Chapter Ten
Happy Ending
From their positions in the water several yards away from shore, Stoick and Fishlegs watched and listened as Hiccup and Astrid sang together, pouring out their hearts in song as only a merman could. It surprised them that Astrid was able to join the prince in his music. They'd never heard of a human being able to sing with merfolk. But then again, they'd also never heard of a merman falling in love with a human. Clearly there were still many mysteries left unsolved regarding the link between the humans and the merpeople, questions that would probably never be answered.
Then they watched as Hiccup and Astrid kissed. Stoick felt his heart sink.
"He really does love her, doesn't he Fishlegs?" he asked.
"Mm," Fishlegs, replied, nodding. "Yes, he does, Your Majesty." Then he looked at Meatlug and sighed. "It's so beautiful, isn't it girl?" Meatlug rumbled in agreement.
Stoick sighed and observed as Hiccup pulled back, breaking the kiss. He said something to Astrid, but from where he was he couldn't hear the words. Whatever it was, though, it made Astrid look as though her heart was breaking. It must have been a farewell.
Stoick considered for just a moment before he murmured, "Well…I guess there's just one problem left."
"And what's that, Your Majesty?" Fishlegs asked.
Stoick looked down at his hammer. "How much I'm going to miss him."
Fishlegs gaped at him, but Stoick didn't answer the unasked question. Instead, he raised the hammer, and the head immediately began to glow a bright gold in color. Then he leveled it at his son. Waves of light radiated from the hammer, illuminating the dark night, streaking along the surface of the water until they engulfed Hiccup's lower body.
Hiccup gasped and looked down at his tail, utterly bewildered. Then his eyes widened and a broad smile spread across his face. He twisted around and saw his father drifting a short distance away. The king nodded his head in acknowledgement, and Hiccup understood.
His heart leaping with joy, Hiccup rose out of the sea, his brand new legs taking his weight easily. He was clothed in a regal blue tunic with matching leggings, complete with a cape that trailed into the water at his feet. Astrid gaped at him in shock but laughed when Hiccup threw his arms around her, hugging her tight. "Astrid!" he gasped. "Oh gods, Astrid!"
Astrid returned his embrace, running her hands through his hair. "What…what does this mean?"
Hiccup drew back and gazed into her eyes, still grinning. "It means my father's letting me go. I can be with you. Forever." He ran his hand across her cheek. "I love you, Astrid."
Astrid's eyes filled with joyful tears. "I love you too, Hiccup."
And without another word, they leaned forward and kissed again.
…
They were married within a month. It was a rather unconventional wedding, which was only fitting for such an unconventional couple. The ceremony took place on the beach where Hiccup had first sung to Astrid, yearning to somehow join her in her world above the waves. The entire village was in attendance, as were a good number of merpeople from Hyacinth, two worlds finally united as one. Hiccup wore the blue tunic and cloak his father had procured for him, while Astrid looked radiant in a floor-length white dress. A flower crown rested atop her golden hair, and more than once Hiccup thought he might just faint at the sight of her.
They exchanged their vows and ancestral swords, as was customary for Vikings. Hiccup had fretted about what sword he was going to give his new bride, but Stoick had risen to the occasion magnificently, presenting his son with a blade unlike anything the people of Berk had ever seen. The blade was long, slightly curved, and engraved with elegant, swirling patterns that mimicked the motions of the waves upon the sea. The hilt was gold and inlaid with a series of sparkling sapphires. The jewels were a perfect complement to Astrid's eyes, which widened in awe at the sight of the sword. Always one with a good taste in weapons, she knew there was nothing that could compare with this gift.
The vows were even more untraditional than the sword. Hiccup and Astrid had discussed it beforehand and decided that their wedding ought to reflect both of their cultures. So naturally, their vows were exchanged in song.
Hiccup began when prompted:
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With ne'er a fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you will marry me"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw several Vikings exchanging bewildered looks. No one had ever heard vows done in song before. But he paid them no mind, focusing his entire attention on Astrid, taking her hands in his as he continued singing.
"No scorching sun nor freezing cold
Will stop me on my journey
If you will promise me your heart…"
He stopped and waited for Astrid to pick up the next line. There was a slight pause, and he could tell she was a little nervous: after all, she didn't ever sing in public. But she was Astrid Hofferson – soon to be Astrid Haddock – and fear had never stopped her before. So she straightened and, looking Hiccup in the eye, sang:
"And love me for eternity"
Hiccup smiled at the sound of her voice. Around him, he heard gasps and sounds of delight. Clearly he wasn't the only one to be taken with Astrid's singing. This seemed to bolster her a little, for when she continued, her voice was a bit stronger.
"My dearest one, my darling dear
Your mighty words astound me
But I've no need of mighty deeds
When I feel your arms around me"
She held up her arm and Hiccup, still smiling, imitated her, bracing his own against hers as they began to dance. The Vikings' eyes widened but the merpeople, accustomed to such displays in moments of high emotion, merely smiled.
As they danced, Hiccup picked up the song, increasing the tempo slightly.
"But I would bring you rings of gold
I'd even sing you poetry
And I would keep you from all harm
If you would stay beside me"
Astrid, grinning and a little breathless, continued the song:
"I have no use for rings of gold
I care not for your poetry
I only want your hand to hold"
As they spun around, Hiccup interjected:
"I only want you near me"
They sang the remaining lines together, twirling around, laughing joyously, unaware that around them, the people were actually starting to get into the music, now that the shock of it was wearing off. Claps and cheers mingled with their voices as the song got a little faster, but neither Hiccup nor Astrid noticed: they were both focused only on each other and their vows.
"To love and kiss, to sweetly hold
For the dancing and the dreaming
Through all life's sorrows and delights
I'll keep your love inside me"
The song got faster and faster, spinning toward its conclusion.
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With ne'er a fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you will marry me"
The song finished, their vows said, Hiccup and Astrid leaned in for a kiss. Only then did they become aware of the sensation they'd caused. Laughing a little breathlessly, they held each other close until the next step of the ceremony – the race – was announced.
The traditional race to the Great Hall was replaced with a race to the docks. Hiccup won, though some, Snotlout included, contested this. But, as Gobber pointed out, there was no rule that said the groom's dragon couldn't help him out a little.
The rest of the party took place on the open sea. Those with legs boarded a ship – the same ship, in fact, that had hosted the party the night of the Sea Witch's defeat, now good as new with a little help from Stoick's magic hammer. Hiccup lifted his bride into his arms and helped her over the "threshold," that is, the side of the boat. Then followed another part of the ceremony: the sword throw. Hiccup had to throw the sword Astrid had given him into the mast of the ship. If it stuck, it meant the marriage was to be successful. If not, well…it was just a tradition, after all…
But he need not have worried. Finding strength he didn't know he possessed, Hiccup hurled the sword and the blade sank into the mast, quivered for a moment, and held firm. Cheers went up from both the docks and the water.
Gobber took up a hammer and blessed the wedding ale, and both Hiccup and Astrid drank from the mug, thus sealing their union.
After that, the partying began. There wasn't much room for dancing aboard the boat, but Hiccup and Astrid managed to share a brief, if slightly clumsy, jig. Wodensfang joined the celebration and tried to contribute a song in honor of the bride and groom, but mercifully Toothless convinced the little dragon to be quiet after only a few notes.
As the sun began to set, Gobber announced that it was time to return to shore. Hiccup leaned over the side of the boat to say good-bye to his family and friends. He took Fishlegs' hand. "Thank you, Fishlegs," he said. "For everything."
"What are friends for?" Fishlegs replied, grinning. "We'll come up and visit soon, okay?"
Hiccup nodded but before he could say anything he heard a sharp cry of "Hiccup!" and looked around. His sister Camicazi was swimming their way, her arms crossed. "Look what you've done!" she said with a pout.
"What are you talking about?" Hiccup asked, frowning.
Camicazi flipped her long blond hair out of her face. "Now that you're human, I'm next in line for the throne, so Daddy's been training me nonstop for the past three weeks! I'm about to go out of my mind!"
Hiccup chuckled. "Sorry about that, Cami."
"Not nearly as sorry as we are," Fishlegs interjected. "Can you imagine her as queen? We're all doomed!"
Hiccup and Astrid both laughed at this. Camicazi glared half-heartedly at Fishlegs but couldn't quite suppress a smile. Turning to Hiccup's new bride, she said, "You'd better take care of my big brother, or else you'll have to deal with me."
"Don't worry," Astrid replied, taking Hiccup's arm and smiling at him. "I will."
Hiccup grinned and kissed her on the cheek. Camicazi smiled, and there wasn't a single trace of teasing in her voice when she said, "Be happy, Hiccup."
"Thank you, Cami," Hiccup replied, taking her hand briefly. "I will."
Camicazi nodded and sank back into the water. Still smiling, Hiccup turned to his father. Stoick was beaming proudly at his son, but he didn't say a word as he rose up on a small swell of water, raising himself to Hiccup's eye-level. They gazed at each other for a moment. Then Hiccup wrapped his arms around the king in a warm embrace. "I love you, Dad," he murmured.
Stoick didn't trust himself to speak, so he merely hugged his son tighter for a moment. Then he pulled back, lowering himself back into the sea and waving fondly at Hiccup, who returned the gesture. Then he turned to his wife.
The song burst forth from his heart as he pulled Astrid close, taking her into his arms.
"Now we can walk
Now we can run
Now we can stay all day in the sun
Astrid, smiling sweetly, sang the next line:
"Just you and me"
Hiccup, his heart swelling with joy, added:
"And I can be"
And they both finished the song together:
"Part of your world"
Toothless and Stormfly shot blasts of fire into the air in celebration as Hiccup and Astrid leaned forward and kissed once again. Then the boat turned around and started back toward Berk. One by one the merpeople dove back beneath the sea. Stoick was the last to leave, pausing to send one last farewell wave to his son. Hiccup returned the wave with a smile, and then the king too slipped under the surface and vanished from view.
Hiccup turned back to Astrid and held her close. He knew what was waiting for him in the coming days. He'd be expected to accept the chiefhood of Berk, a responsibility he didn't feel totally prepared for. He knew that stress and sleepless nights lay ahead.
But all that could wait for now. Because this day was about him and Astrid and the beginning of their new lives together. And that was worth every obstacle to come.
A/N: The End!
Okay…announcements…first of all, I'm sorry for using "For the Dancing and the Dreaming" again. This is the third time I've used it in my HTTYD fan fictions and I hate repeating myself. But…it just fit too well! How could I not use it again? I promise, though, this is the last time.
And if there are any factual errors regarding Viking weddings, I apologize. I did absolutely no research for this story and drew from other fan fictions I've read to construct this chapter. Sorry if I messed it up.
I sincerely hope this won't be the last time you'll be seeing merman Hiccup. Several of my reviewers have expressed interest in a sequel and I'm busy brainstorming and planning and outlining. It probably won't be a musical. Since I'm doing an original story, I really have no songs to fall back on like I did for this one. So no songs, sorry. However, I do have a few ideas for what will eventually become Hiccup's Undersea Adventures, a collection of one-shots that occur within this AU. It'll probably be a lot like the Little Mermaid TV show and I may include some songs where plots allow for them. We'll see. I've already got two or three stories in mind, so you'll probably see them pretty soon.
If you simply can't wait to know what happens next…here's a sneak peek of what I'm planning to do with the sequel:
Return to the Sea: Hiccup Haddock couldn't be happier with his life on Berk. It's been four years since he and his wife Astrid defeated the Sea Witch and her son, four years of peace and prosperity. The chief and his wife have a beautiful daughter, Hiccup's father Stoick visits frequently, and all seems to be well. But there is trouble brewing under the sea. It seems that not everyone is happy about the peace between humans and merpeople. Dark forces are gathering, and Hiccup will have to return to the sea if he wants any chance of preventing a war, a war that will undoubtedly destroy everything he loves.
That's the basic synopsis, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit before it shows up. I need a break! In the meantime, I encourage you to check out some of my other work. If you enjoyed this story, you may also like my story "Reaching for Sunlight," which is another gender reversal of Hans Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." It has a bit more in common with the original fairy tale but also contains components of the Disney film and the Broadway musical. It's a story I hold near and dear to my heart, and I really hope you'll check it out if you haven't already. I've also been working on a retelling of James Cameron's Titanic with the HTTYD characters. Hiccup is Rose and Astrid is Jack, and I've been having a blast with it. There's also a collection of HTTYD one-shots that I've been updating every so often, as well as a separate one-shot of Hiccup singing "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen.
Anyway, after that shameless bit of self-advertising…
Thank you all for reading this story and I sincerely hope you enjoyed it! And thank you to all those who left reviews! I may not have answered them all but I appreciate each and every one of them! I hope I hear again from you soon! :)