Chapter 5

The ladies in the Salon all curtsied while the servants gave a low bow as the Crown prince entered. Astrid's gaze strayed upwards just briefly enough to catch a glimpse of the Prince. He cut an impressive figure that was true but it certainly wasn't to Astrid's taste. First of all, he was her cousin, if you could even call him that. Same grandfather, different grandmother. Second of all he was too much into blood sports. The Crown prince often was a patron to the Colosseum and if the rumors were true then he was also one of the Colosseum's biggest sponsors, sending prisoners their way to fight against vicious animals in his menagerie. It was a greater turn-off for Astrid than the age difference. Sure she liked a good fight, having sparred with the Estate knights before secretly, but the blatant disregard for human and animal life wasn't her cup of tea.

"You may rise," The Prince said and Astrid quickly changed her curtsy pose to that of a woman that stood straight and exuded an air of indifference. It wouldn't do to show weakness in front of a man who had the power to exploit it. Rosalinda however didn't catch on and addressed the Prince, while sporting a pitiful gaze, with "Your Highness please seek justice for me!" Astrid mentally smacked her brain at her buffoon of a step-sister. The Prince would never associate himself with such a petty squabble like this. Instead Rosalinda had a good chance to be sent to the Colosseum if she continued.

"Rose-..." Astrid was about to intervene. She hated the girl but not so much to have her sentenced to the Colosseum for annoying the Crown Prince. Offending the Royal Family was a serious affair so she had to choose her words wisely. Though surprisingly, Prince Grimmel didn't look annoyed at all at Rosalinda. In fact he addressed her affectionately as Lady Hofferson, which made Rosalind giddy while Astrid frowned suspiciously. Surely he knew what addressing her as Lady Hofferson meant and the people here would talk. Gossip had a way of taking on a life of its own but she couldn't refute Royalty. For now she'd let it play out.

The Prince then turned to Lady Griselda and asked if she would be willing to let the matter go. That was more surprising as the Crown Prince had never much cared to take a woman's side other than Lady Griselda's. He had always been protective of Lady Griselda so everyone was trying to hold their shock as he defended another. Even the Lady in question looked wide-eyed while Rosalinda had a smug look on her face. Now Astrid wondered if she was really going to be the Crown Princess. Yesterday she had chalked all of Rosalinda's bolstering up as that of an insipid girl trying to make a name for herself, but with Prince Grimmel actually taking her side on this matter over his childhood friend sent warning bells ringing in Astrid's head.

Lady Griselda and Prince Ghastly had been childhood playmates ever since they were five. Everyone knew this. Everyone also knew that Lady Griselda's father had been the eldest Prince but he stepped down to cede the throne to his brother the second Prince, Grimmel's father, because he thought himself to be too soft. Instead the eldest Prince took the role of the Kingdom's Prime Minister and Advisor to the King. Many Nobles had objected but there was no changing his mind. Since the Prince and the Lady were so close many Nobles and politicians thought that they would be engaged to one another until THAT happened. Now while Prince Grimmel still doted on the Lady they were more hesitant to put forward the engagement.

"How can you expect me to let this go?!" Lady Griselda uttered, looking both shocked and aghast. "Did you even hear what she called me?! She.... She.... She...."

"She wasn't wrong was she," Grimmel said indifferently causing the Lady to flinch. Even Astrid was shocked by the cold gaze. "I came here to apologize for the matter this morning but I think you might need to return to your residence Lady Griselda and cool your head."

Astrid didn't know what in Odin's name was going on anymore but the entire situation seemed weird to her. She felt for Lady Griselda, she truly did, to have her childhood friend and possible love interest treat her so coldly while he now offered a ride home in his gilded carriage to Rosalinda. The elegant lady actually knocked over a teapot in rage and stormed out of the Salon, past the Prince that only seemed to have eyes for Rosalinda.

Turning around Astrid could see Lady Heather trying to hold it all in as she gripped her blood-red skirt in an effort to stay calm. To say that the tea party's atmosphere was ruined was an understatement. As Rosalinda was being escorted out of the Salon by Prince Grimmel she turned back and gave Astrid a rather haughty look.

Lady Heather's guests bid her a hasty farewell afterwards. The mood was completely ruined and not even those delicious beef-tongue finger sandwiches could salvage it. When only four women were left in the Salon, Astrid included, Lady Camicazi let out a rather crude exclamation of "WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?!"

Those that had stayed in the Salon were none other than Lady Astrid, Heather, Camicazi and Lady Thornston, who had been munching on macaroons the entire time. With only the four of them there it was hard to keep up decorum and Lady Heather dragged another chair close. She flopped back on one and put her feet up on the other.

Astrid wasn't fazed by the crude remark and instead pulled up a chair as well. She looked at the offered tea, now probably cold and muttered "We'll need something stronger."

"Right you are Astrid," Heather didn't bother with the formal titles now and instead called for a servant. She gave the maid the order to raid her brother's wine cellar.

"But Miss, the Earl takes pride in his wine collection." The maid said hesitantly.

"Bah! What is wine good for if it just sits on a shelf collecting dust?" Heather waved off the concern. "Don't worry. I will handle my brother. You just get us the good stuff."

"Since it's just the four of us then I assume you ladies can keep a secret." Camicazi said as she scooted back somewhat. Before anyone knew it she was taking off her heels and also stretching her toes. "Oh Thor that feels good!" She exclaimed while letting out a pleasant hum. "The person that invented heels should be punished in the stocks!"

"I believe heels came into fashion about a century ago when the men wanted to have more height to court women," Astrid supplied as she took one of the finger sandwiches.

"Figured it would be men who invented these. Bunch of peacocks!" Camicazi huffed. She was much more liberal with her language as she was part of the Nouveau Riche Nobility. A subset of Nobility that only recently gained their wealth and titles after rising through the ranks from Commoners. For Heather to have welcomed someone from the Nouveau Riche spoke volumes of Camicazi's connections and abilities. The woman then turned to Lady Thornston who now had taken a plate of chocolate cake. "It's a surprise to see you holding up so well Lady Thornston. Given the location of Berk I would have thought you would be the first to bemoan the heels we have to wear."

"You gals can call me Ruffnut," Lady Thornston laughed and then added while lifting up her skirt slightly to show her bare feet under the table. "Oh honey, I took off those deathtraps ever since I sat down."

Three bottles of wine and four wine glasses were placed on the table by the maids before they retreated. Heather took the liberty of pouring the wine herself and handing it to the women. "If any man saw us now they would probably have heart palpitations," This caused the other ladies to laugh as they sipped their offered wine.

"This is quite a fruity bouquet," Ruffnut noted as she drank a bit more. "Me likey,"

"You know wine Ruffnut?" Camicazi noted with a raised brow.

"I know alcohol. Berk has a variety of them but they aren't well known. It's more the Dragonscale armor the merchants are interested in," Ruffnut stated. "Why before my brother and I left for this diplomatic mission he was brewing up a batch of moonshine. It exploded and burned a yak but..... At least he tried."

"A whole untapped market of spirits? I'm interested." Camicazi stated like the merchant's daughter she was.

"But we're getting off point," Heather said as she nearly downed her wine in one shot. She poured herself some more and then asked "As Camicazi put it... just what happened?! The Prince was blatantly ignoring Lady Griselda and fawning over Rosalinda. Can you believe his nerve even?! Calling her Lady Hofferson! You're the only Lady Hofferson here! How dare he act like that!"

"Heather hush!" Astrid quickly said. "We might look like we're alone but you can never know for sure. Do you want to be convicted of Lese-majeste?! I'd rather not see my friend hanged for offending Royalty."

"Okay, I think I'm missing something here since I'm not from this Kingdom," Ruffnut stated, "Mind filling me in?"

"I actually have no idea how Nobility works in the Berkian kingdom since you lot are so secretive but here most Nobility is related to one another at some point. This includes the Royal family. For instance Heather's great-grandfather was the Minister of Internal Affairs that married the second Princess at the time. My mother was the fifth Princess belonging to the previous King's third wife. Lady Griselda is the daughter of the previous King's eldest son who was born from the second wife and Prince Grimmel is the son of the previous King's second son born from the first wife. There was always some strife there because the first wife considered herself to be the true Queen instead of a concubine but the second wife gave birth to a son first. Yes, yes, I know this is all very complicated," Astrid said upon seeing Ruffnut's concentrated confusion.

"Yeah, let's just go with complicated," Camicazi mumbled.

"So from what I know, The eldest brother, Lady Griselda's father, gave up his claim to the throne and instead became the Prime Minister. He also received the title of Duke of Arkas, a territory that is more inland from the Capital. A lot of Nobles objected to his abdication but during that time they needed a strong leader since a war with the pillaging Northlanders was starting."

"A war which your mother funded mostly, Astrid. I don't know why you left that part out," Heather stated with a raised brow. "This kingdom wasn't nearly as prosperous now as it was back then and the coffers depleted at an increasing rate as Grimmel's father sent regiment after regiment to besiege the Northlanders. At the height of the war there was barely anything left over in the treasury and the warmongering king cried in frustration. Taxes had already been raised and the people were suffering." Heather explained as she took a sip of her drink while the other ladies listened with rapt attention. "Astrid's mother, like all the other Princesses that had been sent from the castle for their safety, returned bearing more fortune than any man had ever seen,"

"We're talking about the Princes right now, not my mother Heather." Astrid muttered. She knew Heather was enamored with that story. The only time in their kingdom's history where a woman was the people's shining knight.

"The Princes wouldn't even be alive if she hadn't stepped in, but continue" Heather huffed.

"After the war there was some dissent between the Nobles. A small faction formed that believed that Lady Griselda's father, Alexander, should take over as this kingdom's monarch since they now had no use for a ruthless person on the throne. The former Prince put a stop to that immediately before they could go out of control and stage a coup. He berated the Nobles for even thinking that. They had wanted and supported his brother's bid for the throne and so they would be stuck with him. By then Alexander had already started a family in Arkas and no words of dissent were heard for a few years. However, when Lady Griselda was six her father and mother were charged with high treason. Their assets were taken and they were executed. The king however didn't execute Griselda as she and his son were friends. He must have felt bad for the poor girl and gave her a residence on the Palace grounds. She got to keep her title too. The Lady of Arkas, but it was an empty title."

"So when Prince Grimmel and Lady Griselda were just kids there was already talk of engagement?" Ruffnut asked, clearly interested. "But when her family lost it all those that supported it changed their tune quickly." At Astrid's and Heather's nod Ruffnut exclaimed "What a bunch of boar-headed dung beetles!"

"Even I know that the Prince has great affection for Lady Griselda." Camicazi stated. "Why would he rebuff her like that and have that wet behind the ears welp cling to him? He's the one who declared proudly to the Ministers that Lady Griselda was still a candidate for Crown Princess!"

"Rosalinda seemed sure that she was going to be the next Crown Princess." Astrid muttered while downing her drink. They were already on the second bottle of wine and she topped off her glass quickly. "I thought she was delusional but after seeing the spectacle today I'm sure she has an ace up her sleeve."

"Then you better find out about it quickly. You could be in danger!" Heather exclaimed.

"There's nothing I can do for the next four days even if I try." Astrid grumbled. "The records to the Marquisdom are sealed and in my father's hands until I turn 16."

"You could punch her. Yeah, punch her lights out!" Camicazi supplied while grinning.

"Cami, we are not resorting to violence...... yet!" Heather admonished.

"I'm all for punching someone's lights out," Ruffnut stated while grabbing more wine.

All Heather did was groan while Astrid laughed. Truly these ladies were something else.

Meanwhile, events were happening in other places in the kingdom that would shape the future. Prince Grimmel had finished escorting Rosalinda back to her estate and was in the carriage on his way back to the Palace. The carriage stopped momentarily and a cloaked figure appeared from the nearby woods and entered without making a sound.

"Krogan,"

"My Prince," The cloaked man said while giving a short bow.

"Do you have news for me?" Grimmel asked unemotionally while he grabbed a handkerchief. He proceeded to wipe down the hand and arm he had used to escort Rosalinda. Here a brief look of distaste crossed his features.

"If you hate it so much why do you even bother with her?" Krogan asked with a raised brow.

"Because she has something I need," The Prince huffed. "The sooner I get it the sooner I can dispose of her."

"And how does Griselda feel about this?" Krogan smirked upon seeing Grimmel's irked look. "She didn't take it well did she?"

"Why don't you just tell me what you found out?" Grimmel hissed.

"Fine, fine. The Berkian Kingdom's defenses are as high as ever. I was lucky to even be able to slip in." Krogan groaned.

"But you saw them, didn't you?" Grimmel asked as he leaned forward and laced his fingers together.

"Aye, I saw them. They were living merrily with those damn barbarians." The man huffed, annoyed. "Their sense of smell really annoyed me. I barely had time to slip their Chief the poison."

"But you succeeded, that's all that matters. The Berkian delegation that is here will soon slip up once they hear of the fate of their leader and then I will have them exactly where I want them."

"Why do you even want more?" Krogan muttered. "Isn't the one we managed to capture enough?"

"Because Krogan, when is one ever enough," Grimmel smirked.

In a nearby wharf on the other side of the Kingdom's Capital which was situated mostly in the slums, a rather beat up wooden fisherman's boat docked. It's only recipient stood cloaked at the docks holding an oil lamp. If one looked closely they could make out a pegleg but in these precarious neighbourhoods no one looked closely. Another cloaked figure emerged from below deck and stepped on the pier before the fisherman's boat made its silent escape.

"It's good to see ya lad," The man with the lantern leaned in for a hug which was reciprocated.

"It's good to see you too Gobber. Though I wish it was under better circumstances." The other said as they quickly left the location while talking in hushed voices. "Dad's been poisoned."

Gobber stopped for a minute in shock before he quickly regained his stride. "I'm assuming you're wanting to talk to the twins then?"

"We'll need to speed up our schedule. At least tell me the twins have located her,"

"Uh....." Gobber muttered.

"I'll take that as a no," The other sighed. "Toothless is getting restless. If we don't get her back soon he'd probably blow this entire kingdom up and a lot of innocent people will get hurt."

"I know Hiccup, I know," Gobber mumbled.

AN: A little insight on the whole family tree.