Chapter 21
It was nearly dusk as a caravan made its way along dirt-covered roads. The caravan consisted of several horse-drawn wagons filled to the brim with supplies, twelve knights on horseback and an ornate carriage in the middle that sported the Hofferson Family Coat of Arms, two crossed axes on the border around a blue and purple striped shield that showed off a dragon ready to attack. A golden banner was engraved below the shield that read 'Sapere aude', Dare to be Wise.
The carriage went over a rather large rock causing the occupants inside to shake and jostle. Or in this case wake up. Astrid, who had fallen asleep during their journey jolted awake and was ready to punch something. When it became apparent that only she, Atali and Hiccup were present in the carriage she lowered her fist.
"Miss!" Atali whispered, trying to be discreet, as she motioned to the side of Astrid's mouth. Astrid felt the drool with her fingers and blushed. She blushed even more when she realized that she had fallen asleep against Hiccup's shoulder and had effectively drooled on him. Hiccup unfortunately took no offence to the matter and just offered her his handkerchief.
"Thanks," Astrid mumbled as she accepted it.
"It looked like you needed the sleep," Hiccup commented as he tried to fill the awkward silence.
"I guess. I've had a lot on my plate lately," Astrid stated. "And now I dragged you into my problems as well." She thought back to yesterday and how Hiccup had gotten dragged into accompanying her on her fief inspection. She should have been more tactful but it wasn't everyday one rebuffed Royalty.
"Your Highness, to what do we owe the honor?" Astrid heard Lady Arkas ask.
"I was simply in the neighbourhood and thought that I would drop in." Grimmel had stated. "Surely you wouldn't refuse me,". Astrid felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle when she saw the Prince briefly looking in her direction.
"O-Of course not your Highness." Lady Griselda uttered. "You were invited afterall."
"Please carry on," Prince Grimmel then announced to the guests and the party continued. Astrid watched the Prince approach her and Hiccup and she could see Lady Arkas's displeased expression behind the Prince's back.
"Marchioness Hofferson," The Prince greeted and Astrid extended her hand as was courtesy. He kissed the back of it and then turned to look in Hiccup's direction with slightly cold eyes. "I see you already have an escort."
"That I do your Highness," Astrid said as she kept her voice even.
"I had hoped that I would be able to escort you today," He then said.
"That would have been delightful, your Highness," Astrid said tactfully. It certainly would not have been but she couldn't just scream that to the man's face. Otherwise she'd be committing Lese-majeste. Offending Royalty was a serious crime which often resulted in beheadings. "Perhaps Lady Arkas could benefit from your escort?" She then suggested.
"Are you rejecting my generosity Lady Hofferson?" Grimmel now asked as his eyes narrowed at her.
"Not at all your Highness," Astrid uttered as she squeezed Hiccup's arm unconsciously. "It's just, I have a prior engagement to attend to with my escort after this. I made a promise and I am a lady of my word. I was merely suggesting that one of the other ladies present might… benefit from the attentions of a Prince."
"A prior engagement?" Grimmel queried curiously as he raised a brow.
"Why yes, Sir Hiccup and I will be traveling to my fief after this soiree," Astrid boasted. All those present could infer what they wanted from her statement. A man and a woman going away together during the height of the social season… If rumors of romantic entanglements spread it would just be a boon for her. It would certainly deter any of the would be suitors she had been accosted with through piles and piles of letters in the last week alone.
"I see…." Prince Grimmel muttered and Astrid could see that he was not happy about her already having a suitor. "I bid you both a pleasant journey then."
Astrid and Hiccup chose to leave the party early after the Prince arrived. Later she would hear from LadyCamicazi that the Prince had dragged Lady Arkas away to one of the tents to question her about something. No one knew what the two talked about but people could most likely infer that it was about the Marchioness and her mysterious escort, given the Prince's bad mood.
The jovial mood of the party soured after that as the Marchioness, who was the highest female in the Kingdom after Lady Arkas, chose to leave a party early. There were also several rumors now about the state of the Prince and Lady Arkas's relationship. The families that were in good standing with Lady Arkas were worried that the Prince might set eyes on Marchioness Hofferson as a prospective Queen candidate. Others questioned if the Prince and Lady Arkas had secretly called off their engagement; Why else would he not be Lady Arkas' escort?
"It couldn't be helped. I know the Crown has eyes and ears everywhere." Hiccup stated. "If I didn't accompany you it would create more problems right?"
Astrid nodded but still sighed "Still I feel bad about taking you away from your work. You just got dragged along the entire time."
"Well, I get to spend more time with you. That's a bonus." Hiccup smiled. "Besides there is something I need to talk to you about later when we set up camp."
"Oh, we're not exactly camping," Astrid blushed and then realized that she hadn't totally filled Hiccup in on where they would be staying on their route.
"We aren't?" He questioned.
"For the first two nights of our journey we've secured lodgings at the estates of two country Nobles. For a reasonable remuneration they were willing to provide food and lodging for ourselves and my knights. Most of the supplies we are transporting will be going to the villages in need. With the horses I hope to reach the fief on the third day."
"That's rather ambitious." Hiccup mentioned.
"I don't want to leave Minden alone for long. My father and Esmeralda will be arriving back to the estate before us and they might stir up some drama that I rather Minden not have to deal with." She explained.
"Right, you mentioned the problem with your sister," Hiccup uttered. He said that yet his mind was a million miles away on how he was going to talk to Astrid about her family's connection to Berk. He'd had to go about it tactfully lest she think him some crazy person.
"...-nd I really don't know what to do with that girl, you know," Hiccup was snapped out of his musing when Astrid smacked her right fist into the palm of her left hand. "Do you have any siblings, Sir Hiccup?"
"Uhm… no..," Hiccup was caught off guard by that simple question. "I do have a cousin close to my age though,"
"Can I offer you some wisdom?" Hiccup said, causing both Astrid and Atali to look at him. "It seems to me that from everything you told me that your sister is trying to prove herself but for all the wrong reasons. She keeps wanting to one-up you and you say that behaviour is further being encouraged by your stepmother. What if you gave her another outlet. Something she's passionate about."
"That's interesting," Astrid mumbled. "Though, Esmeralda has her claws so deep into Rosalinda that I don't think she has any hobbies that aren't pre-approved by her mother. But….. I'll take your words under advisement."
Meanwhile, back in the Capital, the news of the tragic passing of the Royal Advisor was spreading. Even those that had looked down on Drago Bludvist's commoner origins had to admit that he had been a very competent advisor. Grimmel was in his office when a rather stricken aide knocked before quickly opening the double doors. "Forgive me your Highness," The man said, looking rather out of breath. "But… your grandmother, the Dowager Regent is here!"
That statement alone caused Grimmel's eyes to widen. He stood up quickly and made his way past the haggard looking aide. The Dowager Regent was already making her way up the stairs when Grimmel entered the hallway. "Grandmother!" Grimmel greeted warmly though the light didn't particularly reach his eyes. "You should have told me you were visiting. I would have had the maids make your favorite desserts."
"Did you order it?" Theodora's face showed no emotion when she asked that but Grimmel noted that his grandmother's hands clenched around the hem of her dress she was lifting.
"Perhaps we could adjourn to the lounge?" Grimmel suggested as he certainly didn't want to have this conversation in the middle of the hallway. He knew what that question was about and mentally he was cursing at Krogan for acting on his own. The rogue still hadn't woken up to fill him in on the details as to why he did so.
Once in the lounge Grimmel pulled out a chair for his grandmother while ordering the haggard looking aide to order a maid to bring them refreshments. The Dowager Regent had also dismissed her Ladies-in-Waiting so it was just her and her grandson in the room. "Well?" Theodora asked again.
"Grandmother, Sir Bludvist died from a wild animal attac-" Grimmel started to say but was caught off guard when the elderly woman called him out on his crap by saying "Bullshit," Her satin-gloved hand smacked the table hard causing it to creak.
"Grimmel, I did not raise you to be a liar." Theodora's eyes narrowed while her hands gripped her lace fan tightly. She pursed her lips and was mentally debating if she should give this boy a good smack on his bottom. His mother died at childbirth and his father was too busy with running the kingdom so raising him had fallen to her. It was disheartening to see what the boy had grown into when given a bit of power.
"But…." Grimmel started to say yet his grandmother's gaze stopped him from making any excuses. "Did you forget that it was my attendants that found the body?" She uttered. "For you to mask his death as an accident…. How dare you?! The cuts on Drago's body were too clean to have come from claws!"
"Why do you even care, grandma?! Didn't you despise the man?! Why the sudden concern now?" Grimmel ended up shouting. Theodora's eyes widened when he had brought up her soured past with Drago.
Theodora bit her lip and massaged her forehead. 'Why did she care?' She thought to herself. It was as Grimmel said. Drago and her friendship had soured decades ago. Yet there was this inkling…. The man didn't deserve the death that he got. Not after trying desperately to see her. Just from the conversation they had shared that day she knew that he was a hardass but wanted to do what he thought was right for his kingdom. When did it all go to Loki in a handbasket eating plums….
Decades ago, when Lady Markison had first gotten married to King Sewlin Ghastly she had taken little of what she had owned from the Markison estate. Traveling together with her was her nanny that acted as a chaperone, a single maid, her most trustworthy knight, and a street urchin she had picked up several months ago and made her assistant.
The marriage had been swiftly dealt with on paper and only the formal ceremony would be held at the palace. For all intent and purpose she, a 17 year old, was already the Queen of an entire kingdom.
"Drago do not slouch," The nanny chided the boy.
"But…"
"No slouching. We are about to enter Imperial grounds. Your bearing will reflect on Lady Markinson."
"Nanny Dee, don't be too harsh on him," Theodora stated before ruffling Drago's locks affectionately. "He's only just learning Royal etiquette."
Drago blushed at the affection and tried to hide his face while the nanny just huffed.
"Your Highness, we are approaching the main Royal Palace,"a knight announced as he rode next to the ornate carriage the others were in.
"Thank you Sir Gripton," Theodora showed a fond smile to the knight.
At the entrance of the palace not only the steward but the maids, the King, and his advisors were all there to greet Lady Markison.
"My dear wife, you honor us with your presence." King Sewlin said as he kissed the back of Theodora's hand. "May we speak in private while your people get settled?"
"Of course," Theodora agreed and she was led to the King's private study.
Once inside the young King, barely 21, slouched on the couch as he bid his new wife to sit as well. Gone were the formalities and traditions and all Theodora could see was a stressed out young man, very likely in the same situation as her.
"Lady Theodora, again I must thank you for agreeing to my selfish request." Sewlin stated. "Those old farts at the council. If they were not pushing this marriage then…."
"I would have likely eloped," Theodora finished the sentence which caused Sewlin to raise a brow at her.
"I mentioned this in my letters to you…." She then innocently said.
"Ah yes, your rose," Sewlin smirked. "Odd choice of words from a lady of such high standing." Sewlin knew what she had meant. A rose was what the nobility discreetly referred to as a Mistress yet this had been the first time he had heard of a lady using that term.
"The person I was referring to was Sir Gripton," She stated.
"Your knight?" Sewlin was curious. "I have to admit I can see why you fell for him. He's a very handsome man."
"Is his highness of that persuasion?" Theodora asked with a straight face causing Sewlin to actually sputter.
"No…. but, I'm not adverse to it. I love beautiful things." The king admitted.
"I see," Theodora said.
"Naturally I won't prohibit your affairs." Sewlin then added. "But only after you can give me an heir. Is that amicable to you?"
"Sir Gripton cannot have children," Theodora confessed. "Even if my father would have allowed our union, which he undoubtedly would not since Sir Gripton is a minor Noble, he would have objected immediately once that bit of news came out."
"I'm sorry," The King stated. He knew parents like that who only treated their daughters as broodmares for the sake of bloodlines and politics. His father was one of those, selling his elder sisters off to marry nobles for political alliances when they turned of age.
"If it makes it any better….. I chose you as my wife for your wit and cunning," Sewlin stated. "I was quite taken by how you handled the Minister's daughter."
"Thank you," Theodora said to the compliment. "I do believe we can have quite a harmonious relationship…. For a while,"
"Please don't bring that up," Sewlin groaned. "You already know don't you,"
"That the Council is pushing for you to accept Lady Lewison as your second wife to appease the Libertines now…" Theodora deadpanned as the King groaned. From what Theodora knew, Lady Lewison was more of a spitfire who wanted love out of a marriage. She'd come into the palace kicking and screaming if she had a choice.
-oOo-
Several years later, a few months after the birth of Theodora's son Quintas, Theodora felt the heavy sting of betrayal.
She, who was dressed in a robe that barely covered her knees, glared at the young Drago who refused to look at her. Her lover, Sir Gripton, had taken a sheet from her bed for modesty while Sewlin, who Drago had dragged into her rooms, looked something akin to smug. He definitely had that 'I-told-you-so' grin plastered on his face.
"How dare you…." Theodora said in a cold voice when addressing Drago. This was far from the affectionate voice he was used to.
"Now now, you can't blame him for all this," Sewlin stated. "He thought his mistress was being blackmailed."
"Sewlin stay out of this," Theodora growled. "He is my vassal and my responsibility to deal with!"
She turned to Drago and asked the now young man "Is this how you treat your mistress? Instead of coming to me with your concerns you get a third party involved?"
"Lady Theodora…. He… he's not your husband!" Drago announced.
"I know, and Sewlin does too. In fact he more than approved of this relationship." Theodora deadpanned as she crossed her arms. Drago now looked wide-eyed at the King who just nodded that he knew.
"But…. but…"
"Drago you're young. Marriages between nobles are a complicated matter." Sewlin stated. "I love Theodora in my own way but I now have three wives. Who am I to begrudge a lady her own lover."
"Sewlin you aren't helping." Theodora now glared. "Drago is my vassal and as my vassal his loyalty should belong to me. Exposing my affairs is a serious breach of trust."
"I simply cannot have a vassal that is willing to share such confidential information." She then stated and Drago's eyes widened.
"Lady Theodora please!" Drago begged. "I promise…. I won't do it again."
"No you won't," Theodra stated. She had no love for people that lacked loyalty. "From henceforth you are not my vassal."
"Theodora…." Sewlin cut in at that moment and whispered in her ear. "I know usually vassals that commit such crimes are given incarceration but even I know how much you liked Drago."
"What are you suggesting?" Theodora hissed.
"Let me take him as my aide. He obviously had your best interests at heart. And he's cunning. He would make a good advisor later."
"Sewlin…." Theodora said in a warning tone. "Are you mad?"
"Possibly," The King shrugged.
Theodora groaned but agreed so long as Drago never appeared before her again. Her stance on loyalty didn't just come out of thin air. It would have been so much worse if Drago had gotten the knights instead of Sewlin. The legitimacy of her children would be called into question which could hurt prospective marriages in the future. Her father would have long since beheaded Drago for his impudence if he had been involved.
"I guess…. I still always had a soft spot for that man," Theodora stated as she stared straight at her grandson. She remembered the street urchin that had pickpocketed her and had given her some smart alec remark when he was caught. Theodora thought back to all that Drago had told her about her grandson's doings. She let nothing show that she knew. Drago's solution to the problem at hand had been…. Extreme to say the least. He must have truly been at the end of his rope when dealing with the Crown Prince to even suggest poisoning to save the kingdom.
"What are you going to do now Grandmother?" Grimmel asked in a rather monotone voice. Theodora looked at her grandson and finally saw it. The light that he once had…. It didn't reach his eyes anymore. Gone was the happy boy she raised and in its stead only power and ambition were present. 'Did Quintas make him Crown prince too young?' 'Had the Noble factions influenced him too much?'
"I plan to attend the Hunting Competition as well as the Kingdom's Foundings day," She answered. "From there…. We shall see,"
At the same time, in the depths of the catacombs under the city, the twins, clad in armour made their way past various cells housing either gladiators or wild animals that looked malnourished.
"I think we passed here already," Ruffnut frowned as she put her hands on her hips. It made an awful clanking sound with the armor on.
"I think we're going the right way," Tuffnut argued.
"That is the same cell with lions as two laps ago!" Ruffnut retorted angrily as she proceeded to lean against one of the dark and damp cells.
"Is not!" Tuffnut stated.
"Is too! Look! That lion is giving you the same look it did when we first passed. The look of wanting to eat a walking brisket!" She uttered.
"I don't have that much fat on my bones!" Tuffnut sounded scandalized. "I'm a lean mean fighting machine sis!"
"Did you just imply that I'm fat?!"
"Uhm….. " Tuffnut seemed to have realized his mistake and backed away from Ruffnut who was all but looming over him, ready to punch his lights out.
Soon Tuffnut was backed up against the opposite cell door and was about to shield his face when something gripped his ankle causing him to let out a very very manly scream.