There were no shadows hiding in the interior of the Hall. Bright torches adorned each wooden pillar and a small fire burned in the hearth, bathing the room in a festive light. Innumerable garlands, full of weavings and flowers, were hung between the torches.
Gone were the old decorations of dragons impaled by Viking weapons. In their place hung fantastic mobiles depicting the multitude of dragon species that had been discovered in the recent years. They were polished to a point where one could see their reflection, and the firelight glinted off their surfaces. The dragon effigies kept their sentinel over the lavish feast spread out before them. Tables were piled high with casks of beverage and platters of food, both for Vikings and for dragons.
The Berkians in question gathered in an arc around the head of the hearth where the guests of honor now stood.
Hiccup wore an embroidered version of his usual green tunic, this one threaded with bright colors whose patterns imitated dragon scales when seen closely. His hair was combed neatly against his head and his cheeks were flushed redder than usual. He wore a fine leather shoe, much different than the bulky boot he normally had on, and his prosthetic was polished and blemish free. At his waist, buckled to a fine leather belt, was a sheathed sword. Behind his left shoulder sat Toothless, bare except for his own prosthesis. Though the tail fin was its usual red, it was made of a fine fabric unsuitable for flight, but decorated with the same embroidery found on Hiccup's shirt.
Mirroring them stood Astrid and Stormfly. The bride had ditched her usual shirt with skirt and leggings and instead wore a long dress that dragged on the floor. Astrid's dress matched the blue of Stormfly's face and wings. Braided into her hair were ribbons of bright blue and yellow, again matching her dragon's colors. The fine garment had long sleeves that almost reached the floor when Astrid's arms were at her side. She, too, wore a leather belt with a sheathed sword.
To start the ceremony, Hiccup unbuckled the sword from his hip and held it out in one hand, pommel up. "Astrid," he said, then faltered, staring at her face, mouth slightly open. Words failed him. Astrid stifled a small laugh and nodded slightly, smiling and encouraging him to continue.
Hiccup's eyes glanced at the assembled Vikings and dragons, all decked out in their finery. Valka, in a long dress the color of dried grain. Gobber, his usually crude prosthetic hand this time replaced for one carved out of a dark hardwood. Snotlout and Spitelout. Fishlegs and Eret. Ruffnut and Tuffnut. Though there was no gap in the audience, the absence of Stoick was clear.
A glance to his left showed Toothless, his head held high and trying to look regal. The dragon snuck his own glance at Hiccup, catching his eye. Toothless pointedly looked between Hiccup and Astrid as if to say get a move on! Satisfied his message had been sent, Toothless resumed his majestic stance.
"Astrid," Hiccup tried again. "I give to you my family's sword as a sign of my love and commitment to you. I promise to stand by your side through whatever we face in the years ahead." He smiled at her, and though it was not a large smile, it was a genuine one.
Astrid unhooked her own sword and held it up to Hiccup. As usual, she showed no hesitation or anxiety and spoke with confidence. "Hiccup, I give to you my family's sword as a sign of my love and commitment to you," she said, emphasizing the last you. "I promise to stand by your side through whatever comes our way."
As ceremony dictated, Hiccup reached out and took Astrid's sword from her hand. He fumbled a bit with the exchange, prompting muffled snickers from the audience, but managed not to drop the sword. Astrid followed suit, taking Hiccup's sword, though without dropping hers. As one, they attached their swords to their respective belts.
Once done, Hiccup offered his hand to Astrid. She took his hand and squeezed, grinning at Hiccup's attempts not to cringe at her grip. He squeezed back, returning the smile.
Toothless shoved Hiccup lightly from behind with his snout, pushing Hiccup into Astrid. Hiccup shot a dirty look at the dragon – though it could not contain his amusement – and with typical grandiose fashion, Hiccup scooped an arm around Astrid's shoulders and pulled her into a kiss.
The crowd burst into cheers at the wedded couple's completed marriage and the partying began.
Vikings and dragons mingled together in a room full of laughter and joy, enjoying the great food, music, and each other's' company. Hiccup and Astrid once more took center stage, dancing in a way similar to how Hiccup had once watched his parents dance, and everyone followed suit. Terrible Terrors stole food from the tables despite Eret's best attempts to stop them, and Ruffnut and Tuffnut made off with even more. Toothless tried to goad Cloudjumper into a dragon's version of dancing, which the older dragon stalwartly refused until Stormfly joined Toothless in his endeavors.
At long last, Hiccup found himself with a moment alone to sip from his mug and watch the crowd. Snotlout had somehow gotten herself into an arm-wrestling fight with Eret and was trying – and failing – not to lose. Hiccup smiled at the raucous laughter that came when Eret finally won and beckoned on the next competitor.
He gazed around the room at the Vikings and dragons of Berk – his people. The smile faded from his face as Hiccup recalled his father's words that morning:
Stoick, sitting in his chair by the fireside, standing when Hiccup came down the stairs. Pacing, standing tall, chest puffed out. "Son, we need to talk." Still somewhat awkward at talking to Hiccup about these things. "You're the pride of Berk, son, and I couldn't be prouder."
"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" His mother's voice broke Hiccup out of his reverie. She looked younger and more put together than Hiccup had ever seen Valka when dressed in her finery, but up close he could see the lines on her face and the grey in her hair.
Hiccup nodded. "He was really looking forward to the wedding. He'd planned out what food would be served, what music would be played." Stormfly squawked in the distance. Hiccup pointedly did not glance over at where he knew his dragon would be. "I still can't believe he's gone."
"Aye," Valka said. After a pause, she spoke again. "I had long ago given up on imagining how things might have been, had I stayed on Berk. But then you showed up, and then your father, and for a moment, I started to wonder…." She trailed off. "We can't change what happened, Hiccup. But if we could, I don't think your father would have done anything different."
Hiccup swirled the mead in his cup around. "I know," he said. "I just wish it hadn't happened…like that."
Valka nodded, then shifted her stance and smiled at Hiccup. "Enough of this talk, Hiccup. It's your wedding night! Let me see the ring."
Hiccup held out his hand to Valka, who took it and gazed closely at the band. It was made of finely worked silver with intricate designs on the sides. At the centerpiece was a polished circle of dragon scale that shifted from blue to yellow. "It's from Stormfly. Gobber put one of her scales in my ring and one from Toothless in Astrid's."
"It's lovely," Valka said, dropping Hiccup's hand.
The music in the hall shifted from a lively tune to something still energetic, but more subdued. "Speaking of Gobber," Hiccup said, and pointed his mug at the approaching blacksmith.
Gobber nodded his head at Hiccup with an air of false deference. "Chief Hiccup." He nodded at Valka. "Valka." Gobber presented his hand to Valka and asked, with a twinkle in his eye, "May I have this dance with you?"
Valka giggled and took his hand. "I would love to."
Hiccup watched them walk off to the dance floor, smiling sadly.