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It was exhilarating to fly on his own; he felt free, wild as ever without the calming touch of his wife to keep him tied to the earth. He could understand why Hiccup was so reluctant to give up her flying time with Toothless. He imagined, idly, if this was what it was like it be a true dragon-to fly, fight and mate like the most wild of beasts. But he had to remain focused. Hiccup was waiting for him-Hiccup and their daughter. He wanted a daughter badly after all, a daughter with Hiccups button nose and crooked-tooth smile. He wanted a daughter brave and bold as Hiccup but his berserker ferocity. He wanted a she-dragon daughter, so that if Hiccup could not have children after this, she would inherit both their posts with a cocky, crooked grin on her freckled, ginger face.
They were waiting for him, Hiccup and their daughter. He would rain lightening upon his foes foolish enough to cross him. He would reclaim his queen and princess with blood and bone. Alvin would fall under his blade; he would grin and paint his face with the traitor's blood. He would stand victorious over the bastard's corpse with his wife back in his arms, where she belonged.
It was foolish of her to leave; she should have never left the protective fold of the Skrill's Talon. That tiny chain of islands was her home now, it should have been enough. He couldn't understand why she yearned for the security of Berk for the birth. How could those fools keep her safer than his men? They failed to see the treasure she was after all, how could they have the wits needed to protect her from the Lava Louts. She would have been safe so long as she was within his grasp.
His ferocity bled into his mount and they flew faster and faster. Within hours, he approached the Outcast base. The island's sparse trees became clearer with each beat of wings. He listened over the wailing winds that he cut through like a blade. What must have been hours felt like mere moments to him, his rage clouding his perception like a heavy mist.
X
Hiccup keened loudly as another contraction hit. Vessa had already removed her leggings and covered her lower half with her fur cloak. She kept checking for dilation but otherwise, kept her mistress' head on her lap, hushing her, calming her to the best of her abilities without the use of any of the painkillers typically used in childbirth. Vessa rarely felt helpless, truly helpless. Everything in her life had depended on her looking after herself, and there was much to do when it was only your own fate to be worried about. But here was one of the few people she'd ever cared for, lying there in pain. It was true Hiccup had made choices that brought herself here, in pain, birthing the child of the man she loved. Love was a fool's wager truly. Dagur seemed to make her happy in many ways, but he brought far more misfortune to the poor girl than happiness.
Men were venomous to women's lives, she's seen more than her share working in a brothel. Women were treated as little more than objects-things to fulfill men's pleasure. Hiccup was slightly different. Dagur did have respect for her, but he still sired a child on her far too early. She wasn't ready for childbirth; she would not be for several more years. She was fourteen for Juno's sake! Vessa had seen many girls die from what was inflicted on her mistress, most of them whores like she had once been. They were nothing-Nobody but the others working in the brothel cared about women only ever had each other, and the occasional boy sold into the same lifestyle as they were. There were times she respected him but many more times she hated him: for causing Hiccup suffering, for inflicting the curse of childbirth on her, for hurting her in any way.
Vessa lived as a slave among the Berserkers for many years, ignored by many, hurt and tormented by others. She had watched the mad boy grow, selfish and violent throughout his life with little to no consequence. Hiccup had changed it all, changed the dynamic of the tribe, with her marvelous help of course, but even the best training was nothing without the personal charm to back it up. Hiccup was a charming young lady- with an adorable sort of vulnerability that drew people in. Vessa had just taught her to use it. She had never planned on getting so attached to this girl. The girl was to be a convenient and honorable mistress; she didn't expect to love this girl, love her like the daughters she had been forced to remove from herself. Love her like the sisters she never knew. Love her like the friend she had never had.
Her love had been returned twofold. Vessa had hoped for little beyond a pleasant working environment and a more honorable living. But here she was, no longer a thrall, but a treasured friend and confidant of the chief's well-loved wife. She had status she had never enjoyed before and never would have enjoyed back in Rome. Vessa would never deny that she missed the warmth and bustle of the capitol, the smiles of her coworkers and the strength she felt from their smiles. But having Hiccup, this runt not meant to live, she had learned to love the bite of chilly air, the roar of dragons and the comfort of a warm fire.
And here she was. All Vessa could do was hold her mistress and pray for her to make it through this trial that took the lives of so many women.
X
Dagur saw the arena and his target waiting for him there. He nudged Maelstrom into nose dive to the ground. They landed with a sizable sound akin a sound not unlike a thunder clap. He dismounted with a flourish, ripping out his sword and twirling it in his hand. Alvin stood there, waiting. He smirked as Maelstrom shrieked behind him. Alvin seemed unperturbed by the dragon. Dagur had hoped he would be at least a little apprehensive at the sight of Dagur, he almost felt insulted. He noticed Maelstrom tossing her head about in rage. He could tell she wanted to strike him with her lighting, but she had collected none. She still had her teeth and claws, but this was Dagur's fight. He held out a hand to tell her to stand down, he was amazed when she complied. Hiccup had been training her well.
"One chance treacherous, where is Hiccup? Give her to me and I might spare your life."
"Funny that ye mention life, because a new one is coming to be now." Dagur froze. He ran over the dates in his head rapidly. Figures were hardly his strong suit, but he knew Hiccup had another two weeks, at least!
"Funny thing about childbirth, it always seems ta happen when most inconvenient. Family tradition in the 'addocks. Ah guess it could be true for Eldsens too, eh Dagur." It wasn't a lie. The Eldsen clan was known for being born under dragon-fire, Dagur himself was born in a nasty raid that nearly claimed the life of him and his mother.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock Eldsen. It dun roll on the tongue as it should. Then again, she should 'ave died long ago, when she was a newborn 'erself, that's what should be done with little 'iccup runts like 'er." That was it. He rushed the bigger man with his sword and moved to swipe. Then he heard something, it sounded like a scream, a scream belonged to his Silver-tongue. Why was she screaming, she was never supposed to scream unless it was in pleasure.
"The little 'hore's been at it fer a while now." Dagur bristled and made for another dash, flashing at the giant with his blade, missing when the beat sidestepped. He couldn't focus, all he could think of was his Silver-tongue in pain somewhere, and HE WASN'T THERE!
"Shouldn't be long now, yer gonna be a daddy soon." Dagur snarled and swung again missing.
"Seems like the 'hore is screamin' more an' more." Dagur roared and swung his sword in a desperate attempt to gut, cut, gut, make the monster bleed! He would fell him!
"Yer lashing about like an angry child, boy." The fury raged anew and he lashed again, only managing to nick the man's garments. The scream echoed weakly rom the cages, throwing his concertation to the dirt. How could he focus with Silver-tongue alone and in pain, far from him and his comforting hands? All alone save some burly Outcast and her mouthy handmaid.
"Have you ever delivered a baby?" He had asked her before they departed. Her response gave no comfort.
"No, not by myself. At the brothel, there were several births. I only ever helped, but even what I did had nothing in mind for the babe."
"What do you mean?"
"Most mothers killed the babies that came into the world or sold them. How could a whore properly rear a child in a brothel, no good would come it, it's kinder to kill them. I know plenty to protect and help the mother live, but it won't always be good for your child."
"That's fine, we can have another baby. I won't get another Hiccup, will I?"
"I understand."
He did hope it wouldn't come to that decision. He loved the baby already, it was his, she was his. His daughter would be born fierce and strong like him, there would be no question. But part of him, a small traitorous part of him, knew the idea of losing her after so much, was still a possibility. Even healthy pregnancies could end in the death of the mother, child or both. But he couldn't think of that, he couldn't he had to stray strong he had to fight for her damn it. She was there alone, alone, alone, alone! He should have been there, hel he should have left with her, then this would have never happened. Dagur would have ripped out Alvin's heart and forced him to eat it if he had been on that ship that was attacked. Dagur never should have let her weakling kinsman lure her home. It was suicide; he had known he had known he had known.
But here they were. His Silver-tongue was in a dragon-pen giving birth with only a former whore as a midwife. He was fighting the damn bastard who caused this whole mess and the black beast was nowhere to be found. Maelstrom was spitting snapping form the sidelines, no shots, no lighting charged into her system. Damn it, damn t damn it all, curse this bitch's bastard and all who follow him.
X
"Come on Hiccup, you need to breath."
"What the hel do you think I've been doing!"
"Well I would call what you're doing breathing."
"Shut the hel up!" She clenched her teeth and keened loudly. The silence, a moment for her to try to catch her breath, her bone breaking grip on Vessa's hand loosening. Then he heard a shout from the arena.
"That's Dagur's voice isn't it?" Vessa gave a half-hearted nod.
"Oh come on! Really! Do the gods find it funny to mock me or something! This is just gods damned perfect isn't it!" Vessa nodded and, let her vent until it was cut off by another contraction.
"God Damn it, here we go again! Push!"
X
He couldn't focus and it was taking toll on him. Dagur was pretty sure the bastard had at least fractured his left arm, and his right leg was going to follow if the low blows kept up. He shouldn't have been able to hear his woman crying though the cheers of the traitorous crowd. But he did, he heard so clearly as if he were standing next to her. Another swipe, this one nicked him but it was bleeding like hel. Alvin charged him and he tried to dodge but his leg wasn't working right, it was weak, damn it, damn it all. Alvin spotted the faulty motion and took the opening.
No, this was wrong. He felt a surreal-ness take over as he fell to the dirt. Based on the pain in his arm and leg, he wouldn't be able to get up fast enough to avoid the next strike. Despite his attempt. Dagur was right. A foot came swinging down on his already fractured arm, further crushing the bone. The howl he let out was involuntary and ear splitting. The foot came down again, crushing his ribs. Now he could barely breathe through the pain. He saw Alvin bring this own blade above his head. He was going die here. Odd, he imagined being more afraid, more hysterical, even finding it funny. What he didn't expect was this feeling of nothingness. Hi Silver-tongue would be alone with these people. His daughter would be alone with these people. But he felt, nothing. Everything was getting fuzzy around the edges. He heard Alvin laughing, people cheering and somewhere, faintly, so faint he wasn't sure it was real, was the cry of an infant.
"Wait!" The voice, a woman's voice cut through the fuzziness, cut though the fogginess in his mind. He tried to focus his vision. Alvin was relaxed and looking toward the door of the pits. The woman, the woman with the Roman accent was standing there. The more he focused the more it all seemed off. She didn't have her habitual fur shawl, she was covered in blood and looked exhausted. She had saved him, bought him a few minutes, if only he could muster the strength to move.
"Wait. My mistress, she would like to speak to you."
"The babe, is it born?"
"Aye." She woman replied, pausing stray hair from her face, slicking it with blood and birth fluid.
"She would like to make a deal with you, but there's no deal if you lay one more strike on her husband." Alvin backed off and smirked.
"Very well, let's hear what yer 'hore has to say Dagur!" He man laughed as he followed Vessa into the pits. Dagur find some strength to reach in a futile attempt to help, but lack strength left him limp once more.
"No…." He croaked.
X
Alvin found an oddly calm Hiccup waiting for him in the cage she had been thrown in. She looked exhausted. Her hair was caked in sweat, she had deep bags under her eyes and was as pale as death. Hiccup remained very still save the minute rocking motion on the fur wrapped bundle in her arms. The bundle was wrapped in her former cloak and making small noise that indicated it was alive and healthy. She dragged her tired gaze up to him when he entered.
"Hello Alvin."
"My, my, all this fuss fer such a tiny thing." She drew the bundle closer to her bosom. Her expression remained unruffled by his prodding.
"You're here to discuss business and nothing else." Hiccup spoke sternly, with a strength she shouldn't have back yet.
"How cute." Hiccup did not reply she stared and it unnerved him a bit.
"I have something you want." She told him with a small flick of her head.
"We both know what I want, girl."
"You want to know how to train dragons, yes?" Hiccup asked, calmly, rocking a bit more when the baby mewled in her arms.
"Yeah."
"The secret is simple really, and I've kept it a secret all this time."
"Have you, fer what purpose?"
"I didn't want it falling into the wrong hands, that's why I wouldn't trust anybody with it, not even Vessa or Dagur."
"And you'll give it ta me."
"For a price."
"An' what price is that?"
"The safety of my immediate family and sister tribes. Especially my husband and child. I'd do anything to protect them." The rumors that the girl was half a Roman seemed to make total sense.
"Deal." He said without hesitation.
"We haven't worked out details."
"They can be…. Soused out later." She blinked and nodded, no doubt desperate enough to agree to anything.
"As you wish. Vessa leave us." The roman girl nodded and walked ouside of he pen standing with the guard stationed here.
"You better not try anything funny girl." Alvin warned gravely.
"You think I would risk that with my newborn baby in my arms? Please, I'm not that stupid." Alvin crouched next to her.
"I'm going to whisper, so only you will know. You understand?"
"Stop stalling girl." He snapped. Hiccup leaned to close the small distance between them.
"The secrets of dragons, well, I never underestimate them." Alvin moved to pull back and stare in bafflement but a sharp pain bloomed in his neck. He could only watch stunned as red sprayed on the runt and her bundle.
"No matter how small or crippled they appear." He collapsed grasping his throat as Hiccup leaned over him calmly.
"Nothing in the world is so simple. You once called me a dragoness, and you endangered my pip and my mate. You should have known better, idiot." He felt his body growing cold as he sputtered and choked, and her expression frightened him. It was the first time in a long time that he had actually been frightened. She had this cold look on her face; there was no satisfaction or joy from this, but a cold indifference that chilled him more than the blood loss.
"By the way, just know my son will inherit everything you have and hold dear. Go to hel and rot there you miserable bastard."
Once his sputtering stopped she looked over to the corpse of her former guard with Vessa standing over it panting, her knife in hand. Hiccup looked to her own blade, one she always had tucked her wristband. She calmly wiped the blade on some of the furs, they were a mess anyway, and looked back to her handmaid.
"How's the boy."
"Relatively well for someone who just had his first bath in the blood of his enemy."
"Do babies have enemies?"
"If there ever one who was, this little guy'd be it." Hiccup took a deep breath and steeled herself.
"Help me up." Vessa looked down at her incredulously
"You're joking." She told her mistress flatly.
"Gotta strike while the iron's hot." Vessa rolled her eyes and helped Hiccup to her feet, she and her son were a mess, but it made for a good image. No one would ever forget this, ever. The two of them limped into the arena, beaten and tried but looking as fierce as a pair of Valkyries fresh from battle. Hiccup was barely walking really, relying on Vessa to stay upright and fighting the black spots that threaten to engulf her. She saw Dagur in a broken heap and fought the cry that wanted to escape. Not now. There was time later, but not now. Not now.
The once jeering crowd was silent and stared at her in wonder. Hiccup pulled herself straight as much as she could. Her gaze was stern and cold, not once flicking to her crumped man, or the bundle in her arms which she seemed to hold in an almost unusual way.
"Outcasts! I have slayed your leader, I am your chief now. I have taken leadership by force and I have no intention of giving it up! You can choose to take revenge for the traitor who led you starvation and scavenging or you can rejoining the kin of you true leader and find some redemption for your cursed souls. You can kill us and I dare you to, but know you'll have the wrath of three of the strongest tribes in these waters and they will tear you to shreds!" Hiccup panted and waited for a reaction.
Then slowly, one by one the tribesman stood for her, and cheered.
"Long live the chief." Knowing this was done, Hiccup finally allowed her body to collapse and the world became a swirl of sounds.
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Princess: I'm so sorry guys. I know I left you on a cliff hanger for a awhile and again sorry. The minute I got out of school I started working three jobs to start paying back student loans, I've been applying for graduate school and my dad got quadruple bypass surgery and whatnot. It was not a fun summer for me and this chapter was really hard. It's such an epic scene in my head that I deleted chunks and rewrote them several times.
So thanks to my fabulous Beta Leena aka neverlasting-legend without whom, he quality would be far worse
Reviews:
REBD: I guess Hiccup took care of that.
Guest: Now you know.
LaylanatorXVII: Thanks for the well wishes.
Sinful Vanity: Well thank you -/-
Wikisorcerer: Oooooh I have my plans
Dingo230: Hiccup took care of it.