The days up until the wedding blurred together in a flurry of preparations, the hype overwhelming at times. The village was in a frenzy awaiting the big day with a mix of excitement for a spectacular feast and hushed anticipation to see if the scrawny heir of Berk would screw up his own wedding in a way that only Hiccup could.

Stoick's eyes twinkled down at him in a way that Hiccup hadn't witnessed since he was a young boy. His father's thick fingers fumbled with the small clasps of his fur mantle. With a gentle pat on his back, that still jarred Hiccup's balance, he followed Stoick to the Great Hall.

Astrid caught the tremble of Hiccup's hands as she drank from the union cup he held out to her. She'd been premed and prodded all morning by a sea of hands, draped in an elaborate gown and fur mantle, hair swept up in the intricate marriage braid that pulled tightly at her roots. Her fingers itched for the handle of her axe, the familiar rush of the training arena more desirable than being presented for all of Berk as a prettied-up doll being given away.

The only consolation was Hiccup seeming just as timid and unsure about the marriage as her. The ring dangled precariously on the pommel as they exchanged swords. The closer to the end of the ceremony, the more Astrid felt as if she were sinking into a hole.

The next ritual would be the sword driven into the beam to signify the success of the marriage. Astrid didn't solely believe this sign would predict the future, but she was suddenly praying that Hiccup would at least be able to hold the heavy weight of the sword upright. As he gripped the hilt awkwardly, he glanced at her and she gave a tiny nod of encouragement.

With great effort, Hiccup plunged the sword forward, sinking the tip into the support beam. A look of shock crossed his face as he stared at the sword stabbed into the wood. His eyes were switched to her as a bright smile burst onto his face, Astrid returned the expression.

They may not have chosen each other out of love, but if there was one thing Astrid strived for, it was to be successful at everything she did.

With Astrid adorning her special wedding night apparel, she and her attendants waited for Hiccup and the other men to arrive. It wasn't long after the group of men entered the room that the handsal – the final engagement negotiation - was observed.

The silence hung thickly in the room as Astrid bowed her head for Hiccup to remove the bridal crown. Satisfied that this was, indeed, the correct bride, the group of men and bridal attendants left the room. The door shutting behind echoed a finality that reverberated through the new husband and wife.

Astrid folded arms over her chest, feeling naked though she still donned a clothe barrier on her body. Her bindings had been removed revealing the peaks of her breasts. The slinky material of the nightgown clung to her curves far too lightly.

Hiccup finally worked up the courage to lay eyes upon her. A shuttering breath escaped him as he did a quick scan of her entirety. He'd never seen a woman dressed in this manner before. He figured if he'd grown up with his mother around, that he'd been exposed to more womanly habits and views that happened behind the walls of a complete family's home.

Astrid would be his first experience with a woman in a domestic setting and the idea was currently frightening him out of his wits. His hand ache to touch her, but where? He wasn't sure yet. Her round cheek, the curve of her hip, the creamy extent of her arm. He swallowed hard around the burn of his throat at just the mere thought of those places on her.

But Astrid's posture was guarded, and he stayed his distance. He wouldn't make a move until he had her permission.

"So," Hiccup said awkwardly, his shoulders quirking up in a nervous twitch, "here we are."

"Yep, here we are." Astrid strode swiftly to the bedside table. Hiccup craned his neck curiously to see what she was retrieving. She planted a foot on the bed, hiking up the skirts of her nightgown. The glint of steel flashed in the candlelight.

Hiccup jumped forward with an outstretched hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What is that for?"

Astrid paused at his distress, the dagger hovering close to the skin of her ankle. "My mother said when consummation happens, my maidenhead would be broken and there would be some blood that seeps out."

"Blood?" Hiccup squeaked out.

"Just a small amount," Astrid reassured eerie calmness. "It's a natural occurrence."

Blood during sex was never mentioned in anything his father told him or mixed in with the blustering snippets he heard in the Great Hall. "But what-what's the dagger for?"

Astrid rolled her eyes. "It has to look like we consummated the marriage."

Forgetting his askewed sex education, Hiccup's shocked expression dropped. "You don't want to make our marriage…real?"

His head hung low, crestfallen by the realization, as he plopped down on the bed. His disappointment was genuinely sincere. He wasn't eager to claim her as his own through physical means – at least not yet. But this part of the marriage had been stressed with the utmost importance.

Astrid sat beside him, her heart going out to the boy. "Are you ready to do this?" she asked, her own anxiousness creeping into her voice. "Because I don't think I am. But if you are ready, I won't deny you."

Hiccup knew she would give herself to him out of a responsibility to her duty as his wife. He would never take advantage of her in that way. A tiny, humorless laugh escape him as he shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not either. I wouldn't even know where to begin."

He glanced over at her, thinking she'd tease him for the embarrassing admission. She looked as he felt: nervous, scared, and a bit lost. "I'm sorry you had to be saddled with me, Astrid. I know I'm probably the farthest from your chose for a husband."

Astrid bumped his shoulder with hers. "I wouldn't say that."

Hiccup looked at her through his hanging bangs, a glimmer of hope in his bright eyes. "Yeah?"

She dared to reach out and hold his hand. "You're a sweet guy, Hiccup. You've been nothing but good to me since this whole marriage thing began."

A genuine smile tugged at his lips at her unexpected touch and he grasped her hand. "You're not as rough around the edges as I thought you were."

The soft moment was gone as Astrid lightly punched his arm. "That's just between you and me, okay?"

Hiccup threw her a bewildered look. "What was that for?"

Astrid laughed, a twinkle in her eye that made Hiccup's chest flutter. Her laugh was a rare occurrence, and to hear it was a treat Hiccup didn't know he desired until now.

They lapsed into a quiet, slightly awkward lull. Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck, swallowing hard as he stirred up the courage to say his next words.

"You-you looked beautiful today," he stuttered out, hoping the admission wouldn't cross any lines he wasn't sure were there. Astrid was his wife. He should be able to speak endearments to her like that, right? "And you look beautiful right now too!" he added hastily.

Even in the dim light of the lamp, he caught the red heat staining Astrid's cheeks. She swept a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you." Glancing up with a smile, she added, "You clean up nicely yourself."

It was Hiccup's turn to blush. In this moment, it felt more like a first date than it did their wedding night. They were still practically strangers, but the warmth in Hiccup's chest stirred up hope that maybe they could make this work; maybe they could become friends and more than friends over time.

Hiccup cleared his throat, gesturing towards her lap. "Are you going to…uh, cut yourself still?"

The dagger lay forgotten besides Astrid on the bed. She stood, hiking up the skirts of her gown once more. Hiccup exhaled sharply. Tiny fireworks shot off inside him at the sight of Astrid's bare leg in arm's reach. The fireworks fizzled out and he cringed as she sliced the blade across her ankle. Gathering a few drops on the blade, she sprinkled them on the furs covering the bed.

"Here, let's clean that up." Hiccup had already grabbed a cloth to hand to her. She wiped her dagger then wrapped the cloth around her ankle to staunch the bleeding and made a mental note to dispose of it in the morning.

Astrid yawned as she tucked away her dagger. "It's been an exhausting day. I'm going to bed." She caught Hiccup's gaze and asked the question that was weighing on his mind as well. "Are you…are you coming too?"

He was trying to act casual, but his anxiousness showed. "If it's okay with you."

"We are married now. I think it's to be expected of us."

"Right."

Hiccup allowed Astrid to climb under the furs first, letting her pick which side she preferred. As she settled on the left side of the bed, he tucked into the right side. His heart pounded in his ears and he wondered if Astrid's heart was just as deafening as his.

The dark surrounded them as the candle was blown out. Though their backs were turned to each other, both could sense the warmth of their bodies close by. Hiccup's heart leapt into his throat at the sudden words in the darkness.

"Goodnight, Hiccup."

"Goodnight, Astrid."