The Cause {A Mericcup Novel}

Chapter 19

Disclaimer: this chapter contains angst. Viewer discretion is advised.

All that is in the dark, will be brought to the light. All evil will be exposed by the good. Trials lead to steadfastness. Fear is the beginning of wisdom. But to Train a Dragon is Bravery.

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Hiccup rushed forward. He pointed his dagger at the old man, standing between him and Sop. His body trembled. As he stared down the elder, his eyes traveled down to the jar held by his wrinkly hands, identifying the little, dark lizard. The animal pressed its snout against the glass and clawed at the jar's walls, attempting to break free.

"Toothless," Hiccup muttered as his eyes became wet. Then he turned back to the warlock, ordering him to release the reptile.

"Careful, Chief," Merida warned him as she held up her bow from a distance. It's arrow was pointed at the sorcerer, but the tone in her voice noted that it could be directed at a different target if so prompted. Because he was a highlander, the Princess would protect the stranger from physical harm, even if he was an evil-doer. Hiccup knew that he couldn't cross that line.

The Viking began to falter. His hands tightened their grip on his weapon, his left eye twitched with an unsteady beat, and sweat crowned his brow. He took a step closer to the skaking man, but the captor withdrew the same distance.

Sop spoke up behind Hiccup, explaining, "This is the Old Man. He took me dragon friend away and put him in a cage. Get him!" At his words, Hiccup lifted his dagger in the air. With another release of the green gas, he slashed the weapon down on the stone, and created a spark, igniting its blade. Then he pointed the fire back at the warlock.

"Heed his warning, sorcerer, and let the animal go," the Princess demanded. She marched toward the men, never reverting her aim.

Before they took notice, an overbearing darkness began to cast down from the ceiling. Because of Hiccup's fiery blade, the glowing colors of the crystals were outweighed and began to dim. To hide themselves, the glow worms receded into the walls, taking their glow with them as well. The cave was dark, but the royal's eyesight did not instantly adjust, and this delay cost them their vision. And their position. For when the shadows seeped in, and the fire was all that could be seen, the old man hid.

"Hiccup?" Merida whispered. But the Viking did not answer her. His body drowned with fear and uncertainty. All air escaped from his lungs. The darkness swallowed up his humanity and replaced it with failure. The warlock was missing, and he hadn't save Toothless.

A tear ran down his cheek.

"Tooth...less," he muttered. His knees sank to the floor.

"No, wait. Me friend is right here," the tattie-bogle exclaimed, rushing passed him. Sop picked up the jar that had been left behind and hugged it to his flannel chest. The lizard inside jumped in place and licked the glass nearest the scarecrow. Both unique creatures shared a touching friendship.

But Hiccup didn't move, his face didn't lift, and his dagger layed on the ground beside him. The Princess knelt on one knee and tried to gain his attention. She worried that the sudden events might cause him to react depressed and hostile like the night before at the Standing Stones. Both Sop and Merida tried to coax him from his unresponsive state. They yelled for him; they placed the black animal in front of his face, who desperately wiggled and shrieked for his awareness. And they waved the sword about to catch his attention, which was the bogle's idea, but nothing succeeded. The Chief was in another world, full of despair and lose.

Splash!

A bucket of water was poured on top of the flaming weapon, putting out its fire. Unfortunately, this soaked the straw man's good arm, rendering it useless. However, when the light from the fire went out, the glow from the crystals slowly began to return. Wincing to sharpen her vision, Merida struggled to catch the outline of the warlock's form. He held an empty pail in his hand, and she knew it had been him who had put out the dagger.