Twenty-Five: Defenders of Berk

It was dark and cold when they finally made it back to the village, having finished off the roasted mutton in the Outcast camp. The teens had been enthused at the prospects of becoming defenders of the tribe and were planning when they could come up to the cove for lessons, leaving the exhausted Hiccup wondering when he would fit in all the training around his smithing and general avoiding Snotlout. But the spark of determination that lay buried in his breast, the last vestiges of his duty as Heir, kicked him and reminded him that he could do this. So he had agreed and set the next date.

But in the quiet of Astrid's house, she had lit the fire and then turned to him, eyes sweeping over his stiff form and the developing bruises on his face.

"What were you thinking?" she demanded, advancing rapidly on him. His eyes widened and he backed up a step.

"That if I could get the kids and Fish away, then I would have achieved something…" he mumbled, his eyes dropping. Astrid paused and then slowly approached him, her hand gently reaching out and snaring his.

"I meant me," she said more gently, ducking her head to try to lock her azure eyes with his emerald gaze. He gave a rueful version of his lopsided smile.

"Ah," he managed and shrugged. "I thought it was Snotlout and he made some pretty specific threats against you…which I really couldn't risk…" Her eyes flashed with irritation.

"You know I can take care of myself, right?" she asked him and he nodded with a sigh.

"I was hoping you could take care of me too?" he asked with a hopeful look. "I mean, if Snot and his gang got their hands on me, I needed you to rescue me." Her eyes narrowed as she processed his words. Her hand drifted down and brushed over his midriff.

"Did you need someone to rescue you this morning?" she asked him softly, feeling his hands curl around hers and carefully lift them from his middle.

"Snotlout has fixated on you now, Astrid-because he knows hurting you will hurt me," he told her seriously. "He threatened to harm you…badly…"

"I met Sven and Lars in the forest on the way to get the dragons," she revealed, seeing his head snap up, his eyes narrowing with concern. Then she gave her smug smile. "Took 'em out, babe. I needed to get help for you." He gave a small, proud smile.

"Be careful," he repeated. "If all four of them were there, you might not be so lucky…"

"Show me," she said gently and tugged at the hem of his tunic, seeing faint stains against the woollen fabric. Nodding, he lifted the fabric up, hissing in pain as he slid the fabric over his shoulders and off. Immediately, Astrid's quick fingers began unfastening the bandages, leaning forward as she unwrapped his middle and hissed in shock at the burns. "Hiccup! Oh Thor…you should have told me…" His hand rose to gently lift her chin.

"And do what?" he asked calmly. "Look pathetic? Have you storming off to threaten Snotlout? Astrid-there's nothing to be done except be grateful it was done to me, not you…" Her eyes widened then and her expression turned stricken. His fingers stroked her cheek, tracing along her jaw. "I would suffer every agony in the Nine Realms before I let him mutilate you."

"That rancid mud-sucking yak-loving son of a deformed half-troll…" she growled and he gave a chuckle.

"And there's the woman who killed an Outcast with a single axe throw in the dark while flying on a dragon," he smirked. "Astrid, just bind them up again and we can get some rest. It's been a long and far-too-exciting day…" Professionally, she got him to sit on the bed and carefully salved and rebound his wounds, wincing at the bruises from where he had been kicked. Wordlessly, she gave him an old green tunic to sleep in-made from the remains of the tunic that the twins had destroyed and he slipped it on before resting back and watching her. He never tired of seeing her rebraid her hair before bed and make her final preparations, his heart fluttering like a bird in his chest and swelling with his love for her. Quietly, she shed her armour and climbed into bed next to him, pressing her body gently against his and wrapping her arms around him. His head nuzzled affectionately against her.

"You know you're almost a hero and they may give your word some credence against Mildew?" she murmured, her head burrowing against his shoulder. He nodded.

"But there's an abyss between 'almost a hero' and 'hero'," he reminded her. "And this is Berk. They'd ask why we were in the forest at dusk rather than focus on the Outcasts who are clearly planning an attack." She sighed, her eyes closing.

"Sadly, you're right," she groaned. "They really are mutton-heads, sometimes…"

"Completely…but they're better than Outcasts, Berserkers or Meatheads…" he confirmed, twitching the fur over her carefully.

"You do know that you need more weapons lessons?" she murmured. "I mean, good with a sword-horrible with an axe…" His mouth lifted in a smile.

"Thought I'd leave that to the expert," he mumbled but her eyes opened for a moment and she looked up into his relaxed face.

"Being able to fight may save your life, dragon boy," she reminded him. "I almost lost you today. Don't want that to happen again…"

"Um…same here," he admitted. "I'm not going to get out of this, am I?"

"No chance," she smiled and closed her eyes. "Anyway, Alvin was too late. You already belong to me." He gave a small chuckle.

"I'm happy with that," he admitted. "All I ever wanted." She gently pressed a kiss against his bruised cheek.

"Get some sleep, Hiccup. We've got a lot of training to do." He curled against her, feeling her arm tighten possessively across his chest.

"Sleep well, Milady."

"Sleep well, babe," she breathed.

oOo

He was on edge on the forge, grateful that Gobber was there, though he was ribbing the younger man for his bruises. Grateful for the acceptance, he hammered away at the red-hot axe head he was working on, shaking his head. Gobber slurped a mouthful of ale from the mug attachment he had swopped in for his prosthetic hand and waved it at his apprentice.

"You know, they will say Astrid has been beating yer up," he commented, wiping his mouth.

"Yeah-you guys need to get some new stories," he commented dryly. "If Astrid decided to beat me up, I'd be dead!" But there was a twinkle in his emerald gaze and Gobber grinned back.

"Of course," he teased the younger man. "If she wasnae sweet on yer…"

"Lucky for me," Hiccup quipped, stuffing the blade back into the fire to soften. "I mean I…"

"HICCUP!" Stoick's bellow cut through the conversation and Hiccup turned to face the huge man, stomping down the Plaza, his brows drawn together in a huge scowl. Forcing himself to smile, the young man faced his former father and waited for him to arrive at the Forge.

"Morning, Chief," Hiccup said amiably. "What can I do for you?"

"I want a word with…" Stoick began loudly and then stared at his son. "What happened to you?" he exclaimed as the younger man scratched his jawline and quirked an eyebrow.

"This?" he asked, indicating to his bruises. "Um…fell…" Stoick's eyes narrowed but he said nothing, instead returning to his purpose.

"Mildew reported he'd seen you down on Thor's Beach," he growled as Hiccup controlled his shock and gave a small nod.

"Yeah-Astrid and I went for a walk there last night," he admitted easily. What has that traitor said? He can't claim to see Outcasts because he would have to explain why he was there-and he doesn't have a girlfriend as an excuse…just a sheep. Bleurgh! Can't unthink that! "We went down to see the moon and see if we could catch a glimpse of the Nordrljos on the horizon."

"Why would you…" Stoick persisted until Hiccup folded his arms and gaze his Chief and exasperated look.

"I know Mom died when I was a baby but I guess even you can recall what it was like to be young and in love?" he asked sarcastically. "You know…isolated romantic beach, beautiful moon and stars overhead, the fire of the Gods flickering on the horizon…?" He rolled his eyes.

"Are you meaning that you and her…outside wedlock…?" Stoick asked suspiciously and Hiccup's eyes widened and he flushed scarlet.

"What? NO! Thor, no!" he gabbled. "Astrid would literally kill me! No, we just hold hands and um…kiss…" Gobber's taunting laugh echoed through the forge as Hiccup face-palmed. "Kill me now," he mumbled, forcing himself back to the matter in hand. "But we found evidence someone had been there, Chief. A boat had been pulled up…animals dragged away…footprints…" Stoick's cold grey-green eyes narrowed and once again, Hiccup wondered Mildew had said. "The fire was still burning embers and there was an abandoned leg of mutton…so we ate it." He stared into his father's face boldly. "The only people who would so boldly invade Berk would be Outcasts, sir. And though we didn't see them, it was very likely they have raided our lands." He paused. "Didn't Mildew see them?" he added guilelessly. There was an awkward pause and the Chief gave a slow nod. The old man had hinted he had seen them talking to strangers…and the Chief had secretly made a rapid trip to the beach himself before returning to speak with his son. What he had found matched Hiccup's story and he scratched his beard loudly.

"I think you're right," he said thoughtfully. "I'll put scouts on the major promontories…"

Thor! That will be a disaster…

"Great thinking," Hiccup agreed. "I'd rather not run into them-not after everything you told me when I was younger…" The words yawned between them awkwardly, reminding both men of when life was simpler and the Chief had just been free to love his son, without expectation or disappointment.

"Yes…um…good talk!" Stoick said. "If you or Astrid see anything else, be sure to let me know…" And then he turned and walked very swiftly up the hill.

"Wow-I've only ever seen Gothi and Mildew send him packing at such a speed," Gobber commented.

"Yeah," Hiccup sighed. "Couldn't wait to get away from any reminder…" Gobber belched impressively and levered his bulk to his feet.

"If yer don't get that axe-head out, it'll be completely melted," he advised his apprentice. "Nah-he's actually proud of your recent conduct, laddie…he just hasn't got a clue what to say." Hiccup stared at him, pulling on his leather gauntlets and retrieving the axe from the fire.

"What? Chief 'I've got a saying for every situation' is lost for words?" he replied sarcastically. "Why didn't he just do the 'Vikings can move mountains one'? That seems to be his favourite…" Gobber sighed as his apprentice rested the red-hot axe back onto the anvil.

"And yet yer did more," he reminded Hiccup. "What even the great Stoick 'the Vast' couldn't! And he really doesn't know what to say about that…"

"'Sorry' would be a start," Hiccup grumbled. "Followed by 'I was wrong, son.'" Gobber clapped him across the shoulders.

"Mebbe one day," he said cheerfully. "Now let the master show ye how to salvage this mess…"

oOo

Training the teens to ride dragons was very different to teaching Astrid, who was quick, attentive and fiercely competitive. She had a very close bond to her dragon and she excelled, striving to better her performance every time she got in the air. And in return, she was even more ruthless in his weapons training. Even after they had finished their tasks in the village, their 'walks' in the forest and secret dragon training, she took him through an hour of swordplay or practice with axe, mace or spear before they settled of the night. And though he was exhausted and aching all the time, Hiccup's skills came on in leaps and bounds-especially with the sword, which he could now beat Astrid with almost every time.

The teens were all amazingly enthusiastic and attended whenever Hiccup suggested, even sneaking out after curfew to hone their skills away from the keen gaze of the scouts on the promontories overlooking the approaches from Outcast Island. For the first time, Hiccup realised how amazingly patient Astrid had actually been when leading their weapons training and could understand her frustration when Gustav showed off or Tiril argued. Fishlegs was actually very easy to train, though his innate clumsiness and lack of confidence-all of which Hiccup could completely sympathise with-meant he progressed a little slower than he could. His brother was very similar, though more confident…and it hadn't escaped Hiccup's keen eye that the younger Ingerman was casting Tiril the same sort of looks that Hiccup knew he had showered Astrid with since they were about ten.

"You should tell her," he said quietly to the younger boy as he gently rubbed Stoneskin's snout. The dragon eagerly wagged his whole body and collapsed in a drooling mess as the auburn-haired young man deliberately scratched the sweet spot under the chin. Yaklegs shrugged.

"She'll just laugh at me," he said flatly. Hiccup's emerald eyes inspected him and he gently rested a hand on the younger boy's meaty shoulder, seeing the same lack of confidence he had suffered from for years-and still did, intermittently.

"I don't think so," he began but Yaklegs shrugged.

"You don't know Tiril…" he reminded Hiccup as the older boy grinned.

"True-but that doesn't completely matter," he admitted. "She knows you're interested and I think you may be surprised. I waited eight years to tell Astrid was she means to me…time I could have spent with her when her family was lost or when I was disowned…but instead we both suffered alone. People are unpredictable-women doubly so, though please Thor don't tell Astrid I said that!-so take the chance, Yak. She's your friend. She won't treat you badly for telling her what you feel-and what you hope…" There was a sudden silence, broken by Stoneskin's rumbling purr as Yaklegs looked at the tall, skinny dragon rider.

"What if she doesn't want to be my friend because she's disgusted?" Yaklegs asked him softly and he gripped the younger boy's shoulder more firmly.

"Yak-she already knows you have feelings for her," Hiccup said with certainty. "She's just wondering what you are going to do about them."

"LOOK OUT!"

Hiccup dragged Yaklegs back as Gustav and Fanghook crashed into the ground just by Stoneskin and the black-haired boy looked up with a grin.

"Gustav strikes again!" the boy announced and leapt up. "C'mon, Fanghook-you're the most powerful dragon in the Archipelago. You can do this!" The young dragon scrambled up, set himself on fire, roared and then galloped across the cove with Gustav in hot pursuit.

"If you think about it," Hiccup commented, "I think the flaw in that statement is of course…Gustav…"

"But Tiril likes him," Yaklegs muttered darkly.

"I like Gustav," Hiccup admitted. "But I don't think Tiril likes him in that way! Speak to her! Take it from a man who almost lost the woman he loved because he never said anything…" The younger boy sighed.

"I'll…consider it…" Yaklegs sighed and went to shake his dragon out of its stupor. Astrid walked up beside Hiccup and stared after the younger man.

"That was good advice," she complimented him. "So why didn't you speak to me years ago?" He turned to look at her, marvelling that this beautiful and fierce woman would even give him the time of day.

"Are you kidding?" he teased her. "You're Astrid Hofferson! And I was Useless and disowned! I would probably get locked up and certainly beaten up for even daring to speak to you!" She slipped her arm through his and leaned against him.

"I wouldn't have let them," she murmured. "When are you taking Tiril to see the twins?" He paused and shrugged.

"Tomorrow," he said. "I've asked Gobber for the day off-to spend with you. We'll leave shortly after dawn. Can I ask you to keep an eye on the others and…" She moved and her azure eyes grew icy.

"Oh no-I am not letting you go to face the twins on your own!" she snapped as he turned to look into her angry face.

"I'll have Toothless," he reminded her firmly. "He won't let anything happen to me…"

"Hiccup-they attacked you and helped Snot…" she reminded him.

"And they have been stuck on Eel Island," he replied. "I promised Tiril and I won't let her down."

"Then I am definitely coming with you!" she snapped.

"You've never flown that far!"

"Nor have you!" she shot back spiritedly.

"Astrid-I'm putting my foot down," Hiccup said determinedly. "I need you here, safe and ensuring the others don't mess anything up. You're staying on Berk."

oOo

"Remind me never to put my foot down, bud," Hiccup said in a low voice to the Night Fury as they arrowed through the cold morning air towards Eel Island. A few yards to his left, Astrid was sitting upright and smugly on Stormfly, who was easily keeping pace with Toothless. The dragons were exchanging chirps and warbles and it sounded very much that they were having a laugh at Hiccup's expense. Tiril was hanging on tightly to Hiccup as she sat behind him and he honestly felt uncomfortable with the closeness to the younger girl. Her grip was tight but all he could feel was the grips of the twins on his arms and fractured memories of what followed next-and he had to blink to force his mind back to the present. Toothless was with him, Astrid was at his side-and he was grateful, even though she had argued ferociously, thrown him out of the bed and threatened him…and got her way. He was safe. With Astrid, he was safe.

But they were heading towards an island named after a fish that scared dragons. Big fearsome fire-breathing dragons, he thought ironically, patting Toothless's head and being rewarded by a small warble. And of course the twins who may or may not still be alive. He felt Tiril shift and wished that they were still alive-if only not to disappoint the girl. She was still feisty, wild and unpredictable with others but as a dragon rider, she was becoming very focussed and brave.

"Hiccup?" Her voice was soft. He dragged his thoughts back to the flight.

"Yeah?"

"Um…has Yaklegs ever said anything to you about me?" she asked uncertainly, her voice slightly muffled as she chewed her lip. "Not that I care or anything…"

"Of course not," he replied, wincing at the sarcasm. "Look, he's got a crush on you and is debating whether to tell you or not because he's scared you'll laugh at him. I've told him to try." There was a pause and she considered his words.

"Okay," she said. "I won't laugh at him. He's kind of sweet…" Hiccup gave a small smile as the island approached and glanced over to Astrid.

"Watch out!" he shouted. "We have no idea what we're gonna find here!"

"Well, we know there are eels here!" Astrid yelled back. "And it's uninhabited…apart from the twins…"

"Who may not take kindly to dragons suddenly coming overhead…" Hiccup reminded her and she leaned forward.

"I'll take care," she promised as they soared over the empty land. The first valley was eerily quiet, with steep, grassy slopes and no trees at all, nothing but grass and a winding, clear river that glittered int he morning light. There were no chitters or roars of dragons and no chirping of birds: the sky was empty except for the riders. Hiccup swooped down with Astrid directly behind and as they followed the line of the river-until something flashed red amid the calm blue. Instinctively, they pulled up as long red serpentine shapes leapt from the water at them, hissing menacingly.

"EELS!" Hiccup yelled as Toothless baulked, bucking and diving sideways. Stormfly shrieked and accelerated up and along the line of the river, away from the fearsome and aggressive fish. Astrid hung on, unable to get her dragon to slow down as Hiccup leaned forward, urging Toothless after them. Eyes narrowing, the Night Fury suddenly lurched forward, the characteristic whistle deafening as Toothless rapidly hit top speed and closed astonishingly fast on the panicking Stormfly. Tiril clutched Hiccup tightly as they circled around and pulled up ahead of the Nadder, halting her in her headlong flight.

Toothless roared and Stormfly gave a desperate reply as Astrid finally managed to get her under control, soothing the frightened dragon.

"What in Thor's name was that?" she shouted.

"Eels," Hiccup replied. "Really big, fierce red eels!"

"And dragons are scared by eels," Astrid recalled as the Nadder bucked again.

"One reason I wasn't keen on you coming," he sighed, wincing as she glowered at him.

"I am a Hofferson-and I'm not scared by anything, dragon boy!" she reminded him. "But my girl is so maybe we can miss the scary eel-infested river?"

"Sounds good to me," he grinned at her tacit apology. "You okay?" She nodded.

"I'm absolutely fine…" she began…

…as a net wrapped round the two dragons and fouled their wings. Unable to maintain their flight, both plummeted to the ground, tangled in the crude rope and vines that had been used to make the trap. Hiccup groaned as he hit, everything jarred by the impact, though Toothless had borne the brunt. Astrid was quicker up, her axe out and slicing through the ropes as two shapes emerged from between the trees. Lanky and blonde with matching helmets, dirty and mildly ragged clothes and a spear in each hand, the twins charged the downed dragons, eyes focussed on the first prospect for a non-fish meal for almost two months. Hiccup managed to draw his sword and hack the net free before bouncing up to stand by the Shield Maiden.

"Back off!" Astrid growled.

"What in Loki's name are you doing here?" Tuff snapped, his spears lowered and pointed directly at the young Hooligans.

"They brought me here!" Tiril called from under the net as Toothless roared and flipped his wings out, ripping the net. He bounded forward to stand by Hiccup as Stormfly stood behind Astrid, her tail spines raised and readied. Ruff frowned, her brow wrinkling.

"Tiril?" she asked in surprise. "What…how…?" The younger girl scrambled up and raced forward, dragging a large sack behind her.

"Hiccup brought me," she explained as the twins glared at the auburn haired viking.

"I promised," he said, not lowering his sword and keeping his right hand resting on the Night Fury's head. "But that doesn't mean I trust you."

"Is that dragon yours, H?" Tuff asked. "Awe. When we let Snot know, he'll gut you in the Plaza!"

"Then maybe you never get back to Berk!" Astrid growled, inching forward, her axe readied to attack the twins. Stormfly hissed angrily behind her, fidgeting from foot to foot as Tiril stared at her.

"Um…Hiccup? Say something?" she asked. He stared at the twins, breathing hard.

"You may not want to trust Snotlout!" he said tonelessly. "Your buddy hung you out to dry. He blamed everything on you and let you take the fall."

"Hey-he knows we're his friends," Ruff argued. "He's waiting for us to return…"

"You may find 'Snotboss' has some new best friends," Astrid growled, shifting her weight as the twins lowered their spears. "He's hanging around with Dogsbreath, Lars and Sven the Dim-and everyone else is being ignored."

"It may seem like that to you but we have been his wingmen ever since he could crawl and certainly ever since he needed to put Useless in his place…" Tuff commented.

"Mutton-heads!" Tiril snapped, throwing the sack at them as Astrid audibly growled. "Where is Snotlout? His father is rich and has ships and men and if he wanted to make life easier for you, he would. But the truth is…he doesn't care! He's forgotten about you-but he's gonna expect you to come crawling back when they finally come to get you…" The twins investigated the sack and their eyes lit.

"Roast leg of mutton!"

"Bread!"

"Yak pie!"

"Boar steaks!"

Two pairs of eyes flicked up and stared at their cousin.

"Hiccup promised to bring me to check you were okay," Tiril told them, folding her arms. "After what you did to him, he didn't have to. And he certainly didn't have to help me bring you food and fresh clothes when you wrecked everything he had."

"Young missy-are you standing up for him?" Ruff asked as she took a bite of the fresh bread.

"Haven't you noticed something?" Hiccup asked them pointedly. "We're alive and the dragons haven't attacked us. Peace with dragons is possible-if you are willing to try."

"Actually, riding dragons is completely cool," Tiril added.

"YOU? Young missy-your mother will be so ashamed of you when…" Tuff mumbled through a mouthful of mutton.

"You mean you don't want a dragon too?" their younger cousin asked them and there was a moment's long pause before the twins stared up at her. Hiccup saw the flicker of astonishment and sudden longing in their eyes as they suddenly realised the possibilities.

"Take us to your shelter," he said, finally lowering his sword. "This is gonna take some time."

oOo

"So you actually shot him down?" Tuff asked for the fifth time as they relaxed by a dilapidated lean-to deeper in the forest with a scruffy fire pit and smoked eels hanging from the main roof strut. Ruff elbowed him and chewed another slice of yak pie.

"Yeah…after you injured me, I was desperate to do something to prove I could still offer something to the village," Hiccup said, sitting with his back against Toothless's flank. "But I went looking for him and we just…bonded. He's amazing and he taught me that there was a chance." He sighed. "He defended me and helped rescue Astrid. And the dragons responded to Astrid's commands to rescue us from Outcasts…"

"Whoa-Outcasts?" Tuff asked, his eyes narrowing. "Not that invasion and mayhem isn't sounding awesome but where did the Outcasts come into this?"

"They came scouting and we ran into them in the forest when the fire crew were getting their dragons," Astrid admitted. "We drove them off. But we know they will come back."

"But we have proved that dragons are very protective and can be used to defend our island," Hiccup said. "And we are training the others to fly as a group, to defend Berk as a group."

"With you in charge?" Tuff asked, his eyes flicking over the tense shape. Hiccup nodded curtly.

"I can't let Berk fall to Alvin, let people be ambushed and harmed when I can do something about it," he said steadily, his emerald gaze staring unflinchingly into the twins' eyes. There was a pause and then both looked away, catching both meanings to his words.

"Snot said he would get us food and shelter," Ruff admitted. "'You're my buddies and I'll look out for you.' But it's over two months and who comes with supplies? The guy we helped bully and beat up for years."

"Yeah-some best friend Snot turned out to be," Tuff said, frowning. "I almost think he dropped the whole blame on us for attacking you and then just moved on…" Hiccup and Astrid shared a look and said nothing as there was another awkward pause.

"Hey-that is what he did!" Ruff said in a suddenly outraged voice. "That two-faced son of a worm!" The twins shared a look and finally they nodded.

"Okay-we're in," Tuff announced. Hiccup frowned.

"Okay-you wanna explain a bit more?" he prompted, frowning.

"You talked us into it," Ruff explained. "When we get back to Berk, we'll join your gang and your flight club. Snot is an ass and so dumb he'd invite the Outcasts in and imagine they'd just play nice!" They wrapped the warm furs around their shoulders as they sat outside their ramshackle shelter.

"Yeah-sorry about the beating-you-up-and-burning-everything-you-own misunderstanding," Tuff added without shame. Hiccup stared stonily at him. "I mean…that is the best food I've eaten for two months. Eel is fine maybe twice…but after that…" He sighed. "At some points, even Ruff looked appetising." She glared at him.

"What points?" she asked shortly.

"Every one after the second day?" he responded.

"Are you sure about this?" Astrid murmured, leaning close to Hiccup and he nodded, feeling Toothless grumble behind him.

"Honestly? No," he admitted. "I promised Tiril I'd bring her to check on her cousins and if they want to help us, rather than Snot, who are we to turn them down? It's not like we have Hooligans queueing around the Plaza to join our little group of dragon-riding defenders!"

"But-but they're like Tiril and Gustav only ten times worse!" she hissed.

"That's why I have you, my fierce Shield Maiden, to keep them in order," he smiled, his eyes turning trustingly to her. "Thor, I know I can handle the group even with the twins if you are there to axe them into small pieces if they misbehave!" She shook her head and batted his shoulder gently.

"Oh, there's no danger of anyone disobeying you-or Toothless," she reminded him with a smug smile. "You're far the best rider. That's the only reason why I could get Toothless to come to save you. He heard your name and he flew behind us." Hiccup immediately tousled the dragon's ear-flaps.

"I knew I could rely on you, Bud," he said lightly and looked across to the twins, who were asking Tiril questions about her dragons and exactly what mayhem they could cause. "But Odin only knows what dragon they'll get…and what chaos they'll cause…"

oOo

It was a week later and the twins were due back the following week when Astrid was walking down the upper village in the mid-afternoon. The group had been careful to avoid Snotlout and his friends since they formed their little dragon-riding gang but today-unusually-Astrid was alone because she had sneaked back to the cove for extra training. She had completed her usual hard session after taking the fire crew training in the forest and she had sent them back leaving her alone. She had also secretly visited Stormfly and taken a small flight because she was fiercely determined to make herself as good as Toothless and Hiccup. She hadn't told Hiccup, of course, because she knew he worried about her flying solo-even though she knew that Toothless was there to watch over her and she was far more lithe and athletic than he was. But he had an instinctive understanding with the Night Fury, the two moving unconsciously as one, bonded by affection and love and Astrid had seen the joy grow within her Hiccup as he spent more time with the unique beast. There was something amazingly attractive as he flew in and leapt from the dragon, his stance more confident as he turned to her, his face lit by exhilaration. And if she wanted to own the same level of skill on her dragon she needed to practise, as she had with her axe, and would until she was as good as her Promised.

She didn't even hear them, just felt the hands as they grabbed her and hauled her back, kicking and writhing furiously, behind the line of houses to the edge of the village. It had taken her a handful of seconds only to fully appraise the situation and move, slamming her head backward and hearing a satisfactory crack. At the same time, she felt the grips on her arms loosen and she rammed her foot down into the knee of the man holding her. His bellow filled her ears as she ripped free, spinning under a grab and slamming a foot into the middle of the nearest attacker. She reached for her axe-but a hand snared her wrist and twisted her arm behind her back-but she flipped to unwind the twist and cracked a brutal punch into the man's face. Sven the Dim frowned so she kicked him in the middle and he exhaled in shock: Astrid could hit like a man, though she was a slim young woman. She skipped back, her face locked in a scowl as she realised she had been grabbed by Sven, Lars and Dogsbreath, whose face was smeared with blood from when she had broken his nose as she head-butted him.

"What are you doing?" she growled as she was hit at waist level and pinned to the ground from behind. She writhed and howled, managing to throw the person from her as she rolled onto her back-to stare up into the leering face of Snotlout. "How dare you…?" she hissed as he tried to pin her-but she managed to bring her knee up and his eyes crossed-but he held on.

"I warned you that I would make you sorry for crossing me, Princess," he sneered as she managed to rip an arm free and punch him in the face. He shook his head as she pulled away, rolling to her feet-straight into a punch by Dogsbreath. She blinked and staggered back, feeling for her axe-but it lay dislodged on the ground. Lars grabbed at her and she rammed her elbow into his chest, then another into his face, stumbling forward into a ferocious punch by Snotlout than dropped her to her knees, dazed, her vision blurring in and out.

"G'way!" she mumbled as Sven grabbed her braid and hauled her against him, an arm pinning her arms and body against his. Snotlout leered triumphantly, getting to his feet and gesturing even as she continued to fight, the first real prickling of fear filling her. Though she was fierce and brave, she was overpowered and in the hands of four men who all meant her various degrees of harm. And no one knew she was in trouble. "Get y'r hands off me, you rat-infested munge bucket!" she hissed. "GET OFF ME!"

Lars's hand slapped across her mouth to silence any more shouts and a filthy rag was shoved into her mouth which she spat and gagged at. Her struggles were becoming more frantic even as the attackers limped up the hill towards a fire-gutted shape.

"Take her to my house," Snotlout commanded his friends. "We don't want to be disturbed."

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A/N: Cliffhanger...