To Kid arachnid: Thanks and I hope you'll like it ;)
To LexieFanatic: Thank you! I try not to fret too much...
And to my dear ladyamethys21: ... ... ... I... You... just... :-X
. o O o .
It wasn't like Hiccup didn't want to marry Astrid!
Gods, if there was one thing he'd been sure of for his entire life then it was that he wanted to marry Astrid Hofferson one day!
And it wasn't like he doubted her feelings either. She was strong and always knew what she wanted. And in addition, she was a Berkian, raised to the moral standards of their people that exceeded those of most other tribes. Hiccup knew she wouldn't have slept with him if she didn't want to spend her life with him as well.
Why then was this so hard? They'd already made their commitment, physically and irrevocably. They were one already, in all but name. And neither Stoick the Vast nor Osmund and Brenna Hofferson would refuse to give their consent or blessing, Hiccup was sure of that. The bride price was nothing but a formality anyway. It should be easy then, just talking to her about it, asking that simple question which's answer he already knew and be done with it!
But it wasn't easy…
Because how did one ask a Valkyrie for her hand? How could a mere mortal like himself approach someone who, even by name, was beautiful and divine and perfect like she was? He needed it to be perfect! Nothing less than perfect would do and he had no idea how to accomplish that!
"I can't do it!" Hiccup exclaimed and threw his hands up in exasperation. The sudden outcry woke Toothless and the dragon lifted his head with an annoyed warble. "Yeah, I know, bud. I know. I'm annoyed at myself right now, too. But what can I do? I…" He ran his fingers through his hair and kept walking up and down in his little bedroom.
It was long past nightfall and under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be here anymore. Normally, he would lie in Astrid's bed at this time of night where there was no overly curious dragon to watch them and no other hut nearby either. Normally, he would hold her in his arms, kiss her or whisper sweet nothings into her ear before they would both drift off into blissful slumber. But Astrid had flown to Berserker Island, together with Fishlegs and the Twins, to help with some parts of their reconstruction. She wasn't there for him to hold her so tonight, he would spend the time in his own hut for once again. She wasn't there and that left him with far too much time to think, to ponder, and to drive himself insane.
No! No driving himself insane anymore! This was a riddle that needed a solution, nothing more. He could do it, he just needed to think!
"I need… a good place and time!" Start with something simple! "Not just anywhere and in between some chores or drills. And not where anyone can interrupt us" Hiccup started to make a mental list and went on.
"And I need the first part of the bridal price, something personal, from me to her…" This was harder but manageable. Hiccup had already had an idea for that a long time ago, he just needed to get it done. And he would need Fishlegs' help to find the right kind of stone. Right, not that difficult. A light feeling of confidence bloomed inside him. Now, he just needed- "-words… I need the right words…" he mumbled and sighed. He wasn't good with words, not when he couldn't use sarcasm. But which words did one use? He didn't want to just ask, that was too simplistic. No, there had to be a better way!
Hiccup felt the sudden urge to ask his father for advice. There only had been a few occasions where he'd felt that way so far but this was one of them. Because this was important! But, of course, he couldn't do that. He couldn't approach Stoick with the reminder of Valka… Hiccup had seen how his father had mourned his mother every year again, had seen the big man's tears and had heard him sing that virtually beautiful love song in a low voice and-
Hiccup's eyes widened and a grin spread over his face. He'd found the perfect words!