Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

6: Changing Course

Changing Course.

Astrid Hofferson was having a problem: she was now back at home in Berk with her new husband and she was running out of excuses to postpone the consummation of her marriage. Eret was handsome-in a dark, cocky, overbearing sort of way, but Astrid wanted more. She wanted a husband who loved her and adored her and respected her. She doubted Eret could manage any of those...and the one person who had undoubtedly felt all those things and more for Astrid was dead. And it was her fault.

She strode along the balcony and stared down the hill towards Berkisport, the houses and warehouses clustered around the deep-water harbour that swarmed with traders, naval vessels and transport craft. Of course, this being Berk, the harbour was a hundred feet below down a sheer cliff with the wide ramp carved into the grey rock the only way down. Astrid had been raised on the island and had explored every part of it with her childhood friend... She pulled herself up sharply. She had schooled herself not to think of him but sometimes, a memory would treacherously seep into her mind and she would recall laughing with him as they stole hours together against the wishes of their parents and she fell in love with him...

She clenched her fists. Hiccup was dead and she had killed him. She had made her choice that day and this was the result. She couldn't rely on his quick wits and sarcastic quips to cheer her up, his shy and devoted affection to prop up her faltering spirits and she knew he would never again call her name again in the way that had made her breath hitch. She turned back to the room and stomped in, then stalked downstairs to see her husband.

He was talking with her father, discussing matters of the defence of the Archipelago that didn't worry her...though both men seemed unusually sombre. She thought she caught the words 'armada' and 'northerners' but they both ceased speaking when she entered the room and she forced a small smile onto her lips to mask the irritation she felt. She was General Hofferson's daughter and she resented being treated as if she was irrelevant. She nodded to her husband.

"A word, Eret," she said and he rose instantly, his eyes exploring her face for a clue why she wanted to talk to him. She hadn't really so far in the marriage and he was wondering what he had married. He leaned too close to her, invading her personal space.

"What do you want to discuss?" he asked. His tone was cold: it was if he was asking one of his men rather than his spouse. She sighed.

"It is about a personal matter," she said, broaching the subject. He inspected her closely.

"I'm waiting," he said, his words dangerously laced with double entendre. She sighed.

"I know," she said, "but the fact is that I don't love you."

"And does that matter?" he asked her bluntly. She chewed her bottom lip.

"I think it does," she said.

"And I don't," he replied flatly. "It is part of the contract you signed." She gritted her teeth.

"My father signed," she hissed. "Why don't you sleep with him?"

"I married you," he reminded her shortly. "And I am growing impatient." She folded her arms and pulled away from him.

"Get used to it!" she told him angrily. "Nothing is happening..."

"How dare...." he began, his face growing puce with rage and she glared into his deep brown eyes.

"...until you capture Fury and get back my jewels!" she told him shortly. "I heard what you said to the messenger and to my father. And I will tell him it's a pack of yak-dung unless you agree. You fought them off and escaped? Hah! You were locked in a cage and I pleaded for your freedom and safety. We were given a boat and dropped off on the northern coast-but you had to insult that insufferable pirate and ended up in the sea! So if you want to end up shamed before my father and Berk, go ahead. Otherwise...we wait until you complete both those tasks!" He pulled an ugly sneer.