Forty One: Something crazy
Before he could get to work, the door to the jail slammed open and immediately, Hiccup leapt back and huddled in the far corner of the cell. Two guards glared at the two prisoners-though Bucket waved as well. Dogface elbowed the simple farmer roughly and Bucket gave him an upset look.
"Sorry-did I forget something?" he asked.
"Only that the boy is a traitor who will be executed once we get back from destroying the Nest!" Dogface growled. He was a solidly built man with an unfortunate set of features and a brown beard that stuck out in all directions
"But Hiccup is a good boy who helps on the farm!" Bucket protested mildly. "And he's very patient with me."
"Thor, why would anyone want to be patient with you, you dummy?" Dogface snapped. Bucket's face fell. "And why are you here anyway?" Bucket drew himself up: though he had a hook for one hand, he was a tall, powerful man and he topped Dogface by a head.
"The Chief ordered me to stay here to make sure nothing happened to Hiccup and Astrid," he said proudly. He looked flatly at Dogface. "Nothing." Hiccup shared a look with Astrid as they remained at the back of the cell: Stoick had clearly anticipated that Spitelout would make a move and had placed a reliable-if slow-man to watch over them. Of course, Bucket wouldn't even consider that someone would do something against the Chief's orders to undermine the man-but he was loyal and strong and would protect the teens.
But he would stop them escaping as well.
Hiccup shrank back onto the bench, eyeing up Dogface, who he suspected was sent by Spitelout to stop him interfering…and preferably execute him for trying to escape. Astrid sat at his side, her shoulder pressed against his, offering him comfort without being too obvious as the pair of teens watched and tried to work out how they could get out of the jail. Once, Hiccup craned his head and saw the sky lightening through the bars, the golden light of the incipient sunrise warming the cold light blue. He slumped back, feeling despair settle like a heavy weight in his stomach. Finally, Dogface murmured a few words to Bucket and then stomped out, leaving the simple farmer alone. Slowly, Hiccup got to his feet and walked to the bars.
"Bucket-we need to get out of here," he said reasonably. The big man looked worried.
"Aww…Dogface said you'd say that," he said in a disappointed voice. "And he said you would try to trick me or muddle me so I would betray the Chief and let you go." Hiccup stared through the bars and realised that the man was often made fun of. He needed to get out-but he hadn't the heart to worsen the older Berkian's lot. He knew Bucket was a kind, good-hearted man who was loyal to the Chief.
"Bucket-do you know why I was caught?" he asked calmly. The big man's brow furrowed.
"You were riding a dragon," he said. "And I know that's not allowed. Any more than Mildew and Fungus…" Hiccup's eyes widened.
"Um…not quite like that," he said quickly. "I went to save the Chief, Phlegma, Gobber and Ivar Hofferson from being ambushed by too many dragons to defeat. But the only way I could do that was betray my secret. And the only reason I would do that was the Chief."
Bucket had turned to look at him, his eyes hopeful. In truth, Bucket liked Hiccup because the skinny, outcast boy had been kind and helpful and hadn't been snide or mean to him. Of course, Bucket knew he should trust the word of Elders like Spitelout but from the evidence of his own eyes, Hiccup wasn't lazy or a troublemaker or a traitor: he was just someone who didn't seem to get a break.
"We all would, lad," he said. Hiccup shrugged.
"He's my father, Bucket," he revealed. The big man stared.
"But I thought his baby son died fifteen years ag….oh…"
"Yeah," Hiccup shrugged. "I only just found out. The Chief told me. And he saved me from…well, everything. I couldn't let him die." And then he took a deep breath. "But he's going to die. They all will." Bucket shook his head.
"They're going to the Nest. It's an occupational hazard," he said automatically.
"No, death is an occupational hazard," Hiccup corrected him gently. "But there is a huge dragon in that Nest, too large for anyone to deal with. I've seen it-because my dragon Toothless and I flew to the Nest. It will kill them all-the Chief, Gobber, Sven, Phlegma, Mulch…"
"Mulch could be in danger?" the big man said in a worried voice. "Dogface never said anything about that!"
"He wouldn't," Astrid piped up from the bench, where she had remained, not wanting to spook Bucket. She was genuinely impressed at how kindly but smartly Hiccup was handling the simple but loyal farmer.
"No-he's working for Spitelout, not for the Chief," Hiccup added. "I need to get my dragon and go and stop the dragon before the Tribe is killed. Please, Bucket. The Chief knew about my dragon. And if the Chief knew-I can't be a traitor, can I?"
There was a long pause and the big man shook his head. Then he pulled the key out and unlocked the door.
"I think they may already have sailed," Bucket said simply. "But if you can go help the Chief-please do it. That Snotlout and his family are mean and I don't think I will like the village if they are the bosses."
"Neither will any of us," Astrid commented, running over to stand by Hiccup. The boy looked up, his green eyes warm with gratitude.
"Thanks, Bucket," he said. The big man hugged him suddenly.
"Please help my friends," he said and locked himself in the jail cell. Hiccup nodded.
"I promise," he said.
oOo
The sun had already risen and the village was washed in brilliant wintery sunlight, the cold yellow dazzling. Hiccup and Astrid were sprinting down the Plaza to the Arena, noting the fact that the Plaza was much emptier than Hiccup remembered. Breathing hard, he dived heedlessly down the tunnel and into the Arena, seeing the place deserted and one cage wide open.
"No no no no!" he said, staggering to a halt, his chest burning with the effort. "Bud? TOOTHLESS!"
"He's not here," Astrid gasped, stopping behind him. Hiccup looked around and nodded, then turned and ran up the tunnel. Giving a sigh, she ran agilely after him. The Arena was set out on a spur, sticking out to the side of the cliff below the main village and overlooking the docks and harbour. The grassy ground was flat and it only took a few seconds to reach the edge-and they both stuttered to a halt, peering across the harbour, all the way to the sea stacks and the Sullen Sea beyond. Breathing hard, Hiccup felt his heart drop from his chest.
There were a few small sails vanishing into the distance, fading amid the mist beyond the seastacks. They were too late: the Armada had sailed.
Hiccup dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands.
"Toothless," he murmured. "Bud. I am so sorry. I-I…it's all my fault…" Astrid crouched by him.
"Hiccup," she said in a gentle voice. "He wouldn't have flown if he hadn't wanted to. He chose to come to save you. You gave him back his flight. And you have been brave and inventive and stubborn. You are the only one who can save him." She leaned close. "I believe in you. I know you can do it."
He looked up as a screech sounded and a blue Nadder gently landed right at the tip of the small promontory. Her golden frill raised and she gave an inquisitive trill as Hiccup gave a small smile.
"Hello, girl," he smiled and rose to his feet, grasping Astrid's hand. She tried to resist but he looked into her big blue eyes. "Trust me," he pleaded gently. Allowing herself to be pulled forward, she could see the Deadly Nadder take a few bounces and then walk forward, pausing a few steps ahead of them.
"Hiccup?" she murmured but he pulled her hand out away from her body, palm first.
"Look away and trust me," he said, smiling at the Nadder. There was a pause-and then the scaly nose pressed into Astrid's hand. She gave a little gasp and her mouth inexorably lifted in a smile as she looked up into the brilliant yellow eyes of the dragon. Unconsciously, she stroked the horned nose.
"Hello, beautiful girl," she breathed. "Oh Thor…I…" Hiccup stepped back and folded his arms.
"I think she's decided to be friends," he told her. "You bonded in the Arena. I think she's been waiting for you. She's yours."
"And I'm hers," she whispered, her face lit by her smile, pressing her second hand to the Nadder's face. "Oh my Thor."
"Oooh-do we all get dragons?"
Hiccup and Astrid spun to see Fishlegs and the twins approaching, all looking eagerly at the Nadder, which hissed and curled her tail protectively around the girl. Hiccup nodded.
"I think we need to get the training dragons from the Arena," he said, eyeing them up. "And we may need some straps for Astrid to hang onto."
"To do what?" Tuff asked. Hiccup took a calm breath.
"To fly to the Nest."
oOo
It hadn't surprised Hiccup at all that Fishlegs had rapidly and eagerly bonded with the Gronckle or that the twins had matched with the two headed Zippleback, with Ruff taking the right 'gas' head while Tuff rode the left 'spark' head. There was one other dragon in the Arena-the 'prize' for the winner of Dragon Training: a Monstrous Nightmare. Slowly, Hiccup walked to the cage and rested his hand on the door of the cage, his head bowed. He needed a dragon to fly and he felt very guilty that leaving this dragon behind would be terrifying of the creature, knowing its fellows had been freed. But he was bonded to Toothless and he didn't want to be with any other dragon. Sighing, he slammed the bolt back and the door swung open.
"What're you doing here?" A familiar cheeky voice interrupted him and he looked up as the small shape of the Larsons' oldest, Gustav, walked into the Arena.
"Go away, Gustav-you're too young to take dragon training," Astrid said sternly. But the younger boy was irrepressible and wouldn't take no of an answer.
"While you are all taking far to literally," he noted. "I bet you could all get into terrible trouble if I told on you…"
"Doubt it-since everyone is gonna die," Hiccup said tonelessly. "The whole village-including your Dad-are sailing to their deaths." The boy shook his head. his second-hand helmet slipping over his eyes. The Larsons weren't very rich and pretty much everything they owned was a hand-me-down. He pushed it back from his grey eyes, his spiky jet hair sticking out in all directions.
"Hey, that can't be right," he argued. "Spitelout said that they would beat that dragon easily and then he would be Chief…" There was a horrified pause as Fishlegs, Astrid and Hiccup all shared appalled glances. The twins nodded.
"He's been saying that for a few weeks now," Ruff explained.
"He won't get the chance," Hiccup sighed. "The village will be wiped out by that monster. No one will come back-unless we can stop it."
"I'm in," the younger boy said brashly. "A-Gustav! What every mission needs."
"Yeah, an irritating idiotic wannabe Snotlout," Tuff said far too loudly.
"Who bullied my sister," Astrid growled. "I should feed you to my dragon for being so mean to Eva!" Gustav backed up a step and looked markedly less sure of himself as Hiccup watched. The boy was one of Snotlout's cronies but it was clear from his observation that he was the small kid, tagging along with the older and bigger lids, wanting to be part of the group but barely tolerated and casually bullied. His family were in the Jorgensen faction…but were definitely bottom of the pile. And he had seen Gustav help out with some of the smaller kids with a cheery smile and had helped fetch wood for older people who were without family. Under the sassiness and wannabe Snotlout-ness, Gustav was probably a reasonably good kid. Making a decision, he snatched Gustav's hand and hauled him forward.
"What are you doing?" the boy asked, his voice wavering and an octave higher.
"Hold your hand out palm first," Hiccup said gently. "And close your eyes…"
"What-so I can't watch my hand being eaten?" Gustav asked worriedly. There was a growl and the sound of something slithering and moving towards them from the gloom in the cage.
"Gustav-if you trust me, you won't have to watch yourself being eaten," he assured the boy. I hope. Oh, I really hope.
There was the creak of muscles and skin as the Monstrous Nightmare emerged, his eyes narrowed but his nostrils sniffing. Hiccup guessed the dragon could smell Toothless on him and hoped it would calm the powerful Nightmare. Slowly, he advanced until his muzzle was an inch away from Hiccup and Gustav's hands. There was an aeons-long moment before the warm leathery snout pressed into their hands. Hiccup looked up and smiled-then pulled back, leaving the boy as the one person left for the dragon. Gustav looked up with a shocked expression.
"H-hey?" he managed. The dragon snorted and gave a quick purr as Hiccup glanced at Astrid. She rolled her eyes as Gustav began to rub the snout. "Hey. Oh wow. What do I do now, Hiccup?" He looked round.
"Keep looking at the dragon," Hiccup said, walking over to the boxes, knowing there were ropes and straps in there. "Talk to him. Build your bond. This is your new friend. So make friends with him!" The younger boy gave a nod and turned back to the dragon, talking eagerly and lavishly praising the dragon. Astrid rubbed the Nadder's nose horn and then walked over to him.
"Are you sure this is wise?" she asked. "I mean, he's one of Snotlout's gang, he's younger than we are and he's really like a mini-Snot." Hiccup sighed.
"I couldn't leave him here," he explained. "How would you feel if everyone else was freed and you were still locked up. You would think you were going to be killed. It wasn't fair."
"But…Gustav?" He shrugged.
"I think that under all of his desire to be in with the Heir, he's probably a decent kid," the auburn-haired boy reminded her.
"He helped bully my sister," Astrid said angrily.
"And I intervened when he was being bullied by the bigger kids," he told her quietly. "Look-I can appreciate being given a chance. I think he deserved one." And he sighed. "And we may need him." He offered a slight smile. "I said I would do something stupid. This may be something crazy as well." Astrid folded her arms and then nodded.
"No," she said. "Taking on a giant dragon with everyone in the village not on your side is something crazy."
oOo
The village was very noticeably emptier, the Forge closed and pretty much all the men gone. The younger children, women and very old and infirm remained, carrying on with the daily business of the Tribe. But sneaking up the back of the village, two shapes made it to the Hofferson house and clambered in through the upstairs hatch.
Pausing for less than a second, Astrid marched out from her room and down to the main living area, grabbing her axe from where to had been rested, by the main door. She glanced back to see her mother, standing breathless by the back storage area, kneading bread vigorously. The girl sighed.
"Mom," she said.
"You're going," she breathed.
"You knew I would," Astrid replied tonelessly. "Dad is in terrible danger. Spitelout will force them all to go to their deaths to satisfy his desire for power."
"So why should I allow you to go?" her mother asked.
"Because I will not live in a village where Snotlout has the power," the girl replied, her axe grasped firmly in her hand. She walked towards her mother and then stopped, seeing tears in her mother's eyes.
"And what're we going to do?" her mother asked.
"I'll protect you." The high, brave voice of Eva piped up as her sister looked up from by the fire, her dolly in her hand. "Astrid taught me to be brave and fierce. I promise." Her face softening, the blonde walked towards her sister and crouched in front of her. Gently, she brushed wisps of Eva's fine blonde hair off her face.
"I know I can rely in you, squirt," she said. "But I gotta help Dad-and the Chief."
"I trust you," her sister said and she paused. "Are you going with Hiccup?" Her mother's gasp was audible and she sighed, hoping Hiccup wasn't listening but knowing that he was. And praying he wouldn't take her mother's prejudice so hard.
"Yes, I am," she revealed. Eva rubbed her nose.
"I like him," she said. "He saved me. And Bente. And he was very brave."
"Yes, he is," Astrid agreed with her. "And no matter how badly most people here have treated him, he is still going to go to save them. He's my friend."
"You should marry him," Eva said decidedly. "He's much better than that Snotface."
"Eva!" Both Astrid and her mother scolded the unrepentant little girl as one and then they shared a look. Quickly but firmly hugging her sister, Astrid rose to her feet and walked to her mother.
"I'm sorry, Mom," she said. "I don't want to make you ashamed-but I have to stand up for my friends and what I believe in. And Hiccup is my friend. My best friend. And I agree with him: we have to go and save the warriors." She lifted her chin and turned away…but there was a creak and she paused, looking back to see her mother crying.
"Astrid…my baby," she whispered as Astrid wrapped her arms around her and found her mother hugging her fiercely. "I'm sorry. I am never ashamed of you. The day you were born…was the proudest of my life. You are my greatest achievement. I-I just don't want to lose you…" Astrid closed her eyes.
"One day, you may have to-but I never want to be lost," she assured her. "But if I…if we do nothing…the village is doomed. Everyone will die. I trust Hiccup." Ilsa gave a shuddering sigh as she pulled back.
"Then go, daughter,' she said. "Save them. I pray your friend is right-and that he is as brave as you say. Be the warrior you were born to be-and the hero I know you are." Astrid smiled and headed back for the stairs. "Thor be with you," she said as Astrid vanished. "Be with you both." Then she gathered her younger daughter in her arms as she heard the hatch slam. "With us all."
oOo
Flying towards the Nest was a mixture of awesome and stressful as Hiccup had to give his friends a crash course in dragon riding. Astrid was a natural, of course, because she had flown on Toothless and she was quick, intelligent and determined. The twins were a nightmare, bickering and competing over who was most annoying and who could blow each other up first…but surprisingly, the Zippleback seemed to be relaxed about its two crazy riders. The two heads shared a look, as if rolling their eyes at each other but they/it actually seemed amused by the antics. Fishlegs was also a natural, his large and mildly clumsy body completely relaxed and comfortable on the Gronckle.
The surprise was Gustav. The younger teen was sitting on the Monstrous Nightmare's neck, his legs wrapped tightly round and his hands on the long horns. There was a huge grin on his face and his grey eyes were sparkling. Hiccup had spent an hour sitting behind the boy, giving him tips and talking to the dragon and Gustav had dropped his act of being a mini-Snotlout and had actually listened. And there was an eager and excited young man who couldn't learn enough about his new dragon friend.
"You're alright, Hiccup," Gustav said as they flapped towards the bank of fogs. The auburn haired boy had stilled, waiting for the inevitable 'but' yet Gustav said nothing…for a moment. "I mean, you're short and skinny and aren't from Berk but I think you're much smarter than Snotlout. He would just have hidden from the dragons-but you went out there and made friends with one…and saved the Chief. I've heard it…and so have most of the village."
"Oh?" Hiccup's voice was wary.
"And I heard my Dad say that he couldn't imagine a Jorgensen risking his life for anyone else," the younger boy continued. "But you did. That was very brave."
"Thanks," Hiccup said. There was a pause.
"Do you think Astrid would be interested in me?" Gustav asked hopefully and Hiccup almost choked.
"I think…you may be a bit young for her," he said, thinking furiously. "I don't think she's interested in anyone. So concentrate on the flight, Gustav…"
"Hiccup!" Astrid drifted her Nadder closer and beneath the Monstrous Nightmare and Hiccup cautiously dropped down to sit behind her. Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her slender waist. "You okay?" He nodded.
"What am I doing?" he asked her in a low voice. "What am I thinking? I'll get us all killed." She paused, her eyes locked on the foggy horizon and sighed.
"I think if we do nothing, our parents will be killed," she reminded him. "And Toothless if definitely going to be killed. You have to stop that. And I am here to help you." She smiled. "I am always here for you, Hiccup."
He blushed and leaned against her for a moment.
"Thanks," he murmured and then looked up. "Tighten up, guys!" he called as they reached the fog bank and glanced around to check his friends and their dragons were closer. "Astrid-do you think that the Nadder can find them?" She nodded briskly.
"Okay, girl-find the Night Fury," she said. "Find Toothless."
The Nadder gave a trill and then accelerated, with the other dragons roaring and flapping harder to keep up. In seconds, they were in the clammy fog of Helheim's Gate, the silence suffocating. Hiccup felt his arms tighten around Astrid and her breathing accelerated. The twins were arguing again and Hiccup could hear Fishlegs whimpering 'Oh Thor oh Thor oh Thor…" over to his right. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the steady flapping of the Nadder's wings, feeling the change in tension in her muscles-and then he felt her shift. He tensed as they suddenly dived, his experience from reading Toothless's movements giving him an advantage. The others screamed as their dragons followed, beginning to dodge around the sea stacked that appeared at the last moments from the swirling grey clouds.
Up ahead, there were the sounds of roars and screeches, of the thud of catapults and the yells of Vikings.
Astrid looked back at Hiccup.
"It's begun," she said.