Author's Notes: Thank you for putting this story to your faves and alerts. I really appreciate it. Divergary, thank you so much for your reviews! I hope you'll like this chapter too.
Disclaimer: I don't own How to Train Your Dragon or any of its character. They belong to Cressida Cowell (novel wise) and DreamWorks (movie wise).
Well, This is Expected
Chapter 3: The Calm
I'm flying. I don't know how but I am flying and the world looks so small beneath me. The wind is against my face and it feels great. The sky has never been so blue and clear. I smile. I've never felt so free until now. It's amazing. It's even made better by the presence of something…someone together with me. I'm not alone in the skies. I'm sharing this experience with somebody else. I'm safe and… happy.
I clench my hands and realize that I'm holding onto something. I can't tell what it is but I feel that it's important. Suddenly, there is a violent jolt and the sky turns from blue to eerie black. Screams and cries fill the air. The wind is still rushing past my face but this time it's hot. It feels like the wind became one with fire. Someone screams my name. I cannot recognize who it is but my heart tells me it is someone I know. Someone… very close to me. A sharp cry cuts through the air and a powerful force knocks me down. Then, I feel myself letting go and getting suspended in the air. It's hot. I feel like I'm melting yet at the same time, I don't feel hurt. Flames lick my skin inch by inch but I can't feel any pain. I keep falling and falling and falling. There are sounds of moving wings.
Hiccup!
…
..
.
I open my eyes. The sudden morning brightness in my room had me blink once, then twice. The ceiling greets me "good morning". I groan, lie to my side, and close my eyes. I still want to sleep.
"Hiccup!" a muffled voice yells outside.
I pull the bed covers over my head. I really really want to sleep some more. Yesterday ended badly for me, I think I deserve a bit more rest. Not to mention that dream. I can't remember it clearly. My memory only gives me bits and pieces but it felt so…
"Hiccup! Get up, lad!"
I groan again as I recognize the voice. It's Gobber. What is he doing here? It's still early in the morning. Or is it? I take off the covers and sit up from the bed. I rub the sleep off my eyes. I yawn and stretch. Had I overslept? I finally stand up and look around my room. It's a mess. I run my hand through my hair irritated. I just woke up, probably later than expected. Gobber is hounding on my doorstep. Dad just left me last night for Juardu. My room is in a mess and most likely the entire house is in a mess. I still haven't had my breakfast and-
"Hiccup!"
Gobber is still hounding on my doorstep. Mornings… love it!
"Just a moment!" I yell. I run my fingers through my hair. It's a mess as well but I don't have the time to comb it. Sighing, I just take my vest and fur boots and run downstairs. I go straight to our kitchen and into the water basin. I may not be able to fix my hair but at least I'll be decent enough with a clean face and breath.
I cup my hands and dip in the basin. The water is frigid cold but I'm used to it. I wash my mouth with water very well and then proceed to splash and scrub face.
"Hiccup!"
In my haste, I just wipe my face with my vest. Wow, I just rendered the cleaning of my face moot. Great. Groaning in disappointment, I wear my vest and boots and run to the front door. Once I open it, Gobber stands there with an ear to ear grin in his face. Now that usually means something bad for me.
"What?" I ask warily.
Gobber's grin grows wider. "Morning, lad. Looks like you cleaned up yourself good this time!" he greeted.
All right… that's… unusual for an early morning Gobber greeting. I touch my hair. "I-I do?"
The man draped his arm, the one with an amputation, on my shoulders in reassurance. Then we start walking away from my house. I then notice that he didn't have a hammer as a hand today. In its stead was a hook. Now how will you use a hook in the forge?
"'Course you do, Hiccup!" he says as he ruffles my hair with his good hand.
I frown at the treatment and push myself away from him. Now my hair is even messier. "Gobber!"
The man only laughs. "Oh, don't you worry so much. I'm sure the fish will still notice you even with that hair." He winks.
"Fish? What?"
Gobber shakes his head and rolls his eyes. He looks like he's talking with a five year old… Now, wait a rat eating minute!
"Oh you know, the fish with mane of golden sunshine?" my mentor says nonchalantly. "And sparkly blue eyes as clear as the sky?"
I stand there for moment. Then, I finally catch the gleam of the twin blade axe strapped on Gobber's back. Then… I panic.
"Astrid! Oh gods, Astrid! Astrid! Her axe! Aww, Odin! She's going to kill me! Gobber, why didn't you wake me up earlier? Where is she? The axe! Give me the axe! What time is it? I'm so dead!"
My mentor laughs at my predicament. Great. Gobber finds my impending doom through Astrid's hand hilarious.
"I'm glad you find this funny." I say flatly.
I like Astrid. I really really do but I don't want her to kill me!
"Don't worry so much, lad." Gobber gives me the twin blade axe carefully. Then he takes a small bag hanging from his belt and shakes it.
"Whetstones." he says and he put it in my arms together with the axe as well. "So next time, you wouldn't have to sharpen her axe not to mention that it will be counted as a gift." He winks.
I smile. This fixes everything. "Thanks! But… where will I find Astrid? Oh gods, she's still going to kill me if I can't give her the axe this morning!"
Gobber starts shoving me. Man, he's really strong even with a peg leg. "What? Where are we going?" I ask.
"To your beloved fish, of course!"
My jaws almost drop when we reach our destination. It is the dragon arena. It is the place where all the Viking trainees learn how to fight dragons. Oh how I dream to be able to come to this place! Well, I am here now but for a different reason.
My eyes catch a blur of blonde and blue.
"Astrid!" I call her.
Her head whips around. Her braided hair sways gracefully with the movement. I wonder how it would feel to run my fingers through that hair. And then her lovely blue eyes… are as cold and hard as winter ice. Her perfect lips set in an angry line… She's still beautiful even when furious. But that still doesn't change the fact that she is furious.
"Dut duh duh, I'm dead." I mutter. Gobber gives me one last reassuring clap in the shoulder and set off to the other trainees perhaps to check if their weapons are in good condition. He left me alone with Astrid.
Yup, I'm definitely dead.
"Hiccup." She snarls at me.
"Wait… wait, Astrid. Just give me a chance to explain…" I say as I back up slowly away from her. I may like her but I still want to live with all my limbs intact.
She stalks me like a dragon on a raid. Oh, she's absolutely livid. "I won't listen to anything you have to say."
I could hear someone snicker. I steal a glance from my side. Oh great. The twins are here watching. So as Fishlegs and Snoutlout. This will definitely go down to my humiliation history.
With my attention elsewhere, Astrid takes the chance and grabs me by the collar.
"Ack!"
She brings my face just inches near hers. "Now, where's my axe?" she asks frostily.
Had this been any other situation, I would have loved to let our faces be this close for as long as possible. But her expression promises bodily harm if her weapon isn't returned to her as soon as possible.
I gulp and dart my eyes to the axe precariously sandwiched between our bodies.
"Uh, currently between you and me." I tell her.
Someone cat whistles. "Oh, look. Two little love birds kissing." Tuffnut teases.
Ruffnut, his twin sister, scoffs. "She could do better."
Astrid's eyes widen as she realizes the closeness of our faces and she forcefully pushes me away. She grabs her axe from my arms and proceeds to kick me in the gut. I immediately fold and fall flat on the ground.
"Why would you do that?" I groan.
She stands over me and drops her axe's wooden handle on my stomach. It hit the same spot where she kicked me. "Owww…"
"That's for not returning my axe last night." She tells me.
Laughs burst out of the Viking trainees. Their humour is really obscure. I mean what's so funny about a guy getting beat up by a girl? Well, the girl is Astrid so it doesn't count but still.
"Augh" I moan as I gingerly stand up. Why does love have to hurt so much? My hand touches the bag of whetstones. Oh right, I tied it around my waist earlier since the axe was already heavy enough to carry alone. I loosen the ties and walks to Astrid, who is currently busy checking her precious axe.
"Astrid?"
"What?" she snaps.
I give the bag to her. She looks at it confused. I almost blush at her expression. She's so cute. Really, seeing her like that erases all the pain she had inflicted upon me.
She opens the bag and takes a whetstone. She raises her brow at me.
"Uh… You… you were asking for whetstones yesterday, right? So-so I…" trying to stop my blush and stammer in front of my crush and peers is one impossible task. It doesn't help that I could see Gobber behind them, near the weapon's holder. My mentor is grinning like crazy!
"A-anyway. Here it is! So… so I-I…" Astrid stares at me as I try to string one complete sentence together. She had this confused, annoyed, expecting, almost amused expression that is so cute that I can't take it anymore.
"So there! Goodbye! And see you tomorrow!" With that I fix my eyes to the ground and walk away as fast as possible.
Behind me, I could hear the trainees laugh as I meet Gobber.
"Stones? He gave you stones? Weird."
"What was that all about, Astrid?"
"Haha! That was a nice kick, Astrid!"
I sigh. I just blew my chance on making a good impression on Astrid. Arrgh! Why can't I get it together when I'm talking to her? !
"You'll get another chance, Hiccup." Gobber consoles me as together we made our way to arena's exit.
I sigh. "Of course." I answer sarcastically.
The man shakes his head in disapproval as he easily understands what I really meant with the statement. Though I rarely give up easily or get depressed, Gobber still frowns on my few moments of negativity. He says that such act is unbecoming of a chief's son. He also dislikes pessimistic apprentices. It's better if I continue on stubbornly as always even if everybody else lets me down. I'm also a much better company when I'm happily snarking around.
I hear rushed footsteps coming from behind us and I turn around. My heart speeds up at the sight of her.
"Astr-Ooof!"
She suddenly shoves something in my face. I bring my hands on it and pull it away. I blink once then twice at the item.
"A book?" I flip the pages. "A blank book?" I ask in wonder.
Then I look at Astrid. She looks nervous which is unusual. She's also avoiding direct eye contact with me.
"That's for everything else." She says and runs back immediately to the arena.
I stand there with an open mouth. Astrid just gave me a book. Astrid herself just gave me a book!
"Thanks, Astrid!" I yell at her. She didn't turn around. Well she's already far away so she might not have heard me. But that's okay.
"Oh wipe that grin off of your face, Hiccup." Gobber teases.
I look at him, still with the stupid grin in my face. "No"
The man just smiles at my antic.
The two of us walk back to the forge. All the way, I continue to flip the pages of the blank book that Astrid gave me. I couldn't help the happiness that I feel as I touch the covers. Astrid gave me a book. Astrid gave me a gift. Astrid herself gave me a book as a gift!
It's the best thing that had ever happened to me since the long strings of unluckiness I've had recently. The messy house, the dragon raid, father's cooking, father's departure, father's disappointment, the possible invasion of dragons in Juardu, father being far away in a potentially dragon infested land that I don't know. I sigh as I remember all of those. I wish father had taken me with him. Really, I won't cause trouble on the expedition but no matter, I'm here and there's nothing that I could do to change it.
I flip the book again and smile. Well, if I have left then this wouldn't have happened. Things might have been bad lately but Astrid has chased them away with her gift. She always makes me feel better whether she's aware of it or not.
"Hiccup, if you keep doing that, the book might get ripped off before you could even use it." Gobber comments as I flip the pages again.
"I can't help it." I say "It's just… it's from Astrid! And it's so perfect. I mean I already filled all of my sketch books a few days ago. A new, blank book is just what I needed!"
"I know." Gobber mutters.
We finally reach the forge and he opens the shop's doors. We still have work to do and we're already late on our regular schedule since we took a trip to the arena.
Gobber started the fire while I wear my working apron. As I hang my vest beside the door, I caught sight of something on the tool table. I frown as I recognize it.
"Gobber, what's my sketch book doing here?" I ask as I turn the pages. It was the sketchbook filled of my contraption's plans, diagrams, and calculations. This shouldn't be here. This is supposed to be in my work room at the back of the forge.
"Oh?" the man calmly stokes the furnace's fire as he answers. "Hope you don't mind. We looked through those last night."
"We?" a horrible feeling suddenly settles in my stomach.
"Well, the lass was terribly angry last night when I told her the axe isn't ready yet. She was all ready to hunt you down and strangled you at your house. I have to distract her, you know?" he says nonchalantly.
For some reason, I found his explanation unbelievable. I narrow my eyes in suspicion.
"Really?"
"Of course! Your sketchbooks did the trick! The moment she saw it, all her anger disappeared!" he stands up and changes his hand from a hook into a hammer.
"Really?" I ask again. I can't get rid of the suspicion of something terrible at the back of my head.
Gobber claps my shoulders. "Get a grip lad! You've impressed her! She was speechless when she saw your sketches." He grins at me and the bad feeling gets worse.
"R-really?"
"Of course! I even gave her one of your sketchbooks since she liked it so much." He says before picking up a metal and starts working.
A few seconds passed and it finally sinks into my head.
"You gave Astrid my what? !"
"Your sketchbook, Hiccup."
"But my sketchbook is still here." I wave the item wildly in my hands. Oh no. Please tell me he didn't. He just didn't.
"You have two books lad. I gave her the other one."
He then goes back to his work while I look at him with multiplying horror.
He gave Astrid my other sketchbook. He gave Astrid my other sketchbook filled with drawings of her. Okay, there are few scenery sketches in a page or two but it was mostly Astrid in all her glory in that book!
Aww man, she'll definitely know my crush on her now!
I see Gobber smiling mischievously as he hammers on the hot steel.
"Gobber!"
After getting over with the fact that my mentor just gave me away to Astrid, I go on with my work and do my hammer exercise. I can't believe it. Astrid now knows my crush on her. So that's why she can't look at me in the eye when she gave me the book. Meeting her will be extremely awkward from now on.
Hours passed and before we knew it, it was already lunchtime.
Gobber's stomach growls in hunger. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he tells me that it's time to take a break. He washes his face and switches his hammer hand to a mug.
"I'm off to the Mead Hall. You?"
"Nah, I'll stay here a bit more. I have to finish something."
He looks at me suspiciously. "Hiccup"
"No. Don't worry, Gobber. I'll be fine." I insisted.
The man rolls his eyes. "Oh sure. Lots of hot steels around here. Lots of razor sharp blades. And you all alone with a lot of time to spare. What could possibly go wrong?"
"Oh come on. You know you could trust me. Remember yesterday? I was alone here and nothing bad happened, right? I'll be fine."
He still looks unconvinced. "You're up to something."
"Up to?" I laugh nervously "What could I be possibly up to?" I try to look as innocent as possible.
Gobber sighs. "We'll you did cover the shop well yesterday."
I grin at that.
"And most of the work is done here."
I nod in agreement.
After a few more seconds of thinking, he finally relents. "Fine. You could stay but first…" he takes a bucket full of water and pours its contents to the furnace's fire. He nods in satisfaction as the flames died. Then he takes away the axes and locks them in a secure cabinet.
"What was that for?" I ask.
"Precaution" he simply answers.
I give him a flat look.
He shrugs. "You can never be too careful, you know."
"You didn't have any problems leaving me yesterday." I mutter.
"That's because I'm in a rush. I have better things to do and you had a lot of things to do. You were busy enough to keep you away from… whatever you do whenever you have lots of free time." He explains as he washes his hand.
Well, he does have point on that.
"All right. I'm off. Be sure to eat after you're done. Can't have your stomach growling while we work later." He says before he hobbles towards the Mead Hall.
"Sure thing." I reply. Then I start to clean the forge. It will be harder to clean the place at night when everything is dark. It also makes the afternoon work more bearable with less dusts and soot.
I wash my hands and face and remove my apron after cleaning. I take my sketchbook and go to my work room. It's a small place behind the forge. It has no windows. It had a single table in the left corner with a wooden chair. Drawings of dragons and my inventions are pinned on its walls. It's my secret haven.
In the other corner of the room is my newest project. I call it the Spear Launcher. It's inspired from the Shrimp Wimp's cross bows. Gobber had his hand on one of those weapons during a business trade a couple of years ago. It's an amazing tool. The archer wouldn't waste so much energy on pulling the bow and firing an arrow one at a time. With a crossbow, the only thing you have to do is load it with arrows, aim, and fire. It is efficient too since you'll be able to fire several arrows from it continuously in just seconds.
I based my contraption's design on the crossbow. Berk is battling dragons not humans. Crossbows wouldn't be that effective against those creatures. But if I make one big enough to be able to launch a spear, killing a dragon even in the air will be as easy as a breeze.
I've worked on it for almost six months now. The designs were easy but building it was the tricky part. I have to hide my project from both my father and Gobber. I just know that once they see this, they would immediately dismantle it and forbid me from doing something like it ever again. I must have traumatized them when I tested out my Mangler. Now that was a big mess. I think old man Ack still hadn't forgiven me for destroying his house and nearly decapitating him with the contraption. Father wasn't also able to fix the storage house I've demolished with it too. He was furious with that. Even though I've pointed out that the Mangler was indeed effective with the destruction it caused and the problem was only a mild calibration issue, father still had it axed down and burned. He said it was a Thing set on human destruction. It should not exist.
That incident led me on sneaking on the forge at night to build the Spear Launcher. They should not see it until I've tested it and perfected it. I have to show them that not all my inventions are that bad. They're useful. I may not be able to fight but I could make something that will help me fight.
My invention was already completed. I just have to test it and make a few adjustments. Noon is the perfect time to do it since most of the people are in the Mead Hall for lunch. No one would see me. Testing the Spear Launcher must be done when there is still light; doing it at night will be impractical. I'll be aiming blindly and will cause more accidents… like the Mangler. I really need to stop thinking about that.
I close my contraption into its Stand-by mode: the bow folded back with a lid covering it. It looks like a harmless wheel burrow during this mode. I pick up a few steel rods I stashed in my room and put it inside the contraption. The test requires a real spear but I can't take one without raising suspicion from Gobber. That man always knows when one of the razor sharp objects in forge goes missing. Father doesn't own any spears too. He had always preferred axes and swords so those are the only ones available in our home. The steel rods will have to do and I've made them myself. I made sure that they would weigh the same as a real spear. They're a good substitute.
I wheel the Spear Launcher out of my work room. I carefully check outside through the shop's windows. No one is there. The coast is clear. I open the doors and quickly push the contraption. Once it was out, I quickly go back to the doors to close it.
"Hiccup." A familiar voice calls me.
I yelp in surprise and horror. I turn around and there she is, looking at me with narrow blue eyes and one hand resting on the contraption.
"Hi Astrid! Hi Astrid! Umm...Hi Astrid!"
She raises her eyebrow bemusedly. "Do you always greet people that way?"
I blush at the question. Of course I could answer "Well only to you" but that would just sound wrong. It's cheesy… Snotlout cheesy.
"Uh…"
She scoffs. "Never mind." Then she looks away.
There is silence between us. The situation is awkward. I like her and she knows it. I'm sure she will be wary of me now since, from what I've heard with my uncle when he visits the household, Astrid is adverse to any romance or courtship. Uncle Spitelout shares to us all of Snotlout's failure in earning her affections, not that it daunted my cousin in his efforts. He said that Astrid is Hel bent on becoming a shield maiden. Boys and marriage is far from her mind.
But here I am, standing a foot away from her, pinning for her and she's fully aware of it. I wonder what she's thinking about me now. I wonder what she would do to me now. How would she treat me? Will we still be "maybe friends" acquaintances? Will she break me in half? Will she kill me?
"What is this?" she suddenly asks with her eyes fixated on the "wheel burrow" she's touching.
Uh oh. This bad. This really really bad. "Uh… a wheel burrow?" I tell her as I pull the contraption away from her.
"Oh really?" she put a hand on her hips and strike the ground with the handle of her axe. She looks intimidating.
"Ye-yes" I insist and walk away with the contraption. I have to get away from her. I have to test this first.
Astrid caught up and places herself in front of me. She's blocking my way. I turn to her side and walk past her. In the corner of eye, I think I see her frown.
"You're acting weird." She suddenly says behind my back.
Her words surprised me and I trip on the ground. "What?" I round on her.
She looks at me with a thoughtful face. "Well, weirder."
I stare at her dumbfounded. It must have made her nervous and she frowns and grabs me by the collar. "Anyway, start talking."
"I… I" I try to break free but it is no use. Her grip is very strong.
"I'm not stupid enough to believe that that-" she gestures to my contraption with her axe. "Is just a mere wheel burrow. So stop lying." She demands.
She brings her axe so close to face. The blade gleams dangerously. Eep.
"Astrid…"
She narrows her eyes and the axe goes closer to my face.
"O-okay! It's actually a Spear Launcher!" I finally admit.
She drops me and looks at my invention impressively. "Spear Launcher?"
"Yeah yeah… it's a contraption that will shoot spears against the dragons like a crossbow. Only, crossbows are for humans and they launch arrows and not spears and they're smaller and…"
I glance at her face and I know with the expression she's wearing, I lost her the moment I said "crossbow" .
"Oh! You don't know about crossbows. Well, that's understandable since no one in the village uses it. Gobber only has them for learning purposes and-"
"Is that another invention, Hiccup?" Astrid cuts through my explanation.
"Huh?" then I see her calculating gaze. I gulp. "Uhh… yes?"
She shakes her head in disapproval and turns away. Oh great. She'll tell Gobber about this!
"No, no, no. Astrid, wait! Wait!" I yell as I run after her. "Please, Astrid. Listen! Just please listen. I promise this will not end in a disaster. I swear. The Spear Launcher… I'm sure this would not be like my other inventions. I won't mess up this time. Just please…"
Still, she didn't stop walking.
"Could you please just give me a chance to prove myself to the village?" I tell her desperately. "My father… everyone always says that I can't fight… that I can't be a warrior. I can't help." I clench my fists. "And I admit I can't ever pass to be a Viking but I'm not giving up! I still want to help! I may not be able to fight with swords and axes but with my inventions… I know…" I take a deep breath and speak with pure conviction. "I know I can fight."
Amazingly, she had stopped and stood there listening to me. Her face is unreadable but her eyes… they're boring into me as if… I don't know. I've never really guessed how her mind works. I don't know what she means with that gaze.
It's almost like an eternity has passed between us standing there and looking at each other. Astrid isn't saying anything yet. Numbly, I succumb to the nagging thought in my head. It's hopeless. She doesn't understand.
"Fine." I sigh "Go and tell, Gobber. I don't care. I will finish my invention regardless of what you all will think." I go back to my Spear Launcher and heads off to the woods. I still need to test it. I don't need to see Astrid's reaction. I know it will only break my heart.
I venture to the forests north of the village. It's only a quick walk from the forge with numerous and definitely indifferent targets. I'm sure the trees wouldn't mind if I hit them with the spears… err… steel rods, right?
The pathway is a bit rough so I have to carefully manoeuvre the Spear Launcher. The last thing I want is to accidentally activate it and have it shooting randomly in all directions.
I also have to mind where I'm going. Venturing too deep into this forest is dangerous. Years ago, Vikings had made expeditions into this very woods. People had observed that after the dragon raids are over, the creature always fly to the Hopeless Mountain. They thought the nest could be there. They thought that to solve our "pest" problem once and for all, they must look for the nest and destroy it. "Bring the fight to our enemies" they said. Four search expeditions later with no single Viking returning to the village, the idea was disregarded and any trips to the forest have become forbidden. A few Viking training sessions are still conducted in the place but they never last past twilight and trainees are expressly warned to stay within the training zone. People had deemed the forest cursed. No one should go in it alone. Well, as if that would stop me.
Spotting the perfect place, I begin setting up my invention. I have to move fast. Lunch wouldn't be that long. Gobber will be back at the forge in an hour at best. I quickly adjust the aimer and toggle the bow to make sure it's secure. I then load the rods and look for the perfect target. I choose a random tree about seven feet away from me. I take my knife and make a mark on it. Then I do the same to six more trees near it. Smiling in satisfaction, I head back to the launcher. I take a deep breath.
"Okay, it's go time. It's go time."
I aim on the trees. Once I'm confident enough that I won't miss, I pull the trigger. The launcher jerk a bit at the force it emitted but I hold on to it firmly. The Mangler's backlash had been far more powerful. I could still remember how it threw me off my feet. This, on the other hand, is something I could take. I distinctly hear the rod whizzed through the air and with a loud thunk, hit a tree.
My knuckles white on the trigger, I dare to look forward on the targets. And then, I release the breath I didn't know I was holding.
Yes!
There, dead on the X-mark, is the rod. I hit it. I hit it. I hit it! Yes! I smile. Yes, it works! Eager to prove myself that it isn't a lucky shot, I continue with the test.
At the end, four out of the seven rods hit their mark. Not bad, I think as I struggle to pull out the rods from the tree trunks. But I still have to improve a lot of things. New designs and calculations run through my head. I have to reduce the backlash force the launcher emits when it shoots. I have to make the bow firmer since it's starting to be a bit wobbly after the fourth shot. I also have to design a way to make the contraption load more than seven spears.
But it works. I think happily. It works. I didn't mess up!
I look into the sky. Uh oh. Not good.
I immediately pack up the launcher. I lost track of time! The sky is already turning into that warm orange colour. It's afternoon. Gobber's going to kill me.
Hastily running my way back to the forge, I start making a list of excuses in my mind. I also have to find a way to hide my invention without him seeing it. This is so mess up.
By some Odin given miracle, there are not much people in the streets and most of them are those who act like I didn't exist. For once, I'm glad that no one really notices me. As innocently as possible, I walk past them and continue to the forge. I slowly open the door and peer in. I frown.
"Gobber?"
I receive no answer. "Gobber?" I call again. There is no response what so ever. I go in. "You're… not… here?"
Sure enough, no one is inside. I find it unusual, not that it's a bad thing for me, but Gobber should have been here right now. Ignoring the absence of my mentor, I immediately wheeled the launcher inside my work room. After making sure that the room doesn't look suspicious, I change into my working attire and start the fire.
While I tend to the furnace, I start to think clearly about the situation. Gobber's not here and it's already afternoon. What could have possibly happened while I'm out in the woods? He was reluctant to leave me alone earlier so I was really sure that he will be rushing his lunch just to get back and keep an eye on me. Then I remember my encounter with Astrid. I almost stop at the thought. She… she could have ratted me out. It only makes sense. It's something she would do. I mean… it's not like anyone would believe that my invention will work. I feel sad about that because… even Astrid doesn't believe in me. My father… Gobber… I sigh. No point in thinking about that. The launcher works and once they see it in action, I know everything will turn out fine.
Someone hit me hard on the head and I drop the fire stoker. "Ow!" With a hand at the back my head, I turn around to face my attacker… and get the surprise of my life.
"That's for leaving me." Astrid spat.
"What…"
"Ah… So nothing bad happen this time too? Good job, Hiccup!" Gobber's voice suddenly booms inside the shop.
"Gobber?" I look at the man. He had a satisfied grin in his face.
"Was worried a bit back there. I got too caught up teaching the kids in the Dragon arena." He explains jovially.
"Dragon… arena?" I ask dumbly while looking back and forth at Astrid and Gobber.
"Yup… This nice lass here thought it will be good to have me share a lesson or two with them since I'm an ex-Viking and all. Phlegma is doing a good job teaching but she had never been eaten by a dragon before!" my mentor narrates enthusiastically.
I throw a questioning look at Astrid "Uhh…"
Then Gobber suddenly lunges at me. "I… gave them a special lesson about surviving dragon's bite." He says with a proud gleam in his eyes.
I laugh nervously. "That… that's good!" I tell him. I like and respect Gobber but sometimes… his love for the battle field is a bit overwhelming for me. I guess him being taken out of the Viking ranks unwillingly had its negative effects.
Wanting a change of topic, I point at Astrid. "Uhmm… anyway, what is she doing here?"
My mentor gives me a mischievous wink. "Well, I thought it will be nice for her to see you work."
"What?" Both Astrid and I ask.
Gobber hums amusingly. "Oh, both of you don't be shy."
"Excuse me." Astrid and I say at the same time… again. She glares at me for that.
"Your drawings, Hiccup! Astrid said she'll be interested watching you sketch some time. Well, now is the best time since you have a new book and all, right?"
I blush at the suggestion and when I look at Astrid, she's blushing as well. It's cute.
"Now off you go!" Gobber gestures for us to go outside.
"But…" I try to protest but he would have none of it.
"No. You two, go now. It's my assignment for you, lad. Now go!" he insists.
I look back at my crush. She's avoiding my gaze like a plague. With a sigh, I relent and remove my apron and take my vest. I quickly pick up my new sketch book and charcoal from my working room.
"Le…Let's go." I mumble to her.
We are walking near the river. I could hear Astrid's footsteps following me. We didn't really talk. Just walking and walking. Things are awkward between us what with my crush on her and my outburst this noon. What could we really talk about?
Some of the villagers gave us questioning looks as we pass by. I mean who wouldn't? Hiccup and Astrid strolling around Berk together? But thankfully, most of them eventually ignored us. Guess it's because it wasn't really their business, or that I'm the Chief's son, or because of the death glare Astrid had sent in their way. I'm pretty much sure it's because of the last one.
Then, I hear her footsteps stop. Curiously, I look back at her. She's still avoiding my gaze.
"That was for everything else." She says.
I frown. What did she mean by that? "Wha-"
She finally locks her eyes with mine. They are the clearest blue and they shine with an emotion I never expected for her to direct at me - Respect. Now what did I do to deserve that?
Then she punches me in the shoulder. "Ow!"
"Next time, don't expect me to cover for you." She snaps.
My eyes widen at a realization. She had actually distracted Gobber with the arena. She didn't rat me out. "You-Oww!"
She sends another punch, this time in the face. "And don't ever draw me without permission ever again."
I blush again. Did she have to bring that up and with a punch too? But of course she's Astrid. She's not Astrid if she didn't confront this issue without a touch of brutality. But…
"Do we always have to be this way?" I ask as I nurse my jaws. Man… that was one powerful punch.
She only glares as a response. "Hiccup…" she says warningly.
I roll my eyes. "Fine. Fine. I won't draw you without permission."
She huffs in satisfaction. "Good." Then she turns around to walk away.
I open my book and take my charcoal. "So… can I draw you now?"
Author's Notes: The roller coaster ride will start next chapter. I just want to flesh out Hiccup and Astrid's relationship first. Hope it didn't look forced.
Anyways, helpful criticisms are greatly appreciated.