Twenty Two: Hearts and Minds

"We know," Tiril said, glaring at the young couple as they faced her, the Ingermans and Gustav. Astrid's knuckles whitened around the haft of her axe as Hiccup stiffened beside her, his eyes wide and anxious.

"I don't know what you're talking about..." he began.

"The dragon," Tiril growled, her voice accusing.

"What dragon?" Hiccup asked, too quickly.

"The Night Fury!" Yaklegs interrupted and Hiccup stiffened.

"I-I don't know what you..." he began and Tiril rolled her eyes.

"Wow-he's a terrible liar!" she announced. "Thor-I mean I've seen the twins lie and they're pretty useless a lot of the time but he's dismal!" Hiccup gaped and stared at her, his eyes flicking anxiously to Astrid.

"Hiccup-Tiril and Yak saw you," Fishlegs explained sternly. "They saw you riding a Night Fury. Is that true?" The widening of the emerald eyes and the stricken look on Hiccup's face told him everything that he needed to know. Astrid stared at them, seeing the flat determination in four pairs of eyes and pushed Hiccup back a pace.

"Go," she said firmly. "Go through the wood store and leave Berk. I'll handle this." He shook his head.

"I'm not going without you," he said.

"Babe-these bastards will tell Snotlout and he'll have you killed," she said grimly, her eyes locked menacingly on the four intruders. "Thor, I wouldn't put it past Snotlout to make Stoick execute you himself. And because there are four of them, they will believe them above you!"

"I mean, it kind of makes sense," Fishlegs continued, his eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information out loud. "It was highly improbable that you could shoot down a dragon and free Astrid...but if you chased after her on a Night Fury..."

"Not as improbable as you would think," Hiccup muttered as Astrid cast him a fierce glare.

"But they don't have greater credibility than me," she continued. "So if you are gone, I can discredit anything they say. I will be fine."

"But I won't-not without you," Hiccup told her quietly.

"Babe-this can't end well," she told him determinedly. "But I can't let anything happen to my smart, brave, sarcastic, caring boyfriend. Even if we are apart, you'll be safe."

"I'll be dead without you," he breathed, his hand closing on her arm.

"Gustav-you move one more inch towards that door and I'll kill you where you stand!" Astrid growled, her eyes locked on the boy who was inching towards the door. Facing an armed and angry Astrid Hofferson with a locked door behind them was suddenly seeming to be a very bad idea and extremely dangerous. Gustav froze, Yaklegs's eyes widened in shock and Tiril scowled, breathing hard.

"Astrid-wait, please..." Fishlegs began but Hiccup's grasp on her arm tightened slightly and she shook her head.

"Why are you still here, Hiccup?" she asked sternly. "I told you to go! Take Toothless and leave! I'll be safe..."

"Astrid," he said gently, his voice calming her, "did you never wonder why I stayed on Berk? Why I accepted being treated so badly by everyone? Why I clung to the impossible dream that one day my family may relent and actually treat me like a human?"

"Babe-not really the time..." she began, shifting her weight as Tiril edged sideways. "Back, missy. If anyone else moves, I'll kill the first two people with one stroke-understand?" Both Yaklegs and Fishlegs instantly put their hands up, eyes wide in shock and fear.

"Astrid-you want me to leave Berk, to go and leave you behind-so if I don't say it now, by your reckoning, I will never say it," he told her. "I stayed for you. It was only for you. You were my friend, the one person who treated me like human. And don't think I didn't consider leaving. Every time Johann stopped at Berk, I had to ask myself what reasons I had to stay on Berk, to remain as Gobber's apprentice and Snotlout's punchbag. And every time, it came back to you. Because leaving Berk would mean I could never see you again. It would destroy the last dream I held onto. And honestly, that was enough to make me endure whatever Snotlout and the rest did. And when your parents died, I couldn't leave you alone. Because you would be completely alone. And so would I."

Astrid flinched and her eyes shone, but she kept her eyes locked on the intruders, her axe poised to rain lethal blows on the four teens threatening her happiness and the man she loved. "Babe-I can't let them hurt you any more," she said in a toneless voice. "And I could never let them kill you. I will end all of them before I permit that to happen." She paused. "You stayed...for me?" He nodded.

"Yes," he said in a level voice.

"My love, if I know you are safe, I can endure being without you and being alone," she said firmly.

"I can't," Hiccup said gently, his grip on her arm tightening. "Not now."

"You'll have Toothless," she reminded him.

"And you'll have to deal with Snotlout," Gustav piped up suddenly. "Look-he's made some very serious threats against you, Astrid. He..."

"Shut. Up!" the Shield Maiden snapped.

"Can I speak?" Fishlegs squeaked, his hands still up.

"No!" Astrid snapped.

"Go ahead," Hiccup said heavily and the husky boy gulped.

"I think from the way this is going down that we all know what Yak and Tiril saw was true," he said nervously. "But we're not here from Snotlout." His eyes grew hurt. "I am your friend, Hiccup! I'm hurt you'd think I would do anything that could get you into trouble..."

"These guys supported Snotlout when he was found out for attacking Hiccup," Astrid snapped. "They lied for him so he served a few days in jail for almost killing Hiccup!"

"I didn't!" Tiril snapped. "He blamed my cousins for everything..."

"Those would be the same twins who caught me outside the forge and dragged me up to the cliffs? The same people who destroyed everything I owned?" Hiccup asked her in a sharp voice. She opened her mouth to protest...and then nodded.

"Look, I know they were involved...they just didn't plan it-because why would they bother? They can cause mischief and mayhem without getting involved with something so extreme," she admitted. Astrid's knuckles whitened and her scowl deepened. "Okay-so they've been after Hiccup for years...but they don't care about killing him or disposing of him. They just care about causing chaos and fighting!"

"Hiccup-do you really have a Night Fury?" Fishlegs asked him, his eyes wide. Slowly, the auburn-haired man nodded, resignation on his face.

"I mean-Snotlout just looked out for himself and dumped everything on the twins so why should I trust him?" Tiril continued, waving her arms. "I mean all he does is look out for himself. He gives orders but ignores everyone else. And he's never said sorry or promised he would make anything up to Ruff and Tuff? So why should I help him? He's an ass!"

"Um yeah...to both..." Hiccup admitted.

"Were you really riding a dragon?" Gustav asked him as Yaklegs cast him an irritated glance.

"I told you we saw him!" he growled.

"But's that's just..." Gustav began.

"Amazing," Fishlegs offered.

"Insane," Yaklegs tried.

"Awesome!" Gustav finished.

"Oh Thor," Hiccup sighed. "Um...it would probably best to show you." Astrid stiffened.

"Hiccup-it's far too late to go now," she said firmly. "And we can't trust these not to betray you if we let them leave here..."

"Hey!"

"Well, probably except Fishlegs..." she conceded. "We can't have them going to Snotlout and..." Sighing, Hiccup pulled her round to face him, her eyes still fixed on the frozen teens, her axe still readied.

"Astrid-if they were going to Snot, they would already have gone and he and an angry mob would be here," he reminded her. "Believe me, I was expecting an angry mob. And I'm certainly not imprisoning them here until morning! I mean, I'm willing to sleep here with you but this lot...bleurgh!" Astrid's lips curled slightly at his disparaging tone.

"But all three of the younger ones have been scouring the forest looking for us for Snotlout!" she replied. "Yak and Gustav backed Snot up and Tiril is smart and has almost caught me a couple of times. I can't trust them with your safety..."

"And what about yours?" Yaklegs asked in a hurt voice. "We saw you with a Deadly Nadder. We saw you touching her...taming her..."

"As in the same kind of dragon that kidnapped me?" Astrid asked him pointedly. "Who's gonna believe you?" Hiccup sighed.

"I do," he said quietly. "And I believe that Fishlegs really wants to see Toothless-and so does Yaklegs..." Both boys blushed as the young man swept his astute emerald gaze over them. "I wager that Gustav really wants to see if he can befriend a Monstrous Nightmare," he added, inspecting the young man.

"The most powerful dragon in the Archipelago!" Gustav finished enthusiastically as Hiccup and Astrid shared a knowing look.

"Completely wrong," Hiccup admitted dryly, "but the thought counts." Then he looked at the girl. "And I bet Tiril wants a dragon to cause mayhem...and check her cousins are okay?" Her eyes widened in utter shock.

"How...how did you...?" she mumbled.

"I'm disowned, not deaf," Hiccup reminded her sarcastically. "I've heard you taking with the others-and Snotlout..." Her blue eyes widened defiantly.

"They're my cousins," she replied with spirit. "Look, they didn't deserve to be blamed for everything and Eel Island is uninhabited and cold..." Hiccup's green eyes inspected her thoughtfully. He couldn't imagine having a cousin who actually cared for him and part of him still suspected it was all a ruse to get him to betray himself...but he wanted people to understand and change their minds about dragons.

"Hiccup..." Astrid said in a low voice. She had lowered her axe but she wasn't taking her eyes off the younger teens, still not trusting them.

"Astrid," he said gently, turning to her and resting his hands on her shoulders, "at some time, we have to take a leap of faith and trust someone." She rolled her eyes, her expression mildly exasperated.

"But these guys?" she asked him pointedly and he nodded, a small smile tilting his lips.

"Where better to start?" he asked her rhetorically. "Look, we know the truth about dragons and if we are to stand any chance of changing hearts and minds, then we have to start somewhere." He looked into the wide eyes of the younger teens. "I think they all have reasons for wanting us to trust them...and if they betray us, you have my full permission to axe them into as many pieces as you want!" He saw Gustav gulp.

"You're kidding?' he asked worriedly. Hiccup's smile broadened.

"As much as you were kidding when you said you knew about my friend..." he told the younger boy firmly.

"And me?" Fishlegs asked blandly. The auburn-haired young man gave a small smile.

"Fish-I'm trusting you to keep an eye on them," Hiccup admitted. "Trusting you with my life. Astrid needs rest-and so do I. Be back here at dawn and we'll take you to see the friend." His eyes lingered on the others. "And Astrid will hunt down anyone who doesn't turn up on time-or is late!"

"Yeah, we already know that one," Tiril said moodily and then saw his disbelieving expression.. "What? We have her every day for weapons training! We know never to turn up late!" The boys nodded frantically-especially Yaklegs, who was never the most punctual.

"Yeah-anyone late has to 'drop and give her twenty'!" Gustav added with a roll of the eyes.

"I start doing my push-ups when I see her on arrival to save time," Yaklegs admitted and the blacksmith's apprentice turned to his girlfriend, seeing a small smile on her pale face.

"Wow-I'm impressed," he admitted as she smiled and finally rested her axe down, her head dropping. "And you, Milady, look absolutely exhausted."

"I'm fine," she mumbled as Hiccup nodded and Fishlegs unlatched the door, nodding thoughtfully.

"Dawn," he promised as they filed out and after locking the door, Hiccup tenderly took his listing girlfriend to bed.

"Sleep well," he murmured, gently kissing her forehead. "Tomorrow's gonna be a busy day."

oOo

The knock on the door came just before dawn and Astrid opened the door a crack, her azure eyes narrowed, then beckoned the four shapes in. Fishlegs was twitchy and almost squeaking with excitement while his younger brother wasn't much better and Gustav was staring at Hiccup in shock. The blacksmith's apprentice was still dressing calmly, the rust red tunic swiftly covered by a leather armoured vest that was made of woven strips of leather fitted perfectly to his lean shape, buckles over the left shoulder and round his waist fastening the garment, smooth leather shoulder guards polished and shining softly in the firelight. He calmly tightened his leather vambraces and then looked up with a small smile.

"Everyone ready?" he asked brightly.

"I still say this is a bad idea," Astrid grumbled, grasping her axe but Fishlegs took a step forward and stared into her eyes.

"I promise it will be okay," he said sincerely. "Hiccup is my friend...and so are you. I wouldn't let you get hurt because we found out the secret...a secret that could change the face of Berk." The younger teens all nodded, even Tiril, and Astrid gave a curt nod of acknowledgement as Hiccup led them out the door, round the back of the house to the wood store and retrieved two bags of fish before they headed up behind the back of the houses and vanished into the forest. The dawn was still warming the pinkish-gold sky and even the fishermen were just heading down to the docks to put out for the day as the little group wove their way along the familiar path, the younger ones watching interestedly as Hiccup led them suddenly down into the crack into the cove and vanished. There was an awkward pause as Astrid slid through and then Fishlegs paused, seeing the very narrow gap and his fuller-and 'husky'-figure.

"Um...little help here?' he asked timorously and Gustav and Yaklegs shared a look-and a grin-before standing behind the older boy and shoving with all their might. There were a lot of squeaks and whimpers as Fishlegs struggled through the gap...and finally shot through, like a cork out of a bottle. He gave a scream and tumbled forward off the little stony ledge, landing on his face on the mossy ground.

"Fishlegs?" Gustav yelled down.

"I'm okay!" the husky boy called up as his brother managed to squeeze through, tripped and landed on top of him. "Less okay!" came the muffled addendum. Gustav dissolved into laughter and Tiril almost collapsed with mirth at the sight, though she shimmied through the small space easily and leapt down agilely. And then she looked up and froze, blue eyes growing wide as the boys all stared at the same sight.

Hiccup was standing by the little lake in the cove, the light grey rocky walls warmed by the pinkish-orange light of the rising sun and sitting at his side was the sleek black shape of the Night Fury. Toothless sat back on his haunches, towering above the tall young man, his ear-flaps pricked and wide green eyes focussed intently on the four newcomers. Fishlegs shoved his brother off him and rose to his feet, eyes round with astonished delight.

"Oh Thor...it is real..." he mouthed, slowly taking a step forward.

"He won't attack you...unless you make a move towards me," Hiccup assured him, his hand stretched out to rest on the dragon's flank. The dragon gave a small warble and Hiccup cracked a smile. "Right, Toothless?"

"Toothless?" Fishlegs asked, inching forward and Hiccup looked up as his friend.

"You wanna show 'em, bud?" he asked and the dragon gave his strange, gummy smile. Fishlegs stared...and then Toothless snapped his teeth down and looked at the intruders.

"Retractable teeth!" Fishlegs gasped. "Wow."

"He's bigger than he looked from outside the cove," Yaklegs added, his eyes also fixed on the Night Fury. "What does he eat?"

"Fish," Astrid said, walking forward with the nervous Deadly Nadder hanging back. "They all seem to eat fish." Tiril stared at the blue and golden dragon behind her, her quick eyes seeing the wound.

"How did it get injured?" she asked directly and she didn't miss Astrid's glance towards Hiccup. The auburn-haired teen gave a self-conscious smile.

"I asked Toothless to shoot her-to save Astrid," he confessed and the teens all surged forward, eyes wide as they stared at the young Viking.

"You really flew after her on Toothless?" Yaklegs asked him eagerly.

"I knew it was the only hope she had," Hiccup admitted with a little smile, as Toothless dropped down and settled down by him. "Fortunately, Night Furies are really fast-so we were able to catch them up as they reached the nest..."

"Wait-you found the Nest?" Gustav gasped. "Oh my Thor. Wait until the Chief..."

"No," Hiccup said urgently. "He can't know!"

"But if we can find the Nest, we can stop the raids and..."

"And you'll all be killed," Astrid told them flatly, walking to Stormfly and gently stroking her nose. "We were there-and the dragons raid us because they are controlled by a giant dragon, a Chief...that they feed the food they raid from us!" She stopped and looked at the dragon and Fishleg's mouth dropped open.

"Including you?" he breathed. She nodded, then looked up with a small smile that totally failed to reach her eyes.

"Almost...if not for Hiccup..." she admitted quietly as he walked swiftly to her, standing behind her and wrapping his arms gently around her waist. She leaned back against him and exhaled softly.

"I will always come for you, Milady," he murmured and leaned forward to gently kiss the side of her neck. She rested her hands over his and smiled, craning her neck round so he could kiss her properly.

"Thanks, babe," she said. "My hero."

"Ewww! Get a room!" Gustav choked as Hiccup blushed, his eyes sparkling. Tiril smiled.

"They are kinda sweet," she murmured to Yaklegs, causing him to stare at her in shock. It was very un-Tiril-like.

"The dragon is the size of a mountain," Hiccup continued. "It swallowed a Zippleback whole! It..."

"My entire family were killed by dragons," Astrid said sternly, turning to face them. "But my entire Tribe will be slaughtered if we attack. Don't think I don't want it ended-because I do. I don't want any more families to suffer how I have. I don't want children to lose their parents, families their sons and daughters and everyone their neighbours...but I can't see a way to defeat that Chief."

Hiccup hugged her tighter. "Nor me," he murmured. "Not yet."

Toothless warbled and lifted his head, ears pricking. He gestured pointedly at the visitors and his rider gave a smile.

"You're right, bud," he sighed. "We really need to show these guys how completely awesome you are...and why dragons aren't all the menace we thought them to be." Reluctantly releasing Astrid, he turned to their others. "So who wants a ride on a Night Fury?" he asked.

There was a long moment when everyone stared at him. Toothless scrambled to his feet and padded towards them, still giving his gummy smile, his pupils wide and inoffensive looking.

"He likes to have his chin scratched," the auburn-haired young Viking added and Fishlegs stared but his brother was the one who walked forward, offering his hand to be sniffed. And then gently, he scratched the smooth scales very gently. Toothless purred, his eyes closing in pleasure. Yaklegs' mouth dropped open in shock and delight as Toothless leaned into the scratch. His brother swiftly joined him and Fishlegs was just as rapt as he touched his first dragon. Stormfly advanced and nudged against Astrid and the Shield Maiden affectionately stroked the dragon.

"She's beautiful...but more edgy than Toothless," Tiril noted, her eyes trailing over the skittish Nadder. "I mean..." But Astrid gave a small smile.

"She's wounded and alone," she murmured. "She left her tribe, defied her Chief because it was the right thing to do. But the only person she can rely on is Toothless-and me and Hiccup, now." There was definite envy in Tiril's wide, grey-blue eyes, so similar to her cousin Ruffnut's and she stared from the dragon to the young woman. She admired Astrid-all the teens did-and her words really affected the girl.

"And...me..." she offered. She shrugged. "Look-they haven't attacked us, haven't eaten us and I've watched you tame her...so I know it can be done. And I kinda really want one of my own..."

"Even though it's treason?" Astrid asked her dryly. She was rewarded by a brilliant grin.

"Why wouldn't you want a dragon?" Tiril shot back. "Look, if being goody-goody and law-abiding means that Snot and his cronies walk all over you and stab you in the back, why would I want to be?" Then Hiccup stared into Toothless's eyes and the dragon wagged his shoulders, encouraging the young viking to climb into the saddle, resting with ease and practice on the dragon.

"Any takers?" he asked and there was a pause-before Gustav walked forward.

"Me first!" he volunteered to the chagrin of the Ingermans, who were anxiously looking at each other, hoping the other would be first. Hiccup gestured and the younger teen clambered behind him, arms wrapping tightly around Hiccup's narrow waist.

"Hold on tight," Hiccup advised, a grin on his face. "Toothless gets a bit...eager..." And then he leaned forward. Gustav frowned.

"What does that mean?" he asked...and then Toothless erupted into the air, climbing fast and hard, wings pumping and eyes fixed on the clouds above. Gustav's scream echoed round Raven Point as they watched the black shape recede and shrink, then roll sideways and dive down, rolling and dinking before zooming up again.

"Ah-Toothless can't resist showing off," Astrid commented smugly, now that her feet were firmly on solid ground. "I think he and Hiccup are secretly daredevils though they're still learning to fly together-but Hiccup seems to have no fear on his dragon and Toothless is the most extreme flier I've seen of any dragon! The number of dives and rolls I see them doing is ridiculous!" As she was speaking, Toothless rolled into a plummet, pulling up at the last moment. Gustav's screams could easily be heard. "My first flight was even worse...because I had given Hiccup a really hard time when I discovered Toothless-and Toothless was determined to make me realise he wasn't happy about it. But I'm starting to fly on Stormfly and though she's pretty extreme as well, she's a good girl..." Fishlegs had gone pale.

"I-I'm not sure I'm cut out for anything too...extreme..." he protested. "Don't you have anything slower?" Yaklegs looked up-and for a moment, his eyes met Tiril's. The younger Ingerman gave a small smile.

"You know Gronckles are slower than Nadders?" he suggested, knowing his brother had a secret admiration for the tough, boulder-class reptiles. There was a pause and Fishlegs managed a hopeful smile.

"Um...that doesn't sound too bad..." he admitted as Toothless finally swooped down and landed lightly a few feet from the little group. As usual, Hiccup's auburn hair was windblown, his emerald eyes sparkling with joy and his hand patted Toothless even as he sat up and checked on his passenger. Gustav was wild-haired, wild-eyed...and almost bouncing with excitement.

"How was it?" Yaklegs asked.

"Totally awesome!" Gustav gushed, his grin almost wider than his face. "Now all I need is my own Monstrous Nightmare..." There was a pause as everyone stared at him and Hiccup stole a small glance at the beautiful blonde Valkyrie who was trying not to laugh.

"Um...how are you getting a Monstrous Nightmare, Gustav?" Hiccup asked curiously and the younger teen stared at him, grinning.

"You're getting him for me!" he said as if it was obvious. "You tamed Toothless and Astrid has Stormfly..." Astrid was smiling now.

"He has a point," she noted as Tiril hesitantly stroked Stormfly. The Nadder trilled gently. "And they seem fairly receptive..." Hiccup gave a shrug.

"But are the dragons?" he asked dryly. "I mean, if you are serious, you have to approach a dragon, try to not get eaten, befriend them by showing trust, create a bond...and manage to keep the secret..."

"I can keep a secret!" Gustav protested, sliding off Toothless.

"Yeah, me too!" Tiril added belligerently.

"Me too!" Fishlegs put in and Hiccup raised an eyebrow, a cynical expression on his face.

"Really?" he teased the husky boy. "Fish-you can't keep a secret to save your life! Or mine!" Brow wrinkling, Fishlegs looked sternly at him.

"I won't let you down, Hiccup," he said as the young blacksmith slid to the ground and faced him, a smile lifting his mouth.

"So...you want a ride on Toothless?" he offered but Fishlegs gulped.

"Prefer a Gronckle," he admitted. Hiccup clapped him on the shoulder, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Me next!" Tiril said, walking forward. "I wanna see if it's as awesome as Gustav thought..." And she stared challengingly up into Hiccup's green eyes.

And then they all froze, hearing shouts from above. They all recognised the voices: Snotlout, Dogsbreath and Lars and Astrid grabbed her axe. Hiccup stared for a long moment, breathing hard before he motioned them to hide in the cave under the entrance. Toothless immediately scampered to his side, nudging him and he managed a very wan smile.

"Hide," he murmured as Astrid shepherded the others into the shelter-but Tiril patted her arm.

"I'll get them away," she volunteered quickly and scrambled up the rocks before she vanished into the gap in the rocks.

"Can we trust her?" Astrid asked pointedly. There was a pause before Yaklegs and Gustav both nodded.

"If she says she'll do something, she does," Gustav assured her.

"And she's still mad at Snot for betraying her cousins," Yaklegs added. "She'll want to put one over on him." Astrid stared at Hiccup and saw the anxiety in his eyes, though he was calmly making sure they were all concealed.

"I hope you're right," she said, "because I really don't want to have to be disappointed once more."