How To Train Your Princess

The Ball

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"Shhhhh! Quiet girls," Phlegma calls. And the sound instantly diminishes. We face forward in our line. "Girls. No matter who he may choose or what may happen tonight, you are all princesses to me. I'm very honored to have spent this time together. Please be on good behavior. After the ball, you will return to your rooms. Don't forget we have the palace polo game with the prince tomorrow." And with that, she nods, turning and opening the doors.

My heart stops and my stomach clenches in complete fear and wonder. The music floods out, hitting our ears first. I hear chattering and see tons of people. A trumpet blows and the music softens. "May I introduce Phlegma Dondy!" a man calls. People clap as she walks out into the ball room, leaving us alone. I can't see too well through all the other heads,but I can tell the full view will be breath taking.  "introducing Ingrid Thorman! Top student of the academy." She takes a deep breath, straitens herself, and walks forward. "Introducing Jamie Dawes!" the man says once the clapping dies down again.

As the girls go out, I'm able to see better. There's tons of people I don't know, including noble boys. I notice Snotlout standing near the food, but he's the only one I recognize. "Do you see Hiccup?" I ask Heather, in front of me.

"No," she says, quietly.

"I don't see Eret either!" Ruff calls, further up.

"Shhhh!" the remaining girls hiss.

When Heather is the next person to go out, I feel like I'm gonna pass out or throw up or both. I just hope I don't do it in the middle of my walk. "Heather Berserker!" the man calls. She smiles at me, excitement in her eyes. And then she's gone too, and I'm left alone for a little bit. "Astrid Hofferson!" I move forward, taking deep drawn out breaths. I square my shoulders, straiten my back, lift my head high, and begin walking. I wipe my sweaty hands on my dress and place them on the skirt. I scan the room for Hiccup again as I make my way to the other girls, but i don't see him. Even Snotlout is gone now. I take my place beside Heather, looking at the king and queen in their fancy chairs. The king is bent forward, stroking his beard like he's contemplating whether we are right for his son or not. His wife seems calm as she sits strait up and smiling. I could see myself drinking tea in the afternoons with her and planning balls together. "Now, introducing the prince!" the man continues. And it's like the world stops, dragging out the wait. A door at the top of a set of stairs opens and the tip of a shoe becomes visible. This is is. This is what we've been waiting so long for....And when he finally steps out at the top of the stairs, my jaw hits the ground.... "Prince Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third!"

"I found him," Heather whispers to me. I nod. "You had no clue, did you?" I shake my head.

I watch him descend the stairs, quickly. He's wearing a green tunic instead of red, and he's wearing nicer boots, but his hair is the same (messy) and the braids are still in. He comes to stand in front of us, the king and queen meeting him. I catch his eye as he passes by, going to stand in the middle, but he doesn't do anything. It suddenly all clicks together in that one moment of eye contact. He was always around. Granted, so were Snotlout and Eret, but Lout's family and Eret is a close friend. And the, when Snotlout said he was the prince's cousin before elbowing Hiccup. The way Phlegma and other palace workers were so nice to him and could never really get on to him. The way he talked about the prince. He never talked badly about anyone, besides the price because it was himself. How he could relate to the prince over father problems. It all makes sense now. How had I so easily missed the connections? And I suddenly felt betrayed. How could he have not told me the most important bit of information about himself? He knows I wouldn't have told anyone. I sat on the other side of a door trying to comfort him while he cried. Why wouldn't he just let me in? He knew it was me. Was it for pride? I guess it doesn't matter much anymore. This is now. I stare at the ground, biting my lip. The other girls are just as shocked, sneaking glances at me every now and then.