Hey guys!
I'm not dead! Sorry for the loooong wait, I've just been busy with school and other stuff and I haven't had a lot of time to write.
Thank you SO SO MUCH for all of your reviews, they made me really happy.
Anyway here you go with chapter 13, I hope you like it!
Love,
Clary Chase
P.S. A special thank you to my sweetie Lorde for all of your support through my tumblr blog! I love you, girl! 3
Astrid's breath was already slowing down when Merida reached her.
"Not fair" the princess panted leaning against a tree "Your dress is more comfortable than mine"
The girl raised an eyebrow "Actually it's the opposite. I never wear dresses whereas I'm sure you run a lot in them. You just don't want to admit you lost"
Merida chuckled lightly and closed her eyes "Okay, you're right. You win"
Astrid smiled and slid down on the grass "And you're definitely not a princess on the inside, I'll give you that"
"That's better" the other said plopping down as well.
They were silent for what felt like forever.
Their breaths were still reaching a normal space and the only sounds around them were birds chirping and and a river not so far.
"Will he be okay?"
Astrid snapped her head in Merida's direction.
"Mh?"
"Hiccup. Is he gonna be okay?"
The young Viking shrugged "Yes, eventually. It takes some time for him to recover. It's been so long since he last experienced that pain so I can't be sure about the way it will affect him this time"
The princess only nodded and stared into space.
"I should have probably thought about it" she said with uncertainty.
"No, there was nothing you could do"
"Yes there was. But as always I'm too selfish to put someone's well-being before mine" she let out a little sigh "I was more worried about him seeing me half-naked than him being embarassed or uncomfortable for that"
Astrid bit her lip.
Half-naked.
She felt her cheeks flush and her head spin slightly for jealousy.
There was nothing wrong with it.
They would get married sooner or later.
And sooner or later the two of them would end up in bed.
Still, thinking that Hiccup had seen parts of Merida's skin that he had only seen from her made her vision become all fuzzy.
"He'll be fine" she finally deadpanned "He's much stronger than people give him credit for"
She could see Merida looking at her from the corner of her eye.
"You know my mother will do anything in her power not to leave you two alone in the same room anymore, do you?"
"Yes, I know"
Her voice sounded weaker and smaller than she had hoped.
The thought of not being able to enjoy a moment beautiful as the night before felt even more suffocating than dragon's smoke.
Not being able to feel his lips against hers. His hands travelling slowly on her back. His arms making a big cage around her.
She wasn't ready to lose that yet.
But then again, she never would be.
"As for me, I'll do anything in my power to give you some privacy without her knowing"
The sentence snapped her out of her reverie.
Astrid widened her eyes at Merida.
"What?"
The red raised an eyebrow "You heard me" she said "I'll try to find some times to leave you two to do... whatever you have to do"
She blushed at the last one and Astrid grinned a bit.
"Would you?"
"Sure"
Astrid was about to reply something when the sound of horns made her jump up, startled.
Merida laughed "Don't worry. That's just my parents' way to tell me to come back home"
The Viking furrowed her brows "Oh, yeah sure. It's just... the sound of horns still reminds me of when I was awaken in the dead of night for dragon raids"
The princess nodded slightly and stood up "Well then, we better get back"
The walk back was oddly silent and when the castle came into view Astrid's heart sank a little.
It was starting to get dark and she could see Hiccup's room had candles lit up.
Maybe he was already awake.
Merida followed her gaze "Do you want to go to him?" she asked softly "I could cover for you"
Astrid shook her head "No, I think right now I just need some time alone. I'll go flying a little"
"But it's almost dinner time! And it's getting dark"
She smirked looking over at the other girl "Honestly it's not like I'm afraid of the dark"
Merida squinted her eyes at her "If you won't be back for midnight we'll send guards to look for you"
A humorless laugh escaped past Astrid's lips "Seriously? Come on, Meirda. I'd just do your mother a favor if I disappeared tonight!"
The princess' gaze was stony and expressionless and she shrugged "Whatever! I'm a big viking girl! Tell Stoick and Hiccup not to go out of their minds with worry"
Before the other could even reply she was sprinting towards the stables.
The nest wasn't as dark as the outside world, blue light illuminating the meadows and the dragons sleeping peacefully on the grass.
It wasn't hard to spot Valka, crouched like a cat on Cloujumper's back.
Toothless and Stormfly were instantly assoulted by baby terrors and Astrid walked slowly towards the four-winged dragon.
Valka's shiloutte was kind of creepy against the icy light, her weird mask pushed up on her head.
"It's late"
Astrid yelped and stumbled "H-how did you know I was here?" she asked, surprised.
The woman turned her face and smiled at her "I heard you. Your footsteps aren't exactly light"
She rolled her eyes "Right" she muttered "Stupid sharp senses"
The feral lady chuckled and slid down on the grass beside her dragon before patting the ground "Come sit"
Astrid obliged and plopped down next to her.
Just as she did so, all of her strenght started to slip from her body and she realised how tired she actually was.
"Rough day?" Valka asked, touching the grass with her staff "You never came so late in here"
"Actually, yes"
The girl laid down and closed her eyes "I had to escape for a while"
Valka sighed, her look faraway.
"I guess your boyfriend is involved"
"He's not my boyfriend. But yes. He is"
"If ye want to talk about it you can. But by now it would be really helpful to know the kid's name"
"Hiccup" Astrid blurted out.
It was all so quick she almost thought she had imagined it.
But no, she hadn't.
She didn't miss the way Valka's shoulders tensed, or her hands clenching the staff more tightly before letting it go completely.
It was as if the name had brought back old memories.
"Yeah?"
It took Astrid a moment to realise Valka wanted her to speak about her day.
"Oh, uhm yeah" she breathed and sat up, smoothing her skirt "Well, he has a fake leg, you know? He lost it five years ago while protecting us all from a dragon. In the first periods he often experienced phantom pains but then somehow they simply stopped. Today the weavers asked him to undress and he freaked out at the mere thought of someone who wasn't me seeing his leg without the prosthetic. Also the queen basically hates me because she sees there's something beetween the two of us"
There was silence, and maybe that was exactly what Astrid needed: just telling everything to someone who had nothing to do with what happened in the castle without being judged.
The silence was broken when her stomach suddenly growled loudly.
Valka's head snapped in her direction and she blushed "Uh, sorry"
The woman gave her a warm smile, so maternal that she almost melted under her gaze.
Gods she missed her own mother so much.
"When have you last eaten?" she asked.
Astrid shrugged "This morning I guess"
Valka rolled her eyes and stood up, beaming at her.
"Come on, I still have some meatballs inside"
The large clock on the watchtower said it was almost midnight when she silently ran up the stairs.
She opened the door to her bedroom and instantly she was pulled aside, a hand on her mouth.
Reacting like a wild animal she bit the unknown hand and elbowed the stranger in the ribs.
"OW" a familiar voice croaked "Why would you do that?!"
"Hiccup!" she exclaimed in shock.
She reached out for the door handle and shut it closed.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed.
Hiccup glared at her from the bed "Just wanted to see if you were okay" he grunted.
She scoffed "As if I'm the one was ill today"
He pursed his lips "Yeah... about that, thank you. I really feel better now"
She shrugged and nonchalantly kicked off her boots "Anytime" she said walking out of her skirt.
She looked over at Hiccup to see his cheeks were bright red "My Dad told me I said aloud that one of my happiest memories was our first flight"
Astrid nodded.
"I hope that didn't make the queen treat you too badly"
She bit her lip and threw her shoulder-pads and shirt on the ground.
"I don't think she noticed" she lied, a knot forming in her belly "And even if she did, she hasn't said anything about it"
Hiccup seemed to relax at that.
He looked at her up and down, his gaze lingering a bit on her breast-plates.
It was stupid, but she felt the urge to cover herself.
He raised an eyebrow.
Stretching his arms out, he pulled her in his lap and leaned his head in the crook of her neck.
He inhaled and she felt him frown against her bare skin "You smell of grass" he observed.
She swallowed "I uh... I've been playing in the woods with the dragons"
So many lies.
She hated lying to him.
She hated all of this.
Hiccup's arms tightened around her body and she pushed his hair out of his eyes.
Their foreheads touched and their noses bumped together.
"Stay with me tonight?" Astrid asked timidly.
His smile was sweet as his lips brushed against hers "Of course, milady"
And here it is!
Again, I'm really really sorry if I kept you all waiting so long but some not so happy things happened in my life so that's why I haven't been around.
Hopefully it won't happen again!
Thank you to all the ones who kept on reviewing and sending me messages, that means a LOT!
LOVE YOU GUYS xoxo
Til next update!