Chapter 4
2 days later
Astrid awoke, raising her head. her skull was pounding and her vision was blurry.
she could still see not too far ahead of her but she looked around and saw that she was in a strange room. she saw that her ax was standing upright next to her and she quickly grabbed ahold of it out of pure instinct.
suddenly a dark-haired girl walked into the room. She didn't recognize her at first but soon she realized that it was the same dark-haired woman that she had met at the bar.
the dark-haired girl hadn't noticed that she had awoken and was moving around in the room making and mixing different herbs eventually Astrid spoke.
"What are you doing?" she said in a low concerned voice
Though Heather did not jump she was startled
"I'm making medicine your injuries were not as bad as one of your friends"
it took a few seconds for Astrid to process what she just heard then she spoke in an instant
"Oh Thor what happened to my friend's, where are they, are they okay please tell me they're okay"
Heather turned to her
"yes they are fine I have been treating them for two days they will make it. the larger man received a slice to his side but it was not deep enough for it to hit anything important and the girl was hit in the head by hammer luckily it appears that she had previous experience hitting and being hit on the head and so no head wounds were sustained that could not be reversed, you, on the other hand, your head wounds were a little more serious I found splinters in your head, they had to be removed carefully all of you had cuts on you, some of you needed stitches but for the most part, you'll be fine."
Astrid was confused but at the same time, she was relieved she was so glad to hear that her friends weren't dead. she had feared the worst, after a few seconds her curiosity forced her to ask a question." how come you saved us"
Heather soon replied not making eye contact " I didn't"
Astrid was confused by this if not Heather than who? "then who saved us?"
Heather then turned to her making eye contact while leaning on a post that supported part of the room. " I didn't save you my boss did"
Astrid was stunned to hear this. of all the people she would have expected to have not saved her Heather's boss would have been at the top of the list. after all, she had let him get beaten up by men so why would he save her.
" Why did he save us?"
Heather then walk closer to her and started to undo some of the bandages around Astrid's arm. " believe it or not there are good people in this world and some of us believe in trying to help others."
Astrid sat and pondered what she just heard. she then remembered one of the men had referred to the person who saved her as Dragos champion. How could this be? Heather told her that her leader was a former slave, not some great champion, of course, he could become great but still why would she lie, was she trying to hide his past from her. Was he a horrible person and being a slave made other people have sympathy for him. Whatever the reason she had only one goal. Enlist his help. Even if he is a horrible person which after what people have called him, seems to be the case.
Astrid then said to Heather in an urgent voice " please I need to speak with him it's very urgent"
Heather turned to her after walking away " yeah he's around here somewhere I'll see if I can find him and send him in here."
As Heather reached the door Astrid spoke in a suspicious voice
"You told me he was a slave. Slaves don't have titles like Dragos champion. Who is he...really?"
Heather left the room not saying a word after pausing
[flashback, some time ago]
[Heather point of view]
["you all know the mission, extract the hostage, take out anyone in the way." said Heather.
["you move in from the front and make an assault on the compound while I go and infiltrate from behind," said Hiccup
[Eret looked at him while they were on the ground "got it you go and get the hostage out while I and Heather and the dragons make a distraction."
The present
A few moments later she heard a knock on the door and she said out loud that it was unlocked and in walked a man. His armor reflected the candle that was beaming off him and he was wairing a mask. His armor was unlike that of which Astrid had never seen before it was like he had scales of a dragon. The man walked over to where she was and sat down. Astrid had not noticed it before but as the man stepped the sound of a (clank). upon closer inspection, Astrid realized he had a prosthetic leg. she was brought back to focus when He took off his mask and underneath she was shocked to find a man. just a man, not some crazed psychopath but a man his eyes where green and he had brown hear. But the way he spoke he sounded normal person like a normal man.
"You wanted to speak to me," Hiccup said quietly.
"Yes i...we need your help," she said looking down
Hiccup was looking at her, interested in what she had to say.
"Who is (we)?"
"The people of berk. We have been raided 12 times this year and our supplies are running low. My tribe has sent me and my friends to come and purchase your help."
'Hmm... I saw the amount of gold you have and I have to say it was not a lot.'
"We have more! Lots more...double that!" she exclaimed
"Even with that it still wouldn't be enough to hire all of us."
Hiccup got up and started to walk away when Astrid said in a hurry
"We have other stuff...we...we would be in your debt, please just go to our island and meet with our chief."
Hiccup reached the door and put his hand on the handle " you and your friends may stay hear until you are ready to travel. Now I got to go clean up that mess you made. As for where im concerned you still owe me."
Astrid was enraged after everything that had happened she finally got to him and he was walking away.
" what should I have expected from Dragos champion or should I say... Dragos whore!"
The words left her mouth before she realized that they were too much but she couldn't back down now.
"Drago attacked my village. He killed a lot of my people your no better then he was. Thor, I can believe my chief ever thought hiring you would work. Dragos men know only one thing and that's death and murder your no better then he is. I saw the way you killed those men in that alleyway that training is only taught to people who want to kill, people who are monsters!"
Flashback
"Two more down the hall, easy" Hiccup ran down the hall of the complex and dispatched two more men. He began searching the rooms and looking for someone who looked like a hostage.
When he opened the last door he found five men and a girl behind them the men had a sword but he was more focused on one of the men who had a large greatsword.
"Men you know what to do" the man with the great sword yelled
The men charged at Hiccup and he dueled with them with the leader remaining behind. He cut down one of the men with a slash and the other three soon followed with swift sword strikes.
"You bastard!" Yelled the leader
They ran at Hiccup but Hiccup blocked with his sword he then countered with a side slash but it was counter. They were interlocked in slash and counter, slash and counter when Hiccup finally got the upper hand when the leader went for a sword thrust, Hiccup blocked to the side and then countered by driving his sword into the leader.
As the man slowly looked down at the sword he was able to turn to the girl behind him
"Run!" he yelled before being kicked to the side
The girl got up to run but Hiccup grabbed her and he made his way out of the room as though he knew more guards where coming.
"I have been ordered to rescue you come on we have to go."
"Let me go! get away from me you monster!"
The present
Hiccup was still facing the door his hand on the handle. All of a sudden he started to laugh.
"Your right I am a monster. Try to get some more rest when your feeling better you and your friends can leave"
As Hiccup walked out of the room he made his way to Heather who was sitting by the fire with windshear and toothless. He went and sat beside them and started to talk to Heather about what happened.
"So what did you say" asked Heather
"I just laughed and said your right I am a monster" Hiccup explained.
"Hiccup I know you inside and out. You are most definitely not a monster. Your father is a monster. You are nothing like your father."
Hiccup knew she was right but he still had to face facts when his past came back to haunt him.
"Drago made me do horrible things, terrible things. The times he would send me to kill people i...still hear there screams. I remember my first kill, the gronckle, I told him that I didn't want to do it and he said to me that if I didn't do it then he would kill someone innocent. That day I became a monster. That day was the day when I thought about just ending the pain just stoping it all and let my self be free."
"Do you remember what happened the next day?" she asked
"He bought you. apart of me thinks that if you had not come into my life then I would be dead. "
"Hiccup people might call you Dragos champion but let's be real... you were a slave just like me. Hiccup you are not a monster I know monsters I've seen monsters you and I have fought monsters the difference that I've noticed is when they kill people when they torture people they want to do it. you never had a choice your life was stolen. your freedom was taken you had no rights. You're the kindest person I've ever met you rescue dragons at the risk of harm to yourself you free slaves and give them food out of your own pocket, I don't see a monster I see a man I would gladly lay down my life for and I know he would for me"
Heather was right Hiccup would gladly give up his life to save her. Heather was his best friend his closest confidant the one person he could trust above all else. She knew him better than anyone mostly because when he was too injured or too drunk to even stand Heather was the one to take care of him. When he would have nightmares and scream at the top of his lungs Heather was always the one who would rush in and restrain him, when he was a danger to himself and when things got really bad Heather would always talk him down bringing him back from the darkness.
Heather was attracted to girls and Hiccup new this and he accepted Heather without reservation. she had some small relationships in the past but nothing serious the only true constant in her life was Hiccup. when they escaped from Drago's ship. Hiccup taught Heather everything he knew on how to fight and in turn, she promised never to leave him.
The next day Astrid had awoken and had gotten up to see if she could find her friends. she walked out the door and found Ruffnut sitting on one of the couches. Astrid immediately went over to her and hugged her tightly
"I thought you were dead," she said hugging ruffnut hard
"No, the bastard just hit me over the head, hurt like hell though," ruff said jokingly
Astrid could see that there was a bandage over her friend's head. "Where's Fishlegs?" she asked
"He's still recovering he is to injured to move" ruff answered
Suddenly Heather the girl who had treated her wounds walked in she was carrying two cups of water and set it down near a table that was next to them
"hello glad to see your two are okay."
We're fine, thank you. Astrid said in a frustrated voice "where's Dragos champion."
Heather glared "don't call him that."
Ruffnut soon interjected, "Then what should we call him?"
"I don't know what you should call him all I know is he just doesn't like being called Dragos champion" she explained.
"Astrid looked at her almost as if she was challenging her, she then stood up and said in a frustrated voice "where is this champion."
"He's going to clean up the mess that you made"
"We didn't ask to be mugged" ruffnut interjected
"regardless he saved you guys and now he's got to go explain to their boss why they shouldn't retaliate because apparently they found out."
"Will he succeed?" Astrid asked
"Yes"
suddenly a ginormous dragon came and put his head near Heather. Astrid and Ruffnut both jumped up and quickly retreated to a small corner Heather looked at them as both of them who were seemingly terrified"This is my dragon her name is windshear."Of course, Astrid knew that Dragonriders would obviously ride dragons but seeing a dragon and a human up close was beyond abnormal not to mention terrifying. Heather soon told windshear to wait for her outside" you two stay here and rest while I go out there and take care of some things Eret will be by shortly to check on you please don't touch anything"
as Heather went away Astrid and Ruffnut went back to the couch "man she's scary" said Ruffnut
"she's not that scary. she's only scary because she has a dragon"
"do you think you could take her in a fight" ask Ruffnut
" not in my current condition, my head is killing me"
as they went back to their rooms to get more sleep Astrid kept thinking. how come this champion did not want to be called a champion most heroes she's ever met love boasting about their conquests and their titles. so why didn't he?
the next day Fishlegs finally awoke though he was still pretty week Astrid explained to him what had happened and he got a pretty good idea of the situation.
"The man that saved us other people call him Drago's champion so apparently he doesn't like to be called that and I don't know why we also can't hire him" explain to Astrid.
"So what you're telling me is we're screwed". said Fishlegs while laying down.
"Pretty much get some rest we need to leave as quickly as possible and make it back to berk.
While the three people he rescued we're back at the house recovering Hiccup was busy cleaning up the mess.
he went back to the body to see if he could identify which men they had belonged to and he noticed that one of the shields at an insignia on it. The insignia had a deer with spikes he realized it was Judah clan.
The Judah clan was pretty vicious when it came to raiding and pillaging they were a sect that broke off when Drago was killed. he knew the leader of them, he had done a couple of jobs for them. He also knew where they were.
As he flew to the part where they were most likely to be he thought to himself about Dragos attack on berk. maybe he owed them a debt. No, he wasn't responsible for the actions of his father, in fact, his father had stolen him from that land, in any case, the girls thought he was a monster there would be no point in working with her.
as he landed next to a building that had the same insignia on it he walked in telling toothless the fly above keeping an eye
as he walked in he saw people noticing him. immediately they looked at him and got up from their tables as he made his way to the back of the room he saw where a man was sitting. a large dark-haired man was eating fish with four other guys.
"so what brings the geat Drago's champion here," the dark-haired man asked
Hiccup looked at the five guys who are all staring at him intensely "your men, they attacked three people I've come to ask you to back off"
the man looked up Hiccup. "these people, I know them I've been raiding their town. they are on the verge of collapse they are good warriors at least one of them is, shes killed a lot of my men and she is a talented commander. Did she employ you because if so I can back off out of professional courtesy but if not then don't get in my way"
" I can't let you do that. There are things that I need. I can't have you going and attacking berk. I'm asking you as a friend please let it go out of respect for me and respect for Drago in his memory don't make me go to war with you over berk."
the man stood up and so did the four other guys sitting at the table.
" ah well shit had I known you get all serious and emotional with me id had dropped it already. Sit down my friend have a drink"
Hiccup was pleased with this arrangement and he did sit down to have one drink. he did not personally like this person but he was able to put on a show to let the person know that they were still in on good terms. after that, he left and called toothless down to pick him up and he went back to the house.
he then made his way to the blond-haired girl's room and knocked on the door. he heard from inside "come in"
as he came, the girl stood up as is she was expecting a fight
"what do you want" she asked in a hostile voice
"I took care of one of those raiders that was attacking your village they told me that they would stop and leave you alone though I doubt that they're the only ones who do it"
Astrid looked at him. she could have hugged him
"thank you. this is amazing."
"Don't thank me yet that was just one I'm sure there were other warlords raiding your village I only got rid of the one who was currently hunting you here."
As he was about to walk out when Astrid and spoke "I'm sorry for being so rude to you yesterday"
he stopped before he could leave "we've all done terrible things in this world, we have to live with what makes us lose sleep but it's what we do now that determines how much good and evil we have left in us. that's why I've decided to maybe take the job. I will go and meet with your chief to see what you are truly up against and if I think that you don't need my assistance I will leave but if you do need my assistance and I will stay. I'm not going to lie I will need something from you people in return so when I meet with your chief I will see what you have to offer in the way of resources I will not take your gold you will need that, your food will also be needed your weapons you will need to use to fight but I'm sure we can find something now you get some rest tomorrow will make the journey back."
Flashback
As they rescue the girl they made there way back to the ship with the girl. She was kicking and biting and would not stop fighting. eret got the brunt of this.
As they were on the boat Heather came Hiccup"I thought this is a rescue, not an abduction"
"That's what I thought too but I looked everywhere else in the compound and she was all I could find"
"I will attempt to talk to her" heather said knowing that eret was getting his ass handed to him
As Heather walked over to the girl she could hear Eret try and fail to stop her from throwing things
"Please stop throwing things."
"Im not going back!"
"What are you talking about?"
"I won't do it. I won't be his!"
As Heather came in below deck she looked at Eret who was hiding behind a table"Eret take a walk," said Heather
"Gladly, shes crazy"
Heather walked over to the girl who was holding a broken chair leg as a weapon.
"Stay back, bitch."
"Why are you doing this whats wrong with you? can't you see where trying to help you"
The girl looked at Heather with anger and rage. "Is that what this is, help, you're sending me back to slavery! You're sending me back to be his wife."
Heather was taken back by this. This was not the job she signed up for "What are you talking about those men kidnaped you"
"No, they saved me. And in return, I would tell them secrets about the chief that hired you."
No. how could this have happened Heather would never sign up for this and neither would Hiccup. She would have to do something"Im sorry," Heather said feeling ashamed
"What," she said surprised
"Im sorry I didn't know, I would not have done the job if I had known that you would suffer like this" Heathers head was bowed in shame
"Well its a little too late for that"
"Maybe not. I will tell my leader about the situation."
"He won't help me, you mercenaries are all the same."
Hiccup was up top looking at the sea while petting toothless when he heard footsteps behind him. He quickly deduced that they were Heathers and turned to speak
"What did our guest have to say?" he asked
"We need to talk," Heather replied
Heather told Hiccup the whole situation and the look on his expression was mortifying. Without saying a word Hiccup got up and started below deck. As he reached the deck below he saw the girl in the corner. She was scared, but she had fight in her eyes her passion to not let anyone tame her was strong and Hiccup saw this. It was only matched by his own flame that was not put out every time drago tried to break him.
"I have been informed of the situation and I have come to say... I am sorry. We will help you get rid of these bonds. Can you tell me your name?"
The girl looked stunned, she didn't know what to do. She slowly answers the question that had been asked "My name is Nadia"
"Well, Nadia to show that we are sorry we will help you fake your death and once it's safe, get you on one boat ride to where ever you want to go with a bag of gold to start over."
"Why would you do that for me?"
"Because we were what you are, former slaves. Oh, by the way, I'm Hiccup this Heather and the man that you threw a chair at is Eret."