Chapter 16
"I believe my point is made," Astrid had said and Stoick couldn't help but utter "That's my future daughter-in-law!"
"Dad, you're supposed to be impartial!" Hiccup hissed as a warning and Stoick sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
"How dare you hit me again!" Margarete stood up while clutching her left eye. Her father put a steadying hand on her shoulders but uttered no words in accusation as the situation was in favor of Lady Astrid right now.
"I will now confer justice upon the injured party," Stoick announced, causing Astrid, Hiccup and the others in the hall to stand up straighter. "This matter is concluded as thus, Lady Astrid was acting in self-defense throughout this ordeal and the claim for reparations by the party from the Southern Isles has thus been denied. However, several accusations have also been brought forward. Behaviour unbefitting of a Noble, drawing a weapon in a public area, defamation, extortion of the Crown, and attempted murder just now." Stoick stated as he glared at the Princess who for once gulped as the realization hit her. "Henceforth the King and Princess of the Southern Isles will be barred from Berk indefinitely and seen as persona non grata. They will be held in the Western wing of the Palace under guard as their ship is resupplied for their journey home. They are also obligated to pay reparations for this incident as well as the cost of the supplies they will be using for the coming journey."
"You wish to bankrupt us?!" The King now shouted at Stoick. "You already have a trade embargo against the Southern Isles. There is no way we can make the reparations!"
"You should have thought of that before you let your daughter open her mouth!" Stoick roared as he stood up and pointed an accusing finger at the duo. "This was more than just a simple slight against a Noble and future member of the Royal family! If you cannot pay the reparations that I ask for with your Royal treasury then the Southern Isles shall be annexed to Berk!"
Both Margarette and her father blanched at that statement. Their eyes were wide as they were looking at King Stoick with incredulity. Stoick however continued. "This is my final word on it!" He then called for the guards to escort the duo to the West wing before sinking back down on the throne. The room was quiet as everyone tried to digest what had just happened. Hiccup too tried to get his thoughts into place. The Southern Isles were already suffering due to the trade embargo with Berk and them not securing the other trade partners would have put a strain on the treasury and budgets for their ministers to work with. Furthermore, the charges his father announced would probably drain nearly half of their treasury altogether. By the law of the treaties in place between all the Kingdoms within the Archipelago set generations ago his father did indeed have the right to annex the Southern Isles and make it a Berkian colony if they didn't have the funds.
"Is it safe?" Gobber asked as he peeked slightly into the throne room from a different door. "Stoick, ya didn't cut off any heads did ya?" Gobber asked as he then entered the room fully.
"No I didn't Gobber," Stoick sighed.
"Good. Also yer wife told me to tell you she is very cross with you right now," Gobber stayed by the door just in case he had to make a quick escape. "You were supposed to accompany her to the harbor to welcome the delegates from Dunbroch and Arendelle."
Hiccup saw his father turn white as a sheet as he realized that he had stood his wife up. Hiccup then proceeded to usher Astrid out as Gobber continued to tell Stoick the details of the meeting Valka had with the delegates and what was to come. "Dad broke mom's one rule," Hiccup whispered to Astrid as they left the main corridor. She raised a brow asking for more clarification. "When they got married mom only asked him that when delegates visit they would greet them together to show a united front. There was a slight incident in the past with a visiting ambassador from the east who thought to play the two against each other to get what he wanted." Her fiance stated. "He could have easily postponed the meeting between Margarette and her father so dad will probably be sleeping on the couch until mom cools off. They can't afford to lose these trading partners."
"Can you tell me a little more about these kingdoms?" Astrid asked as Hiccup escorted her to her rooms. "I know Arendelle has a booming coal industry that would be beneficial for us to have access to during the winter months but Dunbroch had been denying trade with the Archipelago for decades now. There isn't much information available about them."
"From what I understand, Dunbroch has a large agricultural and fishing industry set up. Gobber told me that they are branching out into mining as there are many mineral resources there such as silver in their mountains. They might be aiming to recruit our smiths and miners for their knowledge or to forge a trade agreement for the mineral export. Either way it would be beneficial for us though to work together with them." Hiccup explained. "Dunbroch also controls the southern fishing straits while Berk controls the northern ones. Gaining access to the southern routes will open up more variety of fish and trade would boom."
Astrid nodded as they soon reached her rooms. Hiccup was hesitant to say goodbye and Astrid's brows shot up as he became a bit more bold by kissing her on her cheek. She blushed and actually stammered as Hiccup bid her goodbye. Once inside her rooms she leaned heavily against the door.
"My lady," Atali curtsied as she greeted Astrid. Astrid returned the greeting and looked around for the other ladies-in-waiting but only Atali was present. "This came for you while you were out," she said and then proceeded to hand Astrid an envelope.
Astrid frowned as she had no clue who would send her a letter. Especially not one that had the wax seal of the Hofferson family on it. It couldn't be her mother as she would just visit the palace to see her. Her father was still being stubborn she had heard so it was unlikely he would send such a formal letter. She took a seat on the nearby ottoman and broke the wax seal. Her lips immediately pursed as she read what appeared to be an invitation.
"Will you decline?" Atali asked once Astrid had told her about the invite to her uncle's ball tomorrow.
"No, I don't think I will," Astrid said as she placed the invitation back into the envelope. "I'm rather curious about why I was even invited." She already had a pretty good idea but still wanted to confirm it.
Meanwhile in the West wing of the palace, a resounding smack could be heard.
"You stupid girl!" The king bellowed as Margarette clutched her cheek. "I can't believe the situation you got us in!"
"You've learned decorum from an early age! I just didn't expect your utter stupidity!" Her father continued to roar.
Margarette's eyes were cold though as she regarded her father. "Then we pay. The treasury can handle it. We just increase the taxes to fill it up again." She huffed.
"Girl have you learned nothing?!" Her father exclaimed in resignation. "Our economy was hit just after we had raised the taxes for this quarter. Raising them anymore and we'd have a rebellion on our hands."
"Then we make sure that King Stoick won't follow through." Margarette smirked now as she regarded her father who was frowning. "For instance, say if the Prince and I eloped. He wouldn't dare do that to his dear daughter-in-law. He'd be under public scrutiny."
"The Prince is besotted with Lady Astrid. I highly doubt you would be able to seduce him."
"I don't need to seduce him father." Margarette smirked even wider now. "I just need him to get close. Afterall we have that Alchemist aboard our ship."
AN:
Harry: "Why is my Porg stuck three quarters in a planter?"
Vala: "It tried to steal my margarita"
Harry: "You had no trouble with it stealing my alcohol."
Vala: "That was your alcohol. This is mine. It needs to learn the difference."
Harry: "Just you wait. I'll send a flock of Porgs at your booze!"
Vala: "So you're literally sending my food flying towards me? I'll go warm up the grill."
Harry: "You damn Porgicidal maniac!"