A Little Destiny, a Little Fate, and What's Written in the Stars

by Roseisarose123

Fate is a funny thing, it can be mysterious, it can be illusive, but it's always there. Some people spend their whole lives chasing it, while others try to avoid it. But sometimes we meet our fate on the very road that we take to avoid it. * FYI- made a small change to ch 10(11)due to sm. discrepancy in my timeline, making it 8 yrs after HTTYD1 rather than 5 yrs.*

12. Will o' the Wisp

Chapter 11

Hiccup stumbled forward, still in shock at the sight of the wisp as Merida pulled him by the hand. They stopped just before the wisp. He gazed at the mysterious blue orb in awe and amazement.

"They're real," he questioned in disbelief.

"Aye," she replied, "they're real."

"This is crazy," Hiccup replied, "I...I mean I saw them in a dream I had, but I...I didn't think they were real! I...I mean really, real...I mean...I thought they were just like...symbolic or something."

"Ye saw the will o' the wisp in a dream," she questioned as she gazed at him in sudden intrigue. Hiccup nodded silently as he continued to stare in shock at the wisp that hovered before them. He inadvertently reached out to the strange blue orb but, just like in the dream, as he got close enough to touch it, the wisp vanished and another appeared a few feet away. Hiccup drew his hand back quickly and glanced at Merida in intrigue.

"Let's go," Merida replied with urgency in her voice as she motioned for him to follow. They continued to follow the wisps one after the other until a trail of the wisps appeared before them.

"What exactly are they," Hiccup questioned.

"Nobody really knows for sure," Merida replied, "but it's said that they are ancient spirits tied to the land." Hiccup silently pondered Merida's words.

If the wisps were ancient spirits tied to this land, how then, had they reached out to him in his dream if he had never set foot on DunBroch before and he had no connection whatsoever to this land. Perhaps the spirits called to him because he was the direct descendent of Hiccup the first, who had. But if that were true, why now, why him? Why had they never called to his great grandfather Hiccup II, or his grandfather Ragnar the Bold; why not his father?

"It's also said that if ye see one and follow it," Merida went on, "that it will lead ye to yer fate." Hiccup glanced at her with a curious expression on his face.

"So are we talking good fate," Hiccup gulped, "or bad fate?"

"I guess that depends," Merida replied.

"On what," he questioned.

"I don't know exactly," Merida shrugged.

"Great," he replied flatly as he glanced at her in uncertainty, "and you're absolutely certain you want to follow them?" Merida chuckled.

"What do we have to lose," she questioned.

"Oh I don't know," he replied, "our lives maybe."

"Don't be so dramatic Hiccup," she chuckled, "their only wisps."

"Dramatic," he retorted, "I'm not being dramatic. I mean, we're just following strange blue ghost lights into the middle of the woods, no questions asked...what's there to be dramatic about?"

"Come on," she groaned as she grasped his hand again and pulled him forward.
As they continued to follow the trail of wisps, Merida glanced curiously in his direction.

"Hiccup," Merida inquired.

"Yeah," he replied as he turned to face her.

"Ye said ye saw the wisps in a dream," she replied.

"I did," he confirmed.

"What exactly was yer dream about," she asked curiously.

"Well," Hiccup replied, "I...I was in a forest like this and the wisps appeared to me. So I followed them and they led me to this strange place with large stones all lined up in a circle. When I stepped into the middle of the circle, this woman came from the shadows and she kept calling me by name. She took my hand and put my great great grandfather's pendent in my palm." Hiccup glanced at Merida briefly. She gazed ahead of them as they continued walking but she seemed to be deep in thought.

"And this place ye were led to," Merida questioned, "were the stones standing tall, with ancient carvings on them?"

"Yes," Hiccup replied curiously, "do you know it?"

"Aye, I know it," Merida replied, "we call them the standing stones. They've been here for thousands of years. No one really knows their purpose, but that place is said to be sacred ground." Hiccup pondered her words for a moment before continuing.

"It was only a day or so after I had the first dream that I found an old map of DunBroch in my great great grandfather's things. I noticed he had marked the stones on it, so he thought they were important enough to record their location." Merida listened in intrigue as he spoke.

"I knew then that I had to follow wherever these dreams seemed to be leading me," Hiccup continued, "I can't really explain it but I just feel like there is something I have to do here or...or maybe find, I don't know."

"The first dream," she questioned, "were there others?"

"Yes, the same dream actually, every night in fact," Hiccup paused as a thought occurred to him, "that is, until I got here." Merida fell silent as she pondered his words. He looked at her curiously wondering what was going through her mind.

"So in yer dream," Merida replied, "not only did ye see the wisps, but ye saw the standing stones as well." Hiccup nodded.

"Honestly the dream is really the reason why I came here," Hiccup went on, "I mean, when I was scouting around here before, I had planned to come back eventually to possibly suggest an alliance with your people but when I realized that my dreams were somehow connected to this place...I mean, when I realized the stones I saw in my dream could actually be a real, actual place, I just needed to see them for myself." He glanced at Merida again. Merida looked back at him with an intrigued expression on her face.

"What about the woman in your dream," Merida questioned, "what was she like?"

"Well, see, that's uh kinda a little harder to explain. W-when I saw her; when she touched my hand," Hiccup took a deep breath as he turned his eyes back to the trail of wisps, "it...it felt like I knew her somehow. It...it just felt so familiar, yet it was unlike anything I ever felt before, if that makes sense. Now, I know this is going to sound really crazy, but I know the woman from my dream is the same woman in my grandfather's drawing. And after what you and I discovered yesterday, I'm pretty sure she was also your great great nana." Merida gazed at him wide-eyed.

"Ye believe that ye saw my great great nana in yer dream," Merida questioned. Hiccup nodded. She gazed at him with a shocked and puzzled expression on her face.

"I know...it's crazy" Hiccup replied as he glanced at her, "but yeah, I do!" Merida furrowed her brow in thought.

"Well, what did she look like," Merida questioned.

"Well I don't actually know," Hiccup replied, "I...I can never see her face in my dream, her face is always hidden under the hood of her cloak. Merida gazed at him curiously.

"Well how can ye be so sure the woman in yer dream is the same as the one in the drawing if ye could never see her face," Merida questioned, "how could ye know it's my great great nana?"

"Well, mostly it's because of the pendent," Hiccup replied, "I mean, in the drawing she's wearing the same pendent that the woman gave me in my dream." Merida gazed at him in intrigue.

"The thing is," he continued, "I didn't even know that the pendent or the drawing even existed before I had that dream. Like I said, I didn't find them till later."

"Well that makes sense I guess," Merida replied.

"Yeah, but the even stranger thing," Hiccup replied, "is that it...it's also a...a feeling."

"A feeling," Merida questioned, "what sort o' feeling?"

"Well it...it's sort of complicated and hard to explain exactly" Hiccup replied, "it's a...a really strong feeling." Merida looked at him expectantly. He glanced at her for a moment. She could see a blush creeping over his face.

"Well it...it was kinda like," Hiccup paused a moment feeling slightly self-conscious talking about the feelings from his dream, "well, like an attraction but stronger." He glanced at her, she gazed back at him questioningly.

"But..uh...what I mean is, uh, not like a...a physical attraction, uh...I mean not like, I'm attracted to you." Merida turned to him suddenly with wide eyes. The blush on Hiccup's face deepened.

"Uh...that is, I meant, uh...that was an example," he said quickly, "I...I didn't mean me or...or you personally...uh I just meant like in general, how generally a man is attracted to a woman," he cleared his throat as he turned his eyes to the trail once again.

"I...I meant more like how a magnet is drawn to metal...or...or like a moth to a flame." Hiccup continued to gaze at the trail ahead with a mortified expression on his face. Merida tried her best to stifle a giggle.

"So ye were drawn to her then," Merida replied as she crossed her arms over her chest and grinned up at him.

"Y-Yeah," he said as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck, "b-basically." Merida nodded.

"See, not so complicated," she replied. Hiccup grinned at her.

"Well maybe if I'd known you sooner," Hiccup smirked, "I'd have learned how not to overcomplicate a simple answer." She smirked at him as she raised an eyebrow.

"And how not to put yer foot in yer mouth," she replied with a sly grin. Hiccup chuckled.

"That too," he shrugged, "of course if you'd have known me before I was so smooth with the ladies you might not like me as much."

"Aye, ye are many things Hiccup," Merida chuckled, "but smooth ye are not."

"No kidding," he chuckled, "but it was far worse when I was younger. I mean my nickname was fish bone, and tooth pick. I was easily the smallest Viking in my village not to mention accident prone, and socially awkward."

"Well that may be so, but if ye were the same then as ye are now in here," she pointed to his heart, "then I'd have liked ye just fine."

Hiccup smiled at her warmly.

"Careful princess," he grinned as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I may start to think you really are trying to win my heart." He smirked at her as he raised an eyebrow. Merida blushed slightly as she rolled her eyes.

"Bet ye'd like that wouldn't ye," she replied haughtily. Hiccup furrowed his brow for a moment as he tried to formulate a witty comment to come back at her with but the only word in his brain was a resounding 'yes.'

"I...I'm not gonna lie princess," he shrugged, "I wouldn't complain." He cleared his throat as a slight blush arose on his cheeks. She raised an eyebrow at him again.

"Is that so," she replied as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Wouldn't you like to know," he replied haughtily as he passed her. Merida smirked at him. She jogged a few feet to catch up to him.

"Tell me more about this dream o' yers," Merida replied changing the subject.

"Right," he replied, "where was I...?"

"Ye felt drawn to the woman in yer dream," Merida replied.

"Oh yeah, see the thing is, that feeling, it...it was sort of a little more than just feeling drawn to her," Hiccup went on, "I mean, I know now that the woman was calling my grandfather's name and not mine. But the way she spoke, and the way she acted towards me...it all just felt so personal and...and sort of intimate in a way." Merida remained quiet as she thought about what he'd said. Hiccup glanced over at her feeling slightly awkward.

"It was...it was like she knew me," Hiccup went on, "like she knew me to my soul." Merida turned and gazed up at him curiously. Her mind flashed briefly to the Viking from her own dream and those intense eyes that seemed to peer into her very soul.

"And that feeling from my dream," Hiccup went on, "is the same feeling I had when I found the drawing of the woman in my great great grandfather's book."

"Ye said she spoke to ye," Merida questioned, "what did she say exactly?"

"She said, 'it's you, it's always been you'," Hiccup replied, "now, I'm not sure exactly what that means but there was such emotion in her voice when she spoke." Merida just gazed ahead of them as she pondered what he'd told her. Hiccup gazed over at her, curious as to what she was thinking.

"Look, I...I know this all sounds crazy right," he replied, "I...I mean even as I'm telling you, I can hear how crazy it all sounds." Merida glanced up at him with a curious expression.

"My friend back home sorta has a theory though," Hiccup continued, "he thinks that maybe the spirit in my dream is somehow projecting its own emotions onto me."

"Like making ye feel what she felt," Merida questioned.

"Exactly," Hiccup replied, "I mean, that's the idea, though, I'm not a hundred percent sure that is the case."

"What do ye mean exactly," Merida asked.

"So the way I felt when she spoke to me," Hiccup replied, "I wonder if it was more like my grandfather's emotions that I felt."

"What makes ye say that," Merida questioned.

"Well, because I...well I...I just wanted to...to be with her, I...I didn't want her to leave, I wanted to...to hold her in my arms and never let her go. It was sort of overwhelming and it...it almost felt like...like the feeling of..."

"Being in love," she replied absentmindedly. Hiccup nodded silently.

"My mom literally said the same thing," Hiccup replied, "I told her she was crazy."

"Ye did not," Merida replied.

"Yeah well, what was I supposed to say to all this craziness," Hiccup replied, "just admit that I think I might be feeling my grandfather's feelings about some woman that's basically a ghost!"

"Why are men so stubborn when it comes to feelings," Merida groaned.

"I don't know," Hiccup chuckled, "because it's...it's embarrassing...and...and it's not manly, I guess. I mean, I'm a Viking for crying out loud, I can't just go around talking about my feelings all the time." Merida glared at him. Hiccup chuckled.

"Particularly these feelings," he replied, "about some imaginary woman." Merida scoffed.

"She's not exactly imaginary," Merida replied as she raised an eyebrow at him. Hiccup shrugged.

"Look it'd be a lot different if this was an actual live person we were talking about here," Hiccup replied, "but this...this is just too weird." He looked at her again. She seemed to be in deep thought.

"See, I told you," he sighed, "It all sounds completely insane, you probably think I'm some sort of a...a lunatic...or something..."

"Hiccup," Merida interrupted in a serious tone, "yer not crazy!" He turned to her in curiosity.

"I...I had a dream like that as well," she went on, "recurring too. The last one not a day before we met!" Hiccup gazed at her with an expression of shock and surprise on his face.

"Wait," Hiccup replied in disbelief, "are...are you saying...that you and I had the same dream?"

"Not exactly," Merida replied, "See, like ye, in my dream I am also led to the standing stones by the will o' the wisp." Hiccup gazed at her in intrigue.

"Only, I saw a Viking there," Merida said.

"A Viking," Hiccup questioned in surprise.

"Aye a Viking," Merida replied, "he had a Viking helm with horns and it covered his face. So I couldn't really see what he looked like but I could still see his eyes. His were the greenest eyes I've ever seen." She glanced up at Hiccup briefly but quickly averted her gaze.

"Much like yer's actually," she replied, "only his eyes were filled with such sorrow. They were haunting practically. The man seemed very sad and his demeanor forlorn; it...it was like his heart was breaking at the sight of me. When he looked at me it...it felt like he could see right through me, to my very soul! I was scared at first because I was unsure of his intentions but then he knelt before me and he took my hand. Then he gave me the pendent and said 'my heart is your's.'" Merida paused a moment as she glanced up at Hiccup.

But when he touched my hand to give me the pendent it was...well, it was unlike anything I ever felt before," Merida continued, "it almost felt like...like being struck by lightning if that makes sense. I mean, my heart was beating so fast it felt like it'd burst from my chest." Hiccup just gazed at her dumbfounded.

"And the very sight of him gazing up at me with those eyes, it just, it made me want to...to just wrap him in my arms and try to soothe his heartbreak, if only a little," Merida went on, "he called me by my great great nana's name, so I do believe he was seeking my nana. But it still felt strangely personal...like even though he spoke to my nana, somehow his words were also meant for me. Does that make any sense?"

"Honestly," Hiccup replied, "none of this makes sense...I mean it feels like the more we discover the more questions we have. I really have no idea what to make of all of this."

"Well that's not all," Merida said, "maybe a day or so before my first dream, the wisps led me to the place where my great great nana's journal and the sketch book were hidden behind a tapestry in the castle wall."

Merida continued walking again as Hiccup stood in shock for a moment. He thought over everything she had just told him. It all seemed as if he and Merida had been placed on the same path. But the reason still remained unclear.

"Hey Merida...wait," Hiccup called out as he ran to catch up to her. She stopped and turned to him.

"Uh, about the pendant," Hiccup questioned, "you never told me, h-how exactly did you find it?"

"I didn't," Merida replied, "my father gave it to me."

"D-did your father mention anything significant about it when he gave it to you," Hiccup questioned.

"No, not particularly," Merida replied, "I mean, he didn't know much about the pendant itself, he just said that nana never spoke of it but it seemed of great importance to her. He thought that my great great grand-da gave it to her, which, clearly now we know that wasn't so." As Hiccup listened he seemed to be deep in thought.

"All I know for certain is that when my father was just a wee lad he and great great nana shared a special bond, she left him the pendant when she passed. When I was born he named me for her, and he's always said that I remind him of her. After my twenty first birthday he passed the pendant to me."

"About how long ago would you say it was that he gave it to you," he asked. Merida thought for a moment.

"Maybe a little over two weeks or so," she replied.

"Was it around that time when your dreams of the Viking started," Hiccup questioned.

"Come to think of it," Merida replied, "it wasn't much long after, I mean first I found the journal and then my dreams started. He gazed at her with wide eyes.

"This is crazy," he said. She looked up at him curiously.

"This all started happening to us both around the same time," Hiccup replied, "what do you think it could all mean?"

"I don't know," Merida replied, "I mean, I thought my dream was influenced by reading my nana's journal, but now that I know that ye had nearly the same dream as I, it makes me think otherwise. It...it's not a coincidence of that I'm sure. Honestly, it...it feels more like fate that we met Hiccup." She turned to him with a slightly puzzled expression on her face.

"It seems that ye and I have been drawn to the same path," she continued, "I do wonder what we're being led to though." Hiccup glanced in her direction curiously.

"What do you mean exactly," he questioned.

"Like I said before, the will o' the wisp are supposed to lead ye to yer fate," Merida replied, "but that fate is often not what ye think nor what yer expecting. Ye may think ye know when ye follow but they have a way of leading ye to a fate ye never even considered or even knew is what ye wanted in the first place."

"It sounds like you know from experience," Hiccup replied.

"Aye," Merida replied, "I followed them once before." Hiccup gazed at her in curiosity. She glanced up at him for a moment before turning her eyes back to the trail of wisps as they both continued walking, "it's a long story though."

"Well I have time," Hiccup replied with a shrug. Merida smiled.

"Well, see, my mother and I...well as long as I can remember, we've had a bit of a difficult relationship," Merida replied," she always wanted me to be the perfect, proper princess that does as she's told, doesn't have weapons, doesn't speak out of turn, and strives for perfection!" She rolled her eyes. Hiccup chuckled.

"Aye," Merida smiled, "everything I'm not nor ever wanted to be."

"Sounds like me and my dad a bit," Hiccup replied, "he always wanted a big sturdy Viking boy who could wrestle a dragon with his bare hands. Instead he got me, a thin wiry runt that couldn't wrestle a sheep let alone a dragon. He was always like 'if you can't kill a dragon, you're not my son.' "

"That's a bit harsh isn't it," Merida replied.

"He was a Viking, all he knew was harsh," Hiccup shrugged, "but it worked itself out. I mean, eventually, at the end we were close." Merida laid a hand on his shoulder in sympathy. Hiccup nodded in her direction and smiled, silently thanking her for the small comfort.

"Look at it this way," Merida smiled, "yer father may not have gotten the strapping dragon killing son he always wanted..."

"Geeze Merida," Hiccup whined, "you just made me feel so much better about myself just now." She smirked at him and hit him playfully on the arm. Hiccup chuckled.

"If ye'd let me finish," she replied, "I was going to say, what he did get was much better. Ye may not be a big a muscular brute, but yer smart, kind-hearted, and brave."

"You forgot adorable, princess," Hiccup smirked in her direction. She smirked back at him.

"Hey, your words, not mine," Hiccup chuckled as he put his hands up in defense.

"Anyway," Merida sighed, "where was I, oh; so about five years ago it all came to a head when my mother announced my impending betrothal."

"Betrothal," Hiccup questioned. His heart froze for a moment as the word sunk into his brain.

"Aye," Merida replied, "'it's been tradition that when the princess comes of age, the Lords of each clan present their firstborn sons to compete for her hand in marriage."

"Oh," Hiccup replied feeling a pit in his stomach suddenly, "so I take it that it didn't go over so well with you."

"Of course not " Merida exclaimed, "I was furious! I mean how dare she just try to marry me off like...like I'm just tradable goods. I wanted nothing to do with it! I didn't even want to get married at all, let alone to someone I barely knew! And just because they won some stupid game!"

"Sounds about right," Hiccup grinned.

"All I could see was that my entire life was being laid out before me and I had no say in the matter," Merida replied," I was desperate to change my fate!"

"What did you do," Hiccup asked in intrigue.

"Well, the Lords came to present their sons," Merida continued, "now, as per tradition, the princess gets to choose the event in which they compete." She raised an eyebrow as she smirked up at him. Hiccup chuckled.

"Let me guess," Hiccup smirked, "you chose archery." Merida smiled with a devilish grin.

"Aye, I did," Merida replied proudly, "and after they all took their shot, I snuck away with my bow to the shooting grounds. I stood before the Lords and I told them since I was the first born of clan DunBroch I'd be shooting for my own hand. Then I hit every target dead on," she held up her hands as if she were clutching her bow, "I even split Wee Dingwall's arrow straight down the middle." Merida smiled proudly. Hiccup gazed at her impressed.

"Oh I would have loved to see that," Hiccup chuckled.

"Really," Merida smirked.

"Believe me princess," Hiccup replied with a grin, "there is nothing more attractive than a girl who can blow the competition away." Merida chuckled.

"Yeah, tell that to the Lord's sons," Merida chuckled, "the wee lambs had never been beaten by a girl before so their pride was just a wee bit hurt to say the least."

"If I had been there," Hiccup paused, "well, I'd of lost the competition, no question, but watching you outshoot my opponents, you'd have won my heart for sure." Merida blushed at his comment.

"Is that so," she replied.

"Most definitely," he smiled, "But then, I guess I kinda have a thing for assertive women." He cleared his throat. She raised an eyebrow at him. Hiccup chuckled as a blush crept over his cheeks.

"So did they call off the betrothal," Hiccup asked, changing the subject.

"Oh no," Merida replied, "far from it, the Lords were offended. Everyone was fighting over what to do about it. They were practically about to start a war over the whole bloody thing! They wanted a betrothal regardless. My mother was furious. We had a terrible fight and I ran away."

"You ran away," Hiccup questioned, "where did you go?"

"I didn't care where," Merida replied, "I just wanted to be as far away from my mother as possible! I rode until Angus and I came upon the standing stones and it was there that the will o' the wisp appeared to me. I thought my prayers were answered, so I followed and the wisps led me to a witch's cottage in the middle of the woods."

"A witch," Hiccup questioned in surprise.

"Aye a witch,"Merida answered, "I thought the wisps led me there to change my fate, I thought she could use her magic to change it."

"And did she," Hiccup asked in intrigue, "did the witch change your fate?"

"Not exactly," Merida replied, "see, I thought if I could change my mum that I could change my fate, so I asked her for a spell to change my mum."

"Did it work," Hiccup questioned.

"Aye," she replied, "the spell changed my mum alright, it changed her into a bear!"

"A bear," Hiccup questioned in confusion, "like, she was worse then before?"

"No," Merida smirked," like a real bear, fur and claws and all!"

"Are you kidding me," Hiccup replied disbelievingly.

"It's the truth," Merida replied, "I coudnae believe it myself, and I instantly regretted it! All I wanted was for my mum to change her mind about my betrothal, not turn her into a bear!"

"And I thought my story was crazy," Hiccup replied in near disbelief.

"So," Merida continued, "mum and I set into the woods to find the witch to reverse the spell. Basically spent days searching and when we finally found her cottage, the witch was gone!" Hiccup gazed wide-eyed in her direction.

"We only found a message from her that said that only I could break the spell," Merida said, "but I had only until sunrise that day to do so, or my poor mum would stay a bear forever!"

"You had only til sunrise to break the spell," Hiccup questioned, "did she at least tell you how to break it?"

"She only gave me a riddle," Merida replied, 'Fate be changed, look inside, mend the bond torn by pride.' Mum and I assumed she meant to mend the tapestry of our family that I had torn in anger. So we went back to the castle for the tapestry, but my dad discovered us. He didnae believe the bear was my mum, he thought the bear took mum and he was fixed to hunt her down!" Hiccup continued to gaze at her wide-eyed.

"He chased mum to the standing stones and when I got to them, I had to fight him off myself to get him to listen," Merida continued, "and just when I thought all hope was lost the sun rose. I thought for sure we were too late. But the spell broke and my mum was my mum again."

"So the tapestry worked," Hiccup questioned.

"No," Merrida replied, "it turns out the bond I had to mend was the one between me and my mother, that's what brought her back. In all our bickering, my mother and I had all but forgotten who the other was and how much we meant to each other. All the time we spent together trying to break the spell, we mended our bond. In the end mum decided to break tradition and allow me to marry in my own time, to someone of my own choosing." Hiccup let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding when he heard her last words.

"Do ye see," Merida replied, "I ran away from my mum and the wisps led me back again. The fate they led me to was about mending the bond between me and my mother, something even I didnae think possible. Changing my mum wasn't the answer I had to change myself first." Merida smiled, "I guess you could say I went on a journey to change my fate, but fate found me along the way." Hiccup smiled to himself.

"What," she asked curiously.

"Nothing," he said, "you just reminded me of something my mom told me before I left." Merida gazed up at him expectantly.

"Let's hear it then," Merida replied.

"Well, it's a little different," Hiccup replied, "but kind of along the same lines."

"Go on then," Merida replied.

"It was something like...; 'Fate finds you on the very road you take to avoid it," he replied.

"She sounds like a wise woman," Merida replied. Hiccup nodded in agreement.

"It also sounds a bit like ye were maybe running away from something though," she said. Hiccup took a deep breath.

"Maybe," he replied absentmindedly.

"Alright, out with it," Merida replied shoving him playfully as they walked.

"Hey," he chuckled, "come on...it's not really something I want to talk about."

Merida gazed at him expectantly.

"Alright," Hiccup groaned, "so when I told my mom about the dream I had and I showed her my sketch of the pendent, that's when she pulled this out." He held up his pendent once more. Merida gazed at him wide-eyed.

"She had it the whole time," Merida questioned. Hiccup nodded.

"Apparently my dad gave it to her when they got married," Hiccup replied sith a shrug, "it's been passed down since my great great grandfather with explicit instructions to only be given to your one true love." Merida looked up at him curiously.

"So, naturally, my mom thinks this whole dream thing is some sort of a...a sign that I'm supposed to, ya know, go out and I guess, find my true love or something like that." Hiccup said quickly.

"And ye disagree," Merida replied.

"Yeah, well it...it's a little ridiculous," Hiccup replied flatly, "true love...soul mates...I mean come on!"

"Sounds like ye might be a bit of a cynic when it comes to love Hiccup," Merida replied, "might there be a reason for that?" She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow at him expectantly.

"You should talk," Hiccup replied sarcastically, "I mean you ran away to avoid your betrothal!"

"Aye, but that's a wee bit different though," Merida replied, "my betrothal had nothing to do with love. I was to be married to whoever was the best shot!"

"Yeah," Hiccup sighed as he thought about it more," I guess it is different."

"Now that I'm free to chose for myself, I am just a wee bit more open to the possibility of finding love," she paused, "real love, I mean, like what our great great grandparents obviously had."

"Yeah well, obviously, their love story didn't turn out so great, now did it; otherwise we wouldn't be here trying to find out what happened to them," Hiccup huffed, "so much for true love."

"You are running from something," Merida smirked. Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Come on then," Merida replied, "let's hear it."

"Okay look," he groaned, " I'm not running from anything. It's...it's more like, a...avoiding I guess." Hiccup paused for a long moment, somewhat reluctant to explain any further. Merida raised an eyebrow at him expectantly. He glanced at her and sighed.

"I'm not getting out of this am I," Hiccup replied flatly. Merida smirked at him.

"Alright, alright," Hiccup sighed, "so, there was this...girl back home, I...I was in love with her and we were together for a while but it didn't work out." Merida felt her heart drop to her stomach at Hiccup's admission.

"Now," he went on, "long story short, she's married...to someone else."

"Are ye still in love with her then," Merida asked softly.

"At first I...," Hiccup sighed, feeling extremely awkward, "Well, I...I was madly in love with Astrid from the start, I mean she was the first person who ever really gave me a chance. For a little while it was good, I think she loved me too. But as time went on, we just started to want different things and we grew apart and so we agreed to go our separate ways. She's still one of my good friends though."

"That's not what I asked," Merida replied, "I asked if yer still in love with her." Hiccup looked over at Merida curiously, trying his best to decipher her feelings.

"Well...no, not like in the beginning...I...I mean...not like when we were together at all really," Hiccup replied, "I...I mean, I still care about her, ya know, as a friend." Merida nodded silently as she pondered his words. Hiccup sighed.

"Sometimes, I do think about what could have been," Hiccup replied. He glanced at her briefly.

"I...I mean I wonder if I had done something differently would it have changed anything, would it have made a difference," Hiccup sighed, "I mean there were a lot of mistakes that I made."

Hiccup sighed again as he tried to get his thoughts straight.

"Honestly, even though we agreed it was for the best, and it is," Hiccup continued, "it...it still hurt, ya know. And seeing her so happy with someone else hurts too." Merida silently nodded.

"But it..it's not so much the fact that she's happier with someone else as it is the fact that I...I just failed so miserably at making her happy when I had the chance." Hiccup glanced at Merida once more but she remained focused on the trail ahead, silently listening to him. Her quietness made Hiccup feel uneasy and he wondered what was going through her mind.

"Anyway," he continued on, "because I have not found anyone else or haven't even been looking really, my mom seems to think I've been avoiding it and I guess she feels like I'm afraid of love; hence the words of wisdom." Merida remained quiet.

"But I'm not," Hiccup went on, "afraid that is. I...I just haven't really wanted anything to do with love since then, I guess. I...I mean, it just hasn't been a priority is all. I've been more focused on, ya know, leading Berk and my map, and..." He glanced over at her briefly, "I..I mean, it's not that I don't want it at all, because I...I do. I...I mean, I may, might, that is eventually...someday." Hiccup took a deep breath. Merida paused for a moment as she turned and gazed up at him.

"Maybe ye are," she replied.

"What," Hiccup questioned.

"Afraid of love," Merida replied.

"Come on," Hiccup groaned, "not you too! See, this is exactly why I didn't want to talk about it!"

"It's okay ye know," she replied, "to be afraid." Hiccup glanced at her curiously.

"Ye've been hurt," Merida stated matter of factly, "but it seems to me yer not afraid of love itself as much as yer afraid of failing at it." Hiccup just gazed at her once again struck wordless by her ability to talk sense into him.

"Her happiness is a reminder of yer failure," Merida went on, "yer afraid of going through that heartbreak again, but ye cannae let that fear stop ye from finding love again." She stepped closer to him and pressed a hand firmly to his chest. His mind inadvertently flashed briefly to the woman in his dream.

"Ye need to open yer heart to the possibility," she shrugged, "otherwise when love does find ye, and it will, ye could miss it." She turned and continued to walk along the trail of wisps. Hiccup just stood for a moment processing her words. She was right, as much as he tried to deny it to himself. Ever since Astrid had announced her engagement, all he could see was his epic failure at love and all he wanted to do was avoid it ever since.

He watched as Merida walked ahead. She seemed to have the uncanny ability to make him see things in a different way and think about them from an angle that hadn't quite occurred to him before. Not only that, but Merida seemed so easy to talk to, he felt he could very easily open up to her and be honest about his thoughts and feelings. As he gazed at her, he couldn't help but to feel that maybe they had met for a reason other than their great great grandparent's quest and he couldn't help but wonder if maybe she could be his second chance. He found himself suddenly concerned that he'd said too much to Merida concerning Astrid and his complicated feelings for the girl he once loved. He jogged up beside her.

"Hey, Merida wait, uh...listen, uh..." Hiccup said, "about what I told you, a-about Astrid, I uh...I just, I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

"What idea," Merida questioned in confusion.

"I...I just don't want you to think that there was anything...uh..." Hiccup sighed as he struggled to get his thoughts straight.

"What I mean is...I'm not," he sighed, "I'm not like pining after her or anything. I mean, I think about what went wrong sometimes but not because I want her back or anything." Merida averted her gaze for a moment as she listened.

"Ye know Hiccup," she replied with a slightly amused grin, "ye don't need to explain yerself to me."

"No, uh I...I know that I don't need to," Hiccup replied, "but I just want to make sure that you know that everything with Astrid is...is in the past..." Merida gazed up at him for a long moment unsure of what exactly he was trying to say.

"And, why exactly do you feel like you need to go out of your way to tell me this," Merida questioned. Hiccup shrugged.

"I, uh, I don't know exactly," he replied rubbing the back of his neck nervously, "I just, uh, I...I didn't want you to think that I was like, still hung up on her or...or anything. Uh, because I'm not and, uh, I guess I just didn't want whatever you thought or whatever it sounded like...I mean, I just didn't want any of it to hinder us, uh...uh, ya know, from being friends, I mean." She noticed the slight blush on his face and smiled.

"Why would that stop us from being friends Hiccup," Merida questioned. Hiccup shrugged.

"I don't know," he chuckled lightly feeling a bit awkward. She raised an eyebrow at him questioningly. Hiccup could feel his heart racing and his stomach doing flip flops.

"What uh...what about you," Hiccup asked changing the subject. She turned her eyes back to the trail ahead.

"What about me," she asked.

"Have you ever been in love before," Hiccup asked, "I mean, I know you're not betrothed and all, but was there ever...uh anyone you, like, cared about that way or...or still do maybe?" Merida could feel her cheeks flush but she kept her gaze on the trail ahead. Hiccup took notice of her blush and smiled to himself.

"No actually," Merida answered as she cleared her throat, "I...I haven't. In...in fact, I'd say love has always been the furthest thing from my mind."

"Really," Hiccup replied. Merida glanced up at him briefly, feeling a bit diffident.

"What," she questioned self-consciously.

"Nothing, nothing," Hiccup replied, "I guess I just figured someone like you would have ya know someone that they cared about, or maybe cared about them ya know like a...a...a boyfriend I guess."

"No," Merida replied quickly, "I...I dinnae have anyone like that."

"No," Hiccup questioned in interest, "not anyone?" Merida shook her head.

"I guess you probably have guys lined up around the kingdom trying to win your heart, huh," Hiccup replied as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yeah, my throne, more like," Merida scoffed, "I haven't met a one interested in my heart." She crossed her arms over her chest as she focused on the trail ahead, trying her best to seem flippant about the subject.

"Not one," Hiccup questioned skeptically. Merida shook her head as she glanced up at him.

"It's not exactly a big deal, Hiccup," Merida replied. "I mean none in my family has ever even married for love, not even my parents. They were only married because they were betrothed. They were lucky though, they fell in love later."

"Huh," Hiccup replied, thinking heavily on her words, "we've always been allowed to marry for love in Berk. I mean, I believe love should be the only reason that you marry someone. Don't you?" Merida glanced up at him with a look of uncertainty on her face.

"Ye would think that," Merida replied in slight frustration, "and maybe it's so for the commoners, but not for the princess. For me it's all about politics and choosing the right suitor because whoever he be, he'd be the next king of Dunbroch. And they can't have just anyone sit on the throne can they? Forget that it's my throne they'd be sitting on. But God forbid a woman should sit on her own throne without being wed!"

"Now wait, you mean you can't take the throne unless you get married," Hiccup questioned.

"Aye," she replied, "the Lords are adamant about it...which is why my mum is so up in arms about the fact that I still have yet to choose. She won't say it outright but I know it's weighing on her."

"Well what's the rush," Hiccup questioned, "if you are to marry in your own time like she promised you?"

"Well it's not really a rush I guess," Merida replied, "Well, see, the thing is, being as though I've just passed my twenty first birthday, which is technically the age I'd be getting married if I'd been betrothed and all, I guess she's just getting anxious about it."

"I still don't get it," Hiccup replied.

"What," Merida questioned.

"Why you can't take the throne without a husband," Hiccup questioned, "I mean what bearing does that have on your role as queen?" Merida shrugged.

"It's tradition," Merida replied, "it's been that way for generations. The Lords are stubborn and set in their ways. She glanced over at him. "Doesn't Berk have any traditions?"

"Of course," Hiccup replied, "but none of our traditions are so strict when it comes to things like...like marriage and love a-and it's not a big deal if the Chief isn't married. I...I mean, it's recommended of course, uh...ya know, to produce heirs and all...I guess, but it's not like a requirement or anything."

"Well, has there ever been a Chief that was a woman in Berk," Merida questioned.

"Well...no," Hiccup replied, "but there also hasn't exactly been any women in my line yet either, not in generations really. But if my first born happens to be a girl, she would be the next Chief." Merida glanced up at him. Hiccup smiled at her slightly and averted his gaze.

"Ya know uh...if...if I ever choose to get married," he cleared his throat, "I mean if I ever found someone who uh...ya know would settle for all of this." He chuckled under his breath.

"Hiccup," Merida laughed, "don't sell yer self short, yer a catch ye know."

"Please...I'm sub-par husband material by Viking women's standards," Hiccup replied sarcastically.

"Well...what about Astrid," Merida questioned.

"Oh right...the girl who married someone who's not me," Hiccup said flatly.

"She still saw ye for what yer worth though," Merida replied, "ye said so yer self, I mean, sure it didn't work out, but if ye weren't worth it she wouldn't have given ye the time a day to begin with." Hiccup gazed at her curiously as she spoke.

"And besides, her loss...is definitely another girl's gain," Merida shrugged, "ye know, if ever ye choose a lass who can handle...all of that." She smirked up at him. Hiccup chuckled.

"You are something else princess," he replied, "ya know that." He gazed at her for a long moment thinking over all she had said. Merida shrugged nonchalantly as she continued following the trail. He smiled to himself. Merida was unlike any girl he'd ever met and he was completely taken with her.

"Well, at least you can marry for love now," Hiccup said. Merida turned her gaze back to him once more with a look of uncertainty on her face.

"You know," he went on, "uh, since your mom told you that you could marry who you choose."

"I guess so," Merida said as she turned her eyes back to the trail ahead.

"Geeze Merida," Hiccup replied, "try not to be too happy about that."

"I am happy to have my freedom to choose," Merida replied firmly, "but it's just...it's not really as simple as all that for me."

"What do you mean," Hiccup questioned.

"Look, I...I've never been in love before," Merida replied, "but I'm fairly certain ye have no control over who ye fall for."

"True," Hiccup replied with a smile, "but isn't that a reason to be glad to make your own choice?"

"Well I'm still the princess," Merida replied, "I'm still next in line for the throne. As much as I wish it otherwise, my obligation is to my people and not necessarily my heart." With her unexpected words, Hiccup's heart seemed to freeze mid-beat.

"I'm sorry," Hiccup replied, "I'm just a little confused, I thought the whole reason you went against your mom was so you could choose to marry for love. I mean, didn't you just say that now that you can choose for yourself, that you are more open to the possibility of finding love?"

"Well, I did and...and I am," Merida replied, "but I'm also realistic about it."

"Realistic," Hiccup repeated, "what does that mean?"

"I mean, even though I'm open to the possibility," Merida replied, "that it's still best to choose with my head and not my heart." Hiccup paused a moment as his heart seemed to drop to his feet.

"Going against my mum...it...it was more like, uh, to avoid betrothal without a say in the matter," Merida continued, "I never really thought about it more than that."

"Oh," Hiccup replied.

"I mean at least now I get to choose someone I like and not be forced to wed someone just because they hit a bloody target," Merida replied.

"But love is not a factor," Hiccup replied.

"It is," Merida replied, "it...it's just not the most important."

"You don't actually believe that do you," Hiccup asked. She gazed at him unamused.

"Oh come on," he scoffed, "how could love not be the most important thing, when you're choosing someone to marry?"

"I don't expect ye to understand," Merida replied, "it's different for you. I mean technically, I could choose for love if I wanted to now, but the problem is that whoever I choose my parents must approve of. Which, I guess wouldn't be too difficult; but because it also dictates who will have the throne then the Lords must approve as well."

"So," Hiccup replied.

"So...if I let my heart choose and they disapprove, then what? I'd have a choice to...to either abdicate my throne or...or let go of who I love. That would be an impossible choice, Hiccup. A choice that I'd rather not be faced with!" She huffed as she turned her eyes back to the path.

"So what," Hiccup replied, "you just give up on ever finding love?"

"This coming from the man who avoids love at all costs," she groaned.

"Yeah...well...that's different," Hiccup replied.

"How," she questioned skeptically.

"Well I made the choice to avoid it if I want to...I mean, I could change my mind about it too," Hiccup replied, "I'm certainly not going to just marry some random girl who I don't love just to...to avoid a difficult decision!" Merida sighed as she thought about it. Hiccup glanced at her again. He inadvertently grabbed her hand causing her to stop mid-step. He pulled her back to him and gazed into her blue eyes with a look of concern on his face. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart seemed to skip as she gazed back at him.

"Merida, if you choose someone you don't really love and marry them," Hiccup went on, "there would be no going back, no changing your mind, you'd be stuck with him, and you'd be miserable." Merida gazed up at him for a long moment before averting her eyes. She knew Hiccup was right. Though she'd never admit it, she was afraid to allow her heart to choose. Though she had the freedom to choose for love, she still felt bound to her crown. She still felt obligated to her kingdom to make a wise choice for the person who would end up sharing her throne, rather than one of the heart. She tried not to dwell on it too much and tried to avoid the subject as much as possible. But regardless her heart still yearned for more than she thought she could have.

Hiccup let go of her hand but continued to gaze at her. Though, he knew he may have overstepped a bit in their conversation he couldn't help it. Merida was an amazing girl, the most amazing girl he'd ever met, in fact. She was smart, beautiful, and kind. She was easy to talk to and fun to be around. She was someone he could easily see himself falling for. He could not understand why someone as special and unique as her could be so willing to give up on love completely before ever even experiencing it, all for the sake of her throne.

Maybe it was all in his head but he simply couldn't deny their chemistry. He couldn't deny the feelings he seemed to be having for her from the moment they met, despite his aversion to love. From their banter that at times felt more like flirting, to her seemingly heartfelt words of advice, she seemed to have stirred in Hiccup feelings that he hadn't felt in so long; feelings he had practically given up on.

She was special, no question, far too special, in his opinion, to waste away in some sham of a marriage because of her people's archaic traditions. Maybe his reasons for telling her so were slightly selfish; but even if he had no chance at all, he didn't think that she should be trapped in some loveless marriage for the rest of her life. Though he'd known her only two days, he knew she deserved far more than that.

"I'm sorry," he replied, "I know it...it's none of my business, but it just doesn't seem fair. I mean, you fought to get the freedom to choose for yourself and...and now your just going to waste your choice on some guy the Lords approve of?"

"It is what it is, Hiccup" Merida replied as she turned and continued walking, "being a leader means you make sacrifices for yer people. I'm sure ye of all people can understand that at least. I care about my people too much to abdicate my throne, and I don't want to be faced with an impossible choice!"

"With all due respect princess," Hiccup replied as he followed behind her, "that just sounds like a load of bull shit."

"Excuse me," she replied indignantly as she turned and glared up at him.

"It sounds to me like you're just as afraid of love as I am," Hiccup smirked at her as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh please," Merida scoffed, "I am not." He just gazed at her disbelievingly.

"I'm not afraid Hiccup," Merida replied in frustration.

"Yes, you are," he replied, "you're afraid that if you find love it will end in heartbreak because of the stipulations of your throne. So out of fear you're not even allowing yourself the chance to find love at all." Merida sighed heavily as she turned her eyes back to the path ahead.

"You're ridiculous," she replied.

"Well...you're a hypocrite," Hiccup replied.

"I am not," Merida snapped.

"Oh No," Hiccup replied, "didn't you just tell me that I shouldn't let my fear stop me from finding love again...that I...I should open my heart to the possibility."

"Aye, so, what's yer point," Merida asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"So, why would you tell me that," Hiccup questioned, "when you, yourself are avoiding love out of fear?" Merida huffed in frustration.

"Well it doesn't seem like something that would be easy to find anyway," she replied in aggravation, "not for me."

"How so," he questioned skeptically.

"I don't know," she groaned, "I...I guess, well, I...I don't know, I mean..." She sighed heavily before continuing as she tried desperately to gather her thoughts.

"Most people see me for what I am," she replied in frustration, "not who I am! All they see is...is Princess Merida, daughter of the king, future queen of Scots and they act accordingly. I mean, I...I've never even had a real friend before, let alone someone who knows me well enough to love me for me and not just my bloody title!"

"Well that sounds really," Hiccup paused.

"Lonely," he and Merida said in unison. They glanced at each other briefly.

"I...I try not to think about it much," Merida shrugged, "in fact I...I've never even really told anyone how I felt about it before." Hiccup remained quiet as he listened.

"No one I've ever met has ever just been real with me. They all just tell me what they think I want to hear. I...I can't stand it sometimes. It's enough to...to make me just want to give up!" Merida turned to face him once again.

"If I were to give my heart, it'd be my whole heart Hiccup," she continued as she placed her hand over her heart, "and I'd expect nothing less in return. I'd want the person I give my heart to, to want me for me. No man that's ever come around wants me, they all just want the throne. So no, I...I don't really believe that the kind of love I want is really out there for me." Merida glanced up at him. Hiccup gazed at her for a long moment, feeling an aching in his heart as she voiced her misgivings when it came to love. Despite his own misgivings he felt the need to prove to her that love was real and that she deserved it just as much as anyone else.

"But you do think about it," Hiccup questioned softly, "what you would want out of love?"

"Sometimes, I do," Merida replied as she glanced at him.

"What exactly do you think about," Hiccup asked curiously. She turned her eyes back to the trail as she thought of what to say.

"Well, I think sometimes that if I did choose for love, that I would want someone who really sees me, and cares about me, the real me. I'd want someone I could talk to and share things with, and someone who's not afraid to tell me when I'm wrong. I'd want someone who's not afraid to disagree with me, or tell me I'm being unreasonable. I...I want someone that I could just be myself with, who would accept me as I am and wouldn't try to change me. I'd want someone who cares to hear my opinion on things and doesn't just dismiss me. I would want someone who truly loves me for who I am in here," she pointed to her heart.

Hiccup smiled warmly in her direction. For someone who claimed to not believe love was something in her fate, she had given it much thought. He stopped walking and gently grabbed her hand once more. She turned to him curiously. He gazed into her sky blue eyes and smiled slightly. Merida's breath caught in her throat as she gazed back at him.

"Well if that's how you feel," Hiccup questioned, "if that's something you really want, then why on earth would you be so willing to...to give up the hope of ever finding that; to not even allow yourself the possibility?"

"Why won't you," she questioned. Hiccup sighed heavily as he released her hand.

"You're right, ya know," Hiccup replied with a shrug, "I'm a hypocrite and a cynic and a coward when it comes to love, but at least I experienced it once. And even though it didn't last, it was still worth it." Hiccup gazed at her for a long moment. She dropped her eyes to the ground seemingly in deep thought.

"Look I get it," Hiccup replied, "I...I mean it's not easy when people see you a certain way and expect you to be a certain way, and they don't really give you the chance to be who you truly are. Or worse, they judge you for being true to yourself." Merida stayed silent as she pondered his words.

"I know what it's like to not be truly seen, Merida," he went on, "I mean when I was younger I didn't really have any friends, like at all." Hiccup shrugged, "I was an outcast and a screw up and pretty much rejected by most of my peers. So, loneliness and I, we go way back." She smiled in sympathy.

"But I always wanted someone to get me, I guess," Hiccup continued, "to see me for me for what I could do, not just dismiss me because I was a runt and just a terribly accident prone Viking, who may...or...may not have burned the village down a couple times."

"Hiccup," Merida laughed as she looked up at him.

"I'm joking...I'm joking," he replied, "it was only the once...and it's wasn't even my fault really...it was an accident."

"Oh I'd like to hear that story," Merida replied with a chuckle.

"Yeah well...one of these days," Hiccup chuckled, "maybe." Hiccup paused a moment as he gazed in her direction.

"I do get it though," Hiccup replied. Merida smiled up at him as she gazed at him for a long moment.

"Look," Hiccup replied, "all I'm trying to say is, even though it could potentially end badly, love is still worth the risk. Even though Astrid and I ended as we did, even though I got my heart broken, it was all still worth it...to me at least. I mean, in my opinion, I'd much rather experience love even if it ends badly than to...to never experience it at all."

"Well, ye didn't know when ye fell for Astrid that it'd end as it did Hiccup," Merida replied.

"Yeah so," Hiccup replied.

"Well I know that if I fall in love it will end that way because of what I am and what I'm meant to be," Merida replied, "so why even try if heartbreak is inevitable?"

"No, you don't know that," Hiccup replied, "you're just assuming the worst case scenario. For all you know the person you fall in love with could be accepted by your entire kingdom. I mean, wouldn't that be better then just settling for someone because you're afraid of the outcome?" Merida huffed in frustration. She turned her eyes back to the trail ahead of them.

"The problem is you'll never know if you never take a chance," Hiccup went on. He gazed at her for a long moment. He could feel his heart racing, as well as his thoughts. There were so many things he longed to say to her. He paused a moment as he placed a hand on her cheek and gently turned her head to face him again. She kept her eyes averted in an attempt to avoid his intense gaze.

"Merida look at me," he said softly. She reluctantly turned her eyes and gazed up at him in uncertainty. He gazed back into her sparkling blue eyes for a long moment, seemingly at a loss for words.

"You're an amazing person Merida," Hiccup said, "I mean, you're beautiful, your witty, smart, fearless and...just...amazing with that bow of your's." He chuckled under his breath. Merida continued to gaze up at him as a blush arose on her cheeks. Hiccup leaned a little closer to her as he continued to look into her eyes.

"Everything you just said, everything you want in a relationship...you deserve to have all of it. You deserve to be happy," he said firmly, "and you're crazy if you think that there is no one in this world that could see past your title to who you are in here." He pointed to her heart.

"Believe me, you are any guy's dream! I mean I've known you, what, a day," Hiccup went on, "and I can already see how amazing you are." Merida blushed slightly at his words as she gazed up at him. He dropped his hand from her face, but continued to gaze at her.

"All I'm trying to say is there is more to life then just being queen. You shouldn't have to choose between leading your people and being happy," Hiccup went on, "and, I mean, so what if the Lords don't approve, I'm sure there would be a way around that, even if you have to fight for it. Isn't love worth fighting for?" He smirked in her direction. Merida looked up at him and smiled slightly.

"Ye know, for someone as cynical about love as ye are," she replied, "ye certainly are passionate about it." He shook his head and chuckled slightly.

"What can I say," he shrugged, "I'm secretly a romantic...just don't tell anyone it may tarnish my Viking reputation." Merida chuckled.

"Besides," Hiccup sighed, "what kind of friend would I be if I didn't give you the same advice you gave me." He gazed at her a few moments longer then he probably should have with a warm, genuine smile on his face. She blushed under the weight of his gaze. It was the first time she'd ever felt like someone truly saw her, and understood how she felt. She smiled back at him.

"So basically what yer saying is we should both be following our own advice then," Merida replied as she smirked up at him.

"Basically," Hiccup grinned.

"Aye," Merida replied, "just fur ye mak' a good point, what's to halt ye from goin back to yer old love avoiding ways then?" She raised an eyebrow at him questioningly.

"Well...how about this," Hiccup replied, "I promise to take a chance on finding love again, if you promise to take a chance on love as well." Merida continued to smirk up at him.

"Alright then," she replied, "I guess that sounds fair, but I'll have ye know that I'll not let ye go back on yer word."

"Fair enough princess," Hiccup chuckled, "and as your first real friend I promise to hold you to your's."

"Real friend huh," she smiled.

"Of course," Hiccup replied as he smiled back at her.

"Well, yer nothing if not persistent Viking," Merida replied, "I'll give ye that." She turned and began to follow the trail of wisps once more.

"Please, the very definition of a Viking is stubbornness to a fault, princess," Hiccup grinned as he followed after her.

"Aye, are ye entirely certain that ye don't have a Scot in yer line somewhere," Merida smirked as she glanced back at him, "stubbornness is our main trait."

"Well I guess anything is possible," Hiccup replied with a shrug, "of course there could have just as easily been a Viking somewhere in your's." Merida laughed out loud as she continued walking.

"So do we have a deal then," Hiccup asked. Merida stopped and turned to face him.

"I'd say so," Merida replied. Hiccup grinned at her.

"Okay then," he grinned as he held his hand out to her. She smiled up at him as she took his hand and shook it.

"Here's to being open to the possibility," Hiccup grinned.

"And ye have faith this will go well, do ye," Merida questioned as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Only time will tell princess," he smirked, "but I have a pretty good feeling that we both might just find exactly what we've been looking for."

"Oh ye do, do ye," Merida smirked. Hiccup smiled as a slight blush arose on his cheeks.

"Most definitely," he replied.

The murmuring of the wisp suddenly became a little louder and more insistent causing them both to look up. There before them were the very standing stones that Hiccup had only seen in his dream. Hiccup gazed up in amazement. They were much larger then he'd imagined they'd be and far more impressive.

"Pretty amazing, huh," Merida replied as she crossed her arms over her chest. Hiccup nodded.

"I'm still trying to figure out what all this means," he replied as he gazed up at the massive stones. They followed the wisps to the center of the ring. Hiccup walked the parameter of the circle as he gazed up at the tall stones. He ran his fingers over the detailed carvings in the stones, many of which reminded him of the ancient Viking runes.

As Merida walked further into the center of the ring she noticed a wisp hovering by one of the larger stones. She slowly headed in its direction. Just as she reached that particular stone, the wisp vanished and in the very place it had been she noticed a symbol that looked very much like those of her pendent but combined. Around it was carved some words written in a language that she didn't recognize. It was a wonder to her that in all the times she had been there she had never noticed these particular carvings before.

"Hiccup," she called out as she glanced over her shoulder, "come look at this!" Hiccup jogged over to where she was and looked where she had pointed. He crouched down before the stone and examined the carvings more closely .

"The wisp lead me straight to this spot," Merida said, "it's strange though; I've been here many times...I can't remember ever being drawn to this particular carving before." Hiccup gazed up at her in intrigue. He turned his attention back to the stone.

"Do ye know this language," she asked.

"It sorta looks like old Norse," Hiccup replied as he glanced up at her again, "but these two symbols carved as one is interesting, I wonder if it's some sort of a...a Viking binding spell."

"A viking binding spell," Merida questioned.

"Vikings used to use runes for spells," Hiccup replied, "they believed you could combine certain runes together to use magic to gain things like, protection, bravery, wisdom or even help with way-finding. But Viking binding spells are an old practice. As far as I know, it hasn't been done in hundreds of years."

"But this is a rune combined with a Celtic symbol," Merida replied, "what exactly do ye think they were trying to gain?" Hiccup shrugged.

"I'm not sure exactly," he replied, "I mean, I always thought it was all just superstition."

"What about the inscription," Merida questioned, "Ye said it's old Norse; do ye know what it says?"

"Well, I'm not so good at reading Old Norse," Hiccup replied, "but I can try." Hiccup pulled out his notebook and began sketching the symbol and words, as Merida watched curiously. Hiccup glanced up at her.

"I just want to record it so I can ask Fishlegs about it later in case I mis-translate," he replied.

"Fishlegs," Merida questioned in confusion.

Hiccup chuckled, "my friend back home, he's really good at this stuff." He glanced up at her briefly, "I told you, Vikings have terrible names...it's tradition."

"It's tradition for vikings to have terrible names," she questioned skeptically.

"Yeah," he shrugged nonchalantly, "having a terrible name is supposed to ward off trolls and curses."

"Really," Merida replied as she gazed at him incredulously. He glanced up at her with a smirk.

"You think I'd make that up," he replied sarcastically, "my name is Hiccup for crying out loud!"

"You really believe having a terrible name can ward off trolls and curses," she questioned.

"Says the girl who follows magical lights into the forrest, and used a spell to turn her mother into a bear," he replied in amusement.

"Have you ever seen a troll," she questioned.

"No," Hiccup smirked, "I guess my name is terrible enough that they stay miles away." Merida chuckled slightly as Hiccup turned back to his sketch.

He finished his sketch and closed the book.

"Okay," he sighed as he studied the words, "Souls be bound...lovers true...fate be linked...two hearts now one." He looked up at her with a curious expression on his face.

"Well, it certainly sounds like a spell," Merida replied as she crossed her arms over her chest. Hiccup turned back to the stone and reached out to gently touch the carvings. As he traced the crude lines with his fingers, his mind flashed briefly to the scenes from his most recent dream. He saw the strange man carving something with his dagger, the man cutting a braid from his head, and the couple exchanging lockets. He remained quiet for a long few moments as he contemplated the visions that flashed through his mind.

"Some sort of ritual," he muttered to himself. He stood slowly and turned to Merida.

"Ritual," Merida questioned.

"Do you remember earlier when I said that my dream was the same every night until I got here," Hiccup asked.

"Aye," Merida replied curiously.

"Well, the dream I had last night was different," he replied, "I sorta forgot about it til just now. I was here at the standing stones but it was strange, I...I kept seeing different scenes. There was a man carving something into one of the stones, then I saw him cut a braid of hair from his head, then I saw him give the pendant to a woman and she gave him another. Neither of them acknowledged me, it was almost like watching some sort of a...a memory I guess. I couldn't make sense of it, but I think that maybe these scenes I saw were like glimpses of some sort of a ritual."

"A ritual to do what exactly," Merida questioned. Hiccup shrugged.

"I don't know," he paused a moment as he thought about it.

"Well, we do know for certain that Mairead and Hiccup the First did not end up together," Hiccup replied, "maybe they knew their time together was coming to an end, maybe they got desperate."

Aye," Merida replied, "I know she loved him, that much is true...but she wasn't exactly free to do so."

"What do you mean," Hiccup looked at her curiously.

"When they met," Merida went on, "Mairead was already betrothed to my great great grand-da. I'm sure her and yer grandfather's affair would have been a scandal."

"So they were definitely being forced apart then," Hiccup replied.

"Aye," Merida replied, "that's not all, "My father also told me that my great great, great, grand-da, Mairead's father, called upon yer clan to help DunBroch hunt the dragons that plagued our land at the time. That's why they came to DunBroch in the first place. Our clans apparently were allies for many years prior but at some point there was a misunderstanding between the king and the chief and it resulted in the Berkan Vikings being banned from ever returning." Hiccup looked to her in surprise.

"We were banished from DunBroch," he questioned. Merida nodded. Hiccup pondered this new detail.

"Why," Hiccup asked, "what was the disagreement about?" Merida shrugged.

"Nobody really knows," Merida replied, "not even my Dad could find the answer, but Id wager that it had something to do with our grandparents affair."

"Then it makes sense," he replied, "if they were being forced apart like that, then they must have tried to cast some sort of a...a binding spell to keep that from happening...maybe...they were trying to change their fate too." Hiccup turned to face her.

"So...ye think this ritual that ye saw was a part of some kind of a...a spell to keep that from happening," Merida questioned. Hiccup nodded.

"Maybe," he replied.

"But if that's true," Merida questioned, "then what happened? They still wound up apart. I mean, did the spell not work?"

"That I don't know," Hiccup replied thoughtfully, "but then I don't really know all that much about magic to begin with. I mean, like I said, it's an old practice." Merida gazed ahead of them as she thought everything over.

"Hiccup, do ye think this could be why we're being led by the wisps," Merida questioned.

"I don't know," Hiccup replied, "I mean, I guess it's possible...but if that's true, why us...why now...it's been nearly 300 years since this spell would've been cast? I mean why wait three generations to reach out to us now?"

"Aye, ye have a point," Merida replied. She fell silent as she thought about it.

"What if it is something about us, in particular" Merida questioned. Hiccup looked up at her in intrigue.

"Maybe there is something specifically about ye and I," Merida went on, "something that connects us to them better than any of their other descendants."

"Like what exactly," Hiccup questioned.

"I don't know," Merida shrugged, "I mean, ye said before this all started happening to us both around the same time."

"True," Hiccup agreed. He tried to think of what they both could have inadvertently done to trigger all of this. Merida fell silent as she thought about it as well. She turned to face him suddenly as a thought occurred to her.

"What about the pendants," Merida questioned. Hiccup looked curiously at her once more.

"It just, it seems to have started after my Dad gave it to me," Merida replied.

"The pendants are technically the only real physical connection we have to our great great grandparents," Hiccup replied, "but they've also been passed down three generations. So it still begs the question...why us?"

"Well...," Merida replied thoughtfully, "technically I'm only the first of my family to actually wear the pendant. After nana left it to my father, he locked it away. It hasn't actually been worn by anyone since my Dad was just a wee lad."

"That's an interesting thought," Hiccup replied, "I mean, come to think of it, my grandfather's pendant has been passed down to each of my predecessors but none of them has ever actually worn it, they each had given it to their true love as a betrothal gift. So...technically I'm the first of my great great grandfather's descendants to actually wear it." They gazed at each other curiously for a long moment.

"If it was a spell," Merida went on, "maybe the pendants are some kind of talisman or something. Or...or maybe they used some sort of blood magic on the pendants."

"Blood magic," Hiccup questioned.

"Aye, I read about it once," Merida replied, "it was a story of a witch that cast a curse that could only be undone by herself or by a blood descendant." Hiccup gazed at her in curiosity.

"I mean, think about it," Merida went on, "it was only after my Dad gave me the pendant that the wisps lead me to the journal and around the same time ye say yer dreams began. Not to mention ye saw both the pendants used in some sort of ritual in yer most recent dream."

"So you think that the pendants themselves have some sort of magic attached to them," Hiccup questioned, "and because we are the direct descendants of Mairead and Hiccup the first, that somehow us having them is what started all of this?"

"Aye," Merida replied, "I mean, it sorta makes sense doesn't it? I mean, maybe the pendants finally being worn by both of us was what sparked the magic from the spell."

"It certainly sounds plausible," Hiccup replied, "but it still doesn't answer why...I mean, what was the purpose of the spell to begin with. What were they actually trying to accomplish? And what exactly is supposed to be our part in all of this? I mean, what exactly is the magic calling us to do?"

"Aye, it all still doesn't quite add up does it," Merida replied, "I mean, if it was a spell to stay together, clearly that didn't work. But what else would they have been trying to do with such a spell?" Hiccup furrowed his brow as he thought about everything Merida suggested.

"Maybe something went wrong," Hiccup replied somberly, "maybe the spell backfired somehow, or...or they did something wrong."

"Perhaps," Merida replied as she thought it all over, "it's possible they didn't know the consequences of using such magic, maybe they didn't quite realize what they were getting themselves into...like when I used the spell that changed my mum." Hiccup nodded in agreement.

"Maybe the magic from the spell is leading us to find the truth," Merida replied, "the truth about what really happened. Maybe we're supposed to...to find out what went amiss and...and set it right again somehow." Hiccup gazed at her in intrigue as he pondered her words. He sighed heavily as he looked at her.

"It feels like everything we find out only leads to ten times more questions than we had before," Hiccup replied in frustration.

"I know," Merida replied, "but it does seem like we are onto something, at the very least we may be closer to the answers we seek."

"Yeah but how are we supposed to find out about this spell," Hiccup questioned, "like I said before, I don't have all that much knowledge about magic or...or spells or anything like that...do you?"

"Not really...no," Merida admitted, "Just from what little I read in stories, which isn't much. I...I've only personally used a spell once and...well...ye know how that turned out."

"Well, unless we can find someone who knows more about magic," Hiccup replied, "I don't see how we can find out the truth." Merida pondered his words.

"Well, I may not know much about magic," Merida replied, "but maybe I know where we could find some answers."

"The witch," Hiccup questioned hesitantly. Merida nodded.

"Maybe she could tell us something more about the spell itself that could help us understand what our grandparents were up to," Merida replied, "or why the spell's magic seems to be leading us. Or...or what, if anything, could have gone amiss."

"I guess it's worth a shot," Hiccup replied.

"Her cottage is close to here," Merida replied, "of course, the wisps led me there before so I don't know exactly where, but I'm sure if we keep walking..."

"Merida," Hiccup interrupted, "hold on a minute." She looked up at him curiously.

"We've been walking for hours following the wisps," he replied, "I think we should call it a day, don't you? I mean, we can come back tomorrow with Toothless. Maybe the wisps will come back to show us the way. Besides it's getting late, I don't want you to miss your curfew."

"Yer right," Merida replied as she shook her head, "sorry, I...I'm just really anxious to figure this all out."

"Me too," he chuckled, "but we have plenty of time. I mean, I'm not going anywhere...at least not until we figure this out anyway." Merida nodded.

"Okay then," Merida smiled.

"Besides," he smiled, "this gives me the prefect excuse to see you again tomorrow." Merida chuckled as she gazed up at him.

"Ye know Hiccup," she replied with a smile, "ye don't really need an excuse. I like spending time with ye." Hiccup smiled back at her.

"You do huh," Hiccup replied with a grin.

"Of course," Merida grinned back, "yer funny, smart, easy to talk to, and...and yer not afraid to tell me like it is. Like ye said before, yer my first real friend." Hiccup smiled warmly at her.

"Ya know, as strange as this all has been," he replied, "I'm really kinda glad that the spirits of our grandparents waited so long to reach out to us specifically." Merida furrowed her brow at him. Hiccup glanced at her in slight amusement.

"Because we wouldn't have met otherwise," he explained, "and I...I'm really glad that we met."

"Really," she asked.

"Of course," Hiccup replied with a grin, "ya know, I meant what I said earlier. You're amazing and I like spending time with you too." Merida smiled warmly up at him. He gazed in her direction for a long moment.

"It...it's...uh...sort of a...a little more than that though," he continued as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck, "I...I feel like you just...see me, ya know, the real me. I...I mean, I don't have to pretend with you, ya know, it's...it's just easy to be myself and I just feel like...like I could just tell you everything and anything." He chuckled slightly as he continued to gaze at her.

"It's kind of crazy actually when you think about it, I...I mean...I know we just met and all, but it sorta feels almost like we've known each other a lot longer." He gazed at her once again. She smiled slightly as she looked up at him nervously. He paused a moment as he reached for her hand once more. He smiled warmly in her direction as he gently grasped her hand in his. She smiled warmly in return.

"I know I said this before, but, I...I really do like you," he went on as he continued to rub the back of his neck nervously, "and I...I'm really glad we're friends."

"Me too," she replied with a smile.

...

As they began the long walk back to Hiccup's camp, Merida fell quiet as she mentally went over everything they had discovered at the standing stones. Noticing her quietness, Hiccup gazed at her for a long moment, curious as to what was going through her mind.

"You okay," he asked in a concerned tone.

"Yeah," Merida replied distractedly, "I...I was just thinking, is all."

"About what exactly," Hiccup questioned. She glanced up at him.

"Just about our grandparent's situation," Merida replied, "I mean, it must have been so hard for them. They found each other and fell in love only to be forced apart. And what's worse, she was forced to marry someone she didn't even love at all. It's...it's...exactly what I fear Hiccup." Hiccup nodded in understanding as he listened.

"Not only that but I could have just as easily been in the same predicament as my great great nana," Merida said, "I mean, if my mum didn't change her mind, I'd have been betrothed when ye and I met, and most likely on the cusp of marriage."

"What," Hiccup chuckled," are you not allowed to have an adorable well-mannered Viking as a friend when you're betrothed?" He raised an eyebrow at her and shot her a crooked grin.

"No," she smirked at him, "I don't believe my betrothed would have taken too kindly to my being friends with a Viking, particularly an adorable, well mannered one." Hiccup smirked.

"In fact," Merida went on, "he'd probably be insanely jealous. Ye know, Scotsmen don't exactly handle competition well."

"Competition huh," Hiccup smirked.

"He'd probably challenge ye to a duel or worse just throw ye in the dungeon for trying to steal the princess away from him." Hiccup chuckled.

"Then I'd have to rescue ye," Merida went on, "in some daring escape, where I single-handedly take out all the guards, then we would barely make it to Toothless and then fly far away to some place where I don't have to be a princess anymore and I can live as I please."

"Hey is this my rescue or yours ," Hiccup chuckled.

"Maybe it's a little o' both," Merida smirked, "ye rescue me from being a princess, I rescue ye from being hanged."

"Sounds like a win win to me," Hiccup shrugged, "you get your freedom, I get to stay alive.

"Aye," Merida chuckled, "it all works out right." Hiccup chuckled.

"Well it's good to know that if things get dicey," Hiccup replied, "not only have you thought out our escape plan, but also that you'd have my back." Merida chuckled slightly as she turned her attention back to the trail before them.

Hiccup turned and gazed at her for a long moment. Though there was a smile on her face, he could see a distant look in her eye. It was a look of both longing and discontent."

"Well I have only one thing to say to all of that," Hiccup smiled.

"Aye, what's that," Merida asked with a grin.

"It's a good thing you're not betrothed," Hiccup smirked. Merida shook her head as she grinned at him.

"Aye," she replied, "I still have my freedom...for now anyway."

"You don't exactly sound like you're putting much faith in that," Hiccup replied.

"It's not that I don't have faith," Merida replied, "I just, I know that the Lords will fight me on it and they'll be far more difficult to convince than ye know. In fact, I'm fairly certain the reason for Lord Dingwall's visit has to do with me and the fact that I'm dragging my heels as it is, so to speak."

"Do you think the Lords will try to challenge your parents decision," Hiccup asked in concern.

"It's definitely a possibility," Merida replied solemnly. Hiccup gazed at her, quietly pondering her words.

"I know my parents will stand by their decision as long as possible," Merida went on, "but if the Lords were to escalate the situation, they may try to force my father's hand."

"Well, I think maybe you should introduce me to your parents soon then," Hiccup smiled, "that way we could come up with a new alliance." Merida looked to him in confusion.

"And that will help my situation with the Lords how exactly," she questioned. Hiccup smiled.

"Well, then Dunbroch would have me and my dragon riders at their disposal and if the Lords were to try to start something I would gladly fight for you." Merida blushed slightly.

"Ye'd do all that," she replied, "just so I'd still have my freedom to choose as I wish."

"Of course," Hiccup replied matter-of-factly. Merida gazed up at him in surprise. Hiccup chuckled slightly.

"Don't act so surprised princess," Hiccup replied as he raised an eyebrow at her, "you're worth fighting for, ya know." She continued to gaze up at him, with a warm genuine smile on her face, but seemingly at a loss for words.

"What," he smiled.

"Nothing...I'm just," she paused a moment as she tried to put her feelings into words, "yer a really good person Hiccup, and I...I'm really glad that I have a friend like ye." Hiccup smiled back at her.

"Likewise princess," he smirked.

"Ye know, there is just one small discrepancy with that plan o' yer's though," she smirked.

"What's that," Hiccup questioned as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yer a Viking from Berk," Merida replied, "technically, yer still banished from Dunbroch. So if we were to propose a new alliance, we'd have to first convince my parents to lift the decree of banishment."

"What, the nearly 300 year old decree of banishment," Hiccup replied dismissively, "somehow I doubt it will be too big an issue. I mean the people who it was written for and the people who wrote it have been gone a pretty long time."

"Aye, tis true," Merida replied, "but convincing my mother that Vikings can be trusted is going to be a feat in itself."

"Great," Hiccup replied flatly, "first the Lords, then this stale decree of banishment, and now your mother too." He shook his head in disbelief.

"What else could possibly be stacked against me," Hiccup lamented. Merida chuckled.

"Well none of it will be easy that's for sure," Merida replied, but I'm sure we will come up with something to convince her. I mean, yer not exactly the type of Viking she always warned me about."

"What do you mean by that exactly," Hiccup questioned.

"Oh, my mother, sorta has this thing about Vikings," Merida replied.

"A thing," Hiccup questioned, "what sorta thing?"

"Like...uh...a...a deep distrust and near hatred of them," Merida replied regretfully. Hiccup raised his eyebrows as he gazed at her in realization.

"Oh is that all," Hiccup replied flatly.

"I'm sorry," Merida replied, "I just..."

"No...don't apologize," Hiccup interrupted, "it's okay. I'm not offended. I told you before, I'm well aware of what the world thinks of Vikings, and with good reason. I'm sure your mom a good reason and she has every right to feel as she does." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"Sorta explains a lot actually," he said.

"Like what," Merida questioned.

"Well, like why you were so eager to kill me when you found out I was a Viking," Hiccup chuckled. Merida rolled her eyes.

"Something tells me yer never going to let me forget that," Merida replied as she rolled her eyes.

"Of course not," Hiccup smiled, "it's too good a story!" Merida groaned.