Robert almost reached the gangplank when Eira called out for him.
"Where do you think you're going? We're about to leave." She came to a halt in front of him, hands on her hips, tilting her head up so that she could meet his eyes. "So?" she said, reminding Robert very much of their mother with the way she was tapping her right foot in expectation of an answer. He bit back a grin, it was funny how though he was the chief, his sister still tried to boss him around at any chance.
"Good morning, sis." Robert said, in a jaunty voice. "There's someone I want to see before we leave."
"So you truly believe you've got a chance with her?" Eira huffed.
"Well, I'll never know if I don't try my luck." He winked and turned away from Eira, who called after him to not take too long. Robert didn't listen. He hurried past the docks and the ruins of the market when he finally spotted her not far from the Great Hall, feeding her dragon.
His heart did a somersault at the sight of her and he ducked behind a corner, smoothing a strand of his dark hair behind his ear and checking his reflection in a puddle close by. He wasn't a vain type of guy, but for some reason he wanted to look as presentable as he could muster in front of the blonde Viking girl that won his heart. Robert released a deep breath through his nose and stepped back out onto the street.
Stormfly spotted him first. She clawed at the ground and let out a squawking noise as he neared them. Robert gulped, he didn't know if he liked being this close to an unrestrained dragon or not.
"A majestic creature." he said, mustering up all his courage.
Astrid flinched as he ventured closer, but when she turned to face him, her lips were pressed into a thin line. Gods she was beautiful even when she looked this grumpy. Robert ran a hand through his hair, his stomach knotted with nerves as he gestured to the Nadder.
"Yes, she is." Astrid snapped, "Why would someone like you care?"
Ouch. Feisty.
Robert's lips quirked at her challenging words, he stepped closer with his hands folded behind his back. "When I was a young boy I used to hide in the forest whenever my mother was after me for some sort of mischief I caused." He glanced at Stormfly and his smile widened at the memory. "I remember watching a group of Nadders breeding at a clearing close to our village. You must know that in Solsteinn it is always warm, and we got meadows filled with a variety of flowers you can't even imagine. The smell - it's intoxicating and the fields and sky are filled with dragons, especially in spring. The Nadders the most beautiful among them - like living, colorful gemstones. Of course, as a boy, I was way too scared to ever go near them. But I always considered them wonderful creatures, and we never hunted Nadders."
"But other dragons - for their venom." Astrid said, her voice a tad softer than before as she put her bucket down.
"That's in the past." Robert said, meeting her eyes. A ghost of a smile played around her lips. "I wish I could show you sometime, so that you believe I am being honest with you."
"Well a check up might be necessary sooner or later." Astrid gave a half shrug and Robert's heart leaped. He took a step closer, reached out his hand.
"May I?" He eyed Stormfly with care and now it was Astrid's turn to grin.
"If she lets you."
"What if she doesn't?" Robert tried to hide his nervousness as he took yet another step closer. Stormfly tilted her head and squawked.
"Then it was nice knowing you." she said, nonchalantly and Robert paled. "Oh my, I was just kidding, here let me show you."
She reached out for her dragon and Robert did the same, their fingers briefly brushing as they touched Stormfly's smooth scales. A faint blush colored Astrid's cheeks and for a moment neither of them moved, caught up in a moment of charged, expectant silence. Robert's heart pounded hard in his chest. He licked his lips, but before he could utter a word, a horn resounded from the port. His mood fell at the sound of it.
YOU ARE READING
My little Flower (HiccupxOC, part 1 of Grimborn Family AU)
Fanfiction"Grimborn." She let the name roll from her tongue, her forehead creased into a frown. "Who is that?" Raised by dragons from an early age, Lilly had no contact to another human being for thirteen years. Being a wide eyed innocent she has no idea of...
