At long last we've reached the end of part one! Not the end of the story…but just of part one.
Thank you all for sticking with the story thus far cause, honestly, the adventure is just getting started!
Part One: We are Challenging Fate
Chapter Fourteen: Trialed and Pursued
Astrid felt raw, chained, and strangely unbound all at the same time.
She shook the wrist shackles around her and sneezed at the stuffy smell of her prison garb.
Three counts of treason: Having an illegal alliance with dangerous dragons, Capturing the Prince…..and being a female that infiltrated the King's royal warriors.
Surely one of those would mean death…but all three. There was no way she was living past her trial. A tear rolled down her cheek but she tried to bit it back. How did everything go south so quickly…?
Her answer stepped before her as she found that the person approaching her cell was Snotlout. He smirked at her despite having his severed arm bandaged off. She winced as the bandaged were still stained with blood, Astrid could see the pain on the warrior duke's face, but his devious deeds gave him some kind of strength. She almost envied him
"So…did you have fun during your examination, Asrid?" Snotlout asked and Astrid with a smirk, and Astrid looked away. The examination was standard for any prisoner. They'd strip you naked and see if there was any weapons on you, or any curse by the gods…What they found was that who they thought was a treacherous boy, was an even more treacherous girl.
She'd still be put to death, no doubt, but they would never kill a virgin…so she'd have to be mated with before they'd behead her. She gulped, looking up at Snotlout with a pleading fear in her eyes she wish she could shake, but at that point fear was all she felt.
"H-how…how did you know?" Astrid asked again, her voice timid, girly. She didn't care how she sounded anymore.
Snotlout kept silent, smiling.
"Please…just tell me!"
"Maybe this will sound familiar…" Snotlout started. "'Please don't hate me for the path I've chosen, you'll always be my brother and I'll always love you…"
Astrid's eyes widened. The carved message she had left on Atlas's memorial….
"…your sister Astrid Hofferson." Snotlout finished. "Honestly, leaving such a thing out in the open like that. You were practically begging to be found out."
"That memorial was in a deep part of the forest…how did you even find it?"
"I saw you and that night fury together the day my cousin and uncle were away…so the next day I looked around the forest and found it. Oddly enough you and Hiccup came back that night saying there was a dragon raid…"
Astrid swallowed. She knew she had a feeling of being followed.
"Found your little boyfriend with the night fury during the raid…though I already suspected that he was in on it too."
"Don't you dare hurt him, Snotlout." Astrid lunged herself as close to the edge of the bars as her shackles would allow her. "Do whatever you want to me, but if you even think about touching him I'll…."
"You love him, don't you?" Snotlout suddenly asked and Astrid's breath left her momentarily. Her heart skipped and she went limp. The question was unexpected and hit her harder than she would've anticipated. She really couldn't answer it. Falling for him was one thing…but love…love was something else entirely. She looked up at Snotlout, teary eyed, and he just laughed.
"O-oh man, this it too good." He began to walk away, but Astrid couldn't let Snotlout reveal Hiccup as well.
"Please…don't say anything about Hiccup…." She said softly. But Snotlout still stopped walking, turning back to her. "I know I'm going to be put to death," she continued. "I'll accept it without a fight, I'll do whatever you want…but in return you have to leave Hiccup alone."
"No deal." Snotlout shrugged.
"Please!" Astrid cried, her voice broke. "What do you hope to gain from all this?"
"The throne." Snotlout leaned close to the bars. "And for that I need your little boyfriend gone."
Astrid could hardly believe the lengths Snotlout would go to sometimes.
"He's your cousin…" Astrid stressed.
"That's what I want," Snotlout said causally, before throwing her a challenging look. "Now what are you going to do about it?"
Astrid chewed her lip, thinking carefully. There was no way to save herself…she was beyond that. But Hiccup…he was important, he had to find the dragon heart and stop all of this. And she had promised no matter what that she'd protect him. Her last deed might as well be doing just that….
She only hoped that Snotlout hadn't somehow found out about them looking for the Dragon Heart.
"I'll get him to leave Berk." She said quickly. "He'll never come back…just…please don't say anything about him."
Snotlout looked at her quizzically.
"The throne will be all yours if Hiccup goes missing and isn't found and I'll be dead so…" her lip quivered a bit at those words. "…So no one will go against you…"
Snotlout seemed to mull over her words slowly.
"I won't even need a trial…I'll just admit to all my treason…just…let me speak to Hiccup as my final wish and I'll convince him to leave…."
More silence on Snotlout's part, but Astrid didn't know what else to bargain with. She didn't have too much but her own desperation.
Snotlout began to walk away again, and Astrid went up to the bars.
"Snotlout!" She called out desperately.
He turned back to face her, shadows molding his face.
"Only if Hiccup leaves…but then you'll already be dead so…" He laughed, leaving the sentence hanging by that thin thread.
Astrid felt her heart lurch. She crawled in the corner, bringing her knees up to her chest as she let silent tears fall from her eyes.
She was going to die….but at least, hopefully, she could save Hiccup….
0o0
The furs on his bed were itchy against his nose as Hiccup woke up.
He felt like he had slept for an eternity, but it was only a few more hours. He got up and groaned, his body felt stiff but he tried to loosen up.
He was supposed to be killing Toothless that day, after all.
The public execution of the legendary night fury found during the raid with the treacherous warrior Alastair Hofferson. Hiccup didn't need to know that it was the buzz around the palace, and all that remained of Berk. But the issue pressing against his conscious was just how he was going to go about his plan.
Alastair was incarcerated, Toothless was up for death, and he had to fix both problems in one swoop.
He had two options. Reveal that dragons were capable of being allies…or escape. Each problem had a unique set of consequences.
If he tried to reveal the truth, there was a good chance that no one would believe him…and he'd be incarcerated as well. Plus, there wasn't too much merit backing his claim now that dragons had gone and destroyed half the island. There was Toothless who was capable of change, but the other dragons…they all seemed to be operating on a different calendar. They seemed set by a prophecy…one that he knew nothing about.
He went into his smithy and picked up the Dragon Heart book, flipping through the pages. He had to get the book translated, and for that he'd have to get to Trader Johann….
So maybe…just maybe…escaping was the better option? He could return to Berk with information that could save everyone and then reveal the truth about dragons…and perhaps redeem Alastair and Toothless in the process.
But how would he get both of them out without notice? And managed to track down Johann with the inevitable band of search parties all vying for their heads?
He swallowed. Nothing was working anymore…
"Prince Hiccup," he heard Arte's voice from outside.
"What is it Arte?" Hiccup groaned. "I'm busy."
She peaked in the smithy and Hiccup immediately closed the book and shoved her out of the threshold.
"I just thought you might want to know," she began. "That Alastair's trial has been canceled."
Hiccup smiled a little.
"Really?" He said excitedly. Maybe Alastair was able to pull off something? If anyone could it was definitely Alastair.
"Yeah…he accepted all charges against him and agreed to being put to death tomorrow without a trial."
Hiccup's smiled faded. Almost instantly he felt a dark hand run through his spin and grab the back of his neck. His head felt heavy, his stomach felt punched, and his heart ached.
"What…?" Hiccup spoke with a bigger voice but only a squeak came out. He felt like he couldn't breathe. "Alastair's going to…they're going to…"
"I heard he had an extra count of treason that no one else knew about….but the guards aren't talking." Arte pouted, seeming more distraught over not knowing the gossip than Alastair's fate. It made Hiccup want to punch her, but he didn't have the strength to.
"But," She continued. "Alastair's last wish was apparently to see you…so you can go see him any time before the execution tomorrow morning."
Hiccup barely got wind of Arte's last words before he felt his legs bolt out the door.
0o0
He didn't know what exactly carried him through the halls, as his brain was slow and his eyes were teary. But before he knew it he was at the doors of the prisons deep below the palace. Only a few authorized members were able to go there.
Hiccup was, of course, one of them, but he had never been in the prisons before. He really felt no reason to go. At least, until his friend was going to be put to death and his dying wish was to see him…
He sniffled.
"I…I'm here to see my friend." Hiccup said, a sadness and an anger ringing in his tone. The guards both looked at him quizzically but didn't refused the injured prince to enter.
Hiccup was lead to Alastair's cell, it was in the darkest part of the prison, apparently left for the prisoner's who's executions were soon. It stunk and was crawling with every bug imaginable but Hiccup paid no heed.
Alastair was the one who had to stay in there. Who had to die….because of him.
If Alastair hadn't been assigned to him, If he had simply trained like a normal warrior…he wouldn't be in this situation. He wouldn't be put to death for treason for things Hiccup should've been beheaded for.
He got to his cell, but it was so dark he could barely see him.
"Alastair…" Hiccup said, leaning down on the damp floor and touched the grimy bars. "It's me…"
The guard standing behind him opened the bars.
"You're allowed ten minutes." The guard told him.
"Fifteen." Hiccup corrected. The guard gave him a wry look but Hiccup simply stood and went right in the guard's face as best he could despite the height difference. "Are you going to deny the prince's orders? You'll be in here next." Hiccup threatened, and the guard tried to keep as straight face as he swallowed.
"Take as long as you need, Prince Hiccup." The guard said, and took a few steps back, giving them some illusion of privacy.
Hiccup walked in Alastiar's cell, slowly. It felt like death in there…
"I heard you're going to kill Toothless today…" Alastair said. His voice was small, and it made Hiccup tear up again.
"I…I'm going to.." he looked back at the guard, but didn't trust the distance and simply scooted closer to Alastair, whispering. "I'm going to break you two out. But I had to be the one to 'kill' Toothless…you know?"
Alastair just gave a nod.
"But don't worry." Hiccup placed a hand on Alastair's shoulder. His bones and skin felt weaker, like his whole body had just given up. "Alastiar," Hiccup spoke a little more firmly, not continuing until the boy met his gaze "I'm not going to let them kill you. I'd rather die myself before I let you be put to death because of me."
"Hiccup…you have to…." Alastair said weakly.
"No, I don't…it doesn't have to be this way."
"I does…"
"I don't understand." Hiccup frowned. He wanted to slap some sense into Alastiar, but all those urges faded when he saw Alastiar's face. Silent tears covered his cheeks, his whole face wet with both tears and a nervous sweat. He didn't know what else to do, so he just hugged him.
Alastair's body went limp against his almost instantly, sinking in to every groove of his body like he had not a bone left in him. Hiccup just patted his back, not know what else to do.
"I made a deal." Alastair said, his words muffled against Hiccup's shoulder.
"With who…?
"Snotlout."
"What!?" Hiccup tried to pull Alastiar back but the boy didn't leave his arms. He just continued to cry in his shoulder. "What deal? What did you agree to?" Hiccup tried to get an answer.
"That…" Alastair sniffled. "That…I'd take the death penalty without a fight so he wouldn't tell anyone about you and Toothless…"
Hiccup's heart began to ache again.
He felt like garbage. Alastair was going to die not only being blamed of something that was his fault, but to protect him as well. He hugged him tighter, threatening to cry himself.
"No…Alastair…." His voice shattered. "Why would you do that…?"
"Because you're important…" Alastair said. "You have to find the one with the Dragon Heart…and…and Snotlout wants the throne…you…you have to leave."
Hiccup shook his head.
"Not without you."
"No Hiccup, don't worry about me. You and Toothless have to go, leave Berk and find the Dragon Heart. Fix this whole mess…but if you stay Snotlout will reveal you too and then there will be no one left who knows the truth…"
"Why…" Hiccup cried. "Why would you…?" He didn't have the heart to finish the question. He felt like he was being ungrateful. That a useless prince like him would one day have someone die willingly just to save him…he could only thank Alastair. But he wouldn't bring himself to do that since—he hugged Alastair even tighter—since Alastair was going to die because of him…
He felt Alastair's body leave his, the limp flesh in his arms seemed to gain only a bit a strength as Alastair looked at him. His face wet, hair pulled from his shining eyes. Hiccup never saw him with such clarity before. He was sad that only at death's door was Alastair so emotionally threadbare.
"I won't let them kill you…." Hiccup said again, miserably. But Alastair leaned forward, cupping his cheek.
"Just live for me…" Alastair said timidly before Hiccup lost all train of thought completely when Alastair leaned forward and kissed him.
His mind was blank, his hands fell to the floor and his eyes stayed wide open.
He was being kissed…by Alastair….
But he didn't pull away. Every cell in his brain was telling him to shove this guy away and run off. But how could he in the situation they were in? So he just stayed there, in shock, looking down at Alastair.
He looked…pretty. Just like he did when he woke up during the raid. He felt stupid just then. He knew what was happening, but why wouldn't his brain let him make that conclusion? Toothless had told him, and there was surely enough evidence but…still…he couldn't believe it.
There was a tear that shined as it fell from Alastair's lashes and Hiccup reached up and whipped it away. And at that Alastair pulled away.
The boy bit his lip, still crying, but didn't provide any other word but that.
Hiccup stood. Whipping his mouth with the back of his hand and got to the threshold of the cell before he turned and said one final thing.
"I'll be back for you." Was all he said, dryly, before he walked back down the hall.
The execution of Toothless was at hand now…
0o0
Hiccup wore the same garb he had when he dueled Snotlout, hoping it would bring him luck towards what he was about to do.
There was no hope in trying to reason that that point. All he was focused on was getting Toothless and Alastair out of Berk with him…
And from there, they'd figure everything else out.
"This is a defining moment in your life, son." Stoick said, beaming proudly. "Your first kill."
"I know…" Hiccup said, his voice was monotone, his mind in three million places at once. His head was spinning and his chest hurt, but determination was the thing that pumped his veins almost to the point of bursting. He could do this…but only if he left every other tie out of his mind. Every tie except his bond to Toothless….
He swallowed.
And Alastair…
He looked up at Stoick, his eyes were blank towards his own kin. He loved his father, he loved his people…he wanted to be heir and to lead the Vikings to a new era in their existence. But there was too much that prevented such a progress to happen at that point.
After this encounter, he'd be gone…so he looked up at his father, and hugged him.
Stoick took a step back, shocked, but Hiccup just clung, not letting go even with the movement.
"Son, what's—?"
"I love you, dad." Hiccup muffled into Stoick's tunic.
"Son…"
Hiccup pulled back, giving Stoick a watery smile.
"And…I'm sorry…if I didn't become the son you wanted me to be…" Hiccup choked out.
Stoick's face only painted confusion, and Hiccup felt bad for being so cryptic, but he turned his back to his father then and walked away.
At the entrance of the ring he saw Snotlout there in the sun's blow of light. Everything was in shadows, but Hiccup knew the smirk that was on his face.
"I'm interested to see what you'll do…cousin." Snotlout said.
Hiccup kept walking, but stopped right in the sun's blow, his back to Snotlout.
"I spoke to Alastair."
"Ah, your girlfriend."
The comment hit Hiccup harder than usual. His heart flipped and he touched his lips before his fingers curled into a fist.
"The throne is yours." Hiccup said, his voice strained. "I have a world to save."
Snotlout let out a laugh, his chest rumbling.
"Oh really?"
Hiccup just nodded, and put on his helmet. He walked out into the ring, the sun fully on him. A spotlight to perfectly illuminate his treachery.
He closed his eyes. He was close enough to Toothless now…he could use their link.
::Toothless…can you hear me?:: Hiccup asked, desperate.
::I'm here…:: Toothless answered and Hiccup sighed with relief, a uncontrolled smile crossing his lips.
::Just play along, alright? We're busting out of here.::
He could feel Toothless's shock.
::I don't have time to explain.:: Hiccup said, readying his dagger, trying to look convincing. ::Just be ready to fly off, alright?::
::I trust you…:: Toothless simply said. The reply—without a single second of hesitation—warmed Hiccup's heart. It gave him strength even as he stood in the kill ring.
It amazed him how the Vikings could have an execution right after the raid. Hiccup felt like he was standing in a graveyard after how many dead bodies he knew were in there just a little while ago. The chains of the roof were fixed, the blood stained cleaned as best as possible. But the spirits…they remained and haunted his mind.
Still, he gripped his dagger.
"I'm ready!" Hiccup called out, and he heard the gates open.
::Let's make this convincing…:: He said to Toothless and the night fury jumped out from the gates, clawing and roaring around the ring, looking wild and deranged. Everyone stepped back.
Everyone except Hiccup.
He walked forward slowly to Toothless, dropping his mother's dagger and leaving it on the ground. He took off his helmet as well, leaving it behind.
He could hear the crowd's whispers and words of confusion, and he took one last look around. A Snotlout—smirking—and at his father—confused. His gaze lingered on Stoick and he frowned, pleading in his eyes for him to be forgiven one day.
Hiccup was fortunate to see that Toothless was still saddled. No one could probably figure out how to remove it. And he climbed on.
Everyone gasped.
"Prince Hiccup!" He heard voices call out.
"He's a traitor as well….!"
Hiccup tried to close out the world, but their words still echoed in his mind.
He had gotten what he needed. They released Toothless, thinking their prince was going to kill him. But instead Toothless blasted to the chains of the roof, leaving an opening for them to escape.
0o0
Hiccup knew he should've been happy that execution had worked almost seamlessly, and rather quickly.
They landed in the forest, hiding on the other side and as far away from the cove as they could. They could already see the torches of the search parties, but they had to lay low until the night. Then, they'd fly to the palace, get Alastair, and get out.
Hiccup sighed and he and Toothless hid in a thicket of trees. He flopped against the warmth of his dragon, the events of the day hardly physically exhausting, but his heart was tired. His brain was tired.
Toothless nudged him affectionately, giving a little moan of his own.
::I'm sorry you were trapped in there, Toothless.:: Hiccup apologized. ::All of this…it's my fault…::
::We're all to blame in some ways.:: Toothless said, but Hiccup could tell the night fury was shaken by the day's events as well. Just as shaken as Alastair was when he went to visit him. Hiccup turned and hugged Toothless, just wanting to feel close.
He had to feel close to someone, the number of people he had left in this world that he could trust was dwindling.
He stayed like that for a while, his thoughts racing. And he could feel Toothless reading every one of them, it was odd, like he was a book and someone was quickly reading all of his pages. But it was Toothless…so he didn't mind.
The night fury did stop, though, on one particular moment. The moment Hiccup knew Toothless would ask about. The moment Hiccup didn't want to talk about.
::Don't ask…:: Hiccup said.
::Are you going to accept her now?:: Toothless asked anyway.
::Alastair is…:: Hiccup started but buried his face into Toothless, feeling like a little child. ::I can't…:: Hiccup said stubbornly. ::Why would Alastair lie to me for so long…why…?::
::That's a question you have to ask her.::
::I can't believe it…:: Hiccup said. He knew how stupid he was being. But he almost didn't care. He couldn't start this journey, start this new life feeling bitter towards Alastair for lying.
His little world…it was much better than the world he lived in now. He didn't want a world where the two people he was leaving all his trust in were lying to him…
He looked up at Toothless miserably. The dragon was keeping things from him as well…
But Alastair had…kissed him.
In the end he was just surrounded by secrets and lies. But those two were all he had left…
::I need to hear it from Alastair first…before I…before I can…:: Hiccup didn't know what. So he just let the sentence linger. He could feel Toothless's frustration, but ignored it.
::So what now?:: Toothless asked.
::We go get Alastair…::
::No, after that. You seem to want some book translated.::
::The book we found on Nidhogg…I know someone who can translate it. It's a good first step to finding the Dragon Heart…::
Hiccup felt Toothless tense up against him. The thought of the dragon heart left Toothless's mind turbulent, and all of the odd fears Hiccup got from him before came back.
Hiccup hugged Toothless tighter.
::No one's going to kill anyone, Toothless.:: He assured him. ::We're going to stop all of this, we just have to find her and…:: Hiccup pulled back for a moment, though. A thought entering his mind.
He remembered Old Wrinkly's words. To take the Toothless and a girl and leave Berk.
He was beginning to understand that more now…how he was warned that there was no reasoning with anyone at this point. Old Wrinkly was right…as usual. But the realization stung Hiccup that he was right about everything.
Hiccup was, essentially, taking Toothless and a girl…and leaving Berk.
But did that mean Alastair was…?
::Toothless, do you feel any weird energy from Alastair when she's…?:: He swallowed. Not knowing if he really wanted to go there…once he started calling Alastair a she there was no going back…
::I do not.:: Toothless answered simply. ::Just a strong sense of protection towards you.::
Hiccup bit his lip….
::Then I guess we have to keep searching…:: He looked up at the sun, it was beginning to set and he got up, sighing. ::Come on…we have to go get Alastair. I don't trust that they'll wait until morning.:: Toothless nodded and stood as well as Hiccup mounted him. As soon as the tip of the sky flooded with darkness they took off, soaring in the night's blanket to the palace.
Their last fly to the palace.
0o0
There was a lone tree in the back of the palace, near the laundry hangers and the supply shed. The branches were wide and the leaves were many.
It was big enough for Toothless to hide in for only thirty minutes, for after that the moon would shine through the leaves and a night fury would be perfectly visible.
Hiccup swallowed as he walked quietly around back. He had thirty minutes…only thirty…his last time in the only home he'd known his whole life.
He entered through the back door. The same back door he had always used when he was younger to sneak out to 'prove himself'.
That seemed like an eternity ago. So juvenile and simple. He almost longed for those days where he wistfully lived for the thrill of one day being accepted than what he was doing then. Escaping with a dragon and saving his treacherous friend from death.
The was a back hallway that lead to the prison. It was usually the path the guards took the prisoners through so that their presence wouldn't disturb the palace. But Hiccup took it quietly. Groping his way through because he was too afraid to light a torch.
It had been at least three hours since Hiccup and Toothless had escaped the ring, so he knew the palace knew about it. He only hopped all the guards were out looking for him and not at the doors….
His thought trailed, though, when he got to the doors and two guards were there. Hiccup didn't know why he thought they'd leave the prison unguarded even with the prince and a night fury loose.
"The King figured you'd come here…" One of the guards said.
Hiccup glowered and reached for his dagger, only to remember that he left is in the ring. He almost slapped himself for running in there unarmed.
The guards walked towards him and grabbed hold of his wrist, dragging him up.
"You've caused enough trouble, your father wants you in the throne room before your trial."
"No! I have to…" Hiccup started, but he looked down, seeing the keys on the guards belt. Those must've been the keys to the cells. But he had to get it first.
Hiccup's brain was one-track at that point and when he grabbed for the keys he felt the guard's sword under his fingers instead.
"You don't have to do anything." The guard said. "We're going to kill your friend, and you better hope that you're not next for the treason you've—"
And at that Hiccup knew all thought had left him. For he grabbed the sword roughly and pulled it from its sheath, ramming it into the stomach of the guard. They both fell to the ground and Hiccup slashed the ankles of the other guard, grabbing the keeps and running off.
His blood boiled, his heart raced, and his mind was kicking him. Hiccup had one objective, get Alastair and get out.
But he didn't realize he was so far gone that he'd kill to do so.
Maybe the guards weren't dead…? Maybe someone would find them before they lost too much blood? Snotlout survived a severed arm after all. Still he ran, all the prisoners looked at him as he ran like a mad man. His face had dots of blood on it, and his sword dripped a trail behind him.
"Alastair!" Hiccup called out and when he got to the cell he jostled all the keys inside in a frantic panic until, thankfully, one of the keys opened it.
He rushed inside diving onto his knees and hugging Alastair tightly.
She was cold, like she was trying to just died right there. Had she really not trusted he'd come for her…?
Hiccup swallowed again. She. There really was no going back…
He pulled away, shaking Alastair desperately.
"Come on, Alastair."
"H-Hiccup…why…?"
"Come on." He pleaded with her, pulling at her arm. "We don't have time, we have to go."
He was able to drag Alastair out, her legs were like jelly as he pulled her but at least she was moving.
"Toothless is waiting outside." Hiccup said.
"What…!?" Alastair said. "Hiccup what's going on, what did you…?"
They passed the entrance to the prison, the guards still left on the ground. Alastair gasped and Hiccup bit his lip. He couldn't deal with the guilt…not yet…he had to get out first…
He held onto Alastair's hand desperately.
"We're going to fly off on Toothless and go find Trader Johann to translate…"
Hiccup stopped dead in the tracks.
The book.
He slapped his hand on his forehead. Oh, how could he have been so stupid?
He left the Dragon Heart book in his smithy…in his room. That was clear on the other side of the palace, and there weren't enough hidden hallways that he wouldn't be noticed. And with Alastair in tow…
He sank to the ground, groaning.
"Why am I so worthless, I can't do anything right!?" Hiccup growled to himself.
"Prince Hiccup…" Alastair started.
"Don't call me prince." Hiccup cried. "I'm not a prince…I'm a traitor. I'm the enemy. My own father wants to put me on trial now…it's all…"
"Over." Hiccup heard someone finish his sentence, but it wasn't Alastair. He looked up and saw Snotlout standing before them, a sword in hand.
He growled, that was the last thing he needed, for sure.
Alastair stepped in front of him. She wasn't armed either but Hiccup smiled, knowing she'd take a sword right to her chest if it meant protecting him. But he wasn't going to put Alastair through anything else that day.
He stood, taking the bloodstained sword and stepping in front of Alastair.
"Let me handle this." He told Alastair and went up to Snotlout.
"It ends right here, Snotlout, you and me."
"I'll kill you both," Snotlout smiled, speaking boldly for someone who was holding a sword in his only hand left. Still, Hiccup knew that even with one arm, Snotlout could probably still defeat him. "And I'll be a hero for it."
"I'm sure you will…" Hiccup replied. "For now…"
And with that they lunged at each other.
Hiccup still wasn't too skilled with a sword. He tried to channel the things Alastair had told him what seemed like forever ago, but the only thing that was fueling his arms as they swung was his rage. He wanted to kill his cousin, and this time, sadly, he knew once he got the chance he'd do it.
"Why?" Hiccup said as their swords locked. "Why do you hate me so much, Snotlout? We're family."
"I'm not family to some weakling like you." Snotlout said. His form was sloppy with only one arm, but it was his sloppiness that was the most dangerous element. His sword could slip and slice Hiccup at any moment.
"Snotlout please just…" Hiccup pleaded, but didn't know what exactly he wanted. The rage to kill and the need to reconcile were at war in him, but the rage was winning.
Their blades locked again.
"Do you have idea what it's like to be second to someone like you?" Snotlout hissed. "To be better than you in every way but still lose." Snotlout jumped back, looking down at the ground. His fists shook and the fight ceased.
"I was supposed to be the heir, but then you were born…it was embarrassing, to be put behind a stupid baby who barely lived the first couple of weeks after birth because you were so weak."
Hiccup's eyes widened.
"I want you dead… " Snotlout whispered.
"Snotlout…" Hiccup said quietly, dropped his sword and felt his eyes stinging again. He walked up to his cousin, reaching forward and placing a hand on his shoulder. It was odd, feeling his skin under his palm. They never touched. Never hugged, never smiled at each other like relatives were supposed to. They only hated each other, envied each other for the same reasons but on different sides of the spectrum. It was the worst kind of irony.
But it wasn't enough. Hiccup saw the fire reignite behind Snotlout's eyes, and he smiled the devil's smile as he lunged his hand up, sword swinging right for Hiccup's neck.
Hiccup closed his eyes, expecting the blow as he heard Alastair cry out after him, but seconds later he didn't feel the sting of a blade slicing his skin but a heavy body falling against him.
Snotlout was passed out, falling into him and they both tumbled in the ground.
Hiccup looked up, confused, but saw Gothi standing there. He hand was, thumb poking out.
He had heard of those techniques from spiritual elders. How they could stop flows of energy within the body momentarily just by pressing on a certain spot of the body. Hiccup swallowed, and rolled Snotlout over gently.
"He'll wake up soon." Alastair pulled at Hiccup. "We have to go."
Hiccup stood ant looked at Gothi…she was holding something in her other hand.
The Dragon Heart book.
Hiccup smiled as Gothi handed it to him and she tapped the side of the wall, a side door opening that lead to a tunnel. She gestured towards it.
"She wants us to go down there…?" Alastair raised a brow. "What if it's a trap?"
Hiccup had thought that as well, but then he looked down at the book. Gothi was like Old Wrinkly. She must've known the truth as well.
"No, I don't think so…" Hiccup said, and he took Alastair's hand, squeezing it."She's helping us. I'm sure this tunnel leads to outside where Toothless is." He faced Gothi. "Right…?"
The old woman only nodded. And shoved them inside before she closed the door behind them.
0o0
Hiccup and Alastair walked down the tunnel for a good ten minutes. They had a few minutes left to spare before the half hour was up, but Hiccup knew that no one was probably out back since he was sure word had gotten out the he was roaming through the palace.
Still, he kept Alastair's hand in his, pulling her with urgency.
In the few moments of quiet his mind raced again, the thoughts of the journey ahead, of possibly killing the guards, Snotlout's words…Alastair's kiss. He stopped point-blank at that thought and turned to face her, getting a good look at her with his new clarity.
It made him feel sick and relieved at the same time. Relieved that he knew the truth, but sick that she had lied to him. Was still lying to him.
He needed to hear it from her.
"Alastair…" he started.
"Why'd you stop…? We have to—"
"Don't lie to me…" He said, still as cryptic as ever. He couldn't bring himself to say it in full, hoping that she'd get it and fess up. He saw the comprehension glitter in her eyes. Her blue eyes…they were beautiful now that he knew…
"I…" Alastair started, but Hiccup stepped towards her, grabbing her shoulders roughly.
"Don't lie to me." He stressed harder, shaking her a bit. And she looked down, being stubborn, before hugging him tightly.
"Don't leave me…" she said instead, whispering the words to him even though they were alone. Hiccup simply pulled her away, still grasping her shoulders and looked her deeply in the eye. He saw the fear in them. Did telling him scare her that much…?
He couldn't press any further than that as he remembered the larger things at hand. Hiccup slid his hand down, grabbing her hand yet again and they continued running. The end of the tunnel was a staircase that lead upwards, and the hatch that opened at the top was a small hole in the supply shed, right near the tree.
"Where's Toothless…?" Alastair asked. And as soon as she did the moon's shine blanketed the leaves on the tree, silhouetting a black figure.
Toothless.
::We're back.:: Hiccup said. ::Glad to see that you're safe…::
0o0
The night was cool, and Hiccup was thankful since he hadn't been able to remake the new flying vests in time. Alastair held on to him tightly, and he clutched the reigns but he knew that as long as they didn't run into trouble, there was no risk of falling off.
He trusted Toothless after all.
Berk was far behind them at that point, as they had been flying for hours, all night. No one spotted them, thank Thor, but the emotional weight of leaving everything behind so quickly with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the Dragon Heart book…it was disconcerting.
This wasn't how he pictured anything to end.
"I'm sorry I got you both into all of this…" Hiccup said, not even trying to hide his silent crying. "I'm so sorry…"
He felt Alastair hug him tighter.
"I think it was just…fate…" She looked back. "You weren't meant to be there, it was only hindering you."
"And you…?" Hiccup asked.
There was a silence between them before Alastair answered. Her hands clutching into his sides roughly.
"I told you…" She said timidly. "My duty is to you now…my only loyalty is to you…"
::That goes for two of us.:: Toothless agreed.
::We're not going to leave you, we're your friends…so we'll all face whatever lies ahead together.::
Hiccup smiled. A raise of warmth going through him slowly and it soothed his bones.
The air was a bit chilled that night, but between the warmth of Toothless and Alastair's arms around him he felt a bit at peace.
Even if it was only for a moment.
And even though the sky ahead burned with a sun raise that illuminated the most unclear future he had ever faced….
Aaaaaaaaand, cue the end of part one!
Whew, well that was a bumpy ride.
Is everything finished? Nope, clearly not. Everything's just getting started cause now that our heroes aren't on Berk anymore they've got a lot of ground to cover. The world's a pretty big place. And the Dragon Heart is out there…somewhere…
So, yeah, there's going to be another hiatus not that Part 1 is finished because I've decided to use winter break to completely focus on another personal project that requires a lot of attention.
So, VikingPunk Tale will return with part 2 on the 15th of January.
I know that sucks but…I need a break X_X
Review Responses:
Q-A the Authoress: Well a lot of stuff surely happens in this chapter as well, as far as conclusions go, I rather enjoyed it. Hope you did too!
Wolffury: Well at least I got that surprise factor XD and cool! Glad you got an account, this site is pretty cool.
Hpnarutardsjedipirate1234: Well it's here now!
92firedemon: I know, I'm sorry, but I've got a lot of personal projects that piled up before of school. So I have to make time for other things now that I have a month off.
AliceCullen3: Thanks :)
Rose: Sorry this chapter was late, I had school stuff with finals and whatnot. But yes, the "hiccstrid" is going to be pretty….interesting in part 2. But he still doesn't know her real name haha.
Storspeaker: Hopefully this chapter was to your liking, but I'm glad I'll no longer get people telling me how stupid Hiccup is now XD He suspected something along the lines of Alastair being a girl a while ago, but just couldn't bring himself to face that someone he was very close to and who he trusted was also just being fake.
Guest1: Hiccup's secret got revealed, though not the way everyone though. He kind let his cat out of the bag himself. And how he flies off as a fugitive….
Guest2: Thank you! I'm glad you liked how it played out. I was going for a bit of something different and having Astrid be the one who was busted first.
Wishyouweremedontya: Thank you, and I'm updating more frequently than I used to, believe me, but my life is super busy so this is about as frequent as I can get at the moment. And this was only one of Astrid's revelations. There's a much bigger one coming up later in the story.
Elcall: Snotlout's sneaky and paranoid so he followed her XD I tried to hint at that without being too obvious in the previous chapters.
Ferdoos: You guessed correct! Though that was kinda obvious at this point.
PJfan449: Ding ding ding, you're correct! I think you're the only one who caught that before this chapter XD
Guest3: Oh yeah, he was determined to find out what was up with Hiccup and Alastair. And if you liked the hiccstrid moment last chapter I'm sure loved the stuff in this one. Their relationship is very odd right now, but stuff will get a little more ironed out in the next part. Hiccup was suspicious of Alastair being a girl a while ago, but didn't want to deal with someone he trusted also lying to him, he still doesn't really want to deal with it, but after that kiss he couldn't really ignore it anymore. And, I can't say who the dragon heart is, duh.
Rider of doom: Thank you! And…it's okay…?
SAmaster01: Oh that's always nice to come back to stories and see a few more chapters updated XD. And, well, I don't know if the "status quo" you speak of has been restored but no one died. Everyone's fine…just emotionally exhausted. And I'm glad the fantasy-epic part of it is shining through even this early in the story. This first part was really just a lot of set up to get them off Berk with a mission, and now that that's completed a new journey is going to unfold. They're all going to get sucked into a lot of crap. And as for the Alastair/Astrid dilemma, how that was going to pan out has been planned out for a while. So, yeah, I knew what I was doing. I wanted their "relationship" to be pretty odd. So now we have the odd circumstance of Hiccup knowing the truth but not wanting to deal with it, Astrid being too scared to say anything even though she knows he's probably figured it out, and then there's that awkward kiss to deal with. It's fun to put those two in these kind of odd predicaments instead of just having it pan out the old fashion way. Cause where's the fun in that? But the dynamic will certainly change with all of this new information being revealed.
Josy daky: Thank you!
Love this Story: Thank you, I'm glad you like it. Sorry the update was late but…you know…school…
Useyourimagination: Haha yeah, a lot of people like this story for doing something different with those two. It's fun to deal with Astrid falling for Hiccup first instead of the other way around like it is in canon. And Part 2 will be updated in the same story. I don't spilt stories I just write everything in one. So when part 2 comes along this same story will update.
Me myself and I: Sorry, I was busy with my last week of the semester, finals and whatnot. But the chapter's here now so rejoice!
Thanks for the tons of review for part one everybody! But the story will be back next month with tons of new drama, characters, and all the other juicy stuff you all love. So, have a good break!
See you on January 15th!