Astrid looked at Hiccup, watching as the young man walked silently through the tall grass. "Are you alright?" she asked finally.
When she got no response, she repeated, louder, "Are you alright?"
He stopped, turning to look at her, and said, sharply, "I'm fine."
"No, you're not," she said, walking up to him. "You haven't been fine since we saw that fairy. Did something happen?"
"Nothing happened," he said, as he began to walk again. "I'm fine."
"No, you're—"
"I said I'm fine!"
Astrid blinked as Hiccup glared at her, and then he sighed, pinching between his eyes with his forefinger and thumb. "I… I'm sorry, Astrid. I just haven't been feeling well lately."
"What is going on? Is it the curse?" she stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his arm.
"It's…" he trailed off. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me," she said.
"What's taking you two so long?" Eret walked up to them. "The ocean—or some large body of salt water—is just ahead."
"Great," Hiccup said without much gusto. "Let's go."
"Not until you tell me what's going on," Astrid grabbed his arm again gently, stopping him.
He sighed, turning to look at her. There were circles under his eyes, and he looked as if he hadn't slept in days. "What is going on with you?" she demanded quietly.
"I want to know the answer to that as well," Eret said. "You haven't been yourself lately."
"It's nothing—"
"It's not nothing," Astrid and Eret said in unison. "Hiccup," Astrid said, "Something is bothering you."
"It's… it's the curse, alright?" he said. "I was cursed to never find happiness—well, I'm not. I'm not happy. How is that a surprise to either of you?" he tore his arm away from Astrid and walked off.
Astrid and Eret glanced at each other.
"I hope he snaps out of this soon," Eret said. "And that is the last hissy fit he throws."
Astrid sighed, nodding her head. Something was wrong with Hiccup, and it didn't just have to do with his curse. He had been fine up until they ran into Valka. Had the fairy said or done something to him? She frowned. Perhaps the fairy had cursed him. She could have easily lied that she had no magic. Fairies defaulted to lying. They loved chaos, and reveled in trickery and other evils. "He'll tell us what this is about eventually," Astrid said.
Eret frowned, shaking his head slightly. "We haven't been together that long," he pointed out. "He might not tell us anything."
Astrid breathed in, watching as Toothless caught up to Hiccup up ahead. The two rounded a dune, disappearing from sight. She knew there was little she could do to help Hiccup—not when he was like this.
She and Eret had just started forward again, when they heard Hiccup shouting. They looked at each other, before rushing forward, rounding the dune and catching up to Hiccup. Hiccup seemed to be looking at something on the ground—a beached seal or—
"Is that a person?" Eret asked, dumbfounded, as he and Astrid slowed to a stop beside Hiccup and Toothless.
"Yeah…" Hiccup said, staring down the pale body.
"Drowned?" Astrid asked.
"I think… I think he's alive," Hiccup said, inching forward. He picked up a thin, long piece of driftwood, and poked the body's impressive girth.
A hand lazily slapped the stick away.
"Well, he's alive," Hiccup said, backing up quickly.
"Why is he… naked?" Astrid asked.
"Maybe he went for a dip—got caught in a riptide, passed out, and then washed ashore," Eret suggested.
"How is he not dead then?"
But whatever answer was on Eret's tongue was lost, for the beached man's eyes began to flutter open, revealing green eyes. He looked up at the sky, feeling the sand around him with his hands, and smiled broadly.
It was then that he seemed to notice the four watching him. He started, sitting up suddenly and staring at them. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"Who are you?" Astrid countered. "And how did you end up here like this?"
The man looked around, absentmindedly touching his short, blond hair, before looking down. "Legs!" he said, happily. "And some other parts I wasn't expecting… human anatomy is so peculiar…."
"'Human'?" Eret asked, his hand relaxing around the handle of his long knife. "You're not human?"
"Well, I am now, biologically, but normally, and, I suppose, culturally, I am not," the man on the ground struggled to stand, but fell back down. "My name is Fishlegs," he smiled up at them.
"Fishlegs?" Astrid asked, frowning. "Were you a fish before?"
"A mermaid, right?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes! Well, merman." Fishlegs attempted to stand another time, but his legs collapsed underneath him again.
"If you were a mermaid," Eret said, "You must have had a tail—which would explain why you're having trouble standing."
"It's true, I thought it would be much easier than it is," Fishlegs admitted. "I studied the physics of standing and walking, but the actual act seems to elude me."
"Why—if you're a mermaid—ah, merman, would you come onto land?" Astrid asked.
Fishlegs closed his eyes, smiling faintly. "I came… because of love."
The four stared at him. "What?" Eret and Astrid asked in unison, while Hiccup tried not to snort.
"It's true!" Fishlegs clasped his hands in front of him. "I fell in love with a fair maiden—a human maiden. And I was granted legs so I could come and woo her."
Astrid glanced at Hiccup, to see that he was looking at her with an amused expression. "And how do you plan on doing that?" Eret asked, sounding as amused as Astrid and Hiccup felt.
"I have written some poetry," Fishlegs said. "I have no doubt she was fall instantly in love with me. I am rather skilled at crafting words."
"And who is this girl?" Eret asked.
"Princess Tantrum," Fishlegs said dreamily.
"Tant—Princess Tantrum?" Astrid asked, staring wide-eyed at the man. "You must be joking!"
"I am not," Fishlegs shook his head. "She is the fair maiden who has captured my heart."
Astrid felt like choking—from shock or disgust, she could not tell. What would possess a seemingly nice, gentle young man like this to fall in love with Princess Tantrum?
"Her castle is not far from here," Fishlegs twisted and pointed off, where a large castle could be seen. "I plan to go there and woo her."
"And how will you do that?" Hiccup asked, "You can't exactly walk."
"And you're naked," Eret pointed out.
"Oh…" Fishlegs glanced down at himself, before admitting, "You may have a point there."
"Don't worry," Astrid said. "We can help you."
"We can?" Eret asked her.
"Astrid," Hiccup said, all amusement disappearing from his face. "May I remind you we're on a tight schedule?"
She gave him a long look.
"She's got a point," Eret said. "We can't just leave him there."
"Fine," Hiccup said. "We'll teach him how to walk, and we'll find him clothes, and then we'll drop him off at the castle and be on our way. Alright?"
"Sounds good to me," Fishlegs said.
They all glanced down at the merman, before Hiccup said, "I'm going to go find a place for Toothless to hide out in, and then go to the village and buy some clothes."
"We'll start teaching him how to walk," Eret said, as Hiccup began to trudge away.
Astrid watched him go, feeling a cocktail of confusion, annoyance, and sympathy. She did not know what ailed him. He was distraught over the notion of being cursed—but something had happened when they had run into Valka. He had changed somewhat. He seemed to have little patience and tolerance for things. What had happened between him and the fairy? Did she say something to him?
"Are you going to help me or not?" Eret asked, attempting to hoist Fishlegs to his feet.
"Right," she said, rushing forward. "Let's teach you how to walk, Sea Legs."
"Why does anyone need a house this big?" Eret asked as they stood before the gates to the Uglithug Castle.
"It's not a house," Astrid said, "It's a castle."
"It's as beautiful as my love," Fishlegs said.
Astrid glanced at him, raising a skeptical brow. The castle was in disarray, to put it mildly. King UG was not the type to keep up on maintenance. "Are you fine from here on out?" Hiccup asked Fishlegs.
"I will be fine," Fishlegs assured him. "I am sure that my princess will fall at first sight in love with me."
"Hold up," Eret said, putting up a hand. "Are you telling me she's never even looked at you before? You've never met?"
"Well, not exactly…" Fishlegs said.
"What?" Astrid stared at Fishlegs. "If you've never met, how do you expect to even get an audience with her?"
"An audience?" Fishlegs asked, staring at her, confused.
Astrid sighed irritably. "Look, she's a princess. She can't just see whomever she wants to. There's a way to these things."
"Oh…" Fishlegs looked distraught, and Astrid found herself saying the words she had sworn not to say.
"I suppose I could help you see her," she said.
Hiccup, Eret and Fishlegs turned to stare at her. "What do you mean?" Hiccup asked.
"I mean—I know Tantrum. We went to boarding school together," Astrid said.
"You went to boarding school?" Hiccup asked. "I don't understand… I thought you were a warrior?"
"I can be a warrior and a lady at the same time," Astrid huffed. "Well, anyway, Tantrum and I attended at the same time. So I know her relatively well. I suppose she might be willing to see me—and by extension, you."
"But we don't have—" Hiccup was cut off by Fishlegs squealing slightly and rushing forward, pulling Astrid into such a tight embrace that she felt as though she had not an ounce of air left in her body afterwards. "—time…" Hiccup finished. He sighed. "I suppose we can stand to be here a few more hours."
"That's the spirit," Eret clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Well," Astrid said, approaching the guards at the gate, taking in a deep breath. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
"Oh—Astrid," the impressively tall woman said, staring down her long nose at Astrid. "It's you—when the guard told me I had a visitor I thought it was someone else."
"Hello to you too," Astrid said, standing awkwardly before the tall princess. She wanted to turn to glare at Fishlegs, who was making happy noises, barely able to constrain himself, and focused her eyes on the brown ones of Tantrum. "How are you this fine day?"
"I'm fine," Tantrum said in a bored voice. "There's nothing to do, of course. Who are your friends?" She peered at Astrid's companions.
"These are my friends," Astrid said, pointing them out, "Eret, Hiccup, and this is Fishlegs."
"Fishlegs?" Tantrum frowned. "What an odd name. You don't have fish, legs, though, do you?"
"I used to," Fishlegs said. "I got human ones just for you."
Tantrum stared at him for a moment, before flicking her long red hair over her shoulder. "Well, you're all invited to the feast—especially you, Astrid. And you'll get new clothes to wear, of course. You look and smell horrible."
"Thanks," Astrid said drily.
"The guards will take you to your rooms. You're staying in the guest wing," Tantrum said.
"Oh, we're not staying the night—" Hiccup began, but clamped his mouth shut when Tantrum turned on him, eyes flashing. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said meekly.
She walked away, waving a hand dismissively, and the guards came out, motioning for them to follow them. The castle was in as poor shape as its exterior. Astrid looked around, feeling irritated by the fact that the Uglithugs had let this castle fall into such ruin. King Stoick would have never allowed his own castle to be destroyed thus. Astrid found her room small, but overlooking the ocean. She stared out the window as the maids prepared a bath. The water was only slightly warm, and there were not many salts, or soaps and lotions to wash herself with, and so it was not an altogether enjoyable affair, but it much trumped bathing in an icy river.
When she got dressed (in a long out of fashion, old hand-me-down of Tantrum's that was several inches too long), she left her chamber and stood in the hall. Eret emerged from his room, glancing at her and smiling.
"You look lovely," he told her.
"Thank you," she said absentmindedly. "Where's Hiccup and Fishlegs?"
"Not sure," Eret said, shrugging.
The door next to Astrid's opened, and Hiccup stepped out, glancing down at himself. He stopped, looking at Astrid with wide eyes. "You look…" he struggled for a moment, as if he were searching for the right words. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Astrid said. "Although the dress doesn't fit."
"Do I look alright?" he asked them.
He was wearing fine clothing, although not as fine as one would find in the courts of Berk. Astrid nodded.
"Very handsome," Eret told him.
"Dashing," Astrid agreed.
"A right stud," Eret continued.
"A dreamboat, if there ever was one," Astrid said.
"I can hardly keep myself constrained—"
"Alright, alright!" Hiccup said, putting his hands up to silence them. "Enough out of you two. Where is Fishlegs?"
"He's not come out yet," Astrid said, walking over to the merman's door and knocking on it. When she heard no answer, she opened the door and peered inside. "He's gone," she said, looking back at them, worried.
"I hope he hasn't done anything stupid," Hiccup said.
"I fail to see how it's our responsibility," Astrid said, shrugging. She closed his door and began walking towards the dining hall.
Inside was a raucous affair. The three stood staring at the mess and chaos within the dining hall in shock. "This is… loud," Hiccup said, as they were ushered to a table not far from the royal dais. "Is this how nobility and royalty usually eat?"
"Usually there's less stabbing," Astrid said, "And less food thrown around… and less… using the bathroom in public places. But then again, Berk is far more civilized than most places, so I daresay I'm not the person to ask."
Food was served, and they stared down dismally at it.
"I can make better food than this with raw leather and poison berries," Hiccup said, nudging the slop with his fork. "Is everyone getting this, or is it just us?"
"Looks like it's everyone," Eret noted, glancing at the royal dais.
As King UG stood, raising a dirty goblet into the air, the noise seemed to die down somewhat, though not completely. "THANK YOU ALL," he shouted over the din, "FOR COMING HERE TODAY. WE HAVE ALL GATHERED HERE TO—"
There was a loud clatter that superseded even the chaos in the room and UG's shouting, as Fishlegs stumbled into the room, holding a platter of food. All eyes turned on his for a moment, before the room resumed its impressive noise.
"—CELEBRATE WITH US ON THIS… GLORRRIOUS DAY," UG finished, drinking deeply from his goblet and sitting down.
Fishlegs glanced around, before handing his tray of food to a server, and walking over to where Astrid and the others were sitting.
"There you are," Hiccup said. "We were worried you had gotten lost."
"I did—well, sort of," Fishlegs said, sitting down next to Astrid. "I went to see Tantrum, you see—but I could not find her chambers, so instead I got lost—and then the kitchen staff thought I was a server, and sent me here. Good thing, or I would never have found the place. Human architecture is so confusing."
Fishlegs glanced at his plate, before taking a tentative bite. "Not bad," he said, chewing thoughtfully. "How thoughtful of them to undercook the fish."
Astrid made a face and pushed her plate farther away. She glanced up at the royal table, and saw that Princess Tantrum was sitting next to her father, and next to her, was a large, muscular, handsome man with an impressive golden mustache. "Who is that?" she heard Hiccup whisper in her ear.
"That's Humongously Hotshot," Astrid said, awed.
"Him? Really?" Hiccup asked.
"Who's that?" Eret said, leaning over to join their whispered conversation.
"Only… only the greatest warrior to ever walk the earth—at least, that's what his slogan says," Astrid said.
"I know what his slogan says," Hiccup said irritably.
"I wonder what he's doing here," Astrid said. "And why he's sitting next to Tantrum."
"She's so beautiful, isn't she?" Fishlegs said dreamily. "I think… I think I need to sing…"
"Oh—no—!" Astrid did not have a chance to deter Fishlegs from this fatal mistake, as the man stood, and cleared his throat. When no one paid him any heed, he cleared his throat again, and began to sing.
"Oh Tantrum—of the lovely white thighs,
How can you, sit there with lovely brown eyes,
Hear my song, and know my love is pure,
Know that, I will love you forever more!"
Fishlegs took in another breath, but by then, the entire hall was watching him, silent.
Astrid flinched as UG stood, glaring down at Fishlegs with a murderous expression. "YOU DARE SING POETRY IN MY PRESENCE?" he shouted down. "GUARDS—SEIZE HIM!"
"Wait!" Astrid stood quickly, "Lord UG, my name is Astrid Hofferson, I am a lady of the court of Berk—and this is my fool. I'm afraid he got overly excited by the extreme, and brutalizing beauty of your daughter, and decided to entertain your hall. But he is just a fool, and I should not have let him join us for supper, so please excuse him. He did not realize love poetry was forbidden in the courts of the Uglithugs."
UG narrowed his eyes at Fishlegs and Astrid, before nodding silently. He raised his glass, which had been refilled multiple times over the course of the evening so far, and said, "WELL THEN, IN THE NAME OF LOVE, I THINK IT IS HIGH TIME I ANNOUNCED THE REASON FOR THIS WONDERFUL BANQUET."
Astrid forced Fishlegs to sit down, who was looking slightly perturbed that his song had been interrupted.
"MY DEAREST DAUGHTER, THE EXTREMELY AND BRUTALIZINGLY BEAUTIFUL TANTRUM, IS TO BE MARRIED!" UG downed his goblet, before realizing he had more to say, and his goblet was quickly refilled by a nervous server at his side as he continued, "TO THE MASSIVE AND FEARLESS HUMONGOUSLY HOTSHOT THE HERO."
Astrid, Eret and Hiccup quickly glanced at Fishlegs, who was staring up at the dais in shock. He turned to look at Astrid, his eyes wide. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means…" Astrid said, "That she's marrying someone else."
Fishlegs stared at her, then at Hiccup. "She's not marrying me?" he asked.
"No…" Eret said slowly, clearly unsure why this was in any way confusing, "No, she's marrying Mustache up there."
"But…" Fishlegs stared down at his plate dismally.
Astrid glanced at Hiccup, not quite knowing what to do, before laying a hand on Fishlegs' arm. "It's okay, Fishlegs," she said. "You'll find true love somewhere—and not from some spoiled princess either. Cheer up."
"Cheer up?" Eret said. "Astrid, you're terrible at this. Fishlegs, don't worry, you'll find love eventually—"
"How is that any different from what I was saying?" Astrid demanded.
"I wasn't finished yet," Eret snapped.
Hiccup cleared his throat, "Perhaps we should retire for the evening?"
"Oh, right," Astrid said, standing. "Alright, Fishlegs, let's get going."
Fishlegs stood up shakily, and followed Astrid and the others from the room. They made their way back to the guest wing, and stood in front of his door. "Will you be alright?" Astrid asked him, worriedly.
"I'll be fine… I suppose," Fishlegs said, his voice somewhat quiet.
Astrid, Eret and Hiccup exchanged glances. "Are you sure?" Astrid asked, "You just found out the girl of your dreams is getting married to someone else."
"Astrid's right," Eret said. "I can't believe I'm saying this but… if you need someone to talk to… we're at your disposal."
"Thank you," Fishlegs said, "But I think I'd like to sleep at the moment…. Humans need more sleep than merpeople." He turned and walked into his room, closing the door behind him.
Astrid glanced at the other two, and Eret whistled softly.
"Can't say I imagined it turning out any differently," Hiccup said.
"Same," Astrid agreed.
"Well," Eret clapped his hand. "I'm going to bed and getting some sleep as well. I suggest we leave here as soon as possible." He entered his room, closing the door behind him.
Astrid and Hiccup stood awkwardly in the hall. "So…" Hiccup said, peering at his hand for a moment, before glancing at her.
"You still feeling like you were kicked by a mule?" she asked him.
He frowned. "I'm cursed," he said, "Of course I feel like that."
She sighed. "Well, I'm here to talk," she turned away, "And if you ever decide to stop moping I'll be here—"
He caught her hand, stopping her. She paused, turning to look at him in surprise. "What—"
He pulled her towards him, his hand still holding hers. She was nearly pressed against him now, staring up at him in shock. He had a strange look on his face, and indeed, he seemed to not realize what he was doing. "I need to know…" he whispered softly, "If what I feel is—"
There was a faint clatter of footsteps down the hall, and Astrid quickly pulled her hand out of Hiccup's, moving backwards and clasping the handle, opening the door to her room. "Goodnight, Hiccup," she said, her cheeks flushed. "I'll see you in the morning." She entered her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it. She heard him enter his own room, and exhaled a breath that much needed to be released.
"So… are you sure you'll be alright?" Astrid asked him.
Fishlegs gazed at the sea before them, taking in a deep breath. "I believe so," he said. "There will always be other fish in the sea."
"Yes… I suppose there will be," Astrid admitted.
"It's probably for the best," Fishlegs said. "I don't care much for being human—and I doubt Tantrum would care much for sea life."
"No… probably not," Astrid agreed. "I'm sure you'll find a love that suits you even better than Tantrum would have."
Fishlegs turned his head to smile at her. "Thank you, Astrid," he said. He reached down and picked up a shell, brushing the sand off of it. He put it to his lips, breathing, or perhaps humming, into it. He handed it to her.
She accepted it, glancing at him. "What's this?"
"If you ever find yourself in need of help, blow on that, and the sea will come to your aide," Fishlegs said.
Astrid's brows furrowed.
"Now, I believe Meatlug is waiting for me," Fishlegs said. "Another reason it would never have worked out between Tantrum and myself. My heart is already in the sea." He stepped forward, walking into the waves. A little ways off in the water, she could see the head of a dragon—a sea dragon of sorts.
Fishlegs disappeared under the waves, and resurfaces near the dragon. He waved at Astrid and the others, before he and the dragon disappeared under the surface.
"What did he give you?" Hiccup asked her, and he and the others approached her.
"A shell," she said, noticing it had a nice little hold in it. She dug in her pouch and took out some twine, hanging it around her neck. "Alright, shall we get going?"
"Yes, finally," Hiccup said, slinging an arm around her shoulders as he led her away. Eret also slung an arm around her shoulders, standing on her other side.
Together, the three of them and Toothless of them walked back to the plains of tall grass, continuing on their journey to The North.
To be continued…
This was one of my favorite chapters to write… :D
Thanks so much for reading!
See you soon!
