Hiccup was pacing his bedroom. The moon was high, the stars bright, yet the 18 year old was wide awake. One hand was shoved in the pocket of his tunic, the other gripped a well read letter. A few beads of prespiration sat on his brow, but he didn't bother wiping them off. Instead he muttered the same words over and over, so many times that Toothless was beginning to wonder if he was a broken record.

The dragon was watching through one of the cottage's open windows, his enormous blue-green eyes watching Hiccup, half curious, half sympathetic.

"What do I do?" Hiccup muttered. "What do I do?"

His foot scuffed the envelope that the letter had come in. The tell-tale red seal was beginning to slide off it, but it was still there, a reminder of just who had sent that letter. Queen Elinor.

Hiccup finally stopped pacing, but only to once again read over one part of the letter.

We would very much like your help, Hiccup, no matter what the history is between our family and your parents.

"Dad's gonna kill me, Toothless," Hiccup groaned. "He hates the Scottish Monarchy. The Vikings and them have never gotten along and-"

He paused as he remembered just what he thought of his father. His mind flashed back to a memory of his father angrily roaring at him 2 years ago, a tiny, guilty dragon scurrying away, and a smouldering house sending fumes up Hiccup's nose. He remembered yelling at his father, claiming the dragon did not mean to burn down the house, so why should it be punished?

What ensued was the biggest fight that had ever occurred between the father and son, and ended with his father banishing Hiccup and Toothless. It had been such a small problem, and ended up in Hiccup moving to Scotland.

He didn't care what his father thought, he would help Queen Elinor.

One last time, he read over the letter.

Dear Hiccup,

I, Queen Elinor, and my husband the King, need your help.

We understand that you have some very unique methods, for lack of another word, for getting things done. You and your dragon are known across the land, and our kingdom, for your unusual companionship. I have heard tales, whether true or not, of you even helping with the occasionalproblem animal, barbarian, and dragon, although I'm sure the latter was in Burk.

Our daughter, Merida, is the most talented Huntress in perhaps all of Scotland, save you and your dragon. Her archery skills are unusually good. We are very humbly asking you to help her, and us, catch a problem being.

We don't know what this being is. We are beginning to wonder if it is one of the dragons you are so familiar with. Several houses have been burned down, in a matter of seconds, with no tracks around.

All the animals from the houses were taken, and from the barns, such as sheep, horses, pigs, etc. The only thing that could have caught the houses on fire would be something from the air.

There have also been rumours of a large, reptilian lizard in the forest, though both witnesses were to fearful and disbelieving of their own minds to tell us the size.

We would very much like your help, Hiccup, no matter what the history is between our family and your parents.

Your skills are much needed here.

Sincerely, Queen Elinor.

"Toothless," Hiccup said with a determined gleam in his hazel eyes, "we're gonna go-" His foot caught on the leg of his dinner table, and he flopped to the ground. But he was so used to his clumsiness that he got up, unfazed, and finished his sentence. "-help the Scottish Monarchy."

Toothless grinned, although Hiccup couldn't tell if he was happy about the promise of an adventure, or Hiccup's fall.

Probably both, Hiccup decided.

Astrid had been Hiccup's girlfriend for 2 years. He really thought she'd come with him to Scotland, he'd thought she'd agree with him.

But she didn't.

Old jealousy flared when the tiny dragon accidentally burned down one of Berk's houses. She remembered how she'd felt when Hiccup got first in the Dragon training. Although she did not hate him for it, she found it difficult to agree with him any longer. Her feelings for him began to change the day of the argument, and although she felt terrible, she agreed with Hiccup's father.

"That dragon needs to be relocated, Hiccup." She had told him, brushing a golden strang of hair our of her eyes. "He burned down that house-"

"Astrid!" Hiccup cried out. "You're taking HIS side? But-"

Astrid sighed loudly, but she felt a pang in her chest. She asked herself what she was doing, but she had Viking in her blood. She was stubborn.

"I'm sorry, Hiccup." She whispered.

Hiccup watched her receding back as she strode briskly away, not noticing how she brushed her tears away.

That night he and Toothless left, not saying goodbye to anyone. Hiccup didn't even search his father's eyes for the remorse that he knew was not there.
~*~

Hiccup sent a return later right away.

Dear Queen Elinor,

I will do as you say. If it is in fact a dragon, I would like to help you. My methods are definitely different than yours. I'm not going to kill it, if it is a dragon, unless it really is dangerous.

I have, well, I have a way with dragons, and with all due respect, your daughter is going to have to listen to my instructions carefully when I arrive.

Thank you for thinking of me, and I'll be there in about 3 days.

Sincerely, Hiccup.

Hiccup stared at the letter. Being a Viking, he was not sure how to properly address a queen, but he figured that he did alright.

"We're going on an adventure, Toothless." He said to the dragon with his signature Hiccup grin.

And then he tripped over his own boot.

Hi! So, I usually write Hunger Games fanfiction, but I love both Brave and HTTYD, so I thought I'd do a Merricup sort of story. Hope you like it :)