"Where am I?" she exhaled, her vision consumed by an eerie darkness.

She heard a sinister laugh echo through the caves but her captor remained hidden in the shadows. There was a danger lurking nearby, she could feel her heart racing as she tried to stay alert.

"Who are you?" she proceeded. "Why did you bring me here?"

She didn't receive any response but could hear his footsteps growing closer.

"Answer me!" Panic was starting to rise upon seeing his silhouette after he lit up a fire. Her hands gripped onto the stone-cold wall behind her.

Suddenly, he was right in front of her, albeit masked and unrecognizable.

"Don't come any closer!" she warned, attempting to get past him but as she set out to make her escape, he pushed her against the wall again, taking her breath away.

She could make out angry green eyes glaring at her. A sense of familiarity rose within her.

"Who are you?" she breathed against him, voice laced with uncertainty.

He chuckled, before running a hand down her trembling arm. Astrid could feel her heart drumming in her ears as she spoke her next words.

"You wouldn't hurt me," she said in a small voice. "You can't."

"Oh, can't I?"

Astrid gasped upon hearing his nasal voice. He sounded younger than expected.

"Please," she begged. "Take me back home."

"No."

Astrid felt her hopes falter again. "Why? What good am I to you?"

"Oh, I'm sure I could find some use for you."

Dread washed over her as she feared for her fate. Surely there was a way escape this hellhole? She squinted toward the light cascading down the floor but as she moved again, an arm sprung out to pull her back.

"Let me go!" she growled, gritting her teeth.

"No."

There was a sudden roar filling up the room. She couldn't see the dragon, the darkness camouflaged him, but his presence was startlingly clear.

"Are you going to feed me to your dragon?" she mumbled under her breath.

The man before her merely shook his head before grasping her arm and pulling her along. She tried to get out of his hold but knowing that death was lurking right behind her, her efforts were fidgety and clumsy.

-x-

Astrid Hofferson sat in her bed chambers waiting for her husband to arrive for their first night together in the wake of their wedding. Albeit his obvious fondness for her, it had not been a love match. Astrid had caved in at last after years of refusing every offer thrown her way. He seemed decent, and wealthy enough to provide for her and her family. Still, she was weary of her whereabouts, feeling a twinge of discomfort blooming in her chest.

She suddenly heard a crash against the roof of the house, the timber shaking harshly. Astrid grabbed her axe to confront the danger. But in a swift move, her world suddenly blackened out and she felt herself go limp in a pair of arms.

-x-

"Sit," the masked man ordered her as he pushed her onto a soft mattress.

Astrid shook her head, but sank down nevertheless. "Take me back," she repeated.

"I already told you, that is not happening." He stood before her, tall and intimidating. She had to look away to calm her anxiety.

After a short notice of hesitance, he began to unbuckle his armor.

Astrid's eyes widened. "Wha-"

"It is your wedding night, after all?"

Before Astrid could retort a response, he grasped the back of his helmet and let it fall onto the floor.