Holy Crow, 9k words in this one! You ready for it?
BeeeTeee: I have to agree. I would not have been so easily forgiving of the child abandoning biotch!
CB73: I know, I am a piker and a bastard :P So many evil laughs! I must also apologize for lying to you in my earlier reply for your chapter 11 review, but I'm just a bad person...lol ;) I needed to build up some suspense for the Hadrian part, after all.
Wodenfang: Thank you very much. SO much more ahead in this chapter. I think you will be pretty happy with it... At least I hope so.
Rainnnn: I'm glad I was able to clear up some questions for you. So many things could happen between Hiccup and Valka. He is not the innocent and sweet little push-over that he pretends to be in the second movie. (Apparently disregarding the angry outbursts and all the hunters/flyers that he and his friends killed during RTTE...) Guess you'll just have to read on to find out ;)
_
Nobody moved as an uncomfortable silence settled over the group. The tension of the moment seeming to thicken the very air of the cavern. Despite his powerful new lungs, Hiccup was almost struggling to breathe. Completely overwhelmed by the suffocating emotions that were washing over and through him. This woman was his mother. The mother that he had believed to be dead. The mother that he had been forced to live without for the last twenty-two years.
Looking at the woman that had abandoned him as a baby, Hiccup finally felt his anger well up and take over. Crushing all of the other emotions beneath its massive weight. As he struggled to control the rage that was writhing in his gut, Valka turned to him again. A pleading look in her eyes as he remained still and silent. All of them dangerously oblivious to the storm that was quickly spiralling out of control.
"Hiccup, I am so sorry. You must understand," she pleaded. "I just couldn't go back once I had met Cloudjumper. I couldn't keep living in that land of kill or be killed. I know that I left you. I know that it was wrong, but I just had to. I honestly thought you would be better off without me."
She was searching the flawless illusion that was his concealed face. Hoping to glean some insight into his thoughts. Her words feeding the uncontrollable monster inside. The other two simply standing by and watching nervously. Both unsure just what Hiccup might do now, as Valka reached out a tentative hand towards him again. Ilweran's own hand lifting slightly, like he almost wanted to stop her.
A strange feeling was growing in Hiccup's chest as he gazed back at the red haired woman and the hand she held out between them. A hot and uncomfortable sensation of something that didn't belong. Almost as if he had swallowed a piece of food that was too large. It made him feel as if he needed to cough. When he opened his mouth however, a feral and animalistic snarl ripped from his throat instead. The sound coming out distinctly threatening and unmistakably dragon-like as he felt his lips pull back from his teeth. It actually brought him up short for a moment as everyone gaped at him in shock. "Huh, that's new," Hiccup shot at Toothless.
His blood brother actually rasped a chuckle at that before wrapping his tail around Hiccup. Toothless then pulling Hiccup gently back a few steps from the group and giving him some much needed space to get control of himself. Holding Hiccup in place, Toothless gave himself a moment to study this human that had abandoned his rider. Noting the similarities that marked her out as Hiccup's kin. Then he allowed a pointedly similar snarl to escape his throat as well. Narrowing his acid green eyes at the woman in anger. She had already lowered her hand, but now she took a hurried step back as she gaped between the rider and dragon in obvious unease.
Toothless could feel Hiccup trembling in his rage, even as the dragon tried desperately to calm him. Could see the images flashing through Hiccup's mind. Violent scenes of him using the dark magic of Guruthos to punish this woman that dared try to apologize for turning her back on a child. As if you could ever make up for that. He wanted to hurt her, make her suffer as he had, and he did not even really need his swords to make it happen. If Toothless couldn't calm Hiccup soon, there would be no stopping him. The darkness underneath seeing its chance and rising up to take over.
Maybe he should allow the dark tendrils of decay to slowly envelope her, rotting her flesh as she struggled against them. Or cut out her heart and feed it to Calmacil as he forced her to watch. Guruthos binding her soul to her body until Hiccup finally decided she had suffered enough. Perhaps sending the fiery tendrils of the bond magic into her instead. Letting it burn through her body and consume her mind as he stole her essence to add to his own. She would not be able to stop it. She would die screaming her agony...
Toothless found himself shuddering slightly as he watched the storm rage. Not that he cared for the egg-abandoning two-legs. His only concern was for the evil that was trying to consume his brother. This was dangerous. The others having no idea how much so. "Calm down brother. You don't really want to hurt anyone here. Perhaps we should give her the chance to explain herself. After all, didn't you and I run away as well. Are we any better than her?"
"That's not the same and you know it!" Hiccup growled at him as another snarl built in his chest before he could stop it. He could feel the power of his swords tingling over his skin. Yearning to be set free to do his bidding as his magic began to tingle through his palms. Faintly glowing hands curling into claws as he suddenly longed to tear her apart.
"I was just a baby," he snapped. Knowing full well that he was losing it, but too angry to care. "She let us all think that she was dead while she ran off to play with dragons. She is not a bonded rider. She didn't have to stay away. She just wanted to. Even though she had an entire family waiting for her. She simply walked away from something that I can never have! As if it meant nothing to her!"
Toothless pressed his nose against Hiccup's chest. Humming deep in his throat and sending calming energy through their bond. Trying desperately to settle the storm inside his rider. "I know brother, but it is too late to change any of it now. We might as well play nice."
"You know as well as I that Odin likely already knew who she was, and he sent us here to try and break you. He's trying to find the weak chink in your armour. Do not let it be her! Let her try to explain her actions, instead of giving the tyrant what he wants." Then Toothless gave his rasping chuckle as he added darkly, "besides, if you don't like what she says, you can always kill her later."
"Fair points, bud. Fine, you win. I'll play nice with the human." Hiccup could feel the rage subsiding as Toothless sent his irresistible magic through the bond. It was probably good that the dragon had gained some control over his arcane powers after the ritual. This would have ended terribly without him. The darkness seemed to always be lurking just below the surface these days, clawing desperately to get out. As his tense posture gradually relaxed. Hiccup reached out to scratch Toothless under the chin then. Communicating his gratitude, and the dragon finally released his tail from around his rider.
Finally confident that he wasn't going to snap again, Hiccup allowed himself to approach the stunned group again. Noting with interest that all three of them were still staring at him with a mixture of apprehension and confusion. Even Ilweran looked as if he wasn't sure what had just happened, or what was about to happen. Hiccup met his friend's concerned gaze and smiled. It was not Ilweran's fault. Clearly, he had not known about this either.
Keeping his voice carefully neutral, he addressed the other man. "I am sorry, friend. I seem to have been rather caught off guard, but I am better now." Ilweran smiled back and nodded at him. Not mentioning the unsettling display. Though he was sure the man would have some questions for him later.
Then Hiccup looked around at the two women. Choosing to focus on only Minden's startled face as he offered a shrug. "I apologize if I frightened you. Understandably, this was a bit of a shock for me. I assure you that I am in complete control now."
After another brief moment of silence, Minden snapped out of her frozen state. A wide grin spreading across her beautiful face as she stepped closer and punched him in the arm. Hiccup couldn't help laughing and feigning injury as the atmosphere lightened considerably. Rubbing his shoulder dramatically as she started yelling at him.
"You complete ass, Hiccup Haddock! You nearly scared the life out of me! How in Hel's realm did you make that noise? That was the single most terrifying sound I have ever heard anyone make. It was awesome!"
Rubbing the back of his neck and smirking, Hiccup just shrugged at her again. "Honestly, I am not sure. I did not even know that I could do that until now. One could say that I have gone through a few changes since you last saw me."
Ilweran actually snorted a laugh at that. As the whole group shot him a look, he shrugged too. "That may just be the understatement of the century," he offered blandly.
Minden raised an eyebrow at Hiccup now while crossing her arms, and he relented. "Fine, I was going to show you anyway." He still rolled his eyes for good measure first, as he summoned an orb of energy to light the cavern. Assuming that his mother's human eyes would not be able to see as well in this dark room as the rest of them could. Turning to his mother, he said coldly, "I hope this is as shocking to you as your existence has been to me."
She looked as if she wanted to say something to this. Without pausing to let her speak, Hiccup cast off his illusion spell. He heard a loud gasp of surprise followed by the telling increase of two heartbeats. Meeting Minden's startled gaze, Hiccup grinned wickedly down at her. Deliberately letting his glistening white teeth with the exaggerated canines show more than usual. Knowing that she, in particular, would actually like them. Anything destructive was good with Minden.
"Oh my gods, Hiccup, what have you done to yourself," she exclaimed loudly. Reaching out one hand to trail a finger slowly down over his chest and abs suggestively, Minden gave him a cheeky wink as she looked him over. "Not that I'm complaining or anything. Gods, you're even more delectable than you were before, my handsome hunk of man. There wouldn't happen to be any other exciting changes beneath your armour that you'd like to show me? Not that you'd be able to hide much under all that yummy tight leather..."
Hiccup and Ilweran both laughed at this, and Hiccup gave Minden his own roguish wink while he grabbed her hand. Effectively stopping its venture south before she could reach his belt. "I bet you would like to know," he drawled back. "Too bad I am not letting you near enough to take my clothes off to find out. I learned my lesson last time, you demon child." They all laughed again before Hiccup looked over at his mother. She had been quietly standing by. Watching the friendly exchange with a bright spark of curiosity and humour in her green eyes.
Personally, Hiccup felt that she looked entirely too comfortable with what she had seen of his face. Admittedly he had toned it down somewhat for Minden. Turning to meet Valka's gaze full on, he gave her the emotional shake-up that she deserved. Allowing all of the strange and wild magic to shine through in his new features. His deeply tanned and angular face accentuating his eerily luminous eyes and feral white teeth. His pupils contracting to thin vertical slits on command. Hiccup knew well just how uncomfortably inhuman he could look when he wanted to, and he was going for maximum shock factor.
Valka stared back at him with her mouth gaping open. He could see the frantic heartbeat in her throat as his appearance spawned the typical fear in her. It did the same thing to most. He looked like a predator and they responded like prey. Those around him instinctually drawing away from something that felt dangerous, even though they didn't understand it. Ingrained instincts overriding any rational thought as the primitive mind took over. Trying to decide whether it was more beneficial to fight or run, though in this case neither would save you.
Then she snapped herself out of it. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Valka looked him over again. "What has happened to you?" Her question was spoken in a soft voice, nearly a whisper, and Hiccup wasn't sure exactly what part of him she was referring to. The outside, or the inside. Not that she knew who he was before this moment, so she had no right to question him.
"Life happened to me, mother. Perhaps you should have been there to save me from the monsters. Instead, I have become one." He couldn't help the cold satisfaction as he watched the pain flash across her face. Toothless may have convinced him to let her live, but that did not mean that he was going to let her escape what she had done. The truth that was standing right in front of her. She had tried to run away from her life, and now it had finally caught up to her.
"Hiccup, I really am sorry. If you would just let me explain..."
Hiccup cut her off with a wave of his hand. "I will let you explain yourself eventually. Perhaps I will even accept your apology, if your excuses are good enough. Do not expect more than that from me. As for right now, there is something that I need to do." He turned back to smile darkly at Minden as he called on the illusion magic to mask his strange features again. "As for you, how would you like to come on an adventure with me? There is an old friend of mine that I am sure is just dying to see me again."
Minden grinned wickedly as she picked up the hint in his words along with the predatory gleam in his eyes. "I'd love to, my delicious dark prince. I'll go get my sword and armour. Meet you guys in the nest." With that, she turned and sashayed back out of the cavern. Blowing Hiccup a smirking kiss before she disappeared down the tunnel.
Ilweran chuckled after her before turning to Hiccup. "You know, if I did not know you as I do, I may be forced to kill you. Though I must admit, I am not sure why you bother to deny her. I would hate to have to end your life, but she does truly seem to adore you. Gods only know why."
Hiccup smiled at his friend. Reaching out to wrap an arm around his shoulders jokingly. "Oh, I am well aware of that, and I like her too. Now that you mention it, she is rather attractive and awfully willing. If you are offering me a boon, then maybe..." He let the sentence trail off as he enjoyed the look of horror on his friend's face for a moment.
Then he huffed a laugh as he said, "relax brother! I was kidding! Though very beautiful, I guess she is just not my type. Now you on the other hand..." Hiccup suddenly pulled Ilweran closer to his side then before the man knew what was happening. Pretending to kiss him and making deliberately lewd sounds as his friend struggled to get away.
Laughing, the blonde man finally managed to wrestle out from under Hiccup's arm. A spark of mischief in his amber eyes as he said, "you had best be careful with what you are offering. You know that most elves are not really particular in their preferences."
"Ah yes, my friend, this is very true. Fortunately for me, I know that you are as particular as I am. As handsome as you may be, I will always prefer women," Hiccup replied with a chuckle. "Still, I promise that Minden is safe with me. I would never betray your trust like that. Besides, she could likely kill me herself if I tried anything inappropriate."
Ilweran allowed that with a grin before gesturing towards another tunnel leading out of the cavern. "Valka, shall we show Hiccup the nest?"
Valka had been watching the joking exchange between the two men with a startled expression on her face. At the mention of her name however, she snapped out of her daze and nodded before starting down the tunnel. Ilweran falling in behind her as Hiccup followed the two of them through a maze-like passage made of oddly shaped stone pillars. The dragons trailing behind as Toothless sniffed at the air in interest. Eventually the group emerged into a wide open area that was somehow still lush and green, despite being inside an ice sculpture.
Hiccup had to admit, the nest was incredible. A swarm of colourful dragons was flying around the head of the largest one he had ever seen. It was even bigger than the queen at Dragon Island. Beautiful white-blue scales covered its massive body, half of which was submerged beneath a deep greenish lake of icy sea water. Huge flipper fins lining its back and tail and marking it out as part of the tidal class. Most stunning of all though, had to be the enormous tusks that jutted out from its maw. Longer than three ships moored stem to stern and bigger around than the largest oak tree. The beast was magnificent.
As Hiccup made his way towards this alpha dragon, Toothless came over to walk beside him. The two blood brothers stopping on a ledge overlooking the freezing pool and reading the power radiating from this marvellous titan as it gazed back at them. Hiccup felt the brush of its mind against his then, but it was not a threatening presence. More like a polite handshake. It became instantly clear that this dragon was intelligent and gentle. Hiccup returned the greeting, and in response the beast blew a puff of icy air at the brothers that froze Hiccup's hair up into glittering spikes.
His mother came to stand beside him then. Chuckling softly as she watched Hiccup brush the ice from his bangs. "He likes you." Hiccup shot her a quick look, and she smiled sadly at him before looking towards the huge dragon. "This is the mighty Bewilderbeast. King of all Dragons, and one of the very few that remain. He built this nest and he provides protection for the injured or asylum seeking dragons that dwell within it."
As she turned back to Hiccup, he could see the pain in her eyes. It was much too late for her regret to affect him, but he didn't cut her off or walk away when she started to talk again. "Look, I know that I have made a lot of mistakes. Too many to count. When Cloudjumper took me from Berk that night, he brought me here. When I realized that I had been right about the true nature of dragons, I decided to stay. It was the hardest decision I have ever made."
"I thought that you would be better off without the influence of a mother that had never been one of the Tribe. I was always different, always a free spirit, and always an outsider. I thought that my presence would make you an outcast as well." Hiccup was about to state that he had become an outcast without her help, when she held up a hand to stop him.
"I am not trying to make excuses for what I did to you and your father. There are none. The truth is that after I had stayed away for a while, the idea of going back grew more and more terrifying. After enough years had passed, I somehow convinced myself that it didn't matter whether or not I went back. Telling myself that everyone likely already believed me to be dead and had moved on. There was no sense in reopening old wounds with my sudden reappearance."
"Really, I was just scared. Scared to face your father. Scared to face a tribe that had never accepted me and try to convince them to stop fighting dragons. Mostly though, I was scared of you. Scared to see the anger and pain in your eyes when you realized that I had left you by choice. Afraid that you, above all others, would call me to task for my betrayal. You have proven that I was absolutely right in that belief. I deserve every moment of your anger. I cannot change what I have done, Hiccup. I only hope that one day you will give me a chance to make what amends I can."
Sighing, Hiccup met Toothless' gaze for a moment before looking back at Valka. "I am not sure what you expect me to say. Honestly, I do not know if I have it in me anymore to forgive and forget. I do however, have an impressive ability to overlook the negative and carry on with my life. It is what I do and it is what I am good at. Do I really have the right to hold your choices against you? I am far from perfect, after all. I have done terrible things in my life that I desperately wish I could take back. I know better than most that what is done, cannot be easily undone."
He held his hand out to his mother in a sign of truce. Toothless was right. He did not want this woman to be the weak link in his armour. He honestly couldn't even find it in himself to hate her. Hate was a lot of work, and he didn't want to devote that much time to thinking about her. She would never be his mother, but she didn't need to be his enemy. That would just make it uncomfortable for Ilweran and Minden, whom he did care about.
Valka smiled and reached out to grasp his hand with her own. As he shook it, Hiccup settled his green eyes on hers. They were so similar, in a way. The free-spirited outsiders that had been shunned by the Tribe and found their family in a dragon instead. Wasn't he also staying away from Berk, partly because he was afraid to have them see what he had become? Not wanting to face their fear and judgement. He, at least, had not left a family waiting for him. Just Astrid.
"This does not mean that I forgive you for abandoning me," he reminded her. "I cannot. I suggest that we simply start fresh from this moment. Leave the past where it is and build something in the now. Though it will never be what it could have been, or what you may wish it to be. We both know that it is far too late for that. However, this is the best that I can offer, and probably better than you deserve."
She nodded her head at him as a tear glistened on her cheek. "It is better than I could have hoped for, and I will take it. Thank you, Hiccup."
Hiccup chuckled softly at her. "Do not thank me. Thank Toothless. It may not have gone quite so well without him. You likely owe him your life."
Valka looked slightly taken aback by his honesty. Then she met his eyes and nodded her understanding before turning her attention to the night fury sitting behind him. A distinctly smug look on the dragon's scaly lips. "Thank you then, Toothless. It seems that I now owe a blood debt to a dragon of the Order. That should prove interesting in future, I think." Toothless just rasped a laugh at her before giving her his gummy smile.
Just then, Minden came running out of the tunnel with her hobblegrunt behind her. Dressed in the tight fitting dragon scale armour that Hiccup had made her and with her sword in its matching sheath tied at her waist. The reds and greens of her armour bringing out the rosy tones in her amber eyes and tanned skin. The flexible leather hugging and accentuating every curve of her lithe body. Just as his own and Ilweran's did. Despite his best intentions, Hiccup was still a man at his core, and he couldn't help his eyes from being drawn to her.
The armour was form fitting by design. Made to function as a protective second skin, stronger than any steel. He and Ilweran never really thought much of it, but Hiccup supposed that it did have its appeal, as the thin, clinging layer left very little to the imagination. He caught himself looking over Minden appreciatively as the sight of a beautiful woman stirred the familiar heat of longing in his loins. A heat which he was studiously ignoring. Still, he had to admit that, as her white-blonde hair billowed around her delicate face, she looked like a warrior goddess. Beautiful and dangerous.
Then Hiccup felt an ache cut through him instead, as he thought about another warrior goddess that he knew. Another woman that was as dangerous as she was beautiful. She had effectively cut his heart right out of his chest, after all; and he had let her. Had even actively participated in his own destruction. Willingly giving the last good piece of himself to her, just so that she could keep it safe.
Casting his dark thoughts aside, he smirked mischievously at Minden. Deliberately letting his voice drop into a seductive growl, he made a great show of looking her over. "Damn girl, you look good enough to eat!" Then, as she was about to thank him, he grinned and added, "as you should, since it took you long enough. We have been waiting for ages. Toothless nearly died of boredom. Are you finally ready to go?"
Minden laughed and threw a stick at him as Borealis came over to nuzzle Toothless affectionately. "Watch it, you! Yes, I'm ready, but first, I want you to meet some old friends of yours. They have informed me that they used to know you quite well." She waved at a group of dragons lounging by a waterfall. Looking over, Hiccup felt a wide grin spread across his face.
Hiccup could barely believe his eyes. It was the dragons from the kill ring in Berk all those years ago. He had been sure that they would be dead by now, and he had carried a small measure of guilt over that fact for years. Instead, here they were. Alive and well, and free.
The sky blue nadder chirped and came over to him. Eyeing him speculatively for a moment and sniffing him, before suddenly rubbing her head against him. Yes, she definitely remembered him too. Reaching out with his mind, he spoke to her as he scratched behind her crest. "Well, I'll be. How did you guys end up here?"
The nadder shook her head primly as she huffed at him. "One of the young two-legs set us free one night. A blonde female that was in the training when you were there. I remember that she was one of the only worthy opponents besides yourself. Quite pretty for a two-legs, she was too."
Hiccup found himself laughing out loud in his surprise now. Both at her words as well as at the proud, motherly tone she was using. A pretty, blonde warrior from the training had set them free one night, huh? That could only have been Astrid. She really was absolutely perfect. The thought made the empty hole in his chest twinge again.
After greeting the other Berk refugees, he gestured to Minden. "I think we should leave before I have to face any more reunions today." She laughed and agreed before jumping onto her dragon with practiced grace. Hiccup climbed onto Toothless and saluted Ilweran before they took off. Following Minden through a fissure in the ice leading outside. Not even casting a backward glance at his mother.
*
It took them a few days to reach Rome as they had to accommodate Borealis' smaller size. Along the way, Hiccup had explained to Minden what they were going to do. The plan was to wait until nightfall, then sneak into the palace under cover of darkness. Killing any that got in their way until they reached Hadrian. Then Hiccup would deal with the emperor while Minden stood guard. Hopefully completing their task and getting out of the city before the alarm could be raised.
As they neared the capital, Hiccup and Toothless dropped from the sky to hide themselves in a clearing just outside the city. Minden and Bori flying over to scout out the target alone. Hiccup and Toothless may have known this place once, but things could have changed in the last few years, and the hobblegrunt would draw much less alarm than the night fury if anyone was to spot it. Gazing around at the unpleasantly familiar walls of Rome, the two brothers waited patiently for Minden to return. Trusting the blonde warrior's skills entirely. When she did glide back down to meet them in the clearing, she sent Hiccup the aerial view of the palace and guard stations through a mental link.
Hiccup was pleased to find that most of the palaces defences were much the same as they had been. They would be easy to bring down with Minden's help, as these walls were only meant to keep out humans. As darkness began to fall, the two riders got themselves ready to leave. Hiccup retrieving his bow and quiver from the saddlebag, and Minden fluffing her hair and adjusting her tunic to accentuate her breasts even more. She was going to serve as a distraction while Hiccup took out the guards on top of the wall. Using her feminine allure to woo the men on the ground. Keeping their attention on her until Hiccup was done, and then she was free to kill them.
Once his gear was organized, Hiccup glanced over to check on Minden, and sighed. She looked like the living representation of every young man's wildest dreams. Too bad his heart was already spoken for. "You have got to be one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen, my lovely temptress. Those guards will probably think they have already died and gone to Valhalla when they see you."
She turned and shot a wide smile at him in return. "Aww, isn't that sweet of you, Mr. Silver Tongue. Speaking of Valhalla... Compliments are nice, but I can think of some better uses for that tongue of yours," she added with a wink.
"Oh, very witty. You could not handle the things that I can do with my tongue," Hiccup teased back. "I would so enjoy tying you down and pleasuring you until you begged me for mercy, my dear. It might teach you a lesson to be careful what you wish for." Then he heaved a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately for you though, our love must remain platonic and unsatisfied."
"Darn," Minden sighed back, before her full lips twisted into a wicked grin. "You know how much I love it when you talk dirty to me," she purred.
"I know," Hiccup chuckled before getting serious. "All joking aside, you had better be careful. I do not want to have to face your father if I let anything happen to you here."
She sighed in real exasperation this time before coming over and leaning up to kiss his cheek softly. "I'll be fine, Hiccup. Stop worrying! Besides, you and Toothless would never let anything happen to me. My sexy, sexy dark prince," she added with a smile as she reached out, quick as a flash, to undo his belt. Dancing back out of his reach with a laugh as he grabbed at his trousers to keep them up. His unruly male urges causing his stomach to clench with desire at her touch before he could rein them back in.
"What did I say about undressing me," Hiccup growled at her as he refastened his belt. "Our relationship is strictly hands off, woman! You are pushing my self-restraint to its breaking point, you little monster."
"Gods, I hope so," Minden chuckled at him with a wink.
Grumbling about evil women, Hiccup turned back to Toothless. The traitor took one look at him and started laughing too. "Toothless, how dare you laugh at this abuse? I thought you were better than that, bud! Do not encourage her!"
Finally breaking a smile as the others kept laughing, Hiccup climbed onto the saddle and they took off into the night. Hiccup and Toothless leading the way. Blending in like shadows in the dark sky as they swooped in low towards the towers. With his perfect night vision, it was almost too easy for Hiccup to take out the guards on the wall. Each arrow he loosed returning itself to his quiver, ready to be used again.
Silent and invisible, they had taken out most of the men by the gate before the others even noticed that something was amiss. Eventually one of the grunts of pain carrying though the still night air caught their attention. Before the men on the ground could sound the alarm however, Bori swooped low over the centre of the courtyard. Minden casually sliding off her saddle and dropping the 20 feet to the ground.
She landed in a crouch, before standing and smiling pleasantly around at them. Her dragon disappearing back into the night sky. "Hello boys. Nice night, isn't it? I was hoping one of you fine gentlemen might be able to help me." She stopped to twirl a lock of her hair and bite her lip suggestively as she cast her eyes downwards. Looking back up at the men demurely through her lashes and hamming it up a little more.
Apparently Minden was having way too much fun with this, but Hiccup couldn't really blame her. Those poor fools clearly had no idea what they were dealing with. "I seem to have lost my way and it has gotten rather late," she added in a hilariously innocent voice. "You wouldn't happen to know of a place that I could stay for the night, would you? You see, I am ever so tired and ever so alone. I'm just not at all sure what I should do."
Hiccup chuckled as he loosed more arrows. Listening to the predictably lecherous thoughts of the soldiers in the courtyard. The young men were clearly letting their lustful desires override their battle training. Lowering their weapons as they stared, enraptured, at the exotic and lovely goddess standing before them. Seemingly offering herself up for their enjoyment, while behind them, their brothers on the wall were exterminated. "Don't they know that you should never trust a beautiful woman? Especially if she's dressed like that, and seems to want you a little too much," he shot at Toothless as he heard the dragon chuckling too.
One of the soldiers suddenly stepped forward after glancing at his fellows. "Such a lovely lady as yourself should not be out alone at this time of night. You should be sleeping someplace warm, instead. If it is a bed that you need, I can think of a few of us that certainly have some room to spare in one ours." The swines around him all guffawed at his joke as they leered at Minden. After putting an arrow through the chest of the last guard by the gate, Hiccup waved his hand to douse the braziers.
Shouts of confusion rang out from the now dark courtyard as the men were effectively blinded. "That is very 'generous' of you boys, but unfortunately for you, that's my cue," Minden replied with a dark laugh. Then she unsheathed her sword and ran at the men. Killing three of them before they even knew what was happening. The remaining group raised their weapons and stared around in alarm at the sound of their comrades dying. Trying to peer through the darkness and defend themselves, but they didn't really stand a chance. She was truly as lethal as she was beautiful.
Minden slashed her way through them faster than they could ever hope to block. They were trained to fight men, not part-elves. Her silvery hair and elegant pink and green sword flashing in the pale moonlight as she danced around them. Laughing with glee at that fact that she was getting to truly let go for once without needing to hide or downplay her abilities. "She's something else, isn't she bud," Hiccup remarked, stowing his bow and quiver.
Toothless warbled his agreement as he banked towards the ground. Hiccup dropping the 50 feet from the saddle to land quietly behind the soldiers fighting the warrior goddess. Reaching up and drawing his twin blades from the sheaths at his back, he met Minden's eyes over the group as she cut through a man's chest plate with ease. "About time you decided to drop in. Though, I think I had it pretty well under control," she laughed at him while knocking aside a low jab.
"Well, you know me. I so enjoy watching you work, my lovely femme fatale. Still, I could not just stand by and let you have all the fun." At the sound of his voice, the men turned around in shock.
Hiccup grinned darkly at them from under his hood as his swords began to glow. Waves of green and blue-purple light dancing over the engravings on their elegant blades. Casting eerie shadows over his face and chest as the soldiers looked upon this new enemy. He could see the dawning realization in their minds as they recognized the insignia emblazoned into his chest plate. Recalling the rider turned traitor that used to fight alongside them. Could taste the fear seeping from them as they remembered his skill and brutality while serving their emperor.
"It is nothing personal, men. You are simply standing in the way of something I want." Hiccup laughed coldly at the surprise on their faces as he lunged at them. His blades leaving fire trails of light in their wake as he cut through the bodies between him and the palace steps. Spinning and darting between the helpless fools as if they were standing still. The next one in line dying before the last had even hit the ground. The emeralds in the hilts glowing brightly as they feasted upon the souls of the fallen.
Minden cackled and joined back in the fray. Jumping agilely up to the top of the wall where more men were appearing. Drawn to the gate by the commotion and sudden darkness. She began taking out these new soldiers with equal grace and skill, if not quite the same speed. Soon the courtyard was bathed in blood as the ground was littered with gore and guards. A few amputated limbs lying here and there amongst the carnage. The walls now sporting disemboweled bodies hanging from either side of the gate.
"Nice touch," Hiccup quipped as he gazed up at the ghoulish decorations. Minden just laughed and smiled at him over the edge of the wall. Looking no less beautiful despite the blood now splattered across her dainty face. Satisfied that there was no one left outside to sound the alarm, Hiccup sealed up the gate with a wave of his hand. Preventing anyone else from entering or leaving. Minden jumping back down to land beside him with a soft thump. Then the two of them ran up the steps and into the palace.
Reaching out with his mind, Hiccup quickly located Hadrian in his chambers as the two warriors slunk down the dark corridors. Killing any soldiers that they came across. Using magic to disable and confuse any of the servants or slaves that blocked their path instead. Refusing to kill these innocent ones that were merely forced to be here. When they at last reached the door to the emperor's quarters, Hiccup sheathed his swords; muting their glow. After a nod at Minden that she returned with a smirk, he pushed it open. Slipping silently inside the dark room while Minden took up her position outside of it to listen for any sign of approaching footsteps.
Looking around, Hiccup noticed that he was in a sort of parlour or meeting room. Everything was dark and still. A few guards were sleeping against one wall, propped up on their chairs by another doorway. He cast a quick spell over them so that they would not wake while he worked. These ones needed to stay alive to avert suspicion of an attack. Then, sparing barely a glance at the snoozing soldiers, he walked calmly past them to the doorway they were guarding.
Creeping through into this next room, he saw a large bed silhouetted by the moonlight. The shape of a man lying in it. Like the predator he was, Hiccup padded soundlessly over to them side of the bed. Gazing down for a moment at the man who had destroyed so many lives. Hadrian looked much the same as Hiccup remembered him, except that there were lines of worry around his eyes and forehead. As if life was not as easy for the emperor as it had once been.
Reaching down, Hiccup placed one hand over the emperor's mouth and nose to muffle his shout. Flicking his wrist to call a gleaming stiletto blade into his other hand. As the feeling of suffocating death invaded his dreams, Hadrian's eyes flew open in surprise. As they fell upon the dark figure in the cloak standing over him, he began to struggle. Reaching up to grasp desperately at the hand that held him down. In response, Hiccup casually placed the blade in his other hand against the panicked man's throat. Watching the Adam's apple bob erratically as Hadrian swallowed nervously against the sharp steel.
Hiccup could smell the fear radiating off of Hadrian as the emperor slowly dropped his hands back to the bed. Smiling slightly at the quick surrender, Hiccup released the man's nose. Allowing him to breathe, as it wouldn't do to kill him right now. Hadrian needed to be alive if the spell was to work. Shaking his head to dislodge the hood of his cloak, Hiccup grinned wickedly down at the man. The moonlight casting its pale glow over Hiccup's face and glinting off his unnaturally white teeth with the fang-like cuspids.
The terrified recognition in Hadrian's eyes was extremely gratifying. It had been well over two years since Hiccup had left the head of Kokhba on his writing desk and disappeared into the night. The memory was still just as painfully vivid for Hiccup today as it had been back then. Clearly, Hadrian had not forgotten that night either. "You do not have nearly enough guards around here," Hiccup drawled in a mocking tone.
Hadrian's brown eyes widened in alarm, before glancing towards the door. "Oh, no one is coming to save you," Hiccup purred darkly. "Did you honestly think that I would not return for you one day? Surely you should have known that I would come to collect on the debt you owe me." As confusion lit briefly in the man's eyes, Hiccup chuckled at the predictable direction of his thoughts. "No, I do not want your gold. I was thinking of something a little more... Personal."
Removing his hands from the man's mouth and throat Hiccup cast quick binding spells on Hadrian before he could even think to move or shout. Savouring the fear in his victim's eyes as he settled himself on the edge of the bed beside him. The stiletto retracting smoothly back into its wrist sheath. Retrieving a black ring from a pocket of his cloak now, Hiccup held it up for Hadrian to see.
It was a masculine, yet elegantly designed thing, in the shape of a coiled serpent eating its own tail. The moonlight glinting off the delicate emeralds inset into the snake's eyes. He pulled a silver dagger covered in runes from another pocket in his cloak and held this up as well. Speaking conversationally to the trapped man as he allowed the silver celestial light to reflect off the gleaming metal. The athame almost vibrating with the arcane power harnessed within it.
"You see, I have a little problem that I need your help with. I have found myself in an unfortunate position where I cannot walk amongst humans without a disguise anymore." Hiccup grinned down at the man as he cast off his concealment magic. Revelling in the terrified shock that was pouring off Hadrian in waves, mixed in with a kind of resentful wonder at Hiccup's undeniable beauty.
With a wicked smirk, Hiccup gestured towards his face. "You see my predicament. I can hardly walk around unnoticed with a face like this. Of course, I could maintain the illusion myself, as I was a moment ago, but that is just too bothersome. What I really need is something to carry this illusion for me. The only problem is that magic, in its purest form, is quite insatiable. The object would need an energy source of some sort. Something alive for the spell to feed on. Do you have any ideas?"
He could feel Hadrian fighting against the enchantments binding him. Trying to get away and scream out for help. Letting another dark laugh escape him, Hiccup grinned down at the silly man. "Your struggles are pointless. I have bound you with spells for silence and stillness. You will not be able to move or speak unless I let you, which I will not."
"Now, the best source of energy for my particular needs, would be a soul. Any soul would do, really," he offered conversationally. "Unfortunately, you destroyed mine when you used me to help you kill the innocent. Therefore, I feel it is only fair that you give yours in return to help me now."
The bitter smell of terror was thick in the air as Hiccup took the silver dagger in one hand and Hadrian's limp arm in the other. Carving the rune for containment on the back of the emperor's hand before flipping it over and piercing his index finger with the sharp blade. Then he placed the dagger calmly back into his pocket as a drop of blood began to form on the end of Hadrian's fingertip. Holding out the black serpent ring, Hiccup touched the drop of blood to it. The bead of red glistening in the pale silver light for a moment, before sinking slowly beneath the surface of the ring.
"See, that was not so bad, was it? Nothing to be so upset about." Hiccup looked into Hadrian's panicked, yet now somewhat confused, eyes as he held the ring up between his fingers for the paralyzed and gagged man to see easier. "This next part, however, will likely be much more painful. Think of it as partial retribution for the pain that you have caused others. Mahmet," he finished quietly. The ancient and forgotten elvish word for servitude. The tiny emerald eyes of the serpent beginning to glow.
Hadrian was trying to scream in his agony, but the spells kept him silenced. Hiccup could feel the odd sensation of the life draining out of Hadrian and into him. Redirected by his careful shields to rush down his arm instead, like icy water flooding through his veins. Making his skin prickle and itch. It was an uncomfortably powerful feeling, this removal of someone's soul using one's own body. Like tearing off a limb, but without a tangible item to grasp hold of. The darkness of the magic itself seeping through the air like blood on stone.
The emperor was not dying, though. His soul would live on inside the ring. Feeding the illusion magic as it suffered the pain of being separated from solid form for eternity. Leaving only an empty shell behind in the moonlit bed. Those that found their lifeless ruler tomorrow would have no idea what had happened to him.
As the last of Hadrian's soul was torn from his body, the form in the bed went limp. The spark of life in his eyes dying out, leaving only dull brown orbs to gaze sightlessly over the room. The glowing eyes of the serpent fading to darkness as well, and Hiccup released his spells over the man. Reaching over and closing his eyes to make it seem as if Hadrian was sleeping before getting up from the bed. After looking at the ring once more, he slid it onto the middle finger of his right hand. Feeling a strange tingling sensation as the illusion spell he had forged into it took hold.
Moving to look into the bronze mirror on the wall, Hiccup checked his reflection. The face that stared back at him was perfectly, undeniably, human. He slid the ring off his finger and watched as the exotic eleven features instantly replaced the illusion. As he put the ring back on, the concealment charm took over seamlessly again. The ring worked perfectly.
Smiling in satisfaction, Hiccup strolled back passed the still sleeping guards and out into the corridor to meet up with Minden. Removing the spell over them with a wave of his hand as he gently shut the door behind him. Minden looking him over once before asking quietly, "is it done?" Hiccup nodded and held his hand up to show her the serpent ring. She looked at it for a moment as she smiled wickedly. "Serves the murdering bastard right. He's where he should be."
Hiccup chuckled and grinned at her. Then they made their way stealthily back out of the palace to the dark courtyard beyond, where an entire unit of the Imperial Guard now lay. Over a hundred men brought down by two. Their dragons dropped to the ground to meet them as Hiccup turned to look over the macabre scene. Taking in the carnage, he reached back to unsheathe Calmacil. Holding the sword out in front of him he muttered, "Nama."
The waves of light began to dance over the engravings again as eerie blue-purple fire blossomed on the blade. Spreading out from the sword to creep over the courtyard in every direction, almost like a living thing. Flowing around Hiccup, Minden, and their dragons, as if they were merely stones in a stream. Set on consuming the corpses of the fallen around them instead. Removing the evidence of the massacre as the unearthly flames absorbed the lingering essence from the men and channeled it back to their master.
He could feel the warm waves of energy flowing through him. Much like the original bonding fire, but slightly less painful now, for it was adding this stolen energy to his vast well of arcane power instead of taking from it. Minden looked at Hiccup in confusion for a moment as the spectral flames crept their way up the palace steps. "Judgement," she asked as she raised an eyebrow. Easily understanding the primitive elvish that he had used. "They are already dead. How much more can they be judged?"
Hiccup just smiled grimly at her as he sheathed Calmacil again, muting her glow. "She is judging their souls, Minden. The fire will consume their bodies of course, but if their soul was clean, it will be released from Guruthos. Allowing them to pass on to the afterlife. They were not really the ones I wanted to punish. Well, at least not all of them." Then he gazed around at the courtyard again. The magic had nearly finished wiping it clean, as he knew it was doing to those they had left inside the palace as well.
Minden punched him lightly on the shoulder. When he turned to glance at her again, she smirked at him. "Aren't you just turning into a big, ol' softy, Hiccup! That's very kind of you to release them."
Hiccup chuckled at her. "Kind is my middle name Princess," he joked lightly. "Besides, this way, no one will know that we were here. They will just see a lack of guards and a very dead, but otherwise unharmed emperor. Leading them to likely conclude that it was an inside job, most likely a poisoning. By the time they finish tearing each other apart with suspicion, it will be far too late to discover the truth," Hiccup added with a shrug.
She smirked at him again. "Nope, your middle name is Horrendous. Which I think is much more fitting, really. All things considered." She laughed at his feigned offence to that, before winking at him. "Now let's get out of here before the servants start waking up."
Hiccup relit the braziers with a wave of his hand. Casting a rosy glow over the silent and empty scene. Then both riders leapt onto their saddles as the dragons took off again. Leaving behind a dead emperor, and not a single witness able to explain how it had happened. Clearly thinking much the same thing, Minden began laughing loudly once they were far enough away from the city. "I haven't had that much fun in ages," she quipped. "We should definitely do this again some time!"
Hiccup just gaped at her before barking out a laugh of his own. "Here I am, thinking that I am the monster. You are absolutely evil. How are you so beautiful on the outside, when you are such a wicked creature of darkness on the inside," he asked her jokingly.
Minden just offered a delicate shrug of her shoulders. Not abashed in the slightest. "I could ask the same of you, my dark prince. Is it really that surprising that I approve of the torture of tyrants who murder and enslave women and children," she asked innocently. Shooting him a sly smile through the dark.
"I guess not when you put it that way," Hiccup allowed with a chuckle. "Well, we should probably get back to the Sanctuary before your father comes looking for us. Are you going to tell him the truth about what we did here?" He didn't really care, but felt he should ask. Just so their stories matched up.
"Certainly not all of it, but some. You might be surprised to learn that he's not so sparkling either. Seems we are all just wicked creatures of darkness in one way or another." Then she shot him a truly vicious smile. "Besides, I feel that Valka should realize that you weren't kidding when you told her that she owed Toothless her life. I'm honestly still surprised that you didn't put a blade through her right then and there. Especially after that fantastic snarl," she chuckled.
Then she sobered instantly as she met his eyes. "I swear that dad and I had no idea that she was your mother, Hiccup. Dad met her years ago during one of his missions in Midgard, and they formed a friendship over their mutual concern for the dragons. She recognized him for what he was right away of course, but as she only talks to dragons, it wasn't really an issue that she knew he was an elf. She has been keeping an eye on the activity of the hunters for him in exchange for magical remedies to help heal injured dragons. Although she doesn't know exactly who the Order works for, of course. Only a brief overview of what they do."
"He introduced me to her a few years back," Minden offered. Casting her eyes downwards for a moment in an uncharacteristic showing of guilt. "I have been helping her raid the trappers' ships in between other jobs. I never even noticed how much she looked like you, and apparently neither did Dad. If we had known that she was your mother though, and what she did to you... Well, I'm not sure what we would have done, but it probably wouldn't have been very nice. I'm so sorry."
Hiccup simply gave her a shrug in return. "Truthfully, I was going to do more than just kill her," he admitted bluntly. "Still, I may be glad one day that Toothless talked me down from my plans. Though I cannot, for the life of me, imagine when that day might be. It seems impossible."
Then he grinned at Minden to lighten the mood. "I know that you two had no idea about it. I was never angry at you. You are right though. She should have a healthy dose of fear mixed in with her regrets. Just because I agreed to leave the past where it is, does not mean that she should be allowed to feel overly comfortable in my presence just yet." Reaching out, the two of them bumped their fists together with a laugh. The sun just beginning to show above the horizon as Toothless and Bori increased their speed.
Looking down at the black ring now residing on his finger, Hiccup found his thoughts inevitably wandering back to Astrid. It was probably good that he couldn't be with her, really. She was a creature of beauty and light. A symbol of goodness in this dark world. There was no way that she would ever be able to love the man that he had become. He would only serve to ruin and corrupt her. Though Hiccup couldn't entirely douse the small flicker of selfish hubris inside him that hoped she still missed him sometimes. At least just a little.
_
Oh, my mind is such a dark place. I do love Minden, though. So much. She is wicked, wonderful, and tons of fun to write.
How'd you guys like it? Valka and Hadrian all in one chapter. So many feelings...
Rainnn: I'll give you a point for guessing this one right. It may not be forgiveness, but I think resigned acceptance is really the best that Valka could hope for, given the circumstances. It's better than torture and death, at least.