Hello guys! I know this was a pretty late update but I had to rewrite this chapter twice cause I didn't like how it had turned out. A few secrets are slightly revealed and it is a bit of a cliffhanger. Hope you guys enjoy it!
I was trying my best to be patient with the seamstress but it was taking just too long and my attention was drawn to the activity in the village of Berk visible through the window. They were a surprisingly peaceful people given what I had grown up learning about them or from the stories Hiccup had told me about his tribe.
"You look nice... for a change," a familiar voice said from the doorway. I smirked but did not look away from my handsome view through the window. "Well, it is my wedding dress after all."
Ruffnut crossed the room and stood beside me, eyeing me with interest. "I'm surprised you've agreed to this so readily. Back home you were angrier than Óðr." Astrid snorted softly. "Yeah, well... if you told me I was to marry Hiccup, I would have thrown a party instead of being pissed. I honestly blame that on my father."
I glanced at her and found cool, thoughtful grey eyes locked onto my face. Ruffnut hadn't met Hiccup. She'd only caught small glimpses of him and knew only of the reputation that he had amassed amongst their own people.
A reputation that I hadn't seen any evidence of being true. Hiccup had always been kind, friendly, talkative and humble. He was not a 'magnet for destruction and chaos', he was not a 'fishbone, he was not 'useless' and he definitely was not a 'disappointment' as his father showed him to be. He was not violent or seemingly dangerous. Perhaps that's what made Hiccup dangerous – his enemy's tendency to underestimate him. He could use just his words to turn someone from being his enemy to his closest ally. Why he did not use that skill on his tormenters was beyond me.
Hiccup's voice filtered up through the window, as though on cue. My attention was drawn back toward the window, to what I had been looking at before I had gotten distracted by Ruffnut, that blonde-haired demon. I found him quickly, he wore a light green tunic and the light caught his metal foot.
The metal foot had been so hard for him to explain to his tribe, he had told them that he had gone to kill a dragon but had instead lost his foot and had been healed by a nearby village before sailing back to Berk. He had told me about the hurtful teases his tribe shouted at him or the disappointed look his father had given him. He told me about how his cousin put him down for the loss of his a limb and told him that 'Odin found a way of making him even more useless'. This treatment angered me then and still did to absolutely no end.
"You like him," Ruffnut said, her words incredulous. I scoffed. "Of course... I like him if I'm being honest, he is kind, friendly, talkative and humble. I have spent a lot of time with the heirs of a few Viking Tribes, and Hiccup might not look like it but he is the strongest among all of them including me. If I had an option of marrying anyone it would be him, Ruffnut... I have loved him for a long time and I would love nothing more than to marry him."
I glanced down at the seamstress, who was biting back a smile and glancing up at me. A Berkian who was hearing too much. I narrowed my eyes at the woman, her smile disappearing instantly. The seamstress made a final adjustment and directed me out of my soon-to-be wedding dress.
I regretted that it was being done in such haste and not by the thoughtful hands of one of my own people, but that was my doing. When I left Frejya Island, I had still been looking for a way out. Now that I was here, and to be married to the love of my life I wanted my wedding dress to be perfect.
As I stepped out of my gown, I glanced out the window again and watched Hiccup waving his arms wildly at a big blonde-haired man, he was missing two limbs which were replaced by prosthetics and had a smirk on his face while pretending that he couldn't hear Hiccup, which only made Hiccup wave his arms even more wildly.
I slowly stepped closer to the window, watching my future groom, it was like I was drawn to him. I don't even realise it until it is too late, my heart starts pumping as a tingling feeling runs through my body and when my brain starts to function again, Hiccup would be right there in front of me. It started the day I met him and still happens to this day. He had been there for me always and that was enough for me to fall in love with him, Hel, the way he talked or held himself made many women fall in love with him back on Dragon's Edge.
Obviously, on Berk, he always wore loose clothes, kept his head down and never spoke up so that no one would take notice of him... even though that was the point it still angered me that he had to come to a completely different tribe to find love and not even one person in his own tribe would love him. He sacrificed his leg in the fight with Queen to protect the very tribe that treats him like a thrall, he led battles to protect the Viking Tribes and risked his time so many times that he would have earned the respect of my great-great-great-grandfather, the original 'Fearless'.
I watched as Hiccup's shoulders slumped and he sighed. I smiled at his physicality. I had never seen a man so emotive, it made me love him even more. He ran his long-fingered hand through his hair and glanced up at me over his shoulder.
My heart rate increased as our eyes met. His face turned to an instant shade of red, his eyes slipped down my body and back to my face. Which reminded me that I was standing in the window in nothing more than my bindings. I pulled my shirt up to my chest but stayed where I was, watching him until he offered a weak smile and a wave.
"Well," Ruffnut said, leaning her chin on my shoulder, "I think we know who he is in love with too." I stepped away from the window and dressed quickly, ignoring Ruffnut's comment and the following laughter. I looked out one last time to see Hiccup now walking towards the forge and Snotlout looking up at me with his lackeys. I inwardly groaned and flared with anger, he had seen me half-naked, a state only my mother, Hiccup or Ruffnut had seen me in. And knowing Snotlout from the week he had been running behind me, he would try even harder to win me over now.
But it didn't matter, Hiccup was the one I was in love with and the person I would be marrying not some idiot who had not surprisingly made friends with Eret. I quickly got dressed told my goodbyes to Ruffnut and left the room and ran to the forge, ignoring all the flirtatious comments Snotlout or Eret sent my way.
The Fearless tribe had been on the Island of Berk for a week now. The negotiations and the contract had been signed on the first day itself, and since I and Hiccup lived on the same island now, we spent almost every second of the day with each other or with our dragons.
To my dismay during the contract signing, Snotlout and some other important people from Berk were there too. Hiccup's cousin looked bored, but the moment he saw me, he attempted to look interested. Why was he so damn persistent? Wasn't it clear enough that I wasn't interested? Besides, I was getting married and to his cousin no less. The person I truly loved.
The treaty signing turned out to be more boring than I anticipated. There weren't any really interesting things discussed, only economics and trade. At some point, I had difficulty staying focused, yet Hiccup somehow looked very interested in everything that was said. It was obvious what he was trying to do, he wanted to learn everything the Vikings were doing or planning to better protect the Tribes.
It was then discussed that the marriage would be in three weeks and that's when it hit me like a Gronkle. Three weeks?! I would have to say goodbye to Ruff and Tuff. But, the two Chiefs were happy with the arrangements, as they were beneficial for both sides.
I was on my way to the forge to get my axe sharpened. Third time this week. So, maybe I wanted to visit Hiccup too. There was nothing unusual about this. He was my fiancé after all and was my lover in secret. I stopped at the entrance of the forge. Hiccup seemed to be working on some kind of a sword. I quietly crept towards the window opening and sat on the windowsill, so that I got a good view of the auburn-haired teen.
I wasn't staring – just observing. Hiccup's face was filled with beads of sweat, which clung to his shirt. Hiccup definitely didn't seem to be as bony and skinny as his oversized shirts led to think if you saw him in the forge. He wasn't overly muscular, like his cousin, but he had muscles in all the right places. He had height, a broad shoulder and a fit body with his long legs and lean muscular arms.
"You know, your axe is getting dull very often Milady. Maybe I should change the whole blade." His voice brought me back to reality. Hiccup turned around, cleaning his dirty hands with some kind of an old, used rag. He had an amused smile on his face.
"Well, maybe the guy who does the sharpening isn't very good at his job." I teased back with a small smile and a raised eyebrow. He just shook his head, chuckling. "How was your training?" he asked, as he got back to his work. "Good. I still want to train with you or maybe go on a romantic flight together... Somewhere far from here to relax your mind." I saw him stiffen at the words.
Ignoring my previous statement, Hiccup put the sword he was working on into the water to cool off. There was a hissing sound and steam flew everywhere. After a few seconds, he took the sword out and put it on the table.
I then noticed that Hiccup wasn't alone. By his side, was Fishlegs. While Hiccup acted to be very focused on the sword he was making, the blond teen gave me an uneasy smile before babbling about something they had been talking about.
I knew what Hiccup was trying to do so I turned to the bigger teen for help. Fishlegs was now avoiding my gaze, fiddling with his fingers nervously, trying not to take sides. He knew what today was and didn't want to hurt Hiccup but avoiding the problem was never the solution and I needed to be with Hiccup to help him through this...
I looked around the messy forge, searching for something I could use to help me in this situation. Something caught my eye. On the main table, sitting motionless, face-up, was Berk's Book of Dragons, or at least a copy of it. The book was covered with old, brown leather with a strike-class symbol on the front. It was slightly battered, a sign that it was used frequently. This book was not just any other Book of Dragons, it was the Dreki Book of Dragons, instead of ways to kill a dragon it showed ways to train and befriend them.
But, I couldn't use that sighing, I motioned for Fishlegs to leave so I could speak with Hiccup on my own. Fishlegs hesitated before saying his goodbyes and leaving somewhat uneasily. The silence that followed his departure was broken as Hiccup looked over at me and asked, "So you remembered huh?". I frowned and quickly responded, "Of course, I did you mutton-head now just clean yourself up and let's meet at the cove." I got up and started walking towards his secret cove, where we had hidden Toothless and Stormfly before he could argue or decide to not come.
The cove is an enchanting place in the furthest corner of Berk, sheltered by steep rocky cliffs forming a somewhat circular wall it was well hidden. The thick trees around the cove stopped anyone from venturing towards the cove and had kept it hidden for the last five years. Ever since Hiccup had bonded with Toothless here it had become a historical site as this was the place where everything had started, this was the place where Hiccup had started his journey and where Vikings and Dragons first became friends.
I ducked into the hidden entrance which led into the cove, Toothless was trying his best to catch the butterfly which was mocking him by flying just out of his reach. It was downright hilarious to see the 'unholy offspring of lightning and death itself' failing miserably at catching a butterfly a millionth of its size.
I turned around to see Hiccup walking in with a fresh bruise on his cheek and his bright green tunic with spots of blood and dirt. What the?... As realization struck me, my mind was immediately filled with rage. How could that short-assed mutton head have the balls to go after my betrothed? Upon seeing my angry expression Hiccup placed an arm on my shoulder and said, "Relax... I'm used to it, they have some reason or the other for beating me up but it doesn't matter Astrid. I'm fine."
I nodded but I wasn't letting it go I was going to break every bone in Snot-Faces body but I wasn't going to ruin my time with Hiccup over that, he didn't deserve this, the pain, he had dealt with enough pain on this day and I had to help him not remember it, just for today...
This day four years ago had been the scariest month in my life, I had nearly lost Hiccup and Order of Dreki had nearly lost its leader. It had been the day Hiccup escaped from Drago's men after being captured for almost a month.
He never spoke about what had happened on that evil ship but everyone had their theories. The attack had been a surprise, a horrible surprise. No one knew who attacked or why they attacked in the first place, we didn't even know how they knew where we lived. This was a time before Dragon's Edge had been built and when the heirs were new to the whole Dragon Rider thing. Dagur and Heather the only other good dragon riders at the time but were on Berserker Island mourning their father's death. And the Outcast defences were no match for the advanced weapons used by our unknown enemy. We lost many people that day, Outcast Island was badly damaged and Olaf had broken his hand.
But the worst part was they had captured Hiccup. I wasn't able to think straight or do anything for the following few days. It had been only a year since I had known him but he meant so much to me and I realised just how much he meant to me when they had captured him and now he was gone.
Our then-small group fought tooth and nail, the heirs asked every trader and sailor on their islands, trying to amass as much knowledge as we could on our unknown enemy. We went to the Nothern Markets where we found out who they were, Drago's Dragon Trappers. We found out he had sent two large fleets to conquer the Viking Tribes and what better place to start than with the new creed of Dragon Riders?
Over the month we fought with the Dragon Trappers led by Ryker Grimborn to protect our homeland while trying to get information on Hiccup. We rescued their dragons and their slaves helping them relocate to an island Hiccup had found a few weeks ago, Dragon's Edge.
Ultimately, we found Hiccup with a man named Viggo Grimborn and tens of thousands of slaves freed on three of Drago's ships. Viggo had betrayed Drago as he had been convinced by Hiccup to help the slaves and the dragons, I don't know how he convinced him but he did. Like I said Hiccup's mouth is the most dangerous weapon on Midgard.
When we found Hiccup he had been knocked out and was being healed by Viggo with the help of a few oleanders. Hiccup's perfect skin was covered with scars and burns from the torture he had received. When he finally had woken up after three days he told us about Drago and his plans... and the look on HIccup's face made even me the 'Fearless' Astrid Hofferson cower in fear.
That's when I knew the threat Drago posed, till that moment we were taking the war with the trappers mildly. But if that man was the reason Hiccup who had always been a happy, cheerful man had turned stoic and cold, Drago was not to be taken lightly...
Since then, Viggo helped govern the newly freed slaves on Dragon's Edge when we, heirs weren't there to help. After the discovery of Drago Hiccup made sure the Order would be safe and prepared. The following year Dagur and Heather helped make Berserker Island the trade hub for the newly formed Order of the Dreki, while Outcast Island became our hub for storing and manufacturing weapons and warships.
We have been at war with Drago for four years since today, we fought and defeated the first four fleets he had sent which belonged to Viggo and Ryker Grimborn, Ragnar the Rock and Chaghatai Khan.
Today was the day he had broken Hiccup, today was a day where Hiccup couldn't sleep and faces excruciating pain from the memories of the torture. I had been with him for the last three years on this day giving him support or anything he needed and trying my best to distract his mind from the horror which had been committed.
Each time he had a panic attack or started hallucinating, it would break me, and the pain he felt would hurt me, it angered me, I was shocked that someone could be that sadistic to hurt a fifteen-year-old to a point where he felt pain every day and nearly killed himself because of it.
But I had made a promise when I started dating him, a promise to always be beside him and to support him till Ragnarok. We had kept our secrets, we fought in secret, never revealing our identity, not only to protect us but to also protect our people from the life of our past.
