Hiccup stood completely still wearing his semi formal princely attire. A pair of light gray pants, black shoes, a dark blue outer coat minus the shoulder pads, and rope but still having the medals and pendant hanging around his neck. His hair was combed slightly too as he stared at Gobber who had yet to recover from shock. Hiccup could feel the stares of the others making their way towards the docks now to see him standing there with Elsa beside him. Kristoff, Anna, Sven, and Olaf behind them. And Toothless behind them.
Hiccup was honestly a little surprised that no one had freaked out seeing a Night Fury there, were they truly more shocked to see him alive and well after 6 years? It gave him a different kind of feeling, to see the disbelief on their faces. "Yes Gobber. Its Hiccup..." Stoick patted his friends back a few times.
"I–I can't...find the words...How is this...possible?" Gobber asked now. Hiccup let go of Elsa's hand as he walked towards Gobber now, and offered his hand but in the craziness of it all Gobber only pulled Hiccup in for a tight hug and almost started crying. "Oh lad! I've missed ya!" Gobber blubbered a bit.
Hiccup couldn't resist a light laugh now as he hugged the man back. "I've missed you too my friend." Hiccup said calmly before Gobber finally let him go.
"I almost didn't recognize you in this get up. Where have you been all this time! How dare you leave me with so much work in the forge, I got orders stacked up for months for you to work on." Gobber laughed now.
"Sorry. Had to get away...and I've been in Arendelle. Also...I'm not...staying." Hiccup told him, he saw the old man's face drop.
"What...do you mean you're not staying?" Gobber asked him.
"It's...a lot to explain...I promise I'll tell you everything. I'll tell everyone but for now...it's been a long trip and I'd like to get settled. We'll...only be here for two weeks." Hiccup informed him, Gobber looked to Stoick now as the chief nodded sadly.
"NIGHT FURY!" Someone yelled. Hiccup grumbled rolling his eyes but before he could say anything he saw his father step forward.
"And no harm is to come to it. That Night Fury is...trained by my son and its his friend. Anyone who is seen trying to harm it...will be face treason." Stoick announced.
"Trained by...Hiccup?" There were a few whispers now.
"Okay...I know everyone has questions and I'll answer them all but for now...my son and our other guests would like to settle in. I'm sure Hiccup...won't mind explaining things over lunch in the hall?" Stoick asked looking to Hiccup who reluctantly nodded in response. "Come son. I'll take you too your stay areas for your stay..." Stoick added.
"Thank you father. Love, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf follow along." Hiccup motioned to them beginning to walk, the others followed, as well as the 2 guards, captain, and 4 crew members. Gobber moved beside Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the twins now.
"Is it...really him?" Gobber asked still in shock.
"It is. We didn't believe it either but there's no mistaking his hair and eyes..." Astrid said softly.
"And...who are those people with him?" Gobber blinked.
"The 5 men wearing white and blue are the crew from the ship, the two men wearing dark blue are the guards." Fishlegs started.
"The snowman is Olaf, the reindeer is Sven." Tuffnut added.
"The girl with two braids, one having a white streak is Princess Anna of Arendelle. The guy beside her is Kristoff, her boyfriend." Snotlout said.
"And the one beside Hiccup is Elsa, Queen of Arendelle and Hiccup's fiancé." Astrid mumbled a little.
"Fiancé!?" Gobber said in shock.
"Yep...he proposed to her right before we left Arendelle. And the Night Fury is Toothless...because Hiccup will get mad if you refer to him as anything else..." Ruffnut said next.
"He might look like Hiccup, and talk like him...but that's not the Hiccup we used to know anymore..." Astrid lowered her head and walked away with her bag over her shoulder, axe in the other hand.
"What's her problem?" Snotlout asked.
"She's upset because in Hiccup's letter to her, he had said he liked her and now...he's getting married to another woman. I heard them talking last night while we were sailing. Hiccup told her that when he left Berk 6 years ago, he left his feelings behind too." Fishlegs sighed. The rest of them cleared off the dock to go to their houses and unpack.
(With Hiccup)
They'd just gotten to the stay area, an extra few houses built on the hill near Stoick's and the Mead Hall. Kristoff, Anna, Sven, and Olaf stayed in one while Hiccup, Elsa, and Toothless stayed in another. The crew and guards opted to stay on the ship once it'd been cleared of the things that belonged to the Berkians. Stoick had already said they could take that ship back with them when they left in two weeks since his people wouldn't know how to work the new adjustments Hiccup put on it.
They were all currently unpacked their things and relaxing, it had been a long 6 days. Elsa noticed Hiccup's uneasy face and sat beside him on the bed. "Are you alright, Hiccup?" She asked softly.
"Yeah...yeah I'm fine babe." Hiccup smiled weakly.
"No you're not. Talk to me...you didn't want to come back here, did you?" Elsa smiled sweetly.
"Not right away, no. You saw their shocked faces to see me again...after disappearing 6 years ago, and believing I was dead...I wanted more time to settle with the fact these people were in my life again...I didn't run away to end up back here even if it is just visiting." Hiccup sighed lowering his head.
"I'm sorry, Hiccup. It's my fault...I–I never intended a trade route idea. I saw...the desperation in your father's eyes and..." Elsa trailed off slowly but felt Hiccup kiss her, she returned it and then they broke apart.
"I know why you did it, Elsa. You said something to quickly after I revealed I wouldn't go right away, your voice was hesitant, and your words were to unsure sounding when you said what you did. I'm not mad at you, I planned to visit eventually after they saw me again but not right away. I figured they would come back on their own, explain things and I would come in a few months or so. Things have been so crazy already without adding this to the pile..." Hiccup sighed.
"I'm sorry, I should of asked you first..." Elsa looked down.
"Don't worry about it. We're here now...we'll spend two weeks and then go home and focus on our future." Hiccup smiled to her.
"This is why I love you. You never get mad...and always find a silver lining to all situations." Elsa laid her head on his chest. "So...this is Berk..." Elsa smiled.
"Yeah, this is it. Small wet heap of rock in the middle of the Archipelago with the temperatures cold enough to give you frostbite on your spleen." Hiccup chuckled. "I'll give you a tour later with the others...for now lets just get unpacked and relax a little before lunch. Maybe we can get a fly in on Toothless too. I'm sure he'd like to stretch his wings." Hiccup added. Toothless crooned in reply, happily jumping about the house. Oh yes he wanted to fly.
"So now that we are alone...when should we get married?" Elsa asked him.
"You wanna talk about this now?" Hiccup blinked a little.
"Well, you know when we get back we'll have the engagement party and people will be asking so might as well figure a few things out before then." Elsa offered.
"True that. I'll get a piece of paper and we can write it down." Hiccup chuckled as he moved to the desk in the corner of the room and got a few pieces of paper and a charcoal pencil. "When do you want to get married babe?" Hiccup asked her now.
"Not sure still trying to figure out how to...combine a few things." Elsa replied.
"Like?" Hiccup asked.
"Well...I was thinking about what you said earlier on the ship about Vikings getting married in a month and well I suppose I wanted to mix the two styles. To have both types being in the wedding...somehow but I'm afraid I don't know much about Viking traditions or history." Elsa blushed a little.
"Oh love, you could of asked me." Hiccup smiled.
"I knew you weren't really in to all this so I didn't want to upset you. But yes I am very curious about it all." Elsa smiled. Hiccup nodded as he began to tell her everything she wanted to know about Viking unions. It took about an hour too but he managed to get through it all from the beginning where contracts were set up between powerful houses, or just unions themselves that stemmed from dating, and proposal like they had. He took her through the negotiations, planning, the night before, and day off, then finally the ceremony and party afterwards.
"And...that's about it. After the party it would be the bride and groom are escorted to their room by 6 witnesses which usually consist of the parents of both, the elder, and the one who officiated the marriage. Then the groom would remove the kransen on his wife's head, and she would remove his sword. Both objects are given to the parents for future children. The sword for the first son, and the headband to the first daughter." Hiccup smiled.
"Such a long process...my word. But still not so bad. Some of it is similar, now...why the witnesses following the couple to bed?" Elsa asked curiously.
"I'm not sure. I think it has something to do with the original method of things after the wedding." Hiccup shrugged.
"Original method?" Elsa blinked confused.
"About 100 years ago, it used to be that the bride and groom would have to consummate their marriage...in front of the entire village, with the exception of children. Only those who were 18 and older." Hiccup blushed a little.
"Consummate as in?..." Elsa began.
Hiccup nodded, "Yes. As it make love to one another on a bed of leather and animal skins. I don't know why, and frankly I don't want to either. I'm glad its changed. The reason the couple is escorted now is because they watch the removal of the kransen and sword, then share a kiss on the couple's new bed. And I suppose them watching those 3 things are what to them make the marriage legal and consummated. Then they leave and the couple...actually makes love to one another." Hiccup shrugged.
"How interesting and...back then before the change? Couples didn't mind this public consummation?" Elsa asked a little shocked.
"Elsa love, you'll find very quickly during our stay here that Vikings have no shame whatsoever. In those days, I believe is was made that way because all weddings, are held on Frigga's day or Friday and it would be held to the Friday closes to a woman's ovulatory cycle. Basically, it was to ensure the bride and groom had legitament children together. Almost always when a couple is united in marriage, a child would be born 8-9 months later. But the public consummation was reserved for only members of the tribe who had the most power." Hiccup explained.
"I don't quite understand still. Wouldn't your father and you...have the highest power because he is the chief?" Elsa questioned.
"Yes and in that, we do have the highest power house in the village however. There are other houses of power too on Berk it goes Haddock, Jorgenson, Hofferson, Ingerman, and Thorsten. And to verify those people. I'm Haddock, Snotlout is Jorgenson, Astrid is Hofferson, Fishlegs is Ingerman, and Thorsten are the twins. So in this case for explanatory reasons...If I had stayed here instead of running away, I would not only be starting my chief training but also getting married to one of the houses in power because me taking as chief, also meant I'd have to give an heir." Hiccup explained.
"Oh, I see now. So you would marry...Astrid or Ruffnut given Jorgenson and Ingerman both have males. You'd marry the daughter of the next power below yours. How interesting. So public consummation was mainly for chief's to prove the child was of the couple?" Elsa stated now.
"But it changed so now couples can consummate their marriage in private with only two people standing outside the house to listen. Then a month later the female would be checked to see if she conceived. 10 to 1 she would have and all would be well. If not there may have been an underlining issue behind such which is why now when marriage contracts are set up, any of the females who are being offered...must be checked that their virtue be in tact and health is in top condition for child bearing." Hiccup nodded.
"So complex but understandable. A barren wife would mean no heir and I assume that would be very bad." Elsa frowned a little.
"It would be because it would mean the marriage ends. Most contracts are never set up out of love. Not for the power houses, there have been a few instances where the couple learns to love one another after some time but rarely it's a marriage of convenience. Strictly for the purpose of bearing children and given strong heirs. If the maiden ends up being barren the bride price or mundr as I explained before, would be given back and the contract process begins again." Hiccup sighed.
"Sounds like you hate the very idea of such." Elsa pointed out.
"I do. I don't believe that marriage should be something that is treated like it means nothing. People shouldn't be forced in to arranged marriages, shouldn't be forced to do anything. I don't think I could ever be forced to marry someone and if she couldn't bear children then I have to divorce her and find a wife who can...Its unfair to the next woman anyway because I wouldn't be pure for her. Its...madness and another reason I'm glad I left...Because it means I can marry you, and because I choose to." Hiccup smiled as Elsa blushed lightly and they shared a kiss.
"People should marry for love. The way its done in Arendelle is that for the royal family, the crown princess would be offered suitors and she is permitted to choose whom she feels would rule well beside her. The two would be given time to date and then after some time get engaged, the marry. If the first choice doesn't work out, it starts over. I suppose ours is not so bad compared to yours. All the suitors had to be of some royal background or another to be eligible...But my parents didn't care, they knew we'd find love on our own and well they were told you would come in my life." Elsa smiled to him.
"I like yours much better and I'm glad I get to marry you, out of love." Hiccup told her.
"I'm happy too, Hiccup. And...as far as combing the two ways of marriage...I was going along the lines of ceremony wise. You said that in Viking ceremonies, a ribbon is tried about both bride and grooms left hands and rings are offered on the tips of swords?" Elsa asked to confirm what he'd said in his explanation before.
"Yes. In theory though I've never seen it. It would be the I Do's, then rings which were offered on the tips of the family swords. Once rings were on, the left hands would be tied together with a sash as well the two swords crossed on the ground while the couple was announced as husband and wife. After the new couple kissed, they'd pull their swords cutting the ribbon, which is meant to signify cutting their pasts and starting a new life together. The ribbon is saved and tied on the couples bed. Then the whole...witnesses thing. And that's it." Hiccup explained again.
"Be that the case...I'd like to try and combine the two ceremonies together. I love that hand tying thing. Maybe not the two swords...You know what I mean?" Elsa asked.
"I'm sure we can figure it out in time. But the big question...is when to do it. We're in the middle of July right now." Hiccup reminded her.
"Honestly...I was thinking perhaps the Fall season...Like make October? Beginning of..." Elsa smiled a little.
"Just give me a date love." Hiccup chuckled lightly.
"Well its supposed to be our decision, Hiccup..." Elsa blushed.
"It doesn't matter to me as long as its you I get to say I do to that day." Hiccup told her gently.
"I suppose that is true too. Very well then...I was hoping...October 5th...would be okay?" Elsa asked.
"October 5th next year then." Hiccup smiled.
"No no...Hiccup...I mean...this year..." Elsa said nervously.
"Th–this year? Elsa...planning a wedding in...82 days is going to be really...hard." Hiccup blinked a little at his fiancé's request.
"Well you said the Vikings do it in a month or two...I'm sure it can't be that hard." Elsa smiled lightly.
"Well yes but that's because we do the simplest things..." Hiccup replies.
"Well, why can't we do the same? I don't want a lot for the wedding, Hiccup. Simple and easy. I picked this date...because it's the day we met 6 years ago. The date my parents introduced us on, and it's the date 2 years ago we got together on...It just...fits." Elsa smiled wide now. "Please?" She asked.
"If its what you really want, then we will. Alright then. October 5th it is. So...we're getting married in 82 days." Hiccup pulled her close and kissed her deeply. "I love you." He sighed afterwards.
"I love you too." Elsa replied. "Are we going to announce it tonight, well for your father at least?" Elsa beamed.
"I'll pull him aside and tell him. So...how about the fly? I want to show you the cove, the place where Toothless and I met..." Hiccup told her.
"Sure, let me tell Anna first so she doesn't worry. You get Toothless ready." Elsa said as she got free of his loving arms and made her way outside and over to Anna and Kristoff's stay area. Hiccup got Toothless's gear and began to set it up on his friend.
"I can't believe it bud...You have no idea how happy I am and its all thanks to you getting me out of here..." Hiccup said hugging Toothless around the neck. "Thank you for everything." Hiccup whispered, Toothless licked his cheek then Hiccup climbed on his back as they made it outside and Hiccup took it all in again. It was hard to believe he lived here 6 years ago, true he wasn't thrilled to be here again but it would be a nice vacation to show Elsa where he grew up.
Hiccup watched as people made their way around the village, a few looking up to see him there on Toothless. Hiccup knew he'd have a lot of explaining to do but he didn't care. Toothless was allowed to stay and he was happy about that. 5 minutes later, Elsa made her way over to him and climbed on Toothless's back behind Hiccup. "I'm ready." Elsa giggled to him happily.
"Alright then. Lets go bud." Hiccup rubbed his neck as he spread his wings and launched in to the blue sky above them. Elsa looked down at everything in amazement as she snuggled in to Hiccup's back. They flew for hours up there, circling the village and skimming over the trees. The whole time they talked about different wedding ideas and what not, finally around lunch time Hiccup had Toothless set down in the cove. "This is it. The cove, last time I was here...I was saying goodbye to Berk forever." Hiccup smiled a little.
"Its beautiful..." Elsa breathed out.
"This is where Toothless and I met, bonded and became best friends...It will always be special to me." Hiccup said.
"I would hope so...Its breathtaking..." Elsa smiled.
"Yeah but not more than you." Hiccup kissed her cheek. Elsa blushed as she leaned against him, "We should be getting back...I did promise yet another explanation of the last 6 years..." Hiccup mumbled.
"It will be fine and I'll be right beside him." Elsa smiled gently. He nodded as she held on to him and they flew back to the village. Once there Hiccup had Toothless stay at the house while Kristoff, Anna, Olaf, Elsa, and himself made their way to the Mead Hall for lunch. Now inside they were sitting at Stoick's table while he got everyone's attention so Hiccup could tell the story.
"All yours son." Stoick told him, Hiccup got to his feet and faced everyone. He recognized them all, and even a few new faces of kids. 6 years changed a lot.
"Alright so...I'm sure...everyone wants to know why I ran away, where I've been, and...well pretty much everything so I'll tell you but I ask that you stay calm, and keep quiet. Let me finish...then you can ask whatever it is you want." Hiccup told them, thankfully everyone nodded. Hiccup took a deep breath as he felt Elsa hold his hand for support, he smiled and faced everyone once more to begin. It was going to be a long day, and equally long story. Again.
