The boat was sent out, even if it was empty, this boat held all of the emotions anyone could handle. Merida stood on the edge of the cliff, wearing a dark forest green dress, her hair rolled into a lose bun. She raised her bow and pulled back her arrow. Dipping it in oil, and then lighting it, Merida released the first arrow, which landed dead center of the boat. She dropped her bow and buried her face into Hiccups shoulder. Hiccup kissed the top of her head and traced soothing circles into her back. The rest of the village let their arrows go.

It was a few hours later, and Merida was alone on the edge of the dock, her dress pooled around her legs. She had constructed a little boat. She piled it with a few letters she had written for Stoick, put trinkets she had found in a trunk, and added a lit candle to guide it's way to the other side. She leaned over the edge and set the boat into the water. With a little nudge, the boat floated out into the open seas.
"Dear God, please, guide this to Stoick. I need him to know how much he affected me. He helped me make my final decision, and made me feel welcome in a strange land. I need to feel this closure." Merida kissed the tips of her index and middle finger and held them to her heart, then up to the sky, blowing softly as she did. This is what she did after every funeral. She'd go to the sands and wade into the water, not caring if she ruined the dress she was in or not. She'd send little boats off into the waters. Her mother had once told her that the river would bring them to the edge of the world, and flow into heaven. That's how the spirits knew they still loved them. And she hoped like hell that's what it would do now. Merida stood, dusting off invisible dust from her dress. She slowly made her way back up the side of the cliff and back home, not seeing the eyes watching her small ritual.

She opened the door and was met with the soft breaths of Hiccup and Val. It was well past two in the morning. Merida had probably worried Hiccup, she had run off after dinner and cried herself out of tears in the woods with Bonnie. She owed him an apology. But that could wait until the morning. She was tired now. She climbed up the ladder as quietly as she could and avoided the squeaky boards. She slipped out of her dress and into a large shirt. She carefully pulled herself into the bed and was greeted by Hiccup's warm arms wrapping around her waist and completely pulling her flush to his body.
"I missed you." He said huskily into her ear, which caused a flow of shivers down her spine. She loved it when he did that.
"A know, Am ur sorry. A had ta be alone fer a while."
"It's okay Mer, I understand." He whispered and buried his face in her hair. Merida smiled to herself. How did she get so lucky? Hiccup stayed awake until he knew she was fast asleep. He waited ten minutes after that until he got up and made his way to the docks, small wooden boat in hand. When he got to the edge he sighed as he plopped down. He didn't know if this would work, but he had to try. He didn't feel right as Chief. It was like he was intruding in something he wasn't supposed to, like when he'd walk in on his dad in meetings with other villages. He felt ashamed, and embarrassed, and didn't know what to do. He pulled a candle out of a little sack he had tied to his waist and lit it. He set it in the center of the boat, and pulled out a small picture of Stoick he had. He put it next to the candle, the small flame lighting up his dads laughing face. Hiccup felt a tear streak his face, he just let them flow, one after another. He pulled out his matching necklace that he and his dad wore, and pulled out his dad's favorite flower, a morning glory. Hiccup smiled at the memory. His dad told him that even if it was such a small flower compared to all the rest, it was the mightiest. It opened when it was the right time, it was meticulous. A great strategist. And that they reminded him of his mother, rising with the first rays of morning light. Hiccup set the boat in the water and sent a silent prayer to his father in Valhalla. He knew that, even with all the Valkyries, Stoick was watching over them, guiding them. Making sure they were safe from harm. After Hiccup watched the boat disappear with the first rays of light on the horizon, he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He quickly made his way back to the hut, he had to get there before Merida woke up.

Two weeks had passed, and Merida had mailed to her parents that she and Hiccup were officially getting married. She, vaguely told them what happened, to the village and Stoick, and told them to prepare for a wedding. Valka was having a hay day. Not only does she come home for the first time in nearly twenty years with his son, but she gets a daughter as well. Today was their Berk wedding, and Merida was all jitters. It wasn't every day that you get married. Valka was replacing her father, her parents couldn't make it because the Lords had demanded to be a part of her wedding, which was being held later that day as well.

Right now, Astrid's mom was working her hair into intricately woven braids twisted on her head. She smiled down at her cup of tea in her hands.
"All finished dear!"
"Thank yah again Mrs. Hofferson!" Merida looked into the mirror and stared in astonishment. It's beautiful. She had three thick braids wrapped around her head creating a crown appearance, and the rest of her hair tumbled down her back in loose curls. She embraced the portly woman and smiled when she returned the hug.
"Merida! Come look what A found!" Merida walked into Val's room, and stopped in her tracks. In Val's hands was one of the most beautiful dresses she'd seen in her life. It was simple, and elegant. It was a three quarter sleeved dress, and the sleeves opened and reached the ground. Gold silk lined the collar, the edges of the sleeves, and the bottom of the dress. Merida slipped into the dress and smiled at herself in the mirror. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, but wasn't distracting. It pooled around her feet, and she smiled as Val wrapped a gold rope around her waist, and tied it in a knot at her front. She handed Merida a bouquet of blue and green flowers and sighed.
"Oh!" Val ran into the room and came back out with a box. "This was mine. And now it's yours, and then it'll be your daughters." Merida took the box in her hands and opened it. Inside was a small necklace that shimmered in the light that leaked through the closed windows. It was a gold disc with a pearl that glowed when the light hit it in the center. Merida's eyes stung with unshed tears and she wrapped her arms around her almost mother-in-law.
"Et's beautiful. Thank yah." Valka left a kiss in the middle of Merida's forehead, and placed the crown her dad gave her at the games on her head. Merida took a deep breath when they heard a knock at the door. Astrid opened it and smiled.
"It's show time princess."
Merida walked slowly with her hand wrapped around Val's arm. She looked up at Hiccup, who was wearing the Chief's attire. He wore a cloak of animal hide, and leather boots. He wore his shoulder and chest armor, and feathers were braided into his hair. He wore the helmet his dad had given him many years ago. Merida's breath caught in her throat. Hiccup wiped his eyes and smiled at her. That goofy, lopsided smile that made her stomach fall to her toes and her heart jump into her throat. The second Val handed Merida off to Hiccup she couldn't breathe.
"You look beautiful." Hiccup whispered to her. But she couldn't respond. She wasn't breathing. She sucked in a deep breath when her lungs screamed at her.
"Thanks…" she muttered.
"Trying to kill yourself before we're even married. I'm hurt." Merida gave Hiccup a small glare, which pulled a smirk from the snarky man. The two didn't pay much attention to Gobber, the Jack of All Trades, as he went through vows.
"You may now, kiss, your bride." Hiccup didn't move neither did Merida. Gobber nudged Hiccup who was jolted out of his thoughts. "Kiss your bride." He said again. Hiccup smiled, and stepped to Merida, his hands softly on her cheeks. Merida melted into the kiss, but all too soon it was over. When they pulled apart, officially man and wife, Merida locked eyes with Astrid. Her grey eyes were brimmed with tears, but she held the muscular arm of Eret. Astrid smiled cheekily and gave Merida a thumbs up. Merida smiled and flicked her eyes to the muscular man with a smirk on her face. Astrid flushed and shook her head as if to say "We're only friends, I swear!" Merida's smile widened. She turned to look at Hiccup, who was staring at her with wonder and nothing but love in those forest green eyes that reminded her of Scotland. The two ran down the aisle, and into their new world as husband and wife.

Two hours later, after many drunken toasts, Merida, Hiccup, and Valka were preparing to leave for Scotland.
"Don't forget ta grab three Terrors babe." Merida called to Hiccup from across the house.
"Got it!" Hiccup said as he plopped down the cage full of small mischievous dragons for their brothers. Merida walked by him and placed a quick kiss on his cheek and he grinned, turned her around, and planted a hard kiss on her lips.
"A know we're already married, but please Hiccup, don' tease me." Merida said breathlessly. Hiccup chuckled and shook his head as he double checked that they had all the things they needed. When he was satisfied he smiled to Merida.
"Mom! It's time to go!" Hiccup yelled through the house.
"Coming!" Val said. She walked oddly down the hall. She was wearing a knee length, dark blue dress and her long coat. "I forgot how hard it is to wear these… It's so hard to move…" Val muttered to herself as she grabbed the things she was carrying to Scotland. Merida smiled and grabbed her share and Hiccup grabbed his. They three tied their things to their respective dragons, who got along just like a family, just like they weren't each the only ones of their kind. Merida smiled at the dragons. 'What an odd family.' Then she turned to Hiccup and Val and nodded. 'Then again, so are we.' Merida climbed onto Bonnie, and the trio began their trip to Scotland.

They got there with two hours to unpack and get ready. They were greeted by Fergus and Elinor standing outside the castle. Val gasped.
"She really is a princess."
"Yup. You'll love mah family." Merida said as she landed.
"Merida!" Her dad ran to her and wrapped his large arms around Merida in a crushing hug. Val and Hiccup landed and walked to Elinor. Elinor looked at Val and Hiccup and enveloped them both in a hug.
"I'm so sorry for your loss. Stoick was a great man, and I enjoyed him greatly. He was always the comedian." Val let out a choked laugh, it still hurt to talk about him, but it was getting better. Much better.
"Thank you. He was wasn't he? I could never stay mad at him for long." Val chuckled with Elinor.
"A know the feelin'. Fergus always gets me ta laugh before bed. A think et's so A don' make him sleep in another room." She shook her head and watched as Merida lined the boys up. They had grown since she'd last been here. The boys, who were at hip level, were now almost to her chest. She watched as Merida placed a small dragon in each of the boy's hands, each a different color. At least now she'd be able to tell them apart. Hiccup walked over, and the two mothers watched as Hiccup helped them bond with their dragons. Fergus stood back, pouting.
'Looks like he wants one too… Oh no. They better not. We have horses, and enough to deal with. We dae not need a dragon!' Elinor thought. Just then a strange shadow circled on the ground.
"Oh no!" Elinor said, thinking it was a dragon for Fergus. Everyone outside of the castle looked up, only to be greeted by dragons from Berk, and their riders. Astrid was the first to land, followed by Eret, the twins, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and Gobber. Hiccup and Merida ran to them smiling.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"What? You thought we'd let you have an empty grooms side?" Astrid said, folding her arms across her chest.
"Well, I didn't think you'd come…" Hiccup said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Nonsense! Hiccup, you're like the son I never had. I wouldn't miss this for the world!" Gobber said as he patted Hiccup's back a little too hard. Elinor and Fergus walked up behind Hiccup and Merida. The Vikings kneeled, and Eret made a funny face.
"Mi'lord and Lady." Fishlegs said from his kneeling position.
"There's no need fer formalities here." Elinor said.
"Not at mah baby's wedding!" Fergus said, slapping Hiccup on the back. Elinor turned to Merida expectantly. When she got no response, she coughed.
"Well… aren't yah goin' ta introduce them?"
"Oh! Mum, dad, this is," she gestured to each one of them, "Astrid, her boyfriend Eret." the two blushed and Ruffnut moaned in disappointment.
"It's still not fair, I called dibs!" Merida laughed.
"The one pissin' and moanin' is Ruffnut, and her brother Tuffnut. The overly formal one is Fishlegs."
"Nice to meet you personaly." He held his hand out to Fergus, who grasped his forearm.
"And the short one is Snotlout."
"Hey! Odin only lets things grow until they're perfect. It didn't take me as long to reach perfection." Snotlout argued, striking a "manly" pose, and Hookfang huffed smoke into his face, causing him to sputter. "Hey, I thought we talked about this?" He said quietly to the dragon. Merida leaned closer to her mother and muttered behind the back of her hand,
"He's a softy. But he tries so hard ta hide it." Elinor let out a small chortle. "Queens don't chortle Mum."
"A specifically remember tellin' yah that princesses don't chortle. A said nothin' about queens." Elinor retorted. A familiar figure ran out of the castle doors, holding her top as she ran.
"Queen Elinor! It's been twenty minutes! We have less than two hours ta set up, and get Merida ready. And God knows, that'll take forever."
"A'll have yah know, Maudie, et only took a half hour fer me ta get ready on Berk. So unless A'm gonna look like more of a princess then A normally would, then we've got no problem." Maudie and Elinor shared a look, and Merida let out a groan as she flung her head back.

Currently, Merida sat on her bed as Maudie pulled, and prodded her hair, yanking Merida's head in all directions. When Maudie was finished, she turned Merida around, and held a small mirror in front of her and maneuvered it so she could see the hair on the back of her head. Merida was astounded the Maudie's pudgy little fingers could braid like that. Two lace braids, on both sides, started near the top of her head, then met in the middle at an angle. A second pair of braids started at the middle of her ears, and met together at the base of her neck. A third pair of lace braids started at her shoulders and pulled back the poof. The six braids ended up being a layered braid that fell to the middle of Merida's back. Small purple flowers were entwined into her braids and, with a closer inspection, Merida found they were Morning Glories. Elinor glided into the room, a huge bag on a hanger in her hands.
"What's tha' mum?"
"Yer dress. Now let's go." Elinor made a "scoot" motion with her free hand and Merida rolled her eyes as she stepped away from the mirror and into hell.

As Merida and Hiccup were getting ready, the "volunteers" were busy at work. The Lords had offered their sons as tribute to Fergus, and they got to set up the wedding. The Berkians were more than happy to help. Gobber stood with Fergus and the others and laughed as they enjoyed a good brew. Astrid and Eret and some snobby guy with a hug nose were setting up tables and tents. Ruffnut, Snotlout, and some dimwitted man who looked like he'd wet his own pants at any second were in charge of setting up chairs and benches, and Ruffnut, Fishlegs, and a large man who didn't talk much, were in charge of hanging decorations. Ruffnut was currently standing on a chair, on a table, hanging flowers on the large arch that Merida and Hiccup would stand under.
"Ruff, that one can't go there, there's a pattern going!" Fishlegs said from the ground.
"Pattern, shmattern. It's going here." Ruffnut reached up to the top of the arch, and Tuffnut and Snotlout ran past her, knocking into the table. The chair flipped out from under Ruffnut and sent her on a fast track for the ground. She braced herself for the hard impact and sharp pain on her rump, but it never came. Instead two, large arms were wrapped around her body.
"Areyahokaythere?" He rushed through his words.
"Yeah, I'm fine..." He nodded and set Ruff down carefully. She looked up at him for a few more seconds. "Thanks."
"'Snotaproblemlassie." He said, turning a light shade of pink. Ruffnut smiled and set the chair back on the table before she excused herself and took off after her idiot brother.
"Isthelassietaken?"
"Huh?" MacGuffin took a breath.
"Is the lassie taken?"
"Ruff? No, she's not taken, why?" But Fishlegs didn't get an answer. Young MacGuffin was too busy watching the small woman tackle her brother to the ground and smash his face into the dirt.
"Watch what you're doing idiot! I could have been killed!"
"Too bad it didn't kill you!" Ruff delivered one more blow to her brother's chin before she got up and dusted herself off. Fishlegs watched the large man, knowing all too well the look in his eyes. He'd seen it before on another person. Two actually, and they were preparing their wedding.

The sun hung low in the sky, but it was finally time. Hiccup stood under the large arch, and a man stood with him, a white collar around his neck. Hiccup nervously looked out at the throng of people. So many of the men that he had competed against were seated, staring him down in envy. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at his mom. She was sitting in the front row, turned around, waiting for Merida to step through the large wooden doors of the castle. He looked at each person, dolled up and looking more posh than he'd seen them in a long time. The organ began playing, and the doors were opened. She stepped out, and Hiccup's eyes were burning with tears for the second time that day. She was beautiful. Her hair was pulled back, and her dress was beautiful. It was a strapless corseted top, pure white with silver flowers starting at her chest, and fallowed a path down her stomach and flowed out at her hips. The corset ended at her hips and gave way to white taffeta layers that glowed in the fading sunlight. A golden crown circled her head and a large bouquet of calla lilies with blue centers, white roses, and light green carnations. She was stunning, and beautiful, and ravishing, and all his. He couldn't wait to have a family with this woman. Settle into their own home. Have a life together as Hiccup and Merida Haddock. When Merida saw Hiccup, her heart stopped again. He was wearing his fur cloak, but he was wearing traditional Scottish wedding garb, kilt and all. He didn't look girly like most men did. It suited him, and the tight undershirt clung to his sculpted chest. It seemed like an eternity until she reached the arch.
"Who gives this woman?"
"She gives herself." Fergus said as he stepped back and took his seat besides Elinor. Merida smiled and wiped a stray tear from Hiccups face. He leaned his head into her touch and they locked eyes. For the second time, they had ignored the vows, barely going through them. Elinor and Val dabbed their eyes. Elinor handed a kerchief to Fergus, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Mah baby…" He'd mutter to himself as he sniffled. The words were finally spoken.
"You may kiss your bride." This time Merida had no hesitation. She pulled Hiccup to her by his collar and crushed her lips to his. He locked his arms around her waist and the two melted together. The kiss only lasted about thirty seconds, but it spoke volumes for the couple.

They ran down the aisle as the spectators clapped and cheered. They ran into the castle and into the ballroom where the reception was taking place. The room began to fill with people, and soon everyone's heads were swimming with ale. Harris, Hubert, and Hamish were having a hay day, pulling pranks on the drunken guests with their new pets. Merida shook her dizzy head, and wished she hadn't. She sat back down next to Hiccup who gave her hand a squeeze. He, of course, refused to get drunk. What was the point of weddings if you didn't get drunk? But Merida let it slide. She smiled at her husband.
'My husband… Et's so strange ta think that we're married now. But we are… What's going to tonight be like?' Merida's face flushed even more than it already was as wild images ran rampant in her mind.

"Is everything okay?"
"Yes dear. A'm just a little woozy." Hiccup nodded his head and took her hand in his. He led her through the throng of people, her dad leading a "hunt" for Mor'du again. He looked at his friends. Tuff and Snotlout were hitting on girls, Fishlegs was with Elinor, and Ruff… Ruff was leaning against that MacGuffin kid, laughing. He was flushing furiously. He could tell she'd been drinking, and so had he.
"Istha' Ruff with MacGuffin? Who woulda' thought…" She muttered to herself, slurring her words together. Hiccup shook his head and lead her outside to the stables and an awaiting Angus. When Merida saw the horse her face light up. She instantly sobered up, at least a little bit, and began to brush the large animal, cooing soothing words as she did. She looked up to Hiccup when she was done and smiled. She walked to him and took his hand. The two began to walk along the edge of the woods. Merida took a deep breath of air and sighed in happiness.
"Are you happy to be here?"
"A am. A missed it. But A do love Berk." Hiccup smiled at her response. If she didn't like it there he'd move in a heartbeat and give the village to Astrid. He knew she was more than capable to handle it. But he was glad he didn't have to, he was starting to get the hang of being Chief. A breeze blew through the trees and Merida shivered. Hiccup stripped off his fur cloak and handed it to her. She took it gratefully, and sighed at its warmth. She leaned into Hiccup and he kissed the top of her head as they walked. Merida stopped when she heard something whispering to her.
"What is it Mer?" Hiccup turned around to look at her, but she wasn't looking at him. She was looking above him. Floating inches above his head was a tiny, glowing, ball of blue. Merida tilted her head. Hiccup did the same, as a small ball of glowing blue something was above Merida's head. She smiled and leaned on her tiptoes and kissed Hiccup softly on the lips. When they broke apart they looked to the sky, only to see the two wisps twirling together in the air, high above the tree tops. Merida sighed contently, because that was the only sign she needed to know that their fates would be forever intertwined.
"Mer, what were those? Are those the wisp thingies you talk about?" Merida threw her head back and laughed a light twinkling laugh that made Hiccups heart beat faster than it ever had.
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So, I have links to Merida's everything in my profile. So go check them out. Also, I love this chapter. I loved writing it and I hope you guys love it as much as I do. Please review! Thanks for reading!