Winter Blunderland

Part 2: Dinner Disaster

TWO: Dinner Disaster

Having moved his things to the left side of the bed after losing the best of nine rock-paper-scissors, the pair had settled down, unpacked and moved into the room. Astrid had gone out to check the slopes and get a map of the runs while Hiccup had finished reading his book. By the time she was back, it was almost time for dinner so he had changed into his good dark red shirt and black jeans and then had rung down to confirm that their table. And then Astrid had emerged from the bathroom.

His jaw dropped, for she was sheathed in a lapis blue knitted dress with a bronze pendant on a long rawhide string, her dark blue tights and copper ankle boots matching the outfit. Her long blonde hair was loose over her shoulders and her lips were pink with lipstick. She stopped and looked at his shocked expression.

"Is everything okay?" she asked as he blinked.

"Um...yeah?" he answered nervously. "I mean you're beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And I cannot believe you're going to the restaurant. With me. Even if we aren't having the 'Vintage Claret'..." She chuckled.

"You clean up pretty well yourself," she commented as she grabbed her purse and they headed downstairs. "I mean, it is New Year's Eve and I am here with a new friend in possibly the worst hotel in Dragon's Edge." She linked her arm with his and grinned. "What could possibly go wrong?"

In the couple of hours since they had headed upstairs, the Lobby had been decorated with balloons, banners and streamers, there was party music playing and Snotlout was now dressed as a waiter bearing a large tray laden with glasses of fruit juice and plates of surprisingly-appetising looking canapes. Astrid peered at them and tentatively took a mini goat's cheese and onion marmalade mini brioche while Hiccup hazarded the smoked salmon and caviar blini. Both were excellent. And then they walked to the restaurant, where a sleek woman in a black tux welcomed them, her raven hair braided over her left shoulder and green eyes welcoming.

"Welcome to the Zippleback Restaurant," she said smoothly. "Reservation in the name of...?"

"Haddock," Hiccup said firmly as the woman smiled.

"Table three," she said and grabbed two green leatherette-bound menus and led them to an excellent two-person table by the big picture window showing the slopes. "My name is Heather and I will be your server. Here are the Specials tonight." Hiccup and Astrid took their seats and both ordered the salmon and crab terrine with dill mayonnaise and wilted spinach as appetisers with steaks for their entrees-Hiccup had the peppercorn sauce while Astrid ordered Bernaise. And for dessert, Heather had recommended the Crepes d'Hiver, a black cherry and kirsch version of Crepe Suzette.

Looking around, Astrid had looked longingly at the illuminated slopes, her eyes glowing softly with happiness and in that moment, Hiccup realised he had finally met the real girl. As they sipped their champagne cocktails, Astrid had explained how her Uncle had taught her to ski, how she had been ferociously competitive and how she had gone to a ski gymnasium over in Sweden to hone her skills. And when she was able, she had joined the Ski Cross Tour and had been making waves ever since. How she had been leading the ranking this year until she was illegally taken out by her rival and had ended up sidelined with a broken wrist that had denied her the slopes until it was healed-and how desperate she was to get back on her skis and check she hadn't lost her nerve.

"I can't imagine you fearing anything," Hiccup said gallantly. She shrugged.

"Hoffersons are always know as Fearless but my parents are not happy when I risk so much on the course," she sighed. "They won't come to races because they really wanted me to go into Alpine. Notwithstanding it's faster and far more dangerous. I mean, people die doing Alpine Skiing! We just get a few breaks and concussions..."