As breakfast passed, Hiccup and Astrid again sat around the great table. Opposite them sat Snotlout, and between them Freya. After a few minutes Harald walked in. He did not look pleased, but managed to sound convincingly sorry when saying:
"My apologies, chiefs, chieftesses, for being late."
"It's been forgiven." said Freya. "Now, yesterday we did not get very far, though let me summon it up for you. Chief Hiccup Haddock and Chieftess Astrid Haddock desire above all else the freedom of their friends, Fishlegs Ingerman and Heather Berserk, who are currently imprisoned on Thor's Wrath. Harald Ingvarsson and Snotlout Jorgenson desire recognition from Hiccup and the freedom to do as they please, whilst continuing to learn about the dragons. Does that about sum it up?"
Both parties nodded.
"Good, now. Yesterday I only heard Harald and Astrid. I understand that the chiefs would first want to see and observe the situation as it rises, but urge you both, Snotlout and Hiccup, to speak now. Hiccup, would you start the debate today?"
"Thank you Freya." said Hiccup. "Now I have trouble believing, Snotlout that the liberty of the people of Thor's Wrath would be your top priority. Especially since that has never been in doubt. Of course you may do as you will. I named you acting chief of the Vagabonds for a reason. You are their chief, and I trusted you to do that job to the best of your abilities. Now I know from earlier news that you have gone after Heather for personal reasons. In fact, I have received multiple complaints about it from her in person. Is not she what you desire, even now; and am I right in guessing that she turned you down, and you couldn't handle it. Isn't that why she is locked up? Tell me, Snotlout. Are your reasons really so selfless?"
Snotlout gulped. Hiccup had seen straight through his charade. What to answer him. He couldn't cave in. Not now. He had to be confident in his answering.
"Yes, I've always loved Heather. So what if I did?" Snotlout started. He was immediately sorry he said it. "I'm trying to be the best chief I can for my people. You know. You put me in charge. And yes, Heather and I have had our troubles in the past, but those are solved and buried."
"Buried? Snotlout, are they in jail or not?"
"Uhm, yes, I think so."
"You think so!? Snotlout. You better start telling the truth here. Do you want Heather?"
Snotlout could no longer contain himself.
"Yes! I want her, I want her so much. I'd do anything for her. I wanted her, and I took her."
Astrid gasped. Hiccup was dumbfounded. Freya was struck with surprise and disgust.
Astrid was the first to open her mouth. "What exactly do you mean, Snotlout, when you say you 'took her'?"
Snotlout fell quiet. Everything would come out now.
"You couldn't take it," said Hiccup. Disgust written all over his face. "You couldn't stop yourself, Snotlout. Is that the case? You forced yourself onto her. You raped her. Well that explains why we have not heard a word from Fishlegs either. What happened, Snotlout? Did he confront you after you were done with her?"
"No! No! No!" Snotlout fiercely shook his head. "No, you got it all wrong!" Snotlout couldn't handle it anymore.
"It's true. I couldn't control myself." Tears flowed over his cheeks at this time. He breathed heavily and barely spoke loud enough for the other four to hear him. "She found out I told you I had apologized to her in my letter. She attacked me in the meeting hall. I managed to corner her and disarm her. It was like I couldn't think straight. All I saw was her beautiful body. I could not stop myself, Hiccup. I am so sorry! Just before the fight started the hall was cleared out. Apparently Fishlegs tried to get in when I was fighting Heather, and my guards locked him in the brig. Hiccup, I am so sorry!"
Harald now interceded. "This is all completely beside the point. We, the people of Thor's Wrath wish Hiccup Haddock to leave us alone, and I believe we already made clear we mean business."
Freya looked at Snotlout. She actually felt sorry for him. She thought back to last night. How could anyone even refuse someone that good in bed? Wait, she was getting distracted.
"I think a short recess is in order," she said. "Be back in fifteen minutes."
Harald stood up from his chair quickly. He went outside, and jumped upon Shadowwing. "Up, you devil" he said. They flew across the ocean until they passed a small island. And indeed, there his fleet lay ready. He landed on the bow of the foremost ship. He told the captain:
"Pass the word. Take ten minutes and sail out to the island. Attack, round up everyone, but leave the chiefs to me. Watch out. They have dragon riders there."
He immediately turned around and flew back to Rhineland Isle.
Just in time he sat back down at the table.
Freya thought she would ask a daring question. She knew Harald had Snotlout somehow under his command, and she guessed she now knew how. But not yet.
"Tell me, Snotlout. Are you willing to surrender Heather and Fishlegs to Hiccup?"
"I am," Snotlout answered. "and please, Hiccup, I want to come home too."
Harald did not move a muscle, but was boiling inside.
"But sir, we need you." Harald said with as much politeness as he could muster.
"Really?" asked Freya. "You need him? What for? Haven't you practically ruled Thor's Wrath alone for the past few weeks, Harald?"
"Excuse me?"
Astrid looked stunned at Freya then at Hiccup. For verily it seemed Hiccup was not surprised at all. His gut feeling had been right all along.
"Ah, yes. I knew it." said Hiccup. "And I am guessing that it you who sent those letters to me, pretending to be Snotlout. This has clearly been planned for a long time. Tell me Harald, who are …"
"We're under attack!" Spitelout crashed through the roof onto the negotiating table. Twenty-five ships or more off the docks, chiefs. We don't stand a chance! Everyone leapt up from their seat and moved out. Harald ran out, mounted Shadowwing and found a place where he had a good view over his a victory it truly was. The forces of the sirens and the Dragon Riders were overwhelmed and within half an hour the island had surrendered. The Dragon Riders had been captured in nets one by one, until only Hiccup and Astrid remained. They surrendered upon seeing the overwhelming force of the Vagabond's fleet and army.
All were flocked together. The elders were gathered in the hall, and joined by Hiccup and the Dragon Riders. Snotlout had never left. All were bound and thrown to the side.
"Well, I never expected this would go this easy!" said the man walking in the doors. It was Harald.
"Now, Chief Hiccup. It is impolite to leave a question unanswered, so hearken to me. In my life I have gone by many names. To you I always was Harald Ingvarsson, mere soldier in the Dragon Hunter Army. Those Grimborn fools never even knew who I was. To some I am known as Drago Bludvist. But, to you, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, I am Hamish Harald the Third, your great-uncle. Your father, Stoick the Vindictive, chased me out of Berk when he learnt I killed my father and brother. He made sure my life was living hell. I was a paria in the archipelago. No longer! Now, I am the master, and you will all listen to me.
Don't be afraid, Hiccup. I won't kill you …" A smile formed on his face. "yet," he added. "I will make your death a long and painful one, just like your father's. Guards, find the cells on this island and lock them up. Anyone who resists, or even opens his mouth, throw them of the cliffs."
Within the day, The island was completely overrun and controlled by the Vagabonds. Freya, Hiccup, Astrid, Spitelout, Snotlout, Sven, Bucket, Mulch and Gothi were imprisoned separately and none were allowed to speak. Snotlout opened his mouth once to ask for water, and he was repaid with ten whiplashes. They were not as bad as the ones given by Harald (or Drago, or Hamish, whatever his name really was), but they still wounded him deeply.
Hiccup had his hopes now vested in one person only. If only Dagur got his letter…