A/N – Welcome back. I had some time this weekend, so here we are, update! I'm glad you are all enjoying this story. I'm enjoying it. I'm sure that this chapter might stir some of that old animosity against me and previous things that I've written, but let me be clear that this story is separate, so keep your hate to yourself. As for the rest of you awesome readers out there, enjoy!

X

Chapter 7

Astrid was waiting inside the servant's passage for Hiccup, but she didn't wait long. His quick steps sounded in the hall and the door opened. He held two practice swords. He shut the secret door with time to spare before the guard returned. Astrid led the way through the winding servant's passage to their secret room.

The week following Stoick's discovery of their late night meetings, he had kept his word to keep the secret from the queen and king. He had, as Hiccup confessed, provided a distraction so that Hiccup could steal away without notice, and deflected any such rumors that Snotlout might have started.

"Snotlout's trying to make me look bad," Hiccup said, as they parried back and forth.

"He's jealous," Astrid said. She could see many reasons why, but she didn't want to voice them in front of Hiccup. She would turn a fiery shade of red.

"He's always been like that," Hiccup said. His feet moved quickly, and he spun around; his sword's edge smacked her lower back. "Got you."

"That makes it two to three," Astrid said, although he probably let her have both of her wins.

They reset, and started again.

She said between clanks, "But the night's not over."

He smiled at her from between their crossed swords, and she wished the night would never end, or at least go on for considerably longer than it would.

Hiccup didn't always bring swords. He told her about dragons, and occasionally he would talk about the other squires, the pressure, or anything at all, and she wouldn't interrupt. She would let him speak; he spoke freely when he let himself, and she liked it. She liked the way his mind worked, how he organized his thoughts, and how he felt about the world around him. She'd never met anyone remotely like him, and she wanted his time for herself.

Astrid no longer had to lead him to the servant's passage closest to his dorm, but she wanted to. In case someone accused him of being out after hours, or of anything he hadn't done, she would be there to protect him. She wouldn't let anything happen to her squire.

"Thank you," Astrid said as they reached the secret door into the hall outside the squire's dorm. "I mean it. I appreciate you for doing this for me."

He reddened. He started to speak several different words, but nothing came out. he chuckled, and finally said, "Anything for my lady."

She held out her hand and he took it, and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. He rested his hand on the secret door, but he hesitated. He met her eye, and they leaned toward each other. His lips met hers and they kissed for a short, sweet moment.

The guard passed, and Hiccup left while he could, and Astrid stood for a moment behind the painting, hand over her heart. She walked back to her room with thoughts of Hiccup in her head, and collapsed into her bed.

X

Astrid woke not to Helga, but to Lady Heather.

"Get up," Heather said in an excited whisper. She pulled on Astrid's arm.

"What?" Astrid said, letting Heather pull her into a sitting position.

Heather smiled widely, her cheeks red and her green eyes wide. "They're here!"

"Who is here?"

Heather's smile faded slightly, and she gave Astrid that good-humored disapproving look. "You really don't know?"

Astrid shook her head. Had she missed something?

"The Crowned Prince of the Shivering Shores," Heather said, grinning. "He, his wife, and his nephew, Duke Eret Hogton."

"Oh," Astrid said. Those names sounded familiar.

"How could you forget? Your father has been talking of nothing else since their letter came," Heather said. She threw open Astrid's wardrobe. "You'll need to dress nice for breakfast. The servants have been fussing over the Sunny Parlor all morning."

"The Sunny Parlor?" Astrid asked, yawning. Her father saved that room for important but friendly negotiations. The tall windows let in bright light from the east and southeast, allowing much time for talking and eating and drinking, should the talking require it. As far as she knew, Berk did not have trouble with the Shivering Shores. They'd been allies for a long while and aided each other in battle.

"This one," Heather said, holding a gold and white dress apart from the others. "This one will look lovely against the marble in the parlor."

Astrid let Heather help her wash and dress, and guide her to the Sunny Parlor. The castle's servants were in a tizzy, running about, talking quickly to one another, about this and that; the guardsmen had been increased, maybe even doubled.

She'd known about the visit; she had been told. But her mind had been thinking of Hiccup and the training, and little else had stuck to the front of her mind. On the walk to the parlor, she recalled her mother speaking of the Shivering Shores during her lessons, and her father during meals.

How could she have forgotten such an important visit? What kind of Queen let fanciful thoughts of men invade her better thinking? She liked Hiccup, a lot, but she had a kingdom to think about first.

The Sunny Parlor had been cleaned, polished, and shined. Under the eastern sun, the marble floors gleamed and reflected the colors of Astrid's dress. Her mother sat at the round table as the servants arranged the food and plates, the good silver and china.

Astrid sat beside her mother.

"Good morning, dear," her mother said. "Your father will be along with our guests shortly."

"Why didn't we greet them with him?"

"Tradition, dear," her mother said, as if Astrid should have known. And she did. Again, Astrid silently berated her scattered thoughts.

Tegard was escorted into the room, and sat on the other side of their mother. He looked tired and annoyed, as usual.

"The ruling king or queen always meets our guests at the door, and walks with them to the meal," Astrid repeated from her memory.

"Of course," Queen Lenora said.

And when they arrive, they all stand, Astrid told herself. She tried to recall the Crowned Prince of the Shivering Shores, but all she could picture was the ruling King. Older, gray haired, trimmed bread, with wrinkles like a leather handbag.

When the doors to the Sunny Parlor opened, the escort of knights entered first, then stood on either side of the door. Several filed into room to stand at separate points; Hiccup had told her about it. They align themselves to better protect an entire space, so no corner may be unseen.

Queen Lenora stood, as did both her children, so that when the procession led by King Arvid entered the Sunny Parlor, they stood ready to greet them.

King Arvid entered alongside the Crowned Prince, Rellam, whose face Astrid immediate knew. How had she forgotten? He looked like his father, but forty years younger and still dark-haired.

"Ah, here we are," King Arvid said. "Love, this is The Crowned Prince of the Shivering Shores, Prince Rellam. My wife, Queen Lenora. My daughter, Princess Astrid, and my son, Prince Tegard."

"A pleasure, Your Grace," said Prince Rellam, in a practiced, kind tone. He motioned to the woman standing just behind him, matronly and kind-faced, looking radiant in blue. "This is my wife, Lady Emily, and our son who turned seven before we set sail, Tellgam."

The young boy looked mortified to be addressed, and clutched his mother's hand tightly.

"He'll warm up," Prince Rellam said. "And this my nephew, born of my dear sister, Duke Eret Hogton, the third."

The young man who'd stood behind the procession stepped forward. Eret had the same dark hair as his uncle, but stood an inch taller with a broad chest and strong arms. He bowed deeply and said in a calm, smooth voice, "My pleasure, Your Grace, for this chance to finally meet."

They were seated; King Arvid and Prince Rellam sat opposite each other, with their families arranged between them; Astrid was seated beside Eret, which she found odd. She always sat beside her mother or father, not beside her brother.

Over the meal, King Arvid and Prince Rellam spoke of political climates and projects in both kingdoms, a droning talk to fill the space.

"Politics," Eret said to Astrid. "I'll never understand them."

"They have their place," Astrid said. "To discuss and come to a verbal conclusion before the physical problem can be solved."

"That sounds like a textbook answer," Eret said, he wore a smile well.

"It might be," Astrid said, sipping her pear and peach juice.

"Of course, it would make sense for you to know these things, you'll be Queen one day," Eret said. "I am glad I was born out of the throne's sights. I dislike the stress it brings."

"I dislike it as well, but someone has to sit upon it."

"Better someone knowledgeable and intelligent, which, from what your father says about you, you will be a fine Queen."

"Thank you," Astrid said, although she noted the strange tilt to his voice, as though her father's words were meant to be a compliment from Eret.

"I've heard a great deal about you," Eret said, leaning closer to her. He dropped his voice into a sultry whisper and added, "Not all from your father. You're a well-loved royal, it would seem. No doubt Berk will flourish with you as a ruler."

His words rang with truth, but his voice triggered a strange sensation in her gut that she didn't much appreciate. It felt somewhere between nerves and excitement. She said a simple thank you to Eret, and brought her juice back to her lips, and wished that it would turn to wine and make this meal less strange.

Eret continued to speak flowery compliments of her, and she merely thanked him; what does one say to such constant compliments? The first had spoken some truth, or had seemed to, but with each he spun his words felt more and more rehearsed, false, and accustomed to charming women.

At last, her father spoke to the entire table. He motioned to the young prince, Tellgam, who only replied after being coaxed by his mother.

King Arvid smiled at the boy with the same smile he sometimes used on Tegard, when he didn't open his mouth to ruin his royal façade. He then turned his attention to Eret, and Astrid was glad to for the distraction.

"Duke, your uncle tells me you are unmarried," King Arvid said.

"Yes, Your Grace," Eret said.

"A young man like you, unmarried?" King Arvid said, smiling. "The young women must be lining up to meet you."

Eret chuckled, a practiced sound. He said, "The castle guard keeps them at the gates."

King Arvid laughed. "There are many fine young woman in Berk, as well, including my dear Astrid here."

Astrid nearly choked on her juice, but managed to keep it from dribbling down her chin.

"Wouldn't that be something," Prince Rellman said, motioning to Eret and Astrid. "It wouldn't be the first time our kingdoms united by marriage."

Astrid caught her mother's glance. Astrid held her posture, despite the sudden turn of the talk. She wanted to say something about being able to find her own husband, or be able to rule without one, but none of the words made it into the conversation. Her father and Prince Rellman fell into a talk of how many marriages had laced together Berk and the Shivering Shores.

Eret said something to her, but she ignored him. She did not want to talk about marriage this morning, let alone hers to a stranger. She wouldn't hear of it. Her mother glanced at her, but Astrid held her eyes to her plate, and struggled to finish it.

The thoughts of the past few days of Squire Hiccup on the throne beside her fell into shatters, but she couldn't replace him with Eret. He didn't fit into the daydream. She would love to have Hiccup beside her, to talk to, to discuss matters with, to share a bed. Eret…didn't feel right.

At last, the meal ended, and a tour of the castle began. Astrid trailed behind her father and the visiting family, and walked beside her mother instead. Tegard walked sheepishly behind his father, looking for ways to escape.

"What do you think?" Queen Lenora whispered as they walked between towering suits of polished armor. Decorations, not functional wear.

"Of what?"

Her mother smiled. "Of Eret."

"Oh," Astrid said. Her mother ran her arm through hers, and held onto her hand. "He seems like a nice young man. I hear he's captured every heart in his own kingdom, and has left a trail of swooning girls on the way to the castle."

"He's a womanizer," Astrid said.

"That might be an accurate description," she said.

"I don't want to marry him," Astrid said firmly. "You can't make me. I won't."

Her mother squeezed her hand. "I didn't say you had to. But, remember that a Queen needs strong allies. There will be kingdoms that think you are weak because you are a woman. You will need strong ties to allies. Marriage is one of those such ties. If you marry him, the Shivering Shores will always be on your side."

Astrid let out a short sigh. Talks like these reminded her that the kingdom would one day rest on her shoulders. She didn't like them.

"But," her mother added as they turned into the library after the main procession, "that doesn't mean you have to marry him. It is an option. You may marry whomever you choose, a chef, a magistrate, or a squire."

Astrid's face burned at the mention of the squire.

"Dear," her mother said kindly, "I know about your mystery squire, but your father doesn't. He only sees your future, and the future of our kingdom when he suggests these things. You can tell him no, but I suggest you do so when our guests are not around. They might see it as a rejection, which might crack our alliance with the Shivering Shores."

"Why not marry Tegard to one of their daughters?" Astrid asked.

"I'm not sure they have a daughter that could put up with him," her mother said with a faint smile. "As I know, they don't yet have a daughter of marrying age. But that is also an option."

They continued through the library and wound their way to the courtyard, where the squires preformed for their guests. They parried and sidesteps with skill and talent brought about with adept hands forged by practice. Astrid spotted Hiccup among them, and kept her eyes on him as he fought with the others. They did not fight to win, but merely to showcase their talent, which had grown. Their numbers, Astrid noticed, had shrunk. Hiccup noted every so often that another squire had either failed or left.

"Are those two twins?" Eret asked Astrid, leaning closer to her seat.

"Yes," Astrid said, taking her eyes off Hiccup to find the blonde twins. "Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston. Ruffnut is the only woman among the squires, and she's done well so far."

"That's a girl?" Eret asked, a normal tone falling into his voice. His brow scrunched and he looked closer at the two. "Oh."

Astrid chuckled. "She's better than half the boys."

"She looks like a boy."

"Only because there is a boy who looks just like her," Astrid said. "And she's wearing a squire's clothes. Put her in a dress and I'm sure she'd look like a lady. As would you."

Eret shifted in his seat. "The clothes do make the man, I suppose."

The afternoon came, and Astrid joined her family and their guests in the Sunny Parlor for lunch. They spoke of the squires, of the castle, and of things changed and things to be changed. Afterward, King Arvid stood, and asked Astrid if she would show Eret the gardens.

Astrid set her goblet on the table, prepared to excuse herself, and caught her father's stare. It hadn't been a request. In a second breath, he asked his wife to show Lady Emily the piano room.

She understood; he wanted to speak with Prince Rellam without the crowd to listen. It wasn't meant to push her and Eret together, but to give him some quiet time to speak of kingly things to his guest.

"Of course," Astrid said, standing. "Right this way, Duke Eret."

She led him into the corridor, followed by her mother and Lady Emily and her young son, and they parted into different directions. Eret spoke calmly along the way, of differences between his castle home and hers, but he spoke fondly of both.

They reached the main entryway to the gardens, and slowed their pace once outside.

"Lovely view," Eret said.

The flowers branched out in wide colors and sizes, over archways in tangled vines and leaves. A fountain dropped water over a colorful collection of marble-sized pebbles.

She scanned the forest for dragons, although she knew they wouldn't come this close to the kingdom. They were skiddish around people, Hiccup said. They lived in the deep wilds where people didn't go, like the far north where ice ruled and the wastelands, where only the toughest dragons lived.

"I hear there used to be dragons in these woods," Eret said.

Astrid jumped; had he read her thoughts? "Yes, I've heard the same, although I can't speak from personal experience."

"My father took me dragon hunting once," Eret said, "before they vanished."

"Did you see any?"

"We spotted this water dragon, I forget what he called it. It could spit boiling water instead of fire, he told me, but it didn't come near us. It swam underwater, like a great winged fish, and vanished."

"A Scauldron," Astrid said.

"Yes, that's the name," Eret said, grinning. "You know your Dragons, eh?"

"I've read about them," Astrid said.

"Which is your favorite?"

"I don't know, there are so many," Astrid said.

"Alright, if you were to meet a dragon in these woods, which dragon would you rather it be?"

Astrid thought on it a moment, although she'd thought about it many times. She said, "A Deadly Nadder."

Eret raised a brow.

"I think they're a fascinating species," Astrid said. "They can shoot razor sharp spines with pinpoint accuracy. They've got a fine sense of direction and smell."

"My father's brother has an arrowhead made from a Nadder's spine," Eret said. "He's got it in a case so no one can touch it. He says that the spine of a Nadder doesn't dull like iron or steel. It stays as sharp as it was when the dragon shoot it."

"Where did he get it?"

"He's told me about five different stories," Eret said. "From the dragon itself when it attacked him, from dragon hunters, from a good hand at a poker game, or, the most likely, he bought it from a trader."

"Wow," Astrid said, eyeing the tree line. She'd only seen drawings of Deadly Nadders. She'd love to see one in person, even at a distance.

Eret filled their walk through the garden with other such stories, and by the time they'd wound around the garden, Astrid decided that she could stand Eret, despite his arrogant way of speaking. He wasn't terrible, but he was certainly not Hiccup Haddock.