Something New and Wonderful
The sun began to rise over the dead forest, it's light bathing the grey landscape before extending over the grey mountains surrounding it. Standing on a cliff, watching the sun rise over the horizon was Hiccup. He stared at the rising sun, marveling at it's beauty, hoping it would distract from the pain in his chest. He had his wings draped around him and a blank face. He looked down at the forests below, and he began to recall a certain day.
It was a day like any other before. Hiccup was flying, exploring the lands that belonged to the light court from the sky. Then he came across the sea of red and green that were the Rowan lands. He found the forests beautiful, so full of color and life, completely unlike the vast expanse of grey that he called home.
And then he'd seen a glimpse of red. He'd stared at it, eventually realizing it was a person. He'd followed them from the sky, curious about the one with flaming red hair that rode through the forest with the same free spirit as he flew the skies. He followed them as they followed a trail before temporarily losing them as they veered off of it and into the trees. With no other choice he'd landed, eventually locating them and keeping his distance before he could fully take them in.
That's when he'd first seen the Princess. He watched her from afar as she spoke to her horse, patting him and petting him with such kindness that he found endearing. After browsing his memory he deduced her identity. Princess Merida of the Rowan lands. He found her beautiful, and the stories and songs sung of her not quite able to capture something else about her. Something beneath the surface that her all the more enchanting.
And he continued to watch, studying her, though not sure why. That's when she'd begun to shoot arrows. She aimed at hanging targets, and also some nailed to the trees. She was an excellent shot. Hitting the bulls eye every smiled and nodded in satisfaction as Hiccup silently praised her skill. She drew and notched another arrow and prepared to fire at another target when Hiccup stepped on a twig.
Immediately she was on alert. She turned and took aim before firing. Hiccup suppressed a yelp and ducked out of the way as an arrow went sailing through the space his head had been. He panted in bewilderment, eyes wide before looking back to the Princess. Her eyes were narrowed and her body tense, scanning the tree line for any sign of danger. And though he should've been scared given she'd almost hit him...he couldn't help but find something beautiful in her. The fierceness, the strength, the utter fearlessness despite not knowing what lurked in the woods.
Hiccup had to tear his eyes away before opting to leave. He slowly inched his way backwards so he culd find an open spot to unfurl his wings and take flight. But as he went he found the arrow she'd fired imbedded in a tree. He examined it before picking it up on a whim, curious as to the design of her arrows.
After that incident he'd returned home. He'd examined the arrow, marveling at the craftsmanship, but knowing he could do better. So to prove it to himself he did, making a full quiver of arrows that were sharper, could fly straighter, and farther that hers. Then he realized he had no idea what to do with the newly crafted quive of arrows. It wasn't like he was going to use it. He pursed his lips before he had an idea. The next day he'd woken up earlier than normal and flown to the spot where he'd seen the Princess before. He placed the arrows against a tree with a parchment addressed to her.
It'd been simple, reading:
An archer as fine as yourself deserves only the best. Enjoy Princess.
Then he waited, his pride as a blacksmith forcing him to observe her reaction to the quality of his arrows. She'd arrived within a few hours. She'd been surprised, cocking her head to the side curiously as she found and picked up the new quiver. She pulled out an arrow, arching a brow and reading the parchment as she looked around. But with a shrug her eyes were drawn back tot he gleaming arrow head. She drew her bow and notched it, pulling back on the drawstring and taking aim before firing at a hanging target.
He watched and smirked in satisfaction as the arro punched right through the circular target. He heard the Princess gasp before she laughed in delight. He watched from his hiding spot, about to leave when suddenly...
She smiled.
And suddenly he couldn't look away. His eyes widened as she showed him the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen. And what's more it was all for him. His arrows, his work, his labor had brought a smile to her face. And it made him smile too. He felt his heart thrum in his chest, just happy he could make someone else happy. Especially after he'd been living in solitude for so long.
He decided he wanted to see it again. So he returned home, firing up the bellows as he got to work crafting a newer set of arrows. He decided to change things up, to put her archery skills to the test, to challenge her, for he sensed the Princess loved a good challenge. He changed the head, the feathers, the wood making the shaft. He brought them back to her spot. He watched as she found the newer quiver and smiled once more before firing them. She had to adjust, taking longer on the draw, pulling back farther, or angling the bow ever so slightly. But when she hit the target she smiled in delight.
And her smile stole Hiccup's heart. He wanted to see it again and again. He wanted to make her smile and know he'd been the cause. He'd fallen for her, he knew this immediately. But he would never have her. That was the harsh truth. And one day he knew it would end. For one day she would marry, find herself a husband who her smiles would be reserved only for him. When that happened she would likely cease coming into the woods to practice her archery as the responsibilities of being a Queen and wife would demand.
He would no longer see her smile.
He had no choice to accept this fact.
But until then he would make her arrows. Arrows that could make her smile and perhaps even make her feel something for the man who made them.
Hiccup let out a breath as he realized it was over sooner than he'd thought it would be. She'd seen him, and as he'd expected she'd been horrified by what she'd seen. An incomplete man who was ugly and unworthy of her.
Hiccup swallowed deep as he watched the rising sun and tried not to think of her.
Merida sat silently looking out of the entrance to Hiccup's home and into the distance, occasionally scanning the sky for any sign of him. She felt a heavy weight crushing her chest, and for some reason she felt only Hiccup could alleviate it. She was adamant and determined to sit there and wait for him to return. She had to speak with him and discover what these new feelings starting to develop every time she thought of him were.
Were they love? She didn't know. Were they simply friendship? She didn't know. It was driving her wild. Never had she felt like this over a man. A man so different from the men she'd known her entire life. Men who flaunted themselves to her and were utterly droll and boring and so unlike the humble mysterious Hiccup who made her arrows because he loved her.
That last thought made her tense and her cheeks redden. She brought hand up to her face, suddenly finding it warm at the thought of someone loving her. She didn't know why his words were so different. She'd heard them countless times. Her suitors told her she was the most beautiful thing in the world, that they loved her with their entire being and beyond. And Merida had always just rolled her eyes at them. But Hiccup...he'd said them with such honesty, such vulnerability, such sweetness.
She looked up, hoping to see a black dot making it's way toward the mountain.
"Merida, he might not come back you know," Rapunzel said softly behind her. Merida didn't say anything. Just kept her eyes on the sky. "Merida, come on. Can't we come back later?" Rapunzel urged.
"We might miss him if we leave. I won't take that chance," Merida replied shortly.
Rapunzel sighed, her friend's stubbornness usually something she admired, but not at this moment. "How long will you wait for him?"
Merida narrowed her eyes. "I'm immortal Punz. Time is something I've got plenty of. So if I have to wait forever, so be it," Merida said determinedly. Rapunzel let out a breath in defeat as she curled her knees to her chest to wait with her.
Merida opened her eyes, blinking and realizing it was night time now. She reasoned that she'd fallen asleep. She rubbed her eyes before glancing behind her. She found Rapunzel asleep, leaning against the mouth of the cave. Merida stood up and stretched as she looked up at the night sky. It seemed Hiccup hadn't returned. She turned around and made her way inside. With nothing to do she looked around Hiccup's forge.
Hiccup's talent as a smith became more and more apparent as she looked over his work. Swords, shields, axes, spears, and many other weapons and trinkets were everywhere. She eyed a rack of swords and contemplated giving one a swing when she heard a squeak echoing through the cave. She gasped and looked up, finding a pair of acid green eyes watching her from the shadows, just out of the reach of the light cast by the bellows.
"Hiccup," she whispered. She turned to him and took a step, only to stop as he took one back. He would run she realized. So she remained on the spot. "You came back," she said as she smiled.
"This is my home. It may not be much, but it's all I have," she heard him say quietly. "I'm surprised you're here."
"I wanted to speak with you," she admitted. "And apologize for my reaction to...well you know," she muttered awkwardly.
"It's fine. I understand. I can be quite hard to look at," he said, sadness lacing his voice.
"I didn't-" Merida tried to say quickly.
"I wasn't surprised you reacted like you did. My legs is hideous and unnatural and-"
"I don't care about your missing leg!" Merida interrupted, cutting in sharply and silencing him with her outburst.
Hiccup's eyes widened. "You don't?" he asked in quiet disbelief.
"No," she said shaking her head. Hiccup watched as her curls waved about and bounced. "I was just surprised. I'm sorry for reacting how I did. It just came as a shock," she said honestly. She blushed, brushing some stray hair out of her face and looking down shyly. "Truth is...I find you quite handsome."
Hiccup stared at her like she were mad. Did a Princess really just say she found him attractive? Shouldn't she be repulsed and disgusted that he would dare have affection for her.
"And I love the arrows you made for me," she admitted. "No one has ever given me such a wonderful gift. And it makes me happy to know you made them yourself," she added. She looked up, finding Hiccup's eyes wide in shock. Then much to her surprise they got closer and closer until finally he stepped into view.
He stood in the light of the bellows, even letting his leg be visible to her eye. Merida's eyes couldn't help but drift down to it, but before she could stare she spoke up. "How did it happen?" she asked.
"A battle. Goblins," he stated sourly at the memory.
"Oh," was all she said. "I've never seen a faye like you," she said as she eyed the wings furled around his body.
"I come from the north. Far north. My people have the blood of dragons flowing through us," he explained.
"Well I think they're wonderful," she said with a smile. Hiccup blinked before he too smiled. He let his wings open just slightly, the forge was much too small for them to extend to full length. Merida stepped closer, and to her elation Hiccup didn't back away. She stood before him, looking into his green eyes as he swallowed.
"I want to know you Hiccup. I want to know where you're from. Who taught you to smith? Why you make arrows for me? I want to know everything I can learn about you," she said to him as she held his gaze, her unwavering and voice strong.
"I'd..." Hiccup paused, gazing down and into her beautiful eyes. This couldn't be real. This had to be a dream. He must be about to wake up at any moment. But if he was... "I'd like that," he said with a nod.
Merida smiled. Right at him. For him.
He smiled back, happy. Happier than he'd been in a long time. There was so much he wanted to say. So much he wanted to know about the Princess. He opened his mouth to speak when she quickly leaned in and rose up on her tip toes.
Hiccup nearly backed away, but was too slow as she planted her lips against his. His eyes widened as her soft and tender lips rubbed against his. He didn't know what to do. Could he touch her? Could he wrap his arms around her and pull her to him like he'd wanted for ages?
Merida apparently decided for him as she moved closer. She grabbed at his wrists before moving them to the small of her back. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. Hiccup moved his wings, wrapping them partly around them both like cocoon.
Merida pulled away, face flushed and breathless. Her hips remained a few centimeters from his as she looked into his eyes. Never before had a kiss made her feel what she did. Her heart was a flutter. It felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. She felt warm and tingly, as if there were lightning coursing through her.
"Be my lover," she said, almost pleading.
"Yes," Hiccup said immediately.
She smiled again before kissing him once more.
"YAY!" came an excited shout. They broke the kiss and glanced back to find Rapunzel standing there, beaming in happiness and clapping for her friend. "I'm so happy we found him Merida," she said in glee.
Merida chuckled before looking back into the green eyes of her new lover. Her eyes sparkled in joy.
"Not as happy as I am Rapunzel. Not even close."
new chap
