Becoming A Valkyrie

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Merida had now spent two weeks on Berk and she been truly accepted as one of their own. Hiccup was right, life here is amazing, she thought to herself as she lay against a rock in a new hiding spot, away from Snotlout's harassments. It had been a piece of advice that Ruffnut had given her before herself, Hiccup and Tuffnut had departed Berk to fulfil their duties on Outcast Island. They would be back in a weeks time for a few days off. Until then Merida would have to be content with the company of Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout and their Dragons, not that she had any problems with any of them on the exception of the Jorgenson every now and then.

The Highlander had sent a message to her parents via Terrible Terror Mail, stating she was going to be spending a few months on Berk. After arguments through several exchangements of letters, Merida had won the written debate, stating that it would help improve her experience in diplomacy and foreign policy. The Queen had been unable to make any argument against this point and had conceded the argument to her daughter. Merida grinned to herself. The small victories are still victories she had thought to herself, as she dug into a medium to well yak steak cooked and prepared by Bucket. Ah, freedom, I love it.

Since her arrival on Berk, Merida had kept hearing the word 'valkyrie' being mentioned everywhere she went. Curious of this new word, the Princess had decided to ask her new girlfriends about it.

'A Valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live', Ruffnut had said when asked. 'Selecting among those who die in battle, the Valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin'.

The Highlander and her five other Viking friends had sat there in stunned shock at Ruffnut's intelligence, as she had gone onto to define the request made.

'Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens and sometimes connected to swans or horses'. The entire time, the female Thorston beared a smug grin on her lips. 'But that what we also called good looking women and the girls of our society in general'.

After recovering from her shock of Ruffnut's spark of intelligence, Merida had asked the other girl what was expected of a mortal Valkyrie.

'Not much really', Astrid had answered. 'You just need to familiarize yourself with our culture and customs. With your personality, you don't need to adjust too much'.

'Really? You think so?' Merida had asked

All six Riders of Berk had nodded.

'Astrid's right Merida', Hiccup had stated. 'You've got the right sort of personality. Just need to read up a bit about our way of life really. I mean we've learnt things about your homeland. So you could say we've become Highlanders of a sort'.

'Yeah like that book, the Bible, that you brought with you', Fishlegs chipped in.

'Or that haggis stuff that you showed Mulch and Bucket to make yesterday', Snotlout added.

'Yeah and those kilt thingies with the cool tartan pattern', Tuffnut had said. 'Oh ho ho, just imagine being to flash your. . . . . . .'

'Woah, woah, and I'm going to stop you right there', Astrid had interrupted him, the others sharing her look of disgust.

After that conversation with her new friends, Merida had gone about learning everything she could of the Vikings. Their history, their culture, their religion, their whole society. It had been an improvement from her usual boring lessons back at home.

Merida had spent a lot of her free time in the small room in the Great Hall that served as the Library. Hiccup and Fishlegs had together helped her learn to understand the runes of the Viking alphabet, which she had mastered quite quickly. It had helped significantly when it came to deciphering the texts on the sheep skinned scrolls and leather bounded books, feeding her more and more fresh knowledge of the culture of the fabled Vikings.

'Well that's ironic', Merida thought aloud as she read a book on Viking tradition. 'If Ma had her way and I did marry Hiccup, I'd have to convert into the Norse religion'.

Merida grinned to herself, imagining the shock on her Mother's face if she told the Queen that instead of being buried in the ground with Christian prayer when she died, she'd be placed in a boat with all of her weapons and worldly belongings and cast off into the sea, her funeral ship set ablaze by her closest friends and kin.

'Sounds quite the passionate service', the Highlander thought aloud to herself.

She stopped her research for a moment to imagine an older version of herself being lain in a Viking longship with her bow, arrows, sword and her other prized possessions being sent out to the Great Ocean, her newest and closest friends sending her off with honour and respect.

'A decent send off if any I suppose', she said, picking her book and continuing her learning with a new zeal.

As well as reading, Merida had been taking part in the local traditions, fishing and hunting for the banquets and food supplies, taking guard and lookout duties, mucking out the yak stables and generally helping out in any way she could. The inhabitants of Berk had been quite surprised from the beginning by her hands on approach with everything. When they had first heard of 'Princess Merida', they had expected a spoilt, stuffy noblewoman, who spoke with a sickeningly sweet voice and saw potential food as mere playthings, was lazy with a snobbish attitude, demanding to pampered and served everything without consideration or manners, scared of breaking a fingernail. Instead they got a real woman who shot animals and birds for food, fought her own battles with bow and sword, talked in a pleasant accent, was kind and considerate to everyone, hated being pampered just because of her status and always went out of her way to help others and expected no reward more then a smile and a 'thank you'. The Vikings had been relieved. Yes, Berk had been surprised by the personality of the Highlander, but they wouldn't want her to change in any way. Definitely the makings of a Valkyrie many of them had thought

In the present, Merida was in her room getting ready for the ceremony tonight. Astrid, Ruffnut and the other girls of the village had decided to officially initiate Merida as a member of the village and as a Valkyrie. There would be roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone, and no boys allowed. They had all been banished to the Great Hall by Stoick himself, stating the ceremony of the Valkyrie's was sacred and that the men of the village would be best to avoid Freya's ill favour and wrath by not interrupting the ceremony or even being present. That was enough to deter even Snotlout and Tuffnut. They would all be drinking and feasting on their own, so they be enjoying themselves, plus few of the men were willing to argue with their wives.

Whilst she had been happy being in this new, free environment, the biggest change had been the clothes. She had quite a bit of time standing in front of a mirror, admiring her new look. She had quickly gotten sick of being the only girl on Berk wearing a dress and shoes. Since her arrival on the island, she had cast aside her green dress and had since been donning the Viking wardrobe she had bartered off Astrid and Ruffnut. Now she stood in front of the mirror, examining herself. I'd like to see the look on Mum's face if she saw me dressed like this, she'd hit the roof, the Princess chuckled to herself as she fixed her hair. Merida had tied the wild red mess into a long, thick ponytail, kept in place by three metal ornament bindings. She was wearing a leather breastplate complete with metal pauldrons and an armoured skirt like Astrid's. Under the breastplate, she wore a green tunic and brown leggings, and her feet were hidden in strong fur boots. The last pieces of clothing consisted of leather braces and shin guards.

Looking at her reflection, Merida couldn't help but admire the fierce beauty that stared back at her. Not a stern, suffocating princess figure of sophistication, but a down to earth warrior girl, relaxed and free, and that image suited her just fine.

'I never thought I'd one to stare at myself in the mirror like some fashion conscience pansy', she turned around to look at her back. 'Still, I must say I do like what I'm seeing'.

'MERIDA!' shouted Astrid from outside. 'ARE YOU READY YET! THE GIRLS ARE WAITING FOR YOU!'

'COMING ASTRID!' Merida shouted. 'JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE!'

The Highlander laughed aloud, realizing she would never have allowed to shout back at home. Another benefit being here Merida thought to herself. Yes she missed home, but she would see her family soon. For now, she would savour her freedom and would the night being inducted in Viking society as one of their own.

Merida took off her silver pendant and placed it on the table near her bed and replaced it with a black necklace that held red stones and bronze Norse symbols.

'Tonight I'm not a Princess of the Highlands. Tonight I am Merida, a Valkyrie of the Vikings of Berk'.

Now fully prepared, Merida walked towards the door and opened, greeted a cheering crowd of Viking women. All were geared like her and ready to march their newest member of society to the Elder's House to be marked and initiated by Gothi. Then the real party would begin.

Merida grinned at Astrid and Ruffnut, time for a girls night. Viking style.

New chapter guys and girls. Did a bit of research and thought inducting Merida into Viking society will help pave the way for my next story for her in the HTTYD world. Hope you enjoy :)