Something different...

4. Secret

Astrid's POV:

I literally stared at Hiccup. At that moment, I heard someone knock on the door. I slowly freed myself from Hiccup's arms and went downstairs.
I opened the door and saw my angry father.
"What were you thinking?! You are not allowed to go anywhere without my permission! Am I clear?!" I stayed silent. He slapped me. I tried not to cry.
"Am I clear, you useless whore?!" I still said nothing. And he slapped me again.

Hiccup's POV:

I woke up with the sound of shouting. This voice I could recognize every time. Not in a good way. It was Harald's voice.
I rushed downstairs, where I saw him slapping Astrid. He raised his fist to hit Astrid. I hurried in front of her and stopped his fist with my hand, holding his wirst tight.
"What the-?! Hiccup?!" He screamed, surprised, almost in pain.
"Yeah. Didn't expect me in my own house, did you?" With one hand, I was holding his wirst, and with my other hand, I pushed Astrid protective behind me. I felt her soft hands on my back. I was only wearing my green shirt. I never slept with my armor.
"Harald, I'm warning you. Don't you dare to hurt her, and I won't need to ban you."
"Oh, the great chief Hiccup is going to ban one of his best warriors because of a slut. You forget that she's my daughter. My own flesh and blood. And you're telling me what to do with her?!" I was so mad at him. How could he say so awful things about his own daughter?!
"You say it yourself. She's your own flesh and blood. So why do you hurt her?" His expression darkened.
"None of your business!" He yelled. Honestly, I got tense. I felt Astrid tighten the grip on my shirt.
Suddenly, she let go and ran off.

Astrid's POV:

I couldn't bear this conversation anymore. I really didn't want to leave Hiccup alone with my father, but I couldn't stay there with him. He always makes me feel bad. Useless. I heard Hiccup calling me. But I ran.
I just ran. Ran into the forest. My eyes full of tears. I could only see everything blurred. Soon, I stumbled against my own feet and fell. I fell into the cove. The famous cove in the middle of the forest. No one was ever there. I fell on the ground. I saw a lake and something beside it and then went everything black.

~later that afternoon~

Hiccup's POV:

It was afternoon, and Astrid wasn't back yet. I was getting worried. It was getting dark and there was no sign of Astrid.

Astrid's POV:

I felt something warm on my cheek. Someone's breath.
I slowly opened my eyes. There I saw it. It was a dragon! A deadly nadder.
I carefully lifted my hand and put on her nose. I was surprised that she was so calm.
It was a special feeling petting a dragon.
"Hello, little one." I only could smile. The dragon nuzzled into my hand. I laughed lightly.

I stayed there with her 'till the next afternoon. I also gave her a name. Stormfly.

"Hiccup! Hiccup! You won't believe what I found in the-"
"Not now, Astrid. I have to complete something. I'll maybe have time later."
"Oh. Okay. What are you working on?" I asked him when I sat beside him in the forge. I looked at all these papers I didn't understand.
"I have to find a way to drive out all dragons from Berk. They killed two berkians in the last seven hours." Hiccup answered seriously.
"Who did they kill?!"
"The Silent Sven and Bories." He answered cold. My blood boiled. Bories?! They killed Bories?!

Bories was a really young fighter. But still a good one. He was only three months older than me. We played as children. Although we weren't the best friends, he was still important to me. He was a part of the tribe.

"Anyway, what did you want to tell me?" Hiccup asked, looking down at me.
"Oh. Um, nothing. Nevermind."
"Okay...?" He said, looking skeptically at me.
"Where have you been the last two days?"
"I was in the forest. I had to clear my head." Hiccup just nodded.

~a week later~

Third person's POV:

Astrid was every day with Stormfly. Hiccup was getting suspicious and decided to follow her one day.
"Hey, girl! Yeah, I've missed you, too." She said when she came to the cove.

"Astrid Paulina Hofferson!" A familiar strict voice appeared behind her.
F*ck! She thought.

"H-hi, Hiccup. Hi, Hiccup. Hi."
"Astrid?" His voice sounded warning. Astrid sighed.
"I'm sorry, Hiccup. I should tell you about her-"
"What were you thinking, Astrid?! This is a dragon! It could kill you!" He sighed.
"Hiccup... I'm so sorry. I was afraid. I was afraid of losing her. Losing you."
"Astrid, I'm the chief. I have to protect the whole village. To protect it from dragons! And you are just acting like they were cute little pet kitties! But they're not! They're dangerous! They killed hundreds of us!"
"And we killed thousands of them! They have a soul, too. You all just don't see it. Mom was right. You're too blind to see a world without war. A world with peace between humans and dragons. I knew many people here were blind. But I never expected you were one of them..."

Astrid got on Stormfly and flew away, leaving a speechless Hiccup behind.

"I'm so sorry, Hiccup. I'm sorry you're feeling betrayed."