Hi all! I'm sorry for taking a little while with this chapter. I had to rewrite my 3000 words long note which I wrote somewhere in 2015 so it would fit right. I actually planned for more in this chapter but then I saw it was already over 6500 words and decided to cut it here... well the bottom of this chapter... you know what I mean. So happy reading!
Guest 1...2? I really can't tell you apart XD: I think this one is going to be a more 'oh shit' one XP.
ShadowSpirt020: Stoick's an asshole ya, but he has his reasons.
Chapter 13 Wakeup call
Astrid carefully unwrapped the bandages around Hiccup's left leg. Dropping the dirty bandage in a bucket of water so to already wash the dried up blood out. It would get a proper wash later. The cut was deep and still easily bled. She studied it to see if she could spot an infection, but the cut seemed clean. She couldn't see deep inside the wound though, just like she hadn't been able to do so with any of his other injuries, therefor she kept on making sure it was getting the best treatment she could give.
Toothless leaned over the backboard of the bed, attempting to lick it, but she placed her hand on his snout.
"Toothless, please don't," she said with a soft smile as she rubbed him under his chin.
She knew the dragon wanted to help and dragons tend to their wounds by licking, but she had no idea what kind effect that would have on the human body. Not willing to figure it out the hard way and risking Hiccup's health, she had stopped the dragon's attempt numerous times.
With two fingers she got some of the ointment she made earlier on and carefully put it on the cut, hoping it would not bleed as she touched it. However, when behind her a door suddenly swung open, hitting the wall with a bang, she was startled and pressed harder than she meant to.
Camicazi was standing in the door opening with her mouth open ready to say something, she basically barged in ready to talk, but a loud scream of agony stopped her. Both girls in the room stared at the boy in bed who was suddenly sitting up straight, attempting to pull away Astrid's hand, failed and fell back into the pillows. Astrid quickly pulled her hand back as she saw this action as she kept on staring at him. Toothless looked overjoyed and ready to jump on the bed, but resisted the urge probably because he knew his not scaled friend was in pain.
Hiccup looked around confused. His eyes wandered from Toothless right across him, to his leg which hurt badly and then to the two females in the room, one right next to him the other in the door opening. The combination of it all confused him even more as he had absolutely no idea where he was or what had happened. Whatever had happened, his entire body hurt. He tried to move again, but gritted his teeth in pain as he laid both his arms on his head.
"Let me lick it," he heard followed by the sound of rustling and his bed moving a little.
"No, Toothless. No licking, I told you before," Astrid then said.
"Hiccup! Tell them it's okay for me to lick it!"
"No licking," Hiccup answered, "you put too much pressure on it."
"Humph, hatchling."
Then that conversation sunk into Hiccup's brain and he pushed himself up rapidly, ignoring the screaming pain in his arms and back as he did so. Feeling somewhat lightheaded by his sudden movement he stared at Toothless.
"How… can I understand you?" he mumbled as he stared at his scaled friend who's ears perked up as he said that.
Toothless then shook his head, "stop being a hatchling and let me lick it."
"Urgh, how about instead of licking it, we put your salvia in the ointment," Hiccup grumbled, trying to understand all of this.
When he saw Astrid's hesitant look he rolled his eyes, "It has healing properties. Prevents infections or when there is an infection it heals it faster, especially in combination with herbs that heal infections."
To his surprise Astrid nodded understanding and held the bowl with ointment under Toothless who let a bit of his salvia drop in it. He then turned to look at Camicazi who by then had entered the room completely and was standing closer to his bed now.
"Astrid, Camicazi and Toothless in the same room and no fighting, never expected that to happen," he mumbled as he looked over his leg again.
The cut looked nasty in his eyes.
"So what happened? Did I fall off of Toothless again whilst flying?" he joked a little, but was taken aback when he saw both women looking rather shocked.
Camicazi he expected the reaction, Astrid… not so much.
"It's a long story," Astrid started and looked over to Camicazi, "what's the reason you are here?"
"That can wait," Camicazi promptly answered with a look upon her face that Hiccup knew all too much, she was to do something she didn't agree with.
"Alright, in that case," Astrid started and looked back at Hiccup, "what is the last you remember?"
He frowned, something not noticed by Astrid, because she was mixing up the ointment with the new ingredient.
"What does it matter to you?"
"I need some pointer where to start the story, don't I?" she replied and carefully put the ointment on the cut on his left leg.
Hiccup rolled his eyes annoyed and looked over to Toothless who he apparently now understood and hoped he would inform him about what had happened. The dragon however stubbornly glared at him and signed him that he had to talk. Urgh, thanks for your loyalty bud, he thought.
"Fine. I was in a fight with a dragon at a dragon nest, GAH!"
Astrid was pressing a tad too hard again, the moment those words left his lips. She quickly let go and apologized and pulled back, but then a frown covered her face as she studied the wound. When she reached out for it Hiccup quickly pulled his leg away.
"Hey, stop whining and let me see that!" Astrid protested and tried to get hold of his leg.
Strangely enough he was able to avoid her hands, though it hurt badly to move around so much. What he hadn't expected was Camicazi and Toothless helping out Astrid and within seconds he was unable to move at all, well apart from his head that was. He tried to see what Astrid was doing, but his view was mostly blocked by Camicazi sitting on top of him, which hurt like hell. Mostly in his back, but his arms were burning too.
"Get off me, I won't move, j-just get o-off," he managed to say as he gritted his teeth in pain.
Camicazi looked at him and then over to Astrid.
"I promise!" Hiccup shouted and was relieved when Camicazi got off. He panted as he stared at the ceiling of the room, not moving at all.
"Hiccup, I'm going to put some pressure on this wound again. I think the infection is deeper down, which is why I haven't been able to locate it," Astrid explained.
"Great," he commented sarcastically and prepared himself for pain.
He pinched in the blankets as Astrid pressed down on the cut. With one eye open he saw disgusting yellowish liquid coming out of it. She used a clean cloth to wipe it away and pressed more. Gritting his teeth more he refused to let out too much of a sound, though a few grunts in pain did leave his mouth at points. Then he felt something cold put on his leg, still with some pressure, but the pain seemed less intense.
"Can you lift your leg or…?" Astrid asked, it surprised him how worried she looked.
"Not for long," he mumbled.
"How about I'll keep it up?" Camicazi said as she walked to the end of the bed, standing right beside Toothless.
Hiccup felt his ankle being grabbed and this leg was lifted up a little. In a swift movement Astrid wrapped a bandage around it like a professional. When it was done, Camicazi slowly lowered his leg again. Astrid washed her hands in a bucket of water and then turned to look at Hiccup with a serious face.
"So the last thing you remember is fighting a Stormcutter?"
Hiccup sat up and stared intensely at his leg. It was still hurting, but less than before, though now it was added with a constant burning sensation caused by Toothless salvia that was fighting the infection. He wondered if he could fly with this injury or even walk. Then Astrid's words hit him and he looked at her with confusion.
"I never said it was a Stormcutter?" he uttered baffled.
"Stormcutter?" Camicazi repeated slowly and thoughtful, "isn't that the kind of dragon that killed Valka? A four winged one?"
Hiccup clenched his fist.
"Valka wasn't killed by that dragon, just taken," Astrid said which made him stare at her as he wondered how she knew this, "have you not been paying attention, Camicazi? I told Valka was alive like twenty minutes or so ago when you were here with Thurggery."
Astrid shook her head with a sigh as, while Camicazi looked somewhat uncomfortable and embarressed and Hiccup simply utterly confused.
"Alright," she suddenly said with a business like tone as she looked at Hiccup.
He backed away a little, feeling like his stupid fifteen year old self again and cursed at himself. How could he still jump away from a girl he used to have a crush on? Not that she didn't look any less intimidating as she did back then. She had always been focused and although she even seemed focused now, Hiccup couldn't help but feel like there was a tad more… well more what actually? He had no clue, all he could think of that she had never bothered with him this much.
"That fight took place approximately two years ago," she said, pulling him out of his thoughts, making him stare at her in disbelieve once more.
He said nothing, couldn't even think of any words and simply wanted her to continue the story so he might finally understand in what kind of situation he was actually in.
"From the information I have, you woke up from that fight with amnesia and then the dragon queen living in the mountain of that nest controlled you. For the past two years you and Toothless have been helping out with the raids."
Again, he couldn't even muster a word and looked over to his scaled friend who had moved from behind the bed to behind the two girls. Toothless nodded with a guilty look and then casted his eyes to the floor.
"One night I managed to down you two by throwing a bola at Toothless tail."
"Now that's ironic," he finally managed to say.
"Why?" Camicazi asked not understanding, to which Hiccup looked away from her as he replied in a soft mumble.
"That is how I shot him out of the air."
After a moment of silence Astrid continued.
"I went to search for you, well a dragon and a rider. I didn't know it was you. You however found me first and knocked me out."
Hiccup noted that she looked rather embarrassed and that she was quickly going over that part. He wondered why, but didn't ask.
"When I came to you were fixing Toothless tailfin. I saw you do all sort of things, pretty much watched for a while, gotta say weirdest moment of my life. When you were done I asked if the two of you were planning on eating me."
Camicazi let out a snort.
"Hey, I had no idea it was Hiccup at that point and there was a night fury in front of me that looked a whole lot scarier than he does with his puppy eyes right now!" Astrid snapped at her.
Toothless simply tilted his head, adding to his cuteness, to which Hiccup rolled his eyes. It was then he noticed his dragon companion was wearing his saddle or prostatic tailfin.
"Anyway," Astrid continued and looked back at Hiccup with mild irritation and embarrassment, "you told me you didn't eat humans, but the queen might. We got into a fight over food, you made a some sarcastic remarks and that's when I added all the things together and found out it was you. I tried convincing you were a human, you claimed to be a dragon. Got a Thor knows how long conversation with Toothless and when you were done with that talk you tried killing me."
"Wait I what?" Hiccup asked, cursing at the fact his voice broke out of pure shock.
"Ya… it seemed something was stopping you. You let me go and as I ran you hunted after me on Toothless in the end you just flew off."
"Somehow that doesn't sound like Hiccup at all," Camicazi said with a frown on her face.
Hiccup made no comment to it. Camicazi had no knowledge of what he had been doing even before he became a dragon queen's slave. It sounded like something he would do, if he would set his mind to it. He saw Astrid studying him.
"Believe me, Cami, it was Hiccup and I rather not want to have a repeat of that. It was the most terrifying experience of my life and I really thought I was going to die," the blonde said with an undertone of annoyance.
Hiccup was surprised by these words. Never had he expected Astrid of all people to admit she was terrified of someone. Especially if that someone was him.
Camicazi simply stared at Astrid. Hiccup knew the expression well, Camicazi wasn't believing it one bit. However, she made no further comment.
"So after seeing you with a dragon, I decided to train one of my own to catch up with you and get you back to your senses," Astrid suddenly continued the story.
Hiccup was left speechless once more. Astrid not attacking Toothless was one thing. Her training a dragon, that was something had never expected. That's it. He knew what was different about her. She had more curiosity. Seemed more willing to question things instead of simply believing what everyone was telling her.
"It took me while, but some fish eventually did the trick. Ruff covered up for me and Stormfly led me to the nest. That is… that is where I found your mother. She told me about the attack of the stormcutter, which was nearby and seemed protective over her, though your mother seemed terrified of the dragon."
"Hold up. Stop right there," Camicazi said and looked at Astrid, "Valka was at the nest of all places? All this time? Like a boat ride away if we had only managed to find the nest?"
Astrid nodded.
"Woa, that's great," Camicazi grinned and turned to look at Hiccup, "that's great right?"
Hiccup looked way from her with a scowl.
"Ya, great. If we forget about the fact if she is the whole reason the stormcutter attacked me in the first place," he growled bitterly, "just continue."
"When you came out of the mountain, Stormfly said something to you, making you fly away on Toothless. I went in pursuit, Stormfly decided to scoop your mother up and threw her in the air so to land behind me."
Hiccup stared at her and couldn't help to grin at that, "She must have hated that."
Astrid nodded, not sure what the reason for the grin on his face was, but continued the story.
"We caught up, which still surprises me, and I used a bola to knocked you of Toothless. You land in the ocean and I let Stormfly fish you out and throw you on the ship. Toothless soon followed and I used one of your swords and threaten him to kill you if he were to make a wrong move, while a bunch of Vikings including Stoick watch us."
Both Hiccup and Camicazi were staring at her with an open mouth. Hiccup couldn't help but think she was just as crazy as he was, perhaps even more reckless. With only one day of flying and it sounded like she had Stormfly under complete control. The mention of his sword made him think of his stuff. Better said, his flight suit, why had he not used it when Astrid attacked them. Had he not been wearing it? It was then however he noticed he wasn't wearing said suit at that moment, just some leggings and a sleeveless tunic. Toothless without saddle and prostatic tail fin, him without his flight suit. It made him really wonder where his things were and hoped they weren't back at the nest.
"So after I finally got you down and Stormfly was allowed to drop your mom off," Astrid told and he felt like he missed part of the story, but concluded it was just her trying to get control of him or something, "my mom rushed over and recognized you almost instantly. I explained the entire thing to Stoick and in turn we, dragons included, got tied up. You fell asleep, but when you woke up you no longer were under the queen's control. Once at Berk we were thrown in jail."
"Typical," Hiccup muttered not surprised at all.
He had always expected his father to disown him and then throw him in jail, exile him or even execute him at some point. Being friends with dragons seemed like the best reason ever to do so even.
Astrid didn't seemed shocked by this reaction, Camicazi however was. Hiccup couldn't help but feel guilty he never told her the truth of what his father did. He was glad she still cared about him, or at least so it seemed.
"What happened next?"
"A trial, actually. Thanks to your mother, Gobber and Gothi, but mostly your mother I think, we were freed. I was to help you remember who you were, since you still had no memories. The dragons were freed too and stayed with us."
Hiccup looked thoughtful, now realizing where he was. It was Berk and probably Gothi's hut. He didn't like that.
"So… how did I end up here?" he eventually asked.
Astrid let out a sigh.
"Four days ago Snotlout pushed you of a cliff. He says it was your own fault, but he always makes up excuses for his dumb mistakes."
Hiccup looked at the sheets as he quickly summarized what she had just told him. He had lost his memories and was then controlled by a dragon queen at the nest. He had helped out with the raids. Then was caught by Astrid who had been trying to get his memories back. And finally, the reason he was in this room wrapped in whole lot of bandages, was because Snotlout basically tried to kill him.
He turned to look at Camicazi, who was frowning.
"So, why are you here Cami?" Hiccup asked, making said girl look up.
The frown only deepened.
"Stoick is planning on another nest hunt, but is convinced he knows how to find it this time. To deal with it he called on the help of both the Bog Burglars and the Meathead tribes. To slaughter the pests as he put it down in his letter."
"He's planning a suicide mission," Astrid spat as she walked over to the table with herbs to make more ointment.
Camicazi turned to look at Astrid's back, "he wants you to come over and tell the location."
Astrid immediately slammed the pot she was holding on the table and spun around.
"I don't know that. Stormfly brought me there, I simply asked her!" she nearly shouted angrily at Camicazi, who understood the anger wasn't meant for her.
Hiccup shove over to the side of the bed and pushed himself to his feet. It hurt, but he could ignore the pain. He had been in worse conditions than this. Before the two girls could notice, he walked to the door. It was he opened the door, he caught the attention of Astrid and Camicazi who both seemed too stunned he was actually walking, they did nothing for a few seconds. Seconds he used to make a run for it, Toothless following him as expected.
Outside he felt his dragon friend nudge his arm and stopped his running to climb on Toothless back.
"Where to?" Toothless asked, it still baffled him.
"Great hall, but don't get seen when we enter."
"Damn him," Astrid cursed as she ran after Hiccup, Camicazi right behind her. However when the two were outside, Hiccup was no-where to be found. Astrid came to an immediate stop and scanned the area in the hopes of finding him, but without any luck. She wondered if he had gone to the cove. He couldn't have gone far with those injuries and flying off was also out of the question.
Then she felt someone tug her arm, it was Camicazi.
"I know you want to go look for him, but right now we need to go to the great hall," Camicazi stated.
Astrid thought it over, but had to agree. If they wouldn't show up in the great hall any time soon, things would get out of hand. Not willing to risk anything, she followed Camicazi and a few minutes later the entered the great hall, which fell silent the moment they entered.
"Well that's about time," Big Bertha said and looked a little angry at her daughter.
Camicazi simply shrugged it off, "I said I a saw her, never said she was staying in the same place. I had to search for, which took a while."
Astrid was pushed forward to Stoick who was standing in front of a map. She looked at the giant piece of paper and knew the question that was going to be ask in a matter of seconds. What she also knew was not to mention dragons in the presence of the other tribes and she was fairly certain Stoick wouldn't mention them either.
"Where's the nest, Astrid?" Stoick asked in a calm matter, not looking at her though, but at the map.
Astrid crossed her arms, there was absolutely no way she was going to give him what he wanted. First of all because it was a mad idea to go to the nest for everyone would be killed in an instant, second of, she really had no idea where it was. It wasn't like she had a map when she flew there. And that was just it, she flew there.
"I don't know. I got there by accident and I didn't have a map. I could point out an area, but already know that," she spat at him.
He was opening his mouth to say something, most likely yell at her, but he was stopped when the map on the table burst into flames. Everyone backed away as they stared at the flaming paper in confusion.
"What's the meaning of this!" Stoick bellowed as he looked around the crowd to see who did this.
It was then a person landed right in the middle of the flames that were already dying. Astrid, looking at the bare feet, let her eyes travel up and found none other than Hiccup. He stood tall and looked at his father with a furious expression, that made her swallow.
"I thought you wanted to know the location of the dragon nest. Too bad you weren't watching where the flame landed, otherwise you would have known," he mocked as he looked his father straight in the eye, something she had never seen him do.
No-one said a word, all too flabbergasted to do so. That changed a little when a big black dragon landed right next to him. Swords, hammers and daggers were pulled, but before they could even attack, Toothless used his tail to slam the first row into the second row of people. Weapons flew through the air and Hiccup caught one right with his left hand, only to swiftly move and block an attack from Mogadon.
"Put those weapons away or you will not live to tell the sighting of a nightfury," he said in a soft voice, but it made shivers run up Astrid's spine.
This. This was the Hiccup that she had met that night in the cove.
Mogadon wasn't easily intimidated and was about to strike again when Thuggery caught hold of his father's arm, making the man look around surprised.
"Put the sword away, dad," Thuggery simply said, but with a firm look on his face.
Astrid wasn't sure why, but Mogadon lowered his sword, as did Hiccup. In fact he threw the sword to the ground as Toothless circled him protectively. The dragon's eyes were splits and Astrid was sure the moment anyone would make the wrong move, Toothless would launch itself right at that person and slaughter him or her to bits.
Hiccup was on high alert, though he didn't feel defenseless without that sword. He preferred his own, which was like an extension of his arm. The one he just threw away felt wrong, off-balance and just not something he could properly work with, but if he had to, he would. Fortunately Thuggery was smart enough to stop his father from doing something foolish, at least he had a father who would listen. Now the question was, would his own father. He knew the answer. Not in a million years. However, if he would choose his words right he could mess with that plan of his father easily. After all, he wasn't just telling his father here.
"I have a question. Does any of you dimwitted, stubborn Viking know what is at the nest?"
He heard some murmur calling him stupid while other said dragons. He rolled his eyes at this.
"Of course there are dragons," he spat as he wondered if he had to spell it out for them after all, Vikings were after all rather simple people.
"A big dragon leading the tiny ones. No big deal."
Hiccup looked to his side where big Bertha huffed, crossed her arms and glared at him. She probably had no idea who he was and he liked to keep it that for now.
"How big?" he asked her with a mocking smile.
"I don't care. We just need it to leave… or we kill it. Either way works."
Hiccup snorted as he recalled Toothless words. He couldn't really recall the dragon queen himself, just a few flashes of memories when Toothless had told him more on the way to the great hall. Making that dragon leave was impossible, kill it even more so.
"How about I give you a little illustration then. Take a look at the ceiling of this hall," he replied to her stupid answer as he gestured with his left hand to the ceiling.
No-one did, typical.
"Oh come on, I'm defenseless. Got no weapons at all. On top of that you are with a few hundred men against silly little me. What are you afraid of?" he mocked them with a grin.
The answer of course was Toothless, but it seemed like he hurt their pride, a skill he had mastered over the years, and people started looking up.
"There we go. See, nothing happened. Now imagine that height, times two," Hiccup said and then swooped his father's helmet of his father's head, "Now this would be any typical Viking in comparison."
He threw the helmet on the table right in front of his father, who had yet to say a word. The man simply stared at him, no expression on his face whatsoever. The rest of the room started whispering things, though Hiccup didn't care one bit about what they were saying and continued talking.
"Now for each of you going out to the nest there will be five to ten dragons. Nothing like you have seen during any typical raid where the group would have split up and spread over the different islands. And perhaps I should mention that non of the food is eating by any of those raiding dragons. It all goes to the big queen that swallows you whole and would still feel hungry eating three fleets."
He jumped of the table right in front of Big Bertha, Mogadon, Thuggery, Camicazi and Astrid who all stared at him. The chiefs and their heirs a whole lot more stunned than Astrid.
"So if you want to sail out and attempt to fight that, by all means I won't stop you. I just thought that perhaps should know what you are up against. Personally I think it's a suicide mission, but hey, who am I to judge that," he shrugged as Toothless got off the table as well and once again circled him.
As long as Toothless was beside him, he knew things were going to be fine. He placed a hand on his friend's head.
"One last thing. Only a dragon can find the nest. So I suggest you use some terrible terrors, they are the easiest ones to take along on any boat ride."
With that he was done and made his way to the big doors with a rather surreal feeling. He was sure many of these people knew who he was after hearing the story from Astrid, however it was dead silent when he actually spoke. No-one of the Hooligan tribe, Gobber aside, was ever willing to listen to him. The big question was, had it been of any use?
He couldn't care less about what happened to the members of his old tribe. They had shunned him, kicked him and completely ignored him. However awful they may have been, he had to warn them as well, for his own sake of sanity. It would haunt him if he knew they were all slaughtered, while he could have warned them.
It was the Bog Burglars and the Meatheads he was more concerned about. He didn't want them to be dragged along because one man was too stubborn to admit it wasn't a fight he could win. Now he could only hope Camicazi and Thuggery would do their part in protecting their tribe.
"Traitor," he heard someone say.
He had expected that, so simply continued walking even though word hurt. Then the one who spoke up stepped before him. Dogsbreath. He was quickly joined by Wartihog, both looked like they had been in a fight recently and glared at him.
"You just want to protect your stupid dragon friends!" Dogbreath sneered at him.
Beside him Toothless started growling, but Hiccup placed a hand on his companion's head to calm him. He wasn't in the mood for a fight, especially not them. Last time he ended with a brushed body, barely able to sleep from the pain. So he ignored the words and walked past him, much to their surprise and dismay. Of course they had expected Hiccup to attack, any normal Viking would when their loyalty was in question. But Hiccup wasn't any normal Viking and he certainly wasn't a fool. The moment he past the two bullies from his past, he knew they would feel vexed and charge right at him in the most disgraceful way a Viking could. He reminded himself he now could avoid the hits, unlike back then.
Hiccup heard the soft movement and saw the expressions on the faces of the many there, key giveaways of the attack. Knowing his opponent was also in his favor. Dogsbreath preffed a straight blow to the head if he could, so he would simply raise his sword and then slash Hiccup right on the head or shoulder, like he had often done with a stick in their younger years. So all he did was take a step to the side, swirl around on his heels and punch him in the side of the face. That last because he felt a sudden urge in doing so, he never could when he was younger and quite honestly the guy deserved a punsh in the face if he was attack someone from behind.
As Dogsbreath footing faltered, his companion Wartihog came forward. This guy would rather swing his sword sideways, going for slicing Hiccup in two. Hiccup recalled having broken ribs because of him. Unfortunately for Wartihog however, Hiccup now had a dragon on his side who slammed him away, dropping the sword as the tail slammed in his midriff.
"Stand down, bud," he whispered to his friend.
He didn't want him to get hurt, but most of all he now really wanted to beat these two himself. To show them he was no longer that kid they used to beat up. To prove to himself he wasn't useless and would stand in a fight against them. It sounded selfish and stupid, perhaps even crazy, but he couldn't help to feel this way.
Hiccup picked up Wartihog's sword just in time, swung it up in order to defend himself from an attack from Dogsbreath. The teen pushed down hard on the sword in the hope Hiccup would fall down to the ground. Hiccup pushed back as he tried very hard to stay in position. He had one hand placed behind him, which quite honestly hurt, as he was holding the sword in his other. He noticed Dogsbreath being too focused on pushing him down, his stand wasn't balanced well. With a quick movement Hiccup kicked his attacker on the knee, making Dogsbreath stumble enough for Hiccup to gain the upper hand. He swirled the sword he was holding around Dogsbreath so the guy would let go of it. It fell down with a loud clang that echoed through the great hall. Hiccup jumped to his feet fast, giving Dogsbreath no chance to recover, and kicked the teen in the stomach. Dogsbreath stumbled backwards, wrapping his arms around himself as he growled. Hiccup noticed him suddenly smirking and quickly ducked as a fist swung over him.
Not having expected for Hiccup to duck, Wartihog almost fell over, but to his surprise Hiccup caught him as the sound of sword falling down was heard. Before he could even muster up any thought of why Hiccup would grab hold of his arm with both hands, he was whirled into Dogsbreath hitting their heads against each other. With a thud the two fell down and didn't get up.
Hiccup watched the two for a moment, mostly because he was rather surprised himself, then he turned around and wanted to continue his walk to the exit, but was blocked by none other than his own cousin. Strangely enough the teen looked somewhat uncertainly.
"Always the one to first watch and then have your own action, huh. At least you have the decency of not attacking me from behind," he growled at him with a frown as he tried to figure out what Snotlout wanted.
The uncertainty disappeared as Snotlout pulled out his sword.
"Shut up, Useless. The only reason you won that is because that stupid dragon of yours helped."
Toothless started growling, but now Hiccup understood him, he couldn't help but agree with the dragon words. It was something along the lines of 'try hurting him and I will personally haunt you the rest of your life and rip you and your family to shreds' combined with curse words as 'vile traitorous Viking' and 'shitty faced walking meatbal'. Though it did make Hiccup wonder where in the world he got this creative with the cursing.
Although Snotlout winched a moment as Toothless growled lowly at him, he remained standing, opening his mouth once more.
"You're still a weak little shit, Hiccup, you wouldn't win in a fair fight," Snotlout smirked.
Fair fight. Those words rung through Hiccup's mind as he looked at his cousin stupid and confident smirk. They never fought fair against him. They were always at least with three and sometimes even with more. Now he dared him to a fair fight?! He will show him a fair fight.
Without another thought or even picking up a weapon he ran over to his cousin, who looked rather startled, but quickly recovered and swung his sword at Hiccup. Hiccup however easily avoided every attack and kicked Snotlout in his stomach, launching his cousin against a nearby pole.
During the entire ordeal people had stared. Mostly flabbergasted, some just enjoying the show. Not a single person interfered with the fight. Astrid wanted to right at the beginning, but when Hiccup had avoided the attack and then attacked back, she immediately stood grounded to the floor as she was reminded of the Hiccup she had met when he thought he was a dragon. The memory of fear made her temporarily immobilized and by the time she recovered she saw Hiccup had the upper hand in the battle. She couldn't help be both proud and worried. Proud because she knew Hiccup had always seen himself at someone who was weak, but he was now winning this fight. Worried because he was already injured. Really, he shouldn't even be able to stand!
When Snotlout appeared into the picture announcing that the person who had appeared out of no-where was Hiccup, the Bogs and the Meatheads started whispering, asking a nearby Hooligan if it were true. The Hooligan members confirmed, though seemed just as surprised by the fact Hiccup was landing so many punches while avoiding the attacks Snotlout was throwing at him. Astrid was get more worried with the second as she noticed the wrappings around his left leg slowly turning red the more he moved around. Hiccup however was ignorant to this and kept on moving around, avoiding a fist of Snotlout and then catching the next blow.
Then she saw it. The glare in his eyes, one he had given her, but even worse. Right after he had launched Snotlout against another pole with one of his kicks. Snotlout had slumped down, but stumbled back to his feet and Hiccup was already heading over to him.
The look in Hiccup's eyes, told Astrid he was out to actually kill Snotlout. While she wasn't fond of Snotlout, she didn't want Hiccup to be charged with murder, his status was already at risk enough with having befriended a dragon. Without having even realized it, she had run over to him and grabbed hold of his left arm. To her surprise Camicazi and Thuggery had followed her, grabbing hold of Hiccup's other arm and middle. It was a good thing they had gone after her, the three of them together were already struggling with keeping him under control.
It seemed Hiccup was used to being held like the way he was and he also knew exactly how to get out. Slippery bastard, Astrid thought as he had managed to free himself from her, making her fall to the floor. With one arm free he easily and quickly got away from Camicazi who had been holding on to his other arm. He then simply pushed Thuggery away with ease and went after Snotlout again who looked petrified, a look Astrid had never seen on the teen's face. Before any of them could respond, he already marched over to Snotlout again.
What Hiccup hadn't calculated for was a dragon coming to Astrid's aid, picking him up by the collar of his tunic. Astrid saw Hiccup throw up his arms to slip out of the tunic, but since the dragon was standing on his hind paws, his front paws were free, so he used them to make sure Hiccup couldn't slip away.
Hiccup started cursing colorful in all sort of languages she had heard him talk before. The only thing she caught was 'Put me down, you stupid overgrown lizard'. Somehow Toothless managed to open the door and he and his rider left, though still under loud protest of Hiccup. Astrid looked over to Snotlout who was shaking and tried to get up, but need to hold on to the pole to keep standing. He had several bruises, probably some broken ribs and blood was running from his nose which was probably also broken.
A hand on her should made Astrid look beside her. It was Camicazi.
"Go after Hiccup, his leg was bleeding. We'll take care of things here," she whispered.
Astrid scanned the great hall, people were whispering, discussing what just had happened and how in the world Hiccup of all people could defeat Snotlout that easily. It made her frown.
"Make sure they don't go to that nest," Astrid whispered back to Camicazi and then left the great hall as well.