Dark Valkyrie

Thirty: At His Side

Thirty: At his side.

Hiccup awoke with Astrid in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder and a small damp patch of drool from where she had snuggled into him. They were both fully clothed, of course, because neither had thought it would be right to do...well, anything...especially with the Trial in only a few hours. However, Astrid had pointedly insisted that they go back to Hiccup's room together, knowing that Toothless would prevent any attempted voyeurism by the twins and allowing her to spend the time with her boyfriend...now husband. And try to work out what had happened.

Hiccup had lain awake with Astrid snuggled against him, exhausted but trying to process what had just taken place. He had seen the letter clamped in Gobber's hand and as they had conducted the ceremony, the two-limbed blacksmith had read the instructions very carefully. It was clear that the Elder had seen something that had worried her enough to drag them out of bed in the middle go the night and perform the ceremony immediately. And while Hiccup had dreamed about marrying Astrid for years-and had been secretly planning the odd part of the ceremony himself, since that wondrous night when she had finally said yes to the Betrothal, the fact it had happened so fast had left him feeling very slightly empty, almost as if he had been cheated by the secret ceremony. Mentally slapping himself, he tightened his arm slightly around the warm shape and Astrid burrowed further into his neck. He should be thanking the Gods that he had been given this opportunity when by every right, he should be dead. Or slaving in chains. Or crippled and blind. Yet here he was, curled on the hard bed in his lodgings, Astrid in his arms and wrapped in furs on what was technically his wedding night.

Stupidly, his face stretched in a huge grin. Wedding night! He couldn't lie that he hadn't considered the event...probably more times than he would want to admit to anyone. Especially Snotlout. Gods, never to Snotlout. And this was certainly not how he had ever imagined it. He and Astrid had snuggled up before, sleeping together-though never in that way, because though Hiccup was young man, he was still an Heir and raised with duty to his Tribe and his station ringing in his ears-and it was oddly comforting to feel her gently breathing against him, her hair gradually falling out of the braid. Her warmth leeched into him and he felt comforted and safe. Of course, he always felt safe with Toothless but this was a different kind of safe, the safety of family and home and love.

Astrid twitched and he glanced towards the small window high in the wall. There was the definite golden brilliance of sunlight, leaking around the edges and through the gaps between the planks in the shutters. Dawn had come and it wouldn't be long before the Vikings were stirring and the preparations for the Trial would almost be over. And there, Astrid would have to defend what she had done, in the defence of Hiccup, of Berk and of the dragons. And he knew that those Tribes who had never embraced the friendship of dragons or who clung to the easier and more traditional position of seeing the reptiles as ravening beasts would try to crush her and use her actions as an excuse to place restrictions on those Tribes who had befriended dragons.

He grimaced and eased a cramp in his left leg. He didn't want to wake Astrid but he knew in his heart of hearts that they would be fighting for her life-and for their own freedom. Stoick had been quiet the previous evening and Hiccup guessed that the allies he had spoken with hadn't been that optimistic. Even the great Stoick the Vast may not be enough to swing the debate in their favour.

"Mmm...you awake, Babe?" a sleepy voice mumbled. He immediately inclined his head to look into two sleepy blue eyes and he felt his face stretch into a goofy smile.

"You got me," he said gently. "Morning, Mrs Haddock." She gave a slow smile.

"So it wasn't a crazy dream," she murmured and his face fell. He glanced away.