Merida stopped the carriage in front of the mansion she had been directed to and jumped off of the seat as carefully as she could. She scrambled back up and opened the door quickly. Jamison hissed angrily at the intrusion, blood all over his mouth, chin, neck, and teeth where it looked like he'd been feeding. Merida yelled and shut the door for a moment. She breathed in a little and opened the door again.
"Wh- what are ye doing?" she asked quietly.
"Did you really think it was the best of ideas to put me in a carriage with a bleeding person when I'm in this state?" he growled. "I tried as best I could to hold back but... the blood kept pouring."
Merida looked behind him and saw Higgs lying on the floor of the carriage, looking quite pale and literally drained. Merida made a face.
"Is there a possibility ye could have just kept yer clothing over the wound? It will get infected and now ye may have just eaten infected blood."
"It's not infected. That was part of the reasoning. I removed any toxic blood and our mythological forms are immune to infection."
"But ye have to turn back at some point and I'm assuming that this willnae just stay on the mermaid part of him?"
Jamison climbed out of the carriage and leaned in to grab his son. Higgs trembled against him, holding onto his bloody shirt as the two rounded the carriage and headed for the door. The door opened unexpectedly as a man that was about the same age as Jamison looked out and frowned as it began to sprinkle again.
"Lord Northumberly, you're back earlier than expected. Did they have a lot of garlic there?" the man asked, Merida noticing a slight lilt in his tone.
Jamison bum-rushed past him. "Please get your glasses, Davros; you can't even see that my son is dying in my arms as we speak due to a jealous idiot."
Davros was about to close the door on Merida but she stopped it and he looked back at her. He squinted his eyes.
"Who are you?"
"Higgs' maid. Let her come with me. And put your bloody glasses on, Davros!" Jamison yelled from the top of the stairs.
"As soon as I find them, I'll wear them. They've been missing for three days, milord."
"Then tell Catherine to help you look for them. How are you supposed to help me in anything if you can't see?" Jamison growled from a room.
Davros rolled his green eyes and went to try and find Catherine as Merida made it up the stairs and followed the sound of a moan that Higgs let out. She came to the open door and found Jamison climbing into bed with just his legs, walking on his knees to a good point and then laying back, letting Higgs lay on him. Higgs trembled against him and Jamison looked up.
"Get some hot water and some towels. Don't just stand there."
"Aye..." she said, walking out and looking for a maid.
Merida had no idea where she was but judging by the non-surprise that the butler seemed to have towards Jamison, she assumed these people knew about the curse. As she still looked for someone to ask where the linens were, Davros came up the stairs, glasses on, and stopped in front of her.
"What are you doing?"
"Laird Northumberly told me to get some towels and water."
"We're already on it. I'm Davros McClavish, Lord Northumberly's head butler. He mentioned something about you being Higgs' maid?" he said, shaking her hand.
"Aye, I'm Merida Dunbrough." she said with a small smile.
"A Scot? Well, it seems that only those north of the border or outside of England seem to want to try and understand this family... You do know about everything, right?"
"Aye, I do."
"Where are my towels and hot water?!" Jamison yelled.
"Coming, milord!" a female voice said and Merida saw someone dash behind Davros and down the hallway.
"That's Catherine; she's me cousin. Where is Lady Saxon?"
"She was coming in a separate carriage with Ms. Fuscia and the doctor."
As if on cue, the door opened and the three burst through the door, Margaret holding onto it as she took out the key from the lock.
"Jami?! Jami, where are you?" she called.
"Fourth room on the right! Hurry!"
Margaret and Lucus looked like they took the steps in twos and went into the room. They pushed Catherine out and slammed the door shut. Merida frowned for a second when a scream came from the other side followed by crying. Fuscia walked up the stairs slowly and stood next to Merida.
"Merida?"
"I hate that man..." she said softly and then looked at Fuscia. "That disgusting worm of a man that did this to that poor lad. And that woman..."
"Don't think too badly of Elizabeth, Merida."
"Why wouldnae I think badly of the little bint?" Fuscia frowned. "She came over to Mr. Higgs and asked him to dance with her. If she kenned her fiancé was so jealous then why in all that is bloody hell did she ask him to dance with her?! Why would she do that?!"
"I'm sure she has her reasons, Merida. Usually I would agree with you, but I know Elizabeth and she would never want to put someone in harm's way. I don't think she realized how bad Lord Clarvins really was. All a girl can go off of is rumors and gossip when it comes to a man she has never really known too well. Besides, Higgs is in his merman state and it's always very flirtatious. I'm sure whatever innocence was there was read very wrong from Higgs due to the promiscuity of the merman."
"So ye blame Mr. Higgs?"
Fuscia looked at her, the first time Merida had ever seen the kind girl make a negative expression other than sadness.
"I would never do that! Ask anyone in the family and they will tell you that the merman is the most promiscuous and causes a lot of problems. Father even said he almost cost a family three generations because he flirted with the wrong girl. The grandfather, the father, and the son all wanted to duke it out with him because he almost cost the marriage of the son to the woman."
A scream caught the two off guard and Davros, whom Merida had forgotten was there, put his hand on either one of their shoulders.
"Come along, now. Ms. Fuscia, I will have Catherine get your usual room ready along with your bed clothes. Ms. Dunbrough, was it?"
"Aye."
"I'll see if we have a spare guest room for you and some spare clothing."
"Oh, no need ye mind all that. I can just sleep in this."
Davros made a face as Fuscia smiled. "Merida, you can't go to sleep in this."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not comfortable. I put a corset under that dress and I highly doubt you'll be able to sleep comfortably in that."
"I don't know how you women even stay awake comfortably with that vice around your waist. Just cut out a rib and be done. No need to suffocate yourself all the time."
"It's all the rage in France, Davvy."
"Does this look like France to you?" he grumbled, walking away.
He disappeared as he went down the stairs and Fuscia smiled a little.
"I miss Davvy." She said with a smile. "He doesn't come to visit with father too often anymore. I wonder if he got hurt..."
Merida didn't know how to answer that one and just headed down the stairs.
As she got to the bottom step, there was a knock at the door and another maid walked out, opening it.
"Oh, constable... What can I do for you?" she asked nicely.
"Good evening, ma'am, is the lord of the manor in?"
"He is but he is tending to his son. May I ask your business here?"
"We believe that a woman named Merida Dunbrough is here."
Merida walked over to the side of the door.
"What do ye want with her?"
"She is under arrest."
"For what?"
"That's something for Ms. Dunbrough."
"I'm Merida, ye git." Merida snarled. "What do ye want with me? Didnae ye ken that Higgs Northumberly was hurt verra badly at the party and in need of medical attention?"
"Then it won't matter about you being here or not." The constable said with a smile.
Merida frowned. "Ye best tell me what I'm being charged for. I'm not going if ye cannae even tell me the reason I'm being taken to the slammer."
"Attempted murder and assault."
Merida frowned deeper. "Attempted murder, ye say?"
"Yes."
Merida rolled her eyes. "Bleeding hearts of the world unite, this is getting quite elaborate. I'll come to yer building and answer ye questions if I have to. Put me in jail too if that suits Lord Clarvins."
"He's not the one-"
"Really? I suspect it was a random guest at the party then? The only one who would have anything against a Scot enough to try and overbuild his idiocy into a legal case would be Laird Clarvins, who was at the party Laird Graves was throwing. It's not that hard to figure out..."
"Then you'll cooperate?"
"Until I cannae do it anymore." She said, pushing past the maid and out into the rain.
The constable followed behind her and they got into the carriage to go off and do questions.

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

Lucus took the thermometer out of Higgs' mouth and frowned.
"Jami, I can't get an accurate reading with him laying on you like that. You're below the normal temperature and you're messing up the gauge." He said softy to his friend.
Jamison only hissed at him as he touched Higgs on the forehead softly. He looked at him with trepidation but moved from behind him so that Lucus could see what his temperature was. As he moved, Higgs opened his eyes slightly and his grip suddenly strengthened.
"No, don't go..." he said weakly.
"I'll be right here. Lucus has to get your temperature. I'm too cold for him to get a good one. I won't be gone long."
Higgs seemed to understand and let Jamison go as he got off the bed and left the room for a moment. As he walked down the stairs, he literally ran into Fuscia, whom he caught before she fell down the stairs.
"Thank you!" she said in exasperation.
"What are you doing running up the stairs for?"
"I was coming to get you, actually."
Jamison pulled her up onto the step and she got her balance.
"What is it?"
"It looks like Lord Clarvins has charged Merida with some things and the constable came to take her to the stationhouse."
"What charges?"
"Attempted murder and assault."
Jamison frowned. "Attempted murder and assault?"
"Well, the assault I can understand since Merida jumped onto him when he was heading for Higgs the first time, but if anyone should be charged with attempted murder then it should be him! Papa, we have to do something-"
Higgs yelled out up stairs and Jamison looked worriedly up. Fuscia knew he would never leave her brother's side.
"Did Ms. Dunbrough go voluntarily?"
"Yes... which was surprising."
Jamison nodded. "I have a feeling she knows what she's up against. She's a spitfire, that Scot, and she'll make sure the truth is revealed. I honestly wouldn't worry about her."
Fuscia frowned. "Really?"
"That woman would do anything for your brother; I feel it in my bones and my slowly beating heart. She'll be fine."
Another cry sounded and Jamison turned to go back up the stairs.
"Where is your mother?"
"Changing her clothes. She said she would be up in a moment."
He nodded and went back to Higgs' room.

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

The constable sat Merida in a chair as some other constables stood around with Patrick standing in the corner next to a man wearing a white wig. Merida lifted an eyebrow at them all and looked up at her constable.
"What's all this about?"
"Hold your tongue, you Scottish whore!" Patrick snarled.
The man put his hand on Patrick's shoulder as Merida blinked at him, unphased by the insult. It seemed that men in England liked to call her that particular offense and it happened so often (her temper causing problems, usually) that she wasn't even offended by it much anymore... in the proper scheme of things that is.
"Ms. Dunbrough, do you know why you're here?"
"Aye, that man kens I tried to kill him."
"So you are aware of the punishment?"
"No... I'm aware of the issue. I honestly could care less about him or the lot of ye. I've got a hurt boy at home that that crazy lunatic hurt and ye people want to pull me in on account of some half-drunken nobleman who cannae take what he can give in regards to weaponry... or mayhap it's because I'm a woman and got the best of yer pretty little face that's got ye all fykie."
"I will murder you-" Patrick snarled, trying to get at Merida.
She watched him as the other constables grabbed him and tried to hold him back. The man with the wig seemed unusually calm.
"Usually these things are just a mishap or a trifle but Lord Clarvins wants to have this on trial. I am a judge."
"Ah, that makes sense of yer white hair... Do I really have to go through this?"
"I'm afraid so... This should be fairly quick so if Lord Clarvins could please explain what happened for us all?"
Patrick told everyone a convoluted tale about Higgs trying to take Elizabeth away and Patrick trying to save her and the 'savagry' of Merida by 'assaulting' him with her body and holding him back. Then she tried to 'murder' him but missed, grazing his face instead of slitting his throat. When he was done, Merida was about to wet herself because it was all so funny. In fact, at the end of his 'testimony' Merida finally couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into laughter, scaring the rest of the constables.
"Ms. Dunbrough... are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" she said, chuckling and trying to contain herself.
"Do you find something about his testimony amusing?"
"The whole bloody thing was like listening to a long drawn out joke!" she laughed again. "I cannae believe that ye believe this crazy man!"
"Me crazy?! You're crazy! You work for a sorcerer, a demon!"
"Can I talk now?" she asked, ignoring Patrick.
The judge nodded and Merida told the true story of what really happened at the party. The judge listened carefully and when she was done he nodded.
"I've come to a conclusion..." Patrick looked at him expectantly. "One night in jail."
"One nigh- one night in jail?! That's all?!" Patrick screamed.
"Lord Clarvins, I don't know who you were describing with all this nonsense about demons and sorcerers but I happen to know the Northumberlys and there is no such thing there. They are good people, modest people, and I believe her story more than yours. Higgs Northumberly is hardly a socialite and he has the disposition of a rabbit in regards to women, so what would possibly make someone like him turn into some sort of 'horny toad' as you put it? He's not a rake and seems to value women quite well, engaged ones included. My advice to you, Lord Clarvins, is to get some good well deserved sleep and wake up to a brand new day. This case is dismissed."
Patrick just gawked at the man as the constables lifted Merida out of her seat.
"Horace, wait, I'd like to speak with her alone."
Horace nodded and everyone else left.
Merida set her jaw and narrowed her eyes at him.
"I expect ye want some sort of payment for fibbing for me, yeah?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"All of ye are alike. Ye do something for me that I never asked ye to do and expect me to repay ye with my body."
The judge shook his head. "No, no, nothing of the sort. I let you off with the jail time because that was the lowest sentence I could give you. He wanted something done and that is what I did. You have no crimes."
"Ye believe me then?"
"Absolutely. I've seen a Northumberly transformation before."
Merida blinked. "Ye have?"
"It was when I was very small. I believe it was Jamison's father who I saw. Actually, he saved me from drowning when I fell in the Thames once. He jumped in after me and I remember thinking I had seen a mermaid. After he rescued me I remember being conscious for just a second longer to see his legs were a giant tail with glittering scales. I vowed that I would find a way to repay that man and his family in any way that I could until I really died. He saved me, gave me life, so I would make sure I saved his family... Besides, from the story you just told me, I wouldn't keep you away from that kid even if you really did mean to kill Clarvins."
Merida frowned. "Why?"
"Because he needs you. A woman like you would be perfect for him."
Merida actually blushed. "No, I'm... I'm just the maid. There cannae be anything there."
"Couldn't there? If you really tried?'
"I'm sure Mr. Higgs doesnae think of me in that manner."
The judge smiled. "Of course... You may go, Ms. Dunbrough."
She nodded and opened the door, where the constable was waiting for her.

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

Jamison and Margaret were sitting in chairs outside of the bedroom Higgs was in. Margaret had fallen asleep and was leaning against her husband, who in his current state only wished the worry would tire him out. The only thing worrying had done was make him unable to eat. Lucus had needed to see the real damage of everything and asked the two to leave the room while he fixed their son. Fuscia went to bed on the behest of Catherine. The door opened and Jamison looked up expectantly as Lucus motioned for him to come in. He woke up Margaret and they walked over to him.
"How bad was it?" Margaret asked.
"In his human form, it was worse than in the other. Technically he almost gutted him. Luckily he didn't hit any 'essential' organs but he will have scars for sure. It would be best if he stayed as human as possible until the stitches heal up enough. I know that your fantasy forms get better faster but it would still be easier for them to heal while a human. Besides, the tearing and reforming will only cause problems."
"Can we see?" Jamison asked.
Lucus nodded and pulled back the sheet from Higgs' legs. Jamison frowned at the stitches on the insides of his son's legs that went down his thighs and halfway down his calves on each side."
"How deep was the stomach?"
Lucus put the sheet back over Higgs' legs and then moved the upper part from his waist and moved it down to where his stomach was. There was a very deep gash about where his bellybutton started that went on down to what they had seen earlier. Jamison frowned.
"He almost gutted my son." He said, oddly calm.
"Yes, he did."
"And yet that little bastard thinks he can get away with it? Trying to arrest Merida on attempted murder and assault? He's the one who should be on trial!"
"He's a high ranking lord, Jami, and he's got the money to pay off any judge. Besides, the people at the party wouldn't risk his wrath and having their statuses knocked down to safe you or your family. As horrid and unjust as it is, we have to let this go."
"Then he should pay for the damages." Margaret said, prompting the men to look at her. "My son... my son was almost killed and was so scared that he cried out to my husband as if he were nothing but a babe. How humiliating for him... how damaging to his already damaged reputation by being our son-"
"My son..." Jamison said softly. "He's damaged because he's my son. And Margaret is right. Higgs is a boy and that madman just came and destroyed what happiness he had. He will be scarred for a long, long time and I don't mean physically. They heal, but the other doesn't that quickly." Jamison looked at his friend, his eyes glowing practically. "I want him to pay for the damage to my son's reputation as a man and as my son. I will set the price. Find a judge and get it done."
Lucus nodded as Margaret went over and touched Higgs' cheek softly.
"He'll be out of a very long time. I had to give him a larger dosage of laudanum than I usually would for the pain and the stitching."
"That's fine... Thank you, Lucus."
"Of course."