Found

Astrid + Hiccup

Astrid's P.O.V

It felt as if someone had come and stabbed a needle through my heart. The conditions of the dragons before us made my breath catch in my throat. No matter who is was that would look at the scene before us, it just wasn't right. No one in this world had the right to treat any animal is such a way and to see that someone had done something as cruel as this, made my stomach turn. No words could properly describe what I was feeling. I took and deep breath and tore my vision from the cages.

"Do you think they're down here at all?" I asked Hiccup cautiously.

"Possibly," he replied in a flat tone. It seemed that he wasn't all entirely there and that is what began to make me feel a little uneasy.

"I can go down and have a look if you're not feeling up to it?" I suggested calmly.

He shook his head with his eyes closed. "No, it would be better if I went down with you," he responded.

I bobbed my head, thinking better then to argue with him.

The further down the hall we got, the more eerie and unsettling it felt. The first few cages only contained the last bits of evidence of what were once living, breathing creatures. It was too quiet and too still in a place were wild animals were being kept. The dragons who were still hanging onto the strings of life, barley raised an eyelid at Hiccup and I when we passed them. For those who did, there was no spark left in their eyes. If one were not looking closely enough, it wouldn't be hard to pass them as dead. Their scaled skin looked like nothing more then a thin cloth hanging loosely from the bones.

Every now and again, when I dared glance at Hiccup, I saw his eyes flickering between each and every dragon. Most, to my surprise, would just slightly lift their heads from the ground and for less then ten seconds Hiccup seemed to have some sort of strange, silent conversation with them before their heads and eyelids dropped once more. I on the other hand, was wondering what in the world Alvin was attempting to achieve by this? Obviously he didn't want others to know what he was doing, or he wouldn't have made this place so far away from the village. Hasn't his destruction and torcher of Viking lives satisfied him enough? Whatever it was he was doing here seemed pointless. Or maybe he's using these dragons for something important.  Very important.

"Astrid," Hiccup's voice was small and sharp just as he tugged on my arm, pulling me into a nearby cage that was empty.

I hadn't heard the echoing footsteps and tinkering metal that bounced against the walls. In fact I had not heard of the upcoming guards presence at all.

"What are you doing Astrid! you're supposed to be a worrier, you should have hear them coming! you should be on guard instead of wallowing in your own thoughts!" I mentally scolded myself.

Hiccup pulled me to the back of the cage where the light from the burning torches didn't reach. I guess I was wrong in thinking that only Alvin knew of this places existence.

Two plump guards, barley looking fit enough to chase after us if we ran for it. Broke into view. Each held an iron tipped spear in their hands with swords strapped to the belts that had been stretched around their large bellies. Their faces were not visible from the angle we were facing but it could be seen that these guards were not in their youthful years.

"I heard that Alvin's been preparin' the soldiers fer battle up in the village," One man said cheerily. "It's 'bout time that this place had somethin' excitin' ter look forward to."

The seconds guard, who had a few centimeters on the first, bobbed his chubby head in agreement. "Ay, although it's rather a shame that all the youngers get all the action, instead of the people like us," he grunted spitefully.

"Conciderin' that we've been guardin' these useless beasts for nothin' over these past years," the first replied in agreement. "Who do yer think Alvin's plannin' ter attack?"

The taller guard shrugged his shoulders as they slipped from sight. Their words beginning to fade from earshot. "Who knows but I wish I could get some front row seats," he chuckled.

Together, the guards wicked laughs echoed through the hall until all fell silent once more. I released the breath I had been holding onto, feeling my heart beating a hundred times per minute. Hiccup's visibly tense body relaxed as he sat cross legged on the floor. His chin positioned between his thumb and index finger.

"Do you think he could be sending his army to Berk?" I asked quietly, slightly terrified that at any moment we would be caught and left to rot in this cage like the other dragons.

Hiccup's eyes glanced up at me. "Possibly but if that's the case we have to find some way to warn them, so they're not caught off guard," he explained standing up.

"Right," I agreed.

Taking extra caution now, Hiccup was the first to risk a look down both ways of the hall for any remaining guards. The coast was clear so we pursued our way down that hall. There was nothing more or new to see as we neared the end of the hall. The cages emptied of dragons, bones and chains. Leaving nothing but a container of shadows as even here, less torches were placed up on the walls. To make matters more uncanny. A strange, soft but spin-chilling wind seemed to be coming through an invisible opening. Goosebumps crawled up my arms and I could feel my arms beginning to shiver.

Hiccup's P.O.V

Everything in here was unnatural. It gave me chills thinking of all those dragons who's lives they have spent locked up in this treacherous place. Despite how strong my conscience pressured me to do something about it, I knew that nothing could possibly be done to rescue those dragons. They barley had the energy to raise their heads, let alone walk and if I had somehow managed to get them on their feet, the guards would catch me before I had managed to get them a foot from the cages.

"Astrid?" I muttered, unwilling to meet her eyes.

"Yes," she responded.

"Before we leave, whether it be with Toothless and the Nadder or not, I want to do something very important and you may not enjoy watching it," I explained.

Astrid took a deep sigh and then I knew she knew what I was going to do. "Hiccup...," she paused for a moment, changing what she was about to say. "I've seen plenty dragons being killed before whether I like it or not."

"I know but, if you don't mind I'd rather prefer to do this alone," I admitted.

"Well ok then," she agreed without argument.

I stared at her face and smiled goofily, "Don't worry Milady, I'll be fine as fine can be."

Astrid huffed and roughly pushed my arm. "Honesty Hiccup," was all that she said whilst rolling her eyes.

We both glanced back watching as the cages suddenly grew further and futher until all that surrounded us was the carved out rock and howling wind.

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Ok guys another chapter. Now I know no real progress is being made but I've just been having a rough time trying to think how the next events are going to be planned out, so it may be a slowly paced for a bit.

well that's all I guess

~ Dream_Till_U_Believe