Chapter Fourteen

A/N: Aaaannddd...here we are! XD FINALLY we're at the climax (this chapter is the beginning of it and the next chapter will be the *real* climax)! This fanfic ended up being much longer than I originally anticipated it to be...but whatever! So far, it's been a really good experience for me. I like writing it! And I hope you guys are enjoying it as much as your reviews make it sound like you are!

Also...

Dagur is one SICK puppy... that's all I'm saying. (I'm not usually this dark and twisted, I promise! XD It's just that Dagur brings out the worst in me! LOL)

Darkness has fallen over the mainlands. A sharp, full moon glitters in the midnight sky as Merek and the Riders, along with a handful of mainland soldiers, dash through the forest, trying to pick up Dagur's trail. A few times, they manage to spot some of his footprints, although it's obvious he's trying not to leave any. And, so far, he's doing a pretty excellent job of it.

"I found some! Over here!" Astrid hisses to the rest of the group. "See? There's some scuffs in the mud and a broken twig there."

"Good job, Astrid." Merek says. "The marks are pointing this way." He nods his head in the direction of the footprint and starts to follow them.

"I found something!" Fishlegs calls, a little too loudly.

"Stay quiet!" Hiccup reminds him, firmly. "We don't want him to expect us."

"Hiccup is right." Merek tells him. "We have no idea how many Berserkers could be with him. He might even have a whole army, for all we know."

Fishlegs gulps at the thought. "B-but we have our dragons..." He points out, waving a shaking hand to Meatlug, who is currently chewing on a mouthful of pebbles.

"We still need the element of surprise." Hiccup assures him. "Dagur's resourceful...if he feels cornered...well, we'd have better luck dealing with an angry Monstrous Nightmare."

"Yeah, at least we know how to train those." Tuff adds with a devious smirk.

"Heeey! Maybe Hiccup could figure out how to train humans next!" His sister laughs, punching Tuff in the shoulder. "We could teach Dagur to sit."

Hiccup sighs and rolls his eyes. "Guys. This is serious." Toothless growls, as if backing him up. The Night Fury tilts his head back and sniffs the air, trying to pick up his enemy's scent. It's faint. Either Dagur came through here a long time ago, or he came through very fast. Both would cause his scent trail to be light.

Either way, he can probably still follow it. Then again, the last thing he wants is to be in the lead when they find Dagur. What with injured-Hiccup on his back... Of course, he'd probably just shoot Dagur with a plasma blast as soon as he sees him, anyway. But Hiccup stopped him last time. And, for the life of him, Toothless can't figure out why.

He sometimes thinks his little Rider is too kind-hearted for his own good. With an annoyed snort, he remembers how badly he'd wanted to kill Hiccup when he freed him in the woods, all those months ago. The only reason he didn't was because the tiny human had spared his life, for some unknown reason. It would have made him feel bad if he were to roast the pathetic creature after it took mercy on him... He could never have imagined that same stupidly-merciful, tiny little viking child would someday become his best friend.

Someone he would die to protect, without thinking twice about it.

"Hey! Look here!" Astrid calls again, interrupting Toothless's thoughts. She is crouched beside the twisted mess of leaves and snapped twigs. "He came through here. The trail goes that way." She points deeper into the woods, a determined scowl on her face. She jumps to her feet and takes off, everyone else following suit.

Toothless can feel Hiccup's exhaustion as he clings to the saddle with trembling hands. Suddenly, the dragon is glad that his friends insisted that Hiccup be carried. He's pretty sure the boy would have keeled over by now if he'd been forced to run this whole way. Toothless turns his head to look at him and coos.

Hiccup smiles at him. The look on his face is stronger than what his dragon would have imagined. Although a good bit of fear shines through his forest green eyes. After all he's been through, it's no wonder he's petrified of the man...

"We're getting close." Merek announces.

"How can you tell?" Fishlegs asks him.

Cedany's chief reaches over to pat Ambereye's head. "She's getting worked up. I think she can smell him."

"Toothless can too." Hiccup confirms, noticing the way his dragon's eyes shift back and forth and his wings twitch, as if ready to take off at a moment's notice. "Dagur must be nearby."

"Hiccup," Astrid whispers. She hurries over, Stormfly in tow. There's a deeply concerned knot in brow. "I understand that you want peace of mind and all...but are you sure it's a good idea for you to be here...? I mean, what if Dagur is expecting us? He might not play games this time..."

"I know, Astrid." Hiccup mumbles, avoiding her searching gaze. "But I can't go on hiding forever...especially if it means sending my friends out to fight my battles for me." His expression darkens. "I won't put you guys in danger just for my sake."

She suddenly grabs his arm. "That's why you're here?" She hisses. "To protect us?"

He nods.

"Hiccup, Dagur wants to kill you." She growls, tugging his good arm so hard it forces Toothless to stop following the others. She releases her grip on him and takes a small step back, keeping her eyes locked on his. "Forget about keeping us safe for five minutes and worry about yourself for once."

She expects him to argue with her. To say something along the lines of: 'you guys shouldn't have to protect me' or 'I just don't want anything to happen to you'. What she doesn't expect, however, is exactly what he gives her.

Hiccup simply smiles. "You worry enough for both of us." He points out. "And coupled with Toothless, well...I think I'm covered in that department."

She frowns. He isn't taking this seriously...which is odd. Because only a few days ago, he was literally cowering in the corner at the mere thought of Dagur. Now, after having been nearly murdered AGAIN, he's ready to go track him down? She suddenly decides to stop trying to understand the way his brain works. It's really starting to confuse her. But still, she has to at least ask. "What are you thinking?" She wonders, gazing into his deep, intelligent eyes. For the first time in weeks, she sees no trace of fear in them.

He grins in a way that sends her stomach fluttering. "I'm thinking...that I'm not willing to lose anyone I care about. All I want is to keep you guys safe." The warmth in his eyes suddenly freezes over-changing their emerald green color to an icy shade of viridian-when he says, "No matter the cost."

The seven of them, plus their dragons, gradually close in on Dagur's location. Evidently, after being wacked by Toothless's tail and knocked out, his men carried him to their encampment on the edge of the forest, near the hilly shoreline. Now, Dagur has woken up and is treating his head wound. It stings and he's sure he must have a concussion. But none of that matters to him. So long as that brat and his devil-dragon die, he couldn't care less if he loses a limb in the process. It would be well-worth it to see Hiccup writhing in pain, screaming for mercy...

He no longer plans on simply killing him.

No.

That would be too easy for the runt. Dagur wants him to suffer. To enjoy every last second of Hiccup's pleads and cries for help. Maybe he'll even kill the dragon first, just to see the destroyed look on the brat's face... He'll keep him alive for as long as possible. Then, once Hiccup's body finally gives out, he'll ship his corpse back to Berk, string him up in the town square and laugh when Stoick comes outside to see his precious boy's cold, dead remains dangling from a rope...

Ohhh-ho-ho! Just the idea of it sends chills of pleasure down his spine.

And then there's the girl...Astrid, was it? The one who hit him with a bottle of wine and gave him a scar. She's pretty tough but seems to have a weak spot for Hiccup... He's curious to see how much it would take to break her. Maybe when he captures Hiccup, he'll take her too...keep them in the same cell. He has to wonder how loud she would scream for him to stop if she was forced to watch Hiccup slowly dying in front of her...?

"He's nearby!" Someone says from within the woods.

Dagur smirks. Well, speak of the devil... Standing up, he motions for his men to get ready. "Grab your weapons, men...we've got a runt to capture."

A/N: I'm sorry...cliffhangers. Cliffhangers everywhere.