Chapter 5

The soldiers hid their laughter as the Prince was dragged away by the overeager Astrid. The Nightfury cocked his head to the side momentarily before following along after the pair.

"Stormfly is still at the family manor," Astrid said and blushed when she realized that she had been holding Hiccup's hand all the way to the front courtyard where she knew the carriages waited. She let go momentarily due to embarrassment but Hiccup took her hand in his again. Toothless, also wanting to help, nudged his head against Astrid's back, making her lose her balance momentarily and sending her into Hiccup's arms.

Hiccup shot the Nightfury an incredulous look while Astrid quickly straightened herself. The dragon in question merely gave an innocent look and let his tongue hang out like a puppy. Hiccup then proceeded to mount the saddle on Toothless and he held out his hand for Astrid.

"We aren't taking a carriage?" Astrid asked with some confusion. She did take Hiccup's hand as she was helped onto the saddle in front of him. She sat side-saddle because her dress would not allow her to sit normally and she blushed again when she was leaning against Hiccup's surprisingly broad and firm chest. Astrid blushed lightly while her brain went to places she rather not name. She mentally scolded herself and missed Hiccup's explanation as to why they weren't taking a carriage. Her mind had been busy supplying tantalizing images of a certain auburn-haired prince, with a firm chest being half-naked in a lake and Astrid squeaked as Toothless shot in the air. 'She should really scrub her brain with soap' Astrid thought before letting out a shout as they passed through several clouds. When Astrid looked down she saw the island in its entirety.

"I think you should hold on," Hiccup warned her as his arms tightened slightly around her waist. This happened all in several seconds as Toothless descended into a nosedive.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Astrid was sure that even this high up her scream could be heard all over the kingdom. Her arms instinctively tightened around Hiccup's torso, nearly cutting off his air supply as Toothless now started to swoop over the water. The salty waves assaulted Astrid's nose and she opened her eyes, she didn't even know she closed to see the Nightfury gliding above the water. The dragon and rider were clearly having some fun with her and the view all but made up for the scare she had suffered. She had never tried that maneuver with Stormfly and she didn't think she ever would now. Astrid lightly swatted Hiccup on the chest who merely laughed.

"You could have warned me," Astrid mumbled.

"Now what would be the fun in that Milady?" Hiccup laughed as they were now nearing Berk's coast. Soon they were flying over the city and Astrid could see the roofs of the houses very clearly. Near the coast the houses were packed together with some narrow streets and a few main streets. They were flying low enough for Astrid to hear the main street vendors shouting to sell their wares. As they got further south of the island the packed areas gave way to buildings with bigger and bigger yards. The houses with yards often belonged to merchant families and nobles. There was a lot more greenery in this area as there were several large estates. Toothless was landing before Astrid knew it and she was helped down by Hiccup upon the cobbled steps of the sidewalk. Before her was a familiar manor.

Astrid didn't think the manor could change so much in just a few days. Sure it looked the same on the outside but she could feel some deep resentment coming from the house. Astrid was sure it was just her imagination but she couldn't shake it. When she took a step towards the house the guards at the gates stopped her.

"Let me through. I'm here for my dragon." Astrid told them as she looked both men in the eyes.

"We're sorry miss but we were given strict instructions to not let you on the property." One of the guards answered looking slightly uncomfortable.

"By who!" Astrid's brow twitched.

"The new heir of the family." The same guard answered as Astrid gaped and wondered how they had already decided on a new heir to the family fortune. It normally took months of deliberations between family members.

"You will not deny me entrance. My bonded dragon is still on that estate!" Astrid was getting angrier as the guards still blocked her way.

"Miss really….. We can't," The other guard said and then Hiccup stepped forward while holding the emblem of the Berkian Royal family shocking the guards.

"You can let me through now right? Afterall it would be remiss if a Baron didn't welcome the Crownprince and his fiance." He turned towards Astrid for a moment and winked.

Astrid hadn't thought Hiccup would get involved immediately but she also hadn't thought that her family would bar her from her dragon. The guards looked at each other, nodded and opened the gates. One of the guards accompanied Hiccup and Astrid into the foyer and then quickly whispered something to the head butler. A kind old gentleman that was there since Astrid was a baby. When the guard departed the butler turned and offered his greetings.

"Miss Astrid it is good to see you are well." He added as he gave her a fond look.

"Steven I'm so glad to see you again." Astrid said excitedly before surprising the butler with a hug.

"Can you keep me being Hiccup's fiance a secret for now?" Astrid asked causing Hiccup to frown and raise a brow. "My father will go simply ballistic if he figures it out. It would be more amusing to tell him once we are wed."

"You're devious you know," Hiccup commented while the butler gave them a sly smile.

"It may be that my old age is getting to me and I just so happen to forget to mention that little fact," Steven commented casually as he guided the pair into a lavish room.

"How is my mother?" Astrid then asked when Steven had motioned for a maid to prepare some tea.

"The Madam has been sent to the countryside to….. 'Reflect'," Steven told her and his tone of voice suggested that he was most displeased with that.

"What happened?!" Astrid's brows shot up as she knew how much her mother hated traveling to the countryside. She was a lady of the city afterall.

"Several things actually," Steven mentioned "Your mother was quite mad about the broken engagement and once you were imprisoned she went ballistic. She tried to kill the Baron and then make her way over to Duke Jorgenson's manor to give his son and the supposed harlot, her words not mine, he married a piece of her mind. It took twelve guards to stop her from leaving. Ten ended up seriously injured. And when the Madam heard of your disownment…. Well, she broke the Baron's leg and arm."

"Sounds like mom alright," Astrid said so casually that it caused Hiccup to blink at her incredulously.

"Uhm… he just said that your mother tried to kill your father." The Prince mentioned.

"Oh, that's normal." Astrid said. "Mom frequently throws knives when she is displeased at father. The time father tried to deny me combat training she missed his crotch by this much…." Astrid made a motion with her fingers that showed the length of a centimeter causing Hiccup to gulp. "Though her breaking bones means that she was quite mad indeed."

"The Baroness' aim is superb," Steven announced proudly. "If she had wanted her husband gone she wouldn't have missed. Now if you excuse me I will let the Baron know of your arrival. Please enjoy the tea and view until then."

Once the butler left Hiccup asked Astrid "So... combat training?"

"My father is a traditional man. He believes a Noble lady should be meek if she is to score a good husband. My mother disagreed." Astrid said as the pair drank their tea which was surprisingly fragrant. "Mother comes from the Laurant family. They are a merchant family that became rich a few decades ago."

Hiccup nodded as he remembered his history. The Laurant family started off as fish merchants but when the second son took over the family some decades ago because the first son had a gambling problem they started expanding. They quickly gained influence in Berk and the surrounding kingdoms for their wares and were considered Nouveau riche by the longstanding Nobility at the time.

"Because they were merchants that did trade with other island kingdoms mostly they needed to defend themselves. Even the women worked so they too learned. It became a sort of a tradition in that family." Astrid explained.

"So if your father was a traditionalist then why did he…."

"Marry my mother?" Astrid finished the question. "It's simple really. At that point in time the Hofferson family wasn't prosperous. My Grandfather had squandered away the fortune on ventures that gained little capital. Marrying my mother filled up the family coffers again. Mother knew what she was getting into as well. The marriage brought the Laurant family some gains as well."

"The title," Hiccup realized as Astrid nodded. The Nouveau riche were still treated somewhat as outcasts in Noble society by the longstanding Nobles who had inherited their fortunes from long ago. By marrying into a Noble family even that of a Baron would give the Laurant family a claim to a title with which they could further advance their business.

"You know Hiccup," Astrid smiled. "Now that I know for sure that my mother is on my side I think I would like her to meet your mother." This caused Hiccup to nearly choke on his tea. He now had an idea of what Astrid's mother could do and he knew what his mother was capable of. Thor help them all if those two ever meet. The Royal army wouldn't stand a chance.

"I should write to mother soon," Astrid mused aloud, oblivious to her fiance's inner turmoil. For once Hiccup was happy to hear the double wooden doors behind them bang open as it distracted Astrid.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" A rather haughty male voice asked and Hiccup and Astrid turned their heads slightly to see a young blond man dressed in finery approaching them.

"Your Highness," The young man about Hiccup and Astrid's age gave an exaggerated bow when he faced the Prince. Astrid rolled her eyes at her cousin and muttered under her breath 'suckup'.

"Astrid," The man said with contempt.

"Aster," Astrid casually replied. "I see you are still an idiot."

"HOW DARE YOU?!" Aster shouted and Astrid held up a hand to quiet him while giving him a dark look.

"Do you know how many protocols you have just broken?" Astrid asked in an icy voice. "Barging in a room as you did without proper introduction while knowing there is a member of royalty there. Also your extravagant bow is an insult to all Nobility. Can't you even keep your back straight! And addressing someone accompanying a Prince in such a crude and cold manner! How dare you?!" She rebuked as the young man gaped at her.

"You can't talk to me that way!" Aster shouted. "I am Aster Hofferson the new heir to house Hofferson. You are just my stupid cousin that got rejected, made a fool of herself and got thrown into prison and out of the family!"

"Hiccup I'm terribly sorry for my cousin's behaviour. He should know better." Astrid apologized before turning back to Aster and asking "Where is father? We were supposed to talk."

"Uncle is in his rooms recovering. He has placed me in charge of any business dealings." Aster proudly proclaimed.

"Thor help us all," Astrid sighed. "Well let's get down to business," She then said. "I've come for Stormfly."

"No," Aster said smugly as he crossed his arms. "That dragon is property of the Hofferson family."

"Stormfly is bonded to me. I demand you return her!" Astrid hissed as her eyes narrowed.

"You were kicked out of the Hofferson family. Your dragon was not." Aster stated rather condescending. "She will remain here. A Nadder is a rare dragon. It gives us more social status. You of all people should know that. Even if you were left at the altar the Duke wouldn't even have looked your way as a prospective marriage partner for his son if it wasn't for your dragon."

Astrid moved lightning fast after her cousin's comment. Hiccup's brows rose up in shock as he saw Astrid produce a small slim blade from her bosom and then holding it up to Aster's neck. "Keeping a dragon from its bonded is a serious criminal offense," Astrid said in a honey sweet voice that you wouldn't have associated with her cold eyes at the moment. Aster gulped as he felt the dagger at his throat. "In fact, you can make a fool of yourself, then get thrown into prison and out of this family." She hurled his previous words right back at him. "Though it wouldn't be much of a loss for this family."

She let go and Aster fell backwards on one of the couches. He held a hand to his throat where Astrid's blade had been and uttered "Take your damn beast and go!"

"That's more like it. Do say hi to father for me," Astrid said as she made to walk out of the room. Hiccup had stood up and was following behind her. She stopped momentarily and then turned back to her cousin. "Just a word of advice Aster," She said as her eyes softened somewhat. Her cousin was still in shock on the couch but did look up at her. "Know when your strings are being pulled. A puppet is only useful for so long."

With that said Astrid walked out and towards the backyard where Stormfly usually sunbathe. "STORMFLYYYYYYY!" Astrid shouted when she was in the very large garden.

There was some commotion as Hiccup saw a dust cloud approaching. That was probably the last thing he remembered as he was bowled over by a very overeager Nadder.