"Hiccup!!"

Crap!!!! Like how the hell did she track me down?

She was glad she found him, all this time he was Rider and all this time he was the one who changed and ended the raids. He fought Dagur out of Berk's mess and risked his life to defeat the Red Death. He was the one who made weapons out of Gronkle Iron and it was him who saved her from that cliff.

Hold on a sec, she wondered. If Rider was Hiccup then wasn't he who embarassed her at the Great Hall, defeated her and called her beautiful at the kill ring days ago? Wasn't Hiccup who saw her get weak and right after confessed a few things he wanted to tell him? Wasn't Hiccup who saw her cry over him at the blacksmith's shop and nearly poured out her feelings towards him. Oh my Odin....Hiccup had just seen the other side of Astrid that she wouldn't dare to share to anybody! Astrid didn't know what to do, she was freaking out and she was mad. Not mad at Hiccup but mad at what's happening all of a sudden

"I knew it was you under that helmet!"

Uh oh her demeanour changed , Hiccup panicked.

"I could explain!"

"I don't want to listen in anything you have to say!" She's really freaking out, she wanted to erase the part where she had poured her other self to him, the fact she was actually FALLING for it, if not 'it' then it must have been falling for HIM. She grabbed her axe, like out of nowhere, and attacked Hiccup.

Hiccup avoided her, of course Astrid wouldn't mean to hurt him. Well maybe a little because he was a bit of a jerk towards her for the past few days. Swear the gods that they could be a good team and he could train her with his techniques so that it'll add on her skills. Although back then, after he told everyone about the Red Death, no one had appreciated his accomplishment but only his dad and Astrid. He felt joy but nit the joy he expected to be, he kind of knew that a thing like that would happen.

Still avoiding her swings and not fighting back, because Astrid was yelling to fight back, Hiccup noticed that Gobber had finally arrived at his campsite.

"Oh, so she finally knew. What took ya so long ta tell her?"

Astrid stopped for a moment to look at Gobber. Surprised that her dragon trainer and town's smithy had appeared not even shocked that Hiccup was there.

"Gobber? Wha the hell you knew about this??!!"

Distracted by the sight of the smithy she got tackled by Toothless, pinning her down to the ground face first while Hiccup tied a rope around her two wrist.

"Hiccup let me go or I will kill you!"

"Not until you hear me out" Hiccup answered calmly

"Ok, hear you out THEN I'll slice your head off!!"

"Ah wouldn't it be nice ter enjoy this day that ye two had finally met again"

"NOT HELPING!" both the youth said almost in unison to their elder.

Both teens were struggling like a small wrestling match, Astrid was a little bit surprised that Hiccup was now further more stronger than her. She tried punching him in the arms and retrieve her fallen axe but Hiccup was too quick to let her grab for the kill. He pinned her down Astrid laying flat on her chest.

Before things gets worst Hiccup brought out a cloth from his pocket and covered Astrid's nose and mouth. She knows what it was so she struggled but it was too late she inhaled a little of it and within seconds she was knocked out.

An hour later Astrid began to wake from her deep sleep. She tried to move but she simply can't move her hands.

Well will you look at that, I'm tied up

Her hands and legs were tied up together while laying on one side of her body. She could already feel the cramps that she needed to strctch. So she opened her eyes just to be surprised she wasn't completely on a dirty ground but inside a tent and covered with a blanket. Astrid had no idea what time it is but she could feel that it was past the mid afternoon and mid afternoons pretty sure are windy.

She had thought of the events that happened earlier, yes she successfully followed Rider to his hide ou, discovered he was actually Hiccup, Gobber came and knew he was Hiccup too, they both wrestled till she was knocked out.

It was really a long day to sink everything in, not to mention how Hiccup tied her up but still treated her unlikely a prisoner by simply making her warm inside his tent. Astrid had a lot of questioning to ask but will he even give him answers? Don't she think that Hiccup was lying all along? That everything was a joke and the moment they shared was just a payback.

"Ye can't just let her go lad, she'll tell everyone again" she heard Gobber from the outside.

"Like I have a choice?" she heard another voice and for the first time she just realized that it was only now she heard his voice for a long time.

"Listen, this could be yer chance te prove that dragons are harmless. Let the lass see"

"I can't Gobber, vikings are stubborn and they won't listen" Hiccup sounded bitter

"Like ye aren't one lad"

"I am not Gobber, besides I'm leaving anyway."

He's leaving.......again?

She thought. Hiccup's leaving again and he didn't mention for how long will he be away. Astrid felt like there was an arrow that went through her when Hiccup said he was leaving again. She can't point out the feeling, she had just found him today then he'll disappear the next day. All the effort, all the crying and all the anger she had for the past five years and he's running away again.

"So where ya headed then?" Gobber asked

"Heading west, or north, oh I don't know I'm trying to find something"

No she won't allow it, not this time.

"Well ye could stay fer as long as ye want. I'll keep an eye on them"

"Thanks Gobber but no, I'm far too not interested in staying here for this long. I'm not needed in here"

Without even thinking. She bolted up with all her strength, even though she's tied up, stood by her knees and charged by the tent's entrance. She tumbled down but managed to bring half her body out to the cold wind and shouted.....

"YOU ARE NOT RUNNING AWAY AGAIN!!!"

When she thought Hiccup and Gobber were surprised to hear her scream the two men was stunned with an arrow that had suddenly went between them and nearly aimed Astrid's head by a few centimeters. The arrow was now attached to the ground next to the tent where Astrid was seconds ago.

Hiccup's reflexes was fast and swift, instead of covering himself instinct might have told him to protect the blond girl he tied up. Both Hiccup and Gobber searched around the vicinity for the source of the arrow but there was no one around even Toothless tried to track down the inturuder.

Hiccup then proceeded to check on Astrid. She seems ok but the shock of another near death experience rocked her head so hard that it made her dizzy to think of what's happening right now. Hiccup examined her face, a small cut was formed, it wasn't big though but it might give her the slightest pain. He went inside the tent to get some healing herbs in his pack. Once he has got the herb he took a small amount of the creamy herb and dabbed the small scratch on her face. Astrid hissed a little but the pain made go back to reality. Hiccup was on her eye level soothing her small and useless injury. It Was rather hard to hide the blush.

"Any idea what this symbol means?" Gobber had picked up the arrow, attached to it was small piece of paper with a familiar symbol. He gave the small piece of paper to Hiccup and began to read, relieved that it was just a letter from an allay and not an enemy.

"It's from one of the Brotherhood, he wants to speak with me later when dark comes"

"Well tell yer bloody friend of yers to watch his aim"

Hiccup chuckled, the man in question doesn't need to watch his aim for he's a maniac and somewhat doesn't care who he hits. He looked once on the spot where the arrow came from and by the looks of it a few plants moved. Yup he surely did get the message.

"Ah an amazing day it is-" Gobber stretched his beefy arms and scooted to face Astrid "-I hope ye learned yer lesson to be sneaking around on someone's camp. Talk about a near-death-experience"

"Well I would have known if I wasn't tied up" Astrid glared at Hiccup but the lad simply doesn't care. She looked back up at Gobber "So...do you mind telling when you first knew?"

Hiccup was about to speak Gobber nudged his rib taking out the extra air he last inhaled to make sure he won't interrupt Gobber.

"Right after the battle with Dagur. Took him in inside Gothi's hut and there ya have it is Hiccup"

"So Gothi knows?"

"Of course lass she didn't miss a thing of Hiccup"

Hiccup's cheeks flushed, his mentor had been blabbering some part of his life that needs to be hidden from people like Astrid. Although Gobber have something in mind to let the two talk about their fate, he simply wants them to get over what was done before.

"I best be on my way-"

"Leaving so soon!?" Hiccup halted him but he was caught starring at Astrid.

"Gobber could you at least untie me?" asked the lass worrying about Gobber leaving her with Hiccup which made her feel awkward.

"Why should I lass, you are his prisoner. Besides I haven't eaten breakfast nor lunch, don't ye even think about it me carrying her to town" He pointed at both of them. And without a word he exited the cove leaving them both to solve their own conversation.

"Well I must be off, good luck ye two"

It was silent for like several minutes and Hiccup did nothing but to clean the area where he and Gobber had a small chat. He could feel Astrid's eyes looking at him and for sure it was getting into his nerves. Astrid on the other hand was between the emotions of anger and relief. Relief because she finally saw him anger because he was Rider. Relief he's alive and had grwon quite a charm in his face, anger because he tied her up and chose not to speak to him. Silence was deafening.

"Could you at least talk to me" she spoke first which he flinched. He turned around finally facing her.

"About what?" He annoyingly asked and that pissed her.

"Well I don't know, maybe tell me where have you been?"

"And why would I tell you that?"

His ignorant words could light up her temper if he doesn't make it serious.

"Because-" his last question made her wonder. Why would he tell anyway? "-could you ay least talk to your prisoner like Odin's beard! Why are being annoying!?"

Hiccup just starred back at her waiting for another of her outburst but the urge of getting her out of his space means a lot to him right now. He pulled a dagger which Astrid noticed it was the same dagger she kept for years. He roughly tugged her ropes and cut it free. She felt her wrist finally pump some blood on it and could also stretch her legs to remove those cramps. Although she was surprised to see Hiccup's back turned to her.

"You're free to go" he said loudly while he fix his Toothless' saddle.

Did she heard him right, did she just set her free? He tied him for almost two hours and that's it? No punishments, no torments, no questionings and no explaining is that all it?

What does he think he's doing? This is not meant to happen, she expected to be a slave or somewhat a body guard or maybe just his plain prisoner. No! He chose to let her free.

The sudden kindness annoyed her. He was generous with his ways and it annoyed her, he insisted her to go without warning and it annoyed her, he is acting what he shouldn't be and it annoyed her. Everything about him annoyed her and the idea of attacking him seems to make her feel better.

Without warning she ran towards him tackling him down to the ground. Toothless on the other hand was trying to plasma blast the intruder that attacked his rider but he simply can't aim right for he might aim Hiccup. She pinned him down, chest laid flat on the ground and hands twisted behind him and her on top putting all her weight on him. The sudden curiosity of how he did nit dared to counter her attack made her wonder.

She noticed the dragon glaring at her and it's mouth is ready to aim, grabbing the dagger by Hiccup's side she used it to warn the dragon that she'll slit its rider's throat if the dragon tried to attack.

"Tell it to lower his aim" she ordered him.

"He's not an 'it', he's a male and a Night Fury-"

"Just do what I said" she almost demanded with fury, the dragon felt alarmed with her voice.

"Take it easy bud, she won't hurt me"

Yeah right Hiccup I could see that, if only Toothless could say that to his face. Toothless isn't even convinced that the woman on top of him would chop his head off.

But as things had calmed down a bit Hiccup had suddenly had the strength to himself and Astrid with his two feet. It happened so quick that Astrid failed to notice. Hiccup quickly be his knees to the ground acting as the support to lift him up and carried his chest along with Astrid. The dagger Astrid was holding quickly forgotten by the surprise that she hardly had the chance to counter him.

Then again it happened so fast that she was pinned down like she did to Hiccup .

"Let me go!" she commanded

Toothless was now ready to get his revenge at her, he was growly at her and he was thinking of a way on how to end this stubborn viking's stubborn life. Will he do the hard way or the easy way?

"Calm down bud, that won't be necessary"

Toothless regrettably obliged Hiccup's pleading even though he had not, even a single liking with this blond viking.

"At least the dragon listens" the blond viking spat while pinned down.

"I said he's not an 'it'- like for the lord of....urgh Astrid Toothless, Toothless Astrid" He pointed out.

"You do still remember Astrid though?" Hiccup asked out of the blue, the dragon gave him 'are you friggin serious?' look. Like, come on. She attacked him, he countered the attack, Toothless wanted to plasma blast Astrid since the beginning he first met her and Hiccup is acting stupid as if nothing happened. And here he is introducing him to her.

Hiccup really doesn't want anyone to be his prisoner especially her and has no intentions to bring her along to anywhere he needed to go. The outside walls of Berk is far too dangerous on the time being. With wild dragons on the loose and maniacs like Dagur are on the run, you better be prepared out there. Also with his head is worth a million yaks Astrid might as well be the consolation prize.

"Ok I'm gonna let you go now, but attack me again like you did minutes ago then I'll leave Toothless to do his job."

He said to her rather calm and not like a warning, she didn't expect to be treated this way though she is tempted to kick his ass for being so kind. Hiccup got off her and assisted her to sit up straight but he immediately captured her hand and latched them together in front of her holding them tight with his one hand. Once Astrid could sit properly on the ground, Hiccup slowly removed his hand from her wrist then withdrew from her front.

Sure he was expecting for another surprise kill.

Surprisingly she sat still starring at wrist and back at his eyes, she didn't try to escape either.

"Wow, this is the only moment you really spoke to me as Hiccup"

"Honestly there is nothing to talk about. Besides I'm gonna let you go eventually"

"I'm not letting you run away from me again"

She growled at her last phrase never even thought twice why she had said that now that she's talking to Hiccup. Not that she cares anyway.

"Why are you even trying?"

"Because you know what happened, you know why I wanted to find you, you know you needed an apology from me"

"I don't need your pity Astrid-"

"I'm not talking about pity Hiccup I just wanted to say sorry"

"Well there you said it so just go already"

"Wha-Why do you want to push me away?"

"Oh maybe because you know the reason why I'm an outcast huh?"

"I know, that's why I'm sorry"

"You already said so earlier"

"Am I forgiven then?"

Hiccup stopped suddenly, he was about to argue again but hearing Astrid so so so....vulnerable asking whether he has forgiven her or not.

Has he forgiven her after all she confessed earlier before, when he listened to her pleading when she thought he was Rider? Years he felt betrayed and yet years she was buried in guilt. Guilt, yes she sounded guilty and surely for years she hasn't forgiven herself unless he has forgiven her. A lot might have change and will change soom, long forgotten change, but remembering something that will hunt you forever will never be forgetten. Just like how she can't forget the day she made him an outcast of Berk.

Sighed and trying hard not to look at her but he simply couldn't, he gave out a small smile that almost tugged her heart.

"You're forgiven."

A wave of relief and years of carrying a heavy shoulder of guilt finally uplifted as soon as the words left Hiccup's lips. Her guilt and forgiveness just gave her the will to listen to anything Hiccup has to say.

"So...what now?" she asked confidently making this moment last for a while.

"No idea, I need to be somewhere though, tonight"

"Oh, is that the letter you just received?"

"Yeah, it's something personal so I need you to stay here"

Stay here? So does that mean he's letting her be his prisoner or who knows what Odin's plan is for her. Though Hiccup sort of read her mind.

"You could go back now if you want to-"

"What if I don't want to go back just yet" she suddenly said without thinking and she wasn't asking either.

Hiccup's head is beginning to throb again, again he knew a problem like this would come soon and that soon is today and the problem is Astrid. No wonder he too was stubborn like her.

"Astrid, you just can't be...you know tagging along with me"

"Why shouldn't I, because I found you?" annoyingly she backfired.

"Because you're from Berk"

"And you certainly are from Berk too, in case you forgot"

"I'm an outsider"

"You branded yourself one!!"

The calm and quiet moment began to be a heated arguement. This isn't going well between them.

"Let me get this straight-" Hiccup places his thumb and finger in his temple and rubbed before continuing the argument "-I befriended a harmless dragon, been treated like a nobody since birth, forcedly chose to stay here to be a working minion and banished by my own kind! Does that sound that I branded myself an outsider?!"

"You ran away, Hiccup, you could have just told me"

"Tell you? TELL YOU!? My own father wouldn't even listen to me, NO ONE has ever listened to me."

"Then at least show me before you let me go telling the village! If you just chased me down before I could even reach them-"

"Are you seriously pointing out this is my fault?!"

"Well half of it is"

"And I'm certainly sure you wouldn't care because I was Hiccup the useless"

He's right.

Hiccup was just....Hiccup and nobody was interested in him nor caring for what he has to say. Astrid did thought of that and this argument wasn't suppose to happen in the first place. She was here to apologize, right?

What if back then she didn't listen? Well back then she really wouldn't listen to him. What if the clocks went reverse and Hiccup would have caught her with the dragon and tried to convince her that the dragon is harmless. It could work but.....would she ever believe him in the first place?

"You could have let me hang in the highest tree of Berk and offer a crazy ride with your dragon to convince me" she said lowly finally decided to die down whatever is this they are fighting for.

Hiccup would have respond quickly but the way she said it made him feel guilty for getting the heat in the air. He had also wondered the 'what ifs' if ever he should have hanged Astrid on a tree so he could convince her not to tell his dad. It would have been easier to change the vikings' minds that there would be peace between dragons and them. And he would never have been hiding all his life in the shadows.

Alas the fates had made their choices too late.

"I should have done that.... but I couldn't" he said not looking at her way

"Well you should have, I'm not that difficult to convince" she sort of chuckled at her last phrase that made Hiccup look at her.

Out of nowhere they both laughed because they both know people like them are difficult to convince. Silence and shyness finally falling apart but the awkwardness still lingers. They both looked at one another. There was a glimpse of hope that sparkled in her eyes that he couldn't read out. To her opinion she could see danger in his face but regretted to ask his fate. But both had something in common in their minds that they wouldn't know.

"So.. what's your plan?" Astrid asked, trying to settle this conversation.

"You do know I'm meeting someone later, right?" he back fired her with an unsure question.

"Yeah and since you're leaving me with your dragon then he should behave like a good puppy"

"You do have a choice to go back-"

"I said I'm not going back yet-" she interrupted him again in a rushed and rather harsh tone, she noticed "-not that I meant to stay longer and find out what you're up to"

He was surprised to hear her, usually what he have thought that she would run to the village or capture him to bring him back to jail. But it seems the clocks reversed itself this time.

"So you're willing to stay with me?"

Astrid knew that was just a statement but her mind had come to mix up what she heard which she blushed "Yes-.. I mean no...no that's not right...yes I'm staying but not with you...I mean urgh!!"

"Ok fine I get it you could stay, but under one condition"

She stopped stammering as he spoke, his hands pointing at her as if he had asked her a challenged that needs to be prepared. If it's a duel it is then she's ready for it, who knows what condition this might be. Is he gonna make her a slave? Oh he better not be or else she'll pound him with his axe. Although Hiccup has the right to capture her. He's an outsider now and he defeated her once and pinned her down. Good thing the rest of the gang weren't there to witness the embarrasment.

Astrid stood straight giving him a strong face stating that she could take whatever challenge he has in mind.

"Ok bring it on"

Hiccup smirked, Astrid was dumbfound by his smirk. Is this some kind of trick? Well for Hiccup he knew she won't feel her soul come back after this.

"You're gonna ride with Toothless"