2. Of swords and knives
One year later
"Well hello there, you're back earlier than expected."
Hiccup grinned fondly at Ingrid, who was gazing at him in surprise.
"And you've grown your hair too?"
"Hello to you too, Ingrid. You look pretty as always."
The aforementioned blonde simply rolled her eyes and swatted his arm, though Hiccup noticed the faint red dusting her cheeks.
"You're cheeky. But I like what you've done with your hair."
Hiccup frowned, running a hand through his brown locks. Since he covered his head with a helmet most of the time when flying, he'd forgotten about how long it was. Toothless didn't really care either way.
"Yeah? I'm glad," he replied, self consciously running a hand through it. "I thought I looked like a savage."
"You do, to be honest."
"Hey!"
As Ingrid chuckled, before quickly wrapping him in a warm (but unexpected) hug.
Hiccup stiffened at the sudden contact, before slowly relaxing and wrapping his arms around her.
"It's good to have you back. I'm tired of annoying Olaf."
"I missed you too, Ingrid," Hiccup admitted, smiling at the girl as they separated.
"You've gotten taller," the girl pointed out. "Your hair's not the only thing that's grown."
To be fair, while out with Toothless away from civilization, his hair wasn't really something that was on his priority list, but he was glad he'd let it grown anyway. It wasn't the first time someone had commented about it, and to be honest, he liked the way it looked.
"Yep! And look what else I got-" he said, gesturing proudly to his left. "Peg leg!"
Ingrid's shriek brought Thor himself to the entrance of the forge, hammer in hand.
"What in gods name-oh Hiccup! Good to see ya lad, how has the year treated you-By my beard! Your leg!"
Hiccup nodded, smiling at his slightly eccentric mentor.
"There was this incident…with acid. Er," he scratched his neck and turned red. "Yeah. I'd rather not elaborate."
The acid had come from a particularly testy changewing that Hiccup had tried to tame, and he'd quickly realized that not all dragons had the temperament that allowed one to bond with them. It was just one of the many things he'd learnt in the past year, adventuring in the southern isles with Toothless. The first few months after losing his leg had been horrible. The aches, phantom pains and the pure shock of losing a limb had meant he had almost died, but with help from his best friend, he'd managed to pull through. And fortunately for him, he'd found new allies as well.
The Defenders of the Wing were a tribe of dragon worshipers on the island of Caldera Cay, just a day's flight north. They'd initially tried to kill him, thinking that he was working with the dragon hunters that terrorized the local region. He'd nearly ended up skewered on a razorwhip before they realized that he was working against the hunters and not with them.
However, after realizing the truth, they soon became some of his strongest allies. He hadn't ventured to set up a base at any of the islands in the region, the main reason for that being the fact that Queen Mala, the leader of the tribe, had ordered a house to be built for him on the Caldera itself. While it had a lot of sentimental value, and he really appreciated the gesture, it was equal parts practical, because now Hiccup had a sort of summer home he could use when he couldn't stay back at Arendelle.
"I like it," Ingrid decided. "Makes you look brave. Dashing," she added, with a wink, making Hiccup's face turn the color of a tomato.
Thor guffawed.
"More than that, lass, the lads' put on some muscle. And I say- its about damned time! Work will be so much easier now that you've gotten stronger."
Hiccup grinned.
"I've been working on sharpening my skills in time for winter."
"And that's right good ye have! We have even more requests for arms than before."
The apprentice frowned.
"Yeah? Why's that? Everyone into competitive sword collection these days?"
Thor sighed, shaking his head, before casting furtive glances around.
"That's the Royal Order. There are, after all….rumors-"
"What rumors?"
Thor shrugged.
"Who knows? Either way, more work for us, yeh?"
There was more to it, Hiccup could tell from the old worker's demeanor. But he didn't press the issue, choosing instead to nod.
"Great, so I can pick up right where I left of!"
Thor grinned.
"That's the spirit!" he roared, before heading back inside.
As he slowly headed back towards the forge, Ingrid fell alongside him.
"How was your summer?" he asked the pretty girl. "You look good. Uh-" he quickly corrected himself, "not-not that you didn't look good before that, just that-"
Ingrid snorted. "Thanks Hiccup. Either way, my summer was boring."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I didn't really do much, besides, half the time these random guys kept hitting on me and the other half the sun was so hot I felt like I was in a volcano."
Hiccup laughed. His summer had been filled with narrow escapes and near death experiences as he tried to navigate the treacherous islands in the south. Well, to be precise, north of Arendelle, but he'd always refer to them as the Southern Isles. Some habits died hard.
"Your summer must have been way more exciting," Ingrid said, "You've even got these scars-"
Hiccup quickly jerked his hand back, trying to cover it. He'd forgotten about the scars. Back in Caldera, no one really paid notice to them. All warriors bore battle scars, and the Defenders of the Wing were no exception. Here, on the other hand…
"Yeah…you know me," he said, chuckling self-deprecatingly, "I'm a walking accident."
Ingrid paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes.
"You don't fool me, freckles. There's more to you than meets the eye. And one day I'm going to find out," she declared, before disappearing back to her station.
"And yet another charming conversation with the locals," Hiccup muttered, before heading to his desk, hoping he could quickly tidy out his older sketches before starting work.
"Hey Toothless!"
Hiccup was attacked by a black blur the moment he stepped into the deeper parts of the forest, and quickly covered in a mass of dragon slobber.
"Ugh, bud, you KNOW that doesn't wash out."
Toothless chirped in laughter while the young Viking rolled his eyes, pulling out a few fish from his vest, which the dragon promptly pounced on and ate.
Usually, the forest was a scary place at night. Wolves, bears and even fugitives and thieves roamed the woods at night, all of them with malicious intent. But with a Night Fury for protection, Hiccup honestly felt nothing but pity for whichever poor soul managed to stumble across them.
It wasn't like he was averse to staying with the locals. He just doubted the farmers would be comfortable with a dragon as their neighbor. Though the farmers in Arendelle were some of the nicest people he'd met, he knew they'd draw the line at Toothless.
Either way, the forest provided a nice open environment, and settled against the trees, with a small fire in front of them in the clearing, he'd spent numerous nights with Toothless, pouring over maps or sketches or wing-suit designs before the call to sleep grew too strong to resist.
He usually ran all his ideas through Toothless, because his dragon friend didn't like to be left out of anything.
As the night grew darker, and the moon rose up, Hiccup leaned back against the Night Fury, the warmth comforting him.
"The island here, should be a good spot, right bud?" he asked, pouring over the hand-drawn map ahead of him, that faintly shone in the light of the dying embers of a fire. Although Caldera Cay was always open to him, Hiccup knew he had to find a base of operations he could call his own, and he'd finally narrowed it down to a single island.
"But what do we call it? The Vision?"
Toothless shook his head.
"The Hideout?"
He rolled his eyes.
"Fine. The Castaway?"
The dragon promptly whacked Hiccup on the head, and the Viking scowled.
"Fine! I get the idea- how about, the Edge?"
Toothless crooned, and Hiccup took it as a yes.
"Dragons Edge," he said, marking the island on the map. "A little wood work, a bit of fishing, some farming and we should be good to go. Sound good, bud?"
At this point Toothless had lost interest and gone to sleep, and Hiccup chuckled to himself, lying down against his larger friend and looking up at the sky above him.
"Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile."
He loved the long nights he spent with Toothless, because if it hadn't been for him, Hiccup would probably have gone insane by now. As the stars twinkled in the sky above them, the young viking allowed his thoughts to wonder, as the good food and warmth of his companion lulled him into a comfortable tranquility.
Even now, almost two years since his departure, his thoughts still drifted home from time to time. He wondered how Berk was doing- probably better of now that he'd left, he figured. Was his dad still mad at everything? Was Snotlout still an ass? Was Astrid as angry as ever?
He'd more than once thought of dropping back. If nothing, at least to give Gobber a short farewell. And maybe introduce Toothless to Astrid- but he doubted that would go well. But something always held him back. It was probably because a small part of him knew that if he went home, there would be no easy return.
Though the last year had been the hardest of his life, it had been the best so far. Hiccup had been forced to learn and adapt to living life alone. Not that he was a stranger to it, but coming so far away from everything he'd known and grown with was definitely a challenge. One that was made infinitely easier thanks to the faithful dragon by his side.
Once again, Hiccup found himself giving his friend a quick scratch on his neck.
"You're amazing, bud," he whispered. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Toothless crooned in his sleep, and Hiccup knew that he'd heard him.
Lying in the snow, his thoughts went to the country around him, and to Thor's earlier words.
Royal order
Of course, considering how a large castle dominated most of the kingdom, it made sense that Arendelle had a King and Queen. And two princesses, if the market gossip he'd heard was right. One was beautiful like the snow on a mountain top, while the other was pretty like a chestnut tree. But apparently on of them was locked away? Or had died? He wasn't sure. The only people he knew usually got locked away were the mentally insane, but he doubted the princess was such. He had no idea how that made sense, but it was what he'd heard. It didn't make a lot of difference, however. Royalty wasn't something he knew how to interact with, even being the son of a viking chief.
At most, when a few nobles stopped by the forge here and there on their grand horses with their fine clothes and uppish manners, he found himself content to watch Ingrid or Olaf interact with them while watching from the sidelines. The nobles always struck him as weird. They acted like mini-Snotlouts, with all of the attitude and none of the muscle. He was almost worried that the King and Queen would be even worse.
Maybe one day, he'd find out what the ruling family at Arendelle looked like. But for now, he was content with working with his friends at the forge.
Speaking of friends-
He'd promised Mala he'd update her with a terror mail. Sharpshot, the terrible terror he'd trained for the exact same purpose, had gone out to catch a few mice, and Hiccup knew he wouldn't be back until morning. And besides, he really wasn't in the mood to write any more at the moment.
Mala and her tribe would have to wait. They'd faced enough dragon trappers without him, and Hiccup had full faith in their ability to handle conflict alone.
His jaw clenched as he his thoughts wandered towards them.
Dragon trappers.
The lowest of the low.
Apparently they'd all come from the north. Huge, muscular men with deep set eyes, huge horned skulls and a appetite for dragon blood. He had no idea where so many of them had suddenly sprouted. They swarmed the southern isles like hornets, their deadly fast ships slicing through the northern seas and going from island to island, chasing down dragon species all over. Even back at Berk, his tribe only killed dragons in revenge. Not for sport. But these men- no, they went beyond that. They actively hunted and chased down dragons just for the sake of exploiting them.
Something that had to be stopped. But this- this was big. Bigger than him.
He couldn't do it alone.
Someone was supplying the dragon trappers with resources, and incentives. Once he could find out the source, he would come a lot closer to ending the harm against the dragons in the southern isles.
Eventually, he'd come to the realization that it was what he wanted to do with his time. Sure, coming to Arendelle and meeting his friends here was great, but nothing called to him like the islands back in the north. Even when he was here, there was nothing more that he wanted to do than be back there, amongst the clouds with the dragons, fighting for their freedom as Toothless ducked in and out of the clouds, barrel-rolling to avoid arrows and harpoons while Hiccup fought the men on their boats.
If you'd told the younger Hiccup that a year later he'd be fighting for the very things that had made his life miserable so far, he would have thought you were making fun of him. If you asked the current him why, he wouldn't really be able to tell you.
There was just something incredibly wrong about the whole division. Vikings and dragons were so much more powerful together, when working together as partners. Dragons were wonderful creatures, meant to roam free. Not to be exploited for their scales and fire.
Ever since he'd discovered what him and Toothless could do together, he'd decided that he would do everything in his power to make that world a reality some day. A world where Vikings and Dragons could be respected, and not live in constant fear and fighting.
But then why did he find himself returning to Arendelle?
He'd thought about that question question many times. Even now, lying on the snow and feeling the gentle breathing of Toothless beside him, Hiccup often wondered what drew him back to this fairly quiet but large kingdom.
Honestly, it was probably the people.
Ingrid and Olaf and Thor and even Bjorn. The farmers he'd met, and their kind wives who often gave him an extra loaf now and again. The kids he'd meet in the forest. All of them had become a sort of…family, he supposed. He knew Thor counted on him to manage the forge while he was busy attending to royal meetings and business deals. Ingrid and Olaf had taken him sledding once, because that was what most of Arendelle's populace did in the dead of winter. And honestly, Hiccup loved the feeling. Sledding was close enough to flying that he could enjoy it, but more than that, it was the company that called to him.
His heart was torn between the two regions. One where his duty called, and the other where he found people he loved to be with.
Eventually, he'd have to figure out what to do with all these feelings. Maybe tomorrow, sure. But for today? He was going to sleep.
Hiccup gave the moon a final cursory glance, before shutting his eyes and letting the sweet embrace of sleep take him.
The next day was gloomy. Well, gloomier.
The sky was a dull gray, with grumbling overcast clouds that looked like they were about to tear it open with rain. Not the best weather, Hiccup thought to himself, as Toothless grumbled to his right.
"I'm sorry bud," he said, sighing. "I know you don't like the rain, but until I can get some sort of house in the outer fields-"
The dragon crooned, and his friend smiled.
"I'm glad you're alright, bud. I'm working on it- a few more months and I should have enough money to buy one of the houses in the outer lands. And you'll get your own sweet room," he promised.
Another perk of being this close to Arendelle meant that he was in touch with a civilization far more advanced than the tribes in the North, which was something his inventive mind really appreciated. In fact, thanks to the more modern technology here, he'd even managed to design and stitch a new flight suit. He hadn't worn it yet, but he figured he could eventually get to it. It was the coolest thing he'd created so far, in his opinion, having several slots that held a compass, notebooks and dragon scales. Even the vambraces had custom sheaths for smaller daggers. His helmet was covered with glass to protect his eyes and he'd also incorporated small ridges throughout the suit, to match Toothless.
Ingrid had asked him about the suit once. He'd stammered an excuse- something to do with an experimental cattle trainer- and had quickly hidden it, choosing to leave it in one of the crates below his desk till he returned to Caldera Cay. Hopefully Queen Mala wouldn't make fun of the suit, considering the possible practical applications. But then again, maybe she would. Hiccup would never understand how the Queen approached things.
As he passed the market section, Hiccup quickly stopped by one of the banks on the way, nodding to the guards as he entered a well-lit building with several gold bars lying around the place in the open. No one dared to take them, because you wouldn't get far with them. Not before the mercenaries the banks hired got to you, anyway.
"Afternoon, Mason!"
The middle-aged banker was clearly someone comfortable with dealing with money, as indicated by his affluent clothes and gold monocle. Mason Monroe would probably be able to masquerade as a noble, if it wasn't the fact that everyone in the market section new him so well.
"Ah!" the banker greeted, snapping his hands. "Master Hiccup! What brings you here? Another deposit I presume?"
"Right as always, my friend," Hiccup nodded, handing over a pouch to the banker, who promptly handed it to the counters and sorters. All around them, several armed soldiers guarded the entire premises of the bank, marching monotonously with mask-like visages.
"And while you're here, might I interest you in the new loan-"
Hiccup shook his head, stepping back quickly before the businessman forced him to listen to another of his propositions. There was a saying around town, Monroes never cease talking, and Hiccup had found out the time-consuming way what that meant.
"Um, I-uh, I've really got this quick delivery at the forge I've gotta check, so I'll be at that," he said, quickly turning towards one of the clerks who gave him an amused grin. "I'll be sure to come back some time and listen to the loan option, Mason. Thank you!"
"Very well then," said a crestfallen banker. "Good day to you, Master Hiccup."
Hiccup smiled and quickly turned around to leave the bank.
"You too!" he called, before disappearing and heading towards the forge as quickly as he could. He'd never been so relieved to see the stony building before.
"Ah! You're here!"
Hiccup frowned, turning towards Thor, who was standing outside the forge.
It looked like the blacksmith had decided to dress up today, which confused him. He had ditched the dirty apron and pants for a well-tailored doublet. He'd evidently cleaned himself, and even his beard was white, instead of the standard greasy salt-and-pepper wisp form it usually adopted. Thor looked…presentable, for once.
"What's going on? Er-" Hiccup backtracked for a second. Had he missed a birthday? Someone's anniversary?
"We're meeting the royals, that's what's going on," Thor declared, before walking towards the front of the forge and hefting a small pile of delicately designed weapons onto a small cart, drawn by a pair of brown and white ponies. "We've got to meet them once a year, you know."
"We?" Hiccup echoed, in a small voice.
Thor nodded earnestly.
"Oh yes, we."
"But-but-" the apprentice sputtered, "I can't go there wearing this!" he said, gesturing to his (rather dirty) lazy blue tunic and grey pants. Even though he'd gotten them stitched just last week, the forge always did a number to his clothes. While he didn't really care about his attire in general, he'd been through a treatise on court manners in Arendelle before and was pretty sure he was breaking either section 4 or section 7 if he went in inappropriately dressed.
"That's why you have this!"
Hiccup whirled around and was promptly blindsided by a pair of clothes that whacked him on the face.
"Gee, thanks," he drawled. "Not like I have hands or anything."
Pulling the material from it's spot on his head, he could make out a black doublet with a purple vest and black pants. Embellishments of tiny swords and daggers complimented a set of golden buttons that ran down the midline. The entire costume was stitched well, and the felt was of the finest quality he'd ever seene.
Ingrid glanced at him cheekily. His mouth dropped.
"This-this must have cost a fortune!"
She shrugged.
"Old Thor paid for it. I just gave him the measurements."
He narrowed his eyes.
"How did you know my measurements?"
The metalworker winked.
"I have my ways," she remarked, before disappearing back into the forge.
Hiccup turned around, wide eyed.
"Thank you, sir. I didn't know-how can I repay-"
Thor huffed.
"If it hasn't gone into that darn thick skull of yours- I need to see the royals TODAY! And you are my apprentice, yes?"
Hiccup nodded, his throat tight.
"WELL," Thor declared. "No apprentice o'mine is going to meet the royals poorly dressed. Ye can thank me by changing quickly, I'm tired of waiting."
His eyes suddenly moist, Hiccup nodded. He couldn't remember the last time someone had gone out of their way to help him. That the old blacksmith went through all this trouble-
It meant a lot.
"Thanks, Thor. I'll remember this."
The older man smiled, his eyes warm.
"That ye do, son. That ye do."
"What do I do again?"
Thor sighed, rubbing a meaty hand over his face. Next to him, Hiccup sat on a slightly lower part of the cart, still ahead of the small pile of weapons that dominated the back.
"We've been over this five times already, lad," the blacksmith griped.
Hiccup blushed.
"I know. It's just that-" he quickly jerked his eyes towards the huge castle that loomed ahead of them, massive and golden. "I've never been to a, uh, castle before. I've read the treatises, yeah, but-"
"That's fairly obvious," the older man grunted. "Fine," he continued, sighing. "Introduce yourself. Be courteous. I'm sure you know how to address royalty?"
"Titles and honorifics only. Bow down and do not rise till asked to or if a few seconds have passed. Do not speak unless spoken to," Hiccup chanted. The formalities of court in Arendelle often sounded stupid, but he'd taken the time to learn them anyway.
Thor nodded.
"Good," he commented, gruffly. "You're a smart lad, you'll be fine."
Hiccup gave him a weak grin, as the guards opened the gate ahead of them, evidently recognizing the famed weaponsmith and letting him through.
The castle loomed majestically before them, its towering spires reaching towards the sky like the fingers of a frost giant. Built of stone and adorned with intricate carvings and colorful banners fluttering in the breeze, it was by far the largest building Hiccup had ever seen.
The outer walls of the castle encircled lush gardens filled with vibrant flowers and neatly trimmed hedges. Fountains sparkled in the sunlight, their waters cascading down marble statues of knights and dragons. Guards patrolled the battlements, their armor glinting in the sun as they kept watch over the bustling courtyard below.
As the cart rumbled through the gates, Hiccup couldn't help but marvel at the life and vibrancy of the castle grounds. He'd figured it would be a huge and gloomy place, with practically no one around except for leagues of sullen-looking guards. But the citadel of Arendelle was nothing like that. People bustled about on various errands, their colorful attire and animated chatter adding to the sense of activity and excitement. Servants hurried to and fro, carrying trays laden with food and drink, while craftsmen worked diligently in their workshops, the sound of hammering and clanging echoing through the air. Several women danced around the courtyard, carrying baskets of everything from fruits and flowers to old clothes.
But what grabbed his attention the most had to be the battlements. Siege engines stood tall and imposing in the sunlight, their intricate gears and pulleys gleaming. Ballistae and trebuchets were stationed at strategic points along the walls, ready to defend the castle in times of need. He'd been briefed about them when he'd spoken to Eric, one of the guards who'd stopped by the forge and he'd ended up befriending. The young guard had told Hiccup that he was one of the guards who manned the huge weapons of war.
As he stared at the huge glistening metal machinery, Hiccup couldn't help but wonder if one of the silver-studded guards was his friend, making sure the royal family was safe.
Though security at the castle was tight, Thor seemed to get a free pass no matter where he went, as if he was an good friend coming back to his home.
"Aye, Thor! Great to see ya!"
"Been a while old man! How's the knees holdin up?"
"By my beard! If it isn't old Thor!"
Everywhere they went, the guards all seemed to recognize the old man next to him, giving him polite but firm greetings.
"How-" Hiccup asked, his eyes wide, "how do all of them know you?"
Thor smirked.
"They need someone to sharpen dem swords, don't they? Winter is a-coming fast, and these people need me," he declared proudly, puffing out his chest.
"And you too, boyo," he quickly added, shooting Hiccup a quick smile. "Yer my apprentice after all."
The younger apprentice nodded, his face set. They'd reached the outer entrance to the court now, and he decided to ignore the nervousness he felt and put on an impassive mask. Thor noticed this and grunted in approval. Hiccup was learning fast.
Not that he had a lot to learn either way. The apprentice knew that he had to be courteous, especially if he hoped to work in Arendelle later. Besides, he'd been taught as a child to always leave a good impression, especially to the chiefs of other tribes, and now it was pretty much something ingrained into him.
"Okay," he muttered, trying to reassure himself, "there's the King-Agnarr. And the Queen, Iduna. And the princess. Ann- or something. Just bow and be polite, you've got this."
Thor mumbled something about knave boys, before rolling his eyes and walking up to the double doors that marked the entrance to the outer throne room where the King and Queen usually came out and sat, especially if they were holding court or were meeting the general populace. The larger, more elaborate throne room, Hiccup was told, was further inside the castle. It was reserved for visiting nobles from other kingdoms or the Dukes from the lands nearby. Though honestly, the room they were in was pretty much more fancy than anything he'd ever seen before in his life, so he had no idea how opulent the larger throne room could be.
As the guards opened the towering royal doors of the castle, the duo were ushered into the outer throne room of Arendelle. To Hiccup, it was a sheer display of the grandeur and elegance of the kingdom, with towering columns reaching towards a vaulted ceiling adorned with intricate carvings and gilded embellishments. Golden statues stood sentinel at each corner, their stony gazes fixed upon the proceedings below. Lines of guards stood on either side, as mute as the statues that surrounded them.
At the end of the room, sat the royal family- not that Hiccup saw them. The moment he'd entered, he'd bowed his head low, along with Thor. Rule one of court etiquette: you didn't speak to a royal before they addressed you. A little far fetched, if you asked Hiccup. The whole concept of a court with courtiers and judges and rulers with their tactical fights and deceitful words was annoying, honestly. How did anyone in the kingdom get any work done? Even the vikings were more practical than this: you listened to the chief of the village, but you didn't have to bow to him or not talk at all to him or something ridiculous like that. And even if multiple tribes were involved, you simply had a tribal meeting, or a Storting. Issues were usually resolved, either over beers or swords.
"Rise, Thorvald, my old friend. You as well, companion of our esteemed blacksmith. How fare you?"
As the two of them arose, Hiccup quickly glanced at the royal family, trying to figure out who was who, though it was fairly obvious.
"Good as always, O King, and a pleasure to serve ye," replied the smiling blacksmith, as he clasped his hands, his cheeks red. "I hope yer don't mind me requesting an audience so early?"
King Agnarr definitely looked like a monarch. Though his face was weathered by years of rule, a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes sparkled with intelligence and wisdom. His hair was a rich chestnut brown streaked with silver at the temples. Though he wasn't as tall or as broad as the typical Viking, the King still possessed a commanding presence that filled the chamber with an air of dignity and strength. His stature was imposing, and his shoulders broad and squared. In short, pretty much everything Hiccup expected a king to look like.
"Oh," a softer voice spoke from the right of the king. "It's never a bother, my old friend."
Beside him sat the Queen Iduna, her slender figure draped in robes of rich velvet and silk. She was one of the most beautiful women Hiccup had ever seen, somehow looking stately yet kind at the same time. Her eyes were what caught his attention the most. The color of sapphires, they shone with a gentle warmth and compassion that made him a little more at ease. It went a long way, considering how tense the air was around him.
Hiccup quickly swallowed, his throat tight as he felt the eyes of the guards all around looking at them. While he knew they were present for security, he still found it a bit weird to have an entire platoon of soldiers listening in to their entire conversation. Was it really necessary?
To the left of the queen, two lower thrones stood, empty.
"The princesses have retreated for a quick break," the Queen explained. "Today is rather tiring for them as well, I am afraid."
Ahh. So there were two princesses after all. Princess Ann-or whatever- and the older one. Elizabeth? Elma? Elsa? Hiccup knew the fabled princess had a name that began with the letter E, but he couldn't for the life of him recall what it was. Elsa would do, for now.
In the mean time, while the trio exchanged polite conversation, he allowed his mind to wander, as he often did back at Berk when his dad was busy talking trade with the other chiefs and forgot all about him.
To be honest, it made sense that most of the kingdom didn't know a lot about their secretive princess. This was the first public meeting the two princesses of Arendelle were having in a while. And the first one where Princess Elsa would meet the people of her kingdom. Though he was fairly curious to find what the princesses were like, he understood the need for the two to take a break.
Hiccup had always wondered about Princess Elsa. The older of the two sisters, she seemed anything but. Usually, as far as he knew, the older child was expected to lead. Be the chief. Go around and encourage and talk to the people. Everyone around, his mentor included, always spoke of Princess Anna, the younger and apparently more lively of the two sisters, as the one to do that, instead of her older sister. They spoke of her in the way you would talk about a young cousin or child you greatly loved. Warm and kind.
No one spoke about Elsa, though.
Apparently, it had been several years since anyone had seen her, even. Although he had to admit, having to meet so many people was something Hiccup would more than happily avoid if he could. The burnout from that was definitely have to be legendary.
"Ah," Thor nodded, gruffly. "I'd hoped to see the princess Elsa, begging yer pardon. We folk have not seen the crown princess in years, I'm afeard I rather forgot she was present for the meeting. And tis always a pleasure seeing the dear Princess Anna, why, I remember when she was a wee lass and couldn't even climb up that throne!"
So it was Elsa and Anna. Hiccup made a mental note to not forget that next time.
Although Thor was being honest, Hiccup knew that the old blacksmith was a little guarded whenever he spoke about the older princess. Apparently there were rumors that Elsa had strange powers over ice, though that honestly sounded a bit far-fetched to the viking. Dragons were one thing, but a human controlling ice? Ridiculous. How would that even work? The temperature control alone would be an incredible headache, not counting other more annoying factors.
He had to admit though: this Elsa person really piqued his curiosity. Half the kingdom thought she was dead. The other half thought she was a witch. None had seen her that often. And now she had ice powers?
Dragons were one thing, yes. But humans with ice powers? Hiccup would believe it when he saw it, should there be any truth to it at all. If there was, though, he had to admit the implications would be amazing. The ability to create ice from nothing was definitely something he had to look into.
"And this must be your new apprentice, unless I am mistaken?"
Hiccup quickly shook his head as he came back to reality, noticing the King and Queen looking at him with interest. His ears turning red, he quickly straightened his back, standing as tall as he could, before bowing low once again.
"Hiccup Haddock, from the North, your majesties," he said, before coming back up and offering a small smile. "at your services and those of the kingdom. Thor has been kind enough to take me under his wing and avail of the few talents in metal work that I possess."
Thor raised a brow at his last name, but Hiccup expected that. It was the first time he'd mentioned it to the blacksmith, but he'd decided to anyway. It wasn't like he expected the kingdom of Arendelle to be in contact or trading relations with a bunch of vikings with stubbornness issues in a small archipelago far up north. There was no way connections would be made from his name to the long line of viking chiefs that came from it.
While the royals smiled, Thor sniffed.
"Well, he be giving me more credit than I'm due. The lad's a genius, the best metal worker I've seen so far. The kingdom'll be in good 'ands, that's fer sure."
King Agnarr nodded, his face a mask as he examined Hiccup. A few tense seconds ensued, before he decided to speak up.
"You are from the North, you say?"
Hiccup nodded. "Yes, your majesty."
"Well," Queen Iduna quickly interjected. "We've never been much to the North, but we do hear that there is nothing but savage vikings and rumors of dragons in those parts. Are you from this land of warriors?"
Hiccup laughed nervously.
"Ah, well, you know. Rumors are often exaggerated. Vikings and dragons? Sure, I'm from there, but do I look like a fearsome tall ancient warrior?"
"Looks can be deceptive," Agnarr pointed out. "How can I be sure you are not a spy?"
Hiccup blanched, as he noticed several guards subtly move towards their weapons in the background. The air in the room suddenly turned tense, with even Thor stiffening.
"Well," he scratched the back of his neck. "I don't really have anything to gain really, if you think about it. I pretty much ran away from my old tribe. And there the rule was: if you run away, you're exiled. Pretty pointless, if you ask me," he chuckled, before quickly clearing his throat, realizing no one else was laughing.
"But yes," he added, straightening his chest and putting his hand over his heart. "I give you my solemn word, that I am no enemy of the kingdom nor do I seek to do it harm of any sort. I'm just a traveler, here to help. I have nothing to gain from the decline of Arendelle, and quite a lot to lose, which is why I will do my best to ensure nothing of that nature happens, in my lifetime."
The air slightly eased in the throne room as Agnarr leaned back on his chair, satisfied.
"Well put, Hiccup Haddock. You clearly are no ordinary man. You speak, and act, as one taught to lead. You were a leader of your people, were you not?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
Hiccup raised a brow and nodded. This king was more insightful than he'd imagined. Though, to be fair, you couldn't really rule a kingdom as big as Arendelle as a dud.
"I was a chief…in training, of sorts," he admitted. "But yeah, I'm only seventeen now, so miles to go, you know?"
Queen Iduna quickly frowned.
"Seventeen? You're as old as Elsa then- but surely you did not come all the way from the North on your own?" she asked, the faintest hint of concern in her voice.
"Well," Hiccup flushed. "I know I don't look the biggest but I'm hardy. Takes a whole lot to put me down," he said, smiling weakly.
"Aye, that it does," Thor cut in, nodding solemnly. "Ever since the lad came 'ere, he's had a rough lot. But I 'ave never seen one wit more passion than 'im. Definitely."
Hiccup turned and smiled at his mentor, grateful for the old man's words. Although he'd slowly gotten accustomed to being relied upon back in the Southern Isles, Arendelle was still out of his comfort zone, and the fact that the old man was sticking up for him meant a lot.
King Agnarr nodded, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Very well," he began, before giving the queen a subtle glance. "Exile though you may be, you are still a leader by blood. And as such, we, the rulers of Arendelle, welcome you."
Hiccup felt a lump in his throat at the kings words. Agnarr had no reason to say them. Down south, he was nothing. A Haddock in the North was said to be worth a thousand men, but here it was nothing but an odd name. The fact that the King of Arendelle himself was offering such kindness to him meant a lot.
He bowed low.
"I thank you kindly, for your hospitality, your majesty. It will not be forgotten."
Evidently satisfied for the time being, the King and Queen nodded, before turning back to Thor and discussing more specifics with the blacksmith. More talk followed about the supply and demand of weapons in Arendelle, with Thor more than once praising the great work of his now-permanently blushing apprentice. Eventually though, their meeting came to an end, and the two took their leave.
"Thank you, your majesty."
"Farewell, old friends and new."
As the two left the court, Hiccup couldn't help but feel a slight tinge of disappointment that he couldn't meet the princesses. He'd even brought the ceremonial dagger he made a while back in case he ever had to present himself before the princess, but it looked like there was no one to present it to. At the time though, he'd made only one, since he'd figured that a kingdom only had one princess. Now though, finding out there were two, he was glad they'd been away, because having one gift and two princesses was…awkward, to say the least.
"Ye did good lad," Thor grunted, as the two of them headed back, making their way slowly but surely towards the outer gates.
"Thanks, Thor," Hiccup said, sincerely. "The King and Queen are some of the finest people I've ever met."
"Aye, that they are," Thor agreed. "Though it's a pity we couldn't meet the princesses. Princess Anna- bless 'er- I'd made a special knife for her that she'd requested, but I couldn't give it to her since she wasn't there. Ah well," he sighed, "odd's fish, ye can't have everything. Besides, it would be rather awkward, considering I had nothing to give Princess Elsa too."
"Oh," Hiccup stammered. "I..sorta have a dagger I made some time back. I'd kept it in case we ever had to meet the royals, you know. So I could, uh, keep it as backup."
Thor nodded.
"Good. But it won't be needed this time."
As dusk approached, most of the passer-bys quickly ducked out of the castle. Only a few guards and several servants remained, walking around the perimeter or carrying out certain chores. Hiccup examined his surrounded as the steady trot of the ponies brought them slowly but surely towards the outer walls.
Just as the duo reached the gates, Hiccup heard a female voice cry out in joy.
"Why! It's old Thor!"
Whirling his head around, he caught sight of two women at the gate. Both of them were beautiful in their own rights, but it was easy enough to see from the grace with which they moved and the way they held themselves that they were the princesses. One even had a thin circlet adorning her hair.
Thor guffawed, which Hiccup by now had realized was something he did when very happy, and quickly stopped the cart as the two ladies walked up towards them.
It was easy to tell that they were royalty close up. Even though he'd been to a lot of places, Hiccup could easily tell that the two women in front of him were by far the most beautiful he'd ever seen, reminiscent of the Queen herself.
Princess Anna had fiery red hair that flowed in loose curls around her shoulders, seeming to exude warmth and vitality. It was clear she was the darling of the kingdom, and Hiccup could tell she was the younger sibling. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and laughter, and her smile was infectious. A light dusting of freckles sprinkled across her nose, adding to her youthful charm and innocence.
Beside her, Princess Elsa followed, a bit more hesitant, if Hiccup had to judge. She seemed more like a queen than anything, as if Freya herself had stepped out of her abode in Asgard. Her ice-blonde locks cascaded in a smooth waterfall down her neck, complimenting her flawless porcelain skin. While Anna looked pleasant and warm, Elsa's features were more delicate and refined.
Anna was pretty like warm summer evenings and the gentle fireplaces. But Elsa was beautiful like the cold ice winds and the deadly north. Just like her mother, it was her eyes that held Hiccup's attention the most – pools of cerulean blue that seemed to hold a depth and intensity that he couldn't quite fathom.
"Ahem," Thor coughed, and Hiccup quickly blushed and averted his eyes, realizing he was staring.
"Thor! It's great to see you!"
The old blacksmith smiled and quickly got off the cart, kneeling before Anna.
"The pleasure is all mine, Princess."
Hiccup chose that moment to quickly hop off the opposite end, before walking towards the trio on the other side of the cart, and bowing low.
"Who's the scruffy boy?" he heard Anna ask.
"Anna!" He heard another voice, probably Elsa. "That's not polite!"
As he rose, he gave the two princesses a quick smile, trying to ignore the nervousness he felt.
"H-Hiccup Haddock, at your service," he stammered. "I'm Thor's apprentice."
Anna doubled over in laughter at his introduction, before quickly turning red at a glare from Elsa.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. But it's a pleasure to meet you."
Hiccup's shoulders sagged in relief, as he eased back into a trace of comfort at the princess' warm greeting.
"No need to apologize, I've been called worse."
"That does not excuse my sister," Elsa insisted. "She sometimes speaks without thinking."
"Ugh," Anna rolled her eyes. "Can you calm down for once, Elsa? Hiccup is fine with it. Besides, we've got more important matters to deal with!" she declared, turning towards Hiccup.
The young man stiffened. "We do?"
"You bet!" Anna nodded. "Most importantly: why is your name Hiccup? Do you have a brother named cough? Or fart?"
"ANNA!" a horrified Elsa tried to pry her sister away, but Hiccup and Thor burst out laughing.
All his years, no one had ever asked him that question.
As if she'd finally realized what she'd said, Anna turned as red as a chestnut tree.
"Oops-I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"
"It's quite alright, your majesty," Hiccup said, waving off her apology. "But no, I do not have any siblings named after bodily functions, no."
Thor chuckled, before reaching back over towards the cart and drawing out a short, intricately designed blade. A wooden handle carved with sigils of ice and snow led into a short, double-edged sword, it's sharp edges gleaming as they caught the rays of the setting sun. The weapon gleamed golden in the dying sun, as the blacksmith extinguished the fiery metal by putting it into a leather scabbard. Although Hiccup had seen the old blacksmith labor over the blade for many evenings, he had no idea that it was a gift for the princess.
"Here is the sword ye requested, your majesty."
"Oh great!" Anna exclaimed, while Elsa looked shocked.
"Anna! A sword-really now-"
"Oh calm down Elsa!" Anna whined, before quickly grabbing the sword from Thor and pulling it out of it's sheath, trying out a few experimental swings with it that forced the other three to duck behind the cart for safety, "It's just a sword. You know mom and dad won't let me have one so-"
"There are several good reasons as to why you of all people should not have a sword," Elsa pointed out, and Anna pouted.
"Why's that?"
"Well," Elsa began, and Hiccup got the feeling that the two had had this conversation before. "You're clumsy, for one-"
"I'll be careful!"
"You keep misplacing things-"
"Can't misplace something if I always carry it around with me!"
"You tend to hit things and people-"
"Well people won't hit me now if I've got a sword!"
Elsa sighed, rubbing her hands over her forehead.
She turned towards Thor, smiling.
"Thank you for the gift. I'm sure Anna will be…careful with it."
"I sure will! Thank you Thor!" Anna agreed, quickly jumping up and giving the old man a hug, which he happily returned.
"Now where's Elsa's gift?"
Thor turned towards Hiccup, whose eyes widened, before he realized what the blacksmith was referring to.
Quickly, he reached back into the cart, before slowly, almost reverently, drawing out a small blade.
The seax was a traditional Viking weapon, and the second one Hiccup had forged here, the first weapon being the battleaxe that still hung on a wall back in the forge. Thor was too proud of Hiccup's work to sell it, though he'd made several battleaxes since.
The battleaxe was something special to him. In fact, all his life, he'd learned and mastered the art of creating battleaxes to impress only one person. Besides Gobber, of course.
And that was Astrid.
The shieldmaiden of Berk had been his crush for as long as he could remember. Tall, lithe, blonde and beautiful, she was out of his league in every way. But he still hoped and tried. Creating the battleaxe she used every day was one of his proudest achievements, though the warrior herself did not know it was his creation.
But he'd left all of that behind him when he left Berk. Any chance of a future with Astrid was long gone by now.
That was why he'd created the seax.
It was an ancient Viking blade, made for warriors over seas. Hiccup had poured his heart and soul into making it, a sort of testament to his new life at Arendelle, and a farewell to his old life in Berk.
As he reached into his bag and withdrew the intricately crafted seax-knife he had forged with his own hands, a sense of pride swelled within him. The blade gleamed in the early moonlight, its edge honed to razor-sharp perfection, while the hilt was adorned with delicate carvings and ornate designs.
The blade itself was a work of art, its surface etched with intricate patterns reminiscent of frost on a winter morning. The steel shimmered with an otherworldly beauty, catching the light in mesmerizing patterns that seemed to dance across its surface.
The hilt was crafted from polished wood inlaid with a single scale that he'd gotten from Toothless when he shed. The scale caught the light and sparkled like stars in the night sky with every movement of the dagger. Each detail had been painstakingly carved and shaped, resulting in a weapon that was both functional and beautiful.
As Hiccup presented the seax-knife to Princess Elsa, he couldn't help but feel a sense of nervous anticipation. Would she appreciate the craftsmanship and effort that had gone into its creation? Would she see it as a token of his admiration and respect? He hoped it wasn't too forward-
But as Elsa's eyes fell upon the blade, his fears melted away. A hesitant but genuine smile of delight spread across her face, and she reached out to take the seax-knife in her hands, turning it over to admire its every detail.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, her voice soft with awe. "Thank you, Hiccup. This is truly a remarkable gift."
His heart threatened to burst out of his chest.
"Oh, uh, my pleasure, your majesty," he stammered. "It's a seax-knife. A great weapon, and I hope you'll find it useful. Old viking technology. Good for fighting enemies when you're in danger-um, not that I'm saying you should be in danger," he rambled, "but you know, being a princess, I mean, not that the guards are bad or anything but- uh, I'm just going to stop talking."
Elsa laughed, and it sounded like the tinkling of a thousand tiny bells to Hiccup.
"I understand, Hiccup Haddock. I will treasure this gift for the rest of my life."
Hiccup nodded and smiled, and for a brief moment their eyes caught each other again, a depth of blue meeting a world of green.
Then Anna cleared her throat.
"Elsa, if you're done eyeing Hiccup, we could leave?"
The duo in question quickly blinked, before stepping back.
"I wasn't!"
"She wasn't-"
"I'm just kidding," Anna cut in, rolling her eyes. "Besides," she added, giving her older sister a meaningful glance, "Mom and Dad told us to be back before sunset. And I'm hungry. So…"
"Yes of course," Hiccup quickly spoke up. "It was wonderful to meet your majesties, and lovely to make your acquaintances."
"You too, Hiccup!" Anna called back cheerily, while Elsa smiled, and the two of them slowly walked back towards the castle, while Hiccup rejoined Thor in the cart, the two of them heading back towards the town. The castle was on the border of the walls, and rather than go back through the city, which would be crowded as night fell and the taverns opened up, Thor had chosen to go outside, encircle the city, and come back in via the main gate, which would hopefully still be open.
This meant that instead of rows and rows of lights and lanterns and mugs of beer, Hiccup was surrounded by the refreshing air of the countryside, the walls of Arendelle flanking his left and providing a sense of comfort the whole way. Most of the land was covered with fields, but a few houses dotted the landscape. Further on the horizon, he could just faintly make out the distant outline of the forest that bordered the entrance to the kingdom.
On the way back to the forge, as the cool air passed through his hair, cooling his face, Hiccup mulled over the day.
Meeting the royals had been…eventful, to say the least. They were a lot kinder than he expected, though to be honest, between being bullied by Dagur the Deranged and Camicazi the Bog Burglar back at Berk during the annual tribal Sortings, he realized he expectations may have been a little low.
As the countryside passed by in quiet harmony and the fields and houses melded into each other, he realized with a jolt that he'd forgotten something.
Or rather, someone.
Toothless would probably be wondering where he was. And worried too, considering how many close shaves he'd had back on the Southern Isles with the dragon hunters. His scaled friend had gotten a lot more protective of late, something he was grateful for, especially when he was far from the comfort and security of Arendelle. He'd probably get pounced on the moment he stepped back into the forest, and covered with a mountain of dragon concern and slobber.
"Odin's beard," he cursed. Thor, who was quiet up until now, quickly jerked up, as if he'd just been about to fall asleep.
"What's that?"
Hiccup shook his head.
"Nothing. I just had this, well, uh, meeting with a friend that was supposed to happen before sundown. That..didn't happen," he explained, ruefully gesturing to the sky around them, that shone and twinkled as night firmly embraced the entire firmament. Even now, there were a few carts on the road, most containing tired farmers and merchants heading back to their houses.
"Ah," Thor nodded, sagely. "I say," he added, with a twinkle in his eye, "ye seem rather happy to have met 'em princesses, don't yer?"
Hiccup quickly looked at the countryside, feeling his face turn red.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
The older man laughed, and two of them continued to drive forward, disappearing into the night.
A/N: Well, that's chapter two done. What do you think? Are the time-skips alright? They'll most likely be present in the first few chapters, as I said before, though, I've considered writing an appendix or two once I finish the main storyline to explain some of the skips. I feel an interesting appendix would be, for example, some backstory on how Hiccup lost his leg on Changewing Island. Let me know what you think.
Thank you so much for the support this story has been getting!
Matt6513 : I'm glad you like it! And I definitely understand that, I've tried to ensure our good old sarcastic bonehead remains true to himself. Though with time his character will (hopefully) mature, I'll try to keep the writing according to that.
Guest : Thank you! I love this fandom as well, and love reading the works others have put up.
Volli-sin : That's awesome! Thank you so much :)
TheMasterBlacksmith : Interesting name xD That's great, I've read the chapter of your story and while I'm not a huge fan of Nuffink and Elsa as a pair, I'll definitely be keeping track of it! Thank you for the lovely words :)