Hello! Firstly, thank you for all the favourites and follows and review, they mean a lot because this fic almost killed me and I'm glad you think it was worth the effort!

LexieFanatic – thank you, I'm glad it came across well, I was a bit scared!

ShipMistress – well, I had to, you know where it started and my friends are still traumatised ;-)

Guests – to most, thank you for the encouragement. Yes, clearly there is more to come…And to the one who clearly doesn't like Eret, in my stories he's an all-round decent guy who just needed a place to belong and is just so happy to have found one that he's willing to be whatever's needed, be it a strong arm, sounding board or agony aunt. And until HTTYD3 comes out and proves me wrong, that's how I'm going to write him. Not sorry if you don't like it.

Katveena – hope you weren't too surprised, but I'm so happy you thought Hiccup's reactions were in character. Hope you enjoy the rest! As for Captain Jack Harkness, he's one of my favourite characters in one of the world's greatest TV shows, Doctor Who. Never seen him? *steers you gently in the direction of the DW fandom* Come to the Tardis-blue side, you'll love it here.

So, this chapter begins by blinking slightly back in time to look at Astrid's thoughts, I'm sure you'll pick up where we are. She's in for a few surprises, perhaps she should have given this more thought… This is a shorter chapter. Things start to get a bit smutty. But just a tiny bit. Sorry. Next time!

Two

Astrid was panicking. Quietly, internally, but yes, panicking. What the Hel had she done? She'd been so certain that Eret's advice was good, it seemed so logical at the time, take over Hiccup, make him forget everything outside of her and give him the break he so desperately needed. And he hadn't needed too much persuasion, so all in all, an hour ago, she'd been quietly confident, if a little nervous. She'd prepared the house carefully, planned each aspect and action. She was going to make them a little den, a world away from all the demands of reality and he was going to love it. Leading him into the warm dimness she'd been hit by a wave of pure adrenaline and arousal that heated her to her bones. Watching him strip, it had taken all her self-control not to just jump him there and then, to just latch onto that skin she hadn't tasted in weeks and devour him. Only the ever-present distraction in his eyes had stopped her, because he clearly still wasn't really there. It hardened her resolve because this was about him, making him feel better, getting him come back to her. But then the ropes. Gods. She was obviously going to have to do some serious self-analysis, because while they had been meant to be a practical way of making Hiccup stay still, actually binding and restraining that gorgeous body had sent such a strong and unexpected surge of lust to her core that her hands had shaken with it. Thor, seeing the twist of the cords around his wrists, watching him pull against the restraints and then making him sit where she put him, Astrid had could still feel the dampness between her thighs. Gods. Unexpected. But that had been then. An hour ago.

Now, she kept reading the bloody stupid poetry and fought to keep her voice calm and even over the rising surge of panic and fear. She had surely fucked up. Majorly fucked up. Hiccup was a mess, a writhing, spitting mess, spewing curses and words she hadn't even realised he knew, let alone been willing to say. She'd never seen such rage in him, except maybe when Toothless had fired the awful shot that had taken Stoick, and she was terrified he was going to hurt himself. This wasn't working! Let him fight it, Eret had said, he might need to, he won't go down easy, just stay calm and let him fight it, come to terms with it in his own time, blah blah blah, it had sounded so bastard reasonable! So she was trying, trying to stay calm, to let Hiccup know she was still there with him, to be a reassuring presence by keeping her recitation steady though she wasn't processing any of the words because all her attention was on the red, sweaty, furious mess of her lover. He was swearing again now, calling for her to let him go, demanding to be untied. Astrid bit her lip briefly, then turned the page with unsteady hands and kept on reading. Sweet Freyja singing, he had his word! Why didn't he just say the damn thing? Then she could let him go, apologise, do her best to make this fiasco up to him, and then go hamstring a certain former dragon trapper and dump him upside down in a Whispering Death pit. She would never ever pull this kind of shit again without talking to Hiccup first. Never again! Oh in Odin's name, Hiccup, she willed him, just say the damn word. His struggle had reached a fevered pitch now and she glanced down, shocked to see tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. Well, fuck. Surely enough was enough. Bracing herself, she gulped in air to speak the safeword herself, so focussed on already mentally rehearsing the apology she would surely have to make that she almost missed the silence.

("If it takes, when it takes, when he starts to accept, submit to what you're doing, you'll know. Watch for the signs, changes. When you see them, when he's stopped fighting, he's ready. You have to be ready too.)

Wait. Silence? She waited, listening. Yes. A complete and total stillness filled the house, broken only by the pop and crackle of the fire. Hiccup had stopped struggling, stopped fighting, stopped even breathing it seemed. The whole world paused. Astrid froze, heart in her mouth. Then Hiccup drew in one long, ragged breath, stopped. Tentatively, trying for an assurance she didn't totally feel, Astrid put the book down and stretched out her hand, landing lightly on his shoulder. The air moaned out of him at once in a desperate and needy exhalation that clenched her heart and belly. Sweeping across his shoulder, up his throat and coming to rest lightly on his crown, she felt the change in his tension. It was still there in his muscles, but less aggressive, more anticipatory and focussed completely on her. Even with his head down, Hiccup radiated awareness of her actions, he was waiting to see what she would do next, giving her the next move.

Heart thumping, Astrid ran her fingers through the sweaty disaster of Hiccup's hair, and was rewarded when he pressed back into her hand, sighing. She grinned shakily, maybe this wasn't going to be such a disaster after all.

"Good." She murmured, smiling, putting all her love and admiration for him into her tone. "Oh, my brilliant boy. It's okay. There's nothing you have to do. And I'm here, there's nothing to worry about. I've got you. You're safe. Let go. I've got you."

The effect was instantaneous. Hiccup went loose, becoming almost boneless under her hands as she felt the tension drain away from him. He sagged against the ropes, breathing shallowly. Astrid clambered out of the chair and knelt at his side, taking his bowed head in her hands and lifting gently. His gaze met hers squarely, a little hazy but obviously aware and drinking her in. And most importantly, for the first time in weeks, months, it was empty. There was nothing dancing behind those eyes, no train of thought, no constantly unravelling list of things to do. This was just Hiccup, looking at Astrid. She cupped his cheeks and smiled.

"Hello, angel."

His answering smile was a bit wonky but so open and trusting that it took her breath away. Confidence rose in her again. Hiccup was in her hands.

("When he's yours, you'll know. You'll have promised to take care of him. Now's when you do it.")

She wouldn't let him down.

"Oh look at you," Astrid breathed, "what a state you got yourself in, daft lad. I said I'd take care of you, didn't I? And I will." She let go of his head and it lolled a little on his neck, but his eyes stayed fixed on hers. "Alright then angel, I want to take you upstairs, so I'm going to untie you a little. You okay? You going to be good and stay still?"

Hiccup nodded, a bit blearily.

"Going to need to hear your voice, love."

The answer came, slurred and thick but definite. " 'm okay. Wh'tevr you say."

Well, that phrase she didn't hear very often and it sent a pleasurable shiver down her spine. Her smile grew wider.

"Wonderful. Okay then."

Astrid knelt at his feel and quickly slipped the knots that bound him to the foot of the chair then grabbed his elbow pulled him to his feet. He groaned as the blood began to flow freely again and tried to bring his hands back round. They wouldn't come. Hiccup looked at her, bemused, and flexed his shoulders. Gently she shook her head.

"Nope, not yet. Up first."

Coming round behind him she placed a hand on his joined wrists, steered him towards the stairs, pausing only at the table to lift a cup of water which was greedily drained. Then to the stairs again. He went easily. Feeling the twin textures of hot skin and rough hemp beneath her fingers, Astrid suppressed another shiver. Clearly there were aspects of this that she hadn't really thought through, particularly her own reaction to what she was doing. She was so used to seeing Hiccup in charge, strong and dynamic that having him so pliant and under her control felt like a rare and, to be perfectly honest, utterly arousing privilege. Her heart raced, her skin flushed and there was no way she could pretend to herself that it was all down to relief. The truth was, it had been ages and he was just so, well, so godsdamned hot. She could hardly tear her eyes away from those gorgeous, bound, hands...He stumbled a little on the stairs and she mentally shook herself even as she put her free hand to his waist to steady him. Focus Astrid, she berated herself. Focus! This was about Hiccup and she had to concentrate!

At the top of the stairs he hesitated, obviously unsure where to go or what to do, turning to look at her, his eyes hesitant. That couldn't happen.

("Remember you've taken charge, so be in charge! He'll have to know that you are, otherwise he'll not feel safe. And he needs to. So, give short, simple instructions and let him know that you know what you're doing. You'll be fine.")

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she moved round to look him in the eye, tried to project confidence, smiled.

"Alright angel, I'm going to untie your hands now, stay still while I do it. Then I want you to take off your shirt and lie yourself face down on the bed. Then don't move. Got that?"

Hiccup's face cleared immediately, leaving behind only that slightly woozy, swimming expression as he nodded his reply. Something inside her revelled in his compliance.

"Good."

Knots unpicked, the rope dropped away and Hiccup flexed his hands briefly before whisking his shirt over his head with a speed that made Astrid chuckle. Once he lay on the bed she stripped off her skirt and leggings then dropped to kneel at his side, trailing her fingers gently up and down his back, feeling the strength of his muscles, hard under soft. In the candlelight the planes of his body could have been carved from pale, fine-grained wood. He was beautiful. Despite the warm room her touch raised goosebumps and Hiccup wriggled. Astrid watched his skin prickle and clenched her belly against another pulse of lust. Gods.

"Hands above your head angel. Get comfortable."

Reaching down for the rope she circled it loosely round each outstretched wrist, leaving a little slack between them. "Hold these. Don't let go." Pressing a rope end into each palm she sat back and indulged, hissing through her teeth at the decadent view. Hiccup was prone, tied and so very very hot. And utterly still, laid out and waiting for her. She couldn't help her grin.

"Oh, lovely," she breathed, "look at you. So gorgeous, and so good for me aren't you? Doing just as I say. But you're so tense, you've worked yourself too hard recently. I can't have that." She was warming to her role now, feeling braver, more confident, more in control. And fuck, it was amazing. "Relax now, I've got you love, you don't need to do anything and I just want to make you feel wonderful."

Pushing herself up she straddled him, biting her lip as her bare thighs met hot skin, and smoothed both hands firmly up his back, working out the knots and kinks she found, stretching and loosening. When she reached his shoulder blades and pressed both thumbs down deep into the tissues, dragging them around the bone and up the back of his neck, Hiccup gave a short moan, biting the sound off when it threatened to become loud. Astrid grinned and leaned,

"You like that do you?" When he remained silent, she did it again, pressing deeper and enjoying the choked-off noise he made. She laughed gently into his ear. "I'll have an answer please love."

He squirmed, tickled by her hot breath, then jumped as she pinched lightly up the side of his throat. "Yes!" he gasped, "Yes, Astrid."

"Good. I need to know how you're doing angel, I want to hear you. If you've got sounds for me, then make them."

Almost as punctuation she flicked her tongue lightly into his ear, surprising a breathy groan out of him.

"Lovely, just like that."

Sitting back up, she resumed the massage, pushing out tension and strain while he lay flat, submitting to her ministrations entirely. His gasps and low groans rumbled underneath her, coming free and uninhibited now. It was intoxicating, those increasingly needy noises, and she felt her head beginning to spin with both the power and aching desire. Lifting herself off, she grabbed his hip to roll him over.

"On your back for me now love, you're so lovely. I want to see you. Keep those hands up there, that's right."

He obeyed. Stretched out, chest flushed and panting, and fists clenched around the rope despite the looseness of his body, Hiccup's eyes were glassy and far away. Sweet Freyja singing but he looked wonderful, so open and vulnerable that she wanted to both devour him and throw herself at his feet in gratitude at the same time. She swept him with a glance, eyes snagging on the prominent bulge at his groin, definite evidence that she wasn't the only one enjoying herself.

("I can't tell you what to do once you've gotten him into the right headspace. You could do anything to him, so you'll have to figure out what he needs. It might be that he needs to sleep. Or be held. Or it might be, well, erm…yes. That. You know him. You know you. You'll know.")

Well then. She grinned predatorily and leaned into the heat of his throat, nibbling and licking down his body as she growled.

"Oh you gorgeous creature. Look at you. Such a treasure, and all for me. Aren't you?" Hiccup whimpered, his reply cut off by her tongue swirling in his belly button, her hand lightly palming the front of his trousers. "You're lovely, do you know that? So lovely. And look at this…"

She sat up and pulled open his laces, he groaned low in the back of his throat. Tapping his hips to get him to lift and carefully negotiating his leg harness, she pulled the trousers down and off, along with his pants, exposing his swollen cock to the air. Jutting up at a sharp angle from his body it looked almost painfully hard. Astrid trailed one fingertip from the base to the head, revelling in Hiccup's hissed intake of breath as he pulsed under her touch.

"Now this looks like it needs some attention. Keep those hands where they are angel. Let me do this for you."