Thora's POV

"You want to what?"

Hiccup takes another deep breath, fidgeting in place as he looks away from me. "I...want you to marry me."

I stare at him, completely stunned. This is completely out of the blue. There is absolutely nothing that could've prepared me for this. We aren't even a couple, much less do we have feelings for each other strong enough to invoke marriage. Maybe he drank some bad ale.

"I'm...just..." I swallow, trying to get myself to speak. "Okay, did Snotlout spike your ale this morning?"

Hiccup's shoulders rise and fall sharply as he takes in another breath. "No, I'm serious. I-"

"Marriage?!" I exclaim, causing him to jump. "Where in Odin's name did this come from, Hiccup?"

He gazes at me, his deep green eyes swimming with some emotion that I can't place. He purses his lips as he adjusts one of the straps on his chest.

"Look, I know it's sudden-"

"Tell me about it."

He shoots me a quick glare, silencing me. "My mom has been pressuring me to pick a bride. The people want an heir. They want to see what the great Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third will produce as the next great leader." He shuts his eyes as I continue to watch him. He sounds stressed, saddened, as though the idea is just too much even for him to truly wrap his head around.

I swallow again, combing my fingers through my loose curls. "So, you want to marry me just so people will get off your back?" I clarify, a sick feeling twisting my gut. I don't want to be used, like I'm just some walking baby maker.

He opens his eyes, stepping closer to me as a sort of urgency builds in his gaze. "No, it's...I want..." He stops, his cheeks turning pinker. "I really do...like you, Thora, and I know you don't have those same feelings for me above friendship, but..."

He stops yet again, snapping his fingers as he tries to think up the right words. My stony expression softens, but only a bit. I do like Hiccup. He's pretty much my best friend here in Berk, seeing as I feel like he's one of the few people who understands what it's like to be a recluse like myself.

He's asking me to do what I did three years ago; do something for the good of others instead of myself. Berk needs their chieftain to have an heir, and me being married to Hiccup would make the whole Nightstar and Toothless thing a whole lot easier.

I let out a long sigh, running my fingers through my bangs again. "Okay...fine..."

Hiccup's eyes widen. "Wait...really?"

"I'll marry you," I repeat, although the words make my stomach want to twist into multiple knots. It's not because the idea of marrying Hiccup is scaring me, just the idea of marriage in general.

He lets out a long breath. "That's great, uh...thank you."

"Yeah, but please do me a favour and tell the others when I'm not around. I don't want to get mobbed," I mutter, feeling my skin crawl at the idea of being trapped in a throng of people congratulating me.

He steps forwards, taking my hand and lifting it to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss to the knuckles. My face heats up at the motion, a tiny smile flickering across his face as he bows his head.

"Of course, m'lady," he murmurs.

Odin help me.

----------

I sit inside my house on my bed, my hands moving automatically as they loop strands of my hair into braids. Thunder Song is curled up near me, snoring softly as smoke emits from his nostrils in little tendrils.

Hiccup is probably announcing to the village that we're engaged. Any second, there's going to be a loud uproar of cheers that'll echo throughout this whole place and it'll only remind me of what I'm doing with my life.

"UGH!" I groan, slumping back onto my bed as I clap my hands over my face. Thunder Song squeaks as he wakes up, giving me a nervous glance.

I lay like that for what feels like a very long time. Just as I predicted, hollering of celebration echoes out from the main square of the village, only causing my body to tense even further. They're going to be trying to find me soon, but it'll be a pleasant day in Helheim before I let that happen.

"Thora! THORA!"

I muffle a groan as I recognize Astrid's excited voice. There's a pounding against my wooden door that causes Thunder Song to leap off the bed and scramble for cover in some dark corner of my home.

"THORA, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! COME OUT!" Astrid hollers. "I'LL KICK THE DOOR DOWN!"

I scramble to my feet and race to the door, opening it just in time to see Astrid raise her axe.

"Woah! Okay okay! Calm down!" I say, eyes wide.

She grins and drops the weapon, causing a rather large clunk to resonate throughout the wooden steps at my door.

"You have no idea how big this is, Thora! Oh my gosh!" she squeals. "The marriage of the chieftain is always huge!"

I rub the back of my neck, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. I knew this was coming. I've just got to handle it with grace and levelheadedness.

"I know. There's a lot of work to be done." I sigh.

"As your best friend, it's my job to help you." She smacks me on the back. "We have to plan! Dress, food-"

"Um...can we let me breathe a few times before all that? Besides, I have to keep training-"

"Thora, I understand you have your job as Night Fury trainer, but this is your wedding! The most important day of your life!"

"I just don't need it to be that big of a deal..." I mumble, wanting to curl into a ball and hide for a few centuries.

"Too bad! Everyone's way too excited for this not to be a big deal!"

Before I can protest, Astrid picks me up, tossing me over her shoulder and striding from my house. I realize with a stab of horror that she's heading towards the main part of the village. I struggle against her grip, but fail miserably. I always forget how strong she is.

"There's the bride-to-be!" Snotlout calls as we come into view.

I exhale in defeat as I rest my head on my hand.

"Having fun, Thora?" Tuffnut asks, tilting his head sideways to look at me.

"Oh yeah. I'm having a blast," I say, deadpan.

Astrid puts me down, allowing me to breathe and brush off my clothes. "Someone doesn't want her wedding to be a big deal," she says, looking pointedly at me.

"What? Why?" Ruffnut asks, amazed. "I'm excited about this! You should be too!"

I shake my head. "It's...uh...kind of weird, honestly."

"I always knew you were together. It was so obvious." She laughs.

"You know what I think this is?" Fishlegs asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I open my mouth to speak, but Astrid jumps in first. "Nerves?" she suggests.

"YES!" he exclaims, pointing at her and grinning. "I mean, who wouldn't be nervous for this?" He jostles me as he throws an arm around my shoulders, obviously trying to get me to smile or act excited.

"Am I missing anything?" Eret asks as he saunters up and joins the circle.

"Thora's nervous," Tuffnut explains.

"Oh really? That's too bad." Eret scratches his jaw. "I would think a wedding would make someone more excited than not."

"Guys, can I please go home?" I ask, wiggling out of Fishlegs' good-natured grip.

"Hey, we want to talk to you about this!" Snotlout insists. "It's important!"

"Really? It feels like you guys just dragged me over here against my will to nag me about nerves," I accuse, placing a hand on my hip.

"No. We've got a surprise!" Ruffnut flashes a grin. "We kinda just came up with it, but it should work."

"Where's Hiccup?" Tuffnut asks.

"I'll get him!" Eret offers.

He dashes off, leaving the rest of us to wait. Each of my friends can't stop smiling, whispering to each other about their ideas for the wedding. With each word from their lips, I want to curl up into a tighter ball.

Why must I keep agreeing to these things?

Eret comes back, Hiccup strolling along behind him. It comforts me to see that Hiccup, my fiancé, looks just as nervous as me about this whole thing. Eret flashes me a smile as he leads Hiccup over to the group.

"Good! Now we can tell you two the surprise," Tuffnut says, a mischievous grin flickering across his face.

"Surprise?" Hiccup asks, looking at me.

I shrug, shaking my head to tell him that I'm just as clueless as he is. Astrid grins.

"We've decided to throw you..." She pauses, trying to be dramatic. "...bachelor and bachelorette parties!"

Everyone lets out hoots of excitement. My eyes widen as my face flares with heat. Not a party...anything but a party.

"Wow...that's really awesome, guys!" Hiccup says sincerely, showing off that handsome smile of his.

"We've got enough worked out to make it work! Tomorrow, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Eret, and I will take you on a bit of a trip," Tuffnut says to him. "And Astrid and Ruff will take Thora!"

"You really didn't-" I start.

"Just accept our heartfelt gifts, Thora," Astrid says, rolling her eyes. "You always worry about making others happy, but never do anything for yourself. We want to help you two to have some fun before settling down."

Hiccup takes my hand, squeezing it. "She's right. You need you time."

I force myself not to yank my hand from his, nodding as a long sigh leaves me. "Alright. When do we leave?"

"Bright and early after breakfast!" Snotlout announces. "Prepare to party for the last time as a single Viking!"

Everyone laughs.

I can only gulp down the lump that's formed in my throat.