Chapter Nine

- Summer, Spring, and Autumn -

Rapunzel sighed, thin brows arched upwards. "I have magic hair that glows when I sing."

Merida snorted,"Yeah, we noticed." Her curls bounced as she spoke, falling in frizzy ringlets down to her hips.

They turned to Jack as he spoke, words quiet with realization. "That's why you never left that tower."

It clicked in Hiccups mind, gears whirling as the truth came to light. He spoke without thought, without censor, gaze unknowingly locked on a leaf crushed into the moist dirt. "You're mother was concerned for your safety and never let you leave! People would pay a fortune for hair like that!" Hiccup regretted speaking as soon as the words left his mouth. Why did he have such a big one?

Rapunzel's eyes filled with tears and she held her stomach, face morphing unattractively into that of anguish and guilt. Merida moved to comfort her, pity shinning in her eyes. "Wee lamb, don't cry." 'I guess everyone has a good side.' Hiccup thought bitterly, wondering mildly how she could be both merciless and merciful. Maybe its a princess thing.

Rapunzel fell to her knees and put her head in her hands, trembling. "I am a horrible daughter!" She rasped, voice wavering from overflowing guilt.

Hiccup looked to Jack who was glaring at him. His normally cheerful face was filled with anger, anger at Hiccup making Rapunzel cry. He spoke to Hiccup through clenched teeth, eyes glinting darkly. "Fix this." He hissed, his out of character malice sending chills down the Vikings spine. Hiccup began sweating, what did he do to deserve this? He took a step towards Rapunzel, but Merida stopped him with a cold look. She searched his face, looking for something, a possible sign of foul intent. Then she nodded, seeming satisfied, and gestured for him to come over.

Now his only problem was what to say. Having a history of making apologies, you'd think he'd be an expert, but his awkward personality got in the way of that. "I'm sorry Rapunzel. It wasn't my place to say anything." She continued crying, shoulders beginning to shake beneath Merida's arm. "But your right. Mother loves me and I betrayed her. She'll never forgive me."

Hiccup could feel Jacks cold glare. He took a different approach. "Rapunzel, if you hadn't of left, I wouldn't have meet you! I wouldn't have seen Jack or go to Scotland. You coming here made my life much more exciting." Rapunzel sniffled and looked up at him. "And stressful." Hiccup laughed. "ALOT more stressful. But I'd take on ten times more stress if it meant never meeting you."

Hiccup was rewarded with a small smile. Merida helped Rapunzel to her feet. "See, it's not so bad. I'll tell ye what, ye can go an' see my castle! Would ye like tha'?"

Rapunzel looked to her, confused. "But weren't you just attacking us?" Merida laughed awkwardly, freckles hidden behind a light, blotchy blush. "Ye see, I thought ye wer' bandits. There are usually several around here this time of year."

Hiccup looked to the ground, digging his shoe into the soil in an attempt at causality. Albeit it was lost with his muttered words. "That's some excuse." He was ignored.

Rapunzel's face brightened, like that of a curious child's, and she found herself unable to refrain from gushing. "Bandits! Mother told me about those! How long are their fangs?" Merida raised an eyebrow, but seemed to accept her blatant ignorance for what it was. "Ye have alot to learn. Oh, and ye boys can come." She looked at Hiccup and he felt a blush creep onto his face.

He coughed."Sounds nice." Feeling uncomfortable, his gaze traveled the forest, wanting to land on anything but her, and as a result he noticed Jacks absence. "Where's Jack?" Rapunzel shook her head and Merida grunted, unstringing her bow. "The white haured one flew off. Went to cause some trouble I'll bet."

Hiccup had seen the look in Jacks eyes and wasn't sure if he agreed, but he also didn't want to risk an argument with the fiery haired princess. He shook his head and nodded to the girls. "Let's go."

The castle was a lot bigger up close.

Unlike Hiccup, Merida was quite popular around town. As she walked through the streets people waved and smiled like seeing her really was a good addition to their day. Them being respectful to her in turn made people stare at the strangers less. They seemed to trust Merida enough not to judge the people she chose to hang out with, strangers or not.

As they progressed through the town, watching children run across the streets and listening to merchants chatter, Hiccup was faced with a growing dilemma. He really was starting to like this girl. Her people seemed tough. Even the women had firm jaws and a level of confidence in their eyes that proved their worth. Hiccup was taught growing up that only Vikings had that level of confidence.

When they entered the castle, they were greeted by a thin prestigious looking woman with brown peppered hair. "Merida, what's the meaning of this?" Her voice was tight and crisp, and both Hiccup and Rapunzel were stunned into silence by her dignified air of authority. Merida didn't share their feelings, it seemed, for she sagged her shoulders and rolled her eyes, her bow dragging on the ground.

"Mother! These are just some guests here t'stay the nigh-"

"Not that, this!" The mother interrupted, snatching the hem of her daughters skirt. "This is filthy! Merida, how many times have I told you that a princess doesn't-"

"Doesn't play in dirt, aye know."

Merida pulled herself from her mothers grasp and grabbed Rapunzel's wrist, Hiccups quick eyes taking note of the dirt under her short nails. "I'll show are guests' t'ther rooms." Pushing past her mother she stormed off, her and the blonde's skirts dancing about. Hiccup followed, giving the queen an apologetic smile beneath the weight of her glare.

Instead of showing them their rooms Merida marched straight into hers, dragging Rapunzel along with her. Hiccup barely made it in before she slammed the solid, oak door. Merida then turned around and collapsed face first into her bed, words spoken with a muffled voice. "If ye ar just standing ther watching me then ye can leave." Rapunzel looked to Hiccup, her eyebrows raised at their new...friend's behavior.

Well it wasn't as though their was anything else they could do, and Hiccup occupied himself by staring at the floor boards while Rapunzel moved to the window.

He hated situations like this, and it didn't help that he was already quite possibly the most awkward person alive. He lifted his gaze, taking in the candle lit room and the way the shadows lay across it. His eyes traveled over to the window, and he noted the way Rapunzel's hands were tightly clenched to the window sill. Her lips were hardened into a worried line, and the candle light illuminated her soft features, strands of golden hair loosening from the braid. Hiccup made his way over to her, took a deep calming breath and said,"Are you worried?"

Rapunzel laughed softly, bitterly. "About Jack? He can handle himself." A beat of skeptic silence, and she sighed, turning to him and confessing the truth. "I'm just worried that he'll go back on his promise." She then looked into Hiccups green eyes, hers filled with renewed confidence. "I won't let him stop me from seeing the lights."

Hiccup had no idea what the 'lights' were, but he couldn't deny her determination. So he nodded and looked back out the window, lips moving of their own accord in an attempt to sooth her troubled mind. "Jack wouldn't go back on his promise, especially one he made to you."

Rapunzel looked at him sternly, a reaction he hadn't expected. "And just how would you know that?" Hiccup resisted the urge to grown. How he hated drama. "Because he cares about you. I don't know how I know that, I only know that it's true." Rapunzel smiled, another unexpected reaction, but this one welcome. "You think so?" Hiccup grinned, the light of which almost reached his eyes. "I know so punz." They both looked back to the window, looking for some sign that he was out there. Snow started falling heavily, but there was no sign of Jack.

Hiccup turned slightly, looking at Merida. She had fallen asleep and was snoring softly, head and shoulders haloed by her fiery curls. Her face lost its hardness when she slept, and she seemed almost peaceful.

He saw Rapunzel looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?" He asked. She turned back to the window. "Nothing. Nothing at all." Her tone was teasing and she wore a small smile freely on her face. He felt his features warm and he looked to the snow again.

He understood why he found himself looking at Merida so frequently, and why Rapunzel's face held the expression it did, and he didn't like it. So he shook his dark mane of a hair cut and watched the storm.

sorry that I haven't updated a bunch this week(or at all). I have been struggling with chapter 9, but I made it through. I know that this chapter isn't very good, but chapter 10 will be better. I was asked to put more characters in the story so I tried. (I kind of struggle with to many characters.) next chapter will have pitch, future merida(we haven't seen her in a while) and her daughter. I don't intend to but I usually make jack a crybaby. Oh well. thank you so much for reading and please review. I like feed back. if you have any requests just go ahead, it's the Internet, everything is anonymous, I don't know who you are! Thank you again for reading And I will post again this week. you can always count on me to post on the weekends and I might surprise you and post during the week. occasionally. 1,194 to 1,752. Not much growth on this one, huh?