~~~ In the ground-level floor~~~

"Astrid is quite a catch. She packs a mean right hook," Ryan commented.

"That she does," Hiccup agreed.

"When did you realize you liked her?" Ryan questioned.

"Well, what is there not to like? She's beautiful, loyal, strong, and brave," Hiccup replied.

He opened a door and looked inside before closing it. Young MacIntosh closed the door opposite of him.

"Sounds a lot like the Princess," he commented.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," Hiccup replied.

"You wish to talk about Merida?" Ryan asked.

"See, that's what I'm talking about. Astrid is like the most sought-after female viking on Berk and many other islands for that matter. I know all those tricks," Hiccup retorted.

"What tricks?" Ryan asked.

"Those tricks. You know, where you try to flirt with Astrid to make her fall for you," Hiccup replied.

"Astrid is amazing, but I'd never deliberately try to take her away from you," Ryan replied seemingly hurt from Hiccup's comment.

"Yeah, sure," Hiccup said.

Toothless sniffed around, pushing some doors open.

"I'm being honest Hiccup," Young MacIntosh tried to clarify. "I have a reputation as a handsome and charming suitor. I flirt, but that's it. The moment I saw Astrid I knew she was loyal. I hadn't realized it made you uncomfortable, I'll stop at once."

"Really?" Hiccup asked.

He had never seen someone step down so quickly. It wasn't because he was weak, or afraid, it was because Ryan, despite not seeming it, was quite noble. Ryan nodded.

"Thanks," Hiccup mumbled. "You're not like other princes."

"A self-centered show off? I'd have to disagree, even I can see that, but thanks," Ryan replied.

They continued to look through all the doors, but couldn't seem to find any trace of the blue-eyed Frenchman.

~~Upstairs~~

"I know what I did was bad. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love pranking people, but I didn't mean to embarrass her," Tuffnut tried to reason. "I want to apologize. She didn't look as mad as everyone usually is, she actually looked kind of sad."

Callum continued to guard the door. He couldn't hold a scowl, but his neutral stare was enough for even Barf and Belch to stay back.

"Callum, please come in I need some help!" They heard Aileas say from inside the room.

Callum got off the door and turned around giving Tuffnut just enough room to squeeze through and close the door on him. He locked it and turned around only to stop in his tracks.

"Callum, I need you to tighten my corset up," Aileas said without turning around.

"Isn't that painful?" Tuffnut asked.

Aileas shrieked, covered herself with the dress she was holding, and turned around to face the intruder. Callum pounded on the door from the other side. Tuff covered his eyes but faced her anyway.

"Get out!" she yelled.

"I just came to say I was sorry," Tuff replied.

"By coming in here while I'm getting dressed!?" Aileas accused.

"I didn't know! Besides, you're fully covered," Tiff told her.

"These are my undergarments, and you have a funny way of showing someone how to have fun," her voice got quite as her face began to burn.

"That was not what I had planned when I said I would teach you how to have fun. If you promise to give me another chance, I'll get out," Tuff reasoned.

Aileas pondered the legitimacy of his request before closing her eyes and replying, "Very well, just get out of my room please."

Tuffnut, pleased with himself, opened the door only to be tackled by Callum who was about to break the door down.

"Are you alright?" Aileas asked.

"Never better," Tuff groaned.

"Are you hurt?"

"Only my pride."

"Good, I guess we're even now," Aileas replied.
Callum got up and threw Tuffnut out of the room.

"Hey bro, what's this about a French-- HAHAHA! What happened to you?" Tuff's caring sister laughed.

Tuff was currently hanging upside down on the wall due to being tangled up on a tapestry.

"Just get me down," Tuff replied.

Ruffnut and Boyd walked over. Boyd was going to untangle the cloth but Ruff had a better idea. She grabbed a sword from the wall and used it to cut the tapestry from the top. Tuffnut had no time to get ready when he fell on the floor.

"Thanks sis," he groaned.

Now both his neck and back hurt.

"Happy to help."

"I hope the princess doesn't mind," Boyde commented as he looked at what little was left of the tapestry on the wall.

"You worry too much," Ruffnut told him and pinched his cheek. " I think it looks better now anyways."

"So what were you asking?" Tuff asked his sister.

"Why did Heather tell us to come here? We went to the throne room but no one was there except those kids you were hanging out with and hookfang," Ruff replied.

"First of all, I wasn't hanging out with them, I was mentoring him. Second of all, I didn't really pay attention, something about a French guy sneaking into the castle to steal something," Tuff explained.

"So we basically just have to go around looking for that guy?" Ruff asked.

"Yeah."

"Man, and we were having such fun. Let's go Wee Dingwall."

Tuffnut stood up and waited for Aileas and Callum to come out of the room. Aileas stepped out but refused to look up from the ground. Callum on the other hand continued to glare at Tuffnut.

"What is...What is it the Princess wants us to do?" Aileas asked without looking up.

"We're supposed to look for some French guy who came to steal something," Tuff replied.

"Let's go then," Aileas mumbled.

Callum stood in front of her so Tuff wouldn't see her. Tuffnut awkwardly turned around and led the way.

"Umm, Sir Tuffnut, if you please would you refrain from mentioning the...uh, the incident just now to anyone?" Aileas pleaded her eyes a bit teary.

"Of course, I'm not that cruel," Tuff replied.

"Thank ye," she mumbled.

Callum mumbled something Tuffnut couldn't hear. But even if he could he wouldn't understand.

"Callum, don't! Ye ken thaur ur only tois things dad will dae an' they're baith nae guid," she reminded him.

Tuffnut had no idea what she had just said but he was sure it had to do with him. He awkwardly looked around, pretending to look for the French guy. Even Barf and Belch tried to stay away from the two siblings. They searched the rooms silently until they heard two voices coming from the left direction.

"Okay, we've got to be stealthy about this. We need codenames. I'll be Wingmaster, you'll be Princess, and you'll be Bigger Fishlegs," Tuffnut told them as they were about to walk around the corner.

"Why do we—?" Aileas asked.

"Let's go!" Tuffnut said as he rolled out of the corner and behind a crate.

He signalled for them to do exactly what he did, but they simply crouched down and walked behind him. They eventually made it to the room.

Tuffnut pressed his ear against the door.

"Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm, okay," he mumbled.

"What do you hear?" Aileas asked.

"I have no idea," Tuff replied, "On the count of three and we'll jump in to block his exit. I'll open the door so get ready. 1..."

"Wait, but I-"

"3!" Tuffnut exclaimed as he pushed the door open.

Aileas was so taken aback that she stumbled a bit. When Callum tried to grab her he ended up pushing Tuffnut forward making him and Aileas fall to the floor.

"What is going on here?!" A voice exclaimed.

Aileas looked straight into her father's eyes as she tried to get off of the floor. Unfortunately, Tuffnut fell on top of her so she was struggling. Lord DingWall and Lord MacIntosh were trying to suppress their laughs as they smirked at MacGuffin's misfortune. 

Lord MacGuffin walked over and picked the blond viking by the back of his pelt with one arm. Tuffnut crossed his legs and held the kilt closer to his legs in response. Callum walked inside to help his sister but refused to look at his father.

"What are ye doing with my daughter?" Lord MacGuffin asked Tuffnut menacingly.

"Father please, it's not what you think," Aileas tried to reason.

"So this viking isn't spending time with my beloved daughter?" Lord MacGuffin asked.

"Well, not necessarily," Aileas replied.

"Funny story actually," Tuffnut said when Lord MacGuffin interrupted.

"Callum, what's going on here?" Lord MacGuffin.

"The Princess socht us aa tae keek fur a French min fa wants tae steal something fae the castle. We aa separated inta groups o vikings an Scots," Callum admitted.

"What did he say?" Lord DingWall asked.

"Ye all might want to look for your children," Lord MacGuffin replied.

Lord DingWall and Lord MacIntosh quickly left the room in search of their children.

"Callum, close the door. We all need to talk," Lord MacGuffin instructed his son who did so hesitantly.