Chapter 11: Some Girl Time

Astrid walked out of her fathers' house and started toward the woods but looked back at her home sadly. Unfortunately that made her well up with tears. Astrid just couldn't stay in the village much longer and rushed off as fast as her legs will take her. Staying in the village at that moment is just far too painful knowing that her and Hiccup will be separated. Astrid reached the woods and pulled out an axe that she always carries with her and started to work on her aim by throwing her axe into the tree from a distance. Everything just seemed to fall apart and what makes it worse is that Hiccup was ready to propose to her. Astrid always thought that Hiccup and her would be together and she was so close but her father got in the way. With these thoughts running through her head, she got furious and threw her axe so hard that she couldn't get it out of the trunk of the tree. "Great." Astrid sighed as she tugged harder on her axe when someone grabbed her hand and tried to help out. Astrid looked over and found that it is Ruffnut helping her. She was grateful that it was just Ruffnut because Hiccup wouldn't have helped with her emotions right now. With two hard tugs on the axe and it flew out of the trunk and onto the ground. Astrid went over to it and picked it up while talking to Ruffnut. "Thanks for the help." Astrid said simply turning around with her axe in her hand.

"Ok, so what's up? I've never seen you get your axe stuck before. Who ticked you off?" Ruffnut said as she could tell that Astrid is clearly upset about something. She figured she already knew but thought it better to let Astrid explain.

Astrid sat down on a rock with a sigh and just stared at the ground. After a few intakes of air, Astrid finally spoke up. "It's my father Ruffnut; he won't let me be with Hiccup." Astrid chuckled a bit as she wiped a tear from her eye. "You probably think I'm a pretty big baby huh?" Astrid stared at Ruffnut letting a few more tears fall down her face.

Ruffnut hadn't noticed before but Astrid had tear stains down her cheeks and her eyes are red and puffy. Ignoring it for the moment, she simply replied to Astrid's question. "No, not really. I can't say that I know what it's like to lose someone I love and knowing that it will happen but I can say that it can't be easy. You and Hiccup have grown very close so I would assume that it can't be easy. I just wish that I could do something, though we all know that Hiccup will fight to the death for you." Ruffnut said sitting down on the rock next to Astrid, crossing her legs, and then leaning forward on her hands while looking at Astrid.

"I really wish he wouldn't, I don't know what I would do if he died because of me." Astrid leaned back on her hands throwing her head back so that she is staring into the sky. "He is just so careless with his own life and it scares me to think what will happen when I leave. I want to think that he'll be happy without me but there is no chance of that happening. You know he was getting ready to propose to me." Astrid turned her head toward Ruffnut as she said this.

"Really!" Ruffnut said completely shocked. "I didn't expect him to propose that soon." Ruffnut then crossed her legs Indian style on the rock and put her hands in her lap while turning to look at Astrid.

Astrid sat up and then smiled widely. "I don't think anyone would have thought he would have asked me this soon." Astrid let out a loud sigh and then stared into her lap. "I would love to toughen up Hiccup but it's too late for that now. I just know that if Hiccup were more of a Viking that my dad would have let me be with him." Astrid let some more tears drop from her eyes.

"I guess that would be nice Astrid but then if he was, the war with the dragons would still be going on and besides, if Hiccup were more of a Viking, he probably wouldn't like you as much as he does. You probably wouldn't like him as much either. Be glad that Hiccup is who he is." Ruffnut then received a glare from Astrid which quickly died.

"I know you're right but I wish that things were simpler. Honestly what's the point in loving someone if you can't be with that person? I guess I shouldn't complain, it isn't right." Astrid then hopped off the rock, axe in hand. Astrid then threw her axe and it hit right where she wanted it to.

Ruffnut stayed on the rock watching Astrid's incredible accuracy. "Remind me not to get you mad at me." Ruffnut joked causing Astrid to laugh a little as she pulled her axe out of the tree. "So what are you going to do Astrid?" Ruffnut asked.

Astrid thought for a second and in her mind, she knew what she wanted to do but reality wouldn't accept it and neither would her loyalty to her father. Despite what she thinks, her father knows what's best. "I would love to run away with Hiccup but I am far to loyal to my father and I love him to much to disrespect his wishes. Besides, he knows what's best for me." Astrid threw her axe again and once again, it hit it's mark.

"Astrid, I mean no disrespect toward your father but he is just human and does make mistakes. Don't you think that he could be wrong about marrying you off to someone you don't even know?" Ruffnut asked slowly and cautiously, trying not to insult her friend.

"I know you have my best interest at heart Ruffnut but I just can't disobey my father and you can't disobey yours. The only one that seems to defy that is Hiccup." Astrid threw her axe but this time she missed her mark.

Ruffnut got off the rock and walked over to Astrid and put a hand on her shoulder. "You love him Astrid, so doesn't that give you enough reason to be disobedient just once?" Ruffnut asked.

"There is never any reason to disobey your father Ruffnut." Just as she said this Snorre came walking up to them.

"I'll talk to you later Astrid." Ruffnut then waved goodbye and walked off.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review. Thanks for all the reviews.