Chapter 7

Merida sat by her family as Maudie and other servants bustled around the room. They had arrived shortly before daybreak earlier that day, and the Viking teens had been fed and put to bed, their dragons placed in the courtyard and fed cows and sheep. Merida had placed guards around their rooms and around the dragons, and she sat at the foot of her father's giant bed.

Fergus was in his own bed, but Elinor and the boys were in makeshift cots scattered around the room. Maudie had said it would be easier to care for them all if they were all centered in one room. Merida had nodded, not trusting her voice.

All she wanted to do was cry. In the few hours they had been flying back to castle DunBroch, no one in her family had stirred. No flutter of eyelids, no change in their breathing-which was barely there anyway. They were dead weight as they were dragged off the dragons and up the stone steps to the bedroom.

Merida sighed.

"You okay?"

Merida jumped at the small whisper that came from beside her. She turned her blue eyes to the owner of the voice and smiled tightly.

"I'm right as rain."

"Princess…"

"Merida."

Hiccup sighed and shook his head.

"Merida, if you need to talk-"

"Och, Hiccup I'll be fine. At least they aren't bears."

Hiccup raised an eyebrow in confusion, but remained silent. He stood by her side, waiting for Merida to speak. After she was silent for a while, Hiccup sighed and bent down to tinker with his prosthetic leg. Merida watched him from the corner of her eye with mild interest.

"What happened there? Did that Dagur guy do this to you?"

Hiccup smiled briefly and raised his head to meet her gaze.

"No. Dagur didn't do this to me. The Red Death did."

"Red Death?"

Hiccup nodded. "She's the queen of the nest. It's easier to think of dragons like a hive. The Red Death is the leader of the hive, and they are really dangerous."

"Oh…"

It was silent again for a while. Merida, after asking her question, began to whittle another image into her bow. Now it was Hiccup's turn to watch Merida with interest.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm carving."

"I can see that… I meant, what are you carving?"

"Oh… a bear."

Hiccup snickered.

"What's so funny?"

Hiccup straightened up and averted his bright green eyes from Merida's face.

"You seem to be pretty obsessed with bears. Why?"

"It's a family thing."

"I think we have time for a story."

Merida grimaced and looked out the narrow windows on the farthest wall. Hiccup could tell she was remembering something not so pleasant. Respectfully, he remained silent and waited for her to say what was on her mind.

"Almost two years ago, my mother was trying to arrange for me to marry. I wanted to change my fate, and ended up turning the queen and my brothers into bears. It was almost permanent."

"Ah."

More silence. This was the most awkward silence the two had ever experienced. The tension was high but not uncomfortable.

"So how do you like the room? I made sure the dragons were well fed and taken care of. You are guests here until everything can be figured through."

"Oh I like it. It's spacious, I'm not used to having the room, even if I'm sharing space with the other boys."

Merida giggled quietly and stood up, wrapping her arm around Hiccup's twig-like one.

"Wha-what are you doing?" Hiccup stuttered as Merida dragged the boy out the door and down the hall.

"You need your sleep Hiccup. And I need to watch over my family. So I'm taking you back to your room."

"But-"

Merida pushed open a solid oak door and wheeled Hiccup inside, the young boy hopping across the floor to retain his balance. Tuffnut was hanging upside down from the bed, Fishlegs was inspecting the walls and Snotlout was tapping the windows in complete boredom.

"Now you boys need to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

Merida turned away and began to walk back down the hall, her cheeks flushing a light pink. As she was about to open the door to the king's room, she heard a door close from down the hall.

"Merida wait, please."

Merida turned her head, her fiery red curls sweeping about her head. She said nothing, but could feel her heart beat just the tiniest bit faster as her eyes met with Hiccup's.

"What is it?"

"I want to thank you. For understanding and for helping the best you can. I know you want me to sleep but I can't do it without telling you how much I appreciate-"

Merida put her hand to Hiccup's lips to silence him.

"There's no need to have these words here Hiccup. You are doing more for me than I could do for you." Merida lowered her hand back to her side and began to turn back to the door.

Hiccup smiled.

"Can I do something before I go to bed?"

"What?"

Hiccup reached out and grasped Merida's elbow. She turned and looked at the hand on her arm, her eyes widening in confusion. Hiccup turned her body so they faced each other. Merida's lips parted slightly as she looked into Hiccup's commanding green eyes. They were completely mesmerizing in the light of the torches that lined the hall.

Hiccup stepped closer, closing the space between them.

He wrapped his arms around her waist in a tight embrace, his chin coming just to her collarbone. He took a deep breath as he felt her cautiously wrap her arms across his back. He pulled back slightly and looked in Merida's eyes.

"What is it now Hiccup?"

Hiccup shook his head. He stood on his toes and pressed his lips to hers lightly.

Merida's eyes widened slightly as he pulled away. He smiled.

"Goodnight Merida."

Hiccup left Merida standing in the hall, her fingers lightly touching her lips, where she could still feel the soft touch of his lips on hers.