Until They Can Return in Peace - How to Train Your Dragon

Chapter 45 - Astrid

"Okay Nuffink. Keep your eyes closed. Listen to the forest around you. Listen to the rustling of the trees. The sounds of the birds. The flowing of the waterfall in the distance", I say to my grown son.

He's gotten so tall and his long hair tickles his forehead; he quickly swipes it away and refocuses.

"Get in your battle stance like I taught you", I instruct and he slightly bends his knees and locks his shoulders in a place as if he was holding a sword.

I smile wildly as the moment has come.

I hold the brightly painted wooden sword in my hands. His 4th birthday gift, crafted by his father.

"Focus. Listen", I say as I near him.

I quickly place it in his hand and he snaps his eyes open in shock.

"Mommy! Is this... MINE?!", he asks with the most thankful, excited look I have ever seen from him.

"Yes! Happy birthday Nuff", I say and he runs and hugs me.

"Thank you", he says sweetly.

"Now you can train to be a warrior just like mom and dad", I say and he jumps with exhilaration.

"Ah! I see you got the gift!", Hiccup comes over and my 7 year old Zephyr is quickly behind him.

She has her nose in her journal as she comes up to the rock Nuffink was standing on.

"Look sis, a sword!", he proudly waves it in the air.

"That's so cool! Was that your birthday present?", she asks him excitedly.

"Yeah!"

"Cool! I bet you can't... RESCUE THIS DRAGON FROM THE EVIL TRAPPER!", Zephyr threatens as she lifts the stuffed Stormfly in the air.

Zeph runs with it and pretends Stormfly is being ridden by a dragon trapper and Nuff has to save her.

Hiccup and I giggle as they continue to run in circles.

"I wish you could have given it to him, it's your craftsmanship", I say to my wonderful, bearded husband as we both sit on the rock and he opens up the picnic basket he brought.

"Astrid I told you, he looks up to you as the warrior and battle-tactic smart mother that you are. It meant more to him that it came from you", he smiles.

Hiccup Haddock. The best gift-giver. The most kind and generous person I have ever known.

I kiss him before we dig into lunch.

"Nuff! Come get your favorite food for lunch!", I call to him.

He runs over and crashes to the ground, "It was a long fight. But Stormfly is safe!"

I giggle as I pull out some chicken and put it on a plate for him.

He takes it and eats it quickly.

"Remember. No telling uncle Tuffnut. That's why we're having lunch out here in the forest so he can't see us eat chicken", I whisper and my kids giggle.

Hiccup rolls his eyes as he laughs at my effort in trying to be considerate of the nut. The loss of Chicken a few years back still is a fresh wound for him, but at least he has a couple of generations after her to love...

I now am rolling my eyes at myself.

"Are we still going to have the dinner party too?", Zephyr asks.

"Yes! We'll be having Yak stew tonight", Hiccup says biting into some bread.

We eat in some silence and in some conversation.

I can't believe that it's been over a year since the battle at the Hidden World.

8 whole years without the dragons and Hiccup and I will celebrate 8 years of marriage next month as well.

Almost a decade married to this Knucklehead and we are more in love than we were yesterday.

Been kissing those lips since I was 15. Now we're 29 and it never loses its spark.

Growing and learning by his side since we first rode dragons.

Now we're watching our two beautiful children grow into such incredible humans of their own. Seeing them discover the world for their own and learning how to navigate it.

It's moments like these where I can't help but be thankful for everything the gods have blessed me with.

____________________

Nuffink storms the dining hall with his gallant sword skills that he learned today.

Everyone is "oo-ing" and "awe-ing" at the sight of this young Viking warrior that I have created.

After Hiccup and I make our rounds, I sit in my chieftess chair and Zephyr sits beside me.

Hiccup chases Nuff around the room, who is showing everyone what a brave boy he is now that he has a sword like daddy.

I smile wildly as I look down at my Zephyr with her nose in her dragon book; such a little Hiccup it's insane.

"Whatcha got there, Zeph?", I ask her as a plate of food is set in front of me by Hiccup, then one in front of Zephyr.

"Razorwhips. Since the passing of Heather last year, I've been so interested in why she wanted Windshear back so badly. I would never put Toothless or any of them in danger, but Razorwhips are really cool", she says gawking over the words and pictures before her bright blue eyes.

"Oh yes! Especially the tail which had spikes as sharp as titanium blades", Hiccup comes up and leans over her shoulder.

I just laugh at geek sesh that's happening next to me, but I can't help but adore the sight of my husband telling our daughter about the Wingmaidens and how they're the reason we were able have Razorwhips in our Archipelago. Most importantly, she is enamored at each and every detail; just like the young Hiccup I knew.

I take a few bites of my stew and bread as I observe my son running around the room. He catches his cousin Lillian with her father, Fishlegs.

She looks shy and bashful, but bring up anything to do with dragons or boars and she's a total nut.

"So cute huh?", Ruffnut says right beside my face.

"GODS RUFF! You scared me!", I say dropping my spoon.

"Sorry! I just couldn't help but notice you admiring the connection happening over there", she points to my son showing her daughter his new sword.

He lets her hold it and play with it.

"It's inevitable", she says in a weird, longing tone.

"What? Nuffink showing his COUSIN his new toy?", I ask rolling my eyes and eating more stew.

"Noooooo. The inevitability that my daughter will be marrying the second heir in line for the throne of New Berk!", she says sitting in Hiccup's chair.

"Oh yeah? That's kind of like what Dagur said about Gunnar and Zephyr", I humorously say raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah? And what did you say to that?", she asks.

"That it's a no", I say and she slouches down a little infuriated.

"Listen Ruff, we let them figure that out for themselves. For now can we celebrate his FOURTH birthday", I giggle nudging her shoulder.

"Yeah Yeah", she laughs.

Hiccup leans down and whispers in my ear, "Well I kind of side with Ruff in the fact that one of our parents got what they wished for"

I look up at him confused.

He smiles widely, "I'm pretty sure my dad had you picked out as soon as you lifted your first axe"

We both laugh as I lean up to kiss him.

Oh Hiccup... how I love you.