~HHH~
It was that time of year again: Christmas. Or, as they called it up North, Snoggletog. A ridiculous name for a wonderful holiday. Down in Arendelle, Hiccup celebrated the season with the Dragons. While their company was nice, they weren't exactly the best gift givers.
As he walked through the castle's courtyard, the cheers of the crowd surrounded him, filling the air with holiday spirit. The scene reminded him of Berk, where the villagers used to gather for the dragon-slaying Pageant. It wasn't something he approved of anymore, though he had once longed to take part. But back then, no one would have let him; he'd have been the target of ridicule. Sometimes, he wondered what Berk was like now—if his disappearance had changed the village at all.
His thoughts were interrupted when he caught sight of the Royal Family through the crowd. Anna and Elsa were both dressed beautifully, though Anna's outfit prioritized warmth while Elsa's seemed chosen for comfort. She, of course, remained unfazed by the cold.
The crowd began to part as Kristoff appeared, guiding Sven, who was pulling a massive bell through the courtyard. It was the Yule Bell, ready to be hung. Ropes were tossed down and fastened to the bell, and with the strength of many hands, it was hoisted up to the castle. When the bell was finally in place, another rope was lowered for the ceremonial ringing.
Anna, Elsa, and even Olaf took hold and pulled together. The Yule Bell rang out, its deep, resonant chime echoing through the city, marking the official start of Arendelle's holiday celebrations.
"Let the holidays begin," Elsa proclaimed. The three royals turned toward the castle doors as the crowd began to disperse. Hiccup was about to leave as well when something unexpected happened. The trio suddenly turned back around.
"Surprise!" Olaf exclaimed, though he was the only one truly surprised. Anna quickly darted into the crowd. It seemed the royals had prepared a surprise for the people, but everyone was already preoccupied with their own traditions. Elsa approached Mister and Missus Olsen, exchanging a few warm words.
Hiccup, meanwhile, found himself heading toward the royals instead of returning to the Dragons. Why am I doing this? he wondered. Nearby, some women murmured their disappointment.
"Oh, so the surprise is that everyone left," Olaf said.
"Hey, I say it's their loss. Who needs a big party anyway?" a friendly voice chimed in.
"Kristoff!" Anna called, her face lighting up. The ice harvester stood there in his usual warm demeanor, sporting a leafy cape.
"I've got just the thing to cheer you up. My favorite traditional troll tradition. Care to join in?" Kristoff asked, glancing at the royals.
Knowing about Kristoff's unique upbringing, Hiccup chose not to question the peculiar magic of Arendelle any further.
"Oh yeah!" Anna responded enthusiastically. Kristoff grinned, pulling out his lute.
"Okay, it starts with a gathering song: The Ballad of Flemmingrad."
"I love ballads!" Olaf exclaimed, clapping his hands.
Kristoff began to sing:
"Every December we all gather around,
to pay our respects to a troll so renowned.
In remembrance of the friend we had,
a jolly old soul we called Flemmingrad."
Hiccup couldn't help but hum along, tapping his foot to the tune.
"Tempo!" Olaf declared excitedly.
"We all dig deep down and uproot the past,
we shove up its nostrils a fistful of grass."
At this verse, everyone raised an eyebrow.
"Nostrils?" Elsa whispered to Anna, looking mildly horrified.
"We shape his likeness, bless his soul," Kristoff continued. Sven stepped forward, pulling the cover off a sled to reveal a small statue made of mud, fungus, and grass. Despite its odd materials, it was intricately crafted.
"Wow. Gross," Anna remarked with a mixture of awe and dismay.
"Oh, Flemmy the fungus troll! Now you lick his forehead and make a wish," Kristoff said, demonstrating as he licked the statue's forehead with gusto. It wasn't the most revolting thing Hiccup had ever seen, but it definitely came close.
"Elsa, you're up," Anna teased, nudging her sister.
"Come on, it tastes like lichen!" Kristoff encouraged, bits of grass clinging to his chin.
"You're a princess—you don't have to settle," Olaf whispered to Anna conspiratorially.
"Okay, not so much a royal activity. I get it," Kristoff conceded, shrugging.
"But it's still your tradition. No need to change it," Hiccup interjected with a small chuckle. Sven huffed in agreement—or disagreement—it was hard to tell. Hiccup laughed again, unsure what the reindeer was trying to say.
Turning back to Elsa and Anna, he added, "I'm guessing you two had something planned, but everyone left."
Elsa sighed, but Anna spoke up first. "We had a banquet planned for everyone to celebrate Christmas together."
"Well, I'm sure you have other traditions to celebrate?" Hiccup offered. The two royals exchanged uncertain glances.
"Do we have any traditions, Elsa? Do you remember?" Anna turned to her sister, her voice tinged with hope. Hiccup couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for them.
"I remember the bell," Elsa said softly, her gaze drifting to the snowy courtyard. "Hearing it chime through Arendelle. I remember how it felt, ringing in the season."
"But the Yule Bell is for the kingdom," Anna replied, her brow furrowing. "What about us?"
Elsa frowned, her expression darkening. "After the gates were closed… we were never together," she said quietly before turning away.
"Elsa," Anna called after her as the Queen walked toward the castle.
"I'm sorry, Anna," Elsa said, her voice heavy with regret. "It's my fault we don't have a family tradition." With that, she disappeared inside, leaving Anna standing alone.
The scene weighed on Hiccup. He thought of his own holidays—how he managed to make something of them, even if it was just with the Dragons. It wasn't perfect, but at least he had something. The royals, though—they had nothing.
For now, all he could do was hope they would find something meaningful before the season was over.
~O~
"Sven! Anna and Elsa don't have a family tradition!" Olaf burst into the stables, his voice filled with urgency. Sven, still munching on his hay, glanced up and let out a low grunt in response.
"I know, it's sad," Olaf continued, his tone dramatic. "But I have a solution! We're going to find the best tradition Anna and Elsa have ever seen and bring it back to the castle. Are you with me?" The snowman enthusiastically thrust his arm out, motioning for a high-five.
Sven, however, swatted Olaf's arm aside with his hoof.
"Ow," Olaf muttered.
~HHH~
Returning to the farm, Toothless immediately leapt out of the house and charged toward Hiccup. The two embraced like old friends. They hadn't been apart for long, but the Dragon Rider had spent more time in town than he'd planned. Together, they headed to check on the dragons resting in the pasture. A few of the rescued dragons had grown fond of the barn, but most preferred the openness of the field. Gale, the Deadly Nadder, watched over them while Hiccup was away. As Hiccup rounded the floral wall, he saw Gale standing tall and elegant.
"How are they doing, Gale?" he asked.
The dragon grunted in response as a Gronckle waddled over. Hiccup gently patted the Gronckle's side, comforting her. They'd been through too much. The hunters who had captured them wouldn't have stopped until they were dead, and even now, they were likely hunting others. Hiccup knew he needed to act—he had a plan—but it wasn't easy. He'd kept it a secret from everyone. If he failed, it wouldn't just be him who paid the price; it would be the dragons.
Later, Hiccup returned to his house, finding it cold and empty. The only warmth came from himself and Toothless. He went to the fireplace, placed logs inside, and the Night Fury fired a small blast to light it. As the fire crackled, Hiccup began preparing a meal while Toothless settled down by the hearth.
"So, bud, what should we do for the new dragons this Snoggletog?" Hiccup asked. Toothless huffed, uninterested. "I think the ice harvesters already passed Lake Storsen. The trout up there is amazing," Hiccup mused as the dragon grumbled softly. "I'll get the nets and baskets ready after I start the roast."
After placing the pot over the fire, Hiccup left the house and headed to the shed. As he packed for the fishing trip, his thoughts drifted back to his childhood. He remembered his father taking him to a little fishing spot. Instead of fishing, though, young Hiccup had run off to search for trolls. If he could do it all again, he'd have stayed and fished with his father. Spent more time with him.
A sudden, distant knocking snapped Hiccup out of his thoughts. Hardly anyone ever came up here, and if the rescued dragons grew anxious, things could go bad fast. Rushing outside into the snow, Hiccup saw Sven hitched to a sled piled high with holiday trinkets. Taking a deep breath, he approached, spotting Olaf standing at the sled.
"Hey, Olaf. What are you and Sven doing here?" Hiccup asked, petting the reindeer's neck.
"We're traveling around the kingdom, collecting holiday traditions!" the joyful snowman replied. Hiccup chuckled.
"Well, I celebrate Snoggletog. A holiday from my old home," Hiccup said, sitting down on the porch.
"Aw, interesting!" Olaf exclaimed, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Back home, we had a few months of peace, and we celebrated it. We built a huge tree made of wood and shields, held a pageant about past victories, and then had a feast. Bigger than anything Arendelle has ever seen," Hiccup said, his voice tinged with bittersweet nostalgia.
"That sounds amazing," Olaf said, awestruck.
"Yeah, but down here, I can't celebrate those traditions. There is one I still keep, though," Hiccup said, standing up. He tapped on the door twice, signaling Toothless to hide. When he opened it, Olaf followed him inside. The Night Fury stayed perched in the rafters, while Hiccup tried to keep Olaf's attention on the room below.
"Every year, I take this old helmet, set it outside, and wait for Odin to deliver gifts. But in reality, it's friends and family who leave them," Hiccup explained, holding up his old Viking helmet. He remembered his father gifting it to him—a symbol of pride for a son skilled in dragon-fighting. But now, the helmet felt heavier, tied to a lie he'd never confessed.
"Do you have one to spare?" Olaf asked, snapping Hiccup out of his thoughts.
"Sorry, little guy. This is my only one, and it was a gift from my dad."
"Aw, that's nice," Olaf said warmly.
After exchanging goodbyes, Olaf and Sven left for the city. Hiccup let out a sigh of relief. Today, at least, the secret was safe. But for how long?
~HHH~
Returning from his fishing trip, Hiccup had hoped for a peaceful night, but lights shining down the hills caught his attention. He quickly unloaded their catch and left Toothless to watch over the farm. Grabbing a lantern, the Rider hurried down the slopes, drawn by the sound of voices. The people of Arendelle were searching for Olaf.
Hiccup joined the effort, calling out for the snowman. He could only imagine the kind of trouble Olaf might have gotten into. As the night stretched on, word spread that Olaf had been found, and everyone began to gather for warm food and drinks. What started as a search quickly turned into an impromptu celebration.
Ice tables surrounded a frozen lake, and Elsa used her magic to create a stunning ice tree. With a flick of her hand, she lifted glowing lanterns onto its branches, illuminating the scene with a soft, magical glow. Finally, she raised Olaf himself to place an ice star on the top of the tree.
The festive atmosphere was heartwarming, and Hiccup was glad to witness such a moment. Still, he felt a little out of place and considered slipping away. But then his eyes landed on Queen Elsa, sipping hot chocolate as her sister mingled with the crowd, likely thanking everyone for their help. The two royals seemed genuinely happy, discovering and celebrating their own traditions.
With Olaf safe and sound, Hiccup knew he wasn't needed anymore, but something held him back. Gathering his courage, he approached the Queen and greeted her.
"Hello, my lady. I'm glad you were able to find your holiday tradition," he said warmly.
"Thank you, Hiccup. I hope we didn't keep you from your own traditions," Elsa replied, her tone considerate.
"Don't worry. My celebration is small," he said, gesturing to the ice tree and the lively crowd. "But this... this reminds me of home."
"Well, perhaps we're not so different from Berk after all," Elsa said, her lips curling into a gentle smile.
"Perhaps," Hiccup agreed, a soft smile of his own forming.
The two stood in comfortable silence, surrounded by the glow of lanterns and the sound of cheerful voices, sharing a quiet moment in the midst of the celebration.
I meant to publish this on Christmas, but things didn't go to plan so sorry about that and happy late Christmas.