TWENTY NINE: Despair

Even with directions, it was still like looking for a very small red needle in a giant ocean-sized haystack, Hiccup realised as he and Toothless scoured the seas for the RedWing and Astrid. They had been searching for days, seeking one ship amid what turned out to be a huge channel, bounded by a slim ridge of almost imperceptible reefs and worn-down seastacks and dotted with small islands that a ship could easily hide out behind. But they searched on and on, watching the Scauldrons migrate and hoping against hope that the ship was still hunting dragons.

But as the days passed and exhaustion and despair lay heavily on the pair, Hiccup felt his hopes wane. Astrid was missing and really, there was no sign of her apart from Stormfly's spines on the island. Toothless was tired and fell asleep every evening when they rested on sea stacks or small isolated islands and the Viking was feeling more and more guilt that he was asking so much of his friend when it was his mess. But the Night Fury was reassuring, warbling gently and curling around the despondent young Viking. And every night, as he stared into the flames of the fire, Hiccup pictured Astrid's face, lit by her smile, her blue eyes twinkling with humour and pink lips curled up in a smile. And he imagined stroking her soft cheek, the silky strands of her hair brushing his cheek as he kissed her and felt her warm arms in his...

But every morning, he woke alone, cold and wracked by guilt even with Toothless's valiant efforts to raise his spirits. And he worked mechanically through washing and tidying himself up and then setting out again. Until they found a pod of Scauldrons, a dozen adults and subadults all swimming close together, their long-necked shapes sleek as they carved through the water and empty of ideas, Hiccup had Toothless follow them, soaring high so the large shapes were mere dark green smudges amid the deeper blue of the channel...until a ship surged from the shelter of two seastacks and fired a weighted dragon proof net over the nearest dragon, fouling its wings and swathing the struggling reptile in the unbreakable links.

Frozen for a moment, Hiccup felt Toothless warble in sympathy and the young Viking rested his hand on his dragon's head.

"I know, bud," he murmured. "Let's set them free..."

They swooped round and as they arrowed down, accelerating towards the vessel, Hiccup took in the details of the ship they were attacking, the ship he had been hunting for so long. The ship was a typical Hunter vessel, the stabilising float off the starboard hull to help when trying to bring down escaping dragons in the air and with blood red sails, marked with a dragon head impaled on a giant arrow: it had to be the RedWing. Toothless rolled and Hiccup felt the tension in the dragon's body as the Night Fury drew himself up-and fired. The dragon accurately blasted away the deck under the net-launcher and the device toppled-then fell into the sea. Hiccup hunched low over the dragon as they accelerated past the ship, the speed slamming the boat sideways and throwing off the aim of the flying arrows. They briefly dipped into the water as they passed, lifting the net enough to allow the trapped scauldron to break free before letting the net and launcher drop into the deeps. Flipping Toothless round, the Viking and dragon moved as one as Toothless blew the mast apart and the sails crashed down over the deck.

"Do it, bud," Hiccup murmured as they sped over the ship, the impact of their speed sending the vessel rocking wildly and the dragon blew the prow-and the attached ballista-off the ship. The RedWing lurched more violently and water began to pour into the stricken vessel. Seeing the Hunters abandon all hope of attacking them and move towards their own salvation, looking for the boats, Hiccup leaned forward.

"Okay, bud," he said as Toothless hovered above the deck and Hiccup glared down on them. "No one gets off this ship until the dragons are freed," he shouted, his voice carrying over the deck. "All of them. And your prisoner!"

The men, who were running around paused and one grabbed a crossbow, loading a Dragon Root arrow. Immediately, Toothless opened his mouth, purple plasma boiling there, ready to be launched at the foolish crewman.

"Over the side now or it's the last thing you see in this life!" Hiccup shouted at him, his eyes glittering. The Hunter paused for less than a second and then threw the crossbow and arrow over the side into the sea. The heavyset man who was yelling at the crew paused and his cruel face tilted in a scowl.

"Rumour has you Riders don't kill-you just sink the boat and let the Hunters go..." he sneered. Deliberately, Hiccup gestured and Toothless blasted one of the small boats to matchwood.

"Times change," he said coldly, his eyes never leaving the man's face. He figured the man was Captain Omar, master of the RedWing. "Release the dragons or you all go down on the ship..."

"He's bluffing..." a Hunter sneered and Hiccup leaned forward, a knife in his hand. Another was reaching for a bola and he suddenly yelled as the young Viking flung the knife with lethal accuracy, impaling the unwary Hunter's hand. He yelled, dropping the weapon and staggering back, gripping his pierced hand.

"You want to chance it?' he asked and there was a pause. The man stared into the fierce emerald eyes as the Night Fury opened his mouth once more, plasma boiling away: he urgently backed away as Hiccup gave a cold smile. "Release the dragons-and your prisoner!"

"What prisoner?" the Captain sneered.

"The girl on the Nadder," Hiccup said angrily. "The girl you captured on Healers' Island, where you captured the baby Changewings. Let her go-now-and I will spare your life."

"There is no girl!" the Captain yelled back.

"LIES!" Hiccup's voice was desperate now.

"No lies!" the Captain said, his voice more uncertain as the ship listed. He gestured his men to start opening the cages on the deck. "When we got there, there were some Nadder spines but no Nadder-or girl." Shaking his head, Hiccup glared.

"No-she was there," he insisted. "She headed there and she hasn't been seen since..." Six small Changewings zoomed past Hiccup, chirruped at Toothless and headed determinedly north, followed by a Gronkle, two Terrible Terrors and a Snow Wraith.

"There was a storm," the Captain shouted, staggering. His deck was now at a 45 degree angle and he had to hang onto the remains of the mast to prevent himself from sliding completely down into the roiling ocean. "It blew in from the east. She may...have been caught in it..." Staring at the man, Hiccup gestured him to the one remaining boat and then signalled Toothless to blast away the deck as soon as he had collapsed into the overcrowded space. As the tortured wood exploded upwards, he peered into the hold, seeing no prisoners or any other dragons just...dragon parts. He swallowed.

"No..." His chest tightened in utter despair. A part of him had been hoping the man was lying, that he would find her imprisoned and safe...but there was nothing. Toothless was crooning miserably and though they hovered over the sinking ship and he yelled her name, over and over, there was no answer-either human or Nadder. Toothless wasn't reacting either: she wasn't there. They weren't there.

He had been chasing a false lead and wasted Gods only knew how much time while anything could have been befalling his friend...his love and their unborn child. And now the trail was cold with one final, tenuous lead left...if he could guess where an unknown storm may have blown her.

"Astrid..." he breathed. "Please Thor...let her be alive. Let her be safe..."

Let me make it in time.

And then, as the Hunters were still clambering off the sinking wreckage of their ship and noting ironically that the Scauldrons were showing a very unhealthy interest in them, Toothless flipped round and arrowed north, back towards Healers' Isle-and then west, to the unknown waters beyond. And the last, faint hope that Astrid may still be alive, out in the unknown.

oOo

When Astrid awoke, she ached all over and her head was pounding. Her throat was sore and bruised and even swallowing hurt...but the baby jabbed her under the ribs and her lips curled up in a relieved smile.

"Good morning, Thumper," she smiled and wearily sat up, a hand briefly flattening over the curve of her stomach to feel another responding jab. She was on a bed in a different room to her hated stone cell, a comfortable bed laden with furs and pillows and for a moment, she wondered where she was-but there was a sword resting by her bed and she wasn't in her 'cell'.

It hadn't been a dream.

Running her fingers through her hair and automatically braiding it neatly, she rose, dressed in a loose shift and she swiftly wrapped on her bindings, dragged on a top and skirt and pulled on her leggings and boots. And then as she emerged, she found a man-Trond, as if turned out-standing guard at her door. But as her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword ready to fight her way free, he snapped off a respectful salute as he saw her.

"Morning, Chief!" he said and she stared before remembrance hit her with complete clarity.

The wedding. The fight. Killing Torgeir. Being proclaimed...Chief of Granite Isle.

"Good morning," she said firmly. "Who do I see around here for breakfast?" The man grinned.

"If you head downstairs, Chief, Berglind will make whatever you desire!" he said cheerfully. She frowned.

"And your name...?" she asked pointedly and he smiled.

"It's Trond, Chief," he said. "I'm a kinsman of Frida-who is waiting for you downstairs as well."

"And it's Astrid," the new Chief told him with a smile. "Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a very hungry baby that wants his breakfast." The man nodded as she walked past and headed down the stone stairs to lower floor, following her nose for the appetising smells of frying boar. As she entered the cooking area, everyone rose and she blushed in embarrassment and waved for them to sit. Not just Frida but also Anja, a large homely woman expertly managing the cooking-who was presumably Berglind-and an older man who she vaguely remembered from the abortive wedding. Frida jumped up and hugged Astrid and, taken by surprise, the blonde cautiously hugged her back.

"How are you feeling today, Astrid?" the Healer asked, her eyes concerned. "Have the pains settled?" Astrid grimaced but nodded. The pains had been severe and stopped her sleeping for some time, until the draught Anja gave her had kicked in. The hot bath and food after the combat had helped but the healer was clearly worried-because the pregnant woman had definitely overstrained herself in fighting for her life. And though she was less than a month from her time and the baby could arrive any day, the healer was concerned that the stress could bring on the birth sooner than desirable. But things had settled and the young woman was moving confidently and looking a lot calmer.

"Rested and relieved," she admitted. "And hungry..." Berglind grinned and slid a plate with gleaming crispy strips of fried boar, a gleaming fried egg and a piece of crusty bread. Her stomach growled and she smiled, sliding into a seat by Frida and tucking in. The unknown man observed her closely, his keen eyes inspecting her as she ate swiftly and she looked up, feeling his inspection. She laid her knife down and stared at him challengingly.

"Good morning, Chief," he said. She was instantly on her guard.

"Who are you?" she asked suspiciously. The man, a solid shape in his late middle years with long black hair and braided beard, gave a small smile.

"I am Steinar, Frida's Uncle," he explained. "I am on the Council-along with Terje and Egil, two of the heads of the senior clans. The Tribe will need to appoint a new Elder-since Knut the Wise is dead..."

"Good riddance," Astrid grumbled, chewing. Frida smothered a smile and Anja nodded in agreement.

"And I need to hear your input as Chief," he said as she stared at him in shock and wiped up some yolk with her bread. Then she gave a small smile.

"You know, I never intended to actually be Chief-just to be rid of Torgeir," she admitted and bit into her bread, chewing slowly. After she swallowed, her blue eyes sweeping over those present. "How many senior clans are there?" There was a pause.

"Three," Steinar admitted. "And all are represented."

"And on the Council-the Chief as well?" He nodded. "Healer?"

There was a sideways look at Anja.

"No," Steinar admitted.

"Why?" Astrid's gaze was piercing. Under her glare, the man began to sweat.

"Um...she's a..."

"If you say woman, I'm getting my sword," she warned him. He mopped his brow, feeling the eyes of the four women raking over him accusingly.

"I'm sorry-but women do have a lower status in this village!" he protested. "It is our way..."

"But it robs you of advice that may moderate the intemperate views of misogynists and idiots!" Astrid told him flatly. "I take it from your expressions yesterday that you did not agree with the plans of the Chief and Knut to force me into marriage?"

"That is correct," the man admitted.

"Then why didn't you speak up?" she demanded and he swallowed.

"Look-no matter that what he planned was abhorrent, he was the Chief and he-and his men-enforced his will brutally, slaughtering anyone who spoke out against him." He paused and leaned forward. "There are a significant number of men in the village who have lost status and influence with his death and they may not be loyal. They may try to remove you-by force, if necessary-and replace you with someone more...male..."

"And I guess they will gain some traction because I am an outsider and I lack certain...equipment..." Astrid grimaced.

"And your ability to fight will diminish as the birth approaches," Anja reminded her.

"They could challenge you while you are in the throes of labour-and the challenge has to be answered-or you will be imprisoned anyway..." Steinar informed her in an embarrassed voice. There was a pause and the Rider dropped her hand to her middle, feeling the baby shimmy.

"So I bought myself a brief respite," she sighed. "And I cannot stay until the birth, as I had originally hoped-that is painfully obvious-but for now, I am the Chief. So I can make some preparations." She rose and grabbed the sword, fastening it across her back. "You are all coming with me. First-who would qualify as the next Elder-and are they sane?" Frida nodded.

"Mother Hfafnahildur is oldest and far the wisest in the village," Frida piped up. "She is wiser and older than Knut was-but he was ambitious and male so he was appointed."

"Well, I unappointed him," Astrid growled. "In my village, the Elder is Gothi-she is Elder and prime Healer. Both should be on the Council. Our Council has the Chief, his brother, the blacksmith, two senior farmers, the Elder and sometimes, the Heir. Your Council represents the senior clans, which is good, but I would recommend that you include Mother Hfafnahildur as Elder, Anja as the Healer and who is your smith?"

"Eirik," Steinur added. "But he is low status, an immigrant and curmudgeonly to boot." Astrid smiled and folded her arms.

"Sounds perfect to shake things up," she said and saw Steinar scowl at her...and then nod in acquiescence as she glared at him.

"Your words have far more logic than anything Torgeir said, to be honest," he admitted. "The Council will certainly become more varied and interesting." Astrid turned to the door.

"Next-where is the highest part of the village?" she asked and Anja gave a small smile.

"The Heights of Thor," she said. "The most Holy place in the village."

"Where I presume you were planning to murder my child," she said in a cold voice.

"It would never have come to that!" Steinar protested but Astrid turned on him, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Really? And would you have stood up to him as you did when I was imprisoned and dragged to the altar? Oh, what am I saying-of course you wouldn't!" She knew she was approaching Hiccup level of sarcasm but she didn't care-because he deserved it. They all deserved it. And as their new Chief-for however briefly-she knew she should lead by example, learn to work with the leaders of the village and sort of forgive those who did not directly hurt her-but in her heart, all she saw were enemies and cowards who let those enemies harm her and threaten Thumper.

"Chief..." Frida said after an awkward moment as the blonde lifted her head.

"Just...lead on," she said wearily. "I need to do this."

The way was long and steep, composed of winding stairs that clambered precipitously from the Council Chamber all the way to the top of the peak and Anja was honestly worried about the strain on Astrid...but she was astonished at the woman's level of fitness, walking steadily up when everyone else was red and panting. Until they reached the rocky platform, with the flat grey stone altar, jutting boldly against the stormy sky. The wind rose and whipped Astrid's golden hair, her bangs flying around her stern face as she threw back her head, cupped her hands around her mouth and let out an eerie inhuman cry. And again.

And from the skies, a reply came, a screech that rapidly approached-and then the blue and gold Deadly Nadder landed hard on the alter, her wings flapping agitatedly as she leaned forwards to the woman who had called her. The Granite Islanders cowered back-but Astrid ran forward, her face filling with joy and hugged the head unashamedly to her body.

"STORMFLY!" she cried in joy and nuzzled the dragon delightedly. "Where have you been, girl? I knew you wouldn't have gone far-because that is what dragons do-you protect." Her hand gentled the nose horn and she looked into the reptilian face with affection. "I know you would have come for me if I had called-but it's okay, girl. We're both okay." There was a curious caw and Anja frowned as she saw the head nudge Astrid's middle very gently. The baby visibly kicked and she saw the young woman wince as the womb tightened in response. "Yeah...but it's gonna be soon when we see him," she murmured. "It was easier for you when you went to Hatching Island. You just had to lay the eggs, wait for them to explode and there you go. For us...it's a little different..." She hugged the dragon again.

"Chief..." Frida asked and Astrid sighed.

"Please, call me Astrid," she sighed. "You spoke to me when I was a prisoner. Now I am...not, I am still the same person." She clambered up and sat astride the dragon's shoulders. "Now, I am heading down to the Armoury to reclaim my axe and weapons and then I will fetch my saddle and other possessions." She looked at them. "Unless anyone wants a ride?"

They all stared at her in shock and Steinar looked positively affronted-but Frida nodded and walked forward, sticking up her hand.

"You trusted me with your thoughts, Chief-now I trust you," she said boldly as Astrid hauled her up behind her.

"Wrap your arms around my middle and hang on tight!" Astrid commanded and, as soon as she felt the grip, she grinned. "Up, Stormfly! Let's look over this village!"

Frida's scream was loud as they launched, shooting up and spinning, then levelling out and peering down at the stone habitations, all clustered in the branching three galleys that formed the village. Beyond, she could see the sea and the distant islands as well. It was alike and unlike Berk, for there were no trees beyond the village, just a mass of scrub and some low bushes that were clearly being farmed in neatly tilled fields. She sighed and then they circled.

"Is-is it always this high?" Frida squeaked and the blonde smiled, reminded of her own uncertainty on that first flight on Toothless-with Hiccup. But she had been a fearless warrior-and though she was brave, Frida was not that person. She smiled.

"This is low," she said easily. "Usually, we fly higher and much faster-but I know this is your first time."

"And last!" Frida squeaked and her grip tightened. The Chief chuckled as they swung round over the docks and inspected the neat warehouses and the two fishing boats moored.

"Believe it or not, I thought the same thing, the first time Hiccup took me on Toothless, his Night Fury," she revealed and a nostalgic smile lit her face. "And then I ended up with Stormfly...and we've been together ever since."

"Can-can we land now, please?" Frida begged and Astrid patted her hand.

"Of course we can," she smiled and leaned, sending the wordless command to roll to the left and gracefully spiral down through the village to land outside the armoury. Frida was gently lowered to the ground and then Astrid jumped down, the dragon fussing and preening as the girl murmured words of thanks. The man at the armoury door gaped and then bowed.

"Welcome, Chief," he gabbled, his eyes still fixed nervously on the dragon as Astrid gave a grim smile.

"Where is my axe?" she growled.

After retrieving her weapons, Astrid called a meeting of the Council and inducted her new councillors, explaining her reasoning and meeting the new councillors in person. All were flattered and surprised that she had chosen them but surprised that she had called on them. She also set out new laws: that women carried equal status to men, as laid out in the First Viking Council Laws; that no one could marry without agreement by both parties and that dragons were not to be shot at or treated at all hostilely. The Council passed the laws and she met and discussed her concerns with Egil and Terje, who were grateful they had been relieved of the rule of a madman.

"But he was popular," Egil commented.

"With some at least," Terje amended as Steinar shuffled his feet.

"And they will seek to avenge him-even though most on the island are secretly grateful for liberation from his tyrannical rule," he added grimly and the new Chief nodded.

"I expect my Councillors to speak with this who still cling to the dead Chief and inform them that sedition will not be tolerated," she sad sternly. "Women have the equal rights they are guaranteed in the Viking Council Declaration and any man who disagrees with that is welcome to leave and find somewhere else to continue his prejudice. This island is rocky and has limited natural resources so it helps all if we have all our Tribesmen and women contributing all they can!" The men shared glances but realised she was correct: it was better they spoke with the agitators and Torgeir's enforcers than the new female Chief.

"As you say, Chief-but that may take some time," Egil said evenly.

"Aye-some of Torgeir's men enjoyed a lot of privileges under him," Terje added. "Halvard, Bjorn, Espen, Vegard, Haakon, Sven...they all acted as if they owned the place. They're already speaking out that the challenge was unlawful."

Astrid tightened her fists and a part of her almost wanted to stay to prove them wrong and show them that she was infinitely superior to the dead Chief. But the weight in her womb reminded her why she was doing all of this.

"Which is why I am leaving," Astrid said calmly. "If I stay, I will be challenged or killed, probably when I am my most vulnerable. This village, which I came to in need, has offered me scant hospitality and friendship." Her words made all feel a surge of shame, echoing their own qualms.

"Chief...I...we..." Terje began but she raised a hand.

"I will appoint Steinar my Regent...for three months. Then the Regency rotates to you, Terje...and then after three months, on to Egil. And then back to Steinar...and so on. If, after a year and a day, I have not returned, you are safe to assume I never will. I have either perished in childbirth or found a home more amenable and safe and I command you to elect a Chief from among you and your suitable candidates. But I would urge whoever takes over to consider keeping my laws and my Council constitution-because you have many women with talents which you waste through your introversion and prejudice."

The men stared at her and shared a look that said very clearly: We may have had a lucky escape-because Astrid Hofferson would be an excellent Chief and no one on this island could hope to match. All three of them silently promised to keep her laws and abide by her wishes as she rose and smiled.

"Ha! Can't see what Hiccup was so worried about," she smiled and murmured, almost to herself. "A Chief Protects her own."

She left Granite Island the next dawn with saddle bags bulging with food, water, potions and medicines and all the supplies she could need for the birth. The tightenings were coming more often and Anja had begged her to stay-but Astrid had been adamant-because she could not trust Torgeir's remaining followers not to attack her or challenge her while she was vulnerable. And with no family or friends on the island, she could not take the risk. She had a map of the islands in the chain, stretching out in a long finger into the ocean, finally ending to the west and all she was looking for was somewhere safe. Because Astrid knew it wouldn't be long...and though she was terrified of being alone, she was more frightened of the people of Granite Island.

So as the sun rose, she waved farewell to the Council and her few friends on the island, then launched and flew with the sun at her back, away from her island where she was Chief and into the unknown.

oOo

But it was only the next day when the villagers were astonished as a black dragon swooped down, ridden by a tall, lean young man with brilliant emerald eyes and wildly tousled auburn hair. The men of the village almost raised their weapons before they recalled the Chief's orders and lowered them, backing away from he young man as he unclipped what appeared to be a metal leg, replacing the bottom half of his left lower leg. The Councillors ran up, all staring at the stranger-who also rode a dragon-and Frida emerged, staring at him in shock, the words of a bitter, captive blonde suddenly echoing through her memory.

I fell for a goofy, auburn-haired, emerald-eyed, kind, brilliant caring man.

"Oh Gods," she murmured as the young man walked forward, the faintest hint of a limp marking his otherwise easy gait.

"I mean you no harm," he said, raising his hands. "And he doesn't either..." He stole a glance at the black dragon-smooth and streamlined with a long, sinuous tail terminating in two large fins, one of them artificial, while huge bat-like wings were half-unfurled over its arched back. His voice was light and pleasant, slightly nasal and dripping with urgency. "Please-I am looking for a woman. A blonde woman, riding a blue dragon. Her name is..."

"Astrid Hofferson," Egil said, eyeing the young man up. "State your name and purpose, stranger. Why do you want the Chief?"

He stared and stumbled back a pace.

"Ch-Chief?" he stammered. "Um...Thor, I knew she was pretty capable of looking out for herself but...Chief? Wow. Is-is she here?"

"No-she has left," Frida said, staring at him. "You are Hiccup-the man she loves." He started and stared at her.

"Left? When? How?" he murmured. "I mean...she must be close to her time..." Frida nodded.

"Yes-but when she was imprisoned and almost forced to marry the Chief, she killed him and his poisonous Counsellor," she revealed. His brows dipped and he glared.

"You what?" His tone had grown cold. "She came, presumably asking for hospitality and you imprisoned her? What is wrong with you?" The men glared at him but he glowered at them.

"She's not here, stranger-so leave!" one called.

"Good riddance!" another called and Frida winced: they were clearly the remains of Torgeir's support. Hiccup snatched a sword from his hip, the blade snapping out and catching ablaze instantly.

"I should raze this village to the ground," Hiccup said in a quiet voice that was so filled with rage it had everyone stilling. Sensing his anger, the dragon let out a shattering roar and his maw gaped, filling with purple fire.

"No!" Terje cried out, raising his hands in surrender. "Please-Astrid is our Chief. She left to protect her unborn, to allow her to deliver away from here-because some still adhere to the man who captured her and forced her to the altar. And whom she killed in single combat." There was a pause and a small smile lifted the corner of the young man's mouth.

"That's the Valkyrie I love," he murmured. And then he glared at them. "So what were her orders?"

"To rule as her Regent until she returns-or elect a replacement if she has not returned after a year and a day," Egil revealed.

"And when did she leave?" Hiccup demanded, snapping the sword back into its handle. Frida sighed.

"Dawn yesterday," she revealed. "I think the child is close-she is getting pains on and off. She headed west, stranger. There are a couple of score of small islands that way..." Without even acknowledging her, Hiccup turned back to the dragon and swung into Toothless's saddle. Then he glared at the villagers.

"Know this," he said in a very cold, very even voice. "If I do not find her-or I find she has perished in the birth, when she should be protected here by the laws of hospitality and by the honour a Chief should have from her Tribe, then I will return with Toothless. And I will blast this place to rubble. I promise."

And then he launched into the sky, though despair was knifing through his chest, his heart shuddering in grief. As Granite Isle dropped away behind him, his throat thickened in misery and he heard Toothless warble in concern, sensing his utter despair. He had missed her again-by only a day.

And time was running out.

A/N: Next chapter is the one many of you have been asking for...coming tomorrow!