Hiccup was sat on his bed sketching a blueprint for Dragon Fly 5. He'd told Heather that she would be in charge of the Edge today whilst he made sure Astrid rested. He glanced down at his girlfriend, who was snoring very quietly. Her blonde hair was lose and spread over the pillow in a tangle of curls. Astrid had insisted on coming to Defenders of the Wing Island the day before despite everybody's protests and Fishlegs' fretting about her being contagious. The visit had been uneventful (apart from Snotlout pretending to gag behind Astrid's back. Hiccup wasn't sure whether she noticed). By the time they got home Astrid was very pale. She allowed Hiccup to tuck her into his bed and stroke her forehead until she fell asleep. This change in her behaviour alarmed Hiccup more than her illness itself. He didn't hear her wake in the night, though, which he decided was a good sign.

Astrid stirred and her eyes fluttered open, alarmed. "Hiccup?"

"Shh, I'm here." He cupped her face with his hand. "How are you?"

Astrid shifted in the bed and grimaced.

"You okay?" He asked.

Astrid nodded her head. "Help me sit up." Hiccup propped her against pillows. She touched the large pile of cushions, then looked at him questioningly.

"Heather brought some spares around to try to keep you comfy."

"I'm fine, Hiccup. You can all stop worrying."

"I always worry about you." He kissed her cheek. "How's your stomach?"

"Sore."

"I'm not surprised. You were very sick."

"Don't remind me."

"Think you can manage a few sips of water?" Astrid nodded eagerly and took the glass he offered her. She gulped, and sighed with relief before taking another drink. Hiccup grabbed the tumbler. "Small, slow sips, Astrid."

"I don't need you to tell me how to drink, Hiccup." Astrid motioned for the water, and Hiccup reluctantly gave it to her. Astrid drained the glass. This was going to end badly.

"I need to check on Stormfly." Astrid pulled back the covers. Hiccup pushed the blanket back over her legs.

"Heather's looking after Stormfly today."

"Why?"

"Because you're busy staying in bed." Hiccup answered her next question before she asked. "And I'm busy making you stay in bed." Astrid rolled her eyes, but lay back against the pillow. She picked her knitting up from the bedside table. She seemed to be making some sort of black stuffed animal, but had refused to tell Hiccup exactly what it was when he'd asked before. He could only assume her secrecy meant it was something for him.

The next hour passed in comfortable silence broken only by the clicking of Astrid's knitting needles. Hiccup was absorbed in a lengthy passage in his book on the use of blue oleander to induce miscarriage in Viking women when he realised Astrid had stopped knitting. Her work had fallen to the floor and she was gingerly rubbing her stomach.

"Babe?" Hiccup touched her arm gently. "You need the bathroom?" Astrid nodded, her lips pressed together in a straight line. Hiccup sprang to his feet, helped her up and led her towards the toilet. She brought up the water she'd drunk earlier. "That's it, catch your breath," murmured Hiccup as she gasped afterwards. "Better now?"

Astrid nodded sheepishly. "I think I'll listen to you about drinking next time."

At midday there was a knock on the door and Heather's face appeared. "How are you, Astrid?" Astrid smiled weakly.

"How're things going on the Edge?" Asked Hiccup.

Heather laughed. "Well, Snotlout has started a one-man mutiny to gain leadership in your absence, and the twins are creating some strange potion in their boar pit."

"So, business as usual." Astrid chuckled.

"I don't know how you manage, Hiccup!"

"Neither do I!" Said Hiccup.

Heather came further into the room, revealing a small tray she was carrying. "I thought some food might help. Keep your strength up."

"I'm not hungry." Said Astrid quietly. Hiccup kissed the top of her head and Astrid slipped her hand into his. "I wouldn't keep it down, anyway. Not until this bug is gone."

Heather sat down carefully on the edge of the bed. "Astrid, I don't think you've got a bug." Hiccup blinked at her in surprise, unsure what else could possibly be wrong with Astrid. Astrid, however seemed to understand what Heather meant. A realisation dawned on Hiccup: Astrid was having a bad time of the cycle.

"Shall I go take a walk?" He asked. Astrid nodded.

Hiccup went straight to Fishlegs' hut and, as expected, found Toothless playing 'Toss the Sheep' with Meatlug. "Hey, Bud!" Hiccup laughed as his dragon playfully knocked him over.

"How is she?" Fishlegs stood from his desk.

"Still puking." Said Hiccup as he got up from the floor.

Fishlegs patted Hiccup's shoulder. "She'll be fine, she's Astrid. In the mean time..."

"Shall we look at that map?" Hiccup grinned. They spent the best part of an hour tracing the layout of Viggo's base. Secret passageways were shown in great detail, and the room names gave clues to the Hunters' activities.

"Why does Viggo have a room labelled Maces and Talons?" Asked Fishlegs.

"Of course Viggo has a room labelled Maces and Talons."

"True. Hey, there are stables marked here."

Hiccup leant over the parchment. "I wonder what animals they're for."

"Maybe he's keeping livestock to feed his workers." Said Fishlegs.

Hiccup frowned. "Yeah. You said the transport ship you followed went to an island near the Southern border of the Archipelago?"

"Yeah, it was a rocky island with a huge natural harbour full of ships. Strange place for a port though; the island has pretty much no cover."

"And no natural resources to sustain the people working on the shipyard either." Said Hiccup. "Why would Viggo transport his cargo there?"

"I don't think the ship I followed had any dragons on it. It must have been returning from a mission. We need to follow a ship holding captured dragons."

"No," Said Hiccup. "We need to cut off the food supply to Viggo's dock. If we can weaken his forces it'll be easier to destroy his ships. If he has no way to transport the dragons, they'll be safe."

"And what about when he builds new ships?"

"He won't. Without a food supply he won't be able to employ construction workers."

Hiccup and Fishlegs drew up a detailed plan for identifying Viggo's source of food and fresh water. Hiccup's mind kept wandering back to Astrid, but Fishlegs was on a roll. Eventually there was a momentary pause in the conversation, "Awesome, Fishlegs. I've got to go."

"But we haven't considered the possibility of Viggo being allied with a tribe who supply food."

"I know. We'll talk about it later, I promise. Right now Astrid needs me."

When Hiccup got back to his hut, Heather and Astrid were sat on his bed together. They were playing Penuckle, a Berserker card game. Astrid had clearly been crying. Hiccup sat next to her. "You okay?"

"Shh, don't distract me." She placed a chief of clubs on the pile of cards, Heather groaned and picked up from the deck. "Yeah, I'm fine, Hiccup."

He stroked his thumb across the dried tear tracks on her cheek. "Are you really fine, or are you Astrid-fine?"

"Can we talk about something other than how I feel?"

"Sure." Hiccup filled the two women in on his conversation with Fishlegs.

"Strange," Said Heather. "When I was with the Dragon Hunters they never mentioned a harbour. Must be a new development."

"That would make sense given the sudden increase in the number of Dragon Hunter ships." Astrid was absentmindedly shuffling the playing cards.

Heather stood up and stretched. "I need to check Windshear. I promised her we'd go flying this afternoon. I'll leave you two to chat."

Hiccup thought this sounded decidedly like Astrid had something to tell him. Once they were alone, he glanced at Astrid. She was avoiding his gaze. "So, um, how are you?"

"Would you stop asking me that, Hiccup."

"Sorry. I'm just worried about you." Hiccup sighed.

"I know." She looked at him. "I'm sorry too, I know this is hard for you. You've got a lot on, what with Viggo and the Flame Whipper." As if on cue, there was a loud roar of fire from somewhere outside followed by Snotlout screaming. Hiccup and Astrid both chuckled. Astrid turned her head away. "The last thing you need is me being unwell."

"Astrid," Hiccup gently touched her chin, "Nothing is more important to me than making sure you're well. Everything else can wait."

"But Viggo, the dragons..."

"Heather's dealing with it."

Astrid nodded, and they sat in awkward silence for a few minutes. "Umm, Hiccup?"

"Yeah?"

When Astrid spoke again, her voice was tiny and almost afraid. "Would you... would you hug me, please?"

Hiccup was alarmed by her request and how fragile she looked. This was definitely more than a stomach bug. "Of course I will, Astrid." She practically fell against his chest. He held her as she cried, unsure of what to say. He couldn't comfort her because he didn't know what was wrong.

They were still in each other's arms when the warning horn sounded. "Oh Thor, not now." Muttered Hiccup.

Astrid sat up. She had stopped crying. "Go, Hiccup." He hesitated, and she touched his face. "I'll be fine." Stormfly nudged her rider's head gently.

As Hiccup ran outside, calling for Toothless, it occurred to him that Astrid hadn't insisted on coming to help defend the Edge. His heart sunk: she must be feeling worse. The waters around the island were full of Dragon Hunter ships. Fishlegs and Snotlout were hovering above the clubhouse arguing. "No, Fishface! We need to take out the support vessels so the main ship is weaker!"

Hiccup interrupted them. "Where's Heather?"

"She was gathering firewood from the other side of the island." Said Fishlegs as a boulder smashed into the defensive wall.

"Twins?"

"Thor knows." Snotlout snorted. "They've probably gotten themselves captured."

Fishlegs turned to Hiccup, "Where's Astrid?"

"In bed."

"Oh fabulous!" Snotlout rolled his eyes. "The Edge is under siege and Princess gets to sleep."

"Snotlout! Would you stop calling her that!" Hiccup glanced back at the ships, which were drawing nearer. "Looks like it's just the three of us."

The counter-attack seemed to be going well. Fishlegs had drawn arrow fire from all ships as he made to strike the centre vessel. Meatlug had been hit; but the injury had little impact due to Gronckles' natural immunity to dragon root extract. This had allowed Snotlout and Hiccup to fly in undetected and sink several of the boats.

"Hiccup Haddock!" Ryker was stood on the deck of the lead ship. "Yer pathetic plan to sink my army won't work."

"Well that's funny," Said Hiccup, "Because from here it looks like we've just sunk most of your fleet."

Ryker laughed, then turned to one of his men. "Fire." Hiccup watched in horror as a flaming missile was catapulted over the wall and right towards his hut.

"Astrid!" Screamed Hiccup. He urged Toothless forward, knowing full well that they would be too late. The wind and his heartbeat rushed in his ears. Toothless cut through the air, but Hiccup barely noticed. The missile was seconds away from his hut, away from Astrid.

The twins appeared over Hiccup's hut and rammed their dragon into the boulder. It fell, smashing through the walkway connecting the clubhouse to the docks. Barf and Belch let out a pained roar as Hiccup landed next to them. There was a large burn on the dragon's chest.

"Here!" Fishlegs began splashing water from a bucket over the injury.

"That. Was. Awesome!" Yelled Tuffnut.

"Did you see how Barf just shoved his body in the way?" Ruffnut was grinning.

Snotlout sighed. "You mutton heads do realise your dragon is injured, right?"

"Oh, he'll be fine." Said Tuff. "He has Thorston blood, and as everyone knows, the Thorstons were the only people to survive the massacre of the Great Unveiling."

Fishlegs groaned. "Yeah, your dragon doesn't actually have Thorston blood. And the Great Unveiling never-"

"Don't go there." Astrid was hovering above them on Stormfly. "Ryker's regrouping."

"Okay," Said Hiccup. "Ruff, Tuff, stay with your dragon. Snotlout, Fishlegs, we're going to take out the catapults. Astrid, back to bed."

"No way! Admit it, Hiccup, you need my help."

Hiccup felt a pang in his chest. "Actually," he said softly, "I need you to not get hurt."

Snotlout made a gagging sound. "Gross, Hiccup! Anyway, Ryker fired directly at your hut. Probably the least safe place on the Edge right now."

"Yeah," Fishlegs stroked the stubble on his chin, "That was an odd move on Ryker's part. Why Hiccup's hut?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Everyone looked at Tuff. "He knew Astrid was in there. He's trying to strike Hiccup where it hurts."

"That's ridiculous." Fishlegs stopped tending to Barf and Belch's injury. "Why would he think Astrid was in Hiccup's hut?"

Ruff rolled her eyes. "Duh! He's telepathic!"

"Indeed, Sister. We should know. Being the experts at telepathy that we are." The twins banged their helmets together.

"Ugh!" Astrid face-palmed. "Can we please deal with these Hunters before they destroy our base?"

By the time they'd eliminated most of Ryker's catapults, the majority of his men had deserted. It never ceased to amuse Hiccup how quickly dragons turned brave men into nervous wrecks.

"Hold yer fire!" Ryker raised his machete above his head. "Haddock, come and face me like a man."

"It's a trap, Hiccup!" Astrid shouted from nearby.

"If there's an opportunity to end this here without bloodshed I have to try."

"How many times have we heard that before?" Said Fishlegs.

Snotlout drummed his fingers against his jaw. "Hmmm, let me see. How about every time we fight the Hunters; and every time Hiccup nearly gets us all killed!"

"I'm not going to get us all killed, Snotlout."

"Fine, if you want to go talk to the angry Viking with the giant sword who, I might point out, is about three times the size of you, be my guest. But I'm not rescuing you when this goes wrong." Hiccup ignored him and landed on the deck of the ship.

"Without yer dragon." Snarled Ryker.

"He can't fly without me."

"Well, I guess we'll just have to throw him in the ocean then." Before Hiccup could react, two Hunters wrenched him away as other men muzzled Toothless.

"No!"

Ryker chuckled. "Oh don't worry your scrawny head. No dragon this valuable is going over the side. He'll fetch a nice price at the Eastern Trade Circuit."

Hiccup growled. "This isn't exactly talking it out like men, Ryker. What do you want from us?"

"I want the Dragon Eye. Then I'll leave you and yer friends in peace."

"No way. You'll use the Dragon Eye to terrorise every dragon from here to the edge of the Earth."

Ryker chuckled darkly. "Fine. Perhaps this'll change yer mind." An archer on the bridge of the boat fired. It was a perfect shot, and in other circumstances Hiccup would have admired the force and speed with which the bow propelled the arrow. The riders had no time to respond. Hiccup watched, horror struck, as the arrow met its target and Astrid fell into the ocean. Fishlegs and Stormfly both dived after her, but Ryker's men had already caught her with a dragon-proof net and were reeling her in.

"Let her go!" Screamed Hiccup as Astrid's lifeless body was dumped on the deck. He tried desperately to shake off the men holding him, to no avail. "Astrid! Astrid, no!"

"Calm down, she's not dead. Yet." Ryker smirked. "We wouldn't have any bargaining power over you if she were dead, would we?"

Hiccup could feel himself shaking. He heard Astrid's voice in his head, telling him not to give in to Ryker's demands. He knew she would sacrifice herself for the good of the dragons; and he knew he would sacrifice anything to save her. "Fine." He spat. "Fine, have the Dragon Eye. But I want your word that you won't come near us; and I want the antidote to whatever was on the arrow you shot Astrid with."

Ryker raised his eyebrows. "Viggo was right. Being in love with yer partner in battle really does compromise yer strength." He signalled for the men to drop Hiccup, who pulled the Dragon Eye from his satchel and threw it at Ryker.

"Astrid!" He cradled her head. "Come on, wake up!"

"Hiccup, we've got to go!" Fishlegs was hovering somewhere to Hiccup's left.

"The antidote!" Hiccup staggered towards Ryker.

"Got it!" Snotlout held up a small glass vial. Toothless, who had been freed, nudged Hiccup firmly. Hiccup lay Astrid, still unconscious, over the dragon and carried her back to the Edge.

In the clubhouse, Hiccup placed Astrid on her back on the floor. Fishlegs poured a drop of antidote into her mouth and they all held their breath.

"What do you reckon's in it?"

Fishlegs was visibly taken aback by Ruffnut asking a sensible question. He sniffed the antidote. "I'm not sure. It definitely contains red oleander though."

Astrid groaned. "Hiccup? Hiccup!"

"I'm here. Shh, you're alright." He held her hand tightly.

"You're shaking." She reached her other hand up to stroke his hair.

"Yeah, you scared me."

"Did I not say this would happen?" Snotlout had his hands on his hips. "Hiccup tried to make peace with the Hunters and somebody nearly died. Again. When are you going to accept that these guys most definitely do not want to 'talk it out'?"

"Not now Snotlout." Hiccup was helping Astrid sit up. "Hey, you gotta let me support you, okay. We have no idea what you were shot with."

"Who was shot?" Heather had appeared in the doorway. She dropped the fire wood she was carrying and ran across the room to Astrid.

"I'm fine."

"Ooh, where did we hear that before?"

"Shut up Snotlout!" Fishlegs and the twins chorused.

"She'll be okay." Hiccup squeezed Astrid's hand. "We got the antidote into her in time."

Heather looked at him, her eyes wild. "Antidote?" Hiccup nodded. Heather let go of Astrid and turned to Fishlegs. "What's in it?"

"We don't know. It's working though, that's the main-"

"You have to find out what's in the antidote!" Heather was frantic.

"Okay, okay! Hiccup where's the book Gothi lent you?"

"My bedside table." Hiccup was confused as to Heather's sudden alarm. She was ushering the other riders and their dragons from the clubhouse. "Heather, what's wrong?" Hiccup tried to keep the panic out of his voice.

"You need to tell him." Heather spoke directly to Astrid, whose face was expressionless. Astrid shook her head. "Astrid," Heather was crouched in front of her friend. "Hiccup needs to know. If you don't tell him, I will."

"Don't." Astrid gasped. "I'm not ready."

"You don't have a choice anymore , Astrid."

Hiccup's heart was thundering against his ribcage. He had absolutely no idea what was going on, but it was most definitely bad. He watched as Heather left the clubhouse and shut the door behind her. "Astrid, what was Heather talking about?"

Astrid shivered, then pushed his arms away. "I... I think if I tell you, you won't love me anymore."

Hiccup's face creased with worry. "Babe, there's not a single thing you could say that would change how I feel about you."

Astrid stifled a sob. "I've lied to you, Hiccup. I've manipulated you and tricked you these past few months. There's no way we can be together."

"You don't..." Hiccup's voice cracked, "You don't love me?"

"I love you with everything I am."

"Then, why...?"

Astrid was openly crying now. Hiccup reached out to touch her but she flinched away. "Hiccup.." she looked at the shields on the wall, took a deep breath and said the words she was sure would be the death of her.

"I'm pregnant."