Anna ran through the crowd, pulling a blindfolded Kristoff along behind her. She's so excited she can't stand it. It had been 3 days since the great thaw and summer had returned to Arendelle. The Hooligans were going home today since the storm was over and their ship had been repaired, by hand thanks to Hiccup because he was the only one in Arendelle with the skills necessary to fix the primitive Viking ship. Though it surprised the Vikings that Hiccup being as calm, and formal as he was still remembered the things he learned under Gobber.
Hiccup didn't hate them, as he'd stated but the pain of what they put him through would take some time to get over. He ran away because he was sick of living a lie, the lie everyone cared about him when in reality they only cared about the dragon tamer side of him. No one asked how he was otherwise, only how he managed such a task. It was all questions about dragons, but never himself. He'd made it clear to them that if they wanted him to be their friend again, they would have to earn his trust back.
The two of them were standing there surrounded by citizens smiling and excited. The gates to the castle were wide open. In the courtyard. Everyone now aware of their queen's powers wanted to see them in action without the fear of an eternal winter. And Elsa knew with Hiccup beside her, there was nothing to fear. "Are you ready?" Elsa asks smiling. Villagers cheered. Elsa looks down as she stomps her foot on the ground and creates an ice rink in the courtyard. The people, skates at the ready, hop onto it and twirl about. Elsa then freezes the two fountains on her left and right in a beautiful design and forms a snow ball in her hand and tosses it in the air, it gave off a pop, then dispersed and a light snow flurries began to fall around them.
Now everyone was having a good time as Hiccup placed his arm around Elsa's waist smiling lightly. Anna comes slipping in but Elsa catches her.
"I like the open gates." Anna tells her elder sister in reference to the fact they had been closed for so long.
"We are never closing them again." Elsa smiles then waves her hand and magical ice skates form on Anna's boots.
"What? Oh, Elsa, they're beautiful, but you know I don't ska–..." Elsa grabs Anna's hands and pulls her along on the ice. Anna slips and slides, but laughs in delight. Hiccup watched the two sisters slide around as he sees the Agnarr and Iduna standing and watching everything. He smiled and carefully walked towards the former king and queen to stand beside them.
"Its good to see things so happy again." Iduna sighed in contentment.
"Yes and Elsa will make a fine queen, and there will be a wonderful king at her side soon." Agnarr added as they both gave Hiccup hopeful looks.
"I know you're wondering when I'm going to ask her. And the answer is soon my lord and lady. I was going to do it after the Hooligans leave today over dinner." Hiccup chuckled a little.
"Oh dear, you should do it while your father is here. I'm sure he'd like to see it." Iduna informed him softly. "Have you purchased a ring for her yet?" Iduna then asks.
"No my lady." Hiccup smiled earning worried and surprised looks from their future son in law. "I made one. It is a...Viking custom to create the object used to propose marriage. This can be a bracelet, necklace, or ring. I of course go with the obvious option." Hiccup then told them as they sighed in relief. It was then that Stoick and the other tribe members approached seeing the ice rink and everyone sliding around having fun. Hiccup's smile turned to a serious, calm like face as he looked at them now. "Your ship is prepared for travel. I ran over the final inspection just this morning." Hiccup stated.
"Oh, um...thank you, Prince Hiccup." Stoick offered a bow to his son, Hiccup returned it by bowing his head. "I suppose we will be on our way then. We hope to...see you soon?" Stoick asked. Elsa now slid up beside Hiccup and linked her arm to his smiling.
"Perhaps." Hiccup answered.
"Can you stop being so formal man, its really creepy..." Snotlout said with a groan.
"I'm a prince, I will act as such thank you very much." Hiccup stated.
"Well its weird...Why don't you just come back with us now?...I mean everyone is going to want to see you, especially Gobber." Astrid added.
"You cannot expect me to just leave Arendelle today and follow you back to Berk." Hiccup mentioned with a sigh. "There is far to much to do here for me to just leave, on that subject also. I just came back from a long trip. I would like time to enjoy it here before I make a another extended trip." Hiccup added.
"Actually love, over the last few days...I've been speaking with your father about opening...a possible trade route with Berk. This could...be an excellent opportunity to see what we might be able to trade with them?" Elsa offered now seeing the desperation in Stoick's eyes for Hiccup to come back to Berk for a little while.
"Elsa darling, it's a 5 day trip from Arendelle to Berk. Wouldn't would like to rest and enjoy the kingdom a while longer?" Hiccup asked a little surprised at the new information.
"After the last week, I could use a vacation. Please?" Elsa pleaded softly. Hiccup sighed then smiled.
"If my beloved queen would like a vacation then who am I to deny such a request. Very well, we'll go back with them." Hiccup felt Elsa happily wrap her arms around his waist.
"Ooh oh! Can we come too?" Anna asked with Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf beside her.
"It's an 8 day trip actually." Fishlegs added.
"My queen, I will have your attendants pack your bags for you." Hiccup said to her, she nodded gently as he looked to Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf. "And I suppose if you really want to go then its alright with me..." Hiccup closed his eyes.
"This is so exciting!" Anna chirped clapping her hands as she rushed in to the castle with Kristoff to pack their things up.
"Great then, we'll sail in an hour?" Stoick asked curiously.
"That is sufficient time to prepare for travel yes." Hiccup nodded as he then turned from them with Elsa, holding her left hand with his left while his right was around her back guiding her inside the castle. Stoick sighed a little.
(30 Minutes Later)
They were all sitting at the large square dining room table eating in silence. Hiccup was sitting beside Elsa at the head of the table. To their left was Agnarr, Iduna, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf. To their right was Stoick, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. They were eating chicken breast with corn, mashed potatoes, and two slices of buttered bread. The hooligans loved the food served at the castle, it was nothing like what they had on Berk.
"Forgive my curiosity, chief Stoick but you mentioned 3 days ago that after Hiccup left you all...stopped killing dragons? I find myself asking why." Agnarr asked to break the silence of the room. Hiccup glance over slightly waiting on the answer as well.
"Oh well it happened the next morning after Hiccup had left. I went to his room and found him gone, I saw the letters and brought them downstairs where all of them were waiting, Gobber too. Astrid, Gobber, and myself each read the letters out loud. It was then that Snotlout said we had to find him. I decided then that I would send out 4 ships, one in each direction. We'd all split up and travel on one of them to look for him." Stoick began calmly.
"And then I asked about the dragon killing, because Hiccup had mentioned it in all his letters that he couldn't do it, didn't want to do it. Thinking that maybe it was a reason you'd left." Ruffnut added quickly.
"Stoick decided that until we found another solution...we wouldn't kill them. Just fend them away from the village...to try and have peace with them like his former wife tried to do." Fishlegs said now.
"And how did you manage to not kill them?" Anna asked now.
"In...Hiccup's letter to me, he had explained what he used in training...so I told everyone else and that's how we got them to relax and leave. We still get raids, we just don't kill them anymore...We thought that...if we found Hiccup and he learned we weren't hurting them...he might come home." Astrid said softly.
"Though I'm pleased to hear you listened to something I said for once and have decided not to kill them. I'm still not living there again." Hiccup stated.
"W–we know...but 6 years ago...we thought it might be enough." Stoick sighed sadly.
"And the village, won't have a problem with Hiccup returning for this visit on Toothless?" Elsa asked curiously now.
"No. As soon as we arrive I'll make it known that it is fine with me." Stoick said quickly.
"And is it father? Is it alright with you that your son rides the back of a dragon?" Hiccup stood up from his seat once he finished.
"If...it makes you happy, then I don't mind at all son. I know I made a lot of mistakes raising you, and I'm sorry I was so neglectful to make you want to leave. I know I can't make you came back to Berk permanently, because this is your home now. I told myself if I ever found you again, that I'd listen to you and be okay with anything you wanted to do. As long as you were safe, healthy, and happy." Stoick told him.
"I'm glad to hear so. Took you 14 years but I won't complain..." Hiccup said.
"Mother, father you don't mind watching the kingdom while I'm away?" Elsa asked her parents now.
"Of course not, Elsa. How long do you plan to be away?" Agnarr questioned looking at her. Elsa looked at Hiccup for help now, since he was the resident mapper of Arendelle.
"I'll figure it out, hold on." Hiccup said as he bowed to Elsa then left the dining room.
"Where is he going?" Fishlegs asked curiously.
"He's going to get his map to figure out the travel times." Elsa replied softly.
"But...he already said it was 5 days for him?" Tuffnut added in blinking a little. No sooner than he had left, Hiccup returned with a large rolled up map. Seeing the table was cleared by the staff he set it down and laid it out for everyone to see. "Woah that's big..."
"It looks nothing like our maps...how can you understand all this?" Astrid asked him.
"I spent 6 years learning it all. No if you don't mind...I need to concentrate." Hiccup said as he pulled a pencil from behind his ear and marked Arendelle then drew a light line to Berk. He put the pencil down as he stepped towards the door leading outside for a moment, then returned inside and marked a few numbers down, then words.
"Hiccup is quite the mapper. His knowledge level of wind speeds, travel distance, and direction is unheard of." Agnarr chuckled. Hiccup smiled as he put the pencil down and cracked his neck side to side then stood back.
"Figured it all out love?" Elsa asked gently.
"Yeah, should be smooth sailing. The winds are blowing West, the speed is give or take 20 miles an hour, and the waves are steady. I'll track it on travel but as it stands, we should reach Berk in 7 days." Hiccup informed her.
"But you said it took you 5 days?..." Stoick said blinking at how fast his son figured everything out.
"Because I was flying. Air speed on a dragon who has 48 foot wing span and streamlined body type is a great deal faster than on a boat which requires winds to be with it for sailing. When I left Berk that night the winds were with us and I went East. Toothless and I would fly all night, and stop on an island for half the day to eat and keep going. I only slept maybe 5 hours a day. The rest was travel." Hiccup explained.
"Wow...being up in the air must be pretty cool..." Snotlout told him.
"You can never understand the feeling you get from flying as high as the clouds." Hiccup smiled now.
"So 7 day trip?" Anna asked. "What about how long we're staying and return?"
"As it stands, Princess Anna. It could change depending on weather and wind. That's why I said I would track it as we go. I'll be flying and when Toothless needs a break, we'll set down on the ship. As for return I believe staying two weeks should be more than enough time to go through the proper negotiations for trading. On that note, I took the liberty of having all your bags placed on the ship so when every is ready we can leave." Hiccup stated now rolling the map up. Hiccup felt Iduna nudge him and he looked down at her while she cleared her throat and motioned to Elsa with her eyes.
Hiccup caught the hint, for him to propose before they left. Hiccup sighed, he knew that they wanted to see it so he'd do it. Why not? He knew Elsa would say yes after all they'd been through together. "Well, we're ready." Anna says getting up with Kristoff and her arm linked to his.
"As are we." Stoick said while they got up.
"Wait." Hiccup said firmly as they all looked at him confused. "There is...something I have to do first." Hiccup said as he placed the map down on the table and approached Elsa and offered her his hand, she looked at him not understanding but she took it as he pulled her gently from her seat. "Your majesty, given I was not present when you became the queen. I find it only appropriate that I offer you your first dance as such. So, may I have this dance?" Hiccup asked her lightly smiling. Elsa blushed deeply as she nodded to him. It was now that Iduna motioned for the others to sit down smiling as she leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, him not able to hide the smile either.
Hiccup moved her away from the table and then offered a bow. "Hi–Hiccup...I...don't dance..." Elsa said quickly.
"Do you remember what I told you when I took you flying on Toothless?" Hiccup says softly.
"Y–yes. You told me to trust you..." Elsa replied.
"And do you?" Hiccup asked.
"O–of course I do but–..." She began.
"No buts my queen. If you trust me, then take off the gloves." Hiccup smiles lovingly at her. Elsa bit her lower lip but she removed her gloves, Hiccup took them from her and tossed them on the table. "Now change back in to the blue dress, the ice one...And don't ask. Just trust me." Hiccup tells her gently.
Elsa nods to then she tears her hair down from its ties and lets the braid fall over her right shoulder. She used her hands to rake back the loose pieces,The bottom of her dress as a frost layer pattern of ice seemed to form and slowly move up changing her outfit to the blue ice dress she was wearing when she built the ice palace.
"That was...amazing." Fishlegs said as they sat in awe of what they just watched. Hiccup smiled as took her hand in his and pulled her frame against his. He wrapped right arm around her waist, her right hand rested on his shoulder while he held her left with his own and began to dance with her, she smiled following his lead.
"Elsa. I have to be honest with you, in all my last 18 years...I never imagined my life would turn out this way and I am so thankful that it has. I have almost everything I could ever want..." Hiccup began.
"Almost everything?" Elsa asked now.
"Yes, there is still one thing missing. Do you want to know what it is?" Hiccup asked.
"Of course I do. Anything you need or want, Hiccup and I will find a way to make it happen." Elsa replied gently as he pulled back and span her around with a smile before letting go and carefully dropping to one knee while holding her hand in his making her gasp out in shock.
Iduna and Agnarr smiled wide as while the rest sitting at the table went wide eyed with mouths hanging open. "This is the very room, the very spot where we met. From the moment my hand touched yours, I knew there was something there. You became my best friend, and we did everything together. From simple walks in the garden, to flying high in the clouds with Toothless. Your powers brought me to you, and learning what I did its very clear to see that we were meant to be. You asked me what I wanted or needed, and to answer that...I only want and need is for you to say yes. All I want or need is you in my life forever. I don't want anyone else, I don't need anything else. I want this for the rest of our lives. So Elsa Agoarsdotter, will you make me the happiest man alive and become my wife?" Hiccup asked as he pulled from his pocket a light blue velvet box and opened it presenting a ring to her.
The ring was silver with intricate engraved swirls on the outside of the band, little snowflakes carved between the swirls and sitting on top were 3 stones. A light white one, and two sapphire ones on either side of the white. Elsa had tears forming in her blue eyes as she dropped the hand that had made it to her mouth during Hiccup's speech, trying to keep her tears from falling she nodded her head to him. "Yes...YES!" She screamed out happily as she threw her arms around his neck and it forced them both down to the ground. Elsa kissed him deeply and he returned it.
The room began to clap for them as Hiccup sat up taking the ring out of the box and placing it on her left hand ring finger. Hiccup helped Elsa to her feet as she hugged him tightly. Congratulations." Agnarr smiled as he offered Hiccup a handshake.
"We know without a doubt you two will have many years of happiness together. And if I might add, you will make a wonderful king standing beside our daughter, Hiccup. Thank you for all you've done since you arrive, and we hope you'll continue to do." Iduna smiles as she hugs Hiccup, then Elsa. Anna hugged them next as Kristoff shook their hands. The Hooligans got up and walked over now to congratulate the newly engaged couple. Mostly handshakes, no hugging though.
"Its been my pleasure to offer my assistance to Arendelle. And I give my word that I will continue to help all I can. We will hold the engagement party when we return in a month. Possibly sooner, depends on the trip overall." Hiccup bowed his head to them.
"We will have things prepared for your return. Better get a move on before the weather changes. Safe travels to you all, we are certain with Hiccup aboard nothing will go wrong. The man can handle any situation good or bad." Agnarr states.
"Is everyone ready to depart?" Elsa asked now.
"We are." Kristoff said standing with Anna and Olaf.
"So are we." Stoick nodded.
"Well lets get going then. We have a long trip ahead of us. Elsa love, will you be flying with me or sailing?" Hiccup asked her.
"I'll fly for a while." Elsa smiled while the group of them walked outside where Sven and Toothless were waiting on the docks. The Hooligans glanced over their ship, seeing how it looked.
"I made a few changes. Such as the mast, sails, and wheel. I understand you have no idea how to use it so I've asked the captain, 4 crew members and 2 guards to join us. Let them handle the ship." Hiccup stated as he swung his leg over Toothless and opened his tail. Elsa moved behind him and wrapped her arms over his waist smiling happily. The dock master's men waited for them to all board the ship before removing the gangplank and untying the ship from the posts on the dock. The ropes were thrown to the ship and the anchor lifted.
It didn't take long for the ship sail to catch the western winds and cut through the waters out to sea. "Alright Toothless, lets go bud." Hiccup told his dragon. Toothless roared out as he took to the skies and followed the boat, soaring above it. The start of the trip back to Berk, Hiccup dreaded it but it was only two weeks. What could possibly go wrong in that time?
