Tangled Vows

Chapter 47

The journey back to berk was a very familiar one, and one that Astrid hoped she wouldn't have to make for a third time that year as she watched the world fly by the windows of the bus. It had been a long train journey from the city, and now was the arduous bus journey from out of town into Berk.

By now, Astrid knew the route fairly well and remembered every nook and cranny of the route as she watched the streets merge together in her mind, and all tunnel towards Berk. 

Her home. To Hiccup.

Stepping off the bus at last, Astrid let a long and relieved sigh ripple through her body and explode from behind her lips. Now that she was home, in Berk, she finally felt free from her life in the city. 

She was jobless, homeless, and without a future, but there was one thing that she needed to do. The rest of her life no longer mattered until she discovered the end of that road, the road she and Hiccup had stared down but never truly explored.

She needed to know. She deserved to know.

However, as she strode along the street towards Hiccup's shop, she hesitated and her suitcase barrelled into her heels as she came to a sudden stop. Looking up at the road, and seeing the faint sign of Hiccup's shop shining ahead, Astrid couldn't find the courage within her to face Hiccup yet.

Looking over her shoulder, up a narrow but well-trodden road, Astrid saw her temporary sanctuary and began to tread towards it. It would not be open to the public yet, and Astrid knew this well, but she was certain that the Twins' ran a loose ship and could be lenient with letting a straggler off the streets wander into their bar.

At least she could try.

Pushing a hand against the door, Astrid was relieved to feel that it was unlocked and the door slowly swung open and allowed Astrid entry into the bar. Taking in the bar around her, Astrid saw that it was much the same as it had been when she'd left, and was almost relieved to know that.

She hoped that Hiccup's feelings had remained much the same as well.

"Astrid?" Ruffnut's voice seemed to echo through the bar as she appeared from within the shadows. She strode up to Astrid with a look of confusion and surprise, yet there also was a hint of happiness to see that her old friend had returned once again.

"Hey, Ruff. Am I glad to see you?" Astrid let out a small laugh, her shoulders slumping as a weight disappeared from her shoulders knowing that her sudden arrival wasn't met with the same distaste as her first return had been.

Ruffnut approached her with a smile, her brow beginning to furrow as she stepped closer, and her head tilting as though to get a better look at whatever it was that was confusing her. 

"What's that on your neck? Are you okay?" She asked worriedly, noticing the strange purply, black bruises starting to form beneath her jaw.

Astrid instinctively brought her hand up to her neck, as though she were able to see what she looked like through the touch of her hand. Yet, remembering the sudden and gruesome grip of Eret's hand upon her neck, Astrid sighed in understanding.

She had not time to look at herself in the mirror after their confrontation and breakup, but Astrid didn't expect that she looked particularly good.

"Oh, right," Astrid nodded and retracted her hand away from her neck. "That's a farewell gift from Eret."

"Who's Eret?" Ruffnut asked, having never heard about this mysterious man in Astrid's life.

"My fiance. Actually... ex-fiance." Astrid smiled proudly because of herself, proud that she had survived that vicious moment of her life, and proud that she had finally made a real decision with her future.