To Katveena: Here you go ;) And I won't try to explain anything anymore. I've tried enough times now but it never seems to reach it's target so why bother? Chapter two was written down exactly like this already before I uploaded the first, I didn't change anything after the first reviews. If some people would just be patient...

To snoopykid and Kid arachnid: Thank you! ;)

To za0566194490: Haha, thanks! I do pretend this is what happened unless Dreamworks prooves me otherwise.

. o O o .

"Is everything alright with you?"

Astrid watched Hiccup questioningly. He was paler than usual somehow, restless and his breathing strangely irregular. She'd thought he might have caught a fever or something but Hiccup denied that vigorously, said he was fine, that it was nothing. Yeah, right. As if he'd ever been able to hide anything from her. Be might not be sick but there obviously was something.

They sat next to a small lake on one of the outer islands and enjoyed the warm sunlight and each other's presence. Normally, they would have had another day of training today but Hiccup had been right. This was too beautiful a day to just attack scareships from varying angles. So they'd packed a few provisions, had left Dragon's Edge to their friend - who'd been surprisingly convincing in promising to behave maturely for once – and had flown to where the wind had led them.

Astrid glanced at Hiccup once more and a small smile tugged at her lips. Of course, she could guess why he was so agitated. Their plan to visit Berk in a few day had stirred up a whole bunch of unexpected emotions in her and she guessed Hiccup didn't feel any better.

She didn't want to pretend anymore… Keeping their relationship just to themselves had been nice in the beginning, their sweet secret, but now… Now it wasn't a secret anymore and that was alright. They had both made their decision some while ago, they might as well make it official. Astrid had planned to talk about it with Hiccup on the night before they were to fly to Berk but it looked like Hiccup had another plan.

All of a sudden, Hiccup audibly cleared his throat and tugged at her hand to make her look at him. She obliged and had to bite back a grin at his flushed cheeks.

"Astrid, I-" he began stammering. "I… there's something I want to… erm, to tell you…" he trailed off, blushing fiercely and Astrid reached out to playfully nudge his shoulder.

"What is it?" She asked lightly. He obviously didn't need any more pressure, she might as well try to make it easier for him.

Hiccup took a deep breath and threw her an unreadable look. "I want to tell you something," he said again, much calmer this time and Astrid gulped at his sudden sincerity. "Yeah, tell you something... it… it's something I overheard my dad, erm, singing occasionally and… well, I thought it was, uhm, yeah…" he began to fidget again, his hands flying about in his usual endearing manner. "I… changed it a bit, though. Thought it would fit better to us that way." Hiccup threw her a small smile. "Oh, and, uhm, there's kind of a question in it so, ah, maybe you could…" he trailed off once more, biting his lip and averting his eyes.

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked carefully, her heart beating faster despite her having a good guess about where he was going. "Will you tell me?"

Hiccup swallowed and nodded once. He reached beneath his leather tunic to pull out a small packet of loosely folded cloth and held it out to her while he began to speak.

Astrid recognized the song instantly, even though Hiccup had changed the lyrics as he'd said and merely recited it instead of singing. It was the age-old song about love and commitment every Viking girl knew, even she, the weird warrior girl.

"I'll fly and soar through stormy skies

With never a fear of falling

And gladly ride the winds of life

If you would marry me.

No scorching fire nor freezing snow

Will stop us on our journey

If you would promise me your heart

And love me for eternity"

While he spoke, Hiccup unwrapped the small packet to reveal an ornate golden band with a large but flat stone sat on its surface. It was beautiful, the bluish stone marbled with streaks of gold, just like Stormfly's wings. How he'd been able to find that one was beyond her. Or would have been if she had cared in that moment.

But she didn't. She just gazed at him, mouth slightly hanging open and touched by how much thought Hiccup had put into this proposal when she'd thought making it official would be just a formality.

It was perfect. This song had always made her cringe a bit inwardly but Hiccups version was just perfect, for the two of them at least. Their realm wasn't the sea and the waves but the sky and the wind. The obstacles they faced weren't linked to the weather but to dragons who spat fire or, in case of the to her most abhorred Snow Wrath, ice. And it wasn't his journey he was talking about but their shared one. Because they would always go together, no matter where life led them.

Swallowing hard, Astrid reached for the golden bracelet Hiccup held out for her, her fingers trembling. She had expected him to propose when he'd invited her to a day off this morning. But she hadn't expected all this.

"So, you've brought me a ring of gold," she whispered, running her fingers over the intricate pattern along the circular metal. "And you've sung me poetry," Well, sort of. "Does that mean, you'll keep me from all harm as well?" A smile tugged at her lips when she saw his surprised expression at her knowledge of the lyrics. But then he smiled as well and reached for her hands to gently help her wrap the light metal band around her wrist. It was flat and tight enough to not be in the way, Astrid noticed and her heart was swelling at how well-considered his gift was.

"No, I won't. I won't even try," Hiccup finally answered. "We'll face any danger together, no matter what. We're always better when together!"