Trigger warning: mention of suicide thoughts.

And, per usual, a bit of blood.


Soul bind II: Engraving

"Should I hang myself or cut open my veins?" Hiccup wandered while rummaging all around the ship, trying to find something to use. His brain hesitated between which method would be cleaner, and easier to set up. Finding the balance isn't an easy task. Thankfully for the auburn Viking, he had all the time in the world, and everything he ever cared about is safe. He finally decided on the former as he found a solid piece of rope.

Resurfacing on the deck, Hiccup was relieved to find a section of the main mast still standing. Looping the rope around it and tying a solid knot around, the Viking tugged on it twice to test its strength. This will do, he thought. He then rummages around and found a crate. Pushing it under the hanging rope, before taking a step back admire his handiwork. Taking a deep sigh, he marched towards the fatal necklace. Hesitating just a bit, with one foot already on the crate, he froze, as last thoughts raced through his mind. Reassuring himself that he left the schematics of the automatic tail to Gobber, he whispered: "I'm sorry bud, I'm sorry we couldn't' explore the world again, and can't fly across the fields of Valhalla together. I'm grateful that Fate brought us together, and hate her for separating us, but I don't see better a way out. Not this time. And I don't deserve another way out."

The curious thing about Fate is that it loves longer stories, and sometimes, it takes minimalist actions for the whole story to play out differently.

Hiccup heard the thud behind him too late. He turned around but was caught by a powerful punch landing straight on his temple. He briefly saw a dash of gold, perhaps from the sunset before the night took over.

•—0—•

Hiccup woke up, dazed, his mouth dry. Blinking, he slowly accessed his surroundings. He was still on that boat, isolated in the middle of the quiet sea. Above him, a full moon cased down its warm light, reflecting down on the water where the stars peacefully danced. His ear picked up, above the gentle whisper of waves sloshing against the ship, the faint sound of burning woods. Looking to his left, he saw a small fire, a slender silhouette hunched over it, and beside it, rolls of parchment, and books scattered around. Just beyond lay the sleeping shape of the orange Nadder.

"What?" Hiccup said before he tried to get up, only to realize that he was solidly tied down to a makeshift chair. Desperately trying to free himself, he couldn't loosen the ropes before the commotion got the other being attention. The silhouette rose up and approached the tied-down Viking.

"Astrid?" Hiccup said in shock, "what are you" He was cut short, as she placed her hands over his wrist, pinning him, and leaned forward.

Hiccup was briefly lost in the fractured perfection that was staring right into him. Her gold hair, messed up from the hardship that he couldn't protect her from, was now shining white under the moonlight. Her pale skin made her almost ethereal. But what mesmerized him was her eyes. Two soft orbs, fracturing the reflection of the star-fallen sea. As if time flowed still, the two said nothing, but a plethora of unspoken guilt, despair, regret, anxiety, love was exchanged between sapphire and emerald, and condensed on the stone.

Hiccup wanted to look away, but her eyes held his gaze locked. Taking one last look at the girl he lost forever, Hiccup let his tear falls, mimicking the droplet on Astrid's face.

"Astrid…" He started,

Against all expectation, Astrid pushed her lips against his, in a desperate kiss. The two lovers held still, desperately clinging to the feeling of each other's lips against their own. They wished time will be still for them, in vain. The kiss quickly great passionate, lips talking about how much the other was dear to them, before growing desperate, silently shouting all the fear, the regrets, the guilt of breaking the vow of never hurting each other.

The need for fresh air was not welcomed by either, both of them still clinging desperately to the lingering feelings of the kiss.

"Astrid… I" Hiccup tried once again but was promptly silenced by Astrid placing a finger on his mouth.

"Listen to me Hiccup, everything that happened on those islands, it was not your fault, it was mine," Astrid said heavily, emphasizing the last word

"Wait, what, how?" Hiccup fumbled "How is any of that your fault? My plan fell apart, I dived right into Tyrad's trap and in the process, got you hurt so badly."

"No, everything collapsed because I deprived you of your right to battle when I sabotaged Toothless 'saddle."

Hiccup remained silent. Depriving someone right to battle was a crime in the Viking world, as it denied them the chance to enter Valhalla.

"So, I'm here to make amends, forgive me?" Astrid said as she got on one knee, and bowed her head.

Hiccup sighed deeply, knowing that nothing would make her change her mind, Astrid still held deeply to the old warrior's way.

"God above behold, may they be witness that I, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, forgives Astrid Sigrid Hofferson from her crimes, and may she worthy of Valhalla once again." He uttered the ritual, before extending out a hand, which Astrid took hauled herself up.

"Is that why you came back?" Hiccup said, relief, but still, a hint of bitterness and sadness in his voice."

"Of course, not," Astrid said, offended. "I came back for you!" She yelled the last word.

"Why? Astrid, I worthless, don't you see it?" Hiccup said "I'm branded" turning his eyes away shyly.

Astrid placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her.

"Listen, I will open your skull and carve these words in your mind if I must, you are not worthless. To ME, you are worth everything, I will give my life for you, so don't you dare to say that you're useless."

Astrid stared him dead in the eyes. The message was brief but sincere, and that, perhaps, is all that those in similar situations need.

"But, the brand" Hiccup said? "This puts you, and all of Berk in danger."

"There" Astrid placed a book in his laps "It talks about something, A soul bind, take a look, you're better at understanding this than me."

"Untie me first?" Hiccup asked

"Right" Astrid replied before cutting away his ties.

Rubbing his sore wrist, Hiccup laid back, resting comfortably against the broken mast, before examining the piece of parchment. Astrid sat down beside him.

"Alright," Hiccup said, "I think this is a stolen of a treaty sign by the Viking council, so at least it is official."

"And what does it say?" Astrid asked.

"It's a ritual, that basically overrides any brands. Think of marking someone and making them your slave instead of belonging to a specific tribe. But there are two problems."

"What?"

"First, the ritual is conducted by carving the runes with a knife, and sealing the wounds with ashes by lighting tree bark on fire."

"Well, can't compare to the scorch berry, can't it?" Astrid joked and was relieved to see a small chuckle coming from Hiccup. "What's the second one?"

" The marked one has to die with the one who marked him."

"What?"

"Euuh, for example, if you marked me and die, I have to die with you. But not the other way around."

"Doesn't matter, since we are marking each other."

"What? No way that's happening. "Hiccup replied firmly.

"Again," Astrid sighed, deeply frustrated by Hiccup's attitude. "It's only fair. I'm yours just as your mine, and I can't live on without you. So, it's either we both do this, or we find another way."

Looking at the resolves on Astrid's face, Hiccup gave a deep sigh. Deep down, a new part of him wanted to get done with this whole marking thing, driven with an unknown thirst, and Astrid's solution is, for now, the best one for his clouded judgment.

"Fine" Hiccup finally answered. Holding up her hand he added, "But you are marking me first, or we find another way."

"Alright" Astrid conceded.

Finding the remnants of what used to be the chair in the captain's quarter, the two Vikings set up everything that will be used in the ritual. Another small fire had been lit, in which Astrid's burnt some of the masts, obtaining some red ashes in the process.

Hiccup sat down on the chair, taking a deep breath while Astrid dips the knife into the fire.

"Where do you want it?" Astrid asked,

"Can you try and cut away what they did to me?" Hiccup asked while shedding away the piece of fabric hiding his torso. Pensively, Astrid leaned forward, and trace a finger on the simple circle that marked Hiccup's skin.

"I can try, it doesn't seem too deep, but it doesn't look like an iron brand." She pointed out.

"Don't care, I just want it off me." Hiccup answered while biting down on a piece of wood.

"Alright"

She placed herself steadily, before approaching the sharp edge towards Hiccup. Never in her life, she thought that she will skin someone, let alone the person that she loved the most. Nevertheless, she shut down her emotions and started to delicately lift away the dark color skins.

Hiccup forced himself to stay still and swallowed down any whimper of pain that formed in his throat.

Small droplets of sweat formed on his forehead, but he couldn't get himself to wipe them off.

Despite his effort, Astrid still noticed his pain. Vowing silently to make the entire Headless clan suffer for what they did, Astrid kept a steady hand and continued to lift the skin away.

Thankfully, the marking didn't penetrate too deep and soon, it was just barely visible, and with the rune of the Soul bin ritual over it, it will be unnoticeable.

Pressing a rag to the wound and asking Hiccup to keep pressure on it, Astrid went back to the fire, where she scraped out some of the ashes. Twirling the knife around for it to coat the blade evenly, she went back to Hiccup.

Removing the rag, Astrid approached the knife and slowly, began carving the binding rune into Hiccup's chest. The auburn Viking let out a hissing sound of pain when the hot metal sealed the wound, trapping the black ash under his skin. Keeping himself steady through the pain, he finally let out a breath of relief when Astrid carved under the runes of her initial, A, and H, just below the runes, officially marking him as hers.

"All right, my turn," Astrid said, as she handed him the knife.

"You're still sure about this? I'm content being yours." Hiccup asked, trying to make her change her mind, but the murderous glare she gave him promptly got him to shut up. Even if he could best her in hand-to-hand combat, the years he spent subject to her wrath were still heavily ingrained in his mind.

"Fine" Hiccup gave up "Where to you want?" Hiccup asked.

"Well," Astrid gave it some thought. The chest isn't obviously going to work, my back should work, but I will still like to keep an eye on him, just in case he tries something shady. I wouldn't put it past him.

"Here," Astrid answered as she lay sideways, lifting the piece of fabric up and exposing her thigh.

"Here?" Hiccup said, being embarrassed isn't helping his cause.

"Yes," she confirmed.

"Alright, I'm sorry Astrid." Hiccup apologized beforehand.

The pain was more intense than she anticipated, but she forced herself to look unresponsive. Despite her effort, Hiccup could still feel all of her muscles tensing up. Murmuring apologies, he let his blacksmith's hand take over, tracing the rune perfectly, just deep enough that it wouldn't wash away.

As the heated iron cut through her skin, Astrid's leg's twitched, her jaws were starting the cramp up from biting down this hard. Yet, she held through.

"Easy, Hiccup placed a calculated hand on her thigh, just the initials are lefts."

A few moments later, Hiccup finished carving the second letter and dropped the knife. Immediately Astrid went in and wrapped into a hug, which, much to her delight, he quickly responded.

"It's all over, for now." She spoke.

"Yeah, but now, maybe it's time for revenge," Hiccup added back coldly.

Slightly worried at his demeanor, Astrid answered "Revenge can wait. For now, let's just go home."

"Home sound good."


Till next time