Everyone was huddled around the enormous table in the dining room. Fergus sat at one end, his enormous fists clenched as another roar shattered the air. Hiccup glanced at him with worried eyes. While he had dealt with dragons for the better part of his life, he knew that the Scots had no idea what they were dealing with. To be honest, even Hiccup didn't. These reptiles were different that the ones back home, not quite as goofy-looking and much more dangerous.

"I think it's time we made a decision," Astrid broke the stony silence. "We need to decide what we're doing here."

"Pretty sure my Dad knows what he's doing," Merida snapped. The two girls had made up, but she still stung from Astrid's past behaviour, and the current situation was weighing heavily on her temper.

"No, no," Fergus sighed. "Astrid's right. Stoick, what's the verdict? Should we rally the troops?"

"I think we need reinforcements, preferably from Berk," Stoick replied firmly. "My people have experience with dragons, and I think you'll find that useful. I'll send a messenger tonight."

"Alright," Fergus agreed with a nod and turned to Elinor. "I think we need to start evacuating people to Jensmeer."

"Jensmeer?" Hiccup asked.

"It's a well-fortified village in the countryside. It was built years ago when we had a battle with some Vikings, and held up perfectly. It'll hold the village people and it's away from forestland, which is where these dragons seem to be coming from."

"Good idea," Hiccup agreed. "We can escort the evacuations there from the air then, on our dragons."

"Alright you lot," Fergus nodded. "Get to bed. Stoick, we should arrange a few more things, but we don't need all of you," he gestured around the room at all the teenagers and various adults, "to have to stay and listen."

Elinor, ever the hostess, stood up and began escorting everyone to their rooms, offering hot tea and biscuits to anyone that was hungry. Snotlout and Fishlegs immediately accepted, and followed her into the kitchen with dreamy eyes. It seemed as if they were quite taken with the gorgeous queen. Astrid rolled her eyes and punched Hiccup's shoulder lightly as a goodnight gesture, before nodding politely at Merida. She disappeared around the corner, Ruffnut and Tuffnut in hot pursuit. Hiccup glanced at Merida and they walked together out of the dining hall.

"Thanks for saving me," she said quietly. "During the race I mean."

"Well I wasn't going to let you get burned to death," he laughed. "Besides, Toothless would have gone if I hadn't."

"I know," she said. "It was just really brave, that's all." She felt as if she was waiting for something, anything, but had no idea what it was. She didn't like not knowing where she stood with someone, and that's exactly how it was with Hiccup right now. She'd tried to kiss him, he'd pushed her away, and then later said he regretted it. "Look-"

"Merida," he interrupted. "If you had been hurt, I would never have forgiven myself."

"What?" She stopped and turned to face him, completely and utterly confused. "Why? It wouldn't have been your fault, it was just-"

"No, shhh." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Because you would have died without me getting to kiss you." He leaned in closer. "Properly, I mean."

Before she could crack a joke about how horribly unromantic that was, his lips landed on hers and for once, the fiery Scottish princess shut up. When he pulled away a few moments later, she grinned.

"You realize this means my parents' plan worked."

"You mean why they hired me?"

"Yeah." She took in his rapidly reddening face and giggled. "It's okay Hiccup, we don't have to tell them. Not for a while." He nodded gratefully. "Remember, I did turn down 23 other men, I'm in no hurry to marry."

"Let's just... let's not use that word just yet."

"What," she said slyly. "Marriage? Marriage, Hiccup? Did you mean marriage?"

He pushed her into the wall and kept walking, holding his head, as she collapsed into peals of laughter.

The next morning dawned bright and worried. Evacuations had started, and Hiccup left early. He did have a maid wake Merida up, and when she stumbled out into the hall he pulled her into a long hug.

"What's this for?" She asked, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"We're going to escort the villagers to Jensmeer," he sighed. "Could be dangerous." He kissed her gently and was gone, leaving her standing rather worriedly in the hallway, wondering if that could possibly be the last kiss.

Obviously, she knew that was crazy thinking.

To get her mind off of it, she changed quickly and tiptoed to the dining hall. The sun was just rising, but there was Elinor drinking coffee, Snotlout next to her.

"Good morning," she said, eyeing Snotlout suspiciously.

"Good morning, darling." The Queen looked at her under long eyelashes. "Up early?"

"Yeah, Hiccup-" She stopped herself. If her mother knew about them, there'd be hell to pay, in the form of gushing and wedding plans. "-Tripped in the hallway and it woke me up."

"Figures," Snotlout muttered. "That kid is so clumsy, let me tell you about the time he tried to run across the road." He made a running motion with his fingers, but his hand knocked into the full cup and tipped the cup and its contents into his lap.

"Maybe all of them are like that," Elinor said to Merida dryly.

"We're not," Fishlegs shouted from the kitchen. He walked out carrying his own cup of coffee, proudly showing them the lack of stains. "I am the most precise of all of us, as you can see." Merida didn't even know how to react when he stepped into Snotlout's coffee puddle and skidded into the table, sloshing more coffee onto the ground.

"Wait a minute," Elinor interrupted. "Why aren't you two with Hiccup and Astrid and the twins, escorting the villagers?"

"Er..."

Yes, thought Merida, tell her that you're in love with her.

"Let's get goin' then," Fishlegs muttered. "They haven't been gone long, we'll catch up."

And they were off.

Fergus soon appeared.

"Where's Stoick and Gobber?" Elinor asked.

"They flew back to Berk to get some more people. We're gonna need all the help we can get. The dragons were out all night, it seems they're nocturnal, starting just before sundown and going right to dawn."

"What damage has been done?" Merida asked. "I can go out and assess-"

"Absolutely not." He stared at her. "Merida, I'm going to make this very clear. If you, at any point during this, so much as step foot outside while there is a risk, you will be locked in your room. I don't want you near the burn sites, near the dragons, or near the action. Got it?"

Merida felt her temper rising. "Dad, that's not fair. I can fight, I have a great horse and I'm incredible with a bow and-"

"Merida, he's right," Elinor said. "You're our oldest and most capable heir, not to mention our girl." She reached out a soft hand and placed it on Merida's. "I'm sorry, lass, I know you want to help, but it's just too dangerous."

"But-"

"You're lucky to even be here right now," Fergus said. "Your brothers left this morning for your Uncle's in Ireland. They'll be arriving in a few days' time."

She shut up.