Chapter 3
"You haven't told them?!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Well…. I may have…. Sort of… rushed to the prison before informing them," Hiccup nervously said. "Though they should already suspect seeing as the news of me bringing a lady into the palace may have spread through the maids and then to the butler, and the aides all the way to my parents."
"Does news in the palace really spread so fast?" Astrid raised a brow in scepticism.
"Well there is one way to find out." Hiccup laughed before he called out in the direction of the closed double doors "Gobber you there?!"
"Yes lad!" Came the reply from the other side. "Wait.. uhm.. No.. uhm.. I ain't here…"
"I'm assuming my parents know," Hiccup then said loudly.
"Oh boy… do they ever…." Gobber responded after being caught on the other side of the door. "They're waiting for you in your father's office. I'll just be going now…."
"Astrid…" Hiccup stood up and held out his hand for her to take. She took the offered hand and the pair walked out of the room. Along the hall Astrid noticed several knights stationed there as guards. The knights obviously tried to keep a straight face but she did feel some of their glances. Then she had another thought that sent her into a somewhat nervous moment. She was going to meet the King and Queen.
The walk to the study took no time at all and Astrid honestly wished it had. She might not show it but she was nervous as hell. This was not how she had imagined meeting the King and Queen. She wasn't even dressed for the occasion. Her hair was mused and put in a simple bun with several ends sticking out in odd directions, her dress was the same one she had donned to the gala the night she was arrested. The guards hadn't given her any new clothing. She hadn't bathed in Thor knows how long and her jewelry was missing. When she got to the prison, the guards had eagerly taken her jewelry off of her person but had left her in the dress. "Hiccup I don't think… Look at me… what will your parents think?!" She managed to mutter as they neared the oak doors.
"Do you want them to barge in on you when you're taking a bath?" Hiccup asked with a raised brow. "It happened to me too many times to count. They are somewhat impatient if it's about my lovelife. I doubt they would care what you have on now."
Astrid flushed at the thought of the King and Queen seeing her in such a state but she admitted she would be more embarrassed if they saw her in a bathtub. She nodded as Hiccup opened the door to his father's study.
There behind the desk sat Stoick with his fingers folded in front of him. On the brown leather plush couch to the side sat Valka who was sipping some tea. Both of Hiccup's parents gave off an air that could be seen as somewhat menacing. Astrid actually gulped as Hiccup introduced her. She was sure she would be getting the shovel talk now and she wasn't wrong.
"Lady Astrid….." Stoick addressed her as he stroked his red beard. Since she was disowned he couldn't address her as Lady Hofferson yet the King still tried to remain respectful given that she had commoner status now.
"Your Highness," Astrid greeted with a curtsy to both King and Queen. "Forgive my current attire," She added. "This all was most sudden."
"Of course it was most sudden," A small smile appeared on Valka's lips before she took another sip. "Why I nearly choked on my scone when I heard word of Hiccup bringing a lovely lady into the palace."
"Mom….." Hiccup made a pleading noise but it was pushed aside as Valka continued speaking.
"Hiccup only brought one other lady to the palace and she became our Knight Captain later. So you can see how intrigued we are right now." Valka looked Astrid in the eye before taking the last sip of tea that was in her cup. "Tell me, how did he woo you?"
Astrid decided not to beat around the bush and answered bluntly with "He proposed to me in a jail cell, took me back to the palace, swore an oath on his name that I would be his only one and then proposed again."
"WHAT?!" Stoick shouted while his wife nearly choked on her tea. "You already proposed?!" he then directed his inquiry to the closed door of the study. "Gobber is this true?!"
"Uhm… uh… yeah Stoick. The lad worked fast," Gobber's voice came from the other end as he must have been listening in again. Astrid raised a brow as everyone acted like it was a common occurrence.
"My Godfather is somewhat of a busybody," Hiccup whispered to her. "He knows basically all that happens in the castle."
"Oh but we wanted to be there for the proposal!" Stoick, the big, burly and mighty King of Berk nearly whined at having missed his son's marriage proposal.
"Stoick comport yourself!" Valka chastised. "At least we get to help plan the wedding, right son?"
"Well… uhm.." Hiccup gave a nervous chuckle. "I think that should be up to Astrid. Given what happened at her last wedding…"
"Astrid what do you think?" Valka then asked. "A lavish wedding, all the best foods in the kingdom, a dress with gorgeous pearls? The best tailors and chefs would be at your disposal. I can already see you and my son walking down that aisle as guests shower you in flower petals and rice."
"Your Majesties," Astrid said as eyes turned to her. "While I appreciate your suggestions I will have to respectfully decline. As Hiccup said, my last ceremony left somewhat of a sour taste in my mouth. If I would have to choose the type of wedding I really want it would be a small gathering with close friends and family." She explained and then a pang went through her heart as she remembered that she didn't have a family now. "But Hiccup is my fiance now and I will take his decision into account as well. If he wishes for a lavish wedding and reception then we can surely compromise."
"Interesting," Valka smirked and Hiccup suddenly realized belatedly that she had been testing Astrid to see if she would be easily drawn to riches. "A woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind even when facing a Queen." Valka then turned to her husband "I like her Stoick. We are definitely keeping her."
"Mom….." Hiccup groaned.
"Now wait just a second here Valka. I am still somewhat against this union!" The King uttered startling both Hiccup and Astrid.
"Dad why?!" Hiccup asked the same time Gobber's voice came from behind the door with a shout of "Stoick why?!"
"Gobber if you're going to listen in then you might as well join the conversation." Stoick groaned.
"Well… you see…. It's not just me here…." Gobber could be heard gulping while Stoick massaged his forehead.
"All of you just come in!" He then ordered. Astrid saw Gobber for the first time. The Royal advisor was accompanied by a black-haired woman in armour and a red-headed man who had on a straw hat. Hiccup quickly introduced the remaining two as Heather, the Knight Captain, and her older brother Dagur, the Royal gardener. He added that both Dagur and Heather were childhood friends.
"Now where was I…." Stoick muttered. "Ah, yes. There are a few reasons that still need to be addressed. Particularly your fiance's prison sentence. Violence against another Noble is still an offence."
"Dad we talked about this…" Hiccup said as he took a step forward. "Anyone would certainly react like that if Snotlout did what he did to her. Behind the curtain most of the Nobility even support her actions."
"I'm agreeing with Hiccup here Stoick. If you would have ever done something like that to me you would have been without certain assets." Valka uttered with a dangerous edge in her voice causing her husband to shiver. "Snotlout may be my nephew but he got off too lightly."
"Your Majesty," Astrid said as the room quieted. "I know where you're going with this and I have to agree with you."
"SAY WHAAAAAAAT!" Several people shouted but Stoick held up a hand to quiet them so Astrid could continue.
"The Royal family represents Berk. It is such that they need to keep a clean image. A scandal like what I faced will cause tongues to wag. Also taking into account that I was imprisoned and then released by Royal decree after assaulting a member of higher peerage, and subsequently naming me as Crown Princess, will cause neighbouring countries to think that the Royal family may have gone soft and felt pity for my lot in life. I have no doubts that there are vultures waiting in the wings ready to snap at any moment." Astrid addressed the King with her head held high.
"Even so….." Astrid continued. "I have been humiliated, disowned and left to rot. I have nothing to my name except for my dragon. I know my marriage to Hiccup isn't one of love yet but your son has decided on me as his fiance and we have both agreed. I owe your son my life. As a woman with nothing to lose and everything to gain, I say let the vultures come. I will face them head on."
It was quiet after Astrid spoke. The conviction in her words could still be felt in the study. It was Gobber who broke the silence with a whistle to indicate that he was impressed. "The lass has balls I tell ya. Hiccup sure knows how to pick them."
"You said… yet…." Hiccup gaped at his future bride.
"That is what you are focusing on?" Astrid murmured.
"Thor yes!" Hiccup's face lit up however eyes turned back to the King as his laughter boomed through the room.
"Lass, my son chose wisely." Stoick stated. "You certainly don't shine away or mumbled your words when faced with opposition."
"Does this mean….." Hiccup asked.
"I'm approving of this marriage. You two can set the date yourself and inform us later." Stoick nodded. "Now why don't you both get some rest. Hiccup I'm sure you can show Astrid to her new rooms in the Palace and have some maids attend to her needs."
"Stoick I'll go with them." Valka said as she ushered her son and future daughter-in-law along with Heather and Dagur out.
The King nodded and then said "I will join you shortly. Gobber and I have some business to discuss." When the doors closed the King turned to his advisor. "What did you find out?"
"It's as you suspected. The King and Queen of the Southern Isles have no knowledge that this engagement has been canceled. They would never have allowed it." Gobber stated. "I know an old barman whose son works in the Palace there as a knight. According to him the Regent has been making some aggressive moves. He's also Princess Margarette's confidant."
"That's concerning. Do you think the Regent will try to seize power?" Stoick asked.
"With Princess Margarette as a puppet Queen? I doubt it." Gobber said. "That lass is too opinionated to be someone's puppet. It's most likely she is the one pulling the strings."
Stoick was deep in thought for a moment as Gobber continued "The Princess has thirteen older brothers all in line for the throne. Well except for that last one. His stunt in Arendelle cost him his right to succession."
"Gobber don't you think this is all a bit sudden? Something isn't right here." Stoick muttered. "The Princess had more to win if she married into our family."
"I'll ask some acquaintances to find more information." Gobber stated. "But unless some unfortunate accident befalls the King, Queen, and all their sons in the short span of time the Regent is in power then I don't think she has a chance to act.
"Gobber….."
"Yes Stoick….."
"Where is King Westergaard signing the trade agreement again?" Stoick asked with all seriousness.
"The Kingdom of DunBroch. They recently started opening relations with the north again after the new monarch was crowned."