Three: Quests

"I'm going to end them all."

There was an aeons-long pause as the assembled Vikings stared at the slender blonde, her body tense, before Stoick took a pace forward and rested a paternal hand on her armoured shoulder. He sighed. In his younger days, he had been known as 'Stoick the Vindictive'-before he qualified to be called 'the Vast' and he could fully appreciate the absolute need to wreak fiery vengeance upon those who had tormented and broken his son in such cruel and vicious ways...but he knew as well that Hiccup needed them more than ever now.

"Astrid-vengeance can wait for another day," he murmured. "Hiccup needs our help now..."

"And what help can we give him?" she asked baldly. "Make him live a little longer-so they come and claim him? Or capture him again and break more pieces off my love? And you know they will try to stop us finding any cure so that we have the triumph of rescuing him...only to watch him die, feeling utterly helpless?" Her brow furrowed. "Someone has to stop them-and I am that person."

"Then I will go with you, lass-because he is my son as well," the Chief told her firmly.

"Don't forget ole' Gobber!" the blacksmith volunteered eagerly.

"Chief-you are needed here-by your son and your Tribe," Astrid said calmly. "If they attack here to kill him, you are needed to lead your people..."

"And so are you!" he reminded her. She gave twisted smile.

"They have their missions-and I have mine," she said. "Hiccup only stands a chance if we all do our part-and that includes my stopping them getting close enough to harm him again."

"Lass-he needs you," Stoick tried and she nodded.

"I know," she said. "But I can't imagine a world without him in. I can't imagine a world where I have to live every day, knowing I could have stopped the people who did this to Hiccup." The Chief stared into her face and then nodded.

"At least wait until we have given the cure a shot," he asked and the girl gave a reluctant nod, her eyes trailing back to the motionless shape on the bed. Apart from the shallow rise and fall of his chest, there was little other sign that Hiccup was still alive. Quietly, she crouched down again by his bed and lifted his hand to her mouth.

"I'm here, babe," she assured him. "Don't stop fighting, Hiccup. Toothless needs you. Berk needs you. And I-I can't imagine a world without you. You said there should always be a Hiccup and Astrid. I need you to make sure that's the case. We'll find the cure...and then we'll end Viggo and Krogan."

oOo

Frost Isle was a remote, desolate hunk of rock situated even further north than Freezing-To-Death and was the original location of the AllThing, the council of the Viking settlers of the Archipelago, four centuries earlier. As the number of Tribes expanded and the weather deteriorated to the point where Frost Isle became uninhabitable, the outpost had been abandoned and the Council of Chiefs had replaced the AllThing with a rotating location. The inhabitants of Frost Isle scattered and joined other Tribes and the place was largely forgotten.

The dragon riders closed on the remote speck, the silver shape of Windshear leading with Snotlout and the twins vying for second place in the phalanx. Fishlesg brought up the rear-as usual-with Gothi flying beside him on her Gronckle. The Healer was focussed and silent, her staff carefully stowed on her saddle while Fishlegs was scanning every book on botany he possessed as he rode. But no one had even mentioned the Wine of Hela, let alone any hint of a cure. So the riders pressed on, wrapped in their warmest clothes until, as night fell, they made it to Frost Isle.

The place was unremittingly bleak, snow blowing around and a scouring wind blasting the huddled riders and dragons. Hookfang immediately flamed up and Snotlout huddled close to his dragon, warming his hands on the flames.

"Well this sucks," he commented.

"Actually, my dear sir, I think you'll find it blows," Tuff put in. "As in...a gale."

"Silence-all of you!" Heather snapped, looking over to Fishlegs and Gothi. "We need shelter-there's no sense in wandering around in the dark."

"I've found an old map in the Berk Archives," Fishlegs offered. "We landed on the southern coastline-and a mile north there is the main settlement. There should still be some buildings standing there because they built of stone. There are no trees on Frost Isle."

"Makes you wonder why they came here in the first place," Heather muttered. Gothi paused-and then began to scratch on the ground.

"She says...when they arrived, the weather was less extreme and this island was the first they reached in the Archipelago with no signs of dragon damage. After a few years, the weather got worse and they headed south, past Freezing-to-Death which was uninhabitable and Hopeless, which has no water, to Berk and the rest of the islands. They had to choose dragon raids or death so they settled the islands and the war began."

A sombre silence fell over them.

"Okay-that's depressing," Snotlout commented. "Let's find that shelter. Or the Archipelago may have to mourn to loss of all this beauty..."

oOo

Astrid's family were welcoming and delighted to see her, though sympathetic to her plight. And she had to try really hard to be sociable and show interest in the tales of her cousins and extended family when all she wanted to do was to be at Hiccup's side, spending every last second she could with him. But the fact was that she was betrothed, not married to Hiccup and had no right to be at his side all the time.

But in the evening, after her family had gone to bed, she clambered out of the window and walked down to the Chief's House, where Stoick and his dying son were now staying. She tentatively knocked and there was a pause before the Chief's gruff voice called:

"Come in, lass!" Frowning, she pushed the door open and walked into the warm, dim space, carefully closing it behind her. Stoick chuckled when he caught her face. "Who else would be visiting at this time of night, Astrid? And never fear-you have every right to visit him whenever you want. I still have Chiefing duties and I hate for him to be alone, to wake and not have someone here that he loves." His voice had thickened.

"How is he?" she asked, not trusting herself to meet his stricken face. He sighed.

"The same," he admitted, the chair creaking under his bulk. "His fever is a little lower because Gothi dosed him with moss and willow tea before she left-but he hasn't woken." She puled up a stool and sat at the Chief's side, taking Hiccup's hot hand in hers, feeling the now-familiar breaks in his dexterous fingers.

"He will," she said tonelessly. "He's Hiccup. He doesn't know how to give up."

"And nor do we-eh, Astrid?" the Chief said astutely. "We are both warriors and though we know some battles have very small chances of victory, that doesn't stop us fighting."

"That practically defines a Viking," Astrid commented, gently stroking the back of Hiccup's hand.

"Did you mean what you said?" Stoick asked her gently and she nodded absently.

"If Hiccup dies, then I will go," she said flatly. "I won't let them get away with this." And finally she looked up and he saw tears shimmering in her beautiful blue eyes.

"Astrid, if you decide to walk that road, this may a road you can only walk down and not return," he warned her. "Vengeance is a monster that can consume you. It may change you from the lass that Hiccup loves to someone else."

"And if he dies, I won't care," she said slowly. "There should always be a Hiccup and Astrid...but Viggo and Krogan seem determined to separate us. And even if he survives, he may no longer be mine. The Hunter clan may claim him as their slave." Stoick leaned close.

"Not if they're all dead," he murmured. "If my son dies...or if they try to enslave him...I will fight at your side to take them down." She shook her head.

"If Hiccup dies, you will need to look after the Tribe-as Hiccup would want you to. And you'd need to try to train Snotlout as an Heir." Stoick's eyebrows shot up and he stared at her.

"Did you seriously say that?" he asked her.

"Who else is there?" she replied.

"You?" he suggested but she shook her head absently.

"If he dies, I kill them all," she reminded him. "And I go. Forever. Because doing that would disappoint Hiccup...and I would know it. I couldn't return to Berk where everything would remind me of him."

"The Riders would need you," Stoick murmured.

"They'd manage," she sighed.

"I...need...you..." a hoarse voice breathed and they both started. Hiccup's eye fluttered open and the grip on her hand tightened slightly. "And you...were getting on...so well..."

"Son!" Stoick breathed as the battered young man managed a smile.

"Hey, Dad..." he murmured. "Hey, Milady..."

"How do you feel?" she asked, leaning close and pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.

"Just great," he lied, his eye searching her face. His swollen and wounded eye was securely bandaged and she realised there was fear in his clear gaze. "But...I was listening...and you mentioned me dying rather a lot..."

There was an awkward pause.

"Son..." Stoick began and then looked helplessly at Astrid. She took his hot hand in both of hers.

"Viggo and Krogan have poisoned you," she explained, smiling to try to convince him that he wasn't doomed. He swallowed.

"Thirsty..." he murmured and she tenderly poured him water and allowed him to drink. He licked his lips. "Bad?"

"The others are on their way to find out about the cure," she assured him.

"Viggo...must have it...in case of accidents," he murmured.

"But we can't just rely on that..." Stoick put in. "So we've sent Gothi and Fishlegs on the case..." He tried a smile.

"They'll find the answer..." he mumbled. "But in case...shouldn't someone go after Viggo?" The blonde and the Chief shared a look.

"We can do that," she said. "If we knew where they had vanished to..."

"Maybe...Johann can help?" Hiccup asked haltingly. "He may hear something..."

Then he caught their expression.

"How long do I have?" he asked.

"Six moons," Astrid said slowly and he took a slow breath.

"Okay...less time than I would have liked," he admitted. "Don't give up-because I won't..." And then his eyelids fluttered. "Tired..." he mumbled and she leaned forward and kissed him. "Love you, Astrid. Love you, Dad."

"Love you, Babe," she murmured as Stoick mumbled "Love you, son." He smiled.

"Stay with me," he breathed and then his eyes closed, his breathing deepening to sleep. The Chief looked over at the young woman and saw tears trickle down her cheeks.

"I think I'll stay awhile," he murmured. "How about you, lass?"

"Nowhere else I can be right now," she murmured.

oOo

Reaching the village of Frost Isle was enlightening, finding solid and silent stone houses half-buried in the drifting snows. However, it didn't take the dragons long to dig the largest house out and make sure the smoke-hole was clear. Heather and Snotlout went first, checking the stale-smelling cottage for danger and finding that, though musty, there was nothing else of concern in there. The dragons started a fire and the riders huddled up, trusting their friends to warn them of any danger.

But they had only been asleep for a short while when the howling of the wind woke most of them. The fire flickered and began to lower and the twins urgently fed the flames and made sure the fire survived. All Berkians learned how to deal with exposure especially in Devastating Winter...but on Frost Isle, it seemed to be Devastating Winter all the time. Gothi rolled her eyes and then snuggled up against her Gronckle, while the others huddled together.

"We could tell ghost stories..." Tuff suggested as Snotlout rolled his eyes.

"Oh please...I am so awesome I cannot be frightened by your stupid tales!" he scoffed.

"Yeah-no one wants to hear your stupid stories," Ruff growled.

"Okay, so the first one goes like this..." Tuff began, judiciously ignoring everyone as Fishlegs edged closer to Heather.

"Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea?' he asked. She sighed.

"No-but they're so muttonheaded they'll be up all night scaring themselves silly and then be useless for the search when it gets light," she sighed. "Okay, Tuff-enough..."

"...and the howling of the wind formed the plaintive words...Help me...Help me..." the male twin continued. Snotlout was already cringing back against Hookfang.

"Let him finish," Ruff pleaded. "We wanna hear Snotlout scream-he screams exactly like a girl!"

"Come on...you're not serious..." Heather huffed.

"Seriously-haven't you heard him?" Ruff asked in surprise. "He's totally like a girl..."

"...and the steps came closer...closer..." Tuff continued. "...until..."

There was a loud crash that made everyone jump. Barf'n'Belch shared a satisfied look. Snotlout was now hiding his face.

"...the steps were within the room..."

There was a repeated creaking...almost certainly due to Ruffnut, Heather guessed.

"...until they stopped..."

There was silence.

"And finally..." Tuff whispered. "A tiny, plaintive voice whispered the name of her next victim..." He leaned until he was right by Snotlout's ear. "SNOTLOUT!" he yelled at the top of his voice.

The stocky rider jumped the air, his high-pitched scream filling the room and he raced the the far side of the house. Tuff and Ruff were helpless with laughter as Snotlout pressed his hand to his chest, trying to calm his breathing and scowling at being made a fool of again.

"You...I'm gonna make you regret that!" he growled, marching back to confront the male twin. "You and your stupid..."

There was a thud and Gothi's staff swung, hitting Snotlout, Ruff and Tuff and stunning all three. She slammed the end of her staff on the ground in a manner that said SHUT UP! in no uncertain terms and then hobbled back to her bed.

"Gothi's right," Heather announced. "Everyone-back to bed. We've got a lot of work in the morning!"

oOo

Trader Johann was surprisingly in port the next morning, his manner as obsequious as ever and expressing deep sympathy at the plight of the dragon rider.

"I cannot believe it," he said in an outraged tone. "Poor Master Hiccup. That those terrible people could hurt him is absolutely scandalous!" Stoick folded his arms and nodded, a scowl twisting his face. He could usually manage a smile for the Trader, who he personally found incredibly annoying and always considered mildly untrustworthy-but he was exhausted and grief-stricken so his patience was eroded.

"We need your help, Johann," he said without preamble.

"My help? What help could I offer to the great Chief?" the Trader asked in surprise. "I am hardly a warrior or a healer..."

"We need to know where Viggo and Krogan are now," Stoick told the Trader. "You have many contacts and trade widely. Someone must have seen them."

"They are very nasty men-and dangerous enemies," Johann replied evasively. "I mean...I have to do business with everyone...and if it became known that I was siding with one Tribe against another..." Stoick growled in his throat and took a menacing pace towards the smaller man.

"Have you heard of Trade Sanctions?" he growled.

"Yes-as two words that should never be said in the same sentence together," Johann snapped back. "Chief Stoick-my life would be in danger if I led you to the Hunters..."

"And it may well be in danger if you don't," Stoick threatened him. The Trader backed up.

"Did-did you just...?" he mumbled as Stoick nodded, his fists cracking as he tightened them.

"My son and Heir is dying and Viggo poisoned him," he growled. "He will have the antidote and if I don't give it to my son in five moons, he will die. And if my only son dies, my rage will know no bounds and anyone who refused to help or hindered my quest to save him will be counted as an ally of the Hunters. And I will use every ounce of my strength to destroy them for their crimes!" Johann's eyes widened.

"When you put it like that...I did hear a rumour of Hunter bases towards Disappointing and maybe a couple down by Loki's Pebbles..." he said hastily as Stoick gave a nod, glancing over to Gobber. The blacksmith ambled forward and wrapped an amiable arm around the unnerved Trader and steered him towards the Great Hall.

"There yer go!" Gobber chatted amiably, leading the Trader away. "Berk looks after her allies and her friends. I think we've got Mrs Ericson's special Yak chops up at the Hall today..." Stoick watched them go and then headed back for his home, thinking hard. Part of him was screaming not to trust Johann but what option did they have? The chances that the Riders would find the antidote were slim at best and he knew that finding Viggo and his Hunters was his son's best chance of survival.

If it wasn't a trap.

oOo

"As-Astrid...?" Hiccup's voice was hoarse and his unbandaged eye bleary as he glanced over at the motionless shape, bowed in the chair. In a second, she was leaning forward, holding his hand and ghosting a kiss on his feverish brow.

"I'm here, Babe," she said quietly, forcing her lips to turn up in a small smile. "How are you?"

"Never better," he lied with a smile-though she could read the fear in his emerald gaze. And then he sighed. "Just tired..." She stroked his forehead tenderly, ruffling his auburn hair off his bruised brow.

"Just rest," she said gently, perching on the edge of the bed but his hand found hers and he squeezed.

"Do you ever think about the future, Astrid?' he asked her suddenly and she frowned slightly, inclining her head as she tried to work out what to say.

"I try not to, since the future will come and I will deal with it when it does," she admitted. "The Norns make their choices and we face the consequences."

"I think about it all the time," he murmured slowly, frowning. "I mean, being Stoick's son and Heir always meant I had to think about the future. I had to imagine what I would be like as a Chief, how I could possibly cope, how I could avoid destroying the village..." She chuckled.

"Maybe up to when you shot Toothless down...but afterwards...no one doubted you," she reminded him. He sighed.

"I worry all the time," he admitted. "More now I have caused hardship to Berk in our fight with the Hunters...and being a Viking is a dangerous occupation..." She smiled and laced her fingers with his, feeling the warmth from his fever.

"And you have a real knack for finding trouble," she said.

"I try not to..." he admitted, "but I couldn't bear if anything happened to you, to my friends if I could have prevented it. I would rather it happened to me..."

"And it has, you muttonhead," she growled, punching his shoulder gently. He yelped.

"Ow! Dying man here!" he protested and then he lay back, closing his eye. "Astrid, I'm sorry."

She stiffened and blinked, staring into his face.

"It wasn't your fault," she assured him, leaning close. She rested her hand against his bruised cheek and felt him press into the loving touch. "We will find the antidote and you'll be back to normal before you can say 'Snotlout'." He sighed.

"I wanted to marry you ever since I was about ten," he managed haltingly. "And my dearest wish was to stand up in front of the village and declare my love and devotion to you. And I will never get to see that day. I will never get to see the daughter and son I prayed we would have together. I am so sorry, Astrid. I'm so sorry..."

"Shh, shh...it's okay..." she said, leaning close and kissing him. A tear slid down his cheek.

"I don't want to die, Astrid," he whispered.

"You won't..." she assured him but he swallowed.

"Astrid, I can feel the poison working," he told her. "Thinking...is a struggle. My head is pounding. My limbs feel numb. Please, let me speak because I am not sure how much longer I will be able to." He blinked. "I love you. I don't want to leave you. But if-if I do...I want you to find someone to make you happy. I want you to live for me, Astrid. And I hope you will look after Toothless...because he won't understand."

"I promise..."

"Mean it," he breathed hoarsely. "Please..."

"You'll be welcomed into Valhalla," she smiled, her eyes shining with tears. He shook his head.

"I'm dying in bed, of a poison, not in battle," he rasped, his voice thick with misery. "I'll never see Dad again...or you. Or Mom..." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry, Astrid." She swiped a tear from her cheeks, forcing her voice to be steady.

"Hiccup-I will never give up on you-because you never gave up on me, when I had the Scourge of Odin and when I went blind," she reminded him. "Gods, I love you, you dork! I love your bravery and your kindness and your concern for others and-and everything about you. So you fight and hang on in there...and I will find a way to stop this thing. I promise, Babe-so you fight for me Hiccup." He swallowed and managed a small nod.

"Could you get Toothless, please?" he asked her softly. "I know you've persuaded him to go out to get some fish but I need to speak to him..." She nodded and he felt her rise from the bed and heard her walk to the door. He blinked and pressed a hand to his face. He guessed that the poison was progressing and he doubted he would have the opportunity to speak again with his betrothed. He was very aware, even with the thick fuzziness in his head from the fever that his body was breaking down fast under the pernicious assault of the poison. He was just glad that she hadn't guessed what the poison had already taken from him.

He had managed the conversation on sound alone and his heart was already breaking that he would never see her beautiful face once more, never stare into those clear blue eyes and see them light with her luminous smile.

He was blind.

A/N: I am so mean to Hiccup. This is getting dark and will get darker. I know that I am getting mixed thoughts from reviewers about Hiccup's situation-including votes for Hiccup to die. Now, I am not revealing what will happen but for those of you of a nervous disposition, I suggest you take heart from my other stories. I have written 32 stories and killed Hiccup once. I love angst and torturing the characters and I do have a plan for this story which may or may not involve major character death (and definitely bad guy death!). Trust the panther. -hp