VI
We flew across the forest, past the red desert and through the tempestuous shore to the Dark castle on top of Salazen Grum. With his high walls and the surrounding moat, there was a strange feeling in my gut as we flew across the moat.
- This is as far as I can take you without being spot, the king is probably keeping him in the East tower. Whatever you do, DO NOT let the king know who you are!
- But how am I supposed to get in?
- Through there – he pointed at a crack in the wall only big enough to let me pass
- And the hat? – he toss it over the wall – ok, let's do this – I took a deep breath and crawl my way in to the castle
- Good luck – and he disappeared
I found myself in the bushes at the edge of some garden. I heard a loud CRAK, a small cry of pain fallowed by cheers and laughter. I peeked through the bushes. And I saw
- Dagur…
Dagur and his Courtiers were playing an odd game that I didn't recognise. There's the small cry again, I look for the source. It's a terrible terror all tied up into an awkward ball rolling, as he stops, laying on his back, gasping, in the grass. It cries out again as it is thrown in the air and hit with a stick sending the odd looking dragon ball flying in my direction. As it landed at my side I attempted to untie it. It cries out again fearfully
- Shhh. I'm here to help – "well I guess dragons don't breath fire here"
- Where's my ball? PAGE!
I manage to untie the terrible terror. It stared at me momently berofe stumbling into the foliage. I saw two white furry feet and my gaze travelled to the White "Fishlegs" Rabbit, now dressed as a court page. He looked down at the tiny me
- What are you doing here?
- I came to save Hiccup
- SHHHHH! – He put a paw in my face – the king cannot know the Hatter's name!
- Why?!
- What's taking you so long! – I heard Dagur scream
- Long story – he whispered – and you're not saving anyone being the size of a gerbil
- A what?
- Here have some of this – he pass me a little biscuit – it'll make you grow – I took it and have 2 bites before he pull it out of my hands
- Not all of it! – I started growing – oh no it's too late – he ran away
I kept on growing out of my clothes until I bursts through the bushes... "fuck". I looked down at Dagur and his courtiers. Thanking Thor for the tall bushes that hide all my naked body but my head and shoulders.
- And WHAT is this?! – said a pink headed girl standing beside Dagur
- It's a "who" your majesty - Fishlegs bow – this is… aaaa
- Aaa? – the girl demanded
- Alice from… umh… - the cold stare of the girl froze Fishlegs
- Finish your sentence or you lose your head – Dagur said playing with his axe
- I'm Alice from Umbradge – I answer
- Tell me Alice from Umbradge what happened to your clothes? – the girl asked me with a cold stare
- I outgrew them. – I simply replied, looking her strait in the eyes – I tower over everyone in Umbradge. The people started to fear me. So I've come to you my king – I looked to Dagur "if he's anything like the Dagur I know he'll like the monolog" – wh else would understand what it's like?
- My dear girl – he smiled at me, it took all my selfcontrol not t gag – anyone that tall is welcome in my court. – the girl beside hm didn't seem as pleased as he was
- SOMEONE FIND HER CLOTHES! USE THE DRAPERIES IF YOU MUST BUT CLOTHE THIS ENORMOUS GIRL – she yelled, the courtiers exchange glaces
- You heard the princess! – Dagur ordered and they all ran
After giving me clothes the princess "as Dagur said" escorted me through the castle down the great hall
- The king awaits our presence – she said as we entered the throne room
Dagur was sitting in a large ornate throne by the ginormous windows, his feet resting on a pig.
- Alice! Princess! Have a sit my dears – he waved to the empty chair beside him, the "princess" sat by his right side while I sat in the chair by his left – you go away! – he says to the courtiers and with a dark jealous look they leave us – Draculya my princess have you shown our guess the Thorstons?
- No brother, they're mine! – she harsh
- Don't be so selfish my dear sister I bet Alice would like to laugh a little
- Fine. TWINS! WHERE'RE MY TWINS! – she shouted
Ruffnut and Tuffnut enter the room. They're bound together by a silver bracelet at their ankles. Their faces are painted with red hearts on their foreheads
- Thee they are! Look they have the oddest way of speaking. Speak! – Tuff looks up at me "shit I'm in trouble"
- Is that being? – Tuff said, I bite my lower lip
- No, it can't be – Ruff – to tall
- But it looks – he takes a step forward and makes Ruff fall
- HEY watch where you're going you muttonhead! That's my foot! – she pulls her foot making him fall
- Oh you didn't just do that!
- Oh you bet I did! – they engaged into a fight and I breath in relieve
- Hahahaha I love this crazy heads! – Dagur laughs – now get them out!
The guards break down their fight and take them out of the room. Eret enters the Throne Room. Draculya blinks her eyes seductively at him and he replies with a side smile
- There you are, Eret! – Dagur stands involving Eret's large shoulders with his arm - Any luck with the prisoner?
- He's stubborn my king
- You're too soft! Bring him to me! – the knights go off
- And who's this lovely creature – Eret looks at me. "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 don't do anything stupid now Astrid!"
- Alice. She's my new favorite!
- Eret son of Eret, at your service – I can hear Draculya grow under her breath as he takes my hand and kisses it. I pull away quickly reminding myself not to kill him "for now"
The guards drag Hiccup in, chained by his hands and feet. Dagur lifts his head by his hair. I stifle a gasp. He has been bitten up, his eyes purple with an empty far-away stare.
- We know you know where the lost prince is! Where is he? – he doesn't respond.
Draculya stands up and slaps him. He looks up for a moment, but doesn't see me
- I've been considering things that begin with the letter M: moron, mutiny, murder, madness, malice..
- We're looking for the letter H now. Where is Hiccup? – Dagur coldly said
- For hiccups drink water – Hiccup laughed
- Stop that! WHERE IS MY PRINCE!? – Draculya demanded, Hiccup laughed lauder, madly. Dagur makes a "loco" motion to me and that got Hiccups attention. He gave me a wry smile and turned to the princess
- Waiting for Astrid – my heart jumped a bit
- How dare you! – Dagur punched him – insulting your princess like that! There's no such girl with that name! I banished all the Astrids of the realm so the Prince would marry my little sister!
- Umh… my king – Eret whispered
- What?!
- An Astrid has been spotted on the kingdom
- WHAT!?
- But my man are searching every single stone for her
- FIND HER! – he screamed throwing him axe at him – FIND THAT GIRL AND BRING ME HER HEAD!
