A/N: Hey guys, just a few clarifications:
1. You guys remember Armedis? He's a Screaming Death...the name White Death was the story the Vikings made up when they found the slaughtered village. But HE'S NOT the Screaming Death from the TV Show.
2. I'm sure you all watch the TV show Riders or Defenders of Berk, so even though my story is not an episode by episode chapter like the Show, I'll be using references from the show, as the episodes go on.
3. What's said above also applies to my other story "Rider Vs. Conqueror".
And furthermore:
REST IN PEACE Paul Walker. You were truly a great actor and made Fast and Furious what it is today. It's such a tragedy that you had died, and only at age 40. My prayers go to your family, to give them strength during this time and just know Paul Walker, that you will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. "This Moment...We Own It". WE WILL MISS YOU!
Astrid's POV
I believe it was just past dawn when I began to stir. The early morning sun's rays began to appear through the gaps in the wall and some of the windows. You could say I've always been a morning person, waking up at the crack of dawn to train to become one of the best dragon killers there ever were. But that's when I found him and everything changed.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, public enemy number one of Berk and traitor to all Vikings showed me what and who dragons really were...and here I was, with him...in bed. The bed wasn't much, it could just fit two people in it, which made us have to press against each other, but I didn't mind that, in fact I enjoyed it...with what happened last night, it was just icing on the cake.
I was sleeping on my side with my back pressed against his chest. We were both topless...I still had my breast bindings on, so we didn't go that far, and he was shirtless. I had removed my spiked skirt somewhere during out session last night and just had my leggings on. His face was buried into the crook of my shoulder and felt his calm breathing against my skin. It was so soothing. He had his left arm over my waist and part of my stomach, keeping me close to him. I know this isn't like me, but, feeling his body pressed against me, and from seeing it last night...he had definitely grown a lot more muscle. He was still relatively thin compared to other Vikings, but his muscles were noticeable. The muscles on his arms were finely tone, creating a perfect outline of where they should be. He didn't have abs, but you could tell they were just there, a slight outline but that was enough...and from a physical point of view, he was extremely attractive.
I smiled to myself as the images of him without his shirt took me back to last night's session. Saying it was amazing would be an understatement...because it was so much more. The way he kissed me, the way he touched me, the way he way he spoke...it all felt like a dream a girl would have about her lover, except in this case it was all real...very real.
Working in the forge made his hands hard because of all the metal he had to handle, all the burns he had and a few scrapes and cuts but when he traced those same hands along my body, sides and neck...they felt so soft, treating me like I was a delicate flower that could easily break if someone mishandled when touching it. The sensations I had when he did that...I never wanted him to stop touching me...as weird and gross as that sounds...but you know what I mean.
I remember him trailing his hand from my leg up to my sides. I was wearing my leggings, never took them off but Gods, his touch! How does he do that? How does he create that tingly yet loving sensation when he traces those smith's hands along my body? I couldn't think of it further because my mind moved from his hands to his lips.
When he kissed me, there was passion, love and caring in every single kiss he gave me. I remember how our tongues battled for supremacy in each other's mouths, but it always ended up with him winning. That was one battle I didn't mind losing. His kisses, while gliding his hands over my exposed skin and trailing my legs made me moan every single time and I knew that's what he wanted. But one of the most memorable events was when he kissed me from my stomach up to my neck.
He placed soft kisses along the centre of my stomach, starting just above the waist and moved up slowly, giving a few slow licks with his tongue as well. I simply turned my head on the bed, closed my eyes to enjoy the experience and smiled as I released pleasured gasps of air at his actions. As he reached my breast bindings he skipped over them...Just wait until we're married. Huh, I'm already thinking about marriage with a guy I just started seeing the previous week.
As he neared my neck, his kisses became more fierce, more passionate as they became longer and slower. I could even remember feeling his teeth on my skin, making me released a surprise moan. He planted many love-bites onto my neck and collar bone. I remember one lasted for a good minute as he sucked at my neck, seeming to suck all my blood from the mark he made. But one action, when he ran the tip of his tongue right from the base of my neck to the bottom of my chin made me arch my back to the max, and he did that countless of times. And speaking of kissing...
"I see you're up" I said quietly as I felt a pair of lips kissing my neck once more. It was such a pleasure to feel his lips gliding their way along my neck again...brought back so many memories from last night.
"What were you thinking about?" he asked as he leaned himself on his other elbow and stared down at me with those warm and caring green eyes.
"Oh...wouldn't you want to know" I said turning my head so I could look at him.
"Well yes...I would want to know actually" he said.
"Well..." I said turning onto my back, and he had to make room for that so he got on top of me, supporting himself with his elbows while his auburn hair fell around his head as he looked at me right in the eyes, waiting for a response. "...I was just thinking, about how the village would receive you when we returned" I lied, but it was a matter we had to discuss to be prepared for.
He made a slight frown, "Well I'm sure it can't be anything short of disgust and disappointment" he said.
"Be that as it may, they have to understand that Stoick sent for you to help us with the dragon raids, so they have no choice but to accept you...for the time you're there" I said, trailing my fingers down his chest.
"That won't mean that they'll treat me well. They'll go back to the way things were, except with more hatred and disappointment towards me...and it's been so long since I've been in that position...OW!" he yelled when I punched him in the shoulder.
"Don't go back on your word on me now! You said yourself, why should you care whether they hate you or not...you are doing this for the good of the dragons so no more dragons die every time a Viking captures one, and in my view...no more Vikings have to die because of this war. We are doing this for the good of both sides Hiccup" I said as cupped his face with my palms.
"Besides not every one would hate you...Gobber wants to see you again, he misses the times he fooled around with you in the forge, and even with all the bad stuff going on about you back at the village, that didn't stop him from saying Hiccup was the best apprentice he ever had, and keep in mind this is when Stoick forbade your name from ever being spoken. Even the teens, well Fishlegs would be thrilled to see you, especially after what you've learned about dragons, he'll be ecstatic about the new information you have...who knows, he might even change the Book of Dragons based on the knowledge you have" I said, not breaking eye contact.
I saw his frown form back into a smile, but then I saw a hint of mischievousness in his eyes, "And what about you? How would you feel about me returning?" he asked, his face closing the distance, forcing me to wrap my arms around his neck.
"Well, do you want me to tell you...or show you?" I asked in a similar voice, and soon our lips locked for what was probably the hundredth time that since last night. We both had dragon breath, but we could care less and that would have ruined the mood.
I felt his hands trace themselves once again along the sides of my body, tracing circles around my stomach. Hiccup disengaged from the kiss and started placing chaste kisses on my neck and collar bone, to which I closed my eyes quivered underneath him.
"Ahem!" Hiccup stopped his charge and looked over to the side of the bed, as did I and we both saw Toothless there waiting, with what looked like a smirk on his face.
"Really bud, you don't understand privacy?" Hiccup asked with a grin, to which Toothless laughed...I think?
"He says that we should start packing if we want to make it to Berk today. I'll leave you some time to get dressed ok?" he said getting off me and walking into another room.
"Alright" I said getting up, and taking my shirt, skirt and boots, which were strewn across the ground. It's hard to believe where we are, my relationship with Hiccup, how it just took off in two weeks or less. I always did feel sorry for him when we were younger, I wanted to help him, or at least be an acquaintance of him, but my parents and Viking law reminded me to shun an Outcast...even though he wasn't one, that's everyone handled him, and right now it sickens me.
As I was putting my shirt back on I realized something...I'll never be with him.
Viking law forbids anyone from being with a traitor, especially of the level of treason Hiccup committed. Sure I could run away with him, but I'll be shaming my family's name, and as the only daughter, I can't do that to my parents.
I'd be married off to some merchant of another village, or another chief...or worse...Snotlout. I cringe at the very thought of me marrying him and doing...that of all things with him. But if he's the next in line, he will offer my dad a contract which he cannot refuse, well because Spitelout is second in command and is very wealthy. My dad will be considered an idiot if he refuses it, plus my mom will be pushing me to get married since I am of that age, actually, 18 is the marriage age, and I'm already 20, so I won't have a choice.
"Hey you ready to go?" I heard Hiccup call. I turned and saw him dressed in his black leather armour and with a satchel hanging over his shoulder.
"Yeah, let's go" I said, grabbing my things and meeting him outside.
Normal POV
Hiccup and Astrid trudged along to the village with Toothless by their side. Hiccup decided that it would be best to say goodbye before actually leaving.
"So, tell me about last night" he heard Toothless say.
"What do you mean?" Hiccup asked, trying to avoid the conversation with his friend.
"Don't play dumb with me...You think I didn't see you and her on the bed performing your mating rituals, I'm asking did you mate her?" he asked.
"Why do you always assume that, and NO! We didn't do that" Hiccup replied.
"Why do you humans wait so long just to mate...I mean if two dragons love each other they mate and are mates for life...that's how it works" Toothless explained. Hiccup slapped his forehead with his hand.
"Humans are just...complicated is the word I guess. We have these rituals, not the kind of ritual you saw in there, but other kinds and only once they're done, then we can...you know...it's called marriage ok, leave it at that" he said finally, shaking his head and walking ahead of Toothless to catch up with Astrid.
"Humans...possibly the most complicated and dumb species in the lands" Toothless thought.
As the trio reached the centre of the village, they caught sight of Heather, Ripper and Bladewing heading out. "Hey guys, where are you off to?" Ripper asked, shaking hands with Hiccup.
"We're going back to Berk...since I agreed to help them with their dragon problem" he replied.
"Really? Mind if I tag along? Apparently today is an off day for me...a little way of Treeroot saying thanks for everything" he laughed.
"I know that look on you" Heather told Astrid. They had moved to the sidelines when Ripper and Hiccup engaged in conversation and they wanted to be out of earshot.
"What look?" Astrid asked, looking at her.
"Don't play dumb with me. I know that look because I had it...you two did something last night" she said quietly. Astrid could feel her cheeks heating up fast and tried to suppress the imminent blush that was forming.
"You didn't do that...otherwise you'd look like you were radiating sunshine...you two made out...and I'm guessing with extreme passion" Heather concluded with a smile, trying to hold back the laughter from the expression on her face.
"How do you know that!?" she asked, staring at her as if she were psychic.
"Because I had the same look on myself that you have now when I first made out with Ripper" she said. Heather smirked when she saw Astrid turn away, obviously trying to hide her blush. "So am I right?" she asked.
"YES! Yes you're right ok! We made-out, and it was...one of the most unforgettable experiences I'll ever have" she said looking at him.
"Trust me Astrid, there are more experiences yet to come" Heather said, placing a hand on her stomach.
Astrid looked at Heather's stomach and frowned. "That'll never happen between us...the law forbids it" she said solemnly.
"Ah, the traitor law...forbids him from courting anyone from the same tribe until he is redeemed. I know about that law, but you could always run away" she suggested.
"And shame my family? I can't. I'm the only daughter in my family and a shield-maiden on Berk, something my family is proud of me and if I run away, and with Hiccup, they'll shun my family and possibly banish them as well...I can't risk that" Astrid said.
"Well, I'm sure you two will think of something, I mean Hiccup always does, so you don't have to worry" Heather said as she watched Hiccup and her husband chat.
"How did Armedis react to her presence?" Bladewing asked.
"Not so good...tried to kill her on her sight. I don't even know how ran from him for that long...I mean a Screaming Death? She is impressive" Toothless acknowledged.
"That's what was expected by him...I don't think he'll trust humans again" Bladewing said in an ominous tone.
"Bladewing, I don't think he'll ever find out..." Toothless started.
"How can you say that!? It's MY fault Toothless! If I go there again he'll be sure to recognize me and if Ripper or Heather are there...I can't imagine what he'll do to them if he finds out" Bladewing spoke, remembering a dark past.
"Why would there even be a Whispering Death on this rock? Just for the food? I could have gone to Berk which had much more land and supplies but I came here to start over" he said.
"Like I said Bladewing, I don't think he'll ever find out...as long as you stay away from him" Toothless said.
"Alright Toothless, ready to go?" Hiccup asked climbing onto him, with Astrid joining as well.
"Let's go" he replied and with one push of his wings were up in the air on their way to Berk.