Chapter 8

Merida showed up the next morning with the book of dragons.

"I want to draw you." She said. Confused, Hiccup tilted his head. Merida flipped through the book of dragons until she found the Night Fury page. She turned it around to show him. "there's no picture." Hiccup nodded. Merida climbed up to the top of one of the tall stones and sat atop it. She looked at Hiccup for a minute, before beginning to draw. When she was done, she jumped down from the stone, and showed him her drawing. He nodded, showing his approval. Suddenly, Merida changed the topic.

"I need to find the witch. I have some questions about the spell for her." Hiccup turned around and started walking through the woods. "You can't just happen upon a witch's cottage" she muttered under her breath. After a bit of walking Merida suddenly said "Hiccup! I know this place! The witch's cottage is… this way! Come on!" Hiccup followed her, sprinting through the trees. Finally, Merida stopped in front of a small house. They walked inside to find a large cauldron, bubbling with green liquid. As Merida walked forwards, the witch's head popped up in the cauldron, an apparition of the liquid.

"Welcome to the crafty carver. Home of bear and dragon themed carvings and novelties. I am currently completely out of stock at this time, but if you'd like to inquire about portraits or wedding cake toppers, pour vial one into the cauldron." Merida looked over to see a table with five small vials on it.

"If you'd like the menu, vial two. If you're that red-haired lass, vial three." Merida didn't listen any longer. She grabbed the third vial and poured it into the cauldron. The Witch's head disappeared and reappeared. "Princess, I'm off to the wicker man festival in storm lake. I won't be back till' spring. There's one bit I forgot to tell you about the spell. By the second sunrise, your spell will be permanent." Merida gasped, and Hiccup whimpered. "Unless you remember these words." The apparition of the witch's head changed from green to red. "Fate be changed. Look inside. Mend the bond torn by pride."

"What does that mean!" Merida snapped.

"One more time. Fate be changed. Look inside. Mend the bond torn by pride." The apparition switched back to green. "And that's it. Tata. Oh. And thank you for shopping at the crafty carver!" The apparition disappeared. Hiccup and Merida walked back to the circle of stones, Merida ranting about the Witch's riddle.