~O~

Forced Return

Chapter 11

Now or Never

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"All I ask, is that you surrender Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third to me at once."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd and a few snickers could even be heard. Most of the Berserkers thought that this man had gone man. Everyone knew that Hiccup Haddock had been dead for six years.

Krogan tapped his foot impatiently on the stone ground, his face contorting in frustration. "I know he is here! Show yourself or I won't hesitate to kill this woman."

From the corner of his eye, Hiccup watched as Dagur tried to push his way towards his sister. The Dragon Hunter guards, however, held him back.

"You touch a single hair on her head and I'll kill you Krogan!" Screeched the Berserker chief. It appeared that even though Dagur had obviously matured, fragments of his 'derangedness' still remained.

Despite all the commotion, Hiccup didn't move. He couldn't. What would happen when he did so? It was impossible to determine how the Berserkers would react. When Miara had returned to Katala her family had responded with pure happiness. When Maruva returned to her old home her family had reacted with anger for leaving in the first place.

As far as Hiccup was concerned, the inhabitants of the Archipelago only looked for him so that he could stop the ever-growing threat of the Dragon Hunters. Now that the group had become near unstoppable, the Berserkers may only want to kill him for not doing something earlier.

Yet, despite all the 'what-ifs' running through Hiccup's mind, instinct moved his legs as Heather was pushed to her knees in front of the crowd. Dagur's scream of fury was ignored as Krogan raised a sword above Heather's neck. Hiccup had to give the woman credit - she didn't show a single trace of fear. Her calm demeanour only displayed acceptance.

"This is your last chance Hiccup Haddock! Show yourself or I'll kill her!"

Taking a deep breath, Hiccup slipped in between two Berserkers that stood right at the front of the crowd. It was now or never. Raising his hands, Hiccup removed the hood from his head.

"Drop the sword Krogan."

All the murmurs immediately silenced and all attention was turned towards Hiccup. This wasn't a great situation Hiccup concluded. He was unarmed and surrounded. In front of him, Krogan stood proudly, a small glint of disbelief showed in his expressions. The man hadn't expected Hiccup to reveal himself so soon. Behind him, was an unpredictable crowd. For the time being, he could assume that shock would overtake them. Hopefully, by the time the effect wore off, he would be long gone and on his way to meet Miara.

"Ah, Hiccup Haddock. You're looking well." Krogan mused and Hiccup chose to ignore the emphasis the man placed on his name.

"I could say the same for you, considering the last time we met I threw you off a cliff." Hiccup smirked at Krogan's glare. A sour subject, Hiccup assumed.

"Yes, well since then I have been very busy. I've built up my army, my reputation, and power. I can only assume you've done the same."

Hiccup raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Krogan was taken aback. "What?"

"Do you honestly think what you're doing is going to work?" When Krogan didn't reply Hiccup continued. "You're going to get me talking, hopefully, distract me, and while that's happening have one of your men shoot me from behind those rocks." Hiccup gestured to a cluster of rocks about fifty metres away. "Seriously Krogan, you should know I've been doing this long enough to not fall for tricks like that."

Krogan growled.

"And, Heather." Hiccup finally made eye contact with the woman who had remained at Krogan's feet. "I'd advise that you get out of the way."

It wasn't until Heather caught the sight of a projectile in her peripheral that her senses finally kicked back in. She had been so shocked by seeing Hiccup alive that she had started to question whether this was a dream or not. Thankfully, her years of training her reflexes paid off as she rolled out of the way just in time for a bola to wrap around Krogan's legs. The man hit the ground with a pained grunt.

"And a piece of advice," Hiccup started as he stepped forward to retrieve the sword that had been knocked from Krogan's hand, "when you want to capture me don't let me talk."

Hiccup pointed the sword at the downed Krogan. "So, now that I've revealed myself why don't you stick to your end of the deal and take your men and leave."

Krogan only growled. "This isn't over Hiccup Haddock. Men, now!"

It was at that point that Hiccup realised he was out in the open with no protection from any enemy projectiles. Hiccup lifted his head just in time to watch five men rise from behind the boulders and fire their dragon root arrows right towards him.