(start music)

Merida cradled Hiccup closely. The arrow wound was deep; part of her feared he wouldn't make it. God, she hated war. This was what had brought them into this mess. The Vikings and the Scots had always had a tense relationship, but when one of Berk's Monstrous Nightmares had broken into Castle Dunbroch and had killed one of the princes, Hubert, peace was no longer an option. What the people didn't realise was the relationship between the heir to the Hairy Hooligan tribe and the princess of Scotland.

Merida and Hiccup had met one day by chance whilst Merida was shooting. She had been startled by him and nearly shot him on the spot but she soon realised he meant no harm. They developed their friendship fast; they bonded like glue. Soon the friendship became something new, something more powerful. The pair of them felt so strongly about each other, but they didn't speak to the other about it, both worried they'd ruin their friendship. Then the war started, and this happened.

Hiccup had been shot by a Scottish archer. Merida had heard the cry and had run across the battlefield towards him. She pulled him onto her horse and she rode into the woods to safety. Hiccup was groaning in pain as Merida laid him down gently upon the forest floor.

"Shh, shh," she tried to say, "it's going to be okay, it's going to be okay..."

She removed his armour to see the place the arrow had struck. It was deep within his shoulder and he winced as she touched it.

"Gah, that hurts Merida -"

"I know, I know, just let me get it out -"

Hiccup closed his eyes as she pulled the arrow out in one swift movement. She mopped up the blood with pieces of her ripped dress and Hiccup flinched at the touch. But the blood kept flowing.

"I - I don't understand," Merida was confused and scared. This always worked! Always! What was going on and why was Hiccup going paler?

"Merida -" Hiccup whispered, "the arrow was too deep. I'm not going to make it."

"No." Merida spoke firmly, like she was adamant to the truth. "No Hiccup. You're going to live and I don't care what it takes." Hiccup grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.

"Merida - I have to tell you something." Hiccup breathed slowly and deeply, as if each was his last. "Now."

"No, we have to get you back to the castle, get you treated -"

"There isn't time," Hiccup looked her in the eye and Merida melted into his gaze. "I have to tell you now."

"O - okay?" Merida stuttered her words as she allowed herself to get hypnotised by Hiccup's eyes. They were shining from the flaming missiles being launched over their heads every second.

"I love you." He didn't allow her a second before he continued. "I was transfixed by you the second I saw you. Your hair's like sparks from a bonfire and your eyes are the most beautiful blue I've ever seen. When we became friends I fell for you instantly. I couldn't say anything because I was scared. I didn't want to ruin what we had. Then the war began and I knew I had to tell you soon or I'd end up like this.

"I just wanted to hold you in my arms and kiss you like there wasn't anything stopping us, but I didn't know what to do if you rejected me. So I had to tell you now. I'm sorry Merida."

Light was fading from Hiccup's eyes, fast. Merida felt a tear slide down her cheek and she placed a hand on his shoulder and kissed his lips hard, as though it might somehow enable him to stay with her longer. She felt him kiss back weakly, as though all of his remaining strength was being put into this.

"I love you - Merida."

Hiccup's last whisper escaped his lips and he fell silent. His eyes went glassy and unseeing; they were sprinkled with stars Merida couldn't see.

"No!" Merida tried to shake him awake. "Please, Hiccup, stay with me! Come back! No Hiccup - please please come back, don't you understand I love you? Wake up you mutton-head, you have to, you have to... I love you so much, I love you, I love you, I love you..."

She pressed her head to his chest which was still warm and ran her fingers through his blood matted hair. Merida felt useless, pathetic. Hiccup's soul was gone. Life was gone. Purpose for living was gone.

"I love you Hiccup."

A/N This was pretty heartwrenching to write - I think I might be crying right now. Sorry if I just destroyed your life.