Chapter 17

Hiccup woke up with a start to the sound of men yelling frantic commands and the violent pounding of boots up and down the wooden hallway outside his cabin. Disoriented momentarily he couldn't make sense of what exactly was happening around him, it was only when he saw Astrid already in a state of alertness, her body ridged as she looked at the closed door did he fully wake up.

"What in Thor's name is going on?" He asked, his voice still gravely from sleep.

"I have no idea but we're going to find out. Get on your boots and jacket." Hiccup didn't question her as he slipped on his boots and reached for the jacket Astrid had given him, all the while the yelling and running continued.

Once dressed the pair opened their cabin door, taking a step out, only to be pushed back by a crew member carrying an armload of swords. Hiccup's eyes widening as he watched the man.

"Okay, really what in Thor's name is going on? You're a regular around here, is it normal for men to be running around with swords this early?" Hiccup asked, his voice dripping in its usual sass, as he gestured toward the retreating man. Astrid slowly shook her head, ignoring the dry humor laced question as she tried to mentally piece together what was going on. Only to come up with no feasible answer.

"Not at all. C'mon we need to find Eret and see what's going on." Hiccup winced slightly at the other man's name. Before giving a tense nod as he tried to play off the reaction. Thoughts and insecurities from the prior day blossoming immediately in his chest.

While he believed Astrid when she told him that she and Eret's relationship was nothing more than a pain dulling fling. Having no reason to doubt her, Astrid had been nothing short of painfully honest since their first meeting. He had yet to fully accept the idea that Eret felt the same way; especially with Eret's annoying show of affection yesterday.

How could a man lucky enough to have any sort of relationship beyond friendship with Astrid be willing to give it up. He knew he would never be able too, she was already began to ruin him for all other women. As he realized none could ever compare to the complex creature that was his bodyguard.

So for a man like Eret, who was compatible with Astrid on ever foreseeable front–unlike himself. Why would he give her up willingly?

Hiccup couldn't help but feel the pang of anxiety run through him as he compared himself to Eret. The man was the antithesis of everything Hiccup wasn't. Muscular, athletic, charming and he was well…Hiccup. How could Astrid even go from a man like that to him?

Hiccup snapped himself from his thoughts as Astrid grabbed her rifle and left their cabin during a break in the commotion in the hall. Quickly he followed, once in the Hall he noticed the two cabin doors of his friends slightly ajar. Several sets of eyes peering out.

"Guys!" Hiccup ran up to Heather and Ruffnut's door as it opened first.

"Hiccup what's going on?" Heather asked as she cast a weary look at Astrid, who looked completely on guard. Her whole body tense as a bow string as she stood beside the group, Scourge of Odin tightly in her grip ready for whatever was causing all the chaos on board.

"We have no idea, we're going to find Eret now." Heather and the rest of the group nodded.

"And where would Eret be?" Fishlegs chimed in as he nervously flicked his head back and forth. The commotion clearly unsettling the gentle man.

"He's most likely on the bridge." Astrid answer immediately, "It's on the other side of the deck. Just stick close and follow me." With that said she nodded her head in the direction they needed to go and started running in a steady jog. The group following behind her obediently.

Astrid expertly avoided the crew that were still hurrying around, some with weapons others running to where they were needed as she and the group rushed down the hall towards the deck. Pushing open the outside door with out hesitation, Astrid was hit by a thick wall of fog that made it nearly impossible to see any farther than the ships deck. The surrounding ocean lost in the soupy mess. Not even the predawn light could penetrate the thick cloud wall.

They crossed the deck quickly, which was eerily quiet compared to the underbelly of the ship which was buzzing with activity. It seemed that whatever was going on Eret had wanted the crew bellow deck, which only made Astrid more anxious about what could be happening.

"Whoa, creepy." Tuffnut whispered as he nudged his sister giving her a devious grin. Which she returned with a sharp jab to the ribs, gesturing to him to be quiet. Even Ruffnut could tell when joking was not appropriate and now was most definitely not the time for joking. Tuffnut frowned and rubbed the abused flesh as the group went up a small set of stairs before finally reaching the door to the bridge. Not wasting anytime Astrid wretched the door open and stopped instantly, as she was met with gun pointed directly in her face.

A collective gasp was heard from behind her while Astrid didn't even flinch at the deadly weapon intrusion. "Damn it Ace," Eret breathed harshly as he dropped the hand gun and moved out of her way. "Get inside, now." He gruffly told them as he walked back into the room and over to the modern control panel that sat in front of a vast glass window that overlooked the ocean. Only now all that could be seen was the thick curling fog.

"Whoa, was not expecting this." Snotlout said as he reached a hand out to touch the high tech electronic display. Only to have it slapped away by Eret.

"No touching Snot-hat." His tone no longer holding any of the humor he had yesterday.

Hiccup and the rest of his friends glanced appraisingly around the room, taking in all the high end electronic equipment that seemed to be wholly out of place on the ancient looking ship.

"What did you all expect, I would navigating this magnificent vessel behind a wooden wheel using the stars?" The group shrugged and nodded.

"Cut the chit chat Eret, what the Hel is going on? Why did you almost put a bullet in my skull?" Hiccup winced at how nonchalant Astrid spoke about having a gun pointed at her head. He was sure he panicked enough for the both of them during the brief moment. His heart still not having returned to its normal rhythm.

"We've got huge problem Ace." Eret said walking over to a large screen that displayed a map tracking their location. "We had to divert from our original course due to a nasty storm that formed right in our path."

"So where exactly does that put us then?" Astrid tensely asked starting to realize what was going on. A scenario she prayed she would never have to experience. Pausing Eret looked at her his face grim, it was the confirmation that she dreaded.

"Hangin' Heads waters."

Hiccup watched Astrid's eyes widen as her usually cool and collected exterior falter. Briefly showing everyone in the room just how worried she was about what Eret had said.

"Hangin' Heads waters?" Hiccup's gaze bounced between the only two people who understood the significance of the statement. "What does that mean?"

Astrid shook off the shock of the knowledge that they would be in enemy waters and turned to the confused looking group.

Thor, I took them away from Berk to keep them safe not get them all killed. She thought morosely.

"Astrid?" Hiccup probed again.

She let out a sigh, "the Hangin' Head gang. A viscous group of men who like to think they're back in the golden age of Vikings. Killing and raiding, using axes and swords. Heads on spikes–the whole deal. Generally though they stick to other gangs so they're low on the governments priority list, unless…" she looked Hiccup directly in his concerned green eyes, "...unless you go into their territory. Then you're fair game."

"And we're in their waters." Both Eret and Astrid nodded.

Hiccup's stomach dropped, "oh Thor…"

Astrid watch Hiccup and the rest of the group of friends balk at the news. Which in truth they should, even the most war hardened warrior didn't want to tango with the Hangin' Heads. They were absolutely barbaric in their tactics and bodies of their victims were rarely found. And if they were found, it was only pieces.

Astrid turned to Eret, "how long have we been in their waters?"

"Only fifteen minutes or so. The storm was just to massive–I tried to skirt their territory but ultimately the storm pushed us directly into them and there's nothing I could do." Eret told her looking at the monitors. The swirling storm displayed brightly on the monitor in front of him.

Astrid made a noise akin to a growl, "I have to get them somewhere safe–now." She said impatiently as she brushed her bangs out of her eyes.

"My quarters. Barricade yourselves in and don't–" suddenly Eret was cut off as the ship lurched violently forward. Eret and Astrid hitting the control panel as the rest of the group hit the floor unceremoniously.

Hiccup rubbed the now tender spot on the side of his head as he looked up at Astrid and Eret. "What was that?" He asked as he got to his feet quickly, closing the distance between he and Astrid.

"They're here…" Eret stared tensely at the radar which was now lit up with various sized objects surrounding their ship, "go, quickly to my cabin! I'll cover you!" Without waiting for a response Eret grabbed his own impressive looking rifle along with a vicious looking sword.

Astrid caught Hiccup's eye as she followed Eret to the door, his gaze laced with concern. "Astrid–" His nasally voice sounding just as concerned as he looked.

"Stay close…don't…just–just stay close." She looked up at him directly beside her, her large azure eyes firm with a hint a pleading to them.

Hiccup contemplated using his normal sarcastic wit, his defensive mechanism for when situations got too serious or he had no idea what to say but stopped himself before the word came out. The slight look of pleading Astrid was giving him keeping the words in his throat. Astrid never begged or pleaded so if she was now, the situation must be dire. So despite what he wanted to do–protect the woman he had come to love, no matter how much she didn't need it; he instead gave her a single tight nod. Agreeing to let her do her job while he stood back like a coward.

The pair stood at the rear of the group as Eret opened the bridges door and stepped out, his rifle raised as he cautiously led everyone out. No longer was the deck deserted, no, now most of the crew stood on it, stock still, weapons of all sorts poised and ready for attack. No one saying a thing as the fog wove around the warrior crew. While no longer empty the eerie feeling surrounding the ship had grown exponentially.

Eret put a finger to his lips, telling them to stay quiet as he moved down the stairs in a tactical fashion. The group other than Astrid following less gracefully but non the less quiet. Even the very rarely serious Thorston twins were painfully quiet.

Hiccup watched Astrid slowly sweep her rifle back and forth looking for the enemy as they followed Eret. He couldn't help but notice how similar her and Eret looked in their movements. Both fierce and deadly. Completely in tune with each other. Just another reminder of how much of a more appropriate match someone like Eret was for Astrid than himself. Swallowing the pain that swelled up suddenly at the thought Hiccup refocused on the task at hand. Leaving no room for his self loathing thoughts.

Half way across the deck Eret paused, Ruffnut bumping into his back as he did. A tingling of the senses he had come to trust complete over the years stopping him in his tracks. Ominously he turned his amber eyes towards the sky, searching out what had sent a cold shot of dread down his spine as the rest of the group paused as well.

Suddenly before anyone on deck could react the sound of dozens of thwacks could be heard in the distance before a volley of arrows began raining down on them from the fog covered heavens.

"TAKE COVER!" Eret's commanding tone rang out across the deck as he grabbed ahold of the closest person to him, Ruffnut, and dove behind a crate. Covering her body with his own.

The deck exploded into movement as everyone heeded their captains command in the few precious second that they had.

Grabbing ahold of Hiccup, Astrid, roughly pushed his lithe frame against the ships main mast before covering him with her own. Caging his body with her flesh frame, praying it was enough to keep him safe. Instinctively Hiccup's arms wrapped around her as the arrows began to wiz past their conjoined bodies. The sound of the sharp projectiles hitting wood and flesh ringing out all around them.

Hiccup wished that this was a moment where he could have been able to relish in the feeling of Astrid pressed so tightly to him. Close his eyes–bury his nose in the crown of her golden hair and inhale her clean crisp smell. But unfortunately it wasn't.

Instead he watched with wide eyes and a rapidly beating heart as several unfortunate men, who didn't find cover fast enough were impaled with multiple arrows. Blood spraying the wooden deck and railing as their clothing gave no resistance to the deadly metal arrow tips.

The un-lucky men fell to the deck some already dead–some bleeding out slowly as the last of the arrows hit the ship. Before he could object Astrid had detangled herself from him and brought her rifle forward. Pointing it out towards the ocean and the hidden enemy lurked.

Hiccup was about to push himself from the mast when a cry rang out above the numerous moans of the shot men drawing all his attention.

"TUFF!" Snapping his head in the direction of Snotlout's panicked filled voice. Hiccup found a sight that would forever be burned into his memory; a distraught Snotlout hunched over a still Tuffnut lay on the deck bleeding out from an arrow protruding out of the top right of his chest.

Without thinking Hiccup took off in their direction, stumbling over the numerous injured men and arrows littering the deck as he left Astrid's side. Something he promised he wouldn't do. The footsteps of the rest of his friends began thundering behind him, trying to keep up, as he reached Tuffnut's side. Where he promptly dropped to his knees.

"Tuffnut!" He shouted just as the male twins face began to contort in pain and he let out an animal like howl.

"Oh I'm hurt–I am very much hurt!" He frantically tried to reach the source of his pain but Hiccup and Snotlout held his arms down. Stopping him from further injury.

Hiccup let out a shaky exhale as Tuffnut shouted and cursed in pain, his worry for his friend was still there but not nearly as much as before. Finally the rest of the group arrived at Tuffnut's side Ruffnut dropping beside Hiccup quickly to fuss over her twin.

"Fishlegs pick him up. We'll tend to the wound once we get inside." Astrid ordered urgently leaving no room for argument.

"But the arrow–"Astrid's stern glare cut Fishlegs off.

"Won't kill him, pick him up."

Nodding obediently Fishlegs bent down and picked up the injured man. Careful of the protruding arrow that left a thick trial of blood pouring down Tuffnut's upper chest. Ruffnut quickly placed her hands on the wound trying to stem the blood flow as best as she could.

"Now we have to get you all inside–" Astrid began but was stopped from finishing as a dozen or so metal hooks emerged from the fog, hitting the deck loudly before violently ripping back–scraping large gouges into the wood. Only stopping as they caught onto the wooden half wall railing of the ship. Wrenching and splintering the wood as they locked into place.

Eret's eyes widened and spun around to his remaining crew, "cut the ropes! Prepare to be boarded!" Pulling the sword from his belt Eret went charging away from the group and toward the ropes, followed by his men–some injured some not. They reached the ropes just as modern day Vikings climbed aboard. Brandishing their axes and swords as they collided directly with Eret and his crew.

"Go! Go! Go!" Astrid screamed over the melee of burly Vikings and crew at the shocked group of civilians. Pulling the Scourge of Odin forward Astrid fired off several rounds without hesitation, burying the deadly metal into the chest of the closest Hangin' Head Viking. Dropping him quickly to the deck.

Hiccup grabbed ahold of Heather's hand and took off the moment the terrifying looking Viking gang members crested the side of the ship and Astrid screamed for them to go. Pulling her arm harshly, he kept pace with the others, Fishlegs large body lead them despite him carrying Tuffnut's lanky body. Snotlout and Ruffnut flanking his sides.

Green eyes darted vigorously back and forth as more and more Hangin' Head members made their way on deck. Hiccup wanted to look back, see where and how Astrid was but knew he couldn't. Any slip up now could mean certain death at the large beastly hands of the Hangin' Heads. The only thing he could take solace in now was the rapid sounds of a rifle going off behind him. Praying that it was Astrid firing away and not someone else.

As he was trying to listen for the familiar report of Astrid's rifle he failed to notice one close gang member, until Heather let out a shriek as she was suddenly pulled down and out of his grasp. Her body hitting the deck with a dull thud. Turning quickly Hiccup skidded slightly as he ran back to Heather's side. She was desperately trying to unwind the bola that was tightly laced around her legs.

"Heather!" Hiccup yelled as he dropped down next to her, his deft fingers flying to the rope urgently trying to untangle her. No longer paying attention to the chaos surrounding him, only focused on freeing Heather.

"Hiccup, watch out!" Heather abruptly yelled pulling her legs out of his hands and giving his a firm kick to the chest, sending him sprawling backwards, where he painfully hit a wooden barrel. Just as a savage looking axe hit the deck, where Hiccup was only seconds before, splintering the wood with a sickening crack.

Hiccup let out a panicked shriek as the black bearded man the size of his vast Father wrenched the axe out of the deck and turned toward him. "She's mine boy." He growled out between his yellowed teeth. His blackened eyes staring him down with a frightening glare.

The moment Hiccup heard the grotesque words from the mountain of a man in front of him his fear of the man quickly turned to anger. A protective rage bubbling up in him that he had never felt before.

How dare he?! He thought as he glared at the man.

"Heather belongs to no one! Least of all a monster like you!" He growled out as he blindly began to reach behind him hoping to find something to fight the man off. Who was quickly advancing on him. Menacing axe in hand.

Finally his nimble fingers touched rounded cool metal, bingo. Hiccup thought proudly as he fully grasped his hand around the metal pipe. Slowly dragging it closer to his person without revealing it to his assailant.

"You wan' the wench fur yourself, don' you fishbone?" He stopped directly in front of Hiccup, squaring his feet to his shoulders. Before raising the axe up into the air. "Don' worry I'll show her what a real man is like!" He grinned grotesquely again, as he brought his axe down with incredible force. Slicing threw the air ready to strike a killing blow.

With little more than a foot until the sharp blade split him in two Hiccup swung the pipe from behind him. Grasping it with two hands and thrusting it upwards. The burly man's axe clanged loudly against the dull metal of the pipe, the reverberating shock coursing down Hiccup's arms as it did. Making his grip falter for a brief moment before he tightened it up and pushed harder against the man.

Gritting his teeth so tightly he thought they may break, Hiccup used all his strength against the man. Whose smile only seemed to grow the harder Hiccup fought. "You think you can beat me boy?" The Hangin' Head member pushed harder as he leaned over Hiccup's body. The pipe and blade inching closer to Hiccup's face. Just as he felt his strength began to leave him a flash behind the man brought a slow building grin to his face.

"N-no, I cant but sh-she can." He spit out behind clenched teeth. The gang member let up his grip slightly as he shot Hiccup a questioning look. Until his eye shot open wide and his mouth dropped. A pained gasp escaped him as his wide eyes fell to his mid section. Where a grizzly looking sword now protruded. Blood running quickly down the blade and onto Hiccup own midsection. The grotesque display make his stomach roll in discomfort.

The blade slid back out as quickly as it had arrived and the pressure on the pipe in Hiccup's hands lightened immediately as the man staggered backwards. Moving only a few paces before falling to the deck, dead. Hiccup let out a large exhale and moved his gaze from the now dead man to the deadly sword wielding Valkyrie standing in front of him. With her rifle strapped to her back, and a fierce look on her face, Astrid stood there sword in hand, the amount of blood dripping down the blade no where near the amount that coated her body. None of which looked to be her own.

Astrid extended a blood caked hand down to him which he readily took in his own, keeping the pipe still gripped tightly in his left. Despite the man no longer being a problem he felt better having it by his side.

"I'm starting to think you have a hearing problem or is it just listening problem?" She asked as she hauled him to his feet. A perfectly arched eyebrow staring him down as the side of her mouth cocked up.

"Hey you're the one who brought all this out of me, lest we forget. I was pretty useless before you came around." He told her, his voice dripping with self deprecation as he spoke down about himself.

For a brief moment Astrid's azure eyes broke their determined look, softening just barely. So despite the fact that they need to desperately get off the deck like the rest of his friends now safely were. She paused and spoke–mainly to herself.

"Hiccup, you were never useless. The rest of us were." Her voice barely a whisper but Hiccup heard her clearly. Even with the battle going on around them. He heard her uncharacteristically quiet and genuine words that struck his heart.

He opened his mouth to refute her claim, it would be simple. Point out his obvious flaws and past mistakes. His hermit like past. Or how his anxiety seemed to leave him paralyzed…though it seemed to be easing its hold more and more. He could tell her that he could never be strong like Eret. Or fight like her. She had been right the other night when she said he was no killer. He wasn't. So how could she say he was not and never was useless? How could she look at him, blood dripping down her face right along with the sweat while he was practically unscathed and not think of him as useless? What did he do to deserve such praise?

Slowly he closed his mouth and instead just continued to stare at her. Unable to agree or disagree. It was then that the soft fleeting look on her face left, her fierceness taking back over. The short glimpse behind the curtain of Astrid's inner thoughts done. Only leaving him with more questions than it answered.

Shaking her head, she looked away, "C'mon lets get the Hel of this deck." She gestured to the near by door all traces of the previous conversation gone. Hiccup looked towards their salvation before his gaze flickered around the rest of the deck finding quiet a few battles still going on, though it did seem that Eret and his crew were gaining the upper hand. Far more Hangin' Head bodies littered the wooden deck versus the actual crew.

Nodding Hiccup adjusted his grip on his pipe and followed Astrid to the door. All the fighting seemed to have now focused on the opposite side of the ship leaving their path of escape clear. Even though it might have seemed clear Astrid still stayed alert, sword grasped tightly in her grip. Hiccup wondered if the reason she was no longer using her rifle was because she was out of ammunition. Just the thought sending a slight shiver down his spine, knowing just how many souls that meant she had taken.

Finally reaching the door Astrid's hand gripped the door handle only to stop as a loud cackle of laughter ripped through the air. Snapping her head in the direction of the maniacal laugh, Astrid seemed to brighten slightly as her mouth curled up up into a smug smile. Her sword dropping until the tip of it rested against the deck as her body released the tension she had been holding since finding about the looming threat of the Hangin' Heads.

Casting a bewildered look in the same direction that Astrid was pointed, Hiccup wondered immediately who it was behind that laugh, how they could get the normally intense bodyguard to drop her guard with just a laugh. The rest of the deck seemed to take notice of the laughter as well, all men pausing in their battles.

Then as if the fog had been given a command from the Gods themselves, it parted and ship that rivaled Eret's in size and uniqueness appeared right beside them. Mere feet away. Lines of wild looking men lining the starboard side, all their gazes locked on the deck. Suddenly a single large body launched themselves across the divide between the two ships, their heavy leather and metal boots echoing loudly as he landed on the deck.

Everyone's attention snapped to the muscular red haired man, whose vivid green eyes shown brightly with a wicked gleam. His blue tattoos streaking across his face crinkling as his mouth spread into a wide grin.

"Oh look a party, I love a good party! But…no one invited me. How mean." The man pouted in mock hurt as he pulled out the blade strapped to his back. Running a calloused finger over the sharp edge as he inspected thoughtfully. Stopping abruptly at the tip he snapped his eyes back to the mass of men. His pout dropped and he rushed forward thrusting his sword forward and straight into the chest and out the back of the closest Hangin' Head member. The man let out a choked cough, blood spraying on his killer's face before he dropped to the deck as the blade holding him up left his chest.

"You know I really don't like when people are mean to me." His voice dropped an octave before the grin spread on across his face again, "let's dance boys."

And the deck exploded into chaos again.

. . . . .

So this chapter took me forever. Very little dialogue and lots of action...it was brutal. SO I hope you liked it!

Hiccup's doubting himself even more, Tuff's hurt, Astrid's savage and Dagur is in the house...er ship.

Oh and I just wanted to say something, a guest reviewer was worried that I was dropping this story because it was taking me a bit longer than usual to update. Let me say this I will never drop a story or stop updating. The only reason I would is because I'm dead and well I'm not planning on that for a long while. So no worries guys!