A Walk In The Woods

Chapter 3

3:

Even though the date was circled in red on her calendar, Astrid almost missed the approach of Halloween, amid work and study. Heather and Fishlegs...in fact, all of the gang...were gone, off the college on the mainland but Astrid remained on Berk, stymied by lack of funds and the need to work. And the vague, nagging desire to see Hiccup once more. He was the only one left that she cared for and without him, what would be the point?

The weather was freezing and drizzling and she had almost given up on the idea of going out...but the memory of his gentle grasp on her hand and his searing kisses had been enough to get her up, tucking the chicken into the oven and then struggling into her anorak. She took a deep breathe before she walked out into the miserable night, hoping and praying that he was constant and that the magic would hold. The woods were darker than ever and she advanced warily, her flashlight sweeping the empty vista.

She sighed. It would be typical with the year she had endured if he abandoned her as well...unless her interference had changed history and something had happened to Hiccup. And then she shook her head. The past two Halloweens had been magical, impossible and so she shouldn't be surprised that the magic couldn't last. Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she gazed into the darkness, staring back a thousand years in the hope that maybe...just maybe...he would come.

"Astrid...."

A distant voice echoed through the damp dark and her head snapped up as she peered into the gloom.

"Hiccup?" she called.

"ASTRID!" The voice was nearer and she saw a shape, staggering through the darkness, breathing hard and half-tripping on the brambles. She started towards him and suddenly, he was in front of her, breathless and bedraggled. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight, feeling his warmth envelope her. In his arms, she suddenly felt protected and loved, no longer alone. "Thor...I thought I had missed you..." He sounded breathless and exhausted, nuzzling against her neck and she lifted her head and kissed him thoroughly.

"I was waiting," she reminded him gently. "I promised...and you are worth it." He managed a small smile and dipped his head, then rested his forehead against hers.

"I was off the island," he admitted, still smiling. "We've been having problems with dragon hunters and I was tailing them...but there was no way I was missing the chance of seeing you." He gave a self-conscious shrug. "Toothless pushed himself really hard to get us back in time and I bet he's gonna be extra-grumpy when he wakes up...but you are worth it as well!" His gentle hand lifted to caress her red cheeks.

"Come back to my house," she invited him gently. "It's cold and damp and miserable..." He swiped the damp auburn hair off his forehead and grinned broadly at her.

"Miserable?" he teased her. "In Berk, it snows nine months a year and hails the other three. A cold day will still give you frostbite in your spleen! So this...is just bracing!" Her hand tightened around his.

"Well, it's rather 'bracing' for me, dragon boy, so come to my house," she repeated. "I've got some food cooking and at least we'll be out of the wet..." He wiped the rain off his face and nodded.

"A chance to dry off would be nice," he admitted, falling into step alongside her and inspecting her. "Hmm...is this what clothes look like in your Realm?" She started and then realised she wasn't in her Viking costume-but instead was in a pair of faded jeans, brown boots, a long baby blue crew neck jumper and a black waterproof walking jacket. She nodded.

"Um...usually smarter than this," she admitted but he smiled.

"You look beautiful, no matter how strange your apparel," he told her genuinely as they approached the tree line.