We're back! So I decided to take a month's hiatus from writing. I was a bit depressed after..well..several reviews which didn't really help my self-esteem. There were times where I wanted to abandon this story, but I knew I needed to see this through to the end. Now due to several questions in the reviews regarding travel times, and all that jazz, we're going to skip the reviews for last chapter so I can address these questions.
Okay, so the first off the events of the battle between the Red Death and the Bewilderbeast. Frozen takes place in July of 1839. We know this from Frozen Fever due to the map of Arendelle that we see during the sequence where Elsa sneezes into that horn, and a gigantic snowball flies across the seas into the Southern Isles, and shoves Hans head first into a pile of horse crap. I don't understand the physics of that, but whatever. The map says in Roman Numerals, 1840.
Oaken says in Frozen, "A real howler in July." So Frozen takes place in July. If Anna turned 19 in Frozen Fever, and she was 18 in Frozen then Frozen takes place in July of 1839. The battle between the Red Death and the Bewilderbeast takes place three months after the events of Frozen, placing it in October of 1839.
Now the reason it took so long for Dagur to get Arendelle is because...Winter Weather. I don't know about you, but I know what a (Pardon my language.) B-word Mother Nature can be. Especially out in the middle of North Atlantic Ocean. She doesn't play around. I surmise that Elsa's storm screwed up the natural order of things and everyone North of Arendelle had a really crappy winter.
So instead of two weeks to Arendelle by ship from Berk even with good weather and the wind behind a ship most of the way as mentioned later in this chapter, it took Dagur four months to get to Arendelle. He would have to constantly stop at ports just to ride a storm out, and even then he might not get out of a port for days if not weeks at time. Not to mention resupply his ship.
Remember, he needs to NOT fail Drago. If he dies, well he fails. And I think deep down he loves his sister, and if he brings Heather alive to Drago, perhaps Dagur could protect her from MOST of Drago's wrath. He can't do that if he's dead.
Now onto the matter of the guards in Arendelle. Or lack thereof. Arendelle is a PEACEFUL kingdom. There is no need for a huge guard presence or even a huge Navy or Army! Now of course that has changed due to Drago just waltzing into the castle like nothing. The reasons the guards didn't even stop him was because Elsa had ordered most of them to protect the citizens in the town, and there were only maybe around a dozen if not two dozen guards posted in the castle, which most of them were posted inside the castle.
Also Elsa doesn't need a personal guard. Because one, she is so used to not NEEDING help, and two, she has her powers. Now I think Hiccup would insist on having a personal guard, but Elsa would not have any of it.
Anyways, I think that clears everything up. Enjoy the chapter!
No Need for Titles
Astrid's POV
Six years had passed, and in that time Astrid had been on Berk, many things had changed. Everyone had grown older, and a little wiser. It had been five days since what would have been Hiccup's 21st Birthday, and Stoick would be returning from his yearly expedition to find his son in a matter of hours.
Astrid's stomach growled as she lay in her bed, wrapped in nothing but her bindings and a blanket.
"Better get up..."
With a sigh, she reluctantly crawled out of her bed, and began to dress. Once dressed, she made her way downstairs and sat at the kitchen table where her mother was making breakfast.
"Morning, mom."
Ingrid Hofferson of Berk sighed, looking at her only daughter with concern in her eyes. Six years had changed her little girl, and not necessarily for the better. Sure she seemed fine, but there was a constant sadness in her eyes. It made Ingrid wonder if her little girl had feelings for Hiccup. The sadness that had become a part of her daily life started when he left.
"Good morning, sweetheart," she replied, kissing her daughter's head before placing a plate of food in front of her.
"Where's dad?"
"He's gone to meet with Trader Johann. He just arrived last night. Wanted to see the Chief right away. Something about a sword."
Astrid was puzzled, but said nothing as she began to eat.
Stoick's POV
Stoick stood at the prow of his longship, watching Berk get closer and closer. Sighing he thought back to the previous few weeks. The dragons which had plagued Berk for hundreds of years, had all of the sudden... just vanished. The raids had stopped.
It was one of the reasons that his search for Hiccup had been delayed by several weeks. He usually would leave a month before his son's birthday, and return the day of, but due to the dragons suddenly vanishing and the winter weather, which locked most sailors in port due to rough seas for a month or two, his search had started two weeks later then he wanted. It was also the reason he was five days late returning to Berk.
It took three days to sail to the Nest with a day on the island, searching it, followed by multiple days at sea, stopping at every uninhabited island in all directions away from Berk, but to no avail. They had searched each island constantly with no sign of Hiccup.
Leaving the thought of Hiccup's location alone for the moment, he thought back to how he found the Nest at last.
At the suggestion of Fishlegs, he had used a Terrible Terror that they had captured for Dragon Training to find the Nest, and even then the dragon had a hard time finding it, searching for a scent that seemed to have faded out.
But when they arrived they were greeted with sight of a massive half-rotten dragon carcass, which had been stabbed to death by two very large sharp objects. Fishlegs had measured the distance between the holes in the carcass as well as the diameter and concluded that no man or machine could have done that level of damage.
He suggested it might have been a dragon, and Stoick shivered. If a dragon killed that dragon it must have been one massive beast. One he was glad that he didn't encounter. If it could do that to the dragon of the Nest, who knows what it could have done to them?
There was also a sign of recent habitation. An army had been there. One with a symbol Stoick recognized. Drago Bludvist's symbol.
"And if he has control of a dragon like that… Odin help us all." Stoick thought with a fright.
The thud of the longship hitting the dock broke him out of his thoughts. Lines were tossed over and the vessel tied down. Leaping onto the dock, he saw Gobber waiting for him.
"Any luck with 'Iccup?"
Stoick shook his head, his red beard swaying, which had finally surrendered the cusp of youth, grey hairs peeking through.
"No."
"What 'bout the Nest?"
"Aye. Gather the council. Get them to the mead hall."
"Aye, Stoick," Gobber replied, hobbling away.
Glancing further up the dock, Stoick could see Arvid Hofferson making his way towards him.
"Arvid."
"Chief. Trader Johann arrived last night. Has something interesting to show you."
"Did he say what it was?"
"Aye," Arvid replied. "A sword that will beat the pants off of any weapon. His words, not mine."
Stoick was puzzled. A sword that could beat any weapon? It sounded like sorcery. But such a weapon could be useful in war against dragons.
"Bring him to the mead hall. We'll ask him about it."
Arvid nodded.
"Aye, Chief."
It was a little while later that the Council had gathered and was seated. Johann was off to the side in the shadows, watching Stoick discuss his findings at the Nest.
Spitelout spoke up.
"... if that madman has access to a dragon that can kill the one of the Nest, we're all done for!"
The rest of the council agreed with Spitelout and Stoick sighed.
"Aye, but there's nothing we can do about it. If Drago was based at the Nest, he's long gone now. His army packed up and left nothing behind except for the remains of the massive dragon and the remains of campfires. We should prepare for his possible return, but we will not go out and look for him. Now Trader Johann has something to share with us."
Sensing that was his cue, Johann stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of the council.
"Chief Stoick! So glad to see you again!"
"What brings you here, Johann?" Stoick asked.
"Goods! What else? Especially this beauty right here."
Johann presented the sword to Stoick, and Stoick took it from his hands.
"It's light. Too light to be of any use."
"Ah, but just watch! You will need another weapon to demonstrate."
Stoick turned to Spitelout.
"A spar?"
Spitelout rolled his eyes.
"If only to humor the man."
Johann watched with glee as Stoick picked up the sword, and Spitelout picked up his axe. Stoick charged forward while Spitelout went to block with his axe. Both were taken by surprise as the sword cut through the axe like butter, the axe head falling to the ground.
Johann smiled.
"Amazing, isn't it?"
Spitelout spoke up, his brother-in-law still staring at the blade of the sword in shock.
"Where did you find that sword, Johann?"
"Well it was on my return journey from this kingdom down south called Corona and I had just met this lovely royal couple, and they were quite..."
Stoick finally spoke, staring at the trader.
"The short version, please, Johann?"
Johann stopped mid-sentence and sighed.
"It's from a kingdom called Arendelle. Made by one Henry Haddock. Any relation?"
Stoick paused, thinking about it.
"No… All of the Haddock's have resided on Berk for the past 300 years…"
Gobber watched Stoick carefully, then spoke.
"What are you thinkin', Stoick...?"
Stoick turned to the council, and Gobber.
"I think we should pay this Henry Haddock a visit. See if we can get a commission. Whatever this sword is made of could help turn the tides in the war against the dragons."
The council murmured amongst themselves, and agreed.
"It is decided then," Stoick said. "Now the question remains on who will go."
Spitelout turned to Stoick.
"You could take the kids. They could use the experience. Especially my boy."
Stoick sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. The council had pretty much forced him to make Snotlout his heir, and Stoick was frustrated with the boy. He was selfish. Not selfless. Which is what a Chief needed to be… Hiccup would have made a better chief… maybe if he could find his son, he could reinstate him as his heir.
The other option was to take another wife, and Stoick had promised himself he would never take another as long as he lived. It felt like he would betray Valka if he did so.
"Very well. I'll bring Astrid, Fishlegs, and the twins as well. Spitelout, you're in charge as always."
"Aye, Chief."
"I'll come too," Gobber replied. "You'll need a blacksmith. Especially one who works with weapons. We have an understanding that most people don't. Besides, maybe 'Iccup is in this... what was it called again?"
"Arendelle," Johann replied.
"Right."
Stoick sighed.
"Very well. Gobber, gather the kids, and I'll meet you at the docks. Johann, I assume you have a map to Arendelle?"
"Yes! Follow me, Chief Stoick!"
The three headed out of the hall and off onto their respective jobs.
A little while later, Stoick was leaning over a map, studying the route to Arendelle.
"And how long will it take for us to reach Arendelle?"
Johann smiled.
"If this good weather holds and the wind stays behind you most of the way? About two weeks. Give or take a few days. It was a challenge just returning from Arendelle with that winter storm we had a few days back."
"Aye. I'm just glad there were no raids. That storm was a powerful one no doubt. We didn't need to be missing any houses in that weather."
A raven cawed as it landed on Johann's ship, a note tied to it's leg.
"Looks like someone is sending you a message, Johann."
"Ah, my little Cujo. He's my messenger Raven. I'm not sure what he's doing this far north."
Johann untied the note from it's leg, and fed the raven before reading the note, his face paling.
"I'm afraid I have to get going. A friend of mine is sick. I must be off. Here is your map."
Johann rolled it up and handed it to Stoick as Gobber came down the dock and helped the kids into their boat.
Stoick climbed out of Johann's boat and turned to him.
"I hope your friend is alright, Johann."
"I hope so too, Chief Stoick."
Johann dropped his sails and pulled away from the dock. Stoick watched as he sailed away before turning to the kids.
"We ready then?"
"Aye, Chief," Astrid replied.
Stoick nodded.
"Cast off!"
The ropes holding the ship were released, and it slowly pulled away from the dock, turning south as Stoick studied the map.
Johann's POV
Johann frowned as he read the note over and over again.
"Drago has fallen. Was defeated by the Dragon Rider. No sign of the King of Dragons. The army is returning to the Northern Waters to regroup and come up with a plan of attack. I shall meet you there. Krogan."
Growling, Johann crumpled the paper in his hand and tossed it over the side of the ship.
"This sets things back quite a ways. We'll need to look for another King of Dragons..."
Johann pulled out a cylindrical object from his vest. It had a gold dragon head on one end, and a brown section that seemed to rotate. In the mouth of the dragon was a smooth-like crystal.
"We shall find another King of Dragons. I just need to find the other lenses."
But Johann would not succeed with his plan. For that night, a storm would come up, and swallow his ship whole, taking him and the Dragon Eye to a watery grave.
Astrid's POV
Astrid sighed as she leaned over the railing of the ship. It was nearing the end of the second week of sailing and Arendelle was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly, Gobber called out.
"Land Ho!"
Astrid stood up and walked up to the bow where Stoick was. He had a spyglass in hand that he bought from Johann. Up ahead she could see a city resting on the mountain side.
"Is that Arendelle, Chief?"
Stoick pulled the spyglass away from his eye, and turned to Astrid.
"Aye, lass. Want to look?"
With a nod from Astrid, Stoick handed her the spyglass and she looked through it.
"Wow… it's… it's beautiful."
The castle had ice blue roof tiles and several crocuses hanging on the bridge leading up to the castle as they passed the sea wall, heading for the docks. The village seemed to rise up into the mountains. Lush forests surrounded the entire kingdom, and only the ship hitting the dock with a gentle thud broke her out of daze.
A platoon of guards stood at the ready, crossbows in their hands, and swords at their side, which shone in the morning sun. Astrid noted the appeared to be of the same type as the one Johann showed them.
"State your business," one of them said sharply.
Stoick stood up, and spoke.
"Chief Stoick of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe of Berk. We're here to do business with the blacksmith. A Henry Haddock?"
The guards looked between each other before the one in charge spoke again.
"Apologies, Chief Stoick. Do you have your papers?"
Stoick reached into his tunic and handed them to the guard. He thankfully had the forethought of a scribe on the mainland writing them up a couple years earlier in cases like these.
"They check out," the Guard replied. "Welcome to Arendelle, Chief Stoick. Sorry about the security. Nothing I can do I'm afraid. Queen's orders. We had an attack about two weeks ago."
"An attack? But everything looks fine."
"The attack was limited to one of the castle walls. We just finished repairs thanks to… well a couple friends of ours."
The man's aloofness puzzled Stoick.
"May I ask what the nature of the attack was?"
"A dragon," he replied. "A massive one with two large tusks. Controlled by a madman."
Fishlegs whimpered.
"That sounds like..."
Stoick nodded.
"Aye. We know what you're talking about. We saw the aftermath of it's destruction on one of the nearby islands near our home. The madman I know personally. Damn near killed me."
The Guard nodded.
"Yes, well. Please. Enjoy your stay in Arendelle."
The kids, Gobber, and Stoick disembarked from their ship and began to explore the village.
"Alright, we need to get supplies for the return journey. Snotlout, you and I will talk to the shipwright about getting new ropes for the sails. Gobber, you Fishlegs, and the twins will get the food, and Astrid..."
Astrid turned to Stoick.
"Yes, Chief?"
"Go to the Blacksmith's. See if he's in."
"Yes, Chief."
Astrid made her way over to the Blacksmith's, passing a strawberry-haired girl, holding hands with a blond-haired man with nothing but love in their eyes. Her heart clenched, thinking of the only person who could make her feel that way. She had come to grips a long time ago with her feelings regarding Hiccup. She thought he wasn't a viking, and while she didn't bully him directly, her silence was hurtful enough.
When he left, and she started to realize her true feelings, it felt like a piece of her was missing. And with him gone, that piece would never be filled. As she rounded the corner to the Blacksmith's she froze. In front of her, she saw a pale-skinned woman with ice blue eyes, and platinum blonde hair. She wore a beautiful ice-blue dress, and Astrid realized it was made of actual ice. Astrid was concerned. How could she wear a dress made of ice that was not melting in the spring weather, and how was she not freezing? Then she noticed that around her neck was a gold medallion.
But what really struck her was the man holding her in his arms. He was tall, and thin, but not sickly. There was hidden muscle under his green tunic. Glancing down, she saw he had a peg-leg which started just below the knee. Looking farther up, her breath caught. A sharp jawline with auburn peach fuzz growing on it, and a thick mop of auburn hair that was long enough to be braided framed piercing green eyes which were filled with love for the woman in front of him.
As she realized who it was, she didn't realize she was speaking until she said his name.
"Hiccup?"
Her hand flew to her mouth as Hiccup and the woman separated.
"Astrid?"
Astrid couldn't form any words. She didn't know what to say. A voice called out.
"Astrid, did you find the Black…"
Stoick the Vast stepped out from around the corner, the kids, and Gobber in tow.
"...smith..."
Stoick froze as well. Father and Son stared at each other for what seemed like centuries before Hiccup spoke.
"Father…"
"Hiccup…" Stoick replied, his voice thick with emotion. "You… you're alive..."
A growl snapped them out of their daze. It was then the Berkians noticed the black dragon standing next to Hiccup.
"Dragon!" shouted Stoick.
He charged towards Toothless, who was pushed behind Hiccup, to protect him. Ice suddenly spread out underneath Stoick, causing him to slip, and fall.
"You will not attack Toothless! Especially when he has done nothing wrong. This is my Kingdom, and I will not let you harm my citizens."
Astrid looked over towards the voice to see the woman, standing in front of Hiccup, her hands outstretched, icy fog flowing out from them.
Stoick glanced up.
"You're a witch!"
Hiccup shook his head.
"No. She's nothing like that, father. What are you doing here anyway?"
"We're looking for a Henry Haddock," Fishlegs meekly replied.
Hiccup raised his eyebrow. Then he laughed.
"Oh? Well you're looking right at him. Let me guess, you want my swords?"
"Yeah, duh," Snotlout replied. "Way to state the obvious, Useless."
A ice bolt whizzed past his head at that word, nearly taking his ear off.
"Say that again. I dare you," Elsa replied, her eyes seemingly darkening with anger.
Hiccup took her hands gently, and spoke quietly.
"Elsa… I got this… okay? It's okay."
Elsa relaxed at Hiccup's touch and slowly let the ice fade away as Stoick got to his feet.
"Hiccup… what are you doing here… with a dragon… you… How could you turn against your own kind?! The dragons have killed HUNDREDS OF US!"
"AND WE'VE KILLED THOUSANDS OF THEM!" Hiccup shouted, his voice echoing throughout the square. The Berkians, and even Elsa herself was surprised at the gravitas of his voice.
"My supposed enemy… the dragons… Toothless… was a friend to me… when my kind… vikings…" Hiccup spit the word vikings out, like it was sludge. "Tossed me aside… like I was nothing… like I wasn't worth breathing the same air as them."
Astrid was confused.
"But… you had everything you wanted, Hiccup. You were a viking. You had respect!"
"It was all lies, Astrid! I had to kill the real me just so I could please all of you! And I HATED it! I tried to throw the final test so that you could win, and I wouldn't have to kill a dragon!"
"Believe me, I tried to kill one! And I couldn't! Because I looked at him… and I saw myself. He was afraid… and I was too. You remember when I told you I shot down a Night Fury?"
The Berkians nodded. Hiccup stepped back, rubbing Toothless' head.
"I shot down Toothless…"
Stoick paused looking at the dragon. It didn't seem… vicious… it was calm under Hiccup's touch, though it had a look in it's eyes that it meant business and wouldn't hesitate to protect Hiccup or the Queen.
Fishlegs gulped.
"So you mean… that's the…"
"Yes… Toothless is the Night Fury I shot down… and I wouldn't change what I did. Because it gave me my best friend. As bad as it started out, now there's nothing I wouldn't do for him, and it's the same for him..."
"I would gladly die before I would let any harm come to him. If you can't accept that, father… then there's no point in you being here. I'm not selling you any of my swords to help you on this… hunt of yours… As I told Drago… Dragons are kind, amazing creatures that can bring people together..."
Stoick froze, and spoke up, interrupting his son.
"Wait… Drago? Drago Bludvist?"
Hiccup was puzzled.
"Wait… you know him?"
Stoick nodded.
"Aye..." Stoick replied. "Claimed he could control dragons, and he would help us… if we bowed down to him… and we laughed…. he burned the meeting hall during the Great Gathering of Chieftains with armored dragons…. I… was the only one to escape."
"Well we don't have to worry about him anymore. He's gone. Defeated."
Stoick was surprised.
"How?"
Hiccup sighed.
"He and I dueled… I was injured... but Toothless… he fought back… defeated the King of Dragons... a Bewilderbeast... Which… had killed… the Red Death… Drago disappeared along with the Bewilderbeast.."
Tuffnut was confused.
"Red Death?"
Hiccup sighed, facepalming.
"The dragon of the Nest? I found that out because I recognized some of the dragons that it had under the Bewilderbeast's control. They were from the Nest. The reason the raids occurred was because the Red Death was forcing them to raid so they could feed it… if they didn't… they would be eaten themselves."
Tuffnut nodded.
"Oh."
Stoick was puzzled.
"Wait… you said you were injured… but… you only have a few cuts on your face."
"Look down," Hiccup replied quietly.
They did, and Gobber gasped.
"Bloody 'ell! 'Iccup! What happened to your leg?"
"Drago happened. Stabbed it with his bullhook. Then blasted with dragon fire. There wasn't really a lot left to be saved…"
Stoick paused, taking all of this information in.
"If what you say about the dragons is true… is it possible that all of them can be… uh…"
"Trained?" Hiccup asked.
"Aye."
Hiccup sighed.
"Frankly I don't know. I've only worked with Toothless, Windshear, a Razorwhip, and Rockpie, a Gronkle. Oh, and Cloudjumper, a Sto... Oh, hey Cloudjumper!"
Hiccup waved. Stoick turned around to come face to face with a Stormcutter.
"It's you! The one that took ma wife from me!"
An armored individual slid off it's back, speaking up, their voice muffled.
"He didn't take your wife. She could have left at any time. She just chose not to. Which was a mistake on my part."
The armored individual removed their helmet, and Stoick's hammer dropped to the cobble road beneath them. He quickly pulled off his helmet, and dropped it as well.
Valka had hurried to Arendelle as soon as she had heard her son had been injured. That had been almost two weeks ago. Now with Stoick here in front of her after twenty-one years, she had things to say.
"I know what you're going to say, Stoick. How could I have done this? Stayed away all these years. And why didn't I come back to you? To our son. Well, what sign did I have that you could change, Stoick? That anyone on Berk could?"
Stoick in shock, slowly moved towards Valka, backing her into a corner.
"I pleaded so many times to stop the fighting, to find another answer, but did any of you listen?"
Elsa tried to reach out, but Hiccup took her hand.
"Wait…"
"I know that I left you to raise Hiccup alone," continued Valka. "But I thought he'd be better off without me. And I was wrong, I see that now, but…"
She backed into a wall as Stoick got close to her.
"Oh stop being so stoic, Stoick. Go on... SHOUT, SCREAM, SAY SOMETHING!"
She froze as Stoick touched her cheek, his eyes full of tears.
"You're as beautiful as the day I lost you… "
Valka leaned forward into Stoick's arms, and left off a few sobs. The guards came up quickly drawing their weapons, but Elsa waved them off. Stoick meanwhile pulled Valka into a kiss. Releasing her from the kiss, Stoick spoke up, his voice choking as he made his way over to his son.
Without warning, he grabbed Hiccup and pulled him into a hug.
"Ma son… I am so sorry. I was a terrible father. Can you ever forgive me?"
Hiccup patted him on the shoulder.
"Dad… can't… breathe… "
Stoick quickly released him.
"Sorry."
Hiccup straightened his tunic out.
"I can't make any promises… but… if you keep an open mind about the dragons, and accept me for who I am as a son… I think I can… someday."
Stoick nodded.
"I'll take it."
He turned to Elsa.
"I'm… sorry… I called you… a witch."
Elsa nodded.
"You are forgiven, but that's only because you didn't know about my powers. But I will not tolerate any more insults towards Hiccup, or myself. Nor any more attacks on the dragons. Otherwise I will send you back to Berk, and if you should return you will be executed on sight. Do you understand?"
Elsa's eyes flashed darkly and Stoick nodded.
"Aye… I understand. We all do, don't we?."
He gave a sharp glare to the twins, and Snotlout, who ferociously agreed. Fishlegs agreed, his voice full of fear. Gobber instantly agreed. Astrid on the other hand… seemed to glare at Elsa, and had to force her agreement out.
Elsa nodded.
"Splendid. I am Queen Elsa of Arendelle. Welcome. Come. As you are technically royal guests, you shall stay in the castle."
Turning curtly, she quickly took Hiccup's arm and helped him back towards the castle, the Berkians following.
Gobber waddled up to Stoick.
"Eh, Stoick… did you see what the Queen was wearing?"
Astrid quickly tuned into Gobber and Stoick's conversation as Stoick shook his head.
Gobber smiled.
"She's wearing your betrothal gift to Valka. Isn't that technically…"
Stoick nodded. He had wondered where it went.
"An act of engagement in Viking law… so that means…"
"You'll have a Queen for a daughter-in-law."
Astrid fumed.
"Not if I have anything to say about it…"
Hiccup's POV
It was later that evening that Hiccup was in the private sitting room, his head in his hands. The Berkians were settled in, and Fishlegs had managed to talk to Hiccup, making them at least on speaking terms. While he was proud of him, Fishlegs still left his friendship with Snotlout, the twins, and Astrid after it was too late. They weren't friends again, but there was no animosity between them.
Fishlegs was also quite interested in the library that the castle had, and meekly asked Elsa for permission to go in there to read the books, which she gave to him because he asked so nicely.
Now Hiccup, and Elsa sat alone in the sitting room, with only a single guard watching over them.
Hiccup sighed as Elsa sat next to him, rubbing his back.
"Why now? Why now after six years?"
Elsa sighed.
"I don't know. But…"
She bit her lip trying to form the right words, but could not find any.
"... At least your father is trying. And… think about it this way… you want the world to be a safe place for all of dragonkind, right? You tried it with Drago… perhaps… maybe you can do it with your people…"
Hiccup stood up, and walked over to one of the walls, limping along the way. He stared up at the painting of Adgar on the wall. While in bed during the week, Hiccup told her everything. His background, why he left Berk, and how he knew her father. He told her how betrayed he felt when he found out the truth. Not by Elsa, but Adgar himself.
Elsa had managed to calm him down, and handed him her father's journal, allowing him to read Adgar's side of the story. At the end of it, Hiccup had understood everything, but his emotions were still raw from the truth. It's one of the reasons he snapped at Stoick and Astrid. Every little thing would set him off, and only Elsa could calm him.
"What would Adgar want me to do?"
Elsa stood up and came over, wrapping her arms around his waist, laying her head against his back.
"My father was a very forgiving man. I think… I think he would want you to forgive your father."
Hiccup turned to face Elsa. She smiled softly.
"My mother once told me this. 'Do not let the shadows of your past darken the doorstep of your future. Forgive and forget.' Life is too short, Hiccup. We both lost a father. But the man who raised you? He's still here. You still have a chance with him. He's not perfect. No father is. But he tried his best. Give him a chance."
Hiccup smiled softly, pulling her into a gentle kiss. He released her, and pulled her close.
"What would I ever do without you?"
"You'll always have me."
The two kissed again, not realizing a certain blond-haired shield maiden was watching them.
"I'm too late… Hiccup… he… he loves her… and her him…"
Astrid pulled away from the door, her eyes full of tears. She knew the truth now. It was undeniable.
"I will never be with him…"
The next morning, Stoick sat in the dignitaries dining room where all foreign dignitaries would eat their meals. Breakfast was being served as Elsa, and Hiccup entered the room side by side.
Stoick stood up, bowing.
"Good morning, Your Majesty."
Elsa nodded and curtseyed.
"Good morning, Chief Stoick. I trust you had a decent sleep?"
"Aye. I don't think I've slept any better than last night."
"That's because we use logs for pillows," Hiccup replied with a snort.
Stoick chuckled.
"Aye. We do. Good morning, son."
Hiccup nodded.
"Morning, dad. Say where's everyone else?"
"Well, Gobber, and Astrid went to the Blacksmith's. They wanted to see where you worked. Fishlegs has been in the library all night, and Snotlout, and the twins went into the mountains with a small group of guards to go boar hunting. Of all things."
Hiccup started to protest, but Elsa stopped him.
"Your father came to me for permission this morning. I authorized it."
Hiccup sighed.
"And where's mom?"
"Out flying with the Sto… I mean Cloudjumper. Still not used to that."
"It takes time," Hiccup replied. "Shall we eat?"
Stoick nodded and waited for Elsa and Hiccup to sit before sitting down himself. The three ate in silence until Hiccup spoke up.
"I've been thinking about this a lot this morning. I need to recover some more, and make a new leg, plus the modifications for Toothless' rig… but I was thinking about… maybe coming back to Berk for a visit. Elsa told me she wants to see it…"
Stoick stopped mid-bite, and stared at his son.
"I… I... I'm surprised. I thought you… wouldn't want..."
"To come home? It's just a visit father. I'm not staying. Arendelle is my home."
Stoick nodded.
"Aye… I can see that now… a visit then."
"Can you promise me something, dad?"
"Aye. Anything."
"Can you promise me that while we are on Berk, that no harm will come to any dragons?"
Stoick froze… fighting dragons was in his blood… but his son came first.
"Aye. I promise. Anyone who tries anything will be punished."
A guard burst into the room.
"Your Majesty! There's an unknown dragon out in the courtyard!"
Elsa quickly stood up and ran out as fast as she could to find a snow white dragon with blue highlights laying in the courtyard injured, an arrow with a green tip lodged in it's wing.
Stoick gasped as he came up behind her along with Hiccup.
"A Snow Wraith. Gothi told Gobber she was attacked by one on an expedition in her younger years."
Hiccup limped closer to help the Snow Wraith, but it growled and snapped at him, forcing Stoick to pull him back.
"I can't get close to it. It looks blind, but… maybe it can sense our body temperature and that's how it sees things! Oh, this is awesome!"
Stoick was so shocked at his son's enthusiasm that neither him or his son noticed Elsa moving closer to the dragon.
"Your Majesty!" cried a guard.
Hiccup snapped out of his daze.
"Elsa! Stay back!"
But Elsa didn't hear him. She was in range of the dragon's attacks. One false move and she was toast. But it didn't attack. It just stared at her, whimpering quietly.
"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
Remembering her first interaction with Toothless only a couple days before, she raised her hands in a calming gesture to show she had no weapons as Hiccup had shown her.
"I'm going to remove the arrow from your wing. It's going to hurt, but I'll do my best not to make it hurt."
The Snow Wraith stared at Elsa as if it understood her words, and moved it's wing so Elsa could access the arrow. Gently placing her hand against the wing, and gently taking the arrow in the other, she turned to face the Snow Wraith.
"Ready? Three, two, one."
With a yank, the arrow ripped out of the wing, causing the Snow Wraith to roar in pain, which suddenly stopped as Elsa applied some of her magic to the wound to numb the pain, and seal it.
"There you go."
Suddenly, the Snow Wraith moved, standing up high over Elsa. She stared at the magnificent dragon in front of her, slowly reaching out with her hand. The Snow Wraith let out a rumbling from it's throat, warning Elsa to stay back. Elsa pulled her hand back, and bit her lip, before turning her head away and closing her eyes, reaching out once more. Time seemed to stand still and Elsa felt something cold touch her hand.
She never felt the cold, but she could feel that this cold had a scaly texture to it. Turning her head and opening her eyes, she saw the Snow Wraith's nose touching her hand, it's eyes closed. Frost gently blew out from it's mouth as it opened it's eyes. Something seemed to connect between them, and Elsa could describe it in one word.
A bond.
So yes, it is official. Elsa has her own dragon. A Snow Wraith! Thanks to timothyd394 for the idea! It only makes sense for Elsa to have a dragon that is thought to be trainable, but no one knows for sure! Believe me it was so difficult to figure out what dragon for Elsa to have.
In the Dragon Master and the Snow Queen(Great story by the way! I recommend it!), Elsa gets a Deadly Nadder which I think it's assumed to be the sister of Stormfly? I thought about giving Elsa a Nadder, but I feel like it would resemble Stormfly and Astrid's relationship too much. I also really don't want to turn Elsa into Astrid. That being said Stormfly and Astrid will still meet, and bond.
I also didn't want to give Elsa a Bewilderbeast because that's too close to her powers and it would make her OP. A Light Fury was out of the question, as well as a cool idea from the story, 'Ice Fury'(Recommend this one as well.) Elsa bonds with..well..a Fury that shoots ice instead of plasma.
A Snow Wraith is the perfect blend of both worlds. It shoots frost, and is in the same Dragon Class as Toothless. The Strike Class.
And for the record, I am a Hiccstrid fan, and I prefer that in canon, but off canon? No holds barred on the HiccElsa. :P Hope you enjoyed the chapter! See you next time!