Forty Three: Out Of Time

"You have got to be kidding me!" Hiccup groaned as Drago's dreadnoughts swung round to intercept the Night Fury as she headed out of Berserk Harbour. "I mean, not even Loki would come up with this number of ridiculous obstacles just when we think we've got away!"

"Good dude, I think you underestimate the Trickster!" Tuffnut said in a surprisingly serious voice. Ruff looked up and nodded, her expression equally intense. Hiccup stared at him and groaned.

"...and of course, you and Ruff both worship..."

"LOKI!!!!" they screamed in unison.

"Oh, Thor," Astrid muttered as she face-palmed. "Why am I not surprised?" But as they swung past the Harbour entrance, Fishlegs frowned for they were now definitely in the firing line for the enormous, heavily-armoured vessels. Both the ugly ships were at least twice as large bow to stern and in the beam as the pirate vessel and almost as fast. He stared at his Captain as the dreadnoughts converged on them.

"Um...Captain? Do we deploy the Thunderdrum?" he asked anxiously. Snapping his attention back to the present, Hiccup slowly levered himself to his feet and stared at the ships.

"No," he said thoughtfully. "I want to keep that in hand until we face the main fleet. Ruff, Tuff-use the normal guns and give them something to think about! Fish-where is that Typhoomerang?"

"Um...you might want to look at the manual..." Fish murmured, looking embarrassed.

"Full sail! Hard-a-port! Lay down a Thorston salvo on their stern!" Hiccup snapped. The crew leapt to their jobs as Fishlegs handed the manual over. He had marked one page that dealt with how the device operated and Hiccup scanned it twice then nodded, his agile mind grasping the principle and realising exactly what the device could do. "Get the device to the stern, guys," he said determinedly and they stared at him as he limped slowly to the prow.

"You okay, cuz?" Snotlout asked slowly as Hiccup slowly gripped the rail. He shook his head.

"Snot, we're out of time," he murmured. "Drago's ships are here for his ally...and that means he'll be heading for Berk as we speak. We need to finish this and then get back. After all, we have the weapons that may be the difference between success and failure and our side will need them..." He turned his head and looked at his crew. "Astrid-look after my son and for the Gods sake, keep him away from the side. I am sure he'd manage to fall overboard if I take my eye off him!"

Arild pouted. "Not fair..." he grumbled. "I wanna see the big ships get destroyed!" Hiccup's darkened green gaze flicked to Astrid and she grabbed the boy's hand, nodding.

"We'll be fine, Hiccup," she assured him, staring for a long moment into his eyes. "Do what you have to do. We'll be safe!" Then they headed into the cabin as Hiccup turned and glared at his crew.

"Ships are closing-why am I not hearing cannon fire?" he asked pointedly. "JUMP TO IT!"

"Whoa, dude-no need to bust your leggings!" Tuffnut protested and leaned to his task. The ships were closing and Roar flung the wheel round, jerking the Night Fury hard to port and away from the closing monster vessels. Everyone leaned as the ship listed and the cannons the enemy ships fired at them all missed. Sharing a very scornful look, Ruff and Tuff fired, double-powder on the waterline. The toughened boards bent and splintered but didn't quite breach. Undeterred, they loaded and fired again, this time punching a small hole in the hull.

"So it can be done," Cami mused, her blue eyes carefully watching the highly excessive amounts of powder the twins were using. "Hey-you'll kill yourselves using that much if it goes wrong!"

"That would be AWESOME!" Ruff replied with a huge grin. Sharing a confused look with Snotlout, the female pirate manned another cannon and added her own shot to the defence alongside Mulch. The first ship-with the hole-was so large that a small breach in the hull wouldn't sink it any time soon and it was keeping pace with the Night Fury. Limping and using the rail to support himself, Hiccup found Sven and Fishlegs carefully roping the device to the stern and then lowering the slightly spiralled wide metal end of the device into the water behind the ship.

"Are you sure this will work?" Fishlegs asked him. Hiccup sighed and leaned stiffly against the rail.

"Sure...is a pretty strong term..." he admitted with a wary shrug. That had hurt more than he had anticipated. "It's more of a hunch...with an added prayer to Thor that Wrinkley really was a genius and not his time's equivalent of the twins." Sven stared up at him, then shook his head.

"I've followed you this far, Cap'n," he said slowly, "and though this entire quest is madness, you've done well by us as our Captain. Had we left your ship, we would be dead. And I do believe that you are probably the only one with a sort of plan that could save us from Drago. I just hope this doesn't kill me as I would be really disappointed."

"Aw, thanks, Sven," Hiccup said dryly. "Your confidence in me is overwhelming."

"Speak as I find, Cap'n," he said honestly. "Always have, always will." Hiccup nodded slowly. Sven was tough, awkward and determined but he was a loyal man and if he said he trusted you, you were part of an elite group. Brow furrowing, Hiccup's green eyes flicked up to the huge ships converging on them and back to the device. His head snapped round and he stared up at the wheel, realising what he needed to do.

"We're going the wrong way..." he murmured. "Roar! Turn us round! We need to go...THAT way!" And he pointed over the stern, towards the approaching dreadnoughts. The crew shared glances.

"It's official, dude...the Captain has flipped!" Tuff commented.

"No, bro-he's come over to the crazy side! LOKI!" Ruff added.

"Are they serious?" Snotlout asked.

"I think so," Cami sighed, peering at the dreadnoughts as the ship spun in a very tight turn, the Night Fury leaning right over as she flipped round and lined up to head directly towards the other vessels. Hiccup leaned forward with a grimace and peered at the device.

"Are the charges readied," he murmured. Fishlegs nodded.

"Powder and oil as described," he confirmed. "The springs have been loaded and as far as I can tell, it's ready..."

"FULL SAIL!" Hiccup shouted as they accelerated towards the enemy. The ships were taken by surprise as the pirate ship sped towards them at an unfeasible speed and their helmsmen reacted far slower than Hiccup would have believed. Shooting forward , the Night Fury whisked between the two ships, the pirate crew looking up with broad grins at the astonished sailors in Drago's uniform, so shocked they forgot to try to sink the pirates. Fury's gunners, though, didn't waste the opportunity to pour a hail of shots into the attacker's flanks. Hiccup heard Ruff and Tuff whoop as they holed the ship again and a roar from Cami as she achieved the same feat-probably by using insanely dangerous amounts of powder as well. Belatedly, the dreadnoughts peppered them with shot and Hiccup winced as he heard crashes from the impacts. Two holes appeared in his sails and a splintered defect exploded in the starboard rail.

"Captain-this is madness!" Roar called down as a shot zipped past his head.

"I have to agree with him! This is crazy, even beyond my standards!" Cami added. Hiccup sighed and looked up at his crew.

"Trust me," he murmured. "I can see how this will work." I hope. "Standby, Fish...almost there..." The husky First Mate tensed and his blue eyes looked at his Captain. Hiccup glanced up as their stern approached the sterns of the attacking vessels. "NOW!"

Fish pulled the lever and the fins extended, then flipped the first lever and the charge fired, the ship shuddering as a pulse slammed through the spiral metal trumpet. "AGAIN!" Hiccup shouted. "THREE MORE!"

"Are you sure?" Fish asked, his eyes worried. "The Manual said..."

"I sincerely doubt Wrinkley ever considered these monsters in his calculations!" he shouted. "DO IT!" Sharing a worried glance at Sven, the fired three more charges and the entire ship jolted...

...as behind them, a huge vortex rapidly formed, a whirlpool that was deepening between the two dreadnoughts, tugging at them. The Night Fury slowed appreciably and Hiccup felt the tug, pulling them off vector. Worriedly, he glanced up at Roar, who was leaning on the wheel with all his might. Gritting his teeth, the Captain dragged himself up the steep ladder to the wheel, adding his weight to the effort...but the ship was caught.

A horrible creak sounded as the Night Fury was pulled sideways...but behind them, the dreadnoughts were struggling worse, being spun round and colliding with an ear-splitting crunch. Timbers shattered, armour buckled and the two dreadnoughts horribly mated as they spun and tore apart. The crew stared, jaws dropping.

"COOL!" Arild shouted, having escaped the cabin and scrambled up to the Poop deck for the best view. Astrid panted after him and grabbed him, mindful of Hiccup's warning. The boy's green eyes were popping at the spectacle of the ships ripping apart and sinking into he expanding whirlpool.

""Gotta agree with the little dude!" Tuff called. "Awesome destruction, H!"

"H?" grunted Hiccup, still wrestling with the wheel. "I mean...where's the respect?"

"Um...babe...are we being pulled in?" Astrid asked, taking in the situation in less than a second. Hiccup gritted his teeth and braced himself, trying to steer them away.

"Could be," he grunted, breathing hard. It wasn't budging.

"Any plan?"

"If anyone has suggestions, I'm open," he groaned. He looked very pale, his bruised face twisted with effort. "I'm throwing it open to the whole group!"

"We need more power," Elias said slowly. "More speed..."

"But we're at full sail," Mulch pointed out, his hairy face worried.

"I don't suppose Wrinkley had a device to give us more propulsion?" Snotlout asked, eyeing the Typhoomerang. Hiccup grimaced, then glanced at Astrid...and then they both glanced at the sleeping Skrill.

"ARILD!" they shouted in unison. The boy looked up alarmed.

"What have I done now?" he asked, pouting.

"Nothing!" Hiccup called. "But we need you get Stormy to help us..." Catching his shoulders gently, Astrid crouched in front of him as the Night Fury leaned into the inexorable current. The dreadnoughts had sunk into the grey waters, wreckage circling the insatiable vortex that seemed to show no signs of abating...

"Can you get Stormy to fly behind us and flap to fill the sails and push us forward faster?" she asked.

"Or even...grab the anchor chain and tow us?" Hiccup called, shaking with the effort of hanging onto the wheel. Staring up at them and realising that he wasn't in trouble...and that they were all relying on him, Arild scrambled forward and gently approached the Skrill. The dragon cracked his eyes open and inspected the skinny little shape, the tousled jet hair blowing in the breeze.

"Stormy...can you give us a push?" the boy asked and the dragon paused for a moment, then lowered his head. "You got it!" Arild grinned and clambered onto the neck, then gripped the metallic spines firmly as Stormy threw himself into the air and rose to hover behind the mainsail. "Come on, boy! You can do it!" Arild shouted as the Skrill began to backwing urgently, the sail filling with the air...but the dragon shot backwards. Arild urged him forward but every time they gave the ship a little shove forward, the dragon shot the opposite way. Then they both looked down and Arild grinned. They landed and the Skrill clamped his claws fiercely into the wood of the poop deck with a loud crunch, rearing to his full height and spreading his wings.

"Mind my ship," Hiccup grunted, still braced at the wheel with Roar. He could see what the boy was planning as the anchored dragon now flapped his wings with all his might, filling the sails and slowly pushing the ship away. Sven and Fish peered at the still-swirling vortex: the wreckage of the Drago's ships had vanished but the Night Fury slowly edged away from the circling currents until finally, they shot free and the wheel wrenched sideways, sending the ship veering port and away from the harbour. The crew slowly relaxed as the Skrill folded his wings and gave a defiant roar back at Berserk.

"Whoo-hoo!" Arild screamed. "That'll show that man who hurt you, Dad!" Sagging to his knees, Hiccup stared up at his son, sitting astride the mythical beast and his girlfriend, who was looking at him with a very worried expression on her face.

"Babe?" she murmured, moving towards him. He was breathing hard, his head spinning from all the effort he had expended since being captured.

"Set sail for Berk...full sail!" he said and pitched unconscious onto his face.

oOo

He woke in the cabin, lying on his face with blankets tucked gently around him and a shielded lamp burning. He slowly raised his aching head and winced as his head buzzed with weariness. Gritting his teeth, he slid his arms under his chest and pushed himself up. He hissed in pain, every lash across his back burning fiercely. Head spinning, his arms were wavering and sweat stood out on his body at the effort.

Arms wrapped around him and gently helped him up, soft hair brushing his cheek as Astrid pulled him to a very sagging sitting position. She settled by him and he leaned into her, still breathing hard at the effort. He wrapped an arm around her and gently kissed her on the cheek. "How long was I out?" he murmured, his eyes picking out the huddled shape of Arild, who was curled in his little bed, a big smile on his face.

"It's nearly dawn," she told him quietly. "Babe-you should have said..."

"I told you Dagur was a rotten host," he murmured. "I was expecting at least a whipping, to be honest... and he didn't disappoint..." She leaned against him, her warmth soothing.

"I hate it," she murmured. "I hate seeing you hurt. And babe-you take so many risks!" He nuzzled against her neck.

"Better than you...or my son," he sighed softly. "Milady, I will do everything to protect you and make you safe..." She turned to him and rested her hand against his bruised cheek, feeling the scruffy stubble her her skin.

"Babe...you do," she murmured. "But don't forget you have a crew and friends who can help you. It doesn't have to be you all the time, Hiccup." She paused and her eyes swept over the battered shape, his face still tired and hair wild. "And besides, I want you alive. I claimed you were my husband on Berserk-and I want you to be my husband everywhere! And I can't do that if you don't even survive to get married..." He started and leaned into her hand.

"Um...was that a proposal?" he asked warily. She suddenly blushed and her eyes looked everywhere but his face. He leaned closer to her. "Astrid?"

"Um...yeah?" she said, suddenly coy. She was independent, strong and brave but she hadn't meant to reveal her hopes so blatantly. Besides, she had been hoping he would ask her. "Sorry. I-I know I don't have a right because I betrayed and rejected you and I..."

"Astrid," Hiccup said very quietly, his tone completely sincere, "I want to marry you. I did from when I was ten. You shattered my heart when you rejected me and abandoned me and I knew I would never be able to feel love or trust again. And I hated you for years, wanting to take revenge on you in the most painful way for the worst hurt I ever felt...but as soon as I saw you, I...couldn't. I was sarcastic and taunting but when you were in danger, I saved you. I told myself it was because I needed you alive to take my vengeance...but it wasn't. And then...I found out why you rejected me. I know your reasons were self-serving and yes, probably cowardly, but you came for me when I was literally dying. You abandoned your life on Berk to come and help me. You protected my son...and I found that I forgave you because the part of me that still loved you was still there."

Tears slid down her cheeks and he lifted a hand to stroke her soft skin, wiping the tears away with his calloused thumb.

"When we were captured, all I wanted was to get Arild and to get you. You helped me when I most desperately needed it and fought your father for me! And I hope you can forgive me for killing him..."

"No problem..." she mumbled.

"Astrid, I have always loved you...not Lady Hofferson, the richest woman on Berk but Astrid. My Astrid...the girl who used to lie under the stars with me and dream about the future, about being together and travelling the world beyond the Archipelago and making Berk a better place. The girl with the axe in a world of cannon and muskets. The girl who could beat me in wrestling every time. The girl I would die for. The girl I would kill for. The girl I suffered for and would always come for. But I want to check...will you marry me? A battered and beaten, scrawny disowned pirate with the most ferocious warlord in the north on his tail?"

"Of course," she said softly. "Yes." He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly.

"I want to marry you before the battle," he told her softly, his eyes hopeful yet looking as if he expected rejection. "Because I want every reason I can get to give me strength. Gods know, it will be hard enough...but I want to be fighting for my wife and my son."

"I doubt Governor Stoick will sanction a marriage for us on Berk," she sighed. He stared into her eyes and felt a curl of shame: he could offer her love, adventure and riches-because he did have a sizeable stash, concealed safely away from prying eyes and covetous hands-but he couldn't give her the wedding every young lady dreamed of. His outcast status precluded any normal marriage.

"I am sorry, Milady," he said in a low voice, the faint despondent edge barely audible. "I can't give you a society wedding. Are you sure you still want...this...?" He gestured to his battered shape and her eyes softened in sympathy. He felt it so keenly and she cursed her response: she never wanted him to feel guilt for the wrongs done to him. And she had seem the horrible scars across his body, the appalling damage the whip had done him-which he had carried on through until exhaustion floored him. He was just as she recalled: so lanky and scrawny and battered-yet he had saved them again.

"I don't want anyone else," she reassured him. "And I will marry you wherever we can..." His forest green gaze flicked up and the relief in his expression was pitiful. She kissed him firmly to reassure him. With a sigh, he leaned against her again.

"Um...Pirate? All we need is a Ship's Captain? If-if you really want..."

"Hiccup...if you keep asking that, I will hurt you," she warned him firmly and he cracked a small, self-conscious smile.

"Though we may have to wait until we reach Berkisport," he replied dryly. "I can't see you wanting Cami to marry us. Um...old girlfriend marrying me to my first, true and only love...? Awkward..."

"You know, I think that may work," she smirked. "Not many weddings where the groom's slept with the official before the bride."

"Actually more than you would guess," he muttered, imagining them ganging up on him. Then he pulled away from her and scooched forward, then got to his wobbly legs and staggered forward a few steps, leaning forward with a gasp of pain as his hand snaked under the desk, snagging a soft leather pouch. He almost fell and slowly straightened up, to turn and drop to one knee in front of her. Her azure eyes widened.

"Hiccup?" she murmured. He shook the contents of the pouch into his hand-a huge, polished deep blue sapphire on a finely-worked gold chain.

"I don't have a ring," he admitted quietly, "but when I saw this, I thought of you, of your eyes..." She stared and he gently placed the jewellery in her hand. "And I would like you to have this, Milady." he stared into his deep green eyes and realised this was the best he could manage as a proposal. Meeting his wary expression, she gave a small smile but had to haul him up to his feet so he could gently fasten the sapphire pendant around her neck. She raised a hand to touch the polished gem and then looked up into his face. She suddenly flung herself into his arms and kissed him urgently. He hissed in pain but clung to her, savouring the kiss.

"Babe, it's perfect," she smiled. He twitched a small smile, feeling light-headed but she saw him pale and sat him down on the bed, helping him under the covers...then sliding in by him. They snuggled up together, fidgeting until they were wrapped in a mutual embrace. "Get some rest, Captain Hiccup..."

"Now that sounds just plain wrong..." he murmured sleepily, tightening his arm around her and nuzzling into her neck. "I prefer Fury..."

"I'm not going to be Mrs Fury," she told him softly. Her only response was a soft snore and she smiled then allowed herself to drift off as well.

oOo

Berk loomed ahead, jagged and mountainous, jutting against the grey and stormy sky. A light drizzle was been blown into their faces as the crew of the Night Fury stared into port. The harbour was packed with warships, pirate vessels and even a few Meathead and Bog ships. Three Trader ships were huddled in port as well. Trimming her holed black sails, the pirate ship gently eased into the crowded waters and slid into the vacant berth at the docks, throwing mooring lines to the dockworkers. The crew all lined up as the gangplank was put down and the Captain stepped forward onto the gangplank-to face the huge shape of Governor Stoick the Vast, Gobber, Viggo and Ryker.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Hiccup groaned, mentally face-palmed and then walked forward. "Welcoming party, eh? Wow, Governor-I'm honoured!"

"Don't be," he growled. "This isn't good news." He felt Astrid's hand gently rest on his arm and he glanced to her with a smile. Viggo scanned the crew and his brows dipped.

"Where is Captain Mildew?" he demanded. Groaning, Hiccup glanced up to Camicazi and she grinned.

"That old goat betrayed us on Meathead and tried to kill us-as did his man, Olaf," she replied, walking forward with Mathilda at her side. "As you asked him to! I, on the other hand, decided that Fury was a better bet than your craven cowardice, Viggo. He's worth helping because he's the only one who seems to have a plan to face down Drago. And we sank two of his ships on the way here?"

"Where is Mildew?" Ryder demanded.

"Berserk...bottom of the harbour," Cami grinned. "We sent him to the Governor and he decided to drown him."

"It was the alternative to hanging him from the yardarm," Hiccup told him grimly. "Every pirate for himself, savvy? And a Captain is the Master of his ship-any treason is his to punish." Viggo's expression tightened but he didn't make a comment. Silently, he turned away. Snotlout walked onto the dock and offered his Uncle his hand-which Stoick promptly took and shook warmly, offering a cordial greeting that he couldn't bear to spare for his own son.

"What did you mean, Uncle?" he asked, his blue eyes reading the concern and strain in the Governor's face. Stoick stared at the assembled crew and his eyes narrowed.

"We tried your suggestion to negotiate with Drago," the Governor growled, his eyes sweeping accusingly over his former son. Hiccup groaned and looked towards his fiancee, seeing the sapphire pendant gleaming at her throat and the pride in her face as she slid her arm through his. Arild had scampered down and was standing in front of the two, pressed happily against Hiccup's legs. He and the crew had been informed of the Captain's intention to wed and the boy couldn't be happier.

"I take it you were unsuccessful," Hiccup said, hearing the accusation in his father's tone. It was a tone he knew all too well. Stoick nodded and a whole platoon of soldiers swarmed onto the docks, muskets levelled at the pirates. Snotlout's eyes widened in shock and he stared in disbelief at the Governor.

"Uncle?" he asked, glancing back at the pirates. Astrid's knuckles whitened.

"Drago wasn't interested in any negotiations or a truce," he growled angrily. "He did make one offer to avoid the destruction of Berk." A sick apprehension slid over the pirates and Hiccup stiffened.

"You know that he won't honour any deal," he told the Governor urgently as the soldiers closed. "He tried to murder you without warning or declaration of war before this all started! He eliminated Dragon Island and has allied with Berserk against you. We destroyed two of Drago's ships on the way here-ships going to support the Berserker fleet!"

"I cannot take that chance!" Stoick said. "He offered a deal in return for a non-aggression pact." Green eyes flicked to inspect Gobber, who was looking embarrassed and he knew the answer.

"He won't honour it," the pirate repeated in a voice without hope.

"A Governor protects his own," Stoick said grimly. "We can buy time for reinforcements to come from the Mainland. Drago wants the man who escaped and destroyed his flagship."

"Hiccup-he wants you," Astrid gasped. At her side, Hiccup gave a very twisted and bitter smile as he finally looked up at his father, reading the answer. His voice was steady though she could feel the tremble through his arm.

"And you're going to give me to him."