Astrid had watched the nobles leaving the throne room and knights would be waiting to escort them to their chambers. She was currently listening to the guards in the room explain what they had overheard. It still baffled Astrid that the royals would pay no heed to the servants or guards and discuss important business in their presence.

It was the first time that she had laid eyes on Hiccup's family and if it wasn't for the auburn hair and green eyes that the large man, which she thought to be his father, possessed then she would have guessed that Hiccup was adopted.

Even his younger brother Geir was not what she had expected. Hiccup had described him as the perfect Viking son, so she expected to see a muscled man, yet it seemed that he was more fat than muscle now. Astrid had watched him from the corner of her eye and did not like how he glared at her when she entered.

His wife was another story. She had green eyes, was slender and had long mousy brown hair, which she kept in a single braid down her back. Although the woman had said scarcely said anything through the meeting she kept glancing at her, with what Astrid would describe as a look akin to jealousy. For what, Astrid had no idea.

Astrid headed for her chambers after her knights had finished briefing her. When she closed her chamber door she was immediately pinned to it by Hiccup who was giving her a hungry, passionate, kiss.

"H..Hiccup!" Astrid giggled, winding her fingers in auburn locks, as Hiccup started trailing kisses along her neck.

A cough from behind them caused the happy couple to stop and turn around. They had forgotten that they had company and could see Eret and the twins standing there with blushes gracing their faces.

"Don't stop on our account." Ruffnut commented suggestively only to get an elbow in the ribs from her brother.

Astrid and Hiccup reluctantly let go of each other before facing their friends.

"I am assuming everything went according to plan?" Eret asked.

"You bet!" The twins chorused. "We precisely timed the explosion." Tuffnut said proudly as he produced Chicken from the satchel at his side. "Isn't that right Chicken?"

Ruffnut rolled her eyes at the antics of her brother. She still could not fathom how he smuggled Chicken in Barf and Belch's saddlebags when they were escaping.

"I still cannot believe you asked these two to deliberately blow up something." Eret mumbled and then laughed. "But it was worth it to throw those people off guard."

"I also told Gobber the truth." Hiccup explained. "He'll keep quiet and he sends his congratulations."

Astrid nodded. "We will need to speak with Heather and her brother soon. She was trying to signal something to me."

"I assume a private dinner would not be out of the question?" Hiccup asked to which Astrid nodded.

"I will have my guards inform them discreetly." Astrid said as her lips twitched in mirth. "Also that rumor is still going around Hiccup. They think that you may know if it's true or not."

Hiccup let out a groan as he knew which rumor his bemused wife was talking about. "Then I am assuming that I will be dealing with several people later."

"I am sure you will be able to handle it." Astrid whispered in his ear which caused Hiccup to shiver.

"We shall take our leave now." Eret said quickly as he ushered the twins out.

Astrid placed her hands around Hiccup's neck once the chamber doors were closed. "Now good sir. Where were we?" She asked before Hiccup closed the gap between their lips.

The next morning found Hiccup making his way to the forge on the castle grounds. Toothless had apparently gone to the garden a little while ago and Hiccup had a smile gracing his face as he remembered the dragon gifting Stormfly with fish and flowers to get her attention.

He thought back to dinner that night and could not help but chuckle. Astrid had gotten to meet Gobber who gave her a warm hug and then proceeded to spill all of Hiccup's embarrassing moments much to his mortification.

Dagur and Heather were also present and informed them that their dragons decided to stay with them and were actually aboard the Berserker ship as they did not want to draw too much attention.

The biggest surprise of the evening was when Ruffnut walked arm in arm with a blushing Snotlout to the table and Astrid managed to wheedle out of Ruffnut how she had finally cornered the man and had asked if he was interested in her or not.

Hiccup had finally made it to the forge and got the fire going when he was interrupted by a voice he knew all too well.

"Hello Hiccup." Froda said as she leaned casually against the doorway.

"Froda" Hiccup said as neutrally as he could paying the woman only a small glance as he searched for the materials he would need. "What do you want Froda?"

"What makes you think I want anything?" Froda questioned back as she kept staring at Hiccup.

"Because you are standing in the doorway of a forge in the morning while trying to casually talk with your former lover." Hiccup stated dryly.

"Alright, maybe I do want to know something." Froda mumbled as she stopped leaning and approached Hiccup. "I was wondering if you knew if there is any truth to the rumor."

"What rumor?" Hiccup asked as he stepped away to grab his tools.

"The one that talks about the queen favoring a man who she would tear kingdoms apart for." Froda said while acting curious.

"I don't know." Hiccup stated. "I do not really listen to rumors."

"But you must know something about this?" Froda now questioned before she approached Hiccup and lay a hand on his chest while suggestively saying. "I can make it worth your while if you tell me."

Hiccup raised an eyebrow before removing the woman's hand. "Did you seriously suggest what I think you did?" Hiccup questioned as he saw her lean against the worktable.

"Why not?" Froda said casually.

"Because you are married to my brother, and you broke my heart to do it too." Hiccup hissed as his eyes narrowed at the woman. "Besides I am spoken for and I will not betray my partner so the answer is no."

"You would dare deny me!" Froda angrily. "I was the best thing that walked into your life!"

"You are right Froda. You were the best thing that walked into my life. However I have now found someone even better and you pale in comparison to her."

Froda let out a shriek of anger and frustration before marching out of the forge.

Hiccup sighed and went to work repairing the swords of the knights that had broken or gotten blunt. It was near midday when Hiccup had finished and he had just entered the training area when he was confronted by Geir who stood there superiorly.

"Geir" Hiccup said evenly.

"Useless" Geir answered which caused Hiccup to roll his eyes. He was honestly tired of being called that and the name only annoyed him now.

"What do you want?" Hiccup muttered as he tried to walk passed only to have his way blocked.

"I wanted to know about the rumors surrounding the Dark Queen, and you are going to tell me Useless."

"Doesn't calling me that get old?" Hiccup questioned as he crossed his arms. "Or is your brain so tiny that you can't think of any new insults?"

"How dare you talk to me like that!" Geir hissed angrily. "I'm the Chief of Berk, you shall give me respect."

"I'll start respecting you when you start respecting me. You can start by not insulting me." Hiccup said evenly.

"Respect you!! Hah!!" Geir snorted in amusement. "You are nothing but a twig! Nothing, completely useless! I can beat your scrawny behind easily in a swordfight!" He proclaimed.

"Alright then prove it." Hiccup said loudly causing the knights who were listening in to cheer.

"What?!" Geir asked surprised as he looked around at the attention they had drawn. The knights now made a circle around them while one handed Hiccup a sword.

"You heard me." Hiccup said. "I'm tired of you looking down on me. Prove that you can do better."

"Fine I will!!" Geir shouted before unsheathing his blade which was at his hip. Hiccup noticed that it was a regular blade and smirked. It would not stand up to Gronckle iron swords.

Geir glared at Hiccup before he charged with a war cry. Hiccup opted to simply parry the strike and that was all it took. The Gronckle iron sword sliced through the other like it was butter.

"Wha-" Geir said confused as he looked at his sword.

"Well then, I shall be off." Hiccup said before handing the blade back to the knight who had loaned it to him. The knights all went back to their practice leaving Geir standing there and staring at his now cut in half sword.