Nine.

When Hiccup got back that night, Alva was waiting for him with a scowl and he automatically wondered what he had done wrong now. The woman gestured impatiently.

"About time!" she snapped. "Heat some water and get yourself washed up. Hands and face at the least-and sort out that bird's nest you call hair!" Hiccup stared at her and she started towards him before he flinched and scrambled to the buckets, finding water and putting it to heat. She handed him a small soap and warned him not to use it all before turning to the spit. A boar was roasting and his quick emerald gaze picked out the fur vest, folded neatly on the stairs. He sighed: it was obvious what was happening. Stoick was coming to dinner.

Hiccup scrubbed his face, neck and arms as hard as he could, then ducked his hair in the water and tried to wash it but he guessed he only made it worse. He rinsed it as best he could and finger combed it until it looked at least as if it was pointing in the correct direction. Then he rose, pulled his tunic straight and took the water out, rinsing the bowl and wiping it dry. Alva peered at him and delivered her verdict: "Pathetic."

He shouldn't have winced, he shouldn't have felt the word like a slap in his bruised face but he did. The dismissal from this cold-hearted woman made him feel ten times worse and he knew she could bad-mouth him to the Chief in such a way that the man would be ashamed of him. That he may not want anything further to do with the boy. Then he felt a ferocious grip on his shoulder and he winced-to stare into her vicious gaze, mere inches from his face,

"You say one word out of place, boy, and I swear to Odin that you will regret being here and wish you were back in the whorehouse, being fucked by every pervert!" she hissed. He felt his throat freeze and his eyes widen. He didn't doubt she could make his life a merry hell-well, she and the rest of her wretched family. And he was stuck on Berk until Spring.

He nodded frantically.

"But he brought me here," he protested quietly. "He may want to know if I've been badly treated..." She backhanded him to the floor and he pressed his hand to the welt, blinking.

"Do you think he's believe you over us?" she breathed. "You look scruffy and a disgrace. My son is the Heir to the Tribe. If he says you are a menace, a disgrace...then do you think the Chief will choose some wretched whore over his own blood?" He swallowed.

"He asked me to tell him if I had any problems," he reminded her warily. She laughed out loud at him.

"And how many times has he seen you, spoken to you since you arrived?" she scoffed. "Not one word since we landed. Do you think he cares for you, slave? He'll barely speak a word to you-and only because he is a great and generous man!" Then she lunged forward and grabbed his shoulder hard. "You speak out of line and do you think you can escape my son or my husband? They will find you and make you regret your birth. And I will be watching!" He shuddered in fear and bowed his head, then nodded.

"I...understand..." he whispered. Then she handed him the fur vest and he scrambled painfully to his feet.

"Put it on. He will expect you to wear it," she said. Then she cuffed him on the back of the head. "Stand up properly. He's the Chief. Answer him politely. Don't speak out of turn. Smile. Or I'll give you something to cry about." And she shoved him to stand by Snotlout as the door knocked and Stoick the Vast entered the house. Hiccup dropped his head and inspected the floor carefully, his green eyes wary. He heard Stoick and Spitelout exchange warm greetings and the polite introduction of Alva. The Chief's tone indicated that he didn't really care for the woman either. He stole a glance under his messy auburn hair and saw the Chief move on to greet his Heir, exchanging a joking greeting. Hiccup dropped his eyes again. His heart was racing and breathing so shallow he could scarcely catch his breath as the Chief moved in front of him. He peeked up.

"Hiccup," Stoick said. He looked up, his eyes wary and hopeful-and he saw Stoick smile down on him. The Chief saw the eyes brighten and opened his arms. "Boy?" The invitation was very plain. And he flung himself into he proffered embrace, his head burying in the Chief's chest and skinny arms stretching around his huge girth. The man's arms tightened fiercely around the boy and then raised to stroke the messy hair. "I'm sorry I haven't seen you sooner," he murmured. The boy raised his face, his expression utterly forgiving in his relief that the Chief hadn't completely abandoned him.

"No, I am just honoured that you thought of me at all," he said, his tone happy. He squeezed again. "Thank you so much for bringing me here." Then he let the Chief go and stood back meekly. He could feel Alva's eyes boring into him and he knew she had not realised that the Chief harboured him any sort of regard. Soon they were seated at the table and Hiccup found himself between Snotlout and Spitelout, as far as they could put him from the Chief. But at least he was given the same food as the others, choice cuts of the roast boar, steamed grains and baked apples. Watered ale was provided for the boys, unwatered for the adults and the conversation flowed. Stoick and Spitelout had similar but different opinions and Hiccup found himself listening carefully to the Chief and agreeing with his reasoning. Stock was inflexible and decisive but nowhere near as narrow-minded or stupid as Spitelout and he found himself admiring the big man more and more.

"So, Hiccup-how are you being treated here?" The Chief's voice was jovial but the boy found Snotlout was suddenly gripping his leg hard. The young man lifted his head and fashioned a fake smile.

"Like a son," he said evenly.

Yeah-the younger, scrawny, disappointing, unwanted one.

"Well, that's good," Stoick said, draining his mug. Snotlout cheerfully refilled it. "Has Snotlout introduced you to the others?"

"Erm…we've met," Hiccup said carefully.

"Uncle Stoick, I've taken him to meet all my friends," Snotlout said, cheerily.

"Yeah, that was fun," Hiccup murmured, earning himself an elbow in the ribs.

"And you are getting on okay with Gobber?" Hiccup paused and this time his smile was genuine.

"Yes, sir," he said quietly. "I cannot thank you enough for that chance." Stoick looked up at his tone and smiled back: the boy looked at peace for that one moment. Then he shoved his chair back and stretched.

"I'll sit for a few moments, if I may," he asked. Alva nodded and went to fetch some mead. Then she turned and motioned to the boys.

"Bid the Chief goodnight!" she ordered them. Stoick looked up as Snotlout waved and Hiccup, who was already being pushed away by the larger boy, gave a final smile.

"Thank you," he said as he was shoved down the ladder to the basement. As soon as he was out of sight, Snotlout fell on him and punched him hard.

"You've got a smart mouth, slave boy!" he sneered. He shoved Hiccup to the floor. "And my Mom heard too!" Hiccup backed up, not daring to call out. He retreated to his corner as he heard the goodbyes, as he heard the door slam and the hope of rescue vanish. Then he heard Spitelout call and Hiccup was ordered upstairs. He warily climbed the stairs-to find his hands grasped. his vest was unceremoniously dragged off and his wrists roped tightly. he struggled, his eyes wide with panic. He hated being retrained: it brought back too many memories of his slavery and especially the Captain and his sadistic punishments.

"Please!" he begged. He had almost been happy, spending time with the Chief, listening to his calm, gruff voice. He had been warm and his stomach had been full and he almost felt included. He had forgotten that he was the unwanted slave, the cuckoo that Alva saw in her nest. The woman ruthlessly threw the boy across the room and he slammed to the floor, back by the log pile. She swooped forward, tying the end of the rope to one of the supporting beams and then turning to her husband. Hiccup struggled, caught on his side and helpless as the woman took the belt from her husband and brought it down across his skinny body. He gave a pained scream as she closed on him and raised her hand again.