How To Train Your Princess

Good Goodbye

I reach a tentative hand out to take hold of the door knob in front of me. The tip of my index finger makes contact with the cold brass, and I retract away quickly. My lips vibrate, sounding like a horse, and I press my back against the wall, eyes staring up at the ceiling. I rub my face with my hands, exhausted and inwardly depressed over how the day turned out besides Hiccup getting what he's wanted all his life.

The door to my room suddenly creaks open, and blond braids swing into view before I see Ruff's face. "Hey. I thought I heard you out here," she says, shutting the door behind her, and leaning on her shoulder beside me. "Are you okay?" I close my eyes again, nodding. "I'm sorry about Hiccup." I shrug like 'what are ya gonna do'. I can feel her frown, annoyed that I'm not confiding in her like she wants me to. Like she's always wanted me to.

"I can't bail out on us starting our school," I say, turning to face her.

She grins, hope filling her face. "You better not. I'll hold you to it. Besides, no one else is as qualified as you for the job." The corner of my mouth turns up again. "So, are you going to come into the room, or are you staying out here for a while?" she asks, an eyebrow quirked upward.

My face scrunches up at the thought of entering the bed chamber, before releasing a long sigh. "May as well go ahead and face them now," I answer, pushing myself off of the wall.

She gives me a nod, leading the way in. Cami and Heather are huddled on Heather's bed, a blanket draped over their shoulders. Ingrid is splayed out on my bed, her head propped up by a pillow. My eyes linger on her and the sympathetic expression taking over her body, and I suddenly feel an inch tall, wondering if the longer she stares at me the more I'll shrink until i don't exist. And an almost eerie thought pops into my mind, 'bring it on'.

I plop down on the ground against Ruff's bed, her beside me. "So, you all must think I'm incredibly stupid now. Or a liar." I huff out a laugh even though nothing that has happened today has been close to amusing, unless you have a dark sense of humor.

I glance at Ingrid again, the king's words flashing in my head. How he had always wanted Hiccup to pick her. Why wasn't there an elimination round throughout our stay? Weed out the ones who weren't smart enough, caused too many problems, too young, not a noble. Why not save us all the embarrassment, shame, and the cracks in our pride? Not that any of them actually know the truth, though the Upper Valleys seemed to believe the same thing. I'll never tell them what the king said in that study room tonight. It will die with the three of us who were "lucky" enough to witness it.

"No one thinks you're stupid," Ruff says, rubbing my shoulder comfortingly.

"So did he just get cold feet, or are you two just waiting a little longer to get married?" Heather asks, scooting to the edge of her bed.

"No. We aren't getting married at all." Ruff nods along with my words, already knowing.

"What? Why?" Ingrid gasps out.

"He said he didn't want to take my freedom from me. He said I would have only been miserable."

"But you would have been together," Cami interrupts, confused, gripping her blanket.

"I told him that. But, he said he couldn't be selfish, so he's letting me go. He wants me to have the chance to build my school and to travel the world."

"That's so romantic and tragic all at the same time," Heather sighs, glum.

"I guess it wasn't meant to last forever. Just another adventure that has ended and I need to move on from."

"Well, you'll always, always, have us, because we aren't going anywhere," Ruff says, jostling me, the others smiling encouragingly, and I finally feel better. They're right. I wont be as alone as I thought. They will always be at my side, and I smile for real, relaxing, excepting my future. I'm going home.