Noblesse oblige

Part 14

Chapter 14

The couple lay in the flower meadow looking quite content. Astrid had picked some flowers, mainly daisies, and then turned to Hiccup with a wicked grin on her face that she hid quickly. Hiccup hummed and had closed his eyes for a moment as they basked in the morning sun. All that was missing was a picnic really and he mentally slapped himself. The Prince cracked open an eye as he watched his fiance fiddle with his hair. It felt like she was braiding it and he chuckled.

"What are you doing?" Hiccup asked lightly as Astrid hummed but didn't stop her ministrations.

"Oh nothing," Astrid laughed. "You know your hair is really soft," She remarked. "It almost makes me envious." This got a laugh out of Hiccup who then commented: "Don't tell anyone but Gobber has this shampoo that works wonders."

"Gobber?" Astrid now raised a brow.

"You've seen his mustache right?" Hiccup laughed. "Dad remarked once that they were going to be late to a banquet because of Gobber's grooming session."

Astrid was just about to say something when a large shadow fell on them from above, blocking out the sun. The couple looked up to see a silver dragon flying above and coming in for a landing.

"That's Windshear," Hiccup immediately recognized the dragon and once it landed Astrid noted that Heather was seated on top. Hiccup was already on his feet and he held out a hand to help Astrid up as well. She assumed that it must be urgent as the Captain of the Palace guards wouldn't just be flying around.

"Heather what's going on?" Hiccup asked with a frown.

"We have a situation at the palace," Heather answered while dismounting. "The King and Princess of the Southern Isles have come ashore and it appears they were, as they claim, 'assaulted by some barbarian' on Berkian soil. Tensions are still high between our Kingdom and the Southern Isles after the trade embargo. If this assault proves to be true then Berk may have to pay heavy reparations. The King has asked that you and Lady Astrid return to the palace to attend this meeting as well." Heather, as she relayed the news looked at Astrid with a raised brow. Somehow Astrid knew that she made a faux pas by punching a member of Royalty. Of course the Princess and King would have given a description. 'But in her defense... well, she didn't know that they were Royalty and honestly, they started it,' Astrid's brain argued.

"Alright Heather, we'll meet you back at the palace," Hiccup said as he got the coach driver's attention.

Astrid turned to follow Hiccup when Heather's hand landed on her shoulder gently. "What happened?" She whispered.

"Self Defense," Astrid whispered back.

"That's all I needed to know," Heather said. "I will come to your defense when or if needed. Just know that if these people win their case they might demand reparations in another manner.

Astrid frowned and then asked "Like?"

"Demanding that the Princess of the Southern Isles marry Hiccup first with you as the concubine. You'd be under her thumb then," Heather stated. "It's a possibility and knowing that woman I wouldn't put it past her." Astrid nodded as her fist clenched. Hiccup had told her that Heather hadn't liked his former fiance and now she had an inkling as to why. Her lips were set in a firm manner and with a nod towards Heather she walked to Hiccup who was probably wondering what the two women had been discussing.

Hiccup didn't ask what Astrid had been discussing with Heather as he held open the carriage door for her and offered his hand to help her step inside. For that she was grateful because the dress she was wearing right now had a somewhat bulky skirt. He also didn't ask her why she was sporting such a firm and determined expression. It was likely that he had already figured it out especially after seeing the state of her knuckles before the proposal.

Spurred on by urgency the coach driver wasted no time in getting the duo back to the Palace. Gobber was hobbling towards them before the carriage even stopped. He opened the door and muttered "We in a fine mess laddie,"

"What's going on Gobber?" Hiccup asked as he disembarked and then helped Astrid out.

"Those two are being unreasonable and yer dad looks about ready to take up an axe," Gobber sighed. "Ye might want to hurry to the throne room,"

With a nod Hiccup and Astrid departed while she noted Gobber making his way towards the kitchens, probably to have a word with their resident Spymaster. They were in the high-ceilinged corridor leading towards the mahogany double doors that opened up to the throne room when they heard the shouting. The doors were made of fairly thick wood so someone definitely was kicking up a storm in there. The two guards saluted Hiccup and Astrid as they approached but Hiccup could see that they were feeling somewhat uncomfortable listening to the shouting on the other side. He pushed open the wooden doors and grimaced as the shout of "We want reparations!" assaulted him.

The one who had shouted it was the King of the Southern Isles who seemed to be sporting a bandaged head and his arm appeared to be in a sling. Princess Margarette's back was towards Hiccup so he couldn't see what injuries she had sustained. Further towards the throne stood several ministers, all mumbling. Amongst them Hiccup spotted Alvin and his uncle.

"As I said before!" Stoick's voice boomed. "We will hear both sides of this story before I make a decision!" He then noticed his son and Astrid and beckoned them forward.

Princess Margarette and her father turned in time to see Hiccup and Astrid striding past them arm-in-arm and presenting a solidary front. Heather walked in behind them and closed the double doors. The throne room was silent as the couple approached the dias and bowed, or in Astrid's case curtsied. This was an official matter thus they had to be formal about it.

As Hiccup had passed the duo he noted that Margarette sported two matching black eyes. He tried to hold in his snigger as he was reminded of a particular animal in an eastern country they traded with for silks.

"That's the barbarian!" Margarette pointed out without any tact. Her finger was pointing straight at Astrid and the room fell silent. Her father gave her a hard look but she didn't notice it at all. Too focussed on Astrid was she that she threw away any decorum. "I demand that you throw that shrew in the dungeons!"

"You demand?!" Stoick growled and nearly strangled the throne's armrests with his meaty hands while at the same time Heather warned with a deadly gleam in her eyes and her hand on her sword hilt "Hold your tongue! You speak to the future Crown Princess!"

"Future Crownprincess?!" Margarette uttered astonished. "I am the future Crown Princess!"

"No, you're not," It was Hiccup this time that spoke up. "You canceled the engagement,"

Margarette seemed to want to say something more but her father beat her to it while laying a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "I believe there has been a misunderstanding here. I did not approve of my daughter breaking off this engagement."

"A misunderstanding?!" Stoick now hissed dangerously as he gripped the armrests and stood up to glower at the visiting Royalty. "Your Regent sent your Ambassador to us with an official document of annulment and gold. THERE WAS NO MISUNDERSTANDING!" Stoick then bellowed. "I WILL NOT LET MY SON BE MARRIED TO A SHREW LIKE YOURS!"

"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY DAUGHTER!" Tensions rose as the ministers took a step back hoping that the Kings didn't literally come to a blow.

"SHE INSULTED MY SON FIRST!" Stoick then bellowed as he slammed his fist on the throne and everyone winced as a hard crack was heard. "HOW DARE SHE IMPLY MY HICCUP WAS LESS OF A MAN BECAUSE HE LOST A LIMB!"

"No reason was given in the annulment document!" Margarette's father announced. "How dare you slander my daughter!"

"The reason was given by your own ambassador who heard it from your Regent!" Stoick shot back. "Now I will listen to Lady Astrid's side of the story and I would appreciate it if you would SHUT UP!"

AN:
Harry: "I see you are done proca-WHY IS MY PORG DANCING THE MACARENA?!"
Vala: "Because he already danced the can can?"
Harry: "What did you do?!"
Vala: "Who me?"
Harry: >_>
Vala: "Soooooo the Porg may have gotten into your wine...."
Harry: "And how did it get 'into' my wine?"
Vala: (shrugs) "beats me..."