Hiccup's POV

"Uh, Hiccup? Where's Astrid?" Snotlout asked as I stormed into the Great Hall where the council had already gathered to celebrate what was supposed to be Astrid having returned to health.

Toothless was on my heel as I stormed over to my chair and slumped down into it, feeling completely defeated as I rested my elbows on the table and buried my face into my hands.

"Hiccup? Son? Are you alright?" My mother asked, concern etched into her face as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

"He took her!" I snapped, startling everyone around the table including Toothless. "He poisoned her and then waved the cure in my face as he took her away!"

A cloud of confusion hung over the table.

"What? Hiccup, who took Astrid?" Fishlegs asked as I leaned towards the back of my chair, wrapping my hands around the armrests.

"Sigurd Jansson. That little snake poisoned Astrid, and then stole the cure as we were trying to find it and then he said that if I wanted my wife to live, I would have to hand her over to him." I took a deep breath as tears started welling in my eyes.

The twins shot up simultaneously from their seats and slammed their fists into the table, looks of pure rage etched into their faces. "What?! Why are we still sitting around here? We got some major butt to fry!"

I took a deep breath before letting out a sigh. "We ... we can't. I have no idea how long it will take for Astrid to return to normal, and if we try to free her while she's still weak ... well, let's just say that Sigurd will have the upper hand."

The twins sank to their seats, brows furrowed as their faces seemed to hang.

"Well, is there anything we can do?" Eret asked, gaining the attention of every member on the council.

Everyone watched as I met Eret's eyes and slowly shook my head. "I hate to say it but ... I-I don't think that there is anything we can do."

Astrid's POV

I rubbed my eyes as I awoke from what felt like a really long nap. I stretched my arms as I sat up in bed, only to realize that I was in fact, not in my own bed at all, nor in my own house.

I let my gaze wander around the small room I was in. Wooden walls surrounded me, along with a wooden floor that had a small bucket in the corner opposite of the one my bed had been pushed into. Not far away from the bucket was a wooden door with a small slit in the middle, which I assumed was for food.

As I got out of bed, I attempted to recall the events that had led me to where I was at that moment. The very last thing I could remember before waking up was Hiccup, his shoulders slumped and his emerald green eyes brimming with tears. But what had led me to that moment?

"My darling, I see you are awake!" A familiar voice called out as I heard the door open. I turned to find the grinning face of Sigurd Jansson who was eyeing me like I was some piece of meat. I shuddered as an uncomfortable feeling dwelled in my stomach. Then suddenly, it all came back to me.

"You kidnapped me!" I hissed, quickly switching my position into a fighting stance.

Sig didn't seem the least bit threatened by me as a hearty chuckle escaped him. "Kidnap you? I saved you! Both from an unloving marriage and from a deadly disease, it kind of seems like you owe me one."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Are you out of your mind?! I was incredibly happy with my husband, and now I would like you to release me so that I can go back to him!"

Sig raised an eyebrow at me as he crossed his arms. "He's got you completely whipped, Astrid. But don't you worry! I'll help you get out of his grip once and for all."

As Sig took a step towards me, a wave of panic washed over me. I had no possibility of escape. The door was behind him, and my muscles were still recovering from the severe illness that had wracked through my body. Sig was stronger than me, and judging by the sinister look on his face, he knew that I would have absolutely no chance of escaping him.

I took a step back, and collided with the wall, my hands trembling as he came closer. "S-Sig, please, don't do this."

Our faces where inches apart when he stopped, a lopsided grin on his face as he tilted his head to the side. "I'm doing this for your own best, Astrid! That old husband of yours had way too much influence over you."

Sig's fingers traced my jawline and I could feel a lump forming in my chest. I couldn't fight, I couldn't escape, I couldn't do anything! I was completely trapped and never in my life had I been more terrified than I was at that point.

Suddenly, Sig's hands wrapped around my wrists and pinned them to the wall behind me. I let out a soft whimper as I mentally cursed myself for doing so.

"Don't be scared, sweetheart, I don't bite ... that hard." He whispered into my ear, which sent an uncomfortable shiver down my spine, and in a matter of seconds, he had managed to push me down onto the bed.

Where were the gods when you needed them most?

As the sound of fabric being ripped filled my ears, I rolled my head to the side, closed my eyes and sought out sanctuary inside my own mind.

"What are you doing out here at this time of night?" A familiar voice asked as he and his night fury landed behind me.

I turned and smiled at him over my shoulder before shrugging. "I don't know, I guess I just needed a break."

Hiccup sat down beside me as Toothless curled up under a tree. "A break? From what?"

I wrapped my arms around my legs and rested my chin against my knees as I kept my gaze on the dark waves that splashed against the large sea stacks that surrounded the island of Berk. "Just everything I guess, teaching at the academy, fighting Alvin and arguing with Mildew."

Hiccup chuckled. "And Snotlout?"

I turned to him with a wide grin. "Especially Snotlout."

We sat in silence for a minute, just watching the waves together before I turned to him with furrowed brows. "Why are you out at this hour, Hiccup?"

Hiccup's eyes went wide as he nervously glanced from side to side before awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "Uh ... because Toothless ... Toothless ... was really energetic! Yeah, that's why! The only reason why ..."

I raised my brow at him as I let out a chuckle. "Sure thing, Haddock."

"Hey! It's true!" Hiccup defended himself as I slowly shook my head, a wide smile on my face as I glanced down at my boots.

I looked up from my feet and into his eyes, and as soon as our eyes met, it felt like a swarm of butterflies had taken off in my stomach. "Are you sure it wasn't because of something — or rather someone ... else?"

Hiccup bit his lip as he avoided eye contact with me, his hands trembling as they clutched desperately onto the grass beneath us. "Y-Yes?"

I sat up straight and scooted closer to him, making sure to bump into his arm. "100% sure?"

Hiccup's eyes were wide as dinner plates as I turned to him, our faces inches apart. He quickly brushed away his own bangs from his face as his breathing grew faster and I could practically hear his heart pound against his rib cage. "Well, maybe to a 100% ..."

With a smile, I pressed my lips against his, and surprisingly enough, he reciprocated it rather quickly as his hand flew to the side of my face so that the kiss was deepened.

After what felt like forever, we pulled apart, and I could feel my own heart fluttering as Hiccup wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I rested my head on his shoulder as he rested his head on mine and we watched the waves splash against the sea stacks. Let's just say one thing, if that boy ever asked me to marry him, I would do it in a heartbeat.