Chapter 28
To say that both Hiccup and Astrid's hearts hammered in their chests was an understatement. The pair nearly flew towards Alvin's screams that were drawing both Ministers and surrounding guards.
When the duo arrived on the scene Spitelout was already there and shaking Alvin out of his stupor while shouting. "Get a grip man!" Spitelout shook his colleague by holding onto his broad shoulders.
"The King, the Queen…. Even Gobber! Dead!" The man exclaimed as he fell to his knees and nearly clung to Spitelout's legs sobbing. "We've been infiltrated. This is… this is…."
"What's happened?" Hiccup asked as he knelt down next to Alvin trying to console the man so that he could explain.
"I don't know! I don't know!" Alvin near shrieked. "One minute we were talking, Stoick asked a maid to bring refreshments, I stepped out for some fresh air because we were waiting on Captain Heather to return with the maps of the island and when I came back they were….. They were…. They were gone!" Alvin's hand trembled as he tried to catch his breath. "My Prince! They were murdered! Murdered I say! You have to avenge them!"
"This… this has to be some plot from the Southern Isles!" Spitelout hissed while several guards came running towards him. "Prince Hiccup, Captain Heather has secured the room. She has asked if you would be willing to make an official identification." one of the Knights relayed.
"Can't this wait?!" Spitelout hissed.
"I'm sorry Duke Jorgenson. This is protocol, especially with war looming so close." The knight saluted and then looked at Hiccup who was still on the ground beside Alvin.
"Tell the Captain I will be there shortly." Hiccup announced as he was rather shaken.
"Hiccup….." Astrid tried to get him to stay but the Prince hung his head.
"Yes I do Astrid. There needs to be a clear chain of command in times of war," Hiccup said as he stood up. He had the knight lead him towards the room where the war council was going to be held with Astrid, Spitelout and a still rather frazzled Alvin following close behind.
Heather stood in the corridor and it seemed she had been pacing slightly. Several other knights, who looked rather nervous and unsure what to do, were also present with two standing guard in front of the door leading to the meeting room.
"Hiccup, my Prince, I'm sorry for having to make you do this," Heather said as she was now acting in her official capacity as the Royal Guard Captain. "But you will need to verify it. We will also need to speed up the proceedings as well with the armada approaching."
"Hold on Captain," Spitelout said as he laid a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "Perhaps I should go in his stead."
"It's alright Uncle Spitelout," Hiccup muttered as he brushed the hand off. "I know what needs to be done. You won't have to worry and act as Regent. These are…. Trying times for all of us. You won't have to worry about taking over the governing mantle."
Astrid looked sideways at the Duke while Hiccup entered the room and she could have sworn she saw a flash of anger pass along his face. It was gone so quick as Spitelout schooled his features with practiced ease.
"Heather what happens if they really are….." Astrid didn't want to think of the King, Queen and Gobber perishing and left the question unfinished. She clenched part of her wide skirt in her fists as she looked down. She needed to mentally calm down. She needed to be strong. Her fiance needed her right now more than ever.
"I should tell you since this concerns you as well Astrid," Heather said as she took her aside. "An investigation into this will naturally occur but Berk cannot stand without a King and Queen. Especially not with war approaching. If Hiccup has verified it the Ministers will proceed to hold an emergency coronation ceremony within a few hours. Naturally, by Berkian law the Crownprince cannot ascend the throne without a spouse so you as his fiance will be required to marry him before the coronation." Astrid sucked in her breath. This was not how she had foreseen her eventual wedding day going at all.
The door to the room opened again and all eyes turned to Hiccup who exited and promptly closed the door. "It's them," He said in an even tone but Astrid knew just from looking at his eyes that he must be holding a lot in. The current situation berk found itself in did not allow for time to mourn.
"I'm sorry my Prince," Alvin said tearfully and then turned to Heather. "Do… Do we know how it happened?"
"Alvin, not here. We will not discuss this in the corridors." Hiccup warned and then he turned to the knights still assembled there and ordered. "Seal off the Palace. No news of this goes out yet. We don't want to panic the public more as they are evacuating." The knights saluted and went to fulfill the order while Heather directed them to follow her. They entered a room with little furniture that held two more guards and a rather beragled looking maid.
"Who is she?" Hiccup blinked in surprise as the door was shut once the group was inside.
"We believe the cause of death to be poisoning." Heather stated as her eyes narrowed at the maid. "Deathgripper poison to be exact. The same that led to the demise of Princess Margarette. She was the maid that had been called upon by the King to serve refreshments." the Captain indicated towards the maid with a slight movement of her head. "She is our prime suspect right now."
"Your Highness I beg of you! I am innocent," The maid fell to her knees as she looked at Hiccup in desperation. "I know nothing of this! I swear! I never poisoned anyone!" The young maid was groveling now but it was Spitelout who stepped forward with some accusations.
"Do you think we would so easily believe that?" The Duke asked with an angry look. "Tell the truth! Who do you work for? Is it the Southern Isles? Is it the two refugees we have offered asylum too? Are they in on this plot?!"
"Uncle, please control yourself!" Hiccup grabbed the Duke's arm to stop him from advancing as the young woman was now full-on sobbing. "Besides Sir Throk and Lady Mariabelle were both searched upon entering the palace. There is no way they could have smuggled any poison inside. We need to be rational here."
The girl, face covered in tear tracks, said between sobs "I really am innocent Milord! All I did was pour the wine King Stoick requested! He even told me to be careful with the bottle since it was a gift."
"A gift? Who gifted it?" Astrid asked as she frowned in deep thought.
"It was from the Marchioness!" The maid exclaimed. "It was the Queen's favorite wine. She always brought some whenever she visited the Palace."
Hiccup stiffened and Astrid's blood ran cold upon hearing that. The Marchioness had returned last night which meant that it was a very recent bottle. "Where is Marchioness Stormheart now?!" Hiccup's voice was even but his arms shook slightly upon hearing of this.
"She should still be with the other Ministers." Heather stated. "I will send some men to detain her so we can question her."
"No, don't bother. I will be heading there myself." Hiccup said as he turned around and marched out of the room with a frantic Astrid following behind calling his name repeatedly. Heather too didn't sit still and followed quickly. Neither of the women paid any mind to Alvin and Spitelout running to catch up to them. All they had in their minds was stopping a very angry Prince from potentially stabbing or even Plasma blasting someone before they could get answers.
"STORMHEART!" Hiccup shouted as the doors to the Council room were pushed open with such force they banged against the walls. Those were solid wooden doors and Astrid was momentarily surprised by the show of strength.
"Your Highness," The Marchioness kept her cool as Hiccup approached with fury on his face.
"Did you poison my parents?" Hiccup hissed as the Court Ministers gaped. The Marchioness calmly stood up and stared the Prince down.
"I merely did what I was asked to do," She said cryptically. Hiccup was literally seething with rage at this point but Astrid taking his hand and standing by his side seemed to snap him out of it somewhat.
"You aren't denying it?" Hiccup asked after taking a deep breath.
"There is nothing to deny. Change comes like a river runneth." The strange phrase threw everyone off. Hiccup and Astrid both frowned but almost no one noticed Spitelout turn as pale as a ghost.
"Heather please detain the Marchioness." Hiccup ordered.
"I'll see to it that it is done." Heather said. "A company of my guards shall escort her to the prisons to await trial."
The Marchioness went silently without violence and that shocked most people. They would have expected her to fight. The other shocking thing was that they would have never suspected her at all since her loyalty to the crown had always been without question.
"Duke Jorgenson are you alright?" Alvin asked as he looked at the man who looked like death had warmed over.
"Ah… ah yes. Just….. Shocked," Spitelout snapped out of his musings and answered Alvin after the other man shook his shoulder.
"Yes, completely understandable." Alvin nodded.
"If… if you excuse me. I need to see to some matters," Spitelout said and then quickly left the room.
Astrid managed to get Hiccup to agree to head to one of the parlors to cool down for a bit. She stayed by his side as he started to get tired from the day's events.
They knew by now that the Ministers were preparing for the emergency coronation that would be held in a few hours. The city was being evacuated, the knights had prepared the defenses, and the scouts hadn't reported a fleet on the horizon yet so Astrid thought that Hiccup could use a small break. He slumped against her shoulder and closed his eyes for just a moment. Astrid's eyelids too began to droop and she also fell asleep. Soon two hours had passed and the couple was sound asleep on the settee. Neither one of them heard the door to the parlor creek open, nor the figure brandishing a dagger enter.
The individual crept closer and raised the dagger to stab at Hiccup's back but the sudden breaking of a porcelain, and most likely very expensive, vase against the back of his skull knocked him out cold. The shattering of the vase woke up both Hiccup and Astrid and they turned around, eyes widening to see Spitelout knocked out on the floor, knife not so far away on the carpet, and Sierra at the parlor doors with a smirk on her lips.
"I've always wanted to do that," She told Hiccup and Astrid as she surveyed her work. Hiccup wanted to comment on her ability to throw porcelain objects with great accuracy, remembering the ugly gnome, but another voice then spoke.
"Well…. I can't say I'm surprised," Stoick said as he came into view behind Sierra. "Though the young lady grabbing a vase in the hall with great determination did throw me off a bit at first." He then turned to his niece. "Good job, also thank Thor that vase is gone. I hated that thing so much but Valka loved it. Now I have a valid excuse."
Sierra blushed at the praise and all eyes turned to Spitelout who groaned and clutched his head. The Duke's eyes opened briefly as the room seemed to be spinning but when his eyes landed on Stoick who was glaring at him with folded arms he nearly choked.
"NO! NO! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!" Spitelout shrieked and pointed at the King from where he lay on the floor. "JUST WHAT IN BLOODY BLUE BLAZES IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Hiccup looked at his father and asked "Do you want me to tell him dad or do you want the honors?" all the while Spitelout looked like he might faint again.
AN:
Harry: (Looks up from book as Vala walks into the room wearing a Ghillie-suit) "I see you have mastered the art of stealth."
Vala: (Groans) "Explain to me again why I go through with these plots."
Harry: "Because you like playing with your readers." (Rolls-eyes)
Vala: "I'm starving"
(Porg meeps at the wrong time)
Harry: "DON'T YOU DARE YOU PORGICIDAL MANIAC!"