Ch4 Time with New Friends

Since she'd never rode on a dragon before and wasn't sure what to expect Merida put her arms around Hiccup's waist as a precaution.

He smiled nervously then patted Toothless' side, "Okay Toothless, nice and slow now."

Toothless slowly spread his wings giving them a small flap.

"See?" Hiccup said in a reassuring voice, "Nothing to be afraid of."

Toothless smiled mischievously, having other ideas, and suddenly launched them straight upward causing Merida to scream from the shock. The acceleration was tremendous and every downbeat of Toothless' wings heaved them into the sky, doubling their speed like a rocket.

"Toothless, what are you doing?! We need her to like us!" Hiccup shouted hoping Merida was alright since she'd stopped screaming and was now hugging him for dear life, squeezing the breath out of him. Toothless ignored him and continued to rocket skyward, beginning to spin and tumble head over tail.

"And now the spinning. Thank you for nothing you useless reptile," Hiccup said sounding defeated and mortified.

Then Hiccup heard a sound he wasn't expecting, laughter. He turned his head to see Merida, hair flying, laughing and looking completely thrilled. She released her grip on him and put her arms out as they spun.

"Whoo!" Merida shouted still laughing. Seeing this Toothless gave a triumphant grin and leveled out. They'd gone high enough that the tips of Merida's fingers were touching the clouds.

"This is amazing," she said shaking Hiccup's shoulders giving another cheering whoop, "You must let me do this again."

"Sure," he said smiling at her, he didn't understand it but he was glad she was enjoying herself. Toothless apparently concurred letting out a happy squeal and a fireball.

"Ah, come on," Hiccup groaned as they flew directly into it.

Once out of the fireball Hiccup looked back at Merida who had smartly hidden herself behind Hiccup, he could tell the tips of some of her hair had been singed but she looked fine otherwise, "You alright?"

"I'm fine. Looks like you got a scorching though," she said with a laugh and blew out a small flame on a piece of his hair that was still on fire.

"Eh I'm used to it," he smiled at her as she laughed again; it seemed so easy to talk to her even though they'd just met.

"So," she said, smiling at him. "Does everyone in Berk have a dragon of their own?"

Hiccup gave a nod, "Mostly anyway. They really seem to have caught on."

"I can see why. I wouldn't mind a wee dragon of my own." Merida petted Toothless and laughed again. "My father would throw an almighty fit o'course. Still, it might be worth it to have a Toothless of my own. Ah, but my brood of brothers would all want one. They'd burn the whole castle down if ye gave them half the chance."

Hiccup smiled rather goofily at her. "You really aren't afraid of anything, are you?"

"It takes more than a beast to frighten a Scott," she said sounding rather proud of the fact.

"I think I'd have to agree," he said still smiling. Merida certainly seemed all fire and fight but in a different way then most of the people he knew; he had to admit he liked that about her.

"Ya know this is odd right?" she said suddenly.

"Huh?" he said slightly confused.

"We Highlanders are suppose to hate you Vikings, I've heard others calling you all nothing but cowards and thieves."

"I know what you mean. Some of the people I know call you guys' Scottish trolls."

Merida laughed, "That's the best you've come up with?"

"Hey I'm just repeating," Hiccup said giving a small chuckle, "Personally I don't think they know anything and I'm glad that we're friends, or at least starting to be or don't mind being around each other or something." He stopped himself from saying anymore feeling very nervous and embarrassed from what he'd already said.

Hiccup felt Merida's hand on his shoulder again, "I'm glad we're friends too."

He smiled as he heard the sincerity in her voice.

"Now lets get ourselves to the castle, ye cowardly Viking," she tried to hide a smirk.

"Whatever you say you Scottish troll," he responded.

For a moment they both looked at each other as if they were angry, but they both quickly broke down and began laughing at each other. Toothless cocked his head again, humans were so weird.