AN: To those of you putting spoilers for HTTYD2 in your summaries: I hate you. The film doesn't come out where I am for another two and a half weeks. I hate spoilers.

The village meeting had been much the same as any other. Nothing new was said, nothing dramatic had happened. As they filed out Astrid noticed that Fishlegs was looking concerned about something, but before she got a chance to ask he'd disappeared, saying he needed to check some numbers or something. What an odd boy. She turned her attention back to the matter in hand, which was in fact Snotlout's hand. Being named Heir had really gone to his head and if he'd been annoying before, he was insufferable now. Giving his wrist a final twist she released it and leaned in threateningly.

'I've warned you before, I won't do it again. Touch me without my permission one more time and I swear I will cut off the offending limb.'

He gulped and looked momentarily cowed, but that was quickly washed away by his arrogant smirk.

'I'm the Heir to the tribe now, how much longer do you think you can get away with playing the shield-maiden? Everyone knows the Chief needs a strong wife…'

With his words ringing in her ears, she made her way down to the forge to try and finally get her axe sorted. She couldn't deny it; Snotlout's words had troubled her. She knew Shield-maidens were only allowed to remain unmarried at the sufferance of the chief, and if the chief was Snotlout… She grimaced, and vowed to make sure that nothing happened to Stoic for a very long time.

A month had passed since she'd uttered those fateful words and her world had been turned upside down. It had been hard work, but it had been worth it. She doubted she would ever forget her first flight, or the day she'd seen Hiccup nonchalantly walk up to and calm a rampaging Timberjack. Glancing over to where she thought Veil was, she called out

'Was it worth it for you?'

A snort in her left ear let her know that she was asking a silly question. She whirled to face the invisible snorter and grabbed for a chin, somehow actually catching it. It was their game, sneaking up on one another. She didn't manage it as often as Veil did, she was at a disadvantage after all. Luckily for her, if she scratched just here on her dragon, it would collapse in a visible puddle of contentedness. She grinned at the idiotic look on Veil's face; she could always rely on her to make things brighter. Playing around kept the two occupied until their replacements came up and the two of them meandered into town for some food, and to see if Hiccup had arrived. Although he didn't live on Bog, his island was only a few hours flight away so he was a constant visitor.

He had indeed arrived, and was unsurprisingly at the forge. She walked in to see him chatting animatedly about something, but he broke off when he saw her, and did that funny little bow of his, which consisted of crossing his arms in an x over his chest and bowing at the waist.

'Lady Heir, it is good to see you. I have something for you, if you'll follow me'

'Of course Forgemaster, it is good to see you too' she replied smoothly. Burn her, she'd almost forgotten that no-one (except her and the chief) knew who he was. She hesitated as he walked past her.

'Your armour… It looks different. Have you been experimenting again?'

'Of course. I believe I've got the trigger mechanism sorted now.'

Though his mask covered his face, she could almost sense him grinning when she asked what he meant by a trigger in his armour. In answer, he raised his arm towards a shield and flexed his wrist. A crossbow quarrel shot out of a hidden recess in that arm and buried itself in the shield.

'Reloading is still a pain, but I think even just the one hidden bolt should give me an edge if I need it.'

She was silent for a while as they walked to the docks, where Hiccup's odd little ship was moored. He ran inside and returned with a trunk that he set before her. Seeing this, a crowd began to gather as the Forgemaster's weapons were always things of great interest. She popped the lid and couldn't help but gasp at what lay within. It was a sword, but not like any other sword she had ever seen before. As she picked it up her awed gasp was echoed by the assembled crowd. It shone with an odd greenish silver light, and the grip fit her hand as though she had been born with it there. As she stared, she became aware of Hiccup babbling.

'It's from a new alloy you see, I've tested it and I can't make it rust, it's stronger than most other metals and will not damage easily. It's light so..'

'Forgemaster' She said, cutting him off. 'You have truly excelled yourself with this, I doubt there is another like this in the world.' 'Please, accompany me to the training ring, so that we may test it out.'

'Err, sure. Don't you want to look at what else is in the trunk before you go?'

She had been so wrapped up in the sword she had not even noticed that there was anything else in there. She stooped and brought up the odd coloured bundle that remained. Unwrapping it, she found two extremely odd looking daggers that matched her sword in colouration. She turned to Hiccup with a questioning look.

'They're called Sai, I'll show you how to use them more as we spar. It's the cloak I think you'll really like.'

She looked at the odd coloured cloak and felt a twinge of doubt. It really didn't look like much. She put it on anyway, not wishing to offend and there was a shocked silence from the crowd. To them, she had disappeared in broad daylight.

'It's made from a type of cloth I picked up in my travels, and sewn with changewing scales. It should be fireproof, as well as mimicking the effect of changewings. You'll be almost invisible with that on, as long as you're still. Moving quickly will stop the pattern from working as well and you'll be easier to spot.'

She turned to him, almost speechless with thanks. Seeing the look on her face, he closed the gap and took her arm in his, turning towards the ring when he stopped dead.

'Stupid, stupid. I almost forgot' he murmured. Raising his voice, he spoke to the assembled crowd;

'There are three more trunks below, I would appreciate it if you could take them to the square where I will be trading, as soon as the Lady Heir and I have finished sparring. There is also a smaller box with a weapon for Chief Bertha. If someone could ensure it gets to her I would be most grateful.'

As the duo walked towards the sparring ground she leaned in and murmured to him too softly for any eavesdropper to catch.

'There'll probably be a fight about who gets to carry your wares; you've become a much respected smith. Just try not to let it go to your head.'

'You positively wound me Cami, when am I ever arrogant?'

'I can hear the smirk in your voice.' She deadpanned.

'Why Cami, I do believe my sense of humour is rubbing off on you!' he replied, giving a throaty laugh.

'Hmmm. Well, I'll have to make up for it by kicking your ass in the ring then, unless you've improved while you were gone.'

'I think I might have gotten a little better...'