Author's Note: Hiccup and Adeline meet at last. Oh, the horror! Don't worry. They're going to be stuck in that cell for a week, at the most... (cue Kodachi laugh) That gave me an idea. I'm going to do the next six chapters as the next six days they're in the cell! What do you think? If you're wondering, yes, this is going to be a HiccupxOC story (point for MMM!). But it's going to take awhile for them to get together. Adeline has some issues to work through first.
Adeline: Hey! Spoilers!
By the way, Hiccup is captured a day after Adeline receives the final piece of her medicine kit. That's why she's waking up at the beginning. She was asleep when he was caught in Gale's net. I'm only putting this in for clarification.
Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD. Just my OC's. Sorry.
Day 1
Adeline's POV
A noise woke me up that day. A squealing, painful sound, almost the audile embodiment of agony, was getting louder. I listened carefully to the sound of the Cage. Its wheels were almost as familiar to me as my face. I cocked my head as it came steadily closer.
'Some poor soul's been captured,' I thought sadly. That was all it was used for nowadays, carting prisoners from the Lydlr-crebc to the dungeon and from the dungeon to the arena. They never came back to the dungeon or the Lydlr-crebc. Something blocked the light from our cell's grate and I looked up. The Cage was positioned over it, and there was something large in it. Something black… I heard the scream of rust on rust as the grate was removed. We couldn't get out that way, though, because it was blocked by the Cage. The Cage screeched as its bottom was slid out swiftly, and the black thing fell into our cell. I heard a grunt, or… was that two grunts? It wriggled around, and I tensed.
When I saw that it was no threat to me, I relaxed a bit. I noticed that its top was still wiggling around, and I could hear someone muttering to the larger thing.
"It's okay, Toothless. Everything will be all right. We just need to find a way out of this net, okay, bud?" a young man said. I craned my head and tried to see who had said that. All I could see was brown fur and hair, pale skin, and green and brown cloth, all against a black and brown background. A flash of red caught my eye, and I noticed the prosthetic tail fin connected to the black thing. It growled, and Frostwave lifted her head in shock.
"That's not possible," she hissed. Something had her spooked. I didn't know what species the black thing was, but it was definitely a dragon. It thrashed about wildly, but the chains kept it bound. I took the chance to try and speak to Frostwave.
"What is it, girl?" I said quietly. Almost immediately after I did, the dragon froze, and not because Frostwave had breathed on him. Now I could see who had spoken. A young man, with freckles over most of his face, was gaping at me. I slowly edged around to my Silver Horror and stood in front of her.
3rd Person POV: Hiccup
Hiccup watched a dirty girl carefully walk over to the big silver-white shape he had seen when he and Toothless had fallen into the cell. She brushed her greasy brown hair out of her face and revealed a light blue star over her right eye. A filthy "white" shirt covered most of her upper body, and black pants protected the rest of her. Grimy brown boots covered her feet, with dirty cream fur trim keeping her feet warm. The only clean thing was a shiny silver buckle. A five-pointed star was carved into the center, with five six-petaled flowers around it.
He looked into her face through the chains and could see wonder written all over it. Hiccup decided to try something.
"Hey, uh, excuse me? Can you get us out of here?" he called out to her. She cocked her head to the right and pulled something out of her belt. It was a piece of metal, thin and pointy, like a needle, and it gleamed in the light from above. Hiccup widened his eyes.
"What are you going to do with that?" he said uneasily. The girl seemed to be very good at using this thing, and from what he had heard of Blackstone pirates, they weren't especially keen on preserving their prisoners. The girl came forward, with the white dragon growling softly.
Its head was triangular, with a small nose and large eyes. A V-shaped horn started just above its nostrils and flared out over the rest of its head. Fins along its eyebrow region were flared out and accented its crimson eyes. It raised its head and revealed an extremely long, thin neck. The dragon's wings were similar to Toothless's, but were much larger and didn't have the same mottled pattern. Instead they had a smooth, snowy expanse of skin covering the bones. Four wiry legs supported its lithe frame and ended in four razor-sharp black claws, which, surprisingly, slid in and out like Toothless's teeth. A whip-like tail curled around it, with one fin on the tip. The fin had a spear-like bony growth on the tip of the central bone, and it seemed sharp enough to take off anyone's head.
The dragon opened its mouth slightly, revealing three rows of tiny, serrated black teeth. Instead of flames in its mouth, though, a cloud of mist formed with every exhalation and coated the teeth in frost. Heat shimmered off of its scales and made the room uncomfortably hot. The girl ignored it and crept closer. Toothless began to growl, but she reached into one of the pouches on her belt and pulled out some dried blue and white flowers. She held them out to him, and he relaxed against the floor, crooning happily. She smiled and revealed shockingly white teeth. Once Toothless was subdued, she looked at him sharply.
"Rumt cdemm. E haat du ihmulg dra had, yht ev oui suja, oui sekrd kad rind. Ihtancdyht?" she said quietly, as if afraid someone above them was going to hear. Hiccup looked at her in confusion. The girl groaned dramatically.
"Y Viking. Fro tuac ra ryja du pa y Viking?" she said, looking at the ceiling. He only recognized "Viking" in those sentences; the rest was gibberish. She cleared her throat.
"H-hello," the girl said quietly. "I'm Addie. Now, don't move, because I need to get that net off of you two and if you so much as twitch you might get hurt, savvy?" Hiccup nodded and did his best to avoid moving. Addie came over and started fiddling with the lock, jamming the needle into the hole and wiggling it around until it finally clicked. The chains physically loosened and she helped work them off.
"There we go. That's better. Now, what are you two doing in here? They've never given me cellmates before. And what's your name?" Hiccup sat up and pulled his leg out of the stirrup and patted Toothless on the head.
"Uh, I'm Hiccup, and this is Toothless." The girl smiled hesitantly, then seemed to warm up to them as her dragon came forward curiously.
Adeline's POV
Frostwave was sniffing Toothless curiously, and her body language told me she was both amazed and shocked.
"What is it, Frostwave?" I whispered reproachfully. She managed to tear herself away from the inspection to give me a report.
"He's a Night Fury! I didn't know one still existed!" she growled excitedly. I gave her a blank look.
"...And? What about it?" Frostwave blew a cloud of ice at my hair, and I brushed it out automatically.
"If he exists, maybe there are other Silver Horrors. I mean, I thought all the Night Furies in the Barbaric Archipelago had disappeared years ago, just like the other Silver Horrors! We could look for them together!" she crooned ecstatically. I sighed, but I wanted to believe it too. Maybe there were other Silver Horrors out there, beyond the Archipelago, but I wasn't likely to find them anytime soon. That was when I noticed Hiccup was staring at me like I was crazy. I chuckled nervously and smiled faintly.
"Ooookay. Um, Addie? Were you just having a conversation with your dragon? And is, um, her name Frostwave?" he asked warily. I looked at Frostwave, who shrugged like she thought I should handle this on my own. I gave her a "gee, thanks" look and turned back to Hiccup.
3rd Person POV: Hiccup
"Okay, the truth is, I can... understand some of what she says. I don't really get it myself, but she says it has something to do with a bond," Addie said anxiously. He nodded slowly.
"What sort of bond?" She listened to the dragon's growls, which sounded very different from any other dragon he had ever heard. It almost sounded like what she and the other pirates had been speaking earlier, but with a few growls, hisses, snarls, and other inhuman noises. It stopped, and she looked back at him.
"Frostwave says it's a special bond between rider and dragon that only forms between one person and one dragon, and that only Silver Horrors have this ability. It's part of what makes them so loyal. At least, that's what she says. Personally, I don't know if she's just saying that to make herself look better. I mean, she's the only Silver Horror I know," Addie explained for Frostwave, the Silver Horror. That species sounded familiar, like he had read or heard it somewhere before. It crooned chidingly at her, and she groaned.
"Frostwave, ev E ryja du gelg oui, E femm," she threatened sweetly. Frostwave looked at her face and started to inch away, which didn't really help given their close quarters. Toothless crooned at her, and she responded with a grumpy growl, making him shrink back. Wow. If Toothless was scared of this dragon in a bad mood, how bad would she be when she was mad? Addie walked over to him and stuck out her hand.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Hiccup. And nice to finally have some company in here. I was getting a little tired of listening to Frostwave rant about the quality of food they give her," she confided. Hiccup smiled and looked around. Judging by the fact that Toothless had to curl up his tail in order to fit in, he estimated that the cell was about 20 feet long and 15 feet wide. Probably the biggest they had here, but with two dragons in it the cell was tiny. Addie saw him looking around and patted him on the back.
"I hate to break it to you, Hiccup, but there is no way out of this cell. Not an easy way, anyways. The grate up there is locked on the outside, and I can't reach it even with Frostwave's help. The door can easily be lifted out..." she said thoughtfully.
"But? I'm sensing a but."
"There are at least a dozen guards, and now that you're here I have someone else to worry about. Sorry, two someones," she corrected, glancing at Toothless when he let out an expectant hum. Addie reached back into her pouch and pulled out more of those strange blue and white flowers. Toothless and Frostwave looked at them happily, and she gave some of them to both dragons, who then proceeded to lay around in a dreamy daze.
Adeline's POV
"What is that plant? I've never seen it before," Hiccup asked curiously. I smirked and pulled out two more. He held out a hand and I cautiously placed them in his palm. He raised it to his face and looked at them curiously.
"You want to know what they are? They're dragon nip flowers. They're pretty hard to find, mostly because they only flower for a short time, but the dried flowers are stronger than normal dragon nip. It also tastes pretty good as a tea and helps with sleeping problems," I told him bluntly. He nodded and handed them back. Awkward silence passed between us, punctuated with the blissful hums of Frostwave and Toothless and the occasional far-off noise of the rest of Blackstone's inhabitants. I sat down against her side, and Hiccup did the same with Toothless.
"So... you're a dragon rider?" he said out of nowhere. I gave him an incredulous look. It hung in the air between us until finally we both started laughing like idiots.
"What was that?" I managed to get out between chuckles. "'So... you're a dragon rider?' What kind of conversation starter is that?" Hiccup shook his head in mirth.
"Sorry! I just didn't know what else to ask you," he exclaimed, the odd giggle escaping between words. I wiped a few tears from my eyes and smiled at him.
"Well, yes, Hiccup, I am a dragon rider. How about you? Or is that dragon just for show?" I countered playfully. He grinned.
"Why, yes, Addie, I am also a dragon rider." We sat like that, still snickering occasionally, when Frostwave looked up in alarm. I twisted around to look at her.
"What is it, girl?" I asked worriedly. She started to growl, so low it was more of a vibration than a noise. I shot to my feet and looked at the cell door. Now I could hear footsteps, one person's. Hate rose to the front of my mind. I knew those feet. Oh, how I knew them. The owner appeared behind the crisscrossing bars of the door, his black eyes glittering cruelly underneath his black hair and red triangle.
"Gale," I hissed. Hiccup stood up and went to stand beside me. Gale tilted his head to the side thoughtfully.
"Oh, how sweet. The two dragon riders are friends now. I suppose you bonded over dragons, eh, Adeline?" he drawled. I glared at him.
"What do you want, Gale?" I replied coldly. He raised his hands in surrender.
"You got me. The Captain wants to see your little friend there." I looked at him in shock.
"But new prisoners get a week before their initiation! It's island law!" I exclaimed. Gale shook his head.
"It has nothing to do with his initiation. The Captain just wants to ask him a few... questions. Once they're done, I'll escort him back myself. I swear on Odin's beard," Gale promised. I didn't like it, but I had no choice but to trust his word. Even if he was an oily snake of a man. He unlocked the door, walked inside calmly, and grabbed Hiccup's arm. He tried to break free, but I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hiccup, just go with him. You'll be back soon. They just want to ask you a few questions," I explained as calmly as I could. He didn't look convinced, but something in my eyes must have persuaded him to stop resisting.
"That's better. Maybe we should ask you to calm all the other prisoners down before taking them in for questioning," Gale said victoriously. I glared at him.
"Yeah, how about when Ragnarok comes? Maybe then I'll do it for someone like you," I replied viciously. He took it in stride and dragged Hiccup with him out of the cell. The door clicked shut, and I was left behind, locked in with two dragons.
3rd Person POV: Hiccup
The halls of Blackstone Island's tunnel society were rough, but not the kind of rough that humans made. No, this was more... natural. They marched past dozens of other cell doors, some occupied, some ominously vacant. Soon, they came to a large metal door with a portcullis made of cold, black iron, just like Gale's heart. A pair of green eyes appeared in the small slot in the door and saw the two of them. They disappeared moments later, only to be revealed as belonging to a woman in charge of the door and gate. The former swung open toward her, and the latter rose with a squeal.
"You should really oil that thing," Hiccup said casually. They glared at him and pushed him inside the dark room. Torches were lit in a ring, starting behind him and ending behind a huge stone throne. On it rested the man Hiccup had met earlier. The Captain (by the way, if this had taken place several centuries later, he would have been on a comfy leather swivel chair, slowly spun around to face him, and have been petting a grumpy white cat like the criminal mastermind he was).
"Welcome, prisoner, to your interrogation," he said darkly.
Half an hour later...
Hiccup was fed up with all these questions. Were there others like him? No comment. Where was he from? No comment. Why was he flying around on a dragon? No comment. He was pretty sure the Captain and Gale were irritated by his lack of answers as well. Finally, after one more no comment (what is the capital of Assyria?), Gale slammed his fist down on a stone slab in front of him.
"Ahuikr! Mad sa yd rel! E lyh kad rel du damm ic fryd fa fyhd du ghuf!" he shouted, his voice laden with frustration. The Captain raised an eyebrow at his tone of voice, but didn't say anything. Gale whirled on poor Hiccup and threw something. He felt a flash of pain in his side and looked down. His tunic had been cut on his left side, and red was starting to seep into the thick wool.
"Gale! Tu hud rynl dra bnecuhan! Fa haat rel ymeja!" the Captain roared terrifyingly. The younger man seemed to shrink beneath this verbal onslaught, and while Hiccup could only understand the word "Gale," he did understand that what he had done was very bad. Gale walked sulkily over to him and grabbed the knife that was lying on the floor, its blade wet with a tiny bit of crimson fluid. Hiccup pressed a hand to the small cut, but already he was starting to feel a little lightheaded.
"Bid rel pylg eh rec lamm. Dra haqd dela drec rybbahc, ed'mm pa oui kuenk ehdu dryd lamm," the Captain growled. Gale saluted and pulled Hiccup back to his and Addie's cell.
Adeline's POV
Hiccup was shoved back inside and fell face first onto the hard stone floor. I ran over to his side and glared at Gale. He glared back and left, locking the door carefully. I helped Hiccup sit up and looked at him. He was very pale, more so than he should have been.
"Hey, you alright?" I asked, looking at him. He smiled, but that was when I saw him cringe. I looked down to see the red stain on his tunic. I moved his hand and gasped softly.
"Did Gale do this?" I demanded. Hiccup nodded. My face paled, and that made him look worried.
"What is it? Addie, what's wrong?" he asked. I left him there and ran five feet across the room to Frostwave's side. She lifted her wing and allowed me access to my medicine kit. Hiccup looked over with interest.
"What's that?" I ignored him and pulled out a small jar. It was marked "Gale Antidote" and right now it was the only thing that could save Hiccup. I also grabbed a bundle of bandages and ran back to Hiccup's side.
"Lift up your tunic," I ordered.
"What?!" he replied in surprise. I groaned and pushed him against the floor.
"Frostwave, hold him down," I said over my shoulder. She scurried over and placed her feet on Hiccup's shoulders.
"Addie? What are you doing?" Hiccup asked, a bit worried and scared. I pushed up the green wool and brown fur to reveal a small cut in his side. My face grew grim, but now wasn't the time to lose focus. I opened the jar, scooped out a dollop of a sage green gel, and started rubbing it into the wound.
"OW! That hurts!" he complained. I gave him a sarcastic look.
"Well, it's better than dying in agony. Now hold still! I need to wrap the bandages around the wound and protect it," I commanded, holding up the bundle. He relaxed and helped me by moving to different sides when I needed to get it behind him, and soon his cut was covered.
"Now, tell me why you had to do that," he asked, sitting up and pulling his tunic back down. I sighed.
"Gale puts a special poison on his knives. I happen to be the only one with the antidote, and thanks to my friend, Simon, I was able to have it with me. Unfortunately, there's a catch."
"What? And please don't tell me you don't have enough antidote in case he uses his knives again," Hiccup groaned. I shook my head.
"I need to give you five more doses, or else there will be enough poison left in your bloodstream to kill you. And I can't give them to you all at once, or else the antidote will end up poisoning you," I explained grimly. Hiccup took this in silently.
"So I guess I'm stuck with you for a while, then."
"Yup. Although, if you want to, you can escape with me," I suggested hopefully. He smiled.
"Yeah, I think I'll take you up on that offer. But first, we're going to need a way to escape." I waved his concerns off.
"Don't worry. I've got a plan." That seemed to assuage his fears, for the moment. Eventually, dinner arrived in the form of rabbit stew and raw salmon for the humans and dragons respectively. We talked over dinner about our dragons and their funny habits, and soon it was time to sleep. I curled up inside Frostwave's coiled body.
"You don't have a plan, do you," she said. It was a statement, not a question. I sighed.
"Nope. But what else was I supposed to tell him? He was about to die! I couldn't just say, 'Oh, by the way, I have no idea how we're going to get out!' Don't worry, Frostwave. I'll think of something. Just... give me a few days." She grunted, but I could tell she was going to let it rest. For now.
For the next few minutes, until I fell asleep, my mind raced with different escape plans. One after the other, they were rejected, and my tired brain finally decided to shut down.
Author's Notes: Your translations are served.
Lydlr-crebc – Catch-ships; in other words, the ships that go out to capture, kidnap, or otherwise forcibly acquire new inhabitants for the island.
Rumt cdemm. E haat du ihmulg dra had, yht ev oui suja, oui sekrd kad rind. Ihtancdyht? - Hold still. I need to unlock the net, and if you move, you might get hurt. Understand?
Y Viking. Fro tuac ra ryja du pa y Viking? - A Viking. Why does he have to be a Viking?
Frostwave, ev E ryja du gelg oui, E femm – Frostwave, if I have to kick you, I will
Ahuikr! Mad sa yd rel! E lyh kad rel du damm ic fryd fa fyhd du ghuf! – Enough! Let me at him! I can get him to tell us what we want to know!
Gale! Tu hud rynl dra bnecuhan! Fa haat rel ymeja! – Gale! Do not harm the prisoner! We need him alive!
Bid rel pylg eh rec lamm. Dra haqd dela drec rybbahc, ed'mm pa oui kuenk ehdu dryd lamm – Put him back in his cell. The next time this happens, it'll be you going into that cell; in other words, if Gale does something like that again, he'll join Adeline in her cell, and that won't have a happy ending
Yeah, yeah, I know, it's long. The next one is as well. You have been warned. So, what did you think of that last little scene? Adeline pushing Hiccup down onto the floor, telling him to pull his tunic up. I wonder what was going through his head when she did that, you know, being a hormonal teenage boy ;)What do you think? Also, some explanations will occur in the next chapter, to clarify just where the Blackstone pirates came from, a brief history of the Silver Horrors, and Adeline getting caught up on recent events in Berk's history. Adeline will show her softer side in the next chapter, as well. How, you may ask? Read, to learn all about it. Please R&R. Your input is much appreciated.
Wild Cat 214, out!
