Hey! I just published this fiction that constitute my expectations for RTTE season 4 in french! So I wanted to propose it in english too! I hope you'll like it! And I hope my english is not so bad! x)
Part one
Fear.
That was the only word that came to Hiccup's mind at this precise moment. The queen of the defenders of the wing was literally putting a knife under his throat by threatening to shoot him, right now, in the view of his friends. They had tried very hard to reason her but Mala was stubborn, she was never listening to what the others had to say and at a lesser skid from her guests, she was taking the opportunity to distort their statements. No need you to tell you that Hiccup Haddock the third was in a very bad posture towards this queen of manipulation.
At the time the queen put her sword back in order to aim better the young man's neck, he closed his eyes, waiting for his sentence, terrified. A scream resounded, Astrid's one that chanted the name of the boy, as she pushed him down. They founded themselves ashore on top of each other in front of a Mala who had missed a shot and who stared at them. Hiccup turned towards his savior, realizing barely what had just occurred, and she raised him, leading him with her, shouting "Run!". He didn't wait too much time before start to run, hand in hand with Astrid. The twins, understanding the message –for once–, rushed in order to escape the guards and recover their dragons. They hiss them and Toothless, Stormfly and all other dragons came in time. The defenders of the wing didn't had the time to say any words before all the dragon riders were high in the sky.
– That's far from over Hiccup Haddock, I will find you and I will kill you with my own hands! I swear! Mala shouted nevertheless.
Hiccup turned his head for the last time towards the isle that became more and more little as they moved away from it. Then, he turned his head towards Astrid, approaching her to fly at her level.
– Astrid… he began.
– Yes?
– Thanks.
She smiled at him warmly. He smiled back at her but he changed the expression of his face when he noticed that blood was flowing from the top of his interlocutor's ear.
– But… You bleed! Hiccup called out.
Astrid touched briefly her ear with fingertips, then she rubbed the blood imbued in her fingers, looking up to the young boy.
– Oh this… That's nothing.
So he stood in front of her with Toothless.
– No Astrid, that's not anything! You could have been killed!
– She was going to slice your throat! she raised.
– It could have been you! he lost one's temper.
– But that did not occur.
– Why Astrid? You knew the risks so why did you save me?
The young woman hesitated a moment. That was not the first time that she was saving Hiccup from a sure death. They were frequently saving each other. So why was it different? The young man seemed to look forward another answer.
– Let say that it was worth it, she finally replied.
Hiccup looked at her, perplexed. He was going to say something when Snotlout intervened.
– I don't want to annoy you but is there someone who has a plan?
Everyone looked at themselves, puzzled.
– Let say that the situation is quite sensitive now that we fled… interfered Fishlegs.
Hiccup scratched his chin, thoughtful.
– You're right Fishlegs but we can't abandon them like that, we have to help them to bring back the Eruptodon.
Astrid's head turned suddenly in the direction of the young man.
– You're not serious? They tried to kill us! And you, you want to help them?
– Astrid, if we do nothing, it's their entire isle that's in danger!
– He's right Astrid, we can't let them like that. Moreover, hopefully, their queen will be grateful to us from saving her people, Heather remarked.
The young girl's gaze moved from her best friend to her best friend succesively. She grumbled.
– I can't believe it… You still think that we can be allied with this people?!
– Well, that is, that…
– Yes, the auburn girl agreed in crossing her arms.
So the blond breathe a long sigh of exasperation.
– Alright! Go find this Eruptodon!
– Ok but where? Viggo can be anywhere now! Fishlegs exclaimed.
Hiccup looked at his friend with a wry smile.
– In fact, not exactly. He couldn't have go so far and he went necessarily across the limit of the archipelago, where we weren't suppose to go.
– In addition, I seem to recall that Johann told us that he was going to one of his dragons' trade, Heather added.
– Yes, I remember it! It was Pödje's trade, isn't it? Fishlegs raised.
– That's it! Good game Fishlegs, Heather said to the interested.
They looked at the other, amorously.
– In that case, that's where we go, Hiccup declared
They took off at a furious pace in the direction of Pödje towards the limit that was forbidden to us. During the journey, Tuffnut could not keep himself from harass the others with his meaningless questions.
– No but am I the only one to wonder what we will do with this Eruptodon when we have found him? he asked.
– Well, I think we will bring him back to Mala… to save her isle… Hiccup answered, a bit disappointed by the twin's intervention.
However, the response gived by the young man didn't seem to satisfy the young Thorston. Quite the contrary, he insisted.
– But why do we do that? That's true, I love blasts normally, fights, all that but for this, in what it will help us that her isle will be saved to this other queen?
The gang looked at each others in the eyes, not understanding. Did he do that on purpose? Ruffnut took action in order to face her brother's lack of lucidity.
– Are you idiot or what? We have to be allied with Mala to defeat Viggo! And for that, we need to gain her trust dork!
– Yeah I understand that but if we assumed that…
He didn't have the time to finish his sentence that they arrived above Viggo's float.
– Viggo… Hiccup gasped.
– The Eruptodon! Astrid exclaimed. He's there!
They tried to approach the boats but arrows shot by the dragon hunters' vessels stopped them.
– Ok everybody, we will proceed differently because like that we'll not succed! Let me remind you that we need the Eruptodon alive! Hiccup said.
– How do we do so? They're too numerous! Fishlegs chirped.
– Me and Heather, we will try to approach the Eruptodon while you and Astrid you will keep them at a distance in distracting them with Snotlout and the twins.
– I can go with you if you want to Hiccup, the blond offered.
– No Astrid, you have enough put yourself in danger for today, the young boy replicated.
– What? Are you really serious Hiccup?
– Very serious.
He had pronounced this sentence with a such depht that Astrid didn't dare to respond without complaining. Hiccup spoke again.
– Ok, go.
Heather and him slipped away on the side of the float to avoid being seen by the dragon hunters. The twins asked Barf and Belch for burn down the vessel' sails and Snotlout did the same. Fishlegs and Astrid approached the longboats in order to ignite their docks. This little trick allowed Hiccup and Heather to bond the dragon but when they went down to the boat, it was Viggo who welcomed them.
– So we meet again… he said.
– You…
– I hope you don't believe that I haven't anticipate what you will do Hiccup? Anyway, you should have known since the time…
He approached the young Viking.
– I will always have a head start over you.
At these words, Hiccup clenched the jaw. However, he released it when he saw something come far away.
– That's truer than you know Viggo, Hiccup replicated with a faint smile.
Indeed, Mala and her men were coming plentiful in the direction of the Grimborn's fleet. Viggo turned over in order to contemplate his failure.
– This is far from over! he shouted.
So he commanded his men to certainly not cede and to be ready. Viggo was keeping hope and seeming convinced to win the game, it didn't seem to disturb him at all. Mala not delayed to land on his boats.
– Hoist the colours! the men shouted.
All of her army was offloaded on the vessels. Then, the men engaged the fights. These were hand-to-hand combats, particularly violent and bloody fights. In the middle of these fierce scrambles, two impressive figures faced each other. The queen of the defenders of the wing on one side and on the other, the master of the dragon hunters. Mala and Viggo were staring at one other in silence while moving towards each other. The feminine shape ended by break this noisy hush.
– We came for recover the Great protector, she curtly announced.
Viggo observed her with a vacant air, sardonically smiling.
– That's what we will see…
Mala raced on him in brandishing her saber in his direction. Viggo had a good reply to her attack, he countered it. Then, a fight initiated between the two tribes' chiefs. Heather and Hiccup took advantage of this moment of inattention to attempt to free the Eruptodon. They reached to detach him in defeating the ties that keep him prisoner, thanks to a knife. He took off and levelled off above the boat to spit out lava on top of it. Fortunately, the two young Vikings had flown away just in time to not be reduced to ashes. However, it was not Mala's case who was still fighting against Viggo. This one, seeing his boat get nibbled by the slimy lava as it was gaining ground, shut down the combat that he initiated to care about the only thing that was really accounting for him now; his life. He rushed into the water while the impressive stature of the short hair's woman stayed immobile, petrified by the fear.
– Coward! she shouted to his intent as for calm her growing anxiety.
Hiccup and Toothless was passing by and came down to pick her. He came near to her, a hand extended, convening her to climb on the night fury's back.
– Come Mala, what are you waiting for?
– I already told you, I can't…
Hiccup threw a knowing glance behind his dragon who approached him. He climbed on his back and they took off. Then, she thought that the two friends had literally abandoned her until they reappeared, swooping down towards her. She didn't have the time to realize that Toothless took her by the shoulders with his big paws. The queen of the defenders of the wing emitted a cry of surprise before she regained control of herself when they leaved her on her ship. She sent a grateful smile to them. They returned her their smile and scurried to search the other riders.
– Ok everybody, we're going back, Hiccup threw to his friends' attention, loudly enough to make them understand.
The others agreed and drew up towards Mala's ships. About to cut back, Hiccup was called by a familiar voice.
– We will meet again Hiccup Haddock! Viggo shouted.
The auburn turned his head.
– I have no doubt that we will but in the meantime, about your parenting plan, you can just put it anywhere! he responded with calm.
He flew away with the gang and they pulled Mala's float to her isle for the purpose of arrive the fast as possible over there. When they finally arrived, the Eruptodon had already recovered his place inside the volcano. The defenders of the wing's isle was saved.
– I misjudged you Hiccup Haddock and I want to apologize sincerely. You and your friends had saved the life of my folk in bringing the Great protector back here. How can we thank you? Mala pronounced, to the intention of the riders, at their arrival on the isle.
They all looked at each other and the future chief speaked.
– Mala, I accept your forgiveness and I will ask you only one thing : an alliance. Let's join up against Viggo, he said in giving a friendly hand towards the Queen.
She took it gradly in adressing him an approver smile.
– I accept your request Hiccup Haddock, in two we will be stronger. I offer you my hospitality for the purpose of recover calm and peace after the latest events. You will be able to house in the huts near the health centre for dragons.
– You've got a deal.
The dragon riders restored themselves with the defenders of the wing. Astrid went to seek treatment for her ear with the groomers of the isle at the reqest of the Hiccup's pressing request to be examined. It was the evening and Hiccup was waiting Astrid's return from the groomer in order to check that all was good. When she went out, he smiled at her in approaching the girl.
– So? How is it? he questionned her.
The blond smiled, amused by the worried gaze his friend took when it was about her health.
– It's all right Hiccup. The groomer redid my bandage. The wound is not infected anymore. I'm fine Hiccup, stop to worry like that!
The young man then took a straigt face.
– I'm sorry Astrid… It's just that since the sourge of Odin… I… I need to know that you're here and that you're well. I was so worried about you… he admitted.
He seemed to blame himself so much while he didn't have nothing to be ashamed of. Without thinking, Astrid took him in her arms, whispering a "I'm here". Hiccup was surprised instantly but indulged in this embrace. He put his hands around Astrid's waist.
– You know, I meant what I said when I said that I can't live in a world without you in it… I don't know what I would do without you Astrid…
He tugged his grip on the young girl and she replied in the same way, blowing "Me either". They ended to separate themselves nevertheless.
– Good night Astrid.
The blond smiled, jiggling the head in rolling her eyes before kiss the handsome auburn on the cheek.
– Good night Hiccup.
– Wait, Astrid…he prononced, holding her arm.
So she turned her head towards him and he took her face in his hands to find her lips. At the end of the kiss, the young girl showed a disturb face, she didn't expecting that. On his side, Hiccup wondered why he did that. He put an arm behind his head, embarrassed. Astrid stepped back.
– Good night Hiccup.
And she fled to her hut, queasy, letting an Hiccup more disconcerted than ever.