It was in the middle of the day and Vikings were cheering on for the final task. Or what they all called the surprising final. Hiccup was the last man standing. Fishlegs defeated by the three other youths in the bow and arrow competition, Astrid defeated by Hiccup in hand to hand combat and lastly Snotlout defeated by Hiccup in the famous Berkian way of the bludgeon game. Hiccup stood in front of his father, waiting for him to bring out his opponent in sword fighting. He had his sword in his hand, not really liking the idea of using real weapons.
"Finally, after hard focus on the tasks, the final one has finally come," Stoick announced. "The rules are simple. You're allowed to pick up any weapon in the ring, but you will be starting with a sword and a shield," Gobber handed Hiccup a shield, in which he held in his right hand. "The fight will last until last man standing in a safe posture wins. If there's any way of going for the kill, the task is finished," Hiccup nodded, waiting for his father to call out for his opponent. "And your opponent," Stoick paused, removing his cloak and trading a sword and a shield for his cape with Gobber. "Will be me," Hiccup's eyes widened.
"What? No! I can't fight you!?" Hiccup said. He knew he could easily beat his father, but that wasn't what he meant. "What if I hurt you?" hiccup shouted, gesturing with his sword.
"As long as you don't kill me I'll be fine," Stoick chuckled, walking pass Hiccup and standing within an arm's reach. "I'm a Viking, I can handle a bruise or two," Hiccup sighed in defeat, reading his sword.
"Ready, set, go!" Gobber announced. Stoick charged at Hiccup with a strike from above his head. Hiccup dodged it, hearing the sword hit the ground, and pushed his father down with his shield, making no move to go further. Instead he stepped back, waiting for his father's next move.
Stoick got back on his feet after the light blow, but enough to trip him over because of unbalanced feet, and turned around to face Hiccup. Once again, Stoick charged, this time both their swords clinging together. Either one of them trying to parry of the other. Hiccup kicked his father to the ground, going on top him with his shield separating them from each other. Stoick pushed Hiccup off of him with his arm and stood up.
Hiccup charged this time, his sword at his side and shield in the other. He swung at his father who parried the blow by holding his sword vertical. Hiccup switched his sword over to his right hand and shield in the left to block Stoick's pressure. He kicked his father's knee, making Stoick fall to the ground, dropping his sword in the process. Stoick knocked hiccup's shield out of his hands with his own, kicking it away from him and waited for Hiccup's next move.
"Is that all you got?" Stoick teased, smiling a little. Hiccup chuckled, holding his sword in front of him.
"Not even close," He said before charging. Stoick expected him to strike with his sword but instead Hiccup tricked him, stopping the sword in midair. In a flash he grabbed Stoick's shield, ripping it out of his hands before standing back up. Stoick was now completely unarmed.
"Not bad," Stoick said, but was shocked when Hiccup dropped his sword, kicking it away.
"Just to make it fair," Hiccup shrugged. "Besides, I only fight fair," He said, throwing his shield away. Stoick shook his head, chuckling a little, before charging. He threw a fist towards Hiccup's side, but Hiccup ducked, backing away, and so on. Hiccup ducked Stoick's blow, backed away, threw a punch, blocked, backed away and repeated until he was finally closer to the weapons laying on the table. Calculated, he moved his back into the table, taking a small dagger and sheathing it into his belt. Stoick threw another punch, getting ready to take the chance he had and steal a weapon, but instead Hiccup grabbed Stoick's hand, twisting it enough to send him down on his knees.
Stoick gritted his teeth through the pain, but Hiccup released his grip, letting him free for a second before grabbing the nearest shield, pushing Stoick down with it and pinning him down with the shield. Hiccup unsheathed his dagger, carefully pressing it against Stoick's throat. He heard the crowd start the countdown.
"Three!" The crowd cheered.
Stoick tried to push him off of him but Hiccup's strength was overwhelming him in his position.
"Two!" The crowd counted down.
Hiccup barely held the dagger to his skin, afraid he would leave a single mark. If he did, he knew he would be guilty for a while.
"One!" The crowd chanted Hiccup's name, cheering and whistling for the great battle between the heir and the chief. Hiccup removed the dagger, climbing off of his father and throwing the shield away before helping him up.
"Not bad at all," Stoick smiled, grabbing Hiccup's forearm in a manly handshake. Hiccup smiled, grabbing his father's forearm before pulling him in for a hug. Both of them breathing heavily in each other's necks.
"You're not so bad yourself," Hiccup chuckled, pulling away. Stoick smiled, turning around to face the crowd.
"I'm happy to announce that the final task is finally over!" The crowd roared with cheers. Stoick turned to his son, placing an approving hand on his shoulder. "Give it up for Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third!"
In honor and celebrations for Hiccup's victory, a party was thrown in the Great Hall. Unfortunately, it didn't go as Hiccup had expected it to. Astrid was off with Ruffnut, riding Heather back to her island, saying they needed some girl talk, in which Astrid was dragged into. This also left Hiccup alone with the boys.
Hiccup walked through the great hall, heading over to his friends table, after his evening flight with Toothless, in which was preoccupied by competitive Vikings drinking lots, and I'm saying lots, of mead.
"There he is!" The Vikings surrounding the table said, everyone looking over at Hiccup. Gobber smiled, walking away to get something.
"Here I am," Hiccup laughed nervously, unsure of approaching the drunken Vikings. He stood in front of the table, finding both Berkians and Outcasts celebrating with several goblets of mead along with his friends who seemed at the tip of the ice berg by ending up looking like them.
A goblet of mead slammed down on the table in front of Hiccup. Hiccup looked down at the mead as it splashed thick liquid down the sides of the goblet, soaking the table as well. Looking up, he found Gobber smiling, in a drunk way, by his shoulder, holding his very own cup of mead in his prosthetic made container. Hiccup gulped.
"Go on," Gobber smiled, pushing him towards the mead. Hiccup stumbled, catching himself on the table to avoid a face soaked with mead. Hiccup backed away, his hands raising up in defense.
"I d-don't drink," He stuttered, bumping into Gobber who threw his arm around Hiccup's neck.
"Come on," Gobber pouted, sending shivers down Hiccup's spine. "You're nineteen!"
"I'm f-fine, really-
"Come on Hiccup," Snotlout said, pushing the goblet into his hands. "It's only one goblet and you're done," Unfortunately, Snotlout didn't tell him what he meant by that. Hiccup looked down at the goblet in his hands, the scent of alcohol mixed with honey filling his nostrils. He looked back up at Snotlout.
"Only one can't be bad, right?" Hiccup said nervously. The crowd whistled, cheering him on as more Vikings joined the table. Hiccup brought the goblet up to his lips, the scent burning his nostrils. Closing his eyes, he tipped the goblet over and downed the thick liquid, almost choking at the taste of alcohol. Instead of what it did, Hiccup felt as if the alcohol was heading for his brain instead of down to his stomach. His head spun and ached and as he slammed the empty goblet on the table, it all stopped at once.
Hiccup shook his head, feeling someone grab his hand and lift it up. The crowd roared, mixed with laughter and applause. Hiccup smiled, laughing as he raised his other hand up high, beating the air in victory. For the first time in his life had he gotten the pleasure of tasting the alcohol.
Astrid dismounted Stormfly after dropping Heather off at her house. She smiled, rubbing her dragon's chin before opening the door to find out what all the commotion beneath the doors was. Her eyes landed immediately on the dancing and cheering Vikings smiling and laughing with each other, each and every one of them holding a goblet of mead. Of course, the kids were still keeping themselves to drinking water.
Her eyes wandered around the room, landing on her friends table where she found Snotlout passed out on the table, empty goblets surrounding him. Almost covering the whole table except for the certain Viking leaning on it with his elbow, knuckle supporting his head while communicating with his night fury.
With a smile, she grabbed a nearby goblet of mead before walking over to Hiccup. Upon reaching the table she almost dropped her mead.
Hiccup cupped Toothless's cheek's, looking deep into the dragon's eyes showing no glaze. "I love you, Astrid," Hiccup said, earning a roll of eyes from both Toothless and Astrid. Astrid stood beside Toothless, getting a confused, dazed look from Hiccup. "Why is there two of you?" Astrid was about to answer but Hiccup silenced 'both Astrids' with a finger in the air. "I know exactly why there's two of you."
"And what may that be, dragon boy?" Astrid said, clearly unamused. "Freya finally decided to give me more beauty to look at," Hiccup smiled goofily, moving a fist to his mouth to silence a burp. Astrid blushed, shaking her head with a laugh.
"How much mead did they give you?" Astrid giggled, trying to hold back her laughter. Hiccup furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, looking beside him to count the goblets. He poked one of the cups, tilting it over before trying to poke another but ending up poking the air.
"I have no idea," He said, looking as dazed as ever. "BUT!" Hiccup said, standing up in top speed while pointing his finger in the air. "I said butt," Hiccup mumbled with a chuckle, earning a giggle from the blonde Viking. "I'm pretty sure I can enjoy looking at," Hiccup poked his finger, missing both Astrid and Toothless who was only Astrid in his eyes. "you," He said, referring to Astrid. He smiled goofily with a laugh. Hiccup grabbed a goblet filled with mead, taking it up to his mouth but Astrid took it out of his hand. "Hey!" Hiccup pouted.
"Nuh uh, you've had enough for today," Astrid said, placing the goblet on the other end of the table. Hiccup pouted, looking at her with sad eyes.
"I was just drinking that," He said, sorrow in his voice.
"Not anymore!" Astrid said, taking his arm around his neck and walking towards the door with Toothless on their heels.
"Are we going where I think we're going?" Hiccup asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Astrid's eyes widened.
"N-no, we're not," She stuttered.
"You're stuttering," Hiccup smiled. "It's cute," Astrid rolled her eyes.
"You're such a dork," Astrid muttered.
"I think your eyes are cute, just like that adorable smile of yours," Hiccup said, almost falling down the first step as he kept her eyes on Astrid who was concentrating on keeping them both from tumbling down the stairs. "You know what I love about you?"
"What could that possibly be?"
"I love you," He said.
"Wow, who knew how much sense you'd make when you are drunk," Astrid said sarcastically.
"If you don't understand I'll mark it in your brain to make you remember that I love you, for being you."
"Don't pressure yourself, it's marked in here already," She said, pointing to her temple. They reached the last step of the stairs and turned towards Hiccup's house.
"When did I get a neighbor?" Hiccup asked, scratching his head in confusion. "Who's the neighbor?" Astrid opened her mouth to answer when suddenly Hiccup ran over to what was actually a sheep pen, kneeling down by one of the sheep. He patted the sheep's head with a smile. "Welcome to Berk! Are you new here?"
"Baa," The sheep replied, bending down to eat some more grass.
"You must be really special! Getting your house beside the chief's house and everything!" Hiccup said enthusiastically.
Astrid watched in the background, looking at Toothless who returned the same frown of hers. "Go get him boy," She whispered and the reptile bounced over to his rider, biting his tunic before throwing him on his back and running over to the door where Astrid stood holding it open. "Say good night to your new neighbor Hiccup," Astrid said teasingly. Hiccup smiled like a six year old kid, turning to the sheep with a wave.
"Good night Bob!" Hiccup waved, but scratched his head confused. "Or was it Phil?" He muttered, not noticing that Astrid had already slammed the door and Toothless waiting, with his rider on his back, by Hiccup's bed. Astrid came up the stairs, picking Hiccup up bridal style. Hiccup wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling her closer to him, as Astrid had laid him down, making her fall on top of him and their lips crashing.
Hiccup put his hand in her braid, carefully untying her braids as he kept her busy with the passionate kiss. Astrid pulled away, feeling her hair go over her other shoulder loosely. Hiccup snuggled up in her chest, wrapping his arms around his waist without even bothering removing his prosthetic or taking the blanket over them. "I still love you," and in a second he was out like a light.
Astrid smiled, taking her fingers in his hair to make it more comfortable. They had never said the four lettered word, until this one night when it came out through Hiccup's drunk condition. But Astrid was confident that it was no lie and whispered, "I love you too, dragon boy."