Hiccup and Toothless slowly circled over the castle, not sure what to do. They couldn't just land in the castle yard, there were people and animals in it. The kingdom surrounding the castle didn't have any room, and Hiccup couldn't land outside the castle wall. How would he get Toothless though the enormous gates without causing an alarm to be sounded?

He glanced at the castle once more, when he saw a large red flag being waved back and forth by a squire. When the man saw that he had Hiccup's attention, he pointed frantically towards the castle yard. Hiccup looked and realized that the people were hastily making room, the animals being led away.

Hiccup guided Toothless into a gentle, loopy drop, the motion carrying them slowly to the space.

"Good boy, Toothless." Hiccup said with a proud smile. They landed perfectly, and Toothless gave the surrounding people an intimidating glare.

"Stop that!" Hiccup snapped. "They're gonna be scared of you." Toothless growled in response, not helping at all.

A man and woman briskly walked towards him. The woman was dressed in a flowing green dress, her shiny brown hair tied in a hairstyle that was very unlike what Hiccup was used to the Viking women wearing. The man was huge and muscular, with a red beard and open, smiling face. His form and fitness reminded Hiccup so much of his father that he couldn't help but stare.

The same squire who had signalled with the flag announced them.

"Announcing Queen Elinor, and His Highness, King Fergus!"

The people in the yard dropped to their knees. Even the horses in the stables quieted, the chickens all pausing to take in the sceen with their frazzled, confused expressions.

Hiccup gulped, and dismounted Toothless.

"Uh.." His hazel eyes flitted nervously around the castle yard. "H-Hello. I'm Hiccup."

The tension in the air thickened. Nobody greeted a King like that.

It was, after all, the custom to drop to your knee. Not doing that alone gave the King and Queen a right to order Hiccup's execution. But they were kind rulers, and gave the people a gentle, reassuring smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." King Fergus said. Hiccup immediately noticed the thick Scottish accent, the fierce determination in his eyes. "I am King Fergus."

"And I," Elinor said, stepping forward, "am Queen Elinor." Grace radiated off of her, the radiance of her eyes shining at Hiccup. He knew he would get along with the pair perfectly.

It was then that he noticed the people kneeling, and with an extremely red face he dropped to the ground, wavering slightly in the process.

"You can stand, boy!" King Fergus laughed "T'is a stupid custom, I know, and we should have it stopped.

Elinor glared up at him. "T'is a custom that should NOT be removed, Fergus. It has been in the generations throughout the-" She realized that she was arguing. With a sigh, she squared her shoulders and smiled at Hiccup. "Please, meet our sons, Hamish, Hubert, and Harris."

Three little boys appeared from behind her, all with bright red curls covering their heads, and a dusting of red freckles.

They certainly aren't shy, Hiccup though, as the little boys sprinted straight for Toothless.

"Boys!" Elinor snapped. "Stay away from that dragon."

Toothless gave Hiccup a helpless look as the triplets jumped on him. The people all held their breath, but when Toothless didn't do anything to harm the boys, they all exhaled at once.

"It's alright!' Hiccup reassured everyone. "He won't hurt-"

He was interrupted by a loud thumping. The ground vibrated slightly. Elinor glanced fearfully at Fergus.

"She's back!" She hissed. "Hiccup, don't you mind Merida, she can be a bit of a hot head, and she doesn't like you."

"What?" Hiccup yelped. "She hasn't even met me yet!"

Elinor sighed, but King Fergus spoke. "She hates Vikings."

Then the girl appeared on the huge Clydesdale, traveling so fast that a dust cloud twirled up in her wake. Se skidded to a stop right in front of Hiccup, who stumbled and fell onto his backside.

"You!" Merida snarled. She whipped out a small knife and pointed itt him, sismounting the horse at the same time. "You dirty, stupid Viking! How dare you come-"

She was interrupted by a deafening roar. Toothless leaped over Hiccup, his wings shielding the boy protectively. His face was so close to Merida, she could feel the heat radiating off of his jet black scales.

For the first time in perhaps ever, Merida looked intimidated.

King Fergus noticed her expression and elbowed Elinor. "Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea."

Elinor snorted, so out of character for her. But so was the intimidated expression on her daughter's face.

"-here." Merida finished her rant with a whisper.

Hiccup stood up and pushed Hiccup's wings aside, with difficulty.

"Toothless," He said sternly. "It's okay, she won't kill me."

"Duh," Merida mumbled. "Too many witnesses."

Hiccup felt his jaw drop, but shook it off. "Uh, Toothless meet..." He went red. "What was your name?"

"Merida." She said proudly, sheathing the knife. "My name's Merida, and don't you forget it."

"Um, okay." Hiccup smiled slightly. "Toothless, meet Merida. Merida, this is Toothless. He's my dragon."
"I got that." She snapped. "Vikings are so stupid! Pointing out the obvious this way and that-"

She was interrupted once more by Toothless's throaty growl. Merida fell silent.

King Fergus once more elbowed Elinor. "He made her stop talking!" He whispered audibly. "In mid-rant, no less!"

Merida whipped her head around at her father, but she found that she couldn't stay mad at him. He was her father, after all, and she considered him one of her best friends. His goofy grin finally raised a slight smile to Merida's lips, and she finally let her stiff shoulders sag.

Hiccup watched this with interest. "Her father is her weak spot," He murmured softly.