"Mommy! Daddy!"
Hiccup quickly pulled out of his very heated kiss with Astrid. Pulling the sheets up, he went to cover both of their naked bodies. After which, he laughed as he rolled off of Astrid and turned towards their door. "Come on in, girls!" He called.
Two small girls ran in with the biggest smiles reaching their face. One was a black-haired girl with violet eyes, the other a blonde with green eyes. The black-haired girl, Ida, was the oldest, at six years old, and the blonde, Ethel, was three. In her arms, Ida carried a baby girl, Sallie. Sallie was six months old and had auburn hair and blue eyes.
Sitting up a little on the bed, not letting the sheets fall past his hips, Hiccup held his arms out and helped Ethel into the bed. Then he helped Ida, and took Sallie into his arms. "Good morning, sweethearts." He greeted them as he gave a kiss to the top of each of their heads. Wrapping an arm around Astrid, he held all four of his girls close and sighed in content.
"Are you going to take me riding today, daddy? You promised me, last night, that you would." Ida asked excitedly. She was a beautiful girl, and had even been deemed a much beautiful baby, as an infant. They had no clue where she got her black hair and rare, violet eyes; it was one mystery that they figured made her that much more unique. And they loved her for her uniqueness.
He beamed over at his oldest and poked her nose playfully. "Well if I promised, don't you think I'd take you riding? Since when has your daddy ever made a promise he can't keep?"
Astrid chuckled and stroked Ida's hair with loving fingers. "One of the many wonderful qualities about your father, Ida, is that he has never made a promise that he cannot keep. He's a smart man, not a dumb one." She told the girl.
Hiccup scoffed teasingly. "Wow, thank you for that backhanded compliment, milady. Girls, I love your mother with all my heart, but she is very good with giving compliments in backhanded ways." He saw the look on his wife's face and gulped slightly. "I-I mean…uh…thank you very much, dear?" He suggested with a crooked smile as though saying, please, just don't hurt me.
She laughed outright and shook her head. "I wasn't going to punch you, Hiccup. And even if I wanted to, I still wouldn't; not while you have the baby." She reminded him.
He sighed in relief and pressed his lips to Sallie's head. "You saved your old man's hide, Sal." He said gratefully. Then he looked back toward Ida, remembering their conversation before. "We'll go out riding, after breakfast, Ida. Speaking of, whatcha say we get up and make something for these hooligans, milady?" He said to Astrid.
She hummed. "I suppose we should. How bout you get it started, and I'll feed Sal?"
"Sure." He agreed. He was just about to get up, when he remembered the state he and Astrid were in. He blushed lightly, glaring at his wife's sly smile. "Ida, Ethel, why don't you two go get dressed while mommy and daddy get ready?" He suggested to his daughters.
The girls ran out eagerly, their messy hair swooshing around them. Then they closed the bedroom door as they ran out.
After they were gone, Astrid barked a laugh, while Hiccup glared playfully at her. "Oh shut up." He mumbled while leaning in and kissing her collarbone softly.
But she swatted his head, making him pull back and give her a confused look. "I have to feed the baby, and you need to start breakfast for our other two girls." She reminded him with a smiled. At his despondent face, she kissed him softly and ruffled his hair. "Later, lover boy."
He grinned slyly, stroking her arm with such softness. "I'll hold you to that, milady." Then he rolled out of bed, albeit reluctantly, and went to dress. After which, he left to head for the kitchen to make breakfast.
As he stood at the old stove, his two oldest daughter came bounding in, their long hair still a mess and in need of help. He laughed as he put the spoon with which he was using to make porridge down and knelt in front of them. "You girls need me to do your hair?" He asked as he stroked each of their heads.
Hiccup and Astrid had gotten married when they were fourteen and nineteen. There was no doubt in Hiccup's parents' mind that their son was in love, and that Astrid was in love with him. Astrid had fallen in love with him for more than just his looks though. She'd found out, early on, that he was able to cook and clean, unlike many of the suitors that had begged her for her hand since her father's death, when she was twelve. Hiccup was different though.
His ability to cook and clean made her one happy woman, when they married. And a year later they had Ida. As she began to grow hair, and it grew longer, Astrid was pleased to discover more of her husband's hidden talents. He could do hair. He had offered to do hers on numerous occasions, but she had always insisted on doing it herself. But as Ida grew, and she was left tired, Hiccup had stepped in to do whatever his daughter needed. He could dress her, change her diapers, do her hair, everything. And now, he had two daughters to do that with; which they both loved when he did their hair.
Ida nodded and held out two leather bands for him. Turning them around, he used the wooden hair brush to gently pry out the nasty knots in their beautiful hair. Then he but them into loose braids. After that, he grabbed some flowers that Astrid always kept on the table, and put them into random spots of the braids. "There we go. There's my beautiful girls." He said pridefully as he touched each of their cheeks and placed light kisses on their foreheads.
The girls each giggled and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, daddy." They said unanimously. Picking up the ends of their dresses, they raced to the table and climbed up on the chairs that were still to big for them. Hiccup helped them up and then went back to making breakfast.
Astrid came in, not long later, Sallie in her arms, dressed in a thick dress to keep her from the bitter cold that threatened them during the winter months. Astrid herself wore a simple, beat up, blue dress with an apron over top. Her hair was loose, with only parts of the front being pulled back into a small braid.
That's when Hiccup set breakfast in front of everyone. They'd had nothing but porridge for the past few weeks, but, unfortunately, that was all they could afford at the moment. Hiccup had lost his job at the sawmill several months ago, because of the impact of the war that had just started not even half a year ago. The Civil War, as they called it. They were at war with their own countrymen. It was sad to see it come to this, and see the effects it cause. Because of it, Hiccup had lost his job, and they had been reduced to nothing more than rations of food.
She looked over at Hiccup with a soft, hopefully encouraging smile. She knew that losing his job had struck him right in the gut. His pride was, without a doubt, damaged. With great struggle, she had managed to get him to admit that he felt like a failure as a husband and a father, because he lost his job. He felt unable to provide for his own family; to him, that was something worse than death. All he wanted was to give his wife and young daughters a good home, good clothes, and good food. Now, he couldn't even do that. It took its toll on him, and she could see it in the way he had started to age from the stress of the last few months.
They were doing all they could for the time being. She would eat little, but still a substantial amount so that she could provide milk for Sallie, and he would hardly eat anything. he had started losing a significant amount of weight, which he and Astrid could only hope the girls hadn't noticed. She had also lost a great deal amount of weight, but still not quite as much as him. Even their daughter, Ida and Ethel, had begun losing weight because of the food shortage.
He looked around at his family, as he always did at breakfast and dinner, and felt his heart break once more. His wife's face, while beautiful as he would always find her and know her to be, was shallow, and dark bags lined under her eyes. She looked so…empty. His daughters looked weaker than they once were. They used to be so lively; and while they would still run around and play, they couldn't last as long as they once did. One of his favorite things to do, had been to watch his little girls run and play. They were like fairies, when they ran through the tall, summer grass. So beautiful. So enchanting. Now it seemed there was only a sliver of those girls left in the daughters he'd raised.
Then there was Sallie. She was smaller than most six month old babies. She'd been born at nine months, she just wasn't getting the necessary nourishing most babies needed. She was healthy, but looked so torn down compared to most, healthier, six month olds.
He hated seeing his family so broken up. As a man especially, it hit him right where it hurts. His girls were the most important treasures in his world, and taking care of them felt more like an honor than a duty. To have that honor suddenly taken, and to not be able to give his girls anything more than grits and moldy bread as meals, was about the cruelest thing for him. Now they were suffering, and there was nothing her, or anyone else, could do about it.
Astrid, seeing the heartbreak that was all but written on his face, reached across the table to take his hand in her own smaller one. With her eyes, she told him that it was alright. They were together. They had each other. That was all that mattered. And she was right; he knew that. but deep in his heart, he couldn't help that feeling of letting them all down, even though it hadn't been his fault that he was fired.
As the family finished their breakfast in silence, Astrid got up and cleared their pans. Meanwhile, Hiccup grabbed his hat and rifle and ruffled little Ida's black hair. "You ready to go, half pint?" He asked with a broad, loving smile.
Ida jumped up excitedly and bounced on the balls of her feet. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She squealed. A laugh slipped past her lips when he placed another hat on her head as well. It was a bit too big, and fell slightly over her forehead. But she smiled wider and pushed it back up.
"I wanna go, papa!" Ethel said hopefully, lifting her arms toward her father.
He chuckled and picked her up. "When you're a little older, sweetheart." He told her and kissed her blonde head.
She pouted, crossing her arms. And he couldn't get over how much she looked like Astrid when she pouted. Other than those green eyes, of course, she was her mother's spitting image. "Why does Ida get to do everything?"
"She's older, Ethel. I know it ain't fair, hon, but I promise that we'll go riding together when you're a little bit older. Alright?" He didn't like disappointing either of his older daughters – Sallie of course being hard to displease because she was only six months old – but he also couldn't take major risks. He hadn't Ida out riding when she was three, and he wouldn't do that with Ethel or Sallie either. And she might not have found it fair at the time, but he knew Ethel would understand one day.
She was still pouting, but nodded anyway. "Ok, daddy." Kissing his cheek, she wiggled out of his arms and went to play in the small family room.
Astrid came forward then and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Be careful?" She whispered.
He smiled and nodded. "Of course, milady. And I'll bring our daughter back in one piece." He promised, making them both laugh. Then he leaned in and kissed her lips chastely. "I love you." He mumbled against her lips. Then pulling away, he stooped down to scoop Ida up into his strong arms. "You ready to go, baby?" He asked, nudging his nose against her soft cheek.
She giggled and kissed his cheek. That was answer enough for her father, as he turned for the door. A last look back, and he left with Ida snug against him. Within minutes, he had his horse, Toothless, ready and saddled. Then he saddled Astrid's horse, Stormfly. Picking Ida back up, under her arms, he lifted her up and set her in Stormfly's saddle.
Father and daughter spent hours riding the deserted plains of Berk, which was part of the Dakota Territory. For miles, there was nothing but sage brush and wild grass. The air was fresh, and clean. To Hiccup, that was the best thing about living in the Dakota Territory, rather than the big cities. And he couldn't be any happier to be raising his own family in such a beautiful land.
As they rose through the plain, over the hills, and through the tufts of rolling grass that danced with the wind, he watched his daughter with a proud smile. While she looked like no one in their family, he couldn't help but admire all of their qualities that fit into her. She was as close to perfect as one could ever be. While she made mistakes, she was quick to try and make up and apologize for those mistakes. And she was quick to forgive too. She never once held a grudge, and for that, everyone was grateful. Being on her bad side was never fun.
She fit into this life, better than most. This was the life she wanted. So many times, since she was old enough to speak, she had crawled up into his lap and told him that she loved the life of the prairie. It's like living in a fairy-tale, she would tell him. And she knew not only the magical parts of the prairie, but also the dangers of it. She knew the harshness the winters could bring. She knew to watch for mountain lions, and rattle snakes, and scorpions. She knew how to test whether a berry was safe to eat, or deadly poisonous. She knew it all, and still, she loved it. She loved all te harsh realities that came with a beautiful land.
She wasn't like all the other girls, he well knew. While other girls loved dresses, or butterflies, she preferred to spend her time learning how to survive the rough life of the prairie. Hiccup and Astrid had agreed, before they even had children, that any daughters they had needed to be taught how to handle themselves. They couldn't always depend on a man. Astrid already knew what that was like.
Her father had been a drunk her whole life. Her mother was meek, and never spoke for herself. Being raised mainly by her mother, Astrid had been much the same, for years. When her mother died, when she was seven, nothing changed. She remained the quiet girl that never spoke up to her father. She could hardly take care of herself, and knew little to nothing about the wilderness.
Her father had never cared, though. He turned a blind eye as to Astrid's well-being. The only times he would acknowledge her was to tell her to cook, or clean, or to mend his clothes. She was more of a slave to him, than a daughter. And when he finally drank himself to death, he left nothing behind for Astrid to live a good life from. She didn't know how to work the small farm she lived on; her father didn't believe in women working anywhere else but in the house.
Being thrown, so suddenly, into the cruel world that she'd never had to think of before had a big impact on Astrid. Being only twelve years of age, she was nothing more than a scared orphan that was terrified by the sudden new world. she had to teach herself the ropes. No one was there to guide her. And when she met and married Hiccup, she vehemently told him that she didn't want her own daughters to go through that, should anything happen to one, or both of them.
He was quick to agree, telling her that he believed women should know the rules of the wild. He didn't think it fair to see women suddenly left on their own, when their husband, father or brother died, and having little to no clue on how to handle themselves. That was no life, for any woman. And he couldn't, as a father and a husband, live himself in knowing that if he didn't leave behind those rules with his women, something much worse could happen to them than if they did know. And as a man that loved his family more than anything, he'd be damned if he let anything happen to them because he didn't give them the tools necessary to survive.
He had just started teaching Ethel, as well. While she was a bit confused by the lessons, she knew that when her father was trying to teach her something important, it was for a good reason. She paid very close attention to him, as she often did with a lot of things.
Now, watching Ida smiling with rosy cheeks, and her loose hair drift with the cool winter's breeze, he couldn't help but imagine her as she grew. He visioned a beautiful young girl, riding merrily through the fields. A girl that didn't care what society had to say about her unorthodox upbringing. A girl that didn't need to depend on a man to take care of her. A strong, able-minded girl. It was nothing short of amazing.
They returned at dusk, having had a most enjoyable time. He was just helping her off of Stormfly, when he saw Astrid walking towards them, a despondent look on her beautiful face. Frowning, he crouched in front of Ida and adjusted her hat slightly. "Why don't you go on inside, Ida. Mommy and daddy will be in shortly." He told her. She obediently did as she was told.
As Astrid neared him, he was troubled to see tears in her red eyes. She'd been crying a while, already. but why, he wondered? She was the strongest person he knew, and she hardly ever cried. When she did cry, though, it was usually for something serious. She cried when he lost his job. She cried when they lost their baby boy, William, two years ago. Those were the only times. Two times, in their seven years of marriage, and he'd only seen her cry twice.
As soon as she was close enough, he wrapped her in a loving embrace. "Hey. Hey. What's wrong? What's wrong, baby?" He mumbled in her ear. "Astrid?" He pulled away and held her cheeks in his gentle hands. "What's the matter, dearest?" He rubbed his thumbs under her eyes to push away the nasty tears that lined her cheekbones.
She didn't say anything, just handed him a crumpled piece of paper.
He furrowed his brows as he took the paper. Unfolding it, he read over the content carefully, and slowly. Neither he, nor Astrid had been taught to read or write, as children. They had to teach themselves after they were married. Though they were better at it, they still encountered trouble. But understanding what was in the letter was no trouble for him. The words were clear as day.
"I've been called to war. I leave first thing tomorrow."
She released a sob when he said it aloud. And once again, she fell into his arms. He was still in shock, but quickly began to cry along with her. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening, he tried to tell himself. But the sound of his wife's cries clearly told him that it was happening. He was going to war. He was leaving his wife and three daughters behind. He cried into her shoulder, and held her tighter than ever before, stroking her soft hair.
"What are we going to tell the girls?" She whispered into his chest.
He shook his head and kissed her neck. "We're going to tell them the truth; that I've been called to join the war. There's no avoiding this, Astrid. We can't lie to them." And she agreed.
Going inside, they both called the girls from their room, and Hiccup beckoned them to sit on his lap. He and Astrid shared similar glances as they struggled with just how to tell their daughters that daddy had to go away. They didn't sugar-coat it. They told them everything.
"Ida, Ethel…you two know that all I want is to protect you, and make sure you're safe, right? Because you, and Sallie, and mommy are the most important things to me." Hiccup started. When they nodded, he pulled them even closer and stroked their soft cheeks. "Well that's what I'm going to be doing right now. I…I've been asked to join the war. That means I'm going to have to go far away, and make sure no bad people can hurt you, your sister, and mommy."
Ethel shook her head, and her bottom lip quivered, as she threw her chubby arms around his neck. "No, daddy! No! No! No! I don't want them to take you far away!" She cried desperately.
He blinked away tear as he wrapped one arm around her to keep her close. "I don't want to leave either, honey; but I need to protect you. Ethel, if there was another way, sweetheart, believe me I would take it, in a heart beat. But this is the only way I can protect you, your sisters, and mommy." He hated doing this. He may as well have told her that there was a chance he wouldn't be coming back. Her innocence was already damaged. She was to young for this. Ida was to young for this. Ida. "Ida…what are you thinking, darling?"
She was expressionless. It was like she didn't know what to say; and really, she didn't. what could she say? So instead of replying, she scooted up and buried herself in her father's chest. "I love you, daddy." She whispered.
He couldn't hold back the tears that threatened him, not anymore. He let them go as he bent to kiss her head softly. "I love you too, little one. Both of you." He spoke towards Ethel. After they got down and went to try and distract themselves from the heartbreaking moment, Hiccup took little Sallie. She couldn't know what was going on. All she would know was that she would be waking up, looking around for her daddy, and realize he's not there. She would wonder why. And God forbid, if he were to be gone several years, he would come back and she wouldn't even know who he was. His own daughter.
All to suddenly, the Haddocks' world was crumbling before them. It was all being shaken, taken away from them within the snap of a finger. He didn't have a choice. It was either leave and stand a chance of coming home, or stay and undergo trial, guaranteeing that he would never see his family again. there was no choice; he was going.
That night, after all the girls were fed and tucked into bed, Hiccup shut the door of their room, and was immediately met by his wife's passionate lips. It took him no time to respond to her kiss, and wrap his arms around her small frame. Their tears melted against their lips, as he pushed her against the wall, and slid his hands down to hold her hips.
It didn't take long to strip each other of their clothes and for him to lay her on their bed. Heartbreak filled what little space there was between their bodies. As he buried his hands in her disheveled hair, and kissed down her neck, he mumbled words of absolute love and adoration for her. He told her how much she meant to him, how he loved her, how beautiful she was.
When he finally entered her, she held tight to his back, trying to keep back her sobs. But it was all for naught. She dug her fingers into his back, and cried softly into the crook of his freckled shoulder.
He shook his head and shut his eyes tight. "Don't cry. Please don't cry, darling." He said begged with a strangled voice. But he too couldn't hold back his sobs. And as he made love to her, they shared in more than just passion, but also their fear and heartbreak.
Afterwards, they laid silently in each other's arms. Nothing needed to be said, to know what the other was thinking. It all spilled out in the way they made love, and the way they held each other. Nothing could make this better. But for now, being with each other, was all they really needed.
The next morning, they woke the girls up at the crack of dawn. It was time. Astrid packed him supplies, enough to last him through several weeks, and they all sat and ate one last meal together. After which, they all bundled up and went out to see him off.
It didn't take him long to prepare a saddle bag, and then to saddle Toothless. Though he wanted to prolong the time for as long as he could, he knew that it would just make it harder to leave. And he'd never seen a shame in crying, but he also didn't like crying in front of his daughter. But today, he couldn't help it. he was leaving them, potentially to never come back; how was he not to cry?
When all was ready, he turned to his small, but beautiful family. His daughters were quieter than he'd ever seen them. His wife couldn't stop her flow of tear. His youngest daughter was looking at them all curiously, confused to what was going on.
Licking his lips, he knelt down and held out a hand. Ida was quick to come forward and take it. "Ethel, come here, little one." He beckoned gently. She finally came forward, and he pulled her, with Ida, into his embrace. "Now, you two listen; I'm going to be home real soon, ok? I love you. I love you two, so much." He told them over again. Giving them each one last kiss, he stood to take Sallie int his arms. "Oh, Sallie, please remember me, sweet girl. Remember, how much daddy loved you." He kissed her softly then handed her to Ida.
His heart melted when he gazed at his wife, as it always did. But this time was different. He could be saying goodbye to her, forever. He didn't want to lose her, and he knew she didn't want to lose him either. It was an unimaginable thought, for both of them. It was hard to believe, seven years ago, they were fourteen and nineteen and just getting married. Six years ago, they became the parents of a darling daughter. Now they were saying goodbye for an unknown amount of time.
He took a sharp breath when she threw herself into his arms, and he rested his head in the crevice of her neck and shoulder. "I love you, so damn much. Always remember that, Astrid." He whispered against her flushed skin.
She nodded wordlessly. "I will. Just, remember that I'm always with you. The girls are always with you. We'll be right here, waiting. I promise."
He sobbed and placed a single kiss on her neck. "One last time. Just one last time. I want to make love to you. I want to ride out with Ida. I want to walk in and watch Ethel playing. I want to see Sallie laugh. One last time. I want to see my family happy together."
All too soon, he was gone. Just like that. and Astrid was left holding her crying daughters, as they watched their father ride off into the gloomy sunrise. It would never be the same again, they all knew. Everything, in that moment, had changed.
:::
Whew! Long prologue! I had so much fun writing it, but I also cried when I wrote it. I have the outline for this story set out already, and I think it's going to be a twist-taking, adventure-filled, memorable-making book.
So, just to clarify so I don't confuse people, I'd Like to first address my use of the term baby. A lot of people wouldn't think so, but people began using the term baby as a loving term in the year 1839. Back in 1600, it was used to describe an immature adult. 1839-1901 was when it was officially used as a loving term as well.
Then there's the matter of Hiccup's being drafted. During the Civil War the Enrollment Act was placed a conscription (a draft). Now, while it was not placed officially until March of 1863, it was already in use.
I hope you guys enjoyed the prologue, and that you don't feel like it dragged out too much! Peace out people!