Merida rolled over in her bed, arms above her head, and back arched. Letting out a large yawn Merida searched the bed next to her, her hand searching for the warmth she was so accustomed to. Merida scrunched her face and groggily sat up. Her fiery curls were half tamed by a loose braid that was pulled behind her head. She bent her elbows behind her head and let out another yawn. She grumbled and pushed herself off the bed. She padded across the creaking floors and dug around in the drawer for her clothes. She pulled out a pair of dark grey pants, and a green, form fitting shirt that falls past her bottom. Two slits are in the sides of the shirt on her thighs. A cape is tied loosely around her shoulders, clasped together by a small dragon swirling around an emerald. An anniversary gift. Merida unleashed a massive attack of hair upon herself as she untied her hair from its restraints. She fought to contain it and finally, after a five minute battle, she won, knotting it back into place.

After she was presentable, the small golden band wrapped around her head, she made her way down the ladder and into the kitchen. She smiled at the familiar sounds of Val cooking breakfast. She heard a wining from the rafters above her and grinned when she saw her very own dragon, Bonnie looking down at her, tail wagging from side to side, feathers standing at attention. She smiled and clicked her tongue and the sleek dragon jumped to her side.
"Good mornin' Bonnie mah girl. How was yer night?" Bonnie purred and nuzzled Merida's cheek. Merida laughed and went into the kitchen.
"Good mornin' dear!"
"Mornin' mum. How'd yah sleep?"
"Pretty good, and yerself?"
"Et was good until A woke up." Val laughed, the corners of her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"I know that feelin'. Stoick would have ta wake up early ta do work in the town."
"A Chief's duty is never finished, is et?"
"Oh no dear. But you'll get used to et." Merida opened a barrel next to the sink, and grabbed a fish for Bonnie. Said dragon perked up, and began to circle the family room excitedly. The two women smiled at the antics of the eager dragon, and Cloud Jumper groaned from her spot in the rafters.
"But, yah'd think tha' after a year A'd get used ta him not always bein' there." Merida sighed and threw the fish to Bonnie, who dove after the treat. Merida smiled at the dragon and turned to sit at the table. She rested her head in her hands, elbows propped on the table. Val, sensing something was awry, turned from the food, which was giving off a strange smell.

Val sat next to her, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong dear?"
"Et's just tha', A knew what A was gettin' into when A married Hiccup. Et's just…" Val nodded and leaned down to look up at Merida's downturned face.
"I know dear. But when things here get back ta normal, Hiccup'll be here more. Yah have ta remember, there's still ice all over from Drago's attempted siege." At the mention of Drago, Val's voice turned to acid, and if looks could kill, the table would have suffered a most terrible death.
"A know, Am ur still gettin' used ta et."
"Well, when Stoick had to leave me in the mornin', A'd just go with him. Wakin' up early is easier than wakin' up alone." Merida smiled up at her mother-in-law. It was true, waking up early would be better, but then again, sleep is a treasured prize in Berk. Merida had a lot of thinking to do.
"But yah do know, yah have yer own duties too. Sometimes et'll be Hiccup waking up without yah." Merida thought about that for a second. She did have her own duties. She was training the soldiers in archery, she was in charge of making the infirmary, she was co-leading strategic planning, she was helping lead a new way of dragon flying, and she was discovering new territories. She had duties that any normal Chieftess would as well. She was in charge of the people, she was a helping hand in times of need. Hiccup may be the face of the operation, but behind him, Merida was the support he needed, the sounding board that gave him some pretty brilliant ideas.

Not only was she the Chieftess of Berk, but she was the Princess of DunBroch, and she, and Hiccup, had duties there as well. They served as semi-peace keepers. When one nation would threaten another, they would ride out, land their dragons, and speak and sort out the problems. They were the face of unity in the nations that were associated with DunBroch and Berk. Coming from two different lands, two different backgrounds, but still coming together and finding a perfect balance with one another.

But that didn't mean they didn't have their arguments. Every good relationship has its arguments. It's overcoming those arguments, and seeing the points that the other has, and taking them into consideration, is what makes a relationship stronger. And that's what's made them such great negotiators and mediators.
"Yah know, A think that et's even." Val looked at Merida, a knowing sparkle in her eyes.
"How so?"
"Well, A wake up alone, but he has ta pull himself out of bed an' leave me while A sleep. He has ta leave me. A mean, look at me! An' he's gotta leave this in bed until A wake up!" Val threw her head back and a symphony of laughter filled the air.
"That's the spirit!"
"A might actually let him suffer some more." Merida said as she stood up and looked at Bonnie. "Am ur feelin' like A wan' a ride." Val laughed again, but jumped when a cloud of smoke erupted from whatever she was cooking.
"Oh dear! Mah meatballs!" Val rushed to the pot and vigorously stirred it. Merida quickly left, thanking the spirits that she wouldn't have to suffer through more meatballs.

Hey guys I'm back! I've gotten quite a few comments saying i should make a sequel, but I've decided that this sequel will be snapshots through their life after the story ends. I hope you guys stay and read on!

Thank you all so much, and enjoy your day/night!

Much love,
~Tessa the Fandom Queen