Disclaimer: I don't own Hiccup or Merida, obviously. I'm not making any money off this. Both characters and the movies they come from belong to Dreamworks and Disney, respectively. If you really want to see something to blow you away, go watch the movies. Then think about these two interacting. Then you'll see what I mean.
CROSSING THE HORIZON
The Princess
"Demon bears still don't breathe fire!" came his father's unmistakable shout from within the castle. Hiccup winced, appalled by his new "reputation." He hoped no one would notice his absence. His father was distracted enough with the King and he really didn't feel like defending his honor as the dragon conqueror. With his cloak over his tunic and trousers, Hiccup blended well enough with the myriad of people walking around the castle.
Emerging from the castle interior, Hiccup could still hear Stoick and Fergus's load boasting, the roar of laughter from the men and the clanking of drinking horns and wine cups. For all Stoick's warnings to have their wits about them, Hiccup could already see that the Vikings were well on their way to intoxication.
"Watch it, kitchen boy!" Hiccup sidestepped in time as a group of warriors stampeded by carrying wooden practice swords and shields. Some nursed cuts and bruises, others held their hand to their chest delicately, but all laughed and joked. "These men are thirsty! Is the meal ready yet?"
"Uhh, I—" Hiccup looked around, but was saved from responding.
"You boys stay out of the kitchen!" Hiccup stepped aside again as a plump woman with her hair covered with a white cap walked past carrying a tray of herbs. "The meal will be served after I bring a tonic up to Prince Harris."
"Poor lad. We can watch his brothers for you."
"Certainly not! Hamish and Hubert need quiet time, not a food fight."
The warriors' cries of innocence faded as they disappeared into the castle. Outside, the courtyard was alive with activity. Girls wearing homespun browns and grays carried baskets of herbs, vegetables and fruits inside. Young boys with wooden swords practiced on straw dummies while older youths dueled with blunted blades. Older men paced here and there in the yard, shouting encouragements or criticisms. A hammer belled throughout the courtyard and Hiccup spied the familiar glow of a forge.
"Best to stand away from the path, lad. Folks here'll run you right over and never realize it." The guard that stood at the side of the door scratched his nose and his partner nodded. Both men leaned against gleaming spears and skulls caps hung low over their foreheads. "New to castle?"
Hiccup nodded, wondering if the man hadn't seen him at all when the Vikings entered or if he was only making polite conversation. Each guard sported a matching half mustache that gave them both a permanently puzzled look. It was an odd choice of beard. Perhaps the gate guards weren't the brightest of DunBroch's warriors.
"Today's not the best day," the second guard yawned. "Between the Princess's horse missing, the different delegations coming and going, and the construction going on, the castle's gone half mad."
"The Princess's horse ain't missing," his partner frowned.
"It isn't in its stable, is it?"
"Yes, but the Princess isn't—"
The most beautiful girl Hiccup had ever seen swept through the door. "Has the horse been spotted yet?"
The guards snapped to attention instantly and offered her a bright, attentive smile. "Er, no, Milady. But we'll let you know as soon we know. We'll send a page right up. You're at your lyre lessons, yes?"
"Yes, thank you," the girl said, brows clouded in anxiety. The bright Highland sunshine caught tints of blue in her jet-black hair and when she glanced around the courtyard, Hiccup realized with some astonishment that her eyes were the same violet as her dress. Hiccup couldn't help but gawk.
Realization flooded through Hiccup. Lyre lessons and a beauty beyond anything he'd ever seen. She was the princess! But somehow, he couldn't see her dirtying her fingers let alone running through the woods and climbing trees as a child. This girl wasn't mischievous or daring. She was elegant and intimidating.
"I just can't imagine where she's gone!" The Princess twisted delicate white fingers through her fine gown. "We still have to select her dress today, meet the MacGuffin messenger, see to the kitchen preparations for tonight's meal, review Viking customs, interview the new stable boy..."
The guards exchanged helpless looks.
"Never mind. I'll do it all myself if I have to." The Princess settled her shoulders and turned back to the castle. As she passed Hiccup, she called, "Page. Run to Lady Amelia, Leah and Daniela. Have them meet me at my chambers."
Before he could open his mouth to respond, the girl disappeared in the depths of the castle. The guard shrugged apologetically at him, "Sorry about that, lad. We'll have a page take the message up. Go on and enjoy the castle. The west gate is less crowded and has the best views."
"Thanks," Hiccup flushed. He wasn't certain how well his reputation as the dragon conqueror would flourish if everyone looked at him and saw "servant" instead of "hero."
Hiccup followed a path that traversed the inner courtyard. Great horses nearly the size of gronckles poked curious heads out from an orderly row of stalls against the walls. He spotted an empty stall and wondered if that was where the Princess's horse was kept.
Hiccup looked back once he descended into the outer keep. The inventor inside him marveled at the scale and planning that conceived such a behemoth structure. Even now, he could hear the sharp thump of hammers into nails, the groans of carts' wheels overburdened with large stones and the men's singing as they worked. Hiccup spotted men reinforcing a wall, creating a new wing and laying out the foundations of a smaller building. DunBroch Castle was ten times larger than the Meade Hall and the outer wall enclosed an area roughly the size of Hooligan Village but it didn't seem like the castle was finished growing.
Questions buzzed in Hiccup's mind. What sort of upkeep did a castle need? How many people were needed to maintain it? What sort of rooms were there? Surely the rooms in the towers could be modified to fit a comfortable roost for dragons. How many people did a castle need, at minimum, to defend itself from invaders.
Hiccup stopped himself short at the thought. The trip to the Highlands was the first time in a very long while that he hadn't been consumed by thoughts of war. He wanted to let himself appreciate the sheer beauty of the country and its castle without thinking of the battles ahead.
Through the western gate ahead, Hiccup spied mountains rising like cresting green, brown and blue waves while forests of tall oak, pine, birch, rowan and aspen eddied in the shadowed valleys and glens. The breeze rushing past was rich with the scent of water, leaves and the cold mountain air. For the first time in a long time, in months since his father forbid him from flying beyond Berk, Hiccup felt his breath quicken as the realization settled in his bones, as the Highland sunshine enveloped him, and as the breeze glided against his skin—a new land, a new people, a new discovery.
As Hiccup passed through the gate, a smile lifted the corners of his lips. Even his father's expectations and the weight of their journey couldn't dim this. He couldn't wait to—
Something yanked his ankle and dragged him feet first into the air. Hiccup's strangled cry cut off as he swung to the left, hit the wall, and then swung back into the center of the gate. "What the—? Hey!"
His loose tunic fell over his head and covered his eyes. He struggled to tuck it back underneath his trousers while his left hand scrabbled uselessly for purchase as he hit the wall again. Nothing. No grip. His cloak brushed the ground as he swung back to the middle of the gate.
Twisting his head, Hiccup tried to see if anyone was close by. The guard hadn't lied. No one was around the western gate. Cheeks burning, Hiccup patted his boots but knew the gesture was fruitless. He'd left his dagger sheathed in his belt on the snekjja.
Panting, he hauled his body upwards. Muscles trembling, his fingers traced the intricate knots securing the rope around his ankle. The rope was too taut. It was already cutting off circulation to his right foot.
Expelling a breath, Hiccup let himself fall back and wished he hadn't. The momentum swung him against the wall again. Minutes passed as Hiccup tried to calm his breathing and think of a way out. His tunic fell over his eyes again.
Huffing in exasperation, Hiccup tucked it back and followed the line of the rope with his eyes. The deep shadows of the gate and the slow, circular movement of the rope made him dizzy, but still he tried. If he could figure out how the trap was set, perhaps he could figure out a way to undo it. But how when he was trussed up?
Humiliation and frustration bubbled inside Hiccup. What kind of a person laid a trap on a castle gate, anyway? Had the guard played a trick on him? Fine dragon conqueror he was turning out to be. First the Princess thought he was a servant and now he was caught like a rabbit or a chicken. Thunder rumbled in the distance. His shirt came loose again. Hiccup let out a long, slow breath. "Great. Just great."
Hiccup didn't know how much time passed. His shirt had fallen again and again, and eventually Hiccup had just given up. He was too preoccupied trying to figure out how get out. Moisture prickled along his bare skin and the air felt cool against his bared abdomen. He couldn't see lightning or thunder, but that didn't mean anything. A gentle rain or a driving storm would soak him either way. He considered screaming himself hoarse but couldn't quite let go of his pride yet. Just imagining his father's face when the DunBroch warriors revealed how they'd found the dragon conqueror dangling from the gate was enough to keep Hiccup silent.
Thunder rumbled again.
"Oh for Thor's sake," Hiccup muttered. "Just once, can't I catch a break?"
The thunder paused abruptly and Hiccup realized that it wasn't thunder at all. It was hoof beats. Hiccup tensed, unsure how to react. If the soldiers saw him, if the King and Queen found out—
"Now there's a catch you don't see everyday, Angus."
Hiccup steeled himself and pushed his shirt up slightly.
The world was transformed. Instead of the bright Highland sunshine of the morning, the landscape was bathed in the pale glow of a cloud-streaked sky. The mountains and the lake seemed soft and haunted in the storm light. Everything was bleached of color save for the figure sitting before him.
The owner of the voice shook back the hood of a deep green cloak revealing a heart shaped face. The first thing Hiccup noticed was the mane of curly, fiery red hair framing her face followed closely by the bright blue of her eyes. She looked vibrant against the deep black of her horse and Hiccup wondered vaguely if that was on purpose. The girl wasn't laughing, not yet, but there was no mistaking the amusement in her curved lips.
The smile snapped Hiccup out of his stillness. "Before you judge me, I just want you to know I'm in the process of getting myself out."
"Which part of the process?" The girl swept back the cloak draping her horse and dismounted. She circled him and Hiccup did his best to follow her progress. "The thinking about it part? Or are you still at wishing?"
"I'm at the successful plotting part," Hiccup glared. There was something familiar about the girl's voice. The way it carried through the air and the cadence in its tones reminded Hiccup of someone but he couldn't place it.
"How long has that been going on?" The words were casual but Hiccup could read the playful irony in the arch of her brows. The girl took a few steps back and Hiccup could feel her gaze travel the length of his body. "An hour? Three?"
"Couldn't have been more than 45 minutes," he bit out, cheeks flaming. Movements jerky, he tucked his shirt back in.
"Don't get excited," the girl snorted. "I'm just looking."
"Look for a ladder then! Or a knife!"
"Touchy, touchy. You've been up there at least an hour." The girl laughed finally and it wasn't as bad as Hiccup feared. It wasn't mocking or insulting. It was a laughter that invited others to join in, a laughter that spoke of true delight rather than condescension. It had been a long time since he'd heard laughter directed towards him rather than at him. "Hamish, Hubert and Harris are really getting too good at this. I'll get you down in a moment."
"That's not really—" Hiccup began, then stopped. He really, really didn't want to spend any more time up here. The girl waited for him, the shadow of a smile in the corner of her lips. "Thank you," he said humbly. "I'd appreciate it."
The girl disappeared inside the castle gate. Thunder rumbled once more and the scent of rain drifted up to Hiccup's nose. The horse whickered and lifted its head up to smell him. It sneezed.
The girl reappeared, muttering under her breath, "Who taught them those knots anyway? Mum's gonna be furious we scared off the new stable boy and I know it'll be my fault."
"Problem?"
"Ah, just a minor setback."
Her forced cheer made Hiccup warier than he already was. "How minor? Like keep me up here minor?"
"Oh, I'll get you down. It's just a matter of how fast I'll do it."
"Eh, I'm over the view anyway," Hiccup shrugged, or tried to.
The girl doubled over laughing, "I like you. You're much quicker than your face lets on." Her words stung but her laughter soothed. The strange girl had a nice laugh. "All right then. Angus!"
The animal neighed, reluctant, before moving forward. It snorted in Hiccup's face, nearly hit him in the head as it tossed its own, walked a pace, then stopped. If Hiccup stretched out his arms, his fingertips would brush the saddle.
The girl fiddled with something strapped to the side of her saddle. It was only when the girl stepped a few paces back, bow in one hand and arrow in the other, that alarm pulsed through Hiccup.
"Wait, wait," Hiccup held out his hands. Suddenly, staying upside down didn't seem that bad. "That's your plan? You're going to shoot me?"
"You're not really my kind of target." A smile flashed across her face before her eyes narrowed. She drew the arrow and took aim. "Don't move."
"I thought you were just going to pass me a knife!" Hiccup squawked. "Let's talk about this some more! I'm sure there's a ladder ar—"
The bow snapped and Hiccup slammed against the creature's saddle. His arms wrapped around the animal's neck tightly. Quick footsteps sounded next to him.
"You all right?"
Hiccup gasped for breath. Blood rushed down his body, his head spun from the impact and his legs felt watery and weak. Through the haze of pain, he noticed the girl produce a knife from somewhere in the folds of her cloak. He started and she held out a placating hand.
"It's for the rope around your ankle."
"I got it," Hiccup wheezed. Reluctance at having her point anything sharp in his general person made him sit up far sooner than he'd have liked. "Thanks."
The girl's lips twitched, "Your hands are shaking. You're more likely to stab your foot as cut the rope."
"Just give me a few seconds," he muttered. The animal shifted underneath him and for the first time, Hiccup could appreciate its size. Her beast was the biggest he'd seen yet—all glossy black but for the white star on its forehead and white socks around its hooves. It was nearly as big around as Toothless. The comparison sent a sharp stab of loneliness in his chest.
Hiccup slid off the horse with a lot less grace than he'd have liked. He held out a hand for the knife, "May I?"
Nodding, she placed the blade in his palm.
Hiccup knelt and worked on the noose around his ankle. As he tugged and sawed at the rope, he glanced upwards every so often. Right side up, Hiccup could see that the girl was about his age, though she wasn't much taller than his shoulder. She wasn't extraordinarily beautiful like the Princess, but there was something arresting about her that made it hard to look away.
"You've a frank gaze," the girl said, brow raised.
Hiccup blushed but snapped back, "Don't get excited. I'm just looking."
"And a sharp tongue to match," she laughed again. "But aren't you a little too skinny for a stable boy?" Her hair was a little too long and big for a person, never mind a girl but she cut him off before he could respond. "Och, I'm late. Quick, give it over."
"Ah, if you just give me a second—" Hiccup sawed furiously at the rope.
"Not that. Your cloak!"
"What's wrong with yours?" Hiccup's gaze lingered at the deep green fabric. Even in storm light he could make out the intricate stitching in the cloth. The rope gave way under his hand and he handed her back the knife.
"It's mine," she responded simply and tucked the knife inside her cloak. "I need to borrow yours to sneak into the castle without my mother noticing."
"You—you live in the castle?" He figured her for a girl in the town with her horse and her bow and arrows.
"Aye," she laughed a little. Her eyes swept over him speculatively. "You're really not from around here, are you?"
"Uhh, you could say that." At the meaningful look she gave his cloak, Hiccup fumbled with the clasp, took it off and gave it to her. The girl put it around her shoulders and pulled the hood low.
"Perfect. I'll give it back to you, I promise," she said. "And I won't tell anyone how I found you if you don't tell anyone that I'm trying to sneak back into the castle."
"Sounds fair."
"So take Angus's reins and walk straight back to the stables. They'll think you found him and I can—"
"I found what—"
Voices from outside startled them both. Hoof beats and the whickering of horses drifted up the path. Motions quick, she dropped the reins in his hand. "Just act normal. I'll explain everything when we get there."
"Wait," he said, angling his head back to her. "Is this... is this dangerous?"
He couldn't make out her eyes since she'd pulled her hood so low, but he could make out the smile that sparked like dragonfire on her lips, "Oh, I hope so."
The walk back to the stables was probably the third most awkward experience Hiccup had on his trip so far. The horse liked him about as much as his mount to the castle. The beast kept trying to dance away from him and only the girl's soothing touch calmed it. Hiccup held the reins loosely in his left hand and tried not to let the bow slung next to the saddle bump against his shoulder. Every so often, he'd try to glance back. The girl would jab him painfully on the small of his back and he'd keep his face directed ahead. Once, he heard her sharp intake of breath as the guard at the gate to the inner keep hailed Hiccup.
"That's odd," she muttered. "You'd think the guard would know to tell the new stable boy where he ought to work."
Hiccup winced. Oh right. He hadn't cleared that up either. He turned around, "Actually, I'm not—"
"I told you not to talk," she whispered harshly and jabbed his back.
"Your fingers are too pointy," he hissed.
"I wouldn't have to jab you if you just shut your trap," she hissed back.
"That's the Princess's horse!" Hiccup and the girl both straightened. They were passing the practice yards where groups of boys about thirteen or fourteen still lingered. One elbowed his friend and pointed at them. The girl moved and suddenly Hiccup was aware of the warmth of her barely an inch from his back. It didn't make a difference. More boys looked and the muttering grew louder. "It is the Princess's horse. Hey! Where's the—"
"Run!" she shouted. Hiccup's brain failed him. Instead of stopping, he fell into step beside her, Angus's reins still in his hand. Together, they streaked through the inner courtyard, dodging serving girls, warriors, stable boys and workmen. The girl seemed to know the inner keep like the back of her hand. She led them through sharp turns and hidden corners before eventually losing sight of everyone.
As soon as they were alone, Hiccup whirled on her, "You stole the Princess's horse?"
"I did not steal—"
"What do you call this then?"
The girl let out a short, wild laugh, "It was just a joy ride."
"Oh gods," Hiccup panted. "I'm aiding and abetting a criminal."
"Don't be so dramatic," she snickered. Exertion made her cheeks flush and her eyes danced in the gloom of the storm light. "It was more of a joke than a crime. Besides, we're already at the stables. We're putting Angus right back where he belongs."
Hiccup blinked, looking around. In their haste, he hadn't even realized they slipped through a side entrance. The stables were warm, light and airy filled with the scent of hay, leather and what Hiccup was rapidly coming to recognize as the smell of horses. Some of the beasts were standing sleepily in their stalls but many stood empty.
"That was close," Hiccup frowned at her back as she began unfastening Angus's saddle. "What would have happened if we got caught?"
"Well, my mom would probably chain me to the castle and she'd have my dad kill you," she said, distracted, before turning around and dumping the saddle in Hiccup's arms. "Could you put that away for me?" She turned and began to lead the horse to the last stall at the end.
Hiccup sputtered, "Oh, that's comforting. Did I nearly get killed just so that you could get out of a scolding from your mom?" His hands groped awkwardly at the saddle. It was smaller but heavier than Toothless's saddle with more dangling straps.
"You don't know my mother," the girl said, looking back at him. She paused and a wry smile flitted across her face. "Ever had a parent who's larger than life, is considered perfect and respected by everyone, and you could just never live up to her expectations?"
Hiccup opened his mouth for a snarky retort before he fully comprehended her words. "Yeah," he sighed glumly. "I know exactly what you mean."
"Parent problems too?" she asked sympathetically. "You could put that saddle down, you know." She jerked her head towards the back area of the stables.
"My dad is kind of... No, he's literally larger than life," Hiccup said, looking around the room. There was a small wooden pillar with rods jutting out horizontally. On the wall was a row of hooks that already carried thin strips of leather and metal hanging. When he glanced back at the girl, her face was turned towards him, attentive and concerned even though her hands were busy brushing down her horse.
It was a novel experience. He'd never had someone he needed to explain his situation to. Everyone in Berk knew each other and everyone who came to Berk knew who his father was and who he was ("Stoick's little embarrassment" came Alvin's moniker from the past). It was...nice to explain.
He licked his lips as he tried to order his thoughts. "I have some pretty big shoes to fill. I'm supposed to take over the... family business, I guess you could say. Be more like him. But it's not really working out so well." There were narrow shelves built into the wall and he tried putting the saddle there. He was so engrossed trying to stuff the saddle into the small space that he didn't even notice the girl standing next to him.
"I hope your dad doesn't work on the stables," she laughed.
Hiccup smirked at the mental image of Stoick the Vast grooming a horse, "Well, no, he—"
"Did you mean to put that on the rack?" she interrupted once more.
"Uhh, yes," Hiccup said, looking around. What bloody rack was she talking about? After a few moments, he noticed the girl staring at him with a bemused expression on her face.
"Here, let's switch," she said. "Why don't you brush Angus and I'll put the saddle away." She held up an oval brush.
"It's ok. I've got this," Hiccup said. He was Gobber's chief blacksmith apprentice. He created order out of Gobber's chaos! He was not going to let weird Highlander architectural layout confound him. Besides, Angus was looking at him with marked suspicion and he really didn't feel like adding another horse bite to the one he had on his leg.
"No, it's okay, really," she said, shaking her head. "It just goes right over there. I can do it." She began taking the saddle out of Hiccup's hands.
"Wait, I—" Hiccup said, pulling the saddle back.
"Really, it'd be easier if I—"
They fumbled awkwardly, each trying to hold onto the saddle. Straps slipped out of Hiccup's grasp. Her fingers brushed against his. A curl of red hair tickled his nose. They bumped heads. They paused and looked at each other. His heartbeat quickened. Hiccup froze, now close enough to notice every freckle decorating her face, and fleck of blue in her large eyes. She was warm and smelled like the outdoors—grass, air and wildflowers.
She straightened, a pretty blush on her cheeks, pushed the brush against Hiccup's chest and took the saddle out of his arms. He watched her go, mouth parted in bewilderment.
"Where are you from exactly?" She hung the saddle on a wooden rod. Amazingly, it hung exactly in place even though the rod seemed far too small for it. "I've never seen anyone like you before. Your clothes are foreign, aren't they?"
Hiccup coughed, passing the brush from one hand to the next, "Yeah, I'm not really from around here." Suddenly, Hiccup didn't want to tell her his identity though he'd tried before. He couldn't explain it, but he didn't want to tell her that he was a Viking. He didn't want to have to act like the "dragon conqueror" of Berk in front of the first person in months he was able to have a sincere conversation.
She stared at him for a long moment, intrigued and looked him up and down. Hiccup shifted awkwardly, wincing at the sound of his prosthetic limb. "You look a bit familiar…" she murmured. There was a shout from outside and she started. "Och, can you finish brushing Angus for me? I really must go. My mom will be fuming by now." She hiked up her mud-splattered dress to her shins and ran off through a door in the back.
His mouth opened and closed soundlessly at her abrupt departure. He turned to face Angus who blew a distrustful snort in his face.
"It was good to meet you," came a shout from behind him.
Hiccup jumped, startled once again. Thor Almighty, how did the girl move about so quietly? He doubted even the twins were that good and they spent years sneaking around the village. He turned to see her watching him, a smile on her lips.
"You too!" he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Will I... maybe I'll see you around?" He winced, immediately regretting the comment. He sounded like an idiot.
Her lips quirked as if amused by a private joke. "Anything can happen," she said before disappearing once again.
"Oh wait, what about my cl—" but the door slammed shut. Hiccup looked back at Angus, "What just happened...?"
"HEY!" This time, a deep male voice made him jump. A tall muscular man wearing a rough spun green tunic tucked into a kilt walked towards him. He carried a great saddle in his arms that made him totter. As he got close, Hiccup caught the distinctive scent of mead and realized it was intoxication that made the man clumsy, not the weight of the saddle. "What were you doing with the princess?" he slurred.
"The princess?"
Author's Note: The long awaited meeting is finally here! Thank you to everyone who read/reviewed/favorited/followed the story! EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU to dracologistmaster, waveringshadow, noctus fury, zdrive, gremlin jack and nothingnothingtralala. So sorry about the long wait! I know I said I'd post this chapter by the end of January, but it just would NOT LET GO. I ended up making huge changes last week and I kept on working until the very last second. Please let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy!
waveringshadow: I loved that line too! So poignant and hysterical at the same time. Crablegs is a relative of Fishlegs but it won't come up until much, much later. Stoick sure can try pretending Hiccup is a great dragon slayer. This current chapter shows how soon that might blow up entirely.
Noctus Fury: Hiccup isn't making up stories of his great dragon-fighting skills; his dad is, lol. Hiccup's more, "ieeeehhhhh" about the whole thing. He is definitely trying to be more stereotypical Viking, though. As for Merida, you have to judge for yourself how she feels although I do promise there is always something deeper going on.
ZDrive: I admit, I felt secondhand embarrassment for Hiccup after this chapter.
Gremlin Jack: Hope this meeting was worth the wait :)
nothingnothingtralala: Thank you SO MUCH for your kind words. Your review kept me smiling and motivated even on days where it was so hard to push through. I hope you keep liking my work. I'm currently in between betas hence the errors that fall through the cracks . If the offer still stands, I'll definitely contact you after I figure out my schedule.
CROSSING THE HORIZON is the larger story in which the snippets of LIMINALITY take place. Please check out that story if you want to see more Hiccup and Merida interaction.
Finally, I post snippets of upcoming chapters or thinky thoughts regarding the story on my account nessalk in tumblr. If you want to see more, come check it out!