Hello guys!
I have to say I expected more reviews on the last chapter, especially because many of you were asking for Hiccup and Astrid to make peace.
Anyway, here you have chapter 12.
I have an exam this week so I don't know when I'll be able to write and post chapter 13 but I promise I'll try my best!
Enjoy
-Clary Chase
Hiccup woke up to a kiss pressed to his temple.
He opened his eyes to find Astrid staring down at him with a small smile.
She was sitting with her back leaned on the wall, the sheets covering her chest.
"What is it?" he asked.
She gestured for the window "It's almost dawn. I thought I'd wake you up to make you know I'm going back to my room"
"Oh" he only said.
That night had been so wonderful he had almost thought it would never end.
Astrid bent over and kissed him on the lips "We'll have other moments like this" she assuered him.
"I sure hope so" he said running his fingers up and down her spine.
She kissed his neck briefly and jumped off the bed.
She collected her clothes and dressed herself.
"Thank you" she said.
"For what?"
"For tonight"
He smiled at her "No, thank you. I love you"
"I love you too" she said.
As soon as the door was closed behind her Hiccup fell on pillows, thinking of the day that awaited him.
"So you two made peace" the princess concluded.
"Yeah" Hiccup said, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.
Merida looked at him and understood "Oh... so you two made a GREAT peace!"
Hiccup flushed red "Would you lower your voice?!" he hissed looking around in the corridor in a frantic way "Someone could hear you"
The princess bit her lip to not burst into laughter "Sorry but your face was priceless" she put a hand on his arm and smiled up at him sincerely "But really, I'm happy you two made peace. You actually looked really miserable"
When they finally reached the room the queen had told them the door swung open revealing some young servants.
They had to be probably two years younger than Hiccup.
They looked at him with eyes narrowed and red cheeks, their lower lips caught beetween their teeth to contain the visible giggles.
He felt a little embarassed to be watched with so much interest by women who weren't Astrid.
The room was kind of big, full of leather, silks, dresses and other instruments used for sewing.
"Oh, you guys are here!" Elinor chirped getting up from her chair "Well then we can start!"
"What? T-together?" Merida stuttered.
The queen looked at her daughter with her eyebrows raised "Well, I thought it would be a good idea for you two to see the other with all clothes on. You know, so it will be less uncomfortable for when you'll be married"
Hiccup felt all of the blood drain from his face.
By the queen's point of view it was an actually kind gesture.
But from his point of view, and probably Merida's too, it was just nother torture.
He swallowed.
The weavers looked at their ruler with expectation and when she received no answer from the young couple she shrugged gesturing for them.
"Do what you have to do"
Astrid let out a frustrated groan when she couldn't pick her axe from the aim.
"Want a little help?"
Her head whipped around and she found Stoick looking down at her.
She nodded and stepped aside, watching as he easily took it away and handed it to her.
"I didn't hear you coming" she said whiping her hands on her gown.
The chief shrugged and sat on one of the trunks that were placed all around the training area "Yeah, well I'm kinda light" he said with a little smirk.
The girl snickered and swung her axe in the air.
"Why are you here?"
"Do I need a reason to see you?"
She raised an eyebrow but didn't object.
There was a brief moment of silence, then Stoick said "Hiccup's worried about you"
Astrid rolled her eyes "So there is a reason" she said.
He ignored her "You can't fault him. You disappear almost every day with the dragons and stay out until late. He has every right to be worried"
"No he does not" she deadpanned throwing her axe "I just take the dragons flying or else they never would. It's not like I'm seeing a man in secret. And even if it was so it would be none of his business"
"You two made peace last night" the man observed without looking at her.
Astrid's breath caught. Her cheeks were burning.
"H-how d-?"
"Come on" Stoick grinned a little in her direction "You made noise when you ran in the corridors. And when you were inside his room as well. It was clear enough"
She bit her lip.
She had never been that embarassed those few times Stoick had discovered they had slept together.
She probably was now because it was forbidden.
She swallowed "I'm sorry" she said in a small voice.
Stoick frowned "You think I'm mad at you?" he asked.
"Aren't you?" she said sharply.
"No. That's what people who love each other do. And you love each other"
She wanted to retort something but just then a guard came running in yelling "Chief Stoick! You need to come!"
Stoick stood up quickly "What is it?" he asked.
The guard's breath was heavy "It's your son. He's in pain and nobody knows how to handle him"
Astrid's knees buckled. She glanced at Stoick who was watching her with a meaningful look.
When she spoke up her voice was unsteady "Lead us to him"
Astrid almost tripped in the dressing room.
"Stoick! You're here!" the queen exclaimed.
Merida, who was standing beside her, was pale, her eyes big and wide.
There was a strangled sound in the corner and Astrid saw Hiccup in a wooden chair, sweaty and gosthly pale.
Her heart sank at the sight of him.
She didn't want to know what had happened, she just knew he was experiencing his horrible phantom pains.
"Please do something" Elinor told Stoick.
Astrid could feel his gaze on her "Astrid will. She's the only one who can do this"
The girl rushed to Hiccup's side.
"Hiccup" she called soothingly stroking his thighs "Hey, look at me"
He did and she almost gasped.
It had been so long since the last time he had been caught by that pain.
His green eyes were clouded, almost empty.
His body was shaking hard, radiating a feverish heat.
"Astrid..." he said weakly "It hurts..."
Her chest felt heavy.
In a normal situation she would have told him how much she loved him and held him tightly, stroking his leg under the warm furs of his bed.
She carefully undid the strings of his prosthetic with practiced fingers.
She had done it so many times, especially the first two years when he showed up at her window in the middle of the night, the pain forbidding him to sleep.
She took his shortened leg in her hands and began to rub it gently.
Hiccup stiffened a bit, his breath catching.
"Hiccup" she called him again and he looked at her, his head leaned on the wall.
"Remeber what you lost your leg for?"
"My stump" he hissed.
Astrid frowned "No, Hiccup. Your leg" she corrected him "You lost it because you were saving us all from the Red Death, remember? It was a heroical situation"
He squeezed his eyes "It hurts" he repeated.
She almost felt hopeless.
"Think of something good" she finally said "For example uh... the first time Toothless let you touch him? Or uhm, let's see... remember the first time you won the dragon race?" he started to relax under her touch.
A small smile pulled at his lips "We partied hard that night" he grinned a little.
Astrid couldn't help but chuckle "Yeah. And Ruff and I had to run behind you and the guys because you were all so drunk"
He snickered but then he was shaken by another wave of pain.
"Okay what do you think of when you and Snot accidentally set Gobber's pants on fire? Or when Ruff and Tuff decided they wanted to adopt a yak? Or-"
"Our first flight" he blurted out, his eyes closed.
Astrid's breath hitched and she widened her eyes.
She opened her mouth but no words came out of it.
He was in pain and hot, he wasn't thinking clearly, because otherwhise he would have never brought up their first romantic flight.
Anyway the thought of that night seemed to make him feel better than anything else and she was kind of glad for it.
She just stood there, slightly embarassed, gently rubbing his leg and watching his face relax.
His breath slowed down and Astrid took a cloth to wipe to sweat from his forehead.
By now, Hiccup was sleeping.
Phantom pains always deprived him of all his strength.
She stood up on her shaking legs and looked at Stoick "Can you bring him to his room? He needs to rest"
The Chief nodded and stepped forward, squeezing her shoulder "Thank you" he said.
She nodded and watched him as he easily picked up Hiccup in his arms like he was still a kid.
"My ladies" he said bowing a little "Please excuse us"
"We'll send some healers" the queen said as the man exited the room.
Astrid closed her eyes for a moment, then fixed her gaze on the servants.
"What happened?" she asked to no one in particular.
To her surprise, it was one of the youngest weavers who spoke up "We were taking some measures"
The young Vikings raised an eyebrow and the girl gulped under her piercing glance.
"That's not all" she only said.
"We asked him to roll up his pants so we could see the real lenght of his leg" another one explained.
"You did what?!" she yelled.
The other girls gasped but the one who had spoken held her look "We didn't think something like that would happen!" she defended raising her voice "We've done this so many times with the King! He never-"
"The King is a grown man!" Astrid shouted, forgetting any good manner "Hiccup lost his leg when he was fifteen! Just five years ago! He was barely a boy! Do you have any idea of what that means?!"
Everyone in the room gasped but she couldn't know if it was because of her unlady-like outburst or for knowing Hiccup was so young when his left foot was taken away forever.
She honestly couldn't care less.
She took a deep breath and tried to recompose herself, pushing her bangs aside.
"I'm a little tired" she said "If you'll excuse me your majesties, I'd go rest a bit"
"Astrid" Merida called softly and she turned.
The princess had a sincerly grateful look "Thank you"
Astrid bit her lip and bowed "It was a pleasure"
She was half-way in the corridor when she heard a voice call her name.
The queen approached her with her usual regal walk.
"My queen" she said.
Elinor watched her skeptically "It looked like you helped Hiccup a lot with his phantom pains" she observed.
The girl blushed "Yes, indeed"
"Why did you?"
Astrid clenched her fists. She didn't like to be interrogated but not answering could cost her a lot.
"I've always been the one who could calm him down" she simply answered.
"Why?"
She swallowed the bile that had gathered in her throat "Hiccup and I have been friends since we were little kids. Our families were long time friends"
The queen pursed her lips and squinted her eyes "So you two are kind of best friends"
"Yes, your highness"
"Just that"
Astrid almost stumbled, but she held the woman's gaze "Yes, just that"
There was a moment of silence.
Then the queen said "I know you're lying, Astrid Hofferson"
Astrid flinched at her cold tone and upon hearing her full name in such a theatening way.
"I've seen the way you look at him and, unfortunately, the way he looks at you as well. I don't know what was beetween the two of you, if it was just a crush or a love story, if it was over or not, but I honestly don't want to know. You are no longer part of his life and I ask you to not interfere with his path anymore, he's betrothed to Merida now"
Astrid hadn't even realised it.
She was so used to pain and wounds she hadn't seen or felt the queen's fingers digging in the fabric of her dress as she held her arm in an iron grip.
Elinor looked down and her eyes widened.
Astrid snatched her arm back.
She glared at the woman and massaged her skin "You have no power on me" she hissed "You're not my queen. And I'll do what I want"
Before the other could say anything she was running away, holding her gown high.
When she reached the courtyard the cold air almost slapped her across the face.
She fell on her knees and tears streamed down her face to then fall in the grass.
She was shaken by silent sobs, her head throbbing for the queen's sharp words, her body yearning for Hiccup's familiar embrace in her weakest moments.
She heard silent steps approaching and then saw a figure kneeling in front of her.
She looked up and saw Merida.
"Why are you here?" she snapped, even though her voice was hoarse.
"I came to check on you" the princess deadpanned.
"Why?" Astrid glared at her "To make sure I didn't go to Hiccup?"
The girl frowned "I'm not my mother, Astrid" she said in a surprisingly strong voice.
"Oh really?"
The other scoffed "Please. Don't you see how different we are? It's all just an act. I thought you were more clever than that"
Astrid narrowed her eyes in confusion and Merida rolled her eyes.
She leaned on her palm and sat comfortably in the grass.
Her hands reached for her bun and undid the complicated knots.
Her frizzy hair came loose in a red waterfall on her shoulders.
Merida shook them in a way no princess would and sighed "I hate buns. They always make my head ache"
"You should try a braid, then" Astrid blurted out.
The princess looked at her "Mh, maybe I'll try it. Thanks"
Astrid wiped her face hastily and started to tear grass from the ground.
"I'm sorry for what my mother said" Merida finally said.
She looked at her "W-why would you be sorry?"
She was pinned by her serious blue gaze "Astrid, I know everything" Astrid almost chocked but the other didn't let her say anything "I heard part of your and Hiccup's conversation the night Toothless and Stormfly arrived. Hiccup told me everything and I'll tell you this: I have nothing to do with this arranged marriage"
Astrid was more and more confused "W-what?"
Merida shrugged "I don't want to marry Hiccup. Or actually, I don't want to marry someone I don't love. And honestly, if I knew about your wedding I would have done something"
"You couldn't do anything" Astrid said bitterly "You're not queen yet. Only parents can decide"
She looked at her "I'm sorry, really"
Astrid didn't know what was happening, maybe she was becoming weaker.
First Valka, now Merida.
She couldn't help but believe to the princess' words.
"You have nothing to be sorry about" she said "It's not your fault"
She smiled a little and Merida's features softened "I want us to be friends. I don't want you to see me as an enemy. We can be fighting parteners"
She bit her lip "I don't know, your highness..."
"Merida" the other ordered "Call me Merida, I already told you. I honestly don't even feel like royalty"
That made Astrid truly laugh "Really?" she said "You look so composed, gentle and delicate"
Merida narrowed her eyes and stood up.
As a clear answer she wiped her dirty hands on her dress.
"You think I'm a lady, then?" she dared with a playful smirk.
"Yes, I do. Your highness" Astrid teased her standing up as well.
"I'll prove you wrong"
"Is that a challenge?"
"You can say it"
"Okay, then. Bring it on"
Did you like it?
I honestly enjoyed writing Astrid and Merida because I've always dreamed to see these two girls together.
They usually make them enemies but being both such strong warriors I think they would be great friends.
What do you say? Can we reach 150 reviews til next update? ;)
Love you guys!