Hello, everyone! Hopefully, this chapter posts without any glitches; yesterday, chappies 39 and 40 disappeared for a bit. They should be there now! Shout outs to everyone who keep reviewing the story as it reaches its peak; I am starting to recognize names, old and new, and I am grateful to every single one of you.

Chapter Forty-One: Power

Astrid was shaken awake in the middle of the night by a pair of rough hands. Torn from the dreamland, she groaned and tried to open her eyes, but the sleeping draught lingered on her breath and in her blood.

"Get up," the man with the scarred face grunted.

"What?" Astrid mumbled drowsily. The soldier pursed his lips and lifted Astrid to her feet. An ache throbbed in Astrid's back, the same place Dagur had kicked her the night before. She held it as the soldier ushered her out of her cell.

"What's going on?" she asked groggily. The man didn't look at her, but as she woke up more and more, she noticed the man's jaw was clenched.

"Dagur wants the bond now, before the Underground wakes."

Astrid heard his words, but couldn't process them at first. But as she was pulled down the hall, she began to think clearly. "Wait… no…"

The man pulled her onwards, but with an apologetic look upon his mangled face. "We're out of time. I tried to warn Alvin about Dagur, but I couldn't get to him in time. We have no choice, he's already waiting in the Pit."

He dragged her on, and Astrid began recollecting her memories as fast as her exhausted brain would let her. Blood, venom – a willing dragon – and… she didn't know the last step, when Rose had bonded Hiccup, she didn't remember much. She just woke up the next day and…

Astrid limped forward, her heart racing beneath her skin. She could hardly breathe as they rushed through the darkened corridors, the stone floor raked with gouge marks from the claws of doomed dragons. The hall opened into the Pit, and the soldier led Astrid on. The Pit smelled the same as before: iron from the blood of men, women, and dragons. She wanted to retch as she remembered how Berkians were slaughtered right in front of bloodthirsty men, never given a fair chance to fight for their lives.

Dishonourable. Filthy. Gutless. She could already see Dagur standing with his back to her, with another handful of Berserker soldiers who were laughing with him. Behind him was Thorvane, who reared his chain-clad head, baring his teeth to Astrid.

Harbinger, he rumbled in her mind.

Astrid kept her eyes down as Dagur spun on his heel, greeting her with a sigh. He beckoned her forward. She reluctantly closed the gap between them and forced herself to look up.

"Ah! Have a nice nap?" he asked loudly. His voice echoed throughout the empty arena, and Astrid stared daggers into his eyes. "A few hours enough to prepare?"

"I thought we were waiting until dawn," Astrid countered coldly.

"You thought wrong," Dagur spat in return through another one of his misshapen grins. "You look awful. You should work on that beauty sleep you Berkians trick yourselves with. I want that bond. Now."

"Why?" Astrid dared to ask. "I already told you, I don't know how."

"Oh, I think you do," Dagur said.

"No, you wish I did."

Dagur scowled at her and the man with the scarred face gave Astrid a nudge. Astrid closed her eyes and swallowed, and a tiny inkling of nausea flipped her stomach over.

"But…" Astrid forced herself to say. "I'll try. In return for my freedom."

"You don't get to ask for anything," Dagur scoffed.

"I do if I'm giving you all the power you desire. I give you the bond, you let me go."

Dagur twisted his mouth, nodding absentmindedly. "I suppose we could talk after the bond is complete."

Astrid sighed a shaky sigh, and the other soldiers looming behind Dagur all sneered and glared at her. She motioned for Dagur to get onto the table and the man with the scarred face handed her a knife. Dagur eyed it as he chewed on his cheek. "Is it going to hurt?" he asked sarcastically.

Astrid tentatively looked over, tearing herself from her gaunt reflection trapped in the steel blade.

"Have you ever been on fire?" Astrid replied sharply. "Because that would be a good comparison for how painful this is going to be."

"Aww, you're threatening me," he pouted.

"I'm informing you."

"Stop informing. Start doing."

Astrid clamped her mouth shut and, knife in hand, she passed the armed soldiers to Thorvane. She paused in front of him and squeezed her eyes shut again, her heart beating too fast for her to bear, her guts tangled in knots. The beast loomed over her as she struggled to remember what Rose had said. Dragon's blood and dragon's venom, willing.

The dragon lowered his head and stared into her eyes with one of his.

You are scared.

If I fail, they will kill me.

If you fail, I will protect you, the Skrill said as spittle drooled from his mouth, landing sloppily into Astrid's hand. The chains had already sliced into Thorvane's snout, and Astrid gently ran her fingers over one. She rubbed the saliva and blood between her trembling fingers and ran them over the blade. She slowly turned back to Dagur, who looked at her with his tongue between his teeth.

"What are you going to do with that knife?" Dagur asked with a low, rumbling voice as Astrid stepped in front of him. She grabbed his hand and lifted it. She pressed the knife over palm and pulled quickly. Blood flowed forth and Dagur winced. His body shuddered and he groaned. Astrid swallowed as she picked up the other hand, slashing it open. When she had done that, she pulled away and nervously looked up at Dagur's men, who all muttered to each other, confused.

"I don't feel different," Dagur complained.

"It takes time for it to work," she replied tightly.

Dagur squeezed his hands shut and he closed his eyes, waiting for something to happen. He opened them and glared at her.

"Why isn't it working?" he asked roughly.

"Give it time!" Astrid replied.

Silence filled the room and Astrid watched Dagur attempt to be patient. He bounced in place and opened his hand, checking to see if anything had changed. The men eventually grew bored and they began to mutter to each other against one of the walls as Astrid and Dagur stared at each other, waiting. Dagur cocked his head towards Astrid, who didn't take her eyes off him.

"You have no idea how liberating it is to have you here."

Astrid ground her teeth together, but she raised an eyebrow as Dagur continued through a laboured sigh.

"After years of trying to capture that pesky Night Fury… after being scorned over and over by you and your stupid little friends… to have one dead and another under my control is… really, really, satisfying."

Astrid bit the tip of her tongue, refusing to open her mouth and speak to him.

"What was it like?" he asked quietly, sinisterly. "I've never had anyone survive Outcast Orchid. How did it feel?"

Astrid's eyes burned, but she said nothing. Dagur, however, could read the experience on her face as clear as day.

Dagur raised his eyebrows, nodding to himself, praising himself. "You should have seen how my father took it," he laughed. "To see him drop to the floor like a rock… to have everything change so quickly."

"Why would that bring you any joy?"

"He was going to sell our honour for a peace treaty. Every decision he made, it was for the benefit of the ungrateful, not his own people. Everything I found, he rejected. He said Sun Sap belonged in the Underground, not used as a weapon. But I have conquered cultures with it. He said Outcast Orchids should be torn from the soil and burned, but I brought Berserkers safety from persecution from chiefs who wanted us killed. He said dragons in chains were weak. Look how wrong he was!"

Dagur chuckled. "Hiccup was weak. He always said you couldn't train a Whispering Death, or a Skrill. He probably didn't think I could train bigger, better dragons than that."

Astrid gulped, but her blood began to warm. Thorvane lowered his head as Dagur tried to read Astrid's face again.

"Where is the queen?" Astrid asked. Dagur stopped laughing, and he looked at Astrid with a questioning glare.

"I never said anything about a queen."

"I know this is a nest, and I know the queen is still alive."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because there is no body, and if there was, it would be your trophy."

"You think I would tell you?" Dagur retorted. "My father and I spent the last of Berserkian resources to make sure she wouldn't bother us ever again. She's more worth it alive than dead."

"Coming from a heartless, cold-blooded killer like you would make me laugh if I was in a better mood."

Dagur was about to yell at her before he faltered. He hiccuped and shuddered, lowering his head slowly.

"More."

Astrid, startled, stepped back. "What?"

Dagur jumped from the table and he grabbed Astrid's hand holding the knife. "I can't wait anymore. I need to feel it."

She looked between his eyes and noticed his irises shift slightly, a small vibration. "I think… you already are."

"No, I'm not," Dagur spat. He pulled his leather vest off his body and threw it to one of his men. He ripped his shirt open, sweat already creating a sheen over his skin. "Cut me again," he growled.

"Dagur –"

"DO IT!" he shrieked. Astrid jumped and gasped through her nose. She jumped and almost involuntarily slashed the knife across his skin out of sheer reflex. A clean gash split open over his slimy skin, and hot blood spilled forth. Red dribbles dripped down from his chest onto his stomach, and he looked at it as he panted through clenched teeth.

"Are you –"

"It will heal," Dagur sneered. He groaned and his eyes fluttered. Thorvane growled through his throat, and his tail whipped around angrily. "It's working."

The man with the scarred face snapped his gaze to her. Astrid had the same thought as her mouth went dry. How was it working?! This wasn't supposed to happen, why the hell was he already changing? Dagur laughed as sweat dripped off his face and onto his knees. Steam began to rise from his back and everyone took a step back as Dagur began laughing, wave after wave of heat pouring over him like Sun Sap.

You must not touch him! Thorvane cried in Astrid's mind as he slinked away, shaking his head back and forth. It would complete the bond, do not touch him!

"No, you weren't supposed to be willing," Astrid breathed, realizing Thorvane's mistake.

Astrid stumbled back as blood burst from his mouth, just like when Hiccup had been bonded. He fell back onto the table, his eyes fluttering back, choking and coughing.

"You're killing him!" one of the soldiers yelled at her.

"This is what's supposed to happen!" Astrid stammered as the men stormed towards her. "It's all part of the ritual!"

I didn't expect this – this – feeling, Thorvane struggled to say. He shuddered and scuttled back, whining. Get him out of my head!

"You're lying," another soldier yelled. "Mikhael, grab her!"

The man with the scarred face, Mikhael, raised his arms. "This is supposed to happen. Calm down!"

A soldier grabbed Mikhael and dragged him around. "You dare disobey direct orders?!"

Another soldier grabbed Astrid's arm as she moved to help Mikhael, and she screamed. The soldier dragged her towards Dagur's still body, and she wriggled against him, dropping the knife.

"Mikhael!" she shrieked. "Don't let me touch him! Don't let me touch him!"

Mikhael locked eyes with her as the soldier lifted her kicking and screaming. He shoved the soldier back and ran to Astrid, getting between her and Dagur.

"Stop this," he told his fellow soldier, holding a hand out. The soldier grabbed his collar and threw him back. Mikhael stumbled and his arms flailed back to catch himself. Astrid's breath caught and Thorvane screamed.

"Mikhael!" Astrid screamed. But Mikhael's hand landed on Dagur's chest.

It felt like the air had been sucked out of the entire Underground. No one could breathe for a split second of absolute silence before Mikhael erupted with a fit of tortured screams. They echoed through the empty Pit as a force exploded from him. Everyone stumbled back as a blinding light beneath Mikhael's hand scorched the eyes of anyone who stared too long. Soldiers stumbled back, clawing at their eyes as they burned from the light. Mikhael wailed as his body flaked away like dried rose petals. Three more explosions of force burst from the pair. Everyone flew back, slamming into the walls all around. Astrid's back careened into the wall and she crumpled onto the floor. Pain ricocheted up her body, sending her into agony, a scream caught in her throat.

The dreamland shuddered violently and suddenly. The lake sloshed over the shore and the tree swayed, creaking dangerously. Dagur appeared, grabbing his own face and stumbling about as demons and shadows filled his mind. Hundreds of thousands of voices slammed into his head all at once and his skin felt as if it were on fire. He howled as he pulled on his hair, trying to shut up the noise.

He covered his ears and shrieked and cried, stumbling in circles as he looked around himself with bloody teeth, trying to recognize his surroundings, his breaths deep and growling, saliva foaming from his mouth. The clouds overhead turned black and wind howled around him. Dagur howled one more time before he sank to his knees and disappeared.

The wind vanished with Dagur and the cove went quiet once more. Astrid's father looked around himself, his eyes wide and eyebrows raised to his hairline. He shuddered and shrugged. Must have been a freak apparition, he decided. But the weaver had stopped weaving her rope, and she clenched her teeth, her heart pounding in her chest as she closed her eyes.

Dagur wheezed and panted as he stood, watching his hands slowly heal themselves. He shuddered and moaned as his skin closed the gash across his chest. He looked around himself, his vision clearer than he ever thought possible. He could smell the rank musk of the Pit, as if he could smell each individual layer of blood spatter throughout the past year.

His head flicked back and forth as he found the bodies of his soldiers. All had been obliterated by the bond's completion, crumpled in odd angles, unmoving. Dagur grinned, and he cracked his neck, feeling a wave of heat wash over him. He sighed and stretched. No more pain. No more weakness.

Dagur.

Dagur jumped and held his head, a strangled cry escaping from his mouth, as Thorvane lumbered up to him, step by step.

"Thorvane?"

The bond… was successful.

Dagur smiled again and he laughed through his nose. And as much as Thorvane wanted to strike out and paint the Pit walls with Dagur's blood, the wish to kill him slowly faded. Rage filled and ensnared Thorvane, taking him over and replacing any kind thoughts, any memories, everything he ever had, with Dagur's thoughts and desires. Dagur, with the four aspects of a single human, had done what Rose had never even pondered. He had entirely taken over a dragon's will with his own, like an alpha leads a pack, and Thorvane forever forgot the names of the Saviour, the Spirit Weaver, and the Harbinger.

Astrid stirred and Dagur smiled again. She struggled to her knees before Dagur grabbed her face and hoisted her up above him. She weakly kicked her feet and opened her eyes, blood caked in her hair as a head wound tried to close.

"You weigh nothing to me, now," he smirked in her face. "I feel no restriction. No limit. I feel nothing. Nothing but what the gods feel."

He gnashed his teeth in her face as she looked down at him with wide eyes, terrified as she held onto his arm for dear life.

"Alvin… is going to be sorry that he ever doubted me," he whispered. "And once the entire Underground watches you burn, I'm going after Hiccup. And Thorvane is going to tear Toothless' wings off like parchment."

Dagur threw Astrid in her cell, and Astrid crawled to the wall, a hand over her stomach as she struggled for air. She only wheezed as wounds closed slowly.

"Astrid!" a small, shaky voice squeaked in the corner. Astrid could barely think. But comforting arms wrapped around her tightly, and pulled her against a warm body that smelled like herbs and dried flowers.

"Baby, can you hear me? Astrid?"

Astrid looked up and could make out the faint outlines of Stargazer's bandaged head above hers.

"What… are you… no…"

"When I found out they took you, I… I had to be with you, when you left, I realized –"

Stargazer covered her mouth as she began to cry, cradling Astrid in her arms, trying to hold her without hurting her.

"You have to get out," she choked.

"I'm not going anywhere," Stargazer murmured into Astrid's hair.

"My whole body hurts," Astrid whimpered, trying to catch a breath.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm here now."

Stargazer placed a hand over Astrid's hair, and she smoothed it with a shaky hand, taking a jagged breath as she bit her lip. Astrid reached up and weakly clasped her mother's arm as tears flooded her eyes.

"I did a terrible thing," she weeped. Stargazer shook her head lovingly. "He's going to kill us all."

"No, my sweet. The Saviour is coming, and he's going to take us home to Snowdrop and you're going to give me the most beautiful grand children."

"I don't know anymore," Astrid cried. "What's going to happen to us?"

"We're going to be fine," Stargazer replied quickly as she looked up the cell door. "We're going home and we're going to rebuild our lives."

"Did you know this place was a nest?"

"Birdsong told me long ago. It was how I figured out what was wrong with the eggs. Things like Sun Sap only grow on nest sites, to keep the queen warm in the winter. Your father and I explored the Red Death nest after her fall just before I had your sister and it was everywhere within the fortress."

They hushed as a soldier passed them, and Astrid groaned, holding herself. Stargazer lifted her, placing Astrid's head under her chin.

"We're going to be okay," Stargazer breathed. "We're going to be okay."