Disclaimer: This is based on epineffin's story, Even Miracles. I don't own HTTYD or DreamWorks
Chapter 2
One month later
(Hiccup prov)
I still couldn't believe I had let Fishlegs convince me to go to the festival, but true to his word he did get a seamstress to make me a suit in time for the festival. I ended up spending two days altering one of my unused left boots to fit my prosthetic. I don't like wearing two shoes but Fishlegs is my friend and I'm weak.
To be honest, for the past month I've been excited, I mean I'm going to the festival, the festival, I mean sure I'm going to help Fishlegs impress Ruffnut, but that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun. Just three whole nights where no one knows who I am, and can be more than a servant.
Dusk approaches faster than I thought, as I'm sweeping the kitchen floor, Drago approaches me. "Listen here, Smith," he said, Drago knows I don't like it when people call me by my last name. Well, my surrogate name, Smith, is the name they give to orphans or bastards. As much as I would like to call him by his first name, it would most likely end in me having a bruise on my face.
"Yes lord Drago," I say
"When Eret marries the princess, he will become king very soon," something tells me King Stoick won't be around much longer if Eret marries the princess, Drago starts to walk towards me and due to experience I start to walk back, I didn't realize how far we went until my back hit the wall.
"Which means we will no longer need you around since we'll have millions of servants'' he said even though we both know he can afford hundreds of servants and just chooses to let me do all the work.
"Now Smith when the time comes I expect you to be packed and out of the manor by sunrise," he said.
"We'll be back by midnight" he added and left, while I just slid down the wall and tried to process the fact that I have to move out in three days.
I waited till the Bludvists left, and made sure Toothless was fed before I went to wait in front of the Ingerman Manor for Fishlegs.
"Hiccup " I heard, I turned to see Fishlegs in a brown and green mask with … warts? Wow, he was really going to the lengths to impress Ruffnut.
" Nice mask," he says, I have a black and silver mask that took a couple of weeks to make.
"Thanks," I said. I opened the carriage door for him and left for the festival.
~o0o~
When we arrived at the castle the guards opened the doors to reveal a giant ballroom, with a big chandelier hanging over it.
"Wow this place is huge," I said as we walked down the stairs.
"Oh no it'll take forever to find her in this crowd, " Fishlegs said, as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Find who?" said a voice, we turned to our right to see Ruffnut wearing a swamp green mask with yellow splotches, Tuffnut probably has a similar mask. Just as I was about to speak, Fishlegs interrupted me.
"Hello there madam, will you grant me the honor of knowing your name." he said in a deep voice. He nudged me and gave me a look that said, I'll find you if I need you. I nodded and mouthed midnight to him before I left.
I didn't really know anybody so I just stood in a corner, away from everyone else. I spotted Snotlout on the dance floor with a fiery mask and clearly trying to pass the time. Although I couldn't find Eret or Drago, they were probably talking to the princess or trying to schmooze up the king. What a great mental image.
"Gets repetitive, right?" someone said, but I barely hear her through my thoughts. I look to my side to see that she is right next to me and - Woah. I didn't know how I could see through her mask but I could tell she was beautiful. She had blonde hair twisted into a thick braid that went down her back, with ocean blue eyes, light freckles, and her lips-
"Huh," I said, dumbfounded, the girl had a blue mask with orange and yellow details, and a feather on the right side of the mask, that was blue into yellow.
"The balls" she clarified, " It's always the same thing, dancing, small talk, and mingling"
" I wouldn't know", I answered, " This is my first one". Gods, why was he freaking out so much, this girl is probably a commoner, like himself. Then again he is a servant, but not now, right now he is a fellow commoner that has a shot with this girl. Probably.
"Oh so why are you here?" she asked, "Plans to marry the princess?"
I laughed, "No I'm actually here to help a friend" I gestured to Fish and Ruff who seemed to be having a great conversation," See that natural flow of conversation, it's all because of me".
"It is?"
"No, it turned out that he didn't need me once he had his mask on. Thank Thor, because I have no social skills".
She giggled "Now I wouldn't say that," she said it as a compliment, and it made my gut twist with happiness.
We stood there in silence, before she said, "So tell me about yourself"
"Like what?" I asked
"Like do you have any siblings?"
"No, " I said, though I'm not completely sure. I'm a smith so I might, but so far none that I remember, anymore.
"You?"
"No," she said, "pets?"
"A horse, I guess, you?"
"Same, favorite color?"
"Uh...blue," not just because her eyes are blue.
"Green" probably not because my eyes are green, "Hobbies".
"Um… drawing, designing things, inventing and sometimes work as a blacksmith"
The girl paused, "Wait, you're an inventor?" I nodded and she grinned. "Cool, no one here does anything interesting, what do you make?".
"Oh, just you know", I say as vaguely as I can. I can't exactly tell her that I make myself leg prototypes, it would lead to her learning about my leg, and I don't want her to think of me as a cripple. "Just stuff like swords. Axes. Other types of weaponry."
Her eyes sparkled, "Really, because my axe has been feeling a bit off lately, maybe you can fix it up sometime?"
It felt like fireworks exploded in my stomach, "Sure, I can fix it up sometime". Wait what, why did I say that now she'll know that-
"So you have an axe?" I asked, she nodded, " Are you any good,".
"Obviously," she says, wow isn't overconfidence supposed to be unattractive and obnoxious? Someone clearly forgot to tell her that. "What about you, any axe skills to your name?"
For a moment I considered telling her that I come from a long line of amazing axe-wielders, and that I'm the youngest and most incredible axe-wielder in all of Berk. But what ends up coming out is-
"I can barely lift an axe, much less swing one".
It turns out that that was the right thing to say, she laughed " An honest man, I like it. So can you at least pick up a sword?"
"Yeah actually, " I said, perked up," And I can use one, I'm pretty good with one as well. I mostly spar with Snoooaaahh, ...uh I mean my cousin. I usually win, but, I mean he's more of a hammer guy, so." . I scratched the back of my neck, slightly embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject.
"I actually have this cool sword design, where it catches on fire. At least the blade does. I want to work on it more, but it depends".
"On what?" she asked
"Oh on whether the world hates me that day or not".
She laughed," I like you, you're different from anybody else I've ever met. So tell me, how does your sword work"
I rambled on and on, gesturing wildly as I did so. The woman kept smiling and nodding, she looked like she was listening to every word I said. Even Fishlegs tended to tune him out when he talked about the mechanics in his inventions. I guess I can't blame him, but it's still nice to have the woman listen to me.
I ended up getting a little too overathuthastic while I was describing the retractable blade. I ended up lightly slapping someone's face. The girl snorts, which shouldn't be as attractive as it is. I gave her a sheepish smile and rubbed my left hand.
"Sorry," I said to whoever I hit, too embarrassed to look them in the eye. Suddenly I felt two large hands shove me against the wall.
"Watch it" Eret growls, of course, it's Eret. Due to his harsh tone, and the scowl on his lips, he probably hasn't found the princess yet, or maybe he did and she rejected him. Ah, what a beautiful thought.
"You watch it," the woman said. Eret rolls his eyes and stalks off, obviously too infuriated to put up with us any longer. "What an asshole" she muttered
"Yup" I agreed
"Hey, do you wanna take this outside?"
"Huh"
She gestured towards a pair of closed doors near the side of the room."Those lead to the hallway, which leads to the garden. We can continue our conversion there, asshole free"
I smiled " Gladly"
She smiled as well," Come on follow me"
~o0o~
I nudged the girl's arm "Hey, I just realized that I never got your name?"
She froze for a moment before continuing to walk," Uh isn't the whole point of masks to be in disguise? What would be the point if I told you my name?"
"Fair enough," I said, "But that means you don't get to know mine either "
"Sounds good to me"
We continued walking down the hall when my eyes caught the attention of a portrait of the royal family. I had heard of the Haddock family from time to time about how they were the happiest family in all of Berk, before the accident of course. The portrait pretty much proves it.
King Stoick seated, with a wide smile on his face. Queen Valka on his right with a bright smile, while the prince sat on her lap. The boy looked about two or three years old, with vibrant green eyes. Sadly the family only had about six left of happiness. The most recent portrait had the king standing by himself without a smile.
Strangely enough, I felt like I knew them, as I looked at the King's smile, and imagined a deep rumbling laugh, and the queen's, it seemed that she had a soft voice that sang of the sea. And the prince's freckles remind me of - well they remind me of -
"Hey, you coming ?," the girl said, interrupting me from my thoughts, "Sorry, I got lost in a thought," I said, catching up to her.
We eventually reached the end of that hallway, where we pushed open the doors. It's very dark outside, but the gardens are lit with candles. Wait what?
"I thought this place was restricted," I said, " Why are the candles lit?"
"They do it every night" she mumbles she coughs, "I mean, I assume they do, with royalty and all that,"
We went over to sit on a bench that had a great view of the stars. "Hey can't we get in trouble just for being here," I asked her.
"Yeah, I guess. Why afraid of getting in trouble?" she teased
"Yes "
"Don't worry, I'll protect you"
"Like you did with the asshole earlier?", she laughed. "Of course". Her foot is really close to mine, so I nudge it a little. Soon we're in a little game of footie.
"Your laces are really tight," she mentions," you could cut off your foot like that". Ironic isn't it, the laces on my left boot are really tight so it doesn't fall off. I did the same thing to the other so it could match. "Thanks for the tip, " I responded.
She looked as if she was about to say something else when the clock bell chimed. We looked over to see that it was nine o'clock.
"The ball only started an hour ago," she says shocked, " We've been talking for an hour"
"Is this a you're so boring, how is this evening not over yet, or anI feel like I've known you forever kind of statement?" I ask.
"Definitely the latter," she says with a smile," To be honest I thought today was going to be boring, but you're great,".
"I thought the same" I said," and you're pretty great yourself".
"Thanks"
~o0o~
We talked for hours, mostly about funny experiences in our lives. I made sure not to give too many details so she didn't find out who I was. I think she was doing the same thing. There were parts of her stories where she would pause only to continue as if she had almost been caught. But I didn't really mind.
"Look at the stars" she said unexpectedly, " Beautiful night isn't it?"
" Yes indeed," I say, looking at her. She raised her eyebrow, then it hit me. Why did I say that?
" I am so sorry, it just came out. My cousin is contagious" I quickly say.
She just laughed and said "Don't worry it's fine".
I looked down to see her holding my hand and intertwining our fingers together. I looked up to see her slowly getting closer to me, and looked at my lips before coming back to my eyes. I find myself leaning in as well, I can feel her breath on my lips. As I was about to kiss her the clock bell chimes.
We jolted apart due to the sudden noise. I laughed nervously as I ran my fingers through my hair, I looked at the clock and realized that it was midnight! The Buldvist are on their way home, and I quickly jumped to my feet.
"Shit,shit,shit" I hissed.
"Hey what's wrong?" the girl asked. A part of me forgot she was there.
"I'm so sorry but I have to go," I say. I quickly run to leave, but she jumps in front of me.
" Wait, will I at least see you tomorrow?" she asks.
"Of course, nothing could keep me away," I say smiling before I run to the front of the castle. When I entered the ballroom I didn't see the Bludvist anywhere. Fuck. I continue to run, bumping into a few people along the way. As I quickly walked down the stairs I saw Fishlegs sitting in our carriage. I got in the carriage and yelled "GO!" to the driver, tried to get to the Bludvist Manor as fast as we could.
Out of nowhere Fishlegs asks" So did you enjoy the festival?"
"You have no idea," I said with a small smile.
~o0o~
When we arrived at the Manor there was no sign of the bludvist, so I quickly went to my room to change. But then I heard the front door open so I put some oversized rags over it, and put some dust on my face before I ran down to greet the Bludvist.
"Hello sir," I said. " How was the festival ?", I didn't get an answer, just some grumbles.
"I can't believe this" Eret fumed," They said the princess wouldn't be in disguise" .
"She wasn't supposed to" said Drago," Apparently she went against the king's wishes, because she didn't want to be singled out.".
"But that was the whole point of all this," Eret said, which sounded very close to a whine.
"We still have two more nights Eret, you can still become king. Like you were born to."
Eventually Drago and Eret went to bed, leaving me with Snotlout." So how was the festival for you?" I asked him.
"Well I tried to flirt with Ruff, but she was talking to another guy. So we ended up fighting for her attention all night"
I laughed, the thought of Fishlegs and Snotlout at each other's throat was too funny. " So did you win"?
" I'm not sure, to be honest I think she likes Eret more than me," he said sadly.
"Well Eret's a jerk, I like you better" I said as an attempt to cheer him up.
"Way to make me feel worse" he said but his face did lift up a little." I'm going to bed, I'll see you in the morning".
When he left I let out a sigh of relief, I had gone to the festival, had a great time, and had gotten back before the Bludvists. Now hopefully I can do it again tomorrow night.
Hey everyone it's me, I would like to apologize for the long wait. A lot has been going on with me this summer, and I didn't have a lot of time to write. AKA my mom didn't want me to waste my summer by being in my room with nothing but a computer, so I had to go outside. *shudders* The horror. Anyway, I don't know when the next update will be but I can guarantee that won't be as long as this one. Later.
P.S: I was going to post this yesterday but I had to go to sleep early for school.
P.P.S: I tried to update this on the 11th but it wasn't working
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