The Frozen Brave

Man in a Dress

“Princess Merida, Princess Rapunzel is waiting for you outside.”
Merida nodded in reply at the girl before facing back at the mirror. She touched the necklace dangling around her neck. Two axes crossed each other were engraved on it. She flipped it over and read the word behind it ‘BRAVE’. This was given to her by her mother, to remind her "always be brave." After a moment, she snapped out of her daydream and grabbed her bag.

Outside the castle, Merida looked at what her companions were doing. Where Angus and another horse waited for departure, Rapunzel was talking with a castle keeper with Eugene, an arm around her waist.
Hiccup was loading something unto Toothless who stared at Merida with a smile. It seems to her that the dragon was thinking about something. Hiccup turned around and saw her. They both stared for a moment then smiled at each other. She thought she saw Hiccup blush but he turned back to attend to Toothless.
“You be careful ok?” Eugene held Rapunzel close.
“I’ll be fine.” She replied as she let go and walked over to her horse named Max. Merida got on Angus at the same time.
Everyone waved goodbye to Eugene as they went on their way.

Thus their journey began.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“So I took the apple from him and I ate it to show him what I meant. He still choked at it. Oh, there was this one time too when he first took me to town for a date. It didn't seem very formal but he did ask for my parents' permission. There was a lot of ice cream involved and…Mer, you still there?”
Merida snapped out of her daydream and turned to Rapunzel.
“Oh yeah.”
The lie didn't work because her best friend saw right through it.
“What’s wrong?” Merida only sighed in reply. “Nothing…” her eyes unconsciously found their way to Hiccup who was up on his dragon.
Rapunzel looked from Merida to Hiccup then back to Merida. When she smiled, Merida got creeped out.
“Ahh, I see what’s going on here.” Rapunzel looked to Hiccup then yelled.
“Hey Hiccup! Come down a moment, will ya?”
“What-“ Merida couldn't stop the fear from showing now.
What if the woman made them say something or worse force a confession out of them?
It’s going to be embarassing!
But she just watched helplessly as Toothless landed on the ground in front of them. Hiccup took off his helmet. “Yeah?”
Merida shook her head at Punzie, trying to stop her from doing anything ridiculous. “Punzie, I don’t think-“
“Let’s rest here first. Besides, it’s lunch and I’m tired and hungry.” Rapunzel said and got off of her horse.
Merida sighed in relief. Hiccup noticed her now-relieved face and wondered why but he discarded the thought.
“Alright then.” He replied and got off Toothless. He took out the food from the bag strapped to him. Rapunzel spread the big mat where they would put the food.
Merida slowly got off Angus and hesitantly walked over to Hiccup who had his back to her.
“Uhh can I help?” He turned to her in a daze but smiled.
“Sure. Why not?” he said, almost in a whisper.
Merida found herself staring into his eyes. Hiccup froze too, staring into her own. They just couldn’t seem to break away. Merida found herself recalling what happened at the ball. That guy she danced with…his brown eyes…
“The mat’s ready!” Merida was the first to break the contact. She looked at Punzie who winked at her. She glanced back at Hiccup before taking the container of fresh grapes from his hands.
“I’ll take this.” She said and walked away.
Hiccup simply watched her. Toothless nudged him.
“Not just yet.” He told him. The dragon just grinned back knowingly. Hiccup handed Rapunzel the rest of the food. When all settled in, they started eating.
Merida didn’t know why but she sneaked a glance at Hiccup just in time to see him looking at her. They both looked away blushing. Rapunzel saw it and giggled to herself.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After the meal, they continued through the forest. Merida saw dark snow clouds up ahead.
“It’s spreading already.” She said. Rapunzel nodded in agreement, looking at the clouds.
“Coats everyone!” Hiccup yelled down at them as he slipped on his brown winter coat. Rapunzel threw a brown one to Merida and slipped into her pink one.
Then something dark raced at them.
“Watch out!” Merida stopped Rapunzel’s horse with hers.
“Nightmare!” Rapunzel yelled and unsheathed the sword she brought and swung it at the dark horse. It only brushed past it and made a U-turn, turning back to them.
“Ride!” Merida yelled and they made their horses move.
Hiccup had his own problems. Dark flying horses were chasing him. Toothless dove lower, right beside Merida.
“What did you call them, Punzie?” Merida asked.
“Nightmare horses…I don’t remember exactly but I know them somehow - look out!”
They all turned to see a man clothed in darkness. A real person but weird-looking…
Rapunzel raised her sword. “Out of our way, man in a dress!”
The man merely smirked and disappeared. They turned back. The nightmare horses have disappeared too.
“Who was that?” Rapunzel asked just as they entered the winter storm.
“I don’t know but let’s just concentrate on surviving this storm first!” Hiccup yelled over the loud blazing of the storm.
The storm was too thick. They could hardly see each other but they kept fighting through.