I decided to incorporate scottish slang for moments when Merida is flustered, or mad. I used the english to scottish slang translator at . Though I did make minor adjustments with some terms so it could still be basically understood by all.
Chapter 9
...
Hiccup
...
It had been nearly 3 days since Hiccup started his journey. He pushed Toothless to go as fast as he could, taking minimal breaks between in hopes to reach DunBroch in record time. Now the island was within his view with practically a day to spare. Hiccup was pleased with their time but Toothless was becoming cranky.
"Finally," Hiccup sighed as his eyes took in the sight before him. Toothless groaned.
"See bud," Hiccup replied, "we're here already, we just have to find a good place to land." He pulled out his grandfather's map and examined it.
"Okay," he sighed, " the castle and village are there and we don't want to scare the locals but we should find a good place to get our bearings; maybe higher ground so we can get a view of where we are..." Toothless groaned again impatiently.
"Alright, alright," Hiccup replied, "ah perfect, there at the hanging valley with the waterfall. It's perfect bud, it's a high cliff. We will be outta sight, you can take a break and I'll scout for a place to make camp and maybe even get a glimpse of the ring of stones."
Toothless whined.
"Right and we will get something to eat too," Hiccup replied distractedly. Toothless rolled his eyes as he flew on.
...
Merida
...
Merida had a good feeling about the coming day as she headed to the dining room in her usual fashion. Her mother had promised her a day to herself finally after near a week of being bound to the castle during Lord Dingwall's visit. She happily cut through the kitchen humming to herself as she snatched several apples and a sweet roll or two on the way. She stuffed the treats in her satchel and made her way to the dining hall. She couldn't quite put her finger on why, but she felt as if something exciting was going to happen. Perhaps it was the fact that the wisps had appeared to her once again after so many years. Or the excitement of discovering her great great nana's secret life. Whatever the reason she found herself positively ready to welcome whatever excitement this day had in store for her.
"Mornin' dear," Elinor greeted.
"Mornin' Mum," Merida replied, "where is Dad this morn'?"
"He had a late night what with Lord Dingwall visiting he was up till the wee hours," Elinor replied, "he is still sleeping...I didn't have the heart to wake him. And yer brothers have already come and gone." Merida shrugged and slumped down into one of the large wooden chairs as she bit into one of the shiny red apples.
"Where are ye off to today dear," Elinor asked noticing Merida's satchel and bow beside her.
"Nowhere really," Merida replied with a full mouth.
"Merida," Elinor replied, "will ye chew yer food before ye speak." Merida smirked and rolled her eyes. She swallowed the bite of apple.
"I'll probably just practice my archery," she replied, "I haven't practiced in days."
"So long as ye remember..."
"To be home before dark," Merida said at the same time as her mother, "I know, I know." Elinor gave her daughter a stern look.
"Mum...I swear...I'll be home before dark and not a second later!"
"Well best ye go then," Elinor smiled, "before Angus gets restless." Merida smiled at her mother. They had come a long way since the bear incident and Merida found they had only grown closer as time went on. She began to collect her things to head out.
"Oh and Merida," Elinor said. Merida turned her attention to her mother once again.
"I'm going to see if I can find any thing more about the viking dragon hunters, there must be something recorded somewhere."
"Great," Merida replied, "we'll solve this mystery yet."
...
Hiccup
...
It was late afternoon by the time Hiccup and Toothless arrived in Dunbroch. Hiccup now stood at the edge of the cliff peering out at the landscape below. The lush green land was beautiful and vast; and far different from Berk. He couldn't help feeling there was something special about this place. Just being there was strangely familiar to him, it felt almost like dejavu in a way. He glanced down at the map he held in his hand.
The standing stones should have been a little ways South of where he stood. He had hoped to get a glimpse of them from this vantage point but alas the forest was much too dense. He sighed as he folded the map and stuffed it back in his pocket.
"Alright bud," Hiccup sighed," we are just gonna have to look for the stones on foot. The forest is just too dense to see them from the air." Toothless started to protest in dragon tongue.
"Hey don't be like that," Hiccup replied, "look I know you're hungry we'll get some fish on the way, see," he pointed, "there is a river running South. It's literally on the way." Toothless grumbled a little but lowered his body to let his rider on. Hiccup replaced his helmet strapping it under his chin and hopped onto Toothleess' back. The dragon gently glided down from the tall cliff.
Once upon the ground, Hiccup and Toothless started their journey South in hopes of finding the ring of stones. Hiccup hoped that if he could find the stones that maybe he would discover some clues that would lead him to whatever truth fate seemed to be calling him to find.
Hiccup silently took in the beautiful scenery all around him as they made their way through the forest. He definitely could see the appeal that this land seemed to have for Hiccup the first. It was green and full of life. The trees were large and towering. Birds were chirping overhead and every once in a while he'd see small woodland creatures scurrying about. He thought if Berk were a little more like DunBroch it might be the perfect place to harbor Dragons.
As they continued on, Hiccup took notice of an old weather worn wooden target that was littered with arrows hanging from one of the trees. As he glanced around curiously, he noticed a beaten path and multiple arrow littered targets hanging from the trees above and seemed to follow the path into the woods. His curiosity piqued, Hiccup began to lead Toothless in the same direction.
"Looks like some sort of training course," Hiccup mumbled to himself. He could see multiple hoof prints in the dirt below.
"Their warriors train on horseback," Hiccup muttered. Suddenly he could hear the sound of heavy hooves striking the ground in the distance.
"And it sounds like they are headed this way bud," Hiccup said, "we better get outta sight unless we want to be target practice." Toothless and Hiccup ducked behind the thick brush beside the path and waited for horse and rider to pass. As the horse grew closer, Hiccup heard a whistling sound and a ping as an arrow whizzed overhead and struck the target that he had just been looking at only moments before.
A massive black horse barreled past him as it galloped along the trail. Hiccup saw that its rider was a cloaked figure with delicate hands, but deadly accurate aim. He was intrigued. He had expected the rider to be a warrior or a soldier but the rider was surprisingly petite which was only accentuated all the more by the size of the horse on which they rode upon.
"Come on bud," he urged the dragon to head along the same path at a somewhat fair distance. He was impressed with the rider's shooting skills and the ease with which they hit every target even while in motion. He thought someone so skilled on a horse could probably be all the more formidable on a dragon. He brought Toothless to a halt when the sound of the horse's hooves stopped. He could hear rushing water near by and assumed the rider had stopped to rest. Feeling extremely curious about the intriguing rider, he dismounted Toothless and headed in the direction that the horse and rider had gone. All the while he kept hidden in the brush. As he crept closer he could hear the rider cooing the horse.
"Good boy Angus," a women's voice with a heavy accent spoke gently, "time for a break."
'A woman rider,' Hiccup thought to himself. He stepped forward slightly until he could just see her. She stood by the large horse, running her delicate fingers through its long dark mane. He could see she wore a navy blue cloak over a hunter green gown. He could not help but feel slightly reminiscent of the mysterious woman from his dream. She reached into a satchel that hung at her hip and pulled out two apples. One she handed to the horse and the other she took a bite of herself. She made her way over to a large stone by the edge of the stream. She sat down, pulled a book from her satchel and began to read. He gazed at her intently, but he couldn't quite make out her face beneath the shadow of her hood.
Suddenly, hungry and impatient, Toothless started to nudge Hiccup's elbow.
"Not now bud," Hiccup whispered as he shooed the dragon away. But Toothless was insistent. He nudged Hiccup again with more persistence. Hiccup turned to the dragon in annoyance.
"Hold on Toothless," Hiccup whispered a little more loudly than he intended. Suddenly an arrow whizzed right by Hiccup's face narrowly missing before striking the ground mere inches from his foot.
"Oh shit," Hiccup said as he fell back in surprise. He stared at the arrow sticking out of the ground with wide eyes.
"Show yourself," the girl called out angrily in a heavy accent. Toothless began to growl.
"Whoa bud, no," Hiccup said as he pushed the dragon back, "I'll handle this okay, just stay."
"Show yourself now," the girl yelled out, "or my next arrow won't miss!" Hiccup pulled the arrow from the ground and stood slowly from his hiding place. He raised his hands up in surrender. She stood glaring at him from beneath her hood with another arrow notched and pointed in his direction.
"Look," he said calmly. He held his hands out as he slowly placed the arrow he held in his hand on the ground in front of him. He stood slowly and took a few steps forward.
"Not another step," she said firmly.
"It's okay," Hiccup replied, "I...I mean you no harm." He cautiously took another step forward. Immediately an arrow struck the ground at his feet. As he jumped back his metal foot caught on a protruding tree root and he stumbled backward hitting the ground with a thud. Before he could get to his feet again, Toothless leapt from behind the trees between the girl and Hiccup. The dragon glared at the girl and bared his teeth as he let out a deep and terrifying growl.
In shock the girl accidentally loosed her notched arrow. It whizzed past the dragon's face and struck the tree behind him. Toothless turned to the arrow, he then turned back to the girl and roared loudly startling her. In fear, she stumbled backward falling hard upon the ground and dropping her bow in the process. The dragon lurched forward. The girl scootched back while scrambling for her bow. Once in hand, she clumsily tried to notch another arrow.
The second Hiccup was on his feet he jumped between the dragon and the girl.
"Toothless...No," he cried out. Toothless continued to growl as he glared past Hiccup.
"Bud," Hiccup said calmly continuing to hold his hands up before the dragon, "look at me." Toothless eyes darted between Hiccup and the girl but he continued to growl. Hiccup removed his helmet and gazed up at the dragon.
"Look at me Toothless," he said firmly. Reluctantly Toothless looked at Hiccup.
"I'm fine bud...okay...please," Hiccup said calmly, "she's...she's just scared bud, please just calm down."
"I am not scared," the girl yelled out unconvincingly. Toothless' growl deepened.
"Not helping," Hiccup yelled back to her sarcastically without turning around. He kept his eyes focused on Toothless.
As the girl quickly stumbled back to her feet, her hood fell from her head. She quickly notched her arrow and shakily took aim causing Toothless to growl once more. Hiccup turned back to the girl. He was taken aback by the bright red hair that partially covered her face. She glared back at him but he could see her sparkling sky blue eyes were full of fear and panic.
"Wh...what is that," she cried out, "and who are ye; what do ye want?" Hiccup just gazed at her, temporarily at a loss for words. His mind flashed to the image of the girl in his grandfather's sketch. It was almost as if the sketch had been brought to life before his eyes. But that was impossible, wasn't it? It simply couldn't be the same girl, she would be over 300 years old! Could she be related somehow? Could she be a distant relative, or even a direct descendant? He shook himself from his stupor as he came to his senses.
"Uh...p..please," he gulped, "this...this is my dragon. His...his name is Toothless. Uh he's friendly...mostly. He's, uh, he's just trying to protect me. If...if y...you could just lower your bow, he won't see you as a threat."
"Did...did you say d...dragon." Merida stuttered. Hiccup nodded. Slowly Merida lowered her bow only slightly, but she kept her arrow notched. Her eyes darted between Hiccup and Toothless.
"He's...he's yer dragon then," Merida questioned nervously. Hiccup nodded again.
"Y..yeah," he replied, "I...I'm a dragon rider." Merida gazed at him incredulously as she seemed to process his words. Her father's words echoed through her mind.
...
"Mindless devils they were, terrorizing the countryside, stealing livestock, burning down villages. They were like...like Mor'du with wings and fiery breath. No mortal man could tame one let alone ride one!"
...
"Ye can ride a dragon," she questioned skeptically.
"Yes," Hiccup replied, "my people are allies of the dragons, he, he's my friend." She dropped her bow lower but kept it notched as she continued to gaze at him incredulously.
"A dragon rider," she said skeptically, "Ye look more like a Viking to me." She glared at him suspiciously.
"Uh...well, actually, uh...I...I am a Viking too," Hiccup replied. Without a word, Merida quickly raised her bow and pointed it at him once again.
"Okay, just...hold...hold on," Hiccup replied as he threw his hands up and backed away.
"What are ye doing on my land then Viking," she replied venomously, "and where are the others?"
"I'm sorry," Hiccup replied questioningly "others?"
"Aye others," Merida replied, "do they have dragons too?"
"Th..there are other dragon riders where I come from," Hiccup replied, "but I...I came alone."
"So yer a spy then," Merida insinuated.
"A spy," Hiccup questioned, "no I...I..."
"Yer people are waiting for yer word to come and invade my land," Merida exclaimed.
"W...what n...no," Hiccup stuttered.
"Well I certainly hope yer tribe of miscreants won't miss ye," Merida continued, "cause ye won't be reporting back to them any time soon!"
"Now wait," Hiccup cried, "this...this is all just a...a huge misunderstanding. I...I swear...I'm not a spy, a..and no one is coming to invade your land! Please I...I'm telling you the truth."
"Why should I believe ye Viking," Merida sneered. Hiccup was at a loss.
"Okay, look I...I am a Viking," Hiccup replied, "but I'm not a bad Viking, I...I'm a good Viking, I swear!"
"As far as I'm concerned the only good Viking, is a dead Viking," Merida spat. Toothless began to growl once again. Hiccup glanced at the dragon over his shoulder.
"You're not helping bud," Hiccup muttered as he waved the dragon away, "back off will ya." Toothless reluctantly backed away but kept his eyes fixed on the girl. Merida's eyes flashed back and forth between the dragon and the Viking, but she held her arrow steady and aimed straight at Hiccup's heart.
"Alright look," Hiccup gulped, "I...I really don't blame you for feeling that way. I mean there are plenty of pretty terrible Vikings in the world, I know that better than anyone." He kept his hands up. He took a half a step closer as he gazed into her perfect blue eyes. Merida stood her ground as she glared at him from behind her bow.
"I promise you," Hiccup replied, "I'm not one of them." He dropped to his knees before her, but kept his hands up in surrender. He gazed up at her with his intense green eyes. Merida's breath caught in her throat suddenly as her mind instantly flashed back to the Viking that had knelt before her in her dream. She blushed slightly as she tried to shake the thought from her mind.
"Do what you must," he said as he gazed up at her, "I...I won't fight back." He dropped his eyes to the ground and waited. Merida lowered her bow slightly and gazed at him curiously for a long moment.
"Why should I trust ye," she questioned.
"I...I don't really have an answer," Hiccup replied, "you probably shouldn't, I'm a complete stranger to you."
"Yer saying I shouldn't trust ye," Merida questioned.
"No," Hiccup replied, "I mean yes, I...I mean..." Hiccup huffed as he tried to find the words to explain. She continued to glare at him.
"Nothing I say will convince you that I am trustworthy," Hiccup replied, "my word means nothing to you if...if you don't know me at all."
Hiccup took a deep breath as he glanced up at her briefly. She kept her arrow aimed at him.
"You're...you're just going to have to take a leap of faith." She gazed at him for a long moment as she pondered his words. Hiccup remained on his knees before her, silently awaiting his fate.
"Ye are the worst Viking I've ever met," Merida replied. Hiccup glanced up at her in confusion.
"I thought ye would of at least put up a little bit of a fight, then I could brag to my brothers how I single handedly killed an evil Viking!" Hiccup shook his head in amusement and confusion.
"Sorry to disappoint you," he replied in a questioning tone. She slowly un-notched her arrow and replaced it in her quiver as she brushed the mess of red curls away from her face.
"Stand up ye glaikit Viking," Merida huffed. Hiccup quickly got back on his feet. He stared at her unwittingly, still shocked by the uncanny resemblance between her and the girl in the sketch, and completely taken by her beauty. His heart seemed to be racing as he gazed at her.
"What," she asked defensively, "what are ye staring at?"
"I...I'm not...sorry," Hiccup said, quickly averting his eyes, "uh...no, uh I meant I am sorry, I...I didn't mean to...that is, you just look...so...familiar." He grinned at her sheepishly. He could feel his face flush slightly and prayed she didn't notice. She gazed up at him trying to stifle her amusement as he stumbled on his words. She slung her bow over her shoulder and stepped forward.
"Is that what ye say to all the girls ye scare half to death in the forest," she huffed as she put her hands on her hips. He smirked at her witty comment. She smirked back and rose an eyebrow at him.
"No," Hiccup replied sarcastically as he crossed his arms over his chest, "usually I don't get the chance to speak before they run away screaming." She looked at him oddly.
"It was a joke," he replied quickly. She smirked at him again.
"Well, I guess I should consider myself lucky then," she replied crossing her arms over her chest, "I get to see a side of ye that all the others miss." Hiccup chuckled. She carefully stepped across the shallow creek toward Hiccup and Toothless. She stood close beside him for a moment causing his breath to catch in his throat. She kept her eyes on Toothless.
"A dragon," she said gazing at Toothless in awe," a real live dragon."
"You've never seen one," Hiccup asked. She shook her head.
"Only heard stories," she replied glancing up at Hiccup. Her heart froze when she inadvertently looked into his deep green eyes, she quickly looked away. She couldn't deny the striking similarity between him and the viking from her dream. Hiccup smiled slightly as he noticed the blush on her cheeks.
"Do you want to meet him," he asked, "I...I mean officially." She nodded as she turned to him again and smiled. He felt his heart flutter for a moment at the lovely sight. Hiccup motioned for her to come with him. Toothless' eyes darted between Hiccup and the girl. As they came closer he lowered his head defensively and started to back away.
"Easy bud, easy," Hiccup said, "she's a friend now." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and smiled slightly. Toothless glared at her warily. He was not sure he could trust this human as he trusted Hiccup. As Merida gazed at Toothless she slowly stepped forward. She knelt down carefully and held her hand out allowing Toothless to decide. Toothless continued to glare at her distrustfully. Slowly and cautiously she lifted the bow above her head and lay it gently upon the ground before him.
"It's okay," she whispered softly, "ye see...it's alright now." She stayed still with eyes averted. Toothless looked up at Hiccup questioningly. Hiccup smiled and nodded in the dragon's direction. Toothless looked back at her. He sighed heavily as he slowly moved forward pressing his muzzle into the palm of her hand causing her to giggle slightly. Hiccup just gazed at her and Toothless in amazement.
"You're as gentle as a wee lamb aren't ye," she chuckled softly, "we just got off on the wrong foot now didn't we." She turned and noticed Hiccup gazing at her again and she could feel her cheeks flush slightly. He quickly shifted his eyes back to Toothless, as he subconsciously rubbed the back of his neck. She smiled slightly in spite of herself.
She turned back to Toothless. She slowly reached into her bag and pulled out a sweet roll.
"Here," she said as she placed it on the ground before the dragon, "a peace offering." Toothless sniffed at it warily, and then looked up at Merida curiously.
"Ye eat it ye silly dragon," she replied pointing to her mouth and opening it wide. Toothless opened his mouth revealing his Toothless gums and then just sat there staring at her.
"No," she giggled, "look." She pulled another sweet roll out and took a bite.
"See," she said with her mouth full, "it's food." Toothless sniffed at the pastry once more and slowly put his tongue on it just so. He opened his eyes wide in surprise. He seemed to smile as he quickly gulped the roll down in an instant. He then leaned forward nearly knocking her over as he sniffed at her bag looking for more. Merida laughed heartily.
"Toothless," Hiccup chuckled, "don't be rude!" Merida just shook her head laughing. She pulled out her last sweet roll and tossed it to the dragon.
"I'm afraid that's my last one," she said apologetically, "if I had known I'd meet a dragon that liked sweet rolls today, I'd a packed a little more." Toothless pouted a bit.
"Come on bud," Hiccup chuckled, "at least thank her." He looked to the dragon with a raised eye brow. Toothless thought for a moment then he grabbed an arrow from the ground with his mouth and then scribbled in the dirt before her. Merida just gazed in surprise at a very lopsided looking heart and some random jumbled lines. She smiled up at the dragon in amazement.
"Yer so sweet," she said, "I never thought in a million years I'd be face to face with a dragon, and such a sweet one at that."
"Well for never having seen a dragon before, you're amazing," Hiccup replied, "uh...with him...you're amazing with Toothless...that is." He mentally kicked himself.
"Well," she sighed contentedly, "yer dragon is also amazing. Truth be told, I thought dragons were nothing more than fire breathing demons who terrorized villages and kidnapped princesses," Merida replied. To this Toothless snorted in offense.
"Sorry," she said apologetically. Hiccup chuckled lightly as he leaned upon Toothless and looked down at Merida.
"Well that is a rather popular misconception," Hiccup replied.
"Really," Merida replied. She stood up slowly and gazed up at Hiccup.
"Well the fire-breathing demon thing I can see," Hiccup replied with a shrug.
Toothless snorted again as Hiccup continued, "and the terrorizing of villages." Toothless huffed and rolled his eyes.
"But kidnapping princesses," Hiccup said skeptically, "why on earth would a dragon want to kidnap a princess?"
"Well, all I know," Merida replied, "is every story I've ever heard of a dragon involved the kidnapping of a princess and said princess would be locked away in a tall tower to await a knight in shining armor to slay the beast and rescue her."
"Hiccup chuckled, "well that's just ridiculous."
"Aye, tis," Merida replied as she crossed her arms over her chest, "why would the princess wait around for a knight to rescue her, why can't she just save herself?"
"I couldn't say," Hiccup replied in amusement, "I mean, I've never met a princess before, maybe they like to be rescued by knights in shining armor." He shrugged. Merida rolled her eyes and groaned.
"Well that's a typical manly response isn't it," Merida said in slight annoyance as she turned to walk away from him, "I suppose yer used to women being weak and helpless where ye come from." To this Hiccup laughed out loud. Merrida turned and glared at him.
"I'm sorry," Hiccup replied as his laughter subsided, "I'm sorry, but you couldn't be more wrong."
"What's that supposed to mean," Merida questioned.
"Where I come from," Hiccup replied as he made his way over to where she stood, "a man is liable to be killed for even thinking of a woman as weak...by said woman."
"Is that so," Merida replied as she crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Where I come from," Hiccup went on, as he stepped closer to her, "women are warriors, same as men. Just ask my second in command, I'm sure she would gladly regale you with tales of how she's both saved and kicked my butt." Merrida gazed at him in surprise.
"I don't know much about princesses," Hiccup shrugged as he took another step closer, "but women, in general, are far from weak and helpless." He smirked as he gazed at her. As she gazed back into his deep green eyes, she flashed back to the eyes of the mysterious Viking from her dream. She held her breath for a moment as she tried to shake the vision from her mind. She could feel her face flush slightly once again and it felt as if a thousand butterflies were fluttering in her gut.
"Is that so," she replied trying her best to seem more confident in this moment then she actually was. Hiccup nodded.
"In my," he paused and cleared his throat as he backed away slightly, "in my personal experience with women,...yes."
"Oh," she replied in annoyance, "and ye've had many I'm sure." She pushed her way past him and headed back over to where she left her satchel. Her tone confused him for a moment but as her meaning dawned on him he quickly followed after her.
"Hey...wait," he called out, "that's not what I meant, uh, you misunderstood!"
"Oh come now, do ye think I'm daft," Merida replied as she collected her things, "you're a typical man," Merida huffed, "ye tell me what I want to hear so that I find ye interesting and then ye look at me with those, those green eyes and ye smile at me with that crooked grin of yer's..."
"Wait...what," Hiccup stuttered, "my what now?"
"And then what, I...I'm just another notch in yer belt then," Merida replied. Hiccup could feel his heart race as she spoke and his face grow hot with frustration.
"Whoah, whoah, whoah, okay, just hold on," Hiccup huffed, "what are you even talking about?"
"I wasn't born yesterday," Merida continued to rant, "I know better then to...then to...fall for the likes of ye!" She picked up her bow and flung it over her shoulder. Merida was flustered, the feelings that she felt as he stood so close to her she had never felt before and they were startling to her. She inadvertently lashed out to distance herself from the situation and to gain control of her emotions once again.
"Oh please," he replied in frustration "don't flatter yourself!"
"What's that supposed to mean," she yelled as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.
"It means you're paranoid," Hiccup spat, "and whatever it is that you think is going on here, whatever you're accusing me of is all in your head!"
"Ye think just because I caught on to yer little game that ye can tell me I'm crazy," Merida yelled.
"No, you wanna know what I think," he huffed, "I think you like me, and you're just making up crazy excuses to not like me...because...because you're afraid to like me!"
"That's exactly what someone like ye would say, isn't it," Merida scoffed.
"Someone like me," Hiccup yelled, "someone like me...you don't know anything about me!"
"I know yer type," Merida huffed, Yer nothin mair then an egotistical, sel righteous, pompous jerk, wha thinks juist fur he's braw that ony lassie he meets wull juist fall a' ower him!" Hiccup furrowed his brow as he tried to decipher what she was saying through her thick accent.
"Oh,...you know my type," Hiccup replied, "and what's your type, irrational, vain, spoiled, accusatory, drama queen?" Merida glared at him, her face nearly as red as her hair. Hiccup glared right back at her.
"Ye think just because I won't fall for yer philandering ways, ye can just...insult me," Merida spat.
"You insulted me first," Hiccup yelled.
Merida groaned in aggravation.
"Dragon or no dragon," she huffed, "yer the same as any other!" She huffed again as she quickly turned around and stormed away from him. She suddenly realized that Angus was nowhere to be found.
"You're crazy ya know that," Hiccup yelled, "In fact that's probably the one thing I definitely know about women. You're all crazy!"
"Angus...," she called out as she tried desperately to ignore Hiccup, "Angus come here boy.!" Hiccup groaned as he watched her walking away. He couldn't explain it but everything in him was insisting that he not let her go; not like this.
"Okay, just hold on a minute," Hiccup replied, "this is all a huge, ridiculous misunderstanding." She continued to call for her missing horse and refused to acknowledge him.
"Look, I...I'm sorry I insulted you," he continued, "but you jumped to the wrong conclusion about me."
"Ha," she scoffed.
"Whatever you think of me, it isn't true," he exclaimed, "when I said, what I said, what I meant was, I know women..." Merida turned to him and glared.
"No, I...I meant, the women that I already know..." She crossed her arms over her chest and continued to glare at him. He sighed heavily in defeat, "is there anyway at all, that I can explain myself without making it sound ten times worse." Merida just stood with arms crossed gazing at him incredulously.
"Oh I give up," Hiccup huffed as he threw his arms up in exasperation, "I don't need to explain myself to you, just forget it!"
He turned away from her and sat down on a nearby rock. His back was facing her and he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Just go," he replied in defeat, "I won't stop you, I don't even know your name but whatever...just leave." She smirked at him from behind. She rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.
"Merida."
Hiccup turned around to face her with, in her opinion, an adorable look of confusion on his face.
"My name," she said haughtily, "it's Merida."
"N..name, oh...oh, y...your name," he grinned as he stood and turned in her direction, "right...right, of course." He crossed his arms over his chest nervously.
"That's...that's...uh...that's a really pretty name actually." She furrowed her brow at him.
"I...I mean it's a...a nice name," he cleared his throat, "it's a really n..nice name for uh...a pretty girl. Uh...no, I didn't mean that. Oh uh, I mean, that is, not that you're not pretty, because you are in fact really...pretty...but uh..." He sighed," okay, uh...honestly, uh...how is this going for me; because I'm not gonna lie I kinda feel like it's...it's not going so well." Merida began to laugh in spite of herself. Hiccup smirked at her.
"Okay," Hiccup replied as he backed away, "I'm just going to go now and I...I guess die of embarrassment."
"No...no wait," Merida replied amidst her laughter, "I..I'm sorry, uh, maybe we should...start over." She took a deep breath and tried her best to stifle her amusement.
"Uh...okay," Hiccup replied," uh and just so we're clear, that whole thing about all the women I know, I didn't mean it how it sounded at all. I meant like I know them, not like I know know them, I mean not how you thought I meant. I mean like, well there's uh my mom for one, uh my friends moms, the village elder, and a couple of my friends that are, ya know, just friends, uh and my second in command like I said before." Merida furrowed her brow at him.
"Uh...okay," he said grinning awkwardly, "I...I'm just gonna go ahead and stop talking now."
"Okay...so...starting over then," she sighed, "I'm Merida, daughter of King Fergus of clan DunBroch." She flashed him a slight smile as she curtseyed, "and ye are?" He smiled back at her.
"Okay, uh, wait, did..did you just say daughter of the king," he asked, "does that mean, your a..."
"Princess," Merida smirked at him, "and ye are...?"
"Someone who apparently likes to put his foot in his mouth," he groaned.
"Well that's obvious," she replied, "but I meant yer name."
"Oh uh...My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third, I'm chief of Berk, and leader of the Viking clan the Hairy Hooligans," he replied with a bow of his head. Merida gazed up at him in shock and confusion.
"Wait...what," she shook her head, "that's not possible!" Hiccup looked up at her in confusion.
"Yer name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock," she questioned.
"I know...I know it's a mouthful," Hiccup chuckled, "but it's tradition for Vikings to have terrible names...it's..."
"No, no, I didn't mean that," Merida said, "I meant, I know that name!" Hiccup gazed at her in confusion. She began to frantically rummage through her satchel, she then pulled out a book and opened it. She frantically flipped through its pages until she found what she was looking for.
"Look," she exclaimed as she pointed to a place on the opened page. Hiccup took the book from her hands and read aloud where she had pointed.
...
The Vikings have arrived. I have to say they are much different then I was expecting. The way mum made it seem they would be blood thirsty mercenaries, with bad hygiene and murder in their eyes.'
...
"Hey, I think I'm a little offended by that," Hiccup replied.
"Ugh," Merida groaned, "keep reading!"
...
They seem to be just like us in many ways. Their chief, Halvar the Terrible...
...
"Hiccup glanced up at her briefly in intrigue. He continued on...
...
reminds me a lot of Dad, and they came together like old friends. The Vikings are boisterous and loud, not unlike most Scotsman. I think even mum was surprised. The chief's son is about my age his name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock. He is a handsome lad, polite and well mannered. He seems very nice. Imagine that, a well mannered Viking!'
...
Hiccup looked up at her in shock.
"What is this," he asked, "where did you find this?"
"It's my great great nana's journal," Merida replied excitedly.
"Ok wait...let me get this straight, your great great nana," Hiccup said in realization, "knew my great great grandfather...Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the first!"
"That's not all I found," Merrida smiled in excitement. She pulled the sketch book out as well and handed it over to him.
"Look," she said as she pointed out the three H's scratched into the books cover. He gazed at it curiously and glanced back up at Merida in surprise. She smiled anxiously. He turned his eyes back to the book as he opened it and began to leaf through its pages.
"This is amazing," Hiccup exclaimed," these drawings, they're re all of Berk. This...this is my home, and dragons, and..." He paused when he found the picture of merida's great great grandmother sitting by the bluffs.
"This is her isn't it," Hiccup questioned. Merida nodded.
"Queen Mairead of DunBroch," she replied proudly, "my great great nana, my namesake."
"I knew it," he chuckled aloud, "you...you looked so much like her, I...I thought I was crazy, but the moment I saw you I knew it!"
"Knew what exactly," Merida questioned, "how do you know what she looks like?" Without a word Hiccup turned back towards Toothless. He then flipped open the bag attached to Toothless' saddle. and pulled out a book of his own. He flipped through the pages quickly until he found what he was looking for. He then turned the book around so she could see it. There on the page was a sketch of her great great grandmother smiling and around her neck she wore the pendent that now belonged to Merida. She looked up at Hiccup in surprise.
"You see," Hiccup went on, "the resemblance, it's...it's...uncanny." Merida gazed at the image in intrigue.
"And...and this pendent" he quickly pulled the pendent from beneath his shirt, "It belonged to my great great grandfather," he said.
"It's the same as the one she's wearing!" Merida gazed at the identical pendent that Hiccup held up before her. She shook her head in disbelief. Hiccup pointed out the symbol.
"The symbol here," he went on, "it's a Viking rune that means love, and on the other side is another symbol that I don't really know but I..."
"Soul mates," Merrida said out loud. Hiccup looked up to her wide-eyed.
"It's a Celtic knot," Merrida said as she pulled her own necklace from beneath her cloak, "it means soul mates." Hiccup stared at her in disbelief. As Merida did the same.
"You have one too," he replied in amazement. She nodded.
"Okay this may sound a little crazy," Hiccup replied, "but I think that maybe my great great grandfather was in love with your great great nana, uh when they were younger I mean."
"Aye," Merida replied, "she said as much in her journal."
"May I...may I take a look at your pendent," Hiccup asked.
"Sure," she replied as she lifted it from her neck. She gently placed the pendent in his hand.
The moment their fingers touched both were struck by a wave of sudden nervousness. Hiccup's mind flashed briefly once again to the moment the woman in his dream pressed the pendent into his hand. Their eyes met for a moment and each could see the others face flushed. For a second that felt like an hour. The two stayed as they were, hand in hand gazing into the others eyes. Realizing their awkward position, Hiccup was the first to break contact.
"Uh...thanks," he said as he pulled his hand from her's. He sat back down upon the nearby rock and turned his attention to the pendent, trying desperately to pretend the awkward moment between them hadn't happened at all. She watched him with the pendent in curiosity.
"What are ye looking for exactly," she questioned.
"I want to see if your's is anything like mine," Hiccup glanced up at her briefly before turning his eyes back to the pendent.
"Merida sat beside him on the rock and leaned closer to him to get a better view. Her head nearly resting on his shoulder as she watched. Hiccup's heart fluttered slightly at their closeness but he tried his best to ignore it.
Before her eyes, Hiccup carefully opened the pendent just as she had figured out a few days before. Inside this one Hiccup found the tiny lock of braided hair that was a dark mahogany brown, almost identical to his own hair. He turned and gazed in Merida's direction in amazement.
"Did...did ye say yer's does the same," Merida asked curiously. Hiccup clasped the pendent lid shut and turned to her.
"May I," he questioned as he held up the necklace. She turned and allowed him to drape the chain around her neck and clasp it behind her. She felt goosebumps whenever his fingers accidentally brushed against the skin of her neck. When he finished she turned back to him trying desperately to avoid his eyes. She watched as he then took his own pendent and opened it the same way, but hidden inside his locket was a lock of fiery red hair, identical to her's.
"This is crazy," Merida stood from her place and began to pace in front of him, "I...I can't believe this, I...I mean what are the chances!"
"That's how I felt too," Hiccup chuckled, "see, my great great grandfather was a blacksmith and an inventor. He designed the pendants himself; I...I thought mine was the only one, but he must have made a matching set."
"So they could each have one," Merida replied, "so each could carry a piece of the other with them wherever they were."
"No matter how far apart," Hiccup replied.
"I must admit," Merida sighed, "it seems yer great great grandfather was quite the romantic, he must have loved her deeply." Hiccup blushed slightly at her words as he nodded in agreement.
"This all is practically unbelievable," Merida said, "I mean, our great great grandparents were in love, and...and what are the chances that practically 300 years later, ye and I, of all people, would find each other in the middle of the woods, wearing the very pendents that were basically a token of their love for each other." Hiccup gazed at her curiously as he pondered her words.
"Well, maybe...maybe it's not chance," Hiccup replied. He stood suddenly and approached her. Without thinking he took hold of both her hands in his.
"Merida," Hiccup said, "I...I think you're the one, I mean the one I'm meant to find..." She gazed up at him in surprise and slight confusion and her face flushed light pink. Realizing what he'd said and done, he gulped. He became aware in that moment he was still holding her hands. He quickly pulled his hands away and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Uh...I mean, I..I..that is, I meant," Hiccup stuttered on his words, "the..the one to help me find the truth a...about my great great grandfather." He smiled sheepishly as a slight blush crept over his cheeks. She smiled in amusement and tried her best to stifle a giggle.
"Well," he sighed, feeling completely mortified as she giggled slightly, "there goes the last of my confidence."
"I'm sorry," she giggled, "I can't help it...yer just...yer adorable when yer nervous." His heart fluttered at her words.
"You...you think I'm adorable," he replied with a grin. She nodded as she chuckled.
"Aye," she replied with a smile, "ye are."
"Hey uh," Hiccup smiled feeling his confidence swell, "did..uh..did you maybe wanna join Toothless and I for dinner? I mean, nothing special, obviously. Probably just, ya know, fish over a campfire. Uh...and, and maybe we could talk more about the grandparents, compare notes and, I don't know, maybe get to know each other a little better."
"I...I'd love that," she said.
"Yeah," he said in a surprised tone.
"Yeah," she nodded, but her smile suddenly fell when his words sunk in to her brain.
"Dinner...oh no," she exclaimed. Hiccup furrowed his brow as he gazed at her in confusion.
"I...I'm late...again," she cried out, "I'm sorry, but my mum...she'll have my head for sure if I don't get home before dark, I...I have to go, I'm sorry." She frantically began to collect her things.
"Merida," Hiccup called out.
"Oh, and Angus ran off after Toothless spooked him," she remembered aloud, "Oh, I'll never make it home before dark without Angus!"
"Merida," Hiccup called out again, "you know Toothless and I could give you a ride home, it"s...it's no problem."
"That's really kind of ye Hiccup," she replied, "but I don't think the guards will take too kindly to a dragon or a Viking for that matter. It's probably best ye stay out of sight for now."
"Okay," Hiccup replied, as he stepped closer to her, "how about we don't fly then. We'll stay grounded, which is still faster for Toothless than for you on foot. Then we will drop you off just before the clearing so we stay hidden." Merida smiled slightly.
"Come on," he urged, "it's the least we can do and, be honest, you know you really want to ride on a dragon." She smirked at him.
"Shameless," she replied with the shake of her head, "using that innocent dragon to get a girl to like ye." He grabbed his chest in mock offense.
"I would never," he said in a shocked tone. Merida giggled as Toothless nodded behind Hiccup.
"Yer dragon says otherwise," she smirked as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Bud," Hiccup turned to the dragon in defeat, "we're supposed to stick together, you're supposed to be my wingman, come on!" He turned back to Merida and grinned.
"Okay," I'm going to be honest," Hiccup said, "please don't get mad, I just, I want to make sure you get home safe." She opened her mouth to protest, but he interrupted before she could.
"I know you are probably perfectly capable of taking care of yourself," Hiccup went on, "but it is kinda my fault that your horse ran off on you, so maybe, just this once, you could allow me to be just a little bit chivalrous and give you a ride." Merida smiled slightly as she pondered his words.
"Plus, uh, I don't know if you've noticed, but I...I kinda like you," he took a few steps closer to her as he spoke, "and it just wouldn't be right for me to send off the girl I just met but kinda like, out into the dark woods alone at night." Merida smirked at him once more.
"And also, you mentioned that your mom would have your head if you were late again. Which, I think, would probably hinder my chances of getting to know you better. So you see it's all really selfish reasons that I am absolutely obligated to give you a ride...and absolutely NOT because I think you're weak in any way." She raised an eye brow at him as she crossed her arms over her chest once more. She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to hinder a smile.
"Too much," he grinned, "did I sound like I was rambling?"
"Just a little," she replied holding up her finger and thumb for effect. He grinned at her as he nodded his head.
"Yeah I uh, I tend to do that sometimes," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders, "ya know, mostly when I'm nervous, which, by the way, you think is adorable. Just throwing that out there." He raised an eyebrow at her. She couldn't contain the laugh that escaped her lips.
"Oh alright," she sighed. Hiccup smiled at her triumphantly.
"Come on Toothless," he called out as he continued to smile at her, "we gotta get this princess home." Toothless lay down sternal upon the ground to allow his rider on. Hiccup clicked his metal foot in place and then turned and held his hand out to Merida. She took it and allowed him to pull her up into the saddle behind him. He felt her put her hands upon his shoulders lightly. He chuckled as he glanced back at her.
"What," she questioned.
"Nothing," he replied, "just, if you want to get home before dark...you might want to hold on a little tighter than that." Merida scoffed.
"I can stay on Angus at full gallop not holding on to anything while hitting every target dead on. I think I'll be able to stay on a dragon."
"Suit yourself," Hiccup shrugged, "alright bud, let's go."
Toothless took off like a shot through the forest, running much faster then any horse could gallop. Merida let out a yelp as she quickly wrapped her arms tightly around Hiccup's waist pulling herself as close to him as possible, her head pressed up against his back as she hid her face from the whipping wind. Hiccup smiled when he felt her cling to him suddenly. The feel of her pressed up against him made his heart race furiously and he could feel his face flush.
"You okay back there," Hiccup asked.
"Just peachy," Merrida replied. Hiccup grinned at her response. He glanced back in her direction briefly. She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, he couldn't help but to think that being wrapped in her arms was something that he could definitely get used to. He took a deep breath and tried to shake the thought from his mind. This was a girl he'd just met only hours ago, after all. He shouldn't be thinking about her in such a way. Besides this wasn't what he came here for, and there were much more pressing issues at hand. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted.
Before long they had arrived at the edge of the forest just as dusk began to settle over DunBroch. Hiccup unhooked his foot and leapt down from Toothless. He held his hand up to help Merida down. She took his hand and slid down the dragon's side. Just as her feet touched the ground, Toothless purposely leaned into her, causing her to loose her footing and stumble right into Hiccup's arms.
"Whoa," Hiccup chuckled as he caught her, "you okay?"
"Mmm hmm," She nodded as she gazed up at him. Hiccup just gazed back at her with those deep green eyes that reminded her so much of the Viking in her dream. His arms were wrapped around her waist and her hands were gripped onto his shoulders. For a moment the two stood holding on to each other and gazing into the others eyes. Their faces were only a few inches apart. They were so close that Hiccup could feel the warmth of her breath on his face. He could not explain the pull he felt toward her since the moment they met, and all he could think of in this moment was how much he longed to make those measly few inches disappear. And all he wanted to do was pull her to him and feel the softness of her lips pressed to his. Toothless watched them anxiously.
"Uh...okay," Hiccup said softly as he suddenly came to his senses. He let her go as he backed away, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. She quickly dropped her arms as well and they both tried desperately to pretend that the awkward moment between them hadn't happened. Toothless rolled his eyes as he huffed and turned away.
"Well, here we are," Hiccup said, "home before dark, as promised."
"Thank you, " Merida said politely. He nodded in her direction.
"No problem," Hiccup replied, "happy to do it." Both of them stood awkwardly as they tried to part ways, but for some reason both seemed to be finding it nearly impossible to do so.
"Umm...okay," Merida smiled, "I better um...I better go then."
"Yeah, yeah," Hiccup replied as he took a half a step back. She reluctantly turned and began to walk away.
"It was, uh, really nice to meet you," Hiccup called out. She glanced back at him and smiled.
"Ye too," she replied. She turned and continued to walk away. Hiccup reluctantly did the same. He was about to get on Toothless when the dragon turned to him and growled. Hiccup looked up at Toothless and noticed the curious look on the dragon's face. Toothless whined again and then nodded in Merida's direction. Hiccup quirked an eyebrow at the dragon. Toothless growled again and nodded toward Merida more insistently. Getting the message, Hiccup paused and turned back to Merida.
"Uh...hey Merida...wait," he called out
"Aye," she said as she quickly turned back to face him. Hiccup jogged over to her and smiled nervously.
"Will I...uh...I mean, can we," he stuttered nervously, "uh...can we um..see each other again?" Merida giggled slightly as she nodded.
"Of course," she smiled, "we have to figure out the mystery of our great great grandparents don't we?" She raised an eyebrow at him causing him to chuckle slightly.
"Yeah...yes," Hiccup smiled awkwardly, " of...of course...right...that is...that's exactly what I meant."
"She chuckled again, "tomorrow then, same place we met, bright and early."
"Tomorrow yes," Hiccup replied with a grin, "I will most definitely be there."
"Thanks again," she smiled.
"For what," Hiccup questioned.
"For rescuing me," she laughed, "if it weren't for ye and that dragon o' yers, I'd a lost my head when I got home." Hiccup chuckled lightly.
"See," he shrugged, "it's not so bad after all is it princess?"
"What's that," Merida questioned in amusement.
"Being rescued by a knight in shining armor," he replied.
"Well...I couldn't say," Merida replied with a smile, "I've never met a knight before, but being rescued by a Viking in dragon's armor, that I could get used to."
Before she could even stop to think about her actions, Merida leaned forward quickly and kissed him on the cheek, causing his already furiously beating heart to nearly burst from his chest. She smiled as she backed away.
"And just so ye know," she grinned, "I kinda like ye too Hiccup." She smiled as she quickly turned and ran out of the woods. Hiccup all but fell over as he watched her leave. He couldn't help but to think, this could be the start of a very interesting journey. Toothless gazed at his rider in amusement.
"I think I may be in trouble Bud," he said as he tore his eyes away from where she had been, "deep trouble." Toothless suddenly nudged Hiccup nearly knocking him to the ground. Hiccup turned to the dragon in annoyance only to see a sly expression on his face. Toothless raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"That was you," Hiccup chuckled. Toothless nodded proudly.
"You sneaky little lizard," he grinned, " I cant believe you did that." He sighed as he glanced once more in the direction Merida had gone.
"I definitely owe you one bud," he said as he hopped up on the dragon's back once more. The two turned in the opposite direction.
"Come on Toothless," he said as he patted the dragon's neck affectionately, "let's go eat."
...
Merida
...
"Merida," Elinor exclaimed as she entered the castle, "thank God yer safe...I was worried sick!"
"Mum," Merida whined, "I'm on time...what were ye worried about?"
"There was another dragon sighting," Elinor exclaimed, "normally I wouldn't put much thought to such crazy tales, but when Angus came back without ye I thought the worst. I was about to send the troops after ye! And just look at ye, yer dress, it's filthy! What on earth happened?"
"Mum," Merrida groaned in exasperation, "I'm fine, Angus got spooked and threw me, it's no big deal." Elinor merely sighed in relief.
"Well," Elinor replied, "maybe I should have your father send the troops out to investigate this dragon sighting anyway."
"No mum," Merrida cried out suddenly. Elinor turned to her daughter and gazed at her curiously.
"Uh...I mean a dragon mum, really," Merrida scoffed "ye don't actually believe there is some lone dragon stalking the highlands do ye now, I mean where even was this dragon sighting?"
"Lord Dingwall said he saw it gliding about near the Fire Falls."
"Well...I was just at the Fire Falls today," Merida lied, " and I didn't see any sign of a dragon."
"Maybe yer right," Elinor replied, "Lord Dingwall was a bit tipsy when he brought it up." Merrida crossed her arms and raised an eye brow at her mother.
"Go on then," Elinor replied, "clean up for dinner, I won't have ye looking a shambles when we have guests."
"Ugh...mum, do ye mind if I just skip dinner tonight," Merida pleaded.
"Are ye feeling alright dear," her mother asked in concern as she reached up to feel her daughter's forehead.
"Aye Mum," Merida replied, "I'm just tired from walking home is all."
"Aye dear," Elinor replied, " go up to bed then...see ye in the morn."
"Night mum," Merida yawned as she headed up the stairs.
When she reached her room, she flopped down on her bed and gazed up at the canopy. She smiled as she thought about the events of her day. Absentmindedly, she reached up and began to fiddle with the pendent that hung around her neck as her mind drifted to the Viking boy she had just met. Despite their brief misunderstanding, he was unlike any boy she'd ever met. He was funny, interesting, positively adorable and she found herself looking forward to seeing him again.
...
Hiccup
...
Hiccup decided to set up camp in the place where he and Merida had met. He sat by the fire reading through his grandfather's journal. He paused at the sketch of the girl.
"Mairead," he muttered to himself as he traced the image with his finger. Finally he had a name for the face of the mysterious woman. His mind inadvertently drifted to Merida, the namesake and direct descendant of his great great grandfather's true love. He smiled to himself. The similarity between Merida and Mairead was striking, but, in his opinion, Merida's beauty far outweighed that of her predecessor. In fact she was easily the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, not to mention fearless. He smirked slightly as he thought of the petite girl standing her ground against a Viking and a dragon. She was positively impressive to say the least.
As he thought of her, his mind inadvertently drifted back to their brief moment of closeness by the edge of the woods, when she had stumbled into his arms. Though the moment was brief, it was intense. He blushed slightly as he recalled the strong and unexplainable urge to kiss her in that moment. He wondered if she had felt it too. Perhaps, he wondered, it was the reason she had unexpectedly kissed him on the cheek. He sighed as he closed the journal and headed over to the now sleeping Toothless. Hiccup sat down beside the dragon and lay back against the dragon's side. He crossed his arms behind his head and gazed up at the forest canopy. He only caught a few glimpses here and there of the stars above as the wind rustled the tree tops. He sighed once more at the thought of the princess, and he found himself looking forward to seeing her again.