Righty, this chapter I remember being very yes no about it and to be honest I still am. It is not how I ever originally intended on 'this' happening, thinking it is out of character of both Elsa and Hiccup, but then I like the laid back feel of it and their reasonings. The trip south was always supposed to be the catalyst for development between them and this just kicks things off.

RR

CajunBear73: Yes, Hiccup is not going to play ball like how they expect, but Elsa is still very vulnerable to their politics. So, sometimes compromises must be made. Cheers for the review.

DragonDave45 If anything it has just massively sped things up, for the better for Hiccup and Elsa. Thanks

Checkingdude: Yes it does. Cheers

: Wow, thanks for the high praise, I'm not really sure how to reply other than saying thanks for sticking around through the ups and downs of this! Cheers again.

Killernooch: I'm developing them, but I'm not sure to make them an actual enemy or leave them as a 'threat' in the background since this story has already had one war.

Warorpeace: I think we will see something unexpected. Cheers.

OechsnerC: Thanks!

IAmOutOfIdeas: Cheers for the review. I guess however many reports I've been forced to write in the year away has done me some good. As for the rules regarding review responses, life would be boring without a little mischief every now and then, but thanks for the heads up. I'll take the consequences if I ever get picked up for it.

/.../

Hiccup awakes with a startle and immediately grabs the servant awakening him by the neck with one hand, as he does this his other hand searches for his knife, and thankfully, it fails to find a weapon of any kind.

After a few moments Hiccup realises where he is and what he is doing, enough so that he lets the servant go, she will have nasty red marking around her neck for the next few days. Pulling a hand down his face he says, "I'm sorry about that."

"Your Highness?" The servant says quietly, numbed and shaking at what just happened.

Hiccup swings his legs over the bed and picks up a glass of water, "I don't wake well." He tells her before drinking the cup and saying, "It is a nasty habit that has formed over the last few years." Most now wake Hiccup if needed by shaking his leg, shaking him by the shoulder allows him to do what he just did to the servant. "And I would advise you tell your friends to not wake me through contact." The servant nods enthusiastically, "Now, is there anything else?"

"Yes," By now the servant is holding her neck which will be hurting, "Breakfast is to be served imminently."

Hiccup nods before standing from the bed and finding a shirt to pull on, and the servant watches as he does so, shocked at the amount of scarring and wounds he has collected in his life, "Tell whoever you need to tell I will be down shortly," Hiccup tells her before adding, "And take the rest of the day off to see to your neck, I'll make sure whoever needs to be told is told."

Arriving at the breakfast table ten minutes later Hiccup plonks himself down in a chair as Elsa asks, "Is it true?"

"About the servant?" Hiccup asks before nodding, "Yeah, I've done it to a few people over the last year, I just wake up thinking I'm in the middle of a fight." Hiccup takes a second to breathe out some frustration. "I hope you don't mind but I told her to take the day off to see to her neck."

"I have heard of similar stories among the Vikings on Berk," Idunn chips in offering her own insight, "Many say it has come from seeing the worst of battles."

"That is what most put it down to," Hiccup agrees.

"And how is it cured?" Elsa asks with concern.

Hiccup breathes out before telling her, "Time. Time away from conflict and time to reflect on what happened."

"How much time," The Queen asks.

The Viking does not know, "It differs from person to person, on what they have seen, what they have done, and their own mentality. I can not say for myself."

"Then you will see my physician," Elsa tells him as she puts down some bread she is buttering, "And see if he has any insight."

Hiccup shakes his head, "Has your physician slain men by the dozens? Unless he knows battle intimately I would rather not burden him with my acts." It is easier to talk about cutting men in twain with another who understands the horrors of war.

The table eats quietly for a few minutes till Idunn says, "What of retired Captain Chandler?"

Hiccup sighs, "I appreciate your concern," He says, "But this is not something I want to burden someone else with."

Elsa narrows her eyes at him before agreeing to drop the subject, "We will talk about this later," She informs him, not wanting to let the subject drop so easily considering he has unintentionally hurt one of her servants.

The Viking breaths out in annoyance before reluctantly agreeing, "Very well. So, what are peoples plans for today?"

"Court this morning to solve disputes," Elsa tells him, "It is not something I can reschedule, unfortunately."

"Lessons with Luke," Idunn then adds.

Hiccup nods as he realises he has a free morning, "Then I am going to explore a bit. You will probably find me by the docks if you need me."

/.../

One of the biggest changes Hiccup has seen regarding himself in the last four years or so is his levels of fitness and strength have drastically increased. He may still not be as strong or bulky as the average Viking, but he is by no means small, and this is with thanks to his training regime.

With news of the morning being free of events for himself Hiccup makes his way to the palace's gym, and while it is well stocked, he dislikes it, it has too much order and equipment, unusually, for fitness he likes the basic things which are also functional, examples being cutting logs into firewood with an axe, simulated casualty drags, skull crushes, and carrying heavy buckets of water .

Picking up a few supplies from the palace, Hiccup ties some rope around his waist, then picks his spear up in one hand while also picking up an axe in the other hand, then with a light jog he makes his way down to the beach, where he finds a heavy stone of roughly 30kg, a second at roughly 15kg, five lighter rocks at 10kg each, and a fallen tree. It is not much, but with some imagination and a little ingenuity, lots can be made from little.

After approximately an hour and a half of working, between lifting the rocks in different ways, throwing others, cutting logs, splintering the cut up logs into firewood, sprints up and down the beach, and finishing with a swim which also acts as a bath to wash all the sweat and dirt off, Hiccup ties up all the logs he cut into firewood and takes it to the local market place to sell, he doesn't get much for the wood but its enough to pay for a second breakfast, a bacon butty and a pint of milk.

As Hiccup sits on a wall to eat his food he hears a familiar voice call to him, "Chief Hiccup!"

Hearing the voice Hiccups smiles before turning his body to view its source, "Eric." He replies after swallowing some bacon down. "How are you?"

The Blacksmith walks up to him and pats him on the arm, "Fine, as for yourself, your looking fit. I saw that show on the beach, looked tiring."

Hiccup shrugs, "Have to keep myself fit somehow. Hows the wife?"

"Got divorced," Eric tells him as he sits by Hiccups side, "Apparently I love visiting the local establishment too much." The local establishment, in this case, is the local pub.

"Sorry to hear it," Hiccup tells him, "But I know plenty of Vikings that you would get along with like a house on fire."

"Well, send them my way," He tells Hiccup before asking him, "So, how long you here for this time?"

Hiccup shrugs, "Not sure, but hopefully not long. I intend on travelling south."

"Ah yes," The blacksmith says, "I vaguely remember you saying something about that. Hows your dragon?"

"Toothless is well," Hiccup tells him, "Also, am I dressed funny or something? A lot of people have been staring at me for the last few hours."

The blacksmith chuckles a little, "Well, your THE Viking. Like it or not, people know your face now, they know you have a dragon, and they know you're the King of the Barbaric North. To be out in the public like you are, no guards, no fancy clothes or pockets bulging with gold, your acting a little odd to them, and different from what they expect of royalty. Also, there is the fact you have a metal foot."

"Sure do have a metal foot and I hate that idea of it being due to royalty," Hiccup tells Eric after the blacksmith stops speaking, "I am just another man. Besides, Heather is running the north now, not me."

"Abdicated? And they don't know that, all they see is someone whose royalty and a damn mental case for riding a dragon."

"Trying to abdicate." Hiccup replies, "But it's harder done than said." Noticing a familiar looking bruise on the thumb of the blacksmith's left-hand Hiccup motions to it with a nod of his head, "Hammer strike?"

It takes the blacksmith a moment to figure out what is being asked before nodding, "Yeah, didn't bloody half hurt, I was hopping around and squealing for what felt like days."

"Done it my fair share too," Hiccup laughs, "And I know the pain, makes grown men cry."

"Trust me, lad," Eric says, "No matter how old you, or experience you have, you always hit it from time to time."

"Oh, I know." Hiccup tells him, "The only person who doesn't is Gobber, and that's because the man has no fingers left to bash in his holding hand."

"Yes, I remember his lack of an arm, still amazes me how he does his job, and how is that old mule doing?"

"Still bumbling around like he owns the place." Hiccup tells him with fond memories of Gobber running Berk in his and Snotlouts absence.

"Well, tell him I'm asking after him," The blacksmith says before adding, "So, I'll stop beating around the bush, what brings you back to Arendelle?"

"Staging ground before I head further south," Hiccup tells him while also omitting the real reason he is here, "I need to make a few things, prep the dragons, and get a plan of action up here." Hiccup taps his left temple.

"Alright," The man nods along, "What you need making?"

"A saddle," Hiccup tells the blacksmith, "A few pieces of equipment for dragons and two flight suits. One black, the other white."

Eric nods along as he holds a hand to his chin, "Well, should be easy enough to make. Need a reliable blacksmith to make anything?" The chief almost laughs at this comment, oh what Eric does not know about making saddles and flight suits for dragons.

"A good blacksmith wouldn't go amiss," Hiccup nods, "Know anyone I could ask?"

/.../

Elsa rubs her eyes in a massaging pattern, glad that this is the last case of the day, before removing her hand and looking at the two men before her, she considers them for a moment before saying, "The land by rights belong to Mr Grouse, there is nothing more to be said." After dismissing the two men Elsa stands from her chair and walks through the courtroom where one of her council members joins her, matching her step for step.

"Your grace, we must talk."

"Then talk, Sir Gronie," She tells him.

The council member looks around before telling her, "In private."

Elsa sighs in frustration before nodding and taking him to her study. Sitting down in her chair she invites the council member to sit in the chair opposite her own, "Now, what can I do for you?" She asks.

The council member folds his hands onto his lap before saying to her, "I have heard whispers, your majesty, whispers you should know of."

Elsa suppresses a sigh, she cannot be hassled with this right now, but if her council member is bringing it to her, then it should be important enough for her to give it her full attention, "And what are these whispers speaking of?"

"As you know, there is discontent in the council regarding your... status. I have heard whispers, some are posed to proposition the Viking."

Elsa raises a hand back to her eyes and rubs again before lowering her hand and saying, "And who would be whispering this?"

"It is merely what a servant has spoken of."

Elsa taps the table in front of her a few times before telling the council member, "Bring this servant before me."

Shortly, a small boy no older than 10 is brought before her, the boy shaking at the knees, afraid of being brought in front of his Queen. "Please sit," Elsa tells the boy while eyeing the council member. The boy does as commanded. "Tell me," Elsa says, "I do not recognise you, so I ask, who are you?"

It turns out the servant is a new hire, barely a few days into the job, and he had overheard a conversation when he was cleaning the stables. Unfortunately, the boy with being so new to the palace failed to recognise the voices talking and only knew from their clothes that they were of high calibre. He could describe features of those talking, but that could have been any number of people in her council. Ultimately, Elsa gained nothing but suspicions from the meeting, but it is enough to worry her of her councils intent.

/.../

Ten minutes later Elsa is sat in her study, looking out and onto the docks through the large glass window. Hearing a knock on her studies door Elsa turns her head to see a servant walk in pushing a trolley, on the trolley there is a pot, containing tea if the smell isn't deceptive, and a small assortment of cheese. "Lady Gerda." Elsa greets the servant.

"Your Highness," The servant replies with chirp, "Tea and an assortment of cheese. Lord Gronie said you may be needing it." Elsa turns her chair around and faces the servant who is now placing down a cup and plate on her desk, "And if you don't mind me saying, you look troubled."

Lady Gerda has been one of Elsa's servants for as long as she can remember, and is someone within the palace that the Queen trusts. "You could say that," The Queen replies.

"Not caused by your Viking I hope."

Elsa snorts a little before replying, "Yes and no, it is nothing he has done, rather it is what my council is trying to do with him, and what do you mean by 'your Viking'?."

"Well, he is yours, yes?"

"Not till there are rings involved." The Queen replies, "Legally that is."

Elsa picks up a cup filled with freshly poured tea and blows on the surface of the liquid in an attempt to cool it. After a second or so she puts the mug down and asks, "Say, if something was to happen with myself and Chief Haddock, how do you think the people would take it?"

"The people?" Asks the servant to buy her more time as she thinks, and eventually, she says, "Well, I think there would be issues with him being a pagan, but he is a big man, and a war hero and everyone loves a war hero."

"People love a war hero of their own kin," Elsa says, dismissing the idea.

"That depends on how you pitch it," Gerda says, "In one hand, he is a war hero in the Barbaric North fighting for his people, in the other hand, he is a war hero who stopped the Hordes of the west from reaching Arendelle."

"And keeping dragons out of the wrong hands," Elsa adds, "Yes, that could work. What in your opinion do the people think of him, as a person?"

"As a person? He is no normal person by any means of the word normal. Rides scary dragons, fights his wars with his people, side by side if the stories are to be believed, but, he sits in a public drinking establishment with whoever is in there and walks the streets like any other. The people see him as a royal they can relate too."

"And I am not relatable?"

"In a different way." Gerda says being careful with her words, "Chief Haddock does things the everyday citizen does, making him a human to them. They see his good and his bad, they see he is not afraid of them, and they aren't to be afraid of him."

Elsa takes a moment to think on this before nodding, "Thank you Gerda, you have given me something to think on."

/.../

"No," Hiccup says as he points to a specific spot on a piece of paper, "You design it like that otherwise it causes muscle fatigue, and I can tell you, sometimes you ride for long amounts of time and the last thing you want to be doing is holding that down."

Eric holds a hand to his chin and rubs before taking a gulp of beer and saying, "I see, I see," He says in thought, "This saddle system is nothing like a horses saddle."

Hiccup shrugs, "Well, no surprise there, a dragon isn't a damned demon horse."

"Yes," Eric begins to respond, ignoring Hiccups dislike of horses, "But a saddle system is a..." Both men look up from their table just outside a pub and to the Queen who is approaching. "She looks deep in thought," Eric says aloud, voicing both men's opinions.

"Hmm," Hiccup agrees, "Deep in thought."

After a few more seconds Elsa approaches and a guard pulls a chair out for her so she can sit down at the table, surprising the blacksmith, but not Hiccup. "Deep in thought." Hiccup tells her more than asks.

"Yes." The Queen replies, "For reasons, I will tell you later. Would either of you like another drink, on top of the three you each seem to have already had, and before midday may I add?"

Both men shrug before accepting the invite, and soon Elsa has two beers and a bottle of wine brought to the table. "I did not think you would come to drink here," Hiccup tells her. "I distinctly remember you talking about your council complaining at one time."

Elsa shakes her head, "Usually, I would not, but after this morning, I need it. But less of that, I see you are already thinking of work." She eyes the schematic that still lies on the table between Eric and Hiccup.

"Yes." Hiccup says as he rearranges some empty glasses on the table so the Queen can see the details on the paper, "It is a saddle for a Midget Snow Wraith Thingy, we will need one made and I was asking Eric to give me a hand."

"Surely, it is not too troublesome for you to make?"

"No," Hiccup tells her, even with the skill fade he is bound to have suffered over the last few years due to the war, the skill is not beyond him since after all, he has made every single saddle for Toothless and a few others for his close friends, "But I simply do not want to work on it alone."

Elsa can understand his desire to work with someone, knowing he worked a lot of his time as a blacksmith with his mentor Gobber, "I see, then how long do you anticipate it will take to create a saddle system?"

"Well," Hiccup begins looking to Eric, "I haven't worked with this cow leather, but supposing it is of the same properties as my traditional materials, three or four full days in the forge." Toothless's saddles take an additional week due to the complicated machinery and mechanics required to control the tail-fin.

Just as Hiccup finishes speaking a worker at the establishment brings Eric a large plate with food piled high, and it is evident to all on the table the worker does not know how to react with the Queen sat at the table, but after a few awkward moments, the worker leaves.

Hiccup and Gobber then rearrange the glasses on the table some more so that the plate can be put between them. "Want some?" Hiccup asks looking to the Queen, "We ordered a platter just to share."

Elsa considers the food, it is not 'proper', but it doesn't look half bad, and it smells favourable. "If you would not mind sharing?" Elsa asks.

"Sure," Eric says as he hands her his own plate, but Hiccup stops him and gives her his plate - some Viking traditions such as the chief eating last have not left Hiccup. "I'll grab another plate." He tells the blacksmith, "Just don't eat it all before I get back as Fishlegs would."

"We will wait," Elsa tells him, and when Hiccup has left the table Elsa asks Eric, "Has the chief talked to you at all about his experiences in the war up North?" Since Hiccup has reunited with this blacksmith, in particular, Elsa realises the two have become good friends.

"No," The blacksmith says, "Nothing outside of saying the war is over."

"Then I ask you do not push the subject with him."

"As you wish," The man says, he is sat very stiffly with just himself and the Queen being on the table.

Soon Hiccup has returned with another plate and is sat back down, allowing the trio to dig into their food, and surprisingly the food ain't all too bad.

Not too much later the food is consumed, allowing Hiccup to say, "Right, I have someone you need to meet," He talks to Elsa when saying this, "So, I guess if we are done, I will see you later Eric."

"Sure," The smithy says, "But I'm hitting the drinks tonight with my apprentice if you fancy it?" By this point, Hiccup and Eric have now had 6 pints in a short duration, and the Queen has finished her bottle of wine, all are feeling a little merry.

Hiccup looks to Elsa, expecting her to say something is on, but the Queen surprises him by asking, "When and where?"

This seems to surprise Eric but after quickly getting over himself he gives her the location and time.

/.../

Ten minutes later Hiccup is walking down towards the beach alongside the Queen, "So," Elsa begins to ask as they walk side by side, "Is this person I am to meet a dragon?"

"Yes," Hiccup says before asking her, "So, before you met me and Eric it appeared you were deep in thought. Worth discussing or not?"

"I was," Elsa confirms, "But that is a conversation to be had in private, all I will say for now though, is that concerns yourself and me." Hiccup nods and the two walk another 20 meters or so before Hiccup stops by a cart that has a maligned wheel from the looks of things that needs put back on its axle. Kneeling down Hiccup inspects the wheel before nodding to himself.

"Just leave it," Elsa tells him, but Hiccup shakes his head.

"If I can fix it then I should. If we all walked past broken items, the world would fall apart." After standing Hiccup turns to Elsa, "When I pick the cart up, push the wheel on for me, would you?" Elsa raises a brow before nodding so Hiccup picks the damaged side of the cart up, allowing Elsa to push the wheel back onto its axle. "Well," Hiccup then says as he lets the cart down and rubs his hands together, "Just to find the stopper now."

"Stopper?" Asks the Queen.

"Prevents the wheel falling back off, or what we just did was all for nought." Hiccup spends a minute or two looking around for the item till he finds it under the cart. Inspecting the stopper he nods, "Cracked. Poor workmanship this is." Hiccup shows the Queen the crack before kneeling back down and placing the stopper back in place. "Well," Hiccup then says after standing back up again, "A good job done, but with a cracked stopper like that, it will probably fall off again a mile down the road." Elsa nods in agreement even though she has no idea if he is right or wrong, "Well, should we keep walking?" Asks Hiccup to which the Queen nods.

Soon they are on the Beach, and out of earshot of the public, "So then," Hiccup asks, "What is so worrisome it cannot be heard by the public."

"A conspiracy," Elsa tells him as they walk along the beach, "I think my council are going to attempt to proposition you."

"Proposition me?" Hiccup asks confused and with an eyebrow raised, "You mean they want to talk trade?"

"I wished," Elsa snorts, "But no, nothing so simple. A worker overheard some of my council members scheming."

"Scheming?" Hiccup repeats, hoping for elaboration.

"Yes." Elsa says before breathing out and deciding just to tell Hiccup, "They are going to try to force my and your hand into a marriage."

This silences Hiccup and causes him to stop walking for a short time, causing Elsa to turn and look at him to judge his facial expression, which is neither horrified or ecstatic, rather it is that of thinking man. Eventually, Hiccup says, "Force our hands how?"

"As far as the worker heard, I believe they will attempt to prevent my travel with public condemnation. Some of these council members are powerful people on their own and will have considerable support for their ideas. If a few of them have colluded, this could spell trouble."

Hiccup nods, he assumes these council members may be as powerful as chiefs in the Barbaric North, and if these Chiefs condemned something, then the entire town would be behind their chief, which would spell trouble. The problem, however, is how Vikings would deal with such a situation is probably drastically different, and not fit for use in Arendelle. "Then what are your suggestions?"

Elsa breaths deeply before turning to view the ocean and sitting down on the sand, Hiccup follows her down and sits cross-legged next to her, "The first solution is we do nothing and go anyway, my councillors will inevitably condemn the trip and I will lose considerable public support. I can not have this however as I am still attempting to win over many of my subjects from my coronation. Many still blame me for the famine the freeze caused and others think I'm colluding with evil spirits for my powers. The good news I guess is that Arendelle Capital city is strongly for me, having come to know me."

"So, that is not on the table," Hiccup says, ruling the idea of just ignoring the council members out. "What else?"

Elsa shakes her head, "Nothing I doubt you will like. We can either not go, or bend to their wishes."

"Thor," Hiccup says before uncrossing his legs and laying down, "Well, this really puts a hammer in the works, or maybe a large wrench, or maybe a hammer and a wrench."

Elsa does not understand the saying, but she thinks she gets the gist of it, "Most certainly so." Seeing Hiccup laying on his back Elsa decides to join him and looks up to the blue skies that are dotted with an occasional cloud. "The skies look peaceful." She says after a moment of silence.

"Hmm," Hiccup says, "Clear skies are just as turbulent."

"Well, it looks peaceful." She says before asking, "Can you read the skies? Tell if it will rain or if it is... turbulent?"

Hiccup turns his head to look at her, "I know how to find the hot spots for flying in, I know how to read a cloud to see how turbulent it is, how to find the jet streams and most importantly I know how to tell if it is a thunderstorm cloud."

"Do you fly in the hot spots for warmer flying?" Elsa inquires.

"No," Hiccup laughs a little at the idea, wishing for it to be true, "It allows dragons to ascend and descend easier."

The two turn to look at the sky again before Elsa asks, "What would Vikings do in this situation? Our situation?"

"Hmm," Hiccup thinks before saying, "We are stubborn, but if we can't have something our way due to someone, we would do something to spite them."

"And what would you Vikings do in this situation to spite them?"

Hiccup uses a moment to think before telling her, "Something stupid, probably agree to marry different people just to go on the trip, or do something like get married and don't invite those being the pain in the ass."

"That would spite them?" Elsa asks.

"Oh yes." Hiccup laughs, "A wedding is a grand affair, much drinking, many games played, lots of fighting and heads clashing, it is something the whole tribe loves to attend, and if it is a chiefs wedding, the whole archipelago wants in, some of the boozing stories are legendary like the one time Stomach finished a barrel of mead by himself and we all know of how Urea beat Itch in a drinking contest. In fact, there is an unwritten rule among Vikings that we will not raid one another the week during or after a wedding so that the village being raided has at least some chance of defending themselves without a horrendous hangover." There is some truth here, while the tribes of the Barbaric North would not raid another during or the week after a wedding, it was more to do with angering the Gods then fighting those hungover.

"Your weddings are famous for their boozing and they are a week long?" Elsa asks incredulously. "And you Vikings really do have atrocious naming skills."

"Yes," Hiccup replies, "It is something we Vikings enjoy very much. A good wedding is judged by how much alcohol is consumed, how many fights occur, and how many games are played. And I have told you before, a scary name keeps the trolls away!"

Elsa shakes her head a little in amusement, "It sounds like anarchy."

"It is," Hiccup tells her with a little laugh, "I vaguely remember what happened at the last wedding I attended, but from what I do remember, it was great fun."

"With so much drinking and celebrations, it sounds like a costly affair."

Hiccup shrugs, "Yes, but we Vikings spend our money on a few things, the two big ones are new weapons, and a bloody good wedding. In fact, it is such an important event for morale in our tribes the tribe itself will help fund them."

The two return to a comfortable silence till Hiccup asks, "So, any more ideas?"

"I like the sound of taking a Viking twist on things if I was honest." Elsa tells him, "Just to spite them - I would love to see their faces when they find they aren't invited."

"That is the spirit," Hiccup tells her while playfully nudging her arm, "But really, what are your thoughts here?"

"No, really," Elsa says moving to look at Hiccup, "I now have my mind set on travelling and I would love to spite them."

Hiccup turns to look at her, "Where is Elsa? What have you done with her? The Elsa I know wouldn't dare..."

The Queen flicks some sand at Hiccup to get him to shut up, "Hiccup, what would you actually think of spiting them?"

Hiccup breathes out before saying, "We are leaders of two different..."

"You are abdicating."

"Trying to abdicate." Hiccup tells her, "I don't even know if it is possible in Viking law. Heck, I don't even think Vikings have a law on it."

"Since when did Chief Hiccup allow the rules to get in his way?"

Hiccup raises a brow while continuing to look Elsa in the eyes. "Are you sure there is even a council problem?" Elsa flicks some more sand at him, "Alright alright." Elsa can tell he is thinking so they stay silent for a few moments, and eventually, Hiccup says, "So let me get this straight, you are asking me to proposition you?"

Elsa thinks on it for a minute before saying, "Well, I was but right now I think I am the one propositioning."

"And you realise," Hiccup says, "We are doing this after a bottle of wine and so many pints?"

"If I am honest, I had those drinks on purpose." The Queen tells him, "I was officially going to ask of your idea on it anyway."

"Ah," Hiccup says as if he has just had a revelation, "This explains why you bought me the drinks. All to make me easier to manipulate." He says playfully before turning to look at the sky to think. Eventually, Hiccup looks back to her, "I would have to have stipulations in place. I want to be a simple person, so no duties, no nothing. So, I don't want to be having to attend courts, make politics and rules, I've been there, done that, and I am Viking, people need to understand I'm not abandoning my heritage."

"I will not expect anything from you."

Hiccup nods before saying, "And if I for whatever reason can not leave my power behind, the Barbaric North, her people, her dragons, her riches, and her resources are the Barbaric North's - not the play toys of your councillors."

Elsa nods, it is a fair request, "That is a fair request, and a contract can be made."

"Well then," Hiccup says as he looks into her blue eyes, "If they make us spite them, let us spite them." The two return to a comfortable silence till Elsa begins to chuckle, prompting Hiccup to ask, "What now?"

"This was... not how I expected today to go." Elsa tells him, "Then Anna is going to be furious I didn't convey with herself, not to mention my mother. In fact, we should keep this silent till Anna returns."

Hiccup shrugs, "Well, now you make me think about it, remind me to avoid Valka like the plague."

"And myself Astrid." Elsa tells him, "God knows that lady wants to use her axe on me."

"Astrid, boy, she will skin me alive, with blunt knives, and kicking me while at it." Hiccup has a shudder run down his spine, "Now that is just unpleasant thoughts."

"I think we should reconsider," Elsa teases, "Our lives seem to have just found a whole new world of pain."

Hiccup nods, "Remind me to return any Viking 'love' I receive to these scheming Councillors of yours."

The two return to being in a comfortable silence till Hiccup says, "Well, now that is out of the way, and you no longer looking like your deep in thought, should we introduce you to a dragon?"

"Yes, I would like that," The Queen tells him. "But a few more minutes laying her first."

"Yes," Hiccup says, "I must admit, this is pleasant."

The Queen acknowledges this, "Yes, it really is."

/../

So, I had been building up to this type of 'proposition' for a while. Tell me what you think, yay or nay?