Hello my dears, yet another chapter for you. Shit's going down... are you guys worried yet? Someone might die you know...

Enjoy!

Chapter 21. Taken

He sighed deeply as he stared out over the ocean. Despite the danger he had insisted in participating in the nightly watch, seeing it as his duty as future Chief of Berk. Toothless was curled next to him, purring softly, just happy to be out of the house. It had been almost a week since the trappers escaped from the island, but there had been no sign of then. Or the man that set them free. They had seemingly disappeared without a trace, their only clue being the herbs that had been used.

"What do you think bud," he asked, glancing at the dragon, "who do you think set them free."

Toothless looked up, crooning softly. Hiccup sighed and looked back to the ocean.

"Yeah... I don't know either. Or when Drago will attack. It's driving me crazy! He is out there now, he has Wren and Snow, and he could be making his way over here as we speak! And the only warning we have is the watch towers and the guards."

He shook his head and turned back to look at the village. It was almost impossible to tell they had been getting ready for war. A few lanterns were still lit, the flames flickering in the chilling air. The yaks and sheep had all been led into their stables, and most of the dragons had either left or were sleeping inside the houses and stables. The half moon shone with a weak, pale light, the thousands of stars like pinpricks in a sheet of paper.

"It's not enough..." he said softly, glancing at the house where he knew Astrid and his father slept, "it won't be enough. Even with Broghan and the others here, it just won't be enough."

Toothless nudged his leg, looking up at him with his gentle green eyes, the pupils fully dilated. Hiccup smiled weakly and scratched the dragon's head, opening his mouth to say something, but he was cut off when something moved in the corner of his eye. He looked up, to see the outline of a black figure on one of the bridges. He jumped up and Toothless growled, his wings flaring, but the figure turned and walked away, towards the forest. Hiccup drew Inferno, straightening his back.

"Come bud," he said, placing his hand on the dragon's head, "lets follow him. But carefully."

Toothless growled lowly and Hiccup followed the black figure as he walked deeper and deeper into the forest. The man didn't seem bothered by the fact that he was being followed, and that alone should have set off alarm bells in Hiccup's head. But the worry about Astrid and the baby, the fear about the imminent war, the possibility to lose everyone he held dear to his heart had clouded his judgement, and he didn't turn back.

"Hey..." he frowned, looking around, "where'd he go? Toothless? Do you see him?"

The dragon crooned, also looking around for the man. Then he raised his head, picking up a scent and following it, going straight towards the cove where they had first met. He crept towards the edge, Toothless right behind and peered inside. The man was calmly sitting on a rock, his head resting on his hands while he was staring at the lake, seemingly just waiting.

"Stay here Toothless," he whispered, and the dragon pressed low against the ground.

Hiccup slipped down, Inferno ready as he landed on the soft grass. If the man had heard him he didn't show it, not moving as Hiccup crept closer. He stood up straight, holding Inferno next to the man's cheek.

"Get up," he said coldly, "slowly. Don't try to take your weapon or I will kill you."

For a moment the man sat motionless, then he dropped his hands and stood up off the rock, turning around. A black helmet concealed his face, and Hiccup frowned.

"Who are you!" he demanded, waving Inferno, "what do you want here!"

The man didn't answer, but before he could demand an answer a second time, the man gasped and dropped to his knees, yanking the helmet off and throwing it aside. He curled up, his arms wrapped around his stomach, but Hiccup stood frozen. He would recognize the messy black hair anywhere.

"Wren...?" he asked, completely shocked, "oh my gods, Wren!"

He rushed over, throwing Inferno down and kneeling next to the man, placing a hand on his shoulder. When Wrenlou looked up he almost jumped up again. His pupils were switching from big to small, his face twisted in a pained grin.

"H...Hiccup..." he whispered, "r...run..."

"No, I' not leaving you," Hiccup said, determined, "what did he do to you? Wren?"

D...drugged me..." Wrenlou said, groaning while he tried to push Hiccup away, "c...controls me s...somehow...g...go... he sent me to t...take you to him... run..."

"I won't leave you," Hiccup said, grabbing Wrenlou's arm and trying to sit him up, "come on. We'll find a way to fix it."

"NO!" Wrenlou screamed, forcefully pushing him aside, "run! g...go..."

Hiccup yelped as he stumbled backwards and fell, but he was back on his feet in a matter of seconds. He looked over to Wrenlou, who had gone quiet, and carefully moved closer, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, shaking him lightly when that got no response.

"Wren?" he asked softly, "are you okay?"

For a moment it was silent, then Wrenlou started laughing. Hiccup frowned, but Wrenlou got up, shaking the hand off his shoulder.

"You're a fool Hiccup Haddock," he said, drawing his sword, "you should have left while you had the chance... now it's too late."

Hiccup gasped and stepped back. Wrenlou's pupils had settled on mere pinpricks in his irises, his face was emotionless, and his eyes were as cold as ice. Hiccup glanced back to where he had dropped Inferno. He looked back at Wrenlou, searching for any sign of the man he knew, but whatever drug Drago had given him had taken over his mind, and there was no sign he even knew what he was doing.

He held his hands out as if he was going to surrender, and when Wrenlou lowered his sword, he turned around and sprinted to Inferno, grabbing the hilt and clicking the blade open, turning around just in time to block a blow aimed at his head. He was now laying on his back, Wrenlou standing over him, their swords pushing against each other.

"Wren, please," Hiccup said, his arms straining from the immense pressure Wrenlou was able to extort on the blade, "you're no fighter... you're a healer!"

"My Master has given me a command," Wrenlou said blankly, "I must obey it."

"Master?" Hiccup asked, kicking Wrenlou's shin and jumping up as the man stumbled backwards, "you hate that word! What are you, a slave?"

"My Master has demanded your presence," Wrenlou said, charging at Hiccup.

Hiccup blocked the blow, pushing Wrenlou backwards.

"Wren it's me!" he said desperately, "can't you see it's me? Snap out of it, please!"

Wrenlou's face changed, no longer blank and expressionless, instead twisted with rage that Hiccup was fighting back. He growled lowly and circled him, his movements almost like that of a dragon.

"Wrenlou, please," Hiccup said, reaching out to the man, "think of Snowflake."

A loud roar from above them made him look up. Toothless came crashing down, Snowflake appearing on the edge. Before Toothless had a chance to get up the white dragoness jumped down, dressed in black armour similar to Wrenlou's. She pinned Toothless easily as the dragon lay dazed from the fall, and Hiccup stared in shock.

"S...Snow...?" he asked, and the white dragon looked up.

Her pupils were small slits in her vibrant eyes, and Hiccup realized she was under Drago's influence as well. Toothless growled and tried to get up, but Snowflake held him down, roaring in the dragon's face, a clear threat.

"Wren, please," Hiccup pleaded softly, "it's me, Hiccup. Can't you see me? Can't you hear me?"

But Wrenlou didn't respond and charged him. Hiccup parried, their blades clashing and sparks from Inferno flew up. Hiccup pleaded desperately for his brother to listen, seeking his eyes and trying to get through to him. But Wrenlou's eyes were slightly glazed over, his pupil a tiny speck, his face twisted in rage and hatred. He pulled away, aiming at Hiccup's right but once again Hiccup blocked the blow. They were both fighting left handed. Hiccup because it was his dominant hand, and Wrenlou because the strange black suit he was wearing didn't have his arm brace, meaning his right arm was practically useless for a fight.

"Wren! It's me! Come on brother, snap out of it!"

Wrenlou's sword met his own again with so much force that is caused sparks. The blades slid past each other, both pushing with all they strength, but where Wrenlou was trying to kill Hiccup, Hiccup in turn was just defending himself. He couldn't bring himself to attack his brother and possibly hurt him. No, if he wanted to defeat him, he had to tire him out, let him use his energy so that he could be subdued easily and safely.

He stumbled back when Wrenlou shoved him, quickly regaining his posture and bringing his sword up again, just in time to block a strike aimed at his head. It was then that the realization that Wrenlou was really trying to kill him really sank in. This wasn't one of their trainings, this wasn't one of their play fights, this was serious, and if he didn't do something to stop it, one of them would end up dead.

He stepped back, his prosthetic slipping on the ground, and Wrenlou's sword nicked his cheek as he was just a little too late to block the blow. He ducked under the blade and spun around, but Wrenlou was just as fast and their blades clashed again. As they pushed against each other, Hiccup desperately sought Wrenlou's gaze again.

"Wren, please" he begged, "please come back to me."

Wrenlou grunted and shoved him back. Hiccup stumbled, but was able to regain his balance and when he looked over at his brother, he saw how his face was twisted in a blind rage that wasn't his, his mind under Drago's control as the drug coursed through his veins.

"Please Wrenlou," Hiccup pleaded with his brother, "please, you have to fight it. You're stronger than he is, I know you are."

"You don't understand," Wrenlou growled, raising his sword again, "Drago is the true Dragon Master. You, you are just a pretender. And if you won't follow him, then you must die."

The words were like knifes in his heart, and Hiccup blinked away a few tears. Somewhere he knew that Wrenlou didn't mean what he said, that is was the drug talking, but he couldn't shield himself from the hurtful words completely, so they landed where they hurt him the most. He looked at Wrenlou across from him. The man holding the sword with two hands now, his face twisted with rage and his eyes were spewing fire. The black armour he was wearing looked alien on him, the black metal reflecting the light from the rising sun.

Wrenlou charged again, and Hiccup blocked him, pushing back with all his might. Wrenlou had always been stronger, if only slightly, but he was at a disadvantage with his arm brace gone. Slowly, but surely he managed to push Wrenlou away, completely oblivious to the fact that in his brainwashed state, Wrenlou would not play fair.

He kicked his shin, and Hiccup stumbled backwards, trying to keep his balance while his prosthetic was slipping on the wet ground. He growled, gripping his sword, and retracted the blade. Wrenlou stopped his charge, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Listen," Hiccup said softly, "I don't want to fight you. Please, come back to me..."

Wrenlou growled and gripped his sword tighter. "You don't understand!" he screamed, "you will never understand!"

Hiccup shook his head. "This isn't you!" he argued, "you're better than this! You're stronger than he is!"

"No... no I'm not..." Wrenlou whispered, then he raised his sword again, ready to charge.

Hiccup stepped out of the way, and used Inferno's handle as a club, landing the metal object against Wrenlou's head. Wrenlou stumbled and fell, stunned but not quite unconscious. Hiccup sighed and put Inferno back on his leg.

"I will not fight you," he said, "I refuse to."

With that, he turned around and started walking away, leaving Wrenlou on the ground. In his heartache and sorrow however, he once again forgot that Wrenlou was drugged and brainwashed, and therefor not fighting honest. There was a sudden sharp pain in his back and he froze, gasping for breath. He stood there, not quite comprehending what had happened, when he felt a push against his shoulder. He stumbled forward, then fell to his knees, leaning on his hands for support. He looked up when two feet came into his field of vision, and saw Wrenlou standing in front of him, a small, previously concealed crossbow on his arm. He retracted it into his arm guard and looked down at him, almost looking disappointed.

"Don't underestimate the power of Drago, Hiccup," Wrenlou said, his voice sounding very normal, "I made that mistake. But don't worry, you'll soon meet him."

Hiccup blinked a few times, finding it harder and harder to keep his eyes open. Wrenlou's face was swimming in front of him, the world blurring in and out of focus.

"W...what did you do t...to me..." he coughed, and Wrenlou chuckled.

"Don't worry... you'll be fine," he said turning around, "for now..."

Wrenlou brought his hand to his mouth, shouting his Night Fury call into the night, and it was answered by a screech. Snowflake came into view, landing next to her rider. Her pupils were narrowed into slits, the black armour alien on her and she looked menacing, but Wrenlou placed a hand on her nose and turned back to Hiccup.

"Time to go," he said, pulling out a rope, "Drago is waiting for you, Dragon Master."

Hiccup shook his head and tried to get up, but found his legs were to weak to carry him. He looked around for Toothless and found the dragon close by, a small dart in his neck.

"T... Toothless..." he coughed, "w...what..."

"Oh hush he'll be fine tomorrow," Wrenlou said, "just some Dragon Root."

Wrenlou stepped over to him, pushing him down on the ground with a foot on his shoulder. Then he pulled Hiccup's arms behind his back and bound them tightly. Hiccup hardly noticed anymore. The drug was finally taking it's toll, and the last thing he saw was Wrenlou pulling him onto Snowflake, and walking over to Toothless.

He pulled a scroll from his tunic and slipped it into Toothless' saddle bag. Then he petted the dragon and pulled the dart out, hurrying to get to Snowflake and leave with his captive, knowing the dragon would soon wake up from his slumber.