The Blacksmith's Apprentice

Thirty Eight: Brothers

Thirty-Eight: Brothers.

Stoick felt almost unendurable despair as the door to the cage in the Dragon-Killing Arena closed behind him, trapping him in with Gustav, Tiril, Hilde and Else. Hiccup had been manhandled away by the Berserkers and Dagur had promised to take his revenge on the young man for his angry and truthful words when Astrid had been taken. A small Armada of Berserker ships were moored just off the harbour to make sure none of Berk's allies came to rescue the enslaved Hooligan Tribe. They had taken Spitelout's body away but the Chief knew as well that his brother hadn't been granted the hero's burial he deserved. It was one more wrong on a very long list that Alvin was owed for.

"This is all your fault!" Tiril exploded, glaring at Else. The girl stared at her in shock, her grief at the loss of her father and the betrayal of her brother almost-but not quite-overcoming her natural feistiness.

"How so?" she sneered.

"You knew they were invading," Tiril snapped. "You should have been loyal to your Chief and told him-so we could have slaughtered them when they came onto Berk!" Else opened her mouth and tried to find a retort...but there wasn't one. Because Tiril was absolutely right...and worse, had Else done her duty, her father would still be alive. She sniffed.

"But it was my brother," she protested weakly.

"Yeah, who was exiled for his crimes and had no right to ever set foot on Berk again!" Gustav reminded her sharply. Hilde shushed them and tentatively touched her hand. Else looked up, her eyes swimming with misery.

"Go ahead," she muttered. "Say I told you so."

"I'm sorry about your Dad," the girl said honestly. "No matter how stupid he was, he was your Dad and you loved him. And he died protecting you." Else nodded-then flung herself at Hilde and the solid girl found herself hugging her as she sobbed her eyes out.

"Not that this isn't fascinating, but would you rather stay in there or come with us?" Astrid asked from the door, Stoick looked up in shock.

"Astrid, lass-are you safe?" he asked as she unlatched the cage door and opened it.

"Will be once we're out of here, sir," she said quietly, glancing over to where the others were letting out the dragons. Toothless bobbed up out of the darkness as the Chief jerked back in shock.

"Toothless!" he gasped and then he sighed. "You know where Hiccup is?" he asked warily and there was a silent moment.

"I heard," Astrid said stonily, her hand absently gentling the dragons's head. "We had to restrain Toothless because we would all get killed if we had burst out as Dagur arrived. But I promised we would get you out first...and then we can regroup and take Berk back." The others were already out, fussing their dragons. Tiril was hugging Jadespine, whose wing looked much better before Yaklegs unexpectedly lunged forward and hugged her. She paused and then hugged him back, grinning. Then she pulled back and punched him in the shoulder, flashing a coy smile that Astrid recognised as definitely one of her own moves while Hilde was introducing Else to her dragon. The jet-haired girl was quiet, realising that her friend was being remarkably forgiving, considering how cruelly she had spoken to her the last time they had talked.

"But my people," Stoick protested and then he bowed his head. "My son is in danger. I'll come with you, lass." Carefully, she ushered them out and closed the cage, checking the dragons were ready.

"Mount up!" she commanded and they riders did, all taking a passenger. Ruff rode with Tiril, Tuff with Gustav and Else sat behind Hilde on Hookfang while Astrid slid onto Toothless. The Night Fury warbled and gestured for Stoick to clamber on. The Chief gulped.