Chapter 9
...
Astrid groaned as she shifted into a more comfortable position and leaned against Hiccup's shoulder.
"You okay?" the auburn-haired Viking whispered.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired of being on this ship," Astrid replied.
"How can you be tired of being here with Eret?" Ruffnut cut in. "I mean, I could look at those muscles all day." She let out a contented sigh as she rested her chin in the palm of her hand and focused on the dragon hunter, who was hauling barrels of fish to the ship's hold. "And those tattoos on his arms? Yes, please."
"Ruffnut!" Stoick snapped.
Ruffnut turned her head towards the large Viking. "Yeah, Chief?"
"That's enough."
"Oh, fine." Rolling her eyes, Ruffnut hugged her knees to her chest.
"How's your ankle?" Hiccup asked Astrid.
"It's...it's okay," Astrid shrugged.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine, Hiccup."
Taking a deep breath, Hiccup cautiously placed an arm around Astrid's shoulders. To his surprise, she didn't protest. Instead, she simply relaxed against him and closed her eyes. As she did so, Toothless curled up beside her and rested his head in her lap.
"Aww, bud," Hiccup smiled, leaning over to pat the Night Fury between the ears. "Are you tired, too?"
Toothless responded by letting out a small grunt and closing his eyes.
It wasn't long before Astrid, Toothless, and Ruffnut were asleep. Astrid gripped Hiccup's tunic in her sleep, Ruffnut fell onto Toothless' back, and Toothless was twitching his feet, something Hiccup assumed was happening because of a dream. The auburn-haired Viking himself was exhausted, but couldn't seem to get comfortable enough to sleep. There was always the lingering fear that if he closed his eyes for even fifteen minutes, something would happen to either Stoick or Toothless. Astrid and Ruffnut could be targets, too, but he was almost positive that his family was in the most danger.
"You can't sleep, either, son?" Stoick asked softly as he slid closer to Hiccup.
"No. I just...I just don't know what's gonna happen. I mean, I know Drago is after all the dragons, and now I know that you apparently have a history with him, and I...I've always had a plan in the past, but this time..." He trailed off.
Stoick placed a large hand on his son's shoulder. "It's okay, Hiccup. You don't always have to have a plan. And sometimes, you have a plan and that plan falls apart. And by the way, I find it hard to believe that the lass said no to your marriage proposal." He nodded in Astrid's direction.
"Yeah, well...she...she said she's just not ready," Hiccup replied with a blush.
"It's a shame. She'd make a wonderful second-in-command."
"I know, but if she's not ready, I'm not gonna force her into anything." He curled his fingers around Astrid's hand. And besides, I don't think I wanna become Chief anytime soon."
"You have to be more confident in yourself, son. You have the skills of a great leader, and I know you'll be a wonderful Chief someday."
Hiccup managed to smile. "Thanks, Dad."
...
"Get up!" shouted Eret, shaking Astrid awake. "All of you."
"What -" Astrid slowly lifted her head from Hiccup's shoulder.
"Get up," repeated Eret. "We're here."
"Good morning, handsome," Ruffnut said, grinning at Eret. "How did you sleep?"
"I didn't," Eret responded bluntly.
Before anyone could utter another word, a huge figure appeared in the entryway. His dark, matted hair hung over his ears, and his crooked lips parted to reveal a set of yellowed teeth.
"Drago," Stoick whispered.
"Stoick, Chief of Berk," Drago growled before turning to Eret. "And you. I told you that if you ever found him, you were to kill him. And where's the dragon rider?"
"These are the dragon riders, sir," replied Eret. "And lots of 'em, too."
"No, I'm talking about the dragon rider. The one on the Stormcutter. The one who controls the Alpha."
"But Drago, I brought you Stoick the Vast...and his son...and the Night Fury. You know, so you can make yourself a new cape." Eret gestured to Drago's Night Fury skin cape.
Toothless growled.
"Woah, easy there, bud," Hiccup said, placing a hand on Toothless' head.
"Give me the Night Fury!" Drago demanded, turning his attention to Hiccup.
"No!" Hiccup protested. "If you take the Night Fury, you have to take me first."
"And if you think you're gonna hurt my son, you have to go through me," Stoick added, clenching his hands into fists. "I'm not afraid to fight you again, you know."
"Alright, slow down, Dad," Hiccup said as he rose to his feet. "Drago, will you give me a chance to show you how amazing dragons are? I know where you're coming from. I lived amongst a whole island of people who killed dragons for centuries, and I changed their minds. Just...just give me a chance to change yours."
Drago pulled a whip from his belt. "How dare you talk to me like that," he growled, advancing towards the smaller Viking.
"No!" Astrid shouted, pushing Hiccup out of the way and barreling into Drago. Taking him by surprise, she knocked him off his feet and pinned him to the floor. "If you lay one finger on Hiccup, I'm gonna cut off your head!" She pried the whip from his fingers and cracked it on his shoulder.
Drago lifted a hand and slapped Astrid's cheek. "You think you're a strong one, do you? Well, we'll see how strong you are."
"Don't hit the lass," Stoick commanded. Grabbing an axe from Eret's hand, he crept up to Drago and held the blade over his heart. "I dare you to make one more -"
He was interrupted by Toothless, who opened his mouth to fire a plasma blast.
"Watch out, Astrid!" warned Stoick as he flipped the axe around and struck Drago's head with the handle, causing the ominous Viking to fall unconscious.
Astrid jumped off of Drago.
"Toothless, no!" Hiccup held out his hand to stop the Night Fury.
"Coming in hot!" a voice sounded from the deck.
"All thanks to Snot!" another voice said.
"Tuff? Snotlout?" Ruffnut called.
"No, don't fire! Hiccup and the others are down there!" Valka commanded.
"Fine. Whatever you say, Mrs. Haddock," Tuffnut said. "I'll just go down and -"
"Meatlug? Meaty, where are you?" Fishlegs asked as he climbed below deck, Tuffnut following close behind. "Where's Meatlug?" He fixed a glare on Eret. "And what have you done with her?"
"Relax, Fishlegs," Ruffnut cut in. "Don't bother my man."
"But he has Meatlug!" protested Fishlegs.
"Come here, Hiccup!" Tuffnut gestured towards the ladder that led to the deck.
"Dad, Astrid, come on!" Hiccup shouted. "You too, Ruff, Tuff, and Fishlegs!"
"No, I'm not leaving here without my Meatlug!" Fishlegs crossed his arms over his chest.
"Brother!"
Hiccup turned to see Dagur rounding the corner, his arms open. "What in the name of Thor? Where did you...where did you come from?" he asked, his eyes wide.
"Oh, give me a hug, brother!" Dagur captured Hiccup in a bone-crushing embrace.
"Dagur, I don't think it's time for -" Hiccup broke off as he saw Fishlegs creeping up the ladder behind Meatlug. Shattermaster trailed after them.
"Wait!" called Eret, hurrying behind the plump Viking. "I won't let you escape!"
"Dad, stop!" Hiccup grabbed Stoick's arm and attempted to guide the axe away from Drago's chest. "Killing isn't the answer. We need to try to reason with him."
"Men who kill without reason cannot be reasoned with, son," Stoick argued. "Now go!"
Hiccup remained frozen in his place.
"I said go!" repeated Stoick. "You too, Dagur. And Astrid. Ruff, Tuff, you as well."
"Wait. what about Skullcrusher?" asked Hiccup.
"I'll get him." Stoick pushed past the dragon hunters who were watching the fight and released Skullcrusher from his cage.
"Let's hurry, Dad," Hiccup said, urging Toothless up the ladder behind Astrid.
"Hiccup!" Valka climbed off of Cloudjumper and pulled her son into a tight hug. Kissing his head, she murmured, "You're alive! Oh, thank Thor."
"Alright, riders. Mount up. We're getting out of here," commanded Hiccup.
"But Eret! I'm not leaving him!" Ruffnut insisted. She grabbed the dragon hunter's arm.
"Ruffnut!" Stoick yelled. "Now isn't the time for this. Listen to Hiccup before you get yourself killed."
"You know, babe, I'm always an option," Snotlout added, turning to wink at Ruffnut as he mounted Hookfang. "After all, I did grow facial hair for you."
"Me, too," Fishlegs chimed in.
"Enough!" demanded Stoick. "Let's go!"
All the riders, including Dagur, quickly urged their dragons into the air.
"You'll regret this!" Eret shouted, throwing an arrow in the direction of the retreating group.
"Ow!" exclaimed Hiccup as a feeling of sharp pain pierced his side. "What in Thor's name -"
"Are you okay?" Astrid asked.
"The arrow...it's...it's in my...side," Hiccup gasped. "I can't..."
"Son!" Catching sight of blood soaking through Hiccup's flight suit, Stoick quickly urged Skullcrusher over to Toothless.
"Dad, he can't...he can't fly..."
"Val! Get on the Night Fury!" Stoick shouted.
Valka rushed to Toothless and jumped onto his back. As Stoick lifted Hiccup onto Skullcrusher, she forced her foot into the place where Hiccup's metal leg typically rested. "Back to my sanctuary!" she ordered.
"But won't the dragon hunters find us there?" Astrid questioned.
"Yeah, we should all go to the Edge instead," suggested Snotlout. "It's probably like...I don't know, ten times safer than some dragon sanctuary in the middle of the freaking ocean."
"It doesn't matter where the hunters are right now. What matters is that we find somewhere for Hiccup to rest," Stoick decided, glancing down at the unconscious Viking in his arms. He wanted to pull the arrow out of his side, but was afraid that Hiccup would end up bleeding more than he already was.
"He'll be okay, though, right?" asked Astrid.
"I hope so, lass," Stoick replied. "I hope so."
