New chapter and I have something to share with all of you, so don't forget to read the AN in the end of this chap! It's good news! I think hahaha!

Guest (1): I'm so happy you liked it and that I'm helping you come out of your lurking! ;) Thank you so much! I love this couple and wanted to share this idea and I'm very thankful to all of you who have given me so many kind words and that you have wanted to be a part of this journey! Also here is more haha!

Guest (2): Haha yes christmas brings many good things! And thank you for wanting to be a part of this journey, but there are still two more chapters (three with this one) to go! Happy holidays!

Laidyx: Haha it's good to know it was not in a bad way and tears is one of the best grades an author can get, though I must say that since I'm a student I will be unable to pay the bill for repair of your heart and the psychiatrist hahaha! ;) But maybe the coming chaps will help you get back, or play with your emotions even more! ;) Thank you much, it is such a joy to hear from you every chapter!

Noctus Fury: I can fully understand you, if I could I would work with history but since the salary is not the best I chose law-school instead! Haha I think you should write a story, you could really bring more detail than most I think! :D So happy you liked the chap and you're right, that conversation was needed! And also there was finally the kiss, how long I wished to write that, and more Hiccelsa is now coming! There is nothing now holding them back, well almost nothing! ;)

21.

"We should head back."

Hiccup could hear the reluctance in her voice and couldn't keep back the small smile as he pulled her closer to him.

"No one will look for us yet." He answered, Elsa turning her head to give him a skeptical look.

"If there are any problems, know you'll have to take care off them." She answered before she relaxed against his chest again, Hiccup simply giving her a kiss on the head as the peaceful silence fell between them again.

After the emotional turmoil they both had gone through, neither of them had wanted to return to the festivities down at Berk. Instead they had returned to their spot by the fire and this time Hiccup had drawn Elsa into his arms without a second thought. When she had relaxed against him, he had felt the deep happiness within spread through him again. It felt wonderful to finally be free to just hold her without any feeling any guilt or without feeling he had to suppress any emotions.

The mere presence of her being so close to him was more than enough, he just wanted her with him and that was all. For a long time, they had sat in silence, simply relishing in the fact that there was nothing holding them back anymore. They were free to feel the deep connection they had developed to each other, the feeling of true belonging.

It was something that could never be described. You could say that it felt like your heart was so full and content that it reached out and connected to another, to the one you loved. That you became a part of someone outside of yourself, but it still couldn't explain the pure feeling of being… well of being at peace, of feeling content.

After a while, Toothless had found them, joining them by the fire as he laid down behind Hiccup and put his tail around them. Leaning back towards his dragon, Hiccup had felt how it all connected. The circle was full.

But no matter how much neither of them had wanted the silence to end, it had been since there was still things they needed to talk about and that had been Drago.

When Elsa asked him about his old nemesis, Hiccup hadn't been surprised she had brought it up. After all she needed to know if he was still a threat, if she had to fear he would come back. So even though it was a memory Hiccup didn't like to remember, he had told her about how the cruel man had met his final end.

He told her how the tribes had demanded blood after Stoick's death, his father had after all been extremely respected amongst them all and a man many of them had looked up to. As a result, the tribes had all agreed that a hunt for Drago would begin. They had also agreed that the tribe who found him would be to bring him under their law, judging him as they wished.

Of course, his father's death hadn't been the only reason the tribes had wanted Drago dead. He had been a man who could control the dragons and, unlike Hiccup, he had shown he was more than willing to use them in war.

So despite the fact that their collaboration had been born out of a need for revenge, it had helped bring the tribes together once again, creating the foundations for the relationships that existed between them today.

"But they still asked you first?" Elsa had asked Hiccup when he had told her about the day Drago had been captured. He had told her how the once fierce man had been a mere shell of his former self, his decay having caused many to say that the Gods had turned against him for what he had done. Even Hiccup, who had a pretty special relationship with the Gods, had wondered if the statement had been true after seeing which state of the former dragon torturer had been in.

"They did, I think they felt I had a right to decide his fate and I could've sentenced him to death but I didn't. I held our agreement and allowed our sister tribe to sentence him as they wished, it was our deal. Of course I knew this meant they would sentence him to a painful death so I could as will have given him the sentence myself, but it still felt like the right thing to do." Hiccup had told her, Elsa thankfully not asking what end the man had faced.

"I would have given him the sentence myself so I knew his fate, I hadn't dared to risk he could get a different fate." Elsa had told him and Hiccup had not been surprised by her statement. It was just another way they completed each other, she was objective and could detach from her emotions while he often listened to his heart too much. Together they could find a balance.

"What about the Bewilderbeast?" Elsa had then asked him, Hiccup telling her about the state of the poor creature. He did spare her most of the injuries it had suffered, but he knew Elsa still understood the extent of the state it had been in when he told her how he himself had put the poor creature out of its misery.

In a way, no matter what it had done, the poor dragon had not deserved the horrible fate it faced in the end.

After that the silence had fallen over them again, Hiccup knowing Elsa was processing what he had told her, until she had broken it just now.

And, as it would turn out, it would be she who broke it a third time.

"You know, there is something else we need to talk about as well." Elsa spoke once more, her hands holding his as they rested her lap.

"The dragon in the room." He sighed, Elsa turning around so she was facing him instead.

"We need to talk about this, how to make this work." She said, giving his hands a squeeze when she spoke.

"I'm not going to lie to you Elsa, I don't know how we can. I'm not going to ask you to give up your throne, I don't want you to. You're the Queen of Arendelle and I don't want to take that from you." He told her, Elsa feeling how much she valued his words as she smiled at him.

"And I know you are not a man who wants to live behind stone walls for the rest of his life." She replied, seeing in his eyes that she was right. "But before I left Arendelle there was an old woman who offered some outside advice on all this. In fact, I think she offended not just my intelligence but yours as well." She smiled.

"One guess; Mrs. Tomson." Hiccup grinned at her, both chuckling when Elsa nodded.

Behind Hiccup, Toothless sighed loudly at the pair. Considering how long it had taken his two humans to finally move past all their silly problems, he could only agree with the older woman since he too had questioned their intelligence at times.

"Mrs. Tomson suggested that we don't renounce our titles and that we keep on ruling Arendelle and Berk as separate kingdoms." Elsa began, seeing the surprised look on Hiccup's face.

"That's a thought." He said slowly, Elsa seeing that his mind was already working a mile a minute. That he actually considered the suggestion made the hope spread through her, for it meant he didn't find the idea impossible either. "I have never heard anyone doing it before though." He added.

"Neither have I, but I have thought about it and I think we could do it. This is the only way we won't have to worry about forcing out cultures together even though the relationship between them of course will grow stronger. Also my council already adores you and I think with some time, I can learn your ways better as well." She told him.

"Well, you've only been here a week." Hiccup said, smiling when Elsa sent him a humorous glare.

"Are you saying I'm not fitting in?" She asked.

"Like a dragon in his pack." Hiccup replied with a grin, Elsa simply rolling her eyes at him.

"Anyway" She continued "What I mean is that it would be different and we would have to travel a lot, but we both have people we trust who can rule in our absence. It will probably be difficult, especially considering Berk and Arendelle are in need of different supplies and need to ruled in different ways, but I think it could work. Also I would still be Queen of Arendelle and you'd be Chief of Berk, we will stand on our own and still work together. We will have the final say in our kingdoms, we would just happen to be married as well." Elsa said, a little confused when a huge smile spread over Hiccup's face and he looked at her with eyes full of humor.

"Married you say? Is this a proposal Queen Elsa? It's a little untraditional if you ask me." He told her, Elsa realizing what she had just said. Seeing her eyes widen and a small blush spread over cheeks, Hiccup chuckled at her embarrassment.

"And what if it was?" She suddenly asked him, her response throwing him a little off guard since he could see the challenge in her eyes. Even if he knew she didn't mean it, he still knew his answer would matter to her. It would once again show how far he was willing to go, if he was willing to try.

"If it was I would accept it, without a second thought." He told her, Elsa feeling her heart speed up at how his serious face had gotten and how his eyes seemed to burn through her. "I want this, I want you and I want us to try. Even though it sounds insane, I think Mrs. Tomson has given us the only solution that could work." He told her.

At his words, Elsa felt the relief flood through her. Despite everything, a tiny part of her had feared he would find the idea insane, and even though they both actually did find it insane, he was still ready to try.

"I spoke to Anna before I left, she is ready to take more responsibility and I trust that she can do it, but I will have to take this up with the council as well." Elsa told him.

"I know, I have to talk to mom, Gobber and the rest of the elders as well. Even though not much will change for them, they still need to know and be on board." Hiccup agreed with her, Elsa nodding before she looked down at their joined hands.

"You know when the time comes, I still want a real proposal." She suddenly said, Hiccup smiling at her with amusement as he felt his love for her spiral up within at her words.

"So this one wasn't enough?"

"Of course not, no question was really asked and we have to court for a while, we can't just get married. We need to see if we can make this work first." She told him, Hiccup reaching out to caress her cheek.

"We can make it work." He told her with conviction and Elsa felt her skin burn under his hand as her mind flashed back to their kiss earlier. She wanted to kiss him again, her eyes darting to his lips as he looked at her with those green eyes that made her body burn, but at the mere thought she felt nervous.

She had grown up learning to hold back, since she was a child she had been told it wasn't proper for a woman to want. She also didn't know how one initiated a kiss at all. Her want and love for him mixed with her own insecurities and she looked down at their joined hands since she didn't know what to do with her feelings.

But Hiccup only turned her head back up and smiled kindly at her, pushing back her hair before drawing her to him. The moment his lips touched hers, all thoughts of propriety disappeared from her mind, though the insecurity stayed.

She was so inexperienced while it was clear Hiccup was not and she was afraid that he would find it annoying. But as he carefully guided her, she felt how he wanted her to respond, how he wanted her to take part and the small the voice within telling her that a lady wasn't allowed to give in to her feelings turned quieter and quieter.

When she finally, hesitantly, responded to the kiss she felt him smile against her lips as he drew her closer. When he did, Elsa felt a sense of triumph inside and she felt how her nerves started to leave her.

She hadn't thought the feelings would be as powerful as the last time, but to God they were. She was burning, all of her was burning while her heart raced. She felt her blood rush and the constant rushes of excitement when his hands moved around her waist, up her back or into her hair which he at some point had released from the braid.

In response, Elsa leaned into him, his warm breath as quick as her own while she much more hesitantly let her hands wonder from up his chest until she could put her arms around his neck so she came closer to him. When her hair fell around them like a veil she couldn't help to smile as well, feeling like it offered them some privacy from the world.

Drawing back, her mind felt hazy, her breathing was quick while her lips felt strangely swollen. Seeing Hiccup look at her with burning eyes, she could feel the fire in her skin flare up again as she leaned down, refusing to listen to the voice telling her women shouldn't take initiative, and kissed him again.

This kiss was different though, it was short and slow, but still it moved her on a deeper level since it held another sense of belonging and when they drew back Hiccup leaned his forehead against hers.

"Is it always like this?" She breathed, not caring if the question was inappropriate. She needed something to focus on except for the fact that she wanted him to kiss her again, it was like a drug her body hadn't realized it needed until now.

"No, not like this. It has never been like this." Hiccup told her, kissing her on the forehead before hugging her close and she could hear his heart racing in his chest. It was beating just as fast as her own and it felt wonderful to know she truly affected him as much as he affected her. As they sat in silence, she heard his heart calm with her own while he kept running his hand through her hair.

"I take back what I said that night out on the ice." Hiccup suddenly whispered to her.

"We said a lot that night." She replied as they let go off each other, Hiccup holding a strand of her hair between his fingers.

"This fits you much better. You should always wear it out." He told her, Elsa smiling at him.

"Really? Even around Tuff and all other men here on Berk?" She asked, laughing when he suddenly frowned and gave her the leather band he had taken out to let it loose. "You don't think it's a good idea anymore? You suggested it." She smiled at him, twirling the band between her fingers.

"It was a week moment." He answered her, frowning even more when she chuckled.

"You are cute when you're jealous." She told him, Hiccup unable to stop his small blush, a little embarrassed at how easily she saw right through him. "But you don't have to worry, it would be inappropriate to wear it loose outside the home."

"Inappropriate? If you call wearing your hair down around others inappropriate, then what would you call what just happened now?" Hiccup grinned at her as Elsa started to detangle her hair, sending him a mischievous smile.

"That I would say was a poor helpless maiden who was ravished by the Chief of Berk. Everyone knows Vikings take what they want, so there really wasn't anything I could do about it." She answered before she glared at her hair in irritation. "What have you done with it? Seriously, it's a mess!"

At her irritated look, Hiccup couldn't help to smile as he leaned over to her, her eyes widening slightly as a small blush spread over her cheek.

"I'm not sure, but I do know that was not a helpless young maiden I just kissed. In fact, she seduced the poor Chief I think, not the other way around." He said, chuckling when she blinked at him as he rose from the ground.

"You try make anyone believe you over me!" Elsa called after him, Hiccup smiling widely at her words as he walked into the forest to fetch Toothless, the dragon having very wisely chosen to give them some privacy.

Flying back on Toothless hidden in the night, Hiccup dropped Elsa off at the house in which she was staying before he and Toothless walked back to their own. The moment Elsa disappeared from his view, his mind immediately returned to the time they had spent up on the hill.

He had told her everything and she had understood, in fact it had all turned out much better than he ever could have imagined for now they also had a plan on how they could make this work. They might have found a way to be together despite the differences between their lands.

He was so deep in thought when he walked inside the house that he didn't even notice the two dark shapes sitting by the big table by the fire.

Not until one of them spoke at least.

"Ye look like you've just been promised the world but don't know if you should accept it lad."

At the voice, Hiccup was so startled he drew Inferno, but when he saw who had spoken he glared at his old mentor and his mother.

"Are you two trying to scare me to death?" He asked them, both of them smiling at him.

"You and Queen Elsa just disappeared, it's far passed midnight." His mother only said, ignoring his question as Hiccup looked between them. To their surprise though he didn't glare at them, instead his expression turned softer as he sat down at the table.

"We talked and lost tack of time." He replied.

"Talked you say?" Gobber asked with a grin, Hiccup glaring at him.

"Yes, talked." He answered, but the fact that his face was void of all emotion gave him away more than anything.

"Of course you did." Valka replied. "So what did you two talk about then?" She asked, seeing how a hesitant, pained expression crossed over her son's face.

"I told her about dad." He answered, looking her at her with the green eyes he had inherited from herself. His words stunned her and for a moment she didn't know how to respond. Hiccup had never brought up Stoick's death, he had always avoided it. He had even lashed out against all of them.

She would never forget when he had run away, how scared she had been that he would never return. She thanked the Gods every day that he had, but he had never been the same. She had always known how much he was haunted by guilt, but she had given up hope to make him see the other side.

It was only when she had seen the life return to him after he had met the Queen that she had begun to hope again. She had known he would be forced to tell the Queen about his past at some point, but she had not expected him to bring it up with her afterwards.

Nor had she expected to see no anger in his eyes nor any self-hatred.

Was is it possible…?

"What did you tell her?" She whispered, feeling even more hope in her heart when Hiccup's eyes stayed sad but calm.

He didn't push her away.

"Everything." He said quietly. "I told her everything and she understood. She knew what it was like, I can't tell you how, but she did." He told them, taking a deep breath. "She made me realize that… that I was wrong. That it wasn't my fault and I just… I'm sorry for everything I said to you, you didn't deserve it. Neither of you" He told her with tears in his eyes, Valka feeling how the relief flooded through her.

Pulling him in for a fierce hug, she felt her how own tears fall when he returned it. It was tears of happiness, relief and gratitude. Gratitude towards the Queen who had somehow managed to reach through to her son when she had been unable to so herself. In a way, it hurt her to know she couldn't give her own son what he needed, but she knew a mother's love could only go so far.

The love and understanding between a man and woman was so different, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"My dear son, of course it wasn't your fault, your father chose to save you. He loved you." Valka whispered to him, having not felt lighter or happier in many years when he simply hugged her a little closer.

"I know that mom, I know that now." Hiccup told as he felt how they could perhaps finally heal the rift that his father's death had caused between them. He wanted them to be a family again even though his father would forever be absent.

"And ye never have to apologize Hiccup, there is nothing to forgive." Gobber said, placing his hand on Hiccup's shoulder to give it a squeeze when mother and son had drawn back.

"I still feel horrible; I know you only wanted my best." He told them.

"Grief is something we all handle differently, ye're allowed grieve Stoick." Gobber answered, Hiccup sending him a grateful smile that turned a little mischievous.

"I also told Elsa I love her." Hiccup said, his smile growing when his mother and Gobber both stared at him, stunned, before looking at each other as a smile spread over Valka's face and Gobber started laughing.

"That's the spirit lad! I hope ye swept her off her feet!" He said, hitting Hiccup in the back happily. "And you still say all ye two did was talk?" He added with a wink, Hiccup finally blushing slightly at his words while Valka sent him with a scolding look.

"Hiccup! I do hope you treated her right! She is a Queen and from a very different culture than ours! Even if you two are in love each other I hope you didn't assume anything." She told him with a harsh look.

"Gods! Mom!" Hiccup exclaimed with huge eyes, Valka fully ignoring him.

"I'm serious, I know you know her better than any of us but still a young woman can sometimes…"

"We seriously can't be talking about this!" Hiccup said, looking horrified as he stared at his mother.

"Hiccup I know you're a good young man, your father did that right and when I spoke to Astrid she always…" His mother continued, Hiccup interrupting her.

"Wait! You talked with Astrid about us?!" Hiccup asked, staring at her with even more disbelief.

"You didn't think we were only talking about axes or dragons all the time did you? I wanted to know you treated her right and I…" His mother continued as both he and Gobber kept staring at her in slight horror.

"This is the reason I never approached anyone, well no one that my mother knew about." Gobber at one point leaned over and whispered in Hiccup's ear, Hiccup sending him an understanding look as his mother kept on talking.

"... so I know your father did well raising you but still I want to be certain. I remember myself when your father and I were young and we…" She said only for Hiccup to interrupt her again.

"NO! Mom seriously! That is something I don't want to know!" He told her with slight panic. "I can assure you nothing happened that was not… not... just not, okay? I'd never… I already know and I'm not talking about this right now!" He exclaimed with stress, finally seeing the smug smile on her face. "You were doing that on purpose." He added, staring at her as her smile grew.

"Who can blame me? I never had the chance to have this conversation with you." Valka laughed, Hiccup groaning as he buried his head in his hands.

"Thank the Gods for that." He muttered before looking up. "Now if you two don't mind, I have something I need to talk with you about that is more serious. Elsa and I talked about how we could solve us being rulers of Berk and Arendelle." He told them, both his mother and Gobber listening carefully while he explained the solution Mrs. Tomson had offered to their problem.

"I told her we could make it work, but I don't know if we can. I've never heard of anything like this before." He concluded, his insecurity shining through.

"Hiccup, if anyone could rule two kingdoms, I think it would be you and Queen Elsa. She has told me how respected you already are in Arendelle and even though our people still are a bit hesitant, they'll come to love her. She has only been here a week." Valka replied.

"Ye mother is right Hiccup." Gobber added. "With the dragons a journey to Arendelle only takes three days and the tribe is only hesitant since they're a little unsure how to approach the Queen, but they already greatly admire her for her power. If ye two love each other, ye should be with together." Gobber told him, Hiccup looking at them with gratitude.

"I'll need to talk to the elders about this."

"And we'll stand with you, son. Always. We just want you to be happy." Valka said, a determined look in her eyes.

"Thank you." He answered, happy that things were finally turning for them and that there was still a chance for them to heal.

A chance for them to go back.

The air around the arena was more excited than it had been all week for good reason, it was the final day of the weekly long tournament and today the winners were finally going to be crowned. The whole week the Vikings had been facing each other in different areas of expertise, everything from Dragon Racing and hand-to-hand battle to wrestling and their skills with different weapons.

It had all been very entertaining and, at times, painful to watch as the Vikings all fought with a ferocity that was unparalleled in her own world. After this week, Elsa would never more question their reputation of being stunning warriors for they had proved they fully deserved it.

The day had been long and the moon was once again claiming the sky when the only thing left was the last race for the dragon riders. All week they had been competing in different areas and today they would fly a strange race-tack, fighting against the clock as they put their evasive skills to test. They were not allowed to use any firepower or other abilities, it was all about being the fastest and most agile.

All week, Hiccup and Toothless had been almost painfully superior in most of the competitions, even though Astrid, Snotlout and Eret had been close at beating them at times. Elsa had asked Valka if Hiccup and Toothless usually were this superior, to which Valka had answered that the pair barely ever participated anymore because they indeed usually won.

But she had also told Elsa that the main reason was that Hiccup simply didn't like the attention it brought to them, since he didn't like to feel like he was trying to show off. At her explanation Elsa hadn't been surprised, Hiccup had told her he didn't like to being in the center of attention and she could fully understand him.

Dragon racing was the only tournament Hiccup had taken part of, meaning that most of the time both he and Toothless had mostly kept her company up on the terrace. Watching the games with her, Hiccup had told her all she needed to know about the different rules and shared his knowledge about everyone competing.

This day she had only seen him briefly in the morning but they hadn't been able to talk to each other since they had been going in different directions. It had made her sad, for ever since he had brought her home last night she had been thinking about their situation and now she simply wanted to see him again.

She wanted the games to be over.

"The Chief wants to speak with Queen Elsa." Elsa suddenly heard a female voice say behind her. Turning away from the arena Elsa saw Astrid next to Kai, her captain frowning a little but said nothing when Elsa rose from her place next to Ingrid. Giving Astrid a look that told her Elsa would follow her, the three started to descend down from the terrace that held the best places.

They walked in tense silence, but Elsa simply refused to break the silence it. Instead she kept her focus forward, though she couldn't help to at times inspect the other woman from the corner of her eye.

Astrid looked as unfazed as herself and for a while Elsa thought she would never speak, but thankfully she did.

"I know it was wrong not to tell you about the bedding." She said calmly, Elsa making sure to keep her expression unreadable.

"It was." She simply replied.

"Hiccup told me that you two have been talking about moving between Arendelle and Berk." Astrid stated, Elsa looking at her. She had not expected the conversation to take this turn.

"We have." She answered, wondering where Astrid was going with this.

"I just want you to know I think you could do it and I've promised that I'll help with anything I can here on Berk when Hiccup is away. I'll of course have to share the responsibilities, but I'd be here to help." Astrid said, her eyes holding the apology she didn't voice.

"That's good to know." Elsa answered softly. She knew the words was the apology Astrid would never speak clearly, the Shield Maiden was too proud for that, but it didn't mean Elsa couldn't see the gesture for what it really was.

Of course this didn't mean everything was healed between them, but it was good to know she had Astrid back on her side.

Smiling at each other, they walked the rest of the way in silence as Astrid took her down to the lowest parts of the arena, leading them into a small room. Inside Elsa was surprised to see not only Hiccup, but Valka, Gobber and Toothless as well.

"You wanted to talk to me." She said to the whole room, feeling how her stomach turned a little at sight of Hiccup in his full leather armor. She knew this was the day he was least likely to get hurt, but she still didn't like it.

"We heard something this morning that we have to discuss with you." Hiccup told her, an irritated look on his face. "It seems there are some plans taking place should some certain people win today." He said, nodding to Astrid who turned to Elsa.

"Tuff, Eret and Snotlout made a bet this morning. Should any of them win they're going to ask you for a kiss as their prize." She said with a frown, Elsa staring at her.

"What?! That is outrageous!" Elsa exclaimed angrily, she knew the winner was allowed to choose any prize, but she was not something they could bargain for!

"I know, had I heard them myself I would've hit them in the head and banned them from entering." Hiccup muttered as Kai, for once, sent Hiccup an approving look.

"Ye couldn't have done that even if ye wanted to, they're free to ask for whatever they wish. No offence." Gobber added to Elsa who still looked angry but she nodded her head, knowing the older man only spoke the truth.

"So did you only bring me down here to tell me this or something else?" Elsa asked, looking around at them.

"No, we brought you down here because this is them overstepping a line and we want you to be prepared should it happen" Valka told her calmly. "We want you to know you're free to refuse. You are the Queen of Arendelle, no one can force you."

"Or ye can choose a champion for ye to fight the winner." Gobber added.

"You mean I will have to be the one going against tradition either way?" Elsa asked, thinking about how she had thought about blending into Vikings society more, not act like she didn't accept it even more. For if she did simply refuse, she would put herself above them even if she was free to do it.

"We want you know your options." Hiccup told her, Elsa looking up into his green eyes. She could see he hated this whole situation just as much as she did, maybe even more.

"Well it's better than not knowing at all I guess." She answered, Kai sending her a reassuring look.

"I'll always fight for you my Queen, if you wish a champion." He told her, Elsa knowing he was only saying the words to be kind. But it didn't help the fact she knew a Viking woman probably would have challenged the winner and never sent someone else in her stead. She had faced her opponent head on, but Elsa could never do that since she couldn't use a weapon.

She had her powers sure, but it would never be allowed in usual combat.

With a feeling of helplessness, Elsa wondered how she could ever win the Vikings true respect when she had been raised so differently. It was one thing suppressing skills you had, another to not have them at all.

"You know Toothless and I have more points than anyone, if nothing out of the ordinary happens you don't have to worry, they'll never get the chance to even ask." Hiccup told her with reassuring eyes.

"Nor will you, I'm not your prize either." She glared at him in return, hitting him on the arm as the rest of the group watched in amusement. Even Kai smiled, though it was with more with a hint of satisfaction than anything else.

"I didn't say you were." Hiccup told her with an amused smile which caused Elsa to smile back at him.

At the sight Astrid cleared her throat loudly.

"If you two are done, I have another suggestion. How about Elsa is part of the course?" At her words, everyone stared at her, the two women with excitement while the men looked more hesitant.

"That's not a bad idea." Valka said finally said with a smile. "Queen Elsa could be at the end! We can say it's to even even the odds a little and no one will question it. As part of the course no one can ask you anything either since you would be participating and it would also give you a chance to show the tribe you wish to take part of our society."

"And you wouldn't get hurt. We're not allowed to use any firepower or attack you in any way, the whole competition is about evasiveness." Astrid added.

"You can't be serious!" Kai exclaimed at the crazy turn, feeling even more distressed when he saw a look he recognized in Elsa's eyes. "My Queen…"

"Oh stop it, it's brilliant!" Elsa told him with a smile towards Astrid who grinned back at her.

"Of course it is, I came up with it." Astrid responded.

"I agree with Kai. Elsa, I really don't think…" Hiccup began, Elsa sending him with a pointed look.

"Would a Viking have backed down?" She asked him and for a long time the pair simply stared at each other. It was clear they were putting across some sort of message to the other and watching them interact it was impossible not to see the deep connection between them they were no longer trying to hide. It was a bit intriguing to watch to be honest.

Then, finally, they saw the defeat enter Hiccup's eyes as he sighed.

"You know you don't have to do it, it's a good plan but no one is forcing you. You can simply refuse; no one would question it." He said and it was clear for everyone else that the pair seemed to have forgotten all about them.

"I know, but I even if I'm always going to be different I don't want your people to feel they need to watch themselves around me all the time. They need to see me more as one of them, not someone who is frail. Besides it will be fun making sure none of you gets past me to the finish line." She said, Hiccup smiling down at her.

"None of us? You don't think you are getting a bit to sure of yourself?" He asked, everyone a little stunned when the Queen stood slightly on her toes so their faces got closer, Elsa giving him a wicked smile.

"You know nothing Chief Haddock, but if there is a winner, make sure it's you." She replied before drawing back, chuckling at his stunned expression as she turned around. When she noticed everyone was looking at them she blushed a little, but she still managed compose her features and walk out of the room like nothing had happened. To everyone's surprise Astrid rose as well and fell into step with her, everyone staring after the two women until they heard them laughing out in the corridor.

Another who had been watching the full exchange with a smile was Kai, though he did his best to look irritated instead. He couldn't deny he had always been against Queen Elsa getting closer to Chief Haddock. After all the man was a Viking, but he now knew the Chief would soon learn the hard lesson most men had to learn after falling in love with a strong woman.

Not that this meant Kai had to go easy on him for that simple reason.

"You know Chief Haddock; I've been constructing a pretty impressive threat for a long time now." He began, Hiccup seeing how the old captain grinned at him with eyes that glowed with grim satisfaction. "However, I think you'll have enough on your hands without me adding to your troubles so I'll only say this; If you break her heart, I don't care who you are. I will hunt you down and make sure you can feel her pain." He said with fierce look.

Looking after the captain who went to follow his Queen, the three remaining Vikings saw how he stopped in the doorway leading out into the corridor, turning around with a grin.

"If you ever want to hear all of my speech you can always ask, it's quite impressive if I may so say so myself, and you're always free to borrow it in the future if you wish. I can keep working on it." The captain said, Gobber chuckling as Kai disappeared from sight.

"I would take him up on that offer if I were ye Hiccup for I think we'll soon have little royal wee devils running around here again and one of them might be a small lass."

At his words, Hiccup turned red while his mother and Gobber both laughed. Even Toothless looked highly amused at the fact Hiccup couldn't say anything in response, his rider being far to busy fighting away the imagine of young girl that suddenly appeared in his mind.

A young girl with ice blond hair and defiant ice blue eyes.

Just like her mother.

So BIG announcement! Or it's not very big, but it's an announcement! Or more like an offer now when I think about it, but never mind! Here is what's on my mind!

Since it's christmas, I really want to give something to you guys, so I'm putting the next update IN YOUR HANDS! Amazing, I know ;) So here's the deal, after 15 reviews to this chapter I promise to update the next one within 24 hours, which will be the last real chapter for this story. After that, it's just the epilogue which will be posted on Christmas Eve as my present to you (in Sweden we open the presents on Christmas Eve and not on Christmas Day so you'll get to share in on some Swedish traditions).

So now it's up to you, the next chapter will be posted no matter what, probably on Tuesday, but my gift to you is a chance to receive it faster!

Happy holidays to you all! Until next time!
/Lysistrate