AN: Hello! This chapter was hard to get started, but then flowed pretty well. I hope you all enjoy it! I've gotten a few comments asking for more of Hiccup, and so here you go: An awkward sass-bucket with a side of cauldron cakes...
NOTES: You didn't forget about Bunnymund's snowman, did you?
REVIEWERS!:
The Fourteenth Noah: Isn't it just such an adorable image? 5:30 is probably the best time to read this story because that's when most of the writing happens! I hope this next chapter will be just as fulfilling!
BrawlerGamer: I think in some part of my brain the white chicken was Hiccup's and the brown one was Jack's, but I could imagine Jack being so hysterical trying to keep track of his chicken that Hiccup could probably trick him into taking care of both... Of course, Hiccup's too nice to do that. Nifflers are so cute, and if you put a bunch of them on an innocent-looking Hiccup it's, like, the cutest thing in the universe! I wouldn't place your money just yet... And if Merida and her mother knew how to compromise, there wouldn't be much of a story to tell! XD
HanyouExorcistAlchemist48: I'm glad! Tensions are pretty thick right now between the Scotts and the Vikings... AND I KNOW RIGHT!? :3
Chapter 6: Dueling Club
Merida was internally screaming as she glared down at the parchment before her. Her hand ached as if she had been taking notes all day, and she was exhausted enough to feel as if she had just gone through a whole day of school, but it was only Saturday morning. Early, too. Because a Princess rises early, according to her mother.
Merida was supposed to be practicing her calligraphy as her mother lectured her on the importance of proper wording in a letter. You must be formal, but not too formal. You must show respect, but also demand it. You must be kind, but firm. Without a proper balance between all these things, one letter could start a war.
The whole thing was really just annoying. Couldn't she have one day to herself? To do what she wanted and be with the people she actually liked being around?
"Whatever I did to deserve this torture, I am so, so sorry." Merida mentally apologized to the universe, silently wishing for mercy as her mother droned on and on and on.
"Elinor!" It seemed the universe decided she'd suffered enough. "Elinor! The Lords want to speak with us over lunch about the trading rights." King Fergus huffed grumpily and rolled his eyes, obviously displeased by the idea, but the Queen only nodded.
"I'm sure they've good reason. The trading rights haven't been discussed in almost five years. It's about time we renewed them." Elinor replied calmly, closing her book and placing it on the table next to her.
"Ah, Elinor!" Fergus groaned and whined, but the Queen ignored him and turned to Merida who had lifted her head as hope pooled in her chest.
"It seems this lesson will have to wait, Merida. Why don't you spend some time on your schoolwork?" Elinor suggested, taking Fergus's arm as they walked towards the door. "The trading rights are always difficult, so we'll just have to continue this some other day."
After that the King and Queen gave their daughter a simple farewell for the time being and left the room. Merida, though, jumped from her seat and ran to grab her wand from her mother's desk where it was kept during all of their lessons because otherwise Merida would get distracted.
Within a few moments, Merida was out of her family's suite and running down the hallway, fully intent on going to the library to meet up with her friends, but she skidded to a stop when she rounded a corner to see her friends lounging about with wide grins on their faces. Jack was leaning back against the wall, Hiccup sat next to him, and Rapunzel stood in front of them.
"What's going on?" Merida drawled, a slow smile spreading across her face.
"Oh, nothing." Rapunzel sang and then bit her lip in an attempt to hide her smile, but it didn't quite work.
"We were just on our way to the library after dropping off a very important looking document about trading rights on Lord MacGuffin's desk. He must have dropped it in the hall or something, and us, being the good-natured students we are, thought it best to remind him of such an important thing." Jack shrugged innocently.
"But since you seem to have finished your lesson early, why don't we go have a look at Professor Bunnymund's Dueling Club? The first meeting starts in ten minutes and Jack said he'd give me a cauldron cake if I went with you guys." Hiccup added in rather bluntly.
"How can you not be excited for Dueling Club? This is like the coolest thing since Quidditch!" Jack exclaimed, crossing his arms and pouting at Hiccup as he picked himself up off the floor.
"It's just going to be a bunch of students trying to beat each other up, except now they have teacher permission for it. Oh, and magic, too. I'm sure this will end splendidly! Plenty of trips to the Hospital Wing. You'll get lots of practice from it, Rapunzel." Hiccup rolled his eyes, his sass dripping from every word as Rapunzel giggled and Jack pouted more.
At that moment, Merida lunged at her friends and caught all three of them in one giant hug that was too big for her arms to give, but she didn't really care. She felt so amazingly grateful and happy to have such absolutely brilliant friends. Friends who understood and helped her in any way they could.
"Thank you." She said, feeling their arms wrap around her to return the show of affection. "I owe you guys one."
"Owe us what? We didn't do anything." Rapunzel smiled as they pulled back from the hug.
"Honestly, Merida, I don't know what you're talking about." Jack shrugged again as he grinned deviously.
Merida chuckled at her friends' antics and grinned widely at them. "What do you say we get out of here before my mom changes her mind about the lesson?"
"Agreed!" Rapunzel grinned right back, linking arms with the Gryffindor.
The four laughed as they set off down the hall, running and joking with each other the whole way to Bunnymund's new classroom.
Dueling Club was like nothing Merida had ever seen. There were giant, wooden dummies on wheels that Bunnymund had them practice spells on in a huge circle, some of the older students were allowed to practice levitating a person as long as three people were performing the spell, and Bunnymund walked about the room, giving instruction and teaching students bits and tricks that would help them in a fight.
Merida and Jack threw themselves into every lesson, trying their hardest and refusing to give up until they got it right. Rapunzel practiced smaller spells, but was too nervous and shy to face the towering wood foe in the Practice Circles, so she stuck to the sides of the room and took advice from Bunnymund whenever she could get it. Hiccup had originally started out sitting on a bench, peacefully reading a book, until Bunnymund caught sight of him and gave him a rather bland glare. Hiccup had sighed and started practicing with Rapunzel.
It was all a lot of fun, for most of them, and once Jack gave Hiccup a cauldron cake from his bag and promised him another one later, Hiccup cheered up quite a bit. Rapunzel enjoyed learning everything she could from older students and Bunnymund, and Jack and Merida simply loved improving on their dueling skills. It was like they were Warriors from the Wars of Old, fighting for justice and goodness.
Time seemed to slip through their fingers as they had their fun, and laughed and learned with their classmates because all too soon the hour-and-a-half long meeting was drawing to a close. Bunnymund moved to the front of the room where the fireplace was and addressed with with a wide smile.
"Well, that's just about it for our first meeting," He said as the students gathered around to hear what he had to say. "I saw a lot of hard work and a lot of potential today. I hope I'll be seeing all of you next week for a continuation. But before I call this meeting to a close, I've decided to give you kids a treat." Professor Bunnymund smirked as he paused to let the crowd of students shift with excitement. "Since most of you haven't seen a proper duel before, let's have a little presentation of what you'll be doing eventually, eh?"
Excitement lit the room as all of the students started whispering and a few cheers met Bunnymund's suggestion. Several of the seventh and sixth year students shouted for Bunnymund to pick them, but he shook his head.
"Now, I'd like a couple of students who are old enough to not accidentally make someone explode, but are young enough that they won't know any of the more harmful spells... Second years, third years?" Bunnymund raised an eyebrow and hands shot up excitedly.
Almost all of the third year hands shot up, with the exception of a few including Hiccup and Rapunzel, and a few wayward second years jumped at the chance as well, standing on their tiptoes and quietly muttering 'me, me, pick me!'.
"Alright, let's have... Macintosh." Bunnymund pointed to the Scott and he puffed out his chest, strutting like a peacock. Merida rolled her eyes, utterly embarrassed. "And..." The Pooka drawled as his eyes scanned the crowd of students. "Hiccup!"
Everyone turned towards them, and, even though she was a bit disappointed, Merida looked at Hiccup excitedly, only to find that her Ravenclaw friend looked really annoyed. Even so, he and Macintosh were pushed to the center of the room and everyone else pulled back to the sides to watch the duel.
Bunnymund stood between them, smirking somewhat smugly, and began to go over the rules with them. "Now I don't want anything too exciting. Disarming spells only, understood? First to drop their wand loses." After that, Bunnymund stepped back to a safe distance. "Wands at the ready!"
Both boys lifted their wands, holding it in front of them so that the other could see it. Macintosh smirked confidently while Hiccup's free hand twitched at his side. Merida watched as the two boys turned away from each other, took three strides, and then turned and took up their dueling stances.
"1..." Bunnymund called out, and Merida's breath hitched to a stop. "2..." Rapunzel gripped her and Jack's hands tightly as she watched with wide, terrified eyes and bit her lip. "3!"
"Confundo!" Macintosh shouted, throwing his wand hand forward and shooting the first spell. Hiccup blocked it, but the force of it made him stumble backwards a little. "Confundo!" Macintosh shouted again, and Hiccup ducked to the side.
"I said Disarming Charms only!" Bunnymund shouted at them.
"Expelliarmus!" Hiccup shot back at Macintosh, but the taller boy blocked it and sent the same spell back at him.
The spell hit Hiccup's free hand, so he didn't lose his wand, but his shoulder took quite the hit. Hiccup flipped backwards and landed hard on his side, but managed to keep his wand in hand. He stumbled to his feet and backed up a few paces, looking a bit wild and maybe a little scared as Macintosh advanced on him. Like a cornered alley cat or something.
"Rictusempra!" Hiccup's wand sent a flourish of light at the over-confident lord and hit him straight on. Macintosh flew backwards, even flipping a few times in the air, and landed hard on his rump, but he held tightly to his wand.
Now Macintosh looked mad. He stomped to his feet, red in the face and glaring at Hiccup for all he was worth. Hiccup visibly paled and gulped, and Merida squeezed Rapunzel's hand right back.
"Come on, Hiccup! You can do it!" Jack cheered and a couple shouts of agreement went up, but Merida wasn't sure if Hiccup could hear anything outside of the duel now. His breathing was faster, much faster than it should be, and his eyes were wide. He was tense all over, and Merida worried that maybe he was having a panic attack.
"Everte Statum!" Macintosh called out, sending the spell flying at Hiccup. Merida was certain he could dodge it, but Hiccup didn't move. It was like he was frozen in place. The spell hit Hiccup right in the stomach and he flew backwards, landing so hard on his back that the momentum made him roll over onto his side, facing away from the crowd.
The sound of wood clanking against stone brought everyone's eyes to a few feet behind Hiccup where he had dropped his wand.
The twisted, black wand lay on the stone floor and Macintosh crowed in triumph, several others joining and congratulating him on his victory, but Merida didn't care. She, Jack, and Rapunzel ran over to Hiccup. Jack grabbed Hiccup's wand on the way over, and together the three of them helped Hiccup into a sitting position with Rapunzel on his left, Jack on his right, and Merida sat on her knees in front of him.
"Are you okay?" Rapunzel asked him worriedly as he groaned and wrapped his arms around his stomach, pulling his knees close to his chest and tucking his head down behind them.
"I have a really bad headache." He mumbled, and Merida couldn't help but notice that he was trembling pretty bad.
"It's probably the adrenaline wearing off. We should get you some water and something to eat." Rapunzel said, checking things off on her fingers to make sure she was remembering everything they needed to do in this type of situation.
"Let's get him back on his feet first. Come on." Jack grunted a little as he pulled on Hiccup's arm and helped the other boy to stand. Hiccup stumbled as soon as he was on his feet, so Jack ducked under one of his arms and supported him. Rapunzel fussed over him with her healing knowledge, and Merida felt pretty useless in that moment, so she pulled out a small water flask she kept on hand and gave it to Hiccup.
"Here, drink." She said, Hiccup looked at her gratefully before taking the flask and having a drink.
As Merida, Jack, and Rapunzel helped to steady Hiccup on his feet the students filtered out of the hall. The first group to leave being the celebrating gaggle of boys that surrounded the preening Young Macintosh, and everyone else slowly followed. Several of their friends patted Hiccup on the back or told him he did really well for his first duel, which was nice, but Merida was pretty sure that Hiccup was just happy it was over.
"Alright, run along you lot. I'll look after this one." Bunnymund told them, nodding at Hiccup who gave him a rather dry look.
"But, sir." Rapunzel started. They all wanted to protest, but Bunnymund held up a hand.
"I have to check for a concussion or other possible injury. School Policy. Besides, it's lunch time, so you three can go save him a seat and some food." Bunnymund told them.
Merida looked at the others, uncertain of what to do. Rapunzel looked as lost as she felt, and Jack looked like he was completely against the idea, but then he shared a look with Hiccup who shrugged.
"Go on ahead, you guys, I'll catch up." Hiccup said, slowly walking over to Bunnymund and then turning back to give them a small, wry smile. "This shouldn't take long. I think Professor Bunnymund just wants an excuse to talk to me about my dueling."
There was a somewhat long pause between them because Merida didn't want to leave Hiccup alone after that intense duel, especially after seeing how it affected Hiccup. Still, she guessed they shouldn't have been too surprised. Hiccup was a peaceful person. She'd only seen him lose his cool twice the whole time they'd been friends. Fighting just didn't agree with the little guy, and, from what Merida could see, he didn't like it.
"You could've thrashed him if he hadn't cheated." Jack finally broke the silence, throwing his arms behind his head. "We'll save you some food. And I've got three cauldron cakes with your name on them. You've earned them." Jack grinned, and Hiccup's eyes lit up as he licked his lips.
Rapunzel giggled. "Don't be too long. We've still got the rest of the day to do stuff together."
Hiccup nodded and waved to them as he three departed from the Dueling Hall. As Merida walked with her other two friends, she couldn't help but wonder why Bunnymund had chosen Hiccup for the duel in the first place. Maybe it was just her imagination, but sometimes Merida swore she could see some kind of argument going on between the two. What it was about, she wasn't sure, but it made her curious as to what the Professor could want from Hiccup.
Merida shook those thoughts from her head and focused on the conversation Jack and Rapunzel were having. It was utterly ridiculous to think that Bunnymund would have any kind of hidden agenda for Hiccup, besides, Hiccup was too quiet and shy to attract much attention to himself. It was probably just her imagination getting the better of her. One's creativity tended to do that when hours of their day was devoted to their mother's boring princess lessons.
But even so, that night, when Merida was asleep, she dreamed of fire...