Chapter 4: Touch of fire

"Why are we waiting? We know that Drago is in there" Snotlout complained "We should just burn this place to the ground and this stupid war is over". Hiccup ignored his cousin and continued surveying the area. The castle we conquered was only a few hours flight north of Arandelle. It was located on a cliff near the northern border of the kingdom.

Whoever had chosen the location for the castle must've been a military genius. No one could attack it from the north or west seeing as the cliff was too steep and too long for anyone to scale. Attacks from the south and east could easily be spotted by anyone with even the most acute vision. Those sides were bare for several miles and left no space for surprise attacks.

However geographical protection doesn't count when dragons are involved. Less than an hour after launching the attack, the castled was captured. Unlike the castle the Vikings had captured, Arandelles castle was on a flat piece of land and apart from the fjord, had no geographical protection. Snotlout was half right. They could easily burn down the place down but that wouldn't end the war.

Hiccup had a better understanding of the politics of the southern kingdoms than they knew. He understood how their alliances worked and he knew that if they were to attack Arandelle all of her allies would turn their weapons to the north. And Hiccup didn't want the war to last longer than was necessary.

"Snotlout is right you know" FIshlegs spoke for the first time he since they had arrived. "We could easily end this stupid war today. So what are we waiting for?" the war had affected lots of people, Fishlegs was one of the most affected. He lost both of his parents and his wife was in a coma. Something in him snapped and the once friendly Viking turned into one of the most ruthless people Hiccup had ever met.

"I already thought of that. We'd just be ending one war and starting another one. It's not worth it" Hiccup replied. "I have a better…..."

"Announcing her royal majesty Queen Elsa of Arandelle" a tall slim man shouted. A few seconds later Elsa followed by her council and Ivar walked onto the courtyard. Hiccups heart skipped a beat and the next moment he felt like it was going to stop beating. For a split second the woman who had walked onto the courtyard looked like Astrid.

Hiccup pushed those thoughts away the moment they surfaced in his mind. "That's not Astrid" he thought "Astrid is…. She's gone". Elsa walked up to where Hiccup and his friends were. She stopped just a few inches away from them. It surprised him for a moment before he realized what she was trying to do. She was trying to show that she wasn't scared of him.

"Your maj.." Hiccup started. "No need for formalities. What do you want?" Elsa cut in. The temperature around them dropped noticeably. Hiccup held back a laugh. She was trying to intimidate them. "You know what… no, who I want"

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Elsa was a bit surprised by the fact that Hiccup didn't react to the change in the temperature. He didn't even look like he noticed. So she decided to be a little more direct. "And what if I don't feel like letting him go" she asked. "Then I'll get him through other means" the answer came almost immediately.

The temperature dropped a little more before Elsa spoke again "I'm not scared of a few dragons" She said referring to Toothless, Hookfang And Meatlug who stood almost motionless behind their riders. Hiccup took a step forward and closed the gap between them. He was a head taller than her and had to lean forward so that he could whisper in her ear "What about a lot of dragons"

Elsa gave Hiccup a confused look and in response he looked up. She replicated his action and all she could see was a flock of birds. She squinted her eyes then after some seconds she let out a gasp. All the soldiers who were present in the courtyard copied their queen's reaction when they looked up.

Dragons. Dozens of them. So far up that if one just looked up without carelessly he might mistake them for birds like Elsa did. For a brief moment of weakness Elsa thought of surrendering Drago but it didn't last. "Is that supposed to scare me?" she asked defiantly.

"You really are as strong as I have heard. I respect your decision" Hiccup stated as he turned away from her. He walked towards toothless and scratched his best friend. "Now bud" he whispered. The unholy offspring of death and lighting fired a plasma blast into the sky. Elsa, Her council and all the soldiers who were present turned their attention away from the dragon and his rider for a second and that's all it took.

Hiccup mounted Toothless, Snotlout and Fishlegs followed suit with their respective dragons and all the dragons that were flying above Arandelle started descending.

Realizing what was about to happen Elsa created a cover of ice over that protected her and her council from the barrage of fire that rained from heavens. Everyone else who was in the courtyard wasn't as lucky.

0x0x0x0x0

"Apart from the courtyard and a few rooms in the castle, everything else seems to be intact" Frederik reported. Elsa simply nodded at what the older man said. She was barely listening to his words. Her mind was still trapped in an icedome of her own creation watching her people get slaughtered yet unable to do anything about it. Her surroundings were completely consumed by red hot fire. Any weakness in the dome she had created would have led to not only her death but the deaths of the few people she had been able to save.

She didn't know how long she had been in there. It could've been a few minutes but it felt like hours. Her mind knew only one thing. Keep the dome up or you will die. And that's all that she did. Her mind, heart and body had only one function at that time and it was to keep the dome in one piece. The effort was both physically and mentally exhausting but she kept strong. Just as she was about to give up the fire stopped.

Elsa fell to her knees completely wasted. Her vision was blurry and she was barely clinging on to consciousness. She heard footsteps but they sounded muffled. She saw someone kneel next to her then heard him whisper "If I don't have Drago Bludvist within the next ten days, what happened here will happen to all of Arandelle" It was then that she realized that it was the Dragon King.

"You're a monster" she said in a voice that was barely a whisper. The man just stood up and walked away. Later she heard a roar then wings flapping and she knew he was gone. The Scent of burnt flesh filled her nose but before the nausea it caused overwhelmed her, darkness consumed her world.

"Can you hear me your majesty?" Elsa snapped out of her thoughts looked at the man who was talking to her. "Sorry I wasn't listening. What did you say?" Frederik shook his head. Elsa wasn't supposed to be working. She had been through too much. Even a hardened soldier would be given a break after such a slaughter. But Elsa seemed to have something against rest.

"I said we have one day left we have to do something or else it's the end" Frederik wouldn't normally admit defeat but against an enemy who had control over beasts that could wipe out entire armies there was no doing otherwise.

Elsa looked deep in thought for a few minutes. Just as Frederik started to get worried about her, she spoke "Get Mr. Bludvist and prepare some carriages, we're going to meet the Dragon King"

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The hall was full of Vikings waiting for the good news. Hiccup had summoned them saying he had an announcement. The excitement in the room could not be missed. Everywhere Vikings were telling stories of how they had contributed to the war. Some bragged of how many kills they had, others bragged of how creative their kills were.

But the one person who was being discussed throughout the hall, was the one who had made it all possible. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third was a living legend, a gift from the gods and the greatest thing to ever happen to the barbaric archipelago according to the people in the room.

He had turned a battle that seemed all but lost into a crushing victory. Drago Bludvist the man who had been close to conquering the Vikings was now being hunted like a deer. He had no means of defending himself and if the rumors were true, his days were numbered.

The noise in the hall completely died down members of the war council started entering the room. Their footsteps could be heard all around the hall. After the generals came the chiefs and leading them was Alvin the treacherous who was followed by Big Boobied Berta and right behind her was Dagur the deranged. After all the chiefs had entered the room, Hiccup came in lastly.

AS soon as Hiccup entered the hall, everyone broke out in cheers. There was so much noise no one could hear what the person next to them was saying. Hiccup made his way to the front of the hall where his throne was located. It was between the councils chairs. As soon as he sat down Alvin got up and started the opening speech. After just a few words he sat down.

Hiccup stood up and cleared his throat. Once again the hall was filled with cheering. After a few minutes the noise died down. "The war is almost over" he started. Vikings didn't like long speeches so it was best to get straight to the point "When we attack Arandelle tomorrow this stupid war will finally end. Tomorrow we will kill anything that moves, burn anything that be burnt and take anything we want. But that's tomorrow. Today I want you to eat to your hearts contempt, drink till you can't drink anymore then drink some more"

This sparked some more cheering but it didn't last. "However before we start celebrating I want to make an announcement. I became king of the Vikings so that I could lead you in this war. So it is only right that when it ends I should step down as king"

Everyone in the hall gasped simultaneously. "It is the right thing to do" Hiccup finished then sat on his throne for what he considered the last time. All of the sudden Alvin got up from his chair.

"I visited the archipelago last week. There is enough food to last five harsh winters, enough wine to last generations and so many boats that some of them aren't being claimed. And who do you think made this happen"

Everyone in the hall shouted "Hiccup!"

"Who befriended the most feared dragon known to Viking kind?"

"Hiccup!"

"Who ended the war between Dragons and Vikings?"

"Hiccup!"

"Who saved the archipelago from a crazed madman?"

"Hiccup!"

Dagur jumped out of his seat the shouted at the top of his voice "Who should stay as king of the Vikings?"

The entire hall broke out in chants of Hiccup

Big Boobied Bertha grabbed hiccups shoulder to get his attention which she did. "I'm sorry your majesty but the people have spoken"

Longest chapter yet. Thanks for the comments and please keep commenting. I have a few surprises in the next two chapters which are already done btw. Just going through them again. Live long and propane.