I decided to make this chapter shorter since there wasn't much to add on, though the results of the events that our three protagonists have done will affect Hiccup once he hears the news of what will go down for him if he's found.

Also, thanks to harrypanther, CajunBear73, and NeonArt1 for reviewing the previous chapter, and a thanks to everyone for all the support so far! You guys are spectacular.

Now, with that out of our way, let's continue on with the story!

The news about the four guards' deaths spread fast that night throughout the city of Kattegat. The three bodies found dead in front of Hiccup's cottage were recovered, and the remaining corpse was still yet to be found, but so far there wasn't a single trace… yet. And as for Hiccup, many people soon started to call him 'The Slayer' as a result of his deed that night, and for the rest of the night Hiccup, Magnus and Eira remained out of sight.

"Well, we can't let you out into the public anymore." sighed Magnus. "Too many citizens are intimidated of you, and it's clear that you're a kill on sight to all the guards."

Hiccup's face lit up. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." he replied. "And I suspect that soon Ivar will place a bounty on your head, though as long as you stay in here - you won't be found... for a time."

"But still, you need to leave Kattegat." added on Eira. "Eventually they will find you and execute you if you're not quick enough to react. Kattegat isn't safe. Norway isn't safe."

Magnus nodded in agreement. "I'd say that all of Scandinavia isn't safe." he said. "You can't go anywhere without getting into conflict with other clans and tribes, that is of course, unless they rally under one banner in which they'd cease hostilities - but I can't see that happening. The only time I remember such a thing was when the Great Heathen Army was mustered."

Hiccup eyed both of them, exchanging looks with them. He began to shake his head. "Where am I supposed to go?" he asked. "I'll be rejected by kingdoms all throughout, especially England. They'll just kill me off because I'm a Viking, and we know Ivar invaded that place once before."

The smithy grasped his hands together in deep thought of how to express his next words. But then he said; "There is one place that you can go."

Magnus stood from his chair, turning his direction towards the wooden stairs as he began making his way up to his room, and after that all that Hiccup and Eira heard was rattling and creaking coming from upstairs. For many long minutes both of them sat there waiting.

"What is he looking for this time?" asked Hiccup.

Eira gave a shrug at the young Viking. "I don't know." she said, diverting her attention towards the stairs as they heard the stomping of boots from the upstairs floor above them.

Soon enough, Magnus came running back down with a large rolled up piece of parchment in his hands. He set it down in front of the two and he looked at them with a smirk as he began to unroll it.

When Hiccup gazed at the contents, he realized that what he saw was a map - and one he looked at in disbelief as the drawings he saw on it weren't of any map he knew, because the only thing there was on there were islands and islands spread out all over it.

"Is this…?"

Magnus nodded. "Yes, Hiccup." he replied. "What you heard about the Archipelago was… all true."

Ever so slightly a small smile began to form on the young Viking's face, and it began to get wider and wider as he scanned the map with his gaze. "This, is my salvation. My promised freedom. My chance to leave this rotting hole of a city and find a new life." he said happily. "Though, my only question is; where is this Archipelago located?"

"Out in the oceans Northwest of Scandinavia." answered Magnus. "And trust me when I tell you that the Archipelago is filled with the most kindest, intelligent, and understanding Vikings that you will find. Though I will admit, there are also Vikings that will act like those here - warriors who do nothing but fight and start wars."

From hearing those words, Hiccup's grin lessened a bit as he rotated his gaze onto the blacksmith with a look of concern and curiosity. "How do you know this?" he asked.

Magnus sighed. "Because… my family was born there - even though I wasn't."

…

For the remainder of the night, Magnus and Hiccup had slept calmly in the safe haven of the smithy's hut, and Eira had gone off back to her hut to get a well night's rest. The events that had happened that night however began to cause some commotion as things escalated, and because of this it was to both Magnus and Eira's best intention that Hiccup would depart from the city the following night.

As Hiccup slept in the warm and comforting bed in the guest room, he dreamt where he could see himself flying in the sky, atop a beast, atop a winged reptile, atop a dragon. Though it was one he didn't recognize in the tales since the scales were a very dark color, especially since he was flying in the night.

He felt the chilly but relaxing air wash over him as he flew, and in his mind he wondered how it led to him flying on top of a dragon. Weren't they beasts? Mystical animals that people thought didn't existed? How could he ride a fire-breathing reptile without being scorched alive, or-

Blink.

Hiccup wouldn't be able to finish his thought. Immediately the scene cut for him, and he saw himself standing atop a grassy cliff under a bright blue sky, and upon seeing the view he gave a wide smile. Never in his life had he ever seen a clear blue sky with the clouds and sun flying over him - though he did live in Norway after all, and all the only sky there was throughout the life time he'd been there was a cloudy and grey sky.

Blink.

Once again, the scene changed for him, but this time, it wasn't a comforting scene. He now found himself standing on an island where there was nothing but dark rock and withered trees. The sky was darkened with clouds, and lightning struck with the sound of wind and thunder following.

He looked around, having no clue on where this place was or what it was. However, what soon caught his attention was the movement from a flying figure behind the clouds. Every strike of lightning revealed where it was moving, and what it was doing, but eventually it became clear to Hiccup on what it was. A black Dragon.

Then, what followed was the sound of a screech that sounded like wind flying past him faster than he could ever imagine, along with a roar. The pitch got higher and higher in sound, and it was then he saw the silhouette of the Dragon descending from the clouds before it began to fly towards him. It's mouth opened revealing a bright glow, then the flying beast began to charge him and then…

Blink.

Hiccup woke up, sweating all over. He looked at his hands, then at his legs and feet. He was still whole, nothing broken or damaged.

"Thank gods." he whispered, giving off a sigh of relief as he dropped his head back against the pillow.

He sat back up and looked around, then he stared out through the nearby window, only to be met with the light of morning shining in his face from the cloudy sky. It was morning.

He gave himself a nod as he stretched his arms out, giving off a silent yawn and then quickly getting out of bed. He latched on his cloak and he placed his sheathed blade around his waist before proceeding to make his way downstairs where Magnus sat, reading a book and eating.

The smithy sipped on his stew, exchanging his gaze from the bowl to the pages in the book, and when he noticed Hiccup coming towards him he set his book aside and gave the young man a wave.

"Did you sleep well last night?" he asked.

Hiccup sighed, giving of a gesture with his hand of so-and-so. "It was okay. Just woke up sweating with my heart racing because… well, it's one of those unexpected dreams."

Magnus smirked. "Hmph."

Hiccup sat down in a chair near Magnus on the other side of the long-table. He eyed the older Viking as he continued to sip from his stew, and at first it seemed like he had nothing to talk about with the younger Viking. But that was until he stopped eyeing his bowl and said; "Alright. If you want to ask something, feel free to ask. What are you concerned about, Hiccup?"

"Did… anything happen early this morning after the events we had?"

"Well…" began Magnus. "All I can tell you is that there are guards patrolling every corner and road of Kattegat, searching for you. They even recovered the corpse of the fourth guard who came here yesterday when we slew him."

"The fourth guard? I thought you kept his body hidden upstairs."

The smithy shook his head. "I didn't keep him here for long." he answered. "I disposed the body from my hut and I placed it behind a bush near your cottage, but there's no way you can get near that place anymore; it's fortified with a couple dozen guards."

Hiccup's face lit up. "Is there no where I can go in Kattegat without getting caught? It feels like there's a whole army on my tail, wanting my head."

"Which brings me to the next thing:" he replied to the frustrated Viking. "Ivar is after your head now."

Hiccup immediately froze, eyes widened. If Ivar was indeed after his head as well as hostile to him, then that meant that all of Kattegat was a hostile place for him. If he were to even be spotted by anyone, even a thrall, then it would definitely be his end, and he would not be given a second chance.

He opened his mouth after hearing that piece of news from Magnus, and at first he let out nothing but a breath of hot air. The smithy could clearly see the fear that now enveloped Hiccup.

Magnus stood from his chair. "I promise you though: Eira and I will get you out of Kattegat tonight. There is no way in Thor we will let them execute you and-"

"What else did Ivar say about me?" he asked, finally finding the words to let out.

Magnus sighed. "He… he said that whoever brings you alive or beheaded will gain a sum of nearly a hundred pounds of gold and silver. That is enough for an Earl or Jarl to own a decent sized amount of land."

Hiccup splurted out a small chuckle. "So not only does he want me captured, but he's also placed a price on my head… funny. I'm not surprised at all at this. After all, you said it would be a matter of time before he placed a bounty on my head, and here we are."

Another long period of silence followed, though this time it was Magnus who looked slightly troubled - almost as if he was told something, in which in this case he was. He cleared his throat and said; "Ivar wanted me to hunt you down."

Hiccup looked up at Magnus. His face slightly whitened as he thought to himself; 'What?' Why ask Magnus? Hiccup had looked at him as a true friend - one of the only friends he had throughout his life, and now he sees an attempt coming from Ivar to shatter that friendship by offering gold if he kills him?

"Would you risk killing me just to collect a hundred pounds of gold and silver to get rich?" he asked Magnus. "Is money worth more than our bond?"

"...No." replied Magnus. "If I was ever ordered to execute you, Eira, or anyone that I considered a friend just to receive payment of gold and silver in return, I would never do it. Not even if I was offered Midgard's most richest values."

Hiccup place a fist against his cheek, leaning his elbow on the table. "I see… and what of the Blacksmith?" he asked, switching the topic.

"I'm closing it." replied Magnus as he gave off a light sigh. "Despite it being where I worked for many years, I'm not going to give my services to madmen who want to kill my friend. I told the patrons that it'll be closed for only today, though in truth…"

"You're closing it down permanently." answered Hiccup.

Magnus bowed his head a single nod. "Aye… and this all simply because my life in Kattegat is over. There's nothing good left here; only crazy Vikings who desire nothing but conflict as well as their own basic needs. The only salvation left for me is-"

Suddenly there was a knock at the door of the hut. It sounded loud and hard, though not as hard as the Slavemaster's.

Magnus quickly turned his gaze from the door and over to Hiccup as he motioned to him with his hand to rush upstairs and hide. The scrawny Viking did just that and began running quietly up the stairs before going into the guest room he slept in, and he kept the door to the room slightly opened in case a conversation were to take place.

The smithy walked up to the door and immediately opened it. There was no one there in front of him - or well, that's what he thought until he looked down to his feet and saw Ivar the Boneless staring up at him with a devil-like smile.