Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD

X

X

"Do have you Dragons in Rome?" Hiccup asked idly one evening. The night before had been spent looking for info on night furies in the book Fishlegs gave her, but there was nothing. The book had little use other than telling her the unique abilities of each species, their combat was the only thing recorded. Now she was looking for any info she could gather.

"The Empire is a big place. Some do, some don't." Vessa replied, watching her work from her perch on a chair.

"Where?" Hiccup insisted, not looking up from her fiddling.

"The east mostly in the deserts, a few scattered population around the land, but nothing like here. I didn't know dragons of different species cooperated." Vessa told her, with an inquisitive expression.

"We've never known anything different. They've been here as long as we have, if not longer." Hiccup shrugged but there was something odd about that. Stories from other lands about dragons never had different species cooperating.

"Then why did you stay?"

"Vikings have stubbornness issues." Hiccup told her with mirth in her tone.

"Sounds stupid to me."

"It is. But I had no say in it. Now we stay because we don't know anything else. We could conquer surrounding areas but resources are always thin because of dragons. And the fight wouldn't end until all of the victims were dead. Easier to stay and do things that we know." Hiccup said, it was the reality of their situation, no changing it. Perhaps if they hadn't settled her in the first place…

"Hmm. You're not like the Vikings."

"No, I'm not." Hiccup sighed, a constant reminder of her permanent status as an outcast.

"I'm surprised you made it this long." Vessa told her, leaning her head on her hands.

"I'm the only child of a chief. Even us Vikings see the value of match. It's not to different from Romans, it business transaction. The Berserkers and Hooligans have a long standing truce. I was just a way to enforce it. Otherwise I would have married my cousin, keep the Chief line in the family." Vessa's face pulled in disgust.

"Your cousin? That's disgusting!" Hiccup blinked at her.

"Well I admit, he wasn't charming but-" She started…

"No, I mean, how can you marry someone in your family!" Vessa shouted, waving one arm around. Hiccup blinked at her stupidly.

"Do they not in Rome?"

"Never, you can't marry someone related to you, even by marriage!" Vessa insisted, shaking her head about.

"Jeeze, by that logic everyone is related."

"Well, you can marry someone if they're distantly related, like, several times removed or a seventh cousin. Besides, the empire is a big place."

"I guess that's true. The villages are so small. I would be related to everyone really." The conversation paused as Hiccup removes molten metal from the forge and poured it into the mold while Vessa fetched a bucket of water.

"Is it easier to live in the south?" Hiccup asked as she took red hot bolt and put in the bucket to cool.

"There's a place for thinkers, if that's what you're asking. Not if you're a woman though. Women have three occupations, wife, priestess, or whore. I guess you could add slaves, but I meant the free people in Rome." Vessa heaved over another bucket to help keep the water cold.

"Were you a slave?" Vessa blinked owlishly but shrugged.

"Yes." Her tone was enough for Hiccup to change the subject.

"About those dragons, do they always attack on sight?"

"In all the stories I know. They used to bring them to the coliseum sometimes, for gladiators to fight. They never give up a chance to rip off a man's head." Hiccup blinked and looked down at her bolts.

"Always huh?"

X

"So why didn't you?" She mumbled. It's the next day and she returned to where she nearly killed a dragon, the dragon. Vessa was busy and Hiccup didn't want to share this with anyone just yet. Besides she didn't know what Vessa wanted really. She slowly made her way down the trail he dragon left behind. She walked for a long while before she reached a deep cove, a small thing. She heard the frustrated growling and and hid. The dragon may not have killed her the first time, but she was hardly going to take the risk again.

It seemed smaller than she remembered, of course before it had been standing over her with intent to kill. It tried to climb the walls but failed again and again. It tried to flap its wings, only to fall. Hiccup cocked her head, wondering why it wouldn't just fly. But then she noticed the tail. The tail had three fins on it; one was missing its mate. The fin must have shredded in the fall. Her foot slipped and a pebble clattered to the ground. The head on the best swiveled to look at her. Hiccup froze; it made no move to attack, only to watch her. Slowly Hiccup backed away and dashed home.

X

"Dagur's isn't a usual guy. How do you know your tricks will work on him?" Hiccup asked. They were in the middle of a seduction lesson. Hiccup was dressed in only her tunic and leggings.

"They have in the past." Vessa told her, looking Hiccup over like a piece of livestock. Despite being manhandled as Vessa "looked for her best features" it was her wording that caught her off guard.

"What?"

"Oh, don't worry sweetheart, I've never bedded your man. That honor is yours alone." Vessa told her casually, pulling the tunic tight to examine the shape and size of her chest.

"Really, I was his first?" Hiccup had a hard time believing that.

"As far as I know, I don't know what he got up to while traveling, but I never really heard gossip about it. He just didn't seem all that interested." Well, that was plausible; his idea of a good time was killing something or tormenting someone, namely Hiccup.

"Yet you think you can teach me to seduce him." Hiccup asked skeptically as Vessa made and unwanted examination of her head and neck.

"Hun, I know his type." Hiccup raised an eyebrow, could Dagur have a type?

"Oh, and what's that?"

"He wants a woman, a prideful woman, who needs him. Funny, the sadistic bastard wants to be needed." Vessa shrugged as if this was a normal situation. Then proceeded to make an unwarranted grab at Hiccup's rear. Hiccup slapped her away but Vessa continued undaunted.

"Needed, how do you mean?"

"Oh, you know…" Vessa peered at her with a smile.

"In case you weren't aware, I was a virgin on my wedding day. I don't get the 'you-knows'."

"Sound desperate for him, he's the only one that knows how to satisfy you, you'd never look anywhere else. He may act like a brute, but he wants love, like everyone else, he just wants it expressed differently."

"By acting like his personal whore?"

"No, no, honey. You're his wife, no one's forcing you or paying you. Wives have power of their own, over their husbands, particularly you. You were bound to him and he wants you to want him on his merit. He wants to satisfy you, to make you only have eyes for him. Trust me, honey, men want to be needed by their woman more than anything. I've known enough married men to know what they want from their wife."

"Yeah, but I bet they were attracted to theirs."

"Dagur likes you, or at least the way you look. I've seen the way he stares at you the mead hall. The problem isn't your looks; it's your regard for him. You're afraid, and for good reason. But it's possible to be afraid of someone and to bring them into your control. You're a lady, use what you have. Believe it or not, many women run this world, only the best can rule through their husbands." Hiccup paused, thinking of the words given to her the night before her wedding.

"Men are just like any wild beats. They can always pose a danger, but they can be trained. Now, how is that contraption of you coming?"

"Good, just a few tests and adjustments left."

"Good, then I'll teach you what you need to know."

"Thank you?"

"It's a business transaction honey, I'm quite familiar."

"Now the first thing to know about men is they love the way a woman moves. Walk." Hiccup did as she was told but Vessa shook her head.

"No, no, no, no, your hips, swing them a bit more while you walk." Hiccup tried again, awkwardly. Vessa sighed.

"Okay, subtle, be subtle." Then she guided Hiccup to the proper posture. Her back was straight and her head tilted down just a bit and her hips back.

"You're dainty but you have your own appeal. Show the man you have a figure. Men love a woman who loves sex, especially if it's only for them. Dagur strikes me as a man who is in touch with his primal side. Endorse it, appeal to it. Submit and do it with glee that it's him."

"How…"

"Easy, as a prostitute you become a fabulous actor or you don't eat. Moan for him, make him feel proud that he's pleasing you, that you need him."

"I don't, I'm not…"

"Okay, tell me what it sounds like when you're bedding him, what you two say."

"N-nothing."

"Hiccup, ma'am, here is nothing you two are doing that I have not done or seen a hundred times. There's no need to be embarrassed with me."

"He grunts mostly, he doesn't say anything."

"And what do you do?"

"Breathe, I guess."

"Okay now I'm starting to see the problem, hun. You have to enjoy it, does it hurt when he beds you?"

"No, well sometimes."

"Does it feel good?"

"A little."

"Well then, we need to take a different approach. You're going to have to train your husband to please you too. Bedding is a mutual experience, or meant to be. You're going to have to take charge next time.

"Take charge?"

"You're going to be on top."

"But, girls are supposed to be on the bottom, isn't that how it goes?"

"I'm sorry who knows better, brothel girl or virgin bride."

"Okay, point taken, but how am going to…"

"And this is where he real learning begins."

X

Hiccup lay in bed that night alone. Dagur had probably passed out drinking, He did often. Hiccup wondered if she was at fault. She had been told to fulfil her duties as a wife. For so long, her duties meant, keeping his home, bedding down with him and bearing children. At least that was the nonsense village women had fed her. But she knew many women in the village hadn't been like that, particularly her own mother. Val had never stayed home long, often traveling away. She never was a stereotypical wife; her status allowed her freedom, freedom from her family that tied her down. Hiccup resented her mother at times, for coming and going as if they were nothing. Her mother loved her and accepted her odd ways, but she had still been so young, so very young when she was removed from her life.

In time, Hiccup would become a mother herself, hopefully not for a while but she promised herself to be a better mother than her own, be there for her children and not simply disappear one day. Never to return. She wanted to give her children the best life possible ad that meant a good relationship with Dagur. And that meant listening to Vessa. It was embarrassing to have Vessa telling her what features a man would find attractive. Apparently her breasts and butt where small but perky and firm, and apparently, Dagur need this shown to him. Then there was all this nonsense about getting him on the bottom and that was a humiliating lesson. Mostly because she needed a partner to practice "the flip" with, which was Vessa who seemed undisturbed by it all. Mainly it had been about moving, the subtle movements Vessa had been taught that kept men watching and most important would keep Dagur watching her.

As the fateful night grew close she grew more anxious. Especially because there was this silly, girlish, part of her that wanted Dagur to like her as she was. They were married after all; they should try to make the best of it. She wanted to believe she could learn to love her husband. Vessa only dealt with the psychical aspect, but not emotional. Hiccup just wanted to be happy, why was that so much to ask?

X

Hiccup went back to the cove where the night fury was. The poor things probably hadn't eaten in days, so she brought along a fish. She slowly clambered into the cove and it was then the beast noticed her. She didn't see it, peering from behind a rock, like a predator staring down its prey. It hopped down from its perch, catching her attention. Hesitantly, she held the fish out, a peace offering. It came closer; opening its mouth then spotted something and reared back growling. She reached for her dagger on her hip. She reached for it, causing the dragon to arch its back and growl. He didn't like the dagger, but he knew what it was, amazing. Slowly she pulled the dagger out and dropped it. The beast snarled at it until she kicked it away with a well-balanced foot.

To her utter astonishment, the beast became docile. It sat back on its haunches and stared at her pupils wide and friendly. A fin on his head twitched like she had seen on dogs. Hiccup held out the fish again and the beast eyed her or a moment before slowly making its way to her. Once it was close it opened its mouth like the day they first met, but she was met with a surprising sight.

"Toothless? I could have sworn…" Then teeth popped out of the gums and snatched the fish away, swallowing it in two bites. Hiccup drew back in alarm as the great dragon licked its chops. It started crowding her until Hiccup fell flat on her rear against a rock. The beats loomed over her and then made a curious sound before plopping a slimy fish half on her lap. Then it reared up and sat on its tail very much mimicking her own posture. The beast was smart.

An awkward silence ensued between them. Then the dragon glanced at the fish and then her face. It was communicating, and she realized what with a twist on her guts. Not wanting to risk incineration over a possible insult she sunk her teeth into the half-digested, slimy fish. She held it in her mouth, trying not to gag, the dragon looked pleased. But after she refused to swallow, it made a clear swallowing gesture. It was really mind-blowing how smart it was, it communicated with her, which most animals, save dogs, were incapable of. Hiccup protested briefly but choked down the fish with a shudder and gag. The dragon just licked its chops with a humming sound. She gave a weak grin and the dragon narrowed its eyes, scrutinizing her. Then slowly, very slowly, it tried to smile too, imitating her.

Hiccup stared in astonishment. The slowly, so very slowly, she reached out a hand to touch. The dragon immediately growled, his teeth appearing from their sheath, snarling. Then he took off flying a ways before landing on the other side of the pond. It made a few more sneering sounds before she decided it was time to leave.

Over the next few days, Hiccup often visited the dragon. Vessa often questioned where she was running off to but Hiccup would blow her off. She simply stayed and observed the dragon with a tinkerer's eye. The way it slept, relaxed, groomed itself and ate. One day she was simply enjoying the dragon's company but grew bored as he napped in a tree. So she began drawing him in the dirt. She heard the night fury coming up behind her. She tensed but tried to act casual and continued drawing. The dragon watched her for a few moments for walking off and after ripping a tree from the ground, returned with a fat sapling. Hiccup watched in amazement at the dragon began practically spinning about, leaving lines in the dirt, but they seemed very deliberate. The dragon was taking great care in his creation. Once he was finished, he bobbed his head in a satisfied way, much like a child after finishing a sketch. Hiccup stood and took the whole thing in. Unaware, she stepped on a line, prompting he dragon to snarl. She jumped but slowly found herself experimenting, putting her foot on the line and taking it off, watching his pattern. After getting it, she stepped over the line, seeing as the dragon was still friendly; she began dancing around on the lines, gleeful as a girl. She didn't even remember the dragon was there until his breath puff hot on her scalp.

She looked up at him and he looked down at her. She held out her hand again, the dragon snarled at it. Hiccup wasn't sure what came over her, it may have been a madness sent by Loki himself, but she couldn't help it. She closed her eyes, turned her head away and held out her hand again. The dragon regarded her and stared at her hand for a long while. Then slowly, with great hesitation, the beast of legend pressed his snout against the tiny human's hand. The moment was over so quickly, Hiccup was barely sure it was real, but as she watched the dragon race off, she knew it was.

X

"Is it almost done?"

"Calm down Vessa, it'll be done soon."

"I'm tired!" She whined, Hiccup only rolled her eyes and finished tightening the bolts.

"There, finished, now quit whining."

"So how are you going to present it?"

"Uh, I was thinking something like, 'here honey'." Hiccup said, holding the gift limply.

"Lame, it's in the presentation. Give me that!" Vessa snatched the parcel.

"You have got to be more alluring. Something like, 'husband, I have made this for you'. And be sure to look as sultry as possible. A man's brain is between his legs!" She was shouting with one fist in the air like the whole statement was a battle cry.

"I'm not sure."

"Okay, your pose. Your head should be tipped down, but not too much, you have to keep eye contact. You're short so don't hunch. But don't stand up completely straight either! And stick out that ass girl, it ain't much but work with what you have!" The resulting posing came out strange and awkward.

"Vessa…." Hiccup groaned.

"Don't 'Vessa' me, I'm a pleasure coach and you are going to seduce your husband one way or another damn it! Now, wow me!" For some odd reason Hiccup thought of Gobber's teaching methods in the forge.

"I've got something for you." Hiccup attempted, lowing her voice.

"You have to purr damn it!"

"Well sorry, I wasn't trained in the art of seduction as a part of my lessons growing up."

"You're a daughter of the chief, you should have."

As expected, this went on for hours.

X

Dagur walked into the house about an hour after sunset, probably just dropping his gear to go to the mead hall and drown himself in aforementioned beverage. Usually Hiccup would be away in their room, avoiding contact, but not tonight. She was sitting at their table, wrapped in his ceremonial cloak, wearing a shift beneath it that would have made her blush. Her hair was loose, Dagur liked it down, and she felt naked despite all she was wearing, it was hard for her. But she had resolved for tonight.

"Dagur." He looked over at her.

"Now what are you doing there?"

"Waiting for you." Hiccup hated the timid sound in her own voice, how it made her sound nervous. She couldn't afford that, not now. She stood closer, praying that the courage held. She adjusted her hold to show him the bare skin of her forearm, and he was watching.

"Oh."

"I missed you." He was watching her move, under his cloak. Dagur spotted her bare feet and ankles peeking from beneath the hem. He was wondering what was inside. Hiccup picked up the parcel and handed to him.

"For you." She said simply. He was entranced, it was good sign. She never let her eye contact falter. He unwrapped to reveal a shield with the mark of his tribe.

"A shield, my sister had one like this…." She hoped that was a good thing.

"Not just a shield." She guided his hands to the mechanism and he watched in surprise as it shifted into a crossbow, his favorite hunting weapon. She guided him to set to its original form and release the harpoon mechanism, burrowing itself in their wall. He was awed. Then he dragged his gaze back to her, where she was standing her ground.

"That is amazing, and you made, for me." His insanity was poking through but Hiccup remained collected through it.

"For my husband." And with the must sultry smile, by Vessa's standard, she could muster, she dropped the fur cloak. Dagur lost interest in the shield and dropped it. Hiccup winced internally at her hard work being handled so poorly, but pushed past it. This was what she'd been hoping for. Dagur was fixed on her and only her now. The shift she was wearing came above the knees and tied in the front.

"I haven't shared your bed in so long, as a wife is meant to. I have missed you in more ways than one, Dagur." She tipped back her head a bit, showing her long throat. Vessa said it was one of her best features. And he was watching. It was all a bit embarrassing really. She bit her lip and reached for the ties on her shift, tugging the whole thing open in a matter of moments. She realized then, he was looking at her eyes and not the parts he was supposed to; he was a bit flustered and nervous, but only watching her eyes. Hiccup was frankly ready to get the show on the road before she lost her nerve. She took on hand and guided it to her chest.

The feel of her skin snapped him out of his trance and he pounced. He grabbed at anything he could get at really and in the ensuring scuffle for dominance, his helm fell near the shield. With his hands in her hair, she suddenly wanted the same thing. Hiccup discreetly pulled at the leather thong holding it in place, releasing his red hair and threading it through her fingers. Acting solely on instinct, she gave a brief tug and Dagur pulled back. Hiccup took the opportunity to push him down on the fur cloak and straddle him, her shift covering really nothing now. He gazed up at her, at a loss for words, his chest heaving under her thighs.

"My turn." She told him simply and continued her assault.

X

After all was said and done, they lay under the cloak on the rug beneath. Dagur was tracing idle patterns into her lower back. The moment was strongly intimate and comfortable. Hiccup felt safe for the first time in well, ever. His silence unnerved her a bit, he was usually so loud. But here, she heard nothing from him but low content sighs. Her head was tucked under his and their bodies still pressed tightly together. They had cooled down for the encounter and were just soaking one another in. One leg pushed between hers and hooked over to keep her from trying to leave. His unoccupied hand made its way into her hair. His tenderness seemed out of character, but he was deliberately being gentle with her, loving even. He was holding her like she was some valuable treasure that someone wanted to steal from him. Hiccup didn't know what she'd been expecting, but it wasn't this. Hiccup looked at the fire from her spot under Dagur's jaw. It was beginning to go out. She moved to get up, but he pulled her back down.

"Dagur." She started, not sure where she was going with the thought.

"You are not going anywhere." Dagur stated simply, tightening his grip on her.

"The fire…" She protested weakly as his fingers continued massaging her scalp, it felt really nice, this all felt really nice.

"I'll keep you nice and warm." The he then pushed her face against his pectorals, her fingers touching some of his tattoos. She huffed.

"How long do you intend to hold me hostage here?" She asked, an unamused expression pressing into his torso.

"Oh, until we die maybe." He replied flippantly.

"Geeze, we'll freeze." Hiccup complained, adjusting her head so that only her cheek was on his chest. This was all oddly comfortable; she could understand not wanting to leave this. She even had this odd fear that moving would break this moment and things would go back to the way they were before.

"I'd die a happy man."

"Wouldn't you rather I keep making you happy?" She asked dryly. He cocked his head in thought.

"True." Then he flipped them, caging her beneath his limbs. He was much larger than her, and looming over her like that would have scared her a day ago, especially since they were both still nude, but now she only thought he was being dramatic.

"But for now, I'm quite happy holding you captive." Hiccup rolled her eyes.

"You're impossible." Dagur chuckled a bit, and then he leaned down to nuzzle her neck, biting a mark into her skin.

"Enough biting, Thor, one might mistake you for a wild beast." She teased, pushing at him weakly, not even her meager amount of power behind it. It was strange how much more comfortable she was with him now. A small display of power was all that was needed. He was far gentler now, at least n after glow. Hiccup would be lying if she said that his strength had no appeal.

"Well, I'm as strong as one." He replied, rubbing his hooked nose under her jaw.

"Maybe, but you are a man, act like one." He bit at her other shoulder in response.

"Ugh." But she groaned with a smile. Dagur plopped down on his side and grabbed her, pulling her head close. She leaned in. There was still awkwardness with his complete disregard of personal space, and yet….

"I can hear your heartbeat." It was an idle statement, not really meant to mean anything.

"What do you think?" She scrunched her face in confusion. Dagur and his awkwardness was almost endearing, sweet even, but it was still made for some awkward moments.

"What do I think about your heartbeat?" She clarified.

"Yes." Hiccup paused and took in everything she could with and inventor's ear.

"It sounds fast." She said finally.

"It's because you're here." Hiccup paused and managed to tilt her head enough to get a good look at him.

"Dagur, who would have known you were a cornball." She teased, poking his cheek.

"If you tell anyone, expect grave consequences." He told her seriously, but couldn't keep the amusement off his face.

"Oh, what sort of consequences." He grinned a bit manically, but Hiccup didn't back down.

"Oh, I'll just make you scream for me over and over." He whispered in her ear. Then he stood up, scooping Hiccup with him and carrying her up the stairs. Hiccup laughed all the while.

X

"Well, doesn't someone look happy to be alive today?" Vessa chirped, creeping up from behind Hiccup

"Ugh, Vessa, let it go."

"How did it compare to the wedding night?" Vessa pressed. Hiccup turned her head defiantly. Vessa poked her cheek.

"You're practically glowing. Oh and look at all these marks, he was a happy boy." Vessa squealed. Hiccup laughed and pushed her playfully.

"Shut up!" It felt good to laugh like this, really good. Hiccup couldn't remember the last the time she had had fun with a friend, well, she couldn't recall having a friend.

"I'll talk to Dagur tonight, about getting you instated as my assistant."

"That pliable to your demands already."

"It's a request and reasonable one. It's not like I'm manipulating him." Hiccup protested weakly.

"Why would you care if you were?" Hiccup shrugged. Vessa looked at her for a long while. She clearly had something on her mind but decided not to push it.

"It's alright, I can stand the Hall another night or too. Just worry about keeping his attention."

"Yeah." Yet it wasn't just his attention she wanted.

X

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Princess: Ugh awkward writing, I have written something more smutty than this, once and its currently rotting away, because I get so ashamed to look at it, ha ha. But yeah this was written by a hardcore virgin so please forgive me for any flaws. I don't know why but the impression I get with Dagur is that if he manages to get attached to someone he's gentle with them or at least tries to be. I don't know, when he thought of Hiccup as his brother he was practically spoiling him with affection. If Dagur had done that pre-Toothless, Hiccup might have stuck with him. I don't know I think Dagur is capable of being a good guy with the right incentive, or at least becomes really affectionate once it takes hold. A little more about Roman culture in this chapter, apparently marrying someone related to you by marriage was considered incest, go figure. I should also mention I spell Hell as Hel as that was the name of the queen in the land of death Helheim, or hel for short, in Norse mythology, so that is intentional.

But if you ever have questions I make a rule to answer all my reviews.

Reviews:

Nickolasius-the-Conqueror: Yeah I need a beta, 'cause I edit my own work but I never really understood how to get one or anything.

Viking Lady: I don't know if mentioned before but I try to update every Friday. I have not seen that show since I don't have TV at school, but I've always wanted to. And Dagur is one of my favorites too.

Cynderthedragoness1: Well I do like to keep the story interesting, I'm glad it's a favorite.

X-Jinxa-X: Sempai noticed me guys! You should her genderbend too, it's also a new take on the story.

Ice Maiden Olivier: I shall!

Sakural786: Vessa's fun to write, consider her, ahem, previous profession. But between her and Hiccup, Dagur doesn't have a chance.

Royal-Blue-Oleander: Thank you!

Sakura Haruno554: I update once a week.

Takara410: I'm glad

SoulRush94: I'm a sick person who likes darker themes in stories like this. LOL But I'm glad you like it.

Guest: Thank you I strive for it.