How To Train Your Princess

Begin Again

In the morning, I open my eyes to see Hiccup sitting by my bed, leaned against the side, asleep. When I sit up, an ice pack slides off of my hip. I take the one over my ankle off as well, and grab my crutches.

"Good morning," Heather whispers to me as she puts on her boots.

"G'mornin" I say, trying to stand up. Heather hurries over to help, but I wave her off. I hobble over to my wardrobe, and open the creeky doors. "Was he here all night?" I ask, glancing over my shoulder at Hiccup.

"Yeah. He changed your ice packs every hour. He slept right where he is now, all night. We asked him a few questions about you too. He said you slept most of the day yesterday, and that Gothi gave you medicine and patched you up," Heather tells me.

I nod and grab an old blue tunic. Heather allows me to put an arm around her shoulders as I change. The tunic hits me just below mid-thigh, so I don't need to put my leggings on, glad my hip wont have to be in any more pain from the waist band. I put my left boot on and allow Ruff to do my hair, since she had begged me to allow her the second she walked out of the room with the wash bowl. She sits on my bed, and instructs me to sit on the edge. I rest my arms on my crutches as she combs through my hair. 

Hiccup's eyes flutter open and he looks up at me and Ruff. "Hey," I say, offering a small smile.

"Hey. Did you sleep well?"

"Under the circumstances, I'd say 'alright'." His lips form that thin crooked smile. I feel Ruff section off my hair, beginning the braid down my back. "How did you sleep?" I ask him.

"Fine."

"Why are you on the floor?"

"'Cause I wanted you to have the maximum amount of comfort possible. I've slept on the floor before, Astrid. I used to sleep on the ground in the stables with Toothless almost every night. At least until my parents found out when they came in my room one night and I wasn't there."

"Why would you willingly sleep on the floor in a stable?"

"Toothless is my best friend. I'd put him in my room with me if my parents would let me." He chuckles, probably imagining it. I shake my head, amused.

"Stop moving!" Ruff orders. "I'm almost done." I straiten up and face forward for her.

"Morning, everyone," Cami says, sliding out of bed finally.

"It's about time you got up," Heather says, elbowing her.

"You guys are up earlier than normal," she points out, defending herself. "Morning, Hiccup."

"Morning, Cami," he smiles.

"Done!" Ruff exclaims, sitting back to examine her work. "Perfect. If I do say so myself." I feel it with my hand, and of course, it's perfect.

Once everyone is dressed, we head to the dining hall for breakfast. Hiccup joins us, and I keep worrying he's gonna get in trouble for being around us again. I see Phlegma point a finger at him as if to say, 'you better behave and not interfere'. He nods and gives her a look that means he promises. She seems to trust him, because she doesn't acknowledge him again.

"Don't you have to go home or change clothes? No chores to do?" I ask, chewing my roll.

"I already went home and changed clothes before you woke up, and I cleaned the water buckets for the horses after you fell asleep last night," he tells me, grabbing an apple out of a bowl on the table. "Are you excited for the ball next week?" he asks, genuinely curious.

I purse my lips, thinking. "Yeah. And nervous."

"Why?" he chuckles.

"Because I want to know what the prince looks like. I mean, I have this image in my head of how I think he looks, but, what if he doesn't look anything like that and I don't like him that much anymore. That's really mean, but it's true. You know how you get an idea in your head of what you want, or you see something you like, and you lower your expectations for anything else, because it's not like the other thing, what your used to. Like, if I had a school at home. I wouldn't like it just because it's not like here. It could be run differently than I'm used to, and so I'd be scornful toward what I have rather than being grateful," I say, grabbing an apple.