Chapter 7: Auroras

Age: 14 years old.

Four years.

That's how long it had been since the royal family had last visited Berk.

Six years since Hiccup had travelled to the kingdom of Romsdal, his betrothed's home.

It was a total shot in the dark when one spring morning, he had requested his father to let him join the Chief on his trip to a meeting of chieftains and kings in a northwestern isle.

It wasn't really that close to Romsdal, and they hadn't discussed anything about it. He didn't know if even her father would be there, let alone her.

But he couldn't have spent another day back on Berk just waiting. Even if there was a small chance, he'd wanted to come, if only to make sure.

He wasn't quite sure if his ears were imagining things, when Stoick had asked someone and found out that the King was indeed present at this gathering, along with one of his children - his daughter.

He walked behind his mountain of a father as they made their way through the crowd.

A strange sense of nervousness enveloped him in this moment that should have been pure elation. He was about to see her again. Her… his… his- betrothed. His future wife. His best friend.

Can I even call her that now? he thought.

Best friends don't go four years without meeting. Best friends don't live hundreds of miles apart.

And yet, he could think of no better thing to call her- the person whose letters had given him strength throughout one of the most trying periods of his life.

The tiring days of getting beat down by dragon training, something that it was clear by now he was hopeless at. Whenever he was feeling down from his latest public failure- whenever his new invention didn't work, whenever he was bullied and made fun of for still being small, weak, and different.

His father's perpetual disappointment in his lack of progress.

Those evenings when he was too knackered to even look up at the sunset as he trudged home- those days when a single white envelope was waiting for him on the kitchen table.

Those days were the best.

He knew he could keep going through whatever challenges life threw at him, cause he saw her on the other side- he knew that there was someone out there who believed in him. Cared about him. He saw a future for himself where he'd get to see her and talk to her every single day- all day and all night long- a future where he wasn't alone.

Even though he was about to meet that person now, the past few years had still taken a toll on his self confidence.

He was sure Astrid was doing well, from what she'd told him about her day to day life. Not that she didn't have challenges of her own. Her education took up a lot of her time and so did her training.

Many elders in her kingdom had been adamantly against a princess learning to fight, and even her parents had been unsure, but with a lot of encouragement from Hiccup just through his letters, she'd managed to find the courage to voice her own point of view, to convince them to give her a fair shot like everyone else.

She had passed all the training exams with flying colours, now beating boys twice her size on a regular basis, being a natural with her trusty axe. Those same adults that had told her off before were now impressed and accepting of her.

Hiccup was more proud of her than he could explain, but at the same time wasn't sure if she'd feel the same for someone like him. What did he even have to show for four whole years?

He could have stayed lost in his thoughts until the sun went down, but he didn't get the chance, cause suddenly- unbelievably-

She was there, right in front of him.

He had imagined this moment so many times. But now it was real, and he found that he wasn't in control of anything. He could just stand and stare at her, watching her stare back at him with an emotion on her face he couldn't decipher.

"She insisted on coming along with me even though the girl has no interest in politics! But now I understand why she was so deadset on coming here…"

As old friends caught up and moved off to one side, the young ones were left standing there. He felt so free while writing to her by now, not hesitating to include anything in his letters, and he knew it was the same for her. Yet, he couldn't take a single step.

He was worried.

She looked taller, brighter, and even more beautiful than he remembered- that he felt woefully inadequate to even be sharing the same space as her. Hiccup- the one who'd spent the last few years coming to terms with the fact that he was a failure of a Viking- on Berk where physical size and strength were everything.

And even though he'd confided in her about this in his letters, and she'd always reassured him- going so far as promising to beat up anyone who gave him trouble next time she visited- he was still worried. That actually seeing him will make her realise that that had been a mistake. That this betrothal- had been a mistake. That their friendship… had been a mistake.

Astrid, meanwhile, had her own reasons for hesitating. She felt so guilty for not being able to comfort him personally during their long time apart- for enjoying life in her palace while he got bullied by those worthless idiots on Berk. She wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him this instant, but she didn't know if she could live with herself- if he didn't hug her back.

Despite her mother's assurances, a small part of her still clung to the irrational worry that during their years apart, Hiccup would have found someone else, a girl from Berk, a girl that didn't live a thousand miles away in an unfamiliar land.

Despite the betrothal, she didn't want to be one to force him to be with her, if he truly didn't wish to. Not that he'd given the slightest indication of anything like that in his letters. If anything, he'd written to her like one writes to someone very close to their heart.

Still, seeing him unexpectedly today was bringing all these confusing thoughts to her head in the midst of all the happy feelings, making her hesitate to be the one to break the silence.

But that didn't mean her heart didn't flutter relentlessly at finally seeing her beloved again- the same messy brown hair and the freckles on his face that she remembered all too well. He looked ridiculously cute.

Cautiously, she took a step forward, prompting him to do the same. "I missed you Hiccup." Her voice felt alien to even herself, shaky.

"Astrid" Hiccup breathed. "I'm sorry I missed your birthday party"

Astrid blinked before laughing softly. Four years and he's worried about that? Her twelfth birthday seemed like it had been ages ago.

"You missed three more birthdays other than that one, you know" she replied coyly.

Hiccup smiled, looking down. "I'm not gonna…" he looked back up, and she saw conviction in his green eyes. "I'm not gonna miss a single one from now on, I promise"

She knew that it couldn't be, as their visits weren't that frequent- with or without a war.

But she couldn't shoot down his promise, not when he looked so dashing while he'd said it.

"I'm gonna hold you to that" she whispered, finally putting her anxiousness off to the side, stepping close and wrapping her arms around him. When she felt his own come to rest around her torso, she felt like she could breathe again.

Despite the formal nature of the hug given that their dads were still right there, they both still relished it to the fullest. It wasn't the spine crushing embrace he remembered from their childhood, but he definitely wasn't complaining.

Astrid took the initiative then to tell their dads that they'll be back soon, pulling Hiccup along by the hand through the narrow streets of this town that was unfamiliar to them both.

Finding an ornate bench away from the crowds, they sat down together and caught each other up on everything they had been up to in the last four years. It was strange, every single thing they talked about had already been a part of their letters, and yet it all felt completely new.

This time, it was her voice telling him all those things, and he wasn't reading them from a lifeless piece of paper. The emotion in her voice, the way she laughed, the way she tucked a stray curl behind her ear or the way she paused for breath in the middle of one of her tales- this was so much better than a letter.

She was so different from that rambunctious ten year old girl that he remembered, yet exactly the same. Behind that regal, elegant exterior, that mischievous spark was still burning bright. He could see it in her azure eyes.

Time has been kind to her, Hiccup thought. She looks so mature and confident.

Nothing like me.

His smile faded a bit then, and of course she saw right through him.

"What's that look for?" She demanded. "This is supposed to be a happy day!"

Hiccup waved his hands. "No No I'm not- I don't mean-"

He was interrupted by her hands cradling his, her fingers intertwining with his own. "Tell me Hiccup" she said in the softest, warmest voice he'd ever heard. "Tell me everything"

His face was redder than a tomato and she wasn't looking like she was gonna let go of his hands until she got her answer and so (mentally cursing her unfair interrogation tactics) he decided to just say it.

"I'm- I'm not sure why you haven't brought it up yet… I mean you have to have noticed by now… noticed me- and the fact that I'm still… as I was- I'm still small and weak, nothing like a Viking of my age should be… nothing like my dad… nothing like anything…"

His gaze dropped then, not wanting to see the realisation he expected to see on her face. Even though he'd told her as much in the letters, she might've assumed he was exaggerating. Now, she'd seen him in person and he'd even pointed it out, now she'd surely rip her hands away and come to her senses and-

Punch!

"Ow!" Hiccup clutched his shoulder, not quite knowing if he deserved that or not.

"That was for being a complete idiot"

Before he could even fully process her words, she was filling his field of view and her lips were on his and his eyes closed automatically, letting her kiss him for much, much longer than that one peck on Berk that he still remembered like it was yesterday, the one that was permanently seared into this brain.

By the time she finally pulled away, both their faces were beet red. "You can't seriously think I care about any of that stuff Hiccup… I think you're perfect, just the way you are…"

"But- but-"

"No buts. It's the truth. You're so much smarter and capable than any of those meatheads that you're in the bad habit of comparing yourself to, it's not even a contest"

Hiccup blushed again. "You're too good for me, you know?"

Astrid rolled her eyes. "It's me who should be saying that. Let's just agree never to argue about this again"

Hiccup sighed, though it felt like he could breathe easier at her each word. Even though he wasn't fully convinced yet, it was a start in the right direction. At least he didn't feel all that self-conscious anymore. "Alright, milady"

"So…" Astrid continued, looking strangely nervous now. "We've been talking for a while… and I've already told you everything that happened over the last few years while we were apart in the letters… well, all except one thing"

"One thing?"

"I didn't want to include it in the letters incase someone else read it by chance along the way… I wanted this to be for you and you alone"

Hiccup gulped nervously. "What is it?"

She turned away then, newfound shyness stealing over her face. But she was determined to continue. She hadn't travelled this far to just chicken out at the crucial moment. "During our time apart, I missed you each and every day. There wasn't a day I didn't think of you. And after years of that… of reading your letters… the strength they gave me… the joy your friendship gave me… I fell in love"

After a moment of silence, she turned back to look at his mouth open, his eyes wide in surprise but a unspoken question on his lips, to her the most obvious thing but this idiot was still looking like he wanted to ask, "with whom?" and she didn't know whether to smack him or to kiss him so she just rolled her eyes before tackling him in another hug, but the bone crushing kind rather than their formal one from this morning.

"With you, you dummy"

"Oh" he felt him breath a sigh of relief against her chest that was completely unnecessary in her opinion. "How could you even think it would be someone else, hmm?" she murmured, feeling his soft cheek against hers. "Its you Hiccup… It's always been you"

"But… but why Astrid? why me of all people?"

"I just finished explaining to you why… you're perfect. You're Hiccup. I love you. I adore you. I've got eyes only for you."

Hiccup's voice was shaky and raw with emotion but it was still the happiest moment of his life, and he managed to somehow get those important few words out as well.

"I love you too, my Astrid. I always have"

He felt her smile against his cheek as he finished speaking, and he knew in that moment that no matter what happened in the future, they were gonna be alright.

It was the next day and it was already time to leave. Hiccup and Astrid stood next to each other, tears nearly brimming in both the teenagers' eyes.

The King looked at his daughter's face. It was an image of longing and heartache as she prepared to say goodbye to the boy after a cruelly short time together, yet again.

Hiccup's longer visit to Romsdal wasn't due for another six months, and even that much wasn't a guarantee, given the still uncertain politics of the archipelago.

He sighed, knowing that he was getting too soft for his own good. And yet, he also knew that if being soft meant he could spare his little princess a little bit of heartbreak, then he'd gladly do it a hundred times over.

He remembered the sadness he'd seen in her time and time again these past few years. His wife was much more tuned to these matters than he was, but even he could see that the feelings his daughter had for Berk's heir weren't weak or impulsive. They had stood the test of time, more than he could've ever imagined all those years back when he'd first suggested the idea to Stoick.

Pulling her aside, he put a hand on her shoulder, making her look up apprehensively.

"One week."

"Huh?" she asked, confused.

"You can go back to Berk with Hiccup provided that you return on the boat that I will be sending in exactly one week. No arguments."

Astrid stared at her father with an open mouth. "Dad are you- are you serious?" her face instantly filled with excitement and Arvid gave her a fatherly smile.

"I'll have you know that this is completely improper at your age, so no gossiping about it with your friends, okay?"

Astrid nodded vigorously.

"And you will not be slacking off on your lessons when you get back? I expect compete discipline at your finishing school"

More nodding. Astrid's face looked so serious he couldn't help but chuckle. Luckily, his guards weren't close enough to overhear this interaction. You had to keep up the tough appearances, you know?

"Alright sweetie, I'll see you back home. Now go, your prince is waiting"

"Okay thank you so much dad bye bye-"

"And your mother would probably want me to add this, absolutely no funny business!"

Astrid nearly tripped, managing to catch herself. "D-Dad!" she sputtered, all red-faced and fuming. He laughed louder this time as he watched her run off, finding and tackling the timid boy in a surprised embrace.

Hiccup stared at the railing, Berk growing larger by the minute. And for the first time, he wasn't alone.

Standing beside him, left hand intertwined with his right, was his beloved. The sea breeze played with her blonde curls, the evening sun lit up her face red. Or maybe it was because he was still holding her hand.

To her, it felt like sweet relief, the end of the long journey here. She didn't really do well on boats, especially on these rougher seas. More than once had she gotten seasick over the railing, Hiccup comfortingly rubbing her back each time.

The Berkian streets felt familiar to her even though it'd been four years. Hiccup had already described a lot of the village to her in his letters.

Patches of melting snow lined the rocky path as they trudged up the hill, Astrid carrying both of their stuff, despite his insistence.

It was strange, she thought. Last time she'd been pulling Hiccup by the hand as she excitedly explored the island. She wasn't that hyper of a kid anymore, but more than that, it was because this time, it was the boy she was here to see the most, not the village.

Since her family wasn't here this time, the Chief told Hiccup to set up the spare room in their house for her. Astrid may or may not have been jumping with joy internally during that little talk, but managed to keep a straight face.

She watched with amusement as Hiccup fussed around the room, clearing out the chests of random things. They'd probably been using this room for extra storage.

As he worked, her gaze was pulled behind her, to the open door across the corridor, where Hiccup's room was. The sea breeze wafted invitingly through the open window.

She bit her cheek discreetly, trying to will away the scandalous ideas popping up in her head. His bed looked just about big enough for two…

No No! If mum or dad ever hears about this… I'll be in a load of trouble.

Hiccup finished clearing the floor, now putting on fresh sheets on the small bed.

But if they never find out…

"Umm Astrid?"

"Y-Yes? Did you say something?"

Hiccup chuckled. "I said your room is all ready"

Astrid smiled sheepishly. "Thank you very much Hiccup"

"No need to be so formal, you know" he said softly, looking at her. He stepped closer, caressing her cheek with his fingers. "Make yourself at home"

Astrid's heartbeat picked up and thankfully his hand dropped away before she could spontaneously combust. Being alone with him like this without any adults around was having the strangest of effects on her now.

"Alright Hiccup, but seriously, thank you" she whispered, as if saying it not for clearing the room, but for letting her stay at his house. gods did she need this after four years apart. She wasn't ashamed to admit it. She needed him.

He leaned closer and kissed her on the cheek. "You're most welcome"

They had stayed up talking way too late as usual before Hiccup's father ushered them to their respective rooms to sleep, and despite it being nearly midnight now, Astrid was still quite awake.

It had been a long day with the travel and the arrival here and all her limbs complained, but her brain had apparently decided it wasn't quite ready to check out yet.

Two doors made of wood were all that separated them. But it wasn't just that. The wall of being a responsible young princess felt much more impassable.

They'd spent many, many nights cuddled together during their childhood of course, and sharing a room or a bed wasn't even a point of question in those days.

Now though, they were older, and she could just hear her mother's voice chiding her for the impropriety.

One night done, six to go. I'll try to build up the courage tomorrow.

She thought that, but even she knew in her heart of hearts- that the first night here- that was what was gonna dictate how the rest of the trip would go.

It was now or never. She wouldn't come closer to convincing herself that this was okay…

Was it okay? Why would her heart long so badly for it if it wasn't?

It might be two more years before she'll be able to see him again after this. There wasn't time to waste.

Telling herself that, she quietly got out of bed, and opened her door. It was pretty dark in the hallway but she could barely make out his door. It was slightly ajar.

She tiptoed in, careful not to make any noise and- she was greeted with an empty bed.

Hiccup wasn't here? At this hour?

Perplexed, she descended the stairs, using her hands to guide her in the darkness. The main room was also empty but the front door wasn't locked.

Not even thinking about her actions now, she was opening it, the frigid night air outside making her shiver in her thin nightdress. But she went out anyway, and instantly stopped, her jaw falling open.

Above her, hundreds of miles above her, the sky was filled with these dazzling multicoloured lights that looked like something from a dream.

Hiccup had occasionally described these to her in his letters, but seeing them for herself for the first time took her breath away.

"Pretty cool, huh?"

Hiccup was there, smiling at her. She almost had tears in her eyes without even knowing why. "It's so beautiful" she breathed.

His gaze didn't leave hers. "So beautiful" he agreed.

Her cheeks were tinged with red and she was thankful for the dim light, not to mention she didn't want him to see her messy -just got out of bed- appearance.

He didn't seem to mind though, and she finally asked, "Hiccup, what were you doing out here?"

He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Couldn't sleep"

This is strange, she thought. Hiccup should be used to sleeping here on this island.

"And so you decided to stand out here? You'll catch a cold!"

"I could say the same to you" he grinned.

She shook her head. "Why couldn't you sleep then?"

Hiccup looked away shyly. "You're not gonna be mad if I tell you?"

Astrid was confused. "Of course not"

"I was… I wasn't able to sleep because you were so close… but I wanted to… you were… not close enough" he finished quietly.

Astrid's eyes widened in realisation.

"Even though I know it was a terrible idea and you'd definitely be mad if I invaded your privacy like that- I just wanted to be closer to you- nothing like that- but then I knew you wouldn't want that and I-"

"Of course I want that" Astrid blurted, stopping his rambling thoughts. Hiccup looked stunned.

"How could you think I don't want that? You know I never pass on an opportunity to spend more time with you Hiccup… I trust you completely… and besides, why do you think I'm out here, and not fast asleep?" she asked with a wry smile. "I've pretty much been in a similar predicament as you"

Hiccup opened his mouth and closed it again. He looked over the moon. "Astrid do you… do you really want to?"

Astrid nodded, feeling her heartbeat pick up. "My room, or yours?"

"B-But… I don't want to get you in trouble…"

Astrid was touched by his concern. "Come on Hiccup, you know it's the only way either of us will be able to get any sleep tonight."

He finally smiled then, taking her by the hand and inside, up the stairs, into his room, where they settled side by side on his narrow bed, letting their fingers stay intertwined as they lay on their sides, facing each other.

It got pleasantly warm under their shared covers soon, and the chill from outside left her system, replaced by that warm fuzzy feeling she always seemed to get only with him.

Her heart hadn't calmed down completely after their little nighttime escapade, and before she could lose all her courage from before, she squeezed his hands gently, leaning closer until they were nose to nose.

"Goodnight Hiccup. I love you." she whispered quietly, her breath warm on his lips.

Hearing those words from her again like this, Hiccup decided then and there that It was his turn to also be brave.

Closing the final few millimetres, he kissed her softly a couple of times and then replied, "and I love you the same"

She smiled and nestled even closer to him, feeling herself drift off in tandem with her bed-mate. She didn't know what the future would bring for both of them, but she knew that in this moment, her heart was at peace.

And so was his.

Needless to say, the young couple were in for an embarrassing morning when Hiccup's dad barged in to wake him for training, only to find him fast asleep, cuddled together with his fiancé.

"Hiccup, wake up boy!"

They both awoke with a start, and she hid her giggles with the covers while she watched him get chewed out by his father for being late again, but later, as they walked to the arena hand in hand, she realised that he'd not once mentioned them spending the night together in the same room.

Does that mean that… he's okay with it? Or perhaps it was a case of turning a blind eye to some dubious behaviour on their part. She definitely wasn't complaining.

There was a noticeable spring in her step then, as she already looked forward to spending the rest of the week in his arms.

"And who's this?" Asked one of the teens, a stout boy. Hiccup looked at him nervously.

"Umm this is- my…"

"I'm his betrothed" she interrupted, lacing her fingers with his. "Astrid Hofferson, princess of the kingdom of Romsdal"

The boy tilted his head in disbelief but was forced to admit defeat when the girl's strong gaze didn't waver.

"So the runt was actually serious, then? How much did they pay to arrange this?"

Hiccup moved quickly then, grabbing her arms just in time to stop her from pummeling Snotlout into the dirt.

"I am gonna marry him because I decided to!" Her enraged fists hit only air as Hiccup pulled her back, but she still spooked the boy enough to make him back up warily. Astrid didn't seem the sort to forgive that easily, and even her air punches looked like they'd hurt.

It was kind of hilarious how scared they got around her over the course of the next few days. One sharp look or a twirl of her axe had even the most hardy of Berk's bullies running for the hills.

And she took full advantage of that fact, if only to allow them all the privacy they could want as they spent time together around the island, talking, relaxing, and yes, kissing each other as much as they wanted.

But alas, the shortest seven days of their year did eventually come to an end. She gifted him a shield that she'd managed to keep hidden somehow up until now, and instructed him to firmly whack anyone on the head with it if they gave him any trouble.

And then he was bidding her goodbye, settling for a single chaste kiss as they were still in a very public dock. Astrid looked very unsatisfied with just that but she did begrudgingly let him go.

In the end, It was just a week, he thought, watching the ship sink below the horizon.

He smiled.

It was enough.

A/N: Hope their long overdue meeting was worth the wait! The confessions were all but inevitable. Sleepovers for the win, and I extra love how supportive both their parents are :p

Thanks for reading and please review if you enjoyed! :)

-Gravitybeam