#a bhobain apparently means

[mamabear-elinor]

Bear With Me -> [Brave Women]

@heart-of-dunbroch​

It had taken the better part of a week to find where her daughter was holed up. And the better part of the day to actually make it there. That was not because the directions she had been given were wrong, or because it was a particularly long journey. It was because Elinor took her time. These were strange woods to her and she knew a thing or two about strange woods. Especially enchanted forests like this one. One must always be on their guard, never stray from the path, and always be prepared for trouble.

And--she was also stalling.

For it may’ve taken the better part of a week to find Merida, but it had taken the better part of two years to gather the courage to start searching in the first place. There was a shame that came with something like that. She could hardly explain it and she knew there was no justification. As she walked, she prepared herself for Merida’s fury at something like that. Her daughter had always been about loyalty and Elinor knew what kind of betrayal that was: Elinor was loyal too. 

So, she was trying to tell herself that this wasn’t the joyful, tearful reunion that Elinor’s heart yearned for. All that mattered was that Elinor laid eyes on her daughter. Saw that she was alive and well. And kept her in one place long enough to tell her that the Golden Trio was hunting her. After that--

Well, Elinor didn’t know. 

Eventually, she could stall no longer and she made it to the gates of the castle. She took a moment to observe them. Wrought iron, but rusted and flaking. Clearly not taken care of. They looked to be 19th century, though the walls surrounding the castle appeared older--and crumbling.

Elinor frowned, but pushed gently through the gates. They did not squeal, so at least there was that. The cobbled walkway up to the main entrance of the castle was covered in a layer of leaves and overgrown with weeds and she felt an emotion that she had not felt in several years. Annoyance. The annoyance of a mother whose child had not cleaned up after herself. Again. 

At the door, she raised the iron knocker and knocked three times before stepping back and crossing her arms against the chilly spring breeze. Or her own insecurities. She took a deep breath, calming her heart as she waited for the door to open.

When it finally did, Elinor let out her breath and immediately blinked away tears.

“Merida,” she said, “a bhobain.” 

[outfit!]