The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Thirty: The Gamble

Thirty: The Gamble

The hammering on the door slowly broke through the warm darkness and Hiccup wearily opened his eyes. He was snuggled up and around Astrid, limbs tangled, her head resting peacefully against his shoulder. His mind was still muzzy with sleep and he still felt tired, thought he was warm and relaxed. The stray rays of sun spilled under the door, golden and bright, telling him they had definitely overslept. Blinking owlishly, he moved slightly and felt her naked arm slide over his chest as she made a small humming noise and burrowed her head further into his neck.

Naked?

Oh. OH!

His eyes snapped open and he twisted his head to inspect Astrid, lying in his arms, her long golden hair strewn carelessly over her shoulders and the pillow. There was a small smile lifting her mouth and he felt his own lips curving in a fond smile at the sight of his wife and the little silver ring gleaming in her hand.

His wife. Thor in Asgard, it was real! He had married Astrid Hofferson.

The hammering on the door sounded again and he groaned, slowly disentangling himself from Astrid and sliding out from under the furs, goosebumps prickling his pale skin as he grabbed the topmost blanket and wrapped it around his lean shape, walking across the cold floor to the door and carefully unlatching it...to see the grinning face of Gustav.

"Morning, lover-boy!" the teen greeted him far too cheerfully. Hiccup peered out to see the remains of a bonfire just in front of the house and a selection of Vikings wheeling carts and carrying supplies as they went about their daily tasks. One hand clamped firmly around the blanket, he rubbed his eyes with the other and yawned hugely.

"Gustav, why are you here?" he asked tiredly. "I got married yesterday evening..." The black-haired teen grinned unrepentantly.

"I know-I was there!" he admitted. "And the village is still gossiping about how Phlegma punched out Roar Arvidson! Mildew has been telling anyone who will listen that it's a disgrace and you shouldn't be allowed to marry or stay in the village. And Knut the Disappointing is making some horrible comments about Astrid..." That had Hiccup's eyes focussing on the half-grown teen and frowning.

"And while the Berk grapevine isn't completely fascinating, that isn't why you're here," he told Gustav sarcastically.

"No-Gobber said to say this to you word for word...so you know this isn't me," the boy replied urgently and then frowned, thinking hard. "He said...Much as ah like tae think o' meh apprentice gettin' his oats after his wedding, there is a raid tonight so if he could see tae fitting in some work intae his busy schedule, I'd be verra grateful..." Hiccup stared at him, blushed fiercely and sighed.

"Oh Gods," he groaned. "What time is it?"

"About an hour or two at most to noon," Gustav grinned. "I'm helping Gobber at the moment but to be honest, I think I may be causing more hinderance than help. Blacksmithing is a lot more complicated than it looks! All Gobber said you had to do was pound hot metal." Hiccup managed a smile.

"He does say that...but the trick is pounding the metal in the right place," he admitted. "Something that took me years to learn. Tell him I'll be down shortly...and just before sunset, I need you and the guys in the Cove. Tonight during the raid, I'm going to show the village what we can do." Gustav saluted him. "You don't have to salute me," Hiccup commented tiredly.

"No-but I really want to!" the boy grinned and ran off, leaving Hiccup to close the door and turn round...to meet the amused azure gaze of his wife.

"Morning, Milady," he said gently as she smiled, beckoning him towards her with a finger.

"Come back to bed, babe-I'm getting cold," she invited him and he eagerly slid under the furs next to her, wrapping his cold limbs around her. "AARGH! Your feet are freezing!" she protested as he hugged her close, slyly sliding a cold foot up and down her shin. She shrieked in shock. "You are in so much trouble..." she promised him as he kissed her tenderly on the forehead.