finger was pointed at Kari as the little girls eyes widened with horror. Astrid knew what this meant if it was for leverage that means they were going to torture her for her grandfathers co operation. She immediately got up from where she sat and stood in front of the child as the cell doors opened.
" Move blonde or we'll break more than your legs" she knew this man, she knew his eyes and and his words, she knew his hands and fingers. His vile hands and fingers. She knew this man and she knew what he would do to her if she didn't move but she also knew what he would do to this little girl if she did.
" no" his dirty smile changed to a dark horrid look. And as he took a step closer towards her Astrid made a move that closed her fate, she punched him right on in the mouth, and when he fell to the floor she kicked and kicked and kicked till the pirates pulled her away, it was only when the captain stood up and wiped the blood from his mouth and nose, and his dark eyes stared at her.
" take her to the cold room, i need to have a little word with the blonde chiefs wife, show her where she stands on this ship-" he took a step closer and whispered in her ear, his words sent shivers down her spin, cold and harsh.
" under me"
xx
Astrid shivered at the memory, but focused on the fact her hands were holding a woman's wound shut, and she sat quietly as Mila stitched up the unconscious woman.
Meanwhile Hiccup was walking round camp, Toothless glued to his side, he did his rounds, making sure everyone on his island was being taken care of and those who were not in need of medical attention were sent off to the great hall and were welcomed with hot food and drinks.
He noticed a few kids hanging around the healers tents, he knew they weren't from Berk he knew every child that was born on Berk, it was his job to know.
" hey kids," the boys and girls turned to see who called them, noticing it was the chief with a dragon by his side the children came to a quick silence. " why don't you guys head up to the great hall, there are lots of your people already there and we have set up food and drinks for you and entertainment too" the kids didn't argue, staring at the green eyed dragon next to him.
As they walked off towards the great hall a few stared back at Toothless, the big cat like dragon could only look at his rider as the two shared a little giggle between them. " looks like your the star of the show today Toothless, everyone seems to be looking at you."
They turned to walk back around camp when a small sound from the bushes made them look, Toothless immediately took to defence, growling at said bush and Hiccup grabbing for his inferno sword and setting it alight, but the small scream coming from that bush made the two drop their defences and took a more slow and calm approach. So as he turned off his sword and put it back in his suit, him and a now calm Toothless took slow small steps towards the bush.
" Hello?" Hiccup edged closer towards towards the green shrub, signalling towards Toothless to take a few steps back.
" Hello? Who's there?" He pulled the shrub back to reveal a small girl, she had dark hair, tied in a back plait and had her knees up to her chest, crying into her knees behind a small bush.
" hey, you okay little girl?" he moved closer, Toothless still stayed behind. " what's your name?" she said nothing, only moved her knees closer to her chest.
" My name is Hiccup, can you tell me yours" he sat down next to her but she still had her head in her knees, but then he thought of a better approach, she was a little girl, looked about the age of 7 and the best way to get children to talk is to distract them from whatever is upsetting them.
" hey!" his sudden tone of voice changed and her reaction shifted, he saw her eyes pop up, she had dark brown eyes. " wanna see something cool," he reached into the side pocket of his leather suit and pulled out the picture from this morning. Before showing it to the girl he unfolded the page and looked down at his sons picture, the one where he drew Toothless and Stormfly on the cliff side this morning.
" look at this," he handed the paper over, waiting for her to take it out of his hand.
She looked up from her knees, her dark brown eyes matching her hair, she watched the piece of paper in his hand blow as the icy wind blew it back and forth. She reached forward, taking the paper out of Hiccups hand and looking down at the drawing.
" my son did that this morning, he really likes to draw, just like I do" the girl didn't say much, she just dragged her finger along the charcoal drawing.
" he's not very good at drawing" he heard her say, he could only laugh at the comment though.
" yeah, well he is two" he giggled, and this time she giggled with him, he found that progress. " his name is Stoick, my wife named him after my farther, can you tell me what your name is?" the little girl turned her head to him, looking back down at the picture before turning back to Hiccup.
" my name is Pru" and there it was.
" well Pru, now we have officially been introduced you think you can tell me why you're crying behind a bush." he stood up while he spoke, holding his hand out towards her to help her up, she took his hand and stood up straight, wiping her tears from under eyes.
" i lost my mommy" her eyes started to fill up again, as she brought the sleeve on her arm up to her eyes to rub them away, " she was hurt and now I can't find her, we got separated on different boats coming here"
He bent down in front of her, watching as she tried to rub away her falling tears, he reached for her hand, taking it in his and stroked it, " hey, it's okay to be sad, but instead of sitting here and being sad, how about me, you and a friend of mine go find her, yeah?" she smiled and nodded, keeping hold off his hand as he stood up and took her from out of the bush she was hiding behind.
And when she finally came out of the green shrubs she finally came face to face with Toothless, who had sat patiently waiting for his rider to come out, " woah!" Toothless sat tall, looking down at the small child with his big green eyes, he gave her a fresh gummy smile, making her smile turn into a giggle.
" oh wow, oh wow, a nightfury! My mommy always used to tell me stories of a night fury, how they were black as night, and had the eyes of a demon and -" before she finished Toothless sneezed, rubbing his nose with his giant paw making the dark haired girl giggle.
" And very funny" he gave her a gummy smile before sticking out his tongue a little.
" yeah Toothess here is a big softy," he came over to him, and toothless immediately started to bound around, acting all playful as Hiccup started play fighting with him. " aren't you bud, aren't you," it got to the point where they were no longer playing but Toothless just licking his to death.
" okay, okay, OKAY! Toothless you know that doesn't wash out. " behind him Pru just laughed and giggled, the beam on her face looked so much better than the tears she had not moments before.
He'd always wanted a girl, from the moment Astrid had told him she was pregnant with Stoick, he had prayed that the baby was healthy, and the birth was safe-ish, but secretly when ever Astrid had asked what he had wanted and he said he was happy with either, he secretly wanted a girl. But he adored Stoick, saw little traits in him from when he was a boy, but in the future he had hoped him and Astrid could have more children and he hoped one would be a girl, so he could see traits of Astrid in her, and so he can do daddy daughter things together.
" come on Pru, lets go find your mom," he held out his hand and Pru took it, walking her through the camp with Toothless by her side.
She didn't feel alone anymore.
xx
The wound was all healed up but even though Mila told her it was okay to take her hands off it, " Astrid, its find, she is all stitched up you don't have to worry" all Astrid could think of though is if she let go this woman could bleed out on her like the time before, and the time before that, and the time before that, the list was endless.
" Astrid?" Mila's hands came over hers, her soothing hands slowly lifted them off the ladies wound to reveal it all stitched up nicely and not a drop of blood to be seen, unless you count the stained blood on her hands from before.
" see, she's fine" nodding her head Mila finally decided to let go of her hand, and as on queue the lady beneath them started to stir awake.
" Hello can you hear me?" Mila said clicking her fingers at the side of her ears, when the lady slowly nodded, Mila smiled.
" you're gonna be fine, can you tell me your name please" she had gotten up but was still in earshot, she was cleaning up the space for the next person to come in.
" my name, my name is Phyla, i have a daughter, i have to find my daughter," she tried to sit up but the stitches forced her down again, " don't move you've had stitches back and front" Astrid pushed her shoulders down back on the bed, while Mila was still cleaning up the space around them.
" but my daughter?" she tired again but with her stitched up wound she was too tired to get up.
" it's fine, i'm sure your daughter is fine, I promise, she is probably in the great hall right now having hot food and drinks. Everything is fine, you just rest okay." she took a wet cloth while she spoke, placing it over Phyla's head while she lay down.
xx
" Astrid is a very pretty name" Pru was now currently in Hiccups arms as he currently carried her around camp, after searching back and forth throughout the camp, Pru started to complain of her legs aching. So while she sat on his hip and he walked around camp the two got into conversation about how Hiccup had first met Toothless, which then led to him talking about Astrid and since the girl on his hip was a hopeless romantic, she didn't want to stop talking about him and his wife.
" yes it is a pretty name, it means divine beauty and I couldn't agree more, she sure is a divine beauty." the girl was looking at his small braids in his hair as he spoke, he recently told her that it was Astrid who put them in his hair, it was her way of showing every viking lady that he was marked, that he was hers.
" are you in love with her Hiccup?" the question kinda put him off guard, of course he was in love with her, they had been married for years now, but this girl didn't know that, he guessed it was a weird question to ask since no one had questioned his love for Astrid, not even when they wee kids.
" of course I am, i've been in love with her since i was your age, and i'm so lucky to have married her"
" how long have you been married?" she asked eagerly.
" oh gods, just over four years now, five in the summer" the girl looked in awe, to be honest Hiccup was in awe with himself, he hadn't realised how long they had been married for until he had said it out loud.
" best years of my life" he started, but then stopped and slowly whispered out of Pru's earshot, " even if two of those years were spent apart"
" and now you have a baby?" she was obviously referring to Stoick as the baby, he nodded at her as they turned the corner and came a cross another row of healers tents, the last row, if she was not here then the last option would have to be the great hall.
" yes we have a son, but he is no baby now, he's just turned two and -" he went to continue how he was a little nightmare at times, just like he was at his age, but the girl in his arms gasped, and without warning jumped out of his arms and started running straight forward screaming a name.
"Mommy!"
xx
"Mommy!"
Astrid heard a little voice scream in the distance, since Mila had left a few minutes ago to check on other patients, Astrid had kindly offered to watch over Phyla while she lay healing, so when hearing the screams of a child she turned to see what was going on.
She saw the child, young, dark haired, running towards the tent, and Phyla as she pushed herself up from the bed and excepted the child in her open arms as the young girl literally jumped in them.
" oh Pru!" she watched Phyla kiss her daughters head, stroking her hair, loving each other while they hold one another.
Astrid couldn't help but smile as mother and daughter hugged each other, it reminded her when she had reunited with Stoick, that day would always be in her memory.
While watching the two Astrid wasn't focusing what she was doing, and hearing a crash next to her nearly frightened her to death, but it was only a pot full of medical herbs now crashed and scattered on the floor. " damn it!" she cursed under her breath as she knelt down to try and salvage what was left of the medical herds.
Meanwhile Hiccup entered the tent, seeing the sight of Pru reunited with her mother, it brought a smile to his face. He was just glad that she had found her mother, alive and well.
" i told you, you would find her" he said as the two pulled apart from their embrace when he spoke and watched as he came up to the bed, Toothless tailing his every move.
" thank you Hiccup," she gifted him with a smile first before turning back to her mother, " mommy this is my friend Hiccup, he helped me find you mommy, and guess what, he is a dragon rider, a dragon rider of a nightfury" again she said it with such awe, as her mother smiled at her, stroking her hair with such love.
" Sweetheart this is no dragon rider, he is the chief of this island, the chief of Berk." her mother only smiled just like Hiccup did, however Pru held a shocked expression on her face, like she had disrespected the gods or something.
" I'm sorry chief,"
" don't be sorry Pru, I didn't tell you i'm chief cause I didn't want you to know, you are my friend and i wish you could call me Hiccup, please." he said stroking the back of her head.
" but my mommy always said to call a chief by his title" Hiccup sat on the bed beside the two and Toothless popping his head between them.
" well that is true, but as i am chief i am asking for you to call me Hiccup, just as my friends do. " and as Hiccup said this, Toothless gave her a big gummy smile, sticking his tongue out, making both mother and daughter laugh.
" okay Hiccup" in the corner of his eye he saw something move, looking over his shoulder he saw what looked to be his wife, and when she turned around, holding the scattered herbs in her hand, he was greeted with her loving smile.
" Hiccup" she placed the herbs down while he got off the bed, they met half way and greeted each other half way with a hug. She basically jumped into his arms, letting his wrap his around her waist while she clung onto his neck.
" i missed you," she whispered into his ear, nuzzling her face deep into his auburn hair, he couldn't help but smile as he took in her scent, breathing her in.
" i know the feeling," he pulled her back, smile on his lips but when he saw the red on her hands and his smile soon turned into concern, taking her hands in his, caressing them as if they were hurt.
" what happened?" he couldn't help if he worried it was his job to worry.
" I'm fine," she signed, " it's not my blood" he kissed her hands anyway, and she could only smile at the small but sweet gesture.
Before anymore words could be spoke, Phyla herself had something to say, " but it is mine," the two looked at her, as she now sat tall, with Pru sat by her side.
" your wife, chief, she saved my life." with a humble smile Astrid looked between her and Hiccup, " oh don't be ridiculous, it was Mila who saved your life, I-" she looked up at Hiccup at this point, he only smiled at her, but that smile was a smile he wore whenever he was proud.
"- i only helped" she smiled back, deep down Hiccup knew this was a big step for her, and deep down so did she.
" well you helped save my life, and for that i thank you" Astrid broke away from her husband, coming over to where Phyla sat, and reached out to take her hand.
" no thanks is necessary" Hiccup came up behind her, arm instantly wrapped around her waist. When he did Phyla turned her attention onto him.
" and you, you helped my daughter, thank you chief" but Hiccup was a humble as Astrid, he only brushed it off, " it was not problem madam, i would have wanted someone to do the same for my son, plus you are on my island, that means you are my responsibility."
xx
It was becoming dark, as sunset approached many had made their way to the great hall, those who were injured were now sat in the great hall probably having a nice warm meal and sitting with their families. Those who were seriously injured were now sleeping in the healers huts, with Gothi and Mila and the other healers on stand by for their every need.
Those that were not so lucky had a proper viking funeral, the ships had set said not long before, the fires still burned in the distance as the sun set and the orange tinge burned brighter. The wind blew more viciously now and colder and as the sun began to set and the moon began to glow the wind brought dark and gloomy clouds with it making night come quicker than usual.
Hiccup and Astrid walked side by side, Stormfly and Toothless bouncing around together not far from their owners. They had made it their last duty before heading for dinner to walk through camp and make sure everything was packed away.
" you did well today" Hiccup said, as they walked through the last bit of the tents being packed up, they had given waves to a few vikings along the way, as they had stayed to pack up the remaining tents.
They hadn't really spoken much when walking around the existing camp, however their time had been filled with helping the others, it was only now they had time together, alone, as night falls.
" I did?" she questioned her ability to handle today's horrors, but before he had chance to answer, she slipped her fingers into his, squeezing his hand with hers.
" of course, you handled yourself very well." he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
" yeah well, i was just helping out" she whispered, not wanting to draw much attention to it.
" what's wrong?" but of course Hiccup knew her, and knew that there was something wrong with her. But it was nothing, just a memory, but by the looks on her face and how she was feeling, she kinda guessed it was a little more than just a memory, and Hiccup knew that.
" it's nothing, really. Just a memory that surfaced up when i was helping heal Phyla" the lights from the great hall was coming through the freezing fog. They could hear the voices of the rest of the village roaring out of the half open door, making their way towards the steps that led up towards the hall, Hiccup took her hand and pulled her to a halt just before them.
" what memory?" he had that worried/concerned look on his face, it was no secret what she had been through these past few years, he knew everything, well most things she had never gone into detail or how she felt about any of it, but he knew the facts and he knew the physical effects, but the mental affects they weren't quiet there yet.
" it wasn't a bad memory Hic, it wasn't exactly a good memory either, but it wasn't bad," she brought her free hand up to the side of his head, stroking her fingers through it thick auburn hair and around his ear.
" I wasn't bad, I promise" she leaned in closer and kissed his cheek, her lips was warm and plush on his cold cheek, she could feel the freeze strike her lips but that didn't stop her from nuzzling her face into the side her his neck and jaw. It was like two feelings of cold, one from his skin the other from his leather, he would soon have to start to where his woollen clothes and his fur cloak. They all would, as the winter months rolled in, the frost would as well and with frost comes ice, snow and the near freezing to death every time you step outside.
" okay, okay i believe you, but you have to tell me if you have nightmare or a panic attack or anything, because i need to know, so i can help you, okay?" she felt him wrap his arms around her, pulling her in closer, nodding her head against him.
" you have to tell me if it's getting worse" she nodded again, but now was her chance, the chance to tell him what has been on her mind this past week, she looked up at him, her eyes immediately locking with his.
" i'm fine Hiccup, i think i might be getting better even," they pulled a part a little, Hiccups hands still on her arms, rubbing his thumbs on her forearms.
" which is why i wanted to talk to you about getting my job back at the academy, you know training the younger generation of dragon riders, train kids how to fight. I need to do something with my day, I -i need to get out the house and when Stoick is in nursing classes with Fishlegs, i just need to do something, i feel like i'm loosing my mind,"
" I agree"
" i feel - wait what?" her face was confused, she expected him to be overprotective, tell her that she need time before jumping into something so active and stressful. She did not expect him to be smirking down at her, that sexy smile she loved so much.
" i said I agree, you need to get back out there and feel like your part of something, you can't spend your whole day looking after Stoick, waiting for him to finish his nursing class, it's not fair on you" he said it with a smile like it had been on his mind for a while, like he was expecting it.
She still looked confused, but that didn't stop her for agreeing with him, "yeah, yeah exactly"
And that's when he started to laugh, and that didn't help her confused little head, " Astrid, you didn't think i was gonna keep you lock in our house for the rest of the day did you?" he began to laugh more, and she just snapped punching his arm and shoulder repeatedly, he only stopped laughing when it started to hurt.
" okay, ow, I'm sorry, ow, ow, ow, hey-hey! I'm sorry" she finally stopped, and he was standing there, looking down at her, and the way he was looking at her she wasn't sure what he was wanting.
" what?" she asked.
" don't i get a kiss now" re rubbed the back of his neck but she smirked at him and then punched him in the chest when he wasn't expecting it.
" you cheek bastard, no, you do not get a kiss, not after that snarky remark anyway," she kept slapping his arm, but after a while she grabbed her legs and lifted her up for her to wrap her legs around his waist as he hoisted her up, and balanced her weight on his.
" Hiccup, put me down!" she squealed when he began to spin her around, squeezing her bum just slightly.
" Hiccup!"
" i'm not putting you down till i get that kiss" he knew he was being a tease, and he could see it was getting to her, but in a good way, she still held that adorable smirk on her face.
" you are a complete fishbone you know that" she pressed her nose down to his, feeling her breath so close to him, he couldn't help but smirk.
" i'm your fishbone, and you love me" he whispered to her, his breath so warm in this cold air. " yeah, i do love you" She leaned down, careful her weight didn't bring them falling to the ground, and kissed his lips with hers, slowly moving in sync together, as her hands came up into his hair, he found that she loved his hair probably more than him by how many times her hands are in it.
But he wasn't one to complain, as a moan escaped his lips and pasted hers into the cold air around them, he slowly started to place her down on the ground, as the weight got to much, but his lips never left hers, feeling her push up against him it was exhilarating to have her in his arms again.
It felt like he was falling in love with her all over again.