Astrid awoke with the wind in her face, she remembered she was flying. She was turned to cuddle against Hiccup's chest, her legs placed out to the side as he held her head in the crook of his arm. She blinked a few times and then hugged him tight around the middle.
"Good morning my lady." He glanced down at her. "How do you feel?" She thought about it for a second before replying.
"Groggy, still tired but not as bad as before. I'm doing ok." She repositioned to sit up and straddle the dragon again leaning back against her fiancée for comfort and warmth. He wrapped his cloak over her shoulders to, keeping them both warm.
"It's just after dawn. How far away do you think we might be now?" he asked her into her ear, his warm breath making her shiver. She glanced at the horizon which was beginning to lighten with the dawn.
"Well, if they are roughly on the same track I'd say at least several more hours at this speed. It took us close to twelve hours to get back to Berk. I hope it will be less time to return to the ship. They are moving towards us as well. I just don't know for sure. I hope they are ok. I'm really worried for Ruffnut, she was not doing well when we left." She glanced over at where Tuffnut was riding on Skullcrusher. "How's he doing?"
"He's been asleep on and off but Skullcrusher has been taking good care of him. That dragon is strong, not to have tired yet. Dad trained him well." Astrid could hear sadness in his voice. She glanced over at her dragon Stormfly. The dragon seemed to know she was watching and squawked at her in response making Astrid smile. Astrid began to tell Hiccup about what had happened between Eret and Ruffnut. The other riders trailed behind them all matching pace.
Eret once more glanced through his spy glass, swore loudly again and then returned to his pacing. The sun was now an inch above the horizon and gave him better visibility. He was so preoccupied watching the Zippleback make it's way back to his ship that he wasn't even paying attention to the rest of his crew as they crowed around the ship rails watching as well. The crew, noting he was considerably agitated was being respectfully quiet, as he drew the glass out to stare through it again.
"Dammit to hell! Bloody woman! Always trying to get herself KILLED! Taking off without telling me! NO! Sneaking off!" Eret slammed his fist into the rail then turned to pace back along the edge of his ship again as crew members flew back jumping out of his path. "I'll lock her in a dragon pen! No! I'll chain her to a cannon on deck! That way I can still keep an eye on her as well!" He drew his glass out and looked again, the dragon and his riders we rapidly approaching.
The Zippleback swooped up over the sails of the ship looking for the right angle and then plunked himself down again in the large space at the stern of the boat as crew members backed out of the way creating a large circle. Eret was to them in a flash. He reached the head of the beast that Tumbler sat on and grabbed Ruffnut by the shoulders and shook her.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You could have been caught! You could have been hurt? You know what that crew wanted to do to you and Astrid the last time they caught you." Angry grumbles could be heard amongst the men on deck. "Do you think they are suddenly feeling nicer now?"
His hands were still now as he bent to look in her face, but he soon still realized that she was still shaking, violent full body trembles racked her. Her face was pale as ice and her lips had a bluish tinge to them. Her cold wet clothed that clung to her body were starting to crystalize in the cool morning air. She tried to speak.
"I I I'm mmm, S s so so so sorry." She finally forced out through teeth that were chattering so loudly that his own jaw hurt. Eret lifted her out of Tumbler's arms. Grent was suddenly beside them too. He reached out and felt Ruffnut's hands and then her chest just below her neck, then also at the back of her head.
"She's frozen through. She needs warming measures now!" Grent turned to Eret and said "take your shirt off, get her skin to skin." Eret stripped open his cloak vest and shirt and then hugged her tightly against him placing her frigid small hands against his chest. Every man who sailed these freezing waters had a healthy respect for the cold and the ocean itself. They took freezing to death very seriously because each one of them had seen it happen before.
"What am I going to do about you?" He looked around at his crew as they watched him. "Get a cloak, get blankets and the coal pan and hot soup and drinks for her! NOW!" and they jumped to comply. In no time at all they had her stripped out of her wet things and tightly wrapped in blankets and holding a hot mug that she was taking small sips from. A pan of bright red coals sat was placed closely in front of her and she leaned towards it for heat, while Eret still held her sitting in his lap, his warm skin pressed against her cool back. He wrapped his arms tightly.
"Do you need anything else?" he asked against her ear, his breath tickling her.
"I think we slowed them down." She ventured turning to look at him to assess what his anger level was now. "I cut the net and freed the Seashockers, they are not pulling them anymore, but I couldn't free the tracker dragons, there was just no way to do it." She looked sad. Dolla piped up at her side.
"You shuda seen 'er Cap'in. Twas amazing. Don't think 'em smelly buggers was expecting that eh? A surprise attack at dawn and by this little slip of a thing no loss." He said as he gestured to Ruffnut. "No offence Miss." He smiled at her "You's was amazing, just amazing"
"Hmmm. Amazing." Eret grunted. Tumbler came to back him up.
"She was great Cap'in Eret. All of a sudden she swoops down to 'em ship jumps in the water like no body's business and cuts that net and we's was outta der before none o 'em could do nothin bout it." Both men looked proud. Eret's anger eased a bit.
"How can I ever repay you" he said deeply against her cool neck, the double meaning not lost on her.
She twisted to look at him and said "just keep your promise that you made last night." Eret looked at her for a couple of seconds then gave a quick nod. He shuffled to stand extracting himself from the blankets and rewrapped her again in them tightly. Eret climbed to stand on a barrel and turned to the men on deck.
"Listen up lads, I have something to say. I owe Ruffnut an apology. I was disrespectful and rude to her yesterday. I was an ass and I should never have treated her that way." He looked to her and said "Ruff I'm sorry, can you forgive me?" in a most gentle voice. There was a quiet snicker from the back of the group and a soft voice said.
"From what I saw I think she forgave him already" Luckily Eret appeared not to have heard as he continued.
"I want you all to know," he paused and pulled her up to hug him in front of the crew. "That she's entirely too reckless and keeps getting in trouble." Another voice spoke up at that.
"Tell us something we don't know"
"Ya we figured that much out ourselves" Eret glared at them and continued.
"But she's with me now. Ok? And if any man on board my ship has any problem with that feel free to step forward now." No one among his smiling happy crew moved, and Eret bent his head to her and kissed her hard on the mouth claiming her. The men whistled and called out.
"Thanks Captain!" Whisker called from the back of the crowd "but most everybody kinda figured that out for 'emselves last night. Small boat you know." And Eret actually had the decency to blush and he shrugged rubbing the back of his head, as Ruffnut laughed. This was met with more whistles and cat calls from the crew.
He tucked Ruffnut back beside the coals and fixed her with a stern look.
"You stay here where I can keep an eye on you. I don't need anything else to worry about." She grinned up at him from her seat.
"Told ya, you would be mine." Eret pretended to scowl. He then tossed her his spy glass.
"If you are gonna be sitting around then at least you can help by watching their ship." Her smile faded and she got serious.
"You can count on me," she paused "Captain Eret." He glanced back with his eyebrows raised and she grinned at him again.
A strong wind had picked up and the men were fighting hard to trim the sails in. Several men pulled strongly on the ropes, leaning back with their full weight, as others looped them around the cleats holding the line tightly. They were picking up speed and as Ruffnut watched, the ship behind them appeared to be somewhat smaller in the distance. Glancing up she saw the three full sails flutter and then snap full as the powerful wind pulled them along. She began to feel hopeful, but she diligently watched their enemy.
A while later Eret came to sit with her, when he could take a break. He offered her a few things to eat, as he watched her carefully. She was favoring her injured arm more now since her exciting swim this morning.
"So I want a status report sailor! What news of that ship?" he joked with her. She turned to watch the waters behind them, raising the spy glass with only her good hand.
"I can barely see them now. They are so small on the horizon. I think we are gonna be ok." Eret looked skeptical as he squinted in the same direction.
"We'll see." He said quietly then he focused back on Ruffnut again. "How is your arm really doing?" She winced as he lifted it, and she tried to pull away but he wouldn't let her.
"You know I'm not some delicate flower blowing in the wind, that is going to fall apart." She countered as she avoided answering him.
"Delicate flower? Oh Gods no, that you are not. You are the wind. Wreaking havoc everywhere you go! No no change that you are not the wind you are a damn hurricane!" She leaned towards him.
"Aww thank you. That's the nicest thing anybody has ever told me" And she kissed him quick on the lips. Heat flared in his eyes. And he tipped her back with his hand behind her head and gave her a long deep kiss. He parted her lips with his warm moist tongue and slid into her mouth as she gasp and he tasted her suddenly wanting much more. He leaned over preparing to lay her back as he heard whistles and teasing remarks coming from his crew.
"That's right Cap'in show us how it's done!"
"That should warm her up nicely!"
"I wish I was Captain, the perks are fabulous"
Shaking his head to clear the lust he grinned sheepishly at her. She laughed at him again.
"Now that makes my arm feel better. You can do that again anytime!" He placed his forehead against hers, still breathing heavily.
"Later" he promised her as he stared at her intensely. He glanced behind his ship again. "If they do catch us they will want a war. We escaped, we ruined their ship and we let all of their dragons escape too."
"Yup." She agreed "not a good way to make friends".
"All I've wanted to do is make sure that you and my crew were safe. And since I couldn't get you off this boat and safely back to Berk, I'll just have to find another way to keep you safe here." He stared at her intently again. "I'm worried I'll be thinking about you and not what I should be doing for them." He gestured towards his men as the thoughts that had been worrying him were now spoken out loud. She leaned over picked up her crutch that lay beside her and smacked him in the leg with it.
"Don't be silly. I'm not helpless. I'm probably the safest person here and your best asset I might add." He looked at her puzzled. "My dragon?" she gestured to the Zippleback. "Do you really think he's going let anything happen to me? No one else here has a dragon protecting them. It's my own personal guard with two heads that also spits exploding gas. And he's also going to help protect your ship. No one will be able to get near us, or BOOM! They will explode!" She looked almost eager for the fight, as she grinned. He kissed her quick again.
"Sometimes you scare me. You know"
"Yup, I'm exciting and unpredictable"
"I keep forgetting that the dragons will help us. I'm just not used to that. But I'm glad that they will be watching out for you. If they do catch us, and attack us please stay safe. Promise me you won't do anything crazy or dangerous again." She gave him a smirk.
"I promise to be as safe as I can, and I promise to do whatever I can to help"
"That's not what I said"
"No but that's the best you will get from me" and she kissed him softly on the mouth again. "This is who I am".
"Odin help me. What am I in for?" he rolled his eyes.
They sailed along briskly for a good while and Ruffnut could feel some of the tension going out of the crew ever since the trailing ship had gone out of sight. She was restless now and she hopped up clutching her blankets tightly and went in search of real clothes. She could feel Eret's gaze as he followed her with his eyes. So she went to him first.
"I can't just sit there anymore I'm going to go get dressed" He nodded at her and watched her hobble away. Grent elbowed Eret in the sides and gestured with his head in her direction.
"I think we are ok up here for a bit Captain" Eret glanced at him sideways with a half smile and slowly turned to follow Ruffnut.
"I think you are ok up here for a bit Grent"
"Right you are Captain"
He caught up with her in the hallway outside his door and scooped her up in his arms and kicked the door open with his foot. She was laughing against his chest.
"I was wondering if you were going to come and help me" He didn't waste words but pressed his mouth hard against hers as he peeled away layers of blankets wrapped around her exposing her bare body to him. He laid her back on the bed and her body seemed to pulse as he hovered over her. He marveled at her, how beautiful she was, how trusting, as she lay there open and ready for him. She writhed as she reached up to pull him to her but he resisted.
"I told you I'd make it up to you the next time" He leaned down to kiss her roughly again as he brought his palm to her breast, rubbing her soft skin in circles. Her nipple hardened under his caress and he brought his hot lips down to suckle her hard making her arch up to meet him. He turned his attention to her other breast trailing a slow circle with his tongue the skin puckering in the coolness before he clasp his lips over that one to. She was grasping at the back of his head holding fistfuls of his hair in her hands. She was panting and pressing her chest to him.
He continued to play with her worshipping her breasts. He teased them with his tongue. He gently raked his teeth across the sensitive skin. Squeezing and massaging the supple mounds. His other hand started drawing little trails further down her body. His fingertips danced little tickles across her soft flat belly. He grasp at her hip pulling her closer as he suckled her hard on her breast again. Then his hand slipped between her legs cupping her sex and he pressed against her with the flat of the palm of his hand, making her gasp. She pressed her hips up against him as he played her body like an instrument. She silently urged him to touch her to enter her, make her body rejoice. He slowly ground his flat hand against her sex, making her groan, she needed more. She spread her legs wider for him and his fingers gently slipped inside her swollen wet folds. He gasped at the heat from her and kissed her hard on the mouth again. She sucked his tongue into her mouth and pulsed it with her own teasing him. He groaned in turn and slid one long finger into her moist opening. He could already feel her body tensing and quivering like a drawn bow.
He slowly slid his finger in and out of her as he pressed against her little nub of pleasure with his thumb, making her body buck against him as she lifted her hips to meet him. He held his own body tightly in check as he battled for control. This was all about her. Sliding down her now heated skin he came to settle himself between her silky thighs. With one arm under her hips he lifted her to his mouth as he kissed her wet folds slowly lapping at her. She was gasping now and pulled harder at the fistful of his hair that she never let go of. The tingling pain on his scalp only added to his excitement.
He suckled at her, flicking his tongue faster and faster against her hardened clit, as his finger slid in and out of her damp cavern, her walls clenching holding him tightly. He had no coherent thought, he just wanted her pleasure, and he could feel it building, the tension in her body getting higher and higher. She was whimpering little gasping breaths, mewling like a kitten, her whole body arching off the bed.
"Eret, Eret, ah, ah, ah, AH!" He felt the wave build up, and her whole body paused at the peak of tension before she shattered into a beautiful release. " ERET!" calling out his name as she came. Her body milking his finger as little spasms rapidly fluttered through her. She collapsed into the bed again, a long contented moan escaping her lips. He held her cradling her as she came back to herself. Then he gently eased off the bed adjusting his rock hard swollen member to allow more space in his cramped pants, and he pulled her to sitting with her good arm.
"What about you? Don't you want me?" She looked confused.
"Yes of course I want you, but not now, this was for you. The next time I have you it will be in a quiet safe place away from listening ears and threatening enemies, and I will keep you all to myself for several days" Her eyes seemed to glow at the thought. She hooked her good leg behind him pulling him closer to him.
"But I want you now." She reached up to pet his swollen member through the rough fabric of his pants "And I know you want me to".
"Gods Ruff. I want you. But we can't right now. Come I will help you dress, there must be something of mine here that you can wear till your clothes are dry." She smiled at the idea of wearing his clothes. In a short time she was dressed in very baggy leggings that were rolled over at the waist several times and a large warm tunic top that hung on her like a dress. She cinched it in at the waist with a belt that went twice around her and she hung her knife from it. Not willing to give up footwear she just wore her own boots again with new dry stockings inside them. They returned to the deck hand in hand, as his crew flashed grins and raised eyebrows at them.
Ruffnut returned to her post as the lookout as Eret walked stiffly to the helm of his ship again. She grinned at his back well aware as to what was causing his awkward gate. She lifted the spyglass and glanced behind them. She gasped. Through the magnifying lense she could see the ship. Long wooden poles seemed to be extending out the sides down into the waters. As she watched they lifted in unison revealing the ores. The ship was rowing, relying on the power of strength, and it seemed to be moving well.
"Eret!" She called, the panic in her voice making his head snap to her quickly. "They're coming!" An agitated sound rumbled through his crew. He ran to her grabbing the spy glass and looked for himself. He cursed harshly under his breath.
"Dammit to hell! It's only a matter of time now". Ruffnut shivered with fear and anticipation.
In another part of the world Tuffnut seemed to snap more awake. He flew his dragon closer to where Astrid and Hiccup sat together on Toothless and leaned over to them.
"We need to go faster! We are not going to make it unless we go faster!" Hiccup widened his eyes at the urgency in Tuffnut's voice, but nudged Toothless to increase his speed, the other dragon riders matched them doing their best to keep up.