The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Twenty-Seven: A Different Solution

A/N: Lots of reaction for the last chapter-thanks, I read them all. Now Snotlout may be gone but it's unlikely he will just accept his fate...especially with where he's ended up. And please be aware that Astrid may seem a little OOC (at least initially) because being attacked as she was can do that to you. Remember, this is my version of how this Berk would react-other versions are possible but not in this story.

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Twenty Seven: A Different Solution

Things were different the next day, though different good or different bad was hard to tell. Hiccup was still tense, his senses on edge and on alert in case any of the remaining Jorgensens or their friends and allies made a move on him or on Astrid. After visiting Gothi to have their wounds tended, they had headed home to rest and try to process everything that had befallen them. Hiccup was more sore than he had realised and Astrid had remained stoic and quiet until they had reached the house.

And then she had sat down, even quieter and Hiccup had become very worried. Astrid was fierce and brave and always feisty: she only went quiet when she was really upset, so he had sat achingly by her, eyeing her as he had after she had been kidnapped by Stormfly, as if she was about to explode. But when he had inched closer, she hadn't growled at him or glared back, merely sat slump-shouldered, her head down. So he had gently reached over and lifted her chin with a finger, peering into her azure eyes that were pooled with unshed tears.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I failed."

"Oh-no, no, no..." he said urgently, his face stricken. "It was all my fault. I should have stopped him ages ago..." But she looked at him then, tears slowly streaking her bruised cheeks.

"I should have been able to stop them," she said softly. "He wanted to...to...and I should have stopped them. There were only four of them..."

"You fought as hard as you could," he reassured her gently. "Even the best warrior can be overpowered by a sneak attack from behind! You were amazing..." But she gave a short, bitter laugh and shook her head, swiping at her eyes.

"I'm ruined, babe," she told him slowly. "This is Berk, remember? And what Snotlout did...what he said...no one will believe..."

"I believe," he assured her, hesitating to touch her because of her injuries...but when he read the misery in her eyes and realised she assumed he was repelled by her, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to face him. "Milady, look at me." Unwillingly, she met his emerald gaze. "What do you see?"

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third," she replied slowly.

"No," he told her gravely. "You're seeing Hiccup the Useless, disowned son of the Chief, former Heir of Berk and a mere apprentice to the village blacksmith. You are the most beautiful, brave, fierce, determined warrior in the village. And every second I spend with you is a gift from the Gods. And nothing has changed. You are the same person you were this morning."

"But I'm not," she sighed, pulling away. His grip around her tightened. "Hiccup-let me go. I release you from your Promise. You don't want me any more." His hands tightened fiercely around her shoulders.

"Astrid, I have loved and wanted to be with you since I was ten," he told her. "And nothing has altered. You are the same person you always have been. And no matter that you were attacked and wronged by Snotlout, you are still the most amazing woman on Berk. Astrid, I-I am in love with you."

"But you can't be," she said, her voice crackling. "Hiccup-Snotlout is gone. You finally have a chance...and I can guarantee that the village will shun me for what happened. I will damage you." He pulled her close.