The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Twenty-Seven: A Different Solution

"Please don't do this?" he begged her softly. "Astrid-this is exactly what he wanted. He wanted to tear us apart. He wanted to claim you by...taking what wasn't his. But if you cast me aside now, then he has won. He'll have broken us anyway. And it would all have been in vain."

"Babe, I...I don't know if I can cope with being stared at, being whispered about..." she breathed as he wrapped his arms tightly around her body.

"You can," he assured her gently, a hand stroking her back gently. "You're Fearless Astrid Hofferson, remember? And if Snotlout hadn't had three men with him, he'd already be neutered."

"Wish they'd let me before he went," she mumbled, though she was shaking.

"Stay with me, Astrid," he pleaded gently. "He's taken my birthright, had me thrown from my family and my home...don't let him take you. No matter what happens, no matter what people say, I love you. I will never give up on you-so don't give upon me. Please..."

Sobs shook through her and she buried her face in his shoulder. He hugged her fiercely, kissing her hair and mumbling reassurances. But she had curled in his arms and cried until she finally fell asleep when he had carried her gently to the bed and lay there, falling asleep with her cocooned in his arms.

Come morning, he woke with her still in his arms, a shiver of anxiety running through him that had nothing to do with the cold ambient temperature. Astrid was pressed hard against him, her arms wound tight around his lean shape but he could tell from her breathing that she was awake and wanted to wait for him. "Morning, Milady," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep. "How are you feeling today?" She lifted her head, more life in her eyes today.

"Better but bruised," she admitted. "You make a lovely pillow..."

"I am available until the end of the world for that duty," he reminded her, staring deep into her eyes. "Just...promise me you won't abandon me, Astrid. No matter what Snotlout tried, don't leave me. There should always be a Hiccup and Astrid-and I will fight to make sure there is." His hand rose to gently stroke her cheek.

"I think you already did," she reminded him, her hand sliding over his bandaged shoulder. "Okay, babe. I trust you. But you need to be prepared to hear the villagers talk about me and not be very kind. And I know they will see you as a replacement for Snotlout."

"Who replaced me in the first place," Hiccup said slowly and sighed. "And I will care about what they say. But only because it's you..." She sat up and ran her hands through her dishevelled hair.

"I think you need to get up, babe," she said smartly, seeing his tired face. "A grumpy somebody will want his ride...and I think I want to see my girl and fly as well." Aching and groaning as he realised he had stiffened up terribly during the night, he slowly sat up and they dressed and headed out to see the dragons.

But once they had returned, Hiccup could feel the eyes on him and the glances trailing over Astrid. There was no missing the bruises on her face or the marks around her neck and though she was walking tall and proud, there were whispers and Hiccup saw Mrs Larson lean towards Mrs Dagmar and mutter a few words, to be met by a nod and a pitying look...and that was when it struck him.

They had believed Snotlout.

And though Astrid was blameless, she was tainted by the crime supposedly done to her. As he watched, eyes followed her and whispers shushed through the Plaza. Her students followed her down towards the Arena for training but he noticed that two of the younger girls were held back by their mothers, hissed whispers warning them they didn't want to be in the company of the shamed girl. And he knew it shouldn't upset him-but it did, because it wasn't her shame.