Well I've been sucked into the Mericcup fandom and have been wanting to do a Six Swans/Daughter of the Forest fairytale so here we are. For intents and purposes I will be using Hiccup's mom's name from the movies and not the books.
Title: Catching Fire
Pairing(s): Merida/Hiccup
Rating: T. possible lemon later on
Summary: Tricked by the witch Gothel, Merida must take a vow of silence to save her family from remaining bears forever while fighting not to lose her heart to a charming Viking.
Disclaimer: I don't own Six Swans, Daughter of the Forest, Brave, or How to Train Your Dragon
Chapter One: A Viking Prisoner
"Merida! It's late morning! Time to get out of bed!" Queen Elinor yelled, opening the door to her daughter's room. There was no answer from the lump under the covers and Elinor sighed, moving to open the curtains to welcome in the daylight. She walked over to the covers, grasping them with elegant fingers. "Come on, lass! While it is your birthday, it is never becoming of a princess to sleep in!"
However, instead of her sleeping daughter under the covers, there was a pile of pillows. Elinor blinked before it clicked, and she rolled her eyes.
"I should've known." The woman fought to keep down a grin at the thought of her daughter, despite disappearing, still listening to her. "Every year she catches the sunrise at the Firefalls. Sneaky lass."
Merida laid atop Firefalls, her eyes to the sky as she cloud watched. Angus was tied safely down below, patiently waiting for his rider. The breeze caressed her face gently, and Merida reached her arms up.
"Wonder what it'd be like to fly. Birds have all the fun." She pouted. Sitting up, gazed at the horizon in envy. Then she crawled towards the edge of the falls, glancing down, unafraid. "Better start climbing down. Angus might be antsy since I was up here a while."
Not caring if her dress was torn, Merida began trekking down the cliffside. Angus was there, watching her carefully in case she would fall, but Merida, like always, threw caution to the wind and, when mostly down, leaped into the falls to land into the lake. Angus made a noise, reprimanding his master while she swam to the shore.
"Relax Angus, ya wee baby!" Merida laughed, dripping wet as she walked over to Angus. The horse made a face at her riding him while she was soaking wet, but she laughed. "It's just water, silly!"
With that, they rode off towards the castle, the wind rushing through her untamable red curls. Merida yelled out in exhilaration, taking her bow and shooting each target with precision. These were the times she treasured most—far away from lessons and expectations where she could enjoy her freedom.
Wanting to feel the wind more, she urged Angus faster, whooping in delight when the horse obliged. Merida pushed away thoughts of gloom for returning to the castle, and her expectations, and let herself enjoy the moment.
Approaching the castle of Dunbroch, she slowed Angus to a steady trot, eyes narrowing while she examined a group of her father's soldiers leading someone in chains. She beckoned Angus to get closer, seeing her father King Fergus in the front.
"Da!" she cried, excitement coursing through her. Merida urged Angus to gallop towards the party, slowing down when she reached her father. King Fergus perked up at the sight of his first born.
"Merida! Come here ya wee lass!" Her father exclaimed, taking her from Angus's saddle, spinning her around. Merida laughed loudly, embracing the king. The father and daughter were very close, often siding with each other when faced with the strict queen. It was her father who gave her her first bow, who taught her combat, and she was more than happy to learn.
The sudden rattling of chains caught their attention and the person bound struggled violently before being hit by one of the soldiers and restrained further.
"Your Majesty." A soldier stressed, reminding him where they were. King Fergus sobered, lowering his daughter to the ground with a sheepish expression.
"Sorry about that lads. Let's get this Viking scum into the cells, ya?" the king replied. It was then Merida got a closer look at the warrior in chains. They were tall, a nimble figure, and covered in armor from head to toe, making their features unidentifiable. They were bound securely, leaving no chance for escape. Merida felt her heart palpitate in excitement.
"Da, this is a Viking?!" she asked. The masked Viking stared back at her, making Merida straighten her posture and give a challenging look in return. She wasn't afraid of Vikings. She had heard the stories of how barbaric they were and how they steal Scotswomen away to make their slave brides, but she had never seen one up close and personal.
"Yes, Merida. Don't get close though. Took us forever to bind him. Can't let some Viking spy go back to his horde and be telling him our secrets." King Fergus answered. Merida eyed the Viking warrior impressed. She wondered what kind of skills the Viking had, and if she could match those skills. She had never been in a real battle before, and her heart pounded eagerly for the challenge.
The Viking seemed to have sensed her warrior spirit, for he titled his head, sizing her up as well, then seeming to have judged her not a threat, turned his head. Merida's fingers twitched for her bow, wondering how swift this arrogant Viking was, but reframed. It wasn't honorable to attack someone bound, even if they were a Viking. She wondered what the Viking looked like under his helmet, and her hands itched to remove it, wanting to see the snarling monsters she's read about from her stories.
"I'll see you for your birthday dinner, lass. We have to put this prisoner in his cell." Fergus interrupted her thoughts, breaking the moment.
"Am I allowed to ask will there be apple cake?" Merida teased in jest. Fergus let out a booming laugh.
"Best to stay out of the kitchens for an early sample. Your mother will have your head if you spoil your dinner." He told her, ruffling her hair. Merida and Angus moved aside as the party travelled through the courtyard where the dungeons were. Her eyes followed them until they disappeared from sight. She stepped forward, intending to take Angus to the stables, when she stepped on something making a crumple sound. She glanced down, finding a piece of paper. Getting a closer look, she realized it was a drawing. The prisoner must've dropped it while struggling
A handsome face of a young man stared back at her. He had messy hair, with little braids in it. Despite the lack of color, his eyes were expressive, like he was looking at something fondly. His smile was tender, and Merida felt herself blush at the thought of being looked at like that.
"Bah! What am I doing? It's just a drawing!" she held it in her hands delicately, afraid the paper would burst into flames if she wasn't careful. She gazed to where Fergus and the prisoner disappeared to and wondered if the drawing belonged to them.
Queen Elinor stared down at her daughter sternly when her daughter stood before her, dirty and untidy hair everywhere. Merida gave her a sheepish look, taking a seat at the dinner table. Elinor's eyes narrowed.
"Merida, no weapons at the table." Her mother reminded her. Merida rolled her eyes.
"Oh Ma, it's just my bow!" Merida dismissed her. She reached for a roll, but her mother slapped her hand gently.
"Not until your father gets here, Merida." Queen Elinor scolded. She switched her firm gaze to her triplet sons who were also reaching for dinner. Hamish, Harris, and Hubert giggled guiltily and took their hands away. Elinor smirked and shook her head. Merida quickly swiped some rolls while her mother wasn't looking and signaled for her brothers to take them under the table. Her brothers grinned unashamed at taking food as long as their sister was helping.
"Where are my little hellspawns?!" King Fergus entered, calling out to his children. Merida, Harris, Hamish, and Hubert cheered and flung themselves at their father. Fergus laughed as the triplets climbed all over him and Merida led him to the table.
"Hurry! She won't let us eat until you're here!" Hubert exclaimed. Fergus laughed.
"Good! She knows her king is still law!" Fergus jested. Elinor smirked.
"I also know my king will pout if we eat without him." Elinor teased. Fergus grinned embarrassed that his wife caught him as usual. He carried the triplets to their seats and Merida took her seat beside her father, eager to eat.
"So lass!" Fergus turned his attention to his oldest. "Twenty years and still my spitfire. May this year be filled with excitement for you! Why I remember when I was twenty and I met your Ma! She was a fine—"
"Ahem." Elinor cleared her throat, interrupting her husband and reminding him that all their children are present. Fergus chuckled and blushed, rubbing the back of his head.
"Just having a little fun, mo leannan." Fergus grinned shyly. Elinor gave him a teasing smile.
"Aye, and if I let you keep going you're going to scar our children for life." Said children giggled.
"Da, did you fall for Ma right away?" Hamish asked.
"Oh aye, not only was she beautiful but she had the spirit of a bear!" Fergus replied, reminiscing as he gulped down some wine. "When she was angry, she was scarier than Mord'u! Imagine if he didn't take my leg, she would have!" Fergus laughter boomed. Elinor gave him an admonishing look. He cowered. "It was a compliment, mo leannan."
Merida mimicked a gagging motion to her brothers who laughed at her display. Elinor gave her a stern look.
"Merida, that is not ladylike behavior. One day you'll be married too." Elinor reminded her. Merida scoffed.
"I can rule perfectly fine on my own! I don't need a husband to be a great queen!" Merida crossed her arms.
"How about hoping that day doesn't come soon, ay lass? I still want to have some good years, ya know." Fergus said. Elinor paid him no mind.
"A Kingdom needs heirs, Merida. A partnership between a king and queen is what our kingdom has always done, and it is tradition that you follow the same." Elinor lectured the redhead girl. Merida blew her hair out of her face in frustration.
"Tradition. Tradition. Tradition! Sometimes change is a good thing!" Merida argued.
"And change brings uncertainty." Elinor was quick to counter her. "This is the way it has always been, and it is the best way to ensure our kingdom's survival."
"We're fine! Da caught a Viking today! There's nothing that can hurt us." Merida said. Elinor snapped her head to her husband.
"A Viking? This far in mainland?" Elinor interrogated with worry. Fergus gave her a somber look.
"Aye. Found 'em skulking around in the woods. Put up a good fight, but we got him. He went through questioning but won't talk. I don't think he understands our language. Either that or he's stubborn."
"Did you torture him?" Elinor asked, uncomfortable with the idea of torture, but knew it was necessary for their safety. Vikings were notorious for their raids and if this one brought more, they would need to be ready.
"Not yet. Tried to give him a chance to talk. We'll be starting tomorrow at first light." Fergus took a gulp of wine.
"I want to see the Viking." Merida spoke. She remembered his stare through the helmet. Two black pits staring back at her. She wondered if Vikings had eyes like theirs or did the helmets hide their black pits. She thought back to the drawing the Viking dropped, pondering on who the person in the picture was.
"You will do no such thing, Merida!" Elinor said sharply. Merida winced, and Elinor softened her tone. "Torture isn't a game. I would rather not have you or the boys see that."
"If I'm going to be queen one day, I should learn these things, Ma." Merida tried to reason. Princess lessons were always so boring. Maybe for once she could learn something interesting. Regardless, her stomach churned at the thought of torture, and she squashed it hard—not wanting to being accused of being weak. She was a strong Scotswoman. She would hold her head high and show no fear.
It seemed though, she could not hide that weakness from her mother, as the queen gazed straight into her bright eyes.
"It is best you don't see it, Merida. I don't want you to go through seeing that." Her mother said gently. Merida looked down at her lap, not wanting to admit to her weakness.
"What's with all the gloom here? It's the lass's birthday! No one should be frowning!" Fergus intervened to diffuse the situation. He was aware Merida and Elinor often at times disagreed and he didn't want his daughter to feel like she was less because she held compassion.
"Cake! Cake! Cake!" the triplets chanted. Elinor and Merida smiled at the boys, forgetting their argument.
The family chatted easily after that, each enjoying a slice of apple cake, but Merida couldn't forget the Viking in his cell or the drawing he was carrying. It seized her so roughly that she felt compelled to do something about it. When everyone was sent to bed, she laid awake, staring at the ceiling in concentration. She held the drawing to her chest like a treasure, memorizing the lines of charcoal tracing the man's face.
"I wonder who drew it…" she whispered, as if afraid a normal tone would wake her family and her secret would be discovered. It was like she was privy to this Viking's thoughts unlike her family—she had something they didn't know about—and it made her rebellious spirit ignite with vengeance. Curiosity burned through her as well as anxiety knowing what was to come in the morning. She stared at the drawing again. Whoever he was, he was important to the Viking, and that caused resolve to flow through her.
A blue light drew her attention away, and Merida was shocked to find it was a wisp. She watched it float in the air serenely. It beckoned her to her door, and Merida had a feeling she knew where it would take her.
"I'm going to be queen one day…" Merida said, sitting up, the cogs in her brain turning. "If I can do something. If I can get this Viking to talk when Da can't…"
Determined, Merida threw on a cloak over her dress, clutching the drawing in her fingers tightly. She armed herself with a sword just in case and crept down towards the dungeons, following the wisp. Luckily everyone was asleep in the castle, so no one discovered her. She found the door that led to the dungeons, heart pounding wildly in her chest from anticipation. The guards were sound asleep giving Merida a chance to steal the keys to the entrance. Merida's eyes adjusted to the dim light of the torches as she carefully made her way down the stone steps with the wisp leading her deeper and deeper into the dungeons. Reaching the bottom floor, her steps echoed upon the stone. The wisp guided her along the cells and she couldn't cease the pounding of her heart in her ears no matter how much she wanted to.
It felt like an eternity before she was standing in front of the cell that encased a shadowy figure in chains. The wisp was now gone, and Merida was left with questions on its motives. Despite her nervousness, Merida straightened her shoulders, showing no fear, as the helmet of the Viking looked at her through the torch light.
"Why are you here, Viking?" she spoke with authority. The Viking didn't move a muscle, but only gazed at her with its black holes. She gritted her teeth, grasping the bars. "They're going to torture you tomorrow! Save yourself and tell me everything you know!" she demanded.
Again, the Viking only stared at her. Merida had the urge to stamp her foot in frustration, but she wouldn't allow herself to show childishness in front of the enemy. She snatched the drawing from her pocket and presented it roughly.
"Don't you want to get home to this person?! What about him?!" she shouted. However, instead of the blank stare she expected, she was startled when the armored figure suddenly crept forward, and a hand reached up to remove the horned mask.
Eyes as clear as the sky stared back at her.
Merida gasped when she saw not a monster like she expected, like she was always told, but a human woman. The woman stared back at her beseechingly, and Merida had to swallow the lurch of her stomach that this Viking—this human—would be tortured tomorrow.
She was frozen in place as the woman crept closer towards the drawing. The Viking woman reached out, whispering.
"mo mhac." The woman told her. Merida let her grasp her hand through the bars, both of them holding the drawing like something precious. Merida knew those words. Elinor spoke them many times when talking about her brothers.
'My son'…
"You… can you understand me?" Merida whispered. She numbly let go of the drawing as the woman held it close. She was a mother. She had a son.
It seemed so surreal that Vikings would also have children. That they could be parents. Wasn't this woman supposed to be a deformed monster like in her stories? Did her father know this? Did her kingdom know Vikings looked like them?
"Only few. Not fluent." The woman spoke softly, and it carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Father is King." She spoke to Merida.
"I… yes… my da." Merida crept closer to the bars, wanting them to be gone so she didn't have a barrier between her and this woman. "Merida." She pointed to herself.
"Valka." The woman spoke, gesturing to herself. She pointed to the drawing. "Hiccup."
He had a name. Merida swallowed bile. Guilt seized her. Thoughts of her father or mother in this woman's place made her stomach turn. She wondered if this Hiccup knew where his mother was. Did he know she would most likely be executed after they get information from her? Vikings and Scots were enemies—always have been.
But seeing Valka, this Viking with a name and a son, with eyes as clear as the sky and a human face like her mother and father—like her—made her sick. Torturing monsters that spirited away Scotswomen and killed Scotsmen was easier than torturing someone who was like you and had their own loved ones…
If she left this woman to her fate, her son would never see her again. No matter what she did, she kept picturing her mother or father in Valka's position. When she stared into Valka's eyes, all she could see were her parents staring back at her.
She was startled from her thoughts when Valka grasped her hands through the bars. Merida didn't realize that she was shaking.
"It's all right." Valka soothed. It was like she knew what Merida was thinking. "Father is King."
Merida gripped Valka's hands tightly as her chin trembled.
"What about Hiccup?" she choked. Valka's eyes turned sad, understanding her words.
"I don't deserve my son." Valka told her, eyes filled with sorrow. "I failed him too many times. Better this way."
Merida sank to her knees, leaning against the bars, still holding Valka's hands. Is this what she would be succeeding? This woman's blood would be on her hands and on her crown. This crown will be covered in blood. It is one thing to fight opponents who were despicable and carry out evil acts, but for some reason she couldn't match that up in her head with Valka, who had a son named Hiccup.
An idea seized her, and she knew there was no going back if she carried it through. She stared into Valka's eyes, the indecision clear in Merida's eyes. Valka furrowed her brow, wondering what Merida was thinking. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't Merida hurrying to her cell door and unlocking it. Valka sat there with her mouth agape. Merida wasted no time and used her sword to cut the shackles holding Valka down.
"Let's go." Merida beckoned. Valka stood shakily, hurriedly grasping her arm.
"Treason." Valka told her. Merida knew very well it was treason, but perhaps she can convince her parents her reasoning. Perhaps she could tell them what she saw in Valka. Fear tried to hold her heart hostage, but Merida straightened her shoulders, looking determined.
She was a Scotswomen. She was honorable. She would show no fear.
"Come." Merida answered, pulling her along. They snuck through the dungeons and up the staircase, through the hallways and towards the stables. Angus neighed quietly when he caught sight of Merida and an unfamiliar woman. Merida readied Angus quickly, gesturing for Valka to take one of the horses. Valka looked unused to riding horses, but she caught on quick and they were off into the woods. Merida didn't know how long they traveled, but she knew it was long as her surroundings were less and less familiar the longer they went. Eventually, they came across a stone formation, and Merida examined it in wonder, knowing they stumbled on something sacred. Valka seemed to have sense her reverence and bowed her head in respect towards Merida's gods.
Valka unlatched something around her neck and fastened it around Merida's neck.
"You are my kin now. My Tribe will know my claim if they ever see you." Valka told her. Merida fingered the dragon pendent around her neck delicately. Merida unhooked her sword from her belt.
"You carry the sword of a Dunbroch. Hopefully this will keep you safe." Merida presented her with the blade, the very blade that her father had given her. It was precious to her, just like her bow, and she knew Valka would take good care of it. Valka held it like a precious item. She caressed Merida's face in a motherly fashion, eyes twinkling.
"Thank you, Merida." Valka spoke. Soon she was off, disappearing into the darkness, with Merida staring after her until she was gone. She examined the dragon pendant with wonder. Whoever made this was an excellent craftsman. With the knowledge that this must've been precious to Valka, Merida promised to keep it close always.
There you go! First chapter! Please let me know what you think!
Mo leannan = My Beloved
Mo mhac = my son