A/N – First things first – before anyone worries, I've been advised to say that though Eret is in this story this is not a threesome fic, just to set your minds at rest. I seem to have cast Eret as some sort of sexual agony-aunt, blame Captain Jack Harkness again. Read on without fear!

So, I've been reading a lot of fancfiction, and it seems that it's impossible not to bump into fics set in the world of Dominant and Subordinate relationships. Now that stuff doesn't really float my boat, but I did find I was quite intrigued by the trust and the dynamics within relationships in that area. Looking beyond all the smacking and shouting, done right, those relationships were actually quite warm and often cute.

So, this is my tentative look into that area with our beloved Hiccstrid. DO NOT PANIC, this is not going to be 'Fifty Shades of How To Train Your Dragon', in terms of activity its really really mild, almost vanilla, but I just wanted to look at how Hiccstrid might work in that sort of situation – we all know that it's trust that underlies everything they are and I wanted to see that in action. I hope it works for you guys. I have no idea when I've set it, certainly post httyd2 and I have them married, so in that nebulous area.

Disclaimer – the Dom and Sub world isn't my world so everything 'technical' I've written comes from research – I hope I haven't made any mistakes and sorry if I have. That said, I know I've breached good Dom/Sub etiquette in the first chapter and I do not want to suggest that surprising a partner with these kind of things is a good idea (as Astrid in fact learns) it just worked for this story. Safe, sane and consensual please people!

I've split it into four chapters and will aim to update every couple of days, soI'd very much appreciate it if you could let me know how it's working for you as we go along! Comments and reviews always welcome and adored x

Dedicated with love to ShipMistress, stalwart in assuring me that I'm not crazy. Or at least that I'm not alone xx

Take Him Down

One

Astrid sat, nursing a beer and watching Hiccup across the Great Hall. He was deep in argument with several men of the tribe and although she was too far away to hear the words, the general tone of the talk made it clear that nobody was happy. Even from her seat she could see Hiccup's body language changing, tensing. Finally, slamming a fist into his palm to make a final point, he turned and strode out of the hall. As he passed, Astrid started to her feet but Hiccup marched straight by, throwing her no more than a tiny smile and a sliver of a wave before he was gone, still pursued by grumbling Vikings. Frowning, Astrid sat down again and stared into her cup, barely even noticing when the Eret slid his tattooed bulk into the space beside her.

"Everything alright? Trouble in Paradise?"

His voice was kind, but she was in no mood for jokes.

"Don't, Eret."

He offered a small, chagrined smile. "Sorry chuck. Didn't mean to be flippant." Holding up both hands in apology he looked at her for a long moment, then leaned close, obviously concerned.

"Problem love? Can I be of assistance? I have a strong back and reasonable supply of worldly wisdom, if you could make use of either?"

The offer made Astrid smile briefly, touched. She went to speak but failed miserably, opening and closing her mouth once or twice before finally settling on,

"It's nothing. Well, no, it's not, but… it's…. gah. It's nothing."

Beer abandoned she held her face in her hands, scrubbed at her eyes. Eret nodded knowingly.

"Ah. Nothing. You'd be surprised how often people are plagued by nothing. One of the most common issues in the whole Archipelago." He rose and took her hand to pull her up after him. "Come on. Outside. Walk and talk."

They walked out through the houses and Astrid was glad for the silent warmth of his company. Eventually Eret steered them to a rock far outside the village and plonked himself down on it, patting the space next to him.

"Right. Come on then love. What's rocking the Haddock/Hofferson boat? Talk to Auntie Eret."

At her incredulous pout he sighed and tugged her down to sit.

"Look, Astrid my love, you are clearly in need of some serious Girl Talk. And, given the state of the alternatives on this island, I have to be your best option. So. I'm listening."

There was a long pause as Astrid stared out over the freezing ocean. Then in a tiny voice she offered,

"It's Hiccup."

"Obviously."

Another long pause and then a dam apparently broke and a tide of frustrations poured out.

"I have no clue what to do with him! He's all over the place. He's trying to do so many things at once, dealing with so many projects, so many people, and he's so stressed he's practically vibrating." She ticked off complaints on her fingers. "He's not taking any time off. Not eating properly because he's 'busy', or he honestly just forgets. Not flying Toothless for fun anymore because 'You can do it just as well'. Not sleeping because 'I just have to finish this'. On the rare occasions when he does come to bed he lies awake all night. Thinking. You can practically hear the gears turning in his head. Either that or he spends the whole night tossing and turning." Pausing, she looked up at Eret's sympathetic face. "Bad dreams, you know?"

"Not surprising."

"No." she acknowledged "But when he wakes up, he won't talk about them. I'm sure it would help, but he won't. He just heads straight back out to work. Back to everyone else's problems. All their issues, all the stupid fights, all the plans, the bloody decisions he has to make. And he won't take a scrap of help for any of it."

Eret pursed his lips. "I've seen him round the village love, he looks tired, but he seems to be managing…?"

"Oh, I know," she nodded vigorously, "He looks alright, acts like its all fine. Things get done, and done well. The village is happy. Hel, we all know Hiccup's a great Chief! But he's getting so brittle Eret, and I don't know how to stop him from breaking." Her voice rose to a strained pitch he'd never heard her reach, before she stopped, chest heaving. Eret squeezed her hand, about to offer some sympathetic platitude that would buy him some thinking time, when he spotted an uncharacteristic pink flush to her cheeks. Ah. So there was more.

"And?"

She shot him a sharp look. "Isn't that enough?"

Raising a knowing eyebrow, he pressed gently, "Aannd…..?"

Astrid flushed more and twisted her hands together, avoiding eye contact.

"And, well, we'd…you know…we'd, well, we'd usually…"

Eret laughed. "Sweetheart, these houses aren't that soundproof. Most of the tribe are well aware of what you'd 'usually'. Come on now, out with it."

She glared at him, bright red. "Remind me again why I'm talking to you about this?"

"Because your other options are, who? Either Ruffnut or Valka. And if you'd prefer to discuss the physical aspects of your relationship with either a Thorston or your mother-in-law I'll happily fetch one of them. Otherwise, me. And you want to discuss it. Hel, you need to discuss it. So?"

She sat tense and still for a good few breaths, then, finally acknowledging the truth in his words, blew out a long sigh and went on.

"So. We haven't. Had 'physical aspects'. Not in weeks. Weeks!" Worry and frustration made her talk faster and he struggled to keep up. "And just lately not even kissing. Cuddling even. Not for lack of interest on my part! When he's actually home and not flat out exhausted I've dropped some subtle hints. And unsubtle ones. For Thor's sake, I've even out and out asked for some attention! And I've suggested everything he likes…I just can't get a reaction. Any reaction, if you see what I mean. AndsohelpmeThorIwillkillyouinyoursleepifyoutellanyoneIsaidthat." The last sentence was garbled with embarrassment.

Eret placed his hand on his heart, offended, "Never."

"'Course." She relaxed a minutely and offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry. Anyway. He just says he's sorry but he doesn't feel like it. Which is a lie because I know that body and I can see it's pretty much screaming. But he just won't let me help. At all. With that, with the work, with anything. It's like he's gone off without me, and he's getting further and further away!." Her eyes were wide, vulnerable. "I'm frightened Eret."

"Understandable sweetheart, understandable."

They watched the ocean in silence and Eret patted Astrid's shoulder soothingly. At length she raised her head.

"So, Mr Worldly Wisdom? Ideas?"

"Ideas. Right." He ran his fingers through his dark hair and took a deep breath. "Well. Here's my guess, and you'll be able to tell me if I'm right. The problem. It's the pressure of leading." She opened her mouth to object but he held up a hand. "I know, I know he's been a leader for years, but, no, shhh, just listen…but he's THE leader now and that's huge. And he's so good at it, got time for everyone and everything, even other bloody islands asking for his help! That's a lot to take in, and he's determined not to let anyone down, to live up to Stoick's legacy, it's like he can't stop. I think he's trying so hard to be everything for everyone that he's forgotten to be anything for himself. He's ignoring all his own needs; for time, rest, space, food, play, even for, erm, you. I think, in the back of his mind, he thinks he's got to be 'good enough', meet some impossible standard he's set for himself before he can have those things. Probably denied himself on purpose to start with, to make more time. All those tasks to be done, decisions to make. Now it's a habit and he can't break it. He's lost."

"Lost?"

"Inside his own head, his own idea of what he has to be and how much he has to do."

Silence followed, then Astrid puffed out a breath and nodded. "Gods. You are right. That's Hiccup. So single minded when he wants to be. Too single minded sometimes. What can I do?"

"You have to find him."

"How?"

"Well, I reckon, and just hear me out, I know this sounds a bit strange, but I reckon it's simple. He needs to be made to take a break. And I mean made. He needs Domming."

The word dropped into the night, somehow heavy and dark. Astrid blinked.

"He needs what?"

"Domming. Dominating."

Startled, Astrid drew back and stared at Eret, frowning.

"What? Isn't that like…beating him up? Whipping him? Yelling, calling him names? I don't think so!" She shook her head vehemently. "Ropes and pain and shouting are not my sort of thing. Or Hiccup's. And there's absolutely no way I could hurt him. How would that even help? Worst idea ever! Thanks but no thanks!" She went to walk away but he caught her wrist and drew her back down, chuckling softly.

"Sweet Freyja singing Astrid, I said Dom him, not abuse him! Dominating isn't just about pain for Thor's sake. You Berk people have some bloody weird ideas. I mean, pain has its place, and certainly at times it can be…" Eret's eyes and smile went far away for a few seconds before he recalled himself and flushed. Coughed. "Ahem. Well. Yes. But for Hiccup? Now? That's not what I'm talking about at all."

Getting annoyed, Astrid pulled her hand from his grip and swatted him with it. "Then what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about rescuing him from this shitty cycle of working and worrying he's put himself into. Breaking him out, because you now he won't do it himself. He's proving that as we speak! Domming him could help." He broke off, checked her face, the frown was still there so he explained again. "Look. It doesn't have to be a sex thing. Or a pain thing. But it's about control. You take him over, remove all his choices. You push him out of his head, take away all the noise, make him yours. And then you give him back to himself. It's peace. Peace. That's what it can be."

Yet another silence as Astrid considered. Finally she asked,

"Would you do it?"

Eret barked a startled laugh. "Would I Dom Hiccup Haddock? Is that a trick question? Ow!" He rubbed his shoulder where she'd punched him but she was smiling too. "Astrid, if I thought it would work for me, I'd have that boy on his knees in the next five minutes. But we both know it wouldn't. Anyone with half a brain can tell that he's not got even a twinkle in his eye for anyone but you. And never has, if I'm told right." His voice became more serious and Astrid was moved by the genuine concern in it. "Look, love, I can't promise anything. It might not work, he might not take it. You might be better off just letting him work through it on his own. But I don't think so. I think he needs something, some help, from you. And I think this is it."

She straightened her spine and took his hand back, squeezing it.

"Right. Tell me how."

o0o0o

Okay. He just about had time to dash home, throw some food down his throat, gather the papers he needed and head out to the meeting. Maybe say 'hey' to Toothless, wash his face, grab those sketches he'd done and he should perhaps change after this morning in the stables and, oh, Thor, what else? Hiccup's mind raced as he jogged across the square. Reaching the house he groaned and smiled simultaneously when he saw Astrid waiting by the door. Not that he didn't want to see her but he'd got to rush out again and she had that face on, the 'we are going to talk' face, and he just didn't have time. His heart pounded, just on the edge of panic, as it always seemed to be these days. Maybe he could just take five minutes, then he'd still have chance to pick Gobber's brains before he had to see the council again, and then oh, damn, hadn't he promised Fishlegs he'd get to the Academy later? Or was that tomorrow? Hel, he really needed to write these things down and…oof. What?

He'd run into something. What? Focussing back on his immediate surroundings, Hiccup looked down realised the 'something' was Astrid's very solid and very warm palm, placed squarely in the centre of his chest. His eyes moved up the attached arm, across the attached shoulder and finally met her stern blue gaze.

"Hiccup, we need to talk."

"Sure," he said, kissing her cheek as he attempted to wriggle past and into the house, "Just let me grab some things and then I'm here. But I've not got long, I have to be back at the Great Hall in about ten minutes for that meeting with the fishing committee."

"No, you don't."

"I don't?"

"Nope." She shook her head. "I cancelled it."

He blinked in surprise. "You cancelled my meeting?"

"Yep." She was calmly unrepentant. "And the one after that. And the Academy tour. And the night-fishing trip. So you have nothing else on today. And we are going to talk. Now."

"Astrid, love," he ran exasperated fingers through his hair. Oh, gods, the workload he'd have tomorrow… "I know you mean well, but these things have to be done! I have to get them finished! There's nobody else, so I have to do it…."

"Hiccup," she interrupted, firmly, "they are cancelled. All of them. And you're staying here. With me. For the rest of the day. And the night. All the night."

"But…."

"No buts. You need a break."

He cast his eyes about wildly, looking for a valid excuse, an escape, a way to get back on track and keep moving down that ever expanding-gods-damned to-do list…. Some of his desperation must have shown on his face, because she stepped closer, the palm on his chest becoming a fist and grasping one of his flight suit straps.

"You need a break. And you are taking one. So," a strange look flashed across her face, was it, nerves? But it lasted only a split second and she continued, "So. You have two choices. One. You can go in, eat something, wash, and go to bed. And try to rest. We both know you won't, but I'm not letting you out of this house again today, so you can go to bed and try. Or, two" and here her voice became quieter, her eyes brighter, "you can give it all to me."

"All what?"

Her free hand waved vaguely up and down. "All this."

"You just gestured to all of me!"

"Exactly." Pulling his chest strap she brought his head down and kissed the corner of his mouth. "You can give all of you, to me. For today. And let me take care of it. Let me take care of all of you. And I will. It's your choice Hiccup." She bent his head lower and whispered, words warm in his ear, "Totally your choice. But I can promise you, if you choose option two, it's the last decision you'll have to make today."

A shiver ran through him, whether from the tickle of her breath or the notion of no more decisions, he didn't know. Suddenly he was tired, heavy; the weight of everything he was doing, thinking, it was too much. The idea of giving some of the madness away was overwhelming. He didn't really understand what she was asking, what she was offering, what he would be agreeing to, but the word rose to his lips anyway.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

Hiccup lifted his eyes back to hers. "Yes Astrid. All of this. Take it. Yes."

Her smile was dazzlingly bright as she drew him into a devastating, hungry kiss that ended as suddenly as it had begun. He'd barely caught his breath before she was talking again.

"Right. Hiccup. I'm going to give you a word," she explained, voice low and steady, "This is your word. If at any point you don't like what's happening, what I'm doing, you want it to stop, you just say the safeword and it stops."

("You have to give him control Astrid." Eret said. "You might be in charge, but he needs to keep that last control. Give him a word. He might not use it. He probably won't want it. But for both of you it has to be there. Give him a word.")

She drew in a big breath. "The safeword is yaknog. Hiccup. What is your safeword?"

He was confused. What was a safeword and what did he need one for? "Astrid, I…"

"Hiccup." There was no mistaking the iron in her tone. It made his breath catch. "Tell me your safeword."

His skin crawled with that sensuous shiver again, his hairs standing up on end. Well, maybe it was better to go along with her. "Yaknog" he breathed. Astrid took his hand.

"Good. Come inside."

The house was dim and warm, the shutters closed, but the fire burning high. When the door closed it could almost have been the middle of the night. Hiccup watched as Astrid slid the bolt home, locking the door from the inside, as they very rarely did. The Chief's house was usually public property; he had to be accessible to the tribe, what if someone needed him? What if…

"Hiccup. I can hear you thinking. Stop it." Astrid's voice called him back. "Focus on me. Just on me. And strip."

"What?"

"Strip. Leathers off. Down to your linens, I want you comfortable."

"I am comf…"

"Take it off."

"But what if I have to…"

"Off."

He didn't argue again. Taking off the flight suit wasn't the easiest task, given the number of straps and buckles but soon enough he had it peeled away and tossed over a stool, standing in just his undershirt and trousers. He could almost feel her appraising eye as it ran over him and it raised goosebumps on his arms. She smiled and moved to smooth her palms over his pebbled skin, warming and soothing.

"Oh, it seems a long time since I've seen this."

Her palms continued down his forearms. Hiccup found himself leaning inexorably into the contact as her fingers closed around his wrists and pushed his arms back and away and she moved to press herself closer. Gods, if only he had time…Suddenly his arms were behind his back, wrists crossed and Astrid was fiddling with something…The rough drag of rope startled him. Where had that come from? He flinched but couldn't bring his hands back round. She'd tied his hands? Tied them? Sweet Freyja singing, what was going on?

She took hold of his shirt and began to pull him towards the fire and the big chair there.

"Astrid. Astrid! What's happening here? What's with the ropes? What the Hel are you doing?"

She didn't answer, only pulled him firmly over to the chair, then, hand on his shoulder, pressed him down on the floor next to it.

"Sit." The command from behind him was soft, but it was, inescapably, a command.

Hiccup was still gaping at her when he felt the ropes go tighter and realised she'd actually tied him to the damn chair! He pulled, testing the restraints.

"Astrid…"

"Shhh, love, it's alright. I've got you. Give me a minute."

She produced another length of rope from the Gods knew where and efficiently whipped it round his knees before looping it round the other chair leg and pulling tight. Hiccup wriggled in earnest, but he was very effectively bound, sitting up against the chair and blatantly not going anywhere. This was ridiculous.

"Astrid, what's this about?"

"This," she said, plopping down into the seat, "Is about you learning how to be still again. Just sit. Be still. It's okay. You're okay. Now, shush, I'm busy." Digging under the cushion, she produced (of all things!) a book and began to read. Out loud. Epic poetry. Granted, one of his favourites, but was this really the time?

"Astrid, come on. This is silly." Hiccup laughed uncertainly. He flexed his hands, arms, legs, but she'd captured him at every point. There was little give to the ropes and the chair (solid, huge, built for his father) clearly wasn't going anywhere. "Astrid! Enough. Let me out. I've got things I should be doing! Important things!" Hiccup twisted and strained, forgetting that he'd asked her to take those things, forgetting what exactly they were but pressed at all sides by the feeling that he should be elsewhere, doing something else, that this was silly, pointless, that he needed to be up, out. He pulled again, voice rising, breathing coming faster and faster.

"Astrid! Astrid, let me up. I want to get up!"

("I know, it sounds drastic. But you need to take him out of it and I'll bet he won't let you voluntarily. And even with the ropes I bet he won't come easily. Hold your nerve. You're in charge.")

Cool fingers under his chin paused him as Astrid lifted his head to look up at her. He was struck, even in the midst of this utter weirdness, by how calm she was, how extraordinarily beautiful.

"Hiccup, shush. You're fine. There's nothing you have to do today. This isn't hurting you. You know your safeword. You can use it anytime. Just let go. There's nowhere you need to be. I'm here. Trust me. I've got you."

"Astrid," he was almost pleading, "let me up."

"You know your word." She was implacable. "And if the next noise you make isn't going to be your word, you can shush. I am reading."

"Astrid…"

"I said, shush."

And she let his chin go. Turned back to the book!

("He might need to fight it. He's that wound up, he's not going to give over quickly, no matter what he wants to do, needs to do, really. So let him fight it. You'll have him safe. He'll probably be angry. He's fine. You're fine. Let him know that you're there. Then let him fight it as long as he needs to.")

He saw red. What in Hel's name was she playing at? Hiccup didn't know what he'd expected when she'd given him that stupid choice but it wasn't this…this…this fucking ridiculous waste of time! Take care of it she'd said! Take care of him! Not rope him up like some untrainable bloody gronkle! He was the Chief! And he had Things! To! Do!

Hiccup thrashed angrily, spewing curses. Pulling the ropes, trying desperately to wrench his shoulders round, wriggle his knees free. Anything! There were too many things to do, too many places he had to go, he needed to be out of this! But he couldn't get out. Hiccup lost all sense of time, of self, of anything beyond the ropes and the rage, the stress of the pull and strain on his shoulders. He panted, sweated, tore with his fingernails at the ropes he could just reach, lost in a fit of panicked anger. And all the while, Astrid kept reading, her voice tethering him, lying calm over his thrashings like oil on water. How could she be that calm? What was she doing? He couldn't get out! The 'safeword' danced around his mouth so viscerally that he could feel the sharp points of the 'k' pricking his palate, the round 'g' sitting at the back of his throat like a grape. It was there almost, but not quite, escaping his lips. He didn't know why he didn't just say it! He couldn't get out! Astrid well and truly had him! And he had trusted her! Then the truth hit him.

He couldn't get out, Hiccup realised, he really, really couldn't. He really couldn't get out, and there was no point in fighting it because there really was nothing he could do. But he trusted her.

He stopped struggling and took a long shuddering breath, almost sobbing it out when Astrid's hand came down lightly on his shoulder, drifted lightly up his neck and onto his head like a benediction. Her fingers carded gently through his damp hair for a few moments and he lifted his chin to press back into her hand.

"Good." She murmured. "Oh, my brilliant boy. It's okay. There's nothing you have to do. And I'm here, there's nothing to worry about. I've got you. You're safe. Let go. I've got you."

It was if something inside him was burst, no, lanced, and the rage poured away. In flowed a soft emptiness, making his head light and his limbs tingle. Everything began to relax. He was safe. Hiccup was safe and there was nothing to worry about, because Astrid had him.