A/N: Hello my lovely and loyal followers! Here's chapter 8 of this wonderful story and now we have a battle scene with lots of bloodshed, violence, and some death but you'll have to read to find out who dies. I don't own anything from HTTYD. Now read on!
Third Person's P.O.V.
Weapons clashed against other weapons, armor, or flesh as the battle raged on. Both Vikings and dragons fell to the blood stained ground while others fought on. Gobber hacked away at Berserkians with his axe hand while most of the teens and some other Vikings fought on their dragons flying above. The twins and their Hideous Zippleback spewed gas at one of the ships and ignited the green gas, sending pieces of wood and metal flying in the air and many Berserkians overboard. Hookfang caught fire to multiple bola catapults and regular catapults on the other ships and Meatlug dropped rocks onto the others. Cloudjumper, Valka, Thornado, and Stoick kept any Berserkians that managed to make it by, at bay.
"This way!" Astrid called to the children that were huddled behind a cart, "I'm getting you to safety!"
The children, two boys and one girl, climbed into the makeshift cart that Stormfly had tied around her waist and joined the other children and elderly already sitting in it.
"Are there any others?" Astrid asked Gothi.
The old woman looked over their small group and nodded her head before holding up one finger.
"Who's missing?"
"Hannah," the brunette girl that just got in answered, "She was last in the barn."
"Okay," Astrid headed for the barn.
Stormfly hovered above the ground and Astrid ran inside to find the last kid.
"Hannah?" Astrid called out.
A sword swung through the air and Astrid rolled to avoid it. The steel blade came down towards her and she blocked it with her axe and pushed it away. A Berserkian that looked to be around her age stood there, sneering. He wasn't very big and he didn't have a lot of muscle but he moved fast. Astrid stood and dodged an attack while swinging from the side. The axe grazed his arm and he cursed under his breath.
"You'll pay for that bitch!" the boy swung.
Astrid parried the sword and went for his gut but he blocked the curved metal and pushed her away. The yaks and the sheep were freaking out in their stalls, some even hitting the stall doors to try and escape. They continually parried or blocked or dodged each other's blows but Astrid got a few cuts in along his arms and sides. His sword blade finally caught in the curve of her axe and she twisted it out of his hands, the sword flying up and into one of the stalls, causing a yak to jump away from it. The Berserkian boy jumped at her but Astrid swiped her axe across his side and left a deep cut that would cause him to bleed out. He gasped and fell to the floor with a 'thump'.
"Hannah, are you in here?" Astrid wiped her bloody blade on the hay, "It's me, Astrid. I've come to bring you to safety."
A small red headed girl with freckles that were splattered across her skin poked her head out from behind several bales of hay in the corner, a knife clutched in her shaking hands.
"It's okay," Astrid kneeled down.
Hannah ran into her arms, the knife now tucked into the sheath on her belt. Astrid picked up the girl, since she was probably around five or six years old, and ran back outside. Something grabbed her ankle and she fell. Hannah skidded across the grass outside and the boy was over Astrid with his sword. Astrid's eyes widened and she grasped for her axe but it was too far away.
"Goodbye you little bitch," he growled.
A knife whizzed through the air and sunk all the way to the handle in the boy's eye socket. He fell on Astrid, a silent scream on his face. The blonde shoved the corpse off and looked back at Hannah. The girl was shaking and her knife was missing from the sheath on her waist. Astrid stood and placed the girl in the basket.
"Thanks for saving me," Astrid smiled.
Hannah nodded and smiled before hugging the little brunette next to her. Astrid got back on Stormfly and flew her passengers to an empty cave far out in the forest. While everyone went inside, she lifted Hiccup off the saddle, put his arm over her shoulders, and carried him inside.
Aran and Arvellas were sitting inside at the very back, the she Elf's eyes closed as she rested and the prince's arm around her waist. Astrid laid Hiccup by the wall near them and laid a kiss on his forehead.
"Make sure he doesn't leave," Astrid said, "Stoick's orders."
Aran nodded and watched as Astrid left. The Viking untied the basket, dragged it inside, and left on her dragon to the battle. Everyone was keeping the Berserkians at bay but Astrid saw no sign of Dagur or Toothless. Then she caught sight of Beren sneaking onto one of the ships.
'What is he doing?' Astrid asked herself.
Her blue eyes saw Valka and Stoick so Stormfly hovered near Thornado.
"Why did Beren go on one of the ships?"
"They're lookin' for Toothless," Stoick explained, "What happened?"
"I went looking for the last kid and was jumped by a younger Berserkian," Astrid looked down, "He's dead."
"Have you seen Dagur?"
Astrid shook her head and a deeper scowl settled on his face.
"Take over here. I'm gonna look for him."
Astrid nodded and Thornado flew towards the ships, shooting echo waves at large groups of Berserkians. Valka watched Stoick leave and looked at Astrid, a small splatter of fresh blood on her right cheek and mud smeared all over her clothes, face, and hair. Cloudjumper blew another group of Berserkers away with his wings and Stormfly shot several more with her spikes.
"Where is Stoick going?" Valka asked.
"To find Dagur!" Astrid answered.
One Berserkian slipped by Stormfly so she jumped off and ran after the stray Viking, her axe raised. The Berserker went down when the axe buried itself in his flesh and Astrid pulled it out with a sick squelching sound. The blonde turned around just to run into another Berserker who she also took out. A dizzy spell hit her and she fell to her knees, the world swimming and her stomach doing flips as a large Berserker came at her with a curved sword. Astrid knew she wouldn't be able to dodge in time and fear squirmed around in her chest.
'I love you, Hiccup,' Astrid thought.
But the sword never came down on her. Astrid opened her eyes. Valka stood in front of her with her staff raised, the curved blade slightly buried in the wood. The woman shoved the man away and smacked the side of his head which sent him to the ground with a moan and he almost stood but Stormfly sent two spikes into his side.
"Thanks," Astrid tried to stand but another spell hit her.
"Get on Stormfly's back and don't get off," Valka ordered, "You're still hurt from earlier."
Valka helped Astrid quickly climb back onto her dragon. Stormfly continued fending off the intruders with fire and spikes, sometimes even her own talons, while the Viking girl tied herself to the saddle so she wouldn't fall off.
The spells lessened but she still felt sick and disoriented so she just clung on for dear life and watched the battle continue on.
Hiccup woke to a dim cave full of the elderly and children from his village. He couldn't remember anything at the moment and someone kept tapping their fingers on the cave floor and it was annoying him.
"You are awake."
He jumped at the voice but calmed when he saw it was just Aran, Arvellas sleeping at his side.
"What happened?" Hiccup noticed he was tapping his fingers in impatience.
"Arthon put you to sleep with some medicine because Stoick did not want you running into the battle," Aran explained as he shifted slightly.
The memory of him hitting his father and yelling at him came to the front of his mind. Then nothing after Arthon blew some purple dust in his face. He tried to stand but couldn't move and saw his arms tied to his sides.
"Do not fight against the restraints or you will waste your energy," Aran ordered.
"I have to find Toothless," Hiccup stated.
"What good are you going to be to him if you die?"
Hiccup stopped and thought. He and Toothless had such a close bond that if one died, the other would die of a broken heart, slowly from malnutrition from not eating and depression.
"He'll die anyway if I don't do something!" Hiccup wriggled and grasped the handle of his knife.
"The others are going to save him."
"You don't know that!" Hiccup began cutting the rope, "Dagur could be torturing him right now!
The rope snapped loose and the Viking boy was on his feet and outside in the rain before Aran could say a word.
"Hiccup!"
The freckled boy kept running, determination set in his face. He would find Toothless and together they would beat Dagur.
'I'm coming, bud. Just wait a little longer.'
Toothless roared and pulled at the chains that the Berserkers held in a death grip. The ones holding the chains looked ready to soil their pants while Dagur just smirked as he struggled to get away. Toothless glared at the deranged chief, all of his hatred leaking through and he wished he didn't have the leather muzzle so he could shoot the insane red head and then rip him apart.
'You hurt Hiccup!' Toothless roared even though they couldn't understand him, 'You son of a bitch! I will make you pay! I will burn your sorry human ass and then slowly tear you apart, limb by fucking limb! You fucker, you do not deserve to live!'
Dagur smirked in amusement and cackled at the Night Fury's attempts of breaking free. He had to admit, this was the angriest he had ever seen the dragon but he shrugged off the worry.
"I can't wait for Hiccup to try to save you," Dagur giggled, "Then I'll have you both and we can release the Red Death. You'll be hung up on my wall and Hiccup will be my personal play thing and I will make the earth quake from my power!"
Toothless shook from anger, the thought of Hiccup being back in this asshole's claws made his vision go red. The chains slipped from the Vikings' hands and he leapt on Dagur who was too shocked to have dodged in time. His claws dug into flesh, fresh blood spurting from the wound and a copper smell filling the damp air. All the Vikings that came at him were knocked aside as bloodlust and rage consumed his mind. With a sharp tug, Toothless was brought back and hit a wall, a daze coming over his thoughts.
"You bastard," Dagur laughed as he stood and wiped the blood from his wounds.
The blood only smeared on his arms and clothing and cast a more sinister look about him. Dagur kicked Toothless' side a couple times and dragged a knife deep along his front left leg. Toothless held back a whimper and instead glared at the Berserker chief with defiance.
"Get him out of here and onto the boat," Dagur looked around the cave they had happened to find when looking for a place hide the ebony dragon, "It's time."
Toothless growled as he was dragged out into the rain and mud. His cut stung and the mud made him feel dirty but he didn't care. Hiccup was in trouble and he needed to get away but the dragon was too tired from the adrenaline rush. The thought of Hiccup being touched by Dagur sparked another rush of adrenaline and he stood in the slippery mud. Blood pumping and the determination and protectiveness for his rider, his best friend, overcoming his exhaustion, he pulled harder but it was no use. The Berserkers had him in his holding cell on the boat on the other side of Berk.
The rain made it hard to see and maneuver through the forest and the mud made his prosthetic nearly useless but Hiccup kept going. He could hear the sounds of battle far off and memories of the old dragon raids came to mind.
The ground slipped out from under him again and he landed for the who knows what time in the mud. Hiccup groaned and pushed himself back up and continued the trek. An angry yell caused him to turn and a Berserker knocked him down.
"Dagur will be excited to know who I found."
The Berserker tied Hiccup's hands together and yanked the boy off the ground.
"Let me go!" Hiccup called, "Help!"
A gag was put over his mouth and silenced his yells. The auburn haired boy struggled and tried to get away but nothing was working.
'I'm so sorry, Toothless,' Hiccup thought.
Dagur listened to the sounds of battle and the struggles of the captive Night Fury below deck. He stared out into the forest and frowned. Hiccup wasn't found yet and his lookout hadn't returned. His sharp eyes caught movement not too far off and he smirked.
"Looks like my lookout isn't useless after all," Dagur turned towards his crew, "Get ready to leave boys! We have special cargo coming!"
Berserkers bustled about to follow his orders and Savage retrieved the metal collar and chain for Hiccup. The chief took it and watched as the Berserker pulled a struggling Hiccup along.
"I told you, you can't escape."
The collar closed with a click and Dagur dragged his captive down to the room where the banging was coming from. The guard unlocked the door and Dagur walked in.
Toothless was attached to the opposite wall with thick metal chains and a leather muzzle around his mouth. His pupils were slits and he was trying to bare his teeth through the muzzle but when Hiccup appeared in his vision, he stopped pulling against his restraints and his pupils widened.
Dagur locked the chain to a hoop next to Toothless and stopped in the doorway.
"I can't wait to release the Red Death," the chief sneered and closed the door.
"Toothless, oh thank the gods you're okay," Hiccup scooted closer to the ebony dragon who scooted further away, "What's wrong, bud?"
Toothless whined and couldn't look his rider in the eye. He failed in protecting the person who was the most important to him and now they were sailing towards their deaths.
"I'm not angry, bud. You did what you thought was right," Hiccup moved a little closer, "You tried to protect me and I understand that."
Hiccup leaned on the dragon's uninjured side and waited for the reptile to move away but he didn't. Toothless settled down instead and began licking his injuries to the best of his ability.
"It'll be okay," Hiccup stated.
Aran ran through the mud and rain, his keen emerald eyes piercing through the storm and the forest to find the boy but he was nowhere in sight. His tracks had been washed away, leaving no sign of him.
"Let me go! Help!"
The Elf prince changed direction and listened for anymore yells but Hiccup's voice had gone quiet. He cursed under his breath and looked closely for footprints. There were faint outlines in a small clearing and Aran followed at a faster speed, hoping to find the chief's son before he was taken off the island. He had a good feeling where the boy was being taken and sprinted for the shore.
He broke through the forest line and skidded to stop with the water up to his ankles. There was a ship a ways off with the Berserkian symbol on the sail. Valaina flew off the Elf's shoulder and looked at her friend.
"Follow them but not too closely," Aran ordered, "and be safe."
The Humming Hawk flew off and the silver haired Elf ran back into the woods. He needed to let the others know and get back to the people and Arvellas hiding up in the cave. Mud unexpectedly moved under his feet and sent Aran tumbling down the hill until his back hit a bush. The Elf went to push himself up and hissed at the pain in his side and his ankle before falling back down. Warm liquid slowly oozed from a cut on his cheek and his ankle flared up when pressure was put on it. Aran stood anyway and hobbled towards Berk, wincing with each step.
A loud roar attracted his attention to the cloudy sky. Thornado landed next to him and Stoick jumped off.
"Did somethin' happen to Hiccup and the others?"
"I tied Hiccup up and he cut himself loose. I followed but lost his tracks and he was taken by the Berserkers. Valaina is following right now," Aran explained, "The others should be fine."
"But you aren't," Stoick pointed out, "We'll get you treated by Gothi back at the cave."
The chief helped the prince onto the Thunderdrum and flew him to the cave. Arvellas greeted them at the entrance and helped Aran further inside.
"What happened?"
"I just took a tumble," Aran smirked, "Why? Are you concerned?"
The blonde she Elf poked his injured side and he winced.
"Of course I am concerned," Arvellas raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure it was just a fall?"
"If you count rolling down the side of a hill in the mud and rain and hitting a bush a simple fall."
Arvellas leaned forward and kissed the silver haired prince. He was surprised but kissed back, pushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
"You are an imbecile," Arvellas smiled, "but you are my imbecile."
"This imbecile is lucky to have a princess."
The blonde blushed and dug through her bag for medical supplies. Haleth and Muin giggled and Arvellas sent them an evil glare.