Chapter I: Wedding Bells
Astrid sighed again as she continued to gaze up at the sky. She was sitting on the roof of her house with her chin resting on her knees. Dressed in a simple red tunic and spiked skirt; with her shoulder cuffs removed and her thick arm wraps replaced with plain arm guards, she waited patiently for the familiar screech of a Night Fury.
Glancing down to the village beneath her, she took in all the changes Berk underwent. It had been two years since Hiccup and Toothless had killed the Dragon Queen, now known as the 'Red Death', freeing the dragons from her tyranny and creating peace between the Vikings and dragons. It was a huge mark in Viking history. And the news travelled fast. By the time Hiccup woke up from his coma, letters from neighbouring tribes were requesting for them- more specifically Hiccup- to train dragons.
Of course a life with dragons didn't mean a perfect one.
In the first few months of the peace, there were multiple accidents and mishaps with the dragons settling on Berk. Dragons would snatch food, unintentionally set fire to houses when startled, and scared the farm animals so much they couldn't produce eggs and milk. It was difficult to solve these problems, since Hiccup was away at the Paradise Sanctuary at most times. But, when he was at Berk, the villagers would always rush to him for the answers.
It was hard to adjust to the changes of the people's lifestyle, but the dragons, and people, eventually settled down. Additional features to the structure of Berk were built, such as: feeding stations so the dragons wouldn't steal food from people, custom stables where the dragons could take up residence, grooming service lodges (especially for the Nadder's as they care for their vanity a lot) and fire prevention created by Hiccup. He had introduced Berk to a new sport called, 'Dragon Racing'. Replacing the tradition of the regatta, Vikings found Dragon racing more enjoyable; Berk had a new hobby and competitive entertainment.
Astrid smiled at the view of her home. It had changed for the better, all because of one person. Shifting her gaze back to the sky, she began to, again, wait for the silhouette of the Night Fury. It would have been another hour when her concentration was snapped by the call of her name.
"Astrid!"
Looking down to the front of her house, she saw a tall, thin woman with long auburn hair tied into three braids, looking up at her. Valka Haddock. Hiccup's long lost mother.
Valka had returned a year ago. After being taken away from Berk, by a Stormcutter she called 'Cloudjumper', she had lived in a sanctuary of her own for the past twenty-one years. Taking up residence in the icy home of the alpha dragon. A Bewilderbeast, she called it; the dragon king. A large, white mountainous, dragon with thick white frills, tipped grey at the ends, on top of its head. She had been keeping herself busy by interfering with the work of dragon trappers; by freeing the dragons they captured, and destroying their fortresses. While Valka had a vast knowledge of dragons through her twenty-one year experience, Hiccup's knowledge had exceeded hers.
Hiccup had unexpectedly found Valka last year. She had been on a patrol, with Cloudjumper, around the fortress of dragon trappers, to find that they weren't catching dragons, but setting them free. Apparently, a dragon rider had freed them from the tyranny of a man named Drago Bludvist, and convinced them to let the dragons go and turn their fortress into a rest stop for dragons travelling long distances. The leader of the dragon trappers, a man named Eret, son of Eret, had directed Valka to where could find the rider. Valka wasn't familiar with the area she was pointed to, and was snatched up from her dragon and brought to the Paradise Sanctuary, where she met her son, and was reunited with her husband a short while after.
Astrid smiled down at Valka before getting up and climbing down the side of her house, using the wooden spikes attached to the outside of the roof to assist her. When on the ground, Astrid walked to the front and greeted Valka with a bright smile. Hiccup's mother was dressed in a murky yellow tunic that was tucked into the wide belt around her waist; her skirt reached down to her ankles and draped to one side, revealing her right leg in wrap-leggings and thick boots. She was a pale, thin, but tall woman, but while her figure hinted to people that she wasn't a strong woman, Valka was pretty handy with a staff and had a very fierce temper.
"What were you doing up there, Astrid?" Valka asked.
"Nothing much," Astrid replied. "Just taking in the view, because it's such a nice day today and it's not like I was watching the skies for something." Her shoulders shivered with a nervous chuckle.
Valka smiled softly. "You miss, Hiccup?"
Astrid's shoulders sagged and casted her gaze to the ground. Hiccup had left Berk to go to the Sanctuary for urgent business. He didn't say what 'business' it was, but, he had said he would back in a week. That was a month ago, and he still hadn't returned.
"It's been a month, Valka." Astrid huffed. "He said he would be back in a week. I get that he might be busy with the Sanctuary, but he hardly comes to Berk now."
"Well, running a Sanctuary isn't easy. Trust me, I know. Even though I wasn't the alpha, I was an important part of the flock in my nest." Valka replied.
"I know, I know," Astrid lightly kicked at the dirt. "But, I just can't help feeling concerned. Especially with the way he's been acting these past few months."
Hiccup had been acting suspicious lately. At first, he was walking around the village at a fast pace, with his head down in deep concentration; everyone thought it was just Stoick getting him on edge by pressuring him to focus on becoming Chief. However, it seemed that wasn't the case, as Hiccup grew more troubled for reasons no one knew.
A week after he began to act strangely, Hiccup started to lock himself in his room for hours until he emerged; with a tired expression, hands covered in dark charcoal smudges and muttering in Dragonese, not speaking to anyone. He claimed he was busy, or just walked off, every time someone went to talk to him and he was constantly sending and receiving terror messages. The twins and Snotlout tried to intercept the messages multiple times, but each attempt resulted in getting their noses nearly ripped off.
Toothless was with him all the time, warning away others who got too close. The Night Fury was the only one Hiccup would talk to. On the rare occasion, Hiccup would walk through the village, mumbling rapidly in Dragonese to Toothless, who listened intently, while making wild arm gestures or carrying something tucked under his arm.
Valka sighed sadly. She had grown increasingly worried for her son at his sudden change in behaviour. She had hoped it would just be some sort of phase or short-term situation that needed his immediate attention that would be resolved after some time. However, her hopes had dashed away when it clearly wasn't one of the two possibilities.
"I'm worried about him too, Astrid," Valka admitted. "But, I fear that whatever it is that's going on in his head is something that we aren't meant to know yet."
Astrid groaned in frustration. "Ugh! I just wish he would let us in on this stuff. He should know that we will help him in any way we can! It's like he doesn't trust us!"
"I, too wish that Hiccup would share light to his recent, odd, behaviour. But, I don't know my son enough to understand his ways." Valka's posture slouched as she said that. She sighed, disheartened, her guilt creeping back in.
Astrid turned and leaned her back against the front door of her house. "You know, sometimes, I wonder if it's worth it."
"If what's worth it?"
"Being together with Hiccup."
Valka's eyes widened in shock. "W-why d-do you think that?!" she exclaimed with a stutter.
Astrid huffed. "Being together with Hiccup has its positives, but, it also has its negatives. He's sweet, compassionate, intelligent, and courageous. He is a lot of things. However, while he is all of that, he is heir to the throne of Berk and leader of the Paradise Sanctuary. And those roles come with responsibilities. He has a duty to Berk, while also being needed to manage the sanctuary. And these conflicting schedules are hardly leaving me and Hiccup any time to spend with each other or hanging out with the other riders. And, now with his strange and secretive behaviour, it makes me doubt how this relationship will work."
Astrid looked up to find Valka staring her with a bland gaze. Her stillness began to worry Astrid. After a few seconds Valka shifted gaze to the ground in thought. Suddenly, an idea popped in her head and told Astrid to follow her.
Confused, yet curious, Astrid obeyed. She walked at a steady pace behind Hiccup's mother wondering what Valka was going to do. The young shield maiden thought back to when Hiccup first asked her out. It was two months after the demise of the Queen before he gathered up the courage to ask her. Seven months later, after a large number a dates and flights, they were ready to start a relationship as girlfriend and boyfriend. They were both a little hesitant at first, due to Hiccup's busy schedule, but they, in the end, were willing to make it work.
They walked up to the Haddock family's house, heading into the main bedroom that Valka and Stoick shared. When Valka had returned, Hiccup had suggested that they should change the interior of the house and have a fresh start as a whole family. Both Stoick and Valka agreed, thinking it was a good idea. It had taken a couple of months, but the end result was worth it.
Now, the fireplace was moved to the left side of the house, where a chimney Hiccup installed for smoke ventilation, along with the kitchen area. A small storage room was installed on the opposite side. Stoick and Valka had a bedroom located at the back of the house, connected to a washroom. While a large shed was built for Valka and Stoick's dragon, was attached to the side of the house. Hiccup had taken over the second floor. He had attached a large landing platform, for Toothless, which ran into a small hanger. Hiccup had designed his room to bigger than he last one and had built a door that lead to a balcony; and had made a private study room, that only he could enter.
Astrid stood in Valka's room awkwardly; feeling a little uncomfortable as she watched the older woman search through a chest tucked away in a dusty corner. A few minutes passed and Valka pulled out a long, white gown, with long loose sleeves, decorated with gold thread trimmings at the base of the skirt and neckline, and a lace-up at the back. Hiccup's mother held it out at full length towards Astrid.
"This was my wedding dress." She stated.
"It's very beautiful" Astrid replied.
Valka turned and carefully laid it on the bed next to her, and faced Astrid again.
"Astrid, do you know why I'm showing you this?"
Astrid only shook her head.
"I'm showing you this because it is a symbol of a promise I made when I married Stoick. A promise I broke." Valka said quietly. "And, I need to know if you can make, and keep that promise."
"What promise is that?"
"To stay by their side no matter what."
Astrid blinked. "I would never leave Hiccup's side." She protested.
Valka leaned forward and lightly gripped onto Astrid's shoulders. "I can see that, Astrid. But, can and will you always stand by him, no matter what?"
"Yes!" Astrid exclaimed.
Valka smiled. "Then he will do the same for you. Hiccup will always be by your side. Because I know he loves you. And you love him." She softly tipped Astrid's chin up. "I'm not saying it'll be easy. No relationship is. But, if you stand by him through all the doubt, every time he gets injured, gets sick, and through every argument; and he does the same for you-it will be all worth it in the end."
Astrid smiled as she listened to Valka. She was right. It will all be worth it. Valka had spoken from experience, and that gave her satisfaction. Before she could thank Valka, Fishlegs had barged through the front door.
"Astrid!" he yelled with a huge smile. "You've got to come, quick!"
"What? Why?" she questioned.
Fishlegs jumped up and down in excitement. "Hiccup's been spotted!"
Both women looked at each other in surprise in unison.
"He's here?!" Valka asked.
"Yes!" Fishlegs looked out the door. "He just landed in the town square."
Hiccup had been gone a month now, to Thor-knows-where, and suddenly comes out of the blue. Astrid was going to have a talk with him. Astrid rushed through the door and raced down the stairs with Valka and Fishlegs following closely.
Astrid was able to get a view of Hiccup leaping of Toothless before he ran into the forge, stumbling a bit. She picked up her pace and sprinted to the square. When she got there, everyone was surrounding the Night Fury and the forge, wanting to greet or question Hiccup. Astrid shoved and pushed her way through the mass of people and finally made her way to the front entrance of the Blacksmith's.
Quietly, she entered; stealthily making her way to cluttering noises and muttered curses. She found Hiccup leaning over chest that he only used for special commissions. She cautiously took another step towards him, as he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he had fished out what he looking for, before grabbing his attention by clearing throat.
The response was instantaneous. He had jumped and exclaimed in fright and accidently dropping whatever he had in his arms. Turning his body in her direction, Astrid was able to get a good look at him. He seemed to be panicked and in a rush to be somewhere, by the way he was fidgeting. She took in his attire that was different, to what he usually wore, and formal. He donned a clean while tunic, with silver trimmings and a wide black leather waist belt, brown trousers, sleek black leather boots, black arm cuffs and a black cloak that covered his right side and buckled at his left shoulder. His hair was slightly messy with beads and the stupid owl feather.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "Hi, Astrid! Hi, Astrid. Hi, Astrid"
"I normally don't care what people do, but you're acting weird," She stated as Hiccup nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, weirder."
"I'm pretty sure you said those exact words seven years ago."
Astrid rolled her eyes. "Hiccup, what is going on? Everyone's been worried about you."
Hiccup sighed in what seemed to be annoyance, and bent down to pick up the package he had dropped. "Astrid, there is nothing to worry about. I'm fine" This didn't appease her.
"That doesn't excuse the fact that you had locked yourself in your room for weeks and refused to talk to people, and then fly off without an explanation and being three weeks late!"
"There have just been some urgent matters that have needed my constant attention"
Hiccup gathered the package and tucked it under his arm and tried to walk past his girlfriend. She stepped in front of him when he attempted go around her, mirroring his moves. He huffed in irritation, and opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by a loud roar from Toothless outside.
"LET'S GO, ALREADY!"
Hiccup groaned and rushed past Astrid, before she could block him, and ran outside to where Toothless was waiting, rather impatiently. Astrid came out of the forge to see Hiccup jumping onto Toothless' saddle, placing his feet into the footholds. It felt weird that he no longer had to control an artificial tailfin, as Toothless' fin had grown fully back over the two year period.
"Hiccup!" a loud voice called. Said dragon rider snapped to where the voice came from, revealing it to be his father, Stoick, standing with his mother and the other dragon riders. "Where're you going?"
"Sorry, Dad! Can't explain! I'm late!"
As Astrid was about to yell out, Hiccup and Toothless suddenly took off, causing a large dust cloud to blow over the people surrounding them. By the time everyone coughed the dirt from their faces, the Night Fury was just a speck in the sky before it disappeared.
Astrid disappointedly sighed and shared a look with Valka. She was about to walk back to her house when she gazed up and saw a small piece of paper flittering in the air. She snatched it out of the air and turned it over in her hands and saw writing on the back it.
"What is it, Astrid?" Stoick asked, grabbing the attention of Fishlegs and the others.
She held the piece of paper delicately in both her hands, examining the neat Norse writing on it; a gold ink boarder of leaves and curls framing the writing. The riders leaned over Astrid's shoulder, all of them reading the writing in their heads.
To, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III,
Finn and Lissy
Request your presence at their wedding
The second Frjádagr of Sólmánuður, noon,
At Ebony Isle
Frjádagr = Friday
Sólmánuður = September (I assume)
Hello Readers,
I know the ending is rushed; that's because I just wanted to finish it, as it was overdue.
i just finished all my HSC exams (YAY!). So, i'm updating now as i won't be around for two-three weeks as i'm going on some holiday trips. I know i left you on a cliffhanger, but you're gonna have to get used to those, as there will be quite a few.
I'll be introducing the OC characters soon (They won't be seen very much, but they play a very important role)
A big round of applause to my editor GoddessofFanfictionn
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please review
Till Next Time =D