[AU] If You Will Marry Me

[Fern & Nima]

Time and Date:: After Thawfest

Weather:: Warm, sunny, flowers in full bloom

Previous Threads?::  N/A

CURRENT IC SEASON - After Thawfest

Thawfest had just ended on Berk; it was one of those brief moments in time, where for once life found a way to not only survive; but flourish. Just like every other year, the island had once again flourished from the winters thaw, the melted snow feeding the seeds beneath the earth... and the effect was phenomenal; for there, along the fields of Berk, were flowers, blossoming everywhere as far as the eye could see. Even some of the trees had blossoms, adding to the beauty as their petals fell to the grass. And to top it off, the day was fairly warm; a rarity, one that almost never happened, yet happened today.. right on Berk.

It was on this day that Fern's mother made a fuss over doing her hair in a fancy braid, threading some bangs over her eyes and making her wear a fancy skirt and nice top. Fern didn't know what all the fuss was about, but she obliged to getting all these gifts of new things, hardly realizing the real reason her mother was playing dress up with her that day.

For little did she know, that soon there would come a time that day, when her life would change forever. For as she walked out the door to go meet Jokul, as she usually did every afternoon, she could have never imagined that this day would be the day.. that would change her life... forever.

[Jokul & Starkad]

"You remember the plan, right, you guys?"

The young man turned to his small audience of dragons. Shade cooed a yes, but Starkad snorted, "How couldn't we? You won't shut up about it!" He chose to ignore the young hobblegrunt. Her scales were slowly shifting to orange and red the longer her rider kept talking.

"And then we gets fish after?" A young green nadder scuttled over to him. "Yes, Kruno." Jokul breathed out. "Now!" He spun back to Starkad and pointed at her. "You, Loki spawn, had better not screw it up." A draconic snicker was all he heard as a response.

"Okay. Come here, Kruno." The man pulled out a small fist-sized bag. "Remember, don't-" "Eat it. I know! I know! When do I get fishes?" The man rolled his eyes and tied the bag onto the nadder's horn. After making sure it was secure, he patted the dragon's cheek. "You'll get as many fish as you want if you do this right."

Kruno anxiously began twitching his wings. "I won't mess up, Papa!" And with that, he licked Jokul's face, and took off through the entrance of the training arena.

"Is it impossible for me to go one Thor forsaken day without being slobbered on?" He asked rhetorically as he wiped his face clean. "Hmm... Yup!" His dragon cackled.

"Alright, you-!" The older hobblegrunt silenced him with a growl. "I suggest we get to the stables before Fern does." Jokul took a moment to rub his face, trying to calm down; something that didn't actually work. His nerves were still there, if not worse than before. "You're right. You're right..." He took Starkad's head into his hands, forcing her to look at him. "Just... don't ruin this, Stark... please."

Despite her urge to make a snide comment, she still pressed her forehead into his chest as reassurance. "Fine... but I still want those fish after." The man let out a relief-filled sigh. Pushing her away with a laugh, Jokul hooked his thumb over his shoulder. "Go get ready, Starkad."

She trotted away from the arena, leaving the man and her mother alone. "You'll make sure to watch them, right?" Shade nudged his shoulder, urging him to get going. Not taking another moment to stand around, he started walking to the stables. "Those two both love you. They won't disobey you this once... at least, not on purpose."

"Oh, well that's reassuring." He replied sarcastically just as the light from the stables filled his vision. Lucky for him, he got there just before his girlfriend. In fact, the moment he reached his normal spot to wait, she showed up. As usual, her red hair stood out amongst the rest of her appearance, not that Jokul minded.

The moment he spotted her, he opened his arms, waiting for the inevitable hug she was going to greet him with.

---

[ooc- Hehe... You're going to LERVE ME for this In case you use it in the future, I've made Kruno's color code "5ccc89"]

[Fern & Nima]

"Mom, seriously, my hair is.... FINE." Fern protested as her mother tried fixing her hair once more. Still the curls refused to be held down, finally Fern took her hair and undid the braid, letting the curls loose, giving her hair a wild flip while her hair fell beautifully over her shoulders, a few strands over her eyes. "There... This.... is how I like it."

"Fern, of all days to try a new hair style, why today?" Fern merely rolled her eyes, "Why not? Jokul will like it, I'm sure. It's better this way.... more... bouncy.. more... me..."

"Alright, alright, get going!" Her mother pestered and shooed Fern out the door. Fern happily obliged, skipping down the trail, stopping a moment to pick a pink flower from a tree and inhale its sweet scent, before continuing on. She came to the spot where she always met Jokul and skipped up happily to him, reaching up to him and wrapping him in a tight hug. "Hey you!" She said happily, "What do you think? I did away with the braid today... It's not traditional, but I like it... Hey where's Stark at, anyway, and why..."

She stopped to look at him, "Why do you look so.... nervous?" She tilted her head, looking in his eyes, "Something wrong... or something I did...?" She began to worry, running her fingers through her hair, "Is it my hair? I mean, I can put it back in the braid if you don't like it... I mean..." She could have been blabbered on like this for ages, but she fell silent, instead just running her hands through her hair nervously.

[Jokul & Starkad]

Oh gods... what'll happen if I forget what to say? What if... Jokul's stopped. What if... she says no? He paled at the thought. Shade, lucky for him, broke him out of his panic attack and shoved him forward. "There's no need to be like that. In fact, I think it's a good thing you're afraid."
The viking turned to face her. "If she refuses to become your mate, you can't imagine a life without her." She answered his unspoken question. "I'd be more worried about not making a fool of yourself when you finally ask."

Jokul rolled his eyes, but still patted her jaw in thanks. "Wait for me until I call." The hobblegrunt dipped her head so he could see, and did as told.

He didn't end up waiting long for his girlfriend in their spot. The moment she wrapped her arms around him, he did the same. "You..." He breathed back in her hair, which he had yet to notice. "Happy, as always, I see." The man smirked at the inside joke.

"What do you think? I did away with the braid today..." At that, he pulled away just enough to see her face. Gingerly, he tucked a portion of her red locks behind her ear, not that it'd really stay there though. "I'd be willing to bet your mom complained about it. But I like it."

After she asked where Starkad was, his nerves came back. "U-um... well, I was gonna give her free rein in the village today..." Jokul knew very well he wasn't a very good liar, but he knew he couldn't exactly tell her, so he'd have to deal with having Fern suspicious of him. "Why do you look so... nervous?"

Shoot. She saw right through me, didn't she? It not exactly surprising, and yet the man still felt his heart quicken. "No no no! It's not anything you did! I'm just a little excited, that's all." He cupped her cheek and tried to calm her down. "Or maybe it is nerves." Jokul smiled. "I mean... I was planning we fly to Itchy Armpit together."

He whistled lightly over her shoulder to signal Shade. The hobblegrunt shook herself free of dirt and came to stand by the two vikings. "If you're up to it, that is."

[Fern & Nima]

Today, little did Fern know, was a day she would remember for the rest of her life. She didn't know it yet, but her life was about to change... forever. For in the works was a surprise, a proposal, and she had no idea, not a clue, of what was about to happen. And somehow, despite his nervous antics, she remained going on thinking it was just another normal day.

She laughed at his remark, saying softly, "When am I not?" She looked down a bit, running her hands through her hair. "Yeah, yeah... my mom doesn't like it.... But I had a feeling you would." She looked up to him with a smile, before noticing Starkard wasn't hanging around him, "Odd..." She muttered softly, but shrugged it off, "It'll be a bit... quieter today." She said, managing a laugh.

Fern looked to Jokul and furrowed her brow, noticing his nervousness, before questioning it. At his response she smirked, whistling. Nima landed and she mounted her dragons back. "Alright then. Lets go." She said softly, already ready to head there.

"Unless you're scared to fly by yourself..." She teased... "You could always hop on Nima." She suggested softly, patting Nima's back. "If...." She looked to Jokul, "You're up to it?"

[Jokul & Starkad]

Jokul pressed his lips to the top of her head. "Just promise me you'll never to cover up your hair." He smiled down at her. So far, so good. She didn't seem to suspect him of anything just yet. "It's one of the things I look forward to seeing every day." That's it, Jokul. Butter her up to make her feel even more ecstatic later.

"It'll be a bit... quieter today." The man smirked. "That was the plan."

It didn't take Nima long to show up once she'd been called. The moment Fern mounted her, Jokul felt a rush of nostalgia. It had been some time since his last dragon ride, and yet, he was always reminded of his first flight every time he saw Fern on Nima. And she seemed to enjoy making him remember how afraid he was. "Unless you're scared to fly by yourself...You could always hop on Nima."

Shaking his head with a smile, he held his hand out to Shade. "I think I can manage." The hobblegrunt leant down far enough for him to climb on her saddle without any problems. "Besides," He reached down and ran his hand along the dragon's neck. "Shade here will make sure nothing bad happens."

After the hobblegrunt growled in agreement, he grabbed a hold of the handle bars. "R-ready?" He whispered to his mother's dragon. Shade unfurled her wings and turned her head to see him. "More so than you." The viking swallowed heavily, "L-let's go then."

Picking up on his fear, the hobblegrunt gradually flapped her wings faster with every swing instead of bolting high above the clouds. Jokul's grip, along with the rest of his body, froze up. His knuckles were even turning white because he was holding on for dear life. The worst part was that he wasn't even in the air.

Calm down Jokul... He told himself for the hundredth time today. It'll all be worth it once we get there.

The moment he felt himself ascending, he shut his eyes and hunched over until he was sure he was on the ground again.

[Fern & Nima]

"Heh, well I take it cutting it is a no, then?" She said with a bit of laughter. At his next comment she smiled, kissing his cheek, "Great minds think alike; seeing you is always the best part of my day as well." She turned and called Nima, mounting her. She teased him softly before he said he would ride Shade. She giggled a little, "Alright, it's your funeral." She teased softly, before gently nudging Nima into flight. She circled around, waiting for Jokul to join her in the air... From above she could see Shade moving, and then getting gradually closer... As Shade flew by, she could see Jokul clinging to her with his eyes shut tightly.

He may never know it, but Fern flew incredibly close to Shade, just underneath him, to make sure in case he slipped Nima would catch him. As they neared the island, she breathed a sigh of relief as Nima landed. "You can open your eyes now... You're safe... On the ground..." She slowly made her way to him, moving to wrap her arms around him, whispering, "Don't worry... you're safe, Jokul..." She took a moment to bury her face in his neck, before moving to kiss his lips. "You're safe..." She finally whispered as she puled back, feeling more in love then ever before.

[Jokul & Starkad]

This is utter Hel. Of all the stupid things I've done, this tops them all, no question about it. The flight itself wasn't that bad, considering there barely any clouds in the sky, and there was virtually no wind blowing. Below him, he felt Shade's muscles shifting every so often when she moved her wings. She kept a constant purr going as well, trying to soothe her rider's fear.

Jokul didn't count the number of minutes or seconds they were airborne. So after an eternity in his hunched over position, he was both surprised and relieved to hear Fern's voice. "You can open your eyes now..." And he did just that.

His grip still didn't loosen though. Even after he could easily see that she was dismounting Nima, his death hold stayed put. "Don't worry... you're safe, Jokul..." Apparently, Shade had leant down to all crouch on all fours, because there was no other way Fern could've gotten her arms around him.

At least her arms were enough to make his own feel like bags of jelly, unable to stop them as they fell by his sides. "You're safe..." It might've been a little cliché, but the kiss she gave him woke up his senses. Before she could fully move away, he took hold of her arm, "Remind me later that flying was a stupid idea." Even his voice shook as he wobbled unsteadily off the hobblegrunt's saddle, trying to use Fern as a crutch.

Behind him, Shade snorted a few low chortles. "Oh shut up, you!" It was times like this you could see the similarities Starkad had with her mother. First and foremost, they both enjoyed laughing at Jokul's screw-ups. At least Shade had the decency to try and hide it.

"Now that that's out of the way..." The man let out another sigh-like breath before straightening his posture as if nothing had happened. "Let's try to find someplace to sit for a bit." Though, in truth, he just wanted to calm his nerves, especially after his little panic attack.

"I'll be waiting here when you're ready to go back." He nodded to the hobblegrunt and scanned the area. He couldn't see much, but he was looking for what Kruno had described on his last visit. Through his blurry vision, he could still spot the clearing standing out amongst the taller trees.

"That looks okay over there." He inclined his head.

[Fern & Nima]

As Fern comforted Jokul, she could hear Nima behind her huffing at the lack of attention. Nima wandered off to go hunt some nearby deer, keeping nearby just in case she was needed. As Fern kissed Jokul, he seemed to relax and she smiled as he took hold of her arm, dismounting using her as a crutch. She held him tenderly, "It's alright. You can fly with me next time." When Shade snickered she shot her a glare, before moving to take hold of Jokul's hand.

At the mention of sitting she smiled, "That would probably be a good thing." After a moment he gestured to a place nearby and Fern nodded, "Alright then." She started the slow walk towards the destined clearing, where flowers were in full bloom. She smiled as she neared it, "Wow, Jokul... this is really... really beautiful..."

She looked back to him, just as Nima lifted her head to look over at them. Nima then took to circling around, chasing a deer. Meanwhile Fern took Jokul's hand, leaning in to kiss him gently. "You always know the best places, Jokul. How do you do that?" She asked softly, before looking around. She took a moment to sniff a blossom on a tree, before placing it in her hair. "How do I look?" She asked softly, smiling at him with a big grin.

[Jokul & Starkad]

"I don't think it really matters who I fly with... I'll still end up the same way." He pretended to dust off his jacket, and followed as Fern led them to the clearing he'd pointed out. "Wow, Jokul... this is really... really beautiful..." Not as much as you are. He immediately countered in his head.

"You always know the best places, Jokul. How do you do that?" The man shrugged half-heartedly after breaking away from their short kiss. "I wouldn't take all the credit there. Mom tends to help with that a lot."

"How do I look?" Jokul gave her a tender smile and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. "Beautiful, as always." And then his smile became a lopsided smirk. "Or I could give you the literal answer; blurry." Normally, he'd keep any and all comments about his vision hushed between the two of them, but out here, he had no need to worry about being overheard.

"That aside," His hands traveled down her arms until they intertwined with her fingers. "We've come a long ways, haven't we?" Letting out a long breath, he continued, "Especially since dragon training... that's for sure."

Out of the corner of his eye, albeit, out of focus and small, he spotted a blur of bright yellow scales. Gods, Starkad! Not yet! Lucky for him, the hobblegrunt had merely been peaking through the brush and waiting for her cue.

"You remember how much of a grump I was?" He pressed his forehead against hers. "Gods... I don't know what I would've become if we hadn't started dating." Jokul pressed a kiss to the top of her head and looked over to where he'd seen Starkad earlier. The said hobblegrunt stuck her head out and opened her frill in question. Giving her a small, subtle nod, he signaled her.

She stepped slowly and deliberately into the clearing, making sure to keep her wings tucked by her sides. At this point, Jokul tilted Fern's face up to look at his. "We're not as alone as I thought we were." He smiled and looked over to his approaching dragon.

[Fern & Nima]

Fern laughed, giving a playful yet sarcastic remark, "Gee, thanks..." She playfully knocked his shoulder, gently enough so he would barely feel it. At his next remark she laughed a little, "Well, she does know a lot about life and Berk and stuff... A lot more then us, that's for sure." She turned her attention to her hair, running her fingers through it. She wondered if she looked good, and what he thought of her new hair style; she needn't wonder for long, for he shortly answered her questions with the compliments that he always seemed ready to give her.

As always, just like the day they met, his nervousness and compliments sent a wave of heat to her cheeks, and she knew she was blushing a fiery red, perhaps almost as red as her hair. At his next words, she laughed a little, taking his hand, "Still beautiful, though?" She said softly, already knowing the answer. Then he intertwined his fingers with hers as he started to talk about how they had come a long ways. She bit her lip gently just like she always had as a child, remembering the day they met, their first dance, their first kiss; it all flooded back to her, and she smiled, looking down for a moment.

Just then he asked if she remembered how much of a grump he was, which made her laugh a little, her voice cracking with emotion. "You were never a grump when I was around, though. Always so sweet and nervous; so afraid to love me, yet here we are."

Just then Jokul tilted her head up to look at him, and she smiled a little, a bit of happy tears in her eyes. She was glad he couldn't see them; remembering all that was a happy yet bittersweet memory, knowing that their childhood was gone and they were only growing older now. Just then she heard a rustling and Jokul's words and looked over. She smiled, wiping her face, "Oh, hey Starky... What are you doing here?"

[Jokul & Starkad]

"Still beautiful, though?" Jokul smiled down at her as they walked. "Fern, you have no idea."

At the next comment, he rolled his eyes. "The only reason I wasn't grouchy with you was probably because Spit drained all of it from me every few days." He shook his head at the mere thought of the younger girl. "That brat, plus Stark," The man breathed a laugh, "I don't know how many times I've had to clean up their messes."

He didn't waste any time in buttering her up for the surprise. In fact, right as when he finished his small speech, Starkad had already made her appearance. "Oh, hey Starky... What are you doing here?"

She was crying. He noted mentally at the sound of her voice. "Fern..." The man tried mustering up his courage, only for his legs to start shaking. He calmly, almost mechanically, moved to stand between her and Starkad. This was the part he'd practiced too many times to count with the dragons involved. Taking another breath, Jokul started again, "Fern, I asked you if you remembered how I was back then. And honestly, I was selfish. At least with people I was. Dragons are a whole other story." Another unsteady, lung-full of air. "You were different. You didn't care that I distanced myself behind my own little shield. By the time I was teaching you Dragonese, I knew... I knew you were going to be part of my life."

From here, Jokul nearly collapsed onto the grass, barely remembering to keep one knee off the ground. With one clammy hand, he held one of hers. "You and I both know I can't see, But I never thought I'd want to see more than I do right now, even if it's only for a moment. I'd beg to the gods until they gave in, even Loki, just to truly tell you how beautiful you really are." He kissed the back of her hand, refusing to look anywhere but her face. "So... Think you can help this blind viking out?"

Jokul rubbed the back of his neck, otherwise known as 'the signal'. Kruno landed beside Jokul at the same time Starkad unfurled her wings, revealing multiple things. One being that her new prosthetic wing fit her perfectly, and two, a hidden message written on the underside of them. A question, to be exact. One that Jokul himself asked a second later. "Will you marry me, Fern?"

Having taken the bag off of the nadder's nose while she was distracted by Starkad, the man held up the simple box with the simple band of metal inside.

[Fern & Nima]

As Fern walked beside him, she smiled up at him, no words needing to be said; yet his words caused her to squeeze his hand tighter, and she listened to his next words, a bit of laughter rising from her, "I always felt so bad for you; with those two running around causing mayhem, who wouldn't be a grouch!" She said softly, giggling a bit, biting her lip gently. Listening to him speak, she smiled at him, letting him speak; as he kept speaking, her smile grew larger, butterflies rising in her stomach. He told her how much he wished he could tell her she was beautiful, she managed a soft cry of emotion, but then he asked her to help him out... But wait, what was he doing... This sounded like a... was he... Oh Gods...

Then, in the most brilliant moment of her life, Jokul dropped to his knee, and Stakard spread her wings. There, written on a her wings; a question, one that made the tears in her eyes flood out and her hands rush to her mouth as a soft cry came from her. She looked down, seeing him with the ring, and she inhaled sharply; this was happening, he was proposing. He was... proposing... He was proposing!!!

"Oh gods..." She stared at the ring, before she managed happily, "Yes!" She said, her voice cracking with emotion. Within moments, she dropped to her knees, throwing her arms around his neck, showering him with kisses, before she pulled back to look at the ring, her hand going to his cheek nodding before managing, "Yes! Yes I will marry you! I love you, Jokul. There's no one else I would rather spend my life with. I love you, I love you!"

[Jokul & Starkad]

Jokul prepared his heart for the answer she'd give after those few seconds of silence. Through all his inner turmoil, he kept the small smile on his lips. At this point, even if she said no, he'd still stay by her side. Sure, he'd be eternally embarrassed and broken-hearted, but if it was what Fern wanted, he'd bare through it.

Lucky for him, Fern had all-too-eagerly accepted his offer. Visibly relaxing at her response, Jokul's grin grew. "Yes!" The moment she bent down, he opened up his arms and returned the embrace. He was careful about keeping the box away from Fern's back, just to make sure the ring wouldn't be lost in the grass.

He could barely get a word in with her kisses, not that he didn't enjoy them. Jokul sighed again and gave one more gentle squeeze before releasing her. Feeling her soft palm on his face calmed him even more. "Yes! Yes I will marry you! I love you, Jokul. There's no one else I would rather spend my life with. I love you, I love you!" Another smile was thrown at her, one that was actually starting to hurt his cheeks. "And I almost thought you might say no."

"I would've!" The sweet moment was interrupted by the hobblegrunt behind him. "Shhh! Don't get Papa mad! He might not give us fishies!" Kruno whined and circled his adoptive parents. "I did good, right, Papa? I did everything you told me to!" The man took a moment from watching Fern to turn to the dragon and pat his jaw. "Yes you did. You were perfect." Kruno made a low gurgle-like purr and stuck his nose into Jokul's vest. "And don't worry. Tomorrow, you can have as much food as you want."

The nadder squirmed in place, unable to keep his excitement hidden. "Mutton and chicken too!?" The man nodded. "You bet." Starkad snorted and flopped down into the grass around the two humans. "Fish are the only thing worth eating." Without any words, Jokul patted the hobblegrunt's neck. He didn't need to say it aloud for her to know how thankful he was... despite her attitude.

Then he returned his attention back to his new fiancée. "Not bad as far as proposals go, huh?" He couldn't help the impish grin spread across his face. "Could've gone horrible, knowing my luck."