Merida raced along on Angus, with the wind whistling around her. Jack was flying next to her, bringing with him a rush of snowflakes. She turned her head to look at him. He had a sly grin on his face. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"What?" she asked. Jack grinned even more.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it Princess." he said laughingly, which only cause Merida to be more suspicious.

"You're up to something Jack." she told him matter-of-factly. Jack made an offended noise.

"What? Why would you think that of me?" he said in mock horror. Merida glared at him, which Jack replied to by grinning flippantly. Beside her, she heard the echo of another horse's hooves.

"Hey Jack! Hey Merida!" Rapunzel's bright voice came to them from behind. She was riding on Maximus, her golden plait flying behind her. Merida waved at her in reply.

"Hello Punz!" she called. Rapunzel smiled at her, her green eyes sparkling. Merida had the feeling she was missing something. She sighed lightly. She was always the third wheel when it came to these two. They weren't dating, but she sensed it would soon be time enough. As they rode along, with Merida in the middle of the two, she found herself wishing for Hiccup. Guilt welled up inside of her. She hadn't talked to him since the day of the incident, despite his many attempts at reconciliation. She felt bad for avoiding him, but she wanted to forget that day ever happened, and seeing his face didn't help.

"Merida, where are you going?" Jack's voice rang out from behind her. Lost in her thoughts, she had ridden right past the spot where they were stopping.

"Oops." she said sheepishly. Jack laughed at her.

"Only you Merida, only you." he said in fake disappointment. Merida glared at him.

"Shut up." she said irritably. Jack leaned on his staff and smirked at her. She slipped off Angus and looked around. They were standing in a large clearing, with a patch of flattened grass at one end. Merida frowned. This place was familiar. A shadow passed over them, and then it hit Merida. She promptly turned away from the clearing, swinging up on Angus.

"Of all the low, shady things to do-" she started. Jack appeared in front of Angus, blocking her way.

"And where do you think you are going." he asked her. She glared at him.

"Out of my way Jack." she snapped. Jack folded his arms.

"No." They glared at each other silently, with Jack coming off on top. Merida glared at him, then sighed. Arguing with Jack and winning was a privilege reserved only for Rapunzel. Slowly, she turned Angus around and reluctantly faced the dragon crouched in the clearing. Rapunzel was looking between them with a knowing smile, while Jack was messing around with some butterflies. Merida stared at the sky, not meeting Hiccup's gaze. A sudden gasp beside her made her jump. She whirled around to see Jack with his mouth open in horror.

"Oh no!" he said dramatically. "I forgot, I have some towns to snow in! I need to go!" He looked at them with an extravagant expression of disappointment and said "Sorry guys," with an exaggerated sigh, "I have to go." And with that, he left in a blast of snowflakes. Merida stared after him in surprise. Rapunzel cleared her throat.

"Um..." she started with a guilty expression. "I just realized I need to go collect some hazelnuts for the soup tonight. I got to go." Merida realized what was happening just as she left. She lunged for Rapunzel's wrist, but she already disappeared into the forest.

"Rapunzel!" she called, but there was nothing but the rustle of the branches. She heard footsteps behind her. Steeling herself, she hesitantly turned around to face Hiccup. He was standing by Toothless, staring at the ground. Merida could only stare at him in surprise. He shuffled towards her awkwardly.

Oh no.

Soon enough, he was directly in front of her.

What is he going to say?

He was staring at the ground, his face red.

Oh gods, I can't do this.

"I heard it was your birthday soon, so, uh, here." He thrust a parcel towards her, then quickly turned and ran back to Toothless. She stared down at the parcel in her hand. SA blast of wind in her face told her Hiccup was already on his way. She tugged gently at the string tied around the parcel. Two carefully folded pieces of paper fell out into her hand. She unfolded one of them. It was a charcoal sketch of the four of them. It was a memory she remembered fondly.

Laughing in the sunshine.

It was from the time Hiccup had first succeeded at archery.

Walking back along the river.

She smiled lightly, then traced the lines on the paper.

Falling into the river.

"He really is a good artist." she murmured. As she was examining the drawing, something slid out of the bag.

A single block of chocolate.

Merida could feel all the blood rushing to her face.

Oh gods, he KNOWS?

With trembling fingers, she picked up the block.

It really was chocolate.

He does know!

She stuffed the chocolate back into the bag and hastily opened the other piece of paper. It was a letter. Hiccup's elegant writing scrawled across the page.

Hello Mer, it read, Jack told me that it was your birthday in three day's time. Unfortunately, I am leaving this afternoon for a Viking meeting, and therefore won't be here for it. I hope that this makes up for it and that you have a great day. I was in the old witch's store getting some more parts when she suggested that I buy this chocolate thing for you, so I hope you like it.

Then there was a furiously crossed out letter, which looked something like L, and underneath that,

Your friend, Hiccup.

Merida sighed lightly and took out the chocolate. She examined it, then stowed it away for later, a warm feeling growing in her chest. Mounting Angus effortlessly, she urged him on, faster and faster with the wind racing beside her and Hiccup's words flowing through her mind.

As she was mentally re-reading the letter, something occurred to her.

My birthday is in a week.

She stopped Angus suddenly, breathing hard.

High above her, Jack and Rapunzel hovered in the sky, watching her progress along. Jack grinned at Rapunzel, who smiled knowingly back.

"I would say it's a success." she remarked. Jack nodded.

"Merida and Hiccup; 0, Jack and Punz; 1. Definite success, I think." he replied. They grinned at each other and returned to watching their two best friends go their own ways, each thinking of the same thing.