Chapter 14
"Merida!"
A distant voice echoed in the distance calling out Merida's name and arousing her from a deep sleep. Merida squeezed her eyes shut, reluctant to wake from her comfortable slumber. She pulled the blanket around herself a little tighter and leaned a little closer to the source of warmth beside her.
"Merida!"
The voice called again, still from a fair distance but closer than before. Merida groaned. She didn't want to leave her bed. As she opened her eyes a small amount, beams of sunlight caused her to wince slightly as her eyes were unprepared for the brightness. She squeezed them shut once more as she rolled to her opposite side and she nestled herself even closer to the warm body beside her.
"Merida!"
Reluctantly she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned. She opened her eyes just slightly as her vision slowly adjusted to the light of day. As she groggily looked around, the bed beneath her moved as if the mattress had taken a deep breath causing her to furrow her brow in confusion. Suddenly a warm arm gently slid over her coming to rest across her shoulder and the body beside her let out a soft sigh. She lifted her head slightly as she opened her eyes a little more. She suddenly came to the realization that this was not her room, and the thing she laid upon was not her bed. Her eyes went wide as she found herself laying upon a sleeping Toothless, nestled up close against Hiccup's chest, and wrapped up loosely in his warm arms. He was fast asleep and his face was so close to hers that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face each time he exhaled. Her heart froze at the sight.
"Merida!"
The voice was closer now. Merida sat up with a start. "Oh no," she cried. Her sudden movement disturbed Hiccup and he sat up groggily as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He glanced over to see a panic stricken Merida.
"What's wrong," he asked still in a stupor, "what's happening?"
"Merida, where are you?" Hiccup straightened up at the sound of the voice calling Merida's name. Merida now recognized the voice as one of her brothers.
"I...I never went home," Merida replied in a panic, "we must've fallen asleep d-during the storm and...and I never went home!" She lept from her place beside him and frantically collected her bow and quiver.
"Oh...I've been late before," Merida continued, "but I...I've never not come home. My mum will hae my head fur sure!
"Merida...it...it's okay," Hiccup quickly stood from his place as he attempted to calm her, "j-just...calm down!"
"Ye don't understand," Merida quickly pulled her cloak over her head and pulled her hair out from beneath the hood, "they've come looking for me! If...if they find me here...with ye...and...and Toothless..." Toothless lifted his head groggily at the sound of his name and looked curiously back and forth between the two of them.
"Okay," Hiccup interrupted, "I get it, I get it...b-but we haven't done anything wrong, i-if anything, your parents should be grateful t-that you were safe with me."
Merida looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.
"Hiccup have ye gone mad," she exclaimed, "y-yer a Viking, a...a banished one at that! A-and I...I was alone with ye, all night, without a chaperone! If...if my mum found out...it...it'd be the end of us, they'll lock ye away and I'd never be allowed to see ye again!"
"W-well...w-what about Toothless," Hiccup replied, "he was here too, doesn't he count as a chaperone?"
"Hiccup, this isn't a joke," Merida groaned, "this is serious!" She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him. Hiccup grabbed her by the arm quickly and gently pulled her back to him. She looked up at him with a frustrated expression on her face.
"Okay, look," he sighed as he gazed into her sky blue eyes, "I...I'm sorry, I know It's serious okay, I...I was just trying to lighten the mood...I'm sorry." Merida glared at him. Hiccup chuckled slightly.
"Do you forgive me," he asked with a sideways grin. Merida's eyes softened and she smiled slightly.
"Aye," she replied with a sigh, "so long as ye take this seriously. My mum will not take a viking's presence lightly. If she found out about ye, she'd hae ye punished to the extent of the law jus fur approaching me. I...I just coudnae bare it if something happened tae ye 'cause o' me, 'cause o' my mistake!" Hiccup nodded in understanding
"Merida!"
Hiccup looked up in the direction from which the voice had come. They sounded as if they were even closer now. He turned back to Merida with a look of worry on his face. Merida gazed up at Hiccup for a long moment eyes wide with panic and almost frozen in place.
"Y-you need to go," he replied insistently. He took her by the hand and started to lead her toward the mouth of the cave, "y-you're in enough trouble as it is! We can just meet up tomorrow, same place as usual..."
Merida suddenly stopped walking, she stood firm in place, her feet not moving an inch. Hiccup paused and turned back to face her. She gazed up at him with a look of turmoil on her face, and her eyes looked slightly watery.
"Ye don't understand," she said in an emotion filled voice. Hiccup gazed at her in concern. She paused for a long moment as if contemplating her words.
"Merida!"
She turned to the mouth of the cave at the sound of her brother's voice. She then turned back to Hiccup with a look of uncertainty on her face. Hiccup's heart froze at the sight of her nearly tear filled eyes. She looked as if she wanted to say something but she couldn't seem to find her words.
"What," he questioned. She gazed up at him in worry. She gulped slightly in nervousness.
"It's...it's just that I...I don't know that I'll be able to come back," she gulped as she continued to gaze at him. Hiccup felt his heart sink with her words.
"You think they won't let you leave the castle again," Hiccup questioned in a worried tone.
"I...I messed up Hiccup," she replied emotionally, "I...I broke the one rule my mum expects of me to keep, I broke her trust, she'll never forgive me." Hiccup squeezed her hand a little tighter. He sighed heavily as he gazed at her longingly once again.
"Of course she'll forgive you Merida," he replied softly in reassurance, "she's your mom. She might be really angry right now, but she's still your family. She won't be mad forever." Merida nodded as she thought over his words.
"Aye, that may be," she replied, "but she'll still ground me for this, probably indefinitely!"
"It's okay," he replied softly, "I can wait." He gazed at her for a long moment as if carefully weighing his words. She continued to gaze up at him, silently wishing he'd tell her whatever it was that was so obviously weighing on his mind.
"I...I don't know how long it will be," Merida replied, "before I'll be free to come back." Hiccup nodded in understanding but he still remained silent.
They stood there for a long moment gazing at one another, feeling awkward and torn at the same time. Merida didn't want to leave, and Hiccup didn't want to let her go. But neither of them seemed to have the courage to tell the other how they felt. Hiccup took another step closer to her. Absentmindedly, he reached up to brush the unruly red curls away from her face. His hand came to rest on her cheek as he gazed into her sparkling blue eyes. He could feel his heart racing as he gazed at her. He wanted so badly to kiss her, and to tell her how he felt, but he hadn't the courage to do so.
Merida just gazed up at him. The touch of his hand on her face sent chills through her and she wished he would do something other then gaze at her that way. His hesitation only caused her to question her feelings even more.
"Merida!" At the sound of the voice, they both simultaneously turned to the mouth of the cave. Merida sighed as she turned back to him.
"I...I have to go," Merida said. Hiccup nodded as he reluctantly dropped his hand from her face and he backed away slightly. Merida dropped her eyes from his and turned away with a heavy sigh. She quickly headed toward the mouth of the cave.
"Merida wait," Hiccup called out. She quickly turned back to face him.
"H-how will I know," he stuttered, "h-how long before I...I can see you again. H-how will I know when y-you can come back." Merida thought for a moment.
"Um...uh...maybe, come to the place where ye first took me home," she replied, "i-if I can, I'll meet ye there...if not...I...I'll find some way to tell ye."
"Okay," Hiccup replied with a nod, "I'll be there tomorrow morning, if you're there great!" Merida nodded. "If not," he sighed, "I...I'll just try again the next day." Merida smiled slightly as she nodded in agreement. She gazed at him for a moment longer as she paused by the mouth of the cave. She smiled up at him.
"Stay out of trouble," she smirked. Hiccup grinned at her.
"You too princess," he replied.
"Merida!"
She turned and quickly ran out of the cave. "I'm here," he heard her call out, "I'm here."
Hiccup crept to the mouth of the cave making sure to remain hidden in the shadows. He saw her walking away with a boy no more than ten years old. He was only a tad shorter than her with the same bright red curls piled on the top of his head, though trimmed short and only slightly less unruly than Merida's. Hiccup chuckled slightly. Initially when she had mentioned her brothers he had pictured them being older than her. He should have realized they'd be younger, as she was the next in line for the throne. He sighed heavily as he watched them, feeling quite bereft knowing he might not see her again for days. All he wanted to do was run to her and tell her all the feelings he had for her. But her warning still hung heavy on his mind.
...
"Y-yer a Viking, a...a banished one at that! A-and I...I was alone with ye, all night, without a chaperone! If...if my mum found out...it...it'd be the end of us, they'll lock ye away and I'd never be allowed to see ye again!"
My mum will not take a viking's presence lightly. If she found out about ye, she'd hae ye punished to the extent of the law jus fur approaching me.
...
He was a Viking, and technically Berk was still an enemy of Dunbroch. He sighed again. Surely there must be something he could do to prove himself. Or some way for her mother and her people to see past the fact that he was a Viking. But even if he could convince them, he was still a Viking and she was still a princess. She was more than that, she was the future queen of Dunbroch. He didn't know if he even stood a chance with her to begin with.
As the two siblings disappeared from sight, Hiccup turned back into the cave with a sullen expression on his face. He looked up to see Toothless smirking at him.
"What," he questioned in annoyance. Toothless nodded in the direction Merida had gone and batted his eyes at Hiccup. Hiccup sighed heavily once again as he crossed his arms over his chest. Toothless nudged him insistently.
"Not now bud," Hiccup groaned. Toothless whined impatiently. He snorted at Hiccup in frustration. Hiccup ignored him and started to gather his belongings. Toothless huffed as he tried to think of a way to get Hiccup to listen to him. The dragon looked around anxiously for a moment. He turned quickly and pulled a stick from the burnt out fire and started frantically drawing in the dirt.
Once satisfied with his work, Toothless gently grabbed Hiccup by the sleeve and drug him over to his drawing, causing him to stumble forward and drop the blanket he was trying to fold.
"Now what bud," Hiccup groaned again. He turned his eyes reluctantly to Toothless' drawing.
There were two sloppy stick figures. One stood with arms crossed and a hook for one foot, the other with crazy scribbles for hair and seemed to be wearing a dress. Around them both was a large, very lopsided heart. Hiccup's heart froze for a brief moment at the sight, then he sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hiccup groaned as he crossed his arms over his chest. Toothless grumbled at Hiccup.
"Come on Toothless" Hiccup replied, "first of all, that looks nothing like me!" Toothless raised an eyebrow at him. Suddenly realizing that he was standing in the same position as the drawing, Hiccup quickly uncrossed his arms.
"A-and second I told you already, it...it's not like that with Merida!" Hiccup turned and walked away. Toothless glared at him. He swung his tail forward and whacked Hiccup on the side of the head. Hiccup turned to the dragon in anger.
"What the," he groaned, "what the hell was that for ya stupid dragon!" Toothless glared at him. He took the stick and drew a heart on the one-legged stick figure's chest, and then drew a line from the heart to the stick figure girl. Toothless then pointed to Hiccup's actual chest and then pointed to the stick figure girl again. Hiccup sighed heavily and dropped his arms at his side in defeat. He groaned in annoyance as he gazed sullenly at Toothless.
"Is it that obvious," Hiccup questioned. Toothless shook his head with a sarcastic expression on his face.
"Fine," Hiccup huffed, "fine! I...I like her okay...I...I mean I...I really, really like her. Are ya happy now?" Toothless smirked. Hiccup began to pace as he continued to vent his feelings to Toothless.
"I...I think I...I might even be falling for her bud," Hiccup admitted, "I...I mean, my heart races whenever I'm near her and...and I can't think straight and sometimes when I'm close to her it...it feels like I...I can't breathe...I just...I get so nervous that I just I...I don't know what to do or...or say." Toothless smiled in Hiccup's direction.
"And when we're apart I...I just...I can't stop thinking about her, ya know. I mean, how could I, she...she's amazing, she's kind and...and smart, fun and brave," Hiccup continued to pace, "and...and she's so damn beautiful, I mean that hair...a-and her eyes...and when she smiles..." Hiccup sighed dreamily.
"I...I could just stare at her all day if I could get away with it!" Hiccup sighed heavily again as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I mean...she...she's perfect...and...and I...I'm just a screw up." Hiccup sighed heavily as he dropped his eyes to the ground.
"She deserves way better than me bud," Hiccup said solemnly, "besides I would just mess it all up, like I always do. I mean that's the last thing I'd want to happen." He sunk to the ground and sighed as he sat before the dragon.
"Besides," Hiccup replied, "she wouldn't go for a guy like me, I...I mean she's royalty for crying out loud! I mean, you heard her, I'm just a...a Viking, and a banished one at that!" Toothless sighed in slight annoyance. Could his rider really be this blind? Toothless took the stick and began to draw again. Hiccup looked on in curiosity as Toothless drew a heart over stick figure Merida's chest and then a line pointing to stick figure Hiccup.
"You...you think s-she likes me too," Hiccup questioned, "l-like the way that I like her?" Toothless nodded insistently.
"No," Hiccup replied instantly, "we're just friends...that's it, I...I mean, there's no way..." Hiccup immediately tried to dismiss the dragon's claim but the more he thought about it, the more he wondered if it could possibly be true.
Maybe he had spent so much time overthinking his own feelings for Merida that he hadn't noticed Merida's feelings for him. Had he missed something she'd done or said? He could feel his heart begin to race at the very thought of it. He tried to go over everything in his mind.
They had a few close moments here and there, and there were times he thought maybe she did feel something for him. But she had never given him any definite indication that her feelings could be anything more than friendship. At least none that he had noticed. She had complimented him many times, but that's what friends do too. She had told him multiple times that she was glad to have a 'friend' like him. But then she had never been offended whenever he took her hand and she allowed him to touch her face without backing away. They joked around a lot and teased each other like friends tend to do, but sometimes it did feel more like flirting. His mind drifted to the past day.
...
He held the other side of the blanket up, inviting her to sit beside him. She sat down next to him and he draped the other side of the blanket around her shoulder. Merida sighed in content as she leaned her head against his shoulder. Hiccup could feel his heart flutter as she sat so close beside him. Without thought he leaned his head against the top of hers. The two sat quietly gazing at the fire both feeling completely content just being in each other's company.
...
The simple memory made him smile. He had never felt so content, so at ease as he seemed to be with her. He was happy just having her near him. But he never thought about the fact that she had felt so content with him that she hadn't even thought twice about being so close to him. In fact she had laid her head on his shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world to her, as if she were right where she belonged.
He sighed heavily again as he sat upon the cave floor in front of Toothless and stared down at the dragon's crude drawing. Just the thought of her having feelings for him caused his heart to flutter, but it also caused a pit to form in his stomach.
He liked her, he more than liked her, he might even have been starting to love her, but that's what scared him most of all.
He wanted a chance with her more than anything but he didn't feel like he was good enough for her. He was happy to be her friend, to just have a reason to be near her, to have her to talk to and laugh with. He didn't want to jeopardize their friendship by trying to be more, like he had with Astrid. Hiccup's mind flashed back to his own advice in their previous conversation.
...
"Well I know that if I fall in love it will end that way because of what I am and what I'm meant to be," Merida said, "so why even try if heartbreak is inevitable?"
"No, you don't know that," Hiccup replied, "you're just assuming the worst case scenario. For all you know the person you fall in love with could be accepted by your entire kingdom. I mean, wouldn't that be better then just settling for someone because you're afraid of the outcome?" Merida huffed in frustration. She turned her eyes back to the trail ahead of them.
"The problem is you'll never know if you never take a chance."
...
He had advised her to take a chance. He had told her that he would rather fall in love even if it ended than to not have love at all. And yet here he was still just as afraid of love as he was before and still just as reluctant to take a chance as she was. He felt that he would rather remain her friend just to keep her in his life, then take a chance as something more and loose her forever if things didn't work out.
...
Dunbroch castle
"Honestly Merida," Elinor bellowed, "I don't know what's gotten into you lately, being late is one thing, not coming home at all is unacceptable!"
"I just got caught in the storm mother," she replied, "I took refuge in a cave, I didn't mean to fall asleep...it...it just happened." Elinor crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her daughter incredulously. In all her years, Elinor had not known her daughter to be irresponsible. Headstrong and difficult yes, but Merida was never irresponsible. She had taken notice over the past week that Merida had been acting slightly different. She was staying out till nearly sunset everyday that she'd been allowed to leave the castle walls and when she was at home she was often distracted. Clearly something was weighing on Merida's mind, but thus far she had not spoken a word of it to Elinor nor anyone else. Elinor sighed in frustration.
Though their relationship had gotten better over these past five years, Merida still was not as open with her mother as she wished her to be. Though they were closer than they had ever been there was still much that Merida refused to share with her. It was discouraging to Elinor to say the least. The one thing she had always longed for was a closer mother and daughter bond.
"Merida, I believe you," Elinor replied with a sigh, "I do, but this has to stop!" Yer not a wee lass anymore, ye have responsibilities as a princess and a future queen. Ye simply can't be running off every chance ye get. Yer 21 years of age now, it's time for ye to start acting like the lady and queen yer meant to be."
"Mum," Merida groaned.
"Not to mention the danger ye put yer self in staying out alone the entire night." Merida dropped her eyes to the floor and sighed in discontent.
"Now I've warned ye time and time again of the dangers that may lurk in the woods after dark. Any number of ill-fated things can await a young lady alone in the woods!"
"But mum," Merida groaned, "I wasn't alo...I...I mean I...I w-was perfectly safe... believe me, nothing would have happened to me!"
"Aye, ye were safe this time, but what about next time, or the time after that?" Merida if ye don't start to heed my warnings a-and take them seriously; if ye continue to throw caution to the wind, I...I'm hesitant to even let ye leave the castle walls without a chaperone," Elinor went on.
"No," Merida exclaimed. Her mother stared at her after her outburst.
"I...I don't need a chaperone to...to go riding," Merida huffed, "I'm perfectly capable of defending myself if need be!"
"Be that as it may," Elinor replied firmly, "until ye have restored my faith in ye a-and proven to me that ye can be responsible, I may consider appointing ye a guard to keep ye safe! At the very least they will remind ye of yer curfew!"
"But mum," Merida started, "I know I've been late before but this is the one and only time I've ever done this, and it was an accident! I...I do take responsibility for my actions! I swear it won't happen again, but I don't need a guard! I...I haven't needed a guard in the past 6 years, and I don't need one now!"
"Merida," Elinor replied in frustration.
"Mum please," Merida interrupted, "It's the only time I have to myself, the only time I...I can just be me and not the future queen of Dunbroch! I ride to be free from the palace, h-how can I do that with a guard following me around!"
"But you are the future queen Merida," Elinor replied, "it's who ye are, who ye've always been. There is no separating the two. Ye can't run away from yer fate." Merida crossed her arms over her chest and sighed heavily. Her mother's words cut through her like a knife. She had spent the majority of her life trying to escape what she was, what she was meant to be. She had always wanted nothing more than to be free of her title, to be free to live as she pleased without expectation or obligation to anyone but herself. The older she got the more she began to realize that she couldn't avoid her fate forever. The truth in her mother's words only resigned her to the fact that her time of running was coming to an end, soon she would be expected to let her childish fantasies of freedom go and be forced to take up her birthright. Just as her grandmother had been thrust into a loveless marriage for the sake of her crown so would Merida be thrust onto the throne.
"Ye'll be grounded the next three days," Elinor said firmly.
"Three days," Merida whined, "Mum, I...I take full responsibility for my actions...but three days!"
"And extra princess lessons," Elinor replied, "to refresh ye on the responsibilities of a princess." Merida groaned as she threw her arms at her sides and balled her fingers into tight fists.
"But mum..." Merida groused.
"Not another word, Merida," Elinor replied, "there will be no further discussion on the matter today." Merida huffed impatiently.
"Now I want ye to go to yer room and get cleaned up," Elinor said, "I'll not have ye looking a shambles as we see off our guest."
"Lord Dingwall is leaving," Merida questioned.
"Aye," Elinor replied, "this afternoon."
"At least one good thing could come of this day," Merida grumbled under her breath.
"Merida," Elinor scolded.
"What was he here for anyway," Merida questioned. Elinor gazed at her daughter for a long moment, reluctant to speak of the Lord's proposal.
"It's nothing dear," Elinor replied, "we just discussed some matters regarding the future of Dunbroch...I...I will fill ye in later." Merida gazed at her mother warily.
"Go on then," Elinor said firmly, "brunch will be in an hour and then we will see Clan Dingwall off.
"Aye mum," Merida replied as she turned and headed to the door of the study.
Elinor sighed as Merida left the room. It was clear to her that Merida was hiding something, that something wasn't completely adding up. She wondered why after all they had overcome, Merida still felt the need to keep secrets from her. She hoped Merida would open up and let her know what had been taking up so much of her time as of late. The queen sighed heavily. On top of everything else she still needed to discuss with Merida the proposal of the Lords, a task she was not eager to do.
...
Merida entered her room quickly. It took everything in her not to slam the door shut behind her. She leaned her back against the door and sighed heavily. She was angry, not just with her mother, but also with herself. If only she had just come home, if only she hadn't fallen asleep, her mother would've been none the wiser about her spending so much time away from the castle. Now because of her blunder, she might never be able to leave the castle again without a guard, which now meant that seeing Hiccup had just gotten that much harder. She groaned in frustration as she flopped back upon her bed and gazed blankly up at the canopy above her.
"What am I gonna do," she groaned. She could feel her stomach tying up in knots at the thought of not being able to see Hiccup, not just for the next three days, but possibly indefinitely. If her mother remained firm in appointing her a guard, it would be near impossible for her to meet up with Hiccup.
She huffed in frustration as she lifted herself from her bed and gazed blankly around her room. She stood and made her way over to her balcony door. She opened the door and made her way out onto the balcony and gazed longingly in the direction of the forest. She sighed heavily once again as she thought of Hiccup.
It had only been a few hours since she'd left him behind in the cave but she missed him already. The thought of not being able to see him or talk to him for days made her heart feel heavy. She knew her mother was only acting in her best interest and that she was legitimately concerned for her safety. She understood where her mother was coming from, but she just had to find some way to change her mother's mind. She thought heavily on the matter as she gazed into the distance.
She supposed the only way around this drawback was to go through it. If she just accepted her mother's terms without complaint, and showed her she could be responsible, perhaps her mother would reconsider the necessity of a guard. Of course the down side of that would be that she'd have to accept not seeing Hiccup for an indefinite amount of time. And the drawback of that, of course, was that Hiccup was the chief of Berk. He had said he would wait to see her, but how long would he be willing to do that. Like her, he also had responsibilities to his people. He simply couldn't stay in Dunbroch forever. Merida sighed as she stepped back into her room. They would just have to play it by ear for the time being. Right now she would just try to focus on finding a way to get a message to Hiccup.
...
Eret
Eret was not just a dragon trapper, he was a skilled dragon tracker as well. It had been a few years since he had been able to put his tracking skills to good use and, despite the reason, he was looking forward to brushing up on his semi-neglected skills.
Tracking Hiccup and Toothless would not be too difficult a challenge. Having accompanied him on a few of his scouting missions, before their falling out, Eret knew a thing or two about Hiccup's habits and his routines. Hiccup was nothing if not predictable. Finding them was the least of Eret's concerns, it was what to expect after he found them that worried him.
It was no secret that the two had been at odds ever since Eret and Astrid's relationship was made public. It was an unfortunate repercussion to an uncontrollable situation. Eret didn't plan to fall for Astrid, it just happened. And he didn't think in all his years that someone like Astrid would ever fall for him. He certainly didn't come between Hiccup and Astrid on purpose, as Hiccup had accused him of. Even though Hiccup had somewhat come to terms with what really happened, he still disliked Eret and he was certainly not afraid to let him know it.
It hadn't always been that way, there was a time when Eret was considered Hiccup's right hand man. It was an honor for Eret that he took seriously and still did till this day. They had started out as enemies. But even after all Eret had done, Hiccup had still given him a chance to redeem himself. He had welcomed him into the Hairy Hooligan clan, and allowed him to be a dragon rider, he had even trusted him with his late father's dragon. Of all the vikings in Berk, even Astrid, Hiccup had been the first to trust him, and the first to consider him a friend. It took some time to gain the trust of the other riders, but thanks to Hiccup they had all eventually accepted him. This is what made what happened between them so regrettable.
He did not regret being with Astrid, but he did still feel guilty for hurting Hiccup. Though Eret and Astrid had not betrayed Hiccup as he believed they had, Eret had still bore the brunt of Hiccup's anger. Ever since Hiccup had discovered he and Astrid's relationship, Eret had been the one he blamed. Even to this day, even though Hiccup claimed to have gotten past it all, he still was not quiet about his ill feelings toward Eret. In Hiccup's mind it seemed that Eret had betrayed their friendship and Hiccup seemed to regret having ever put his trust in him. This hurt Eret because he looked up to Hiccup, he respected him, and he was probably the closest thing Eret had ever had to a brother.
Eret would never change the outcome. He was happy finally after a difficult life. Astrid was everything he had always wanted. He had finally found his place with her. He'd found the home and the family that he'd never dreamed he would ever have. But his happy ending was bittersweet because in truth the only reason he had everything he wanted was because Hiccup had given him a chance. If Hiccup didn't first trust him then Astrid would have never trusted him and would never have given him a chance to begin with. The truth was he owed everything about his life now to Hiccup. The circumstances were unfortunate, and the cost seemed unfair, but he couldn't regret his decision to be with Astrid. Despite everything he still wished to make amends with Hiccup.
Perhaps that is why he was so willing to come to Dunbroch in search of Hiccup to begin with. Not just for Astrid's sake, but for his own. If Hiccup was in trouble, perhaps Eret could prove himself by helping him out. If Hiccup was not in trouble then at the very least they could hash out their differences, maybe even put an end to this regrettable feud.
He and Fishlegs had arrived in Dunbroch in the late afternoon and it didn't take long for Eret to pick up Toothless' trail. They had landed at the highest point in DunBroch, to survey the land just as Hiccup would have done. It was there that Eret had discovered a single night fury scale, proof that they had been there. Fishlegs had mentioned some ring of stones that had held interest for Hiccup but he couldn't recall the exact location. By the looks of the dense forest, it seemed the search for the stones would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Especially without even a general location. It was likely that Hiccup and Toothless must have searched for the place on foot.
So the duo began their search for their lost chief at the base of the hanging valley on which they had landed. It was there that Eret found a dragon foot print that seemed to be headed south into the forest.
They headed south and eventually stumbled upon a seemingly abandoned camp site. Upon closer inspection it seemed only recently abandoned. It seemed that they had missed them, maybe only by a day or two. Eret and Fishlegs dismounted their dragons and began to look around for any evidence that this was indeed Hiccup's camp and did not belong to some random local.
"Eret," Fishlegs called out, "I found something." Eret headed over to Fish. He stood before a large indentation in the grass, as if a large heavy animal had laid their and flattened the grass in that area, curled up in the way Toothless always slept. Eret smiled.
"Found you," he muttered. But Hiccup had obviously not been back to his camp all night by the looks of it so where had he gone?
"I think we should hang out here Fish," Eret said, "I'm certain this is Hiccup's camp and he'll come back to it sooner or later."
"Maybe he's still looking for the stones," Fish replied.
"Yeah, what's the deal with these stones anyway," Eret asked, "why's he so interested in em'." Fishlegs shrugged.
"I think it's because they held some kind of significance for his great great grandfather," he replied, "that and he's trying to figure out what his dream is about."
"So you do know about his dream," Eret smirked. Fishlegs gulped as he realized what he'd said.
"Don't worry Fish," Eret said with a slight chuckle, "Astrid told me already, Valka told her. We weren't sure if you knew about it though."
"What did Valka tell Astrid exactly," Fishlegs questioned.
"Not much," Eret replied, "just that Hiccup had some dreams about this place and they involved a mysterious girl." Fish nodded as Eret spoke.
"It seems Valka believes that Hiccup was called here somehow, that he's being drawn here for a reason. She thinks him being here will help him find what he's always been looking for," Eret continued, "from what Astrid said, it seems that Valka has it in her head that Hiccup may find his true love here."
Fishlegs nodded as he listened.
"Well, Hiccup thinks the girl in his dream is the spirit of his great great grandfather's lost true love," Fish replied, "he believes that she's calling to him to find out what really happened to them."
...
Hiccup hours later
When Hiccup finally got back to his camp something felt off. He thought nothing of it at first until he had noticed the campfire smoldering as if had been put out recently. He looked around suspiciously for a moment before dismounting Toothless.
"Hold up bud," Hiccup said. He dismounted and pat the dragon on the side of the neck.
He leaned close to the dragon for a moment.
"I'm gonna check it out first," he whispered, "watch my back." Toothless nodded subtly. He knelt beside the fire and reached out to touch the logs with his hand. He pulled it back quickly taking note that it was still hot and most likely put out within the hour. He stood and glanced around the area, scanning for anything irregular or out of place.
He wondered for a moment if Merida had been there but his gut was telling him this was not her. As he looked around he thought he heard a rustling in the trees to the left of him. He glanced subtly in the direction trying not to let on that he was suspicious. He walked back toward Toothless and made a gesture with his hand to which Toothless nodded in response.
"We're good bud," Hiccup said out loud, "looks like we may need some more wood to start a fire though." Hiccup patted the dragon on the neck again but gave him a subtle look and nodded in the direction that the rustling in the trees had been. Toothless grunted in understanding
"Why don't you catch us some fish," he said, "I'll go get the wood." The two walked in separate directions.
After about ten minutes or so a cloaked figure came from the brush and stepped from the shadows and toward the campsite. They snuck forward trying not to make a sound and being very careful of where they stepped. The figure paused for a moment then turned and seemed to motion to a second party to wait. The figure looked about curiously and started walking in the direction that Hiccup had gone. After a few steps the stranger stopped in their tracks as Toothless stepped forth from the brush in front of him, growling in his direction. The stranger held his hands up in surrender and began to back away. Suddenly arms grabbed the stranger from behind and the stranger felt a blade pressed firmly against his throat. Hiccup stood behind the man who was a tad taller than him and much more muscular. Hiccup held him tightly around the neck with his dragon blade pressed against his jugular, close enough that it was beginning to leave an indent in his flesh. The stranger was certain that if Hiccup were to put even a tiny bit more pressure to his throat with the blade, that he'd have surely drawn some blood. The stranger grabbed Hiccup's arm and tried to pull it away from his throat.
"What do you want," Hiccup growled. The person paused and took a deep breath, as he continued to try to force the blade away. He gripped Hiccup's arm and struggled against him. Suddenly he pulled Hiccup's arm away and twisted out of his hold, he twisted the dragon blade from Hiccup's grip and backed away. He stood in a defensive stance with Hiccup's blade in hand and pointed in his direction. They stood glaring at one another for what seemed a long moment, each trying to anticipate the others next move. Hiccup kept his eyes on the dragon blade in the strangers hand. Without a word the stranger stood up straight and tossed the dragon blade to the ground. Hiccup didn't stop to think he ran for the stranger and tackled him to the ground. He pinned him quickly and pulled the dagger from his ankle holster and pressed it to the man's throat again.
"W-wait," the stranger yelled out, "Hiccup! I don't want to fight you! Stop!" Hiccup's eyes widened in sudden recognition. He reached down and yanked the hood from the stranger's face, revealing none other than Eret.
"Eret," he questioned. He sat up quickly, pulled his dagger away from Eret's throat and removed himself from his fellow Viking. He stood quickly and offered Eret a hand. Eret took his hand and allowed him to help him to his feet. Hiccup just glared at him as he stood.
"What are you doing here Eret," Hiccup questioned in aggravation.