– Chapter 2 –

I was running on a cold, stormy night.

A bear, I heard it's roar near me.

Sweat running over my body and the rain falling over my hood.

I feel the bear getting closer and closer.

I saw the castle, it was not so far away.

As I tried to run to the castle the bear appears and gets on two feet just in front of the path that leads to my home leaving me no choice but to run away from it.

I scream in panic.

I search for any of my weapons but I don't have my arrows, I don't have my bow or my sword.

I am completely un armed.

This is madness!

The bear his roars feel closer and closer each time I run faster and faster.

I gasp as I trip over a rock.

The bear get's above me and roars mightily on two feet ready to devour me.

"No!"

I wake up with a scream.

I'm sweating and crying.

The door of my bedroom opens abruptly.

My Ma' runs towards me and comforts me with a hug.

I cry.

"Calm down my dear it was only a dream." She says comforting me.

"No, dreams are peaceful this was no dream, this was a nightmare."

Mum stops the hug and puts her hands on my shoulders.

"Aye, but we mustn't lose our heids over a nightmare Merida" She says.

It's true plus I've got much to do today.

"What time is it mum?" I ask.

"It's very early dear the sun came out 3 hours ago" Explains mum.

"I must go" I get up from my bed. –"I have many things to do"

"Merida" She calls out suspiciously.

"What?" I ask innocently.

"Don't ye get yer self in trouble" She raises her eyebrows.

I grin.

"I won't mum" I assure her.

As I promised I went to the kitchen and got Angus some apples and a blueberry pie for me.

I when I was near the bakery I spotted one of my brothers.

Hamish. I thought.

"Hamish!" I called out but he didn't hear.

I hope they are not stealing pies again, I've already written four apology letters to the poor baker.

I saw him going to the back of a house from a short distance.

I ran towards him.

"Hamish!"

"Hamish!" I kept saying but I didn't hear his response.

When I got near the house I spotted Hamish with a girl still in some short distance.

Huh? I though.

The girl had an appearance of my brothers' age, she was skinny, she was wearing an old brown dress, her hair was light brown and wavy. My brother was about 4 inches taller then her.

My brother's hands where in her waist and her's where in his shoulders.

I saw them kiss and for an instance I wanted to cry; my little brother is not so little anymore he's already found love and I haven't yet. What if Hubert and Harris have already found their true love?

My eyes got extremely watery, a tear was daring to fall of my eye.

I just ran to the stables.

* * *

"Don't ye understand Angus maybe no one wants me for me now that I'm Queen" I say to Angus.

I was riding Angus through the woods.

"Maybe I just need a break all this is making me lose my heid" I sigh.

Angus suddenly stops.

"What?" I asked doubtful. "You don't think I should take a break?"

Snap. I hear.

I reach for an arrow and place it on my bow.

I point it out and listen carefully.

"Steady Angus we have company" I whisper.

Snap snap snap. They sound louder.

I aim towards the noise but I don't
seem to see anything.

What could it be? If it where a bear it would of attacked us ages ago. It must be someone.

The noise stops. There's something odd here.

I lower my bow and look around.

I hear a whistling sound. They've shoot bloody arrow!

Angus gets up and neighs in panic letting me fall.

"Angus!" I shout.

I spotted the arrow, it was stuck to a tree.

They did this on purpose. I grab my bow and arrow.

I immediately shoot an arrow towards the direction the one that scared Angus came.

"Woah woah!" I hear someone say.

He comes out of the trees and looks at the arrow I've shot.

"Nice aim lassie" He compliments.

I give him a puzzled look.

Who the heck is he? I've never seen him before.

"Here let me help you" He says offering me a hand.

I grab his hand and get back on my feet.

"Thank ye" I say.

I take a good look at the man.

He had dark brown hair, he whore a normal outfit although he had a hood, he looked about 2 years older then me, he was strong and kind of attractive.

He was the one that shot the arrow. I confirm now that I see a bow on his hand.

I notice he looks at me from bottom to top.

"Since I left to travel I've never had an encounter with a gorgeous lady" He says.

"May I know yer name?" I ask ignoring his secondth compliment.

"I'm Elton, ye?"

"I'm Merida" I grin.

"Merida? As in Queen Merida of DunBroch?"He asks.

"Aye" I confirm.

He kneels bows to me. "My Queen, I'm very sorry for not knowing, I'm from the West and came to travel"

I grin. "There's no need for that"

He gets up. "Oh, well then I guess I should be off then, be safe my- "

"Call me Merida" I cut him off.

"Merida, aye as you wish" He grins and leaves off running.

Wow, he was very nice. Elton; I hope I see him again someday.

Well there's no need for sweetness let's go get a wisp!

* * *

There where no damn wisps today. I as really hoping I'd find one. I need a third choice, I can't be forced to marry and I will not give up the crown! I'll find a solution sooner or later.

 
I decided to take a walk around the kingdom after taking Angus to the stables.

The people stare at me, I don't know what to think. Little kids pointing at me, women murmuring and men giving me death glares.

What did I do?

I decide to ignore and hurry up to the castle. Maybe mum knows something. The moment I see my study's window up above, I get a momentaneous flashback of yesterday. Macintosh.

Did he say something? Did he wish to ruin my reputation because I didn't do what he wanted? He's a bampot!

I walk slower now trying not to stress so much about this. Why, why this? Right now I don't know what to do or what to think. I wish you where here Pa' I really need you.

I sigh.

A hand covers my mouth, another grabs my waist and pulls me up.

It must be a man.   I think as I see a one of his muscly arms he was holding me tight and I couldn't see his other arm or what he's wearing either.

He takes me inside a cottage.

There was nobody at sight at the moment.

He lets me go, I turn around instantly to witness who it is.

"You!" I yell as I see Macintosh in front of me.   –"You ruined me and mashed me to pieces you little bampot" I grab my bow and grab an arrow.

I point the arrow at him, my eyes get watery. What he did he cannot take back.

"Merida, Merida I'm sorry" He gestures me to calm down.

I put back my bow and arrow.

"Ye sure? It doesn't seem like it" I cross my arms.

"Aye, I know but I'm trying to keep ye safe Merida" He says.

I giggle and roll my eyes.  "And how's that?"

"Merida, Elton is not who you think he is"

Oh, my Lord he's been following me. What else would he do now?! He's completely bonkers, Macintosh is crossing way too far.

Maybe he is just jealous of Elton, Macintosh is no way comparable to him, even though we just met. Now from one problem we've got too a ton.

"Ye little bampot, ye've been spying on me" I say in anger.

"Merida-"

"Don't ye dare say my name Macintosh, ye've done enough"  I cut him off.

"Look I don't want ye to get hur-"

"If ye really loved me, ye wouldn't be stalking me at the contrary I believe ye should respect me and my opinions"

"I do love ye"  He admits.

"Then guess what I don't and we will never be together if ye stay like this" I storm of the cabin.

"Merida-" He calls off but I ignore him.

He sighs in frustration.

The only one that should be deadly frustrated is me. How could soo many problems come at me this fast?

I'm worried about my family and my kingdom, I need to get married in only six months approximately 'cause this month is nearly ending which leads me less time to think of a plan to see if I can stop this, but if I can't then, no Merida of DunBroch doesn't give up that easily I won't stop until I break that law.

–Authors note:

Hi, how are you?

Did ya like this chapter?

No / Yes / idk

Well just to give ya a hint we'll be seeing more of Elton in the future and let's get to business, what do you think Macintosh will do to win Merida over?

I know this is a Merintosh fanfic but hey plot twists exist. 😏😏

Also I took a quiz and it said I'm 40% Pocahontas and 60% Merida, crazy right I took it again making other choices (obviously) and it turns out I also have 40% Jasmine and 60% Rapunzel.

Next chapter super soon btw I feel really inspired so I'll start it right now.

See ya on the next chapter,
                                  -Natalia J.🤓