Twenty Six: The Most To Lose

Fishlegs had managed to scavenge a sword from the bodies of the guards who were hidden behind a cage they passed but he would rather have been in the air, sitting atop Meatlug and facing the enemy with his dragon. Of course, Meatlug was at his side, her eyes slitted and wings raised in the most aggressive pose she could manage. She did look fierce and he knew how dangerous Gronckles could be, from before the war with the dragons ended-but in his heart, he could never imagine Meatlug as anything but his loving, protective friend.

The footsteps were approaching and Snotlout and Astrid were preparing for battle, weapons raised and game faces on. The change in Astrid was a surprise, for Fishlegs had known her from a child. And while she had always been focussed and serious, now there was a hard edge to her that made him truly believe she would kill without hesitation. The knowledge that she had more or less exterminated Viggo's Tribe and dismantled his organisation just underlined the change that had overtaken his friend.

But facing a battle in the enemy's base with no way out and hopelessly outnumbered with no way to use their dragons was no plan. And though Snotlout would sneer at him about being a coward and not relishing battle, Fishlegs knew he wasn't right. He had Berserker blood-through his mother's side-and the Thor Bonecrusher personality he had developed when hypnotised had expressed those tendencies...but they couldn't have emerged from his rather timid persona if they hadn't already been there.

"This is insane," he said, resting his hand on Meatlug's head. "Astrid! Is there another way out?"

"Just the main entrance," she told him shortly, shifting her weight from foot to foot as the steps closed.

"Look-this is a natural cave system-so there must be another way out," he said urgently.

"Yeah...maybe for a gnat!" Snotlout scoffed, backing up a pace.

"No-this is an extensive cave system...and a lot of water has run through here in the past," he said, gesturing to the stalactites hanging down from the surprisingly high roof of the cave. "And that had to get in somehow. We're not a long way underground and there is no volcano to make these-so there must be a good sized entrance for the water to get in."

"Aww, c'mon..." Snotlout whined but Astrid looked over at him and nodded.

"You're right," she said, then gestured. "That way. GO! I'll hold them off."

"Babe, I can totally..." Snotlout began but she rolled her eyes at him.

"Okay, Snotlout-I will take you up on your offer," she said abruptly. "You hold them off and I'll run away..."

He stared at her, jaw dropped.

"What? No, that's not what..." he began.

"Help Fishlegs get the dragons to the back of the cave system while I hold them off," she said through gritted teeth. "Stormfly and I will follow once you've had time to get away." Needing no further urging, Snotlout turned and sprinted after the husky rider as Astrid lifted her axe once more. Then he paused.

"Astrid?"

"What?"

"Hiccup needs you. Now more than ever. Please don't get yourself killed now he's found you. It would really break him."

"Getting killed wasn't in the plan," Astrid told him shortly. "Now GO!" He ran off as she raised her axe and the first man rounded the corner. "Just you and me, girl. Now let's buy them some time before we get them out of here." A scream burst from her throat as the first man appeared and her axe slashed down...

oOo

Hiccup stared across the sea to the distant silhouette of Nameless Isle, anxiety bubbling in his chest. Dagur's words had winded him, because he knew that Astrid was trapped within the base, at the mercy of Johann and his men, who had already treated Heather so poorly. She was wrapped in a blanket, bandaged and dosed with a potion that Gothi had brought along, while the A Team circled Loki's Finger.

Quietly, he wrapped his arms around his body and allowed his mind to slide back across the months to that evening after Astrid had been blinded, when Gothi had unwound the bandages and Astrid's beautiful clear blue eyes had focussed on him and her lips had lifted in a relieved smile, for she was staring at his concerned face once more. And the words they had spoken, as they sat on the deck, staring out at the lowering sun back on the Edge.

I'm fine, Hiccup. You can stop worrying about me now.

Well, I never stop worrying about you. That's just the way it is.

Yeah, yeah-I guess...that goes for me too. Can I ask you something?

Sure.

Back in the forest, when we were...you know...

Yeah...?

Were you about to...?

Ahh. So-so you felt that, huh? I-I thought I'd got away with it.

Well...why didn't you?

Oh. Oh! Well I...it wasn't perfect. And I always thought that if it ever happened...and yes, I've thought about it...a LOT...er...it had to be just perfect...

Well, this seems pretty perfect to me.

Yeah. Yeah! I guess it does...

And then, they had leaned closer and he had kissed her, the moment he had dreamed of for years, since that first brief kiss in the Cove. The moment had been extraordinary and eternal but in reality, it had probably only lasted a few seconds. But it had been the moment they had finally taken the step to declare their feelings. They had both sort of known, being best friends and confidantes for ever, but it was a relief to know where they stood and be able to move forward.

But Viggo had tried to sunder them and though he hadn't managed to kill either one, the fallout had separated the couple. It had been Astrid's plan but somehow, it had gone wrong and she as well as Fishlegs and Snotlout were trapped. But he had to hope, to trust that she would escape using the brilliance, determination...yes, and ruthlessness that he knew she possessed.

But it didn't stop him worrying.

"It's okay," Ruff said in a low voice. "They'll find another way out. Astrid is pretty smart and she destroyed all this Hunter Bases. There is no way she is going to give up now she has you back."

"And no way Johann will ever let her go..." Tuff glanced at his twin.

"Maybe we can employ the art of distraction," he suggested. "Those catapults need retiring..."

"That may keep the guards from finding them until they can find another way out," Dagur commented, walking up. "I don't like your plan, brother."

"For the record, neither do I," Hiccup admitted. "But I don't see any other way. It has to end. I have to end it." He nodded and walked back to Heather. "I promise we will get Windshear back," he told her evenly and she blinked at the tone. He sounded uncannily like Stoick in that moment.

"Good luck," she called wearily and he nodded as he clambered onto Toothless.

"We'll all need it," he murmured. Especially Astrid. And then he launched, heading back to Nameless Isle as the others headed for the main entrance, launching an attack on the weapons as Toothless soared up to the plateau, seeing Johann standing there with two of his men and two shapes with sacks over their head, wrapped up in ropes and gagged. Johann waved at the Night Fury as it circled, his face twisted in a triumphant smile.

"You can see that I have kept my part of the deal," he shouted. "Have you, Hiccup?" The young viking didn't respond, circling the plateau and looking for any sign of other men, of an ambush...but the only people there were Johann, his two men and the prisoners. "As you can see, they are hale and well!"

Toothless circled again. There were certainly a husky shape and a shorter stocky shape wrapped in sacks, covering them from their head to their knees, with a gag to stop them shouting a warning-or giving themselves away. Hiccup leaned forward.

"Is it them, bud?" he murmured. The Night Fury sniffed-and then gave a growl. Hiccup gave a small smile. "Difficult to miss Snotlout, isn't it?" he chuckled. "Or fake him!" Then he looked up, still circling. "They may be hale and well-but you wanna take their hoods off, Johann? So I can see their faces? Because I already know they aren't my friends. STOP LYING!"

Johann's fists clenched and he gestured. The ropes and sacks were slashed and two more of Johann's men emerged, blinking but fully armed.

"Not as stupid as you look, Master Hiccup," he growled.

"Send them away!" Hiccup ordered sharply. "Or I go."

"No, you won't," Johann sneered. "You friends are currently cornered in the back of the cave system. There is no way out-and my men will recapture them. Do you want them instantly killed-or captured and open for exchange? Land!"

"The men go!" Hiccup snapped.

"Two of them," Johann bargained. "After all, you have brought a friend."

"One friend."

"He is worth two men," Johann wheedled.

He's worth hundred but I'm not giving you that.

"They throw their weapons aside and stand at the far side of the plateau," Hiccup ordered. Making a show of thinking about it, Johann nodded. Then he gestured to his men.

"You two, go. Back to the base and await my instructions. The others...over there. Swords on the ground..."

"All weapons, Johann," Hiccup called, still circling. Growling in his throat, the Trader gestured.

"You heard the skinny one-legged Viking," he snapped. "All weapons. Now jump to it." Finally, the other two men vanished down a concealed dip that must lead down into the base while the others walked to the far side of the plateau and then threw their weapons to the ground. Finally, carefully keeping Johann between himself and the way the other men had vanished, Toothless landed. Slowly, Hiccup dismounted and rested a hand briefly on the Night Fury's head.

"Keep a close watch, bud," he murmured before he turned his attention to the Trader. "Okay, Johann-let's talk."

oOo

The first wave of Johann's guards were tentative and hung back as Astrid easily dispatched them and Stormfly finished anyone stupid enough to come close. Hearing the next group prepare, Astrid knew they would be a harder proposition and she turned.

"Let's go," she murmured, seeing other dragons in the cages. Swiftly, she ran and let them out, seeing them head in the direction of the main entrance, where they could smell fresh air and hear the sea. And intercept the guards. Then she ran after the others, Stormfly at her back. There was a heavy door that had been forced open and she closed and jammed it behind her as they left the well-lit areas of the cave system into the darker and damper reaches of the caves. Stormfly opened her mouth, flames burning there like a living torch as they sped forward, the dragon sniffing and indicating which way the others had gone. But at one point, she paused and gave an unhappy shake.

"Have they gone the wrong way?" she asked and the Nadder nodded. Rolling her eyes, she huffed. "Why does that not surprise me," she sighed, pausing. "SNOTLOUT! FISHLEGS!"

"Here!" the husky rider called from the gloom. "It's a dead end this way."

"Yeah, Fishface-I said we should have gone forward, not right," Snotlout huffed, approaching. The sounds of the dragons closing grew louder.

"Actually, Stormfly says it's left," Astrid told them as they appeared, looking grubby and worried. Snotlout gave a brash smile.

"That's what I said-left!" he announced. Rolling her eyes, Astrid patted Stormfly's shoulder and the Nadder bounded off into the darkness, with the Riders and dragons swiftly following. They had to stop as Fishlegs fell over twice and tripped and fell into a small ice-cold stream once while Snotlout stubbed his toe and whined like a child but finally, they saw the glimmering of grey daylight ahead. Astrid sped forward and peered up a steep chimney at the flat patch of grey sky up ahead.

"You were right, Fishlegs," she said. "That's our way out." But the husky rider frowned.

"That looks pretty narrow," he pointed out. Snotlout gestured and the Monstrous Nightmare bounded forward and began to clamber up the sheer walls-but his talons slid off the smooth and slick rock and he landed in an ungainly heap at the bottom of the vertical. Snotlout tutted and earned himself a slap from the dragon's tail.

"Too slippery," he reported from the floor a couple of yard back where he landed after the swipe. Astrid stared upwards, running her hands on the walls. She had hoped that Windshear and Hookfang, at least, wound be able to clamber out...but she knew that Stormfly, who was designed very much like a bird, wouldn't manage it.

"Meatlug is the only one who can hover up there," she said, glancing over her shoulder and listening for sounds of pursuit. "She can check if the entrance is clear and then she can lift us up." Worriedly, Fishlegs glanced over at Meatlug, who was scratching behind her ear with a paw and then he smiled.

"I know she can do it, can't you Meatlug?" The Gronckle gave a little rumble and then he clambered on her back and the solid brown dragon unfurled her small wings and hovered slowly upwards through the chimney and up to the surface. Pausing below the surface, Fishlegs warily stood up and peeked over the ground level, seeing a rugged granite landscape of cracked rocks and a few streams meandering between the boulders. There was no one in sight and he heaved a huge sigh of relief, then nodded and they slowly descended once more.

"I take it we've got good news," Snotlout grumbled but Astrid was already fumbling with her packs for ropes. Carefully, they wrapped up Snotlout and Hookfang and after warning the Nightmare not to flame under any circumstance, Meatlug slowly hovered them up. Astrid spent her time comforting the dragons and keeping an eye on the dim cave as she waited. After a few minutes, Meatlug hovered back down.

"Windshear next," Astrid insisted. "Stormfly will stay with me until the end." Walking gently to the Razorwhip, the young woman rested her hand on the dragon's muzzle. "It's okay, girl-we'll get you out and then we can find Heather." The dragon gave a little growl and allowed herself to be wrapped in the ropes like a sling before Meatlug valiantly hauled her up. It was clear the brave Gronckle was struggling but they got Windshear to safety before the Gronckle gave a weary rumble. Astrid sighed as Fishlegs slowly hovered Meatlug down.

"You next," Fishlegs said as Meatlug touched down-but the young woman shook her head.

"Stormfly can't get out on her own-and you wouldn't leave Meatlug behind if the situation was reversed," she told him. He sighed.

"We can take you both..." he began.

"We can both see that Meatlug is exhausted," she said bluntly. "Can you get her up while I watch out?"

"I'd feel happier if you were safe," Fishlegs began but she gave a grim smile.

"I'm not safe-and I want my girl rescued first," she said. "I wouldn't forgive myself if I was being rescued while she was being captured or killed below."

"But..."

"Please," she said quietly. "Rescue my dragon!"

Defeated, Fishlegs wrapped Stormfly up in the rope sling and Astrid calmed the Nadder before the weary Meatlug hovered slowly up, raising her friend up the tight space. Cawing and looking very unhappy, Stormfly slowly rose away from her rider as Astrid felt the pressure of concern release. No matter what she did, she always left a way out for Stormfly, because the dragon was her truest friend and did not deserve to die from Astrid's revenge.

But there were sounds echoing closer, the yells and staccato tap of steps as Johann's men flooded the dim caverns, looking for the fugitives and hopefully not realising their nemesis was here also. She glanced up: Stormfly still had a third of the ascent to go, for Meatlug was very tired. Hefting her axe in her hands, she took a step away from the chimney, her eyes fixed on the gloom, seeing torches weaving in the distance, the reflected yellow and orange of the flames gilding the fallen rocks-but closing fast. At least she could buy the others time...

"ASTRID!" Her head snapped round at the sound of Snotlout's shout, which betrayed their location. She growled-but a rope coiled down, a loop on the end. "Grab the rope! We'll pull you up!"

The shouts and lights were heading directly at the girl. But she wasn't in a hurry to die either so she ran back, launching herself at the loop on the rope-and as soon as her hands closed on the rope, it shot up.

"Hang on!" Fishlegs called unnecessarily as she raced up the chimney, shooting out into the cold grey day, dangling above the drop as Hookfang and Snotlout hovered above, having hauled her up at top speed.

"Miss me?" the stocky rider grinned brashly. She smiled and swung the rope, letting go and landing on the solid ground.

"Just this once, yes," she admitted, talking a deep breath as the shouts echoed up the chimney. Hookfang landed and his rider gave a broad grin.

"So we're free-time for payback," he said with feeling but Astrid shook her head.

"If things have gone to plan, Hiccup is facing Johann now...somewhere up here above the base," Astrid told him, casting around. "Where's Windshear?" Fishlegs shrugged.

"As soon as she got out of here, she took off and headed east," he reported and she looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Maybe he's already got her out," she decided. "I know she'll come back to Heather. But we need to go to help Hiccup..."

Toothless's roar echoed across the cold land. Three human heads and three dragon heads snapped round and they all looked up. Astrid leapt into the saddle.

"Come on!" she said. "That's the signal. Hiccup's in trouble."

"When isn't he?" Snotlout muttered as Hookfang took off after her.