The darkness wielded the isle of Berk which was besieged by apprehension already, as if being the dictator, who just commenced on their tyranny, sentencing the island's inhabitants with the everlasting, dense fog. One of the darkest nights, one would've named, and that one would be correct, given that the Village hadn't experienced such an awful day in a rather long, long time, perhaps even before Hiccup had been born.
As for the woman herself, at that point, she'd flown over the clouds while camouflaging herself, among the dark masses, from anybody's sight, her thoughts being on the rumor that she'd eavesdropped on - the Toothless's whereabouts. The plan wasn't any complicated - she'd been to get to the village's jail that, apparently, he'd been locked in, release the man, and they'd flee the isle, leave everything behind, having nothing to lose, actually.
Hence, she'd landed just off the village's outskirts and transformed, before sneaking past the buildings, inside the outright black shadows, almost bursting out with joy when seeing the prison's entrance, empty, unguarded. Immediately had she bolted to enter then, ran through the corridor, however, her pace would've slowed down, having walked past further cages belonging to the criminals, fortunately sleeping, yet still.
It'd appeared that, with each cell passed, the trials' expectants were getting only worse in crimes - from the man, whose only crime was the robbery of three apples, to the serial killer, who killed the entire family, for simplest fun. Therefore, she'd expected to see nothing else, but the greatest monstrosity at the hall's rear, yet ultimately, her heart stopped, once, gazing through between the last, filthy bars, she'd glimpsed him - Toothlees.
Flanked by the complete darkness, the only light being the torch's one that crept from the cage's rear, the man, similarly to everybody else, slept, although his sleep was far from being serene, rather coerced at him by exhaustion, shallow. Having his arms hung to the ceiling, the chains squeezing his hands, he'd been held in constant stance, even then at night, hence, his wrists radiated with redness when sustaining his entire, unconscious body.
Soon, she'd take notice of more details - his feet, which surrendered on him, loosely grazing the footing, his clothes, tattered and soiled, his injuries, on his cheek, on his side - thus, she could've only this, regret. Eventually, snapping out of the stare, she'd approached the bars, more precisely the ones that defined the cage's entrance, and, as she'd pulled on them, her heart dropped to her stomach, when able to jostle them, only.
Instantly, she'd spotted the padlock then, which held the metal together, forgoing her entry, and which rattled audibly underneath her touch, the sound being clamorous enough that it'd reached Toothless's ears, at last. Initially, he'd just thrashed his head around, resisting the urge to wake up, yet finally, as Hiccup's eyes toured back to him, his ones opened, revealing the bright, acid-green pigment, packed with pure hatred.
Therefore, for that millisecond, for that slight eternity, she'd not been by the cages, but inside the cove, the cryptic book in her grasp, the greenish leaves rustling around, the treacherous man barring her the way out, wrathfully. Briefly after, however, the leaves would change to orange, the book would be replaced by the silver ring, and the man would stare at her with his eyes brightened with cherish, just as Toothless's ones did, right now.
"Hiccup," Toothless muttered finally, his voice hoarse, faint, which brought the woman back to reality. "You're here."
"Of course I am," Hiccup replied, gripping the bars, faking a smile on her face. "I'd never leave ya behind."
Subsequently, he'd returned the grin, forcing it onto his face, before observing the woman only, whilst she'd studied the geriatric lock, then took out her dagger, which's rim she'd impaled into the object, trying to unlock it. In the meantime, even so unintentionally, Toothless read her, quickly recognized her trembling hands, attached to shivering shoulders, and these symptoms, aware of their meaning, summoned the concern on his face as he asked.
"Are you crying?"
"No," she responded, yet her high-pitched voice betrayed her lie, hence, she inhaled shakily, caught red-handed. "How ye're able to tell?"
"Does it really matter how?" he inquired, his eyes at her pressed lips, which withstood the need to quiver. "Everything's alright, it's fine."
"Oh, is it now? As for me, it seems far from bein' fine," she rasped, then clutched harder on her knife, twisted it against the lock, fiercely. "As for me, it seems that ye're locked in the cage, just beside the murderers themselves, tortured, treated like an animal, and why? Because ye've fuckin' protected me, that's fuckin' why."
"To be honest, I'd not expected anything less from them," he stated, frowning whereas glimpsing the fury, the blame overtaking Hiccup's face. "Ain't guilt yourself, sunshine. I'd do it again, even if I knew-,"
"But I ain't want ya to," she yapped, and so, shattered the dagger's edge by an accident, tossed the handle brutally away when continuing, "I ain't want ya to sacrifice yerself for me."
"You're expecting me to stand idly when bad happens, then?" he countered, his feet stumbling as he'd finally straightened, and watched the woman pick up the broken bar from the side. "If being hung to the ceiling is my punishment for saving you, then I'll take it. I'll take everything, they might even kill me, as long as it'll keep you safe. I ain't care what happens to me-,"
"But I care, asshole, I care!" she screamed, straining to break down the padlock's clamp, pressing the bar into it, her face grimacing with pang and despair whilst his one was claimed by surprise, worry. "I've lost everythin' today, everythin' what's possible to lose. I've got nothin' left, so if I lose ya, I-, I might not survive it."
Thereafter, the man found himself tongue-tied, gaped at the woman whereas she'd struggled with the lock, until finally, when reaching the limit of her patience, she'd whacked it with the bar, vigorously and rapidly. Although it could've been thought otherwise, that sudden act had its success, and so, the padlock shattered, opening the cage's entrance, however, Hiccup wouldn't stir afterward, only stared at Toothless through the entrance, who sighed, before saying.
"You won't ever lose me, Hiccup," he acknowledged and smiled, the brightest that his aching muscles allowed him to do so, his expression clutched by joy, anyhow. "You couldn't lose something, that's already yours. I'm yours."
Subsequently, the woman didn't even mutter a word, blinked her eyes as if to prevent the tears from appearing, her hand releasing the bar, before, abruptly, scurrying to the man whereas he stepped forward, wanting to reduce the distance between them, himself. Ultimately, as she'd reached him, cupping his cheeks with her hands, she'd kissed him, the intensest she'd ever, which he'd not minded, returning the kiss immediately, just as passionately as the woman herself, both relishing the moment with their eyes shut.
It was later on that they'd departed, yet Hiccup wouldn't distance an inch, rather replaced their pressed lips with their foreheads, continually holding dearly on his skin, then exhaling relieved, comforted.
At some point, when having her thumbs at his eyes' corners, her ones constantly closed, she whispered, "I'm gettin' ya out of here, ya hear me?" to which he reacted with a quiet chuckle, before replying.
"Loud and clear."
Consequently, he'd drawn his head away, but not quite exactly, because soon, he'd tilted his head, and, leaning ahead, skimmed his lips against Hiccup's eyelid, kissed it gently, frowning when tasting the salty tears from her lashes. Finally, she'd gaze at him, allowing him to view her depressed face, hence, the single teardrop, running her cheek, which he'd wanted to wipe off by instinct, but unfortunately, only shook the chains upward, entwining his arms.
The gesture the woman presumed to be an asking, therefore, whilst drying her face shortly, she nodded, then searched for the same, broken bar, which she lifted, before maintaining her focus straight at the chains. In the meantime, Toothless watched Hiccup's every move, only stopping when losing the range as she'd walked behind his back, then patted it - the request for permission - hence, he merely shrugged - the approval.
Thereupon, straining to climb the tall man's back, she'd managed at last, henceforth having her shins at his shoulders, her thighs skimming his ears, her eyes drilled into the handcuffs, which circled his wrists. Initially, her attention stayed on what had been underneath the metal - the bloodstained skin just off the pale hands which she'd decided to grasp as the consolation, being replied with a meager, yet full squeeze.
Only eventually had she shifted her focus to the important, thus, just as she'd done with the padlock, she'd pressed the cuffs with the bar, alas, it's not done any good, crooked the metal at the object's edge, only. Afterward, she'd thought of smashing them, however, couldn't bring herself to it, out of fear of harming the man. In the end, she'd been deprived of the decision, when being outright thrown off his back, landed on her feet rather confused, puzzled.
"Toothless?" she questioned, approaching the quoted man, and then, gazed at his face, painted with alarm as he stared at the cage's entrance. "What's goin'-,"
Before she would've finished her question, she'd heard it - the hard footsteps outside, getting louder and louder, thus, also closer and closer - when so, she'd just frozen, the horrid realization converting her face. Soon, they'd both gazed at each other, and so, Hiccup eyed Toothless's expression, which mimicked her own, his widened eyes as if screamed one - run - however, in the response she could've only shaken her head.
"I can't," she mumbled, quickly added as he'd clenched his jaw, demanding. "Even if I wanted to, I just can't. There isn't any other way out."
"There must be any!" he whisper-shouted, although she'd not very listened, just moved to be ahead of him, the steel bar squashed in her left hand, while he stared at her, confused. "What are you doing?"
"Since I cannot get ya out," she started, paused to lift the oblong object, taking a stance as if with some sword, braced for everything.
"Hiccup, no," he forbid, knitting his brows at her, yet she'd not react nor move, stood at hers, stubbornly. "If you think, I'll ever allow-,"
"So, ye're the only one, that can sacrifice himself, then?" she questioned, however, wouldn't even peek at him, her eyes at the entrance, fiercely. "Not that there's anythin' other to do, really."
Afterward, he'd not answer, stared at the woman's back as if it'd, somehow, anyhow help, although soon, Hiccup could've enjoyed his exhale of defeat, straightened when so, before remaining her entire attention at the approaching steps. Ultimately, the guests had arrived, therefore, she'd scanned the man, whom she'd fought over Toothless's death yesterday, having his brown eyes widened at her currently, his fiery eyebrows furrowed, before her sight shifted to the chief, quickly.
It could've been thought that the view of her father, gaping at her baffled and stumbled, would trigger unwanted emotions inside the woman, nevertheless, it'd been actually quite the opposite as she'd not felt anything at all, stood her ground, only. Most probably, that's been the reason, why he'd hardened his expression suddenly, returned her glare, his eyes acquiring apathy, and then, turned to his associate, his voice deep when speaking to him, directly.
"Fungus, mind handlin' my daughter?" Stoic asked, not even batting an eye at the cited woman, anymore. "I can't, apparently."
Subsequently, as if snapping off the shock, the man nodded, shortly cracked his neck, before stepping forward, into the cage, in the woman's direction, who, simultaneously, walked backward, never entitling the fright to even cross her face. Ultimately, he'd got to her at the span, which she couldn't disregard, hence, when having occasion to, she'd, again and again, swung the steel bar on him, at times being blocked, at times hitting the target, precisely.
Soon, a quarrel broke out between the two, and so, Toothless could've only watched it escalate, his face gaining on further tones of anxiety, snapping once the middle-aged man scratched Hiccup's arm, pretty badly.
"Stop it!" he shouted, the chains fluttering over his head, taunted to the peak. "She's nothing to do with it!"
"Oh, so ya do talk," Stoic rasped abruptly, rising just ahead of Toothless, inches from him, whilst the younger man's forehead puckered at the sound itself. "I'd not misheard in the arena, had I now?"
Thereafter, having his face dominated by the wrath, Toothless would gaze at Stoic, the veins popping out of his face when watching the older man's thriving smirk, his glare as fierce as the other bestowed him with.
"Since so, maybe ye're keen to makin' it an easy way for us, for once?" Stoic proposed, his eyes narrowed at the disgusted, young adult, the rattle of the steel bar, hitting the footing, in the rear. "After all, 's clear what we're demandin' from ya."
Despite Stoic's very threat, Toothless didn't bother, remained his stare at the man whilst not even inching, staying motionless as if being the rigid, stone statue, betraying his unexpected boredom with it. Hence, the chief's grin slipped, the expression of irritation painting itself on his face, whereas the two figures walked just past behind his back, their silhouettes blurred in Toothless's eyes, centered at Stoic.
Only later, when the tallest man moved aside, did Toothless gaze at the background, precisely at Hiccup, standing with Fungus by the filthy bars, her hands hooked behind her back by the man himself. She'd constantly strained to wriggle out, stared back at Toothless whereas her eyes wouldn't show any signs of wrath nor fury, which he'd expected from her, but rather some sort of hopelessness, worthlessness.
For that reason, he'd wished to say many, wished to comfort her anyhow, however, it wasn't meant to be whereas Stoic came between them, barricading any view that he'd had on the woman, replaced by that of the fucking, cocky smile. Ultimately though, his attention was claimed by one other thing - the torch in the chief's grasp, gleaming with the chaotic flames, which, reflected in Stoic's green eyes, bestowed them with even more so of contempt as he spoke.
"Last chance, demon," Stoic droned, and when so, Toothless gazed at Hiccup only, who studied the holes in his clothing, her eyes widened whilst recognizing them as burn marks, most assumably. "Where's the nest?"
At that point, even if having the other man's face just inches from his, Toothless would only hold his eyes at hers, which were overcrowded with sudden distress and grief, her chest raising violently with terror. Of course, he'd wished to do many, he'd wished to be many, however, he'd only hardened his expression at last, narrowed his eyes at the woman, which gained on the familiar apathy, before fixing them somewhere forward, wordlessly.
The act, the very obvious refusal, was the last straw for the oldest man, although he'd not appeared dissatisfied by it, but rather outright jubilant as he'd loomed toward the youngster's side, upholding the brightest smirk ever. Afterward, it'd been suddenly that Stoic plowed the incandescent carbon to Toothless's skin, while Hiccup, observing this all, started shouting, pleading with them to stop, yet wouldn't be allowed for that when having her mouth sealed by her warden.
Thereby, unable to do anything, she'd just stared at the Toothless's stiff self, albeit she'd spotted a few concerns - the man's clenched hard jaw, the veins popping out of his neck, and finally, the insufferable squirming. At some point, he'd glanced at her, his gaze being somehow remorseful what she'd not understand, until viewing how he'd shut his eyes tight, before screaming, at the top of his lungs, his head hung low.
Afterward, experiencing the sound for the very first time, the dense tears flooded out of the woman's eyes, never ceasing, even if, after the unbearable, long seconds, the chief permitted his prisoner to breathe, removed the torch off his burned skin. Eventually, Hiccup would've calmed down, but only as Toothless did the same, however, not having his gaze at herself whereas he'd continually pained, incapable of lifting his head, the fury, the wrath swallowed her whole.
Soon, she'd glared into her father's back, willing to tear him apart on the spot, yet ultimately, she'd merely yapped, and while being certain nobody heard her, due to the hand muffling her words, she'd been surprised when Stoic tensed his back, unexpectedly.
"What ye've just said?" he rasped, snapping his head at the woman who sustained the frantic glower, his teeth gnashed, hard. "Hiccup, what ye've-!"
"She's called you monster," Toothless answered, despite his torment, glanced at Stoic, his eyes glimmering with amusement, and chuckled even. "Oh, but why that surprise? You've believed that, from us two, I'm the monster in her eyes, really?"
Subsequently, not one word was muttered, everybody stunned by Toothless's comment, which appeared to hang over that dangerous, silent atmosphere, having the furious chief in the middle of attention. Hence, each of them would've noticed it, when he'd decided to react to the remark by bolting to the young man suddenly, grabbing the edge of his shirt, and throwing, another and another, punches into his face, much violently.
The view, that brutal, ruthless theater, having the actors of the most important people, for Hiccup was as if penalty, as if somebody ripped off her heart, cut it, and served as a dish, and everything, in front of her very eyes. Instantly, she'd strained to set herself loose anew, to overscream the thickness of the human's flesh, however, just as before, only the mere noise came out, her voice being completely muffled, leaving behind itself just the vain hopes.
In the meantime, Stoic never slowed down, having the fuel of the endless rage, being as though animal feasting on their prey, which drove the fear into every, present heart, even of their subordinate, staring at his chief, alarmed. It'd been precisely due to this mentioned, man's fright, that Hiccup freed herself finally, wrested out of Fungus's grasp, dashed to her father, before clutching his arm, forbidding him any other of blows, and screaming.
"Stop!"
Although it could've been thought otherwise, the act had its success, and Stoic, held down by his daughter, hadn't done anything more, apart from glaring at Hiccup, and, after a short while, breaking out of her grip. Immediately has she returned the scowl then, however, allowed herself for the peek at Toothless, who hung as if being corpse, upheld by chains and the chief's fist only, and hence, being caught on the act by Stoic, could've listened to his vexed response, afterward.
"Hiccup, ye're for serious, now?! Ye're really standin' up for that thin'?!" he asked, lifting the loose body by his shirt, tearing it partly. "He's an abomination, murderer of innocent people, demon, and-!"
At that point of his speech, the man, to ensure his claim, gazed at Toothless, and thus, maintaining him by that, exact angle, caught sight of something, which, surely, he'd never wished to see - formerly hidden, purplish marks all over his neck - hickeys. Stunned, he could've only stared then, as if wanting to verify the reality, the very existence of his daughter's lips at the monster's skin, and ultimately, everything was confirmed with one glance at Hiccup, who outright looked at her father proud, shameless.
It could've been foreseen that he'd blown up then, right there, right now, all the more the surprise, when instead, after the longer second, he'd smiled, chuckled even, looking heavenward, joyful enough that he'd managed to return the fear up the woman's face.
"Oh, I ain't remember the last time, I've been so proud of ya, Hiccup," he stated, having a grin that could've been understood variously, in thousands of grim ways. "Ye've made it way easier, now."
Subsequently, puzzled by his words, Hiccup stayed silent, managed to grind her entire ring whilst Stoic turned his attention from her to his captive, leaned down as to appear by his face, obscured by the black, soiled waves. Eventually, through between them, he'd gazed into the bright, acid, half-opened green eye, which, unhurriedly, returned the stare, yet narrowed quickly, the hatred fuming out of the owner's body, being as if lovely breeze for the older man.
Later on, as suddenly as it'd been even possible, Stoic grasped onto these raven hair, and brutally forced the young man to gaze at Hiccup, raising his head up, thereby disclosing the woman with a rather gruesome sight. It'd been just lamentable to describe - the reddish imprints of fists at the right side of his face, the fractured nose, coated entirely by the blood, and swollen eyelids, masking the glistening eyes - she'd not known whether to cheer or not when being distracted from the view by her father's sudden question.
"Do ya love her?" he asked calmly, however, being met with silence only, as Toothless stared at Hiccup soundlessly, snapped, and pulled onto the held hair, suddenly. "Answer, damn it!"
"Yes, for the fuck sake! Yes, I do!" Toothless yelled and sighed, witnessing Hiccup being snagged by Fungus as she'd tried to reach him, currently stared at him, her eyes welled up just as his. "I love you, sunshine. I always will, even if you won't, ever."
"If ya so love her, I assume ya'd want a good life for her, wouldn't ya?" Stoic spotted, interrupting his daughter, who was about to speak out, although neither of them glanced at him, afterward. "Ya'd want a good future for her."
"Of course, I would," Toothless agreed, then furrowed his brows at the chief, glared into his eyes, fiercely, "but you won't give her such a future. Not a future she really deserves."
Consequently, Stoic wouldn't reply and kept staring combat with the younger man, before soon, as if dawned on, exchanging glimpses with Fungus, appearing just as puzzled as the young adults when having the chief's requesting gaze at himself. Ultimately, he'd figured out what he'd needed, and so, upholding Hiccup's wrists continually, handed him the piece of crumpled paper one-handed, whilst the two could've only observed how Stoic spread it out, then spoke.
"'s an approval of the marriage of my daughter with the borderin' chief's son. Destroyin' it would be equivalent to a refusal of the mentioned," Stoic explained, then, inside his very eyes gleamed the ember, as if from Helheim's cold flames itself. "I'll burn it, but only at the nest's lands."
Immediately, Toothless's face was transformed by the shock, and whilst watching him further, Hiccup saw that pondering of his, that he'd actually thought of it, hence, was rather quick to interrupt his thoughts, talk some sense into him.
"Toothless, ain't even consider it," she muttered, leaning as close as Fungus, and her extended arms allowed her, alas, he'd not even peek at her, at that point. "Toothless."
"Hiccup, I-," he started but paused shortly after, shut his eyes tight when continuing, his face swallowed by guilt. "I'm sorry, but maybe it'll be for the better."
"Oh, but 'll be for better," Stoic agreed, grinning as if being awarded sweets themselves, before nodding to Fungus, who understood the order, released Hiccup whilst she'd never glared away from her father. "Ye've got what ye've always wanted. The precious freedom."
Subsequently, she must've fought, as not to throw herself at his neck, snarled, "I hate ya," whereas Fungus released Toothless out of his bounds, behind Stoic's back.
"Ya'll thank me, someday," he pointed out, rather to himself than her, followed his companion outside whilst he'd dragged half-conscious Toothless at his shoulder, and then locked the bars, trapping Hiccup inside. "Ye're stayin' here until we come back."
"Ya'll not come back. Ya'll not defeat it, not this time," she pressed, gripping the metal hard, yet he wouldn't listen, snorted as he walked away, further and further to the exit. "Dad, ain't do this! 's death sentence!" she screamed, however, being only met with the silence of drifting away steps, yelled, ultimately, "Toothless, please!"
Afterward, neither replied, and the sound of the door's shutting answered her, only.
I'M ALIVE
I WAS JUST SWALLOWED BY ART BLOCK
BUT I AM ALIVE