Work Text:
Hiccup was sitting on the edge of the shore, smelling the damp grass and sand he was sitting on prick his nostrils. He raised his head and looked up at the blue sky, feeling a pang in his chest.
"Toothless, my friend ... I miss you, I wish you were still here" ... he thought.
“I know why you don't want to marry me. I know I can never be a good chief,” Hiccup groaned. He ran his hands through his brown hair, fingers catching on his braided hair.
“Who told you that? Maybe it's just that I'm not feeling ready," Astrid said. She pointed and sighed heavily. “I can never make you see what you are! You saved our dragons, you defeated a Night Fury hunter. Damn it, you fly on your own! People believe you are blessed by Thor.”
Hiccup shook his head and shrugged, reaching for the door, putting his hand on the knob.
“How can you see any good in someone like me? I'll never be a good chief. I'll never live up to my father.” He swung open the door and walked out, with heavy steps, shaking his head and hunching his back.
“I was an idiot."
He just wanted to give her a gift, but his speech had degenerated.
"She thought it was a goddamn wedding proposal… Which if it had been, she would have been right to refuse,” he whispered hoarsely.
He closed his eyes and dropped back into the sand with his arms outstretched. He stood still, listening to the sounds of the sea breaking against the cliff mingle with the sound of his breath.
"Only that ... it was a way to consecrate those gestures of affection that my father made to my mother," he said to himself, unaware of Astrid's approach.
“Hiccup…”
He roused himself, recognizing Astrid's voice, pulled back and stood up. The wind whipped his face, and he thought the gods had sent him a waking dream.
"Astrid ..." he whispered.
“Hiccup… We should talk. I do want to be your wife. I just ... I'm scared I won't be the queen the village deserves. You always put them first, and they respect you so much. I'm ... I'm not ... that." She clenched a fist and let it fall limp, sighing. “Lately, I'm not so tough as I thought I was. I hate that I feel like all this has made me soft, like some incurable romantic. I feel like I have to prove something and… " Her blue irises became liquid. “… I miss Stormfly. I feel like nothing without her,” she moaned, and her voice collapsed.
Hiccup rose, stepped up to her and hugged her, kissing her tenderly.
"Astrid, oh, Astrid ... but I always get so caught up in my dreams or fears that I can't even see what the people who I love most need," he whispered.
“Please. I know that you feel this too. I want you to see yourself as I see you,” Astrid choked out between sobs.
Hiccup placed a kiss on her cheek and knelt.
“Astrid, you always gave me the courage to do things. From the beginning, I wanted to prove myself to you. You've always looked like a goddess in the flames of dragons. It was because you were so happy when we rode Toothless together that I wanted people to know about dragons and love them. Whenever I saved them, the dragons or the village, it was you who inspired me. Whenever I was at my lowest, you always gave me your hand, and you always asked the most crucial question: 'what are you going to do'? You've done what no one else could do for me. So... Astrid, will you be my queen?" he asked.
"Y-yes. I want it,” Astrid whispered and her eyes sparkled.
Hiccup tried to get to his feet, but his metal leg jammed, causing him to drop forward.
Astrid grabbed him and looked him in the eye, concern instantly crowding out every other emotion.
"… Hiccup, you alright?" she added.
Hiccup gave her a lopsided smile.
"You see? You hold me up very well already, my future bride,” he said. He closed his eyes and kissed her. She returned eagerly.