A/N: this is a looong ass chapter with a lot of stuff happening. i couldn't split it up cuz it would lose its effect. anyhow, enjoy!

"It's a ball... We're going to a ball... Dancing... Eating... Ball... Ball... Ball..."
"Mr. Higgs! If ye dinnae stop with that jumping about like a rabbit I'm gonna clock ye right in the nose." Merida growled, as she glared at him from the stairwell.
Higgs had been flitting from room to room with excitement and as the hours got closer to night time, Merida had come up the stairs and found Higgs jumping around like a ballerina from room to room. It was a cute but Merida needed to get to her own room.
"I'm just so excited to go to a ball without having to worry about anything. The sky is clear, not a cloud, my transformation has been at bay for almost the whole month of May, and I can be a man for once without worrying about triggers or the moon or sunrise. It's going to be a glorious evening!" he said, leaning on one of the doorjambs and lifting his leg.
Merida couldn't keep a straight face but tried.
"Not to bust yer bubble, but ye best not keep ye hopes too high. If something happens ye'll be doubly upset about the situation."
"You're a glob of mud, you know that?"
"I'm not trying to put ye down, but in my experience, putting yer hopes so high ye cannae e'er reach them hurts more when they come crashing down and ye cannae even pick up the pieces and try again."
"I thought that only applied to goals. You know, setting a goal too high will make it harder when you fail or some rot like that."
"Same principle applies. Hope is a goal, it's faith in something will happen. The goal is that said thing will happen and instead of planning towards it, hope is that pathway. I just dinnae want ye to get hurt, Mr. Higgs."
"You're over thinking things. It'll be fine. Now, let's get dressed."
"Alright-"
"Stop." Merida looked at his hand in her face. "You, my sweet maid, will be getting dressed at Fuscia's."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you to skimp out on me and try wearing one of your ugly dresses. I already picked out the one I wanted you to wear tonight and Fuscia has it. Go let her get you dressed... that and your hair."
"What about my bird's nest?" Merida said with a frown.
"Fuscia is going to turn that bird's nest into a woven basket... or whatever... it'll look nice. I can't do a thing for you."
Merida sighed. "Alright then..."

****************

Merida knocked on Fuscia's door and the maid opened it up. She walked in as Margaret rushed by, sticking a sapphire earring in her ear.
"Oh, Ms. Dunbrough. I supposed Higgs told you about Fuscia helping you."
"He kens I dinnae how to dress all proper."
"No offense, dear, but do you?"
"...No."
"That's what I thought. Well, don't be embarrassed about it. This will be practice for next time. Fuscia is just going to help you out since this will be your first time at a ball of any kind. Next time you can try on your own."
"Aye, I ken ye. Will ye husband be there?"
"Jami? I'm not sure, in all honesty. He usually surprises me. His schedule is different from Higgs' but I know that from July to September he doesn't change into anything, so it's more of a gamble than anything."
"I see..."
"Merida, there you are. Come on up, I have your dress and I'm ready to tackle that hair of yours."
"Do ye have a strong enough comb? Those wee ones willnae do ye any good... and it will poof out like a powder puff when ye brush it... Some say they will never brush hair again after they get through."
Fuscia laughed. "I have some products that might make it easier to tame that beast. Come on..."
Merida sighed and went up the stairs, doubtful they could do anything to her hair.

Hours seemed to pass and Higgs made his way down to his mother's house. He knocked on the door and waited for it to open. It finally did and he walked in, finding his mother in the drawing room, drinking tea.
"Why are you drinking tea before the party? If you do that you'll end up having to use the bathroom."
"Tosh... You very handsome, my son. You look happy."
"I haven't been to a ball in such a long time and especially one at night. I haven't been able to do much of anything like this."
Margaret smiled. She was happy to see her son in good spirits.
Fuschia came down the stairs and smiled, clearing her throat.
"I now present a cleaned up and dolled up, Ms. Dunbrough."
"I'm not coming."
"Oh, you look fine, Merida." Fuscia said over her shoulder.
"I look like I decided to get into my mistress' things and got caught in it."
"Come on, Merida." Fuschia growled, grabbing Merida from the hallway.
Merida came out and Higgs was completely speechless. He had never seen the woman look more beautiful than she was at that moment. The dress he had picked, a lavender with beige trimmings, looked absolutely stunning as it fit in all the right places. Her hair was tamed and was less curly than usual.
"Your hair." He said, so surprised he couldn't catch his mouth from talking.
Merida frowned. "Aye... it's in a bun-thing..."
"I-I- I meant that it's so tame. There's almost not a hair out of place."
"Almost?"
"There are a couple of little... curly... things..." he said, looking away.
"You're not helping, Higgs." Fuscia growled, looking at Merida. "Forget him, Merida. You look lovely and beautiful. No one would ever suspect you as a maid... unless you tell them."
"Which, knowing your big mouth, you will..." Higgs grumbled.
Merida made a face at him. "Are ye that ashamed of me?"
"Well it's already sad that I can't attend these parties on an every invitational basis, but everyone knows my family is odd and that my situation is odd. Knowing that I've brought my maid with me will just add icing to the cake."
"Then make the cake look so delicious everyone wants a piece. If ye make a big deal out of it, so will the others. Act like it doesnae bother ye and they willnae care. It's that easy. Have confidence in yerself, Mr. Higgs."
"Right."
"Anyway, if we don't hurry we will miss it." Margaret said, standing up.
"Come, we'll share the carriage."
Everyone got up and headed to the carriage.

****************

As the carriage rolled around the curb to Boston's home, Merida's eyes widened as the large mansion came into view.
"Blimey..." she whispered.
"Yeah, that's what a real lord's house looks like." Higgs said beside her.
"What exactly do ye classify as?"
"It's quite complicated." Margaret said, prompting the two to look at her. "The Saxons, my family, are on the higher end of the gentry than my husband's family, although in the past they were actually about the same or higher."
"I dinnae much about ye classes. All ye are richer than me so all of ye are Lairds and ladies."
"Well, my grandfather was a viscount and my father a viscount as well, so that's why my last name is somewhat important. When I married Jamison, my father thought that due to the circumstances I should keep my last name to keep the title, hoping the curse would be broken to reclaim it. The Northumberlys, though, used to be of earldom class and marching their way up the social ladder to dukedom until the gypsy cursed the line. Now, through keeping with lower class wives, they are something similar to a baron or even closer to an esquire."
"The point is, we're still considered part of the ton but we're not that high on the social ladder." Higgs said. "Our ancestor thought that it would be advantageous to keep to the shadows of the gentry until the curse was lifted."
"I see..."
The carriage made its way into the roundabout and stopped. The footman opened the carriage door and everyone soon piled out.

*****************

"Lady Saxon, it is wonderful to see you here. And young Fuscia! You've blossomed so well!"
Fuscia smiled as an older man with graying brown hair took her hand and kissed the knuckles as well as Margaret's.
"It's wonderful to see you again, Lucus." Margaret said with a small curtsy. "Do you know if Jami is here?"
"When I talked to him last he indicated that he would try to come but may have a problem doing so with so many bodies around."
"Ah, vampire?"
"Looked like it; all of the windows were shut tight and only a few lamps were lit. But since the party was at night he said he may pop in for a bit." Lucus looked at Higgs and smiled. "Well, hello, young Higgs. I'm so happy you could come! I feel like I haven't seen you in years!"
Higgs smiled. "Probably not, sir. It's been... rough."
"I understand from an outsider's perspective." He looked at Merida. "And who is this lovely woman?"
"This is uh... um..."
"I'm Merida Dunbrough, Mr. Higgs' maid. Nice to meet ye." She said, grabbing Lucus's hand and shaking it heartily. "And no, I'm not gonna leave Mr. Higgs and no, I'm not doing it for the money and no, I'm not English."
Lucus laughed. "Well that's quite apparent. So you're the one who gave my son a good tongue lashing the other day."
"Aye. So ye've heard of me?" she said with a frown.
"Boston was impressed by you. He said he's never been so ashamed about his stance in life and shown up by a woman who he couldn't even understand when she berated him."
"My accent gets carried away when I'm mad."
"I hope I never have to hear it. It's quite lovely and you are too, Ms. Dunbrough."
"Thank ye."
"And it's good to hear that you won't be leaving Higgs anytime soon. So many have. But he's like his father in many ways in that regard."
Higgs frowned as Boston came up.
"Oh good, you made it. Hello, Fuscia."
"Boston..." she said with a small curtsy.
"Ms. Dunbrough; you clean up quite well. I almost didn't recognize you but the hair is most prominent."
"Nice to see ye, Laird Graves." She said and then did a quick curtsy.
Higgs smiled at her. "You need to be a little more eloquent with your greetings and introductions."
Merida turned to him. "I'm sorry." She turned back to Boston. "Good eeev-e-ning, Laird Graves. It is such a plea-ja to meet yoooo." She said with a low curtsy. She looked back at Higgs. "That better?"
Higgs just smacked his forehead to his hand as the little group laughed.
"You can be yourself here, Merida. We don't discriminate. Although, in Higgs' defense, just mind how you say things and keep your quips... few." Boston said, trying to find a suitable word. "We aren't sensitive but one wrong word or attention brought to something unflattering can cause gossip and that's not good for you or anyone else."
"I'll try my hardest not to embarrass my employer."
"That will be quite hard." A voice said behind them.
They turned and Merida physically bristled. Higgs put his hand on her arm to calm her down.
"Well, if it isn't the Scot."
"Well, if it isn't the wh-"
"So wonderful to see you, Gretchen." Higgs said with a small kick to the back of Merida's leg. "Lovely dress."
"Thank you, Mr. Higgs. I'm surprised you're out tonight. Don't you have something to transform into?"
"Yes, but since it's not affected by much, I hopefully won't turn into anything but a drunken fool tonight."
"I see. Lady Fuscia, Lady Saxon, wonderful to see you again."
"Gretchen." They both said in the same monotone voice.
"I can't ever thank you enough for the referral to the Weebly home. I absolutely love it over there."
"How fun." Fuscia said.
"Yes, how delightful that you used my son's problems to climb a small ladder of status." A dark voice said behind Gretchen.
Gretchen, for the first time Merida had seen, stiffened and looked truly scared. She turned rigidly and gulped.
"Lord Northumberly."
"Gretchen."
"Dear..." Margaret said, walking over to him and putting her arm in his. "How about we go... over there?"
He looked at her endearingly but Merida could see a strange look of what she thought was hunger there as well.
"If you wish it." He looked up at his children. "Fuscia, Higgs. I must follow your mother, it seems."
"Of course, Father." Fuscia said with a smile.
Higgs only nodded as Margaret led him away.
Gretchen cleared her throat as Merida smirked at her.
"Ye may want to check the back of ye pretty gown, lass. Possibly could have a spot of brown back there."
"You shut your mouth!" she growled, walking away.
Merida grinned as Higgs looked at where his father and mother were.
"Looks like we won't be seeing them for a bit." Lucus said.
"Oh?" Merida said.
"Vampire." Fuscia and Higgs said at the same time.
"And... what does that mean?"
"Feeding." Higgs growled. "I can't believe he actually came here with all these bodies."
"I'm sure that's why mother took him aside." Fuscia tried.
"Come, Fuscia, would you mind accompanying me in a dance before dinner? I know it's light music now..."
"Of course. Will you two be alright?" Fuscia asked.
"I'm sure we'll manage." Higgs said with a smile. "Go, have fun."
"Excuse me, I must go greet some other guests." Lucus said with a small bow.
That left Higgs and Merida by themselves and Merida rocked on her heels.
"So... what do ye people do at these things besides squeeze into clothing that doesnae fit and wear tiny stilted shoes that bunch up ye toes?"
"Clothes that don't fit?"
"Aye, the lot of ye look like ye got it painted on rather than worn."
Higgs looked out at the crowd and smiled, seeing what she saw.
"Well, for you and I, the outcasts of society, we can watch the room and make fun of everyone."
Merida smiled. "I'd like that."

***************

After dinner came the festivities of dancing. Merida knew none of the dances and was happy to sit them out and watch the colors swirl around. She was getting pretty pissed off of the fine wine and the few swigs of brandy she could sneak out of Lucus's study. This was much more elaborate and concentrated than the clan gatherings in Scotland. She missed the jumping and overall chaotic order that the clans had rather than this calculated mess. Higgs seemed to have fun with all the ladies he was dancing with. Merida was happy to see him happy.
Higgs sat down beside her. "Are you sure you don't want to have one dance?"
"I dinnae ken how to do this sort of jig. If ye had some faster music..."
"Faster music?"
"Aye. Ye got ye strings and piano but there's no pipes or drums!"
"Pipes and drums?"
"Are ye a parrot? Why do ye keep repeating everything I say?"
"Because I don't know what you're talking about."
"Aye, my kind of music and dance would probably shock a noblewoman into a faint. So outlandish and... wild."
"Maybe one day you could show me."
"Ye couldnae keep up with me if ye tried. It's all random half the time."
"Lord Northumberly?" Higgs looked up as Elizabeth smiled at him. "I was wondering if maybe you would accompany me in a dance? My fiancé is quite drunk and doesn't want to dance with me. Usually I wouldn't be so bold but..."
"Your fiancé? I didn't know you were engaged. To whom?" Higgs asked tightly.
"To the Marquis of Delvinwood, Lord Patrick Clarvins."
Higgs looked to where she pointed and made a face.
"I've never met him."
"He is not from the city. He owns some other estates farther north towards the Scottish border."
"To answer your question though, yes, I would be happy to take his place and dance with you."
Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you! And hello, Ms. Dunbrough, happy to see you."
"Thank ye." Merida mumbled.
Higgs took her out to the dance floor as a slow song seemed to play. Merida watched them when she felt someone sit down beside her.
"Lord Clarvins will not be pleased." Merida looked and saw Gretchen looking unusually pensive. "Lord Clarvins is a very jealous man and is not very nice when he's drunk."
"Are ye trying to tell me something?"
"I'm trying to tell you that you should stop Higgs before Lord Clarvins sees Lady Weebly with him. I'm warning you that he's not kind to those who even look at Lady Weebly with lust so if someone were to dance so close to her..."
"Lust? I dinnae ken ye realize who ye are speaking about."
Gretchen pointed her chin at the dance floor. "Look harder."
Merida did and saw what Gretchen was saying as the two turned during a part in the dance where the men and women touched hands together and turned. They looked like they were flirting and Merida looked back at Gretchen.
"What... could Laird Clarvins do if he saw that?"
"I've only heard rumors from some of the workers at Delvinwood and they range from... many things. He would never do anything to Lady Weebly but those who came in between them? I heard rumor he once dueled a cousin of his for looking at someone he was courting before Lady Weebly. He cheated and now that cousin has a limp."
Merida narrowed her eyes at Gretchen but she could see that she wasn't trying to cause problems, but was telling the truth.
"And the drinking only adds to it."
"You!" someone yelled, making the music stop and everyone turn.
Merida and Gretchen stood up as Gretchen pushed her towards them.
"Go, hurry!"

******************

Higgs was talking to Elizabeth when a booming voice yelled out, "You!"
Everyone stopped as Higgs and Elizabeth turned. She gasped.
"Oh my goodness! Higgs, you need to get out of here."
"What?"
"Now, you need to go!" she said, pushing Higgs away.
"What, why?"
"Patrick is very jealous and possessive. I didn't think he would care since he was so drunk."
"Why didn't you say something?!" Higgs hissed, walking backwards.
"I'm so sorry. I really thought he was distracted-"
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Patrick snarled, grabbing Elizabeth by the shoulder and pulling her to him.
"I'm leaving." He said, laughing nervously.
"Who do you think you are to take a man's fiancée?"
"I was just dancing a friendly dance, no need to get angry."
"Mr. Higgs!" Merida yelled.
Higgs bumped into the punch bowl and it splashed onto the back of him. Oh shit... he thought as he felt the wetness falling down his legs. Just don't dump the bowl... just don't dump the bowl...
"You think that you can just take someone's fiancée and have her for yourself? I've never even heard of you."
"M-my name is Higgs Northumberly... I've never really heard of y-you either."
Patrick's face turned a shade of red that seemed otherworldly and as he was about to head towards Higgs, Merida stepped in front of him.
"Stop!" she yelled, holding out her hand.
Patrick looked at her and gave a drunken laugh.
"Who the hell is this?"
"It doesnae matter-"
"Oh, a little Scot. You're a bit far from your clan there lassie. Move out of the way now, the way the rest of you lot did when my grandfather conquered your lands."
Patrick tried to go past her but Merida stepped in front of him again. He glared at her and she glared right back at him.
"Step aside, Scottie. I won't tell you again." He said darkly.
"Ye must not ken the English language, milaird, but I told ye to stop and I bloody mean stop. He's done nothing to ye or to ye fiancée. Ye're pissed as a fart and dinnae ken what ye were seeing. Nothing happened."
"Come on, Higgs..." Fuscia said, trying to get Higgs away from the punch bowl.
"I feel my legs scaling up..." he whispered.
"We'll dry you off. Merida is giving you time-"
"You little whore!"
Higgs heard the smack from where he was and turned, seeing Merida on the floor. Patrick was coming to him and Higgs saw a murderous look in Merida's eyes as she turned from the floor.
"Oh, sweet lord..." Higgs mumbled.
Merida shot up from the floor and jumped onto Patrick's back, pulling him from reaching Higgs. The two grappled as Fuscia led her brother to the door, but when they got to the door they stopped.
"Bloody hell." Higgs growled.
"I guess there was so much music and talking we didn't even hear the rain..."
"What now?" he asked.
A ferocious snarl let out and glass broke as Patrick fell backwards onto Merida and the punch table, punch going everywhere and Merida's hair curled up, practically exploding from the coif that Fuscia had put it in. Having the wind knocked out of her, Patrick was free to get up and looked back at her.
"Crazy little bitch!" He turned back to Higgs and saw he was at the door. "Did you really think you would get away from me?" He grabbed up a piece of glass that was from the table. "I demand a dual."
"Patrick, no!" Elizabeth said, tugging at his arm.
He turned to her. "This is for honor."
"But he did nothing to me! I swear by it!"
"He has done me a great injustice by being so close to you. If he did not look like he had wanted to sweep you off your feet, and steal you away from me, I wouldn't feel threatened."

*****************

Higgs had only two choices: face the rain or face the Marquis of Delvinwood. Higgs was not sociable and was not prone to angering people. He didn't want to fight. He would rather face the rain. He began to undo his clothing as Patrick tromped towards him with glass in hand and Fuscia looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
"I can't face him."
"But if you don't-"
"I can't face him..." he said, looking at his sister with wide eyes.
Fuscia didn't understand but Higgs ran out into the rain as far as his legs would allow as the water morphed his legs. He got his boots off just in time as his pants ripped apart as the fin came together. Even though he had run, Higgs hadn't gotten that far, only to the middle of the carriage round about. Now he was muddy, wet, and a mermaid for all to see.
Patrick got out in the rain and saw Higgs in the mud. He ran over to him but stopped when the light of the outside lamps shimmered off of Higgs' scales.
"What the bloody hell..." Patrick shook his head. "I must be more drunk than I thought."
"Yes, you're very drunk. This is all a dream." Higgs said, turning over to look at his rival. "Go back inside and be with Elizabeth..."
Patrick's anger flared once more.
"How dare you be so familiar with her! I'll rip you to pieces! I'll cut you up like any cook would do!"
"No, it's all a dream!"
"If it's a dream then this shouldn't be too bad." He growled, falling to his knees.
Patrick held up the glass shard and Higgs closed his eyes when he felt an excruciating pain in his legs. He opened his eyes in surprise and found that Patrick had sliced a long gash down the middle of his fin. Blood began to pour out of it as Patrick threw the glass shard and Higgs could only stare. He was too surprised and scared and confused to make a sound as he watched helplessly as Patrick crawled closer to him and then stuck his hands in the torn flesh, spreading it apart. Tearing the skin, Higgs suddenly let out a deafening shriek and flipped his tail, smacking Patrick in the face hard. It was hard enough to make him dazed enough to stay still as Higgs howled in pain in the mud.
Merida and Fuscia burst through the crowd at the door and ran to him, sliding in to the mud with Fuscia at his head and Merida at his fin, trying to figure out what to do for him.
"We need the carriage! We need to get home!" Fuscia yelled.
"Where is Laird Graves?" Merida snarled.
"I believe he was talking some business with my father in an inner room."
"Papa!" Higgs cried out, holding on to Fuscia with a death grip. "I want Papa!"
The poor boy was crying out for his father as if he were but a kid. For the first time, she felt embarrassed for Higgs and not because he was a merman, but because he was reduced to the type of fear that leaves a person unable to think about anything but raw instinct. And human instinct always reached for a parent to fix the hurts in life.
Patrick got up in a daze as the people from the party began to edge closer to them. He looked down at them and reeled back, looking at them in surprise.
"Witchcraft... Witchcraft! Do you not see?! He's turned into some sort of monster!"
"Where is yer mother?"
"She went to try and find father and Lord Graves. Boston did as well."
"PAPA!!!" Higgs screamed, becoming hysterical.
Fuscia tried to console him as Merida got up, grabbing the glass shard she saw a little way from her. Patrick was going on about how Higgs was a monster and telling the rest of the party folk about the abomination in the mud when he felt an arm around his throat.
"Ye best stop yer jabbering right now or I'll cut yer throat faster than ye can order someone to stop me." Patrick closed his mouth. "That's a good lad. Now, I'm going to turn ye around for a wee bit, alright? Ye stand stock still or ye will get cut in places ye ne'er want to, alright?"
He nodded and Merida turned him around. She then swung her hand towards his face and felt the glass make contact with it. A good swipe crossed his face and blood trickled down from the cut. Patrick was so surprised he didn't realize he'd been cut until he tasted the blood on his lips.
"My face! My beautiful face! I'll have your arrested, you crazy bitch!"
"Merida, he's losing consciousness!"
Merida turned back to Fuscia and saw that Higgs was shaking and couldn't keep his eyes opened. Although this fin was black, she could see the blood still bubbling from the cut.
"We need to get him inside. Ye grab his body and I'll grab his tail."
They struggled to bring him inside as he yelled the whole time, calling for Jamison. The people parted as they finally got back into the house, murmuring soon buzzing about as they passed the foyer and instead of going to the guest room, they went to the parlor and practically dumped Higgs onto the beautiful couch that was immediately stained red. Higgs let out a scream from the jolt and Merida turned, blood all over her dress.
"I need towels, sheets, anything ye can find." No one moved. "Are ye all statues in a museum?! Dinnae just stand there with yer ugly makeup on while a boy is dying!"
"Please... Papa... please..." Higgs whimpered into the couch.
Merida was about to go off on the people when someone jumped in front of her, looking like they came from nowhere, and a hiss seemed to fill the room. Merida looked and saw that it was Jamison, his fangs out and his eyes ready for a meal.
"Get away from my son!" he snarled, causing some women to faint and most to back away.
Lucus walked out and looked around at the people and saw Higgs cowering on the couch, blood, and the transformation. He turned to his guests.
"OUT! This part is OVER! Walk home for all I care! You stand around like sheep when a boy is bleeding half to damned death?! I could have you all arrested for aiding in the death of this boy if it comes to it!"
Jamison hissed again and the crowd scattered. He turned to Higgs as he watched him helplessly from the couch. He walked over and picked him up like he weighed nothing and turned to Fuscia.
"Where is your mother?"
"Looking for you..."
"Tell her I'm taking Higgs home. Lucus."
"I'll be right behind you in the carriage."
"Girl." Merida looked up. "Where's the carriage?"
"I- I dinnae..."
"Get it."
"Of course."
Merida went to find the carriage as Jamison looked over at Fuscia.
"Your mother will have to come with Lucus."
She nodded and he left with Higgs dripping blood on the floor.