Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD

A/N: I'm back! Did ya miss me? What a crazy year we're having, huh. As a fanfic writer I feel it is my solemn duty to help entertain you during these uncertain times. So I'm working on a sequel to one of my favourite one shot fics, 'Sanctuary' by PutMoneyInThyPurse. It's not HBS, but speaking of my series, a reader on AO3 named omega13a has made a TV Tropes page!

h-t-t-p-s: /tv tropes dot org/ pm wiki/pm wiki dot php/Fanfic/ TheHeartBindSaga

If you have an account and want to add any other tropes, feel free ;).

Chapter One - Recovery

Darkness… Ryker… Silence… Shellfire...Darkness...Dragon Eye…Silence…Lava…Pain. Viggo jerked awake with a gasp, clutching at his scarred face. Panting, trembling a bit, he gradually took stock of his surroundings. He was in his…former enemy's hut, on Dragon's Edge, with the Skrill who had apparently taken an inexplicable liking to him curled up behind the bed.

Green eyes flashed in the dark as Toothless glanced at him silently. The Night Fury was clearly on watch, ears pricked. He gave a discreet purr and nuzzled the young man curled up under his wing. Viggo could tell that at the first sign of danger, Toothless would react and defend his rider before Hiccup had even opened his eyes. He'd defend Hiccup from Viggo, if he had to. The thought made him swallow. He won't have to. I gave my word.

He'd gone from seeing Hiccup as a new playing piece, an inexperienced opponent to toy with…to a genuine rival and threat to his business…to an ally out of necessity. If he was being completely honest with himself, it started before Johann ordered that cave in. He'd heard Hiccup yell his name when he fell into the volcano. After he'd just threatened the boy's lover to force compliance, Hiccup had still tried to save his life, to help –

He shook his head. That was in the past. I'm not that man…I don't have to be that man anymore, Viggo decided. Hiccup had decided to trust him – for reasons he still couldn't fathom – and he found he actually wanted to rise to the challenge of earning that trust. From Hiccup and his friends.

The following morning, Hiccup and Toothless were gone when Viggo woke up again. Moonlight was awake; she saw his eyes blink open, and purred. "Nightwing-Queen and Human-Queen getting breakfast," she explained. Viggo's stomach rumbled; he was starving and had not even realised. He took a deep breath and tried to sit up. A jolt of agony lanced through his muscles and he groaned, gritting his teeth against it.

"Willowbark needs rest" Moonlight insisted. "You not-move" she admonished.

Pushing aside how bizarre it was to be scolded by a dragon, he looked up at her. "Viggo," he murmured, for lack of anything else to say. "My name is Viggo Grimborn."

The Skrill rolled her eyes. "I know. Willowbark nickname. Name for friend" she chirped. "Dragons give humans nicknames. Toothless-Queen call Hiccup-Queen" -

"Don't you dare!" Toothless interrupted, snarling. Behind him was Hiccup, carrying a bowl of broth on a tray, and Fishlegs with bottles of medicine. "Who told you?"

"Calm down, bud" Hiccup soothed, "She probably just heard you say it in passing once. There's fish out on the landing for you" he told Moonlight, who eagerly bounded over to the door. Hiccup walked over to Viggo and set the tray down, before helping the man sit up. "Good morning. Sorry I wasn't here when you woke up" he remarked.

Viggo replied, "It's fine. Thank you. Is...something amiss?" he wondered curiously.

"No, it's just that Toothless has a nickname for me, but it's our special secret. The other dragons know what it is but they don't use it or translate it into Dragonese."

Fishlegs came over with the medicine, claiming it would work better on an empty stomach. "You just need to wait an hour or so for it to take effect" he explained.

Viggo felt a bit disappointed; he was hungry. "But the broth will be cold by then."

Hiccup grinned. "No, it won't. See that?" he asked, pointing. Viggo looked closer, and saw that the bowl was sitting on some kind of padded disc. "It's one of my inventions; I call it a dish heater. The disc is filled with Nightmare gel that you set alight, and the fabric keeps the heat from burning whatever is touching it. Like a plate. Or fingers."

"Very clever" Viggo complimented, genuinely impressed. Hiccup's ingenuity was something to be admired, no doubt. "How did you come up with the idea?"

"It was actually kind of Tuffnut's idea, believe it or not" Hiccup shrugged. "He mentioned in passing how nice it would be if we could keep food warm without having to heat it up again. Cos during the migration period we kept having to interrupt dinner and herd the wild dragons away from hunters - err, no offence" he said awkwardly.

Viggo just shrugged lightly, mindful of his injuries. "None taken" he murmured.

"Yeah...well, it's not much fun to come back to cold meals, hence the dish heater" Hiccup went on. His brow furrowed a bit. "You're probably starving though...Fishlegs, are you sure he has to wait that long? Maybe I shouldn't have brought it so soon…"

Viggo had long since learned to keep his face blank, but Hiccup really did wear his heart on his sleeve. The boy felt bad for putting a temptation that Viggo couldn't have just yet, right in front of him. A quick glance at Fishlegs confirmed that he too was mentally berating himself for not considering the problem, or bringing the medicine sooner. Viggo read both young men like an open book, and gave a light chuckle.

"Oh, Hiccup" he snickered. "I appreciate the concern, really, but it's no big deal."

"You sure?"

"I used to be at sea most of the time, and rations weren't always... plentiful. Suffice to say I'm no stranger to having to go hungry. Besides, I'd rather be hungry than sick."

"Fair point" Hiccup conceded. "D'you think you could handle having something on your lap?" he asked, perking up a bit. Viggo considered it, and gave a nod. "Okay, good. Hang on, I'll be right back." With that, he hurried out of the hut and vaulted onto Toothless' back, taking off. Viggo raised an eyebrow at Fishlegs, who shrugged.

It didn't take long for Hiccup to return, carrying a square wooden case. He set it carefully on Viggo's lap, using a spare pillow to cushion it, and took the lid off.

"I figured we could play a game or two whilst you're waiting" Hiccup explained. Viggo looked down at the Maces and Talons board, up at Hiccup's earnest face, and down at the board again. He felt strangely…touched? Was that the word? At last his consternation must have been visible, because Hiccup asked "Are you okay?"

Viggo blinked. "I...yes, I'm fine" he answered. "It's just...I wasn't expecting this."

Hiccup shrugged. "I just remembered it was in the clubhouse, and I figured you'd" -

"No, not the game" he elaborated, "I mean...you're putting the same thought and, dare I say, fervour into helping me as you did into defeating me" Viggo pointed out.

"Uh...I guess?" Hiccup said, bewildered. "You saved my life, it's the least I could do."

There was...a disconcertingly soft smile on Viggo's face as he idly rolled a piece in his fingers. It looked almost fond. "You are a remarkable young man, Hiccup."

Hiccup wasn't sure what to make of that. "Um, thanks...so, you want a game?"

"I'd be honoured," Viggo answered. He'd desired an opportunity to play Maces and Talons - the game itself, not in real life - with Hiccup for ages. It would be a good way to get his measure, more than Viggo already had, by seeing what tactics he used.

They set the game up and began to play. At first, Viggo simply tested the waters, making moves that were easy for Hiccup to counteract. Then he started trying to push his opponent into a corner, and force him to make a sacrifice. Hiccup instead kept dodging and retreating, in an attempt to protect all of his pieces. He couldn't do so forever, and pretty soon Viggo managed to capture his chief, winning the game.

"I have to admit, you lasted much longer than I thought you would," the older man teased. "You know, you could have beat me if you'd just sacrificed a few pawns."

Hiccup frowned at the board. "I thought...I was trying to do it without having to."

Curious, Viggo asked "But why? I can understand your aversion to sacrificing real people, but this is just a board game. It's not like the figurines would be upset."

"I know that" Hiccup rolled his eyes, "it's just...the game is supposed to be about practicing battle tactics, right? I always used it as a way to test my tactics. The more pieces - or people - I can save, the better" he explained. Then he sighed. "You probably think that's stupid, though."

"As a matter of fact, yes, I do," Viggo freely admitted. "Your intentions are noble, but you're also being ridiculously naive. It's a fact of life, and the game itself, that you can't save everyone. Trying to protect one person could endanger many more lives."

Hiccup scowled a bit, refusing to look Viggo in the eye. "You sound like my dad."

"Stoick has the right idea, then. I assume it was he who taught you to play?"

"I kinda taught myself," Hiccup shrugged. He met Viggo's gaze and declared, "I'm not as naive as you think. I know that I can't save everyone, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try. Especially when they're my own allies. What sort of leader would I be...what sort of person would I be if I sent them to their deaths for my sake?" he demanded. "Or didn't protect them because it was a - a tactical error" he scoffed.

Well, that escalated quickly Viggo observed. Though he should have known the boy would get so worked up over it. Hiccup took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'd rather lose a battle and keep those I care about alive, than win and lose them doing so" he tried to explain. "I'm not like you, Viggo. I don't see people as game pieces."

"No, but you appear to see game pieces as people" Viggo countered. "Hiccup, you do understand that if you lost a battle - or worse, the war - your friends would die anyway?" he challenged. "Krogan and Johann will not be merciful if they succeed. You would be spared, because your status as heir makes you perfect to hold for ransom, but everyone else? Dead at worst or enslaved at least. So you must win."

Hiccup's hands were clenched into fists, his jaw tight. Before he could answer, Astrid hurried in. "Hiccup! There are hunter ships out in the eastern straits" she reported.

"I'm coming" he replied, standing up. "You can probably have the broth now," he told Viggo, "just send Moonlight for Fishlegs if you need anything." With that he strode out the door, Toothless padding after him. Astrid shot Viggo a suspicious glance before following. Clearly she could tell he'd upset her boyfriend, but it wasn't his fault Hiccup was such a bleeding heart, now was it? Viggo sighed when they'd both left him alone.

Well. Aside from Moonlight. "Hiccup foolish" she hissed. "Viggo only trying to help."

Viggo looked down at the game board...then put it aside and picked up the broth.

Later, Fishlegs came to check up on his unlikely patient. He didn't expect to find Viggo out of bed, holding onto the Skrill as he tried to walk across the room. "What are you doing?" he protested, "you're not supposed to be exerting yourself yet!"

"I'm...not" Viggo replied, voice strained. "Moonlight's taking most of my weight."

"Human not heavy" she purred smugly, before telling Fishlegs, "Viggo is bored."

Shaking his head, Fishlegs insisted "You still need to rest. In case you'd forgotten, you got skewered with arrows. They tore muscles in your back, and if you don't let yourself heal properly the damage could end up being permanent" he lectured.

"Duly noted," Viggo remarked, before trying to take another step. He groaned in pain. Fishlegs gave him a pointed look and he sighed, conceding defeat. "Oh, very well. I'll sit down again, but I really am bored, Fishlegs. My game partner is otherwise engaged at the moment" Viggo quipped, gesturing to the Maces and Talons board. "I don't suppose you fancy a game?" he asked hopefully. "I'd go easy on you. Promise."

"It's not really my thing" Fishlegs admitted, going over to the desk. "But if you're bored, I have an idea. I'm sure Hiccup has some spare paper...aha!" He straightened with a sheath of parchment in his hand. "You can start designing your own hut."

Moonlight helped Viggo back to the bed, and Fishlegs brought over the paper. "The design can be as elaborate as you want" he said, giving the man a pencil. "Within reason, obviously. But if you make it higher than Snotlout's I'll be impressed."

Twirling the pencil in his fingers, Viggo remarked lightly, "I'm sure I'll come up with something. I'm assuming I can make it defensible?" he inquired. Fishlegs nodded.

"I'll just be over here if you need me" he told Viggo, gesturing to the desk. He sat down and opened a book. Meatlug stayed near the door, keeping watch. Viggo started trying to sketch out a design, but he couldn't focus. His mind kept drifting back to the argument with Hiccup. At last, he gave up and put the charcoal pencil down.

"Fishlegs, may I ask you something?" he inquired, looking up at the young healer.

"Huh? Oh, sure. What's on your mind?"

"This war, against Johann" Viggo began, gathering his thoughts. "You all know the risks. You know you could die in battle. Would you, if it meant winning the war?"

Fishlegs blinked. "Um...what, like, a heroic sacrifice kind of thing? I guess, if it was worth it. I mean I don't think I'd be brave enough to do it" he admitted. Then he stiffened. "Wait...You swore you wouldn't treat us like we were expendable."

"I'm not" Viggo said curtly, "but if you must know, I was talking to Hiccup earlier. He seems to think he can win this war and keep all of you alive in the meantime."

"Why couldn't he?" Fishlegs countered. "If anyone could do that, it's Hiccup. You don't know him like we do. He's pulled off the impossible before. Look...I get that you're used to looking out for yourself, but we're a team. We don't leave anyone behind. Yeah, this cause is worth fighting for, and we might die, but we don't have to."

Viggo found himself asking "Does this 'no one is expendable' rule apply to me, too?"

"Of course" Fishlegs replied, "why wouldn't it? You're...well, you're one of us now."

"Yet sending me away or leaving me to die would have spared all of you the trouble of nursing me back to health and questioning my allegiance" Viggo pointed out. "Don't misunderstand - I'm grateful for you saving my life. I suppose I simply don't understand why you'd bother...considering all that I've done" he muttered quietly.

Fishlegs replied, "We're 'ruled by compassion', remember? I mean, you have done bad things...actually really terrible things...but you've changed. The dragons can sense it. The twins have been taking your advice to heart. Which reminds me, what in Odin's name possessed you to teach those two stealth techniques? They're dedicated to Loki. You have no idea what you've unleashed" he declared, serious.

Viggo snickered a bit, then coughed laboriously. Fishlegs moved surprisingly quickly for such a hefty sort, and helped him drink out of a tankard of water. "Thanks," he said gratefully. "You know, it's odd. When I think about...how I used to be, I feel more ill than usual" Viggo admitted, a faint crease between his eyes as he considered it.

"Really?" Fishlegs had never heard of that happening before. "How do you feel?"

"Hmm. It's sort of...a tightness in my chest, like my ribs are being crushed together. I feel nauseous and...repulsed, I suppose is the word, but I don't know what from" he tried to explain. Glancing at Fishlegs, he saw the boy staring at him. "What's wrong?"

"Uh, Viggo? Those sensations, it sounds like... you're not feeling ill, that's guilt" Fishlegs revealed. "It's your conscience's way of telling you that what you did was wrong. Have...haven't you ever felt guilt and regret before?" he asked cautiously.

The man looked stricken. "I...suppose I always ignored it before, if I ever did" he sighed. "I'm not sure I even had a - a conscience, before Hiccup…" he trailed off.

Fishlegs nodded sagely. "He has that effect on people. Have you...said you're sorry?"

"Sorry?"

"Yes. You know, that you regret what you've done? Assuming you do. I think Hiccup would appreciate an apology for - y'know, trying to kill him" Fishlegs shrugged.

"And would that alleviate the symptoms of guilt?"

"You're supposed to say sorry just because it's the right thing to do...but yeah."

Viggo pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I suppose it's worth a try," he conceded.

Just then, Meatlug's ears twitched. "Ruffnut is coming" she warned her rider.

Sure enough, half of the Nut duo stuck her head around the door. "Aw, come on!" she complained, "I was this close! How am I supposed to sneak past the dragons?!"

The question was directed at Viggo, who responded "Well, what would you normally do if you wanted to sneak past someone?"

She screwed her face up in thought; Fishlegs was tempted to remind her not to hurt herself. "I guess I'd try and distract them….ohhh. I gotcha. Note to self - bring fish. Or rocks, in this case."

Fishlegs rolled his eyes. "Ruffnut, what are you even doing here? You're supposed to be on lookout. Please tell me you didn't leave those two dummies up there instead."

"Nah" she shrugged, "Snotlout went with Hiccup and Astrid, remember? Oh, and Tuff's right behind you."

Fishlegs folded his arms. "Nice try. There's no way I'm gonna fall for that" he declared, right before something poked him in the back. "Ow! Okay, ha, ha, very funny, Tuffnut" he grumbled, turning to face the window, only to see nothing. "What the…?" Fishlegs only had a few moments to be confused before Tuffnut lunged.

"Aaaah!" Fishlegs screamed at the top of his lungs, lurching backwards. The twins, Viggo, Moonlight and even Meatlug fell about laughing. "It's not funny" he complained, "and quit making Viggo laugh, you're gonna aggravate his injuries!"

Struggling to catch his breath, the former hunter waved a dismissive hand. Tuffnut climbed in through the window. "So, Teach" he grinned at Viggo, "How'd we do?"

"Much better than I expected," Viggo praised, "but you still need a lot of practice."

Fishlegs gave him a long suffering glare. "Again, what in Odin's name possessed you to teach stealth technique to the twins, of all people?" he demanded incredulously.

Viggo pursed his lips in thought. "Boredom and morbid curiosity" he answered. The twins snickered. "For now, you two should probably be getting back to your post."

"First, Vigster, we've got a present for ya. Close your eyes" Tuffnut instructed. Viggo humoured him. "Okay, hold your hand out." He placed something in the palm. "Bing!"

Viggo blinked at the piece of black leather with a strap, and a red clenched fist crudely stitched onto the front. At least, that's what he thought it was supposed to be.

"An...eyepatch?"

"So you can look like a pirate," Tuffnut explained. "Think of it like a 'welcome to the Edge' gift. Or I guess, a 'welcome to the club' gift, since y'know, you've been here before, back when you were trying to kill us. You're part of a lot of clubs now. There's the dragon riders, obviously, the 'lost a body part on your left side' club - Hiccup and Toothless are the only other members, same with the 'self-sacrificing idiots' club…"

"Don't forget Snotlout. Remember the Speed Stingers? And the Cavern Crasher?"

"Oh yeah, good point. Anyway, what do you think?" Tuffnut asked Viggo eagerly.

He chose his words carefully. "Thank you, Tuffnut. It's very...thoughtful of you."

Ruffnut peered curiously at the parchment in his lap. "What's all that for?"

"Oh, Fishlegs suggested I should design a hut for myself to stay in," he explained.

"You're not gonna, like, decorate it with dragon bones or something, are you?" she asked. Moonlight hissed, disgusted.

"Nothing of the sort," Viggo said firmly. "I'm not that tasteless, you know. Besides, I already have an idea in mind." He looked over at Moonlight and said, "I understand if you want to stretch your wings, you know. Rather than sit by the bed of an invalid."

She purred and nuzzled him. "Moonlight stay with Viggo, help human."

Viggo blinked, stunned. He had not expected this at all. "But why?" he whispered.

"Moonlight chained up. Viggo set free. Saw Viggo take arrows for Hiccup-Queen" she reminded him, tilting her head and chirping softly. "Know Viggo changed."

Tuffnut remarked "You get used to it. I mean look at Toothless. He was shot down by Hiccup, and now they're inseparable. Our dragons were all stuck in cages, we were training to kill 'em...how do we keep training dragons that should really hate us?"

Nobody seemed to have an answer for that. Viggo, for his part, was struck by the loyalty of these dragons...which he supposed included his own now, too. He'd once seen dragons as nothing more than a resource for profit. The more he learned of their intelligence and kindness, the more he saw them instead as equals to humans.

When Hiccup and Toothless returned, they found Viggo sitting in a chair with a book in hand, wearing an eyepatch, with Moonlight nowhere in sight. "Uh. What's with…?"

The wounded man glanced up at Hiccup. "Tuffnut gave it to me," he remarked.

"Ah. Say no more."

Toothless crooned. "Moonlight where?" he asked curiously, looking around.

"I finally convinced her to go on a flight and stretch her wings," Viggo explained, setting the book he'd borrowed from Fishlegs aside. "Was your mission a success?"

Hiccup nodded. "We rescued every dragon on board; and you know, I didn't even have to sacrifice any of my friends to do it" he replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.

By the gods, he's stubborn, Viggo mused. "So only the men on the ships perished."

"We didn't even sink the ships; just disabled them" Hiccup declared. "Thing is, I can win battles without having to cause a lot of needless deaths," he said pointedly.

"Yes, because I'm sure Johann will be merciful to those who have failed him."

Hiccup folded his arms, defensive. "Johann might be a murderous traitor, but he's not stupid. He must know if he kills too many of his own men, he won't have any left."

"He could simply hire more. You'd be amazed at what some are willing to do for pay."

"Yeah, well...if they have any sense they'll just replace the sails and leave the archipelago," Hiccup responded, grasping at straws. "It's not like they'd be missed."

Viggo chuckled. "Johann will have contacts in every port from here to Cairo. If he wanted to track those men down and have them all executed for desertion, he could."

"Why would he bother?"

"To make an example out of them, of course."

"What are you saying?" Hiccup demanded, fists clenched. "That I should have just killed them?"

Viggo raised an eyebrow. "I am simply trying to point out the flaws in your reasoning, my dear boy" he replied, in an infuriatingly calm tone of voice.

Hiccup glared down at him. "Don't call me that. D'you have any idea how patronising that sounds? You might be older than me, but don't forget, I'm still in charge here."

Eyes narrowed, Viggo braced a hand against the wall and stood up slowly. It was an effort to stay on his feet, but well worth it to see Hiccup take a step back. "You said you wanted to learn from me" Viggo declared, "and I was willing to teach you, but if you insist on acting like a petulant child just because I tell you things you don't want to hear, then once I'm fit enough I'll take my leave" he said firmly, feeling insulted.

Hiccup looked furious. "Well see if I" - before he could finish, Toothless butted his head between them, forcing the two apart. He pushed Hiccup away from Viggo, as if he was protecting the other man from his irate rider. Viggo carefully sat down again.

"Hiccup calm down. Not-say things you regret" the Night Fury insisted, pressing against Hiccup and purring deliberately. His human held him tight and sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He stayed there a few more minutes, and then opened his eyes. Silently walked over to the stool by the bed and sat down on it. Then he sighed.

"I'm sorry. You're right. I was being immature. Truce?" he asked tentatively, holding out a hand. Viggo nodded, reached over and shook it gently. Toothless crooned his approval and came over to nuzzle under Hiccup's arm. "I know I need to win this war, for all our sakes. But I won't sacrifice my friends to do it. I can't. Neither should you. Viggo, swear to me that you won't let our allies get killed just for the sake of victory."

He met Viggo's gaze, and the resolve in his bright green eyes had that peculiar sensation of pride and fondness coming back. Slowly, Viggo nodded. "On my honour, I swear."

Hiccup was visibly relieved. "Okay. Good. I'm glad we have that settled. So, um...what've you been doing whilst I was gone?" he asked, trying to dispel the awkwardness but making it worse. At least in his eyes. Viggo didn't seem to mind.

"Oh, not much. Stretched my legs a bit, tried to think of a design for my own hut" he replied. "I had an...illuminating chat with Fishlegs earlier. It appears that now I've changed sides, thoughts of my former life are causing me to feel...guilt" he admitted.

Hiccup and Toothless hadn't expected that. "I'm uh, guessing that's a new experience for you" the young man quipped, raising an eyebrow. "At least you are feeling it."

"I'd rather not; it's uncomfortable. Which I'm sure is the point, but for what it's worth…" Viggo took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Hiccup. For everything."

Hiccup's eyes widened. "Everything?" he repeated. "So...you're sorry for hunting and killing all those innocent dragons."

"Yes."

"And for trying to kill me and my friends."

"I am."

"And for nearly selling Toothless at that auction, putting a bounty on my head so you could kill me personally, cutting off our trade route so Berk would be starved out" -

"Yes!" Viggo snapped. "I. Am. Sorry. For all of it. Despite what you might have thought, I knew it was wrong, I just didn't care before. It was just business. Now that I do…" he trailed off, brow furrowed. "I don't expect you to forgive me, of course."

Hiccup's face softened. "Apology accepted, Viggo" he declared, making the older man stare at him in disbelief. "I don't know why you're surprised. I wouldn't have been so willing to offer you a place with us if I hadn't forgiven you" Hiccup pointed out. "I've never been one to hold a grudge, anyway." He held a hand out to shake.

Moonlight came in moments later, and purred in approval at the sight of their joined hands. Toothless said magnanimously, "Toothless forgive Moonlight for try-kill us."

The Skrill had the decency to look abashed. "Moonlight sorry for try-kill Queens."

"It's okay" Hiccup assured her, "and er, we're sorry for the whole 'freezing you back in an iceberg' thing." He looked at Viggo, who raised an eyebrow. "It's a long story. Right!" Hiccup clapped his hands together and stood up. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving. How about I get us some lunch, and afterwards we can have another game of Maces and Talons? I'll try not to let you win this time" he added with a smirk.

Viggo grinned. "Now that's something I'd love to see. But I was under the impression that 'what I am not is your friend, your ally, or your Maces and Talons buddy'" he said.

Hiccup sauntered over to the door, Toothless following. "Guess times have changed."

Later that day, Viggo looked up as the door opened and Astrid strode in. "Viggo" she said curtly by way of greeting, "we need to talk. Moonlight, can you give us some space? You can go talk with Stormfly for a bit, keep her company" she suggested.

The Skrill's eyes narrowed. "I not-leave. Not trust you" she said stubbornly. Viggo could appreciate her overprotectiveness, even if he still didn't think he deserved it. For now, though, Astrid wasn't angry as far as he could tell. He'd be fine...probably.

"It's okay, Moonlight" he rasped, "Astrid is unarmed. Let her say her piece." He met Astrid's gaze and remarked, "I'm assuming this has something to do with Hiccup."

She nodded. "He was distracted the whole way out to those ships, after talking to you, and he wouldn't tell me why. He still won't. Probably thinks I'd get mad and take it out on you" Astrid reasoned. "I'm not going to hurt you, but I said I'd be keeping an eye on you and I meant it. So. What exactly did you say to him?" she demanded.

Viggo briefly debated with himself whether to tell her or not. He concluded, in the span of a few seconds, that telling the truth - worded so as not to disturb her - would be the optimal course of action. "We were playing Maces and Talons. I pointed out that his habit of trying to protect all his pawns made him lose the game, and that the same attitude in battle could make him lose the war. Hiccup... didn't take it well."

Astrid pursed her lips in thought. "So you still view us as pawns, then" she remarked.

"It's nothing personal, really. I see everyone as pawns" Viggo replied. She frowned and he cleared his throat. "That is to say, I did. A bad habit that I'm trying to break. Rest assured, Hiccup and I have already settled the matter between us." Viggo hesitated, before admitting "I, ah, was advised to...that is to say…I'm sorry, Astrid."

She raised an eyebrow, and put a hand on her hip. "Sorry for what, exactly?"

"For...blackmailing Hiccup for the Buffalord when you were dying from the Scourge."

"And?" she pressed.

"Betraying you and threatening you with your own axe."

"And?"

Viggo wracked his brains. "Trying to kill the man you love...more than once."

Astrid eyed him, considering. "Maybe you really are trying to change," she acknowledged. The next thing he knew, she was looming over and glaring at him. "Just remember, if you ever hurt Hiccup again, or betray us in any way, I will ensure you don't live long enough to regret it" Astrid threatened. Viggo had expected such an ultimatum at some point, but Moonlight hissed and snarled. She backed up quickly.

"Stand down, Moonlight" he insisted, before coughing. "Astrid has every right to..." Another bout of coughs overcame him, and he groaned. His dragon stopped growling at a stricken-looking Astrid and nuzzled him instead. She approached them slowly.

Moonlight glared suspiciously at Astrid, who held her hands up in surrender. "It's okay. I...I just want to help" she promised. Warily, the Skrill moved aside and allowed her to give Viggo a drink of water. He gave her a grateful nod when he'd finished. Astrid looked between him and Moonlight. "You really care about him, don't you?"

"Yes. Viggo helped save Moonlight. Moonlight helped save Viggo" the Skrill declared.

Viggo spoke up. Softly, he murmured "I don't mind...if you want to call me Willowbark. Maybe just Willow, for short?" His one good eye had softened as he looked at Moonlight, and it made Astrid feel strange. It was so weird to see Viggo Grimborn, of all people, look at a dragon that fondly. She still didn't think she could trust him, but if he had the approval of the dragons, and of Hiccup...maybe she needed to trust them.

She heard the telltale rapid beat of Meatlug's wings, and a thump as the Gronckle landed outside. Stormfly's cheerful squawk at seeing her friend warmed Astrid's heart. Fishlegs came in with his basket of medicines, and stopped on the threshold, looking between her and Viggo. "Err, is everything okay?" he asked nervously.

Before Astrid could say anything, Moonlight declared "Astrid threatened Willowbark."

"Who...Wait, you mean Viggo?" he realised, looking incredulous. "Astrid, I know you don't like the guy but was that really necessary?" Fishlegs asked in disapproval.

"Yes, it was" Viggo claimed, making them both stare at him. "It puts her mind at ease to make sure I know my place, and gives me even more of an incentive to earn your trust, lest she feel the need to make good on her threat. I'd expected this, really."

Part of Astrid wanted to be mad at him for acting so calm about it all. Fishlegs came up the steps with the medicines but she just stood there, lost in thought. It was a long shot, but if she treated Viggo as a member of the team, maybe he wouldn't want to betray them. "Can I help?" she found herself asking. "With his recovery, I mean…"

"I'm not really sure…" Fishlegs trailed off, and then his expression brightened. "Actually, maybe you can. D'you still have any training weights?" he inquired.

"Yeah, loads. Should I...bring some of the lighter ones?"

"Yes, please" Fishlegs nodded. To Viggo he explained, "It'll help you get your strength back gradually, and give you something to do." The man nodded in understanding.

Astrid called for Stormfly, and her dragon stalked into the hut. "See ya, Fishlegs. Um. Bye, Viggo" she said awkwardly, her face flushed, but she met his gaze defiantly.

Viggo gave her an acknowledging nod. "Goodbye, Astrid. See you later" he said politely. It felt too strange now. She jumped off Hiccup's loft and onto Stormfly's back, before her dragon ran out onto the decking and took off.