A/N - Hi! I was aiming this chapter for tomorrow, but plans changed and tomorrow is going to be super busy for me, so I did it tonight instead. I didn't think anyone would mind. I know I've been complaining about some negative reviews, but I don't want to discourage anyone from leaving me a review. The one in particular that set me off was super rude and nasty. I don't care if you don't like my stories. That's fine. But keep your mean words to yourself. Please.
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Chapter 4: Bit it Back
Astrid froze where she stood as the Queen marched, cheeks flushed, eyes bulging, hair frazzled, heels clicking furiously. Astrid thought to run, but she knew it wouldn't do anything. Instead, she stood her ground, solid on her words. She meant it. She would tell the Queen so.
Smack.
The Queen's palm met Astrid's cheek and she toppled back to the floor. The sharp sound echoed off the walls and the corridor went ghastly quiet. Astrid brought her hand to her stinging cheek. Hiccup and Snotlout stood still, eagerly watching like hungry dogs, and the hall behind her spotted with the many feminine faces of the gossip-hungry girls.
The Queen made a sound that was between a shocked shriek and an angry cry, stomped her foot, and glared down at Astrid, "Your contempt attitude will not be tolerated any longer!"
Heavy footsteps hammered up the hall. Spitelout, head of the Royal Guard, appeared quickly around the corner, "My Queen, what is it?"
The Queen stomped again and pointed an angry finger at Astrid, who still sat on the floor, "Take this wretched girl to the council! I will see punishment for her wicked words!"
Spitelout marched forward and roughly yanked Astrid to her feet. There was no explanation, no warrant, only manhandling as he dragged toward the council's chambers. The commotion followed her through the halls, the girls several steps behind, holding onto each other, watching with wide eyes. Servants scurried out of the way and dashed down servants' hallways.
This was bad. This was really bad. There was nothing she could do. She couldn't run. She would have to face whatever punishment the Queen gave and it would no doubt be horrible and undeserved. She marched just behind Spitelout, her skirts shuffling with each quick step, her damn heels clicking the entire way.
They came to the large council doors. They loomed out of the wall, impassible and forbidden, and Astrid's heart sank into her stomach as they were pushed open on silent hinges. Spitelout threw her into the dark room, and she landed unceremoniously on the hard floor.
More guards stepped into the room and lit the lanterns. The council members drifted in one at a time and took their terraced seats, looking as happy about this late-night meeting as Astrid. They wore pajamas, housecoats, slippers, and angry frowns. They settled into their seats as the lanterns warmed up and the room slowly started to glow.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked the chief councilman.
"Could it not wait until morning?" asked another.
The ruffled Queen began to explain, her voice timid, wounded, and shy, how she had gone to make sure the girls were adjusting accordingly. She pointed a sharp finger at Astrid, "And then this girl…spoke to my son with such angry, harsh, and mean words, against my son, your prince,"
"What is it that she said?" the councilman asked.
"Does it matter?" the Queen cried, her eyes glimmering.
The councilman sighed, "Is this true, young Prince?"
Hiccup, who had remained silent while his mother spoke, suddenly became the center of attention. The council all shifted in their seats, the girls eyed him, and his mother's stare bore into him. He glanced at Astrid and for a moment, a brief moment, his green eyes met hers. His face was unreadable, his anger swallowed in the moment. He cleared his throat, puffed his chest, and took a step forward.
"Yes," he nodded.
A murmur went about the room and Hiccup glanced back at the girls lingering in the doorway. He shifted his feet. Astrid yanked her eyes away from him. He would have no problem in throwing her in the streets. Like his mother, he had no sympathy. Astrid hung her head, knowing what was to come.
"I see," said the councilman.
Astrid wanted to fight them, to argue, but she knew it would be useless. Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut?
"Wait!"
Astrid heard the footsteps, but had paid them no mind until her mother fell onto her knees in front of her. Her hair fell from its bun and her hands trembled.
"Please, wait," Ingrid pleaded. Alistair was soon behind her, his eyes glimmering, too.
"What is this?" the councilman shouted.
"Please, your Excellency, please spare her, I know she speaks out of turn, but please spare her! She makes up for her words in work!"
"Silence,"
The King's booming voice hushed the room. Astrid's heartbeat skipped and then pushed into her ears as he walked passed her. The King walked through the silence and into the chamber's center. His red housecoat was tied around his large middle and his face twisted into a scowl. His eyes fell upon Astrid and her limbs began to tremble. The deathly silence tensed, petrifying her insides, freezing her lungs and limbs.
"What has happened?" Stoick asked slowly.
"My dear king," the Queen spoke first, "This horrible girl spoke out against your son, called him such nasty things, with vile and ill respect, and-"
The King raised a hand and silenced her. There were more things on her tongue, and by the scowl that appeared on her face, they must have been sour.
"Son, I have no doubt that you were involved," Stoick set his gaze upon Hiccup, "Tell me what happened."
Hiccup was silent as the eyes fell back on him. He swallowed and glanced behind him at the girls who eagerly waited on his word, his royal action.
"Dad," Hiccup started, "She did speak against me, with rude names,"
Spitelout's hand gripped her shoulder and even though she was trying to breath, something in her chest was too tight to let the air pass.
"That problem could be solved by cutting out that tongue," Spitelout sneered, his hand flinching.
"No," Hiccup said quickly, reaching a hand out toward his uncle, but he froze in mid-action. Stoick watched him as the council whispered. Hiccup's eyes glanced toward the watching girls. "It was me that she offended, so her punishment is my decision."
"And what shall be done with her, then?" Stoick asked as he folded his hands in front of him.
Hiccup swallowed and peered behind him again, at the watching girls, at his father, at Astrid. "I think…that…" Hiccup cleared his throat, "Since I believe in second chances…she should be spared."
Whispers erupted in the chamber. Ingrid gasped and clasped her hands to her mouth. Alistair helped his wife to her feet and kept on arm around her.
"She can't be let go without any punishment," the Queen shrieked.
Stoick cleared his throat and the whispers died down, "Son, she is right. This girl cannot be let off without any consequence for her actions."
Hiccup shuffled again, looking between the watching girls and his father, words on his tongue, wheels in his head turning rapidly, "Well, Dad, didn't you say that I needed a nursemaid?"
What? Astrid whipped around to look at Hiccup.
"I did say something of the sort," Stoick nodded, narrowing his stare.
"Well, give her the task. Let me keep an eye on her." Hiccup shrugged, his nonchalance irritated the bile in Astrid's throat.
"Are you sure?" Stoick shook his head.
"Yes. I'll keep her in line." Hiccup nodded, not able to hide the smirk on his face.
The murmurs in the room turned sinister and Astrid knew what they must be thinking. Prince Hiccup wants the maid all to himself? Of course. That's what they were thinking. Astrid thought it, too, and by the horrified looks on her parents' faces, so were they. But, Hiccup's word was second only to the King.
The council whispered and Stoick and Hiccup were locked in a glare. At last, Stoick broke away and glared down at Astrid, "What say you, girl? Do you accept this offer in lieu of punishment?"
His eyes were like boulders, squishing her underneath, and pushed her words into dust.
"Speak up, girl," Stoick boomed.
"Yes," Astrid croaked, she cleared her throat, "Yes."
Between punishment, which most likely meant death, or being Hiccup's maid, the option of staying alive sounded friendlier.
"Then it is settled, starting tomorrow, your new duties will begin," Stoick said. With a clap of his hands, "Now let us all go back to our rooms for the night."
The room emptied, but Astrid couldn't move. Her entire body froze. What has she done? Arms helped her stand and led her out, through the corridors, and back into the servants' quarters, to her familiar space. Something cold squished on her forehead.
"That was a damn stupid move you made, girl," Ingrid said as she cleaned up the abandoned supper. "The prince's personal nursemaid, I call bullshit."
Astrid watched her mother fluster around the kitchen. Her father sat at the tiny able staring at nothing.
"You need to sleep, Astrid," Alistair said, pointing to the beds, "You're going to have a long day tomorrow,"
Astrid nodded, not sure what to say, and collapsed onto her bed. What had she done?
X
No one had objected when Hiccup had offered to walk the girls back to their corridor. They flocked around him, like hungry birds, knowing that he had the only bag of birdseed. The dark haired girl with pale green eyes had started it all, "Oh! That was so noble of you!
"I can't believe you spared her! I couldn't have done that, you're are the better man for forgiving her,"
"You are going to make a great king,"
"That was so admirable!"
He let them share their compliments and awe as they made their way back to their corridor. They fought each other to walk beside him, to paw at him, to brush their hands against his. When they reached the hall, he was a bit sad to see them go. He waved as doors gradually shut, one by one.
"That was a really good thing you did,"
Hiccup turned to see the pale green eyes watching him from her doorway. Her hand reached up to the neckline of her dress, loosened the ties, and pulled it down to a dangerous place. Hiccup smirked, feeling the heat surge in his abdomen, and didn't bother to hide his stare. He locked his eyes on her and took a step toward her, because it was her room, and not a broom cupboard.
However, his night was cut short as a guard stepped around the corner and positioned himself at the end of the corridor.
"What are you doing?" Hiccup asked.
"I have been assigned to watch the corridor, sir," he gave a quick nod of his head.
"Oh," Hiccup nodded. He looked back at the girl. She watched him, a finger hanging on her low neckline, exposing the curves of her breasts. She winked and closed the door.
Hiccup set off toward his room. The guard was probably his mother's idea. Or his father's. The temptation was not worth the risk of being caught. He returned to his room, striped himself, and collapsed into his sheets. He'd get that green eyed girl, and the rest of them, just not tonight. Besides, he didn't need a girl every night, that's what his hand was for.
X
The morning came too soon. Astrid tried to wait it out, but her mother shook her awake.
"Get up, you don't want to mess this up, too," Ingrid swatted her daughter's rear as she walked around the partition and to the stove.
She rose, washed her hands and face, changed, and tried to eat the meager breakfast her mother prepared. Her parents looked at her with such sadness. Would it have been better if she chose the punishment? Maybe.
She made her way through the castle and to the Prince's room. She was met in front of the door by an angry looking Queen. She held out her dainty hand, from which dangled a thin chain with a key.
"This is the key to my son's room," the Queen said, looking down her pointed nose. "It is yours."
Astrid reached out and carefully took the key from her hand. "Yes, Ma'am,"
"You are to wake him up at eight o'clock, have him dressed and at breakfast at nine-thirty, and keep his room tidy. You tend to him, keep after him, and keep him out of trouble," the Queen sighed.
"Yes, Ma'am,"
"Well, get to it," the Queen straightened her shoulders and marched down the corridor.
Astrid stood in the hallway and fingered the key. It was so shiny. This tiny key was probably the most valuable thing in her possession, which wouldn't take much. Eight o'clock, every morning, and breakfast at nine-thirty. Right. She swallowed and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, she hung the chain around her neck and dropped the key down the front of her bodice.
She'd never been inside his room before. It was huge! The bed alone was larger than her entire living space. A red curtain was closed around his bed and heavy curtains blocked the sunlight from the windows. She could hear the slumbering breath of the Prince from within the curtain. Swallowing, she moved to the windows and yanked the curtains open.
Sunlight flooded into the room. Hiccup had a marvelous view of the courtyard and the hills on the other side of the kingdom. The sun illuminated the forests, a sea of rolling green waves, frozen in time. Astrid went to the other window and pulled the curtains open.
She turned to the bed. Does he really need twice the curtains? Wouldn't one set be enough? She stepped up to the edge of the bed and grabbed a fistful of the soft curtains. She inhaled and pulled. Hiccup was sleeping on his stomach, shirtless and clutching the pillow, his gentle snores muffled by it, his brown hair a mess.
In a way, it was cute, and she wouldn't mind just leaving him like that. But it was already past eight.
"Prince?" Astrid asked softly. He didn't move. She said it louder, "Prince?"
He may have mumbled in his sleep or he might have given her a response.
"Prince Hiccup?" Astrid leaned in closer, raising her voice another notch.
"Hm," Hiccup mumbled into the pillow, nestling his face into it. A smile stretched across his lips. He looked almost pleasant.
Astrid sighed, "Prince Hiccup,"
"Hmm-at?" his eyes flickered.
"Prince Hiccup," Astrid said louder, a little sterner.
He inhaled and rolled onto his back, blinking as he stretched. His green eyes fell on her and his brows came together. He propped himself up on his elbows and rolled his eyes over her.
"What are you doing?" he grumbled.
"I'm waking you up."
"Why?"
"Because your mother told me to."
Hiccup blinked at her. "What?"
Astrid straightened up. "She said to have you up at eight,"
"What?" Hiccup sat up and rubbed his face.
As he sat up, the blanket fell to his waist. He was so…thin, like his skin moved right against his bones. She didn't meant to stare, but she couldn't help it. She tore her eyes away from his bare chest as he looked at her, brows still together. He was about to say something when his face lit up.
"Oh, right," Hiccup laughed, "The whole 'nursemaid' thing. Well, you can start by running my bath. Hot, not warm."
He pointed to the adjoining room's door. Astrid did as she was told. The bathroom, like his bedroom, was too large to be practical. She turned the water on as hot as it would go, but then regretted it, and turned it a bit cooler. It was too early to be spiteful. She waited for the water to rise. The steam rolled to the ceiling and against the mirror, and it felt too much like the laundry room.
Astrid came back into the bedroom to find Hiccup in the same spot she'd left him.
"Your bath is ready," Astrid said as calmly as she could.
Hiccup groaned and scooted to the edge of the bed. His bare feet touched the floor, followed by the rest of him, just as naked as his chest. Astrid felt the blush burn through her cheeks and she quickly averted her eyes to the floor.
"What?" Hiccup asked, then he laughed, "Oh, right. I didn't expect company this morning. Have you never seen a naked man before?"
Astrid bit her lip, "No."
"That's adorable," Hiccup laughed. It didn't seem to bother him to walk past her and into the bathroom. "Hey, go get me some coffee, cream and sugar, and some of that vanilla stuff,"
"Yes, sir," Astrid nodded, gratefully left, and made her way down to the kitchens.
She returned, tray in hand, to find Hiccup still in the rub. She had tried to meander, at least until he was out.
"Is that you?" Hiccup called.
"It is me," Astrid answered, "I have your coffee."
"Bring it to me,"
Astrid swallowed, "That wouldn't be appropriate, sir."
Hiccup groaned loudly. He snapped, "You're my servant, do what I say. Bring it to me."
Astrid felt the urge to hit him over the head with the tray, but she inhaled and slowly released it. Relax, she told herself. She could do this. She went to the bathroom door and nudged her way inside. Hiccup lounged in the bathtub, water to his shoulders, one arm bent to rest his head on his palm.
Astrid set the tray on the counter and removed the candles from a small table in the corner, pulled it to the bath's side, and set the tray on it. She kept her eyes off of him, but she could feel him watching her.
"You're welcome to join me," Hiccup said lowly.
Astrid almost spilled the cup of coffee she'd been pouring. She quickly set it down within his grasp. Don't be cheeky, Astrid.
"No thank you, sir,"
Hiccup laughed, "You know, I could order you to."
Astrid bit her lip and kept her eyes on the floor. Don't say anything. Don't say anything. She bit her lip as Hiccup stirred the sugar and cream into the cup. "You should pay attention so I don't have to do this every time."
"Yes, sir,"
Hiccup laughed, "What would you do if I ordered you to join me?"
I would fucking drown you. Astrid swallowed her anger. She sighed, "I would politely decline."
Hiccup smirked and laughed as he drank his coffee.