Hiccup's reasoning until he decides to be Eret's squire is one of my favorite part here.
-He did not expect her to steal his heart in only a few hoursBut maybe she was the sign after allAnd if he could reclaim his birthright-
this third quote makes me wonder if that's still possible with what we're know now. would Hiccup even WANT that?

IT'S ALL THERE! -In another life, he might have stood beside his cousin right now, proudly wearing a similar outfit- Standing beside his as in being the same, two ducal heirs. This story keeps blowing my mind!

Astrid's and Daniel's dynamic is one of the best things in this story! Siblings, always teasing but still loving each other and fiercely protective. Daniel is one of my favorite characters here and favorite OC in general.

And all the talking about Eret marrying Astrid!

I can only laugh at Hiccup's insecurity tho. No, you dumbass, she's not ignorant of you! poor boy.

-And for everything else- ICONIC!

Hmm that's an interesting possible solution Astrid thought of. I didn't think of her faking her death but it kinda does solve their problems. I just don't see anyone helping her accomplish it

"Her first real kiss had gone to Eret as part of an experiment" there it is again, so much placing ahead I love it!
Reading about her swans hurts just like Markor.
Tuffnut being the fashion expert is so funny. Astrid and Ruffnut can arrange all they want, he says if it's good enough.
Astrid not being allowed to speak up is really telling about her life and worth. She's just an object.
I love all the hints at Eret and his love life.
I understand why Astrid shys away from the image of the hanging men. your foreshadowing in all of this is amazing.

oh wow! this is NOT how i saw this coming!

great backstory for this AUs Hiccup. the legends referencing the actuall HTTyD storyline is a great creative touch. And sonething you said in this chapter makes me wonder if his whole family died in that fire.

But if Toothless is the brother, is there even going to be a dragon for Hiccup to ride? Or will he name the dragon for his brother?

Also, if you have him find his faithful friend, how are you going to incorporate the damaged tailfin into this? or will you?

I still think a living dragon would make more of an impact than a dragon's head

so awesome! but now i have to wait! ugh! please update soon, enjoy your family, stay safe and have a good day!

oh man! that was a much better twist then what i staryed to suspect!

picture this: Hiccup gets to spend a full night with Astrid immediately after several things happen in quick succession. 1) Eret has a full and complete attempt on his life. 2) Eret is moved to new quarters after very public outcry [yes, i kniw the twins started the rumors, but thar doesn't keep interested parties from taking advantage]. 3) a bunch of pieces fell into place in my head. Thuggory's confidence, the unexpected option of ravenledge, Eret and Dagur's relationship becoming public-ish and the increased ire directed toward Eret.

I seriously thought you might have someone assassinate Eret! And with Hiccup not present to protect him and with no alibi for how he was survived, but his master didn't (i.e. "no, you've got it all wrong! I couldn't have killed him! I was in bed with the Princess all night!"), Hiccup would have taken the blame and Astrid would have to use her boon just to save his life!

i'm so glad that didn't happen!
But what now!

Is Hiccup really going to kill a dragon? it would get him in good with the Northern Tribes. he'd finally complete his initiation! But this is Hiccup we're talking about. what if he didn't just bring the head? what if he brought a WHOLE DRAGON to the King (Toothless!)? And not captured and bound, but ridden by a determined and deadly intelligent viking! oh, I want to see THAT happen!

ah, Hell! after all this great encouraging effort, yoi're seriously going to toy with our emotions some more!? you're awesome!

such great drama. i love it.

OMG! that was great! Daniel is snart and seeing him put that all together was awesome. i am definitely rooting for his success! but what vould they do to actually make Hiccup eligible? we know the boon will cone into olay, but how?

and hey, you said thw Hiccup origin story for this AU was coming soon! where's that!? lol

OMG! i felt that this was where you were headed after the chapter title, but that doesn't make the gut punch any easier! Astrid has really had a rotten day and it seems to only be heades in a worse direction. This sure does amp up the tension, though.

And i cannot wait for someone to stretch Thuggory's neck!

i love to see that i am not the only person in here overly critical of his own work. every time you point out that you are not happy with a chapter, i actively look for where your problem could be and i get nothing! your work is far better than you give yourself credit for.

okay, this was great, but something occurred to me about my last comment...

Astrid may not be the reward that will draw out the nobles. True, she is one of the people Daniel would feel he betrayed with WHATEVER they're planning. And Eret has loyalty to both royals, but he's also developed a close connection to Hiccup! and Hiccup's past involves the Tribes and his empty title.

...Is the prize going to have something to do with contrkl of the islands/tribes?

that would be cool.

"Who he should be. What he had and hadn't done." with what the learned in the last chapter, this makes sense now! OMG! Did you really plan that much ahead?
"Could he forget his past, his family, and everything that happened?" YOU DID! Holy shit that amazing, OMG. I didn't know I could like this story even more, wow!
"A bad start if it ended with a fatal accident with some local girl" Oh boy, you have NO idea, hahaha.
"Does your father work here? Your brother?Something like that." I laugh at this every time I read it!
Everything about Markor makes me want to cry now! It's so sweet but sad too.
Cheeky Astrid to talk about the princess as if she doesn't know her, haha. Gets me every time.
Them getting closer is so cute, the touches and then the first kiss. It feels natural also they don't know each other yet. Even Hiccup think about marrying her.
Okay this got really long but it's such a great first chapter!

I don't know how many times I read this story now I love it so much! I even made this account now to follow and I want to leave a comment on every chapter in this reread and will try to say whatever I liked best about the chapter.
In this prologue, I like how well you introduce Daniel and Eret and even Hiccup and Astrid without really mentioning them. Such a good start.

OMG! The intrigue you are weaving is breathtaking! Obviously the prize is going to be Astrid's hand in marriage. And obviously that os going to drive Hiccup into doing sonething crazy and noble. But what happens in between?

man! when you give a trigger warning, you mean it! and let me say, i actually love making characters just to kill them off. there is a certain charm to the process of building a person whose fate is decided and working in how to make your readers hate him/her as passionately as posible before the guillotine drops.

harold was dead the moment he touched the paper!

it is sad, though, for Astrid's great day to be cut off at the knees like this.

this is a very well woven tale! and seeing as how most of your other pieces end at between 10 and 25 chapters, the length of this interests me greatly.

i especially like how you keep teasing important details and plot points throughout the story. it's infuriating and enrapturing all at once. you have me hooked! on to the next chapter.