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“Hiccup, you can’t do this!” Astrid cried. “Don’t! You can’t just give yourself to him willingly!”
“He’ll kill all of you!” Hiccup shouted, turning from his soon-to-be captor, who was smirking, because he knew he’d won.
“Come along, Hiccup,” Viggo said, holding out his hand to him. He said it sweetly, as if this wasn’t an act of violence, as if his men didn’t have Astrid at arrow-point.
The stand off was happening outside of Berk, the island within flying distance. Viggo’s ships had most of the island surrounded, and Berk had been under siege for days now. Viggo had offered an ultimatum: Hiccup in return for Berk’s safety.
Stoick had outright refused and nearly killed the messenger Viggo had sent. Hiccup had pretended to go along with it, while really, he planned to give himself to Viggo. He’d tried sneaking away by boat, wanting to leave Toothless out of this, but Astrid had caught him. Now, she and Stormfly were on Viggo’s ship with Hiccup, held at the point of about a dozen weapons. Stormfly had already taken a dragon root arrow and was incapacitated.
“ Please , Hiccup.” There were tears in Astrid’s words, tears that had yet to fall. She was Astrid Hofferson; it was rare that she cried.
But the sound of her voice broke Hiccup’s heart.
“Can I at least say goodbye?” Hiccup asked of Viggo.
Viggo gave a nod, and then raised a hand to tell his men to lower their weapons. They looked at him like he was crazy, but did it anyway.
Hiccup ran to Astrid and hugged her tight, tears forming in his own eyes.
“I love you, Hiccup.” Astrid kissed him hard on the lips. “We’ll get you out.” Those words were quiet, a sob bubbling up behind them. “Promise.”
Hiccup felt all broken inside, but he knew he had to do this. He had to keep his people safe. He kissed Astrid one last time, and then turned to Viggo. The man looked displeased.
“Don’t keep me waiting, my dear.”
Taking a deep breath, Hiccup stepped away from Astrid, stepped away from his life on Berk.
He went across the ship to Viggo, something inside him crumbling when the man put his hand at the small of his back. But, even as he did it, he felt a surge of relief. He was doing this for those he loved. Wasn’t that reason enough?