It was about a week before Merida got the first message from her mother. She was so excited to see that little Terror flying to Berk. She snatched the letter from the dragon's claws and rewarded its job well done with a fish and ran back to Hiccup's. She bounded into her room and flopped down on her bed. Unraveling the string, Merida opened the letter and began devouring the words that were written on the paper.
'My sweet daughter,
I hope everything there is going well. I found the graves that you and Hiccup made on the hill, it's a beautiful place to commemorate the dead. Thank you. Although we are not even half way done with rebuilding the castle, I can't help but think that this new place will be almost as beautiful as it was before. When it's done I would love to have you and the boys.
I contacted the Lords. Lord Macguffin was killed in the battle with the dragons, and Young Dingwall was wounded. But they agreed that they would come to lend a hand with the construction. They would all like to see you as well.
How are you and Hiccup doing? I know your relationship is just budding, but I see that you're happy. I'm glad that you've found happiness in Berk my dear. Tell Hiccup that Val would like to see him as well. How are the boys? I hope that they're not causing too much trouble. I've sent them their own letter as well. I've got to go.
I love you. One sleuth, many woods.'
Merida grinned from ear to ear as she raced out of her room and to the table. She took out a quill and ink and began to scribble down her return letter.
'Mum,
Everything here is going great. There hasn't been any weird ships coming by, or any attacks. Thank you. It was Hiccups idea to make a grave site for all of the fallen. He even sealed the graves with Toothless. I'm glad that the construction is going so well, how's your dragon training going? I would love to come see you. Only three more weeks until Hiccup, the boys, and I are coming to check on the progress. I know the boys would love to stay with you for a while if that would be fine.
I'm sad to hear that it was Lord Macguffin that passed in the fires, but I'm glad that no one else was seriously injured. I'm also glad that they're willing to help out. It should be interesting to see how they'll act with the dragons. Seeing them again wouldn't be terrible.
Hiccup and I are doing well. The other day we made rounds around Berk on Toothless and Cyhiraeth. It was breath taking. It's amazing how big this island is. I mean, I know how big it is, I did walk the entirety of it. But even so it's so different to see it from the skies. I can't wait to see Dunbroch from the skies once it's rebuilt. I'm sure Hiccup can't wait to see his mum either. The boys are fine. Ruff and Tuff have been keeping the occupied. They're going to be able to start riding dragons with other riders soon.
I love you too mum. One sleuth, many woods.'
Merida secured the message together and strung it to the small terror's leg. The little dragon zipped off into the distance as Merida made her way to the training arena. Cyhiraeth was already there with Hiccup, the twins, and the triplets waiting for her to show.
"Sorry A'm late. A got a letter from mah mum."
"It's okay. Your brothers got a letter too." Merida looked to the three boys. Harris held up the letter and the boys sported matching smirks. Merida shook her head and went to her striking dragon. Cyhiraeth rolled over onto her back and Merida scratched her scale covered stomach.
"Alright. Let's go over the guidelines for riding a dragon real quick. The number one rule is to hold on. The second one is to make sure you're leaning closer to your dragon. You don't want to fall off. The third rule of riding is to know what's around you. Keep not only your main vision sharp, but your peripherals as well. You need to be aware of your surroundings to make sure you don't get thrown off your dragon. Fourth, be aware of your dragon. Before your dragon starts to really act out you need to be aware of their small signs." Hiccup looked at the Triplets. "Alright, let's get started."
They decided that each boy was going to ride Toothless one by one around the arena. Merida, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Hamish and Hubert sat in the seats while Hiccup and Harris stood in the arena. Hiccup helped Harris get settled in and directed Toothless from the center as they flew in laps around the edge of the arena. Merida watched in delight as Harris' face light up in delight. Merida was excited to watch her brothers grow up and find happiness in whatever they would do.
After Harris' round around the arena, Hubert eagerly bounced down the stairs to the sleek dragon waiting for him. Hiccup smiled at the excitement these boys had for learning how to fly. He was excited to see them progress. Hubert finished his rounds on Toothless and now it was Hamish on the saddle. Hiccup looked at the fidgeting boy on the back of the Night Fury and stepped a little closer.
"Is something wrong Hamish?"
"Not really…"
"It looks like you're a little worried." Hiccup softly smiled down at the young boy.
"A, A guess A am. But A don' wanna be. A wanna be brave like mah brothers an' sister."
"Being worried doesn't mean you're not brave. I used to worry all the time and, to be honest, I worry all the time. Worrying means that your brain is thinking of all the possibilities, and that's good. That's the making of a future chief, or king." Hiccup gave Hamish a soft pat on the back coupled with another warm smile and watched as the boy's face went from insecure, to excited.
"Really?" Hamish asked, his eyes glittering.
"Really. So, are you ready to ride Toothless?"
"Yes." And with that, Hamish was on the back of Toothless and in the air.
Elinor watched from the window of the castle as the small dragon flew closer and closer, a letter flapping in its claws. She took it from the dragon perched on the windowsill and gave him a fish as payment. As the dragon eagerly ate the fish, Elinor opened her letter, a smile spreading across her face. She ran through the finished castle and out the doors into the town. She found Valka building a medium house for a small family. She climbed up the ladder and onto the roof she was finishing.
"We'll have company tomorrow."
"Really? Who?" Val stood up, stretching her back.
"The children are coming."
"Et's already been a month?"
"Aye." Elinor grinned. She couldn't wait to see her babies again.
"Well, et's a good thing we're almost done." Elinor nodded her head in agreement as the two looked at the almost complete village. There were rows of houses that stretched for about a mile either way the castle surrounded by a large wall, made completely of Gronckle Iron. There were stations for water and resting stations for the few dragons that were there. There was a small forge and a large dining hall. Many amenities that were on Berk were transferred to DunBroch. Their docks got upgraded to Viking strength, and a large barn stored many animals, some even brought over from Berk to repopulate this area. Next to the looming, Gronckle Iron infused, stone castle was a large arena that would house dragons and horses. They were almost finished, only a few more roofs to finish and DunBroch would be thriving once again.
Valka and Elinor climbed off the roof and made their way back to the castle. They walked through the castle to the throne room. The walls were still bare and it sent a pang of sadness through Elinor to know she would never see most of what was collected again. That sounded terrible, but most of what was in the castle had a memory tied to them. There was Merida's first bow that hung above the entrance, the vase her mother had given to her as a wedding gift, her father's helmet that sat above her throne. She sighed. The one item she missed the most was the tapestry that had saved her. She would never see it again, and that hurt most of all. The memories tied with it were too precious to loose, and as she grew older she knew her memories would fade. That having those trinkets would help her to never forget the life she led. But the lives of her children were more precious to her than any tapestry.
"Elinor? Elinor!" Val broke her reserve and the queen shook her head slightly.
"A'm sorry. A wasn' payin' attention. What did yah say?"
"I asked yah what we're gonna do tomorrow."
"Well, the lords and their sons are coming tomorrow. A'm hopin' that the messages that A had sent out ta the surrounding villages got through an' tha' the villagers will come back home. Merida, Hiccup, an' the boys are comin' tomorrow as well. A say we should have a feast."
"That sounds lovely. I'll let the others know."
"Let us know what?" Astrid asked, coming down the stairs, Eret following close behind. The blonde looked lovely. She wore a light blue dress with a white middle that fell down to her ankles. The long sleeves were tight against her arms until it reached her wrists where they flared out, and her hair flowed behind her in soft waves. Accents of gold outlined the white center of her dress and the same gold accents wrapped around her upper arms as well. She wore a pair of black slip on shoes.
Eret has his hair pulled back into his normal style, but he wore a black and grey kilt with a grey long sleeved shirt that hugged his muscles. A pair of black slip on shoes were on his feet and his sword was strapped to his hip. The pair had been training Elinor with her dragon, and she'd progressed so much in the month they'd been in Scotland. Now, how was she going to introduce the Lords to the dragons?
The sky whipped at Merida's face as she flew with her arms stretched to either side of herself. Gliding through the air with her was Hiccup, the twins, and her brothers, each on a different dragon. Merida was toting Hamish with her, who was making faces at Harris and the twins, who were getting Hubert to make noises at Hamish. It was a mess, but they were bored, Merida couldn't blame them. It'd been about three hours in the air and they were growing restless. She looked back at her brothers and smiled. Their birthday was in a few months. They were growing like weeds too. They were just a head shorter than her now, and they would just continue to get taller. She groaned at the thought of her brothers being taller than her, and all the mischief they would defiantly get into. She looked over at Hiccup and gave him a soft smile. The two of them had been "courting" for a few months now, and have taken to eating alone every night. Hiccup smiled back and Merida made up her mind that she was going to show him her favorite spots during this trip.
She looked at the horizon and grinned.
"Boys! Dae yah see et?" standing in the distance, above the tops of the trees stood a magnificent castle that rivaled the last one. Merida willed Cyhiraeth to fly faster, she was impatient to see what it looked like inside. She looked down at the saddles on the canary colored dragon and smiled. Tucked inside were all of the things that she had took with her, the loom deconstructed in Toothless' saddle. She was excited to place them back where they belonged. Merida was more excited than she thought she would be, but then again she was going home.
They landed quickly, the boys jumping off the dragons and looking around with wide eyes. The twins were pretty amazed at what stood before them as well.
"Did you really live like this?" Ruff asked her as she stood next to Merida.
"Aye. Although this castle es slightly bigger than the one A grew up in." The group walked through the gates of the large wall that surrounded the village and onto the grounds of the resurrected DunBroch castle. A shadow flew above them and they looked up to see the sky blue Deadly Nadder flying in for a landing. Astrid hopped off the back of her dragon and Merida embraced her.
"Astrid! Don' yew look lovely." Said woman flushed slightly and looked down at her dress.
"Thanks. I'm not too sure how I feel in these," she paused to take a look at Ruff, beads of sweat already forming along her hairline, "but they're better than wearing the clothes from Berk. Why don't we go to the castle and change?" Ruff nodded in agreement. They walked to the castle, Astrid giving them a quick tour of the new village. They arrived at the castle quite quickly and Astrid led them upstairs. The boys ran off in search of their mother.
"Yew three be good. Yah don' know this castle yet!" Merida said over her shoulder as she ascended the stairs. The boys gave grunts in reply as they sped around a corner.
"Oh Merida, don't worry, what trouble could they possibl-" a crash interrupted Astrid's question and Merida gave her a pointed stare.
"Wee devils." Merida muttered under her breath. Astrid shook her head as they walked down the hallway. Eret walked around the corner and was greeted with a kiss on the cheek from Astrid.
"Oh! We have guests." Eriet smiled and brought Hiccup and Tuff into quick hugs. "It's nice to see you again."
"You too Eret."
"Hun, the boys need new clothes. I'm taking Merida and Ruffnut to see Addie. Can you take Hiccup and Tuff to see Pilip?"
"Sure. Follow me guys." Eret took them around a corridor and they started catching up.
"Nice skirt, Eret." Tuffnut said, punching his large shoulder.
"It's a kilt, Tuff, and you're going to be wearing one too."
"Awe man!" Tuff said, flinging his head back in disappointment. Hiccup smiled.
"Don't let him get to you Eret, it suits you."
"Thank you Hiccup." They walked up to a set of doors and Eret walked through.
"Pilip! Our company is here! They need some clothes." Eret shouted into the room. Hiccup crossed the threshold and was taken aback. The room was full of cloths and fabrics of every color and kind. There were clothes on dummies, and some just hanging up. A middle aged man with salt and pepper hair came out of the back wearing a solid navy blue kilt. He smiled at the two new men.
"My name is Pilip, I'm the semester for this castle. Now, I'm going to take your measurements and get started on your clothes." Pilip quickly circled the two men, pulling and pushing them into some awkward stances as he scribbled numbers into a notebook. "Please, stay here." He disappeared behind a piece of fabric and left the men to catch up with each other.
On the other side of the castle, Merida and Ruffnut were in a similar situation to Hiccup and Tuffnut. They were in a room filled with fabrics, being fussed over by a woman who was in her mid to late thirties. She was short, but lean, with long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. A bandana held her hair out of her eyes and she wore a loose brown dress. She scurried away and left the girls to themselves.
"So, how have things been with yew an' Eret?" Merida asked, crossing one knee over the other.
"We've been doing pretty swell. We went for a walk yesterday, and believe that we found some of your targets." Astrid gave Merida a coy smile, but the redhead ignored her.
"Did yah happen ta see any wisps?"
"Any what?" Ruffnut asked, seeing an opening in the conversation.
"Wisps. Their spirits that have been long lost in the woods. They lead yah ta yer fate."
"That's just superstition Mer. You can't tell me you believe in them."
"But A dae! A've seen em with mah own eyes. And so has Hiccup."
"I don't know, sounds like an old tale to me." Ruffnut said, rolling her eyes. Merida sighed. She would drop it, for now.
Over an hour passed before Addie came out, holding two dresses in her hands. She handed them to Merida and Ruffnut and the girls changed. Ruff was the first to come out of the room. Her dress fell to her ankles, a simple dark blue cotton dress with the shoulders cut out and the sleeves ended at her elbows and she wore a pair of brown shoes. Her bangs fell over her left eye and some of her hair was pulled back into a braid that laid over her hair that flowed to the middle of her back. A small braid was tucked behind her right ear and a pair of green studs were shimmering on her ears.
"I feel so girly. Are you sure I have to wear this?"
"Well, Elinor invited the Lords of other regions so it'd be best if you did wear the dress. It makes us look good. You get used to them, it's a lot warmer here than it is on Berk."
"A'm never gonna get used ta bein' a princess." Merida sighed from the doorway. She wore a lavender, strapless, silk dress with iridescent gold silk accents that started at the top of her bust and ran under it. A gold line traveled down the center of the dress and two more lines of gold disappeared over her hips and twisted around her back. The bottom of her dress was lined with gold with a small floral pattern protruded from it. A translucent piece of fabric was wrapped around her shoulders and wrapped around her arms. Her hair was tied into a braid. A piece of brown leather wrapped around the middle of the braid, and flyaway hairs stuck up in gravity defying angles. A pair of white shoes with a small heel were on her feet, a golden band was wrapped around her head, and a scowl was on her face.
"You look gorgeous!" Astrid smiled, placing a hand on Merida's shoulder.
"You definitely don't look like the girl we found in the boat." Ruff muttered under her breath.
Merida and Astrid laughed.
"A really think yah look good Ruff." Merida said with a smile on her face. Ruff tugged at her hair, her nervous habit.
"You really think so?"
"A really think so." The girls thanked Addie and made their way to the throne room. When they got there Ruff fell to the floor, tears in her eyes, the other two couldn't help but giggle. Hiccup stood there in a black and red kilt that draped around his body from his left hip. His sword was strapped to his side and a black bear pelt was strapped around his shoulders by a golden chain. Eret stood there looking at the girls with confusion, but standing between the two beefy men was the slender bodied Tuffnut. He wore a solid green kilt that wrapped around his waist and was held up by a few leather straps. His hair was tied back into a low ponytail, and a small dagger was tucked to his hip. He looked very, scrawny next to Hiccup and Eret.
"And I thought Hiccup was a toothpick!" Ruffnut laughed as she gathered herself.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tuff asked, puffing his chest out.
"Don't try, you'll only make it worse."
"At least I'm not wearing a dress."
"Yeah, you're wearing a skirt." Tuff glared at his sister for a few seconds before he tackled her to the ground.
"Hey, we don't have time for this. The lords will be here soon." Hiccup said to the twins on the ground. They stood up, Ruff punching her brother one more time in the arm before she stalked after the rest of the group. Tuff quickly caught up with them as they made their way through the backdoors of the castle and to the docks by the shore.
"Astrid, where's Fishlegs? A haven't seen him."
"Now that you mention it, I didn't see him either."
"He's been gone all morning. He thinks he's found the entrance to a dragon den in the woods so he and Meatlug went to check it out. He should be at the docks though."
The group of people made their way to the shore and saw the bulky form of Fishlegs waiting for them. As they got closer they noticed that he wore a brown t-shirt under his dark grey kilt that wrapped around his waist and around his shoulder. His facial hair had gotten longer, and his hair was now pulled back into a small ponytail. His face light up when he saw them.
"Hiccup! I found a dragon den! We'll have to go find out what's down there."
"I know Fishlegs, but tonight wouldn't be a very good idea tonight. We won't be alone."
"I guess you're right. But tomorrow."
"Yes, tomorrow."
The group of young adults were soon joined by Valka and Elinor, who were both dressed as queens. Elinor's hair was pulled back into two long braids without a hair out of place. Her lips were painted red, and she wore a long sleeved emerald dress made of silk that pooled on the ground around her feet. The sleeves were wide around her arms and her hands disappeared when she let them hang, and golden band wrapped around the bottom hem of the dress. Valka wore a tight sleeved ruby dress that fell to the ground in soft pools of velvet. Her hair was tied into a thick braid that hung over her shoulder, her lips were painted a soft pink, and her feet were bare.
They climbed the steps of the docks and watched the sea as the first dots lined up on the horizon, soon followed by more. Before they could really prepare themselves for what may come the ships were docked and the passengers were disembarking their ships. The group of dragon riders stood on the dock, waiting to greet the Lords. Lord Archibald Mackintosh and his son Alastair walked to the group, Lord Finlay Dingwall and his son Eachann limped to meet them, and Grant Macguffin, who was much too young to be running a country by himself, joined them as well. Elinor offered them her arm in greeting.
"Et's so nice ta see yew all again," she said after taking each of their forearms, "yah all remember mah daughter, Merida." She gestured to the redhead standing beside her.
"Et's nice ta see yah all."
"It's nice to see you too Merida." Alastair said, slicking his hair back with a smirk on his face. He hadn't changed much, maybe he had been working out more. Other than that he was still the greasy, arrogant man she had grew to tolerate.
Hiccup looked at him pointedly and took a step closer to Merida, his mother looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Elinor cleared her throat, not missing the look that Hiccup was giving the young man.
"Archibald, Finlay, yah remember Valka, Stoick's wife."
"Stoick! Where is the ol' gowk?" Dingwall roared, causing the dragon riders to look at their feet. Val coughed and swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Stoick, passed. He died in battle." The Lords coughed and sobered.
"I'm sorry ta hear that." Archibald choked out, obviously embarrassed.
"Now, et's no time fer somber moods. Now, ta introduce yah ta the rest of this motley crew." Elinor chuckled and Merida shook her head before she spoke.
"The man next ta me is Hiccup Haddock the third, son of Stoick the Vast and Valka the Wild." Val struggled not to laugh at her new title. "The lass next ta him es Astrid Hofferson, Daughter of Borghild an' Asger Hofferson. The man next ta her es Eret, son of Eret. The next two are Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston, daughter an' son of Inkeri and Hagen Thorston, an' the man on the end es Fishlegs Ingermen, son of Kari an' Fiske Ingermen." The Lords bowed their heads respectively.
"Now that we're acquainted, let's get inta the castle an' get the feast started!" Valka said as she quickly walked towards the castle.
"But, first a quick tour of the new castle." Elinor said, pointedly looking at her best friend. Val let out an exasperated sigh, she was hungry and the sun was hanging high in the sky, signaling lunch, but Valka kept walking with the group, pointing out new additions to the town. Finlay looked at the large open building with suspicion. It had a tall roof that was held up with thick logs. A round base was made out of heavy stones that opened up one way. At the opening there were stone rollers with sharp rocks dotting the surface with a branch going through the middle. Another contraption was set up beside it that was shaped like the beginning stages of a tent, four logs that crossed at the top on either end of a long log that ran across the top and two metal pieces were fixed at the bottom running from front to back with a ladder that rolled on a track on both metal pieces. A few ropes were hanging in loops from the top log with large brushes and picks hanging on them, and a few barrels were set on either side.
As they walked more unusual stations were set up in town. A large hole in the ground full of warm ashes was split down the middle by a metal track with a cart and a fire place, another hole in the ground full of warm ashes with two drawbridge-like wooden planks sticking into it with a log held in place by two stones with claw marks in it, a large water basin that stood thirty feet in the air with smaller basins that the water flowed into all around it, and on each building there were metal objects sealed at the bottom with ropes hanging from them. Something was going on, and it wasn't normal.
"Elinor, what is all this?" Finlay asked, eyeing one of the grooming stations for the dragons.
"That, es a surprise for later Finlay." Valka said, keeping a brisk pace to get them to the castle sooner. Once the lords were inside the castle, the dragons would be safe. Val's head whipped around, something was moving too quickly through the woods around the village. A glint of blue and gold caught her eye and she turned to Astrid.
"Astrid, dear, A think yah may want ta check up on yer pet." Astrid's brow furrowed until she saw Val's eyes flick toward the woods. She carefully looked where she gestured and saw the excited eyes of Stormfly watching her. Her body tensed and she pursed her lips.
"You're right, it's been a while since she's eaten. I'll get right on that." Astrid picked up her dress and darted for the castle, making her way around the back of the houses in the village and into the woods. Stormfly greeted her with a deep, playful bow and Astrid smiled.
"You hungry girl?" Stormfly gargled and bobbed her head. She led the dragon into the woods and to the nearby lake to gather fish. Once she got her fill Astrid carefully led her back to the stables where the dragons were being kept.
"Now, stay here. I'll be back, okay?" Stormfly huffed and warmed herself a spot on the ground and curled in on herself. Astrid smiled and shook her head as she made her way into the castle.
Astrid made her way through the castle and into the throne room where there were people setting up a long table. Astrid decided that she should help them set up the feast rather than roaming around the castle in search for the others. They'd eventually make their way here. So Astrid helped set the table, placing plates of food in the center and empty plates and cups around the perimeter of the table. About twenty minutes of waiting, Astrid was joined by the rest of the group and the feast was beginning.
The sun was finally dipping behind the horizon when everyone had warmed up to each other, thanks to the alcohol they were all drinking. A small group of people started to play music and Valka smiled at Elinor and started to whistle a familiar, happy tune that the band quickly took up. Merida's head popped up and a wild grin split her face. Hiccup stood up and bowed to Merida. She took his hand and the two of them started to dance together.
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with ne'er a fear of drowning and gladly ride theses waves of life if you will marry me!" Hiccup sang as more people joined them, Astrid and Eret, Valka and Elinor, Ruff and Tuff.
"No scorching sun, or freezing cold will stop me on my journey if you will promise me your heart.
"And love me for eternity." Merida smiled at Hiccup as the two took hands, Hiccup behind Merida and started skipping and dipping towards the ground. "My darling dear, my dearest one, your mighty words astound me! But I've no need for mighty deeds when I feel your arms around me!" Hiccup spun her around.
"But I would buy you rings of gold, and even sing you poerty!"
"Oh you would?" Tuff and Ruff were separated by a very red faced Grant MacGuffin who began to spin a light headed Ruff on her toes.
"And I would keep you from all harm if you would stay beside me!" Hiccup fell to one knee, a hand on his heart, and Merida's hand in his other one.
"I have no use for rings of gold, I care not for your poetry, I only want your hand to hold."
"I only want you near me!" Hiccup stood up and spun Merida into his arms. He spun her out and continued their dance while the whole room was singing.
"To love and kiss and sweetly hold, for the dancing and the dreaming! For all life's sorrows and delights, I'll keep your love inside me!" The whole room was shouting now.
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with ne'er a fear of drowning, and gladly ride these waves of life if you will marry me!"
Hiccup fell back on his one knee and Merida sat on the one that was bent. They both were breathing heavily and smiling like they were the only ones in the room. Elinor and Valka were laughing and clapped the two of them on the back, pulling them back into reality. The rest of the night was a blur, more alcohol was consumed and less and less of the night was really remembered. Merida, who had stopped drinking when she felt her ears burning, made her way out of the crowded room to get some air. She smiled as she passed the empty table where Ruff was laying on her stomach, tracing circles on Grant's bicep.
"Do it again." Grant grabbed another log from a pile next to him and ripped it in half. "YES!" She flipped on her back and started laughing as Grant was saying something Merida couldn't hear. She walked down the hall and headed outside.
But as fate would have it, this perfect night couldn't last. She heard a screeching from down a corridor and took off to find out what it was.
A/ N: I hope you guys liked this chapter! Leave me a Review!