Battle Cry | Mericcup (REWRITE)

Chapter 5

Merida did not notice how long had they been flying. She kept yelling and cursing, but the dragon's angry shriek had shut her up. By the time they arrived, Merida already formulated a plan to escape. But as soon as they landed, there were men already waiting to hold her arms. 

Her captor unmounted his dragon and went over to her. "Who are you?" Merida spat, her voice shaking. But she held her ground.

The boy did not answer. He removed the helmet that was covering his face. The first thing Merida noticed was that his eyes are emerald green. His jaws were tensed and his hair was brown and shaggy. It looked almost soft that Merida wanted to pull his hair and break his neck.

"Who are you?" Merida yelled.

The boy looked at her with a blank face. "My identity is not your concern." He said.

"Hiccup!" A man yelled, walking towards them. The boy rolled his eyes and face-palmed. He groaned and faced the man that called his name. "What kind of a name is that?" Merida asked herself.

"Dad!" He exclaimed.

"Great job son!" The man exclaimed, patting Hiccup's back.

"We were actually planning to grab the king, but this girl was an easy target." Hiccup said, looking back at Merida with disgust.

The man turned to Merida and said, "Hello princess, I am Stoick the Vast, chief of the tribe." 

He walked over to Merida and examined her face. "You look like your mom." He started. "But you've got your father's hair and eyes I suppose. How is that guy?" 

"What do you want from me?" Merida spoke angrily she was surprised that she was able to let out such a tone. She was boiling inside. She wanted to grab her bow and shoot these Vikings dead. But her weapon was on the ground. The chief laughed.

"So much like your father. Stubborn and so brave." He said in a serious tone. "I hope you will like your stay here." The chief then tapped Hiccup on the shoulder and nodded before leaving.

"Take her to the dungeons." Hiccup said. The men dragged Merida with Hiccup following behind. Merida tried to wriggle off of their grip, but it was no use. The two men looked tough. Unlike Hiccup who was skinny. Merida also noticed that he was limping and saw the prosthetic foot on his left.

The men shoved Merida inside the dungeon, locking her in one of the cells. "Guard her." Hiccup ordered. The two men nodded and stood on the either side of the metal doors, looking bold and alert.

"You monsters!" She yelled. "Let me out of here!" Hiccup turned to her but never said a word before leaving.

***

Merida have no idea what happened to her father and to his troops. She prayed they were able to return home safe. The burnt ships will not be able to go forward and save her. Their only choice was to retreat and regroup. A few questions circled her mind until she decided to scan the room and think for a way to escape. But with the two guards looking so attentive there were little chances of escaping.

"Didn't know that escaping the suffocating walls will lead me behind bars." Merida groaned. "Too much for freedom."

The dungeon doors opened. Hiccup walked over to Merida's cell with a tray in his hands. He dismissed the two guards as he placed the tray on the floor, placing a bowl of porridge inside her cell. He sat across Merida, the bars are in between them.

"Why are you here?" She asked with her thick Scottish accent.

Hiccup's lips were tight shut. He was looking down at the porridge. For a moment Merida stared at him and waited for his answer. "Why did you bring me here?" She asked, demanding an answer. She have no idea why she was captured. They might kill her by morning. She was an enemy after all.

When the man did not answer her question, she exclaimed furiously, "Answer me!"

Merida was almost in tears when he finally spoke, "Stop playing dumb, princess." He answered. He looked up to her, his emerald green eyes were marked with despair and longing. "What did you do to her?"

"Who?" Merida exclaimed. "I have no idea what you are talking about!"

"What did you do to my mother?" Merida could hear the pain in his voice. Hiccup was breathing audibly. He was angry and most probably getting impatient.

"What?" Merida asked. "What are you talking about?" 

Hiccup raised his head and faced her. He stared deep into her eyes. Merida could almost see how his eyes plead for an answer. He was just staring angrily at her. He was not speaking. Merida held his gaze. "We did not take anyone from you!" Merida spat.

"Did you not?" Hiccup yelled which startled Merida. "Did you not?" He repeated calmly.

He then stood. Merida waited for him to leave, but he lingered. "We want my mother alive." He spoke, his hands balled into fists on his side. "We want her alive as much as Dunbroch wants you alive."

She get it now. She was taken as a bait. To lure her kingdom here and use her as an exchange for his mother. And she knows that if this happens, their dragons will burn the king and queen. 

"You monsters." Merida said under her breath.

"Once the king and queen arrived and exchanged my mother for you, we will destroy everything." He raised his head to stare at her blue eyes that were courageously holding his stare. He hesitated to speak, but continued, "Including you. All of you."

Merida stood and ran towards him. He took a step back which prevented her from grabbing him. She screamed with anger. Hiccup stood far as the guards entered the dungeon. "Keep an eye on her." He whispered. The two guards nodded, standing on their positions.

"Let me out!" Merida yelled as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Mum! Dad!"

She kept calling, hoping that it would reach them. But she knew it cannot.

***

Merida had spent hours thinking of a way to escape. She can't easily escape without her bow that was taken away from her. She scanned the room for a another way to escape. The window was just right to fit her, but it was barred. She tried to take a peak and saw how high from the ground she was. Merida tried to pull the bars on the window, it creaked. The sound took the guards' attention.

"Hey! Don't even try to escape. The dungeon was high from the ground. The chief and his son wants you alive." One of the guard said.

That was when Merida was hit with a brilliant idea.