Opening her blue eyes, Astrid let her head roll to the side as she tried to focus. That was when she realized that she was bound and gagged! Her eyes shooting open she looked all around. She was in a cell!

Forcing herself to sit up on the cot she looked around. Her hands were locked inside some sort of a wooden contraption and her legs were chained together, her hands behind her back. The gag in her mouth.

As her eyes focused with the little bit of light that was coming in through the window she found Spider standing there leaning on the cell door! The sinister smile on his face told her exactly why she didn't like him in the least. He was an Outcast!

Laughing as the realization hit her blue eyes Spider crossed his arms. "You got it honey. I am an Outcast. Well actually the Leader of them now that my dad is gone. Yep I am the son of Alvin."

Opening the door he walked in and stood before her, with a glare as she glared up at him. "Your family was once an Outcast family too. But Stoic's father and your grandparents made amends before Stoic was ever born. However, my grandfather knew that one day we would overcome Berk."

Going to the window and looking out over the desolate piece of rock that they were forced to live on for so long. "Even back then my grandfather knew that one day we would overthrow Berk. And that since my grandmother was already pregnant with Dad, it would be the next generation. Ours. He wanted to make sure I had a wife, or if I was a girl a husband."

Her eyes had tears falling as she listened to him and starred at the ground. Was that the contract? They really agreed to such a thing knowing they were going to be leaving and going back to Berk?

Turning back to her with a glare, Spider half smiled. "I talked dad into letting me chose my own wife, one who would want to see me reach our goal. Not one like you who would do anything to stop me from reaching it. My wedding to you two days ago was nothing more than a way to force you to leave Hiccup."

Laughing at the rage and pain that flew into her eyes he stooped down before her and grabbed her chin making her look into his own eyes. "I can't stand you. I think you are probably the ugliest person in the world. I did this so that he would leave Berk with that damn Night Fury he has. That woman wasn't supposed to be here either. Alpha was gonna keep her and force her to be his. But my dad must of blundered it somehow. So I had to change the way things were going to go. Now I got you and I plan on using whatever feelings that Hiccup may have for you to ground that damn dragon and take them both out at once."

As her eyes filled further with rage Spider laughed then let go of her chin he stood up and walked out the cell. "You and your dragon are our bargaining chips in this battle now. Hope they care enough about you not to let you die." He then stood and laughed as he left her cell and the dungeons. Two more days and everything would be done. Alpha will be there soon and then they were going to Berk.

X

Sitting outside with Embers on a bluff over Hiccup's home, Merida looked down out over the sea. He talked about how he didn't trust her. He said he wouldn't forgive her for what she did so willingly. And yet, she still saw something in his eyes, a pain she knew all to well in them. She wondered if she did try to make a move for him if he would go back to her? But now that she was gone and married, should she herself say anything to him? Or wait and see if she is reading it wrong and let him come to her about it?

"Can I sit?"

Jumping then looking up to see her mother Merida smiled. "Of course Mum."

Sitting down next to her daughter, still not used to seeing her in a skirt to her knees with pant son under it. But the clothes she had on suited her and her fiery spirit that she had. And she saw it. She saw that look in her eyes when she would look at Hiccup. The same look she had with the stable boy that broke her heart. But she also saw the same look in his eyes when he looked at her, not the blond.

Reaching over and resting her hand on Merida's knee she pointed to the stars and sighed. "You remember the wisps right?"

"The willow of the wisps? Yes. Why are you bringing them up again?"

"They lead us to our fate. Your fate was to change the way that DunBroch handled the marriage of the princess. Instead of being forced to marry someone they knew nothing about, they are allowed to find love on their own now. Thanks to you. You started it and your daughter will have that same freedom now." Then she looked up at the stars as she let out a small sigh. "But sometimes fate takes many turns while it takes you to where you belong."

"Mum I know all that but you are starting to talk in riddles." Merida looked at her mother odd then her eyes went wide when a tear fell from her face. "Mum are you okay?"

"I am. But I see it in your eyes sweetheart. When you look at him."

Dropping her head now with sad eyes, Merida let her shoulders slump. "Mum it isn't so simple as just telling him so please don't tell me that is what I need to do." Again, her eyes flashing and seeing Hiccup's face and the hurt that flew into them when that Spider guy told him who he was. "I don't think I could tell him knowing what happened too long ago."

"I think Fate will take a hand in this Merida." Standing again, she turned and headed back to the house. "Just trust in yourself and what you feel in your heart you should do. Not your head." Once she reached the house she turned and smiled as from the side, Hiccup and Toothless landed next to her, and the spark that was in her daughter's eye as she saw him. "I will miss her awful. But I believe that here is where she really needs to stay."

X

Sitting down next to her, Hiccup sighed. Everyone knew what they were going to do. Who was going to get the women who were not going to fight and all the children to safety and where that was. But right now, before the fighting started he had to have a talk with Merida. About the kiss.

Looking over at her and how she looked up at the stars with those perfect blue eyes he smiled then picked up a rock and tossed it down into the water bellow. "Merida…."

"What is it?"

With a sigh as he closed his eyes he dropped his head. "I need to talk to you about the kiss the other day at your castle. You see….." But his eyes went wide when he felt her hand touch his mouth to stop him.

Merida kept her own eyes closed as she kept her fingers on his to keep him from saying anything. "I know what you are going to say and it is alright. I will get over it in time…"

"Stop Merida. You need to let me finish." Hiccup took her by the hand and started to walk away with her along the edge of the bluff. "You have to hear me out okay. From what you said I don't think got it right."

"What do you mean?"

Stopping and looking up at the star filled sky he sighed as he kept holding her hand. "My dad always used to say how I can't run from my fate. Well not always, but since I tamed the dragons and we all made friends with them. But he told me I was destined to take over as chief for him one day but I always believed that fate had another course for me." Turning to her he smiled. "At one point in time I always thought that was going to build a life with Astrid. Then she did what she did. Up until you, I swore I would never find anyone who would heal me."

"Hiccup what are you…."

Touching her mouth with his hand now he looked in her eyes with a serious look. "Before the kiss I had been fighting with myself over you for days. There was something about you that I couldn't put my finger on. And then in that moment a kiss seemed like the natural thing to do, and it happened."

Dropping her head she sighed as she half closed her eyes. "But there is a but in there isn't there."

"There is. But I didn't expect to not be able to get you off my mind because of it. The entire way here from your castle and while we have been working the last two days to get things ready for when Alpha shows up, I tried to focus on Astrid and what we had before I met you Merida." He then reached out and made her look up at him as his eyes half closed as well. "I couldn't get past you half the time to do it. When Spider told me who he was, it did hurt some, but not as bad. When they got married two days ago, and I saw dad come in the Great Hall after it was done it didn't hurt like I thought that it was going too. I didn't even fall for her this fast."

Her eyes going wide as she gasped and kept eye contact with those glorious green eyes of his, she let tears build in the corners of her own. "This fast?"

Nodding as he cupped her cheek he half smiled. "I don't know where this could go. I don't know how it is going to end up. But after a few days of doing almost nothing but thinking about it. I want to see if I am right. And that I have fallen for you and want you to stay here with me."

Blushing now and breathing heavy she couldn't tear her eyes from his. "How are you going to find that out Hiccup?"

"Like this." Hiccup then let go of her hand and pulled her closer to him and leaned down toward her face.

Merida watched as his face came closer and closer to her own, her eyes closing to match his. Laying her hands on his chest a second before once again he gently pressed his lips to her own.

The second their lips touched, both tensed the relaxed when that same bolt of lightning went down their spines. Ice swam through their veins. Their hearts raced. After a moment when he pulled his mouth from hers, Hiccup half smiled at her as he still held her close. "I got my answer then."

"And what is that?"