I'm sorry this took so long but my life has been a bit hectic the last few weeks. Work, writer's block and exams are going to start soon but I only have to write exams for 2 subjects, so yeah. When I finally did have it done, I couldn't update because I couldn't get to the page where you post new chapters. Another reason why it took so long was because I wanted this chapter to be perfect. This chapter is crucial to the story and I probably failed at it.

For those of who don't know yet, I figured out a way to incorporate Toothless into this story. I apologize for the false chapter I had posted but I was so happy and excited that I couldn't wait. But Toothless wasn't the only character I figured out how to incorporate. Don't bother asking who because I won't say anything unless you bribe me with food. :D

Any questions you guys posted in the false chapter are answered below unless I already answered in a PM

Another shout-out to LunaMoonlight100 for helping me with the conversation between Merida and Hiccup. Without her help, this chapter would have taken a lot longer to update. :)

Nothing to report this time. Enjoy

Chapter #7: Fated Meeting

Merida's POV

Faster than a flash, I notched an arrow into my bow and aimed at where the snap came from,

"Who's there!?" I yelled loudly but the only reply I got was the chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves, and distant fluttering of wings. I knew somebody was there; these trees were stronger than the gates of DunBroch and would not break easily,

"I know someone's there and I'm warning you, I'm armed!" I yelled even louder, "So you better step out or you will get hurt!" But there was still no reply and with nothing to aim at, I hit the next logical thing. I released the arrow and it buried itself in the tree with the snapped branch. I quickly notched another arrow and waited.

The first thing that appeared was auburn hair. Very slowly, a man emerged from behind the hill; I was certain I had seen him before but where? He walked towards me with his hands somewhat in the air. He didn't look dangerous as he was only carrying a small knife but his muscles betrayed that he was strong. I pulled the string my bow more and aimed for him. He looked scared,

"Your Highness, please forgive me for startling you." He said in a shaky voice. He didn't even sound dangerous! But I couldn't be too careful. I pulled the string even more,

"Who are you?" I demanded, "Are you one of the spies for MacInroy?!" William always had his pawns following me and keeping an eye on me for him. I've tried to tell him I didn't like it but he ignored me; it was hard to get some time to myself. He hastily shook his head,

"Thank God not, your Highness! I'm the new blacksmith of your father, Hendry Gallach" Hendry Gallach! That was more than enough evidence that he wasn't lying; Hendry was from the clan DunBroch not clan MacInroy. I looked down and immediately saw his fake leg. Rapunzel wasn't lying; he definitely wasn't what you'd expect.

"Oh," I lowered my bow and relaxed the string, "Never would've thought that the famous blacksmith would be a cripple, no offence." He didn't react to the cripple comment; he must have heard it so often. When he saw I had lowered my bow, his hand fell to his sides,

"None taken." There was an awkward silence between us. Every time we made eye contact, he'd look away, rubbing his arm nervously and his cheeks turning a shade of red, "Um, may I be so bold to ask, your Highness, but...what are you doing in a place like this?"

"That's none of your business, Hendry" That came out sounding angry, not at all what it sounded like in my mind. I probably scared him a little because he took a small step back and it didn't help that I still had a bow with a notched arrow in my hand, "I could ask the same question, though. What would a crippled blacksmith be doing deep in the forests of DunBroch? And here of all places?" He ran his fingers through his hair,

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He said, looking at my bow. I took the arrow from the string and placed it back in my quiver. After slinging the bow over my shoulder, I sat down on a rock and crossed my arms,

"Try me." Rolling his eyes and sighing, Hendry sat down in the grass.

"I saw a little blue floating flame that was…calling to me and it would always disappear when I wanted to reach for it." A floating blue flame? But-but that means he saw…. I gasped,

"You saw a Wisp!?"

"A what?" He asked, his expression confused. How could he not know? The stories about wisps were pretty well-known

"A Wisp!" His expression didn't change, "The Will 'o' Wisp?" I tried but still no change. I sighed, "They lead you to your fate." I explained, "I saw them too when I was riding with Angus! Where did you see them?" He twisted his upper body around and pointed up the hill from which he had emerged,

"Up and over that hill," He turned back to face me, "It led me here, your Highness." Why does he keep calling me that? It's not like were anywhere public or something,

"Call me Merida. 'Your Highness' is my mother." He nodded,

"Alright. Merida."

"But if you saw a Wisp then you must have been chosen for something by them." Hendry looked at me as if I was crazy to believe something like that,

I don't believe in those kinds of things, your H- Merida." He averted eyes away from me to the ground, "My fate is to be a blacksmith for the King of DunBroch, that's all." There was another silence, even more awkward than the one before. Well, it wasn't a complete silence. The wind was blowing, the stream flowing, and birds whistling.

"I-I apologize once more for startling you but," He stood up and gave a small bow, "I must go back now. Lots of weapons to make and insults to take." With that he walked away towards the trees,

"Hey!" I called out. He stopped and turned around, "If you have a chance to change your fate, would you?" He started playing nervously with his hands and shrugged his shoulders,

"I-I don't know. I'm perfectly happy with what I am now." I sighed and gave him a disbelieved look. Sure, he was successful but was he truly happy? I decided not to push him too much,

"The wisps lead you to the fate that you're meant for. Don't turn your back on it."

"Have you ever turned your back on your fate?" That was a very good question.

Every time I think on my future marriage I'm turning my back. Please don't make the same mistake, Hendry... That's what I really wanted to say but I didn't. Instead,

"Not yet."

Hiccup's POV

"Hendry?" Something was echoing my name but I wasn't listening. I never daydream or get stuck in deep thought but today I couldn't stop. It got so distracting that I stopped work early and just wasted time at the house.

"Hendry!" I snapped out of my daydream to find Rapunzel and Jack staring at me. Then I realized that I had been playing with my stew like a child. "Are you alright?" she asked with genuine concern. Of course I was alright unless constant day dreaming didn't qualify as "alright." Maybe something was wrong with me; I had been daydreaming since my encounter with… Merida It felt weird calling her by her name; I shouldn't even be doing it but I did. I sighed,

"I saw Princess Merida in the forest today." Upon hearing that, Jack let out a small chuckle and looked at me,

"Well, I'm not surprised. She goes there quite often" He explained, "Its the only place she has to herself." Rapunzel smiled as I popped some bread into my mouth. I had barely swallowed when she asked,

"And?"

"And what?"

"What did you think of her?" She asked, hardly able to hide her excitement,

"She's..." what was she? Beautiful, wild, short-tempered, unprincess-like? Even though I've talked to her once, I knew she was more than just one thing, "She's not what I expected."

Merida's POV

"Merida?"My mother was talking to me again but I wasn't listening. Instead, I was staring at my haggis, poking it with a knife and acting like my brothers did when they were younger. After I got back from the forest, I had been daydreaming and thinking about my encounter with Hendry. I don't know what it was but I had a strange feeling about him, the kind of feeling somebody feels when one thinks that a friend is hiding something. But he wasn't a friend and yet he's was perhaps the kindest man I've met since William came. "Merida!" My mom's shout shook me out of the daydream,

"Yes?" I looked at my mom, placing my elbow on the table and leaning my hand against my head.

"Stop playing with your haggis." I stared back at my plate and poked the haggis again, "What's wrong, Merida? You've been acting like this since-"

"I came back from the forest." I interrupted, poking the haggis more and earning a disapproving look, "I know." Another poke and my haggis split open, revealing its many contents. With a sigh, I dropped my knife, not feeling hungry anymore,

"What's on your mind, wee darling?" Dad asked before taking a large chug of ale,

"Nothing." I lied. He gave me the 'look'. "I met Hendry Gallach today. In the forest." Dad let out a hearty laugh,

"He's a fine lad, isn't he?" He chortled before taking a large bite out of a huge chunk of meat.

"He's not what I expected."

They've finally talked to each other. I'll try to have the next chapter up faster but I have to study so I can't promise anything. Review, favourite, follow.

Answers

Guest: No. I might as well say that Dagur is a guaranteed dead because he was publicly executed at some point before the story. I'll also add that Hiccup saw MacInroy in chapter 2: Arrival in DunBroch; he was the horse rider that kicked Hiccup.