"Are you sure this will work?" Astrid muttered, mostly to herself, as Hiccup had been obsessed of late—and, unlike her, positive this plan would work. So Astrid and Eret were mostly just going along with it. Still, kidnapping a fairy seemed… a dangerous thing to do. But it may just be their only way to sneak into The North undetected.

The problem was, Astrid thought, holding the rope tightly in her hand, eyes peeled to the sky, fairies were unpredictable. One might agree to help, but even under duress, they'll be far more likely to sway you than to help you.

Still, they had little other options.

Astrid saw her approach, her large wings moving so quickly Astrid's human eyes could not keep up with them. The fairy fluttered in and out—like all fairies do, almost not quite there, but not quite not there at the same time. Even from this distance, Astrid could feel her magic. It oozed off the fairy like lava, or swamp slime.

Astrid had no faith this trap would work—a fairy could just magick herself away—or break free of the ropes—but Hiccup was convinced it would work. He had taken the rope and done something with it, gone off and when he had returned, he had a rather unpleasantly determined look on his face. Even now, the rope tingled under her skin—even through her think, fur lined gloves. It was strange, Astrid thought, but she put it to the ever growing cold.

The fairy hesitated just before the object set in the middle of the trap. She looked around, and Astrid knew then that the fairy knew quite well this was, in fact, a trap. But if one could count on one thing, it was that fairies could never resist treasure. And Astrid's father's insignia was a rare piece of jewelry, a fine piece of treasure if there ever was one.

The fairy dropped down to the ground, reaching for the ring, a hungry glint in her eye—and Astrid pulled, the same time Eret and Hiccup pulled. The fairy gave out a sharp shriek as the net came up around her, entrapping her. Astrid secured her rope and drew her sword, rushing into the clearing. The fairy was struggling against her ropes, and Astrid paused for a moment before her, as Hiccup and Eret hurried over, wondering why the fairy had not done something about the net with her magic.

Hiccup paused, staring long and hard at the fairy. For a moment, everyone was silent, including the fairy, who had ceased her struggles. The fairy gazed directly at Hiccup, and soon a cunning look entrapped her face. "Well, well, well," she said, grinning like a loon, "What do we have here?"

Hiccup frowned, staring down at her with confusion.

"Don't think I don't know who you are," the fairy said, leaning back a little, before realizing she had nowhere to go. She narrowed her eyes, perfect, white teeth barred in an unpleasant grin, "Little changelings are easy to spot. My father was one, after all."

"Changelings?" Eret glanced at Hiccup, confused. "What does she mean, changelings?"

Astrid stared at Hiccup for a moment. The nasty little suspicion playing in the back of her mind worming its way to the surface. But this was not the moment for that. She returned her attention to the fairy. "What is your name, fairy?" she asked.

The fairy barred her perfect teeth again, shaking out her messy array of hair. "Not telling."

Hiccup drew his sword, holding the point towards her, but drew it away when the fairy inhaled sharply in a painful hiss. "What is it?" he asked.

The fairy hissed again, barring her teeth in a growl. She clenched the ropes tightly, but did not say anything.

"What is your name?" Astrid repeated.

"C…amicazi," the fairy said, still eyeing Hiccup's sword with malice. "Why would two humans and a changeling want to know my name?"

"Because you're going to take us to The North," Eret said.

The fairy gave out a loud laugh—a crazed laugh, bellowing with all her might. Finally, her laughter subsided, and she giggled for a short while. "Silly human," she said, "Humans can't go to The North. But you," she eyed Hiccup again. "You could go, if you'd like."

Hiccup narrowed his eyes for a moment, before shaking his head. "I won't go unless these two go with me. And you will take us to The North. You will swear to do it."

The fairy raised her perfect eyebrows challengingly, but visibly gulped when Hiccup brought the tip of his sword closer to her. "I'm guessing you don't like iron," Hiccup said. "I'd hate to use it against you—but if it'll make you swear to take us there, I will."

"Hiccup…" Astrid said.

Hiccup ignored her.

Camicazi narrowed her eyes again, gazing directly into Hiccup's. "Very well," she sighed, "I swear to take the three of you into The North."

Hiccup drew his sword away from her, sheathing it. "Good," he said, taking out his hunting knife and cutting the ropes. The fair stepped away from them, holding her arms, where Astrid noticed there were slight burn marks from the ropes. "Very well," the fairy said, "We shall walk the rest of the way—since you slow pokes don't have wings." She turned and began walking north, and Astrid, Eret, and Hiccup followed.

"What did you do to the rope?" Eret asked, falling into step beside Hiccup and Astrid. "It burned her."

"Just a little magic," Hiccup muttered.

"Hiccup," Astrid said quietly, "She called you a changeling. Valka… what she said to you—was it—"

Hiccup picked up his pace, leaving the two behind and falling into step with the fairy up ahead. Astrid watched him go, sighing in frustration. Even now, with the truth almost out, he kept silent. Why? She already had suspicions that Hiccup may be Valka's son. And, therefore, he was part fairy. Why was he still holding back? She caught Eret's eye, and the two shared a meaningful glance. "I don't know why he's doing this," she said.

"Don't you?" he asked.

She glanced at him quizzically.

Eret sighed. "Come on, Astrid," he said. "Think a little. Fairies are the reason we all are in this mess. How'd you feel if you found out you were half fairy, after everything they did to you? And even you. Put yourself in Hiccup's shoes. You haven't exactly been amicable towards fairies this whole time."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Astrid asked, bristling slightly.

"What I mean is," Eret said, "Hiccup cares what you think—and he thinks, probably accurately, that you hate fairies more than anything. And he finds out that he's part fairy."

Astrid's eyes widened slightly, looking at forward at the back of Hiccup's head. Surely Hiccup would not think so low of her as to think she would hold his parentage against him in such a way. But still, when this was all over, she would have a talk with him. Tell him she did not care that he was, allegedly, part fairy.

He was her friend after all.


"If you hadn't used your iron to force me, I wouldn't have agreed to this," the fairy informed him.

Hiccup glanced at her, raising in his eyebrows. "I'm desperate," he said, shrugging.

"A brute," she answered. "Why do you want to go to The North, anyway? Your mother isn't there."

"I know," Hiccup replied.

"Then why?"

"My friend is there," Hiccup said.

"Friend?"

"A dragon."

Camicazi frowned, gazing at him shrewdly. "What happened to your… friend?"

"Angharad kidnapped him," Hiccup said.

Camicazi looked at him in surprise. "Then I'm afraid you're never getting him back," she said. "The Queen does what she likes and does it permanently." She paused, and said, "I'm sorry… about your friend."

After a long silence, she continued, "What about the others? I know why the girl is coming—I recognize her. She looks like her sister. But what about the man?"

"Eret was cursed," Hiccup said, "He's going to The North to free himself."

"Well, he won't find what he's looking for there," Camicazi said. "But still, I hope you all find what you're looking for."

"Thanks…" Hiccup said, glancing at her in uncertainty. "You… you called me a changeling. What does that mean?"

"Changeling?" Camicazi glanced at him, "You don't know?"

"I… have an idea it has to do with fairies," he said offhandedly. "But other than that, I don't really know."

"It's a male fairy," Camicazi said. "Only female fairies are pure fairies. Male fairies generally have a human body, but can learn how utilize their fairy powers, if they chose to. Your powers have been awakened—I can tell. The ropes… your aura. Was it your mother?"

Hiccup looked away. "It doesn't really matter," he said. "Once we reach The North and I get back Toothless, I'm never going to use these powers again."

Camicazi laughed. "That's impossible," she said. "You'll never be rid of them—and you can't resist them. They're yours whether you choose them or not. You're stuck with them. And now that they've awakened, they'll only grow. I have a feeling you're going to be very powerful."

Hiccup looked at her in surprise.

Camicazi shrugged, grinning at him.

Hiccup allowed himself a smile, and the two continued on in silence.


"And nothing will happen to us, if we cross now?" Eret asked Camicazi.

"That's what I'm telling you, you stupid oaf," she said, crossing her arms.

Eret and Astrid stood shivering in the deep ice and snow, while Hiccup seemed to barely feel the cold and Camicazi stood, barely covered, as if the cold could not touch her. "Alright," Hiccup said, stepping over the line. He tensed, but continued on.

Hesitantly, Astrid and Eret followed him. "The other fairies can't stop you now—or even sense you're coming, necessarily," Camicazi said, "Or at least, they won't stop you now. You've been invited inside."

"Thanks," Eret said. "Well, let's get going."

"Alright," Astrid agreed, squaring her shoulders, "Camicazi, lead us to the capitol."

"Not a capitol," Camicazi said, heading off, walking a top the snow as if she weighed nothing, "The Center. Where all the magic of the world comes from."

They walked for some time, until even Astrid and Eret could feel the thick magic emanating from their destination. The snow lessoned here, although it got no warmer. As they neared, Astrid felt as though her warm wools and leathers and furs did little to nothing against the bitterness. She was cold to the bone—and it was not just because the wind and cold around her. As she approached the Center of The North, she could feel whatever pain and chill was inflicting Alfhild.

She pushed these thoughts out of her mind, or at least tried to, but found she could not. Alfhild was just up ahead. Soon, the end of her journey would come. Astrid did not care what happened to her—only that her sister was safely returned to Berk. She would do what she must—at whatever cost.


They walked through a field of large mirrors. Except they were not mirrors, they were crystals. He watched his reflection as he passed by myriads of them. There must be hundreds, if not thousands.

"We're almost there," Camicazi said.

The snow was still falling, although less so and it barely covered the ground. Camicazi paused before a large crystal, and turned to face them, "Just around here, is where your sister is being kept," she told Astrid.

Astrid's eyes widened, and she drew her sword, breaking into a run and rounding the crystal, disappearing from their view.

"Astrid!" Hiccup hissed, as he and Eret hurried after her.

As Hiccup and Eret rounded the crystal, they found themselves in a large clearing, in the center of which was a massive crystal. Astrid stood before them, sword arm slack, staring up in horror.

Encased within the crystal, frozen, was the spitting image of Astrid.

"What have you done to her?" Astrid cried out, her voice broken.

Hiccup heard a low chuckle, and looked past Astrid at the figure standing before the crystal.

Queen Angharad.

If Hiccup had thought her beautiful in his dreams and visions, that was nothing compared to what she was now. She was an otherworldly kind of beauty—strange and cruel. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful creature he had ever beheld.

But also somehow the ugliest.

"Sweet little Alfhild," Queen Angharad simpered, gazing directly at Hiccup, "So beautiful and charmed. Her life is being put to good use now—her life force is quite delicious."

Astrid made no move, her eyes glued to her sister's face.

"Where is Toothless?" Hiccup called out.

"The dragon?" Queen Angharad paused for a moment, taking her time to answer. "I sold him. To that Drago man."

"What?!" Hiccup nearly dropped his own sword. "You did what?!"

Queen Angharad laughed—a ringing giggle that sent shivers down Hiccup's spine. "Your turn now, I suppose?" she said, turning her head slightly to gaze at Eret. "I'm afraid I cannot help you either. Only the fairy that placed the curse can release you from it."

"And which fairy is that?" Eret asked.

"Why, the fairy you've already met," Queen Angharad said. "I believe you know her as… Valka."

Hiccup started, and even Eret and Astrid looked shocked. "What?" Eret asked. "She's the one who cursed me? Then why didn't she do anything when we met?"

"Didn't you know?" Queen Angharad said, in a flirtatious whine, a look of great amusement on her face. "We fairies are… very selfish." She turned her eyes on Hiccup. "And about your curse… I'm afraid there's no use trying to lift that one."

She turned her attention back to Astrid. "How do you like your sister now? Soon, her beauty and life shall be gone. Sucked dry to feed my magic."

Astrid's eyes widened. "No!" she said. "I won't let you!" She lifted up her sword, holding it in a ready stance. "Fight me, witch!"

"You want to fight me?" Queen Angharad asked, laughing. "Please, you're just a human girl. You cannot hope to defeat me."

"I will fight you—whether there is hope to win or not," Astrid said, charging the fairy before Hiccup or Eret could stop her.

The queen waved her hand and a long golden sword appeared in it. She blocked Astrid's swing with ease with one hand, throwing Astrid off balance as she parried. Astrid came at her again, while Hiccup and Eret watched helplessly.

"Should we help her?" Eret asked.

"Yeah," Hiccup said, adjusting the sword in his hand. But no sooner than he had taken a few steps, then the queen lunged forward, her sword entering Astrid's chest and emerging through her back.

Hiccup and Eret stopped, eyes wide, shocked into stillness.

Astrid gave out a gurgled gasp, blood dripping from her mouth, as the queen's sword disappeared. From her wound, crystals appeared, and Astrid fell to the ground, motionless.

"Astrid!" Hiccup and Eret rushed forward. Hiccup reached Astrid first, falling to his knees beside her. Eret hung back, watching as Hiccup drew Astrid into his arms. "Astrid," Hiccup whispered, but he gained no response from her still form.

Hiccup felt an accumulation of emotions. But most of all, he felt a kind of hollowness. He drew her close to him, gritting his teeth and squeezing his eyes shut, his head near hers, as he felt the warmth leave her body.


TO BE CONTINUED…

What will happen now?

You'll just have to wait and see!

Thanks for reading!

See you soon!