"I Do.... NOT!!"

Chapter 18: Change of Plans

                  ----- Astrid's POV-----

"What do you mean?!" I cried, aghast. Stoick had just told me the berserkers would accept a night fury in my place to keep the treaty going. That meant Hiccup was going to Berserker island... alone.

"It is the only way to keep peace without hurting on of our own." Stoick said, clearly exhausted.

"But hiccup is one of our own!" I protested. "Stop saying that name! I don't know if that is my son. To much is uncertain for us to trust that thing, and if getting... whoever he is off this island will keep the peace, I will. I have a village to feed. Winter is upon us and a war will only cause more death and sorrow." Stoick yelled.

I backed up, not wanting to anger him further. "Leave now. If you're so concerned about that beast go with it. I can't take anymore of this." He said quietly. I turned and ran from the great hall, tears running down my face. There would be no village to feed if they took Hiccup away... we would all die. And of course, no one would listen. I made it to the docks just in time to see Hiccup in his night fury form, knocked out and caged up on one of the make shift boats Berk had supplied the berserkers.

I clenched my fists and thought hard. How was I going to get him out of this mess? The only thing I could think of was a terrible option. But at this point it was the last one I had left. I raced down to the boats and looked for the berserker chief, Oswald the Grim.

"I'll come with. I will stay for a 6 month period and give my final decision on marrying your son." I blurted at him, as soon as he turned to look at me. "Well seems we will be extra blessed! This arrangement is agreeable to me. You'll ride with Dagur in the lead boat," Oswald said.

I swallowed down revulsion and did as I was told. Within minutes we were slowly leaving the harbor, leaving my home. I kept back tears, wishing I could have told my family good bye. I tried to turn my mind to thoughts of the future. Soon enough I would see how bad of shape the berserkers were really in. If I could help them and free Hiccup, maybe this stay at Berserker island could become a good thing. I ignored dagur for the most part, and examined my axe blade. He soon gave up talking me, and tense silence remained. Besides the sound of the water and rock of the boat, the trip was very quiet until evening. "Stowaway Oswald! Oswald!! We got a stowaway!" Someone yelled, breaking the silence. I quickly looked toward the sound of the voices and realized the stow away was a child. His blond hair reminded me of my little brother... I started and looked closer, realizing it was in fact Boreal.

"Hey! That's my little brother. Put him down now! He should ride with me." I said, glaring at the berserkers holding him in place. Oswald looked between the two of us and then nodded. "Very well. It's good she spoke for you young one. Conditions on our island are harsh. We would have tossed you overboard in hopes you'd have a better ending then what may happen otherwise," he growled. I gulped and hurried to the end of the boat. They handed Boreal across and I wrapped him in a hug as soon as he was safely in my boat. "Oh why did you come?!" I said quietly, wiping away tears. "If things are so bad at Berserker Island, you're in more danger than ever." Boreal blinked at me in confusion, and began to cry. "Oh no, shhh. It's ok. I'm glad I have you. I promise we will get back home to mom and dad soon." I said, stroking Boreal's head. Dagur watched us with a look I couldn't decipher, so finally I decided to ask what he was looking at.

"Uh. Its just... uh I have a little sister back home. Shes really sick. I hope the same thing dosent happen to him." Dagur said quietly. I bit back a comment, taken back by the emotion in his voice. He must care for her alot... maybe I could help her. Boreal soon fell asleep in my arms to the rocking of the boat. I talked a little more with Dagur about the condition of his island, feeling more concerned as the full extent of their troubles were revealed. The hours stretched on between Berk and Berseker island, with only a little water and some stale bread to eat and drink. I kept looking back to check on Hiccup, motionless in his chains. How could our own kind be so cruel to him? I couldn't imagine how he felt, seeing his father after all these years and then being sent away weeks later. And all in the name of peace... Vikings couldn't keep living like this. Their narrow minded views would wipe out both our races, starting with dragons. If the legends Hiccup's pod told me were true, we were doomed if vikings and dragons couldn't learn to work together. Slowly, dawn began to creep over horizon and chased away the night. I stretched and winced at my stiff muscles. I hadn't slept much last night... and I could feel it. As the sky grew lighter I spotted a tiny speck in the distance. That must have been Berserker island! I made my way to the end of the boat and watched Berserkers around me scramble to adjust sails and catch a morning meal.

Boreal soon joined me, as I began helping Dagur toss out the fishing net. "Are the boats going to hold this much fish?" I asked Dagur as we hauled in our second net full of fish. "They have to. Our people will starve if we don't bring enough back. Fishing is no good any where near Berserker Island. It's like the whole place is poisoned and cursed by dragon attacks." Dagur replied. I sighed and hefted my side of the net with Boreal. A cold wind blew and chilled my already freezing, wet body. Knee deep in fish with the boat creaking dangerously, I shivered more violently. Nothing sounded better than a nice fire. Dagur stared at me until I couldn't stand his uncomfortable gaze any longer. "Would you stop that! Look anywhere but at me, if you don't want a broken nose." I snapped. "Geez! I was just gonna ask if you were cold!" Dagur whined. I sighed and shook my head. "Obviously I'm cold." I replied. "Well you can come stand up here with me." Dagur offered. "No thanks. I'm not moving till this thing docks. It sounds like it'll break apart at any moment." I snapped. Dagur turned away from me with a huff. I felt a tug on my hand and looked down to see Boreal staring intently into my eyes. "Your face has glowing pretty stuff on it," he said in awe. "Oh bother... I guess that's what he was staring at." I mumbled. Finally, the dock came into focus. Even from a distance I saw Berserker island was in deep trouble. The green that accompanied  most islands wasn't here. The island was gray and black, it looked almost devoid of life, except for the dock and some small figures moving near it. As we came closer I saw blackened stumps and complete destruction everywhere, deep gouges in the earth showed recent attacks of some sort. As dagur helped Boreal and I stumble up from the boat, I dropped to the dock on my knees, a strange, dizzy, numbing feeling creeping into my body. Something was very wrong...

.... hours later....

I woke with a start, disoriented and sick. I realized I was laying on the ground, with some kind of animal skin for a blanket. I sat up slowly, starting to adjust to the sick, weak feeling of this island. I jumped when daggur's voice spoke behind me. "Never do that again!" I snapped. "What? Never help you after you pass out? Come on. You could at least thank me for that." Dagur whined. I snorted and tried to stand, but my wobbly legs have out. "Look. Please let me help you- I'll show you around so you can see what we are dealing with," Dagur said. I reluctantly accepted his help and we began to tour the island.