I do not own the story of How to train your dragons or any of the original characters or the original storylines. Any names matching public or historical figures are strictly coincidental. This story is not historically accurate or intended to be. The story is rated M because of language and adult situations. Anyone below the age of 17 should probably not read this story.

Chapter 22 Discoveries

Preparing for a royal outing, even of short duration is not an easy task. A king or queen is usually the head of the government. This means that proper security must be provided, carrier pidgeons sending letters to all neighboring countries so that any foreign representatives could be allowed to come as needed, provisions, servants, transportation, housing and many more aspects of the trip must be provided for. This trip for the Dunbroch royal family was no different.

King Fergus liked to travel around his kingdom on a regular basis so the staff that supported the

royal family were quite used to preparing for such an event. Carriages for the royal family, wagons for the soldiers, servants, and supplies were obtained. Horses for the cavalry and transportation were gathered as well as the feed required for all of them and the drivers. Though it took a lot of work, there was always an abundance of volunteers to take part in the endeavor. King Fergus was a very generous King with both his time and his resources.

If Elenor ha been asked, she too would have admitted her excitement on this family vacation. Because of her role as queen, she usually had to stay behind to manage the castle and the country. Getting away was a joy. The children, of course, was very excited. Elisa, Ylva and Hiccup may have been well-traveled but this was Princess Merida's first long trip away from her home. Maudie had all she could do to keep the Prince and Princess from getting underfoot.

Elisa and Ylva were starting to get used to dresses but insisted on wearing their own clothes to travel in. Elinor intervened but had the seamstress, the tailor, and the guardian of arms

make several sets of clothing that included some quality leather armor made for the girls. Ylva and Elisa were overjoyed when they saw the clothes and armor but protested stating they had no way of paying for it all.

Elisa; "Your grace, we appreciate what you have done for us but we cannot accept on the grounds that Vikings pay their way in this world and if they cannot they make do with what they have. Ylva and I will do the same if you please."

Elinor; "Ah donno be pleased. While ye are in Scotland ye are ladies of me court. Ah willno have ye walking around in one set of clothes. Ah am very fond of ye both and ye represent the royal family while ye are with us. If ye insist, Ah will have Fergus increase yer wages for protecting Merida and Hiccup and take a tiny bit o at so yer sense of honor willno be upset. Ah willno have it any other way."

Ylva and Elisa both decided they were outflanked and ushed up and gave Elinor a big hug and kisses on both cheeks. Once dressed, (Elinor waited while

Donna and Grace helped the two Viking girls dress), the queen looked them over.

The girls both wore a type of on piece pantaloon type of outfit. All of the girl clothes were made of linen, cotton, wool, and leather. Today, Ylva was wearing dark red and Elisa dark grey. They both wore vests made of heavy wool lined with cotton. Both were dyed black with and the Dunbroch family crest embroidered on the right breast. They both wore knee-high fur-lined boots designed after their Viking boots with the pantaloon legs stuffed into the boots. Both girls wore lightly dyed brown leather armor. When the girls wore their dresses they wore their hair down. When in armor, they always wore their hair braided in Viking tradition. Regardless of how their hair was Ylva and Elisa always wore their Kransons.

Princess Merida wore the same type of pantaloons the older girls were wearing but without the armor. She wore a leather crown instead of her golden on. She had little knee-high black boots that were always shined. King Fergus allowed her to ride the new colt he had purchased for her. She also carried a bow and quiver of

arrows the king had obtained for his daughter on her birthday much to the chagrin of the queen. Merida also wore a long fur cloak lined with sheep wool to keep her warm.

Hiccup had chosen to wear a simple green tunic over grey leggings stuffed into his knee-high fur-lined Viking boots. He wore the old tattered fur cloak that Helga and Gobber had given him. Elinor had talked him out of wearing his horned Viking helmet and instead wore a fur-lined green leather cap over his little head and ears.

King Fergus had offered Hiccup his own pony but Hiccup refused. He ha tried riding but had been bucked off so now he neither liked nor trusted horses from then on. Hiccup liked to walk and to run. For little boys his age and size he could set a grueling pace and he only stopped when Elinor or Fergus asked him to come to the carriage.

So for the trip to Castle Delaney Hiccup could be found either beside Merida as she road or slogging along with the foot soldiers. One of the men had made the little Prince a little Halebird which Hiccup

used as a walking staff. All the soldiers had adopted the little Viking boy into their ranks.

Hiccup was astounded by the scenery as the royal family made their way to his castle, (Hiccup still didn't truly believe it when anyone sad he had one), th boy had never seen such high mountains, thick forests or wide-open plains. Everything looked golden as the leaves were beginning to turn.

At the end of the first day, the royal party stopped on a large plain near a stream known as Mcdoogles run after some long-dead Scottish knight. Hiccup ha decided, (without asking permission), to dine and stay the night with the Sergeant of the Guard and his soldiers.

The Sergeant had sent word to the King as to the location of the young Lord of Delaney. Merida had desperately tried to talk to Hiccup through the bond but Hiccup had developed the ability to mask his whereabouts from both Merida and the queen. This caused Merida much distress and the Princess let her betrothed have it when he was finally brought to the royal tent for th evening meal.

Merida; "Hickey where have you been? Ah have been so worried about ye. Ye canno just leave me like at. Yer my betrothed and Ah want ye close ta me at all times," she sobbed loudly.

Ylva in old Norse, "Hiccup, you worried me and Elisa too. We were looking all over for ye. How can we protect you if yer not where you are supposed to be?"

Elinor; "Hiccup, ye are an important person. Ye are a Viking Prince and a Scottish Lord. Ye must be careful and do yer part."

Hiccup was a tired three-year-old and the little boy had enough. He yelled yes yelled at Queen Elinor, "I am nothing. I'm not a Viking prince since my father has disowned me and my mother left me. You are not my mother and Merida is not my wife. I am not a Scottish Lord and I have nothing.

Everyone knows you Scotts just made this all up to keep me alive. Well, it's done. I'm alive so you and the king and Merida can quit pretending. I am nothing. I'm always going to be nothing. I am happy being nothing so just leave me alone. Let

me go back to Bogg Island. I never wanted to be an heir and I don't want to be some fake Scottish Lord! I am going away. BY MYSELF!". And with that Hiccup turned and an out of the tent. Left behind were four hurt and crying females.

Hiccup stealthily made his way out of the camp. It was growing dark. Hiccup had much experience hiding from his father, Chief Stoic the vast. He had successfully hidden from and evade thirty shieldmaidens. The little boy knew not only how to hide from sight but also by scent.

Hiccup could hear the dogs and the horses of the cavalrymen. He walked in the stream, covered himself with mud and back-tracked three times. He was a good four miles away in the dense Scottish moores before King Fergus realized the tiny little boy had given them the slip. The King and his men went back to camp. Fergus walked into the tent where Elinore was waiting.

Elinore; "Any luck dear?" asked the queen. Fergus just shook his head slightly. Fergus was tired and angry. The king had to keep reminding himself that the boy was only three. Fergus was

worried as well. There were bears and wolves aplenty in the moorse. Not to mention the occasional brigand. He put his arms around his wife.

Fergus; "It's too dark ta continue my love. Ah'll head out again in the morning. All we can do is pray at the boy holes up in a good spot and is safe. Now don't cry, Hiccup is a little boy whom we have spoiled and is throwing a temper tantrum. He has to follow our trail to get back to Dunbroch. He can jump as a ship from there to anywhere but he canno keep this up. He is three years old with no food or shelter. He will get hungry and comeback. Ah'm sure of it. How is Merida taking it?