Betrothal (a merricup story)

Fourteen- Merida, who do you like?

Merida sighed as Rapunzel wrestled with her tangled mess of hair. "Punzie, is this really necessary?" She asked, wincing as she pulled the brush through a tangled knot amongst the curls.

"Your hair today is an even more tangled than usual!" Rapunzel complained. "And even if I don't do this, you know your mother will do it herself the instant she notices!"

"I don't know which is worse....you or my mother." Merida muttered. "Ow!"

"Sorry..." Rapunzel said. "I'm almost done. Hey, have you visited Hiccup yet?"

"She did..." Jack said from the door. "And she almost gave him another injury in the process."

Rapunzel looked at him, confused. "Really? How?"

"She hugged him." Jack said. "Almost suffocated him too."

Merida shot him a glare. "It wasn't on purpose!" She said. "And it wasn't that bad....stop exaggerating so much."

Rapunzel giggled. "I think it's cute that you care about him so much." She said. Merida blushed, looking away quickly.

"Hmm, I heard Astrid was visiting him yesterday." Jack said. "Funny, I didn't see her."

Merida looked up. "Who's Astrid?" She asked.

"She's a Viking girl." Punzie said. "I've met her before. She seems alright."

"She's also Hiccup's first crush." Jack smirked. "And I was supposed to be sworn into secrecy over this matter, so not a word to Hiccup." Rapunzel giggled. Merida just looked down at the ground, gritting her teeth. Rapunzel raised an eyebrow and glanced at Jack. He winked. She grinned and nodded.

"So, have you heard what the final challenge will be?" Punzie asked.

Merida shook her head. "What else could it be? We've already had duels, archery, strength competitions, pretty much everything!" She said. "What else can mother come up with?"

Jack shrugged. "Who knows? Might be something bizarre, like a pie eating contest." He grinned cheekily. Merida rolled her eyes at him.

"So, who do you think will win?" Rapunzel asked, setting the brush down.

Merida groaned. "I really don't know, and I don't want to think about it." She said.

Rapunzel glanced at Jack. "Okay then. Lets rephrase the question." She said, looking at Merida. "Who do you want to win?" She asked.

Merida blinked. "What?" She asked.

"What Punzie is trying to say is....Who do you want to win your hand in marriage?" Jack asked.

"I don't-" she blinked. "I don't know- I don't want to get married!" She said.

Jack groaned. "This is getting us nowhere." He said. "Ok, rephrase it." He leaned closer. "Who do you like?" He asked.

"What?! What makes you think that I-" she paused. "Like anyone..." She trailed off. Rapunzel and Jack watched as she thought about it.

"So? Who is the person you like?" Punzie asked, excited.

"Is he, by any small chance, a Viking?" Jack smirked.

Merida was thinking hard, was Jack suggesting what she thought he was suggesting? "He- er... I don't- how do you even know if you like someone anyway?!" She asked, clearly frustrated.

Punzie thought about it. "Hmm...when you like someone, you're happy just being around him." She said.

"You worry about him..." Jack added, studying Merida's expression. "Your blood runs cold when you see him hurt."

"And you get jealous when there's someone else in the picture." Rapunzel finished.

Merida thought about it carefully. Happy being around him? She did like spending time with him, even if it was just for training. Worry about him...of course she'd be worried, he got hurt in a battle, after all. Blood runs cold....ok, that part was true, she had felt that way when she saw him fall. Jealous.

Jealous.

Her eyes widened as she realised that that had been the feeling she'd gotten when Jack mentioned Astrid. "Oh...Mor'du." She cursed.

"Well?" Rapunzel asked.

Merida looked at her. "Fine." She said. "I do like him."

"And what is this young man's name?" Jack smirked.

She glared at him. "Wipe that smug smirk off your face, Frost." She said.

He laughed. "Hah! I knew it!" He shouted in triumph. "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, am I right?" He grinned.

Merida's face turned scarlet. "So?" She mumbled. "So what if I like him?"

"It's great, Meri!" Punzie cheered. "This is perfect! He's a suitor! You can marry him!" She said.

Merida sighed. "Yes,but there's just one problem." She said. "He hasn't won a single challenge. The challenges are to decide who 'wins the hand of the princess'." She said the last bit dramatically. "So how can he be chosen if he hasn't won a single challenge?"

Rapunzel's face fell as she thought about it. It was true, Hiccup hadn't won any of the challenges. "Things will work themselves out." She said. "There's still one last challenge left, remember?" She smiled. "Besides that. We've got a ball to attend tonight. We need to pick dresses, and I still need to do your hair."

Merida groaned. "Do you have to?" She asked.

"Yep." Punzie said firmly. "Now lets get started. See you later at the ball, Jack." She smiled at him.

He smiled, giving her a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you later, Punz."