''C'mon, Stormfly!'' Astrid kicked her Nadder's sides and they were up in the air in an instant.
The other Riders joined her in the air and they plunged down to the vessels approaching the island rapidly. Astrid had spotted the ex-Outcast's form far away and she had his smug smile printed in her mind. Growling angrily, the warrior grasped her handles tightly as they neared, shooting a series of tail spines down on the deck.
As she doubled back, she saw the man take hold of the heir who had his hands tied before him and shove him to his feet. She watched wide-eyed as he placed the same dagger to Hiccup's throat, standing behind the Rider with a hand on his shoulder to hold him in place.
''Not another move! Or I'll slice that peg-leg's throat where he stands!'' he shouted up at the girl and Astrid made Stormfly hover.
She hated being powerless, but the man gave her no choice and all she could do was glare down at him before redirecting her dragon to the island with the other Riders following.
Stoick joined the gang who landed in the plaza and looked down at the fleet that had long crossed the two statues. The man hummed thoughtfully and ordered his warriors to prepare for battle.
After all, no one with that many ships came just to chat. And if Savage held Hiccup captive, then they would have to fight to get their heir back. Men and women ran around, preparing for combat as they grabbed their weapons from their home, the armory or the forge. Shouts rang around the island, calling orders to get the pregnant women, children, and elders to the Great Hall for war had knocked at their doors.
''Astrid!'' called Stoick to the shieldmaiden and she straightened up, ready for orders. ''You lead the defenses. You're one of Berk's guards after all. You try to push them off and get Hiccup out of there if you get the chance.''
''Of course, Chief,'' replied the warrior, mounting up on her dragon once again before taking to the air and landing on the top of the gates allowing access to the village.
She scanned the ships, wondering how in the world she'd manage to save Hiccup from dragonback.
Vikings stood their grounds, ready for the enemy to reach their shores and yell their battle cry with their sharp weapons in hand and dragons of different species standing on top of the houses, growling low at the undesired visitors.
While the Berkians prepared for battle, the moon had reached its position in front of the sun and no longer did sunshine reach the island, bathing Berk in darkness as if it were nighttime. But instead of having the moonshine to light their path, an intimidating red glow shone down on them, reminding the Trollhunters of the Eternal Night Morgana had summoned back in Arcadia.
Reaching out a hand, Jim tested whether it was safe to walk out there and sighed when his blue skin remained intact. Growling low, the hybrid ran out of his hiding place and joined the activity while Claire stood behind.
Jim rushed to where Astrid had gone and hopped from house to house until he landed on a pole that held the barrier altogether. The Trollhunter grasped the wood where he stood like a gargoyle, overlooking the enemy fleet that sailed their way. He tasted the air, drawing different scents that didn't picture anything in his mind. He narrowed his eyes on the lead vessel and spotted Savage holding a blade to the Rider's throat. It was the same man that had nearly killed him and Hiccup on that cliffside and he would not allow him to get away with that as easily as the ex-Outcast would think.
Baring his teeth, the Hunter summoned his Dagger Glaives from thin air and held one in each hand. Focused on the situation below, he waited for the perfect moment to strike.
The people of Berk stood armed and opened the gate, some at the front and others far at the back to protect the innocents. Everyone waited for the signal as the enemy closed on them, the Dragon Riders perched on the barrier, ready to dive down there and blast the ships to splinters.
When everything stood still, Savage called to the Chief.
''Stoick the Vast!'' he shouted, his voice ringing the space separating the two leaders.
If there were none, Savage would already be long dead by now.
''I have come with a proposal!''
Astrid glared down at the man as he shoved her betrothed forward roughly.
''I will let your heir go unharmed if you agree to surrender to me!'' he called, a sickening smile stretched on his face.
Years of being treated like a rotten piece of cod had worn on the man. Everyone could see what had driven the man to madness. Savage had always been a right-hand man, never a leader. He'd always been second-pick. It was clear what he wanted. After behind forced to betray the Outcast tribe to survive and join the Berserkers, he had carried on with his hatred for Hiccup. Savage had had only one goal during his serving to the Outcast leader: take Berk and burn it to the ground. But Alvin the Treacherous had failed and had become an ally to the Hooligan tribe. Now with the Berserkers, Savage had been imprisoned for years, but once he got out, he pursued the boy and his group of Riders, loving the taste of revenge. But that never happened. Dagur had changed too. He'd become a disgrace to villainy. But Savage wouldn't change. He would succeed what Alvin and Dagur had failed to do during all those years: to take Berk and kill its heir. And by taking Stoick, the people would be left leaderless and the rest of them would be easy to get rid of. Set fire to the town and Berk turns to ashes. Oh, yes, and then kill Hiccup. So no, in the end, Hiccup would not be left unharmed.
''Make it quick, Stoick!'' said Savage, pressing the blade to the heir's throat just enough to draw blood.
While everyone stood still, afraid to make a move that might worsen things, a whistle cut through the silence and a swift blade hit the ex-Outcast's metal helmet, knocking the man backward and making him lose his balance.
Quiet laughter rose from the crew but Savage growled dangerously back at them, only to be stricken again behind the head.
Astrid stared down at the scene and turned her head to see Jim standing perfectly balanced on a pole, his eyes focused on the ruthless leader below with a small grin on his face.
Hiccup didn't move a bit and cast a curious look over his shoulder to see the man trying to find his footing after being stunned by a flying object twice. Seeing the ex-Outcast stumbling his way angrily with the dagger at hand, Hiccup moved out of the way and placed his metal leg under the man, sending Savage to the ground with a loud thud. Amused, Hiccup allowed a smile on his lips even though his hands were still bound before him.
''Well, that was relatively easy,'' remarked Hiccup, looking down at the man who seemed about to pass away as he lay grunting on the wooden deck.
Astrid turned to the other Dragon Riders around them and grasped her saddle.
''He's distracted!'' she called, her bangs waving in the ocean breeze. ''This is our chance!''
Dragons came down from the sky and blasted the ships while Berkian soldiers ran down the platforms to the beach and docks, yelling their battle cries with swords, maces, and axes raised above their heads.
Astrid directed her dragon to the lead vessel, hoping to get her beloved out of there before Savage returned to his senses. Soldiers crowded the deck but didn't leap to interfere with the inner battle between Savage and Hiccup. No one laid hand on the boy even if he was to escape or their leader would have their throats for 'stealing his victory'.
''Hiccup!'' she called to her leader and Hiccup looked up at her, glad she was here so quick.
She was needless of words as Hiccup rushed to her, reaching for her stretched-out hand to grab, only to be knocked violently against the edge of the ship by Savage, forcing a yelp to escape the bound Rider's mouth.
Hiccup fought against his attacker, using his elbows to strike the man's face. Savage growled and took hold of the rope keeping his hands together, leaving the boy defenseless. But the heir refused to go out so easily. Lifting his prosthetic, he slammed it hard on the man's foot, throwing the ex-Outcast backward and off him.
''I thought you said you said you knew all of my moves!'' taunted Hiccup, before lifting up his upper arms to be grabbed by Stormfly's talons and lifted in the air.
But Savage wouldn't let him get away like this.
Leaping to his feet, he ran for the edge of the ship and hopped off, managing to grab the end of the boy's metal leg.
Hiccup looked down in surprise at the new weight pulling them down and grunted in annoyance, trying to force him to let go with his boot. With a few kicks to the face, Savage dropped on the beach the ships had managed to reach.
Men who had reached the shore rushed to his rescue, but Savage pushed them off angrily. He glared up at the sky-blue Nadder flying away with his prey and growled dangerously before setting out after them, leading his party to combat.
Stormfly squawked as she neared the ground of the plaza and carefully set the Rider down before dropping herself. Astrid hopped down on the spot and wrapped her arms around Hiccup, trapping him in a tight hug.
''I'm sorry I couldn't get you out of there before that,'' apologized Astrid, shutting her eyes tight as she replayed the scene when Hiccup had pleaded her to go back at the Northern Markets.
''Astrid,'' said Hiccup, pulling apart to meet her blue eyes. ''I'm safe now. Thanks to you. You could never fail me.''
Despite how many times they had saved themselves from near-death situations, Astrid always feared she might mess up the next time and the time after that.
Battle cries from warriors dragged the couple's eyes off each other and brought their attention to enemy soldiers that had broken into the village, clashing their weapons against the Berkians.
Hiccup turned to Astrid, placing a hand on her shoulder as Toothless galloped their way.
''You stay here and help defend the innocents,'' ordered Hiccup before mounting up on his Night Fury.
''But, Hiccup—''
''Please, Astrid,'' said Hiccup, looking down at his beloved with pleading eyes. ''I need you here. Berk needs its best defenders.''
After a moment of hesitation, Astrid nodded fearsomely and reached for Inferno she had held on to until Hiccup was free of Savage's dirty hands and offered it to her leader. Hiccup looked down at the object, smiling in appreciation to have kept it safe and grabbed his handles, taking to the sky with large black wings beating against the reddish background.
Jim had joined the ground combat and Daylight accompanied him loyally, meeting opponent swords fearlessly, its blue fire following the sleek blade everywhere it swung.
Soldiers kept coming all the time and he would take them down nearly effortlessly until he was overwhelmed by the enemy and left with no space to move. These Vikings were nearly as big and powerful as the Gumm-Gumm trolls and weren't always as easy to knock out as an average sized person. These guys were tough and Jim didn't know how long he could keep up like this. Blades swung and Jim avoided them as much as possible, knowing he could bleed from a cut.
Moving his sword from left to right at the three differently dressed soldier, Jim struggled to keep up and stumbled backward. But when he thought he would feel a sword slice his skin, he heard loud thuds and Jim opened his eyes to see Claire standing in the middle of the unconscious men, a proud look in her eyes as she walked up to Jim.
''Whoa, where'd you learn that move?'' asked Jim, amazed by his girlfriend's new skills.
''Astrid taught me.'' Claire reached a hand to her hip, shifting her weight on one leg. ''You know, it pays off when you get along with people.''
Jim chuckled amusingly and willed his shield as a Berserker charged at them, knocking him out cold as he rammed his head against the shiny surface.
Grabbing Claire by her waist, Jim carried her to the Great Hall and dropped her amongst the innocents.
''You stay here,'' ordered Jim before turning around to leap back into battle.
''Hey, not fair!'' she called after him, balling her hands into fists in frustration.
Walking out through the gap between the two great gates, Claire scanned the raging battle and spotted the sorceress who had so well managed to make the people believe the eclipse was her doing.
Narrowing her eyes, Claire watched as the woman used a staff she didn't have in hand previously and chanted words that rang to her ears.
Even though Skuld hadn't summoned the sun to go out, she still had witch knowledge of spells and chants. But so did she.