(Hiccup's pov)
"Traitor!"
"Offer him up as a sacrifice!"
"Feed his guts to Odin's ravens!"
I was met with boos and jeers upon arriving at the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth, this was a Viking army that eclipsed all the armies I've fought throughout the years as King of Arendelle. As I gazed at the tens of thousands of Vikings cursing my name, I could see towering giants who wore the skulls of bulls and rams, seasoned warriors who survived more ordeals than any man could comprehend, women who craved blood and battle, and the leaders of this great army stood at the fortress gates. Heather had a leash around my neck as she then yanked the leash and forced me to my knees, causing me to grunt as I fell down on the muddy ground. "Behold! I bring you Hiccup Haddock III! Enemy of all Northmen!" The young Berserker boomed out, causing the howling mobs of Vikings to hurl globs of mud my way, but one of the leaders held his hands out, causing the Viking warriors to step aside.
Wiping off the mud that clung to my armour and skin, I looked up into the eyes of a Viking king who bore brands on his temples. He had long brunette, a short beard graced his stern face, and his piercing blue eyes held the promise of violence and hardship.
"Do you know who I am?" He then asked, I eyed this man from head to toe while also studying the brands on his temple, I now knew who he was. "You are King Torsten," I say, "your people are the Branded Brutes." Torsten chuckles and nods in confirmation. "I see you still know the many kingdoms and tribes of our people," his face then becomes stern, "and you have used the knowledge you have against our tribes and kingdoms to destroy us. Those days have now ended." Torsten gestured to not only the Viking warriors gathered, but also a woman who wasn't wearing Viking armor or clothing, her clothing was black leather armor and... a cloak of dragon skin was draped around her shoulders, it not only was black but also dark purple. "This is Maeve, leader of the Dragon Root Company," Torsten said, "she leads an army of Dragon Hunters to incapacitate all the dragons here in England and add to our own army of dragons."
Wait, what?
"What dragon army?" I inquired.
"To ensure our complete and total victory over your Christian brethren, we precured the very monster that has caused the dragons to ravage mother Norway for three centuries," Torsten then gestured behind him, "Behold and witness the Red Death!" Two Dragon Hunters who held massive hammers brought them down on the stone ground within the fortress courtyard, all was silent for a moment. Then a thunderous roar was heard and the heavy pumping wings, emerging behind the fortress was a dragon the likes of which I've never seen before. The Red Death's head is heavily armored with a nasal horn, it bore coral-shaped frills, and with jaws that are lined up with huge teeth that were the width of Viking longboats. This... abomination also possess three pairs of eyes that give it little to no blind spot. Its coloration is mainly a grayish blue with an orange underside, and their enormous bodys sport coral-like spines as well as blood red spikes that give this dragon its name. It also sported a club-like tail that had spikes sticking out of every direction, it could be used as a devastating weapon to inflict massive damage. Despite this monsters gargantuan size, its wings are far more than large and strong enough to give the dragon a full-powered flight. And further more, this monster summoned thousands of dragons from within Helheim's Gate to unleash mayhem and death just like they've been doing for the past three centuries.
This was not good.
"With this beast and its subjects under our control? We will be rid of the Christians and clear a path for our people to start the next generation of Vikings," a man around my age said in a proud tone, "but not before we make you suffer beyond imagination for all the men and women who serve Odin and the Æsir you struck down throughout the last five years." This man was unfamilar to me, I narrow my eyes at him while ignoring his murderous glare. "I don't recognize you, who might you be?" He gave me a shark-like grin and answered. "Ivar Ivarsson, son of Ivar the Boneless," he then continued, "I hear you're a smart man, my father was smart too, as am I. When you meet your end and when we face the Christians meet us on the field of battle, I hope they'll not die too quickly since they'll no longer have you to lead them."
"You underestimate my people at your own peril son of Ivar of Boneless," I say firmly, "hubris has led many men to ruin, continue to express that trait and you may end up crippled like you lunatic father." Ivar snarled while drawing out a sword, but Torsten stopped him. "Ignore him Ivar, he's trying to goad you into foolish action," he then continued, "Haddock will die, but not yet." Ivar breathed heavily while looked at me with hatred burning his eyes, he then inhaled sharply and spat on me, causing me to groan in disgust and wipe his saliva off of me.
"In the mean time, we will keep our... guest under lock and key," Queen Freydis of Fenrisúlfr said, "take him away." Heather nodded at the Viking queen and yanked on my leash while two of her Berserkers grabbed my arms and yanked me up to my feet and dragged me inside the fortress. All the while I ignored the bombardment of taunts and curses hurled my way from the thousands of warriors outside.
"You were fated to meet a traitors end the moment you renounced Odin and the gods of the Æsir," Heather stated, "you and your Night Fury could've been a valued addition to our great army." I scoffed at Heather's words and sighed out. "I would've been executed for befriending Toothless, but not before watching my bonded dragon meet his end at the hands of my father," snorting out, I continue, "The Hairy Hooligans never favoured me or even regarded me as one of their own. I was treated like a common thrall, beaten until I was at death's door, and nearly taken like a whore by my cousin." Heather turned her head to look me in the eyes, for a moment I could see sympathy in them, but that sympathy had vanished too quickly. "So instead of enduring and building yourself, you chose to flee and reject our ways in favour of joining the Christians," Heather then scoffed, "your fate in the next life will be far crueler than what awaits you within this encampment."
"I knew what would happen to me if I chose to renounce the Viking way," I said, "but I don't care. Fate has led me to become King of Arendelle and to be blessed with my loving wives and children." A smile spread across my face at the thought of my family who must be worried sick about me, I trust that they're preparing for the inevitable conflict that will be arriving. Hopefully Frederic and the armies of Corona are assembled, but even if the all the kingdoms of England united, we wouldn't have the numbers to defeat this great army of Vikings. The last kingdom in Europe that could aid us defeating the Vikings are the Romans.
True, what was left of the Roman Empire is lost to history, but Pope Cuthbert and the legions of Rome are some of the finest warriors in the realm and if they were to join our cause, then the odds would be in our favor. Knowing how smart my wives are, I have no doubt they'll reach out to Pope Cuthbert and request his aid to help us vanquish the Viking hordes.
I was so deep in thought, that I didn't even realize that a metal collar was wrapped around my neck and locked into place, I was then thrown into a cell. "You will recieve punishment soon enough," Heather said, "they will not want to kill you yet, not until you've suffered enough for all the blood you've shed over the last five years." I then laid eyes on another woman entering my cell and then stood besides Heather.
"Ah, at last I get to see Hiccup Haddock," the woman said while licking her lips in delight, "you may leave now Heather." I had a really bad feeling about this, as Heather left my cell, I then laid eyes on this woman who just eyed me with a... ravenous gaze.
This can't be good.
"Who are you?" I inquire, the woman doesn't answer but rather she murmurs in Norse, she wasn't just murmuring words, but she was murmuring a curse. "From this day forward, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is cursed," she said, "your body will wither and decay while you suffer the wrath of the gods." I then fel it pain creeping into my body, pain that was unnatural but capable of killing me.
"Y-You're a seer," I gasped out as she clenched her fingers together, "my... my heart." I wheezed out as she seemed to be squeezing my heart. Her sinister giggle caused unpleasant shivers to crawl down my spine. "Your sorcery will not break me," I growled out, "I will not break so easy."
"Oh? Is that a challenge?" The seer asked, she snorted in amusement and continued. "Your death will be beyond excruciating," she then hissed out more spells and I then emptied my stomach on the ground, "your suffering will be so absolute, that you will beg for us to kill you." Panting heavily, I wipe away the bits of bile leaking down the corners of my mouth and inhale sharply. "Never," I snarl out, "I will not succumb to your witchcraft!"
"Such determination," the seer snorted out in amusement, "but you will grow weaker as each day passes. The curse I have cast upon you is only a bitter taste of the wrath the gods have in store for you. Prepare yourself Hiccup Haddock, and don't die too quickly." The seer cast another spell on me, causing me to cry out in pain as I could feel my blood boiling in my veins all because she was rubbing her fingers together. She then left my cell and closed the door behind her, I then sat down on the ground and leaned back against the cold wall while breathing heavily.
A seer's curse will not only make me weak physically and mentally, but I'll also be subjected to blades, whips, and other cruel methods of torture while being kept here. Despite the hardship I'd be facing, I knew how to destroy a seer's curse, if an opportunity presents itself then I'll need to kill that seer without shedding any of their blood, or else the curse will live on and torment me further. If I was going to make a move and take out that seer? It would have to be sooner rather than later, I won't be able to fight and rid myself of this curse after these Vikings pour out their wrath upon me.
"Oh Lord my God, I pray for my family and their endeavors to rally the English kingdoms together to defeat the heathens who encircle us like ravenous wolves," I then let out a shaky breath and continue praying, "when my strength leaves me, I will look to you for renewal. And even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no eveil, for you are with me, may your rod and staff comfort me." Sighing heavily, I decided to get some rest while also preparing myself for the harm that would come crashing down on top of me.
I knew that renouncing the Viking way would paint a target on my back, but if I could renounce Odin and the so called gods of the Æsir all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. This choice has given me Elsa and Anna, a kingdom that stands strong and well defended, subjects who adore and respect me as their ruler, my long lost mother and her dragon riding clan joining our ranks, and my two beautiful children who've been a great source of joy in my life.
Even though I lay in the belly of the beasts, I will not let my enemies devour me and rob me of my life and the lives of my family. I will endure whatever hardships are thrown my way and I stay strong, for the sake of my family and my kingdom.