=Stoick's POV=
It was the talk of the village for a week straight. Hiccup and Astrid faced off in an impressive hour-long fight, and Hiccup emerged the victor of the battle. Words alone could not express how happy and proud I was to see my son fight with one of the best female warriors on Berk. Males from all over the Archipelago came forth to try for Astrid's hand because that was a stipulation to marrying her; that they had to defeat her in a fight. Since the time that Astrid was sixteen, every few months, this would take place. All of those males would return home, defeated by Astrid. Also, none of those battles ever lasted more than twenty minutes. However, my son and Astrid fought for an hour, and he was victorious! I knew what it meant, and so did Colby Hofferson. As soon as Astrid got pinned down by Hiccup, and she said the words; I yield, we know what was going to happen. Hiccup was the ONLY male to beat her, and that made him the only one eligible to marry Astrid. Colby and I exchanged a look that day, stating that we would get together soon to discuss things. I couldn't wait. My son was going to be getting married!
After the fight, Hiccup bathed and then joined me in the Great Hall for the Chieftain meeting where all of them were still in shock about what they witnessed take place. My son, Hiccup, fighting Astrid Hofferson, and beating her! Hiccup had never been known to be a fighter, and that's why it stunned everyone. Hiccup was known for being smart, inventive, and launching sky attack from the back of Toothless. Actual fighting with another human being, no one had ever seen it before, and he went against Astrid herself. Hiccup used moved that not even I'd seen done, so, yes, it was a huge deal that Hiccup was seen fighting and beating Astrid. The Chieftains stayed for three days and then left to return home to their islands. The next day, I went to see Colby about starting a contract between Hiccup and Astrid. Since then, it had been three weeks of non-stop negotiating over everything. I got Colby to agree eventually, and now, I held the finished product in my hand of the contract stating Hiccup and Astrid would be married in one month.
I raced to my house with Thornado and noticed Toothless and Stormfly outside the house. This was odd to me because, usually, Hiccup and Astrid were out flying at this time of day. I moved inside slow and looked around not seeing the two young lovers. However, I did hear some noises upstairs coming from Hiccup's room. I walked up the stairs and stopped at Hiccup's room. It might have been wrong, but these sounds didn't ring friendly conversation to me, so I put my ear to the door to listen better.
"Gods, Hiccup! Yes," I heard Astrid cry out.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Hiccup questioned.
"Stop…talking," Astrid panted as I heard them kiss again. "Mm, Hiccup! More, please!" she pleaded.
"Keep your voice down. My Dad's house might sit on a high point, but anyone going to the Hall can hear you, babe," Hiccup informed her.
"I can't…help if it feels this good," Astrid remarked. "You're going to break me when we finally get to have sex," My eyes widened a bit. Alright, so I know they weren't making love to one another, but something was going on in there that I couldn't see and I honestly didn't want to. "Ah, Hiccup. I'll cum if you keep that…up," she breathed heavily.
"Cum then…I'm just about there too," Hiccup groaned out as the panting continued before both of them moaned out one another's names. "Gods, it gets better every time," Hiccup said as there was another kiss shared between them.
"I know," Astrid giggled a bit. There was some shifting and them telling to toss an article of clothing to the other. I only assumed they were naked in there, which rose some concerns for me. What in the name of Odin could they be doing without their clothes on if it wasn't sex? "Do you think it's wrong what we did?" Okay, that caught my attention.
"What we just did or the fight?" Hiccup asked her. What were they talking about?
"All of it I guess. I don't know, I guess I just feel a bit guilty that we used the fight as a cover story for the things we sneak off to do," Astrid inquired.
"No, I don't think it was wrong. Well, okay, maybe a little. We created the plan to cover ourselves after the first incident with my father. I mean, we aren't having sex, but we do other things that bring pleasure. We purposely made everyone think we were doing something we shouldn't be but added to the fact they didn't know you were training me so we could fight," Hiccup replied. I was bewildered now.
"Hiccup, everyone thinks you beat me in a fair fight. If anyone found out I trained you in fighting techniques, the whole plan we came up with goes up in flames," Astrid sighed.
"No one is going to figure it out, Astrid. How could they? All the instances we were caught, they went to my dad and told him we were having sex. Nobody is going to think that it was us pinning one another in training sessions. And I did defeat you, Astrid. Yeah, you taught me how to fight, but I won the real fight between us. And it was all so our parents would start a marriage contract between us as I'm the only guy who was able to beat you," Hiccup explained.
My eyes widened. Hiccup and Astrid trained together? Those were all the things people saw and told me about? I couldn't believe it. My son and his girlfriend came up with the plan to train, and fight one another just so I would start a marital contract between them? I didn't understand this.
"Hiccup, we only did all this so we'd be married and be able to legally have sex with one another. Foreplay is fantastic, but I want the real thing, and so do you. I guess I just feel a bit guilty; we basically lied to everyone. It's been three weeks, and we haven't anything about a betrothal between us," Astrid muttered.
"Astrid, relax, all right? It's going to be okay. Sometimes the negotiations take a while, once an agreement is reached, it will get announced. "I promise we'll be married soon, and then nothing stands in the way of our future together. I love you, Astrid, that's why we did all this; because we love one another,"
"You're right. I'm sorry. Want to go take a flight together?" Astrid asked.
"You read my mind," Hiccup answered. I backed away from the door to make it look like I was coming up the stairs. I understood now. Hiccup and Astrid were doing things to one another that brought on pleasure, but they weren't having sex. Also, Astrid trained Hiccup to fight so they could battle one another, and he would come out the winner so they could get married and be able to make love without anyone saying anything as there would be no laws or traditions broken. I had a choice here; I could rat them out and say the fight wasn't fair, or I could leave it alone and pretend I heard nothing. I had the finalized contract in my hand, so what did I do with the information I just learned? Sadly, this reminded me of when my father discovered about Valka and I having sex before marriage, and he chose to stay quiet and let us go through with the wedding.
Hiccup and Astrid weren't having sex, but they went under the radar to cheat Astrid marital contract stipulation. I sighed; I couldn't do it. Hiccup did beat Astrid in a fight, even if Astrid trained him how to battle. I wasn't going to say anything, and let them get married. Astrid and Hiccup went through all the trouble of covering themselves while they pleasured one another in secret, and fighting just to be able to marry and have sex so they wouldn't be breaking any rules. How could I stop that? No, I wouldn't say anything. The door to Hiccup's room opened as they saw me.
"Dad! Uh, hi. I didn't know you'd be home," Hiccup said nervously.
"I just got here actually. I was coming to see you since I saw Toothless and Stormfly outside," I lied.
"Oh, well I was just showing Astrid some of my invention ideas for that flaming sword you saw. We're about to take a flight, so…see you at dinner?" Hiccup asked.
"Of course! Be on time though, quite a few announcements tonight," I smiled.
"Will do, Dad! Come on, Astrid," Hiccup nodded as he left with Astrid. I stared at the contract in my hand; I was sure of my choice.
=Normal POV=
{Dinner; Great Hall}
Everyone was gathered for supper in the Great Hall as Stoick had told everyone he had important announcements to make. Hiccup and Astrid strolled in last hand in hand, then took their seat at a table where their friends and Gobber was sitting. Stoick stood up and faced everyone with a broad smile. The Chief thought long and hard about his decision; he would not reveal Hiccup and Astrid's intentions or the plan they'd concocted, how could he? Stoick supposed that in his bloodline, there would always be one who broke a rule. Stoick's father kept his secret, and now Stoick would do the same for Hiccup.
"Thank you all for coming out tonight. I'm sure you're wondering why there is a feast for this evening's dinner, so I'll get right to it," Stoick started with a smile. "In one month's time; there is to be a union between two proud families. It has been a long time coming too," he chuckled, and so did a few others. "It is my pleasure to announce the official betrothal of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third of House Haddock and Astrid Hofferson of House Hofferson!" Stoick called out.
Hiccup and Astrid's eyes widened in shock; they'd done it! Everything they put together got them engaged to be married, and in ONE month too! Hiccup smiled and so did Astrid as the two of them got to their feet and moved up next to Stoick, as per tradition for the newly engaged couple to stand before the Tribe. Much more because Hiccup was the Heir, this meant that Astrid would be his Chieftess when Hiccup became Chief! Hiccup and Astrid were beyond happy over the news; very soon they'd be married because as of right this moment, they were betrothed.
"Really, Dad, are we engaged?" Hiccup asked looking up at his father.
"You are. I closed negotiations with Colby this afternoon," Stoick nodded to him.
"Aye, we planned everything. You don't have to do anything except show up where we tell ya," Colby smiled wide. "The only thing they need to be aware of is-," he began.
"Colby…" Stoick warned.
"Right, sorry," Colby nodded.
"What is it?" Astrid wondered.
"It's just…an old tradition for the Heir and his bride. We can talk about it later on," Stoick informed.
"Dad, just tell us," Hiccup muttered.
Stoick sighed. "It's customary that you, son, and Astrid have to consummate your marriage in front of the village. Well, those of us who are over the age of eighteen. You'll be in a tent with lanterns, but we're all gonna be outside of it while you do the deed," he informed.
Hiccup and Astrid looked at one another quickly; they had to have sex in a tent with everyone around them? Finally, the two smiled and just shrugged before linking hands and sharing a kiss. "That's okay by us," they replied together. Hiccup and Astrid didn't care, they had no shame in what they did, and it would be better because they could go all the way because they would be married. So yes, it was totally okay.