"Fishlegs," called Hiccup as he strode up to the Great Hall in his usual chiefly attire, while Toothless, swatted at some rather irritating Terrors hovering above the dragon's head with a black claw.

Over the years he had adapted more of a chief's traditional wear into his daily attire, so much so nowadays that his own mother had once mistaken him for his father, the late Stoick the Vast one day and had to double take. In cale armour covered him until his mid-thigh and a fur cape draped down his back, held in place by decorative shoulder plates.

Fishlegs screeched as Hiccup approached, followed by a nervous, "Oh, it's you, Hiccup."

"You okay, Fish? You seem a bit ... apprehensive." Hiccup's brows knitted in concern.

"What? Why would you say that? I'm not apprehensive! Apprehension is for people who are ... apprehensive!" Fishlegs said.

Why was Fishlegs being so strange? The chief gave in. "All right, all right," he raised his elegant hands in surrender. His friend could ask him for help if he needed it. "Have you seen Astrid?" Hiccup remembered the reason he was here. He had hardly seen his wife all day today and she wasn't at the house when he came home. Maybe she had already left.

Since this morning when she had seemed rather preoccupied with something.  It could have been nothing, but ... they were husband and wife. And if they didn't talk about their problems, who else would they have if not each other?

"No. Of course I don't know. Why would I know something like that?" sputtered the shorter man. "Why are you looking for her, anyway?"

"It felt like something was worrying her this morning. I wanted to talk to her before," frowned Hiccup, "but I guess I'll see her tonight when we go out."

"Oh," Fishlegs said, suddenly serious. "Well, sorry I couldn't help."

The chief sighed. "Thanks anyway, Fish. I'll see you tomorrow." Striding toward his sleek dragon, Hiccup mounted his friend and sped off into the clouds, the powerful booming of wings felt on both of his sides. Ever since they were teens, Hiccup had seen his fair share of Astrid's bad days, yet this morning still nagged at him. The thought was a fly he just couldn't seem to swat away.

Something different was on Astrid's mind than her usual worries from the day, and Hiccup wanted to know what, exactly, that was.

~ ~ ~