Hiccupa's POV:

It was another night of dreams of Dagur he had looked at me and said "Gods your beautiful" just like he had while we were gathered around the fire. In my dreams and memories of his kisses which surprisingly make my heart beat faster. Something was shifting in me and changing I was actually looking forward to when I would see Dagur again. I no longer felt fear or revulsion and could not remember feeling that way towards him either but for some reason I felt I should not trust him yet. Also it left me worried what about Ash?

When I awoke Ingrid greeted me cheerily and helped me dress and braid my hair. We had breakfast together she did most of the talking since I was not sure what to say and she was the sort who spoke quickly and always had something to say.

After breakfast she grew excited "I know you feel homesick so I arranged something special just for you" she said. "Oh what is that?" I asked out of curiosity. She took me by the hand and led me out of my rooms.

"Ingrid is this OK I thought Dagur didn't want me to leave my rooms" I said in surprise.

"Oh it will be fine your not going to be alone anyway" she said waving a hand dismissively.

She pulled me along the hallway till we reached a door then she smiled at me and pulled the door open. We walked into a sitting room with several chairs gathered in a circle near a fireplace and many windows letting in a lot of light.

She led me into the room "Ladies this is Hiccupa she is to be our Chief's intended" she said giggling. I gave her a shocked look is that what she thought?

"Hiccupa I have brought you here to meet these women who are interested in being your handmaidens and work to on embroidery. It will be so much fun" she squealed after explaining her intentions.

"Embroidery...great!" I said with sarcasm. I had never learned embroidery in my life granted I could sew enough to repair I and my father's clothing and to do leather work. But embroidery really! I'm a blacksmith's apprentice for Thor's sake what do I know about stitching flowers on pillowcases.

Ingrid began introducing the other women "Helvig, Helga, Olga, and Elga" Berserk not known for originality in naming children I thought to myself. I was soon handed a pre-stretched embroidery hoop along with needle and threads.

Then after exchanging greetings all the women gathered around taking up their projects and began work. I looked at what I had in front of me lost alright when in Rome I thought. I took some thread and licked it and slid it through the eye of the needle then I looked towards my side and saw what Ingrid was doing. OK pretend I'm fixing a sock but do it in a circle?

The next couple of hours was frustration as I struggled to make blobby shapes in my embroidery canvas. What I wouldn't give for a forge right now I thought. My fingers had been pricked several times over and I cursed in frustration as nothing seemed to be going right.

Finally one of the ladies announced it was time to break for lunch Thank Freya I thought to myself as I slid my sad excuse for embroidery beneath my chair. I joined the others as we gathered for lunch.

After lunch I thought I'd excuse myself  and take a nap. I went up to Ingrid "Ingrid I am terribly sorry I know you went through all of this trouble but I am having a headache and think I need to go lay down" I said in a half truth as the afternoon was causing me a headache. I was not skilled in traditional women's crafts that many had learned from their mother's as mine had not been around. Also, I had little to discuss with the other women since none knew a thing about dragons and metal work and I knew nothing of childrearing.

So I politely excused myself from the other ladies and left the room. I was on my way back to my chambers minding my own business when a set of hands reached out and grabbed me. Before I could make a sound a hand was clamped over my mouth and an arm was wrapped tightly around myself so I couldn't use my own arms. I was being dragged down the hallway so I started to struggle I took up my metal peg leg and brought it down as hard as I could. I heard a holler of pain and I was released and I took off running I decided to run back to where the women were for help.

I didn't see a figure come leaping out on my left hand side and knock me into the wall causing me to lose my balance and fall. I was about to get up when another set of arms grabbed me this time I was carried away beneath someones arms so I could kick my legs all I wanted but it didn't make a difference. I was brought into a room where they set me down and I immediately leaped away from them I grabbed a bottle off a shelf and turned around and bashed my assailant in the head causing a loud growl of outrage to erupt from him.

I felt a pair of hands wrap around my throat and start squeezing. I started gasping for air I could see stars pricking at the corners of my vision knowing I would suffocate soon.

"What are you doing we don't want her dead" a voice said. I was soon released I fell to the ground gasping for air at the same time I slid my hand down my leg to my ankle where I had a small dagger just in case. The man stepped in front me and before he could do anything else I lifted my arm up and stabbed him in the thigh.

I got off the ground ready to escape while the man was cursing and pulling the blade from his leg till I felt a fist come into my stomach. I felt all the air leave me at once and I doubled over in pain, the fist came again my eyes widened in shock and pain. The figure grabbed me by the neck and forced me to stand up I had a hard time then a  boot slammed into my right leg several times and I cried out in pain. I was worried I was going to be beaten death until I was shoved to the floor I lay their stunned.

Then I was grabbed by the wrists and  felt a dagger at my throat "Make a noise it will be your last" the man barked harshly at me. I was in to much pain and to stunned to react. An arm reached out and ripped the necklace from my throat beads flying everywhere. I heard the ripping of fabric and realized it was my dress. Oh gods help me I thought in a panic. I tried struggling but a pair of hands had my legs held down.  A hand clamped over my mouth.

Then the warrior hovered over me. I closed my eyes calling on all the deities I could think of at that moment to stop what was happening.  I heard a loud pounding noise as though an axe were going through wood.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN HERE" I heard Dagur's voice roar out. Which actually frightened me because I had never heard him that angry before.

"GET THE HELL OFF OF HER RIGHT NOW" I am released and I shakily and slowly sit up and move off to the side.

"You cowards think you can take me on. Well come on then don't let me stop you." Dagur says.

I watch as Dagur casts his axe aside. I'm shocked he is going to try and take on three warriors. I pull my knees up and tuck my head down.I listen to the sounds of struggling and fighting going on all around me.

Then I hear Dagur's voice say "Take these traitors away to the dungeons and clamp them in chains. They are to be made examples of in the morning" I hear footsteps and the sounds of struggles leave the room. I feel a presence next to me and someone touching my hand.

"Hiccupa it's OK now those men are gone I will make sure that they never hurt you or another woman ever again" Dagur told me in a kind and reassuring tone of voice. I look up to see him he has a gentle look on his face I see a flash of emotion flicker in his eyes. One of his guards approached with something in his arms Dagur accepted it and wrapped a cloak around me.

Then Dagur puts his arms around me I stiffen at first but then think of how tender he has been lately and how scared I was and  wrap my arms around him as well.  His arm slides under my knees and he scoops me up like a bride and takes me from the room. I feel relief immediately.

He walks back to his private quarters returning to sitting room setting me down in the chair by the fireplace and kneels in front of me.

"Hiccupa I am going to ask you some questions you don't need to say anything unless you want to just nod for yes or no. Is that alright." he asks me. I nod my head in agreement.

"I need you to show me where they hurt you if you are comfortable enough to do that. I see they hit you in the face already but if you can show me where else, is that alright?" he asked me. I swallow anxiously and nod my head again.

I lift my hair up and turn my neck to show where I had been choked and threatened with a knife.

"They tried to choke you and held a knife to your neck. Is that why you can't talk?" he asked me. I nodded my head again in agreement.

Then I held my hands to my stomach and grimaced. "They punched you in the stomach?" he asked I nodded my head. He rubbed his hand over his face.

Then with shaky hands I parted the rips of my dress to show him my shin which had large bruises from being kicked. "Is their anywhere you aren't injured?" He asked incredulously. I

Then he sighed again and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. " Hiccupa did they...I mean...are you... still a maiden?" he asked. I nodded my head vigorously my cheeks flushing. Thankfully you had gotten their before they could I wanted to say but couldn't. "I'm sorry I had to ask but I need to know. I am going to have Heather, the Healer, and a few other women come and sit with you. I have some business to attend too." he said clenching his fists.

He brought me a glass of water and I gasped "Thank you for stopping them."

"Don't speak rest your voice" he said.

He stepped out of the room for a moment and came back placing his hand on my shoulder I looked up smiling at him and then turned away blushing. What am I doing?

Then Heather came bursting into the room she looked Dagur than at me "Dagur I came as soon as I heard I am so sorry I didn't know where she was. I've been looking everywhere" she said.

"Heather calm yourself for Hiccupa's sake she has been beaten within an inch of her life. The healer is coming to tend to her wounds. She is going to need a change of clothes as well. I want you and several women to stay with her while I visit the dungeons. I need to find out how this happened" I overheard Dagur tell Heather

The door opened again and the healer arrived Dagur spoke with her.

Then Dagur approached me"I am going to leave you with Heather she will take care of you. I will see you later tonight" he  told me leaning in and brushing his lips against my cheeks causing me to blush a bright crimson.

The healer approached me and had me undress. I could hear her tutting at my injuries and  began examining me applying salves to the cuts and bruises along with bandages. Ice had been brought in and was applied to my leg to help with the swelling and pain. She set about mixing herbs and handed me a glass instructing me to drink it to help with the pain and to aid in healing. I drank it down thinking little of it after all the potions I had had already.

While the healer had been examining me Ingrid had stepped in as soon as she saw me she burst into tears. Heather grabbed her and pulled her out of the room immediately and then returned alone.

Ingrid returned sometime later she looked a bit more put together. She had a basket with her which she set down and then unpacked a dress for me. When the healer was finished she left instructing me to call on her if I needed her again. Heather and Ingrid helped me dress.
 

"What are you up for now Hiccupa are you hungry?" Heather asked me.

"If it's alright I would like to lay down and rest" I said.

Heather than led me into Dagur's bedchamber. I walked over to the bed and laid down feeling tired and sore everywhere.

"We will be outside if you need us. I had the other women come as well" Heather said. She left the room and I fell asleep.

I had terrible dreams of being chased down endless mazes by  warriors each more fearsome than the last. I was breathless from running so much. I lost my peg leg and was struggling against the walls on one leg. In others I was being attacked blood pouring down my arms and legs. I felt myself lurch my eyes flying open and I screamed when I saw Dagur near me.

"Hiccupa it's alright it's me I'm not going to hurt you" I heard Dagur's voice cry.

I was gasping for air and my heart was racing the dreams started fading from memory. Just a dream I thought. Then I remembered being attacked by the three men and realized not quite a dream. I tried steadying my breathing again. I sat up grimacing in pain. The ice and medicines had helped by I was still in pain.

Dagur gathered me up in his arms again and carried me into the sitting room setting me down in a chair by a table. Food had been laid out on it he sat in the other chair.

"I asked if you had had dinner yet and Heather said you had been sleeping so I requested them to bring up a late meal" he said. I was not that hungry but I ate with him anyway picking at it here and there.

After dinner he offered me a glass again the pain potion I thought I drank it before he even mentioned a word of what it was wanting to forget the pain and what had happened. I set the empty glass down sensing the fuzzy feeling pour over me again and dull my senses.

Dagur then came beside me and said "I want you to know I will not let anything happen to you ever again I swear it. I vow I will not allow anyone to come near you with those intentions ever again." I looked into his green eyes which were serious and stern.

"Hiccupa I care about you more than anything else in this world I hope you know that" he said. gazing into my eyes with such care.

Moments like these I started feeling confused around him. Then I felt his arms around me and I knew what he was going to do. I had to tell him about Ash I had been too scared before but now I had to.

"Dagur you know how you said you would never hurt me" I said nervously.

"Of course I give you my word as a Chief and as your friend" he said looking surprised.

"Well...the reason why I'm asking right now is to tell you that Ash and I are engaged" I told him holding up my left hand to reveal the ring on my finder. I hunched my shoulders in fear not sure if he would yell at me or hit me.

Instead I heard him sigh "Alright Hiccupa so that's why you have been denying my affections" he said looking defeated. Then a calculating look crossed his face. "I will respect your wishes for now but I will not give up in winning your heart" he said.

I was taken aback he was serious "Dagur please if you really do care for me let me go back to Berk" I pleaded.

"If you still think Berk is the right place for you then I shall look into it" he said. "I am awaiting word from Berk as we speak"