(A/N Okay, I guess there is a bit of self harm in this chapter. It doesn't feel right to call it that when it's in context, but I figured I would give everyone warning before reaching that point.)

She was grateful for Toothless and the razorwhip's company. She found them easy to talk to, like Angus was. They also interacted with her, as if they could understand everything she said. The intelligence in their eyes was uncanny, however she was glad she was becoming more comfortable with the beasts.

Currently she was laying back on Toothless's saddle with the other curled up on her stomach. The sounds of the warriors gathering the dead surrounded them. Toothless navigated through the throngs of people and dragons. He seemed to be directing the other dragons, pausing at the corpses of dragons he found until another dragon or two came along to haul it away.

The dead warriors were all placed on boats. One held the fallen Hooligans and their allies, while another held the Wailers.

"Princess." She jumped at Hiccup's voice, disturbing the hatchling's slumber.

"Hiccup," she replied, sitting up. She couldn't meet his gaze.

"The leaders are already determining a neutral area for a landsmeet. Your presence would be beneficial for insight and you'll likely be invited to the meet as well."

"Right." She was disappointed at his formality and that he hadn't come to her of his own accord, but at least she could leave the dragon's back.

"But I think as long as you're here you might as well be useful." She scowled and finally met his eye. His gaze was relentless and critical. "Your people need you, princess. The second barracks." He walked away from her. She was reeling, but knew he was right. The prisoners needed to know they were free.

She found the barracks easy enough, her stowaway accompanying her. The people were fearful as she entered and she realized she was armored like a Viking. Pulling the cuffs and braids from her hair she entered the clusters of people.

"Yer alright now," she spoke up. "They can' hurt ye anymore."

"Merida?" Came a voice from the crowd. The people parted and she saw a dark haired man with the remnants of smeared blue paint on his shoulder.

"Ryan!" She ran to the young Macintosh. "I thought ye were headin' inland!"

"The people got away. That's what was important. But there was…"

"Yer lass lives on a coastal village, don' she?"

"Yeah…"

"She alright?"

"She's not here. I haven't seen anyone from her village yet. I was… I was captured before I made it there."

"'M sorry, Ryan."

"What about you? What are ye doin' here?"

"Me husband led the attack. I snuck along with the reinforcements."

"Husband?!"

"Yea," she elbowed him in the ribs, "ye don' 'ave to pretend to woo me anymore. Ye can tell yer da of the lass."

"Once we're free…"

"Ye are free."

"Sorry, the attackers just looked like…"

"Vikings?" she offered.

He shook his head with a scowl on his face. "So, will I be offering me congratulations to Dingwall or MacGuffin? They're lucky to call ye their wife."

"Well gee, this is embarrassing." She heard Hiccup say from the door. She snorted at his dry comment. "How many husbands do you have?" Her chortling became nearly uncontrollable at that.

"Hiccup, meet Ryan Macintosh. Ryan, this is me husband, Hiccup."

"A suitor?"

"A Viking?"

Hiccup sounded curious, while Ryan was furious. She stepped between them before Macintosh could do something stupid.

"Ryan. The Hooligans are here to aid our people. Calm down."

"Ye were sold to one o' these heathens?"

"It was my choice! Mine! Not yers, not me da's, but even me mum's. And I will not apologize fer doin' wot I could to save me people!"

There was a beat of silence as Hiccup waited for them to be finished, Ryan processed her words, and the surrounding prisoners murmured amongst themselves about what they'd missed since being in captivity. Ryan straightened and gave a sharp nod of acknowledgment and she relaxed, prompting the silver dragon to poke her head over her shoulder.

"Right," spoke Hiccup, "word is ready to be sent. We just want you to verify we're not overstepping any boundaries. Ryan should come too. Snotlout can take him to your parents so he can explain things a bit better than a letter."

He led them to the meeting, where Ryan was caught up on the arrangement made those weeks ago. She gave a place nearby that would offer the tactical advantage of keeping the dragons out of sight. One letter was sent to the Wailers, while another was given to Ryan. Snotlout would fly him to DunBroch on Hookfang and five other dragons would accompany them to bring the leaders back.

Astrid appointed herself their guard. The company laughed, but did not argue. Hiccup warned her how the Scots viewed women and she shrugged it off.

"Ye'll want to bring me mum. The clan lords won' stop bickering fer a moment if ye don'."

"Ye'll be here," Ryan pointed out.

"An' wot will that do?"

"Ye've halted an all out brawl by walking into the room."

"Eh, me mum's done that. I jus' prevented one. Big diff'rence."

"Oh yea, my bad. I've no idea how I didn't take into account how those situations were nothin' alike."

"Och! Jus' get on the beast an' make sure she comes. We're aiming fer peace, not rash words."

He waved off her comment and leaned in. "Are ye alright, lass? He don' seem to like ye much… Not to say- well I…" He had a panicked look on his face and she realized it was for her wellbeing.

"'M fine. He's angry with me fer being here, and has every right to be. Mum's always tellin' me I gotta listen when others are talking 'bout me safety, but I guess I haven't quite started yet. I will, I just...I needed to be here."

He nodded and followed Snotlout and Astrid to the dragons that had been selected for the trip.

The battlefield was nearly clear of all the dead. She couldn't help but look to the shore, where the boats were waiting. She didn't know what to expect.

"Last rites will be given to our people at nightfall. We'll leave the Wailers to administer their own rites when they arrive," Hiccup answered her unasked questions as he laid a hand on her shoulder. He gave her a little squeeze, and then left the tent. She noticed smoke in the direction he was headed.

She went the opposite direction, back to the Scots who'd been freed. It took some explaining, but they eventually accepted the events that had transpired. Many were upset she'd taken a foreign husband, but most understood her predicament.

Some of the younger folk asked to pet the razorwhip. She allowed it as long as the dragon was still comfortable. She preened at the attention.

It didn't take long for darkness to fall over the land. When the ship set sail she was surprised to see Hiccup take up a bow and light an arrow. His aim was true, and the ship blazed before her eyes.

The meal they shared had a subdued atmosphere. Scots and Vikings ate together, mourning the passed. She heard there were nine Hooligan deaths, two Wingmaidens, a Defender, and seven dragons. She didn't know their names. She wanted to express how glad she was that the numbers were so low, but those she ate with knew the names of the lost.

Hiccup spoke to her little, but he didn't explode at her again either. Mostly he kept within an arm's reach of her to explain anything unusual but he refused to touch her or hold any sort of conversation.

She'd decided it was time to take the hatchling to bed. Several tents had been set up, but many of the warriors were choosing to sleep in the barracks or aboard the ships they'd sailed in on. Valka had subtly indicated where Hiccup was staying. She was thankful, of course, she just wished she hadn't felt her entire face heat up.

As she slipped away from the fires for the tent at the far end of camp she passed a particularly dark space. She didn't think anything of it, there were no Wailers left here, but she tried to scream when a hand covered her mouth and pulled her backwards into the darkness.

She was pressed against a body and was trying to break free or bite the hand so she could scream when his breath brushed her ear as he spoke.

"Merida, calm yourself." It was Hiccup. She stilled. He let go of her mouth and turned her around, his finger to his lips while still holding her hand in his. "Come on. I want to show you something." His grin was infectious and she wondered where all his ire had gone. She had half a mind to ask, but chose to follow him silently instead.

They were keeping low as they ventured into the darkness of the trees. The further they got the more she felt they were hiding from something, moving from tree to tree and behind rocks and brushes. She couldn't help the smile on her face. As Hiccup pulled her further into the darkness she was reminded of following the Will-O-Wisps. This territory was familiar and exhilarating, even with the less familiar man at her side.

She could see a break in the trees up ahead and he motioned for her to stay low and quiet. As they neared a boulder just before the clearing he pulled her to him and they knelt behind the large rock. He held her to him so he could speak quietly into her ear.

"Stay low. She doesn't like humans."

"She?"

They peered over the boulder to see Toothless and a white dragon. Merida pressed herself to the boulder, trying to disappear. Her stowaway snaked off her back and up one of the nearby trees.

"I have so many questions," Hiccup said in a breathy whisper with awe in his voice. "Are they the same species of dragon? Or just similar and compatible? Or maybe all the females white and males black? Do they mate for life?"

She watched his face in the gloom. He was totally enraptured by the beasts. His face was lit up as he thought over all the possibilities and questions he had. And he was sharing them with her.

"So she's a…?"

"Light Fury," he answered with a smile.

"This innit the first time ye've come across her?"

"No. Toothless has been sneaking out since we started migrating south. She threw a plasma blast at me when I first met her and tried to throw me from Toothless's saddle after separating us from the flock." He had an enormous smile on his face as he excitedly explained.

"How is that a good thing?"

"She's protecting Toothless. I don't know if it's as a mate or accepting him as an Alpha, but she's obviously trying to take care of him." His smile was goofy and lopsided as he watched the dragons with a spark in his eyes. She turned back to watch too.

"She's a beauty."

"Toothless sure thinks so," he answered with a humored huff.

She snickered and the atmosphere changed. It was like lightning had just struck. The two stilled and eyed the dragons, who were both watching their position. Toothless had an annoyed look on his face, while the light fury was hunkered down and ready to attack.

"Stay behind me," Hiccup instructed as he pulled her behind him and backed up slowly from the clearing.

The light fury snorted and shook her head before glancing at Toothless.

Toothless let out a staccato sound and warbled before pacing towards the two. Slipping over the boulder he grabbed Hiccup's other arm with retracted teeth and pulled the pair into the clearing.

Hiccup did not let her hand drop and she clung to his back.

"Crash course in dragon training?" she whispered at his nape.

"You're respectful, nonthreatening, and unafraid."

"All at once?" She felt him chuckle, but he didn't make sound as he averted his face from the light fury.

Her posture changed and she snorted. Looking to Toothless she wrinkled her nose and let out a whine.

Toothless dropped his head on top of Hiccup's and grunted.

She tilted her head towards Merida.

Hiccup tightened his hold on her.

Toothless let out something similar to a yawn followed by a purr.

The light fury prowled closer.

Hiccup held his ground, his face turned away, his right hand out in an appeasing manner, and his left behind his back clinging to her.

The dragon sniffed his metal leg once and then snaked her head around his middle to see Merida.

Hiccup sidestepped her, staying between the two, and dropped into a defensive position.

"I thought ye said to not be threatening?"

"Usually. But I also said I'd protect you. I don't know her intentions and she's not getting near you until I do."

Merida was frightened, to be sure, but her curiosity was also getting ahold of her.

The white dragon and Toothless exchanged a few notes before her attention was turned back to the pair.

Hiccup held her gaze this time.

Toothless let out that same yawn then purr again.

She laid down, looking much like a cat.

The razorwhip fluttered down from the tree and landed on Merida's shoulders. She chittered twice before dropping a little further to cling to her back as normal.

The light fury let out a moan.

Toothless extended his tail and showed off his fins, flipping them in and out.

She snorted and then prowled closer again. Just before reaching Hiccup she looked back to Toothless.

He approached, closed his eyes, and fit his snout into Hiccup's hand.

Hiccup responded by rubbing his head like normal, but he never turned away from the hostile dragon.

She bent her head low and shifted forward, again angling towards Merida.

Hiccup stiffened, shifting between them again.

Toothless bopped Hiccup's head with his paw.

"Well, Toothless wants me to trust her," he grumbled, rubbing his head with the hand that had just been on Toothless.

"And what does she want?"

"Are you going to be okay if I answer that?"

"I can do this," she nodded with a determined glint in her eye.

He maneuvered so they were in a similar position as they had been when he'd introduced her to Toothless. His right hand slid up her arm and was open above the back of her own while his left was hooked in her belt at her hip. She figured he wanted to be able to fling her away at a moment's notice. He lifted his left hand and gently pushed her jaw to the side so she was looking away from the dragon, before replacing it at her hip.

She watched the dragon from the corner of her eye. It crept closer until it pushed its snout into her hand. Merida left out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and began to rub up the dragon's snout with Hiccup's hand still over hers.

Looking to Toothless she let out another whining warble and he brushed his head into hers. She took a step back and sat on her haunches lifting one of her front legs into the air.

There, just inside her armpit, was a deep gash with metal bits still stuck in her scales. The wound was old enough to have some healed areas around the metal, but other parts that moved often were left sore and bordering infection.

"Och!"

"Oh no."

Both reached forward of their own accord to examine the wound.

She stiffened, but did not retaliate.

"I'll be back," Merida said as she disentangled herself from Hiccup's embrace. "Stay here, I'll only be a moment."

Hiccup acknowledged her words, but kept his eyes on the wound, placing his hands on the clear skin around it.

Racing through the wood, Merida was glad for her knowledge of woodland survival. She made quick work of finding the saps, roots and leaves she needed for a balm. Mixing it was a touch more difficult, but the sharp spines on her new friend helped dice everything as she placed it in a large leaf. She'd have to chew it to make the paste she needed, which was fine if a bit tasteless. The saliva would help bond the plants together.

She'd just finished chewing the last bit as she entered back into the clearing. Hiccup had pliers from his belt, but he hadn't begun pulling anything out yet. The light fury was fearful of his tool, but hadn't flown away or blasted him yet.

She mixed the mess of saliva and plant parts as she approached the trio.

"This'll numb and seal it after we get the shards out." She placed the leafbowl on the boulder. "Should keep infection away too."

"Perfect! Toothless, this'll hurt. Can you keep her calm?"

He let out a sad whine and rubbed her head.

She snorted and her eyes turned to slits again.

Toothless growled and shook his head at her.

She eyed the mixture, the tool and the pair with distrust.

"Oh for the love of Thor!" Hiccup pulled out a knife and she reared back, but he cut the top of his own hand behind his thumb.

"Hiccup!" She was startled by his rash action.

"There. See?" He lifted it for the light fury to see his blood pooling. Then he reached for the goo and slathered a bit on his small wound.

She watched his actions intently.

Merida scowled at him.

"Let me do it ye daffy," she snapped as he tried to tie a rag over his hand. When she finished she was startled by the white snout watching over her shoulder.

"Your turn," he said to the dragon.

She glanced at Toothless again and then laid down and rolled onto her side, her eyes screwed shut.

Merida found a large branch for the dragon to bite down on, then sat beside Hiccup as he began removing shards. Toothless soothed her and kept his head on hers as she writhed in pain. Sometimes Merida held open skin for Hiccup to see the shards better. Other times she coated the wound with paste when there were no shards left in the area. The gash was at least 18 inches long, and clearing it lasted until after midnight.

When she was cleaned and the paste was all in place they had no bandages for her. Hiccup explained they'd have to repeat the paste, but the shards were all gone. They seemed to understand. Merida wished she could understand them too.

The five fell asleep in the clearing. Toothless and the light fury had curled together. Hiccup had slumped against an unoccupied portion of Toothless's belly. Merida curled into Hiccup's side. The baby razorwhip nestled into Merida's curls. Everything felt perfect in that moment before she fell asleep.