Author's Note: As always, thank you for your support! I love your reviews. Only a couple more chapters after this. Now let's see what Stoick thinks about things.
Chapter 9
Hiccup
"You sure about this?"
Hiccup watched Astrid's face carefully as they stood outside his father's house. He still couldn't believe that Astrid Hofferson—viking extraordinaire and hottest woman alive—had agreed to marry him. Eventually.
Squeezing his hand, Astrid looked up and smiled.
"Of course," she said. "Just be prepared to run for it. I did throw an axe at your dad."
Hiccup laughed nervously. "I'm sure he barely remembers."
"Right," she drawled.
Squaring his shoulders, Hiccup used his free hand to push open the carved door. He blinked a few times as his vision adjusted to the dim interior.
"Dad?" he called out.
They both flinched as shuffling sounded from the chief's bedroom. Hiccup swallowed. The door swung open.
"Is this you taking care of things?" asked Stoick as his body filled the doorframe and he eyed their entwined fingers.
"I—I can't marry a Hysteric," Hiccup said.
Stoick took a few steps towards them, his chest puffed out and his eyes narrow.
"Because of her?" asked Stoick, waving a hand at Astrid.
Hiccup felt Astrid tense beside him. He needed to speed things along before either lost their temper.
"Yes, because of her."
"Convenient way to get out of an arranged marriage," Stoick said.
"I'm not just avoiding the marriage," said Hiccup. "This is what I want—what we both want. If you can't deal with that, we'll leave, but either way, I'm staying with Astrid."
After regarding the two for a moment, a grin broke across Stoick's face.
"Guess the Hysterics will have to make do without you," he said, rubbing his hands together.
Before Astrid or Hiccup could recover from their shock, the chief barreled past them and burst through his front door, pulling them along.
"My son's engaged!" Stoick boomed.
The vikings within earshot—which with Stoick's voice meant half the island—cheered. Hiccup looked to Astrid to see if she knew what was going on. She looked as confused as he felt.
"This calls for a drink!" Stoick told the crowd gathering before them.
Another cheer swelled up. Stoick led the procession to the dining hall, dragging Hiccup and Astrid behind him.
"About time!" said Gobber, appearing to slap Hiccup on the back.
They tumbled into the hall where cups were already being distributed.
"What is going on?" Astrid whispered.
"I have no idea," said Hiccup before they were herded to a central table.
Alcohol was thrust into their hands as well-wishers shouted congratulations that were quickly turning lewd as the drink kept flowing. Stoick's laughter rang through the room as he doubled over, telling a story to Astrid's father—who did not seem the least bit surprised to find his daughter engaged.
"You should have seen her face," the chief roared. "I've never seen such a murderous glare. I'd be a dead man now if my son hadn't finally bucked up."
"Is he…" Astrid said, unable to finish her question.
Hiccup's cheeks burned as he began to understand.
"Oh, gods," he mumbled before taking a long swig of his drink.
"There they are!" The familiar voice of Ruffnut cut through the crowd.
Their friends appeared full of goofy grins.
"Finally found the courage, cuz?" asked Snot. "Or did she have to ask?"
Astrid could only gape at him.
"I—I really don't know what you're talking about," Hiccup sputtered.
"Told you it would take less than a week," Tuff said, turning to his sister. "You owe me."
Ruffnut shrugged. "Never discount a viking's stubbornness."
"Two vikings in this case," added Fishlegs.
Hiccup stood, placing his palms on the cool table, trying to push back the confusion and rising annoyance that was battling with an overwhelming relief that his father and girlfriend weren't going to murder one another.
"This was all a big game?" he asked.
"Of course not," said Ruffnut.
"You placed bets!" Astrid huffed, throwing out her arms with the last word.
"They bet on everything," said Snot.
"It's true," Fishlegs inserted. "Your father just thought the two of you could use a bit of—"
"My father?"
Hiccup sank back onto the bench as he spoke. His mind began to wrap around just how big this plot was: Fishlegs insisting that Stormfly was ill so that Spitelout could send them off on a sunset ride, Gobber destroying his shirt and asking Astrid for help in the forge, Ruff and Tuff clearly intending the incident in the baths as more than a prank, and most of all his father threatening Hiccup with an arranged marriage—which he realized now had probably never existed since the Hysterics were happily drinking in the corner. Glancing around the room, Hiccup found a village prepared to celebrate something they had clearly been anticipating.
"You were all in on this," said Hiccup.
"Most of us," Ruff said with a shrug. "You know Gothi can't keep her mouth shut about a secret."