Hiccup struggled to open his eyes, pure exhaustion taking over his body. He wasn't sure how long he'd been out, but it felt like ages since he'd last been conscious; like waking up from a nap you hadn't meant to take. All of his muscles ached to the core, and he could feel dried blood caked to his sensitive skin. The floor beneath him felt rough and jagged, like a cave. Hiccup took in a slow, steady breath. He had to think. He couldn't really remember much.
His eyes cracked open and nothing but darkness was ahead of him. He could make out fuzzy figures, like long poles in front of his face. Slowly, Hiccup reached his hand out and grabbed at one. Metal. Metal bars. He was in a cage, or a prison. Think Hiccup, think. He wracked his brain, but came up empty handed. He was tired, so tired, regardless of how long he'd slept. It hurt to think too hard, and all he wanted was to be lying next to Astrid, smelling her sweet honey hair and feeling her softness. He groaned into the floor, closing his eyes again.
A loud creaking of a door snapped him awake again. His head jolted up, surprised that he'd fallen asleep so suddenly. He could see more clearly now, and he struggled to lift himself up on his shaking arms. He was in a prison, like he thought. It was a small cove inside a cave, the entrance covered in bars. The only light came from a door ahead, slightly ajar and illuminating a desk and bookshelf that was just outside his prison. It was slowly coming back to him now. Drago's alfa had killed their own, taking control of all the dragons, forcing Toothless to kill his father. His heart thumped painfully at the memory. He inched his way backward, sitting against the back wall and spreading his legs out, letting his head rest against a smoother rock.
Hiccup's memory came flooding back, and he recalled Toothless flying at him as he grieved over his father and taking him into his claws, then flying away with him. He remembered his mother and friends shouting and trying to follow after them in vain. The alfa had taken all of their dragons, and Drago ordered them to destroy the village. Hiccup remembered trying to get Toothless back on his side, grabbing at his friend's paws and trying to free himself, but his dragon was too far gone, and he was taken to Drago's lair far away from Berk.
Hiccup gently hit his head against the wall, cursing his weakness and feeling guilt wave over him. What had become of Berk? His friends? His poor mother? He felt like he might vomit.
The door opened wider, and Drago Bludvist stepped inside, looking proud and near about drunk with power. Speak of the devil... He held a lit torch in one hand, and he raised it above the table and lit a hanging lantern Hiccup hadn't noticed was there. He squinted his eyes as he tried to adjust to the sudden light.
"So," Drago's deep voiced seemed to boom in the small space, "the great dragon master has awaked." His tone was taunting, and Hiccup glared with all the malice he could muster in his current state. "How is your new home? I hope I've been accommodating." He hung the torch in a holster on the wall and pulled up a chair by the table, sitting down and facing Hiccup, leaning back and getting comfortable. He seemed to be waiting for a response.
Hiccup sat up straighter, clearly his sore throat. "Qu..quite the opposite, actually..." His voice was soft and weak; he sounded like a stranger to himself.
Drago chuckled. "You've been asleep for a while. I was worried I'd killed you by mistake."
"Why haven't you killed me?" Hiccup asked. Truth be told, he was incredibly surprised to still be breathing. Drago had tried to have him killed before, so why not now?
"If I'm going to be ruler of the world," Drago began, grinning like the madman he was, "I need a wife." Hiccup's eyes widened in horror as Drago continued, "To cook for me, clean for me, obey my every command... Lie in my bed." He put an emphasis on the last part that sent shivers down Hiccup's spine.
"I...I'm not a woman," Hiccup said, trying to hide his fear. He knew that like this, he couldn't stop Drago from doing whatever he pleased, but he had to stay confident.
Drago shrugged, snapping his large fingers. A boy who looked to be no older than Hiccup walked into the room, standing up straight with a face devoid of emotion. He wore dark rags of clothes and held a silver platter with a large goblet. Drago took to goblet and waved the boy away, and he bowed low before backing out of the room. Incredible, Drago already had slaves. How long had Hiccup been unconscious?
The large man took a deep gulp from his goblet, then wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "What's it matter what your gender is? I think you'll make a good wife. A great prize, proof of my victory." Hiccup felt his blood run cold. "Of course, I'll need to train you first. One with such spirit as yours couldn't possibly obey me right away. But that's the benefit of your dragon soul: I can tame any dragon." The way he said the word "tame" made Hiccup's stomach turn.
The brunette pulled his legs in protectively. "I...I will never be your...wife." It felt disgusting just to say the word. "I'd rather you kill me."
Drago shrugged and set his goblet down on the table, standing up and stepping toward the bars. He leaned in and looked Hiccup in the face. "That can be arranged. I'm sure your fiance would make a better wife anyway." Hiccup went pale. He did have Astrid. But that meant she was alive. "She has far better hips than yours, and she could carry my children..."
"No!" Hiccup shouted. "Don't hurt her..." Drago smiled.
"Oh," he said, "I won't do anything to her. As long as you submit to me." Hiccup clenched his fists, angrier than he'd ever been. This could be a trick. He might not even have Astrid. She might already be...dead. But what choice did he have? He couldn't risk causing harm to her, or any of his friends. He hung his head as Drago laughed again. "That's what I thought." He walked back to the table and grabbed his goblet, taking another big swig. "My servants will clean you up. You're filthy. I don't want you filling my bed with your feral dragon stench." With that, he left the room, taking his torch with him. Hiccup hugged his legs to his chest and rested his forehead against his knees, feeling queasy. How could he let this happen? Why didn't he listen when his parents told him there was no talking to Drago? He was a fool...
He flinched when two of Drago's servants came into the room. One was a boy similar to the last, and another was a girl with her hair tied back in a bun. The boy unlocked the cell door, and Hiccup thought about running, escaping, but he had no idea where he was. If he tried to run, Drago's men might be waiting for him, he might get lost, or he may leave his friends to Drago's mercy. No, he had to be thoughtful about his escape. He had to be patient.
The boy walked in and cuffed Hiccup's hands behind his back, lifting him up gently, and the servants led him out to be bathed and dressed.
