Meet Me At the Halfway Point

Clan Dingwall

 Year three end of Spring day 4

Hiccup was sleeping peacefully, until he woke to the feeling of his bed trembling beneath him. It felt as if something big was approaching the cabin. Turning his head sluggishly towards the door, eyes adjusted to the darkness, Hiccup knew the very thing that could be making all that noise. Yet he still wasn't ready when Toothless barged through the doors, pounding down on all fours that shook everything inside the walls, Hiccup was blasted into the air and through out of bed.

"TOOTHLESS WHAT IN THE GODS?!-" he shouted, trying to balance himself on his feet, unfortunately awake now.

But his dragon ignored him, as Toothless shot a small fire blast into the fireplace-then faced the doorway again as if waiting for someone.

"Do you want to explain what's going on bud?" Hiccup said, annoyed and confused.

Then a figure with a black robe rushed inside the cabin, lowering her hoodie, Merida was out of breath.

"Merida? What's happened? What's wrong?" he asked.

He tried to meet her eyes, yet she kept her head down- looking overall scared as she struggled to find the right words to begin. Finally glancing up at him, she spoke in a harsh whisper, "Viggo happened, Hiccup."

Now without holding back Merida drove right into her story, and told Hiccup everything she heard back in the war room. Showing him the note and held up the Viking talons game piece. Hiccup read the notes to himself shifting in place uncomfortably, his whole face was growing in anger.

Merida could see his hands shaking, gripping at the note as if he was about to rip it apart. She calmly placed her hands over his which helped to ease him down. Carefully removing the letter and tucking it back safely into her pocket, as she began to speak.

"Then ya agree, it IS Viggo, he knows th' only way to attend an audience with the king is to first meet with clan Dingwall. But trust me, Hiccup, Viggo won't get that far- tomorrow I'll speak with Dingwall, come up with some lie 'n' convince him not to take on visitors- he'll have to listen to me-."

"No!...Dingwall should meet with Viggo," Hiccup said abruptly. "I'll just have to find a way into that castle...and see for myself what he promises to DunBroch for my capture."

"Hiccup? Ya can't be serious- Viggo just put a bounty on your head, we have to think rationally about this!" She protested.

"I probably won't get another chance like this Merida! I may finally have the upper hand on him...my problems have found its way to your side of the world...this is all my fault. If I'm gonna stop Viggo I have to know what he's planning."

"Then I'm coming with you!" said Merida, her hands grasping on his forearms.

"What?! No! Merida I can't ask you to put yourself in danger- you don't know Viggo- this isn't your fight!" Hiccup tried to express.

"Viggo made this my fight th' moment he sent that letter for my father 'n' threatened MY kingdom and the life of MY friend!"

Hiccup struggled to object, "But-but-"

"None o' that viking- a soldier never goes into battle alone, I have th' maps to clan Dingwall and I know the island, if ya want to stand a chance then I'm coming," Merida said firmly.

After a moment to gather his thoughts, Hiccup couldn't think of any reason to stop her, she was right of course, and gave a tiny defeated smirk at her. Merida nodded her head and smiled right back at him, both of them stood apart and held tightly to a forearm shake, both of their range and determination forming into one.