Chapter 20

"Hurry it up," Camicazi snapped her fingers twice as several attendants came out of the manor carrying trunks that she had loaded with Aster's clothes; all of Aster's clothes. She pointed towards a black carriage parked with the others that had the Jorgenson coat of arms on its sides and ordered them to load them up.

"Does she have to do that?!" Aster asked in a whisper to his cousin who along with the good doctor were just standing outside of the manor, on the lawn, watching while Lady Jorgenson worked her magic.

"Do what?" Astrid asked while fiddling with her fan. She had already finished the very extensive letter by the time Camicazi had returned and it now safely rested in the breast pocket of Aster's coat, wax seal and all.

"You know, make a spectacle of this!" Aster gestured with his hands slightly towards the gathered crowd of guests that had formed and his fuming but silent parents as they all watched the trunks being loaded up. Indeed, Camicazi hadn't wasted time in being discreet, instead she had proudly made a spectacle of it and Astrid could admire the tact even if Aster didn't notice it yet.

"Aster you obviously don't realize it but Lady Jorgenson is in fact doing you a favor here." Astrid said but kept her voice low so others around them wouldn't overhear.

"How is this a favor?! I'll be the talk of the Socialites for weeks!" Aster was a bit frantic but after tonight Astrid really couldn't blame her cousin. Finding out his parents thought he was disposable to having Camicazi probably tear through his room in ruthless efficiency and now having to leave the manor may have been a bit too much. So Astrid tried to explain it as easily as possible.

"That's exactly the point Aster. You'll be the talk for weeks," Astrid pointed out. "There is such a thing as good gossip too." Her cousin blinked at her and then frowned a bit as Astrid proceeded to explain. "First of all, with the gossip mill going people will speculate why you left the manor in the first place, meaning your parents can't try to force you to do anything in broad daylight and under the public eye. Also with Camicazi calling the shots as it is right now…." Here Astrid inclined her head towards Cami who was talking with her coachman as the trunks were almost all fastened to the carriage roof "means that you have the power of a Duchy backing you, or at least it would seem that way to outsiders. Your parents are too low on the totem pole to go toe to toe with the future Duchess Jorgenson and incur her wrath."

"Okay…." Aster nodded.

"And this will open up new avenues for you as well." Astrid then said. "Have you ever heard of the saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" She asked and her cousin nodded. "Good because I'm assuming your parents' dealings have made several enemies and they would be willing to work with you if you show you aren't under their influence. Also Duke Jorgenson's investors might approach you as well if they notice his daughter-in-law favoring you, though if any of them do I would suggest you speak with Camicazi first since she would know whether they are trustworthy businessmen or not."

"And it wouldn't hurt your marriage prospects either, being affiliated with a high ranking nob-AGH!" Astrid shouted as a green blur zoomed at her out of nowhere and latched onto her face.

"Mffttykshoplodkdk!?" Astrid's voice was muffled as what appeared to be a green Terrible Terror carrying an envelope had found her face to be a good landing site. She hobbled around as Ruffnut tried to pry the Terror away. Finally the little dragon gave in but didn't look happy.

The little green dragon huffed in Ruffnut's arms and let out a tiny flame before sticking out its long tongue and peering at Astrid.

"Well that's one way to receive Terrormail," Ruffnut joked as Astrid loosened the envelope that bore her name which was tied to the little dragon. She quickly opened it after taking note of the wax seal which was the crest of the royal family. Ruffnut blinked as Astrid's face turned suddenly serious while she read it.

"I need to go back to the palace," Astrid said once she was done reading. The letter was crumbled in her hand and then she looked at Ruffnut and said "It would be best if you come with me," If the contents of the letter were accurate then several people would be needing a doctor soon once she was done with them.

"Me?!" Ruffnut asked with a frown but trusted the Terror into Aster's hands and followed after Astrid still, somewhat curious and intrigued about what was going on. Camicazi who had taken note of Astrid's urgency waved her along while muttering "I got this here,"

Astrid nodded before letting out a very sharp and unladylike whistle. Stormfly who had been busy preening in the fountain without a care in the world stood up immediately, shook the water off and rushed over, bending slightly to allow Astrid to get on the saddle with her ballgown. Astrid held out a hand which Ruffnut took and the doctor was yanked up and placed on the saddle behind Astrid. Stormfly took off with a sharp flap of her wings and the duo was airborne in no time.

Ruffnut hung onto Astrid's waist for dear life as Stormfly speeded through the air above the kingdom. The houses and manors were like tiny dots and soon the dragon went into a sharp dive when the castle became visible through the clouds. The Nadder slowed down and gracefully landed in the front courtyard where apparently some commotion was taking place. The courtyard was now full of armored knights as well as the King and Queen.

"Where is my son?!" The King could be heard bellowing as a figure on the ground flinched back and stuttered "I-I don't know!"

"Honey, no one likes a shouter," The Queen said as she lay a hand on her husband's broad shoulders. She gave Stoick a quick pat and then turned towards the figure and said in a tone that was so sweet that it sounded menacing, "Now Fishlegs was it…." Astrid watched the Queen produce a dagger from Thor knows where. She fiddled with it slightly as she regarded the portly man that was on the ground and then bent down to whisper something in his ear. Fishlegs proceeded to turn several shades of white.

Meanwhile the knights parted as Astrid and Ruffnut approached. "What happened?" She asked the closest figure which happened to be Dagur who was clutching the remnants of some ugly lawn gnome.

"Princess Margarette and her father are missing, Lady Sierra found out that they plan to use a love potion on the Prince and that is the Alchemist who created it." Dagur summarized and pursed his lips at Sierra who stood off to the side watching the Queen work with rapt attention. Astrid figured it had something to do with the broken gnome but she didn't know what. Hearing that they were planning to use a love potion on her fiance had her blood boiling but before she herself could grab an axe to interrogate the alchemist they were interrupted by Heather who reported that Toothless was also missing and seemed as if he was following his rider's trail, though he couldn't have gotten far since he couldn't fly without Hiccup.

"I SWEAR I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" The man the Queen had called Fishlegs shouted. "THEY TOLD ME NOTHING! ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS SAFE MEATLUG!" And if Valka's threats were to be believed then the alchemist would have more reason to tell the truth than lie. The Queen always did follow through on her threats after all.

"Who is Meatlug?" Astrid found herself questioning with a frown as curiosity got the better of her.

Fishlegs turned to Astrid and said quietly "She's my dragon. Princess Margarette thought it would be useful to have an alchemist working for her so she kidnapped Meatlug. We were happy living in the countryside but now if I don't do what she asks of me they hurt her,"

The whole group was silent after hearing that and even Queen Valka looked conflicted now. "Where is your dragon now?" The Queen asked. "On their ship?"

But Fishlegs shook his head. "She's in the dungeons in the Southern Isles Palace. One message from the Princess and she's done for! I can't…. I can't… I didn't even want to make that potion!"

"If we were to guarantee your dragon's safety would you help us?" Stoick now asked.

"How?!" Fishlegs questioned. "Let's say even if I knew the antidote, there's no way you can get to Meatlug in time. The journey to the Southern Isles takes two days."

"Terrormail is fast," The King stated, "And…..we have agents undercover. They are already in place." He hated admitting that as it was a State secret but at the same time he felt worried for Hiccup and also a bit sorry for this young man.

"The…. The antidote would take a couple of hours to synthesize." Fishlegs relented when it appeared that they were serious about helping Meatlug. "I'd need a proper laboratory though."

"That I can provide!" Ruffnut offered. "My laboratory at my clinic is fully stocked. You guys can continue to search for the prince in the meantime and I'll watch this guy." The blonde looked at Fishlegs before grabbing him by the collar and dragging him away towards one of the carriages. Heather indicated for several knights to follow after them since she didn't trust the alchemist just yet and no one mentioned that they were slightly more worried about the alchemist being left alone with Ruffnut who could be unpredictable at times when research was involved.

"We can use Stormfly to track Hiccup," Astrid suggested since Nadders had a very keen sense of smell. She just hoped they weren't too late to track Hiccup as the trail could wind up cold.

Meanwhile in a church near the harbor an inconspicuous brown carriage had stopped. The princess had stepped out as her father, who had been driving, ushered a blank looking Hiccup out afterwards with a rough shove.

"Are you sure this will work?" Her father frowned.

"Of course it will," Margarette huffed and then gestured towards Hiccup. "Just look at him, he'd do anything I say. Wouldn't you sweetie?"

"Yes darling," Hiccup said in a rather emotionless voice.

"See," Margarette said haughtily. "Once we are wed I can take Berk and its resources for myself."

"Don't you mean we?" Her father frowned and the frown got deeper as he looked at his daughter.

"Unfortunately father," Margarette's smile got predatory now. The king gasped as he felt a searing hot pain in his abdomen. He sputtered disbelievingly and coughed up some blood then looked down to see a silver dagger embedded in his torso. "You've already served your purpose." She said before stabbing him twice more. "Larse sends his regards," She uttered, referring to her elder brother, as the king fell to his knees and then slumped forward. "Honestly, not even your subjects would be sad to see you go." She was wiping the blood from her dagger with a handkerchief and after she placed it back in its holster she grabbed the blank looking Hiccup by the hand and nearly dragged him into the church.

Unbeknownst to the Princess, green eyes were tracking her every movement. A low growl emanated as a black blur advanced on the church.

AN:
Vala: (Wakes up) "Morning" (Pokes)
Harry: "Ow, morning"
Vala: (Goes to raid the fridge)
Harry: (Steals fridge)
Vala: O_o "You're stealing your own fridge?"
Harry: "Preventive measures,"
Vala: (Watches Harry lug around the fridge before going to own fridge)
Harry: (Steals Vala's fridge as well) "I AM THE FRIDGE MASTER!" (Gets squished under weight of fridges)
Vala: (Pokes squished Harry with a spoon)
Harry: (groans)
Vala: (Spots Porg on the counter)
Porg: O_O "Meeps"