Chase the Wind: Chapter 11 - Into the Open Air

A/N: Please read all A/N at the end of the chapter. Thanks

Chase the Wind
Chapter Eleven; Into the Open Air

~ Merida ~

It had been three weeks since Merida had come home. Three weeks of cramming princessy knowledge into her head in preparation for the Lords and their sons. She hadn't ridden Angus in three weeks – not properly. Her bow lay against her bed frame, untouched, unstrung and looking forlorn and lonely. She ached to string it across her back and practice her marksmanship, but she had promised her mother that she would take this seriously. She would be the queen soon, and apparently men did not take kindly to women who go gallivanting around shooting arrows instead of holding social events and bearing children.

The idea of having actual children made Merida shudder. The idea of her wedding night made Merida shudder. A lot of her duties made her shudder, actually. Or rather, they would if she didn't have to wear the stupid corset every day. Her mother had explained to her that it was an act of decency and that she should stop wearing her training corsets (which were supposed to be for young children, but she wasn't able to twist her torso in a proper one with actual boning).
The only thing Merida had found solace in was Fafnir. The little dragon reminded her of her friendship with Hiccup, and her last few weeks of freedom. The boy had left a dull ache in her heart, which was partly the reason she was throwing herself into all of this Queen business. It kept her mind off him, and also justified her actions. She couldn't have left him and what they could have had for something that she wasn't going to put 110% into.

She would be the fairest and wisest queen Scotland would ever have, and she would make a fine wife for whichever of the men she chose to become her husband. And she would raise her… ugh, children, with the same love and tenderness as her own parents had raised her with. Merida sucked in a deep breath.

She could do that.

She was in the library – a rarely used room in the castle. Fafnir was curled up in his basket (apparently it wasn't ladylike to have a scaly winged lizard on ones lap when studying) snoring happily while she pored over the book of poetry that William had made her. She had never been one for poetry, but this book had become one of her favorites. Not only did it have some of the most famous poems of their time, but also in William's tiny scribble were a few he had written himself.

The large wooden doors opened, and in walked King Fergus. He smiled gently at her, and sat down opposite, patting Fafnir on the head as he did so.
'How are ye, lass?' he asked with his thick accent. Merida gently closed the book.
'I'm alright. I don't have much time left, and I don't know who I'm going to choose, but I'm alright.'
'You know, it seems daunting at first. Especially because the fate of this kingdom is riding on your choice-'
No pressure, dad.
'- but you got your mothers brains and my good looks. You really can't go wrong.'

Merida allowed herself a little chuckle. It was incredibly hard to laugh properly in her corset, but her dad always knew how to cheer her up. Fergus gently patted down her curls on one side, smiling fondly.
'You know, when I was presented with the three suitors for marriage, I almost ran. I didn't want to settle down. Then I married your mother, and she stole my heart. You can grow to love someone, my Merida. It just takes time, and an open heart.'
Fergus kissed her gently on the forehead, and stood up.

'Also, the Lords are coming today so that we can explain the Viking situation in detail. Your mother wants you bathed and dressed appropriately,'
'I'm to sit in?' she asked, stunned. Fergus nodded.
'We talked it over, and it has been decided that you and the Lord's sons need to experience this firsthand. I believe your mother is waiting for you,'

Still slightly reeling from this information, Merida got to her feet. She gently put the book under her arm and woke the sleeping dragon with a gentle shake. Fafnir stretched his wings and was lifted to her shoulder, where he settled down instantly. She half-curtsied to her father and left the library, heading up to her tower bedroom.

xXx

~ Hiccup ~

'Much better. You're still a bit shaky, but you've got the idea. Just be really sure about where you want the blade to go – it's an extension of your own arm.'
Hiccup swung the blade at the wooden post they were using as a target. Someone had carved the name 'Alvin' where the face should be, and it had several nasty chunks missing from its sides. The sword embedded itself in the wood, and Snotlout nodded in approval. Hiccup pulled it out with a strong, practiced movement.

He had been training for hours, every day since Merida had left. He would participate in the games, and hopefully make some sort of impression on her. She said she lived in DunBroch, which was where the royal family lived, and where the Games would be held. Perhaps her new husband would be participating. That was his drive – beat Merida's stupid husband. Just to say 'so there'. At least, that's what he told himself.
'You're getting better. Reckon you could have an actual spar?' Snotlout asked. Hiccup wiped his brow.
'With you?' he asked, and Snotlout rolled his eyes.

'No. I'd kill you. Do you mind sparring Astrid? She'll give you a good match…?'
Hiccup chewed his lip. He and Astrid hadn't really gotten along since Merida had arrived, but he supposed that he owed it to her to try. He nodded, and
Snotlout called the blonde warrior over. She shouldered her axe and levelled him with a look that actively expressed just how she felt about him.
'Keep it clean,' Snotlout warned, his eyes hovering over the blonde. He clearly didn't trust her to take it easy on him. She swung her axe, and Hiccup parried.

Not very neatly, but with enough force to make her frown falter in surprise. She swung again, and he blocked it again, this time with more confidence. Then he struck, and she sidestepped it with ease, but he knew that his new found skills with the blade had thrown her off.
The axe and the sword clashed together time and time again, each fighting hard for lost loves and to keep their pride. They drew a small crowd, including Ruffnut and Tuffnut. Hiccup could feel himself getting tired. His arm ached, and his brow was covered in sweat. Toothless was pacing, worried for his friend. Astrid didn't even seem to be tiring.

She swung the axe at him with enough force to put a severe chip in the blade. It flew out of his hand, and she held the axe to his throat. Hiccup fell back, breathing heavily, absolutely exhausted. Astrid shouldered her axe.
'Not bad,' she said, not harshly. Hiccup smiled at the praise. Maybe he could salvage their friendship after all.

xXx

~ Merida ~

Her gown was a deep navy blue with gold trim. Her mother had allowed her to wear her hair out, and they had tried for half an hour to make it presentable. It had not behaved, not that either of them were surprised. Merida and Elinor walked together, side by side, to the war room, Fafnir riding on Merida's shoulder. It was a beautiful, lavish room, with thick curtains that blocked out the sun, a round stone table with Fergus' seat backed up against the massive majestic fireplace.

The Lords sat around the table, their sons to their right. They all smiled at her as she came in – the Lord's smiles were respectful. Their sons were genuinely happy to see her though, and Merida smiled back warmly. Fergus had a proud smile on his face. His wife and his daughter, both looking so beautiful and regal. He gestured for them to sit on either side of him. Merida found herself beside Ian, who bowed his head slightly in respect. There was something off about the way he was looking at her though, but she couldn't place what it was. Fafnir curled around her shoulders and buried his face in her hair.
'Welcome, gentlemen… and ladies,' Fergus added for his family's benefit. 'The Vikings have been informed that they are to arrive in three days' time in preparation for the Games-'

Three days? Is that all? Merida didn't realise it was so soon. Time had flown…

'-and the chief has informed me that the dragons are a necessary addition to their team. I would like to know what you all think of this – especially you, Merida, considering you have spent time with them.'
Merida gave a short nod, and Lord Macintosh stood up.
'I think that's ridiculous. We shouldn't have to be around those animals. They're dangerous. How do we know they're not mounting an attack on the Kingdom?' he asked, and the other men nodded in understanding.
'We'll have the Kings Guard – more than usual – stationed all around the area. Towers will be full to the brim with our best bowmen to take care of any attack from the air. Princess Merida, is there anything you would like to add?'

Merida thought for a moment.
'Well, after spending time with the Vikings, I've learned a lot. I don't think they have any ill intentions. Their island was falling apart, and they needed somewhere to stay. If they bring their dragons, there will be someone watching them at all times. The dragons themselves are quite gentle. Some can be intimidating, like the…um… the Timberjack, I think it's called, but they're all very sweet. And there's one boy who, um, is sort of in charge of them. He won't let anything happen to us,' she explained.

Elinor's expression conveyed her approval for the way her daughter had answered. Dignified, and like a future queen.

'Yes, but if something does happen… how do we defend ourselves?'

'It won't!' Merida said firmly, standing up. 'These people are looking for a new home. There are women and children as well as the men. The dragons are as integral to their culture as the Highland Games are to ours.'

'You're just a girl, lass. No offense, but you've not had enough experience to deal with this situation. Leave it to the men to decide how to deal with this, if you please,' Lord Dingwall said, and before Merida could give him a piece of her mind, Elinor stood up.

'Excuse me, Lord Dingwall. Princess Merida is here in order to learn about how these meetings proceed. She has spent time with these people, and knows them well. I'd also like to remind you that I have been at every war meeting since becoming Queen, and that Merida will be doing the same when she marries. As she is your future Queen, you will apologise to her, and listen to her when she speaks from now on. Are we clear?'

Dingwall clearly didn't enjoy being told off by a woman, nevermind his Queen, so his apology to Merida was very forced. She nodded in acknowledgement, then continued on with what she was saying.

'I've spent time with them. And as you can see-' She put Fafnir on the table, and he wandered around sniffing at people and tossing around a few papers. Dingwall recoiled in disgust when the little dragon approached him, and Merida realised that he was genuinely afraid of them. '- the dragons are just animals. They can be tamed, and domesticated. Yes, there is always a risk of something going wrong, but I genuinely feel that the Vikings are well prepared for anything. But if you're still scared Lord Dingwall...' Merida couldn't help but add. Fergus looked smug, while Elinor shot her a warning look.

'I think we can trust Princess Merida,' Ian spoke up. He was patting Fafnir on the nose, making the dragon hum with pleasure. He looked scaly and scary, but he was really just a big softie.

'I will have more of the Kings Guard on standby, just in case, okay Dingwall?' Fergus said, a tiny smirk pulling at his mouth.

'It's not natural. Dealing with the stuff of fairytales. What's next? Fairies and trolls?' Dingwall grumbled.

xXx

It had been decided that the King and Queen would dine with the Lords alone tonight, so Merida was able to have her own meal in a much smaller, rarely used dining room with the Lords sons. They were all happily discussing the Viking situation, and if she were perfectly honest, Merida really enjoyed it. Not only did she enjoy being around people her own age, but she also felt, in a way, very grown up.

They would be having meetings like these for the rest of their lives.

'I'm not looking forward to all of these dragons...' William muttered into his goblet.

'Oh, no, they're wonderful! And the Vikings fly on them and hunt with them, and it's just amazing. I hear they have their own set of events that they're planning on adding to the Games roster. My father was just going over the list of events this morning,' Merida replied excitedly.

'What kind of events would they be?' Colin asked curiously, helping himself to more food.

'No doubt aerial maneuvers and such,' Ian put in. 'Do you think... if the Vikings really became a part of our culture... we would integrate the dragons into our own lives?'

The table fell silent. Merida was reeling. She knew that she would never have a dragon of her own, besides Fafnir and maybe other Terrible Terrors... but if the Viking suitor was made King, he would no doubt have a dragon with him. She could get the dragons to all the Lords... their entire culture could become just like the Vikings. She fell quiet as the men resumed their talking.

So, was she to follow her heart... or do what was best for her country?

The dragons would stop any other land from trying to invade. But to marry the Viking suitor would leave the Lords sons feeling awfully betrayed, especially considering two of them had actual feelings for her.

'Don't you think it would be famous to ride a dragon though?' Ian asked, snapping her from her thoughts.

'It is,' she responded without thinking, and they all looked at her quizzically. 'I, uh… I flew with the chief… for diplomatic reasons,'

She thought it was a good cover up. A much better story than 'the boy I fell in love with took me on a romantic flight over the ocean'. She didn't think they would be too happy to hear that. She realised they were looking at her, willing her to continue.

'…and?' William said, eyes bright. 'How was it?'

Merida smiled at the memory.
'It was amazing. I felt weightless… like every worry I had had just been left on the ground. I could run my fingers through the clouds… and… I think I would be very upset if that was the only time I was allowed to fly. It was magical,'

'If I were King… I would ask the Vikings to teach me how to ride a dragon. And we would ride into every battle together and burn our enemies to a crisp…' Ian declared, clearly enthused by the idea. Merida giggled.

'You would like Hookfang. You would like Hookfang very much...'

The young Lords began questioning Merida further about the dragons, and she slipped into a state where she didn't mind what she told them. They were just… friends talking. They didn't treat her as inferior because she was a girl, or differently because she was the princess. And as she showed them the few pages of the dragon manual that she owned, she wished that it could just stay that way.

xXx

Merida was preparing herself for bed. Her baggy white nightgown was much more comfortable than her tight corsets and heavy gowns, and she noted with a sigh that she would be betrothed in the next few days. She crawled into her bed, and lay awake. Her mind wandered, as ones mind sometimes does if sleep eludes them. It wandered to the Games, and to the arrival of the Vikings tomorrow. She would be faced with the suitors, and she would have to make her decision.

She wondered vaguely if Hiccup might be there, and if he would say anything to her. Would he be upset with her for lying to him? Or would he be too intimidated by her royal status? Maybe he would just be so happy to see her that he wouldn't care about any of it. Maybe they could have a few more stolen moments together.

Wow... thought Merida with a yawn as she rolled onto her side. I must be really tired.

When the rooster in the courtyard crowed at dawn, Merida sat upright. Her hair was it's usual tangled mess, and she had little dark rings under her eyes. She knew she hadn't slept for more than a few patchy hours. With a sigh, she got out of bed and rang for one of her personal maids.

And so started the first day of the rest of her miserable life.