Chapter Four
OMFG DON'T HATE ME I HAD SERIOUS WRITERS BLOCK OKAY
Okay guys.. in Norse mythology weddings were basically huge feasts that lasted at least 3 days but it wasn't uncommon for them to last more than a week. I've shortened it here so they have the wedding in the morning then feast until late night so the new couple can get away and.. get on with things.
Enjoy!
It had passed in no time.
Ruffnut had kept her promise to the absolute best of her ability, successfully choking any air out of Astrid's lungs with the pretty dress.
Then Ruff had handed her off to her mother, who had styled Astrid's hair in an intricate bun settled at the nape of her neck, with little strands hanging out in places, framing her face.
And in the present, Astrid was hyperventilating.
"Ohmygodsimgettingmarriedtohiccupinliketwominutesa ndidontthinkimreadyand-"
"Snap out of it, Astrid!" Ruffnut grabbed Astrid's unarmored shoulders and shook the blonde roughly, a few more strands falling out of her bun.
"Yeah.. ye-yeah.. Okay." Astrid breathed in and out, as best as she could in the constricting corset. Her expression calmed, and one of her thin arms reached out to take the bouquet her mother had plucked from around Berk.
Her mother stuck her head in the room. "Astrid. Come down the aisle in a minute, everyone's ready." Her blonde hair whipped around as she turned, shut the door, and left.
Astrid gulped. "Marriage. I.. I'm ready for this."
Ruffnut rolled her eyes. "Of course you are. You're Astrid. I'm more worried about dragon-boy in the next room; He must be shaking in his boots." Ruffnut chuckled and waved, and she left too.
And then it was just Astrid.
She fidgeted with a piece of her hair, and then dropped it. Everyone's waiting.
Another breath out.
Astrid moved her feet and positioned herself to open both of the large wooden doors at the same time, while still having the bouquet tucked neatly in the crook of her arm.
Blue eyes closed, blue eyes open.
Astrid pushed the doors open, both dramatically swooping open and quietly hitting the walls beside them.
The doors revealed the Great Hall, but not.
Astrid had only seen the Great Hall like this a few times. Each of them were weddings, but never this extravagant. Or rather, as extravagant as Vikings got. Huge red banners with skulls and striped painted in white coral paint hung from the rafters. A huge table had been positioned just off-center a few meters from the aisle. The table was laden with so much food Astrid thought it could surely feed a thousand starving dragons. Shells from the beach were strung up around the entrance and lined the aisle, directing the bride(her) to the altar. The altar where Stoick and Hiccup were waiting.
A small part of Astrid's brain registered that Stoick was the pastor, but the rest was focused on every detail of herself and Hiccup.
The corset still choked her, but it seemed to be less painful as she looked at her fiancée, her soon-to-be-husband. Hiccup was wearing a slightly-too-large light brown fur cape, a very light grey tunic with black leggings and his regular brown boot.
He was standing with his chest slightly puffed out, as if trying to seem like a more suitable Viking husband, but it didn't help with the thin image.
Astrid didn't care.
All she could see was how his features were smooth and sloping, rather than bulging and overwhelming. He stood out against the Viking background by being Hiccup. She could only see him. His face, emerald eyes sparkling, as they looked right into her blue orbs. Astrid caught her breath and she began walking. She held her bouquet in front of her waist gingerly, not wanting to crush the flowers.
But at the same time, she was trying to concentrate on everything else. Her father, in all his tall blonde vikingness, walked up beside her and led her down the aisle. Every step made Astrid more anxious and excited and nervous and she was just so emotional.
Astrid chastised herself. She couldn't start crying before she even made it to Hiccup. She was a tough warrior woman. Not a silly blubbering bride.
She was focused on Hiccup's eyes, his smile, where she would place her feet to face him.
She was so focused she nearly began jogging. But it had only been a half a second of Astrid's speed increasing before a sharp tug from her father to make her realize what she'd been doing. She gave him a slight aggravated look before slowing her steps again.
Before she even knew what had happened, she was at the altar. She was looking up the three inches to Hiccup's eyes, the three inches Astrid knew Hiccup was proud of.
Astrid gave her almost-husband a genuine smile for the first time in the forty or so seconds that the doors had been open. He seemed reassured by this show of emotion from her and relaxed ever so slightly.
Astrid looked down, also for the first time since the doors opened, as Hiccup took her hands in his. Stoick began reading the Viking vows and the village oath.
As much as Astrid wanted to remember every moment of this wedding, she couldn't help but get lost in Hiccup's green eyes, which were staring right back at her own eyes. The vows blurred in her ears and the whole few minutes of reading off the slab was shortened into a few measly seconds of gazing into Hiccup's eyes and silence swirling around her. Then Astrid could see, out of her peripheral vision, Hiccup's lips moving. He was saying something. Come on, Astrid, listen! She ended up catching the end of '-I do.'
Then Stoick was addressing her. "Do you, Astrid Hofferson, take this man, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, to be your husband? In sickness and in health? Will you honor and love him your entire life, until death do you part?"
Of course that's when Astrid's throat caught. Of course she did. Of course. Whom else would she pledge herself to so willingly?
"I do."
Her voice rang out true and strong throughout the Great Hall. It held such power and emotion that even Stoick was struck by the gravity in her tone.
"Then, I hereby pronounce you Husband and Wife-"
Astrid couldn't help herself. She punched Hiccup in the shoulder, which sent him reeling back slightly. But she caught him just a second after, and in a true prince-dipping-the-princess style(though reversed gender roles), she kissed him.
Blush tinted Hiccup's cheeks, she could tell that much. But immediately after, Hiccup kissed her back passionately, standing straight and swooping her legs off the ground. Astrid's legs dangled for only a second, as then Hiccups arm went under them and swept her into his arms.
This position broke their kiss, and they couldn't even tear their eyes off each other long enough to beam at the roaring crowd, though the sound registered in both their minds.
Astrid was smiling so wide it almost hurt. "I love you."
"I know." Hiccup replied, and then Astrid experienced a moment of shock. "And I love you too. So much." Her body relaxed again, her own mind teasing her about how she had actually thought that Hiccup would do that to her.
He seemed to realize her previous discomfort and kissed her cheek reassuringly.
Her smile hadn't faded anyways.
Hiccup carried his new bride to the head of the table and they both sat.
Astrid smiled at everyone, tearing her eyes away from Hiccup to see all the village gathering around the large table and cheering.
If you've never seen a huge crowd of Vikings celebrating a wedding, you can't possibly imagine it.
The Vikings were all yelling at the top of their lungs, some jumping around, some were hitting the walls with the butt's of their weapons, others were punching each other enthusiastically. It was utter chaos. Just an average chief's son's wedding around Berk.
The following hours, as the wedding had occurred in the morning, were full of eating and drinking and most definitely a lot of dancing. As the sun set and the time grew into the night, the newlyweds decided they would go to their new house, sixty yards up the hill from the Chief's house.
They had both been drinking, but had made sure to stay sober enough for what they were about to do.
The couple walked up the steps, before Hiccup scooped Astrid up in his arms and carried her through the premesis. "Standard pro-protocol, Astrid." He smiled, almost a little smug.
They reached the bedroom, and Astrid took one look at it.
She didn't care about the decorations much, she glanced at the bed then back at Hiccup, whom was setting her down.
Before he could react, she shoved him towards the bed.
The back of his knees hit the corner of the bed, causing him to flatten on the bed.
Astrid crawled overtop of him and kissed him hard; She got so much passion and love back that it made her dizzy.
Hiccup's hands reached up. One tangled itself in her hair, loosening the bun. The other reached a little farther down and-
CLIFFHANGER!
No sex yet, suckers!
I bet you all hate me for ending it there.
Yeah, me too.
See you soon with smut!
