When Hiccup entered the arena, being currently boiled by the brightest sun, having at herself about dozens of eyes, it'd been then that the bars returned to their previous position, at the very ground. In the meantime, Toothless, who stayed still, left behind inside that tunnel, inhaled shakily just as the metal touched the stone, ultimately undergoing his need for so, which he'd held for long.
Hereafter, his eyes fixed on the woman's figure, never allowing his sight out of her, thus, he'd watched her being ahead of the secured cell, which was soon to be opened, and from which busted the flaming, furious Monstrous Nightmare. When set free, the dragon, wearing the bright, red scales, roared loudly, not having much of an effect on the man, before running around the whole place, searching for the exit, apparently.
Nevertheless, Toothless wouldn't mind much, even when the mentioned Nightmare flashed in front of his face, his attention on Hiccup, who looked calm enough for him not to worry much, yet not enough to not worry at all. Ultimately, as he'd not found the searched getaway, the dragon shifted his focus to what was nigher, precisely the woman in the center, hence, inducing a tremble down the man's spine, who chewed his knuckles, anxiously.
At some point, having the Nightmare coming closer and closer to her, his eyes slit at her, Hiccup unhooked her baldric, disarming herself, the shocked mumbles and clear laughs evident over her head. Of course, Toothless was aware of the gesture's purpose - she'd demonstrated it to him once when gaining the Gronckle's trust - yet, he couldn't help otherwise, but internally beg her to pick the weapon up, to stay safe.
Ultimately, Hiccup pulled her hand to the Nightmare's snout, speaking all the while, to the dragon, to the people, although Toothless didn't listen, he didn't listen to anything at all, his racing heartbeat rumbling in his ears. At that moment, he could've done only one - pray, pray to the gods that he'd read about in Hiccup's books, pray to Odin, Freya, and Tyr, pray for Hiccup's success and safety, pray that everything would be alright.
Unfortunately, the gods had a rather history of fucking with his life, and today just as well.
Suddenly, a loud, metal sound was made, loud enough that even Toothless heard it, overtaking the noise of his own heart, and while the very reason for it didn't trouble him much, the consequences did. Stampeded, the Nightmare, just as formerly, slit his eyes at Hiccup, the bond, that they'd managed to form, shattered, and before the woman could've reacted, the male's head shoved her away, straight into the wall.
Consequently, Toothless didn't waste any time, darted away from outside the arena's tunnel, and by the frame itself, looked for anybody with authority, relieved merely when glimpsing Gobber, standing by the tall, bucket-headed man.
"What you're waiting for, shitheads?!" he yelled at them, actually receiving their attention, his heart sinking at the sight of fire behind their back. "Open it up, now!"
Thereafter, he'd not waited for their reaction, rushed back to his previous standing by the thick bars, growing impatient of their motionlessness, trying to spot Hiccup among the flashes of the Monstrous Nightmare. At that point, she'd held her burned, upper arm, her face expressing the pain and fatigue, whilst sticking to the arena's corners, aiming herself for the sword, currently laying in the middle of the arena.
One would say then, that it couldn't get any worse, alas, they'd be mistaken, because, for any reason, Gobber entered inside, his pace swift despite limping, and approached Toothless, his rounded eyes carrying the bad news, already.
"The Nightmare melted the liftin' mechanism," Gobber explained, then gripped the bars with his healthy hand whereas the axe prosthesis fit into them. "C'mon, help me move it up."
There hadn't been a need to repeat Toothless that - immediately, he'd snatched the metal and, not waiting any longer, strained to raise it with all his might, gnashing his teeth under the ache, alas, they'd moved it by inches, at tops.
"Godsdamnit!" Toothless cursed when they'd released the gate, allowing it to hit the floor, before glowering at Gobber, furiously. "What's that shit made of?!"
"What'd ya expect?! 's fuckin', thick iron!" Gobber yelled, wiping off his face an enormous amount of sweat. "At least the dragon won't melt it."
"Shame, that you've not used it to the most significant mechanism, damn it!" Toothless shouted, his arms trembling, uncontrollably. "I'll go up."
"No use," Gobber refrained as he leaned his hand on the young man's shoulder, panting soundly. "Three days ago, we've modified the chains to be denser. There's no way to enter, now."
"What fuck you've done that for?!" Toothless bellowed, and at last, gazed back inside the arena, terrified.
Accordingly, he'd eyed the woman, who sat at the center, the sword in her shivering hands, the edge just by the Nightmare's chest, unfortunately, there wasn't anything to hope for - Hiccup wouldn't kill the dragon, ever. Subsequently, using the girl's hesitation, the Nightmare snatched the weapon in his jaws and tossed it away, before trapping her in between his claws, putting his body weight on her, thus, depriving her of breath.
Sooner than later, the pressure, that rising, agonizing pressure, overwhelmed the woman, and the cry ripped out of her, the piercing cry, that, Toothless could've sworn, etched already into his mind and would haunt him for the rest of his life.
At last, having the rage bursting out of him, the patience running out, the man slammed his fists into the bars, and boomed, "You're all fucking useless!" before bouncing off them, bolting outside.
In this regard, later on, he'd fought his way through the gathered crowd, jostling his way out, not just once throwing Vikings off their balance, up to even knocking some down, hardly caring about the damage he'd done. Ultimately, he'd managed to get through, stopped at the opened space in front of the arena, and, unbothered by the bystanders, changed into his dragon self, aware that everybody's eyes were on their hurting heir, most likely.
Instantly then, he'd shot himself into the air, before diving into the arena, blasting the hole in the chains, through which he entered inside, at once cramming the entire place with the black ash, as if he'd enveloped it with devils themselves. At that point, despite the limited view, perfectly had Toothless achieved his intentions as he'd stabbed his claws into the Nightmare's scales, sunk his teeth into his neck, and soon, the dragon stumbled by the pain.
When so, underneath him Toothless heard the gasp - Hiccup's gasp - hence, shoved his enemy as far from the woman as possible, throwing him as if he was the lightest fucking thing, landing the Nightmare at the opposing wall. Afterward, having his eyes constantly on the foe, he'd followed the sound of panting behind his back, and so, taken a stance by huddled Hiccup, at whom he'd glanced as the mist lifted.
"Sunshine, is everything okay?" Toothless asked, the frown evident on his face, his orbs enlarging, shortly. "You will be alright?"
"Yeah," Hiccup answered, paused as the cough got her, her shaky arms supporting her body weight whilst sitting, "I think I will."
"Good, stay here then," he replied before his eyes returned to the Nightmare, who stood as if readied for the repeat. "In the meantime, I have got some wings to rip off, and shove down someone's fucking throat."
"What?" she questioned, and then, gazing from the Nightmare to Toothless, seeing how the fury burned inside the second dragon's eyes, refrained, "Toothless, no," but it was no use.
As he'd neglected the woman's words, he'd rushed onto the Nightmare, and so did the other, hence, the fight broke between the two males, moreover rather a brutal one, which shook the entire arena. The fangs grazed against the scales, the claws against the stone, whereas they'd struggled for domination over the other, not once, not twice scarring each other, to the point of staining the floor with their blood, even.
Eventually, when having enough of the melee combat, the red-scaled dragon decided to use his blaze, firing it into Toothless who, fortunately, reacted quickly, covering his face with the membrane of his wing. Hence, through the good period, the liquid fire would stream by the black scales, pushing away their owner, putting a rather distance between the two, until ultimately, the Nightmare reached his limit.
At last, the dragon coughed, bringing merely sparkles out of himself, and so, spotting his trouble, Toothless uncovered himself from under the wing swathed by the lava droplets, before shooting the blast into the male, suddenly. Alas for the Monstrous Nightmare, he'd not owned the reflex of the Night Fury, therefore, he'd not managed to dodge it, fell victim to the robust plasma blast, which sent him against the ground, hard.
He could've ended it, Toothless thought then, studying the dragon's breathing corpse, actually wanting to, wishing the revenge for what he'd done to Hiccup, for what one of his own had done to him these years ago, yet he didn't. Feeling Hiccup's stare at himself, reminded of the present, he'd forgotten the past, which is why, instead of punishing the Nightmare for the sins, he'd exhaled the boiling smoke, before gazing back at the woman.
Just as he'd thought, her eyes were on him, and soon, his on hers as well - they'd stared at each other, the weak smiles on their faces until they were interrupted by the moving chains, the gate's bars by being lifted. Thereupon, Toothless gazed at how Vikings burst into the arena, and, glancing at Hiccup, her eyes spoke one - run - immediately had he listened, expanding his wings, shooting himself upward, rapidly.
It could've been hoped then, that everything would end up fine, alas, as the Night Fury approached the chain's hole, his tail was tied by the flying bola, which stripped him out of control, and then, the next one hooked his wings, taking him down to the soil, instantly. Afterward, before he could do anything, he'd been pinned to the footing, each of his limbs, by a few of the Vikings, and while he'd strained to escape, he'd not, incapable of further combat, apparently.
Ultimately, clueless about what to do, Toothless could've only watched, and so, scrutinized the slim, middle-aged man, approaching him, clutching onto the silver axe, which he'd flung over his red hair, in preparation for the attack. Subsequently, Toothless gnashed his teeth and readied for the pain, which didn't come as Hiccup, suddenly, pounced at the man, seizing his forearm, preventing him from assailing the Night Fury.
"What ye're doin'?!" the man shouted then, fighting with the woman over the weapon. "Ye're crazy?!"
"Leave him!" Hiccup yelled, her face grimacing under the strength he'd put on her, never loosening her grip. "He'd done nothin' wron'!"
Consequently, they'd both struggled, glowering at one another, eventually yet, they'd been prevented by the command, "Enough!" at whose owner they'd gazed.
Hence, they'd glimpsed the chief, Stoic entering the arena through the gate, his pace slow, as if being in slow motion, his fur, long cape blown by the wind, his eyes livid whilst scowling from the man to the woman, sequentially. Eventually, he'd stopped by them, and when so, the brown-eyed man glared at Hiccup the last time, before freeing himself from her grasp, moving aside so as to leave the two - the daughter and the father - alone, the argument hanging in the air.
Consequently, they'd stood ahead of each other, just as they'd had then, inside of their household, when their deal was made, however, that time, Hiccup wouldn't allow her father to overthrow herself, protecting the dragon behind her back, tooth and nail.
At last, as the dead silence enclosed the place, Stoic broke it by asking, "What ye're doin', Hiccup?" his voice low, dangerous.
"I do, what should've been done," she answered, her expression mimicking his, furious, wrathful. "I'll not allow any harm onto the dragon, that saved my life."
"The dragon, that saved yer life, seriously?" Stoic snorted, actually amused by her words, before furrowing his brows, fiercely. "Step away from this demon, now!"
"Never, and he's not a demon," she pressed, then quickly peeked back at Toothless, whilst he'd stared at her, completely motionless, allowing her to control the situation trustfully, smiling even. "He's an intelligent being, who thinks and feels, like we all do. In fact, all dragons same! I've wanted to show that, but ya'd not listen!"
"Ya'd like me to listen, but ye're speakin' rubbish!" he exclaimed, stroking his eyelids, vexed. "Ye're meant to tell me, that the Monstrous Nightmare attacked ya-,"
"The Nightmare wouldn't even touch me until ye've startled him with yer hammer!" she insisted, her eyes narrowed at Stoic's grounded jaw. "Truth is, he's not dangerous, and neither is any dragon! They're not mindless animals, but creatures that try to survive, that's all!"
"We're tryin' to survive just as well, Hiccup!" he bellowed, throwing his arms around, frantically. "They've killed hundreds of us!"
"And we're killin' thousands of 'em!" she boomed and leaned her hand at Toothless's snout as he snarled at Stoic, quieting him down. "Moreover, dragons ain't kill if there isn't reason, neither for entertainment. Unlike us, of course," she spotted while glaring at her father, and scoffed, "Who's then a demon, now?"
Thereafter, they'd only glowered at one another, their expressions screaming the rage, Stoic's veins popping out, Hiccup's lips pressed, until suddenly, as if having his snapping point, the man grasped Hiccup's forearm, yanking her away from her stance.
"Let her go!" Toothless roared instantly, resuming his attempts to free himself when having to witness it all, much in vain. "You fucking, heartless bastard!"
Ignoring the dragon's threats, hearable through his clamant growls, Stoic had dragged his daughter to the arena's middle, where he'd heaved her, making her stumble, yet the woman maintained herself at her feet, anyhow. Sooner than later, having her back straight, she'd gazed at her father and, thus, watched his scowl at herself, also the dozens of eyes behind him, monitoring them closely, as he'd uttered, through between his teeth.
"Ye're thrown yer lot with 'em, betrayed us!" he accused, yet Hiccup didn't respond much, other than tense herself, uncomfortably. "Ye're not a Viking," he stated, and then, fisted his hand, making Hiccup's heart sink, alarmed. "Ye're not even my daughter."
Suddenly, the man swung his fist as if wanting to attack her, and that's why, startled, the woman shut her eyes tight, yet remained still, the faint, timid gasp fleeing from her chest, waiting for the pain to come. Surprisingly, as it'd not appeared, Hiccup decided to look gradually for the reason, and so, gazed at her father, who gaped to the side, the shock claiming his face, his fist held down by the hand, tanned hand - Toothless's hand.
Being in his human form, the young man glared at Stoic, his eyes fuming with fury, his jaw clenched, as he'd twisted the other man's hand, inducing rather an agonizing expression on his face, hidden under the pressed lips. Finally, treasuring the suffering, that flooded out of Stoic, Toothless inched nearer to him, so as to level their eyes, gaze straight into the older man's green, before rasping, his voice low, lower than imaginable.
"You'll never, never lay your hand on her again, you hear me?" Toothless threatened, only intensifying his clasp, bestowing it with a reddish overtone. "Never."
Subsequently, swiftly as if by abnormal speed, he'd lashed his arm, and punched Stoic across his face, who, much taken aback, tripped, fell to the soil, gaping at the transformed Night Fury stunned, terrified. Afterward, Toothless just kept glaring at him and, ultimately, rolled his eyes at him, before gazing at Hiccup, whose eyes were locked on him, as she'd remained frozen, returning her stare, his eyes speaking words.
Are you alright? he asked, his eyebrows frowned, his expression loaded with blame, concern.
I'm okay, she answered, allowing herself a quick, weak smile, loosening slightly.
Consequently, unable to refrain himself, Toothless returned her grin, relieved actually as they'd just locked their eyes at each other, both forgetting about the outside world, omitting everything, except for themselves. Not just once had they gazed at one another that way, yet this time, this time it'd seemed exceptional as if all these earlier times were redying them for that single moment, as if they'd lived for it, only.
It was suddenly, that Toothless was tackled to the footing, grounded by more than one Viking, whereas he'd endeavored to resist them, however, to no avail, being outnumbered, buried into the stone, altogether. In the meantime, Hiccup could've only watched, her eyes glistening as he'd been pounced at, having his arms bent over his back, his face mashed into the soil, struggling as much as to move, or even breathe.
"No!" Hiccup yelled, her voice high-pitched, holding onto the anger, the rage. "Let him go!"
Afterward, she'd wanted to run after them, however, was refrained from doing so when sensing the hold on herself, which belonged to Gobber, who spoke, soon, "'s alright, lass. 's alright," never releasing her arms as she'd tried to yank away.
"Gobber, get off me!" she shouted, yet as it'd been no use, leaned forward as far as her extended arms allowed her to, and screamed, her eyes at the man, constantly, "Toothless!"
"Hiccup!" Toothless answered, his forehead pressed to the rock, barely managing to turn his head toward her, although succesing, at last. "Hiccup, stay where you are! Stay where you are, it's okay. It's okay!" he begged, grimacing underneath the ache of his limbs being wrenched, his eyes at the woman, constantly, "Just-, just keep looking at me, sunshine! Just keep looking, please."
Accordingly, she'd listened, hiding her sobbing mouth behind her palms, trembling uncontrollably, however, maintaining her eyes on his which were smiling, for any reason possible, whilst being shimmered. She'd known how much it'd meant for him, how much he'd needed it, still, she must've fought hard to actually keep on, see it all - what comforted her, ultimately, was the matter of his smile, of how he'd accepted everything, for her.
Neither of them, being too occupied, didn't notice it then, when Stoic got up from the ground, his stance unsteady, and, glancing from Hiccup to Toothless, gazing at how they'd looked at each other, something snapped inside him. Soon, he'd stood just over the man, whose gaze stayed on his daughter, hence, as the wrath obscured his face, he'd allowed the feeling to claim himself, before kicking the young man's face, suddenly.
It'd slammed her like a thunderbolt, the sight of Toothless, laying unconscious, as if dead even, the blood flooding out of his nose, the blue bruise on his cheek, as she'd been unable to do anything, other than just scream, scream her heart out. If it wasn't for Gobber, sustaining her on her feet, she'd be on the ground already - for now, she'd just begged the gods to put an end to her suffering, their suffering, alas, she'd been replied as always, with the deafening silence.
The moment absorbed her to the point when she'd not even noticed, that Gobber pushed her outside of the arena, the previous view being engraved into her mind, confusing the woman about what's the reality and what isn't. Eventually, she'd got the hold of herself, observing the shifting environment around her, when so, everything smashed her with double strength, and she'd strained to unburden herself from the older man's grasp.
"Gobber, please, please, I've got to save him," Hiccup pleaded, unfortunately, the man wouldn't even gaze at her, too gripped by his own thoughts. "They'll kill him!"
"They won't," Gobber responded, dragging the woman behind himself, continually. "Even yer father wouldn't be stupid enough to do that."
"Gobber, I'm beggin' ya here!" she cried as she gazed back to the arena, not visible, anymore. "Please, please-,"
It'd been out of the blue, that Gobber stopped them then, at the rear of some building, checking behind the corner, as if worried that somebody might've followed them, and just as Hiccup was about to ask for the reason, he'd overtook her.
"Go," he ordered, pointing to the forest's path just off, whilst she'd gaped at him, puzzled. "Run, as far away as possible."
"What? I-I ain't," she stuttered, her eyebrows knitted in a haze, before continuing, "Why? Why ya'd ever-,"
"In return, just do me a favor, would ya?" he urged, his expression serious, the most serious she'd ever seen him. "Be happy, Hiccup. Be as happy as then, in the forge, with him."
Thereafter, hearing these words, Hiccup realized what he'd meant, what he'd wanted her to do, and so, as the tears gathered in both their eyes, she'd flown to quickly embrace him, before turning around, running ahead. Sooner than later, it'd seemed that her legs led her themselves, deeper and deeper into the depths of the woods, into the depths of hope, which would've healed her, either destroyed her, ultimately.