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“It’s a trap.”
Hiccup knew that. Of course he did. It was Viggo, there wasn’t a chance that it wasn’t a trap. He’d known that the moment he recieved the scroll, the moment he recognized Viggo’s handwriting.
“I know.”
Sayin it out loud was pointless because they knew he knew. The riders had known Hiccup for years and he wasn’t their leader for nothing.
But.
Astrid looked at him in disbelief. “You can’t seriously think about doing it, Hiccup.”
He returned the glare with little effort, exactly as disbelieving as she was, although for different reason. “I can’t not go through with it, Astrid.”
The riders started arguing, voicing their disapproval, but Hiccup wasn’t listening to them. He stared at the scroll, rereading the words over and over again.
I offer you a deal. One night fury for one dragon master. It’s your choice, Hiccup.
The message wasn’t longer than three sentences. Viggo’s conditions were simple and clear. He was willing to let Toothless go if Hiccup took the dragon’s place.
Hiccup clenched his free hand into a fist. They should have never been in this situation. He should have been more careful. There was an ambush when the two were returning from Berk. Some group of hunters got a lucky shot and the two crashed into the ocean. Hiccup lost his consciousness on instant, and when he came to, he was in his house at the Dragon’s Edge, the riders gathered next to him. They explained that they’d found him floating around in the water all alone. He had thrown a fit when he realized the hunters had taken Toothless, and only Snotlout physically restraining him was what stopped him from finding the nearest dragon and going on a rescue mission.
Then Viggo’s letter came and that was how they found themselves in this situation. How Hiccup found himself in this situation.
It should have never happened, and it was his fault it did. Toothless didn’t deserve to suffer because his rider was useless.
Hiccup couldn’t allow Toothless getting hurt. If there was a chance he could stop it, he had to take it. And even if Viggo didn’t keep his side of the trade… Then they would be together at least. And together they were unstoppable.
“I can’t leave Toothless with him,” Hiccup said, breaking the discourse. “And I won’t.”
Fishlegs gripped the leader’s shoulder. “Hiccup, I understand why you worry, but Viggo would never kill Toothless.”
“He wouldn’t,” he agreed darkly. “But there are worse things he could do to him than kill him.”
That he knew from experience. Viggo was ruthless and knew what to do to gain what he wanted. He was skilled hunter, he knew his dragons. No way would Hiccup allow Toothless to go through any suffering Viggo had prepared for him.
Silence fell over the club house. Hiccup rolled up the scroll and placed it on the table. He unwittingly reached for Inferno, gripping the sword tightly. He looked up, eyes roaming from one friend to another. “You can stay here,” he proposed. “Or go with me. Either way, I’m going for my dragon. If Viggo wants to trade Toothless for me, fine. He will get me.”
The team exchanged looks before they set their eyes on him, firm and determined. “Don’t be stupid, Hiccup,” Snotlout huffed. “Of course we’re going with you.”
The fire burning in his heart grew more intense. “Then let’s do it.”
He had the period of the flight to figure out their battle plan. He was leading his riders into a trap, knowing fully well that there was a high possibility someone won’t make it out, but Hiccup would be damned if he didn’t get Toothless out of Viggo’s hands.
And it meant agreeing to Viggo’s terms, then so be it.