Everyone just stared at Heather dumbfounded with the sudden revelation that she a Princess.
"So when did you plan on telling us when we met your mother?" Hiccup asked.
"Hiccup, maybe you should be a bit more polite in front of royalty," Fishlegs suggested.
Heather giggled. "No it's quite all right, we don't have much in the way of formality back home."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Astrid asked.
"I was told to keep my identity secret, we weren't sure who was listening in the Academy," said Heather softly. "Besides, we weren't entirely sure what the reaction would be for a Dark Elf in the presence of so many humans. Especially now that we know that Johann is working with the Purists."
"You're afraid of spies," said Eret.
"Johann, by your account, was able to sneak in with no one aware of his true identity," Heather reminded them. "It was no telling what he did under his disguise or how many people he influenced."
"She does have a point," said Hiccup.
"And you didn't tell us before the quest, knowing that we were taking you back home where a bunch of terrorists wanted you dead because?" Astrid asked.
"Because of Ragnar," she said plainly.
Hiccup suddenly realised how she knew Ragnar. "He's your betrothed, isn't he?"
Heather smiled. "I knew you'd figure it out."
It certainly made sense Ragnar was the son of Frey the Lord of Alfheim which more or less made him a prince. The unions were Dark Elf princess, and the son of Frey would have been a very union if everything went according to plan.
"Wait, Ragnar is engaged?" Tuffnut stared. "How he never said anything to us?"
"Because there are people on both sides that want to stop this wedding," said Astrid.
"Lord Frey and my mother had planned this union for centuries just a few years after I was born," Heather explained. "However, then came the incident with Ragnar's exile, which put a wrench in the works."
Hiccup nodded, finally understanding the real implications of Ragnar's exile. Ragnar had been accused of stealing from his tribe and raping a chieftain's daughter, who was the real culprit. To make matters worse, the chieftain was very popular amongst the Light Elves, so there was nothing that his father could have done to save him. Clearly, the plan had always been to execute Ragnar, but his mother took his place.
"Frey exiled him for his own protection," said Hiccup.
Heather nodded. "Now you're signed you're starting to understand the situation. We met about 50 years ago when my mother explained to us about our union. However, Ragnar still had a problem trusting women no doubt afraid of having his feelings hurt."
"This is starting to make my head spin," said Snotlout.
"Good, I thought I was the only one confused," said Tuffnut.
"I don't see how this union is going to work since Ragnar's exile from his home?" said Astrid.
"We elves live long lives remember, there is a good chance that we can find proof of his innocence someday and as such were not giving up hope."
Hiccup folded his arms. "This makes me wonder if Loki was behind Ragnar's exile."
"Sounds what our mum would do," said Ruffnut.
"Guys this speculation is fun and all that we do have a mission to complete," Eret reminded them.
Hiccup nodded. "Yeah, probably better to discuss this somewhere safer." He then quickly turned towards Heather. "How far are we from the portal?"
"We're here actually," said Heather.
Hiccup looked ahead, just saw a pathway, there was no sign of any portal whatsoever. Then suddenly appearing before was stone archway and a portal then suddenly appeared within that archway.
"Let's go," said Hiccup in the entered the portal.
When Hiccup first landed in Svartalfheim, he thought that he landed in a life-size facsimile of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas. All the buildings were made of dark stone, with carvings of dark creatures etched in them. It looked as if it was midnight as the night sky was pitch black only eliminated by the stars in the full moon above them.
"Creepy," said Fishlegs trembling slightly.
Hiccup would be lying if he said that he wasn't creeped out by all this, but they had a mission. His eyes immediately scan the facility, and he saw what appeared to be an immense palace standing on top of a steep hill.
"I take it that's the Palace," Hiccup assumed.
Heather nodded. "It is, but I suggest that you let me do the talking and try not to insult anyone."
As they made their way towards the powers, they came across a few Dark Elves and Heather had not been kidding when she said they were Goths. All of them had pitch dark hair and pale skin, they were dressed completely black, and the few women they saw had pitch-black eyeliner and lipstick.
"Don't mind them," said Heather. "You were the first time they've seen humans."
"I'm a dwarf," Snotlout reminded her.
"Probably best you don't brag about that," Heather suggested. "Humans often confuse dwarfs and Dark Elves in Norse mythology, in fact in some versions they considered the same people."
"So how will your mother react when she sees you?" Hiccup asked. "I mean you were supposed to go to Midgard for your own protection."
"I can just easily point out that you guys needed a guide in Svartalfheim and sadly there are not that many Dark Elves in Midgard," said Heather simply.
Hiccup looked back at the others, and they seem to have their doubts as well, but none decided to speak up.
They finally reached the Palace, and there were a group of people waiting outside no doubt people with grievances. However, they got closer; some of them were holding banners and were shouting in large voices.
"Outwith the new went in with the old!" they yelled in loud voices.
"Purists?" Hiccup assumed.
Heather nodded. "Yeah, that they become a lot more outspoken since last time I was here."
"Probably best we don't interact with them," Astrid suggested. "There's no telling how they might react when they see humans wanting to see the Queen."
Sadly it was too late for that as a female Dark Elf among the protesters saw them.
"Looks like the Queen is welcoming humans now!" she spat. "What more is there for the fall of our people!"
It would seem as if this process was about to get our more violent, but then several guards entered with swords at the ready. Leading them was a guy who looked about 25, though there was hard to tell with elves. He had two tattoos of three lines like claw marks, one across his left eye and the other on his upper right arm. His eyes were forest green almost exactly like Heather's, but they look slightly more menacing.
"If you want violence, then just keep on shouting, my men and I will be happy to oblige!" he yelled.
"Wow, that guy is hard-core," said Snotlout.
"He was more deranged to me," said Fishlegs.
"Who is he?" Hiccup asked.
"That is Dagur the Deranged, he's my brother," said Heather.
Hiccup couldn't really see the resemblance, in fact, the two of them looked like the polar opposite of one another.
Upon the threat of death, the crowd immediately backed away. Clearly, while they were all the violence, they didn't want to be killed.
Dagur then approached Heather. "Heather, what are you doing here with a bunch of humans?"
"It's a long story," said Heather. "Suffice it to say that we're on a quest, we believe that Johann Lokison is in league with Atras. We have to speak with Mother now."
Dagur looked at them and nodded. "Follow me."
Dagur led them into the Palace which was just as creepy as the town, it was filled with cobwebs and dust the décor was rather creepy. Monstrous looking statues and tapestries that have been torn to pieces by some kind of beast had got at them.
"Nice place," said Hiccup sarcastically.
"Yeah, probably not what you humans except for Elven Palace," said Dagur.
"So do you often have problems with protesters?" Hiccup asked.
"They become rather bolder recently," said Dagur and he looked directly at Heather. "Which is why we sent you to Midgard, for your own safety."
"Like I said I'm on a quest," Heather pointed out.
"And what kind of quest might I asked?" Dagur asked.
"I would rather we share that with the Queen," said Hiccup.
"Keeping your cards close to your chest, I'm starting to like you human," Dagur smiled.
They eventually reach the throne room where they found a beautiful woman sitting upon her throne, wearing a pitch dark dress and a black crown on her forehead. She was currently handling the grievances of a farmer and an artisan.
"So let me go over this again," she said, looking at the farmer. "Your neighbour, sliced off the tail of your prized horse to use its tail as a paintbrush without asking."
"That is indeed right, your Majesty and I demand compensation," said the farmer glaring at the artisan.
"Your Majesty, I harmed no one and the horses tail will grow back eventually," said the artisan.
"There are two wounded parties in this grievance," said her Majesty. "True no one was hurt, but you did cut off the horses tail without permission. Since the horse's value has diminished, you shall pay the full sale price of the horse as compensation."
The artisan looked at the Queen. "Can I keep a horse?"
The Queen narrowed her eyes. "This matter is resolved, pay what you owe and become friends tomorrow."
Both the farm and artisan and left the throne room clearly haggling about the price of a horse.
"By Ymir's tears, I'll never understand why I installed a grievance day," she said, shaking her head.
"Mother, we have visitors," said Dagur, step forward.
The Queen looked up, and her eyes immediately saw Heather. "Heather? What are you doing here you should be on Midgard?"
"Mother I can explain, but first let me introduce to you my friends," she said gesturing towards Hiccup and the others. "The guys, let me introduce to my mother, Queen Briar."
Queen Brair looked at him. "You brought humans, you're not making my life any easier daughter."
Hiccup then stepped forward. "Your Majesty I don't wish to make the situation here harder than it already is, but this is a matter of great importance."
Hiccup then began to explaining their quest mentioning the Eye of Odin, Ragnar and Johann's allegiance with Atras.
Queen Briar just listened to every single word, not showing the traces amount of emotion. It looked as if she was putting together some sort of mental objects of every single word he said, the problem was he couldn't tell what kind of picture she was forming.
"This is grave news you bring," she said.
"Mother, we've got to help, and maybe they can help us with the Purist problem," said Heather.
"Heather, I would like nothing more than to read this land of the Purists, but we have no idea what their numbers are like, and now your friends tell me they are in league with Johann. Plus you informed me that your betrothed is currently being hunted, he didn't even bother coming here to inform me of his mission."
"In fairness, Ragnar probably didn't want to be anywhere near you mother given our Purities problem," said Dagur.
"Maybe, but if not him at least Mimir could have given me a warning," she sighed. She then looked at Hiccup and the others. "Hiccup Haddock, I will help you to the best of my abilities. However, as you have witnessed outside the situation here is tenuous at best, we are on the verge of a civil war."
"Surely can't be that bad," said Astrid.
"It's worse," said Dagur. "There have been more outcries of violence in the past few months, vandalism, people being attacked on the streets just a few weeks ago one of my men was killed. Until you mentioned Johann, I had no idea where all their supplies were coming from."
"I didn't realise things were so bad here," said Heather.
"Which is why I want you to stay on Midgard, but it would seem as if the Norns had other ideas," Queen Briar. "I imagine it will be too long until word gets out that humans have become welcomed guests in my castle."
"What's the problem with humans anyway?" Fishlegs asked.
"More than 1000 years ago, your people were terrified of mine, they seem to have this crazy idea that we brought nightmares into their dreams when they slept. As such, we were hunted right off Midgard, and yet they welcomed our cousins the Light Elves, believing they gave them good dreams."
"Does everyone keep forgetting that I'm a dwarf?" Snotlout grunted.
"You should be grateful that you are told not to pass a small human," said Dagur. "Dwarfs aren't exactly welcome here not since our conflict."
"Hang on, the Dark Elves, and the dwarfs were war with one another?" said Hiccup stunned.
"It was bad when my father was king," said Queen Briar. "No one knows how it started, but we fought each other to thumbnail. My father had been killed in battle, and I took over, and then immediately asked for a ceasefire. Fortunately, the dwarfs were tired of the conflict as well, and so we were able to form a nonaggression treaty. However, both our people have long memories about the war so I would advise you not to spread about your dwarven heritage."
"What about me I'm part Jotun?" Eret asked.
"I doubt you shall come to any harm, we don't really have any qualms with the Jotuns, at least not the same way as the Aesir and Vanir."
Hiccup looked at Queen Briar. "Your Majesty we don't wish to make the situation here any more volatile as it is now and we won't be staying here for long. However, we have had a long journey. I would like to request that we spend the night here."
"What Hiccup means to say that he would like us to have something to eat and someplace to sleep," said Heather quickly and she quickly leaned towards Hiccup. "It's constant night here just like it's constant day in Alfheim, we Dark Elves have no concept of night and day."
Hiccup had forgotten that the nine worlds weren't exactly other planets, more like other dimensions. As a result, the laws of physics were different in each world, meaning it was quite possible for a world not to have words such as day and night.
"Your request is quite reasonable, but I do want you to leave first thing in the morning, and I would appreciate if you would allow my daughter to stay here."
Hiccup shook his head. "I'm sorry your Majesty, but Heather was the one who received the visions from the Norns which means she has to see this through to the end."
Queen Briar sighed, though she didn't look surprised. "I was afraid of this very well, but promised me that he will keep my daughter safe."
"Mother, I can look after myself," said Heather.
"Heather if there's even a chance that we might be able to bring peace to the Light Elves, then you must stay alive," Queen Briar insisted.
Dagur then stepped forward. "Mother you worry too much, you know full well that Heather cannot be caught by surprise."
"I'm still her mother and have every right to be worried," she said though she had a small smile on her face.
"There is one thing," said Hiccup. "According to Heather's vision is we need the light of Balder, but as you know, my brother is dead."
Queen Briar thought for a moment. "There are areas within Svartalfheim where one can speak to the dead, though briefly. It may be possible that we can talk to Balder, but I cannot say for certain."
"Sounds like it's worth a try," said Hiccup. "So what must we do?"
"I'll tell you in the morning, but right now all you should rest up and get food in your belly's primers in the next few days are going to be quite rough for you."