Chapter 10

Rescue

Hi! Okay, WARNING for that chapter, some sensitive subjects are mentioned and there is also violence in it. Not very gory, but still.

Funny thing, that chapter was supposed to be two separate parts, but I decided to shorten both and make only one, otherwise it would have been too slow, even for me.

So, enjoy!

During the class, Astrid told them to pay attention to their breathing, as it was key to stamina. She showed them how to handle or even held their weapons properly, focusing first on those who had less experience. At the end, they spotted who had the best level and who needed to make more progresses. After Heather departed to meet with the chief, Belda decided they would evaluate their skills with dragons. Astrid and Fishlegs couldn't help with that of course, but they watched and she couldn't help but think of the Nadder. Both Hooligans were quite impressed, it was something to see those teens flying above them. Belda wasn't that satisfied however:

"All of them can stay on their backs, but some of them still needs to learn a lot. They lack balance and they don't do such a good job at directing their dragons."

"Really? I thought they all were doing really fine," Fishlegs affirmed.

"That's because you never were initiated to that, but if you knew more about dragon riding, you would see it."

"Most of them won't be ready for an expedition" Astrid stated.

"Not all of them, some won't be able to go for this quest. But there will be other quests in the future and if we start to train them now, they should be ready. Others are doing good, and if Fury accepts to send some experienced warriors with them, it should be alright. Will you two continue to help me?"

They both accepted, although Fishlegs would have less time than Astrid, since he had some chores to do in order to help the sailors with whom he was living. When the training ended, they left Belda and Astrid promised to go back to the well to meet her and her friends. Before the evening came, she took Fishlegs to the marketplace which he hadn't seen yet. The boy was just looking at everything with fascination and Astrid told him about the Nadder and about the women she met.

"It would definitely be a discovery to tame a dragon."

"Vikings aren't supposed to fly or ride on dragons."

"Yeah, but look at them, it still works for those people. Why couldn't we try?"

It made sense, but it would be like admitting defeat somehow, she was the insurgent, she was one who would constantly rebel against her chief, she wouldn't just nicely do what those people expected, would she? She couldn't accept being dragged in this life like this. Yet she was starting to get friends and even help teens of the island. But that was different, that was the kind of things that could happen in any Viking tribe. As they were talking, she saw Fury advancing toward them. Fishlegs tensed suddenly, he hadn't met Fury yet after all. Astrid didn't know if he was intimidated by the masked man or because of the Night Furies with him. This time there wasn't only Toothless but another adult and three younger black dragons.

"Astrid, Fishlegs..."

"How do you know my name?" Asked her friend, freaked out.

"Well, I was told by my men and Astrid also spoke of you."

"Oh." Fishlegs blushed hard.

"I'll eat with my people tonight. You're free to stay in the house or join me, and so do you, Fishlegs. We won't eat right now, but we're already gathering."

It was traditional for Vikings, they would often gather in the Great Hall to spend some time together once their work was over. It would be good to go, and maybe she would see the women of the well as well as Heather.

"I'll come."

He seemed surprised at this, he offered her his arm to walk with him but she didn't take it. Fishlegs accepted as well, yet he was fidgeting and anxiously looking at the dragons following the masked chief.

"Hum...So you, hum...Those are Night Furies, right?"

"Yes it is. This is Toothless, Lady and their cubs."

"Lady? You didn't really get creative here," Astrid huffed.

"I named her like that because of her manners, not because of her gender. If you observe her a little or praise her, you'll see. Isn't it my pretty Lady?"

The she-dragon slowly closed her eyes and proudly walked, Fishlegs giggled at this, and even Astrid couldn't help but smile. Then she stopped herself. She wasn't supposed to feel anything positive toward them, even tomorrow had been a mistake, she should know that!

"They are kind with you, but you can't just ignore everything they did to humans, all the people they killed!"

"She is right…"

Fury stopped and looked at them with a determined look.

"Come with me."

He took another path, they both followed him, confused but quite curious. He led them toward a building at the outskirts of the village, a healer's hut and Toothless rubbed his head against his rider's arm several times. When they approached the building, Lady stayed behind as well as her cubs, as if it felt wrong for her to go in that place. Fury opened the door and the Hooligans froze when they saw the inside. Before a big fire, men, women and children were gathered, they all had bandages and scars, but what truly shocked them were their countenance. They all looked scared, broken, they hardly dared to look at the newcomers and no sign of joy could be seen, even from the children. This wasn't just a healer's hut, there was something else about it. A woman and a man were tending to the fire, healers obviously. The man went to Fury.

"Chief, is everything alright?"

"Fine, I want to speak to some of the newcomers."

The healer bowed his head and returned to his work. The chief turned to Astrid and Fishlegs:

"Those people were slaves, before we freed them. It happens that some are treated more carefully, but most of them gets broken like that. Our biggest enemies are especially fond of those methods. Some of them healed faster and are already starting a new life, but them..."

Both Astrid and Fishlegs knew of slavery, but they weren't that familiar with it since Berk didn't have slaves. They knew that those people often had miserable lives, but they had never truly faced it. Astrid's eyes fell on a little boy who looked sad and worried. She smiled to him, and he immediately cowered in a corner. Fury put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't be surprised. Some of those children were used for…Some things especially difficult."

"What do you mean?"

"Well…Some adults have…Wants that they shouldn't have."

It made her stomach roll and she felt nauseous. Fury went to an old woman among the people and kneeled to her to be at level. She was sitting by the fire along with others and she was the only one who looked a little lively. Some slaves did back away and others stayed where they were, looking at him.

"Your name is Lila if I remember well?"

"It is indeed, my tann."

"Do you still consider working with the healers?"

"I do. I don't know much outside healing, and I don't have energy for the fields anymore."

"We do need more healers. You have grandchildren, do you?"

"Indeed, a boy and a girl."

"I'll see with some builders that they make a house for the three of you."

"Oh! That would be…Thank you. Thank you very much," she babbled, her cheek pink from emotion.

He smiled to her and spoke to other slaves like that, some who were younger and stronger proposed their services as builders, soldiers or as farmers. One of them proposed his services as a bee-keeper and Fury seemed especially interested by that. While it did raise some enthusiasm and life in the room, it felt still heavy to be in here. Astrid couldn't help but look at the children and think that some of them had been…She heard moves behind her and saw Toothless getting in, and she was expecting the former slaves to be scared, but no. In fact, the child who had been afraid of her allowed the dragon to approach him, the beast rubbed his snout gently against his cheek and the boy petted him shyly. A little girl joined him as well as other kids. They were either petting or watching the dragon. She heard whispers and noticed some slaves were looking at the dragon with some sort of fascination. Fishlegs looked pretty confused and upset. Eventually, Fury left the people and called Toothless back.

"I'm sorry children, we have to leave, but you'll see him around."

The kids didn't dare to protest, but they waved to the black dragon. Once out, and some steps away, he turned to the Hooligans.

"I can't deny dragons have hurt humans, but it's not dragons who put those people in such a state. Dragons might kill humans or maim them, but they'll never have the cruelty of men. The worst threat to mankind is mankind itself. That's why we aren't afraid of them."

Both Astrid and Fishlegs wished to say something, defend the values they had always been taught, but what they just faced had sewn their mouth shut. Fury went on:

"Most of them were slaves or very poor people going through tyranny. Some of them never had a house for themselves. The ones you saw were saved a little after Spitelout's attack. At first, I wanted to retaliate on Berk immediately, but this rescue party was already planned, and I knew it would take time for your boats to come back anyway. When those people understand that dragons save them as much as us, they aren't afraid of them anymore."

"Is that why the children seemed…Fond of your dragon?"

Fury nodded and looked at Toothless with a smile: "When we went to free some children, one of their captors drew out his axe, he said he would rather kill their 'merchandise' than let us go away with those. Toothless killed him immediately, and the boy you saw was the one who would have been killed first. If you don't believe me, you can ask Eret or Heather. There is something else I have to show you."

This time he brought them to a stable. In there, they saw dragons, the two Hooligans were ready to draw out their weapons to protect themselves, but it was soon clear that they wouldn't need it. The beasts backed away against the walls, growling but obviously way too scared to try anything. They had many scars on them, one of them, a Nadder, had lost an eye and Astrid couldn't help but think of the one she had bonded with. Fury approached a Gronkle and murmured soft words. The beast growled and roared; for a moment, both Fishlegs and Astrid were expecting the beast to attack him, but instead the dragon just started to whimper frightfully. Fury continued to walk toward him and took some rocks in a bucket which was close.

"Here, for you."

The beast sniffed the rocks, still keeping some careful distances, Fury threw those at him and the dragon swallowed those immediately. Though he didn't let the man pet him, he stopped growling.

"Usually, it takes less time to earn some trust, but those had been severely mistreated. This Gronkle is quite young, she probably never knew any kind human. It will be alright, girl."

The beast still wouldn't approach the masked man, and Astrid looked at Fishlegs who seemed on the verge of tears. He was sensitive, she often reproached him that but this time she couldn't blame him since she was starting to feel a knot in the throat. They heard footsteps and saw Heather coming in; she gave them a tiny grin.

"Hey, I was looking for you. You're gonna be late for dinner."

"Oh, I completely forgot!"

They followed her outside; a cold wind was blowing, Fury explained Heather they visited the former slaves and she looked at Fishlegs. She could notice how upset he was (it would have been hard to miss it) and she had to admit it surprised her. Men would usually try to show only outrage or anger in that kind of situation, and hide any other kind of feeling. Here, however, that young man wasn't trying to act tough, he showed his sensitivity, and she had to admit it wasn't that usual. It was pleasing in fact. They both were walking behind Astrid and Fury, she slowed down to give herself and Fishlegs some space and murmured:

"It's a gruesome sight, I know."

"It's…I saw slaves before, but we never actually…Interacted with them that much, we never had the occasion."

"You didn't know they were mistreated like that?"

She wasn't that surprised, Hiccup had been also stunned when they had met, he wasn't really aware of the horror of slavery back then. It was normal, she guessed, Hooligans didn't use slaves, and neither did their closest neighbors.

"I…I knew their lives were probably not easy but…Seeing them is something else entirely different. And the dragons…They looked like those humans."

"They feel pain too, and they are affected by it as well."

"How…How were the ones you took from Berk?"

"Not as bad as those, but still in a bad state."

Fishlegs lowered his head, feeling suddenly a shame he never thought he would face. He had hurt those animals…But they were ferocious beasts!

"They were always so aggressive in an arena."

"Every prisoner gets aggressive, humans or animals. You couldn't expect them to be kind after being taken and locked. I know many tribes had good reasons to fear dragons, but they also ignore a lot of things about them. You'll know more with time."

He didn't know what to answer, that was true after all, he could have told her that dragons were attacking humans, but this city was full of those creatures and none were aggressive. When they were in the Great Hall, a lot of people looked at the Hooligans, at Astrid in particular. She looked around, instead of dragons' skulls, mural painting and sculptures of those were adorning the room. Berk also represented dragons in the Great Hall, but as threatening creatures defeated by heroes. Here, the dragons and their riders were the heroes and though the dragon-killer in her felt offended, Astrid couldn't help but admit that those paintings were epic and beautiful. All the dragons looked nobles and strong, instead of vicious. A lot of species were represented, but the Night Fury was the most honored. A statue of a dark iron was suspended above the central fireplace, the beast looked mysterious and majestic.

Real dragons were in the room as well, Gronkles and Terrible Terrors, a Skrill and some Night Furies as well. The Furies all responded when Toothless roared at them and went to him and his female. He and Lady were obviously the leaders the leader among them, since they were the first ones to eat when their food was brought to them. Fury brought them to his table where Heather was sitting already, and Fishlegs blushed when she invited him to sit at her side. Astrid sat between her and Fury, she saw from afar Wollmi, Vami and Llewelyn who smiled to her, and she smiled back. Belda wasn't here; Cryda entered, accompanied by Eret and Kalisha, the three of them were speaking and the seamstress only parted when Eret advanced toward the table with the maid. They both looked happy, and Astrid couldn't help but remember that the girl had also been a slave in the past. She had told she had been only a domestic slave, but had she been like those she saw as well?

Kalisha was introduced to Fishlegs before the dinner started. The meal was composed of bread, cheese, eggs and vegetables, but no meat or fish. Though she was still upset after what she saw, she made an effort, she needed to eat, it wouldn't be the first time she would have to overcome her troubled mind to swallow something. Fishlegs couldn't do that, he couldn't find the strength to get any food. He decided to ask questions instead, and turned to the chief:

"You're the only one to have a Night Fury, isn't it?"

"I am. They aren't easy to tame, and I was very lucky. The others gathered here thanks to Lady and Toothless."

"It's not only that," Heather protested, "you have a gift, we all know that."

"Come on!"

"And how do you make those armors? I mean it's probably not easy!"

"It demands a lot of work indeed," the chief simply answered.

"And how..."

"Maybe you could ask those questions once dinner is over," Heather suggested with a smile.

"Oh...Sure."

Heather smiled teasingly, making Fishlegs's cheeks redden and Astrid felt suddenly pretty sure that the boy would maybe wish to extend his stay on Endris. People laughed and joked, at their table, they listened to Eret's jokes and stories. Astrid was astonished to see sweet blackberry pie served after the dish. It tasted wonderful and she remembered Heather telling them Endris had a lot of honey. She wondered once more how they could do that, the island wasn't south from Berk, in fact she had felt no change in the climate. It was overall a good evening, but Astrid couldn't forget what she saw today. At home, she didn't go in her room immediately, Fury spoke to her:

"Heather told me you helped to train the newbies. She told me you defended a boy."

"Yeah. I don't like bullies. Are you against that?"

"You defending a young boy?"

"No, my participation to the training."

"No, not at all! On contrary, you're a good warrior. I was happy of it when I learned…I also wanted to tell you that, I'm sorry for showing you all of that so suddenly."

"Don't be. It's better for me to know…It's good what you do. I can't deny that. I can't deny that some people owes you and your dragons a lot."

"But?"

"No matter how good people here are, and even if I admit you did great things, it's still wrong to be forced to stay here. I want us to have another pact."

Most tribes considered that ending a marriage wasn't the same as cancelling it, therefore a pact was still valid even after the marriage which sealed it was ended by one of the spouses. Yet very important marriages like this one were very often (but not always) the exception to that, they could be considered as unbreakable or could be broken only under special circumstances. Berk had some (but not many) marriages considered unbreakable in the past, all made for peace. She had been pretty sure it would be the case for their marriage.

"Which one?"

"I know that this kind of marriage is often unbreakable since they are so important."

"Yeah."

"But I don't want ours to be. I don't know what you concluded with berk, and I don't care. I want you to promise that once we'll be married, if I'm not happy with you, you'll let me break the marriage and with no consequences for Berk. Promise that I can leave freely if I want."

"That's fine with me."

She was surprised, she was expecting him to accept, but she didn't think it would be so easy.

"I thought you would be harder to convince."

"Marriages can be broken here, just like in any Viking tribe, even arranged marriages. I thought you…I thought you knew that."

"Yes, but I important marriages are often unbreakable. I mean, Berk probably believes that…"

"It doesn't matter. I accepted this marriage for the peace, but I won the battle, it's up to me to decide whether or not this marriage is breakable or not. And you, since you're in it."

"If I never asked that, would you have told me?"

"I didn't think I would need to tell you…Thing is, no marriage here is considered unbreakable…It seemed maybe too obvious to me. I also thought someone would have told you."

"I wouldn't have been so angry if I had been told that I could leave without consequences for Berk! Didn't you think that it was strange that I was so furious?"

"Not really, I mean you still had to leave your family for a long period of time because of Spitelout, to go with strangers who go against everything you believe, and you did felt sold away. It's true that some big marriages are considered unbreakable, but not all the time. Maybe it had been done too quickly, since I had to leave shortly after they proposed the idea."

"You should have told me that. Why didn't you speak to me when we first met? Why didn't you tell me that back then?"

"…I was embarrassed. This was such a weird situation…"

"Yeah, but you should have talk to me; everything you told me, right now and even earlier, you should have told me on Berk. If you had spoken to me in private, if you had discussed with me about it all before I left…It would have been easier. I know this marriage is necessary for the peace, but what truly made me feel like a merchandise was your behavior. You just looked at me before leaving with no words, you didn't treat me like a person involved into this. Had you done that and told me the marriage could be broken, it would have been fine."

"I'm…I'm sorry, I didn't…That wasn't my intention at all. I was feeling so guilty, I hardly dared to speak to you and I thought you would have been mad anyway no matter what. And I was called back on Endris for an emergency, so I just went back…But, now that I think about it, I should have given Heather a message to give you, or something. I wasn't thinking I would get engaged after this. Neither did you, I know. I won't force you to remain with me forever, I swear that, and there won't be consequences for your tribe if you leave me. But we have to at least get married."

She didn't reply, it wasn't out of disdain or anger but because she was thinking. Heather had told her he had been called back indeed, she couldn't blame him for putting the well-being of his tribe first. Still, he could have indeed gave her a message or speak some words when they met. Yet she could forgive a mistake like this more easily than a purposeful lack of respect.

"How long do we have to stay married?"

"A year at least. It has to look believable. But if you want, we can only share the same house and keep separate rooms during that year. Now, if you do wish, we can also try to make things work. I mean, why not?"

"…If it's like that, I guess we can get along. Though I'm still angry to be here because of Spitelout."

"Well, it can be a way to humiliate him. I mean, he is the one who screwed up, and you're the one who repairs his mistakes, because he couldn't do that himself."

She smiled slightly, it wasn't untrue. The next two days went the same: she would met the women at the well, then train the teens with Belda and Fishlegs, then spend some times with them and Heather, or alone reading or drawing. She wouldn't spend much time with Fury, but he was always polite, and enquired whether she needed anything or not. Astrid was starting to like her new friends more and more, Kalisha and Belda especially. One afternoon, after the training, she decided to walk by herself maybe in the forest or at the border of the cliffs. She saw Kalisha walking toward the hills, the maid was alone carrying a basket, and Astrid considered going to her, when something got her attention. Three men were walking behind Kalisha, now it could have simply meant that they were taking the same way, but…They were keeping careful distance as if they didn't want the young woman to see them. Something wasn't right, she could feel it deep inside.

O o O

It had been such a beautiful day that Kalisha had decided to take a walk in the hills, maybe she would also go through the woods. She would pick up mushrooms and maybe some flowers. She had been so absorbed by the autumn's colors she didn't notice the men behind her. The village was already out of sight when she heard footsteps and turned her head to see them, they were getting closer and closer. At first, she didn't bother much, they could have been simply hunters, but when they were at her level, she noticed they had no bows and she definitely knew something was wrong when one placed himself before her, standing right on her path while the others were standing beside her, blocking any escape. The three men were smirking darkly, and Kalisha stood proudly in spite of her fear.

"Hi there, where are you going like that?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"We are hunting a special prey…"

A shiver of fear went through. She had always managed to avoid that when she was a slave, it couldn't happen now! She didn't know how to fight, she could bite, claw, throw a punch or a kick at best, but it wouldn't be enough. There were some children from afar, the men certainly didn't see them, Kalisha would have like to yell at them to go and warn someone, but it could endanger them. The one before her had a big hammer, he took her chin.

"You know, I knew your dear bethroted way before you…I owe him and Fury a long-awaited revenge…"

"Wh…What revenge?"

He laughed darkly: "It won't matter anymore to you. But you'll definitely be the first part of it. I could almost thank you for giving me that." He looked at his friends. "You know, guys, I never got what was wrong with Eret: choosing a runt for a chief, and an ugly maid as a wife!"

"Come on, she is not that ugly. Maybe her biggest charms are hidden under her dress."

"There is only one way to know."

She tried to run away, but her hair was suddenly pulled, and she was thrown brutally to the ground. The right side of her face connected with the dirt. She remembered suddenly one time when she had been thrown to the ground and kicked when she was a slave. This would be even worse...She tried to get up but a kick in her belly did take the air out of her lungs and she gasped. Laughs were heard, and other kicks followed. She was forcefully rolled on her back and she slapped one of the men's face while kicking madly and screaming. A punch on her jaw followed with a kick on her thighs.

"Shut up, you pig!"

"She slapped me!"

"Hold her! I'll take care of her clothes."

The shorter one took out a knife while the two others held Kalisha down. That was it, she wasn't gonna escape...The short one was suddenly thrown onto the ground by a fourth frame. Yellow hair, red shirt, an axe and the scream of a fury: Astrid? Her foggy mind could hardly decipher what was happening.

The Hooligan threw her axe at the bigger man, and he just had the time to let go of Kalisha to leap away. The third one took hold of his hammer, but Astrid threw her elbow in his face, making his head snap back. She was about to strike him when the one with the axe threw himself at her, and their blade meet violently. Astrid deflected the blow without much difficulty, and threw herself aside when one with the hammer attacked. She parried their next blows quickly, was about to attack one, when she was suddenly grabbed by behind by the man with the knife who strongly held her arms.

"We'll get Fury's one too! Two instead of one! We rape her too?"

The hammer guy smirked, went to her but she kicked him violently in the crotch. She then threw her skull back, hitting and breaking the nose behind. He yelped, and his hold lessened. She freed one arm quickly, hit his throat with her elbow, making him choke and release her completely, when the big man with the axe was suddenly attacking her again. She parried his blows in time. The man with the knife was kneeling, struggling for breath, she kickly sent her feet in his face, before blocking another blow from the axe. She attacked, he blocked and tried to use his weight to push her but she spit in his eyes, stunning and disorienting him for a short moment. She took that occasion to disarm him, sent her axe at his throat but he swiftly leaped away. Then, a triumphal smirk appeared on his face, even though he still had no weapon.

"You're gonna regret that, we aren't alone!"

A roar was heard and Astrid looked behind her to see a Zippelback as well as a Nadder.

"Drago wanted to get you himself, but it doesn't matter. Eat her!"

Three heads with fangs lunged at her and she only had time to leap away from those and jump aside when those fired at her. She attacked the Zippelback, her axe ready to cut one of the heads but the second one attacked and she planted her axe right into its snout. The Nadder threw spikes at her and she had to roll away from those. She hardly had time to get back on her feet when the two dragons attacked her once more, the second head furious for the first one. The man with the hammer attacked as well and she could only back away. She couldn't handle so many adversaries, Kalisha and she would…

Suddenly, another deep roar was heard. A blue form plunged from the sky then a bigger one. Eret's dragon and another Nadder attacked the dragons violently.

"No! No, attack, retaliate!"

Astrid turned to the men, now that their dragons were out of the way, she could take care of their riders! The man with the hammer tried to attack Skullcrusher but was thrown away by a big paw. Astrid saw that the big one with the axe was at Kalisha again. She ran toward them in fear, seeing that he had his weapon raised. Suddenly, a small green form threw itself at its head to claw and bit his face. He yelled in pain and managed to push the Terrible Terror away only to have Astrid attacking as well.

He blocked the blow of her axe, but was partially blinded by the blood running on his face. The girl punched him in his already bloodied face, stunning him and she disarmed him in a second. Astrid made her axe swiftly turn and planted it right in his belly. The Terrible Terror started to lick Kalisha's face, she was now unconscious. Astrid looked back, the dragons were still fighting one another, and the last man, the one with the hammer, just threw himself away to avoid a wave of fire. Astrid lunged at him, but he had seen it coming. He parried her next blows and attacked her violently, putting all his weight to push her onto the ground. She lost balance and fell, his hammer was thrown at her and only a quick roll saved her. She hardly got time to get back on her feet.

Astrid parried the next blow, when her opponent's forehead connected violently with hers. She saw stars briefly, blood dripped from her forehead and a kick in her stomach followed, but she managed to remain on her feet. Breath, she reminded herself, don't lose your breath. She just dodged the next blows, doing her best to regain balance and to breath properly. She felt her feet growing stronger again. Her opponent had a smirk, he thought the fight was won already…He lunged at Astrid, but the girl swiftly dodged once more, and retaliated with a swing of her axe. A deafening scream was heard and her opponent was on the ground, unmoving, blood oozing out of his shoulder. A kick in the face knocked him. She wouldn't end him, she had to know what it was all about.

Astrid looked behind her and saw that the two dragon who came to help her were devouring their adversaries. The man with the knife was still knocked out. Astrid gaped then: the remaining Nadder, who came along with Skullcrusher, was the Nadder from the arena! She wiped away some blood still streaming from her forehead and then went to Kalisha. She was still on the ground, all banged up, and she looked hardly conscious. The green Terrible Terror was on her chest, nudging her. Astrid recognized Leafy, Kalisha's dragon. She took the girl's hand and rubbed her temple.

"Hey, can you hear me?"

"I…Astrid…"

Heavy footsteps and calls were suddenly heard. She saw Belda coming toward them, and from afar Fishlegs and some other people. She whipped blood away from her forehead as Belda kneeled at their side:

"Are you alright? The kids told me Kalisha was being attacked."

"Yeah, those guys…There is one dead and I'm not sure about the others…"

The one with the knife was only knocked out, the one with the wounded shoulder would maybe survive, but they would have to be kick if they wanted to interrogate him. Astrid felt a heavy breath behind her, and she saw the Nadder. The beast nudged her gently.

"Thanks…"

"Thank Thor you came," Kalisha murmured weakly while Leafy was licking her wounds.

Astrid saw three men joining them, guards just like Belda, and also Fishlegs who was very pale. The guards immediately went to the other attackers and hoisted both the dead, the wounded and the unconscious on their shoulders. Fishlegs went to Astrid immediately:

"Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine, help Kalisha, I'm not sure she'll be able to walk."

"Sure! I was searching for you when I heard those children tell Belda there was a fight."

He gently carried the maid. Skullcrusher and the Nadder followed them. Astrid was the one who explained what happened, Kalisha was still regaining her spirits.

"You fought those three on your own?"

"Yeah, well, the dragons helped me when their own dragons attacked. And Leafy also gave some help with one."

"You couldn't beat Cami, but you could beat those three together?!"

She simply shrugged, those men weren't weaker than the Bog-Burglar, it was her who had been stronger against them, in fact, it wasn't the first time she defeated several adversaries. Winning every time was impossible, but it was true that this fight had been very different than the one against Camicazi. But right now she was too concerned about Kalisha to really think about it.

"We'll go to the Great Hall, Fury is in here, guys, take Kalisha to the closest healer," Belda ordered. "Do you need to go with them, Astrid?"

"I'll be fine."

"Wait, Belda...It wasn't really me they wanted to hurt," Kalisha murmured, "it was Eret and Fury. They wanted revenge."

Everyone was surprised, Astrid as well, she hadn't been there in time to hear that. Then she remembered the one who spoke about Drago…Drago Bludvist wanted to get her himself, that's what he had said…

I made a mistake, I realize it now, it's that I didn't spoke about marriages being possibly unbreakable in that verse before. I'm really sorry for that mistake, I'm usually more careful, I did an edit to repair that, I know it's cheating a bit, but it's for the best. I'll try to be more careful with that kind of settings next time, promise! But I want to say that, of course, I never intended to keep Astrid and Hiccup prisoners of an arranged marriage.

Don't hesitate to review!