Thank you to those of you that messaged me and wished me luck on my board exams. There was a bizarre chain of events that actually delayed my appointment with the testing center (idiot drunk driver wiped out power to an entire neighborhood) so I didn't get to take it. Updates will continue to be sporadic until I do sometime in the next two weeks, because I can't throw away extra study time! But as a thank you for your patience here is the next chapter.
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Chapter 6
Koen and Avita were given seats at Stoick's table on the dais and facing the door of the Great Hall, so they were the first to spot Hiccup and Cami walking in and stopping to have a word with Ingmar Hofferson. Koen prayed to all the gods that Stoick wouldn't try to start a scene because Cami was on Hiccup's arm, Stoick didn't know the betrothal was cancelled, and if he insulted Cami there would be bloodshed.
Odin must have heard his entreaties because Stoick was busy giving direction to one of the serving girls when they reached the Chief's table. It was the silence that descended over the hall at the sight of the couple that eventually caught Stoick's attention. He looked up and was gobsmacked by the sight of his son dressed like a Southern lord, with a beautiful blonde at his side in a gown the likes of which he'd never seen.
Hiccup took advantage of the momentary silence to make his announcement.
"May I introduce my wife Camicazi; second in line to be Chieftess of the Bog Burglar tribe. Cami, the Hairy Hooligan tribe of Berk and my father Stoick the Vast."
Cami nodded to the assembled villagers, gave a small bow toward Stoick, and then allowed her husband to help her into her seat. She was normally more of a weapons and breaking heads kind of girl, but she knew tonight called for a touch more delicacy and diplomacy than Vikings usually allowed for and she'd planned accordingly.
She and Hiccup were both dressed in the clothing they wore when visiting Avita's family in Rome or when visiting Koen's holdings. The fine materials of the gown, the jewels, and the fancy hairstyle were armor of a different sort. People might be shocked and outraged at the "sudden" breaking of the contract between Hiccup and the Hofferson wench, but Cami had set herself apart and out of that fight by taking the role of a grand lady. Much as she wanted to just tell them all to kiss her arse and wade into any argument with her swords swinging, she had to let Hiccup and the girl's father deal with this matter.
Stoick obviously didn't know what to make of his son's announcement. He was looking at Ingmar Hofferson oddly, obviously waiting for the man to object or demand that Hiccup fulfill the contract with his daughter… or to call for an honor duel.
They might have stayed stuck in the silent holding pattern all night, but for Spitelout Jorgenson standing up and asking Ingmar if there had ever really been a contract on his daughter or if it had been a lie he was using to drive the bride price up for men like his son.
Ingmar refused to stand, or to look at Jorgenson, as he answered.
"Hiccup wrote to me over two years ago and told me he'd fallen in love. As most of you know, his relationship with Astrid was not of their own choosing. I didn't feel right demanding he refuse a love match to honor that contract, so I released him from it. I didn't announce it because I was hoping my daughter would have a chance to find a love match of her own."
"So you deliberately withheld the information that your daughter was available when there are still young men of marrying age in Berk with no available girls to choose from? And for what reason? She's an old maid with a failed betrothal to her name now! Were you just hoping to get a higher bride price from some clueless foreigner who didn't know how tarnished she is?"
Ingmar Hofferson is, by Viking standards, a gentle man. He heals rather than maims; he cried over a litter of orphaned kittens that he couldn't save just last week, and he never acquired a liking for killing dragons before the peace. The look on his face as he finally stands and turns to face the older Jorgenson is wrathful, and all the more terrifying because it's not a look the man normally wears.
"I withheld the information to keep your family from offering for her! I would give her away for free if it was to a man I could trust to treat her well and keep your woman-beating son away from her! I offered her to Stoick for his son because I knew you couldn't afford to outbid them for her bride price!"
Spitelout's face is crimson with his anger as he demands that Stoick force this issue, and Snotlout is sneering at Astrid. He doesn't even bother with subtlety, "I'll be putting you in your place yet. Thought you were so much better than everyone else, but you'll learn."
Her hopeless eyes are darting around the hall hoping that somebody, anybody else, will at least tell her father they're interested so he can give her for free as he threatened, but she knows it's unlikely anyone will go against the Jorgensons. After the Haddocks, they're the most powerful family in Berk. The bruised and bloodied face of that poor girl from the Peaceful lands is stuck in her mind and she's approaching a panic.
"I want the girl."
The hall falls silent and everybody turns to see who is daring to stand up against the Jorgensons. She finally climbs up on the bench so she can see above the taller people around her, and her eyes find a familiar face.
"Othere?" His eyes lock on hers and he shoulders his way through the crowded hall until he's standing by her father.
"He is not a member of this tribe! He can't intrude…" Spitelout is cut off by the last voice Astrid would have expected.
"He is a member of this tribe. Has been from the moment I returned to this island and was welcomed back as heir. He's been with me for years and he plans to stay here and make his life. If he's ready to take a wife then he has every right to offer for her."
She looks at Hiccup, astonished that he would stand up for her after everything she put him through. They both know he could have stayed silent and Othere would have been rejected outright if Stoick was forced to choose between an outsider or a Berkian.
Ingmar turns to the dark haired giant, "You promise to treat her well and never physically harm her?"
His deep blue eyes catch on hers for a moment before returning to her father's face.
"I swear it on my life."
Ingmar offers his hand, "I'll hold you to that." The two men shake hands before Othere lifts her down off the bench she's still standing on and takes a seat after waving one of the serving girls over. Apparently even becoming engaged unexpectedly doesn't throw off his appetite.
Ingmar turns to face Stoick and yells to be heard over the noise Spitelout is making, "As Jorgenson said, she's well past the age to marry and has a failed betrothal. I give her to this man on the honor of his word. I have had the bride price you paid for her put aside to give you ever since your son and I ended their betrothal, I'm sure you understand why I couldn't give it back to you before now. You'll have it first thing tomorrow morning, Chief."
Astrid's heart clenches for a moment, because as Chief, Stoick has the final approval of this. He can still reject Othere's offer and hand her over to Snotlout.
"See that's she's married quickly, Ingmar. We've had more than enough drama over the lass, I'm sure you agree?"
Both Jorgenson men sneer openly at Stoick and leave the hall, slamming the doors roughly behind them.
Her father nods calmly before resuming his seat and picking up his tankard of ale. Hopefully nobody else sees the slight shake in his hand as he drains his drink and waves one of the girls over to bring him another.
"So. You are Othere, and a carpenter by trade. What else should I know about the man who's marrying my daughter?"
"I am Othere Lofgren, formerly of Lapland. I was sold into slavery by my dying father's second wife during my tenth summer so that her son would inherit. I learned carpentry and sailing before I ended up chained to the oars of a madman's ship. Hiccup and Toothless freed me, and ended up making a bitter enemy in the process. I've spent the last four years of my life following him, because he's a good man and worthy to follow."
"Why?" She can't stop herself from asking him what prompted this. "You seemed like you couldn't stand me this afternoon, why would you do this when you don't have to? I'm very grateful, mind you… I'm just confused."
She thinks he won't answer for a moment, but then he sighs. "I was with Hiccup when word reached him about his cousin brutalizing that girl. He and Cami hadn't been involved for long, and he was technically still promised to you. He knew his cousin always coveted you, and he was feeling horribly guilty that by asking for his freedom he could be endangering your safety. He was willing to leave Cami and come back for you to keep that from happening, but I talked him out of it."
He sees the flash of hurt in her eyes, and takes her hand without stopping to think, "I'm sorry. I didn't know you, other than what he told me about your actions. I could see how much they loved each other, it would have killed him to give her up."
Her voice is small, "So you offered for me because you felt guilty?"
"No." He smiles and shakes his head. "I offered for you because I couldn't stomach the thought of the feisty girl I met this afternoon becoming some broken down and beaten dolly; a plaything owned by a cruel little boy in a grown man's body."
He pats her hand one final time before placing it on the table between them and going back to his meal, talking above her head to her father in brief spurts between bites as the two men try to hash out details.
She suddenly regrets all of her stupid, stubborn refusals to get any sewing done for her wedding and her own home while she actually had years to work on it. She has no wedding gown. She has no linens prepared. She has no clothing appropriate for a married woman. Othere is telling her father he'll have a house built by the end of the month, she might be able to get enough linens and everyday dresses to wear until winter sewn if she puts in extra hours and begs her mother to help, but there's no time or material to make a wedding gown.
"What's troubling you, Little one?"
She looks up, startled to be called out on her inattention, "I was just thinking about how much I have to do and how little time. I won't have time or materials to make a proper wedding gown, and it's my own fault because I should have made it years ago."
He laughs quietly, "Fear not. I've been going on trading voyages for Cami's father with Hiccup for years and I have more fabrics than I know what to do with. Bring your mother tomorrow and I'll have Avita help you two pick whatever you need. I'm not rich in coin, Astrid, but I have enough in tradeable goods and my own labor to support you well enough."
Ingmar hears the quiet conversation between the two younger people, and hides a sigh of relief in his tankard. Thank Odin his instinct to trust this man paid off. They don't love each other, but he doesn't have to worry for her safety and the large man obviously cares enough to try to make her happy. He hasn't felt this secure about his daughter's future since the day he sealed that letter to Hiccup, releasing him from their betrothal.
Up at the Chief's table, Hiccup hides a smile behind his hand. The last of the guilt he felt for leaving her vulnerable fades away as he watches his large friend smile reassuringly and pat her hand again.
"Kind of shocked me when Othere stepped in."
He looks at Cami, "I wasn't surprised. He knows what my idiot cousin is capable of and he'd never leave a woman to suffer something like that."
"Hm." Her face screws up a bit, then relaxes. "Never thought I'd say this, but I guess I should be nice to her. I love Othere and I don't want to hurt his feelings by offending his new betrothed."
He smiles at her and leans over for a kiss. He meant it to be quick, but as usually happens, it becomes something maybe a little less than appropriate for public, as evidenced by someone in the crowded hall catcalling him. He breaks from her lips with a grin, and raises his hand to wave in good natured acknowledgement of the heckler.
"You don't have to be her best friend, but when she marries Othere she'll be part of our group which means if we decide to go to visit Rome or Gaul she'll be coming with us. I think being nice can't hurt when we'll be spending months at a time travelling with her."
She leans her head against his shoulder, her fingers coming up to toy with the velvet of his tunic. "We're technically Othere's clan leaders since you saved him and his stepmother disavows him. What should we give them for their wedding gift? It has to be good."
He stares off for a moment thinking, "Hm. Well, I planned on giving Othere enough money to pay for the first year." She smiles and nods at that. "I don't really have any ideas for her."
She gives him an exasperated look, "Well, what does she enjoy?"
"Hel's breath, Cami I have no clue. It's not like I kept in touch with her for the past five years. Maybe we can have Avita dig for some information? She's good at getting people to talk."