The celebrations went long into the night. The occupants of the long table at the head of the Great Hall listened with rapt attention and fascination as Hiccup and Astrid told them about their adventures over the past two years, with some notable editing. They decided to omit the part where Astrid nearly died to an army of corrupted mind-controlled dwarves, as well as the part where Astrid nearly killed herself and an elven princess during a friendly duel. They also conveniently forgot to mention that Hiccup had literally died, and that they were now lovers and that their souls were connected with a bond that would outlast eternity.
No, I'm sure they would take all of that in strides. It's not like we haven't almost died several times. Some of us even did! Hiccup commented sarcastically to Astrid through their soul bond.
Astrid bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling as she tried to explain the tree house they had lived in on Alfheim. We're Vikings remember, it's an occupational hazard, she quipped in response.
Hiccup rolled his eyes. Astrid chuckled quietly under her breath and reached over, lacing her fingers with his. Hiccup stiffened, followed shortly by Astrid, as they realized that quite literally every pair of eyes on Berk were in the Great Hall. They quickly put their hands back in their respective laps and their cheeks tinged red. Or in Hiccup's case, his ears as well. Astrid bit her lip to not stare.
They had decided, wisely, not to share their new relationship with the village. For one, it wouldn't be considered proper or traditional, and neither of them really cared for such antiquated traditions. They also knew that they would never hear the end of it. They would constantly by the topic of gossip for Berk, and by extension, the rest of the archipelago. Neither wanted their relationship to be such public knowledge. It was also dangerous, in case the Rider in the North or any of their other enemies caught wind of it.
Luckily, no one saw them holding hands. It had been several hours since the celebrations began and most of the villagers were intoxicated beyond all rational thought. Astrid shook her head as she looked at the state her friends and family were in after drinking such a weak alcoholic beverage. Elven liqueur would have had them dancing naked on the tables in half a tankard. After another hour, Stoick called an end to the celebrations and retired for the night. Many villagers stumbled out of the great hall and back to their homes. With any luck, half of them would find their beds. The other half would be passed out on the ground somewhere.
Hiccup shook his head at Astrid's train of thought and stood to leave as well. Astrid followed quickly behind him. "Where are you staying for the night?" she asked quietly, even though there was little risk of being overheard.
"With Toothless," Hiccup answered, not bothering to lower his voice. No one would remember the conversation with how drunk they were. Hiccup fully expected to wake up to the alarmed shouts of villagers wondering why Hiccup had returned in the middle of the night.
Astrid looked a little bashful. "I talked with my father, the guest room is always open," she tried, allowing her feelings on how happy it would make her for him to stay with her and not camp out with Toothless seep through their bond.
Hiccup sighed. "You're going to do that every time you want something to go your way, aren't you?" he asked, knowing full well the answer.
"Yep," Astrid deadpanned with an equally knowing smirk.
"Fine, but you have to explain to Toothless why he can't sleep with me," Hiccup said, trying and failing to hide how much he would rather sleep in her house than with Toothless.
Toothless snapped his jaws at Hiccup as he walked passed, clearly aware of what his rider was thinking. "Thanks," Toothless grumbled, before rolling up in a ball outside of Astrid's home and promptly going to sleep.
"Oh, come on, bud! You know I don't mean anything by it!" Hiccup said exasperatedly.
Toothless remained silent. "Fine, be that way," Hiccup quipped before stomping, albeit very quietly, into the Hofferson hall. Astrid was right behind him.
Huh, I don't remember your hall being this big… Hiccup commented, speaking through their soul bond, not wanting to wake any inside.
Astrid flashed Hiccup a happy smile. Father took the knowledge of farming you gave him two years ago to heart. The Hoffersons are now the largest farm on Berk. We aren't poor now. You should thank me, really, for preventing my father from crushing you in a bearhug the moment we got back. He's quite enamored with you, Astrid said playfully.
Well thank you for that. It would have ruined my impeccable image, Hiccup drawled, half meaning it. Astrid giggled as the two of them made their way upstairs to the rooms they had previously stayed in nearly four years ago when Hiccup first returned to Berk.
It seems like a lifetime ago, Astrid said quietly.
That it does, Hiccup replied.
Good night, Hiccup, Astrid said as she pushed the door of her room open.
Good night, Astrid, Hiccup said as he did the same.
Hail to the King
Astrid laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her room had remained much the same, untouched, unchanged, since she had left more than two years ago. She couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned but couldn't manage to calm her restless mind. It was the soul bond, really, that was bugging her. It kept tugging at her to get up. She knew exactly where it wanted her to go and Astrid didn't think she wanted to have that conversation with her parents in the morning.
With a sigh, she closed her eyes and focussed. There was one way to fall asleep that the bond couldn't prevent. With great effort, Astrid willed herself deep into her magical core. When she opened her eyes, Astrid was once more standing on the lake of her arcane energy, her magical core. Now that she knew what to look for, the journey was simple. It took her less than five minutes to find the white pearl at the bottom of the lake and she found herself in the Realm Eternal.
Hiccup had briefly explained the finer details of being a Seer to Astrid before they left Alfheim, however most of what he said had to be experienced, not learned. The only warning he had for her was to not linger too long. Get in, get your vision, and leave. Staying for long periods of time was not healthy for the mind.
Astrid glanced around as she appeared in the endless white void again. She had panicked the first time she found herself here, however, now that she knew where here was it was much easier to remain calm. Astrid took a deep breath and focussed on what she wanted to see. It had eaten away at her all day, that brief memory of the man Hiccup called 'father.' She had to know who it was, and she didn't want to ask Hiccup. It would be more than a little awkward when she was trying to mend things with him and Stoick.
Astrid closed her eyes and breathed deeply several more times, trying to will the afterlife to her command. When she opened her eyes, she had to suppress a squeal of excitement. She had succeeded. Standing in front of her, perfectly still, like a statue, was Hiccup. The not-Hiccup was in a fighting stance, holding a long metal blade coated in flame. He looked coiled and ready to strike. Walking over, Astrid gingerly touched the not-Hiccup and let herself be pulled into the vision.
Hiccup prowled forward into the cave, using the light of Inferno to illuminate his path. The flames crackled loudly in the quiet of the air, and Astrid knew that he would lose any element of surprise due to the sword. After several minutes of following Hiccup, Astrid found herself in a large antechamber. She thought it was somewhere on Nidavellir, due to the look of the stone and the ambient temperature. Definitely the realm of the dwarves.
"Very good," a voice said behind her. Hiccup, and Astrid, whirred around to meet the voice.
Hiccup brandished Inferno threateningly. "Who are you?" Hiccup asked confidently.
The man, Astrid realized, was the one Hiccup associated with the word 'father.' Astrid observed the man once more. It was impossible to tell his age, but he held himself in a way that spoke of power. He was lean, yet muscular, but he had a hungry look about him. He had dark circles under his eyes, which were of the same emerald color that Hiccup possessed. Long black hair ran down to his shoulders. He had rounded ears, so he wasn't an elf. All in all, Astrid had no clue who he was.
The man simply grinned maniacally. "I think you know exactly who I am, boy," the man said darkly.
Astrid saw Hiccup swallow his fear as he readied to fight. "I am surprised that the Order would send someone so young to capture me. A human, no less," the man goaded.
Hiccup smirked and began circling the man as the man did the same. He said nothing in response to the taunt. "You are skilled, yes. Your bond is strong, and you are powerful, certainly, both in body, mind, and magic. But, I fear you will not survive me," the man taunted again before beginning their dance.
Before Astrid could realize what had happened, she felt, more than saw, the world around her turn to dust as Hiccup was caught in an illusion. All around him was a horde of poisonous serpents slithering towards him. Astrid instinctively took a step back, towards Hiccup. She lifted her eyes to see what Hiccup would do next, and was surprised when she saw his face contorted in effort. A second later, the illusion shattered, just in time for Hiccup to raise Inferno and block the man's dagger from piercing his heart.
Hiccup grunted as he tried to hold the much physically stronger man off, even armed as he was with only a dagger. He lost the contest of strength and was sent flying bodily, skidding across the stone floor of the antechamber. Hiccup was instantly back on his feet. "Bones, shatter!" he hissed vehemently, letting his anger feul the magic. An invisible wave of magic surged from the tips of Hiccup's fingers and thundered towards the unnamed man.
Astrid watched the man's reaction closely. He had a look of shock on his face, which was wiped away as he leapt into the air to avoid the spell that would have turned him into a boneless pile of flesh.
Hiccup took the opportunity, reaching for his dagger, and hurling it with all his might. Astrid saw the flare of emerald magic that told her he was using enhancement magic. The dagger sailed through the air, making a humming noise, before the man caught it, barehanded. The man smirked and scoffed at the futility of the attack.
Hiccup grinned as he yanked on an invisible string, causing the tip of the dagger to part and spew a thick green smoke that Astrid realize was Zippleback gas. Without speaking, Hiccup ignited the string which caught fire and instantly ignited the gas. The resounding explosion shook the antechamber and sent Hiccup and Astrid to their knees.
Hiccup was on his feet at once, holding Inferno defensively in front of him. He stiffened as he felt a dagger press against the soft flesh of his neck from behind. "You are quite clever, I'll give you that. An endearing quality," the man said with fake cheer.
Astrid gasped, sure that Hiccup was about to be killed. She watched as his eyes widened, then contorted in effort once more, before he surged forward, ignoring the dagger, and sweeping Inferno in an arc to his right. Astrid saw the man holding the dagger disappear in a flash of light before reappearing in front of Hiccup, blocking Inferno with a long dagger, almost like a shortsword. "Ah, I see now why they sent you to capture me. You're an illusion master, just like I am, aren't you?" the man said.
"However, you lack the power and finesse I do. You haven't been properly trained. There is no one in the Order that could teach you the ways of illusions, but even more so… they don't know, do they? Yes, you kept it hidden. I can tell. You must have… volunteered, yes. Quite brave of you," the man continued on.
Hiccup scowled before the veins in his forehead popped from the strain. The man gave him a curious look before Hiccup cast his own illusion. The man smirked and let him cast the spell. Astrid saw the world fall apart once more and be replaced with an endless expanse of darkness that left her with a sickening sense of vertigo. "Oh, very clever. You are quite skilled," the man said as he walked through the darkness like nothing was wrong.
Astrid nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand of pure darkness reached up and grabbed the man's foot. The man looked equally as surprised, but did nothing. Another hand, and then another, shot up and grabbed the man by the feet, and then began dragging him down into the depths. Astrid watched as the man slowly sunk into the depths with a feral grin on his lips. Astrid realized he wanted to see the extend of Hiccup's power.
The man took in a deep breath, out of instinct, before his head was submerged in the darkness. Astrid could see his body flailing underneath, not out of fear though. A moment later, the darkness shattered and Astrid was once again standing in the antechamber. Hiccup was staring wide eyed at the man who still had the same arrogant smirk on his face. In the blink of an eye, the man surged forward, slapped Inferno to the ground, and had Hiccup pinned to the wall by the throat.
Hiccup struggled for a few minutes before realizing the futility of fighting. He stilled, and stared at the man, waiting for his death. Astrid could see the look in his eyes; a tiredness, a desire to rest, to be dismissed from the suffering. It was the look of a man who was ready to die, who wanted to die. It broke her heart.
The man examined Hiccup for a time. "You have suffered, haven't you? You are no stranger to misery, I can see it in your eyes. You have the look of a man who has been betrayed and scorned, yet for what reason…" the man commented quietly as he continued to examine Hiccup.
After a few more minutes he broke into a sad smile. "You are like me. Hated for your gifts, hated for being different. That's it, isn't it?" the unnamed man asked. Astrid saw the light in Hiccup's eyes change. The man caught it. They both knew it was true.
The man released Hiccup. "What are you doing?" Hiccup asked, coughing from having his throat constricted for so long.
"I am offering you the choice I never had. It would be such a waste of power to kill you here, no, better for you to make a choice," the man said cryptically.
"What… choice?" Hiccup asked quietly as he sucked in gasps of air.
"I know what pains you, for they are the same pains I suffer. I, too, was scorned and hated since the moment I was born. I was different. I was not a warrior like my brother, and my father despised me for it. I was a magician, but not a very strong one. I specialized in trickery and deceit, not honorable magicks according to my father. I was, however, gifted at politics, and this frightened my father beyond anything. He thought I would steal his throne. So he hated me, so my family hated me, so my friends hated me, so my people hated me. I was all but an outcast on Asgard," the man said with growing anger.
"And then, I learned the truth. The simple truth. That I was different. My gifts were no less special than my brother's, my talents no less admirable. My parents hated me because I was not theirs by blood, I was adopted out of pity. And then, I learned about the prophecy. That I would be born and bring destruction to all the realms. That was why they hated me, why I could never have friends or a family. All because of the words of some old fool who died millions of years ago," the man said with a hint of irony.
"It is unfortunate for them, then, that they ended up driving me to hold the prophecy fulfilled. If they would turn their backs on me, then I will turn my back on them. I will destroy those who wronged and rule over all the realms, the one true King of all creation. This is my revenge, the fire that keeps the darkness at bay. I see the same darkness in you, threatening to consume you. You are just like me, you just need the fire in your heart lit…" the man continued on.
"I can help you get your revenge. I can give you power, respect, glory, and wealth. I can give you a home, a family where those with gifts are not hated, but held up as the gods that we are. I can teach you how to master your illusion magic, and many others, even forbidden magicks. I can teach you how to kill a man with a mere thought!" the man said zealously.
"Join me," the man offered, holding out his hand to help Hiccup stand. Astrid watched helplessly as she saw the emotions play out on Hiccup's face. Two years of friendship, combined with her soul bond, allowed her to practically hear his thoughts. He was considering it. Although she didn't know who this man was, she knew he wasn't on the side of the light.
Astrid saw the spark in Hiccup's eyes as he made up his mind. The fire of hate that this man wanted to grow took root. It was merely embers now, but in time, it would grow to the controlled furnace that she felt in Hiccup even now. With a small, almost imperceptible grin, Hiccup reached out and took the man's hand.
The man's grin spread from ear to ear. "What is your name, child?" the man asked.
Hiccup blushed and averted his eyes sheepishly. "Hiccup… just Hiccup," he answered.
The man helped Hiccup to his feet and dusted off the rose-red tabard of the Order before placing both his hands on Hiccup's shoulders. "You do not like your name?" the man asked compassionately.
Hiccup shook his head. "No… my… parents meant well, but my… tormentors, turned the name into an insult," he answered, embarrassed.
The man seemed to look into Hiccup's very soul. "You are strong, very strong. In time, you will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. A king among kings. A king has no such need for a name such as 'Hiccup.' No, henceforth you will be known as…"
"Vrangr, son of Loki," the man said, his voice dripping with power as he bestowed Hiccup his new identity.
Astrid bolted upright in bed, sweating profusely. No, no… that can't be! Astrid thought, her mind racing. Her heart was beating so hard Astrid thought it might burst.
Hiccup can't be… he wouldn't! But… Astrid continued, unable to form coherent thought.
"Hatchling!" Stormfly exclaimed, silencing her racing thoughts, "calm yourself!"
"Stormfly… he, he…" Astrid tried explaining, but settled for passing her memories of the vision to her dragon. Stormfly quickly sorted through her memories of the vision. Astrid was sure that if she was outside, she would've been able to hear her clicking her tongue in thought.
"This doesn't mean anything, hatchling. We know nothing else, and we know still less about Loki. I think it is safe to assume, given what happened today, that Hiccup and Loki may still be in contact… but that doesn't mean anything," Stormfly said, trying to calm her rider.
"What am I supposed to do?" Astrid asked dejectedly.
"You do nothing, hatchling. Nothing, until you know for sure. And when you do, you talk to your mate. Figure out the reason why, and make your own judgement. Do not allow rumors and the opinions of others sway you. Make up your own mind," Stormfly instructed sagely.
For some reason, that calmed Astrid. She knew Hiccup had suffered at the hands of Berk, and she felt horrible guilt for standing by and not doing anything, but she also knew that Hiccup wasn't vindictive. He wouldn't be consumed by his hate and vengeance. If, for whatever reason, he really was aligned with Loki, there was a good reason. Astrid just knew it.
Astrid could see the faintest rays of light entering her room through gaps in the wood. It must've been early morn but she knew she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. Sighing, Astrid got up and went through her morning routine.
Hail to the King
Hiccup found Astrid missing when he woke up. Ingrid, Astrid's mother, had informed him that she had gone to the Great Hall early that morning for a small meal. Hiccup thought it odd, but said nothing. The soul bond was tugging at him uncomfortably, trying to get him to find Astrid. He couldn't find any reason not to oblige it, and he was a little hungry himself.
Stopping outside, Hiccup gave Toothless a good scratch. He knew Toothless didn't like being on Berk any more than he did. "What's wrong, Hiccup?" Toothless asked, feeling his rider's unease.
Hiccup smiled sadly. "I don't know. Something feels wrong. I just don't know what, yet," he answered.
Toothless snapped his jaws in annoyance. "Don't worry. If any of these savages dare to harm you…" he threatened menacingly.
"I know, I know. The spawn of lightning and death itself," Hiccup said, biting back a snicker.
Hiccup escaped his dragon's threats and quickly made his way up the hill in the center of the village and into the Great Hall. There were still numerous Vikings present, some who hadn't even left since the celebrations last night, others who were up early and getting ready for the day's work.
Hiccup spotted Astrid sitting in a corner of the room by herself at a small table. Hiccup grabbed a loaf of bread and headed over to join her. He could feel the bond ease itself the closer he got, much to his relief. The bond had its joys, but also its pains. The constant need to be in close proximity with each other quickly became annoying, not to mention, impractical. Especially now that they were back on Berk.
Hiccup sat down in the chair opposite Astrid. "Morning, sleep well?" Hiccup asked politely.
Astrid fidgeted in her seat. Odd, Hiccup thought to himself, making sure not to let his thoughts leak over to Astrid. "As well as I could, I guess. I'm just a little nervous, being back home and all," Astrid answered.
"Don't be. There's no reason to be nervous, this is your home," Hiccup said as he took a bite of bread and began chewing. For whatever reason, that seemed to assuage her fears. Hiccup was glad he had said the right thing.
Hiccup and Astrid spent the day helping out around the village, preparing for Snoggletog, which began tomorrow. Hiccup was secretly looking forward to the day, since it was one of the few times in his childhood when his tormentors had forgotten about him.
It was late that night when Hiccup retired to the Hofferson hall again. Astrid had elected to stay in the village proper and take care of some business which she hadn't shared with him. That was fine, since Hiccup had business of his own to take care of.
"How exactly are we supposed to contact the trappers when you can't stand to be more than fifty feet away from your mate?" Toothless asked grumpily.
"I don't know, I'm working on it. The letter from father specified we should expect to be sent to Midgard and follow orders. When we get the opportunity, which we no doubt will, we can corner their leader and talk to him since Astrid will be busy dealing with the other trappers," Hiccup said, explaining the basics of the plan.
"And if she overhears, or barges in, or picks up the conversation through your bond?" Toothless asked, aware that their mission would be at a great deal of risk with Astrid tagging along.
"Look, I've tried, alright. I can't ignore the bond. It's too powerful. There is nothing I can do to get away from her for the amount of time we would need," Hiccup explained, for the seventh time during their discussion.
Toothless rolled his eyes. "You're aware that she will hate you if you she finds out, right?" he quipped.
Toothless realized what he said a moment too late. "Hiccup, I didn't-" Toothless began to say.
"Of course I know!" Hiccup snapped in response, "it is my greatest fear. I don't think I could go back to the way everything was without her."
"You know I didn't mean it that way," Toothless apologized sheepishly.
"I know," Hiccup said. He was stopped from saying anything more by Astrid arriving. Not wanting to explain why he was still outside, Hiccup quickly dashed upstairs and into his room.
Hail to the King
Astrid arrived at her home much later than she had expected. She had decided to find Hiccup a Snoggletog gift, and hadn't managed to think of a single thing. Fisker, Fishleg's father, of course, was more than happy to let Astrid peruse his wares. His shop had at least tripled in size since she had last been there, shortly before leaving Berk. In the end, Astrid couldn't settle for just one thing. She had several ideas for small gifts, things Hiccup could carry with him since they were always travelling.
In the end, she decided on two gifts. The first, a beautiful ivory comb that was stylized in the form of a dragon. Astrid would enchant it later to be the same emerald green color that Hiccup's eyes were. The second was a small leatherbound journal that was a heirloom of the family. It was made of a black dragonleather with gold bindings on the corners of the cover and down the spine. She had decided to perform a bit of experimental magic on it, and if everything worked, she thought it would be quite the gift.
Astrid trudged up the stairs and noticed that Hiccup was already in his room. She could feel his presence through their soul bond. She decided not to disturb him and went to her own room. Astrid had made up her mind earlier in the day that she would spend tonight trying to see visions of Hiccup's past. With any luck, she would be able to wrestle her thoughts under control after she knew the full story. She hadn't missed the way Hiccup had been eying her the whole day, she knew he knew something was wrong. He just didn't know what.
Astrid laid down and closed her eyes. This was the third time she would make her way to the Realm Eternal. It was almost second nature now. It only took a few moments until she was once again standing in the endless white void. With a deep breath, Astrid willed another vision about Hiccup and the man, who she now knew to be Loki.
Another not-Hiccup materialized in front of Astrid. He was holding a sword, not Inferno, but a plain metal sword. His body was low, in a fighting stance, one she knew intimately. She approached and placed her palm on Hiccup's cheek, and was drawn into another vision.
The first thing Astrid noticed was that Hiccup was shirtless. With a great deal of effort, she managed to move her eyes to examine her surroundings. She was in some sort of large building, almost like a coliseum, made of dark gray stone. In the center of the coliseum, Hiccup and Loki were engaged in a fierce spar. The both of them were holding what appeared to be training swords, dull and heavier than normal to build muscle.
"No, no. You have to be tenser. Like a snake, coiled and ready to strike. By the time your enemy realizes you've attacked, their head should be separated from their shoulders," Loki chided, slapping Hiccup in the stomach with the flat of the training sword.
"Again!" Loki barked. Hiccup lowered his center of gravity and assumed the stance, tensing his body and preparing to strike. Astrid knew the stance he was practicing well. It had cost her many, many duels. It was designed for speed and precision, not strength. Its sole purpose was to slash the opponent's neck before they could react and either block or dodge. Hiccup erupted into a flurry of motion and launched the attack.
The training sword moved so fast it was simply a blur of steel, leaving a trail of silver behind, a trick of the eye. The tip of Hiccup's training sword only just barely avoided clipping Loki's neck as he took a single step backwards in an unnaturally fast motion. "Good, good. You're getting the hang of this," Loki commented.
Hiccup smiled genuinely at the praise. "Thank you, Master," he said, bowing his head slightly in respect.
Loki struck suddenly, sweeping Hiccup's feet out from under him. "Never show your opponent respect, Vrangr. There is no such thing as a fair or honorable fight. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, you've already lost. And you know how much I hate being called 'Master'. You're not a thrall. I understand if you're uncomfortable calling me 'father', but I am not your master," Loki chided.
"Yes… father. It's just… odd," Hiccup said as he got to his feet again, "I've never had a father figure before."
Loki smiled sadly. "Neither did I," he said.
Unbidden, the two of them launched into a fierce dance of blades. Sparks erupted from each clash of their swords and Astrid felt the vision begin to fade. She felt a lump in her throat at Hiccup's confession about not having a father figure. She knew Stoick wasn't the best father, but surely he had tried?
Astrid found herself back in the Realm Eternal. Calming herself, she once again tried to conjure up another vision. Another not-Hiccup appeared, this time lounging on an invisible surface, his hands holding a book. She reached out and touched him again, and found herself in another vision.
Hiccup was seated at a desk. From the looks of the surroundings, Astrid guessed it was a library. Quite an impressive one at that. Seating opposite of Hiccup at the same desk was Loki.
"You see, Vrangr, the lower races are incapable of governing themselves. You need only look at their politics to see that they need a strong ruler to control them, lest they descend into chaos. It is only natural that we, the chosen, should be kings. People don't want freedom; they want control, rules, and protection, not just from their enemies, but from themselves. They need a ruler who can give them both the support, and more importantly, the constraints, to keep their insignificant lives safe from the chaos that threatens to consume this world," Loki lectured.
"We are gods compared to them, and it is their natural place in the universe to be on their knees, worshipping us. And, in return, we will keep them under our protection, but more importantly, our control. The Aesir, arrogant and destructive, believing themselves the rightful rulers of the universe. The elves, flippant and free spirited, uncaring about the other realms. The dwarves, greedy; obsessed with gold and gems, and powerless without magic of their own. The other races have their flaws too, but they recognize that their place is beneath us and submit to us willingly," Loki continued on.
Astrid realized this was some sort of lesson on politics. Despite how sickening Loki's theories were, she kept listening. If she tuned out now, she might miss something important. "That is our revenge, Vrangr. That is why I did not let you return to Midgard to lay waste to Berk," Loki said.
Astrid snapped to attention at his words. Hiccup had wanted to destroy Berk? Astrid thought with disbelief.
"No, our vengeance will be both absolute and eternal. You will rule over all of Midgard, and then you can make them suffer for the rest of their short, pathetic lives for what they did to you in your childhood," Loki said gleefully.
Astrid felt sick at how Loki was poisoning Hiccup's mind. She could only pray he didn't fall for the lies. The vision faded as quickly as it came as Loki began lecturing Hiccup about the intricacies of Aesir politics, specifically how the senate worked and how it was corrupt and a travesty to continue ruling the poor citizens. The last words she heard were how Loki planned to destroy the senate building and set free the citizens from its tyranny.
Astrid was back in the Realm Eternal once again. She took a few minutes to settle her tumultuous emotions and thoughts. When she was sure she could handle another vision, she once more willed another one into existence. It was easier after every one. Another not-Hiccup appeared, this time lounging in a relaxed position, holding another book. It was a pose she had seen him assume many times in the library on Alfheim. Another casual touch, and she was dragged into another vision.
Hiccup was lounging on a long, comfortable looking couch. It was made of a dark red wood and ornately carved, with intricate designs etched into the legs. The cushions were made of a leafy green silk and looked quite comfortable. It must have been expensive. Looking around, Astrid found herself in a room. Not just any room, but what appeared to be… Hiccup's room. It was large, several thousand feet of space. He had tall bookshelves filled to the brim with books whose titles Astrid had never heard of. A large map detailed all of the nine realms was hung on the wall. In the corner was desk with countless papers, detailed sketches, theories on magic, designs for weapons, littering its surface and stuck on the walls. It reminded Astrid of the room in the forge on Berk.
A large bed, which could easily sleep ten people, was on the far wall opposite the door. It was made in much the same fashion as the couch, and was decorated in colors of green, emerald, and silver. Behind where Hiccup was seated, on the wall, were countless weapons hanging. To the side was another large desk, upon which a large cauldron was brewing a bubbling black potion. Hiccup flipped to the next page of the book, his face contorted in concentration.
A knock at the door drew both Hiccup's and Astrid's attention. A beautiful elven woman walked in, carrying a tray with a pot of tea on it. She looked odd, though, different from normal elves. Her skin was a dark gray color, and the whites of her eyes were black. Her hair was snow white, although she looked to be young and in the prime of her life. Astrid realized that this woman was not an elf, but a dark elf. "Your tea, m-my god," the woman stuttered out as she placed the meal on a long table that was in front of the couch.
Hiccup didn't look up from his book but simply flicked his hand, dismissing the woman. Just as the woman was about to open the door, it opened again and a large, tall man walked in, bumping into the woman. Astrid recognized him at once. It was the same man she had seen in her first vision, crying above the dying not-Hiccup. Now that she had a better look at him, he seemed even more impressive. He had to be at least nine feet tall, perhaps even ten. She had underestimated the first time. He was broad shouldered and barrel chested, not a lick of fat on his entire body. He seemed to be wearing an armor of muscle. He was, without a doubt, the finest specimen of human physique she had seen. Long black hair ran down to his shoulders, and a well maintained beard obscured his face. His eyes, like last time, captivated Astrid. They were a fierce bestial yellow color, almost like a dragon, but not quite.
The woman stared wide eyed with fear at the man before he did something that made Astrid's eyes bulge. His right arm seemed to become… hairy. A thick black fur coated his right forearm, extending from his elbow to his hand. When the fur reached his hand, Astrid heard bones cracking as his hand was changed to the form of a paw. Where there had been five fingers, there were now five claws, each at least a foot long. With a casual swipe, he eviscerated the dark elf woman, sending a spray of blood back at Astrid.
Astrid was thankful that this was a vision and she didn't get drenched in gore. The man's arm reverted back to normal. "Hey, pup!" the man greeted cheerfully, as if he had not just killed some poor woman in cold blood.
Hiccup looked up from his book at the man, and then glanced over at the dead dark elf. "You know how much father hates when you kill the thralls, Fenrir!" Hiccup chided.
Astrid looked sick. Fenrir? Fenrir as in the wolf who was prophesied to devour Odin at Ragnarok? she thought to herself.
Fenrir pouted, something Astrid never thought she would see him do. "Relax, pup. I'll talk to father and clean up the mess. She looks tasty anyway," Fenrir said, smiling and revealing pointed pearly white teeth.
"And besides! We're supposed to be celebrating, why are you cooped up in here?" Fenrir said as he sat down on what she assumed was Hiccup's bed. The head of the bed lifted off the floor due to Fenrir's weight.
Hiccup sighed. "Brewing the poison that we'll use for our next mission, brother, remember?" Hiccup asked.
Fenrir looked sad at this. "Can't we do it without poison? I can't eat if they're all poisoned. They taste bad," the wolf said.
Hiccup rolled his eyes. "I am confident you'll find your own meals, as you always do when we go out on missions," he replied sarcastically.
Fenrir barked in laughter. "You know me too well, pup!" he exclaimed, "Come on, father wants us all upstairs for dinner! He has prepared a royal feast in celebration of you becoming a master of the Order!"
Hiccup smirked, marked the page he was on in his book, and stood. He flicked his hand, adjusting the fire that was boiling the poison in the cauldron before making for the door. Fenrir patted Hiccup on the back enthusiastically. Astrid was a little shocked to see that his hand was almost as large as Hiccup's back was wide.
Astrid spared one last glance at the dead dark elf and followed Hiccup and Fenrir out of the room and into the hallway. "Remember! I want her gone and the floor cleaned when I get back. Put the body in Fenrir's room. If I find one drop of blood, you'll join her," she heard Hiccup yell. A moment later, two more dark elves rushed passed her and into Hiccup's room.
Astrid jogged to catch up with Hiccup and Fenrir. She heard the wolf bark in laughter again. "You have a way with the thralls, pup! A natural born ruler," Fenrir said.
Hiccup chuckled. "So do you. Your way just ends up with them in your belly. You'll be the most feared king all the realms," he replied. Fenrir chuckled at that as they came to a stop next to two large wooden doors.
Astrid quickly stepped inside after them. A long table, which must have been a hundred feet long, took up the center of the room. It was made of solid gold and adorned with emeralds. It would have made the dwarves quite jealous, Astrid thought. Despite the enormity of the table, only five people were seated. At the head of the table was, of course, Loki, who was drinking from a glass of wine. At the far end of the table was a woman who Astrid couldn't see properly. In the middle was a man Astrid didn't recognize. He looked plain, with short black hair and vibrant green eyes, not at all like the emerald color that Hiccup and Loki possessed.
Hiccup and Fenrir sat opposite of each other at the table, some feet away from Loki. "Ah, Vrangr, I had begun to think you weren't hungry," Loki said politely.
Fenrir laughed. "He was busy preparing for our next mission. You know how he gets when he's lost in his books," the wolf stated.
Loki chuckled. "Yes, quite like me in that regard I am afraid," he commented. "A toast, to Vrangr, for proving to the senile old fools of the Order that he is the most powerful of them all!"
The four occupants of the table applauded and Hiccup blushed. Astrid watched as more thralls brought out food. In the end, the entire table was covered. All one hundred feet of it. Astrid felt the vision begin to fade, but she struggled to hold onto it to no avail.
Astrid opened her eyes and found herself in the Realm Eternal with a thundering headache. It felt like she had just taken a blast from a Thunderdrum. Astrid knew that she had spent too much time in the afterlife and was approaching her limit. Rather than risking her soul, she wisely decided to leave. She could always try again tomorrow night.
Astrid opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling of her room. She couldn't see any light outside, and assumed it was still sometime in the dead of night. She could, however, tell that several hours had passed since her body ached from laying still for so long.
Sighing deeply, Astrid got up. She wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, again. Maybe she would skip the visions tomorrow night, just to get some rest. "What did you see, hatchling?" Stormfly asked, sensing her rider returning from to consciousness. Astrid passed her the memories of the visions.
"Interesting, interesting…" Stormfly cooed, "yet it proves nothing. Yes, he cared little for that dark elf, but he was not cruel to them. I doubt he intended on carrying out the threats against the two who had to dispose of their brethren."
Astrid nodded, more to convince herself than to agree with Stormfly. Astrid sighed again, stood, and fetched her gifts for Hiccup. Snoggletog morning was tomorrow, and she wanted to have his gifts ready in case they found a private moment with each other. Astrid pulled out a small table that was next to her bed and used it as a desk. She placed the ivory comb on it and began to chant spells. Spells to strengthen the comb, so it wouldn't break from the rigors of dragon riding. Spells to color it to the emerald color of Hiccup's eyes, which took several attempts to get right. She put several other enchantments on it as well, such as making the teeth of the comb unbreakable, as well as making them attract any specks of dirt. Astrid spent nearly an hour on the next enchantment, making the combo impart a pleasing pine smell to the hair that it brushed.
Satisfied with her work, Astrid moved the comb aside and set her family's journal on the desk next. The enchantment she wanted to weave was a piece of magic that did not exist, as far as she knew, and she assumed it didn't since if it did, every book would be written like that. She wanted to bewitch the journal to absorb the ink of whatever was written in it, and then fade to nothing. The writer could then speak to the journal, request to see what was written, and the journal would provide it.
It was rather ingenious, if it worked, and then Hiccup wouldn't have to carry around several tens of pounds of books with him whenever he travelled. Astrid smirked and concentrated on forming the spell. Nearly five hours later, she succeeded.
Hail to the King
Astrid had fallen asleep, her head resting on the desk with the finished journal being used as a pillow, when her mother burst into the room. Astrid snapped to attention, knocking over the desk, and drawing one of her throwing axes and aiming at the door. Hiccup's training was nothing if not effective. "Mother!" Astrid hissed, lowering her axe, "what are you doing?"
"It's Snoggletog! Why wouldn't I come and wake up my daughter!" Ingrid exclaimed before pulling Astrid into a hug.
"Maybe because you almost just caught my throwing axe with your skull," Astrid said as she returned her mother's hug.
Ingrid smiled as she saw the journal. "Is that for Hiccup?" she asked knowingly.
Astrid blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about," she answered evenly.
Ingrid smirked. "Don't lie to me, daughter, I'm not blind. I see the looks you two give each other. Tell me every little detail," Astrid's mother said, sitting down on the bed.
Astrid sighed, sat down, and blushed again. "Alright, fine. We do have something going on," Astrid said, a little excited to be having such a familiar conversation with her mother. They often talked about boys before Astrid left, although back then it was mostly about how stupid they were.
"More than master and apprentice?" Ingrid questioned, just to make sure, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Astrid hissed. She knew her mother was just trying to get a rise out of her.
Ingrid grinned and hugged her daughter again. "I knew it! Your father owes me a ten gold coins," Ingrid said gleefully.
"You… you two bet on me!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Oh, of course dear. We placed our bets the moment you two left the island. I, of course, knew you and the Haddock boy would end up together. You two were smitten with each other the moment he came back, you just didn't know it at the time," Ingrid said proudly.
Astrid grumbled. "Don't be upset dear, come on, tell me everything. Should I expect grandchildren soon?" Ingrid asked.
"What! No!" Astrid screeched, her face bright red.
"Just asking," Ingrid said placatingly, "so, how did it happen?"
Astrid sighed, struggling to figure out a cover story. She opted to tell a half truth. "We were at a celebration on Alfheim dancing. We were all sort of inebriated and at the end of the night I told him how I felt and he told me he felt the same," Astrid said.
After all, it wasn't far from the truth. Thinking back, knowing what she did now, Stormfly was right. Hiccup had wanted to tell her he felt the same, she knew he did, but he couldn't. Because he was the adopted son of the greatest evil to plague the realms since Ymir. Astrid had to remind herself that she didn't know if Loki was evil. The stories were just that, stories. She had to find out for herself. That is why she was pushing herself beyond her limits in the Realm Eternal.
"Oh, how romantic! Your father is quite the dancer himself," Ingrid said excitedly, "when is the wedding?"
Astrid blanched. "Err, there… isn't one. Not yet, anyway," Astrid answered. She herself wasn't sure how to broach that topic with Hiccup. Sigrid's words caused her no small amount of stress. She had spent quite a bit of time, in secret, of course, researching elven marriage traditions.
Ingrid seemed to bristle at her answer. "Well, we'll have to work him over while he's here. After all, he is our son-in-law now!" her mother said.
"Come on then, breakfast is waiting. We can exchange gifts after we finish eating," Ingrid said, gesturing for Astrid to follow her.
The two women came to Hiccup's room. In much the similar fashion, Ingrid burst into the room loudly. She got the same reaction. Hiccup bolted upright in bed, flipped into a crouch, and had a bolt of emerald lightning crackling at his fingertips, all in under a second. Astrid smirked as Hiccup let out a long stream of curses in elvish. Ingrid just laughed. "Come on lad, breakfast is waiting," she said before turning and leaving. Astrid's eyes lingered on Hiccup a bit longer before she followed her mother downstairs.
Astrid sat down at the table, her gifts placed to the side. Her father, Bjorn, was already seated and sipping on hot tea. Hagen, Volf, and Olaf were all present as well, even Hagen's wife-to-be, Vigdis, was joining them. Astrid liked Vigdis and thought the two of them would be a good match. Hiccup came down a moment later, looking very tired, with two packages in his hands, which he set aside as well. Ingrid began placing a small feast on the table, consisting of berries, sweet rolls, and a large meat pie. The sweet rolls were quickly devoured, as treats were rare on Berk. Bjorn explained that Fisker was attempting to import more sugar, as he would make a hefty profit on it, but was unable to secure any shipments as of yet.
When the Hoffersons finished eating, Ingrid looked expectantly between Hiccup and Astrid, a devious smirk on her face. The looks did not go unnoticed by Hiccup. Did… did you tell your mother about us? Hiccup asked through their soul bond, his tone slightly worried.
I… might have... mentioned it. If anyone asks, you returned my feelings after I confessed to you in the woods. That's our story, and we're sticking to it, Astrid said.
Hiccup groaned as he ate one of the berries. Why? You know she will gossip the first chance she gets! We'll never hear the end of it until we leave, and then they'll gossip until we come back, he said, lamenting their fate.
Astrid seemed to stiffen, remembering that her mother was one of the village gossips. I'll set her straight. She won't say a word, Astrid said, reassuring herself more than Hiccup.
"Well come on you two, I want to see what you've gotten for each other!" Ingrid said, gesturing for them to fetch the gifts they had brought down with them.
Astrid retrieved the comb and journal, while Hiccup got his two packages. They both blushed, seeing the entire family watching them. Astrid shook her head as her father reached into his pocket, withdrew ten gold coins, and passed them to her mother. We should have died fighting the Nidhogg, Hiccup commented sarcastically. Astrid agreed at that moment.
Astrid presented her gifts to Hiccup, explaining each item's enchantments. Hiccup was fascinated with the journal and ran upstairs to fetch a quill before penning in some information. He watched with fascination as the ink disappeared, and then at his call, was summoned back. "This is amazing! Thank you," Hiccup said, sharing his feelings with Astrid through their soul bond. She could tell he was genuinely happy about the gifts he had received.
Hiccup's turn was next. He handed Astrid the first package, but kept the second. Astrid was curious, but opened her gift nonetheless. What she had received was several thick journals, all filled to the brim with writing in a language she didn't understand. At her lost look, Hiccup explained. "Since you're a Seer now, you should be able to learn the language of the birds. It's a mystical language, only capable of being spoken by Seers and, well, birds. If you ever give a prophecy, you'll need to know the language. It's also unique in that there are several spells you can learn that help enhance and focus your Sight. These are my personal journals on the language that I've compiled over the years. Since being a Seer is so rare, there really isn't much formal training, so it's mainly just what you can figure out for yourself," Hiccup said, explaining the journals.
The Hoffersons looked lost, but Astrid was excited. She loved how Hiccup always had something new she could learn, and it just so happened that it could help her with her current project. "This is incredible! You'll help me learn, right?" Astrid asked, letting her excitement pass to Hiccup through their soul bond.
Hiccup smiled, glad she liked the gift. "Of course," he answered immediately. It wasn't even a question.
Astrid flipped through the first journal, looking at all the strange characters that made up the language of the birds. She could feel the meaning behind each, but didn't know what they actually meant. She was drawn from her thoughts as Hiccup placed the second gift in front of her, on the table.
It was a leather bag, sealed with a drawstring. It looked well made, and was obviously meant as part of the gift. Astrid touched the drawstring and felt lightning arc up her arm. She raised an eyebrow in question to Hiccup, who gestured for her to keep going. Astrid opened the bag and gasped. Sitting inside was a very distinct rose colored fabric.
Astrid immediately stood and drew the tabard of the Order out. It was blank, but Astrid knew she could add her own crest at any time. "Congratulations," Hiccup said with a wide smile on his face.
All of Astrid's worries were forgotten as she tried on the tabard. The Hoffersons were thoroughly confused as Astrid attempted to explain what her second gift actually meant. She was a knight, officially.
The rest of the family exchanged their gifts after Astrid settled down. Hiccup had surprised Astrid by getting small things for the rest of her family. A set of knives that never dulled for Ingrid to cook with, farming tools that never broke for Bjorn, a set of riding leathers for Hagen, and a journal detailing the best way to tame a Zippleback for Volf and Olaf. Astrid knew the twins wanted to be riders too, and she knew that twins were historically riders of Zippleback dragons. He didn't have a gift for Vigdis, and neither did Astrid, for that matter, since neither knew she had joined the family. Astrid's fondness for the girl increased when she said it didn't matter. The true gift of Snoggletog was to be together, not what worldly belongings we received.
All in all, it was the best Snoggletog morning Hiccup and Astrid had ever had.
Hail to the King
A/N:
Hey guys! So I decided to take a break and bust out a chapter due to the false alarm yesterday. Sorry about that. For those that didn't catch the old chapter 21 (not this chapter) it was an experimental chapter that was in the style of a first person journal entry written by Hiccup. I was hesitant to publish the chapter, and warned everyone I may possible delete it based on feedback. Enough people agreed with me that the chapter didn't feel the writing style of HttK so I removed the chapter.
Anyway, more fanart! A special thanks to KeGzZ and her friend for the wonderful piece detailing the soul bond of Hiccup and Astrid. You can find it on my Tumblr account, which is linked on my profile. The artists have requested feedback on their work, so if you have a Tumblr account, go let them know how they did.
So, this chapter Astrid finally starts putting together the mystery that is Hiccup's past. We also saw the introduction of one of my personal favorite characters in this story, Fenrir. Loki's other children will make appearances as well throughout the story. Props to those who guessed that right a few chapters back.
We saw Astrid knighted at the end! She is no longer an apprentice, so like Hiccup and Agvior, she no longer has a master. For those of you who have forgotten the ranks, since it has been ages since they've been mentioned, they are: apprentice, knight, master, captain, commander, elder, grandmaster.
The language of the birds is a "real" language, as in its theorized to have existed in real life, that was said to be the language of wise men who could divine the future. There are many instances in Norse mythology of characters being able to speak to the birds, such as Odin, Dag the Wise, and Sigurd. In HttK, it is the language of the Seers. It is also why, at least partially, Hiccup's familiar spirit is the raven.
I'm looking for a beta reader, or perhaps someone who would just be willing to let me bounce ideas off them. If you'd like to volunteer, let me know.
As a reminder, speech like this indicates thoughts shared between Hiccup and Astrid. "Speech like this" indicates telepathic communication between riders and their dragons, or by other means.
As always, a special thanks to my awesome reviewers. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter,
- Musica