HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! :D CONSIDER YOURSELVES LUCKY, FOR I HAVE GONE AHEAD AND WRITTEN THE WEDDING SCENE AND DECIDED TO POST IT FOR YOU GUYS EARLY! BECAUSE OCTOBER IS SO FAR AWAY, AND SINCE I FINISHED IT, JUST, WHY NOT!? :D My final author note for this story will be found at the bottom of the page. *points* Where I thank everyone. But, until then, shout-outs! :D
GuardianDragon98: There might be some Heathet here…;) HICCSTRID OVERLOAD! GET DOWN! XD
Lightclaw's Shadow: I WANT MORE HICCSTRID IN RACE TO THE EDGE! WHY CAN'T DECMBER COME SOONER, WHY!? :D
Drew Luczynski: I should write a little one-shot or an extra chapter with this that has to do with Hiccup and Astrid's kid. That, would be pretty sweet, actually. :)
HappyPup1: Whoa! Don't hurt me! *runs*
LunarCatNinja: Thanks! I'm glad! :D
Letstellstorys014: Hahahaha, thanks so much! I'm glad you like how I portrayed Valka, and I'm glad you're looking forward to the wedding! :D Like you said: So much fluff, it could be made into a teddy bear. I like that! :D
IonitaMircea32: That's kind of a tricky question to answer...well, in Race to the Edge (Gone Gustav Gone, specifically), we saw a big scene full of Hiccup glaring at Dagur. It's obvious that Hiccup hates Dagur, even though I don't think he would actually say it out loud. If Dagur were to capture Astrid or Toothless and come close to killing either one of them, I think Hiccup would definitely react violently. I'm not so sure he'd kill Dagur, but at the same time...he might. It's really hard to say. :) I am hoping for an episode where Astrid does get captured by Dagur, and Hiccup and Dagur have a really, really, really epic battle scene. That would be awesome! :D
silverwolvesarecool: WEDDING! :D
clank2662: HOORAH! :D
ParagonNight666: I'm glad you liked the chapter so much! :D And I'm glad you like this story! :) Well, you may not think you deserve a Golden Globe, but regardless, I think you do, so here! *hands Golden Globe to you* And no take backs! :D
neobendium: That would be funny, although I'm not sure I'll do it in this particular story. But would you mind if I saved the idea and used it for a future story, possibly? :D Thanks for the review! :D
AnimeAngel: I know, right? It's like...wow. This time last year I was still posting the "How Not To" series and fangirling so hard whenever I got a review. Seriously, when I first started fanfiction, every time I got a review or a new follower, I went around telling everyone. XD *buys more cake when we run out*
Twilightandpercyjacksonlover30: HICCSTRID WEDDING! EEEEEEEEKKKKKK! :D I'm not amazing! YOU'RE amazing! :D Thanks for the review, and you're welcome for the shout-out! It's just me saying "THANK YOU FOR BEING AWESOME!" :D :D :D
LiviLovesDragons: I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE IT, EITHER! WHY CAN'T DECEMBER 16TH GET HERE SOONER! WHY!? *bangs head against keyboard repeatedly* ASDHGEHJ. ASGHJDSGHJDE. ASGHJEIFNJKSND. KJDHJFHEBSD. HJKEHRBDMSBDSM. XD I have actually written a few fanfictions where Hiccup dies...just not too many. If you want me to write another one, I will. Because I am evil. :D
nightfury123: Sweet! Lefties are awesome! :D I'm not lefthanded, but for some reason, my left hand is my stronger hand. I can't write with it to save my life, but I do a lot of other things with it. I'm weird, probably. :) I have a lot of lefthanded friends, too. :D YAY, RELEASE DATE! :D
thearizona: Yeah. Poor Hiccup. He's such a dorky idiot but we love him. :D Sometimes, I wonder how authors would describe me in a book if they were writing about me. They would probably say something like, "And then there's this moron…" XD Yep, you got those mind wheels turning! THERE IS NO ESCAPE! :D Thanks for the review! :D
Eeveecat1248: Aha! Old English, thanks! :D Old English is not my biggest strength. :D
MessyBessyJackySassy: Aww, thanks! :D Yeah, Hiccup's so adorable when he's hyper. :)
Iris Patton: You're welcome! :D Thanks! :D
LissanFuryEye: OH YEAH! *fist pumps*
Heather fiddled with the hem of her dress nervously. She wasn't used to wearing formal clothes, but she supposed it was a special occasion. Instead of wearing her usual black shirt and metal plated skirt, she was wearing a black and silver short dress with the top part of the dress black and the skirt part of the dress silver, so it matched her dragon's scales with almost too much perfection. Her hair wasn't braided, as it usually was. Instead, it was let down, reaching the mid point of her back, wavy due to the braid she constantly kept her hair woven in. She had a black rose tucked behind her ear.
The Great Hall had been rearranged to fit the occasion. Over the past few weeks leading up to this day, Snotlout, the twins, and some of the other Berkians (and even some of the Berserkers) had worked on moving the tables against the walls and setting rows of benches in their places, leaving a wide aisle between the rows. l
Gobber stood at the very very front of the hall with Gothi standing beside him. Out of all the people on Berk, it didn't surprise Heather that Hiccup and Astrid had chosen Gobber.
It only made sense that they would.
The Berserkers had returned to Berk, just for the occasion, and really, it was at Heather's wish that they did. Heather wasn't going to miss this day for the world.
Heather sat at the bench in the very front of the hall with Snotlout sitting beside her and Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut sitting further down the bench. The twins were chatting, as were the other Berkians and Berserkers in the Great Hall. Heather glanced over her shoulder; all the benches were filled with villagers, young and old, of all ages. They were all talking in hushed tones, some louder than others, about things Heather couldn't make out from her position.
Across from her, Fishlegs sniffed. "Oh, this is going to be amazing," he breathed excitedly. Heather leaned over to look at him, her eyes laced with confusion. Fishlegs met her gaze. "I have to say," Fishlegs said, "I never thought this day would actually come!"
He sounded so dramatic. Heather wouldn't have been surprised if he started crying sometime soon.
Snotlout elbowed Fishlegs. "You'd better not cry on me, Fishface," he said. "And how could you not have seen this day coming?"
"Hey, Snotlout," Heather elbowed her cousin playfully, smiling teasingly. "Just wait until it starts. We'll see who's crying then."
Snotlout elbowed her back; elbowing seemed to run in the family, Heather noted with a small smile to herself. "Don't start, Heather," Snotlout said.
Heather simply shrugged in response. "Don't say I didn't warn you," she said.
"We're not going to cry," Tuffnut and Ruffnut said in unison as they leaned forward to look at Heather. They were sitting at the very end of the bench, farther away from Heather than anyone. "We made a promise. A Thorston promise."
It was so amazingly scary, watching the twins speak in unison like that as though they could read each other's minds. Heather used to think it was because they were twins, but now, she knew it was just because they were creepy.
Heather shook her head. The twins rarely kept their promises, no matter what they were. Heather opened her mouth to say just that, when suddenly, the hall grew quiet, all in one instant. In the corner of the Great Hall, three fiddlers took up their instruments and began playing a soft, soothing melody in three-part harmony. The tune floated through the hall so that all present could hear it with clarity.
The doors of the hall were opened, and Valka and Hiccup walked through. All heads whipped around in that direction, including Heather's.
Hiccup was wearing his usual apparel, only his leather armor was polished, and there was a red, hood-less cloak draped over his shoulders. His hair was still untamed, as it usually was, except, it looked as though someone had at least tried to smooth it out. On his forehead in black ink was a mark Heather recognized: an upside down semi circle with a smaller, right side up semi circle inside it. A line was drawn through them both.
The mark of the Chief.
It only made sense.
It was the Chief's wedding, after all.
Valka stood at his side and walked beside him, her hand on his forearm. Heather couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow hit her when she saw the empty place on Hiccup's right.
Stoick should have been there, leading his son forth with Valka. Heather couldn't help but think about her and Hiccup's deceased father for another moment. He would be so proud of you, Hiccup, she thought, as if Hiccup could hear her.
Once they reached the front of the hall, Valka laid her hand on Hiccup's shoulder, smiled reassuringly, Hiccup smiled back, and then, Valka moved to sit down at the front bench, across the aisle from Heather's bench.
Next, came the ringbearer; a young boy, carrying the rings in a small, wooden box without a lid. Behind the boy walked Gustav Larson, who was guiding the younger boy down the aisles and towards the front of the hall.
Heather knew that at one point, Gustav had liked Astrid, but it was only temporary, and for that, Heather was thankful. Astrid was, too. Heather remembered her telling her at one point that Gustav drove her up the wall and made her want to pull her hair out.
Heather didn't blame her for feeling that way.
Gustav and the boy stood across from Gobber and Gothi, their heads lifted towards the rest of the villagers.
Next, through the doors, walked the flower girls; two of them to be exact, young girls, much younger than Gustav. They wore matching blue dresses and carried baskets of flower petals. They sprinkled the flower petals onto the ground in front of them as they walked down the aisles.
Lastly, but definitely not leastly, came the bride.
Everyone in the Great Hall stood and craned their necks towards the door. The shorter Berkians and Berserkers stood on the benches in an attempt to see better. Heather leaned over and looked towards the door.
There was Astrid, standing beside her uncle, Finn, her hand on his forearm as he led her down the aisle. Heather couldn't help but gape. She had always considered Astrid a very beautiful girl with her sapphire blue eyes and blonde hair.
But now, she looked even more beautiful than usual. She looked absolutely breathtaking.
She was wearing a long, blue dress that trailed the ground, and it was the most beautiful dress Heather had ever seen. White laced with the blue, and a veil made from blue, see-through fabric. Her headband had blue beads sewn into it, and her blonde, wavy hair was let out of its braid, most of it down the length of her back while some of it draped over her shoulders.
Her blue eyes were bright, and her lips were curved upwards into a beautiful, honest smile that displayed her joy and happiness openly, in ways Heather didn't even know how to fully describe.
She looked like someone out of a dream, and even that was the biggest underestimate in the world.
Astrid and her uncle continued forward, towards the front of the hall. Heather heard a sniff, and she looked to the side. Snotlout, to her surprise, was the one who had sniffed, and he wiped his eyes.
Heather tilted her head at him in confusion. "Snotlout," she whispered. "Are you actually...crying?"
Snotlout jerked his head up in her direction and shook it back and forth angrily. "No," he said in a harsh whisper. "It's...it's this thing that...that...it's a tick. A tick I get when I'm...I'm...um-"
"Happy?" Heather offered, only because she knew that was the truth. Snotlout would never admit it, of course, but he was happy for Hiccup, and he was happy for Astrid. She knew he wasn't jealous of Hiccup; if anything, he was happy for his cousin.
"Hey," Heather shrugged, "you know, Snotlout, it's okay."
She smiled, and after a moment, Snotlout smiled shyly back.
Astrid and her uncle continued towards the front of the hall, and as soon as they made it, Astrid stepped to stand across from Hiccup. Finn stepped back to the side and moved to sit beside Valka in the front, watching his niece while Valka watched her son and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
Heather smiled. If only Dad were here to see this, she thought.
Hiccup and Astrid took each other's hands, and Heather looked at her brother's face. His eyes were bright, his smile reaching his eyes. The kind, honest, beautiful smile he only wore when he saw Astrid. Heather couldn't help but smile right along with her brother.
He really loves her, doesn't he.
She didn't need the clarification. She knew for years now that her brother loved Astrid, and she knew Astrid loved him back just as much. Hiccup was willing to give his life for Astrid when he shoved her clear of the ice spike, and Astrid hardly ever left his side during his entire recovery.
Slowly, the music quieted and quieted until the hall fell silent. Gobber cleared his throat quietly, and then, he began to speak.
"Fellow Berkians, and Berserkers," Gobber said; his voice was loud and echoed throughout the Great Hall. "We have joined here today, to share with Hiccup and Astrid, an important moment in their lives. In their time together, they have seen their love and understanding of each other grow and blossom, and now, they have decided to live out the rest of their lives as one."
The villagers in the Great Hall clapped; Heather's smile only grew the more the Berkians and Berkians put their hands together. Once they had quieted again, Gobber continued.
"If any person can show just cause why they should not be joined together," Gobber continued, "let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
It came as no surprise that no one said a word.
"Alright," Gobber went on further. "Who gives this woman to be wed?"
Astrid's uncle nodded. "I do," he said.
Heather smiled. That came as no surprise, either. Heather knew that Astrid's uncle supported his niece's and Hiccup's marriage. Gobber really didn't even need to ask it; the Berkians and Berserkers all supported Hiccup and Astrid.
"Hiccup and Astrid have written their own vows for each other," Gobber said. He nodded at Hiccup, took a small step backwards, and then, Hiccup spoke.
"I, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third," he said, "take you, Astrid Hofferson, to be my wife, my partner in life, and my one, true love. I will cherish our union, and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you, and respect you. I will laugh with you and cry with you, and love you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward, for as long as we both shall live."
His vow sent a small, quiet, "Aww" through the rest of the Great Hall, and Heather couldn't help but grin. Heck, she even joined in. She looked over at Snotlout, who was trying to keep his manliness about him.
Astrid smiled back at Hiccup and took a breath. "I, Astrid Hofferson," she began, "take you, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, to be my husband, my friend, my faithful partner and my love, from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my vow to be your faithful partner, in sickness and in health, in good times, and in bad, and in joy as well as sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to cherish you, to cry with you, and laugh with you. Even when your jokes aren't funny."
A chuckle ran throughout the villagers. Hiccup laughed and shook his head, as did Astrid.
"For as long as we both shall live," Astrid finished.
Gobber nodded and gestured to the ringbearer. The young boy stepped forward, and Hiccup took Astrid's ring from the box he held.
It was a beautiful ring; Heather could tell in a heartbeat that Hiccup made it himself. The ring was made up of three rings of metal woven together like a braid. One of the three cords of metal was blue.
Hiccup took Astrid's left hand in his own and held the ring in his other hand. "With this hand," he began, "I will lift your sorrows. I will guide you, and protect you, and love you forever, for so long as I live. With this ring, I give my love and commitment to you." He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Heather watched with anticipation as Astrid, smiling from ear to ear, reached into the box and took out the second ring. It was forged in the same fashion as her own, only instead of blue, the third metal band was green.
She took Hiccup's left hand. "And with this hand," she said, "I will lift your sorrows. I will support you, and follow you, and help you, and love you forever, so long as I live. With this ring, I give my love and commitment to you."
She slipped the ring onto his finger as well.
Heather wanted to clap and cheer. She was so happy for her brother, and she was happy for her friend, too. This was truly amazing. She couldn't wait to congratulate them both, again, even though she had done it many times in the past before the wedding.
Gobber stepped forward again. "Well, then," he said. "By the power vested in me, and in approval with our elder," he nodded towards Gothi briefly, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Hiccup lifted Astrid's veil, leaned in towards her, and their lips met.
The surrounding villagers practically exploded into cheers. Snotlout, the twins, Fishlegs, and everyone else in the hall sprang to their feet, clapping and whooping for the newly wedded couple. The cheering didn't stop, either. It just went on, and on, and on, and no one grew tired of clapping in joy.
Especially not Heather.
When Hiccup and Astrid pulled away, Hiccup slowly reached his hands towards her head, and he pulled off her headband. Heather knew what it meant: the headband was a symbol of Astrid's youth. Since she was married now, she had no need for it.
Hiccup gave Astrid the headband, and Astrid turned towards the crowd of still cheering villagers. Without warning, she flung the headband towards them and watched in amusement as Ruffnut and Tuffnut fought to grab it before anyone else did.
Heather laughed.
…
The Great Hall was filled with dancing Berkians and Berserkers. The fiddlers played a fast-paced tune that the villagers were dancing to. Torches lined the walls, giving light to the entire hall.
Heather stood on the sidelines, clapping to the beat of the music while other Berserkers and Berkians who didn't dance stood off to the side along with her, clapping and stomping their feet as she was. Heather was never one to dance very much, ever. She danced once, when she and the Berserkers came to renew the peace treaty between the Berkians over Snoggletog one year, but that was it.
Besides, she enjoyed watching her brother and sister-in-law dance just as much as dancing herself. Hiccup and Astrid, although neither of them were experienced dancers, danced with each other to the melody of the fiddlers. Other villagers danced with their partners, except the only two Heather was watching was the newly wedded couple.
She had never seen Hiccup or Astrid look so happy before in her entire life before. It was amazing to watch her brother and his wife so happy, especially after everything they went through the past months, between Drago's death, Stoick's death, the battle between Drago's men, the Berkians, the Berserkers, and the dragons, and not to mention when Hiccup was wounded.
It was beautiful to watch Hiccup and Astrid be happy with each other, finally.
While she had been lost in thought, she hadn't noticed Fishlegs approaching until the boy stood directly in front of her. "Hello, Heather," he said. He offered her his hand. "May I have this dance?"
Heather opened her mouth to answer, when, to her surprise, Tuffnut butted in. "Oh no you don't," he said, shoving Fishlegs out of the way. He held his hand out to Heather. "May I have this dance?" he asked.
Heather opened her mouth, yet again, when Fishlegs bumped Tuffnut out of the way again. In anger, Tuffnut shoved Fishlegs, and while they slowly moved unintentionally farther and farther away from Heather, Eret stepped forward.
"Evening, Lady Heather," he said. He bowed, straightened his posture again, and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"
Heather laughed and took his hand. "Sure," she said. "Why not."
Eret smiled, and the two moved to the dance floor.
This, is Berk.
Heather laughed. She hadn't had this much fun in a while. She had actually forgotten how fun dancing actually was, especially to a fast paced tune such as this. What she liked most about the Berkians was that they didn't care if you were a good dancer, a bad dancer, or a great dancer. As long as you were yourself, anything went.
A bit trampled, busted, and covered ice, but it's home.
Fishlegs and Tuffnut must have gotten over their argument, because as Eret spun Heather, Fishlegs jumped in, grabbed Heather's hand, and pulled her away from Eret to dance with him instead. Heather laughed.
It's our home.
Fishlegs spun Heather, and Tuffnut took Heather's hand and danced with her instead. Heather couldn't help but smile. She knew Tuffnut didn't like her; rather, Tuffnut was trying to make Fishlegs and Eret irritated. Heather didn't know why, but either way, Tuffnut was succeeding in his attempts.
Those who attacked us were relentless, and crazy.
Heather looked over to the side at her brother and Astrid. Hiccup spun Astrid; her dress fluttered around her legs. Heather smiled even bigger. Eret yanked her hand and pulled her away from Tuffnut.
But those who stopped them, oh, even more so!
Astrid laughed happily, and Hiccup did the same right along with her.
We may be small in numbers, but we stand for something bigger than anything the world can pit against us.
Tuffnut tried to get Heather away from Eret again, and in response, Eret simply kicked Tuffnut, except, he did it with such elegance that he made it look like a dance move. Heather laughed, and Eret smiled back.
We are the voice of peace, and bit by bit, we will change this world. You see, we have something they don't.
Heather looked over; Fishlegs had given up, and was dancing with Ruffnut (much to Ruffnut's dismay) with Snotlout trying to steal her from him. Tuffnut was standing in the background, dancing by himself with an imaginary partner.
Oh, sure, they have armies, and they have armadas, but we...we have…
Eret spun Heather, and across from them, Hiccup spun Astrid.
OUR DRAGONS!
The song came to an end, and the villagers cheered.
Author's Notes:
IT.
IS.
FINISHED.
OHMYGOSH THIS STORY IS FINISHED GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS I CANNOT BELIEVE IT IS FINISHED I AM SITTING HERE KINDA IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S FINISHED!
I'm going to miss writing this fanfiction, really, I am, but I'm thinking, when more Race to the Edge episodes come out, maybe I'll write a series of one-shots about what happened between "I'm Your Brother!" and this fanfiction. What do you guys think? Thoughts? Comments? Let me know what you think! :D
And I just have to say thank you all soooooooo much! Your support has really made this story what it is, and I never would have completed it if it hadn't been for you guys along the way. So...thank you for that! :D
I just have to say, that although I did try to do research on Viking weddings and traditions, the only thing I found through research was the thing about Astrid's headband being a symbol of her youth (If DreamWorks DOES to a Hiccstrid wedding, I want there to be something on that. :D) and that the wedding receptions normally last three or more days. So, wikia was not much help. Oh well. :) I had another user here help me out (ParagonNight666), so big shout-out to them. :) THANKS A BUNCH, PARAGONNIGHT666! :D
AND THANKS TO ALL YOU AWESOME PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO SUPPORTED THIS STORY, READ THIS STORY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS STORY AND WHATEVER ELSE I DO! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU GUYS A LOT! :D
Until next story! :D
-BeyondTheClouds777