Dagur

Hiccup woke up, to find he was half trapped on the thin mattress. Astrid was draped over his chest, with her arm slung casually over his shoulder. He remained motionless for a couple minutes, just watching Astrid's sleeping form. She looked peaceful in her sleep. The weight of the world wasn't on her shoulders. In her sleep. Astrid had the innocence that she refused to show when she was , the position became quite uncomfortable, so Hiccup gently shook her awake.

"Hmm? Hiccup?" Astrid said sleepily. Hiccup smiled gently at her, holding her for a few more moments. He reveled in her warmth, feeling her lilthe body against his. Suddenly, Astrid's eyes snapped open, as she realized their situation. For just a moment, she let her guard down, panic seizing her. Hiccup was quick to reassure her, as she got her bearings. She nodded her thanks, before climbing out of his arms. Hiccup sighed as he felt cool air replace her warmth. Astrid began pacing their cellar, occasionally stumbling as the waves became rougher.

"We must be close to Berk," Hiccup commented, when the waves got even rougher. Astrid nodded her agreement, looking upwards at the ceiling.

"Where's Elliot?" Astrid asked, wondering why he hadn't come to get her yet. Hiccup felt his muscles tense, and a wave of protectiveness washed over him.

"I don't care," he said. "Just as long as he doesn't come anywhere near you."

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock lll, I think I can protect myself," Astrid teased. Hiccup found that even in their impossible situation, Astrid still made him happy.

"Why Astrid Hofferson, I thought you wanted a gallant viking to protect you," Hiccup said, pretending to be hurt.

"Oh please, if I wanted that, I would've chosen Snotlout," Astrid said, laughing. Hiccup laughed with her, loving the sound of her laugh.

"Are you saying I'm not a valiant warrior? I am the greatest viking in the land!" Astrid smiled at her, and Hiccup felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest. Astrid was worth every bit of hurt he'd faced because of her. He would walk through fire for her.

"So what do we do after we get to Berk?" Hiccup asked, thinking of her plan she'd mentioned. Astrid became serious as well, thinking heavily.

"The other riders are at Berk right now. I'm guessing that will be when Vigo will try and take them out." Hiccup looked at her in shock.

"How do you know about that?" he asked, thinking back to Daguar.

"Trader Johann," Astrid explained. "He overheard Dagur talking about it." Hiccup felt disappointment course through him. He'd really hoped Dagur would change.

"I guess he'll always be the same," said Hiccup dejectedly.

"What?" Astrid asked, confused. "Hiccup, Dagur's going to help us."

This time, shock coursed through Hiccup.

"But you said-"

"I said Johann overheard Dagur talking about it. As it turns out, Dagur only did that to get Johann's attention. He told Johann his whole plan. Dagur's planning to get both of us free. He and Vigo are going to meet just offshore of Berk. There, Dagur's going to pay Vigo to kill the dragon riders. But what Vigo won't know is that all of Berk as well as the Berserkers will be there waiting." Hiccup slowly began putting the pieces together.

"So, I'll go free and join the riders. Then Vigo will take you to the meeting place?" Astrid nodded in confirmation.

"Vigo thinks he's going to kill you guys once Dagur has paid him. What he doesn't know, is that he'll be walking right into an ambush."

Astrid saw Hiccup's face change from dumbfounded, to surprised, to understanding. It really was adorable.

"I'd really hoped that Dagur would turn out to be good. I guess we just have to wait and see if it works." they fell into a silence, both of them thinking deeply. Finally, Hiccup had to make a confession.

"Astrid, you know when you asked me to sharpen your axe?" Astrid thought about it for a moment, before nodding yes.

"Well," Hiccup began sheepishly. "I sort of broke the blade off. I put a new one on, and lied to you. I just wanted your approval." Astrid frowned, remembering how her axe had felt different. Hiccup had claimed he's just done some work on it. It had been her mother's axe, and Astrid's initial reaction was anger. But she quickly saw it wasn't the right emotion.

"Hiccup," she began slowly. "I would have appreciated if you had told me then." He tried to intervene, but she cut him off. "But I completely understand. I didn't respect you back then, and for that, I'm really sorry. I didn't know how amazing you really were. But that axe was just a thing. Sure it was important, but it was just a symbol. I think that people mean much more. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our stuff and what we don't have, that we forget what we do." He was looking at her with a dreamy look in his eyes.

"I agree Astrid. When I got the dragon doll from my mother, I thought it represented her. But I came to realize the toy was just a way I could access her. It provided a catalyst of sorts. That toy reminded me of her. And since I never got to know her, it helped me to imagine what she might be like." Hiccup was getting choked up, as he felt the rush of memories flood him.

"It's like with Elliot," Astrid said, wondering if Hiccup would be mad at her for bringing him up. But he nodded for her to go ahead. "Things with Elliot just felt so easy. For you and I, there have always been things separating us. Whether it's our own minds, or whether it was things out of our reach. Being with Elliot was what I was supposed to do. But since when have I been good at following rules." Hiccup laughed at that.

"Anyways, I was scared to try and pursue something with you. My heart told me to go for it, but my logical side told me it wasn't worth it. Now I realize how stupid that was. It's the things that are hardest to achieve that are the most worth it. We will fight back against Vigo. And we will win."

Hey guys. Sorry about the lateness of the chapter again. I'm really trying to post as often as I can