"Hiccup, ye know me mum would never let us." Merida sighed, putting on the best stone mask she could.
"But, Mer, there has to be a way!"
"There's no way that a Highlander and a Viking can have a union. It's unheard of, and as future queen A have ta think about how the lord's will react as well as the people."
"The lord's love me, I've done more than enough for them to approve the betrothal." Hiccup gripped Merida's hands in his and pulled them to his face. "And besides, Mackintosh and Dingwall are already betrothed so they really should have no problem. And if it's just McGuffin I know I'll have no problem earning his blessing. Or the people's favor either." He placed butterfly kisses to her knuckles between his words and Merida's face split into a small smile.
"How can we get me mum ta agree? Me da will be okay with it, knowin' A married for love would seal the deal fer him, but mum…" They were both quite for a while, holding each other as they racked their brains for any way to convince Elinor that they should be wed. Hiccup perked up, his eyes bright with hope.
"What if we pose an alliance to your mother?" Merida blinked at him in surprise as the wheels started to turn in her head. "Listen, things along the trade routes have been hell, no one can seem to come to an understanding or any compromise that doesn't step on any toes. I've heard your mother talk after long meetings, and it's hard to come to any agreements when there are two different cultures trying to fight what they believe in. Having a person from both sides that understand will help any future agreements to be that much stronger and fair. All the alliances between the Vikings and Highlands are on shaky ground, bringing in a Viking will help to make the other Tribes trust you more, and in the case of attack, Berk as an army of dragons to help deter anyone from coming this way. If you proposed this to your mother how happy is she going to be?"
"But what of Berk? A'm next in line fer the throne here, and yer already Cheif. What would they do?"
"They've got Astrid. It's not like she's not already pretty much running everything with me traveling here so much." Merida laughed.
"Ye always think of everythin', don't yah?" Hiccup shrugged.
"I dabble." Merida sighed as she placed her hands on his chest. He wrapped his arms tight around her waist, burying his face into her hair. They melted together for a few minutes, just enjoying the feel of having each other close.
"I hope, fer both our sakes, this works." Merida muttered against his chest.
"I know it will Mer." He kissed her forehead again, right under the golden band around her head. Merida kissed his cheek before composing herself to confront her mother. She gave Hiccup one last, longing, look before he mounted Toothless. She waved goodbye as they disappeared into the clouds and, when he was nothing but a speck, she made her way to her mother's chambers.
Merida tapped a few knuckles against her mother's open sitting room door. The Queen was sitting in her favorite chair, a rocker that Hiccup had made her years ago, where she was mending a tapestry the boys had ripped a few days prior.
"Come in." Elinor didn't look up, and Merida took this time to really study her mother. The one grey streak had turned to three, and her normally braided hair cascaded down her shoulders.
"Uhm… mum?" Merida sat down on the ottoman in front of Elinor, who looked up at her daughter with interest.
"What is it dear?" Merida could see the deep creases around her eyes and mouth, some more were beginning to form and she suddenly looked much older than she was. Images of the witch briefly passed through her mind.
"Merida?" Elinor broke her from her thoughts and Merida placed her hands over her mother's, which raised some suspicion in the queen, Merida never commanded her attention like this unless it was important. The princess chewed her cheeks as she tried to bring back the courage she had before Hiccup left.
"What's going on sweetea?" Merida gulped and took a shaky breath.
"A need ta talk ta yah about an alliance."
"What kind of alliance?"
"A marriage."
"Between who my dear?"
"Us and the Vikings. A know ya and da have been deliberatin' about it, but A have an idea." Elinor nodded with pursed lips.
"Continue."
"Well, things between us and the Vikings are still very rough, and A know yew still have a hard time getting everyone to agree to trade routes and treaties, so A was thinkin' that if I married a Viking that it would bring us some unbiased insight from both sides. It would be easier to integrate cultures, and, and-"
"Merida." Elinor interjected.
"Just hear me out! This could help-"
"Is this about you and Hiccup wanting to marry?" Elinor asked, straight to the point as always.
"W-what? N-no. This is me tryin' ta be a good Queen. It doesn't hurt that the Hairy Hooligan tribe is the most peaceful…"
"He's Chief, Merida."
"He's got Astrid to take over!" Elinor looked at her daughter, and Merida straightened up and jutted her chin out in defiance. Elinor shook her head and continued to mend the tapestry in her lap. She looked up at her daughter from under her lashes with a smirk that rivaled the boys'.
"All ye had ta do was ask, my lamb. It's not like the two of you were any good at hidin' it." Merida sat there with her mouth open like a fish out of water. "Why do yah think Young Mackintosh gave up?"
A/N
This is my first fic in a while now, and I'm still getting back into the swing of things. I'm going to try my best to get every prompt for Merricup month!