Authors Note: FINAL CHAPTER! PALS!
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Chapter 13: Betrayal
Thump, thump, thump.
Flutter, flutter, flutter.
Thump, thump, thump.
Its attacking my ribcage without mercy. My heart. Its rattling against its prison begging to be free, pleading, whispered cries. Broken wings stretched out to fly. Feathers ruffled, darkened and exhausted. There is no flight. Where are my wings?
I never said that I wanted this. No one ever asked me. There wasn't a warning, someone yelling, "heads up!". Nothing. It was dumped over my head suddenly and now, I have to deal with it. Thanks a million, Jink.
I tried so hard and it's for nothing.
I'm heading to my death.
I am going to die today. No elusive escapes anymore.
Flutter, flutter, flutter.
Hitisha's fingers are wrapped around my upper arm tightly as she drags me forward. We left the prison nearly half an hour ago, Jink and the rest of the men stayed there. It's just Hitisha and I. Dread is sinking into my stomach and finding permanent residence there. I sigh through my teeth slightly staring at my foot.
After everything we did to get here, it's all for not.
I broke and rebuilt trust, nearly died a handful of times, and still haven't apologized to my dad. At least, I'll be back with my mom. I can finally meet her. It wasn't supposed to end like this. I was supposed to marry Astrid where we would live long fulfilling lives together before dying of old age. Now…
And Toothless...oh, Thor, Toothless. I tried so hard to get him back, to reunite with him. It's not going to happen. None of it is. Because I am walking to my death.
Hitisha suddenly rips me to the left and I let out a protesting grunt in surprise before she stops and grabs my shoulders to keep my still. We're in some sort of dark overhang maybe an alley? I wasn't paying too much attention. I look up at the blonde for a moment my eyebrows meeting in confusion, "What-?" I start to question. She lifts a finger to my lips effectively silencing me. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at something, her lips are pursed tightly, she looks relatively stressed.
Hitisha scans around us for a moment her eyes seeping in everything before she nods to herself, as if confirming something. With that done she pulls back her hand and looks at me. "Hiccup, you have to trust me." She whispers, the sound is barely above a whisper.
My thoughts skid to a majestic halt.
I gape. "Trust you!? Are you kidding me! You tried to kill me! You tortured me, attacked my island, you stole my dragon! How am I supposed to trust you!?"
Hitisha gives a pained smile. "I can't apologize for my actions, but I do regret them-this isn't the point. We don't have a lot of time, Jink will get done gloating soon and you and I have to be long gone."
I raise an eyebrow ripping away from her grasp. Part of me is tempted to bolt, but I won't make it very far. ""We" don't have to do anything." I promise. Hitisha's eyes flash with frustration before she inhales deeply.
"I'm not taking you to the executioner's block."
"So...you're kidnapping me?"
"No," Hitisha rolls her eyes, "I'm rescuing you."
I blink several times. This...is the same woman from before right? There's no way...she was so...heartless. I don't understand. Hitisha bites her lip heavily before resting a hand on her sword hilt.
"Listen, I'm Jink's older sister, my birthright is Cheiftess but I turned it down to raise my son. My husband and him went out on a hunting trip and didn't come back." Hitisha releases a breath her eyes darkening, "Jink murdered them. I just discovered a few days ago, Hiccup I promise you that whatever happens, I won't let him win, he's berserk. His reign is over. My people agree, at least a large majority of them."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"A rebellion needs a cause...and you're it." She says simply. "I'm going to take you to your dragon...he's injured though, badly-" my chest tightens, "-my men are releasing your friends as we speak."
I blink, "Hitisha...what changed?"
She smiles sadly, it doesn't quite reach her eyes though."You. You remind me of my son. There's something about you that rises a cause. On my command, my army and I are ready to help you all escape."
I wring my tied hands.
You have to trust me.
"Oh, sweetheart, they aren't coming for you."
"Your dragon? He belongs to Jink now, just like you."
"There's nothing that you can do, Useless."
You have to trust me.
I look up at the woman releasing a shaky breath. What do I have to lose? If she's lying I'm about to die anyway. If she can take me to Toothless and help everyone else…I have to take the chance.
"Fine." The word slips through my lips like poison, my voice sounds exhausted and my heart is hammering. Hitisha nods and pulls me forward, grabbing the rope wound around my wrists.
"Were almost to the Arena. When you and your dragon are situated, I'll call on my ally's."
"What about the others?"
"As I said, my men are freeing them as we speak."
I nod and after a few minutes of weaving through building alleyways we step into the arena. It's built similar to Berk, save the ring of metal across the top, rather than chains it's just straight metal. I stare at it for a moment, a feeling of homesickness washing over me.
Hitisha turns back to me, dagger in hand. Despite myself, my pulse picks up speed as she raises the weapon. I turn my head left as she swings the weapon down. The ropes snap across the twine splitting into separate parts. I breathe a sigh of relief at the feeling of them being free and glance at the older woman. "Thanks." I say.
She nods, "The Night Fury is in there. I'm going to keep an eye out." She says and shoves the dagger blade into my hands."You'll need this."
The weapon is off balanced in my hands but I nod in thanks anyway looking forward towards the cell Hitisha pointed at earlier. I move forward my heart rattling against my ribcage.
Flutter, flutter, flutter.
I push the door open and blink several times at the darkness my eyes sweeping over everything for my dragon. Please don't let this have been a joke. I plead in my head silently before moving forward the weapon clutched in my hands so tightly my knuckles are white.
A shape in the corner makes me freeze in my step.
Toothless.
The black ear flaps lift as I take a step forward on my right foot. My feet move forward, almost robotically. "Toothless?" I whisper softly. Toothless's head whips into the air, green eyes shining against the darkness. He stares at me for a few seconds not seeming to really be processing the fact that I'm here.
I move forward towards him collapsing on my knees in front of his head and wrapping my arms around his neck tightly. Toothless lowers his head on my back cooing softly as he ruffles my hair with his breath. "I've missed you, bud." I murmur into his neck.
No, everything isn't okay, Hitisha may be lying, the other riders need to be rescued, we have to find the dragons but for the first time in awhile...it feels like it's going to be. I pull back at length and stare at Toothless for a moment.
His eyes are wide with happiness and he gives me a gummy smile. I grin in response and grab the edges of the mussel wrapped around his mouth, "Let's get this off you." I say quietly before giving the leather a hard yank. Toothless sighs with relief and I turn grabbing the dagger I dropped a few minutes before shoving it onto my belt. Toothless's eyes don't leave me and I turn giving a small smile.
I get to my feet, wincing slightly as the pain racks across my abdomen. Toothless's eyes narrow as he watches me before he finally seems to notice the bulk across my chest. He gets to his feet, shakily and shoves his nose into it. I yelp in pain and surprise as he does so my eyes widening as I finally spot his shoulders.
Deep cuts are across the top of them, scabbed over but it will still take a few days before he can move them in a semi comfortable way. Dragons have a faster healing factors than us, bones take a few weeks but these are deep. "Oh Thor what did they do to you?" I whisper softly. My hands raise and I press a hand against the wound.
Toothless flinches but looks at me, eyes wide. They're stitched together lazily like the person in charge was in a hurry or only did enough to keep Toothless alive. I pull my hand back and clench my fist. A loud stream of voices makes me tense and I turn my eyes wide as I stare outside the cell door towards the sound.
Toothless growls and wraps his tail around my feet shuffling in front of me, wincing at every step. I bite my lip heavily. Gullible idiot! Of course Hitisha isn't going to help you. So then why did she give me a weapon and Toothless!?
The stream of voices gets louder before I spot a dozen or so people entering the Arena. I can't spot Hitisha but nearly a second later relief floods through my at a single word, "Hiccup!" Astrid races into the cell her eyes wide. She glances at Toothless the relief in her eyes growing.
"Oh thank Thor." She whispers.
Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs and Snotlout are a second behind her and though they look tired, they're all fine. Behind them, I spot their dragons landing. Hitisha wasn't lying.
Astrid stares at Toothless for a few long seconds, "Is he going to be okay?"
I bite my lip heavily looking at him, "Yes. He will." I assure myself more than her as I stare at him for a moment. Toothless looks up at me, giving a tired wince.
"As lovely as this is," Hitisha says walking into the cell hand on her sword, Toothless immediately growls glaring at her. Hitisha lifts her hands up in a "I surrender" way and I rest a hand on his head.
"No Toothless, it's okay she's…helping us." The word tastes weird on my tongue when describing her.
Hitisha stares at Toothless for a moment warily before waving a hand for us to follow her. I turn to Toothless grabbing his head to support him, "I won't let you go." I whisper. Toothless takes a shaky step forward a pained moan escaping his lips.
Tuffnut inhales sharply as we step into the semi-light. "Whoa, okay T. There is no need to outdo Hiccup over here. Stabbage is good but this, this takes the grand prize on injuries."
"Tuff," Astrid sighs moving to support Toothless, "Do us all a favor and keep your trap shut."
Tuffnut snickers, "How am I supposed to catch anything?"
Ruffnut smacks him.
With slow progress we manage to make it out of the arena and in the surrounding hillside of the docks Hitisha and her small group of men leading us. Toothless's feet give out suddenly and he collapses on the ground. I rest a hand on his head, my insides screaming. Why can't I do something! I want to ease his pain! "I know, I know, it hurts but we've gotta keep moving, bud." I say.
He squeezes his eyes shut, his rapid breathing starting to sound more like pained gasps.
I look up at Astrid helplessly. Her eyebrows are curved in and up in concern and the dragons behind us growl softly. Hitisha turns back towards us resting a hand on my shoulder. I tense from the contact and she pulls away just as quickly staring at Astrid for a moment.
Her eyes sweep around the area, it's dark though, the sun set a long time ago as we trekked through the woods. "Come, we have need to smuggle you off the island and back to Berk before Jink-"
"Before I what?" We all still at the voice and I lift my heads up watching as torches light up in the woods and behind Jink stands an army Hundreds of men. Well, if we weren't going to die before, we are most assuredly are going to now. "Sister?"
Hitisha's eyes narrow with anger at the last word and she turns looking back at her brother storming forward in front of us. "As rightful ruler of this island, the title that I have reclaimed," Hitisha starts, her voice loud but there's a deadly edge to it. "I hereby sentence Jink the Fiendish to death for treason."
Jink blinks in shock. "I'm sorry, what? When have I ever-" He starts flabbergasted.
Hitisha's sword is at the tip of his throat though I didn't see her draw it. "Treason for murdering the heir of this island."
Even from my position, I can see Jink pale slightly, "That was years ago!" He argues.
"It is still no better." She says her voice a low growl, "You murdered my son, you killed my husband you are under arrest."
Jink laughs, "Sweetheart, there are none that will stand with you except them." He points towards us and my fists clench slightly as Astrid and the other riders grip their reclaimed weapons tighter.
Hitisha tosses her head, a cocky grin on her face, "Is that so?" As the words leave her mouth, more than half of Jink's army draw their swords pointing them out at their comrades or the chief himself.
"What?" Jink says, "You're all traitors!"
"No," Hitisha corrects, "you are."
Jink frowns sister and brother staring each other down. Jink purses his lips angrily, "You wanna fight? I'll bring a war." He draws his sword, "ATTACK!"
I rip Inferno from off of my leg and light the blade stepping in front of Toothless as the other riders form a sort of circle around him. Jink's warriors pull their weapons out and dive towards the rebels as Hitisha twists her double bladed sword smacking it against Jink's. She turns to look back for us, "Make for the docks! Just get out of here!"
Astrid glances at me, as if waiting for an order. I don't know! Toothless won't make it unless we float him there. Our hands are tied here, there's nothing we can do but wait. I shake my head in response to her inquiring look.
Astrid lets out a sudden yelp as a sword swings towards her chest. With an angered growl she elbows her attacker in the face. I take Inferno into both hands as the soldiers rush towards us. Tuffnut lets out a cackle behind me. A sword smacks against mine and I grit my teeth at the sudden pressure but shove back swinging my blade up to clash against the mans.
"Stormfly, spine-shot!" Astrid yells. Blue yellow spikes shoot over our heads towards a few men, tripping them.
I glance back at Toothless, whose shoulders are bleeding badly. I turn my attention back to the battle, Toothless has protected me more than I can count, it's my turn. After a few minutes, the riders turn towards their dragons and start to battle from the air. It's nearly impossible to tell the rebels from the non-rebels but so far, they've been doing a good job.
A sword swings towards my neck and I yelp diving back in surprise looking at Jink's taunting face. "So fitting that you and your dragon can die together." Jink growls before he swings his sword towards my neck again. My eyes widen, if I take a step back forward or dodge in anyway I risk jumping onto Toothless.
I squeeze my eyes shut waiting for the explosion of pain when a clang stops me dead. I open my eyes, and I'm sure that there as wide as they can physically go as I spot the figure that leapt in front of me, blocking the attack.
"Oh, you don't want to do that," My dad assures swinging Jink's sword from his grip. Jink backs up looking just as surprised as I feel.
"S-stoick." Jink stutters an awkward laugh escaping his lips.
"AGHAGHAGHAG!" I twist my head left looking through the woods towards where the docks are my eyes widening with surprise. Dagur and Heather race towards us, axes gleaming in the semi-moonlight looking furious.
Behind them and their army of Berserkers, Mala draws her sword, "FOR HICCUP HADDOCK AND THE DRAGON RIDERS!" She roars. Her warriors give a resounding call before they dive into the battle.
"AARRRGGGH!"
Jink backs up breaking into a run into the battle grabbing a sword. My dad snorts, "Coward." He scoffs. He turns back to me, green eyes soft. "Are you alright, son?"
I nod stiffly, "Y-yeah."
"Good." I blink several times at him.
"Dad?" I ask softly and he nods. "You came…"
He smiles, "Of course I did. Dagur, Mala and Alvin were more than happy to offer assistance."
I double take, "Wait, you brought Alvin?"
A loud war cry answers my question. Dagur and Heather race up towards us, panting, "Brother!" Dagur says cheerily, "You're alive." he grabs me in a hug and I gasp. He pulls back smiling, "I was worried, was he alive was he dead."
Heather grins then looks at Toothless the expression slipping off her face. "What happened?"
I tug at my hear with my free hand. "I don't know-he just…"
Heather gets on her knees rubbing Toothless's talon. "I'll do what I can."
"Thank you." I whisper. She nods and my blood rushes cold at a scream. I whip around watching as Astrid smacks into the ground from her fall from Stormfly a man rushing towards her sword drawn.
"ASTRID!"
Dagur shoves me forward, "Go save your girlfriend, we've got Toothless!"
I dive forward towards Astrid in panic throwing Inferno towards the man's feet. He leaps backwards and I dive towards her throwing myself in front of the Hofferson. The man stares at me for a moment before raising his sword. Astrid's axe smacks the weapon from his grip and a few seconds she dives forward pushing the man across the face.
She rips her axe from the ground as I grab Inferno. Astrid looks back at me breathlessly, "Thanks." I nod and turn back to rush towards Toothless spotting the men rushing around us in a sea of war.
Astrid grabs my shoulder, "Are you with me?" I ask and lift up my hand. Astrid grabs the front of my coat and tugs me forward pressing our lips together. It's an earnest kiss, but sweet. Oh, Thor, I love her. Astrid pulls back and we stare at each other for a moment before she grabs her axe with both hands.
"To the end."
I grasp Inferno with both hands the slick sweat around the hilt making it slightly harder. I raise the weapon over my head.
"DEATH OR GLORY!"
000o000
I sit next to Toothless a few hours later, rubbing his talon softly, letting him know that I'm here for him. Jink surrendered and gave up his position to his sister. Hitisha sentenced him to death and we are now in a peace treaty with Tijike.
We got a brief explanation about the Skrill that Toothless fought and how when Hitisha saw the battle it sealed her resolve. It's amazing how much dragon's change people.
My dad said that he had already called the Berserkers, Calandra Cay and the Outcasts to gather for battle and when I disappeared they met up and sailed towards Tijike. I purse my lips slightly and look at Toothless. He's currently leaning against a wall looking like a tired kitten. I'm resting my back against another, refusing to leave his side.
My brain is still struggling to process everything. We won. It's over now. It's all over.
"Hey," Astrid says softly and I look up as she steps into the small room. "How is he?"
I sigh in response, "Heather did what she could, he lost a lot of blood though."
Astrid nods, "Yeah, they were deep." She agrees, "Can I keep you company?"
I shrug, "Sure."
She moves forward taking a seat next to me. We sit in silence for awhile which I'm okay with. I'm not particularly in a conversation mood. Astrid laughs suddenly and I look back at her squinting, "What?"
Astrid smiles, "Sorry it's just...I can't believe that we made it. I didn't think we would."
I roll my eyes and nudge her side, "Have a little hope, milady."
"Of course, Dragon Boy." She pauses, "Wow, you really are blind." Her lips twitch and I look at her in surprise.
"I'm sorry, wha-"
She grabs my chin and turns it towards Toothless without even looking at me. My eyes widen as I see his eyes open and staring at me. "Toothless!" I exclaim happiness and relief rushing through me, a laugh escapes my lips and he plops his head into my lap happily. I stroke his scales happily. He's awake. He's going to be okay. I glance at Astrid again, grinning and she returns will be fine, a few weeks without flying and pouting but he'll be okay.
We're all going to be.
Our conversation from the Great Hall flashes through my head, then the arena before Tijike's attack. A small frown tips the edges of my lips before I look back at Astrid grinning.
"I trust you, Astrid."
She smirks, "I know."
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this! I feel like I've been working on this forever honestly. I know its only been since February but man, its been looong. At least for me. Anyway, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR READING THIS! (sorry for yelling ;))
