Acceptance
Author: Nightstar Fury from Nightstar Productions.
Rated: M for Mature.
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD.
Chapter 14: The Night Before.
After that night of living in their new house, Hiccup and Astrid had never been busier preparing for the big day. Astrid was running around with her mom, Hiccup's mom, and Ruffnut planning wedding things, and Hiccup was taking care of everything else. It was hard in the beginning for Hiccup to get in to the swing of being out all day and manning the village but he got used to it after a few weeks. The early mornings, and late nights took their toll since Hiccup and Astrid barely saw one another. Astrid would get home first, cook up a dinner then go to sleep. Hiccup arrived much later, ate and fell asleep beside her. Mornings are where they only saw each other for 15 minutes, then they went their separate ways. It wasn't all bad, Hiccup did his chief duties on Toothless, so he often saw Astrid in the village with his mom and her mom. Hiccup's main duties were patrols, settling conflicts, finding solutions to improve things, checking the food store house and sending people out to do different things. Hiccup took everyone by surprise by appointing a second in command, who ended up being his own cousin, Snotlout.
It had been an idea his father gave him a night he came to see how Hiccup was handling things. Hiccup confessed he was over his head with work loads and beyond tired, not knowing how to be in so many places at once. Stoick told him that he'd felt the same way when he first became chief, which is why he appointed his brother, Spitelout his second in command to help him out. Stoick suggested Hiccup find someone who could do the same. After Hiccup talked to Astrid about the idea, she suggested Snotlout since he always stood by Hiccup's side, and though the boy gave him a good amount of trouble, he wouldn't let him down if he was depended on to make things happen and that was something Snotlout was very good at, getting people to their place and giving orders. Hiccup agreed since Snotlout had grown up quite a bit since they were younger. Hiccup had called a town meeting to announce his choice, needless to say that Snotlout almost cried when he accepted the position.
Since then, Snotlout reported to Hiccup's house every morning with Hookfang asking for his orders. Hiccup would put him on the jobs he knew Snotlout would handle because of the way he was, and Hiccup took others that fell in his category such as fixing problems, making inventions, fixing weapons, and settling disputes. This kept them busy the entire first month, and now that it was coming to an end, everything ran smoothly. Now wedding plans had taken full force since the wedding would be the first day of the new month which happened to be, tomorrow afternoon. As it was now, Hiccup and Astrid were standing together in their house by the door saying a goodbye. Tradition stated by Valka and Astrid's mother, Alvilda that the bride was not to see the groom the night before the wedding so this was their goodbye, and Astrid would be staying at Valka's with her mother, and Ruffnut since they were the best of friends now. It was a little emotional for Astrid, she hadn't spend a night away from him since his return. In fear she'd wake up and it'd all be just a dream.
"Can't we just sleep in different rooms? Ruff can stay over and make sure I don't see him..." Astrid said softly. Hiccup laughed at her a bit as he stroked her cheek gently to wipe a falling tear from her blue eyes.
"Hey, it's alright. Its only one night and I'm 10 minutes away, 5 on Toothless if there's a problem. I'm the chief, I'll make a new rule...You'll be okay, Astrid. I promise. Just one night, and tomorrow we'll be married as husband and wife...And you will be spending the rest of your life with me." Hiccup told her gently.
"If I leave now...Are you sure I won't wake up and find out you're still gone?..." Astrid asked. Hiccup pulled her in to a tight hug now, wrapping his arms around her lovingly.
"Astrid, can you feel that?..." He asked her, referring to his pounding heart against her chest. "That's my heart, and it only beats for you love. This heart would not beat without you near because you are my life. I am home, and this is were I will stay. I will be here in morning, and you will see me tomorrow afternoon." Hiccup told her softly. Astrid hugged him tightly back, burying her face in his chest now.
"Okay...I believe you..." Astrid said trying to pull herself together now.
"Good. Now go on with my mom and yours. Ruff said she'd meet you there. The guys will be here soon for me too." Hiccup told her. Astrid nodded with a smile now. "I love you, Astrid. Just one night until forever with you." Hiccup said to her.
"Just one night until forever with you. I love you too, Hiccup." Astrid replied, he leaned down and kissed her deeply, she returned it of course and they held it for a few moments.
"Alright you two, break it up and save it for tomorrow night! We need to celebrate this man's last night being a free man!" Snotlout yelled barging in. Hiccup broke the kiss and glared at him darkly, he backed up with his hands up for defense. "Sorry chief..." Snotlout said now as Fishlegs and Tuffnut came in.
Hiccup sighed shaking his head slowly before looking at Astrid again. "Go on...And don't worry. I've never been a free man...My heart has always belonged to you, and it always will." Hiccup winked to her.
"As mine will always belong to you, Hiccup. I'll see you tomorrow..." She said softly trying not to get emotional again.
"That you will mi'lady! Sweet dreams, Astrid." Hiccup called to her as his mother came in and began to pull Astrid out. She managed to blow him a kiss and wave before she was taken out of sight. Hiccup sighed plopping down in his chair now.
"Something wrong chief?" Fishlegs asked.
"Nah. Don't think I've seen Astrid so emotional since that day I left, or when I showed up again after 3 years." Hiccup smiled now. "Nice to see that she isn't always so tough." Hiccup added now.
"Maybe around you, she'll still pummel us." Tuffnut said motioning to the bruise on his arm.
"You know better than to make her mad guys..." Hiccup laughed now.
"All I asked was if you two were going to have a lot of fun tomorrow night..." Tuffnut replied. Hiccup nearly spit out his drink laughing at him.
"Really! You asked her THAT? Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Hiccup said to him trying to calm down his laughter.
"Maybe. Just kidding, I wanted to see her reaction. Me and Ruff had a challenge going..." Tuffnut stated now.
"Those two fish for brains thought it'd be fun to see what Astrid would do if they asked her if you two were going to be, well you know, tomorrow night. Tuffnut said she'd blush with embarrassment and try to change the subject. And Ruff said she'd kick Tuffnut's rear end in the village square." Fishlegs sighed now.
"And let me guess, Ruffnut won?" Hiccup asked arching a brow.
"No, it was a draw. She blushed with embarrassment, then kicked Tuff's rear in the village square. Good show too." Snotlout shrugged. "Especially when Astrid threw Tuff in to someone else and started a brawl. Man it was awesome!" Snotlout smiled.
"You did break it up, right Snotlout?" Hiccup asked him.
"Of course I did, chief!" Snotlout said quickly.
"Yeah, after Valka threatened to tell Hiccup you were slacking on your job to keep peace in the village between the villagers." Fishlegs added.
"Snotlout!" Hiccup sighed in frustration. "I gave you the position as second in command to me because I trusted you to help me. No wonder Astrid came home sore. She said her and legs her from all the walking today with mom and her mom. I thought when I gave you this position, you'd have my back because you'd stop the childish like actions. Someone could of gotten hurt today and if it had been Astrid..." Hiccup snapped at him.
"Thanks Fishlegs..." Snotlout murmured looking down now. "Look, I'm sorry okay. I got a little caught up in it. I can't help it sometimes...I promise I won't ever do it again. I do have your back, Hiccup. Give me another chance, I won't let you down again, I swear it!" Snotlout said to him pleadingly. Hiccup sighed heavily looking at him.
"It's the night before my wedding. I don't want to fight about this. I made you my second in command because I knew out of everyone else you could break up a fight, and get people to relax. Like I can stop dragons from fighting. Knowing my almost wife was in a brawl and you didn't stop it immediately, makes me question if you can handle your duties." Hiccup stated. Snotlout looked down. "Only chance, Snotlout. Don't disappoint me again. Today it was a brawl, next time it could be worse...Am I clear?"
"I won't let you down again, chief. I swear it." Snotlout said with his hand over his heart.
"Good. Now, can we stop talking about. I wanted to have a good night with my friends..." Hiccup said to them.
"What do you want to do? Tell Ghost stories?" Tuffnut asked him, Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"How about we just talk about life? Eat a little, laugh, tell jokes...hopes, goals?" Snotlout suggested.
"Now that sounds more like a second in command answer to me." Hiccup said with a smile to him. The rest of the next few hours were spend doing just that. Talking about their lives, laughing, joking. They ate some fish, stew, and biscuits too. It was a great night.
(With Astrid and the girls)
"So are you ready for tomorrow?" Ruffnut asked sitting beside Astrid.
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be, Ruff?" Astrid replied looking at her. Valka came in with a few snacks now.
"Most women get very nervous the night before." Valka chuckled slightly.
"I guess I'd just be worried that something goes horribly wrong." Astrid said now looking up at the ceiling.
"Like what?" Alvilda asked her daughter with a smile.
"I don't know, just something. Look what happened at Hiccup's Chief ceremony...Dagur showing up and doing all that stuff? I couldn't believe it, and it happened all so fast. We barely had time to react..." Astrid stated looking at them now.
"Aye, I can understand where the fear comes from. That was a terrifying day..." Valka stated with a sigh now.
"We all didn't know what to do. Hiccup was the one who reacted to it. None of us knew what was going on." Ruffnut added in now.
"That's because my boy knows how to react to a difficult situation at the drop of a pin." Stoick laughed now.
"Stoick. You're supposed to be with the boys. This is a girls night. Get going." Valka stated pointing to the door.
"I know. I had to finish something up, remember what we talked about?" Stoick asked holding the small black pouch by its golden colored strings. Astrid tilted her head slightly.
"What's that?" Astrid asked now.
"Nothing you need worry about. You'll find out tomorrow. Have a good night ladies." Stoick said with a smile as he kissed Valka's cheek, tipped his helmet, and left the house. Valka shook her head with a laugh.
"So I guess all these years, Hiccup really was paying attention to his father when he was Chief. Hiccup took to it like a fish to water." Alvilda chuckled.
"Its in his blood. Though I was shocked to see him fight the way he did that day." Astrid said recalling the day Dagur interrupted the celebration they were having.
"I think we all were. Hiccup was never much of a fighter back in the day before dragons. He could barely lift a sword..." Ruffnut laughed. Astrid cracked her knuckles now and Ruffnut stopped quickly.
"You heard him, he was set off by Dagur mentioning his past, almost hurting you, and calling Toothless a pet. Stoick and I talked about it, someone pushed past the limit can make them do crazy things. Seeing an enemy hurt his best friend, almost getting you killed...It set him right off." Valka stated.
"I still want to know how he reacted so quickly. No one saw Dagur enter the hall, and in all the noise and commotion, he saw those daggers coming right at me, pushed me and blocked them with a move I've never seen him pull off before. It was like a whole new Hiccup." Astrid smiled.
"It was a very good move. But even him mentioning you to Hiccup, and almost hurting you Astrid...Hiccup snapped when Dagur called Toothless a pet and kicked him. That is what pushed him over the edge...He loves his dragon." Alvilda stated with a smile.
"That's not his dragon...That's his brother." Astrid corrected.
"Well said child." Valka chuckled.
"But it was still an awesome fight! Dagur had no idea what hit him when Hiccup attacked, and then him bringing that sword down and scaring him!? Man, I thought Dagur was going to run away crying." Ruffnut exclaimed.
"He handled it like any true chief would. His father and I always knew he was destined for greater things." Valka smiled with a nod of her head.
"No doubt after the wedding, Hiccup will start his search for new alliances. I know what he warned Dagur but a desperate man will stop at nothing. You heard the deranged boy, he killed his own father for chiefdom..." Alvilda sighed. Astrid frowned, this is what made her worry. If Dagur would return with strong forces.
"He won't be back. I think Hiccup made that very clear to him and I know my son. If he has to, to he will put an end to Dagur to prevent a war. And no village or tribe fights without their chief, they'd retreat or give up. It's almost a law of ours." Valka pointed out.
"Almost a law?" Ruffnut asked.
"Its complicated my dear. Just know that Hiccup will do anything to protect us, and the dragons. Whom might I add, I don't think anyone would dare challenge." Valka chuckled.
"What happens if Dagur is killed? I mean, who would take over since his father is dead..." Astrid asked.
"If memory serves, I believe chiefdom goes to the sibling, second in command, or in some tribes who only had one child. The next to become chief would be the next with the highest of power in the village. In our tribe...if Stoick, Hiccup, and myself were to be dead for any reason...Spitelout or Gobber would be chosen next. Whoever Stoick assigned his throne to. Its different in every tribe, but in ours each chief at their time of rule is to select at least one to take over in his place if he were to die." Valka explained.
"So right now...if Hiccup died, it'd go to Snotlout?" Ruffnut asked.
"Okay can we NOT talk about Hiccup dying the night before my wedding to him, please?!" Astrid asked in frustration.
"Of course dear. But to answer your question. Hiccup already selected his choices to take over in his absence for any reason. Those would be Stoick, Gobber, or Snotlout. Whichever was available to do it." Valka stated.
"Why so many?" Ruffnut asked.
"Unforseen circumstances can occur. Its merely a precaution, Ruffnut. A chief selects who he trusts the most to carry out his duties. In this case...Hiccup set his a specific way." Valka said as Astrid looked at her now.
"He can do that?" Astrid asked.
"The chief can do what he must to ensure the safety and protection of his village if he is gone." Alvilda spoke up now.
"How...did Hiccup set his up?..." Astrid asked now.
"It was discussed just before the ceremony, you hadn't arrived yet dear. Hiccup had called in them both, me as his witness. He stated that if anything were to happen to him. His father would stand as by law, chief. If Stoick were to pass, it'd be Gobber, and then Snotlout. But...a stipulation...You, Astrid would assume all decisions regarding the village." Valka stated firmly. Astrid's mouth dropped open.
"W–what do you mean, I assume all decisions regarding the village. I thought woman couldn't be the chieftess or whatever..." Astrid asked now. Valka chuckled now.
"Your soon to be husband is the chief dear, he can do what he has to in order to ensure the future success and safety of the village. I told you this already. As soon as Hiccup was to become the chief, he set all this motion." Alvilda said now.
"I–I don't understand. Are you saying that Hiccup made it so I...would take his place if anything happened to him?" Astrid asked.
"Yes. But...our sacred laws that Hiccup can't touch state that a woman can not lead the village on her own. Which is why, while you would make all the decisions for any situations needing them. You have to put them through Stoick, Gobber, or Snotlout. You would technically be the chieftess, Astrid and one of those three men would have to follow your orders while making it seem that they are in charge, not you. They would handle things, and if something came up, they would discuss with you in private first and await your orders." Valka smiled.
"H–how did he do this. Even if I'm giving orders behind the screen so to speak...wouldn't that still make me leading the village on my own?" Astrid asked her.
"No because you won't be the shouting orders from atop your dragon like Hiccup does. You'll be over-seeing it all while someone else does it. Stoick, Gobber, or Snotlout would be viewed as chief and giving orders that you gave to them. As long as you are not directly giving orders to the people...It doesn't affect our sacred laws and still obeys them." Alvilda said now.
"So...Hiccup found a loophole around it?" Ruffnut asked.
"Exactly. And...It is a secret. Only we, as in Hiccup, Stoick, Gobber, Snotlout, us two, and now you two are aware of it so not a word to anyone. Understand?" Valka and Alvilda said together. Astrid's eyes widened a bit now.
"W–why would he leave me in charge?..." Astrid asked now trying to take it all in. Hiccup would leave her in charge? Why? As if she can run the village? Stoick, Gobber...they would be better suited to it, now her. She snapped from her thoughts when she felt Valka's hands on hers now, she looked at Valka's eyes which were soft and she was smiling.
"Because there is not a single person on this island who he trusts more than you to protect this village and care for it like he would, Astrid. Hiccup loves you more than anything in this world and he knows you wouldn't let it fall because you're a fighter, a warrior and you never give up." Valka told her now. Astrid has to smile now as tears formed in her eyes. "Now now, no crying. We don't want red eyes before the wedding, just after." Valka laughed lightly and pulled Astrid in for a hug.
"Thank you for telling me all this..." Astrid said to her.
"Thank you for loving my son. Just promise me you'll take good care of him, he is my only one." Valka replied.
"On my honor." Astrid promised with a nod. After they all relaxed a bit and snacked, they all turned in to go to sleep. Astrid slept upstairs in Hiccup's old room while the girls stayed downstairs on bedroll outs. The rest of the night was peaceful, and everyone was burning with excitement and anticipation for the next day which was their chief's wedding to the love of his life. No one could wait.