What Up from the big S in the United Kingdom, now I know I said chapter 9 was the last one till after Christmas but as a present for all my readers out there (those who like me are drunk on real ale lol) and as an early birthday present for me (wanna know my age? look at the number at the end of my user) now I wanted to add a few things in this that will contribute to future chapters so if some might be wondering why I went down that path because its the path I'm travelling on. So sit back enjoy.
Chapter 10 The eel effect
Astrid POV
I feel bad that I can't help Hiccup with much in the forge, besides handing him tool and bits of metal, hell I can't even draw as good as him.
Saying that, no one can draw as good as him.
However Hiccup know I can't but he say's he enjoys the company from me knowing that he can impress me with his smithing.
And boy can he.
And I got to admit I'm enjoying the view of him working.
Especially as he took off his vest to to avoid it catching fire, that plus it does get hot in the forge.
But coming out of my trace of staring at his bare back, a question plagued my mind on what he was designing.
"er Hiccup, how are you going to make a new tail fin? Don't you need to measure Toothless for that?" I asked him as he turned around and smiled.
"I remembered the size of his other fin, by drawing from the same sort of distance I saw it at" he said as he close his eye while holding a pencil to a long piece of parchment "I can relive that moment very clearly and draw the length down for me to use as the design" and with that I saw what he meant by it as he drew a long line before moving it away causing curved ones that attached to it doing it several time until it looked like a skeleton of the exact tail fin.
I was taken aback to that, I know he was smart but no one can be that smart "but how can you remember it?" I had to ask.
He kept that smile as he was taking some bolt out of an old shield "I actually the same way I made your axe, you ever noticed how the head and handle are a perfect weight for you?" he asked as I nodded "same with this, I don't know how I manage to do it but when I see it, I see it like its right there in front of me right now" he finishes as he starts hammering away at the bolts trying to change their shapes.
I smile as I sit there watching him work before looking outside of the window next to me admiring the stars wondering what it would be like to touch them.
My concentration on the night sky was interrupted by a small figure walking towards the forge.
As they got nearer to the forge light I recognise the figure to be young Gustav Larson.
"Good evening Miss Hofferson" he said waving to me.
I was kind of taken back by how polite he was being, for a little while since he was four or five, he strive to be just like Snotlout, even wear the same clothes and helmet as him.
But looking at him closer he seemed..well different.
A lot different if you ask me.
Instead of the muddy grey shirt, black vest and ram horned helmet he usually worn.
Like I said he wanted to be like Snotlout.
He was wearing what looked like a light green long shirt, brown vest and even his helmet was just a point horned one.
He looked like a miniature Hiccup.
Oops best answer back don't want him to think I'm rude.
"good evening Gustav, what brings you round here at this time of night?" I reply back .
He shuffles his feet as he looks up at me "well er I came to see if Hiccup was in, he promised me I could look at a certain book he got from trader Johan last time he was here" he replied back.
'A book?' I thought to myself, I thought only a few Vikings on this island could read.
I shrug my shoulders at this thought as I turn my attention towards Hiccup who was working on the last bolt shaping it into some miniature balls.
"hey Hiccup? Gustavs here for a book you promised him" I said to him after he put his hammer down.
He turned around and looked at me then at Gustav who was in the doorway "oh yeah, I remember now, I'll be right back" he said as he goes to the back room of the forge before emerging out again with a large leather bound book in his arms.
He walks up towards Gustav and gently hand him the book "here you go Gustav, I finished reading it so take as much time as you like with it, it should help with your lessons" he says to Gustav as he lets go of the book making sure Gustav has got firm grip on it.
"thanks Hiccup, I'll see you around both of you" Gustav says as he runs back off into the direction he came from.
Confused at what just happened I turn to Hiccup and confront him"what was that about babe?" I ask him hoping to know why Gustav wanted a book from him in the first place.
He sighs at me knowing I won't let it go till he tells me "Astrid can you keep this a secret please, if not for me then for Gustav?" he asks me looking into my eye's as I nod.
Smiling he carries on speaking "okay well, I've been tutoring young Gustav to read, write and learn numbers for the past year".
I got to say it kind of surprised me that but it did make me wonder now why when he wasn't with me or in the forge what he would be doing with that spare time. Now it made sense.
"but why Gustav?" I had to ask again.
He shrugged before answering "I don't know really, maybe because he was like me at that age, I tried to use one of other Vikings here as a role model but was always pushed aside for being a...well runt" he said as he gestured to himself, earning him a punch from me.
"you're not a runt Hiccup! And remember that!" I say to him as he rubs his arm.
"okay fair enough, but I knew his role model was Snotlout, well that was until you showed him what could happen to an ass if they messed with you" he says with a smirk remembering what I told him about Snotlout and that kick to his groin making me smirk now he made me remember "well I saw him one day looking down with his helmet off his head, so I go over and ask him what's up. He told me, no one wants to be near him because they called him a runt. Being in that same boat, I felt bad for him, but as I had no positive role model growing up to, I didn't want him to suffer the same fate as me, so I offered to help train the muscle in his head" he said tapping the side of his head "and he took to it easily, but not just me that's been helping him, Fishlegs took the opportunity to train the young mind too but looking at him right now, he seems to turn into a little me" he said as he chuckles "looks like I'll have competition with you milady".
To which I chuckle "oh no two smart boys after a young shield maidens heart, oh what will I do?" I said with a sort of damsel-in-distress tone of voice pretending to swoon before Hiccup ran up and caught me in his arms.
Hiccup playing along started to sound like his dad which was pretty good "oh fear not young maiden for I the most muscular and powerful Viking in the whole of Berk will win ya affection with my mighty hammmmmaa..." he said holding up a large war hammer over his head before realising it was too heavy for him causing him to fall to the floor.
"...er" he groaned but started to pout as he looks at me.
I was on the floor laughing my butt off at what he did, I can hardly breathe as all the air was concentrating on laughing too hard.
Wiping the tears away I finally sit up watching him attaching the final rod to the fin.
"oh Hiccup, I tell you if you don't make a good Viking you'll do great as a jester" I say as the air comes back into my lungs.
"ha ha milady" he said sticking his tongue out at me before turning around to the tail fin as he attaches the leather to the rods, examining it carefully before showing me "what do you think?" he asks me as I stand back up.
It still amazes me how he managed to make that, to me it looks like the other tail fin except brown because of the leather.
"wow" was all I can say before Hiccup smiled at me.
"well lets us grab a basket of fish before we head to the cove" he said with a yawn to which I yawned back.
"lets do it in the morning babe, it has been a long day" I say to him as I feel tired.
But as we move out feet we realise we're too tired to move too far.
The only option was to spend the night in the back room.
In the same bed as Hiccup.
We both must of thought the same thing as we both blush.
"well er, it's not like we haven't fallen asleep in each others arms before" I interject as he started to look nervous.
He looks at me "yeah but not in the same bed" he replies back rubbing the back of his neck.
"but I trust you Hiccup to not take advantage of me" I say with a smile on my face.
He starts to smirk "oh I'm not worried about that, I worried that you'll take advantage of all..this" he said gesturing to himself.
Damn he knows me too well.
I grab his leather apron that he still had on and drag him to the back room "well you'll just have to risk it babe" I say with an evil grin on my face. He knows I wouldn't do that to him but I love to tease him.
And he likes it too.
Gobber POV
Well that was a weird night, not only did Hiccup and Astrid run off without me noticing but Tuffnut tried to show the class a so called "birthmark" on his butt yeah right. I know a tattoo when I see one and I don't think his mum's gonna be pleased to know .
Speaking of Hiccup and Astrid where did them two go?
As I look around the village with the only sign of life was young Gustav running home carrying a large book.
Hmm strange that? I could of sword he looked just like Hiccup then.
Nah must be the night air playing tricks on me.
However looking in the direction of where Gustav came from I spot the forge as the fires start to dim.
Someone's been there not too long ago.
So I go to investigate further as I hobble along towards the forge.
But as I get there I see that it's completely empty except for a brown vest and green shirt.
Hiccup's definitely been here he only takes his shirt off if he's working hard in the forge.
But that means if his shirts still here then he must be in the back room asleep, like always.
As I peak my head through the doorway of the back room I can help but chuckle.
Cause what I see on the bed is not only Hiccup who by the way is wearing his leather apron still.
But Astrid, fully clothed minus her armour, cuddling up next to him on the bed.
"Oh ho ho ho" I laugh quietly so's not to wake them "I'm gonna enjoy teasing Hiccup about this one fer months".
I decide to leave the young smiling couple to sleep.
But as I walk over to the table nearest to the window, I spot a familiar figure approaching the forge, looking a little worried.
The blond hair and braided beard of Alfsted Hofferson, blowing around in the breeze as he enters the forge.
"err good evening Gobber" he says to me.
"err good evenin Alf, what brings ye here at this time o night?" I ask him as he looks like he's searching around for something.
Or should I say someone.
"I'm looking for Astrid Gobber, have you seen her? She hasn't been home for most of the day and I'm starting to worry" he says to me, I see the look of fear in his eye's.
Even though he knows Astrid can look after herself, she's still his baby girl.
Feeling its best to ease the blond Vikings mind, I put my right hand on his shoulder and walk him to the back room "no need ta worry Alf, she's safe but whatever ye do, don' jump ta conclusions" I ask him as he starts to look confused.
As we enter the doorway of the back room I point him towards the bed where the two teens are sleeping.
At this point I see the look of shock on his face as he see's his daughter cuddling up to Hiccup.
But what I didn't expect next was him laughing.
Now I'm confused, if it was me in his shoes and I saw my daughter in bed with a boy, i would of hit the roof and carved the boy with an axe.
So why was he laughing?
As we leave them to be and head back into the main room, he finally calms down before answering me.
"sorry Gobber I couldn't help it, it's just I was thinking how fun it would be to tease them two for weeks on end about this" he tells me, still leaving me confused.
"so ye arn't mad that she's in bed with Hiccup?" I ask him as he looks at me but still with a smile on his face.
"no I'm not mad with the boy Gobber, I trust him to not take any sort of advantage of Astrid" he says looking back in the room to the sleeping couple "I've come to know the boy very well this past year. Even if his inventions are weird. I see how happy he makes my little warrior" he said before frowning and looking at me "you know Gobber I actually feared for my daughter for a few years now, ever since my brother self banished himself from the island after the flightmare she took it the hardest out of all of us, she'd shut everyone out, never showed emotions except anger, she even stopped talking to us, her parents. Both me and Helga were scared that she'll want to live her life of nothing but battling before she ends up in vahalla one day, never knowing what happiness feels like".
I remember that too and all what he said was true.
Then I see him smile again at me "and then Hiccup comes along again, making her that axe, when I found out it was him, I thought he just wanted err, how to put it, 'play' with her, if you knwo what I mean" he said to me and I realised what he said before nodding "but as I looked into his eye's as he told me all he wanted from making that axe was for Astrid to remember him, even be friends with him again, he never expected her to fall in love with him, but I'm glad she did, for what me and Helga have been discussing with Stoick before he left, would be a lot more easier to explain to her why we did it" he looked down at the ground at what he said "I hope she still won't hate me for it".
Know what he was on about I patted him on the shoulder before smiling "well why don't ya tell her tomorrow tonight, ye know if ya leave it too long she'll hate ya fer not telling her sooner" I said to him as he looks uo at me smiling.
"yeah, you're right Gobber she does deserve to know, I'll tell her then" he said as he walks towards the doorway before turning to look at me "thanks Gobber" he said before waving at me and heading off for home.
At this point I decide to hit the hay too as tomorrow the teens move on to the bigger boys.
The Hideous Zippleback
Next morning at the cove Hiccup POV
"ohhh Toothless" I shout with a hint of singing in my voice to which I hear giggling Astrid behind me.
As I look around I spot the black dragon coming bounding up to me looking happy to see me.
Well that's interesting that he's happy to see me.
Although it could be the basket of fish I brought him while Astrid the tail fin for me.
"all right bud chow down" I say to him as I kick the basket over spilling out it contents of fish "ok that's disgusting" but no matter, if it helps distrat Toothless while I attempt to attach this thing on then I'm willing to stomach it.
Providing of course he doesn't try to regurgitate another one up for me.
"okay we have some salmon, some icelandic cod and a whole smoked eel" I said to him as he backs away from the basket at the mention of 'eel'.
Looking curious as to why he backed away I go to the basket and pick out the eel showing it to Toothless.
He shrieked in terror at the sight of it.
"hey hey bud its okay look" I reassure him as I throw the eel in to the lake "I don't like eels either".
With that he slowly goes back to the basket to sniff it.
Convinced there;s no more eels he starts to eat the fish as I head round the back of Toothless with Astrid in tow who handed me the fin.
As I attempt to put the prophetic tail fin in line with his real on, to no success, he just wont hold still, Astrid watches in amusement at me failing to attach the fin on and interest at how the design of it.
To be honest, without getting a big head about it, I'm impressed with myself.
Just wish he would hold still for a second.
Just as I'm about to get it in position, his tail moves forward as he sticks his head in the basket for more fish.
I was starting to lose my patience so decide to try a different angle and clamp on his tail so I can hold it still while I attach it.
Finally after several tries I did it.
As I admire my work I don't notice Astrid looking behind me looking scared, until it was too late.
"Astrid what's upaaaaahhhhhhh..." I shouted as I hold on to dear life as Toothless decided to take off and fly.
But the tail fin was closed so he's going to fall.
Well here's seeing if works, learning on the job as Gobber would say.
I pull the artificial tail fin open making Toothless rise higher into the air.
'Yes! It works!' I think to myself as I copy what the other tail fin does so Toothless can fly in the direction he wants to go.
After we fly back to the cove and over the lake I couldn't contain myself.
"WooHoo yeah baby!" I yell out happily.
But Toothless had other ideas, he flung me off his tail so I fell in the water.
*SPLASH!*
But what Toothless failed to realise was because I wasn't controlling the fin, it shut back up making him crash into the water too.
Normally if I was thrown into the water I would be angry, but how could I when one of my inventions workd for the first time.
And I flew!
It was amazing!
"Yeah! Wow what a rush!" I shout as I break the surface of the water follow by Toothless who seemed as equally happy as I was.
Wow this dragon really does surprise me.
As I leave the water and head towards a still shocked Astrid.
I wave my hand over her face as to wake her from her trance.
"err hello Midgard to Astrid are you th..." I was cut short by a punch to the shoulder.
But before I could rub it I was tackle to the ground by the same blond-haired maiden who proceeded to kiss me all over my face before embracing me in a tight hug.
Too tight.
"Astrid...air...need to...breathe" I wheeze out as she lets go.
"you crazy crazy ass, stubborn headed..." she shouted to me while wearing her trademark scowl.
But it turned from a scowl to a warm smile as she carried on talking "..smart, wonderful and amazing son of a half-troll" she finished off before hugging me gently this time, stunning me.
She then looked into my eye's, ready to ask me a question I thought I'd never thought she'd ever say "what was it like? To fly I mean" she ask me as I look into her ocean blue eye, wow I could swim in them all day long until the day I drowned.
But shook my thought at the back of my head as I answer her question "I was... amazing Astrid! even if it only lasted a few minutes, it was amazing!" I said with an exited tone in my voice.
Astrid smiled at me as I said that, I know what she was thinking.
When we watched the stars at night she always said if one day we could go up there and touch them.
A thought that always crossed my mind and would love to do for her one day.
Maybe, just maybe with Toothless, we might.
Several hours later at the arena
As me and Astrid got to the ring where the others were, I noticed several buckets of water in the centre close to the confused teens.
"Oh no I hope its not Gobbers annual wash again?" I groaned as Astrid tried to hold back a laugh.
"no ye cheeky git!" Gobber says as he smacks me around the head, ok ok I deserved that one...mostly.
"Today's lesson involves team work in which Hiccup I'll be placing ye in charge of Astrid, Fishlegs an the twins while I have the other" Gobber said and sighed afterwards "lucky me" he said sarcastically.
I must be rubbing off on him.
I shrugged as I turn my attention to my err...well lets say team as I have no idea what to come up with.
"All right trainees today's dragon is the Hideous Zippleback" Gobber informs the teens as he gestures towards the Zippleback cage "now can anyone tell me abou the Zippleback before we start" he asks as he looks around.
Surprisingly Snotlout raises its hands "easy, its a dragon duh!" he says looking smug.
"I knew it was too good to think highly of him" I said as I smack my head in a faceplam.
Suddenly I hear the same smacking sound behind me, and as I turn around I see Astrid, Fishlegs and the Twins face palm themselves.
Gobber however just rolled his eye's "Ok? Now can I get an answer from someone who isn't a complete idiot?" he said looking around.
No one this time put their hand up.
Not even Fishlegs.
'now I know he knows the answer' I think to myself as I walk close to him and decide to elbow him in the ribs to get him going.
"Hideous Zippleback, two-headed dragon of the fear class range, with Attack twelve, speed ten, armour te..." he blursts out before I stop him.
"Fishlegs! He only wants the basics, not the stats ok?" I say to him as I put a hand on his shoulder.
He breathes in and nods at me before carrying on "ok two heads, one releases gas while the other can ignite it".
"correct Fishlegs. Tha's right, one head releases gas while the other ignites it, yer lesson today is ta figure out which one is which, hence the buckets" Gobber said gesturing to the buckets on the floor.
"now in yer teams pick two teens te take on the zippleback" Gobber finished as he walked away as I turn to the others.
"okay who's going to go?" I say as I turn to the others.
Astrid I know would in a heartbeat, she love's challenges.
The twins were...well fighting with the spare buckets, maybe Tuffnut should of said his sister's butt looks big.
Which left only fishlegs.
Giving both Astrid and Fishlegs their buckets, I watch in worry as the cage door opens and the whole ring fills up with gas making visibility poor.
Although I can't see a thing I can hear and what I heard was interesting.
*Girly Scream!*
Okay I know for a fact that's not Astrid, so I guess it was Angelica who screamed.
Nope I was wrong.
From out of the fog came Snotlout running out of the ring like a bat out of hell with the bucket on his head.
I don't know how I managed to hold in the laughter, but it wasn't easy. Next came Ugthug with his hand stuck in his bucket.
I don;t want to know how he managed to do that.
Next I hear the swishing of a tail and two sets of thuds as I'm assuming Astrid and Fishlegs got tripped.
My fear was realised when their buckets rolled out of the fog without their owners.
Quickly looking in my jacket pocket, I spot the one thing I picked up from the cove that might help out here as I run into the fog followed by Gobbers voice.
"Hiccup!"
But I ignore it, looking around for the two people I needed to see.
I eventually spot them.
Fishlegs on the floor in terror while Astrid is up in defense trying to keep hold of her axe, but even I can see she's done something to her wrist.
Quick as I can I stand in front of Astrid (I got to say this is becoming a habit in the rescuing department) as I look at the Zippleback head while producing my secret weapon.
The smoked eel from the cove.
I was planning on chucking it away after the lesson but now I'm glad I have it as I see the Zippleback back away in fear of it.
"now back, I'm warning you, get back in your cell and think about what you done" I shout as the fog cleared and everyone can see what I was doing.
As soon as the Zippleback was back in its cell, I looked to see if anyone can see what I was doing before putting the eel back in one pocket and out of the other produce two fish to which I chucked at each head.
But as I was closing the door I notice the Zippleback were looking into my eye's.
What is it with these dragons and my eye's?
Not thinking too much into it, I finally close the door.
Only to have everyone look at me like I just turned into a Zippleback.
Most open and closing their mouths.
That reminds me, I better bring Toothless some more icelandic cod the next time I see him.
The only person that wasn't shocked was Astrid, who only crossed her arms and smirked at me.
Of course she knew what I did, she's about as smart as me for Thors sake.
Well I think she is anyway.
"well I er better get going now and do some...stuff" I said as I left the still shocked Vikings in the ring as Astrid followed me out.
As soon as we were out of earshot, Astrid decided to punch my shoulder.
"Ouch!" I shout rubbing it.
"I know what you did there, you used that eel trick on the Zipplebacks like it did with Toothless" she said with that smirk still on her face.
"yeah I know, I just wanted to see if it worked on not just Toothless but on other dragons as well" I said trying to look innocent as possible hoping for her not to punch me again.
I forgot the gods hate me as she delivers another punch to my shoulder.
"ouch! what was that one for?" I shouted again, gods she loves her voilence.
"that was for risking your life again, I swear you make it a habit of saving mine" she said, still with that smirk on her face.
Suddenly she grabs the front of my shirt and pulls me towards her as she plants a deep passionate kiss on my lip.
'I could definitely get used to this' as she departs from my lips leave me with a goofy smile on my face making her giggle.
"that was for everything else" she softly said as her blue eyes sparkled at me.
"well babe I'd best get home, I haven't been back since yesterday morning and my parent are probably worried sick, so I'll see you later Hiccup" she said as she pecks me on the nose before running off back to her house only for her to shout "you're amazing!".
Still standing there with a goofy smile still on my face as I watch my Valkyrie run off into the distance until an idea popped into my head.
Something that might help Toothless to fly again.
With this thought I quickly run off to the forge to work on the idea.
Hofferson Manor Astrid POV
I swear that boyfriend of mine get cuter every time he shows me that goofy smile of his.
But as I open the front door, I hope my parents won't be too angry I was out all night even though they know I can handle myself, they still worry.
After all its what parents do.
"Astrid" my father said who with my mother at the table "may we have a word with you?" he said sternly.
Shit I was in trouble.
I slowly nod as I make my way to the table and sit down.
"dad if this is because I was out all night I'm sorry but I was safe, I was with Hiccup and we were tired and..."but I was cut off by my father putting his hand up to stop me.
"I know about that Astrid, but that's not why we want a word with you" he said in a calming voice.
I sigh in relief, but if it was nothing to do with that then what?
"As you know Astrid my dear, you are nearly at the age of marrying, even though you'll not marry till you're at least sixteen, familes will be asking us for a marrage contract for your hand" my father said making me feel a little uneasy at what he was saying.
But I was my mother who scared me.
"and well Astrid my dear, we have accepted a contract with a very wealthy family who will see you off with a good life..." she said before I cut her off.
"What!? What do you mean you accept a contract!? Without consulting me!? What am I cattle!? I don't want to marry some creep from so family I might not know! Oh please say you didn't accept a contract from the Jorgenson's!? I don't want to marry that asshole Snotlout! I'd rather jump off the nearest cliff than have him anywhere near him!" I shouted at the top of my voice, how dare they sell me off to some stranger, I thought they loved me, I thought they cared for my opinion.
"Astrid dear please calm down and let us explain..." my father shouted trying calm the situation, yeah fight fire with fire that always works.
"Go to this family! Tell them you made a mistake and you're not ready for me to be engaged! Do something but please don't do this to me!" I shout as tear run down my face while breathing rapidly.
My father and mother look at each other before shugging "well, that's a shame then, I guess I'll have to talk to Stoick when he gets back" my father said with a sad look upon his face.
Now I'm confused, why does he have to have a word with the chief about this? "w-why do you need to speak to Stoick about this? Isn't it between the two familes of the contract?" I ask him as he looks at me before giving me a sly smile.
"well that's right my little warrior and that's why I need to talk to Stoick, since he's the head of the family I agreed the contract to" he finished off as both my parents smiled at me.
I myself was shocked at this "y-you mean I-I'm engaged t-to Hiccup?" I stuttered still can't believe this.
They both nodded as my mother spoke "you see Astrid yeah we were right about suitors wanting a marriage contract for you as soon as you turned fifteen so we and Stoick sat down to talk about it and we realised that you two are truly in love. We didn't want to ruin that my dear, you bring out the confidence in Hiccup whereas he brings out the true Astrid, the one who smiles and love every day like it was the last" she said as she approached me with tear in her eye's holding my hands "you two complete each other".
"and lets face it Astrid, Snotlout wouldn't last the wedding night the amount you despised him" my father said making me laugh with tear running down my face.
But they weren't tears of sadness.
But tears of joy.
"and as a added bonus, you don't have to marry straight away, only when you're both ready for it" my mother said gently putting her hand on my shoulder.
"although not too long. After all I do want grandchildren to bounce on my knee someday" my father said with a grin making me blush.
"dad!" I said with a smirk, I knew he would tease me till I give him a grandchild, well he'll have to wait till I'm good and ready.
Or until I finally jump Hiccup.
Speaking of Hiccup I want to go see him.
Once I've changed my clothes of course and had a bite to eat.
But not before rushing over to my parents to give them a hug.
I guess they do know whats best for me after all.
Several Hours later Normal POV
Astrid couldn't believe it as she walked (more like a skip) toward the forge. Her parents and Hiccups dad discussing a marital contract for them.
Even though she dedicated herself to being a warrior and only a warrior, that all changed when she finally let Hiccup back into her heart after so long.
And even though she was never into girlish sort of things like dream weddings and picking flowers, she felt as giddy as one about being a Haddock one day.
She knew Hiccup even now treats her like an equal and knows she is a shield maiden by heart.
She didn't realise she was staring at the boy in question until he came up to her waving his hand over her face.
"Hello, Midgard to Astrid Hofferson" he said trying to get her attention.
"oh, sorry just thinking" she said quickly making Hiccup confused.
"thinking about what?" he said to her while rising an eyebrow.
"just stuff" she said as she tries to change the subject "so...what you been working on while I was away?" she asked him quickly hoping that changing the subject to one of his inventions might make him forget.
Hiccup however will not forget but doesn't want to push Astrid into punching him again, so answers her question by showing her as he picks up a large odd shaped leather saddle.
Astrid looked confused "what happened to that saddle? Did Gobber sit on it or something?" she asked with a puzzled face.
Hiccup deadpanned her "really? you see this and think Gobber sat on it?" he said in a dull voice as Astrid shrugged.
Hiccup rolls his eye's as he carries on "this milady is the very first dragon saddle ever made on Berk, maybe even the Archipelago".
Astrid finally making sense of it gave a silent "oh" before speaking "so you made this why?".
Hiccup only smiled as he looked from Astrid to the saddle "Even though I made a new tail fin for Toothless I found one major flaw in its design. It need to be manually operated in order for him to fly. So with this" he said lifting up the saddle "and a bit of trail and error, we'll find a way" he said with determination.
Astrid looked puzzled "we?" she asked wondering what he meant.
Hiccup put down the saddle, walked up to her and held both her hands in his. And as he looked into her eye's as she in his, forest green meets ocean blue, he begins to speak to her in a serious tone "yes Astrid, we, we saw what Toothless is like, we both want him to fly and to be honest, I couldn't ask anyone better than you to be by my side through out all this, but I swear Astrid, if thing make a turn for the worse then..." he was cut off when Astrids finger gently made contact to his lips to silence him bfore speaking herself "..then we'll deal with it, together".
Hiccup gave a wide genuine smile as he moves his hands to her waist, bring her closer to him in a tight comforting hug.
The stood there holding each other with both smiling for the other before they simultaneously said only one word:
"together"
I got to add long chapter this one. one of my longest yet. We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas now I'm going to have a beer. Wait that doesn't sound right. Ah well.