The air was crisp and cool, as Hiccup took flight on his reptilian companion. They where on the search to find the run away princess, he wasn't sure what he was going to do when he did find her but all he knew was to keep her safe he would have to find her first. He soared to look off of Raven's Point, "Alright bud, try and bring up that scent, he pulled out a torn cloth from a sleeve which came from Merida weeks ago.
Toothless breathed it in his eyes wide suddenly he landed, "Whoa buddy! What are you thinking?" he hopped of Toothless, allowing him to sniff around, his walk turned into a run as Hiccup also started running behind him. They reached a short tunnel that opened into a large snow covered clearing, Hiccup immediately recognized the place, it as whee he first met Toothless and helped him.
"Alright bud, let's keep an eye out.." Toothless bounded tossing up white snow sniffing across the area. A lake was near the middle of the clearing and it was nearly frozen over. Hiccup went one way as his companion went the other, looking over the snow. "Merida!?" he called. Over his shoulder he heard footsteps approaching behind him as well as a familiar voice.
"Ye not takin' me, righ'?" Merida stood behind him, snow was in her red hair which hung loosely over her shoulders her hands moved up holding her shoulders as she looked at the viking right in the eyes. With every breath you can see blow out from her mouth, her face was pale cheeks red and streaks down her cheeks from crying.
She sifted her gaze at the snow, Hiccup took a step towards her, but she stepped back, "Are ye?" she asked again, her voice hoarse she sniffled trying hard not to cry.
Hiccup sighed, he couldn't, he wouldn't! If he would take her back things would only get worse from there, he had to figure out something else. "No...No I'm not..." he answered, stepping closer to his scottish friend. This time she didn't move, only looked up at him her blue blue eyes filled with hope.
She let her arms drop by her side, her fingertips shaking slightly. Hiccup sighed and decided to do something to fill the silence, he reached out taking her hand and pulled her into a hug. Merida didn't try and push away in fact she hugged him back a tear rolling down her cheek, "..Ahm, scared Hiccup.." she mumbled to his armor.
"I know, I know..." he cooed, rubbing her back trying to comfort her. As they broke apart Merida wiped tears from her face, Toothless nuzzled his head under the princess' arm. Her attention turned towards the dragon.
It brought a smile to her face, she knelt in the snow hugging Toothless cradling his large head as it rested on her lap. Hiccup smiled but it faded quickly, what was he going to do. He can't take her back that was already out of the question, he also couldn't take her back to Dun Broch, it will take hours and the war might get worse then it came to him.
"You can stay here, hidden, just until I can try and talk my father out of this or something..." he ran his hand through his hair looking nervously at his friend.
Merida turned her attention to the viking, "Ah...you mean you'll-"
"Yes," he nodded a smile crawling across his face, "I'll cover for you.."
Merida smiled, she never thought that a viking would turn and support an enemy. She jumped up, snow tossing into the air launching herself onto him. Hiccups prosthetic leg slipped in the snow sending both of them falling into the snow, Merida on top. Her red curls covering their faces.
"Ow.." Hiccup let out, scrunching his face.
Merida just laughed before planting a kiss on his cheek, then she stepped off of him holding out a hand out to help her friend up.
Hiccup face relaxed his face grew warm and he blushed, he heard a giggle then realized Merida saw his face redden. He stood up on his own, dusting the snow from his chest. Merida smiled swing her arms as Toothless grunted at Hiccup's red face. Merida suddenly sneezed followed by a couple coughs, she shivered then turned around about to walk to the small cave.
"You alright Merida?" he asked following her.
"Ye, ye ahm fine!" she smiled, as they walked into the cave. "Ah stayed in here, last nigh't.." she explained taking a seat and leaning against the rock. "But wha' am ah going to do fer food Hic?" she said, "Ah mean it's winter an ah don't have me bow or anythin'.." she said motioning her hands in an frustrated manor.
His heart jumped, did she just call him 'Hic'? "I'll try and sneak away some supplies.." he gave a mischievous smirk. The he heard a cry of another dragon, but not just any dragon, a Deadly Nadder. "Astrid." he turned and jumped on Toothless, "I've gotta lead her away from here."
Merida stood up, running up to him, "When will ye come back?" she asked, slightly worried.
"Soon, as soon as I can." he gave her a nod, and nodded back before Toothless shot for the sky.
As soon as they were up in the clouds, he saw them "C'mon bud." they flew towards him.
"Did you find her or anything!" she asked yelling over the wind and flapping of wings.
Hiccup shook his head, "Nothing, I checked within 15 miles of here, there's nothing..." his voice slightly shook, it was hard to lie especially to Astrid.
"I guess we should head back then...I looked almost everywhere!" she turned her dragon around and started to head back.
Hiccup could only sigh of relief, she has no clue of where Merida is. Toothless and Hiccup exchanged glances before heading back to the tribe.
When the arrived back in Berk, Stoik was waiting for them "Find anything?" he asked his voice stern. The young adults only shook their head as the chief let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, off with the both of you." he rubbed his temples as the two walked away followed by their dragons.
Hiccup left immediately to his house slamming the door behind him, Toothless jumping in surprise. "I've got to bring Merida supplies now, there won't be time later...and who knows how much time she can stay in there till Astrid gets a clue." he tossed his helmet onto a table. Toothless left the room trudging upstairs, "Where do you think you're going?"
The dragon returned dragging a fur blanket to Hiccup, "Oh...thanks bud." he smiled taking the blanket from him. "Now the problem is, how we going to sneak this stuff to Merida.."
They grabbed a few fish and Hiccup clasped the fur onto the back of his armor like a cape. They walked outside and passed by Gobber, "Wha' are ye up to naow Hiccup?" he asked furrowing his eyebrows.
"I was just...Um going to...spend the rest of the day with Toothless, to just clear my mind and when we're flying it gets pretty cold up there so I figured I'd bring some warm gear." he scratched the back of his neck.
"Well alrigh' then, keep an eye out fer tha' scot if ye find her.." he hobbled away, leaving Hiccup to mount on Toothless and fly away.
Merida was asleep, leaning against a rock pulling her knees to her chest. In the cave you could see the breath when she sighed, her head perked up when she though she heard something but then closed her eyes again.
"Merida."
She opened her eyes again, she saw Hiccup stand there, he put a warm fur blanket over her, which Merida pulled closer to her and his her face in it breathing in the warm scent of Hiccup.
He chuckled and sat across from her, Toothless sat beside the scot nuzzling his head next to her then laying down. "I didn't think you'd come back so soon."she said her voice muffled from the blanket.
"I can't just leave you here with nothing." he leaned back, using his arms to keep him up.
She looked up at him, still covering her nose and mouth, "Ye smell good," she covered her face again, "an' this fur smells like yeh." For a few moments she didn't realize what she said, she was thinking it in her head and it accidentally slipped out. "Ah mean!-"
Hiccup ran his hand through his hair, "Uhm...alright.." it was awkward silence for a few moments and then a chuckle, which turned into a laugh, that turned into complete laughter.
Merida looked up, Hiccup was just laughing at her, she blushed, then thew the blanket over her face. She was so embarrassed! How could she just say that, then she picked up a pebble and stuck her arm out blindly throwing it at hiccup which did hit him.
"Hey!" he turned her attention towards the red head, which completely covered by the blanket. He smirked and with a swift movement he pulled the fur from her exposing her red face.
"Aye!" she yelled reaching for it back but failed, then leaned over "C'mon give et back!"Hiccup just laughed then grabbed on to both ends slinging it over her back and pulled her over to him, she fell, sitting between his legs, her legs over his right leg. The blanket was around her she struggled a bit, but then relaxed realizing it was cozier in his arms, as fluffy as that sounded.
Hiccup just gave a goofy grin as he felt her relax and lean against his chest, "I smell good, eh?" he teased cocking an eyebrow.
"Shut up!" she closed her eyes tightly, her red curls bounced off her shoulders. "I wish ah can just run away, jus' me and yew and Toothless...away from this war and chaos...it would be selfish ah nae, but..." she trailed off with a shrug.
Hiccup tightened his embrace as Merida shivered, "I know...I feel that way sometimes too."
Toothless spat a fire ball at the small pale of wood which which caught ablaze lighting up the cave and giving warmth to the two bodies. Merida shifted in his arms, turning her body to face him as she grabbed on to his armor. "I jus' want et to end..."she whispered.
Hiccup didn't know what to say, let alone do. He's surprised that she actually didn't mind him touching her let alone hugging back, it boosted his self confidence around her now. He reached a hand up and stroked her curly hair.
"Hiccup?" she asked turning her head and looking at the fire.
"What?" he asked turning to look down at her.
"Ah know it's weird...but.." she looked down then up avoiding his eyes asked, "Do ye like Astrid?"
Hiccup turned his head, "Wha- why would you-?"
"Et's just, Ah can tell you two have a thing-"
"Had.." he corrected. "Had a thing.."
Merida shifted her eyes down at her hands, fiddling with her fingers. "What happened?"
Hiccup shrugged, "I don't know, she's just been so...off and on lately, I don't feel the same as I did with her a long time ago, she a bit too...too headstrong, and she doesn't really understand me." he sighed. "I can't just tell her that to her face, I've moved on, and I guess being the person I am, I'm just waiting for her to move on as well."
Merida continued to fiddle with her fingers, "Ah jus' didn't want to get...in between ye two.." she blushed, was it true? It felt true, she had developed feelings for this viking and she hasn't even realized it..till tonight.
"There isn't anything to get in between, and to be honest I have more of a connection with you than I ever did with Astrid." Did he just say that? In the moment it just seemed right, but did he just say a little too much?
Merida smiled and bit her bottom lip still looking at her fingers trying not to giggle.
Hiccup blushed "I didn't mean like that- well I did but, umm, well you see I-" he was cut off suddenly as Merida's lips met his. For a moment Hiccup's green eyes widened and his blush deepened, but then he kissed her back. It was amazing, electricity flowed through their veins as their lips moved together, the kiss seemed to just express all their feelings about each other than words could ever do. And in that moment it was just them, there was no war no death just them. The fur blanket slid down, falling off Merida's shoulders as her hands moved up, cupping his cheek as Hiccup's arms wrapped around her back.
They pulled away breathless, Merida just smirked as a blush crossed her face looking into his eyes for a sign of approval. Hiccup just gave his signature smile, making her giggle as she wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him tightly, never wanting to let go.
Note: Fluff fluff everywhere c: Soo, the scot and the viking confess their love for each other...now what's going to happen from here? and what are Astrid's intentions? How long is Merida safe in that cove? And when am I going to mention the other Hairy Hooligans!? Stay tuned~ XD