The morning grew dark and dreary, a storm rolling around. Everybody locked their doors and closed the shutters, the palace easing into breakfast. Hiccup and Elsa sat poised with smug little smiles on their faces, a word not escaping them. They were content, they were at peace and the whole table kept close eyes on them. Jay sat next to Hiccup, reading while eating a plate of fluffy eggs and toast smeared with sweet, white butter.

"So?" Anna asked awkwardly, picking up her tart to eat while Elsa on the other hand cut the strawberry filled strudel on her plate with a knife.

"So what?" Elsa asked before placing the strudel in her mouth.

"Why so quiet?"

"Because the earth isn't speaking. So why should we? Silence is nice sometimes," Hiccup spoke up, prodding his spoon through his bowl of oats, blueberries and strawberries that were surrounded by milk. "Besides, its best to let a storm take over the silence. Its quite calming."

"Why won't you eat?" Elsa asked, noticing he's barely touched his breakfast. He seemed so happy just a couple hours ago while they were in the hallways upstairs, kissing and dashing about. They even took a walk afterwards and let the day sink in and the gray start to cover the skies. What could upset him? Was he not feeling well again? She looked concerned, her features tightened into an expression of worry.

"I'll eat. I'm eating. I'm just lost in thought…" He admitted but took a spoonful and glanced up with a smile aimed towards her before taking in a spoonful of oats and fruit and creamy milk for her. Elsa's face softened into a smile and her eyes had a dreamy sparkle to them, as if struck by stars. She then went back to breakfast, starting to hum a sweet little tune full of happy hope. Anna watched them both, analyzing them and Jay looked up, glancing over and smiling. Hiccup seemed happy and Elsa seemed happy. Something happened, definitely. Both Jay and Anna knew it, but couldn't decide what. Elsa wouldn't get in bed with him, not that she knew of, so they definitely weren't together like that but would Elsa let somebody kiss her? Anna didn't know. She never saw her sister star struck. For all Anna knows, this could just be Elsa head over heels because he pressed his lips to her knuckles or maybe offered her to walk in the gardens with him and held her hand. She couldn't imagine what had happened between them, what actually happened.

But Hiccup and Elsa could still feel the kiss, soft and slow fresh on their lips. The love and sincerity, the way his eyes had this sweetly lustful tint in them after he pulled away, foreheads together, eyes pulling towards each other to meet. It all seemed so magical and wonderful at the time, but now they didn't know if it was a dream or not, if they had dreamed up the whole morning and woke up to see that they hadn't been together so early in the morning at all… It was all too perfect in a way. Elsa never believed in a happy ever after, her mind never thought of happy ever after, especially with a man. Well, until Hiccup came along. Now happy ever after is all she wanted. All she looked forward too, even if her gut told her that it would never work out and her heart could feel the pull of trouble in the near future. Was that war he escaped ever settled? What about his kingdom? Before her mind could even touch upon the next question, a crack of thunder hit and both Hiccup and Jay startled more visibly than anyone at the table, but Jay just seemed startled while Hiccup looked frightened and scared and almost ready to jump up and pull out a sword.

Jay leaned over and put a hand on his friends shoulder. "Don't worry; there isn't a thing you have to kill out there except an innocent animal."

"Defense isn't wrong..." Hiccup mumbled, trailing off and looking outside, the fingers of his left hand tracing over the handle, the little nooks and corners of the handle. Jay eased his hand off of it and shook his head.

"What's wrong?" Elsa asked, looking over confused. She heard the word 'wrong' but she couldn't tell what the problem was or what they'd been talking about. It seemed to be related to the war, she was curious to say what he would speak up about.

"He's just… dealing with the aftermath of war. It's like somebody's always after you." Jay sighed and Hiccup shrugged, shoving another spoonful of his breakfast in his mouth. He looked a bit lost in thought, a bit determined and a bit angry.

"I'm going to go to the training room," Hiccup said after a few more bites of cereal, wiping his mouth and huffing off and going to the large training room.

000

Cornelius glared at the little scene before him. Hiccup was more determined than ever, the way he completely bantered off. If anything, Hiccup would remember everything and come back stronger than before. He would come and claim everything he had back… Maybe he could concoct an army, create something that Hiccup couldn't defeat. Something that would Kill the powerful king off.

What is he searching for? What could he use that would take Hiccup down? He looked towards the door of his lair, and then thought of Astrid. Oh Astrid, what a tool you are to me, always. He shook his head, how had he ever fooled her, the way he did? Strong minds could also be easily fooled and to think he fooled her the way he did… Magic was a wonderful thing.

000

"NO! NO!" Hiccup yelled, bolting up and hugging himself, rocking back and forth and crying. Tears streamed down like rivers, staining his hot, red cheeks and bolding his freckles. The storm outside was still going, every clap of thunder emitting a racked sob from him as he hugged himself and hid under the blankets. He was trembling with fear, his muscles shaking as if he'd been holding a plank for too long or had done too much of a workout. He was so afraid, so scared.

Elsa heard his yelling and immediately rushed down the hallway to his room in the darkened corridors. His door was locked shut so she froze it and broke the lock, thinking she would replace it later just before she splayed the image of her unofficial boyfriend crying and shaking and sinking beneath the covers trying to block out the fear, the pain. "Hiccup? Hiccup what's wrong?" She asked, going to his side, taking his hand from under the covers. His skin was warm, warmer than normal, and she could feel his pulse had been sped up.

Hiccup only shook his head and gripped her hand, crying into the arm that connected to the hand she was holding. "Hiccup it's okay, I'm right here. What's wrong?"

"I wish I could remember," Was all he managed before sobbing again. He remembered being attacked then passing out and the thunder reminded him of something that was there yet wasn't. It had to do with the war, whatever that brought him here. "Please don't leave me…" he whispered.

"Never." Elsa let go of his hand and figured he was under the covers, he wouldn't see her. She decided that she couldn't cuddle him in a bed with a dress bigger than the bed on, so she undid the ties of the dress and let it fall before she could undo her corset and top dress before her light, silky under dress remained along with her panties. She then removed her shoes and socks, revealing petit feet with a nice manicure on them. She then padded to the other side of the bed with soft footsteps, getting in on that side. She hugged his back side and pressed a kiss at the base of his neck. They were both under the covers, her in only her undress and him still fully dressed. "You will be okay my darling, and I will be beside you and fight with you. There is nothing that can defeat us," She sang softly, running her fingers along his chest, firm with muscles. He sniffled, seeming to slowly calm down.

"Thank you," He whispered to her, turning around and pulling her flush to him in a hug, under the heavy, decorated yet soft cotton covers. They were blue, like her eyes and they smelled like sweet perfume from the soap they were delicately washed in. She nodded in reply and her lips somehow seemed to find his again, kissing him in reassurance and comfort. His tears disappeared and became heavy breathing. The covers were hot, too much warmth really bothered him and he wasn't always clear why... Maybe it was just the heat between their two bodies, even if they were both still decently clothed.

"You'll never be alone Hiccup. I'll never let you be."

I think this is a bit better and I hope Hiccup doesn't seem as weak this time around, I made him more constricted than the first time around and less afraid here.