Healing The Wounds Of War

'A princess should not be conducting common labour', Merida mumbled as she and Stormfly lowered a wooden beam onto the roof frame of a half built house. 'I bet that's what my Ma would be saying right now'.

She and the Deadly Nadder finished their task, earned a thanks from the Viking repair team below and flew off to their next task. Bringing in a catch of fish from Mulch and Bucket's fishing boat. As the duo flew over Berk, the red haired Highlander took a moment to observe her friends home and thought of their predicament.

The damage and wounds of the battle between the Berkians and their allies against the Skull Cleaver armada had took over two weeks to heal. The first week had involved taking care of the injured and honouring the dead. Both weeks had been resolved around rebuilding the Village. Despite most of the Village being destroyed, priority was given to people who could be saved rather then wrecked houses, the result being that most of the population of Berk was residing in the Great Hall over two weeks. Repairs were now almost complete however, with a day or two just to go.

Many injuries amongst the defenders of Berk had not been fatal, the worst in most cases being an amputated limb. But there had been mortal wounds amongst others. For some, the damage had been done and it had been too much for their bodies to handle. Some had died during their treatment from Gothi and the healers, others went on to die in their sleep, their injured souls finally at rest.

The one closest to death's door had been none other then Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. After the Pride of Berk had entered the Great Hall and had comforted his girlfriend, he had collapsed from his injuries and sheer exhaustion. Gothi had diagnosed that the young Hope and Heir of Berk had managed only to stay conscious during the last part of his battle and making his way back to Berk through sheer willpower alone.

With the rest of the injured of Berk having been tended and treated before his return, the air was tense as the entire community of Vikings and Dragons waited to hear news of the Pride of Berk's health. Hours passed, and it was only when the elderly Healer emerged from the building and scribbled in the dirt that the worst had passed did the whole of Berk sigh with relief.

'You really did us all quite a fright there Hiccup love', she mumbled as she stroked Stormfly's neck.

It had turned out that Hiccup had received more then enough wounds to kill warriors greater then himself. The cuts and bruises on his body had been the least of worries.

He had fractured the shin in his good leg. He had lost a large amount of blood. Slashes on his arms showed that the braces on his forearms had not held back all of his enemy's attacks. The knuckles on his left hand had been broken, probably from punching his armoured foe too much, his own face was red and purple from the Headtaker's own punches. Four of his ribs on his left had been cracked, and then there was the deep vertical and horizontal cuts on his right and his chest, as well as other injuries on his chest and stomach where his enemy's attacks had damaged his armour and found their mark.

The worst injury of all had been the shoulder wound from where the enemy Chieftain had driven his spearhead into the flesh there. The cruel weapon had been long and serrated, it had almost found it's way to something vital if it had sank in deeper. Despite his pain and the stupor caused by the healing herbs, Hiccup had insisted on keeping the blade, as a remembrance and trophy of the events surrounding it. It was added to his personal collection alongside his shield, helmet, the blue quill from Hamish the First's hoard and the medal he had won from Thawfest two years ago.

I'm not sure I would want to keep the weapon that nearly killed me myself, Merida thought aloud as she and Stormfly flew over the sea towards Mulch and Bucket's fishing boat. But Hiccup is a man and a Viking after all I suppose. Dad always kept the bear skins of the ones he's fought against.

Merida had remembered the scene well. She had had to hold a concerned Astrid back as Stoick had lifted his Son up, carrying him off to the Healer's Hut, trying to keep his own emotions reined in. Skullcrusher had also had to restrain a distraught Night Fury, growling sounds of comfort as he pinned the younger Dragon down. When the all clear had been given, Astrid, Merida and Stoick had ran into the building to find the Pride of Berk propped up against a pile of cushions, his wounds redressed and rewrapped in fresh cloth bandages, barely awake from exhaustion.

All three guests had almost collapsed with relief, with Astrid and Stoick smothering the lad with hugs and kisses. After they had finished with their affection, the red haired princess had walked over, and had given her friend a warm hug and a peck on the cheek before shoving a tankard of cold ale into his bandaged hands. The four shared small talk until a certain Night Fury had come crashing in. Upon seeing his Rider, Toothless had bounded forward, knocking everyone out of the way in his excitement as he leapt onto Hiccup's bed, showing his devotion through slobbery licks.

'TOOTHLESS!' Hiccup roared with laughter and pain. 'YOU KNOW THAT DOESN'T WASH OFF!'

The black Dragon warbled loudly in delight as his gathered friends laughed aloud for the first time in three days. Eventually, Hiccup's eyes began to droop, and Stoick, Merida and Toothless left, leaving Astrid alone to snuggle up against her slumbering boyfriend.

Back in the present, Merida landed the fishing boat and greeted the two Viking fishermen.

'Morning Mulch, morning Bucket', she chirped merrily. 'I'm here to collect the latest catch'.

'Well, good morning to yer too, yer Highness', greeted Mulch, tapping his helmet with his hook. 'How are yer today'.

'Hello your Highness', Bucket smiled cheerfully as he waved.

'No need for that guys', she chuckled, giving the two a warm smile. 'We're all friends here'.

A princess does not mingle with mere fishermen and engage in idle chit chat Merida memorized with annoyance another one of her Mother's stupid quotes as the two Viking's smiled in return, pulling forward the net of their latest hurl of fish.

'Thanks Mulch, thanks Bucket, see you later', Merida waved them goodbye as she and the Deadly Nadder took off again.

There had been deaths. Merida had remembered the blood, the crying of tears and the screams of pains, all moulded with the flames that had threatened to engulf Berk. Whilst their losses had not heavier then the Skull Cleavers, thanks to them being the defensive and due to Hiccup's tactics, the smaller population of Berk made even a portion of their people dead a great loss.

A princess does not take up arms and draw the blood of the enemy her Mother had lectured in the past. Nor does she soil herself in the dirt and blood of the wounded, that is the duty of the physicians.

Merida had been at the frontline, fighting alongside her friends and allies, something her Father would have approved, something her Mother would have not. Being at Gothi's side after the battle, helping the mute Healer to treat the injured. She had remembered holding onto the hand of a young Viking warrior, whispering words of comfort to her as death had taken her. She had then had to take a breather herself as she wiped away tears of sadness, trying to shut out the smell and sounds of death and suffering surrounding her. Those were memories of her friends and allies suffering and dying, she would never forget for the rest of her life.

In order to ensure that the bodies of the war dead were given the respect they deserved, a week of mourning was announced to ensure they honoured when they would sent off to the Halls of Valhalla. This had involved funeral pyres. Those that were unhurt or had escaped serious injury had taken up an axe and followed the Chief of Berk to make the necessary preparations.

There had been a great felling of trees, as the Vikings and Dragons constructed boats and pyres on them, to ship out the honoured dead. For many years afterwards, there was a great clearing where there had once been trees, and no Viking was allowed to build or till on that land, in respect for the people and reptiles that had bravely and without hesitance sacrificed themselves for their home and way of life.

As she and Stormfly flew back to Berk in the present tense, Merida closed her eyes, recalling what had transpired after the deforestation. On that fateful mournful afternoon, she had stood in line with a group of archers. It had been late afternoon and the sky had been filled with thick, grey depressing clouds. She had wore her Viking attire and had refused to be treated like a guest of honour. That day had not been hers, it was to honour Berk's dead, and this only drew more love and respect from the Vikings to the young Highlander. She stood on the Shelf, overlooking the Harbour, watching with the rest of Berk, as Stoick the Vast walked along the Pier, followed by his council as he gave his Chieftain's Blessing to the ships that were carry the lost to their rightful resting place. She had spotted an injured Hiccup following his Father and Chief dutifully, limping painfully and slowly, but fast enough to keep up with his Sire.

'Battered and wounded, but just as duty bound and stubborn as his Old Man', she had smiled as she thought of her friend.

After the Chief and Heir had given their Blessing's, the ships of honoured dead were pushed of, drifting freely in the waters of the Harbour, before the wind and currents caught them and carried them off out to sea. As Stoick, Hiccup, Gobber and others spoke loudly in Viking prayer, Gothi nodded sadly to Merida. She dipped her arrow in a nearby torch offered. She then lifted her bow and pulled back the bowstring, taking aim. And fired, the burning missile flying high and true, hitting the mast of the lead ship and igniting the oil soaked sails. Within the moment, the other archers shot off flaming arrows, some missing and fizzling out in the water, but most finding their mark on the floating funeral pyres. As darkness finally engulfed Berk on that night, twenty great fires could be seen burning in the middle of the black, cold ocean, but no cheer or song of celebration was heard that night. The only feast that night, Merida had learned, would be in the Halls of Valhalla, welcoming the deceased warriors of Berk.

Back in the present, Dragon and Rider brought back the fish, dropped it off at the Storehouse, and flew off into the clouds. Releasing the reins on Stormfly's saddle, Merida leant backwards, letting the wind blow against her armour and letting her red braid wave freely. She closed her eyes, sighing blissfully and revelling in the peace and serenity of the sky.

'So much has happened since I arrived on Berk months ago', she thought aloud.

Opening her eyes again, she reached forward and patted the side of Stormfly's neck, smiling as the Deadly Nadder squawked happily.

'I've changed'.

Since meeting Hiccup and arriving on Berk, the red haired Highlander had encountered and experienced new things, things she would never have had if she had remained at home in the sheltered life of Castle Dun'Broch and under the watchful eye of her caring, but overbearing Mother.

She had been to new places, she had met new people and had made new friends. She had learned so much about Viking culture and tradition, and she had taught them about her home and way of life in return. She had met Dragons and had bonded and ridden the magnificent beasts. She had had amazing adventures and had encountered great battles. She had killed people, both in self defence and in the defence of her allies, and it was not as if she was proud of taking another life, it had either been her or friend, or them. She had become a Valkyrie, a Viking woman in essence. She had been accepted by these people in a way she had never been accepted for back at home. And she wouldn't have it any other way. She had changed.

'One thing is for certain', she finally said aloud. 'I've changed for the better and when I return home, I'm not going to be the same person I was when I left. To be honest, I have no intention of going back like that ever again'.

'HOI! MERIDA!' a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

She looked down. And smiled. On the back of Toothless, she saw Hiccup and Astrid flying up towards her, both waving and smiling freely. Highlander waved back at her Viking friends as the Night Fury came level with the Stormfly.

'Hey Hiccup, hey Astrid', Merida grinned. 'Want yer Dragon back?'

The Shield Maiden stood up on Toothless's back and leapt across the sky, landing with grace on the Deadly Nadder's back, sitting down behind the redhead. Freya's Wrath smiled at her friend. Astrid had recovered fully and was once again her full, old self again. 'Fearless' Hofferson had returned.

'Not just yet Merida', Astrid smiled back. 'It's been some time since I've flown and Hiccup and Toothless are in the mood for a race'.

'Oh really', Merida smirked as she looked to her side.

'Well, Toothless and I have been stuck on the ground for a while', Hiccup stated. 'So yeah, we thought a bit of intense flying would do just the thing'.

'Soooo, boys versus girls then?' chirped Merida

Stormfly squawked as Astrid smiled.

'Let's go girls'.

The Deadly Nadder and her two Riders sped off into the horizon, followed closely by a Night Fury carrying a wounded, but recovering Pride of Berk after them. All that could heard were wild laughs and sounds of excitement.

The wounds of war had healed.

Sorry for the delay everyone, after the last two chapters I had to do some thinking for a chapter to bridge a gap between a battle and the recovery period for Berk and eventually Merida's return home.

Queen Elinor's lectures to Merida were probably the most annoying and boring part of Brave. Since she's been on Berk for so long and has experienced so much, it's only natural that she's going to have changed and will refuse to return to the way she was before she met Hiccup and travelled to Berk , once she returns home. This will shape the remaining few chapters of this story, and will influence and pave the way for my next story with the Merida, Hiccup and Berk.

I never leave a story unfinished. I'll update as soon as possible. Until next time take care everyone and enjoy :) .