Chapter 4

The morning light fell too bright on my eyes. I ran a hand over my face, rubbing at my eyes as I tried soothe the headache I felt approaching. The covers were warm, but the air around me was cool with the leftovers from the night's darkness. I sat up, wincing at the temperature change on my back. I heaved a large sigh and slid out of bed. Careful to keep on the rug until I could reach my slippers and robe, I mentally prepared myself for the day ahead. I left my room, not really knowing where I would go. I didn't know where the girls were. Perhaps they were being questioned. They'd probably be crying, and though they were annoying, I didn't want them upset. They really were sweet, after all… just a bit noisy.

I briefly wondered if Jack had or would be questioned as well. The guards and knights would obviously be suspicious of anyone that had come in contact with the castle's food supply, including the gardeners. How would he prove himself innocent? It was clear that he'd been some sort of criminal before, even if he tried not to let it on. What if they took his background as some sort of indication…? I pushed the thought from my mind. I had enough things to worry about as it was without Jack being added to the pile, but even so, the thought wormed itself into the back of my mind. I found myself avoiding the dining room, unable to face my father or my mother's empty seat. Instead, I wandered back to my room, restless, to put on some normal clothes.

Skipping breakfast, I went outside to the stables, their confines having often been a haven to me before. There I was met with another voice, the same one as last night, only this time it sung a lively song with an upbeat tempo and rhyming lyrics. Peeking inside, I saw Jack swaying slightly with his broom, dancing as he swept. I leaned in, about to say hello when my foot caught on a loose brick in the floor. The clang of falling buckets and utensils caught the attention of Jack, who turned around in surprise. "Hiccup?! Are you alright?" He asked, offering me his hand. I took it and pulled myself up. After dusting myself off, I told him I was fine. He laughed, "Spying on me again, were you?" I rolled my eyes, but felt heat on my cheeks at the accusation. "No… I just got here, actually."

Having fully recovered from the fall, I walked over to Toothless, who's ears shot up in excitement, a whiny escaping him. "Morning, bud. Wanna go for a ride?" I asked him. The horse neighed a happy yes as I opened the gate to his stall. While I proceeded to ready him for the ride, I turned to Jack. "Well, are you just going to stand there or is Stormfly getting a ride as well?" Jack's eyes lit up at the invitation, and he immediately went to go free the other horse. For someone that appeared so stubborn he sure was easy to win over. I saddled Toothless and led him out, but Jack had beaten me outside this time. He was already perched atop Stormfly waiting for me as I mounted the black horse and set off at a slow trot.

"So, last time I did most of the talking, now it's your turn." I said, twisting a little on the horse so I could face him. "Tell me about you. My life's been an overall boring experience, so you might as well tell me about yours." At this he gave a look of worry, but before he could protest, I interrupted, "I already know that you were a criminal, if that's what's kept you so tight-lipped. I was outside when they drug you to the dungeon. When Aster brought you out to meet me I immediately recognized your white hair." I told him. His features held a look of reserved panic, but he was oddly composed despite. "Well I… guess there's no point in lying, then…" He sighed, "I had wanted to keep it from you, but I guess that just wasn't meant to be. You would've found out sooner or later anyway. So, yes, I've been a criminal, but I honestly never did anything worthy of that dungeon… damn chicken." He said, scowling into space.

I must have stared at him with a very confused expression because he began to elaborate on the reason he'd been thrown in the dungeon. I listened to the story, laughing as he got to the part where he fell off the roof right onto a royal guard on his horse. He told me more about his family and his parents and how he didn't know where his baby sister was. Then he lightened the mood with tales of his travels across the world. He told me about deserts and wide plains and oceans that went on forever. I could listen to him talk about it for days. "Ah… I wish I had as exciting of a life as you, Jack. You make the outside world sound so amazing." I tried to picture all of the things he had told me. I'd seen some of them in paintings before, so I had a good idea of what the ocean was like, but the desert was a hard thing to imagine. Jack laughed, "'Outside world'? Just how sheltered of a person are you?"

I ducked my head, both saddened and embarrassed by the question. "Well I… I've never been outside the castle…" I told him, signaling to Toothless that he could run a little faster. Jack caught up with me quickly, his eyes wide with shock. "You've never been outside the castle? Ever? But… why?!" He asked, pulling up beside Toothless. I slowed the horse a bit, coming to an easy trot. "My mother… she said something about corruption once… I can't remember her exact reasoning. Anyway, it wasn't really my choice but… well honestly I don't want to leave. This is all I've ever known." I told him, revealing my deepest secret with ease. I wondered how that happened, how the words flowed so easily. I suppose I just really needed someone to know. Somehow, it didn't matter if the person was Jack, since I had grown this strange sort of trust in him.

"You've really never been outside the castle walls?" He asked, disbelief still painting his tone. "Not once." I told him, turning Toothless back towards the stables. "How do you stand it? That must be the most tiring thing ever! I don't think I could be stuck in one place for that long… I'd go mad." He said. "You would think so, seeing as how you've been everywhere, but it's not really bad at all. The assistants are nice, and I'm not too fond of large groups of people or new things so it's almost nice. I do wish I could go see things, like your desert and such, but… well I guess I'll see it soon enough anyway." I told him. He tilted his head in question, "You'll see it soon? So you're getting out, then?" He asked. I nodded, "When I turn nineteen. I'll be given a short tour of the country and then…"I sighed, "Then I'll be sent to the warfront with my father."

My face dropped. The more I thought about it, the worse my desire to just stay in the castle became. Jack and I stopped, dismounted our horses, and led them back inside the stables. "…Why would they do that? You've never even seen the world and they're just going to plop you down right in the worst part of it? Whose stupid idea was that?!" I pulled Toothless back into his stall as he whined in protest. "My father's. He was never too fond of my mother's idea to keep me cooped up in here. Said it was just her way of coddling me. Anyway, eventually they both gave up and decided to put their two plans together, leaving me in my current predicament." I told him. His eyebrows came together on his forehead and he pulled his hand into a fist at his side. "Hiccup that's- and excuse me- but that's absolute shit! Don't you get a choice in the matter? Who died and made them… oh. Well, you get the point anyway." He said.

I laughed, but shook my head. "That's just how it is for royals. Your whole life is planned out before you're even born. No, it's not fair but… some things just aren't sometimes." I told him. He was already waiting for me at the stable door. The girls would probably be back soon, but honestly all I wanted to do was stand there and talk with Jack for the rest of the day. He was good distraction… he kept my thoughts occupied so I wouldn't have to think about things others would force me to think about. I hadn't cried about my mother, and I didn't know why. There was a constant ache in my heart, but I felt as if it couldn't be healed with tears. "Well that's just… ugh. That's not very nice." He said finally, unable to argue with my earlier point. I smiled, "Its fine. Honestly when you've had a lifetime to get used to it, you don't really mind."

I walked back over to him as he walked my way as well. We were just passing through the threshold when Jack didn't notice the bucket still left lying on the floor…

I felt the bucket before I saw it, and my feet went swiveling underneath me. I fell forward and everything seemed to go slow yet swift at the same time. All at once my hands slammed into something hard while my face met something soft. As I opened my eyes I realized that I had fallen atop… Hiccup?

Oh gods.

I pulled my face away as fast as I could. Hiccup's cheeks were redder than I'd ever seen them before. The blush claimed even his ears and neck. That… that couldn't have been his…?

"J-Jack…?" He asked. We hadn't moved really, I had just pulled my face away. But… what was that ache? It was all kinds of annoying, but at the same time it felt very warm. I just didn't really want to move.

I met his eyes and for I second I noticed how green they were. Up close, they had brown mixed in, so it looked like there was a small forest inside them. They were wide with surprise and wonder as he tried to look away but couldn't quite make himself. We were still so close that our noses were almost touching. Moving slow, I placed my forehead against his. Shallow breaths escaped his lips as he tried to figure out what was going on. I was probably tying my own noose but…

I leaned in further, to where our lips were almost touching. Slipping one of my hands into his at our side, I waited and noticed how the freckles on his cheeks moved as his eyes widened. "Jack?" He asked, barely a whisper as the words blew into my mouth. It wasn't really a question, though. It was permission. I closed the distance between our lips softly. His breath hitched despite his earlier consent. I kissed him once, twice, and again and again until I lost count. Soon his eyes misted over, succumbing to the sensation he'd never experienced before. His mouth moved awkwardly against mine at first, but soon found a rhythm as I led him further into our embrace. I squeezed lightly at his hand intertwined with mine. Soon it became evident he'd need to breathe, so I let him rest by moving to his cheeks instead. I peppered my lips down his jawline and up to his ear, where I lightly blew. "Ah! Jack… that…"

I grinned lightly at the small moan I had elicited, and trailed down the planes of his cheekbones back to his lips. I gently pressed mine to his once more. Our breaths mixed and one of his hands shyly brushed up my forearm to rest on my shoulder, while I still held tightly the other one. By this point he had closed his eyes, trusting me even though it was his first time. When it felt right to, I pulled away. His eyes opened halfway. For a moment we laid there breathing and waiting for the other's reaction. I gave him a small, warm smile and tried to tell him it was fine. He stared back at me for a few seconds before looking away from my eyes to my hair, where he laced his fingers into the white strands. He pulled me lightly forward again. I didn't resist, letting him pull me forward into one more long, tender kiss. It seemed to last eternities, not that it bothered me, though. When he finally let me go, he smiled slightly, one corner of his mouth pulling up timidly. I gripped his hand again, reassuring him and myself that there was nothing to be scared of.

"Prince Horrendous!" "Your breakfast will get cold!" "Prince? Oh, where has he run off to this time?!"

Hiccup's eyes widened in surprise, his cheeks burning a fiery red. I pulled away from him and helped him to his feet as the unwanted maids approached. Their shoes clacked on the brick floor while we were still dusting ourselves off. "Your entourage approaches." I told him, swinging my arm forward to invite him to his escape. The girls popped their heads through the door not two seconds after I said so. "Ah! Found you!" "Out with Jack again, hmm?" "Really, you've been sneaking out much too often lately." Hiccup nodded his head. "Yes, yes. Sorry for the trouble m'ladies. Has breakfast already been served?" He asked, trying to slip back into his role of a prince. "Yes! It's growing chill as we speak!" Said the blonde one… Elizabeth was her name? "Ah, then I apologize for my tardiness. I was a bit-" he snuck a glance in my direction, his cheeks warming. "…tied up." He finished, before walking towards them.

As he did, I noticed a small bit of hay clinging to his hair. I walked forward, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him. He turned around in surprise and half-panic, so I decided to play with him. Lifting one hand around his head, I let my fingertips gently graze across his face. I twisted my fingers playfully in his hair before pulling out the piece of straw. He shuddered sweetly as I pulled the hay teasingly across his jawline. "You had this stuck in your hair." I explained, turning out of the girls' line of view to wink at him. "Th-Thank you." He said, straitening his jacket before turning back towards the girls. "Thank you for fetching me… Has my father eaten already?" He asked, to which they nodded. "Very well, then. If you'll excuse me, J- Jack…" He trailed off at the end, unlike his usual façade. I nodded with a slight smile and turned away to pretend to tend to one of the horses.

I heard their footsteps fall away and let go of a shaky breath I wasn't aware I'd been holding. Why did I do that? Of course this question only occurred to me after the event. Common sense had been nowhere to be found earlier. I'd just kissed a prince. I'd just kissed a royal, and a man, at that. Of course there wasn't really any difference from the way it felt with a woman… except that there had been an invisible lighting there that hadn't been in an of my past experiences. It was almost as if it had been… more sacred? Like there was a rule to be broken, and unknowingly, we had entered into its throes. I pressed my fist up to my mouth, taking in what had just happened. Shouldn't I feel disgusted? Honestly, that was the furthest thing from my mind. If anything, it felt more pure that any other kiss I'd ever had the pleasure of have having. I couldn't help but feel my own heart skitter a beat when remembering. Not to mention that I was sure it had been his first. Stormfly whinnied loudly at the lack of attention, so I stroked her nose a little, still consumed in thought. How would he react the next time we saw each other? Would he play it off? Act like nothing had happened? That seemed like the most rational course for him seeing as how he was, despite my wishes, a royal. I let out a long sigh. I knew that was what needed to happen but…

I really just… didn't want it to.

Breakfast was a blur.

My mind jumped all over the place. I was dazed, trying to understand what had just happened as best as I could. That had been my first. I was sure he knew it too, which made it all the more embarrassing. Was I ever going to have cool cheeks around him? Probably never again. My heart was still beating rapidly in my chest. I pushed some food I didn't even bother to look at inside my mouth, trying to choke down my feelings. I had to get a hold of myself. I couldn't be giddy today of all days. After all, my mother had just…

The thought instantly sobered me, dragging me back down from the clouds above. I suddenly found myself relieved of any appetite I might've had. I stood up from the table amidst looks of worry from the assistants that attended. I walked out without a word, they wouldn't be needed. Everyone would be able to figure it out. The funeral would be held in three days, enough time for all the other royals to make the hasty trip up to the castle city. That meant many unwanted and needy relatives I'd rather have nothing to do with would be taking up every waking moment trying to take up both mine and my father's attention. I hated the entirety of my family outside of the castle. They were all money-minded idiots with deep pockets for hearts. They were so shallow in their view of things and how the world should be that I had no reason to even attempt to like them. Apart from the fact that, once again, I had to be perfectly polite since I was a prince. Sometimes I wished I had been born as some beggar's son. At least from there I would be able to choose my own way.

I wandered down to a garden, a risky move considering I might run into Jack there. Fortunately, there was no sign of him, only Aster working silently alone. I let out a soft relieved sigh before walking over. "Well if you're done screwing off with the horse get yahself over here and pull some of these weeds." He said. I laughed at his mistake, but decided to go with it, playfully dropping down to my knees beside him. "Whatever you say there, Aster." I said, grinning as his head snapped up in surprise. "Hiccup! Sorry there, mate. Thought you were Jacky… I- I mean Jack." He said, brushing some dirt off onto his trousers. I laughed, but didn't move. I fiddled with one of the weeds. "Remember when I used to help you with this sort of thing and nurse Elsa would get so cross because I'd gotten myself dirty?" I asked. Aster's mouth tilted up at the corner. "Aye, that I do. You were still such a small thing then… had no idea what being a prince really entailed." He said, a small bit of sadness creeping up into his eyes.

My own eyes mirrored his before looking back at the dirt. "I liked those days." I said, pulling up at one of the small plants between my fingers. He nodded, thinking back to his own memories of the time. "…I already miss her." I told him, finally confiding in the one person I knew my thoughts would be safe with. I could feel Aster's heavy gaze as I picked at another weed before sitting back on my knees with a sigh. "They haven't figured out who it was still… and when I think of it being one of the assistants- people I've known my whole life- I can't help but feel like something's… not quite right. I'm honestly scared for it to be any of them. How will I face the person when they figure out who it was? Then again, they might not eve figure out who it was. I just… don't know what the better option is."

Aster tilted his head, compassion lining his features. "Well, that's how I know yah've been raised right. Only a person as decent as yah would've kept their thoughts free of revenge up to this point… She made sure of that, at least. I know the kingdom will be left in a good set of hands." He said, reaching over to pat my back. I smiled slightly, accepting the praise. At least one person thought I was capable of running a kingdom. I still wasn't convinced, though. "I haven't seen yah as much I'd like these past few months. Yah've been all trapped up in lessons and what-have-they from dawn till dusk these past few weeks… All in time for the birthday I suppose." He mused. I groaned, "Don't remind me. The wretched day just keeps growing closer."

Aster was the only person (apart from Jack) to which I had expressed my extreme aversion to my birthday. He smiled sadly, "Ah, It'll be alright, mate, you'll see." He said. I rose up off the ground and leaned backwards to straighten my spine. "I hope you're right." I told him. I was about to ask him something when the castle gates opened, dissipating my train of thought. "That would be my cue, then." I said, chewing on my lip. I really didn't want to go meet anyone. From the look of the carriage that would be… "Godsdammit." I cursed under my breath. Aster looked a little put off but said nothing to correct me as he saw who it was that had arrived. "Well… have fun with that." He said, turning back to the weeds. I took that as his good-bye and left the garden, walking towards the entrance.

The horses manning the carriage pulled to a stop and I was instantly aware of the dark mood inside. Once or twice while the carriage sat idle I heard a few roaring insults and howlings of pain. I rubbed at my temple as I contemplated just how long they might intrude upon the castle. They were always the first to arrive and the last to leave. The next few days were sure to be hell as they saw fit to torture me. As soon as I had given up on my manners and was about to walk inside, someone came flying out of the carriage door. It was Tuffnut, one of the Thorston twins. He landed heavily on his backside, rolling a few feet before scraping to a stop in front of me. I jumped back in surprise, not wanting any of the anger that emanated from him to be turned on me. "You bloody halfwit! Snotface get yor arse out here an' I'll rip yah a new one!" He yelled back at the carriage, scrambling to his feet and almost tripping over his rage. "Oh shut yer trap, yah ugly horse-rat." Snotlout's voice travelled through the air, leaving me stuck to the spot with a nauseous feeling in my stomach. Tuffnut rolled back into the carriage to scrabble some more with Snotlout, prolonging the time I would have to spend waiting for them.

I straightened my face and forced my hands into fists at my side. I would try to appear as calm as possible. If there was anything I was good at, it was pretending. All I had to do was act tough, right? Very well, then. I'd act tough. I puffed my chest out, keeping my head high. It felt a little over-done but they probably wouldn't notice. There were a few more muffled yells in the carriage before I felt something touch my back. I flinched forward, unaware of how jumpy I really was, and flipped around to see Jack there. He leaned in close to my ear, and before I could stop it, the blush had already started. "Calm down. It's alright, they're not even out of the carriage yet." He said, moving his hand up to rub a few comforting circles into my shoulder. I let go of a huge breath and deflated. "Sorry, I… I guess I'm just anxious is all." I told him, leaning into his hand. He chuckled softly, "Good gods, man, do you always keep your shoulders this strung? Relax. From the sound of it you have a few moments to get your head together." He took his other hand and began working the other shoulder. Was I really that tense? Gods, did that feel great. I let my head loll back and closed my eyes, breathing deeply. Jack was the same height as me, so his hands reached easily up to my neck and around the back of my head, slightly ruffling my hair. "So I take it that's the feared cousin Snotlout." He said. I gave a small nod, "Unfortunately."

His hands continued their work down the first few inches of my spine and I tried to get myself to calm down further. "Well, don't they just sound like a barrel of fun." His voice was a sarcastic, monotone growl in my ear, which brought me back to the stables…

I found myself becoming overly aware of his hands on my shoulders and felt the heat spread across my ears. That was just grand. So much for looking tough, then. Behind us I heard the castle doors open. Earl Sand walked out, accompanied by two guards that held the doors open. I turned, unfortunately freeing Jack's hands. The white haired boy walked around me and gave an encouraging grin before heading over to assist the carriage driver with the horses. I turned my attention back to the lugheads that would soon be exiting the carriage while I straightened my tunic and hair where Jack had brushed through it. Maybe… just maybe it wasn't a bad thing. It didn't feel bad, anyway. Honestly his presence had set up new sort of rolling in my stomach, but it was lighter than my previous nervousness. It was almost ticklish.

Before I had time to muse any further I was interrupted by Snotlout's loud stomping through the door of the carriage. "Ugh. Well look who's come to greet us." He said, jerking his chin towards me as the other two fought their way out of the carriage. "Hey there Horrendous. The face is still living up to the name, I see." He said, shooting me his disgustingly tooth-bared grin. I forced my lips to stay shut, fighting back every nasty insult and witty comeback in my arsenal. Even in situations like these, you had to be the better person. Plus I knew nothing good would come from fighting with Snotlout, he'd just end up resorting to violence and I didn't exactly need that either. Another plus, one day I'd end up as king and he'd have to beg on his knees for forgiveness if he wanted to keep his title. The thought brought a small smirk to my face as I turned to lead them inside. As soon as I was in the doors, I leaned over to the woman who used to be my mother's head maid, Geraldine. In a low voice I asked her if everything breakable had been put away or hidden. She nodded, "They're being locked away right now." She said. A few more maids and butlers piled into the room, assumingly from the task of putting everything away.

I nodded at them in approval to which they bowed their heads and entered the long hall. There were awkwardly empty podiums and pedestals that would usually hold valuable busts and vases, but they had all been put away due the rowdy nature of Snotlout and the twins. They walked in not far behind me. It was more of a tumble, really, as they all pushed forward to be at the head of the group. Even my father had found their behavior unbecoming, and he was the easy parent. I coughed to clear my throat before leading them into one of the welcoming rooms that lined the hall. They followed behind me, still stuck on whatever they had been bickering about before. As I sat down at one of the tables I tried to keep as calm as I possibly could. Soon enough their attention would be dragged from their argument back to me, one of their favorite people to harass.

This was going to be another very long day.

Whoopsie! Did the romance really come out that quick? That wasn't supposed to happen.

Not really, though. I meant to do that since Sugarplum won by a long shot. Unfortunately that means I have to get the romance rolling faster than I want it to, so it won't interfere with the plot. Ah, how unfortunate. So very, very unfortunate.

Anywhoo, next chapter out soon *hugs you all*