General POV

Eret remains completely still as he watches Alrek settle back in his throne. The overlord looks incredibly amused by the fight that just happened, albeit he still looks put off by the sight of Thora's necklace. Eret lowers his head, his knuckles turning white around his spear, his eyes flickering over the floor.

They widen a tiny bit when he notices a blue gem glinting on the floor, a broken black chain surrounding it. He clears his throat and casts his attention to his chief.

"Sir?" he asks. Alrek looks up, making him point. "Your necklace."

"That isn't mine," he says dismissively, his fingers reaching up to brush the base of his neck. His brow furrows as he notices an absence of his jewel. "Oh...bring it to me, Eret."

Eret nods, scurrying forwards and scooping it up. He examines the necklace, noting the broken chain again before turning to the throne. He walks closer, holding it out to his master.

"Sir, the chain is broken," he reports as the redhead takes the magic item back.

Alrek makes a disgusted noise in his throat. "Must've happened when that foolish madwoman yanked at it." He shakes his head and curls his lip further. "I will get the blacksmith to fix it."

"Very good, Lord Alrek," Eret says, bowing his head. "And...uh...what of the prisoner?"

"You did well telling me of her plan against me," he praises. "I did well to make you my captain of the guard."

Eret feels his heart swell with guilt. "Thank you..." he mumbles, refusing to show his face.

"No ill will, of course." Alrek smirks, showing how he really couldn't care less about the man's feelings. "After all, if you hadn't obeyed me, your friends would be..." He shrugs and makes his fingers squish together. Eret gulps. "We wouldn't want a repeat of what happened to your dear Ilia, now would we?"

Although rage and hatred towards Alrek flares up at the sound of her name, he again bows his head submissively and utters another thanks. "But...about my other question?" he asks.

"Thora? Tomorrow at dawn, she will be executed. I haven't decided whether to cut her down myself or let my demons tear the flesh from her bones."

"Isn't that a bit...harsh?" Eret asks, preparing for what his master might snap in response.

"We need to remind these people what will happen if they don't follow my orders," Alrek retorts, getting to his feet. He arches a bushy eyebrow as his nostrils flare with anger. "Remember, Eret?"

"Right, sir. I understand," he nearly squeaks.

"Very good," the chieftain says. "I'm going to the blacksmith to get this chain fixed. Think about getting home and resting. I need you ready for tomorrow's excitement."

Eret nods to his ruler, watching Alrek stand and stride from the hall to go on his errand. Eret follows after a short relaxation period, the chilly night air making him shiver just a bit. He heads down the steps, moving slower and slower every time as his thoughts wander back to the woman being held in the dungeon.

Movement flashes out of the corner of his eye as he reaches the bottom of the stairway. He turns and looks in its direction. Two clear blue eyes stare back at him; pure, dark fury blazing deep within them. The sheer amount of anger and hatred in them is terrifying, but at the same time, he recognizes them.

Night Fury.

He looks back up the steps, unable to stop the torrent of questions burning at his mind. Without wondering just what he'll do when he gets there, he races back up the steps en route to the dungeons.

Thora's POV

My cell is cold and made of stone. They must be some of Alrek's new additions to the Great Hall, although the idea of having cells on Berk meant for humans feels odd and out of the ordinary.

I hug my knees to my chest and bury my face in them. My body feels broken, cut, but I can ignore the physical pain when I think of my stinging heart. I miss Hiccup. I miss Destin and Runa. I miss my friends, my dragons. I miss the people I've come to know and love, not these broken people that never knew me.

It doesn't matter anymore. I'm going to die whether I escape the execution tomorrow or not. My time is up.

I dig my hand into my pocket, pulling the extra pendants that I removed at the start of this quest. I hold them in the palm of my hand, gazing at the colours and remembering what they mean. The light green; Toothless. The dark green; Emerald. The yellow; Dark Moon. The red; Slayer. The white; Stardust.

I pocket them again, focusing on the broken necklace clutched in my hand. I can feel the warmth of magic within it, making me feel less like I'm alone. My mother's legacy lives on in this little piece of jewelry.

I shut my eyes and lean against the wall, exhaling slowly. Nightstar is still out there with my friends. Are they making a plan to save me, or have they already forgotten the madwoman with a Night Fury?

Footsteps sound from the direction of the staircase and my eyes snap open. I look up, wondering who's coming and hoping that maybe, just maybe, it's one of my friends. Eret comes into my line of vision, instantly making the little hope that I had disappear. I turn my head away, fiddling with my necklace as I listen to him draw nearer.

"Did you mean it?"

My fingers stop their movements, my brown eyes lifting slowly to glance at Eret. He's standing next to the bars of my cell, his face a mask of confusion and curiosity. I exhale through my nose and return my attention to my necklace.

"About what?" I ask, my voice revealing just how tired I am.

"About being from another world," he responds, reaching one hand out to grip a cell bar. "You knew about Alrek and Hermaōr, you have a Night Fury...and you have an identical necklace to his. I want to know whether you were telling the truth."

I almost laugh, but it comes out as a breathless exhale. "Does it matter if I was? You won't believe me either way."

"I want to know. The way you spoke..." He shakes his head, his free hand grabbing hold of a separate bar as his muscles tense. "You spoke as if you knew, as if you were sure of yourself. How could a liar sound so confident?"

"If they're good at it," I say without missing a beat.

He doesn't give an immediate answer. I wait, wondering whether he's given up, but then I hear the smooth scraping of hands against metal as he sits down outside the cell. He crosses his legs, folding them in front of him as he stares at me.

"Tell me about your world. What is Berk like over there?" he asks, and I'm astounded by the absolute longing in his eyes.

I bite my lip, clenching my hand around my necklace as I lower my eyes. "I defeated Alrek ten years ago. I married Hiccup. Berk remained bright and beautiful, full of dragons of all species. I spent my days training Nightstar and Toothless' children," I answer in the simplest of terms.

Eret's face slackens with a sort of awe, but it vanishes swiftly in lieu of pain. "And...am I there? Is...is Ilia there?" Before I can open my mouth, he adds, "If you are from another world like you say, you'll know who she is without me telling you."

I find myself showing the barest trace of a smile as I shift my body to face him. "Ilia is your wife," I murmur, watching his eyes grow misty. "She has dark hair that she wears in a low, braided bun, and her eyes are a deep green. She's tall and bulky, but strong as any Viking. She's friendly. She'll make a conversation with anyone about anything, just because she wants to make friends."

I pause, finding myself smiling a little. I really should've spent more time with her when I had the chance. I check on Eret's reaction, seeing that his face has once again settled with an expression of utter disbelief and awe.

"You have a son named Loki. Before I came to this world, he was four years old. He has his mother's black hair, but your eyes," I tell him. "He's mischievous, charming, and strong, even as a child. He's a lot like you." I shut my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest as I lean my head back against the wall. "I'm sorry about what happened to her. Astrid told me about it."

"Were we happy?" he asks.

I nod. "Yes..." I whisper, the sound drowsy, exhausted. "So...what happened to you, Eret? Why are you sitting here as captain of Alrek's guard? Why would you do this to your friends?"

Silence greets my ears. I wait, feeling as if I could fall asleep right here and right now.

"I never wanted to betray them," he whispers, a break in his voice that's hardly detectable. I turn my head to him as I wake myself up from the half-sleep I was slipping into. He gazes back at me, mouth twisted into a sad frown. "When I ran...I was going to stay away. I was going to live with Ilia back at her village, but Alrek found me. He always finds you eventually..." His voice catches and he coughs, looking at his lap. "Being the captain of his guard was the only way I could prove myself to Alrek, prove that I had changed sides, but really all I wanted was to protect my friends. There's a reason Alrek never caught them escaping all those years ago." He grips the bars, leaning closer. "Thora...if you can really stop him, do it."

I stare at him, unsure of what to say. I lower my head, my auburn hair falling in my eyes as I let out a long, slow breath. I nod, the movement minimal.

"I don't know what I can do, Eret," I say, dragging my thumb over the blue gem of my necklace. "Not anymore."

"You defeated him in your world," he retorts. "You can do it again."

A dry laugh escapes me. "You can't be sure of that."

Silence again. I hear Eret sigh and put his forehead against the cold metal barrier of my cell. I refuse to look up, my body starting to cry for sleep.

"He's going to kill you," he whispers, and it might be my imagination, but he sounds hurt by the idea.

"I'm as good as dead," I respond. I force myself to look at him, my freckled cheeks partially lifted with a saddened smile. "I'm just another madwoman, Eret; a madwoman with a mad story. It's better for you not to get your hopes up."

I don't know when he leaves. I'm asleep long before his footsteps fade away.