Author's Note: Ugh, I HATE this chapter! So, so, so, so, so, so much.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Shout outs! (Never done this before but I felt like it today, probably wont become a regular thing. :))
22ablanchard: You shall see... :)
snoopykid: I'm glad you enjoyed that chapter! :?) and ta da! Updated! :)
MMM: Stoick isn't happy that much I can assure. Go on and read the chapter to see! :)
Scarlet Lupin: Aww! Thanks I'm glad you're enjoying this! :D
dracologistmaster: Ta da! New chapter! Read on to see how Berk reacts. :?D
Chapter 7: If He Dies, I Die Took.
Astrid,
After nearly half an hour after our escape from Outcast Island, I lean against the railing of the ship, Hiccup and Toothless studying a piece of paper, the pirate leaning against the Night Fury both looking happily content.
I glance at the twins who are bickering like usual, their dragon mimicking them with his heads as Hookfang and Snotlout watch the ocean bordely Meatlug and Fishlegs looking through crates for something. Paper if I remember right. I stare at Stormfly for a second before I move forward towards Hiccup, he gives me a half glance before returning his gaze to the map. Toothless stares at me for several seconds and his tail wraps around Hiccup but he doesn't do anything else to say he's displeased with my presence.
"What are you looking at?" I ask and plop down next to him still a good five feet from Toothless and the captain.
Hiccup looks up at me before lifting up the paper and shrugging slightly. He immediately winces at the moment his face easily readable. I scan his features for a second. What is hurting him? Did he get injured during Toothless's rescue? Burying the thought to think about later I lean over his shoulder staring at the paper. It's a mass of lines and scribbles he's switching the directions of, his face twisting slightly as he thinks.
"What is that supposed to be?" I ask and he meets eyes with me.
"I'm not sure, it was in the captain's quarters, I figure Alvin thought it was important." Hiccup says and moves his hand up but gives a pained groan dropping the limb. Toothless looks at him sadly giving a soft coo. I watch Hiccup for several seconds.
"What's wrong?" I demand after a soft sigh. If he lies…
"What?" He echoes, "W-wrong? Milady, nothing's wrong." He assures and gives a quick glance towards Toothless as if begging slightly for the Night Fury to agree. I put a hand on my hip and Hiccup shoves the pieces of the map into his coat pocket staggering to his feet. Again a pained grimace flashes across his face deeper this time.
"Hiccup.." I start and he shakes his head.
"Drop it." He snaps.
I get to my feet as well, our conversation having caught the other teen's attention it's dead silent except the creaking of the ship and the splashing of the waves against the wooden vessel. "You're injured." I argue. Whether he likes it or not we have to help him, we all just risked our lives for this stupid pirate and his dragon I am not going to let him die and I imagine the other riders feel the same.
Hiccup takes a step forward as if to move past me but sways on his feet, "Stop, I...I-I promise you I-I'm fin-" His promise of lies is cut short as his upper body rocks before he starts to fall back.
"Hiccup!" I shout in panic and cover the short distance between us, catching him before he hits the ground and stare at his lax features, his clammy pale skin; clearly the rush of adrenaline that's been going on for several days finley wore off.
Toothless scrambles to his feet and moves towards Hiccup nudging his hand, the pirate gives no response. "Hiccup!" I shout and look back at the other teens,"Someone search the boat for medical supplies!" I beg and drag Hiccup a short distance before picking him up bridal style and walk towards the hull, the twins and Snotlout throwing off containers of barrels crates and anything else they can find for my requested material.
Fishlegs and Toothless trail after me as I walk down the stairs, "Fishlegs grab a candle." I order and the Ingerman starts to walk off and I pause for a second. Hiccup's flaming sword should work. "Wait," I say and Fishlegs turns looking back at me.
"Y-yes?"
"I think we can just use his sword." I say and Fishlegs nods. The bottom deck is empty until the back half that's filled with who know what stuffed in barrels, crates and some of it's just littered across the ground. Toothless stares around us for a second before he builds up a blast and fires it at several things, I duck my head to block the blinding light of his blasts. When he stops firing a warm glow dances across the bottom deck and I look up blinding several times before looking down at the unconscious teen in my hands.
When he wakes up, I am going to strangle him.
Twice.
I set him on the ground Fishlegs moving next to me. I stare at him for several seconds scanning for the injury that knocked him into unconsciousness, "Maybe he really did get attacked by wild boars." Fishlegs says and my mind flashes to our conversation on the beach a few days ago as we carried him towards Gothi for the first time. Has it really only been a few days? It feels as if that was weeks ago, maybe even months.
I roll my eyes slightly, "I doubt it." I assure.
There's nothing obvious he must be hiding it beneath his coat. Pursing my lips tightly I grab the edge of the black fabric and tug it off one shoulder lifting his head up so I can remove the whole thing and hand it to Fishlegs wordlessly my eyes wide.
Covering his shoulders and entire torso is thick bandages stained red. Who ever did it obviously was in a hurry, it's wrapped on the outside of his deep green shirt tight enought to have stayed on but how did I miss it!?
We've been around Hiccup for days!
He's a master at hiding things. I didn't even notice he was in pain until today.
Toothless growls softly and curls up next to Hiccup shoving under his limp hand eyes big and puppy like as if being cut will wake his rider. I'm not sure I want him to be awake. At least not now.
"What do you think happened?" Fishlegs asks quietly. The sound is equivalent to a dragon attack as it breaks the thick silence. I shake my head as an answer and twist around as down the other teens stomp down the stairs.
"WE FOUND THE BANDAGES!" Tuffnut yells happily and races towards me long white sheet flying from his hand.
"And gauze!" Ruffnut adds.
"Two for one deal." Tuffnut finishes the siblings sharing a chuckle.
"T-that's great." I agree and turn back towards Hiccup. I lift up a hand and there's a second before Tuffnut throws the bandages into my hand. I turn towards the pirate and set the fresh bandages on the ground, starting to unwrap the old ones with shaky hands.
What will be behind these?
I finish the ones around his shoulders then torso and stare at the gashes across his back, to thin to be the claws of any dragon I know of. My hands fly up to cover my mouth in rigid horror as my brain and the wounds click in my head. "No." I breathe. The other riders take in sharp breaths Snotlout murmuring an "oh man".
Whip wounds.
He was whipped.
The long gashes are red mostly scabbed over but the ones near his shoulders are leaking blood and pus. I move my hands away from my face trying my best to breathe but the air enters as choked silent breaths. "And now you know." Hiccup's voice whispers barely above a hiss. I resist the urge to leap back, I thought he was unconscious! He sits up cross legged hugging his himself slightly as Toothless drops his head into his lap.
"Hiccup, I-I-" I stutter my voice getting stuck in my throat.
Hiccup looks up at me, dark green distant. He looks down at Toothless. "It's not your fault." He says quietly.
"Who's is it?" Snotlout demands his voice venomous. No, just no, who would be so cruel?
Hiccup remains quiet for several seconds running a hand over Toothless's head the scales moving beneath his gentle strokes. "Have you ever heard of the 'dragon conquer?'"
"The man that's ten feet tall?" Tuffnut says.
"With the strength of a dozen men?" Ruffnut offers.
"Can conquer a dragon with a single look." Fishlegs concludes.
Hiccup gives a stiff nod with a small amused huff, "That's the one. How many of you would believe me if I said that's me?" He asks softly.
My thoughts flash back to Dragon Island where Stormfly, Barf, Belch, Meatlug and Hookfang all tried to kill us. He trained them easily. He's the dragon conquer, odd as it is, that seems right. Judging by the other's thoughtful expressions I assume they're thinking along the same lines.
"What does this have to do with..this?" I say and gesture towards him. He purses his lips.
"Alvin wanted me to conquer his dragons, and I wouldn't. I couldn't. He wasn't pleased." Hiccup whispers the last part and I blink once, twice. Alvin, this was all Alvin. That barbaric psycho! Hiccup slams his hands together in a clap and I blink in surprise, "Well, enough about my sob story, milady if you would hand me those bandages, I'm sort of…" He trails of gesturing to where Toothless's head is happily resting in his lap.
I grab the white rolls of fabric and move towards him, Hiccup lifts out his hand to take it but I shove the arm down pulling the bandages out and start to wrap them around Hiccup's torso. He flinches slightly but doesn't protest.
"B-but, you're an Outcast, right?" Fishlegs asks and Hiccup laughs at that.
"I was an Outcast. I'm a traitor to my island and to yours." Hiccup says and I bite my lip moving upwards with the wrapping trying my best to keep it even. I just...this is ridiculous, I should want to kill him, I should feel the desire to strangle the pirate and toss him overboard with little remorse but judging by the small bits of information he's given us, I really don't think piracy was a choice, a last resolve of survival.
"We'll talk to Stoick, maybe we can get you a clean cut onto Berk." Fishlegs says.
Hiccup remains quiet.
….
With a heavy thump, the Night Fury hits the dock of Berk; it's void of people almost like it was abandoned. I rub my temples slightly staring at the freezing cold island spread out before us. Toothless growls softly at the sight and Hiccup's eyes widen as he gets a good look at the isle. "I've been here before." He murmurs softly.
"Uh, yeah, you escaped from it, that's how we got into this mess." Ruffnut retorts dryly. Hiccup shakes his head.
"No, I mean..never mind." He says after a second. "Well, I'll just drop you off and be on my merry way." He says and starts to turn away from us but I grab his shoulder forcing him to stop moving. Not after everything he and we have been through ha, no. He's coming with us even if I have to drag him there myself.
"Not so fast, Freebird." I say and the coat around Hiccup's shoulders once again seems to slump in defeat.
He turns around, throwing his arms up, "Fine! But when I'm murdered for stealing a ship and kidnapping all of you, I will blame each of you for my death." He says and Snotlout folds his arms across his chest.
"Don't worry, we'll tell everyone you died heroically."
Toothless growls at that and Hiccup climbs onto his back, the Night Fury leaping the short distance from the boat onto the dock. I look back at Stormfly and wave her forward jumping from the boat onto the dock with a roll, no gangplank. We lost it along the way when Ruffnut and Tuffnut decided to Loki us. Hardly amusing. Irritating yes, funny no.
Stormfly lands behind me with a soft thump and Hiccup slides off of Toothless's back walking forward along the dock. The sun is well set in the distance marking day eight since we found him on the shore of 'the secluded beach' as the twins have named it.
I release a breath and move forward the other teens landing with heavy thumps behind us followed by their dragons. Our parents are going to strangle us, then our dragons, or maybe the other way around. I don't even want to know what Stoick is going to think. The more I re-think this the more it becomes obvious that this was a terrible idea.
Astrid breathe, you're a Hofferson. You're fearless.
We make it across the dock our dragons battle ready, Toothless more so, practically sitting on Hiccup, the pirate however seems oblivious to the close strides. "Does anyone else find it strangely nerving on the fact that Berk has become a ghost town?" Tuffnut asks suddenly behind us.
I yelp slightly and twist around looking back at him with wide eyes.
"Tuffnut." I hiss.
"What? Are we trying to be sneaky?" Tuffnut asks receiving an elbow to his stomach from his twin. Tuffnut rubs the spot, "I take that's a yes."
We walk into the village and I stare around at the streets for a second barely having time to spot several people lurking in the shadow's before an echoing cry rings through the streets, "FIRE!"
I duck instinctively at the cry and several bola's fly over my head smacking into Stormfly. "Stormfly!" I cry in panic and race over to help her but a hand grabs my shoulder and pulls me back.
"Astrid!" Mom's voice sings the tone filled with relief. The air is alive with nets and Spitelout leaps onto Hiccup tackling him to the ground. Toothless hisses madly but like his rider is also tackled. The other dragons growl but can't escape their bonds.
"No! Stop!" I shout my voice mixing with the other teens protesting shouts. I struggle in my mother's grip trying to break her iron fingers. "Let me go!"
"Astrid! What has gotten into you!?" Mom demands and grips me tighter. Yes, I'm glad to see you too but can we reunite when you aren't trying to kill my dragon and friend?
Stoick shoves through the crowd looking at Toothless his eyes briefly flashing with surprise before he turns to Hiccup who is struggling in grip of Spitelout, now manacled and on his foot. Stoick's back turns to me and I can't see his expression but I see Hiccup's already pale skin pale.
No, no, no!
"Stop!" I plead.
"Let our dragons go!" Tuffnut shouts.
"You have no idea what you're doing!" Snotlout adds voice equally as high.
"Stop it!" Ruffnut yells.
"Oh Thor!" Fishlegs squeaks. Stoick turns looking at us.
"What has gotten into you? Have ya' gone mad? These are dragons!" Stoick says spitting out the word 'dragon'. No! They aren't what we think they are.
"No, you don't understand! We don't have to kill them!" I shout and Stoick stares at me with an expression that clearly says, 'she's crazy.' I'm not! I'm not!
Stoick turns towards Hiccup, "You did this." He says and gestures to the tied dragons, me, Snotlout the twins and Fishlegs.
Hiccup shakes his head, "Sorry mate, my hands are clean of this." Spitelout jerks his arm slightly and Hiccup hisses through his teeth.
"You're not welcome here, pirate." Stoick snarls the word pirate coming off his tongue like venom. Hiccup's eyes widen and Stoick draws a sword from his belt. "Any last words?" Hiccup's lip remain shut firmly at the question.
"STOP!" I scream twisting harder in Mom's grip.
Hiccup looks up at me, eyes silently pleading with me to let it go. I can't! I won't just watch him die! I won't! Toothless growls and struggles under the Viking's pinning him.
Stoick raises the sword and Spitelout shoves Hiccup to his knees the pirates eyes shut as he bows his head. Time slows and I finally twist my arm from Mom's grip running towards him with purpose. Before I fully register what I'm doing I throw myself over Hiccup, time snapping back into focus. Stoick's sword stops less than an inch from my chest and I look up at him, "If you want to kill him, you have to kill me too."
"Us to!" Tuffnut adds racing forward towards us his sister at his side. Fishlegs and surprisingly Snotlout do the same and I steady myself looking at Stoick, challenging him with my eyes.
"Ruff, Tuff don't!" A voice rings through the air. Stoick stares at us with disgust before tossing his weapon to the side.
"You're no better than this pirate then." He says lowly and Hiccup pops up over my shoulder.
"Technically that's not really an insult-" Hiccup starts to say before Gobber shoves through the crowd breathless and panting.
"Stoick! I just got back from patrol with the other men, Outcasts." he rasps the last part and then steadies his breathing, "Just of the horizon looks like they've allied with some other giant tribe." Gobber finishes then looks over at us, "Oh, welcome back to Berk." He adds eyes lingering on Hiccup for several seconds.
"Thank you!" Hiccup calls and I shoot him a half glare.
Stoick's face flashes with unreadable emotions before he turns to the other Berkian's,"Gather the elderly and children and get them to the cove, everyone else gather your weapons and prepare for battle."
"Aye, Stoick."
"Wha, what about him?" A man asks and points and Hiccup.
Stoick stares at him for several seconds, "Release the dragons, toss that one in a cell. We'll deal with him after the attack."
My eyes widen slightly and I elbow Hiccup's ribs, "Take Toothless and go." I hiss and he looks at me bewildered.
"What?" He hisses.
"Take Toothless and go." I repeat grabbing the manacles on his wrists and yanking down with the panicked force I have the metal slides from his wrists as it was buttered. Hiccup races forward and grabs Inferno snapping the weapon open and anyone in his path leaps out of the way of the flaming weapon. He snaps it down on Toothless's bounds and rips the rope off of him everyone to shocked to do anything.
Hiccup swings onto Toothless's back and the duo leaps into the air, a faint scream in the wind indicating they've broken the speed of sound.
"Well, that's that." Spitelout says dryly.
"We'll have to do something with these five." A man says and Gobber puts a hand on Stoick's shoulder.
"After the attack, we're going to need every soldier we have." he says and tosses me an axe from who knows where. I grip the weapon in my hands staring at Stoick, after a heavy sigh he nods. I narrow my eyes and force my attention off of Stormfly and the other dragons as I prepare myself for the attack.
Author's Note: :( :( Ugh! I absolutely hate this chapter! I want to burn it with fire! No way I revised it was any better! I'm sorry guys. :(
Please review!