Hey, guys! How it is going? All good I hope. :) I don't know how many of you are also reading my other story For the Yeas to Come, but I explained there my long absence, so if you want to know what was happening just go to the last chapter of that story and everything is explained in A/N. To those who caught up that I used something from two games and one film/book so far. One was android game Choices (never finished that game by the way, to many microtransactions for my taste) and another one was Dragon Age Inquisition. And as for a film/book birthplace of modern fantasy LOTR. I was curious how many of you will notice those things, so let me congratulate you all who got it right. :D So I hope that you will enjoy this new chapter as a lot of things will go down... by the way if someone is interested in beta-reading, I would love to have a "partner in crime" who can point out some of my stupid mistakes :D Soooo, until next time, guys!
"So, what is the next step?" Fishlegs asked Astrid as they were in his tent along with her group and Arvid.
"Well, I didn't plan to get so far," Astrid said honestly and Heather chuckled. "Of course not, but Taramis here sure knows something," Heather said and everyone turned to Taramis who had a frown on his face and was scratching his chin. He, however, was not listening to them, so it took quite a while to notice the stares.
"Is that boy working?" Arvid said as he waved his hand in front of Taramis. Taramis quickly grabbed Arvid's hand and twisted it. Arvid squealed a little as his face shrunk in pain.
"Don't test my patience..." Taramis growled. If it would be up to him, he would see Arvid dead.
"Taramis..." Astrid reprimands him and he quickly releases him. Arvid retreats his hand and glared at Taramis. He ignored him as he sighs.
"Now, when we have an army, we need food for their bellies and gold so we can arm them. And as you all know that is something we don't have at the moment." Taramis said and Fishlegs raised an eyebrow at him. "At the moment?"
When he pointed that out Taramis started to shake. Heather was the only one who noticed that.
"There is only one woman who can provide those things to us. Only one woman who is not afraid of Asger or his father." Taramis said his hand trembling.
"You want to ask your aunt to help us? Are you mad? Just remember what she did to you!" Heather immediately shouted. "She is crazy madwoman!"
Astrid frowned as she barely remembered Taramis's aunt. She never blessed the relationship between Taramis's parents and she made it quite clear. Especially to Taramis, cause she was one of the main factors of the misery in his life.
"It doesn't matter, Heather. Only she can help us. However, her palace never joined any conflict in the mainland. I am afraid that she will not be looking forward to helping us." Taramis said and Arvid coughed.
"Are we talking about The Golden Queen?" He asked and Taramis nodded. "Yes, Arvid."
"Golden Queen?" Astrid asked and Heather answered. "A monicker."
"Well, I had the honour to meet her one year back. She asked me to catch some thieves. She paid well, but through the dealing, she was weird. Like if she was absent-minded." Arvid said and Taramis frowned. "Strange..."
"Fine, we will pay her a visit," Astrid said as she looks at others. "We are leaving in the morning. Arvid, Fishlegs you will go with us and both of you will take several soldiers. We will see if that woman has a heart."
"So what now?" Terek asked while he was petting Starky. His sister was next to him and Taramis was writing a letter to Astrid. "Right now, we need to warn her that Asger is planning something. It will give enough information for Taramis to watch everything out of ordinary." He finished the letter and whistles to Starky. He jumped out of Terek's lap and landed on Hiccup's table. He tied the letter to his leg and picked him up, looking into his green eyes. "Find Astrid and gave it to her, okay?" He said and the siblings could swear that he nodded. He went to the window and send him on his journey.
"Now, we will just wait until Asger..." Hiccup said but then his heart jumped into his throat. Cause he watched how an arrow hit Starky and he started to fall down.
"Starky!" Hiccup shouted and ran out. Siblings quickly look out of the window, and they just saw how Starky crashed somewhere in the courtyard.
Hiccup ran towards the walls, quickly dodging the guards. When he saw the last door, he quickly opened them up. He frantically looked around as he was looking for his dragon. When he found him his heart stopped beating. Baril was standing above Starky, a twisted smile on his face and bow in his hand. He bends down and picked up the letter. Starky started to whimper and twists but Baril just put his foot on him, pinning him to the ground. Baril read the letter and his smile twisted, even more. He looked at the dragon beneath his foot and he put his weight on him. There was a loud snap and sorrowful roar which came even to Hiccup. And then... Starky went limp.
Anger rose in Hiccup's chest. Uncontrollable urge rose in his hand as he pointed his anger on Baril. Suddenly, bright purple flames emerged on both sides of Baril and immediately his clothes were a flame. Baril shouted as he started to run around. "What!? Stop! No! Make it stop!"
Hiccup quickly looked at his hands and the soft flame was dancing between his fingers. Hiccup closed his hands, suddenly afraid of what he had done. The flames on his hand disappeared and he looked at Baril. The flames on his clothes turned into a normal colour and he quickly jumped into the small fountain, effectively putting out the fire on his clothes. Hiccup watched as he crawled out of the fountain, guards rushing to him. He pushed them away from him as he stood there, his clothes burned, his hair and head too, while blood was rushing from several places on his head.
"I will get you! You hear me!" He shouted as powerful as he could. "I will get, whoever you are! And then you will pay!"
Hiccup gulped as he crouches down and slowly he went back to his room.
"What happened? We heard screams." Both siblings asked when Hiccup closed the door. Hiccup didn't answer them, he just went to his bed and slumped down.
"Get out..." Hiccup weakly said as he lied down.
"Hiccup, we surely can..." Risa tried to say but Hiccup interrupted her. "I said GET OUT!" He shouted, tears in his eyes. The siblings nodded and went out, hurt visible on their faces. Hiccup turned around and started to cry. He cried and sobbed into his bed till he didn't fell asleep from exhaustion.
Later that day, he woke up because of the loud knocks on his door. He stood up and went to the door to open them. He, however, didn't expect guards waiting for him.
"Prince Asger wants everyone in the Throne room. Move it!" One guard shouted and Hiccup nodded. He went out and soon more and more servants were around him.
"Valerian! What have you gotten yourself into!" Mera said as she came to him.
"Nothing, mother..." Hiccup said keeping up the act.
"Your siblings came into the room, sadness in their eyes and now this," Mera said and then she whispered. "I informed Cami and her employer that something went wrong. If something happens, take care of my children."
Hiccup looked at her but before she questioned what she meant they were already in the throne room. Terek and Risa found them but they didn't say anything about Hiccup's outburst.
"We have a traitor, amidst our ranks," Asger said as he scanned the crowd, Stoick standing next to him like a stone guardian. Suddenly, Baril emerged from behind the throne, his face covered in burns.
"Step up or I will start killing you one by one, till someone will not say the truth!" Baril growled and the fear shook through everyone.
Suddenly, one woman was picked by the guards and sword was pressed to her neck.
"Well?" Baril asked as he looked around. Hiccup took a step forward. He will turn in. Nobody deserves to die in his stead.
"I love you, my children..." Mera said and before she made her way forward shouting. "Stop! I did it!"
Her children were now stunned, horror on their face. Hiccup made another step forward but he found dagger pressed to his back, so he stopped.
"Hiccup Haddock, stay calm and think before you act." There was a whisper in his ear and his eyes widened. He knew that voice.
"And what exactly you did?" Baril growled but Mera stood there without an inch of fear.
"I was sending messages to the rightful Empress of Voxaston Empire, through the small dragon." She said and gasps sound through the throne room.
"She is not an empress and Voxaston empire no longer exists!" Asger angrily shouted, but Mera just laughed. "Your wish."
"Kill that traitor!" Asger shouted on Stoick. Stoick took out his sword and pointed it at the woman.
"Stoick the Vast ready to kill an innocent and defenceless woman. I wonder... What would Valka think." Stoick staggered back at her words and Hiccup saw... Was that horror on his face?
"Stoick, kill her!" Asger shouted, but there was a waiver in his voice. If his father would find out that he allowed Stoick to have doubts... He could already see his fury. He quickly nodded to Baril and he killed her without a second thought.
"Mother!" Both siblings shouted as she fell to the ground, dagger in her heart.
"Make sure that her sacrifice will not be wain." The woman behind him said and then that dagger retreated. He quickly turned around but she wasn't behind him. He frowned. What was she planning? He looked back at Stoick who was now walking next to Asger, who was speaking something to him, Baril behind them.
Siblings were crying next to their dead mother and Hiccup was feeling the flames licking his palms. He felt like if that fire was consuming him. And he knew that he didn't like any of this.
A few days later, Snotlout was sitting in Gobber's forge, bored like hel. His father was now a Duke of Berkian kingdom. As soon as he got on the throne he didn't allow Snotlout to enter the army nor to do anything else. When King Agnar "united" the kingdoms, by taking over the Voxaston empire, he also commandeered the whole army of his new "empire".
Gobber was hammering on a piece of metal while Snotlout was carving a piece of wood.
"I know how to get to the forge, dammit!" There were shouts outside the door and both have turned their heads towards the door. The door opened and the first man who entered was King Dagur and right after him, went General Eret, who stayed here as a military advisor for Spitelout.
When the door closed Snotlout asked. "Is it safe?
Both men nodded and he breathed out. "Any news?"
"Empress Astrid and her envoy are still kicking and by looks of it she is gathering a fighting force." Dagur started and Eret continued. "As for Hiccup, nobody knows where he is. Scouts said that Hiccup is not with the Empress so that means his current whereabouts are still unknown. Also, there was a huge confrontation in Hofferson city. Baril managed to shot down a small dragon and he found a letter on its leg directed to Astrid Hofferson by name. What is more, one woman confessed to the crime and Asger ordered Stoick to kill her, but he refused. Also, there is a rumour that Baril caught on fire when he killed that dragon and that he was left with a lot of scars from burns."
"Wait a minute, by the name? And dragon? Was that woman originally from Voxaston?" Snotlout asked and Eret smiled as he shook his head. "No, and I see that you are finally using that head of yours."
"But that means that Hiccup is still in the castle!" Snotlout exclaimed, a smile on his face.
"Again, correct. He must be good when he manages to hide his presence from his own father. And because of that, I am going to Hofferson city." Eret said and they looked at him.
"Wait, Spitelout is sending you away?" Gobber asked and Eret nodded. "I suggested that it would be good for Stoick to see someone who knows him as good as I. And he agreed. I could see that even Spitelout was afraid of Stoick starting to question their orders. And on the official record, I will be escorting Dagur there. So while I will be there, I will try to find Hiccup and promise him my support and yours too, if you are willing."
"Of course you can promise our support, too!" Gobber said as he shook his hook.
"And tell him that we can't wait to meet him again." Snotlout said and Eret smiled as he placed his hand on Snotlout's shoulder.
Hiccup was walking through the city. Some people knew who he was while others were ignoring him or glaring at him. Anger's rule placed a lot of hatred and mistrust into the hearts of the people. He hoped that when Astrid will return, that she will manage to repair the damage Anger inflicted. Something fell wrong, however. There was unusually quiet at the palace. He was not able to spy on Asger so he had no idea what was happening. Add to that he wondered why was she playing trick with him. She stopped him to give himself in and then she disappears? He saved her when he was a little. She could at least repay the favour.
Later he arrived to back to his room and he found Risa sitting there, her eyes red and tears still present on her face.
"I am so sorry, Risa..." Hiccup said his head down. "It is all my fault."
Risa sniffed and shook her head. "No, it's not your fault. We all knew what will be the cost of hiding you."
Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door and Hiccup opened it. Terek marched in looking quite angry.
"What are you doing here, Risa?" Terek said and Risa looked at him surprised. "What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? He killed our mother!" Terek shouted and pointed on Hiccup.
"Terek, I..." Hiccup tried but Terek interrupted him. "Shut up, Hiccup. Just be quiet." Hiccup and Risa were taken back by his outburst.
"Risa, get out of here, now!" Terek turned to her anger burning in his eyes.
"You will not boss me around, brother. I am much older than you!" Risa said back as she stood up.
"Boss you around?! I want to protect you! Since our mother is dead, only because of him, I will do everything I can to protect you! And the first thing is that you will no longer meet with him!" Terek said his glare burning with hatred. Hiccup was more than shocked. He was such an innocent boy. Only now Hiccup understood that the boy in front of him never understood the consequences of his actions. Risa started to cry and ran out of the room.
"I will not turn you in because of the respect my mother had for you... I had for you..." Terek said his glare fading. "But if you will ever come close to my family, to my sister especially... I will not hesitate even for a second to tell your father who you really are." With that, he went away and closed the door behind him with a thud.
Hiccup sit down on his bed trying to ignore the fire blossoming in his chest. Suddenly a sharp pain erupted in his chest and Hiccup struggled as he tried to draw a breath. He fell down from the bed to his knees as he struggled with pain. He fell to down on his back, his breath rapid as he couldn't draw a deep breath. Suddenly, everything around him darkens as the pain starts to be unbearable.
Astrid and her envoy arrived at the gates of the Golden Queen's Palace. It was not surprising that the Golden Queen's palace was positioned deep in the mountain range. That was the main reason for their wealth. And also what can be a better defence then mountain all around the palace.
"Nice palace." Amelia whistled as the golden palace was in front of them. Astrid chuckled. "Do you ever think about anything else than gold?"
"Nope," Amelia said and Arvid laughed. "That's what I like about you!"
"What to expect from the band of mercenaries," Hoark said and Amelia snorted. "As if you were not part of our group a few days back."
"Enough of that!" Fishlegs growled as he noticed that Taramis froze few feet in front of them. Heather took a deep breath and walked towards him. She came to a stop next to him and hugged him. He forcefully hugged her back but she didn't say a word about that. Instead, she was whispering soothing words to his ear.
"What's wrong with him?" Amelia asked. "I told you that he has a history with the golden queen," Arvid said as he frowned. "But it must be something terrible when he makes such a fuss about it."
"If you would be in his shoes, you would make a fuss about it too," Astrid said and went towards the couple.
"So what happened to him?" Amelia asked and everyone turned to Fishlegs for answers. He sighed and said. "He was born out of wedlock. Soon after his birth, his father died. He only had his mother and her sister. Her sister, however, never forgive her for throwing away her dignity and family name. She was a royalty. And she threw that away because of a peasant. Those were the words of the Golden Queen. Shortly after Taramis's six birthdays, his mother died. He was a homeless child with no family to speak of because his own aunt kicked him into the mud. He was tolerated at the palace because he was a good friend of Astrid and Heather. Both families took him in for a short time, but that didn't stop others to mistreat him. Astrid's and Heather's parents later decided that they will give him to the Voxaston monks. His life got a little better from that point, but mostly it still sucked. Until he saved Astrid's and Heather's parent from an ambush planned by the Outcast. He then earned Silver Wings of Valor at the age of twelve. He gained some respect but not enough for some. Only when Astrid became Empress and made him a lord, everyone stopped to pester him."
"Let's continue everyone!" Taramis shouted when Heather released him. "Let's announce our arrival to the guards."
After a moment of walking, they arrived at the gate, guards standing in front of that big golden gate. "Halt! Who goes there!" One of the guards shouted as they crossed the gate with their spears. They could see that there were two guarding towers behind the gate and three soldiers with bows on both towers.
"Taramis Rutherford," Taramis said and both guards gapped at him. "You are still alive?" One of them said and then they looked at others. "I am here to see my aunt." Taramis continued when guards regained their postures. "And who are the others?" The second guard asked and Taramis answered. "This is Heather the Berserk. Sister of the King Dagur. Also Astrid Hofferson, rightful ruler of Voxaston Empire. The others are accompanying us."
"Well, this is certainly interesting. We don't see anyone wandering here in quite some time and now we had two groups almost at the same time." One of the guards said to the other one. "Yeah, it is certainly weird, but I think we should let them in. Especially since he is Taramis. If she will not like them she can still deal with them as she dealt with the previous group."
"Two groups?" Taramis whispered and to both women. "I don't like the sound of that," Astrid whispered back and Heather nodded. "Me neither."
"Fine, follow us." The guards said as they opened the gate. They lead them through the gardens of the palace and soon they saw huge door embedded in the castle itself. Taramis shuddered as the door opened. Heather saw that and she entwined her fingers with his. He looked at her and smiled. After a moment of hesitation, he smiled back as he clutched her hand tighter. They walked through the long hall and when staff noticed them, they always gasped and ran away. When the door leading to the throne hall opened and they walked through, staff and guards turned to them and gasped. Taramis was looking at the woman sitting on the throne, several council members in front of her. They turned around and when they saw him they gasped too and took several steps behind the throne. When the Queen's eyes landed on them, she didn't even blink she just sat there without a movement. The Queen was around 40 years old and has medium skin with violet eyes, long purple/red hair that fades into cooler violet. She kept her hair in a ponytail. She's dressed elegantly, having a beautiful and detailed outfit. Arvid and Amelia were first to kneel down in front of her and other followed, except for Taramis. Heather tried to drag him down by his hand but he didn't move an inch. Everyone in the hall witnessed, silent staring contest between Taramis and the golden Queen. After a long while, the Queen stood up, her hair sliding slowly down her back and stopping at the end of her knee pits. She slowly walked towards Taramis and her face was still emotionless. Everyone went stiff as she was getting closer towards Taramis, her steps were the only sound that echoed in the hall. When she was standing in front of him she slowly extended her right hand towards his head, but before she could touch him he flinched back. She retreated her hand but she was still hovering with it in the air. Then a single tear fall from her right eye, but it took Taramis by surprise.
"I remember long ago..." She softly said, averting her head as more tears stained her face. "Oh, when the sun was shining. Yes, and the stars were bright, all through the night. And the sound of your laughter, as I held you tight. So long ago, when your mother was still alive." She looked back at him, tears all over her face. Everyone in the palace was left stunned.
"Then why...?" Taramis said his own tears falling down from his eyes.
"How can I say this without breaking? How can I put it down into words? When it's almost too much for my soul alone..." The Queen said as she extended her hand towards Taramis, again. But now, he didn't react to that and she slowly put her hand on his cheek.
"I loved and I loved and I lost you. And it hurt like hell." She said and Taramis head was spinning. "Then why...?" Was again the only thing to say. Why was she so mean to him? Why did she not accept him when her mother died. Why did she leave him all alone!
"I didn't want them to know the secrets. I didn't want them to know the way I loved you. I didn't think they'd understand it. I didn't think they would accept me as their Queen if I kept you." She said and Taramis leaned into her touch.
"It was so hard..." He said, his voice filled with sadness. "I guess it was hard for you, too."
"I am sorry, Taramis. I am so sorry that I wasn't there for you." She said and hugged him as much as she could. Taramis didn't hesitate to hug her back. Astrid and Heather were first who stood up again others following their lead. Heather had tears in her eyes, her hands clutched together above her chest, while Astrid was smiling and clutching her necklace in her right hand.
Meanwhile, back in Hofferson palace, Asger was breaking everything he could get his hands on. Spies he sent to the golden queen about the deal he wanted to make came back in the body bag. Quite literally, cause they were brought back by the guards patrolling the borders leading to the mountain range.
"How dare she!" He shouted as he picked up one of the vases and hurled it into the wall, nearly hitting one of the servants. Stoick was idly looking at the Asger and his blood was starting to boil. He was starting to hate this ungrateful, spoiled brath.
Suddenly, the door leading to the door opened and one of the soldiers rushed in. "Milord!" He shouted and both Asger and Stoick turned to him. "He got it! Baril caught the fire user!"
A twisted smile emerged on Asgers lips. "Immediately send for Johann! Am I understood! I want Johann here as soon as possible!" He shouted and the soldier bowed down and ran away.