Chapter 14: Give me strength.
He had gathered everybody in the library. He told them about what he had seen at the villa, the strange behavior of the skies and sea.
"So...ye believe meh now?" asked Merida.
Jack looked at her, she looked frail and weak, not as much as before, but her skin was still pale and she had bags under her eyes.
He knelt in front of where she sat, right in between Hiccup and Rapunzel, and grabbed her hands.
"Yes, Mer, I believe you, and I want to apologize for doubting you in the first place". He said.
Merida smiled, looking at Hiccup, he wrapped his arm around her and hugged her.
She laughed and looked at Jack again. "Ah accept yer apology".
Jack smiled too and rose to his feet.
"What are we supposed to do now?" asked Tooth.
Jack let a sigh escape his lips and ran a hand through his hair. "The only thing we can do".
He looked at everyone in eye as he said it.
"We have to defeat the darkness again, no matter what the cost is".
...
Later that night...
Astrid roamed the halls of th castle. She had never been so bored in her entire life. She wasn't allowed to go outside, she wasn't allowed to bring Stormfly inside either. Her friends, however, could do anything they wanted, but since she was the Queen of Autumn, she had to stay inside where it was safe.
She walked by the library, not once had she been inside it, and heard a voice through the slightly open door. Hiccup's voice.
He was talking to someone, but she couldn't decipher his words.
She slowly slid the door open crept inside. The library was enormous, and truly magnificent. She looked to her right, seeing the fireplace, and spotted Hiccup's messy auburn hair. Lines of bookshelves were line in front of her, the last row of them blocking Hiccup and who ever he was talking to.
She crept towards it, careful to stay away from the light of the fire. She stepped in front of the last row of bookshelves, and slowly pulled out a book. She could see now.
Merida...
Merida was sitting down on one of the couches, and Hiccup was kneeling down in front of her.
"No, Merida, you are not weak. You are the strongest person I have ever met." Hiccup said, taking Merida's hands in his, squeezing them tight.
"Hiccup...look at meh, Ah can't even stand up for five seconds without swaying". Merida shook her head, pulling her hands away from Hiccup's.
Tears began to form in her eyes, Hiccup saw the first tear fall, he caught the second one, and stopped the third.
He sat next to her, his face facing Astrid, although he couldn't even see her.
"Merida, what's wrong?"
She looked away from him, refusing to meet his eyes.
Hiccup placed his hand on her cheek, turning her face so he could look at her.
He didn't say anything, he just looked at her, letting her know he was there.
"Hiccup...Ah was right. A storm is coming" she said, he voice close to breaking.
"Yeah, you were right, what's wrong with that? You love being right."
Merida shook her head. "What will Ah do when it gets here. Ah'm too weak to fight. What if Ah can't defend myself, what if Pitch finally takes meh out of the picture? Youh know he's always wanted to".
"I won't let that happen" Hiccup said, his voice serious.
Merida managed a small smile. "Ah know you won't, but you have to protect your people, your dragons... your wife".
"My wife?"
Merida nodded. "Ah have no one to protect, just meh, and if Ah can't even do that, then Summer really is doomed. If Ah die, then Summer will truly cease to exist".
Hiccup shook his head. "Astrid can take care for herself. Merida... I will protect you, I won't let anything to happen to you. Do you hear me? I will do anything to make sure you are safe"
A tear finally slipped down Merida's cheek. Hiccup wiped it away, taking her face in both of his hands.
Merida looked into his gorgeous green eyes, letting herself get lost in them.
She placed her hands on his shouders, grabbing the collar of his shirt, she quickly drew him close and pressed her lips against his.
Hiccup was caught off guard, but he closed his eyes and kissed her back. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her into his lap. He ran a hand through her hair, smiling as it got caught in the wild mess of curls. Merida chuckled, but didn't break the kiss.
Astrid placed to book back in its place. She slowly walked out of the library. She blinked away the tears that filled her eyes.
This wasn't a surprise to her, she had always known Hiccup loved Merida. She walked all the way to her room, changing into her pajamas, she got in bed, and slowly fell asleep.
...
Merida closed the door to her room quietly. A smile was glued on her face. It had been a long time since she had felt this happy.
She walked towards the doors that lead out to her small balcony. She opened them, walking out into the cold night. The moon was covered by dark clouds, but she knew it was still there.
She leaned against the railing, looking up at the sky. She closed her eyes, and really wished she wasn't making a fool of herself.
"Manny..." she spoke quietly, "Ah... Ah need your help."
She breathed in deeply, "Please, Manny. Give me strength... give the strength Ah need to fight. To save Summer... to protect the ones Ah love... to protect him, and to help end this darkness, once and for all."
She waited, for who knows what. A sign maybe. But nothing happened.
She turned around and began to walk back, then a light appeared. She glanced back and saw that the moon had begun to shine through the clouds. Little by little, the clouds began to disappear.
Merida smiled, and nodded.
"Thank yeh".
She went inside and closed the doors. She failed to notice the girl with the green skin and dark hair and clothing running through the woods, heading towards the room that belonged to the girl with magic hair.