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Viggo sighed.
He looked out the cells, observing the arena he was trapped in.
He never thought that he would be here, standing in the cells of Berk. He had thought the he would die in battle, being the distraction so Hiccup and Toothless could escape without being harmed but instead the Skrill, named Bragi had saved him and had brought him to Hiccup who had just survived an encounter with Johann.
Hiccup, without thought, had helped him. Covering his wounds and making sure he was stable before helping him on the Skrill and bringing them back to Berk, which was closer than the Edge. The twins, who had accompanied Hiccup, were sent back to the Edge to tell the others what happened while they flew to Berk but once they landed, Stoick had thrown both him and Bragi in the cells, after being looked at by Gothi at Hiccup's request.
Looking around the arena one last time, he turned back to the end of the cell where Bragi was waiting, curled up and watching him. He slowly moved forward and crouched, rubbing it's nose. He was amazed at the comfort he received and the comfort he gave. Bragi closed it's eyes and relaxed, purring slightly and Viggo smirked.
"Nice, isn't it?"
Viggo turned to the bars, seeing Hiccup leaning against it and watching them with a soft smile.
"It's new, for both of us" Viggo replied, looking down at the Skrill and smiling before turning and moving to the bars, leaning on the opposite side of Hiccup.
"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Viggo asked, looking up at the night sky but Hiccup only smirked and shook his head "shouldn't you?"
Before Viggo could say anything, Toothless came bounding down the ramp, tongue hanging out.
"Ah, there you are" Hiccup turned to the dragon and Viggo watched, curious as Hiccup took a box off the dragon's back before moving to sit on the floor, gesturing Viggo to do the same. Once Viggo was sat, Hiccup opened the box to reveal a dusty but used Maces and Talons board.
Viggo leaned against the bars, wanting a closer look and at Hiccup's invitation, he picked up one of the pieces, inspecting it with a smile "these pieces.."
Hiccup nodded as he watched Viggo "yeah, they're quite old. These have been in my family for generations but they were put away when no one could beat the Chief at that time.."
Viggo looked up to Hiccup as he finished "i kept the box, played with it when i was younger.. i had no idea i would need it later"
"You learnt how to play Maces and Talons all on your own?" Viggo asked, impressed when Hiccup nodded and explained "yeah, you've seen my father, haven't you? He doesn't use strategy or pawns.. he just picks up a sword and fights"
"Like Ryker" Viggo mumbled.
They were silent for a moment before Hiccup began sorting out the pieces, brushing away the small pieces of stone from where the pieces cracked. After he was done, he gestured to Viggo, smiling softly "you go first"
Viggo shook his head "i went first.. started this whole thing.. it's your turn to start"
Hiccup nodded before moving a piece, relaxing against the bars and Viggo did the same, making his move although it was slow due to the bars being in the way.
Viggo smiled as Hiccup talked about his sword, revealing why he made it and that Viggo's sword gave him ideas to improve his own. Viggo accepted the slap on his arm when Hiccup scolded him for stealing his ideas. He felt himself relaxing, amazed when he realised that taking with Hiccup was so easy.
They traded information, Viggo began talking about how he had encountered a Monstrous Nightmare when he was a child and because of a stupid move he made, it gave him the scars on his neck and Hiccup, much to his amazement, began explaining how he lost his leg. Viggo shocked himself, and Hiccup, when he exploded with anger, not happy at how Hiccup was treated when he was a child and when Hiccup asked why he was so upset, Viggo found himself opening up, talking about his own childhood.
"You see, my dear, being smart is treasured on my island. Having the ability to learn and keep learning is a gift and we make sure that the children get the best education. They are not ridiculed and abandoned just because they're different"
Hiccup after a moment of silence, nodded and scratched Toothless' head "it's better now"
"But it wasn't then" Viggo shook his head "i would have left the island and left them to fend for themselves"
"i nearly did"
Viggo looked back to Hiccup, eyes wide with surprise before he looked down to Toothless, head tilted "something happen?"
"I was caught.. it was too late for us to go so we stayed and.." he gestured down to his leg.
Viggo was caught, once again, by surprise when a growl left his throat.
Hiccup was surprised as well and both men looked at one another before Viggo looked away, clearing his throat.
"I win"
"What?" Viggo looked down at the board, scowling when he saw that he had lost. He looked up to see Hiccup's smirking face and he immediately shook his head "no, you distracted me"
Hiccup just laughed.
Viggo scowled and demanded another match.
"We really should go to the tournament"
"The one held by the Whispering Trees?" Hiccup asked, tilting his head as he thought out his next move.
"Yes, imagine what one could do with a life-sized game set made of solid gold" Viggo smirked when Hiccup murmured out a "lucky him"
By the time they finished their second match, the sun was rising.
"There" Viggo smiled, claiming the win and laughing slightly when Hiccup denied it.
Hiccup had opened his mouth to say something when there was the call of his name and both men looked over to see Astrid and Stoick standing at the bottom of the ramp, both glaring at him.
"Oops" Hiccup whispered, sending a smirk to Viggo who shook his head although he was smiling.
Viggo was about to stand but before he could, Hiccup extended a hand through the bars. After a long second, Viggo took the hand and they shook hands, holding on for longer then necessary.
It was only when Stoick growled that they let go and Hiccup quickly picked up the board, turning and walking towards the entrance but not before turning and sending Viggo a smirk.
Viggo watched him go, shaking his head in amusement.
Once they were out of sight, he turned to the Skrill, seeing it begin to wake up. Sighing, Viggo made his way over, leaning against it and letting his mind wonder. He was amazed at how easy it was to be with a dragon, lying next to it and feeling reassured, that he would do anything for the dragon and the dragon would do the same for him.
He closed his eyes only to jump when someone clanged a sword on the bars.
He opened his eyes and looked out towards the arena, pausing when he saw that the sun had made it's way up the sky and the arena was clouded with vikings, all looking down to his cage and chatting.
Two vikings stood either side of the bars, holding up their swords threateningly when the gate was raised. Viggo didn't move out until he heard stoick's deep voice rumble out "bring out the prisoner"
He looked down to Bragi and together, they walked out of the cell and into the arena.
The riders, Stoick and Gobber stood inside the arena, watching as Viggo came to a stop opposite them. Bragi stood behind him, offering silent support.
He didn't struggle when the two vikings behind him forced his hands behind his back, tying his hands together.
Stoick stepped forward, the crowd above them on the outside of the arena falling silent as they waited. Viggo looked past Stoick to Hiccup.
He kept his eyes on him.
Stoick looked down to Viggo, snarling "Viggo Grimborn. Today, you will pay for your crimes"
Viggo blinked and focused his attention on Stoick, his mind portraying several punishments such as being cast out to Outcast Island where Berk usually sends people for punishments or he would be stuck in his cage forever.
"The Blood Eagle"
His mind, for the first time in years, went silent.
Gasps and shocked yells came from the audience, the riders standing behind Stoick, frozen.
Hiccup took a small step forward, eyes wide with horror.
"Stoick, the Eagle hasn't been done for nearly 200 years" Gobber stated, coming up to Stoick's left, looking pale.
"He has starved my people, nearly killed my son and he started a war that put everyone at risk, not just Berk. This judgement is fitting for his crimes" Stoick's tone was dead as he stared Viggo down with hateful eyes.
Viggo looked to Hiccup.
Their eyes met and nothing yet everything was said.
"You can't do this!" Hiccup stated, moving behind his father.
Stoick turned, looking his son in the eye as he straightened, making other vikings step back from his intimidating figure and furious eyes but Hiccup only stood taller, not looking away and Viggo felthis heart race.
"The punishment begins at noon today" Stoick decided before waving his hands, dismissing him and Hiccup simultaneously.
The vikings who brought him out took his arms and began dragging him back but he had to know.
"What happens to my dragon?"
Hiccup took a step forward, eyes hard as he looked at his father's back "the dragon goes free, he's innocent"
His voice was authoritative, quieting the crowd.
Stoick looked to his son and wordlessly nodded, turning and walking away without another word.
Viggo lost contact with Hiccup when he was brought to his cell and he remained there until the hot sun had cooked the cage, making him sweat. He watched the sun, listening to the other vikings as they set up the posts and gathered the tools for his death.
He knew that Hiccup had tried to visit him but was stopped every time by the vikings who guarded him and Viggo felt appreciative that the man never stopped trying.
He didn't hold his breath when the time came, the two vikings tying his hands behind his back and dragging him out, alone as his dragon was kept in the cage. The dragged him towards the main part of town, stopping a little before the steps to the Great Hall.
Viggo felt a small shiver run down his spine when the saw the posts.
There were two posts, a three foot gap between them. At the top of the posts were rusted chains, Viggo chose to imagine it was heavy rust, not dried blood.
They were currently on the floor, ready and waiting for him.
Viggo swallowed and looked away, up to the crowd.
His eyes found Hiccup's horrified ones.
When Viggo saw Hiccup, he was happy to see that the boy was alright but he quickly frowned when he saw what was wrong. Hiccup's arms were being held back by two vikings, pulling the boy back when he struggled forward. There was also a cloth around the boys mouth, muffling any protests that came out.
When they locked eyes, Hiccup renewed his struggling, yelling more angrily but the two beefy vikings holding him back weren't deterred.
Viggo opened his mouth, wanting to know why Hiccup was detained when he was suddenly face first on the floor, his ankles burning.
Before he realised what was happening, his arms were released but a heavy weight settled on his back, forcing him down.
"Today, we see the death of an enemy who has tormented us, ruined us, starved us for power, for his own gain" Stoick's voice boomed over the vikings, making them still and quiet, except Hiccup who yelled louder.
Briefly, Viggo wondered where Toothless was, or the other riders and in his conclusion, he thought that Toothless was being held somewhere, not allowed to come out and help Hiccup and so where the other riders.
Hiccup let out a loud noise and much to Viggo's surprise, Stoick who was now in his point of view, pointed to his son and growled "stand down son! This is My law!"
Hiccup didn't bow down like some other vikings did. Instead he locked eyes with Viggo, who was still face down on the floor, and began struggling anew.
Stoick ignored him.
"Today, we show any enemy of Berk what happens when you hurt us"
Stoick waved his hands, turning to Viggo and grinning.
Viggo growled and tried to struggle but the hard weight on his back was making it hard to breathe.
Without waning, a sharp burning came from his spine, his skin being split open and he knew that he was about to die.
Hiccup began screaming.
Viggo held his screams in, not wanting to upset Hiccup.
The burning intensified but Viggo forced himself not to close his eyes. Instead, he watched as his blood flowed down onto the ground, staining the dirt bright red. Every now and then, small white bits floated down and collected on the dirt and Viggo knew that the small white bits were his skin.
The instrument that they were using would sometimes feel like it was carving out the skin, making all his nerves scream out and other times, the blade would dig in so deep it would catch a rib, snapping it and making him let out small screams that he tried to conceal in the dirt.
Through out all of this, Viggo was aware of Hiccup, how he screamed and fought against the stronger vikings, tears running down his face.
Eventually, he was flipped onto his back and as it happened without warning, his pain-riddled mind was suddenly woken up as dirt, air and everything in between pressed down onto his cut open spine.
He screamed.
Gasping, Viggo opened his eyes to see a viking kneeling in front of him, a black mask on his face, covering it.
The last thing he saw was the carved blade, gems sparkling on it's hilt, heading for his chest.
Viggo looked down on the planet.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Hiccup asked, stretching out next to him.
Viggo hummed as he lay on his chair, the clouds forming around him.
Hiccup laughed as he relaxed, a cup of tea in his hands, Toothless playing about behind him with Freyja and Thor and every dragon that made their way towards them. Viggo ran a hand down his face, smiling at the smoothness he found.
"Valhalla makes you shine every day" Viggo murmured to the twenty year old but Hiccup had heard, lowering his eyes with a blush.
Viggo looked over to the man, smiling that Hiccup was here but not liking that he was taken so early, fainting with a fever after they had appeared out of the ice, fighting of Drago. Hiccup had passed a day after Drago's defeat, Toothless with his soul linked to Hiccup's, faithfully followed.
When they met up, they talked for hours, apologising and finding out what the other had been up to. When Viggo told the man that he hadn't seen his father, Hiccup didn't look unhappy about it, revealing that the relationship they had was burned and broken when Viggo died.
Hiccup also revealed that when the Eagle was happening, he was betrayed by the riders. They had been convinced by Stoick, kidnapping Toothless and holding him hostage in a secret location and allowing Hiccup to be bound and gagged so he couldn't intervene.
Viggo didn't know how long they'd been there, looking down at the planet they now know as Earth, watching developments forming and technology being made. They saw whispers of the other riders now and again, and as Valhalla allows the choosing of the person's body, they saw the riders in their teenage bodies but neither pair or riders crossed paths.
Hiccup and Viggo stayed the age they died, liking one another the way they were.
Gobber, who apologised for Viggo's death and for not being able to intervene, visited them in their corner every now and then, laughing with joy at the developments being made.
Viggo smiled down at Hiccup as he leaned over, wrapping his arm around the man's shoulders and bringing him into his chest.
Hiccup relaxed against him.
They never talked about what was happening between them but they knew that it was alright, they had forever to be together.