The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Sixteen: The Deranged's Brother

Sixteen: The Deranged's Brother

They went home after Hiccup had made a proper introduction between Astrid and Toothless. And though the girl was fighting her natural animosity to the dragon-the species that killed her beloved Uncle Finn in cold blood and condemned her parents to the horrible end of burning to death in her old home-the way the dragon moved, its gentle croons and warbles and the way it pressed into her hand and interacted with Hiccup made her realise this wasn't a mindless beast. It could sense the young man's concern and gently rubbed against him. And there was the almost unconscious trail of his hand across its head, the flicker of a smile as they interacted that told her that he reciprocated the affection.

They walked a long way through the forest in silence, hand in hand, before Astrid looked up into his face and sighed.

"You really are the most unViking Viking Berk has ever seen, aren't you?" she commented and he gave a shrug.

"Astrid-meet Hiccup. His special skill is screwing things up," he said sarcastically and she punched him in the shoulder without hesitating. "Ow!"

"Or maybe seeing things differently to everyone else," she told him firmly. His emerald eyes flicked down to inspect her face.

"Different...is good?" he asked her softly with just a little note of hope in his voice. She jerked him round to face her and clasped his face between her hands, then pressed a very determined kiss on his lips, smiling as she felt him respond, his hands sliding around her waist and down to rest possessively on her hips. When she pulled back, her sparkling azure eyes looked up into his with amusement, seeing the confusion and smouldering desire.

"Oh, very good, dragon boy," she smirked. "Of course, no one can ever know...but now I can help you, support you...and protect you..."

"Probably from myself," he admitted with a small smile, resting his forehead against hers. His hands tightened on her hips. "You know he gets out tomorrow?" She nodded.

"He won't do anything, babe," she reassured him.

"He doesn't need to," Hiccup sighed, pulling back and lacing his fingers with hers once more. They fell into step again, topping the rise and heading across the low valley before they clambered to the back of the summit behind the village. "He has Lars and Dog. They'll do his dirty work for him..."

"And you have me...and Toothless, I think," she reminded him as they began to climb back up to the top of the village. "And when you try to get yourself killed finding the nest, I'm going with you."

"Hiccup and Astrid," he murmured with a wry smile. "Hmm...I like the sound of that..."

"Sounds better as Astrid and Hiccup," she grinned back as they topped the rise and broke through the treeline at the top of the village. "Though being with you is enough and..."

"HICCUP!"

The voice echoed through the village and the young man stiffened, his emerald eyes widening in fear. It was Stoick-and he sounded mad. The grip on Astrid's hand tightened furiously and took a shuddering breath before letting her hand drop and walking towards the huge shape that was storming up the hill towards them. As she watched, he lifted his chin and he forced a cheerful expression on his face as he walked towards his father.

"Hey, Chief," he managed in a level voice, "how can I help?" Stoick arrived in front of his former son and glared at the skinny shape, causing him to almost back up a pace-but Astrid arrived at his side and smiled at the Chief, her hand ghosting against her Promised's.

"Sir?" she added and Stoick stared coldly at her for a second-then gestured down the hill towards the cliff, the seastacks...and on the horizon...a line of ships. No, more than a line...an armada.