Waiting

Merida rode Angus through the forest in solemn silence, heading for her secret spot in the hopes that Hiccup would be there. It'd been a week since she'd gone to his forge to find him gone. From what she could gather from the clues left in his home someone had taken him. There had been signs of a struggle and Hiccup had obviously fought back against his abductors. But she could only conclude that he'd lost the struggle in the end and had been overwhelmed.

She'd nearly devolved into a hysterical fit at the realization. She collapsed to the ground and had begun to hyperventilate; her whole body began to tremble in rising panic. Luckily Rapunzel had been there to keep her grounded and managed to stop the attack before she lost herself to it.

They'd gone back to Merida's mother to tell her what they'd found. Merida guessed that the abduction had to have been ordered by one of her suitors. Only they could have some kind of grudge against Hiccup. Their pride had no doubt been wounded when Merida expressed how much she obviously favored him over them.

She wanted to rally their army and kingdom and force whoever it was to return Hiccup. She had to save him. She couldn't let him die because of her. Not before she could apologize. Not before she could express how much he meant to her.

But her spirits were crushed as Elinor had to regrettably tell her she couldn't rally their forces in this situation. For one they had no idea who'd taken Hiccup and they couldn't go invading every kingdom and start a war in search of him. Secondly, Hiccup was not a member of her court or kingdom, meaning he wasn't protected under her authority. The abduction had also happened outside her realm, meaning no laws had been broken or violated. Lastly, Hiccup was only Merida's lover and not an official consort. Thus, he had no protections that stemmed from being Merida's partner.

Merida cried and pleaded with her mother that there must be something they could do. Elinor said the only thing she could do was convene the Light Court and appeal for his safe return. But she couldn't outright demand or start accusing other members of the court without repercussions.

Merida's heart sank and she sobbed for hours after. Rapunzel did her best to comfort her, to try and give her hope. But even she found it hard to find the light in the darkness. Merida's tears flowed all night until she'd run dry. Then she snuck away and went to her secret spot in hopes she would find him there.

And she'd gone every day since. Every time she hoped beyond hope he would be there, greeting her with his crooked grin. That she could leap from Angus and rush to his waiting arms where he could wrap his wings around her. But every time he wasn't there. Her special place empty, leaving her numb.

Today was no different. She entered the small clearing to find herself alone. She looked around, peering through the brush before glancing up to the sky in hopes of seeing him descending to meet her. But like every other day there was no such luck.

She leapt off Angus and patted him down before trying him to a tree. Then she slowly trudged her way over to the tree where Hiccup would normally be waiting for her and where he'd left his gifts for her so many times before. When she reached it she turned her back to it and fell against it before sinking down to sit. She brought her knees up to her chest and simply sat there, waiting. She'd stay there all night like every day before.

Just waiting.


Merida returned to the castle hours later. She walked through the halls to go back to her room. Her head was down and a dark cloud hung over her head that all the castle staff could see. They watched her woefully, wishing they could do something to uplift the princess' spirits. But for the time they left her to her thoughts and gave her a wide berth.

Merida made it to her door and reached a hand out to open it. Before she could a voice called out to her. "Merida." She paused before turning to look at her mother. "How-how are you dear?" Elinor asked gently.

Merida couldn't even manage a smile. Elinor took a breath in disappointment. "I see," she said carefully. "I've put in a request with the court, offering a reward for any news of Hiccup's whereabouts," she revealed.

"Thanks mum," Merida said softly.

"Yes-well...uh," Elinor stuttered awkwardly. She wanted to say something more to make her daughter feel better. But she could think of nothing. With a breath she only offered her a small smile and reached out to embrace her daughter, to give her whatever comfort she could.

Merida didn't move and made no attempt to return her mother's embrace. It was appreciated, but she was too numb to feel much more than that. After a few moments her mother let her go.

"Try to have faith dear and a little patience," Elinor said softly.

"Yes mum," Merida said bleakly. She was trying to hold onto faith. But she didn't have much to go on.

With a final smile Elinor went on her way. Merida waited a moment before entering her room. She went to her bed and crawled into it. She curled in on herself and stared blankly into space as she tried not to give into despair and grab onto whatever sliver of hope that might still be within her.


A hand on her shoulder roused Merida from her sleep. She protested with a bit of grumbling as she began coming to. Her eyes parted slightly as she began to blink away the vestiges of sleep. As she became more aware she began registering a familiar voice, one that crashed through her and finally jolted her awake.

Her eyes widened and she gaped up at the crooked grin of Hiccup. "Well good morning princess," he said teasingly.

Merida blinked in disbelief and continued to stare. Here he was. Right in front of her. He was perfectly fine. Not a scratch on him. Her lower lip began to tremble and she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck in a crushing hug.

"Hiccup!" Merida cried in joy. Happy tears began to stream from her eyes as she squeezed him as hard as he could.

Hiccup laughed as he hugged her back. "Gods Merida. It's like you haven't seen me in weeks," he said with a chuckle.

Merida pulled back. Her eyes began to narrow into a glare. She wasn't in the mood for jokes. "Do you know how-" she began to snarl.

But she was silenced as Hiccup placed a finger to her lips. "Shhh." he said, shushing her softly. His hands came up to cup her face. "It doesn't matter. I'm here now. I'm fine," he told her.

She blinked in reply, overcome by relief to care for the whys and hows at the moment. The questions could be answered later. All that mattered was that he was here with her. Safe and sound. Her apologies could wait too. But in time it would all come.

With a sniffle she nodded in acceptance as she embraced him again. He returned it and she reveled in his touch. She sniffled, tears dripping down her face with joy. He pulled back and smiled at her again. She laughed at his grin before wiping her eyes.

Then she began to lean toward him for a kiss.

Hiccup did the same as he moved forward to meet her.

She closed her eyes and waited for their lips to meet.

But they never did. Her eyes opened in confusion, and she found herself in her bed. What's more she was on her side in her scarcely lit room. She sat up, confused as she looked around frantically for any sign of Hiccup.

She felt a presence in the bed with her and looked toward it, hoping it was him. Instead, she found Rapunzel, sleeping soundly. Probably having slipped in during the night to provide a comforting presence.

She stared at her friend, appreciative of her efforts but also heartbroken she hadn't been Hiccup. She concluded she must have been having a dream. A dream where she woke up to a reality where Hiccup was fine and with her.

She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed, pushing down the hopelessness. She got herself up and went to the window. She could make out the sun's light beginning to peak over the distant mountains. Today was a new day and the first of the month. It was a day she normally looked forward to.

But now, if she got to her place and found it empty she wasn't sure she'd be able to take it.

And yet she knew she had to go.

She left her room and made her way through the castle and to Angus. She saddled him up and hoisted herself atop him before directing him from the castle.

She rode at a slow and steady pace. She wasn't overly eager to be met with the same disappointment as before. She hung her head, steering Angus from memory before tugging lightly on the reins as she directed him off the main trail and toward her secret place.

Angus trod through the undergrowth for a few minutes before they broke through and into the clearing. The clearing was still dimly lit as the sun was slowly making its way over the horizon.

Its light began to shine upon the clearing and Merida looked up to where Hiccup's gift for her would normally be. Light traveled across the ground and up the side of the tree. As it moved it uncovered a figure slumped against the tree.

Merida's eyes widened and her mouth fell open in a dramatic gasp. She leapt down from Angus and dashed over to the tree. She fell to her knees and reached her hands out to grab at the shoulders of Hiccup.

"Hiccup!" she cried in a mixture of worry, relief, and joy. He was in an awful state. His clothes were in tatters. She could see blood staining his shirt. His face was bruised and he had a split lip. He was pale and his lips were cracked and dry. She shook him frantically, but he didn't stir.

"Hiccup!" she said in desperation. She patted his cheeks. "Hiccup please!" She saw his eyes flutter and she cupped his face, caressing his cheeks with his thumb as she tried to coax him to consciousness.

"Hiccup! C'mon love! Please, wake up," she pleaded.

Then slowly his eyelids rose to meet her. They were glazed over at first. But then they focused on her. A grin began to split his face as he met her eye. "Hey Merida. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" he quipped.

Merida let out a choked sob. She managed a laugh through her tears before she planted a kiss on him. He kissed her back, managing to raise a hand up to stroke her cheeks. She pulled back and smiled at him lovingly despite her weeping. He grinned back and she hugged him again.

She was so utterly relieved to have him back. Despite his state. She was furious about whoever the bastards were that did this to him. But it could wait. All she wanted to do now was hold him and kiss him and never stop.

But something began to tug at the back of her mind. She felt like something was off. Something was...missing. She pulled away and suddenly she felt something wet and warm on her hands. She peered over his shoulder and gasped before reeling back in horror.

She stared at her hands as she realized what was wrong. What was missing. Her hands were coated in blood.

Hiccup chuckled sadly and swallowed. "I guess you noticed then, huh?" he said as he feigned amusement. His face fell and he looked down woefully.

It was his wings.

They were gone.

A week earlier…

Water thrown in his face woke him from unconsciousness. Hiccup opened his eyes with a shocked gasp only to be met with more blackness. As he became aware he realized his eyes were covered by some kind of cloth. He could also feel his limbs were bound. It felt like both his wrists, ankle, and shin were shackled. He could hear the jangling of multiple chains all around him.

He could also feel something in his mouth, which was attached to something going around his head. It was gagging him, preventing him from opening or closing his mouth like he should. Lastly he could feel his wings were being forcefully held open. He tried moving them only to feel a sharp pain and what he felt were likely hooks digging into them.

He tried struggling, but he found he was suspended and had no leverage. The shackles were tight and strong. He was definitively trapped. He didn't get a good look at his attackers either. It had all happened so fast. He'd fought back, but there had been so many they eventually managed to overwhelm him.

One blow to the head later he was out and woke up here.

"Good morning!" someone said drolly.

Hiccup perked up at the voice. It was male. Also somewhat familiar. But he couldn't precisely place it. It sounded like one of the attendants from Elinor's dinner party.

"Oh no need to bow," the person said in amusement. "You see my good man, I was rather slighted by the princess' insinuation that you, a lame dark fey peasant, could compare to me. Or any of the other lords really," he said in offense.

"And such an insult cannot stand," he said darkly. "So I thought I'd do everyone a favor and remove the abhorrent obstacle in our way. That will allow my compatriots and I to compete in peace," he explained.

"Still. The insult remains. And such an insult cannot go without RETRIBUTION!" he shouted. A moment later a fist collided with Hiccup's gut. Hiccup coughed and let out a wheeze at the sharp pain in his stomach.

"And retribution I will have."

Over the next few days Hiccup's captor would subject him to a plethora of painful torment. He claimed it was all for the sake of retribution. But when he would laugh, he could tell he was enjoying this. Hiccup couldn't do much but take it as his bindings were secure and held him in place.

So he was forced to take his captor's beating with both fists and blunt objects. Sometimes he would take blows to the body and sometimes directly to the face. Sometimes both. He was cut lightly, but never enough to make him bleed out.

All the while the only thing that kept his spirits alive were thoughts of Merida. In his more optimistic moments, he envisioned her coming to save him. But his more pragmatic side calculated that this was the unlikeliest case. How would Merida possibly know where he was? At his weaker moments he would despair, thinking this place would be his tomb.

He thought of the princess. He envisioned her smile and her touch. He imagined her body and curves. Which he only barely got to explore. He felt like an idiot for that now. Was he really going to die without ever fully knowing her? And for what? What the hell had he been so afraid of?

In this moment, with the thought that he may truly never see her again he grasped for the answer that was just out of reach.

On the fifth day his captor came back with something new in mind.

"Well then Hiccup, I was contemplating what the princess could possibly see in you to make her believe you could compare to us. Then it struck me," he started.

"Meirda said it herself. It was your wings. Being able to show her the Rowan lands from above. They're the only things putting you on the level with us," he said with menace.

Hiccup could sense the dark intent of his words and his struggle renewed. But he suddenly felt more hands grab at his arms and legs to force him still. He heard his captor grunt and heft something and then he heard the whistling of air as he took a few practice swings.

Hiccup dreaded what was coming. He struggled in vain as he heard the footsteps draw closer. A few moments later and through muffled screams his wings were gone. His captor laughed and joked about clipped wings.

Then he was left alone. He fought back tears as he struggled to accept the reality of his loss. To his people, losing one's wings was considered one of the worst fates. Not being able to touch the sky and feel the freedom of soaring in it was possibly worse than death.

Still, he held onto the images of Merida. The woman he loved and accepted him despite his missing leg. He was sure the loss of his wings wouldn't matter to her.

If he ever saw her again that is.

On the sixth day Hiccup remained perfectly still. He played dead. Not very hard really, he basically felt like that after a week's worth of beatings and little to no food or water. His captor gloated and mocked him with yet another rant about how inferior he was in comparison to someone like him who commanded a kingdom and held vast riches.

He gave no response or reaction. His captor questions him. He was struck, but he still didn't move. The captor slapped him a few times to try and rouse him. He then ordered one of his men to remove the bit in his mouth and get him some water.

This is what Hiccup had been waiting on. He steadied his breathing and stoked his inner fires. He felt it burn in his belly, fueled by his rage and desire to escape. It wasn't much compared to normal, for he was weakened. But it was going to have to be enough.

The bit was removed and that was when he acted. He turned his head to the side and fired a blast. He heard the explosion to his right and people shouting. But with a tug he felt the chain go slack. After a week of tugging, he'd discerned where his shackles her attached. He quickly swung his arms in front of him and felt the chain hit a few people.

He threw his head to the other side and fired off another blast. It collided with the wall and the chains for his left arm and leg went slack. He pulled them to him as he fired off another blast in front of him. He heard peoples' shout and scream as another explosion shook the building. He ripped off his blindfold and ran from the room.

He stumbled and shoved past the guards. Striking them with the chains on his arms. Luckily the explosions from his plasma blasts had scattered debris that he used as a smokescreen. But he knew that wouldn't last.

He felt the fires in him beginning to dwindle and knew he didn't have much left. He needed to make it count. With voices all around him he made way toward a wall and gathered up what remained of his fire within and let it loose. It struck the wall and blasted a gaping hole in it.

To his elation he could see it led to the outside. Not even pausing to consider it he dashed to it before leaping out. He instinctively flexed his back to try and spread his wings, only to remember his situation. With no wings to catch him he plummeted down toward the rushing waters of a river below.

He managed to get his feet underneath him in time to break the surface and put up a minimal resistance as it swept him away.

An unknown amount of time later he pulled himself from the river. He dredged up whatever energy he had left and flung himself ashore. He flopped down it and rolled over to look at the night sky.

He was tired. He was injured. He was starved. He felt like death.

But with little more than willpower he rolled himself over and dragged himself to his feet. His thought was on one singular mission.

Merida.

He had to see Merida. He had to get to her. If he died, so be it. But not before he could see her one last time.

He walked, disoriented and confused. He really had no idea where he was going. He walked through the night as he staggered from tree to tree, barely managing to stay upright. He stumbled and tripped a few times, falling to his knees and nearly giving up. But with grit teeth and a growl he picked himself up and pressed on.

He walked until he had no strength left. Finally, he staggered into a tree and knew he could go no farther. He heaved as she slumped against it and slid down to sit. He closed his eyes to rest. He would wait for his strength to return.

Just for a little while.

Just waiting.