Chapter Ten
"That's Slepnir Island…" Grange commented quietly. "And look…two Hunter ships moored nearby." He stood there in the moonlight, wearing one of the few Hunter's outfits. With the helmet strapped on, he looked nothing like the Marauder he was, but rather a goon for the Grimborns.
"Let's finish this then." Teeth growled, sliding her helmet on. Turning to the four Riders standing behind her, she asked "Are you ready?"
Letting out a long sigh, Hiccup nodded. "We're ready."
"Good. Let's go." She growled, grabbing Astrid and lightly pushing her to the cabin. "Make sure the men are ready, Grange. Keep the dragons in cages, but keep them unlocked. As we planned and discussed."
"Aye, Teeth. As you say." He replied while turning to the three other Marauders dressed like Hunters. "Send the message down below that we're here. I don't want to hear anyone breathe. Keep the cages unlocked, as planned."
The men acknowledged the order as they jogged down to inform their comrades.
Teeth continued to hold Astrid's shoulder, keeping her marching to the cabin.
"You don't have to push us." Heather huffed, walking with Astrid and glaring at Teeth. "We're in this together, you know."
Teeth turned to Heather with her smile covered by the helmet's veil. "You're all fun to mess with, no different than what you've all done to me."
"All of us?" Fishlegs asked, walking alongside Grange with a raised eyebrow.
"I know all of you would, if you were in the same position as Hiccup and Astrid." She replied, stepping aside and letting the Riders walk through. "Come on, we got to make it look like you've been sitting there for a while in case Viggo or Ryker decide to come aboard."
Letting out a long sigh, Hiccup and Astrid were the first to sit down at their old chairs. Heather and Fishlegs were assigned new ones, being alongside them.
"Alright, let's make sure you can slip out of these if you need too." Grange grunted, pulling Heather's arms behind the chair. Sliding some pre-made rope cuffs on, he lightly pulled them tight, as to make sure they wouldn't fall off.
Heather then tested it, sliding her hand out from the loop.
"Perfect." He replied with his casual smile. Sliding her hand back through, he moved onto Fishlegs, doing the same thing.
"Are you going to try to bait Viggo to come aboard?" Hiccup asked, feeling Teeth tighten his bonds. Feeling the ropes, he knew he could slip out of them.
"That'd be the goal." She huffed, moving onto Astrid. "I'd rather fight him on our ship, rather than one of theirs. Or on the island. We have an advantage here. If it doesn't work out that way, we'll be right behind you guys. Nothing will happen to you, so long as we have a say in it."
"Urgh, you're enjoying this, aren't you?" Astrid huffed, feeling the ropes pinch her.
"Maybe a little." She admitted, loosening the ropes so she could slide out of them.
"You're weapons are right here." Grange reminded, walking to the lone wardrobe in the cabin. Opening it up, he showed them their stashed axes, sword, and Fishlegs' club. Pulling out four cloths, he handed two to Teeth.
"Great. Again." Astrid groaned, rolling her eyes as Teeth walked behind her.
"Open up." She teased, smirking at her.
Before she could say anything, Teeth flipped the cloth over her head and pulled it back.
"Urghmph!" She grunted, feeling it tighten behind her.
"You could just tie it over our mouths. Not actually gagging us." Heather suggested, eyeing Grange as he also began to tie the gag around Fishlegs.
"Nah, you Riders have one common problem." He jested, flipping the cloth over her. "You talk too much."
"We do no-mmphhh!"
Pulling the gag back, he quickly tied a knot in it and turned to walk out, leaving Heather fuming at him.
"I'll stay in here." Teeth announced, watching him leave. "If Viggo or Ryker come in, I'll be right behind them. If not, I'll help lead the charge."
"Be careful, Teeth. They're leaders and rulers for a reason." He cautioned.
"Don't worry about me, just make sure you don't botch up your role!" She growled, placing herself alongside the wardrobe, hiding herself from the doorway. Grabbing her spear, she simply stood there and waited.
Turning, Grange gave the Riders one last wink and then left them, closing and locking the door.
Hiccup and Astrid looked at each other, and then shrugged. It was part of the plan, though they weren't terribly thrilled to be 'tied' to a chair again. Heather looked just as frustrated, given she had a scowl and was lightly tugging at her arms, making sure that she could slip out. Fishlegs simply glanced back and forth; between Hiccup, then Astrid, back to Teeth, and then to Heather, trying to fight the boredom.
"…don't look at me…" Teeth hissed quietly. "…I don't want any of you giving my position away…"
They all nodded, knowing they really had one shot at this. Focusing on looking at each other, and pretending to struggle against their 'bonds', they simply waited as the ship slowly sailed closer to the island.
"Hmph, about time…" Ryker growled, watching the ship sail closer to them in the moonlight. Only a handful of Hunters could be seen on deck, being the amount they had sent on the trap of a ship. "We've been here waiting for days, and now they finally decide to show up.
"Patience, brother. This is a moment worth savoring." Viggo replied, smiling with a smug expression. "Our problems are about to be erased."
"Even with the reports of the Southern Sea Marauders? The White Wake is here, which means Talen is personally came to see to our deaths!" He quickly snapped. "We should be preparing to receive them!"
"Have you forgotten our plan to deal with them?" Viggo quizzed, looking unconcerned with the situation. "Let him sink a fleet or two. Get him thinking he's got us on the run. I want him to feel that before we take care of him and his men."
"Rggh…just don't play with the Riders too long." He growled, finally turning to walk away. "Cast lines over! Get ourselves alongside!"
"Aye, Ryker!" Some men shouted, grabbing long ropes to toss over.
"Relax brother. Even if they didn't get Hiccup, even if they only captured one Rider, the fact that we have them will send a strong message to the remaining Riders. They'll have no idea where their friend or friends will be." Viggo continued to reply smugly, following his brother to where the gangway would be set up.
"Let's find out." Ryker huffed with a short breath. Looking over at the captain of the trap ship, he shouted. "Oi, how many did you get? I hope you at least have good news."
The man in charge continued to shout orders to the three Hunters on his deck, pulling at the ropes tossed over to them. "Four, sir! We gots four ov' 'em!"
"Four?!" Viggo cried out, not believing his luck.
"Aye, sir. 'E gots Hiccup, de' blonde gurl, de' black haired 'un, and uh' big kid!"
"Enough! Let us over!" Viggo shouted, almost hysterically. "I need to see this myself! Did you get their dragons?!"
"Aye, sir, thur' draguns too." The Hunter shouted, running to help pull the ships closer.
"Did you hear that, brother?! Four! Hiccup included!" He laughed, standing there almost in a daze. "I might let you kill one for the sake of destroying Hiccup's spirit!"
"I'll believe it, when I see it…" Ryker growled, eyeing the ship skeptically. Something was off…but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Watching the men place a gangway to the other ship, Viggo leaped up and jogged to the other ship. Ryker too followed, though not at the same speed.
"Wh-where are they?!" Viggo asked, looking at the captain with an anxious expression.
"In de' cabin, sir." He replied, gesturing to the barred door.
Ryker then spoke up, eyeing him with a look that could cut through steel. "What took yeh so long?"
The captain blankly stared at him. Shaking his head, he then shrugged. "E' only gots two of 'em ats first. 'E waitud a few days und gots two more!"
"Brilliant!" Viggo laughed, grabbing the hunter by the shoulder. "You've earned a promotion! A fleet of your own!"
"Aw…th-thanks yu' sir." The captain replied, blushing behind the standard Hunter's mask. Using his arm, he guided Viggo towards door. "But ya' didn't wait all dis' time fer handen out fuhleets! Yer captives are in hur!"
Viggo smiled as the captain slid open the bar and opened up the door. Sure enough, sitting there right in the middle of the room, was Hiccup, Astrid, Heather, and Fishlegs. All gagged and glaring at him with a look to kill.
"Well…I'll be a skinned Nadder." Ryker whispered evilly, his eyes lighting up as he saw the prisoners. "It actually worked, Viggo. Yer plan actually worked."
"Of course it did, brother." He replied, smirking at Hiccup. Walking up to him, he stood over him triumphantly. "Hiccup is easy to manipulate. Easy to read."
Hiccup's eyes narrowed even more, as he tugged on his bound arms. "…rrggmmphh…" He grunted into his gag.
"Say, brother…which Rider would you like to end yourself? Right here, right now?" He asked, not taking his eyes off Hiccup. "Astrid, Heather, or Fishlegs?"
"Not Hiccup?" Ryker asked, smiling as he drew one of his two swords.
"No. I'd rather have him watch a friend die."
Walking up to Heather, Ryker smiled as she glared angrily at him. "I guess Heather will do. She's the one that pretended to be on our side. And I've wanted a chance at her since she joined up with Hiccup."
"Rghph!" She barked, tugging extra hard at her bonds.
"Goodbye, Heather…" Ryker replied, grinning.
"Man, this was easier than I expected!"
Both Viggo and Ryker whirled around, gasping in wide eyes as they saw the captain shed his mask and apparel. It was a Marauder!
Grange smiled at the two, grabbing the door and winking at them. "Have fun you two! Your men won't suffer. Eh, well, I'll try not to let them at least." At that, he slammed the door shut, latching the bar.
"What?!" Ryker roared, sprinting to the door and trying to jerk it open.
"What's happening?!" Viggo shouted, completely confused. They could hear a fight breaking out past the door, with…dragons roaring?
"Man, Viggo. You really thought you had us, didn't you?"
Whirling around, both Viggo and Ryker gasped as they watched the Riders stand up from their chairs and pull down their gags. Astrid simply rested one hand on her hip, while shaking her head with her signature smirk, while Hiccup glared at them with a look of anger. Heather too looked like she was going to kill them as she cracked her knuckles.
"Yeh still don't have weapons…" Ryker growled, readying his sword to cut them in half. "Yer still going to die…whether you're tied to chairs or not."
Viggo also drew his sword, his face visibly darkening at the situation.
"Perhaps they will die. But not tonight. And not by you two oath breakers."
Turning to see who had said that, they watched as a bone clad person stepped into view, opening the cupboard they were hiding behind. Tossing out the Rider's weapons, the stranger simply readied their spear. "For defying and betraying the pact you made with my father, Chief Talen Wrathen, surrender. Or don't. I personally hope you don't; I've been itching to run someone through since you made us sail up here."
Viggo stared at the stranger. The voice…it was…a girl's voice. "Who are you?" He asked, trying to ease the tension in the room.
Letting the Riders grab their weapons, the stranger stepped up to them, while unbuckling their helmet. Letting it crash onto the floor, the red-headed girl let a sinister smile grow on her face. "Your executioner."
"Ragh!" Ryker roared, jumping and swinging at Teeth.
Teeth leaped backwards, using her spear to block the strike. Holding her ground, she gritted her teeth as she pushed back. "Stop Viggo! I got this brute!" She shouted, purposely sidestepping and letting Ryker rush past her into the wall. Since Astrid did it to her during their sparring session, she picked up on the trick herself.
"You sure?" Fishlegs called out.
"Just do it!" She screamed, thrusting her spear at Ryker's back.
Ryker rolled along the wall, letting the spearhead stick into the wood. Drawing his second sword, he lunged forwards at her.
Not backing off, she too leaped at him, lowering her shoulder. The bone edges caught him in the stomach, throwing him back. While stumbling backwards, he slammed both swords down on her back, dragging them across as he back pedaled away.
The swords scraped across the bone plating, leaving only long marks as they were dragged across.
"Try again. I dare you." Teeth growled, snapping her spear into position.
The two circled each other, Teeth then jabbed her spear forward to force him to make a move. Ryker swung one sword across, redirecting the strike. Leaping forward, he swung down with the other, aiming for one of her extended arms to try and cut it off; at the very least break it.
Teeth responded by sucking both her arms back, feeling the blade whisk by. With the spear pulled back, and Ryker exposed, she rotated her body in a full spin, dragging the spear tip across his stomach.
"Gah!" He shouted, feeling it slice him open. Dropping one sword, he placed his hand over the cut. He could feel the warm liquid of blood run over his hand, telling him the cut wasn't small. It was also fairly deep, from the second-long diagnosis he gave himself.
Teeth didn't stop there. As soon as she finished her spin, she aimed her spear at his leg and thrust it forwards. Backing off, he swung his sword to again counter the attack. With his weapon busy with her spear, Teeth then charged him and planted her boot into his stomach.
"Gagh!" He cried out, gasping as the wound opened wider.
Swinging the butt end of her spear, she slid it behind his legs and swept them from under him and crashed him onto the floor. She never once slowed down, even with her complete advantage over him. Stomping on his wrist, she forced him to let go of his last sword. Kicking it away, she rested the tip of her spear on his throat, lightly pushing it to keep him from moving.
"Erghh…" He groaned, glaring at her with black eyes. "I'll send yeh to Helhe-"
She cut him off by lightly putting more weight on the spear tip. "Going to be hard to do if you're dead." She whispered coldly, glaring back at him. Her stare slowly chipped away at his, making him slowly simmer down.
Looking up, Teeth watched the four Riders contend with Viggo, who was proving to be quite adept with a sword; contrary to his smaller build when compared to Ryker.
Constantly moving in a circle to keep himself from being pinned in a corner, Viggo parried Heather's axe, all while spinning around a thrust from Hiccup's sword. With the inertia of the spin, he dropped down onto one knee, extending his other leg out and tripping Fishlegs' legs from under him.
"Whooa-Agh!" He shouted, falling flat on his back. As he fell over, he dropped his mace, all while tripping Astrid in the process.
"Ah! Fishlegs!" She shouted, crashing onto the floor. Rolling away from the fight, she felt Viggo's sword sink into the wood right next to her.
"Astrid!" Hiccup shouted, leaping and planting himself in between her and him. Holding his sword up to contend with Viggo, he then clicked a button and let fire erupt along his blade.
Viggo said nothing, as he finally noticed Ryker being pinned on the floor by the bone clad Marauder. Knowing he needed his brother to get out of this mess, he began to focus on getting him up. Swinging his sword across, he again parried Heather's axe a second time. Planting his right foot down, he pushed off with all his strength, placing himself in a pathway straight to his brother.
"Get off of him!" He roared, sprinting past the Riders, who were scrambling to chase him.
Teeth leaped back, holding her spear completely vertical to block the strike from him.
"Keep Ryker down!" She shouted, backing away to draw Viggo from him.
Instead, Viggo whirled around, standing over his brother. Both Hiccup and Astrid were in front of him, each swinging at both sides of him. Forced to leap backwards, he watched as Ryker swiped Hiccup's feet from under him.
"Gah!" He gasped, landing hard on his side.
"Hiccup!" Astrid cried out, seeing Ryker roll over him. Pulling out a hidden dagger, he held it across Hiccup's throat.
"One more move, and he dies…" He growled, forcing the Riders to freeze in their tracks.
Hiccup looked up, seeing the Riders slowly back away from him. Teeth and Viggo were already standing off with each other, waiting to see who would move first.
"Back off, yeh bone plated terror…" Ryker threatened, pushing the dagger ever so slightly.
Teeth glared at Ryker, wishing she could end him right there. While staring at him, Viggo instantly thrusted his sword with the quickness of a Speed Stinger, catching her flat footed.
"Gah!" She shouted, feeling the sword drive itself into the center of her chest plate. A loud crack sounded from her armor, essentially telling everyone that he had pierced the bone plate.
Hiccup instantly reacted with the event distracting everyone. Swinging his fist, he drove into the side of Ryker's head, who was busy watching Viggo fight.
"Gah! Flea…" He grunted, only slightly stunned at the hit. Before he could press the knife down to silence Hiccup forever, he felt what he swore was a hammer that crashed into the top of his head. Feeling his world go dark, he collapsed right over Hiccup, unable to respond or recall what happened.
Fishlegs stood there, with both Astrid and Heather staring at him with wide eyes. He had thrown his club at Ryker, drilling him right in the head.
"Fishlegs! I had no idea!" Heather gasped out, still staring at him.
"Yeah? Well, I didn't either." He huffed nervously, obviously still shaken up at what he had just done.
Astrid bolted to Hiccup, who was trying to get out from under him. "Hiccup! Are you okay?!"
"Urgh, yeah. I'm fine." He huffed breathlessly, sitting up and looking at her with a sheepish smile. Patting his throat, he felt a thin line across it, showing how close he was to having a slit throat.
"Rraggghh!"
The Riders looked up to see Viggo and Teeth on the far side of the room, still having their own fight. Viggo was mercilessly swinging his sword down, up, across, and diagonal. Teeth was simply focusing on the blocking or redirecting the onslaught. There was nothing she could do to break the through the strikes! Her eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth.
"You fight well. You must have been trained by Talen himself!" Viggo lauded, locking his sword against her spear. "Shame that it won't be enough to save you."
"Shut up, oath breaker!" She screamed, working herself into a frenzy. "I can kill more of your men than you can replace!"
"I am not like my men." He continued to tease.
"Teeth!" Astrid shouted, helping Hiccup up to his feet.
"No! Leave me with him! He's mine!"
"But-"
"Just make sure his brother can't help him!" She roared, pushing against Viggo with extra strength. Slowly, she began to make him step backwards, changing the momentum of the fight. Shoving him away, she then did a series of quick, lightning like jabs at him, forcing him to back off away from her.
Viggo frowned at the turn of the fight. Focusing on countering and parrying, he leaped behind one of the chairs that were used to 'hold' the Riders. With all the strength he had, he pulled it up, out of the nails that kept it anchored, and hurled it at her.
"Gah!" She cried out, feeling it break against her tattered armor. Unable to brace herself, she watched as Viggo raised his sword high above his head and went to bring it down on her. As fast as her reflexes allowed, she raised her spear horizontally to block the fatal strike.
Crash!
The spear's shaft shattered into two main pieces, the rest with splinters flying through the air. Stumbling backwards, she was able to see Viggo raise his sword a second time. With a darkened expression, she dropped the two pieces of her spear, and braced herself to receive him. Just as the blade was swinging down to her; she raised her right hand and to the shock of everyone, caught the blade in her gauntlet.
Piiiiinggggg!
"What the?!" Viggo cried out, shocked to see it stop.
All the Riders stared at her with wide eyes, not believing how she stopped the blade. The palms of her gauntlet were now only shattered pieces of metal, having absorbed most of the force.
Her hand was screaming in pain, and she swore that it felt warmer than usual. It didn't matter though. The metal plates pounded into the palms and fingers of her armor did its job. For the most part. Capitalizing on his stunned pause, she raised her boot and kicked him in the knee, forcing him to let go of the sword and crash onto the floor.
Shaking her hand, she then picked up the sword, leaned it against the wall, and stomped on it.
Viggo looked up in time to see his sword snap at the hilt, being rendered useless.
"There, you break something of mine…I'll break everything of yours." She growled, marching up to him. "Including the bones in your body."
Viggo sprung to his feet, trying to dodge Teeth's grasp. Too late! She had instantly seized his dragon hide shirt, pulling him closer to her. Not even batting an eye, she drew back her hand and then catapulted it into his face.
"Aghk!" He cried out, shocked at the power behind the bone gauntlet. He didn't need to see, he knew his face was split open.
Again! Teeth drew back and proceeded to beat his face!
This time his world was reeling, making him stumble as he tried to stay on his feet. Feeling his shirt be pulled back, he was able to grasp the fact that Teeth had set him up for another strike. This time letting go of him, she winded her arm back farther behind her, and the swung with everything she had.
Hiccup flinched as a very audible crack echoed in the room. Viggo was launched off his feet, flying backwards and crashing onto the floor; right next to where Ryker lay.
"Whoa…" Heather whispered, staring at Viggo's bloodied face. "Remind me not to get into a fist fight with you."
"Shut up and get to your dragons…" Teeth huffed, finally taking a breather from the fight. "Go help Grange…I'll…I'll secure these two."
"Are you sure?" Hiccup asked, looking at her with concern.
"Just go!" She shouted, getting tired of repeating herself, and being exhausted. Stumbling to one of the three remaining chairs, she flopped into one.
"If you say so…" Hiccup replied quietly, looking at her with worry. She wasn't herself. She was…looking like she was hurting. Shaking his head, he turned to the locked door and shouted. "Toothless! Plasma blast!"
Above the fighting that was sounding outside the door, a loud screech sounded off. The cracks in the door began to shine a purple light, showing exactly who was behind the door.
Booom!
The door shattered into a thousand pieces, revealing purple fire and an enraged looking Night Fury. Seeing Hiccup stand there, he instantly calmed down and ran in, happy to see his rider.
"Ah, was wondering when the fight would be finished in here." Grange called out loudly, walking in with two of his men. Seeing Ryker and Viggo out cold, he smiled at the sight. "And got them alive! What'dya know? Viggo looks a little worse for wear, doesn't he?"
"Grange, shut up and report. How's the fight?" Teeth huffed breathlessly, her face strained as she spoke.
"Almost done. We sank one of their ships and are working on the other. They were caught with their pants dow-" He stopped as he looked at Teeth. His face instantly paled as he her saw in the torches' light. She was sweating, taking shallow breaths, and looked tired. More tired than she should be. "Teeth!" He shouted, running to her. Grabbing her, he forced her to sit on the floor.
"Grange! Get to the fight!" She tried to shout, lazily swinging her arm at him.
"No! I know that look! Where are you hurt? Where're you bleeding?!" He shouted, almost in hysteria.
"The fight!" She roared as loudly as she could.
"Hiccup! Take care of the Hunters for me! I have to tend to Teeth!" Grange shouted, not even bothering to look at him. At this point, his two men were also kneeling down at Teeth, helping take her armor off.
"Heather, Fishlegs, and Astrid! Find your dragons and go help the Marauders!" Hiccup ordered. "I'm going to stay, okay?"
"Got it, Hiccup!" Heather shouted, turning to run out to find Windshear.
Fishlegs shortly followed her. "Count on us, Hiccup!"
Astrid simply looked at him, and then at Teeth with a worried expression.
"Don't worry. I'll help take care of her. Just go." He assured, gently pushing her out.
Nodding, she too sprinted onto the deck of the ship, calling out to Stormfly.
"Ugh, Grange…" Teeth growled, seeing him unbuckle her chest plate.
"Shut up and lay down." He growled, not even caring about her possible threats.
"Sir! Her hand! Look at it!"
Looking at where the Marauder had taken off Teeth's gauntlet, he let out a moan of despair. Her palm was sliced all the way across, being deep enough that it was going to require some stiches. The Marauder who pulled off her gauntlet, was draining the blood that had pooled up inside it.
"Urgh, alright, maybe I am feeling a little tired." She reluctantly admitted, feeling them take her chest plate off.
"Odin help us…" Grange whispered, making Hiccup look over his shoulder. The center of her chest was soaked in blood, and was starting to spread all around. It was right where Viggo had pierced the armor.
"What? What is it?" She asked, laying her head on the floor and staring at the ceiling.
Hiccup instantly took off the gag that was still hanging around his neck. "Here!"
Grange instantly swiped it and pressed it against the wound. "Hold still, Teeth!"
"Agh! Wha-what're you doing?" She cried out, feeling a sharp and riveting pain as he pressed the cloth.
"Get the healer!" He ordered one of his men. "Now!"
The man instantly bolted up and sprinted out, giving room for Hiccup to kneel down next to her.
"How did your chest plate not stop you from getting hit?" Grange asked, pressing down to stop the blood flow.
"Urgh! Easy!" She growled, gasping in shock. "V-Viggo did it when Ryker was about to execute Hiccup! My armor can still get pierced, regardless of what it's made of."
Grange's face darkened as he turned to look over at where Viggo lay.
"Forget him, Grange!" Teeth quickly ordered, seeing his eyes narrow in hate. "I bloodied him enough! He's my dad's issue now! We'll kill him if we're ordered too."
"You bloodied him enough, but I didn't…" He growled to himself.
"Urgh! Gah! What're you doing?!" She yelled, again, feeling her chest rivet with a sharp pain.
"Making you hold still!" The other Marauder snapped, who was grabbing another cloth from his person. Applying it to the already soaked cloth, he helped put pressure on it.
"Grange, I have an idea." Hiccup replied with an earnest expression. Turning to where Teeth lay, who was busy cursing a storm at them, he then suggested. "We can take her with us. We'll fly to where Talen sailed too and get her back to your ship faster. That way she can be taken care of!"
"I'm not riding a dragon! Or leaving my responsibilities!" She barked, hearing the conversation. "I was sent to bring my dad Viggo and Ryker, and that's exactly what I'm going to do!"
Shaking his head, Grange finally visibly relaxed since learning of her injuries. "No. I know you mean well, Hiccup. But I can't let her out of my sight. I've been sworn to watch over her by Talen. And I don't plan on being anything like these…scumbag oath breakers." Looking down at Viggo, he shook his head in disgust. "And what she's said is true. It's her responsibility. She needs to stay and bring them back."
Hiccup nodded in understanding. "Fair enough. We'll sail with you to help deliver Viggo. And to make sure Teeth doesn't do anything."
"I can still hear you, Hiccup!" Teeth growled, pushing the hands away from her. Scooting herself backwards, she then leaned against the wall, resting while staring them down. Now sitting up, her shirt was more visible in the torches light. Used to be green, it was now soaked with blood, staining it red. The sight was haunting to witness.
"I might need the extra hands to keep her at bay." Grange laughed, slapping Hiccup on the shoulder. "Either way, I can only assume that you're the reason why Teeth is still breathing."
"Kind of. We were able to secure Ryker, but she's the reason Viggo looks like the way he does."
"Yeah, since none of you could take down one of them by yourselves!" Teeth shouted, making them turn to look at her.
"Heh, relax Teeth." Grange teased, smirking at her. "Just sit tight while I finish taking care of everything. I hope you're not going to make this a habit of having me do everything for you when you take over."
"Excuse me?!" She shouted, wincing as she tried to explode.
Walking over to her, he teasingly patted her head, making blush red in embarrassment and anger. "Just sit here and wait until you're all patched up. We gotta get you healthy enough to present Viggo to your dad."
"Grange, I swear I'm going to kill you after this!" She roared.
Turning and winking at Hiccup, he then asked. "Mind helping me lock her in a cell? She's going to be a handful as soon as she's fixed up."
"Sure, no problem. I know Stormfly would love to sleep with her." He replied, letting a sheepish smile grow on his face. Turning, he saw Heather, Astrid, and Fishlegs walk through the door.
"It's over. Your men are gathering the survivors into one cell down below- Teeth!" Astrid announced, gasping as she saw Teeth.
Two men the followed them, running past the Riders and began to set out vials and bandages. The healers finally arrived.
"I'm fine." Teeth gasped out, shutting one eye to bear the pain as one of them carefully pulled the cloths off to see the wound. "Grange, take Ryker and Viggo and throw them in the same cell as their men. Keep three guards watching the cell at all times."
"I got it, Teeth. Just sit tight and relax." He replied, walking over to Viggo. "Fishlegs, you're a big boy. Grab Ryker and help me drag him down below."
"Oh…uh, sure…" He replied, timidly walking over to Ryker. Being a little squeamish, he grabbed him by the shirt and began to follow Grange out of the cabin.
Hiccup, Astrid, and Heather looked down at the furious looking Teeth. They couldn't help but feel anxious for her.
Scowling, she turned to the Riders who were circling around her. "Well, I guess we did it. You lived up to your end of the deal. You're not a prisoner anymore, Astrid."
"To be honest, I never felt like one." She admitted, sliding down the wall next to her to help comfort her. "Well, other than when you decided to leave me shackled to my bed yesterday."
"I'd do it again if you kidnap me or force me on a dragon a second time. Prisoner or not." She grunted, closing her eyes in pain as one of the men began to pour some kind of oil on her chest. "Gah! That stings!"
"Good. It's working." The man gruffly replied, pushing her back against the wall. "Keep still, Teeth! Before I have to tie you down!"
"I'll help." Heather quickly spoke up, smirking at her with a sinister look. It was the first time she got to tease the Marauder.
"You would, wouldn't you?" Teeth snapped, forcing herself to hold still.
Astrid shook her head, smiling at Teeth. "What about you? You're going home after this. You're going to be chief of your tribe."
"Finally." She huffed, looking down at her wet and stained shirt. The blood and the oil had mixed together, effectively ruining it. "I'll be excited to maintain what we have down at the Southern Seas; though honestly, I'll be pretty busy exploring and hunting in the Northern Black Seas." Looking at Hiccup, she then added. "At least, if you'll allow passage through your little area of the world."
Hiccup let a small smile grow on his face. "We'll talk. So long as we get to see you as a friend."
For the first time since they had arrived at Slepnir Island, Teeth let a shallow smile grow on her face. "Gods, if Grange is going to have anything to say when I take over, it's going to be that. He'll make me maintain our relationship with you Riders. The last thing I want to do, is cross you. If you gave Viggo such a hard time, I can't imagine what you'd do to us."
"It'll involve more wounds than that." Heather quickly threw in, lightly kicking her boots. "And more teeth than swords."
"I don't doubt it." She grunted, resting her head back against the wall. "Ergh…Heather, wasn't it?"
Heather nodded, waiting to hear what the Marauder had to say to her. Probably being a jab or an insult.
"Astrid said you fight pretty well. If you're anything like her, I'd like a chance to spar with you before we leave."
Heather slightly recoiled back at the request. Looking at Astrid, who was smiling at her, she slowly nodded. "Sure. Only when you're healed though. I don't want any excuses when I send you flying on your butt."
"Tough words. Astrid's yet to beat me." Teeth replied, closing her eyes and letting her head lean to one side. "We're six to six…still…still at a deadlock…"
"Gotta win by two." Astrid whispered, seeing Teeth slowly start to breathe in a regular pattern.
"Is…is it just me? Or…" Teeth began to whisper, unable to finish her sentence. Almost instantly, she fell asleep.
"Good. The tonic is kicking in." One of the men replied. Turning to the anxious looking Riders, he explained himself. "The oil I poured on her wound was to knock her out. I knew she wouldn't drink it, so I put it in her system another way. Stitching her chest together is going to be painful, and I needed to make her hold still without fighting us."
The riders watched as the other Marauder readied a thin, almost clear thread, sliding it through a needle's eye.
"We'll stay guard while you work on her. Promise." Hiccup replied resolutely.
"Good. Now leave us." The healer replied with a short tone, returning his attention to Teeth, who was now sleeping soundly against the wall.
The Riders then backed off, letting the two healers begin to really help Teeth. Laying her down on the floor, they tore her shirt open to be able to work on the wound and to finally stop it from bleeding.
Frowning, Hiccup shook his head as he walked out of the cabin. Walking up to Toothless, who was wondering what was happening, he began to stroke his head. "At least it's over, bud. We can rest easy knowing we're rid of Viggo."
Toothless growled, rubbing against his chest.
Enjoying his friend's presence, he felt someone rest their hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Astrid staring at him with a sheepish smile.
"Thanks, Hiccup. I…I knew you'd pull through for me." She replied quietly. "I'm free. Just like you promised you'd do."
"Was there any doubt?" He asked, smiling at her. "I wouldn't have rested until I got you back."
Letting out a relieved sigh, she then stood next to him, petting Toothless as well. Watching the deck bustle with Marauders, doing miscellaneous things, they both smiled at the thought that it was finally over.