Symphony of Shadows

57. Together

A/N: So sorry for the late chapter, I got stuck on a bus and a 50 minute ride turned into a 2 hour long one. My phone also died, what a joy! Here it is:) The next chapter will be out Sunday at around 8pm Eastern European Standard Time!

Astrid's shoulder ached from being used as a battering ram against the door of her cell. She'd grown tired of moping. It did her no good. Her tears had already dried after crying herself to sleep last night. For however many nights in a row.

But the door didn't budge. Instead, a high-pitched voice yelled from the other side.

"Hey, would you quit that? I'm trying to get in."

She would recognize Ruffnut's voice anywhere.

The stall door cracked open, and her friend quietly slipped in. The silence was deafening as they both stared at each other from the other side of the stable.

"Ruffnut—"

"Is it true?"

Ruffnut's voice quivered on the last word of her question. It broke Astrid's heart to hear the doubt and hesitation. She sighed and repeated what she'd heard over and over in her head.

"I'm not a—"

"Just kidding!"

She burst into giggles and pulled Astrid in for a bone-crushing hug. Astrid's mind spun from the emotional whiplash but was thankful for the support. Ruffnut always had her back—even if they fought like sisters most of the time.

"Did you seriously think I'd fall for whatever the council is pushing?"

Ruffnut squeezed her shoulders and smiled.

"Trust me, I know a trap when I see one.

Astrid loved her friend's strong confidence, and she hoped Ruffnut wouldn't change her mind when she heard the truth."

"Well, about that. It's not a complete lie. I—I've been staying with the Svikari."

Ruffnut paused and then doubled over in laughter—again. Astrid folded her arms over her chest. What was so funny?

"You and the Svikari? Oh my gods, not even Loki could pull something off like this."

"I know, I know. It sounds crazy, but I promise, on the Hofferson name, that I haven't betrayed Berk. I came back to warn Stoick, but that...didn't work out so well."

Ruffnut stopped wheezing and narrowed her eyes at Astrid. Even in the dark, she could see her zero in.

"Astrid, you're practically married to Berk. Hel, you're our tribe's poster girl. I couldn't ever think of you as a traitor. I don't even think you're capable of such a thing. Seriously, you're too in love with this damned island."

She hit the axe on the head. Astrid could never be a traitor to the tribe that had given her so much. But that was before she was falsely accused and thrown into a stable like she was worthless. Safe to say, she wasn't feeling so fuzzy towards her tribe right now.

"Thank Odin, you get it."

Ruffnut shoved her lightly and waggled her eyebrows.

"Now let's talk about the Svikari. You're totally banging him, right?"

Astrid rolled her eyes and punched her friend in the shoulder. But the corners of her lips twitched at Ruff's question. She was smarter than most people gave her credit for. Ruffnut had always been observant; she simply concealed it with her pranks and mischievous behavior along with her brother.

"No! I'm not...banging him or whatever you want to call it."

Ruffnut persisted, poking Astrid's shoulder incessantly.