Not a Human Mind

by vifetoile89

Clan DunBroch believed in packing light: the heaviest item Merida brought with her was a midnight blue cloak lined with bear's fur, which Hiccup thought might be warm enough to withstand the winds. Her clan banner, of a sword against a background of spirals, was tucked in beside Haddock's, with her quiver and a second full quiver's worth of arrows.

Merida gave each of her brothers a hug, one to her father, who was sniffing loudly, and one to her mother.

The stoic queen held her a long moment before letting go, and saying to Hiccup and Toothless, "We trust to you not only our kingdom's mission, but the safety of our princess. If any harm comes to her—"

"Mum," Merida whispered, clutching her bow and fidgeting.

"If any harm befalls her," the Queen repeated, "You will not escape paying for it." Her gaze flickered between the Viking and the dragon, and did not flinch. Hiccup felt a tiny bit terrified.

Terror was entirely what he did not need under these circumstances… the prospect of undergoing a perilous journey with only his dragon and his best pal for company had just been turned into the prospect of undergoing a perilous journey with a girl who was practically a stranger, and a member of a clan that had been a longtime enemy of his – and his best pal.

He was even grateful for the plague, sort-of – it made that cobwebby "alliance" between their clans a bit more official, when they had a common enemy. And the Princess, she wasn't that much of a stranger – in some ways, she reminded Hiccup a great deal of Astrid. Except in the ways in which they were totally different. And then there was her idea that she was in charge of this perilous journey… well, Hiccup would see about that, Princess.

But, in the name of chivalry, he would have offered Merida help into the saddle. She had other ideas– she leapt aboard as if Toothless was nothing more than a large, black, winged horse. Hiccup climbed aboard after her, feeling more than a little awkward and clumsy.

"May the winds be kind," said King Fergus, "And bring you home soon."

That was all the ceremony that Toothless had patience for. His wings snapped open, and he took to the air once again, heading south.

Hiccup fixed his eyes ahead. "Careful, Princess," he said.

"Call me Merida," she answered, her voice distant.

"It's risky to turn around in the saddle."

"I'm just waving good-bye, until –" when she spoke again, her voice was closer to, and he knew she had turned back towards the front, "Now they're gone."

Hiccup felt a little bad for snapping at her earlier, but fought the urge to apologize – it was a petty thing, and he wanted her to respect him. Warriors didn't apologize for subtle tones of voice when advising someone for their own safety. At least, none of the warriors of Hiccup's acquaintance. He wasn't sure most of them could spell 'subtle, 'either.

So he imagined she was thinking with fear on the journey ahead. He didn't blame her. She was leaving her land, departing with two strangers, who knew what dangers they'd…

"Will ye look at that?" She breathed, in a tone of wonder and delight. "It's gorgeous down there!"

Or, maybe, she was enraptured, and Hiccup was wrong. Great way to start.

After a couple of hours passed, Hiccup sensed that Toothless wanted to rest, so he snapped the tailfin into landing gear and they found a clearing by a lake.

Once Hiccup dismounted, he turned to help Merida, but she slid right past him in a blur of red and blue, stamping her feet on the virgin snow and laughing. "Look at this! I mean look at it! I've never set eyes on this patch o' wood before, and will ye look at the lake? It's like a pearl! Ha! Isn't this an adventure?"

She kicked up a flurry, then appeared to remember that Hiccup was watching. She returned to Toothless, patting him on the side and telling him what a good flier he was. Then she reached into the saddlebag, took out her bow, and asked, "So did ye want me to shoot something?"

"What? No! No, I just – Toothless wanted to rest a bit, he's not used to flying with two people…" Toothless snorted and held his head high, unwilling to be babied in such a manner. "So we decided to just stretch our legs a bit."

"Oh. Good!" Merida proceeded to stalk the bank of the lake with great vigor, while Hiccup sketched out a map in the snow. He lifted his head when he heard Merida near him. "Flyin' is a rare delight. I never imagined it could be so wondrous – never!"

Hiccup looked up, grinning, but the tall young lady wasn't talking to him, or to herself, but to Toothless.

She went on, "I can understand why ye might not choose to break the spell. Ye can fly, and keep yer own mind, and yer brother there? I might make the same choice."

"What are you talking about?" Hiccup asked. The dragon was staring at Merida with confusion.

"Well, I knew it the minute I saw ye two. Did ye think it were secret?"

"What was secret?"

"Yer brother, Toothless, under a spell to make him a dragon. Him an' ye have the same eyes, and if an enchanted soul keeps their human mind they keep their human eyes. Ye must have some powerful magic in Berk," she said in an appraising way, unaware that Hiccup's jaw had fallen. "But last fall, I made a mistake and ill-used such a spell myself. I learned in time, though, and I broke it. How did Toothless come to be so enchanted?"

Hiccup snorted with laughter; behind Merida, Toothless rolled in the snow, rasping and chortling.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Toothless is not my brother," Hiccup said. "That's part one. Part two, he has not got my eyes—look right now. Notice how the square pupils turn into slits? Like a cat's? But I'll give you the green – and last, there is no enchantment. He is a Night Fury, the unholy offspring of lightning and death. Always has been, always will be. And—" he added with a chortle as Toothless clambered over to him and gave him a head-butt – "he'll thank you not to say he has a human mind. He has a dragon one."

Hiccup snickered again, but Merida wasn't laughing. "You mean – that's – a real dragon?"

"Yes," Hiccup said, and he and Toothless both nodded very slowly.

The blood drained from Merida's face, but she stood her ground and said simply, "Well. I was mistaken, then. H-hello… Toothless," she added in a tiny voice.

Toothless obliged her with one of his trademark gummy grins, which were sweet to Hiccup, and somewhat nauseating to everyone else.

Merida however, smiled back, albeit weakly, and gave a pale imitation of a curtsy.

"You're not scared, are you?" Hiccup asked.

"Me? Never. Never been scared of anything in me life." She looked down at her feet, frowning and scowling like thunder. She was angry, but Hiccup didn't know why.

"I only approached ye," she said slowly, "in the circle of stones, on the assumption that Toothless wouldn't attack me like a dumb animal."

"He is not a dumb animal," Hiccup said at once. "Don't ever make that mistake. If you want to return to DunBroch, I'll take you—"

"Nae. This is my quest now, an' yours. But I was rearing to attack, at first. I'm not normally one for diplomacy. Not like me mum."

"Well, I can't blame you. That's what pretty much any sensible person would do," Hiccup conceded.

Merida gave a chuckle. "I've been called many things, but never sensible."

"If I'd known you were mistaken, I would have – well – corrected you, but not in such a way that you'd attack—"

" Toothless, as the first dragon of my acquaintance, I'd like do say you seem very cunning, most gentlemanly, and quite handsome."

Toothless puffed up with pride.

Hiccup scoffed. "Trust me, he doesn't need the boost. But, ah, while you're in a complimenting mood, you got any nice words for me?"

"You're sensible," Merida said, before climbing into the saddle herself. Hiccup felt slightly put out.