Chase the Wind: 6 - Astrid Goes For A Spin

Chase the Wind

Chapter Six; Astrid Goes for a Spin

~Merida~

The princess stood awkwardly in the library of castle Dingwall. It was a rather substantial library, and she amused herself by perusing the endless volumes of history, poetry and stories. She settled herself in a large red chair with a history book.

'That's one of my favourites,' said William, startling her. Merida smiled shyly and closed the book.

'I've never been very fond of history,' she told him, standing up for him. 'But I remember my father reading these old books, and I loved the pictures, paintings of the battles and the skills of the archers and swordsmen,'

'They were painted just for us by a lord many years ago. I remember him coming here to present us with the book. That's why I like it so much.'

'It's these accounts that made me want to be like my father,' Merida smiled, sitting down and offering the second chair to William.

'I admired the skill of the bow... the grace, and I wanted to be one of those archers. Ride into battle on a proud horse... A sword at my hip and my trusty bow in my hand. Silly, for a princess...but there you have it,'

'I always wanted to be one of the poets,' William confessed. 'I wanted to write beautiful pieces that would be taught to young ladies, and recited at gatherings, but I think my father had other plans. He wanted a son who could win in the games, make the name proud. A son worthy enough to win the hand of a princess, and one day become king...'

William met her gaze, smiling shyly. Merida smiled too, and gently touched his shoulder.

'I know I'm not handsome like Macintosh, or athletic like MacGuffin. But I like you, princess. And...forgive me for saying so...but I would like to make my father proud as well.'

Merida mentally slapped herself. How could she have been so silly, breaking tradition? Between Ian and William, she was guaranteed to break someone's heart. She leaned forward and softly kissed William on the cheek.

'I think you're lovely, William...' she told him quietly. He blushed a little, touching his cheek.

'So I stand a chance?' he asked quietly, and her smile widened.

'Most definitely. Now, William?'

'Yes princess?'

'Merida, please. Would you read to me, please?' she asked, putting the history book on the shelf and pulling out a thick book of poetry. William smiled and nodded.

'Of course...Merida,'

xXx

~Hiccup~

Toothless was in time out. He sulked on his bed, a little red patch of paint on his nose. Hiccup was painting a new banner for the Clan of Berk. It was black, with the crest of Berk painted in red. The crest was a dragon curled up, with a smudged looking saddle on its back, a last minute addition to remedy Toothless' curiosity.

He heard the front door swing open, and looked up to see Astrid, her axe on her shoulder. He noticed immediately that it was very blunt - an automatic check after working with Gobber.

'Hey... You're back. Are you alright?' Hiccup asked, standing up to meet her.

'We need to talk,' Astrid told him quietly. Hiccup had never seen her like this before. Her voice wavered like she was going to cry, and she looked like she would fall over at any moment, worn down with exhaustion. He sat her down at their kitchen table and settled beside her, gently rubbing her back.

'What's wrong?'

Was this it? The end of their relationship? Had she finally worked out that they wouldn't last?

'We can't be together anymore. You're...um...' Her eyes overflowed with tears. 'Your dad... he agreed to an arranged marriage...' Hiccup sat back, stunned.

'He...he what?'

xXx

Stoick was obviously feeling very guilty, wilting slightly under his son's furious glare.

'What have you done?' Hiccup demanded to know, voice quivering with anger.

'Hiccup, I...I didn't have a choice. The king ordered me to, and I have sworn to live under him like the other lords. I am truly very sorry, my son. But you will compete in the Highland Games, and then be presented as a suitor for the princess of Dun Broch.'

Hiccup sat down, his hand going to his head in shock.

'Mum wouldn't have wanted this...' He murmured, and Stoick sat beside him, putting a massive hand on his son's back.

'I know. But I didn't know what to do. As chief, and possibly king, you will learn this one day. Not every problem we face is easy, and we make the best of whatever the consequences of our actions are. It is the way of life, Hiccup,'

The young Viking sighed, his head in his hands.

'As it is...you are a bright young man, loyal and clever and fair. You have done things that no other Viking could have done. And I believe you are more than ready to be in a position of power. If you aren't chosen by the princess, you will take over as chief of Berk when you return home.'

xXx

Hiccup crawled into bed beside Astrid, his arm snaking around her waist and pulling her closer to him. She was crying quietly, so he kissed her neck and her shoulder.

'I know we've had problems, Hiccup,' she whispered, and he nodded in agreement. He might not feel the same way he had about Astrid, but it killed him to see her so defeated. She rolled over so they were facing each other, him still holding her small body close to him, and her free hand playing with his dark brown hair.

'I know we've had problems. And I'm not stupid, I can feel us drifting apart. I don't know...what this will do to us. So I'm asking you...do you love me, Hiccup? Will you be with me?'

Hiccup sighed.

'I did. I thought you were all I ever wanted. But ...I just don't feel that spark any more,' he confessed. Astrid was overcome with a fresh wave of tears, and he felt her fingers clench his shirt.

'I sort of feel the same...' She told him, burying her face in his chest. 'But I don't know what I'd do without you, Hiccup. You're the only person I ever considered being with...'

Hiccup kissed the top of her head.

'You'll still be my best friend,' he whispered to her, and she nodded.

'Except for Toothless...' She replied, making him smile.

'Except for Toothless,' he replied. She smiled and hugged him tight.

xXx

~Merida~

"I stand alone on the hillside
The scent of heather about
I am so free of the city
That I leap and dance and shout

The curlew and the lapwing
They look for a moment at me
Then they whoop and dive together
For they understand my glee"

William had the kind of voice that was soothing, that made poetry actually sound pretty. She could have listened to him reading to her all day. She briefly wondered if William even remembered that he was reading to someone, and wasn't just reading the book out loud to himself.

"I can fancy I hear them singing
As I see them flying along-
"Here is a weary old fellow
Who is still in love with our song

"Let us sing him our shrillest and wildest
That it may sink in his heart
And be with him again in the city
When he turns his face to depart"'

William glanced up at Merida, making sure she hadn't fallen asleep. She smiled widely at him, encouraging him to finish.

"And over moss and moorland,
They swoop and wheel and sing
Til the very ferns beside me
Begin to quiver and swing

And ever, as if from dreamland
The wind brings this echo along -
"Here is a weary old fellow
Who is still in love with our song"'

William closed the book and gently rested it on his knee.

'What do you think?' he asked, sounding hopeful.

'I might start liking poetry if it was you reading it, Will. You're very good at it,' she complimented, sitting up and moving her hair out of her eyes.

'It's what I love. You're good at archery for the same reasons, no doubt...'

Merida nodded, standing up and stretching her legs. William put the book away, and joined her at the door.

'Would you accompany me to the dining hall?' He asked. Merida had noticed how polite he was, and it made her smile, and nod. Deep down, she knew she might break his heart, but she was enjoying his company too much to worry about it now.

How selfish, she was.

xXx

~Hiccup~

'Citizens of Berk!' Stoick addressed the Clan in his deep, booming voice. 'We are thriving. The completion of the village is a milestone, and I wish to thank each and every one of you for all your help with this. I know this has been difficult for all of you. But you have adapted well, like I knew you would. Let this be known; we may be under Scottish rule, but we will never forget who we are deep down. We are Vikings! And we will make our mark on this land!'

The Vikings cheered, stirred up by the leaders great passion. Hiccup groaned internally, knowing what came next.

'Now, in a month or two, the king holds his annual Highland Games. We will attend, and we will do our Clan proud. And my son, Hiccup, will be vying for the hand of the Princess of Scotland herself!'

This was old news in the village. Snotlout had made sure to tell everyone that Hiccup and Astrid were no longer dating. He seemed to find some sort of twisted joy in the fact. But they still applauded Hiccup, all knowing that the decision had cost him a relationship that should have ended in marriage and a family of his own.

'Now, I know it hasn't been easy on the lad, but I know you will all support him, and we will all do our best to make our Clan stand out in the upcoming games. Gobber?'

'Yes?' replied the blonde Viking, stepping forward.

'We start training. Everyone who wishes to compete. If they want us to be compliant, well, we'll give them a Highland Gathering they won't forget,'

xXx