Chapter 22

Ve and Vili had, for a lack of better words, seen better days. They limped back into the ice palace to face Ymir after Fenrir decided to use them as a chew toy. Their armor was torn by those sharp teeth and claws and they were bleeding from several parts, some of which wouldn't be named. When they finally entered the throne room Ymir looked up from what she was doing and frowned.

"I am willing to guess that from your appearance you were unsuccessful." She stated rather calmly.

"Well... ye-AAH!" Vili was interrupted when ice encased him and his brother up to their knees. The Asgardians shivered as the cold shot through their veins.

"If you have failed me then why did you bother coming back!" Ymir shouted as her red eyes narrowed. "I want this loose end dealt with!"

"She's but one woman." Ve scoffed. "What threat could she possibly pose?" Ymir rose a brow at that statement as if to suggest they weren't standing in front of a powerful female themselves. "I mean.... Eh..." Ve caught on and tried to correct himself when Ymir shouted "Go get the job done and don't bother to return until you do!" Her frost magic lashed out, breaking the ice encasing the men's legs and sending them flying backwards. The brothers scrambled out of the throne room and when the large double doors were closed Ymir let out a curse.

"What now brother?" Ve asked once they were a very safe distance away. "How are we going to get into Ymir's good graces if she thinks we are incompetent."

"She owes us, Ve. We helped release her," Vili answered. "Haven't you noticed that all the time we've been in her presence that she hasn't killed us yet."

"We got lucky?" Ve pondered.

"No, she needs us," Vili said. "She hasn't stepped out of this palace the whole time. Something is keeping her bound here and she needs us to do her dirty work for her."

"What do you suppose it is?" Ve asked.

"I don't know, but I do have some vague idea." Vili told his brother. "But for now we have to get Hella. The Bifrost to this place is shut down. There is no place for that woman to run to."

"She's Loki's daughter and he didn't need a Bifrost to get around," Ve reminded his brother and then a lightbulb went off in Vili's head.

"Brother, go grab me a map of this realm. I might know where she is heading towards." Vili stated as a smirk crossed his features.

Back on Asgard we find Hiccup knocking on Snotlout's door. "So how are you going to do this?" Toothless, who had returned red-faced to the tattoo, asked.

"Just talk I guess," Hiccup shrugged. He hadn't really thought about how this man-to-dragon talk would actually go. The door opened to reveal Snotlout. The shorter man raised a brow and asked "Hiccup what are you doing here?"

"Well,.... Astrid mentioned that there might be something bothering Hookfang." Hiccup said. "For some reason she thinks I might be able to help."

"Well you came at the right time." Snotlout stated. "Mr Mopey over there didn't even light me on fire when I gave him a whole chicken. HE ALWAYS LIGHTS ME ON FIRE!!!"

Hiccup looked into the room as Snotlout let out a distressed mutter. "I have no clue what is going on anymore!"

The Nightmare was in his plushy form and was just nibbling at the chicken instead of devouring it. Hiccup approached calmly and asked "Hookfang is something the matter?"

Hookfang suddenly looked up from what must have been a very deep thought and asked "When did you get here?" Now Hiccup knew something strange was going on. The dragons were always alert.

"Snotlout, Astrid and I are a bit worried about you." Hiccup told the dragon plainly since there was no beating around the bush. Hookfang looked as Snotlout, then at Hiccup, and then at Snotlout again before saying "I'll tell you somewhere private."

Hiccup nodded and the small Monstrous Nightmare flew on his shoulder and settled there. Toothless also popped up and settled on his head. "Dude, any more dragons and you'll be a dragon Christmas tree," Snotlout joked a bit which caused Hiccup to roll his eyes.

"We'll be back later," Hiccup said as he and the small dragons left.

"Where do you want to go?" Hiccup asked Hookfang.

"There is a small courtyard on the floor above." Hookfang told him. Hiccup brought the dragons there, the courtyard was beautiful. It had a large glass dome overhead and Hiccup was sure he heard a waterfall in the distance. It looked more like a tropical forest than a courtyard. Hookfang proceeded to fly off of Hiccup's shoulder and turn big. The large red dragon now curled up on the path while Hiccup took a seat on one of the benches. Toothless was still on his head surveying the whole area.

"This doesn't leave here Hiccup," Hookfang stated. "I don't want Snotlout to know."

"Why? Is it bad?" Hiccup asked curiously.

"No it's not. Quite the opposite actually." Hiccup could have sworn he saw Hookfang blush but with the red scales Hookfang had it was hard to really tell. "It's just........ If Snot knows.... Then he'll just tease me."

"Well, Snotlout does like to tease but I'm sure it's not so bad," Hiccup reasoned.

"Hiccup, I think I'm in love!" Hookfang shouted.

"Oooooh......" Hiccup was surprised as he watched the Monstrous Nightmare hide his face under a wing.

"Who is the lucky dragon that caught your eye?" Hiccup asked.

"Meatlug......" Hookfang mumbled from under his wing.

"And the whole not setting Snotlout on fire thing?" Toothless now asked as the Nightfury's attention turned to the conversation.

"Just me and my stupid nerves," Hookfang grumbled.

"What do you have to be nervous about?" Hiccup asked.

"What if Meatlug doesn't like me back!!" Hookfang nearly shouted. "What if she has eyes on another dragon? SHE'S AN EXPERIENCED LADY!! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DATE!! I'M STILL A VIRGIN!!"

Both Hiccup and Toothless coughed at that last bit of information. "Oooookayyyyy......" Hiccup said. "Toothless, want to help him get the girl?"

"Damn right I do!"

Meanwhile, as Toothless and Hiccup were plotting, Astrid was on the other side of the palace looking for someone. Yet it was someone else that found her.

"Astrid......" Valka asked as she approached the Valkyrie. Astrid stopped and stared. She wondered what Hiccup's mother wanted with her. It was no secret that Valka had misgivings about Hiccup and her becoming a couple. "Could we....... Talk for a minute?"

"Sure thing, Mrs. Haddock," Astrid said wondering what was going on. They stopped near one of the windows that overlooked Asgard but at this moment neither woman was paying much attention to the view.

"Astrid, call me Valka please,"

"I....eh..... " Astrid didn't know what to say. Valka had never been this pleasant with her before. Usually on their journey it was more of a glare that was shot her way by the woman.

"I know that in the past I made my displeasure known," Valka started jostling Astrid out of her thoughts. "I just want to say, I'm sorry and I apologize."

"Wha-" Astrid snapped her mouth shut as she looked at the other woman.

"I'm sorry Astrid. I shouldn't have treated you like that. You deserved better," Valka apologize. "I thought I knew what was best for my son but the truth is..... He's been so happy with you. You make him happy." She then gave a small smile. "I know that you probably don't believe me, but could we maybe........ Start over?"

"Valka...... I understand why you would worry." Astrid said. "After all, I'm a lot older than him." And theoretically Astrid was quite a few centuries older even if she looked in her early twenties.

"My son's happiness is what I care about, and right now that is you." Valka stated which caused Astrid to blush slightly. "Any person who says otherwise will face my wrath!" That sentence caused Astrid to giggle.

"Would you like to borrow my axe?" Astrid asked as she and Valka began walking down the corridor again.

"Don't worry. I have a pot," Valka smiled. "And if that doesn't work I'll bring out the slipper." This sent Astrid into a fit of laughter as both women neared the library. They were almost there when they heard a loud crash followed by someone shouting "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BOOK SYSTEM?!!!"

The two women could see three guards holding back a nearly feral Sigyn while the forth held her warhammer several paces out of her reach. Upon looking further they saw Eret cowering and using a large tome as a shield on the other side.

"I'm afraid to ask," Valka muttered as the women looked on at the scene.