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It was his third cup already, and he could already feel a buzzing in his head, but admittedly today the drink seemed rather addicting. Compared to his friends he was taking it slow. When they’d come to build Dragon’s Edge, there were evenings when he’d come to learn their drinking habits. Snotlout could take six cups of mead before he could no longer keep himself upright, needing a second body to help him make it to his hut. Although before the sixth his voice just heightened in volume.
Astrid would water down her drink, the twins would drink from smaller cups but serve themselves several times. Fishlegs would take a single cup filled to the brim and once it was finished he was done. Tonight Snotlout was attempting to have Hiccup drink more, as it was cause for celebration. However no matter the spurring on from his friends, his smile felt forced. Yet he couldn’t imagine why. There wasn’t anything to be unhappy about.
It was his birthday, and he was with his friends, it had been a quiet day on the Edge with the twins having been forbidden to blow anything up. The original plan had been to be on Berk, but his dad had asked the Riders to come a few days later so the village could have a proper celebration. But a Terror Mail had made it to Hiccup, a happy birthday message from his dad and Gobber.
A small cake was set in front of him.
“Figured you need something to accompany that drink.” Astrid slid onto a stool beside him.
“Thanks.”
“You know if there’s anyone to get drunk tonight, I would expect it to be the birthday boy.” She smirked.
“No,” He laughed, “all he wants to do is at least make sure that he goes to bed with a full belly tonight.”
“Then eat up. Heather made a bunch of these, even with different fillings too.”
“She and Dagur couldn’t make it either?”
“In her Terror Mail she said that they’d been invited to Berk’s celebration for you. So we’ll see them in a few days.”
She had only just finished the sentence when suddenly the whole club house trembled.
Some lamps tipped over, Snotlout’s cup fell to the ground. Toothless was already rushing to the platform, coming to roar angrily. Fishlegs ran out after him, turning to scour their surroundings.
“Catapult fire! Hit one of the bridges!”
“Yeah and there might be more coming!” Ruffnut shouted.
“What’s going on?” Astrid asked.
“Hunter ships.” Tuffnut was already trying to drag Ruff down the ramp. “Five of them, heading straight for the Edge.”
“Get to your dragons everyone! We can’t let them get close!” Hiccup shouted, casting a final glance at the cake he hadn’t even gotten a chance to bite into.
He was the first one to the air, knowing the others were rushing to the stables.
“Come on bud. Let’s make them regret having interrupted our party.”
His eyes narrowed as he heard the familiar cry of “Dragon Riders approaching!”
Hiccup ordered Toothless to fire.
No one had been shot down, that was a plus for the battle. No other ships had arrived as backup, yet there were a great number of men on the ships. There was the continuous cry of taking them down, and the moment the Riders had begun to engage them their progress toward the Edge ceased.
It wasn’t until two ships had been destroyed, catapults disabled, and most men knocked overboard that the orders were given to retreat. The Riders gave extra chase to ensure they wouldn’t go back on them. Hiccup thinking smugly of how these men had indeed taken damage which Viggo would come to see. Upon returning to the club house, well it didn’t really seem like anyone was in a celebrating mood anymore. Astrid saying that it had been a tiring battle, maybe it would be best for everyone to get to bed.
There were exchanged bids of goodnight, and before Toothless and Hiccup ascended to their hut, Hiccup asked Snotlout to give a final check of the island. Make sure ships hadn’t tried to raid the island from the back. If he needed backup then he and Toothless would be ready. If nothing seemed out of the ordinary, to turn in afterward. He watched his friends shut their doors before entering his and Toothless’ hut. Putting a hand into his hair then dragging it down his face.
Toothless gave a small grunt, pushing lightly at Hiccup’s back. He sighed as he slid the door down.
“Yeah, you’re right.” He let out a deep breath. “It really isn’t sitting right with me. Viggo must’ve known we could handle that number of ships, what did he hope to accomplish? He can’t think that they would actually take us by surprise. If he wanted us on edge for something.”
Toothless gave a small groan in response.
“Well that’s why I sent Snotlout to check the borders. Maybe something that surpassed us.”
He went to fill a cup with water, and upon taking a few sips came to see Toothless watching him with a tilted head. As Hiccup came to reciprocate, he saw his ears twitch, gaze suddenly lifting to look toward their loft. A growl had just begun when the lantern shot off the table, shattering and extinguished upon ground impact. Hiccup had dropped to his knees to see the condition of the candle inside when he heard Toothless give a shriek. His head shooting toward the faint outline of his best friend, coming to hear a distinct fich-thump and his dragon slam against the floor.
“Toothless!” He yelled.
No, it wouldn’t do him any good to grapple around in the dark, he needed a weapon, he needed light, he needed to see what had happened to his best friend. Something had caused this, his dragon to be hurt and light lost. He still knew his hut in the darkness, there was a stripe of moonlight from the bottom of the door. He trailed his fingers lightly over the fallen lantern, taking a shard of glass into his palm. Moving on his hands and legs bent low, he went for his striking rock. Keeping keen ears in case the threat came to approach him.
He found the drawer, pulling out the objects then finding another lantern. He began to hear creaking above, coming to gauge that the attacker lay above. He held his breath, slowly returning to Toothless. Trailing a hand from the top of his head down toward his tail. Just beginning to find what had incapacitated his dragon when he heard a jarring CHINK at the door. Arrows, there were three arrows embedded at Toothless’ flank, just at the right leg. Hiccup slowly set down the glass. While now knowing where the attacker lay, it would do him no good to attempt to strike in the darkness. He quickly managed to light the candle, planting it inside the lantern then easing the glass shut. Raising it above him and his unconscious friend, to find their adversary winding bolas over the logs at the door.
His breath couldn’t help but hitch. Viggo, the very man who had sent Hunter ships to the Edge, held Hiccup’s gronckle iron shield in hand, making sure bolas weighed down the door. With a hand holding the lantern aloft to keep their enemy in sight, his other hand clutched onto an arrow. Slowly prying it from Toothless’ side.
“What are you doing here?” He said lowly.
Smiling, Viggo jumped down from the rafter.
“Happy birthday Hiccup.”
“If you really came to just say that, why-”
“Well we need privacy don’t we? Can’t have any of your friends interrupting.”
Privacy for what ? Hiccup didn’t deign to ask aloud. Of all days for this adversary to attack, it was the anniversary of his day of birth. Viggo eyed Hiccup’s free hand stroking his dragon’s head.
“It’ll be a while before he wakes, and the sooner you pull out the arrows the faster the effects wear off.”
“And with an antidote?”
His enemy chuckled. “You don’t have the ingredients sitting here in your hut.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I’m sure of it.” He said in amusement.
“That’s why your ships attacked the Edge.”
Viggo walked toward the stairs, keeping a steady distance between Hiccup and a slumbering Toothless. Hiccup cast a quick glance down at the arrow he held, a slight green glint on the tip. Contemplating an arrow and lantern versus his well-equipped shield in enemy hands, and as Viggo had already proved, he knew its functions.
“It is easy for one person to breach the island, especially when the distraction so suitably stole the attention of all your Riders.”
One person, that was all he needed. He had even made it to the leader’s hut. The Chief of the Marauders having snuck into the Viking King’s private quarters. His dragon knocked out of commission, piece immovable on the board. Hiccup’s fist squeezed the arrow. There was limited light, he could assume that Viggo had sufficient time to have searched the first floor and the loft. Taken down his shield. He ran the advantage Viggo held in his mind, but knew that attempting to think ahead wouldn't help him in this situation. It was quick action that could perhaps tilt the scales a tad more in his direction. Aim for under the shield.
He dashed from the floor, pointing the arrow down as he closed the distance between him and Viggo, and inches from touching the shield, he swept his arm upward. The tip of the arrow flying in a streak toward Viggo's cheek, while he used the movement for his elbow to dislodge the shield from Viggo's arm.
At least, that was the intention.
Hiccup did get Viggo to let go of the shield. It slid off his arm and clattered to the ground. However, Viggo recovered quickly enough that the hand previously holding the shield latched onto Hiccup's upper arm. Ceasing the progression of the arrow and Viggo shifted, pulling Hiccup forward and using his other elbow to push down on Hiccup's arm. As soon as the arrow slipped from his fingers Viggo swung him into his arms, Hiccup's back to his chest with an arm wrapped around his neck. Arm awkwardly caught in the air underneath Viggo's grip.
For an instant, he was frozen in shock. He’d gotten him to drop the shield. But now he was in a more compromising position. The door was still barred, and while the intruder was disarmed, he’d laid hands on him.
“I don’t come as your enemy. Not tonight.” Viggo said calmly.
“I’m really thinking otherwise,” Hiccup said, trying to pry his hand away from Viggo’s.
“If I wanted you dead, I could have killed you without you even having been alerted to my presence.”
“But you shot Toothless.” He said breathlessly.
“Your dragon is very perceptive, Hiccup. Knowing a presence in the room even if not fully viewing upon it. He would regard me as a threat, thus prompting me to neutralise him first.”
“ Three arrows, Viggo.”
“Which he will recover from, I assure you.”
Then he did something that startled Hiccup. He released Hiccup, then stepping away.
“I promise you, a temporary truce for the evening.” Holding his hands in surrender.
Hiccup did turn to face him, trying to steady his breaths. They both knew what Viggo had done. Shooting Toothless left him in a vulnerable state, and he couldn’t leave the hut. Regardless of Viggo’s proclamation, his nerves didn’t calm in the least.
“All this, to stand here.”
Viggo quirked an eyebrow. “As it is your birthday, isn’t it cause for celebration?”
“Well there was one before your men decided to-
“Hiccup?” There was a tap on the door.
Both Hiccup and Viggo stiffened, Hiccup’s gaze going to the entryway while Viggo watched who lay trapped inside with him.
“Yeah Snotlout?” He called out.
His gaze then coming to watch Viggo questioningly. Wondering if Snotlout would try to open the door. If he did, well what he’d come to find would instantly raise an alarm. Could spare him from the current situation he and Toothless were in. But Viggo still stood within arms reach.
“Hookfang and I flew around the island. We didn’t see anything suspicious.”
Well that was because the suspicious was already inside with him. But now he had an opportunity. He and Viggo locked eyes. With a startled shout, or announcement of his unexpected guest- he could reveal Viggo’s presence. Although Viggo could also prevent it from occurring if he so wished. He had already shown Hiccup he didn’t mean to be a threat. No intention of hurting him. Dealt him a miniscule kindness… maybe Hiccup could do the same. He did feel inclined to see how the night would go, given the extent his enemy had gone to to have an evening alone with him.
“Thanks Snotlout. Have a good night.” He said while still maintaining eye contact.
Nodding in Viggo’s direction, the both of them staying silent as they listened to retreating footsteps.
“You have a Maces & Talons board, don’t you? Fancy a round?”
“I thought we were already playing.” Hiccup said with narrowed eyes.
“For now,” He made his way to the steps, “these pieces of metal and wood will be the ones we manipulate.”
Viggo leaned down and pulled out a bag from the underside. Untying the drawstring and presenting its contents to Hiccup, who had come to remove the last two remaining arrows from his slumbering friend.
“I don’t suppose you’d turn down a drink?”
Hiccup peered at the bottle, seeing a dark liquid inside. He did have to admit, he could use one.
“After the night you put me through, yeah maybe one couldn’t hurt.”
He began to set up the pieces to the game.
At this point he was forcing his stare to stay to the board. Viggo had taken a victory for the first round, but the game rousing enough that Hiccup had challenged him to five rounds to determine an ultimate winner. While Hiccup was trying to read the board, he could feel Viggo’s stare on him. It was a little intimidating to actually make eye contact.
Be sitting here, a Maces & Talons board between them, having actually drank wine offered by his non-enemy for the night. Viggo didn’t need to read the board, just gauge the actions of his opponent. However Hiccup was determined to at least win one round. He’d won a few of their real-life rounds, this version defending the Viking King shouldn’t be all that hard.
He had just made his move when he heard a loud creak behind him. He knew what it meant, especially when a growl growing in volume came to follow. Hiccup idly turned his head back, seeing Viggo’s eyes widen from the corner of his vision.
“See the good thing of having a rare dragon, is that lesser things are known of them. He recovered faster than you thought he would.”
“One arrow put him in a disoriented state, I presumed that-”
He stumbled out of the chair as Toothless came stalking toward him with eyes in narrowed slits and teeth out.
“Bud, it’s okay.” He raised a hand to stop him. “But you have permission to fire at him if he’s not out before sunrise.”
As his hand reached toward his cup, Toothless’ head moved back to lay under his other hand. Viggo watching the action, then a small smile coming to trace his features.
“Your move.” Hiccup said before taking a sip.