As I promised the dual. This chapter is the reason I rated this story M.
Nowhere
They could still hear the chanting of the crowd when they were in the guest house, inside Hiccup collapsed on the couch the others just looked at him.
"what the hell Hiccup why did you accept that challenge" Astrid asked him, her voice nearly cracking with anger. "I had to take that challenge otherwise it would have ended in a massacre"
"yes but not ours it would have been their death" the others agreed with Astrid
"yeah Hiccup you can't win that fight he is stronger and has way more experience than you and you are, well, you are you so you will lose"
"thanks for your confidence in me Snotlout but you wright, I will have to come up with something" Hiccup said with a little bit of a hurt look on his face.
"he Ruff, Tuff, how do you guys keep fighting after so long, you guys must know all of each other's moves by now?"
Ruffnut answered "well my one legged friend we don't fight with moves we make all of it up along the way and we never fight fair"
"I'm not sure if I'm following you right now, why don't you fight fair" Hiccup wasn't sure if this was one of his best ideas.
This time it was Tuffnut who answered "as my dear sister said we don't fight fair because we know each other from birth and if we would fight fair we would never ever stop fighting, that's why we always fight in a way that the other doesn't expect"
"but you guys never stop fighting"
"for once I agree with Snotlout you guys never have stopped fighting, if you two muttonheads aren't fighting each other you are fighting together against someone else"
"it doesn't matter, Ruff, Tuff teach me how to fight unpredictable"
"you're sure it's a good idea to let those two numskulls teach you anything?"
"Astrid at this moment I'm not sure about anything but they are still fighting after years so they can at least teach me something. Guys lets go outside and start practicing" Hiccup stood up.
"eh Hiccup I don't know if you have listened to my idiot brother but you can't practice our fighting style otherwise it's not unexpected anymore, though we can teach you a few things how to improvise" Ruffnut was thinking how she was going to teach Hiccup anything "Tuffnut get your butt over here "as we said do the unexpected so when he tries to hit you instead of backing away step closer to him and you will be fighting a guy so go for the nuts" and when Ruffnut said those last words she kicked her brother with full force in his nuts, he went down without a sound.
Snotlout groaned but Hiccup ignored it "so I just do what he won't expect but sometimes I do the expectable so the unexpected stays unexpected"
Everyone but Tuffnut, who was still lay on the ground close to being passed out, was looking extremely confused, slowly Tuffnut was sitting up and spoke "Hiccup my man, you're correct as usual, that's why you're the bossman" he tried standing up but decided against it because he still could barely feel his legs "he bro you could actually understand Hiccup?" Tuffnut nodded in response "dude I'm impressed" she helped her brother up only to get slammed into the wall by him "I probably dissevered that one"
"cut it out you two or I" Astrid started to threaten the twins but was interrupted by Hiccup.
"as foolish as you two may act sometime, actually most of the time, I do have learnt something from them. Strike when your opponent thinks you're down. Guys I will need a new sword so I will be in the forge for the rest of the day also most of tonight and tomorrow"
They went to the forge the blacksmith was there and greeted them "Hiccup how you are doing"
"I need a new sword"
"the sword you have there is a fine piece of craftsmanship but sure how do you want it"
"thanks but I would like to make it myself so that I know the flaws of my weapon"
The blacksmith was insulted "are you calling me bad at what I do, I make some of the finest weapons"
"it's not that I don't belief you but every weapon has its flaws like her precious bubble-bladed axe the handle has a little crack in it so I put extra leather on it so it won't break, than his bludgeon" Hiccup nodded his head towards Snotlout "on of the strips of meatal is lower quality that the rest so it rusts quicker that's why I put in extra bolds so it won't fall off and the twin's spears, the wood of the staff bends easily what can be annoying in combat but also be used to your advantage if you know how to use it"
Hiccup drew his own sword "and then there is my own sword, like a normal sword it's straight but as al straight swords it has the tendency to get stuck inside the body when you spear someone on it, this is pretty annoying when you're in a fight"
"I'm impressed by your knowledge of these weapons, what I'm interested in is how you know all of that" the blacksmith was very intrigued by Hiccup knowhow.
He was looking at Hiccup but it was one of the twins who answered he couldn't make out if it was the boy or the girl "my friend, Hiccup here has been the apprentice of our blacksmith Gobber since he could walk" now the other twin took over the story "he made all of our weapons himself and he is a genius, he makes up the most insane plans and they always work"
"okay Hiccup you can use the forge. for how long do you think you'll need it?"
"until tomorrow noon than I will probably be done"
"good luck Hiccup" the blacksmith came outside he shaked Hiccup's hand and left.
Hiccup turned to the others make sure that I can work in peace, let nobody pass"
"got it Hiccup, Ruff and Tuff, you two guard the front, Snotlout the back entrance I'll do rounds" Astrid barked out her orders when everyone had taken their position Hiccup went inside. After a few minutes Ruffnut whispered to Tuffnut "you know bro I was telling the story there"
"so what it was taking too long so I ended the story for you"
Ruffnut was making ready to strike Tuffnut in the face but her movement was stopped, she looked what had done that and was looking at the cranky face of Astrid "he's going to need wood for the fire you two go get a lot of it and no fighting we need to be sharp I think that those losers might try to end the fight before it has started"
The twins looked confused "how can you end a fight before it started?" Tuffnut asked "that's like illegal or something right?" his sister pointed out.
"Tuff they will be trying to assassinate Hiccup so the fight can't be fought and yes Ruff that's not legal and it's dishonourable. It's also the reason we are out here to prevent an attack from even reaching Hiccup. got it?" the twins nodded "we'll knock it off till after the fight"
"thanks guys and can you get wood for the forge"
"sure Astrid" the twins looked around them when they heard a sound in the bushes, Tuffnut tapped on his sisters shoulder "you go around so h won't escape" Ruffnut nodded and as silent as the night itself she went around. When she was at the others side of the bush Tuffnut loudly walked up to the side that was facing the path "whoever you are you better come out of that bush, this area has been restricted so surrender or I will attack" no one came out so after a minute or so they both crept closer in striking range of their spears and looked at each other and as if they had counted down for it they both struck at the same moment and both hit something or someone. From the bush a grunt sounded and they could hear it move so the twins both quickly struck two more times, the looked Tuffnut looked at Ruffnut she made a pulling motion with her spear, Tuffnut understood her he aimed his spear and jammed it back in the bush he felt he had hit the unknown thing and pulled it out with his spear Ruffnut had moved closer and had her spear ready. What they first saw coming out of the bush was a foot then the hip where Tuffnut's his spear had hit the man they couldn't see the damage they had done but it probably was pretty serious because the man's torso was going up and down with small shocks and with every breath he grunted. Even though he was seriously wounded the man attempted to rais the knife h was holding but before he could stab it in Tuffnut's foot Ruffnut panted her spear straight in the heart, her spear went through his chest. The man sagged back the ground without a sound with Ruffnut's spear still stuck through his chest and in the ground beneath him, Ruffnut had planted her spear so firmly that she had to put her foot on the man's chest to get the spear out "thanks for the save sis" her bother patted her on the back "but I never want to hear that sound again it is nearly as bad as you smacking when you're eating" both of them had to laugh not from the terrible joke but they had just survived a situation that could have gone bad real quick. Ruffnut was the first to catch her breath "let's take our friend here back to Astrid she would probably want to know where we are and why we don't have the firewood she asked for". They both grabbed one foot and dragged him back to the forge.
At the forge the twins dropped the man's legs Tuffnut asked his sister "where's Astrid" she shrugged and then shouted on the top of her lungs "Astrid get you but over here" and was rewarded with a slap on the back of her head.
"I'm behind you, you muttonhead. What took you so long and where is the firewood"
Ruffnut smiled triumphantly "I told you she was going to ask that" but then her face went serious again "we ran into a bit of trouble on the way there" when she said that she kicked against the dead man's side.
Astrid took a knee and looked at the man "who is he?"
"not a clue, we heard a sound in the bush next to the road towards the wood storage. Tuff gave a warning but nothing happened I went around so we had it surrounded then after longer than a minute Tuff gave a second warning but he didn't come out and we kept hearing movement, so we attacked when we dragged him out he attempted to stab Tuff so I killed him"
"well done, we'll let Hiccup decide what to do with the body, this proofs that they are willing to assassinate Hiccup so stay sharp and watch each other's backs" Astrid stood up "I'll go and make sure that Snotface is still awake" she walked away.
When Astrid was gone Tuffnut whispered to Ruffnut "did Astrid just compliment us?"
Ruffnut was smiling from ear to ear "yes, ice cold Astrid complimented us" Tuffnut also smiled but his face soon fell "we're actually doing something right, I, I have a feeling that I can't explain"
"bro you're right I feel it to and I think it's called accomplishment" Ruffnut sounded astonished.
Tuffnut sounded the same as his sister "we've never ever accomplished anything we have to tell Hiccup and rub it in his face"
"Tuff we promised that we wouldn't bother Hiccup until after the fight so we'll rub it in his face after the dual" Ruffnut was sounded less certain of herself at the end if her sentence "if he survives"
"sis it's Hiccup we're talking about he's a genius and now he has a forge to his disposal so he'll come up with something genius like usual and blow or minds, as usual" Tuffnut did sound certain but he was not feeling the same.
"and then Astrid will hit Hiccup because she thinks that his idea was stupid, rash and not thought through but then she'll hug and kiss him and all will be right with the world" Ruffnut finished her brother and both we're smiling when they heard Hiccup starting to pound away on the meatal.
It was reaching noon of the next day the teens were standing guard and Hiccup was still inside working on his new sword. The villagers had brought them food and asked questions about how Hiccup was holding up and what was under the tarp, the teens gave the same answered on both questions "I don't know" because they didn't know how Hiccup was doing and they first wanted to talk about the dead man with Hiccup.
It was past noon when Hiccup came outside looking just as sleep deprived as the twins who were still guarding the door "morning guys, how are things going"
"could be better but I'll leave the reporting of how the night went to Astrid" Ruffnut answered.
"sounds good let's go" Hiccup wanted to go but was held back by Astrid who was holding him by his shoulder.
"I'm afraid that sleeping will have to wait" Astrid had a serious look on her face.
Hiccup was getting concerned and he was right to do so "what's wrong"
"the twins intercepted an assassin and had to kill him we're not sure how to handle it"
"okay, that is a problem indeed, we'll let Gulbrand and his men dispose of the body in their way" Hiccup was deep in thought "Tuffnut go get Snotlout, Astrid get Gulbrand and Ivar, Ruffnut tell me what has happened" Hiccup looked at every person he was talking about when he told them their tasks, all of them nodded and went to the to them appointed task when. Gulbrand and Ivar got there Ruffnut had told Hiccup about what had happened and Snotlout was there.
"he Hiccup how are things going?" Gulband seemed happy to see Hiccup but looked a bit concerned when he saw how sleep deprived al of them wore.
"well Gulbrand we have a little problem, the twins intercepted and had to kill an assassin because he didn't surrender after being warned two times. We were wondering if you knew this man and what you wanted to do with him" Hiccup spook with a soft voice.
"well lets first see who it is and then we'll decide how to dispose of him" Hiccup nodded in agreement with Gulbrnad's plan.
Ivar lifted the tarp and gasped in surprise "chief it's Gerald Lokison" Gulbrand whistled impressed. Ivar pulled the tarp further off the body wow he guys didn't leave much of him intact". The body had two big holes in his chest one from the first strike and the other from when Ruffnut impaled him with her spear, his entire tunic was bloody and ripped from when the twins had dragged him there his stomach had several holes and deep gashes in it and his face had on big cut over his mouth and eye, his hip had one big open hole in it blood had pooled in it and when Ivar turned the body on his stomach to inspect the back it dripped out slowly because the blood had nearly dried up. When the back of his head was visible you could see his brain trough his broken open skull and you could see that some earthworms had moved from the ground to Gerald's head.
The twins high-fived each other "it looks even more disgusting in day light" Tuffnut said happily.
"Gulbrand you knew him? " Hiccup was wondering why Ivar seemed so happy that this man was dead.
"yeah I knew him he was a notorious thief and murderer, he was the cause of a few very bad days and he was also the first to join the deserters" Gulbrand was now getting curious "how did you know that someone would try to assassinat Hiccup"
Gulbrand had expected Hiccup to answer but Astrid was quicker "we knew that someone would try at least something because there are Outcasts involved and we have dealt with Outcasts before"
"wow you guys have been busy before you got here" Gulbrand looked at the teens trough other eyes "we'll just throw the body off the cliff, you guys go get some sleep" the teens were happy to oblige.
Back at the guest house "show us Hiccup" Snotlout demanded. Hiccup drew the sword he had made.
"it's just a normal sword with a longer grip" Snotlout voice was filled with disappointment "I was expecting something a bit more impressive"
Hiccup was smiling when he heard Snotlout's disappointment "that's the point Snotlout, when your opponent thinks it's just a regular sword he won't see the tricks coming that this sword can do" Hiccup then turned to the twins "I actually got this idea from you guys. You seewhen you step close to your opponent you won't be able to use your sword or any long weapen and you knife is in your belt. As an solution to that problem I made the grip longer"
"how's that going to help you when you're standing chest to chest with the other guy" Snotlout was getting agitated with Hiccup drawing it out.
Astrid smacked Snotlout on the back of his head "if you stop interrupting he will explain"
"Snotlout is right though. What advantages gives a longer grip, well in this case the lower part of the sword grip is a knife handle, when you twist and pull you pull out an extremely sharp knife with a fifteen centimetre blade you can stab your opponent in his side with or you can gut him and more of those things" the others looked amazed. "you've done it again you've found a way to beat your enemy not by strength but with cleverness" and so only his sister could hear "told you he would come up with something" both smiled.
"he guys time to go to sleep" Astrid stood up and grabbed her axe and was underway outside when Hiccup asked her where she was going "well Hiccup I'm going outside to stand guard"
"that won't be necessary Astrid, come go and get some sleep. Gulbrand has placed guards outside so there's nothing to worry about"
"Hiccup how can you trust them you don't know them"
"Astrid, I want you to go to sleep for several reasons. One, is that I expect that those other guys wont honour the agreement we have with them another is that you haven't slept for a long time and more important with you next to me when I'm asleep I feel safer than with an entire army outside" Astrid's face had turned bright red, Ruffnut whistled "shut up Ruff" the scarlet faced girl said without anger in her voice "okay Hiccup you convinced me" and she went to the room she was sharing with Hiccup.
It was the day itself, that night it had rained a lot so the field had turned to was close to noon and the villagers was slowly dripping in. the warriors of the tribe had taken their weapons with them on request of Astrid because she thought that the other party wouldn't keep their word if they lost. Hiccup was in a small tent behind the platform the twins were guarding the entrance, Snotlout was at the rear and Astrid was inside with Hiccup. Hiccup opponent hadn't arrived yet when Sachi came towards the tent and wanted to inside but was stopped by Ruffnut Hiccup is preparing inside in silence"
Sachi looked annoyed but accepted "it's nearly noon Hiccup needs to com t the field"
"alright we'll pass it along" Tuffnut said standing in front of her "go tell your father that we'll be there soon" Sachi nodded and went back to the platform.
Ruffnut poked her head inside the tent "time to go Hiccup and kick some ass"
"thanks Ruff" Hiccup stood up, put on his belt but he left his sword Ruffnut wanted to say that to him but Astrid picked it up from the table while making a sign to Ruffnut saying to not start about it. They went outside where they got in formation, the twins with their spears taking point to clear the way, Snotlout on the left rear fully armed meaning shield and bludgeon in his hands, his sword on his left hip axe on his right and with two daggers in his belt and Astrid on the right rear with Hiccup's brand new sword in her hand and her axe on her back and the other axe on left hip. All the teen looked serious and ready to fight the dual themselves. When they entered the field the crowd didn't cheer or made a sound, it seemed like they knew that something was wrong. The teens walked to the platform and stopped right in front of it, they formed a row backs toward the platform Hiccup stood in front of his fateful group of friends "it's has been an honour to have lived among you and to have been the leader of the Dragon Riders, but even more so to have been your friend" Hiccup walked towards Astrid, he didn't kiss here for what could be the last time because they had said everything that had needed to be said back in the tent, she offered him his sword he drew it. The teens walked up the podium and took their places but none of them sat down all of them remained standing even after Gulbrand asked them to take a seat. Their faces were stern and sad, they knew it might be the last time they saw Hiccup alive and if they couldn't help him they could at least honour him by standing at attention trough his probably last. Hiccup had turned around. It was a depressing but beautiful sight, an one legged boy armed only with a sword in the middle of a muddy field not because he wanted to or had to but because he knew it was the only way to prevent innocent from getting hurt on his account.
Time was slowly progressing but it was long past noon when Hiccup's opponent showed up with an army on his back, it excited of only a handful of rebel warriors and a lot of Outcasts were among their ranks. The army closed of the last open part of the field, one man stepped forward and stopped a metre away from Hiccup, he was armed like a classic Viking a shield and an single bladed axe "so my brother truly let you go through with this, I never thought he would let an innocent boy die for his weak mistake of not killing me" his men laughed at this but he was surprised by the calm way Hiccup took the news.
Hiccup spoke soft and calmly "never take kindness for weakness or let what you see deceive you. A man might look weak but will kill you because you're arrogant, too sure of your own skill on the field of battle and never faced an opponent that wasn't afraid of you"
"how can a boy who's more bone than muscle not be afraid of me or defeat me" the tone in his voice was arrogant and self-assured.
"because that boy has created the peace between dragons and humans on Berk and is the son of Stoic the Vast an undefeated warrior"
This gave the man something to think about but before he could answer him Hiccup lifted his sword "are we going to fight or do you need more time to wrap your tiny brain around what I just said?"
The man looked offended but slightly bend his knees and raised his shield "ready"
Gulbrand rose from his chair "everyone knows what we're here for. The traitor will be fighting Hiccup Haddock till one of them dies or surrenders. If the traitor wins he will take Hiccups body to collect the bounty that Alvin the Treacherous has put in him. But in the even that Hiccup wins the soldiers loyal to the traitor will surrender peacefully and will accept their punishment, the Outcasts will surrender as well even though they have no loyalty towards the traitor" Gulbrand was sad knowing that Hiccup would probably die that day "may the best Viking win and may the gods have mercy on the losers soul"
After those words had been said the traitor attack, charging at Hiccup and wildly swing his axe around, Hiccup just stepped back and kept his sword pointing downwards. The traitor attacked again and again constantly missing Hiccup, slowly losing his breath he stopped his mad bull like charge. Hiccup who had moved only a lit in those minutes only stepping aside or taking a few steps backward now attack with a strike from above only to attempt to stab him in his guts followed by an upward motion to the man's throat with all those attacks Hiccup kept walking forward and forcing the traitor back. Hiccup stopped his onslaught and raised his sword giving his enemy time to catch his breath he himself was barely out of breath and had one drip of sweat going down his face, Hiccup launched his assault stabbing but this time aiming at the man's left knee he quickly deflected the attack with his axe but was to slow to prevent it from cutting open his knee he winched slightly but had to stop another attack from his right this time aimed at his shin he stopped it by lowering his shield but so left his neck and torso exposed. Hiccup had planned for tis and with the pommel of the sword he hit him in the face, breaking his nose. The man stumbled backwards and fell to his knees, he could barely block Hiccups next attack with his shield. The crowd was cheering for Hiccup, the teens kept a straight face and their mouths shut only in their eyes was a sparkle of hope which was destroyed when the traitor broke Hiccup's right shine with the dull end of his axe. Hiccup fell to the ground his left hand gripping his shine. The traitor walked over to Hiccup raised his axe for the finishing blow, he was laughing thinking that he had won already. Astrid screamed in horror on the inside but kept her face straight, her mouth formed a straight line and tear where welling up in her eyes but she kept them down. Everyone thought it was over for Hiccup had lost but Hiccup had the clarity of mind to remember the tips the twins gave him, he kicked the man on his crotch with his artificial leg. The man was close to falling over he had dropped is axe to grab his crotch to protect it from any further attack from reaching his delicate parts. In that tim Hiccup had instead of backing away to regain his footing, crawled closer so he was laying under the man who was gasping for air, twisted and pulled at the grip of his sword so the knife came out of its hiding place. Hiccup pushed the knife in the man's side and pulled it to the other end of his stomach. The man literally spilled his guts, he now had dropped his shield as well and his other hand had left his crotch, with both his hands he tried to push his intestines back in his belly. Hiccup crawled from under the man covered with blood and other bodily fluids, he sat on his knees and slowly rising to on his artificial leg, putting as less weight as possible on his broken shine. Hiccup stood tall the crowd was going wild cheering for him but the traitor still wasn't dead and the dual would only end if one of them had died or surrendered. He stumbled leaning heavily on the man when he was standing behind him he pulled back the man's head and put the knife at his throat. The man mumbled something incoherent, Hiccup couldn't understand what the man was rambling about and slit his throat. Now the teens cheered alongside the crows and Astrid ran towards Hiccup hugging him tightly she didn't say anything she just held him as close as she could, the others also reached Hiccup and patted him on the shoulder after Astrid him released him. They looked up at the towering shadow looming over them expecting to see Gulbrand but where confronted with an Outcast with raised sword and an angry expression on his face. Astrid Pushed Hiccup to the ground when the Outcast swung his sword at him. Astrid blocked the blow with the head of her axe, both twins stabbed their spears with such ferocity that both spears penetrated the Outcasts chest guard went straight through him and broke through the back piece of the armour. The twins their spears where stuck in the body and when they tried to pull them out of the falling body it wasn't effective but because they were holding the shaft it broke. The twins grabbed their backups and took a defensive stance, Snotlout did the same immediately had an Outcast in front of him he blocked the man's axe with his shield, he countered by whacking his bludgeon so hard on the Outcast's shield the man's shield arm broke, no having no defence on his left Snotlout slammed his bludgeon first in the man's ribs and finished him off by cracking open the poor man's skull. Snotlout had to let his bludgeon be blocking another attack with his shiel he quickly drew his axe sliced the attacker's throat with it. He took a short moment to oversee the battle going on around him, the villagers had taken up their weapons and were engaged in combat those who weren't pulled back the wounded and took their places the air was filled with the sound of weapons clashing, battle cries and the cracking of shield stopping an attack from reaching his owner but there were other sounds present as well the sounds of men dying and the horrifying screams of the wounded. Astrid was fending of three assailants at once, the twins came to her rescue, Ruffnut impaled a guy through his armpit this was possible because the man was making ready strike and had his arm raised. His sword fell from his hand when Ruffnut's spear went through his body and he reached for his neck where the spear tip came out of him Ruffnut quickly pulled out to prevent her last good spear from getting shattered. Tuffnut didn't have his sister's luck for a decisive blow so he jabbed his target in his hip and when he went down Tuffnut slowly pushed the tip of his spear in the man's neck seeing the live leave his body.
Snotlout now had two man incoming he threw his axe in the nearest attacker's chest drew his sword to deal with the second attacker but he never reached Snotlout, he was cut down from behind by Gulbrand who was getting involved in the fight on the front line. The fight itself was soon ended when the las enemies were either slain or had fled. Astrid was helping Hiccup getting up when Gulbrand arrived "that was a good fight"
"you're damn right man he even remembered our tips" Tuffnut sounded like a proud parent.
He was silenced by the cynical look he received from Gulbrand "as I was saying even though it was a good fight we can't let this kind of betrayal go unpunished we need to retaliate"
Hiccup nodded heavily leaning on Astrid "I agree give me a week or so to regain a bit of my strength and then we'll come up with a plan" Snotlout had come to Hiccup's aid seeing that Astrid was having a hard time keeping him standing.
Gulbrand nodded of course "the healer will look after you first" Ivar had heard the conversation "the man will probably not mind a few days to prepare and the wounded will have healed mostly by then so we will be able to attack at full strength"
Everyone thought it was a solid plan but Hiccup disagreed "if there are wounded among your ranks let your healer treat them first I can wait"
People were protesting against Hiccup's plan Astrid the hardest but it was Snoutlout who gave the final an winning blow in the argument "Hiccup if you don't go to the healer quick they might have to amputate your other leg" this silenced Hiccup he only nodded and started wobbling in the direction of the healer's hut, just before he left the field he turned around to oversee the damage there were a lot of dead bodies lying on the ground but it seemed to be mostly Outcast so Hiccup had his hopes set on a battle with little loses on their side.
Oke it's finally finished I have rewritten this chapter once and the ending about three times. So I hope you will enjoy this chapter. My thanks go to the music artist Hadron because of his beautiful music I could think of the correct way to write down the things I was seeing I my head. I would truly recommend his music when you're trying to concentrate or on a beautiful moment in nature.