Hello! Sorry about last week. I was very ill and I couldn't stay awake to finish the chapter. But, I did post a new story. It's called, "The Viking's Have Their Tea" and it's a collection of oneshots and drabbles I've done for Tumblr. So if I don't update, check there, and I'll probably have at least something up. Anyway, enjoy this long awaited chapter!

—

The sun's rays beat down on his skin like whips. He swallowed again and again, his mouth so dry, begging for water, but the rope around his neck made it very difficult. He wanted to sleep, he was so exhausted. Hiccup felt his skin and tail cracking, but the light spray of icy water against the boat was enough to keep him conscious. Dagur was cruel and evil, he knew this would happen. He knew that Hiccup needed just a little water to survive, but this amount would make it a painful existence.

"Sir, what's going to happen now?" Hiccup heard a man ask his tormentor. If he strained, he could hear the conversation. Whatever his fate was, he needed to know what they were planning next.

"Why, whatever do you mean?"

"We're the only ship to survive…not even the Gauls made it out. The twelve or so of us can't take down the entire island of Berk. Not with those Mermaids!"

"Calm yourself general." He chuckled. "I have a Plan B."

"The Outcasts?"

Dagur scoffed. "I wouldn't trust those imbeciles with eating utensils! No, what I have is much greater. Pray tell, have you ever heard of Drago Bludvist?"

The general was quiet, supposably shaking his head.

"When I was still a boy, a man came to visit my father. He had long locked hair, and wore a dragon skin cape. He spoke in hushed tones. He told of the wonders of mermaids, and how valuable they are. Scales like precious gems, their hair can woven into the finest silks, and believe it or not, their blood can cure any illness."

Hiccup didn't know any of this. That's why people were so adamant on hunting down the mermaids!

"Of course, their beauty is something of itself, but as we've seen they're too deadly to keep as pets."

"So, what about Drago?"

"He asked my father to help fund his little mermaid hunting project. Give him some men, and money, and he would return the profit."

"What did your father do?"

"Laughed in his face. He thought the man was absolutely crazy."

"So, how are we supposed to get him to help us after that?"

Dagur clapped his hands together and laughed. "Easy, we have payment. And it's tied to the front of the ship."

Hiccup grit his teeth. This wasn't over, not by a long shot.

"Once we get Drago on our side, those bloody creatures in the bay won't be any match for us." He laughed. "And the pay off will be so worth it."

"But sir…there's still only a dozen of us."

"But Drago's army is numerous. Even if Berk is prepared next time…" He crackled his knuckles. "They won't even make it to Valhalla."

—

Fishlegs was on clean up crew. The beach was becoming more and more littered as ship debris washed a shore. It seemed like the whole side of the island would be buried in driftwood. So 'Legs carried a wheelbarrow with him through the sand, not an easy feat, and picked up some of the wood to be used as kindling. He worked on the east side of the island, where most worked on the south and west.

A mast covered the ground, and an unmarked sail draped aside. Figuring it could be salvaged, the boy pulled over the canvas, but halted when he saw a hand underneath. He stopped and panted, wanting nothing more then to run. But it wasn't a hand of a viking, of a dangerous warrior, he supposed. It was dainty and small. Carefully, he moved the tarp back.

The sight that greeted him would have surprised any man. A girl, plump and pulvinated, with long luscious chocolate hair braided and intertwined with golden strings. He stared at her, his heart beating pleasantly.

"Eh-eh-excuse me?" He stuttered. "Are you…okay?"

Obviously, she wasn't as she didn't move.

He pulled the canvas back even more, and came to find what he suspected was true. A deep purple tail, slightly gray from the dry heat, attached to her waist.

He noticed the mast that laid on the ground also laid on her fins, trapping her on the beach. With a resolve, he pushed off the wood and carefully picked her up. The mermaid was breathing, he found, but just barely. She might not last much longer.

He waded up into the water with her in his arms, then let her go and watched her sink to the floor below. The water was cold, but he decided to stay there until she revived. He only hoped she wouldn't drown him after.

Suddenly, her vibrant green eyes snapped open, and the boy jumped back, tripping and falling into the waves. He sputtered and sat back up, only his head sticking out of the water.

Then there was singing, eerie and beautiful. It put his head into a fog and made him forget himself. The young mermaid surfaced in front of him, staring in curiosity with those gorgeous sea green eyes. Her hands cupped his face as his mouth trembled with words.

Her lips were soft and sweet upon his own. It was a delicate touch, but sent warmth to the ends of his fingers and toes. When she broke it off, he found his mind even clearer then before. The singing was gone.

"Uh—…" He stuttered, taking in her smiling face. Hiccup had said something about mermaids using their singing to lure men into the water. Well, he was in the water now, he supposed.

"My name is Rosethorn." Her voice was sweet and crisp. A tinge of a blush appeared on her pale, freckled face. "What's yours?"

"I-uh, my-my, I'm…" He cleared his throat. "I'm Fishlegs."

She giggled. "Fishlegs! What a silly name for a human! That should be my name!"

He laughed too, relaxing a bit. "It is a bit silly, isn't it?"

Her brow furrowed and she looked at him with scrutiny. "Do you live here on Berk?"

"Why yes, I do."

She sighed with relief. "Oh good. My brother spoke of a tribe of evil men attacking the humans of Berk. I just hoped you were not one of them."

"No no! All Berkian! All 375 pounds!" His smile fell ever so slightly. "Why did you kiss me?"

"Because you saved me, didn't you? I would have dried up on that beach. So, that was a thank you." She skirted around him, taking him in. "I also wanted to talk to you, and I couldn't do it without silencing the water."

"Silencing the water?" Clear bafflement was in his tone.

She giggled. "It is just an expression. Men are sensitive to the singing we make. We can stifle those sounds, but only through our lips."

"Like…uh, sealing stuff?"

"Yes! How did you know?"

"I uh, I learned from Hiccup."

She smiled wider. "You are friends with our brother?"

"Uh, yeah, I would say we're friends." He shrugged. "He told me a little about mermaid culture."

"I'll tell you more, if you'd like."

"Really?" He asked, his eyes widening in excitement.

"Yes, but only if you tell me more about the land dwellers." She reasoned.

Fishlegs nodded and agreed. Then he shivered. "Uh, do you mind if I went back on shore…the water is really cold."

Her face became worried. "Oh please do! I don't want you to get sick!"

So they sat and talked. Fishlegs stretched out on the sand, letting the sun dry his furs, while Rosethorn laid nearby, keeping her tail in the water.

Interestingly enough, though he liked to learn, Fishlegs did most of the talking. Rosethorn just laid there with her head resting in her arms, and gazed up at him with something akin to adoration. Something about that look gave the boy the courage to ramble on and on about daily life. She just made him feel like he was really being listened to.

Like he was important.

"So Snotlout, he is engaged to Astrid? But I thought Astrid and Hiccup had bonded."

"No no, Snotlout asked Astrid to marry him, and she jumped off a cliff instead."

"He sounds rather awful." She scrunched up her nose.

"Ah, he has his good points. He…well, he…hmm. There has to be something good about him."

Rose laughed.

"There is a girl, Ruffnut, who sort of likes him. She eyes him on occasion and gets really mad when he brings up marrying Astrid. I think that's why she likes Hiccup, because he cut off that option."

"I am happy for Hiccup. He needs to be on Berk, where he belongs." Rose rolled over to her back. "He's an odd one. We all love him, but he's just not one of us. He's…well, he's a man."

"Not anymore." Fishlegs said sadly. "He never came back after the fight. Astrid is still waiting for him too."

Rose pouted. "He can be very stubborn sometimes. But I'm sure the remnants of the bond will pull them back together."

"Remnants?"

"Even if the bond is broken, not everything is dissolved. Their souls were mixed together, that doesn't just get undone. Apart of her is still within him, just as a part of him is in her." She sighed. "It's really very romantic."

"I didn't think Mermaids could love…" He said honestly.

"We're not supposed to fall in love with humans. But we can." She tilted her head to look at him. "I've always wanted to."

He smiled back. "And…I…" He blushed. "I've always wanted to fall in love with a mermaid."

"Fishlegs, will you come see me again?"

He gave a sly smile. "Well, I have to clean up this beach. So the chances of me coming back tomorrow are pretty high."

She laughed melodiously and placed a hand upon his. "It's a date then."

—

The night, Astrid tossed and turned. A dull pain in her chest had her up at every hour, just breathing to get rid of it. It was agonizing. It had something to do with Hiccup, she knew.

She sat up as the burning sensation rumbled in her chest. This wasn't normal, not even for a heart ache. Toothless sat in the room, curled around the bed. He looked up to her with his big green eyes and crooned.

"I'm okay…" She assured the reptile, running her hands down his spine.

Astrid…

She perked up at the sound, as did Toothless.

"Did you hear it too?"

The dragon whined in resigned agreement.

Astrid…

It was just like a few weeks ago. the voice was just as beckoning as it had been on that cliffside. It bid her to stand.

Astrid…

It was urgent. "He needs us." She declared. "I think…he's—…" There was a tug in her chest and she winced. "I think he's dying."

Toothless whined again.

Astrid…

The girl hurried to her dresser and pulled out clothes and armor.

"Astrid?" Stoick's voice called from the closed door. "You okay lass?"

Astrid threw on her clothes and braided her hair quickly. "No, I'm not." She said definitively.

"Well, if it's about Hiccup…I'm sure he's fine. We just need to trust him."

"He's not okay." She stated, opening the door, her axe on her back. Toothless was at her heel. "I know you don't understand the weird mermaid magic he has, and I don't totally either, but he's calling to me, and I need to go."

"Oh no you don't!" Stoick grabbed her arm. "The Berserkers are relentless and dangerous. I won't let you go up against them alone."

"But I won't be, I'll have him." She patted Toothless' snout.

"That's not what I meant."

She shrugged. "Too bad. I have to go Stoick. He needs me."

Stoick pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh my dear, once you get an idea in your head, you just can't shake it, can you?"

She simpered. "Vikings are stubborn."

"Ey, they are." He gripped her shoulder. "Go then. Bring back my son."

She smiled, then stepped on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "I'll be okay."

—

Astrid began to suspect that Toothless was under the same bewitching that she was. Sometimes, she would loose his voice, but Toothless would change direction, and it would come back. The dragon and merman had a special bond all of itself, something far beyond her understanding. She was just glad that he was with her.

After a long few hours, the pain in her chest came to a climax as the duo spotted a boat down below.

"That must be them."

Anger rose in the dragon, as he tensed underneath her.

"Alright, let's go." She commanded, grabbing hold.

The Night Fury dove at the ship, a banshee shriek cracking across the sky, before the mass burst into flames. Shouting arose from the ship before Toothless set down on the deck. Astrid retched the axe from her shoulder and spun it with a threat. Her eyes scanned the ship, but Hiccup was no where to be seen.

"Where is he?!" She shrieked.

"W-who?" One of the soldiers asked.

"Who do you think!?" She screamed as she slammed her axe into his armored chest.

Astrid…His voice sounded weaker. The stem of the ship had a rope wrapped around it, in an loose, quick pattern.

That's when she made the realization of why Hiccup was in so much pain. A shriek ripped from her throat as she fought her way over to the other side of the ship. Knocking men sideways out of the way. Behind her, she heard Toothless blasting men into the water.

"Stop her!" Dagur commanded, but he was too late. She leapt into the air and sunk her axe into the wood, splintering the stem post and slicing the rope. She heard Hiccup splash into the water, and then turned to protect herself.

The Berserkers were charging at her. Her options were limited. Toothless was overwhelmed, and she could only take on so many. She spied the rope tied to the forestay from the mass and wrapped her arm around it.

"Toothless! Run!" She yelled, before cutting the rope free and swinging up and out into the water.

Being able to breathe underwater was a strange but wonderful gift. It was dark, but the light from the burning ship gave just enough light to find Hiccup, who was very slowly sinking. As she kicked and foundered over to him, she heard the great splash of Toothless entering the water.

Dagur would be waiting for them to surface, she knew. So they wouldn't surface. It wouldn't be the first time they had to travel under water.

Finally, she reached Hiccup, and brought him to her chest. His skin felt dry, even through the water. His tale was white and flaky, like layers of thin cloth wrapped around him. She wrapped his arms around her neck and held him until Toothless swam up underneath them. Astrid held onto the reigns with one arm, and pulled Hiccup flush against her as she laid down on the dragon's back.

As Toothless began to move, she felt Hiccup's hands grip her shirt.

—

Hiccup awoke in a quiet, dark place. He felt like he was wrapped from head to toe—er, fin. He was sore all over, and couldn't move. He groaned.

"Morning, sleepyhead." A soft voice whispered, fingers intertwining with his.

"Astrid…you came for me."

"Of course I did. And so did Toothless."

At his name, the dragon purred in Hiccup's ear and gave him a sweet kiss.

"Aww bud." The merman raised his good hand and scratched his scales. "Thank you." He looked at Astrid, "Thank you, both of you."

Astrid didn't say anything in reply, but cupped his face and ran her thumb over his eyebrow.

"Where am I?" He spoke as he tried to sit up.

"At Goði's. She sewed up your shoulder." She gently pushed him back down. "Dagur did a number on you, didn't he?"

Hiccup groaned. "I was an idiot." He shook his head carefully, wary of the rope burns on his throat. "My ideas aren't always the best, but that one…I shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry."

Astrid leaned in and kissed him softly on the forehead. "I didn't mean it, you know. When I said I hated you." She traced his lips with her thumb.

"Then why did you say it?" He asked.

"Because I hated the person you were pretending to be. I hated the lies you were saying…and…I didn't know you were pretending. For the briefest moment, everything I knew was swept out from under me. It terrified me."

"Astrid, I'm so sorry…" A tear slipped through his lashes.

"It's okay…I know why you did it. But next time, just tell us when something like that is going to happen. You aren't alone you know."

Hiccup closed his eyes slowly, sighing out loud. "There isn't going to be a next time."

"Damn right! No one is ever going to pick a fight with Berk again!"

"No, dear, that's not what I meant."

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"I-…I should have told you this, right away when I told you about the bonding."

"Hiccup—…?"

He licked his lips and met her eyes, though it was hard. "Once the bond is broken…it can't be fixed."

Astrid stared at him, slack jawed. "What?" Was all she could muster.

"I'm sorry Astrid."

"You mean— that's it? We're done!? We can't—!" She bit her lip in a rage.

"I should have said something—…"

"Yeah! You should have!" She shrieked. "Did it really not matter to you?! You threw it away so easily!"

"Astrid, it was not easy. Not in the slightest."

"Any other ground shattering declarations you want to make?!" She yelled.

Hiccup held her gaze patiently, waiting for her shoulders to stop heaving. Then he smiled, ever so slightly. "I love you."

Astrid sank to the ground, her head coming to lay on his chest. "I can't stay mad at you, dammit."

"I think that's a good thing." He petted her hair.

"Hiccup, I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?"

She sat up and cupped his face. "I can't hold out for you. I keep losing you, and then when I get you back, you just slip through my fingers."

"The curse of being a fish."

She smiled, despite the hole in her chest. "Can't you see our strain of life is killing me?"

Hiccup simpered. "When the bond is broken, some fragments stay behind. That's how you were able to hear me when I called. When I get back from my search, I'll talk to the elders and see if there's something we can do."

"Search?"

"I learned more about Dagur's plot while I was on his ship. It sounds like he wants to enlist the help of a hunter to catch the mermaids, and then attack Berk."

"Oh no!"

"Astrid, this is not over yet. But after we take care of Dagur, everything will be alright. I promise."

Astrid sniffed and rubbed at her eye.

"Oh, come here." And he hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her to lay beside him. It took a great deal of energy, because of his injuries, but she laid snuggly beside him, and he liked it better that way.

"Don't cry, beautiful. We'll figure out a way to get this all smoothed out. You'll see." He kissed her softly.

"Hiccup, no matter what happens, I love you." She whispered, laying her lips against his. "I love you so much."

"As do I, and I always will."

—

Rosethorn belongs to edge-of-bizarre on Tumblr.