Ch.4

Hiccup was sitting in the small room in the back of the smithy. It was the one place everyone knew not to bug him. Usually he was in there tinkering or inventing something but today he wasn't doing any of those things. He had his head laying on his desk as his green eyes watched the pencil he was flicking roll up and then back down to his awaiting finger. Flick, roll, flick, roll. Astrid had always found his habit annoying. He sighed again he was happy for Astrid and Eret. When he became chief he assigned Astrid to help him get adjusted to dragon riding and life on Berk. They got along great and Hiccup and Astrid were getting along less and less. Hiccup rarely had time with his busy schedule as chief and he was busy uniting the Viking tribes. But when they were together they always seemed to be fighting. It was during one of their fights that Astrid had finally screamed, "This isn't working Hiccup!"

"Of course it isn't! Not if we keep arguing like this!"

"Hiccup... we'll always be great friends Hiccup... But I- we can't keep doing this."

"Wait Astrid. Come on, we can work this out!"

"No we can't..." She said wrapping her arms around herself tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Hiccup." She said as she ran out the door.

Hiccup ran to the open door calling her name. He had gone upstairs and shamefully cried. What he didn't know then is she found comfort in Eret that night which was the start of their relationship. He knew Astrid was right they would have never been able to work things out. But that doesn't mean he didn't miss the good times they had. Or having that person to talk things through with, or reenact he thought fondly. But now he had to figure things out on his own. He frantically rubbed his hands through his hair in frustration. What was he supposed to do! His mom immediately thought it was a bad idea when she heard the woman had snow magic. And his dreams weren't helping. He was having weird dreams of a person made out of ice with white hair sticking out at all directions. As he would walk down this long hallway to her thrown her ice tiara would grow larger till he wasn't sure how she could still hold her head up. When he got to the end he would bow but trip and suddenly the ice queen would screech and he would be frozen solid! But what if Johan was right a chief protects his own and by befriending these people he may be protecting them... Or killing them he thought miserably. Suddenly there was a knock on his door and for once he was happy about it, "Come in!" He called.

A very large and timid man squeezed his way through the door. The man twiddled his thumbs, "I know you don't like to be disturbed while you're working in here but I just found- well more thought of something that might help you." He said.

"It's ok, Fishlegs. I'm welcome to any help when it's offered."

"Well you see I was thinking about the note that you got from that kingdom. Didn't you find it odd that you were able to read it?" Fishlegs asked. Hiccup just looked at him confused they had learned to read together did he doubt he could? "Well if we're two completely separate civilizations then you'd think we'd come up with different writings and words and stuff. We should have two completely different languages unless..." Fishlegs looked at him expectantly.

Hiccup eyes bulged, "They're descendants of Vikings but how?"

"I don't know how but obviously it's possible!" Fishlegs said excitedly.

"It must have been a long time ago."

"Probably, but maybe it means we can trust them." Hiccup shrugged his shoulders as a response.

Hiccup roamed the halls of a strange elegant place he rounded a corner and there she was. She still had her ice white hair though it was in a traditional Viking braid. She was pale with bright blue eyes. She was about his age. She giggled and ran off, "Catch me!"

He chased after her but never being fast enough with his metal leg. He kept following the white braid and giggle around corners and down stairs. He had stopped in a large room not quite sure where she had gone. All of a sudden he was hit in the back of the head with something cold he was expecting to turn to ice but he didn't. When he turned around he was hit with two more snow balls she began to laugh and he did too thankful for not being an icicle right now. He quickly formed a snow ball and threw it at her. The game continued and he continued to live. 'Thump! Thump! Thump!' He heard. He stopped and looked around. 'Thump! Thump! Thump!' He sighed "I'm up! I'm up you stupid dragon." He yelled to the dragon currently jumping on his roof. He rubbed his eyes and ruffled his hair. He was going to Arendelle. Now he just had to keep it from his mom some how. 'Ah these were the times he still felt like a kid.' He thought to himself.

-/-

Merida skipped through the kitchen grabbing a cake and entering the dining room. Her parents were on either end of the table and her brothers were on one side. She made her way to the empty side of the table and sat down. "How was your day dear?" Her mother asked.

"Well me and Angus rode through the forest and I shot some targets. Pretty much the usual."

"Did you visit any witch's cottages today?" The queen asked.

"Mom!" Merida exclaimed laughing and her mother joined her. Things have definitely changed since the whole bear incident. Her mother gave her a lot more freedom to be who she was now. Though she still had to attend lessons she was much more understanding and sat through them. Her father had begun training her in running the kingdom. Though she definitely wanted to find love; she did find the idea of running the kingdom herself kind of tempting. Her mother began reading the mail as she filled her plate. All of a sudden her mother put the letter down, "Fergus it's from Arendelle their inviting us for their spring festival and a meeting with the queen!"The king stopped turkey leg in hand not sure how to respond. The queen turned to her sons, "Boys, leave." She said commandingly.

She looked at her mother nervously, "What is it?"

"Merida dear I think this would be a good opportunity to put your training to use. We are much to busy right now to leave on such a long trip. But you... You could go in our place." She said pointing at Merida.

"Me?" She asked?

"Only if you want to of course?" She said looking at Merida and then at Fergus.

"It could be fun you know exploring a different kingdom." The king said winking at his daughter.

She smiled at her parents, "Well I better start packin then shouldn't I?" Which made her mom and dad laugh.