THE GHOST OF WARBOROUGH HALL
"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship."
– Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803 - 1882
CHAPTER EIGHT:
"Astrid did not see Hiccup again for the rest of the day, and she could not help but notice the irony that now it was she who was seeking him out. She did not see him for nearly a week, and even Gobber had given up making excuses for him, though he did not appear at all concerned that his apprentice kept disappearing with nary a word.
"The following week, her father took her once more to visit a few families nearby. She did not want to go – she wanted to be at Warborough Hall the minute Hiccup was back. Besides, she was not so blind to see what her neighbours were trying to do, although she did not understand why her father was giving matchmaking a try as well.
"Yet Astrid was also painfully aware of her duty, and the rules, and society's expectations of her, and her love for her father was far too strong to rebel against. And so she endured making small talk with the neighbours' children, all of whom were dull, or self-righteous, or self-centred. They said that a lady of fifteen needed to be surrounded with other ladies her age, and perhaps she might even take a shine to one of their sons. She was only three years shy of being presented to society after all, and the sooner she could fall in love the sooner they could get their hands on the Hofferson title and fortune.
"It was not until the fifteenth night since Hiccup disappeared when Astrid finally arrived back in Warborough Hall. It was late, and she was tired, and so she trudged up to her bedroom without noticing that there were now two silhouettes working at the forge.
"Much later that night, as she was brushing her hair in front of her looking glass getting ready for bed, she heard the patter of a pebble hitting her window. She froze and waited for it to happen again.
"There was a moment of silence, and then another pebble hit the glass.
"She quickly edged towards the window, her breath quickening, her hairbrush still in hand. She looked down towards the grounds. Her brows knitted together as her blue eyes scanned the darkness, her breath fogging the glass.
"It was a cloudy night, and she could not see a thing.
"She made a hum of confusion as she turned back to her mirror to put her hairbrush down.
"Astrid! Someone hissed.
"She spun around. That voice! She ran to the window, completely forgetting her state of dress, and flung it wide open.
"Hiccup? She whispered. Hiccup! Where are you?
"Down here!
"I can't see you!
"She heard shuffling.
"I still can't see you.
"Come downstairs then!
"Oh no, you are not commanding me. She said childishly. You come up here!
"You know I may not enter the house! Not at this late hour - your father will feed me to his hunting dogs!
"Just climb up the wall then, it is easy. I have done it many times before.
"She heard Hiccup sputter, and Astrid couldn't help but goad him.
"Or do you need Toothless to help you do something that I can do blindfolded?
"Or perhaps you could let down your hair so that I may climb up?
"Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin.
"Well maybe… huh? She imagined his face scrunching up in confusion. I don't think we're working on the same fairy tale here.
"Just climb up, Hiccup. Astrid said. After being so long in the company of teetering ladies and obnoxious gentlemen, his dry sense of humour and his peculiar way of speaking was like a breath of fresh air.
"Which was why his hesitation was getting on her nerves.
"Into your… into your bedroom? Hiccup positively squeaked.
"Yes, just… don't make a sound, or I'll feed you to my father's hunting dogs.
"She heard him sigh, and she watched on amusedly when he emerged from the shadows as he climbed up, his limbs shaking with exertion. Though she dearly would have loved to, she did not laugh at him for the sake of their friendship, made feeble due to her stubbornness. When he finally scrabbled over her window, she bent down and grinned at him, her face still red from suppressed laughter. She suddenly realised that she was only in her nightdress, and that she was alone, in her bedroom, with a boy.
"This was so forbidden! So forbidden. She quickly drew the loose folds of her dress around her and crossed her arms. She waited for him to catch his breath.
"And he suddenly seized up to clutch his right leg.
"What's wrong with you?
"I think… my – my leg has cramped.
"This time, Astrid did not hold her laughter in, which was a mistake, for she laughed quite loudly and deeply. And it was also unfortunate that her governess decided to pass by her room at that very moment, and heard Hiccup's pitiful groan of pain.
"She pursed her lips and knocked at her door. Astrid?
"Astrid clamped both hands over her mouth.
"Don't worry, she will not open my door without my permi-"
"Is there something wrong, Miss Sawyer? The voice of her father rumbled through the door, and her governess replied back. Hiccup's eyes widened, and Astrid blanched, but only for a moment, for she was once again grinning deviously at him in the blink of an eye.
"Uhh… Astrid? He stuttered, not liking the look on her face one bit.
"Under the bed, she pushed him. Quickly!
"Ow! Astrid!
"Astrid? Her father knocked.
"Hurry!
"Perhaps fear gave his knees flight, because Hiccup managed to crawl very quickly, even with one cramping leg. And not a moment too soon, for Astrid, without waiting for him, had already run across the room to open the door before he had even reached the bed. He quickly dove under, his nose filling with dust mites.
"He willed himself not to sneeze.
"Father, Miss Sawyer, Astrid murmured enchantingly. What brings you to my bedroom this fine evening?
"Her father sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Not now, Astrid. Miss Sawyer says that she heard voices in your room: Who were you talking to?
"Mm… just a ghost.
"The ghost? Her father said dubiously, and for one heart stopping second Astrid thought that he saw straight through her lie.
"Astrid attempted to seem uncaring. Though most people will say that ghosts do not exist. Therefore, I have been speaking with nobody.
"Indeed? Her father asked drily.
"I very clearly heard another voice, her governess insisted.
"Then perhaps it was the fairies! Astrid cocked an eyebrow. Or are you accusing me of harbouring fugitives in my own bedroom?
"Astrid! Her father and governess gasped, and even Astrid's eyes widened at her unthinking words. She looked down and picked at the long sleeves of her nightdress.
"Forgive me, that was very rude of me, she relented.
"Indeed it was, her governess said. She had never spoken to her like that before – whose company was she keeping that taught her such awful manners? Surely not the surrounding families' children. If not them, then…
"The blacksmith's boy.
"Mary Sawyer's eyes narrowed. She was going to have a word with that boy tomorrow.
"Her father was also looking at her with narrowed eyes. Just go to bed Astrid, he muttered. No more talking. No more ghosts. Just – bed.
"Yes father. See? She ran, switched off the lamps, and dove under the covers. Bed, just as you commanded.
"Her father and her governess looked at each other, then, sighing, closed the door and walked away.
"Hiccup let out a mighty sneeze.
"Astrid grinned as she poked her head under her bed. She looked at the miserable boy upside down.
"Are you alright? She whispered.
"Never better. Hiccup sneezed again.
"Be quiet, I haven't locked the door yet. She scrambled to her feet and lightly ran in the dark. Once her door was locked, she turned back to Hiccup, who was crawling out from under her bed, his auburn hair powdered grey.
"Don't they ever sweep your room? He hissed as he shook his hair out, a cloud of dust swirling all around him.
"They do, they just sweep the dirt under my bed.
"He looked at her, aghast. And you don't tell them off for that? Or tell the housekeeper?
"No, because I don't care. So Hiccup, she sat at her bed cross-legged, eager to get business sorted. Will you tell me where you've been to this time?
"Uh…
"The truth Hiccup.
"Her intent gaze unnerved him. I have… I have been on an errand –
"No, she reached and punched him in the arm. The truth. We are friends, are we not?
"Friends? You didn't even want to speak to me a fortnight ago.
"That was before I believed in dragons.
"That stopped Hiccup on his tracks.
"And… you… you believe in dragons now?
"Astrid squirmed. Well, if I can believe in ghosts, then I suppose I can believe in dragons. Besides, I have already seen one – your one – though very faintly. And I do not believe in anything until I have seen or experienced it myself. I have seen a dragon, and so I believe in its existence. She finished in a stronger tone of voice.
"Really? Hiccup asked, not quite believing the speed by which she believed in the magnificent beasts that he had been able to see since he could remember.
"What can I say? I'm a Hofferson through and through, she said proudly. So: the truth, Hiccup.
"He watched for a sign that Astrid was taunting him, but her clear blue gaze dissipated his uncertainty. He sighed. The truth is, Astrid – I've been flying to the surrounding areas to check on the dragons. He closed his eyes and waited for her to punch him. But she did not even scoff. He opened an eye and found her looking expectantly at him.
"Well? She demanded. Go on.
"That's, er, pretty much it.
"Why were you checking up on the dragons?
"Well, you see… they've been getting sick, and the dragon trainers here don't know why. And so one of them wrote to my father asking for help.
"Your father is a dragon trainer?
"Hiccup suddenly blanched. Uhh… he stammered. You can… you can say that, I guess.
"Dragon trainers. Astrid breathed. Did you come from a family of dragon trainers?
"You… can say that as well.
"Straight answers, Hiccup.
"… yes. I came from a family of dragon trainers.
"Why were you gone so long this time?
"I had to go further. The illness, it seems, is spreading. Thankfully Toothless hasn't caught it yet, although I've noticed that he was flying rather drowsily this time around, but he's alright now… Hiccup trailed off, then blinked and shook his head. I'm sorry, but I still can't believe that you believe me without me having to do anything. I thought I'd be throwing pebbles at your window all night long.
"Astrid laughed. Well, believe it, because it's the truth. I saw a shadow, and I could not explain what it was. You offered an explanation, and so I have decided to take it. It's either that, or I'm going mad.
"You're not going mad, Hiccup said firmly. Though I may be.
"What do you mean?
"Hiccup shrugged. You wouldn't believe me even if I told you.
"Come on, Hiccup. You just made me believe in dragons.
"He paused, and then sighed. There was no way getting out of this one.
"A few times in the past week, I… well, I thought I saw you around the grounds and in the house. But that's impossible, right? He laughed nervously. You have been away, travelling, this past week. Even I knew that at the time. How could it have been you?
"That wasn't me, Astrid bit her lip. And you're right, it is… impossible… for me to be in two places at once. You must… you must have been dreaming.
"…Yeah. Hiccup looked down, unconvinced. But with no logical explanation to the phenomenon, he had no choice but to let it go.
"But enough of that, let's go back to dragons, Astrid poked him. How does it feel like to fly? Last I saw you, you were a green speck on the back of a black dot in the sky, flying higher than the clouds, so you were either levitating, or you… what? She demanded when Hiccup gave her a crooked grin.
"Nothing, I'm just… happy, I guess. And proud. Proud that you can see dragons without me having to convince you. Because it's a two way thing.
"What is?
"Trust, and belief.
"Astrid thought in silence. Why do I need trust to be able to see dragons?
"Because it's one side of the same coin. A human and a dragon will never be able to interact with each other unless there's trust and belief. Yes, the reason why many people cannot see dragons is because they do not believe in them. However, a person's belief in dragons will be nothing if the dragons do not sense them as well.
"Sense? I do not understand.
"It's the closest English word to the dragon equivalent of human instinct. It is a mystery what they truly sense, but many believe that what they sense is destiny, for one can change one's fate, but one cannot stop destiny.
"I… still do not understand.
"He nodded to her. Here, give me your hand.
"Astrid held her hand out without hesitation, though she still could not help but blush when Hiccup sat down next to her to take it in between his warm hands. She thanked the heavens that her room was bathed in darkness.
"It's just like a hand, Hiccup was saying. The back of your hand is different to the palm of your hand, yet they are stretched over the same skin, over the same bones, with the same blood running underneath. It's the same with dragons and humans. Dragons just live in… a different side of the coin to us, so to speak. Same Earth, different worlds. A dragon will always be able to see humans, though humans are but ghosts to them. But if the dragons do not sense the human in return, the human will not be able to see them. Although they also said that there was a time when both worlds crossed, he wrapped his hand over the back of hers, and people and dragons saw and sensed each other as clear as day.
"Astrid's hand twitched involuntarily.
"Some humans are better at believing in dragons. Some, like me, are born with the ability and the knowledge to cross paths with the dragons. Outsiders – that is, people like yourself – may believe, but will have to wait until a dragon senses them. Some people wait forever.
"Astrid blinked. And some dragons will wait forever for the human to believe?
"Hiccup nodded. This is the sadder of the two scenarios, for more often than not, the dragon will have struck a link with the human they had sensed – not quite as strong as a bond, but strong enough for the dragon to yearn after the human's affections and attentions for a long time, sometimes forever.
"That is heartbreaking! Astrid quietly exclaimed.
"Yeah. Though there is one other way, he said. The dragons may be able to sense another human if a bonded human has strong ties with that other human. Then it's upto the bonded one to convince them to believe.
"Astrid thought his words through. If a bonded human has strong ties with another human…
"Realisation dawned on her.
"That's what you were trying to do?
"Hiccup ducked his head sheepishly.
"You thought our friendship was a strong enough tie.
"Yeah, he mumbled sadly, you're the truest human friend I've ever had, believe it or not.
"Astrid's glanced at his hunched figure and immediately felt very bad for ignoring him. She reached out and gave him a one armed embrace, this time throwing all the etiquette she had ever learned to the wind.
"And you're my friend too, she whispered. As long as you don't do anything stupid, you'll always be my friend. But Hiccup, we've only really been friends for several weeks, and for two weeks we were not even speaking to each other. How could our ties already be strong?
"But it wasn't strong! I mean, I don't know, Hiccup shrugged. As you've said: we weren't even been speaking to each other. And that's what boggles my mind. In fact, Toothless actually sensed you the moment I stepped foot in Warborough Hall, last month, even though he had never met you, and he was already bonded to me. He only sensed you, nobody else.
"Astrid remembered what she had overheard in the woods, the conversation between Toothless and Hiccup. Most people never learn to see dragons, he had said. But you sensed her before I even knew.
"That's odd, she murmured.
"Yeah. They glanced at each other, and jumped back when they found out how close their faces were. They both turned a bright shade of scarlet at the same time.
"Well, um…
"Alright then, er…
"Guess that was…
"We should probably…
"Astrid coughed into her fist. They looked at each other, then burst out laughing in their shared embarrassment. Astrid leaned back, searching for a pillow to stifle her giggles, but yelped when the mattress shifted under her, making her lose her balance. She fell over the edge and onto the carpet with a dull thud.
"Oh my g- Astrid, are you okay?
"Astrid was lying on the floor, her hair tousled all over her face, and she slapped both hands over her mouth as she continued to laugh. She suddenly snorted when she tried to take a breath, and she looked at Hiccup for a second with wide eyes, before they fell into fits of giggles again.
"Be… be quiet or your servants will hear us.
"Can't… stop…
"Ssh!
"I'll stop when you stop.
"Don't challenge me, because I'll lose.
"I can't breathe…
"Hiccup dropped a pillow on her face, which just made her laugh even more. She threw the pillow back at him with such force that he nearly fell off the bed too.
"They calmed down eventually, though laughter still spilled from their lips every now and then. Astrid hummed before she rolled up to sit on the floor, placing her arms on the bed and resting a cheek on the soft blanket. Hiccup lay down as well, his head resting on the same edge as Astrid's so that they were both looking straight at each other.
"Trust and belief… Astrid murmured. Hiccup saw her eyes shine in the darkness. So I may believe, but I may never truly see one. I will only see glimpse and shadows in the corner of my eyes forevermore.
"But Toothless senses you, Hiccup repeated. And you've already seen him.
"Right, she replied. She picked at the sleeves of her dress once more. Hiccup, will you help me cross paths with more dragons? Will you help me form a bond with one? Train one?
"Hiccup's heart beat faster at her request. Sure, no problem, on one condition.
"Yes?
"You will do everything I say: and I mean everything. When we are in the presence of dragons, when we are in their world, the protocols of this world do not apply. That means no 'your ladyship' or any of that. When I tell you to do something, you do it. When I tell you to not do something, you don't.
"Astrid narrowed her eyes dangerously, but Hiccup prevailed. That is my price.
"Fine, she hissed. How long will I defer to my Lord Toothpick for?
"Forever.
"Astrid snorted. One week.
"Two years.
"A week and a half.
"One year, then.
"Two weeks!
"Deal's off. He teased and made to get up.
"Wait, wait! Astrid snatched his shirt and yanked him back down to her level with surprising strength, and he fell back hard on the mattress. How about… how about until I bond with a dragon?
"Hiccup thought about it. He really did want Astrid to bond with a dragon of her own, but he also knew that two weeks was not going to be enough, let alone learn the basics of dragon training. Alright, he finally said, You will have to defer to me until you bond with a dragon, plus five months for me to teach you how to train it. He brought his hand forward. Deal?
"Deal! She enthusiastically shook his hand, her grip so strong that Hiccup yelped in pain. He winced as he tried to massage the blood back into his fingertips.
"You really don't know how strong you are, do you?
"Oh, I do. You just don't know how weak you are.
"Trust me, I know.
"Astrid sniggered, which gave way to a yawn as she hauled herself up to her bed. She drew the blanket around her and lay back on her pillows. So when do we start?
"Well, I'm going to be busy during the day with Gobber – I've been gone for too long, and the village needs a few things made and repaired. Your father is very generous to open his own personal smithy for the village's use.
"My father is a kind man, Astrid murmured, and Hiccup noticed how sleepy she sounded. She must really be exhausted from travelling and having to put up with the tiresome people of her social circle. He got off the bed and tucked the blanket under her chin.
"We'll start tomorrow night, he promised her. She smiled before she closed her eyes to sleep, but then roused herself once more to watch him climb over the window sill.
"Thank you Hiccup, she whispered from across the room. For trusting me.
"He looked back at her and gave her one of his soft, genuine smiles.
"Good night Astrid.
"Hiccup swung a leg over the window sill and paused to look at Astrid one final time before he slipped out into the night.
"I watched him disappear from the darkness, the summer moon peeking in from beyond the horizon. A breeze drifted softly into the room as Astrid finally fell asleep in the embrace of the warm and gentle evening."
I returned to my room later that day with Miss Hofferson's story still lingering in my mind. Hiccup brought with him the sweetness and warmth of young summer, full of promise, and hope, and colourful friendship. It left me wondering how the people around the young Lady's life took to her blossoming friendship with the low-born blacksmith. But there was more.
Trust and belief.
She had given me the keys to the other world, the other dimension, the other side of the coin. It was now up to me to figure out how I was going to use this information.
And there was more. Did Miss Hofferson think that I would not notice? Did she think that I was not listening closely? I was hanging on to every single word that she said. Was it simply a slip of the tongue?
Today, Miss Hofferson had said I.
Once uttered, it resounded in my head and refused to be silenced.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I originally planned on having the Christmas party scene in this chapter, but an entirely different inspiration bug bit, so I've had to push the Christmas party for later as I rearranged events into a new timeline, all so that it smoothly leads up to a certain Hiccstrid squeefest that will hopefully happen in 3-4 chapters.
Next chapter should be up in a few days (that is, if I don't get sidetracked with drawing again XD).
Sorry if the Hiccstrid is a little slow in coming. I want to establish Hiccup and Astrid's friendship first before we head to the romance because, as with any good relationship, friendship is what makes it strong. It's what makes it last, and so friendship must be at the centre of it all.
LizzyLory: I actually don't know how long this is going to go for. Maybe 25? 30? 40? Sorry I really don't know _ haha Ruff will eventually interact with dragons, and it will happen when she least expects it, and it will shock her, and it will happen while she is in the company of others ;)
Ferdoos: Thank you! :)
PalindromePen: Aw thank you! 3 I ship both Rufflegs and Ruffgur, so I guess I am angling for both. The fun is in writing how Ruff reacts to a romantic advance and how she handles it :D
Cat Eyed Blunder: You shall find out, in due time :)
Loki Smokey: Thanks! Love the name :)
NEXT CHAPTER: In which Astrid goes for spin!