Hiccupa was being prepared for the banquet and she was a ball of nerves. As Meatlug and Stormfly helped her dress for the evening. She had a black velvet gown with a red inlay covered in black lace. which coincidently matched the collar around her throat. Her hair was put up in braids and red ribbons. 

"You look beautiful." said Meatlug beaming.

"Yes" agreed Stormfly "She looks like a proper representative of House Nightfury just like what Toothless wanted."

"I-I don't know if I can do this." Hiccupa said feeling panicked.

"Why not?" said Stormfly. "What's the matter are you unwell? Do you not like what your wearing?"

"No, no, I-I'm not sick and the dress is beautiful, finer then anything I've ever owned. It's just that... their will be so many dragons and what if they all hate me because... I'm human?" Hiccupa said feeling anxious.

"You don't have to worry. Even if every single dragon who was invited despises you. Toothless will still care for you and so will Meatlug and I. Barf and Belch have already warmed up to you." Stormfly assured Hiccupa.

"And don't forget my husband Shattermaster he's taken a liking to you as well and he's never even seen a human before." Meatlug said beaming.

"But what if I forget the correct forms of etiquette for greeting a Monstrous Nightmare or-or forget the strike class of the Triple strikes?" Hiccupa began to panic and ramble.

Stormfly gripped a hold  of Hiccupa's face "Hiccupa look at me. Good. Now breathe. Hiccupa relax this is not a test of your afternoon lessons this is a banquet to welcome you to our kingdom and way of life." 

"You won't be alone out there either. Toothless gave you this for a reason." she gestured towards Hiccupa's collar. "He will sense any fear you have.  I will also be your personal guard tonight so if anyone threatens you or frightens you just give me the word." Stormfly said her face determined.

"Alright, I trust you both. Thank you for helping me feel better." Hiccupa said feeling a little relieved.

A knock sounded at the door. "We've come to summon Lady Hiccupa to the banquet." came a deep voice.

"There now take a good deep breath and come with me Hiccupa. We will now present you at court." beamed Stormfly offering an arm.

Hiccupa was escorted to the castle ballroom as promised by Stormfly.  They met with dragon who was a Death Song who would announce Hiccupa's arrival. 

"I'm sorry you need to go out alone now." Stormfly said giving Hiccupa a smile of encouragement.

 Hiccupa was ready to panic but it was too late she was soon ushered forward. 

"Now presenting Lady Hiccupa Hortense Haddock the III of House Nightfury." announced the Death Song. His voice bounced about the ball room. 

All eyes turned at once in Hiccupa's direction in rapt attention and curiosity. A human being truly, was a rare sight indeed, especially one so slight and delicate.

Hiccupa walked down the aisle past all of the inquisitive dragons gathered some remained in dragon form others had shifted to human or altered forms. All eyes were on her and she could hear the whispers.

"That is the Alpha Lord's human? They don't look like much." spoke a change wing behind her fan.

"In all my years I have never seen such a diminutive human in all my life. Why if all humans were so small they could be easily conquered. You could easily step on her with your foot." an elder dragon mused.

"I think she's kinda cute." another dragon spoke.

"Cute? I have never seen a cute human terribly hairy, ugly creatures if you ask me." sniffed another.

"Shh, she's right their she can hear you know?" another loudly whispered.

"Well isn't that what we are all thinking." sniffed the first.

Another dragon began speaking to his companion. "Clearly she is a trophy, a pet judging by that collar." 

Toothless, in his dragon form, heard these whispers and sensed Hiccupa's growing anxiety. In response he let out a low rumble of displeasure silencing those present, as Alpha he was easily obeyed. The dragons were silenced and bowed their heads in reverence.

When Hiccupa reached where Toothless stood on a dais, he leaned forward and breathed in and out into her face as was a dragon custom, acknowledging her and instantly transformed into his human form.

If Hiccupa had found the Alpha humanoid attractive before he was a sight to behold. Dressed in the courtly attire of an intimidating Prince. Hair groomed and slicked back into spikes at the back. He wore all black with a sash of red across his front along with small glowing stones to denote his rank in the dragon world. He had a scarlet cape as well.

He gazed at Hiccupa relaxing his hard face to a softer expression and said "Lady Hiccupa, Welcome and good evening." 

"I sensed your nerves. Please worry not your safety is guaranteed as my consort this evening and so long as you are in my house. Now it is necessary to introduce you to the various houses and members of the strike classes. Are you by chance ready?" Toothless asked in a whisper.

Hiccupa gave a nervous nod before squeaking a quiet yes.

Toothless then made an announcement to all the dragons present "I now present to you all Lady Hiccupa yes, she is human. She is under my protection and care. I request that you all show her the respect that you pay me." 

"I will be with you much of the time." he spoke linking his arm with Hiccupa before escorting her onto the ballroom floor.

They went up to the heads of the houses and strike classes where Hiccupa gave greetings and curtsied a custom foreign to her. It was also fascinating to see all the different sorts of dragons which she had only read of being ferocious, murderous beasts. To her surprise once again she was proven wrong.

They went up to Belch and Barf.

"Of course you know the Zippleback, Belch and Barf." Toothless said by way of introduction as they approached the two headed dragon.

Hiccupa bowed before them as was customary.

"Hiccupa you look lovely this evening." Belch replied bowing in turn then giving his brother a nudge.

"Mh, what? Oh, it's you again. Yes I suppose she is acceptable if you like humans." he said with a grimace.

Toothless glared at him before continuing. "I trust the lessons are going well."

It was not a question but a comment to be correct on.

"Oh, yes Hiccupa is an excellent student smart as a Deadly Nadder spike." replied Belch smiling down at Hiccupa and giving her a head pat.

"The human is willing to learn. I can't argue with that." Barf dismissed.

Toothless was ready to reprimand Barf. When A cloud jumper came up to Toothless bowing. 

"Oh, Alpha how handsome you look this evening." she complimented.

"Thank you lady, Wind Snap." Toothless replied by way of acknowledgement.

The dragon smiled at the alpha before gazing downwards 

"My what a darling human you have. I have never seen one so small." she crooned talking as though Hiccupa weren't there much like one would talk of a dog or a sheep. "Tell me where have you been hiding him all this time?"

"Her." Toothless said.

"Excuse me?" she asked confused.

"The human is a female. She goes by Hiccupa." Toothless spoke matter of factly.

The cloud jumper appeared somewhat flustered and opted to change the subject. "I will be sure to remember that from now on."

 She then linked an arm with the alpha pulling him aside. "Now tell me Alpha have you yourself set your eyes on a female of your own? It is lonely as Alpha you will want to take a mate someday." she spoke trying to flirt. "One to rule as your queen or day I say Luna." she said with a purr.

Hiccupa started to blush this conversation was a bit too personal to witness.

"Yes, perhaps someday but right now I am introducing Hiccupa to the court. Now if you'll excuse me." He said pressing his hand to Hiccupa's lower back guiding her along.

Hiccupa wasn't sure what to think of that conversation being treated as though she was not their and understood what was said. Much like a pet. She pinched herself not trying to go down that path.

As the introductions wore on Hiccupa was exhausted not a single dragon looked her in the eye or spoke to her. She felt more like an exotic pet then an individual. Toothless had admonished a few who attempted to insult her or mispronounced her name or gender. She was ready for the evening to be over even though they had yet to have dinner.

The last House (finally!)  to greet was a Monstrous Nightmare she had been told, although he was in his human form. She could sense Toothless's posture changing to a more intimidating one. She wondered why.

"Lady Hiccupa may I present to you Lord Hookfang of House Monstrous Nightmare." Toothless introduced the dragon to Hiccupa who curtsied before him while the Nightmare bowed. "Lord Hookfang may I present to you Lady Hiccupa of House Nightfury."

"Enchante my lady." said the red dragon in a bow as he accepted Hiccupa's hand and then going on to press a kiss to her knuckles. His orange and yellow eyes gazing into her emerald green ones all the while he had a smirk on his face.

Hiccupa was nervous and had never encountered such a custom having grown up around Vikings. Turning  a shade of crimson she swallowed  before replying "Um, how do you do?" waiting for the dragon to release her hand. After all he was an intimidating sight to be hold he towered above her easily, his hair a dark shade of red, with red and yellow eyes that seemed to read into her soul. He had a calculating and amused expression as he looked her over.

Finally, Toothless intervened. "Tell me Lord Hookfang how goes House Nightmare?" he spoke stepping forward his alpha aura picking up while he positioned Hiccupa safely behind him.

He did not appreciate the way the Nightmare was behaving with his human. No Hiccupa.

"My house does well, Alpha. Though we could do with more hunting grounds." he spoke with disdain.

"Now you know what I have told you. All dragon's will have equal access to hunting grounds even those who don't necessarily go for live prey." Toothless spoke with an edge to his voice.

Hookfang gazed at Hiccupa with a crooked grin and then asked "Tell me how does it go with your pet human? Why have you been hiding her from us thought we wouldn't notice your little "Sacrifice" is still alive?" with malice.

Toothless as Alpha did not appreciate the way he was being challenged in his own court.

"As Alpha I had a change of heart." Toothless confessed. "I could not punish such an innocent creature on account of her elders. I refuse to send her back to the very people who sent her here."

" So what now? Are you keeping her as an oddity or fattening her up to be a future meal? Will you allow the other houses to keep such a creature?"

A low rumble was heard from Toothless his alpha voice coming into play "What I plan for MY human is My business. You forget your place. No there will be no such trend. A human's place is amongst humans. I would step lightly as it could call for a loss of hunting grounds or worse."

Hiccupa became frightened as she had never heard Toothless speak in such away. Also, the way he spoke of her as being something he owned made her feel inadequate. She wasn't a dragon and no longer a human. She was nothing more than a novelty or a serf. A pretty little ornament to gaze upon and show off at parties.

More words were about to be spoken until the Deathsong announced "My Lord's, Ladies, and Dragons the banquet is now prepared and served. Please gather in the dining hall".

"If you will excuse me Lord Hookfang. I must now see to my guests." Toothless replied crisply.

"But of course." Bowed Lord Hookfang. Before setting his eyes back on Hiccupa. "My Lady I look forward to meeting your acquaintance in the future." he said with a subtle wink.

Toothless then lifted an arm pressing it to Hiccupa's back and guiding her to the dining hall while dragons made room for their Alpha and King. Hiccupa glanced back in worry before turning forward.

Dining with dragons...was an experience. 

She had thought Vikings had barbaric table manners of this she was wrong so very wrong. The Banquet was an act of chaos as Dragon's in all their forms went about dining if that is what you could call it. Food was brought about to all present many shifting forms to dine while others remained in humanoid form sporting wings and tails. 

The dragon's sat by houses or strike class because they tended to have similar dining preferences such as the boulder class. They were presented with a wide arrange of rocks and boulders from agates to zinc. Hiccupa could see see Meatlug from here along with her husband Shattermaster as they happily chomped on stone. While, their children scampered running about eating the smaller stones their parents broke for them.

The Deadly Nadders table had a large pile of (thankfully) cooked chickens. The bones clattering to the floor. Spikes flew through the air as they liked to throw chickens in the air for target practice.

The vast majority of the dragons ate fish. Which (unthankfully) was brought in raw. Piles of fish were dumped at gathered dragons as tables. 

When they approached the table there were chairs for the dragons. Next to Toothless was a large pillow on the ground. Hiccupa wondered what it's purpose was until she came to the realization it was to be her seat. She gathered up her skirts and sat upon the pillow feeling embarrassed. Fish was served to Toothless's table and only the finest catch.

She didn't know what to think as fish who appeared to still be alive was dumped out and spread across the table. Then she looked on in shock and disgust as the humanoid dragons started to eat the fish, scales and all.

Toothless had a voracious appetite as he inhaled several arctic salmon, Atlantic cod, yellow fin tuna, and deep sea bass. He gazed down at Hiccupa having noted distress and figured she was hungry. Perhaps as a human they had different table manners. Well no matter as alpha he would not allow anyone to go hungry. He grabbed a fish head off the table and set it before Hiccupa.

Hiccupa took one look at the fish head noting it's eyes staring blankly up at her. She started to feel sick.

Toothless then spoke. "Come now. You have to eat something. It's bad manners. Your so small compared to other humans. Did they not feed you?" he questions.

Hiccupa reached her hands out tentatively lifting the fish head it felt damp and slippery. Smelt of the sea and fish. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and took a bite. The taste of raw fish on her tongue, a slimy texture was too much. As she turned away and spit into a bone bucket.

"What's wrong? Are you sick? Was it rotten?" Toothless asked concerned.

"No, uhm, well where I come from fish is generally cleaned and cooked?" Hiccupa said meekly.

"Cleaned? Why would you want to wash a fish? They come from the sea." he asked confused.

Hiccupa chuckled while rubbing the back of her neck. "Uh, that's not what I meant by "cleaning" a fish. What I mean was we remove the skin, organs, and bones before cooking and eating fish."

Toothless gazed at her in disbelief. "But the skin is where all the flavor is and the organs add to the taste. While the bones help keep teeth sharp and clean."

Hiccupa bowed her head in shame. Worried she had offended the dragon lord especially after all he had done for her.

Instead Toothless reached for a fish had his jaws to develop a small plasma blast and shot it at the fish. Cooking it till the skin was a crispy brown. Then he laid it before Hiccupa who with a knife began to eat. As though she was back home on Berk in the mead hall at a typical feast.