"What would you have done if I had you wait until we were married?" Iris asked, tracing the scars on Dagur's bare chest.
"Still ravage you," he drawled. "Just, well, not so abruptly. Nicely ravaged? Is that even a thing?"
"I dunno but I'm glad I don't need to find out," she teased. "We should come here more often."
She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to his heart beat. The tall grass around them hid them from the world. Granted they intimate acts flattened quite a bit around them as did their abandoned clothes. Hopefully everything was still there and didn't get carried off by any critters.
"Are you... Going to continue with the tea Ellie gave you?" Dagur's voice was full of hesitation.
"No," she responded. "There's no need anymore. Now if anything happens, the Berserkers will be happy with the result. Did I tell you they already have a betting pool going? On what our first child will look like?"
"They'll all look like you," he said confidently. Iris couldn't help but laugh as she sat up to look down at him.
"Fine but they better have your eyes," she teased. Her fingers traced the tattoo that ran over his left eye before bopping his nose. "Just not your crazy childhood attitude. I got to hear all about that the other day."
"With you as their mother I have no worries," he laughed. He looked better when he was smiling and laughing. "If they are a little deranged though I won't be mad."
"You'll get to deal with them then."
A dangerous grin spread across his face. Iris eyed him as he sat up, leaning on one arm as he shifted towards her. He was up to something.
"Should we get to work?" he purred dangerously. She smiled shyly as he pulled her to him with that dangerous grin on his face still.
The next day they were back at Berserk. Iris felt stiff. She wasn't sure how Dagur felt but he had been up and moving about with no problems so she could easily guess he felt no ill effects of their wedding night. Not that she had any complaints.
"You'll be leaving soon," Iris said quietly as Dagur helped her off Enigma.
"Unfortunately," he said. "But I know you'll take care of things here."
"Come back to me."
"I will."
Lifting her face Iris placed a soft kiss on his lips. She felt his arms tighten around her as he returned it, just as soft. For a few moments they stood there in their embrace. It was as if there was no one else in the world.
"Have a fun night?" Fiske said suddenly, causing them to pull apart. "Aw don't glare at me Dagur! I know you two had plenty of that smooshy face last night!"
"Like they're supposed to," Stjern argued. Both were rather chipper and functioning well for celebrating the night away. "You missed it. Ellie decked Chief Travis right in the nose!"
"Oh no," Iris said. There went that alliance.
"His tribal elders told me he deserved it," Fiske laughed. "'If a woman refuses your courtship then stop bothering her.' That's what the one old man said! Had no sympathy for him!"
"It didn't help he drank too much," Stjern drawled. "So he felt the need to get handsy. If Ellie hadn't punched him I would have had to fight Heather for the chance! Dagur, your little sister is a spit fire!"
"She is," he said proudly. "I better go see Travis and mock-I mean console him." Iris glared at him as he grinned.
"Just make sure he leaves Ellie alone," she said. "Or else he won't be allowed back here. No one deserves to be harassed like that."
"Maybe Viggo," Hiccup said. "I was just looking for you Dagur. Fiske. My dad wants to have one more meeting before everything starts. The rest of Berk's ships are here."
"My people are raring to go," Fiske said brightly.
"As are the Berserkers," Dagur said proudly. "Let's go."
"Makes you wonder why you married him," Stjern muttered as the three walked off. "At least I do. You're still young in your marriage."
"I think there are at least five reasons running around for you," Iris teased.
"That's true. They more than make up for their father. You'll see one day."
"I think Dagur is more eager for that day than I am."
"Most men are until the babe starts screaming in the middle of the night to nurse."
Iris snorted at the other woman's words. She didn't know why but she felt comfortable around Stjern since the first time she met her. The Murking tribe chieftess didn't have any superiority complex Iris was scared she'd have and was more than happy to share her wisdom as well as stories. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Maybe in some way Stjern reminded her of her mother. Just a little.
She wanted a wash and a change so she bid the other chieftess farewell and headed off. Enigma was already napping in front of the house with Jager. Both dragons were curled close to each other, saying their goodbyes their own way Iris supposed. She headed in without bothering them.
"Hey Iris," Astrid said in surprise. Heather jumped up from the chair she had been sitting in, looking a little guilty.
"Why do I feel like I walked into the wrong house?" Iris asked. She looked around. "I'm pretty sure this is my house. Why the shock?"
"Honestly didn't expect you yet," Heather said sheepishly.
"The two sleeping dragons outside didn't give away that we were back?"
"Well we figured you'd be drug around by one person or another," Astrid admitted. "That seems to happen whenever you are outside." Iris couldn't deny that.
"So what did I walk in on that I shouldn't have?" she asked the two girls.
"Just girl talk," Heather mumbled. Her cheeks were bright pink.
"Ah and I am clearly a man," Iris teased. Her new sister in law's face started turning red. "Alright I get it. If anyone's looking for me, I'm changing."
"You don't have to-" Astrid started saying but Iris just waved as she headed up the stairs.
The girls were closer to each other than they were to her, she understood that. It just stung a little to be treated like an outsider. Especially when she was in her own home. Sure Heather stayed here from time to time instead of staying in her own house but still. Iris felt a little possessive over the place she called home with Dagur.
Her wedding clothes were a mess. It didn't help that neither her or Dagur had a care last night about their clothing. After the heat of the moment though, standing in their room, Iris felt a little ashamed.
Green stains from the crushed grass dotted the white gown. Bits and pieces of plant matter were also stuck in the fabric. The Skrill had bits of flower petals from the flowers that had been in her hair stuck to it. The bottom hem was covered in dirt.
Not knowing what else to do Iris shucked it off and laid it over one of the chests. Her undergarments followed but went on the floor. There was still a bowl of water from before the wedding in the room along with a rag that she gratefully used to wash with. Washing off the sweat and dirt made her feel better.
She had just pulled on her boots when a knock sounded on her door. She bade them to enter and was surprised to see both Heather and Astrid come in. The girls looked around with blatant curiosity before focusing on her.
"Something wrong?" Iris asked. "I'm not leaving this room. If you need to talk privately go to Heather's room."
"That's not why we're here," Heather mumbled. "I just wanted to say sorry. For how I was acting. That was rude of me."
"We didn't mean to treat you like an intruder," Astrid added. "It's just, at the Edge there's not much privacy with the twins or Snotlout barging in whenever. There isn't much of a chance to talk without worrying about someone walking in."
"So when I walked inside my house it bothered you two?" Iris asked drily.
"No that's not it," Heather said quickly.
"Then explain what it is! Heather, you may have forgotten since you aren't here all that much but I LIVE here. You have your own house now for Pete's sake!" That phrase got her a confused look but she ignored it. "I just married your brother yesterday, I've been living here since we came here! Yet I get treated like an intruder and given half assed excuses as to why. What are you going to do when there are kids running around? Freak out everytime they come inside their own home while you are sitting around with friends?"
"Iris that's not fair," Astrid argued.
"I think it is," Ellie said suddenly. All three of them turned to see the widow standing in the bedroom doorway. "Apologies Chieftess. No one answered when I called and I heard you arguing."
"It's alright," Iris sighed.
"Neither of you should be treating her this way," Ellie continued, looking at the younger girls. "Heather, you especially. This maybe your birth home but it is your brother's home now. If you need to discuss something private, go to your own home."
"I know but I-" Ellie shook her head and cut her off.
"There is no excuse. You maybe close of age with Iris but she is your chieftess now. She deserves the same respect from you as the rest of the tribe gives her. There is only one person above her and that is your brother, our chief." The older woman crossed her arms, frowning at a glaring Astrid and an embarrassed Heather. "Now. What was so important that you both had to come here to speak to each other and act the way you did?"
"Fishlegs might leave the Riders," Heather blurted out. "Everyone at the Murking tribe loves him! Last night, countless Murking girls kept taking him off to dance! I didn't get one dance with him and he didn't seem bothered at all."
Iris stared at Heather. That's what bothered her? The guy she was pining over danced with other girls? Sure, Iris understood but seriously. Heather caused all that drama over a night of dancing.
"Did you ask him to dance?" Iris asked, rubbing her forehead. Heather shook her head. "Did you ask him to sit with you and talk?" Another shake. "Did you give him any sign or clue that you wanted him to stay with you?"
"No," the girl said quietly.
"Then how was he supposed to know?"
"That's what I said," Astrid shouted, throwing her hands in the air. "She's mad at him and he doesn't even know why! I already told you, he's not leaving the Riders! Sure, he likes the Murking tribe but only because they have been sharing their history with him. They're willing to listen to him, treat him with respect. Meanwhile you are giving him the silent treatment because he danced with his friends!"
"But I don't know what to do."
"Lass, talk to the boy," Ellie said with a sigh. She looked completely done with the teenage drama. "Most men are stupid. Giving them subtle cues isn't going to work, they aren't a dragon. Use the words Odin gave you and speak to him. Acting the way you are is just as stupid."
"I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"Damned the consequences," Iris snapped. "Either be his friend and stare from a far or gather that Berserker confidence and tell him! Dagur had no qualms telling me exactly how he felt from the beginning. My father almost killed him over it but look. We're married now!"
Heather blushed and looked at the floor. Iris wanted to shake the girl, made her get it through her thick skull acting like a brat was not going to help. If anything it would scare Fishlegs away. He was sensitive.
"Heather," she sighed. "You all are about to go to war against the Dragon Hunters. Take the time to tell him how you feel because you don't know what is going to happen. Do you want his last memories of you involving you being mad at him?"
Her words seemed to have an affect on the other girl. Her face was less red but worry filled her expression. With a mutter she left. Astrid followed after her with an apologetic look leaving Iris with Ellie.
"Was I like that?" Iris asked herself in English. Ellie gave her a confused look. "Ah, don't worry. Just asking myself a question in my native tongue."
"You speak Norse so well I forget you weren't taught it from infancy," Ellie commented. "Chief Stoick, Chief Dagur, and Master Hiccup had a meeting with the other chiefs along with the family heads." Iris nodded, she knew that. "They have decided to leave in two days."
Her words caused a lump in Iris' throat and an ache in her chest. She swallowed hard, nodding at her words. Right now she couldn't let herself cry. That would be later, in the privacy of her bed. Right now though she needed to go see Dagur and the others. She needed to be there to support them.
