Chapter Five
A/N: For all of you who enjoy violence...this chapter's for you! XD
Fire crackles in the furnace, where Hiccup is heating another piece of Toothless's tail fin. The thin, metal rod glows red hot as he dunks it into a barrel of water, earning a hiss from the super heated iron. Drawing it back out, he turns it over and inspects it. There are still a few imperfections...but it will work. He lays it down on the table to cool the rest of the way before turning to his dragon. "Just gotta patch up the fabric part and we'll be back in business."
Toothless offers a small nod, his eyes never once leaving the door. This time, he's determined to sense it if Dagur arrives. He won't let that psycho hurt his Hiccup! No way! As if to voice is determination, he lets out a low growl, his nose crunching up as he bears his teeth.
Hiccup sighs and sets down his tools. "Toothless, I know you're worried about that guy we saw last night...but really, there's no reason to be so uptight. It's fine." He assures him with a small grin. "Just relax, bud. We're nearly done here."
Toothless doesn't move an inch. He remains in the doorway, his eyes locked on the one and only entrance to the Blacksmith shop. The two of them are all alone in the Forge. Meaning Toothless is Hiccup's one and only guardian against potential attack. He won't let him down.
Hiccup shakes his head, seeing that his friend refuses to move from that spot. "Have it your way." He grumbles, turning back to his work. He turns the torn fin over in his hands, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinizes the tear. It doesn't look like something that just 'happened'...it looks almost...deliberate. Like someone took a knife and... Hiccup pauses, an ice-cold realization stabbing through him. Toothless can fly a little bit, even without me...no way he'd fall that hard... He bites his lip, stealing a glance at the Night Fury. And the way he couldn't move...it was like someone used the pressure point on him... "Toothless," He mumbles, fear still thundering in his heart. "Come here a second."
The dragon tilts his head, noticing the paleness of his Rider's face. What's wrong with him? Concerned, Toothless jumps to his feet and hurries over, sniffing Hiccup's forehead as if to figure out why he looks so scared.
Hiccup gently tips Toothless's head up, kneeling down to get a better look at his neck. A jolt goes through him when he sees it. The tell-tale sign. The scales which lay over the pressure point are almost...dented. Whoever did this to him-and now Hiccup is convinced that someone really did attack him-they meant to knock him out. To keep Toothless knocked out for a while. But...why? Who would want to hurt Toothless?
It's while both of them are distracted that Hiccup hears the sound of footsteps against the hardwood floors of the Blacksmith. He doesn't look up, still trying to decipher what this all means. "Um, Gobber's not in right now. But if you leave your weapon here, I'll tell him to-"
"Oh, I'm not here for Gobber."
Hiccup's body stiffens, icy terror running down his spine. He knows that voice. Knows it all too well. Swallowing down his fear, he tries to muster as much confidence into his trembling voice as possible when he says, "What are you doing here, Dagur...?"
Dagur laughs, his shoulders shaking. "I think you know."
Hiccup jumps to his feet as Toothless whips around, snarling furiously. The Night Fury lets out a terrifying roar, one so loud that it shakes shields that hang from the walls. He instantly goes between Dagur and Hiccup, spreading his wings as if to shield the small boy.
Dagur watches with an impassive expression as the dragon opens his jaws, smirking at the sight of gas building in the Night Fury's throat. Evidently, Toothless is tired of Dagur. He wants him dead. But-Dagur grins-what does Hiccup want?
Surely enough, Hiccup grabs his dragon's shoulder. "NO!" He screams. "YOU'LL KILL HIM!"
And, as sure as can be, Toothless relents, closing his mouth and backing down from his towering position over Dagur. The Berserker's leader merely lifts a hand and waves it in front of his nose.
"Hmm, flammable gas really doesn't smell very good."
Hiccup glares at him, still fighting to keep Toothless from killing him. "So you want me dead!" Hiccup barks. "What kind of plan is this?! Just barging right into town and confronting me and my Night Fury in broad daylight?!" He lowers his voice, scowling at him. "You may be sadistic and insane...but you're not stupid."
Dagur only continues to smile, almost pleasantly. "You're right about that much. But I assure you, Hiccup, my plan is fool proof."
"What...?"
Just then, Dagur turns, offering Hiccup line of sight of the object that's strapped to his waist. The Book of Dragons, key to all of Berk's knowledge about the fire-breathing monsters. Hiccup frowns at the sight of it. How had Dagur gotten ahold of it? And why would he go to the trouble of stealing it...? He's not exactly interested in training dragons, all he wants is to kill them for sport.
"How did you get that?" Hiccup demands.
"You really should close your window when you leave." Dagur answers, darkly. "It's so easy to climb up there and go inside. Heck, if I'd felt the inclination, I could have just stayed there and jumped you when you got back last night."
Hiccup shivers. Dagur was there? He saw him fly away? Suddenly, his eyes widen. "You're the one we saw running away."
Dagur nods. "And the one who attacked Toothless." He offers, proudly.
Hiccup finds himself grinding his teeth together in blind fury. How dare he hurt Toothless?! Gripping his fists so tightly that his nails dig into the skin, Hiccup parts his lips to speak. "You know what...?" He growls. "I change my mind."
Dagur tilts his head, listening.
"Toothless."
The Night Fury tenses, already knowing what his Rider wants. He stands up on his hind legs, gas bubbling in his throat. His wings extend, a hiss escaping him. He opens his mouth, making sure to cover Hiccup with his wing so he won't get burned when he toasts this-
Dagur smirks, taking a hand from behind his back. Hiccup hadn't even noticed they were folded back there. He opens his palm, revealing a lit match...
All the color drains from Hiccup's face. "NO!" He screams. But it's too late. Dagur tosses the match at Toothless just as a bit of gas spills from his mouth. In a flash of heat and light, the gas ignites. Toothless roars in pain as fire shoots down his non-fireproof throat.
"TOOTHLESS!" Hiccup shouts, taking a step closer.
The Night Fury thrashes in agony, his extended wing slamming into Hiccup's chest, sending flying into a support beam a few feet away. While his body takes most of the hit, his head smacks the wooden surface pretty good as well. He slides to the floor, his ears ringing. He only vaguely notices Dagur striding toward him, his arm outstretched.
Hiccup barely acknowledges being hauled back to his feet. His eyes are still hanging on Toothless, who is now laying on the floor. Small whimpers seem to emanate from him. He paws at his throat with his little front leg, his face twisted in pain.
Through his fuzzy vision, Hiccup see Dagur's hand move from his shoulder...to his throat. And suddenly, he can't breathe. Instinctively, Hiccup fights back. Kicking and punching but nothing lands. Dagur moves his other hand to Hiccup's throat and squeezes even harder. Black spots dance across his vision as the ringing in his ears increases. Suddenly, his knees feel weak... His lungs scream for air but he can't find any.
The last thing Hiccup sees is Toothless's sorrowful gaze as he watches his Rider being strangled, knowing there's nothing he can do to save him.
A/N: Oooh! What will happen next!? XD