The impact knocked the breath from him and jarred his cracked ribs as he threw himself on the forester who had attacked his friend. He pinned the man under his lean shape and felt him struggling to get to his daughter. Without thinking, he punched the man in the face, rolling away and biting against the hiss of pain as he rolled onto his back and then onto his hands and knees and crawled desperately to the furry shape lying by the crying girl.

"Toothless," Hiccup whispered, seeing blood over the wolf's pelt. The ears flickered and luminous green eyes met his own. "Bud...I'm so sorry..." His fingers slid over the soft fur, the pitiful whimper sounding. Hiccup stared in shock, seeing a vicious axe wound across the animal's left hip. He swallowed: the tail was a mess, mangled and bleeding. With our hesitating, he rent the arm out of his tunic, uncaring who saw his horrible wounds and burns, and wrapped the cloth round the bleeding tail, half of which was already missing. He pulled the material tight as he heard sounds behind him and knew the man was getting up. Breathing hard, he tore the other arm out and bandaged the leg wound. Toothless was whining in pain and the young outlaw gently stroked him.

"Stand back!" the forester said. Hiccup swung his head up to stare into the hate-filled eyes of the man, the axe raised.

"No," he said calmly. The man took a half-step forward.

"I need to kill it."

"Why?" Hiccup asked quietly, his eyes searching the face for any coherent thought.

"It was attacking my daughter..."

"NO!" Hiccup said strongly. "He was licking her, greeting her...because he's met her before. I've seen Ingrid and saved her from some outlaws a while back..." The man stared at him.

"Ingrid?" The tone was icy. The girl stole a look at the battered man: she had recognised Hiccup instantly, the messy auburn hair, the stunning green eyes, the black wolf...this was the stranger who had so bravely saved her from the three outlaws. She nodded.

"Yes, Da. I was out gathering mushrooms when three men attacked me. He came running down he hill and fought them off with Toothless..." His father stared at her, then shook his head. He raised the axe.

"Stand back!" he commanded. Hiccup threw himself sideways, his leg slamming out and knocking the man down. The young outlaw rolled and grabbed the sword, then rolled back to his knees, parrying the axe blow at the whimpering wolf. Hiccup glared up at the man, his green eyes glittering.

"Walk away," the outlaw said sternly, breathing hard. "I don't want to hurt you because you have a young daughter to care for but I won't let you kill my best friend. So stand down." The forester gave a sneer.

"I should take you in too," the man threatened. "There's a healthy price on your head, boy! You're a one-legged traitor. You look pathetic. I'll kill the wolf and then I'll take you back to your death..." Hiccup shuddered and his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. Then he lifted his sword and his eyes fixed on the man's face.

"Try," he growled, his stance-even on his knees-that of a skilled swordsman. "Ingrid-step back. And pray for your father. Because if he touches Toothless once more, I will kill him." His tone was icy now, his entire body trembling with rage. The forester stared at him and backed off a step. He swallowed.

"The beast will die anyway...and there's money for the pelt..." he said with a trace of worry as Hiccup felt rage boil in his chest-he knew who had put a price on wolves: Dagur. Ingrid ran to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"No, Da..." she begged, her soft voice heart-breaking. "He just saved our lives and you repay him by attacking his friend and threatening him! Why?" The forester lowered his axe slightly.

"He's nothing," he told her and she stared at him in shock.

"Da-he's saved me twice. He walked me safely home. He's saved you and fought off all those men even when he's been badly wounded. He clearly isn't nothing: he's amazing! And you hurt Toothless!" He stared at her. "Let's go, Da..." she said pleadingly. "There may be more guards..." He nodded and took her hand, turning away from the kneeling outlaw without a word. But Ingrid turned back to him and smiled.

"Thanks," she said and then turned away and skipped alongside her father as they walked back into the trees. Hiccup slowly lowered his sword and stared at the wolf. Toothless was still whining but the bleeding had slowed right down, though the crude bandages were stained. He sighed and whistled through his teeth. Fury walked forward and Hiccup gestured. The stallion dropped to his knees, allowing the young man to lever himself up and drag Toothless over to lay him over the saddle. Then he grabbed his crutch and watched as the horse stood, carefully adjusting the wounded wolf. Wearily, he gathered his weapons then took the reins in one hand and jammed his crutch under his other arm. He sighed then headed back the way they had come. It would be a long walk.

oOo

The twins found him a solid hour later, when he felt as if he was going to collapse. Without a word, Tuff pulled him onto the nag he was riding while Ruff scrambled onto Fury by Toothless and nodded. They had sped back to Gothi's but the sagging Hiccup had insisted that the Healer check his friend first. Toothless had been frightened and in pain and had needed Hiccup holding him to calm him and allow the Elder to treat him. The deep cut in his hip had been sewn and the bloodloss staunched but they couldn't save his tail. So the wolf had been held down as the ragged remains had been amputated and sewn and Hiccup had felt his heart tear at his friend's pain.

The Elder had then commanded him to be treated as well and though he had resisted, the twins had refused to let him leave and he had reluctantly lain down as the old woman had carefully bathed and salved his wounds once more. She had treated his stump as well and scratched a series of symbols on the floor that he had learnt meant that he was now able to be fitted for a prosthesis. He had allowed her feed him a draught and he had fallen into an exhausted sleep with Toothless laid on a blanket by the fire. Gothi had smiled and explained Gobber that she needed to gather Sif's Herb for a paste to treat the wolf's tail before heading out on her own into the forest.

It was full night when Hiccup woke, aching and in pain but at least a little refreshed. He glanced across at Toothless: the wolf was still sleeping but the steady rise and fall of his flanks told then outlaw that his best friend was still alive. He found Gothi had left him another tunic-a rusty red-brown this time-and he dressed swiftly, then stubbornly got to his foot and made his way over to Toothless, his fingers running through the soft fur. The wolf stirred sightly and gave a slight whine. Hiccup smiled.

"I'm here, bud," he murmured. "I'll always be here for you..." Then he cautiously lay down and snuggled against the creature. Toothless wagged the tiny stump left of his tail as the young man closed his eyes and sleep claimed him once more.

oOo

Astrid heard the news first and stalked down to the stable to visit Stormfly-and Gustav. The boy was walking the mare up and down, talking gently to her but he looked up and grinned as he saw her.

"Lady Astrid...how are you today?" he asked. She sighed.

"Longing to be out on Stormy once more," she admitted. "I think she needs a nice long ride in the forest." She stroked the mare's velvet face gently and hugged her close. "I miss you too, girl-and I hope we can go out for a long ride soon..." She could hear her guard outside and sighed. Yeah, like that was going to be allowed!

"She misses you too," Gustav noted, fidgeting. He knew she wanted to give him some intelligence.

"It's an auspicious day," she told him. "Prince Spitelout has been able to set the date for his coronation...because they have finally found the Elder of Berk. She was taken last night and locked in the main dungeon. Apparently you can't crown a King without her...and that's not a problem now." Gustav forced an unconvincing smile onto his face.

"Wow-something to look forward to," he said. "Coronation feast, a festival day, your wedding to the new Prince...what more could you want?" They shared a look, both knowing the answer. She patted Stormfly one last time then turned away.

"Freedom," she sighed and headed back for her room to collect her axe. Suddenly, she felt like destroying something. Gustav watched her go them reached for the blanket and prepared to saddle the horse. He needed to get to the Cove.

Astrid walked thoughtfully up the stairs to the guest suites and the room that had become her home. It was quiet, as it often as during the day and she could hear her guard panting slightly behind her. She turned and gave him a cheery wave before opening the door and walking into her room.

And then she froze, walking slowly into the room. Eret was there, holding a struggling Sneaky, the little dragon biting at the Envoy. Astrid felt a surge of satisfaction at seeing blood on the man's hand. He held a small piece of parchment up and her eyes widened. She felt nausea twist her stomach as the man's cold dark eyes swept over her. He flicked open the parchment.

"I was alarmed by your message. I will be home with all haste to deal with the traitors. Thank you for your loyalty, Astrid-Stoick the Vast, King of Berk," he read. She backed away. "That's treason." He nodded to the guards flanking him. "Arrest her!"

She gave a scream and grabbed her axe, taking out the nearest man in one deadly swing. She ducked and spun, slamming her boot into Eret's midriff and watching with satisfaction as he doubled up, releasing the Terrible Terror. "Sneaky! Find Hiccup! Go to Hiccup!" she shouted and crashed the flat of her axe across Eret's face, knocking him senseless. The next guard was dealt the same treatment and then she sprinted to the window to the balcony, smashing it with her axe and leaping through, the little dragon flittering above her head as she launched from the first floor and fell the dozen or so feet to the yard below. With a chitter, the dragon whipped up into the sky and was gone. But Astrid was still running, her axe held tightly and her eyes focussed as she barged through anyone in her way. Another guard reared up and he met a swift end as she slammed past him, her eyes locked on the stables. People were now parting to let her through in fear of her axe. She was almost there...

...until a bola tangled her legs and she crashed to the floor. With a scream she rolled, the axe already slicing the ropes but a dozen guards were closing on her now and though she got into a fighting stance, her axe gleaming as she swiped and slashed, there were too many and they finally bore her to the ground, though six were put out of action before they could stop her. She felt ropes tie tight around her wrists and though she struggled, she was dragged up to face her captor.

"SNOTLOUT!" she spat. The stocky young man's face was looking particularly unpleasant-a mixture of triumph and cruelty.

"You know, I always knew you were still sweet on that wretched traitor of a cousin of mine," he sneered, "but I was prepared to let it go if you did your duty by me. If you were the wife I wanted-beautiful, submissive, good in bed-then I was going to let you live. But this...well, calling Uncle Stoick is treason!"

"WHY?" she snapped. "He is the RIGHTFUL King. And while you may try to accuse Hiccup of attempting to steal the throne and execute the Council on a whim, there is nothing you can hold against Stoick because he is the King. And that makes YOU the traitor, not me. HE'S COMING!"

He slapped her. "He'll never make it to Berkingham alive!" he swore. He stared at her and grasped her face, the red mark of his slap livid on her cheek. "You know, I saw you shiver in horror as we whipped Hiccup. I saw you cry as we disgraced and degraded him. But you never made a move until now. Why?"

"Because he was right," she growled. "Given a choice between marrying you and dying, I choose dying!"

"That's lucky," Snotlout sneered. "Because that's what's going to happen. Take her to the cells. We'll execute her at the coronation-as a bit of light relief!"

Gustav watched as she was dragged away, still struggling and cursing Snotlout with an incredibly imaginative selection of words. He ducked into the stable, grabbing the reins and hauling the horse out, walking calmly through the crowds as he did every day, nodding to the guards as he did every day and then mounting Stormfly and trotting up the hill. But unlike every other day, as soon as he hit the edge of town, he accelerated to a gallop, heading directly for the Cove.

...unaware of triumphant eyes that followed him every step of the way...

oOo

Hiccup had gotten up at dawn and made his uneven way to the hamlet half a mile from Gothi's house where he had headed straight to the forge. His years as Gobber's apprentice in the weapons shop had equipped him well in his task-making himself a leg. He had thought about it carefully on the way and he had swiftly lit the fire and chosen his materials, working the leather for the cup for his stump as the fire reached the correct temperature. He sketched the design and then began his work.

Gobber came to find him after noon, carrying a snack and news. Hiccup was just fitting the last pivot in his design, a metal foot with a flat base for standing and running, a pivot and spring to allow balance and recoil and a fitted leather cup and straps to keep it on comfortably. The old warrior stared at him in shock at his imagination, skill and speed as he rolled up the empty leg below his left knee and eased the leather over the healing stump. He gave a grin that didn't quite mask his pain as he tightened the straps and then bravely pushed himself to his feet, taking a very unsteady step on the new prosthesis. He grinned, took another-and landed flat on his face.

"Ow," he whined and pushed himself up to his knees. "This may take some getting used to."

"Aye," Gobber told him, a reminiscent light in his eyes. "It does take time, laddie. You'll get there..." And he hauled Hiccup back to his feet. The young man gratefully grasped his crutch as he began to practice. Gobber handed over the lunch he had brought and Hiccup sat down with a grin, inviting his mentor to sit by him. Gobber watched him tear ravenously into the mutton and bread. Hiccup saw his expression.

"What's wrong, Gobber?" he asked between bites. The old warrior looked uncomfortable.

"You," he said. "I mean since yer woke almost a week ago, you've been scared of yer own shadow. You've been calling yersel' worthless and useless, not seein' anyone, hiding' away...but when yer came back yesterday, yer were more like yer old self..." Hiccup sighed and rubbed his face.

"I needed to remember who I was and whether there was any point in my existing," he sighed. "After the entire castle staff showed me that I was worthless and hated by them all, I felt there was nothing left. But..." He paused and rubbed his left knee, feeling twinges in his stump.

"Yes?"

"But when I was out, I found Alvin's men menacing a forester and his daughter. They were going to be killed. So I did what I usually did: I interfered. And I saved them, killing five. But the father saw Toothless as a threat and attacked him. I faced off against him-with a sword and one leg-and we survived." He stared at the floor. "He called me nothing. He threatened to turn me in. He was...horrible. But Toothless was at stake and then I realised that I am NOT useless. That I do have worth and skills that I can still use. And I realised then that it didn't matter what they felt, what they thought, because it is my duty to protect them-whether they appreciate that or not. I know my father loves me...and he will expect me to do what he would until he returns." He rubbed his face, the bruises almost gone.

"Laddie-they've got Gothi," Gobber said. The boy started and face-palmed.

"And with her, they can now conduct a legal coronation," he sighed. He stood. "Come on, old man-we need to get my horse and my best bud and head back to the gang. We need a plan to get her back-and end this."

oOo

By the time he had arrived in the Cove, Gustav had just arrived and was almost hysterical. Fishlegs saw the tall shape of Hiccup warily limp in, his crutch still under his arm but his bow over his back and a sword and a quiver on his hip. Gobber was lumbering along behind him and the outlaws stared-then began to cheer and whoop. The twins were whistling and Hiccup froze and blushed, then lowered his head slightly in embarrassment. He raised a hand to acknowledge the applause as they all came over to greet him, crowding around him and clapping him heartily.

"Good to have you back!" Fishlegs said cheerily and saw Hiccup cringe just a little from all the over-enthusiastic pats.

"Thanks, Fish-though I'll need the healer again if this carries on. ENOUGH!" His voice was stern enough to have them backing off a little and he offered a small grin to show he was grateful for their enthusiasm-just not the clapping on his scored shoulder and back. He looked up to meet Ruff's eyes and she managed to ask him 'Are you okay?' He nodded and pointed to the furry black shape limping alongside him. She smiled and pointed to her brother and winked.

"HICCUP! Thank the gods you're back!" Gustav said, running forward. "I've got terrible news. They've got Gothi..." Hiccup smiled and nodded.

"I know," he said but the boy shook his head.

"NO! It's much worse. They've arrested Astrid-for treason!" Hiccup went rigid and his eyes widened in horror.

"WHAT?"

"She managed to get a message to the King and he sent a reply," Gustav explained. "They found it. Snotlout said they would execute her on the coronation!"

"Snotlout!" Hiccup growled with hatred. "Okay. We have to get them both out of the castle before they can completely steal the Kingdom and sell it out to Drago." He looked at the twins. "Tuff-have you got anything explosive left?"

"One Zippleback canister though I may have little black powder left," he admitted.

"Gobber-is there anyone left on our side or has everyone joined the new King and his bunch of cronies?"

"Precious few, laddie," he reported. "We can see if Lord Hofferson has any men he can lend."

"Hicc..." Ruff piped up and held up a bundle: it was his leather armour, which she had stolen from the guardroom while waiting for 'Thora' to beat up her prospective 'boyfriend'. "You might need these..." The young outlaw grasped his armour with a small smile and nodded.

"Thanks, that may make me feel more like myself," he admitted.

"Um-Hiccup?" Fishlegs was looking nervous and Hiccup suddenly felt a weight on his head and claws digging into his scalp. He held his arm straight out from his body.

"Sneaky-perch!" he commanded and the little Terrible Terror instantly flew down and landed on his forearm. He shifted his crutch under his arm and managed to stroke the little dragon gently, its purr loud in the sudden silence. Few had ever seen a live dragon. "Hmm...no message...did Astrid send you to me?" The little dragon licked its eye and chirped. "Yeah, I know she's in trouble. We'll get her back. I promise." Then he looked up.

"Er, Hicc-why're you talking to a dragon?" Tuff asked warily.

"Because she needs reassuring?" Hiccup replied, still stroking the little dragon. It scrambled onto his shoulder and pressed affectionately against him. "And I helped Astrid raise and train her."

"He always gets all the cool toys!" Ruff complained. Suddenly, the dragon gave an alarmed squawk. Toothless began to growl and the gang became aware of the reverberation of hooves closing. Hiccup's eyes widened and he motioned the gang to take positions.

"They've found us," he murmured. Gustav flushed scarlet.

"They must have followed me!" he gasped. "I-I must have not been careful enough..." Hiccup took a few seconds to clasp the boy's shoulder reassuringly.

"Not your fault," he murmured gently, staring calmly into the ashamed eyes. "Get behind Gobber and Fish: they'll protect you. Everyone, don't let them get between you and the cave. That's our only way out. Positions!"

They all hunkered down behind rocks and hanging tree roots as the shapes of horsemen appeared at the lip of the Cove, their crossbows trained down on the little band huddling in shelter with only a rock wall and a shallow cave at their back. Dagur jumped from his horse and peered down. Hiccup grasped his bow tighter and nocked an arrow.

"Hello, brother!" the Berserker called, his face obscenely happy at seeing the young outlaw again. Hiccup shuddered and for a moment, the waves of hopelessness and self-doubt washed over him, making him want to curl up and just let them take him. But he heard Toothless growl and his knuckles whitened on his bow.

"Leave."

"Now that's hardly proper payment for the kind hospitality we've given you, Hiccup!" Dagur sneered. "Honestly, I can't wait to get you back to Berkingham and teach you some proper manners."

"This is your last chance, Dagur," Hiccup said quietly. "Leave."

"You screamed so beautifully when I tortured you," the Berserker sneered. "I can't wait to hear that again. What are you going to do, Hic-cup?" The last word was mocking.

Hiccup aimed the arrow and fired.