With one minute to spare the pair ran to the entrance to the dining hall with their platters, but the head waiter grabbed him just as he went to put down one of the platters so he could open the door. "Wait, Your Highness. The king asked the other princesses to bring in their meals first. The other princes are already waiting inside."

"But," the prince stammered, "I have to help Toothless take the things in. She-"

"Will have help, sire," assured the head waiter. "Now go join your family inside and wait for us to deliver the goods."

He handed the platters of fruit and fish to the man and went down the corridor to a side door and entered the room where his father and brothers waited. "He finally shows!" teased Hamish. "We thought for sure you ran."

"What, who, me? No come on, she's way too good of a cook for that." The other royals laughed, thinking he was being his usual sarcastic self.

Hiccup took his seat one chair down from Hubert and Stoick called for Clarice to bring in her dishes. She and three servants entered the room, each laden with a platter. Huge baguettes, a swan with the feathers still attached, and a marzipan castle were laid in front of the king. The princess seated herself, smug in her victory.

Stoick reached for a baguette and tore it open. Or rather, he tried to. But the bread was as hard as a rock. He bit into an end, but could not tear a piece off with his teeth. Tossing it aside to Hubert, he reached for the beautiful swan. Blood flowed out of the bird with the first cut, marking it as unhealthily undercooked. Stoick pushed away the platter holding the bird, walked around the table, and broke a spire off the dessert castle. In seconds, it was spat out and Stoick shouted at his first daughter-in-law, "You call this a meal? This is not fit for servants! Throw the bread and that disgustingly sweet attempt at dessert to the hogs and the bird to the hawks!" The princess just sat there and took the abuse. She'd tasted the marzipan, measured the heat of the finished bird, and squeezed the bread to make sure it was soft. Toothless smirked outside in the hall. Looks weren't everything, in women or food.

After a few moments to let the king calm himself and for Clarice to gain some composure, the second princess entered, the three servants following her with covered trays. She set the first one in front of Clarice and opened the lid to reveal…a collapsed bread wreath covered in mold. Quickly, she replaced the cover and whisked the embarrassment out of the room. What had happened? She'd checked the bread just outside in the hall.

Oh well, at least she had the next two dishes. The next one was set down in front of her husband, and the covering lifted to reveal…ribs crawling with maggots and stinking to high heaven. The cover was immediately put back over the dish and she shooed the servant out of the room, stomach still flipping from the sight. If not for the fact that she'd checked it herself, she would have accused the servants of sabotage. It was a good thing her masterpiece was still fine. She took the platter herself and set it in front of the king. This platter contained a chocolate sculpture of his thrown, decorated with candied fruit for jewels. She removed the dome of steel to reveal…nothing.

Stoick leapt out of his chair and knocked the empty platter out of her hands, sending it flying across the room. It clanged against the stone wall. "Is this some sort of joke? Serving the royal family food that is either underprepared or rotten? Are the two of you trying to make us all sick?" The princesses cowered beneath his gaze.

Hiccup got up out of his chair and walked over to his father, placing a calming hand on the big man's wrist. "Milady still has her meal, Dad."

The king's face returned to its normal complexion as he looked at his son. "Then have her bring it in. Hopefully we'll actually get to eat something tonight."

Hiccup smiled and called out, "We're ready!" The doors opened and Toothless rode in on a trolley, full of the food they'd prepared and pushed by the head cook herself. Hiccup got up and placed the platter of fish decorated with the salmonberries they'd picked earlier in front of his father. The man levered a carcass off the platter and onto his plate, where he dissected it with a knife. The flesh was white and flaky, perfectly cooked.

Then Toothless grabbed the handles of the serving bowl and lowered the fresh salad onto the table. Hubert grabbed the tongs and moved some of the leaves to his plate. Putting one in his mouth, he let the fresh flavor tantalize every corner of his mouth. The cooks had put a little lemon juice in the leaves to better bring out the flavor, and it certainly showed on the prince's face. Hiccup introduced the fruit platter to his other brother, a mountain of blackberries, strawberries, and even a few apples in the center. Hamish spooned several blackberries into his mouth and let the flavor spill over his tongue, tart and sweet. Then his eyebrows drew together. "Why does this taste coppery?"

Hiccup flinched. "Sorry. I cut myself while I helped Toothless picked them. Some blood must have gotten on the berries; although I was sure I washed those. Here, try some of the strawberries instead."

Stoick smiled and dug into the fish on his plate. "You are a good husband to help your wife when she needs it, Hiccup. And thank you Milady, for a wonderful dinner." He scratched the dragon under her chin and the little lady arched her back in pleasure. They sat down to enjoy the meal, Hubert and Hamish asking many questions about where the ingredients had come from. Needless to say, they were surprised to find out that such bounty was in their own backyard. Hiccup promised to show them the spots he and Toothless had used, asking her permission first, of course.

Sophia and Clarice were fuming. They spent all day getting the kitchen to prepare those dishes to their exact specifications. How could a dragon upstage them with food she found in the woods and probably cooked over a campfire? They were going to find a way to get back at her for this.

Yes, Toothless had a hand in destroying the other two dinners. I have a new community up and running, so if you want to check it out and perhaps suggest stories for it, I would be so very grateful. Also feel free to vote on my new poll.

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