First of all, thanks for the reviews! (ie. GuardianDragon98, compa16, and SharKohen.)

So here's the next chapter up! (Nothing to do at home, you know, so, whatthehell hahaha)

Hope you enjoy it!

Hiccup and Astrid were locked in negotiations with Queen Elinor and King Fergus.

That meant that the rest of the Viking party were free to roam the castle, with a couple of guards to show them the way, if they wanted to. Fishlegs had naturally found himself in the library, gazing at row upon row of books, his eyes wide, talking eagerly to the scholars that he'd found there. Ruffnut and Tuffnut were on the training grounds, trying their hand at the weapons and leaping back and forth, fighting. Eret was with Skullcrusher.

Snotlout was looking for Merida.

The problem was, he didn't know where to start.

He glanced up and down one of the many corridors, wondering where to go – and an image flashed in his head, of her on a big black horse, her bow and arrows in hand.

The stables?

He found his way down easily enough, having remembered catching sight of it when first entering the castle. (Speaking of which, he had to go and spend some time with Hookfang soon – he already missed his dragon greatly.) But that big black horse was there, snorting in the stables, and Snotlout hurriedly backed out before he could do something stupid accidentally.

Maybe she was practising her archery?

But where?

Then he thought – the training grounds. Surely she'd be there, if she was practicing her archery, and especially if her horse was still in the stables. He couldn't imagine her locking herself up in the castle on such a brilliant day.

The training grounds weren't very hard to find, either. He heard the twins' shouts and yells long before he reached the field, weapons stacked up, targets placed at intervals, and two blond heads wrestling each other on the grassy field.

Merida was there, but her bow was on the ground as she chortled with laughter, clutching her arms around her as she watched Ruffnut and Tuffnut pummel each other. Hiccup wouldn't be too happy about the twins' fighting, but Merida definitely seemed to be amused, and the guards were barking with laughter as well.

Catching sight of her, throwing her mane of wild, fiery curls back as she laughed, Snotlout suddenly froze. Should he go up and talk to her?

You're no coward, he spoke to himself, firmly. She's just a girl.

An amazing, beautiful girl –

"Hey there," he said, a little nervously, stepping up next to her, his hands automatically going up to his helmet. What's wrong with you, you big idiot?

She jumped, as if startled. "Hi!" She beamed at him, as if all awkwardness of the night before had been forgotten. "You here to do some training, like those two over there? Although I'm not sure if what they're doing is considered training, really."

Snotlout grinned, almost instantly at ease. "Oh, I'm not so sure, myself. If this was considered training, then they're really doing it every minute of every day, since they were born."

"Now that's got to be tough to live with."

"Well, you know them a couple of years, and you get used to it. I think it's the only way they can actually bear to show affection to each other." He glanced over at her, and saw that her blue eyes were on him, her lips in a smile. Oh, gods. Those bright blue mesmerising eyes –

"Are you practising archery, or something?" he asked, hurriedly, forcing his gaze down onto the bow and arrows.

"Oh, yeah." She shrugged. "Well, I was. Then this show became too good to watch."

"I've never really worked with a bow and arrows before." And then an idea came into his head – a crazy, but wonderful idea, if it worked. Snotlout wasn't one to ask for help, or guidance, or anything even close, especially from a girl younger than him, but if it meant spending more time with Merida – "D'you think you could, uh, teach me?"

The surprise on her face was unmistakeable, and for a moment, Snotlout wondered if he'd messed up the whole thing. What if she didn't like a guy who didn't know the slightest thing about archery? What if she thought he was weak for asking her for help? Oh, gods, what do I do now –

And then her face stretched into a wide smile. "If I do," she said, "will you teach me how to fight like a Viking?"

"I'm assuming you don't mean this kind of fighting." He gestured to where Ruffnut and Tuffnut were still wrestling on the grass.

She laughed, a loud, clear laugh. "No chance! You've got to show me how you Vikings really fight."

"Well," said Snotlout, grinning widely, "I'll do my best."

She grinned back. "Let's get started, then."

Eret thought about the wild, redheaded princess.

She was easy to be around. She was full of personality, too, bright and vibrant and funny and explosive and –

And just a little bit like Astrid, a voice in his head said.

He shook his head hurriedly. No. He'd gotten over Astrid months ago, even if he still did admire her greatly. What man wouldn't? But now his heart didn't hurt with the same kind of longing as it did when he first realised she was in a long-term relationship with Hiccup. He had a soft spot for her, that was undeniable – but he definitely didn't still feel the same way about her.

Merida was something different. She was wilder, brighter. She was a lot like Astrid, that was true, from what he could tell of her last night – but she was just a little more wild, a little more crude, and a little more independent, in need of freedom and, occasionally, flight.

He thought that he and Merida would get along very well indeed.

It helped, of course, that she really was very nice to look at.

"Well, would you look at that." Hiccup nudged Astrid slowly as they walked out of the castle, and gestured to the training grounds, where a red and dark green blur was striking out at a stockier, muscular youth with a Viking helmet.

"Are they swordfighting?" Astrid asked, a grin spreading over her own face as she leaned forward to see better.

"That's my lass!" Fergus roared out as they approached the field. "Show that Viking what a princess of Dunbroch can do!"

"Fergus!" Elinor said, reproachfully, as Hiccup and Astrid burst into laughter at his comment.

He looked over at her, as if seeing nothing wrong with his statement: "What?"

Now Hiccup could see them clearly; Merida and Snotlout, lashing out at each other, and above the clang of steel against steel, above the heavy pants and yells, Merida was laughing, and so was Snotlout.

"They're mad," Elinor said, shaking her head slightly; but she didn't pull her daughter out of the fight, and instead watched with a wry smile on her lips as the girl's hair flashed fire in the brilliant sunlight.

"Learning to fight is essential," Fergus said, automatically.

There was a loud clash, a ring in the air, and by the time Hiccup and Astrid had glanced over again, Merida was on the ground, disarmed, Snotlout grinning triumphantly.

Elinor shut her eyes and prepared for the worst. She knew how horrible Merida's temper could get, and she knew how much Merida disliked losing. Please control your temper, please control your temper –

But when she heard loud laughter, she forced her eyes open.

Snotlout was helping Merida to her feet, who was exclaiming, in a loud voice, "You have to teach me that!"

Hiccup thought only he could see the look that flashed across Snotlout's face, quickly, as he held her hand, before dropping it quickly, as if scalded. Oh, gods. Snotlout must be more obsessed with this red-headed Scottish princess that he'd thought.

"So will you teach me archery?" he asked her, as she picked up her sword from the grass.

Astrid shot him a look and mouthed, Did you just hear what I thought I heard?

Hiccup nodded, eyes wide, as Merida said something in reply and laughed and dragged him over to find a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"I don't believe it." Tuffnut had come up next to them, rising to his feet. "Did he just – ask for help?"

"From a girl younger than him?" Ruffnut was staring after Merida in shock, her jaw dropping.

Elinor and Fergus exchanged looks.

"Hey, princess."

Eret slid into the seat across Merida that had just been vacated by Fishlegs, who had already wolfed down his lunch.

She grinned brightly at him, and pointed a fork. "I have a name, you know."

Three seats down, Snotlout had to force back a scowl.

"But calling you princess seems much more fun," said Eret, easily. "Hey, think you could show me around the castle?"

"What, like a tour? Didn't you all have one already?"

Her Scottish accent was very, very cute. Eret didn't think she'd appreciate such a comment, however.

"Well, I figured it'd be more fun with you around. Plus, if you want, I could always introduce you to Skullcrusher afterwards."

"Skullcrusher?"

"My dragon. Told him all about you. Think he can't wait to meet you."

Merida's eyes widened. "You're serious?"

"Of course I am. It's a trade? You show me around the castle – I introduce you to Skullcrusher."

"Oh, go ahead," said Astrid, next to her. "Skullcrusher's not so easy to fly, though, at least for a first ride. I can bring you on Stormfly tomorrow morning."

"Please," said Eret. "I'm sure I can keep her safe."

Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Should Stormfly and I play another game of fetch with you?"

Eret paled slightly, and held up his hands in surrender. "Okay. No bringing Merida out on Skullcrusher."

"Good boy." Astrid smiled at him.

"It's a done deal," Merida announced, pushing herself up from the chair. Eret, grinning, did the same. "Come on, let's go!"

Snotlout nearly crushed the goblet in his hands as he watched Merida grab Eret and drag him out one of the doorways.

"Would you like to spend the afternoon with me?"

Neil MacIntosh had slipped into the seat next to Ruffnut.

She rolled her eyes. "Urgh, ew. No."

Tuffnut hit her. "We're supposed to be diplomatic, stupidhead."

"Oh, I think very highly of your sister's honesty." MacIntosh glanced over at Ruffnut, who was determinedly ignoring him. "Would you really rather not?"

"Not a chance," she said, firmly. "And I need to go visit Barf. I've got no time for you sissies."

MacIntosh blinked in complete shock as Ruffnut shoved her chair out, getting up from the table. Tuffnut rolled his eyes, but rose as well.

"I'm not a sissy!" Neil MacIntosh said, indignantly.

"Yeah, yeah." Ruffnut rolled her eyes. "Get out of my way, would you?"

She shoved past him as she made for one of the doors, pulling Tuffnut behind her, who was quickly about to get into an argument with his twin, possibly about the way she was treating one of the Scots whom they were supposed to be having negotiations with.

Neil stared after them.

"That woman," he said, to no one in particular, "is gold."