You Changed my Fate

Interrogated

Merida faced her home, the rain
dampening her hair even more. She turned to the woods, a pathway stretching out till she could see no more. She was hidden behind a tall tree, her hair was colorless, drained from the darkening skies. Her face was illuminated by the dim glow of the burning torches placed on the castle.

The two guards, who were secure the area, retreated back into the castle doors, creating a path for Merida. She snuck in before the grand doors closed with a loud boom, her eyes squinted to the new lighting before she raced off to find the kitchen.

She didn't want to be seen, so she ducked behind fancy hanging quilts her mother knitted and carved cabinets that stuck out, leaving space for Merida to dash behind. She smacked open the kitchen door, racing down the stone steps.

Merida grabbed a satchel and stuffed apples and empty cups, to fill with water later, into the bag. She didn't have a great plan before for food, she knew she couldn't survive on just cod and haddock and whatever kinds of fish she found, she'd lose her sense of taste eating the same thing for weeks, maybe months.

Running back in the same direction she went in, her satchel hanging around her shoulder, she found another useful item, her cloak. Merida snatched it and flung it around her. She also grabbed her bow, then she vanished out the door.
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Merida quietly walked her way towards the woods, she glanced over to the set-up tents where shops were closing as torches and lanterns were being blown out. Her eyes spotted something popping out from all the dark colors around her.

Three little red-orange dots bobbed around, stopping at a familiar location. Merida ran over, skidding to a stop to see Hiccup talking to her brothers.

"Look, aren't you boys a bit too young to have such dangerous weapons?"

"Boys?" Merida cut in, her hand gripping her bow as her other held onto the strap to her satchel.

"Merida! I was just about -" Hiccup was interrupted by the triplets standing by him.

"Aren't you supposed to be inside?" One spoke.

"Mother is going to have a fit."
Another said.

"I never agreed to going out this late!"
The last of the three said a bit more loudly.

Merida walked closer to the booth and looked at the damaged weapons placed on a long table.

"Since when did you get these?"

"They're dads." All of them said at once, a hint of guilt in their voices.

Merida's attention went to Hiccup, who was fiddling around with his sketchbook.

"What are you working on?" Merida asked, leaning over the table to catch a glimpse of his drawing.

Hiccup fumbled with his words,"It - It's - I'm adding more to Tooth - I mean - you know - tail - erm, prosthetic."

The triplets looked confused while Merida was trying to piece together his words. After finally getting it, she said,"How's it getting along anyways? Trahern give you the pieces you need?"

Hiccup scratched the back of his neck,"Heh, not really...he sees me more of an apprentice and made me sharpen weapons. You know - instead of making my - er - design."

Merida sighed while the three brothers tried to figure out what the heck was going on.

"Wait, you know him?"

"What is he working on?"

"He doesn't even have an accent!"

"BOYS!"

Merida cut off her brothers from their rambling and shoved them away from the blacksmith. "How about you all go home, hm?"

"You have to, too." They all replied.

"I will, now, if you don't go home now, you won't get desserts tomorrow."

"But...that's not fair!" One said, while the others just looked sad.

"It's perfectly fair now go home, before dad and mum notice."

They all agreed and trudged back towards the direction of the castle.
Hiccup moved his head to see where they were going, but Merida blocked his view of them.

"So, where's Trahern?" She said, with an annoyed look on her face.

__________

After agreeing on a deal that Hiccup gets to work on his 'invention' and help when Trahern needs to be helped, Merida grabbed her stuff and started to exit the small shop.

"Wait, Merida." Hiccup said, his voice softer and quieter since it was deep into the night.

"Yes?" She questioned, turning back around to face him.

"Where are you going? You brought all this -" He motioned his hands to her bow and satchel, "- and you didn't let me see where your brothers went."

Merida groaned,"Since when did I have to tell you where I lived, you won't even tell me where you live!"

Hiccup felt embarrassed, his cheeks turning red,"S - Sorry I asked." He turned back to his work.

"Wait, are you going back into the woods?"

"Yea, why?"

"Can you give Toothless some food, he loves fish, just not eels."

"Eels? Why?"

Hiccup shrugged,"Don't know, must be a dragon thing."

Merida smiled,"Ok, I'll be sure to feed Toothless."

"Thank you." Replied Hiccup, a soft smile placed on his lips.

Merida swirled around and off she went into the forest.