Ch2 The Girl from DunBroch
When Hiccup looked up he saw a large Scottish Clydesdale that was black as night with an ivory muzzle and fetlocks coming up to him, on its back was a slender looking girl who appeared to be around his age. She was wearing a blue dress with a dark green cloak over it, the hood of it hiding her face. As she jumped off the horse Hiccup saw the quiver of arrows on her hip and the bow over her shoulder. He wasn't sure if he should trust her or not since she'd shot at him but his mind blanked out when she removed her hood. Her long curly red hair fell wildly about her face and shoulders, which made her fair skin and blue eyes really stand out.
"Are you alright?" she asked again coming over and kneeling beside him, "I didn't hit ya did I?"
Hiccup opened his mouth but nothing came out, he was never good around pretty girls and her being so close to him, close enough he noticed that she had some light freckles, made his throat double clasp on him.
After thoroughly checking for any arrows or cuts she may have caused, and thankfully not finding any, she let out a relieved sigh, "Thank goodness, I was afraid I'd shot ya."
"Ha, no I'm-I'm fine," he stuttered, brushing himself off as he stood up.
"Good," she said standing too, "I'm sorry about that. I come here to train and you stood in front of the target just as I'd let my arrow go," she motioned to the target hanging behind him that he hadn't noticed before then motioned to the metal leg he had, "Nice leg by the way. Me dad has nothing like that, his is all wood."
"Yeah?" he moved it back and forth as if admiring it, "I tweaked it a little from the original design. I like it better this way."
She laughed, "I bet it fits your personality."
He laughed back, "I guess so."
"I'm Merida by the way."
"Hiccup."
"Hiccup?" she raised an eyebrow wondering if he was joking.
"Great name, I know. But it's not the worst."
She nodded, "So where are ya from?"
"Can tell I'm not from around here huh?"
"You're manner and dress are a bit odd for around here, not to mention the name," she said trying her best to be polite about it.
He nodded, "I'm from Berk actually."
"Berk? You mean you're a Viking?!" Merida said not even trying to hide the surprise in her voice.
"Yeah, why it that so surprising?" Hiccup asked though he had a pretty good idea of what the answer was.
"It's just… ya don't look like what I thought Vikings looked like. My father said you Northmen were all big and burly like his friend Stoick."
"Wait your dad is Fergus from DunBroch?"
She eyed him curiously, "How do ya know his name?"
"Stoick's my dad."
Hiccup smiled a little as he tried not to laugh. He understood why she was surprised but still the look on Merida's face was priceless, the pure shock and amazement it held made his day.