It had been a few years since the boat launch, and the archers were reprimanded, but otherwise left alone. Hiccup and Nina had agreed that their quick thinking was good for protecting Berk, which Stoick had begrudgingly assented to. Hiccup and Nina were now fifteen.
"Dad, can I tell you something and you not share it with everyone?" Hiccup asked one day during supper. He had been abnormally quiet all day.
Stoick set down his mug and swallowed his mouthful of liquid. He nodded. "Go on, son," he said.
"I think Nina might be falling in love with me," said Hiccup. "If she is, I don't want to hurt her. What should I do?"
"How do you feel about her?"
"We're best friends," came the reply. Stoick's heart sank. That was going to hurt one or both of them.
"Still fancy Astrid, then?"
Hiccup leaned on an elbow, resting his chin in his hand sighing happily as he stared dreamily into space. "Mhmm," he said. "She's beautiful, smart, tough, and strong too."
Under his breath Stoick muttered, "And cruel to you too, son." Louder, he said, "That's nice, but is that all you like her for?"
"Oh, I don't think it's like, Dad. I'm beginning to believe it's love," he said.
At that, Stoick coughed as some mead slipped down the wrong pipe. "Urgh! I'm good," he said quickly when Hiccup looked at him alarmed. "Are you sure you're beginning to, eh, love Astrid, son? Even though she's been unkind and cruel to you?"
"I told you, Dad, she doesn't mean it. I think she only does it to get a rise out of Nina," he said. He chuckled. "Nina is easy to get a rise out of."
Stoick scowled. It seemed that the less time Hiccup spent with Nina the more cruel he became. He hoped his son would see sense or at least spend more time with her as much as he could. "Son, I'm going to tell Gobber to give you the day off tomorrow. I want you to spend the whole day with Nina," he stated.
"Why?" Hiccup asked, a bit of a sassy tone in his voice.
"Just do it. This new attitude is not appreciated, and I will not stand for it," Stoick growled. Hiccup shoved the plate of food which had been barely touched away and stomped up to his room. His father sighed.
What am I going to do with him? Stoick thought. He set down his mug and pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking of his wife, Valka. I wish you were here to help steer him in the right path.