When they got word that Toothless was finally allowed to leave the boat, Astrid and Fishlegs jumped at the chance to help out. Astrid wasn't needed by the other shieldmaidens yet, and Gobber had left the forge for an hour to gather more supplies.

"You sure he's okay to leave?" Fishlegs asked.

"The healers said all the tranquilizing serum was out of his system and his wounds were all healed up. Dragons heal faster than humans you know."

"Of course I know," replied Fishlegs. "I've already read the Book of Dragons like-"

"Seven times, I remember." Astrid rolled her eyes as they made their way past the cliffs down to south beach. Thank the gods the Berkian ship had landed on the opposite side of the island from where the battle was. "Just keep calm, we can't get him all riled up, or he'll get hurt all over again. I think seeing Hiccup again should cheer him, don't you?" In truth, Astrid was just trying to cheer herself up. There was nothing else to smile about at a time like this.

"Hope so. How was Hiccup when you saw him? Did the elder help?"

"Yup, she made sure Hiccup got plenty of attention." Astrid couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse. The last time she saw her boyfriend, they were yelling at eachother about what was best for the tribe and best for Hiccup's own health. Astrid didn't want him to be thinking only of how she had threatened to "hold him at axe point" if he didn't stay in the healer's hut.

"I should probably apologize to him when we get back" she muttered out loud to herself. Fishlegs gave her a puzzled look.

"Apologize?"

"Huh? Oh! Nothing, I meant I should apologize to Hiccup... we kind of had an argument before I left him there at the healer's."

"Ah."

"Yeah."

"Well... I'm sure he's feeling a little better by now. I think talking it out should help."

"It should, I guess."

Toothless bounded happily alongside the two Vikings as the trio trekked up the beach to the healer's.

"Excited to see your pal, huh?" Astrid asked the excited night fury. Toothless flicked his tail (which had the prosthetic now secured properly) and leapt around.

Toothless had been found in his cell on Outcast island suffering from fatigue, hunger, and injury. No one had made a mark on his wings or on his good tailfin, thank the gods, but there were whip marks all over his back. The healers on Berk had made quick work of cleaning the wounds and feeding Toothless as much fish as he desired. Now, he was just about back to his old self.

Now he was more than excited to see his friend again.

The door of the healer's hut opened, and in walked Astrid and Fishlegs. The elder wasn't there, but her assistant was, and she looked completely frazzled. More patients had been brought in since the last time the two of them were there.

Astrid scanned the room and saw the problem immediately.

"Where's Hiccup?" she interrogated, her voice getting a little to high. The healer looked up to see the couple of teenagers standing before her. She caught sight of the black dragon sitting impatiently by the door. Understanding, the healer shook her head.

"He was in here last night. I thought maybe the elder had moved him somewhere else."

"Hiccup's gone?" Astrid asked. Her voice rose even more.

"You mean you don't know either?"

"I... ugh!" Astrid shook her head. She could feel the color draining from her face. "Gods help him."

"I don't understand" said Fishlegs. "Why wouldn't he be here?"

"I think I know" answered Astrid. "Come on, we have to tell the others."

"Wait, wait, tell the others what?"

"That Hiccup's gone."

"But where'd he go?"

"To war."

Toothless was very confused. The tones of the voices from the two friends of Hiccup's had been cheerful. They had led him to believe he was going to see his rider again. Now he was sitting outside a very small building, and the blonde rider was angry. The big one looked nervous. Toothless heard the blonde rider raise her voice, and another, softer voice answered her. Something was wrong.

The two humans walked out of the small building, and the blonde one patted him on the nose, which made him happy. But then the girl took her hand away and said something in an angry voice, and the big one answered her with a voice that sounded scared.

We've got to go tell the others. If we don't get Hiccup back he'll be captured. Toothless can't fly anywhere without Hiccup, he needs to stay with the other dragons and help defend the troops from the ground. He can still shoot fire and fight with his claws. He can still help. Just pretend he's going to see Hiccup. Will you help me bring him to Gobber's?

Sure.

Good. Gobber can take him to the safe spot with the other dragons. We need to go find the others and bring Hiccup back.

Toothless recognized nothing of the conversation between the two riders, except for a few random words. He knew that they were talking about Hiccup. But where was Hiccup?

Where is my friend?

With Toothless on his way to meet the other dragons in a hidden location, Astrid and Fishlegs hurried towards the training academy, where they knew Snotlout and the twins would be. The academy wasn't far, only a ten minute walk (or a five minute run). They were jogging, so they should make good time. When the entrance of the academy came into sight Astrid slowed. Fishlegs slowed along with her.

"Why are we slowing down?" He was out of breath. He wasn't really one for running. Or jogging.

"Something's not right." Astrid's eyes were focused on the ground.

"What's not right?"

Astrid waved a hand in his face to quiet him. "Just stay close, I'm not so sure about this. You see those footprints in the dirt there?" She pointed down in front of them.

Fishlegs looked at the ground. In the dirt were imprints made by maybe three or four people. The people who made the prints must have had some big feet. Fishlegs pointed this out, but Astrid shook her head.

"Not big feet. Wrapped feet. See how they look sort of misshapen?"

"Uh... sure?"

"These people must have wrapped their feet in something, probably with layers of cloth. To stay silent. Fishlegs, I think there might be spies here."

Fishlegs slowed down completely and came to a stop. Astrid did the same.

"So what do we do?"

Astrid brushed her bangs out of her face. "I think we should try going around and keep to the sides, just to check if anyone's hanging around the place before we actually go in. For all we know they could be gone now, but it's better to check."

Fishlegs swallowed, but he agreed to go through with the idea.

The two of them crept past the academy entrance and made their careful way around the side. The footprints ended at the entrance, so as long as they steered clear of the entrance they wouldn't end up bumping into any unwanted company. Or at least, they thought so. Once they cleared the front of the academy they took another turn - and walked into some very unwanted company.

"Well well," said a voice in the shadows. "Hello there."

Fishlegs bumped into Astrid as she came to an abrupt halt.

"Show yourself, coward!" Astrid hissed into the dark. There was a soft, bristly laugh, and someone in a hooded cloak stepped forward. The cloak was grey, with a black Askr Gotar crest - a black dagger piercing a black heart - emblazoned on the shoulder. An Askr spy. A second person, a woman, it looked like, followed behind him, dressed in the same attire.

"Did you just call me and me friend here cowards?" the man lisped. The woman behind him tut tutted. "Oh, now I don't think that's a very nice way to introduce yourself. Cloak Nine, do you think that was very nice of the girl to say?"

"Not very nice at all, Twelve."

"Aye, I quite agree. Very impolite. Let us show them the proper way to greet someone."

The spies flashed the teenagers a pair of bright smiles, before they descended on the two Berkians. As Astrid and Fishlegs were bound and gagged, the man titled Cloak Nine, in a voice that sounded much like that of a snake, hissed, "Fancy a trips to the docks, children? I think your other friend is on his way there already."

He must have been asleep. Or knocked out, which was the more probable guess. The invasive thoughts were getting increasingly urgent. Everything Hiccup thought of had to do with the spell from the prophetess. What what was it Volva said? When she was having her episode of uncontrollable spasms (ugh, why was he thinking about that?) she had said something more about the spell, the one written on the little scroll.

The souls become merged, the features as well,

That was a weird line. Souls become merged... whose souls? Well, his own soul, that much seemed pretty obvious. But who else's? Toothless? Could be... But features as well? That part made even less sense. The features become merged? As in, looks?

Why were these thoughts going through his head? Shouldn't he at least be trying to wake up? There were people he needed to help.

No, do not wake. Not yet. You need to know what this transaction entails.

He hadn't thought that. Someone else had said that - someone else was talking to him. In his thoughts? There was no voice behind the words, but Hiccup heard them.

What transaction? He tried to ask, simply by thinking of the question.

This transaction... if you say those words, you acquire power, but you lose the rights to something of great value - your soul.

No... that was never an option. I was never told that.

But you were. The speaker's young soul must burn in Hel.

Speaker's young sould must burn in Hel?

Death will come, but remember the end of the verse. You have hope.

The end of the verse?

Speak it with brav'ry and with love and with need, for the speaker who speaks it will, in ending, succeed.

So I'll succeed?

Think, rider, what was the first part of the warning that came to mind?

Hiccup couldn't believe he was having a discussion with no one. And yet here he was, racking his brain for whatever warning this voiceless speaker was trying to make him remember.

I already said that the speaker's soul must burn in Hel, He argued voicelessly in his head.

And what do you think it means? Once you complete this transaction, you can't take it back. Now that you have been made aware of the price, you can blame no one but yourself for whatever happens to you afterwards. All your decisions are on you, and you alone.

There was only one thing that could explain that warning line, the part about a soul burning in Hel. It would be his soul. It had to be. Rights to the control of his soul would be taken from him. And that meant...

So I'll have to die. One way or another, I will have to die. It says ... my soul will burn in Hel. But the last part was something about succeeding. So... I'm going to die, but I'm going to win first. Heroes... dying... winning... but... what if it's all a lie?

:::::::::::A/N::::::::::

Sorry it was a shorter chapter. From here on out, the majority of the chapters will be longer. And more interesting. Hope it's not too confusing, but if it is please feel free to send a message or leave a comment.