A (BELATED) HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Disney/Dreamworks/Game of Thrones characters, locations, and/or terms. I am just a humble weaver unraveling cloths of stories to thread together and create a new pattern. If you would like to read the info and details of this fic, or if you are confused about some characters' names, you may go to the Preface section. Thank you!

NORTH

"Good day, Lord Nicholas. I trust you slept well?"

North could feel the presence before he heard the voice. From his recline on the pillar, North turned around to face Facilier. The man had long, bony fingers that were at most times splayed apart, tips touching. He had a thin mustache over thick lips, a gaunt face, and a lean body. Today he wore a velvet brown robe over a purple doublet, tied at the waist with a red sash, his black hair carefully curled and slicked at the top of his head.

"Yes." North preferred to be laconic in his replies to the Master of Whispers. He felt that the more he spoke, the more Facilier could assume from his words.

With a wide grin, Facilier gestured to the entrance of the council chamber. "Shall we?"

"No one has arrived yet." North said. He knew he shouldn't have come early; Facilier was always the first to arrive.

A fortnight had passed since his arrival in Thronos. It had been the night of the third day of Prince Hiccup's name day celebration, and his retinue struggled to find their way to the Incantare castle with all the participants and visitors taking up space in between the docks and the castle. As soon as North rode his horse through the gates he was called to an urgent meeting with the council regarding the betrothal of the prince. North was taken by surprise, and had scarcely tried to vouch for his own daughter when Facilier stepped in to justify the Dunbroch alliance.

"The only candidate from Linna, Your Grace," Facilier had said, a half smile on his lips. "It would do well to bring another Linna supporter into the fold. I bear no offense when I say that Lady Naga is quite… rough, and too far from the line of her own family's succession."

"And my daughter?" North had sputtered, trying to rein in the turn of events. "What of her? She is-"

"Suitable, no doubt. But Lady Merida-"

"Merida is no closer to the seat of Dunbroch than Naga is from Mu's." If they were going to interrupt each other this whole council meeting, so be it. "So I do not see the significance of such a betrothal."

"Lord Nicholas," Facilier's tone was like that of an adult trying to reason with a child. If North had his dagger he didn't know what he would have done. "A betrothal with Linna will bring us one step closer to the peace we have been so yearning to achieve. If the marriage bears fruit, then Animare will be united under two factions, their sons and daughters the very symbols of peace."

"If it doesn't? What then?"

"And you are so sure that it will with your daughter? Lord Nicholas, please. If I couldn't tell any better, I'd say you were trying to gain favor with the crown."

North bristled at that. "You watch your tongue, you-"

"Silence!" Stoick glared at the two of them from the head of the table.

"It was merely a jest, Your Grace," Facilier said simply, and then turned to dip his head to North. "My humblest apologies if I have distressed you in any way, Lord Nicholas."

North did not reply; he couldn't find any words to say to him. Stoick stood, and the rest of the council followed. "I suggest we retire for today. Lord Nicholas has just, after all, arrived from his trip. I shall inform you of my decision regarding this matter on the morrow." He swept his eyes around him, pausing for a while on North, then on Facilier. "A pleasant evening to you all."

The following morning North awoke to find that the decision had been made just as he had entered the council chamber. He had privately congratulated Lord Fergus Dunbroch and his wife later that day, and again, formally, on the day of the announcement, the last day of Prince Hiccup's name day celebrations. Since then, he felt like the shadows in his room had grown bigger.

"My fellow council lords!" Lord Gobber's peg leg was now clunking on the stone floor, interrupting the tense air between North and Facilier. "Good morning to you!"

"Lord Gobber." North welcomed the intervention with open arms. He sidestepped Facilier to shake Gobber by the hand.

"A good morning to you, Lord Hand," Facilier bowed ever so slightly. "What pressing matter has the king called for this early?"

"To be honest," Gobber said as he scratched the back of his head. "I haven't the faintest idea. A page was sent to my chambers just as I was finishing the juicy mutton chop in my dreams," he guffawed. "It appears I am still wanting for the feast, even though it has already been half a moon's turn."

"I'm sure you are." The king strode to them with a grave expression. "My lords, if you could please join me in the chamber."

North, Facilier and Gobber followed Stoick and sat at the table. Gobber looked around at the empty seats. "Your Grace, the others…"

"We have to start without them." Stoick pulled out a parchment rolled and sealed in a sigil North could not make out. He unfurled it on the table and stared at it before turning to the council. "This message arrived from Berk before dawn. Pirates from the west were spotted at the edge of Berk borders."

North's eyebrows furrowed. "I thought there was a treaty with the pirates years ago."

"Lord Ingerman is not sure, but he reports that this fleet might be commandeered by new blood." Stoick said, reading off the letter. "Berk has been sent a message. These pirates request to meet with me."

Gobber's laugh echoed throughout the chamber. When he had composed himself, he said, "Who do they think they are? The fisherman himself? Surely you don't mean to travel to Berk, Stoick?"

"They are threatening Berk," with a flick of the wrist, Stoick turned the parchment around and slid it to Gobber. "They say they have dragons on their side."

This time Gobber laughed even louder. "You mean to tell me these new folk have in possession creatures that have not been seen on Animaren shores for over a century? And you will present yourself to them?" he shook his head in disbelief. "Stoick, as your friend, I advise you to stay and leave the craven to Ingerman. I am sure he can take care of them easily."

"And as my counselor, Gobber?"

North leaned back on his chair, watching as the tension filled the room. From the corner of his eye he could see Facilier with a hint of a smirk.

"As your counselor," Gobber started, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I advise you to stay. Thronos needs you as well. You may not know if what they have for you is a trap."

"I may not know if I do not go," Stoick said with a sigh. "Berk is my home. Our home. Any threat imposed on our home has to go through me, regardless of their intentions."

"Then I shall go with you." Gobber was a stubborn man, but even North could see that Gobber himself knew that the suggestion was not favorable.

Stoick could see that as well. "Gobber…"

"No need to get your breeches in a bunch, Stoick," said Gobber, twirling the parchment on the table. "I know I must be here to rule the kingdom in your stead. Yet there is still a sense of foreboding I feel. Is it wise to rush to Berk without having to wait for more word?"

"There is no time," The worry on Stoick's face showed that the situation was more than it seemed. "I must leave for Porthaven at once. I shall take Lord Myrddin with me; he can arrange for the fastest ship that could take me to Berk."

"You will be needing protection, Your Grace," North stood and bowed. "Allow me to accompany you. If not the Lord Hand, then your second in command." He had been the second highest-ranking commander during the Haddock Rebellion, even higher than the king's own cousin. "Surely you will permit this."

"I agree with him," Gobber looked to North, then to Stoick. "You must take at least fifty men, if not more."

Stoick stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Fifty men and Lord Nicholas. Perhaps Lord Facilier would like to see Berk as well. Your shadows may be of use."

"Your Grace, you flatter me." Facilier rose with a wide sweep of his robe followed by an exaggerated bow. "I pray this voyage will only be a negotiation, and no more."

"Lord Nicholas, go to Lord Spitelout's chamber," Stoick commanded. "I believe he may still be abed at the moment. He never did favor early meetings. Tell him to select forty of his best men and ten of his best commanders, and have them report to the annex courtyard. Lord Facilier, to Lord Myrddin. Inform him of our intentions. The fastest ship in his fleet, if he can. We shall meet him in the annex courtyard with the others. It is there where I will explain everything else. Now go, hurry."

North and Facilier took their leave. Upon stepping out of the doorway, Facilier turned to North, "This will be one thrilling adventure!"

"This is no adventure," North felt the anger in him; the presence of Facilier on the trip will be his bane. "One wrong cast of the line and this may end up being war."

A/N: Reviews would be lovely :) Thanks!