Here it is! The End Game... most of you suspected that Hiccup was gonna be PISSED! Likely a very good guess, given his protective behaviour when it comes to Astrid, but just how angry?.. Guess you'll just have to read on to find out ;P Hiccup did manage to find Astrid and begin to pull her back from the queen's attack, but will he survive it? Hiccup would gladly give up his own life to save his mate, after all...

Grizzly98: Oh yes, there really is no coming back from this mistake for the Red Death *cackles with glee too*

CB73: Yep, battles rarely go exactly as planned and the result of the mistake was very nearly the death of Astrid and everyone else. Hiccup is taking a great risk to venture into the queen's mind to save his mate...

Draconic king: We would all like to see him finally go full on, Odin-scaring beast mode, wouldn't we ;)

OechsnerC: Thanks :)

Guest 1: Well, here it is :) lol

FriggleBerry: I gotta say, you're not wrong about most of your assumptions. Lol. I drew inspiration for Hiccup 2.0 (lmao) from multiple different fantasy sources to make him as much of a sexy badass as I could. As for Odin and Loki, I really didn't want this story to be cut and dry, Bad vs Good. That is very rarely the case in real life after all. I am so glad that you are enjoying my story. You're reviews are all awesome, and thank you so much! I didn't want Hiccup to be a poor me, wallowing victim. He just doesn't strike me as the type to whimp and mope around about how unfair life is. He gets mad, and then he makes a plan :) I wish all heroes could be like that... and Toothless does get more powers as time goes on in the trilogy (I've got it all planned out and I will actually finish it, I swear. Lol). He's just still pretty new to the whole magical abilities side of things, but he's a quick learner, just like his rider :D Indeed they are definitely a lot like the wicked little mischief makers that most elves are supposed to be. I wanted my story to be a little different than the run-of-the-mill regal and proper mystical beings that most stories tend to portray them as. What is eternal life without a little mischief, after all?

Midnott: Wow, thank you so much! That really means a lot to me :)

Rainnnn: Believe me, I get it, and I also like the IDEA of Valka. I just would have susbstantially more respect for her character if she hadn't ditched her baby boy to go save the dragons. She is a coward, and there is no way around that. If Hiccup hadn't stumbled across her, we still wouldn't know that she was alive. Since Cloudjumper was raiding Berk, that means he had to be part of the nest at one time too, which means that Valka most likely knew about the Red Death. She never did anything about it. She started running and never stopped. Just think that while Hiccup was growing up being bullied by his entire tribe and feeling unloved by his father, and then losing his foot saving everyone that he thought didn't even care about him, with the following recovery that would have been excruciating and horrifying (ancient medicine was not the greatest, really), his mom was alive and never even bothered to come back and check on him.

Imagine if that was your mother. If you thought your mother was dead for 20 years, and then one day you find out that she is alive and well, out rescuing Siberian Tigers, with no intention of ever coming home to you. A small part of you would be like, "cool! My mom is rescuing tigers!" A much larger part of you would probably be like, "WHAT THE FUCK!" She will become a more important character with a redemption of her own, but I honestly wanted to give all of Berk a redemption first before letting her have the spotlight.

Now for the chapter, you're right. The best laid plans usually don't work out the way we hoped as soon as chaos erupts. I'm sure the Red Death is going to regret this desperately, and I think Berk may just need new trousers if your suspicions are correct :P

_

Watching Astrid and Minden about to die reawakened all of his old fears. It also helped to steel his resolve. He was not a failure! He was not a hero! He was something much more dangerous than both. The monster wanted to be released from its cage, and just this once, he would let it out. He would not be caught in the storm, waiting helplessly for his fate to fall upon him.

He was the storm...

Pushing the evil bitch roughly back out of his mind, he watched as Snotlout dove in on Hookfang to save Minden before she could hit the ground. Grabbing her confused dragon on the way back up. Completely free, Hiccup turned his focus to Astrid now. Seeking out the fading sparks of her consciousness amid the violent maelstrom that was the queen's mind. Latching onto them, he began to drag her back to herself. He could feel the queen trying to keep her, but she didn't have a hope. He was angry now. Rules and caution mattered little anymore.

Reaching out with another part of his mind, he gently brushed Stormfly's consciousness. After reassuring her that her rider would be alright, he asked her to land. He needed to face the queen on his own. He couldn't risk anyone else getting between them. He cast his previous plan aside. He could no longer wait for the others to kill her before he trapped her soul. He knew that after the attack on Minden, Ilweran would be angry enough to keep his silence about what had really happened here. As the last shreds of Astrid were being torn free of the queen's clutches, Hiccup turned to look at his father.

"Get everyone clear of here. Now." He could only imagine what his father might be seeing when he met his eyes. Whatever it was gave the man pause for a beat, before he snapped out of it and began flashing the signal for retreat. After a last glance at his son, he turned away and went to join the others. As the Vikings on the ground rushed to muster by the ships, the riders swooped in to pick up Eret and Heather's archers off of the cliffs. They kept their bows at the ready, just waiting for the wild dragons to continue their attack, but they never did. The queen had apparently loosened her hold over them in order to attack the Riders.

Stormfly touched down gently beside the Hooligan chief. The limp form of Astrid hanging over her back. He watched the Vikings scurrying across the pebbled beach for a moment before he began his attack on the queen. Stopping her before she could launch another fire storm on the people. Forming his own shards and daggers, he sent them to every part of her mind that they could reach.

He could feel her recoil into herself from the onslaught. Pulling back her attacks on the others in order to shield herself from this new and unexpected force. Maintaining his brutal take down of her defences, he looked over to check on Ilweran. He was sitting up in his saddle, looking slightly dazed and extremely angry, but otherwise unharmed. He met Hiccup's eyes with a pleading question in his own.

"Minden is fine. She fell off Borealis when the queen launched her attack, but Snotlout caught her and Bori. Astrid is with Stoick and Stormfly. She is unconscious, but should recover. It seems the queen saw her as more of a threat than Minden and was intent on truly destroying her. Look after her for me. Snotlout will meet you there."

Hiccup's voice came out as a cold and disturbing monotone when he spoke. Twisted and warped by the influence of the queen's essence as he attacked her. He was opening himself up to her darkness, but his draconic fury was proving to be a sufficient shield. His own darkness being more than a match for hers. This bitch was going to pay for attacking his mate...

Ilweran looked at him steadily for a moment, gauging the storm behind his eyes. "Do not go in too deep" he advised as he nodded his acceptance.

"Never! You know me. Always the cautious one." Ilweran laughed as Hiccup dug into the saddle bag to draw out his bow and quiver, slinging the latter over his back to rest with the swords. Looking once more at his friend, this half-elf lunatic that had been with him through so much, he knew that Ilweran was honestly worried about him. He had good reason to be. Meeting the man's familiar amber eyes, he added, "if something goes wrong brother, you know what to do."

Ilweran scowled, but then sighed in resignation. Reaching out to grasp Hiccup's forearm in the Rider salute again before saying, "do not make me resort to that. I will never forgive you. Just stay sane, and we will be fine. Astrid needs you, and so do I. Although if you tell anyone I said that, I will happily kill you."

"Fair enough, brother. I love you too," Hiccup teased with a wide grin and a wink. Then he hunkered down in the saddle as Toothless spread his wings. They launched into the air, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake as Ilweran laughed.

Making straight for the Red Death, Toothless landed on the closest ledge that he could find to her. Placing themselves between the monster and their allies down on the beach, as Toothless fired a plasma blast at the beast to draw her attention. While Toothless kept her distracted from the humans, Hiccup dismounted to stand beside his brother. Putting all of his focus on the queen. Her mental barriers were massive, but that didn't matter. He hacked away at them until he formed an opening large enough to get through. That was all he needed. Now she would feel what it was like to be controlled by another.

Seizing the reins of her consciousness, he first severed her connections with the rest of her body. Leaving her awareness intact for the sake of revenge. He wanted her to know what was happening to her. Wanted her to understand what she had unleashed through her hubris. She had sealed her own fate the moment that she had dared try to destroy his mate. The shock was plain in her mind, as her bludgeon tail flopped limply to the ground. Her internal fire snuffed out with a simple command. She tried to fight against it, but her body was no longer her own. He could make her kill herself at this moment if he wanted to, but somehow that just didn't seem like enough...

He had been hoping to avoid opening himself up to her disgusting and twisted mind. Now he didn't care about the dangers anymore as he delved deeper into her darkness. Ilweran and Toothless would do what they had to if he lost himself. Working together to bring him down. Hopefully buying themselves enough time to coax him back to the light. Otherwise they would be forced to kill Toothless to end them both, as Hiccup and Toothless both knew that he was too powerful to be left alive if the darkness took hold. Toothless, himself, would have limited time before the evil spawn would begin to taint his mind as well. It was not an ideal outcome, and he hoped that neither of his brothers would be forced to resort to those measures.

Maintaining his own fortress walls through the sheer brute force of primal rage, he could feel the queen trying to resist him. Trying desperately to resume her own assault. Hoping to force him to draw back and fortify his defences. That was not going to happen. His concern for his mate overrode every other thing in his mind. This bitch would not gain an inch. He would not let her.

Smirking at her pointless efforts, he proceeded to savagely tear her apart. Shattering her mind as she had shattered his beloved. Trapping her inside the agonizing void that she, herself, had created. Caging her in her own prison of pain. Her evil radiated over him and through him, but he found it only helped to give him more pleasure as he slowly destroyed her. Her death would not be a quick one. She would pay dearly for what she had done to Astrid and he would enjoy every moment of it.

The rider and his night fury were the only opponents she cared about anymore. He was attacking her. He was hurting her. He was invading her. How had he gotten past her defences? No one could best her! She was the powerful one! She was the Great Queen, ruler of this island and master of the beasts. None could defeat her! Who was this unnaturally powerful two legs? Curse him and curse the evil, ungrateful night fury! This time, she would not hesitate to destroy the wretched night fury!

She should have killed the dark one when he was young and weak! Dark ones cannot be trusted! She had given him a home, when she knew that she should have killed him instead, and now he had returned to attack her! Somehow, he and this blasted two-legs he had found, had become the strongest of any opponents she had ever faced. They needed to die! Needed to be disposed of first of all, if she was to have any hope of winning. Of escaping this black, empty, and painful place they had put her in...

She was trying to scream out in pain and rage, but he wouldn't let her. Hearing the direction of her thoughts, Toothless began to snigger wickedly as Hiccup laughed out loud. "The dark one is my brother, you evil hag, and I will never let you hurt him again. You failed to destroy him then, and you most certainly won't destroy me now. Can't you tell? I control you. I own you. How does it feel, oh great queen?" Hiccup sneered at her with twisted dark humour as she tried to move towards him. Her useless and paralyzed body remaining beyond her control.

As her panic began to fill him, he forced her to open her mouth wide for him. She struggled and thrashed her great skull around, but it was no use. He simply brought her head back towards him with a wave of his hand. Fear and true terror pouring off of her as she felt her end drawing nearer. Lost in the black and endless void that was her mind now, she could do nothing to save herself. Reaching back to draw a single black arrow from his quiver, Hiccup nocked it in his bow and waited. As her head came to rest in front of him, her gaping and putrid mouth was held wide open by his will.

Bringing the bow up and drawing it, he aimed it straight at her face. Allowing a dark smile to grace his lips as he said out loud and in her head, "Terphayā". Knowing that she would recognize the ancient language. She was about to be completely consumed by living fire and she was absolutely powerless to stop it. It was one of the most ancient and terrible curses he could possibly use. He took one more moment to bask in her fear, then he loosed the arrow into the roof of her mouth. The magic carrying it through bone and tissue until it embedded itself in her brain.

He held her still as the green fire began to devour her mind from the inside. Feasting on the essence within her body in order to help spawn its offspring. Growing and multiplying as her own powers kept the dangerous magic from completely draining his. There would be nothing left of this hideous monster when it was done. He could feel the warmth radiating over his shoulders as he channeled her dark soul into his swords. The shadow of life, torched to a searing intensity by the magic fire cloying to keep her. He was saving it from complete destruction simply because she would make an extremely useful edition to his growing army. Only after she had served his purpose, would he finally allow the ancient flames to consume the rest of her.

Toothless let out a hoarse, throaty laugh as he watched the one who had enslaved him finally receive suitable punishment for her crimes. Once her mind had been almost completely consumed, Hiccup released his hold on her. She would not be able to fight or escape now. Though she would still feel the pain as every last shred of her was annihilated by his magic. He was not going to let her escape that. Maintaining one final shard of her consciousness alive in his own mind to ensure it. The last piece that he would cast into the emerald flames when she was gone.

Slinging his bow across his back, he began to make his way towards the awaiting Vikings. He needed to confirm that Astrid was alright as soon as possible. He could not allow himself to be distracted by worries that she had not survived. If he lost focus now, Surt's Fire would devour everything in its path until there was nothing left of this world. He would need to be in complete control if he was to extinguish it before it could destroy anything other than his intended target.

Still, as he made his way through the mists floating over the beach, he couldn't help the fears for his mate that threatened to break through. If Astrid was hurt... well, he wasn't sure what he would do. Though if she was, he seriously doubted that he would be able to shed the vile stain of the queen that had latched onto him as he had connected his mind to hers. Never mind locking the beast inside back in its safe cage.

If she was dead however, he may just leave the beast within to run free. Probably letting the cursed fire keep burning. Destroying absolutely everything that he had once cared about. Everything that no longer concerned him if Astrid was gone. This world didn't deserve to survive if it had stolen his mate from him...

*

When Astrid came to, she was surrounded by everyone except the one person that she needed to see. Her terrified heart was racing. She had thought that he would be at her side. Furious as Hel and waiting for her to awaken. The fact that he was nowhere to be seen was more frightening than anything that had happened up to now. He would never leave her at a moment like this! Not unless he didn't have a choice...

Had he died? Was it while he was busy saving her? Had he given too much to bring her back? A million questions chased themselves around her head in the few seconds that she spent searching frantically for him in the crowd. All of whom were simply standing around, gazing across the beach as if they didn't care about Hiccup at all! Why was no one else panicking? It was all she wanted to do!

Then Ilweran came over to her. Bori, Snotlout and Hookfang following behind him. She noticed that Snotlout was carrying a dazed, but mostly unharmed, Minden. "Good to see that you are awake. Hiccup will be pleased."

That must mean he's still alive! She thought with relief. Where was he though? Her head still ached fiercely and she found that she was having trouble forming coherent thoughts. Her mind was her own again, but everything else remained numb. She couldn't even get her mouth to voice her worries. It was the same feeling as when you lay on an arm for too long. You can almost control it, but you cannot truly feel it. Just an alarming sensation of pins and needles. Only this was her entire body instead of just one limb.

Stormfly croaked and rustled her wings. One bright yellow eye peering back at her. Full of a motherly concern, mixed with the reassuring shine of love. "It is alright little one. Your mate is alive and well. It would take much more than the evil controlling one to steal him away from you," she stated calmly in a matter-of-fact tone. A wave of peaceful energy floating through their bond, but it just wasn't enough. Ilweran must have seen the concern still on her face, for he moved in much closer to her.

His eyes a warm and comforting gold as he spoke again. "Hiccup is doing what he must to end this. He seems to have taken the queen's actions against you quite personally. Not that I blame him, for I would if I could after what she did to us. Most particularly, what she did to my daughter." Then he gave a sudden growl of frustration as he ran his hands distractedly through his silvery hair, shocking her with his outburst. Ilweran never looked ruffled or uneasy...

"Still, it is unbelievably dangerous, even for him! I do not care how mad he is! The fool..." he trailed off harshly, though his voice was still far too musical to ever really be called harsh. Eret and Heather came up behind him then and offered Astrid their own cautiously sympathetic smiles.

"I'm sure that whatever our little brother needs to do, he'll be able to handle it. He was trained by the best Druidess to walk this world, after all. I have it on her good authority that he has a great destiny, and that it is always better to be his friend than his enemy..." Eret supplied in a quiet voice as he placed a hand on Ilweran's shoulder. Glancing briefly in the direction the crowd was staring, before looking back at her. "...and I thoroughly support both of those statements," he mumbled with a small shudder.

Heather's green eyes did not hold a single shred of unease as they met Astrid's blue ones. A slight smile twisting her lips as she gave Astrid a comforting nod. "He'll be just fine, Astrid. That silly boy will always come back to you. I don't think Thor himself could keep him away." Astrid struggled to contain a hysterical snort as she offered her own grateful smile in response, before looking over at Snotlout. Despite all the reassuring words from the others, his eyes were still wide and strangely fearful as he quietly held Minden and surveyed the group.

Ilweran followed her confused gaze, his amber orbs deeply serious. Then he looked back at her and shrugged. "Like I said, he is unusually territorial when it comes to you. As I am sure you clearly remember," he added softly. Arching one delicate silver brow as her thoughts ultimately strayed right back to Stormheart with a slight shiver. She had known that Hiccup would be furious, just not exactly what that would mean for the queen. Apparently, it was really bad... Her numb face now twisting into a semblance of uncomfortable understanding, and Ilweran offered a shrug and a half smirk.

"You have to admit, she did ask for it," he chuckled darkly. "As for the rest of this, what you are feeling is the effects of the queen's attack on your mind. You very nearly died. It will take some time before you are completely back to normal." She continued to stare at him in shock. I almost died? Then she remembered that agonizing and empty black void that she had been lost in, and gave a shudder. Stormfly feeling her remembered fear and pain and giving a shudder of her own.

"He speaks the truth hatchling. Your mind was being torn from your body by the evil, controlling queen. I could feel your pain and distress, but I could not stop it. She is far too strong. I, myself was struggling to maintain my sanity as we are tied together. She was quickly overwhelming me, and I very nearly lost myself as well. If your mate had not saved you when he did, neither of us would be here right now."

"You should have felt the power of his magic. It was even greater than that of the queen herself. I am incredibly glad that he is your mate. He and his battle brother would make nearly unbeatable enemies," the nadder finished with a shiver. Pondering Stormfly's words, Astrid finally allowed herself to look towards the direction everyone else seemed to be staring. A small part of her already knowing what she would see...

There was the queen, laying on the beach. Her club tail hanging limply behind her as only her head was moving. Near her, on a high ledge overlooking the monster, she could see the lone figures of Hiccup and Toothless standing between the Vikings and the queen. He was holding a black bow and a quiver of arrows was draped over his twin swords.

The queen was opening and closing her mouth, but no sound came out. Hiccup's dark laugh rang across the beach at her struggles. There was something off and strange about that laugh. Something that Astrid couldn't quite understand. She watched as the queen's jaws began to open wide. At first Astrid thought that she was going to try to eat or roast Hiccup.

Then she noticed that it looked more like her jaws were being drawn apart by two large hands against her will. The queen began to thrash her head around, trying to break free of the unrelenting force. It reminded her of trying to take something from the mouth of a dog as it wrestles to keep hold of it. Then Hiccup waved his hand and she stared in astonishment as the massive head began to drag itself back across the gravel towards him. Its movements disjointed and unnatural. It was as if he was a puppet master, controlling her strings.

Astrid felt Stormfly shudder again as she remembered all too well what that feeling was like. Astrid, herself, remembered that same sensation vividly. That night over two months ago, when Hiccup's self control had slipped slightly with her teasing, and he had used his strange powers on her. At the time, she had been surprised and a little shaken. Though it had been a gentle and playful gesture then, she had still been amazed at the abilities he possessed. Now she knew that he had barely even given her a taste of his true power. Ilweran and Stormfly were right. Hiccup was so much more dangerous than he seemed.

Astrid couldn't even begin to fathom the strength that this control over the queen would require. The dark power that this magic must stem from. She wasn't sure whether to be proud of Hiccup, or afraid of him. Stormfly made a very valid point. Astrid was suddenly immensely thankful that Hiccup was her lover and not her enemy. The fear and panic radiating from the queen was so all consuming that even Astrid could feel it washing over her despite her distance from the beast. She chanced a quick glance at the others. By the bleak looks on each of their faces when they met her eyes, they could all feel it too.

"The queen is right to be afraid," she noted savagely to Stormfly. Immense pride in her lover suddenly welling up to overwhelm any lingering doubt she may have had.

With a shake of her regal crown, Stormfly croaked back, "and so is everyone else. May the gods have mercy on any that seek to harm us..."

Looking back, they watched Hiccup draw his bow and fire a single black arrow with a faintly glowing tip into the queen's maw. At first nothing seemed to happen. Then, slowly, an eerie green glow began to build in her mouth and nostrils. Her jaws went slack and slammed closed as the light emanating from her grew brighter. Finally it burst through the surface, engulfing her huge head in a strange mass of writhing emerald green fire.

There was no smoke. No crackling sounds of flame. Only immense heat combined with bright emerald light. Seeming to get hotter and brighter with each passing moment. A strange, noxious mist starting to fill the air and drift over the beach.

With disgust, Astrid realized that it was coming from the huge body as it vaporized. She choked down bile at the thought and covered her mouth with her tunic to try to keep from breathing it. Others around her doing the same. Ilweran waved a hand beside her that was softly glowing with a beautiful amber gold magic, the same colour as his eyes. Next thing she knew, their whole group was encased in a shimmering, translucent bubble of golden light that blocked out the putrid mist and sweltering heat. The Vikings around her collectively stunned into silence by these blatant displays of magic.

It was just like the dome that had encased her on this same beach during that first voyage. The one that had shielded her from the debris as the queen had collapsed to the ground. Except that dome had been the beautiful green of Hiccup's magic. The same beautiful green that was completely destroying a massive alpha dragon right now. Although for once, the pure emerald did not look comforting and warm. It looked strangely cold and dangerous, despite the heat coming from the flames.

Astrid simply watched, mesmerized like everyone else, as the immense body of the queen began to disappear. Nothing was left in the wake of the emerald fire. It was like a strange, ravenous animal. Devouring everything in its path and leaving nothing for the scavengers. Seeming to grow in size and power the more of the queen that it consumed. As if it really and truly was alive... Ilweran gently touched her on the arm to draw her attention back to him.

"It would be unwise to mention this once you leave this realm." She looked at him with surprise and he explained. "Hiccup is the most powerful rider I have ever seen and I have been around a lot longer than you think. I have never met his equal, and I really hope that I never do. I doubt either of us truly knows what is happening right now, though I have my suspicions. It would be best for you to cast this memory from your mind instead, if you are able."

"He is right hatchling," Stormfly cautioned. "I do not understand it, but I do know that this is not something that we should allow others to know of. This level of dark power should remain concealed. There are those that would do anything to be able to use it for their own gains. Your mate is a good man, but not all of them are. Remember how the wise elder spoke of Odin..."

Reaching out a numb arm to scratch behind Stormfly's crest and nodding to show that she understood, she turned away from Ilweran. Resting her gaze on the scene in front of her instead. The man and his night fury stood alone as the Red Death was consumed by the eerie green flame; bathing him in flickering emerald light and shadow. It was exactly as Gothi had described the scene from her vision. Was it always going to end like this? She found herself wondering as she watched the familiar and impossible scene from her chaotic dreams play out before her eyes.

Hiccup turned away from the burning queen and slung his bow across his shoulders to join the rest of his weapons. Then he just jumped down from the impossibly high ledge as if it was nothing. Dropping like a stone, only to land eerily cat-like on the beach below. Astrid heard many sharp intakes of breath at the exact moment that he stepped off the edge, but everyone seemed much too shocked to actually scream. An even more awkward silence settling over the crowd as they watched him land completely unscathed. Just a cloud of gravel flying up around him as he hit the ground hard.

Straightening out of his crouch as the dust settled, he started to walk calmly towards everyone gathered by the ships. Uncomfortably silent, as not even the sound of shifting stones could be heard beneath his feet, despite the complete stillness of the air and people. Toothless touching down gently beside him and furling his great leathery wings back up. Looking like two terrifying black shadow monsters with strangely luminous eyes emerging silently through the mist, backlit by the emerald flames. The jewels in the pommels of Hiccup's swords glowing brightly above his shoulders.

He looks like a god! Astrid realized with a jolt as she noted the varying mixtures of awe and fear on the faces of all those around her. They all wore expressions ranging from uncertainty to terror, but she couldn't care less about what anyone else thought. She had absolutely no fear of him anymore. She was his mate, and he was hers. He would defeat gods and destroy realms to protect her if he needed to. In her soul, she had probably always known as much, but now it was blatantly obvious to everyone here.

Her heart full to the brim with awe and love, she was forced to sit here and simply watch her lover approach. All she wanted to do was run to him. Hold him in her arms and make sure that he was alright. If only she was able to feel her godsdamn legs! Stormfly shuffled her feet restlessly as she felt her Rider's agitation. A quiet laugh sounding in Astrid's head. "Patience little one. He is coming," Stormfly teased gently. Wringing a chuckle out of her.

After what felt like an eternity, but had probably only been a few moments, Hiccup sauntered straight through the protective dome. The crowd parting before him and bowing their heads, almost as if they were afraid to touch him or look at him for too long. Ignoring everyone else, he made his way straight to where she was still sitting astride Stormfly. The nadder croaked at him in gratitude, and he pressed his palm briefly against her snout, before wordlessly reaching up to place his hands around Astrid's waist. Lifting her gently down from the dragon and pulling her into a tight embrace that she returned gladly. Burying her face into his solid chest and holding him tight as his strong arms surrounded her.

She felt his lips move against her hair as he muttered quietly to her. "I thought that I was going to lose you for a moment there." There was something off about his voice. The same strange and disturbing warp to it that she had noticed in his laugh. Tilting her head back to look at him, she saw that his eyes were a roiling storm of colour. His familiar emerald swirled with a sickly sort of yellow-green; and they were glowing! The light from them much brighter and far more sinister than his usual eleven luminescence could ever be.

She had been sure that she had only been imagining it before. It was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once. Seeing her confusion, he smiled softly at her and spoke in that same disquieting voice. "Some of the queen's dark essence attached itself to me when I took control of her mind. Do not worry, it will fade soon enough. I am just glad that you are alright."

"So am I," she joked. Then she leaned up onto her toes to press her lips to his.

_

Well, that's the end of the Red Death. So much for not using magic on Midgard...

Still, this is not the end of the story. Thankfully I have 3 epilogues to help tide you over until the next story is ready to be posted.