-ON THE BACKS OF DRAGONS-
-Wedding PT 2-
Not a word, not a sound as the newlyweds looked into each others eyes after the kiss as time seemingly stopped around them. Everyone present held their silence as they respectfully waited, each and every one knowing what it meant to them for several minutes.
Finally, the two broke eye contact as they stepped off the alter, and it was then when the Night Fury roared out, proud and strong. Taking the call as its cue, the entire island erupted with joy and thanks, so much that the ground and air seemingly shook with delight. As everyone present either went to the feast in the Great Hall or the numerous feasts thorough out the city. After all their chief and leader just got married!
Every food item known on the planet was present in large supply at the feasts as well as an impressive variety of indoor entertainment. There was the usual poetry and music present at such gatherings, but several friends and family of the two shared their own stories to everyone present.
Of course Fletcher had quite a few stories to share of his time along side the two Alphas, so for quite some time he had the floor making everyone present laugh.
"I remember one time he (Hiccup) had gotten himself in trouble, despite my clear warnings about bears. So what does he do come spring time? Oh not much, just advance on two newborn cubs and try to pet them." Fletcher detailed the memory.
"Well it's not like you weren't any closer then I was!" The newly wed defended himself.
"True, but I had blended with nearby vegetation to disguise myself as a bush, you didn't." Fletcher reminded before continuing. "So anyway, the mother of the two cubs comes back with a fish and sees him in between her and her cubs and we all know rule number one: Never get between a mother and its offspring. Let's just say I never seen a human outrun a charging bear before or since."
Everyone broke out in laughter, each picturing in their mind's eye Hiccups' face as he scrambled to get away from the bear.
"Yeah, okay that was stupid on my part," Alpha admitted, "But I got a tale that will interest you: Back when the Corps was originally expanding, Toothless, Fletcher, Tricktrail, and I went into the kingdom of Youlidia to attempt negotiations. Now at the time our numbers were just over a hundred and we had no reputation yet. But we made such a good impression on what Dragon Riding had to offer so he "Requested" us to have a dinner with him one evening. He put on a big show, trying to persuade us that if we vowed to serve him, we'd be able to advance, but again it was just a show."
"So the next evening we do the same thing at our camp and he's being a jerk. Toothless decided to share his food, if you know what I mean and so this king is freaking out because now he has a half eaten piece of deer on his lap. Let's just say those were some short negotiations, his people were granted freedom to join the Corps ranks in exchange for someone to take it off his lap. If only all leaders were that easy to change their tune."
Again everyone broke out in laughter and the stories continued until after sundown and it was time for the newly wed couple to be escorted to their home, and bed, by six witnesses and torchlight. However as soon as Astrid and the Human Alpha stepped inside, Stormfly sensed their unease and made herself comfortable in the doorway blocking anyone else from entry, and finally Stoick called the witnesses off as their purpose was unnecessary at this point, their marriage was obvious enough.
Only the two inside knew what happened that night, and that's how it should be. . .
-On the Backs of Dragons-
The two slept together for the first time, and both were enjoying the comfort it brought until the roof started to shake, and a playful roar sounded from the roof waking the couple.
"Sorry," Hiccup yawned as he got up and put his normal flight suit back on, "Fletcher's right, more things change, the more they stay the same."
"And who ever said that was a bad thing?" Astrid yawned getting up as well.
"True, but just once I'd like to sleep in." The Human Alpha complained as he buckled on the chest piece.
"Oh, why sleep in when you could be using that time making stuff like this?" Astrid teased activating the vertical stabilizer on his armor. Of course he wound it up again while complaining on how delicate the calibrations were or some other thing Astrid didn't understand, she was just waiting for him to move his hand away from the switch.
He did, and she immediately tripped it again with a laugh.
"Oh, you're gonna keep doing that aren't you? Yeah it's hilarious, Come' ere," The Human Alpha sighed as he pulled his wife in and kissed her. The two only broke the kiss when the ceilings' shaking resumed, reminding them of the dragon outside.
Hiccup finally left the bedroom and closed the door behind him before going outside. Astrid on the other hand just stood there for a moment thinking on what all just happened before breaking a smile and changing out of her nightgown and into her clothes.
-On the Backs of Dragons-
Just under an hour later and the final parts of the wedding took place in the Great Hall where Astrid would receive the Morgen-gifu in front of several witnesses from her husband.
Most of it was jewelry and household items as usual but also included various Dragon Rider items and a brand new saddle Hiccup had made with his own hands and mind. Astrid smiled since in a way it was a message to get out of the house as much as possible. Yes she loved her new home but she loved to be free on the backs of dragons too, and now nothings stopping her!
Oh, She also got the keys to her new home, but she really didn't care about that at the moment, why should she?