When I Come Back

Past pt.2

Hiccup

   I watch as the thoughts build up in Astrid's head. She's always been smart, but she was more action than thinking and planning.

   I could still see that part of her, but filling in the role of leader for so long caused her to think a lot more.

   Suddenly, Gobber crashes into our table, causing the papers in his hands to fly all over the place. 

"Woah, Gobber are you ok?" Astrid ask, lifting a few papers that landed on her food.

"What is all this?" I ask, giving a few back to Gobber. 

"Nothing you yungin's need to worry about." he says, grabbing the rest of the papers and rushing out of the hall. 

   The Gang and I all exchange looks before most of them loose intrest or just don't care and go back to eating.

   I turn my attention back to Astrid, questions clouding my head. Instead of going back to eating, Astrid was holding a paper in her hand.

"Is that...?" I start to ask, but get cut off when she shoves it in my face.

Ok.

That was weird.

She practically seemed scared of the paper.

   I take it from her hands and hold it at a comfortable position to read.

Oh no....

That's why she got all akward ...

   On the top of the paper, in big sloppy writing, it says, "HEIR AND HEIRESS WEDDING."

   I'm sure you can guess the two names that are written directly below it... "Hiccup Horrindous Haddock III and Astrid Hofferson."

Ok...woah.

They need to calm down.

We aren't even cuarting let alone betrothed!!

   I couldn't bring myself to read the rest of the paper.

"Erm...I think Gobber left one of his papers...He'll be looking for it..." I was trying to come up with an excuse to leave and this very paper that makes me want to leave, is my ticket out.

"So I'm just gonna..." I make a clicking noise with my tongue as I point my thumb to the big doors to the Great Hall.

   Before leaving I couldn't even bring myself to say 'Sorry' to Astrid let alone look at her.

"Wait!! So are you not going to eat this?!?" Snotlout calls after me, most likely gesturing to my food.

   I had lost my appetite. So I just wave my hand in that direction, as if pushing the question away.  He could have at it.

   I felt bad for leaving Astrid there though. She had read the same thing I had.

   I'd be lying if I said the thought didn't quickly cross my mind as a teenager, but Astrid wasn't a romantic. She didn't think about things like that.

   For her, the most important goals in life weren't to marry into a wealthy family, carry the name, and have a son. The most important goals were to train, inprove, teach, and become the best. There was no room for marriage, romance, or love.

   Toothless had followed me out, so I jumped on him, and we headed for my hut, well I guess it was just my dad's house now.

   Either way, no matter how uncomfortable this made me, I was going to talk to my father about this.

   Landing a few feet away from the door, I dismount, rub Toothless on the top of his head, and reluctantly push the front door that is how surprisingly much lighter than I remembered.

   We walk in to find a small circle of adults arguing and yelling over each other. This circle contained, Gothi, the only one not yelling because she doesn't talk, Gobber, Spitelout, Ingrid (Astrid's mother), and my father.

   None of them has noticed the new presence of one heir and his best bud the Nightfury. So I obnoxiously clear my throat. Causing all conversation to cease, replacing it with the tense of their muscles at the sight of the very viking who's name kept being thrown around the conversations and arguments.

   My father is the first to break the silence.

   Straightening himself to his full heighth, and acting as casual as possible, he asks, "Hiccup!! Where did you just come from son?"

   Ignoring the question, I get strait to what I came to say, before I chicken out.

"Dad, why are you already making plans for my marriage?" I ask, sounding as athoritive as you can in front of a cheif like my father.

"Ugh!! Gobber!! You told the boy?!?" He asks, turning back to his faithful friend.

   Before he could answer, I answer for him, "No. I found out from Astrid, who found the paper lying on the floor of the Great Hall."

   Ingrid stirred uncomfortably at the thought of Astrid already knowing.

   "Dad, Astrid and I aren't even together and you're already planning our wedding!" Yeah, I raised my voice a bit.

   My father sighs, as if this is something he's talked to me about before and I just didn't get it.

"Son, one day you will have to take the reins on Berk-"

   I shook my head, I have heard this before, but I just got back. I'm not ready for all this responsibility to be put on me yet. It made me feel heavy and stuck.

   I open my mouth to retort to the begining of my dad's up coming speech, but the opening of the door behind me caused everyone to freeze once more.