Astrid is the first one to say “I love you”.
They are 19. They have been daiting since they were 16. They have been sleeping together for a very long time. She’s Hiccup’s right hand and she’s respected by Stoick and the Council for being a great warrior. It’s obvious that they are in love. Everyone knows, but… do they really know? One day, while they are bathing, Ruffnut wonders why are they not still engaged. Astrid ignores her question, ashamed and nervous for not knowing the answer, but she starts asking herself why Hiccup didn’t ask for her hand in marriage. Doesn’t he actually want to be with her?
She tries to talk with him about this, but she doesn’t have the courage. She’s scared of hearing that he doesn’t love her in that way. I mean, they are together and sex is great, but she never stopped thinking that this is actually a thing. That they may spent the rest of their lives together.
She loves Hiccup with all her heart and she’s just realised that she has never said it aloud.
It takes time until she reunites the courage to tell him. It’s a rainy day, they are in the forge. Hiccup is working while she observes him. She likes watching his hands work. They are big and rough but always tender. He looks really concentrated and she thinks how handsome he is, even if his hair is a pure mess and his face is full of dirt. She loves him so much that her heart swells in her chest.
“I love you”, she finally confesses.
Hiccup stops, but he takes his time until he looks at her.
“What did you say?”, he questions very confused.
Astrid is scared, but she cannot hold it anymore. She says it again:
She’s sure that he will reject her. She wants to cry. Scream. But, suddenly, the sword that Hiccup is sharpening slips from his fingers and now he’s holding her face while he’s kissing her. His cheeks are wet and Astrid realises that he’s crying.
He loves her. Of course he does! Since the very first moment she smiled at him he knew he would love her forever. He didn’t tell her before because he was afraid of scaring her.
But now everything is different.
Not long after that, Hiccup asks for her hand during Snoggletog, her favourite festivity.
A couple of years later, they marry in New Berk.
And once Zephyr was between her arms for the first time, she feels complete.
But there is not a day that passes without Astrid telling Hiccup how much she loves him.
And he always responds, with a beautiful smile in his lips:
“I love you too, milady.”
Thank you so much for the ask @aleteia-ff!
