1800's - a ball in the English Court

How hadn't he seen her before? How?

Her hair, gods. It was like it was on fire. He wouldn't be surprised if it was. It was soft, insane and, wow. There weren't any adjectives to describe it properly.

She turned to face him. He wasn't prepared.

Her eyes sent a shock down his spine. They were electrifying. So vividly blue. Like they were staring into his soul. He had to know who she was.

Well, of course he knew who she was. The Princess of Scotland, here to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the King of England's rule, like everyone else here. But he had to get to know her. The real her.

He still didn't know her first name. Though there was something oddly familiar about her, the way her eyes lit and her hair bounced...

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third was the heir to the Danish throne; he'd been sent by his father to be the representative for their family to the King's anniversary. He wasn't stupid, he knew his father only wanted him to find a bride over here. He didn't care about his son, only what became of his throne. But now, the young heir was glad he'd been sent.

The Princess was sipping champagne delicately, like she was afraid of getting it wrong. Like she was remembering a set of rules on how to perform, how to behave. Her dress was made of navy blue chiffon and silk; it trailed to the floor and her hair was twisted up into an elegant knot with a few stubborn curls jumping free. Around her neck was a necklace which was carved into the three bears symbol of her ancestors.

One thing was clear though. She was one of the most beautiful girls he'd ever seen.

I'm going to talk to her.

Taking a tentative step towards her decisively, he knew it was now or never. Be calm, be calm, be calm, she's looking at you, she's smiling, don't hyperventilate, don't blush, you're at the English court remember?

"Hello," she said, smiling from over the rim of her glass. She seemed surprisingly calm.

"Hello," Hiccup replied, a tiny smile stretching the corner of his mouth without him being concious of it.

"So," she put down her glass, fiddling with her necklace chain before looking up at him, "what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well," Hiccup shrugged, his heart beat returning to normal. Normal-ish. "There's no one else to talk to, and you were standing alone. Why not?"

She laughed, sending another shiver down his spine. She really was gorgeous.

"No one usually wants to talk to me at balls like this," she grinned.

"Why?" Hiccup asked, far too quickly. She didn't notice though, for which he was grateful.

"I have a slight reputation here, shall we say?" Hiccup was intrigued by this point.

"What d'you mean, 'reputation'?"

"Well," she moved closer, talking softly in his ear. If his heart beat was normal before, it certainly wasn't now. The scent of some unfamiliar flower from her neck drifted through the air. "I'm known for being rude and horrible to people. For pushing away all my suitors. Some say I even punched one."

"And did you?" Hiccup whispered. She laughed, pushing his shoulder.

"Only the one who thought that women should be treated as items," she replied. "I'm actually not a bad person once you get to know me, but I'm certainly not a pushover."

"I'll bet," Hiccup smiled.

"I'm one of the rare few that support the Suffragette movements," she continued. "But of course, few will listen. The idea of women getting the vote in a society dominated by men, at this point, is completely ridiculous."

"I agree," Hiccup sighed. "I agree with their views too. Women are just as capable as men in everything. Why shouldn't they have the vote?"

"You know," she smiled, "you're the first man I've spoken to that I feel I can understand. Yet I don't even know your name."

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third," he said, bowing, though never taking his eyes off of hers.

"Oh, the Danish representative!" She smiled at him, causing Hiccup's insides to turn to butter. "Princess Merida Dunbroch of Scotland," she offered a hand. He took it, initially planning to kiss it but instead she shook it like they'd been friends all their lives.

Merida, Hiccup thought to himself. How could I have forgotten?

"We have met before!" he exclaimed, slightly too loudly. "Don't you remember? You used to visit every summer until I turned thirteen!"

Merida started and clutched her temple. She staggered slightly before her lips broke into smile and she grabbed his hands.

"I hardly recognised you!"

"Nor I you," he smiled.

"You've changed so much!"

"As have you."

"We've so much to catch up on!"

At that moment the gong for dinner sounded and all the assembled congregation began to make their way into the dining hall.

"We can discuss that over dinner," he smiled, offering her his arm. "Mi'lady?"

She took it, grinning.

"Why of course, mi'lord," she mocked, earning a chuckle from him.

Over dinner they spoke often and relived the old times when they were children. Her laugh rang through his ears and made him smile like a complete fool, but he didn't mind. Just the face that they were here, together, made him happier than ever. Soon, dinner was over they were brought into the ballroom and the music began. His heart stopped. The dancing. How could he have forgotten?

"Merida -"

"Yes?"

"I was - I mean, I would be happy if you agreed to, well, only if you want to, I don't want to push you into anything you don't want to do -"

"Yes?" Merida smiled. It was like she knew what he was going to ask.

"Well, I wondered whether you'd do me the honour of, dancing with, with me?"

A deathly silence fell before Merida clasped his hand with both her own, a glint in her eye.

"I'd love it."

A grin spread effortlessly over Hiccup's lips and they walked over to the dance floor. As was common courtesy, he bowed and kissed her hand gently, earning a tiny smile from Merida. He placed a tentative hand on her waist and hers rested on his shoulder. The violins began to play and they moved perfectly in time, their gaze never breaking.

All eyes seemed to be upon them, even though there were quite a few couples dancing, but from an onlooker's point of view, they were the only ones worth watching. The way they moved, it was like they were the melody itself.

"I've never had a good time at this court until now," Merida whispered. There was something about her when she whispered like that. She seemed so innocent. "Thank you for coming back."

"Well," Hiccup looked at the ground and smiled to himself. "It was my father's idea. He said he wanted me to be a representative for the family but really he wants me to find a bride."

"Does he now?" Merida was cocking an eyebrow with a smirk. Hiccup felt a rosy blush paint his cheeks. When he didn't reply for a second she continued, slightly quieter than before, "My parents want me to marry too."

There was a slightly uncomfortable silence between them, until Hiccup said quietly,

"I need some air; it's hot in here. D'you want to come with me?"

"All right," Merida replied. He took her hand and led her off of the dance floor and out into the main hall.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to direct me now," he said, "I've only been here once."

"Well," the princess said, shrugging, "where would you like to go?"

"The garden?" Hiccup enquired. "I've heard English gardens are beautiful."

"Only the parts left to roam free of the lawn mowers I'm afraid," Merida laughed, "but I can show you the river. The river and the lake. They're the best part of it."

"That sounds - that sounds fantastic," Hiccup smiled. She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the door, taking off into an extremely un-princessy run into the dimly lit gardens where there seemed to be no one. Hiccup took off after her, laughing and shouting for her to slow down, but she took no heed, her dress whipping behind her as more of her hair sprang free.

They reached the end of the pathway, a good distance from the palace gardens, down to a small gazebo by a rushing river. Ignoring him for a moment, Merida struggled out of her tight fitting heels and sighed, stretching. She attempted to take out the pins in her hair to let it down but she couldn't find them amongst the mess it had become when she was running.

"Here," Hiccup said softly, "Let me."

He cautiously placed a hand on her neck and he saw the goosebumps erupt there. He found the pins and took them out carefully, one by one, until her hair was liberated.

"There."

She turned to face him, a small smile dancing on her lips.

"Thank you."

Hiccup felt his heart race. She was even more beautiful now with the soft moonlight reflecting off of her creamy skin, her eyes twinkling with the starlight. He suddenly became aware of the minimal distance between them, the gap continuing to close.

"Don't, don't mention it..."

His words were mere murmurs, but at this moment, that was all that was needed. He found his head turning sideways ever so slightly, his eyes fluttering to a close as she mirrored him. They met in the middle, in what seemed like an explosion. Their lips moved effortlessly together for a second before they drew away, their hearts racing.

All was silent for a second that lasted an age, before Hiccup finally got to grips with what had just happened. He laughed out of the sheer madness of it all, as did Merida. She grabbed his shirt and pressed her lips on his again to his sheer delight.

The English Court wasn't too bad, he thought to himself as he kissed Merida underneath the gazebo, her heels discarded by their feet and the moonlight casting a soft shadow as the river ran by behind them.