I wasn't expecting his answer to my question to be so serious. I've never seen him so serious before in my entire life. Even when he would talk about catching and killing a dragon. He was always serious during those times, but right now...right now doesn't compare to any of those other times. This time, he stood tall, held his head high, stared me right in the eye, and his simple answer, "Yes", came out in a strong, clear voice with no stutter at all.

It was in this moment that I knew...I would follow him anywhere. I would trust him with my life. I would fight, kill, and die for him. My future chief. It was in this moment that I saw the chief in him. The chief I knew he always had in him. Despite everything he's done, I always knew he had the potential to be great. He was just a late bloomer who needed someone to knock some sense into him. All he really needed, however, was the chance to find himself. Not who everyone wanted him to be. It was in this moment that I saw a boy who was about to make history for the better. I saw a boy who was going to bring change. Peace. Peace we haven't had in centuries. I saw a boy who...who was going to die and needed help.

"Okay," I say, after a brief moment of shocked silence, "Then I guess the only thing we can do now is get you out of here like you planned."

"Wait, what?" Hiccup says, his eyes wide, filled with shock and confusion. Even Toothless looked perplexed, his head cocked to the side like a bird. "Did I hear you right?"

"That depends on what you heard," I replied, then turned around to head back to the village. "I'll let you think about what it was I said while I get you more supplies. Don't go anywhere." My whole body stiffens when he suddenly grabs a hold of my hand, holding it gently in his.

"Astrid, wait," Hiccup said, and when I looked back at him, his normal look of nervousness was there on his face.

I couldn't stop the roll of my eyes. "I promise I'm not going to tell your dad," I tell him, dead serious. "After what you showed me...I can't." I didn't mean to put so much emotion in my last two words, but I did. And it felt so odd. Not the emotion part in my words. The part that felt odd was when I decided to keep Hiccup's secret. Not only did I find out that the heir of my tribe is friends with the 'enemy', but I also found the Dragons' Nest with him, something our people have been after for over 300 years. Not telling his father about it...it felt scandalous. Rebellious. Honestly, it made me nervous, and I hate feeling nervous. So unsure. I've always been certain about things that need to be done, that need to happen, and things that I want or need for myself, but now...I no longer feel so sure about them. They're being replaced with a wishful thought of a possible future that might not even come true. Key word: might. There's still a possibility that it will.

I wasn't sure if my mind was playing tricks on me, but I swear I felt Hiccup give my hand a gentle squeeze. Does he still know he's holding it? I would have pulled away, but the poor boy looks like he needs it. I didn't dwell on it though, and went on. "There's no need to be afraid, okay? Believe it or not, I'm your friend. You can trust me. Like how I trusted you with Toothless. Although, it did take me awhile."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about the traumatizing flight he gave you," He pauses to clear his throat before starting again. "He's...crazy."

"Just like someone else I know." I said, talking about him, and chuckled.

Hiccup chuckles too. "I wonder who that could be." He then goes back to looking nervous. "I do trust you, by the way, and I'm not afraid. I'm just...confused. Why are you helping me? Earlier you beat the Hel out of me, and now you're going to keep my secret from our people? No, your people. Why? Are you seriously thinking about going behind my dad's back? Are you seriously going to help his son, the heir to the tribe, escape?"

And just as he had done earlier, I stood taller, held my head up high, and looked him dead into his eyes, saying the one word he had said to me that sealed my loyalty to him. "Yes."

Hiccup's eyes widen once more and I honestly think he stopped breathing. His hand felt stiff in mine, and while it amused me, I didn't show it. Instead, I went on. "And for the record, I only beat the Hel out of you because I don't tolerate liars. Cheaters. I knew something was going on, and I was only looking out for my people. Yeah, I admit I was jealous too, but that's not the only reason why. And whether you like it or not, Berk's people are your people. They're your people too just as much as they are mine."

Hiccup scoffed. "Do you really believe that? You honestly don't think my dad wouldn't kill Toothless or put me on trial for treason if he were to find out? It doesn't matter if I'm his son or the heir. He's a chief before he's a father. He'd banish me, probably have me killed, choose a new heir, and the whole tribe would turn the day into an annual holiday. It would become bigger than Snoggletog. They would celebrate it every year for generations. They'd probably celebrate it every day. Even in death!"

"I wouldn't." I blurted out without meaning to. It took us both by surprise, but I went on. "I would never celebrate something so horrid."

Another surprise for me was Hiccup's small smile. "Is that because it would be a reminder of my tragic fate or simply because it'd be all about me?"

"Both."

He chuckles softly. "Well...then I guess you'd be the only one to not celebrate it, but...thank you."

"I guess you can say I'm just as insane as you." I returned his smile, but it was only for a brief moment before I frowned. "But as for the whole killing Toothless and trial thing...you don't know for sure that your dad would do that."

"And you know for sure that he wouldn't?" Hiccup questioned, sighing. "Astrid, if you truly believe that then why are you even helping me escape?"

"Because I know you'll never expand your knowledge on dragons here," I answered him truthfully, without skipping a beat. I go to continue with my answer but he cuts me off.

"Yeah, because I'll be dead." He remarked.

"Dead or alive, it won't happen. Someone else will find out about you and Toothless. You're lucky that it was me who found you today."

"I don't know," Hiccup began in a teasing tone, "you seemed pretty determined to run off to my dad."

"I wasn't running off to your dad," I lied, pathetically, and looked away. "I was just trying to get away from you."

"Like every other girl I know." Hiccup mutters, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Last I checked, it was you running away from them. You have become very popular lately."

"I honestly didn't think I would top you in dragon training-"

"You didn't," I interrupt, making sure to set him right, "you cheated, remember? So in reality it's still me who's at the top."

Hiccup chuckles. "Okay, you got me there. Be honest though," he asked, almost sounding desperate, "were you really going to tell my dad? Also, do you think my dad would actually kill me?"

He was no longer looking at me when he asked his question. Instead, he was looking at the pond that Toothless was drinking out of, and in his eyes I saw the reflection of the moon, clouded over with a gleam of sadness. "Yes, I was going to tell him," I confessed, feeling guilty, "but you should know that it wasn't because I was out to get you. My sole purpose was to protect the tribe. Not to cause you Hel."

And as much as I wanted to tell him that I didn't think his dad was capable of doing such a thing to him, I couldn't bring myself to say it. It would feel like a lie. "As for your last question, I...I don't know. I really don't." It was the only honest answer I could give him. "Maybe he will, maybe he won't. We don't know for sure. But...if you were able to change my mind, surely you can change his."

Hiccup sighs in defeat. "I'm not going to risk it."

"I know," I say, the softest my voice has ever been. "And for the record, I'm not helping you escape. I'm giving you a sort of push. Escaping is when you run away from your problems, which is not at all what I'm doing. I'm helping you run towards a solution. In hopes that you can bring forth a future that only you can bring. You need to leave Berk so save it."

"I'm pretty sure that's what everyone has been telling me since before I could walk."

Once again, he's being a smartass. I would have punched him for the comment, but I knew his body is probably sore from his earlier beating, which I feel kind of bad for, so I spared him this time. "I'm serious, Hiccup," I said, keeping my tone as stern as his dad's, "You're the first ever viking who couldn't kill a dragon. The first ever viking to ride one. Don't you understand what this could mean for Berk's future? You'll be the first viking ever to bring peace between man and dragon. The first viking chief. You're going to go down in history as the greatest viking chief to ever exist. I know it. But you'll never get the chance to bring change to Berk if you stay. If you stay, you might actually end up dead, and I...well, I wouldn't be much help either if I ended up dead too by trying to seek revenge for you."

"You'd…" Hiccup started, bewildered, "you'd seek revenge for my death? Even if it meant betraying and killing my dad if he were the cause of it? Even if it meant your own death?"

That was a question I had an answer to, but was not ready to answer. "In a way, I'm already betraying him. You're also losing focus, and we're both losing time. So...if you could just…" I glance down at our conjoined hands and when Hiccup sees, he jerks his hand away from mine as if I burned him with Nadder fire.

"O-Oh my gods! I...uh...Oh geez. I'm sorry. I-I didn't realize that...How long was I...Why didn't you say something sooner? I'm-"

"A complete mess." I finish for him, laughing a little. "Don't worry about it." I turn around again and start walking. "We have bigger things to worry about."

And for the first time in months, the cold night felt unusually warm.