Chapter 9: Castle DunBroch and Queen Elinor

Jack, Hiccup and Rapunzel stared at the massive castle. 'Yea, ah know, it's nae very impressive,' Merida said bashfully. 'IT'S MASSIVE!' Hiccup yelled, 'It makes my home look like a shed.' Toothless whined nervously. 'Where's Toothless gonna sleep?' Hiccup asked, patting his dragon on the snout. 'There's room in the stables,' Merida said.

Rapunzel opened her mouth then closed it again. This was a proper castle. She'd seen pictures of them in the library in Corona castle. That was a castle designed to impress; this was a proper castle built for function. Rapunzel stared, unable to do anything else. 'Amazing,' she said. 'Come on,' Merida said, 'I'll introduce you.'

Jack stared around the courtyard as Toothless was put into the stables. Was he impressed? Yes he was. A small neigh was heard at this point. Turning, Merida smiled as Angus came trotting towards her. She rubbed her horse on the muzzle. 'Thanks fer leaving meh behind, best thing yeh could have done.'

'Are yeh hungry?' Angus whinnied with excitement. Merida chuckled. 'Oats it is then.' Toothless gave a small chirrup. 'And yeh can have some... what does he like?' 'Fish.' 'We've got salmon.' 'That'll do nicely.'

Merida showed the three into the castle kitchen. It was a bustling hive of activity; mead was being poured into jugs, chicken's being turned on the spit and someone was shelling peas. 'Evening Maudie,' Merida said to a fat woman holding a plate of cakes. The woman nodded smiling, placed the plate down on a table and turned to a platter of unpeeled potatoes.

As fast as possible, Merida snatched up the plate of cakes, handed it to the others and told them to hide them in their pockets. They did so. 'Come wi' me,' Merida said. She opened a door and showed them into the cavernous hall beyond. 'Ah, Merida,' came a deep, gruff and very Scottish voice. Jack turned and his jaw dropped. If the figure in front of them had been on all-fours and covered with fur, it would have been incredibly easy to mistake him for bear.

A massive, muscular with bright red hair was standing in front of them. He looked even bigger than North, although not by much. He smiled and stepped forward. A dull "clunk!" was heard on his every other step. Looking down, Jack saw that the man's left foot had been replaced with a peg-leg, like Hiccup's had been [emphasis on the word had].

'Hi dad,' Merida said, smiling and hiding a few of the cakes further down her pockets. 'And who'r yer freinds?' The man asked. He stepped forward. 'Guys,' Merida said gesturing to her dad, 'This is mah dad, King Fergus Dunbroch.' 'Hi,' Jack said stepping forward with his hand outstretched, 'I'm J-' but he was cut off when Fergus stepped straight through him. His face fell. Merida, Hiccup and Rapunzel stared, slack-jawed. 'Don't, just don't say anything,' Jack said.

'Umm...' Merida hesitated, 'Dad, this is Rapunzel, she's a princess as well.' Rapunzel curtsied nervously. 'Hiya lass,' Fergus said, clapping Rapunzel on the back and accidently knocking her to the ground. 'Ach sorry,' he chuckled, pulling her back to her feet and setting her down quite hard with a wobble. 'And this is Hiccup,' Merida continued, gesturing to the young viking boy. Fergus shook Hiccup's hand, shaking him right down to the core. When Fergus let go of Hiccup's hand, Hiccup rocked back and forth due to the vibrations still coursing through his body.

'Dad, where's mum?' Merida asked. 'Sewing the tapestry upstairs,' Fergus said, 'You go and introduce your new friends and I'll go and find the boys.' 'Come on,' Merida said to the other three and lead them towards the stairs. 'Jack,' Merida asked, turning to face the winter spirit, 'Why did mah dad walk straight through you?' Jack sighed. 'He obviously doesn't believe in me.' 'What do you mean by that?' Rapunzel asked. 'A guardian can only be seen if someone believes in them,' Jack said, glumly, 'And it seems your dad doesn't.'

Merida turned the doorknob and opened the bedroom door. Inside was a very comfortable looking four-poster bed, a cheerfully crackling fire, a chest-of-draws balancing a bowl of fruit and a sewing kit and sitting in front of a large green tapestry was a thin lady wearing a green silken gown and a small golden coronet inlade with a single green stone.

'Hi mum,' Merida said stepping forward. The Queen turned. 'Merida, I wondered what had happened to you,' the Queen said, smiling. 'Who are your friends?' she asked. 'This is Hiccup, mum,' Merida said, gesturing to the viking lad. The Queen got to her feet, walked over to them and shook Hiccup's hand. 'I am Queen Elinor Dunbroch,' she said.

'And who are you?' she asked Rapunzel. 'I'm Rapunzel Fitzherbert, your majesty,' Rapunzel said, curtseying. 'She's a princess as well mum.' Elinor looked very pleased. 'Nice to meet another member of royalty.' Elinor shook Rapunzel's hand.

'And what is your name young man?' Elinor asked. Jack turned around to see who she was talking to... then realised she was talking to him. 'Hang on,' Jack said, bewildered, 'You can see me?' 'Of course I can see you,' Elinor said. She seemed half-amused, half-bemused. 'If you can see me...' Jack began, 'Do you believe in Jack Frost?' Elinor looked slightly confused by the question, but answered anyway. 'Since several months ago, I've believed in every form of mytholo...' she stopped.

'You're Jack Frost?' 'Yeah, I... I'm sorry I just didn't think an adult would be able to see me.' Queen Elinor smiled kindly. 'Well, I take it you'll be staying here for a few days?' 'It seems so mum,' Merida said smiling and sitting down on the bed. 'We haven't got any rooms to spare, but Merida, do you think that you have enough room?'

Merida's face fell.

Merida was lying in her bed... in-between Jack and Rapunzel. Hiccup was sleeping the other side of Jack. Merida's left eye was twitching. She couldn't believe this; her mother had virtually forced her to give up her bed to her "friends." She liked to have people her own age to talk to, but this was pushing it to the limit.

She rolled over, nearly crushing Rapunzel. This was so frustrating. She liked space to move around in in bed. She needed to move her muscles to tire them out a little. She was already getting stiff. She was starting to get hot. She couldn't take it.

SHE SCREAMED!

Merida's eye twitched. 'Are you alright?' Elinor asked. Merida snapped back to the world. 'Oh Merida, when I said stay in your room, I didn't mean in your bed.' 'Oh thank god for that,' Merida exhaled, lying down on her back.

Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Jack was playing a with the triplets; it seemed that they all had the same sense of humor. He was very pleased to find that they could see him as well. Hiccup stuffing food down his throat whilst Rapunzel was sticking to the vegetables only. Merida was sitting bored at the table next to her mother and both were bored with listening to Fergus's tale of Mor'du.

'From nowhere, biggest bear yeh've ever seen. His hide littered with the weapons of fallen warriors, his face scared.' Rapunzel was crouching low on her chair with fear. Hiccup had slowed down eating to listen more closely. Jack had stopped playing with the Triplets to pay more attention. Fergus continued. 'I drew my sword and...' 'WHOOSH!' Merida screamed. All of the guests screamed at this, even Jack.

'One swipe, his sword shattered. Then, CHOMP! His leg was clean off... down the monster's throat it went.' 'Oh, that's my favourite part!' Fergus moaned. 'I don't like this story,' Rapunzel whimpered, peeking over the top of the table that she had dived under. Queen Elinor chuckled. 'You forget dear, who was it that actually defeated Mor'du?' 'It was you love,' Fergus said reluctantly.

'You defeated the bear?' Hiccup said amazed. 'Indeed I did sweetie,' Queen Elinor said, ruffling through a few papers. 'How?' Jack asked. 'I'll tell you later.' 'Tell who what later, love?' Fergus asked. Elinor smiled. Jack had explained the situation more fully to them all. 'I'll tell you that later as well dear,' Elinor said smiling up at her husband.

Hiccup was still reflecting on the story of Mor'du and the loss of Fergus's leg. 'I seem to have suddenly lost my appetite,' Hiccup said, putting down his cutlery. 'Me too,' Jack said, taking a small gulp of water to settle his stomach. 'Me three,' Rapunzel said, pushing her plate away from her. 'You "three"?' Fergus babbled, 'But who was the second?' 'I told you before and I'll tell you again: I'll explain later.'

That night wasn't as bad as Merida had expected. Rapunzel had made a hammock out of her hair and was swinging back and forth gently. Hiccup was fast asleep on the chaise-longue with nothing but a blanket covering him up. Jack was floating in mid-air. Merida sighed. It wasn't too bad.

She yawned, turned over and fell asleep.

While out in the forest, the shaggy form of a massive bear plodded through the undergrowth.

Down by the lake, a monstrous dragon was hiding in the waters, waiting for the perfect moment.

And up in the sky... the stars began to go out... and there were no clouds.