How To Train Your Princess

The Fall Down

"I still don't think we are doing this right," I laugh.

"Sure we are," Hiccup says.

"Mmmm," I hum, unsure. 

"I'm gonna have to agree with Astrid on this one, Hiccup," Heather cuts in.

"You know, this is a crowd favorite. I can't believe their not teaching it to you," he tells us smiling. My friends and I just shake our heads, amused. 

We had moved all of our beds to the back wall, so that we could practice the dances we had been learning over the past two days in class. We have to know three for the ball. The dance we are all currently engaged in obviously isn't one of them. We sashay around the room five times, turn, go out with one arm up, turn and pass your partner to the next person, and repeat. It's fun and easy, but I know he's messing with us. 

We all stare at him knowingly, and he slumps his shoulders some as he spins me. "Fine. I'm making it up as I go. Just you wait though. I'l teach it to the whole kingdom before the ball, and it will be the biggest hit, people will trample over each other to do my dance," he says proudly, his chin tilted up. We all burst into a fit of laughter at the ridiculousness of it. 

"No offense, Hiccup, but, you can't make up dances," Heather tells him, and he chuckles, probably already aware.

"At least it's better than the one last week after bath night," Cami says, grinning at the memory.

"The dance may not have been good, but our music was outstanding," Ruff says.

"That's true," I add. 

Hiccup purses his lips at us, shaking his head. "You guys just don't know good dancing."

"So, are you going to be at the ball then?" I ask.

"I have to be. I am a noble, am I not? Snotlout and Eret will be there too." I make a face and he laughs. "What?"

"Wont it be kind of awkward if you're there and I'm hanging out with the prince"

"Not if you promise to save me a dance." 

I smile and give a nod. "So, do you know any real dances or do you just make up all of yours?"

"Yes. I was forced to learn them," he laughs, spinning me again.

***

"Come on, Astrid. Hurry up. Put your boots on," Ruff urges me, standing in the doorway. 

"Okay, okay," I sigh, shoving my feet in. 

"Third strike! Third strike!" she warns. "Come on! Do you want to get sent home? No. So hurry up so we're not late."

"Done!" I exclaim, jumping to my feet. 

We hurry down the hall and into the dining room, sliding into the seats Heather and Cami saved for us. The cooks place fruit and rolls and smoked pork in front of us, returning with freshly squeezed orange juice and milk. I dig in, listening to Phlegma give the morning announcements. 

"Ladies, we will be practicing polo today. We will eat lunch in the garden to save time. Be ready in fifteen minutes."

I bite into my roll, steam leaking from the spot where I took a chunk out of it. I eat the rest of it quickly, too hungry to wait. I gulp a glass of milk and start on an apple. The time passes too fast and we are soon ushered out to the stables. I take another bite of apple, juice dripping down my chin. i use the back of my arm to wipe it off, drying my hands on my shirt. 

"You know, you should be an absolute pro at polo by the time of the ball. Fit to play against the king himself," Ruff tells me, chewing the last bite of her apple, and I'd bet there's three more in her satchel for later.