I do not own Brave or HTTYD.

Chapter Thirteen: Negotiations

DunBroch

Merida paced in the safety of the stone circle, her hands warm with the ever flowing magic that pulsed underneath this spot. It thrummed in her veins as if she was being filled with fire, with lightning, it warmed her from the inside out and made her feel infinite, eternal, another bead on a string of many witches that stood in this spot, all strung together and connected, a necklace of power that mimicked the dozen stones surrounding her. She couldn't help a small smile that came to her mouth—she had faces to put with that feeling, Moira and her long line of ancestors. She had to remind herself that she was part of that line too, now, and she would always have them even if her parents should disown her for her actions against them.

She put a palm to her head and groaned, digging the heels of hands into her eyes.

She had drawn her bow against her mother and father, had threatened them and sworn to battle on Hiccup's and the Berkians side.

And her father had disowned her.

Biting her lip, hard, she swallowed a sob and knew that her mother did not agree and would speak to him in private. He was angry, that was all—and just like his daughter, Fergus always had a bit of a temper. He was never too violent with them, but he had shouted plenty in her years and she had been on the receiving end of his open palm more than once in her life and she knew it was only because of the audience and the threat of dragon fire that her da did not raise his hand to her again.

The rush of wings and the disturbance they brought to the trees and surrounding grass and bushes alerted her to Hiccup's incoming descent. Usually she could hear Toothless' massive wing strength, but they must have been gliding to give her more time to collect herself and did not pick up nearly as much speed as he was capable.

They landed with a soft 'thump!' and Merida presented Hiccup with a trembling smile. Their dragons greeted each other with a little dance, wings flapping a few times before they turned in circles, chasing each other and rubbing their cheeks against one another's. Hiccup, watching them, dove and began to rub his scruffy cheek against Merida's smooth skin, trying and succeeding to make her screech with laughter as she tried to push him away and his draconic 'affection.'

"Hiccup! Stop it!" She cackled as he scratched his chin against her neck, her laughter making her too weak to knock him back.

"Do you yield, princess?!" He dipped her and she gasped as he switched sides, his rough stubble making her shriek.

"I do! I do, I yield, all-mighty dragon master!"

He pulled back, eying his handiwork, the bright red patches of skin due to his ministrations and her glee.

"What do you concede to your conqueror, princess?"

"Oh, good sir!" She put her hand on her forehead as she leaned back into his grip, feigning weakness, "I have naught but meself to offer to ye!"

"A trade I'd make a thousand times over," he swung her up to standing again, kissing her soundly on the mouth.

She leaned her brow against him and he felt a moment wash over him, the world underneath him shifting and spinning. He would have this, have her, all to himself one day and soon, he swore. She would stand by his side and they'd soar all over the Archipelago, settling down for the winter season before picking back up in the spring. Maybe they'd have their own island, just for them, full of dragons and auburn haired, blue eyed babies that wielded turquoise fire and tinkered in a smoldering workshop.

Gods, he was proud of her. She was stronger than anyone he'd known and, here, now, surrounded by these old stones, she seemed even more otherworldly.

He reached behind her and undid the cord that held her tight braid in place, almost laughing as it sprung apart and began to expand like an unleashed Zippleback, the sections expanding in all directions. She gasped and reached when she felt the corkscrews reach to tickle her cheeks and huffed at him, complaining that it took Ruffnut some serious struggling to get it in such a confined state.

"I like it down," he spread it out further with his hands, "It looks like dragon fire. You're astoundingly beautiful, Merida."

Her cheeks were still flushed, from laughter and the light abrasions he gave her, but she darkened with pleasure. He called her beautiful often, while they were traveling with his tribe and avoiding detection, hunkered down in small caves or personal beaches, hiding from his annoying friends and relatives. She always blushed so dark at any compliments, unused to hearing such things from anyone.

"Not even your so-called 'suitors'?" He had asked, weeks ago, lounging in the soft sand of a poorly named island (Dry-Eye island, so his map proclaimed—Toothless had licked his face and eyes while there).

"Nay, no one, never!" She had answered, chuckling at him.

"And you are, by far, one of the strongest people I've met," he tucked her under his chin, holding her close as her hands reached back to grab at his shoulders, where the great wings of his tattoo rested under his armor, "And I know this will work, alright? I have faith in you."

"And I in ye, Hiccup," her voice was thick but there were still no tears and he sighed against her.

She pressed her nose into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. She would have found the thought appalling some months ago, but Hiccup smelled of leather and ozone and dragon and clouds. He smelled like safety and protection and adventure and freedom all rolled into one. He made her want to dance with danger, but made her feel so safe.

She tried to determine just how long she had loved him, but she couldn't put a time on any moment where she had decided, yes, now is the perfect time to give my heart away! It grew in her like her magic—for so long it was just a tickle, a tingle, an inkling and intuition that was more of a hindrance than anything else and then one day it seemed to explode from within her, filling every crevice of her soul and she wondered, idly, how she had ever truly lived without such a rush.

She pulled back to cup his face in her hands, her thumbs brushing against his cheekbones.

"I wish…" she sighed, "I wish this was all over and done with."

"Soon," he murmured, his fingers coming up to grip hers, "Soon, Merida. Then we're free—truly, honestly free."

She nodded, "Did ye tell yer parents where to meet us?"

He nodded, "They'll be here. We'll send the dragons off once they do."

She hummed and stepped aside, returning to walking through the circle. He saw that one was broken in half, as if cut by a Typhoomerang's wings. He wondered, unsure, if this was the same circle where her mother had faced off with the prince turned monstrous bear, Mor'du, and crushed his massive body. He saw no bits of fur or claws peeking out from under the structure, but he wondered what he would find if he made Toothless lift it.

"So…what is this thing? Who built this? Moira?"

She scoffed at his ever burning curiosity, "Nay, lad, they're far older. A coven most likely banded together to make this, it takes more magic than any one person could dare hold. It's called a Caim—it's a protective circle that can be used for, well, many things…summonings, protection, opening up portals to the other realms. It makes me feel…"

She raised her palms to her face, a giddy laugh erupting from her, "God, I feel so strong here…"

Hiccup had noticed a slight change in her, sometime ago. Her magic seemed stronger, he could smell it on her skin and she seemed far less tired after she used a great amount of it.

"So…it amplifies your power?"

"Aye," her fingers fluttered and her wrists twisted, a bubble of bright blue magic between her palms in an instant. Hiccup watched in awe as she released it and it floated above them like a miniature star attached to string around her fingers. She made about a dozen more and they fanned out to a perfect circle, hovering above the stones, spinning and dancing lazily. Toothless warbled in awe, Saorsa raising her wide head to bask in their glow.

"I did this, ye know…" she muttered, "When Astrid found me…That's how she knew I was a witch."

Astrid had told him, but he had never imagined anything quite so beautiful.

"Can I…touch one?"

She blinked and one seemed to float, tauntingly out of his reach. She wasn't laughing though, as he chased it around and he realized she was keeping it from him.

"It…It was a weapon, before, I mean…I hurt Astrid with them…"

It hovered, right before his nose and he held his palms underneath it. It was incredibly warm, like a flame, and he wondered if it would indeed scorch him. A little worrisome part of him, Toothless he was sure, warned him against the danger it promised.

But he loved to ignore the rational, didn't he?

He grabbed a hold of it and hissed. It was hot, yes, but he had handled far hotter things, molten bits of metal, hammers that had rested too long near the bellows, half-finished projects he worked too quickly on. He threw it into the air and it flew up before slowly, painfully, drifting back into his hand. He looked at Merida with a grin.

"It's about willpower, right? That's what you said before."

"Aye," she muttered, weakly, "Magic should be about yer will…"

"Should?"

"I…something is happening to me, Hiccup, and…I'm scared…"

She looked at him, eyes still bright.

"I don't have to focus, to concentrate, to struggle," she presented her hands to him, "I-I just think and—!"

Another orb formed and Hiccup released the one he was holding, watching it move back to its place in the circle above the stones.

She swallowed and closed her eyes.

The magic ball in her hands began to glow brightly and he turned his eyes away, noticing that all the other ones around them began to hum loudly, burning vividly and blinding in the twilight. Hiccup released a breath he didn't realize he was holding, the sweat dripping down his brow a combination from the heat of the miniature suns she created and a twinge of fear.

"So you…you can't control it…?"

"I can," she nodded, "But…not really?"

"Okay…?"

She swallowed, "It's…it's too easy. I just think and it does what I want, but there are some things it does without me needin' to even think, Hiccup and I—!"

"Like what?" He needed all the pieces to put a solution together.

"It healed my leg," she whispered, "Faster than it should."

He should have realized that, he inwardly groaned. How quick her fever broke, how quick the wound clotted, how easily she was moving after just a day, even her dancing at the assembly. It was unnatural and she never asked him for herbs or potions to heal herself, so he assumed she couldn't manage to do it with everything going on. He believed she was too weak—but it turns out it was the opposite.

"Anything else? Anything other than that?"

"When…when I fought Astrid…I don't remember tossin' her away, not at all, I would'nae have done it so hard, ye ken. I don't remember gettin' into yer pack either, or takin' the antidote that saved me."

He began pacing, thinking, "And this isn't something that Moira gave you?"

"I did'nae have time to ask her, when I visited the other side, but it does'nae feel like something was done to me, ye ken it? And, even if it was, why all of a sudden?"

"And you said Astrid triggered it?"

She shuffled, not wanting to put blame on the blonde, having already accused her of being Hiccup's only love.

"I think so…? I was so close to dyin', I could feel it rushin' up to meet me…grabbin' onto me and never wantin' to let go…"

He knew she was scared by the thickness of her accent.

He padded over, rubbing Toothless' head as he passed, taking her hands, "Do you know how Toothless became an Alpha?"

"Nay," she thought, "That has'nae been one of yer stories."

"Yet," he smirked and she returned it, "He was protecting me. It was the threat of being overrun, all of us dying and living under the rule of a madman that triggered something more powerful in him. I think that's what happened to you—You knew that if you died, it would have killed me and Toothless and something in you rose to protect us."

She gave him a halfhearted smile, "But…why hasn't it receded?"

"It's like Toothless' power," he chuckled, "You can't just shove it back down and pretend it's not there! You have to learn to control it, to wield it."

"Ugh," she rubbed her temples, "Between all this? No chance."

He saw her tenseness and took her shoulders in his hands, gently massaging the knots between the slats in her armor, "One day, then."

She leaned back into him, "Aye, one day. Let's just hope it does'nae get in the way or hurt anyone."

"It's not made to hurt anyone," he murmured, "It's to protect. Focus on that and we'll be done with this mess before midsummer."

She groaned, whining rather childishly, "God, do I want that!"

He couldn't help his little laugh, "And we'll have it."

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. The orbs around them began to spin around them, Hiccup watching as they spun faster and faster before racing in and stopping right before touching Merida's pale skin. He gasped as her cheeks were illuminated with the phosphorescent glow of the magic, a thrumming blue incandescence surrounding them that made him sweat under his armor. One floated into her palm, like a bubble, another joining it and making it larger, then another and another until she was holding a massive globe of magical power that even he could feel. The whole area smelled like peat and moss and apples and he could even feel a gust of cool autumn wind, cooling his brow.

He waited for it to explode, to flash in in front of him, to do some great display. But that was his idea (he was a showoff at heart) and it merely began to shrink, sinking into her skin more and more by the moment. When it disappeared into her palms, she was completely aglow like a Flightmare. A halo of magic surrounded her, floating above her skin and surrounding both of them, every strand of hair full of magical power that almost made her curls appear a patina shade. Her eyes tipped up to his and he swallowed a shout to see that the entire thing was blue—the iris, sclera and pupil had faded to nothing but turquoise.

"Moira said something to me," she murmured and he could be imagining it, but even her voice seemed deeper, hallow, "She said there is a storm in me and I must unleash it to win this war…"

A shaky breath fell from his lips and he nodded, afraid to look away from her eyes.

"Do ye think, Hiccup…that you can withstand it, too?"

A smile crept on his face, the plummeting anxiety in his gut making him feel reckless, giddy, excited, "Princess…my dragon is the offspring of lightning and death. I've rode through more storms than you can imagine."

And, by the gods, did he love to fly through storms, dodging lightning strikes and feeling the thunderous clouds rattle his bones.

"Did ye now?"

He laughed when she kissed him, returning her attention with his own and snaking his tongue in to her mouth. She pressed her armored body against his own and he growled in annoyance at the thought of the layers between them and the want he had for her was filling him to the brim all of a sudden and he wanted nothing more than to drop her into the grass and make their claim as legitimate at it seemed to his people.

She felt like fire, she smelled like lightning and danger. His hands were hot anywhere he touched her and he wanted to feel the heat of her skin, the danger concealed under such pale, freckled flesh. It felt like rushing through a storm, like diving off cliffs, like dancing with a wild dragon—he wanted to drown in this feeling, he wanted to die with this adrenaline pumping through his veins.

Next summer, he swore—they'd have an island all to themselves, a hundred islands to be claimed through their love making.

He pulled away when he heard the approach of wings, grunting in shock and annoyance when she began to attach herself to his jaw and neck, suckling the sensitive skin there with her full mouth.

"My mom and dad are coming," he pulled away and she groaned and sagged into his grip, her massive amount of hair tickling his face and he had to crane his neck to avoid being smothered.

She finally pulled away completely and straightened her mane and armor, holding her hands out in askance. Hiccup adjusted her shoulder plates and stepped back to let her rearrange his own askew gear.

Skullcrusher and Cloudjumper landed with great gusts of wind and heavy prints left in the earth, the two dragons more antsy than Toothless and Saorsa in the sacred ring. As soon as their riders dismounted, they were cawing and back into the air, hovering over the group in obvious unease and appearing to demand their riders leave such a dangerous place.

Stoick was quick to wonder why and Valka stared up at her beloved friend, attempting to draw him back down to the ground again.

"Toothless was afraid of Merida's seiðr for awhile…maybe they can feel that this place is different?"

"Like Uppsala?" Stoick murmured, eyes on his dragon.

"It does'nae matter," Merida rolled her neck from side to side, popping the joints, "My parents consider them weapons—they must leave us here and we will call for them once the negotiations are over."

"Is that wise?" Valka asked.

"My parents are honorable people," she bristled, "They are stubborn and old-fashioned and sometimes rather blind, aye, but they are still honorable and will'nae have ye come to any harm while we speak on this."

Valka and Stoick shared uneasy expressions but nodded and agreed nonetheless, strapping their swords and daggers to their leather saddles. Merida and Hiccup sent their dragons off together before settling in to wait for the arrival of Fergus and Elinor. The group continued to shuffle and pace, the restlessness and uncertainty growing as the time passed.

Eventually, bustling and grumbling could be heard from the underbrush as the massive man exploded from the forrest, red-faced and furious at the inconvenience, followed by an immaculate Elinor. Hiccup watched Merida take a deep breath, steeling her nerves as she went to usher them between the stones and stand between the two couples. Hiccup rose to her side and she gave him a grateful smile, hoping that this wouldn't devolve into war, and chaos and ruin, between their peoples.

Hiccup could deny it all he wanted—the Hooligans were his tribe and he was fighting for them now, even if he didn't want to lead them.

Merida cleared her throat and clasped her hands, "I have been in conference with the Chief and Chieftess—"

"Oh, is tha' so?" Fergus spat, "What're'ye doin', lass?!"

"Fergus," Elinor reached out to stop him from threatening either Merida or the other ruling couple.

"It's alright, mum," Merida sighed and stood taller and looked her father in the eye, "'Tis so!"

"This is all highly irregular," Elinor calmly added, "Why don't they speak with us directly?"

"They don't speak our language, mum," Merida couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Elinor raised one delicate brow, "Ye taught the lad there but not his parents?"

"I don't think this is a good idea," Stoick said from behind and she wheeled, "They don't want peace with us, they'd rather sell their daughter off for war!"

"They're monsters, Merida!"

"How do we know this is'nae some trick?!"

"This makes no sense—!"

"I'll not stand for anymore of this buggery—!"

"Tell us what they're sayin', son—!"

"Shut it!"

Merida gasped out a shocked laugh, sputtering at Hiccup who sighed and straightened his shoulders after his outburst. He gestured to Merida to speak and she chuckled, shaking her head and turning her attention back to the shocked adults.

"Once there was an ancient kingdom. That kingdom fell into war and chaos and ruin. I know how one selfish act can turn the face of a kingdom. And I know that legends are lessons, they ring with truth…"

Elinor reached for her daughters hand, crying openly at one of her favorite memories of her child—when she grew so much and proved her right to rule.

"Our kingdom is young and our stories are not yet legends," Merida continued, eyes wet with her own tears, "But in them a powerful bond was struck! The four clans were once enemies, but when invaders threatened us from the seas, they joined together to defend our lands. We fought for each other. We risked everything for each other.

The story of this kingdom is a powerful one. Da, ye rallied the Clans forces and they made ye king. It was an alliance forged in bravery and friendship and it lives to this day! But…"

She looked to Hiccup, who would stand by her no matter what.

"I tore a great rift in our kingdom…there's no one to blame but me. I know now that I need to amend my mistake and mend our bond. I've decided to do what's right…" she smiled openly at him, shaking her mothers hand from her own to take his as she fearlessly stared her parents down "And break tradition."

Elinor stared between them, realization growing on her face.

"Da," she stared at him, his desperation and hurt so clearly etched on his face that it made her voice break, "There are more invaders. There is more war. There are starvin' families and empty cribs and full graves. I've seen the horrors, I've seen death and war and ruin and we can'nae have it.

"Hiccup's tribe, the Hooligans, they did'nae do this, they are victims also. I've helped them carry their dead, as Hiccup helped me carry ours. The people who did this are three brothers, one of which is a cailleach, worst than the one that turned Mor'du and mum into bears. He roots into a dragon's mind, and nay, they are not mindless! They are beautiful creatures and he destroys them, turns them into puppets to command. He can do it with humans as well, but it must be harder 'cause I've yet to see him do such a terrible thing…"

Tears did fall from her eyes and she swallowed, hiccuping before turning back to them, unaware how both Valka and Stoick approached to offer support and comfort from behind.

"I did this," she whispered, "I could'nae save DunBroch, even though I tried! But I can save them—because they saved me and they are good people, da, and—and—and because I can do this for them. And for us and the Clans! With no field-hands, with no farmers or workers, we'd all starve.

"Do'nae…Don't hate me, da," she rubbed her nose on her armor, "Don't hate me for doin' what's right. I forged this bond—my deal was struck with the Hooligans and I will'nae go back on my word."

Her father deflated, "Oh, lass…I'm sorry…The things ye've been through, the horror ye've seen. I've held on to mine, it sticks with ye," he rubbed his chest, "Deep down inside. And I brought that hate to ye about these people without knowin' them and for that, I was wrong."

Daughter and father bowed their heads in equal shame, tears on their cheeks.

"Well?" Elinor slapped his arm and he shuffled forward, Merida reaching out to be taken into his outstretched hands. Stoick rumbled a pleased sigh and Valka smiled at the sight as the smaller girl was lifted from the ground to be cradled in the embrace of her parent.

"Thank ye," Hiccup looked up to see Fergus looking down at him, "For bringin' my wee lassie home to me."

He crossed his arm over his chest in respect and bowed his head.

"Now!" Merida untangled herself with a wet laugh, face bright red, "Enough of all tha'!"

The Gaelic speaking group laughed and Stoick and Valka waited, patiently, to be involved.

"May I introduce," Merida presented her mother and father, speaking the tongue of Hiccup's people, "King Fergus of DunBroch, general of the Four Clans, survivor of the demon-bear Mor'du, and my father. And, his wife, Queen Elinor, slayer of the demon-bear Mor'du and mother to the four heirs of the Highland clans."

Stoick and Valka bowed in respect to the royal family who inclined their heads.

"And may I introduce my parents," Hiccup spoke in Gaelic to the king and queen, "Chief Stoick "the Vast" Haddock of the Hooligan tribe, heir to Grimbeard the Ghastly, slayer and rider of dragons, survivor of the Nightfury's attack! And, my mother, Chieftess Valka, first tamer and rider of dragons in the Archipelago, friend to the Bewilderbeast, and teacher of flight."

"Well, he certainly is vast, is'nae he, dear?"

"Fergus!"

Merida and Hiccup chuckled as the two began to speak, their children interpreting between them. Stoick and Fergus clasped arms, immediately beginning to admire the other's cloak and armor.

"He's asking if it's bear fur, dad," Hiccup supplied, glad to see them getting along.

"Oh! Well, tell him it's wolf, son!" And Hiccup obliged, both Haddock's laughing at the shocked face of the King.

"Tell her that I adore you," Valka encouraged Merida, "And ye have the soul of a dragon."

It was a nice sentiment, Merida laughed, uneasily, saying, instead, "She thinks I'm strong, mum!"

"Och, well," Elinor looked to the other woman, "That I did know."

Elinor embraced Valka and the dragon-mother returned the hug, Elinor commanding Merida to tell the other woman something.

"She says," Merida told Valka as they separated, "That yer son is brilliant and she is grateful he was there to save and protect me. Even if I did'nae need it!"

The two men began showing their weapons and armor, boasting chips in the blades and chest and shoulder plates and demanding that Hiccup explain to each about what made this chink in the metal and see that there? That was from a Devilish Dervish (which resulted in Hiccup attempting to explain what that is) and that scar here, that was from a great boar, nearly gut him!

"And I see we match," Fergus shouldered Hiccup, flaunting his wooden leg, the same he lost on Merida's fifth birthday. Stoick noticed as well and they shared a good laugh as the Berk Chief attempted to explain Gobber's many interchangeable parts.

Through their demanding parents, Hiccup spied Merida across the glen, laughing, half-exasperated as she tried to tell Valka something her mother had asked. On her way from looking at one woman to the next, her eyes glanced his and they locked, smiling happily at each other. The world paused its constant movement and the sun halted its descent, cradling them both in warm light that filtered the space between them with a yellow-orange glow.

To Merida, his eyes have never seemed greener, more like the forests she hid within, buried herself behind, far more at home in the bushes and trees than in the cold stone of the castle. To him, her eyes were as endless as the sky and seas themselves—he felt he could set sail on those depths, could unfurl Toothless' great wingspan in those eyes, sure to find an island full of mystical beasts.

There was no space between them.

It wasn't until Stoick had gripped Hiccup by the shoulders, shaking the boy, that the spell was broken. Stoick bellowed about how smitten he was with the princess, Hiccup attempting to make half-spun excuses that didn't enrage her father all over again. Merida turned to look into the knowing eyes of Valka and the pleasantly surprised ones of her mother, giggling helplessly at being caught staring so deeply for so long.

"Ye know," Valka muttered, "A little lie could, perhaps, become a truth."

She didn't want to explain that it nearly was already, Hiccup having admitted his feelings to her and she to him. She shrugged off the comment and collected everyone together so as to get back into important business, now that introductions were over and bonds were forming.

"Now," she put her hands on her hips, "Let's get down to business!"

The next several hours were some of the most exhausting Hiccup had ever spent. More tiresome than when they were still being besieged by dragons weekly and he would spend all night in the forge only to sleep in the soot pile by the bellows and wake up after an hour or so to get back to pounding away until supper. He would even say it was more exhausting than his first several weeks on the winds, stopping only once or twice a week, always moving and getting very little sleep between meeting and taming dragons. Merida meet his his tired gaze and he could see her sagging shoulders, her own frustration, which triggered him to stand and call and end to the meeting tonight.

Between trying to establish housing for families, homes for orphaned children, the amount of crops to be given to the castle, the amount of allotted land, religious rights and freedoms, rituals and holidays, how the dragons were to be treated, contained, maintained, intermarriages between peoples, deaths and funerals, it seemed only a few things could be managed at one time.

"We're exhausted," he explained to his parents, "We all are. We open the gates, we all find places to sleep and we can begin again in the morning."

"I'll help ye," she told her parents, after she translated for Hiccup, "Yer room was…ransacked."

Elinor nodded, looking prim and perfect, "Of course, dear."

The King and Queen of DunBroch began to march through the dark woods when Merida laughed, halting them, "Oh, no ye don't!"

Hiccup, needing no other prompting, whistled loudly for their dragons. Elinor and Fergus' eyes turned towards the sky, Cloudjumper's tawny hide and Skullcrusher's brilliant scales easily seen even in the darkness, landing heavily and making the Queen jump, her husband holding out a hand to protect her. The screech of wings made Merida roll her eyes.

"He's just like ye," she shoved her shoulder into Hiccup's, "Always showin' off."

He laughed, "Only for his lady!"

The two Nightfuries were practically invisible in the dark, the only inclination of their descent was the ever growing scream of their wings. They landed on top of two of the rock pillars across from each other, their eyes aglow, like a cat's, green and yellow from across the glen. They slithered down the rock, stalking as if to slaughter their riders before grabbing ahold of them and licking them while they attempted to get away unscathed unsuccessfully, their laughter breaking the tense silence of the rock circle.

"Ugh! Gross, save it for your girlfriend!" Hiccup laughed, groaning at the saliva on his armor, "Oh, this'll never come out…!"

Merida pulled at her hair, silvery strands of spit between her gloved fingers, "Och, speak for yerself!"

Valka and Stoick had no problems laughing on behalf of the younger couple, Elinor and Fergus understandingly nervous to see their daughter so close to a beast they've never seen tamed.

"Well?" Merida showed her family the options, "Which would ye like to ride?"

"Merida, dear," her mother began with a huff, "I will not—!"

"Oh, come on," her dear da pressured, "Where's yer sense of adventure?!"

And, very much like his triplet sons, he made his way over to the massive beast, Cloudjumper. Cooing over his dual wings, he laughed at the mischievous glint in his eyes as he extended his full wingspan to show off the many colors that speckled his tawny scales, his blood-red claws that tipped each wing glinting dangerously in the dark. He was one of the largest beasts in their arsenal and when raised to his full height, his wings could touch one stone with each claw.

"Why, I'll be…" his eyes traveled to Valka, then to Hiccup, "D'ye think he'd mind if I was on him?"

He looked back to Valka, holding his belly to reference his extra weight.

The dragon, huffing in understanding, lowered himself so that Fergus could climb aboard. Chortling and pointing, he saddled behind Valka so that she can steer, pointing and miming madly to Merida and his wife.

"Elinor! Look!"

"I see ye, dear…"

Elinor carefully approached Stoick's steed, watching his very sharp horns. She paused, however, staring into his eyes for several long beats, Skullcrusher looking back, unblinking. She knelt, slowly, extending a hand in a way that was very much the way that Hiccup established trust, but continued to watch as he approached and laid his long snout into her hand.

"Seems like Skullcrusher likes you," Hiccup supplied and she smiled up at him.

"Aye, I see a kindred spirit in him…he's a strong one, aren't ye?"

He huffed and moved so that her hand fell to a crevice in his neck plates, where Hiccup encouraged her to give him a good scratch. She did as instructed and a laugh bubbled out of her that reminded the young man very much of Merida's own giggle as the rainbow plated dragon slumped into the dirt, completely listless. Stoick laughed and said something, Merida translating for him.

"He says," she flicked her eyes at the Chief of the Hooligans, "That his dragon is a protector and he values humans that will do anythin' for those they love."

Elinor locked eyes with her daughter and stood to embrace her. She put her hand over her chest and bowed to the other man, one hand in Merida's curls, pressing her head to her shoulder.

"Thank ye," she looked to Hiccup, "Thank ye both. For all ye've done."

"Thank ye," Stoick returned, "Ye've saved us. Yer land will keep us from violence and war and it is a debt we intend to pay back."

Merida, despite her apparent flagging under such a stressful day, was buoyed by the thought that her crazy, maddened, half-formed plan might just actually work. She knew Hiccup was influencing her, but maybe his luck was rubbing off on her, too.

Once she was released from Elinor's grip, she helped her onto the back of Skullcrusher, who roared powerfully into the silent evening and quieting all the local animals that scurried to find safety in their dens and nests. Cloudjumper raised his monstrous dual-layered wings, kicking up grass and dirt as they leapt into the air, Fergus' whoops and cheers of excitement and thrill echoing around the glen. Elinor shook her head and waved at her daughter as Stoick urged his RumbleHorn into the sky, their ascent slightly slower due to the weight of his massive armored body.

"Don't delay too long, son!" Stoick winked at Hiccup who couldn't resist scrubbing a hand down his face and groaning loudly while Merida snorted.

Once the dust cleared and the night sky was empty of dragons and riders, Hiccup turned open palms to Merida, a wide grin stretching across his face, "So?"

She clucked her tongue, "That went far better than I expected."

"Right?!" He put his hands on his bent knees and let out a breathy, wheezing laugh before standing up and putting his hands on his head in gleeful shock, "Oh, bless the gods! I was afraid we'd have to pull your dad off mine!"

"If he thought ye were pokin' me like yer da does, we would've," Merida wasn't quite in the celebrating mood, hip cocked and arms crossed, but still smiling at his antics.

Hiccup paled a bit, "Oh, yeah, let's not let that happen."

"Nay, I'd hate to see Toothless mournin' over yer metal leg, lad, 'cause that's all that'd be left."

He winced but teased her, "Who, me? Nah, come on! I'm way too... muscular for that to happen! He wouldn't know what to do with all…this!" He flexed, shifting into different poses, each one more ridiculous than the next.

His mission was accomplished when she snorted and began to laugh, shaking her wild head of hair, "Oh, ye'd be the saddest pelt he'd have brought home yet."

"Pelt?"

"Oh, aye, I'll have to show ye the trophy room…" she gave him a once over, "Maybe we'll find a nice spot for your stuffed head to sit, aye?"

"Just don't let whoever fix me ruin my eyes," he gave her a wide, comic stare and she began to laugh again as he advanced, wrapping his hands around her waist and spinning her, "Y'know, the terrible fake ones?"

"Aye, shut yer gob, ye daffy!" She chortled and pushed at him weakly as he dipped her, kissing her still-laughing mouth.

"We should go," she murmured against him and he hummed in agreement.

It wasn't after about ten minutes of thoroughly enjoying each other that one of their dragons seemed to growl and huff, having gotten tired of waiting. Hiccup pulled away from Merida's lips and glared at his Nightfury, who was glaring back just as strongly.

"Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile," he muttered, rolling his eyes as Toothless mocked him, getting up on his hind legs and waving his forelegs, warbling and murmuring as if speaking like his rider. Merida laughed again and the female joined in with husky, wheezy hisses that was her chuckling.

"We need to follow," she pushed his hair away from his eyes before tugging playfully on one of his tiny braids, noticing how long it had grown just in a few weeks, "We're surely missed. Best not leave it to yer da to try to explain just where we are," she danced out of his reaching hands and straddled her still snorting dragon.

"Or I really will be pinned to the wall," he swallowed, getting on his own dragon.

"Aye," she winked and strapped her helmet on, muffling her voice so he almost missed what she said after, "And don'ye actually want to have me before ye suffer for it?"

She was in the air and he was gaping while his dragon danced under him, tongue lolling at the prospect of a chase. With little prompting, Toothless shot into the air and followed at a breakneck pace, their laughter echoing with the scream of the Nightfury's wings.

They returned to an all-out, knuckles-bared brawl. From above, the gates had been opened and Fergus and Elinor, along with Valka and Stoick, were attempting to wrestle their people to put down their arms. Stoick was protecting Elinor, prompting the Scotts to attack in the honor of the queen—Merida could see the pale heads of the McGuffin Clan leading the attack—while Valka and Fergus were working well together to break up different groups, her father's bulk plowing through Vikings and Scotts alike, Cloudjumper spitting and hissing from above.

Hiccup was glad to see that the dragons were all away—either in the sky or removed from the scene, sometimes spitting and hissing and cawing in rage, but not participating in any form of fighting.

"Oh, for—how many fires do we have to put out in one Thor-forsaken day?!" Hiccup yelled and Merida sighed.

"Darlin'," she muttered to her dragon, "Let's quiet them down, shall we?"

Both dragons began to glow, their mouths full of dangerous plasma bolts. They shot two rounds of weak blasts that scattered both armies and sent shockwaves throughout the earth, many falling and scrambling as they swooped like massive bats.

"Nightfury! Get down!"

"I mean, seriously?!" Hiccup yelled, dismounting and grumbling to himself, "Who is still worried about Toothless?!"

"Easy, lad," Merida patted him on the shoulder as she stood over the two peoples, hands on her hips, facing their peoples with a disappointed glower, "Now! That's all done! Ye've had yer go at each other! Show a little decorum! And no more fighting!"

There was suddenly more yelling and fighting in the back of the group, making Merida groan and yell, jumping into the fray herself, beating and clashing while Hiccup stood with his head in his hands. The brawl began in full force again, the crack of metal against metal and shouts of fury and desperate attempts to stop them were pitifully drowned out by the yelling.

Hiccup, flanked by the dragons, stepped into the fighting and watched as the armies quieted their hate filled violence, stepping aside and cowering at the force of the two Nightfuries, who were spitting and growling with brightly lit mouths, snapping their dulled teeth at any who dared approach the young ex-Viking.

When he found Merida, he crossed his arms and shook his head. She had flipped a scrawny young man onto his back, sword waving madly in the air as she was bodily lifted by a larger boy who was avoiding her swings. The dark haired one was nursing a broken nose, blood gushing down his bared chest, and Hiccup saw one soldier, also his age, scrambling away from the two dragons, seeming to hyperventilate with wide, glazed blue eyes.

"I swear unto ye, Lachlan, I will gut ye—!"

Hiccup cleared his throat and she turned her furious gaze towards him and he tilted his head to her with a raised brow.

"Are you done?"

She sputtered, face bright red and hair completely askew and knotted even more from her flight and the sticky Nightfury saliva.

"He started it, Hiccup!"

"Of that I have no doubt," he rolled his eyes and looked to the blond man who reminded him painfully of Fishlegs, "Can you put her down?"

But, unlike Fishlegs, this guy didn't cower under him. He glared at Hiccup, his grip tightening around the princess until she yelped and dropped the blade she was swinging so haphazardly, before being securely placed behind the larger boy. His eyes were the same shade and temperature as a glacier, cutting Hiccup to the bone with his obvious hatred of him. It was so apparent, the loathing that radiated from him, that Saorsa and Toothless both lowered and growled deeper, the snapping of electricity tapping along their scales and between their teeth.

"Leave, Viking," he spat, "Or I swear—!"

"Ian!" Merida's hands were smacking his back and shoulders, pushing her way around him, "Ye stop that, lad!"

His eyes widened, hurt and he shuffled back to let her pass, hands coming together as if pleading, "Of course, Merida…"

Hiccup felt a bit of laughter rise up in him but he squashed it, oddly annoyed with the meekness that this beastly lad Ian was showing around Merida. He was besotted, that was more than obvious, and he scoffed as his fists clenched, eyeing the way he muttered and kowtowed to the angry Terrible Terror that Merida seemed to be, surrounded by so many taller, larger males.

'Terror or no,' he gave her a tired look and she rolled her eyes, 'She'll still claw your eyes out if you give her the chance…'

"Feel better?" He asked as she rolled her shoulder.

She stuck her tongue out, "I just might, thank ye very much!"

She cleared her throat and looked on to the rabble, "So…! Here we all are…for, erm…"

She flailed, suddenly, before her people. She was sure in front of the Vikings, her mistakes unknown to them and felt more sure of herself, not having to hide what her people considered to be more masculine traits. Yes, the Berkians were rude and loud and invasive, but so was she—she was a better Viking than she ever was a princess and she flailed, looking to Hiccup in a strange panic.

He stood on the head of his dragon, apologizing lowly and keeping most of his weight in his one foot so as not to bother Toothless too much. He raised his head and shoulders so that Hiccup stood above the lot and he cleared his throat.

"Now, where were we? Right! In accordance with our laws and by the rights of our heritage, we have come to a peaceful agreement that will suit both parties well. But, to do so, we must act with respect and understanding to both peoples."

Merida hopped up and began to speak, he noticed in whatever language he wasn't—he couldn't really tell which dialect he was using at the moment. She flashed him a happy glance from atop her own Nightfury, blue and yellow meeting a matching pair of green.

"So! Until everything can be handled directly, we'll be a bit on top of one another—if you have found a suitable place to sleep, go now and open your homes to those that do not have them. We all know what it's like to be without a roof over our heads and empty bellies after harsh campaigns."

He paused to let Merida translate, admiring the curve of her jawline as she spoke.

"There is going to be a rough and dirty adjustment period," he ignored Merida's snort, "So I encourage you all to introduce yourselves and your dragons! We must make an effort for peace because, despite our claim, this is their land and we must be grateful!"

There was some annoyed murmurings form the Berk tribe and Hiccup glowered, "We must appreciate the effort that is being made and reciprocate in kind. Share our bread and our wine, attempt to connect despite the differences in language and culture and custom. We are all people—no matter where we hail from or the banners we fly under!"

Merida was giving him an odd, melty look that made him nearly fall off Toothless' head, making the dragon yap and mutter in annoyance when his sharp metal prosthesis dug into the soft planes of round skull.

"A bond has been struck between our peoples," he looked to her and offered his hand, which she took without hesitation, careless of what it may have signified, reiterating some of her speech from before, "This story is a powerful one! When invaders came from the north, we came together not as enemies, but as friends in a time of need! We will risk our lives for each other and, one day, this story will become legend to all those that come after us! They will sing the epic of us and our trials!"

When Merida finished there were no cheers of gratitude but strong, steely resolve. The Vikings lowered their weapons and the Scotsmen followed, trepidation and wariness in their eyes. They stared at each other and their leaders, Stoick leading Elinor through the throng, everyone bowing in respect to both royal parties. Valka and Fergus stomped forward as well, aggravation evident in each step.

"Now off with ye!" Fergus hollered, "Go home and to yer beds!"

"And if they're full of Vikings?" Lord McGuffin appeared, eyes sharp from under his blond fringe.

"Learn to share," the king snapped and turned, his dark cape swinging behind him as the two royal families entered into the castle. The throne room was still a wreck and Merida watched as her mother's hands fluttered over her chest in shock, turning to see the axe and sword marks that splintered her throne, the delicate carvings completely ruined. The tapestries of their families had been torn down and left in heaps, the threads pulled and loosened and their images ruined. The Hooligans had done their own damage, having roasted a pig on a spit the night before, tables righted but benches overturned, dirty plates and utensils scattered over every surface.

"Oh, dear…oh, my Lord…"

"It's alright, mum," Merida pulled her along, "We'll sort it all out tomorrow, alright?"

The princess was glad there was no blood on the stairs that led up towards many rooms. Luckily, during her stay here with Hiccup, they had found that most of the upper stories remained untouched. The wine cellar had been as decimated as the kitchen and the hall, along with the lower levels of the castle. Their parents fell into rooms across from each other and Merida did not bother to ask where Stoick and Valka had been the night before and why they suddenly felt the need to sleep in her home now, stomping out her annoyance with a tired sigh.

"Merida…" Her mother bundled her into her arms again and her father loomed over them both, eyes tired and sad, "Stay with us tonight."

She shook her head, "Och, mum! I'll be right here in the mornin', just as always. Da would likely crush me in his sleep if ye did not smother me!"

She sighed, "Alright…but…" her gaze fell to Hiccup, who was saying goodnight to his own parents. Merida listened, briefly, as he asked his mother if she was alright being left alone with Stoick and wondered again what he had done to risk the relationship, "Ye're not…?"

"No, mum, no," she took her hands, lying right through her teeth and praying she wasn't obvious as a lark, "We're…friends."

"Just friends?"

"Aye, 'tis so."

"Alright," she nodded, "Just that ye remember…ye are a princess and have expectations to uphold."

Merida felt her jaw clench, teeth grinding as she nodded, saying nothing.

"And, well, with all this," her mother waved a hand to the castle, "The lords will surely want to pressure ye again—"

"I thought we covered that," Merida hissed, under her breath, "I thought we got to choose."

"Aye, lass," Elinor held out a palm, "I'll pacify them while I can—but a decision has to be made." Her eyes found Hiccup's figure again, "Between the three Lairds' sons."

"I-I—what?"

"Merida," her mother scoffed, "Ye did not honestly think that ye could have whomever ye wanted? Ye must choose between the three sons, those are yer options. Really, lass, the head on ye, d'ye think a stable hand would be accepted on the throne? Or—?"

"Or what, mum?"

"Or—well…"

Merida bit the inside of her cheek and closed her eyes to stop herself from starting an argument. There was no point, she told herself—she wouldn't be here to marry one of the Lords' sons. One of two things would come to be in the near future: either she'd live to see a thousand sunsets on the back of her dragon, traveling the world with the man she'd come to love or she'd die in battle against the terror that was attempting to consume everything and anything in their path.

She hoped for the first.

But she'd be lying if she wasn't betting on the last.

"This is a topic for another day," Merida pulled away from her mother's grasp, hearing her father admonish her gruffly about pushing her away with suck talk, stomping down the corridor with purpose. She found the room she had shared with Hiccup the night before and stripped her armor off, sitting only in her underdress as she finger combed her hair with a swift, practiced ease. Her mind was turning another plan over, the gears grinding down her embarrassment like a grain mill.

Hiccup would come.

And, when he did, she would make sure that everyone—her family included—knew there would be no separation between them until death reached up and took her from this world.

Chapter 13, complete.