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"Then there's the matter of my betrothal, I decided to do what's right and," she said, pausing no longer watching her mother dictate what she was saying.
"I'm choosing a suitor for myself."
Her father gasped and the crowd started to mutter. Her mother was trying to get her to stop and divert it back to what she wanted to say. Merida trained her eyes on the crowd taking a deep breath.
Was she crazy to actually give a suitor an answer? Probably. Then again she did turn her mother into a bear. Maybe choosing a suitor would show her mum that she was serious about shaping up. Plus she could split half her duties and the responsibilities of ruling. At least now she was getting some say in this matter looking at all three boys critically. Young Macintosh grinned and flipped his hair. Young MacGuffin had a serious look on his face. Wee Dingwall didn't even seem to be looking at her. She didn't even pay attention to the lords or father for that matter. Her eyes strayed to her mum in the back standing up straight and fearful.
Before she could contemplate much farther; a man in the back of the room started to poke at her mum standing there. Without a thought she grew anxious not even looking at the men trying to get everyone out of here.
"I pick MacGuffin, yea I choose them," said Merida if a bit distantly, not meeting any of their eyes, looking to the back trying to be discreet and sighed when the man stood at attention at the announcement. Young MacGuffin was probably the best choice between the three of them anyway. "Now let's crack open the king's special reserve! Now if you excuse me I gotta go take off mum, she ate a bad cake. We can talk about this later."
Her dad was stunned and bewildered as was both Lord and Young MacGuffin. She just gave an announcement and then was going to leave. A cheer rang up as everyone filed from the main hall into the dining room, the MacGuffin clan joyful at the declaration everyone else separating. Encouraging everyone to go, Merida finally got all of them to file out leaving her alone.
"Alright come on mum let's go before…"
Her mother already started to seemingly waddle toward the steps.
"Pri-"
Merida swirled her hair smacking her in the face to see Young MacGuffin standing there. His eyes wide and jaw dropped seeing her there with a bear. His mouth gaped at the scene of Merida and what seemed to be a docile bear together. His own pale blue eyes trained on them as Merida waved at him not to talk.
"Please don't scream, this is not what it looks like," she said automatically then looked around for an explanation but found none. "Alright maybe it is but I can explain."
He nodded as she cursed herself for saying that she could explain when there was a time limit. He just nodded his eyes trained on bear Elinor.
"Oh now? Well, I, uh, I turned my mum into a bear by mistake you see-" Then she could see her mother wandering off as the spell was fading. Then went to get her attention again. "Will you help me?"
"Ah ll help ye "
"You will?"
Her surprise faded quickly before nodding.
"I'll explain when we get there but we need to go up to the tapestry room."
Acting fast without much words besides the encouragement to Elinor to hurry, they made it to the tapestry room. Merida nearly collapsed on the floor and Young MacGuffin leaned against the door frame keeping watch for them.
"Needle and thread," she muttered as Elinor went to her chest to get it for her. Once she had it Merida plopped down in one of the chairs in front of the tapestry,
"Alright so, this is what happened," she said, starting over from the top to young MacGuffin. He seemed to be taking this really well and calm for someone who didn't even know what was happening. MacGuffin listened with rapt attention taking it in. He may not speak a lot of Scots but he did understand it.
Bear Elinor was starting to wander around the room scratching at the window as if searching for a way out.
"Wow, that's a lot to take in," he said with a deep breath speaking slowly and clearly so she could understand. "Is that her going feral?"
"Oh no not now," said Merida pleading only to just start her sewing as she sat up quickly.
Young MacGuffin looked around the room and went for the chest. Being gentle with just enough force he had picked it up and slammed her head against it. Bear Elinor looked dazed swinging in her spot before falling back. Her breathing was slow and steady but didn't stir.
Merida's jaw has dropped her eyes going from him to her mum and then back again.
"I wish I could have done that," she said, impressed and slight awe as she remembered him breaking that log with no real effort. She paused as she could hear a low sound from the hall and the gap in the door. "Is it just me or do you hear whistling too?"
"That's your dad," he said, peering out the door.
"Could you distract him?" she asked as he quickly went to stand next to the door. With any luck he'd stop to talk to him instead of finding the queen. Merida was pushing her mother out of the way of her door, so he couldn't see.
Just as predicted Fergus stopped when he saw Young MacGuffin standing outside of the tapestry room as the door shut.
"Hello!" He said and then looked at the door, "are Merida and Elinor in there?"
"Ye- yes," he stuttered, "just don't go in there."
"And why not?" asked Fergus, surprised. At least he had no reason to be suspicious.
"Because, well, uhh they're discussing female things," said young Macguffin pausing between each word. He giving them time, remembering the things his sisters would say to get their father to go away. Especially since he was talking slower so the king could properly understand him. "Like monthly bleedings, their feelings, and umm pregnancy."
Fergus looked flabbergasted and then dark red at the very mention of those topics. Young MacGuffin himself even flushed bright pink at knowing these very subjects. Maybe this was the wrong thing to say?
"I have sisters," he said as if that explained it all.
"Well why don't you and I go hunting or get something to drink?"
"I, uh, promised then I'd keep an eye out. So they're not interrupted, " he said, stumbling a bit. "My dad would do that! We could tomorrow!"
"You're being thoughtful! Right of course," said Fergus looking at him oddly, then quickly exiting. He only sighed before heading back in. Elinor was still out and Merida's needle was working quickly.
"That was both embarrassing and brilliant at the same time," said Merida with a sheepish look on her face, "my dad won't be able to look at me straight for a week."
It was silent while young MacGuffin watched the door and Elinor started to regain her consciousness. Merida hummed to herself as the thread worked quickly.
"Sooo, um, what is your first name? I don't think I actually caught it," she said, trying to make conversation.
"It's Ian," he said shyly, still keeping an eye out on Elinor shaking herself awake. "I hear footsteps again."
Merida clasped a hand over her mothers mouth. Ian went to check the door again this time to see Young Macintosh and Wee Dingwall. They were talking conveniently about him and Merida and the marriage.
"I have a great wedding present," said Wee Dingwall. "Do you think there will be cake?"
"Yes and lots of it plenty of alcohol I hope," said young Macintosh, shaking his head. "I just hope the stag night will be soon. Now which one is the tapestry room? I want to know what -"
Before he could even prevent the door from opening both peered into the room.
"There you two are! Congratulations are in order," said Wee Dingwall as he stood up straight. "Did you know weddings - "
Elinor had chosen that moment to sit up while Macintosh took notice. His face paled and grabbed for his sword.
"Bear!"
He screamed as Ian had covered his mouth but didn't stop him in time. The commotion seemed to stir the castle and men below them. Then could hear the rumbling on the steps.
"Why did you have to scream," said Merida with a scolding tone trying to console her mother. They could hear the pounding echoing through the stone walls and the men led by Fergus. "We can't let my dad knows that it's here." She was going to have to explain to them later judging by how quick everything was going.
"Quick hide," said Ian, catching sight of them. He had pushed young Macintosh and wee Dingwall behind the tapestry. Bear Elinor scrambling behind the door.
"Someone yelled bear," said Fergus, reaching them leaving just Merida and Ian the only ones they could see in the room. "Where's your mother?"
"She's having cake," said Merida innocently. "I was telling Ian your bear story and it must have gotten too loud."
"And what are you doing here alone together?" asked Lord Dingwall suspiciously, getting straight to the point. Although he had no reason to since they were betrothed and all.
"We…we were talking about what I'd put on our tapestry, right Ian? We were putting ourselves and…"
"Potatoes," he said blurting out the first thing on his mind that was not bears, "We were cooking potatoes and apple pies -dinner and dessert."
"Right, cooking is better than just standing there right?"
Merida heard a muffled laugh from what she gathered was Macintosh. With a smile on her face she aimed her foot and kicked him, hopefully where it hurt. She next heard a yelp silenced.
"Are you sure we shouldn't worry about being grandparents?" teased Lord MacGuffin earning a glare from both Fergus and his son.
"Will that make you go away?" asked Merida tersely hoping her mother would not go feral again.
"Merida!" said Fergus anxiously.
"I say we go before all the liquor is gone," said Macintosh, already red in the face from what he already drank.
"Alright that's what we're doing then bye," she said, shutting it and then sliding down the door. She could hear some rousing laughter and then running away, thank goodness. "That could have gone better."
"Bravo that was a magnificent performance," said Macintosh laughing clapping his hands in amusement. Then stopped seeing both MacGuffin and Merida's faces which were bright red and not looking at each other.
"What did we miss?" Asked Dingwall a little dreamily not paying attention.
This time Merida told them the bare minimum of what they needed to know. Both of their faces were in shades of shock.
"I can't believe you gave your mother a spell not knowing what it'll do to her," said Wee Dingwall, staring at the space above her head.
"I know."
"I can't believe you chose him over me," said Macintosh.
"I kn- what?"
"I'm just joking with you, I don't care what you do. This seems like a family thing, you know the mother and mother-in-law." Ian glared at him over Merida's head who looked at him stunned. "Alright I had my fun - so what do we gotta do?"
"Well I mended the tapestry, I don't know what else I have to do," said Merida, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Maybe the solution is more abstract," said Wee Dingwall. "Perhaps it's words that'll fix your mother."
"Yes right, we might have to kill something," said Macintosh smashing one hand into his other, as Merida slapped a hand to her face.
"I think we have a bigger problem than just that," said Ian trying to hold back Elinor's bear form as she had wandered away while they spat.
They could hear the thumping of footsteps heading back in their direction.
This time they could hear Fergus screaming from down the hall.
"Mum!" cried Merida as she tried to pull her back in. "Dad must have found her dress after it ripped."
Dingwall and Macintosh were trying to push her back in the room from the hall. Merida and Ian from inside the room. The unfortunate position left her vulnerable as Fergus spotted her right away.
"Good job young Macintosh, wee Dingwall," he said while they shared a look and let her go. Ian and Merida fell through looking up at Fergus. Young Macintosh even dropped his sword to show he wouldn't help.
"Dad you can't kill that bear, it's mum," said Merida.
"It's true," echoed the boys.
"You're all nuts," said Fergus as Merida was attempting to tell him the story. "Merida, that is not your mum."
"Daaad," she said, stomping her foot down as she was trying to make her point known. He had to know what was going on and she wasn't lying. "I'm serious, it's your wife, Elinor!"
"And if you're all on this story then you're not part of the hunt," he said, calling for the men to start.
Since none of them had a weapon to fight back Fergus easily pushed Dingwall and Macintosh into the room knocking back Merida and Ian slightly. They could hear him giving Maudie the key.
Frustrated, Merida kicked the door, very annoyed and slightly scared of the sudden turn of events. Great she wasn't going to even have a mum on her stupid wedding day after all. Her father was just going to ruin it.
"We need a plan," said Merida, at least she had three people with her and would listen, hopefully. "What if we split the hunting party up?"
"It's less numbers to each side" said Ian agreeing with her. "Tell them we spotted the real Mor'du and…"
"I get it," said Macintosh. "Throw them off the queen's scent. I'd be happy to help with that I'm a really good speaker, I could convince them to split up."
"Send them on a goose chase!" said Wee Dingwall getting excited and bounced in his seat. "I'm good at distracting."
All of them are looking to her for guidance. She nodded, liking that idea, and playing to everyone's strengths.
"A brilliant plan, I'm good with the land to know which way they would have gone. We need to get out first - Maudie's not just…"
Then she looked over at Ian who had knocked out her mum as said bear for a short time anyway.
"Dad does realize that he locked you in here too right? You can break down the door," she said.
"Isn't that a destruction of property?"
"Yea your eventual property when we're married."
"Actually that's not how -" She glared at him with the look on her face saying as if that really matters. Ian sighed as he eyed the door and looked fora weakness and spied where he needed to hit. "Alright fine!"
Maudie stood back terrified as the hinges cracked and the door slammed down at her feet. Young MacGuffin looked like he didn't even break a sweat. Then Maudie ran off screaming after she found a way to get away quickly.
"Why is she...?"
"Merida," said Young Macintosh pointing behind her. Three furry identical faces stared back at her. Harris, Hamish, and Hubert all made a silly face at her showing them that they were okay.
"You had to eat that cake," she bemoaned to her brothers. "Listen can you see if anyone is still here keeping us from leaving? I'll give you my dessert for the whole year."
The triplets all shared a look and then back at her. Right she was getting married.
"Alright, how about a whole extra wedding cake just for you three?"
That seemed to pique their interest as they seemed to talk to each other with their eyes. They shared a long look and nodded between each other and then at her. They then raced to the stables once they were in the clear.
"A whole wedding cake?" asked Dingwall impressed. "That's generous."
"To the stables," said Merida ignoring him and grinned at Ian who had turned pink.
Leading the way Merida raced there as fast as possible. She had some motley crew to help her out. This was actually going in her favor so far. Her dad and the other lords could not have gone very far. Since it took half the time to get out of the locked tapestry room.
Now all the matter was the plan.
"Wait, hold on, where are we going to divert them too?" she asked dizzily then gestured to Macintosh and Dingwall. "And this might sound trivial but I don't know either of your names. Also this is Ian of the MacGuffin clan.
"It's Torrance of the Macintosh can," he said as they made their way to find their weapons.
"Abernathy," said Dingwall putting out his hand for her to shake it.
Shrugging Merida shook his hand and nodded to Macintosh. Turning to Ian she saw him gathering supplies and tossing them into a satchel.
"Great idea, I'm going to check on the horses," she said.
Which turns out didn't take that long. The DunBroch stables were completely empty. Horrified she ran to look for her own horse. Angus' stable still warm with hoof prints leading out.
"I can't believe this they took Angus," she said, throwing her hands up disgusted.
"They knew that we'd get out quickly so they had to hurry," said Macintosh.
"There's two left from my clan," said Ian, speaking slower and clearer. Abernathy and Torrance ran to look at their clan tents and then ran back to Merida.
"None of ours," said Macintosh, disappointed in himself.
"None," said Dingwall, looking sad. "Now what?"
"We have to divide and conquer," said Merida, turning to them her mind racing. Time was not on their hands. "We have two horses and we'll have to go separate. Two of us on a horse."
They followed MacGuffin to the two horses that were left behind. Someone, maybe Lord MacGuffin judging from the correspondence between him and her mother, was great a planning what to do. The horses left behind were two clydesdales that looked like they could carry the four of them thankfully.
"Those horses are huge!" said Abernathy his eyes wide.
"They're clydesdales," said Ian. "Our clan breeds them and we're all known for our horseback riding skills. Anyway, the plan."
Now Merida was seeing the dilemma and not enough time to decide. "Alright so two of us need to go and get ahead of the group to divert them Then the other to chase my mum. On the other hand we also have to get someone to pick up the rear and maybe get another horse so we can spread out. We'll also have to decide who does what."
"The front won't be much of an option," said Ian. "Neither of our horses are exactly the fastest they left behind."
"Torrance, you said you were good at persuading people to do stuff. That'll be you're part of the plan like you said before," said Merida. Surprised that she remembered he said Torrence just nodded. "Ian since your dad will likely be in charge of one of those groups you'll have to go with him. Abernathy you'll be with me since you seem to have some idea of how I should fix this. There's standing stones not too far from here if we can meet there."
"Got it," chorus the the three boys.
"Oh and Ian?" She stopping him from heading out as they got the horses ready. "Thanks. Even though I can't really understand what you're saying, I trust you."
Ian nodded back in response mumbling something that she didn't understand, but the smile he gave her seemed to say that everything was going to be okay. They were off as Merida took the reins promising to lead them in the right direction. With Abernathy holding a torch above she could see the tracks pounded into the soft ground. Barely ahead of her she could see a blue of fire still chasing her mum.
Then about a little way out they could hear the voices. She met Ian's eye and nodded at them to go, she'd have to go around the side.
Sure enough as she lingered she could hear Ian and Torrance talking about Mor'du. Not staying long she could only hope that she'd done the right thing. Merida could hear the bear, her mother, stomping over fallen leaves. Urging the horse she could reach her mum in time.
As they rounded a corner she could see her plan almost fall flat. The standing stones! Torrance and Ian would be bringing the hunting party this way and still one group bringing up her rear. Now she has to act fast.
"Abernathy, you said you think words would help what should I say?" she says turning to wee Dingwall.
"Ohh just talk to her, be honest," he said, calmly despite hearing the distant voices. "If the tapestry is fixed and you really mean it, words can fix things."
"Okay mum," said Merida walking over to her heart thudding. Her mother was leaning against a stone shaking herself as if she was sorting out her own mind. Mend the bond torn by pride. "Please hear me out. I only ever wanted to sit down and talk about this whole marriage thing. Giving you that cake was wrong of me and I am really really really sorry. I didn't know what it was going to do and it wasn't smart. I know we're not as close as we used be but I can't imagine getting married or having a wee one of my own without you. I mean who will I be going to for advice? You gave me a chance to break tradition and not pick a suitor but I wanted to show you that I'm serious about my and the kingdoms future. Mum you're my best friend and I… Mum?!"
She was starting to advance toward her snarling a little. She backed off hitting another body, back to back with Abernathy. A giant shadow above both their forms. Turning around she could see Abernathy fighting off the real Mor'du behind her.
"Duck" called Abernathy into her ear.
Bear Elinor started to stand on her hind legs. Not much space between the two of them.
"Merida!" shouted her father off to the side.
"Abernathy!" called Lord Dingwall to the other side of her.
Mor'du lunged to attack and Elinor to protect. Somewhere between getting out from between them Merida felt dizzy and airborne for a second before settling down bareback on a horse. Still on the horse they shared Ian and Torrance both held onto her and Abernathy. It was almost comical if the horse was a wee bit smaller.
Shocked, Merida looked back at her mother fighting the great black bear. Her father flying into one of the stones. Her mother knocked against another this time a crack above her head, an idea forming in her mind.
"We have to go back," said Merida struggling between Ian's back and Abernathy's front.
"Are you crazy?" Asked Torrance behind her.
"The stone it has a crack in it. If all four of us can knock it onto Mor'du we can kill him."
Ian, who was holding the reigns, steered the horse back to the battle despite Torrance's protests to regroup. Her voice must have carried because the other clans rushed to that stone as well. Her mother along with them at the horse charging at Mor'du backing him against the stone.
In her spot she couldn't see as well but the shout of her father and the lords voices mixed sounded like they were going to kill the great beast.
Then they were probably going to turn to her mum.
"I'm going to have to jump," she said, "get close to mum."
The boys looked torn before passing the fight close and she jumped onto Elinor. They tumbled down just past the rocks as Merida threw her arms around her mother. She could hear a shout from the men that they were successful in killing Mor'du with the stone. The earth seemed to shake a little as the standing stone fell on top of his grizzly form. Merida and her mom tumbled down out of the way.
Elinor blinked up at her Merida, not caring about the throbbing in her side and threw her arms around her.
"Mum I love you," she said, digging her hands into the soft fur and nuzzling against her chest.
"I love you too," said Elinor as a human hand stroked her hair. "And that was quite a speech until you were cut off."
"For something I did on the - mum you are back," she said throwing her arms around her, kissing her head. "You have no idea how much I missed you. You also need a new dress."
Behind them they heard a cracking noise and spun around to see a stunned Fergus.
"Eli!" He said, "we killed Mor'du! Did you see another bear come by? I think it was trying to help us."
"You'd never believe me. May I borrow your tartan Fergus?"
He had quickly seen what she had meant by that and quickly shed the DunBroch pattern from him to cover up his wife.
"Now we have another reason to celebrate!" said lord Macintosh catching up. "We did that together."
"Two reasons," said Lord MacGuffin. "Don't forget the betrothal!"
"By the way what was that weird wispy blue thing?" Asked Lord Dingwall who had definitely taken notice of that.
"It's a long story," said Elinor as they all looked surprised to see her there. "Why don't we all head back. I'd love to hear your side of this tale."
She winked at Merida as she gratefully found Angus among the horses. Apparently it was her father that knew to take Angus. She had her mum back and with her as they rode back to castle DunBroch in peace rather than pieces.
Elinor and Merida taking up the rear talking amongst themselves. Making sure no one could hear them Elinor nudged her daughter.
"You know it's okay if you want to end the engagement I mean. I can talk to Lord MacGuffin," said Elinor as Fergus was attempting to talk to Ian who looked rather embarrassed.
"Really?" she said looking a little hopeful then shook her head no. "Ian's not so bad, in fact none of them are. It was kind of fun running around with Ian, Abernathy, and Torrance If it wasn't for dad trying to kill you. Plus if I get married I can pass off half my duties to him."
Elinor shook her head with a small grin on her face.
"Why did I know you would say that? Well long engagements are common."
"Really? Well then I'm thinking the day after Samhain," said Merida, with a beat and grinned. "Next year."
Elinor grinned as she shook her head at Merida's announcement. A year and five months away was a long time to even worry after all they had all the time in the world.