I'm in a How to Train Your Dragon mood right now. Ever since the new season of Race to the Edge came out I've been in a Hiccstrid mood...so because of that, I hope you like this chapter! If you haven't watched the new season I would get on that right away because they had so many cute moments I lost count.
Anyways, enjoy, and don't forget to review, favorite, and follow!
Hiccup could only watch as she flew higher and higher and further away. He tried to go after her, but his Dad suddenly appeared behind him and held him back," Don't."
"Let go, Dad," he protested only to be silenced as a thunderbolt came crashing down and narrowly missed Astrid and Stormfly. Stormfly squawked and Astrid looked around as in started pouring rain. He prayed she didn't keep flying, or else he would go after her no matter who got in his way.
Stormfly made a noise of confusion and Astrid was sensible enough to fly her down and before the storm got worse. Stoick placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and they shared a look to which he said," I know, lass."
She let his dad lead her back inside where Asdis wordlessly handed her a fur to dry off. She dried herself off, and he was thankful to his own mom who handed both him and Dad a fur, as well.
They sat around the dining table and Astrid was the first to speak," So what now?"
"The storm has bought us some time," Dad said," I don't know for how long, but it's something...for now all we can do is wait for Drago to come to us."
He watched her look up sharply and frown," But won't that be too late?!"
Dad shook his head," Not if we use our time wisely...we need to ensure that the island is secure, that the dragons are as safe as possible, and that we know all we can about Drago."
Astrid nodded as though she suddenly understood," I see...and what do you know about him?"
He looked down before contemplating something and then he began," Years ago...there was a great gathering of chieftains to discuss the dragon scourge we all faced. Into our midst came a stranger from a strange land...covered in scars and draped in a cloak of dragon skin.
"He carried no weapon and spoke softly, saying that he, Drago Bludvist, was a man of the people devoted to freeing mankind from the tyranny of dragons. He claimed that he alone could control the dragons, and that he alone could keep us safe...if we chose to bow down and follow him."
Gobber and Astrid's dad chuckled heartily at that but their laughter was cut short as Dad continued," Aye, we laughed, too...until he wrapped himself in his cloak and cried out, 'Then see how well you do without me!'
"The rooftop suddenly burst into flames and from it armored dragons descended burning the hall to the ground. I...was the only one to escape..."Dad finished looking down almost in pain.
Everyone was quiet.
"It wasn't until a few years later that he returned, and sought me out," he said," He initiated a dragon raid like no other...and all because I'd been the only one to escape. He came to Berk with a horde of dragons and began terrorizing the whole island. No one knew what to do.
"And then...just when things were at their worst and it seemed as though the entire island wouldn't make it...he found you. He demanded a trade. He would leave Berk alone for the time being...in exchange for you, lass."
Asdis spoke up almost reduced to tears," He gave us little to no choice, dear. He took you and it was either...he took you and left Berk alone...or Berk would be reduced to nothing and everyone on Berk...including you, as well."
"He gave us no choice, Astrid," Astrid's dad said," We gave you up...and prayed to the Gods that you would make it, and you did."
"He said he would be back," Stoick said bitterly," And he stayed true to his word..."
...
Astrid spoke up," I see..."
"And what about you, lass?" Stoick asked seriously," What can you tell us about Drago?"
"I was raised to believe that the only person who could protect everyone was Drago," she said," And that the people who refused to acknowledge him...were cruel barbarians and clearly deranged. They would hurt me and would try and harm him, and if he was harmed...all hope would be lost.
"He refused to let me do much of anything that meant going outside," she said before shrugging somewhat sheepishly," But you already knew that...I do remember when he would take me with him sometimes to see the dragons he'd captured. They would be in cages and would be fighting against them if they weren't already sedated.
"I would be terrified every single time he would take me, and once when I was younger and had only gone with him a few times...I'd asked him why he was doing that to the dragons..."
She closed her eyes and tried to remember that day, and she could almost see the dragons screeching and fighting and trying to get free. She's looked around to see why everyone was doing that to the dragons and Drago had only looked at her condescendingly displeased.
Hiccup brought her out of her thoughts," Astrid?"
She shook her head and powered through," He said that that was how things had to be. If that was what he had to do to keep everyone safe... Then so be it."
"Do you know who worked for him," Stoick asked," Who's helping him create his dragon army?"
She bit her lip and shook her head," I only know the most recent one..."
"Recent one?" Gobber asked confused.
She nodded and explained," He goes through dragon trappers pretty quickly...no one's ever been able to completely meet Drago's standards concerning dragon trapping."
"What happens to them?" Stoick demanded and she stepped back a bit before hesitating.
"Can we go to them and ask for help?" Hiccup asked his face suddenly hopeful.
She hated having to crush it but she shook her head," They're gone. Once they would become too sympathetic or they don't trap enough dragons...or anything really Drago would dispose of them and hire someone else."
"When you say dispose of," Hiccup began," You don't mean-"
He stopped at the look on her face and they were all silent once more.
"So then what are we supposed to do?" Hiccup said bitterly.
She looked down and muttered," I don't know..."
"What's the name of the most recent dragon trapper?" Gobber asked.
"He said his name was Eret," she said," He's lasted the longest...but that doesn't mean he's exactly well off...I know that he is as terrified of Drago as everyone else... He's lasted the longest only because Drago has actually taken to only punishing him when a shipment is lacking...I can only think of one time when he got an especially brutal punishment...to the point where I had to treat an awful wound...I think he was branded and it eventually scarred over but Drago promised it would be much worse if he ever failed to follow orders again. He was never late or short on a shipment again."
"Well, that rules him out doesn't it," Valka said who had been silent the whole time. I realized she had only been analyzing the situation and clinging to whatever hope she could get, like Hiccup, only to fall short and with nothing left to hold onto.
Dad nodded reluctantly finally breaking his silence," I don't think someone under that kind of pressure would be willing to try anything against Drago...especially considering all the others."
Mom nodded too but then looked at Hiccup," What do you think can be done?"
"Me?" he asked confused.
She nodded," You were the one who was able to find him, you brought Astrid back, and you're the one who's resolved most of the dragon problems ever since...you must have some ideas."
He cocked his head to the side before sheepishly running a hand through his hair," They're not very good...or even well thought out-"
"But they're something, Son," Stoick said," and right now...we could use anything."
Hiccup nodded and then sighed tiredly," Well, it's just an idea...but it's not one anyone of you will probably like...frankly I don't either."
"Well, what is it, Son," Dad said concerned.
"We need to talk to Drago," he said already knowing what they were goign to say, but cutting off any protests," If we could talk to him...see if there is any hope for Berk-"
"You don't think people have tried that, Son?" Stoick said incredulously.
"Maybe," he said," But what else is there?"
They were quiet but he was surprised when Astrid was the one to break it and said pretty bluntly," It won't work, Hiccup."
He frowned and looked at her questioningly," How come?"
"Your Dad's right," she said sighing tiredly," You're not the first one to try and talk or negotiate with Drago. I grew up watching them go down one by one, and I don't want you to be the next."
He tried not to be hurt at her admonitions, but he couldn't help it. He could take it from his Dad and he could take it from the village, he could take it from almost anyone else, but why did it hurt so much coming from her? " Are you saying I can't do it? I've done it before and it would-"
She frowned and shook her head," It's not you I'm doubting, Hiccup. It's Drago who I know for a fact does not listen to anyone if they're against him. You going there would be stupid. He won't listen to you."
He was silent but the gears in his mind were already turning with idea after idea and he was brought out of his thoughts by her pleading," Don't go, Hiccup."
He paused at her pleading face. Her eyes were wide with true fear, her expression desperate, and he couldn't look at her for very long before his guilt forced him to look down," I won't go alone."
She stared at him for a moment before nodding and he felt the guilt wash over him all over again, but he had to do this for her and for Berk.
This plan would be foolproof.
Astrid and her parents left soon after, but she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy about what Hiccup was going to do. As naive and delicate as everyone probably thought she was, she was not stupid, and knew when someone was lying to her. Especially when that person was as honest as Hiccup was.
She knew he was up to something, but only hope he didn't put himself in unnecessary danger. Stormfly seemed to sense her unease, and nudged her comfortingly.
Her mom placed a comforting arm around her, too," It'll be fine, lass, Hiccup knows what he's doing."
Her dad nodded encouragingly," That boy has gotten out of more scrapes than even he can keep track of."
She frowned already knowing that this was one scrape that, if he got himself into, he wouldn't be able to get out of," You don't know that..."
They earned their house and her Mom just kissed the top of her head," Well, for now let's just eat dinner and decide where to go from there, okay?"
She nodded and let herself be helped inside," Okay."
They ate dinner peacefully enough and then Astrid made her way to bed only to find an unexpected visitor," Sneaky! What are you doing...here?"
She knelt down and the Terror perched on her arm and she unrolled the little not he had attached to his leg. It read:
I'm sorry, but this was for the best, and I know what I'm doing. Don't worry.
- HHHIII
She was ready to strangle one crazy stupid viking, and immediately opened her window and hesitated before calling for Stormfly who was in her pen," Come on, Girl, let's go to the Haddock's."
She put her hood up to block out the scattered rain and did her best to fly through the cold. Eventually they reached the chief's household and she jumped off and immediately pounded on the door," Chief! Valka! Hiccup!"
Valka immediately opened the door and alarm was evident on her face," What's wrong, lass? Is everything alright?"
"Where's Hiccup?" she demanded.
"He's upstairs...why? What's wrong?" she said frowning.
"Are you sure?" she pressed frantically.
Stoick ushered her in," Why do you ask?"
"Please check," she said pleading.
They frowned in worry but obliged and she followed them upstairs hoping and praying that the note was a hoax. Sadly, when they opened the door, they were greeted by a very empty room and no sign of Hiccup and Toothless anywhere...
And there it is! I wish it was a bit more, but this chapter was necessary for the next chapter. So keep a look out for that!
Hope you enjoyed!