When Hiccup heard footsteps, his first thought that it was another guard bringing food and water for them—which he assumed they would dump on the floor again. When he finally looked up, defiance in his eyes, he blinked in surprise when he saw Heather and Camicazi standing on the other side of the bars.

Camicazi gave him a weak smile, but Heather's expression was stony and void of almost any emotion. Hiccup quickly stood up, and swayed slightly. Pain, lack of sufficient food and water, and having slept on a stone floor with no blanket certainly was doing its toll on his body. "Tell me what you know," he demanded when he finally reached the bars. He looked from one to the other. "How is she?"

"You should worry about yourself, first," Camicazi said gently. "But she'll be fine. She still unconscious…well, mostly, at least. Gana says she wakes up from time to time, but…I don't think The Sun is quite aware of her surroundings most of the time she is awake."

Hiccup let out a shuddering sigh of relief. "Thank the gods…" he murmured.

"How are you—both of you—holding up?" Heather asked.

"As well as we possibly could," Hiccup said, a touch sardonically. "I'm afraid we're not quite swimming in luxury at the moment."

Heather's lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. She turned to look at Rafan. "Lord Rafan," she said, bowing slightly. "Your son wishes me to tell you that he is doing everything he can to release you—both of you. He is unable to visit you himself…Drago is not allowing those close to suspects to visit any while they are being detained."

"How did you two get in here, then?" Hiccup asked, curious.

"We have our ways," Camicazi said, grinning at him. Then she shrugged. "We're guards too—they can't keep us away forever. Besides," she nodded her head to the left, "They're keeping an eye on us, and this place is on total lockdown. We wouldn't have much of a chance to get you out of here." She looked suddenly surprised for a moment, before she took in her hands a large bag that was slung across her shoulders and back. "Here," she said, "I think this will help you two…it's not much, but…"

She handed the bag to Hiccup. It was heavy. He knelt, opening the bag and drawing out too large, thick blankets, as well as a few canteens of water, and bread, cheese, and other well preserved foods wrapped in cloths. "Thank you," he breathed. He took one of the blankets and walked over to Rafan, who was fully awake by now, and helped the man wrap it around himself, before returning to the food and bringing it too over to Rafan as well. "Here," he said, placing a slice of bread and cheese into Rafan's hand.

Rafan nodded at him appreciatively, before looking over at Heather and Camicazi. "Thank you," he murmured.

"Of course," Heather said. "We wouldn't just leave the two of you to starve to death. In the pack Camicazi gave you, Hiccup, you'll find some salves that should help with aches and any minor injuries. But I would keep it hidden," she added quietly, "We aren't technically supposed to give you anything like that."

Hiccup gave her a lopsided grin. "Well," he said, standing up a bit shakily. "What news of Astrid do you have? You said you think she'll be okay, but…do you think she's going to…when do you think she'll recover?"

"We're not sure," Heather said. "It might be months or years before she's back to perfect health. And that is in the small chance there was no permanent damage done to her."

Hiccup's heart fell. He knew it was true—after all, the amount of shock and injury her body had quickly gone through was enough to kill someone. It was a miracle she was even alive right now. "Has she been…do you know if she's been…asking for me?" Hiccup asked, his voice quiet but hopeful.

Heather and Camicazi glanced at each other, before looking back at Hiccup. "She…"

"I think she has," Camicazi interjected. "That's what Gana has been saying—and Gana has has barely left the Sun's rooms."

"Or the Sun could just have a case of the hiccups," Heather said jokingly, with a shrug of the shoulders. Her smirk faded slightly, though, and she continued, "We need to get you out of here as soon as possible. I have a feeling that Astrid might not…" Heather's voice seem to catch in her throat, and it took a moment for her to continue. "I think she needs you, Hiccup. I think having you near her might…help her survive."

Hiccup's heart contracted painfully. "Trust me," he managed to get out. "I would be there without a moment's hesitation."

Heather nodded solemnly. "You'll be interrogated soon," she said. "I just hope…" she took in a deep breath. "Please survive," she said. "I'd miss you if you died."

"Thanks," Hiccup said, after a moment. "That means a lot."

Camicazi took a step forward, reaching through the bars. Hiccup saw her outstretched hand, and placed his own in hers. "Survive," she whispered in Yorvani. He nodded.

She squeezed his hand, before letting go and she and Heather both took a step away from the bars. "We have to go now," Heather said. "But… we'll come back with more food and water. I don't trust the guards to give you good food," she added. "And I would be wary of any food, drink or help they offer you."

They turned to go, but Heather stopped, and turned back. "We'll try to keep you informed about the Sun," she said. "If anything changes. If she gets better and if she gets…" she didn't finish what she was going to say, but she didn't need to.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

Heather smiled at him—a pained, tired and scared smile, before nodding and leaving the hall, Camicazi on her heels.

Hiccup let out another shuddering breath, before looking over at Rafan. "So," he said, "Think we'll survive?"

"I certainly hope so," Rafan said, taking a swig of water. "But you more than me. Or at least, if the fates must decide between us, that is how I wish it to be."

"Don't say stuff like that," Hiccup muttered, reaching down for his own blanket and food and water. He walked over and joined Rafan by the wall again. He sighed. "This is the worst."

Rafan snorted, before nodding his head in agreement. "That it is," he said, a little humorously. "Well," he said. "I assure you, Prince Hiccup…I do believe you will get out of this alive."

"And so will you," Hiccup said, his tone determined.

Rafan patted Hiccup's knee. "Thanks," he said, before returning his attention to his food.

He wasn't sure when it was, when he felt tendrils of consciousness seep into his mind. He sat up suddenly, drenched in a cold sweat. "Toothless?" he whispered, looking around wildly. But there was no one here, except Rafan and himself. Toothless was nowhere to be seen.

Not now, he thought fervently.

He felt anger—not his own, but Toothless'. It was as if the creature could sense that he was in danger. Don't come—not now, Hiccup said, more fiercely.

He couldn't risk anything. If Toothless came charging here, tearing troops apart just to rescue Hiccup…that would only cause the Yorvani to be more suspicious of him, even if Toothless was a revered mythical being to them. He couldn't retaliate with violence—not until he knew Astrid's safety and health was restored. Not when Drago could find a way to manipulate the Majara's presence against them in the people's eyes.

Not, he thought, slowly and deliberately, now.

He could feel Toothless' disgruntled mood, but ignored it.

Hiccup pulled his knees up to his chest, hugging his legs to himself. He had not yet been called in for an interrogation, and he wondered what Drago was waiting for. Was Drago trying to break him before he even got into the room? He had no visits either—and no news of Astrid.

It was killing him.

He tugged his blankets around him tighter. He needed to get out of here—but he needed to do it on the Yorvani's terms. Otherwise, they would be suspicious of him, or at least, use it as an excuse to condemn him.

He would have to wait—and endure any pain that came his way. As long as Astrid was safe…as long as she survived…

How strange it was, he thought dryly. An entire life of hating her—wanting to kill her and her people more than anything, and now he was in love with her. Desperately in love with her.

And she might never know.

He felt Toothless enter his mind again, but this time the rage had subsided, and the tendrils of consciousness were of comfort. "Thanks," he whispered. He didn't fall asleep again—not until the early hours of the morning. And even then he had nightmares of Astrid dying a painful and agonizing death.

When he woke the next morning, it was with a jolt, as cold water was splashed onto him. He jerked into a sitting position, gasping slightly at the shock of his awakening. The doors opened, and two guards stepped in, grabbing him by the arms and pulling him out of the room. Rafan shakily stood up, and for a moment Hiccup feared the old man would try to help him. But the man was as smart as Hiccup gave him credit for, and he merely gave a small gesture of friendship towards Hiccup. A token of goodwill.

Hiccup would need it.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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