Into the Archipelago(HTTYD one-shots)

Carrying the Wrong Tune

"I'm not sure about this Gobber," I say, forcing my fingers to reach the proper strings in order to strum the chords on Gobber's old mandolin.

"I'm sure. There's nothin' tha' a young viking lass loves more than a man who can carry a tune." He says, strumming the chords I'm supposed to be playing, on his own instrument.

"But, I don't think this is my thing," I argue.

"Nonsense. You love all those other artsy-fartsy thin's. Yer good with yer 'ands 'iccup. You'll catch on soon enough. It jus' takes practice. Tha's how yer father won yer mother over," he says, winking. I roll my eyes, refocussing on the instrument in my hands. 

I begin to believe in Gobber after another hour of practice. (about catching on, not the impressing girls part)I picked up on the tune rather quickly and am already working toward perfecting it.

"Hiccup?!" a familiar voice calls, entering the forge.

"In here!" I yell, stopping the ringing of the strings so I can hear the response. 

"Ok!" Gobber wriggles his brow at me teasingly. "Your-- What are you doing?" Astrid asks, stopping in front of us, a hand moving to her hip.

"Uh--heh-- I'm-- Gobber's teaching me to play," I try to explain.

"Why?" of course is the next question.

"It's to impress a special woman in my life," I say, blushing. 

She smiles sweetly at me, pleased. "Well, your mother wants you home for dinner," she tells me, walking off. She stops a few feet from the entrance and turns toward us again. "She's gonna really like that," Astrid says, gesturing to the mandolin and disappears. I can feel the impact of both Gobber and I mentally face-palming.

Thanks for reading! Vote, comment, and give suggestions! I did this one just because I can see Gobber trying to get Hiccup to learn to play his mandolin to help him with Astrid, because Gobber's always trying to help Hiccup with that (even though it isn't all that great of advise or just makes Hiccup uncomfortable) So, hoped you liked it!

love,

hiccstrid_lover_98