Disclaimer: I don't own Hiccup or Merida, obviously. I'm not making any money off this. Both characters and the movies they come from belong to Dreamworks and Disney, respectively. If you really want to see something to blow you away, go watch the movies. Then think about these two interacting. Then you'll see what I mean.

Old friends

"Well, well, if it isn't the little red-haired lass I used to rescue off of rooftops," Kincaid said, laughing. Kincaid was one of her father's most trusted warriors. He grew up with Fergus and served in Fergus's father's war-band before the old Lord of DunBroch died. Through fire and sword, Kincaid remained one of Fergus's strongest supporters and a formidable commander in their wars against the Vikings. He often went out with a company of warriors to decide some dispute or handle small raids. Queen Elinor favored him because, unlike many of Fergus's warriors, he was a calm and patient man who preferred to wait and assess the situation rather than rushing into battle. He had only recently returned to the castle after settling the dispute with the Macquarrie clan.

"Now it's my brothers you have to rescue off rooftops," Merida laughed after he set her down. Kincaid pulled out a chair and Merida sat down gratefully.

"No, no," Kincaid said, "You are the first and last DunBroch I'll help off rooftops. Your brothers are much smarter and know how to get themselves down from high places." He sat down beside her, easy and laughing. Merida hadn't realized how much she missed him.

"Too smart for their own good," Fergus rumbled from the throne. Merida's father looked imposing tonight. The king had not escaped Elinor's clutches, though he had certainly tried. Elinor had gifted him with a brand new chainmail hauberk, the finest the smiths of the kingdom had ever crafted made from the hardest steel, and he wore the ceremonial leather armor of the DunBroch lords over it. The fur cape he wore belonged to his grandfather who, legend had it, wrestled with a bear barehanded and won. It gleamed rich and dark in the firelight. But for all that he looked every inch the king tonight, Fergus was and always would be a father to Merida first. Fergus winked at Merida before draining his goblet. "For the life of me, I couldn't understand how you got to the roof without knowing how to climb down. You gave your mother such a fright and scared years off my life."

Merida shook her head, grinning. "I don't remember much of it," she confessed.

"Well, I do," said Kincaid, slamming his flagon down the table so hard ale spilled out. "You were crying tears enough to fill the lake because… who was it, milord?" Kincaid paused in his retelling to bite an apple and spit the seeds out. "Some young lad, her playmate was going away… Aye, it was milady Queen's friend—Valhallarama's boy!" Kincaid snapped his fingers and tossed the apple away. "Barf? Burp? Some funny name, I don't recall. You were told that the young lad wasn't coming back and you swore you wouldn't come down until he did."

"I'd never!" Merida snapped, blushing hotly. "I don't even know who Valhallarama is."

"You don't?" asked Kincaid, shooting her an odd look. "Valhallarama used to visit your mum all the time when you were young. You'd run off and get into all sorts of trouble with her son. I thought—"

"Leave her alone," Fergus said. Merida felt a fierce gratitude to her father. "Now she's got three fine young lads vying for her hand." The gratitude died a quick death. Merida glared at her father who only laughed.

"Phew," Kincaid said, standing up and taking his flagon with him. "I forgot how terrifying your glares are, Princess. I'll take my ale to someone who'll appreciate our wit." He winked at Merida, bowed to Fergus and walked away.

Author's Note: Ever had that uncomfortable experience when your distant aunts or uncles shove their kid at you and say, "You used to play with him/her, don't you remember?" And you're just like, "No… no, I really don't." "Oh, but you guys were so cute together!" "Yep, that… that doesn't really help with the remembering."

This drabble is actually part of chapter one, so chronologically, it happens before the other drabbles. No direct interaction yet, but believe I am so dying to get there.

Let me know what you think! I welcome reviews and constructive criticism.

If you're interested in more, I have a tumblr account that I'll probably be posting more drabbles/head canons first. My username is nessalk.