Chapter Seven

A/N: Last chapter of Act I. Chapter eight will be the beginning of Act II.

Stoick glares at Ymir, who is holding Hiccup by a fistful of hair and pressing a knife to his throat. His son doesn't look particularly frightened, only angry. And his father can understand that anger. This man attacked their home, hurt their people, and is now threatening to take over by doing something as underhanded and sneaky as holding a knife to Hiccup's throat.

He wants to tell Ymir he won't surrender, that Vikings fight to the last man standing... He has to bite his tongue to keep from saying it. Because if he does...

Hiccup avoids his dad's eyes, his mind racing to find a way out of this. If he could just slip away...but he dares not move a muscle, not with a blade against his neck. Already he can feel it pinching his skin. Ymir isn't bluffing. If Stoick says no...Hiccup is going to die.

He shivers at the thought but is almost equally as terrified of what will happen if Stoick does give up. They might be killed anyway, Berk will be taken over, their people most likely enslaved, the dragons... Gods, what will happen to them?

"Well, Stoick?!" The invader demands. "What's your decision? Berk? Or your son?"

Hiccup lowers his gaze, swallowing his fear. His father is good Chief. He knows he has to protect his people...even...even if it means-

"We're Vikings." Stoick repeats in a stiff voice. "We fight until the last man..."

So Hiccup tenses, knowing what's about to happen. And surely enough, Ymir angles the blade to make a single, clean cut... Just that slight movement causes a sharp pain in the boy's throat. He gets a sick feeling in his stomach as a droplet of blood rolls down his neck...

"But!" This time, it's Gobber's voice. Heart hammering in his chest, Hiccup looks up. He feels Ymir pause. "We're also loyal to our families."

Gobber, no...! Hiccup grimaces. If you surrender-

"And we're not fools either." Stoick agrees. "We know when to give up. Too many of our people have been captured. Even if I was to refuse...what's to stop you from killing my son and then grabbing another hostage?"

As much as he hates to admit it, his father has a point... Hiccup's death wouldn't spell the end of this. Ymir would just grab someone else. Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruff or Tuff... They would all still be in danger.

"So?" Ymir's grip loosens a little, the knife lightening against Hiccup's neck. "You surrender?"

"Yes." Stoick and Gobber stand up from their fighting stances, throwing their weapons to the ground. "We surrender under the condition that none of my people will be hurt or killed."

"Agreed." But Ymir doesn't release Hiccup... "I would be happy to include your people into our blossoming empire. However," He turns to his soldiers, nodding them forward. They hurry over to Stoick and his few remaining men, throwing shackles onto the Chief's wrists. "Unfortunately, you and your son are still threats. I doubt your tribe will be very compliant in their former rulers are walking among them...might spring ideas of rebellion."

"What are you saying?" Stoick hisses.

"I'm saying," He raises his voice to address his men. "TAKE THEM TO THE PRISON AND LOCK THEM UP TIGHT!" Hiccup is grabbed away by another set of hands and hauled off in his father's direction. "AND TAKE THE DRAGONS TO THE ARENA, GUARD DUTY IS TWENTY FOUR HOURS! And as for the rest of you..." He purrs, turning to the captured Berkians. "So long as you obey my rules and behave yourselves, you will remain as free citizens of the empire. Those who disobey orders and have fantasies of returning your Chief or heir to the throne will be executed!" He smiles at them and motions for the guards to 'escort' them home. "And one more thing..."

They all glare at him as they're forced to stand up.

"There is no 'Berk' anymore. As of now, this island belongs to the Empire."

Astrid watches as her friend is dragged away toward the prison, her expression pained. How could this happen...? She wonders sorrowfully, her eyes never leaving Hiccup until he's gone from sight. At that point, the Viking girl's sadness burns out, being replaced by the growing embers of fury.

One of Ymir's men approaches her, his movements cautious as he leans in to help her up. "Don't fight." He instructs her. "You heard Chief Ymir."

Chief Ymir?! She clenches the fists that are tied behind her back, her teeth grinding together in rage. No...he's not our Chief. He never will be. It's at that moment she decides she doesn't care about his threat of execution. She will never bow down to him.

Turning her gaze back to where Hiccup and Stoick disappeared, she nods to herself as her resolution becomes official.

I'm going to set them free. Even if it means getting killed in the process.

A/N: Okay, wow. Short chapter! Sorry! :( But this was wrapping up the first act so there was only so much information I could include without leaking into Act II. Thanks for reading and don't forget to REVIEW! :D