The Viking and the Arrow~ Chapter 8

“All the decisive blows are struck left-handed.”― Walter Benjamin

Hiccup was restless; there was no way he could possibly sleep. Tomorrow was the last day and he still didn’t have a plan, and it didn’t look like one was coming either. Up until now Merida had been treated as a guest, but if she didn’t sign the treaty she was likely to be arrested and held as the first prisoner of the war to come. Although Vikings were normally associated with being mindless brutes, they took their political affairs seriously.

He heard light footsteps outside his door. He knew it was Merida, probably sneaking into the kitchen.

Five minutes passed, then ten and eventually twenty, yet he still didn’t hear her come back. So he got up to investigate.

The kitchen was empty; perhaps she had snuck past him.

Hiccup went back upstairs as he reached the top he noticed that Merida’s door wasn’t completely shut, which, considering the circumstances was odd.

Hesitantly he walked to her door and knocked lightly. When no answer came he pushed the door open. She wasn’t there. Not only was she not there but the majority of her things were missing as well.

~:~

Merida didn’t know how Hiccup ever managed to get this contraption onto the beast, the lack of light didn’t help either.

She cursed under her breath as the saddle continued to prove difficult to adjust. She almost considered riding without it, but given the circumstances of actually flying, she couldn’t risk falling off and didn’t think it would be to comfortable either. She tightened the strap, but he protested. If it was a notch looser then it wouldn’t stay.

“What are you doing?”

Merida froze at the sound of the voice. She didn’t even have to turn around to know that it was Hiccup. In fact she didn’t move at all, with the small thought that if she didn’t then maybe he wouldn’t see her.

Hiccup noticed the poorly placed saddle, and began to put the pieces together.

“You’re not actually trying to steal my dragon and run away are you?”

“Ah wouldn’t call it stealing, exactly. Borrowing wid be a better word.” She said as she turned to face him.

He stared at her in disbelief. Had he really heard her right? She couldn’t be serious.

Hiccup was never one to get angry, irritated yes, but never full on mad.

“And what were you planning to do if this plan actually worked? You know that if you leave that you would be putting your people at risk! Even if you didn’t go home they would still get hurt! And what about Toothless? You say you’re borrowing him, but how’s he supposed to get back on his own?! Are you really that selfish?!”

“Ye’r calling me selfish?! Ye’r th’ one that all of a sudden started pressuring me tae sign that damned treaty!”

“You think that I wanted this? To be in this position?! We’re both kids! We shouldn’t have to worry about stuff like this until years from now,” he flailed his arms in the air “but that’s not how it turned out!”

"Ah don’t care. A'm leaving; mah only regret will be tha’ Ah did nae dae it sooner."

"You're not taking Toothless." He said getting between them.

"Fine. Ah can find another way off this miserable island."

She started to walk away but he stopped her. "Let me go!" She said trying to yank her arm from his grip, but he still held on.

"No! You need to stop and think about what you're really doing!"

"A'm not signing it! The only way that ye could make me is if ye were tae fight me!"

"Fight you?" He thought for a moment.  "Okay then....yea, I challenge you."

"What? Ye'r nae serious."

"I am.” he released her arm “I challenge you to a duel, Merida of DunBroch." The way he had said her name let her know that he meant business.

She scoffed "Alright then, state yer terms."

"If I win then you have to sign the treaty. No arguing and no running away."

"Fine. But when Ah win, ye personally hae tae take me home, and Ah never hae tae come back. Since ye challenged me then Ah get tae pick what the challenge is, and Ah choose archery."

"That might be how they do things in the Highlands, but here things are different. The challenger chooses the challenge."

"Then what wid ye choose? Something tae dae with dragons?" She said gesturing towards Toothless. "That's nae fair."

"No I wouldn't do that." He paused. "I choose a sword duel."

Merida started to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Ye…fight me…in a sword duel?” she replied between laughs. Eventually she regained her composure. “Ye dae know tha’ Ah am no stranger tae sword fighting.”

“I know.”

“Yet ye still chose it, knowing fully well that I can beat ye.”

Hiccup shrugged. “If you know that you can beat me then you should have no problem agreeing to the terms.”

She studied him, wondering if this was some ploy. Why would he make it so easy for her?

“Fine. When and where will this duel take place?”

“Tomorrow,” he said “in the arena, in front of the village.”

“I’ve never seen anyone sae eager tae humiliate themselves.”

He ignored her comment. "Do we have an agreement or not?"

"Yea, Ah agree tae the terms."

He held out his hand for her to shake and she took it.

----

"You did what?!" Stoick stared at his son in disbelief.

Hiccup had just finished telling him about the fight that was supposed to happen later that day.

"It was the only way I could get her to agree."

"What if you lose? We can't afford for you to play around Hiccup. This is not a game."

"Dad, I know what I'm doing."

"I sure hope so, for your sake."

~:~

No tree deserved this; it was small and thin and had countless cuts in it. Merida had wasted no time to practice. With a spin she delivered another blow, but this time the tree groaned and started to crack. She stepped out of the way before it fell.

Merida wondered what Hiccup had been thinking. There was no way he could beat her. She was almost as good at sword fighting as she was at archery, almost. And what was that about a war? Surely he couldn't have been serious. Merida had stayed behind while she watched her family sail away. She lived under the same roof as her betrothed; she was even starting to consider him to be a friend. What more did the council want? Why did it have to be marriage? Why not a nice friendship treaty instead?

Merida sat on the fallen tree.

In reality she knew this wasn't Hiccup's fault, he was right, they were just kids. But it's not exactly like she could take her anger out on the chief or the council.

He was the easier target, and she would do everything in her power to beat him.

----

When Merida came back to the village she received short glances followed by whispers. By now the entire village was talking about the duel that would take place later, some were even placing bets, which were interesting to say the least. There was no real easy way to bid either. Bet on Merida and you support the foreigner. Bet on Hiccup and you, well bet on Hiccup…..

She made her way back to the house and saw Hiccup inside when she got there.

Shouldn’t he at least be training or something? With twig arms like that Merida wasn’t sure that he would even be able to lift a sword. They exchanged quick glances and Merida continued up the stairs.

----

Finally the time came.

They met at the entrance into the arena. Merida had brought Raysnare, obviously, and Hiccup carried a sword that was a bit shorter than hers.

Merida spoke first. “A’m assuming they aren’t going tae let us fight tae the death, sae how is the winner determined?”

“Whoever admits defeat first.”

“Looks like ye are goin’ tae lose then. Even if Ah were tae be knocked off mah feet countless times, Ah don’t give up.”

“I’m not giving up either. The alternative is winning by first blood.”

Merida looked at him. “Sae ye’r saying that Ah juist need tae cut ye.”

“Or vice versa.”

Merida didn’t get a chance to say anything back because, Hiccup was already waking in to the arena, she quickly followed. Looking up she saw Vikings lining the outside. They were talking quietly amongst themselves.

Merida and Hiccup stood in the middle facing each other with nearly the entire village staring down at them. She pushed the queasy feeling aside, she had to focus.

Briefly she thought back to the dragon fight that happened here. Although the outcome wouldn’t be nearly as gruesome, Merida wondered who was the dragon, and who was the warrior.

Hiccup on the other hand was as nervous as an animal in the slaughter house. He knew what Merida was capable of, yet he still challenged her. Stupid on his part really.

But he was here now and he had to try. But just trying wouldn’t be good enough, he had to win, or else things wouldn’t end well for anyone. He had gone to Old Wrinkly earlier that day for advice; he hoped that the old man’s words would pay off.

There was a sound signaling for them to start.

Merida took the first swing; Hiccup barely dodged it in time.

She swung again, aiming toward his middle, with no time to get out of the way he used his sword to deflect it. It went on like that for a few minutes, with the crowd shouting and Merida on the offence.

This time Hiccup swung with his right hand, Merida easily blocked it and in the process of doing so had knocked Hiccup’s sword out of his hand. He ran to retrieve it with Merida on his heels. Before he could pick it up her sword clashed in front of him, separating him from his defense. He backed away as she got closer, yet unfortunately he tripped over his footing and fell.

The gods must have really hated him.

She stood over him and pointed her sword at him, it was over.

Don’t fight their way, you’re not them.

Old Wrinkly’s words from before flashed in his mind.

The metal was close to his face, he had to do something and he had to do it now.

Hiccup swung his legs out from under her, causing her to fall. Immediately he got up and fetched his sword with his left hand.

By the time he turned back around Merida was standing again, and didn’t look happy.

She scoffed when she noticed that he wasn’t holding his sword in the correct hand.

They charged at each other, meeting their weapons in the middle with a horrible sound.

Merida was breathing heavily, pushing her sword against his, trying to get the upper hand.

Hiccup pushed back, but stopped and ducked under her, causing her to stumble forward.

Quickly she regained herself and charged at him again. Hiccup blocked her swing in an awkward placement of swords. Merida was used to fighting normal opponents, people who used their right hand. Hiccup was using his left and it threw her off.

This time it was Hiccup who was pushing against the swords. He twisted his wrist, moving his sword with it and effectively threw Merida’s sword to the side. Before she could recover from the shock of actually being disarmed, her legs were knocked from under her and she fell.

She didn’t even have a chance to get up before a horn sounded. It was then that her cheek started to sting, she raised a hand to it and when she brought it back she saw blood. When had he even cut her?

She had lost.

She had lost, and now she had to sign the treaty.

----

The room felt ten times smaller than the last time she had been here, and the parchment on the table seemed to take up the majority of the space.

She stepped forward and a writing feather was handed to her.

A deal was a deal. She leaned forward and slowly signed her name.

“Once your parents are able to return, we will have the ceremony.” Stoick said, but Merida remained quiet.

“Now then.” He announced joyfully “let’s go celebrate my son’s victory!”

Merida was left behind in a room that now seemed too big.

----

Merida made her way back to the house unnoticed.

She hadn’t unpacked her things from last night so all she had to do was grab the bag and her bow, Naris.

She went out the back door and headed to the woods. She wasn’t planning on running away exactly, just taking a very, very long vacation.

~:~

Normally it wouldn’t have taken Hiccup this long to quietly slip away. But since he had won the challenge and ‘proved to be a Viking after all’, he was the center of attention.

He was surprised by the outcome; he didn’t actually expect to win. He knew Merida was the better fighter, stronger and fiercer. Hiccup was still baffled that he’d won.

Eventually he came up with an excuse and managed to get away, and when he did he went looking for Merida.

~:~

Tears slipped down her face. She couldn’t understand why she was crying, she was supposed to be angry.

Wiping her tears away she sat on a nearby rock.

She didn’t really have a plan, other than to get away. She didn’t even know how to build a boat so she could sail away, if not home then somewhere else.

Maybe she could become one of those forest people from the stories travelers would tell.

The sound of numerous twigs breaking brought her from her thoughts. She stood and her hands instantly went to her bow.

Hiccup stumbled out of the foliage. Why was she not surprised.

He eyed her hands on the bow, and held up his to show that he was unarmed.

“What dae ye want?” she spat.

“I just wanted to talk.” He said slowly.

“There’s nothing tae talk aboot.” She turned to leave but Hiccup rushed in front of her. He opened his mouth to say something but didn’t get the chance.

“Ah thought tha’ ye were different, but it turns oot that ye’r juist like them! Manipulating people juist tae get what ye want!”

Her hair was ablaze like fire and her eye grew colder, like a harsh Berk winter. She was her own terrible storm and he was the one who caused it.

“Give me one good reason why Ah shouldn’t run ye through right noo.”

“Because there’s another part of the deal we shook on.”

“What other part? The deal was if ye won then Ah sign the treaty. Ah did that, in case ye missed it!”

“There was also a part about not running away.”

“Ah signed the damned treaty what more dae ye want from me?!”

Hiccup hesitated “Come to the Cove with me.”

“A’m nae going anywhere with ye.” She shoved by him and started walking away.

“Do you want to see your family again?”

Merida stopped.

“What are ye talking aboot?”

“That was the other part of my deal…..I just…didn’t tell you.”

“What are ye saying exactly?”

“I know you miss them, even if they did leave you here.” He paused, but when she said nothing he continued. “After you signed the treaty I was planning on taking you to visit them.”

Merida looked dumbfounded. “Why would-why would ye dae that?”

“Because you’re my friend.”

----

They agreed to meet at the Cove when night fell, giving Hiccup time to gather his things.

The saddle was already placed on Toothless and Hiccup was hooking the bags onto it.

“Ye’r really going tae take me tae see them?” Merida asked, still skeptical.

“Yes, I really am.”

Once he made sure that the bag wouldn’t fall off he got on Toothless and hooked his harness to the saddle.

When he held out a hand to Merida she hesitated before taking it.

She lightly placed her hands on his shoulders.

“A’m surprised yer da let ye dae this.”

Hiccup fidgeted slightly “He doesn’t exactly know I’m doing this….”

“Oh.”

Changing the subject Hiccup patted Toothless. “Okay bud, let’s go.”

Merida watched as his wings spread out. Without warning she was forced back as he took off. She screamed trying to hold on, grabbing whatever she could. She managed to pull herself up and buried her face into Hiccup’s back.

She had rode Angus countless times, but dragon riding was nothing like horseback riding. Merida didn’t know what she was thinking when she thought that she could actually fly away by herself.

Once the flying was steadier she loosened her grip and looked around.

They were above the clouds now and stars sparkled overhead.

“This is amazing.” She said. “Ah don’t see why the others don’t dae this.”

“It’s not the Viking way.” It was then that Hiccup noticed that Merida’s hands weren’t on his shoulders anymore, but instead around his waist, she didn’t seem to notice yet.

“Are ye sure he can far enough? It took us three weeks by boat tae get here.”

“Toothless is the fastest dragon on record. It’ll take a few days, maybe a week and we’ll be island hopping, so we’re not over water the entire time.”

They exited the patch of clouds and flew over the moonlit water into the night