An: Hello guys! Thanks so much that you keep reading. I know it's been a while. Just some basic things:
I too noticed that the story is twisting and complex with who doesn't like who and who is whose ancestor and in what kind of a relationship this person and this person are and so on so I just thought I give you a quick overview again!
So we have Hiccup, whose ancestor Hiccup the II was one of the first chosen by the gods to stop Darkness from rising. Sadly he failed that mission when his old vendetta against Berk got the best of him because of what they did to him and his friends.
So the gods of course are reluctant to send another Haddock into the field when the last one succumbed to Darkness and even made it stronger.
Hiccups job is it to try and convince the six nations (Archipelago, Derandolia, Durgonheim, Talkin (which Port East belongs too), Kinkal, Baratellum. I think I said something about seven Nations in the beginning? Well that's wrong, sorry) to stop fighting the dragons and instead fight with them because of the old history they have together.
Hiccup is traveling with Kate (Princess of Derandolia who has a little crush on the oblivious Hiccup), Josh (Runaway from Baratellum who sees Hiccup as his first and only best friend), in some of his dreams he's visited by his seer friend Illiona (who makes unhelpful predictions about his future and gave him a stupid prophecy that is not really helping him much and which he already forgot again) and of course George (average citizen of Port East/Talkin with a huge grudge against him and his family).
We also have Alvin the Treacherous hunting him, together with Kates' dad.
Hiccup was branded with the Slave-Mark but is pretty easy going about it, well most of the time.
Georges uncle, Hamish, has led a bitter live because his family was the right heir for the throne of Port East (back when Port East was the place to be) but when Hiccup the II made his appearance, it all ended with the old chief dead, his wife married to Hiccup the II and their children getting the throne. The children of the old chief(Hamish's ancestor) are condemned to a poor existence alongside their step-siblings.
Until Hamish's father can't take it anymore, kills the last chief-descendant of Hiccup II, takes back the throne and now condemns his half-siblings to an unhappy life. (Confused, yeah me too).
Shortly after that they have, for the first time in centuries problems with dragons, raids and stuff.
Hamish grows up hating dragons and Haddocks. Bad for him, when both of them crash on his island.
But he already is in league with Darkness who manages to rise further and further every day. Hamish is totally insane and nuts but nobody really cares.
In the end he's killed and Hiccup is left with the dreadful prediction of Darkness that he's not a hero and that things will be bad and that Hiccup shouldn't fight who he is.
Also he had George to worry about whom they for no apparent reason decided to drag along. Georges father was a Hiccup the II descendant but he hates his bloodline and always dried to please his uncle Hamish.
Now our heroes are caught up in a storm on an island on the coast of Kinkal where (apparently) no dragons live. They know it's a desert but they don't know what to expect.
Kate has a crush, Josh's being an idiot with hidden talents and George is making everybody's live a little harder.
As for the dragons there are Toothless, Nightlight (Kate), Zhang (Josh) and Cone whom Hiccup found on the one island. George doesn't like dragons so none for him…for now…
The gods are not really helping as they are fighting their own battles in Asgard to keep Darkness at bay for as long as they can.
And by the way, Hiccup's running short on time.
Back at Berk: Stoick's married, Astrid's married too, Snotlout isn't that much of an ass but don't be afraid that'll change, there are no dragon incidents anymore (gee, wonder why…) but they still are aware of them and don't like them.
I hope it helps a bit to remind you so you don't have to search the whole story for details.
I'm open of ideas, requests and again I apologize for mistakes.
Now for the actual chapter!
Have fun reading,
Love Kate
Chapter Fifty-Five: Freedom?
Illiona put the shuttle aside and stared at the picture. Hiccups familiar figure stood there.
He was standing on a cliff-top looking at the setting sun, sword in hand and his dragons by his side.
She looked down the long row of fabric that curled through the cave.
The afternoon light made the colors glow brighter and she imagined the figures were actually moving.
Suddenly, without any warning, pain split through her head like a lightning strike.
She groaned and her hands flew to her temples.
Her breath was shallow.
Again pain flared up, this time a picture cam with it.
Fire, lots of fire.
She groaned and against her will her hands clawed into the rough stone floor, her nails scratching in the stone.
Another wave of pain. Again fire, this time she also saw dragons flying through the flames with people on their backs.
Splitting pain. Her eyes hurt.
A hand reaching out from above for another hand, grapping it firmly and then yanking it upwards.
Her hands moved like crazy over the floor, she couldn't control it.
Faintly she felt pain in her hands.
Her heart was beating so fast the thought it would burst out of her thin chest any moment.
More pictures, faster, less clear.
People running, dragons flying above, broken shackles.
Gasping for breath she tore her eyes open.
She sat hunched over on the ground. She felt something warm run down her fingers.
Her nails were torn, together with the skin from scratching on the floor.
But it weren't her hands she stared at.
It was the one word she had scratched in her delusion.
FREEDOM
She didn't realize she was shaking until she sat back on her feet.
Her whole body was shaking.
What did that mean?
Even hours later she was still unsteady on her feet, her eyes always looking back to the old rag she had put over her the latest result of her curse.
These kinds of thoughts were forbidden.
She was born here and she would die here, just like seer before her. She would always wear those shackles and she would always be helpless.
She tried to focus on the soup that was cooking over the fire.
She needed to talk to Hiccup soon again.
She had the bad feeling that the fire in her vision was connected with him. But not in near future….
She clenched her fists.
No she couldn't. And she wouldn't. He would think that it was the only reason she ever contacted him.
Taking a deep breath she tried to calm her troubled nerves.
She carefully stepped into the entrance of her 'home'.
Below she could see the glistening green valley, the blue lakes and houses.
It seemed so far away.
A growl came from below.
She looked down.
Nothing to see but rocks.
Yet she knew better.
"Sorry. I just needed fresh air that was it."
She stepped back from the entrance and out sighting distance.
She looked at the ominous orange glow at the horizon that surrounded her on all sides.
Bitterness swelled in her.
Back in her gloomy cave she walked into a small separated part. The sound of metal chains rustling over the ground followed her as she sat down on her bedstead and played thoughtless with her blanket.
The short moment of peacefulness was interrupted by a loud voice echoing through her cave.
"Illiona! Where are you dearest?"
The voice was male but high and breathless from climbing up here.
She got up and smoothed her dress down.
"I'm here Milord."
She stepped out into the main cave with the tapestries.
Three men stood there. Two of them were guards, dressed in armor with suns carved into their breastplates and flowing white capes. They were spotless with their polished boots and correctly tied gloves, freshly washed trousers and blinking helmets.
Illiona had always thought they looked ridicules.
But their swords were sharp and their crossbows always ready to shoot.
The other man was fat and bald. His eyes were baby blue but almost disappeared in the many layers of fat.
She didn't know if he had ears, she never saw them.
Head and shoulders seemed to fade into each other seeing that he had no neck. Or at least a very short one.
He was dressed in yellow robes with white stripes and a thick chain-belt that tightened around his enormous midsection and black boots and black gloves.
His face was read, his breathing short and he walked like a duck.
She bowed and said:
"Looking good as always Milord. How can I help you today?"
She hid her hands behind her back.
No need for him to see what she did.
"Actually yes, there is a way to help me." The fat man said.
He licked over his cracked lips. "Bring the lord a refreshment girl." One of the guards ordered her. She bowed and picked up a pitcher and a cup.
She handed the water to the fat man.
He took it with no thanks and down the water went.
"More." The other guard ordered.
She did as told.
After several cups of water the man finally tossed it aside and looked at her.
"I was told that you again stood at the entrance. You know you are not allowed to. Someone could see you!"
She looked down, avoiding his eyes.
Yes, and might free me if he knew what you are doing here, she thought bitterly but just kept looking down.
"I'm sorry Milord."
"If they knew about you, they might come and take you way. And you know then I will be very cross. Not only them but also with you." He said as if she was a small baby.
She nodded, shuddering remembering the last time someone had found out.
She shackles around her ankles felt heavier.
If he knew about her connection with Hiccup…
"I know Milord. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I just needed some fresh air."
"No, you don't." he said harshly and snapped with his fingers.
One of the guards stepped forward.
"And because you disobeyed me, I will have to punish you."
He nodded at the guard who bend down and started to cut out a huge piece of the chain before clicking the two pieces new together. Then he took another pair of shackles from his belt and put them around her wrists and connected them with the ones on her ankle.
She could still move her hands far enough as she needed but her mobility was narrowed down by far.
Now she couldn't reach the entrance anymore and more weights pulled her down.
She suppressed her tears.
"There, much better don't you think?" the man said smiling brightly.
"Yes…indeed Milord. You are so clever." She said with a heavy voice, still keeping her gaze down.
He stepped forward and kissed her forehead.
"Now go back to whatever you were doing he said loudly before bending down and whispering in her ear: "And don't forget you are mine."