Well guys welcome to the last chapter….

Chapter 10- Free

Pain threw itself into every nook and cranny of my body. I want to scream as the Berserkers leaped up in cheer at their new chief. I close my eyes. Dagur is gone. Dead. But I feel nothing. Not relief. Just pain. Not grieving pain. But the pain that burns from the scars that mark my body. I feel cool hands grazing my forehead. I don't move.

"We need to get him out of here." Her voice.

"I need to have a talk with Amelia. Can you get Lily and fly them both back to Berk. We'll be home as soon as we can."

"Yes chief." A chorus of voices; the team.

I groan as I feel myself being lifted off Toothless. "It's all right lad. Let's get you home." Gobber.

"It's okay Hiccup. Go to sleep. You're safe. We all are." I let myself fade into oblivion at the sound of her tinkling voice.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

My eyes open once again to Lily's hut. I shift slightly to reveal a sleeping Astrid- her head snuggled in the crook of my neck and her arm lying loosely across my chest. I smile slightly to myself. Dagur is gone. Now I feel the relief. No more pain. No more torture. I can just be normal. I sigh and turn over gritting my teeth when pain spikes up from my leg. I squeeze my fists together, ignore it, and turn so I'm facing Astrid. My head fits perfectly a top of hers and my arm wraps protectively around her narrow form. She moans and her eyes flutter open.

"Hey" She murmurs. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." She smiles.

"You've been asleep for a while. You fell dizzy at all?" Her slender fingers graze my forehead.

"No," I whisper.

We stare at each other for a moment- pain and love reflects in her eyes. "You saved me." I murmur.

"And you saved me too." Then she leans in; pressing her lips to my own. I return it; softly at first then I pull back and move along her jawline tenderly and down her neck. She moans and tilts her head back. I smile into her.

"Astrid Hofferson is actually letting someone kiss her; for real."

"Hey you! Watch your tongue I could easily stop you." I breathe a laugh.

"But you haven't." She glares at me. "So been as you're in my bed what does that class us as?"

She growls playfully. "Why? What were you hoping we'd be 'classed' as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock The 3rd?"

"I love it when you call me by my full name."

"That doesn't answer my question." She smirks.

Before she can demand an answer I kiss her with such intensity I surprise even myself. Her hands reach up to cradle my head and I edge my tongue past her teeth; shivers speeding down my spine. Butterfly's tingle in my stomach as her tongue dances in my mouth. In this moment I could die. But kisses with Astrid never last long.

The door bangs open and we leap away from each-other with such a force that Astrid falls off the bed and bounces onto the floor and I get confusingly tangled in the sheets. My eyes spin to the door. Lily and my dad stand staring from one of us to the other. Toothless nudges past them and bounds over to the bed licking me across my face.

"Ewwwwww! Toothless hold on…Erm… Hey dad! Er… How are you?" He raises his eyebrows.

"What were you to doing?" Lily's stern voice fills my ears. I wince but not from the pain, still trying fitfully to push Toothless' tongue away.

"Erm…"

"We weren't 'doing' anything. I was sat on the bed, Hiccup was asleep and you startled me so I jumped up and Hiccup woke up."

"So Hiccup 'waking up' makes his face go bright red does it?" My face reddens even more.

"Obviously it must do." Astrid answers with ease.

I fake a yawn. "I'm gonna go back to sleep now." I give Toothless a stroke and while he settles at the bottom of the bed I snuggle down and fake heavy breathing.

"Sure thing son- I'll check on you in the morning okay?"

"U-huh."

My father's heavy footsteps retreat and the door closes behind him, Lily's voice penetrates the room. "You should go home now too Astrid. I'll look after Hiccup."

I can almost imagine the glare Astrid is giving Lily as if to say- Seriously, you're asking me to leave him?

"Or you can stay the night." She says quickly. I grin into the soft pillow. "I'll go and grab a spare blanket."

"Thanks Lily." As soon as the door closes I turn round gritting my teeth at the sudden pain and Astrid climbs in next to me. "Careful Hiccup," She says softly; noticing my discomfort. I grin at her.

"Well that was interesting." She grins back, snuggling closer.

"It sure was." I mumble tiredness quickly overtaking my mischievous manner.

I pull the bed sheets across her warm form, wrap my arm around her protectively and fall into the first peaceful sleep in half a year. We're safe. At last. I have a girlfriend- technically. Toothless is okay. We're all okay. And we're completely safe.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Savage dragged his feet up upon the sodden sand with a growl. He glanced back at Outcast Island in the distance: Watching Berks dragon army fly away- free and unharmed. He spat in the sand. How dare Dagur just die? How DARE Alvin abandon him? A second growl arose in his throat. Oh you just wait little Hiccup. Dagur may be dead and Alvin may be your ally but I am NOT. I WILL return and you WILL die…

Oh no! You're not safe Hiccup! Who on Earth put that idea into your head? I mean of course it's not me- It's not like I control everything you do, is it?;P

Thank you to all my lovely followers and reviewers and to everyone who has added this story to their favourites- it means a lot so thank you so much;)

The next story is called Stolen Heart. I've uploaded a small trailer on my you tube channel- it's called Acia Granger (funnily enough)- if you guys wanted to go and check it out. It's set after How To Train Your Dragon 2 so Valka is on Berk and Stoick is in a happy place. The kids are about 21 in Stolen Heart so it's about a year after How To Train Your Dragon 2 and Drago. I'll try to get the first chapter up on Wednesday so until then…

Thanks,

Acia ;D