"What does the Count of Berk have to do with the termination of my place in the senate?" asked Drago with a glare.

The auburn-haired man glared back, "I think a better question would be, what does the Count of Berk have to do with Hiccup Haddock?" Drago glanced at him questioningly before his eyes widened with realization.

"Hiccup . . . I see, now everything makes sense. First Alvin, next Mordu, then Dagur, and now me. Well played, Hiccup, well played, you've got your revenge." Drago unsheathed his sword. "But I claim the right to send you back to the dead!" With a snarl, Drago charged. Hiccup unsheathed his own sword and met the onslaught, parrying each blow with ease. A few minutes into the fight, a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle, followed not long afterwards by several members of the Senate and authorities. When Hiccup disarmed him, the authorities just about swooped in and arrested Drago.

"This isn't over yet, Hiccup!" shouted Drago as he was being led away.

"Yes it is, Drago, I'll make sure you are in prison for life!" one of the senators shouted back at him. He turned to speak to Hiccup, but the Count was already heading for home in his carriage. He walked into the vast mansion, not paying attention to any of the finery as he made his way to the top of the stairs and down the hall. He had no eyes for anything or anyone, except for the redhead who stood up as he entered her room.

"Is it done?"

"It is done, we have our revenge."

"And the woman you loved?"

"Safe on a boat, on her way to start a new life with her husband and son."

"Why did you let him go?"

"He had no part in the actual plot, even tried to help me when he realized I had been imprisoned wrongly, but I was transferred to the Prison when he wasn't looking, so he had no idea where I was. They wouldn't tell him for they feared he would help me bring this injustice to light, which he would have. But when he couldn't find me, he married Astrid as a means of keeping her from Dagur's clutches. In that, he served me well, and has loved her as well as he could in my place."

"Now what will you do? Dagur, Drago, Alvin, and even Mordu have been brought to justice. Your efforts have paid off, and I cannot thank you enough for bringing justice to those who murdered my father, and sent my mother and brothers to their deaths in slavery." He glanced down and sighed, he really hadn't put much thought into it. She stepped closer and spoke, "Master Hiccup, permit me to ask again, what will you do now?"

"Well, I guess I can use this wealth now to do what the priest asked me to do, and do a lot of good with it."

"I guess you've already started, haven't you?"

He glanced at her questioningly, "What do you mean, Merida?"

She gave him a half-cocked grin, "You gave them some gold, didn't you? You clearly still love her enough to keep an eye out for her well-being."

Hiccup grinned in return, "You've come to know me way too well, princess."

"I've been your slave long enough to get to know you, besides our shared interest in revenge for our fathers."

"But now you are free. Now, what will you do?"

Merida shrugged, "Not sure, I've been a slave for many years before coming to you, and I don't think I can take up governing my kingdom, my father's friends and relations are doing a good job. You know, I might like to see the world, go on a real adventure."

"Money can't buy you an adventure."

"Oh no, of course it isn't the money, it's the people you're with, the people you'll meet."

"Are you planning on traveling with anybody?"

Merida wrapped her arms around his neck, "That depends on who wants to come with me. Though, there's really only one person I had in mind."

Hiccup blinked, a twinge of jealousy almost rearing its ugly head, "Who?"

"You, my lord, if you do not mind my company."

Hiccup smiled with relief, "No, not at all, princess, if, if you do not mind traveling as my wife." He grinned as Merida was taken back by the statement, her eyes widening and something of a blush reddening her cheeks.

"What? Your wife?"

"Yes, Merida, as my wife. I may still love Astrid, but things have changed, and I must move on. But I do not ask because I am desperate that I will not find another. No, I have found myself falling in love with you. So, what do you say? Will you marry me?" Merida stood there, almost as still as a statue with surprise written all over her face, before she let out a squeal and just about knocked him over with a lunge.

"Yes, yes, I will be your wife, with all my heart!"

"Oh good, I wouldn't want a partial one." The two laughed before Merida quickly got a kiss. Hiccup was surprised at first, but let himself get lost in the second one, things were going to look up from there on out.