It seemed to take forever to Merida, but finally they caught up with Hiccup, reaching him about halfway between their starting points. Hiccup, seeing the determined look on Merida's face knew he wasn't going to like what was coming, but still smiled and said "What, you guys missed me already?" Merida took a deep breath and said "Hiccup we need to talk." "Hiccup sighed and said, "I had a feeling that this was coming, let me guess you think its best that I leave before Dagur sees me."

The others nodded, not really surprised that Hiccup had also arrived at this conclusion. "I wish I could guys, but I have been giving it a lot of thought and there is no way I can leave now. Even if I was to leave and go home either you would have to announce it, or someone would ask and Dagur would hear my name. Then he would make up some story about how I was going to get my dragons to attack the meeting or something like that and an all-out war would start. If I stay I may be able to change a few of their minds, maybe even all of them. Who knows none of them might believe me, but at least I will have tried to help the dragons and at least they can also see I wasn't trying to attack them. My boat is ready to sail at a moment's notice, so if it comes to that I can flee, but I really hope I won't have to."

Merida sighed, Hiccup was right. There would be no easy way out of this, no way of keeping it from blowing up in their faces. Heather was the first of the three to speak. "Hiccup is right, I have a feeling you two also agree. The question is now is how to make the best of a bad situation?" "I think we should continue the plan of getting Toothless to the stables, maybe even put him in the boat. I know he hates being confined, but it might be the safest thing possible." "No we should stick to the plan of getting him to the stables, then Hiccup you can tell your men to act like they are fishing, so they will be out on the water and ahead of anyone chasing them." Merida said.

She continued "If you are captured, Berk will still know what has happened to you and send help. If you aren't, you can fly Toothless out to join them." Hiccup nodded, Merida had a sound plan, probably the best plan they would get out of this mess. "Why did Dagur have to show up for this meeting? My dad said he never did for any of the others and there was always talk of dragons attacking some village or another."

The others didn't answer, knowing that it wasn't really a question. "I will ride ahead to be your lookout Hiccup." Merida said "Heather when you get close to the village ride to the village so I can send a message back to Hiccup through you about if the coast is clear or not. Eret go to Hiccup's boat and tell his men the fishing idea, they know you enough to trust you. You can ride with me to the village."

The group split up to do Merida's plan, her and Eret riding swiftly, though not fast enough to cause an alarm, towards town and Hiccup and Heather riding slowly there. Once they arrived at the gate, Eret turned to Merida and said "What do you want me to do after I leave there Merida?" "Head back into the hall and keep an eye on Dagur, if he comes outside meet me here to let me know, do the same if you can't find him." Eret nodded before heading off to do her bidding.

It seemed to take forever for Heather to show come, but finally she did letting Merida know that Hiccup was just over the next hill waiting for the all clear. Merida took a good look around the yard. Eret hadn't come back to let her know that Dagur was out and about or that he couldn't find him so it must be clear on that end. "Go tell Hiccup it's safe to come. I will ride towards you if I see any signs of trouble."

Heather went back towards Hiccup and soon returned riding beside him. When they got to the gate Merida told Heather to ride in first and drop of her horse at the stable. "Once you do that go and head inside. I will ride in next and wait for you, Hiccup, at the stables." The other two nodded at her whispered words, and Heather went off to follow them. Merida kept her eyes on Heather until she was safely back inside.

Turning to Hiccup she said "I will motion you once I make sure the night watch isn't looking. Come as quickly and quietly as you can then." Without waiting for a reply, Merida rode Angus through the gates. She swiftly made her way to the stable and took the tack of Eret and Heather's horses as well as Angus's before going to look at the night watchmen. Just as she had hoped, taking the time to take off the tack had made it so that the night watchmen were working their way in the opposite direction of the gate.

She motioned for Hiccup to join her, hoping against hope that he saw her doing so. Just when she wasn't sure if he had, she saw him and Toothless quickly but cautiously making their way to the stables. Toothless's tail knocked over a barrel of apples and both guards turned to see what had made the noise. Thankfully just then Merida's little brothers scampered across the open space and both guards chuckled before turning back to their duties.

Merida made a mental note to give her brothers an extra big hug that night. Hiccup and Toothless made it the rest of the way to the stables in silence. Hiccup let out a sigh and said "That was too close." "Tell me about it." said Merida, "Come this way, I will show you are largest stall."

Toothless settled down in the hay, though Hiccup did have to make sure he didn't breathe his fire on it like he did on his bead back home. That would be disaster in the stables for sure. After he was sure that Toothless was settled for the night, Hiccup and Merida left the stables. "Thank you Merida." he said. As she was about to reply a voice said "Well, well, well, what do we have here?"