Chapter Thirty-One: Get on with it
Astrid smiled at Hylla as she took her flowers to hold them during the ceremony.
Hylla looked utterly amazing. She maybe was a small and slim woman but the wedding robes made her look taller and the deep red made her slightly tanned skin glow in the evening light.
Her hair was braided with white flowers and the bouquet of flowers she'd handed Astrid was made from red and white flowers to match her dress.
Astrid herself was wearing a dress. Something she'd thought she would never let herself be seen dead in.
But she had to admit when Hylla had presented it to her that it was rather nice. It had a deep blue color and matched her eyes. Hylla had also insisted that she would wear her hair open and without her head-rife.
Because it was her wedding day, Astrid couldn't say no to the woman.
Since Hylla had arrived in their village a few months back, she'd changed everybody's lives. Mainly because she'd managed to pull the chief out of his grief and misery and had bought back his former self.
First it had started as a good friendship, then as a very deep friendship until it was true love.
Love Stoick hadn't felt since Valhallarama had died.
He didn't regret his decision.
When he'd knelt down in front of Hylla and had asked her to marry him, he'd come to terms with everything beforehand.
Yes, Valhallarama was his first true love but he'd been taken from him. She'd have wanted him to move on but for years Stoick couldn't because of Hiccup and he also couldn't.
After Hiccups death Stoick had surrendered to fate.
He was determined to start a new, better life. He'd done so many things wrong the last time.
When Hylla had said yes it was like a blessing from the gods.
Stoick looked over at his new love. It was true, she wasn't his first love but Stoick could tell that she would be his last.
Gouthi, the villages elder, stood before them, holding the ceremony. Just because she wasn't talking didn't mean she necessarily had to.
She drew the pictures into the sand, while Gobber translated them. Whenever he said something wrong she would hit him in the head and look at him murderously (like "Do you solemnly swear by this carrot that you…Au! What? That's supposed to mean altar? Never! It says carrot! Argh! Stop hitting me!").
Finally they came to the important parts.
"Do you, Stoick the Vast vow to honor and love Hylla Farins-daughter?" "I do." "And do you Hylla Farins-daughter also vow to honor and love Stoick the Vast?" "I do." "Do you both swear to protect each other from harm and to remain truth full with each other?" "We solemnly swear." They said in unison.
"The in the village elders name I announce you husband and goose…ah…wife. You may kiss the bride."
Gobber got another punch on the head by Gouthis staff.
Stoick looked at Hylla. He carefully scooped her face between his hands and looked at her. "You saved my. Thank you." "Always Stoick. Always."
Stoick kissed her and he felt never better.
Later that night Stoick excused himself from the party society and jogged up to his house.
It was dark but the moon eliminated the world around him just fine.
Arriving at his house he hesitated at the staircase. But eventually climbed the stairs up to his son's bedroom.
Nothing had changed except the thick layer of dust that covered everything.
Stoick sighed.
On the desk laid Hiccups helmet he had recovered from the cove with Gobber and Spitlout. A second he hesitated then had grabbed it and went back down and outside.
Stoick panted heavily and drove the shovel deeper into the ground.
He stood knee-deep in a freshly made hole in the ground on the cliffs-top behind his house.
The ground was stony and hard.
Sweat purred down his forehead and neck. He didn't care.
When the hole had square form and was about four feet deep, he stopped, climbed out of it and placed Hiccups helmet carefully inside the hole.
"I'm sorry Hiccup. For… for being a terrible father. I never realized that loosing Val had hurt you too. And I made it worse. I ignored you. I was ashamed of you. I didn't help you. But I swear to you, I will make it right again. Maybe not to you but I will never let such things happen! It's kinda ironic. I only realized what I had, when I lost it. But I promise, I swear, that nothing will be in vain. I will care for my family better now.
I just…just wanted to say I'm sorry and that I hope that I you are happy wherever you are." Stoick whispered one hand still in the helmet.
"They say I'm wrong, but it still doesn't feel like you're dead. It felt different with you mother. All I know is that you are gone." He hesitated.
"I…I remarried you know?" He laughed dryly. "She's wonderful. I'm sure you would've liked her. She's the best that happened to me in a long time. But" he hesitated again and let go of the helmet "The best thing that ever happened to me, were you son, my firstborn."
He started to fill the hole with the earth again, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to find Gouthi standing behind him. She smiled at him and did something Stoick hadn't expected her to do.
"Good to see you back to normal Stoick. I hope you learned something?" she asked in a silent and slightly hoarse voice.
Stoick nodded. "Be thankful for every second with those you love. They could be your last." Gouthi said and took his hand.
"Now come. You are dearly missed."
"One last thing."
Stoick turned around and planted one heavy boulder on the grave.
"Goodbye son."
Back with Hylla, he suddenly felt more at ease and less tense and restless.
Hylla smiled and whispered. "You did the right thing. You got on with it. I'm proud of you Stoick." "Thanks."
In the shadows around the dance floor, Astrid sat at a lonely table and looked at the happy dancing couple. She'd caught Hyllas bridal posy and now the beautiful flowers rested in her lap.
It was suppose to be a good fortune but Astrid couldn't see how.
She sighed and her fingers softly stroked the petals.
"Excuse me, would you mind dancing with me Astrid?" suddenly a slightly nervous voice said next to her.
It was Hyllas cousin. His name was Tarin. He was one or two years older than Astrid and a fairly handsome young man even though he was a bit shy.
He had blond hair like her but his eyes were a light green. He wore a white tunic and light grey pants, a black belt and had his sleeves rolled up. At his side hung a ceremonial sword and at his feet he wore black boots.
"Sure." She smiled and took his offered hand.
Maybe it was a good fortune after all.