To The End - A Tuffnut Love Story (HTTYD)

25. Beginning Forever

Victor's dark eyes widened, "oh, my, congratulations." He shook Tuffnut's hand eagerly, "vikings and sand people getting married; what's next, boars sprouting wings?"

Iris laughed at the joke and rolled her eyes, "you won't believe what's happened since our last meeting."

"Well, I want to hear it all," Victor spoke with enthusiasm.

So the three began to walk up to the village, Tuff and Iris taking turns explaining the past six to seven months to Victor. They introduced him to Hiccup and the other riders, then he was passed off to the other dragon warriors to catch up with them.

"I had no idea your tribe had outside connections," Hiccup told Iris. They talked in the Great Hall with the twins, Astrid, and Eret.

"Victor's ship wrecked on our island when I was only fourteen," Iris explained, "after recieving approval from the wraiths, he became part of us for a while. He left after a few weeks once his ship was repaired, but he frequently returned. We're the reason he gave dragons a chance as friends rather than enemies."

"That's incredible," Eret marveled.

Iris smiled, reminded once again of how proud it made her knowing that Victor was a changed man because of her tribe. Just then, the man entered with Astrid and Corral, one of the tribal woman a  few years older than Iris with beautiful, fluffy, corral colored hair.

Hiccup made his way over to meet them, "how'd you like the tour?" Their voices soon faded into incomprehensible mutters from distance.

Turning to Tuff, Iris bit her lip a bit nervously. She put a hand on his chest and looked up at him, "I was thinking of inviting him to the wedding. I know he's not family to either of us.."

Tuffnut smiled acceptingly, "I think that's a great idea; the more the marry-er, am I right?" His cheesey joke made Iris giggle. Her heart fluttered at the thought of the wedding, it was only weeks away. And although it would take place of Berk, Tuffnut had insisted on including as many of her tribal customs as possible. So that meant it would, of course, take place by the water. Iris's dress was being made by Mora out of shed sand wraith skin, and she was not to see it until the day of.

"Iris," she was pulled from her thoughts by Victor's voice, "I should be leaving now, but you have my word that I'll be visiting again soon."

With a grin, Iris brought up the invitation, "well, you'd better come on the next full moon."

Victor didn't need any more explanation, he knew what she meant. He'd been invited to a few of her tribe's weddings before, and he was well aware that they always took place an exact moon cycle after the betrothal. He bowed his head with respect and responded with a sideways smile, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

A few dragon warriors saw him off at the hangar just as the sun was beginning to set. Iris couldn't have hoped for a better life than the one she lived in this moment. Little did she know, a dark history lingered where no one was expecting, and life was about to get a whole lot harder.

***

The day had finally come. Tuffnut was in Hiccup's hut with Fishlegs, Snotlout, and Thorn. The boys had never seen him more nervous. "What if she changes her mind?" Tuffnut wondered in horror, words flying out of his mouth like an out of control dragon. "What if something goes wrong, or I mess up? Or if I'm so nervous that I can talk?"

"I wish you couldn't talk right now," Snotlout gave Tuff an irritated glance.

"Tuffnut, you're over thinking all of this," Hiccup urged with a somewhat amused grin, "Iris loves you, right?"

Tuff calmed down a bit, "well, yeah, duh; she agreed to marry me."

"Then you have nothing to worry about," Hiccup assued him.

Thorn then stepped in, "the ancestors of my tribe claimed this night as sacred when they approved of the union; nothing will go wrong that cannot easily be fixed."

With a heavy sigh, Tuffnut looked at the ground, "I know...I just, really don't wanna mess this up."

To everyone's surprise, Snotlout stepped toward the twin with an encouraging smile, "you'll do great." No one dared remark on how sincere Snotlout was being. However, it made sense, considering Tuffnut had asked him to be his best man. As much as they fought, the two men really were amazing friends.

"Thanks, Snotty," Tuff responded with a smile. As if his confidence had been renewed, he straightened up and held his chin high, "to the beach! My love awaits!" He then marched out of the hut with the others and went down to the beach. There, they would wait until Iris was ready, and the wedding would begin.

***

"Would you stop fidgeting?" Mora asked playfully and she helped dress Iris.

"Sorry," Iris apologized with a grin, "I'm just excited."

Tuffnut shook her head and laughed a bit, "I'll never understand what you see in my dopey brother."

"And I'll never understand what you see in Eret," Iris retorted with a sly grin, "it's just a difference in taste."