"Oh Tongue, give sound to joy and sing

Of hope and promise on dragonwing."

–McCaffrey, Dragonsong

….

Gobber can barely restrain himself when Stoick starts whistling, and even then he's grinning ear to ear. Because that song meant happiness and joy and singing, dancing and peace and unity, because they all needed something hopeful. As the first few verses float through the air, borne up by Stoick's rough but gentle voice, he resists the urge to laugh. This is their song, Stoick and Valka's, the song they sang and danced to at their wedding.

"I'll swim and sail on savage seas…"

It was the song they all danced to, leaping and whirling, weaving an intricate tapestry of step and song, and even the clumsy ones didn't mess up.

"With ne'er a fear of drowning…"

Hiccup was smiling, observing the tenderness and love spread across his father's face- a never before seen expression on his face, Gobber is sure.

"I'll gladly ride the waves of life,"

Stoick is watching Valka's face carefully, looking for any sign of rejection. Silly fool, as if Valka would ever do that.

"If you would marry me."

Hiccup's face is bright, and Gobber knows that his is as well. The hope is so tangible that he is sure that even the dragons can feel it.

"No scorching sun! Nor freezing cold! Will stop-"

"Will stop me jooooourney!"

As both Hiccup and his best friend send him deadpan, frustrated looks, Gobber says contritely, "Eh… Sorry." Too soon. Stoick sighs and continues:

"If you will promise me your heart,"

Now Gobber is nearly bouncing with anticipation and impatience. What is taking so long?

"And love…"

He thinks fiercely that Valka better not let Stoick down, as the silence drags on for what seems like forever, and the hope begins to fade, dread taking its place.

"And love me for eternity…"

There it is. Valka's voice is honey-smooth and as delicate as a songbird, even after two decades.

"My Dearest One, my Darling Dear, your mighty words astound me."

Stoick is glowing with triumph and delight, as the slow, gentle tempo turns into something faster. They both start to dance.

"But I've no need of mighty deeds when I feel your arms around me!"

They start slowly, but go faster and faster, twirling around and around and laughing.

"But I would bring you rings of gold, and even sing you poetry,"

Even Valka's dragon, Cloudjumper, and Toothless are look like they are experiencing a strange mixture of puzzlement and excitement. They can feel the highly-charged emotions in the air.

"And I would keep you from all harm! If you would stay beside me!"

Hiccup can't stop smiling. He has never seen his father so happy, Gobber knows. Neither has he.

"I have no use for rings of gold, I care not for your poetry-"

Gobber thinks his face is going to crack like an egg, he's smiling so hard. It hurts, but he doesn't care. He finally lets out a laugh, filled with happiness.

"I only want your hand to hold, I only want you near me!"

Gobber jumps up from his seat, deciding that it should be safe by now. He starts singing, uncaring that the notes are off-key, and he was clumsy with his missing limbs. It doesn't matter. He celebrates anyways.

"To love and kiss! To sweetly hold! For the dancing and the dreaming!"

He drags Hiccup into it too, ignoring his yelp and laughter and the way he stumbles a bit. Gobber swings him around into a dance gleefully.

"Through all life's sorrows and delights, I'll keep your love inside me!"

He thinks he accidentally kicks one of the dragons, but he's sure that it will be fine. Dragons have tough hides, after all.

"I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with ne'er a fear of drowning, And gladly ride the waves of life-"

Gobber knows that this happy moment will be seared forever into his memory, frozen even through loss and pain and sorrow, a place for him to go back to when times are harsh. It will remind him that happiness and hope still exist, even in a war-torn world. Nothing would ever change that. He joins in to sing the last line.

"If you will marry meeeeeeeeeeeee!"

…

"Harper, your song has a sorrowful sound,

Though the tune was written as gay.

Your voice is sad and your hands are slow,

And your eyes meeting mine turn away."

-McCaffrey, Dragonsong.

As she observes the ceremony with numb listlessness, Valka reflects on the irony of her life. She had just gotten him back, had just reconciled herself with her choices and her past- and then everything was yanked away again. And to think she thought that she would have time to catch up with Stoick, Valka thinks bitterly. It's not like life was Hel-bent on tearing her to pieces.

All of a sudden, everything catches up to her and she lets out a choked sob. Covering her mouth with a shaking hand, Valka closes her eyes briefly. She tries to force her emotions back. It doesn't help.

She drew in a shuddering breath. It's not like she was reunited with him for too long, Valka tries to convince herself. It shouldn't hurt this much. Why, she had barely thought of him or Hiccup for twenty years. Her emotions only worsen, causing her to shake almost unnoticeably.

As Hiccup says a few words, she imagines that she can hear a faint melody, a familiar melody, drifting through the air. Instead of loud and joyous, however, it is slow and somber, lilting notes telling a story of lost dreams. It helps, however, as her mind begins to clear and the numb fog is pushed away, bit by bit. She knows that Stoick is in Valhalla. Still, she is heartbroken. The song doesn't remind her of happier times, now. It is just bittersweet.

(Because the dance is done, the dream is gone, and no one's there to hold her anymore.)

Only she and her son are left to pick up the broken pieces and build the fragile, shattered hopes into something strong.

A/N: A WHOLE ENTIRE MONTH. Sorry for delay, also, since I forgot to say this in my other story: To all who read, favorite, and reviewed The Thing About Memories- SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE, WE GOT OVER 100 FAVS,YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! *cough* yeah, thanks. :D :D :D :D :D