The Four: Things Will Change

11 ~Anticipation~

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Hiccup shook his head. Tomorrow? Tomorrow? How!?

"Dad, I can't do this," Hiccup objected.

"Of course you can," Stoick laughed.

Hiccup honestly couldn't. Even if the schedules remained the same, he still couldn't compete with the other suitors. He's so weak, so scrawny and so sheepish. Plus, he was Berk's living, breathing, walking bad luck charm.

Who would like him?

Hiccup frowned, looking down at his feet. "Do I really have to?" He muttered.

"Yes, son," his father nodded, "The lords wanted the betrothal to be done as soon as possible so they can resolve bigger problems in the kingdom. Like their recent dragon raids,"

Dragon raids? Hiccup lifted his head quickly. "Is that why they need us? So we can help them with their dragon raids?"

"Aye," Stoick replied, "Apparently, some of DunBroch's villages in the farther parts of the kingdom are being attacked by dragons when we don't have attacks,"

Hiccup nodded slowly, showing that he understands the situation. Then, he must try to be plewsing. He has to.

Hiccup marched up to his room on the second floor. As soon as he was comfortable in his bed, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

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"I thought we talked about this, Merida," Elinor stated sternly, "A princess does not--"

"Raise her voice, I know, Mum. I know," Merida interrupted.

Elinor sighed, "You better make your piece with this. The lords are coming,"

"It's. Not. Fair!" Merida retorted angrily.

"Honestly, Merida. It's marriage," Elinor rolled her eyes, "It's not the end of the world,"

Merida stood from her seat and tried to talk back. No words were spilled, but her gestures made her frustration very evident. She screamed, taking the bow and quiver of arrows she got from Hiccup and stormed out.

"Merida!" the Queen scolded.

"Elinor," her husband, Fergus, said calmly, "Just let the lass be. She already has a lot on her plate,"

Merida was exasperated. She marched into her room. She locked her door and laid down on her bed.

Merida stared up at the ceiling while her mother worked on a tapestry in a different room, thoughts rambling in their heads.

This whole time, Elinor spent hours in preparing Merida, schooling her, giving her what they never had... and what does she expect them to do?

Call of the wedding. Would that kill them? Elinor was the queen. She can just tell the lords that Merida is not ready for this and that she may never be ready for this so... that's that. Expect their invitations to war in the morning.

Elinor knows it isn't easy. After all, she had some reservations when she was going to be betrothed. However, they could not escape who they were.

But it was Merida's life. She's just not ready yet.

Oh, if only they'd listen.

"I swear this isn't going to happen. Not if I have a say in it," Merida mumbled before finally falling asleep.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

"Let's go. Burgess awaits us," North said loudly as two Yetis handed him a black fur Russian hat and a red coat with black fur lining the sleeve holes, "To the sleigh!" He led the way.