Author's Notes:

Posting it earlier because I feel like it. I've been really feeling the Mericcup feels, so getting ahead of the story wasn't too hard.

I don't own any of the characters or Worlds, this is purely for fun and not profit.

She was awake before dawn. Sitting up she carefully and quietly slid out from under the covers and tip toed behind the curtain to get changed. Lighting a candle, she grabbed her usual attire, but paused, and then changed her mind. Digging into the bag containing the clothes they had been wearing when they had arrived, she was surprised to discover that her dress and shift had been washed, the salt from the ocean no longer staining it. Glancing towards Peadar's sleeping form Merida smiled gently and thanked him silently.

Merida took stock of the state of her dress. She had cut away most of the lower half, the embroidery was lost in the waters now. The top was intact, as were the sleeves; save for some minor tears. She rummaged through the clothing bag Gobber had given them and found a large top that was similar in colour to her dark blue dress, although a bit of a lighter shade. It wouldn't be the most amazing dress, but it would serve its purpose for the day.

She used the sewing materials they had received from their first day, thankful that there was still enough thread for what she planned to do. She cut away at the larger shirt and pinned it to the waistline of the dress. It wouldn't be as long as her original one, but with breeches she would feel comfortable enough. She wasn't doing this for fashion; she was doing this to remind herself of who she was.

An hour later she heard Peadar wake up. She finished the hem, tied off the thread and threw the dress over her head. It reached down just below her knees, the jump from the dark blue on the top to the lighter shade below was a bit harsh, but it would have to do.

"What are ye up to so early in the morning lass?" She head Peadar ask through the curtain.

"Tryin' something different," she responded, drawing the curtain aside to show him.

Thankfully he didn't laugh. He studied her for a time, his hand stroking the stubble on his chin.

"If yer gonna to do this, ye might as well do it properly," he said calmly, going into his bag and pulling out a bundle of material. When he stretched it out: it was cloth woven with the green gray tartan of her clan.

"How did ye know what I was going to do?" she asked, Peadar gave her a warm smile.

"Oh lass, yer very much like yer father in many ways, but that determined look on yer face right now is straight from Elinor. I can think o'only one reason ye'd be pullin' out yer dress, but I have to ask: are ye sure?"

Merida stood straight and nodded. She then gave him a small smile, she hoped that she could invoke some of her mother's composure and not let her emotions get control of her again.

"I'm gonna to need something though…" she said, giving him a bit of a pleading look.

"Oh, looks as though yer want'n to ask me a favour" he chuckled.

"I need a sword."

Merida tugged her cloak closer, covering her dress, the sun was peaking over the horizon now, she judged it to be the time she would usually arrive at the kitchens. Today however, she was going to skip work. She wasn't sure if Hiccup would go there or not after last night, but even if he didn't show up there, she hoped that he would go to the valley.

She carefully snuck around the back of the common area, while it was early, there were many Vikings already getting ready for a days work. She didn't want them to see her or ask why she was dressed the way she was, and most importantly: why she had a sword.

Once she was free of the village and in the forest she allowed herself to relax a bit. She sighed wistfully as she heard the smallest of branches breaking and undergrowth shuffling: Terror had followed her.

"I thought I closed the door on ye back at the hut." She commented as the small green dragon walked out into the open. He ignored her and walked ahead of her, tail erect, as though he just happened to be in the same place at the same time as her.

"I bet Peadar let ye out, I don't think yer gonna offer me that much protection boyo" she said to the dragon's back. "But… I don't mind the company."

The hike didn't take as long when she wasn't slowed down by the Viking. She made sure to follow the trail he had shown her that lead to the break in the rock wall, sliding through she made her way down to the valley floor, carrying Terror on her shoulders.

She looked around: the water was calm save for the occasional ripple of fish swimming below and birds singing to each other has they hopped around the ground searching for food. She made her way to the crevice where she had frantically hidden her bow; removing it she looked it over for damage. Thankfully there was none.

Taking a seat on the rock by the pond she removed her cloak and laid the sword beside her. Opening her pack she took out the gut string she had taken for her bow and the handful of arrows; the best ones she could find. Finally she took out Peadar's lucky dagger: he had insisted on her taking it since she would be risking more than he. She studied the ivory hilt and all of the little carvings that were on it. There were images of a small figure sailing and reaching mountains, she saw a small engraving of Clan Dun DunBroch's emblem marking the point in his journey when he arrived at their doorstep. She decided that she would make some of her own carvings, to mark her own journey.

After an hour she sighed and sat back. She had made several knots and a few rough images showing her journey to Berk, but she was beginning to feel restless. She picked up her pack, feeling a bit hungry, and rummaged through it for the provisions she had packed, but when she found them her hunger evaporated leaving only worries.

The longer she waited the more fear began to creep into her bones. Clenching her hands into fists she stood up and began gathering sticks and leaves, using the vines along the wall as rope she fashioned a dummy. She placed it at the end of the valley and marched back to where her bow was: shooting always calmed her down.

Her eyes met the target; she pulled back and loosed the arrow. It hit the center. She pulled back and eyed the head and shot. She kept going until she was out of arrows, each time she had made sure to not to damage them: these Vikings weren't very good at making them to begin with. She walked to the dummy and collected them.

She was just returning the arrows to her borrowed quiver when she heard the rustle of movement behind her; she drew her bow lightning quick and pointed it at the noise. Hiccup stood near the entrance: frozen in place. She relaxed her arm and heard him let out a breath.

"Your amazing!" he said once he recovered. Merida stood still and watched him, her face calm. He met her look, but she saw him take in her dress and the tartan tied around her waist. He didn't say anything; he simply stood there and waited.

Merida walked confidently to the stone where the sword was. Hiccup kept his eyes on her, but remained where he was. She picked up the sword and turned to face him, she noticed the fear creeping back into his eyes.

"Um, I didn't know…that we would be sparring!" he commented, his voice sounding a bit high. He laughed nervously, "I'm not very good with swords, I mean, I worked for Gobber as a smith, but they wouldn't really let me use weapons before." He continued to ramble, his words coming out faster making it harder for her to keep up. The sight of the man, nervously trying to buy time, made her nearly drop the weapon and laugh aloud. She wondered why she had been so worried about him before.

Taking a deep breath she placed the tip of the blade into the soft earth in front of her, keeping her hand on the hilt and standing tall behind the weapon, as she had seen her father do when he was addressing his men.

"I am Merida of Clan DunBroch!" She claimed proudly in Gaelic, reminding herself of when she had stood up against her arranged marriage many years ago.

"I am the daughter of Fergus, the Bear King of Alba and I challenge ye; as the Chieftain of Berk's son; to a dual. If I win, ye'll let Peadar and I take a boat and sail away, if I lose, ye may take me captive." She finished and stood still, waiting for his answer.

The Viking looked frozen in place; his hands were near his chest and his mouth stuck open. He blinked, recovering, but didn't seem to know what to do. Merida frowned, what was wrong with this man? She had just challenged him! It was his duty to respond!

"Well? What is yer response? If ye think that; just because I'm a woman; ye can't take me seriously I will quickly change yer mind boyo" she said, lifting the blade so that it was eye level with her, tip pointing towards the man.

"N-no! That, that isn't it… it just…took me a moment to translate all of that, sorry" he responded in Gaelic.

Merida blinked and lowered her weapon. She had assumed that his Gaelic was good, but she realized that he probably had the same issue she did when someone talked in Nordic too quickly.

"Okay then, so what is yer response?"

Hiccup ran his fingers through his hair; he gave her a bit of a sheepish look. "Can I just skip the fighting and help you both get home? I mean: you'll probably take me down really easily, so I would rather avoid the bruising."

Merida dropped her pose, feeling deflated. She had spent all morning reeling with the possible out comes that her challenge would present, but this one hadn't crossed her mind at all. She had come here prepared to challenge a Viking chieftain's son! Instead she was looking at the most passive man she had ever met in her life!

"Ye…don't want to fight?" She asked, feeling suspicious.

"No, not particularly." He slowly walked up to her, glancing down at her sword. "Um, you aren't going to attack me, are you?"

Merida looked down at the weapon. She felt some hesitance, unsure if he wanted her to drop the weapon with the purpose of attacking her while she wasn't armed. She looked back at him. For the past few days she had seen a man that didn't force someone into an uncomfortable position, even though he had the right to, someone with patience and caring for the people and creatures in his life, and a man that was just terrible with hunting. Although there was a part of her that was afraid, she placed the sword on the ground.

He breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging as though a weight had been lifted off of them. Merida couldn't help herself, she laughed at him. He blushed and looked down, embarrassed.

"Ah, ha, ha, yes, I am not your traditional Viking." This just caused Merida to laugh harder, all of her stress melting away. For the first time in nearly a month she felt herself relax. Hiccup coughed, as she slowly stopped laughing, and then smiled, extending his hand out to her. "Well, maybe now is a good time for a proper introduction: I'm Hiccup, dragon tamer and son of Stoick the Vast."

Merida grasped his forearm firmly "I'm Merida, best archer in Alba and daughter of the Bear King Fergus. Did ye mean what ye said though: that ye'll try and get us home?" She said, hope growing within her.

"Yes, I promise you Merida, I will do everything that I can to get you back home safely."

Yay! Please let me know if you are enjoying the story so far! : D