(Normal pov)
Astrid sat by his bed once again in Gothi's hut this time, refusing to leave his side even after her parents had repeatedly urged her to have her wounds properly checked by Gothi. She only responded with the same reply. "Hiccup had it worse than me." And his leg was a whole other story. Now his left leg ended where his knee should have been; the stump covered in medicinal linens coated with a special herbal paste to hasten the healing process. Despite his promising outlook, it pained her every second seeing his eyes filled with pain they were stitching up his wound and applying the herbal paste that seemed to burning his wound even further. All she could do was lower her head, block out everything else in his sight and whisper comforting words to calm him down. Her actions did have dramatic effects as he only focused on her eyes and tried to block out everything else.
After his condition had been stabilized, Gothi had him drink a strong sedative to help him sleep easier and rest. She estimated that a week or two in bed with constant scheduled bandage changes before he was ready to walk again. Provided that Gobber had his new prosthetic ready by then. After Gothi was sure he was asleep, she had turned her attention to Astrid. Knowing that the young shield-maiden wouldn't leave her beloved's side, she had one of her apprentices bring the necessary medical items to treat her wounds.
She only had to treat a few cuts and bruises. Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of injuries for a Viking. Her parents had brought her a change of clothes and some food for her as well. They told her how worried they were; how they were praying to Odin and all the gods to bring her back alive. Her mother was in tears when she enveloped her in a hug; her father on the brink of them. Despite her concern for Hiccup, she couldn't help the overwhelming tears of joy escape her eyes as she was reunited with her family.
It was most likely, the only occasion where everyone saw the entire Hofferson family in tears.
However, as they moved Hiccup from Gothi's hut to the royal household , she could see Stoick couldn't share her family's exact emotions, except Valka. Of course he was glad his son was alive, but at a huge cost. His leg. He had only seen Vikings sustain such injuries in their late thirties, forties, even fifties for that matter... never at such a young age. And to his own son. She had an idea of what the Chief of Berk would have been feeling.
Anger. Regret. Sorrow. Emotions all directed towards himself. She, along with the whole village, was there to hear his words when he asked Hiccup for forgiveness and promised that he would be a better father from then on. She knew he'd be cursing himself for not being able to protect his own son. He dropped by every chance he had; every time there was a niche open in his busy schedule, to check up on his condition. And she was there every time he came, along with Toothless, who had his head placed where Hiccup's left leg should have been.
And every time Stoick dropped by, he always brought her something to eat. He even brought fish for Toothless, knowing the dragon wouldn't venture more than ten feet from his rider.
It was on one of these drop-by's that Stoick had an interesting talk with Astrid.
"How's he doing?"
"He's still out. He wakes every now and then, only asking for water or food, but he's too groggy to realize it who it is before he goes back to sleep." Astrid said softly as she chewed on her mother's homemade smoked cod. He nodded silently, and she could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking of something else to say.
"You two have grown inseparable." He stated, with a smile.
"Yeah."
"He's he's really lucky to have a woman like you, Astrid."
She couldn't help but blush under his comment. "If anyone's lucky here, it's me. I don't deserve a man like him."
"I know I don't deserve his forgiveness Astrid... but I do know that not many people find their true opposite self." He started. "I've had to conduct and attend countless number of marriages, on and off Berk for decades of my life. And I can tell you now that a good chunk of them involved people getting married for power or money; hardly out of love. Apparently I've learned you have to fight for what and whom you love. However, on most occasions, people lose. But... there are those two individuals, who do not care about what others think, about the rules, about traditions...and take matters into their own hands." He stopped, making eye contact with her as she listened intently.
"They always choose to stick by the ones they love, till death do them part... Promise me, you'll take care of my son." He said, and she knew that apart from accepting her love for his son, was giving her his approval of being Hiccup's wife.
"I will Stoick." She replied strongly. Just as he demonstrated that he was willing to die for her, she would also die for him in an instant. That conversation happened two days ago and it only seemed the bond between the two had grown even stronger with that small favour from him, Astrid viewed Stoick like a second father.
It height of the afternoon now; three days since they had returned from their ordeal and Hiccup had to realize that she was there. Granted he had remained asleep the whole day yesterday.
Astrid was sitting faithfully by his side, looking over his journal and reading the adventures he had been through since the day he left Berk. She herself had a thirst for adventure, and Hiccup had been living it for the last ten years. From the way he wrote he recollections, she could easily picture every colour, every atmosphere, every building, person, child, item— you name it.
"You should really get into writing." She said softly. She hoped that he could hear her.
"Drawing's more of his thing." She heard a voice. Toothless looked up while she turned around to see Mala leaning against the door frame and smiled lightly, giving fish to Toothless, who accepted it immediately. "How's he doing?"
"He's recovering well. Still hasn't completely woken up yet." She said, turning back to look at him.
"Where'd you get his journal?"
"I found it in the satchel on Toothless's saddle. Figured I might read through his many adventures. You and your people have had quite a lot of them, despite your peaceful life here on the Isle of Night." She smirked.
"If you were worried about the trouble we got in, don't worry. I made sure that we found them." Mala chuckled. She was glad to see her laugh at that as well.
"I'm glad this whole ordeal is over." She said, letting her hand fall on his while she lightly stroked it.
"I honestly should have suspected Dagur and Cutthroat from the start." Mala said, shaking her head.
"You know it's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up for it." Astrid tried to convince her.
"It's just that... they always threatened us, him or me to help "train" dragons. I should have realized that's what they were after the moment you two were discovered to be missing."
"And what happened to Alvin?"
"He's about to be put on trial by Stoick and the Hooligan Council." Mala replied.
"In the end, if it wasn't for him, Hiccup and I could be Thor knows where." She said with thankfulness.
"I know that. So does your chief. But, Alvin still has to pay for whatever crimes he has committed against Berk, the Archipelago, plus the aiding in the kidnapping of you and Hiccup."
"I know. It's just..." She didn't know where to go. Sure Alvin had kidnapped them and attacked countless islands when they first arrived on the Isle of Night, but if it wasn't for him turning against the Berserkers having his men release Toothless, Mala and the others arriving just in time to save them. "All I'm saying is he does deserve some leniency. After all, nearly all of his men died when he decided to turn against them."
"Maybe you're right. Also, I'm sure Stoick has factored that in so they might take it easy on him. I'll let you know the details." Mala said. She knew she wouldn't leave Hiccup's side, so he might as well keep her updated with the news going around the clan. "I have to return to my duties, update me on his condition?" Mala asked, Astrid nodded, the queen smiled and nodded, then left.
Astrid dove right back into Hiccups journal, she flipped a page of the journal and landed on a drawing of her. Her eyes couldn't help but widen at the highly intricate and detailed drawing of her. She smiled at the setting. It appeared she was in some sort of cove sitting, on a slab of flat rock, just admiring the beauty of the pond, or small lake, she was looking at in the sketch. Large trees surrounded her and a few small birds were dotted about the page, with what looked like to be sunlight streaming in on her in the clearing. However, this sketch only had a view from afar. When she turned to the next page, it was safe to say that her breath had been stolen.
It was almost as if she was looking in a mirror. The image was a closeup of her. Her attire was nearly the same as what she was wearing. Her braid was present, but not in the design she had it now; more of her old original braid when she was fifteen. Although the drawing seemed to portray her as probably eighteen, or nineteen years old, definitely not when she was sixteen or fifteen. That she was sure of. Her facial features were nearly identical— same oval shaped face, the same intensity of her eyes, same nose, same cheeks and her lips were a bit more puffy in this but not enough to draw on ridicule or embarrassment.
Toothless, who was smiling on the inside, seeing Astrid smile at his riders sketch, shot his head up immediately and looked over his rider. Astrid and pushed her chair forward so that she would be in his view when he opened his eyes and Ripper also walked to the end of the bed.
They watched him reach up with his hands to rub away the tiredness from his eyes as he opened them slowly, gazing at the three pairs of eyes that were on him. He looked from Toothless and to Astrid, who was staring at him with most concern. However, the words he uttered from his mouth were enough to dispel any concerns she had.
"We have got to stop meeting like this." He rasped, with a toothy grin. Astrid only hung her head, shaking it, trying to hold back a laugh. While Toothless warbled happily that his rider was alright.
"You idiot." She muttered as she hugged him carefully. "Welcome back babe." Hiccup kisses her lips and she returned his kiss, when they broke they rested foreheads. "I'm not dead yet."
(Two weeks later)
"How's the new leg?" He heard an angelic voice ask him. He looked up from his work desk in his private room and saw Astrid leaning against the door frame.
"Well, Gobber did a decent job at it, but I'm working on making a few tweaks to it." He said as she walked in, coming up behind him, and hugging him from the back, giving the top of his head a gentle kiss before resting her chin on his shoulder. As soon as Mala had spread the word that Hiccup and fully awoken, his father, Gobber and the rest of the gang rushed to the house, to see how he was doing and commend him for his bravery in a life-threatening situation. Even Astrid's parents arrived, both of them thanking him for protecting their daughter. It was also there that Hiccup learned he would have to learn to walk with a prosthetic. The fake leg would make up for what missing beneath his knee.
The news was hard at first; to learn to walk again. However, it didn't bother him as much as they thought it would. He knew it would be difficult and pain-staking, but there was no other option. Other Vikings had missing arms and legs, and they didn't complain about it. They just adapted without them. Gobber had to make due with two missing limbs! So if Vikings could get on with their lives, why couldn't he?
Gobber had brought the leg four days after he woke up. With the time lapse, he would have had enough time to regain enough strength and have enough rest to prepare for the grueling task of learning to walk. Both Astrid and Mala were with him through every step of his recovery. They always pushed him on when he needed it and always told him to take it easy, not to exert himself too much since he was still recovering from the rest of his injuries.
"So what did you have in mind?" She asked, as she looked over his designs for a new leg.
"Well, it's going to be made of metal this time, and not wood." He gestured down to it. "I'm going to try and make different bases for walking, so that I can handle any terrain without having trouble and make it more suited to my weight. Don't get me wrong, Gobber did an excellent job, but it doesn't quite suit me." He looked at her.
"I think it's an amazing idea, and I won't be surprised if he expected to add your own changes. It is you after-all."
"I'm not sure to take that as an offense or complement." He said jokingly.
"A complement." She replied, turning to look at him and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
"I guess I'll have to get used to walking in on these." They heard an all too familiar voice.
"You know, I'm starting to think you just love to tease me more than the rest of the world." Hiccup replied, as the two turned their gazes to the door to see Mala standing with Stoick, who appeared to be holding in a chuckle.
"I'm your father. It's my job to embarrass you." He said as Mala moved to give Hiccup a hug.
"How are you doing?" She asked.
"Fine, nothing but rest and support from my family and friends won't fix." Hiccup replied. "How's Alvin doing?" Hiccup asked after he and Mala broke their hug.
"He's alright. He'll be leaving back to Outcast Island two days from now." Astrid replied.
"It'll be good for Berk to have allies like the Outcasts." Mala said, looking at the bright side of it. "Just hope the 'Treacherous' part of his name can be dropped from his title."
"Either way, my Dad will be careful around him. Doesn't hurt to be." Hiccup said.
"Anyway, Mala, you said you saw something during the battle with Cutthroat and Dagur?" Astrid asked.
"Yes. When I thought we had that psychopath cornered, he had a mysterious dragon rider at his disposal, who rode a massive Singetail." Mala said.
"Wait. A Singetail? Could you describe the dragon Mala?" Hiccup asked, Mala closed her eyes and described the dragon. "Singetails have a wide, flat body and a long tail. They have four wings, like a Thunderdrum, but with the bigger pair being set lower on its back. They have a spiky face with chameleon-like eyes that allow it to see in multiple directions, as well as several big, sharp spikes along their backs and tails. It has eight extremities, four wings and four legs, two more than any other dragon and with the rearmost pair seemingly a modified pair of extra hind limbs unlike the Stormcutter, which has all four forelimbs as wings." She concluded.
Hiccup hummed in acknowledgement. "I think I saw this mysterious dragon rider in the former alliance camp before we knocked the Red Death out of the picture." Hiccup said, he than came up with a theory. "You said Cutthroat had a superior?" Mala nodded and Hiccup concluded. "What if this dragon rider is part of something larger than the former alliance?" Astrid had a worried look etched into her face.
"If there is a greater threat out there, then we'll face it. Together." Stoick said sternly, Mala, Hiccup and Astrid smiled at the Hooligan Chieftain and nodded. "He's right. We'll worry about this later, for now we celebrate your recovery and victory over our enemies." Mala said, Hiccup nodded and the four of them went to the throne room to join the rest of the clan in celebration.
(Three months later)
Legates Cato stared in what could only be described as horror at the site around him. What was left of his fleet was ripped apart, with no survivors from the ships and the waters surrounding the remaining fleet was stained took on a reddish color, with bodies floating at the surface. Shouts could be heard from the remaining ships as the winged beasts took turns making runs to carry off men and tear them apart in their claws or jaw, or leaving a trail of fire on the main deck, burning alive whoever was caught in the flames. He had his men prepare for dragon attacks on their voyage up to the north. He had catapults, archers and metal nets to trap them and hopefully condemn them to a watery grave. What he didn't expect was to be raided by more dragon riders who were just as ruthless as the beasts they were on.
One was particularly insane, jumping off his dragon and onto the deck of one of the ships, cutting down every man that stood in his way, screaming in joy as he heard the pleas from his victims to be spared. At this time, Cato wasn't concerned by that single man. He was concerned by the sword his accomplice was holding to his neck. "W-who are you?" He asked. His helmet had long been dislodged when his attacked too him by surprise. The fight was short. He was out maneuvered by the Viking in a matter of seconds. Any of his men who attempted to aid him were cut down by the man in front of him, or carried off by the two dragon riders in the air.
"Shut up." The man seethed as he signaled to his comrades that the leader had been brought down. The two other dragons in the air, a Triple Stryke and a Titan Wing Singetail landed on the deck of the ship, the remaining men cowering back in fear of the beasts, and the dragons they rode.
"You did well, Cutthroat." The cloaked man who rode the Singetail said.
"It was pretty easy actually." The Berserker replied, the cloaked man grunted and turned to his female accomplice.
"Enyo, make sure his cousin is under control. We need all the men we can get." He ordered the female rider.
"At once sir." She replied, taking off on her Triple Stryke to the other ship.
"Legates Cato, may I introduce myself." The cloaked man removed his hood to reveal a man who had dark, olive toned skin, black hair and a goatee. He's rather thin for a Viking, but has a muscular upper body, with a red snakeskin-like shirt with light red outline to make it resemble more like a chest plate, and wore a black tunic and arm bracers. "My name is Krogan, and I would like to graciously extend an offer for you and your men to join us and our cause."
Cato looked around him. The sword at his throat, what was left of his men huddled to one corner of the ship by the man's dragon, and the other two dragons flying in the sky, one a deep purple colour and staring at them with disdain, the other a huge dragon with a round head and snake like body.
"How about if I'm on my two feet, then we can chat?" Cato asked. Cutthroat looked at Krogan for an order. He nodded his head, and the Berserker mercenary took a few steps back, sheathing his sword. Cato stood up slowly, eyeing the man who was prepared to offer him a deal.
"I heard you've encountered the man who is called the Dragon Master." Krogan started.
"Look, if he's one of yours, I am deeply sorry for attempting to..."
"He was not one of us." Krogan interrupted. "In fact, he can be considered as our enemy. He rode a dragon as black as night, did he not?" Cato nodded. "That dragon obviously is a Night Fury. One of the rarest and most impressive creatures that the gods ever let roam this world—"
"What exactly are you here for?" Cato interrupted him. "You destroyed what's left of my fleet, and slaughtered my men and now what?"
"We want someone like you to join us." Krogan replied calmly.
"And why would I want to join you?"
"For starters, we won't kill you and the rest of your men. But the other reasons, you will have revenge on that man who grieved you. We can even give you your own dragon. We could give all your men dragons and train all of you. And when the time comes for you to depart, you all could take your dragons back to Rome, and what do you think of the welcome you'll receive?" He smiled. Cato couldn't help but picture that himself. If he was seen riding on dragons, the enemies of Rome would be annihilated in a heartbeat. The politicians would undoubtedly reward him a place in the Senate. He could appointed the right hand man of the Emperor. He would be the most successful Lates, most likely even be promoted to Imperator, of the Roman Army.
"How do I know that you won't turn back on your word?" Cato asked.
"These aren't the terms I'm setting. I'm simply relaying the terms my superior asked me to convey. And if you can't take his word, then your other choice is death, to be put simply." Krogan said.
"And who is this superior of yours? Shouldn't a man lead his men from the front?"
"He is a man who has no parallel in this world. You'd be considered fortunate to work under him. And he does reward his men well for their loyalty."
"What does he strive for in this world?"
"A man usually tried to control the things around him— his life, family, job, every little thing. But few men have the power to do so. He can control dragons by the roar of his voice and a simple wave of his bull-hook. He can instill fear in the hearts of beasts and men alike. So if you choose not to work for him, I will kill you where you stand, Legates Cato." Krogan's lip curled.
"If he desires power, what's to stop him from attempting to capture Rome and her territories?" Cato asked.
"I know not what goes on inside his head, Legates. I'm his right hand man. I carry out what he orders me to. Now, if you're done with your questions, what say you?" His patience running out.
The Roman Legates took one more look around him— the destruction and death brought upon by these beasts, coupled with only four humans. If he followed this superiors' command, if he commanded his own squad of dragon riders, and if he returned to Rome with them, Rome would have no rival for the rest of her days. And if this superior could attack his home, he would have the means of defending it. Not to mention the knowledge he'd bring with himself and his men once they return to Rome. And most of all, he could have his revenge on that man and his dragon for the humiliation they caused him.
He extended his hand towards man, and Krogan reached out and grabbed hold of his.
"We have an accord."
A/N: This was a very fun story to write! I really hope you guys enjoy Part I of this story, let me know what you think, if you enjoyed, vote and add the story to your library and I'll catch you guys in the next story.