Heather and Camicazi led him to the gates of the citadel. It was an uncharacteristically cloudy day for Cartan: overcast and dreary. But Hiccup was in high spirits. As they distanced themselves from the Citadel, he felt a distinct sensation of relaxation. If only he could convince Astrid to let him out into the city more often—or better yet, into the Jungle.

"Here," Heather motioned for a servant to bring out his horse. He quickly got into the saddle, as Heather and Camicazi did the same for their own horses, and followed them through the streets, three other guards surrounding him. It was all rather silly, if he could have an opinion. He stuck out like a sore thumb.

He could hear the distant rumble of bells, and saw the great golden domes of the university, and knew that they were soon approaching.

Heather made a tsk-tsk sound, and muttered to Camicazi that 'they would be late'. Hiccup was too engrossed the the engravings and murals to notice anything she said. Great depictions of learning and philosophy, of ancient myths and legends, or perhaps parts of Yorvani history. He could see what he assumed was the pantheon of their beliefs, and wondered if he would be learning more about the gods and goddesses that the Yorvani entrusted their beliefs in.

As they made their way to the gate of the University, Hiccup noticed that their horses slowed. "We'll walk from here," Heather told him. He nodded, dismounting and following them through. The ground of the courtyard was a brightly colored mosaic, with designs too complicated for him to decipher what they were. In the center of the large courtyard was a fountain, a few students sitting on the ledge, discussing something. They looked up when they saw him, frowning. At first he wondered if he looked outlandish to them—but quickly realized it was his small battalion of guards that cause them to immediately recognize him.

"I'm pretty sure," he said to Camicazi and Heather. "That all of you surrounding me is making me more obvious."

"Well, sure," Camicazi said, with a nonchalant shrug. "But who knows what assassins may be lying in wait for you…"

"Right…" Hiccup muttered. They made their way to the great steps, and ascended them, to where an old man was waiting.

"Consort Hiccup," he said, bowing low. "Thank you for coming. I am Javesh. We are honored that you have decided to attend our humble institution."

"Uh, thank you for letting me attend," Hiccup said, before bowing as well. The man looked amused, if a little embarrassed, at that.

"Please, follow me," he said, motioning to the great doors, which were open. Inside it was much cooler, and a tad darker, although still well lit. Hiccup looked around, marveling at the tapestries and the murals on the walls. It wasn't until they reached a small, plain, white-walled room with only one small window that he realized that they had reached their destination. "We will test your language and learning capabilities," Javesh said. "Please sit."

Hiccup glanced at the small table and chair in the center of the room. The man motioned for Heather and Camicazi to leave, but both stood their ground. "Oh, by the gods," Hiccup muttered to himself. "You two," he said, sliding into his seat. "Just go. I can't go anywhere and no one can fit through that window. I doubt Javesh is much of a threat."

Javesh gave him a small, thankful smile, and Camicazi and Heather reluctantly stood outside the door. Hiccup could hear the pitter-patter of feet outside on the marbled and stone floors, and the quiet voices of students chatting and discussing things he could not decipher. He couldn't wait to be among them. "Here," Javesh said, taking out a pile of papers from a cabinet in the wall behind Hiccup. He placed the piles of papers on the table in front o Hiccup. He then handed Hiccup an ink well and a few quills. "Please, take your time. I will be waiting outside." Javesh then left, leaving Hiccup to his work.

The tests were relatively easy, at least, the language part was. Hiccup knew he made some mistakes, but he was able to comprehend most of the questions. The second set of tests were enjoyable, and not challenging. He had gotten out of practice in things of architecture and mathematics and the maths that are needed to build things and contraptions, but it all came back quickly enough. The part that truly stumped him, was the sections of the test on the natural world of Cartan. Of course, he would barely know any of that—as he had not lived here and this was the first time he spent any time outside of the Citadel since he arrived. But the more he read, the more fascinated he became. With the flora and fauna, of course, but mostly with the animals mentioned. He wanted to study them all, even the mythical Majara, a creature that was sacred to the goddess Kor. By the time the test was finished, he heard the bells ringing again, and for a moment he feared the day was over, but it was merely the bell indicating the mid-day meal. He stood up, walking to the doorway and peered out. Students were streaming out of the hall and doors into the courtyard, and he quickly retreated back into the room, taking his tests into his hands.

He left the room again, handing them to Javesh. "Here," he said.

"How did it go?" Javesh asked.

Hiccup shrugged. "I think I did alright—but some parts were harder than others."

Javesh nodded, smiling. "I shall have these graded by tomorrow. I'll then sort you into classes based on your test results."

Hiccup nodded. "Does that mean I have to wait until tomorrow to start classes?" he asked.

Javesh frowned, before slowly shaking his head. "No… you could visit some classes today—spend some time around the university grounds, if you wish. You mustn't disturb the students and teachers from their work, but—"

"I won't," Hiccup promised quickly. Heather and Camicazi smirked at him, and he sent them a quick, half-hearted glare.

"Very well," Javesh said, "Shall I give you a tour?"

"No, I wouldn't want to disturb your work," Hiccup said, again quickly, "I'll just explore on my own—with my… guards…"

He glanced at Heather and Camicazi, who were looking at him expectantly.

"Very well," Javesh said again. "I will see you tomorrow—unless we run into each other today again."

Hiccup nodded, and bowed to him in farewell. Javesh bowed as well, his face pink tinged with embarrassed. "Farewell for now, Milord," he said, bowing again before leaving.

"Why was he so embarrassed?" Hiccup asked, as he and Camicazi and Heather began walking through the hall towards the doors.

"You bowed so low to him," Heather said. "That was giving him more respect than your's or his station would allow."

"I thought I was no better than a glorified concubine?" Hiccup asked.

"It's true you hold no real power," Camicazi said. "But you are still The Sun's consort. And you will be the father of the next Sun. Therefore… you should get used to… well, most people giving you lots of respect. At least the people who don't look down on you and The Sun for… procreating."

Hiccup ignored that last bit, blinking into the bright light as they left the building and descended the steps into the courtyard. A few faces turned their way, but most people were too enthralled in their own conversations to notice him. Perfect, he thought. He walked to a small group nearby him, and casually said, "Mind if we join you?"

The three faces looked up, curious, and paled when they saw him and Heather and Camicazi. They made to move to their feet, but Hiccup put up his hands. "No," he said, "No need for that. I don't want to draw more attention to myself."

Looking sheepish, and a little unsettled, the three students nodded, motioning for him to sit on their blanket. He sat, Heather and Camicazi sitting as well. "You're Prince Hiccup," one of the three students said. "I heard you were going to attend here, but I didn't think it was true."

"You're the Sun's consort," another, a young man, said, looking awed. "What is she like? I mean—really like?"

He was nudged hard in the ribs by the third student, and she turned to look at Hiccup. "What he means to say is, welcome. Have you joined any classes yet? I'm Lora, by the way."

He shook his head. "Just took the test," he said.

"How do you think you did?" the second student asked. "Oh, my name is Lavi, I'm Lora's brother."

"Younger brother," Lora said. "And it shows. And this is Beorna, he's an upperclassman."

She turned to look at Hiccup. "So, how do you think you did? Was the test hard? I know it's in Yorvi, were you able to understand most of it?"

He nodded. "I can understand most dialects by now—Astrid has tutors for me—"

The three students gasped, and, surprised, Hiccup stopped talking, frowning. "Did I say something strange?"

"You just referred to The Sun by her first name—only by her first name," Lora said, mouth agape.

"So—you must know what she really looks like, I mean, under all that armor and stuff," Lavi said. "Is she as scarred as they say?"

Hiccup glanced at Heather and Camicazi, who subtly shook their heads, warning him to be careful. Hiccup turned back to the three students. "I can't really talk about that," he said.

"Oh, of course he can't," Lora said, sending Beorna and Lavi a warning look of her own. "So, are you excited to start Uni? That's what we call this place—it's easier than just saying 'University' all the time."

Hiccup nodded. "Yeah, pretty excited."

"Don't you have lunch?" Lavi asked. "What, the Sun doesn't feed you?"

"Lavi!" Lora hissed.

"I was supposed to return to the Citadel for lunch," Hiccup said.

"Here," Lora said, handing him a small box. "You can have some of my lunch. I've got to head to the library anyway—i have an exam to study for." She stood up, smiled at him, before leaving. As she passed her brother, she nudged him in the ribs with her foot, giving him a look that clearly was an order to behave. Hiccup opened the box and a began to eat the food inside. It was spicy, but not overly so. It was nice to know that he was starting to become accustomed to Yorvani and Cartan food. At least in that way life here was getting better.

He and Lavi and Beorna, as well as a few others who joined them once they recognized him for who he was, chatted until the bells rang again, and he got up. "Come with us," Lavi said, slinging an arm around Hiccup's shoulders. Heather stepped forward menacingly, but Hiccup quickly waved her off. "You're interested in the creatures of the jungle? Our next class will be going on an expedition to the outer rim of the Jungle tomorrow—you should join that class and…" Lavi trailed off when the formally loud courtyard quieted, everyone stilling.

Confused, Lavi let go of Hiccup and looked around, before he paled slightly.

Hiccup turned around to face the gates, and saw… Astrid standing under the archway, a few guards surrounding her. She was wearing armor—though of the ceremonial kind, and under that a rather pretty dress. She smiled at him, before nodding for him to follow her. "Come on," Heather said, as she and Camicazi began to walk towards Astrid. "Time to go home."

Hiccup glanced apologetically at Lavi and Beorna, before promising to join that class as soon as he could, and following the others to the gate to where Astrid was waiting for him.

"How was your first day?" she asked, as they rode up to the gates of the Citadel.

Hiccup shrugged. "It was okay—the real fun began once lunch started."

"Yes," Astrid mused, glancing at him with humor in her eyes. "You were seeming to enjoy yourself. I see that allowing you to get an education will be good for you."

"Allowing me? Please, Astrid, don't be crass," he retorted. "Besides, I'm well educated."

"Not by Yorvani standards," she said, shrugging. "Though you are good at inventing things…"

Hiccup ignored her quip, and instead focused instead on how to convince Astrid to let him join that class in particular, and how to let her join them on their expedition to the Jungle. He had to do it—the other students mentioned that there were rarely any trips to the Jungle these days. Too many people disappeared into them, never to be seen again. He didn't know when his next chance would be.

They rode in silence until they reached the Citadel. He and Astrid walked together, in silence, until they reached the Sun's Quarters, and he was not surprised that she followed him into his own apartments. He did not mind when she followed him up the stairs and into his private library. She sat on his desk, watching him as he swept around the room, looking for any books with more information on what he might find in the Jungle and the Majara.

"You seem in high—or at least, energized—spirits," she said.

"Some of the students are going on an expedition to the Jungle tomorrow," he said. "I hope to go with them."

He sensed a tenseness behind him, and turned around, looking at her. She was frowning at him, before she said, coldly, "I will not consent to you going there."

He made a grimace, and put the books in his hands down on the window sill. "Astrid," he said, "You can't keep me locked up here forever."

She looked away. "I'll allow you to go to the University at will. But the Jungle is too dangerous, Hiccup. For anyone. It's off limits to all but a few."

"Then let me go into the Jungle with the other students—surely if I am with them—"

"No, Hiccup," she said. She looked at him again and heaved a sigh.

He walked over to her, placing his hands on either side of her face, peering into her eyes with a curious expression. "Are you worried about me?" he asked.

She quickly looked away, and he chuckled. "It's not funny," she said, an embarrassed blush rising to her cheeks. "Of course I'm worried about you."

"There's no need to be—I survived the war for thirteen years, I think I can survive a single day in the Jungle." He contemplated this for a moment, before leaning down slightly to peck her on the cheek.

Surprised, she seemed to nearly slide off the desk in shock. She looked at him, wonder in her eyes. "What was that for?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I felt like it," he answered. He grinned, grabbing her hips and sliding between her legs, his breath hot against her neck as he began to kiss her there.

"Oh!" he heard her moan, her body careening against his. His hands worked on her body—trying to find the sweet spots that would make her moan like that again.

His lips found hers, and the kiss started out surprisingly chaste—he wanted her to deepen it. She did not take long to comply. Her arms automatically wrapped around his neck, her hands playing with his hair, and when they broke apart for air, Hiccup wasn't sure he had the self control to stop. He kissed her jaw, then her neck again, then her collar bone, before reaching behind her and fumbling with the straps of her leather chest plate.

"W—wait," she mumbled, and he froze. There was something odd about that tone in her voice. He himself had no real intention of going much farther, but he was curious as to Lavi's comment, as to whether Astrid's body had any evidence of battle—of scars. And perhaps, a small part of him desired the body of a woman—Astrid—in his arms. It had been some time since he had slept with someone.

But there was something in Astrid's voice that caused him to stop, let go of her immediately, and step away, looking at her with concern. "What is it?" he asked.

She shook her head, before forcing a smile at him. "It's nothing," she said, shaking her head. "Perhaps… perhaps…" her face flushed, humiliation clearly written on it. "Perhaps I'm not ready… for this…"

He blinked. "Oh," he said, a little dumbly. "I'm… I'm sorry, Astrid."

"No!" she said quickly, looking at him with horror. "No, it's not you, Hiccup. I rather enjoyed that. It's more that I'm not quite ready for the final act."

"I wasn't planning on—"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Thank you, Hiccup, for…" she sighed, smiling softly at him. "I know it must repulse you to have to do that."

He gave her a lidded look. "Regardless of how I feel about you or your actions against my people, you're still a beautiful woman," he said. "I'm sorry, I just assumed, since you're so desperate for a child, that…"

"I am," she said. "But I also…" she trailed off, staring out the window, before turning to look at him. "If you'd like to go to the Jungle tomorrow, I'll allow it."

He blinked. That hadn't been his intent with the kiss, and her sudden consent took him by surprise. "You will?"

She nodded. "But you must stay with the group," she said sternly. "Don't go off on your own."

"I won't," he promised quickly. He reached out for her, but hesitated, looking at her questioningly. She rolled her eyes, and grabbed his hand. "I'm not a delicate flower," she said, pulling him closer. He settled between her legs again, looking down at her, and felt something startling stir within him. A fondness. A fondness for Astrid. For a moment, he couldn't believe himself. How could he feel anything except hatred towards this woman? And yet here he was, wishing he could take her in his arms…

He kissed her again. It was more chaste than their previous kiss, and soon, he broke away, panting slightly. She smiled at him, and asked, "Do you find yourself more… agreeing to… you know. Father my children?"

He shrugged. "I'm not ready yet."

She smiled, and nodded. "Neither am I. Though my neck surely desires it," she added, rubbing her neck thoughtfully.

He cocked his head, looking at her quizzically.

"I'm most likely facing a beheading soon if I don't produce an heir quickly," she explained, a little too nonchalantly. "But regardless—I don't want you to… consort with me unless you want to."

But did he want to? He enjoyed kissing her, but he might as well have enjoyed kissing anyone, not just Astrid. "You have to understand, Astrid," he said, "You're keeping my people hostage—my father hostage, and me hostage here. And in exchange for their lives—and my life—I'm… I'm forced to sleep with you." He looked at her, resentment clear in his face. "Regardless of how I might feel, or not feel, that is hardly… something to look forward to."

She looked away. "I'm not proud of this arrangement, Hiccup," she said. "If I could, I would…" she trailed off, before looking at him again. "I will see you tomorrow, after your first day at University. Perhaps we can have dinner together."

He nodded. She slid off the table and walked toward the door, before pausing, holding her hand out to him.

Surprised, Hiccup took her hand, and she squeezed it comfortingly. When she let go, just a few seconds later, and left the room, he stood there, stunned. Though their kissing had been passionate, that moment, that hand holding, had been… more intimate, somehow.

He swallowed.

He wanted to hate her. He wanted to hate her enough to kill her at any chance he could have. But every day that passed, he found that harder and harder to feel.

He wanted to despise her. And he did.

So why was he starting to have feelings for her?

To be continued…

I had to take a bit of a break from fic writing/posting due to some personal stuff, but I'm slowly and hesitantly easing my way back into it. I'll try to get Chapter 13 posted next weekend :)

Thanks for reading!

See you soon (hopefully ;)