Winds of Change

Chapter Ten

Hiccup awoke on a hard bed, wool blankets bunched up around his legs. Groaning, he sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. 

"Daddy's awake!" a girl's voice yelled. Three children rushed into the room and pounced on Hiccup.

"Oof, thanks a lot!" he called out. 

Astrid came into the doorway, laughing. "Get off your poor dad," she said between laughs. Reluctantly, the children got off, still giggling, and ran outside. Astrid sat down next to him on the bed and rubbed his back. "How are you doing?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" asked Hiccup.

"Your fever, babe. You were saying really weird things in another language."

Hiccup rested his head on Astrid's shoulder. "I'm fine now, I promise."

"Well good, because breakfast is ready!"

Hiccup grimaced, and then started laughing. He stood up, one arm around Astrid's waist, and walked out to the room with the largest brazier. The three children were arguing about something. Two had brown hair like Hiccup's, and one blonde. 

"Freyr, help your father sit down. Freyja help me with the dishes, and for Odin's sake, Junior, stop playing with Freyr's dragon!" The three children jumped at the sound of their mother's voice, and rushed to do as she said. The brunette boy grabbed Hiccup by the hand and sat him down at a table. Freyja, the other brunette, helped Astrid with breakfast, and Junior sat down across from Hiccup. 

"How are you feeling, Dad?" he asked. Astrid and Freyja placed wooden bowls on the table, and sat down. 

"Great," said Hiccup. As soon as he had taken the first bite, everyone else started eating. Hiccup smiled at the small tidbits of conversation. Junior and Freyja were arguing about the best way to file a dragon's claws, Freyr and Astrid were talking about all of the new baby dragons in the village. 

"Daddy," asked Freyja, "what were you saying when you had the fever?"

 Visions of a large goose, a girl tied down on a slab, and a dark, oily voice flashed before his vision. "I don't know, sweetie," he said. "Just random stuff."

The girl nodded. 

"I'm bored," Freyr said. "Mom, can you sing for us?"

Astrid laughed, and looked at Hiccup. "Only if your dad sings with me."

Hiccup nodded to his wife. "Of course, milady."

He grinned, and stood up. He started humming when Astrid stood up, and they walked towards each other. "I'll swim and sail on savage seas," Hiccup sang, "with ne'er a fear of drowning. And gladly  ride the waves of life if you will marry me. No scorching sun nor freezing cold will stop me on my journey. If you will promise me your heart. And love me for eternity."

They crossed their right arms, slowly spinning around each other.

"My dearest one, my darling dear," sang Astrid, "your mighty words astound me. But I've no need of mighty deeds when I feel your arms around me."

They started spinning faster, adding kicking to the dance.

"But I would bring you rings of gold, I'd even sing you poetry!  And I would keep you from all harm if you would stay beside me!"

Hiccup spun Astrid one, two, three times.

"I have no use for rings of gold, I care not for your poetry. I only want your hand to hold, I only want you near me!"