Chapter 2: the capture

Hiccup watched in horror as Dagur's men and a few of Alvin's hoist Astrid up into their ship. He screamed her name, Toothless let out his own shriek, but she had lost conciseness. Hiccup yelled at the men to let her go, but they just glared at him before smirking and sailing away.

"No! Astrid! Let her go! Come back here!" Hiccup yelled attempting to swim after the ship, but the current was too strong and the sun had set. He punched the water, "no!" Toothless nudged his nose under his boy's arms and Hiccup got on. "We have to go after them Toothless, lets go!" but the dragon reared back with a roar and looked up at Hiccup. The dragon shook its head and Hiccup let out a shuddered breath, "you're right. We cant, not yet, not until we have weapons. Lets go back, for now."

When they landed, Stoick can to him as the boy called out. Hiccup relayed all that had happened and after telling his father what happened, Hiccup followed him. His attempts on trying to get his father to gather some men to go after Astrid fell on deaf ears. Even as the boy begged, his father said they didn't know where Dagur would take her.

"That doesn't matter! If we leave now we can catch up with them and save her before they reach their island!" Hiccup, by now, was yelling louder than was necessary. He didn't care if it meant getting his father to listen then so be it. All he said was falling on deaf ears, "Dad, please, this is Astrid we're talking about!"

"Exactly, Astrid is a tough girl she can handle herself until we get to her." His father turned away, "we will wait until we get a ransom note or until we can gather the ships"

"Not when she's unconscious she can't. Dad!" Hiccup yelled but his father walked into, all the boy could do was watch as his fathers retreating form in disbelief. His shoulders hunched and he let his head fall forward, with a scoff. Toothless padded up to him and nudged him, "Toothless," Hiccup looked at the Fury and clenched his fists, his breaths coming out in angry huffs. "We're going after her Toothless, I can't let Dagur, or Alvin, have her."

Hiccup turned and walked off, heading to the blacksmith shop, then to the Academy. It was dark, which he was thankful for, and he latched a sword to his side, an axe to his back with his shield. He heard the gets open and knew by the strides that it was the other teens. He told them in a harsh tone that they weren't going to stop him. He turned and looked at them before sighing, "I have to."

"Who said we wanted to stop you?" Tuffnut said lifting his shoulders up.

"We want to come with." Snotlout said clenching his fists and Hookfang, his Monstrous Nightmare, let out a low growl.

"No, guys, I need you to stay here. I'm not going to have you guys get in trouble too."

"You do know it could be a trap. What if he has the Skrill again, you know he's going to want to kill you even more."

"Thank you Fishlegs. I know that. I know he wants me and Toothless dead, but I can't let Astrid get hurt because of me. "

"Just let him go after Dagur. He won't listen anyway." Ruffnut said, finally chiming in after watching. "We'll stay here and make sure Stoick doesn't find out. That's what you want us to do, right? If you don't come back before sunrise we'll go looking for you."

Hiccup and the others stood there, looking at the twin. "You're right Ruff; I need you to stay here."

"Are you going to at least take Stormfly?" Snotlout asked as the dragon walked over.

"No, the stealthier I can be the better. Sorry Stormfly, I'm not taking you with me, but don't worry, I'll bring Astrid back alive. One way or another."

"You're seriously going to go sacrifice yourself to save her?" Gobber's voice came from above and Hiccup cringed down and they all looked up.

Hiccup just starred at the man before hopping on Toothless, "if that's what it takes. Let's go, bud. I'm bring her back!" Goober sighed and watched the boy leave.

Meanwhile, on the ship, Dagur's men chained the Berkian girl to the mast, laughing at the unexpected catch. They reveled in the idea that Dagur would be more than pleased; they also knew the boy would do what it took to get her back. As they neared the Outcast Island Astrid stirred, spoke Hiccup's name, but the voice she got was definitely not her Hiccup. She looked up and around her; there were men all around her. She breathed the word no before one man grabbed her and hauled her up.

They called for their leader as the neared the Dragon Ring, Dagur walked out and looked rather surprised to see Astrid. He yelled at his men, this wasn't what he told them to do. "But, sir, we-we thought perhaps, you can you her as bait for the dragon boy and the fury."

"And why would we do that?"

"Well, sir, the boy seemed rather intent on us letting her go."

"Oh?" Dagur's face lit up and he walked closer to Astrid. A deranged smile crossed the Berserker's face, "great idea! That boy will come and save you and then I can finally get rid of him and his night fury!"

"No, you can't kill him that easily!" Astrid spat at Dagur with a glare.

"Oh, but I can and I will, if I play my cards right, which they will!" Dagur cackled and told his men to take her to a cage. Astrid struggled and kicked one of the men before lashing out at Dagur. "I don't think so!" Dagur roared and lashed out on her, he hit her with the back of his hand with force that knocked her down. "She gets out of line, beat her. Just don't kill her, yet"

Astrid growled and watched the deranged man walk off, cackling and praising himself for such a great idea. The men hoisted her up and she struggled against them, but they smacked her every time until she stopped. Though she did stop struggling it didn't stop her from growling and lashing out when she got the chance.

They reached the dragon cages and threw her into a small, empty, hidden cage. She hit the ground with a thunk, groaning at the sudden pain that shot up her arm. She growled, "You can beat me all you want, but I won't stop trying to get away."

The men yelled at her and clasped on of her arms to a wall chain and left. She glared as they left and when she knew they were go she hung her head, "Hiccup, please don't come for me." Astrid pleaded silently, not wanting Hiccup and Toothless to sacrifice themselves to save her. She had to get out so Hiccup didn't have to, but how? Her left arm was chained to a wall and her right possibly broken.

Astrid looked out of the cage she sat in, the sounds of dragons roaring and screeching filled the night air. She could tell there was a Nadder amongst them, if only she could get out. She could try and tame one enough to ride it and get herself out. She clenched her fists, a pain shooting up her left, but the pain didn't stop her from moving and trying to free herself.

The one thing Astrid didn't what Hiccup to do, he does. Miles away Hiccup is riding on Toothless high in the night sky. His incoherent rants, the flapping of Toothless' wings and the occasional clink of metal hitting metal are the only sounds as he flies to Astrid's aid.

"Just hold on Astrid, I'm coming for you." Hiccup said as loud as he could. Toothless roaring, adding power behind the words. Hiccup smiled at the dragon and told him to fly faster. As they flew Hiccup looked up at the moon, now shining brightly as a cloud moves from in front. He sighed, mentally beating himself up for what had happened.

While Hiccup made a hasty flight to Astrid, she still sat in the damp, dark cage. She woke at the sound of footsteps, held her breath and watched two guards walk to the cage. One glared at her, the other relieved the two of their watch and took over. Astrid growled and managed to throw a rock at one of the guards.

IT hit him and he turned slowly to her and opened the cage to teach her a lesson. She kicked him as he walked in and though she couldn't stand, she still managed to trip the guard and kick him again.

The other guard rushed it, grabbed her, the force of the pull, stretching her arm. They hissed at her and threw her down and proceeded to beat her. " keep it up girl, you wont walk out of here alive."

"oh really? Last I checked Dagur wanted me alive."

"who said you'd live after we kill that boy and his dragon."

"you wont kill hiccup or Toothless! When he comes he'll show you not to mess with us Hooligans!"

"tch, wench." The guard said kicked her again and left. "what if he doesn't come? Then what, girl?"

"well then you better pray Dagur doesn't kill you." Astrid snapped back glaring at the man. They closed the gate and turned around. Astrid groaned, not know where to hold. She had been hit several times during mock fights, but nothing like this. She looked up as the moon came out from behind a cloud and found herself silently calling for Hiccup. She shook her head, she had to stay strong and get out of here.

So despite her pain she sat up and began to try to get her hand out of its shackle. She struggled, grunting as she pulled her arm. When it didn't come off she looked around for something to use to break the chains. She reached for a rock and waited for the guards to get bored and leave.

Luck was on her side, a dragon busted out of its cage, angry as it let loose its fire. This was her chance and she grabbed the rock and pounded on the chain. It did little, if nothing at all, to the chain and Astrid groaned and threw the rock. How long had she been here? She didn't know exactly but by the position of the moon, it had to be midnight. She sighed, Midnight? Where did the night go? "don't answer that, damn" She replied to her thoughts. She let her thoughts wander as she looked at her left arm, then she perked up. The cuff of the shackle was over top her arm cuffs. She smiled at the idea and grabbed the clothe. She pulled it down as far as she could and found that it loosened the shackle. With her spirit high again she began attempt number two at slipping the shackle off.

The sound of feet stopping caught her attention and she stopped. His voice was all she needed to know who it was and she turned around. It was Dagur, surprise, and he was ordering his men to open the gate. He walked in and Astrid glared at him, but it didn't phase the man. He said nothing, a seductive look on his deranged face, he reached down and grabbed her. Took the chain from the wall and the moment he did she stood up and kicked him.

This kick caused the man to drop the chain and grab his abdomen. Astrid smirked and took the sword from his waist and slashed her way though the crowd of guards. She ran as far as she could in her condition and made it to a rocky outcropping. Where she stopped and caught her breath, but her rest was short and she was forced to continue.

It didn't take the men long to catch her, there were, after all, ten of them and one of her. On top of the number disadvantage she was hurt, and now backed up against a cliff face. She growled and beckoned them forward with a few insults, but before they could all rush at her Dagur stopped them and went to her himself, his axe in his hands.

Cornered and out numbered Astrid's situation was looking bleak, but the unmistaken sound of a Night Fury dive-bombing was heard with it an angry shriek and the scream of her name. "hiccup! No, don't it's a trap!" Astrid yelled but the boy and his dragon ignored and a plasma blast fired out of the Fury's mouth. It his near the men, most of them scattering before the shoot was fired.

Hiccup took the chance to jump off Toothless' back and in between Astrid and Dagur. He drew his sword and took the shield off his back, "get away from her, Dagur." Toothless jumped from the tree he had landed in, his body between his rider the one they came to save. His low menacing growl giving Hiccup's words an even more depth.

"you think you and your dragon can beat me!" Dagur said and motioned for his men. " you really shouldn't have come, Hiccup!"

With a deranged cackle Dagur ordered his men to attack. Hiccup held his ground and told Toothless to get Astrid away from where they were. Astrid shook her head at the boy and he gave her his crocked grin, unwanted warmth behind it. Toothless obeyed and nudged the girl away before having to grab her with his mouth and jumped away. The last thing Astrid saw was Dagur and his men surrounding Hiccup, weapons raised, their battle cries echoing into the night.