Three guesses who has been on fanfiction for (almost) a year. Tomorrow, I've been on FF for a year. I was originally going to update tomorrow but honestly, I didn't want to wait.
But sadly, the updates will be coming slower. A new school semester has started and I have math and LA (again). Math is not my strongest suit (pre-calculus) and in LA I'm taking a level higher than my previous LA course. My current LA focuses less on the creative aspect (sad face) and more on the critical and analytical aspect (sadder face because I suck at those). I also made it into theater again. We're doing Fame this year. And beside school, I have to balance home life and work.
I really wanted to update for Valentine's Day but this chapter is not the most ideal for such a day so that's why I didn't update. Besides, I didn't have time to write that day as I was celebrating my first Valentine's Day where I wasn't single!
Also, to the guest reviewer who thought I shipped Snotlout and Astrid: I can't say that they are an OTP but I like the idea of them potentially being a couple. And I can also say that I like Astrid single too.
A word of warning. There is a lot of abuse in this chapter. If that's a trigger or you just can't stand it (because you can't understand why someone would do that), I'm terribly sorry. There's also a little bit of language but it's very brief
Chapter #25: Threats
Third Person POV
William stood by the window with his arms crossed, looking sourly at the scene below him. He watched as Merida mounted her horse and galloped off like she had every day for the past week.
"Where do you go?" He had asked himself every time. He suspected it had something to do with the cripple, the blacksmith as one of his spies had reported that Hendry Gallach left the smithy every night for the past week
When the spy reported a little while after that Hendry left the smithy only minutes before Merida did, William's suspicions were confirmed. Merida was seeing someone, a blacksmith and a Viking no less!
William nearly shuddered in fear at the thought that a blacksmith could undo everything he'd done and ruin his plan for power. He was so close. He only needed to solidify his influence on the Queen and the throne of DunBroch was as good as his.
He was so close and wasn't about to lose it all to a blacksmith.
He tore his gaze away from the window when the door opened and General Pitchiner came in and bowed,
"You asked for me, my Lord?"
"Yes. I need you to do a small favor for me. Tomorrow, I want you to bring my fiancée here and I need you to make sure that no one disturbs us." Kozmotis bowed and turned to leave the room but William spoke, causing the elder man to stop, "But before you do that, bring Hendry Gallach to me."
Hiccup's POV
That night, I was in bliss after returning from the meeting in the clearing. Sadly, it ended the moment I saw General Pitchiner in the smithy. When he stated that William wanted to see me, I thought it was a joke. Why would one of the highest, most powerful men in DunBroch want to see a mere blacksmith? When the General assured me it wasn't a joke, I followed the man to William's chambers.
He opened the door. I gave a small nod and entered, giving a bow as the door clicked into the lock. William stood by the window, his arms crossed and seemingly oblivious to my presence. For 5 minutes, we stood in silence. In the presence of a Lord, it was inappropriate for a commoner to say anything first.
"Hendry Gallach." William suddenly spoke, "It's a good name. A strong, Scottish name."
"My Lord?" He suavely turned around, a smirk on his face. He walked to a little table nearby. He took the silver goblet on it and filled it with wine
"Tell me," He asked as he poured, "do you know anything about Vikings? Way of life, culture perhaps?" I barely managed to quench a gasp. A nervous feeling spread in my stomach and I unconsciously began fiddling with my fingers.
"No," Lie.
"Hm," William hummed, "Are you familiar with their dragon lore?" He took a drink from the wine.
"No. I'm not" Lie. William set the goblet down with a clunk, a few drops of the red liquid hitting the floor.
"Then how would you explain the dragon that's black as night being hidden in a cove?" I swallowed past a lump in my throat,
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lie. He arched an eyebrow at me and began to chuckle,
"I have eyes everywhere, Hendry. Nothing escapes my sight. I know about the dragon. I know the truth about you." He looked at me and all I saw was pure evil in those brown eyes, "How long did you think you could hide it? How long did you think you could hide your true heritage, your affair with my fiancée?" I stared at him in shock. He knew everything. How?
"I-" I tried to interject but William silenced me when he slammed his fists against the desk, the sound echoing in the room,
"You stay away from her! I won't have you touching what is mine!" He seethed. I remained silent, knowing I'd probably say something stupid and reveal more about myself. William took a deep breath and regained his regal posture,
"You know, my father once told me something that I'll never forget. He said: it's from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls. You've built a wall, Hendry Gallach, but you didn't build it high enough. Cross me once more and I'll not only reveal everything behind it but make sure your precious dragon has a little 'accident'. And Merida." He grabbed something from shadow in the corner. It was a stick, a stick a husband would use to beat his wife. He tapped the stick lightly into his palm, the skin becoming redder with each light hit. "Leave." He ordered.
I quickly bowed and left. I went back to the smithy and locked the door. I leaned against the workbench and just stared at an insignificant spot on the floor.
Now not only my life was on the line but Toothless' as well. And Merida would be beaten if I didn't stop seeing her.
Realizing the truth and what I had to do, I began to cry.
Merida's POV
I felt I could burst from happiness. The moments I spent with Hiccup were the happiest moments I've ever felt. I ran into the castle, keeping myself from squealing too loudly. Everyone I passed barely spared me a glance; most of them were used to it anyway.
I turned the corner and nearly ran into someone. The regal uniform was more than enough to tell me it was General Pitchiner. He informed me in a stoic tone that William wanted to talk to me. I didn't want to talk to him but how could I refuse?
We walked silently. When we arrived, he opened the door for me. I muttered a few words of gratitude and entered.
William was staring out the window, clutching the wooden frame. I curtsied lightly and waited for him to turn around. I cleared my throat. He looked at me, studied me from toe to head and looked back to the window. More silence plagued the room.
"What does the blacksmith have that I don't?" He muttered. I was stunned by his question.
"What?" I asked. He turned on the spot and faced me, anger raging on his face.
"What does the blacksmith have that I don't?!" He repeated. I was flabbergasted. He slowly walked to me, each step he came closer, I took a step back.
"William, I don't know wh-" My voice hitched as I hit the wall, "What you're talking about." He stepped closer, trapping me in between his arms. He leaned closer, the smell of wine fresh on his breath
"Don't lie to me, Merida!" He whispered menacingly. "I know why you sneak out every night." He looked, almost as if he was ashamed, "I know" He stepped away from me, allowing me to breath. William began to pace around the room. I just watched him. He knew about Hiccup, he knew I was meeting him. My heart prayed that William knew nothing of my love for Hiccup but my mind told me he did know.
"Stop seeing him. He can't give you anything. All he's after is your title and money." I glared at him. I knew Hiccup wouldn't use me as an object to gain power; he'd even told me that he never had ambitions to gain power. I grew angry at the mere thought of William accusing Hiccup of such things!
"Then what are you after!?" I retorted loudly, "My love?" I could see him getting angrier and angrier,
"Stop seeing him." He seethed
"No!" I replied boldly
"What?"
"No!" I repeated. William stared at me with eyes wide with surprise. He took a step closer to me. I took an involuntarily gulp and averted his gaze. The next moment, I heard shattering glass and felt the hard floor. My cheek burned harshly. Something dripped down to my lip and I tasted the revolting taste of coppery blood on my tongue. Shards of glass were sprawled underneath my hands, leaving behind many gashes on my palms that gushed blood. I looked at William as he lowered the hand that had slapped me. He had no remorse in his face.
"I really didn't want to do this, Merida, but you leave me no choice." He pulled forth a long stick. He caressed the smooth wood and I watched him measure the width of it with his thumb, "You best pray that my thumb isn't wide" He lowered the stick and pointed it at me, "Stand up." He ordered. I shook my head,
"No." Silence and then... A swish broke swiftly through the air. A burning pain started pulsating from my leg. I refused to scream; I wouldn't give William the pleasure. I heard the swish again and pain began in my side.
Hit after hit after hit I survived without screaming. He aimed for my head but he painfully hit my protective hands.
He let out a grunt of frustration. The swish was louder, faster. This pain was the worst. And finally, I screamed.
The door slammed open against the wall. Another voice screamed,
"My Lord, stop!" I heard feet running, grunts, and struggle. I looked up to see Kozmotis, his armor shining brightly in the fading sun, holding tight to the hand that held the stick. William was nearly red from anger and struggled against the hand. In some random burst if strength, William threw the General to the wall as if he were a mere ragdoll,
"Stay out of my way, Kozmotis." He lifted the stick to deliver another blow. I covered my head with my red knuckles,
"No!" The General screeched. When I dared a peek, Kozmotis held tight to William's wrist, preventing him from hitting me, "I've followed your every order, obeyed your every command but this I cannot condone." He seethed. William wriggled in his tight grip, unable to get free. The two made eye contact; I saw an evil smirk form on William's face,
"Well, you best condone it if you want your little bitch of a daughter to stay out of harm's way" His smirk curled to a smile as Kozmotis' regal stance slouched, his angry face change to fear. William yanked his wrist free from its chain, "Leave." The General looked at me, his glistening eyes saying 'I'm sorry'. He paced to the door and slammed it shut.
Brief seconds ticked before William spoke,
"Now, you will answer anything I ask truthfully or else." The stick tapped lightly on my shoulder. I flinched at the wood's cold touch and nodded. I didn't see it but I knew he was smiling, "Do you love this cripple?" He interrogated. I kept silent, wiping my nose with my sleeve, leaving behind a small trail of red in the fabric. I whimpered as the stick hit my shoulder, "Do you!?" HE demanded.
"Yes." I whispered. Silence
"Has he fucked you yet?"
"No! Hendry has never touched me illegitimately!" I whimpered. My breathing was labored, my hands shaking involuntarily. I hated William. I never thought I could truly hate until now. What right did he have to do this? To threaten a man's daughter, to beat his fiancée?
The creak of wood sent a brief and painful reminder that William was still here. When I dared to look, he tapped the stick lightly and consistently into his reddening palm. I looked away and stared ahead of me, "Loving him is a treason against my people." I whispered, not caring whether or not he heard me, "But not loving him is a treason against my heart." I only briefly heard the creak of wood before my head shot to the side. A small tear dripped from my eye as my cheek burned from where William had struck me. I let out a small groan as William's hand pulled painfully at my hair and forced me to look at him.
"Tell him to stay away from what is mine. Otherwise, I'll kill him with my own hands!" He seethed. He let go of my hair and grabbed the stick. He snapped it in half and paced out of the room. I sat perfectly still, pain emanating from all the places William beat me. I heard footsteps but I didn't look up, fixating my sight on an insignificant spot on the floor. Something moved beside me but I still didn't look.
"My Lady, forgive me." whispered the General. I slowly moved my eyes towards him. There was a tear in his eye, "I should've stayed." He sighed and brought his hand to his eyes, trying to hide his tears. I slowly lifted a shaking hand and placed it on his shoulder,
"It wasn't your fault." I whispered, my voice sounding hoarse. The man shook his head but refused to look at me, continuing his weeping in silence.
I began to weep too. I refused to weep at the thought of William killing Hiccup. I wept at the thought of what I'm forced to do to prevent it from happening.
Now do you see why I didn't update on Valentine's? I'm looking forward to next chapter as I'm adding some comedic stuff. Also, in the chapter after that, the rating goes up to M for the rest of the story (you have been warned).
Review, favorite, follow.