Chapter 9: Comfort

Age: 16 years old.

A wall of fire engulfing him whole.

That was the last thing he could remember.

A dragon larger than a mountain.

In this hazy state between dreams and reality, he wasn't sure where he was or what was going on. It felt like he spent an eternity this way, and yet it was over in an instant.

In brief moments of awareness, he felt someone spoon feeding him something warm- and then he was back in his dreams.

He didn't want to stay this way forever, as relaxing as it was. He knew his job wasn't over yet. There was still something left to do.

After what could've been hours, minutes, days, or weeks- he managed a burst of strength, just enough to slowly open his eyes.

The brightness of the room stung, but he fought to keep them open.

He looked around, his neck feeling sore. Everything felt sore. He was in his house. The large Night fury hanging from the rafters was a sight that took him a long minute to process.

Toothless! He was alive! And he was fine- and he was sleeping in his house?!

Dad's gonna kill me…

But then- how am I alive?

Perhaps I am in heaven after all…

He looked to his left.

That would definitely explain the golden-haired angel laying on the cot beside my bed.

It was still early morning. He tried to sit up. The bed creaked and it woke her up. "H-Hiccup! You're awake"

She rubbed sleep from her eyes as she looked at him with relieved, teary eyes.

"Astrid- you're here?" was all he could manage.

"Of course I am- I set out as soon as I heard about you… that you were hurt- that you fought the largest dragon on earth- and won"

"I did?" he asked softly. "Is everyone okay?"

Astrid nodded. "All thanks to you and Toothless"

Hearing his name, Toothless opened an eye, then dropped down in excitement of seeing Hiccup awake.

"Hey bud" Hiccup said weakly, and Astrid laughed.

But then she remembered. Her laughter stopped. "Hiccup…" she couldn't bear to be the one to break this to him.

He was silent for a while.

"It's my foot, isn't it?" he asked. Astrid's silence was answer enough.

"How do you know?"

"I felt it before I passed out. Even now it hurts the most out of everything"

New tears formed in her eyes, at the matter of fact way he talked about it, not even showing any apparent sadness.

"I'm - I'm so sorry Hiccup" she cried then, because he wouldn't cry and so she cried for him, burying her face in his shoulder. His hand came up to the back of her head, comforting her. Even though it should have been the other way around, in her opinion.

"It's okay Astrid", He murmured against her hair. "Everything turned out just fine"

After composing herself, Astrid brought him up to speed on everything that had happened, from what she'd heard from everyone.

"I don't believe it…" Hiccup remarked time and time again. "Berkians and dragons… co-existing… it was actually possible"

Astrid grinned. "For you, my sweetheart, nothing is impossible. You did this."

Hiccup gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. "I was never alone… I had help from someone very, very special"

Toothless interrupted with a loud warble, as if asking, "You're talking about me, right?"

They both laughed.

With his dad out all day busy with the extra sudden and intensive task of making Berk more accommodating for dragons, and Hiccup too weak to stay out of bed for long, most days were spent at home, just him and her.

She did leave occasionally, but it was usually a trip to the market to buy food for them or to send a letter to her parents. And it was only for a short time. Other than that, every waking minute of hers, she spent by his side.

Talking to him, changing his bandages, preparing their meals, and doing any and every chore around the house. It was almost like she was his already his wife.

He couldn't process seeing her like this, so at ease doing these menial tasks when he'd known the real her, the golden princess of Romsdal, with her big palace and jewels and clothes, and the army of servants.

And yet, as he saw her dote on him like this, eyes full of care and love and so much else, he couldn't help but admit that this was the real her too.

She was like the ocean, reflecting the environment around her like it was second nature. Despite being literal royalty, no task was apparently too small for her. He'd seen jobless vagrants with more ego than she had.

He didn't know what he had done to deserve someone so pure.

Despite his insistence that she sleep on a real bed upstairs, she didn't leave his side even at night, occupying the small cot that had been placed beside his bed without complaint.

More than once did he find himself waking in the middle of the nights, writhing in agony. The medicines he was ingesting with each meal didn't always keep the pain away.

Gobber had warned him as such the day he'd first woken up itself. It would not be an easy road ahead.

And whenever he woke, moaning in pain, forehead covered in sweat as he cried for relief, she was there each time, climbing into his bed and laying beside him, hugging his head into her shoulder and cooing words of comfort into his hair as she tried to be brave for him, trying to soothe the pain she knew he was suffering.

Most nights, he fell asleep to her reassuring voice. Dreams and reality blended together for a while. Using her as an anchor, he was able to overcome the toughest period of his life. He was able to get better.

The day his fever receded somewhat, he cracked a small joke amidst complaining about his plight. And she was there, blinking in surprise before laughing the most beautiful laugh he'd ever heard. Not at the joke, but the fact that he was at last well enough to make one.

Finally satisfied he wasn't going to die on her, Astrid promptly did the one thing she'd longed to do for weeks. Her lips against his were as soft as he remembered, and now his face was burning for an entirely different reason.

The fact that she somehow seemed to get more beautiful each time he saw her didn't exactly help matters either.

"I don't know how to thank you Astrid… for everything you've done for me" Hiccup said sincerely one night.

Astrid rolled her eyes, smiling. "Then don't, dummy. I've hardly done anything. I wanted to be there for you… like you've always been for me"

"But still… you've been away from home for so long… away from your family… only because of me"

Astrid smirked. "I'm not away from home, nor am I away from family" she said, purposefully leaning into his side. "And besides, my parents and brother understand. It's my duty to be there for my future husband."

Her words didn't make his face any less red. But they did give him the courage to say what he was thinking.

"I'm glad you are here you know, because… I wanted to tell you that… I wanted to help the dragons of course… I wanted to help Berk too… but most of all… I did this for the people I love… I did this for you Astrid. I didn't want you to have to suffer through a war that we started generations ago… I had this dream… this silly, childish dream… to give you a home… one where no one had to fight anyone and I could just be with you and make you happy all the time… and perhaps even…" he turned away shyly. "…raise a family with you… I hope that will one day happen…"

He kept looking away, feeling quite embarrassed from his melodramatic spiel.

"I'll be eagerly waiting for that home Hiccup" she whispered, tugging his chin to make him look at her. Her fingers fiddled with the betrothal necklace around her neck. "I've been waiting since the day you gave me this"

She'd gone through many different necklaces since they were two, but this particular one had been one he'd gotten for her just two years ago, when they'd finally met after the long separation. The day they'd finally confessed in words the love they had for each other.

The string holding the jewel around her neck was woven from the fibres of his heart. It was like a part of him was always with her now. That part gave him new life, just looking at her wearing it gave him a boundless amount of hope.

A few days later, he finally braved a look beneath his sheet, where his leg rested somewhere amidst a swath of bandages. The eeirie sight of it ending above where the ankle would have been- it make his heart sink.

Knowing about it was one thing- but seeing it… and knowing the fact that she was the one who'd been changing his bandages for days… was this sight what he had been subjecting her to?

Distress and guilt washed over his features… along with a creeping worry that he couldn't bear to imagine. But he loved her, wanted what was best for her too much to not say it. At least give her the option.

"Astrid?" he asked.

"Mmm?" she replied, looking up from the task at hand as she dried some bowls for a late night dinner.

"I… I know there's only two more years to go until we… you know… get married."

Astrid grinned. "Yes"

Seeing her smile made it even harder for him to say what he knew he had to.

"I know our parents decided this when we were too little to know anything… and I know we both care for each other a great deal… I know I love you and- and you've said it to me too… but… I still don't want you to feel like you never had a choice in all this…"

Astrid listened silently to this before coming over to sit next to his bed. "Go on"

"I want it to be your decision. Not one that's forced on you by some contract… I… I won't hold any grudges to you if you need some time to think about it… or reconsider… now that I'm…" he looked down towards his bandaged leg.

Astrid scoffed in disbelief. "gods you're a real doofus sometimes"

Hiccup looked up. "Hey!"

"Then ask me" Astrid said.

"Huh?"

"You said you want it to be my decision to marry you, right?" she asked with a beginnings of a smirk on her lips. "Then propose to me, right now"

"P-Propose? Right now?"

"Do it!" she commanded. Hiccup had imagined this going way differently. Neither had he expected his fiancé to enjoy tormenting him like this. Oh well, the only way out was to just go for it.

"Astrid- will you- will you marry me?"

"Yes!" she replied when he'd barely even finished speaking. "See?" she grinned. "My decision"

Hiccup laughed softly. "I was trying to be serious, you know?"

"So am I" she said, taking his hands in hers. "I've never been more serious about anything else in my whole life"

"B-But my leg- I am a cripple now-"

"Hiccup" she warned. "Don't you dare call yourself that word ever again"

"But-"

"You're a hero, Hiccup. The greatest hero in seven generations. And not just for Berk…. You're my hero too"

"Y-You really think so?"

"I know so. Never think any lesser of yourself Hiccup… and talk to me if you ever feel that way ever again… you know I'll never leave you no matter what happens. If you ever feel any differently, then you tell me"

Hiccup did finally smile then, a real smile.

"So I'm stuck with you then?"

"I doubt you'd want to tease me right now Hiccup, unless you'd rather go hungry tonight?" she asked sweetly.

"Alright alright" Hiccup laughed. "Thank you for saying all that… it made me feel better"

Astrid smiled. "And if you still have doubts if I want you or not then…" she climbed into his bed, cuddling into his side. "Let me kiss you until you don't have any left"

Hiccup was pretty sure she truly wanted to marry him then. But he wasn't gonna pass up any kisses from his beloved, not when she was due to go back to her home in just a few more days.

So he let her, cherishing the wonderful feeling of her lips against his, her murmured words of affection against his skin.

Astrid had grown up into a beautiful young woman, and even sick in bed, his body wasn't immune to her charms. He had to gently tug her lips away when they got down past his neck, before he truly lost all will to do so.

She whined in protest before lifting her head to look at him, her eyes dark with desire. She leaned closer again and they breathed heavily into each other, lips grazing but not fully touching.

"Astrid" Hiccup said. "You know I want you too… but let's wait until we're married before we…"

Astrid pouted adorably. He was right, but she wished he wasn't such a responsible young man sometimes.

"Alright…" she whispered before pecking his lips again. "but can we go a bit further than usual?"

"Astrid I…"

"Your dad has gone to bed already. He won't interrupt. Please?"

Hiccup's willpower was crumbling at her every word. He could hear the longing in her voice… she really wanted this. She'd taken care of him so much. He could do at least this for her.

"H-How much are you talking about?" he asked timidly.

"I…" she said shyly. "I want you to touch me over my clothes."

"t-touch?"

She nodded, taking his hands and moving them to her chest. "Go on. It's ok"

Hiccup swallowed, before feeling her properly. Her face got even redder but she didn't stop him, intently looking at his reactions.

She was lying almost on top of him now, and he was sure she could feel what she was doing to him.

"Is- Is this okay" he asked.

"Mmm hmm. Don't stop." she hummed.

Feeling a surge of bravery, he dropped his right hand, trailing down her ribs and across her skirt, stopping at the hem. Astrid looked momentarily surprised, and he was about to pull away and apologise but then- she nodded.

His hand stayed frozen until she gave him a nudge with her knee. Slowly, giving her enough time to change her mind, he raised his hand under the pleats of her skirt, until he could palm her bottom over her leggings.

His left hand was still on her breast and he gently squeezed once, and making her sigh softly. Then his left joined his right, and he pulled her closer until he could kiss her properly again.

"Hiccupp" she whined needily, not content with just more kissing. And then she was nudging her own knees apart until she sat just so atop his obvious arousal.

"Astrid I-" he tried to explain that this was about her, and she didn't have to- but then she pushed her hips forward a smidge, and Hiccup immediately died and went to heaven.

His fiancé seemed to have met a similar fate, cause the next moment she pressed her mouth to his to swallow his protests and did it again, rolling her hips until he was whimpering into her mouth.

But even in the midst of ecstasy, she gathered her wits enough to pull away and ask, "Can we please keep going Hiccup?"

Hiccup nodded. "Over our clothes"

Astrid smiled and attached her mouth back to his, while snaking a hand down to the spot where their bodies met so deliciously against each other.

She palmed him over his pants and then stroked, making him gasp into the kiss. His hands tightened on her bottom and one squeezed in between, pressing his fingers against the apex of her leggings.

She responded by stroking him again while nibbling on his bottom lip, and he bucked into her hand. "I'm close Astrid" he murmured after a while, pulling away just long enough to say so.

"Me too" she replied. "Don't stop now"

Hiccup wasn't sure if he could have, even if he wanted to. He withdrew his hands completely from her skirt and placed them on her hips. Astrid started to protest, but then saw what he was doing.

He guided her to press against him like she'd done before, and this time, he pushed forward against her. Astrid pressed her forehead to his and angled her back. She didn't have enough focus to be able to kiss him and do this at the same time.

He pushed when she pulled, and they slowly got into a rhythm, grinding against each other, sighing into each other's lips.

Hiccup didn't know that there was anything that could feel better than this. His entire world had been reduced to her alone. Just her and her lips and her-

"Hiccupp" she gasped, louder than the previous ones and he tugged her into a kiss, letting her moan into his mouth to keep the noise down. The soft creaking of his bed felt loud enough at this hour and his dad was sleeping just down the hall.

He had barely begun to realise what he'd done to her, before her bucking hips pushed him over the edge as well.

Hiccup was much better at keeping quiet than she was, but even he had to push his mouth against her neck, letting out a long shuddering breath as he pushed up against her, chasing the last of his high before collapsing back down.

She let herself fall atop him too, as utterly spent as he was. They slowly caught their breath for a few minutes before Astrid climbed up to kiss him again, but much more slowly and gently.

The incessant hunger and need had been replaced by a deep affection and understanding. "Thank you for giving me that" she finally said, breaking the silence.

Hiccup was sure she'd given him an equal, if not larger amount of pleasure. "Thank you for giving me that, too"

With that, Astrid lifted her head again and they looked at each other, all bashful now that they realised what they'd done. But neither of them regretted it, not a bit. She'd needed him to know how much she loved and trusted him, and he had needed her to know he'd always give her anything she desired.

"I should- umm… freshen up and get dinner ready-" Astrid said with reddening ears, before climbing off him and running off.

Hiccup smiled, seeing her flustered like this was quite a rare sight. He was sure he probably didn't look any more composed for that matter.

They did it one more time, the night before she had to leave. Hiccup was up and walking now and her visit had already run way overdue.

She'd been sullen all day due to the fact that it was her last day here, and all his efforts to cheer her up with his usually effective jokes had been in vain. He wasn't gonna give up that easily though.

Trying his hardest to be brave like she had been, he waited till his dad had gone to bed before leading her up to his room.

She let him use his hands to wipe away every last one of her tears, and let him pull her into his bed.

Astrid had been equal parts surprised and happy that he was the one leading a moment like this for once.

She just lay there and imagined this wasn't her last night here as let him kiss all over her face and neck, right down to the top of her breasts before returning his attention to her lips.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, blushing darkly when she felt him prodding her hip. She rolled them over until she was on top like she'd been last time, and then they started.

This night, there was much less hesitation, but they didn't really go further than before. They both knew that this wasn't the right time for more. Instead, they were more vocal, letting the other know what they were feeling while they pressed their clothed hips against each other again and again.

Since his injuries were almost healed, he did manage to flip them over in the middle of it, settling between her legs and rocking his hips into hers until she was whimpering against his lips in pleasure.

They finished quicker this time due to the lack of nerves, and then cuddled each other to sleep on the small bed.

The next day, Hiccup saw her off at the docks, kissing her soundly and whispering her a promise to visit with Toothless for her next birthday, later this year.

Astrid smiled and finally bid him goodbye once the grown ups nearby cleared their throat one too many times.

As the ship sailed away, she gazed at the dragons flying around the island as it grew smaller in the distance, already missing him and his dorky smile.

A/N: I'll be honest, I didn't plan this chapter to go this route, it just naturally happened as I was writing it. Hope it wasn't terrible! Also, I adore the thought of Astrid caring for Hiccup for weeks and helping him recover, something that I am gonna headcannon from now on :p