[ Chapter Four: Celebration ]
Apparently, Stoick was happier than I believed with my presence. The entire island was throwing a huge celebration to commemorate my arrival this evening. All sorts of meats were being cooked, along with necessary decorations and I could feel the happiness in the air.
I had been on Berk a grand total of two nights now, this becoming my third. I had spent time with Astrid and Hiccup mostly, but had the privilege of Snotlout and Fishleg's company as well. Ruffnut had been around frequently, but had left early this morning with her brother on their Zippleback, a two-headed dragon that required two riders, to find more game and collect various things for the celebration. Tuffnut, her twin, was the only I had not met yet.
I felt at home here, changing from my armor into a less-heavy ensemble. It consisted of a white and golden top that dipped low and stopped a few inches above my belly-button. I wore my circlet upon my brow, golden vines twisting up my arms. I wore a simple pair of white bottoms, much like the underwear I would swim in, a large belt of gold sitting low on my hips with a sheer fabric, draping near my feet, of a gold hue as well on both the front and back, much like a long loin cloth. The boots were soles with multitudes of straps attached, the white fur placed against the front and back of my legs with the straps wrapping around to hold the pieces up.
"You really do look like a valkyrie, even in that," Astrid laughs, arriving with Ruffnut at the door. The two of them were dressed very beautifully, outfits matching mine in some aspects.
"I don't understand how I look much different," I join I her chuckling, following them out the door. Zera had taken to spending time with Toothless the last few days, and every morning Hiccup and I would join them in a ride, considering his dragon could not fly without him.
The three of us enter the hoards of Vikings, all dancing, drinking and filling their stomachs to the brim with all sorts of foods. We thrive into the festivities, spending our time indulging in all sorts of mead and wonderful music.
Other Point of View
"Well you've been gone a few days," Hiccup slams a rough hand against the newcomers shoulders, causing the other to wince and glare. "How were the Meathead women?"
"The most pathetic excuse for Vikings ever. If I'm going to find a girl, she needs to look good and she needs to have a fighters spirit. Otherwise, I'm just destined to be lonely the rest of my life while everyone else marries off. Even Fishlegs is engaged!" The man crosses his arms in agitation.
"You've missed a few things, that's certain." The two men drink heartily on a large mug of mead. "Another Night Fury found it's way to our island."
"Another exists? That's great news." Tuffnut had his mug finished in seconds. "Was that it? That wasn't a lot of news, Hiccup."
"That, and it had a rider." The blonde turns to his friend at this, raising a brow. "And the beast was a female, which means baby Night Furies running around."
"Wait, it had a rider? I didn't know any others rode dragons besides our tribe," he motions out across the dancing people. "Friend, foe?"
"Friend." Hiccup smiles secretly at his rough and tough friend.
Tuffnut idly searches the crowds for the male rider of the new Night Fury, but sadly finds nothing different. A head of blonde hair is vaguely seen as Astrid fights her way towards her husband. A hand was attached to another's, savagely pulling them from the cooing of Vikings. What comes out absolutely startled Tuffnut.
The woman was curved, beautiful, with obvious muscles and small abs, wearing some of the traditional celebration clothing of the island, plus a few tweaks. Her hair was white as snow, what little light caught it showing the hints of blonde to it. The eyes were like liquid ice, solid and staring. Scars could be seen on the woman, one across the top of her left breast, which was the largest, and another set of three under her left eye. She had seen battle, alright, and lived to tell it's tales.
"Who is that?" Tuffnut asks in awe, openly gawking at the woman. "She's not from our tribe, that I know."
"That's the dragon's rider, Tuffnut," Hiccup explains, proud. "And she's a valkyrie. We're holding this celebration for her. I can't believe you didn't know that."
The blonde does not reply, keeping his eyes trained on the woman that approached them slowly, laughing and drinking with Astrid on her arm.
Valdis' Point of View
"Ah, Brunhilda easily crushed the pirate with a single swipe of her massive hand," I finish up one of stories of pirates trying to loot our isle in the middle of the night. "Needless to say, they never returned."
Astrid was laughing, picturing the scene before her. I join her, allowing the woman to link arms with me and lead out of the crowd. As soon as we break forward, I realize she's found Hiccup and that is our destination. Growing closer, I stop chatting with Astrid and meet the eyes of a man I had never seen before. My jaw nearly drops.
"Astrid, who is that?" I nudge my eyes towards him.
He was tall, taller than Hiccup, and built of muscles without being as bulky as half of this island. Lean, defined abs protruded from his waist, his biceps proud and rippling against his skin. The man had hair longer than my own and straight unlike my curls, a very light, dirty blonde in color. He was shirtless, wearing only a little vest of fur to cover his shoulders and loop under his arms, the opposite side of the fanged, toothed necklace against his collarbone like Ruffnut wore. His pants were dark and a bit tight at the top, tucked into fur boots of the same color. A belt sat upon his hips, drawing my eyes to the jagged scars on his left hip, raking across a very light tattoo. Two were diagonal, sloping down to the right, and the other was across one of the first lines, sloping the opposite direction to make and 'X'. His bracers halfway covered another 'X' scar on his right arm, and the last that I could see was two small ones under his eye. Ironic…
"That's Ruffnut's twin, Tuffnut Jr. And you're gawking," she sneers, elbowing me to knock me out of my trance. His eyes were very blue…
"I've never seen a man that attractive before, sorry. Remember, I live on an island of women. It's not pleasant." We share a laugh, finally approaching the men.
"Hey beautiful," Hiccup coos, kissing his wife and turning towards me. "Hello Valdis. How are you enjoying the celebration?"
"I haven't partied like this since I came of age!" I smile, throwing my hands to the air. "Thank Odin for this, indeed. And even then, when we danced can you imagine two very hefty women stomping around. It isn't pleasant."
Everyone laughs, Tuffnut's being a bit late and more awkward. I turn to face him, a tinge of red on my cheeks. He was beyond red, but tried to stifle it quickly before holding his hand out to me.
"Name's Tuffnut," a dreamy smirk comes to his face, "the best Viking on Berk."
"Yeah right," Astrid mumbles, chuckling at his feeble attempt to impress me.
"I am Valdis, the valkyrie and Night Fury rider," I introduce myself, placing my hand in his. He brings it to his mouth, kissing the knuckles with his eyes never leaving mine. My face darkens. "Very nice to meet you, Tuffnut."
"You too, Valdis." He releases my hand slowly, and I turn towards Hiccup and Astrid, who were openly watching the display of affection.
"That was cute," Astrid nudges, causing both of us to blush. "Hey, would you help me with the sword-fighting lesson tomorrow? I need to teach the kids… You do know how to use a sword, right?"
I look at her incredulously. "Astrid, valkyries are trained to wield a sword the moment the step foot on that island. Do you think I got these from playing with Zera?" I trace my scars. "I'd love to help."
"Wonderful. Hiccup, we're going to go look around, alright?" Astrid kisses her husband again, grabbing my arm. "Come on, I need to show you where the dragons play at during celebrations.""Nice meeting you, Tuffnut," I call over my shoulder, being whisked away by the blonde girl.
"You too," he hollers back, waving awkwardly.
"So what was that about?" Astrid asks as soon as we're out of hearing distance. "You were basically drooling!"
"I don't usually interact with the male species. I wasn't to awkward, was I?" I twist my lips around, realizing I was not trained for a situation like this. I didn't like being the vulnerable…
"He was more awkward than you, by far," she claps me on the shoulder. "Are valkyries even allowed to date?"
"You see, we usually don't leave our island. There, we feel the love of Odin and that of our beasts and 'family', as you'd call everyone. The few occasions where someone has left, they never return. I suppose they are either killed or smitten. Odin does not care what life we lead after we have been taught all the skills needed in the afterlife, but asks us to be safe and never forget our God," I place a hand over my heart. "And I never will."
"Wow, didn't know all that," she shrugs, making a mental note to write that down later. It's not often a valkyrie tells you about her island, mainly because it is rare to find one that has left, as I said.
"So, anything else interesting I should know about Berk?" I grin as she grows excited.
Switch Point of Views
"Alright Hiccup, I think I just found that woman worthy of my affections," Tuffnut grins, watching the sway of her hips as she walks away. That was definitely a woman worth fighting for. "Did you see those scars? That was awesome."
"You're going to try and court a valkyrie?" Hiccup stares at the man, disbelief on his features. "You're absolutely insane, you know that?"
"Everyone else is married or is going to be, and I can't find a damn woman on surrounding islands even. Now, I believe Thor blessed me with that," he motions the curves of her, much to far away to be seen now. "I'm going to do it Hiccup."
"Alright, I'll help where I can, but I still think you're crazy."