Howdy folks, Old Man Jenkins here once more with the REAL final chapter. Marty said in his last e-mail (I'm still not used to all this modern computer stuff) that I should thank you all for taking the time to read his stories and for all your kind words. He says that he has taken a 'Lap Top' with him while he is travelling (I assume that is some kind of spinning toy from Lapland) so he will keep writing and will start posting a new tale of love, grief, friendship and dragons as soon as he caught a cat.

This last chapter takes place a year later and a few months after the next two stories, but Marty wanted to give a little teaser

I told him that there was a cat here last night, but he said that he was looking for a very special cat. The one I saw was riding on a heavily armed flying sled and could talk (much better than that mumbling dog that put me in prison) so I can't help but wonder; how special a cat does he want?

Well, bye for now and watch out for meddling kids in a brightly painted van.

OMJ.

Epilogue

"Is everything in order for next week's visit to Staggshund Godfred?"

"All preparations are on schedule at the moment my dear brother, and we've even received a message from Berk that the famous Mulch will be accompanying Chief Stoick."

"Brilliant; so at last after all this time, I will finally get to officially meet the man who knocked me out cold back when I was only a Ship's Captain."

"I understand he even plans to make a gift of the offending hammer" Sigfus informed King Joric.

"Well that should give everyone a laugh" the King smirked "any word from the Queen yet?"

"I understand she has arrived back from Port Yoric and will be with us as soon as she has read all the messages that arrived in her absence, and dealt with anything of urgency" Kylan revealed.

"Good; how about the rumours of an incursion from over the Mandorian border?"

"Very minor Your Highness" Boron leaned forward and spoke "but our forces have caught three spies from Mandoria who were sent here to discover if the rumours were true about Elydonia having an army of Dragon Riders at its command."

"Well that's an old rumour" the King snorted "there hasn't been a Berkian Dragon Rider in Elydonia for over eight months."

"But they will be back for a visit in several days, so perhaps we should increase the border patrols immediately" Kylan suggested.

"I agree with Kylan Your Majesty" Sigfus nodded "it would most wise to do so until the Dragon Riders have departed once more."

"Understood and so ordered" Joric nodded "Call back as many soldiers as needed from leave for Special Border Duty, as well as making use of the palace guard. We won't need them all when the Berkians are here; an army couldn't get past them and their dragons."

The door to the library from the Kings rooms opened with a slight creak.

"Good evening my dear" Joric greeted his wife as she entered the room.

"Hello boys, hello Kylan" the Queen acknowledged everyone with a smile.

They all rose to their feet and bowed "Your Majesty."

"How is everything down in Port Yoric; was it a pleasant and successful trip?" Lord Boron asked.

"Oh yes; there are only a few delays with the new deck design, but the ship will be ready to present to your friend Stoick when he arrives" the Queen informed them as she sat down in the Kings lap.

"Thank goodness" Joric sighed "I was hoping all would go smoothly after what happened to the last ship I gave him."

"I wouldn't worry Sire; Stoick knows what was done, had to be done" Kylan noted.

"I know that you all have much more to go over, but I'm afraid I will have to be very selfish and demand it must all wait until tomorrow. I've been away for four days so the King and I have some catching up to do" the Queen hinted.

"As you wish Ma-am" Sigfus smiled as they all rose again and filed out of the library closing the door gently behind them."

"I'm so glad you're back" Joric kissed his wife "it's difficult getting everything done around here without your help."

"Oh... is that the only reason you keep me around then; for my organisational skills?"

"Oh yes" he smirked "that was the only reason I married you. Your beauty, your style and your gorgeous figure had nothing to do with it whatsoever."

"Liar" she smirked as she tweaked his nose.

"You're really looking forward to seeing Chief Stoick again aren't you?" the Queen asked as she stood and walked to the door with the Kings hand in hers.

"Oh yes" her husband replied "When it comes to ruling the people of Elydonia, I've learnt a lot from him; he's a good man, a good ally and a very good friend and I've missed him since he and his people left last summer."

They slowly walked past the reception hall and into the royal bedroom just enjoying each other's company. The Queen seemed slightly different somehow but Joric could not quite put his finger on it. A few days apart can often cause little changes in people and so the King put it all down to her absence, and his longing to see her again.

"It will be interesting to see who Stoick brings with him when he arrives" Joric noted as he got ready for bed.

"Yes indeed" the Queen replied as she turned down the covers "and you will have the pleasure of telling them all the good news."

"What good news? If you mean about the ship..."

"No silly, not the ship; I mean the Good news."

"The memorial at Staggshund?" Joric was really very confused.

"No... The Good News" the Queen talked slowly, but he still looked confused "about the Royal Line."

"The Royal Line? What are you..." Joric stopped suddenly as his mouth dropped open so wide, his chin almost touched the floor.

"huh" he squeaked "are you saying..."

"Yes... I am."

"You mean you're..."

"Uh-huh" she nodded.

Jorics legs failed him and he dropped down onto his bottom with a distinct thump.

"I'm gonna have a baby" he gasped.

"Yes you are" the Queen laughed "but don't worry, I'll help."

"A little Princess" he sighed.

"Or Prince" his wife pointed out "I can't guarantee which."

Joric picked himself up off the floor, crawled across the blankets and pulled the Queen back onto the bed. They rolled around, back and forth in each other's arms giggling and squealing for a few minutes until they were both breathless from laughing so much. As Joric fell back on the pillows, the Queen lay down at his side with her head on his chest just listening to the sound of his heart.

"I must remember to send Nainn a thank you note" Joric sighed.

"What... why? It's definitely yours."

"No..." Joric laughed "if Nainn had not been so stupid back when he was the prince, I would still be sailing around in the smallest ship in the navy, and I would not be the King of Elydonia with a wonderful wife and a little princess on the way."

"I never thought of it that way before" she nodded "maybe you should let him out of prison."

"I wouldn't go that far" he sneered "a thank you note will be enough."

Joric got up and extinguished the candles before returning to his wife.

"I don't think I'm gonna be able to sleep much tonight" he smiled in the dark.

"Well you'd better try because you're not gonna get much rest when the baby arrives."

"It'll be worth it... I'm sure of that" he leant over and kissed his wife "I love you... very much."

"Yes you do" she replied and kissed him back.

"Goodnight Joric" she whispered.

"Goodnight Sigrid."