The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the village of Berk. Astrid sat alone by the Great Hall, her small frame curled up on a stone bench, lost in her thoughts. The sounds of laughter and chatter drifted from the families of her friends as they entered the hall, bringing a bittersweet pang to her heart. Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Snotlout, and Hiccup moved together, their voices vibrant and full of life, a stark contrast to the weight pressing down on Astrid's shoulders.

Inside the hall, she could hear her father's booming voice, filled with anguish, echoing through the wooden structure. "No! Not my boy!" he screamed, his raw emotions pouring out in waves. The sound pierced through the air, a haunting reminder of their loss. Astrid's heart ached for him, for all of them.

Her mother's cries soon followed, heavy and heart-wrenching. The sound pulled at Astrid's heartstrings, sending chills down her spine. She could imagine her mother, tears streaming down her face, struggling to comprehend the tragedy that had befallen their family.

Around her, the joyous laughter of her friends felt like a distant memory. As much as she wanted to join them, to escape into the carefree moments they shared, the heaviness of grief anchored her to her seat. Mathew was gone, and the world felt so much colder without him.

Her siblings were inside too, mourning the loss of their brother in their own silent ways. Juniper, Scott, and Twig were likely clustered together, their expressions serious and their hearts heavy. Freya, the eldest, would be trying to comfort them, but Astrid knew the pain of losing Mathew was something they would all carry—an invisible weight they couldn't shake off.

Astrid squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears to stop, but they slipped down her cheeks anyway. "I miss you, Mathew," she whispered to the wind, as if he could hear her. "I wish you were here."

The door of the Great Hall creaked open, and she caught a glimpse of her siblings' faces. Their eyes were red-rimmed and filled with sorrow, reflecting the pain they were all feeling. For a moment, she wanted nothing more than to rush to them, to gather them close and hold on tightly. But instead, she felt trapped, unable to bridge the distance between them in that moment of shared grief.

Suddenly, Hiccup stepped out, his expression somber. He caught sight of Astrid and approached her slowly. "Hey," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You okay?"

Astrid shook her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "No," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't think I'll ever be okay again."

Hiccup nodded, understanding etched across his face. "It's okay to feel that way," he said gently. "We're all hurting. But we have each other, and we'll get through this together."

As he sat beside her, Astrid felt a small flicker of comfort in his presence. "What if I forget him?" she asked, her voice cracking. "What if… what if he just disappears from my memory?"

Hiccup placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He won't disappear. As long as we remember him, he'll always be a part of us. We'll keep telling stories about him, and we'll honor his memory."

Astrid managed a small smile through her tears, grateful for Hiccup's words. "Will you help me?" she asked, her voice steadying. "Help me remember him?"

"Always," Hiccup replied, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

As they sat together, Astrid took a deep breath, trying to find some semblance of peace amid the chaos of her emotions. The laughter from her friends faded into the background, and in that moment, she felt a renewed sense of strength. They would face this loss together, and together, they would keep Mathew's spirit alive.