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.
Dragonsblood
"She's got dragonsblood, El," laughed Valhallarama as they were walking through the rowan forest near the castle. Ahead, a tiny Merida planted her feet atop a log and stabbed at the gloom with a white wooden sword. The image was ruined somewhat by an even smaller Hiccup trying and failing to climb the same log.
"Dragonsblood just means stubbornness." Elinor scowled and nearly tripped over a branch on the ground. Val steadied her without even looking.
"Wonder where she got that from."
Hiccup tugged on Merida's skirt until the princess whirled around. He lifted up his arms, chubby fists opening and closing in the universal gesture for up. Merida scowled. She tossed her sword to the side, took his hands and began pulling him up.
"Merida, be careful with him!" Sure enough, the girl overcompensated and both disappeared over the log. There was a shriek from Merida, an oomph from Hiccup, quiet, then simultaneous giggles. "It's entirely on Fergus's side of the family!"
"Of course," Val smirked. She paused at a sound Elinor couldn't hear, brows wrinkled in confusion.
"What is it?" Elinor adjusted her crown back in place. If she had been with anyone else, she might have been worried. But she trusted Valhallarama and her instincts above all except her husband's. If the Viking heroine's hand hadn't drifted to the famous white sword hanging at her hip, Elinor knew they weren't in any danger.
"Nothing," Valhallarama shook her head. She offered Elinor a small clip from her pocket. Elinor used it to anchor her crown in place. "Maybe it's the will o'the wisps Merida and Hiccup are hunting."
Behind the log, Hiccup's face was screwed in concentration as he picked out twigs and leaves from her Merida's unruly locks. Elinor might have appreciated it if his hands weren't covered in dirt. "Merida, dear, your hair—"
"No! No comb!" Merida jerked away from Elinor's reaching hand. The girl ran off, nearly dragging Hiccup behind her. Elinor watched them go, hands on her hips.
Valhallarama hid a smile, "Look, El, you can't make your daughter do anything."
"You do. She listens to you. This hunting expedition was your idea."
"I gave her choices. I told her she could play now with Hiccup and have her hair combed later or she could have her hair combed now and play later. One or the other. But she must do both. She agreed."
"She's letting Hiccup comb her hair now."
"To be fair, she probably thought more of her hair would survive with Hiccup than with you."
Elinor tossed a twig at Valhallarama. Valhallarama laughed. It was the last visit she ever paid the Highlands.
Author's Notes: I admit, Valhallarama and Elinor's friendship is one of my favorite elements in this story. I have tons of headcanons of their adventures, the letters they exchanged talking about their husbands, their homeland and their children, and their general badassery. I hope this little snippet gives a taste of their relationship and of the relationship between young Hiccup and young Merida.
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the previous drabbles! Your words of encouragement really help buoy me up and get the writing done faster.