Lost and Found - A Snotlout Love Story (HTTYD/RTTE)

13. Sword Games

All of the villagers yelled their approval and joy. The riders also cheered from the crowd. "They look so happy to all be together," Astrid spoke with a smile.

Fishlegs then added, "their family is finally complete."

"Well, except for their parents," Tuffnut pointed out, "who are both very much, dead."

Snotlout gave the twin a warning glare and hissed, "are you ever not insensitive?"

Ruffnut snorted and teased Snotlout, "are you?"

"Alright, let's not start anything right now," Hiccup stepped in, reminding them that they were there to celebrate Melanie, not fight.

• • •

After the ceremony, there was celebration all night long. Lanterns were hung all over the village, and feasts were served. Melanie spent most of this time dragging Snotlout around with her to meet new people. At some point, they ran into Dagur.

"Hey, sis," he greeted, then glanced at Snotlout with a grin, "Snotnose." Ignoring the man's aggravation, his gaze fell onto two hands entwined, Snotlout's and Melanie's. He crouched down until he was eye level with the hands and frowned in confusion, "is this...does this mean something?"

Melanie let go of his hand and threw her arm around his shoulders from the side as Dagur stood. A sudden wild laughter escaped the chief's mouth, "would you look at that?! My sister, and Snothat!" Melanie joined into the laughing, and Snotlout realized they sounded almost exactly the same. Placing his arm around her waist, he chuckled too.

Then, Dagur's face was immediately serious. He stepped close to Snotlout and stared down at him, warning, "don't you dare hurt her."

With a nervous gulp, Snotlout smiled unsurely. Dagur's face broke out into an amused grin once again. He clapped a hand down on Snotlout's shoulder and sighed. "It must be raining brothers and sisters this year," he insisted happily, "could this day get any better?"

As the siblings laughed, Snotlout glanced down at Melanie. Her small hands were laced around his bicep, head thrown back joyously. And when those forest green eyes met his, Snotlout found the answer to Dagur's rhetorical question; yes. This day could get better. And it just had.

• • •

"Good-bye, Melanie," Dagur yelled after the dragon riders as they flew off the next morning, "visit again soon! You'll have to meet my wife next time! Safe travels to you!"

Melaine was sitting criss-cross on Bones's wide neck, facing backwards, waving her farewells to Dagur and Heather. When the two were out of sight, she finally turned around. Snotlout swooped down next to her on Hookfang with a sly grin on his face. "Hey, wanna test out your skills with a sword when we get back?" He challenged confidently.

Shooting the handsome man a devilish smile, Melanie agreed, "you're on!" Snotlout gave her a wink then went back to flying, making her giggle. She laid back on Bones with a great sigh. Never in her life had Melanie dreamed that she'd have a family like this. She had a home. A brother. A sister. Numerous friends. Melanie finally had a life that wasn't just drifting from island to island.

And she had Snotlout. The strong, hard-headed, handsome Viking who'd swept her off her feet just days after they met. He'd taught her so much about how to act in and be a part of tribe of people. And whenever she found herself unsure of what was right or wrong, Snotlout was there to help her out now.

She knew he always would be.

• • •

"Hah!" Melanie yelled as she brought her sword down to Snotlout's waist. But it was quickly blocked by his own weapon.

"Gonna have to do better than that!" Snotlout teased as they continued to spar.

Hearing this, Melanie got an idea. The next time he swung, she ducked and dropped her sword. She then proceeded to tackle him to the ground. "Ah!" He shouted in shock, sword flying out of his grasp.

With a manic laugh, Melanie rolled off of him and stood, holding a hand out to help Snotlout up. Once they were both on their feet, Ruffnut's voice rang from the side of the arena, "aaaand another win for Mel! We're all tied up here, three to three! Up next, the tie-breaker; who'll be taking home the pride of victory?!"

"What? She cheated!" Snotlout argued.

"Did not," Melanie countered childishly, putting her hands on her hips.

Snotlout rolled his eyes and explained, "it's a sword fight, you just used your body weight."

Tuffnut then whistled loudly and shouted, "FOUL!"

"What?!" Snotlout demanded.

"You never mention a woman's weight to her," Tuff explained, crossing his arms in disapproval.

"Minus one point for Snotface!" Ruffnut yelled, "and it looks like our winner is...Melanie the Manic!"

After shooting a glare at the twins, Snotlout walked over to Melanie and smiled sideways. "Guess I should know by now to expect the unexpected with you." He sighed and gave in to her adorable grin, "fine, you win."

"Yes!" Melanie sprung at him with a hug.

Snotlout caught her and chuckled, hugging her back firmly. He may have lost the spar, but he'd won the most important game. Breathing in Melanie's scent of sweat and honey, he knew one thing for sure, "gods, I love you."