"Straighten your shirt Hiccup!" Stoick scolded as he yanked down his son's shirt. "We have the signing of the peace treaty with the Scots today -"

"Not my problem -" mumbled Hiccup as his father continued to rant.

"- and you'd better show them due respect! The princess is coming too and she may just be on your level status wise -"

"What d'you mean?" Hiccup jumped in.

"I mean that if you were to get along with her then marriage could be the best thing for both of our kingdoms! I want you to behave courteously with her and show her due respect. Word says she is a real beauty."

"I doubt that," Hiccup muttered. Even if he had broken up with Astrid over a year ago, he was still getting over it. He hadn't been able to look into the eyes of another woman for months.

"Do I have your word that you will behave with due respect?" Hiccup remained silent and did not answer the towering Viking. "Your word, Hiccup."

"As long as we're not forced into a marriage neither of us want to be in," Hiccup replied, staring straight into Stoick's eyes. He was no longer scared of his father.

The older man seemed to soften and he nodded. The conversation finished at the exact moment the Berkian guards opened the doors, announcing the arrival of the Scottish ships. Stoick clapped his son on the back and they walked together down to the harbour to meet them as the residents of the tribe watched from their windows.

The ship had just anchored and the royal parties were announced. The King, Fergus, stepped up first, his wooden leg clanking on the jetty. He offered a hand to help his wife, Elinor, off of the ship. She wore a beautiful flowing gown of green silk and a simple crown was balanced upon her, slightly greying, brown hair. The triplet princes were next introduced, all with flaming red hair. But the princess was no where to be seen.

"My lady," Stoick kissed Elinor's long, soft fingers. "I welcome you all to Berk.

"Apologies," Elinor replied, "Our daughter struggles with the sea. Or rather, her horse does. She is tending to him."

An animal lover eh? Hiccup thought to himself. She doesn't sound all bad.

"My son can help," Stoik jumped in immediately. "He has quite a way with animals."

"No, it's fine," Elinor waved him off, "she needs to adjust anyway. I've learned she cannot be forced into anything, no matter how I try."

"No matter, she can join us at the feast." Stoick patted Hiccup on the back. "Allow me to introduce my son."

"Ah, the famous Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third!" Fergus smiled. "I've heard many a tale of you and your Night Fury. Maybe you can tell us more at the feast. I'm sure Merida would be delighted to hear them."

"Of course," Stoick nodded. "Would you allow me to escort you back to the main hall? You will be accommodated in the Chief's house of course."

"You are most kind," Elinor smiled and took her husband's hand. Something was going on, Hiccup was sure of it. Something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Hiccup!" The young man jolted from his trance and turned to his father, eyes wide. "Go and organise preparations for the feast!"

"Yes dad," Hiccup sighed and walked away, his metal leg creaking, back up to the Great Hall. For the next few hours he was stuck organising preparations for the feast and he still hadn't seen this mystery princess. Although seeing her mother he was sure that she couldn't be ugly. But that still left him shrouded in confusion.

The time of the feast dawned upon them. Hiccup dressed in his smartest robes, mainly because he didn't have a choice. They were bottle green trimmed with ermine and a golden circlet rested amongst his auburn hair. It had once belonged to the very first Hiccup Horrendous Haddock and all around the edge there were the names of his forefathers, carved in Viking runes. One day his name would be there too.

He walked to the Great Hall from the Chief's house and took his place next to his father, standing and waiting along with the rest of the tribe for the Scottish royals to be introduced. They didn't have to wait long. A fanfare sounded and the doors opened.

"King Fergus and Queen Elinor of Dunbroch!"

They stepped forward, smiling graciously at everyone and stood next to Stoick.

"The princes, Hamish, Hubert and Harris of Dunbroch!"

The three young triplets swaggered out of the doors, grinning mischievously. Nevertheless, they took their place beside their parents. Hiccup's palms were sweating.

"The princess Merida of Dunbroch!"

Hiccup caught his father giving him a quick smirk and he couldn't figure out why. But then the doors opened and the heir to the throne of Berk thought he might drop down dead right there.

A girl with beautiful red hair which bounced as she walked was approaching him. She was wearing a flowing green gown with flowers embroidered up the bust and a simple necklace graced her neck. A minimalistic tiara was placed on her soft hair and a piece of black lace was draped across her which fell off of her shoulders and down to the floor. Her body was beautiful in every sense, she wasn't stupidly skinny, she was gorgeously curvy. Her eyes were electric and she had a scattering of freckles across her nose. She was perfect.

Hiccup wanted to sweep her off of her feet. But instead he had to do what was customary and control himself as he walked to greet her, kneeling, taking her hand and kissing it softly.

"My lady," he whispered, just loud enough for it to be heard. She met his gaze with an unreadable expression. He rose, lingering there as long as he dared. Her long fingers slipped from his grasp and they walked to their places beside their parents. Hiccup fought the temptation to peer round to see her again. Stoick stepped forward and announced the signing of the treaty.

The papers were brought forward and the Scottish royal family signed them first. Then Stoick. The paper was passed to Hiccup and he caught a glimpse of Merida's handwriting. It was like a scrawl, but an elegant scrawl, if that was possible. He signed and cheers filled the hall. Stoick and Fergus shook hands, indicating peace was enabled between the two kingdoms.

"Let the feast begin!"

The royals all had designated seats and, of course, the heirs had to sit together. Hiccup went to pull a chair for her but she yanked it in herself, sitting down and taking off her tiara immediately, letting out a sigh of relief. He remained silent.

Food was laid upon the tables, food from all kingdoms and all places. Hiccup was astounded. He'd never seen so much food in his life. A funny, different looking meat caught his eye, something that looked like a round sausage. He took a slice along with a bread roll and some chicken. The princess Merida stole a sideways glance at his plate which he didn't notice. He'd just put some of the new meat into his mouth and was enjoying the new taste until she spoke for the first time.

"Haggis eh? You're brave!"

Hiccup coughed and turned to her.

"Why?"

"Most people leave it a good hundred miles away when they find out it's sheep's stomach."

Hiccup froze and tried to cough up everything he swallowed whilst the princess chortled.

"Why -" Hiccup wheezed, "why didn't you tell me it was a - a -"

"Ach," she twiddled her fork in between her long fingers, "Have you never heard of fun, mister Dragon Trainer?"

"It's Hiccup actually," he corrected, "but Dragon Trainer does sound more, well, viking, I suppose."

"You're not a Viking," she said quietly.

"Technically, yes I am. I'm one of these guys," he gestured around him. "This is my home. I'm a Viking, even if I don't look like it." He jokingly flexed a muscle and Merida laughed.

"What I mean is, you don't belong here. You just look out of place somehow. You just don't, well, fit in."

"Great, thanks for that," he sighed, pretty offended. He knew he'd never have had a chance with her anyway anyway, for Gods' sake.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way!" Merida protested irritably. "I thought it might be nice for you to know that there's someone out there who knows exactly how you feel."

"What?" Hiccup choked again, this time on his mead. He never liked the drink, but today was a day where he'd be expected to gulp it down. He was a man, remember?

"I hate this," she plucked at the sleeve of her dress. "I hate all of this. I don't want to be seen as just an asset. Something to brag about. I want to be free, for God's sake. It's just not fair. I want to do what I like with my life. Run away, start a new civilisation, I don't know. Just something worthwhile, y'know?"

Hiccup jolted as Merida stopped talking. He'd been too transfixed on her as she was speaking. Oh, he listened, obviously. But he was admiring her as he did so.

"Yeah," he said quietly, so they wouldn't attract attention from their parents who were laughing and slightly pink from the mead. "My father wouldn't listen to me when I told him I didn't want to fight dragons. He forced me into the ring and I befriended one I shot down during a raid."

"The Night Fury?" Merida whispered, in complete awe. "You were the one who shot it down?" Hiccup nodded and continued.

"But we couldn't get found out. If we did my father would have killed him. Obviously though, we did. I thought I'd never see him again until my father was fighting the Red Death. I was the only one who knew it's capability and we," he gestured to the rest of the young adult Vikings on the other table, "found some dragons in the arena. We rode out and defeated it eventually. Only then did my father see sense. But it came at a price."

Hiccup gestured to his feet and lifted his intricately carved fake leg. Merida gasped, though it wasn't so much of a shock to her, bearing in mind she'd grown up with a father with a peg leg.

"It got burned too badly in the fire. It's amazing I survived at all."

"That's incredible," Merida breathed, and she wasn't one to be lost for words easily. "I wish I could be like you. Stand up to tradition. Defy the rules. Turn my back on society."

"Why can't you?" Hiccup asked, curious. Surely this girl, headstrong and bold as she was, would be able to do this with complete ease?

"My mother's decided on an arranged marriage," she whispered, her face growing red in anger. "She hasn't thought about the fact that I'm not ready for this, or that maybe I don't want to become my mother all over again because I won't be the perfect queen! I know I won't! And I don't want to get married and have children and die giving birth and I'm so scared of it all -"

She broke off, realising her emotions were spilling everywhere, just like her hair. Hiccup turned in his seat to face her. She couldn't be seen like this.

"Merida," he mumbled, "D'you, d'you want to talk? Outside?"

She nodded slowly but definitively. Hiccup asked to be excused to take Merida to get some fresh air, using the excuse that the yak milk was unsettling her stomach. Stoick winked and Elinor smiled as Hiccup led her out, one reassuring hand on her back.

The light from the torches in the stables illuminated her round face beautifully. Hiccup brought her here because it was quiet, warm and airy. But now tears were in danger of spilling from her perfect gemstone eyes.

"M - Merida," Hiccup stammered, figuring it'd be the best if she knew the truth, "I don't want to alarm you, but my father told me that, that it'd be a good idea, when you came, if I was to, well, to get to know you well. He said, he said that marriage, marriage between our kingdoms would, it'd be a really good, it'd be a good way to seal the peace. Well, he didn't say that. But that was what he was implying. I just - I think you're here because of that. Because our parents want us to fall for each other."

Merida stopped in her tracks and blinked once. A single tear ran down her cheek, making her face look shiny from where the light hit her cheek.

"No," she mumbled. "No."

"I'm not saying I want to either!" Hiccup panicked as he looked at her imploringly. "I just, I don't want to get married to a stranger and maybe if we asked them for some time, to, to get to know each other, maybe it'd just, just fall into place or something?"

"I'm sorry," Merida said in a voice just above a whisper, "I can't. I don't want to. I - I don't want to feel that way. It makes you weak. I can't afford to be weak. I have to," she started choking through her sobs, "I have to be brave. I have to, I have - I have to..."

She sank onto a straw bale and buried her face in her hands, finally letting go. Hiccup waited a second before acting. He placed an arm around her slightly awkwardly at first, but he soon adapted as she held onto his tunic and his hand fell down to hold her shoulder and the other hung at his side.

Astrid would never have let him do this. She'd have punched him sooner. Even though Merida probably would have done that to anyone else right now, she was too emotionally wrecked to think. Plus, he was warm and actually, once she came to think about it, a decent person. He understood her. The expectations of being the heirs to their respective kingdoms and the pressure associated with it. She shifted and leant into him, his long ceremonial robe draping over the pair of them like a blanket as she cried into him.

"Please," she managed to speak enough for these few words, "don't tell anyone about this. If my mother knew -"

"I'm so sorry," Hiccup whispered into her hair, realising this was about the closest he'd ever get to her, probably. "I'm not ready either."

"I need time," she choked, barely audible amongst the sniffling.

"So do I," he murmured. "God, I'm not ready for marriage. Or to be chief. Or face up to Astrid yet."

"Who's Astrid?" Merida asked too quickly, not looking up at him.

"My ex girlfriend," Hiccup sighed. "We broke up when I found out that she'd only gone with me because I had a Night Fury."

"Social status only then," Merida replied.

"Oh, and she was cheating on me with a guy called Eret. Tattoos. Muscle. You know the type. Typical Viking. Opposite of me."

"Ugh," Merida muttered, disgusted. "I don't know why anyone likes that stereotype. I'm sorry about it. You must have been upset."

"Yeah well," Hiccup sighed. "It's been about a year now. I haven't looked anyone else in the eye. You're, you're the first girl I've talked to since then."

He could have sworn he saw a small smile form on her lips.

"C'mon," Merida shifted slightly after a content silence. "Can I get to bed? I've had enough ceremonial duties for one day."

"Agreed," Hiccup replied. They stood and immediately noticed how cold it was without having the other pressed against them. Ignoring it, the pair of them walked out of the stable, brushing straw from their robes.

Judging by the noises coming from the hall, the feast was still going strong. Merida smiled as she heard a familiar voice telling a very recognisable tale about a certain leg that got lost in a fight against a bear.

"Merida?" Hiccup spoke quietly, not wanting to break anything they might have between them. "D'you know how long you're staying?"

"I heard it was two months," Merida said, swinging her arms absentmindedly as she walked. "Apparently we're spending the summer here. That's why Angus is here."

"Who?"

"My horse," she smiled. "He's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He was sea sick on the journey though, so I had to take care of him. Poor thing. It's not easy on a boat for six days when you're used to roaming the countryside all day. Well, when your owner doesn't have lessons that is," she grumbled and Hiccup chuckled to himself.

"I'm guessing you're not the bookish type?"

"It's not that," Merida replied, "it's the fact that I'd rather be out shooting than learning about the Clan Dingwall and his stupid heirs and the like. I liked learning about Berk though. I've never seen a dragon before." She said this almost wistfully.

"D'you want to see one tomorrow?" Hiccup smiled, "A Night Fury, perhaps?"

"Are you joking?" Merida could barely contain her excitement. "A Night Fury?! I've waited my whole life for this!" Hiccup grinned. Maybe having the Scottish royals to stay in Berk wasn't such a bad idea after all.

A/N Okay, sorry this was so long, nearly three thousand words! There will be a part two, probably updated in the next few days if I don't get too busy. Until then!