Chapter 3
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Yes, there will be a Part IV. This is going a bit differently than I imagined, but I like it:)
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Hiccup knew that Stoick could only be asking him to make the long flight back to Berk for one reason: he had something serious to talk to him about. If the chief was just missing his son, or wanted to check up on him, he would've flown to the Edge. If there had been a war stating, he would've sent Gobber to bring back all six of the dragon riders on the Edge. But he hadn't done either of these things. Instead, Stoick sent a Terrible Terror airmail message to Hiccup, asking him to come to Berk as soon as possible.
The auburn-haired Viking sighed as he came close to his home island. He hoped everything was okay, but at the same time, he felt like Stoick wanted to talk about a "him" problem rather than a Berk problem. A million things flew through his head. What if he was going to tell him that he needed to start staying on Berk to help him with chiefing? What if he was going to be forced, for about the fifth time, to go through the battle training that all future chiefs went through? What if he was going to ask him to prepare for the Regatta? He hated the Regatta, and Stoick knew that. But that didn't mean he was ever able to get out of helping with it.
As he urged Toothless to land, Hiccup braced himself for all these things - plus more. But what he didn't brace himself for was what his father really wanted.
"Now listen, son," Stoick began after going through his usual greeting rituals with Hiccup. "In six months, you're going to be twenty, which means you'll be of age to become Chief. And as you know, all good chiefs have heirs, and to have an heir, well...you can make that connection yourself."
Hiccup's eyes widened. Stoick had asked him to come home so he could talk to him about marriage?
"Don't look so shocked, son. You knew this was coming. And I think Astrid will make a fine wife for you. She's strong, independent, and fierce. Not to mention, healthy. And you'll need a healthy woman to carry your babies, especially if they take after me." Stoick laughed.
The auburn-haired Viking forced himself to share his father's amusement for a brief moment before resuming his bewildered expression. "But Dad," he started.
"Oh, don't argue with me, Hiccup. Just ask her. I'm certain she'll say yes."
Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck. "That's...that's kind of my dilemma, Dad," he stammered. "A couple months ago, I...I took her on a picnic and talked to her about it and she...she said no." His face turned red.
"She said no?" Stoick looked almost as disappointed as Hiccup was.
The younger Viking nodded. "She...she's determined to stay a shieldmaiden."
"Well, son, that's unfortunate. She would've been good for you."
"I...I know." Hiccup sighed.
"But you're going to have to marry someone."
Groaning, Hiccup allowed his face to fall into his hands. "Dad, I don't...I don't want to marry anyone besides Astrid. I mean, who else is there, Ruffnut?" Hiccup wrinkled his nose. "She's not my type, and besides, she kinda has a thing for Fishlegs."
"No, you don't need to marry Ruffnut. I don't want her in the Haddock family any more than you do." Stoick shook his head. "But you don't have to just look on Berk, son. Deirdre Aumont from the Berserker tribe is a fine lass. She kind of reminds me of your mother when she was young."
"But Dad, I...I love Astrid. I can't...I won't...I won't be able to marry another girl. Especially when I'm still gonna be seeing Astrid every day around the island."
Stoick placed a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "Believe me," he started, slowly shaking his head. "I know how it feels to love someone and not be able to be with them. But a chief's first duty is to his people, and part of his duty is to ensure that the village has an heir."
"Can't I just...can't I just appoint someone to take over for me? Fishlegs' kids will probably be smart. And Snotlout is convinced he's gonna outlive me."
"No, son." Stoick shook his head. "It doesn't work that way."
The auburn-haired Viking sighed as he cast his eyes towards the ground.
"I'll send an invitation to the Berserkers to have Deirdre come visit," Stoick eventually said. "Maybe you'll have different feelings about this after you meet her."
...
Taking a deep breath, Astrid knocked on the door of the twins' hut. Ever since Hiccup had talked to her about marriage, she'd been thinking about what the outcome would've been if she hadn't let her pride and determination get in the way. Would they have been planning their wedding at this time? Would she have been happier than she was now? Or would she be resenting herself for agreeing to his proposal?
"What now, Astrid?" Tuffnut asked as he opened the door, Chicken tucked under one of his arms. "We fixed the lookout tower, we did our patrol, and we cleaned Barf and Belch's stall. Isn't that enough for you?"
"I'm not here to tell you to do more work," explained Astrid. "I'm here to talk to your sister about something."
"Like what?" Tuffnut raised an eyebrow.
"It's girl talk," Astrid said, her face turning ever-so-slightly red.
"Oh, so now that Heather's gone, you think that Ruffnut is going to be your go-to person to gossip with?"
Astrid groaned. "Just let me talk to her, Tuff."
"Alright." Tuffnut turned around. "Hey, sis!" he yelled up the stairs. "Astrid wants to talk to you!"
A minute later, Ruffnut appeared outside. "What do you want, Astrid?"
"You were married to Fishlegs for a day," began Astrid as she grabbed Ruffnut's arm and started pulling her away from the twins' hut.
"And?"
"And I need some advice from someone who's had relationship experience...and by someone, I mean you."
Ruffnut started to laugh, but stopped when her friend cast her a glare.
"So," Astrid said. "Hiccup...well, Hiccup...he talked to me about marrying him."
"It's about time," Ruffnut responded.
"What?"
"It's about time. I mean, clearly he's into you. And clearly you're into him. In fact, Tuff even thinks you guys did the do."
Astrid's cheeks turned red. "What? No. That is absolutely not true."
Ruffnut shrugged. "I never said it was true, I just said that Tuff thinks it is."
"Well, he's wrong. But anyway, Hiccup talked to me about marrying him. And I...I'm not completely against the idea, but as you know - or should know - I'm a shield maiden. I'm not supposed to marry."
"So what I'm hearing is that you aren't gonna become Mrs. Haddock?"
"That's why I wanted to talk to you. I don't know. I want to stay a shield maiden. I already committed to it, and I hate breaking commitments, but at the same time, I...I do have feelings for Hiccup, and I...I want to be with him."
"Do you love him?"
"What?"
"Do you love him?"
Astrid looked at the ground. "I...I don't know. Love is a strong word."
"Well, then you answered your own question. No love, no marriage. That's why Fish and I got divorced when you and Hiccup said that Tuff wasn't a real officiator. We liked each other, but I don't think love was really in the air. We might give it a second shot some other time, though."
Nodding, Astrid gave a small smile. Ruffnut had a point. But now, her new dilemma was this: did she love Hiccup? If so, did she love him simply as a friend, or did she love him as something more? She obviously liked him as something more. But love? She wasn't entirely sure, mostly because she didn't know what being in love felt like. "Thanks, Ruff," she managed to say.
"No problem. Anytime you want to talk about this again, just let me know. I'll be happy to gossip with you."
Astrid was about to say that her conflict wasn't gossip, but then thought better of it. Ruffnut had given her advice, and for that, she was grateful.
"Well, I'll see you later, Astrid," Ruffnut said. "I gotta go help Tuff give Chicken a bath."
"See you," Astrid returned before heading back to her hut.
"Astrid!"
The blonde turned to see Hiccup running towards her, Toothless following close behind. "Hiccup! You're back!"
Without warning, the auburn-haired Viking threw his arms around Astrid and drew her close to him.
"What was that for?" queried Astrid once the embrace ended. It wasn't that she hadn't enjoyed it. No, she'd loved it. Hiccup hugs were always welcome. However, they were few and far between, so the sudden gesture he'd shown had shocked her. "Is everything...is everything okay back on Berk?"
"Everything's fine," Hiccup responded with a small chuckle. "I just...I just missed you, that's all."
"Yeah, I...I missed you, too," she said.
"Wanna come to my hut tonight?" he asked suddenly. I'm making mutton stew, and I still have leftover pie from the other day. We could, you know, eat and hang out."
"Sure," agreed Astrid, an effortless smile brightening her face. "I'd love that."
