The last chapter was more of a descriptive filler. Meant for character development and a bridge between time frames. It should get back to exciting and linear from here on out.

This chapter's title is my little twist on a quote from Milton's 'Paradise Lost' :) If you've read the Mortal Instruments Series, you will recognize it as the motto engraved at the entrance to the Bone City (sort of).

Guest 1: Unfortunately Astrid was not one of the trainees, but thankfully we are skipping over the dragon training. It would most likely just be boring and confusing anyways.

CB73: I agree. He is making a mistake by continuing to avoid Astrid. He just doesn't realize how much of one, yet...

Guest 2: That is a very interesting idea, and I'm glad you brought it to my attention. I suppose that being a quarter elf, Minden likely would live longer than a normal human. Thanks

Rainnnn: Yes, we are skipping over dragon training because it would be far too confusing. I am also glad that Valka isn't dead yet. She does owe Toothless a blood debt after all.

*Side note in case anyone was wondering: The only realms that really have any space in this first book are Midgard and Alfheim. So for perspective, Hiccup is either in Midgard, or off realm. I won't add any other worlds to this story in any great detail. He has now been away from Midgard for 5 years as per this newest chapter, and has only returned briefly because the Order has sent him there on a mission. Never interacting with any of his old friends. Though that might be about to change...*

_

It had been two long years since Astrid's parents had sold her to Snotlout's family as if she were nothing more than livestock. She supposed that she could see her parents' reasoning, when she calmed down enough to try. It still rankled her though. She had been wracking her brain ever since that fateful afternoon. Desperate for any possible way that she might nullify the marriage contract. Without bringing shame on both herself and her family, of course.

Unfortunately, there just didn't seem to be any easy solutions to her problem. At least they still hadn't reached the nest. So far Gothi's fake vision had bought her two years of time, but Astrid wasn't sure how much longer she would have. True to his word, Snotlout and his father had been doing everything they could to remedy her freedom. Every couple of months she had perched on the cliff over the dock and watched Spitelout lead a small group of ships off on another search. Then she would return to her daily life as best she could, while waiting nervously for word, since she refused to accompany them.

After a few weeks the men would return unsuccessful. Sometimes all crammed onto one ship as the remainder had been wrecked in the fog. Then she would breathe easily again until the next search set sail. Astrid almost didn't want Hiccup to return now, despite Gothi's vision that he would. How would she ever explain to him that her family had sold her to the Jorgensons?

Would she be able to look him in the face and tell him they could never be together? He had waited too long and now her time was up. What would Hiccup do once he found out? Would he try to steal her away from his cousin, or would he just accept it and move on? Or had he already moved on and that's why he was staying away? She was more furious at him now than she had ever been. How had she fooled herself into thinking that these scars were healed?

Though nearly resigned to her fate and with little else to do, Astrid still spent many long nights replaying Gothi's vision over and over in her mind. Desperately trying to glean some insight from it. She knew the figure with the black dragon had to be Hiccup, but what was he looking at? What was he doing? Where was he, even?

Even more confusing was the green fire. What could it possibly mean, for it surely was only a symbol? Fire simply wasn't green, so it had to be a sign of some sort. So many riddles, and not a single solution in sight. Astrid now knew exactly what Gothi had meant by visions being confusing. It made her want to scream with frustration.

In all this time, the raids by the dragons had continually gotten worse. Add to that a few even-worse-than-normal winters, and the Vikings of Berk were getting desperate. Food and supply shortages were becoming more common and they were having to spend more and more of their meagre wealth on purchasing food from traders. They needed a solution to the dragon problem, and they needed it fast. Even Astrid, who had every reason to not want the nest found, had to admit that they couldn't carry on like this. She also knew what waited there to meet the sailors if they did manage to locate the nest. A terrifying dragon beyond anyone's imaginings.

Unfortunately, no one aside from her and Gobber knew about the nest's queen though. So it was that Fishlegs brought forward his idea at the annual meeting in the Mead Hall that day. Seems he had come up with a strategy for how to find the nest and the ice had finally melted enough to allow a sailing. "Sir," Fish addressed Stoick nervously. "I think that if we were to trap some dragons and keep them alive, we could most likely use them to guide us through the fog. I have noticed that all of the dragons fly back towards the same direction after each raid, almost as if they are following a call." He shuffled his feet awkwardly under the chief's hard gaze before adding, "perhaps smaller dragons that we could safely tether to the ships would be best."

Stoick considered this for a moment longer before a wide grin spread across his face. "You know what son, I think that just might work. Simply brilliant. You do your village proud Fishlegs Ingerman." Then he raised his voice to address the entirety of the gathered villagers. "Well, you heard the young man. Get to work you lazy sacks of flesh! We set sail as soon as the wind is in our favour!"

Fishlegs blushed at the chief's praise as he retreated from the dais slightly. Shooting an apologetic look at Astrid across the hall, while the other villagers all began shouting to each other and Stoick. Astrid, on the other hand, actually stopped breathing due to stress. Sadly, even she couldn't deny that this plan would absolutely work. Berk would reach Dragon Island. Hiccup, where are you, she thought desperately. One hand clutching spastically at the warm pendant resting under her tunic.

*

Under the dappled sunlight of Alfheim, Hiccup was lounging beneath a huge cedar tree. A small bundle of illegal magic tomes strewn across the grass beside him. He had swiped them from Order headquarters during his recent stint on Asgard. Honestly, the books were about the only useful things to come out of the last two and half years of torture. Of course Hiccup already knew how to use most of these relatively tame magics. The real value was in discovering the proper words for the spells in the ancient elven languages. These had the ability to amplify a spell when used correctly.

He and Ilweran had only just returned to Alfheim permanently a few weeks ago. Having previously only been able to leave Asgard in order to attend the seasonal festivals. The dragon training had been exactly as terrible as the two Riders had thought it would be. By the fourth group, they were both beginning to feel the strong urge to just kill the recruits and be done with it. Unfortunately, that sort of behaviour was frowned on by the rest of the Order. Somehow, they had powered through. Finally passing the recruits off to the cavalry, before being released from duty.

Now that Hiccup was back in his comfortable home, he was simply taking time to relax for a change. The last couple years spent under the watchful eye of Odin had been particularly unpleasant. Even by the Dark Rider's standards. He had known that Odin would be studying his every word and gesture. Hoping for some sort of reaction. Waiting to see if Hiccup would confess anything about his mother.

Of course Hiccup had not given the tyrant the satisfaction of seeing any emotional displays at all. His perfectly refined elven features gave nothing away. His words and behaviour carefully confirming this detached nonchalance. Then, about a year ago, Hiccup had begun to have the same reoccurring dream every time he decided to sleep. It had been causing him a certain degree of unease that had been difficult to mask, so Hiccup had eventually just given up on sleeping entirely. Even if it did make the boring hours seem to pass faster.

The dreams were little more than chaotic scenes of fire and ash, blood and pain. Masses of destructive colour that made his head ache. He thought that he recognized Midgard in the landscape, but it was never clear enough to be sure. The dream itself, vague and disjointed as any other. It had to mean something, but what? It didn't have any logic to it. Why couldn't these ridiculous visions have more detail? Something solid that he could use to link everything together and make sense of it all.

He had been bouncing ideas off Toothless, but his blood brother couldn't make sense of the images either. Still, they spoke of the dream often, and were even engrossed in another heated debate about it when the first alarm sounded in Hiccup's mind. It actually took him a moment to realize what it was. Then another moment to dash to the nearby stream and murmur a quick scrying spell. The first warning system had been triggered on Astrid's axe, which meant that she was in some sort of danger.

Hiccup was expecting it to be something minor that she would easily handle, such as another raid. Those had been happening a lot more often lately. He was taken off guard by what he saw, instead. When the scene came into view, she was in the Mead Hall surrounded by the council. That shouldn't be inherently dangerous, but they were actually busy working out the logistics for a plan to reach the nest. So far, the misdirection wards he had placed had been sufficient in keeping them from reaching the island. Unfortunately, Hiccup had to give them credit now. This plan was a good one.

Scrawling a quick note to Ilweran, Hiccup summoned his familiar to him. The sleek falcon appeared on his forearm and he gave it the rolled up scroll. Lintiëram nuzzled his beak into Hiccup's hair for a moment and then with one graceful wing beat, was gone. He then leapt gracefully onto Toothless and the pair raced home. The moment they landed, Hiccup began to grab weapons and gear up in his full armour, complete with stashed throwing and punching knives. Honestly, the people might chose to attack him once they saw him; and he rarely went anywhere without his blades these days.

Grabbing a close fitting full-face mask he had made to match his improved armour, Hiccup tucked this into Toothless's saddle bag along with his new bow and quiver of enchanted arrows. Since his transformation, the helmet was mostly unnecessary. The only exception being when Toothless was flying at top speed. The eye slits had a strong, clear, glass-like substance over them to protect Hiccup's vision from the cutting wind. His sturdy weapons belt carrying two strong clips to attach to the saddle for similar reasons.

Just as he was fitting the sheaths containing his twin swords across his back, Sharpshot came hurrying into the room. "Wait, my lord! You will need to take this with you if you are going to Midgard." Then the dragon dropped a small black box into Hiccup's hand.

"Thanks!" Hiccup said as he opened it. Inside was the masculine looking black ring designed in the style of a coiled serpent eating its own tail. Two tiny emeralds in the spot where its eyes would be. He placed it on his finger and tossed the box onto the bed. Feeling the strange tingle as the illusion magic flowed over him.

Over his armour, he had donned the long hooded cloak of the Order. He personally despised the thing, but there was nothing to be done. He was supposed to wear it when on a mission. Even a self-appointed one. He would remove it once they reached Midgard. After wearing it for two straight years in Asgard, quite frankly Hiccup was done with it. Lastly, he dug out his old blade Inferno and added it to the saddlebag, just in case. Non-magical weapons often came in handy in the human realm.

Running back out to the balcony and vaulting onto Toothless mid-stride, he silently hoped that Ilweran would think to send his own familiar with a message to the Council. Maybe Noldo would even be at the palace today, which would make it even easier. They did not have time to stop in Asgard to ask formal approval for this journey, after all. It still irked Hiccup to have to ask permission, but that was just another part of being a Rider. The powers-that-be wanted to know where you were and what you were doing at all times.

He did not like it, but he was playing along with their silly rules still. For now at least. One day they would realize how foolish they had been to assume to control him. There was one simple, yet incomparably valuable lesson that Hiccup had carried with him ever since leaving Rome. It was that the only one he could truly trust to hold the reins of his destiny, was himself.

*

It had taken longer than expected to prepare for their trip to the nest. Stoick had wanted to leave immediately, but they simply couldn't manage that. First they had to ensure that nearly every able bodied man and woman was outfitted with decent armour and weapons. Then they had to prepare the ships with enough provisions for the journey. Lastly, they had needed to find some terrible terrors to lash to a ship and it took a surprisingly long time to catch the little buggers. Normally they would have one in the pens at the kill ring, but the lack of resources meant that the village could not afford extra mouths to feed this year.

As Astrid watched the poor little dragons struggle against their bindings and muzzles, her heart went out to them. She just couldn't stop seeing Sharpshot. Picturing him tied to a mast surrounded by angry Vikings. Her worry for the tiny beasts however, was greatly overshadowed by the worry she felt for herself and her people at what they were about to face. Every time she chanced a glance at Gobber she could see the same worry in his eyes.

They both knew what awaited them if they reached that shore. Pain and death. If there was ever a time that they needed the gods to show themselves, it was now. Perhaps Thor would turn up and battle Jörmungandr for them if they were lucky. Of course Gobber had tried to talk Stoick out of this plan, but it was no good. Without a rock solid reason why it was a bad idea, they were unlikely to convince the chief to abort the attack.

They were now on the last leg of the two and a half day journey, and Astrid was running on very little sleep. Leaning over the rail at the prow and watching the waves pass by the lead ship, she barely even noticed her surroundings. Her brain feeling like achy mush after so many hours awake, but there was nothing to be done for it. Every time she had tried to close her eyes over the last week, she just kept seeing dreadful images of her people being killed by the gigantic dragon. Her standing by helplessly as her family and friends were crushed, burned alive, eaten, drowned, and any number of other horrific deaths.

It was admittedly silly. There was no backing out now, and Astrid knew full well that she needed to sleep just as much as she needed to eat. She would need to be in top form when they reached the nest if she was to have any hope of surviving. Though she honestly wasn't sure if it would matter anyway. There was no way that the Hooligans could defeat the nest's queen. Could Astrid honestly say that she would feel more prepared for death if she was well rested?

When the boats at last reached the mists that marked the edge of Helheim's Gate, the terrors' wings were unbound and they immediately tried to escape. Pulling tight against their tethers as they strained towards the sky and freedom. As the chief's vessel contained the terrors, it was the one that took point. The remaining longships falling in behind, but staying close enough to keep each other in view. Sounding their positions, and keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of movement.

Astrid and Gobber were both on the lead ship. Standing at the prow, and as far as they could be from where Stoick manned the rudder. Conversing in low voices to each other as they watched the small dragons guide them around invisible obstacles. Somewhere across the deck Astrid could hear Snotlout talking to his father about the grand marriage celebration they would have when they returned victorious. Maybe the giant dragon would just eat her. That might not be too bad actually, come to think of it. At least then she wouldn't have to marry Snotlout.

As they made their silent way through the fog towards their doom, Astrid slowly became aware of a strange warmth beginning to radiate over her shoulders. Relating it to nerves, she ignored it until Fishlegs came up beside her. "Umm, Astrid? What's wrong with your axe," he whispered. Pale green eyes darting about to ensure that no one was close enough to overhear.

"What on Midgard are you talking about," she hissed coldly as she glared at the large man. Her temper even shorter than usual due to the potent mixture of stress and sleep deprivation. "There's nothing wrong with my axe!" How dare he talk to her about the condition of her weapon at this time? He was the whole reason they were here, sailing towards certain death. Granted he was as clueless as the rest to that particular fact, but still.

Fish looked at her apologetically before he continued. "I'm sorry Astrid. I have been sitting on this idea," he motioned towards the terrors, "for almost two years. I didn't say anything because I was hoping to save you from Snotlout; but the village is starving. I couldn't keep my silence any longer."

She was about to snap at him again, but he held a meaty hand up to stop her. "That's not the point though," he squeaked nervously. Cowering slightly at her expression. "You may want to take a look at your axe Astrid. It's glowing."

"What?!" Her confusion suddenly offset her anger as she felt her eyes widen in surprise. Unholstering her axe and holding it in front of herself, Astrid saw that it did seem to be glowing faintly through the oil cloth. Unwrapping the fabric to reveal the blade, she let out a gasp of surprise. As did Gobber and Fishlegs.

The delicate runes etched into the blade between the curling shapes were emitting a faint green light. It also seemed to be slowly growing stronger and brighter the farther they sailed into the fog. Lighting the way to their doom perhaps? She could feel the combined gazes of both men on her as she carefully replaced the oil cloth to mute the glow again. "This stays between us," Astrid warned them quietly.

Looking up, she saw them both nod and give her axe one more look. Without another word, Astrid merely holstered it across her back. Feeling that same curiously tingling warmth radiating over her shoulders again as she turned her gaze up towards the fog. Glancing at each other, Gobber and Fishlegs both moved to stand behind her on the prow now. Effectively blocking her axe from view. Ruffnut and Tuffnut coming over to join their little group as, together, they watched the terrors struggle against the weight of the ship.

*

Hiccup and Ilweran had barely made it through Bifröst and started their journey north when the periphery wards for Dragon Island were triggered. Hiccup passed this new development onto Ilweran as he quickly removed the accursed cloak. Replacing his swords over his armoured tunic instead. Of course he had not planned for them to use dragons to lead them through the fog when he had placed those misdirection wards, Hiccup thought grumpily. Cursing this unexpected bout of ingenuity from the Hooligans.

Nodding to show he understood, Ilweran urged Tintallë forward. The group increasing their pace to the limits of the giant monstrous nightmare. Then Hiccup felt the slight draw on his magic as the runes on Astrid's axe activated. Toothless clearly feeling it too as he glanced back to shoot Hiccup a nervous look out of the side of his eye. Stuffing the cloak roughly into one of the saddlebags, Hiccup grabbed his helmet instead. Quickly sending Ilweran a mental map of how to reach the island as he mashed the thing onto his head. Then he clipped the restraining buckles on Toothless' saddle to the rings on his belt and braced himself.

This was the true might of the night fury. No dragon was his equal in the sky. With a powerful push of his huge wings, Toothless rocketed forward. The wind tearing past them at such speed that if Hiccup had not been strapped in, he would never have been able to stay on. Despite being hunched down as low as he could get, the air still lashed at every bit of exposed flesh. Feeling as if it were comprised of many small blades.

As Toothless propelled them to even greater speeds, a feeling as of trying to escape out of a bubble enveloped Hiccup. The air pressing in on them from every side at once. Forcing him back in his seat and squeezing his body uncomfortably. His inhuman eyes could actually see the shape of this strange dome encasing them. Like a soap bubble on the water as it twisted and warped the ripples around it.

Then they broke through the invisible barrier and left all sound behind. Not even the rush of air past them could be heard. The pressure leaving a heavy weight on Hiccup's chest and he thanked his powerful new lungs for allowing him the ability to keep breathing and stay conscious. Together he and Toothless raced against time and space. Hoping desperately that they wouldn't be too late.

*

After what felt like ages encased in the swirling tomb of shapeless mists, the lead boat finally pushed itself up onto a strange rocky beach. An eerie humming chirp carrying through the still air that raised the hairs on Astrid's neck. Growing steadily louder until it was almost deafening. Then, as if the unseen beasts could sense the presence of intruders, the sound abruptly cut off. Everything falling perfectly silent, other than the gentle waves lapping against the prow.

While everyone else was distracted by the unexpectedly barren island, Gobber quickly released the tethers from the terrors. The small dragons chirping and fleeing in the opposite direction as if they couldn't get away from here fast enough. Leaving Astrid to look after them worriedly as her stomach churned with nerves. "They know we're here," came Stoick's quiet voice from behind her. Seeming to voice her thoughts, and Astrid turned to glance at the chief. Stoick met her gaze for a moment before cupping a large hand around his mouth. "Unload!"

With quick efficiency, the Hooligans began to disembark. Some hauling weapons ashore, while others hurried to assemble the large wooden catapults. At Stoick's signal they began to release a volley of boulders at the side of the volcano. Striking over and over, until an opening finally formed in the solid rock. Exposing a hollow passage beyond that seemed to stretch into the heart of the mountain. The pungent smell of fish and reptile wafting out on a wave of warm air.

Another signal and a flaming projectile was launched into this dark cavern, revealing a writhing mass of colourful bodies. Most of the Hooligans hoisted their weapons as they prepared to fight this vast hoard of smaller dragons. Astrid and Gobber hung back however as Fishlegs, Ruff, and Tuff hovered near them. Clearly unsure what the Shieldmaiden and Blacksmith were up to, or why they weren't moving to assist the rest. Fishlegs actually letting out a high pitched squeak of fear when the mass of dragons suddenly tore out of the cavern opening and took off into the mist without a backward glance. Frightened snarls and squeals ringing through the air in their wake.

Excitement and pride were slowly replacing the confusion on nearly every warrior's face now. They had all been expecting a fight to the death, and instead had been met with the fleeing tails of their quarry. As the Hooligans began to boisterously congratulate themselves, Astrid reached back with a resigned sigh and unholstered her axe. Removing the oil cloth again to reveal runes that were now glowing so brightly they were almost painful to look at. Shooting Gobber a glance, the two of them held their weapons aloft and stared resolutely at the opening in the side of the volcano.

Tuffnut had uttered a surprised cry at first seeing Astrid's glowing weapon, but before he could form a coherent word the ground began to tremble. A heart-stopping roar issuing from the cavern. The shaking under their feet grew more violent as a long fissure began to form around the opening they had made. Splitting higher and higher up the cliff until part of the mountain itself crumbled away to reveal the monster within.

It was somehow even worse than Astrid had imagined. Stoick yelled for everyone to get clear as panicked cries rang out. Someone yelled to get back to the ships. The shout of "NO!" from Stoick came just as the beast exhaled and sent a torrent of fire over the wooden hulls. Sails and masts igniting as the Vikings still on board threw themselves into the ocean to escape the flames. Their heavy armour dragging them down under the icy waves. The ones that hadn't managed to jump, screaming as their flesh was cooked off their bones.

One catapult was destroyed in a quick snap of jaws while another was crushed beneath a gigantic foot. The men around them flattened like ants. Others trying to run across the beach were being batted aside like cloth dolls. Screams of agony filling the air as ash rained from the sky. It was just like Gothi's vision, except there was no Hiccup to save them.

Nothing could have prepared the people for this nightmare. Some of the braver Hooligans attempted to attack the beast with the remaining catapult and their hand weapons. Trying desperately to distract it from the others that were fleeing to the far side of the island. Gobber rushing to help Stoick as they drew the queen's attention away from their last siege weapon. Both of the men yelling and throwing spears at it to confuse it, but their efforts were proving as effective as throwing pebbles at an angry bear.

Astrid watched as her own father fired a single arrow from his bow that lodged in the beast's wide nostril. Enraged, it turned towards her father and let out a deafening roar. Troels Hofferson simply stared down the monster and loosed another arrow into her snout. Further infuriating her, and the queen bore down on him as Astrid's four blonde brothers raced over to try and distract it from their father. The dragon was going to eat her entire family if she didn't do something, and fast!

Springing into action, Astrid hefted her glowing axe and ran at the beast with a loud battle cry. Fishlegs made to grab her, but he was too slow. She did not really have a plan, other than to draw the monster's attention away from her father and brothers. Unfortunately it worked a little too well. The queen paused and turned instead to the small, brave two-legs running alone across the gravel. Her six yellow eyes almost hypnotic with rage as Astrid felt her heart squeeze painfully in fear.

The queen actually seemed to be glaring menacingly at the glowing weapon Astrid held aloft, rather than at the girl herself. Her small eyes squinting in anger. Her full attention was now on Astrid, who stopped in her tracks and met the monster's evil gaze. The remaining Hooligans trying to distract it again, but it was no use. The queen was entirely focused on Astrid and her axe. Clearly, the dragon felt that she was the greatest threat, and Astrid was too far away from the group now for the others to save her. Seems her family was going to have to watch her die instead.

With a low growl that rattled Astrid's bones, the dragon suddenly opened its huge maw filled with teeth the size of human children, dripping saliva. Lowering its head towards Astrid as the noxious green gases began to build in its throat. Frozen in horror, Astrid knew she would never be able to get clear before she was roasted alive. Bracing herself, she touched one hand to the warm pendant beneath her tunic and wished she could have seen Hiccup one last time before she died.

Just as the beast began to exhale, a huge black shape fell from the sky in front of her. Placing itself between Astrid and the queen, the black dragon gave a great flap of its wings. The firestorm meant for her was forced back into the mouth of the monster on a rush of wind. The queen snapping her jaws together to smother the mass of flames now burning in her throat.

Astrid's jaw dropped open as she looked over the massive black beast that had just saved her. Her eyes travelling over the huge, yet instantly familiar, scaly back lined with a double row of spikes up the centre. A pitch black saddle nestled just above its enormous leathery wings. Then continuing on up to its large black head over 50 feet above the ground. One playful, acid green eye looking straight at her.

"Toothless?!"

_

Berk, meet Red Death...

Finally! The Prodigal Returns! About damn time, eh. Lol.

Well, Rainnnn, you guessed it. Of course he wouldn't stay away if Astrid was in real danger...