Disclaimer: If I own How To Train Your Dragon and Brave, Hiccup and Merida will end up together and they will live happily ever after.

This chapter is dedicated to purpledolpin05 for being the first person to review, favorite and follow Falling Slowly.

Chapter One: The Bow

The bright sun flittered across the room, the birds were singing merrily outside and the sky was clear and bright. Typically it's a good day for everyone except Merida.

"Argh! Why did I leave that blasted window open?"

Blocking her eyes from the harsh sunlight, she stumbled out of her bed and made her way towards the open window. Merida abruptly shut it close and draw the curtains in its side to cover it. The whole room was then covered in darkness with the exception of a few rays of light that passed through some gaps of the stone wall.

Throwing back herself in the bed, she laid down and looked at the ceiling. It's her 22nd birthday today and her last year to find a husband. She must do it seriously now or the games for her hand will take place again. Turning her head on her side, she realized that if the games happen again someone has to win and she cannot fight for her hand like she did years ago.

Burying her head in the pillow she cursed all of her suitors from the last six years under her breath. There had been a lot of them, some were even very persistent and still visits her once or twice a month, but no one made her feel special. What they all did was bore her out of her mind with their stories about how great and rich they were or made her wanted to puke by showering her all compliments and praise that were borderline cliché.

Getting up, she decided that she must prepare herself for another long day and deal with all her problems later.

Reaching under her pillow, she grabbed her bracelet turned anklet and put it on her left ankle. It was only a simple black corded rope with beads on the end but it's more valuable than that. She looked at it for more than a couple of seconds and she started to get ready.

After being in the bathroom, she noticed that her maids had already been in there. All of the windows in her room were drawn open and there was a dress that was carefully laid in her bed.

Knowing that they left her to get something, she hastily put her dress on and started to yank at her hair with her brush. After tugging at a knot a lot more forceful than she likes, she sat it down and she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Her hair was still the same wild red curly locks like before but it became tamer now. It curled a lot nicer than they did years ago but there was still too much of it.

Looking back at the brush, she realized that it would take half an hour to wrestle all the knots in her hair. She didn't want her maids to see her combing it and attempt to help her.

She really like her maids, Lucia and Tania, but she wanted to be chided by her mother than to let those two get their hands in her hair. She still shudders when she remembered how those two made her eyes water when they tried to comb her hair as gently as they can.

Running towards her door to go to the castle's kitchen to grab some breakfast, she saw something in the corner of her eye. She stopped at her tracks and turned around.

After six years, there were many changes that happened to her. She got a couple of inches taller, her body became more feminine and she simply grew up. With that, every stunt that she could easily pull together back then becomes harder and more taxing. The most disappointing part was that she outgrown her bow. She could still shot as flawless as ever but it takes more time and precision. The strings felt somehow shorter and the length of it started to bother her. She even snapped the bowstring more than once.

Being a princess, she could always request for a new bow but she cannot bring herself to change the bow that her father gave to her as a gift.

So, when she saw a new bow on her bed side table, she dashed toward it. Her heart was beating as fast as it always has been when she was riding Angus or when she shots her arrows towards its target. She could defnitely shot one at that with ease. Her fingers were shaking with the anticipation of touching it, to feel it under her fingers, to pull its bowstring taut and fire an arrow with it for the first time.

Carefully handling it as if it's a fine piece of porcelain, she started to inspect it. It was made of light wood with reddish brown color. What really caught her attention was its design that made her gasped and laughed out loud after realizing what it means.

"Very clever," she said as she nodded her head and wiped at the tears at the corner of her eyes.

"Very clever indeed. Who ever made it knows how to make a weapon that symbolizes its owner."

Touching her hair consciously she smiled and shook her head. At first glance, the bow seemed to be simple and ordinary but it's not. The whole bow was carved with tight spiral that intertwined and tangled with each other. The patterns were complicated and it really resembles the way her hair messed up when she was ridding all day outside.

"This is crazy. I have a new bow that is inspired out of my own wild and unruly hair."

Trailing her fingers along the length of the bow, she traced one of the spirals that ran in it and found her name engraved in smooth flowing script. A huge grin wormed its way on her lips. She needed to thank her father for this.

Merida ran as fast as she cod towards the castle's dining room. She was holding her dress' hem with her left hand and her bow on the other one. She carefully treaded and ran past the maids who were cleaning the hallway, giving them a little nod as a greeting and a beaming smile that she wore.

Stopping outside the door, she leaned against it and caught her breath. Her ears were ringing from running too fast. She put her hand in her chest and waited for her heart beat to calm down. Turning her head to the side, she looked at the occupants of the room. Her grin was still present in her face.

Her three brothers looked at her with raised brows, they were poking at their foods and with the expression that they wore, it was clear that they couldnt wait to have their sweet fix for this morning.

Harris, Hubert and Hamish were still the same mischievous boys that love to prank anyone and they seemed to get a lot better with it every year. They were already twelve years old and they were starting their lessons with their mother.

"Good morning," the triplets greeted her at once. They looked bored and itching to do some kind of mischief around.

"No greetings for my birthday then?" she asked while she raised her brow with a playful expression on her face as she sat on the chair across those three. She carefully laid her bow on the chair next to her. Then one of the maids brought her food in together with a caramel pudding.

The triplets looked at her with wide eyes and bemused expression. Looking at each other, Harris voiced the thought that the three of them shared.

"Happy birthday, we completely forget that it is your birthday today."

Raising her right eye brow, the boys just shrugged and continued to poke their foods.

"Well, you look to be too happy today," Hubert said while he took a bit from his battered chicken.

"And that never happens when it's your birthday,"Hamish added as he pushed his plate away and tried to discreetly snatch her sister's pudding.

She swatted Hamish's hand and glared at him. Those three were not the only one who loves sweets and no one could steal her favorite. She then frown, it's right, she never really enjoyed her birthday these past years. It actually reached the point where she dreaded it. It became a reminder of how long did she had being free.

"Happy birthday my little princess," King Fergus greeted Merida as he entered the room. Queen Elinor was trailing after him, who shot a worried glance at her daughter. She knew how much her daughter resent her birthday and why she did.

"Happy birthday Merida," the queen said as she moved towards her daughter. She then gave Merida a comforting hug and a small pat in the back. Merida returned the hug and gave her mother a small smile.

"Thanks Da and Ma and I hate to break it to you Da, but I'm not a 'little princess' anymor,." She said as she gave her father a teasing smile.

"Oh, shut up Merida, you know that you will always be our little princess, right my dear," her father replied while he chuckled and looked at her wife for her opinion. Queen Elinor nodded at her husband's comment as she sat in her chair.

Remembering why she had been so happy this morning, Merida reached out for her bow.

"Thank you Da for this," she said as she held the bow upright for her father to see, a huge grin present in her face.

A confused expression crossed King Fergus face as his stare fixed on the bow that her daughter was holding for him to see.

"That's not from me, Merida," he answered her as he shrugged his shoulders.

Perplexed, she looked at her bow then to her father. If it didn't come from her father then who would gave this to her?

"Maybe it's from one of your suitors," her mother commented.

"It's your birthday by the way. Maybe one of them remembers and decided to give you a bow as a gift," she added with an obvious glee in her voice.

Merida sat it down and looked intently at it. If it's not from her father then who would gave her this?

Their breakfast flew by with her mother scolding the boys about playing with their food. Meanwhile, Merida keeps on pondering who might sent her a gift and none the less a bow. She never remembered any suitor who was interested in her skills in archery. There was no doubt that some of them would sent her gifts but a bow? never.

After their breakfast, everyone started to do their usual morning tasks except from Merida who was allowed to spend the day the way she likes. It was her birthday after all.

Letting out a sigh, she decided that a morning in the woods could help her clear her mind. Walking back towards her bedroom to grab her cloak and quiver, she made up her mind to ask her maids later who told them to give the bow to her.

Entering her room she stared at the bed side table where she found the bow. She was surprised to see a quiver on the side of it. She must over look it earlier. It has some blue stones embedded around it near the top that glows almost like a wisp.

Peeking inside, she found a dozen of arrows and a note stuck at the bottom of it.

Merida,

Happy birthday to you, I remember how much you complain about your old bow in your letters and even though I already told you to get another one thousand of times you just wouldn't do it. So I thought that I could make you a new one and design it just for you. Gods, it is hard to imitate that crazy hair of yours. It almost takes me a month to finish that in my spare time. Things are going to be a lot busier here in Berk now that winter is approaching. Take care as always.

-Hiccup

Author's Note:

So, this is the first chapter. Is this good or bad? Should I stick at first person like the prologue or is this better?

Also, thanks of you who read, follow, favorite and review FS. I'm totally amazed. I never expected the prologue to capture much of your attention.

To the guest reviewer, this was supposed to be something like that but I changed a lot of things so it's going to be more complicated than what I planned.

See you next time guys. Hopefully Hiccup will finally be in the next chapter.