I've been ironing out this chapter on and off for a few months. It's a pivotal chapter and I'm nervous about posting it! Hope everybody enjoys. Thank you, all, for keeping up with this fic :)
Astrid raced through the woods, thankful to know the trail even surrounded by the shadow of night. From what she'd gathered from her father, two patrol officers had spotted a Terrible Terror - Astrid grimaced knowing it was Hiccup's Terror - scurrying off into the woods from the village and had followed it, assuming there was a nest somewhere hidden in the woods around Berk. What they'd stumbled across after a distance of trailing, was a conversation between the Terrible Terror and an unknown black dragon within the wall of the cove.
The Chief's specific instructions – contrary to the Book of Dragons – were to capture and not kill this elusive dragon. Only the Chief would relish in the honor of slaying the deadly offspring of lightning and death.
Somehow, the patrol officers had caught Toothless off guard. Somehow, they'd managed to sling a bola around his legs and another around his mouth. Somehow, they'd completely apprehended him and had gathered the other patrols to assist in securing Toothless to a board and hauling him back to Berk.
It was only then that they had informed the Chief of the discovery.
And all Hel broke loose.
Astrid attempted to ignore the ache residing in her chest. She focused on her breathing and maneuvering through the darkness of the trees. They'd known the risk of keeping a dragon on the island. Toothless had hidden himself well at the cove, but as highly intelligent as the Night Fury was, he wasn't immune to making mistakes. He'd probably gotten bored and had found a playmate in the Terror. Being distracted, he'd let his guard down and Astrid figured that's when the patrol officers ambushed him.
How it happened didn't matter, really – not now. Not when Hiccup and Toothless' lives were at stake.
Hiccup's plan truly was crazy. He'd asked her several times if she was committed to it, because if she wasn't, he wouldn't blame her for backing out. Neither would he blame the other dragon riders, as well.
Astrid couldn't fathom her world without Hiccup. She'd promised herself to him for the rest of her days and she would honor that promise, not just out of duty – but out of love. She reassured him that where he went, she would go – even if it meant crossing over into death together, if it came down to that.
Astrid spotted through the trees a tiny flickering yellow light dancing like a wisp beckoning her closer. Thankfully, the patrols had quickly been cancelled after Hiccup's dooming confession, and the campfire wouldn't be spotted from Berk with it being deep within the thicker part of the forest.
Stormfly caught wind of her first. The Nadder chirped into the darkness, questioning her presence. Astrid answered back in gentle confirmation. Stormfly's padding steps and silhouette bounded up to her, stopping only inches from running Astrid right over.
"There's my girl," Astrid said softly, her hand finding Stormfly's horn and offering an affectionate rub.
"Astrid?" a tremored voice called out from somewhere among the trees.
"It's me, Fishlegs."
"Where's Hiccup?" Tuffnut asked as soon as she entered the circle of people and dragons.
The gang knew about Toothless. They knew he'd been captured, but there was no time to explain what Hiccup had confessed. Astrid's urgency for them to free the arena dragons and whisk them off to safety had quelled any questions when she found them slumming around the village during the heat of the chaos.
Astrid filled her lungs and released the breath slowly, trying to calm her rapid heartbeat. "Hiccup announced to the entire village that Toothless was his dragon."
"What?!" Snotlout and Fishlegs yelped, simultaneously.
Ruffnut snorted, elbowing her brother. "He's crazier than we are."
"He didn't feel like he had any other choice," Astrid went on, "There was so much confusion. Maybe he thought if he confessed that somehow he could save Toothless' life."
"And…did he?" Fishlegs wondered, timidly.
Astrid nodded. "For now. But, come morning, Hiccup and Toothless will be forced into the Kill Ring and if Hiccup doesn't kill Toothless, he'll be exiled and Stoick will finish it himself."
Tuffnut made a regretful noise. "What a bummer. I was beginning to like those two."
"Hiccup has a plan." Astrid peered around sharply at every member of the group, including the dragons. "But you have to be committed to this plan 100%, because it could cost us our lives."
She went on explaining as the other listened intently. Fishlegs squeaked in worry as his hands flew to his mouth. The twins nodded their approval, probably more for the risk of life than the actual rescue. Snotlout backed out of the circle.
"Are you out of your mind?! That'll never work! We're handing our heads over on a platter. Stoick won't just exile us, he'll kill us if we do that!"
"Think about it Snotlout." Astrid reached a step closer to him. "We knew the risks we were taking when we started riding our dragons. Hiccup would do this for you, even after all those years of you using him as your personal punching bag. He'd do whatever it would take to save you and your dragon. If you're not with us," Astrid swept an arm around, indicating a theoretical door, "by all means, say goodbye to Hookfang and go."
All attention, even the dragons, were solely on Snotlout. His eyes darted around the circle. Something nudged Snotlout from behind, and he spun around to come face to face with Hookfang. He crossed arms over his barreled chest – glaring - as man and dragon held a silent stand-off in an almost comical way.
"Fine!" Snotlout threw his hands in the air, heaving a sigh of defeat. "I'm in."
Astrid smirked to herself. As much of an annoyance Snotlout had been throughout the years, she was glad that he was apart of their gang. His attitude – especially toward Hiccup – was changing steadily every day. Sometimes he just needed a little coaxing to get him there.
"Get some rest. At daybreak, we ride."
Saying the night was the longest night of his short life was an understatement. The minutes ticked by at a slow, agonizing pace. Hiccup couldn't sleep. He didn't attempt to lay down.
His brain kept replaying the series of events that had led him there. Questions threw themselves at the forefront of his mind throughout the night. Could he have done anything different to change his and Toothless' course to a safer route? Or, were they doomed from the very beginning? Dragons and Vikings were mortal enemies and should never be anything but. Maybe that fact alone sealed their fate.
Now the plan he divulged to Astrid would place her in danger. It would bring light to her awareness of Toothless. It would place her in the guilty party. Hiccup's chest burned at the very thought. Helplessness weighted heavy upon him, sinking him to what felt like the dark depths of his mind. All he wished was to protect the two most important souls in his life, and here he was, held captive in his own house while Toothless laid frightened in bonds and Astrid awaited her cue to enter certain doom.
Hiccup watched out the window as the first sign of light peeked through the next morning. He waited, knowing soon he would be sent for. He trudged up the stairs to the bedroom he shared with his wife. Strone on the bed was Astrid's nightgown. He reached for it, brining it to his face and rubbed the soft material against his cheek. Just her gown alone brought him a tiny fragment of comfort.
He peered around the room, taking in all the things they had gathered in the months since their arranged marriage. Astrid's assortment of weapons in the corner. His desk and the wall above it covered in his late-night drawings. Their pillows next to each other at the head of the bed where they'd learned the comforts and excitement of being husband and wife. A deluge of memories flooded him, and for just a brief moment, Hiccup was lost in them.
His heart nearly leapt from his chest at the loud knocking on the front door. Hiccup caressed Astrid's gown to his cheek one last time then laid it with care on the bed.
His footsteps fell heavy as he descended the stairs. Gobber's voice called through the thick wood of the door as he made his way across the room. His hand paused on the handle, a deep sigh racking through him.
Gobber's somber face greeted him on the other side of the threshold. "Ready, lad?"
"No." It felt like all the air had deflated from his chest, leaving a hollow shell. "But I can't get out of this, can I?"
"Not this time, lad," Gobber answered.
Hiccup stepped out - the door echoing shut behind him like a tomb being sealed leaving only the ghosts to roam there forevermore.
They walked in silence - Gobber's good hand clamped upon his shoulder, the weight of it symbolizing all that rested upon Hiccup at this very moment in time.
As they approached the arena, Hiccup was sure every Viking – man, woman, and child – was stuffed into the arena observation deck. Every person on Berk came to watch the Chief's son kill the infamous Night Fury. That's all Toothless was to them – a dragon to be killed.
"Hiccup," Gobber started, hesitantly. He turned Hiccup around to face him. His mustache twitched, nervously. "No matter what happens today, you have become as brave as your father and as bold as your mother."
Hiccup hadn't expected the kind words, not on the day that could ultimately be his last and especially not after the betrayal of his tribe. Gobber's soft spot for him shone through even now. His words gave Hiccup the tiniest spark of hope.
"Thanks, Gobber. It means a lot."
Gobber nodded in reply. "It's time, lad."
Hiccup faced the gate as it lifted open. He filled his lungs, expelling the air before taking the first terrible steps into the kill ring. A cacophony of voices roared around him as the Vikings of Berk stirred up. He wasn't sure what they expected of him. Maybe most assumed he'd fail this test, like he'd failed so often before taking the unexpected turn in exceling in dragon training (that he ultimately had cheated at). Maybe some carried faith in him that he'd kill the Night Fury and claim victory as the rightful heir to the Chief's seat.
Hiccup dared to glance up at his father seated on his throne. The Chief's back was pressed into the back of his throne, eyes set forward, watching Hiccup like an ominous stone statue.
It was expected of Hiccup to make his choice of weapon to dispose of the dragon, but as he neared the weapon's board, he passed right by it. The crowd let out a resounding gasp. He halted in the middle of the kill ring and immediately the gears of the pin door began to creak, and the two heavy wooden pieces swung open.
Hiccup's chest tightened at the sight of Toothless sunk down into the floor. His wide, green eyes darted around, and his ears laid back on his head, twitching at the noise of the crowd surrounding him. When his eyes locked on Hiccup, his head popped up.
Hiccup managed a reassuring smile, hoping it would help calm Toothless' fear. "Hey buddy." He gestured for Toothless to come to him. "It's okay, Toothless. I'm here."
Hiccup met his dragon halfway as Toothless emerged from the pin. The crowd roared furiously as Toothless walked out into view. Toothless' eyes flitted about. His ears flattened and he released a hiss.
"Don't look at them, Toothless," Hiccup called out as he grabbed his dragon's jaws to help him focus. "Look at me. I'm here with you, bud, and I'm not leaving you."
The warble Toothless expressed broke Hiccup's heart. Those large green eyes held a kind soul that no one else in the arena would understand.
"Hiccup!" his father bellowed. Hiccup's breath caught for a moment at his father's steely address. He kept his focus on keeping Toothless calm. "By order of Stoick the Vast, Chief of Berk, you are ordered to kill this dragon. If you refuse, you will be exiled immediately and forever, from this day forward. I will take it upon myself to kill this devil. What is your choice?"
Hiccup pinched his eyes shut, resolving himself to this fate he'd brought upon himself and his dragon. There was no turning back.
"If you kill Toothless," he answered back as strongly as he could, raising his head to stare straight into his father's face, "you'll have to kill me too."
His father gritted his teeth, nearly grinding them down as he held back whatever emotion – anger or sorrow or a mix of both - that was threatening to spill from him.
His father ducked under the bars of the observation deck and leapt down into the kill ring. He unsheathed his sword, the twang echoing eerily off the stone walls. Every step was heavy with intent and fury. Toothless stirred, preparing for action, but Hiccup soothed him. He'd prove until his very last breath that dragons weren't the monsters every Viking assumed they were.
His father's chest heaved as if the observation deck had been a hundred miles away. He raised his sword. Hiccup barely caught a slight tremor in his father's grip. "Hiccup, don't make me do this."
Hiccup's chest clinched. His mind screamed at him. He knew his scrawny body wouldn't provide protection for Toothless, but he stood his ground and remained shielding him. "I'm not leaving his side, Dad."
Before his father could swing a death blow, a mighty flap of wings caught the attention of the arena.
"If you kill Hiccup, you'll have to kill me too!"
Hovering above the arena, riding Stormfly, was Astrid. Hiccup's heart nearly burst at the sight of her, and he couldn't stop his face from splitting into a smile. The whole sky above the arena was suddenly obscured with dragons. All the riders had come!
"And me too!" the twins yelled in unison, sounding mighty proud of themselves.
"Hey, I said it first!" Tuffnut claimed, bumping his dragon's head into hers.
"No, I did!" Ruffnut threw back.
Their quarrel was dismissed as Fishlegs intervened. His hand raised shakily into the air. "I'm with them, too."
"And me!" Snotlout flew in front of them, standing like a victor on the foot pedals of his saddle, his arms spread out from his sides.
A high-pitched yelp echoed from the crowd. "Snotlout!" bellowed Spitelout Jorgenson. He jabbed a finger toward his son. "Ye mind bleedin' out ye ears, boyo?! Get down from there!"
Snotlout, reciting his signature chant, urged Hookfang higher in the air to perform a flipping maneuver in protest, but most likely it was to show-off.
Hiccup reverted his attention back to his father, who was taking in the display with utter astonishment. He could only imagine the thoughts racing through the Chief's mind. Shock. Betrayal. Maybe a bit of amazement – Hiccup could only wish.
"See, Dad? It's possible that we can live in peace with the dragons. Just give them a chance."
His father watched the rebellious display, his eyes flicking from one dragon rider to another. Warriors in the crowd were ready, weapons in hand, for their Chief's order to attack – even though the dragons hadn't threatened them in any way.
His father's head snapped back down at him, his eyes blazing in a way Hiccup had never witnessed before. "No!" his father thundered out. There was fire in his words. "There will never be peace."
His father's sword sliced through the air, its sharp tinging causing Hiccup to recoil against Toothless in a fruitless effort to protect him. But, the bite of the sword never met its mark. Hiccup dared to peek from his position. His father held his sword toward the mouth of the arena. His chest heaved as if he'd ran for days.
"Go, the lot of ye, and never come back."
Hiccup's mouth hung open. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What?" he barely breathed out.
"GO!" His father reiterated, more forcefully.
Hiccup wasn't going to test his father's patience any longer. The whispers and protest spread like wildfire through the crowd. His father was risking his reputation, his respect, for this display of mercy. It wasn't to be taken lightly.
Hiccup mounted Toothless, pausing only to address his father in what he hoped wouldn't be the last words he ever spoke to him. "I'm sorry it turned out this way, dad, but I'm not sorry that I've made peace with the dragons."
Even through his rage from this vicious betrayal, Hiccup found a glimmer of sorrow in his father's eyes. "Go!" he ordered one last time, his voice choking slightly.
The gate opened at the Chief's command. Hiccup urged Toothless forward. The dragon spread his bat-like wings and shot out from the opening like a sling propelling him. The others joined them quickly, surrounding them on either side.
Hiccup glanced down one last time, catching his father's gaze. The corners of his mouth hung downward and his bones felt heavy as the realization struck him. He was leaving Berk forever. The only home he ever knew. He was leaving his father behind. A gaping hole was being rent between them, one that would never be healed.
Hiccup turned his eyes away from the man that helped give him life and gazed upon the future that hovered close by. Astrid caught his eye. She nodded, assuring him it was okay to let go. They would be okay. They would find their place in this world, as long as they had each other.
With Hiccup taking the lead, the riders reared their dragons and followed him away from Berk – away from the home they had built together.