SUMMARY: The Dragon Riders team with their allies to save their dragons in one final stand, but will need the help of a dangerous Light Fury. Meanwhile, Atali and LaVerne make a decision about their complicated relationship.
CHAPTER 32: FINALE PART 5
Atali led her Wingmaidens toward the direction of her allies, Hiccup and his Dragon Riders. When they arrived at the bustling location, descending from their flight on their wings of the baby Razorwhips on their backs, they stood in front of a drawbridge across a small lake of water that marked the distance between themselves and a grand castle. The Wingmaidens cautiously followed the torrent of people, Atali clutching a heavy chest to her bosom.
A guard in a fully concealing helmet, chainmail, and armor was stationed with a comrade to record anyone coming to or from the auction in the old castle.
"Invitation?" The guard beckoned.
"I'm afraid we do not have the paper with us," Atali replied. A smartly dressed lady strided past her group, looking like a walking, sparkling chandelier in her dress. "Could you be so kind as to review your records?"
Mindel sighed when the guard told her and the Wingmaidens with an ultimatum that he did not find an invitation for their entry, and they were not allowed to pass.
Devastated, Atali nearly turned to leave. Just then, the second guard at the entrance piped up with a sheepish correction. He held a long scroll open and studied it intensely. "It appears that one participant has invited you, citing your are Atali and the Tribe of Wingmaidens, correct?
"Yes!" Mindel said.
"We apologize for missing that entry. Your sponsor's name is Mala. She has described herself as the leader of...the Defenders of the Wing tribe?"
Atali brightened. "Thank you!" she said graciously. "Here is our treasury," Atali said, presenting a her sanctuary's treasure chest.
The guards laughed. "Do you not have a ship?"
"Unfortunately, no." Just as Atali answered, a third guard took the chest into an accounting room in the castle.
"Forward," Atali commanded her tight brigade of two, excitement filling her veins.
"One moment," one of the guards said. Atali blinked proactively at the axe he held at her chest.
"We would like to remind you of the rules, since it appears by this note that this is the first time you have been invited to this auction. First, all dragons at entry will be put up for sale, including infant dragons. " The guard raised his helmet at the small razor whip calves behind the backs of the Wingmaidens in front of him.
With a heavy heart, the Wingmaidens released their baby Razorwhips to the guard, crushed that even more of their dragons could be sacrificed to unknown trappers.
"Secondly, " the guard continued, "those who win in the land auctions are the only ones eligible to go on to the dragon bidding. I suppose that is what you are most interested in? "
" Yes, " Atali lied, assuming the guard expected the same answer from every guest.
The guard chuckled with warning. "Then I suggest you and your crew make haste! Only two lands from last night were not bought, and the officers believe that those remaining negotiations will finish quite early to make ample time for the dragon bidding this afternoon. You should see with your own eyes some of the exotic species that hunters from all over the world have brought!"
"We appreciate your help," Atali said. She excused herself and led her brigade inside the castle. Her Wingmaidens felt relief to avoid any further conversation about dragons in captivity.
Once inside the castle, Atali eventually saw Mala, a spectacle among the other ladies with cropped, blonde hair and a long armored robe of black and gold. She stood with her own lieutenant, Throk, eating with him with poise at a refreshment table. The pair in gold and black glowed when they spotted Atali and the Wingmaidens.
"My old friend! " cried Mala. Mala enveloped Atali in a strong hug that could have crushed her spine. Atali made a surprised but amused sound when Mala lifted her into the air with the force of her embrace. Throk nodded to the women in greeting.
"You both look well," said Atali. She quickly asked, "You are not at a place like Grinmel's Castle for the dragon auction, are you? "
"By the heavens, no! I am only here for land," Mala clarified. "Our monuments need to be rebuilt on stable ground, away from the volcanoes on our island. I could not find a solution without involving the possibility of more territory, so coming here is but a necessary evil.
"By the grace of the gods, we have won it for ourselves." Mala showed her a heavy scroll, indicating a land deed. "I am on my way home, with Throk. We decided to eat first, because there is a long journey ahead of us."
"I did not plan on being here either, my sister, but someone has stolen one of our Razorwhips, and my allies' dragons are being held here. Something must be done."
Mala's eyes took a serious look. "Which of our allies? I will go and find them, and let them know we shall stay if anything happens."
"It is Master Hiccup and the Dragon Riders, and a man from their home village of Berk."
"Be at peace, Atali" Throk blessed. "If you or the Dragon Riders should ever need us, only breathe the word, and we shall be there."
With surprising luck at the late land auctions that morning, the Wingmaidens won a geyser pool in the Middle Straits, and became eligible for the dragon auction with donations to spare. They curdled at seeing their baby Razorwhips crying together in a cage in a viewing arena set up to gather excitement for the event.
Atali's heart sank at the sight of her own young Razorwhip cowering in the corner of its cage, as she knew she was terrified of new sounds. Atali knew they had to act fast before it was too late.
The viewing arena was crowded with prospective buyers, eager to get their hands on one of the magnificent dragons. Atali looked around with the Wingmaidens, searching for Hiccup and his Dragon Riders. She knew they had to be here somewhere. She thought they might already have a plan concocted that she and her Wingmaidens could assist with to free their dragons.
While Atali was looking, she unexpectedly got separated from her crew. She went to ask a man for intel if he had seen her friends. The man gazed down pensively at the dragons, alone in a space along the arena railings. She quickly realized it was LaVerne, and her feet felt like they were walking on air as she came closer to him.
"Oh," was all he said once his eyes twinkled in recognition. "You're here too? Not t'buy a dragons I believe?"
"No, one of my Razorwhips was taken from the sanctuary, so we came to save her. I can imagine how awful Master Hiccup must feel, seeing his dragons in a place like this. In fact, where is he? And your children, and the others you were with?"
"Staying far, far away from this place until it's time," Mister Thorston said. "I'm a little too old for side attractions, so I let the kids have their fill. An' besides, me children should spend more time with their lovers than be under me tail. It's only natural."
Atali nodded, seeming to make sense of his words. They startled when a hissing and scared Changewing was battered back into a cage by beast handlers below.
"This is evil," Mister Thorston said. They both held the view in disregard for a while. "D'ye mind if we find something to do with ourselves while they ready for this cesspit of a show? I feel me insides turning."
"We could find my friends," Atali said. They looked at the immense crowd and thought better of it.
"Why don't we get some food and drinks?"
"I am hungry," Atali admitted. She had been trekking through the humongous castle all morning without a proper meal, too focused on her mission and distracted when meeting Mala. "Thank you, Mister Thorston."
"LaVerne will do fine enough," he insisted.
As they walked away, Atali couldn't help but feel a growing connection with LaVerne. She had always been drawn to his rough exterior and mysterious aura since he had arrived on Wingmaiden Island, but now being alone with him, she found herself getting lost in his deep brown eyes whenever he looked at her to speak.
They made their way to a nearby food vendor, their noses being drawn to the enticing smell of roasted meat and spices in the air. The vendor had set up a makeshift stall with various meats and ale for sale.
LaVerne and Atali each grabbed a plate and filled it with the hot and savory meat. They washed it down with some of the finest ale they've ever tasted.
As they enjoyed their food and drink, they watched the crowd as they waited for the auction to begin. They saw wealthy merchants and nobles mingling with the most rugged traders and pirates in the land, all pompous from the land deeds under their belts and eagerly waiting to finally get their hands on a priceless dragon.
To the shock pf Atali and LaVerne, a verbal fight over a dragon prospect broke out not too far away, ending when one man's sword skewered his opponents' shoulder. Officiators rushed the men and hoisted them away.
"Can ye believe people would act like idiots just to own one of those dragons?" LaVerne said, shaking his head in disgust.
Atali nodded in agreement. "It's a shame that dragons have become nothing more than commodities for people to buy and sell. They are powerful and majestic creatures that deserve respect! It seems these people are the true animals!"
LaVerne looked at Atali and smiled, admiring her passion for dragons. Atali blushed, feeling a warmth spread through her body. She had never experienced such feelings before and didn't quite know how to respond.
As they finished their meal and drinks, LaVerne reached out to touch Atali's hand. She looked at him in surprise, but didn't pull away. Despite his rugged skin, his touch was gentle and comforting, as if he had known her a lifetime.
Atali remembered how Ingrid had written about LaVerne's affection in many forms. She mentioned how it kept her going through hard times and how it had always rekindled their love and desire for each other. Atali felt like she was stealing his healing touch from Ingrid, yet she couldn't break away.
"When I left Berk, after Tuffnut and Ruffnut decided to fly away to start their own lives, I thought I wanted to only find them again. But being here with ye now, Atali, I feel like there's something more I've been searching for," LaVerne said softly.
Atali's heart soared as she gazed into his brown eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked, hoping to hear what she thought she would.
LaVerne took a deep breath and spoke with urgency, "the way you healed me, not just plucking the arrow from me side, but also the way you cared for me and listened to me sing all those foolish sea songs, it's like you understand me in a way that no one else ever has, since I lost me wife." He laughed once, only a puff, and Atali got a glimpse of shyness in his wrinkles. "This is harder than telling me sins to the shrine."
Atali chuckled, having grown used to his type of humor.
"And, all I'm saying is, I want to get to know you better, Atali. Will ye give me a chance? I ain't forcing ye hand."
Atali felt her heart swell with happiness, but also with fear. She had never been in a romantic relationship before and was unsure if she was ready for one. But something about LaVerne made her feel safe and comfortable, and she found herself nodding before she could even think it through.
"Yes, I would like that," she said softly, a small smile playing on her lips.
Laverne squeezed Atali's hand in his, and a surge of warmth spread through her body. They wandered to a lookout along the arena perimeter past the sight of the distressed dragons. There, the afternoon sun shimmered on the ocean waves lining the castle, and they stood together, looking out at the endless sea.
Atali took in the breeze around the high lookout, feeling it gently caress her hair. She saw other lords and ladies using the view as a reverie as they held each other close to watch the water.
"I've seen many things in me life," LaVerne began, gazing at the vast water, "but nothing compares to the way the ocean makes me feel. She's fierce and unpredictable, yet also comforting and familiar. Kinda like ye."
Atali blushed at his words. "I don't know much about the ocean I'm afraid," she admitted, "but I do know that I feel happy with you, too."
LaVerne leaned in closer, and Atali could feel his breath on her lips, and she nearly forgot all about her mission, or where her Wingmaidens had disappeared.
"May I kiss you?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's jus' that...the man is always s'pposed to ask."
"I understand we are both no longer chickens in the spring, but I believe we are far from the Dark Ages!" Atali chortled.
LaVerne smiled at Atali's response, clearly taken aback by her surprise at his attempt for chivalry. "Aye, you're right. I didn't mean to come across as old-fashioned," he said. "I found it hard to kiss Ingrid a first time, until she grabbed me face herself."
"You are doing an incredible amount of talking," Atali whispered, feeling bolder by their proximity.
LaVerne grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I tend to do that when I'm nervous, and out of practice," he admitted.
"We''ll just have to practice together, won't we then?" Atali snickered.
LaVerne's eyes locked onto Atali green orbs, her words stirring him to make a move.
The intensity of his gaze made Atali feel like he was reading her very soul, and a shiver ran down her spine. She had never wanted anything more in her life than to feel LaVerne's lips on hers. Atali inhaled nervously, her heart hammering in her chest.
As he leaned in, Atali closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly, and their lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before, a warmth spreading through her body that made her feel alive.
LaVerne's rough hand moved to cup her cheek, his thumb stroking gently against her skin. He had imagined he would always have his dead wife Ingrid on his mind if he ever acted on his feelings for Atali, but now he could feel nothing but serenity.
Atali's hands found their way to LaVerne's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms. The thought of experiencing the intense love Ingrid had shared for years with LaVerne thrilled her, but she found happiness in knowing she wouldn't experience quite the same man, him having been separated nearly two decades from Ingrid.
To Atali, experiencing an older LaVerne was like meeting someone familiar but new all at once. Having been an orphan among the Wingmaiden Tribe, she knew no other way to live, and realized the more time she spent with LaVerne that she had missed so much of what made life exciting.
A swell of exhilaration from the auction area below caused them to take notice.
"We should be getting back to the ring. Hiccup and e'eryone else will be itching to know where we've flitted off to," LaVerne said, his eyes on hers, and his hand still on her cheek, protective of her.
"Only a moment longer," Atali whispered, a juvenile glint in her eye from the repressed emotions he unlocked.
LaVerne chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "I think we've stolen enough time as it is," he replied, already leaning in for just one more kiss.
This one was more earnest, his lips seeking hers with a soft desperation that took her breath away, and left her questioning what more he could give.
Atali felt an ache in her chest. She didn't want to leave this moment, to return to the chaos of the auction below. But she knew they had to - Hiccup and her Razorwhip were counting on them, and they had a job to do.
As their lips parted, Atali realized that she had been holding her breath, and let it out in a deeply satisfied sigh. LaVerne watched her for a moment longer, his eyes tracing the line of her jaw and the curve of her cheekbone. He wanted Atali badly, and ached to claim her as his own, anywhere he could find nearby. By the glint in her eye he could tell she considered living out a fantasy of her own.
They both knew they couldn't give in to their urges, not here and not now. They both had responsibilities, and they couldn't risk getting distracted. LaVerne took a step back, reluctantly breaking the connection between them.
"We should go," he said, his voice low and laced with emotion. Atali nodded, but she couldn't focus on anything other than the way his voice simmered her inside. As they turned to leave, she felt his hand slip into hers. She squeezed his hand in response, and they made their way back to the auction, their hearts still racing from their stolen moment.
"There she is!" A voice said. Her Wingmaidens jogged over to Atali and the father of the Dragon Rider Twins.
Atali tore her gaze from LaVerne and turned to face her Wingmaidens, feeling a blush rise in her cheeks. She cleared her throat and straightened her armor, trying to compose herself.
"We were just taking a walk," she said, hoping her voice sounded casual.
Her Wingmaidens exchanged knowing glances, but they didn't say anything to their general. Atali knew they wouldn't pry, but their silence made her feel self-conscious. She turned to LaVerne, searching for reassurance.
He gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand. "Shall we?" he said, gesturing towards the auction ring. Atali didn't pay much mind to her giggling apprentices behind her.
Atali and LaVerne and the Wingmaidens made their way back towards the auction ring, the sound of the crowd and the clinking of glasses growing louder with each step. It was as if time had slowed down for them, and they both felt the same sense of reluctance to return to the mission at hand.
As they entered the auction ring, Atali noticed Hiccup's and Astrid's face light up with relief and surprise. "I thought you wanted to stay safe on your island," Hiccup began. He looked curiously at the joined hands of Atali and Ruffnut's dad.
"Umm…?" Ruffnut and Tuffnut droned together. Snotlout, Gustav, and Fishlegs snickered to themselves. Astrid smiled to herself.
Atali released LaVerne's hand, feeling guilty. She wasn't supposed to be thinking about romance or love, not when her tribe's safety and the success of their mission was at stake. She put on her serious face, the one she was known for in times of danger.
"One of our Razorwhips was stolen, Master Hiccup. I think we are much in the same situation as you and the Riders. Have you all decided on any plans to rescue your dragons? Surely you weren't hoping to partake in gambling for them like ruffians. Although I have some treasure to win back my Razorwhips, I realize I do not want any part of this auction at all."
"Actually that's the bad news," Astrid cut in, "We don't know if all of us can completely avoid the bidding right now, or it will look too suspicious, and Grimmel will know we're up to something. Hiccup at least has to be here. We're a little…all over the place with an action plan."
Atali felt a surge of frustration and disappointment. She hadn't expected Hiccup and his team to be unprepared, not after all they had gone through and everything they had accomplished. But she knew better than to let her emotions show. She needed to focus on finding a solution, not on blaming anyone for the predicament they were in.
"What we do know is that the arrowhead you found is the same on the arrows of the guards of the castle, and it could be a master key. We just need to buy time to figure out how we can unlock our dragons from the cages. Fishlegs was thinking we could split up and make it happen."
"Why not save them all?" LaVerne asked, his deep voice resonating between Hiccup, the Riders, and the Wingmaidens.
Hiccup looked at him with surprise, "Save them all? We couldn't possibly save all of them, Mister Thorston. There are just too many."
Atali couldn't help but notice the sadness in Hiccup's voice. It was clear that he didn't want to leave any dragon behind, but he knew that they couldn't realistically save them all without a solid strategy.
LaVerne stepped forward. "We have to try," he said firmly. "We can't just leave them 'ere to be sold and mistreated. We have to at least make an effort to save as many as we can. After all, they're all like family to you, is that right? We can't abandon them, if so."
Atali felt a surge of admiration for LaVerne. She knew that she had judged him correctly from Ingrid's diaries. He was much more than a simple farmer. He was a man with a heart of gold, willing to risk everything he had to save those he cared about.
"I agree," Atali said, standing next to LaVerne. "We have to do whatever it takes to save them all. We cannot leave any dragon behind."
Hiccup nodded slowly, as if deep in thought. He twisted the hidden arrowhead in his grasp. "I'll see what we can do. Fish, do you think you can find a way to get down to the arena now?"
"We'll stand out like a sore thumb," Fishlegs said. "Unless…" he began, observing a strategy turning in his head as some officers in metal body armor marched through the crowd emptying to their seats. "We won't."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Of course I am," Fishlegs said. "But do you think they have armor my size?"
"Uh, I'm sure you'll figure that out later."
"Atali: I see Mala, of the Defenders of The Wing, with a number of her warriors," Mindel said. "Perhaps they're standing on guard, and they might join us?"
"Brilliant," Hiccup exclaimed, feeling a sense of safety at two allied leaders being in the right place and time for their maneuver. "Take the Wingmaidens, Atali, and meet up with the Defenders of The Wing. You all," he said, gesturing to his Riders, "do whatever you gotta do." He gave Fishlegs the arrowhead. "Make sure you all grab a whole lot of arrows, too. There has to be at least a hundred dragons down there. Hurry, guys."
LaVerne squeezed Hiccup's shoulder in support just before dashing after the Riders. Atali assured him she had enough donations in keeping to at least contend with the market price of the dragons. "It is twenty million in gold," Atali said with a sad shudder that it could be gone in an instant.
The crowd cheered when the announcer proclaimed the dragon bidding was finally going to begin. There were acts that began to perform, including a fire swallower and juggler. Without any other options, Hiccup took his seat in the arena near other lords and notorious hunters, feeling like he needed a few more scars and burns on his face to feel like he was one of them. He looked to Grimmel's expected seat at the arena's immediate edge, and found him with his hands on his chin, his entourage talking animatedly and discreetly.
As Hiccup watched the first dragon being pushed into the arena, his heart sank. The dragon looked weak and malnourished, its once-gleaming scales now dull and lifeless. The auctioneer shouted out bids, and the dragon's price skyrocketed, leaving Hiccup with no other option but to act fast.
Grimmel's voice echoed across the arena to name an unbearable price, and without any pushback, the dragon was escorted to his handler on the field. One by one, each dragon was handed off to Grimmel's growing collection.
Hiccup knew he couldn't keep up with the high price Grimmel had set that time, and the addition of the Wingmaidens donations would never be enough. He wondered if the other Riders had already taken on their new disguises, and if he should quickly find one himself.
Hiccup's throat formed a lump when he saw Toothless in the endless queue, followed by Stormfly, Meatlug, Hookfang, Fanghook, and Barf and Belch behind him.
When an intermission finally came, Hiccup didn't hesitate to make an escape from his seat, not caring about the leering eyes of his company.
With ease, Hiccup cornered a guard having a secret snack. After a fist fight that lasted longer than Hiccup had imagined, he slipped into the unconscious guard's armor, stealing his arrows and making his way to the dragon stables.
Elsewhere, the Riders, Wingmaidens, Defenders of the Wing and LaVerne quickly made their way towards the dragon pens where the auctioned dragons were being held. They were careful to assemble in small groups to blend in with the horde of guards in the backrooms of the arena, to not give off the impression they were together. They all passed by several guards who gave them suspicious glances inside their helmets, but thanks to their disguise, they were able to pass through undetected.
Once they reached the pens, they quickly got to work freeing their dragons. Fishlegs pulled out a collected arrow and examined it closely, trying to figure out how to use it as a key. Tuffnut, Astrid, Ruffnut, Gustav, and LaVerne huddled around him inconspicuously, seeing if he could do it. After a few minutes of tinkering, he found the right way to insert it into the lock and twist it.
Finding a back door deep below the arena to release their dragons, the Riders, Wingmaidens, and Defenders of the Wing made quick work of releasing the animals and a small number of others. Stormfly licked Astrid when they finally reunited, and Astrid wiped silent, happy tears from her face. They were so hopeful for the numbers of dragons they saw flying over the sea that they almost felt their success was guaranteed.
Hiccup made quick work of freeing the Razorwhips, who flew past his arms like bats. He sprinted to Toothless in his cage once he saw him, fumbling with the lock.
Toothless, shaking and afraid, approached the guard, but then smelled something familiar about him. Hiccup left his work, and put his hand on Toothless' snout through the cage bars. Toothless perked up, and serenely rested into Hiccup's touch, too weak to show his exhilaration. Hiccup's green eyes watered as he promised his lifelong friend, "You'll never see a place like this again. I'm so, so sorry, bud."
"Hey, what are you doing!" A guard of Grimmel's Castle shouted. Hiccup jumped up, and felt his neck being squeezed by his accuser. Toothless snarled, biting at his cage.
Astrid rushed to the commotion, and lowered her voice to sound official enough. "Some of these dragons are too sick to sell! They must be released now!"
"Nonsense! They'll only be as good as their hide when it's all over! Drago doesn't pay us to be healers! Get back to the arena and do your job!" He threw Hiccup down, and then Astrid helped him up. Hiccup looked wistfully at Toothless, the only dragon of their group's that didn't escape in time.
The guards were summoned to lead another group of dragons out in formation, and the allies felt they were trapped into compliance.
Suddenly Grimmel and his warlords emerged at the dragon stable entrance. All of the guards nearby saluted to the feared lord, despite not being his direct henchmen. Grimmel nodded at the rest of the dragons about to be released. He looked in recognition of a Deathgripper, a dragon with venomous capabilities he always wanted to explore. "These dragons are a fine assembly," he commented.
"Forgive me Lord Grimmel, but it is against the rules to be at the stables," one of the guards spoke up in everyone's stunned silence, his voice trembling. "It makes the bidding anticipated, and unfair."
Grimmel spoke something in an unknown language that made one of his warlords strolling next to him laugh out loud with him. Astrid knew inwardly that it was nothing but a colorful insult.
"Tell your captain that I make my own rules," Grimmel replied, speaking Nordic again without further interest in the guards watching him. "Where is the Light Fury I have seen before? The female? I was so sure someone had brought it."
"She gave us much trouble, my lord," another guard said, "so we thought her too dangerous to be sold to any lord here, and stored her away. Captain's orders."
The guards and Grinmel's warlords jumped when they heard the Light Fury screech from a dungeon far below. Fishlegs nearly fainted at knowing he was so close to the powerful creature that he knew was more elusive than its male counterpart. Not even Hiccup had any writings about it.
Grimmel laughed. "Your employer, Drago Bludvist, will be outraged that he will have lost such a profit from me, one of his closest friends. I am sure that you do not want to see him angry. Put the female in the arena where she belongs!"
The guards nodded and scurried away to fetch the Light Fury.
"I have another message for your captain," Grimmel said, satisfied. He produced a bag of money from underneath his armor, whispering, "see to it that I win the Night Fury, and this shall go towards a pay increase for everyone in sight."
Astrid's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to come up with a plan to save Toothless. She thought back to all the times she had seen Hiccup and Toothless work together as a team, and a dangerous idea formed in her mind.
She stepped forward, a sly smile playing at her lips. "My Lord Grimmel, may I make a suggestion?" She spoke, keeping a deep edge over her real voice.
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the female voice among the horde of faceless guards in uniform. "I'm listening."
"A bribe is much below men like you. What if we were to release the Light Fury into the arena, but with a rider, and have her captured by yourself? It would make for a much more exciting spectacle, don't you think? It would also surely scare off any bidders, knowing they couldn't handle the Night Fury species as well as you can."
Grimmel chuckled, impressed by the guard's boldness. "And who would ride the Light Fury? You? If it is a bloodbath you want, you shall have it."
Atali shook her head, her smile growing wider. "No, not me. But I know the perfect person for the job."
"Whom?"
"This guard here," Astrid said, hitting Hiccup's back. "He can guide the Light Fury right into your arrows, in any angle you prefer."
Hiccup's heart pounded as Astrid's plan was revealed. He had never been so terrified in his life, but he knew it was his only hope of saving Toothless.
Grimmel raised an eyebrow, impressed by the guard's bravery. "You? You dare to ride the mighty Light Fury?"
Hiccup nodded, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "I do. But I have a condition. If it remains alive, no matter what, the Light Fury and all of the dragons go free. No strings attached."
"For what reason?" Grimmel said plainly, sensing something wasn't quite right.
Astrid cursed to herself. She hadn't thought that far ahead to her spontaneous bid.
"This work sickens me," Hiccup replied. "It sickens all of us!"
To his slight surprise, the guards concurred with grumbles and shouts of their own.
"And if the beast does not survive?"
Hiccup gulped. "You decide, my lord."
Grimmel grinned to his friends, who were all equally amused by the guard's useless audacity. "Very well, young one. But I warn you, the Light Fury will not take kindly to a stranger on its back."
Hiccup nodded grimly. He knew it was a risk, but he would do anything to save his beloved dragon.
As Hiccup passed Toothless on the way out, he saw the fear and confusion in his friend's eyes. "It's okay, bud," he whispered, stroking his snout. "I'm going to get you out of here."
Toothless nodded, his eyes filled with trust and gratitude.
Words: 5419
A/N: There's one last part and I'm writing it now. Thanks for reading.