Chapter 43

Before Esmeralda could fully recover, one of her men ran into the ruins of the castle to shout "We're being attacked!"

A loud boom was heard outside and debris fell from what was left of the old rotting ceiling. An old and termite-infested wooden beam fell near the middle of the room as more shrieks and clangs of metal could be heard.

"Retreat! All of you retreat!" The mercenary leader that had been restraining Rosalinda shouted as he shoved the girl away from him. Rose fell on the ground hard and glared at the man as disheveled strands of hair clung to her sweaty face.

"What about our client?" Astrid could hear a mercenary asking.

"Do you want money or do you want your life?" The leader grabbed that man by the throat and shook him before he ordered the men inside to follow him through the back door of the ruined castle.

"Rose.... ROSE!" Astrid whispered as she tried to get the other's attention. She gestured at the ropes still binding her. Rose crawled over and tried to untie the knots but they wouldn't budge. The screaming outside and the clang of metal was more prominent now and Astrid wasn't sure if these were allies or more enemies. She'd rather have both her hands free to at the very least cause so much damage.

"Hold on," Rose uttered as the girl felt around for a sharp rock when the rotting double doors were blasted open. Both ladies stared openmouthed at who and what had just entered.

"AAAH!" Was shouted as a dragon burst through the doorway and firmly deposited its rider... or well the person clinging to its back... on the ground. Astrid belatedly realized that it was the same dragon that had crashed her tea party. "Sir Eret?!" Astrid uttered upon seeing the disheveled man that had been thrown from the Nadder. Said Nadder, in the midst of all the chaos, then proceeded to sit on Sir Eret and cuddle him.

"My Lady there you are!" Atali uttered as she entered the ruins as well, mace in hand. She slipped past the purring dragon and its unfortunate plush toy and quickly made her way towards her mistress to unbind her.

"I am very glad to see you Atali," Astrid said as the ropes were cut. "But why is that dragon here and why is it humping Sir Eret?"

"It's a long story Milady but your Knight Order is taking care of those vile kidnappers out front as we speak. We only-" Atali stopped when she noticed the semi-unconscious Esmeralda on the dirty floor. "Uhm...?"

"Secure my... stepmother," Astrid ordered while glaring at the prone figure. "She's the mastermind," Atali looked incredulous for just a moment before the maid sprang into action.

With Esmeralda bound and Rose and Astrid freed they emerged from the ruins to see that the knights had the situation under control. Even the mercenary leader and his cohorts that tried escaping through the back were now at swordpoint. Astrid looked around as the Nadder had relinquished Eret and was circling the firepit that held a roasted chicken. None of her knights seemed afraid of the dragon, or better said they gave the beast a wide berth and did not antagonize it.

"We meet again my fair Lady," A familiar voice uttered and made a dramatic bow before her.

"Snotlout? What are you doing here?" Astrid asked a bit perplexed. She thought the shorter man had gone back to Berk with Hiccup to get things ready for their plan.

"As I said Milady, it is a long story, one that is better told in front of a warm fire with a calming cup of tea." Atali explained.

"First throw Esmeralda in the same cart as those mercenaries and deliver her to the Magistrate," Astrid ordered. She saw Rose's shocked look and said "I've tolerated a lot from your mother but this has crossed the line. She will be dealt with,"

Rose stayed quiet but nodded at Astrid as her unconscious and bound mother was placed in a wagon with the other prisoners. It was as if Rosalinda had come to the understanding that her mother would never change or love her like her brother and that this was a line even she wouldn't have crossed. Rose was silent the whole carriage ride back and Astrid let her be as she knew the girl had some issues to work through and come to terms with.

Once back in the manor Atali served several light and tiny sandwiches along with some calming Jasmine tea. Snotlout was seated opposite of Astrid and for once had no smarmy look on his face.

"So... there was some trouble," He relayed.

"What kind of trouble?" Astrid asked as she now feared the worst of Hiccup.

"Nothing that serious, my cousin may have... kinda... sorta... gotten stabbed."

"WHAT?!"

"Right, so I think I should start from the beginning," Snotlout muttered.

"I do believe you should good sir," Astrid answered as she gripped her skirts. Of all the things to happen to Sir Hiccup, after already being stabbed in the shoulder.

"Right, so Hiccup, Gobber and I traveled back to Berk. Gobber and I went by means of boat while Hiccup took Toothless meaning we got there at least a day after him. By that time Hiccup had already called for a Council meeting."

"A Council meeting?" Astrid enquired.

"As you know the Viking Archipelago is considered a Kingdom yet not considered a Kingdom at the same time," Snotlout stated. "We don't have a monarchy,"

"Hiccup mentioned that they were made up of several tribes," Astrid noted to which Snotlout nodded.

"When the dragons were discovered the 'unification' happened but that was only to keep their secret safe. The Chieftain of each tribe serves on the Council and the majority vote decides the course of action."

"But how does this lead to Sir Hiccup being stabbed... again?!" Astrid questioned.

"Uhm...." Snotlout looked somewhat uncomfortable and blurted out "The way to change a majority vote is trial by combat and my idiot cousin challenged three council members to it!!!"

"Oh Thor!" Astrid's eyes widened.

"Not at the same time though...." Snotlout assured her. "Just one after the other," Which didn't asure Astrid at all.

"So the Council at first did not approve the plan?" Astrid frowned "Even though they approved a dragon rescue mission?"

"It's.... Complicated," Snotlout muttered. "Dragons... they've become our way of life. A lot of the tribes love them and would protect them but they don't see the need for your plan."

"But your way of life would be ruined if this Kingdom declares war just to steal your dragons! Do you think any of you would be left as nothing but slaves or dead if Prince Grimmel has his way?!"

"Yeah that was the argument my cousin used as well," Snotlout muttered. "The votes were evenly split until the last three northern tribes had to vote."

"Let me guess, they voted no to the plan simply because they were the furthest away should war arise?" Astrid questioned.

"But don't you worry! Your Love Bunny is okay!" Snotlout announced. "Uhm... given a stab wound or... three,"

"Love... Bunny....," Astrid questioned.

"Gobber's words not mine," Snotlout quickly uttered.

"Right,"

"I met with Sir Snotlout after I was... alighted from the carriage my lady," Atali announced. "Apparently he was on the way to the manor to appraise you of the situation,"

"I am guessing it was his idea to use the dragon?" Astrid questioned.

"That Nadder you got is one of the best tracking dragons there are," Snotlout announced. "I'm pretty sure she would have been able to find your location even on a ship."

"And how did Sir Eret fit into this whole scheme?"

"Oh, That Nadder took a liking to him as he was grooming her alongside the, somewhat terrified, horses." Atali relayed. "We thought it would be quicker to just have him take the reigns in this situation."

"I see," Astrid said though that didn't quite explain why the dragon was.... Humping Sir Eret.

"So what now your Ladyship?" Atali asked.

"Now we find Sir Snotlout a room to occupy, tomorrow we inform His Majesty, and as the plan is on track we simply wait for the right time,"

"And what of young Master Edwin and Lady Rose?" Atali asked. "Their mother was just delivered to the magistrate."

"It is too late to address that today," Astrid sighed. "Let us review this matter with a clear head tomorrow,"

"Of course my lady." Atali stated. "I shall show Sir Snotlout to his rooms,"

"Well helloooo," Snotlout purred as Atali just shot him a glare and led him out of the room. Astrid sighed and then made her way towards the porcelain tub filled with now lukewarm water. The maids had filled it up previously and Astrid shed her clothes before seating herself in the perfumed water.

She leaned back and sighed. So much had happened in just a day. The scent of roses permeated the bath area and Astrid tried to relax but couldn't. She was worried for Sir Hiccup and more than once she had the thought that entering in a relationship with the man might be a bad idea, yet at the same time their feelings seemed to be like a moth to a flame. She still remembered the night Hiccup had told her everything, how close they had been seated. The cozy atmosphere of the fire crackling before them.

"Sir Hiccup please be safe," Astrid whispered to the empty room as she sat in the bath with only water covering her sensual form.

The following day Astrid's office was to put it plainly a nightmare. Not only did she had to deal with the envoys from the magistrate but she also had to deal with her father and his huff and puffing. Naturally the man had not been happy with hearing his wife had been chucked into an interrogation cell at the Magistrate's office. Edwin and Rose took it in stride and once Samuel had left Edwin asked "What happens now sister?"

"Nothing changes Edwin," Astrid told him from behind her desk. "You will get the Barony upon your 16th in a few months. From that you and Rose can be taken care of. I would like you to look over the annual tax reports from the Barony before you inherit it though,"

"I mean, what of father?" Edwin asked.

"You know how I feel about father," Astrid deadpanned. "He will retire, now without his wife, to the countryside. As he should given the situation,"

Astrid sighed and then looked at her half-brother. Rose had long since excused herself. "What is really troubling you?"

"I'm... I'm not you sister," Edwin began as his cheeks flamed. "I don't know if I can just take over a Noble title and a fief like you," the boy... no... young man mumbled and sighed. "I can never measure up,"

"No one is asking you to measure up Edwin," Astrid uttered. "Running a Marquessate is different from a Barony," She stated. "All I want is for you and your sister to live comfortably once you become adults. The laws of this kingdom will not let me support you afterwards,"

"I understand... it's just...," Edwin muttered. "I don't want to mess up! The lives of actual people in the Barony would be affected!"

"You already thinking of your people means that you will do just fine," Astrid told the young man whom she had become quite fond of. The little boy that clung to her skirts, hiding from Rose, was all grown up and would sooner rather than later need to learn to fend for himself.

There was a frantic knock on Astrid's study door. William entered after being allowed entry and uttered "Your Ladyship you should prepare yourself. The Crown Prince just sent word. He will be arriving within the hour!" Meanwhile Astrid swallowed a curse.