I would've updated earlier but a particular guest reviewer ticked me off a little bit so, I decided to wait. I get it. I left you at a cliffhanger and you wanted an update asap but here's the thing: I had writer's block, I had to work a shit ton, and, this might be a surprise for you, I have a life outside of fanfiction. We had friends and family over that I hadn't seen in years and I wanted to spend time with them! Plus, I went on a camping trip! *takes deeps breath* Ok, I'm done ranting now.

I received the most amazing news! I got accepted into university! Bachelor of Arts, if any of you wanted to know.

Just a reminder: the poll is open until the epilogue. Vote while you can. *If you're a guest reviewer and you want to vote, just leave a review with your choices (you can pick a maximum of two)

WARNINGS: feels (a lot of them)

Chapter 36: For the Dancing and the Dreaming

Third Person POV

Hiccup sat quietly in a small and lonely cell, looking at the stone floor as occasional tears pattered onto them. His hands were chained behind his back, the metal digging into his wrists, and his good foot was also chained. After his revelation as a Viking, he was treated as badly as every other that had come before him.

They shoved him into a small cell with no window for fresh air or light. They chained him as though he was a wild animal. He was given no food or water and he was completely at the mercy of the guards. He now sported a split lip from where a guard had decided to punch him.

He shuffled slightly, trying to find a more comfortable spot to sit. The chains rang loudly and dug further into his wrists. Immediately, the face of a guard appeared in the small window in the door, inspecting what the Viking was doing. Almost as quickly, he disappeared again when he noticed that nothing had changed.

Hiccup let out a sigh and leaned his head back until it touched the hard wall. Closing his eyes, he thought sourly that this would be the way he would spend the last moment of his life: alone and chained. What a way! What a way…

Minutes passed as he sat alone with his thoughts. He thought of everything and everyone. Berk and the village in the countryside. He thought of his mother, his father, Gobber, Snotlout, the twins, Fishlegs… He supposed he would see all of them soon.

He thought more about his parents, a smile coming to his face. He may have been very young the last time he saw his parents together but the memories were suddenly clear. He could hear his father whistle the beginning of a special song. Hiccup still remembered some to the words to it.

"I'll swim and sail on savage seas," He half-mumbled, half-sang to himself, "With ne'er a fear of drowning. And gladly ride the waves of life, if you will marry me." He stopped because he couldn't remember the rest but now, at least, he had a smile on his face.

More time passed. Hiccup guessed it must've been night because a guard, who was kinder than others, brought in a large candle so the he wouldn't sit in the complete dark. As he placed the candle down on the shabby stool, the guard spoke,

"You have a visitor." He said softly.

"Who?" Hiccup asked. He looked to the open door and a figure stood in the frame. Though covered in shadow, Hiccup only needed to see the outline of the figure's hair to know who it was, "Merida…" He mumbled in disbelief as the guard stood up and bowed his head respectfully.

"Unchain his hands." The Princess ordered sternly, taking a step into the cell,

"Your Majesty, are you su-?"

"Just do it!" She snapped at the guard. The guard nodded nervously and knelt down beside Hiccup, fiddling with the keys. He shakily undid the harsh metal chains but, out of fear and the lack of an order, left the Viking's foot chained. He got up to leave but Merida grabbed his arm, "No matter what you hear," She whispered to him, "You will not enter unless I order you to. Understand?" The guard nervously nodded his head,

"Yes, your Majesty." Hearing the answer, Merida released his arm. The guard scurried out of the cell and closed the door behind him.

In the meager light of the candle, Merida looked at the Viking, little tears falling. He looked terrible. Bruises around his throat, his bottom lip covered in dried blood, and his wrists were red from the irritation of the chains. What made it worse was that it was all her fault. The thought send a wave of emotion through her being, though she tried to suppress it. But one more look at the Viking and she couldn't keep it in.

Letting out a sob, she ran to him and collapsed onto her knees, throwing her arms around him.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered into his neck, a few tears dripping into his shirt.

The surprise of her throwing her arms around him lasted only a moment for Hiccup. Her apology, however, had hit him harder than her sudden action. It hurt him so much to think that she spent all this time blaming herself when he was at fault for all that had happened. He wrapped his arms around her tightly in hope to comfort her.

"It's not your fault, Merida. It's not your fault." He whispered, hoping the words were soothing enough.

Merida shook her head as she sat back up, wiping her eyes.

"No." She choked. She turned her head away, unable to look at him anymore, "I wished we'd never met!" She blurted out, "None of this would've happened!" Part of her wished that were true. She would've been fine in such a reality, knowing that Hiccup and everyone else would've been fine.

Hiccup could hardly believe what he heard Merida say. Yes, he wished things were different but he would never wish her out of his life.

Carefully, he lifted his hands to her and cupped her face. Slowly, he turned it towards him,

"Merida, look at me." She whispered gently, wiping away the tears on her cheeks. She opened her red eyes, anther fresh batch of tears threatening to fall. Hiccup gave a small smile, "Meeting you was not a curse. It was more than I could've asked for." He brushed away a few stray curls behind her ear, revealing more of her beautiful face to him, and returned the hand to her cheek, "You made my life worth living."

Merida let out a sound that was a mix of a laugh and a sob. His words buried her earlier wish, though the desire of difference remained strong. She threw her arms around him once more, the smile still there along with the tears.

Hiccup smiled and hugged her back, her hair getting into his face, not that he cared. He was just happy to have been able to see her one last time.

"I don't regret anything." He whispered. He meant, he really did. Their relationship had its ups and downs but it had flourished nonetheless. Even now, they were together after everyone's attempts to separate them. They would be parted soon but he knew he would see her again. Maybe not in this life but he would see her again.

"Me either." She whispered back. She knew that only moments ago she had regretted everything that had happened but she realized that it was merely the situation that had made her say those horrible things. She kissed him tenderly, "I love you." She whispered against his lips before kissing them again. Hiccup smiled with each kiss,

"I love you too"

Still Third Person POV

Hiccup fell asleep shortly after Merida left. With the darkness and the solitude, sleep was hard to avoid. He didn't want to sleep; it would mean his eventual demise would only come faster but even the mightiest couldn't resist.

When he woke up though, he woke to the smell of distant burning wood and a dark sky, littered with little stars. Confused, he sat up and looked around him. He wasn't in the cell anymore. Instead, he sat in the town center of Berk, completely rebuilt but still completely empty.

Slowly standing up, he spotted the smithy and the light and smoke coming from the building. Taking it as a sign of someone being there, Hiccup ran into the building, only to find it vacant. Confused, he walked out, looking left and right for any other possibilities of life.

A small breeze went by him, carrying the faintest trace of a man singing to him.

No scorching sun, nor freezing cold, will stop me on my journey.

Hiccup recognized it immediately. It was the special song.

As the voice continued to sing, Hiccup strained to hear where it was coming from but it was coming from everywhere.

If you will promise me your heart.

Hiccup started running towards the Great Hall when another voice, a female's, began to sing.

And love me for eternity

My dearest one, my darling dear,

Your mighty words astound me.

The doors to the Great Hall slammed open but Hiccup was greeted by another empty room. As the song continued, he knew there was only one other place it could come from: his home.

But I've no need of mighty deeds

When I feel your arms around me.

He ran around the corner as the man sang again,

But I would bring you rings of gold

And even sing you poetry

And I would keep you from all harm

If you would stay beside me.

Hiccup ran up the hill, the singing getting louder as the woman continued the song,

I have no use for rings of gold

I care not for your poetry

I only want your hand to hold

He was almost at the door,

I only want you near me.

Just as the voices began to sing together, Hiccup threw open the door to the house, stopping instantly in his tracks.

There, before him, were his parents. They were dancing and smiling brightly and almost oblivious to their son in the doorway.

To love, to kiss, to sweetly hold

For the dancing and the dreaming.

Through all life's sorrows and delights

I'll keep your love inside me

I'll swim and sail on savage seas

With ne'er a fear of drowning

And gladly ride the waves of life

If you will marry me!

Stoick lifted Hiccup's mother into the air, laughing heartily as she held the last note. He twirled her around, slowly putting her back on the ground. They smiled sweetly at each other, staring into each other's eyes with love. Hiccup almost felt the need to cry at the sight; it had been such a long time since he had seen his parents this way, together. It had been 21 years since he had last seen his mother and 11 since he last saw his father. Hiccup took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to suppress the tears.

They must've heard him. His mother turned her head towards him, followed by Stoick. Slowly, she let go of her husband's hands and walked towards Hiccup. She stopped just before him, slowly lifting her hand to cup his face. Feeling his mother's touch, Hiccup let the tears go. He threw his arms around her, his tears seeping into her tunic.

"Mom.." He choked, feeling her wrap her arms around him,

"My son…" She whispered, "You've gotten so big." A tear rolled down her cheek as she hugged her son tighter, her hand going through his hair.

"Hiccup?"

Hiccup looked up at the sound of his father's voice. He half expected to see his father with a disappointed scowl because of what he had done in his life. Falling in love with his enemy, befriending another enemy but, much to Hiccup's surprise, Stoick's face was one filled with remorse. Hiccup let go of his mother, staring up at the large, imposing figure of his father. Stoick placed his large hands upon his son's shoulder.

"Hiccup… Can you ever forgive me for everything I've done?" Stoick said softly, a slight crack in his voice. Hiccup eyes widened. Never had he seen his father like this. He never showed any emotion to him except anger or disappointment. Never had he ever asked Hiccup for forgiveness. Stoick squeezed his son's shoulders, "I never meant to make you feel unloved or unwanted. I was just trying to protect you." He spoke even softer and painfully looked away from his son.

Stoick felt so much regret. Looking back, all it seemed he ever did to his son was scold and yell at him, never giving him the parental guidance and love that he deserved. He almost jumped when he felt a hand on his massive shoulder.

Hiccup slowly turned his father around,

"Can you forgive me for loving my enemy?" He asked, his voice sounding as broken as Stoick's had only a little while ago. The chief of Berk placed a hand back on Hiccup's shoulder,

"There's nothing to forgive, Hiccup. If you love her, then I shouldn't be standing in your way. Love is a gift, son, and the Gods were gracious enough to give it to you. You should treasure it, not begging forgiveness where it isn't needed." Stoick placed the other hand on the empty shoulder and smiled at his son, who was on the verge of happy tears. Hiccup threw his arms around his father, giving him the first hug ever.

Stoick's eyes widened momentarily before enveloping his son in a warm hug, a bright smile on his face.

"I forgive you, dad." Hiccup whispered into Stoick's shoulder, "Wait for me on the other side?" The chief let his son out of the hug and looked straight at him.

"The gates are open for you, son." They exchanged smiles once more before Stoick took a step back. Another hand appeared on Hiccup's shoulder as his mother came around to kiss him on his forehead,

"We'll be waiting for you by it." She whispered, joining her husband, who took her hand. They smiled at Hiccup when they began to disappear.

"Wait! Don't go yet!" Hiccup begged, running to the fading silhouettes, "Please!" He reached for them but they disappeared into smoke.

With a yell, Hiccup woke up in his cell. He looked around frantically, searching for his parents but they were gone. He sat for about a minute, catching his breath, before laying back down on the ground. When sleep found him again, he fell asleep with a smile.

Cuteness everywhere!

Review, favorite, follow.