Chapter five

King Fergus had set the northmen up with a large room between them all, with Ragnar, his son and his personals in one of the guest rooms that were similar to those that the other lords slept in. His hospitality had come as a surprise to both the vikings and the people of Dunbroch.

For Ragnar, he felt as if King Fergus held similar interests to that of his own, and that intrigued him more than any other venture that he had set sail in. What intrigued him more, however, was not the king, but the princess. She was the same wild, redhead that he had seen in the woods, on the way to the castle. Inside she was more placid, obeying her mother, but Ragnar could not forget the image that he had only seen, of her standing on a horse and shooting her bow and arrow, that had not reappeared by her side. The princess, who they had not yet been introduced to, reminded him of Lagertha, a strong and adventurous woman.

As for Merida, she had avoided the Northemen at all costs. She, unlike her father, was unsure of their intentions. Why would a man like Ragnar want his son to marry her? And Bjorn, she hadnt spoke to him. She had seen so little of the Northmen in the days leading to the first round of competition, that she had forgotten his face. Unlike the lords' sons, he hadn't sought her out, wishing to sweet talk themselves into her favour. Perhaps they wished to attack, she thought.

Even king Fergus had his doubts, but he remained as happy as ever, continuing the celebrations with aid from her mother. If anything, the whole deal had been made even bigger with the arrival of the foreign men and women, much to Merida's annoyance.

Merida had managed to remain in her room for three whole days after the introductory feast, avoiding all but her brothers who slipped her food. She hadn't even been to see Angus, and instead bribed her brothers to feed him daily and take him out. In her eyes, being antisocial had the potential to drive the suitors off, but if anything, it just made them even more determined.

And it made her mother even more furious.

"Merida, you are embarrassing yourself and our family." Elinor said, as she barged into her room, waking Merida from her sleep. She had pushed her luck too far. "You must come down to greet the lords now. They are preparing for a hunt with your father."

As the queen fussed over her, Merida brightened visibly. The word hunt was enough to get her to straighten her back and drag herself from bed.

"Perhaps I should go with them. Clap when they catch something. Talk to the sons on the trail." Merida suggested, and her mother stopped, biting her lips as she contemplated the idea.

"I suppose." Elinor said, trailing off as Merida began to beam. "But you must be on best behaviour. One of these boys will be your husband in the future."

She ignore the last comment as she turned brushing her long locks slightly, before forgetting about them completely. Her best riding dress was swiftly pulled over her shoulders and laced as Merida attempted to stay within her mother's favour.

"Thank you, mother." She said finally, kissing her in the cheek before scurrying out of the door.

Her pace was quick as she glides down the main stairs, only slowing when the hunting party came into her sight from where they gathered just outside of the door. As she advanced on the group, her father turned to beam her way proudly.

"Are you joining us in this hunt?" Young Macintosh asked her, with a charming smile.

Merida nodded, smiling forcefully in return, her hands clasped gently in front of her. "I wouldn't miss it."

"I'm glad to hear." Macguffin added in, as he came to stand between the two.

She could tell that the ride to come would be suffocatingly boring. Both boys felt a need to get a word in after the other, scared that without their presence, she might be swayed or seduced. To Merida, it was comical, the fact that they were worked up over such small things. But, then again, to them, this was important. To her, she wished to avoid it completely.

"I hear there is a hunt?" The voice that came up behind them was easily recognised by the accent.

King Fergus' eyebrows furrowed. "You weren't told?"

Ragnar stares at him momentarily before shaking his head slowly, his chin raised and eyes sparkling. Fergus turned to the lords with a watchful gaze, staring them down as the finished their conversation, turning to the group with a blank look each. He cleared his throat threateningly, before turning back to the Northman.

"I apologise, it seems the invitation never reached. You and your closest are welcome to join." Her father said kindly, and Ragnar smiled in return, motioning for his son and another tall, slim man to follow him.

"This is Floki, the greatest boatbuilder that man has ever known." He introduced, a hint of a smirk on his face.

"It is an honour."

Merida watched as they mounted their horses with ease. Even the way they moved themselves was different- she couldn't help but be intrigued by them. Her eyes must have been burning into them, as they all turned to cast a glance her way, before trotting forward and joining the party.

"We shall start." King Fergus ordered, as he turned his horse round rapidly, setting off at a light pace.

The lords followed shortly behind with Ragnar and his company not long behind them. It was obvious that the three sons were waiting for her, as when she set off, they were trailing right behind her, almost fighting for the space on the path.

Up ahead, Merida could see the glinting of bright blonde hair in what little sons trailed through the dense treetops. It was a pretty colour, she thought, and unlike the browns and gingers that were most common. She quickened her pace, leaving the young nobles behind and continuing behind the Northman.

She wondered what Bjorn Ironside thought of this. Did he want to marry her, or did he feel the same way as she did? If he didn't, he made no effort to show it, as he carried on normally with the people around him.

Angus' solid hooves must have been loud enough, as he turned his head abruptly, casting her a judging glance before smirking and turning to ride beside her.

"They're fighting for you. You must be the princess." He stated. She expected him to speak slowly in translation, but his voice was strong and confident.

"And you are Bjorn Ironside, son of Ragnar." She stated back, her brow raised expectantly. "What gives you that title?"

He smiled, as if proud to show off his story. "My father gave it to me after a battle in England. He said no man or sword could touch me."

"You have a scar." She pointed out the corresponding area of his face on her own cheek, and he smiled.

"He is a man not a God." He said, referring to Ragnar.

"I'm not one to compliment." Merida began, and Bjorn smirked once again proudly but playfully as she spoke.

"But with that name, I think you have a fair head start in comparison." She finished, earning a small laugh.

"They are not what me or my father, expected." Bjorn said, as he glanced back at the thee, who still rode next to each other closely, squabbling.

"What had you expected?" She asked.

"A whole clan of men like the King." He said, and Merida frowned. Though she felt somewhat proud of her father for being the ruthless image in the foreign men's mind, she worried about what this my mean.

"You're not what I expected either." She fired back at him, looking for his reaction.

Bjorn forced out a surprised laugh. "We're not?"

She shook her head, her chin and nose raised in the air. "Not nearly as fast and scary."

"I must say: I'm also surprised you speak are language." Merida added in.

"What makes you think that?"

"I don't speak yours." She shrugged her shoulders, moving to pat Angus on the neck as he spluttered.

"It's not so bad once you start off." Bjorn said, offering a mimicking shrug. "My father thought I'd be better off knowing it."

"And has it paid off?" She asked teasingly.

"I guess it has." He said, and Merida's freckles skin blushed a deep red, making her turn away from the boy.

And as her gaze was turned from him, Bjorn's back straightened and on his face, slapped a cheeky grin. He readied his horse, allowing its feet to shuffle as he was quick to provoke her.

"If we're not quick and scary, you'll be brave and race with me." He shouted, leaving her no time answer, as he clicked the reigns, speeding off forward and passed the King and his Lords.

Merida squealed suddenly, urging for Angus to move forward. Her horse sped up, following the same direction as his horse came into sight from behind the small ducks and dives of the rooted pathway. Her hair whipped against the wind that brushed in from in front of her. They were nearing the cliff line that bordered the beach, bringing in the salty sea-air to tangle up her locks.

"I said something about being scared?" She shouted, and Bjorn twisted his neck, gazing at her in surprise as Angus was galloping nose to tail with his own horse.

Merida laughed at loud as she quickly directed a swerve, making Angus jump across a thick root and twist once again, emerging in front of the Viking once again. She turned back to him with lighthearted laugh, watching as he leaned forward, willing his horse to move faster.

"You'll soon learn to never challenge me to a race." She said, as she slowed her pace, catching her breath as Bjorn joined her, waiting for the rest of the group to join.

"Bjorn, bring Floki to the front." Ragnar shouted from behind them and Bjorn nodded to his father, before turning to give her a smile and trotting off once again.

Merida moved to join her father as they continued on their ride deeper into the forest, the same typical spot that her father always loved to hunt in. She was surprised there was anything there left to kill, given that he was personally there almost weekly. As the rode, Merida listened in on Ragnar's conversation with the King.

"You're still interested in the competition?" Her father asked.

"Yes, I think she is good for my son." Ragnar replies, and Merida rolled her eyes. They were talking as if she wasn't even there.

"But is he good for me?" She combatted, her eyebrows arched.

"I am sorry Ragnar Lothbrok, but right now, your opinion does not decide anything." King Fergus imputed, keeping the chat both civil and politically correct. Merida scoffed.

"You don't have your bow?" Ragnar asked her.

"I thought that was you!" She exclaimed, turning to glare into the side of his face as he stared forward tauntingly.

"Excuse me?" Her father questioned them.

"He saw me practising my archery in the woods."

"Why not?" Ragnar pushes again about the bow and Merida frowned before giving her answer.

"If the Lords saw it my mother would murder me." Merida spoke the truth, only after glancing to see who was behind them, noticing that the Lords were far behind them. "I don't know about the North, but here, a lady doesn't carry weapons."

"Father would love it if I was allowed." She said with a soft smile, after noticing his offended look.

"I think you would like my ex-wife, Bjorn's mother." Ragnar nodded to his son as he came to ride next to Merida once again, Floki joining the other side of Ragnar.

"Ex-wife? Is she here?" Fergus asked.

"No, she remained in Kattegat." Ragnar said, smiling to his son in memory. "Lagertha. The greatest shield maiden to ever live."

"Shield maiden?" Merida asked, and Bjorn chuckled.

"A maiden with a shield. Not that hard to grasp." He teased, and she rolled her eyes.

"I hate to bring it up, but the Lords are worried about your intent." Fergus interrupted them, a conflicted look on his face as he looked toward the older northmen.

"My intentions are nothing but good. We have already sailed to England."

"But why are you here?" Fergus presses again, and Merida leaned in, craving to know herself.

Ragnar glanced between the people that rode around him, his gaze shifting, almost nervously. But anxiety wasn't a look that Ragnar would ever be know to have. He smiled slightly, eyes landing in his son that rode next to the red-head, a look of confusion on his face.

"It is Bjorn's fate to marry the daughter of a king. I have been told it. The Gods lead us here."