Thirty-Seven: Bonds

Astrid stared at the little band of refugees in the Cove and realised that by default, she was the acting-leader. The Ingermans both looked to her and the villagers were woman and children, non-combatants. They had six dragons, three qualified riders and almost no food. So she sent the brothers out to fetch fish, set two guards at the lip of the cove and sent the twins to collect wood for a fire. And then she sat down with the other parents and went over the timeline again.

"So Spitelout basically invited Alvin into the village to take over-because that misbegotten bastard son of a half-troll Snotlout was with him?" she growled. All the mothers slapped hands over their children's ears

"Yes, that's exactly what happened," Marta Ingerman admitted, biting her lip against a smile. "Those who didn't come with us surrendered...or tried to fight and were subdued. The twins led us here because they knew we shouldn't be hostages. Honestly, I never knew this place existed."

"Hiccup found it," Astrid admitted. "I had to leave him with Gothi...because there was no other option. He was unconscious, he had a fever...and they had to take his left lower leg." The older woman slapped her hand to her mouth.

"That poor boy," she sighed. "He really does have the worst luck, doesn't he? And to think, only a couple of weeks ago, he was so happy that he was marrying you." She shuddered and her shoulders hunched.

"It was the most unexpected and...happy day of my life," Astrid admitted softly. "I never planned to marry, never planned anything but making my parents proud that I was a warrior that others would respect and fear. But my parents are dead and what Snotlout tried to do-and what his family said-took any remaining respect I had. And then Hiccup, who has been my friend for years and has probably loved me without any hope for longer, saves me. He protects me and cares for me and asks nothing in return...but I-I love him anyway...and when he asked me to marry him, I knew this was what the Gods had planned. I am still a warrior...but I am at his side as well. And honestly, there is nowhere else I would want to be." Marta stared into her face and realised the young woman desperately missed having her mother to talk to...and she had never been blessed with a daughter, only her two loyal and loving sons.

"I am glad for you," she commented softly. "It's rare but a blessing when you love the person you marry." Astrid chewed her lip and nodded. "And little ones? Did you think about those?" The Shield Maiden's head snapped up and she blushed.

"I...um...a little..." she admitted. "I mean we...we're...and we've..." She ran her fingers through her hair. "It's a possibility," she conceded. "And to be honest, I'm not averse. I am certain Hiccup would be a great father because he is so caring and thoughtful and...inventive. He would never want his child to be treated the way he was." Marta smiled. "And it doesn't matter how many legs he has because I know he will find a way around it," Astrid added passionately. "I know people will be murmuring as soon as they find out because they never waste any time in thinking the worst of him but he's brave and determined and...and mine. And Thor and Odin, I will fight for him until the end of the world!" Marta smiled.

"Then you have nothing to worry about because he will do the same for you," she admitted as the fishing and wood-collecting parties returned. "Now let us housewives help you feed this little group and then we can make some proper shelters."

"And then we can head back to the village and rescue the riders," Astrid said, standing and brushing down her skirt. "I..."

"ASTRID!" Brit came racing down the cove, her grubby face excited and the blonde sighed.

"Yes, Brit?" she asked in a resigned voice.

"We found something even better than wood!" the younger girl reported, gesturing behind them. For clambering through the entrance to the cove, very grubby but carrying plenty of wood, were the Thorston twins. Astrid gaped as they leapt down and looked around in unabashed admiration.

"Whoa-if I had known this was here, we could have made so much more mischief because we had a hide-out!" Tuff said, turning round in a circle.

"It's awesome," Ruff agreed, walking towards Astrid. "So this is where you hid the dragons?" She nodded. "Awesome! No wonder Snot never found you!" She paused. "Sorry-have we grown two heads?" she checked, for Astrid was still staring in astonishment at the twins.

"No...well, I don't think so...but Ruff-how are you here? Weren't you captured?" she managed. The twins shared a meaningful look.

"Okay, they may have captured us, but we knew they didn't get our seriously awesome...oh, Barf and Belch-there you are!" Tuff rambled, then waved at the Zippleback. Both heads shared a glance and rolled their eyes.

"And then they locked us up in the Arena with the dragons and the other Riders," Ruff said in disgust. "I mean-seriously? Like we don't know every escape route and every tunnel on Berk?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa...tunnels?" Astrid asked suspiciously.

"They're awesome!" Odd-Knut explained. "They go all over the island and you can visit about six yak farms, Gobber's Outhouse, the grain store, Not-So-Silent Sven's Sheep pen, Mildew's field and the Arena!"

"As well as Asgard Beach," Tuff sighed. "All that soft white sand between your little toes...it's really lovely..."

"Tunnels?" Astrid repeated. "You mean there are tunnels under Berk and we never knew about them?" She paused. "Actually, that does explain how you managed to wreak so much havoc and destruction..."

"Young lady, I am shocked that you would ascribe all our Loki-given talents just to the secret knowledge to the tunnels..." Ruff scowled.

"Though they did make most of it possible," Tuff admitted.

"And without them, half our pranks would have ended in tears," Ruff managed and then her eyes widened and she slapped both hands over her mouth. "Oh Thor..."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Everyone stared as the male twin burst into tears and began crying like a baby-and sucking his thumb like one as well while rocking pathetically. Astrid went over and poked him.

"Now what?" she began irritably.

"It's the T word," Ruff explained in a loud whisper. "It always upsets him terribly. No idea why. But he just can't cope with hearing it."

"Tears," Brit supplied helpfully.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Will you stop that?" Astrid snapped, not sure who she was scolding.

"What? Saying tears?" Odd-Knut offered.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Yes!" Astrid seethed. "And you Tuff-pull yourself together or I'll really give you something to cry about..."

"No need to be so mean!" Ruff snapped back. "Can't you see he's just an innocent..." Astrid snorted. "...helpless..."

"Thor help me," Astrid muttered.

"...baby?"

"He'll be a dead baby if he doesn't shut up," Astrid growled. "There are Outcasts in the woods, remember? And much as I would like to indulge myself by saying the T word..."

"Tears!" Brit yelled eagerly.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Shut up, Brit-that's one lap-NOW! I need him more or less focussed-because once it's dark, we'll go in and get the rest of the dragons and riders!" There was a pause as Fishlegs and Yaklegs both stared at her as she rose, her axe gripped tight in her hand "What? You think I'm just sitting in the cove until they find us? We have dragons and this is our island. They have my injured husband, my Chief and my Tribe hostage. So as soon as we have shelters, food and warmth for these people, we're going to get the other riders and then we're fighting back!"

oOo

Hiccup shivered, pulling the fur blanket Gothi had given him tighter around his aching shape. He was in the jail-a place that was now getting so familiar he wondered if he could have his own personal cell. She had been furious when Savage had insisted on hauling him from her hut...though that hadn't gone as well as planned. He had thrown up on the Outcast more or less immediately, the sudden change from lying to upright far too abrupt for his concussed brain to cope with. Then he hadn't been able to walk because he was weak with fever and down a leg so the Outcast had slung him over his shoulder. That had prompted another embarrassing episode of vomiting, this time all down the man's back and in a rage, Savage had thrown him to the ground, kicked him and raised his club above his helpless form.

At that point, Gothi had knocked Savage senseless with her staff and scratched some symbols that Hiccup knew were beyond the most descriptive language even Gobber had ever come up with. Savage's two men had lurched forward...and then backed away at the sight of the furious tiny elderly lady and if he hadn't been feeling so bad, Hiccup would have been laughing. Savage gradually regained his senses but gave the old lady a wide berth, allowing her to gently help Hiccup up, feed him some medicine to replace that he had thrown up and handing him a small soft leather pouch of a paste that he realised was for him to take later. Then she had wrapped the blanket round him and the Outcasts had taken him to the jail.

So now, he was curled up on his side, wrapped in the blanket with the little pouch in his hand. His leg was agonisingly painful and he could feel his body shaking as his fever rose again...so he opened the pouch with fumbling fingers and sucked the thick paste up, finally laying his head down and closing his eyes. He had no idea how long he had been in the cell or how long he would be...or if anyone would bring him any food and water. But for the moment, all he wanted and needed was sleep.

His eyes snapped open as the door to his cell jerked open and he tensed, his head muzzy but his aching body less than earlier, though his leg stabbed sharply as he moved slightly and he chewed on his lip to stay quiet. Heavy steps approached and then the door clanged shut.

"Hiccup?"

He lifted his head in shock to see Stoick crouching down over him, his face concerned.

"Son?"

He grimaced and lifted his head, forcing his lips to tilt slightly up as he met his father's concerned eyes.

"Hey...Dad..." he managed gruffly. The Chief leaned forward and his hand very gently stroked Hiccup's messy auburn hair off his pale face.

"Oh son," Stoick sighed. "How are you?" Again, the young man forced a smile onto his face.

"I'm fine, Dad," he forced out. "Just a bit bruised and..." Stoick looked silently at him, his eyes sympathetic and patient. "It's really nothing..." he continued as another vicious stab of pain lanced up his left leg. Automatically, his hand latched round his father's wrist and he squeezed, hissing in pain. Shaking, he finally lowered his eyes. "H-hurts..." he gasped before the Chief tenderly pulled the young man against him, lifting him to a half-sitting position and cradling his head against his broad chest. Instinctively, Hiccup curled into his chest, feeling the powerful arms close around him in a fierce hug.

"Oh son," Stoick groaned. "I am so sorry. I know you never deserved this. You saved us all-and killed the dragon. Thor...you were right. We never could have managed it. Had I found it without you...we would all be dead."

" s'an occupational hazard, right?" HIccup groaned, shivering. Stoick nodded.

"You know Alvin is in charge?" he checked and his son nodded wearily.

"Yeah, Gothi kind of told me...and then she knocked Savage out," he admitted tiredly.

"Wait, she told you?" he asked disbelievingly. Hiccup nodded with a small grin.

"Not that her first words for however long were inspiring," he managed. "But she told me Astrid and Toothless are safe."

"But not that Spitelout invited them in...or that Snotlout is here?" Stoick asked him.

"Figures," Hiccup muttered. "Manage to kill one huge ugly monster and arrive home to find her uglier brother's already here! And I'm running short of legs..." Stoick pulled off his fur cloak and wrapped it tenderly around the young man, careful not to jar his bandaged stump.

"Son, I will do everything I can to protect you-but I know Alvin will want to know where the others are," he murmured. Hiccup gave a weary smile and closed his eyes.

"And you know I won't say anything...even if I was sure," he murmured. Stoick very carefully sat down and rested back against the wall, his son snuggled securely in his arms. Even though he was in pain and exhausted, Hiccup felt a genuine smile stretch his lips. He hadn't been held by his father since he was a small boy and the feeling of warmth and security was just what he needed.

"Rest well, son," the Chief murmured. "I'm with you. And I couldn't be more proud." Emerald eyes fluttered gently.

"Thanks, Dad," he murmured and secure in his father's grasp, he fell asleep.

oOo

Astrid had faced whines and protests as she had insisted that the younger twins stay behind but the truth was that she didn't need a large party. The tunnels were relatively roomy, according to Ruff, so Toothless had insisted on accompanying the Shield Maiden because she was returning to the village. Yaklegs had also insisted on coming because Tiril was a prisoner so Fishlegs was left in charge of the cove and the refugees there.

The twins had led Astrid, Yaklegs and Toothless to the back of Mulch's yak farm and had then promptly vanished down a hole in the ground. It was almost perfectly circular and a couple of yards across: more than roomy enough for the determined Night Fury to follow Astrid as she leapt down after the twins. There was a pause, a yell and a thud and then Yaklegs fell into the tunnel as well. He looked up sheepishly.

"I'm alright," he admitted as he got up. Tuff rolled his eyes.

"Look, these go all over the island-including the Arena," he explained. "But we may have to be quiet when we get there." Astrid blinked.

"Did Tuffnut Laverne Thorston tell me to be quiet?" she growled. "The man who was wailing like a baby over..." Ruff glared at her. "...a five letter word. Yes, I know."

"While you're pining over a six letter one," Tuff shot back as Astrid quirked a blonde eyebrow. "Or does HICCUP not have six letters?"

There was a stony silence and Ruff stared at her brother and at Astrid, who had gone still, her eyes sparkling with a steely expression. There was a creak as her fists tightened.

"Ruff-do you want to explain to your brother right now why he needs to take that back before I behead him?" she said tonelessly, her face so cold that the female twin realised it wasn't an idle threat. Urgently, she turned and grabbed her twin's shoulders.

"Shut up, mutton-head!" she hissed. "Hiccup is a person, who lost his leg saving us from that giant dragon and who is a prisoner of Alvin and Spitelout. He's her husband and she loves him. And if anything happens to him, she really will kill you...and I'll probably help her!"

"What? You siding with her, sis?" Tuff snarked.

"You apologise or it will end in tears!" Ruff snapped.

"Et tu, Ruffnut?" Tuff whimpered. "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She punched him and Astrid folded her arms until Ruff won the fight and slapped her brother until he pulled himself together-by which time, Toothless, Yaklegs and Astrid had already set off down the tunnels, following the Night Fury's sensitive nose in search of dragons. Cursing, the twins ran to catch up-to find the others were under the village and heading down towards the Arena. Tuff grabbed Astrid's arm and pressed a finger to her lips.

"We're right under the bowl," Ruff whispered as they inched forward until they reached a space in one of the entrances and peered through gaps between the loose slabs covering the tunnel entrance-and then they heard the voice of Alvin the Treacherous ring out.

"Bring up the prisoners!" he commanded and they saw shapes dragged out...Gustav, Hilde and Tiril. They were flanked by Outcasts but all looked defiant, though they showed it in different ways. Tiril was defiant, Gustav was sassy and Hilde was quiet, her face twisted in a scowl. Alvin sat deliberately in the Chief's big stone chair, staring down at the three teens. "'Ave yer tried questioning them yet?" he asked Savage, who was stalking backwards and forwards, There was an awkward pause.

"You told me not to hurt them until you ordered," he reminded Alvin in a hurt was another awkward pause.

"And yer didn't think ter just check if none of 'em wanted to tell where their friends are?" Alvin sneered. Savage opened his mouth and then turned to the teens in a fury.

"Where are your friends?" he demanded.

"Nope, you're gonna have to try waaay harder than that," Tiril told him.

"Kinda pathetic actually," Gustav agreed. "You lock us up and don't even try to be nice to us! You really haven't got the hang of this."

"You know where you can go," Hilde added in a low voice as Alvin grew puce with rage.

"Grab her!" he snapped. "Where are the others?"

"On their way," a very hairy Outcast reported as Alvin stared at Hilde, who had been grabbed by the throat.

"Now-you seem ter be a sensible girl-so I'm sure yer don't want us ter do anythin' nasty ter yer," Alvin began.

"I'm a Viking," Hilde choked, her dark eyes wide with shock. "Occupational...hazard..."

"Bring her over 'ere," Alvin commanded and reached for his knife. "Maybe we could mek an example of 'er..."

"You let her go!" Gustav yelled, vibrating with rage and lunging at the man holding her. He was swiftly restrained.

"Rat-eating munge bucket!" Tiril screamed in a manner Astrid felt proud of before she, too, was hauled back. But then someone else stepped up.

"No!" Else said. "Let her go. She's my friend!" Alvin peered at her.

"What?" he scowled.

"Snot, Dad-make them let her go!" she asked, her eyes desperately swivelling to look at her brother, who was standing at Alvin's side. "Snotlout! Please! You can't let this happen!" The young man made a show of thinking and then he stared stonily at her.

"Seems to me, sis, that she made her choice," he said coldly.

"NO!" Else shouted and lunged at Alvin-who grabbed her round the throat.

"GET OFF HER!" Spitelout shouted and rushed forward, snatching his daughter free of the Outcast. She stared up in shock as her father pulled her free-and then jerked, his eyes widening in shock and sudden pain. He looked down at her, mouth open-and then he pitched over the side, into the arena, dragging his daughter with him.

Stoick, carrying Hiccup, saw his brother fall from the entrance where they were being escorted in. Immediately, he laid down his son, seeing Hiccup nod and clutch the wall of the arena as the huge shape of the Chief ran forward to the stricken ma. Spitelout looked up with fading eyes, the knife protruding from deep in his back. Stoick fell to his knees, his face horrified as his brother gave a grim smile.

"You were right...about everything..." he gasped, his breaths growing ragged and erratic. "P-protect...my girls..." Stoick nodded, not bothering to offer false platitudes-because they both knew Spitelout was dying. "Sorry, Stoick...I...I didn't...realise..." And then his eyes fluttered and closed, his last breath shuddering out of his powerful shape.

"DAD!" Else's scream echoed round the Arena as she flung herself on the dead man, burying her head in his neck and sobbing. Quietly, Stoick wrapped his arms around her and pulled her away, comforting her himself, though he was devastated. Alvin laughed and cast a look at Snotlout.

"Ain't yer upset yer Daddy's dead?" he asked sneeringly but Snotlout stared down with cold eyes and shook his head.

"He let them banish me...in favour of..." And his icy glare landed on the shape leaning against the wall. "Hello, Useless!" Hiccup's head snapped up and he took a shuddering breath.

"At least I'm human!" he snapped and glared back. "Your father has just been murdered, Snot. Shouldn't you be say...upset?"

"That would mean I actually cared," Snotlout told him coldly. "When all I care about is where Astrid is...so I can make sure you realise how much you both are worth." Hiccup straightened up and allowed himself to be dragged to the centre of the Arena, to stand by the other riders.

"Oh, that's just pitiful," he said sarcastically. "I mean, Berk has been invaded with your help, your Tribe is subjugated, your Chief has been deposed and your father murdered protecting your younger sister and all you care about is that my wife, who rejected you for years, is still at large. I'm so glad to see you have a proper sense of perspective!" Astrid peered through the gap and saw him swaying on his one leg, his fists clenched. Alvin leaned forward and inspected him.

"Hmm...rumour says yer the one who went and stopped the raid by killin' a giant dragon!" he commented. "Yer don't look like much." Hiccup's emerald eyes glittered with anger.

"I'll go away, work out and come back in a couple of years. Would that make you happier?' he snarled. "May take me a bit longer to grow another leg!"

"You co-operate, boy, or yer'll 'ave no legs!" Alvin menaced. Hiccup sighed.

"Whoo, couldn't see that one coming, could we?" he snarked. "Bravo. You score almost a point for originality."

"Maybe I can do better," a horribly familiar voice announced and a buff shape swaggered into the arena, passing within feet of the concealed Astrid, Toothless, Yaklegs and the twins. The light gleamed off the high horns of his helmet, the light glittering in his pale green eyes, one marked with three claw-like tattoos. Hiccup stared in shock.

"Dagur!" he breathed. The Berserker Chief advanced furiously and grabbed Hiccup by the hair, glaring into his shocked emerald eyes.

"Please to see me, brother?" he sneered. "Oh, I forgot...I'm not your brother-isn't that what you said."

"Yes," Hiccup bit out. "Because I would rarer die than be your brother...or your anything..."

"So if you're not my friend, I can do what I want with a disowned, one-legged slave!" the Berserker sneered. "Okay, Al-he's my payment. That and the Night Fury."

"What Night Fury?" the Outcast Chief asked, confused by the turn of conversation.

"Let him go, Dagur," Stoick growled, rising to his feet.

"The beast that has terrorised this island for years...and which it seems he tamed," Dagur growled. Alvin glared at Snotlout.

"You didn't say nothing about any dragon!" he accused the young man.

"Knut told Mildew who told you," Snotlout reminded him in a bored voice. "Happened after I was exiled, remember?"

"I don't like yer tone, boy!" the Outcast Chief sneered.

"Look-it's Useless-and he's no more value here!" Snotlout exclaimed. "He's been a pain in my butt ever since I was made Heir-because Stoick never got over disowning him. So now he really has no more use, why not give him to Dagur? He can dispose of him-while we consolidate the village and find out where my Princess is!" Alvin's scarred face twisted in a sadistic smile and he glanced over the furious former Chief, the watchful riders who were prepared to die to protect their friends and Snotlout's dead father and his sister, who he had dropped without batting an eyelid.

"I think I did choose the right Heir," he chuckled. "Okay, Dagur, "E's yours!"