Chapter 16
In the wee hours of the morning Merida stood in the stable brushing Angus. She had snuck out a few hours before to leave Hiccup some provisions and a note in their meeting place. But she had been restless all night and didn't want to go back to the castle so soon.
After her long conversation with Hiccup the night before, she simply couldn't sleep. She was worried about him, she had never seen him so distraught about something. The fact that it seemed to be over his ex and her new husband made Merida worry even more.
For the past few days, she felt as if they had gotten closer. Slowly she had begun to notice her own feelings growing every day to the point where she thought about him nearly all of the time. Then she had begun to notice him gazing at her here and there, he'd find any reason to take her hand, or he'd tease her in playful banter. There were even moments where she thought he might kiss her.
It all made her feel as if he had feelings for her as well. But the one thing that threw her off was the fact that in all those instances, he never did anything. He would simply pull away and pretend each close moment hadn't happened at all. This only made her more confused than ever.
Merida sighed heavily as she continued to brush Angus. After her and Hiccup's conversation regarding Astrid and his seemingly unsettled feelings for his ex, Merida had begun to wonder if it all truly was just in her head. Perhaps all those times that his feelings seemed true had been only wishful thinking on her part. Perhaps the reason he nearly always pulled away was due to his still unresolved feelings for his past love.
Later that night, after he had left and her mother went to bed, Merida was left alone with her thoughts. And try as she may she could not stop thinking about Hiccup and all he had told her. Thinking about it all made her heart grow heavy and knowing that she would not see Hiccup again for the next three days only made her hopelessness grow. But she had decided to take advantage of her restlessness and attempted to write him multiple letters.
Unfortunately each letter she composed just hadn't seemed right. In one she had inadvertently confessed her feelings, but she thought it was far too bold, especially if he was still having feelings for Astrid. In another she told him how much she missed him and Toothless but it came out far too wishy washy for her liking. She didn't want to seem desperate. She only wanted to hint at her feelings but not tell him outright. Besides, if he still was harboring feelings for another she was sure he wouldn't notice anyway. Or worse she'd scare him off with her boldness. She certainly didn't want to lose his friendship over it.
In the end she scrapped all the letters and started from scratch. She wrote to him instead, as a friend and nothing more. She figured it was her best option. Hiccup needed more time to sort through his past and his own feelings and she didn't want to force the issue.
But it would be a lie to say it didn't bother her, her sleeplessness was proof of that. He had said she was his friend, and he had told her before that he was glad they were friends. Now she thought perhaps that was truly all they were, maybe it was all they would ever be. Though there were moments when he seemed as if he liked her more, those moments were always fleeting and nothing ever came of them.
In all her years she had never met anyone like Hiccup, someone so genuine, someone who liked her for who she was and no other reason. He didn't come around because he had something to gain, he just liked to spend time with her, or he seemed to at least. It was something she never realized she'd wanted before or maybe she had simply given up on the hope of ever finding it.
Now it seemed to be all she could think about. But perhaps she was only infatuated with him because he reminded her so much of the Viking from her dream or maybe it was because she was so engrossed in her grandmother's account of her star-crossed love with Hiccup's grandfather. Merida wondered if she was just confusing the feelings that the stories and her dreams stirred within her with her actual feelings for Hiccup. After all, she had never been in love before, she supposed infatuation could be easily confused with love.
"Angus," she sighed, "I don't know what to do. I'm so confused. I care about Hiccup but I...I just don't know, I'm afraid." She dropped her hand from the horse's mane and began to pace. "I dinnae wish to be some...some...foolish lovesick girl pining for a man who loves another." She huffed as she flung her long red curls back over her shoulder. She crossed her arms over her chest in frustration. "I...I refuse to be that girl!" She sighed again as she lifted the brush to Angus once more and continued to brush the horses dark mane.
"I just wish he would stop overthinking about the past and...and open his eyes, to see what's right in front of him." Merida sighed again as her father's words regarding her mother suddenly went through her mind
...
She just wanted someone to connect with, she wanted me just to treat her as equal. That's when I realized how special she truly was, she wasn't like any of the other girls at all. I got lucky with a one in a million." Merida smiled up at her father.
"So instead of doing all manner of stupid things to impress her, I just became her friend, and we only grew closer from there."
...
She sighed as she thought heavily on her father's words. Perhaps, she thought, the best thing to do was to remain Hiccup's friend, to just be there for him when he needed her. Maybe their friendship was just the beginning of something more and she just need focus on that for now.
There was no doubt in her mind that there was a reason they had met as they did. Maybe it was mostly to find out about their grandparents, but perhaps there was more to it than that. After all, the will o' the wisps were involved. In fact, in Hiccup's time of need they had led him straight to her. That had to mean something, didn't it?
She sighed heavily once again. It was getting later in the morning and she had to get back to the castle before her mother noticed she was gone.
"I'll be back later Angus," she said as she gently rubbed the horse's nose, "maybe we'll trot along the green like we used to." The horse whinnied causing Merida to smile. She turned and made her way back to the castle. She snuck in through the kitchen like she always did. Just as she was about to climb the stairs back to her room, her mother's voice called to her.
"Merida," Elinor called her name. Merida paused on the steps, knowing she'd been caught. She turned around slowly to face her mother. Elinor gazed at her suspiciously as she crossed her arms over her chest. She noticed Merida's cloak and her bow.
"Where were ye," Elinor questioned firmly.
"Uh...nowhere Mum," Merida replied, "I...I couldn't sleep is all. I was thinking on practicing my archery on the green but I ended up walking the garden. Then I just went to check on Angus."
Elinor nodded as she listened to Merida's explanation. Merida seemed off a bit to Elinor, but she could not quite put her finger on why. The usual spark in her eye was dim today and it seemed as if she had much weighing on her mind.
"Is there something bothering ye dear," Elinor questioned. Elinor's simple question caused Merida's heart to flinch. Part of her wanted to tell her mother everything in exchange for her motherly advice. But she knew that telling Elinor anything about the Hiccup could have disastrous consequences for the viking and now also his two friends.
Still she felt as if she had no one really to talk to about the things that were weighing on her mind. Though Hiccup was her friend, she certainly couldn't talk to him about this. That in mind, it was hard to resist the urge to confide in Elinor. Merida held her breath for a moment so as not to lose her composure.
"I...I'm fine Mum," she replied softly, "I...I just have a lot on my mind."
"Anything I could help ye with dear," Elinor questioned. Merida shook her head as she tried to ignore the lump that had begun to form in her throat.
"It's alright," she replied, "I...I just need to work through it on my own. I mean, it...it's nothing bad. I...I mean it's not a big deal or anything, it's just things." Elinor sighed slightly in disappointment.
"Alright then," Elinor replied, "but if ye change yer mind...well, ye know ye can come to me anytime Merida, about anything. Ye know that don't ye?" Merida dropped her eyes from her mother's gaze.
"Aye mum," Merida replied softly, "I know." Elinor reached out to Merida and gently pushed her rogue curls behind her ear. She smiled slightly.
"I love ye Merida," Elinor replied, "and I'm here for ye, no matter what." Merida nodded as she smiled half-heartedly.
"Thanks mum," she replied softly.
"Go on then," Elinor sighed, "get settled and we'll see ya at breakfast in a few minutes." With that, Merida turned and headed up the stairs to her room.
—-
Hiccup once again found himself in the middle of the woods, and once again the wisps appeared to him but this time he simply followed without question. They led him one by one through the woods until he reached the ruins of a village that seemed to have been abandoned for centuries. The trail of wisps seemed to end at what was once the gates but the wooden doors had long been weathered away by time. All that was left of the gateway was the stone frame. Above his head crudely carved in the stone was the emblem of a dragon that seemed to resemble a Tide glider and above that was a word:
"Adag," Hiccup furrowed his brow in confusion as he read it aloud.
"What is this place," he called out into the air, "why did you lead me here?" He was met with nothing but a still and haunting silence, not even the sound of the wind was present.
Hiccup sighed as he stepped forward through the gate hoping to find something on his own. But the moment he crossed the threshold, the ruins were restored. It was as if he had stepped into the past. He stood, wide-eyed as the village around him bustled with people going about their daily routines. They seemed unfazed by his presence. He stumbled through the village taking in everything around him. He was surprised to see dragons living amongst the people, much like Berk.
"Pardon me, Hiccup asked a man walking by, "could you just..." But the man passed by without even acknowledging him.
"Okay," Hiccup said, in confusion.
He turned and observed an older woman who was walking straight for him carrying a basket of what looked like wild flowers.
"Uh excuse me ma'am," he held his hand out as he tried to stop her but his hand passed right through her and she continued to walk past him as if he wasn't there at all.
"What the," he looked down at his hand for a moment in confusion. He then looked back up at the woman as she continued on her way. He turned back to the sound of children laughing. Two children were playfully chasing a young terrible terror through the streets, but just when he thought they would have run right into him the children ran through him instead. Hiccup gazed at the children as they continued in their play. Before they had seemed as real as he was, but now they seemed like a mist, slowly dissipating in the morning sun.
"That's not normal," Hiccup muttered. He looked around curiously.
"What is this," he called out to the air, "why are you showing me this?" He continued to walk until he came to a large stone building, that seemed like a castle but significantly smaller than that of Dunbroch castle. Above the door was the same word etched in stone as was on the gate. '
'Adag.'
Suddenly before his eyes the building crumbled as if he were seeing hundreds of years of decay in just a moment's time. And in the center of the ruins, the woman from his previous dream stood, gazing in his direction from beneath her hood.
"Mairead," Hiccup muttered to himself. He stepped forward and stood before her.
"The House of Adag is lost," she said softly.
"The House of Adag," Hiccup questioned in intrigue, "what's that?"
"Exiled and forgotten," she continued as he stepped closer still, "it is said an Adag will lead them home, but only a link forged by both clans will renew their bond." Hiccup now stood close enough that he could have reached out and touched her if he dared. Mairead gazed up at him, and for the first time he saw her face. Her resemblance to Merida was striking and for a moment as he gazed into her pale blue eyes he almost forgot that it wasn't her. He was struck by the urge to kiss her pale pink lips and it seemed to take everything in him to stop from doing so. Before he could say a word to her she reached forward and gently lay her hand upon his stubbled cheek, causing Hiccup's heart to race. He closed his eyes for a moment as he became nearly entranced by the feel of her soft delicate hand on his skin, but in his mind's eye all he could see was Merida. He opened his eyes and continued to gaze at Mairead. He realized suddenly that she and Merida had the same eyes. They were the same hypnotic sky blue orbs that he swore he could see his future in. This took him by surprise and he couldn't help but to wonder the significance.
"Heavy is the heart torn by pride," she whispered with emotion in her voice, "and only can be mended by forgiveness' healing hand."
For a moment his mind flashed to Merida's previous words.
...
Ye need to swallow yer hurt pride and be willing to forgive them. It's the only way to put it to rest."
...
He shook the memory from his mind and tried to focus on what Mairead had told him. Slowly she withdrew her hand from his face and started to back away. But Hiccup grasped her hand to stop her before she could.
"Wait, please," Hiccup pleaded. To his surprise she did not vanish as he had half expected she would.
"What has all this to do with Merida and I," he questioned fervently, "what is it that you want us to find out?"
"It's so much bigger than us Hiccup," she said, "we were only the start of it."
"The start of what," Hiccup questioned.
"The house of Adag will rise and the bond between the clans will be unbreakable. For the link that binds them was forged in love." Hiccup furrowed his brow as he listened.
"Open yer eyes," she said firmly.
...
Hiccup awoke with a start. He sat up quickly and looked around for a moment in confusion. He could see that Fishlegs and Eret were still asleep and it was still fairly early in the morning. He sat forward and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"What the hell," he muttered to himself as he thought about the strange dream. He silently went over everything in his dream. It made no sense to him. Every dream he had had thus far seemed to be about Hiccup the first and Mairead specifically, this one completely threw him. He didn't know what to make of any of it. Still he knew it must be significant, there must be some meaning in what he'd seen and heard. He just needed to figure it out.
He quickly pulled his notebook from his pocket and sketched the things he saw from memory while they still remained fresh in his mind. He also tried to write down what Mairead had told him as best he could remember. After he finished he stuffed the notebook back in his pocket and stood quickly. He gently shook Toothless to wake him. Toothless groaned slightly as he opened one eye to look up at his rider.
"Come on bud," Hiccup urged, "maybe if we get to the meeting place early enough we can catch Merida before she leaves. I...I need to tell her about my dream!" Toothless yawned as he slowly stood. He stretched his legs before bending down to let his rider on. Hiccup quickly climbed onto the dragon's back.
"Let's go bud," he said.
He was disappointed upon his arrival to find Merida nowhere in sight. He sighed heavily as he dismounted Toothless and meandered around the area looking for any sign that Merida had been there. Merida said she would find a way to reach out to him, but she had never mentioned how. As he slowly scoured the area, Toothless caught the scent of something lovely and familiar. He began to excitedly follow his nose. Hiccup turned when he noticed the dragon pawing at a nearby tree.
"Toothless...what are ya doing ya wing nut," Hiccup questioned in amusement as he headed in the dragon's direction. As Hiccup approached he noticed it was an old hollowed out tree that had Toothless' attention.
"Let me see bud," Hiccup replied, as he shoed the dragon from the tree. He crouched down and reached into the hollowed out trunk and pulled out a cloth bag. He opened it to find a fresh supply of food. Hiccup smiled at the sight of nearly a dozen sweet rolls. He looked up at the dragon and grinned.
"Well, it looks like you rate," he smirked at Toothless as he tossed him a sweet roll. The dragon caught it mid air and gobbled it up quickly, as Hiccup chuckled. Hiccup then reached into the bag for an apple and noticed a folded paper in the bag as well. He pulled it out and studied it, taking note of the green wax seal with the emblem of a sword pressed into it.
With paper in hand, he sat down beside the tree and leaned his back up against its trunk. He took a quick bite of his apple as he focused on the letter. He traced the emblem in the wax with his finger for a moment then broke the seal to open it. He silently began to read.
...
Dear Hiccup,
I hope this letter finds ye in a better place than ye were yesterday. I haven't had a wink o' sleep worrying about ye. In all this past week since we met there hasn't been a day that ye didn't have a smile on yer face. So to see ya in such a state as ye were last night, truly worries me. I just hope my advice helped, even if just a little. I know it wasn't much and Lord knows ye've been through far more than I have in my lifetime. I don't even really know that my advice did ye much good, but if it helped even just a little then I'm glad.
That aside I do have a wee bit o' good news. My mother has decided against a guard! Unfortunately, I am still grounded for the next three days, but after that I'll be free to come and see ye.
I have to admit, I was a bit surprised by her change o' heart. I thought for certain it'd take a wee bit more persuasion to convince her. Though for the past few days, she's been not quite herself. I was too distracted with ye and Toothless to really take notice before, but it seems there may be something weighing on her mind. Last night it seemed as if she had something more to say but she just changed her mind I guess. It worries me a bit, but I'm sure if it's important she'll tell me when she's ready.
I wanted to let ye know that today I plan to head to the archives after my lessons. I hope I can find out something about yer clan, or the banishment, or even a thing or two more about our grandparents as well. Keep yer fingers crossed that I have a wee bit more luck than my Dad.
I hope ye and Toothless are well and stayin' out o' trouble. I have no doubt that Toothless is enjoying his treats, ye can tell him they'll be plenty more where that came from tomorrow. And don't ye worry either Hiccup, they'll be plenty o' apples for you too!
I do miss the both o' ye though. Ye are both the truest friends I could ever ask for and I'm glad we met as we did. I have to say, after spendin' near a week with ye, it will be odd to not see ye for the next three days. But hopefully the days will pass quickly and we will be together again.
There is one thing that's been plaguing my mind since last night though, the will o' the wisps. If what ye say is true and they appeared after what ye said, it's unlike any account of a wisp I've ever heard of. It makes me wonder if there's not something more to all o' this. But if it's true maybe we could try to ask them to lead us to the witch. I know it's a bit of a long shot but maybe it's worth a try at least. It's something we should think on anyway.
Anyway, I need to go, before my mum gets suspicious as to why I haven't gone to bed yet. It's not often that I stay up so late. Expect another letter tomorrow, I'll be sure to let ye know if I find anything of interest.
Hope to see you soon, Merida.
...
Hiccup smiled to himself as he folded the note. The one thing that stood out the most to him was the fact that she had been worried about him, in her words, to the point of sleeplessness. Sure it may have been an exaggeration on her part for effect, but only to make her point clear. She was legitimately worried for him and that made him smile. Not that he wanted to worry her, but the fact that she was worried at all could only be because she truly cared. That in itself was enough to fuel his hope that maybe there was a real chance that she might reciprocate his feelings after all.
He pulled out the notebook from his pocket and carefully placed the folded letter in between its back cover and the pages. He closed his eyes for a moment as his mind flashed back to the moment on her balcony, just before she closed her door. That brief moment that he gazed at her and he could see in her eyes the future he longed for. In that moment, he knew he had been falling for her since the day they had met and now there was no going back from it. His only hope was that she felt for him as he did for her. He sighed once more as he opened the notebook to a clean page and began to write Merida back.
When he had finished he neatly folded it and then placed it in the hallow trunk of the tree as Merida had done. He picked up a heavy stone from the ground and placed it on top of the paper to keep it in place until Merida found it. Toothless nudged his shoulder causing him to chuckle as he turned to the dragon.
"What now bud," Hiccup asked. Toothless sat looking at him with what seemed like a smirk on his face and in his mouth he held a single purple flower. Hiccup chuckled at the sight. Toothless nudged Hiccup insistently until he took the flower from his mouth.
"What," Hiccup questioned as he raised an eyebrow at the dragon. Toothless whined and motioned to the tree.
"You want me to give this," he held up the flower, "to Merida too?" Toothless nodded. Hiccup looked at the flower and smiled. He looked back up at Toothless and shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess it's a nice touch," he grinned. Toothless could see that Hiccup was trying to seem nonchalant about it, but the blush on his face was evident.
Hiccup lifted the stone on top of the letter and placed the flower on top, then he carefully replaced the stone.
"Alright bud," Hiccup said as he turned to face the dragon, "let's head back, the others should be awake by now." Toothless waited for Hiccup to climb onto his saddle and then the two headed off into the woods.
—-
After breakfast Merida was surprised that her mother had decided to give her the day off from her lessons. Though she thought this strange she took advantage of her now free time and headed to the archives to see what she could find, if anything, regarding Berk. Now with nearly a whole day to search, she hoped she would come across something pertinent.
When she entered the room she found rows and rows of shelves, all filled to the brim with old dusty books and even older scrolls. The shelves and books were covered in layers of dust and it looked as if some of them hadn't been touched in probably many years. She inhaled deeply as she took in the overwhelming sight before her, not knowing where to even start.
"Well," she muttered to herself, "I guess anywhere is as good a start as any." She began to walk along the rows of shelves trying to decipher how exactly the archive had been categorized and trying to decide where best to start. She realized the shelves were organized by reign. She began to search for the shelf that would contain the history of Mairead's father, King Haemish the first. After she located where she thought was best to start, she began to slowly leaf through the hundreds of books and scrolls upon the shelf.
She settled on a compilation of the kings laws and decrees from around the time the Berkans had been in DunBroch. She thought surely this book would contain the decree of banishment for the Berkans which would, no doubt, state the reason for said banishment. She carried the heavy book to a nearby table and began to leaf through its pages. As she did so she was suddenly distracted by the sound of the door opening and closing, and then the sound of feet moving quickly and clanging against the stone floor in her direction. She looked up when the sound of the footsteps grew closer. Her mother came around the corner of the tall shelf with a book in hand and then stopped suddenly in unexpected surprise.
"Merida," she said, "what are ye doing here?"
"Well, I...I was just looking to see if I could find anything about Mairead or the Viking boy," Merida replied, "since I had some free time I just thought it's as good a time as any." Merida gazed at her mother curiously.
"What are ye doing here," she questioned curiously.
"Well I, uh," Elinor held up the book in her hand, "I was returning this to its rightful place." She looked at Merida and smiled.
"I told ye I'd help ye find the truth," Elinor continued, "I've been looking through these old books a little each day since ye told me of Mairead's journal." Merida gazed at her mother in surprise.
"Ye have been doing all that," Merida questioned, "for me?" Elinor nodded.
"I've been meaning to tell ye," Elinor replied, "but ye've been spending so much time away from the castle lately, I just haven't had the chance." Merida blushed slightly with her mother's words. This did not go unnoticed by Elinor.
"Well then," Merida replied as she cleared her throat, "have ye found anything?" Elinor shook her head.
"Not a thing thus far," Elinor replied in slight frustration. She turned from Merida and replaced the book upon the shelf.
"Not even a real mention of dragons," Elinor said, "save a few official complaints of livestock being stolen by the beasts." Merida furrowed her brow in thought as her mother spoke.
"It's strange," Elinor continued, "I mean from yer father's stories and what ye've read in that journal, it almost seems that there is a rather large chunk of history missing from the archive of King Haemish's reign." Merida furrowed her brow as she thought over her mother's words.
"Mum," Merida questioned, "do ye think it's possible that someone may have deliberately hidden the history of the Berkan Vikings in Dunbroch."
"I suppose it's possible," Elinor replied, "though I don't see the point of doing so."
"I can't help but think this must have something to do with the fact that they were banished," Merida replied, "and I just know the banishment has to do with Mairead and Hiccup's affair." Elinor gazed at her daughter curiously.
"Mum, what if someone wanted to erase the Vikings completely from Dunbroch history so no one would find the truth," Merida suggested, "I mean maybe the Vikings were unjustly banished, or maybe they were accused of something but they were innocent!" Elinor shook her head in disbelief.
"Well innocent is a strong word to describe a Viking," Elinor replied, "banishing them was probably the smartest decision that King Haemish could have made, I mean, considering the threat this Viking boy posed to his daughter." Merida looked at her mother in concern.
"A threat," Merida said questioningly, "Hiccup loved Mairead...what threat could he have posed?"
"Now Merida, I know ye are quite taken with this journal," Elinor replied in a calm, yet firm tone, "Mairead's account of this Hiccup and their supposed star crossed love might seem romantic but heed my words Merida, Vikings cannot be trusted ever! Believe me the banishment of the fiends was well meant."
"Well meant," Merida questioned, "how can ye say that mother? Ye read the journal, Mairead said the Berkan's were different than other Vikings, she said they were more like us."
"They were probably just better at deceiving than most," Elinor replied.
"Ye think that Hiccup deceived Mairead," Merida questioned, "ye think the love she had for him was nothin' more than a...a lie?"
"Perhaps Mairead's love was real to her Merida, but love is blind sometimes," Elinor replied, "especially for a young girl who was inexperienced and naive; a girl who only could see what she wanted to see!"
"Naive," Merida replied in dismay, "inexperienced?" Merida could feel her heart flinch as she gazed at her mother. All her past fears about love and duty came flooding back to her mind making her heart feel heavy. She had become so caught up in her growing feelings for Hiccup that she had pushed from her mind the harsh reality. Even if Hiccup did have feelings for her, he was still a Viking. Her mother's rant only made it abundantly clear that Hiccup would never be accepted, not by her, not by the Lords, and not by the people of Dunbroch.
Merida dropped her eyes to the floor, she could feel the lump in her throat return and an ache in her chest that felt almost as if it were difficult to breathe. She suddenly felt the overwhelming need to prove her mother wrong, to try to make her see that her black and white view of all Vikings was flawed. She raised her eyes to her mother defiantly and gazed at her with a look of determination on her face.
"Do ye honestly believe that mother," Merida questioned, "that Mairead didn't know love from a...a hole in the ground? Do ye truly believe that Mairead was so naive that she didn't even know her own heart?"
"That's not what I'm saying Merida," Elinor replied.
"Then what exactly are ye sayin' mother," Merida questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I believe Mairead was too young to know what real true love is," Elinor replied, "she had a free spirit and longed for adventure. I think in her longing for freedom she found companionship with this Viking boy, perhaps she mistook that for love."
"But she was nae too young to be betrothed to someone she didnae love at all," Merida questioned, "she was nae too young to be married off and take the throne!"
"Merida," Elenor started.
"And what of me then mother," Merida continued, "do ye think the same of me? Am I not just as much a free spirit as she was? Do I not long for the same freedom she did! Does that make me easily deceived? Do ye think that I would be so naive that I could just fall for someone just 'cause they told me what I wanted to hear? Do ye think that because I have no experience with love that I'd be incapable of seeing what's real and true and what's not?"
Elinor gazed at her daughter questioningly. She could clearly see the anguish on her daughters face. She wondered why what she had said had affected Merida in such a personal way.
"What's this about then," Elinor questioned softly, "what I said about the situation with Mairead has nothing to do with ye lass. What's got ye in such a state, is there something ye want to tell me?" Merida gazed at her mother trying her hardest to keep from showing her emotions.
"Nothing Mum," Merida replied, "I...I'm just tryin' to make my point. The Vikings from Berk were different, I know it just as Mairead did. I know it in my heart! I...I mean I just know Mairead believed it just from everything she said. She wasn't fooled into believing something that wasn't true! I know ye dislike Vikings for reasons of yer own, but that doesn't mean that they are all the same! It doesn't mean there aren't some that are different than most." Elenor gazed at her daughter in disbelief and worry.
"Dislike," Elinor repeated the word in a surprised tone, "Dislike isnae pure tough enough a word tae describe how ah feel about vikings."
"Mum," Merida replied, "please just put yer pride aside and listen."
"No, ye listen to me lass," Elinor interrupted firmly, "A've seen vikings, Merida, real vikings, nae this ridiculous romantic version o' thaim, they're brutal 'n' vicious fiends, they wid stop at nothin' tae git whit thay waant! There is na act tae violent, 'n' na line thay wouldn't cross!" Elinor continued to gaze at her daughter with an expression that was dead serious.
"The ideas that journal has put in yer head are dangerous and foolish and would only get ye into trouble if by fate ye should meet a Viking," Elenor continued, "the scandal of Mairead was nae that she fell in love but that her misplaced trust might have cost her the kingdom maybe even her life! For I am certain that this Viking boy from Berk knowingly took advantage of her naivety. I believe that it's more likely that he pursued her just to steal the throne out from under her."
Merida gazed at her mother in disbelief.
"No, I don't believe that," Merida replied, "Mairead loved Hiccup, and he loved her! He didn't care that she was a princess, he didn't care that she would be queen. He only wanted her heart and nothin' more! They were true soul mates, but it was people like ye that tore them apart!"
"People like me," Elinor replied, "people like me."
"Aye," Merida replied defiantly, "people like ye, who'd rather judge a whole population of people for what others have done!"
"Do nae ye dare imply that I'm intolerant Merida," Elinor replied, "people like me are nae the enemy. It's people like them that are the enemy! I've seen their brand of tolerance first hand! They kill, they torture, the brutalize! I pray ye ne'er see that first hand. I pray ye ne'er meet a Viking in yer life!"
Merida was at a complete loss of words after her mother's statement. She felt as though her emotions were spinning wildly out of control. She gazed at her mother trying her best to keep herself composed. But she could feel tears filling her eyes. She had found a true friend in Hiccup. Even if that was all they'd ever be, she wished to keep him in her life, but now she feared their parting was inevitable. If her own mother could not accept him simply because he was a Viking, what chance did she stand to convince the Lords or even her people to accept him and the other Berkans.
"Merida," Elinor said questioningly, as she noticed the look of near heartbreak on her daughter's face. Without a word Merida pushed past her mother and ran quickly from the room.
"Merida wait," Elinor called out. But Merida was already gone.
—
Hiccup arrived back at camp to find Eret and Fishlegs just finishing breakfast. As soon as he dismounted Toothless, the dragon ran ahead and playfully greeted Skullcrusher and Meatlug. Hiccup smiled in the dragon's direction as he headed over to the campfire. He stood before his friends with a slight smile on his face as he dropped the bag from his shoulder before them. The two men looked up at him curiously.
"Nice of you to join us mate," Eret greeted, "what had you up so early...or who rather." Without a word Hiccup rolled his eyes but the smirk never left his face. Eret smirked back.
"Right," Eret replied, "none of my business." He sighed heavily as he tried to decipher Hiccup's mood.
"Well we saved some food if you'd like some," Eret replied, "hope you like rabbit."
"No thanks," Hiccup sighed as he sat down across from them, "I already ate." He leaned forward toward the bag as he smiled in their direction.
"But if you guys are still hungry," he flipped the bag open revealing its contents, "I have plenty extra." Both men simultaneously gazed in awe at the delicious sight before them.
"What is this," Fishlegs asked as he slowly lifted a sweet roll from the bag. Hiccup chuckled.
"I believe that's called a 'sweet roll'," Hiccup replied with an amused grin, "careful though, they are Toothless' favorite. He'll probably get annoyed if you eat them all on him." Slowly Fishlegs bit into the pastry with a look of surprised satisfaction on his face. He chewed it slowly savoring every morsel.
"This is like heaven," Fishlegs sighed, "literally the best thing I've ever eaten!"
Hiccup chuckled.
"Is this all from your princess then," Eret asked smugly as he bit into an apple. Hiccup nodded with a small grin on his face. Eret nodded.
"She must really like you Hic," Eret replied.
"Of course," Hiccup replied with a shrug, "like I said, we're friends." He stood and grabbed three more sweet rolls and headed in Toothless' direction. He offered a sweet roll to each of the dragons. Skull crusher and Meatlug sniffed them warily while Toothless devoured his whole. Hiccup chuckled. He turned around only to come face to face with Eret. His smile slowly faded.
"Why didn't you invite your friend back to camp with you," Eret inquired. Hiccup huffed in annoyance.
"I couldn't," Hiccup replied simply.
"What do you mean, you couldn't," Eret questioned.
"I mean, I would have," Hiccup replied, "but I...I didn't actually get to see her today."
"Why's that," Eret asked. Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Not that it's any of your business," Hiccup replied, "but at the moment she...well, she's not technically allowed to leave the castle grounds right now." Eret furrowed his brow at Hiccup.
"Why's that?"
"Because," Hiccup huffed, "I...I uh I might have, sorta, gotten her into a little bit of trouble with her parents." Eret raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Hic you dog," Eret chuckled haughtily. Hiccup pushed past Eret in annoyance.
"It's not like that," Hiccup groaned, "she...she just stayed out past her curfew...that's it." Eret smirked at Hiccup as he followed after him.
"And what reason exactly did you have to keep a princess past her curfew," he questioned. Hiccup turned to look at Eret.
"Look it...it's no big deal," he replied, "we...we just lost track of time and...and then fell asleep and accidentally stayed out until morning." Eret raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"No wonder her parents were angry," Eret chuckled. Hiccup huffed and turned away.
"Give me a break Eret," Hiccup groaned, "I told you it isn't like that, at all! We are just friends, that's it! There is nothing going on! I...I mean I haven't even told her that I..." Hiccup paused as he caught himself before he had said too much.
"Told her what Hiccup," Eret questioned.
"I...I mean, I meant...nothing, never mind," Hiccup huffed in a flustered tone, "ya know, why am I even explaining this to you. It's...
"None of my business," Eret interrupted, "I know, I know. Alright, Hic, alright, I get it, sorry I asked." He paused and gazed at Hiccup for a long moment.
"But ya know," he smiled sincerely, "if ya ask me, ya know, speaking as a friend; I think if you really do like this girl, you should probably tell her so." Hiccup glared at him.
"Yeah well, I didn't ask you," Hiccup groaned as he crossed his arms over his chest, "and we're not friends." Eret's smirk faded with Hiccup's harsh words. Hiccup turned and started walking away.
"So after everything you said yesterday," Eret called after him, "we're still at odds then. You still think of me as your rival. Hiccup paused as he sighed heavily. He turned back to Eret with an annoyed expression.
"No, we're not rivals," Hiccup replied, "but we're not friends either." Eret nodded as he dropped his eyes to the ground in disappointment. Hiccup sighed heavily.
"Look, I'm sorry," Hiccup went on, "the truth is, I...I don't know what we are right now. It's been a really long time since I could even be in the same room as you. I can't just jump back into the old days. It's just gonna take longer then a day to...to be anything close to friends again. I'm sorry but it's the best I can do right now."
"That's, understandable," Eret replied solemnly, "I guess even baby steps is a step forward, right." Hiccup nodded.
"So, how long is your princess grounded for anyway," Eret questioned changing the subject quickly, "any chance Fish and I will get to meet her while we're here?" Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"After today," Hiccup sighed as he continued to walk in Fishlegs direction, "two more days, but I think you guys should probably leave before then."
"Why is that," Eret questioned. Hiccup sat down on the log beside Fishlegs and looked up at Eret."
"Long story short," Hiccup replied, "it's because Berk was banished from returning to Dunbroch shortly after my great great grandfather came here with his clan. So technically we're all outlaws here and we could get into a lot of trouble if they catch us."
"Banished," Fishlegs questioned in sudden interest. Eret furrowed his brow as he thought over Hiccup's words.
"Why exactly was Berk banished," Eret questioned, "what happened?"
"Well I don't really know exactly," Hiccup replied, "I...I mean that's sorta what Merida and I are trying to figure out. We have a pretty strong suspicion that it may have had something to do with our great great grandparents. Apparently when they met Mairead was already betrothed to someone else.
"Wait, wait, wait," Eret replied, "your telling me that your great great grandfather had an affair with her great great grandmother?" Hiccup nodded.
Pretty much," Hiccup replied.
"Wait, you said the girl in the drawing is Merida's grandmother," Fishlegs replied as the thought suddenly occurred to him, "do you think the girl in your dream is also Merida's grandmother?"
"I'm fairly certain she is," Hiccup replied, "but that's not even the weirdest part." Both Eret and Fishlegs gazed at Hiccup in intrigue.
"Okay so you know the dreams I've been having," Hiccup asked. Fishlegs nodded.
"Yeah," Fish replied curiously.
"Well, Merida has been having practically the same dreams," Hiccup replied, "but instead of the woman she sees a viking."
"Wait, what," Fish questioned in surprise, "okay just let me get this straight, you see a woman in your dream that you believe is Merida's great great grandmother, so...does that mean the Viking in her's is...
"My great great grandfather," Hiccup replied with a smirk, "yeah that's what we think."
"That's crazy Hic," Fish replied in disbelief, "it's...it's almost like you were meant to meet her, like...like it was fate or something. Hiccup couldn't help but to smile slightly at what Fishlegs had said, but his friend's choice of words held a much deeper meaning to Hiccup.
"It's almost like your great great grandfather and her great great grandmother were leading you both to find each other," Fish marveled, "but...why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Hiccup shrugged, "we think maybe they want us to find the truth about what happened to them, why Berk was banished, and maybe try to find some way to set it right. I mean, maybe our grandparents want us to...to finish what they started or maybe they just want us to find some way to expose the truth about what really happened."
"Okay," Eret said, "so we're banished from Dunbroch, but aren't you forgetting something?"
"What," Hiccup huffed as he turned his eyes back to Eret.
You are friends with the princess," Eret replied, "couldn't you just...have her speak to her parents, and have them un-banish us?"
"That would be a great idea," Hiccup replied, "except for the fact that Merida's mother, the Queen, hates all Vikings."
"So," Eret replied.
"So what do you think she'll do to me the moment Merida brings a Viking home," Hiccup questioned sarcastically, "she'll have me locked up, and probably order my execution. And Merida would probably never be able to leave the castle again just for speaking to me. She'd practically be a prisoner in her own home!"
"Well I can see that being a problem if you were on your own," Eret replied, "but now that me and Fish are here, you could at least try and if things go sour, we could bail you out at or at the very least head back to Berk to get the other riders."
"That's your idea, bring the rest of the riders to rescue me, and...and practically risk starting a war with Dunbroch," Hiccup replied firmly, "no, not a chance."
"But Hic," Eret started.
"No Eret," Hiccup replied, "look...we have to handle this whole thing carefully, ya know. I...I don't want her parents to look at me and just see some war-driven viking! I...I want them to accept me. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise you risk never seeing Merida again," Eret replied. Hiccup nodded as he gazed at Eret with a serious expression on his face.
"We have to bide our time," Hiccup replied, "for now anyway, maybe at least until we find out why Berk was banished to begin with."
"Okay," Eret replied, "we'll be careful then, and me and Fish will help you find the truth." He held is hand out to Hiccup. Hiccup paused for a long moment as he continued to gaze in Eret's direction. He seemed to be weighing his decision carefully. After a moment or two Hiccup leaned forward and took Eret's hand in a Viking handshake.
"Okay," Hiccup replied as he glanced back and forth between the two men, "but the second there is trouble, you guys need to leave."
"Deal," Eret replied.
"This is great," Fishlegs said excitedly, "nothing like a good mystery to solve!" Both Hiccup and Eret chuckled at their friend.
"I mean, who knows, Hic," Eret replied, "maybe if we find the truth Merida's father might even lift the banishment. Then you'd be free to be with your princess." Hiccup's heart fluttered with Eret's words.
"Alright," Hiccup replied as he glanced back and forth between his two friends, "I guess I should probably fill you guys in with everything we know so far."
"We're all ears Hic," Eret replied with a smirk.
—-
Elinor sat at her loom, trying her best to focus on the tapestry she had been working on, but try as she may she was far too distracted by her concern over Merida. She was worried about Merida, after their unfortunate altercation in the castle archive. She had not meant to be at odds with her daughter, but she also had not expected Merida to react in such a way.
When Merida had first shown her the journal of Mariead, Elinor had thought that it could be a good way for Merida to connect with her past. Perhaps finding some common ground with her great great grandmother might put Merida's own future into perspective. She would see that she was just as capable of ruling as her great great grandmother was, and perhaps she'd gain a little inspiration from her predecessor as well. After all, Mairead had ruled successfully on her own for many years after her husband had passed and, despite the objection of the Lords for doing so, she was beloved by all of her people.
But instead of finding inspiration, Merida had become increasingly infatuated with the calamitous and highly scandalous love story between Mairead and this Viking boy. It was the fact that Merida had romanticized the scandal that worried Elinor the most. Somehow from her grandmother's words Merida had it in her head that the Berkan Viking's were different from others of their kind. This was especially concerning for Elinor. Having experienced the extreme brutality of a Viking raid first hand, and having lived through a war with them, Elinor found Merida's outlandish ideas about these Berkan Vikings quite worrisome.
But this wasn't the only thing that worried her. Elinor could not help but to wonder if something more was going on with Merida as well. After all she hadn't quite been herself for days. She was off riding all the time and when she was home she was distracted for much of the time. She barely ate and seemed to often wander about alone. Something was clearly bothering her, yet she would not confide in Elinor about it. For some reason Merida still felt that she couldn't talk to her mother about certain things, and this frustrated Elinor to no end. Then there was also the fact that Merida had taken Elinor's statement about Mairead being fooled by the Viking boy so personally. Elinor simply could not understand why her words had affected Merida in such a way.
She was distracted suddenly from her thoughts when her sitting room door creaked open and Fergus walked in. Elinor sighed but remained silent as he approached her.
"Well," Fergus sighed, "that's the first fight ye two have had in a while."
"Aye," Elinor replied, "where is she presently?"
"Out trotting Angus along the green," Fergus replied, "she must be really steamed, she hasn't come back in since she ran outta the archives." Elinor shook her head and sighed heavily as she turned to Fergus.
"I don't know what to do Fergus," Elinor replied, "everything I say is wrong in her eyes."
"Now dear ye expected this didn't ye," Fergus replied, "Ye knew she'd react this way to the news from the Lords, but she just needs to blow off some steam and she'll see what's right." Elinor furrowed her brow at her husband in slight confusion.
"I haven't told her about that yet Fergus," Elinor replied. Fergus raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Oh...well...the way she ran out, I...I thought for certain that ye broke the news," Fergus replied, "what was this fight about then?"
"Believe it or not," Elinor replied, "Vikings."
"Vikings ye say," Fergus replied in confusion.
"Aye," Elinor replied in frustration, "ever since ye told her of the Vikings of Berk coming here to rid the land of dragons, she's had it in her head that the Berkan Vikings are somehow different then all the rest! She was in the archives trying to find out why they were banished and she wants to prove that they were misjudged in some way. "
"Is that right," Fergus replied questioningly.
"This morning I simply reiterated to her the very nature of Vikings," Elinor went on, "that they are evil, and selfish and dishonest brutes! That they simply can't be trusted and...and that Berk was most likely rightfully banished." Fergus nodded as he listened.
"I have told her these things about Vikings many times, I've warned her of them practically her whole life," Elinor went on, "and now she hears one story that tells her different and...and she just throws everything I've ever taught her out the window!"
"Ye know dear," Fergus replied, "believe it or not, great nana felt the same about the Berkans as Merida." Elinor looked at her husband curiously.
"She always said that the decision to banish Berk was regrettable," Fergus replied, "she held that position firm til her dying day, perhaps she was right."
"How can ye even suggest such a thing Fergus," Elinor replied, "ye've fought vikings first hand, ye know what they're like. Ye know the viciousness Vikings possess! And I...I have tried a lifetime to forget the savagery I saw first hand that day they invaded my village."
"Aye dear," Fergus replied, "yer right about that, but those Northern Invaders were not from Berk. One must wonder, if we had kept our alliance with the Berkan Vikings, perhaps the Northern Invaders wouldn't hae stood a chance. With their help perhaps that war wouldn't hae dragged out quite so long."
"Ye honestly believe the Berkan Vikings were different from any other Vikings ye have met," Elinor questioned.
"Well, I hae no reason to believe otherwise," Fergus replied, "based on all of my great nana's accounts, the Vikings of Berk were a civilized bunch, and not much different from the people o' Dunbroch. Elinor shook her head as she contemplated heavily on her husband's words.
"If what ye say is true Fergus," she replied, "then it begs the question, why were the Berkans banished to begin with. Banishment was likely not a decision that King Haemish would've made lightly. There had to have been a legitimate reason for it."
"Aye," Fergus replied, "it's a question I've tried to answer many times, unfortunately my great nana took the answer with her to the grave." Elinor nodded as she thought about what Fergus had told her. Perhaps she should have took the time to listen to Merida instead of becoming so caught up on her own personal feelings about Vikings in general. Perhaps she herself had overreacted.
"Merida is as smart as a whip dear," Fergus replied, "it would be a cold day in hell afore a' body could pull th' wool over her eyes. Not only that, but she knows how to fight as well as any Scotsman. She can defend herself if ever it came to that." Elenor nodded as she listened.
"Besides," Fergus went on, "after the Berkan Vikings left, they ne'er returned and no one has heard o' them since. They say the dragons were so tired o' being hunted that they descended on Berk and wiped them all out in a single raid. So the chances of her meetin' one is slim to none. So what's the harm in lettin' her investigate."
"Well, I...I suppose yer right," Elenor sighed, "I just can't help but worry, she's my little girl Fergus, if anything ever happened to her, I don't know what I'd do."
"Aye dear," Fergus replied, "but ye forget she's not a wee lass anymore, she has her own mind, and her own heart. Ye can't decide either for her. And if either has already been decided, then tellin' her any different will only push her away."