The chaotic noise of drunk vikings had faded into a hazy white noise for Eret, he had stoped listening to Gobbers tall tales of his past battles long ago and he was unsure of how much ale he had drunk so far. These things didn't matter to Eret, because the man was caught in a repetitive loop, drinking, watching, refilling, drinking, watching and refiling. It was never ending.

His eyes were fixated on the scene before him of the two grossly drunk and inappropriate vikings ogling the blonde viking warrior woman that sat upon a table with them. Eret gripped his mug tightly as he watched Snotlout and Fishlegs sneer comments at each other whilst Ruffnut watched with a blank expression on her narrow face.

Eret was distracted momentarily from his anger towards the male vikings, he couldn't look away from her, she truely was one of the finest beings he had ever laid eyes upon, defined cheekbones that shone in the light from the great fires in the hall, her hair done in three glorious braids (how he wished he could see her hair in its true glory, wild and free from its braids), her skin was a pale white, a scar just above her eyebrow from a fight with one of Dragos ex- crewmen which she had received earlier that year. It reminded him of her fierceness which any man wouldn't guess from her divine, soft features. His eyes trailed down to her long delicate fingers that were wrapped around her pale arms, 'she must be freezing' he thought to himself as a visible shiver went through her body, 'if that meathead really liked the girl he would of given her his bearskin by now'.

Then if almost on cue, Snotlout wrapped a large muscly arm around the smaller frame of the Thorsten girl and pulled her close towards his body. Eret felt that all too familiar surge of jealously and anger rise up inside as he glared at the scene before him, and to make matters worse Ruffnut didn't seem to care to much, in fact she seemed to be was enjoying the embrace of the viking. His grip turned to iron on his mug handle and he ground his teeth together the rage boiling up inside of him.

She looked happy… he had never seen her this happy with Snotlout, never. And as he watched her beautiful face turn into a soft smile of comfort he felt as if his heart were being torn.

Within a moment this all changed. Eret saw Snotlouts meaty handle reach down over Ruffnut's shoulder and grope at her bust. Eret jumped from his seat instantly but in his current state the man had a complete lack of balance and the last thing he saw before he fell backwards over his seat was Ruffnut slamming her fist into Snotlout's disgusting face.

The pain Eret normally would've felt from falling onto such a hard floor was completely dulled, (just like most of his other senses at the moment). He lay on the ground motionless for a moment, staring at the halls great celling only coming too when he heard a loud scream echoing throughout the hall.

"DON'T EVER FUCKING TOUCH ME AGAIN"

The sound of her screams pulled him from his drunken trance and as quick as he could manage he crawled to his feet. Everybody was looking towards the front of the hall murmuring to each other and some laughing. Eret couldn't see through the crowd of vikings who were all trying to get a good look at what had just unfolded.

Without a moments thought Eret began to move forwards into the crowd on unsteady feet, occasionally grabbing a shoulder of a viking to help keep his balance, he wasn't moving as fast as he had hoped to but he couldn't really manage a quicker pace.

"Alright that's enough everyone, nothing to see here, get back to the celebration"

Hiccup's voice sounded throughout the hall just as Eret wormed his way to the front of the Vikings, who without any convincing returned to their celebrations, instantly drinking and chattering. Looking forward Eret saw Hiccup talking in a hushed voice to a very pissed off Astrid who had her gaze set on the cowering, crying, bloodied lump on the ground. The lump of course was Snotlout, who had both hands on his blood flowing nose as he withered on the ground in pain, beside him stood his father who was currently engaged in argument with a very panicked looking Helga Thorsten.

Eret felt a fire of rage engulf him as he glared at the Jorgerson boy, "Bastard" he uttered under his breath moving towards the viking, this was the swiftest he had moved all night, he had his target set and nothing was going to stop him, he didn't care that Snotlout had already had a beating from Ruffnut, he was going to give him another.

Hiccup who had only just managed to convince Astrid not to give Snotlout a beating, saw Eret pass by out of the corner of his eye. Hiccup had both hands placed softly on Astrids shoulder but turned his head to follow the man. "Uh Eret" he called, but his words went on deaf ears.

Letting his hands fall from Astrids shoulders Hiccup reached out and grasped Eret's forearm in a tight grip, "Eret" he said in a warning tone, "Don't". Eret's rage filled gaze snapped towards Hiccup, "Let me go" he seethed through his teeth at the smaller man, he had forgotten in his drunken, emotional state that he wasn't addressing any old viking, but his chief.

Hiccup didn't break the mans gaze, "Eret that's enough" he snapped his grip almost turning into a bruising one. Astrid appeared beside Hiccup reinforcing the warning her betrothed had given the man, she looked at Eret with a conflicting gaze. She wouldn't mind if Snotlout got another beating but knew that if he got another one he mightn't actually recover, "Eret, you need to leave" she said softly but sternly, "I get it, he deserves it, but your drunk, your not thinking straight" she paused, "…..don't make us force you out".

Eret looked between the two and then back towards Snotlout who was now sitting upright, blood still freely flowing from his nose. The nose was definitely broken, and his whole face was for sure going to be purple and swollen by the sunrise, without a word Eret let out a deep breath and gave a curt nod towards his chief.

Hiccup released his grip, giving Eret a nod and small smile of gratitude, "Go home, get some rest" he said.

Eret gave a grunt in reply before turning towards the door, he stumbled past the injured Snotlout glancing down at the man before looking back towards the door, the alcohol and its effects still plagued him as he nearly tripped over his feet.

The cold wind hit his face as he took an unsteady step out the door, sending a shiver down his spine. The laughter and chatter from inside the hall boomed behind him, a contrast to the peaceful looking village before him. Taking in a deep breath Eret placed his hands on his hips, trying his best to gather himself, his stomach was now slowly starting to churn from the amount of ale he had drunk, it was definitely time to head home to bed, if he could make it there of course.

"Come on then you drunk" he muttered to himself as he begun the trek back towards his house, his eyes firmly placed on the ground, concentrating on every unsteady step he managed to take.

As he made his way towards the stairs that would lead him down to the village, he found himself thinking about Ruffnut again; If she'd gotten home, if she was alright, if she would ever speak to him again….

Then he saw her, as if just thinking about her summoned her presence, crouched on one of the grand stone steps that descended toward the peaceful village bellow. Hunched pale shoulders lit up by the light of the moon, her hair reflecting a golden warmth even in the night. He froze at the sight before him, she looked so small on the steps, so fragile….. he almost chuckled at the thought of her being fragile after what she had just accomplished in the great hall.

He watched her for mere moments but it felt like an eternity before he willed himself forwards towards her figure. *Come on sober up* he thought to himself as he stumbled towards her before regaining his balance, he stopped a few steps before reaching her unsure of what to say and if she would even reply.

"So I take it theres no second date then" God he sounded like an idiot.

Piercing blue eyes snapped towards him, her gaze harsh and almost as cold as the night. Eret held his breath not knowing how this interaction would go.

She stared at him for a moment, her lips parted slightly and her eyes narrowed "Just what I fucking need" she scoffed snaping her neck back towards the village "Go on" she spat drawing her knees towards her chest, "Have your fun, tell me I'm a stupid fucking idiot, or as you like to say…" her voice broke ever so slightly which caused the most painful feeling Eret had ever felt to erupt in his chest. "The dumb twin" Ruffnut croaked.

Ruffnut bit her lip as hard as she could, she would rather draw her own blood then let the tears that welled in her eyes flow freely, she never shed a tear from the wounds she acquired in battle and she would rather be caught dead then cry over the opinions of men.

She tensed as she felt Eret move towards her, he stopped right beside her but she didn't acknowledge him further. Suddenly a heaver warm weight dropped over her shoulders, engulfing her like a hug from a bear, she looked up at Eret as he finished wrapping his fur over her shoulders, he stared straight into her eyes as he covered up her small, skinny frame before almost falling down beside her in a drunken way of taking a seat.

They sat in silence for a moment Ruffnut letting the new found warmth of the fur fully encase her. Eret pressed against her with one of his clothed toned thighs staring up at the star filled sky the silence only broken by the sounds of the celebration behind them.

Eret then broke the silence, "You are a fucking idiot you know" he said flicking his eyes down toward Ruffnut, her calming posture suddenly went riggid as he spoke these words and she had to restrain herself from lashing out at him.

"I've already broken one fucking assholes nose tonight I'll have no problem breaking yours" she hissed ready to fire toward Erets large form in a moments notice.

Eret looked down at the savage viking woman before him, the first she had peeking out of his furs was still caked in a coating of Snotlouts blood. She truly was the most beautiful force to be reckoned with and if it wasn't for his drunken state Eret would have been a lot more scared of her then he was right now and in a sober state of mind Eret would never of said the next words to come from his lips

"You are the most stunning, ferocious, wickedly funny viking woman I have ever laid my eyes upon, a woman who has been overlooked her whole life and forced to believe that she must settle for being a second choice" He paused for a moment as Ruffnuts face shifted from furious to a look of utter bewilderment before continuing.

"I have truly never encountered a woman as breath-taking as you Ruffnut and it breaks my heart to pieces seeing you slowly degrade away each day because of those two fucking pigs" He spat that last sentence with such anger that he swear he saw Ruffnut jolt in shock.

"That is why" Eret continued staring straight into her startled eyes, he paused feeling his stomach churn slightly, "That is why you're an idiot Ruffnut, because you deserve to be loved with the force of a monstrous nightmares flame, to be adored and cared for in every way possible" He felt as if the world was spinning uncontrollably, yet all he could see was her face lit by the moonlight, "They can't do that for you Ruffnut, they don't know what you deserve" His stomach churned once again "They can't… but Ruffnut I can"

As those last words left his lips Eret tore his face towards the ground in a heartbeat as he proceeded to vomit up the pints of ale he had downed earlier, his head was pounding as he retched in a sickening animalistic manner. He felt Ruffnuts weight shift beside him and he proceeded to close his eyes he felt her embrace cocoon him and he opened his eyes to gaze upon her but when he did, he was back in his cabin, in his bed with a pounding headache and the stench of vomit thick in the air.