Betrothal (a merricup story)

Six- time to sneak out

After a week, a total of three challenges were over, including Merida's archery event. And Hiccup hadn't won a single one. Hiccup sighed as he walked through the castle. This wasn't good for the clan's reputation, he knew. And his father wasn't any prouder of his son's accomplishments either, unless you considered almost bringing down the entire stable down on itself after a horse had kicked out at one of the pillars.

"Hic!" Jack called.

He turned to his friend. "Nice to finally see you again, Jack." Hiccup said.

"Me too, Hic. So, how are you finding DunBroch?" Jack asked.

"It's ok." Hiccup replied. "But I'm no closer to raising the clan's reputation, that's for sure." He sighed. "I'm no good at anything."

"Don't be so depressing, buddy!" Jack said. "You are the dragon tamer, after all."

"And how is that gonna help me here?" Hiccup asked. "I doubt half of the people here have seen a dragon before in their lives."

"And that is just how impressive a dragon tamer is here, Hic." Jack said. "C'mon, I'll introduce you to Punzie."

"Punzie? Oh, your fiancé. How are you enjoying the engagement?" Hiccup asked.

Jack smiled. "I'm pretty sure it couldn't have turned out better." He said. "Right this way..." He pushed open the door. "Punzie?" He called. Hiccup's eyes widened.

Sitting in the room, next to a blonde haired girl, which he assumed was Jack's 'Punzie', was princess Merida DunBroch.

They both looked up as they walked in. "Hi, Jack." Rapunzel said. "Oh? Hello!" She greeted, smiling at Hiccup. Hiccup waved nervously. Jack pushed him forward. "Punz, this is Hiccup. Hiccup, meet Rapunzel, my fiancé." Jack said.

"Nice to meet you, Hiccup." Rapunzel said politely.

"Y-you too, Rapunzel." He said.

"And, I'm sure you already know Merida." Jack continued.

"Yeah, I know him." Merida said. "We met that one time in the woods, before the challenges."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You snuck out, didn't you?" He said.

Merida looked at him. "What do you think?"

"Yep, pretty sure you snuck out." Jack said.

Merida turned to Hiccup. "So....you're a Viking." She said. "No offence, but you don't look like one." Rapunzel stared at her, then elbowed her in the side. "Ow!" Merida yelped.

"Sorry, her tongue can be a bit....sharp." Rapunzel said.

Hiccup shook his head. "Nah, it's ok." He said. "Used to it. You're definitely not the first to have said that."

"Just so you know, I never wanted to have any part in this stupid contest." Merida said.

"Well, that makes two of us." Hiccup said.

She looked at him, surprised. "Really?" She asked.

"Yeah. My dad's the one who wanted me to take part." He said. "If I had my way, I'd still be back at home."

"Huh." Merida muttered. "I guess I like you a bit more now."

Hiccup blinked. "Ok?"

"So...Hiccup, how are you liking your stay here?" Rapunzel asked.

"Well...it's...different from home." Hiccup said. "That's for certain."

Merida took a good look at him. "Ok, that's it." She got up. "C'mon, we're getting out of here. All of us." She glanced at Hiccup.

"Where?" Hiccup asked.

"And how exactly do you plan on getting out of here?" Rapunzel asked. "Your mother could come check on you any minute! Not to mention the guards at the gates."

Merida smirked. "There's plenty of ways to sneak out of the castle, Punzie." She said.