Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 4: Astrid

"Wait. Since when were we going to dinner?" Hiccup asked in a baffled voice as he and Astrid strode along the skybridge towards the library.

Astrid laughed at him, watching his cheeks pink. "Don't worry. The Elites gave Elsa and Rapunzel permission to wander around the Dawn Sector, so to celebrate we're going to dinner tonight. All of us. We can stay as late as we want too, since it's a Friday."

"Oh, I see," Hiccup nodded thoughtfully.

"Anyways," Astrid said, delighted that that bit of housekeeping was over with, "I heard a really good joke today. Want to hear it?"

Hiccup grinned. This was one of their daily routines. They would come up with or find jokes and then share them with each other.

"What do you get when a dragon sneezes?" Astrid struggled not to laugh.

"What?"

"Out of the way," she burst into giggles. It wasn't that funny, but sharing it with Hiccup made hilarious.

When they managed to smother their laughter, Hiccup gave her a mischievous grin. "I've got one."

Astrid opened her mouth to ask what it was but stopped short. 

"Astrid. Hiccup," Hans's oily voice drifted across the space between them.

"What. Do. You. Want?" Hiccup snapped through gritted teeth, which surprised Astrid. Usually, he was cheerful and friendly to everyone. 

"Oh, nothing of importance. It's a mere coincidence that I bumped into you both," Hans shrugged.

"Goodbye, Hans," Astrid interrupted. Hiccup looked as if he was going to strangle him. Thanks to the fact that he's shot up a foot over the summer, he was starting to look a tad threatening.

"Where are you going?" Hans asked, turning to follow them.

"None of your business," Astrid grumbled.

"Oh, but it is," Hans swiveled so that he was facing them, effectively blocking their way.

Astrid contemplated tackling him to the ground and beating him into a pulp, but Hans held something up that made her blood turn to ice.

Hiccup drew up short as well, taking in the sight with wide eyes.

It was one of Anna's letters to Elsa, written in bubbly letters with Berk's official sign stamped on the back. 

Shit. 

Arendelle had been searching for Anna, but the Elites were withholding that information from the public. Elsa had trusted them to not let the secret out, but somehow, Hans had gotten ahold of her whereabouts. 

Hans could sell Anna's location out to King Agnarr and Queen Iduna with the knowledge that Elsa had been withholding the location from them. And, if anything, princesses were worth a lot of money, and Berk did not have any sort of army. If Hans was smart enough, he could kidnap Anna for ransom. Princesses, after all, were worth a lot of money, and the prince of the Southern Isles had enough resources to kidnap one.

Astrid feigned nonchalance as she tried to think of a plan. Most likely, Hans wouldn't even do something like that.

"We're going," Hiccup scowled, "to the library."

"What a pleasant surprise," Hans gave them another simpering smile.

"Is it?" Astrid replied.

Hans checked his watch, and Astrid watched his smug look vanish. "I'd best be going now. Good day."

Astrid glanced at Hiccup as Hans vanished into the crowd on the skybridge. "What was that?"

Hiccup gave a sullen shrug. "Hans. Who else?"

They hurried into the library. 

Astrid knew something was wrong the moment they stepped inside. She and Hiccup navigated to their usual table where Elsa and Jack were already hunched over a map. A book of fairytales sat on the desk next to them.

"We have to go to Berk!" Elsa mumbled in a furious whisper. "The book said so!"

"Usually, I am never, ever the voice of reason," Jack responded. "But this could be dangerous."

"So, I go with you or something. I can do magic. I'll be fine."

"I am not going to stop you, but I am going with you."

"What are you guys talking about?" Astrid interrupted. 

"The usual," Jack said with an illustrious wave of his hand. "What's up with you two?"

"Hans is what," Hiccup grumbled, taking a seat. "Anna's in trouble."

"What?" Elsa sat bolt upright.

Astrid and Hiccup explained their encounter with Hans.

Elsa mumbled a few obscenities, then turned to Jack. "Now we have to go to Berk."

"Freaking Hans," Jack grumbled. 

"If you two are going to Berk, then we're coming with you," Hiccup nudged them while Astrid nodded in agreement.

"What? No," Elsa protested.

"It makes sense," Astrid answered. "Berk is our home. You're more likely to be welcomed with us there."

"Ugh, fine," Elsa snapped. "But just one of you. We don't need to risk anyone else."

Footsteps sounded, and everyone instantly quieted down, but it was just Merida, Flynn, and Rapunzel. 

"Hey y'all," Flynn took a seat and began thumbing through the fairytale book.

Astrid gave them an abbreviated version of what was going on while Elsa and Jack stared at each other, having one of their mental soul bond exchanges probably.

"Seriously? So three of you are just going to skip school and run off to Berk?" Merida demanded.

"Ideally," Jack pulled a book from the shelf behind him and thumbed through it.

"It's the best plan," Hiccup pointed out. Astrid knew he was about to say he would be the third member of the party.

"I'm going," Astrid blurted before Hiccup could volunteer.

"Wait. Wait. We never agreed on that," Hiccup protested.

"Too bad," Astrid said. "I'm going."

Elsa mumbled something that sounded a lot like, "Why is everyone here so self-sacrificing?"

"You are also a unselfish sacrificer," Jack whispered loudly to her.

"That's not even a word," Elsa nudged him.

Astrid shoved down the urge to ask if they were dating yet.

"Okay, compromise," Rapunzel held up her hands. "I'm not happy about not being able to go, but I know I would be kind of useless for this sort of thing. Why don't we just send all four of you? Elsa, Jack, Hiccup, and Astrid?"

Elsa and Jack looked unhappy about risking more people, but they nodded.

"Why does Jack get to go?" Merida sighed, obviously hoping for some adventure.

"Because he's my soul-bonded and this is mainly my trip," Elsa answered loyally. "We leave tonight. If we're lucky, we can get back by Sunday night and not miss any school."

"That's what you're worried about?" Flynn asked.

"Well, the Elites would have a higher chance of noticing we're missing if we don't show up for school," Hiccup reasoned.

"Skyship there, and dragons back would be the quickest," Astrid said, trying to think it through.

"Perfect, we have a plan," Jack clapped his hands together, "But first, dinner!"