A Fistful of Dragons

Part 26: A First Class Hanging

A/N: Sadness ahead.

Twenty-Six: A First Class Hanging.

Most of the town of Berk was out in the Plaza as Hiccup was led out from the jail, flanked by Marshals Olson and Arvidson, with Larson leading the way. The gunslinger was keeping his head up and eyes fixed on the gallows, silhouetted against the orange and purple and sky and he took a shuddering breath before he was led round to the steps. There were two soldiers on each corner of the gallows, to prevent any last minute rescue attempts...though Hiccup guessed that his friends didn't have the resources to stop an entire troop of soldiers. He paused and looked at the twins.

"You got me a coffin ready?" he asked quietly. "Measured me up?" Ruff winked.

"Told you-we can do it by sight," she reminded him. "And we did you the hour you arrived in town, remember? Six one, no more than one thirty and kinda cute. And...now taken." Hiccup smiled but it was forced.

"So you're ready," he said quietly. There was a hint of defeat in his voice.

"Naw," Tuff said easily. "You're not dying today."

"Tuff-all these soldiers and Marshals say otherwise but thanks for the vote of confidence," he deadpanned as he turned to the crowd, seeking a face that he wanted to take with him to Valhalla. And then he saw her, her eyes shining suspiciously and as she met his despondent green gaze, she pushed forward, running to throw herself against him, arms closing around his lean shape. He lifted his cuffed arms so he could wrap her in his embrace and felt her face nuzzle into his neck before she leaned up and kissed him desperately.

"Hiccup," Astrid murmured, her eyes shining and rimmed with tears. "You can't go. This-this isn't right..." He stared into her eyes, fixing them into his memory.

"Yeah...well, looks like fate finally caught up with me," he sighed. "Figures. I finally come to terms with my past and find the most amazing woman I wanna spend the rest of my life with...and then fate conspires to take it all away." He leaned forward and kissed her again. "Promise me you will look after Stormfly...and you'll find someone else, Astrid. After everything, you deserve happiness."

"So do you," she whispered, a tear sliding over her flawless cheek. "Gods, you of all people deserve happiness..." He took a shuddering breath.

"I guess I had my chance, five years ago," he murmured. "And this just wasn't meant to last..."

"No..." Her low cry was muffled as she buried her face in his chest once more, tears now soaking into his grimy green shirt. He buried his face in her soft hair, inhaling her scent and closing his eyes, tightening his grasp her around her one last time...as hands grabbed at his, hauling her away. She clung to him, her cries pitiful. "No! NO! Hiccup...!" she cried as she was dragged away.

"ASTRID!" he shouted as he was manhandled up the steps, struggling and writhing. "No! Dammit-This is wrong!"

"And yet it's going to happen because it was my judgement!" Marshal Larsen announced.

"BOO!" the crowd called.

"Larsen-you know this is wrong!" Stoick called, staring up at the man who had walked to stand by the Major. "He was on trial before a jury. You never made them vote! You have denied him his rights!"

"The Sheriff is correct!" Fishlegs announced from the verandah of his shop. "This is completely unconstitutional!"

"This whole damned town is unconstitutional!" Arvidson snapped. "I mean, look at you people! You don't seem to have a clue which century you are in!"

"Shame!" came the cry from the crowd.

"And of course, we know exactly which century we're in!" Tuffnut announced. Ruffnut stared at him.