"Vikings!? Here!" King Fergus yelled at the dinner table. "What on earth will they be doing here!?"
"They are in need of supplies. The Vikings of Berk are dragon trainers now." Queen Elinor said calmly, "They are in search of a new dragon and are requesting we give them supplies."
"Since when have Vikings become dragon trainers?" Fergus spat.
"Since the cheif Hiccup learned to train them. Turns out dragons are great allies." Elinor shot back.
"And what will we get in return?" Fervid asked.
"Hiccup promised that they would supply us with a few dragons and while they're here, their best dragon trainers will help our soldiers work with the dragons." Elinor said, now looking at a new piece of mail.
Fervid looked at his eldest daughter for help. "Merida! Back me up, we can't let the Vikings into our home, sleep in our beds, and eat our food!"
Merida looked up at her father, she had just taken a large bite of an apple, "Wechall I Thicbk--"
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Elinor said to her daughter without looking up.
Merida rolled her eyes, then swallowed, "I think it's a great idea. I've always wanted to meet a Viking and they have dragons!"
"Merida!" Her father exclaimed.
Merida shrugged, "It can't be that bad having Vikings over, it's just a few days."
Fergus slumped his shoulders, he had lost. "Fine, but if a Viking dragon so much as burns a twig, I'll send the lot of 'em right out of DunBroch, with or without supplies."
After dinner Merida went up to her room to get ready for bed. She had just gotten her nightgown on when her mother knocked on the door.
"Come in." Merida called.
Her mother opened the door and stepped in, "Merida, do you really think it's a good idea to let Vikings into DunBroch?"
"Well yeah, why not?"
"Well your father's right, they are Vikings and they have dragons. What if they try to take our home?"
"Mum! Dad's a worrywart about everythin'! Heck he could blame the Vikings for Mor'du."
Elinor shot Merida a warning look, haunting memories of Merida trying to change her fate rushed through Elinor's head.
Merida winced, "Sorry. But what I'm sayin' is, don't worry. The Vikings will come and go, it'll be fine. Plus they might make good allies, with their army of dragons and all."
"Merida! Your father would never!" Elinor paused and smiled slyly, "But it's a very good idea. Now get some rest, the Vikings will be here by noon time tomorrow."
Merida woke up at the crack of dawn, Vikings were coming! She threw on her favorite dark blue/green dress. Grabbing her comb she tried to control her wild mop of bright orange hair. Then grabbing her bow she raced down to the kitchen, the laces on her boots still untied.
While Merida chewed on an apple she frantically tied her shoe laces. Once she was done Merida threw the apple core onto into the waste basket and went out to the stables.
"Hey Angus!" Merida said to her large horse, "Guess what, Vikings are coming today."
Angus made no reaction, he just kept eating.
Merida rolled her eyes, "Fine, ignore me, but we're going to the falls today."
Unlatching the door to Angus's stall, Merida hopped onto his back and rode out of the castle walls. They went down their usual path, Merida carelessly shot at targets she had put up throughout the forest. Each target eye filled with hundreds of arrows, Merida had never bothered to clean them out.
Finally she made it to the falls.
"Alright you stay here Angus, I'm going to climb to the top of that one." Merida pointed to a large pillar of rock right next to the falls.
Starting to climb, Merida found the pillar to be full of little holes, the perfect size for hands. In about ten minutes she made it to the top, just as the sun started to rise. The sun touched the falls and Merida reached out towards the golden water. Cupping her hands she sipped the water with delight.
Looking down at Angus Merida cried, "Do you want some boy?"
The horse eagerly pawing the ground with his hoof told Merida he would like some. Cupping her hand again she threw water down to Angus, Merida did this a couple times, each time Angus would run under the droplets of water and catch them in his mouth, making Merida laugh.
After the sun was fully up Merida climbed down. She rode Angus through forest for the next three hours, shooting willy nilly, with perfect aim, at random forest objects.
After catching a couple rabbits Merida said, "Well we should get back. Mum would like me here for lunch and the cooks will make a fine meal from this catch."
Angus quickly ran Merida home. Giving him new feed and water, Merida locked Angus's stall and left for the kitchen.
"Molly!" Merida called, "I caught you some rabbits for dinner, fresh and fat!"
"Thank you Merida I know just what to do with this!" Molly said smiling, "Now go to lunch, or you're mum will have your head."
"Aye, if she can catch me first!" Merida teased before going into the dining room.
"Ah and the princess decides to show up!" Elinor announced when Merida walked in, "Went to the falls again?"
"Yup, I drank the water once the sunrise hit it." Merida said dropping her bow on the table and filling her plate with food.
Elinor smiled, "And you didn't rip this dress! Good, I wanted you to wear it for when the Vikings come."
Fergus grumbled.
"Dad! It's not going to be bad! Mum and I talked about it last night, it'll be fine." Merida said.
"Now my wife and daughter are running my kingdom without me" Fergus grumbled again.
Merida rolled her eyes, "Dad I need practice for when I become queen."
"Queen! You're not going to be queen soon! What are ya practicing for!?" Fergus exclaimed.
"Fergus! She's been practicing her whole life. She's nineteen years old now, she's gonna become queen soon."
Fergus shook his head, "Its too soon, I told you not to grow up!"
Merida gave a teasing smile, "Sorry father."
"Your Majesty," a maiden had come up to Elinor, "The Vikings have arrived."
"Yes of course, get them what they need for their boats, then lead them to the great hall." Elinor said.
"Um, ma'am...they didn't bring boats." The maiden replied, "They brought dragons..."
"Oh, yes, we'll make room in stalls, do whatever you need to."
The maiden nodded, "Of course madam."
"Alright lets go to the thrones."
The royal family walked over to the great hall. King Fergus and Queen Elinor in the middle, Merida to Fergus's right and Merida's triplet little brothers to Elinor's left.
"Announcing, the Vikings of Berk!" One of the guards yelled. Opening the doors an army of men and women entered. The ones I
in front were on dragons the ones in back were walking.
Merida's eyes widened at the sight of the dragons, she leaned forward in her seat and gasped.
One young boy, couldn't be older than twenty, was in the very front riding a jet black dragon. "I am Chief Hiccup the Dragon Tamer. Thank you for letting my Vikings and I stay for a few days as we resupply and get ready for our journey."
"You're very welcome," Elinor said, "Our maidens will show you were to keep your dragons and escort you to your rooms. You may stay as long as you need."
The chief, Hiccup, nodded his head, "Thank you, we shouldn't be here longer than a week."
"Of course, is there anything you need?" Elinor asked.
"Some water and raw fish for our dragons, and nice bed to sleep in will do." Hiccup replied.
"The preparations are underway."
The Vikings bowed and left the hall, following the maidens. Hiccup looked up, catching Merida's eye. Her heart fluttered, she felt her face redden. Trying to hide her face, she nodded at the chief.