Chapter 1: The Arrangement
Age: 2 Years old
Stoick the Vast was led from the docks by the welcoming committee of palace officials, into the carriage awaiting their arrival.
It was a smooth ride from the harbour to the large sprawling hill on which the palace was situated.
They passed a number of lovely gardens on the way to the main entrance of the impressive-looking castle of the Kingdom of Romsdal. As he stepped out of the carriage, his wife Valka, a tall and elegant woman, was by his side, cradling their two-year-old sleeping son in her arms.
This official meeting between the feared Isle of Berk and the Influential mainland kingdom of Romsdal was shaping up to be mutually beneficial, given the fact that Berk was looking to establish itself as one of Romsdal's primary customers for important trade goods and raw materials that couldn't be produced on the island, and in return, Berk's reputation in the archipelago of having some of the most fearsome warriors and a navy fit for war, would be immensely desirable for a mainland kingdom, in case of a war breaking out or an enemy invasion by sea.
The Berkian Chief and Chieftess were weary after the week-long voyage by ship, but even so, Stoick the vast insisted on getting right down to business.
Stoick conversed with King Arvid in his exquisite strategy room, while their wives engaged in a formal yet friendly conversation, sitting on benches in one of their impressive gardens by the side of a lake.
Hiccup, now awake, was playing in the sand along with Princess Astrid, a feisty little toddler with a mop of curly blonde hair. Her older brother, four-year-old crown prince Evan, was helping the younger kids by bringing buckets of wet sand from near the water.
Their mothers watched with amusement at their innocent interactions, especially little Hiccup who seemed meek and shy in stark contrast to the energetic little girl.
Behind closed doors, King Arvid and Chief Stoick discussed various policies and agreements, but found a slight lack of trust from both sides was hindering them from reaching favourable terms.
King Arvid was concerned about signing an exclusive trade agreement with the Berkian, given the slightly primitive ways of the barbaric tribes of the area. He couldn't be sure they won't waver in their loyalty in case Romsdal's relations soured with Berk's neighbouring tribes.
Chief Stoick however, was concerned about committing his naval support to the kingdom without the full confidence of a lifelong alliance. In case the political winds shifted in the future for some reason, he couldn't afford to break off ties with their only mainland trading partner, as getting a replacement with another kingdom will be nearly impossible to do in the short term.
Devoid of essential supplies, such a weakened Berk would be overrun by enemy tribes within weeks, if not less.
Even though they were good enough friends and had known each other since they were teenagers, now that each bore the weight of their respective peoples on their shoulders, neither was comfortable making these influential decisions on mere trust alone.
It was King Arvid who had first sensed his friend's hesitance, and proposed a solution. He had been rather unsure about this idea but had decided to mention it in an off-handed way, just to test the Viking's receptiveness.
Stoick had been more interested in this than he'd expected, given the sudden nature of his offer. But given that Romsdal was a much bigger kingdom than Berk, it wasn't a surprise that the Viking chief would be willing to form this kind of alliance with them, the most personal and strong partnership.
What had started out as an uncertain idea thrown into the mix slowly but steadily spiralled bigger and more concrete until a few hours had passed, all the negotiations had been made, and the treaties were notarized, signed and stamped.
And although the two toddlers playing together in the sand didn't know it yet, their destinies had just been put on an intersecting trajectory, and their worlds were due to collide in the very near future.
"You did what!?" Valka demanded from her husband, in their guest chambers in the palace.
"Now calm down, dear, let me-"
"You didn't even think to consult with me first? He's my son too!"
"I know my dear. King Arvid was the one who suggested it, and you have to admit it solves our problems and secures the future of Berk for generations to come! A marriage alliance with Romsdal will be tremendously beneficial to Berk's people, for their safety and prosperity."
Stoick explained all the intricacies of their meeting today in detail, which helped calm her down somewhat.
"I understand that, but is that worth more than our only son's freedom? shouldn't he have a right to choose his own future?"
"Valka, you must understand. He might be a youngling now, but he is still the heir and hope of Berk. He will be a Chief one day, and a Chief must put his people's good before his own"
Valka looked down and sighed. "I understand that well, but still… I don't know... it doesn't seem right to make such a life-changing decision for our son without him having a say in it"
They both glanced over to Hiccup, fast asleep in a swaddle of blankets. He'd been tired after playing all evening with Astrid and her brother, and had fallen asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Stoick chuckled. "He seemed to get along with the princess quite nicely, eh? Who knows, maybe they might even fall in love one day when they're all grown up."
Valka frowned. "Love isn't something that happens overnight Stoick, it takes time. And that is something they won't get if they meet at the altar when they're adults"
Stoick furrowed his brows. "I see what you mean, but traditionally, they shouldn't meet again until they are both eighteen and of age..."
Valka stood firm. "I don't care about tradition. If I'm going to agree to this... then you have to agree to a condition of my own."
"What condition is that?"
"We have to let them meet at least once a year. Every year until they come of age. At least let them have a chance to blossom a friendship, get to know each other, so they're not complete strangers when the time comes to tie the knot"
Stoick considered this. "Even if King Arvid was to agree to this, once a year is simply too much dear. It is a week-long journey each way, and I can't afford to be away from Berk for that long. And you know that the royal family won't be willing to undertake the trip to Berk, given our little dragon problem. People of the mainland have hardly ever seen dragons, so they are still deathly afraid of them"
"If once a year isn't possible, then once every two years. But no less than that. For at least a few weeks each time, We will visit Romsdal and Hiccup will get an opportunity to make friends with Astrid. If you're not agreeing to this, then I'll ask that you go see King Arvid right now and request to cancel the contract"
Stoick smiled at his headstrong wife. "Ok dear, I accept your condition."
Still absorbing the news but feeling better about it than she had before, Valka went over and stroked her son's auburn hair gently. It was hard for her to even imagine that he'd grow up and become old enough to get married one day.
"Sleep well my Hiccup" she whispered, "and I hope you dream of your princess."
The next day, the families met to officialise the betrothal.
Hiccup glanced at the girl in her mother's arms curiously, wondering what the adults were discussing, and why they kept gesturing towards them both.
Valka handed her son the tiny necklace he was supposed to give to Astrid. He held it in his tiny palms and looked at it, wondering what kind of a toy this was.
Laughing softly, Valka took the necklace from him after he'd held it symbolically, and gave it to the Queen who put it around her daughter's neck. Astrid tugged on the necklace with curious eyes, wondering what was going on.
Her older brother was saying something excitedly and she repeatedly heard the words 'Hiccup' and 'marry', she wasn't exactly sure what those meant. "Mawwy Hweecup?" She asked mommy.
Her mother clutched her tighter in response and smiled warmly. "Yes darling." Astrid giggled, not sure what she meant exactly but happy to see her mother happy.
A while later, both families met outside, as it was time for the Haddocks to depart for Berk.
The adults exchanged pleasantries and the kids played by running in circles around the carriage.
Valka took her son's hand and told him, "Say bye to Evan and Astrid now"
Hiccup looked at them and said, "Bye Evan and Astwid"
The siblings said bye in return and the Chieftains boarded the carriage that would take them down to the docks.
The last thing Hiccup saw out the back window was the large gleaming castle shining in the mid-morning sun, before it was lost from view and they were on their way to the ship, to begin the long journey home.
A/N: Writing a multi-chap hiccstrid fic after a long time! Hope you are at least intrigued by the start! Please review if you'd like to see where this goes! :)
-Gravitybeam