A Queen's Hero
Disclaimer: I do not own How to train your dragon
KEY
'Thoughts/memories'
"foreign language/projected thoughts"
Emphasis/yelling
(A/N: I hope I'm writing Mira's self-consciousness realistically.)
Review responses
Top-Fun: Thanks. I guess, I was leaning more to the arachnid race from the starship troopers' universe.
thomaspheasant: ok
OechsnerC: Thank you.
CajunBear73: "His time" is only strong since it's the first one, it will happen roughly every season cycle (Yearly). Unlike Mira, Heather is bound by tradition. Yes, writing his reaction of being bound to the flying colossi was fun to write. It was Hiccup, who doesn't know Finn is Astrid's little brother. Intrude, you have no idea and yes, Hiccup will be.
Arraia: Thank you.
Umbra Lycan: Thank you and I will. I've liked Heathercup ever since she appeared in the tv series, but Mira has grown on me.
Back to the action
Chapter 18: Wrath
Nar POV
A new day dawned on Berk, Mira woke when sunlight seeped through the crack in the cloth door and shined on her face. She sat up and yawned, 'I must have slept in'. Mira swung her legs over the side of her cot, she held back a giggle at Heather's wild tangled hair. She leaned down to her footlocker and began changing from her nightgown into her undersuit. Mira was about to pull on her top until she spotted the standing polished metal mirror that Heather brought with her.
Mira set aside her undersuit top, she looked herself over wearing just her camisole and boyshorts. 'Does Hiccup even find me attractive?', she examines her lean toned body. Mira bought her undergarments with Heather's help during last month's visit to Beartooth, they were comfortable but a bit skimpy. She overheard many women on Beartooth say how most men prefer large breasts, 'Hiccup isn't like most men'. Her conversion accentuated her curvy figure, but she felt 'inadequate' with her slim bosom.
Mira thought back to her and Hiccup's interactions, 'I could be womanlier towards him, maybe then he would finally see me more than 'just a friend''. Her mind wanders back to their dance, how close their bodies were. They fit like two long-lost pieces from a puzzle, she felt like they belonged together, 'I know we do; I just have to try harder'. Heather's rustling frees Mira from her daze, she resumes changing with a stronger resolve.
Mira stepped out into the crisp morning air, she fixed her cloak and looks around. She smiles when she sees a familiar mop of auburn hair near the camp's fire pit. Mira flopped next to Hiccup and leaned into him, he sputtered, "Uh-uh, M-Mira?".
"Yes Hiccup?", she purred, snuggling closer to him.
Mira smirked as she felt him tense up, "W-why are you so close?". He blushed at her; the suppressant was barely helping him remain calm.
"I just woke up and it's cold, you don't mind… do you?", she tilts her head.
"N-no, I don't mind", he relaxes. She internally cheers when he drapes his arm over her shoulders, 'Yes, a win for me!'. They both stared at the crackling flames, Mira shifts next to Hiccup, "So, what are you going to do in a bit?".
"I was planning on working with Gobber for an hour or two, then look for the cove I found the day I first met you", he prodded the fire.
"Hmm", she murmured while silently shouting, 'He's thinking about me!'.
"Did you say something?", the breeze changed direction and carried her sweet scent, giving him chills.
"Oh… it's nothing", behind them Heather clears her throat.
"Sneaky are we, Mira?", she jumped away from Hiccup and turned to a smirking Heather.
"When did you get up?", she sauntered over and sat next to Hiccup.
"Tsk-tsk, just for that, Hiccup gets to walk me to the village", Heather pulls him up by his left arm.
"Wait, how's that fair?!", Mira latches onto Hiccup's right arm.
"I could ask you the same thing, friend!", Heather looks pass him to her.
Hiccup felt awkward being between his two friend's 'disagreement', "Uh… do I get a say in this?"
"NO!", Mira and Heather both shouted.
Berk village
Hiccup tried to remain composed while walking with Mira and Heather held on to either arm, 'How'd I get into this situation?'. He tried to ignore the mutterings of people around them, then felt himself pulled by Heather.
"Let's go find my dad, Hiccup!", he oofed when Mira pulled in a different direction.
"No, let's go look for the cove!", Heather pulled against Mira, surprising Hiccup that she could match the female hybrid's strength. The mutterings intensified, the two girls tug of war was getting too much attention for his tastes, 'My arms are starting to hurt'.
"Ladies, I already had plans to help Gobber in the forge", they stopped pulling. He turns to Heather, "After I'm done, we'll meet up with your dad-". He looks to Mira, "then we go look for the cove together, fair compromise?". Both felt slightly disappointed but agreed, he gave them both a smile, "Don't worry, I'll only help for an hour or two".
"Fine, Mira and I will pass the time by going to the Great hall", Heather led a reluctant Mira towards said building.
Gobber's forge
Hiccup POV
'I'm glad that's over… for now', I sigh while stepping into the forge. "Wha's on yur' mind 'iccup?", Gobber was pumping the bellows. With every whoosh, the flames grew stronger and stronger, "Girl trouba'?".
'Ding-ding, bulls-eye!', I hung my cloak beside my old apron, "Yep". Grabbing damaged axe heads and sword blades in my arms, I tossed them on the burning coals, 'Why are there so many damaged weapons when there haven't been any raids?'. "Hey Gobber, why are there so many?", I held up a notched axe head.
"Mo' idiots hav' been challengin' each otha' ta' duels since Stoick came back", I squeezed the axe head, my claws pierced into the metal. "Oy 'iccup, ya' makin' me mo' work lad!", Gobber waved his mallet attachment.
"Sorry", I pull my claws out.
"It's alrigh' ma' boy, I kno' talkin' 'bout 'im brings up bitta' memories", I hear the thunking of the mallet as he taps on a replacement pommel.
"Bitter doesn't even begin to describe what he let happen to me!", as I hammer the heated sword with a little excessive force.
"Right, it's nothin' a little 'ard work can' get ya mind off o' it", he's right, back home I use working in my forge as another form of meditation. A little over an hour had passed since I began helping Gobber with his orders, "So, yeh wan' ta' talk 'bout ya' 'girl trouba''?".
I groan, "Do I have to?".
"No, but It might 'elp ya' feel betta' ta' vent wha's vexin' ya'", I don't want to admit it, but he's right.
"I'm not stupid Gobber, I know both Mira and Heather want to be 'more than friends' with me", I set down the hammer. "I-I don't want to admit it, but- ", I walk over to my old workshop, "I'm afraid of opening up, just to get my heart broken again".
"I kno' wha' Astrid did ta' ya' was painful", he flinched when I growled as I heard her name. "But Mira an' Heatha' aren't like her, you'll kno' if yeh can trust 'em", he placed his hand on my shoulder.
I sniffed, "Thanks Gobber, you're right".
Gobber smiled, showing off his stone tooth, "Anytime, ma' boy".
Moments earlier
Nar POV
While Hiccup and Gobber reminisced about the few good times they had during his childhood, a boy ran into the village crying. Some adults went to console the child, Astrid was on her way back to her home when she too was drawn by the frantic child, "Help, someone please help!".
"Calm down and tell us what happened", she knelt to him.
He sniffed, "Me and my friend were playing 'chase the outcast' in the forest, but he tripped and hurt his leg".
"Is that it?", the boy shook his head.
"No, he fell down a long hole", his response confused everyone.
"'long hole', do you mean a ravine?", he nodded. Several adults ran off to find rope and a few others went into the forest to help rescue the other child, another bolted to Gothi's to get the healer. Astrid shook the boy, "I need you to tell me who fell, can you do that?".
He nodded, "My friend's name is Finn!". Astrid's blood ran cold, 'M-my little brother!', She shot up and ran towards where he came from.
The people around the boy heard Gobber holler out, "'iccup, where ya' goin'!". The shutters from the forge's ordering windows were smashed open, a dust cloud followed the sprinting Hiccup.
He weaved through the village, sliding under moving carts and bounding over stunned villagers, 'That hatchling, his name was Finn!'. His rush through the village caused two carts carrying crates to crash into each other, blocking the fastest path to the forest, 'Damn it, I need to go faster!'. He growls and jumps onto the pile, then launches himself up onto the roofs of the buildings. Hiccup sprinted across the gaps between huts, 'Not fast enough!'.
When he cleared another gap, Hiccup landed on all fours, 'Time to pull out all the stops!'. He flexed his back and arms, emitting audible pops. Hiccup arched his back and growled, then dug his claws into the shingles. Huffing while mimicking how Toothless bounds, Hiccup used his arms, legs and back-limbs to launch himself from roof to roof. He saw the edge of the forest near, 'Almost there, almost there!'.
Hiccup landed and rolled to keep his momentum, he stood upright and resumed sprinting. He skidded to a halt and sniffed the air, catching the scent of blood on the wind, 'Got it!'.
Astrid POV
I came to a stop deep in the forest, 'Finn, where are you?'. I kept hearing a faint cry for help, "Finn, is that you?!". I spun my head in different directions, trying to locate where it was coming from, 'It sounds like it's coming from everywhere'. The sound of snapping branches barely gave me enough time to dodge a hurtling mass, 'What was that!'.
Some adults followed the path of destruction through the forest, "Thor almighty, did ya' see that!".
"Aye, I think it was that Demon lord", the group murmured amongst themselves. The thought hit me like a hammer, 'Hiccup!?'.
Nar POV
Hiccup burst out of the tree line, having lost the scent trail, 'Damn!'. He looked around and spotted the gorge, it was well over five meters wide. Fog obscured the bottom, the thought of jagged rocks being hidden below made Hiccup fear more for Finn, 'I have to find the Hatchling!'. He heard a faint voice echo from the crevasse as he ran along the edge, "Help!".
"Don't worry Finn, we'll get you out", he scowled when he recognized her voice. 'Forget her, the Hatchling is more important!', he shook his anger away. A group of Vikings came into view as he neared the origin of the echo, they were trying to tie a rope to a nearby tree to rescue the boy, "What do you mean, it's not long enough!"
Finn held onto a protruding root, his grip weakens by the loss of blood, "I can't hold on much longer, Big sis!". Bits of stone gave way as Finn struggled to grip the loosening root; the group gasped as they saw the charging Hiccup. He leaped across the ravine and collided on the rockface on the other side, he dug his claws and graspers into the stone to slow his descent. He gouged long gashes into the rockface as he slid down. Snap, the root broke open, "It's breaking!".
Hiccup pulled his right hand and grasper out of the stone and swung himself around, he slid his feet up behind him. He took a deep breath and pushed off the rockface, Hiccup sailed towards Finn. His back-limbs dug into the stone to stop him from crashing into the boy, his graspers wrapped around Finn just as the root finally broke, "You alright, Hatchling?".
Finn opened his tightly shut eyes and looked up, recognizing the voice, "Bunny man?".
'Bunny man?', Hiccup was amused by the name, "Uh… right". He began to scale up the rockface, Finn tightly clutched to his chest. Astrid and the rest of the Vikings moved away when Hiccup's back-limbs reached up to pull them over the edge. He released Finn, who hobbled to Astrid just as Gobber arrived carrying Gothi. Hiccup breathed out a sigh of relief, 'The Hatchling is safe now'.
Astrid watched him disappear into the tree line, 'He saved my brother… again'. Her fear was replaced by an unknown, yet familiar warm feeling.
Astrid POV
I ran ahead of the adults carrying my brother back to the village, I knew he was safe now. 'I have to find Hiccup!', I had to ask him why he saved my brother even after all that we did to him. After running for a bit, I found him just outside the village, "Hiccup!". I see him tense up; his lean muscles shifted under his weird body suit. I feel my face warm up, I shook it off, 'Focus Astrid!'.
He sighs, "What's the point of telling you people not to call me by my name, when you just do it anyway?". He turns around, glaring at me, "What do you want, Hofferson?!".
That ticked me off, "It's Astrid".
He scowled, "I know who you are, I just don't want to say it".
I try to remain calm, but his callousness makes it difficult, "Look Hiccup, just hear me out".
"No, I am not listening to anything you have to say!", he crossed his arms.
'Why is he being so difficult?!', I breathe to calm myself, "Why did you save my brother?".
His scowl softened, "You really want to know?". I nod, "Your dad". His response confused me, "In the past, while the adults and the rest of the teens, including you, made my life hel, he was nice to me. When everyone wasn't looking, he'd help me. I didn't blame him for hiding the fact that he'd pick me up after my beatings or gave me words of encouragement when I was ridiculed by the others, your dad had to protect his reputation".
"But- ", he held up his hand.
"Your brother was born after I exiled myself, he doesn't share the sin of what you people have done to me. He didn't exist when the village ruined my childhood, therefor he is innocent in my eyes", I bit my lip. "There, you satisfied now?", I looked down at my feet. "Whatever, I need to find Mira", my chest tightens.
"Why?", I muttered.
"What was that?", Hiccup looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
I held my tongue for long enough, "What's so special about her!".
"Why do you care!".
"Why is she so important to you, huh?!", my blood boiled. "She and Heather are weak; they don't deserve anything!", he growled.
"Don't talk about my friends like that! I care about them and they care about me, that's more than I can say about you!", Hiccup snarled.
"They aren't worthy of you!", I was shocked that I said that.
"Oh, then who is worthy of me… you?", I couldn't fight my face reddening. He huffed, "Please, don't make me laugh. I'd rather fight a thousand dragons, than let a Viking gain control over my brethren!".
"Hic- ", he cut me off again.
"No, I'm through listening. I had to endure ridicule from you people, had to hear every foul word thrown at me. You can take your 'Only the strong, belong' and shove it! I'm done, go back to your people and leave me alone!", I squeezed my fists. 'It's now or never!', I break into a sprint and crash into Hiccup. Wrapping my arms around him, I thrust my mouth forward.
Nar POV
Mira escaped Heather and was looking for Hiccup, 'I know he must be around here somewhere'. Deeper in the alleyway, she heard him yell, "I'm done, go back to your people and leave me alone!". She smiled and ran to where she heard his voice.
Rounding a corner, Mira staggered at the horrific scene before her. Astrid had Hiccup held in a tight embrace, the sound of muffled grunting shattered her heart. 'Hiccup?', she held her chest, her heart felt like it was being pierced by hundreds of jagged shards of glass. 'Astrid?', the pain of her heartbreak brought her to her knees. Tears flowed freely from her eyes, she couldn't breathe, 'Why?'. She breathes in shakenly, supporting herself using a nearby wall.
Mira couldn't stand it anymore, she turned to run away until she heard a stifled cry, "Help". She braced herself for more pain and looked back. Hiccup's struggle against Astrid's bearhug turned them around, she saw that his arms were ill positioned for him to use his strength. Hiccup's right forearm was under Astrid's chin, trying to hold back the Viking's pursed lips from touching him.
The fractures in her heart were welded shut by the fury burning through her veins, she roared and lunged at them. Mira's roar stunned Astrid, the enraged female tore her off Hiccup using her blond braid. She screamed in pain as she flew, Astrid tumbled when she hit the ground, "Who- ".
"Stay away from Hiccup you bitch, HE'S MINE!", Mira screeched out, her silver white hair was puffed up in rage. She bared her fangless teeth and clawless hands threateningly. Astrid scrambled away, from both fear and embarrassment.
Hiccup couldn't fight the blush that came from her declaration, "Uh... M-Mira?".
She eeped when she realized what she screamed out, "H-hiccup, I- ". She was about to explain her outburst, when she felt herself held in a deep embrace.
"Thank you", Hiccup muttered, desperately clinging to her. It was her turn to be stunned, not knowing that Astrid's forced advanced and his inability to fight back made him feel helpless.
Heather rode up to them on Toothless, "Mira, what is it, are you ok?!". When she broke off her embrace with Hiccup, she saw Heather glaring at her, "Really Mira, now I get to have lunch with Hiccup… alone". He shifted his eyes between his arguing friends and sighs, 'How'd I get into this situation… again?'.
Hours later
Hiccup POV
I returned to the forge to repair the shutters I broke, "I'm really sorry about your shutters Gobber".
"It's alright 'iccup, next time I'll leave 'em unlatched", he hollered from within the forge. I heard mutterings from villagers, mostly about how some of them were amazed by my rescue of Finn, 'Huh, I save one Hatchling from their village and now I'm the talk of the town'. I huffed while hammering the final nail into a hinge, 'Where was all this interest when I was still here?'.
I heard Toothless bound over to me with Heather on his saddle, "Hiccup, we have a problem!".
I tried to ease her worry, "Whoa, whoa, calm down Heather". I waited as she steadied her breathing, "There, now what's the problem?".
"Astrid!", Gobber's hammer nearly snapped in my grip. "She challenged Mira to a duel!", I tossed it in the toolbox and set it on the counter. Heather moved back so I could hop on, "C'mon Toothless, we got to hurry!"
Dragon training arena
Nar POV
Hiccup arrived with his friends at the arena, the Hooligans in the stands sat divided. While most sat towards Stoick, many who began to question his actions sat apart from the rest. Hiccup dismounted Toothless and marched towards Ivor arguing with Stoick, "Chief Stoick, I demand you call off this duel!".
"Chief Ivor, you're on MY island and MY word is law!", Ivor scowled at him. "I suggest you go back to your seat!", he gave Stoick a hard glare, then walked away.
Hiccup met Ivor, "What happen?!".
"My family was enjoyin' a meal with Mira, when that Hooligan barged into the great hall. She was spoutin' all manner of obscenities at my daughter and Mira. I was about to give the girl a piece of my mind, when Mira shoved her away. That girl then challenged Mira to a duel, I tried to convince Stoick to call it off", said chieftain was sitting upon his throne, observing the bout between both competitors.
Hiccup looked down in the arena, Mira with her war scythe was holding her own against Astrid with her axe and shield, "Mira!".
"I got this Hiccup! I've had it with this witch and her attitude!", Mira looked up at Hiccup, who beamed at her resolve.
Astrid followed her gaze, she growled when she saw their exchange, "You don't deserve him!".
Mira prodded Astrid with several quick jabs, keeping the angry shieldmaiden out of striking distance, "Ha, and I suppose you do?". She spun around and swung out her scythe, delivering a powerful blunt strike to her shield. The force shoves Astrid back, "Face it Astrid, Hiccup's moved on!". She couldn't close-in to hit her, Mira left no openings for Astrid to exploit.
Her seething rage grew the more Hiccup and Heather cheered Mira on, 'Damn it, I can't lose!'. The chilly ocean breeze blew into the dilapidated arena, shifting sand around the stone floor, 'Huh?'. Astrid looked at Mira, her eyes kept shifting, studying her movements intently. She circled the smirking Hybrid, her confidence infuriated Astrid. She bellowed her war cry and charged, Mira went for an overhead stab, 'Gotcha!'.
Astrid caught Mira's scythe in the crook of her axe, surprising her. She came to a skidding halt, kicking up loose silt, "Ahh!". Mira tried to wipe her eyes clear from the sand, giving Astrid an opening to deliver a brutal shield bash to her midsection. She coughed as she held her stomach, dropping her scythe. Hiccup gripped the bars of the iron railings, Gobber sighed beside him, "It's over".
Astrid felt sadistic glee, seeing her challenger in pain on her knees. Mira and Hiccup gazed at one another, she smiled at him through the pain. He gave her a sympathetic smile, silently assuring her everything will be alright. Astrid grit her teeth when she saw Mira blush, she tossed her axe and shield aside. She walked up to her and grabbed the scruff of her undersuit, then reeled back and slugged Mira. Hiccup crushed the iron bars, "Stop the fight". Astrid struck her again, "Stop the fight". He huffed through gritted teeth; hearing Mira cry out. Hiccup snapped when he sees Astrid reel back again, "I said, STOP… THE… FIGHT!".
Hiccup reached behind him and pulled out Eigengrau, he cocked back and threw his axe. It cleaved through the railing, spinning towards the shieldmaiden. Ruffnut cried out, "Astrid!". She heard the hum and leaned back; the black axe just barely grazing the bridge of her nose. Astrid released Mira and scurried away from her.
Eigengrau dug into the stone floor near Mira, gasps came from the stands as Hiccup leaped onto the chain roof of the arena. He dropped through the gaps and slammed down in front of the dazed Mira, his feet wide apart and supporting his weight with a fist. The floor around his hand was cracked, bangs covered his bowed head. He whispered darkly, "Mira, are you ok?".
Her natural resilience as a Hybrid left her with only a bruised face and cut lip, "I'm good, it will probably hurt for a couple of days".
Gobber cranked the gate open, Heather ran to her friend, "Mira, oh gods. Let's get you to Gothi's".
Astrid grabbed her axe and shield, "Hey, this isn't over!".
Heather scowled, Hiccup reached over and picked up Mira's scythe, "Heather, take her to Gothi".
"What are you gonna do?", Heather, Mira and Gobber felt an ominous aura flow from him. Toothless whined and nudged them towards the gates, fearful of his riders growing rage.
"Hurry, I don't... know how much longer I can... control myself", he growled out, dark orange blood dripped onto the floor below him. Gobber led them out of the arena, closing the gates behind them.
"Hiccup, this is between me and her!", he responded with a deep hiss, vapor flowing out from his clenched teeth. He stood up, his bangs still covering his shadowed eyes. Astrid notices dark orange tears coming from under them, she hefted up her shield, "Looks like I'm gonna have to knock some sense into you".
Hiccup held Mira's scythe in his left, he pulled out the Remnant and held in in his right. His left grasper reached behind him, he pulled out Thorn and held it in a reverse grip. He knelt and pulled free Eigengrau with his right grasper. Hiccup leaned back and roared a challenge; the patrolling swarms stayed a respectful distance from the arena. He snapped his focus back to Astrid; his visage was terrifying.
The light onyx of his eye was now a bright reddish orange, bloody tears flowed down his face. "Hic- ", Astrid barely blocked the scythe strike, Hiccup closed the distance between them in a blink of an eye. Even though the strike glanced off, it gouged her shield deeply. Hiccup unleashed a flurry of slashes and hacks at her, chipping away at her shield. Each of his attacks were quickly followed by another, Astrid risked being cut to pieces if she tried to counter. Every strike Hiccup delivered forced her back, 'My shield won't last much longer!'.
Hiccup went for an overhead stab with Mira's scythe, Astrid saw it, 'Yes!'. She caught the scythe's pole with her axe's crook, 'Now to- '. She brought her shield up in time to block his sword slash followed by a hack with his axe, both weapons dug into the wood, 'Damn'. From the corner of her eye, she sees Thorn coming towards her, 'Oh gods!'.
Astrid twists her shield free and rolls under the slash, getting behind Hiccup. She reels her axe back and swings, only for him to block it with his left back-limb. She doesn't see his right back-limb swipe towards her, it smacks her side and rips into her tunic. Astrid staggers, pain erupting from the cut below her ribs. Hiccup turns around and swings his axe and sword upwards, breaking her defense. He delivers a powerful spartan kick before she could recover, sending Astrid tumbling across the arena.
Astrid picked herself up and spat out blood, she tossed her shattered shield and held her side. She tried to stand up but winced when she placed weight on her right leg. She looks at a growling Hiccup, blood dripped from his back-limb's sharp tip. Astrid looks at her left hand stained with red, Hiccup hissed as he breathes in the scent of blood. "Astrid!", she looks up and sees Ruffnut toss down a shield. She hefts it on and charges Hiccup, fighting through the pain from her side.
He swings his sword and axe at her, they crash into the new shield and the impact jars Astrid. She recovers, only for Hiccup to spin around and tail-slap her with his back-limbs. She collided into the wall of the arena; Astrid fell into a heap. Her axe and shield fell out of her grasp, she groans as she tried to lift herself up, "Argh!". She fell back down wheezing; she knew some of her ribs must have cracked. Her left arm hung limp, dislocated when she smacked the wall, 'It hurts'.
Clattering rung out as Hiccup dropped his weapons, he rumbled as he marches to the downed Astrid. He leans down and grabs her by the throat, she weakly clawed at his arm, "Look at you-". He held her up with his left arm, "and yet, you have the gall to call my friends weak". Hiccup stabbed his back-limbs into the ground under Astrid to keep himself steady while she struggled. Her kicks bounced off his chest armor, the Hooligans couldn't move to help her. The swarm swirled nearby, it's hum warning no one intervene their bout.
Hiccup growled; he caught her ankles with his graspers. Holding each of her legs, he had Astrid completely immobilized. He tightens his grip, causing her to sputter bloody saliva trying to breathe, "Hif- ".
The spectators can only watch in horror as Astrid desperately tries to breathe, her clawing becoming weaker as he tightens his grip. "You want to know something Astrid?", he growled, slightly loosening his hold. "You were the worst of them all, looking on without a word as I was beaten like a dog", he brought her closer. "You did nothing to me… or for me, and that is what you are, nothing!", Hiccup lifts her back up and tightens his grip.
Black spots appeared in Astrid's vision as she took her last breaths, "HICCUP STOP!". He whipped his head back, Mira was limping while being supported by Heather, "Don't kill her".
He relaxed his grip, Astrid gasped in as much air as she could, "Why shouldn't I, she's caused as much suffering to you as well as me!".
"That may be true, but look", Mira pointed to the railing above. Finn was clinging to the bars bawling, her parents silently pleading for mercy.
He realized something, 'If I kill her, I will cause suffering to that Hatchling!'. His snarl relaxed and his huffing slowed, "You're right, I… can't do that". Hiccup drops her, she flops to the floor. He walks over and embraces Mira, then Heather.
Astrid's fury returned as she watches him hand Mira her scythe, it grew when she blushed while he held her hand, 'Damn her!'. Astrid crawls over to her axe; she picks it up and winds her throwing arm back. She flung it with all her remaining might at Mira, it chops the air as it sails towards her. Hiccup senses it close in, he shoves both his friends aside. With one fluid motion, he drew the Remnant and cleaves the spinning axe in two. He sliced the head from one edge to the other, both pieces tumble harmlessly behind him. Astrid gasped and fell to her knees, 'No'.
He growled and stepped towards her, Mira grabs his arm, "Hiccup, that's enough, let's get out of here". He eyes the distraught shieldmaiden, her head bowed as she bit her lip to stifle sorrowful sobs.
Hiccup followed them towards the open gate but stops to pick up the top half of her axe. He sighs under his breath, "The product of a lovesick fool", then tosses it over his shoulder.
The fragment clinks as it bounces, coming to rest near the weeping Astrid. She hears the gate shut; a glint draws her tear-filled sight. Astrid shakenly reaches for the remains; teardrops fall onto it before she holds it to her chest. She breathes in ragged breaths, before finally collapsing from her injuries. Before fading into unconsciousness, Astrid hears her father yell out, "Someone, get the healer!".
(A/N: Superhero landing, cool but impractical. Both Subconjunctival bleeding (broken blood vessels in white of eye) and Haemolacria (Blood-like tears) can be caused by high blood pressure. Astrid doesn't know Hiccup made her axe when they were younger. Picture how sabretooth runs in X men origins Wolverine, that's how Hiccup ran on all fours… or sixes I guess?)