Poor Choice of Words

The Great Hall was abuzz with energy and excitement as the people recounted the duel that had happened just a few hours before. They spoke of Hiccup's amazing prowess in battle, besting the man who was said to be unbeatable. The people of Berk even began debating whether or not Hiccup should now hold the title for himself.

At the table of the younger Vikings Hiccup was silent. He ignored the whispers about his duel. He'd gone to see Gothi shortly after his duel, where he'd let the wise older woman tend to his injuries. He'd received numerous claps on the back, all of which aggravated his wounds before finally getting some peace as he sat with his peers.

Still, he couldn't help but feel an odd tension between himself and the shield maiden sitting beside him. Astrid sat beside him in silence. Hiccup fidgeted awkwardly beside her, looking anywhere but at her. He face was flushed and he felt warm all over. All due to the fact that she'd kissed him.

That moment kept replaying in his head. Over and over. The most he'd ever gotten from Astrid was a kiss on the cheek. So that full on mouth kiss had come as a complete shock. It had been so shocking in fact that he'd blacked out.

Though if anyone asked he'd blame it on blood loss.

His gaze shifted over to Astrid, and he turned his head ever so slightly to look at her. Her direction was on her plate, idly pushing the food around on it and casually listening to the others talk. She suddenly glanced over to him. He flushed a deeper red before looking away.

He wasn't sure what to say now. Was that kiss out of gratitude? It could have been seeing as how he just defeated her would be suitor who intended on taking her away from Berk and her life. Or...

He glanced over to her again, this time meeting her blue eyes. Did it...could it have been something...more?

They stared at each other, neither looking away as they searched each other's eyes for a clue, something to indicate that the kiss between them had made them both feel...something.

But before they could do or say anything Stoick, Astrid's parents, Gobber, and a whole lot of villagers came up, laughing and holding up mugs of ale in celebration. The young people looked to the older Vikings in question as Hiccup's father laid a beefy hand on his son's shoulder.

"Ah. It was a good battle Hiccup. Well done son," Stoick congratulated.

"Oh. Yeah, thanks dad," Hiccup said casually. He shrugged as his dad remained where he was, smiling for some unknown reason. Hiccup stared up at his father awkwardly. "Anything else dad?"

"Well I just wanted to know when you wanted to do this son?"

Hiccup arched a brow. Beside him Astrid watched curiously. She picked up a mug of ale and began to drink while observing over the lips of the mug.

"Why the marriage between you and Astrid son," Stoick said with a loud laugh, like Hiccup had said some sort of joke. Hiccup's eyes became the size of dinner plates while Astrid spit out her ale in shock. Both young people leapt up and began to stammer and stutter while the older Vikings began to become riled up with the talk of marriage and of course the celebration that came with it.

Astrid's parents began talking about getting her a dress and making arrangements while Stoick began trying to push an approrpiate wedding date on Hiccup. The younger people couldn't get a word in edge wise as they were blatantly ignored. Words swallowed up by the laughs and shouts of approval.

Hiccup narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists, something hot beginning to burn inside of him. He had enough.

"STOP!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. In surprise everyone clamped their mouth shuts and gawked at him. Even Stoick was surprised he'd raised his voice.

"There you go again dad! Not listening to me! Making decision without consulting me! Have you even heard a word I've just said? Can't you stop and open your ears for just five seconds? By the gods, it's like nothing has changed!" Hiccup cried at his father.

Stoick was confused. He furrowed his brows, looking at his son in question. "But Hiccup, wasn't what this was all about? Winning Astrid's hand for your own? Do you not want to marry her?"

"No!" Hiccup shouted immidiately in reply. Everyone in the hall was taken aback, some gasping quietly to themselves. All this time they'd thought Hiccup had loved Astrid. They thought that's why he'd fought. Why he'd been so determined to win.

Of course what Hiccup had meant, was that he didn't want to marry Astrid like this. He didn't want to win her like some kind of prize. Astrid was more than that. She wasn't some shiny object to win in some contest. He wanted to earn her affection. Care for her. Be with her and come to know her as more than just a comrade or friend. He wanted her to want to be with him. Not because she was obligated to out of some twisted send of honor and rules.

Suddenly everyone heard the sounds of the Great Hall being pushed open, followed by the breeze of the cool night air. They all turned their heads to find Astrid gone, having slipped out after Hiccup's outburst.

Hiccup sighed, Astrid was probably as upset by all this as he was.

Hiccup turned back to his father with narrowed eyes. He snorted and shook his head before stalking off, out of the Great Hall and into the night, leaving everyone to stare after him.

In the woods the trees were illuminated by moonlight. And a golden haired shield maiden was busy hacking away her frustrations. She was upset. Hurt. And angry.

She'd thought that the kiss would have made everything clear to Hiccup. It's not like she just went around kissing anyone. Or no one for that matter. She of course hadn't wanted to be forced into a sudden marriage with him. It was far too soon for something like that.

But was she so awful, so repulsive, so terrible that he couldn't fathom marrying her at all?

He practically shouted to the entire village that he didn't want to marry her. She hacked into a tree to vent. She thought she'd felt something between them. Seen something in his eyes that meant he might feel something for her. Had she been so wrong? Had she misread him that badly?

She paused, lowering her axe and brushing some hair out of her face self consciously.

Was she simply not what Hiccup wanted in a woman?

"Ah, there you are Ms. Popular." Astrid glanced back to see Ruffnut coming up behind her. Astrid frowned before she began swinging at the trees again. "Someone is in a bad mood," Ruffnut commented as she noticed the way Astrid hacked into the trees with more force and vigor than usual.

"You ok?" Ruffnut asked in genuine concern for her friend.

Astrid stopped her swinging to take a breath before whirling around. "What the Hel is his problem?" she asked in frustration. "I thought this whole point was to win so I wouldn't marry that...awful troll! I mean yeah, I don't want to get married right now either. But we probably could have figured out a way to postpone it, right?"

"But no. Apparently I'm not good enough for Hiccup! I'm not what he wants at all!" Astrid cried as she turned around and swung at the tree, sending bits of bark scattering about.

"Maybe you're not his type?" Ruffnut offered.

Astrid whirled around in outrage. "I'm everyone's type!" Astrid shouted. She wasn't trying to sound vain. But it had been true her entire life. It was almost a curse.

Ruffnut hummed, tapping her chin in thought. "Well...if you think about it," she began. Astrid stared at her intently, wanting to know what she had to say. "Ok. So Hiccup may have been born here, but he became a man over there," Ruffnut pointed out. Astrid arched a brow. "You know, he started going through all that teenage hormone stuff in Japan. Surrounded by Japanese girls. Maybe his tasted are more for those girls and he doesn't realize it himself," she theorized with a shrug.

Astrid stared at Ruffnut. Blinking in thought as she mulled it over. It sounded plausible, she guessed. She began to think of what she knew about Japanese women. It was hardly anything. These specific had rarely come up in conversation. The most interesting thing she'd want to know about were of the samurai.

She needed to know more.

"You want to know about Japanese women?" Gobber asked in surprise as he stared blankly at Astrid and Ruffnut.

"Yes," Astrid said with a nod. Gobber sighed, leaning back against a work counter in his shop as the girls stood before him. "Well...as far as Viking women go, they're like day and night," Gobber said. Astrid arched a brow, wanting to know more. "They're...fairer," Gobber said. "Dainty," he added, fingers running across his long beard in thought.

"They mostly tend to the household. Do chores, mend clothes, raise children...cook," he listed off. "They aren't warriors. Most of them at least," Gobber summarized. Astrid frowned. So some of the things were typical Viking women duties. But not being a warrior? Being dainty?

The thought made her sick.

"Why are you suddenly curious about Japanese women?" Gobber asked curiously.

"No reason. Thanks Gobber," Astrid said as she and Ruffnut left.

Astrid pursed her lips in thought, walking with her head down.

"Well I guess that's it then. Looks like you aren't Hiccup's type," Ruffnut said behind her. "I mean not being a warrior? Being dainty and soft spoken? Cooking? I mean have you tried your food? It's awful," Ruffnut said. Astrid wasn't listening. Eventually she came to her house. She and Ruffnut said goodnight before Astrid entered her home.

Her parents were waiting downstair for her. Her father opened her mouth to speak, but Astrid rushed upstairs, ignoring them entirely. Truth be told, she was still slightly upset with them for causing all of this. Astrid laid in the bed, staring up at the ceiling in thought.

She had no idea what he wanted.

But apparently...it wasn't her.

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