Hello everyone! Happy New Year! I thought I'd start this year out right by giving you guys a new chapter! It's been a while, sorry! But I hope you like it. Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave any comments or predictions you may have!
Chapter 11: The Fifth Suitor
Merida's hand clasps firmly onto the bow while her other hand hangs in the air, absent of the arrow that once was placed between her fingers and now resides within the flesh of the beast. Its cry of agony makes her heart tremor momentarily, but she quickly pulls herself back together and stands tall.
"Dang it…" Merida curses under her breath. She only hit its tail, nothing close to a fatal blow.
For a moment she grows still. Without even looking she can feel the thousands of eyes gawking in her direction. Turning her gaze to the crowd, she removes the hood from off her head. "I am Merida, princess of Dunbroch!" Her words are solid, echoing throughout the entire arena. She can hear the gasps surrounding her. But they do not make her falter. They do not make her doubt her decision. "And today I'll be slaying this dragon for meh own hand!"
The uproar in the stands grows even wilder.
"Merida!" She catches the faint sound of her mother's voice in the heap of them all. Yet she ignores it. Instead she focuses only on the monster that lies directly before her. As she looks deep into its glowing green eyes her fingers find their way behind her back and wrap around a new arrow. "Today," Merida murmurs under her breath, "nobody will be killing this dragon but me."
"Guards!" Her father orders. "Stop the tournament immediately!"
"Merida, stop this instant!" Queen Elinor bellows, jumping from her throne and marching down towards the arena."I forbid it!"
She does not listen. Swiftly Merida draws the bow from her quiver preparing for the next shot, but as she does so the Night Fury leaps from off of the fallen boy and charges in her direction. Letting out a shout she dodges the monsters strike just in time. But as soon as she's returned to her feet, so has the beast.
Taking off into a run Merida tries to create distance between her and the dragon. It's fast. Without hesitation she puts the arrow into place and prepares to fire. The eyes are the most vulnerable part of its body. If she can pierce one he'd be blinded momentarily and his senses would be weakened.
Now with a specific target Merida aims and fires. As the arrow flies, the Night Fury leaps to the side of the cage and wraps its giant claws around the metal bars, avoiding what would've been a direct hit. Then as Merida withdraws another arrow, the dragon becomes clever. Instead of chasing after her on the ground, it climbs overhead along the bars of the cage. Her eyes widen.
Rapidly releasing one arrow after another, now more irrationally than deliberately, Merida tries to wound the beast. Knock it down. But it's no use. The dragon's scales are far too tough and break her wooden arrows at impact.
This isn't good.
It's claws clang against the metal, getting louder the closer it hovers above her. Merida attempts to run, but she quickly realizes it will get her nowhere. The closer she gets to any one side of the arena, the closer she gets within the beasts range, leaving her trapped within the middle.
"Get those gates open!" She can hear her father thunder on the outskirts of the arena. Part of her wants to run, maybe she can make it out. But no, her feet remain planted. There's no running away from this.
RAWWWR! Body straight above hers, the Night Fury releases its mighty grip around the cage walls and drops. Merida's heart stops as the ginormous black beast comes crashing down.
"Merida!" Elsa cries from within the stands.
"No, Merida!" Her mother shrieks, pressing against the cage bars.
This is her last chance. Raising her bow up high she aims at its heart and lets out a ferocious cry.
"Move!" Abruptly Merida's body is shoved to the side and rammed into the sandy ground.
Her head spins for a moment from the hard fall. But she quickly becomes aware of the warm presence above her. "Wha…?" She moans, eyes focusing on the boy guarding her body with his. It's him! Hiccup!
Merida's teeth grinned together as she grows with fury. "How many times are yeh gonna get in me way!?" She roars, raising a fist to him. But he doesn't pay attention. Instead his eyes stay fixated on the Night Fury as it comes charging their way. Merida's vision fluctuates back and forth between him and the beast. "Get off meh!" She cries, attempting to grab ahold of another arrow.
"Don't!" He shouts, restraining her from getting up.
"What es your problem! It's gonna kill us you dunga!" Flailing her arms violently she fights to get out of his grasp.
"It's not dangerous, you just have to…" Hiccup tries to inform, but he is silenced by a slap in the face.
"Get out of meh way!" She screams, finally free of his restraint. Rolling back and rising to her feet she pulls back the arrow.
"Stop!" Before Merida can fire, Hiccup pushes her arm to the side, sending the arrow into oblivion. Then, like a fool, the boy places himself between her and the beast as if his scrawny body could protect them both. There's no time left do dodge.
"Dunga!" Merida cries, sealing her eyes shut and covering her head, waiting for the fatal impact. Dunga!
Nothing.
"Huh?" She whispers as a sandy gust of wind brushes against her body rather then a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Fluttering her lashes in attempt to see through the dusty air, Merida searches for the source of the abrupt silence. But when the air finally calms down her eyes stretch open unable to believe what lies before her.
Jaw almost dropping to the floor, Merida watches in amazement as the giant Night Fury stands before Hiccup, put to a halt and restraining from attacking any further.
"There, there…" He says calmly, lowering his hands towards the ground repeatedly. Whether it's his intention or not, this causes the beast to fall back to its hind legs as if being commanded to. "Ok…ok…" He sighs, his shaky arms dropping to his side.
Merida's body remains paralyzed along with her eyes as she stares in disbelief. How? How could he have stopped the dragon?
A sudden noise emanates from the beast. Not a dangerous one but rather a kind, friendly hum. Perhaps a purr? Hiccups stays standing before the beast, but does not dare grow any closer. Merida can hear his breaths, short and rapid. His hands continue to shake. She's amazed he hasn't collapsed from the shock.
"You're not dangerous…are you…"Hiccup whispers, just loud enough for her ears to catch. Unexpectedly Hiccup takes a step forward. A deep hiss escapes from the beasts throat as its gaze grows hostile. He stops. Instead of risking another step towards the beast, Hiccup lifts up his hand as an offering. "You're not dangerous…"
"What are you thinking?" Merida blurts, unable to stop herself.
He does not acknowledge her. Instead he holds his hand out to the creature without a sign of hesitation. As he does so the dragon's growl slowly dissolves back into a soft hum, and his bright eyes flicker with curiosity. Cocking it's head to the side in a friendly manner, the dragon sniffs the boys fingers, nose twitching, unsure of what to think. Merida can feel her eyes widen, unable to fathom why anyone would feed their hand to a monster. No one in their right mind would do such a thing. Yet he remains at the beasts mercy.
"Hiccup…" His name rolls off her tongue as she watches the boy, for the first time, stand strong and without fear. He almost looks like…
"Merida, get away from that dragon!" A voice suddenly bellows as the cage gates explode open and over a dozen guards flood into the arena. Merida's line of sight is torn away from Hiccup and drawn towards her father who marches her way, sword in hand.
RAAWWWR! The beast screeches as the guards rapidly surround them.
"No please…." Hiccup pleads, but his voice is swallowed up by the shouts from the soldiers as they form a circle to trap them in. "Don't attack, it'll only make him angry!"
"Gah!" Merida squeals when two unexpected arms wrap around her body, lifting her up into the air and pulling her out of the circle.
"Are you alright?" Fergus asks anxiously, gripping tightly to her shoulders with worry once she is reunited with the ground.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" She spits, shoving his hands off of her.
"Good. Guard, take my daughter and remove her from the arena." He orders.
"Wait, dad!" Merida tries to object, but is quickly pushed to the side. While forcefully being carried out, she tries to watch over her shoulder as the guards continue to surround Hiccup and the dragon.
Violently they yell and shout, waving their spears and swords at the Night Fury. Hiccup tries to calm the beast, but it's no use. "Please, stop!" He cries to the guards. "You're only making him scared!" His words do nothing. The guards continue to close in.
Then from behind a rope is thrown. More are tossed into the air and wrapped over and around the dragons body. It fights and struggles to get loose, but more and more rope finds its way around the Night Fury's limbs and wings. Soon it can no longer stand. "Tie em up nice and tight!" Fergus orders, helping along side the others to bind the beast. "I don't want anymore trouble with this monster! Make sure he gets locked up and prepared to be executed!"
"What? No!" Hiccup yells, chest growing numb. Teeth clenched he runs beside the Night Fury and cuts the rope wrapped around his legs. "Don't hurt him!" He demands, going after another that runs over his back.
"Merida!" Her eyes are suddenly forced away from the arena when a cold hand grips onto her cheeks and harshly jerks her face in the opposite direction. Chills run down her spine the moment her gaze meets her mother's. "How dare you do this!" She growls, hand shaking as it clings to her face. Merida is left speechless, unable to utter a word while staring into the fire blazing within her eyes. "Come with me! Immediately!"
Grabbing onto her wrist, Merida's mother drags her away from the crowd, only giving her one last glance of the arena to see the dragon pinned to the ground, and Hiccup nowhere to be found.
"I don't believe you! I've just about had enough of you, lass!" Elinor shouts bitterly, tossing Merida into her room and slamming the door behind them. "You could have been killed!"
"You're the one that wanted me to…!" Merida tries to yell back but her mother doesn't give her the chance.
"You just embarrassed them! You embarrassed me!" She growls, pointing her finger towards Merida like a dagger.
"I followed the rules!" She shouts.
"You don't know what you've done!"
"I don't care how…"
"They'll be fire and sword if it's not set right." Her words cut Merida's short. "You might have just ruined DunBroch's only chance of peace and prosperity!"
Face growing red with frustration, Merida stomps her foot into the ground."Just listen!" She begs.
"I am the queen! You listen to me!" Her voice roars almost loud enough to shake the walls and send them tumbling to the ground.
"Oh!" She groans, digging her fingers into her head. "This is so unfair!
"Huh! Unfair?" Elinor scoffs, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You were never there for me!" Merida whales. Lifting her head she reveals her watery eyes on the verge of flooding. "This whole marriage is what you want! Do you ever bother to ask what I want? No! You walk around telling me what to do, what not to do! Trying to make me be like you! Well, I'm not going to be like you!"
"Ach! You're acting like a child!" She spits.
"And you're a beast!" Merida's throat grows tight as her oncoming tears start to boil with rage. "That's what you are!" Grabbing the sword beside her bed she lifts the long blade up to the hanging family tapestry.
"Merida!" Her mother gasps.
"I will never be like you!" She cries, digging the tip of the sword deep in between the woven threads.
"No! Stop that!"
"I'd rather die than be like you!" All goes deathly silent as the sound of shredded cloth echoes between the stone walls. Hands over her gaping mouth, Merida's mother stares in complete distraught at the giant hole now hanging in the middle of the tapestry.
Her eyes dart back and forth between the destroyed canvas and her daughter, unable to comprehend what just happened before her eyes. Merida can feel the adrenaline still pumping through her veins, almost getting an exciting thrill from the rebellious act. But all that goes away the moment her mother removes her hands from her face and glowers at her in complete horror, fists shaking. Merida can feel as a giant ball of saliva slips down her throat, almost clogging up her airway.
"You are a princess!" Her mother spits between her clenched teeth, marching directly towards her. She quickly backs away a few steps, but can't stop her mother from grabbing viciously onto her bow that's wrapped around her body and ripping it over her head. "I expect you to act line one!" With one last snarl and nasty glance, Elinor turns away from Merida and tosses the bow in the flaming fireplace.
"No!" Merida cries, clenching onto her face as she watches the flames consume her wooden bow and digest them into ash. "No…" The tears that she's held back for so long finally find their way down her cheeks. Unable to look at her mother for a second longer, Merida lets out a gruesome sob and backs away in disgust, sprinting out of the room.
"Merida! Merida!" She hears her mother shout, but is already down the hall and flying down the staircase before she can catch another word.
While bolting through the castle walls, she ignores the maids as they call her name and try to stop her. She just keeps running, continuously wiping the flow of tears uncontrollably pouring down her face.
How could she? How could she? She doesn't understand! She'll never understand!
Merida bursts through the stable doors to see Angus munching away on a new stack of hay. She doesn't even bother to saddle him. Hoping onto his bare back she digs her heels deep into his belly and the horse bursts from his stable and into the streets.
The people shout as Merida and Angus gallop through the town, not stopping for anyone in their way. She tries to watch where she's going but the tears overflowing her eyes only make her vision blurry and useless. Sobbing she buries her head into Angus's mane and clings to his neck.
She doesn't understand! No one understands! No matter what I do, nothing can change my fate! Nothing!
Merida remains blind to where Angus carries her, as he dashes past DunBroch's doors, and enters into the woods.