Chapter 12
Luckily for him, Astrid decided not to show up a lot around the day. Every time she did, he had to quickly hide his project in the back pulling out the saddle improvement he made for Toothless. Normally making it would be a thing for two, maybe three days if a lot were going on with the others, but this time it was not his focus. While he still wanted the new saddle, he had something more important to do.
He took a glance at the slowly descending sun, knowing Astrid would turn up any other second, and looking down towards the village, he already saw her marching towards him.
He turned back towards the forge a smile plastered across his face.
"You ready for training" She asked behind him and instead of startling like any sane human being would when an axe swinging, blue eyed, blond, 16-year-old Valkyrie would approach without making any sound, he kept hammering a bolt into place for the handles.
"Actually" Hiccup began, happy to have this finally off of his shoulders. "I have to show you something." He took his shirt and put it on, drying himself and drenching it in the process. With a walk to the backroom and a wave of his hand so that Astrid followed him, he went over to his main table, the board behind it littered with sketches and plans of future projects, so that some weren't even admirable due to being covered up by even more.
Hiccup settled for a piece of cloth laying right in the middle of it clearly a new addition to the mess. "What is it?" She asked, a mix between concern and curiosity. Back in Berk he was known for messing up his projects even though he was the most skilled behind Gobber, but his saddle clearly said something different about his rate of failure when given proper time.
Hiccup sat down in a stool and gave her a grin she would have said was the widest one yet had they not sparred yesterday. "Find out yourself." He said and she couldn't figure out if his voice meant mischief, excitement or hope.
He watched very closely as Astrid approached the cloth analyzing it before she came close enough to lift the fabric. Hiccup wished she would hurry up, since this has been nagging at him ever since he started.
Ripping the fabric off in one smooth swoop, Astrid's eyes widened at the object presented before her. Hiccup leaned over the table to watch her every expression.
Before her lay a leather saddle, she knew to be larger than fit for Toothless' slim form, with a classic Viking pattern going across the straps, making them look beautiful. The main part had fur all around that she knew to be fluffy by only looking at it. Under the fur, only being able to be seen from besides and below, the rim was filled with sky blue and golden pattern she knew to be Stormfly's scales. On one side, she presumed to be the front, the delicate mix between colors and furs stopped to show a handle laid against the saddle.
Directly in front of the handle, which was made of a metal bar splitting off into two laced with leather, were symbols imprinted into the saddle. Upon closer inspection Astrid managed to deduct them as runes and at just a glance she instantly recognized them, having written them herself often before.
Astrid.
Her eyes widened comically at the implications of her name etched right between where one would sit on the saddle and the handle, presumably constantly being able to be seen from the rider's perspective, if wanted to. The unusual size, when comparing it to his other saddle, the embraided scales of her own Dragon and ultimately her name on his work could only mean one thing. Had Hiccup really been working on-
"How do you like it?" Hiccup's voice brought her back from her thoughts, but she couldn't remain completely grounded, still giddy at her train of thought.
He had taken in the last minute of Astrid looking at his work before going over the patterns and embroidements with her hand until she settled on her name. At her sudden stop in examining the saddle, he tried not to give a cocky smile, because clearly by now she had figured out what sat before her.
They sat in silence before Astrid realized Hiccup waited for an answer and she had to focus on remembering what he said, tearing her eyes away from the saddle, for the simple reason that she didn't think she could uphold conversation while looking at it.
"I- What- This-" She stumbled over her words and didn't pick up Hiccup's suppressed giggle at the reversal of roles. "How do I even answer this?" She asked, genuinely confused as to how she could show her amazement. "It's gorgeous. Maybe even better than my axe" She settled on after quite some time. The part about her axe was more of a thought she blurted out rather than what she meant to say.
Hiccup gave a smile that brightened up the room more than all the windows. "Well, "He drawled out. "I try to always out-do my work."
Astrid went over his words once, twice, thrice before giving up. "I thought Gobber made that Axe?" She half asked. She had always assumed her parents either went to Gobber for the axe or bought it somewhere, but considering their financial status the prior was more likely.
"Actually no." He answered confidently. "Your parents went to Gobber for the axe, but by then half the village already knew about my crush on you," He blushed a bit at that, putting a hand on his neck. "Gobber included, so he promptly teached me how to make basic axe's and left the rest up to me." He explained.
Astrid had not even tried to count how often Hiccup surprised her with either something stupid or plain amazement, but if she did, add one to the count. All these years she had been swinging around his practically first ever axe, thinking Gobber made it and admiring the outstanding work for the blacksmith. "So you learned the basics of axe making and the next step is this?" She unstrapped said weapon from her back and out it besides the saddle on the table.
"It definitely wasn't my first try If you are thinking of that." Picking up on exactly what she had been thinking. "I used up nearly all of my savings because I had to try over and over again. And the metal for the final try wasn't cheap either." He rambled. Add to the surprise counter again. Hiccup had spent so much money on her, for what? Because he had a crush on her? Because he wanted her to have a good weapon?
"Anyway. Back to the saddle." She focused on the way more confusing thing out if the both of his projects for her. "Care to explain?"
Hiccup sat straighter at the mention of explaining his idea and she hoped that he at least knew she meant why he had made it instead of how.
"I noticed you as well as everyone had only ropes to hold on to your Dragons. Of course I had to have the saddle, so I don't know how that is, but I assume not that comfortable. On out first days off of Berk I made myself a promise to make you a saddle the first chance I get and since then it has always been nagging me at the back of my mind. When we made the forge, this was meant to be my first project, but you came by and I didn't want to spoil the surprise, so I started with my own improved saddle."
Before he could go on with his rambling, she rushed to him and gave him one of the biggest embraces she ever had in her life, effectively shutting him up. She held that position for a few seconds until Hiccup returned her embrace, knowing this moment was beyond words.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, she pulled back and took another look at the saddle and her axe, laying beside each other, showing his devotion towards her. She lightly punched his shoulder, knowing exactly how much she had to pull her punches so that he felt it but knew it was playful. "That's for hiding something from me." She joked. Hiccup remembered the last time a conversation went like this even when it was literal months ago. She pulled him by his shirt and put a peck on his cheek. "And that's for everything else."
…
Instead of their usual evening training, Hiccup remembered what happened last time and thought it'd be best to alert the village.
They got back out of Hiccups backroom and attached the saddle on Stormfly, making sure with the Dragon that everything fit. With both now having a saddle, admittedly Astrid's being better due to time and resources, they flew off in opposite directions of the village, giving everyone the notice of a meeting in the great hall and to rally up everyone they could find.
Of course with barely two dozen of habitants, everyone knew in a matter of minutes and started making their way to the giant building, Dragons in tow.
Hiccup and Astrid met in the air, overlooking the blobs of Viking and Dragons side by side.
"How's the saddle?" Hiccup asked over the winds, the constant grin still on his face.
"Sooo comfortable." Astrid drawled out the first word, looking down at the leather, fir and where she knew to be scales. "I can't imagine ever flying without it anymore." Her hands absentmindedly trailed over her name while she looked at Hiccup, his face practically split in half by the ear-to-ear smile.
"And you Stormfly?" He added to the Dragon who gave a wordless squeal of Delight. "Glad you like it."
He gave her one last looking before going down, seeing that most already settled inside the hall and were waiting for their Chief to explain why he called them together. "Let's hope they take it good." He muttered under his breath.
…
As he walks in the hall, most conversations fell silent and Hiccup immediately regretted every decision that led up to this. Why did he have to be the center of attention?
Astrid managed much better, taking prideful steps right behind him and his Dragon, chin up and her fierce attitude outwardly showing not to be messed with.
They managed to make it to the other side, the slightly elevated platform giving them view over each and every single person in the crowd, without Hiccup either tumbling or having half a panic attack.
Nobody even thought about challenging Astrid's place at Hiccups side, because even though she never was officially made second-in-command, everyone unanimously agreed on it like with Hiccup as Chief. Behind their back a few bets were even going on how long it took for those to get together, insinuated by none other than Cami.
Deciding there wouldn't be any better moment to speak up and from his experience they were about to lose their patience, he gave a side glance at Toothless for comfort.
"As most of you already know, this year the Flightmare will once again show itself with Aurvandil's Fire." He exclaimed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "We don't know exactly when for obvious reasons.". Such as never being here before about a year ago and the Flightmare only turning up every 10 years. "I know some people may question how we are going to fend it off with such few warriors, but my idea was that we do not try to fend it off." And the expected outroar followed.
Hiccup gave an eye roll at the predictability of Vikings and their like to fight off things that oppose them.
"Bud. Can you help me out here." He asked to his friend who opened one yes from his comfortable position curled up on the ground and shook himself awake. The Night Fury gave one roar and instantly everyone shut up, snapping their attention back towards the front. "I know it may seem like a foolish thing to do, but if you think about it, all the victims of the Flightmare were the ones going after it to defend their Island." He snuck an inconspicuous glance at Astrid, knowing that was exactly how Finn had died. "If we stay in our houses and only use force if it goes after us, no one should get hurt or worse, which we can all agree on sounds pretty okay."
Surprisingly, instead of the claims that 'we would give our life to defend ourselves from that beast' or something in that matter, most if not the entire hall had thoughtful looks and after a few seconds of thinking, together with looks or talks to friends nobody wanted to lose, he saw lots of nodding to his suggestion.
Hiccup turned his head to look at Astrid and gave her a sheepish smile. He knew she must have the hardest time out of all with this proposal. From her face most could only see a stern look that said nothing, but Hiccup learnt to interpret her better than that. Behind the blue eyes, there was a definitive look of 'we will talk about this later'. Excellent, he still had no idea if she liked this or not, just that she would not let him go that easily.
"So." He continued out loud for everyone. "The plan is, if someone sees the Flightmare approaching, head straight to your home and tell anyone you come across. With that, you can continue with your day." He strode back to Astrid while everyone left the hall, either going to dinner or finishing whatever they were doing before the meeting.
"I suppose you won't forget whatever you'll say on our way home?" He joked, trying to get Astrid to loosen up and at least don't stare at him with that look you don't know if she wants to cut you up, doesn't notice your existence, he knows that one well, or maintaining a cool outside while having some internal wars.
"Yup." She popped the 'p'. "So we better get going.". With that both went off the platform and made their way to the doors. Instead of taking the easy route of their Dragons, the four decided to walk over, taking in the fresh sea air.
Hiccup absentmindedly took her hand again like last Night and was instantly grateful for accepting the ground route proposal.
Astrid barely even noticed, being focused on what to say once she gets home. She wanted to be furious with him. Astrid Hofferson was not one to go hide just because she might die, but she had to admit, Hiccup sounded awfully reasonable. If there were any way to save people from the same fate she suffered, who is she to disagree because of a Family honor of which she, technically, wasn't a part of anymore.
Stuck in their thought, they arrived at their home before realizing. Astrid had a whole internal speech to herself in the time it took for them to get inside and settled in the living room.
Hands on her hips while he sat in front of her she stared him down as best as she could. "Let's start with this." She began. "Why didn't you talk to me about this?". 'Good.' She thought. 'Simple questions first.'
Hiccup had taken in every second on their way here, so he already went through probably a hundred ways this would go. Having also seen this coming, he simply shrugged. "Mainly, I made the whole thing up basically on the spot, so no real time to tell you."
Astrid's first thought were something along the lines of 'How the actual hell do you make something like that up on the spot?'. She then drifted more towards what else she wanted to say.
She gave him a slight smile and sat beside him on the couch, leaning on his shoulder.
Hiccup himself was completely lost. "You're not mad?" He squealed and his voice most definitely did not crack at the end.
Astrid heard the 'non voice crack' and gave a chuckle which Hiccup heard and felt. "Of course I'm not." She looked over to see Hiccup open mouthed in astonishment. "I would like to go out there and give the Flightmare a good smack down." She began and gave a somewhat sad smile at Hiccup. "But if that means people will lose someone close to them, I can't do that to them."
They sat like that in comfortable silence, Astrid content with the answer to her Flightmare problem and Hiccup content with having Astrid agree to his plan. Of course he didn't talk to her about his little addition, because she surely wouldn't agree to that without a fight.
…
The next few days were more stressed than ever, as if there was any stress before. Every Night, people were going or flying around the Island, hoping to see nothing, but too stressed to stop with the patrols.
On the fifth day, about six before the Flightmare would arrive on Berk by Hiccups assumption, the Night began and once again, people volunteered to patrol so everyone had a better sleep.
This Night, Cami was about to take off, somehow having convinced Frida to do the same, despite her loving a good Night's rest.
"Um. I think we don't need to search for the Flightmare." Frida said, fear clear in her voice.
Cami snorted and took a look at Frida. She seemed to look into the distance with a frightened look. "We've been over this already. It's our turn and nothing will happen to us. Even if it comes today, we can see it way before it can do anything."
Frida held up her hand in the direction she was looking. "If we don't move fast, it definitely can do something to us." She said and this got Cami's attention.
Her head whipped around at a speed, that nearly warranted a concussion. Her fear fulfilled itself.
Over the shining wide Ocean, reflecting moon and stars, was a little blue glowing dot.
Before it could come close enough to be recognized as the actual Dragon, Cami and Frida were already on their respective Friends.
"Shit." Cami said to herself, but in the hurry, Frida heard her and wholeheartedly agreed. "Okay. You fly around the village and warn anyone who is still outside. I'll go and Inform Hiccup and check if anyone is still in the great hall." She quickly conjured up a plan. They split up and rushed their Dragons to the fastest speed yet.
By Hiccups house, Cami stormed in without even knocking. "Of course they had to sleep in their beds this Night." She said into the empty room, having intruded many times when those two were huddled up on the couch from a long Day.
She first entered Hiccups room and Toothless immediately woke up from his slumber, giving an instinct snarl before noticing who was in the room. "Hey Toothless. Could you wake up Hiccup? I need to speak to him." She told him and he walked up to the human slapping him in the head with his singular tail-fin.
"Just five more minutes." He groaned and swatted away the Dragons crippled tail.
Cami rolled her eyes at his antics. "Flightmare." She screamed and Hiccup jumped halfway to the ceiling.
"What? Where?" He asked.
"We were about to start patrol when Frida saw it coming. We split up and she is currently checking the village for any last few who are still awake." She explained as fast as she could without mixing up the words. "What's with Astrid?" She finally asked.
"She's asleep. Let her be." He held out his hand to stop from more oncoming questions. "As long as we don't attack, it hopefully won't attack us." He stopped for a second, thinking about something, Cami couldn't decipher in his face. "Go check the hall and then back to your house." He ordered and Cami complied, already having had that in mind before.
…
Astrid woke up to the oh so sweet sounds of screaming. Somewhere in her mind she registered the scream as someone shouting 'Flightmare' which instantly made her sit up straight. She only heard the screaming once before everything stilled once again, though this was feeling unnatural. Almost too silent.
She tried to fall asleep for several minutes, but never managed to or woke up a few minutes later anyway, so she got down towards the kitchen for a snack.
Having an apple in hand, she went over to Hiccups room, not even knowing why. She opened the door and expected to see him as a lump curling around the sheets of his bed or awake like she was herself, but instead found an empty room except Toothless, dozing on his slab.
"Toothless?" She asked in the room. Waking him for the second time this Night. "Do you know where Hiccup is?" She asked and the Dragon looked as confused as she felt.
"Why? Isn't he sleeping" He asked and looked over to the empty bed. His eyes widened when he saw no human sleeping there or anywhere in the room.
"With that I can presume you don't" She confirmed her suspicion by way of him nodding. Worry began to creep inside her. If what she heard earlier really was someone shouting Flightmare, the Dragon would be out and about right about now, as Hiccup apparently is.
Her mind began to think of several reasons, why he would be out when the plan specifically said, stay inside and let the Dragon pass. Of all the reasons, she had only one where he wouldn't try to take Toothless with him.
Hiccup had gone to confront the Flightmare. Alone.
*evil laughter* Hahaha. A Cliffhanger *continuing to laugh*
No but really, the last few Chapter have been more of Fluff and Character develpoment than everthing else, so I'm happy the plot is going once again.