Spirit of a Warrior - HTTYD

Two

I woke up feeling hopeful for something good and earth shaking to happen today.

But a sense of despair also lurked about my mindset as I got ready in my bedroom.

I put my leather headband on and pulled some of my bangs over my eyes, as I usually do.

That way no one can fully see into who I am.

Although part of that conviction has somewhat been broken considering Hiccup Haddock has seen me in fear; which no one ever could before. I even hide it from myself sometimes.

But that's not the burden I am referring to; I am quite hopeful that Hiccup will have this Dragon Killing thing figured out.

What I'm worried about is my father...

This is the day I was supposed to kill my first dragon in front of him. The very thing I've been training my whole life for.

Thank the gods he was passed out exhausted after the failed excursion with the Chief.

He finds out today that I did not place first in dragon training.

"ASTRID HOFFERSON!"

Maybe he already knows...

"Coming!", I call down.

I slip on my boots quickly and begin binding my arm-warmers as I pad down the steps.

"Welcome back father", I say to his back. His bright, red hair almost blinding due to the sun bouncing off of it.

"Astrid. What is this... this rumor that you didn't place first in dragon training? Who do I have to go punch in the face?", he spits at me.

"They're... they're not rumors dad... it's true. Hiccup Had..."

"HICCUP IS A WEAKLING COMPARED TO YOU! HOW IN THOR'S NAME..."

"HARALD! That's your daughter you're talking to, don't you think you could be a little kinder?!", my mother snaps at him.

Thank Odin...

"Maria... you know how hard she has trained. How did Stoick's boy defeat my warrior for a daughter?", he asks after a long sigh.

He must have also seen the terror on my face.

"Yes. I have worked hard. But Hiccup has a... unique way of doing what he does... he earned it"

That sentence almost burned coming out of my mouth. I am shocked at this Astrid in the last 24 hours, giving the slightest care about this boy.

Oh Thor... I guess do care for him... He's all I can think about the last couple of days. I've watched him sneak off from the group after each day of training, and now after this dragon discovery, I can see what he believes in.

I wasn't told what to feel or believe, like how I was raised. I was shown and given evidence of something incredible and impossible become reality.

My parents look at me dumbfounded.

Probably hearing me giving the time of day to anyone has hit them as hard as a mace to the head.

My mother slightly grins at me, knowing right well her assumptions of the night before were possibly true.

"If you'll excuse me, I must congratulate my comrade", I say grabbing my axe and headed out the door.

Before the wooden board clicks shut I hear my mother, "Now that's how a true and honest Viking goes about her business"

I smile and thank the gods for my mother.

___

The crowd was loud to the point of almost being obnoxious. I see Hiccup leaning against the stone wall with a heavy head. With one hand holding his helmet and the other on his diaphragm, he looks up at me with great shame.