Dining and Drama
Somehow the vast hall always smelled like boiled pasta – no matter what bland food was served. Large glass windows on the Western side that overlooked the rolling green mountains where the clouds above roamed like herds of sheep.
"For those of you who didn't know, the boy's showers aren't working, and we'll have co-ed showers for the senior counselors. So…that what we're dealing with this week." Gobber stood before the group who arrived early to get the camp up in running. "Some good news though, we still get separate toilets."
"Thank, Thor!" Ruffnut yelled.
Only a few of the long tables beneath the high rafters of the were occupied. The group eating lunch in the dining hall were the higher-ranking counselors, most older than Astrid, Heather, and Hiccup, which made her feel accomplished, but also made her wonder if Gobber given her a higher position so she could get better paid. In any case, Astrid felt she could meet the challenge.
Astrid and her old gang sat at a long wooden table, including Snotlout, who already start hitting on her. Under the table, Fishlegs's chubby pit bull mix, Meatlug, sat panting and occasionally eating table scraps. In Tuffnut's lap sat his pet chicken, named chicken. Animals were not allowed in buildings, other than the stables, but Fishlegs and Tuffnut interpreted that as: Gobber did not want to know about animals being in non-stables buildings.
Gobber limped around the tables, his metal prosthetic clicking in rhythm with his movements as he continued announcements, "I've broken you out into teams and you have team captains, who you will report to…"
Gobber droned on about the work that needed to be done and thanked everyone. It comforted Astrid to find Gobber put her on Hiccup's team along with the folks at her table. She had to admit to herself that she felt a slight twinge of admiration for him knowing Hiccup also had charge over the riding staff, giving him the largest team. As the camp head prattled on, it became apparent, that despite his young age, Gobber saw Hiccup as his second in command. He must have grown up quite a bit in the past few years to earn that level of respect. During their previous interactions, his fitness and charms seemed limited to equine interactions, but she did notice he has a good sense of leadership and understood people. When he taught her to ride all those summers ago she recognized he had an ability to push folks to their potential. He truly was born to be some princely, billionaire CEO just like his dad. What was the light shimmer of his potential years ago, finally brightened into a star.
Once Gobber finished droning on, Hiccup gave the equestrian group instructions on their tasks.
Next, he approached his friends. "I'm giving you guys special tasks. Heather and Fishlegs, make sure all dorms are set, here is a checklist. Hand these to the junior counselors under you when you meet with them during tomorrow's junior counselor orientation."
Heather and Hiccup exchanged a smirk, which made Astrid suspect Fishlegs might be Heather's crush.
"Snotlout, you and the twins get to check the roofs. You are tough, they like danger – perfect task for you three. Repair the roofs you can today. If more work needs to be done tomorrow, you can enlist your juniors."
"Astrid, if you'll take me up on the offer I made earlier, I'd love it if you'd accompany me on horseback to check out the perimeters fences. We'll take some supplies to do minor repairs and the things that require need more supplies I'll mark on the map. We-"
"Whoa! Hold on, your highness," Snotlout interrupted. "The twins and I have to do hard labor and you get to gallop around like kings of the kingdom."
"It's still work. Which will take all afternoon, we might not even make it back before dark. I know the property, and I'm pretty sure you can't read a map, or do improvisational cartography, so how would you track the repairs needed?"
"Snotlout," Tuffnut spoke with a fake British Accent as he lectured "only Hiccup and Astrid know how to improvisationaly build carts out o' graphy.
"Graphy" Ruffnut added also with a mock British tone, "Is also known as cute graphite, for those who didn't know." She gave Snotlout a glare of superiority.
"Alright," Hiccup rolled his eyes. "If no one else has any objections, let's get to work."
000
Astrid and Hiccup walked down the path toward the stables.
"I told Heather you and I were going for a ride, so she left you some riding boots and breeches at the stables."
"That's nice of her."
"Yeah, she's nice. One of the nicest girl you'll ever met…"
"And you're not with her because?"
Hiccup opened his mouth to say something, several times before deciding to say, "I've really always been focused on horses and school…I mean don't get me wrong, I dated, but I learned I don't want something just to pass the time. I want deep and meaningful. You know like a soul mate…" he stopped himself, then rubbed the back of his neck and looked at his feet, "I shouldn't have said that, that probably sounds cheesy and stupid…"
"No, that's sweet. Not everyone thinks that way."
As they walked toward the stables, Hiccup took Astrid's arm and pulled her off the main path to the left.
"I have to meet up with someone before we head out. Let me just warn you, this guy – he's a bit of, we'll let's just say he has some dramatic flair."
The side path lead to a Greek style amphitheater nestled in the woods. The carved stone seats lined up along a hill, leading down to a white stone stage adorned with Iconic Greek columns. The ivy had broken the barrier between nature and architecture as it crawled over the stage and spilled into seats. The area possessed a quality that made it seem like it existed here forever, and would outlive humanity, like a scene from a book.
"I forgot about this place." Astrid's eyes widened. "It still looks enchanting."
She and Hiccup walked down the worn steps that cut through the center of the seats. He hopped up on stage, then turned, offering his hand. She took it and he pulled her up right in front of him, for a moment so close she could feel the energy from his body and smell the soap he used earlier. He stood his ground, looking down at her – all big green eyes and boyish grin.
She almost felt dizzy being so close to him, she kissed so many boys since that summer, but none gave her this feeling – surrender and lightness, like her heart flew in her chest. How did he bring that back?
She stopped herself. The nostalgia and magic of this place lured her in, but she had to ignore it. She had Dagur and Hiccup had let her fall away years ago and she complied by not trying harder to reach him. That was how it was meant to be. She knew that now. She almost laughed when he mentioned dating other people. How could he say that so casually, like there was no way she could have known about his relationships? Besides she and Hiccup came from different worlds, they only existed as friends here because this special spot – Camp Berk - made anything outside itself fall away.
"Why are we here?" She asked, seeming to break the moment's spell.
"Huh? Oh, yeah – I've got to talk to the new drama counselor – he's a real pain."
"Where's Cindy?"
"A month ago, she got some small part in a big movie and left for Hollywood. My dad had to beg this guy to come here at the last second."
Astrid followed Hiccup down stairs that led behind the stage and to a small wooden cabin further into the woods, which someone had built in the style of a wooden Russian cottage, complete with bright yellow paint on the ornate carvings around the windows and door.
"I forgot about this," Astrid wandered over to the house, running her fingers over the smooth edges of the woodwork, "Don't you feel like Hansel and Gretel when you see this house?"
"The abandon brother and sister who almost got eaten by a witch? I try avoid those situations," Hiccup said as he knocked on the door.
"Come in," an exhausted male voice beckoned.
They entered to find a broad fellow with a sloppy black man-bun tied atop his head, lounging on a red Queen Ann sofa. Props and costumes for various theater productions - ornate princess dresses, toy dragons, battel axes, swords, Viking helmets along with other odds and ends - packed the space.
As the man spotted Hiccup, he announced, "Counselor Haddock, so glad you came to me. I have so many needs and I think only you can help."
"Alright lay it on me…" Hiccup crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.
"First, it is dreadfully hot in my cabin. Second, it is cluttered in here and these things are atrocious, I feel like I've stumbled into the Hel house of the Brothers Grimm. Third, I email you a list of my other demands and it seems you've not responded."
Hiccup sighed, "First, this is not your cabin – it's a store house for theater props. I expect you to bunk with the rest of us."
"No," the man replied, "you can't expect me to share a space with those Hooligans…" he rolled his hand as he searched for the phrase, "I need my creative space."
"Oh gods…Look, I appreciate you coming here on short notice, but I can't give you special treatment. I-"
"Wait!" The man suddenly sat up and jumped at Astrid, "Don't sit there."
Thinking it a prop, Astrid had started to sit on a fancy trunk near the door.
The man ran over and pulled it away, "That's Burberry, darling, it was with me on Broadway last year. Its sentimental value is even beyond its price tag."
He softened his tone, "By the way, I don't think we've met – where are my manners? I'm Eret Eretson."
He gave a little bow, "And, you, fair maiden?"
"Astrid Hofferson. I'm accompanying, Prince Hiccup here on a tour of the royal kingdom."
Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Don't encourage him…" But his words only prompted them further into a charade.
"My dear, sir, it seems you are not well cared for in this kingdom. Perhaps, you should take these issues up with the king." Astrid smiled lifting her head like a princess.
"Oh, the king, I believe, is off on a quest to slay dragons and return to his kingdom with gold." Eret said sweeping his hand up dramatically.
Unamused, Hiccup stepped between them, pushing Eret back, "Eret, you can stay here. In this cabin. Stay as far away as you need."
"I didn't mean I wanted to be far from you, my lord. And I certainly wouldn't mind being close to such a refined young maiden."
"Did you hear that Hiccup?" Astrid said, "He called me refined."
"Yeah, he's full of charm…" Hiccup mumbled, then addressed Eret, "There are some old AC units in the storage area of the Hall. I'll get one working and will bring it here. Don't tell anyone though, I can't have folk thinking you're getting special treatment."
"Oh, my prince, it warms my heart you would do such things for me, your lowly servant."
"Yeah well, you are a huge pain in my ass. And anything to ease that pain…"
"You know how much I love you, even your ass - yet you say these things. Surly only in jest." Eret moved to slap Hiccup's rear with a prop sword, but Hiccup grabbed another one and quickly swiped it away.
The pair feigned a small sword fight as they continued talking.
"As for the other things on your list – take it up with Sir Gobber – knight of the realm." Hiccup swiped at him, knocking his sword out of his hand then placing the sword under his opponent's chin.
Eret heled up his hands to yield. Satisfied, Hiccup let the blade drop. Eret turned back to Astrid, "I will be seeing more of you this enchanted summer - Yes? Perhaps I could show you -"
Hiccup picked the sword back up and poked it in Eret's back. "No. Not now. She is seeing someone. And right now we must be seeing to fences. Or protecting the realm from dragons…if that's what we're still going with here."
"Yes, don't let those dragons harm us. Although knowing you, you'd probably train them and ride them." Eret backed off.
"Oh. I'd like to think that is what I would do if there were dragons. Good call. Wright a play about that or something…"
Eret gave Hiccup a knowing look before making one last dramatic gesture to Astrid, "I am terrible sorry to hear of your unfortunate situation, but wish you well." He took her hand and gave it a light kiss.
"You mean the fence mending?" she asked.
"Maybe..." He winked.
"And with that – we're leaving." Hiccup grabbed her hand and pulled Astrid out of the cottage.
"Wow – now that is dramatic flair."
"You like dramatic flair?" Hiccup joked, "I've got dramatic flair. I ooze dramatic flair. Have you met my mother? That woman is nothing but dramatic flair."
Astrid laughed at him and pulled him along the path, "Come on, Prince Hiccup, let's saddle up those horses and survey the Kingdom of Berk."
000
It is very late and I am very tired, so I do apologize for any errors or the lack of smoothness it these chapters. I wanted to get something up as I've been behind.
Thanks to all who fav followed and reviewed. You guys are the best.