Assorted Mericcup/Jackunzel

The Princesses' Choice-Part Two

Steady, girl, steady.......... Merida coaxed herself into focusing on the almost invisible dot in the middle of the target. She smirked. This was too easy. Fire! She let loose the arrow and it rifled through the air, landing right in the center.

Merida did a little dance before going to retrieve her arrow. She grasped the end and pulled. Nothing. She twisted it slightly and pulled again. The arrow didn't budge. The redhead's temper flared as she yanked out the shaft, missing the arrowhead.

"Great." She grumbled. "Better go get a new batch." Merida slung the bow across her shoulders and jumped onto her shire, Angus. She nudged his flanks eagerly and he took off, with her clutching to his mane. They raced through Corona City's labyrinth of streets till she came to the blacksmith's shoppe.

"Hello?" She dismounted and strode into the smithy, red curls bouncing. "Anyone here?" A clatter of metallic objects sounded throughout the shoppe. Merida spun around and watched as a familiar young man emerged from a dark room.

"Sorry, Highness." He apologized, tying on a leather apron. "Gobber isn't here so I'll have to do." She dropped the broken shaft onto a nearby table.
"I need a new batch of arrowheads. These are too brittle." She explained, gesturing here and there. The boy shook his head.
"That's Gobber for you. Always overdoing things. Can I see one?"

Merida pulled an arrow out of her side quiver and handed to him fletching first. Their fingers bumped together, sending electric shocks shooting up their spines. Merida's breath caught in her throat for a mere second as his cheeks were covered in a splotchy blush.
"Sorry, Highness." He muttered, examining the arrow carefully.
"It's just Merida, you know. What's your name?"
"Hiccup." She gave him a disbelieving look. "Great name, I know. According to the stories I've heard, I didn't cry when I was born. I just stared at the midwife and hiccuped. Hence the name."

She smiled at him, pulling a shortsword out of a barrel. Hiccup glanced up to watch her maneuver with a subtle grace. As Merida finished off her imaginary opponent with a lunge, she turned back to him.
"You look like a cod." She said, pointing the blade at him. He realized that his mouth was hanging open and shut it abruptly, going back to the arrow.

"Well, it's pretty amazing the way that you handled that sword. But not as well as you can shoot." She turned towards him with a raised brow.
"You watched me practice?" Hiccup froze and hit himself in the forehead. Merida grabbed his hand before he could hit himself again. Another shock coursed through both of them again. She felt his scarred and calloused palm, her own feeling fragile and soft in his.

"It's ok. It's just that........everyone thinks I'll shoot them if they get too close. But I'd really like it if someone would come out and talk to me." She explained quickly, and smiled.

Hiccup stared into her cerulean eyes, smirking just a smidge. "So you're not all fire and brimstone, then?" He said, rubbing his rough thumb over her hand. "You actually have delicate feelings and show them?" Merida glared at him playfully.
"You mean, you aren't just a brainless serving boy who can't hold anything heavier than a dagger without being crippled?" She retorted smugly.

"You remembered that day?"
"Are you joking? Rapunzel hadn't left Jack's side ever since!" Merida laughed. He chuckled along with her. His brown hair fell in front of jade colored eyes.
"So, you'll let me watch you from close up?" Hiccup asked.
"Yep. Back to the arrows. Do you need payment now or later?" She answered, finally letting go of his hand.

"Well," he scratched his head, thinking deeply. "Gobber would prefer it now." She shrugged.
"Fine with me." And with that, she leaned in and pecked his freckled cheek. "How was that?" Hiccup froze and melted in the same instance. And smirked, saying, "I might be requiring a further investment on that note."
Merida just rolled her eyes, grabbed his apron and kissed him full on.

After several minutes, she let go of him. "See ya tomorrow. And bring those arrowheads!" She called leaping onto Angus and riding off towards the castle.

Gobber found Hiccup rubbing a red cheek just minutes later and wondered what the dickens he had just gotten himself into.

Sorry it took so darn long. Please forgive me. PK45