Chapter 1: In which an arrangement is made

Hiccup stared warily across the table at the girl that glared back at him. He'd known Astrid all their lives, but in all honesty, he didn't know her at all. Astrid Hofferson was like a mystical creature that you caught glimpses of from a distance, but never could approach for fear of angering or scaring her away. As Hiccup eyed her, he could tell she was more of the angering type.

The marriage contract was signed, and hands were shaken by both fathers in good standings. The decision to wed was not the youths' own. Hiccup had a sinking suspicion that he would not have been Astrid's first choice as a husband. Heck, he wasn't anybody's first choice for anything!

They were too young to even be thinking about marriage at their age, but in some cases, especially with Hiccup as the Chief's son, bringing in a lifelong mate and helper to work alongside the future Chief was of the utmost importance. Astrid would be committed to him in every aspect of his life – mentally, emotionally, physically. Hiccup's heart sank a little for the girl who was being forced into this life sentence.

The Hofferson family left with the marriage contract finalized. Hiccup didn't have a chance to speak with Astrid. It was probably for the best right now. Any words that hence forth from his mouth would have been an embarrassment, most likely. He'd rather talk to Astrid in private, if they would even get the chance to see each other before the wedding.

Three days passed. Stoick had begun grooming his son for the wedding that would take place during the next moon cycle. Whispers around the village began to circulate, but no big announcement was made just yet. A feast for the entire village was beginning to be prepared for the very occasion.

Hiccup pulled on his fancier set of clothing, per his father's orders. Him and Astrid were to be presented as betrothed before the entire village at the feast. Being there in front of every eye, judging him as a screw up. Hiccup didn't quite wish for that sort of attention. The woods outside his back door looked welcoming to hide in.

And that's just what he did.

Hiccup ran until he was well into the sanctuary of the trees. He slowed to walk the well-beaten path, his cape ever-so-often snagging a protruding tree branch. A yell, akin to a battle cry, caught his ear and as he peaked the hill, his eyes widen at the person he found.

Astrid was there…and so was her axe. Her long dress was hiked up and balled into a knot close to her knee. The part that still hanged fluttered about with her movements and to Hiccup, she resembled a glorious and terrible goddess as she wielded her axe.

With such powerful strength for someone so small, she flung the axe at the tree, hitting it perfectly centered. The sheer power that she displayed made Hiccup sink a little lower in fear that her axe may find it his way.

As Hiccup stepped backwards, his boot crunched down on a twig. He winced at the outrageously loud sound. Astrid swung around in his direction, her axe ready to strike.

"Who's there?" Astrid called, slightly out of breath.

Hiccup's shoulders tensed as he peeked over the hill, sheepishly. "Oh hey, Astrid!" He waved awkwardly.

The corners of her mouth turned down at the sight of him. She lowered her axe. "What're you doing out here?"

"Well, I-" Hiccup blew out a long breath through his nostrils. He could play it up and tell her he was searching for her. But any sly explanation that ran through his mind left a bitter taste in his mouth. The truth it is. "Honestly?" He hung his head. "I'm hiding for my dad."

He moseyed a little closer to her, but still kept a good distance. "I don't think I could stand one more of his speeches about how I should properly act."

"You must get those all the time," Astrid remarked with the tiniest amount of humor in her voice, "since you consistently don't act properly."

"What can I say?" Hiccup laughed stiffly, puffing up his chest, "I'm a rebel."

Astrid threw him a disapproving look. "Yeah, sure, that's why."

His confidence depleted as fast as it had come, and Hiccup's shoulders sunk again. "Look. Astrid. Can we talk about our…y'know…" he couldn't even say it out loud, it sounded so strange.

"You mean, our marriage?" she said rather bluntly, and Hiccup admired her boldness to speak of it. "What's there to talk about? We have no say in the matter. Nothing can change this decision. I'll do my duty as I am asked to, just as I was raised to do."

Without warning, she flung her axe at a tree, the blade penetrating deep inside the grain. "At least I have the trees to take the brunt of my frustration out on over all this," she spat as she retrieved her weapon.

Hiccup nodded absently. "Good to know you won't be murdering me in my sleep. I think."

Her blue eyes penetrated his sending a shiver down Hiccup's spine. She truly was beautiful and terrible. She slowly approached him. Hiccup resisted the urge to step back as she drew closer. "I don't blame you for this, Hiccup. I won't take my frustrations out on you."

He'd held her in such high standings for so long now. She was the gorgeous shieldmaiden – the girl of his dreams - he'd wished to make his girlfriend one day. Though the prospect was exciting, she'd be his wholly, this wasn't how he'd wished it would go. He hadn't impressed her to become his girlfriend. He hadn't won her over with his wit. Astrid's father had signed her over to him. This wasn't at all how his dream should be playing out.

The sound of the great horn echoed through the trees, signaling the feast would begin soon.

Hiccup cracked a weak smile, thumbing back down the path. "We should get back. Do you wanna…walk back together?" he asked, in what he knew would be the first of many awkwardly asked questions.

Astrid shook her head. "I don't think we should be seen coming from the woods together before our betrothal announcement."

"You're right." Hiccup hadn't thought of that. "See you there."

Astrid turned, not so much as a nod in response.

Hiccup frowned as he walked back. Not only would this be a long evening, but he had a feeling it would be a long, arduous life to come.

Hiccup had been informed to act a certain…well, in his father words:

"Don't say or do anything like…this."

"You just gestured to all of me. Again!"

Hiccup sat there like a bump on a log, his mood slightly soured from the piting gazes of the villagers aimed toward Astrid. He knew he wasn't the greatest catch in the sea, but no one was thinking passed the fact that he would try his best to make her happy. No one was thinking the tiniest maybe that him and Astrid would be good for each other.

That minuscule spark of hope nearly tamped out when he glanced at Astrid, who's face was like a stone wall. He barely registered Stoick taking his hand and joining it with Astrid's. The Great Hall filled with applause, though it wasn't an irrupterious sound that usually followed the Chief's speeches.

Hiccup stared out at the many faces plastering a clinched smile on his face. His eyebrows twitched when he felt Astrid give his hand a squeeze. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, catching her as she chanced a glance at him as well.

Hiccup's forced smile melted into a real one, the friendly squeeze and little glance giving him the tiniest of hope back.