Tangled Vows

Chapter 41

Astrid had been on several dates before, plenty of them, yet she couldn't understand why she was so nervous about this one. Never before had she spent so long deciding on an outfit for a date, wanting to get it right but not wanting to seem like she had worked too hard for it.

Hiccup had told her to wear something casual, so she knew that this was going to be an all-day date, and they certainly weren't going anywhere fancy. Yet, trying to find something casual, yet cute and sophisticated, was much harder than Astrid imagined.

Especially when she only had a few items of clothes that she had managed to smuggle from her parent's house, and the remnants of what she had originally brought over three months ago.

It was a struggle, to say the least, and Astrid was already starting to run late. So, without thinking too much about it, she threw on whatever worked well together, and hurried downstairs where Hiccup was waiting for her.

She had been expecting him to look impatient and frustrated, looking at his watch in annoyance at her tardiness. Yet, as she hurried down the stairs, arriving at the bottom still fixing her braid, Hiccup just smiled.

He looked at her as though she were the most beautiful being to have ever walked the earth. His eyes twinkled with appreciation, as though dazzled by her appearance, and the smile that pulled at his lips only grew as he took in her beauty further.

"Can't believe I'm going on a date with you." Hiccup muttered quietly, though Astrid still heard it and let out a small chuckle of amusement.

"I'm not a goddess, Hiccup. I'm just me. Don't make this weird." Astrid warned him, struggling into her Converse shoes and making sure everything was in order.

"I'm not trying to. I'm just excited." Hiccup beamed happily, genuinely enthused to be going out on a date with Astrid. it was like he was a lucky winner in some kind of lottery, and Astrid was the prize.

Hiccup's enthusiasm and excitement made Astrid feel special, and a warm feeling spread through her chest as she realised how little she had ever felt like this. Never before had she felt such glee about going on a date with another man. Knowing that he was excited and delighted to be with her added to this special feeling spreading throughout her body.

Hiccup made her feel like royalty, like a princess. 

On the first stop of their royal tour around town, Hiccup took Astrid to the pier. Walking along the old wooden boards of the pier, Astrid was reminded of all those times she had walked along its planks as a kid, with her parents, and then with the gang. She had nothing but fond memories of the place and enjoyed her walk along its boards holding Hiccup's hand.

They watched the waves crash against the shore and admired the ripples of the water reflecting the beautiful morning sun that created stars upon its surface. Everything had this rosy glow to it as Astrid admired the view, and enjoyed the company. 

Somehow, just having Hiccup there with her, holding her hand, made everything so much better.

After the pier, they walked along the high street together, like they had done when Astrid had first arrived. Somehow, things looked different that day, walking along the street beside Hiccup. Laughing together, talking like they had ten years to catch up on together, and smiling like they had just met a god.

People who saw them together instantly knew what was going on, and said nothing about it. Instead, they let the young couple enjoy their date and saunter along the streets like the happiest people on earth, yet still trying to figure out what they were to one another.

"What's that place?" Astrid asked curiously, pointing to an older-looking building that rested beside a set of stairs leading to the beach. It was more ramshackle and weather-worn than the rest of the buildings along the street, and Astrid couldn't recognise it from her memories of the place three years-ago, so she assumed that it was new.