Happy Friday, everyone! I hope the past week has treated you well. New chappie every Friday, and thank you for all the reviews and follows. As part of an extra little project, PM me your favourite scene so far and I'll see what I can do about rendering some art for it!

Chapter Seventeen: The Oncoming Threat

Hiccup's mind hadn't quite processed the fact that he was holding Astrid. His wife sat in front of him on the floor by the fire, her back against his chest, her breaths deep and calm. Her skin smelled like it had before with a heat of something else; it smelled slightly warm, like fire. He ran through thought in his mind, promising to himself to never let Astrid go, to never give up, to never let anyone take her away from him ever again.

Rose sat across from them, her body upright and void of any abrasions. Astrid gave Hiccup's arm a squeeze, his arms wrapped protectively around her waist, as Rose cleared her throat and took one shaky breath.

"When I arrived at your wedding, I came alone," she began. "Alvin selected me himself."

"So he's still alive," Hiccup groaned. Astrid held a brave front, but inside, her heart tensed.

Rose nodded. "Oh, yes. And he's changed since the last you saw him. He had been waiting for the proper moment to strike Berk, and he thought he had a way with Crasher. You may have only known him as a Skrill."

Hiccup's side cramped and he nodded once. "Two moons or so before our wedding. Storm and all, almost cut me in half."

Rose blanched and cleared her throat again. Hiccup, for the first time, noticed Rose was growing uncomfortable. "Crasher… was the only dragon Alvin thought he had broken enough that would get close enough to you. Every other dragon refused tooth and claw to fly out, and many died for the cause."

"I had a dream," Hiccup interrupted quickly. "The Skrill's mind, it was as if we were bonded for a moment and I relived that day with him. He said that a girl told him not to. That was you."

Rose twisted her mouth and licked her lips. "Dragons dream much more vividly then we do. Legend says they even travel to Valhalla and meet with other dragons in another plane. It's said that dreams can even be embedded in time; a memory can stay in limbo forever until another mind thinks it. It's… complicated," Rose admitted. "I have been to Valhalla through these dragon dreams, through my bond to my dragon, it's how I managed to save Astrid from the cosmos."

Astrid sucked in a breath through her nose, twitching an eyebrow. She remembered the eye contact she'd had, the feeling of horror, not knowing it was Rose making sure she was there.

"Be that as it may, yes, Crasher was sent and when he returned, Alvin was informed that the Saviour had been cut down."

Astrid took a deep breath as Rose continued, running her hand through her shorn hair. "Of course, word got out a moon or so later that Hiccup not only survived, but was about to be married to another clan, presumably to strengthen Berk…"

Rose swallowed and looked into the fire. The firelight danced over her frail skin, the smell of smoke filling their noses lightly. "Alvin was so furious that he had Crasher killed."

Silence hung in the air with a heavy tension. Hiccup could only think of what they did to kill such a beast, but the thought wasn't one he wanted to linger upon. Astrid, the pain from the poison and the stabbing shallow in her mind, could only imagine how or why.

"Alvin then had every woman lined up that could stand," Rose breathed.

"How many?" Astrid asked immediately. Rose flicked her eyes up, harsh and deep.

"Hundreds. And that's only those who could stay on their feet, breathe consistently, and not pregnant," Rose replied. Astrid pursed her lips and closed her eyes. Kidnapped women. The thought made her sick. "When Alvin saw me, he recognized I was the healthiest – he didn't know about the bond that made it so – and had me make a dress. He supplied fine cotton, thread, tools, and had the men watch as I made it. He also found a potion to change the colour of my hair from red to brown. He set me on a sea stack near trader Johann's route until I was picked up."

Hiccup squinted. "Why didn't you say anything? About the Outcasts, Crasher, Alvin?"

"She did," Astrid whispered. "She did."

Hiccup looked over at her, giving her a squeeze as she kept her eyes close. Her forehead went rigid and her mouth quivered. "The night you were bonded to Toothless… I remember it now… 'I come from a small island where… terror creeps in the dark. The women are raped every night and the men are beaten with weapons you cannot even imagine… I have seen flesh torn off of children and my own mother forced to feed dragons to other dragons…'"

Astrid placed a hand over her mouth and refused to recount anymore. No, no more tears would flow from her eyes. Not for Alvin. Rose reached over and placed a hand on her knee. "I should have known," Astrid confessed as she composed herself. "I should have known. No other place would do such a thing."

Hiccup held her tightly and rocked her gently, back and forth, keeping his hand over her abdomen.

"I didn't say anything," Rose said gently, "because of my mother. They knew that if they used her as leeway, I would do whatever they wanted."

"That didn't stop you from bonding Toothless and I," Hiccup interjected.

Rose smiled tightly. "Yes. Alvin had no idea that I was healthy because of my bond to one of the imprisoned dragons, and that my long-lasting bond had transcended from one dragon to more and more bonds, eventually being able to connect with any dragon willing to share their mind. I was kept alive because I could keep the dragons alive; I knew how to heal them and to keep them breathing through any trial Alvin put them through. That meant… I knew some of the dragons you encountered."

Astrid looked over to Hiccup and gave him a look as Hiccup thought about that.

"They called you the Saviour because most of the dragons were previously under the control of the Red Death. When you freed them from her nest, and after a winter or so of Alvin trying to figure out how to train dragons like you did, he captured his own. Word always lingered among them about you and how you saved, healed, trained, and freed dragons over each summer and winter and… they yearned for the same thing. They want nothing more than to be free again."

Hiccup pulled away from Astrid and put his head in his hands, breathing deeply and feeling nauseous over again. "Gods, no… how many?"

"Too many."

"Why don't they simply fly out?" Astrid asked. "Stormfly would have set the whole island on fire to escape."

Rose shifted uncomfortably. "Some are broken. Their… spirits are broken. Their minds are no longer their own. Some have tried, and they are the first to die. Alvin has found ways of preventing retaliation. Dousing flames, cutting wings, pulling teeth, clamping, tying, restraining, starving… like humans, all dragons have a breaking point where they decide what is better: life or death."

Hiccup kept his head in his hands, shaking in denial. "He's been spending the last few years building an army of broken dragons?"

Rose hesitated before giving one nod. "And people. He sent Crasher to kill you to give the dragons nothing to live for. Then he sent me to know which clan you'd be married to and which ones would pose a threat in anger. I gave you the bond after you chose Astrid; I would have regardless of wife. The clans weren't happy, for one. And the Outcasts would send alternate means to kill you. I had to keep you stronger. That being said, when they knew you were married to a Berk woman, and I had nothing to report, they thought I was lying. They had good reason to, and they knew the dragons trusted me, so punishing me was the next best thing."

Hiccup growled and made it to his feet, pacing around the women, his heart beating too fast as if it were being struck by the Skrill's lightning all over. "That's not fair! It's disgusting!"

"Hush, you'll wake Snowdrop," Astrid murmured. Hiccup balked, but he put his fingers to his lips and squeezed his eyes shut. Rose quickly continued.

"When you found me, I had been in chains for months since returning from the wedding. They tortured me, scarred me – even dragon's blood can't prevent the worst scars – and every day, I hung against the stone wall wondering what they would do next. Then, Alvin came to me with my mother."

Rose stopped to breathe. Hiccup stopped pacing.

"He forced her to tell me that they were leaving," Rose said hoarsely. "They told me that they had sent a wedding present infused with Outcast Orchid to kill Hiccup, and that they were relocating to a better vantage point. They didn't tell me where and before mum could do anything else, Alvin grabbed her and left me. Then, the fire hit the island and burnt to my cell. Other dragons who wouldn't have been able to keep up were left behind."

Astrid looked over to Hiccup. "Did you find any other dragons there when you found Rose?" she asked him.

"He wouldn't have," Rose replied. "They were too injured, and they spent their last minutes shielding me from the heat. They are gentle and protective creatures, as I'm sure you know already."

Rage bubbled into Hiccup's being and before he could rationalize himself, he plowed his fist into the nearest wall. Astrid and Rose jumped as Hiccup grabbed his bloody knuckles and held his fist to his chest. Alvin spent years in the dark, and Berk assumed it meant peace. But hundreds of people and dragons were suffering. How could they have been so blind? Why didn't Stoick see through the veil and investigate?

Astrid was behind him and grabbed his hand. He almost pulled away before he grabbed Astrid and held her against him. She let him, the same rage searing through her.

"We need to find him," Hiccup growled.

Rose jumped to her feet. "No, no no no. Berk isn't ready. Berk needs to prepare, leave, do anything to stay away from Alvin for as long as possible. You don't understand how powerful he is!"

"The Berserkers are also nowhere to be found," Astrid said quickly, thinking strategy immediately and trying to find the right words.

"Oh Gods," Rose said. "No, I didn't know that. But that would make sense, why else move to a better location?"

Hiccup wanted to scream. "An Armada is impossible to hide!"

"Stoick hasn't been to the west in years, since then Alvin has found all sorts of hiding places to hide entire fleets and armies within. And he has a whole repertoire of new weapons that Berk is not ready for – Sun Sap, nets, everything! You must be wise! And I am sure there are the other clans that need to know as well, unless they have already betrayed your allegiance because of your marriage."

The sun's rays began to caress the frame of the dragon door above them. Astrid stepped away from Hiccup and looked to Rose.

"We have to call for a meeting," Astrid demanded. "We can't waste any time."

Hiccup nodded immediately. "Toothless!"

The Night Fury poked his head through the dragon door.

"I want you to protect Rose at all times," he said firmly. "Berk is going to be outraged until we can find a way to prove she's innocent. I want no hands on her."

Of course. I will fly you two out when you need.

"Thank you," Rose said. Hiccup looked at her. He forgot she could hear him, too.

"Let's go," Astrid said, making it to her feet and dropping the furs to her feet, her hand trailing over her belly and falling to her side.

Toothless flew low with Stormfly on his tail. The Great Hall's doors were slightly ajar to let them into the warm hall. They didn't land, but flew straight inside, landing on the platform at the back by Stoick. The villagers shouted at the annoyance of having dragons flying overhead.

"Dad!" Hiccup yelled. "We need to talk."

Stoick grumbled. "Hiccup, I haven't heard anything back from the scouts. I will tell you once I find out more."

"It's an emergency!"

The villagers looked over with an ounce of the dismissal they always carried for the uninteresting Hiccup. Hiccup sneered as Stormfly landed.

"I'm sure you can speak to me about it without raising your voice," Stoick complained. "Calm down and talk to me in a reasonable fashion."

"Oh for Gods –" Astrid spat. She leapt off Stormfly and bore her gaze into Stoick with a fiery intensity. Stoick jumped in his seat and the rest of the villagers all exploded into a frenzy of confusion. Hiccup looked between Stoick, who had gone as pale as a Screaming Death, and Astrid, who frowned at him in disappointment. He almost wanted to shy into the shadows.

"Ghost!"

"Corpse!"

"Demon!"

Astrid held her shoulders back, back in her burned riding suit, her hair back in its braid. Snowdrop scurried around her and leapt into Stoick's stiff arms. Stoick stood and glared as the child crawled over him and onto his shoulders.

"What dark magic is this?!" he bellowed. Astrid rolled her eyes. "What is this illusion?!"

"It's Astrid!" Snowdrop replied happily. "Silly."

"I should be upset with you for setting me on fire," she said scathingly. She knew that the fire was required and a Viking tradition, but she appreciated it when Stoick blanched and wavered.

"I need everyone's attention!" Hiccup requested.

"Oh, you got their attention all right," Gobber replied through his bewilderment.

"Everyone calm down!" Hiccup continued.

Juniper ran to the platform. "No, I saw her! That wretched Outcast girl poisoned and stabbed her! There was no saving her!"

"Stabbing, yes," Rose countered as she dismounted from Toothless, wearing a set of old clothes from Astrid that she had been saving for Snowdrop. When she stepped forward, another bout of fits and protest filled the room. "Poison, no."

Juniper hissed at the girl. She was healthy – starved, but pink and clear of any injury – and she looked too kind to be a murderer, beautifully youthful and with an aura of graciousness that didn't match her origin.

When Juniper growled and stepped forward, Toothless unfurled his massive wings and shrieked at the matron, who cried out and skittered back.

"This is Rose," Hiccup yelled over the crowd. "She came to our wedding and bestowed the gift of a bond upon me."

"I am alive because of her!" Astrid continued. The crowd was simmering with confusion and anger and fear. "I am alive because of this girl. She is an ally to Berk and we need to heed her words!"

Stoick raised a hand to the crowd, silencing them into a tense fervor. Some abandoned their food to glare up. But there were some that didn't stay still. Snotlout and Fishlegs shoved their way to the platform with the twins behind them. Ruffnut clambered onto the platform and crashed into Astrid.

Astrid felt the air leave her lungs as Ruffnut crushed her ribs, embracing her in a very unexpected display of relief. Astrid held her rider-sister back, squeezing her harder as Ruffnut cursed and swore and threatened Astrid over and over for the grief she put her through.

"Don't you ever leave me with the boys like that again, I swear to Odin," she barked. Astrid smiled.

The display of the dragon riders being reunited, for they had been hit the hardest with grief of all levels, softened the crowd long enough for Hiccup to speak up, mainly speaking to Stoick.

Hiccup explained the ritual to a quieting crowd, and Astrid added to his explanations when she needed to as Rose stared at Stoick, keeping her stature firm and calm. It was difficult for the villagers to follow along, but they understood the basics: Rose had found a way to save Astrid and she took the risks she needed to in order to do it, and that in doing so, Astrid was bonded to Stormfly like Hiccup was bonded to Toothless. It gave many a headache, but the details didn't interest them as much as the next topic.

"I knew Astrid had been poisoned," Rose said in response to a question, "because I have seen it. It is a new plant, Outcast Orchid."

Fishlegs furrowed his brow. "I haven't heard of that."

"Neither have we," Hiccup responded.

"It is potent," Rose continued, "and it attacks the insides of the individual, practically turning them into liquid. The first I had heard of it was a raid here on Berk in the river and wells."

"That was the last time Berk had an issue with the Outcasts, that's when we lost Astrid's parents," Gobber filled in.

"They have been creating potions and poultices, trying to find the stealthiest ways to get their enemies to ingest it. You assumed the east sent it based on the carvings, but Alvin has incurred hundreds of easterners, many of which with carving hands. A perfect ploy."

"If they have easterners, alive and able to craft," Tuffnut said with an extra degree of deduction, "do they have people from other islands? Even Berk?"

Everyone stared at Rose for an answer. She stayed stoic for a moment before looking up. "Yes."

Many people yelled at that, their loved ones taken years ago by Outcasts, presumed dead. Astrid whirled around to face Hiccup, the same thought running through their minds, a new hope: their mothers. Stoick also stepped back and joined the shouting as Rose stayed expressionless.

"I don't know who. But yes, where you find Alvin, you will find people from anywhere in the alliance. But take my warning!" she yelled, startling some back into silence. "We believe Alvin has the Armada on his side, and I can guarantee he has dragons as well fuelled by anger and pain, lacking their freewill."

"We have dragons, too!" Stoick countered.

"You have six dragons," Rose argued, "that you have trained to a level that would be remotely adequate. Even with Toothless, Stormfly, Thornado, Hookfang, Meatlug, and Barf and Belch, that doesn't dismiss the fact that Alvin has tortured and broken hundreds. And with Dagur on his side, you better believe that he will do anything it takes to seize any islands he wants."

The villagers murmured amongst themselves as Stoick looked to Rose reluctantly. "Why would he attack us?"

"You have resources," Rose said. "Berk poses as a safe harbour for dragons and so long as it stands unharmed, all dragons idolize it, thus neglecting Alvin of control. He wants to rule the islands under his brutality. No one can understand it, but they can suffer through it regardless."

Then she subtly turned her gaze to Stoick. "And I'm sure he's still sore about a contract from a long time ago."

Stoick looked up and glared, then cleared his throat. Astrid and Hiccup traded glances, confused. Rose twisted her mouth, waiting for Stoick to finish the thought for her.

Stoick grumbled. "How do you know about that? How do you know about Valka?"

"Your mum?" Astrid asked under her breath to Hiccup. Hiccup meanwhile looked at his father with wide eyes and tight shoulders.

"What is she talking about, dad?" Hiccup asked for every villager present. Stoick breathed deeply and groaned.

"Before your mother and I married, there was talk that she had a suitor; the contract changed to better suit the clans," Stoick confessed. "I never thought…"

Rose shrugged. "It makes too much sense."

The hall rumbled with quiet murmurs, Stoick fuming as he stared up at Rose. He cleared his throat. "What do you suggest we do?" Stoick asked officially.

"Call the clans together again under the alliance," Spitelout suggested from behind Stoick. "If they tried to poison Astrid or Hiccup, they may strike assuming we are still grieving. An opportune moment."

"Some of them are still unstable from the wedding," Stoick grumbled. "Convincing them will take some sacrifice."

Many automatically asserted that they would do what it takes while the rest looked uneasy. Rose nodded strongly.

"Those trained will train others," Stoick mentioned.

"More dragons," Rose agreed. Hiccup looked to her.

"How will we train dragons we don't have?" he asked.

Rose looked back and gave a sly grin. "There are dragons who have brothers and sisters with Alvin. If we find them, then we have instant allies."

Gobber rubbed his hand over his mug-extension attached to his other arm. "I will light up the forge immediately, build weapons, shields, get some youths o scout the tunnels."

Stoick nodded. "Alright, alright. Spitelout will find the other clans, Rose will get started on whatever it is she does with Hiccup, Astrid will gather and fit the children and elderly with armour for protection, Gobber will start the forge. We start work today. We assume the worst until otherwise. I will go over our structures, make them ready for whatever the Outcasts have planned."

Stoick looked up at Astrid and pursed his lips. He approached the platform and ascended the steps. Toothless swiped a wing over Rose but Stoick had his eyes trained on Astrid. He extended a hand, clasping her wrist and pulling her in for a strong embrace. "It's good to have you back… I was worried he would try to follow you," he murmured into her ear. No one else heard. Astrid swallowed and returned the embrace stiffly. He pulled away and took a deep breath. "Let's hope we haven't pissed off the other clans too much. We'll need all the help we can find."