A/N: I'd like to thank all of you for the wonderful reviews and your replies to the question I posed. I've decided NOT to take Rider Vs. Conqueror down ... but I will be discontinuing it. I already have ideas swirling around in my head about what I plan to write in the sequel, which I hope all of you will like once I'm done with this one. I think we'll see our first signs of the sequel in this chapter. ;)
Also, the scenes that take place right now is happening while Hiccup and Astrid are having their make out session.
And I also want to thank you guys for having such patience. I know how waiting 2 or more weeks, even a month is torture but you guys are amazing. I feel like I've lost some of my drive for this story (which I hope not), but it might just be me.
But I can already confirm with you guys that there WILL BE A SEQUEL for this story and it most likely will be an M-rated story since it would feature gory scenes, torture, blood, language, sexual situations and lemons. I'm just wondering if you guys would still read that story even if it's a completely M Rated story?
Another dark, moonless night.
Something a certain commander has been experiencing ever since that fateful day over half a year ago ... when everything he had was stripped from him.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the distinct sounds of a familiar messenger run into his quarters.
"What's the status on that dragon rider?"
"We have no idea sir. He surely would have fled back to his homeland. Our scouts tried to track him down but didn't make much progress; kept running into other beasts along the way."
Captain Markus sighed frustratingly, turning his attention to the night sky.
"Captain, we've lost many men as it is when his dragon attacked us ... and five of our seven scouts haven't even survived their quest just to find a trace of him. We need to call the hunt off." The soldier's words were cut short when he found a python's grip around his neck, and felt himself being lifted. Instinctively, his hands reached for whatever had him gasping for air, but his sense of touch were met with the skin of his captain, and saw the cold, steel gaze he was sending him.
"You know as well as I do what the Emperor will do to me if I don't get that Night Fury" he sneered, not letting up on the grip of the man's neck. The soldier's efforts were futile in attempting to have his captain release his grip; that was until Markus threw him right into the wall of the room. The soldier's impact was enough to make one wince, and marvel that a hit like that didn't even kill the man.
"The Emperor proclaimed that with a mythical beast by his side, it was a sure sign for him to rule and not to be challenged - and since that mythical beast is a dragon no less, he will show no mercy to those who fail him. In fact, it's thanks to that dragon I'm still alive" he said, gesturing to half of his face that was scarred - an injury he received from the dragon when it burst through that door to save its rider. "The Emperor said that that was punishment enough - being a walking monstrosity to anyone who feasts their eyes on me" he said, turning around and walking to his table where his helmet was placed. It was not surprising that it only had the eye holes, while everything else was covered.
His helmet was made of pure steel, unlike the dull and brittle iron his soldiers wore; a gift from his superiors when news spread that he had captured an infamous Dragon Rider. He was damn lucky they let him keep it after they heard the Rider escaped. But he couldn't look at the armour the same - it was supposed to be a gift of accomplishment, something that no one before him achieved. But now, it served as a reminder of his failure.
He was determined to redeem himself ... one way or the other.
"But, one of our last two scouts reported in of some information that you'll definitely be interested in" the soldier said, getting up from the cold floor. Markus turned his gaze towards him, telling him to continue.
"There are more dragons to the far north of here, ones that are being captured and amassed for an unknown purpose."
"How far north?"
"Farther than even some Vikings dare to go ... and I don't think it's that Viking we captured an year ago. This person, or group, are not related to him in anyway" he reported.
Markus looked back down to his table, cluttered with maps marked with possible locations as to where his Night Fury could have gone. He looked to the area where his soldier mentioned, and saw no Viking settlements ... not that he knows of anyway. If there was someone capturing dragons that far north, then that did beg for some confirmation. He would lead the ships to this area personally - couldn't trust his men to hold off any trouble that they might run into.
"Gather ten vessels and be ready for launch ... we leave at dawn" he said, putting his helmet on. The soldier gave a quick bow and ran out to relay the message to the troops.
"Time to find out what the other Dragon Riders know" he said, grabbing his sword, tying it at his belt and walking out to oversee the preparations. The journey would be a long one; leaving the west coast of Italy, sailing through the Mediterranean and up north. He knew he would meet other obstacles along the way - pirates, storms, and even attacks by sea creatures - not to mention that some of his men will die along their journey. But he knew that this was the only option for him to redeem himself in the eyes of the Emperor.
000
Snotlout didn't have the best of days at training ... considering this was only his second or third day. Hookfang seemed reluctant to do anything with him and always made sure to hurt him lightly during Astrid's exercises. Tired, bruised and hungry after training - it didn't help him further that he had to head to the Great Hall for his Chief lessons with the Elder Council.
Normally he would shadow his uncle or father, but given that they would be gone for a period of a week to two at least, meant he had to sit around at a table, sorting through complaints and trying to listen to the advice of the Council members.
He was praising the almighty Odin right now that his lessons were over ... for the day at least. He quickly made leave of the Elders' table and made his way to where Fishlegs and the Twins were seated.
"You look like you went another round with Hookfang" Ruff commented as the brown haired teen sat down.
"I'd rather go ten rounds with Hookfang than listening to those skeletons" he said, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder to the Elders.
The Great Hall was bustling with chatter of each Viking's days work ... or the ones who remained behind. Most of them were women with their children, some of the elderly and a few men as well, who were mainly in charge of the stalls of vegetables and meat in the village.
"Well what did you expect becoming Chief would be? Getting what you want whenever you want it?" asked Fishlegs.
"Uh ... Yes" he replied, emphasizing his assumption with a wave of a hand.
"By the Gods we're doomed" he muttered before returning his attention to the book he had.
"Is that the Book Of Dragons?" asked Tuffnut.
"Yeah. I'm re-writing the whole thing since what we knew about dragons was a whole lie" he said, looking at Tuff for a second.
"What are you writing in now?" Ruff asked. Truthfully, she wasn't really interested in what Fishlegs was doing, but she was never one for having a silent table.
"Oh, just adding in the dragon's personality ... you know like what you should do to calm one down, or to make them happy, what makes them angry and so on" he said.
"Have any of you guys seen Astrid?" Snotlout asked. He didn't want to hear more facts about dragons since Astrid had relayed everything what Hiccup told her to them this morning.
"Having trouble in paradise already?" Ruff grinned deviously.
"If there was a paradise to start with" Fishlegs chuckled.
"What does happen in that head anyway? Do you picture Astrid naked or something?" asked Tuff.
"I bet he started doing that when he was ten" said Fishlegs, causing the Twins to laugh.
Snotlout, meanwhile, just sat there staring daggers at the three of them ... despite the fact that he had pictured Astrid naked many times in his head. And it's not like he's the only one who has. Due to his lessons, he's had the chance to meet some of the other few people his age or just a year older to him. He'd been recently spending time with four young men. Two of them were nineteen - his, Fishlegs' and the Twins age - and the other two were twenty - Astrid's and Hiccup's age. Their names were Magnus, Ivar, Knut and Snorre; the latter being the leader of the group and the oldest.
They usually spend their time sparring with each other, messing around, hitting on girls and talk of how they would impress a girl in bed ... Astrid being the main subject among them. They were also the other tormentors of Hiccup when he was a child ... well, Snorre and Magnus were, but always second to Snotlout.
In a way, they understand Snotlout and he understands them. He was already formulating a plan to appoint them as Council members once he becomes Chief.
"She's most likely at home with her parents for dinner. You should know this since she always has dinner at home five days of the week, Snotlout" said Fishlegs.
"Well how am I supposed to keep tabs on every single person in this village?"
"You're going to be the Chief. That's you're job dip-shit" Ruff commented. Even she knew that. "Just imagine what other tribes will think if our Chief doesn't know where his wife is" Tuff said, laughing a bit.
"By the way, how are the wedding preparations going. You know you have a lot to do right?" asked Ruff.
"My dad's assigned Runa as the wedding planner; you know since my mom has also left with my dad to find Helheim's Gate" he said, not really knowing who the person is.
"You're so damn lucky, you know that? Runa's the best wedding planner on this side of the Archipelagos" Ruff exclaimed.
"Hope she is, since I have to spend a whole day with her and Astrid's mom next week going over the guest list, the food, clothes, flowers and other girly crap" he said, folding his arms on the table.
"He's just thinking about the wedding night" Tuff whispered loudly, intending to have Snotlout hear it.
"You can bet your house that she doesn't consummate the marriage with him ... let alone having him sleep in the same bed as her" said Ruffnut, to which her brother and Fishlegs both nodded in agreement.
"And what makes you guys so sure?" a new voice asked.
The gang looked to see Snorre and his group seat themselves at their table; Snorre and Magnus sitting on Snotlout's sides, pushing Fishlegs to the edge of the seat, while the other two sat on the Twins' side.
"She will have to since marriage customs dictate that a couple are never truly wed until they consummate the marriage" he finished, casting them smug glances. "And my boy Snotlout here just happens to excel at the 'women pleasure department'" he said, patting said man on the back.
"Astrid would have to be a fool to not see that in him" Magnus added.
"Well, we already know who are the fools for seeing that in him" Ruff said, earning a high-five from her brother. She already knew the only person her best friend would even remotely want to have sex with is the famous traitor and outcast of the Hooligans. Astrid confided in her that she wanted him to take her but due to his annoying, yet admirable honour, he wouldn't have her or her family shamed for their self-interests. But that didn't mean they couldn't strip down to their under-wraps and have a grueling tongue duel.
"See, these guys have my back. I wonder why I even hang out with you guys anymore" Snotlout muttered.
"We've been wondering that exact same question for the past fifteen years" Fishlegs remarked.
"Shut it blubber-bones. Get back to your desk duty for the wimp" Snorre said, flicking Fishlegs' ear.
"The wimp who saved your sorry arse when he drove the Outcasts off Berk?" Tuff asked back.
"The same wimp who trained the Offspring of Lightning and Death itself?" asked Ruff.
"And the same wimp who survived torture at the hands of the Romans?" Fishlegs asked, rubbing his ear.
"Please ... anyone could have gone through what Hiccup did" Magnus said, rolling his eyes.
"What a load of yak crap ... you would have spilled everything as soon as they brought out the whip" Tuff laughed.
"You better watch your tongue, or I'll ..."
"You'll what? Slam his face into the table? Throw him off a cliff? Beat him up? I already do that to him and he loves it" Ruffnut said, smirking at them.
"It's true ... what you do won't even compare to what she does" he confirmed.
"What he did were just flukes. Anyone could do what he does. He'll always be the same, scrawny little piece of shit he was fifteen years ago. He's even more useless now since his dragon fights his battles for him" Snorre said.
"Now I see why you like them so much Snotlout ... they're even bigger idiots than you are" Fishlegs commented. This caught everyone at the table by surprise. No one had ever heard Fishlegs speak with confidence like that to people like Snorre and his gang. Unlike Hiccup, he only received minor verbal attacks instead of physical confrontations. But ever since Hiccup returned and he had seen how much he had changed, he figured that he could also stand up to people like Snorre and Snotlout.
He was even looking at Snorre dead in the eye after he said that, silently daring him to make his move. Everyone at the table was wide-eyed, especially the Twins.
"What did you just say?" Snorre asked, turning his body towards him, anger in his eyes.
"I know you heard me. Do I have to call you an idiot again?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Well ... someone's grown a pair" Snorre remarked, an edge in his voice.
"And it seems someone's lost his" Fishlegs shot back.
"Woah ... what just happened to Fishlegs?" Tuff asked, truly surprised and impressed at Fishlegs' sudden show of confidence. Even Snotlout couldn't believe this was Fishlegs - the big softy who made it his mission to stay out of conflict.
Snorre immediately shot up, all the while glaring down at Fishlegs. He didn't care if people would witness a fight here; nobody talked to him like that.
"Listen here you piece of..."
"Everything alright here guys?" he was cut off when Arnbjorn stepped into everyone's view.
"Good evening Mr. Hofferson. What are you doing here?" Ruff asked in a nice tone, pretending what just happened in front of her didn't.
"Oh, just finished dinner with the family and I'm here to meet with the Elders to discuss the rest of Hiccup's work" he said.
"Is Astrid at home by any chance sir?" Snotlout asked his soon to be father-in-law.
"She is but she won't be seeing anyone as of now. She said she needs some rest before she teaches all of you again tomorrow. I must be going. Have a good night everyone" Arnbjorn said with a small nod before heading to the Elders' table.
"I guess your lesson will have to wait" Snorre warned, sitting back down.
"Looking forward to it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do" Fishlegs said, getting up and heading towards the doors.
"I'm out of here. Come on Tuff" Ruff said, getting up as well.
"Wait, why are we leaving?"
"To go yak tipping" his sister replied.
"I'm so there!" he said ecstatically, running after her, leaving Snotlout and his new gang at the table.
000
As soon as they made it outside, Ruff landed her eyes on Fishlegs, who had surprisingly reached the bottom of the stairs. "Legs, wait up!" she yelled, running at half-speed down the path. However, the young man didn't stop and look around, instead he doubled his pace.
"Hold it!" she yelled again, increasing her own speed. Both she and her brother were incredibly fast, even faster than Astrid. Years of running after being caught for their pranks had given them remarkable levels of stamina. She soon found herself in front of Fishlegs, placing a hand on the centre of his chest, stopping him. "What's got into you? First you stand up to Snorre and his gang and next you're running away from me?"
The confidence he had in his eyes were long gone and had fear written all over them now. The slight of trembling of his massive figure at the shoulders told her he was on edge. That, and him turning around every few seconds to see if Snorre was coming.
"What the Hel happened in there?"
"I-I don't know. I was sick and tired of living like a coward s-so I ... talked back?" he shrugged he shoulders.
"Dude, that was not talking back ... that was straight-up smack talk" Tuff said, patting him on the shoulder, to which he let loose a small shriek. "Someone's on edge"
"It's because I know Snorre will come after me now ... Oh, why did I have to be brave to him?" he asked, gaze at the stars, silently cursing the Gods for giving him a spine to the wrong person.
"Well Snorre did have it coming. It's just all of us never thought it would be from you" said Ruff with a shrug of her shoulders. "Why did you do it anyway? And now?"
Fishlegs shrugged, "I don't know ... maybe it's because, after seeing how much Hiccup has changed - how he doesn't care what people think of him now, what he went through and the man he's become, I think it's time I also changed for the better. No more living in fear of Snorre and his gang, or Snotlout for that matter" he said proudly.
"Well don't look now, but Snorre's just walked out of the Great Hall" Tuff said casually, looking towards the doors.
"What!? I gotta go!" Fishlegs yelled, breaking into a run to his home. Ruffnut looked to the doors of the Great Hall and saw no one there. She then gave her brother an unamused look and saw him sniggering.
"What?" he asked after noticing his sister's stare.
000
"So, what do you guys want to do? I mean, since we have the night off?" Snotlout asked. He and the others quickly shunned the memory of Fishlegs standing up to Snorre aside and pretended like it never happened.
"You'll be Chief soon, Snotlout. Why don't you decide?" Knut suggested.
"Don't you want to go see your beloved wife-to-be?" Snorre asked.
"Like Hel ... but her father said she's not seeing anyone" he remembered. And if Arnbjorn Hofferson found out he did, he would be in a world of pain.
"He doesn't have to know. In fact, he won't. You just have to sneak in onto the roof above their door and peak in her window and see her. You'll be lucky if she's changing into her nightgown" Snorre suggested with a smile and raised eyebrow, getting a laugh out of all of them ... a forced one from Snotlout.
"Well, when you put it like that..." Snotlout said, before getting up and heading to the doors, with the others close behind.
The group made their way into the chilly night with one destination in mind. Snotlout couldn't believe he never thought of this. Sure it seems wrong but he'll be married to her in just under a month so he would see her. He just wanted to know what he would be in for.
They reached the Hofferson home in no time and heard chatter coming from the ground floor. Snotlout picked the voices as her younger brothers and mother downstairs. He looked up to her window and saw that there was light coming from the window.
"Come on guys, give me a boost" he said, leading his gang over to the side of the house. Snorre and Magnus lifted him onto their shoulders stood up. Snotlout skillfully, planted his feet on their shoulders and reached up to grasp the wood. Pulling himself up was easy as breaking a branch in half. This is where being a strong Viking always had its perks. He took slow, careful steps, to make sure he didn't make any sound when approaching the window. But what he didn't expect was to hear moaning.
Wait.
What?
He lowered onto his hands and knees and crawled to the window sill ... and it was there he could here the tell-tale sounds of kissing, moaning and a bed creaking. He slowly raised his head, eyes focused on finding the dead man with his woman. His eyes immediately found the bed, with Astrid on the bottom in her breast bind and leggings and a figure on top of her planting kisses along her neck ... a figure with familiar brown pants, scars on his back and a mop of auburn hair ... wait
Hiccup!?
Hiccup and Astrid? Making Out? In Astrid's Home?
He pulled himself away from the window and pressed himself against the wall, breathing heightened, eyes wide and fingers digging into the wood ... out of anger.
"H-Hiccup" she heard him moan his name.
"Do you want me to stop?" He could tell by the tone of his voice he was teasing her. If not that, the small laugh from her gave it away.
"Not in the slightest" she said, before he heard the smack of lips again.
How was this possible? How did Hiccup ever get Astrid to notice him? He was a nobody five years ago, a traitor, an outcast ... and now he was stealing his woman from right under his own nose. He was already imagining ways of dealing with Hiccup - choking him, stabbing him, ripping his head off ... his fingers were already leaving imprints on the wood of the wall. He was not going to let his runt of a cousin steal what rightfully belonged to him.
What kept him from climbing through that window and making himself present, he'll never know. Maybe it was the fact that Astrid would throw him out the same way he came in, or a much more gruesome fate for seeing her half naked. Never mind though. He would get back at Hiccup. He could always go and tell Mrs. Hofferson that her daughter was divulging herself in forbidden activities in her room with a traitor. But then she would ask him how he knew that and he didn't want to hint or even explain what he was doing near her daughter's window.
No, Hiccup needed a warning ... a clear warning to stay away from Astrid. He quietly tiptoed away from the window and jumped back down on solid ground.
"Well, what did you see?" Snorre immediately asked. He really wanted to know so he could sleep well tonight.
"You really don't want to know" was all Snotlout replied, walking away to his house. Snorre and the others all looked at each other before catching up with Snotlout.
"What do you mean by that? What did you see?" asked Magnus. "Was she even there?"
"Oh she was there alright. In her breast bind and leggings on her bed"
"Wow! You saw that!? And you're angry?" Snorre asked, shooting him a disbelieving smile.
"I wouldn't be angry if Hiccup wasn't on top of her!" he shot back, not stopping his walk.
Snorre, Magnus, Knut and Ivar all stopped in their tracks. Did they just hear him right. "What?" Snorre spoke up first.
"You heard me! He was shirtless and on top of her ... she was shirtless, in her breast bind and leggings under him, moaning his name and laughing!"
"Are you sure you're not seeing things?" asked Ivar.
"Since I'm not drunk, I'm completely sure of what I saw" he repeated.
"So you're not even going to tell her dad what's happening in his own house?" asked Snorre.
"And explain to him how I knew of it? I'd like to avoid that conversation"
"So then what are you going to do? Let that runt get away this?"
"Like Hel I am! Hiccup's going to pay dearly for this! I'm just thinking how we're going to get him" he said. They had come to the conclusion that he had come to their home for dinner as a guest, so that meant he would leave eventually and since he had no other place to stay, he would have to return to his cell in the prison, and that is where the five of them left to.
000
"Why ... are you sssooo ... amazing ... at this?" asked the Valkyrie as she lay against her bed and her lover traced kisses along the skin of her stomach. He had ceased his soft kisses upon her lips, to which she made a small pout and a whimper but was quickly rewarded by his tongue leaving a trail of fire along her neck, over her breast bind and down to where her skin met her leggings ... and now came the return journey.
Except he was more urgent and ferocious this time.
He began to use his teeth now; the strong enamel creating sensations she's never experienced. Combined with how his tongue drew intricate patterns along her stomach; and even how it tried to dig deeper into her naval. His hands carried their own attack on her legs, caressing them as if they were feathers that would wilt away at the wrong touch.
That was how she felt every time he touched her ... like a feather.
She couldn't suppress the pleasured yelp when he gently bit her skin, just above her naval. She propped herself on her elbows and brought her head up to see him grinning as he planted another hickey on her pristine stomach. He always knew what made her gasp, yelp, moan and knew how much was enough. How does one even know that? She knew he didn't have any other girl before her ... he confessed that to her. Then how did he know how to pleasure her so well? And they hadn't even had sex yet.
Her thoughts were cut short when his face came directly in front of hers and captured her lips. She gave no resistance as he laid her back down and let her hands roam his chest. He flinched slightly when she brought one of her hands over a scar. He was still getting used to her touching them, but she understood that every time they came up, it brought back horrible memories. Usually when a person goes through an experience like that, they think of home or a loved one to take their mind off the horrible pain inflicted upon them.
Hiccup didn't have anyone. All he thought about was the pain each stab, each punch and each whip strike left on him, and how to prepare for the next strike.
She wanted to be his escape now.
That one week where they lived under the same roof, they both learned so much of each other and it was then where she made her own vow - that she would always be there for him when he needs her in whatever way she can.
She gently rolled them over, so she was now straddling him, running her hands over his scars - him flinching each time she ran her hand over a new one. She noticed that they were unintentional flinches; even his hands momentarily reaching up to stop her seemed second nature to him. She wanted him to feel safe with her and that she could comfort him every time nightmares of his past crop up.
She guided her lips over each scar on his chest and stomach, feeling the hard, rough skin leave its imprint on her lips - at the same time imagining the pain he must have felt when the cold steel entered his body.
Her warm exhales brought a sense of comfort and security that he could only dream of. Watching her treat him like a delicate flower reminded him why he fell in love with her again. She was capable of displaying limitless amounts of compassion and care. People just didn't know it. Well, other than her parents.
She let down her defenses when she was with him and only him. For her to have that much trust in him was nothing short of a miracle in his view. But both of them knew that that one week they lived under the same roof, that one week where he took care of her was the pivotal moment in their relationship.
But what took place during that week would be a story for another day.
She pulled back up, eyes landing at the monster of a scar over his heart and down to his abdomen. She couldn't even imagine how it looked when he sustained it. She could picture a pool blood growing in size underneath him, watch his shirt become drenched in his own blood, probably even see a rib; she shook her head, casting the thought away quickly. She leaned back down, first laying her hand at the start of it, just above his heart, and then proceeding to slowly run it across the scar, trailed by her soft kisses.
He laid his head back down, closing his eyes and taking in her actions. Letting her warm, soft breaths and kisses take him into her world of safety and love. He smiled to himself when he felt her work her way back up the scar and to his lips; his arms moving to her thin petite waist, holding her down while her hands cupped his jaw.
"Thank you" he muttered as they broke apart for air.
"For what?" she asked, still cupping his face and looking into his forest green eyes.
"For everything ... just ... everything" he breathed out, shooting his signature grin. She just chuckled, shaking her head slightly.
"You're such a weirdo sometimes" she said.
"Hurtful"
"My weirdo" earning her another grin.
"Astrid, are you...Oh" they heard a voice and turned to see her mother standing in the doorway with an 'O' shaped mouth and neither of them could tell if she was finding the situation humourous, or if she wanted to kill the man below her daughter.
"Uh ... we were... uh" Astrid started but couldn't find the words to help her or Hiccup. She looked down to him and could see that his face was already a different shade of crimson, and feeling the heat in own face, she knew she mirrored his colour as well.
"I did come up to ask if you two would like some more dessert but it seems you've both helped yourselves" she said, leaning against the door frame, folding her arms and smirking. She should be mad but it's been a while since she's had a chance to see her daughter speechless and embarrassed at the same time.
"I ... we were ... uh ... what I mean to say is ... um" Hiccup couldn't do a better job at finding the right words. On that note, what do you say to the mother of the girl you're in love with when she's walked in on the both of you topless, her daughter straddling her lover while at the same time that she's not supposed to be with this person as she's a wife-to-be of the future heir of the tribe. Not to mention when you know the parents of the girl are extremely protective and have relatively short tempers.
"What was that Hiccup?" Mrs. Hofferson asked, not bothering to hide the grin she had.
"Uh..." well if they were caught and Mrs. Hofferson found the situation amusing, he believes he should add to that, "She seduced me" he said, pointing a finger at Astrid while keeping eye contact with her mother. Astrid, on the other hand, turned her surprised expression from her mother to an angry one at Hiccup and gave him a swift punch to the arm.
"Ow! See ... seduced me through .. gah, pain" he muttered, reaching over to rub his arm.
"Just be lucky it was me, Astrid and not your brothers" Ingrid said, closing the door behind her.
"Is papa home?" she asked fearfully, worried for Hiccup, of course.
"No, he left about ten minutes ago to the Hall to discuss some work with the Elders. But be thankful it was me and not him since I'm pretty sure Hiccup would have hopped out the window himself if he saw your father's face" she explained. The two young adults shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if Arnbjorn opened the door. After all, Astrid did say her father would have been furious if he found them half naked and lip-locked. Not just because, technically, his daughter was breaking a law that dated back centuries, but also because it was his daughter in that position and no father would ever walk in on that and not have the urge to mutilate the man she was with.
"But don't think that I approve of this" her mother said, and she knew what she was gesturing at. "You'll be a wife in under a month, Astrid, and to the Heir of Berk no less. I condemn any public displays of affection with him" she warned but Astrid picked out a key message in her warning and smiled in reply.
"Understood mama, no public displays of affection" she repeated.
"But it is time to rest, so I'll have to ask Hiccup to leave ... and no, you can't give him an escort to the prison. He has his dragon for that" she said, opening the door and leaving.
"Well ... that went an infinite times better than what I played in my head. Although, I could have done without the awkwardness and embarrassment of the situation" said Hiccup, looking up at her.
"Please, being around you practically screams 'Welcome Awkward Situations'. Something I'll have to get used to" she said, getting off him and reaching for her thrown tunic and skirt.
"Hey, I've only been getting in awkward situations since I started dating you. I don't know how you're pinning it all on me"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Hiccup" she smiled, her back to him while she clipped on her skirt.
"You do in fact" he replied. She turned to meet his gaze and saw that he wore his lop-sided grin. She gave him a simple eye-roll when going up to him to help strap in his leather armour.
"So what is your plan anyway?" she asked, tying a strap on his left shoulder, before moving to his front.
"My dad has offered to take me back as his son, publicly, once I finish the repairs to the village. With that, I can challenge Snotlout for your hand and hopefully beat him" he said, just as she was done.
"Do you think you can beat him? I mean he's an idiot, but not when it comes to fighting ... that's without a doubt the only thing he's good at"
"Well I can swing a sword or two myself, you know? Remember when you first found me?" he reminded.
"Yeah ... but I didn't try to fight back, Hiccup. He'll be coming with everything he's got and with the full intent of injuring you severely."
"You worry too much, M'Lady. You should have more faith in me" he said.
"Can't help it if I'm concerned about the person I care the most ... after my family of course" she quickly finished. Hiccup curved his lower lip and enlarged his eyes, giving her a hurt look. "Come on you big baby" she said, playfully pushing him out of her room while he let out a few laughs. They could hear her brothers in their room playing some sort of game and a physical one at that.
Toothless was obediently waiting downstairs and perked his head once he heard their steps.
"Heard the sound of the bed creaking. Does that mean..."
"No" Hiccup stated walking past him, not in the mood to discuss that topic with Astrid and her mother in the same room. The Night Fury got up, having a small stretch before following Hiccup. The dragon was the first to walk out, leaving Hiccup and Astrid at the door way.
"Goodnight M'Lady" he said, turning to face her.
"Goodnight my Dragon Rider" she replied, giving a quick kiss on the lips. He smiled and turned around, walking with Toothless back to the prison for a well deserved rest after an extremely productive day. Astrid kept sight of him until he rounded a corner to the prison. As she closed the door, she couldn't help but feel things were looking up for her and Hiccup.