"Thank the gods I found you," Eret said, standing in the door to the barn.

Astrid and Hiccup looked up. Astrid breathed a sigh of relief. "We were wondering if you had gotten into some kind of trouble," she said.

"No," Eret replied. "I just don't have wings."

He stepped into the barn, looking around. "This is where we're sleeping?"

"The village is kindly letting us stay here," Astrid said.

"And you're…" Eret trailed off, motioning to her side.

"Yes," Astrid said, "I'm all stitched up. I just… can't fight or move too fast for a while."

Eret let out a breath of air. "Good." He looked at Hiccup, who was sitting on a bale of hay, staring off into the distance. "Where's Toothless?"

Astrid glanced at Hiccup worriedly, before returning her gaze to Eret. "He's in the woods. We can't have the villagers spotting him."

"No," Eret agreed. "I see you bought a new doublet."

"Yes," Astrid said, looking down. "And new shirts. The others were… well, ruined." She looked at Hiccup again, reaching out and touching his shoulder.

He jumped, turning to look at her as if she was a stranger. "Yes?" he asked.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "You haven't seemed yourself since…"

"I'm fine," Hiccup said quickly.

"No, you're not," Eret walked up to them, sitting cross legged on some hay, so the three of them sat in a circle around a lantern. "What happened while we were separated?"

"We…found a witch's cottage," Astrid said. "A witch by the name of Excellinor."

"Haven't heard of her," Eret said.

"Neither had we," Astrid said, "Or any of the villagers we asked her in Mistofer. Anyway, turns out she was Alvin the Treacherous' mother, and to exact revenge on Hiccup for killing her son, she… cursed him."

Hiccup flinched at the word, and Eret's eyes widened. "She did what?"

"She cursed him… so that he would never find happiness," Astrid said.

There was a long silence, before Eret said, hesitantly, "Oh. That's a pretty serious curse."

"She's the only one who can release me from it," Hiccup said hollowly. "But she's never going to."

After the long silence that followed, Eret said, "The fairies could."

"The fairies?" Hiccup asked, looking up.

"Yes, the inhabitants of The North. They are the most powerful creatures in all the Wilderwest. If anyone can break the curse, they can," Eret explained.

Astrid frowned. "I don't trust fairies," she said. "They're unpredictable—and they're… dangerous."

"I agree," Eret said. "But what other choice does he have?"

"Well, that settles it," Hiccup said. "I guess I have no choice but to go to The North."

Astrid laid a hand on his. "It'll be okay, Hiccup," she said quietly. "We'll find a way to relinquish the curse."

He did not look at her, just at her hand on top of his.

"I'm going to fetch some water from the well," Eret said, standing, grabbing the drinking bucket and leaving the barn, closing the door behind him.

Astrid waited a good long while, before tightening her hold on Hiccup's hand. "Thank you, Hiccup."

"For what?" he asked, turning his head to look at her in surprise.

"For saving me," she said. "If it wasn't for me—you wouldn't have been cursed and—"

"No," Hiccup interrupted. "Excellinor would have found a way to curse me somehow. It didn't matter where or what the circumstances were, all that mattered was that I killed her son."

Astrid hesitated for a moment. "That was the first time you've killed a human, wasn't it?"

Hiccup nodded mutely.

"It's alright, Hiccup. He was going to kill me—maybe all of us. You had no choice."

"There's always a choice. And I see now the cost was too great."

She squeezed his hand again, and he turned to look at her. She could see the fear in his eyes. "You will find happiness, Hiccup. I know it."

She struggled to stand, and sat next to him on his bale of hay, her hand finding his again. "Thank you, for saving my life. I won't forget it."

He looked at her, and she suddenly realized how close their faces were. "I would do it again," he whispered.

She blinked a few times, and his hand removed itself from hers, touching her cheek, his thumb a hair's breadth from her lips. He leaned forward, hesitantly, his lips inches, then centimeters, from hers. She closed her eyes, readying herself, when the door to the barn opened, and Eret's booming voice could be heard.

"I bought some bread and cheese too, thought we could eat some for… supper…" he trailed off, staring at them as Astrid moved away from Hiccup slightly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. He blinked, and continued into the barn. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"No," Hiccup said. "She was just…"

"I was just making sure Hiccup was alright," Astrid finished.

"Well," Eret place the pail of water on the ground. "Then let's eat."


"I'm not sure I'm fond of these Wild Lands," Eret said as they trekked through the long grass. "There's isn't a soul in sight."

"No," Astrid agreed from Toothless' back. "Humans don't generally live here."

"Then why are we traveling through here?"

"It's the fastest and most direct route," Hiccup answered.

"Well, I can't argue with that," Eret muttered, looking around.

"Do you hear that?" Hiccup stopped suddenly, Toothless not far behind.

Astrid cocked her head. "Hear what?" she asked.

"That," Hiccup swiveled his head around, looking with a strange sort of urgency for a sound Astrid could not hear.

"I'm not sure—oh," Eret paused, "I think I hear it too."

"What are you two talking about?" Astrid demanded, before, slowly, she could hear it as well. Some sort of song, a melody of sorts. It caused her mind to grow numb, some primal instinct coming over her.

Toothless jerked his head around to look at her, and she blinked slowly as she tried to clear her mind. Toothless jumped slightly, and the pain the jump caused to her side launched her out of her stupor. "What?" she asked, blinking rapidly. She looked around and saw that neither Eret nor Hiccup could be seen, and Toothless was walking off with her on top of him. She swore, "Where did they go, Toothless?" she asked.

Toothless snorted slightly, and then started bounding off, taking her along with him. She grunted in pain with each bound, and she realized that the ground was becoming wetter. They were in a marshland. "Look! Up ahead!" she said, pointing. Toothless let out a yowl as he sunk into the ground slightly. The ground was becoming muddier now. Hiccup and Eret were standing a ways off, knee deep in water. "You grab Eret!" she said, hopping down with a painful wince. "I'll get Hiccup."

She waded into the water, but stopped when she realized that Hiccup and Eret were not alone. A figure was standing before them, hands outstretched, beckoning them to follow. It was the figure of a maid—skin so pale it was almost luminescent, long dark hair falling in waves down her back, sparkling pale green eyes shone with a strange sort of glow. Her lips were moving, but no sound came out.

A nymph, Astrid realized with a shock.

Toothless reached Eret first, grabbing the back of his tunic with his teeth and dragging him backwards towards the shore. Astrid hurried forward. The nymph seemed unperturbed that one of her victims had been taken away. She now reached both hands out to Hiccup, and he was slowly, without hesitation, placing his own in hers. She began to lead him deeper into the marsh water. Astrid swore again, finally reached him and pulling him back. The nymph hissed, but Astrid ignored her, still pulling Hiccup away. His hands dropped the nymphs', but she had begun her singing again, and Hiccup was struggling against Astrid's pull. Suddenly Toothless was there, grabbing Hiccup's coat with his teeth and pulling him away. Astrid stopped, knee deep in murky water, breathing heavily and clutching her side. She wondered for a moment if she opened her sutures.

Suddenly, Astrid heard the melody again. Dazed, her hand dropped away from her side, and she turned to look at the nymph. Now hearing the song, the nymph seemed more beautiful than Astrid could comprehend. The nymph smiled at her, holding out her hands for Astrid to take. Astrid reached out slowly, struggling internally against a closing wall that she could not understand.

No! She had to fight…

She took the nymph's hands, and the water maiden began walking backwards, leading Astrid into deeper water.

Astrid could hear her name being called, and splashing, but she ignored it. All that mattered was the beauty and serenity of the nymph. Her silken black hair—her soft glowing skin—her luscious red lips. The water was up to Astrid's neck, and the nymph was laying her hands on either side of Astrid's face. Her face drew nearer, and Astrid found it difficult to focus on anything other than her singing lips.

The splashing grew louder, her name spoken louder and more urgently behind her. Suddenly, the singing stopped, and Astrid awoke from the spell. She could clearly hear Hiccup and Eret shouting her name, when the nymph leaned forward, kissing Astrid hard on the lips, and dragging her under the water.


Astrid opened her eyes, sitting up suddenly and looking around. She was somewhere dark—and yet there were many eerie blue lanterns lit. Somewhere damp, and yet not musty. She reached for her sword, but found it was gone. That's right, she left her sword with her things on Toothless, not attached to her belt. She instead reached for her knife, but it was missing from its sheath.

"Looking for this?"

Astrid's head whipped towards the speaker, and saw the nymph standing before her. She was just as beautiful as before, but her glow had dimmed. She looked more real, and less… alluring. And she was holding Astrid's hunting knife.

"Give it back," Astrid sprang from the bed, and frowned, touching her side.

"Oh, yes," the nymph said, walking forward with slow, sultry steps, her hips swaying beneath sheer silk, "I have some healing magic. You're welcome."

"Why did you heal me?" Astrid asked.

"Why?" the nymph stopped. Her voice lost all its sultriness, gaining a more normal tone. "Because you were injured."

"I though you—I thought nymphs ate their victims," Astrid asked, as the nymph began her slow, methodical approach again.

"Oh. Yes, we do," the nymph agreed. "But you're different than the usual sort I catch. I have no intentions to eat you."

Astrid raised her eyebrows at this. "What plans do you have for me?"

The nymph shrugged her shoulders. "I am lonely," she said. "I do not plan on forcing you to do anything. You may leave if you wish. But I would like company for a short while. The warmth of a lover is quite welcoming in these dark depths."

Astrid's brows rose higher. "I…" she hesitated. "I'm flattered, I'm sure. But I'm afraid I can't stay here. I'm on a quest, you see."

"A quest?" the nymph paused, waiting for her to continue.

"Yes," Astrid said, hurriedly. "I'm going to The North, and I don't have time to be… here talking to you."

"We don't have to talk," the nymph said, moving the last few feet so she stood just before her.

"I don't have time to be your lover, either," Astrid said, feeling her face heat up at the close proximity of the water maid.

"Is it because you have eyes for the tall, gangly boy?" the nymph asked.

"I…"

The nymph smiled. "Can't you forget him and stay here with me?"

"I'm afraid I don't want to leave because of Hiccup. It's because… I have an important quest to finish," Astrid said, reaching for the knife. She took it from the nymph.

"How disappointing," the nymph said. She turned and walked a short ways away. "I'm Heather, by the way."

"Astrid," Astrid replied, sheathing her knife, looking around for an exit. "How do I get out of here?"

"You don't," Heather replied, "Not without my permission."

"And you're not going to give me that?" Astrid asked. "Fine. I'll fight my way out."

Heather eyed her dubiously, and said, "I'll freely let you go, if…" she walked up to Astrid again. "If you stay here with me, just for one night."

Astrid's face heated up again, and said, "I am a maiden of honor, seductress. I cannot give away my virtue, even to you."

"So honorable," the nymph smiled. "Tell me, what is your home like?"

"My home?" Astrid blinked, surprised by the personal question.

"I rarely can leave my marsh," Heather frowned. "I cannot go far from water."

"Well, my home is in Berk. I am a daughter of a lord there," Astrid paused. "I have a sister."

"A sister? Does she look like you?"

"I've been told we are difficult to tell apart," Astrid said.

"Hmm…" Heather said, thinking. "Are you sure you don't want to stay here with me? You'll be comfortable."

"No, I'm afraid I really must be going…"

"Pity," Heather said. "I'm so lonely. No one ever comes by here—and when they do, they're often so boring or ugly all they're good for is eating."

"Well, I'm honored you find me exempt from that, but—"

Heather leaned forward, and Astrid was suddenly very aware of the woman's lips. She suddenly wanted to know what it would be like to kiss the nymph. She had never kissed anyone before—the kiss that brought her down to this place notwithstanding—and this woman was by far the fairest creature Astrid had ever seen.

The nymph paused, waiting for Astrid to make the first move. Astrid decided she owed the water maid that much, at least, for healing her. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against Heather's. Astrid's eyes widened slightly in shock, as the nymph deepened the kiss. For a moment, Astrid thought about forgetting her virtue, to give into temptation.

She had enjoyed it. Wanted it to continue. To go further. But her quest was too important. She needed to get back. She gently took Heather by the arms and gently moved her away, separating them. The nymph smiled at her.

"I have to go back to the surface," Astrid said. "If I don't complete my quest, someone very important to me could die."

The nymph raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "Is that so?" she asked. "Well, I suppose I could let you go… if you promise to visit me again."

"I promise," Astrid said quickly.

The nymph smiled. "Thank you." She walked forward, singing a song, and Astrid's eyes grew hazy again. She felt Heather press her lips against hers again, and suddenly all was dark.


"Astrid!"

She woke with a start, sitting up. She was sitting in water, shallow, only an inch deep, with marsh grass all around her.

Hiccup appeared by her side, placing a hand on the back of her head as she coughed up some water. "Are you alright?" he asked. "We were looking everywhere for you—how did you escape?"

"I…" Astrid began, trying to catch her breath. She looked around. They were nowhere near where she had been captured. Heather must have brought her somewhere else.

"There you are!" Eret's relieved voice came into earshot, and Astrid looked up to see him walking towards them. "Thank the gods…"

"How are your sutures?" Hiccup asked.

"They're fine, she healed me," Astrid said.

"Healed you?" Hiccup repeated. "You mean…"

Astrid stood, "Yeah, she… didn't want to kill me."

"So why did she drag you under?" Eret asked.

"She…" Astrid's face colored. "She wanted to… be lovers."

"Oh," Hiccup and Eret said in unison.

After a moment of silence, where Astrid touched her lips with a smile on her face, in fond memory of what her lips had experienced, which left, no doubt, little to Eret and Hiccup's imaginations, she said, "Well, we should probably go."

"Yeah," Hiccup said, an amused look on his face, "I guess we should."

Together, the three of them walked away towards the shore, where Toothless was waiting.


I bet you thought it would be Eret or Hiccup who would be "seduced" by the water nymph ;)

Thanks for reading!

See you soon!