Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons~Something Different

Chapter seven

Hiccup dragged his feet on the ground. He was out alone in the wilderness of Don Broch. Since they sailed to Scotland Hiccup never wanted more alone time. Sometimes he didn't even want Toothless to come with him. Like today.

He didn't care about the stupid raid or all the land his village would receive. All he could think about was Astrid.

He started to wish his father didn't take him at all. Nothing here reminded him of her. He wanted to feel like she was still there. But in Scotland.....he couldn't.

He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a heart shaped necklace. It was Astrid's.

He remembered when he gave it to her for her Birthday. He made it himself. And engraved on it was the word, Hicstrid.

"Hicstrid?" She laughed when he handed it to her.

"Yeah," he said nervously "You know, it's a combination of our names. Like a couple....thing. I know it's stupid."

"Your stupid!" She said mockingly "I love it, you doof!"Then she kissed him.

Hiccup smiled as the happy memory. He sighed and put the trinket back into his vest.

~~~~

"....then ye pull the bow string to yer lip and keep yer eye on the target." Merida demonstrated to Rapunzel who watched with eagerness.

"Then.....loose!" And with that the arrow hit the center of the red dot on the tree. "Now ye try!"

Rapunzel started to feel nervous. "I doubt I be as good as you."

"Och! Don worry about it! It jest takes practice." She handed her the bow.

Rapunzel pulled the bowstring to her lip and held her breath as she released. The arrow didn't travel farther than five feet in front of her as it plummeted head first into the ground.

"Uh, sorry." Rapunzel said.

"Don worry about it." Merida told her "It just an arrow. It's not like ye hurt it or anythin'. Try again."

Rapunzel did try again. And again...and again....and again. And each time her arrows always ended up in the dirt. Rapunzel never had anger issues, but this was way too frustrating.

"Aargh!" She growled "I'm terrible at this!"

Merida scoffed "Ye should have seen me the first time I held a bow."

"Well I doubt you were worst than me!"

Merida started to feel concerned. This wasn't like Rapunzel. She had been staying at the castle for about four days now and Merida already considered her a best friend (since she never had a best friend before). Everyday they would go out into the forest, sometimes they would swing on Rapunzel's hair and other times that would go swimming or just sit and talk. And through it all Merida got to know her more and more. But why was she acting this way? She couldn't help but feel that this was about Eugene.

"Rapunzel?" She asked. "Are ye okay?"

Rapunzel let out a long sigh "I'm sorry. I just...."

"Need some space?" Merida finished.

"If you don't mind...I like to go back to the castle....alone."

Merida couldn't help but feel a little neglected. But she figured that Rapunzel's feelings were more important than her own.

"All right." She sighed "That's fine."

Rapunzel smiled although her eyes still clouded with despair. "Thanks, Merida. I really appreciate it." She mounted on the horse that the royal stables let her borrow.