6. Unintended, but Not Unwelcome

Humans are… strange creatures.

They lack claws, sharp teeth and power, yet they are capable of fending off creatures several times their size. They have neither scales nor thick fur to protect them from the elements and from attacks. What could have possibly allowed these strange creatures to survive for so long?

He back on his haunches, staring up at the sky longingly. Oh how he missed the clouds. The freedom that came with flight, the chill of the blistering wind. He turned his attention to his tail, more specifically, the torn tail fin.

"Hey, Toothless."

Speaking of strange…

"I brought you food."

He couldn't tell what it was, but he knew something was bothering her. Her shoulders were slumped, as if she was trying to tuck into herself like a Twin-Neck. Just… not as effective.

He dove into the fish carried by the tipped over basket without another thought. Food first. Mysteries can be solved on a full stomach.

Half way through the basket, he caught the scent of something that made his stomach grumble in disagreement. The sound was replicated by his throat, echoing within his chest cavity. He backed up, pulling his head out of the basket's opening.

"Toothless? What's wrong?" He answered with a half-screech.

The tiny girl reached into the pile of fish and pulled out the disgusting, slimy, icky piece of eel. The instant that thing was pulled into his sight, he started to hiss, the flaps on his head vibrating in alarm. Instead of throwing it away and burning it to a crisp, she held it up to him.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS HUMAN?!

His response was immediate. He reared back and away from the black-and-yellow striped monstrosity, a strangled roar escaping his throat.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Fine! Fine! No eels."

She promptly threw the dead creature aside - thank all of the Alphas for the small miracles in life. He chuffed, shaking his head as his nerves calmed. That was way too close for comfort. With more caution, he nosed his way through the pile of fish. What he didn't see was the calculating look that crossed the girl's face when she left with the empty basket and the eel carcass. He was far too relieved to notice.

That was yesterday.

Today, she came back with more fish. This time, she seemed even more distressed than before. Something must have gotten worse. He didn't expect her to share anything with him, of course, but it was still disheartening to see her upset. She was his favorite human - out of a pool size of one, but it was the thought that counts - so he didn't want to see her like this.

Some time during the morning, probably while he was busy stuffing his gob with all of the fish that she'd brought - did he mention that she is his favorite human? - she'd drawn a small face into the dirt of the cove. He had only noticed it after she'd left. Large spikes of - what did humans call them? Fur? No. Hair! - hair jutted out around a face, bearing large eyes which seemed to gaze into his very soul. A series of lines, ones he had never seen before on a human, marred the portrait's cheeks.

Were they scars?

Is he a broodmate? A mate of the girl's perhaps?

Curious, he pulled a small sapling out of the earth, snapping its slender trunk with ease. Using the jagged end, he moved about the cove, leaving behind trails of upturned earth. She was a good artist, he admitted. But he is going to be better.

…

He was bored, okay?

She had stumbled into the cove with another basket on her back. He paid her no mind though. One does not simply rush an artist. When he was done, he was more than satisfied with the work of art. It was a masterp-

"Hey! Get them furry paws off my art!"

She stepped on his art!

Incensed by the girl's lack of appreciation for his skills, he hunched down and growled at her. Not too aggressive, but intimidating enough to get her to flinch and pull the offending appendage away.

Good. Now she can-

"Oi!"

Growl~!

Really, some people just don't appre-

Growl~!

"Get the toes off my art if you want to keep them!"

She got the gist of the message - finally! - and started moving through his lines, looking around her in amazement.

Ha. Spiraling-Tunnelers weren't the only ones who can move dirt.

Soon enough, the tiny girl was before him, her back turned, still focused on the drawing. She was probably speechless from how mesmerizing his art is.

Not everyone could be so talented.

He gave a huff of pride. The hot breath that ruffled her long auburn hair made the girl freeze in place, only looking back up at him when she had regained her nerves. With fear and wonderment in her eyes, she tentatively raised her hand up to him.

What happened next will change both of their lives.

He didn't care about that though. He just wanted the fish.

x-x-x-x-x

Norulf didn't know what to think as he sat on his couch alongside Hicca and Astrid. The blonde shieldmaiden looked better when he'd first laid eyes on her, but her appearance was still unhealthily pale. On his other side, Hicca sat with her hands on her lap, looking at anything and anywhere, but at him. Her cheeks were a pretty shade of red even as she smiled to herself.

Another yawn came from his fellow blonde, drawing his concern.

"My family owes yours a great debt for what has happened, Rohanna," they heard Bjørn declare at the dinner table.

"Were we any other family, Bjørn, I would agree, but we aren't. Norulf is fine."

"That still leaves the matter of their arrangement," Stoick's gruff voice could be heard following Rohanna's. "I wish for Norulf and Hicca to be engaged."

The aforementioned teens sat up stockstill as they blushed.

"Dad!" Hicca whined as she hid her face in her hands.

"I agree. It's about time they got together."

"Mom?! Isn't this a bit soon?"

The two teens couldn't believe what they were hearing. For Hicca, it was like her craziest, wildest fantasies came true. For Norulf it was simply a shock. Astrid, sitting aside the two were staring wide eyed at the proceedings.

Her friends… were getting married?

"Soon? Norulf, you've had two near-death encounters in the same amount of weeks. At this rate, you'll be in the grave before you give me any grandkids."

"Grandkids?!" Hicca squeaked beside him as she tried to disappear into the couch's furs.

He didn't have an argument against that. True, he did it to protect Hicca, but that doesn't excuse the fact that he'd nearly died. Okay, so maybe the first time was to protect Hicca. The second time was kind of Astrid's fault for pissing off a Nadder.

"We will discuss this further then, Stoick." The man nodded. They will hash out the details later. "Bjørn, it's not necessary-"

"It is, Rohanna," he interrupted, not disrespectful, but it was clear he knew where her thoughts lay on the matter. "My daughter had nearly killed your son, that much is clear. An accident though it may be, it was still an incident that brings shame to our family."

Norulf wanted to speak up against the man's words, but Astrid stopped him. Her hand placed itself against his arm, keeping him from speaking out and drawing his attention to her. With just a slight shake of her head, she leaned back against the couch, seemingly resigned to whatever plan her father has for her.

His mother was stubborn, but she was also crafty, that much he knew. So whatever it is she had in mind will most likely be for the best for both Astrid and himself. He didn't hold it against Astrid for what happened in the Arena. It couldn't have been helped. Just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Or the right place at the right time. He did save her from breaking something and ending up as a dragon's dinner.

"Then what do you propose, Bjørn?"

x-x-x-x-x

"Mom! You can't be serious!"

"I am, Norulf."

"But what about Astrid? How do you think she feels about this?"

Rohanna couldn't help but be slightly impressed by her son's concern and compassion. Even when he was placed into a position he didn't like, his first thoughts are of others who have been affected by said circumstances.

Norulf the Compassionate does have a nice ring, but it doesn't exactly strike fear into one's enemies.

"Astrid was the one who came up with the idea in the first place." That stopped her son in his tracks. "Son, you weren't there to see Astrid after you were knocked out. She was distraught, not sleeping and barely eating!"

"That doesn't mean she should throw away her future like this!"

"Norulf, for people like the Hoffersons, a life lived without honor, without upholding their ideals, is not a life worth living. That's why, if you care about Astrid at all, you will let her do this!"

Her son clearly disagreed with the decision, but she knew she'd gotten through to him. Norulf hates the idea with a passion, but he cared about his friends a lot more.

"Fine," Norulf hissed through gritted teeth.

"I'm surprised you're talking about Astrid's decision instead of the fact that you're getting married in a few months."

"Oh, I'm just waiting for it to sink in. Then I'll start panicking."

"Ah."

The two settled into a heavy silence as Norulf pondered the decision. Rohanna sat back with a mug of ale, waiting for her son to speak up.

"Is she going to be alright?"

"In time, yes, but we need to be there for her." She gave him a pointed look. "Especially you."

"Me?"

"Yes, Norulf, you. You're her best friend. She may not be yours, but that doesn't matter. You have to be there and help her through this." She took another swig of her ale, frowning into the liquid. "She has killed animals before so she knows what it feels like to take the life of a creature. But to nearly kill someone you know, someone you care about? That hurts more than any physical pain you can imagine." She placed her hand on her son's shoulder, drawing his attention. "Be there for her. Remind her that you are still alive. And go easy on the training. Try not to draw blood in front of her."

Norulf stared up at her with apprehensive understanding.

"I don't like this."

"I don't either, Norulf," she said softly, running a hand through his hair, "but for Astrid, it is something she has to do."

x-x-x-x-x

Astrid found herself annoyed by her mental state. Even now, as she trained - or tried to - her mind was more preoccupied with the horrid memories of that day.

Norulf had forgiven her, but she couldn't forgive herself.

"Rah!"

With a battlecry, her axe was lodged deep within the bark of an evergreen, scattering chips of bark and wood among the foliage. With shaky hands, she gripped the handle of her battle axe and wrenched the blade out of the tree. Sap and wood clung to the worn blade, a sight that soured her mood even further.

She collapsed against the base of the evergreen. She tucked her head between her knees, doing her best to ignore the guilt and shame that bubbled in her chest.

"I, Astrid Hofferson, swear my fealty to Norulf Berkstormur beneath Odin's gaze. Your word is law, your desires, my goal. My shield to protect, my axe to raze. I will protect you to my dying breath."

The shame she felt lessened as she repeated her oath to Norulf earlier that day. She could still remember the shock and concern on his face as if he were in front of her. She had been more than a little worried that he would reject her oath of fealty. And for the briefest moment, it had appeared that he was going to.

"I, Norulf Berkstormur accept your oath of fealty, shieldmaiden Astrid Hofferson."

She did not miss the meaningful look Norulf had given his mother. It was likely that Rohanna was the reason he'd accepted her oath with little to no fuss, as hesitant as he was. Her father witnessed the proceedings with a nod of acceptance and nothing more.

She had pledged her life to Norulf. And there was nothing she could do to retract the oath, not without cursing everyone in her clan, both alive and unborn.

It could have been worse.

At least it wasn't Snotlout.

The rustle of leaves immediately placed her on high alert. Her axe in hand and reared back, she waited in coiled tension as the interloper revealed herself.

"Hicca?" Astrid dropped the battle-ready stance. "What are you…" She eyed the wicker basket on the girl's back with interest and confusion.

"O-Oh. Astrid! Hi. Just… just wanted to get away from the village for a bit, you know?"

Getting away from the village for a while, she could understand. Packing what looked like an entire basket's worth of fish while doing so? Not so much.

"O-kay…" the blonde drawled.

"Okay. So… see ya!"

Hicca was acting weird. Well, weirder. Normally, she wouldn't pay heed to what Hicca was doing. The girl could somewhat take care of herself and her knowledge of the forest was second to none. Her strange behavior, however, did raise some flags. Erring on the side of caution, she followed Hicca for several minutes, watching the girl bob and weave through the forest with such ease that she couldn't help but be impressed.

Then, she'd lost her.

One second, she was tracking the girl, the next, she was gone. Even the foliage where the brunette had been standing appeared undisturbed. The smell of fish was there, but it was far too faint to track with.

Astrid huffed and turned away from the scene. If Hicca wanted to get away from the village for a little while, then who was she to get in her way? What the blonde didn't see, was the brunette hidden behind the mossy stone outcrops that dotted the landscape.

"I hope you appreciate this, you stupid overgrown lizard!" Taking extra precautions, Hicca took the long way to the cove, backtracking on her own path multiple times to lose any would-be pursuers.

"Toothless! Dinner's here!" Hicca giggled as the rambunctious Night Fury bounded over to her, not unlike the movements of an energetic puppy. "Settle down, settle down! Here."

She sat down beside the dragon as he dug into the pile of fish - no eels this time - and allowed her mind to wander. Wasting no time at all, her mind went back to the events of last night. Of Norulf and his awakening. Of his amazing kiss.

"He didn't reject me." Her fingers traced her lips, recalling the feeling of his lips against her own. "We still have to talk about that kiss. Maybe get a few more…"

"Kya~!" Squealing in happiness and embarrassment, Hicca hid her face in her hands. "I'm getting married! I'm getting married!"

An unimpressed crooning sound drew her gaze up from the grassy floor. Toothless sat on his haunches, staring at her with a deadpan stare that impressed even her. His tail flicked back and forth with annoyance. He didn't appreciate the squealing.

"Sorry. You can go back to eating. Don't mind me." The dragon huffed and dove back into the pile of fish. Judgy asshole. Anyways...

"I'm getting married! To Norulf!"

That's where her thoughts stayed for the rest of the evening as she trudged back to the village with a smile. Dropping the basket off at home and taking off towards the forge, she paid attention to nothing and no one. Her thoughts remained in the clouds even as she sat down in the privacy of her drawing room in the forge.

What she didn't expect to see there was the subject of her thoughts.

"N-Norulf?" She couldn't believe her eyes. What was he doing here? Shouldn't he be in bed recovering? The door to her private space closed behind him, locking her in the same room as her intended.

Oh Thor. Norulf is her intended.

She gulped nervously as Norulf approached her. His blue eyes were incredibly bright in the dark room, lit only by a few candles that managed to cast a series of shadows across his face, lending him a sense of mystery that made her heart race.

"Sexy…"

"Hicca…"

Beneath his blue gaze, Hicca could do little but squirm in place, her back pressed against the wall next to her drawing table. His advance was slowed by neither her blush nor her fidgeting. If anything, her reactions seemed to encourage him. Before long, Hicca found herself pinned to the wall, boxed in by his arms and lean frame. Taking a peek up at the star of her dreams, her stomach performed a series of flips as she caught the look in his eyes.

Hunger.

"We might have to move the wedding day forward…"

"My Hicca… My sexy, beautiful Hicca."

"We're definitely moving the wedding day forward…"

Hicca could feel his breath ghosting against her lips. The heat of his face caressed hers with such intimacy that she could almost feel the hunger he felt saturating the air. Her body happily responded, thrumming along to her heartbeat.

"Hicca."

"Norulf," she whimpered.

It was such a weak and pathetic sound that would have left her ashamed in any other situation, but she couldn't care less at the moment. Her intended's thoughts seemed to mirror her own as his smile widened, a predatory smirk that sent shivers down her spine. When his fingers caressed her jaw and his thumb traced along her lips, she couldn't stop the small kiss that she placed against the pad of his thumb.

"Good girl."

"Oh fuck… "

Norulf placed his forehead against hers, reenacting their first kiss. His nose caressed hers, a gentle movement that made her heart flutter with joy. He was so close!

BAM!

"'Icca! There you are! I was looking everywhere for ye!"

She couldn't stop her brow from twitching in annoyance. The charcoal pencil she held in her hand snapped under the pressure of her grip, scattering wood and coal dust across her work space.

"Ah wanted to congratulate ye on-"

"Out," Hicca hissed. "Get. Out."

"Wha-?"

She didn't give him a chance to explain. She shoved the burly viking out of her room with a growl, slamming the door behind him. She stood stockstill in front of the door, not moving a single muscle as the anger and frustration built up inside her, until she couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Son of a half-troll, dragon-fucking munge bucket!"

With that angered yell that scared half the village and sent kids running home to their parents, Hicca collapsed onto the small cot she kept in her drawing room.

"Why does this village hate me?!"

First Astrid clam-jams her, now Gobber of all people walks in while she's daydreaming?!

Odin as her witness, the next person who stops her from getting some time with Norulf is going to fucking die.

x-x-x-x-x

Fishlegs couldn't help but feel relief when he heard that Norulf had recovered from his stint with the Nadder. He didn't really understand Astrid's self-guilt. Yes, perhaps it was her fault, but she was also on the run from an angry Nadder.

Bad time, bad place. Nothing more could have been done.

They were just lucky Norulf woke up with nothing more than a headache and a marriage contract. Honestly. They were acting like it was the end of the world.

"Hey, Norulf!" the husky boy greeted his fellow blond with a wave.

"Yo, Fish. What's up?"

"I heard that your mom and Stoick wrote out a marriage contract for you and Hicca! Is that true?"

"Yea," Norulf scratched the back of his head. "I think they got tired of seeing me at death's door every week."

"Most likely," Fishlegs accepted, smiling. "But what about Astrid? I saw how she was acting after the accident and she couldn't even bring herself to walk into the Arena and…"

Norulf tuned out the rest of Fishlegs' ramblings, focusing on that little bit of information.

"Wait! She couldn't even bring herself to walk into the Arena?"

"Of course not. She was afraid of it after what happened." The husky teen didn't get to say much more as Norulf had already taken off. "Oh. Well, see ya!"

"See ya!" Norulf called back.

This was bad. At first, he thought it was just a fear of him dying that made her self-conscious, but apparently not. He ran at full sprint into the forest, looking for the blonde teen. He didn't have to search for long.

Following the constant thump-crack sounds, something he has become intimately familiar with, he found her in her usual place. A small clearing within the forest, surrounded by trees that bore marks of constant abuse. The barks of the trees are cleaved and splintered by countless axe strikes.

Astrid lay slumped against the base of a pine tree. Her chest heaved from exertion, her skin glistening slightly with sweat. However, his concern for her overrode any baser instincts he may have. Frowning, he walked forwards, making enough noise to let her know that he's there. As soon as he brushed past the foliage surrounding the clearing, her head jerked up, her axe already placed across her body to block anything that might come her way.

"Astrid."

"Norulf!" The shieldmaiden relaxed her stance, though her heart still raced at the sudden intrusion. "What are you-" She didn't have a chance to protest or deflect anything he might have said as he pulled her along. "Norulf! Where are we going? What are you doing?"

Her confusion turned to panic as they made their way across the village. After all, there was only one thing, one place, that would be of any significance using this specific path. She redoubled her efforts, trying to pry his fingers away from her wrist. Her efforts were all for naught, as his fingers remain steadfast, wrapped around her slender wrist with unyielding strength.

Her eyes widened as the steel links and timber support of the Arena came into view. Her stomach lurched as her sweaty palms became uncomfortably cold. Her frame trembled as the walls took on a rusted appearance, regardless of the fact that stone did not rust.

"Norulf."

Her voice, which had once been frantic, but strong, was now quiet and fearful, barely heard over the sound of their footsteps as it echoed against the cursed stone. Her breaths came in quick pants, her eyes scanning frantically across the stone. Why was it bleeding? Stone doesn't bleed. Stone doesn't bleed! Stone doesn't bleed!

"Astrid!"

Her eyes finally settled on a pair of fierce, yet reassuring as Norulf's hands settled on her shoulder pauldrons. Both his gaze and his hands locked her in place as she shook.

She needed to get out of here! Away from the blood. Away from the mistakes. Away from the panic. Away from it.

A single eye peered up and over Norulf's shoulder, glaring out her with such malice that her knees nearly buckled. The face that held that disgusting eye was a perfect mirror image of her friend's. Bright, sun-kissed hair atop a peach-toned face. Whisker-like marks. Everything was there, down to the last detail.

Except for its eyes.

The whites of its eyes were completely black, darker than any night, darker than any void she had ever seen. Her friend's beautiful blue eyes, so much like her own, were replaced by a horrid crimson pool. Lending credence to its unnatural origins, these menacing eyes lacked any pupil whatsoever.

Blood. More blood.

The viscous liquid seeped from a wound she couldn't see, though she knew to be there. It trailed down its arms, dripping onto the stone behind her friend's feet.

Why couldn't he see it?! It's right there!

"He won't be able to see me, girl." Anything Norulf was trying to say was drowned out by the sound of her heart, pounding away within her ribcage. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Where Norulf's voice was rough, yet warm, his draugr's voice was anything but. The sound resembled shattering ice, sharp enough to slice her to ribbons and cold enough to make the frost giants turn green with envy.

"Oh? Don't be afraid," it whispered. "'Norulf' will be there to keep you safe," it mocked.

"Astrid!"

"Imagine that," it taunted. "A promised man spending so much time with you. A hopeless… futureless... bitch!"

Without another thought, she bolted. Its haunting laughter followed her out of the Arena, echoing loudly in her mind.

"Run, run, run, as fast as you can, Astrid! It's more than your family has ever been able to do!"

Its mocking laughter haunted her even as she slammed the door to her room closed. Heedless of the concerned looks her parents sent her way, she curled up beneath her blanket, doing her best to keep herself together.

In the end, her tears came, heedless of her efforts.