My Hiccup 50

Plans have a funny way of being altered by the littlest things. Hiccup had been dead set on going to Outcast Island and fulfilling his promise to the prisoners. He had his books backed in his saddle bags already to break from the pack and was sure his father could find something interesting to do with Alvin for the afternoon but now things had changed. Not only was his father riding with him but also Woden who was curled around his shoulders like a long old cat needing a comfy place to sleep and an ancient crown that Hiccup had to admit he was afraid to let the Outcast learn about. It was something deep inside, like an instinct older than time that said Alvin was not to be trusted with such an artifact. This meant going to Berk first, unpacking then heading out again provided Toothless or any of the other dragons were willing to make the journey.

Of course it wasn't the dragons that delayed him but sometimes excitable father and mentor.

"If anyone could Grimbeard's crown it was going to be you, my boy," Stoick beamed as he looked the over with appreciation and a little greed but that look quickly faded when he looked proudly at his son before handing the jeweled crown back to him. "This here will secure your future."

Hiccup gave him a sideways looks as he finally got a chance to look at the crown himself. "What do you mean? I guess I can sale it if Berk every gets to the point we need the money but…"

Stoick shook his head and took Hiccup's slim shoulders in both his big hands. "No, Hiccup. This crown been everything to the Hooligans and those directly descended from Grimbeard. It must never be sold, never discovered by the other tribes. I want you to hide it. Take it to wherever Hamish's treasure landed. I know you know where it is. It, like this crown, are yours. When the time comes you will know what to do."

So Hiccup was pretty much forced to trek through another set of underground tunnels, some barely big even for him to get through on all fours, to a access a large carven with a fortune of riches created when an earthquake had taken Hamish the Second's, or better known now as Hiccup the First's, treasure chamber into the heart of a small island not far from Berk. It was a horrible descent. Hiccup wasn't naturally claustrophobic but having spending so much time playing in open air being trapped in such confined spaces was not something he enjoyed, especially alone. It was too tight in some passages for Toothless to fit. Once he reached the new treasure chamber he left the crown on the mound of gold and jewels, looked the clutter over then hurriedly left again, pocketing only a few gold coins to give his father since his birthday was coming up and Stoick seemed to like such things from time to time. Treasure had no real importance to him. If he needed something he made it or traded for it. Gold and silver and jewels were fanciful things he had no use for. He stopped long enough at home to place the coins under his father's pillow – a running joke about his father never being too old for the Tooth Fairy even if he hadn't lost a tooth, although the way Stoick tussled with some of the warriors it was a wonder – then heading for Outcast Island, Woden along for the ride.

It was late by the time Hiccup reached Outcast Island and while he hadn't been tired at first exhaustion finally crept up on him as he and Toothless landed. Strange things happen when your mind is exhausted. Hiccup had barely any sleep the night before searching for the treasure with his friends and then having to fly home with less than an hour's sleep if best. It might have helped if he managed to get some sleep once he got home but his anxiety to keep his promise had made him rush to hide the treasure and get to Outcast Island. He had only an apple to eat the entire day so between the need to sleep and eat he wasn't quite thinking straight. The first Outcast to reach out to him when Hiccup nearly tripped out of the saddle startled him so bad that Toothless nearly blasted him to Valhalla. It took Viggo's calm demeanor to get the Nightfury to let anyone near Hiccup and once he did Viggo scooped Hiccup up like a little babe and carried him off to his hut, ignoring the little yelp and whine of indignation, and tucked him into his bed before going out to finish his rounds.

That was where Hiccup and Toothless slept until late the next afternoon. He had no idea where Viggo slept but guessed that the Outcast must have checked on them a number of times since there was a fresh basket of fish for Toothless and some fresh baked bread and tiny jars of jam waiting for him on a the table with a note to rest as long as he needed. Since have the village was underground it was hard for Hiccup to correctly judge time. He ate and relieved himself before heading out to the center of town above ground. There he bumped into the one Viking he always tried to avoid when he came to Outcast Island.

"Looking a might bit better than you did yesterday, boy," Alvin greeted in his usual gravelly voice that sent chills up Hiccup's spine.

The youth did his best to brush it off. "Well you know how it is flying across the Archipelago to the Mainland and such. You should try it sometime. The high altitudes can be a bit chilly," he answered with his usual wit until he looked at the sky. "What time is it?"

"Near dinner time."

"First or second?" Which in Outcast terms meant 3pm or 6pm. Either answer wasn't good.

"Boy, we need to talk," Alvin said as he reached out for the youth but Hiccup's mind was elsewhere and rather than listen he turned tail and was running toward to prison.

"Later!" he yelled back among curses about being late.

Alvin heaved his massive shoulders and sighed. This was not going to be good.

Hiccup took enough time to pull the book he had been reading out of Toothless's saddle bag and held it to his chest as he entered the prison panting slightly from the uphill run. "Sorry I'm late!" he called out without thinking, as if he was meeting up with his friends at the Great Hall. His bad leg stung a little from wearing the prosthetic for so long but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He gave the leg a little shake to wake it up.

The prison erupted in cheers and a choir of greetings that Hiccup could never get used to, not from Berserkers at least. "We were worried you forgot about us, lad," Savage said, smiling openly for the first time at Hiccup. Hiccup gave a shy smile back.

"He did forget us," Dagur snarled from his corner of his cell. For the first time in months he stepped out of the darkness of his cell and into the dim light, his dark green eyes fierce and full of anger. "Having too much fun flying with Mr. Nightfury, free like a little bird? Or is Terror a better phrase for you?"

Hiccup was taken back. "Dagur, I'm only one day late. I sent word that I would try to be here as soon as possible."

"Blah, blah, blah…that's all your words are, brother. If we really meant anything to you nothing would have stopped you from being here on time. Nothing." He glared at Toothless as if it was the dragon's fault. He blamed a lot of things on Toothless.

"It's not his fault, Dagur. I got tied up at Flashburn's castle and…"

"Don't tell him about the crown," Woden whispered in Dragonese from his perch on Hiccup's shoulder, reminding him of what his father had urged him not to do. "Don't say anything about the treasure."

"Oh look, my brother has yet anything pet," Dagur drawled with a sneer. "So you went to the Mainland to rescue another dragon? How sickly sweet of you."

It was only when Dagur came fully into the light that Hiccup noticed his split lip and black eye. His clothing was torn more than before and he was nursing a possibly broken wrist. "What happened to you?" Hiccup breathed in shock and stepped closer to the bars.

The Berserker chief gave a snort. "Why do you care?"

"Because I do."

Dagur glared at him. "Let's just say Alvin and I had a difference of opinion about lying little dragon riders."

"I didn't lie," Hiccup insisted. "Ask Viggo, I got here late last night. I…I tried to get here sooner, I really did but I guess…I must have passed out shortly after I arrived otherwise I would have been here reading to you."

The older boy gave another snort. "That's what Alvin said and I'll tell you what I told him, you're lying. You're both lying. I hate liars, Hiccup. I hate them! You know that better than anyone."

Now Hiccup was getting mad and he stepped even closer to the bars. "I'm not lying, Dagur! I stayed at Viggo's for the night. I just woke up."

"Likely story."

"I did." He took a deep calming breath. This was stupid. He didn't need to prove himself to Dagur or anyone and arguing wasn't helping them. "Look I'll just finish the story and come twice next week, alright? And if my Dad decides to drag me off somewhere again I'll come and let you guys know first. How does that sound?"

"No," Dagur said simply.

Hiccup blinked in surprise and silence suddenly reigned over the entire prison. "No? What do you mean 'no'?"

Dagur leaned his forehead against the cool bar and stared down at him with cold eyes. "No…as in no more stories, no more stupid books and no more you."

"Sir, I think the stories are worth continuing," Savage tried, his demeanor trying to stay calm but a fringe of panic slipping in. "Hiccup, can we speak over here, lad?"

Hiccup should have caught the warning in the former Outcast's voice but his anger and annoyance at Dagur made it hard for him to move away from the bars of his rival's cell. After a moment he gave a sigh and looked away from the Berserker chief. "I'm still going to read to everyone, Savage. As much as Dagur likes to still think he's in charge around here he's…" He gave a cry when a large wrapped around his throat and lifted him clean off his feet.

"I am in charge, brother, and I always will be. I rule them and you, remember that," Dagur growled, his fingers tightening around Hiccup's throat. "Say it, Hiccup. Say 'yes, Dagur, you rule everyone including me' like a good little brother and then maybe I'll let you play with your little Nightfury. Say it!"

The smaller boy refused. He would not give Dagur that satisfaction even if it killed him. Nonetheless he dropped his book and clawed at Dagur's hand and wiggled with all his might hoping to break his hold. In this position Toothless couldn't even help. Dagur was protected by the same bars that were supposed to him locked up and everyone outside safe. So much for that plan.

"Drop him!" Alvin's voice boomed throughout the prison. His big stomping feet thundered against the rock walls and then he was there, one wide arm around Hiccup's waist while his other hand grabbed Dagur's wrist and twisted it painfully back until there was an audible pop that made the younger chief scream in agony and let Hiccup go. Alvin stepped back with Hiccup in his arms, looking down at the youth with mild worry before handing him off to Viggo and turning back to Dagur. The Berserker held his wrist to his chest but glared at Alvin defiantly. "I warned you, Dagur," Alvin said darkly. "I told you what would happen if you harmed that boy. Is your pride so much that you'll willing sacrifice the one bit of entertainment I allow you and your men? You're willing to take that from them as well as their freedom?"

Dagur only glared at him in response.

Alvin gave a curt nod. "As you wish. There will be no more story telling from here on," he announced to the rest of the prisoners. "Thanks to your oh so generous chief, Hiccup is now banned from the prison."

"What?" Hiccup breathed in objection, his throat now tender.

Dagur's face visibly paled as if just realizing his mistake.

Alvin was not moved by either of them and refused to change his decision. He watched as Hiccup pulled away from Viggo and hastily mounted Toothless. The two were gone a moment later, Hiccup's book forgotten at the foot of Dagur's cell. "You're a selfish brat, boy," Alvin told Dagur when he turned back to the boy. "One day you're going to realize how much you just lost." With a wave of his hand he ordered the guards back to their stations and left to see if maybe Hiccup was still on the island or if the child had taken off home.

Dagur waited, his mind reeling and still rather confused about everything that had transpired. One moment Hiccup was there in his grasp where he could finally knock some sense into him the next he was gone and all that remained was the book he was supposed to read to them that day, or rather the day before. He waited a moment until Alvin was gone before kneeling down and reaching for the worn book. Both hands hurt now but at least he could move the fingers of one. Very carefully he pulled it between the bars. It was heavier than he thought but then Dagur didn't often read books if he could help it. It didn't mean he couldn't read he just didn't like to. He leaned against the bars and flipped through the pages until he found the one Hiccup had marked, then, ignoring his men's plea to read aloud he read to himself. It was his book now and he would protect it until his brother returned to claim it.

. . .

The people of Berk were used to seeing Toothless fly into town at high speeds and then land so quickly that his rider should have been flung off yet stayed in his saddle were perfect ease but this time Hiccup was moving almost as quickly as his dragon. They didn't go home as Astrid would have expected but instead to Gobber's barn which meant something was wrong.

Astrid immediately went to follow but before she reached the old structure she say Hiccup poke his head out of a hatch on the roof and climb. Surprised she climbed on Stormfly and met him up there, followed by a rather angry Toothless.

"Why didn't you just fly up here?" she asked when she reached her visibly upset friend.

Hiccup only shrugged as he sat back. "Didn't know I wanted to be up here until I reached the loft." He gave Toothless an apologetic look.

Astrid frowned and sat next to him. "Okay. So how did the…"

"I don't want to talk about it," he cut in rudely which was very unlike him.

They sat in silence for a few long minutes watching as the sun set over the horizon. Astrid eyes the bruising mark around Hiccup's throat but kept it to herself. "We missed you at dinner last night. Everyone was going on about that treasure hunt."

"It was stupid. We should never have done it," he grumbled as he pulled his knees to his chest.

She waited a moment. "Is that why he hurt you, because you were late?"

Hiccup's eyes closed, hiding the start of tears. "I broke my promise, Astrid. I never break my promise. I should have gone to Outcast Island like I said I would. Dagur wouldn't have acted out on Alvin like he and I… It was stupid idea to begin with…reading to Dagur and the prisoners. I never should have done it. I knew something like this would happen but I did it anyway. I'm such an idiot."

She scooted closer to him and wrapped an arm around his trembling shoulders. "You're not an idiot. You're sweet and kind and tried to do a nice thing for others. Dagur's the idiot for not realizing just what you were trying to do for them." She pulled him to her and let him express his feelings, not bothered when tears wetted her shirt. She sat with him for as long as he needed and then longer still until the horizon turned dark and the stars twinkled high above. She would always be by his side.