Thirty Four.

The Elders listened in shock and horror at his words and the testimony of the two teens had convinced them that Dagur's Armada was ready to sail. Hiccup sighed and admitted that he had heard word of the impending attack on his travels and Stoick had scowled that none of his allies had thought to warn the Hooligan Chief. The Council agreed to mobilise the Berkian Fleet-but there had been a serious problem...Gothi and Bucket were in complete agreement. A storm was coming-a big one. And it would hit in the morning.

"Just when the Armada is due," Gobber had noted.

"The fleet will be unable to go out," Spitelout agreed. Stoick folded his arms.

"They will come," he said, checking with his son. Hiccup nodded.

"Dagur doesn't care about the weather or sanity in general," he admitted. "If he decides to do something, he does it. And to Hel with any other consideration. He will attack." Stoick stared at him.

"We will need the dragons," he said quietly. Hiccup nodded and his face paled.

"I know," he sighed. "We are probably Berk's best hope. And that means...I will have to face him again, Oh gods..." Astrid tightened her grasp on his hand.

"It's okay, babe," she said softly, "I'll be with you." He nodded and offered her a wan smile.

"Thanks," he sighed then lifted his head to stare hard at his father. "We will prepare the Academy for war. You will be on Thornado?" The Chief nodded. "I want us to be married tonight!" Hiccup said sternly. Stoick shook his head.

"Son, even if it wasn't such a contentious issue, there is no way the preparations or the proper protocol could be done in time..." Stoick protested.

"Dad-that wasn't a request," Hiccup said sternly. "There is no contract to decide. There will be no dowry. You will set aside a suitable bride price for Astrid and put it in trust for any children we may have in the future. I will sort out the Morning Gift. Since we are supposed to have already attended to the physical aspects of our relationship, there is no need for the formal preparation rituals for bride and groom. I am certain Gobber and Gothi would be willing to attend-and the Riders. And there will be no need for a feast or any witnesses since that point is apparently moot." He was breathing hard. "Arrange it for tonight. I will sort out the rings-with Gobber's permission?"

The blacksmith nodded, his eyes shocked and amused at Hiccup's determination.

"Lad, I am certain ye already know what yer doin' so get at it!" he said with a grin. Hiccup turned to Astrid.

"Can you sort out the others?" he asked her gently. She nodded.

"And what will you be doing, husband to be?" she asked in an amused voice. He led her to the door as Stoick started bellowing orders to the Elders. He stopped and stared into her face, his eyes worried.

"Sorting your Morning Gift," he said quietly. "That will be all yours, Astrid. Wealth and security for you-whatever happens." She paused and opened her mouth to scorch a retort-and then she saw it in his eyes. The worry, the guilt...the fear. And she realised.

"You are afraid that Dagur will get you...kill you?" she guessed. He nodded.

"He's insane and I am vulnerable...even with Toothless," he said quietly. "There will be six of us against an entire Armada. And the aren't terribly great odds-especially as Dagur will be looking for Toothless and me." He sighed. "If anything happens to me, Astrid, being my wife...being my widow will protect you. You will still be Stoick's daughter and he will protect you in my memory. It may not stop you being courted by Snotlout, I am afraid, but the Morning Gift will grant you financial independence." His voice had grown thick and he stared at the floor.

"You've planned this?" she accused him. He sighed.

"On the way back to Berk because I feared this would happen," he admitted. "I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't think about your safety..."

"Or Hiccup if you didn't think of the worst," she smiled and gently kissed him again. "Go. I'll get the others ready." He smiled, whistled for Toothless and chatted to his dragon as they launched into the grey and lowering sky, heading inland.

He returned a couple of hours later and headed straight for the forge, much to Gobber's amusement. His saddlebags were bulging and the old blacksmith gaped at the treasures he had brought. He carefully pulled out a solid gold goblet and got a small crucible, then melted the goblet down ruthlessly. Gobber gaped as the boy carefully made two moulds and cast two rings in gold from the melted precious metal. Once they were cool, he set to finishing them, moulding the shape, decorating them and fitting them to the size he wanted. He gestured to the crucible, still almost full of gold.

"That's for you, Gobber," he said softly. Gobber, for once, was speechless.

"Wh...how...lad...it's too much!" he gaped. Hiccup stood up straight and gently caught his hand.

"Gobber, you have been like a father to me, you believed in me when no one else did and gave me the skills I needed to help Toothless fly. And you helped and supported me when I was so broken from my treatment by Dagur," he said softly. "I don't need this-and you sought this, many years ago..." And then Gobber gaped and stared at him.

"This is from the treasure of Hamish the Second?" he blurted. Hiccup smiled and nodded. "But I thought it was lost when the cavern collapsed..." Hiccup smiled shyly.

"It was," he said. "But Toothless and I both know where the treasure lies buried-and Toothless was good enough to dig some out for me-for Astrid." Gobber stared at him.

"Yer could be rich," he said. "Yer should have taken it when yer left..."

"I didn't even think of it then," Hiccup admitted, rubbing his neck awkwardly, "because it wasn't important...and all I wanted was to get away. But it struck me when I needed gold for a ring for Astrid." Gobber shook his head as the boy leaned over the rings, gently and accurately carving an intricate pattern onto the soft metal, frowning as he visualised the end result and used every ounce of his skill in the effort. This was for Astrid, who had saved him. And he knew that what he was doing now would save her.

They met back up in the Great Hall after dark. Hiccup had changed into his other tunic-the dark red one that Astrid and Stoick had sewn for him. Astrid had managed to borrow a gown of dove grey from gods-know-where and a woven crown of leaves and was standing with Ruffnut at her side. Hiccup walked up anxiously and stood before Gothi. His father was standing at his back with the other riders standing around in a loose circle. Gobber stood by Gothi, translating her scratches. Astonishingly, Snotlout came to stand by Hiccup's side.

"Give me the rings, cuz," he said in a low voice. "I'll stand by you now." Hiccup swallowed in surprise and gratitude-then handed them over. The bigger boy peered at the delicately worked bands of gold, the intricate Viking carving surrounding runes. Astrid looked up shyly, her blue eyes wary. She was feeling as if this was completely unreal, that it was a dream...until she looked across as the skinny, nervous and embarrassed looking shape of Hiccup. He ghosted her a smile and looked very pale-almost ill. But he seemed to gather himself, swallow nervously and then gently walked forward to loop something cool around her neck: the little string of perfectly smooth azure beads he bought because they were the colour of her eyes. He fastened them in place and she gave a shy smile as he self-consciously moved back to his place. Then he offered her his hand and she took it willingly as Gothi began to scratch and Gobber peered down and started to translate the runes-badly, as it turned out. Hiccup nearly found himself accepting Astrid as his wolf and she was surprised that she was being asked to love and oyster her new husband. Hiccup smiled: obedience would never be an option for Astrid and he would never ask it of her anyway.

Astrid's eyes widened with wonder at the rings Snotlout handed over and she looked into Hiccup's anxious face. The bands were beautiful, the work exquisite and the runes...she peered and her heart stopped. My heart, my life, AH. She had to blink and smiled at him as the cool metal slid onto her finger. She slid one onto his hand as well and saw him gulp.

"May the gods bless this union with love and prosperity and fruitfulness," Gobber recited. "May your life together be long and filled with joy!" Then Hiccup stood forward and kissed Astrid tenderly. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him.

"My husband," she murmured. He took a disbelieving breath.

"My wife," he replied softly. And then Snotlout broke the moment by clapping Hiccup violently on the shoulder and almost knocking him over. The other riders joined in, hugging the new couple and clapping Hiccup on the back so hard he did fall over. Astrid helped him up and glared at Tuffnut, seeing the alarm on his face at the blows and the still-horrific feeling of being surrounded by people. Then they all went and sat at a single table together, having a normal supper and laughing and joking. Fishlegs, Snotlout and Tuffnut all offered Hiccup almost certainly useless, inaccurate or wildly stupid advice while Ruffnut nudged Astrid and shared a hastily whispered conversation that had Astrid blushing fiercely. But Hiccup stiffened when his father leaned towards him from the head of the table.

"Son," he said quietly, "I know why you insisted on haste. It's the battle, isn't it?" He nodded, staring at his plate and looking ashamed. The Chief took a deep breath. "You know, I could not have been more proud. A Chief protects his own-and Astrid is the one you love, isn't she?" Another small nod. "Son, no matter what happens, I will protect her for you." Hiccup looked up-then rose and hugged his father fiercely.

"Thanks, Dad," he murmured. "You don't know what that means to me." Then the Chief rose and walked to Astrid. She rose, anxiously, but he wrapped a strong embrace around her.

"Welcome, daughter," he said softly. She tentatively hugged him back, still unnerved at the rapid change in her fortunes and closed her eyes.

"Thank you, sir," she said softly. He grinned.

"Call me Stoick," he said.

oOo

After the meal, they went home. They had completed a longish flight back to Berk and had a very busy day. Neither of them had truly believed the way the day had turned out. Hiccup sternly forbade his father from following them upstairs and he scowled until Stoick and Gobber went back to the Great Hall. Then Hiccup paused and stared at the stairs as if they were made of lava. He froze and blinked hard. He had almost forgotten what had happened in that room, had managed to push the memory aside...until he was here, now, contemplating walking up those stairs...

...dragged up those stairs, Dagur's grip ferocious on his struggling shape, his silent resistance desperate...the tears leaking from his eyes, the fear clutching his heart in a vice...the foul breath on his neck as he was dragged up to the loft...the hands on his beaten shape...the violent assault that haunted him...

He blinked and froze, all the colour draining from his face. He began to tremble and Astrid, who was already two steps up paused, then looked at him-and memory struck.

"Hiccup? Oh gods!" she gasped and turned, striding urgently to his side and taking his trembling hands. He shook his head, closing his terrified eyes.

"S-sorry," he murmured. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Astrid...I..." She wrapped her arms around him tightly and felt him cling to her, shaking.

"No-it's okay, Hiccup. I-I'm so sorry. I...forgot..." Her voice was shamed. He sighed.

"You go ahead," he sighed. "I'll..." She shook her head.

"Hiccup-if you stay down here, so will I," she told him. He groaned: the bed had been moved upstairs and they would literally have to sleep on the floor of the main room by the fire pit for their wedding night. And though both teens were virgins and neither really had any intention of altering that fact in the near future, it would be horrendously awkward trying to explain this to his father. He pressed a kiss on her lips and his hand wound tightly around hers.

"You are with me," he said wanly. "I can do this...for you..." And he pulled away from her and turned slowly to the stairs. The newly weds tentatively made their way upstairs and Hiccup sighed. This was the part that was making him really uncomfortable and he stood as he watched Astrid perched on the edge of the bed, trying to ignore the memories that surged across his vision.

I was really trying to be nice...but now, this is really going to hurt...

"You have the bed," he invited her stiffly. "I'll sleep over there..." He gestured vaguely to the far wall. She rolled her eyes and pulled the crown of leaves off her head.

"You idiot," she huffed. "This is our wedding night!" He fidgeted away from her, staring at his feet and twisting his hands. This was suddenly the beaten down Hiccup who had returned from Outcast Island, not the more confident young man who had partially resurfaced over their travels. Then he realised what she had said.

"What?" he said suspiciously. She rolled her eyes again.

"Hiccup, we have basically been sleeping in the same bed for weeks, because of your nightmares," she told him irritably. "And I wouldn't have it any other way. But I am not spending tonight with my new husband sleeping on the floor!" Hiccup sighed and his shoulders slumped.

"But...that bed..." he whispered and she rose to stand by him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he automatically folded his arms around her middle.

"Hiccup-I know," she sighed. "I know you were horribly hurt here. And if you want us to go downstairs, then we can. But I won't lie on the bed and watch you sleeping on the floor like a slave." He shrugged. He was used to sleeping on the floor-which is what he had been ever since he ran from Berk and all the time on Outcast Island-but a small corner of his mind was looking forward to sleeping on a bed and the comfort and warmth of another person. Trembling, he took a step towards her.

"I'l...try..." he admitted and sighed. Leaning against the wall, he pulled off his boot and took off his fur vest, folding it neatly by the side of the bed. He looked: Stoick had found a couple of larger furs to cover the new couple and an extra pillow and Hiccup looked away, blushing, as Astrid removed her boots and the borrowed dress (one of Ruffnut's!) then dragged on an old tunic of Hiccup's-one too patched for even him to wear. He heard the rustle as she slid into the bed and then he carefully took a step forward.

This was the moment of truth and with a silent prayer to Odin, he perched on the edge of the bed and unstrapped his prosthetic leg. He held it for a long moment, feeling his heart fluttering madly in his chest as he rested it by the bed. Self-consciously, he slowed his breathing.

This is Astrid, not Dagur. She won't hurt me. And she knows...Odin, please let me do this...

He shuffled in next to her, pulling the furs just over his body and trying to lie not touching any part of her. He was trembling-partly from fear and memory and partly in embarrassment. Since the bed was narrow and designed only for one, he was incredibly stiff and uncomfortable. Astrid stared at him for a long moment.

"Are you going to lie like that all night?" she asked pointedly.

"I can try," he said stiffly. The memories were more pervasive than he had thought. He was absolutely terrified.

"You'll fall out."

"I'll be fine."

"And when you have your nightmare?"

"Won't." Gods, please no-because I know what it will be about, here. Oh gods...please...

"You're probably right. Because you won't get a wink of sleep!"

He sighed. "So be it," he said a very quiet voice. "I did this to you, Astrid. The least I can do is..." She turned onto her side and glared at him. He looked pallid and afraid, almost in pain. She could see he was really tense and forcing himself not to get up and run down the stairs and away from the memories.

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third!" she said in a dangerous voice. "Husband or not, I am your friend. And as your friend, I can tell you that you will be worse than useless tomorrow when we are fighting for our and Berk's lives if you are utterly exhausted!" He rocked his head to face her.

"What will it matter?" he asked her despondently. "We'll probably lose anyway." Dagur will get me, one way or another. She took a shuddering breath.

"You can't think like that!" she told him softly.

"But Astrid..." he began and stiffened. Her hand had found his and she lifted it to her chest.

"If this is our last-our only-night together as husband and wife, then at least I want to spend it in your arms, Hiccup," she said softly. "I did mean it: I love you. And I don't want to lose you. And though neither of us planned that this would happen, I don't regret being your wife. Maybe it's far sooner than I had thought, but this is the only wedding I would have wanted."

The weight lifted from his chest somewhat and he found he could breathe. His heart slowed-but only a little because he was lying by Astrid and she was still his dream. Awkwardly, he scooched across until he was lying against her-and felt her snuggle into his side. He fidgeted and rolled towards her, resting his arm over her curled and warm shape. He twitched the furs across them comfortably and the memories, the hissing, cruel voice faded, replaced by her sweetness, her warmth, her presence. He found he could speak again and his brain began to function once more. And with it, the worries. "Astrid?"

"Yes, Hiccup?"

"Do you think they'll want to see the furs before the Morning Gift ceremony?"

"What?" Then she chewed her lip. "I don't know," she admitted. He sighed.

"I'll take care of it," he promised and snuggled against her, feeling her strong arms tighten protectively around his trembling shape. And despite his worries and the memories, he didn't have a nightmare that night as he slept in her arms.