Thirteen.

The twins flew back to the academy on Barf and Belch unexpectedly and Astrid stared as they leapt from their dragon. They were clearly thinking: Tuffnut almost looked in pain and Ruffnut was tugging on her braids. Both looked unhappy. Astrid and Fishlegs walked towards them.

"Are you guys OK?" Astrid asked. Tuffnut frowned.

"You know how you asked up to look for people arriving?" Tuffnut asked.

"Yes," Astrid asked thoughtfully. "Have you seen anyone?"

"No," Tuffnut said definitely.

"But we saw someone leaving!" Ruffnut added. It was clear the twins were really wrestling with the reversal of the concept they had been sent out to deal with. Astrid frowned.

"Who?" She asked urgently.

"Lars," Ruffnut revealed.

"He got into an Outcast ship and sailed off early this morning," Tuffnut said. Astrid started and stared at Fishlegs, who did a swift mental calculation.

"He won't be back yet," he said. Astrid gave a smile.

"This was right, right?" Tuffnut asked in a confused voice.

"You did good," Astrid reassured him and turned to Fishlegs. "Come on!" she said. "We need to go to the Chief!"

oOo

Stoick flatly refused to see them, his eyes angry and slightly sad as they desperately tried to make their case.

"I have no son," was all he would say.

"Even so, there is a person who give a limb for this island who had been wrongly accused!" Astrid argued.

"ENOUGH!" Stoick roared. "All this talk of fake burns and non-poisonous poison is ridiculous! And Lars was sent fishing by me. We need seal meat for Gothi and he volunteered to go. There are seals in the secluded coves, aren't there?"

"Yes, sir," Fishlegs said quickly to prevent Astrid getting them all in trouble.

"The letters were to my son. They were signed by Dagur. He is a traitor. I will hear no more of this talk. Now leave me!"

"Well, that was especially successful!" Snotlout said sarcastically. "Way to make the Chief mad!"

"You're not exactly doing badly out of this!" Astrid snapped. "You've basically taken his place. He's a prisoner of Dagur and you've become heir to Berk!"

"Hey, babe-I can't help being his cousin and being devastatingly handsome, strong and ...well...the best Viking Berk has!"

"While, Hiccup isn't," Astrid said suddenly, her face sad. "He's small, weaker than you, he's got one leg and he stammers." Snotlout gave a superior smile. "But he is caring, decent, brave, clever and never gives up, no matter how badly he is treated. He's my friend and I can't sleep knowing he is still suffering on Outcast Island. We have to catch Lars!"

oOo

Hiccup regained his senses curled and bound in the corner of Dagur's cabin. He hurt-a lot-and he achingly pressed his hands to his face. He could only remember fragments of the voyage. Dagur's forfeit had been vicious and he had lost it partway through, crying and begging for mercy. He could recall the Berserker's hand gently cupping his face, his voice whispering poison in Hiccup's ears, his sensuous touch causing the boy to recoil and taste vomit. The bite of the lash, the feel of fire, burning his skin, the sound of his screams, echoing in his ears. The increasingly familiar pain of violent sex.

Slowly, every movement wracking his skinny shape with pain, he manoeuvred himself to his knees. Dagur was sitting on the bed, mercifully fully-dressed.

"I don't wait for my slave," he hissed. His fist curled.

"N-no, master," he groaned. His throat was still sore from screaming.

"You should be happy," Dagur told him, rising decisively. "We're on our way to Berk. Won't it be nice to see Daddy again?"

"I was disowned," Hiccup said tonelessly.

"You know, fathers never really stop loving their sons," Dagur said, towering over him. "My father, Oswald the Agreeable, loved me despite my obvious Berserker tendencies. Right up to the moment I buried that axe in his head, I guess."

"You know I won't help you kill my Dad. I won't ever help you against Berk." The words were dull and Dagur inspected his face closely. The long lashes were downcast, shielding those enticing green eyes. The lashes were fluttering just a little that Dagur had realised signalled he had almost brought the boy to tears. He was harder to make scream but Dagur savoured the challenge.

"Just being there will help," Dagur said cruelly, searching the face for a reaction. "And I want to see Stoick's face when I show him his son!" Hiccup felt his guts clench in pain.

"He has no son," he repeated and the pain in his voice was obvious. Dagur grabbed his hair and forced the pale face up. Hiccup had deep shadows under his eyes from pain and lack of sleep.

"Lars tells me he made that cousin of yours-what's his name? Snotman?-his heir," Dagur told him, inspecting his face for a reaction. Hiccup sagged.

"Snotlout," he murmured. "Obvious." Dagur pulled his head back more and stroked Hiccup'a bruised neck.

"Truth or forfeit," he said brusquely. "You behave as my slave, you keep your mouth shut and your eyes downcast, or I start to tell your former Chief just how much you have betrayed your tribe." Hiccup breathed heavily.

I am a slave. I was not a traitor. I have never betrayed Berk. Oh Thor, please don't let me have betrayed Berk.

"How?" he breathed. Dagur leaned close.

"You found my Skrill," he breathed. "You helped us fight off a Changewing attack. You have joined the Berserker Tribe..." And his hand slid down and caressed his brand. "You're my body slave. How much do you want your Dad-or the blonde girl-to hear that?" Hiccup closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. "I'll spare them if you comply. If not...how much do you want to watch their forfeits?" Hiccup stared up at the Berserker.

"Master," he breathed in defeat. "I am your slave."