This chapter took quite a while for me to type out, and I will admit, it was somewhat difficult due to having to put together a clear visualization. But no matter, I hope you enjoy! (And apologies for any grammatical errors, it was pretty long!)
Also, thanks to those who reviewed so far!
Ten days later…
"To me, the day I gave Hiccup his new weapon, the Dragon's Blade, was the day that the lad transformed from a regular young Viking into a real man who had earned the confidence and mindset to lead a people. To lead us. His sword signified it."
"And so, when seven days passed and the time came upon us to sail out, it is here, after three days of sailing out at sea that we closing in on our enemy. This night shall be the night which will remind us of who we really are:"
"We are Vikings…"
A mist rolled in from the East in the calmness of the night. After seven days of preparation, for the coming battle of the prison fortress on Black Rock Isle; the Tribes of the Archipelago as well as those who came seeking allies on Berk had mustered a great fighting force of a thousand to combat their common enemy.
Although this wouldn't be enough for taking them on directly, the Tribes knew that they would give Ivar the Boneless and the Great Heathen Army their all.
Hiccup knew in his mind they would. After three days of sailing out in the open ocean, with the third being outside the Fogbank, he could clearly see how desperate and ready the men were for the battle up ahead.
But time was with them, and Hiccup knew that they were close to their destination.
He inhaled the unsettling air surrounding them from all around the fleet, which as well came from the large battle-longship that they were on. He knew that some were nervous. Especially the gang.
"I can smell it, Dad." he said, turning to face his father while glancing Toothless who stood next to him. "Some of our warriors are nervous for this battle. I feel as if their wait for the fight has caused them some stress and uncertainty."
Stoick nodded, still facing forward. "These are times of war, Hiccup. We can never be certain of what's to come, even if we know what we're up against. But it will all soon go away once battle is joined. We have to be ready."
Hiccup motioned an expression of understanding to his father, while also heeding his words and casting aside any remnant of tension with readiness. It was inevitable after all.
Looking to his left and taking eyes upon the group, particularly Astrid, Magnus and Eira, he noticed that they seemed to be taking lower stances as they were ducked down and sitting against the outline of the longship. It was almost as if they were preparing to sneak around.
And he was indeed right. He slowly approached them with Toothless by his side and asked; "Getting ready for the fight?"
"Not just the fight," replied Astrid, looking up at him. "But also to sneak and sabotage. We're going to take a risky but effective approach before we go in. But we're doing this without the aid of our Dragons."
"Just the three of you?"
"Aye, just us." nodded Magnus, smirking back at Hiccup. "We still have yet to plan out how to coordinate and move our attacks, though we at least know exactly where to strike."
The scrawny Viking sighed. "I guess I'll join you then." he said, lowering himself to sit next to Astrid. "...But, I want Toothless to come along."
The three pairs of eyes gazed onto Hiccup, showing signs of uncertainty. But the young lad assured them of what he was doing, and Toothless seemed fine with it as he walked over to sit next to him.
"I assure you that it cannot go wrong with Toothless behind us." said Hiccup, petting the Black Dragon. "A Night Fury is nearly impossible to spot in the dark of night. His steps are as quiet as a mouse, and his senses are as sharp as wolf's. I promise you, it cannot go wrong.
A short amount of time passed in silence after Hiccup's short but promising explanation. Magnus, Eira, and Astrid were unsure on if it was of the best course of action. However, it took Magnus a moment to take a step out and realize that it could work.
"If what you say is true… then perhaps it could work." he replied, standing to his feet as he eyed the Dragon. "Very well then. As long as he remains with you, he may come. But we can't take anymore risks."
"Makes sense." nodded Hiccup, standing to his feet along with Astrid after he offered her a hand. "But we should do this in a way where we can easily coordinate and attack with a powerful element of surprise that the Jomsvikings will not expect. Their legend will become stupidity to go down in history."
"Then perhaps we should stick together?" suggested Eira, gesturing towards them and herself. "If we work as one we can be more efficient. If we strike where it hurts the most for them then they won't stand a chance once we start making our way up."
Hiccup looked back at Astrid and Magnus after listening closely on the older shield maiden's words, thinking deeply. "What do you guys think?" he asked.
"Seems like a wise strategy." said Magnus. "Could spare us many of our men, if Odin be willing."
Astrid winked an eye in agreement. "I agree with her. Seems like the best approach without losing much."
"Very well, then. It is settled. We will go with Eira's strategy whilst remaining close together. Toothless will provide us with back up and cover for if we are exposed to getting caught. Hopefully this will-"
"LAND HO!" a voice called out from ahead, drawing all of the attention of the fleet forward.
Snotlout, who was nearby, looked up ahead and saw an island in the distant. It was somewhat small from their perspective in the distance, but he knew that it would be a large fortress that would be ready to be sieged.
"We're here." he said with a cold voice with his Fishlegs, the Twins, and his Dragon Hookfang standing at his side.
Immediately from all around however, the lanterns and lights that gave view and light of their fleet had begun to go out. That as well included the ship they were aboard.
And soon enough, the entire fleet of longships was veiled in the darkness of the night.
He then turned to face Hiccup, who was ready and armored in his brown leather gear and tunic. He gave an expression of approval to the lad. "It's your call now, Hiccup! What are your orders?"
...
The four Vikings and the Night Fury hugged the rocky shore near the cliffs. Hiccup, Astrid, Eira and Magnus had gone ahead to do the sabotaging with Toothless, and from behind the fleet stayed and remained ready for when the time was ready to strike, whilst everyone remained out of sight of the ships.
Now that they were closer to the fortress however, the sound of what seemed to be metal hitting rocks, possibly furnaces and anvils being operated, and forges running could be heard from inside the fortress itself. Perhaps the isle also had a different purpose...
As the four of them continued moving, staying low and remaining close to the rocky cliffs, the sight of a hill and a side beach with docks came into their view towards their left up ahead. Atop the hill laid their target to sabotage.
Hiccup looked up at the tower overlooking the beach, determined to move as quickly and quietly as possible towards and atop the structure.
"The Devastator guarding this beach remains held up at the very top of that scout tower." he whispered, pointing his finger towards the cannon which turned and aimed for any enemy that would be ready to strike. "But getting inside won't be easy."
"You don't say?" replied Astrid, smirking as she was inspecting the area with a scope. "From what I see, at least twenty or so Jomsvikings stand between us and that tower. Four archers are overlooking from the hill outside the structure, two shield bearers are guarding the door to the scout tower, four are at the very top of it, and the rest seem to be located at the nearby docks to our right."
Eira nodded. "If we alarm any of the Jomsvikings archers atop the hill, the rest will waste no time to stop everything they're doing and come after us."
"Then we'll have to improvise." Magnus stated, turning his gaze from the tower towards the others. "We'll need to pick them out one by one without drawing too much attention. For starters, we need to clear the hill of those archers. Grab their attention on something else."
Hiccup stepped forward, volunteering himself. "Toothless and I can handle it. We just need to find something we can burn to grab their attention. A farm, a stock house. Anything."
Astrid continued inspecting the area, searching for a vulnerable and appropriate target. "Well…" she began. "I think that storehouse of food will do. If we burn it, the men around this area will begin to worry and immediately head for it. No food means no survival."
Hiccup glanced over, gazing at the large hut-shaped storehouse, until he realized that it stood by the large, iron side gate of the fortress. Plus, two of the twenty warriors guarded that gate.
"Damn, this might be a tougher challenge." he said.
"Why so?" asked Astrid.
"Only problem is that it stands closer to the side gates leading into the fortress, and it's being guarded. I have one shot at this of trying to get at least a small light on it before it burns. If I'm caught, it's all over. ...But regardless, it must be done."
At first, Magnus slowly nodded his head up and down hesitantly, until he started moving it faster and finally came to agreeing with the young lad.
"It's a bold strategy." he said, patting the scrawny Viking on the shoulder. "If you really plan to do this, then I wish you the best of luck. Just make sure to stay high and above from their sight. Blend in with the night sky, and stay away from torch-lit areas. They'll easily spot you."
Hiccup exhaled, bowing his head and running up to mount Toothless, wasting no time. "Wish me luck." he told them.
Magnus looked up at Hiccup, giving him a 'good to go' expression. "We'll waiting right here until you have finished. Once those archers become occupied, we'll meet at the top of the hill and take cover within the bushes… But please, be careful Hiccup."
And just like that, both the Dragon and the Viking were off towards the night sky, flying towards and above the small docks which housed a few large structures. One of them including the storehouse.
The area however was very tight and packed together. The majority of the Jomsvikings sat around a bonfire which stood at least fifty or so yards apart from the side gate and thirty from the docke. The young lad knew that getting around wouldn't be easy.
Unless… he went alone.
"Alright Bud, I'm afraid I'll have to sneak around alone." he said to Toothless, earning a croon from him.
"Toothless, you're too large to sneak around these tight corners. Your size will catch the attention of the guards, and we can't have that. And if you fire from here, your blast and its impact will make them aware that we're here with Dragons. I must go alone until the area is clear."
The Dragon exhaled air from his nostrils, obliging to Hiccup's demand as they both flew and landed on a ridge that was near the docks, opposite from where Astrid and the others were.
He then looked over at his Dragon and gave him a nod. "Wish me luck." he said before the Black Dragon flew back up into the air on command.
Now, it was Hiccup's move.
The scrawny Viking made his way over to the edge of the rocky ridge and slid down it with haste, causing rocks to crumble and slide down with him as he landed next to the side of a hut and a hay bale, right across from the gathering of Jomsvikings.
His actions however did not go unnoticed entirely…
The sound of rocks crumbling down the ridge caught the attention of two of the five chatty Jomsvikings of whom were having a good time, and they turned their heads to face towards the ridge, seeing rocks and pebbles slide down from it.
"What's that?" one of them asked.
The second one shrugged. "I- I don't know. But we'd better check it out and see."
The two of them then stood up on their feet, lighting their guard torches using the bonfire before making their way towards Hiccup's location. If Hiccup was spotted from the shadows, it would all be over.
"Crap…" he muttered as his breathing intensified.
Thankfully for him, the hay bale which he landed nearby could provide him cover. And so with quick reaction the young Viking would jump into the bale and go deep beneath the blades of hay, not thinking about peeking his head out.
He laid there flat on his back as he noticed the light of the torches hovering over him and near him. He knew that the Jomsvikings were close and right next to him. But this made him more tense as he breathing still slightly intensified, and he couldn't make it quiet.
The two guards at first noticed this, and they turned their heads and looked around. "What's that noise?" one of them asked. "Is that breathing?"
Hiccup immediately froze, and reacted by holding in his breath. He knew that another sound would grab the attention of the guards, so he had to remain quiet for the time being.
But as he laid in the hay and held his breath, he could feel himself go slightly light-headed from holding his air in, and the guards still wouldn't leave. It was as if they were on a hunt, looking for prey.
His air however soon began to run thin, and sweat started running down his head and face. Why wouldn't they leave? What in Odin's name were they doing?
It felt like an eternity for Hiccup, until finally…
"Bah, maybe it was just the wind." the second Jomsviking guard said, and soon enough the torches moved away from his location as the sound of footsteps began to distance away as well as his voice: "Now, let's get back to talking about that recent raid…"
Hiccup let out his air from his lungs until they were far enough away, sighing in relief as he wiped the sweat off his face.
"That… was close." he whispered, rushing out of the hay bale and into the cover of darkness once again from the shadows.
With his path now cleared, Hiccup could now begin his way towards the side gate. He would start by climbing the hut which shadowed him, making his life a whole lot easier, especially since the roof itself was not as curved like those of the huts on Berk. It was Scandinavian making after all.
He would proceed by running along the side of the roof which faced away from the camp and towards the ridge, before jumping over to the next hut that laid quite a distance before him, but still making it regardless, moving ever so swiftly and quietly towards the his target.
Soon enough however, he would be left to a stop as he jumped off the last hut and landed right next to his target: the storehouse.
Before him also stood the gate, guarded by the two Jomsvikings whose colors were as red like the rest. Their Spears stood upwards like staves, and their shields laid by their sides for defense. Hiccup had gotten this far, he couldn't screw up now.
From directly above, Toothless looked over, watching his friend's every actions, and although he couldn't fly down to meet Hiccup as it would immediately catch the attention of the two guards, he was indeed ready for the moment to set ablaze the storehouse.
"I need to find a way to distract them…" he told himself, looking around for anything that he could use to get their attention. "But what… what can I use?"
For an odd reason, his eyes had set upon a nearby large rock in front of him that seemed to be tossable with only one hand and the flex of an arm needed. But what could he use it on?
From afar, a cart filled with what seemed to be potatoes stood with a batch of crates stacks and held together, like a stockpile. To Hiccup, he had an idea in mind…
He reached down to grab the stone that laid in front of him, smirking as he flexed and raised his arm back - ready to throw the hard but heavy rock at the cart to see what would happen.
"Odin, guide my aim… or something."
And so, with one last flex of his arm, followed by a release, the rock went flying forwards at the cart of potatoes, fast and heavy like a catapult, and in no more than a couple of seconds the sound of a loud THUD could be heard from it's impact.
The two guards however reacted as according to plan.
"What the Hel was that!?" one of them asked.
"I don't know!" the second replied. "But I heard it come from that cart. We'd better check it out!"
The two immediately rushed out of position towards the cart that laid many feet away from Hiccup, and he knew now that the time was right.
He looked up towards the seemingly invisible Night Fury and he motioned him down whilst the Jomsviking guards were distracted, and without a moment to lose Toothless swept down and landed near Hiccup, allowing the Viking to quickly climb onto his back.
"The guards are still occupied, Bud." he said, smirking. "The time is now. Do your thing."
Toothless gave a Dragon-like nod, and with the simply release of plasma flames from his mouth as if he were about to let out a sigh, a small spark of flames appeared on the wood of the storehouse before it quickly spread into flames.
Hiccup nodded. "Let's go, Toothless. C'mon Bud!" he said, and the two were quickly out of there in a flash as the storehouse lit up into flames, and it only took a moment for the guards to notice what was happening.
Soon, a loud horn sounded throughout the small base of the docks, and the majority of the twenty Jomsvikings began making their way towards the storehouse. Even the archers of whom were up on the hill made their way down, abandoning their positions.
Magnus, who was hidden with the others, smiled with his brows down. "He's done it." the older Viking said, chuckling.
Astrid smirked. "Let's give them what's coming to them, then. Come on!" she responded, rushing forth away from the rocky ledge, and up the beach towards the top of the hill with Magnus and Eira following from behind.
Hiccup from above noticed this and smiled. The plan was going according to plan, and now they could go on to the second step of their plan of striking where it hurts most.
"C'mon, Toothless. Let's fly to them." he said, patting the side of his head, and the Dragon obeyed, flying towards the three Vikings who had hidden in the bushes with haste and stealth.
From above, Hiccup watched as how the Jomsvikings gathered into formation outside the gate, and how the storehouse continued burning. No matter how many buckets of water they threw at the structure, they had done no change or effect to the raging inferno. Their food was lost now.
And soon, as well as their lives.
Landing in the bushes with Toothless still by his side along with Astrid, Magnus and Eira still with him, he gave a nod that everything was still going smoothly.
"It's working." His voice sounded confident, though his focus was still attentive. "Now all we have to do is get inside and up the tower without those two knowing we're here. Any ideas?"
At first, no one spoke or said a thing. The three of them at first were unsure of how to act, but certain that what they do could work. Finally however, Eira giggled as she unsheathed her bow and an arrow from her back and quiver; her idea being ready to be set in motion.
"Magnus." she said, turning her head to face the man. "Ready one of your throwing axes. This is going to get bloody."
"I like the way you're thinking, dear." he replied, adding the 'dear' in a joking and bolstering manner for the young woman, and she scoffed from that word.
"Oh stop it."
The two of them advanced forward a few steps in the bushes, with their weapons ready and aimed along with Magnus allowing for Eira to make the first shot and kill.
She proceeded to attach her onto her bowstring, pulling it back and aiming at the Jomsviking furtherer away from them. With a precise aim she released her arrow, hoping it would get a good hit, and to her luck it did. More luckily than she could have expected as the arrow gouged deep into the Jomsvikings windpipe, immediately killing him as he fell to the ground.
His partner looked to his right, staring down the guard who had been shot in the neck and killed, and immediately his guard was on.
"What the Hel-?"
Suddenly, the sound of metal whirling in the wind came flying right out of the bushes as an axe flew into the back of the Jomsviking, causing him to fall face forward. Magnus then rushed and repeatedly sliced at the back of the warrior with the axe that was impaled in his back, making sure he didn't get back up… again.
He then looked back at the others and nodded, sheathing the axe back under his gambesons sleeve. "The coast is clear." he whispered loudly, and the three Vikings along with Toothless rushed out of the bushes and towards the door of the watchtower.
Hiccup went in first, motioning the rest to follow. "Now, let's get moving. It's time we begin and finish what we wanted to start here."
The way up to the top of the tower was made up of wide but steep enough stairs which spiraled up, enough for a Dragon like Toothless to fit through, or even two people at the same time. Hiccup ran with Astrid next to him, followed by Toothless who was behind them, and Magnus and Eira who watch their backs from behind.
Every torch they ran by, they knew that they were obviously getting higher and higher to the top of the tower. But finally, they would soon make it up as Hiccup and Astrid ducked for Toothless, and the hatch to the roof of the tower bursted opened from Toothless' Dragon fire.
Immediately, the four guards at the top reacted as they turned away from their posts and rallied near the Devastator, facing towards the four Vikings and their Dragon who leapt outwards of the hatch, standing feet away opposite from their opponents.
Hiccup, Astrid, Magnus and Eira had their weapons drawn in hand, and Toothless' mouth laid opened with roaring plasma flames being shown to the Jomsvikings. The five of them were ready to strike, waiting for their opponents to make the first blow. However, both sides were at first hesitant.
Being at the top of the tower, they felt the cold wind blowing wildly in their faces, and the smoke rising from inside the prison fortress became more apparent to Hiccup. It was indeed almost as if it was a whole other operation going on on this island, and he intended to find out. Even the many lights coming from the torches all over the island made him think of it, like they hundreds of forges.
It wasn't long however that a voice interrupted the silence.
"A Dragon?" one of the Jomsvikings said, gripping his great axe tightly. "How original that someone like yourselves would wield a weapon to do your pitiful work for you. The weapon of a coward!"
Hiccup shook his head at the elite warrior. "He is no mere weapon, Jomsviking. My Dragon is a companion. An ally, and a friend of which the likes your people could have never wished for."
"Our people don't wish!" the Jomsviking replied back, stepping forward. "We get what we want! We are elite, legendary, and unbreakable! No matter what foe stands in our way, their strength, skill, and discipline will never match up with ours."
"We'll see about that when my Dragon and I take your very lives away like leaves burning off a tree."
The warrior laughed, pointing his axe forward. "Hah! Let's see you try! ...Don't let these fools anywhere near the cannon!"
Soon, fighting broke out. Hiccup, Astrid, Magnus and Eira charged their direct opponents, and a small battle began atop the tower with the group facing whoever they were facing opposite. All the meanwhile, Toothless gave supporting fire onto their foes.
Hiccup, now having two weapons at his side, took the advantage and unsheathed the Dragon's Blade, and upon impact from the Jomsviking's great axe and onto both of his weapons, the warrior stared at him eye-widened.
"What sorcery of Odin is this!?" he grunted, before bringing his axe back and attempting to do a heavy horizontal arc with his axe.
Hiccup responded however by rolling to the right and out of the way, as he knew the axe's weight would just slow him down, and with a slice of his main sword into the side of the Jomsviking's leg he managed to slightly cripple him. But it wasn't enough.
He stared up at his opponent. "It's not called sorcery." he responded with a glare. "It's called technology. We Vikings use it to make life easier which I highly doubt you strong and intelligent Jomsvikings use for an advantage. You're just stuck in the past with Ivar, aren't you?"
The mighty warrior let out a roar of rage, charging Hiccup with more brutal strength as he jumped up into the air and let his axe come down onto the scrawny Viking, and to this Hiccup barely had enough time to react.
The young lad responded with another roll to the side, causing the Jomsviking's axe to be embedded into the wooden planks of the tower's roof, and from this act it gave Hiccup the advantage. With the warrior preoccupied on trying to release the axe from the planks, Hiccup managed to roll around him and get a slice with both his fiery sword and main sword towards the backsides of his chest.
Once on his feet and on the left side of the elite Viking, he attempted to advance onto him and get in a finishing blow…
But this was not meant to be.
The warrior responded immediately with a hard punch to Hiccup's chest which caused him to be sent flying backwards, and nearly off the roof of the watchtower. There, he laid on his back - looking up at the advancing elite warrior and thinking as if death was almost certain.
The warrior limped, carrying his axe in both of his arms, ready to cleave the scrawny and smaller Viking in two. From his mouth, he let out a bloody cackle.
"Looks like Midgard wasn't meant for you after all." he said with a guttural voice, raising his axe. "And neither will Valhalla!
As he began to bring it down upon Hiccup, a loud and bellowing screech from nearby interrupted him and all noises around. A purple glow from the side flashed upon the Jomsviking, and soon a blast of plasma fire came hurling at him, receiving a direct hit towards the Jomsviking.
"AAARRGH!" he screamed, flying off the tower and burning on the way down, with no chance of survival.
Hiccup smiled, letting out an exhale of air as he was greeted to Toothless who helped the young lad up with his head, and Hiccup gladly held onto it as he was lifted away from the edge.
"Thanks, Bud." he said, watching as the last Jomsviking was cut down by Magnus… however, it seemed like the rest were blown off by Toothless.
Magnus gasped for air, turning around as he sheathed his blade. "Well, there's my first kill. How did you guys handle it-?"
But as he turned around, he saw no corpses, and all eyes fell on Toothless as he wagged his tail and gave a gurgling laugh at the others, thus, Magnus assumed they were blasted off by the powerful Night Fury.
"Well, at least that's handle." he said before turning towards the Devastator. "Now… let's do what we came to do."
Magnus wasted no further time as he ran up to the foul machine, and with his strength and muscle he turned the weapon to face towards the ocean, specifically outwards near shore; and in the distance there was an iron cog ship, as was correctly predicted by both the maps and Eret. They all knew that if the vessel fell and sank, then so would all the other Devastators and warriors aboard it.
With the manned Devastator now loaded with the flaming projectiles in it's raging furnace, the lever for releasing the ball of flaming iron was now cleared to be used… but the honor was not his.
He turned and looked towards Hiccup, giving the lad a nod. "This is your honor, Hiccup." he told him. "You got us this far. Now, release Hel onto our enemy."
Hiccup obliged without any problem, walking slowly but calmly up to the platform of the large and destructive Devastator. He took one last glance at the iron cog ship that sailed in the distance, but he also knew that time was of the essence, and that he had wasted enough of it…
And so, he grasped onto the lever, and with the heave of his arm a loud boom followed from the barrel of the large cannon...