Httyd: The Untamed (Remastered)

Chapter 31: Arendale ll



After the talk, I transformed and grabbed them, then flew back to the kingdom. The flight back was only a few hours, though Anna talked a lot for apparently no reason. She was getting on my nerves.

"Hey Erik?" Diastasi called.

"What is it?" I replied, a hint of weariness in my voice from Anna's incessant chatter.

"Since you're technically king now, are you gonna change your outfit?" she asked.

"What? Why would I do such a thing?" I answered, genuinely perplexed.

"You know, to look more presentable," she said, her tone almost whimsical.

"I'm a Viking, a warrior. What kind of presentable could you possibly mean?" I asked, thinking of my practical, battle-hardened attire.

"You know, like those Prince Charmings from the fairy tales," she said excitedly.

"I'm not a prince, and I wouldn't wear such clothing… it looks uncomfortable," I replied, picturing ruffled shirts and impractical capes.

"But wouldn't you want to show your new subjects that you're not barbaric and that you are civilized?" she pressed.

"Civilized? I'm more civilized than these buffoons that have a stick up their ass," I replied, a sneer touching my lips as I thought of Hans and his cronies.

"You don't have to say it like that," she muttered.

"Am I wrong?" I replied, challenging her.

"Well—"

"Exactly," I said, cutting her off before she could formulate an argument.

I focused back on flying toward Arendelle, occasionally taking a few glances at the vast, snow-covered landscape below. I made a mental note to explore some of these untouched places later.

"Sir Erik, if I may ask, what do you plan to do with Arendelle?" Elsa asked, her voice quiet.

I didn't look at her, my gaze fixed on the horizon. "Arendelle is of no use to me, but you on the other hand are a different story," I replied.

She paused, then became visibly flustered.

"Since you've become the new king, do you plan to wed my sister to solidify power?" Anna piped up, her usual directness returning.

"No. My power is enough to make them fear; there is no need for such things. I myself already have a fiancée," I replied.

"What! You have a fiancée? Then why were you flirting with my sister?" she shouted, a mix of indignation and genuine confusion in her voice.

"Flirting? I did no such thing," I answered, genuinely perplexed by her accusation.

"Yes, you did! You stated yourself king and called my sister the queen!" she shot back, pointing accusingly at Elsa.

My eyes widened. Right. That. It was a simple statement of fact in my mind, a declaration of the new hierarchy, but I could see how it might be misinterpreted by someone from this overly dramatic world. "It was… a miscommunication," I said, a rare note of awkwardness in my voice.

After a few hours, we reached Arendelle. I noticed the ice and snow storm was gone, a clear sign that Elsa had probably accepted everything and was no longer haunted by her trauma. The kingdom doors opened as we walked in. Viggo, Nala, and Alvin greeted me. I nodded as Viggo explained the situation.

"My lord," Viggo began, bowing deeply. "All the corrupt nobles and criminals who had hidden in the dark are currently being held in the city square. They are awaiting your further commands."

I nodded and headed in that direction. As I walked, the people made way, their faces a mixture of fear and bewildered curiosity. They followed behind, a silent procession all heading towards the same destination. Upon reaching the square, I surveyed the cowering figures.

"Hear me, people of Arendelle!" I boomed, my voice carrying across the square. "These individuals, once holding positions of trust, have betrayed you. They have engaged in illegal and disgusting acts, exploiting your kingdom for their own gain. Under my new rule, such corruption will not stand. All corrupt nobles and criminals in this square will be executed!"

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Eyes widened in horror. Only my soldiers and commanders remained impassive, immune to such displays. I then walked towards a prepared seat and sat down as, one by one, they were executed. The sounds of struggle and swift, decisive actions filled the air, each one met with the horrified gasps of the onlookers.

Eventually, a familiar figure was next: Hans, the proclaimed prince of the Southern Isles. My eyes didn't move from him, but I sensed the intense tension radiating from Anna, though she remained frozen, watching. As he was being dragged forward, Hans began screaming obscenities, his voice hoarse with desperation and rage.

"You barbarian! I am a prince of a distant kingdom! If the Southern Isles hears of this, there will be war! You cannot do this!" he shrieked, struggling against my soldiers.

I ignored him, though the civilians, the Queen, and the Princess all seemed visibly tense, flinching with each word. All was silenced when Dagur, one of my most ruthless commanders, simply cut off his head, a swift and brutal end to his tirade. A choked cry escaped Anna's lips, and Elsa placed a comforting hand on her arm, her own face pale. The silence that fell after was absolute, punctuated only by the distant murmurs of my soldiers restoring order.

After the executions, everything became significantly easier. My assassins, true to their abilities, swiftly located the remaining corrupt nobles and criminals who had managed to hide until then. One by one, they were found guilty and executed, leaving no trace of the rot that had festered within Arendelle.

With the kingdom purged, I shifted my focus to the welfare of its people. Since Arendelle was a port city, my Bewilderbeast was always nearby. I commanded him to fish, and soon, thousands of fish landed on the docks, an overflowing bounty from the sea. The people, initially hesitant, soon flocked to the port, taking what they needed before returning to their homes, a sense of relief palpable in their movements.

During this, I noticed something peculiar. Elsa seemed extremely interested in the massive dragon, and, to my surprise, the Bewilderbeast reciprocated that interest, its ancient eyes fixed on her with a rare curiosity. It was an unexpected connection, one I hadn't anticipated. I contemplated this development and decided to capitalize on it. They would make a formidable team.

Of course, when Anna heard of this, she immediately demanded a dragon of her own. I ignored her, turning my attention back to my duties. There were still many aspects of Arendelle to consolidate, and her frivolous desires were hardly a priority.

That night, I was deep into paperwork, my desk laden with reports on Arendelle's infrastructure and resource management. The quiet drone of the quill on parchment was the only sound for hours until a soft knock interrupted my focus.

"Come in," I rumbled, not looking up immediately.

The door opened, and a moment later, I sensed her presence. It was Elsa. She moved with a newfound grace, less guarded than before. She sat in the chair opposite my desk, a quiet observer. I continued writing for a moment, then set my quill down, meeting her gaze.

"Sir Erik," she began, her voice calm, "I... I have many questions. About your ambitions. About what you plan for Arendelle, and for... for the world."

I leaned back, considering her. This wasn't a challenge; it was genuine curiosity, perhaps even a nascent desire to understand the force that had so abruptly reshaped her life. This was a crucial step in cementing her as an asset.

"Ask away, Queen Elsa," I replied, my tone surprisingly even. "I have no secrets about my intentions."

And so, we talked. For hours, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows, she questioned, and I answered. She asked about my past, my origins, though I kept details of the System vague. She wanted to know why I sought to expand my influence, why I conquered kingdoms.

"This world, as you know it, is fragmented, weak," I explained, gesturing vaguely. "Constantly susceptible to internal decay and external threats. My ambition is to forge a unified empire, strong enough to withstand any challenge, to bring true order and prosperity where chaos once reigned."

"But at what cost?" she pressed, her blue eyes intense. "Must it always be through force? Through... execution?"

"Conflict is inevitable when old ways clash with new. Corruption, like a disease, must be surgically removed for the body to heal," I stated, my gaze firm. "The cost of inaction is far greater: starvation, strife, continued manipulation by those who would seek to undermine everything. My methods are harsh, but they are effective. They ensure a future for the people that was otherwise unattainable."

She listened, absorbing my words, her brow furrowed in thought. She inquired about my "fiancée," and I spoke briefly of Merida, of my ultimate goal to revive her, a powerful, personal ambition intertwined with my grander designs. I spoke of the strength I sought, the legends I wished to surpass, the very fabric of power I aimed to redefine.

"So, your dream," she summarized eventually, her voice soft but clear, "is to create an unbreakable empire, guided by your will, where order reigns supreme, and you are... its absolute core."

"Precisely," I affirmed, a rare, almost imperceptible smile touching my lips. "An empire built on strength, foresight, and unyielding resolve. Where individuals like yourself, with immense, untapped potential, can truly flourish, not be feared or isolated."

She was silent for a long moment, looking not at me, but through the wall of the castle, out into the night sky. The conversation had been long, arduous, but it felt... productive. An understanding, however reluctant, seemed to have begun.

I decided to stay in Arendelle for a few weeks to stabilize the burgeoning empire. During that time, Diastasi was a constant presence, nagging me about wearing the clothing she had apparently designed. Each time, I denied her, finding the idea of such finery unnecessary and impractical.

"Just try it on, Erik! Please?" she'd plead, her voice annoyingly persistent. "It's perfect for a ruler of your stature!"

"I am a warlord, not a peacock," I'd retort, dismissing her.

This went on for days, until, in a moment of exasperation on my part, she offered a tempting bribe. "If you wear it, just once, I'll answer any one question you have. No evasions, no half-truths."

I didn't even need to think. The information I could gain from her, free from her usual cryptic responses, was invaluable. "Agreed," I stated, the word sharp and immediate.

The next morning, true to my word, I found myself clad in a sumptuous imperial robe. It was a rich, deep hue – a midnight blue, perhaps, or a regal burgundy – consistently featuring elaborate gold embroidery and luxurious trims. A grand, flowing cape, with a high, standing collar, added to my commanding silhouette. Beyond the main garments, gold accents and intricate details were prominent, seen in my jewelry, a heavy, ornate belt, and the very fabric of my attire, all contributing to an overall impression of unparalleled wealth, power, and regal elegance. It looked, as I silently admitted, a little too much. But for the information I would gain, this was nothing.

As I walked through the castle halls, all eyes gawked at my appearance. Servants dropped trays, guards stiffened in disbelief, and even my seasoned generals looked surprised, especially Alvin. He probably couldn't believe that the son of Stoic the Vast, a man he likely envisioned as pure muscle crushing boulders with his forehead for fun, would ever deign to wear such finery. The whispers followed me like a shadow, a mix of awe and outright shock.

When Elsa saw me, her eyes widened in surprise, a faint blush touching her cheeks. "Sir Erik," she began, her voice soft, "you... you look truly magnificent. It suits you."

I offered a curt nod, accepting the rare compliment. "Thank you. Now, follow me. We still have your magic to discuss."

Note: hey guys so i want to know ur thoughts. what question should he ask. and do yall want this to be a harem or nah im a put a comment up for yes and no. if you want like the yes if you dont like the no. btw who ever commented the pendant protection rune or whatever i cant remember im taking that.


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