A/N: I researched traditional Viking weddings a lot to make this as accurate as possible, so this is actually what a Viking wedding was like. I didn't make any of it up.

Chapter 12

The next few days, Astrid and Hiccup were separated as much as possible. Astrid was locked in her parent's house and Hiccup was running around all over the village dealing with repairs and the sudden influx of dragon residents. It was finally the night before their wedding day and Hiccup was sitting at home with Gobber, who had come by to check his leg.

"I'll be going with you everywhere tomorrow Hiccup," he said before he left, "Your father told me before he died that he wanted me to go in his place."

"Okay," Hiccup said unsure of what else to say, "Great."

"You know all the traditions right?" Gobber asked, "You've been to a wedding here before?"

"Well I've been to the feast of one but not any of the background stuff so I really don't know what to expect." Gobber sighed and sat back down.

"Well I'll be here at dawn with a few others," he said, "And we're going to your father's grave."

"Why?" Hiccup asked, afraid of the answer.

"You're going to dig it up," Gobber said and Hiccup looked at him horrified.

"Why on earth do I have to do that?" he yelled.

"Because," Gobber said, "You have to retrieve a sword from your last deceased relative, which is your father. He was buried with it so you can dig him up again for it. Astrid will be given a sword as well and you are to exchange them during the ceremony."

"Well I knew that part," Hiccup said, "but I never knew they dug up a grave for it!" Hiccup slumped back down into a chair and scratched Toothless behind the ears, now dreading the next day. "What else do I have to do?"

"Not much else," Gobber said, "You'll get dressed in all the ceremonial clothes, but that's it. You already have your bride-price to give to Astrid's family?"

"Yeah," Hiccup said, "Dad left me some money."

"Good," Gobber said and he stood up, "You should get some sleep. Tomorrow's a big day and we start bright and early."

"Great," Hiccup said as he closed the door behind Gobber. He climbed into bed with Toothless a few minutes later, now more nervous for the next day than ever.

Back at Astrid's home, her mother was busy arranging Astrid's bridal crown. "I'm actually expected to keep that on my head all day?" Astrid asked staring at the crown which was the most elaborate piece of woven straw and flowers she had ever seen. Her mother was now attaching candles to the top of it.

"We'll attach it to your hair," her mother said.

"Great," Astrid said and got up.

"Astrid wait," her mother said and pushed the crown aside, "Do you have any questions about tomorrow?"

"Not really," Astrid said annoyed.

"Not even about the wedding night or anything?" her mother asked and Astrid's eyes widened.

"Oh no," Astrid said, "Definitely not about that."

"Because as the chief's wife, you'll be expected to be with child very soon," her mother said and Astrid put her hands over her ears.

"Stop it," she yelled, "I already know this!"

"Alright," her mother said turning her attention back to the crown as Astrid ran upstairs and into bed as quickly as possible, still dreading the idea of children.

The next morning, Hiccup was up long before Gobber went to get him. "I wish you could come Toothless," he was saying as he scratched his pet's ears, "You could dig up the grave for me."

Suddenly, there was a knock at his door, "Hiccup," Gobber said, "Time to get going!" Hiccup sighed and opened the door to see Gobber, Snotlout, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs.

"Good morning," Gobber said as he grabbed Hiccup's arm and pulled him outside. It was so early that it was still dark out. "Alright," Gobber said, "Now we begin the trek up to the highest hill to obtain the sword!"

"This is sweet," Snotlout said as they began hiking up the hill towards the chiefs' graves.

Astrid got to sleep in slightly longer than Hiccup but was pulled from her bed bright and early by her mother. Downstairs, her mother, Tuffnut, and a few other village women had gathered. "We are to remove your kransen first dear," her mother said. The kransen was a pendant each Viking girl wore until her wedding day. She pulled the chain off from around her neck and handed it to her mother. "Now you'll keep this to give to any of your daughters," her mother said as she wrapped it in a piece of cloth and placed it back onto the table. "Now, we must dress you in the ceremonial robes." Astrid nodded as her mother pulled out the white robe.

The women undressed Astrid and put the robe around her shoulders and her mother pulled her hair out of its usual braid. "Alright," she said, "Now we go to the bathhouse." They filed out of the house and towards the bathhouse, which was behind the main hut in the center of the village. There, they put Astrid in a very hot bath and sprinkled herbs all around her.

"This is meant to wash away your single identity to make way for your new one as a married woman," her mother said and sat down across from her with the other women. "Now is when you ask us any questions about married life. Astrid looked down, not being able to think of anything at first. She loved Hiccup and had no doubts or questions about marrying him.

"What's it like having children?" she asked and her mother smiled.

"Its wonderful," another woman said.

"Even if you don't think you want any," her mother said and Astrid looked away from her.

"What's so wonderful about it?" Astrid asked.

"A child is a piece of you and your husband," another woman said, "Something that is only yours and the only thing in the world that is proof and a product of your love for each other." Astrid sat there stunned by this answer. Suddenly, children weren't sounding so horrible.

Hiccup and the others had finally reached the top of the hill. "Alright Hiccup," Gobber said and handed him a shovel. "Start digging." Hiccup stared at the ground with dread as he stuck the shovel into the fresh dirt.

"This is more creepy than sweet now," Snotlout muttered to Tuffnut who nodded in agreement as Hiccup began to remove the dirt from his father's grave. After a long time, Hiccup finally hit a hard surface, which he assumed was his father's coffin. The others jumped down into the hole with him and helped him brush the dirt off the door.

"Alright," Gobber said, "Everyone else out." The others jumped out of the hole as Hiccup pulled the door of the coffin open. Him and everyone else shuddered at the sight of Stoic's dead body. "The sword in his hands is the sword you take Hiccup," Gobber said. Hiccup shuddered more as he pulled the sword from his father's cold hands, slammed the lid shut and jumped out of the hole. "Okay good job," Gobber said and patted Hiccup on the back. "Fill in the hole and then we'll get going." Hiccup placed the sword on the ground and started shoveling the dirt back over his father's coffin.

Back in the bathhouse, Astrid had been moved to a much colder bath filled with herbs and flowers. "This is freezing," she complained.

"It will give you a successful marriage," her mother said but Astrid just rolled her eyes. A while later, she was pulled from the bath and taken back up to her own house. She was then stripped of the ceremonial robes and dressed in the traditional wedding gown. It was the brightest white she had ever seen and was made of silk. The dress was passed through her entire family and had been worn by her mother during her wedding. Her mother then added the green, red, and blue belts and cords to the dress.

"Final touch," her mother said as she placed the elaborate Bridal Crown with candles light onto Astrid's head. Her mother stepped back and smiled widely at her. "You look beautiful." Astrid smiled and looked down at herself and couldn't help but think of Hiccup and smiled wider. Her mother placed the dowry in her right shoe and then waited for her father to come to escort her to the wedding arch.

Once Hiccup and the others had gotten back to Hiccup's house, Gobber gave Hiccup a sword halter which he put around his waist and attached the sword from his father's grave to it. "Alright," Gobber said, "You ready to go?" Hiccup nodded and he and the others made their way up the hill towards the wedding arch.

Astrid's father arrived at their house shortly after she had finished dressing with a new sword. "This is your wedding gift for Hiccup," he said, "He'll give you a sword in exchange." Astrid nodded and took the sword from him. He smiled and took her arm to lead her towards the wedding arch. Once there, Astrid and her parents met Hiccup and Gobber to exchange the dowry and bride price.

"Wow," said Hiccup as Astrid approached him, "You look beautiful." Astrid smiled. She reached into her shoe and handed him the small bag that contained the dowry and he handed her parents the bride price.

Astrid and Hiccup then exchanged swords. Hiccup placed his new one into his holster and Astrid handed hers to her father.

"You two ready?" Gobber asked. They both nodded and proceeded toward the arch where they met the religious man of the tribe. They knelt before him as he sprinkled herbs and flowers over them, represented a happy marriage and many children.

He motioned for them to stand and took each of their hands in his, "Now it is time to exchange rings, Oath-rings, and vows." He handed Hiccup a finger ring and a wrist ring, which he then placed on Astrid's finger and left arm.

"I vow to uphold and honor our marriage through better and worse," he recited. Astrid smiled at him as she took her rings and placed them on Hiccup's finger and left arm.

"I vow to uphold and honor our marriage through better and worse," she recited. They smiled each other as the religious man deemed their marriage binding and sprinkled more over their heads.

"Let the bride-running begin," the religious man said. According to Viking tradition, the wedding parties race to the feast hall and the last to get there, serves the other party the ceremonial ale. Both parties took off running as Hiccup and Astrid lingered behind.

"We're finally married Mrs. Haddock," Hiccup said and kissed her.

"Finally," Astrid said and kissed him again. Eventually they made their way to the main hall where the other guest had no congregated. Snotlout, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs were serving the ale when they arrived.

"Okay Hiccup," Gobber said as they approached the door to the hall, "You have to carry Astrid over the threshold and to the main table, then throw your sword into a pillar from there."

"Why?" Hiccup asked.

"It gets the attention of the gods and blesses you two with a good marriage and lots of children," Gobber said.

"Alright," Hiccup said questioningly. He picked up Astrid and carried over the threshold of the building. As they entered the room, the villagers cheered for them. Once Hiccup put Astrid down, he took his sword out of the halter and threw it to the pillar.

"Wow," Astrid said, "I'm surprised that stayed in there."

'Shut up," Hiccup said jokingly as he sat down next to her. Then the feast began with Astrid presenting the cup of ceremonial ale to Hiccup and recited, "Ale I bring thee, thou oak-of-battle, with strength blended and brightest honor; 'tis mixed with magic and mighty songs, with godly spells and wish-speeding runes."

Hiccup drank from the cup and handed it to Astrid who then drank from it also. The villagers cheered again and drank their ale as well. Once the ale had been exchanged the feast began.

"I love you," Hiccup said and Astrid smiled.

"I love you too," she said.

"How are you keeping that hat on your head?" he asked about her crown and Astrid laughed and kissed him.

Once the feast was over, the villagers light hundreds of torches and escorted Hiccup and Astrid to Hiccup's home.

"Goodnight Hiccup," Gobber said, "Goodnight Astrid." They both smiled at him and the rest of the villagers started down the hill towards their own huts. Hiccup and Astrid went inside his house.

"Well its over now," Hiccup said as he took the Bridal crown off her head, "We're officially married."

"I know," she said and took his hands in hers, "I love you."

" I love you more," he said and kissed her. He lifted her up and kissed her harder as they fell back onto his bed.