I own nothing.

No Refusals, No Returns

"The most important rule is, no matter how much you hate a gift, you must smile, accept it, and be gracious in your thanks," Valka instructed.

She stood with the young couple and Gobber outside the great hall at the top of the stairs, under the torch that signaled visitors to the door, beyond the hum of the feasting crowd. Around them the early autumn carried the scent of roasted chicken and kegs of mead, letting them know the celebration started without them.

Gobber rubbed his chin, "I remember Valka and Stoic got this old yak as a wedding gift from the Rebel Tribe. I think they'd had a lean year and couldn't spare much, might have even been the last yak in the village. That thing was soooo ugly."

"And smelly!" Valka chuckled.

"Oh, we had to keep it three fields over!"

"Your father, he was so gracious," she told Hiccup, "He thanked the Rebels and a few weeks later sent some sheep, telling them we'd had a surplus that season."

"Now they're as loyal to the Hooligans as Toothless is to you." Gobber added.

"I'm sure all the gifts will be lovely," Astrid assured. "Besides, there is nothing we need, even if a guest showed up with nothing, I'd be honored with their presence."

"It's not just about honoring the chief, it's showing off," Valka said. "They want impress Hiccup so he'll work with them and they want other tribes to see their success. The greater the gifts, the more they admire and respect you. Therefore, a refusal or return, would mean you don't think they are good enough."

Hiccup fiddled with his chain mail, like it was chafing his whole torso. "Be polit. I'm on it."

"You've prepared the opening greeting?"

"On that too."

"And mention the boar hunt." Valka reminded him. It was a Berk tradition that the men would gather on the second day of the chief's wedding celebration to hunt the boars that would be dinner that night. Snotlout had gathered the largest boars his could find in the archipelago and released them for the hunt a few days earlier and hadn't stopped talking about his success in finding ones so impressive in size.

"And Tuff wants to play some music, Gobber heard and approved the song."

"Do I have choice?"

"Probably not." Gobber smirked, making Hiccup suspect he might regret not fighting that. But if Tuffnut embarrassed himself, it would take some attention off Hiccup – in theory.

"One last thing," Gobber and Valke exchanged an uncomfortable glance. "You two had better cool it down. People are talking."

Hiccup crossed his arms, "Let them talk. We're doing nothing wrong."

Gobber warned, "Well some folks, not me, are saying you might have been together inappropriately, you know before. And, some people in our tribe and other tribes, not me, have ideas about how a chief and his bride-to-be should behave. Now if you were just anyone, maybe this would slide, but you're not."

Valka added, "I know you wouldn't do anything to upset people or embarrass your families, the biggest concern is a baby born outside of marriage - legitimacy can be questioned later."

"And we end on an awkward note," Hiccup took Astrid's hand leading her inside and toward the seats at the front of the hall. As they approached, people cheered and came up to shake his hand. They slapped him on the back making him thankful he'd but on more weight since many of the other chiefs could have challenge Stoic's size.

As they moved towards their seats, a drunken curvy older woman pinched Hiccup's bottom, causing him yelp. Astrid gave her a dirty look, but Hiccup blushed, apologizing for being spoken for, then took her hand, giving it a warm kissed. The crowed at her table rolled with laughter. A black bearded chief, known as Olaf the Buff, handed him an ale, "I apologize for my frisky wife. Don't worry, she only bites me, and I keep her on a leash."

The two chiefs bumped beers, reciting "Skal", the Viking toast.

"Chief Haddock," Olaf said, "Since you kissed my wife and she grabbed your bottom. It's only fair I get to kiss your girl, and she can touch my bottom."

Astrid gave them both a dirty look.

"Olaf, I wish I could help, but anything that touches her, that she doesn't want, you won't get back."

Olaf threw his head back with a deep laugh, "I like you both. Especially her. She's a little thing, but I bet she'd tear off my hand. I suppose a man who can handle dragons can handle a fierce woman."

Olaf handed Astrid an ale and Hiccup made a few toasts at the table. Astrid started to worry he wouldn't make it through the first hour if he continued drinking at this pace.

Finally, they moved on, mingling from table to table meeting with the other chiefs and having more drinks. People asked him about dragon training, most tribes no longer suffered dragon attacks, but few transitioned into training dragons, but after seeing Berk's success they considered changing, especially, since Toothless, as the Alpha, could control other dragons.

Astrid had never seen Hiccup enjoy himself this much at any gathering. Usually, when he came to the great hall people approached him with problems or because they needed something, but now everyone wanted to give him attention just for being Chief Hiccup Haddock the Dragon Master. Not that Berk didn't love him, their love just came with needs and responsibilities.

Hiccup conversed with the other leaders, while Astrid stood quietly at his side. He was the center of attention and she was an accessory, like his sword or his chain mail, a piece to complete his chiefly ensemble. The pretty girl who was a prize for the young chief who tamed dragons and brought an end to dragon raids.

After they'd made their proper rounds they approached their seats. Hiccup called for everyone's attention.

"Thank you all for being here tonight. There is one important person, who isn't here and that is my dad. But I think, if he was here, he'd be so proud to see how many wonderful, loyal, and successful tribes came here tonight. On behalf of Berk, we are so honored by your presence. I hope we can all get better acquainted over the next few days. While you are here please make yourselves at home and tonight enjoy the feast! And for those of you who are men, I expect you to show off your skills and join me tomorrow in the town square for the dragon-less boar hunt!"

Cheers rose from the crowd to the high rafters of the hall. Astrid looked at Hiccup, seeing him for the man he was meant to be. No longer a boy trying to play a role he though he couldn't fill. He seemed distant from that boy - tonight, maybe too distant.

As the noise died down, Hiccup announced, "And now Tuffnut Thorston apparently composed a song to entertain us."

Tuffnut walked to the center of the room with a guitar. "Greetings, now, you'll have to forgive me, I've only just recently taken up the calling of Berk Bard, but I've been told I'm a fast learner."

"Who told him that?" Hiccup whispered to Astrid. She glanced his way and giggled as he took another sip of mead.

Tuffnut drew the crowd's attention with a few strums of the guitar.

"OK folks, I can't do this alone. I will sing a verse and then you all will say the refrain. Which is simple – I've been told you are all fast learners too – so at the end of each verse I want you to say:

OOOO awwwweeeee awwwwwhhhhhhooooaaa.

Tuff practiced with the crowd a few times and did quite well with his guitar, to the surprise of everyone who'd ever known him.

After the crowed got it he started the verses

There was a chief Heroic and all,

Once he was short but then he grew tall

The crowd responded with "OOOO awwwweeeee awwwwwhhhhhhooooaaa",

He trained great dragons,

Saving many a Viking from the grave.

During the next refrain Astrid leaned over to Hiccup, whispering "You thought this might be embarrassing."

"He should be embarrassed, those lines didn't rhyme."

Then the next line:

He loved a maiden, pretty and fair

He often wears her underwear.

The hall fell into laughter and Hiccup hid his face in his hands, as his laugher squeezed tears from his eyes.

Tuff started to walk around the room and mix with the crowd. He stopped next to Gottie, as he sang:

There was an old healer, wise but mute

This boy thinks she is oh so cute.

During the crowd's refrain he bent over to kiss her and she slapped him with her staff. He shrugged and before getting to the next verse said, "Hey we're running out of single ladies here on Berk, a guy needs to take a chance."

He continued the song:

In case you don't know, I have a sister,

Guys, if any of you took her – I wouldn't miss her

Ruff got ready to throw something at him, but Snotlout stepped up and tossed a potato at him, hitting him on the arm.

He sung further verses, most about people in town, most amusing and well received. Some more inappropriate, prompting parents to cover children's ears.

After it was over, Astrid's parents approached the couple. Leif Hofferson opened his arms, "Hiccup, I always suspected you must have a dark secret fetish, who knew this is how it would come out."

Hiccup stood up and hugged the old man, "I just want to assure you it's only your daughter's underwear and I have no intention of wearing another's. Maybe not even my own."

"That's the sprit, son. Dream big."

"You two are too ridiculous," Astrid rolled her eyes.

Her mother frowned, "This is what you'll have to put with. I told you to be weary of marring a man with the same sense of humor as your father."

Leif Hofferson, a bearded blond man of mid height and mid-size was known for his upbeat attitude and outdoor skills. Stoic declared him the best hunter in Berk ten years earlier and some still called him Leif the Survivor, a title well-earned before a blizzard, which would have killed a lesser man, took most of his foot.

Astrid's mother, Elie Hofferson, a petite blond like her oldest daughter was well known for her domestic skills, especially cooking, something Astrid never mastered.

People once referred to the Hofferson's as Berk's beautiful couple. Astrid thought she remembered days when the couple laughed and the family shared happy moments, but after her sister married and moved out, the pair stopped talking to each other at home and only appeared together in public to save face.

"Hiccup, I have a matter to discuss with you tomorrow," Leif addressed his chief. "If you won't mind stopping by after the hunt. I won't be joining you, I'm afraid, I'm just too tired these days and it's hard for me to walk far."

"I've had some of our older tribesmen opt out. Gobber insisted we go without dragons, as to not make tribes who don't use them feel excluded, so even he won't be out there."

Mr. Hofferson gave him a stern look, "You're not to be seeing Astrid outside of wedding duties, so just be sure to come by before the women have finished their dinner prep."

Astrid avoided eye contact with her parents, hoping they thought better of her than the rumors around town.

Astrid and the women had to go to the hall and prepare everything for the dinner, from side dishes to preparing the pits to cook boars. Astrid suspected it was an excuse for the women to gossip about the men while they were out.

The elder Hoffersons left and Astrid turned to Hiccup, "What do you think my dad want to talk to you about?"

"No idea, it's a little late for 'the talk', but strange that if it involves you, he would bring it up in front of you."

Astrid though about that and searched her head, but she wondered what could be so important to pull Hiccup from his duties that involved her family, but not her.

000

The Point of No Returns

The night wore on and Tuff sang some local folk songs, joined by his sister, who apparently learned to play the fiddle. Hiccup started to wonder if Valka was going easy on their dragon training to give them enough time to pick up new hobbies. But, then again, it had been a while since they had destroyed anything, so hobbies might be good.

Gobber and elders from other tribes joined the entertainment by telling stories of Vikings past – their loves, their battles, their heroic deeds, and their honorable deaths.

When the stories finished, Astrid whispered into Hiccup's ear, "Those stories will be about you someday."

"About us," he mumbled kissing the back of her hand.

Spitelout approached Hiccup, "It's time for the wedding gifts. I'll announce."

"Take a break tonight. Snotlout will do it."

Spitelout though for a moment then smiled, Hiccup saw a flash of pride on the old Viking's face.

"I'll tell him how it's done," He said walking off.

Hiccup turned to Astrid. She wore her hair down that night, which would soon be frowned upon as married Viking women tied their hair under a cloth. He watched her take a few more sips of mead, hoping on one noticed him taking a moment to memorize the way her forehead wrinkled when she was pensive or how she tapped her dainty fingers on the side of her drink.

"Astrid, you're thinking about it too hard. He probably needs me to help him move furniture or something silly."

"Furniture? He'd ask me before he asked you to move furniture."

"You could just talk-"

Snotlout's announcement of the gifts interrupted their conversation. He and his father stood next to the dais where the chief and his betrothed sat. Spitlout told his son who each guest was so he could announce them. Spitelout and the Jorgensons might not have been well liked, but they were well known. Probably one of the reason's Stoic's sister (Hiccup's aunt) strategically married into the family.

The other leaders gave extravagant gifts, beyond what they expected, making being gracious easy. It made Hiccup wonder at the crazy 'no refusals, no returns 'rule.

Guests brought fine cloth from far lands, extravagant jewelry crafted from precious metals, ornate weapons that lit up Astrid's eyes.

Chief Hans of the Equis tribe brought three sturdy, thick horses. Horses disappeared from Berk during the time of the dragon raids. They spooked too easily, and with food having been scares they became too much of a luxury.

"One Stallion, two mares. That should start ya on the way to a herd." Chief Rune, a little redheaded man with defined muscles told them as he kept a steady hand on the stallion. On his left, holding a mare stood his wife, a petite woman with silvery blond hair and on his right, holding the other mare, stood his eldest daughter also petite with same shimmery locks. She wore a deep blue fitted dress with silver trim. Hiccup figured she wore the dress and stood up with her parents to catch the eye of some other chief's son.

Astrid ran down to pet the horses, just like she would Stormfly. "I dreamed of having a horse as a little girl. Probably set me up for falling in love with dragon riding."

"This is great," Hiccup announced, "because Gottie has been plowing the fields like an old lady recently. And they seem to make my bride happy."

Hiccup watched her whisper to the animals, remembered their first dragon ride. He never knew if that made her fall in love with him. He'd always been in love with her. Was that the moment, or did she grow to love him later? And did she love him as much as he loved her, being that he loved her always, and she loved him later? He supposed it didn't matter now.

Hiccup addressed the crowd, "I wish she would have told me of this horse obsession years ago. If I could have won her over with horses instead of having to train dragons, maybe I'd still have my left leg!"

Everyone laughed, except for Toothless who rolled his eyes, but the look he exchanged with Hiccup made the human know his dragon probably was right.

The horses surrounded her and she baby talked to all of them till Hiccup warned her about making Stormfly jealous. He walked down to shake the hands of Chief Rune and complement him on his beautiful family. His daughter blushed and giggled, showering the young chief and his bride with thanks and compliments. Hiccup finally pulled Astrid away, concerned a tipsy Astrid might jump on a horse's back for a ride.

He asked Rune and his men to put the horses up in the dragon stables - far at the end, so the two species wouldn't spook each other. He suggested they meet later in the week to exchange Rune's horse tips for Hiccup's dragon tips.

"My daughter is the best instructor and rider of the tribe. She'd delight in teaching ya."

"Excellent. I look forward to talking later."

Rune smiled at his daughter.

The night wore on and the gifts became more practical, but still appreciated - sheep, yaks, furs, and alcohol.

Hiccup noted other chiefs brought up their families, wives and usually their oldest children. He figured the sons came up because one day they would work with Hiccup, and the daughters were certainly on display for eligible bachlors, each one wore a fancy dress, which they showed off as they smiled and flirtatiously flipped their thick locks of hair. The genders looked evenly split, making him wonder if some matches might even be made that week.

However, something about those family introductions made him feel a twist in his chest. He should gone to more of these events with his father. Should have been socializing – insecurities be damned, he killed the Red Death and tamed a Night Fury –being there with his dad would have showed people who he was long ago.

But – he couldn't think about that now. Now was the time for the last gift of the night.

Somehow Gunnar managed to get to the end of the list. This gave Hiccup an uneasy feeling. Seeing his cousin, a boy who taunted him as a child, sent a sensation of anxiety through his body like he'd been stabbed from the gut to the heart, probably because he half expected Gunnar to stab him.

He eyes his empty mug, wishing for more to drink to help calm down. He looked at his most trusted people. Snotlout stood two feet from him. Eret two tables over telling tales to a crowd of rowdy seamen. Dagur, Heather, and the Thorstons all within a 20 foot radius. Most importantly, Toothless sitting beside his chair.

He had to stay sharp, no matter what. And not react. And be smart.

"Chief Gunnar, dear cousin." He hoped no one thought too hard about his not moving forward to embrace the man who stood before him with a snakish grin.

"Cousin Hiccup, and soon to be future brother-in-law."

Great, Hiccup thought, we're going to be double related.

"Recently, I was raiding a little village far, far south of here. They didn't have much of value, mostly poor, disposable peasants. Anyhow, I was in this little 'church' as they call them, and there I saw the perfect gift for you, something that made me think of you right away."

Hiccup wondered to himself poisoned wine? Deadly snakes? A sword that will kill me in my sleep?

"Brie!" Gunnar called in the sweetest of fake voices as he held his hand out.

A girl emerged from Gunnar's tribe. Hiccup's heart almost stopped when he saw her. She looked exactly like Astrid at age 16.

Obediently, she stood next to Gunnar and he pulled her uncomfortably close. Her frightened eyes glanced at Hiccup for a moment, before she looked down.

The girl's appearance threw Hiccup off, he stared confused, trying to figure out what she was doing there. She wasn't holding anything? Was she going to perform? Maybe sing a song like Tuff, then kill him. It didn't matter. He had to hold it together.

"Do you like her?"

Now Hiccup wished he drank less as his mind tried to find the best answer, "I- sorry, what?"

"She's not just for you of course, she can help Astrid around the house, and on nights when she wants to sleep alone. She's completely clean and untouched, you can even have her checked by your village witch or even Astrid could check - if you think she's more reliable."

Hiccup felt Astrid grow increasingly tense beside him. She made a micro movement in Gunnar's direction and Hiccup grasped her arm as tightly as he could, whispering so only she could here, "Don't. I've got this."

He pulled her back and moved forward.

"We don't keep slaves here in Berk. This is too much -"

"She's not too much," Gunnar's face brimmed with a smile Hiccup recognized as sadistic. "Would I give a gift on that level, knowing what an awkward position I'd put you in with the 'no refusals, no returns' rule? As for slavery, you have no law against it. The Haddocks just never kept slaves. Some of your fellow chiefs here wouldn't be able to do run their villages without them. And for those who don't, they might be considering it. Maybe this could even show Berk how well it works."

Hiccup seethed. He underestimated Gunnar, thinking him a stupid bully with simple dreams of torture and murder. He never thought him capable of coming up with a gift so devious it'd make his people question his morals and other tribes question his diplomacy. Not to mention the insult to Astrid.

This was the worse gift he could have given, and Hiccup had to make it work and he had to do it now.

"Astrid and I are overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness," Hiccup's lie tasted bitter as it left his tongue. "I cannot refuse your gift. So, I will keep her and treat her like a sister, till the Berk council and I visit our laws regarding ownership. Perhaps it is time we do make laws banning slavery - here at least - I can't tell other chiefs how to rule. Thank you, Gunnar, for this gift."

Hiccup quickly moved his speech into that of a larger thank you to the guest and well wishes for all those present. He invited people to continue to drink, but excused himself as he had hunting responsibilities the next morning.

After the speech, he looked over at Astrid. The cold in her blue eyes froze his heart, "I know, you're mad-"

She kept her voice low, "I'm not going to embarrass you by hitting you, because I know you didn't have control over the situation, but oh, Thor, I've never been so angry."

He pulled her close, feeling the tension in her arms as she fisted her hands. "Gunnar is a monster. He'll feed off any negativity he creates. Keep your feeling behind doors. Hit me when we're alone, scream when no one can hear. But don't ever let him see that he gets to you."

Astrid's eyes met his, "That lunatic shares a bed with my sister. I didn't know – I only though he was an jerk, I never knew-"

"We can't think about that now. Go to your parents, go home, and go to sleep."

"Where are you putting her?" Astrid asked, emphasizing the last word like the poor girl had a choice.

"Home. Downstairs - she won't even sleep on the same floor. I'm not like that. I couldn't be," He kissed her, "I love you." He released her and she walked away.

Hiccup left in the opposite direction headed toward the doors, Gunnar stopped him, his large hand shackling the girl's skinny arm as she stood next to him.

"Don't forget your gift, Hiccup." Gunnar's sick grin stretched out revealing jagged yellowing teeth.

Her eyes met Hiccup's, pleading with him to save her from this sadist.

"Brie, right?"

She nodded. He put his hand on her shoulder and led her away. She didn't have to say thank you, he felt it the moment he touched her, when he felt her relax under his touch, when she looked at him for a second with that smile that mimicked Astrid's.

I've never done a fanfiction before, but I read them and love writing. Please let me know what you think. I'm terrible at proofing my own work, so suggestions are welcome. Also, I posted a few chapters at once because I wanted them to be separate chapters and split up. When I do post, which sadly won't be as often as I would like, I will probably do it like this. Sorry if that annoys anyone. And hopefully someone likes this story. Let me know if the timeline gets confusing. Chapter one takes places after the events of the other chapters (it's day 7). Also, please let me know if you think this needs an M Rating. I tried hard to keep it at T, but to up the drama, it gets close to M.