Merida Dunbroch stared at her mother from across the table, feeling an all too familiar sense of horror well up in her. "What do you mean 'married'?! I thought that we went over this last year, Mum!"

"Merida," Elinor sighed as she tried to reason softly with her daughter. "Times have changed; you know that."

"So you're just going to forget last year… Mor'du… you turning into a bear yourself?! All of that's just gone now?!"

"Merida," When Elinor looked at her daughter, Merida could've sworn that she was tears in her mother's brown orbs, but she told herself that she didn't care. Not this time. "You know full well that the Dingwall clan was unhappy with the outcome of the games that we held for your hand last year; they felt snubbed and have been threatening to act on it ever since. You do remember this, don't you?"

Merida shrugged, trying to appear like she didn't care as much as she knew she should. "And?"

"And they're starting to act on their threats. They're gathering for a war against clan Dunbroch, and we have to do something about it."

"So, you're going to, to what? Marry me off to stupid Wee Dingwall just to get them to quiet back down?"

"No, that's why you should have let me finish." Elinor took a deep breath and sat up straight, explaining, "There is a viking island by the name of Berk, and people there are masters at mechanical weaponry and weapon-making, but they have a hard time growing food in such a cold climate. The village chieftain, Stoic the Vast, and your father and I have come to the agreement that we will make a treaty between our clan and his village. We get his weaponry to scare off clan Dingwall, and he gets our food. It's simple enough."

"And this has to involve a marriage why exactly?" Merida asked sharply.

"Because a marriage is the best and most lasting way to ensure that both parties carry out their side of the agreement; you're aware of that. Things become more personal when the future of your children and grandchildren are involved."

"Grandchildren!" Merida screeched before turning to her father as her last hope. "Da!"

"Fergus," Elinor said.

The king flushed as he looked between the two of them, then shifted and said softly, his very posture conveying how sorry he was for the words that were about to come out of his mouth. "Listen to your mum, Merida."

Merida gaped at him before turning sharply back to her mother. Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared darkly as she declared, "I'll kill myself if you try to make me go through with this."

"Merida!" Elinor exclaimed. "Listen to me! I know it's hard, sweetheart – you will recall that my marriage to your father was arranged as well – but it cannot be helped this time. This time it's bigger than just clan traditions. You must go through with this – and just know, if you do kill yourself, clan Dingwall will kill your clan, your family, anyway. The weaponry from Berk is the only way that we can even hope to avoid an all-out war between our clans. I'm truly sorry, but it must be done. Yes, I know full-well that you are entitled to your own opinions, but, as a princess, you are still not always entitled to your own actions. You can't do what you want this time. Please, Merida," Elinor implored. "Be mature about this; don't make it any harder than it already has to be."

Merida sighed in resignation, hearing – yet still hating – the truth in her mother's words. "What's his name? The man that I'm…" she suppressed a shudder. "Marrying?"

Elinor cringed, apparently knowing that the answer wouldn't go over well. "Hiccup Haddock the Third."

Merida laughed out loud, but then she realized. Her mother was serious. The redhead groaned and lowered her head into her hands.

"He is at least your age," the queen informed her. Garnering no response, she tried again. "Merida?" Elinor whispered, reaching out to touch her arm.

Merida jerked away reflexively. "I'm fine; it's fine. I know I have to do it, and I will. I just... I need a ride on Angus right now. May I be excused?"

Elinor nodded sadly.

Merida hurried out of the room but stopped in the doorway when her mother said, "Merida?"

Without turning around, she answered, "Yes?"

"Your father and I love you, you know."

"I know."

She nodded before continuing her race to the stables without turning to look back at her parents. She didn't want them to see the tears in her eyes.

Upon reaching the stables, she didn't go for a ride as she had intended. She wasn't going to try riding when she couldn't see through her tears. She simply threw her arms around her horse, buried her face in his coarse mane and sobbed, telling herself that this would be the one and only time that she would allow herself this sort of behavior about this marriage. After all, her clan could die if she didn't go through with it. Although Merida hated the fact, her mother was right; as a princess, it was her responsibility to make sure that her people were taken care of. She had to do it; had to marry some stupid Viking named Hiccup…

This story should be around nine chapters long, and the chapter lengths may be unpredictable. This is my first time writing anything for HTTYD (and I'm not entirely familiar with "Brave" either), so I would really appreciate feedback on this story; it's my fuel! Thanks!:)