You know those time when you just want to take your wifi box, modem thing, and just throw it at a wall.

And you know why? Because I actually posted a chapter last week!

And then, after a bucket tone of editing I come back and realise that the chapter didn't post. Looking back, I've come to the conclusion that because last Monday night the wifi kept dropping out that my laptop must have lost connection as I posted. And it really annoys me that I only realised now.

So, I'm going to post two chapters now to make up for last week. The next chapter may come out a bit later though, as it is currently 1am and I'm just rewriting a scene I wasn't too happy with.

Now I'm going to go find something to punch.

Shoutouts:

Massive HTTYD Fan: I cannot begin to express how happy your comment made me. I really appreciate your small analysis on Dagur and Viggo. It helped me know that the ideas I have in my head are being portrayed in my writing correctly. I also really enjoy that you like the flashbacks I've been writing. When I first began drafting this I wasn't sure if I should or not. But I came to the conclusion that I couldn't give the Hiccup and Miara the relationship they have without explaining it. I'm glad to know I made the right choice. Once, again thank you so much for your comment.

~O~

Forced Return

Chapter 10

Great, Just Great

~O~

It was the creak of a ship coming to a sudden halt that jolted Hiccup awake. He had felt and heard the horrible sound many times when he would travel the Archipelago with his father long before peace was made with the Dragons. The grinding of wood on stone caused Hiccup to cringe and it was a wonder that the rocks beneath the ocean's surface hadn't pierced the ship entirely.

It wasn't long before the scuffle of men flooding into the lower decks resounded in thunderous tones. Crated were lifted, cell doors opened, prisoners cuffed, and before Hiccup could fully wake himself up, they were on deck.

The light blinded Hiccup momentarily. It had been at least three weeks since he had seen sunlight and right now he was starting to regret ever missing the harsh rays of crimson gold. It could be worse, he mused, it was either early dawn or late dusk so he should be grateful he wasn't greeted by the midday swords of sunlight. It was only once his eyes adjusted that Hiccup got a first look at what could become his final resting place.

Great sandstone walls lined a long, narrow shore. To the north, the orange sand extended until the eye could see no more. To the south, the beach remained level for several hundred metres before suddenly, rapidly, forming into a steep, smooth cliff face. And, to the east, basked in a golden glow of sun, lay Darkheart Prison. Hearing the of this place from when he was younger had sent shivers down his spine. But now, now he was facing it and for the first time in a very, very long time, Hiccup's eyes shone wide with fear.

Despite all this, Hiccup kept walking.

Left, right, left, right.

Hiccup focussed on his breathing as he was led off the ship and onto a painfully unsteady dock. He swayed a little, having forgotten what it was like to stand on solid ground, yet maintained his composure. He would not lose his cool now. All he had to do was find a way to get off this beach. Once he did he could find a dragon, train it, and get out of here. His sporadic planning, however, was interrupted when his left arm was lightly tapped.

Looking up at the source, Hiccup instinctively took a step back. It was the demon.

Hiccup realised that this was the first time he had actually fully evaluated the other-worldly creature. She - assuming demons even had genders - was very small in stature - she stood at least a head and a half below his own height. Her hair was strange and came in a look that he had never seen before. Hiccup knew many people with tight curls in their hair but never had he seen them quite like this. The black somehow darker than the demon's skin naturally formed in tight bunches that almost resembled a sheep's wool. He felt a desire to touch the hair, but fearing it was some sort of spell to lure him into danger, he pushed the thought away.

No words had been exchanged between the two over the past week - though he doubted he would even understand her foreign tongue. And even though a silent, mutual agreement to not harm each other had been passed, Hiccup's mind still screamed 'run' whenever he locked eye contact. Unlike the other times though, the demon wasn't fazed by his reaction. Instead, it simply motioned it's head southwards and pointed a finger upwards.

Taking another look in the direction, Hiccup's eyes met something that he had completely missed earlier during his initial take in of the area. Dotted along the smooth cliff face were hundreds of small caves. He could hide there until the coast was clear and then continue his way upwards, into the forest above and then disappear. He would never even have to see the inside of the prison. He could go home.

The demon seemed to have similar plans as well. With a rapid movement his hand was pulled and before he could protest the demon led him out of the crowd. By the time the guards had noticed, the two were at least a quarter way down the beach.

It wasn't that further. Soon he'd be free.

A hundred metres.

Eighty metres.

Fifty metres.

Twenty metres.

Hiccup could almost touch the stone wall when a sharp pain exploded in the back of his head. He fell forward, crashing to the ground. The last thing Hiccup remembered as unconsciousness claimed him was that he hadn't even thought of how he was going to climb the smooth, seamless cliff.

~O~

Astrid struggled to maintain wakefulness as herself and the other Riders continued to fly late into the early hours of the morning. It was crazy to think that what felt had happened in a few short hours had taken place over three days. Astrid had come to the conclusion that time had flown by because all she could think of was Hiccup. She was this close to finally seeing him again - and that thought couldn't bring any greater joy.

But of course, a part of her mind still reminded her that Berk was on the verge of war and, even if it was for Hiccup, that there wasn't time to be gallivanting around the Archipelago. She could only imagine Stoick's fury right now. The Riders were going to be in so much trouble once they returned. But, assuming that Hiccup accompanied them, maybe Stoick's anger could be forgotten - even if only for a short amount of time.

Astrid had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed Miara steer Toothless towards Stormfly until the two had glided overhead and gently lowered until they levelled to be in line with Stormfly. Astrid looked at Miara quizzically as the young woman sighed deeply and lowered her head. It took a moment for Miara to find her voice.

"I am sorry."

Astrid was taken aback slightly. What had Miara done that she felt the need to apologise?

Sensing the unvoiced question, the woman continued. "For what I had said to you before. About Xe- Hiccup a-and how you had treated him."

The whole time Miara refused to make eye contact with Astrid. What she had said was uncalled for and out of anger. It was not her place to say what she had said - no matter how strongly she felt about it. If her brother wished for these people to know how he felt, then he should be the one to say so. Miara had broken a sacred Katalian law by saying what she said.

If a man has hate towards another, a third shall not deliver the message.

The lesson was one she had been taught at a very young age. And, no matter how far she had strayed from Katalian tradition by this point in her life, guilt still struck when she went against the principles that had ruled her life since she was young.

"I hope that you can forgive my error."

Astrid didn't answer for a short time. She didn't know how to. What Miara had said the day previous had been true. Everything from the way the Viking culture treated things they didn't understand to the utter Hel they had made Hiccup's life when he was younger was true. Miara didn't need to apologise. If she was in Miara's place, Astrid wouldn't have.

Yet, the sincerity pushed Astrid's questioning thoughts to rest.

"It's fine Miara," Astrid said with a small smile. "Besides, I should be apologising. I wasn't listening to you, after all, you had done was try to help us find Hiccup. I shouldn't have been so distrustful."

Miara's head rose and she smiled. Astrid had forgiven her and even admitting to finally trusting her - or at the very least on the road towards it. Hopefully, with the start of a good relationship between herself and the Dragon Riders, Xe'un wouldn't kill her when he discovered she had gone to Berk.

Despite all his protest of claiming that they 'don't know how the Berkians will react to your appearance' or 'someone could hurt you', Miara knew the real reasons for Xe'un not wanting to return to the place he grew up. And, she really didn't want the Berkians to find out the hard way.

The tranquil understanding that had passed between the two women was interrupted by Snotlout.

"Guys. We're here."

~O~

Back on Berserker Island, Hiccup was deep in his planning.

After running through various scenarios Hiccup had come down to two options.

Run and get away from the island as quick as possible

Or

Reveal himself to the Hunter's just as they are about to kill everyone and hope for the best

Both plans had their pros and cons.

If he ran, Hiccup could meet up with Miara and they could carry on with the plan. Hopefully, Kivu would have gathered some more information by this point that they could take back to Katala and finalise the details before launching an attack. The Berserkers may die though, and despite what his reputation may say about him, Hiccup didn't want any more innocent people to die because of him.

On the other hand, if he revealed himself to the Hunters he risked compromising the entire plan. He may be able to keep the Berserkers alive, but for how long? If Johann and Viggo found out that he had made contact with the tribes of the Archipelago then they would no doubt spill all the details of what had happened over the past six years. Hiccup was certain that if the Vikings were informed of the mark on his forehead he would be thrown back into the Slavelands - and Hiccup doubted he would be able to escape once again.

However, before Hiccup could come to a decision, a Dragon Hunter yelled out to the crowd.

It was only now Hiccup noticed that the group had stopped moving. They had reached the edge of one of the many cliffs on Berserker Island and it was by this point that Hiccup was starting to piece together how the Hunter's planned to get rid of the Berserkers.

"All of you quiet down!"

Immediately the large group silenced, though the angered faces screamed anything but submission.

Slowly, Hiccup pushed his way through the crowd trying to get a better view of what was happening. And he arrived just in time to see an all too familiar face - Heather.

The woman had hardly changed at all since he had last seen her. Besides a possible change in height, and wearing her hair in a low bun, she looked exactly the same. Of course, it wasn't a joyous occasion as she was held with a sword to her throat. Hiccup's attention, though, was brought away from a voice he hadn't heard in quite some time.

"People of Berserker Island! Listen here or my men will kill the girl!"

Krogan.

How he was alive, Hiccup didn't know. He was sure the man had died. But then again, he could say the same for Viggo and Johann.

"I am not here to kill you all, yet." The man stood at the front of the crowd yet far enough away to stay out of reach. "I come with a proposition. And should you agree to the terms my men and I will leave without a fight."

"And what is this proposition of yours?" Came a voice from Hiccup's left - Dagur.

Krogan was silent for a moment as a sly smirk crept up his face. "All I ask is that you surrender Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third to me at once."

Murmurs immediately rippled through the crowd. Hiccup, however, could only slump his shoulders.

Great, just great.