Chapter 8: The Southern Viking Girl

After a bit of talking to Astrid since Hiccup wouldn't let her talk, the two of them sat/laid quietly on the bed just cuddling the only way they knew how. Astrid had started playing with Hiccups hair and Hiccup wrapped his arms around Astrid's waist and kept her close to him. At that moment nothing could separate them for any reason or at least it felt that way. They enjoyed being together when the elder walked into the room. Once she entered, she smiled and chuckled ever so slightly at the sight of the two. She stood quietly for a second before interrupting them. "Astrid, Hiccup, sorry to come in unannounced but we need Astrid for a second with a few things dealing with our crops." The elder said seeing the two look at each other.

Hiccup then decided to speak up for Astrid. "Elder, I mean no disrespect but Astrid isn't exactly well and it's raining outside. Can someone else take her place?" Hiccup asked for Astrid's sake. Mostly anyway, he didn't want Astrid getting even sicker but he also didn't want her to leave him.

"Don't worry child, Astrid will be fine. She will be inside taking care of things. Now Astrid, if you would follow me." The elder said not wanting to separate the two of them.

"Elder, isn't she supposed to be taking care of me anyway." Hiccup brought up doing what he could to keep Astrid from leaving him and in the process, grabbed onto Astrid's arm gently.

"Astrid will not always be able to take care of her husband Hiccup, sometimes things get in the way but in the end, it helps." The elder looked toward Hiccup to see what he would do or say next and all she got was a nod. "Ok, let's go Astrid." The elder smiled seeing Astrid give Hiccup a quick kiss on the forehead and then stood up to follow her out.

Hiccup stared at Astrid as she left him alone. The two waved goodbye to each other and then Astrid walked out the door. The door slowly closed behind Astrid which left the place in silence. He was in silence before but without Astrid it seemed quieter even though that wasn't possible. Hiccup sighed as he heard the rain coming down hard on the roof and worried more about Astrid. At least he has Blueberry and Toothless to keep him company unfortunately the two were in a corner of the room snuggling and so he wouldn't get much company. 'At least Toothless can be with someone.' Hiccup thought as he heard the door creak open. Hiccup jumped at the thought of Astrid returning before she really got the chance to leave. "Astrid?" Hiccup asked out loud.

"Sorry?" Hiccup heard as a Viking girl came into the room and shut the door behind her with her back to the door. The girl clearly didn't hear him so he didn't bother to say Astrid again since it obviously isn't her. "I'm Brynhild." Hiccup looked at the Viking girl with shock that she was even here. She has one long braid that runs down the side of her head and down to her hip. She reminds him a lot of Astrid except that her hair is brown. Actually, if her hair was the same color as Astrid's then Brynhild would look just like her. "Sorry for the intrusion but I was asked to watch over you."

"I don't mean to be rude but why would someone send you here?" Hiccup asked knowing that something was up.

"Ok so I noticed that you were left alone and so I thought that I might come in and talk to you for a while. Besides, you are the chief's son right?" Hiccup just stared not wanting to say anything but it didn't keep Brynhild from talking. "Anyway, I didn't think that you would want to be alone and so I thought you could use some company." Brynhild walked over to Hiccup and sat down next to him. "I apologize for what my brother did to you; he is very strict about keeping girls respected, at least in one sense anyway." Brynhild scooted closer to Hiccup making Hiccup uncomfortable.

"Look, I appreciate it and once again not to be rude but you're just a little closer then I would like." Hiccup said trying to scoot away from the girl.

"You know, you're awfully cute." Brynhild said scooting closer to him causing Hiccup to move further away. "What, you don't like being close to a woman?" Brynhild said raising an eyebrow.

"It's just that I have a girlfriend." This made Brynhild scoot away from him and bow her head sadly.

"I'm sorry; I guess I should have realized that you would have a girlfriend. After all, you are going to be chief soon. Who wouldn't want to be with you?" Brynhild said sadly. "So what's her name?"

"Her name is Astrid." Just then Brynhild started laughing. "What's so funny?" Hiccup asked confused and angrily that she would be laughing at his girlfriends' name.

"She won't be your girlfriend for very long, she has already been given away to my brother." Hiccup's eyes widened and shock is all over his face. Why would Astrid be given away to a southern Viking? This angered Hiccup but he couldn't be mad at Brynhild for this when she had no control over this. "I'm sorry I don't mean to laugh but that explains why my family said that I could be with you if you want me. After all, I'm the daughter of a Chief." Brynhild said scooting slightly closer but not invading to much of Hiccup's space.

Hiccup looked around the room trying to clear his head of what he had just heard. He just couldn't believe that Astrid would be given away more or less to a southern Viking. All he knew is that he had to stop her from leaving. "I'm fighting this; I won't allow Astrid to be taken from me. We've been through to much for us to be separated now." Hiccup blurted out angrily.

Brynhild frowned seeing how angry he is but he couldn't do anything. "I wish I could do something but you can't have her, she has already been given away to my brother." Brynhild used her hands and scooted herself closer to Hiccup. "Why don't you be with me Hiccup, I haven't been given away yet." Brynhild said caressing Hiccup's cheek and was about to kiss him when the door shot open. Brynhild jumped from the surprise and looked toward the door to see a tear stricken Viking at the door. It was Astrid and from what Brynhild could tell, the news had been spread. However what came out of the female Viking's mouth showed that she wasn't ready to give Hiccup up.

"Get away from him right now." Astrid screamed, her voice hoarse and sore again but she didn't care.

Brynhild stood up slowly and smiled while shaking her head. "Fine but just remember, you now know that you've been given away to my brother and you had better be faithful to him. He may not be right about this but what is done is done and there isn't anything that you can do to change that. I'll be living here and you'll be with my brother for the rest of your life unless your father changes his mind which I highly doubt." Brynhild said and then pushed by Astrid softly.

After Brynhild left, Astrid ran over to Hiccup and hugged him tightly. Hiccup hugged her back not ever wanting to let go. "I'll do what I can to fight against my father." Astrid said softly.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and please continue to review. I love them and I hope that you all continue to review. I hope you liked the chapter.