AN: I know, I know, I'm two days late. I'm sorry. I should have known the last chapter takes more time. It's hard to know how to wrap everything up, which loose ends to tie, etc. If I've missed anything, let me know! (I have been known to leave out major plot points/characters before.) Enjoy the last chapter! Merry Christmas!
Hiccup struggled under the weight of the seven massive books Jack had requested from the library. He could barely see above the stack as he roughly slammed against the door to Jack's study.
"Whoa!" Jack exclaimed as he unceremoniously leaped over his desk to help. "Take it easy, buddy, I didn't mean for you to bring all seventeen at once."
"Seven," Hiccup corrected, relieved as the extra weight was removed. "Just trying to save a trip. What are all these for, anyway?"
"They're maps, travel logs, old histories of trade, that sort of thing. You've always wanted to see the world, yes?"
"Is that even a question?" he deadpanned.
"Well, I was thinking that maybe there are some countries, like Wesselton, who are less than satisfied about my lack of involvement in the past few years. And I thought that since you have proven your diplomatic skills..."
"Oh, please, do not turn this into another twisted joke about me bugging you."
"Ok, fine," Jack laughed. "Since you have insiders information, maybe you'd like to travel to our trading partners. Reassure the old friends, make some new ones, start new trade deals."
"Really?!"
"Just a thought, you know. If you'd like."
"I'd...love to! Follow up thought?"
"Shoot."
"What if you came with me?"
"What?"
"I mean it, Jack. I don't want to leave you right away, and you've always liked the idea of traveling, too."
"Please don't turn this into a twisted joke about me running away to the North Mountain," Jack teased.
"Sorry, is four months too soon?" Hiccup asked in mocking sincerity, pouting.
"You do have a point, though," Jack sighed. "But you've forgotten something. The two rulers and/or immediate heirs to the throne cannot leave the kingdom at the same time."
"Ah, now you've forgotten something."
Jack smirked. "What?"
"You're the king. So change the law. Anna and Kristoff are here, Rapunzel and Eugene will be married by summer so I think the line to the throne will be in pretty safe hands if something were to happen."
"Like to live dangerously, huh?"
"With you, it's an occupational hazard. Or should I say safety?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your powers. Just rocket us into the sky on an ice tower, or make a slide, or build a bridge across the ocean. That is, when and if something were to happen I've thought things through."
Jack considered this for a moment, then smiled. "You've got yourself a deal," he said, shaking Hiccup's hand.
They were interrupted by a knock at the door, and Astrid entered with a tray of tea. Hiccup immediately sat in the chair on the other side of Jack's desk and kept his eyes down. Neither of them spoke as she poured. It had been Rapunzel's idea for Astrid to work at the palace while her siblings received first class education and care. Since they described Astrid's position as the hardest job in all of Arendelle, nobody seemed to mind that she had nearly committed treason as her sentence so tactfully described. The proposition was well taken by all and worked exceedingly well unless Hiccup was around.
"I rang for tea while you were in the library," Jack explained to break the silence.
"Ah," was all Hiccup could manage.
"Anything else, your highness?" Astrid asked meekly.
"No, but thank you."
Astrid nodded and turned briskly. Hiccup watched her go and wished he could say something without feeling like an idiot.
"Hiccup," Jack said pointedly.
"Hmm?" Hiccup turned back and tried to look innocent, but Jack was smiling with an all-knowing kingly look.
"Please do us all a favor and go talk to her."
"I...I don't know what you're talking about..." Hiccup stammered.
"LOKI'D!" the twins yelled suddenly, crashing through the door. At least, Hiccup assumed that it was the twins unsuccessfully trying to move around in the suits of armor.
"What are you two doing?" Jack asked, shaking his head as he helped them to their feet and opened the visors.
"It's LOKI day!" Ruffnut said excitedly.
"And what's that?"
"You don't know?!" she asked, astonished. "Tuff, he doesn't know who Loki is!"
Tuff's visor had fallen shut again and he was looking the wrong way. "My friend, you have so much to learn."
"Loki is the god of mischief on Berk, and on his birthday we get to play pranks and wreck havoc!"
"I think the word you're looking for is "wreak" but I am all for it. Where's Fishlegs?"
"Oh, he went on a dragon ride with Merida," Tuff said, squirming around in the spacious suit and falling over again. "But then he got air-sick and then up, so they're having to walk home."
"Hey! Could you make it snow when they come in through the courtyard?" Ruff asked.
"But not, like, snowflakes," Tuff explained from the floor. "Like a huge blanket of snow that just falls in one blow and knocks them out."
"I'll see what I can do," he promised.
Jack turned and winked at Hiccup, who nodded gratefully as he slipped away. When he couldn't find her in any of the nearby rooms, he ducked into the secret servant passages. He finally saw her rounding a corner, and hurried after her.
"Astrid!" he called. "Wait!"
Astrid quickly turned around and curtseyed. "I'm sorry, your highness, was there something wrong with the tea? I mean, is it not to your satisfaction?"
"No, it's fine. I think. I haven't tried it yet. Please, you don't have to be formal."
"I'll get the hang of it, I promise," she pleaded, avoiding his gaze.
She looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Hiccup turned his head to look into her eyes and she actually flinched.
"Are you alright?"
"You don't have to worry about me," she said, rather sharply.
Hiccup sighed. "You're still ashamed," he realized. She nodded, still looking down. "I told you you've been pardoned."
"Maybe officially," she said, biting her lip.
"You made some mistakes."
"I nearly killed you."
"Ok, so big mistakes then. But you started out honorable, just like Jack. His mistakes were bigger but I've forgiven him, too."
"Because that's what families do. They stick together no matter what."
"Not always. Jack and I weren't always that close, and we're still healing. It takes time to rebuild trust, but it can be done, and with you, too."
"Too?" Astrid asked, looking up abruptly.
Hiccup looked at her for a moment, and for once she held her gaze unwaveringly. "In case it wasn't clear," he said slowly. "I have forgiven you."
Astrid squeezed her eyes shut and looked away again, unable to bear it. "Thank you," she whispered, visibly relieved.
"I had fun that night," Hiccup continued. "You know, before Jack froze everything. And, granted, I did rush in with the engagement being the sheltered prince that I was. But…I really did like you."
Finally, Astrid looked back at him and smiled. "Me, too."
"Good," Hiccup sighed, relieved. "So…friends?"
He reached out a hand and she took it gratefully. "Friends."
A loud thump shook the ground outside the castle. Astrid gasped but Hiccup accepted it as the new normal.
"Merida and Fishlegs must be back," he explained calmly.
"How can you tell?"
"I overheard the twins planning a Loki prank with Jack. Come on, I'll show you."
The courtyard was covered with a thick sheet of snow, at least two feet deep, and an ice slide swirled down from Jack's balcony. The twins, Fishlegs, Merida, and Jack were heavily involved in a vicious snow ball fight, supplied by Jack's snowballs he dished out evenly and they seemed to be flying on their own.
"Hey, Hiccup!" Jack yelled, pitching one at him.
Hiccup ducked and it hit Astrid instead. She grinned viciously and charged into the fray.
"You've messed with the wrong viking!" she yelled, skillfully dodging the missiles as she joined Merida's side. Hiccup slipped through the sidelines and secured a defensive position by the corner of the palace. The snow piled in front of him into a gentle slope, but instead of fighting, Hiccup merely watched in contentment. Eugene, who was visiting Rapunzel, slid down the ice slide and joined in a few moments later, encouraging the twins as usual. Hiccup was starting to wonder where Rapunzel was when she plopped down beside him.
"I've never known you to not join in a snowball fight," she remarked casually.
"I'm just soaking it all in," Hiccup explained.
"Soaking what in?"
"What it feels like to be in a family."
Rapunzel sighed bitter sweetly but smiled at the playful group in front of them. "I know what you mean. Speaking of, Eugene fits right in, doesn't he?"
Hiccup nodded, laughing as Astrid and Merida teamed up with a double assault directly on him.
"Astrid's out there," Rapunzel realized, watching.
"Yeah, I know."
"But she never stops working."
"We talked a little while ago," Hiccup explained. "I think she'll be fine."
"You still like her, don't you?"
"I always did," he sighed, watching her closely. "I'll be the first to admit that I rushed into the engagement, but I really do like her."
"Do I see a do-over engagement in the near future?" she teased.
"Rapunzel!" Hiccup scolded, playfully shoving her into the snow.
"Don't be such a spoil sport," Jack said suddenly from behind, making them jump. "Watch or you'll miss this."
He instantaneously replaced the snow with a giant ice rink and gave everyone gleaming, razor sharp ice blades. Except for the twins, of course, who were on the other side of the courtyard. While everyone else had risen to the level of the ice, their feet were stuck solid. Tuffnut had to bend over and look through his legs to see Jack.
"Hey!" he yelled indignantly.
Ruffnut twisted around. "I thought you were on OUR side!"
Jack cupped his hands around his mouth. "LOKI'D! I think I'm getting the hang of this," he grinned.
Hiccup wobbled on unsteady feet. "Uh, Jack, I don't know how to ice skate."
"How can you not know how to ice skate?" Astrid asked, skating up to them.
"You're a skater," Jack nodded, smiling.
"The roads in Berk are made with ice most of the year," she deadpanned. "Every Viking knows how to skate. Oh, don't look so scared. This ice won't break into freezing water. Jack, let's show him how it's done."
Astrid took one arm and Jack took the other, dragging Hiccup across the courtyard quickly.
"Hey, this may seem simple but it's important to me, how do I stop?!" he yelled, laughing.
Jack waved his hand and created a snowdrift in front of them. "You crash!" he responded.
The landing was so soft Hiccup barely felt it. He rolled over and blinked in the glaring sun, the silhouetted figures of Jack and Astrid standing over him grinning. Astrid reached out a hand.
"You'll learn," she promised. "It just takes time to build trust and confidence. Come on."
Hiccup smiled and took her hand. He could get used to this.