The stench of mold and mildew penetrates Stoick's senses as he was shoved carelessly shoved into his prison cell along with Gobber. Astrid and Fishlegs were placed in the cell across the way, and Snotlout and the twins next to them. The dragons were already imprisoned in the arena, muzzled and locked like they were back in the old days.
Astrid stumbled in as the guard slammed the door shut. It slammed together with a harsh metallic clang. Fishlegs immediately burst into tears as other Vikings were filed in one by one. Once the final door was slammed, the main door was shut and the only daylight streamed in from the cracks in the stone.
Astrid looked out from her cell to meet Stoick and Gobber. Huddled in the corners of their cells.
"I can't believe Alvin has Hiccup." Astrid said, choking on her words as they fell.
"He obviously wasn't your type then." Snotlout jokes, but was only met with the twins tackling him and beating him senseless. Not even they thought this was the time to make jokes.
Stoick didn't even bother with telling them to stop. Not only did he not care, but he knew they'd ware themselves out eventually. He sat on the ground, back to the cold stone, and just sighed.
"Don't tell me your giving up." Gobber says.
"Well I don't know what else to do, Gobber." Stoick says. The tone of defeat in his voice made Gobber's stomach churn.
Gobber places a hand on Stoick's shoulder. "We can't give up yet, Stoick. There's still hope."
Stoick looks to him with tired eyes. "How?"
Gobber reaches behind him, and brings forward the Book of Dragons. Stoick's eyes widen in shock.
"How, how did you get that?" he asks, his hope rising.
Astrid looks over and sees the book. She nudges Fishlegs and when he sees the book, he crawls toward the front of the cell door.
"Is that . . .?!" he asks excited.
"The book. Yes."
"Gobber, how . . ." Stoick trails off.
"I had Dagur slip it to me while we were sparing. He managed to snatch it without Alvin knowing."
"This is Perfect!" Astrid says. "Now we can find a way out to save Hiccup!"
Gobber carefully flipped through the pages, keeping a precautious hand in case any pages fall out. He finds the wrinkled pages of the Changewing and carefully reads down the page.
"Is there anything on how to free victims of its hypnosis?" Astrid asks.
"Unfortunately yes." Gobber starts. "I'm not sure if you kids have updated this yet, but it says that the only way to free Changewing victim is to eliminate the source of power."
There's an eerie silence that follows after Gobber reads it.
"You mean, the only way to save Hiccup, it to . . ." Astrid trails off.
"We need to kill the Changewing."
Outside near the Dragon Academy, Alvin and a few of his men, carry the throne chair into the arena. In the same spot where it was placed for the Thawfest Games. Hiccup stands by with Toothless as the men position the chair.
But Hiccup had other ideas on his mind. He gently stroked Toothless' head, staring blankly ahead at the asphalt ground. Toothless purring as he rubbed his hand over his forehead. Once he sees the chair in position, he makes his own way to the upper level.
He walks up just in time to listen to Alvin preach about his success. "It is time, for the most evil scoundrel, the most vial tyrant, the most cruel villain to ascend the throne!"
"Uh, uh there's a slight problem with that sir." Savage informs.
Alvin pauses to give him the death glare. Then his vision flickers to Hiccup, and automatically Hiccup snatches his whip and snaps it for intimidation.
Savage quickly carries on. "Uh, you see, we need the chief's helmet, as a form of proof or souvenir for your legendary conquer of Berk."
Hiccup makes his way to Alvin's side where he shares with him a questionable look. But Alvin agrees to Savage's conditions and sends him down to dungeon to retrieve the hat. Hiccup watches him carefully as he walks down.
"You're awfully quiet, my son." Alvin says breaking his thoughts.
Hiccup's quiet for a moment. "Uh, yeah. Something's, just not right."
"Well, why don't you go down to the Square and help the men gather the belongings of the villagers?" Alvin suggests.
"I think I'd rather go visit the prisoners." Hiccup said. "I honestly don't know why, but . . ."
"Well, since they'll be executed after the ceremony, I guess I can grant you on final visitation." Alvin says.
"Thank you, father." Hiccup says, before he exits the arena, Toothless not far behind him.
"There's no way we can kill that dragon." Stoick protests. "Even under these circumstances, Hiccup would never forgive himself."
"Himself?" Astrid questions.
"Hiccup would blame himself for the death for the dragon. I don't know how, but he just would. We need to find a better way."
"Plus, remember the way he acted when Toothless attacked him? He collapsed unconscious. There's no telling what could happen if we kill the thing." Fishlegs reminds.
"We need to find a better way." Stoick says.
"Well, how would Hiccup think around this situation?" Gobber asks.
But before anyone could answer, the main door opened and Savage walks in, and down the aisle until he reaches the cell containing the Vikings. Gobber manages to slip the book into his vest without him noticing.
"What do you want?" Stoick asks in a bitter tone.
Savage doesn't say anything, instead, a guard opens the door and the two men struggle until Savage snatches the hat. No one thought to run for the door as there were three other men present.
Once he has the hat, Savage slams the door. "What was that for?!" Astrid shouts to him.
"Alvin needs this for his coronation. A new chief has to look special." Savage says before slamming the cell door, leaving them with the utter shock of the news.
"Alvin's being crowned tonight?!" Astrid says in shock. "We've got to stop them!"
"Oh, no sweat." Snotlout interjects. "We can overwhelm them with our pitiful cries for mercy!"
Suddenly the door opens again. "I swear Savage if you've come back again . . .!" Astrid starts, but when she sees the silhouette of a young man, she stops.
Her eyes adjust as he walks down the aisle. He'd changed his clothing since the invasion. He now wears something similar to his usual green tunic. The armor removed for now, and no weapons in hand.
"Hiccup." She says through a breath of shock.
As if on cue, everyone rushes to the front of their cells, clinging to the doors, reaching their hands through the bars to grab him. Hiccup weaves his way through the web of hands. Making a way to his destination.
Astrid and Stoick's cell.
His eyes stay locked as he moves through the crowd. Astrid feels the same bud of hope bloom in her chest. But Hiccup's words to the prisoners cautioned her.
"Leave me alone!" he repeats as he snatches his hands away.
When Hiccup reaches their cell, all he does is stare at them. His face wasn't threatening like the way he was during the invasion. It wasn't merciless.
But curious. The skin between his eyebrows wrinkled as his eyebrows furrowed. As if he was trying to figure something out.
"Are you here to torture us too?" Astrid asks. A little attitude in her tone, but enough so that he wouldn't be insulted and leave.
"I came here on my own free will." He says.
There's a moment of silence, and as his eyes flick to the different people, his expression began to soften more and more.
"You mean, you came for us?" Fishlegs asks gently.
"At last! I can feel the ominous ball of doom starting to lift!" Snotlout says.
"Let's not get all teary-eyed. I just wanted to see you all beg before your execution." He snaps.
"Execution?!" Gobber says shocked.
"There's that ball of doom again." Snotlout adds.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say, AH!" Fishlegs cries.
"Hiccup, please you can't let this happen!" Astrid protests.
"I'm not a hiccup!" he retorts.
"Please, listen! It's us! You know us!" she practically begs.
"Yeah, I know. You're the Vikings I fought when I invaded hours ago!" Hiccup says in a frustrated tone.
"No!" Astrid cries, on the verge of tears. "We're your friends! We run a Dragon Training Academy together!
"Ha! How could you train dragons?" Hiccup says unconvinced.
"You did it!" Astrid almost accuses. "That Night Fury is named Toothless! He's your dragon that you trained!"
"He's a beast that's the unholy offspring of lightning and death. How could I train that thing?"
"Because you're special." Stoick interjects. Hiccup turns around to face him.
"I know I am. I defeated you didn't I?" Hiccup mocks.
"Only because you're my son." Stoick says.
"I think we've already been through this." Hiccup says annoyed. Turning away he's about to head out the door.
"You have a scar on you upper left arm." Stoick suddenly says, and Hiccup pauses.
He turns so Stoick, shocked and even scared. Stoick just looks to him, and as if needed to, Hiccup lifted his arm and revealed a small white scar just on the inside of his bicep.
Hiccup stares at it before looking to Stoick. "How did you know that?" he asks.
"You got that during a fishing accident one day." Stoick says.
"Alvin never said how I got it. I don't even think he knows I have it." Hiccup says.
"I do. Because you're -"
"You're son." Hiccup interrupts. "Enough! I don't know what trickery you're playing, but it's not going to work!"
"Hiccup!" Astrid calls and he turns around. "Look at me and tell me you don't know me!" she pleads as she looks through the bars.
"Okay! I'm telling you, I don't-" Hiccup stops as he stares into Astrid's eyes. "Wait a minute. I, I do feel like I know you. Somehow."
Astrid smiles in hope. "Yes! Yes, you do! We train together at the Academy. We help each other and we, like each other." She admits. "We care about each other."
Astrid witnesses a small flicker emanate from his eyes. Like a small spark of a fire cracker exploded. "Astrid?" Hiccup leans in curling his fingers around the bar.
Suddenly a hand smacks down on his shoulders and Hiccup gasps. He turns and finds Savage. "Dagur is in his cell, sir. And Alvin wants you at the arena for the coronation." He informs.
"Uh, very well. I'll be there shortly." He answers, and Savage leaves the dungeon.
"You put Dagur in a cell? I thought he was helping you?" Astrid questions.
"His services are no longer needed." Hiccup confirms.
She's quiet for a moment. Hiccup's about to turn away. She can't let him go. Not yet, not when she's this close.
"Hiccup," she pleads.
She reaches a hand through the bars, and manages to braise his cheek. It felt rough and scarred compared to the usual softness it once had. To her surprise, Hiccup pressed his cheek into her palm and held her hand there with his.
He stared at her for a moment. He wasn't sure what it was, but something about this girl made him want to remember a life he never knew he once had.
"Astrid," he whispers. Eyes becoming glassy with what would be tears.
"Hadrian," Hiccup squeezes his eyes shut for a brief moment. Astrid can feel the pressure as Hiccup holds her hand. But when he reopens his eyes, the glimmer is gone. "Alvin wants you out in the arena, sir." The guard informs him.
Hiccup turns to him. "Very well."
And with that the guard left, oblivious to his possible treasonous act of holding hands with a prisoner.
Hiccup turns back to Astrid. "I must go now." He says.
Astrid pleads through her eyes as he tells her. She can feel her heart falling into pieces. She lets out a small breathe, and Hiccup slowly turns away. She feels the skin of his hand slowly slip off as he walks away.
She cherishes every moment of it. She plays everything in slow motion. The roughness of his skin. The pressure in his grip, still very gentle. Up to the tips of his fingers tapping her own, until the hand is completely gone.
Astrid curls her fingers in and feels her nails dig into the skin of her palm. Trying to replicate the feeling. That glorious feeling. Hiccup's footsteps are heard as they fade away and the main dungeon door shut.
As Hiccup's walking down the hall, his fingers braise against his own palm. A cruel wanting to feel Astrid's hand again. To feel her skin.
There was something more in it than he realized. A feeling of home. A feeling of wanting. Longing.
As Hiccup's eyes are dazzled for a moment by the sunlight, he feels a sudden cooling on his cheeks.
He wipes his fingers on his cheek, and he feels tears.