Chapter 17

Sierra nervously but hastily made her way towards the Royal chambers within the palace. Remarkably none of the guards tried to stop her even though she was in her maid outfit. She definitely wasn't a maid assigned to this area of the castle. She stopped in front of a set of white double doors and was about to knock when she heard voices from the other side.

"... honey bee…."

"Peaches please…."

"I didn't mean to-"

"Apple of my ey-OW"

"My dragon salmon!"

Her hand had stopped mid-knock as the voices filtered through and she glanced to her right when she heard a snigger. One of the guards was trying to compose himself while the other one on the left seemed to have a stoney expression. Only the mirt in his eyes betrayed him. Sierra had a newfound respect for the guards in the Royal Wing. Oh the things they had to hear and witness, probably on a daily basis.

She finally knocked on the door and the voices on the other side of the room quieted. Some scuffling could be heard before the King answered with "Enter". Sierra opened one of the double doors and peered inside. The Queen was sitting regally in a bathrobe on one of the white couches while holding a porcelain cup of tea while the King seemed to be fidgeting somewhat. She didn't know what had happened between the two but she had to report this development she had overheard.

"Your Majesties," She greeted and curtsied, although a bit clumsy.

"My dear girl, none of that. We're family after all." The Queen said as she put down her cup. "Why are you dressed as a maid again?"

Sierra blushed a bit and then mumbled "To not draw attention," She answered. "You all don't even know me for more than a few days but you treat me so well. I just…. I just didn't want any of you to fall under scrutiny." She didn't know how illegitimate children were treated, in fact she didn't really know how Royalty behaved and so she decided to choose the safest route and stay hidden. While Queen Valka had promised her a Social debut after she learned some of the Noble etiquette she was still very flustered after meeting all these new and important relatives who treated her better than her own father.

"None of that my dear," Valka smiled and patted the seat next to her. Sierra hesitantly took the offered seat as she still couldn't believe that the King and Queen, her uncle and aunt; and wasn't that the shocker, were so accepting. Even the Crownprince threatened her with kindness and that was why she was here right now. There was no way she would let anyone hurt her newfound relatives. She twirled her black hair nervously between two fingers as she spoke next.

"Yesterday I was walking in the West Wing as I came back from exploring the Royal library." Sierra hesitated and kept her eyes from meeting the Queen's. She wasn't that proficient in reading yet but that didn't stop her from loving books and Queen Valka had told her she could explore these places. "and I saw the guards escort a portly man in robes with a large pack into a room."

"Ah, that must have been the healer." The King uttered and then clarified. "The West Wing is where I've put the King and Princess of the Southern Isles mainly because there was no one else staying there. Last night the Princess asked for their personal healer to be brought in as the King had a fainting spell." Stoick then proceeded with muttering under his breath "Well if he hadn't been so brash he wouldn't have been fainting."

"Honey, why didn't you tell me this? The Palace has its own healers." Valka stated.

"Aye, I proposed that too but the Princess was adamant that her father used a specific medication and that their personal healer had it on hand. She actually made several sound points as to why the Palace healers would take too long to make the medicine versus the time it took to send someone to fetch the man from their ship." The King admitted. "I may be strict but I would never deny anyone medical treatment."

"But they didn't call this man a healer. They referred to him as an alchemist." Sierra revealed and then blushed and explained "When I am dressed as a maid people often overlook me. I hear a lot of things I probably shouldn't."

Stoick nodded as he knew that that was the reason Mala recruited mostly servants for her information network. "Well it isn't strange that an alchemist could have knowledge of healing. The alchemist and healer branches do intersect on several subjects."

"There's more," Sierra said as she looked up finally with a seriousness in her eyes that wasn't there before. "As I said I'm often overlooked. The woman who was in the rooms spotted me and handed me her father's boots and told me to bring them back polished while she continued to talk with their visitor. They mentioned your son but I couldn't understand what exactly they were talking about and the man that had supposedly fainted was awake and pacing!" This did draw both the King and Queen's attention.

"Did you hear anything else?" Valka asked with an edge in her voice and clenched fists. "Anything that they might be planning?"

Sierra shook her head furiously. "I couldn't linger or they would think me suspect." She admitted. "I made my way to lady Astrid's quarters first because hers were closer and she's the Prince's fiance but her ladies-in-waiting informed me she had just left for a ball at one of her family's estates. I came to you next."

"Stoick if that girl hurts our Hiccup I'll…." Valka hissed as her eyes turned a dangerous glint that spoke of more than just maiming someone.

"Now now. Let's take a step back here shall we." Stoick uttered. "If we accuse them without any definite proof it is us that will be in hot water. They could argue that what Sierra heard was just hearsay."

"We can't just do nothing!" Valka hissed. "Their ship will be resupplied soon and they leave our shores at first light! Whatever they are planning happens tonight!"

"Right…. Uhm.. first we need to find Hiccup. If we get to Hiccup first they can't do anything right?!" Stoick said as he walked towards the door and ordered one of the guards to go rouse Gobber while the other fetched his son.

"Should we also get the alchemist?" Sierra asked with a frown.

"He'd be long gone by now I would think." Valka frowned.

"It couldn't hurt to try." She said and stood up. "I'll find him!"

Meanwhile, Astrid was flying on Stormfly's back as they neared the manor belonging to her uncle. It was as grand as the main house where her mother and father lived but more… ostentatious. She startled a few Nobles when she landed with her dragon and smirked as several stepped back and looked scandalized. Normally the guests would arrive in carriages, leaving their dragons at home for the night as a sign of respect for the host but Astrid found that she needed to make a statement here. Stormfly gave a happy chirp as Astrid slid off, her crimson ball gown easily taking its previously wide shape as Astrid smoothed out her petticoats. Stormfly strode off to somewhere near the fountain to preen and no one stopped the dragon.

Astrid easily slipped open her black lace fan as she walked the short distance to the entrance of the manor, taking her place in the throng of Nobles that were waiting to go in. She had some inkling why she was called and smirked. It was time to go play with the vultures.

AN:
Vala: (Puts Porg in stirfy with Ho Foen noodles)
Harry: "Mah PORG! Get your own!"
Vala: "Nope!"
Harry: (signs while rescuing Porg again)
Vala: "You can't escape me!"
Harry: "I can try!" (Runs away with Porg)
Vala: "Hasn't worked so far!" (Chases) "if you haven't been able to shake me up till now you probably never will."
Harry: "I guessed that lol" (Continues running)
Vala: (Continues chasing)