Point of View: Merida
20/23
Life passes too quickly, one moment you stumble across a person in your life, the next they're dying, I reflected, dragging our two person boat on shore for this voyage I had traveled with Rapunzel. This would probably be our last such journey, despite the two of us still being fit, we were both aging rapidly. Besides, if what I heard was true, this may be my last reason for such a trip.
"Are you ready?" I asked Rapunzel, clutching her hand. She nodded, and I could tell that she was already tearful before we had even greeted Hiccup. We went up the familiar village path, and into the great hall where we had been told that Hiccup is. The doors however, were closed, guards standing at the entrance, both of them very sober and solemn. As we walked I put a shoulder around Rapunzel's shoulder, shielding her both from the sadness and the strange chill that had followed us here the entire journey, cold enough that we had even watched a piece of the ocean freeze beside us at one point.
"Is he...?" I asked, glancing between the two men anxiously.
"You made it in time, your majesties," one of them assured, bowing his head and heaving the doors open. "Thank you for coming."
"How could we not," Rapunzel nodded, swiftly entering at my side. The room was poorly lit, but both Rapunzel and I knew the chamber so well, that we were able to rush through it without problems, coming to the warmly lit bed that had been placed in this hall because Hiccup had wanted to be in here. Because Hiccup had wanted to die here.
"Hiccup," I greeted, falling to his bedside beside Rapunzel, lifting my hand to feel over. "We came as soon as we could. How are you?"
"Tired, but I suppose that is to be expected," Hiccup's laugh comes out dryly, a cough following his words. "The doctors say I have hours left...maybe it'll be a blessing to go, I lived a whole life, there's nothing to be regretted now since I know I can die in your company. My friends... Merida and Rapunzel...and Jack. Remember all of our time together? The best of times..."
"Jack?" Rapunzel murmured confusedly. "He's not here, remember, he was our imaginary friend."
Hiccup paused, his unfocused eyes tilted to the side of us for a following moment. "No, I never forgot you-never stopped believing. No, no you see I had days of doubts, you were gone for so long."
"Hiccup, there's no one there," I insisted, pained by how he was putting so much more effort into talking to the thin air that he was close to actually sitting up in his old age.
Still, Hiccup ignored us and continued talking. "After all of this time? Yes, me as well. To the point where I thought I was crazy when I doubted... I... yes...I have missed you. Goodbye, all of my friends...goodbye." Then he froze, his voice no longer leaving his frail lips, his eyes glossing over.
Rapunzel let loose a sob, and I held her closer to my side.
"Goodbye, Hiccup," I whispered, reaching forward and brushing his eyelids down so he could sleep properly.