Chapter 25
Astrid paid no heed to decorum right now. Both she and the Queen had picked up their dress skirts and petticoats to hastily follow behind Hiccup and Stoick who also jogged to the Council room. To an outsider watching the whole thing would seem both comical and terribly un-Royal-like. The Royal family were considered the de facto role models for Noble society and did not run like right now, but in fact were supposed to glide with poise and elegance, something that every single one of them apparently forgot given the altercation happening.
The guards of the Council room hurriedly opened the doors before their King could slam them open and most likely break them…. Again, after all it had happened before due to some heated Council debates over the years. The room, which could easily fit about a hundred people, was circular with chairs and desks lining the outer diameter at a higher elevation than the middle area which boasted a podium. The room was designed for both the council members and civilians when sessions were open to the public.
It was in this middle area that the brawl was taking place. The other Ministers of the Court stood by with great uncertainty as hair and beard pulling was occurring. No one really wanted to get in between the two fighting men as they too would be maimed.
"WHAT IN ODIN'S GRAY BEARD IS GOING ON!" Stoick bellowed as he marched down the steps and with his great strength forcibly pulled both men off each other. There was a collective sigh of relief running through the room when the King appeared, then more apprehension as the Ministers saw the Queen. Queen Valka was known to hate fighting but could give as good as she got when it was needed. The Ministers feared the Queen more because they mostly never saw her plans coming. Prince Hiccup and Lady Astrid were following suit while Stoick separated and shook both Alvin and Spitelout by their collars. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"Ask him!" Alvin bellowed while, after being released, pointed an accusing finger at Duke Jorgenson. "He dared to violate my authority!"
"I did no such thing!" Spitelout argued, also pointing a finger at Alvin. "It's you who can't keep his nose out of my business!"
"HOW DARE YOU! THE PRISONS FALL UNDER MY AUTHORITY!" Alvin bellowed. "You had no right!"
"I HAD EVERY RIGHT! INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FALL UNDER MY PURVIEW!" Spitelout growled.
The King had a hard time as it looked like the men were going to go at it again but everyone stopped when the icy tone of the Queen cut through the room. "Enough!" Valka said as she walked down the stairs regally and onto the middle podium and both men gulped. "If you plan on acting like children I will treat you like children. Go face the wall. THE BOTH OF YOU!"
"M...My queen, you can't be serious?!" Alvin sputtered while Spitelout managed to say in an astonished tone "How can you command your brother-in-law to do that?!"
"You can either talk civilly or I will treat you like the misbehaving children you are!" She growled as her eyes narrowed. Even Stoick didn't comment on it and Hiccup thought he might actually really find this domineering side of his wife alluring. Hiccup suspected, and there were many hints. His dad certainly didn't marry his mom for her demureness.
"Your mother is amazing," Astrid's eyes sparkled as she looked at her role model and Hiccup had to gulp. His fiance was already very assertive, if she got more pointers from his mother he'd probably be dead if she became well and truly angry.
The tension in the room changed drastically when both men calmed down under the accusing eyes of the Queen. She kept her eyes on them as they folded into themselves, a feat quite worth noting given their bulky and muscular physiques. "Now speak, one at a time!" She commanded.
"Duke Jorgenson trampled on my authority!" Alvin stated. "I am in charge of the prisons and he dared to override my commands and moved Princess Margarette to a cell used to house dignitaries!"
"You dolt! She was a dignitary! You can't just lock up a foreign Princess in the deepest part of the dungeon and not have her Kingdom protest!" Spitelout rebutted. "Think of International relationships!"
"She wasn't a dignitary! She was a murderer!" Alvin shot back. "Or do you condone what she did to our Prince?! She didn't deserve a cushy cell!"
"She was not stripped of her title and was not a Berkian citizen, that means she fell under my jurisdiction!" Spitelout stated.
"She committed criminal offenses on Berian soil! That means she fell under my jurisdiction." Alvin shot back. "Furthermore, you moving her cost her her life!"
"Are you suggesting I had something to do with poisoning her?!" Spitelout growled furiously as he clenched his fists.
"Well, she certainly would have stayed alive longer had she been under the watchful eyes of MY guards!" Alvin retorted.
"Think carefully how you frame that sentence, Earl!" Spitelout hissed while addressing Alvin with his title to emphasize the difference in their social status. "What you are suggesting is treason! For all we know it was YOU who ordered her poisoning. Your little bootlicker Savage would certainly follow your orders. After all he's just a commoner that's looking for a promotion!"
"HOW DARE YOU!" Alvin roared and it looked like another brawl was about to take place.
"ENOUGH!" Stoick bellowed as he crossed his arms. "Both of you have reasons but I will not condone you two accusing each other of the poisoning nor for fighting in this room where words should weigh louder than fists! The evidence we do have is still under review. Furthermore we have an important guest speaking at the meeting today. This will hopefully shed some light on part of this situation."
"Who?" Duke Jorgenson asked as his eyes narrowed. "We can't just trust the word of someone with no credible backing."
"I assure you, this person has a very credible background." The King stated. "Now if all of you could take your seats. We are already late with starting this meeting."
The Ministers walked towards their appointed seats. Alvin and Spitelout, all the while glaring at each other. Their quarrel had not ended yet, just merely postponed. Hiccup guided Astrid over to the seats reserved for the Royal family and Valka quickly joined her husband as well. There was a hushed whisper amongst the court as both King and Queen were present. Usually it was one or the other overseeing these duties. For them both to be here meant that this was serious. The King ordered the guards at the other end of the room to escort the speakers in while the royal scribe stood ready to record the proceedings.
One of the guards returned a few minutes later and half the court sucked in their breaths when Marchioness Stormheart walked in with her head held high. She was followed by a man wearing a hooded cloak and a woman with downcast eyes and messily chopped off hair wearing what appeared to be dirty rags. Most court members paid attention to the Marchioness as she commanded the room with a bow towards the Royal family. Her loyalty to the Crown was well known, especially to the Queen. Astrid noted that Hiccup too paid attention to the cloaked figure and the gaunt woman just like she had. While the Ministers had passed them over in favour of the Marchioness she was curious as to how these two fit into the story.
"Greetings to your Majesties," The Marchioness said with an even voice followed by a bow. "I have completed my assignment. The recovery of the Alchemist's dragon was a success."
"The Alchemist," Spitelout muttered with disdain as he shot a look at Alvin. "Tell me, why isn't he rotting in your cells Alvin? Afterall he was part of the Princess' plot."
"Spitelout enough!" Stoick ordered. "The business with the Alchemist is concluded. There was more than ample evidence found onboard the ship from the Southern Isles backing up his claim that he was forced to create the love potion under duress."
"I still say he should not be allowed to roam freely." Spitelout huffed.
"And he is not," Hiccup spoke up. "He's been placed in the custody of Dr. Thornston and both she and him are actively working on a formula to combat the sickness people have encountered outside our borders. They assured me that that matter would be handled swiftly. In return for his cooperation asylum has been granted."
"The matter of the Alchemist has been settled as my son stated," Stoick said and then motioned for the Marchioness to continue. "Who have you brought with you today? Will you introduce them to this Council?"
"Your Majesty, I think they would like to introduce themselves." The Marchioness stated. "They carry insight into the happenings and possible political moves the Southern Isles will make."
There were mutters and whispers throughout the Court Ministers. The Marchioness being unwilling to introduce the people she was escorting could mean two things. One they were Nobles themselves and could follow proper protocol and introduce themselves. For normal civilians usually a Noble or an Official would be standing in their place to help guide them through the process. A second option would be that the Marchioness didn't introduce them because she did not support them and their cause. It could honestly be either one as Stormheart's stoney expression gave nothing away.
The cloaked figure was the first one to step forward. A gloved hand pulled down the hood to reveal a young man sporting a military cut. "I am Sir Throk, third son, formerly of the House Brumen and former Guards Captain of the Royal Palace of the Southern Isles. I have forsaken my Kingdom, family and name to stand here before you today." He announced to the Council which sent off another frenzy of murmurs.
"You are a Knight," Alvin remarked as he and others had picked up on the title of 'Sir'.
"I am," Throk confirmed.
"You, as a Knight, hold loyalty above all else."
"I do," Throk stated.
"Yet you have abandoned your Kingdom." A Minister stated "And thus abandoned your loyalty," Hiccup could see the man clench his fist. It was one of the worst insults a knight could receive.
"I have not," Throk seemed to recover and he stared down the Minister that had called him out. "My loyalty is pledged to the Crown. To the reigning monarch of the Southern Isles. And it is precisely because of my loyalty I am here now." he stated with conviction. "Will you hear my words?"
"We will," Stoick said as the room quieted down once the King had accepted. The Knight gave a grateful nod and started his tale.
AN:
Harry: "Where is my Porg?!" (Shakes Vala)
Vala: "I... Don't... Know!"
Harry: "Did you try to cook him again?!"
Vala: "I haven't seen the meeping chicken all day!"
Harry: "Then where is he!"
Vala: "Wait... do you hear that?"
Harry: "Hear what?"
Vala: "That!"
(Both Harry and Vala follow the sound to a large door. Once opened they saw the Porg dancing his little fluffbutt off to 'I like to move it'.)
Harry: "Oooookayyyyyyy"
Vala: "That was just..."
Harry: "I know..."
Vala: "We never speak of this again."
Harry: "Agreed"