Chapter One of As the Years Went By
Feb. 15th, 2017 06:05 pmWOOSH! The citizens of Berk zoomed past. The sound of wings beating, propelling us forward, the constant sound of a sheep being caught was engulfing me, putting me in a cocoon of energy. All I could think of was Faster! Faster! Faster! The black sheep was going to be released soon, and I wasn't going to break my streak of winning. Suddenly I heard it. The horn signaling the black sheep was going to launched soon. I leaned forward in my saddle, prepared for the sheep to be launched. I pasted over my goal, the bright blue catching my eye. I was lagging behind by nine sheep. Ruffnut and Tuffnut have 10 by now, and since the mutton head on my team was so smitten with Ruff, we lost many sheep. I growled as I saw him pass Ruff another sheep. I flew over to him and smacked him on the head, nearly knocking him off his orange, red, and black dragon.
"Snotlout! What in the name of Thor are you doing?" I yelled at him. He looked at me innocently, " They're gonna win now!"
"She's my princess! Whatever she wants, she gets, otherwise Fishlegs gets her," he growled. I looked at him confused.
"You two are fighting for Ruffnut? Didn't she try to bury you alive?" I asked him smirking. He scowled at me and flew ahead of me. I then saw a flicker of movement at the corner of my eye. I turned in that direction and saw that Gobber had put the black sheep in the launcher. I turned Stormfly in that direction. I leaned forward in my saddle so that my face was near her spikes. I silently urged her to go higher. I was right about to grab the sheep, when out of nowhere, a brown gronkle swooped up, and caught the black sheep.
"No!" I shouted. I then turned my head and saw him pass the game winning sheep to Ruffnut. I smirked. This one was going to be easy. Every single time they pass the sheep to Ruff and Tuff, I was always able to get it from them. Stormfly started to fly towards them. I saw them arguing on who gets the sheep, and I silently got out of my saddle. I started to balance on Stormfly, and as soon as she got close enough, I jumped onto Barf and Belch's back. I then ran up to them, balanced on Belch's neck, and ran. Once I got close enough, I did a back flip, caught the black sheep and started plummeting towards the ground. I looked around and didn't see Stormfly anywhere. I saw the ground get closer and closer, and thought, Come on Stormfly... Come on. Just then I felt a strong arm around my waist, pulling me up onto the dragon. I looked up, and saw two forest green eyes staring at me.
"Hey Astrid... Want to tell me why you were plummeting to your death?" he joked. I chuckled and kissed his cheek. I then got up, black sheep still in hand.
"Oh Hiccup... you know me," I laughed. I then jumped off of Toothless, giving Hiccup a mini heart attack. I was right under Toothless when I saw Stormfly, rushing towards me. I reached upward, grabbed my saddle, and pulled myself up, doing a somersault as I did that. I saw Hiccup staring down at me from the slight fold in Toothless's wing, smiling. Stormfly then flew towards the goal. I then dunked the sheep inside my goal. The entire place was then filled with cheers. I thrust my fist up in the air, whooping.
"Let's go girl," I whispered into Stormfly's ear. She squawked in reply and flew high up in the air. We flew across the sea, faster then the Squaldrens lying underneath the cold waves. I then heard the distance screech of a Nightfury. I smiled. Did he always have to make an entrance? I saw a nearby island in the distance and flew towards it. Stormfly landed, and as soon as she did, I was sprinting to a nearby bush to hide. I heard the sound of wings beating to land, and remained still.
"Astrid?! Astrid where are you?!" an all too familiar voice yelled. I giggled softly and peeked out of the bush. Hiccup was standing there, hands on his hips, trying to find me. He then started walking towards me. I waited until he was right in front of me. He wasn't looking at me. I then pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. He started laughing, and rolled so that I was under him instead of on top.
" There you are," he laughed. I laughed along with him, unable to stop. Once I did, I started blushing. I had no idea how close he was until now. I looked at his forest green eyes, then to his scar just below his lip. I raised my hand and started running my fingers through his untamed hair. He sighed and bit his lip. He looked so cute when he did that. His eyes were piercing through me, fulled with longing. I looked away from him, unable to gaze at his piercing green eyes anymore. He then used his hand and ran it through my braided hair.
"Hiccup... Stop... You're going to ruin my hair," I whispered. He looked at me and smirked.
"I don't care," he whispered as he bit his lip. He looked very attractive when he bit his lip. I snapped myself out of the trance I was in, and rolled my eyes.
"Well I do," I whispered back at him. I then put my hands on his armored chest, and pushed him off. He looked at me, and put on a fake sad face. I just chuckled at this, and walked over to the edge of the cliff we were on. It overlooked many other small clumps of brownish-red trees. I loved coming here when it was sunset. I sat along the edge, legs dangling. I heard the squeaking of metal and saw Hiccup sitting next to me. He put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. I leaned my head on his shoulder, waiting for the sun to begin its descent under the horizon.
"How've you been?" Hiccup whispered into my ear. I looked up at him and sighed.
"Well... you left after you beat the Queen for an entire year. Then you came back, and pretended that nothing was wrong. You tell me if I am okay or not," I harshly told him. I then pulled away from his embrace, sitting a fair distance away from him. I heard him sigh, and I turned to look at him.
" You aren't okay... I am so sorry that I had to leave Astrid, but you know why. Berk was becoming hated through out the archipelago, and I didn't want anything to happen to anyone here, and so I had to go," he told me. I sighed and looked at the horizon. The sun was still pretty high up. I sighed and looked back at him.
" I know why you had to go. I know that," I started to get angry. How could he not tell.
" Then why are you making such a big deal out of it?!" Hiccup yelled. I got up and started to walk towards Stormfly, but I then felt something strong wrap around my wrist. It was Hiccup. " Answer me Astrid... please," I pulled my wrist away from his hand.
" I am making such a big deal out of it because.... Hiccup! You were gone without notice. No good-bye no nothing! I missed you so much! How can you not tell! Who was going to go flying with me? To be there when I was broken? You promised to be there, and you broke that promise without thought!" I shouted back. I then walked past him again and sat on the edge again, " I missed you... I was worried," I whispered. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked and saw him there. His forest green eyes full of regret.
" I'm sorry Astrid. I didn't mean to leave without telling you," he whispered. I held his hand in mine and saw the sky turning orange. The sunset was here. The sun was peacefully setting, and as I saw the sky change, I thought, Why couldn't my life be this simple? I then felt myself being lifted up from where I was sitting. I yelped and saw that Hiccup was holding me bridal style.
"Hiccup... please put me down," I asked him. He nodded and put me down. I looked up at him, seeing how cute he looked when the sun's rays were on his face. I then felt an arm wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I then wrapped my arms around his neck, running my fingers through his already untamed hair. We both leaned in closer, lips brushing against each other. We both wanted this, but none knew if we should. But before I knew it, his soft lips were on mine. It started as a sweet, gentle kiss, but soon grew rough and passionate. Our lips moved in sync, both trying to claim dominance. Hiccup ended up winning, and soon, we both pulled away from lack of air. I leaned my head on his and sighed.
" Man," I whispered.
" I've been wanting to do that since I got back. Just waiting for the right moment. And do you, Astrid Hofferson, think that this the right moment?" he asked me. I pretended to think.
"No... It would've been better if we went on a romantic flight on Toothless," I joked. He looked at me with fake shock.
"Seriously? Okay I admit that would've been good, but come on. There is a sunset and we have a perfect view of it," he sulked. I laughed and kissed him softly.
" You're such a wimp. I love it here," I whispered into his ear, " This was perfect," He looked at me and smiled his crooked smile. I chuckled and ran to Stormfly, blushing the entire way. Once I was in my saddle, I looked at Hiccup and winked. His face was one of confusion, and anger. I giggled at realizing it was because I had pulled away.
" You really need to figure out how to keep a girl with you longer!" I laughed, but before I could do anything, he was running towards me. I jumped out of my saddle and ran away, but soon, I found myself wrestling with him. He ended up winning, and I was back under him, my hands pinned above me.
"I managed to keep you with me for two years. Good enough huh? And now I have you pinned down under me. How's that?" he asked me smirking. I rolled my eyes.
"For the love of Thor get off of me," I laughed. He shook his head and leaned in closer, " Hiccup... I a-am n-not k-kidding," I said nervously. Why the heck am I stuttering?! He just smirked and got off.
"I could feel the threat in your voice," he lied. I scowled at him and walked over to where Stormfly was. I then took out my fur blanket and leather platform. I lied both out expertly, since I had done this multiple times before. I then lifted the blanket and got inside it.
" Oh what? No room for me?" Hiccup asked me. I frowned. There was enough room for him to be on the platform, and still not be next to me.
"Shut your mouth you muttonhead, and get over here," I laughed. He then walked over to me, and lied on the far corner of the platform, pulling the fur blanket onto him. I didn't mind, and soon found myself on the border of reality and the black abyss that was the dream world. I sighed, and prepared myself for what awaited me in the black abyss. I then walked into the dark, leaving the comforting light behind me.
As soon as I entered the black, motionless place, the scene started changing. I was standing on a white platform, wearing the traditional white garment with gold outlining it. Why was I wearing a wedding dress? I looked around and saw all of my friends, sobbing their eyes out in happiness. I then looked in front of me and saw him, standing there. He was wearing a green tunic with leather pants. the only thing that stood out about him was his forest green eyes. He had untidy auburn hair. I instantly recognized him as the boy I've had a crush on since forever.
"Are you ready dear?" someone asked me. I looked beside me and saw Chief Stoik standing there.
"Chief? What's going on?" I inquired. He looked at me, confused.
"You're getting married dear," he smiled. I gasped when he said I was getting married. I then realized that I was in the Great Hall, awaiting to be wed to Hiccup. I looked at Hiccup, and saw how much love was in his eyes. If only it was always like that.
"Come now. We can't keep them waiting forever? Now can we lass?" he asked me. I nodded my head, held onto his arm, and walked down the aisle. My gown was short, stopping after my ankles, but it flowed as if it was longer than that. Soon, unaware, I was standing right next to Hiccup, our hands bound in a red ribbon.
" Do you, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, take Astrid Hofferson to be your lawfully wedded wife? To protect, cherish, and care for in sickness and in health?" Chief asked him.
"I do," he replied smiling.
"And do you, Astrid Hofferson, take Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to care, cherish, and protect in sickness and in health?" he asked me.
"I-I do," I replied smiling.
"Then I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," Chief told Hiccup. He leaned in towards me, and.....
"Ahhh!" I screamed waking up from the dream. My scream echoed all over the island. I hugged my knees close to my body and cried. I knew it was a dream, but it felt so real. I wished it was real, but what made me hate that dream was that it was never going to happen. Chief probably arranged for him to be married a long while ago, and I didn't want my heart broken by believing in foolish thoughts. I then felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close to his chest. I leaned back, a few tears slipping down my cheeks.
"Hey... You okay?" the owner of the arms asked me.
"Y-Yeah Hiccup... I'm fine," I lied. He then moved so that he was in front of me.
"Are you sure?" he asked me. I nodded my head, and soon realized that he was shirtless. I blushed, but it was dark, so he couldn't see. Thank Thor for that.
"W-Where did your shirt go?" I asked him uncomfortable.
"Sorry... It ran away from me. You don't mind do you?" he inquired smirking. No I didn't mind, but I couldn't say that.
" Um... uh..." I stuttered. I looked down at his torso and saw that he had a finely toned six pack. I shook my head, and said, " I... don't mind," He nodded his head, but instead of going back to his spot, he put his hands on my face, wiping the tears that were there. I blushed, but he just smirked and went back to his spot. I then got into the blanket again, leaning my head on my arm. I heard the blanket move, and soon felt Hiccup's hand move across the side of my hip, until it was on the lower part of my stomach. He then pulled me closer to his bare chest, resting his head in the crook of my neck.
"Hiccup? What are you doing?" I asked.
"Getting some sleep," he replied, and before I could ask him anything else, he fell asleep. I then turned around so that I was facing him. His grip loosened, but then tightened again. I then rested my head on his collarbone, and fell asleep.
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I was suddenly blinded by a light in my eyes. I opened my eyes, and saw that it was morning. I yawned and tried to sit up, but couldn't because of an arm wrapped firmly around my waist. I then saw a shirtless Hiccup, sleeping peacefully. I smiled in a devilish way. This was the perfect time for a prank. I whistled for Stormfly and Toothless to come here. They both did, happy to see us, but at the same time, grumpy for being woken up. I pointed to the ocean, and it was like they automatically understood. Then swooped down and came back up, mouths full of water. I then got up from the leather platform. Almost immediately, I heard Hiccup groan.
"Astrid... Come back to bed," he grumbled. I giggled in a cute way, however while I did that, I was mentally killing myself. How do girls do this? I then gestured for the dragons to go behind him.
"Hiccup... Look behind you," I said in a flirtatious way. He then whined.
"I don't want to."
" Come on you muttonhead! I have to show you something cool!" I shouted. He then grumbled and looked behind him. The minute he did, Stormfly and Toothless sprayed him with water. He spurted in surprise, and the entire time, I was laughing my head off.
"ASTRID!" Hiccup bellowed. I continued laughing as I saw him, drenched, and running towards me. I then ran to Stormfly, climbed onto her, and flew away. But I knew he was close. Soon Berk came into view and I urged Stormfly to go faster. She then started diving towards land, and as soon as I could, I jumped off of her and ran to the Great Hall. I opened the huge door, and closed it loudly. Many vikings looked at me, but I was already running to our usual table.
"Hey guys!" I panted.
"Hey Astrid! Three questions... Where were you? Why is Hiccup shirtless and wet? And finally, why is he coming towards you like he's gonna murder you?" Snotlout asked me. I then started laughing.
"Short answer, Hiccup and me got into a fight, and stayed the night at one of the islands. He is shirtless because he was sleeping next to me last night, and in the morning I got the dragons to spray water at him," I told them hurrying.
"Oh..." Snotlout replied smirking, " Might not want to look behind you," My face then drained of all of its color as I realized who was behind me. I turned around and saw a smirking Hiccup. I laughed nervously, wondering what was in store for me right now. I then started running out of the Great Hall, but found him standing outside there too.
" What to do? What to do?" he questioned himself smirking. I laughed nervously, realizing he'd probably make me do something like dive into the ocean.
"L-Look Hiccup... This was all just a misunderstanding," I stuttered.
" Since you poured water on me, and teased me, you get to do two things for me," he smiled. Instead of feeling grateful, I was too busy wondering on what I have to do.
"Like wh---" I started to say. But I felt him grab my hand, pull me onto Toothless, and before I could hop off, Toothless took off. I instinctively wrapped my arms around Hiccup's bare torso. After riding for a bit, we reached the top of a cliff. There he helped me off, and I stood there frozen. What was he going to do. He then whistled and Stormfly came. I looked at her then at him with a questioning look. He just smiled his normal crooked smile. I managed to smile back at him.
" This is number one... Race. You on Stormfly, and me on Toothless. If you win, you don't have to do the next thing. But if I win, you have to do the next thing. Got it? We race to dragon island," he told me.
"Okay," I told him getting onto Stormfly. Once he got onto Toothless, the race started . We both took off, dragons flying their top speed. The island was a good twenty leagues from Berk, and I knew I'd have to push Stormfly. But the minute I felt Stormfly lift off from the ground, my entire body felt like it was being crammed into a small box. I could barely breathe. This sense of fear and anxiousness was alien to me. I was so used to making my enemies fear me, that I never felt fear before. Mainly because last time Tuffnut played a prank on Hiccup, he found himself on the farthest island from Berk. It was funny, but now that I was in this position, it scared me. I didn't even notice that we were almost there, until Stormfly roared, snapping me back to reality. We were barely a few yards away when I saw Toothless shoot past us, landing on Dragon Island. I groaned when Stormfly landed.
"Looks like I won," Hiccup smirked. I rolled my eyes and he continued, "Looks like you have to do the next thing," I shivered at the thought on what he'll say. He saw me and started laughing. "Geez Astrid. I never knew that giving me a kiss was so bad!" he laughed. I just stood there and stared at him.
"You're not going to make me do anything... embarrassing?" I asked him. He shook his head and I jumped up screaming, " Yes! Thank Thor!" Hiccup, the mutton head, was laughing the entire time. When I finally stopped celebrating, he came up to me, torso gleaming in the warm sun. I blushed, remembering that he was shirtless. He then came up to me, and stroked the side of my face with his hand. His eyes were full of kindness, love, and most of all, longing. Longing for a kiss, longing for a cure to heal him. I leaned my head in his hand, closing my eyes as I did so. He sighed, and leaned in closer. I pulled up to meet him there, but when our lips were brushing against each other, waiting, he stopped, and opened his eyes. I opened mine too, and soon found each other caught in the other's gaze. I felt myself getting lost in his forest eyes, and unaware of what I was doing, leaned inward and kissed him on the lips. This one wasn't like the one before. It was soft, gentle, and yet so passionate. I felt him pull away, and saw his smiling eyes looking at me.
" I..." I started to say, but quickly stopped myself. I looked around, seeking out whomever was standing there. " Hiccup... I need you to act like you're going to kiss me, again," I whispered to him. He looked at me, confused. "Someone's here," I whispered into his ear. His grip around me tightened, but not enough for people to be able to see. I looked up at him and saw that he was thinking on what to do.
"Astrid... Get out of here" he whispered into my ear.
"No!"
"Astrid... I'll come find you... I promise you. Just please... Get out of here. I can't imagine what I'd do if someone or something hurt you."
"Hiccup... I can handle myself... Please let me stay here,"
" I have my sword with me... You don't have your ax. Just go! Please! I'll come find you! Go!"I then pulled away from him, walking towards Stormfly. I climbed up onto her back, and looked back at Hiccup. He nodded and I left him. I started flying away, but soon felt something knock Stormfly. I tried to hold onto her, but another thing banged into her, making me fall into the cold waters of the oceans below. I screamed as I fell more than a thousand feet into the cold waters below. As soon as I hit the water, all my muscles stopped working, shocked by the cold. I felt myself sinking into the deep dark water. My vision then started to become blurry. I struggled to get to the surface, but couldn't. I then saw someone, not Hiccup pull me out of the water.
"Astrid!" I heard someone yell. I couldn't see him, but felt his lips against mine, blowing air into them. I coughed up all the water, but still couldn't see the person.
" This is just one thing I could do to her... Imagine the others," a snarling voice smirked.
"Don't you dare touch her! Or I'll----"another voice shouted.
"Or you'll what? I can do whatever want to her... For example, I could take this dagger and throw it into her stomach. Just you watch," the snarling voice shouted.
"No! Please! I... I'll do anything. You can hurt me, torture me, make me your slave, or even kill me, but please... don't hurt her," the voice begged.
"Nice speech... Not worth your time saying though. If you don't want anything to happen to your girlfriend, then you'll leave this place, otherwise," he pointed the dagger at me. The figure looked at me, tears forming on his eyes.
"F-Fine... But at least let me take her back to Berk," the second figure begged.
"Ugh... Fine. But be gone by morning," the figure snarled. He then disappeared, leaving me and the unknown person here alone.
" I am so sorry Astrid," the figure said. After that, I felt darkness engulf me, spreading from my feet all the way to my head.