How To Save A Dragon Hero

Part 4

Night had finally fallen around Berk, the shadows swallowed anything in it's path turning brown wood of the houses into nothing but black blurbs. Torches lit up small areas as people tread home as the whole village had a meeting in the Great Hall. Defeat and tiredness rested atop their faces.

Defeat because they lost their highly respected heir, or in other words hero.

Tiredness because they refused to leave until late.

The gang walked down the concrete stairs with their dragons following close behind.

"I wonder where Astrid is." Fishlegs wonders. "She never misses a meeting, especially a meeting about Hiccup."

"She is probably letting her anger on the trees." Snotlout scoffs.

"But this late?! I think something is up but I don't know what."

"Okay, you figure it out and I will get my deserved beauty rest." Snotlout leaped onto his dragon's saddle and left the company of his friends.

Tuffnut crossed his arms and looked at Fishlegs. "If anything, I think Snotlout needs more rest." Fishlegs turns to look at the twin with a smile and pulled himself onto Meatlug.

"Hopefully Astrid shows up tomorrow." Fishlegs says and flies off, not giving the twins a chance to talk.

...

The darkness disappeared for Astrid as she slowly sits up, rubbing any extra sleep from her eyes. The first thing that she processed was that she wasn't on her own island. So she looked around. Rusting bars sat in front of her as a rock like structure surrounded her. She used her hand to push herself up. The trapped divine beauty advanced towards the doors but only to be yanked back to her original spot. Her ocean blue eyes shifted down to her ankles, finding the chains hugging her ankles. A sigh escaped her lips but becoming silent as the sound of fert came closer and closer until they stopped. Right in front of her cage. Her eyes traced the figure to the tip of his head seeing Ryker standing with his sword over his shoulder with his other hand resting on his hip.

"Look who's up."

"What do you want with me!? Why am I here!?"

"Well... my brother thought it would be a good idea to have both of leaders of the riders in cells."

"Where's Hiccup."

"He got lucky and is hiding, but he won't be lucky for long." Astrid didn't respond. "Don't you worry there, I'll let you watch."

"You touch him and I will-"

"You don't scare me. You know you can't do a thing when you are on the other side of the cell." A furious growl climbed up Astrid's throat as Ryker walked away.

...

Out in the woods of Viggo's base, laid Hiccup still resting a the tree. He really didn't think any of this through. If he got down to search for water or food, he might be spotted. He might not know if he could get back up this tree. Questions burned through his mind. He was either going to give himself up or hide and possibly die. Also these chains didn't help at all. He also realized that he could die either way. Hiccup climbed down the tree, becoming an easy target and began to walk around the forest. Shouts echoed passed him, meaning that they never gave up looking for him.

"Great." Hiccup mumbles. His body shuffles and began to move closer to the voice.

"AYE! THERE HE IS." Hiccup stood firmly as the guards sped towards him and tackling the young viking. It was an easy job and it didn't take long before they pulled Hiccup roughly up by his forearm. A metal collar held his neck as he was suddenly yanked forward. "You won't be running tonight." The man laughed as they strolled down to the cellar.

"So, you didn't hide very well." The other guard says.

"That was my point."

"Well you have stupid points."

"At least I am smarter than you." Hiccup spat. He suddenly found his self on the ground and his head bursted with pain.

"You better keep your mouth shut boy!" He was pulled back up again and pushed towards the door of the cell room. When the door was shoved open, Hiccup could see the darkness of the cells as each torch that was lit gave off barely any light. They casted their light inside the cells, making the prisoners glow but it still was very dark.

The two guards with the captured one-legged viking walked through the hall, a dark figure moved inside their cave, watching the trio. The shadow in the cage made it difficult to tell who it was.

Hiccup suddenly fell down onto the pavement in the cell. They unlocked the collar and chains around his wrists and ankles but only to have more shackles around his right ankle and they stole his peg. Hiccup shifted uncomfortably in the prison as he looked terrible. He did get a few scratches from the woods but he would be fine with that. Wounds he wouldn't be fine with was the ones Ryker was going to do to him.

"Hiccup!" A yell from across his cage as it sounded very familiar.

"A-Astrid?"

"Yes, are you okay?!"

"Yeah. W-what are you doing here? Did you try to rescue me?"

"No, they took me from Berk." Astrid paused and looked at Hiccup. "I'm afraid."

"Fearless Astrid Hofferson, afraid?"

"It isn't funny Hiccup...... they are going to hurt you."

Hiccup sighed. "I know, I overheard. What if they hurt you?"

"They need a reason. You ran so you pay for it. Hiccup-"

"I will be fine."

"I know but they will abuse you tonight."

"Do this for me, fall asleep. Don't listen or watch."

"What? I don't want to, I want to comfort you in the end."

"You can tomorrow."

"No!" Hiccup looked at Astrid as she positioned herself in the light. "I am not leaving you, not when you get hurt." Hiccup knew she was going to win, so he bit his lip and nodded earning a soft smile from Astrid.

Footsteps echoed in the hall as Astrid backs into the darkness, watching every piece of the scene unfold.

Ryker and Viggo placed themselves in front of his cell, backs to Astrid. Her eyes fell to Ryker's hands. A whip. She gulped.

"You thought you could run Hiccup Haddock, you aren't being as smart." Viggo announced.

"I gave myself up."

"What a shame. Before you get your 'special treatment' for the night. I would like to explain why you are here." He said earning both of their attentions, he knew Astrid hid in the dark corners so he grinned at her, even though her body wasn't noticeable. "You both are leaders of the riders so you have all the valuable information. You also are keys to your land, Berk. My brother here had a plan to destroy Berk. So that is what we will do and you two will be the reason why." No one said a thing.

"Can I just abuse him now?" Ryker asks, impatient.

"Proceed brother." Viggo walked out of sight as Ryker stepped into the Haddock cage.

A mischief grin played with his lips as he pulls the whip back. The weapon moved downwards, hitting Hiccup on the chest. A stinging pain burned through his body as he lets out a pain-filled scream. Astrid watched with sad remorse, as each cry clawed her heart. After 26 lashes, a few on his chest with a lot of lashes on his legs and back. Ryker was done. He walked out, leaving the form of Hiccup curled into a ball with soft whines, alone. Astrid looked at the blood trail that dripped by her cell and finally let the tears spill.

I tried to do my best on this one.