Twenty Two: Hearts and Minds

                                    

                                          
Twenty Two: Hearts and Minds
                          
"We know," Tiril said, glaring at the young couple as they faced her, the Ingermans and Gustav. Astrid's knuckles whitened around the haft of her axe as Hiccup stiffened beside her, his eyes wide and anxious.
                          
"I don't know what you're talking about..." he began.
                          
"The dragon," Tiril growled, her voice accusing.
                          
"What dragon?" Hiccup asked, too quickly.
                          
"The Night Fury!" Yaklegs interrupted and Hiccup stiffened.
                          
"I-I don't know what you..." he began and Tiril rolled her eyes.
                          
"Wow-he's a terrible liar!" she announced. "Thor-I mean I've seen the twins lie and they're pretty useless a lot of the time but he's dismal!" Hiccup gaped and stared at her, his eyes flicking anxiously to Astrid.
                          
"Hiccup-Tiril and Yak saw you," Fishlegs explained sternly. "They saw you riding a Night Fury. Is that true?" The widening of the emerald eyes and the stricken look on Hiccup's face told him everything that he needed to know. Astrid stared at them, seeing the flat determination in four pairs of eyes and pushed Hiccup back a pace.
                          
"Go," she said firmly. "Go through the wood store and leave Berk. I'll handle this." He shook his head.
                          
"I'm not going without you," he said.
                          
"Babe-these bastards will tell Snotlout and he'll have you killed," she said grimly, her eyes locked menacingly on the four intruders. "Thor, I wouldn't put it past Snotlout to make Stoick execute you himself. And because there are four of them, they will believe them above you!"
                          
"I mean, it kind of makes sense," Fishlegs continued, his eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information out loud. "It was highly improbable that you could shoot down a dragon and free Astrid...but if you chased after her on a Night Fury..."
                          
"Not as improbable as you would think," Hiccup muttered as Astrid cast him a fierce glare.
                          
"But they don't have greater credibility than me," she continued. "So if you are gone, I can discredit anything they say. I will be fine."
                          
"But I won't-not without you," Hiccup told her quietly.
                          
"Babe-this can't end well," she told him determinedly. "But I can't let anything happen to my smart, brave, sarcastic, caring boyfriend. Even if we are apart, you'll be safe."
                          
"I'll be dead without you," he breathed, his hand closing on her arm.
                          
"Gustav-you move one more inch towards that door and I'll kill you where you stand!" Astrid growled, her eyes locked on the boy who was inching towards the door. Facing an armed and angry Astrid Hofferson with a locked door behind them was suddenly seeming to be a very bad idea and extremely dangerous. Gustav froze, Yaklegs's eyes widened in shock and Tiril scowled, breathing hard.
                          
"Astrid-wait, please..." Fishlegs began but Hiccup's grasp on her arm tightened slightly and she shook her head.
                          
"Why are you still here, Hiccup?" she asked sternly. "I told you to go! Take Toothless and leave! I'll be safe..."
                          
"Astrid," he said gently, his voice calming her, "did you never wonder why I stayed on Berk? Why I accepted being treated so badly by everyone? Why I clung to the impossible dream that one day my family may relent and actually treat me like a human?"
                          
"Babe-not really the time..." she began, shifting her weight as Tiril edged sideways. "Back, missy. If anyone else moves, I'll kill the first two people with one stroke-understand?" Both Yaklegs and Fishlegs instantly put their hands up, eyes wide in shock and fear.