Book I, Chapter 30
...Ingerman's contributions to Haddock's legacy, however, pale in comparison to that of Astrid Haddock I, Hiccup's wife. The only daughter of Chief Hákon Mortensson clan Hofferson and Chieftess Gunvor Dugalsdoittor clan Hofferson of Eire, married to Hiccup Haddock III on 27 November 1041 after a ~15 month courtship, the two were genuinely inseparable partners for the remainder of their lives. Popularly known by multiple titles, including The Skydancer, Freyja's Chosen, Sif's Blade, and others, she is generally credited as having been instrumental in channeling and directing the productivity of her husband's intellect into practical ends.
...in addition to acting as Hiccup's manager, or as his whetstone, the metaphor that she preferred, Astrid, in her position as her husband's marshal, was widely feared and respected across Europa as the foremost military mind of her era, a reputation inspired from her tactics used during the Second Battle of the Seine River...
— A History Of The Isles, Oxford, England, 1591
Tropes That Appear In This Chapter:
- Altar Diplomacy: Hiccup and Astrid agree to take Wulfhild as his concubine to appease the jarls in Norway. While legitimate under pagan law, her relations with Hiccup and whatever children their union may have will be considered fornication and illegitimate respectively under Christian Law. Father Henriksson comes up with an idea around this by having Hiccup and Wulfhild go through a Christian ceremony, thus legitimizing their union in the eyes of their God.
- Blah, Blah, Blah:Hiccup: Well, here's my suggestion then. Wulfhild's staying here, as will Mistletoe. But, in recognition of that, and yadda yadda, pretentious high diplomatic crap—
- Cool Sword: Hiccup introduces his new Flaming Sword at his wedding and impales it right through the pillar, wanting to make sure that no one gives him a hard time over his virility.
- Embodiment of Virtue: Wulfhild seems to admire Hiccup for his "beautiful soul", recognizing his capacity for kindness, humility, charity, diligence, mercy and temperance. Not chastity, though, and even then his lust is only towards the woman he intends to marry.
- Everyone Can See It: When Hiccup and Astrid's wedding gifts are revealed to be large and ornate works of craftsmanship that would have taken far longer then their engagement to make, Hiccup asks everyone if there was anybody who didn't see his and Astrid's marriage coming.Everyone looked at each other, shrugged and shook their heads. Magnus and Wulfhild joined in, shaking their heads with enthusiasm and giant grins on their faces.Astrid laughed. "We have been wrapped up in each other a lot this year..."
- Family Business: Since Wulfhild will become a member of the Hooligan Tribe as Hiccup's concubine, he asks if she wants to have an important job - the High Almoner of Berk - as a way of proving to the jarls in Norway that she is an independent woman, make her feel like an active member of the tribe and to keep her from being bored sitting at home like a housewife.
- Freud Was Right: Astrid can't help but remark on the lack of subtlety in placing a warhammer on her lap as part of their wedding ceremony.
- Friend to All Living Things: Yngvarr, he isn't called the Merry for nothing. In fact he is so friendly he was able to bond with six dragons. He's allowed to keep all of them to appease the Norwegian jarls concerns that Norway isn't getting enough dragons.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: While still mortified by all of the men scrubbing his "bachelorhood" away and the various lewd jokes they make at his expense, Hiccup can't help but feel slightly relieved that this is something that happens with every groom in the village (as is tradition) and that he is not getting special treatment for his outlandish accomplishments like usual.
- Named by the Adaptation: In canon Toothless' nemesis the Whispering Death isn't given a name, here it is named Mold and essentially becomes Mildew's dragon due to their shared distaste for Hiccup and Toothless.
- Ultimate Blacksmith: When Hiccup explains the mechanics of his Flaming Sword, Stoick remarks to Gobber that "one of these days, a bunch of dwarves are going to tunnel up into the Broodery down there and say that they need help reforging Gleipnir, and ask if they can borrow Hiccup."
