Wow! I've been getting really good reviews so far! I'm glad you all like it! Of course it's an awkward situation. Why do you think Stoick was so hesitant about telling poor Hiccup? Today, we find out how this happened and who the delightful girl Hiccup has to marry is. And we all know Astrid's not going to just stand by and let this happen. And what will everyone else's reactions be to this news? What's Snotlout and Toothless going to say about all this? Well, we're just going to read and find out.

Chapter Two Hiccup

"I'll stand by you! I'll stand by you! Won't let nobody hurt you! I'll stand by you! Take me into your darkest hour! And I'll never desert you! I'll stand by you…"

I stared in horror at my father, looking closely at his face in the greatest hope that he might be joking. But he looked very serious, and very regretful. So I was wrong. There was something he could say that could freak me out. For a whole minute, none of us spoke. I didn't even try looking at Astrid, pressed right beside me.

Eventually I managed to close my gaping mouth that I hadn't realized had been hanging open.

"Please tell me you're joking, father," I pleaded, hoping that this was really just some sick joke before he told me what the problem was really. But to my horror, he was shaking his head in dismay.

"I'm afraid not, Hiccup," he told me. "I wouldn't joke about something as serious as this."

"But come on!" I cried. "Marriage? I'm barely sixteen! I've barely even begun to understand females!"

"Lots of vikings marry young," Stoick reasoned in a somewhat defeated voice. "Especially viking chiefs. It's to ensure that the tribes stay strong." I couldn't believe I was hearing this. I still couldn't even bring myself to look at Astrid to see what her reaction was.

"And just when were you planning on telling me this?" I growled, unexpected anger starting to burn inside me. Instead of letting him answer, because I knew he wouldn't, I continued. "How did this even happen anyways?"

"There is a viking tribe," Stoick answered slowly, choosing his words carefully. "They call themselves the Skullhead Tribe. The Hooligans and the Skullheads have been in a bitter rivalry for as long as anyone can remember. One day, the chief of the Skullheads and I reached an agreement. Our children would marry and a truce would be forged between the two tribes. It was the only way we could get our tribes to stop fighting."

Now, I could see the sense in what my father said about marrying young. Vikings had a knack for dying at really young ages and it was a bigger priority for the chief of the tribe to produce an heir to replace him quickly before he or she died. But an arranged marriage? It would have been bad enough being forcibly married to someone within my own tribe. But I have never even heard of the Skullheads! And all because they thought there was no other way to stop arguing? Over what? Who was the stubborn and ugliest Viking tribe? Even Stoick had gotten the honor of choosing who he got to marry!

But I couldn't bring myself to say any of this to my father's face. It was all I could do to look him in the eye. Sensing that I was about to argue with him, Stoick took a breath and glared down at me.

"Now Hiccup," he growled. "This is for yer own good. You haven't even met this girl yet. Who knows? You might find that you like her."

"Oh, I get to marry a female?" I growled angrily. "I thought you were just going to marry me off to some random creature too."

That crossed the line. Nobody spoke back like that to Stoick the Vast, not even his own son. He stood up angrily and glared down at me, catching both of us in his gaze.

"I will not be spoken to like that," he snapped. "And my decision on this is final. As future chief, you need to start putting the tribe's needs ahead of your own. And I'm not happy about this any more than you are, if that means anything to you. It wasn't my idea."

Even though I had much more to say, I couldn't think of the words to express my outrage. I felt so helpless then and there. I was no longer in control of my own future. Once again, everyone wanted me to be something I didn't want to be.

Don't kill dragons, Hiccup, I thought angrily to myself as I turned and stormed out of the house with Astrid on my heels. Kill the dragons, Hiccup. Get married, Hiccup! Do this, do that! Won't they ever make up their minds?

I forced myself to slow down so Astrid could reach my side. She looked just as confused and annoyed as I was. I tried not to take a step away from her in case she decided to take her frustration out on me. We stood there in silence for a long moment before I felt that I could finally open my mouth without shouting.

"Well this must be one of the worst days in my life," I growled softly, trying to steady my breathing. "I can't believe he would do this to me!" I kicked at the ground. "And after all this time I had felt guilty for keeping Toothless a secret from him, he was keeping his own secrets."

"Maybe it won't be too bad for you," Astrid reasoned as calmly as she could. Her voice was shaking and she wouldn't look me in the eye. "Maybe she's beautiful and kind and maybe you two will get along greatly." I let out a long sigh.

"I don't care if she was the greatest person in the entire world!" I replied. "It's the fact that my father didn't even tell me until now that angers me. I hate that he didn't think that I would be able to take it. And I'm frustrated because no matter what this girl is like, she's not the one I want to spend the rest of my life with!"

I shut my mouth at that. I didn't mean to say that last part out loud. Astrid stopped and turned to me. I could see tears stuck in her eyes. Astrid was not someone who would cry. She found it as a sign of weakness and vulnerability.

I knew she already knew what I meant. I knew because she suddenly leaned forward and kissed me very deeply. My breath caught in my throat as she did. Her sadness was almost too overbearing. We could never be together now. Because my father had thought I was much better suited to someone I didn't know. And there was not much either of us could do about it. I was really surprised to know that she cared as deeply for me as I did for her.

I don't know how long we stood there with her lips pressed to mine. But eventually and very reluctantly she released me before taking two steps back and then turning on her heel and running off. I stared after her in surprise, unable to run after her. Or do anything else for that matter.

…

At first Toothless thought I was joking when I told him. But as I started to get through to him, he was almost upset as I was. He knew as much as I did how hard I had worked to get Astrid to at least like me. Only to be spoiled just like that. And he could feel my sadness and frustration. We had that sort of link where we would feel each other's thoughts and emotions.

Toothless still liked to sleep in the grotto where we had first became friends, but many a night he would sink into my room and lay beside me. It was hard for us to be apart ever since that day. He didn't stir when I woke the next morning and slipped on my clothes.

My first thoughts was that maybe the day before had been a dream. That it had just been a terrible nightmare. But I just couldn't bring myself to accept that. No matter how much I wanted it to be a dream; I knew that it had really happened. I could still feel where Astrid had kissed me.

Stoick was already at the table, eating his huge breakfast when I slowly came down the stairs in the same manner a condemned man would walk. He swallowed hard when he saw me and he put his utensils down gently.

"Er, mornin' Hiccup," he greeted awkwardly. I glared at him but refused to speak. I knew he could feel my anger flowing freely from me, but he continued anyways, as if he refused to receive my cold shoulder. "So the Skullheads are arriving today," he told me. "That's what the letter I had received was about. They told me they were looking forward to seeing the entire tribe."

I gritted my teeth in frustration but continued to stay silent. Figures! I wouldn't even get the chance to take all of this in or prepare myself before this girl arrived to change my life.

Stoick cleared his throat, indicating that he wasn't done. He didn't care if I didn't speak; he was going to make himself heard. "I know you're upset with me," he said carefully. "But I don't want you taking any of that out on the Skullheads. This is a very important day and you shall not ruin it. Understand?"

I forced myself to nod. I didn't dare look him in the eye. I could still remember when all I ever felt was the upmost respect for my father. But I didn't feel any of it now. I only felt betrayed.

At that moment we could hear a horn in the far distance, signaling the arrival of the rival viking tribe. Well, at least it wouldn't be for very long. I gave one last, seething glare at my father before turning and heading out the door. Toothless caught up with me in a matter of mere moments.

We headed down to the beach together. I kept one of my hands on his neck for support and guidance. I wasn't sure I would be able to do this by myself. It was hard enough to put one foot in front of the other to get down to the beach. I didn't know how I would be able to handle all of this.

We found almost the entire tribe already at the beach, a lot of them muttering amongst themselves. Toothless and I stayed at the edge of the crowd, trying not to be noticed. I really didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment, not even to Astrid or Fishlegs. I was still mentally preparing myself.

Fishlegs came over to my side anyways and was about to say something, when a loud horn interrupted him. The crowd turned towards the ships and a huge group of vikings slowly started jumping from the sides and splashing in the waters towards us. They were all very muscular and tall, walking with proud strides. I could feel an uneasy tension in the air as the two tribes came face to face.

The crowds started parting and the Hooligans let my father walk through. He looked very proud and confident for one who had just told his son that he was being married whether he liked it or not. The chief of the Skullhead tribe came up to greet him, a young female at his side.

"Garlo the Gruesome," Stoick greeted gruffly. "It's an honor to see you again."

"I could say the same thing to you, old friend," the Skullhead chief replied, nodding. Garlo the Gruesome was not as gruesome as his name suggested. He was actually more hairy than anything else. Thick black hair seemed to curl out of every inch of his body and he had a beard that was able to match my father's.

The girl beside him who stood quietly I could safely guess was his daughter, and the girl I was supposed to marry. She had long, fair hair that she kept nice and straight. She was tall and thin, with soft blue eyes. Her ruby red lips was turned up in a polite smile.

"This is my daughter," Garlo explained, clasping a giant hand on the girl's shoulder. "Her name is Isabella the Beautiful." He looked down at his daughter affectionately. "She is as strong as she is beautiful."

"Wonderful," my father boomed happily. "I've heard much about you."

"Where's your son, Stoick?" Garlo asked, looking around slightly confused. "The one you've told me about, the Dragon Whisperer?"

I sank low to the ground to try to make myself not be seen. With any luck, Snotlout would step forward and volunteer himself and I wouldn't have to go through with this. But Stoick had already spun around to look for me and spotted Toothless.

"There he is," he told the rival chief. "By the Night Fury!"

I have to apologize in advance. I've been coming down with something and I haven't been feeling quite myself. But I told myself that I was definitely posting a chapter today so here we are. Next time we'll find out just exactly what these people are like. And we'll definitely find out what everyone else's reactions will be. Because news travels fast on Berk. Too fast.

Anyways, the next chapter will probably (most definitely) be in Astrid's point of view. We're going to find out just how much Astrid cares for Hiccup, and what this new girl means. This is going to be fun. Read and review, otherwise I can't write. It's common sense.