First off, I need to say this. I know I don't often, because ya'll knew what you were getting into when you started reading this thing, but I will make an exception for this chapter. *Severe trigger warning!* Descriptive violence and rape scene! I have italicized, and separated the trigger scene. Dividing it from the main body with asterisks as well.

Some of you said that you wanted a chapter at Xmas, even if it was violent, so I have decided to post it. I wasn't going to, but by this evening, I was bored. You're welcome. Still, you have been warned! If you do not want to have nightmares this Xmas, then save this chapter for later... and I am sorry in advance... lol.

Happy Festivus Everyone! Time to partake in the traditional Feats Of Strength! ;P

CB73: I'm glad it's finally out in the open too. One day I will let them have children, but not for some time. The immortality process changes them biologically. Turning their bodies into a hostile environment in order to resist disease and decay, meaning that it will eventually reject any and all foreign invaders (aka: sperm/fetus). Usually it is a gradual change, just not for Hiccup because he just had to fuck around with forbidden blood magic. Lol. I gotta say that you are dead on with Hiccup not wanting to tell Astrid about his past. Whether she rejects him or not, it will certainly change the way she thinks of him. How could it not. Still, it will all come out into the open one day and she will hopefully be able to help him work through his probable PTSD. Astrid's eventual elven transformation will likely be revealed too. She suspects after all, but just doesn't know it for certain yet. And finally... You're welcome Snotlout! :P You definitely succeed in bringing the mirth :D so thank you again and Happy Festivus! ;)

DeathBerryHime: I know what you mean, and I promise they will have much more 'screentime' together in future. Astrid has only been a bonded rider for a couple weeks after all. It took Hiccup over a year to learn magic, a few more years to perfect it, and five years to learn about his immortality and eventual elven transformation. As for Astrid's infertility, that was actually a typo on my part and I have corrected it now. It should have read 'eventual infertility'. The sterile part is a side effect of the immortality with a gradual onset for humans as the biological changes slowly work their magic. It will be explained to Astrid more in coming chapters, and much more thoroughly in the next book. That was my bad. Still, Stormfly doesn't know about the infertility part. Remember Hiccup had to go to Asgard before he finally learned about it, as Toothless was just as clueless as him about the workings of the bond.

OechsnerC: Thanks :)

devonleney27: Wow, that is a very nice thing to hear. No, I'm not a real life author. Just a regular shift worker with a love of language and a penchance for creativity. That and my dark, twisted, and often dirty mind...lol. I am very glad that you are enjoying this story, and you're very welcome. I wrote it for me, not really expecting anyone other than family and friends to read it, so it's very validating that others are noticing it as well :D

Guest: Thank you, and as you wish. Though I hope that it doesn't wreck your Xmas. maybe curl up with a blanket and some hot cocoa, and go to your happy place before and after you read it... And well spotted :) you bet that is foreshadowing! At least Astrid seems happy about it.

Rainnnn: I know what you mean. It's nice knowing that your reviews are actually noticed and appreciated by the author. Yep, Hiccup's tendency to skip the tough stuff usually comes back to haunt him. There are SO many secrets that he is still keeping from Astrid. Many of which I am also keeping from you, my readers, until the opportune moment. Sometimes I want you guys to be just as shocked as Astrid when the truth comes out. Hiccup has his reasons for not teaching Astrid magic right away (Odin doesn't trust him and he doesn't want Astrid marked with the same stain), but she will definitely start learning soon. Second book. As for this chapter, careful what you wish for...lol

_

Final preparations were nearly complete. Once Fishlegs had returned with the dragon root, they had boiled it down to make a concentrated potion. Eret had been working tirelessly, spending almost every afternoon coating weapons. The arrows and bolt tips had to be covered with enough of the concentrated root to be effective. This meant that they had to be dipped several times, allowing for the solution to dry in between coats.

The riders had been training every day. It had been three weeks since Minden had arrived and the dragons were now comfortable enough with Toothless for Hiccup and Astrid to join in the training. Astrid had to admit that they were doing better. Not as good as true bonded riders of course, but they did function well as a team. Stormfly still thought they they looked like a bunch of uncoordinated infants, but she had very high standards. Much like her Rider, Astrid thought with a chuckle. Reminding Stormfly gently that not every rider could be a bonded one.

Hiccup had laughed at the display. "If you think this is bad Stormfly, you should try dragon training on Asgard. It is the worst kind of torture imaginable, and as apprentice Riders you two will have to instruct at least one round of it. You know, to prove that you are competent..." he trailed off with a chuckle at the disgusted look on Stormfly's face mixed with the surprise on Astrid's.

"Dragon training in Asgard? Really? What's that like?" Astrid asked him excitedly.

Ilweran and Tintallë must have heard her, because they swooped over at that exact moment. "Imagine the most exhausting and frustrating thing you have ever had to do. Now do that same thing every day for nearly a year. Then throw in some undisciplined, spoiled rotten brats with no previous battle training and a chip on their shoulders as big as a timberjack. Your job is to take the arrogant little bastards and turn them into viable soldiers. That is what it is like."

"Dear gods, that does sound wonderful," Astrid joked, grinning at him. "Thank you for building up the excitement for me. It's nice to be able to look forward to something with a healthy measure of the proper enthusiasm."

"Anytime, my dear," he grinned back. Tintallë rasping a chuckle at her before the two of them flew off again. Hiccup smirked after his friend for a moment as Toothless rolled his eyes dramatically. Hiccup turning back towards Astrid with a shrug.

"Sadly, that is a very accurate description. Before we came here, Ilweran and I got stuck with taking four groups of the little assholes through training. We were in Asgard for two and a half years."

"You were in Asgard for two and a half years," Astrid shouted in surprise. Then she covered her mouth as a hot blush crept up her cheeks. "Oops," she muttered. Looking around to make sure that no one had heard her. The humans weren't supposed to know about that, after all. Hiccup didn't seem overly concerned, however, as he answered her shocked exclamation.

"Yes we were. It is nothing to look so excited about. Honestly, it was terrible. Usually two rounds of recruits is the max, but we were being monitored for good behaviour." Then he quickly added, "or at least, that is what it felt like." There had been a barely perceptible pause that had instantly piqued her interest. Why were they being monitored, and by who? She couldn't help cocking an eyebrow as she gazed at Hiccup skeptically.

He shrugged again, looking completely unaffected by her judgement. Obviously feeling no desire to explain his comment. Simply supplying a cryptic, "Odin is not the biggest fan of us human Riders, as we do tend to be barbs in his immortal backside sometimes..." Suddenly, he smirked at her. "I am quite sure that once you get there, you will not want to spend copious amounts of time on Asgard either. Alfheim is much better."

Then he gestured towards the others. "Shall we? Might as well get some practice runs in with soldiers that are already 'mostly' trained." Astrid laughed despite herself, as Stormfly swung around with a squawk and a regal shake of her crown. Dive bombing towards Hookfang for good measure and making Snotlout scream like a wuss and flail frantically as he fought to stay on his dragon. Stormfly had still not forgiven Snotlout for his previous behaviour towards Astrid and her 'mate'. A fact which never ceased to amuse Hiccup and Toothless.

When they arrived back at the village, Hiccup gave her a quick kiss before heading to the forge. Likely trying to avoid his father again. Astrid decided to head home and spend a bit of time with her parents. She still hadn't gotten up the nerve to tell them that she was leaving with Hiccup. No one even knew that Hiccup was leaving yet, aside from Gothi and Gobber. It was just a very painful subject that she didn't know how to broach. Her parents had finally stopped giving her sympathetic smiles over breakfast. As if she was about to break down at any moment because her lover was an infertile elf, though admittedly they weren't aware of the fact that he was an elf.

Life was just far too complicated these days, as everything ramped up to the end game. They had been preparing for months and now it was almost time to put all of those hours of pain and stress to the final test. Despite Stormfly's negativity, Hiccup and Ilweran were sure that the recruits were as ready as they could be to face the Red Death. Finally giving them free reign to fly whenever and wherever they chose. This meant that the sky above Berk was usually filled with many multi-coloured dragons at all times of the day. So it was that when the raid started, no one noticed it at first.

Everyone just assumed that the large pack of dragons flying in from the east was a group of riders returning from a practice session. Raids usually took place at night after all, when the wild dragons could use the cover of darkness to their advantage. It wasn't until they got closer that someone noticed they didn't have riders. The call of "Raid!" rang over the village as those in the square ran to grab weapons. Others running out with axes and shields in hand, ready to defend their homes. Luckily Astrid hadn't made it very far from the smithy with her aimless wandering.

Hiccup came running out of the forge and leapt onto Toothless, Astrid and Stormfly joining him a moment later. He shouted to be heard over the chaos erupting all around them. "Riders! Mount your dragons. Try to chase off the raiders before they can reach the island, but do not harm them if you can avoid it." He and Astrid took off and made straight for the flock. Soon Ilweran and Minden had joined them and they all shot warning blasts to scatter the pack. Successfully breaking the large mass up into smaller groupings. Then the four of them fell back at Hiccup's signal. Spacing themselves out to create a final defensive line between the wild dragons and Berk.

Once the raiding dragons were separated, the riders from the clans sprung into action. Snotlout and Fishlegs taking point in directing the others. They sent Cami and Heather with Ruff and Tuff out first. They needed to head off the large grouping that was closest to the village as the other riders divided into teams. Fishlegs yelling after the four of them, reminding them to try to scare the dragons away first.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut, riding their bright green zippleback, were made for this. They formed a great wall of gas on one side between Berk and the flock. Just as the dragons were close to it, Tuff had Belch spark the gas. A huge fire ball erupted and spread from it as the twins cackled gleefully. Frightened, the dragons changed course. Right towards Cami and Heather. Cami's changewing spewed acid at the incoming horde while Heather's nadder flung spines to block their path. The dragons panicked again and turned back towards the ocean.

The other riders were not all having the same success. All of them following the example of the first group and trying to use fire, acid or spine to redirect the flock at first. Some of the wild dragons were braver than others though and fought back. Spewing their own fire attacks at the riders. The teams held it together and managed to keep their mounts calm and organized. The riders combined their attacks to make them more effective. With the nightmares igniting the changewing acid before it reached the attackers. The gronkles dropping lava balls down from above, catching the wild dragons by surprise.

Finally the raiding dragons had enough and turned tail back towards the nest. The last scouting party they had headed off had been far from Berk, over open ocean. It was unlikely that any of these dragons had been part of that group, judging by their behaviour. They were not used to confronting riders, giving Berk the upper hand relatively easily this time. Though Astrid knew that it would not be so simple next time. The wild dragons would certainly come prepared for an aerial fight. Also, now the queen would know that they had even more riders. She would be ready for them.

As the flock of dragons fled back towards Dragon Island, the riders let out a victory cheer. Astrid couldn't help but wonder why the four of them had not really participated in stopping the raid. Surely the giant night fury and monstrous nightmare would have frightened the wild dragons away much more easily than the regular sized dragons. Just then, Hiccup came over to hover beside her and Stormfly.

"We did not participate in the defence because the riders needed to gain confidence." (I really need to keep some mental shields up! Astrid thought in surprise, as he answered her thoughts easily) "We are leaving them after the battle and they will be required to rely on each other instead. They needed to show that they were able to think up a strategy and function as a successful team. Not for us, but for their own sake."

Minden and Bori had made their way over while Hiccup was talking and Ilweran soon joined their group. Minden swooping close enough to Astrid to bump her shoulder with a fist. "Ya, they needed to do it by themselves. We were here to jump in if anything had gone sideways, but they did fine. Now imagine how proud they will all be after this."

Ilweran nodded to show his agreement. "They did very well. I think, as long as everything else is in order, that they are ready to fight the queen. She is clearly getting stronger if she is able to start sending her minions out to raid in the daylight. It also means that she must be quite desperate for sustenance."

Hiccup rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "You know, I think you are right. The Red Death will be much more difficult than a pack of startled wild dragons. However there is no way to truly prepare for her. We have done the best we can and we might as well go while everyone is wound up with victory courage. Eret claims that everything else is prepared." Here he looked over at Astrid. "I hope you are ready to put your skills to the test. Tomorrow we sail for Dragon Island and you and Minden will be leading the dragon charge."

"Hel yes!" the two girls said and bumped their forearms together. Their dragons squawking excitedly with them.

*

The four riders landed back on Berk to join the crowd surrounding the Dragon Academy riders. It was the first raid that anyone could remember where nothing was stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The riders of the academy had proven their value to the villagers. This was exactly what Hiccup had been hoping for. Locating his father in the masses, he made his way over to talk to him. Ilweran and the girls shadowing close behind.

Once he had gotten Stoick's full attention, he delivered the news. "Dad, we all think that it will be best to launch our attack on Dragon Island as soon as possible. She is growing stronger if she is able to send out raiding parties. We need to fight her while she is still somewhat weakened. The riders are ready. They have proven that today." He finished with a proud smile that was mirrored by Ilweran.

The blonde man said, "they have come very far in a short time. You and your people should be very proud of them."

Stoick nodded grimly. "They certainly did well with the raid. If you say they are ready, then so be it. How are all of the other arrangements for the ground teams coming?" He looked over as Eret shouldered himself through the crowd.

"Everything is good to go on that front. I'm with Hiccup. We need to attack while she is still weak."

Stoick nodded, "Then we leave tomorrow." He left to round up and inform the council and they called a meeting in the village square. The mood of the village quieted a bit with the news, but Stoick gave a rousing speech that even impressed Hiccup. All about how it was their time to write their own legends and be remembered as heroes. He called everyone's attention the the group of riders and praised their bravery. The villagers cheering boisterously for their young warriors.

After that, the Vikings began loading the ships without complaint. That night there was to be a feast, for in the morning they would set sail for the nest and the queen. After the announcement, Hiccup and Ilweran had told all the riders they were free to go and prepare for the coming battle. They would not need any more training today as the raid had been more than sufficient practice.

Hiccup had spent the remainder of the afternoon practicing mental sparring again with Astrid in the cove. She was getting better, but he knew that she would never be able to hold her own against the queen. Sensing his unease, Toothless was quick to offer reassurance. "Don't worry. We are more than strong enough to protect her and Stormfly."

"I know we are now, but what about once we are protecting all of the others as well."

Toothless scoffed. "I'm sure it won't be an issue. The queen will be too distracted by the multiple attack fronts to keep up a full mental assault on every dragon. She will be more likely to switch to individual key targets than continue with the broad mass. Besides, I don't know why you are bothering to worry. We both know that if she gets through the main defences, you will not hesitate to take your barriers down from the others in order to protect Astrid."

"I hate it when you remind me what a selfish, ruthless creature I am" Hiccup grumbled. Toothless laughed and licked him, slicking his hair up with sticky saliva. Threatening bodily harm, Hiccup batted Toothless away and tried unsuccessfully to wipe the dragon spit off his face. Astrid giggled adorably as he cursed and went to the pond to rinse his hair in the frigid water. "I wish we could go back to Alfheim. I'm sick of this weather. I'd forgotten how cold it was here all the time." Toothless huffed in agreement.

As he went back to sit by Astrid, she took one look at his grumpy face and sopping wet hair and started giggling again. "Oh, you think that is funny, do you? I will show you something funny!" Reaching out, he pulled her towards him and tickled her sides relentlessly while she laughed and struggled. Wriggling around until she was straddling his lap as she gasped for breath. He stopped his teasing to look up into her smiling blue eyes and his feelings hit him again, like kick to the chest.

Toothless is right, he thought with a sigh. There was very little that he wouldn't do to protect Astrid. Slay gods, move mountains, even risk his sanity to reverse fate if she asked him to. Unfortunately, that truth was the opposite of comforting. She is the most dangerous creature in all the realms, and she doesn't even know it. Then she leaned in to kiss him as she ground her hips against his suggestively. Casting his dark thoughts aside, he simply pulled her closer and lost himself to her touch instead.

*

It was as they touched down back in the square later that Hiccup realized something was wrong. Eret came jogging over to them, looking worried, as they climbed off their dragons.

"Have you guys seen Heather?" he asked promptly. When they both shook their heads he continued, "she was supposed to meet up with me before the feast, but she hasn't shown up. Cami said that she went for a flight earlier with Windshear, but that no one has seen her since." He looked extremely concerned and Hiccup knew why. Eret and Heather had been carrying on a secret relationship for weeks. Something he loved to tease the man about normally, but not right now. He knew Heather would never keep Eret waiting unless something had happened to her.

"We will find her, brother." He nodded to Astrid and they took off again. Nadders were better at tracking than night furies, so he let Astrid take point. After a short search, Stormfly led them to a clearing well away from the boundary of the village. Coming in lower, they saw a mass lying on the ground near the tree line as Hiccup picked up the distinct scent of blood on the air. Dragon and human.

Astrid landed first and ran towards the girl. She was sitting on the ground with her dragon's head in her lap. Tear tracks streaking her face and her clothes torn. At first Hiccup thought that they had crashed and Windshear was just injured. Then he and Toothless both caught the distinct scent of dragon root mixing with the scent of blood already on the wind. Looking again at Heather's torn clothes, he realized that this was not from a fall. At least not entirely.

Toothless and Stormfly both began to growl low in their throats, as Hiccup's jaw clenched and his hands began to tremble. He was watching the whole terrible scene play out in Heather's mind and it was all he could do to stand here and play the part of human. How could he have been so careless? Of course the monster would see the bustle in the village as the perfect distraction! Not being able to find Astrid, he had gone after Heather instead. The images flashing through Hiccup's head were sickening. He watched in disgust as the arrow embedded in Windshear's flank. Knowing with cold certainty what he would see next. He felt Heather's confusion as the nadder faltered, tumbling down towards the trees lining the clearing. The fear for her dragon that had been the first emotion in Heather's mind.

* Then he watched as the hulking figure crept out of the shadow of the forest. Approaching from behind and downwind, catching both the woman and her dragon by surprise. It felt as if he was actually there, standing helpless in the clearing, while burly arms wrapped around the girl. She flailed and kicked, but the arms held her firm. Dragging her away from Windshear before throwing her to the ground. The brutish man jumping on top of her before she could even try to get up. Her arms twisted up behind her back, straining her shoulders painfully, as her face was forced down into the ground by the weight of the huge man above her. Dirt and grass choking her, clouding her already panicked mind.

He was straddling her back, pinning her down with his massive body. She was trying to struggle free, but there was nowhere to go. He gripped both her hands in one of his, forcing them higher up her back as she screamed in agony. Her cries causing him to let out a guttural laugh. The overwhelming fear taking over her body, as she tried to break loose and found herself completely helpless and at his mercy. Windshear struggling futilely against the dragon root and her injuries, trying desperately to help her friend and battle sister. He grabbed the hem of her leggings and roughly pulled them down. Tearing the fabric as she begged him to stop. To please just let her go and she promised that she wouldn't tell anyone.

"Fucking rights you won't tell anyone," the monster taunted her as he positioned himself over her. "Not unless you want to be shamed right out of your tribe. Never a wife. Never a mother. Just a whore." Spreading her legs with his own, he forced himself into her. A ragged scream of pain ripping from her throat as he laughed and taunted her more. "You can do better than that," he chuckled darkly. "Come on and scream like you mean it. Maybe if you're loud enough, someone will come and save you."

Heather had clamped her mouth shut stubbornly before the pig grabbed a fistful of her hair. Yanking her head back roughly as he said, "scream for me Heather." She kicked her legs uselessly, turning her face away from him with the true courage of a warrior. Refusing to scream as choked sobs wracked her battered body. Still trying to free herself despite the agonizing strain on her shoulders. Refusing to give up.

Taking pleasure from her pain, he growled at her viciously, "This would hurt less if you'd just stop fighting, you little bitch. Fuck, you might even enjoy it. I know I will." He cackled repulsively in her ear as she finally surrendered to her fate. Quiet tears of pain and humiliation staining her beautiful face. Finishing quickly, he finally released her and got back to his feet. Threatening her to keep her mouth shut as he placed a hard kick at her ribs. Effectively winding her, before he took off into the trees at a run. The scene faded as Heather crawled over to her dragon before curling into a small ball of terror. Crying and hoping desperately for someone to come and find her. *

Hiccup was shaking uncontrollably. Every ounce of draconic fury that his body could muster was bubbling to the surface. Overwhelming him completely. He wanted to run to the village and find the brute. Wanted to tear the monster's throat out with his teeth. Feel the hot, coppery taste of justice running down his face and throat. Then again, perhaps that was too quick...

Maybe instead he would use his claws to disembowel the man a bit at a time. Leaving him alive to writhe and scream as the scarlet life blood coated Hiccup's arms and flowed away like wine. Pulling out inch after inch of intestine and lashing it together to form a pulsing, spurting rope. Stringing the man up with his own gore from the statue in the square. Let everyone know what happens to pigs like this one...

These uncomfortable urges, more than anything, helped to call him back from the dangerous road he was about to go down. He was clenching and unclenching his fists, attempting to distract his instinctually predatory mind. He could feel Toothless lending his support, hoping to calm his blood brother. Despite this, he was still trying to gain control of himself as Astrid knelt beside the girl and her dragon. It had all happened in barely a breath of time, and neither of the girls noticed his struggles.

"What happened Heather? Is Windshear hurt? Did you crash or something?"

Heather stroked her dragon's head tenderly and the nadder cooed sadly. "I don't know what happened really. We were just flying around the island when Windshear suddenly seemed to lose control of her body. We fell through the trees and I think she hurt her leg and broke her wing or something because it was hanging strange and she couldn't stand up. I was about to run back to the village and find help when..." she struggled for the words, but couldn't get them out. Looking away from Astrid for a moment, as she tried to conceal the humiliated pain that threatened to overwhelm her.

With a last steadying breath, Hiccup walked stiffly over to Windshear and knelt down by her flank. Placing a soothing hand on her as he touched her mind to calm her, he pulled out an arrow. Then he held the shaft up to show the tip to Heather and Astrid. When Astrid saw the green coating on it, her eyes flashed to Hiccup with both understanding and confusion. "Who...?" she started. It was a dragon root arrow. One of the ones that they had made in the village.

He already knew, but he still needed to keep his charade up and ask. The rest of the humans didn't know that he could read minds, after all. "Heather, someone shot down Windshear with a dragon root arrow. That is why she was unable to fly. Did you see who it was?" Heather nodded shakily.

"He was waiting for me in the clearing. I didn't notice him at first because I was too worried about Windshear. He caught me by surprise, otherwise he would never have been able to overpower me." Her fists clenched convulsively. "Windshear tried to stop him, but she couldn't move and..." she trailed off again as fresh tears ran down her face. Astrid looking at her in confused sympathy.

Reaching out slowly, so as not to frighten her, Hiccup placed a gentle hand on Heather's forearm. When she looked up to meet his eyes, he gave her a soft smile. Keeping his rage contained for the moment, for her benefit. "You do not need to explain it to me, Heather. I understand. I will not tell you that everything is okay because it is not, but it will be. I promise that we will take care of you and deal with this. You are safe now." Then he rose to his feet in a barely controlled motion and turned towards Toothless.

"We'll have to carry Windshear back to the village with us. I'll need to check her over and bind her wing there." Toothless nodded and came over beside his brother. A look of deep sadness in his acid green eyes as he cooed softly at Heather. Nuzzling his nose against her briefly and managing to wring a strained chuckle out of her.

Hiccup quickly explained to Windshear what was happening, then he spoke next to Astrid. "Toothless and I are going to carry Windshear. I need you to take Heather with you on Stormfly. Get her straight to Gothi."

Astrid leaned over to him so Heather couldn't hear and whispered, "What happened?"

"Stormheart" was all he was able to get out through his fury.

_

Once again all, I'm sorry. It was always going to happen, but at least I spared Astrid...

I needed you to feel the same rage towards Stormheart that the others do...

Throw your hate my way... I can take it...