Hello, readers! Next chapter here! Thank you for the continued support with this story. I'm going on vacation next week, and I don't if I'll be able to get a chapter up. If I don't, don't worry, I'll pick this right back up the week after. Enjoy, and please leave a review with what you think!

Disclaimer: I don't own 'ROTG, 'HTTYD' or 'P&P'

Chapter 6

Jackson sat in the silent drawing room amongst the other inhabitants of Dreki Vollr at the urging of his sister. She had insisted that he stop worrying over her and go and mingle. He had tried to convince her that such an idea was not appealing, but she had all but physically forced him to. 'Though,' he admitted with a smirk, 'she had been fairly close to that.'

Mr. Snoutley had suggested a game of cards but his sister-in-law quickly shot it down, informing him that no one in the party desired to play. The silence of the group had justified her statement, and he had stretched himself out on a sofa and quickly fallen asleep, his mouth gaping open as a gently hum of snoring rumbled his chest. His wife entertained herself by fiddling with the bracelets and rings that adorned her.

Mr. Liely sat on the chaise, his legs stretched out in front of him and his dark haired head planted in his palm. His eyelids threatened to close him off from the world at any moment. Mr. Haddock had sat himself down in a chair with a book firmly gripped in his hands as his bright eyes devoured the pages in front of him. Ms. Vickson sat near him with a book of her own draped on her lap, but her eyes spent more time on the pages of Haddock's book than her own and would inquire after one thing or another. Her attempts at conversation failed when he answered her swiftly, his eyes never leaving his book, and continued reading.

From his seat, the young Mr. Overland watched all this play out halfway between amused and bored. The idea that his sister believed this entertaining company for him.

The blonde yawned as she closed her book and said, "It is so pleasant to spend an evening this way. There is no better enjoyment than reading. When I have a house of my own, I will be miserable if I do not have an excellent library."

Jackson felt a smirk creeping across his lips when no one made a reply, and she yawned again to hide her embarrassment. The woman tossed her book aside to the cushions next to her, her eyes darting around the room for a source of amusement. Sighing, she stood and began to walk around the room.

The young Mr. Overland had to admit she had a charming and elegant figure, and he felt another smirk rising at Ms. Vickson's growing frustration in not catching the eye of Mr. Haddock with her activity. He was surprised when, after he had returned his gaze to his book, a hand rested lightly on his shoulder. He peered up through stray strands of brown hair to see the young woman's smiling face looking down at him.

"Mr. Overland, let me persuade you to be my escort as I take a turn about the room.—I assure you it is quite refreshing," she added.

He was barely given a moment to respond before her fingers were clamped around his elbow, and she pulled him to his feet. By doing so, she succeeded in the real pursuit she was after, Mr. Haddock looked up from his book to fix his curious eyes on the unlikely pair. The young woman smirked as she drew the young man at her arm around the room, her eyes darting to meet the gaze she so desperately sought. She invited him to join them in their turn about the room, but he declined, causing a playful smirk to flicker across her face.

"What ever could he mean?" she asked the young man at her side.

"I would not assume to know," he answered curtly.

"Shall we ask him?"

"No," he responded with a smirk. "He thrives on being cryptic. His mystery causes confusion in others and heightens his pride. Our surest way of keeping him remotely sane is to disappoint is expectations."

Ms. Vickson, however, could not disappoint the man and asked for a reason and explanation for his actions.

He smiled and said, "I have no objection in explaining them, as doing so would have no effect on my pride whatsoever."

Once brown eyes flickered over to his, his grin grew wider as he explained, "You either chose this method of passing the time because you are in each other's confidence or you wish to make an impression. If the former, I would only be in the way. If the latter, well, let's just say I am perfectly impressionable where I sit."

The woman laughed, smiling at a great achievement she believed to be hers. "I've never heard any thing so horrible. How will we punish him?" she asked.

Jackson shrugged, his eyes never leaving Mr. Haddock's face. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck bristling. If it was wit he was in want of for a laugh, he would give him wit. "I don't know. If you have the inclination to embarrass him, tease him—laugh at him. I can offer you no better suggestion. You know him better than I."

"Oh, but I don't," she continued, prattling on for attention's sake. "Our friendship has not revealed such a thing to me. You cannot tease a man with a calm temper. As for laughter—he lacks a quality that would suffer laughter."

"Really?" the young man asked, arching an eyebrow. "It is quite uncommon to lack a trait that brings amusement to others. I hope he is able to remedy it, and if not, I'm afraid we can no longer be acquaintances. I enjoy a laugh and could not be long in the presence of someone unable to bring me it."

Mr. Haddock matched his raised eyebrow and explained as he leaned back in his chair, "Ms. Vickson has given me more credit than is do. For any man, however wise, can be rendered ridiculous by a person whose only skill in life is to make a joke."

Taking offense, Jackson struggled to keep his composure as he replied, "Of course there are such people, but I believe I'm not one. I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies, nonsense, whims, and even inconsistencies bring me amusement and always will. But, these traits are ones you appear to be without."

"Under instruction of my father I have tried to avoid such weaknesses."

"Such pride," he remarked with a roll of his eyes.

"Where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be under good regulation."

The young man finally looked away in attempt to hide a smirk at the hypocrisy.

Eager to bring attention back to herself, Ms. Vickson said, "Has your examination ended? What is the result of Mr. Haddock?"

"Oh, I am convinced he is without fault," he muttered.

"No," he defended. "I made no such pretension. I have them, but they are not whims or result of a spirit that knows no restraint. I find myself to precautious around new comers, and I cannot forgive follies and betrayal as soon as I should."

"That's quite a fault indeed," Jackson replied. "Resentment is quite unforgiving, I cannot laugh at such a thing."

"Shall we have some music?" exclaimed the blonde, growing frustrated with her inability to participate in the conversation.

When word came a few days later that Mrs. Overland would call to retrieve her daughter and son, Mr. Liely was quite depressed that his guests would soon leave. He was worried that Emma was not well enough to move, but she insisted that she was and that she was eager to see her family. He could not deny her and reluctantly agreed.

The news was welcomed by Mr. Haddock who believed Jackson had been at Dreki Vollr long enough. The young man piqued his interest more than he felt appropriate—and, he did not care for the incivility that he was shown by Ms. Vickson and her sister. He had grown to be careful of the attention he directed at the young man and the enthusiasm he felt when he challenged an opinion. The young man had a refreshing wit, but he would be damned if the sisters found out, so he had contented himself with silent observation and appreciation.

Jackson was jubilant about finally being able to leave the household. He had enjoyed the kindness of his host, but the guests stifled him beyond belief. Fun was unheard of, and he had only felt reprieve when he had sat with his sister in attempt to lighten her mood.

When Mrs. Overland arrived with her two youngest, the young Mr. Overland was on edge with worry about what would spill from his mother's mouth or what social travesty Mary would speak off. He was not immune to the looks of disapproval Mrs. Snoutley and Ms. Vickson gave the fiery red head as she spoke of her joy in spending time with officers and the discussions of weapons that they would indulge her with. It wasn't soon enough when the women finally crammed into the family carriage, the older woman spewing her consistent and repetitive thanks.

The young man gave a brief farewell to each person of the household: the briefest being to Mr. Haddock once he saw a spark behind the man's eye. He joined the driver and breathed a sigh of relief as the tension left his shoulders with each second of increased distance.