I don't own How to Train Your Dragon.
Alright, before you start reading this chapter I just want to clarify that I am not a feminist because I don't like to be confused with the feminist that see, treat, and think of men as less. I believe, and you will see through the chapter that I am more of an equalitarian.
I am well aware that we have made progress from the times when women were treated like cattle and that we still need to progress some more. But, I also believe we are being rather selfish just thinking about us (women). I, as a young woman (I am 23, so yes. I am still young), think we also put too much pressure on men regarding how they should dress, talk, behave and so on (otherwise they face slander or are ignored by their peers, c'mon guys, think of Hiccup as an example). We must consider that many of the machismo like behaviors come most of the time from under the table ideologies that have somehow transcended our cultures (sometimes for political, religious, or other reasons), and if these ideas are not exposed, examined and reevaluated by each one of us there won't be a true change. As I wrote this chapter, I had to stop sometimes and think… how would a guy feel about this? I mean, I could make this chapter about Astrid whining, and whining about the unfairness of gender roles during her time, and culture, but I won't.
I wanted to tell you here what the main idea had become for this story. But, I think it's better if I let you figure it out. Tell me if you get it, and what you think about it.
Astrid makes a selfish wish; the gods believe she needs a lesson.
The Switch (Part 1)
Awake… awake… awake!
It was a beautiful warm morning.
The birds and Nadder's chirped.
The sun was warm and beautiful.
And she wanted it all to go away!
Was that Thor hitting the side of her head with his hammer?
Astrid woke up with a killer headache. She cursed the Meat Heads for challenging her to a drinking contest. Still, she had shown them that even as a girl she could beat any of them. She was glad Hiccup had already gone home and hadn't seen that. At the end, Ruff helped her out of the Great Hall so she could empty her stomach on the grass. She couldn't believe they could rattle her so bad with just some words. She was a Shield Maiden, the best Shield Maiden Berk had seen since Valhallarama.
"Soon ya' gonna be popping baibies gurl! Don' think so high of yer' self!" one of the Meat Heads said after she beat the first of their crew in drinking.
"Put your money where your mouth is!" though they were not betting she took another full cup.
"Ya' on gurl!" he said before they started chugging the sweet brewery.
She curled under her blanket and closed her eyes tightly. It was true that she was old enough to marry since two years ago. Her mother had tried to get her practicing her weaving more and more. She had also heard her father and older brother talk about her dowry. She was the only daughter of the Hofferson house, and they wanted to see her well off. Every time they started going over the possible candidates she searched for the nearest exit. She genuinely didn't want to know whom they had in mind. She bet Hiccup was in that list too, but her family was barely there in the social ladder, so he wasn't of the first choices.
She hated being aware of Hiccup's position. Stoic had been receiving marriage contracts to consider from the moment Hiccup arrived to the world. The chief had never agreed to any of them of course because he had chosen his wife based on his feelings. Still, Hiccup had many options before him when it came to marriage, and though they were good friends (or a little more at times) it was still remarkably tempting to marry a woman of his social level that could bring more stability to their tribe, and not forget a greater dowry.
Since the arrival of the other chieftains to their island a few days ago she kept hearing about the beauty and refined manners of the chieftains' daughters. Hiccup acted as if nothing, but she knew he had heard about it too. She realized then that she probably didn't stand a chance. Reason why she had gone to his house dressed on her best robe and cooked him breakfast. She still couldn't believe the idiot had run off as if the food was poisoned. That shiner she had given him was well deserved, but she also realized that now for sure he wouldn't look at her any other way than just a friend.
She heard someone shout somewhere, not helping her headache.
She decided she wouldn't get out of bed that day. It wasn't fair that she had to be sold like a sheep and then just stick to staying in a home where she would only do chores and raise kids. Love was extremely rare in arranged marriages. They could stand each other, or even become friends, but she knew that even if she lied to herself she would never feel the same way for the other man as she did for Hiccup. She realized there would many other things she would never get to do as well. She would never swing an axe or sword again. She would grow big, soft and slow. She would grow old and watch her children live through the same thing. She would probably outlive her husband, and then she would shrivel trying to remember her youth and die.
She remembered remarkably dimly those thoughts running through her mind the night before in her drunken stupor. She remembered crying aloud how angry she was at being born a woman. She had little to no choices in life! Ruff had laughed at her then, and then she had too, but she couldn't remove the black thorn that had embedded in her heart. It wasn't fair at all. Men got to be warriors all their lives. They got to drink with their friends in the Great Hall in the afternoons while their wives worried about having a neat house with the meals always on time. Ruff told her of how annoyed she was when her brother made a mess and then expected her to pick it up because she was a girl.
Still, what bothered her the most was that men saw women as possessions. They were their wives, they belonged to them. She honestly didn't feel any better than a sheep… well at least the sheep got to run around during the day, but she would be stuck at home tending to everyone but herself. It sucked to be a woman.
She heard someone shout again as her bedroom door slammed open, "Get up you lazy bump!" Astrid bolted upright and stared at her father in shock, "what time you think it is!"
"I…"
"You were fine, and dandy drinking last night, weren't you! Making trouble and undoing the ties our chief is trying so hard to build!" her father had never shouted at her like that. Her mother had, but never her father, "get dressed!" and then he left slamming the door shut.
She could only stare at the door for a moment. What had just happened? She swung her legs to the side before she spotted a rather hairy pair. Her heart skipped as she moved her toes and the hairy toes moved. She stood up a little dizzy because the ground was suddenly farther away. She felt a draft and realized she wasn't wearing anything on top. Her arms wrapped around her chest at once, but found her chest to be rather flat. She touched her bare chest and found her breast were gone; instead she found a light patch of blond chest hair. Then her hands were running through all her body. Her long hair was gone; the roundness of her face, her body wasn't hers anymore. Taking deep breaths, she looked down and opened her trousers to find something that hadn't been there before.
So that was how they looked…
A scream was heard through the entire village. Soon the Hoffersons entered the room of one of their sons and found him passed out on the floor.
The goddess Freya watched from the window with a worry. She wasn't so sure this would work, but Loki had assured her it would. She had heard the girl's claims the night before and felt the thorn in her heart as if it was her own. She knew the life of women was difficult, and that they required a different kind of strength; one that men didn't understand. One that didn't get told in the great sagas, but none the less it was great and just as important. Still, giving her what she wanted didn't sound like the best way.
"The healer said he had to rest, don't you dare wake him up," said Mrs. Hofferson.
"I was not going to," said Mr. Hofferson in a low grumble.
Astrid heard them talk, but didn't say a word and kept her eyes closed. She wanted to understand what was going on.
"He is taking it quite hard," said Mrs. Hofferson, "you can't blame him for being upset"
"Upset or not he shouldn't have drunk so much," he said, "you know the old song"
"I know, but let him be this once. He has always tried his best, and to lose this one of all has to have felt as if he had fallen off his dragon and into the cold sea"
Still, Mr. Hofferson started to recite those words his father and mother told him when he was about his son's age.
Hávamál (Sayings of the High One) ( - Source)
A better burden * no man can bear
on the way than his mother wit:
and no worse provision * can he carry with him
than too deep a draught of ale.
Less good than they say * for the sons of men
is the drinking oft of ale:
for the more they drink, * the less they can think
and keep a watch over their wits.
A bird of Unmindfullness * flutters over ale-feasts,
wiling away men's wits;
with the feathers of that fowl * I was fettered once
in the garths of Gunnlodr below.
Drunk was I then, * I was over-drunk,
in the fold of wise Fjalar;
But best is an ale feast * when a man is able
to call back his wits at once.
Mr. Hofferson hoped Odin heard his voice as he spoke those words that had come from the god himself once a long time ago.
After a few more minutes of fussing over they left her in her room alone and covered with blankets. As soon as the door closed she opened her eyes and took a look around. It was her room alright, and those had been her parents too. However, this was not her. In that moment, she realized she felt awfully hairy… it was rather… warm? (I am just making a wild guess here guys) She shook her head in misbelieve. She stood up from bed and went to a basin of fresh water her mother had left. She looked at her reflection and almost wept.
Those were her eyes, but she also had a goatee and the beginning of a mustache. She resembled her brothers without a doubt in appearance and height. Her chin was very manly; she realized it was like her father's. Her long blonde locks were gone. Instead the sides of her head were shaven, and she sported tattoos that resembled Nadders. Okay, that was actually cool. The remaining of her hair was brushed back and tied in a braid that barely reached her nape. Ok, ok, so she actually made quite a handsome guy.
As she washed while making sure not to look at that part of her… his body, she noticed she was actually quite fit. Besides being tall, she could bet that she could give Snotlout a run for his money in that body. After flexing her arm a few times, she hurried to her chest and pulled some clean clothes out. She put on a simple pair of dark leggings, leather booths, and a dark blue tunic which she held close with a rather ordinary looking leather belt. For a slight moment, she searched for her head band, but then thought she might look a little silly wearing a girl's accessory.
She didn't have an idea of what was going on, but she believed there was someone who could help her.
After she was fully dressed, she used her bedroom window to leave. She ran into the village expecting someone to shout asking what happened to her, but none did. Everyone and everything looked about the same for exception of a few people who kept their eyes on her. What she saw in their eyes was nothing but pure pity. Still, she didn't stop until she reached the top of the hill. She banged on the door with all her strength, which she hadn't realized until then was a lot more now. The door came undone, and fell into the house with a resounding boom.
"What are you thinking!" she heard a shrill voice, "Astor?"
And there stood a young woman with a long auburn braid over her shoulder, a fine light green tunic held close by a beautiful leather belt and a brooch. She was delicate looking with a soft figure, but what actually caught her attention were her eyes. She knew those eyes, green as the forest and as lively as fire.
"Hiccup?" she asked.
"Yeah, this is my house, remember?" she rolled her eyes at him before giving her the 'what did you think?' look before turning to the dragon watching them in the rafters, "now you get down here. Is just Astor"
Astor? Was she talking about her… him?
"What's wrong Toothless?" asked Hiccup, "come on girl, you know he is a friend"
Toothless glared at her as if she was a stranger. Could she tell something was wrong?
"Alright! Stay there, I don't care" Hiccup said frustrated before turning back to her, "and what do you want? Why have you come here?" the last question came almost as a whisper, "I can blame the door on Toothless, but you have to leave before my father returns"
"I don't understand," she said.
"Astor" she looked at Astrid with so much pain in her eyes, "you know well we can't spend time as we used to, now please go"
She couldn't move. There was a pain in her chest that had awoken at hearing those words and seeing her so sad.
"C'mon!" then someone was dragging her outside of the house and behind another one not too far. They saw Stoic climb the hill before going into his house.
"Are you crazy!" she finally turned to meet a familiar face; large expressive blue eyes, a soft round face, and a pair of buckteeth without remedy.
"Fishlegs?" he asked the plump young woman. Her hair was cut in a short bob, and seemed to be more manageable. She also wore a white dress with a brown vest at top of it.
"Who else did you think would save you? The twins or Snaily?" she sighed, "Astor, I know you are upset, but the agreement is already done"
"What agreement?" she finally asked. She got that she was supposed to be upset about something, but she didn't get what.
Fishlegs looked at her with wonder and pity. Fishlegs struggled with her words before biting her lips.
"What is it?" now she was getting seriously worried.
"You don't remember last night?" as the look of pain in Fishleg's eyes became deeper.
"I…" she suddenly didn't want to know, but it was too late.
"Hiccup announced that she had finally accepted a marriage proposal. Astor, she is getting married to Dagur the Deranged"
"Oh…" she knew Dagur. He was a first rate jackass of the worst kind. She remembered how much he would bully Hiccup when they were kids. She had always detested him. Then Fishlegs' words clicked. The Hiccup she had just seen, gentle and small looking was going to marry the biggest asshole the Viking history would ever know. She heard Fishlegs shout as she hit the floor, again. She was barely there when her parents and siblings carried her home and laid her on her bed. But all the time she was aware of the pain that had awoken on her chest hurt more and more.
She dreamed of Astor's life. It wasn't that different from hers. He had strives to prove himself a formidable Viking. He practiced every day with his axe and sword. However, he had a crush on the daughter of the chief since he could remember, but never had the guts to say anything. Hiccup was still Hiccup; one misunderstanding after another as she tried to help the tribe in her own way. At top of that, she was overprotected by her father. Still that didn't stop her from shooting Toothless down too, and then befriending the dragon. He had fallen for her even more when she took him for a ride. And he had stolen a kiss or two whenever possible, which usually ended up with her slapping him silly. She Hiccup actually had quite a temper.
He had been working hard those years to have enough to arrange a marriage between them. He had worked his fingers to the bone and more. He wanted to be worthy of her, and make her happy; the night before he had spotted Dagur whispering harshly at Hiccup. He saw her whole face loose color before nodding. Astor had gone after her, but she refused to talk to him. The next thing he knew she was announcing to the whole tribe and the other chiefs that she would be marrying Dagur the Deranged. Everyone had stood in silence for a moment, unable to understand what had just happened, but then someone clapped and everyone realized they had heard right. They clapped, but looked worriedly as Dagur would glance at the petit woman with something that was not love or even compassion at all.
Astor tried to get close to her, ask her for an explanation, but every time he was pushed back. Eventually, Stoic noticed him and pulled him to the side. He knew the chief wasn't happy with the task he had to complete, but he did. He told Astor to stay away from his daughter. From there he had utterly lost it. He challenged every single Berserker present into a drinking contest. He lost count of how many drinks he had, but he knew he beat them all including Dagur and some more. He remembered barely how Hiccup had looked at him with so much sorrow before he was dragged outside of the Great Hall by Tuff. His friend held him closely as he emptied his insides.
He cursed at how cruel women were and how much easier they had it. They could just marry a man of wealth and then forget about all their worries. They didn't have to live up to a family name, and they didn't have to worry about anything else but look after their children and home. If anything went wrong, the fault would be on the man. Women were cruel; Tuff had agreed before laughing his drunken ass off. Still Astor kept talking on how easily they could forget them when they found them no longer useful.
After that, he went home, undressed, and then collapsed on his bed. He had taken deep breaths trying to calm down. He was a Viking, a great warrior. He rode a dragon for Thor's sake! He was not going to cry for her. Not for Hiccup, not for the girl that could make the impossible happen. Not the girl that had turned his world upside down. Not the girl that by just smiling could make his whole day.
In the darkness of his room, he felt his tears run down his face. He kept saying that he wouldn't cry, but he already was. His heart was broken, and he didn't even know why. Well, he did know why. He loved her. He cursed again and again as he tried not to sob. He was a man, he kept trying to remind himself; there was nothing that could make a man cry, especially a Viking man… yet the tears kept running until he fell asleep.
Astrid woke up to look at the ceiling of her room. She felt tears run down her face, or Astor's face. She realized she would feel as helpless as he did when Hiccup picked a wife. They would have no other choice but to live with it.
I can't stand it. She heard Astor whisper.
I am so sorry. She whispered back.
It was just then that they both realized they were communicating together. It was rather bizarre because they both could feel they were the same person, yet they weren't.
Her mother came in and left food by the bed when he wouldn't answer or turn around to see her. She tried to encourage her son, but he only shrugged. Her father came in too, and Astrid realized they had kind of an awkward relationship. Her father tried to tell his son that he would find someone else. Astrid felt Astor get upset.
He is just trying to help. Astrid told him.
Unless he kills Dagur, there is nothing he can do. Astor said before he became dead quiet. It was rather odd to have someone else in his mind, especially a girl. Still, he wondered if she would agree with his idea. Well, he kind of needed her to agree to be able to get it done.
You are not thinking of…
Why not? He asked. I bet you also figured out Hiccup doesn't actually want to marry that bastard. He threatened her with something, and she is too afraid to tell anyone.
Astrid did figure out as much, and a sly smile did make its way across Astor's lips.
I am in.
Freya frowned now even more worried than before. What had she been thinking listening to Loki! He had played her… Still, she knew she was at fault for listening to the jerk. As Astor and Astrid planned on how to get rid of the young chief, she too was thinking of a way to solve the issue she had gotten tangle into. There was only one person she could think of that would keep an all blow out war from starting.
*****TO BE CONTINUED*****
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Please, let me know what you really think about this gender subject. I am really curious to know, especially since some of you are from cultures very far away from my own (Mexico).