Chapter Ten

A/N: And things start to go wrong once again... (This chapter might be irritating to some of you...just a warning.)

In response to...

The Wolf Raven: Well, we're not quite to the beginning but we're close! :)

PT: Haha...yeah...he doesn't have a great track record of solo missions.

Jo: Hiccup isn't exactly the patient type when it comes to his friends/family/dragon so... XD

Yondaime Namikaze: Thanks :) And yeah, she probably shouldn't have. But then again, Astrid does trust that he'll listen to what she told him to do.

LittleDragonRider: You'll find out! XD Don't worry!

sauara: Thanks :)

"Is that supposed to scare me?"

Hiccup freezes in his tracks, instantly flattening himself against a wall. He's so close to the prison door that he can feel cool air gushing over his shaking hands as he strains to hear the conversation going on outside. He knows that voice...

"It shouldn't scare you, unless I'm right!" Another, deeper voice retorts. "You're in no trouble, so long as you turn around and go home. It's after curfew but I'll let it slide this time..." So the man's voice must be a guard.

"Sorry," Snotlout growls, his voice dripping with frustration. "But I have someone I need to talk to on the other side of the village and you're in my way. But to answer your question, no. I'm not a rebel or whatever."

Hiccup smirks to himself, shaking his head. He can practically hear his cousin's eyes rolling. Plus...Snotlout is part of the rebellion. So...he'd better be careful.

"Then there's no reason why you can't wait. Talk to them in the morning." The guard orders.

Come on, Snotlout. I don't know what you're up to but you've gotta go...don't risk it! Hiccup silently urges. Don't be stupid!

But, of course. This is Snotlout we're talking about. "Pff, I'd like to see you make me!" He boasts, sounding overly sure of himself as usual.

No...! You idiot! Stepping back from the wall, Hiccup braces himself. He isn't sure what's going to happen next, only that it can't be good. A silent moment passes before-

"Snotlout!" It's...Astrid's voice this time, accompanied by another set of heavier footsteps that must belong to Fishlegs.

Oh no...what are they doing here?!

The guard's armor clanks heavily together, as if he's moved toward them suddenly. "I'll have you know you're both being very suspicious! The curfew is law now and I've been lenient so far. Don't press your luck, children..."

"Oh...haha, I'm so sorry about my stupid friend here!" Astrid stammers, following with a forced laugh. "That's why we're out tonight...looking for him because he's such a knuckle-head...always getting himself in trouble!"

"OW, ASTRID!" Snotlout yelps, suddenly.

"Come on, Snotlout." She growls. "You can walk me home..."

"But what about-"

"Let's just go!" Fishlegs urges in a nervous voice.

Even from where he is, Hiccup can hear the sound of Astrid almost having to drag him away from the confrontation. And even though that went anything but smoothly, he finds himself sighing in relief. Thank Thor for Astrid... He thinks, smiling happily.

But then-

"Astrid! Snotlout!"

Hiccup's eyes fly open. Oh come on...

"Ruffnut, Tuffnut...what are you doing here...?" Astrid wonders in mock-confusion. "Did you guys forget the curfew too...?"

"What are you talking about?" Tuffnut asks.

"Yeah, weren't we supposed to be having a 'break Hiccup out of jail' meeting?" Ruff continues, sounding thoroughly confused.

"WHAT?!" The guard roars in outrage.

Hiccup moans in despair. Oh gods...now they've done it!

"Uhhhh, no no!" Astrid tries desperately. "That's not what they meant to say, right guys?! We were just...going home..."

But even Astrid isn't enough to get them out of this one. "That's it!" The soldiers barks. "I'm through with your lies! Looks like the five of you are spending the night in jail until we can get this straightened out..."

Heart leaping into his throat, Hiccup spins around and starts sprinting back down the hall, just clearing the corner as soon as the door swings open. He can hear his friends' protests as they're led down the corridor to the cells.

"We're not rebels! I swear!" Astrid insists.

"Y-yeah, we're just going home! That's all!" Fishlegs stammers, trying to back her up.

"Silence!"

The door to Hiccup's cell squeals as he pulls it shut. He can only pray no one heard it... He hurriedly jams the key back into its lock and twists, slipping it back into his vest once he's secured back inside.

"Make yourselves comfortable." The guard hisses as he throws open a cell a few doors down. "Ymir doesn't go easy on suspected rebels...you might be here a while." With that, he slams their door shut and stomps back outside to his post.

It takes a long moment for Astrid to gather enough nerve to speak. And when she does, her voice is quaking dangerously. Gods...she feels like such a failure. It wasn't even six hours ago that she made all those pretty promises to Hiccup, that she'd save his father and he wouldn't even have to worry.

But now... Now she's locked up, just like him. And there's nothing she can do. She left the key ring she stole from the soldier back at home... "Hiccup...?" She calls in a hushed voice.

A short pause follows but it feels so much longer to her. "Hey, guys." He replies, sounding deflated and gloomy. He must have heard what happened... The utter defeat in his voice is enough to send a stabbing pang through her chest.

"Hi, Hiccup..." Fishlegs grumbles.

"Hey." The twins say in almost perfect unison.

"How ya' doin'...?" Snotlout sighs as he flops onto the floor, leaning against the wall. He picks up a little stone and chucks it at the bars, obviously embarrassed that he helped to get them arrested.

Oddly enough, though, no one feels as ashamed as Astrid. "I...I'm so sorry, Hiccup." She whispers.

And again, Hiccup hesitates. "Don't be. There was nothing you could have done..."

Astrid sighs heavily and leans her head in her hands. Now what are they going to do? The island's last hope is in prison and it's Chief is going to be executed in three days. This is a mess... "Do you still have that key?" She asks him.

"Yup... I was actually sneaking out when I heard you guys outside." He admits a bit sheepishly.

"You were?" She gasps. "Hiccup! I told you to stay put! You could have gotten caught!"

"I know." He mumbles. "But...I'm worried about Toothless. I...I just wanted to know if he was okay."

Astrid sighs and sits down, leaning her back against the wall that is closest to Hiccup. "I guess I understand that feeling... I haven't seen Stormfly since they took the dragons to the Arena."

A long, empty minute drags on as the Riders sit in a distraught silence. All of them realizing the magnitude of their situation. The dragons have been grounded, their Riders chained... The villagers' ability to fight back has been crippled by their enemy's threats of execution and superior weapons. Stoick is going to die in three days time.

There's nothing any of them can do now...

It's hopeless...

A/N: Yeah, not a lot really happens in this chapter. It's simply set-up for what happens next and I wanted to end it before the next big thing occurs. But thank you for reading and I appreciate all your reviews :)

Ps, if you haven't been to my profile lately, there's something you should know! I'm going to visit my future college on Friday so if I don't update that day or the following weekend, that's why. (But I'll try to post, I promise!)

Thanks! And don't forget to REVIEW! ;D