Author's note: And a second chapter for you guys. Be warned! This is a rather violent chapter, both physically and psychologically. Don't forget to give me some feedback ;)

It had understandably taken a while for Hiccup and Astrid to calm down, but Old Wrinkly had eventually managed to convince his grandson to come with him in the forest. He was getting too old to go there on his own, and he really needed to gather some herbs whose healing properties were priceless for the tribe before the cold destroyed them. He would have asked Fishlegs to do it, but his apprentice had more important things to learn at the moment. Astrid had insisted on accompanying her husband-to-be, and so the three of them had landed in a small lowland on the other end of the island after a short flight on Toothless's back. The Night Fury was obviously in an incredibly good mood, and Astrid had wondered if he could feel the utter excitement his rider and herself were sharing.

All healers knew that lowland, for most medicinal herbs could be found there. Old Wrinkly clapped his hands enthusiastically and started looking for the herbs he wanted, Hiccup and Astrid on his heels, ready to pick them up whenever he would ask them to.

Unfortunately, none of them did notice straight away the way the sky had darkened and the big, black clouds that were ready to let the water they had swallowed pour down on the ground. In regard to the dark shape of the ship that was docked down below, it remained lost to their eyes.

The Commander smirked behind the clump of ash trees that hid him from his prey. He simply could not believe his luck. His mission was going to be a lot easier than he had originally planned it to be. He had thought of countless ways to reach the village unseen, and had just started giving instructions to his thirty men when one of them had pointed to the sky and the Night Fury that flew in it with three riders on his back. He had instantly checked the direction in which the wind was blowing and had taken great pride in his earlier decision to remain against the wind at all times. His smirk only grew wider when he felt droplets of rain crashing on his face. Good. The weather was definitely on his side. If they acted fast enough, the dragon wouldn't be able to smell them in time, let alone breathe fire.

The Commander motioned for his right-hand-man to noiselessly come closer. As soon as the man stood beside him, the Commander started whispering in the cold, methodic manner that was his signature.

"Tagor, have you dipped all the arrows into eels' blood?"

"Aye, Commander. The archers are ready."

"Good. Take your men and surround the lowland. The beast will smell you at some point. As soon as it does, shoot it. The others and I will take care of the rest."

Tagor knew better than to argue with the Commander. He simply nodded once and walked away, ready to play his part in the plan that was going to be set into motion.

Hiccup gave Astrid one of the pouches which contained the herbs they had gathered, and they both began to stride along to where Toothless was happily rolling himself in the grass, oblivious to the three humans he had come with. Rain was starting to fall on them, and Hiccup suddenly turned round to see what in Midgard was his grandfather doing. Sure enough, Old Wrinkly was still bent over the ground, looking for some more herbs and not caring one bit about the impeding storm. The young man shook his head in mock exasperation.

"Grandpa! Come on, we've got enough of those! Let's go back home before we're soaking wet!"

The healer either really did not hear his grandson calling for him or pretended he did not. Whatever the case, Hiccup sighed and turned to Astrid, giving her a chaste kiss on the lips and gently asking her to prepare Toothless's harness for the three of them. She nodded with a smile, and he unlaced their fingers, running as best as he could towards Old Wrinkly.

"Grandpa." Hiccup gently called as he put his arm on the old man's shoulder. "Grandpa, we need to go now. Look at the sky."

The healer complied and immediately frowned. "Oh, yes. You're right. Just give me a minute, son. There are some precious herbs here, it would be a shame not to take them, you see."

"But, Grandpa…"

"Hiccup, this is my duty as the village's main healer. You can give me one more minute, can you not?"

The young man sighed heavily, looking down. He hated it when his grandfather scolded him, even when he did it in a gentle tone. Old Wrinkly immediately noticed the shadow of sadness that crossed his grandson's features and he could not prevent himself from smiling softly. Oh, what a shame it was that his daughter had died so soon. She would have been so proud of her son, the son who resembled her so much.

"Hiccup, listen to me. I know you're dying to go and forge a ring for her, and I understand that perfectly. Trust me, I'll be with you and Astrid and Toothless in a couple of minutes. Now go join her."

In the meantime, Astrid was busy scratching the Night Fury in his favorite spots, listening to the way Toothless made rumbling sounds of contentment. The rain was starting to turn itself into a thick curtain of water, the sky now almost black above her head. She liked the rain, and treasured the feeling of the wind in her face. Suddenly, she noticed the wind had just veered round and her thoughts were brutally shattered when Toothless raised his head up in alarm, sniffing the air and growling and obviously smelling something she could not.

"HICCUP!"

Both men spun round upon hearing the urgency in Astrid's voice.

"HICCUP! TOOTHLESS IS SMELLING SOMETHING WRONG!"

Hiccup refused to panic, although the temptation was quite strong, and started running over to where his fiancée and his dragon were. But he had barely taken a dozen steps when countless arrows started cleaving through the air from all around him. Out of sheer instinct of survival, he plunged down to avoid them…and was horribly confused when none of them hit him. And it was at that precise moment that he heard the most terrible sound he had ever heard since the night he had shot Toothless down. His dragon was roaring in pain, and it made Hiccup feel sick in the pit of his stomach. Looking up in utter horror, Hiccup saw Astrid trying to protect Toothless from the flying projectiles, cursing loudly whoever was attacking them. Toothless, who was doubling up with pain, reaching behind him to tear the arrows that had found their target out of his flesh and trying to shoot fireballs to no avail. The rain made it impossible.

Hiccup was deaf and Hiccup was blind. The only thing that existed to him in that moment was his best friend who was being driven mad. He lifted himself up from the mud, and ran, only to stop again when about fifteen men in black armors rushed into the lowland, screaming hateful cries and brandishing their blades over their heads.

Hiccup quickly looked at Astrid who expertly threw a hatchet at one of their opponents. The weapon spanned almost too quickly for the eye to see, and easily dug into the skull of the soldier it had been thrown at. Hiccup knew the man was dead before he hit the ground in a gruesome heap. Letting our her war cry, Astrid hurled herself at a group of five men, killed the first three by slicing their throats without even looking, and seemed to easily overpower the two who were left when one of them unexpectedly dodged her powerful swing and managed to stab his own sword at her side. Banishing the cry of pain from her mouth, for she knew the wound was superficial, Astrid still managed to free herself from her assailant to whom she didn't give a second to realize her axe was finding its way between his shoulder blades. But her last attacker, who, she realized only a moment too late, stood behind her, did not lose the opportunity to barrel into her and pin her to the ground under his weight. She roared at the top of her lungs, trying to get rid of him by punching and kicking as hard as she could, but the coward was too heavy and was pressing his knees into her back to make sure she could not really move and would exhaust herself before soon.

As for Toothless, he had collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.

Hiccup was rooted to the spot. He didn't understand. Why was nobody trying to attack him? Shaking his head vigorously, Hiccup resumed running and fell to his knees in front of his dragon. Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the shiny scales of his best friend slowly turn from pitch black into a dark grey, and eventually into a pale white. The dragon's eyes usually bright eyes were veiled now.

"Toothless! Toothless! Oh, gods, Toothless, I'm so sorry… I-

"Well, well, well. If this isn't the legendary Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III."

Hiccup froze before hesitantly turning round. In front of him stood a man who was taller than him, and way more muscular. Hiccup was pretty sure not even Snotlout was that beefy. The man wore a red and golden armor. He was bald and his face sported two tattoos: blue triangles, one on each cheek. He was obviously the leader of those soldiers, and his mouth was twisted into a sadistic leer.

"I have to say I'm slightly disappointed. I was expecting someone…mightier."

Hiccup felt rage curl inside him. Without giving it a second thought, he leapt forward and tried to hit the man but ended up receiving a powerful punch into his face and fell backwards, feeling blood leaking from his mouth and hating the taste of it.

"Tss, tss, tss. There's no need to get violent, dragon tamer."

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY DRAGON?"

"You mean you don't know?" The Commander laughed uproariously. "You, the one Viking who single-handedly tamed a bloody wild Night Fury, do not know what is happening to that pet of yours?"

"HE'S NOT A PET! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?"

The Commander snickered. "Please tell me you know that dragons hate eels."

Hiccup blinked. "What are you saying?"

"Ah, so you do know about that. And you've never actually wondered why? Judging by the look on your face, you obviously haven't. Oh, it is such a pity. Otherwise you probably would have discovered that eel's blood is poisonous for them."

There was a moment of silence before Hiccup could speak again, the lump in his throat having made it difficult.

"What's going to happen to him?" he whispered, already terrified by the answer that would come.

"Have a guess, genius."

Hiccup looked down at his best friend. This was impossible. He could not lose him. He couldn't. Not after everything they had been through.

"So, here's the deal, dragon tamer. Come with me and I'll spare the miserable lives of your friends, dragon excluded."

"Don't listen to him, Hiccup!" Astrid cried urgently, still pinned down to the ground.

"If I were you, it is her I wouldn't listen to."

Hiccup was silent for a couple of seconds before he raised his head up and frowned. Pumping his chest in defiance, he glared at the Commander.

"I'm never coming with you. I'd rather die this instant!"

"And here I thought you would come to your senses." The Commander snapped his fingers, and Tagor came over with a prisoner. Hiccup felt a second wave of horror wash over him; he couldn't do anything but look as his grandfather was brutally brought in front of him. Grandfather and grandson stared at each other, none of them daring to utter a single word. Time slowed painfully when the Commander unsheathed his sword and pointed its tip into Old Wrinkly's back. The old man didn't flinch. He was a Viking. But Hiccup refused to stand there and do nothing.

"No! Please don't do that!"

"Oh? Well, begin by showing some respect, young man. Kneel before me and I might grant you your request."

Hiccup hated himself for obeying, but what other choice did he have? The Commander snorted, looking him up and down as if he were something disgusting. And before Hiccup could comprehend what was happening, the Commander cold-heartedly stabbed Old Wrinkly. The old man himself didn't utter a single sound, and did not seem to understand why there was a blade protruding from his chest, or why blood was slowly pooling over his grey shirt. He did not even hear the desperate cry that left his grandson's mouth. He only realized his time had come sooner than he had thought, and slowly, ever so gracefully collapsed on the ground with a low thud.

Hiccup didn't bother to hide the tears that now rolled freely down his cheeks and rushed to his grandfather's side and pulled the old man into his lap with trembling hands. Old Wrinkly's breathing was hoarse and labored, for his lungs desperately tried to breathe in some air, and breathe it out, but it had never hurt so much. Sweat glistened on his wrinkled forehead, and he was fighting to keep his eyes open. He was a Viking. He would fight until the very end. He felt hands that were younger than his own crawl around his old shoulders and knew they belonged to his daughter's son. Hiccup. The one person he had loved more than anyone else since the death of his wife and his daughter. Old Wrinkly could feel himself fall into eternal unconsciousness, and had it not been for the pain in his chest and his grandson's hands that were moist with his own blood, he would have welcomed it happily.

"Hiccup…"

The young man's voice was strangled as he willed his grandfather to stay quiet, not to waste the strength he had left by talking. But the healer would not listen to him. Forcing his eyes open and blinking restlessly in a desperate attempt to stay literally awake, Old Wrinkly gazed at the crying face of Hiccup above him and felt his heart break. It was so unfair. The boy had just been given the blessing to marry Astrid, and he now had to watch him die on the same day. The old, wise man knew that Hiccup would never forgive himself and silently wished he could make him change his mind. So, he reached up and wiped a tear away from his grandson's cheek, forcing a hurtful smile on his face.

"Hiccup…This…isn't your fault."

"Of course it is! I- I didn't even protect you…Grandpa…Please forgive me! Please forgive me… "

"Shhh, Hiccup. Listen…to me. I once told you that, someday, you would show them all… how wrong they were about you. Do you… remember?"

Hiccup could only nod as fresh tears kept escaping his eyes.

"Well…you did. I've always told you…that your old Grandpa is…always…right. So, I'm right when I say that…this isn't your fault."

Hiccup laughed and sobbed weakly at the same time. He watched his grandfather's eyelids close again, and he felt panic clutch at his heart.

"Grandpa!"

But the healer was not done yet, for he knew his grandson needed him one last time.

"Hiccup…I am so proud of you, son. I can see you, dragon rider. You will become a….great leader…someday. Whatever happens next…son…do not let it darken your wonderful heart. Revenge and hatred will destroy you. Remember, Hiccup: the greatest leaders only fight for the dignity….of the weak. Whatever the case, always…remember…"

"That is all very touching, but I don't have all day." The Commander said as two of his soldiers yanked Hiccup away from his grandfather, whose body fell onto the ground again due the lack of support. Hiccup struggled like one possessed, screaming at the top of his lungs whilst he was brought in front of the Commander.

"GRANDPA! GRANDPA! LET ME GO! LET ME GO TO HIM!"

"Are you sure that is what you want?"

"LET ME GO TO HIM, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

The massive man looked at the young Viking with a smirk.

'Then, go."

In one single swift movement, the Commander tore the Viking's prosthesis away from what was left of his leg. Hiccup cried out in pain, swearing to the Gods he could see black spots dance in front of his eyes, and clung to consciousness as the soldiers released their grip on him. With nothing to balance his weight on, he could only crash into the mud, left to wallow in his crippled condition while the men around him burst into laughter.

Astrid had thought she knew what rage felt like. But at that instant she knew she was wrong. She was seething with something that surpassed rage, watching the fabulous young man who was to be her spouse trying to crawl towards the dying body of his grandfather and the soldiers around them preventing him from reaching Old Wrinkly and kicking shamelessly into his leg. Astrid did not even notice she was crying, too. She only saw the way the Commander – that lowlife piece of shit- was humiliating the man she loved, and she wanted to make that executioner die a thousand excruciating painful deaths for it. The Vikings of Berk were tough, always fierce in battle, but they never humiliated their enemies like that. This was the most heartbreaking scene she had ever witnessed, and she could not do anything about it but watch helplessly. Her watery eyes suddenly widened in further horror when she felt the man above her rip her shirt open and heard him state that he was going to enjoy having his way with her. She struggled with all her might. In vain. Just like Toothless had. She risked glancing at the dragon and was appalled to see how pale his body was. The man above her was now trying to unbuckle her heavy spiked skirt when, suddenly…

"NO! LEAVE HER ALONE! PLEASE, LEAVE HER ALONE! I'LL COME WITH YOU, I PROMISE, BUT LEAVE HER ALONE!"

Time froze. The Commander smirked in victory, and immediately ordered the man who was pinning her down to get up after making sure she would not be able to follow them. Angry that his plans for the blonde Viking beneath his legs had just been ruined, the soldier unsheathed a dagger and stuck it between her ribs.

Hands and feet tied up, Astrid roared at the Commander, telling him to mark her words: sooner or later, she was going to make him pay for all of this. He waved a dismissive hand at her in return, not caring one bit about her threats, and she watched as they disappeared into the rain and into the forest, taking the one man she had ever loved away from her. Her eyelids became heavier by the second and blood pooled under her body.

The storm was now unleashing its full strength, thunder echoed in her ears, and she could only glimpse the respective, motionless bodies of Toothless and Old Wrinkly lying ahead of her. The last thing she remembered seeing before everything went black was Hiccup's abandoned prosthetic leg, the metal glazing dimly with rain water.

And then, nothing.