Let's All Keep Calm
"I am Merida of the Clan DunBroch, Princess of the Highlands!" She yelled towards the crowd, who were shocked into silence. "I think I shall be shooting for my own hand!"
Merida looked down on Hiccup from the arena stand, judging him like the gods themselves. Her eyes were furious, and indignation burned bright in them as she looked down at the targets and their marks. As for the royal family, Elinor could only gasp at this blatant disrespect for the Highlander tradition. She knew Merida was buckling against the whole idea but this was something she did not expect; a blatant defiance of both her mother and her people.
"Merida!" Elinor's voice was of a terse, controlled fury, one that Fergus could only cringed at. "You stop this foolishness and come down here now!"
She didn't.
Instead from where she stood she notched an arrow and released it at the target of Alastair, hitting dead center of the target. Much to poor Alastair's further embarrassment. This cause a tension to rise in the air as Viking and Highlander looked about one and another, and as Merida began to pace around the wall to fire another arrow upon Craig's target, Spitelout angrily turned on Fergus and the lords.
"What is this nonsense?" He bellowed his voice both angry and confused at the equally confused King and lords. "We keeping to your traditions! And yet your girl goes ahead and ignores all of this!"
Macintosh, ever looking for a fight, raised a hand at the two other lords silencing them as he seemed intent on dealing with this himself, "what are you implying, hmm?"
Spitelout, not one to back down in the face of challenge, fronted on the smaller Highland. "You know what I mean you dirty, little troll!"
Before Stoick could interject at his brother's overreaction Macintosh threw an angry punch at the Vikings head. Despite being scrawnier then his opponent, he still managed to topple Spitelout, knocking his helm from his head. This is where Macintosh had made a mistake, as he wounded Spitelout's pride. Spitelout rose angrily, and returned the blow in kind. And now all heads turned away from the rebellious Princess, and to the viewing platform. Where the chief's brother and one of the lords had now began to brawl. Highlander and Viking stared at one and other, eyes narrowing in silence.
Then the violence broke out.
"This is crazy," Ethan said in sheer disbelief.
"This is politics," Hiccup could only say in reply, not at all surprise by this violence.
Not even the bellows of Stoick and Fergus could stop the ensuring brawls, as Viking and Highlander alike wrestled around the arena. This went unnoticed by Merida, who was more focused on her goal of upstaging Hiccup and the Lords' sons. She let another arrow fly, gaining a bulls-eye on Craig's target.
"That was a grand shot, that." Craig said, nodding as Ethan and Alastair could merely trade looks.
Elinor looked about the brawling in sheer anger, to see all that she had been working for upstage by her daughter. With that she marched off; intent to put an end to this madness. Merida first then she'd deal with the lords and the Vikings. Merida, noticing an approaching Highlander attempting to grab her, leap down into the arena swiftly recovering with a simple roll.
Hiccup could only watch on mouth agape as she paid him now mind at all. She let another arrow fly and it hit its mark true, another dead center shot. Ethan, aware of how badly this could end, began to approach Merida. He hoped that, maybe, that he could talk her down before this escalated beyond control.
"Mer lass," he said calmly, as him, Craig and Alastair approached Merida. "Think about what you're doing Mer. This can only end badly, y'know."
Merida turned her last arrow on her friends, panic was clear in her eye. "Back off!"
The lords sons raised their hands placating, slowly backing off while Hiccup could only watch on. Helpless to do anything.
Meanwhile, back in the stand Stoick had placed himself between Lord MacGuffin and Dingwall whille Fergus tried his best in stopping those brawling around. This, of course, meant him knocking them out first before they did something they regret. Fergus blocked a swing from Spitelout before headbutting the man into unconsciousness. Unfortunately this sound strategy could not end the overall brawling that had taken control of the arena, it seemed any Highlanders and Vikings that attempted to stop the brawling were only drag into it.
MacGuffin gave Stoick a hard shove, "move you barbaric fiend, let me defend my King as my duty demands!"
"You don't want to start this fight," Stoick growled down at the lord. "So let's not start anything, okay."
"Okay," MacGuffin lied, before throwing a punch at Stoick.
Not the best course of action.
Stoick returned the blow twice as hard; a lifetime of fighting dragons giving the chief monstrous strength, with that blow he sent MacGuffin flying. Dingwall let out a banshee wail and charged at the chief, an errant kick sent him scrambling across the floor. Stoick then grabbed a Highlander and Viking by the scruff before smacking their heads together. Both let out a sigh and crumpled unconscious to the floor. He looked down at the arena to see his son staring gormless at the Princess.
"Hiccup!" He yelled down at his son, catching his attention. "Deal with her!"
Before Stoick could expand further, both MacGuffin and Dingwall jumped onto Stoick hoping their weight would pin the Viking down. It was a somewhat sound strategy but ultimately futile against the likes of Stoick and his strength.
Meanwhile, back in the arena Hiccup snapped at attention at his father's bellow and turned to an angry Merida, who was readying to fire another arrow at the final target. That would be Hiccup's bull-eye, as so Hiccup place a tentative step towards the fuming Princess, hoping to calm her down somewhat. Though judging by the look on her face she appeared to be decided whether to shoot Hiccup or the target.
"Hey," he said, very much unaware of how to deal with this entire situation. "How about we talk about this?"
Merida only spared him a glance, "there's nothing to talk about. You wouldn't understand anything that I'm going through."
"I mean," Hiccup gulped down a breath. "I kinda do, so why don't we talk. Wouldn't that be easier then all of this."
Merida didn't pay Hiccup any mind as she took a cool, calm breath. She focused on Hiccup's arrow and only that, all the world around her seemed to dim and calm. All that mattered was the arrow, and the target. Once she was fully aware and prepared she let the arrow fly, uncaring of the small nick it gave her on her cheek. With that the arrow flew straight and true, and with enough force that it went through the target.
And split Hiccup's own one in two.
"Wow," Hiccup could only mutter dumbly, while Merida look at him in anger. "So now what?"
"What?" Merida asked, cocking her head at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well I mean it was an amazing shot - all of them were," Hiccup mumbled quickly, unsure what to say in the wake of Merida's glare. "But I don't get how this would make you free of your marriage."
Merida could only sneer at that but could not come up with any form of resistance. This was all a spur in the moment act, an attempt to finally make her mother see how much she did not want this. But as she looked around the arena she could finally see what this had cost her, and saw the tide of violence that had washed over the arena. She could only freeze as she watched her mother storm towards, entering the arena with wrath-filled eyes.
The lords sons could only part away, heads bowed in fear.
"Look what you and your bow has done!" She roared in anger, one that made even some of the Vikings and Highlanders stop their brawling, though Merida would not cow and met her gaze with one of her own steely glares. "Is this what you want? To start a new war because you're too stubborn!?"
She didn't give Merida a chance to answer, instead she simply turned to the brawling crowds. "That is enough!"
Her voice rang of the walls of the arena, catching the attention of all those brawling. The entire crowd of Highlanders and Vikings stopped their brawling. Fergus, who currently was grappling with an enraged and recovered Spitelout, and Stoick, who had Dingwall clutching his leg and MacGuffin attempting to tackle, merely paused and looked down on the arena.
"That is enough fighting, thank you very much," declared Elinor, and suddenly the brawl broke apart with many of the combatants looking away as if shamed by their own mother. "Now Stoick, is there somewhere we can discuss all these changes in private, out of listening ears?"
Stoick shook the two smaller lords of him causing them to fall on their behinds, "the Great Hall I suppose. It'll serve if you want to discuss these... changes as you put them."
"Grand," said Elinor simply, she gestured to Merida, Hiccup and the lords sons. "You all shall attend," she then pointed as Stoick, the lords and Fergus. "As will you five as well."
There was no argument made and with that the Highlanders and Vikings broke apart, and went on their own business all of them embarrassed with the outburst of violence, while the group of leaders made their way to the Great Hall of Berk. Hoping to repair the changes that had been forced upon them.
And as they marched to the Great Hall, the lords, Stoick and Fergus meekly attempted to pretend that the bruises didn't hurt as much as they did.
The Great Hall could be found in the center of Berk, further inland then the craggy arena, the hall lived up to it's title. And it sat on the top of a rocky outcropping allowing a view of the village and beyond that, the Sea. It was a lengthy thing, longer then it was tall which gave a squat look about it, it's roof was curved though the base of it was square. It was made from a great dark wood, and the foundation was made from craggy rocks which were in abundance on Berk.
Stoick led the way to the Great Hall, with Spitelout and Gobber in tow, and he approached the Great Hall's giant wooden doors. Upon the surface of the doors were carved the typical Vikings heroes and warriors dueling against demonic dragons. Stoick shoved the great doors open like they were nothing to him, and the party of Vikings and Highlanders entered the Great Hall.
Inside, many tables could be seen about the Hall, clearly it was used on a regularly basis by the Vikings, and the entire thing was supported by the many columns that were seen about the Hall, as the far side Merida could make out a great fireplace where a flame burned. Merida looked about it in a reserved wonder, while it was not as grandiose as Castle DunBroch, it was impressive none the less - especially given the dragons attacks that frequented Berk had not laid this hall low.
Stoick angrily gestured to a nearby table, and it was clear that the chief was about as angry as her mother, "so then what was all that?"
His voice was tense and calm, but there was an undercurrent of anger, one befitting a Viking chief.
"Calm down, Stoick," Fergus said, waving a great arm at the Viking. "Merida no doubt has an explanation."
"I -" Merida began.
"Merida has a fondness for archery, as you can tell," Elinor explained, glancing at Merida in challenge. "No doubt all the excitement got to her. Like it did the rest of us."
She gave the assembled group of Vikings and Highlanders a pointed glare, and some wilted under her gaze. Not Stoick though, who merely returned the gaze with a frosty glare of his own.
"That's all well and good but I find myself if this was all worth the trouble," Stoick said, he sent a glare at Merida. "Especially given this little outburst has showed how strained our relationship really is."
"Then we'll have to improve it then won't we," Elinor said coolly, not at all put off by the chief's creased look. "Besides I think it's worth mentioning that you extended your arm out to us. I don't think we'd suffer much if we up and leaved, don't you?"
Hiccup could only watch the back and forth with awe, he'd never seen anyone get away with talking to his dad like that. Hiccup and Gobber could only just manage to get away with the little quip here and there. To watch someone half Stoick's size match wits with him could only shock Hiccup. Stoick could merely grunt and look away in annoyance, looking into to the nearby fire as if looking for answers.
"Fine," he conceded. "What now?"
Elinor straighten her dress, "we continue with the treaty."
"No," Merida said, ignoring Ethan's attempt to calm her. "I won't go through with this. You can't make me!"
"Merida," Elinor said, rolling her eyes at her daughter. "You can't stop this, and I've has enough of this petulant attitude of yours!"
"Good because I've almost had enough of yours too!" Merida retorted glaring up at her mother, as if everyone else in the Great Hall simply weren't there. "You're making marry somebody I don't even know! Worse is the fact his people would have gladly murdered ours back when I was a girl, and while what I did was in the moment and for that I apologize for what I caused, I'll be honest I don't want anything to do with any of you!"
Her and Hiccup's gaze met and Hiccup finally got a decent look at her face and hair. It seemed like it was on fire, and Hiccup absently wondered how it all of it fitted under that wimple. It fitted her so well, and Hiccup could only give her a slight smile in the hopes that would endear him to her. A look of contempt came about her features.
"I don't want anything to do with you." She coldly stated, and Hiccup's features fell which went on unnoticed by all present - except for a curious Ethan.
"I don't care about what you want Merida!" Elinor roared, an anger that made all flinch - even Merida look shocked by the sheer volume. "You don't seem to understand how much weighs upon this. You have responsibilities, and people that are relying on you. Would you throw that all away because you're too stubborn!? It cannot be about you all the time!"
"I don't want any of this," Merida roared back, throwing her arms up in the air. "I just want to be able to have a choice in my own life. Is that so much to ask for?"
"Enough." Elinor ordered.
"But I - "
"Enough!"
With a frustrated scream, Merida stormed out of the Hall. Angrily pushing over what she could, Ethan made to follow but his father took his arm and gave a single shake of the head. The group looked across one and other, as Elinor simply sighed and sat less then gracefully on a nearby chair.
"Should someone go after her?" Ethan asked, pointing at the empty doorway.
"She can't get anywhere this is a small island," responded Fergus, as Stoick nodded at his statement. "Best to leave her be. She'll cool down in time."
Though given the lack of conviction in Fergus' voice, this was debatable.
"Well then," Stoick said, clapping his hands getting everyone's attention. "What follows next with your traditions, hmm?"
Elinor looked as if she wanted to strangle Stoick, so Fergus spoke up. "Well now we move onto the courting period of a sorts, basically they just have to get used to each others company. I reckon we should stick around too just to keep everything calm."
Hiccup could only sigh at the sound of that, as it was very clear that Merida would not want to get used to him in the slightest. This again went unnoticed by all present.
"But sire," Dingwall said speaking up. "This winter's been one of the harshest in years, hell we almost crashed into a glacier five different times."
"And the cold always brings... them" Macintosh stated awkwardly, as the 'them' he referred to was clearly the Vikings. "I can't leave my land undefended and my people unprotected."
Fergus sucked in a breath as he weighed up his options, the whole entire proposal was to stop the Vikings raids but given how they had little time to make the marriage formal this meant that such a treaty would be left unfinished for now. And given what his lords had said was correct, Vikings would no doubt come. He cast a nervous look towards Stoick who shook his head.
"We have a deal Highlander and I'm not one for breaking oaths," said Stoick, somewhat offended by the accusation. "I can't speak for the other tribes however, Mogadon might be up for raiding. And I've heard hearsay that the Baerguts are leaving Black Crag in preparation for something."
The Highlanders sucked in a breath at that, as did Hiccup. The Baerguts even had a foul reputation among the Viking tribes, and the war merely solidified that opinion. And if the sons of Mor'du wanted revenge then what better time in winter, and imagine how much easier it would be with the skeleton crew that Fergus and the lords left behind. Fergus gritted his teeth in frustration, he was stuck between the hammer and the anvil, he couldn't leave Merida here by herself but he needed his men.
"Your Highness," the young voice of Ethan spoke up. "It's clear that you need every man in case of raids but also need someone to stay and protect Merida."
He gestured to Craig and Alastair, "why not one of us? We are to be Merida's future vassals as our fathers are, we can keep her safe until warmer weather and this marriage can be sorted out fully."
Fergus and Elinor traded looks, they liked the sound of that, the lords sons and Merida have been close friends for years. Some Highlander company in these troubling times might help her calm down. They looked at Stoick for permission for the sons to stay, who nodded back in turn.
"Hey now!" Spoke up Lord MacGuffin. "How do we decided who stays as the bodyguard, for lack of a better word, and who goes back to the Highlands?"
"Toss a coin?" Said Dingwall.
The lords began to shout and yell at each other over who should get the honor of protecting the princess, and who go home and fight for their lands. Soon it looked as if another fight was about to break out. Elinor could only sigh at all this bickering, she's had quite enough of fighting today and so she marched regally towards the lords before grabbing the three by the ears.
All present winced at that.
"I've had enough of brawling today thank you very much," she said to the lords, her voice calm and controlled. "Young Ethan forwarded the idea so it seems far that it should be him."
Ethan merely nodded as Elinor let the lords go, who all walked away meekly in embarrassment. Though Macintosh could only laugh under his breath at the others lords as it was his son picked to stay.
"I can provide some shelter, some houses have recently lost tenants due to dragons," Stoick added, his face scrunched in anger with the lives lost. "You can have that. But I want no trouble from you and you'll have to pull your weight about the village. None of the luxuries of the Highlands to be found here I'm afraid."
"Good enough for me," Ethan shrugged, before looking at Hiccup with curiosity.
"Well then it's settled Bear King," said Stoick. "You go home for the winter, the lass and the lad stay, you come back in the spring and we can hopefully put this all to rest then. That sound like a plan?"
"Aye that'll do me fine," Fergus said before looking at Elinor who merely nodded in turn.
With that the pact was struck, the Highlanders would return though Ethan and Merida would stay. The courting period would happen in the Winter then when Spring came and the safety of the Highlands was assured they'd return and the marriage and the treaty can become official.
"Right," said Ethan clapping his hands, "who wants to tell Merida?"
A/N: There we go the arrangement made and we'll soon stray away from all this politics stuff.
Did intend to have all the sons stay but thought that'd be to many characters to juggle, especially given the Viking cast. So anyhow I hope you all enjoyed, don't forget to review and have a good day!
