CHAPTER 9 – The Morning After

Astrid was awake. But she did not open her eyes. The dawn shone through her eyelids, creating a red glow. She was cozy, and warm. Very warm, in fact. Like there was something radiating heat beside her. She did not feel like moving to investigate. The covers were all tucked up to her chin, and her head was buried snugly in her pillow… She was so comfortable.

But something was not right.

This did not smell like her room. These did not feel like her sheets. These nightclothes…Thor, she did not have any on! What was going on?! Something shifted next to her. Or rather, SOMEONE. Astrid did not move a muscle. She did not even breathe. Slowly, she cracked open one eye, then the other.

She nearly jumped out of her skin. Directly in front of her, so close it was almost blurry, was a mop of unruly brown hair. That hair was attached to a freckled neck, which was attached to some pale shoulders, which were attached to a lump of sheets, under which were presumably a back and whatnot.

Astrid blinked. "Hiccup?" she whispered hoarsely.

The figure sluggishly rolled over. He yawned. And smiled.

"Mornin' milady," Hiccup chuckled. Astrid let out a sigh of relief. "Thank Thor," she said, "I wasn't sure who you were, or where I was, or…" she stopped. She narrowed her eyes. "Or what happened."

Hiccup smirked.

Suddenly Astrid's eyes widened. "Yesterday!" she exclaimed, "We got married!"

"Glad you remembered, finally," Hiccup remarked, pulling the sheets up to his nose.

Astrid glanced around the room. It was in a state of organized chaos. Empty tankards of mead were littered about, as well as various articles of clothing. To her relief, her wedding gown was not among the garments trampled on the floor, but was folded neatly over a chair. She glanced back at Hiccup. Then back around the room. Then back at Hiccup.

"Last night…" she began.

"Was our wedding night," Hiccup said, raising his eyebrows at her. Astrid let it sink it.

"I don't remember…anything," she said at last.

"Really," Hiccup said, reaching under the covers to gently stroke her stomach, "Nothing?"

Astrid inhaled sharply. The events of last night came rushing into her mind, as if they had been hiding in the deepest corners of her brain, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. She looked at Hiccup. "I remember now," she said. He smiled. "Good," he said, scooching forward to draw her closer to him, "Then you'll remember what to do."

Astrid smiled. "Oh yes," she said.

Meanwhile…

"Do yeh think we should wake 'em?"

"No, Gobber, I think that's the worse idea that's ever come to your head."

Gobber frowned. He and Valka were seated across the table from each other in the Great Hall. They had come here together; Valka had slept at Gobber's house the night before, to give the newlyweds some space.

Valka had a large bowl of porridge before her, from which she was spooning large portions into her mouth. Gobber had a mug of strong coffee, with some hard scones on the side. All around them, people chattered about the wedding, and the weeklong reception, which was now in full swing.

"I still canna believe 'e's married, an' t' Astrid of all people. Who would've thought?" Gobber lamented.

Valka laughed. "Yes, I'm afraid it's something we're all gonna have to get used to."

"I still remember when 'e was just a wee lad an' 'e ad such a crush on 'er. Never imagined they'd end up together one day," Gobber said, slurping mournfully from his mug, "It'll be so different, now that 'e's married an' all. 'E won't be my boy no more."

"I think he stopped being a boy the minute he became chief, Gobber," Valka reasoned.

"I know," Gobber moaned. Valka chuckled. "Oh Gobber," she said, "You never did like change."

Meanwhile…

"When do you think the bride and the groom will arrive?" Rapunzel asked her mother.

"I don't know, darling. They had a long night, I'm sure, so they're probably going to sleep late," Queen Primrose said, while spreading butter on her toast. Rapunzel sipped her coffee thoughtfully. "Did Eugene and I take this long the morning after our wedding?" she asked. Her mother smiled suggestively. "Of course."

Rapunzel blushed. "If I recall," her mother said, "your father was about to send up a guard to see if something was wrong, when you two finally arrived for breakfast at around noon."

Rapunzel giggled. She remembered her wedding like it was yesterday… even though it was four years ago. The entire kingdom of Corona had been covered in beautiful décor; the food made chefs swoon; and of course, the ceremony brought tears to everyone's eyes. It was an event still discussed to this very day.

"Oh how I'd love to do it all again," Rapunzel declared, "Have a wedding, that is. They are so wonderful."

Queen Primrose sighed, laughing a little. "Ah, well," she said, "even if we cannot have another one ourselves, at least we get the opportunity to attend someone else's. I love doing this. Especially since we're not paying for it!"

Rapunzel grinned, and swatted her mother affectionately on the arm.

Meanwhile…

"Gods, it's late, babe," Astrid said, pulling a new dress over her head. Her husband, who was sitting on the bed, halfway through hooking on his prosthetic leg, glanced at the open window.

"Shoot, you're right!" he exclaimed, accidently jumping up, and consequently stumbling backwards onto the bed again. Astrid laughed. Hiccup rolled over to grin at her. He sat up and went back to securing his leg. Astrid watched him intently from the seat in front of the mirror, as she brushed her golden locks. When he finished, he stood and walked over to stand behind her.

Hiccup gently removed the comb from her grasp, and began working on her hair himself. Astrid smiled. "I love when you do this," she said. Hiccup bent down to kiss her exposed neck, leaving his lips there for a long moment. Then he smiled against her skin, and turned his head to blow smartly into her ear. "Argh!" Astrid shrieked, swatting away his head. Hiccup laughed, and resumed brushing her hair, using a thin ribbon to tie it half up and half down.

When they both finished getting ready, Hiccup went outside to prep Toothless. Astrid followed.

"Come, milady," Hiccup said, extending a hand from his seat on the Nightfury's back. His wife grinned, grabbed it, and swung herself into the saddle.

And the two lovebirds took flight.