Hello readers! Shameless apology time! I'm in college, I'm busy, I'm sorry. I'll spare you the details and not even try to justify my tardiness. Sorry!
So this is a kind of boring, filler, information chapter. Sorry about that! I love action and drama as much as the next guy but we can't have any of that without the filler! But don't worry because the next chapter is where it all goes down. But that isn't even the best part.
Chapter 8
Alvin the Treacherous was a man of few words. He hardly ever talked with anyone or negotiated. He killed first and didn't even bother to ask questions later. He was a ruthless warlord with a thirst for blood that never seemed to be quenched. Vicious rumors and legends had it he actually did drink the blood of his enemies after he conquered them. That's the reason the Outcasts didn't have many enemies to begin with. Alvin was a kill on sight type man but as he led Astrid through his town, he knew he had to use what little words he knew to make this negotiation she proposed benefit him.
The two mortal enemies sat at a large stone table in the Outcast town hall. The room itself was a barren, cold one. Mostly everything was made of stone or other cold materials. It was the definition of lifeless and drab, yet at the same time, it was full of life. Those stone cold walls had seen so much and the screams of the innocent echoed throughout them. The stone had seen and the stone had absorbed. The energy of countless intense meetings, tortures, and beginnings of wars rested in the rocks. It was a magical quality they possessed. A thousand years of history was blended in with the granite, the quartz, and the limestone. Astrid was alone but the energy of all those spirits lingered around her and created an aura of despair. Their residual screams filled the silent room and Astrid hoped that she wouldn't join them.
Alvin sat on one end of the long, rectangular table and Astrid far on the other. It was a good idea since both of them wanted to kill each other. There was also a man standing at the door in the shadows towards the back. Astrid assumed that this young man was a guard. He was clearly a newbie too. His appearance wasn't Outcast enough for him to be a real member of the bloody gang. He was strikingly handsome and had a fairly skinny yet muscular build covered by layers of Viking clothing. His short blonde hair was messy but still spiked above his forehead. A small 5 o'clock shadow crept onto his dirt covered face. His blue eyes sparkled with no effort and his smile was highly suggestive. His presence seemed to be the only bright thing in the dull, stone room. Any normal Viking woman would have fallen head over heels for him but Astrid wasn't any normal Viking woman. And in her situation, she was intimidated by his presence.
"What is this all about, Astrid?" Alvin asked, breaking her gaze. His voice echoed in the large room even though he spoke in a moderate tone.
"I'm going to keep this short and simple." She replied almost instinctively, turning her head back towards Alvin.
"Why, lass? I like my meeting long and boring."
"Hiccup is dying," She went on. "He's sick and he's going to die in the next few days." An expression of fake concern crept onto Alvin's face.
"Why, that's terrible," He said with mock sympathy. "I'm so sorry."
"Yeah, no. I know you don't care. But I'm not here to listen to your dragon-shit condolences. They told us we can't save him but I know we can. Spar. Iceland Spar. You have it and don't pretend like you don't know because I know you do. I need some, just a little, to save his life. And in return, I'll give you this." She pulled out the infamous Book of Dragons and slammed it on the table with a loud, echoing boom. All through the ride to Outcast Island, Astrid was wondering how she was going to go about making the deal. Her get-to-the-point approach wasn't what she was going for but it happened. She surprised herself with how forward she was but she didn't regret it. Astrid was done. She was done with the lemons life threw at her out of nowhere, done with the heartbreak, the pain, the suffering, everything. If she didn't have so much love in her heart she would have left by now. But she wasn't going to make Valka's mistake.
"You're willing to give up you biggest bargaining chip for a stupid gem?" Alvin didn't even break his gaze when Astrid slammed the book on the table. It's almost as if he knew what was coming. His eyes stared into Astrid's and made her even more uneasy. The feeling in her stomach rose up again but she fought the keep it at bay. Fighting was all Astrid seemed to be doing lately. She was fighting for Hiccup's life and fighting for her's. Yet, here she was, at the enemy, giving up. She mentally added that to the list of irony building up in her life.
"Yes." Was her only reply. She didn't need any more reason than that. The deal was already set in stone. Astrid believed that all Alvin wanted from Berk was the book. That's probably why he attacked that day and that's all he's been on about since dragon training became universal. Astrid just expected him to take the book and leave it at that. But he didn't. That concerned Astrid and the feeling rose up in her again. This time she didn't bother fighting it.
"You realize what you're doing, right lass?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yes." She kept on the most convincing poker face the world had ever seen. She was completely winging it this point. Things weren't going the way she had thought they would but she still didn't want to show any more sign of weakness. However, weakness and defeat was all Alvin saw.
"You're giving me everything you have for your husband's life. You realize what this means right?"
"Just take the book, give me the gem, and I'll leave." Astrid sighed heavily and focused her gaze at the man by the door. He was smiling devilishly at her. She felt so uneasy but it was better than staring at Alvin since his eyes burned into her soul. Was this really what Hiccup had to deal with all the time? Countless meetings and boring conversations in stone rooms? Those meeting were probably even more formal and indirect than this one. But Alvin never cared for formality and Astrid was on a mission. No wonder Hiccup hated being chief. Maybe it's for the best if he died. That thought found its way into Astrid head and she shook out out as quickly as it came in. No, she will not let him die if it's the last thing she does.
"Now hold on a second," Alvin said, leaning forward. Astrid sighed and slouched back in her chair. She looked at him again and rolled her eyes. "This is going to change the game. You giving me this book is you 'anding over everything that was once yours. With these secrets, I can control you and soon, the world."
"I know. But Hiccup's life is worth it."
"You'd betray your people just to save 'is measly little life?"
"He made that choice, he wants to live."
"And if it were up to you, you'd kill 'im?"
"No," Astrid slammed her hands on the table the way she did the book but this time Alvin flinched. Astrid stood up and leaned forward, sticking a finger out at Alvin. She was tired and frustrated and everything bubbling up inside her was finally starting to trickle out. "I'm offering you the deal of a lifetime, just take it! I'm giving you want you've wanted for so many years. With this book, you can control the world. Just…" She calmed down again. "Leave Berk out of it."
"Because once I conquer the world, the world'll blame you." Alvin said nonchalantly, standing as well. He slowly started making his way over toward Astrid.
"Yeah." Alvin was reading Astrid like the book in front of her and she did nothing to stop him.
"What happened to just taking to book and leaving? You're realizing what a terrible plan this is, aren't ya lass?" By now, he was standing next to her and looming over her. Why wasn't he just accepting her offer of a lifetime? Berk would deal with the Outcasts later. Astrid knew Alvin would never win and she's sure he knew in the back of his mind too. So why was he stalling?
"I… need my husband alive." Astrid's confidence wavered when he stood over her like that but she was still able to meet his gaze.
"And I suppose the next thing you're gonna say is that without 'iccup alive, the book would be no use."
"Exactly. So we both need him alive."
"But you'll never give 'im to me. I'll have the book but not the explanations. That's the trick up your sleeve," Alvin was just a little unlike the brutish vikings he ruled over. He was actually had somewhat of a brain. From the minute Astrid walked in he could read her and knew what she was going to say next. And Alvin had his own trick up his sleeve. "Tell ya what. I'll propose a new deal, Alvin smiled a devilish smile at Astrid and began to walk around the room as he spoke. "I want Berk. I don't want your little dragon book. The only reason I did was so I can have Berk. You give me Berk, and I'll give you what you want." Astrid was stunned. She hadn't planned on Alvin backfiring with a new plan at all. She had no comebacks. She sat back down and an eerie silence took over the room. Even the screams from the stone couldn't be heard. The stones seemed to pulling Astrid into them and absorbing her energy. Since she stepped into the room, she's become more physically tired and willing to give in. Maybe these stone really were magic and Alvin has been using them to his advantage all along. Either way, Astrid was tired. She may have had a fight left in her but not anymore.
"Speechless," Alvin continued on. "Thought so. See, I have an idea. Instead of fighting a war neither of us want, we sign a treaty. I get Berk, you get us. What's yours is ours and what's ours is yours. Simple as that. That way I can amass an army, take control of the world, and you Berkians get our protection from it. Anyone that tries to attack you will get blown out of the water by our joint forces. No more wars, no more fighting, and everyone wins." Astrid let the information sink in. It bounced around the stones for a bit before it hit her. It was a compromise. It would benefit both sides. Maybe it was better for the Outcasts but Astrid could get what she needed and then some. Any time she needed Spar she could go for it. It seemed like such a good plan. But then again, in her tired state, anything that got her spar was a good plan. Should she be making this decision or should she discuss it with Hiccup first? There wasn't much time and Astrid already knew his answer. At this point, Astrid would deal with the consequences later. Right now, she was getting what she desperately needed. However, she really did need time away from this environment to think about it. She might have been tired but she wasn't stupid. This was Alvin she was dealing with and there was always a catch.
"I won't agree to anything until I get it in writing." She finally replied.
"I'll have a written copy ready for tomorrow."
"Can you get one any sooner?"
"Scribes don't work that fast." Astrid sighed. Looks like she'd be traveling back again and leaving Hiccup alone again. She wasn't even sure she had the right to sign it. Snotlout might have to come as acting chief. A long silence befell the room again as Astrid put her head in her hands. Alvin paced the room, waiting for her to respond. How had Astrid's life come to this so quickly.
"Wait," She said finally, lifting her head. "How are we sealing it? Writing, but what else…"
"Marriage." Alvin said almost instinctively.
"Wait, you don't mean someone to you…"
"No, of course not. No woman should ever have to displeasure of being my wife. But see that man over in the corner? That's my only son and heir, Cory. He'll be the one getting married." Astrid's jaw dropped to the floor and make a silent, echoing boom that was forever set in stone.
Thanks for reading the boring chapter! I hate if I'm being honest. I held off posting because I kept trying to work on it but it never got better. Sorry! I promise the good stuff is coming next and from there it's pretty much all good stuff. After the next chapter, I believe it's going to be intense forever! Also, I'm not sure how many chapters I have left but I do know the story is winding down. But don't worry, I already have an idea for another fic bubbling in my brain. Thanks for all the support! Don't forgot to review, they keep me going!
