Hello everyone, I am sorry about the long wait, but my schedule has never been fuller. I took two months off from writing, then Noah my nephew and godchild (small family) was born in May, then it was my sisters birthday in July. Then my mothers birthday in August, due to a few people quitting from my place of work in September, I was assigned to many weekend shifts to my non-enjoyment, to cover our bases.
Now it is a week before Thanksgiving and Black Friday and thought it is a good time to get a short chapter out which sets up the next longer chapter which will see the end to the movie canon and the start to my alternate universe canon. I can't wait to start that chapter. I will probably start after New Years because I am taking a week off to go to Seattle to celebrate my 30th birthday, then comes Christmas and New Years, December is a busy month.
Honestly, I had written out an outline for this chapter back in September and it was good, but I reread it and it was not bold enough, it was too safe. So I rewrote it and I like the direction it will go. I hope you will like the direction I am taking this story, and hope you will continue to join me on this adventure.
Thank you for your time and enjoy the next chapter of An Arranged Life.
Disclaimer: I do not own Disney's Frozen or DreamWorks: How to Train Your Dragon.
Chapter Sixteen
A Whole New World
Hiccup felt himself shaking, being poked and finally, a splash of what he hoped was water hit his face. Bolting upright into a sitting position, did he finally open his wet eyes to see that he was in Ruffnut's arms and Astrid and Fishlegs were kneeling to help him.
"Chief, are you alright?" Ruffnut asked as she adjusted herself, so she could better hold him upright.
Hiccup sniffed the liquid that hit his face. "Who threw what, onto my face?" He asked his small team of followers.
"That was me Chief, and it was leftover ale."
He brought his hands up to his face and wiped the remnants of the ale from his cheeks, eyes, and forehead.
"How long have I been out?" Hiccup asked Ruffnut who was helping him stand up with the assistance of Astrid. Fishlegs came up from behind and brushed off the ice from his back.
As the last ice shard fell from his back, he looked up at his team, they looked confused, surprised and concerned. "About five minutes."
"Elsa, where is Elsa?" He asked as he moved to stand fully upright with the support of Ruffnut.
"We don't know, she ran into the courtyard, across the fjord, and into the forest," Astrid said as she moved in front of him. Checking to make sure he looked presentable.
Hiccup took in her words carefully before something struck him as odd. "Wait, did you say across the fjord? The castle is surrounded by water, surely you mean she ran to the wall that connects to the mainland and that is how she made it to the forest." He said as he eyed his team.
"No, we mean she ran across the fjord to the forest. She umm…" Fishlegs began to say before getting nervous.
"She froze the water under her feet and ran across it," Astrid said in a serious tone, surely knowing Hiccup knew something but didn't tell anyone else.
Hiccup's eyes widened before thinking about Elsa's powers, all her abilities, all the ones he knew of at least. "Freezing bodies of water, that is new." He said in disbelief.
"How long have you known?" Astrid asked as she eyed her chief.
Hiccup for his part never had an idea of when he was going to tell his people that the woman he was going to marry has magical ice powers, he never thought about it and he wanted to keep his promise to her. But now he had no choice, he had to tell everyone to save face.
"About five years, since we started courting, the day after I woke up without my leg was when revealed to me that she had ice powers."
The looks from his team were that of disbelief and annoyance. "And when were you going to inform us?" Astrid asked. "Truthfully, I had no timetable of telling any of you, Elsa made me promise not to tell anyone as you could imagine the ramifications of news getting out. People would be hesitant about a woman with magical powers especially one that rules over a vast kingdom such as Arendelle. But now it is too late and where is everyone else?" He asked as he saw a delegate from Sverige walk briskly out the front doors where he last saw Elsa run to.
"Out in the courtyard," Fishlegs said as he moved out the way as Hiccup moved towards him.
Hiccup strode down the main hallway out into the now snow-covered courtyard, and sure enough, the fjord was frozen over with a thick layer of ice, the ships in the fjord and harbor were stuck too. He could see some crew members trying desperately to break the ice off their ships, but not having any luck, "I guess they didn't have any ice-breaking tools on board, it is summer after all."
He looked back towards the door and it was covered in ice shards, from the looks of it Elsa had taken a shot at the door, whether it be on purpose or mistake he did not know, but from how he felt he would go with the latter. Looking back at the fountain he saw Anna, Hans, Birger, and the Weselton delegation discussing something. He moved towards them.
"We must find her, arrest her and force her to bring the summer back." The Duke of Wesleton said in front of his two bodyguards.
"Arrest her?" Hiccup asked as he made his way to the circle of powerful royals and diplomats.
"Hiccup are you hurt?" Anna asked with concern.
He shook his head, "just a scratch that is all, thank you for your concern."
He then directed his gaze to the Duke of Weselton, "good Sir, you are a diplomat in a foreign land, you have no power to arrest my fiancée, Arendelle's Queen. So please keep such ideas to yourself." He said as delicately as possible.
"And you have no power to dictate what I can or can not do, I represent Weselton, its King and its people. This monster must be arrested and detained before she kills us all." The Duke said as he pointed a finger at Hiccup.
Hiccup narrowed his eyes and set his jaw at the shorter man, who instantly moved behind his men. "I take great offense from you calling the woman I love a monster, so I suggest you do not use that word again. And I represent the people of Berk as its Chief. I have been to this land many times, lived with its people and have grown up with Queen Elsa to know she has no malice in her heart and only wants love and peace. I will find her, and she will make things right."
"How? You have no idea where she is, and you have only three men to help you." The Duke asked pointing to Hiccup's 'men'."
Astrid scoffed at the Duke, she hated when people lumped her in as just another man, just because she worked and lived around them. Why couldn't people accept that men and women were equal?
"I have been in these forests a few times and have an idea where she might be, with your permission, of course, Anna. And I will go alone. It will be easier." Hiccup said as he moved to address his team.
"No, you will stay here with Hans, who I leave in charge until I get back. Birger bring me my horse." Anna instructed as she put on a shawl that one of her handmaidens had given her.
Hiccup raised an eyebrow at the idea of Anna leaving a man who she had known for all of nine hours in charge of the safety of Arendelle.
"Yes, your Royal Highness." Birger moved to relay the order to one of his men, who set off for the stables.
"Princess Anna might I and my men accompany and assist you, for you are not equipped to go into the forest or up the mountain if the need arises?" Birger asked as he stepped toward the princess.
"No, I must do this alone, she is my sister and I will find her."
Hiccup moved forward this time. "Anna, please let me go with you. I have spent time traversing large forests, mountains and am well equipped for whatever may happen. I and Elsa have even gone into the forest a while ago to go on a picnic. I may know where she is heading to." Hiccup said as Birger and Anna looked on in shock.
"So that was why you came to the back entrance that day, you and the queen went on a picnic without informing me or any of the guards. Hiccup how dare you jeopardize my queen's safety." Birger shot back at Hiccup, who felt betrayed that Hiccup had lied to him, he thought they were a team or at the very least friends.
"I apologize Birger, it was a spur of the moment kind of event. And it helped raise the queen's spirits till she could get out of the castle again."
Birger shook his head, "that still doesn't make up for anything."
"Hiccup, did you know about Elsa's powers?" Anna asked as she looked down at him from atop her horse, that she had climbed on with the help of Hans. He immediately felt that the reason she had gotten on the horse was, so she could look down at him and make him feel weak or powerless. It kind of worked.
Hiccup did not like to be put on the spot especially at a moment such as this. The more they talked and argued the harder and longer it would take to find Elsa and the more damage it would do to Arendelle's and Elsa's prestige.
"Hiccup?" Anna asked again when he remained silent.
Hiccup looked up at Anna and nodded. "Since when?" She asked through clenched teeth, trying to hide her anger.
"Since we started courting, about five years ago. I pressed Elsa to tell you about her powers, but she made me promise not to tell you. She said she wanted to tell you once she became queen and everything settled down. We were going to do this privately and quietly, but sadly that did not happen." Hiccup looked around at everyone from the delegates to the civilians who were listening attentively at the latest news which would turn into fresh gossip in mere moments.
"I truly am sorry at how this turned out, I feel partly to blame for this fiasco. We had everything planned except for your surprise announcement which threw everything off." He spoke then glanced at Hans, silently angry at him for ruining their night. But Hans was not to blame, he and Elsa should have been more open and less restrictive. It was useless to feel bad for himself, now he had to find Elsa and bring her home.
Anna leaned down from atop her horse and looked Hiccup square in the eyes, and out of nowhere, she backhanded him across his cheek. Many people including his own friends gasped in surprise and astonishment, Hans almost seemed pleased at the action.
Hiccup brought his hand up to his face and touched his cheek, only to rear his hand back as said cheek was sensitive to the bruise that was forming. Anna never hit him before and he was shocked, to say the least.
"Hiccup, how could you? I trusted you and I thought you would have enough faith in me to come and tell me about something that affects my family." Anna scolded him as he almost shirked away from the horse.
Hiccup looked back up at Anna, "I understand that you want to find Elsa, but to leave Hans, a man who has been here all of nine hours in charge is something I can not recommend. Leave Birger or myself in charge. We at least know the people, the customs and has the respect of everyone who lives and works in the castle." He suggested as he had gestured to all the guards around them.
"No, I'm sorry Hiccup, but I don't trust you. Especially after you kept the truth hidden from me for all this time, I trust Hans, a man who loves me unconditionally and has never betrayed me. He is in charge until I return!" Anna all but yelled to the people in the courtyard.
"Anna," Hans spoke softly as he petted the horse's shoulder and touched Anna's hand. "Good luck and return soon."
"I will and take care of the kingdom."
Hans gave a small smile and nodded. "Oh, I will. Indeed, I will."
"Come on Bolt." She motioned for her horse to run, and he responded with a steady gallop across the bridge and out of sight.
"Right, Birger tell your men to ask the civilians to go back to their homes and remain indoors till the snow lifts. As for the royals and diplomats usher them inside and start fires in the fireplaces. Hand out afghans and thick coats to anyone who wants them. Hiccup, you and your men can help Birger with his tasks." Hans started immediately with giving out orders to everyone who now under his control.
Birger who was nearly twenty years Hans senior did not care for the young prince and did not want to follow his orders, but since Princess Anna had left him in charge he had no choice.
"As you wish, your royal highness. I will relay your order to my men and carry them out momentarily." Birger said then bowed and moved to do what he had been instructed to do.
Hiccup for his part only turned around started to talk to his friends.
"Chief, do you want us to help you find Elsa with our horses," Ruffnut asked as she leaned into Hiccups side.
Hiccup shook his head in disagreement, "no, you three stay here and protect Arendelle, I do not trust Hans, and be sure to keep an eye on him." He whispered.
"Why don't you trust Hans Hiccup? He seems like he truly cares about Anna's and everyone's wellbeing," Fishlegs asked as he traded a look between Hiccup and Hans who was talking to the Duke of Weselton.
Hiccup for his part looked out across the fjord at the ships that were currently frozen in place.
"We could have said the same thing about Trader Johann, couldn't we?"
Everyone cast their eyes to the side and remembered their once friendly trading partner who had revealed his true nature and was now enjoying whatever had been given to him in the afterlife.
"I know what you mean Chief, that and the fact that Prince Hans referred to you by your name instead of your title and name, the man has no honor or respect for others. We will stay behind and take care of things here, go and find Elsa." Ruffnut said as she held out her hand.
Hiccup grasped her hand and shook it, "thank you all for your commitment to myself and Elsa." He was truly moved and blessed that at least two of his friends cared about Elsa and what laid ahead of them.
Releasing her hand, he moved to walk to the back of the castle but was stopped by Hans.
"Hiccup? Where are you going? I gave you orders and I expect you to follow them." Hans said as he raised his voice to gain everyone's attention, it seemed like he wanted to make an example out of him.
Hiccup just wanted to push past the prince, but he needed to remain cordial and respectful in front of everyone. "With all due respect Prince Hans, do you truly expect me to wait here, follow your orders and hope Princess Anna finds the queen, my fiancée in time?"
"Yes, I do," Hans said with an air of elitism.
Hiccup just smiled and shook his head. "Then you are a fool and I will be leaving. Good night."
He once again tried to move past Hans, but this time Hans grabbed his right arm and pulled him back.
The shifting of weapons and armor could be heard around them as Ruffnut, Astrid and Fishlegs moved closer to the two men. Their faces set with a determined look of protection and limb removal in mind.
"Prince Hans remove your hand, or it will be removed for you," Astrid said slowly as she removed a hidden ax from her belt.
"You dare threaten a foreign prince? My father, the King of the Southern Isles would send his armies if you were to lay a single finger on me." Hans voiced as he gripped Hiccups arm harder.
Astrid for her part looked unimpressed, she looked to her left, then to her right and finally behind her. "Funny, I don't see anyone from your fathers' armies here with you today, it is just you. That by itself is interesting, normally a prince would come with an escort and at the very least an advisor. I mean the Duke came with an escort. Perhaps the King, your father wouldn't mind if you never came back. There are what? Eleven, twelve of you after all? It seems you are replaceable." Astrid said with a small chuckle.
Hans for his part fumed at the shield maiden. "You are an insolent dog, for that, I will make sure my father's kingdom never does trade with yours. And tomorrow I will send word back to my father requesting a full escort."
Astrid just shook her head at the remark.
"Though here with us today is a bone cutter, for that, is what my ax does, it cuts bones in half with a single swing," Astrid said looking lovingly at her ax, absentmindedly rubbing her thumb over a notch on the wooden handle.
"Would you like a demonstration? You won't feel any pain for quite a while as the nerves take some time to become aware that no signal is being received."
Hans looked down at the arm that was restraining Hiccup and back at the Viking. He slowly gulped in nervousness and cleared his throat but did not let go.
"There are some things you must know about Vikings, we do not scare easily, we will threaten who we please and we will always piss on the person who threatens our chief. You choose now, or I will choose for you." Astrid voiced as she slowly raised her ax.
Releasing a breath, Hans let go of Hiccups arm and raised his hands in mock surrender. He moved back a few paces before he turned around and went back inside.
"Works every time, though I do wish he would have kept you restrained, I have yet to cut off a royal's arm," Astrid said as she put her ax back on to the belt loop.
Hiccup turned and looked at Astrid, who looked back at him, tilting her head. "Astrid, you are forgiven for your earlier conduct. I will hopefully see you all by tomorrow morning."
"And if not?" Fishlegs asked.
"And if not, then keep warm and stay vigilant."
Hiccup nodded and moved towards the wall the connected the castle to the mainland, however, Birger stepped out and stopped him. "Birger, I really do not have the time or patience to be stopped again."
"Apologies Hiccup, but do you think it was wise to have one of your fellow Vikings threaten Prince Hans?" Birger asked as he moved them into the tunnel and out of sight.
"No, I do not think it was a wise idea, but it is useless to think about it now, it is said and done. I have one order for you though and that is to protect Anna and Arendelle. I do not trust Prince Hans, something is not quite right with him."
Hiccup moved out of Birger grip and began to walk quickly down the tunnel.
"What is the something that you don't like about Prince Hans?" Birger yelled down the passageway.
Hiccup for his part turned around but kept walking backward, "I have a gut feeling, that and his eyes." He yelled before turning around and jogging till he was out of Birger sight.
"His eyes?" Birger questioned before he moved out of the tunnel and back into the courtyard.
Hiccup unlatched the lock from the door and opened it to reveal the end of the wall and the start of the forest on the hill.
After running for a good half hour, he made it to the cove where the dragons were waiting anxiously.
Toothless came bounding up and nuzzled his chest, "hey good to see you too buddy. But I need your help with something Toothless." Said dragon looked up at his brother, eyes wide with anticipation. "Elsa accidentally revealed her powers to everyone and she took off, knocking me out in the process. I don't know where she is, and I'm worried about her. Can you track her bud?" Hiccup asked pulling out the handkerchief Gerda had given him, with Elsa's lipstick on it. Hiccup hoped there was a bit of her scent on the cloth for Toothless to sniff.
The Nightfury took in a deep inhale of the handkerchief, so much so it almost went into his nose. Breathing out again, the cloth fell from his nostrils and into his brothers awaiting hand.
Toothless started to sniff the air, moving around in a circle, hopping onto a rock to get height to breathe in the passing wind. It was there, that his nose twitched. The wind carried Elsa's smell. He moved down to Hiccup and nudged his head toward the mountains. Hiccup looked at the tallest mountain and saw the night sky, hundreds to stars and a snowcapped mountain range.
He looked back down at Toothless, who was practically dancing in anticipation at the possibility of a flight in Arendelle.
"You sure bud, I can't imagine Elsa being able to run up a mountain, in a little over an hour and in a dress." Toothless nodded his head and bent down, ready to go searching. "Alright bud, I trust you, weirder things have happened tonight, so why not add one more." After mounting Toothless and securing himself in, the two took off into the clear night sky.
They started low over the trees in a zigzag search, Hiccup still believing Elsa could not have made it to the mountains already. It took a little bit over an hour to find a small clearing with a cabin and a stable. Motioning for Toothless to land behind said stable, Hiccup unlatched himself and walked up to the cabin which turned out to be 'Wandering Oaken's Trading Post and Sauna'.
"A sauna? Perhaps I will come back for a visit sometime in the future, but first to see if the owner has seen anything or maybe even Elsa, herself." Pushing open the heavy wooden door and it shutting behind him with a heavy thump, he turned to see a big yet muscular shopkeeper with a pleasant complexion and interesting facial hair that connected his sideburns with his beard and mustache but stopped at his chin.
"Good evening sir, I was wondering if you have seen a young woman, the queen perhaps?" Hiccup asked fishing for any luck he could get.
"No, the only ones out here are you, the princess and man I threw out, I believe he is an ice trader. My name is Oaken, and this is my shop. We are having a big summer blowout sale." Oaken said with a toothy smile and pointing to the back of the room which hung a banner advertising the sale, a pair of rackets and a bucket. "Not much of a sale," Hiccup thought.
"Wait, Princess Anna was here?"
"Oh yes, she bought a few supplies and asked about the North Mountain. She believes her sister the queen was heading towards it." Oaken replied pointing to the massive mountain out his window.
"If the queen was running toward the North Mountain, which would be the best way to go up the mountain?" Hiccup asked in a hypothetical way, hoping not to come off as weird. He didn't want the man to assume the royal family had gone mad.
Oaken turned around and shuffled a few items before removing a map from a folder a little while later. Turning back around he placed the map on the counter and pointed to the summit. "The best way to this spot would be the old hiker trail. It begins with a twenty-degree climb which is easy enough when covered in snow, but to get to the top, you will need rope, a good grip, and decent weather. Seeing that you have none of these three things, I suggest you turn back now. Many have died trying to climb that mountain, even experienced climbers have not come down from that mountain." Oaken explained and pointed to the sauna as an alternative.
"I thank you for your warning, but I am still going up. How much for the map?" Hiccup asked tugging on the map.
"One gold coin, can I interest you in anything else? I have cooked fish and reindeer." Oaken asked as he retrieved the two items from a warmer.
He was about to decline, but then his stomach intervened. Remembering he had only consumed a piece of bread and drank a glass of wine from the party, he was still very much hungry. "How much for both?"
"One gold coin each," Oaken said with a smile.
Hiccup raised an eyebrow, normally one could buy an entire meal and a mug of ale for a silver piece and a feast for a gold coin. "High price, but fair considering the circumstances." Hiccup reached onto his belt to retrieve his coin bag, pulling out three gold coins he gave them to the shop owner in exchange for the goods.
"I thank you for your understanding and wished the young man that came before you had the same manners, he called me a crook and I promptly threw him out. No one insults me in my shop." Oaken said as he wrapped the two food items in brown paper and tied them with string, Hiccup folded the map and placed it beneath his armor for safe keeping.
Hiccup took both food parcels and nodded towards Oaken, opening the front door and moving outside when the shop owner called out to him.
"You never told me your name, young man," Oaken asked.
Turning back around with one hand on the door and one hand holding the food. "My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, Chief of the Isle of Berk, and I am engaged to Queen Elsa, have a warm night." He said as he left Oaken with a smile, who was staring wide-eyed back at him until the door closed.
Moving behind the stable he saw Toothless hiding underneath an overhang out of the snow and laying on some hay that had fallen from a hole in the wall. "Hey bud, I have some fish for you." Hiccup said as he plopped down on the hay and unwrapped the fish, giving it to his friend as soon as he could.
Toothless gobbled it down in one gulp then eyed the second brown paper. Hiccup ate three-quarters of the reindeer before giving the rest to Toothless. Unhinging a cork on his water bottle, he gulped down a few mouthfuls of the liquid. Toothless for his part gobbled up some snow and drank that.
"Seems you were correct bud, Elsa did go up the mountain. Don't know how in a dress no less, I mean she has no experience mountain climbing let alone traveling through a snow-capped forest, but apparently, the laws of normality are on break tonight." He said dryly as he got up a shot of pain erupting from his side as he did so. "Mercy of Thor." Moving to stand and lean against the wall of the stable, he shook off the pain. "Must be the old arrow wound acting up, coupled with the shot of ice from Elsa. What a night."
Toothless moved into position as Hiccup climbed up and latched himself into place before his friend shot them into the sky. But had he looked back at where he was sitting, he would have seen several droplets of blood on the hay and snow.
"There it is bud, the summit" Hiccup called out pointing to the top of the mountain, the sun was peaking through the clouds and casting its rays onto them. They had spent all night and a little bit of the morning flying up and down a few of the possible trails including the one Oaken had pointed out in case Elsa was still in the process of getting to the summit. He was in high spirits of finding Elsa soon, but the pain in his side had worsened. He began to feel hot and tired, a line of sweat forming on his forehead, which he wiped off. He felt like he wanted to heave the contents of his stomach, but thought against it, believing to just be nerves of the possible unknown.
He was jerked out of thoughts when Toothless made a sudden course correction, "what is it bud?" Hiccup asked when he saw something being carried in the wind. Toothless swooped through the air as he maneuvered to catch the floating item. Reaching out and catching said item revealed it to be Elsa's magenta cape. "Alright if it came this way she must be on the top of the mountain. Bud fly into the wind toward the summit." Hiccup tucked the cape into one of Toothless' side satchels.
Flying toward the North Mountain and subsequently the sun, he saw a crystal-like reflection coming off said mountain. "What in Odin's name is that light reflecting off of?" Hiccup asked no one in particular.
"It could be the sunlight reflecting off the snow or the ice, but what ice looks like a castle?"
Toothless swooped down and landed in front of a long staircase bridging one part of the mountain to the ice castle. Sliding off his friend and taking an experimental step onto the stairwell, seeing if it would hold his weight. When it did, and no creaking was heard he moved further up the stairs, "Elsa is this your work?" He heard Toothless move up as well, silently hoping the bridge would hold and not break apart.
Coming to stand in front of two tall ice doors, he reached out and knocked. Waiting several moments before he saw a blurred figure in blue approach. That blurred figure cautiously opened the doors to reveal it was Elsa herself.
Hiccup took a moment to take her change of appearance in, her coronation dress was gone and in its place was an ice-like dress, a blue bodice with translucent blue sleeves. The dress went down to her feet but had a right knee-high slit, her cape was now translucent as well and had ice heels to match. She looked elegant.
"Hiccup, what are you doing here and how did you find me?" Elsa asked with a concerned look, possibly afraid that others would find her as well.
Hiccup heard none of that, he was just relieved that Elsa was fine and in no harm.
He moved forward and swept her into a hug, resting his chin on top of her head.
Letting out a sigh of relief, "I was so worried Elsa, I had no idea where you were and was concerned that you could have gotten hurt or worse." He said as tears of relief fell down his cheeks. Elsa wrapped her arms around Hiccup and breathed in his pine forest scent, basking in his soothing aroma, they stood in each other's arms for a few minutes before they were nudged by Toothless.
Looking down, Elsa saw Toothless sniffing her dress and gave an experimental lick. "Toothless, you know better than to lick clothing. That saliva takes a long time to wash out." The black dragon gave a gruff like sound and looked up at Elsa.
"Why hello to you too, Toothless." She said as she moved to rub her beau's dragon on the head.
"Well, can we come in?" Hiccup asked as he motioned that they were still standing in the doorway.
"Oh, of course, would you like a tour of my ice palace?" Elsa said as she cast her hand toward the grand staircase that wrapped itself like a spiral to the second floor.
Moving out of the doorway, he pushed the two heavy ice doors closed and moved to catch up with Elsa and Toothless who were already halfway up the stairwell.
Even though he was reunited with Elsa, the sick feeling he had in his stomach and the high temperature on his forehead had not gone away. In fact, he felt worse, and his side was hot to the touch. "It will go away, it is just because I am hungry and have been up all day and night. Once I eat again and take a nap, I will feel better."
Coming to stop in the middle of the hallway he could see two open doorways, one led to a bedroom on the left and the other held a large open room with a balcony and a chandelier made of ice. He saw Elsa make her way into the bedroom, but as he moved past the large room the light of the sun filtered in through the large open doors casting rays of sunlight down onto the floor which created beautiful reflections.
A feeling of nausea ran its way up from the pit of his stomach to the top of his forehead causing Hiccup to stop and catch his breath. As he tried to move forward a shot of pain erupted from his side, causing him to collapse down onto his bum and leaned his sweat covered head onto the cold ice wall for relief. Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths to calm himself and get his bearings.
"Hiccup? Hiccup?" Elsa called out from the bedroom before she rounded the corner and saw Hiccup collapsed against the hallway.
"Hiccup, what is wrong?" Elsa asked as she ran to his side. Crouching down next to him she put her hand on his side, but Hiccup released a hiss as pain erupted again. "It's nothing Elsa, I promise, I'm just tired," Hiccup said hoarsely. Pulling back her hand and turning it over revealed that her hand was coated in bright red blood. "Oh God. Let us get you to my bed." Pulling him up by placing her hands underneath his armpits and hoisting him up, she led him to her bedroom. Casting a soft bed of snow onto the ice bed, she helped lay him down and asked Toothless to come near. Searching through his various satchels she pulled out his aid kit and a blanket which she folded and laid underneath his head to keep it elevated.
"Now let us see what happened." Elsa moved a layer of Hiccup's armor to reveal the old arrow wound had indeed opened and blood was seeping out at a good speed. "Hiccup, your old wound has reopened and…" Elsa stopped speaking as she noticed something poking up from underneath his skin. "Hiccup did something hit you that caused your wound to open?" She asked, and she looked closer.
"Yes… you."
"Me?"
"Remember in the hallway, I caught your cape and you spun around released a shot of ice at me? It knocked the literal breath out of me and caused me to pass out for a few minutes. I think you will need to fish out the ice and sew up my cut." Hiccup said as he rolled his head over and nodded toward the needle and thread.
"If it is ice, then I can just will it away, but it should have melted by now." Elsa cast her hand over the open wound and watched as the skin remained raised. "Hiccup, it is not ice. Something else is under your skin. I think you will have to fish it out with one of your tools." Elsa moved over to where Toothless was laying and looked through his satchel to find and a small pair of tweezers.
Hiccup leaned up to look at the cut, but more pain erupted as his muscles flexed around the wound and whatever was underneath his skin, it was sharp.
"Elsa, I am in no position to get the fix myself, I will need you to patch me up." He asked as he cast his gaze at his love.
"No, no Hiccup I am not a doctor… Doctor Aaron taught me to sew up wounds not to explore the interior of the human body, I have never even cut into an animal let alone another human being. You need to do this." Elsa said as she tried to hand Hiccup the tool.
Hiccup cast his gaze at his love, "Elsa do you love me?"
"You know the answer to that Hiccup."
"Elsa, do you want to see me in pain?"
"No," Elsa answered in a defeated tone as she knew deep down that it was up to her to help Hiccup.
Retaking the tweezer, she positioned it at the entrance to the cut as more blood seeped out of him and onto the bed of snow.
"Now whatever is in my body is most likely stuck between the underside of my skin and my large intestine, and if you don't remove it carefully it could puncture my intestine and cause the contents inside to spill into my body poisoning me." Hiccup said as he saw Elsa's eyes widened and her breathing hitched for a moment, "now what you want to do is force the item up towards my skin until one end is free and can move, and only then can you pull it towards the opening."
Elsa looked down at her trembling hand, "will it puncture your skin?" She asked nervously.
"It shouldn't, human skin is very flexible and should stretch to accommodate the item in my body."
Hiccup pulled a piece of leather from his suit and placed it in his mouth to bite down on.
"Are you ready?" Elsa asked as she placed the tweezer at the opening.
Hiccup nodded in return.
Elsa forced the tweezer into Hiccups open wound toward the raised skin. Hiccup felt slight discomfort as the cold metal tool briefly touched his intestine before pulling away. She fished around till she came upon the item in question. Maneuvering around so she got a good grip on the unwanted piece, she did as Hiccup instructed raising it up towards his skin and causing his skin to stretch out.
Hiccup hissed in pain as the nerve endings reacted. "I think it is free, the pain has decreased a little, now pull it out."
Elsa pulled it out and watched as little by little the item revealed itself to be a long wooden pin. Nearly two inches in length and stained in blood and a bit of muscle, Elsa let out a sigh of relief in getting the pin out.
Pushing himself up a bit, a shot of pain flared up again. Hiccup ran his hand over his side to reveal to his alarm two more pins stuck up and raising his skin. Taking the piece of leather out of his mouth, he turned to his love. "Elsa, there are two more pins." He said as he saw Elsa whip her head in his direction.
"What?!" She asked visibly shocked.
"You need to go back in and get them out."
Elsa deflated a little but nodded in confirmation to Hiccups request.
Over the course of the next couple of hours, she went in and retrieved the last two pins. Hiccup sighed in relief as he ran his hand over his lower abdomen and felt no raised edges. "Alright, now you can sew me up and I can finally take a rest."
Elsa did just that, using a metal needle and thread to sew Hiccup's cut up. Retrieving a bottle of alcohol and cloth, she prepared to clean the wound of old blood.
"Now, what you want to do is pour the alcohol onto…" Hiccup started but could not finish as Elsa poured the alcohol onto his skin directly. "Oh, Mercy of Thor!" Hiccup yelled out, causing Elsa to pull back and stop, "you said to pour the alcohol…"
He raised a finger that said, 'one moment'. Then turned his face away from Elsa to silently curse and relax his pain-stricken face. After a moment he turned back around.
"I was going to say pour the alcohol onto the cloth and pat the wound till the old blood is gone, but I guess this way was quicker. At least it is over and now I can take a nap." Hiccup released a sigh as he laid his head fully onto the blanket and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry Hiccup, I did not mean to cause you harm. I just wanted to help."
Hiccup reopened his eyes and looked at Elsa. "And that you did, you saved my life Elsa, and I will never forget that. If those pins had remained inside my they could have ripped my intestines open and slowly killed me, you saved me, Elsa." He brought his hand up to behind her neck and pulled her down low enough to kiss her forehead. "Thank you."
Releasing her, he laid himself back down and gave her a small smile.
"By the way Hiccup where and when did you receive that bruise on your cheek?" She asked as she pointed to the fresh bruise on his cheek.
"Anna, your sweet sister," Hiccup responded dryly.
Elsa's eyes widened for a moment before relaxing, "Anna? Why would she hit you?"
"She backhanded me when she found out that I knew about your powers but did not tell her in the years leading up until this night. She also left Prince Hans of the Southern Isles in charge of Arendelle until you or her returns." Hiccup said as he shifted himself on the snow to get comfortable.
"Anna left on horseback to look for you, though I doubt she will find you up here. I bet she will return to Prince Hans unless everyone in your family can traverse the sides of mountains with no equipment or help. Come to think of it, how did you climb this mountain?" Hiccup asked sleepily, truly wanting to know how she managed to climb such a steep mountain.
Elsa could see Hiccups eyes droop lower as he tried to fight off the wanting to sleep and relax after the minor surgery if one would call it that.
Elsa gave a small smile as she leaned down and kissed Hiccup on his bruise, and to her amazement, the bruise lightened in color to make it appear that it was not sensitive to touch anymore, "did the ice dull the nerves." Elsa thought before she looked back and saw that Hiccup had closed his eyes with a soft smile on his relaxed face.
Moments later, Elsa could hear the soft breathing of a now asleep Hiccup.
Rising from her crouched position, Elsa moved over to an ice basin and rinsed her hands with the remaining alcohol and melted snow. As she moved toward the door, Toothless' sleeping form caused Elsa to stop, she noticed a touch of purple sticking out from the side satchel. Moving forward and flipping the latch up to reveal her magenta cape. The same cape she had rid from herself as she created her ice palace. Looking over toward Hiccup and Toothless who had laid himself next to his master in a protective manner, tail laying around his legs.
Elsa unfurled the cape to its maximum length and laid it over Hiccup as a replacement blanket for the one under his head.
Satisfied with herself, Elsa created a door for the room and closed it behind her. Moving from the bedroom to the massive open balcony, she cast her eyes upon her handiwork and gazed at the mountains and sunset. Looking down at her hands, she smiled to herself. "I saved his life, I did something good for once instead of scaring those I love. Now if I can convince him to live here with me, then I won't have to think about going home. Anna is perfectly capable of ruling in my stead. Hiccup can catch and cook our food and I can give him a family. Everything will be perfect."
She was brought of her thoughts by a series of knocks at her front door. "If Hiccup is here, then who is at my front door? Could it be Anna?" Elsa asked out loud, as she moved to walk down the staircase.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will read the next one when it comes out, please continue to review and follow this story, I thank you for your continued support and patience.
