Chapter 1 – The Royal Tour
Tada! Here it is.
If you have found yourself here and haven't read Moira, I definitely suggest going onto my page and doing that before reading this one. And if you have read Moira, well then you are free to continue!
Sorry that this took a little while to get out. I wanted to wait until I saw HTTYD3 and I also wanted to make sure that I heavily outlined this story as best as I could before starting. I have done both, so let's get this party rolling!
NOTE: This takes place around 10-11 months after the end of Moira.
Definition of Serendipity: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
My wonderful collaborator, Christine, and I have a lot planned for this story. So, let's get started! Hope you enjoy.
Hiccup Haddock had always wanted to see the world. It had been a dream of his ever since he was a child and staring up at the stars, knowing there were a bunch of adventures, places, and people just waiting for him to meet and discover.
And him and his wife, Astrid Haddock, had spent the end of their summer doing just that. They'd gotten the chance to see many of the places that Hiccup used to dream about.
But this wasn't a vacation. This was work. And politics. And dining and schmoozing with leaders of other nations and countries that Berk had ties to and alliances with. Any form of "play" was almost always covered by some form of work. It was the first time King Stoick had sent him and Astrid out by themselves since they got married and officially became the future leaders of their country.
Hiccup was glad Astrid was here with him. Not just because they loved each other, enjoyed each other's company, always found ways to make one another laugh between the stress, but also because she's been doing events like this her whole life and managed to help him through the parts where he had no idea what the hell he was doing.
And they had two more stops on this royal tour. Well...three, if you counted the one Hiccup was planning on surprising Astrid with at the end of it.
But they were exhausted.
And as fun as traveling was, Hiccup couldn't wait to go home.
Home as in Berk. The place he's lived for just a little over a year now. The place he didn't even begin to hesitate to call home now. The place he met and married Astrid.
Astrid, the person who he loved with everything he had and knew he always would.
The one he was watching currently getting zipped up into a navy blue dress, the same dress she wore on their first stop in France. The one that hugged her hips in all the right ways that caused Hiccup's heart to stop when she walked out in it. It also caused him to be distracted that entire day and when he was supposed to be focusing on the leader speaking, he was instead thinking about Astrid and just how lucky he was to have someone as wonderful and beautiful as her deviously rubbing her thigh up against his.
And that dress with the detailed lacy back was still just as distracting and it kept him occupied while Throk was standing behind his seat and making sure that not one single hair was out of place, even though he knew the second he stepped off the plane all his handy work would be ruined by the first gust of wind.
"Okay, everyone," Gustav spoke, the young assistant who joined the two on this tour, "The pilot just told me we'd be landing soon and we still need to go over the itinerary."
Astrid huffed as she strolled back over to her seat next to Hiccup with Mala following close behind and putting bobby pins in her blonde hair that would keep the braid lining the side of her head in place.
They listened to the same order of events again. Get off the plane, drive to the city, be welcomed by the people, meet the political leaders, and then go to event after event.
Except for this time, he seemed to repeat the exact same itinerary from the country they'd just left.
"Didn't we just do all of that?" Astrid asked the dark headed boy.
He looked back up at her, eyebrows furrowed, and then back down at his clipboard. They watched his eyes widen and blush rush to his cheeks when he realized that he'd been reading the wrong sheet, "Right. Sorry, guess I had the wrong page…" he chuckled nervously as he hastily flipped to the next page and began reading their itinerary for Iceland, the country they were about to land in.
And the Prince didn't miss the hysterical fact that their assistant-in-training kept blushing every time he'd look up from his clipboard and make eye contact with the Duchess. It annoyed Astrid to no ends and he received a slap to the arm - sometimes head - every time he was caught chuckling.
Gustav finished up and walked away from the two, heading towards the back of the plane to buckle up and get ready to land.
"If you choose that kid as your assistant when you become King, I'm divorcing you," Astrid stated firmly while buckling her seatbelt around her waist.
"Astrid," Hiccup snickered as he buckled his own seatbelt, "First, he's only a year younger than we are. And second, cut him some slack because we both know that Gobber isn't the best teacher."
Suddenly her round face was only centimeters away from his and he could see the tiny piece of hair stuck in the glossy stuff on her soft pink lips. He pulled it free before she spoke, "You can't look me in the eyes and tell me you don't find him annoying."
"I find the twins annoying and we still put up with them."
She rolled her eyes, a soft smile turning at the corners of her lips that Hiccup could tell she was trying her best to hide, "You're impossible."
"Yet, you still love me," Hiccup smirked.
She couldn't hide the grin any longer as she closed the distance and pecked him on the lips, leaving some of her nice and shiny lip gloss behind. Astrid leaned her head back and laughed as she watched his nose crinkle while he tried to lick the awful tasting stuff off his mouth.
Hiccup chuckled along with Astrid, her laugh being the most contagious. There was the day in the stables when he heard her laugh hard for the first time and it was then he knew he wanted to make sure he got to hear it every single day for the rest of his life. He was pretty close to it so far.
Marriage was fun and exciting but it was also...hard at times. Especially when having a thousand cameras taking your photo every time you stepped outside so they could talk about how you held hands - or didn't hold hands - or how the short dress Astrid wore wasn't quite fitting for a Duchess...the list went on and on and the young couple tried their best to not let it get to them.
But most importantly, they always got through it together.
Like right now, the yelling and the clicks of the camera's made Hiccup's heart race and his green eyes grow wide. He still wasn't a huge fan of the attention but he'd learned to tolerate it, and Astrid knew that. So, she'd always link her arm with his as they walked down the street and greeted the people. And the press always saw that as a cute gesture, and it was, but it was the one thing that kept him walking and kept him calm.
The royal couple was shaking the hands and talking to the people of the beautiful country of Iceland, hearing over and over how they all loved them, their story, and how it was so inspiring.
A lot of people saw them this way. All except their two father's who were still...frustrated...by the marriage they both felt like they rushed into too quickly. But Stoick was nicer about it than Ragnar was. At least Stoick still talked to the two and actually made an effort to be family.
Astrid's father, however, was a piece of work and Hiccup could tell it still ate at her, and he was always willing to listen to the many rants about Ragnar Hofferson, the man who was as stubborn as a rock was hard.
Suddenly, the two were joined by a young girl who came up to Astrid's knees. The Duchess released Hiccup's arm in order to kneel down to the girl so she could talk to her without having to look down upon the red-headed child who was carrying a bouquet of white and red flowers.
"For you," the girl spoke, as she handed the flowers over to Astrid who took them while sporting the widest smile at the child and her kind gesture.
"They're beautiful," Astrid replied, "Thank you."
This made the girl cover her mouth as she giggled and was pulled away by the adult standing behind her as Astrid stood up and went back to her original place, arm hooked with Hiccup's.
He tugged Astrid a little closer up against his side as they continued making their way down the street lined with people, enjoying the extra warmth she brought. This was the second country in a row that had greeted them with chilly weather in the middle of August. Hiccup thought Norway was cold, but this...this felt like the middle of winter when it was supposed to be summer.
Hiccup wouldn't have minded the cold if they hadn't spent most of their time in their last country outside discussing farming techniques and their Viking history. But Astrid ate it up, she loved the cold and the snow and was dreading their next, and last, stop in the states where she knew the unbearable summer heat would return.
The Royals were escorted out of the cold and crowded streets and into a large white brick building, where they'd be meeting Iceland's Head of State and his wife for dinner and boring political conversation before heading to their hotel to rest up for their long and busy day ahead of them.
It was early in Ireland, the bright golden light had just made its way up and over the dark green and snow covered mountains, as they headed to their first stop of the day. They were there to cut the ribbon and be apart of opening up the brand new children's hospital.
It was the second time they had done an event like this. The first time being on their stop in Denmark when they unveiled a new memorial for soldiers who had been lost in some of their most recent wars but were sadly never found. It was a much heavier event than this one would be here today. That was mourning the loss of heroes but this was helping secure the health and future of the kids of Iceland.
Hiccup having chosen his royal patronage as helping and assisting children in need is what sparked the future leaders of Berk showing up to help celebrate an event that had been in the works for years. Their original children's wing of the towns main hospital had become run down and crowded, which had put the plan in motion.
They were driving through the small streets while being instructed by Gustav about the ribbon cutting. Astrid was snuggled up against Hiccup's side and resting her head on his shoulder with her eyes closed. She'd woke up feeling even more tired than she had when she went to sleep and it had taken her twice as long to get out of bed and ready than it usually did. Which is why Gustav was quickly reading over the notes on his clipboard and why their driver was going way over the speed limit to get to the new hospital on time for the ribbon cutting.
The young assistant looked up at the Duchess, "Is she paying attention?"
Hiccup looked down at his resting wife and frowned at her furrowed brows and the way she was gripping onto his jacket. She obviously didn't feel well, "If not, I'll fill her in later. Let her rest." Hiccup spoke softly.
Gustav nodded hesitantly before continuing on about the dreaded speech they wanted Hiccup to give, the same speech that was making him really regret the breakfast he'd ate earlier as his stomach turned from nerves. Public speaking had grown to be a little easier once he stood up in front of everyone and began talking, but the lead up to it was still always just as nerve-wracking.
They pulled up to the crowded event then. The front of the brand new shiny building filled with people of Iceland and of course, the media, all ready with their cameras that began clicking away even before they stepped out of the car.
Hiccup leaned his head over to press a gentle kiss to the top of Astrid's head before tucking a fallen strand of her hair behind her ear, "Astrid, we're here…"
She groaned and slowly sat up, "I'm ready."
Hiccup hesitated, the dark circles under her eyes worrying him, "Are you sure? Because I really can do this alone if you don't feel-"
Astrid's heavy sigh cut him off, "I'm fine, Hiccup." She snapped because it was the millionth time she had told him that this morning.
And the way he broke eye contact and looked at his lap suddenly made her feel bad for snapping at him, but then the door opened and the quietness that once filled the car was now filled with clapping and shouting and clicks of cameras.
The Prince stepped out, holding his hand out for Astrid to take as she also got out of the car. The two walked hand-in-hand up to the small temporary stage while waving and smiling at both the cameras and the people all lined up in front.
They shook the hands and greeted both the Head of State and the head of the hospital, posed for a few photos in front of the ribbon, and then Hiccup was standing behind a podium, wiping the nervous sweat off his palms on his pants, taking a deep breath, and clearing his throat before speaking into the microphone.
"I wanted to first thank you all for - despite the cold weather - the incredibly warm welcome that my wife and I have been given since we arrived," Hiccup glanced at Astrid standing behind him, and she gave him a warm smile, "And also thank you for allowing us to be a part of such a wonderful and charitable event."
Hiccup waved towards a group of kids of all ages standing around the front row, "These children are the faces of the future and while a good education and a loving family are just some of the many things that help a child's future, we also can't forget about their health care. And by implementing this new hospital behind me, you're not only helping them here in the present but also in their future. And that's why I am so excited to be here to open it with you all today."
He smiled for the camera's before closing out his short speech with a thank you and stepping away from the tall podium.
Hiccup took hold of the large scissors handed to him but not before gesturing with a nod of his head for Astrid to come and join him. They both took hold of them together and cut the middle of the ribbon, the red cloth falling into a heap on the floor by their feet.
Not long after the clapping had died down, Hiccup walked down the steps of the stage and over to the group of both healthy and sick children who would be the ones taking advantage of the new hospital. This wasn't staged or planned, the Prince just did it after seeing them all gathered in the front row alongside their nurses, parents, and caretakers.
The Prince's security hustled after him, not expecting him to suddenly walk into the crowd of people. He shook the hands of the kids, took photos with them, and talked to each one for a decent amount of time.
Astrid was still standing up on the stage and smiling at the sweet moment that was just so Hiccup. She'd gotten used to his spur of the moment decisions, especially when it came to talking with the people.
While he was still learning about the whole politics part of the job, there was one part he had down and that was being compassionate and selfless. She'd never seen someone care about the people like he did and it was one of the many things about him that still made her heart swell each and every time she witnessed it.
"He is very good with children." The wife of the Head of State spoke, she was standing next to her watching him interact with the kids.
Astrid turned and looked at the older woman who was showing signs of her age by the grey patches of hair and wrinkles around the eyes, "Always has been."
"You two thinking about having any of your own anytime soon?" The woman with the thick accent asked, winking at the young Duchess beside her.
This wasn't the first time in the last year that someone had brought up her and Hiccup's future family. It was a subject that was popular, especially since their child would be the next leader of their great country and the newest Prince or Princess to the royal family, but no matter how much it was brought up, it still made her heart speed up and her mouth drop.
Astrid wanted it, one day. And Hiccup would obviously make a great father, but they weren't ready for that yet. They were still getting used to each other and getting used to being married, which was not always easy. And adding a child into the mix was the last thing they needed right now, especially with everything waiting for them when they returned to Berk next week.
But even though the idea still terrified her to no ends every time that it was brought up by someone, it still made Astrid stop and think and look over at her husband and smile because the idea of raising a family with him was also absolutely thrilling.
Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I have the second chapter pretty much finished, so hopefully, I will get that posted soon. Be on the lookout for that. Thanks for reading and don't be afraid to leave me a review! I love them more than Hiccup loves Astrid in that blue dress. ;)
