Ach, writer's block : the occupational hazard. It attacked poor Wordwielder, but she prevails against with the long-awaited feast!

"It is time for the feast," The Welder announced. "Traditionally, the bride and groom race to the mead hall on foot; however, considering our groom, the race will be carried out on the bride and groom's dragons!" There was a buzz of excitement; Hiccup and Toothless exchanged grins. "The losing party," the Elder continued, "will be responsible for serving ale to all the guests tonight."

Astrid narrowed her eyes. "I refuse to serve ale."

"Then I suggest you win," Hiccup said evenly.

"I will!"

Hiccup mumbled to Toothless, "In the bag, in the bag." Astrid didn't know how fast they could go. They had never gone full blast for her; she wouldn't have been able to stomach it. Even in their races, they hadn't exerted all their force; it was unnecessary.

Toothless smirked at his rider. Their thoughts were in sync.

Let's show 'em.

"You got it, bud."

Astrid mounted her Nadder; Hiccup buckled himself in, the adrenaline of knowing they were truly going to fly booming in his blood. Toothless was taut with energy, ready to rocket to the awaiting sky. Felma snorted at the Night Fury as she positioned herself. Astrid patted her back. "Girl," she said, "I really don't want to be pouring ale all night."

"When I say go," Stoick yelled. "Ready...set…GO!"

Hiccup shot off; Astrid followed after, already falling behind.

Hiccup felt like he was rediscovering the sky as the wind cheered around him, whipping his hair into his eyes, as the clouds streaked past, as his heart pounded hotly. He and Toothless were in their element, at their basic form; they were soaring. Hiccup knew he could never give this up. He and Toothless were so tightly intertwined it was difficult to find one thing about him they didn't share, that Toothless didn't influence. He reminded himself: two rides a day, no matter what else was happening. "Promise," he murmured, then said louder as he spotted the mead hall below and Astrid in the distance behind them: "Down, boy!"

Toothless plummeted; Hiccup maneuvered the tailfin. The Viking insignia on it would eternally flare satisfaction in his heart. They landed as smooth as fresh snow. Hiccup dismounted and patted Toothless. "Good work. Extra cod tonight." He did a quick calculation, realizing they had to have hit 80 miles per hour in speed. The other Vikings arrived from their march as Astrid landed, gritting her teeth; even Felma looked disgruntled at their loss. The Elder gestured, "Our groom is the victor."

"I am SO surprised," Snoutlout said, then looked horrified. "Oh., Thor! I just used sarcasm! I'm becoming Hiccup! I'm going to lose all my amazing muscles!"

"Hey, but then maybe Astrid will actually talk to you," Ruffnut offered.

Tuffnut cracked up and high-fived his sister.

"That was so insulting!" Hiccup and Astrid yelled in unison. Hiccup grinned at her, and it melted her heart just a little. "Not too mad?"

She shrugged evasively. "I think it's a little early in our marriage to be mad."

"Thank Thor," Hiccup muttered. "I hate when you're mad at me."

"Thank you for volunteering that information," she replied.

He looked at her, groaning. "I just gave you something for blackmail. How I did I fall right into that?"

The Elder nodded. "Let us proceed. Groom?"

Hiccup nodded and launched himself ahead of Astrid, clumsily unsheathing his sword and blocking across the doorway of the hall. She reached the threshold and waited; she had been reviewed in this, even though she didn't like how she had to be all meek and depend on Hiccup. "Lead me," she spoke.

Hiccup re-sheathed the sword, swearing under his breath at its sheer size. He offered his hand, and she took it. He stood behind her, carefully observing each movement of her foot as she stepped over the lip of the doorway. If she stumbled, if would be a terrible omen; theirs would be determined an ill-fated marriage.

She did not fall.

Hiccup sent an elated prayer of thanks to the gods for their blessing. Somehow, he had found their favor. He could only hope the depth his sword sank into the wooden pillar in the mead hall was congruent with that idea.

It was. The sword, when plunged into the wood, sank nearly to the hilt of the blade. "Ah." The Elder's eyes glittered in satisfaction. "Your children carry a legacy of luck upon them." Hiccup smiled, half-proud and half-bashful.

"But let us not tarry!" Stoick cried. "Let the feast begin!"

Begin it did. Like magic, Viking hands whisked out plate of plate of food and deposited them on tables. Goblets were passed around, unfilled as of now, until the women would go around and fill them because their patron had not won the race. (Well, it wasn't the first time.) Helpful attendants pushed Astrid and Hiccup into a table at the most visible table in the hall, and someone handed Astrid the bottle of the ceremonial mead. She stood; the babbling hall miraculously fell silent. She poured the mead in a goblet, being sure to only half-fill it; one look at Hiccup screamed he was a lightweight when it came to alcohol. She held it to him, and recited: "Ale I bring thee, thou oak-of-battle, with strength blended and brightest honor; 'tis mized with magic and mighty songs, with goodly spells, wish-speeding runes." Hiccup hesitantly took the drink and rose. "To Odin, to Thor: I thank thee for your blessings and my wife and the life ahead." He sipped, and returned the cup to Astrid. "To Freyja!" She cried. She truly did not want to elaborate on Freyja's impact on life; she would choke on the mead. She downed a larger gulp than Hiccup; she was less new to mead, and knew she had fairly good tolerance. She passed back the cup; he sipped, and returned it to her for her drink. They continued until the cup was finished. As Hiccup drank the last, the Vikings burst into uproarious applause. Toothless let loose an enthusiastic tongue of fire; everyone else shrieked and ducked, but Hiccup laughed, and eventually, she joined in.

"And now," The Elder called. "Let us hallow the bride with Thor's Hammer. Hiccup, come forth."

Hiccup swallowed, thinking this would be a bit awkward, and stood. He approached his...bride, and laid his hammer across the lap of her dress. Ugh. His face was probably the color of a Monstrous Nightmare. He opened his mouth, forcing his voice up in volume, and chanted with the Elders: "Bring the hammer the bride to bless: On the maiden's lap lay ye mjolnir; in Vor's name then our wedlock hallow!"

He rose stiffly, avoiding Astrid's eyes; she yanked him back and kissed him. He smiled against her mouth.

How did she always know how to make him feel like he was in Valhalla?

The rest of the day was merry. Vikings whirled around the dance floor; the men wrestled (Stoick beat every opponent he faced); A lot of the teens had joined in on the ever popular flytings, or insult contests. Snoutlout proved especially keen on this activity, but Fishlegs had a surprising skill at it. "You should get into that," Astrid whispered to Hiccup, poking his ribs. He shook his head, gesturing to where Gobber was entertaining an audience with a "lying story." "I'm enjoying this," he said. "Gobber's pretty good at stories. He told me some when I started working at the forge. Probably made those up too. I was a little hyperactive, and they were one way to keep me focused."

Astrid snorted. "Our kids better not inherit that, or you will be watching them," she threatened. Hiccup avoided her gaze. "Kids," he repeated. "You know, I didn't realize how much of the wedding was about, um, fertility."

"I know," Astrid groaned. "I feel like if I don't get…pregnant—" The word felt foreign in her mouth "—soon, I'll be exiled or something."

Hiccup squeezed her hand. "Maybe…we should just not worry about it? Let nature take its course?" His cheeks pinked as he said it. He's so endearing, Astrid thought, chiding herself before realizing that they were married and it was okay to love her husband and be frank about it. So she said that. "I love you."

"I love you." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

Ruffnut whistled as she bounced up. "Newlyweds," she teased. "Hey, Hiccup, you got any friends you recommend for a single girl who's sick of sharing a room with her brother?"

Hiccup hesitated. "Well…"

"Well?" she prodded.

"You know, Fishlegs is single," he said.

Ruffnut raised her eyebrows. "Hmm. Better than Snoutlout." She flounced off.

"Does that mean she'll try him?" Hiccup asked. "I mean, he sort of likes her. Sort of."

Astrid smiled; in other words, he loved her and made Hiccup swear to keep it quiet. "Hey," she murmured. "You want to go somewhere?"

"Some Astrid-Hiccup bonding time?"

"Yep," she whispered.

"Absolutely."

They snuck out as the dusk began to fall. The stars were shyly slipping into the sky. Hiccup, as cautiously as ever, draped his arm around her. "So."

"So."

"We're married." He sounded awed.

"Yep," she agreed. "What, already regretting it?"

"Never," he swore, lowly, earnestly.

"Good." She snuggled under his arm.

They stood in silence for a time, the only noises being the slap of the waves against the rocks and their own breathing. "I hope you like the house," Hiccup said at last.

"The house?"

"You thought we'd be living with my father?" Hiccup grimaced. "That would be…"

"Awkward," she supplied. "So, if not with your dad…where are we living?"

He smirked. "Surprise."

She swatted his arm. "I hate surprises, and you know it."

"You'll find out soon enou—"

"Astrid! Hiccup! Where—" Ruffnut rounded the corner. She smirked. "So this is what I have to look forward to when I get married."

"Interruptions? Absolutely," Hiccup agreed.

"Never get a moment of privacy," Astrid complained.

"Oh, you'll have plenty of that tonight."

They both turned profusely scarlet.

'That's why they sent me. Astrid, we're leading you to the matrimonial…whatever the hell you call it, your house. Hiccup's coming in a bit."

Hiccup's eyes met hers. They were panicked, trying to remain calm; he swallowed, and smiled tremulously. "I'll see you in a bit, then."

She only nodded. Ruffnut, tired of waiting for her release his hand, yanked her away. "Come on. Hiccup, go in the hall before your father has to fetch you."

He ignored her, watching Astrid be enveloped into a crowd of females and pushed away form him. He'd resent this if he wasn't…well, worrying about his wedding night. Funny how he hadn't even thought about this, out of fear for the ceremony. He made his way back to the mead hall, numb.

"Ach, there ye are, son! We're gonna give the women a mo' to get Astrid ready and watin', and then we'll march to the house."

Hiccup gargled some attempt at "Okay."

"Help light the torches, Stoick you lazy bum," Gobber yelled. "Jest cause you're chief!"

"I'm comin'!" Toothless lazily lit ten torches with a single puff. Hiccup had to smile.

Hiccup felt like he was about to be chased out of Berk as the men stood, each holding a flickering torch that washed their features with sunset light. The swords didn't help.

But he could tame a Night Fury. He could take on the Green Death. He could learn to walk again. He could write wedding vows. He could get the girl. And he could face tonight. "Let's go," he said. The attendants assembled to lead him; Toothless lumbered to stand beside him.

They marched solemnly to the stately cottage on the outskirts of Berk, near the forest. While his father had haggled the dowry and mundr, Hiccup had been refurbishing the dilapidated residence, unused for a hundred years. It had taken weeks and several minor injuries; but this house would be a beautiful home. He was determined to make it.

The women marched past them as they descended into the house. They nodded; a few smiled encouragingly at him. Hiccup stopped Toothless at the threshold. "You've gotta stay in the stable tonight, bud." Toothless cocked his head in that way that told Hiccup he understood, even if he wasn't thrilled. "We'll ride first thing tomorrow. When the sun's rising, like you like." Toothless purred, and Hiccup grinned at him before Stoick dragged him in the house. The torch illuminated the walls as they approached what would be his and Astrid's bedroom. The procession stopped and he was hauled to the front; Stoick mouthed for him to open the door. He did, with slow caution. Inga sat by her daughter on the bed; when Stoick asked, "Can you verify this is your daughter Astrid?" she replied: "I can. Can you verify this is your son Hiccup?"

"Aye, it is my son. So, remove the bridal crown, and we shall leave you."

He reached tenderly for it and slipped it off; with a smile, they slipped away.

Hiccup stepped closer slowly. "Hi," he said.

"Hi."

"Um." He shuffled towards her. "Do you like the house?"

She rolled her eyes. "Really, you have to ask?"

"You do," he said, his smile spreading.

"I love it," she said simply.

"I love you." It was getting easier to say it, like saying what his name was. The most elementary of truths.

"Yeah?" She pulled him by his shirt to her, and kissed him with a fervor he'd never seen from her. "I love you."

It was then he realized there was nothing to fear. She was his; he was hers. No matter what happened, she was his; he was hers. It was that simple, that right.

He kissed her back and stopped thinking.

Yeah, NOT getting into the wedding night. This is rated K, guys.

PhoenixWormwood137: Thank you! And IKR? It kind of makes me want to go back in time to a viking wedding...

Midnight4568: Aw, thanks! Gotta say, I loved last chapter.

WisperMoon1999: *bows* here, loyal reader! enjoy!

HunterNite: I hope the feast reminds you of thanksgiving, lol :)

disneyisbeautiful: Fan girls cry AND SO DO AUTHORS! I was tearing up as I typed. Amazing? I LOVE you!

shunxalice: beautifully written? AWWW! And yep, except most dialogue ( I had to improvise on that, there's very little records) all my wedding traditions are totally factual. Cool, huh?

Jello and the dragon: I smiled at your review. Thank you!

And thanks to the readers who put me on their story alerts: shunxalice, WisperMoon1999, mylife00, LilRockerStar, Disney Sorceress Kitsune Shinigami99, DEDEBUG9, shashing death, Blood Dragon XIII Thomas1989; Favorite story: shunxalice, Midnight4568, WisperMoon1999, mylife00, Sandra m potter, and Griff Dawg; and their favorite author especially: Midnight4568 and Laugh14.