A/N – I started this story on a whim, then I drastically changed the story, but I posted this bit on tumblr. I hated to delete it. Then, because of the great response to his story, I decided that the two stories were different enough I could write them both. So, here we are. Again. A new story, a new AU. Can you smell the excitement? I can.

Hiccstrid Royal/Knight AU. Enjoy.

X

Chapter 1

"Rise and shine, Ma'am," came the sultry voice of Lady Heather, mimicking the foreign accent of the regular servant.

Heather yanked back the thick curtains of the bed. Bright, invasive morning flooded into the sanctuary of the bed. Astrid didn't jump or stir; she'd woken up before Heather had entered the room.

"Seriously, it's morning," Heather said. "Quite a late start for a princess. Are you feeling alright?"

"Of course," Astrid said. She rolled onto her back. Heather stood at the bedside, hands on her hips, radiant in green and silver. Her dark hair had been tied back into an elaborate braid. Astrid swiveled her head on her own hair, a mess between her and the pillow. "I'm not looking forward to today. That's all."

Heather harrumphed. "What's not to look forward to? Young men in armor, beating each other up…it sounds great."

Astrid pulled herself from the pillow and pushed the plushy blankets down. Might as well get it over with. "Fine. Where's Helga?"

"Oh, she's helping your mother with something. I didn't ask questions, so don't ask me what they're doing," Heather said, waving her hand dismissively. "The point is that I've been given the task of getting you up and dressed and presentable for the ceremony. So, let's go, Princess, you've got a bad case of bed-head."

Heather picked a strand of yellow hair from Astrid's head and flicked it aside. She laughed.

Astrid stood and stretched her hands to the tall ceiling dappled with sunlight. The stained glass in the topmost pane of the window shone red and yellow on the shined, white-painted panels. After a bath, Heather helped Astrid to towel-dry her hair, oil it into submission, and braid it as carefully as if it were threaded gold.

She dressed in a red and gold gown, and Heather tied it. Astrid lifted the golden crown from its polished wooden box, and placed it on her head; by sacred law, Heather's hands were not allowed to touch it. Only a sanctified or royal hand could touch the crown.

Three guards, all in Berk's shined silver suits, waited on the other side of Astrid's wide bedroom door. At once they all took a knee, right hand on their left breast, over the heart.

"Princess," they spoke together, words muffled by their metal helmets, which bore the crest of Berk, a winding dragon curved around a pointed sword.

The three guardsmen walked alongside Astrid, metal plates clicking together as they stepped. Heather walked beside her. The entire palace seemed to buzz, silently, as if too much noise might wake the portraits. They hung on nearly every wall, of stern-looking dignitaries, respected politicians, magistrates, royals, and honored civilians. In the west wing, a painting of a popular magician hung.

The guards escorted Astrid and Heather to the main dining hall. The room could seat as many as fifty people at its long table, but typically sat less than ten.

Astrid's father, King Arvid, sat at the head of the table. His pointed crown shone in the light that flickered from the hundreds of candles above. Queen Lenora sat to his right, a beauty in gold. Astrid's younger brother of fifteen, Prince Tegard, sat to their father's right. He need a haircut. Astrid sat to her mother's left, across from her brother.

"About time," King Arvid said. "I was beginning to think you weren't waking up."

"And miss the induction?" Astrid said with mock enthusiasm. "I would never."

"Oh, darling, stop that," said her mother. "No one likes a smart tongue."

The doors leading into the kitchens opened, and a small army of white-clad servants carried covered silver platters to the table. A platter set in front of each of them, and the lids were lifted in learned unison. Each plate had been made to the eater's preference. Astrid's plate held eggs, peppercorn sausage, and a thick slice of pan-fried toast.

"Eat up," King Arvid warned. "Today will be a long day."

Tegard stuffed a sausage into his mouth. "Why do I have to sit through the ceremony?"

"You're the prince," King Arvid said, as though he and his son had had this conversation many times before. "It is your duty."

"Not really," Tegard said. He took a bite of eggs and swallowed without chewing. "I don't control the Royal Knights. That's your job. When it's not your job anymore it'll be Astrid's job."

"That's no way to look at things," Queen Lenora said. "What if something happened? What if Astrid got sick? What if she has no children? You'd be second in line for the throne, Tegard. You've responsibilities."

Tegard sighed. He continued to eat without arguing further.

Astrid pushed her eggs around on the plate. When it wasn't her father's job, it would be her job. As heir to the throne, all royal duties would pass to her, regardless of marriage, because her blood held the royalty; she would be the true royal, whereas her husband would be royal by marriage.

After the meal, King Arvid and Queen Lenora led the way through the antechamber and into the main hall, where a crowd of Knights, guardsmen, magistrates, and other important leaders had gathered to watch the induction ceremony of the new squires. The ceremony took place once every five years, and gave the kingdom something to celebrate.

The crowd silenced at the horn which announced King Arvid's arrival. All stood. Astrid did as she had always done, and stepped in line after her parents. They stood in front of the grand line of thrones, her father's the grandest, with the great hall before them. Hundreds, possibly thousands of candles burned on the chandeliers above them, suspended by shined silver chains. Sunlight blazed in through the tall windows.

The air stilled, as if a collective breath had been held.

King Arvid held up his hands to the room, and spoke in a booming voice. "Today we welcome these fine young men into the royal order, as squires. Today we recognize these young men for their valor, for each has proved himself in the trials in order to stand where he stands today."

Twenty or so young men stood in a line in the middle of the floor. No women, Astrid noted. Knight Farley, the only female Knight, stood with an impassive expression on the floor. It had not yet been a week since she and Astrid had talked of more women in the order.

Stoick the Vast, a grand Knight in his youth, led the order. He stood in his shined armor, a head taller than most other men. An intense, but weary expression had replaced his usual cheerful demeanor. He held his gaze on the group of young squires as if he suspected one of them of treason.

Some of the young men looked as young as thirteen. Most looked to be in their twenties. One man looked to have gray in his brown hair.

"Today we welcome these young men as allies, friends, and fellows into these grounds, so that they may learn what it is to be a Knight, what it means to vow their lives, and the dedication, determination, and perseverance it requires," King Arvid said. While he spoke, no one in the room so much as uttered a word.

Astrid caught the gaze of a stocky young man. His black hair had been combed straight back. He winked.

She tightened her fingers into her fists, fighting to maintain her passive expression. Such nerve. If she could participate, she would knock his teeth out.

"Let the induction ceremony begin," King Arvid said.

A horn blew through the hall, sounding the start, and King Arvid sat. Astrid sat down beside her mother, grateful that her brother sat on the other side of their father. He'd been complaining for weeks how he should be allowed in the order; he'd been training since he could walk. According to King Arvid, he wasn't old enough. Astrid understood what he meant, whereas Tegard didn't. Tegard wasn't mature enough.

The first young man stepped up to the throne. He placed his hand over his heart, and bent onto one knee. He said, "Roger Ogler, of Rachel and Samson Ogler."

"Rise Squire Ogler," King Arvid said. "May the gods watch over you."

Rightly named by the king, the newly titled squire rose, bowed again, and walked to the side of the group. The next stepped up, repeated, and after the king bestowed the title of 'squire,' he stepped aside.

A tall, wiry young man with braided blond hair stepped onto the platform. He bowed. "Tuffnut Thorston, of Mr. and Mrs. Thorston."

King Arvid hesitated, and glanced at Stoick, who shrugged. King Arvid trusted Stoick's judgment, and knew that he wouldn't let just anyone into the ranks.

"Rise, Squire Thorston. May the gods watch over you."

Tuffnut stood, and joined the others.

The next in the line made Astrid blink; he could have been Tuffnut's twin. He, too, had long blond hair tied into braids.

"Ruffnut Thorston, of Mr. and Mrs. Thorston."

Twin sister. Astrid glanced between the two, definitely twins. Knight Farley, despite the rules of Knight's impassivity, grinned. Whispers went around the entire room as the sudden news spread.

"Good," Queen Lenora said under her breath to Astrid. "The order could use more women."

King Arvid cleared his throat. "Rise, Squire Thorston. May the gods be with you."

Squire Ruffnut Thorston walked with pride to the line, and stood beside her brother with a grin. Many people in the room stared at her, but it didn't seem to bother her at all.

"Did they know that she was a woman?" Astrid asked her mother.

She smiled faintly. "I doubt it. Several of the young men look surprised. Probably shouldn't let those into the order. They're not very perceptive."

The stocky young man pushed several others out of his way to the front. He bowed deeply, then took his knee. "Snotlout Jorgenson, of Spitelout and Bertha Jorgenson."

"Oh," Queen Lenora murmured. "It doesn't need any more Jorgensons."

"Is that Stoick's brother?"

"Brother-in-law, he'd quickly correct you," Queen Lenore whispered. "Hates whole lot of them."

"Rise, Squire Jorgenson," King Arvid said with strain. "May the gods be with you."

Snotlout's gaze lingered on Astrid, and she narrowed her eyes at him. He joined the others.

One of the young men that Snotlout shoved stepped up. Stoick watched his every move. Tall, thin, with soft green eyes, the young man didn't look like a knight. He looked like someone to be found in a library.

"Hiccup Haddock, of Stoick and Valka Haddock," the young man said.

A hum went through the room. Many eyes cast toward Stoick, who kept his eyes pinned on the young man. King Arvid leaned forward, hand on his knee. Hiccup Haddock paled, and held his gaze on the floor, as the others did before their name was called.

"Is that so?" King Arvid asked, smirking. "Well done. Rise, Squire Haddock. May the gods be with you."

Hiccup stood, and bowed toward the king. He walked to the line of squires, past his father, who made no move to congratulate him.

"That is Stoick's son?" Astrid asked. "Stoick is huge and Hiccup is so…small."

Queen Lenora spoke lowly, "That's what 'Hiccup' means. He's a runt."

"That's a cruel name."

"I didn't name him."

Astrid looked toward Stoick, who followed his son to the line of squires.

It seemed as though several others in the hall thought the same thing, for many still whispered and looked toward the squires. Hiccup, unlike Ruffnut, kept his eyes on the floor.

Queen Lenora whispered, "I've heard he's a bit…clumsy. An embarrassment to his father."

"And he wants to be a knight?"

Queen Lenora smiled. "It would seem so."

Astrid ignored the large blond boy that stepped to the platform. Hiccup kept his gaze at the floor. Stoick didn't acknowledge him.

Stoick had always been a figure in her life. He'd been the symbol of protection. The Knights protected the palace and the royal family. They trained in combat, how to spot predators and threats, and how to stop them without a mess or trouble. Often she would not know about a threat until after the fact; Stoick and his Knights had reacted so swiftly, so quickly, as to stop it before it happened.

She'd always admired Stoick, but she never considered what it would be like to have such a man as a father.

Hiccup glanced up, and for a moment his gaze flickered in Astrid's direction. Their eyes met; Hiccup blinked, but Astrid held her gaze. He stiffened, and his slightly slouched shoulders popped into perfect posture. He looked forward. He blinked, and gazed back to Astrid, who hadn't turned her eyes off him.

There was something about Hiccup Haddock. He was not like the others. Different, but not wrongly so.

She held her stare until her father stood. She stood, too.

"That concludes the induction ceremony," King Arvid said. "Would the squires please make their way outside into the courtyard. There are vows that must be taken."

The Knights led the quires into the courtyard outside. Palace walls surrounded the courtyard on three sides. The fourth side led into a flowery atrium.

The new squires stood in lines, and recited the rite as Stoick read it to them, "I, as a squire, take responsibility for becoming a Knight of the Royal Order. I will not compromise my duties to the crown. I will protect. I will serve. I will obey. I will learn. I will become a knight."

Astrid watched this from a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Twice she caught Hiccup Haddock's glance, although she looked at him more often.

Stoick led his squires to their quarters, a quiet corridor underneath the east wing, where the Knights lived. They matched out in their rows.

"Interesting bunch," King Arvid said. "How many do you think will drop out in the first week?"

"At least three," Queen Lenora said.

"Last time seven of them dropped out," King Arvid said with a sigh.

"I bet Hiccup Haddock will drop out," Prince Tegard jeered. He bent his elbow into Astrid's side. "He's too busy making googly eyes."

"Shut it." Astrid grabbed his wrist and bent his arm back.

Tegard cried out, and Astrid bent his arm harder.

"Astrid," King Arvid said. "Don't break your brother's arm."

Astrid let go. Tegard glared, rubbing his arm.