Chapter 28: In which Toothless has someplace to be

Notes:

Oh my word, this chapter turned out way longer than I thought it would! Didn't think I'd ever get to the stopping point XD

Slight NSFW moment included!

Hiccup hadn't slept this good in- well, he didn't know how long. He'd been bewildered yet incredibly aroused by stimulating his wife to the point of pleasure. Astrid had returned the favor, and this time, there was no shame or embarrassment when he came. Seeing Astrid come undone by just the simple act of wiggling his finger had spurred up enough courage to let her do the same for him.

He'd panted her name and seized up at the height of arousal, his seed spilling over onto her hand and his belly. Astrid had been curious about the sticky, white goo that had poured out. She'd stiffed it and rubbed it between her fingers. Hiccup would have probably felt all kinds of shades of embarrassment if he hadn't collapsed onto his pillow with a hazy contentment about him.

Astrid fetched a wet rag and helped him clean up. Though his cheeks began to flare as she did, it was strangely intimate watching her wipe away the sticky cum from his belly. After the evidence of their activities was gone and clothes were properly replaced, Hiccup curled around Astrid, their bodies melding together. His leg pushed between both of hers, tangling their lower limbs. They couldn't get close enough to each other.

Hiccup's cheeks twitched. Nothing was touching him, but as he began to wake, he could feel a presence projected upon his skin. His eyes fluttered open, and through the slits of his vision, he found Astrid leaned inches away gazing at him. Or specifically, at his right cheek.

"What're you doing?" he croaked out, throat thick from sleep.

"Counting freckles," Astrid responded as if it was completely obvious.

Hiccup shifted his head, his cheek disappearing into the pillow.

"Hey! Now I lost my place!"

"Opps." Hiccup closed his eyes again. Memories of the night before floated into his consciousness. He was about to revel in the way Astrid's hand had stroked him when a pillow smacked him on the side of his head. Hiccup popped one eye open, glaring at his wife through that lop-sided view.

Astrid grinned down at him. "You asked for it."

Hiccup wasn't one to back down. He sprang to life, aiming for Astrid's sides. He'd come to discover her sides were extremely ticklish when worked over the right way. He'd teased her about it one evening in bed, sneaking his hand under her gown and tickling her waist, until she punched him in the gut. This time he launched a full-blown attach.

Astrid squealed – a noise that rarely escaped passed her lips – and thrashed as his fingers danced along the sides of her ribs and waist. She tried smushing his hands against her with her arms, but Hiccup dodged her. He knew she could easily stop him if she wanted to. Astrid seemed to enjoy their little game, even though it left her panting for air and made her cheeks light up.

She finally retaliated, knabbing both his wrists and slamming him back down onto his pillow. She hopped onto his legs and pinned his wrists beside his head. She was leaning over him. Her golden hair framed the sides of her face, a sheer contrast to her flushed cheeks. Her eyes danced with delight and bit of mischievousness. All Hiccup could do was stare at the gorgeous sight filling his view.

All too soon, Astrid sat up still seated on his lap and flexed her muscles. "Victory is mine!"

"Okay, you win, Buffstrid," Hiccup tossed out with a laugh. Even though he'd given her the glory, Hiccup knew he'd been the one to win and his reward was being pinned down by his hot wife.

Astrid snorted at the nickname he'd given her. She wiggled a little on his lap, a slightly bemused look on her face. Hiccup shut his eyes, trying to stop a groan from escaping across his parted lips.

She smirked. "Hiccup Haddock," a faux shocked tone held her voice. "Again? You must have enjoyed last night."

Eyes still screwed shut, Hiccup couldn't help the little whimper when Astrid wiggled against him. She knew how to be a torturous little vixen. "It happens. In the morning."

Something dawned on her face. "Is that why you're always up before me?"

Hiccup bit his bottom lip before squeaking out, "Maybe."

Astrid leaned over him, pinning his wrists that hadn't moved from where she'd left them on the pillow. Hiccup's heart began to speed up at the sight of her filling his view, a luscious little smirk playing on her lips. "We don't have dragon training this morning, which means we can fly Toothless farther today. And—"

Astrid closed the gap between them, lowering into a tender kiss that made Hiccup's heart melt. She disconnected with a little pop, Hiccup chasing after her for as far as his neck could reach.

"I can take care of this—" she slid her belly on his harden length to emphasize the word, "for you."

Hiccup released a ragged breath. He held back a deafening scream of YES and settled for a more suave approach. "Whatever you wish, milady."

Toothless was especially anxious to get into the air. He'd bounded up to them in greeting, barely receiving any scratches before he nudged Hiccup up into the saddle. The dragon was always ready to go for a flight, but he was almost to the point of impatient today.

They climbed into the saddle after Hiccup had inspected the rigging while Astrid slung the saddlebags over Toothless' barrel back. "Let's go, bud," Hiccup said, and they shot off at a record speed.

Hiccup had planned to travel due South, but Toothless had been insistent to journey North West. Hiccup went along with his dragon's decision. Toothless had an opinion too. He was an individual as much as Hiccup was, so Hiccup let the dragon choose this time.

They flew for a few hours only encountering sea stacks and small sporadic islands, not even big enough to take an hour to trek. Toothless soared particularly fast as if he were on a mission. When Hiccup leaned over Toothless' ear to ask where they were going, the dragon warbled and pointed his nose straight ahead.

"Do you think he's bringing us somewhere in particular?" Astrid asked close to Hiccup's ear. Her arms had alternated between being wrapped around his waist to clutching his shoulders to resting on her legs. Currently, they were snaked along his waist.

"With the way he's acting, I think he does."

They traveled for another half an hour when they spotted a grey mass looming across the horizon. The closer they flew the easier it was to see it was a wall of dense fog that stretched for miles with no end in sight. As they quickly approached, Astrid gasped and leaned into Hiccup's back, "This must be Helheim's Gate."

"I think you're right, and it's exactly where Toothless is taking us."

Hiccup's blood ran cold as they crossed the veil into the unknown. Just like the edge of the map where the world ends and monsters lurk, there was no guarantee that they'd escape the world inside the perpetual fog. Toothless was on a mission, and Hiccup trusted his dragon to bring them safely through. It was everything else within the veil that he worried him.

The pressure around his middle increased as Astrid pressed into his back, melding them together. Toothless swooped this way and that, dodging jagged rock formations and Viking long boat figureheads jutting up like a dragon frozen in the icy mist. Hiccup wasn't sure how long they had flown through the veil. With the sun hidden away, there was no way of telling. Minutes or an hour could have passed. The moisture of the fog dampened their clothing and left an icy chill on their skin. Astrid remained against him, barely shifting. Her chin dug into his shoulder guard, but Hiccup didn't have the heart to let her know it was causing an ache. She was just as nervous about this venture as he was, and if her position gave her any comfort, he'd live with the shoulder ache.

Like a curtain that had been rent in two, they suddenly broke through the veil of fog. Hiccup's eyes widened at the sight up ahead. Protruding from the sea was a massive rock formation that pierced the sky with jagged spikes. A reddish gleam spewed from the top, casting flickering shadows in the air. A narrow stream of lava escaped from a crack and spilled in a slow line down the side of the mountain. Toothless flew toward what Hiccup guessed was a volcano (he'd heard of volcanoes but had yet to see one with his own eyes) and touched down on the rocky shore surrounding it. The fog was less dense at the base, but a thin layer still hung around their legs.

Toothless looked back at them and warbled, Hiccup taking that as a suggestion to dismount. "Where are we, bud?" Hiccup asked as if his dragon could give him an answer.

"Wherever we are," Astrid said in a voice barely above a whisper, "I don't think we're supposed to be here." She looped her arm around his, keeping close.

An eeriness clung to the air sending an involuntary shiver up Hiccup's spine. Neither of them assumed they'd need a weapon. If they needed defending, Toothless could easily blast whatever threat it was with his firepower. This place wasn't just a random island to explore. This place seemed like a forbidden kingdom they had no right setting foot on. Even Hiccup wished he had his sword.

They'd flown for hours. Hiccup was positive Toothless had wished to bring them here. Maybe it was his home island where he had been born. Maybe there was a family of Night Furies that was kin to Toothless and were awaiting his return. Hiccup hadn't thought much of where his dragon had come from. Toothless had never acted anxious to leave the island of Berk. Until today.

"Toothless, are you sure about this?" Hiccup reached for the saddle to sling his leg over the dragon's back, to have that security of a quick getaway, but Toothless pulled away. He snuffed at them through his nostrils then tilted his head upwards, releasing a roar that echoed off the volcano.

A nail-biting moment passed and then a responding roar rang out from the mountain, shaking rocks out of place sending them tumbling down to the pebbled shore. Hiccup and Astrid drew closer to Toothless' side, Astrid clutching his shoulders in a vice grip. From a hole inside the mountain emerged a dark stream of dragons. A larger species, possibly a Monstrous Nightmare, led a rain of dragons of all different species. In formation, they pointed up toward the sky then downwards, soaring straight for them. Astrid's grip had moved to clutching the straps of his shoulder guards, tightening the restraints on his chest. Hiccup kept his hand ready to grab Toothless' saddle if they needed to make a hasty getaway.

The band of dragons touched down in a powerful swoosh of wings and claws crunching rocks. The Monstrous Nightmare, who was clearly the leader of the band, glared ominously at them through his bright yellow eyes. His crimson red pattern, streaked with black jetted stripes, gleamed through the hazy air in a wicked display.

A chill crawled up Hiccup's spine. This wasn't the Nightmare they'd befriended in the arena. This was a wild dragon from an island that was most likely it's home; it's territory to defend and tear apart anything that trespassed. The Nightmare's clan seemed ready to do just that if the dragon gave the command.

Toothless grunted and warbled at the Nightmare as if he were explaining something. He flicked his tail, showing the band of dragons his prosthetic. The Nightmare snorted in response. He glanced up at the volcano as if checking to see if any other dragons were watching. Then the larger dragon switched its gleaming eyes back to the two human invaders. He narrowed his gaze at them. Hiccup instinctively stepped back only to push into Astrid's chests. He could feel her rapid heartbeat through both their shirts.

Toothless glanced back at them, and nudged Hiccup encouragingly with his nose. Hiccup looked at his dragon with eyes blown wide, all his recent life choices banging around in his head. Toothless had brought him here for a purpose. If he was going to befriend dragons and bring peace to Berk, he'd have to take this next step. He'd place his full trust in his best friend and in the wild dragon standing before him. Change did not come without risk. He just hoped Astrid wouldn't leave this place on Toothless' back as a widow.

With his brow furrowed in determination, Hiccup moved to take a step forward, only to be stopped by the tug of his shoulder guard straps.

"Hiccup," Astrid's shaky voice whispered close to his ear.

"It'll be okay, Astrid," he reassured, firmly. She was always strong for him; it was his turn to be strong for her. Hesitantly, she released his straps, her trust placed in him that he was doing the right thing.

Hiccup approached the Nightmare, hand outstretched and heart slamming into his ribcage. The Nightmare stood still, its warm breath leaving moisture on Hiccup's chilled skin. Hiccup paused right before making contact with the dragon's snout. He turned his head and closed his eyes and waited an eternity for the uncertainty to end. His heart ceased to beat as heated scales pressed into his palm. He barely registered Astrid's gasp over the flood of his heart pumping again.

Hiccup dared to look at the Nightmare, it's glowing yellow orbs piercing his soul. It'd worked. This wild dragon that he'd never seen in his life had offered an olive branch of friendship to him without any qualms.

The Nightmare pulled back, its eyes snapping open and grunted several times at Toothless. With that, the Nightmare gave a low, rumbling roar and the band of anxious dragons took to the air. Their large form disappeared back into a hole in the mountain. A long beat of silence lingered as they watched the band leave.

"What was that?" Hiccup jumped as Astrid's voice sliced the thick quiet.

"I'm not sure." Toothless had brought them here for a purpose. Hiccup guessed it was up to him to figure it out.

Toothless warbled intently at them, nodding for them to climb on. The Night Fury was off like a shot barely before both teens had hit the saddle. Astrid yelped as they zoomed off, her arms clinging to Hiccup again. They reached upwards then disappeared back into the veil of fog that seemed to perpetually shroud the volcanic island. They'd flown for at least five minutes when Toothless made a wide circle back around.

"Toothless, why're we going back?" Hiccup asked. He wasn't quite sure how far they'd traveled.

The swish of many wings suddenly surrounded them. Claws as long as both Hiccup and Astrid were tall, swung close to their heads, and a Monstrous Nightmare flew into view directly in front of them. The squawk of a Nadder rang out beside them as Toothless dodged another in-coming dragon.

"Get down!" Hiccup hissed at the sight of a Hideous Zippleback just a wingspan away from them. In it's talon was a plump sheep. A plump, dead sheep. The dragon's two heads narrowed their gazes at them but made no effort to attack.

Shapes of dragons littered the fog all around them. Dozens upon dozens of them. All carrying something in their claws. Something dead.

"What's going on?" Astrid asked, sandwiching Hiccup between her and Toothless' neck.

Hiccup knew exactly what was going on. A raid had happened, and he wondered if Berk had been the target. "It looks like they're hauling in their kill."

Astrid's disquietude raised his concern. "Then what does that make us?"