How To Be Brave Chapter Nine

Night-Hiccup's P.O.V.

I woke up with the sun and got my notebook, which held the plans for a new design for an improved harness.

I was about to leave when I heard Merida's snoring, which sounded like the soft growling of a baby Gronckle. She grumbled in distaste and I was momentarily taken aback, scared that she had read my thoughts.

I thought for a minute, but then decided not to wake her, then set off for the Blacksmiths Stall.

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Blacksmiths Stall-Hiccup's P.O.V.

I cut and stitch leather, draw and shape steel. I work by candle and natural light. I am creating a harness, complete with handles and foot pedals-big enough for two.

I sigh, indicating I have finished. I admire my work, which I am extremely proud of, wiping sweat off my brow.

I pick up my creation begin to grin happily; I then go and trek up to the tree and hide the harness. I sigh again as my muscles now relax. I sneak into the house again and light the fire, to warm the house up. As I make my way upstairs I see Elinor's door open and the triplets are huddled together, I walked in and their mumbling goes quiet, they turn towards me and study me.

"What are you doin'?" I ask, smiling, leaning against the doorframe. Although my smile falls when they stand together, glaring at me, I open my mouth to ask them why they are treating me that way, when they just point for me to leave. They're tiny but also slightly terrifying, so I do as instructed and go back downstairs and make myself something to eat. A few minutes later, as I am finishing my meal off, Elinor descends down the stairs with the triplets.

"Oh, hello Hiccup, where were you earlier?" She asks.

"Woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, so I took a walk." I lied, which I was worried I was becoming a bit too good at.

Elinor goes to make something for the others to eat and nods in understanding, "Okay 'en, cheers for nae wakin' Merida, after last night Ah she needed some extra sleep." She smiled at me then, obviously not knowing just how early-or night, depending on the way you look at it-looked like she remembered something. "Oh! Almost forgot, Merida will nae be going to Dragon Training t'day, as she 'as to be present at th' meeting t'day, could ye tell Gobber tha'?" She asked.

"Sure, Queen Elinor." I promised.

"Oh, no need for tha', Hiccup, you can just call me Elinor unless formalities are required," she told me and I began to see her as more than a queen; she was a mother first and foremost and it showed.

I smiled kindly. "Okay them, Elinor; I will do s-… Oh" I trailed off but Elinor didn't notice. The reason for me trailing off was because Merida had descended the stairs, grumbling.

"Mam, I'm ready!" She called out in a sing-song voice. She wore a crystal white dress with gold trimmings and a gold rope belt; she wore gold-brown boots with heels, thus guaranteeing that she would tower over me. She sat next to me, her hair tamed slightly into a loose side plait so it didn't hit me it the face.

She sighed, looking downwards. "Gosh, this corsit will be th' death 'av me!" She complained, struggling against the restraint. "I 'ave tae wear it, though. Me mam says it makes me look me age and more presentable. Oh! Nae tae mention this monstrosity!" She looked up my breath hitched in my throat. She was wearing make-up, I had seen some of the older women of the village wear it, the women that made clothes and didn't fight dragons, but I have never become speechless in their presence because of it. She had some black powder lining her eyes, making the blue irises stand out and had something I didn't know the name of coating her lips, making them ruby red, ironically the colour my cheeks probably were becoming. "I mean, seriously!" She complained, going to rub the substances off her face.

"Dun you dare, missy!" Elinor called, her back turned to Merida.

"Fine…" She grumbled then glared at her brothers, of which two of them were snickering at her. "Oi, Hamish and Harris, ye best stop tha' now or else." She then turned to Hubbert and said. "An' what's gott'n into ye Hubbert?"

The young boy shrugged and opened his mouth, "Ye looch pretty t'day, sis." He smiled and Merida looked taken aback.

"Oh, urm… Thanks Hubbert." She looked surprised and turned to me. "Is he lyin' Hiccup? I dun exactly trust th' boy," she said, with a sheepish tone.

"Uh, urm… I-I don't disagree with him." I stammered and Merida thought for a minute.

"Well… Pretty ain't me, so dun expect this offen!" She said with finality, not pronouncing the't' in 'often'.

After eating, Elinor re-applied the coating to Merida's lips. Merida sat next to me again and whispered "Ay'll meet ye wi' Toothless after trainin', 'kay?" and they four left, waving me goodbye and I set off for the Cove when they made it to the village.

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At the Cove-Third Person P.O.V

Hiccup appears before Toothless, holding the new prosthetic and saddle-harness. Toothless runs off as Hiccup chases him down.

"Hey!" He yells in irritation.

The two struggle for a while, but Hiccup, eventually, prevails. He safely secures the saddle to the Night Fury and a new half of the tail. He gives Toothless a fish and grin at him.

"You wanna test the new improvements out, buddy?"

Toothless perks up, obviously intrigued at the idea.

~Ten minutes later~

Toothless and Hiccup are zooming over the ocean. The tail breaks free sending Hiccup flying.

"Yeah, Whoa!" He yells in ecstasy, as Toothless swoops underneath him, so he lands where he was sat previously, laughing and feeling sorry for Merida, wishing she could be there with him. Then he remembers how she looked and how he felt and blushes again and decides to distract himself with the fact he is so close to the water, yet he is flying; not floating, or gliding-flying.

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Later in the Blacksmith's Stall-Third Person P.O.V

Hiccup adjusts the harness and uses a metal clamp to affix himself to Toothless' saddle.

He works quickly, even though he knows Gobber won't return, as he will be prepping for the lesson today, but he can't risk being seen by people, because people get curious, and when people get curious they talk-ask questions that Hiccup would prefer not to answer.

Above the field

Hiccup and Toothless zip through the air - his rudimentaryharness and tail controls are working, barely. They crash-land in an open field. Hiccup recovers to find Toothless still rolling around in the tall grass. Hiccup discovers that it's a patch of 'dragon-nip' so to speak. Toothless writhes on his back, tongue wagging, in complete bliss.

Hiccup smirks, then realises that he need to get to training.

Training Grounds-morning-Hiccups P.O.V

After a long struggle, I finally manage to grab the head as instructed, then discreetly pulls a fistful of 'dragon-nip' and press it gently up to the Gronkle's nose. It immediately stops struggling and goes weak in the knees. I then drop the handful of 'dragon-nip' to the ground.

The Gronkle goes down with it, whimpering and blissful. From Gobber and the recruits' point of view, I am controlling the Gronkle with no more than a limp arm.

Afterwards, the others give up asking me how I did it and decided to go in a different direction.

"So… Hiccup, where's ya shadow today?" Astrid said, her voice sweet but it had a edge to it that made me feel uneasy.

"Yeah, Hiccy!" Snotlout joined in, "Y'know the 'Och aye! I dun 'ave any brains 'cus I am befriendin' yoo!' one?"

"Hey! Don't pick on her!" I argued. "And anyways, you wouldn't if she was here, you're blimin' terrified her." I smirked as Snotlout faltered. "Actually… The only person brave to take her on out you would be Astrid; the rest of you would be complete cowards!" I crossed my arms and waited for their response.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut shared a look and glared at me. "You don't have the right to call us the cowards or weak!" They snarled.

"Well, who just successfully triumphed in subduing a Gronckle?" I smirk slightly and walked off, leaving the others to stare at me, shocked at my growing confidence.

Fishlegs suddenly shouted: "Who did ya do it? I've never seen a dragon taken down like that?"

I quickly make up an excuse, "I, uh, left my weapon behind by accident, so I made it up as I went along… I must have a talent." I shrugged and quickly declined their invitation to the Trainees meal. "Sorry, can't go, you guys go on ahead and I'll catch up with you later, if I find the time."

Astrid watches, suspicious as I jog off.

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The Cove

I rub Toothless behind the ear, causing him to relax and fall over. I hear a twig snap.

I whip round and see Merida, just like she was this morning.

"Oh!" I exclaim. "Merida, nice to see ya, how did the meeting go-oh!" I am caught by surprise when Merida envelops me in a hug.

"Thank ye, Hiccup…" She says sincerely, not pulling away.

"F-for wh-what?" I stammer, controlling my blushing, but my ears must be bright red.

Merida pulls away to face me, but her arms are still around my neck. "For defendin' me, silly, back at th' arena! Ye stood up for me, like a true mukker should. An' ye left 'em speechless, which is a bonus!" She laughed happily and I joined in.

"What the heck is a 'mukker'?" I ask, still laughing, as Merida pulls away completely.

"It is a term for 'friend', of which, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, ye most certainly are!" She answered. "Now tae get rid of this sinful much!" She said with finality as she kneeled by the lake and washed the powder and coating off her face. I sat next to her and Toothless lay down beside me. "Oh, one thing though…" Merida said, facing me.

"What?" I asked and Toothless made a curious 'humph?' sound.

"Revenge!" She exclaimed and before I could question her the lukewarm lake water engulfed me. I swam to the surface, gasping and glaring at the red head.

"Really?! Was that necessary, at all?!" I shouted and Merida, through her snickers and little snorts, shrugged and calmed down enough to form words.

"Hey, I almost died hittin' tha' water on th' end of a dragon tail!" She stated. "An' tha' was yer fault!"