Fifty-One: Nothing I want...

Recuperation was a lot longer than he had anticipated, hampered by the persisting inflammation in his stump and the weakness left by being so close to death for so long. Gothi and Astrid had been shocked by all his wounds and his wife had insisted that everything was properly treated while he was so ill so he found a lot more bandages and stitches than he had expected when he woke.

The crew, in fact, were settling quite happily in the port, abiding by the laws-mostly-and lending their skills in helping rebuild Berkisport. The twins were holding lessons on gunnery for the Berk Naval officers and both were struggling through the stolen book on 'Sticky Balls' that despite their worries did give a lot of useful information about blowing things up. Fishlegs had scoured the Berkisport archives for anything he could find on dragons and was almost in raptures at finding more on his new favourite subject. He had confided in Hiccup that he wasn't planning on staying a pirate forever and really wanted to go seeking any more hidden dragons if he could find a ship and crew.

Astrid had made a good recovery: still stiff and sore and under serious injunctions not to overdo things or overstretch her wounds but able to walk and move mostly normally. Arild's arm was out of his splint and his bruises had faded. He was washed and clean and dressed well though still skinny and bright-eyed with messy jet hair and insatiable curiosity. To the surprise and consternation of most of Berkisport, Stormy had settled on the roof of the townhouse, supplied daily with a large basket of fish, straight off the fishing boats.

Gothi and Stine had decided that Hiccup would be put through a complex and ruthless programme of rehabilitation and had started him moving the day after he finally woke from his fever. Grumbling and weak as a kitten, he had struggled through the exercises with the same determination that he had shown in dealing with every other disaster he had faced. Surprisingly, it had been Gobber-himself a double amputee-who had been the most concerned about his recovery and he had been a regular visitor, carefully measuring the young pirate for a bespoke prosthesis that the man was already building. All Hiccup knew was that it wasn't a simple wooden peg, it would be far more responsive to movement and would enable the Captain to regain much of his agility...if Gobber could ever complete the device. But in the meantime, he was confined to crutches.

It had been immensely hard for Hiccup, being taken back to the ship by carriage and easing out then moving slowly on crutches to his ship. Sven and Roar, who were waiting, cheered and raced to help him aboard, clapping his back...then apologising as he winced. And then he had limped to his cabin, staring around the only place he had called home since he was driven from Berk. Laying his crutches aside, he sat on the edge of the bed, feeling beneath and grabbing the soft pouch of gold and gems that was his accessible stash. Instinctively, he patted the pillow and retrieved Astrid's sapphire pendant and he smiled at her naivety in leaving jewels on a pirate ship. Then he grabbed his journal and stuffed them all into his satchel, slinging it across his body and heading unevenly for the door...but as he reached it, a huge shape intercepted him.

Governor Stoick 'the Vast' Haddock of Berk.

His father.

He froze and his green eyes narrowed, backing up a tiny hop because he was still reasonably unstable on his crutches and the last time they had really spoken...well, Hiccup had still been in a cell, getting married...

"I want a word with you," Stoick said gruffly.

"Not mutual, Governor," Hiccup said coldly, his hands tightening around the crutches. "I need to get back..." The Governor didn't move and he stared up at the huge shape, feeling his breathing accelerate and his heart galloping in his chest. He was feeling very vulnerable-unarmed, down a leg and concealed from casual observation in his cabin-and facing his father brought back all of those memories.

"I have to speak," Stoick insisted and the young pirate rolled his eyes.

"Knock yourself out-I can't really stop you!" he shot back sarcastically. Stoick took a pace closer. "But keep out of my personal space, Governor. I don't trust you." The man's cool grey-green eyes narrowed and looked even more intimidating.

"I'm sorry," he said in a growl.

Hiccup stared at him, wondering if he was hallucinating again. He could still recall the horrible visions he had been plagued with during his worst fevers, the shades that tormented him and terrified him...and had left him with horrible nightmares that disturbed both him and his wife as they slept in each other's arms. Sorry?

"What's that supposed to mean?" he said sharply, breathing hard. He suddenly felt overwhelmingly angry.

"That I acted wrongly," Stoick said stiffly.

"No," Hiccup breathed, his forest green eyes darkened by his fury. "No."

"No, son, I did act wrongly when I..."

"I. AM. NOT. YOUR. SON!" Hiccup shouted at him with every breath in his lungs.

"You are my..."

"YOU DISOWNED ME!" Hiccup yelled at him, his fists clenched. "Or have you forgotten? You found out I was friends with the only person my age who wasn't a cousin or bully who was of a suitable social status I was ever allowed to interact with; you tortured me to admit said relationship; you threw me out of the family and the house with the words 'You Are Not My Son!' and exiled me from Berk. Oh, and you made sure that no one on Berk was permitted to give me food, water, shelter or help in any way! So which of those are you sorry for?"

"My overreaction!" Stoick's tone was taken aback at the tone.

"Not that you forbade me from seeing the only person I could be friends with? Not that you treated me like an enemy and deliberately and repeatedly hurt me to admit my friendship? A decent father would speak to his son, would ground him, maybe beat him...but he wouldn't deliberately abuse him over and over, then disown him and throw him out to DIE." Stoick stared at him: his rage at the boy's defiance and his hatred of Hofferson had never made him never doubt the rightness of his reaction to the dishonouring of the Haddock name by associating with a Hofferson...

...but to the Haddock thrown from the safety of his family, his home, his very island, it would seem an excessively cruel and brutal punishment for friendship. He was a boy and she a girl: they were teenagers and denied any other company...what else would a reasonable man expect except affection? He stared at the skinny man opposite him, the thick, messy auburn hair framing a far-too pale face with a few faded freckles and large, forest green eyes-eyes that reminded Stoick far too much of his dead wife. The boy had grown, matured and developed into a brave and determined man who had managed to survive a punishment devised to kill him. Shifting his battered shape on his crutches, the pirate hopped slightly as he stared at the Governor, a sardonic smile tilting his face.

"You happy with what you see, Governor?" he asked softly, the challenge obvious. "You may not have engineered my immediate demise but, by the Gods, you did make sure I suffered! You had me starving and desperate so only a pirate vessel would take me aboard! While there...well, let's just say what they did was so bad I spent many hours staring at the sea and trying to think of a reason not to throw myself in to escape the Hel my life became. When I got my ship, a life as a pirate and revenge was my only option...but when I got the chance, I didn't kill you...or Astrid...or Magne. It solved nothing. So when I was caught, I had my day on court and you all suffered the dishonour you heaped on me. And that was it: when my crew rescued me, I planned to be gone...but then I had Arild and Drago was coming and there were people who were innocent and didn't deserve to die."

He looked away. "But I was condemned to die in a galley, making me an escaped slave. I was branded by Drago when he tortured me to reveal Berk's defences. I have been abused and starved and brutalised. And now...I have lost a leg and been close to death. And really none of this would have happened of not for your vicious revenge on a boy whose only crime was to be friends with-and fall in love with-a girl you didn't approve of."

Stoick stared, listening to the accusation and recalling that, though Hofferson had known of and disapproved of the friendship as well, he had kept his Heir while Stoick had sought to destroy his. And despite everything, his son had overcome Drago, the worst enemy the Archipelago had faced for over a hundred years and saved Berk twice-from Drago and from Magne.

"I...wronged you," he said slowly. "We never had much of a relationship, s...Hiccup...and you were never the son I hoped for..."

"That's hardly a State Secret..."

"And you were a disobedient and defiant little runt...but you were my son and you are right...I should have treated you like a son, not an errant servant..."

"Yes, you should! But you never did." Hiccup slowly hopped forward so he was glaring into his father's face. "But you don't know how to be a father. Or even a human being!" There was a pause.

"What do you mean?" Stoick's tone was irritated.

"When I returned to Berk, when you went to Magne and demanded my son because you thought he was your grandchild? Does that ring any bells?" Hiccup's voice was ferociously sarcastic but the Governor stared silently back. "Clearly not. Nothing to say? How unusual. So you do recall you went there and saw my son, imprisoned and afraid? And you were demanding to free him...until you found he was not my blood child...though why and how you would imagine I could have a seven year old son remains beyond me...and you spurned him. And though he is my adopted son and I love him, though he means the world to me, ties of blood or no...you felt it was acceptable to leave him there with a brutal and vicious man who would beat and terrorise him and break his arm as a preface to killing him. So there really is nothing you can say or can do which would ever demonstrate that you are capable of any human emotion or compassion." He turned away.

"H-hiccup...I..." The Governor was blustering now, his face stricken. He had finally realised how furious his son was at his treatment...and he bitterly regretted his actions...but, it seemed, too late. With far more effort and pain than he would admit, Hiccup had manoeuvred himself past the Governor to the door but he lifted his head and cast a scorching glare at the man as he eased the door open. His tone was final.

"You see, Stoick, you have nothing I need or want. And I have no reason to trust you or like you or wish to have anything to do with. You abandoned my son to die as you did to me: why would I ever want to trust me and mine to you ever again? I don't accept your apology: it is as worthless as your word."

"Now, just a minute..." Stoick protested. Hiccup stiffened.

"You promised safe haven...as long as we kept to the rules...but you arrested me and planned to hand me over to die at Drago's hand!" he ground out through his teeth. "Was that not a betrayal of what you had promised? You broke your word to an ally, Stoick. I went through Hel to get those weapons to turn the tide of battle, as I promised-and I was arrested on my return. I married the woman I loved before the battle-and you still tried to prevent me. What was it to you? Just another venal, petty act among many. So as I said...you've got NOTHING I want." And with that he hopped through the door and away, leaving the Governor standing alone, staring at the little cabin that was the only place his disowned son had to call a home.

oOo

When he got onto the deck, he found Elias waiting for him and he could tell from the man's expression that something was very wrong...but his mind was still in utter turmoil, a toxic mixture of anger and hurt and a little fear. He stole a quick glance over his shoulder at the door of his cabin, half-expecting an enraged Stoick to explode out and scream for his guards to arrest the escaped pirate and drag him back to the cells to finish his sentence of death and he shook his head.

"Sir! My friend...I have to talk!" Elias said urgently, shaking Hiccup's arm and the young pirate dragged his attention back to his friend, the escaped former slave and man with a mysterious past. He felt a hefty jolt of guilt that he had not learned as much about Elias as he should...but ever since he had returned, his life had been one stormy passage of danger, capture and battle. But his head was pounding and he felt completely unnerved: he wanted to see his family before he addressed the new problem Elias was just about to dump on him.

"Can we talk when I get back to the house?" he asked, grimacing. Elias shook his head.

"No time!" he said and he lunged forward, slapping his hand over Hiccup's mouth and spinning the man, holding him helpless from behind, an arm trapping his arms by his side and single leg kicking desperately as he was dragged down the steps into the hatch. Eirik grabbed the crutches and vanished after him-so when Stoick emerged onto the deck, there was no sign of his son.

oOo

Snotlout was worried and that was a sensation he didn't like. The intelligence that Cami had drip fed him over the last few days was alarming and he had persuaded Stoick to place additional guards on the dock by the Night Fury, but even so, he knew that was no guarantee that he could outsmart the other pirates. Cami-and Thuggory, who was a decent though self-absorbed man-both confirmed that the others were after the cannon Hiccup had gathered from across the Archipelago and Snotlout, who had seen the effects the weapons had on the enemy, realised such weapons really should never get into their hands. Of course, he had sensed that Cami and Thuggory didn't really want any of them in the hands of the authorities either and his sense of fairness admitted their were far too advanced and would lend an unfair advantage to whoever owned them.

But then they had mentioned to threats against the Captain...and his family, from Viggo and Leifur and his fists had clenched in anger. All Hiccup wanted and deserved was some space to recover and a free choice of what he wanted to do with his future, without the threat of prosecution, recapture or execution. After all, the man had done far more than enough to earn a free pardon for going so far above and beyond in saving Berk and defeating Drago. The only sticking point was Stoick.

Fisting his hair in exasperation, the man groaned. He knew the Governor had a neck of rock, never bending in response to new information and he had been unwilling to rescind the sentence against his son in payment for his actions in saving Berk. Hiccup was still in trouble...and he had had only recently woken from a delirium after his life-threatening infection. His cousin was still weak, exhausted and down a leg and Snotlout knew that all he wanted was to settle down with his new family and make a new life...but it seemed the Gods were not yet finished with Hiccup Haddock...the famed Captain Fury. So the Heir to Berk walked to the Haddock townhouse and was seen in immediately by the Haddock and Hofferson family retainers, all eager to serve Lady Astrid...and the pirate she had married.

She was waiting in the drawing room with Arild, who was whining about having to practice his runes.

"I can't see why I have to know this when the twins can't read..." he huffed.

"Actually, they can," Astrid smiled, seeing the boy stick his tongue out, grab the pencil and copy the words on the page in front of him. Snotlout smirked from the doorway.

"Hmm, that brings back memories," he commented and she looked up, her face lifting in a genuine smile.

"Snotlout!" she greeted, wincing as she pushed herself to her feet and walking quickly over to him. She grasped his hands and he chivalrously kissed one. She punched him in the shoulder. "Creep!" she told him cheerfully.

"Hello, Uncle Snot!" Arild called from the floor, his fingers grubby with charcoal.

"You know, I was hoping you would tell me Hiccup tended to get covered in charcoal and struggled with his runes," Astrid smirked.

"Grubby, yes-you know how clumsy he was!-but he excelled at reading and writing," Snotlout admitted. "I was the useless one with my writing...and when I stopped bullying him, he really helped me. You stick at it, little Toothless!" The boy threw himself back onto the floor and flung his arms wide.

"Why does everyone insist on calling me that?" he exclaimed in a long-suffering voice.

"Because it's so cute...like you!" Astrid sniggered, dropping to her knees and tickling him mercilessly. The sounds of desperate giggles and pleas for mercy as he writhed under her light, expert fingers had Snotlout grinning at the charming domesticity of the scene. Then he shook himself and walked to crouch by them.

"I need a word," he murmured to her. Her blue eyes flicked up, reading the seriousness in his face. Arild finally got himself under control and sighed, recognising the expressions: serious faces meant he got sent out of the room.

"More tall talk?" he huffed. "Can I go and see Stormy?"

"Call him off the roof!" Astrid advised him. "I don't want you falling off and breaking your other arm, both legs and your neck!"

"Awww, Mom..."

"NOW!"

She sighed as he scampered out, already calling the dragon at the top of his voice and slowly got to her feet. "Is he in danger?" she asked. He gave a silent nod. "Who?" Snotlout paced and sighed.

"Viggo and most of the rest here: Leifur, Mildew's first mate and some new arrival called Dogsbreath," he reported. Cami and Thuggory had both sat down and discussed their concerns with him and he had been concerned.

"Cami?" she asked and he shook his head vehemently.

"No...but I'm not sure how to proceed with her..." he confessed. Staring at him, she realised he had genuine feelings for her...and her maid had reported he had been seen around town with the female pirate, causing a tornado of gossip. She slipped her arm through his and leaned close to his stocky shape.

"What do you feel for her?" she asked him seriously. Looking down, she saw his cheeks warm and eyes shift nervously.

"Um...you know how it feels sort of too warm but you still have goosebumps? Your stomach feels like it's doing backflips and you can't concentrate on anything?"

"That could just be typhoid," she suggested heartlessly. He cast her a half-amused, half-annoyed look. "Though it sounds more like malaria...sorry, love!" She was sniggering now and he rolled his eyes.

"Hilarious," he grumped. She swatted his arm and shook her head.

"I heard you were on an understanding with Aslaug Harvardson," she murmured and his blue eyes flicked up: as a noblewoman of Berk, she would have access to all the gossip and he shrugged.

"Um...maybe," he said evasively. "I know her father offered her to mine but I have no idea if any contract was signed...and I don't actually like her. She's got a horrible squint as well..."

"Poor girl," she said unsympathetically then sighed. "She'll make you a perfect wife for a prospective Governor: quiet, polite, a good hostess...safe. But if you love Cami, then I think you have to understand that she will be independent, outspoken, determined, exciting. She will not be a perfect hostess and may want adventure and excitement. She will want to be treated like an equal and will want to be consulted as your best counsel. She won't be a trophy wife but she will be an adventure..."

His eyes sparkled. "I think we both know the answer," he murmured and he gave a small smile. "I choose the adventure." Astrid gave a smug smile.

"I knew you would...but remember what I said," she warned him sternly.

"How do you...?"

"Because I'm the same..." she admitted, giving a little shrug. "And Hiccup knows that he has to treat me as me, not someone else. So what can we do for my poor husband?"

"I think we need to get you two to the ship and Gobber as well...and hopefully that fancy prosthesis of his is good to go," Snotlout decided. "And Astrid...much as I hate to say it...get Arild to bring his dragon!"

oOo

Hiccup found himself shoved sideways as Elias released him in the hold and his single leg buckled, dumping him in a chair, facing Elias and two further shadowy shapes beyond him in the gloomy space. There were only a couple of half-shielded lamps providing uncertain illumination and as he stared up, he felt his heart race. He snatched the knife from its sheath on his belt and lifted it, directing the point at the shapes facing it. His hand was trembling.

"So it comes to this," he said quietly, his voice shaking. "Strange, I always thought it would be one of the other Captains, not you..." There was a deep look of betrayal in his eyes.

"Sir, I..."

"It's not what you think," Sven said, emerging from the darkness. Hiccup's head snapped up.

"You, too?"

"Dude-you gotta chill," Tuff said, Ruff at his side and the pirate's shoulders slumped. He lowered the knife in defeat.

"Tell my wife I..."

"HICCUP! Will you PLEASE listen!" Fishlegs snapped, standing behind him, handing him his crutches. Breathing hard and not understanding, Hiccup automatically turned to him and frowned.

"Then explain," he invited slowly, eyeing his most trusted crew-members. "And could you possibly include why I was kidnapped down to my own hold?"

"I overheard other pirates plotting," Elias reported. "They have been talking for days-trying to bribe any of us..."

"Why?" Hiccup's voice was thoughtful and his eyes flicked from man to man.

"Dude! They want our weapons!" Tuff told him in an outraged tone. Turning to scan the crew, he read the threat.

"And the kidnapping?" he asked pointedly, his hand still trembling at the shock.

"Not sure who we can trust," Fishlegs reported warily. "These guys...Mulch and Bucket who are watching the ship, Lady Astrid, Jannicke...but I don't know about the new guys and the people who are asking to join the crew..."

"Or Stoick," Sven added. "What are his intentions? Did he mention the weapons when he went to talk with you?" Suspicious forest green eyes flicked up to inspect the crewman.

"What?"

"Well, we all see him go in...we ready to come in if you call us, Cap'n," Elias added. Hiccup stared at the deck and sighed.

"No, he didn't mention them," he admitted. "We were discussing...other things..."

"Loudly," Ruffnut added.

"Yeah,, dude...we could all hear..."

"TUFF!"

"Shutting up, Mr Fishlegs Tyrant sir!" the male twin snarked with a mocking salute.

"Do I even need to ask, Fish?" the Captain asked wearily.

"Um, Tuff doesn't like helping with repairs...or cleaning..."

"And...?"

"We needed repairs and cleaning..." Fishlegs added. Hiccup paused and then stared up at the closed hatch, his panic settling and his head clearing. It was a scenario he had long contemplated.

"No," he said softly. "We need a shake-down voyage...just around Berk...far enough from the town to tempt those who want the weapons and have a meaningful discussion with them..."

"Involving shot and gunpowder?" Ruff asked hopefully. Hiccup nodded.

"And the Timberjack and Thunderdrum," he said calmly. "Look, Fish...do you want any of the weapons...even the Typhoomerang-in Viggo's hands. Or someone as amoral and cruel as Drago or Dagur? Or...worse...someone who means well?" The crew all shook their heads. "Then we take them away...and either dismantle or hide or sink them. Sorry, Fish...it may be the only way. You can keep the manuals, if you want..."

"But...but..." the twins protested in unison.

"Dude...I can't let my Thunderdrum go...my little Drummy..." Tuff wailed sadly. "Wait...someone may be stealing her now..."

"WAIT!" Hiccup snapped, waving his hands wildly. "Look, Mulch and Bucket will keep them safe for a moment. But until we sail, I suggest you don't let the weapons out of your sight: you need to stay with them, eat with them, sleep with them, you...can someone pat Ruff on the back? She looks like she's choking..."

"Sleep...with...them..." she coughed, tears streaming down her face. "Ha! I always knew my brother was..."

"Not helping the convalescent!" Hiccup protested. "Right-get us fully stocked, plenty of shot and powder and get my wife and son and Stormy here. We'll sail in the morning...but make sure that it's not a secret that we're going for a spin to check the repairs...just the core crew..." There were cheers and the twins high-fived then head-butted and fell over, clutching their heads. "Fish, Elias...I need a private word," Hiccup said quietly and beckoned them closer. "There are a couple of things I need you to do..."

oOo

The carriage spun down to the docks at top speed, carrying Astrid and Snotlout while overhead, Stormy was gliding just above roof height, lazy flaps carrying the Skrill over the cliffs and spiralling rapidly down while the carriage was zipping down the ramp. Astrid glanced up at the little jet-haired shape of Arild, hanging onto the dragon and whooping in excitement and her lips tilted in a smile. There was something infectious about his innocent, unalloyed delight at flying on a dragon as he swooped down and landed on the deck of the Night Fury as they whipped round the corner and zoomed down to the mooring of the pirate ship.

Ruff and Tuff were lying draped over the cannons and both looked up as Stormy landed in his usual place on the poop deck. "Halt-who goes there?" Tuff called as the dragon poked his head over the rail.

"Me, Tuff!" Arild shouted happily.

"T! What are you doing here?" the male twin asked, frowning.

"Mom and Uncle Snot said to head down here," he called. "They're on their way-and they need to speak to Dad!"

"He's in the cabin, T!" Ruff called, stroking her cannon. Looking sightly confused, Arild scampered down the stairs and ran into the cabin...to see Gobber, the man with the hook and wooden leg, strapping a metal contraption to his Dad's missing leg. Arild stopped at the door as Hiccup lifted his head, his green eyes seeing his son and face warming with a smile. He beckoned the boy over and Arild looked suspiciously at the prosthetic.

"What is it, Dad?" he asked, frowning. Ruffling his hair, Hiccup gestured.

"You know they had to cut my leg off?" he asked and the boy nodded, staring at the floor, his lip trembling.

"Yeah...Mom and me were waiting outside," he revealed in a small voice and Hiccup stilled. He had flashes...fragments really...but they were red and blurred and filled with horrific pain...and he couldn't imagine listening outside to that...so he wrapped his arm around the little boy and hugged him fiercely.

"Thank you for being there for me," he murmured softly. "It's okay though, bud. Now Gobber has built me a new leg."

"Aye, laddie-and it will be far better than anything ye've seen afore!" the old blacksmith grinned. "Me finest work, I do say so mysel'. Ye'll walk and run again, Hiccup." Grimacing, the young pirate felt the straps tighten and he winced, then stared at his son.

"Wanna help me, bud?" he asked and the boy nodded, bracing himself as the pirate gritted his teeth and pushed himself up onto his feet. The metal prosthesis had a flattened foot portion with small spikes to prevent slippage. There was a pivot and spring and a padded cup over the tender stump: Hiccup felt pain like sharp skewers stabbing up his amputated leg and he gasped aloud.

"Dad?"

"I'm okay, bud," he breathed, pale. Gobber stared up and levered his heavy body to his feet.

"Tek it easy, laddie," he advised. "It'll be painful at first. Ye'll get used tae it! Jest tek yer time!" Hiccup cast him a jaundiced look: he was already feeling sick with the pain but his son was at his side and he would be damned if he looked pathetic again before Arild. His hand tightened slightly on the boy's skinny shoulder and took a quick, limping step, red spots flashing over his vision in pain. He grimaced, then took another step, stumbling and crashing into his knees.

"Dad!"

"Gods, this hurts," he hissed, levering himself up and determinedly pressing the metal foot to the deck. His hand closed around Arild's, feeling the soft skin against his and he watched the boy lift his worried green gaze. "C'mon, bud-let's give Mom a surprise," he murmured and took another limping step. The pain was so bad it felt as if his leg was being cut off again but he slowly and unevenly made it to the door. Arid quietly worked the handle and opened it for him.

"You're doing great, Dad," he said softly and the pirate felt his lips curve up in a smile at the loyal reassurance.

"Aye-that's a grand try for yer first!" Gobber agreed, handing the drooping Hiccup a crutch and he gratefully shoved it under his left arm, leaning hard on it as he moved slowly onto the deck...to hear a familiar voice.

"Hiccup!" His head snapped up to see his wife-his wife...that was still a dream-and he smiled, taking a halting step towards her and giving her a cocky grin.

"Missed me, Milady?" he asked her softly. She ran forward and almost knocked him over, her arms wrapping fiercely round him. The clatter as the crutch hit the deck was loud as he enfolded her in his arms and they hugged tightly...and then kissed.

"I'm so proud," she breathed, staring up into his gentle emerald eyes. "Are you...?"

"We need to talk," he told her, leaning hard on her as Arild grabbed his crutch and lifted it, accidentally whacking him in the face with it. He yelped and grabbed the crutch before the lad could accidentally hit Astrid as well. Arild gave his gappy grin, completely unrepentant.

"Sorry, Dad!"

"You are full of surprises," Snotlout commented as he arrived on deck and did a double-take at his cousin standing on his foot and prosthetic. "And she's right: we need to talk."

"About the others coming for the weapons? Kinda figured that out...with the help of my crew," Hiccup told him. With a roll of his eyes, the Heir folded his arms.

"So you don't need..." he huffed and Hiccup stretched an arm out, catching his shoulder.

"Snot-I need all the help I can get," he sighed. "We don't know who to trust. And I have spoken to Stoick...so I guess there's no help from that quarter." Astrid looked up and frowned. "Let's just say, I wasn't able to forgive him. He is...impossible..."

"I think...he just doesnae know how to communicate," Gobber murmured.

"So what are we doing, babe?" Astrid asked her husband. He glanced around his crew.

"Time to take the Night Fury for a cruise around the island...with my wife and son, my cousin and crew...and every hostile pirate on our tail..." he said with a smile. "If they want the weapons, they can come and get them!"

"Why not run, babe? Why give them the chance to hurt us?" Astrid asked but he kissed her forehead softly, staring into her eyes.

"They will hunt us down," he explained. "And I want this on my terms. We'll do this off Berk, where I know the waters better than anyone. And I promise you...they will never get their hands on the weapons!" He saw a movement behind them: Elias, who raced up the gangplank. "Is it done?" The man nodded calmly.

"They will take the bait!" he confirmed as Hiccup hobbled forward.

"PULL UP THE GANGPLANK! HOIST THE MAINSAIL! CAST OFF!" he bellowed. "We sail!" He turned to his cousin. "You can still get off before it all goes south..."

"That's my favourite direction," Snotlout told him with a grin. "Besides, I reckon you can do with every friendly hand you can get!"

"Milady?"

"If you think I am letting you out of my sight for one more Gods-damned minute, you are sorely mistaken Captain Hiccup Horrendous Haddock!" she growled at him. "I am NOT having you losing any more limbs..."

"Which is me cue tae leave! Guid luck!" Gobber grinned and hopped onto the dock, winking. He had every intention of speaking to the Governor again because there had to be some way to reconcile the man with his son. But he paused and watched as the fresh black sails flapped down and the Night Fury pulled away. As he watched, the other pirate ships all began to make preparations to leave and the old blacksmith sighed. Captain Fury was facing a deadly challenge.

On the prow of the DragonEye, Viggo Grimborn stared at the black-sailed ship as she tacked towards the harbour exit through the seastacks and his knuckles tightened on the rail. The note Elias had delivered was crumpled in his hand.

"After her," he commanded. "Signal the others to follow. Today, we will finally get those weapons and then we will end Captain Fury!"