FOUR: Betrothed

"Betrothed? How can I be betrothed?" Hiccup asked, completely stunned. "I mean, I can't think I proposed to someone and just forgot! Unless you've already spoken to Ingvar Hofferson and arranged a Contract with Astrid already and..."

"Son," Stoick said in a very stern voice, his heavy brows dipped in a scowl, "you are betrothed-and not to Astrid Hofferson." Hiccup froze and stared at his father, a million things whirling wildly round in his brain.

"No," he said finally. "I am not betrothed to anyone. I have asked Astrid to marry me and she has said yes. So you have to make it happen, Dad. I am not marrying anyone else!" Stoick rose to his feet, all seven foot of him towering above his much slighter son-but Hiccup wasn't backing down, refusing to be intimidated.

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, you are betrothed through a legally agreed and witnessed contract and you cannot get out of this arrangement," he announced sternly. "You cannot marry Astrid because you are already betrothed." Hiccup shook his head.

"So when did this happen, Dad?" he asked angrily, his emerald eyes flashing and fists clenched. "When did you decide to totally screw up my life?" Stoick glared at his son, trying to remain calm because he could understand that this was a shock to the boy.

"When you were about ten" he admitted gruffly. "You were small and when the others were growing, you weren't. It was becoming obvious that you were clumsy and the other children really didn't get on with you. I had complaints from the village that you were causing all manner of chaos with your messing around at the forge. It was obvious no one of Berk would ever offer a contract for you-and I knew you would have to have a wife, because I wouldn't be around to look after you. And it was becoming evident that you weren't Chief material. Snotlout was developing into a fine specimen and I knew one day, I would adopt him as my heir. So I needed to secure your future..."

Hiccup gaped, his mind whirling. The words hit him almost like a physical blow, winding him and as he stared at his father, he felt almost faint with shock.

"Wow," he managed sarcastically. "Just...wow. Thanks, Dad. That really makes me feel great. I mean, where do I start?"

"Son-this was all a long time ago...before Toothless and..." Hiccup snapped his hands up, the gesture silencing his father.

"Yeah," he said abruptly. "Yeah, I get that. But...this really shows what you thought of me. You believed, because I was small and a bit clumsy when I was ten, that I would never get a girlfriend, that I would never have any friends and you were already plotting to make Snotlout your heir instead of me. Even then?" Stoick scowled.

"Son-I was worried for your future," he said heavily. "The raids were getting worse and any of us could be killed at any time. If I had died, you would have been orphaned and alone. Spitelout would have assumed the Chiefdom and you would never have been Chief anyway. This was the only thing I could think of to secure your safety for the future..."

"No," Hiccup said firmly. "The only thing that could secure my safety-all our safeties-was what I did. I ended the War and befriended a dragon. That made us safe! All you did was dispose of a disappointing failure of a son!"

"I am the Chief," Stoick retorted, his face flushing with anger. He was starting to feel guilty but also annoyed that Hiccup was making the conversation so difficult. "It is my duty to act in the best interests of the Tribe-which includes arranging marriage contracts for my son. And organising these for the best advantage of the Hooligan Tribe." Hiccup gaped at him.

"So it was all a lie," he said bitterly, his tone sarcastic. "Everything you said after you got me back from Ryker after the bounty hunter delivered me to him. That there could be no secrets between us any more. And now I find you have been hiding this ENORMOUS secret that completely ruins my life, Dad. Wow-way to lie to me!"

"I didn't lie to you!" Stoick shouted, causing him to back up a pace. No matter that Stoick was his father, there were moments when he could be incredibly intimidating-and this was one of them. The Chief was rigid with anger, his face red and eyes blazing. "I forgot! When you fought the dragon and fell, when you were in a coma and I thought you would never wake, I pushed everything I had previously thought about you before aside. I was so...proud, so amazed that you were this brave, determined, amazing young man and I had missed it. You had friends, you had your dragon and you had saved the entire Tribe! I had been so wrong about you, son and I needed to make it up for you. And then there were the problems with the Outcasts and the Berserkers and honestly, I forgot about it."

"And you didn't think to mention it-say when you say Astrid and me together?" Hiccup retorted with maximum sarcasm. "You really didn't think you should mention it when you saw me with the girl I have always loved...?" Stoick snorted.

"I knew you had a crush on the lass," he admitted, sitting down in his reinforced chair and sipping his mead. "But, to be honest, every boy in your group looked at her with puppy eyes. Your cousin was always flirting with the lass as well..."

"Yeah-well, she does spend a lot of time punching Snot," Hiccup conceded. "But since..."

"I knew you were friends," Stoick admitted. "She was always a polite, respectful young warrior and she seemed to be your second-in-command but there really didn't seem to be much more than that..."

"What? How-how did you imagine that?" Hiccup gasped. "I love Astrid! I always have. We've been a couple for a while...and we were getting closer ever since before the bounty thing...I mean, she is the person I discuss everything with..."

"It's unusual but not unheard-of for a Chief to have a female prime counsellor," Stoick commented.

"We're in love!" Hiccup shouted. Stoick cocked a bushy eyebrow.

"Are you now?" he challenged his son. "How was I supposed to know? I have seen the girl kiss you just once, after you woke from the coma and since they, you have seemed to be friends. You haven't spoken to me about her, about broaching a contract or moving your relationship forward." Hiccup gaped.

"But...but...it's obvious!" he protested. Stoick frowned.

"The girl hasn't shown any especial partiality to you," he reminded his son. "She hasn't been hugging or kissing you or hanging onto your arm or sitting at your side..."

"Dad! You know that's not who Astrid is" Hiccup replied urgently. "She's a fierce, independent warrior. She has her own mind and I trust her to lead the other team in missions and keep the others in line. So we haven't always partnered on missions. In fact, I know I have to go with all of my friends on missions so they all feel valued and wanted. But that doesn't mean I don't spend free time with her-flying, talking, practicing..."

"Like a good friend..." Stoick reminded him and he shook his head.

"Look-the others know what she means to me..." he argued desperately.

"You've been living away from Berk for a year, son, and I only see you very infrequently...usually when something is happening," the Chief told him, draining his mug. "And I know she cares for you-her expression when you were kidnapped told me that very plainly. But love...?"

Hiccup opened his mouth to protest and then he paused. He had been desperately in love with Astrid since he was about ten and it had grown through the years. How could he tell his Dad that it was Astrid who had first found Toothless and he had taken her on that flight where she had held him and realised just how amazing his draconic friend was? That she had kissed him 'for everything else' after punching him for kidnapping her-and he thought he might have died from feeling so amazing at the brief peck on the cheek? That she had helped him at his lowest point, reminding him that she was there for him and that she would help him get his friend back and save the tribe? That she had been at his side ever since-fierce and brave and independent, challenging his orders, supporting his leadership and having his back through every possible adventure?

But he hadn't been sure. He knew they were friends...close, best friends...but even he hadn't been sure. Astrid wasn't demonstrative where her feelings were concerned, denying there was anything happening when Heather had challenged her, though the raven-haired girl had clearly read the concealed affection that he had missed. It was only when he was so close to losing her to the Scourge of Odin, that he had allowed his guard down. He wasn't sure-so he hadn't said anything, risking repelling her and losing her as a friend...until he thought he was losing her anyway.

There will always be a Hiccup and Astrid. Those words meant everything, a statement that he would always be there for her and she him. And she had hugged him, not rejecting him and whispering in his ear that she was always there for him. And when she had lost her sight, she had shown what an amazing person she was and refused to let him coddle her...but at first, the only person she wanted as she woke in darkness was him. And he had stayed with her, refusing to leave her alone when she was so desperate and vulnerable because he had known how awful that felt. He had suffered with his leg and she had confronted him-so he would never abandon her. And she had accepted that he would never abandon her, no matter whether she could see or not...because he had every faith that Astrid would find a way. Even if her sight never returned, she would not be helpless, because she was Astrid. She had trained the Triple Stryke while blind and was still the ferocious girl he loved: she didn't need a protector, just a friend who would help her do the things she could no longer do for lack of sight and he would always be that friend.

But they had declared their love for each other once her sight was restored and he had admitted he had been trying to find a perfect moment for a while. Their life was dangerous and unpredictable-but she was the one thing he always wanted as his constant. So they had finally formalised their relationship...but they had concealed their feelings from the others. They had struggled to keep their friends from knowing because they could both appreciate how much ribbing they would get from he twins, the barrage of snide comments by Snotlout, Fishlegs smothering them in excitement and of course, word getting back to Stoick. And Hiccup realised he had been worried his father would move on a marriage contract with Ingvar Hofferson as soon as he heard, causing them to go back to Berk and ending their freedom. He wanted his freedom, his chance to explore and have adventures and enjoy being with his friends...so they had continued sneaking around, maintaining the image of simple friendship and then creeping to each other's huts after bed to spend time talking or kissing or just sleeping in each other's arms.

But the others had noticed the change in their behaviour and wild rumours had begun to circulate. Snotlout was sure his cousin was struggling with a gambling problem while the others had latched onto the crazy idea that he was dying and Astrid was supporting him. Of course, they hadn't wanted the others to behave any differently despite the new status o their relationship-but they had anyway. And their desire to not give Viggo and Ryker any clue that could enable them to use their relationship against them had failed when Viggo had seen almost instantly and threatened Astrid, costing them the Dragon Eye and ending the leader of the Hunters. He still recalled the kiss he had given her when he was sure she was safe, his relief overcoming his caution-and the secret had been out. Their friends knew they were a couple-to varying responses. Snotlout had been sneering, his disappointment showing as a volley of barbed comments to 'Hiccstrid', a composite name neither Hiccup nor Astrid minded. The twins had been supportive-especially Tuff, weirdly enough-and Fishlegs had been very excited, helpfully dropping facts about Viking betrothals and marriage into every conversation.

But he hadn't told Stoick. They had been busy saving the Edge and he just hadn't gotten around to informing his father that his son had finally got the girl of his dreams as his girlfriend...partly to avoid the inevitable over-reaction from his father and Gobber. And then there had been that night...

"As you say, Dad-we've been away for a year and been friends since before I lost my leg," he replied, his confidence wavering for the first time. "We're off flying and fighting and exploring-how would you know what we're like when we're alone? You're my Dad as well as the Chief-and Astrid is a very private person. She always acts appropriately around you because you're her Chief but away from you...she's a totally different person..." Stoick's eyes rose and for a moment, there was sympathy in his cool gaze.

"I'm sorry, son," he said, his voice gentler. "But I can't get out of this. You are betrothed to the daughter of a key ally of Berk. I received a letter three weeks ago reminding me that you were now nineteen and it was time for you to honour the contract signed in your name nine years ago. That it was time for you to marry." Hiccup shook his head.

"I-I can't," he said desperately. "Dad-I can't marry someone I don't know and don't love when he woman I love is here on Berk with me. I can't pretend to be a husband to someone I don't know and will never care for."

"You can and you will, Hiccup-because it is your duty," Stoick told him sternly. "A Chief protects his own and with the dragons, not all tribes want anything to do with us. We aren't rich and we are isolated so we need every ally we can get. This is for Berk, son-for your neighbours and friends and the people we love."

"Except the one I love the most," Hiccup told him bitterly. "Oh-and your grandchild."

Stoick froze, his eyes widening before he turned, his brows dipping as he glared at his son.

"WHAT?" he shouted. Hiccup stared at him.

"You-you heard," he said boldly.

"You fool!" Stoick scolded him brutally. "How could you be so stupid! You know you have to wait until you are married." His eyes narrowed. "Did she lead you on, to secure a marriage to the Chief's son? Is that what happened?"

Appalled, Hiccup gaped before his own anger flared.

"WHAT? No! And how dare you accuse Astrid of such a thing? She is literally the most honest and decent person I know! It was my fault, if anything! We had some of Spitelout's mead and...well, we all drank some and it...just...happened..." He blushed, ashamed at the admission. He knew he had disappointed his father and it wasn't something that he had wanted to admit-but there was nothing else he could do. He had blurted the truth out because he was close to losing her and it was the last card he could play. "And I don't regret it-because she is the one, the only person I want to spend my life with. And with our child..." Stoick sighed.

"You can't, son," he told Hiccup and there was a sadness in his voice now. "There is no way of this. You cannot marry Astrid. The best is that she can be your concubine, the woman you spend time with when you are not with your wife. But this marriage will happen, Hiccup. Make no mistake." Staring at his father, he swallowed in utter shock.

"And the child?" he asked faintly. Stoick's brows dipped.

"It cannot be acknowledged," he said with finality. "You are the son of a Chief, a future Chief yourself and there cannot be acknowledged bastards running around, challenging your legitimate heirs." Staring at him and swallowing, Hiccup shook his head. his eyes were burning with tears that he was desperate not to shed.

"So let me get this straight," he managed thickly, his throat almost too tight to speak. "You betrothed me when I was ten because you thought I was so pathetic that I would never get a girlfriend. You never told me, never noticed I had friends and a girlfriend and now you tell me I have to give up the girl I love to marry a stranger you organised almost a decade ago? Way to go, Dad. Way to ruin my life!"

"I didn't fail to tell my father I had been stupid enough to get a girl pregnant and offer to marry her before checking with my father," Stoick yelled at him. "This discussion is over, Hiccup. You have had more than enough time to play on your dragon and pretend to be Chief of your own little settlement. Now it's time to grow up and face your responsibilities to your Tribe."

"Play? Thor-we have been fighting Dragon Hunters and rescuing dragons and just as we stabilised the volcano that was threatening to destroy our base!" Hiccup shot back. "How is that playing?"

"You should have come home when Viggo was defeated and your base threatened by the volcano," Stoick told him angrily. "Instead of hiding out there from your duties..."

"But there are new Hunters who are even more vicious..." Hiccup protested but Stoick grabbed his shoulder and glared into his face.

"ENOUGH!" he roared. "That is no longer your problem, Hiccup! You will return to Berk to take up your duties and train as my successor. You will meet your wife to be, go through the betrothal and set the date for the wedding. And you will tell Astrid that you cannot marry her and cannot acknowledge the child." Betrayal filling his face, Hiccup stared into his eyes.

"And who have you sold me to, Dad?' he asked in a defeated, sarcastic voice. "Who's the person you bound me to so you could ruin my life?" Stoick shoved him back and stared at him coldly.

"The Heir to the Bog Burglar Tribe," he said. "Big Boobied Bertha's daughter-Camicazi."