#the cost is he keeps getting mangled beyond belief

[robocracker]

me, a mere hour ago: oh boy, i can't wait to watch season two of sweet home!

me, after watching s2e1 of sweet home:

[ko-chan-the-blueberry-donut]

Catching Fire (Mericcup Fanfiction) Chapter 2: Something Wicked Comes

Here is Chapter Two! Thank you everyone who is reading, liking, and reviewing so far!

Disclaimer: I down own six swans, daughter of the forest, how to train your dragon, and brave

Summary: Tricked by the Witch Gothel, Merida must undertake a vow of silence to save her family from remaining bears forever while making sure her heart isn’t stolen away by a charming Viking. 

@witch19 @thekitsune

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Chapter Two: Something Wicked Comes

Merida led Angus slowly back towards the castle as the sun rose in the horizon. She yawned, the night catching up with her, and she hoped she could maybe catch a few hours of sleep before princess lessons. She patted her horse affectionately, praising him for his hard work in helping her assist Valka. She promised to give him tons of apples when they reached the castle.

However, she never got the chance.

Merida froze, slowing Angus to a stop as she approached the crowd outside the castle. There stood her father and mother along with soldiers. They stared at her grimly, and Merida knew they knew what she had done.

“Merida.” Her mother began shakily, her lips trembling. “What have you done?” her mother stressed.

“Did she force ya, lass? Please tell me she forced ya.” Fergus begged. Merida felt her insides freeze. She’s never seen her father look at her with such agony. He was praying beyond belief that his daughter hasn’t committed treason.

Merida slid off Angus, speech erupting from her.

“Ma, Da—she was a human! She—she looked just like any of us! She has a son—”

“I don’t bloody care if she has a son!” King Fergus bellowed, silencing her, and Merida was shocked for he never took such an angry tone with her before. “Every Viking is scum of the earth! They steal, rape, and murder us, and you’re telling me you let this one go because she has a son?!”

“Merida, did the Viking force you to let her go?” Elinor stepped closer, gripping her daughter’s arms desperately. Merida winced at the force she was being held. However, the sun shined against Merida’s necklace, and Elinor’s eyes caught the glint, seeing the insignia. She gasped, releasing Merida as if she were fire herself. “No… Merida…”

The soldiers looked nervous, unaware of what to do, waiting their king and queen’s orders. Her parents looked devastated, broken that she would release someone who was a threat to their home. The reality that their daughter helped a Viking escape of her own free will and even is carrying a Viking trinket slapping them in the face.

“Da… I couldn’t let her be tortured. Ma, you understand, right?” Merida beseeched her mother. Elinor couldn’t look at her.

“No Merida, I don’t.” Elinor told her. “By letting that Viking go, you just put us all in danger. You let that Viking escape with all the information she had, and we have no idea where she is now.”

“She won’t hurt us! She just wanted to go home—”

“Is that what she spun to you, lass? Why do ye think she was here in the first place in Scots’ territory?” her mother countered her, and Merida had no answer to that. Sorrow coursed through her, but she couldn’t bring herself to regret what she did. She jutted her chin and straightened her shoulders, defiance shining in her ocean eyes.

“I don’t regret what I did.” Merida stated, daring them to execute her then and there. Fergus and Elinor looked at her in disappointment.

“Very well, lass.” Fergus said. He couldn’t look at his daughter as he said his next words. “Confine the princess to her room. Station guards at her door. She is not to be released until I say so.” He commanded.

“But Da!” Merida exclaimed, as the soldiers restrained her. She stomped on a soldier’s foot, causing him to yelp and she reached for her parents who were walking away. “Ma! No!”

“Please Princess! Be lucky you are not thrown in the dungeons for this.” A soldier beseeched her as he led her away while she continued to cry out for her parents to understand.

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Merida hissed angrily as she took out her carving knife and started hacking at her bedpost violently. They really were going to keep her confined, weren’t they? She refused to think that Valka would come back with a horde of Vikings to slaughter them all.

“You are my kin now. My Tribe will know my claim if they ever see you.” Valka’s words rang in her mind. She ceased hacking away at her bedpost and fingered the trinket.

We’re kin now… Merida thought. It seems when she has gained new kin, she was forsaking her other kin. She thought back to her mother and father looking at her like she had betrayed them, and her heart clenched when she realized in their minds, she had. They just don’t understand. They didn’t talk to her like I had! She didn’t tell them about her son or share feelings about how she didn’t deserve him! The wisp led me there for a reason! She stubbornly thought,

But what if she was wrong? What if the wisp led her there for a different reason than freeing her? What if she was supposed to kill Valka? This train of thought angered Merida and she started hacking at the bedpost again. There was no way she could’ve killed Valka—not after seeing the human face behind the mask.

Damn wisps and their riddles! She gritted her teeth, hacking a slightly large chunk of wood. At this rate she would take down a bedpost by sundown. Why can’t they ever be clear on what yer fate is exactly?!

She let out a frustrated scream as she strangled the mangled bedpost like it was an enemy. She was frustrated at the wisps, her parents, and herself for not being able to get through to them.

Merida wondered through her maiming the bedpost briefly if this Hiccup had to deal with stubborn parents too.

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After hours of waiting in her room with no food, she laid in her bed carving into the bedposts occasionally. She was too restless to sleep, despite being up for more than twenty-four hours. She just couldn’t bring herself to sleep, too busy preparing her argument to appeal to her parents that her decision was right, and they had nothing to fear from releasing Valka.

It was during one of these lazy carvings that her mother entered, looking exhausted as she felt. However, she didn’t dare let her mother see her weakness and stood tall like the queen she would one day be. Her mother didn’t bother looking proper for once and surveyed her daughter.

“We’ve sent out scouts to find the Viking.” Her mother began. “Please, Merida. Admit to your mistake—soon news will get out you’ve helped the Viking escape and the clans will be calling for a gathering.” Elinor explained. Merida felt her stomach churn. The other clans were going to be involved, and she knew even as a princess, they will call for a punishment.

“I won’t, Ma. It was my fate to set her free.” Merida replied with conviction. Elinor looked pained.

“Are you prepared for the price that your fate will cost, lass?” Elinor asked seriously. Merida jutted her chin, refusing to let her fear show. She was a princess of DunBroch—she would not show weakness.

“Then I will pay it with honor knowing I did the right thing.” Merida answered. Her mother looked defeated.

“Very well.” Elinor said. “Then you leave your father and me no choice.”

“What do you mean?” Merida asked, heart starting to pound. Were her parents really going to execute her?

“You have been professing your independence to rule, but it is clear you do not have the sound mind or skill to rule on your own.” Elinor explained sternly. “Come in the morning, we will be writing the clans and ask them to offer their sons for ye as a husband and king to rule by your side.”

“An arranged marriage?!” Merida shouted outraged. She began pacing around, her patience wearing thin. “No, Ma! I refuse to be married off, so some ninny can rule in my stead!”

“You have proven already you are not fit to rule—you do not act in the best interests of DunBroch. A husband and lord will ensure you know your boundaries.” Elinor countered.

“I’ll be a prisoner then!”

“No, Merida, you’ll be married. Be happy your father and I thought of this to help you avoid actual imprisonment for your crimes against the crown!” Elinor fought with her growing frustrated, sorrow tugging at her heart. Why couldn’t Merida see this was for her own good? Fergus and her thought of everything before coming to the conclusion Merida needed a husband to put her in line. It wasn’t easy for them to decide that, but they would rather see their daughter married off than be executed or imprisoned for life.

Merida felt herself hyperventilating. Her parents were going to marry her off and she was expected to be okay with it?! She felt shackles taking a hold of her, restricting her lungs. She was doomed to an unhappy marriage where all she would do is pop out heirs while her husband would rule. She wasn’t a fool. Her parents were lucky to have found love, but she remembered the three heirs last time they had met at a gathering. None of them were fit to be king and would not be her companion as queen. It would be a terrible fit. She was too wild for arrogant Macintosh, too headstrong for quiet MacGuffin, and too vivacious for spacy Dingwall. A marriage with any of them would be unhappy and unequal. She would be expected to be a docile wife, not a powerful queen like her mother was, like Fergus encouraged. She could feel her freedom crumbling before her, stealing her life away.

Elinor was unaware of the thoughts of her daughter and walked towards the family tapestry hanging in her room. She fingered the tapestry.

“I know we’ve indulged you for so long, but Merida, this is what you have been preparing for yer whole life.” Elinor began gently. “Your twenty now—it’s time you settled down and began working on being a proper wife who will stand by her king’s side. You’ll be expected to be more feminine but the joy your family will bring you will outweigh all the restrictions. One day, you’ll make a tapestry of your children and husband to hang on your first born’s wall as well to show them family is important, and tradition is what keeps our kingdom at peace.”

Something snapped within Merida then. She was seeing red and her whole body felt like it was fire itself. She stalked towards the tapestry that her mother had worked on her whole life and felt a white hot fury course through her. She felt a desire to hurt her mother the way her mother was hurting her by condemning her to a life she didn’t want.

Elinor’s heart struck when Merida’s hands reached and tore her tapestry like it was nothing to her. She gave a heartbroken cry as Merida threw the cloth away. Her daughter’s face was red as her hair and she was breathing deeply, fist clenched at her sides.

“I am no longer your kin! I am kin of Valka only!” Merida declared with a raging inferno in her eyes and heart. Elinor seemed to have come to her senses and a vivid anger filled her, running through her veins. She snatched the necklace around her daughter’s neck violently and threw it into the fireplace where the fire roared. Merida gave an anguished cry.

“If you claim to be Viking kin, then you will be treated like Viking kin.” Elinor snarled. However, her eyes widened when Merida raced towards the fire and stuck her hand in to retrieve the necklace. “Merida, no! You’ll hurt yourself!” Alarm rose in her for her daughter’s safety and she raced towards the girl as her child stuck her hand determinedly in the fire.

Merida ignored the agony of the flames licking her skin and clutched Valka’s dragon necklace like a precious treasure. The burning metal imprinted in her skin like a mark of anger and shame, and she winced, crying out. Her mother raced towards her to aid her, but Merida pushed her away, grabbing her bow and arrows, fleeing her room.

“Merida!” Elinor shouted, urging her to come back. “Merida!”

Her shouts of Merida’s name echoed through the halls, but Merida pretended not to hear them. She gave a wounded cry as she retrieved Angus and fled the castle with only Valka’s necklace and her bow.

Angus sensed his master’s anguish and raced towards the woods as fast as he could. The necklace was clutched tight in Merida’s grip, and she knew she was branded with the mark of a Viking necklace, but couldn’t bring herself to care. Tears ran down her face from everything that transpired in the last twenty-four hours. The wisp had betrayed her and now she must pay the price with her freedom. Angus ran in a random direction, and mist soon blocked his vision. He gave a shout, seeing shadows that he couldn’t identify and skidded to a stop, flinging Merida from her house.

“Angus! What’s wrong?!” Merida cried, nursing herself as she felt the tears run down her face. Angus trotted worriedly, searching around for the shadows, wary if something was lurking. Meanwhile, Merida saw they were in the spot where Valka and her parted ways, and she rose from the ground, surveying the structure. It was definitely old, and Merida was cautious at the lack of sound in her surroundings. She was in the middle of the stone circle, and she gave a start realizing she couldn’t hear Angus anymore.

“Angus?” she called, wiping her tears. She placed the now cool metal of Valka’s necklace around her neck as she looked around in alarm. Merida squinted through the mist, trying in vain to find her horse. She heard his cry in the distance, and began to advance towards it when a shadow fell over her. The princess turned, and she gave a scream when she saw a giant, hulking bear behind her with a scar.

Mor’du! Merida realized with terror. She immediately ran away from the threat as the huge bear monster gave chase. His roar was deafening to her ears and she scrambled past trees and branches to flee the creature. However, her heart lurched when she realized she was in the clearing of stones yet again. Pumping her legs to go faster, she ran into the forest only to emerge at the stones once more and her heart dropped at realizing the bear must’ve trapped her.

She inhaled deeply, knowing she would have to fight the bear—the very bear that even her father couldn’t kill—and readied her bow. Its hulking mass emerged from the mist and charged at her full force. Arrows flew through the air but none of them deterred the beast’s speed. Merida backed up and stumbled, crying out as she fell to the ground. She shut her eyes, covering herself, not being able to stomach watching herself getting eaten alive by this beast.

Nevertheless, an arrow shot through the air and pierced the beast in the back of its head. Mor’du gave an agonized cry before falling forward. Merida leapt out of the way just in time before the monster crushed her. Heart pounding and body trembling, her bright ocean eyes looked up to see someone in a cloak holding a bow. The figure stepped forward, reaching a hand to remove their hood and Merida was shocked to see a beautiful woman with raven hair staring back at her. The woman gave her a look of worry.

“Are you all right, Sweetling?” the woman spoke with an accent that wasn’t Scottish. Merida quickly sprung forward and engulfed the woman in her embrace, happy to be alive. The woman lowered her bow and embraced her back, stroking her hair comfortingly. “Oh, you poor thing! You must have been frightened!” the woman cooed soothingly. She let Merida hold her as the poor girl cried in relief.

“I-I-I thought I was going to die!” Merida gasped out through. The black-haired woman nodded in understanding and separated them a bit so she could look into Merida’s face and pushed her messy curls out of the princess’s eyes.

“It’s all right now, Sweetling.” The woman soothed her. Merida could see now under her cloak she was wearing a lavish red dress worthy of nobility. “You’re safe now. I killed the bear.”

“I can’t believe you killed Mor’du!” Merida exclaimed. She chanced a look at the monster to see if he was actually dead, and the beast was still as before. She eyed the arrow jutting out of its skull with appraisal and caution, as if afraid the arrow would disappear and Mor’du would come back.

“You’re lucky I was looking around for some herbs for my famous Hazelnut soup.” The woman chuckled, unperturbed by the dead bear. She circled an arm around Merida. “Come to my cottage, Sweetling. We’ll have you warmed up and relaxed after that ordeal.”

“Thank you…” Merida said, not knowing what to address the woman as.

“Oh, silly me! I forgot to introduce myself! You may call me Gothel!” the raven-haired woman, Gothel, told Merida.

“Thank you, Gothel. I am Merida.” Merida replied. The woman smiled, as if she knew something Merida didn’t.

“Oh, I know who you are, Sweetling! Anyone can recognize your hair a mile away.” Gothel said, caressing Merida’s red locks. Merida blushed, realizing that indeed, the DunBroch red hair is a recognizable trait among the highlands.

“Please don’t tell anyone I’m here!” Merida begged Gothel. “I… ran away from home. I don’t want anyone finding me right now.” She confessed. Gothel made a tut sound.

“Come, Sweetling. We can talk over tea and a nice warm fire. You’re lucky it’s not winter yet or else without a cloak you would surely freeze.” With that, Gothel led her away from the stones, neither of them seeing Mor’du’s corpse dissolve into smoke and the arrow with it.

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Gothel’s cottage was a very homey place, Merida concluded, as the scent of Hazelnut soup and tea drifted through her nose. She huddled close to the blanket Gothel wrapped her in and took a sip of herbal tea the kind woman had given her. Gothel busied herself around the kitchen, like she was unaffected by company as she did her daily routine.

“I can’t tell you how nice it is to have company.” Gothel said, stirring the soup and testing its taste before adding more spices to it. “It’s always so lonely around here. I almost forget what company felt like.”

“You don’t normally have company?” Merida asked, wondering why. Gothel was a very nice woman and she was sure the woman would have many coming to her door. Gothel gave her a sad smile.

“Well, my profession seems to ward people away sadly.” The woman confessed. Merida tilted her head.

“Ya mean your bow? I’m a skilled archer and no one avoids me—not unless they did something worthy of me shooting ‘em.” Merida gave a small smirk at that and Gothel laughed.

“Oh no, Sweetling! I’m afraid that’s just a past time. One has to be good at hunting while living in the woods after all.” Gothel judged the soup to be done and poured Merida a bowl before herself. She set the two bowls down at the table and gestured for Merida to sit. Merida took a seat, beginning to perk up after her near-death experience along withg some warm tea and the prospect of a hot meal. “There now, eat up, Sweetling.”

Merida wasted no time in gorging herself with the soup while Gothel ate like a proper lady. Gothel studied the girl as Merida took the bowl with both hands, drinking from the bowl rather than using the spoon, despite it burning her throat and tongue. When she was finished, she placed the bowl down and wiped her mouth with her wrist. Gothel grimaced at the girl’s lack of table manners but didn’t say anything.

“If archery isn’t your profession, what is?” Merida asked, eager to learn more about this female archer who lived by herself in the woods. It seemed like a dream come true for Merida to live that kind of life. She imagined being able to ride Angus every day and hunting for food, living in a small cottage instead of a large castle, and found she didn’t mind the change. In fact, she welcomed it. No one would bother her, and she was free from princess expectations and the weight of ruling a nation hanging over her head every day.

“Do you believe in magic, Sweetling?” Gothel asked her a question instead of answering her. Merida nodded, trying to not frown at the memory of the wisp leading her down to Valka’s cell.

“Aye. My father doesn’t believe, but my Ma taught me to respect magic.” At her answer, Gothel smiled.

“Your mother is very wise—not many Scots respect the sacredness of magic these days.” Gothel said.

“Bah! Only because it’s the men who think magic is a bunch of ‘woman’s folly’.” Merida mocked what her father always told her when her mother Elinor would tell her stories of the fae folk and the other magical creatures of Scotland.

“True. Men are quite stupid, aren’t they?” Gothel smirked, sipping her tea. Merida grinned.

“Aye. If not for men, I would be able to rule DunBroch by myself.” Merida declared. Gothel raised an eyebrow.

“A queen ruling by herself? Never heard of that before in these times.” Gothel admitted. Merida wasn’t discouraged.

“Oh aye, but to be honest, I’d rather be doing what you do. Then no one would bother me, and I’d be free to do whatever I wanted.” Merida told Gothel.

“I might be able to help you with that, Sweetling.” Gothel confessed to the girl. Merida leaned forward curiously, doubtful that Gothel could persuade her mother to let her abdicate.

“How? Ya haven’t met my Ma! She’s worse than a bear!” Merida said and Gothel smiled at the comparison.

“Why, Sweetling, I’m a witch, of course.” Gothel rose from the table to collect the dishes and take them to the sink. Merida’s eyes widened, leaning forward and clutching the table tightly in eagerness.

“You’re a witch? Really?” Merida asked, excitement coursing through her.

“Of course, Sweetling. I’ve studied magic for many years. I could easily help you.” Gothel smiled coyly.

“Then change my fate!” Merida demanded before realizing she was being rude and reworded herself. “I mean, could you change it?”

“Oh, it’s quite easy really.” Gothel began, walking over to the cauldron by the fire. “All you would have to do is make your family drink a potion and voila! Freedom obtained!” Gothel promised. Merida was practically bouncing in her chair.

“How much?” Merida asked her, barely containing her enthusiasm at the prospect of having a solution to all her problems. She had freedom within her grasps!

“Don’t worry, Sweetling. I won’t charge you in money.” Gothel soothed the girl as she began the mixture for the potion she was going to give Merida. “This is a special potion and requires sacrifice of a different kind.”

“What do you mean?” Merida furrowed her brow. Gothel gave her a teasing smile.

“Oh nothing. You don’t want to be princess anymore, correct? You want freedom?” Gothel asked.

“Yes! More than anything! You can have my princess title!” Merida proclaimed, glad to be rid of it.

“Excellent!” Gothel added some more mixture to the potion and it glowed. She poured some into a bottle and handed it to Merida. “Add this to their drinks and as soon as your family drinks this potion, you will no longer be a princess. Do you understand, Sweetling?”

Without hesitation, Merida grasped the potion bottle from Gothel and held it close to her. She looked at the glowing liquid in fascination and awe as she couldn’t believe obtaining her freedom had been so easy.

“Aye. Thank you so much, Gothel. I will cherish this.” Merida sincerely thanked her. Gothel smiled and led her to the door.

“Good. Now run along, Princess. Your family awaits.” Gothel shooed her along and Merida was shocked to see Angus.

“Angus!” Merida shouted and raced towards her horse to embrace him. The horse nuzzled her in return and Merida climbed upon her stallion, the potion securely in her pocket. “Thank ye, Gothel.” Merida bid the witch goodbye and raced towards the castle, not seeing Gothel’s smirk as she watched the young princess go.

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The journey back to the castle took until nightfall, and Merida knew by her stomach that it was dinnertime. She carefully placed Angus back in his pen while trudging through a secret passageway towards the kitchens. Maudie, their head maid, was busy with food preparations and did not see the young girl uncork the potion bottle, emptying its contents in each of her parents’ and brothers’ goblets. Snatching the tray of drinks, Merida crept towards the private dining hall where her family took their meals and took a deep breath, hearing the worried chatter of her family on the other side. Straightening her posture, she opened the doors to the dining hall and faced her family.

Naturally everyone was chaotic.

“Merida!” her mother cried, instantly rising from her seat. She could see the worry lines on her mother’s face and the wrinkles in her father’s brow. Guilt filled her then for she knew she had caused their distress, but it wasn’t enough to deter her from her plan.

I have to do this. No matter what it takes! Merida vowed to herself, placing on a placating smile.

“Where have ya been lass?!” her mother didn’t stop fretting, examining her hand that was burned. Sure enough, she was still branded by the Viking trinket, and her mother led her to the table to see if she could try and treat it. Nonetheless, Merida didn’t take a seat.

“I’ve been thinking…” Merida started, surprising her family at the thoughtful tone in her voice. Seeing she had her family’s attention, she began her deceit. “I’ve thought about what ye said and I realized you were right. If I am going to be queen, I need to make sacrifices. It’s time I married.” Merida wanted to gag at the words coming out of her mouth, but she didn’t let it show. Her parents brightened at her words and her brothers made gagging noises at the thought of their sister marrying and making kissy faces at someone. Merida’s heart pounded as she distributed the goblets to each of her family members, the blood pumping in her ears relentlessly.

“Oh, thank the Gods, lass! We were worried something worse would happen to ya if you didn’t agree.” Fergus sighed in relief.

“I can’t imagine you being married. It’s weird.” Hamish commented. Harris and Hubert made kissy faces.

“She’ll finally start acting like a lady probably.” Hubert said. Harris made a face.

“Nah, she’ll probably act worse.” Harris retorted.

“But that’s our sister.” The three said joyfully. Merida grinned at her brothers while Elinor gazed at them with disapproval.

“This is a very big step Merida.” Her mother told her. Nonetheless, she smiled sincerely at her child. “I’m so proud of you, mo nighean priseil.”

Merida swallowed her shame, refusing to let this deter her from her plan and declared next. “Guess we should drink a toast then?”

“Aye! Our daughter is finally showing she’s ready to be queen!” Fergus claimed, gulping down his goblet. Elinor delicately drank hers while the triplets copied their father. After drinking, they each made a face of disgust. “Bleh! Whatever Maudie put in this tastes like sh—”

“Fergus, language!” Elinor quickly cut him off, seeing the triplets mouthing the cuss word to themselves in glee. However, before Fergus could reply, he began coughing violently, banging against his chest hard. Elinor, Hamish, Harris, Hubert, and Merida had alarmed expressions at the display. Elinor was quick to assist her husband. “Fergus? Are ye all right—” soon Elinor began violently coughing and tumbling over, causing the children to scream. Merida raced towards her parents in panic, trying to help them, and her heart plummeted when she heard her brothers begin to choke as well.

“Ma! Da! Hamish! Harris! Hubert!” she shouted, staring helplessly at her family as they were passing out. “Help!” she called to the guards. “Someone help!”

“Poor little Sweetling.” A familiar voice cooed.

“Wha?” Merida whipped herself around to find Gothel standing in the dining room like she was always there, and she looked unperturbed by the unconscious bodies around them. “Gothel! What have you done to them?!” Merida demanded, grabbing her father’s sword. Gothel merely tut-ed and walked over the bodies like they were simply dirt piles. Her disregard for her family’s passed out forms distressed Merida, and she held the sword tighter. Gothel stopped walking when she was closer to the sword.

“Oh Sweetling,” she cooed, and Merida heard the malice that wasn’t heard before. “I didn’t do anything to them. You gave them my potion. You tricked them. I just gave you the means.” She reached to stroke Merida’s cheek, but the princess wouldn’t let her, holding out the sword threateningly.

“I didn’t know it was poisoned! You said I just wouldn’t be a princess anymore!”

“I did, but you were the one who didn’t think of what that price entailed, now did you?” Gothel grinned cruelly. She surveyed the dining hall with an appraising eye. “I could get use to this. Though it does need a bit of redecorating. You Scots have peculiar tastes.” She mocked, fingering one of the tapestries in distaste.

A sound startled Merida from her stance and she turned to find instead of her family’s bodies, there were five black bears. Two large bears and three cubs. She raced towards them as they looked at her in curiosity as well. The second largest bear tried to say something, but only a bear call came out. A paw clamped on the female bear’s mouth and her eyes widened. The largest bear limped over to her, now missing his prosthetic leg, making bear sounds as well in confusion. The three cubs examined each other and yeowled when they saw they were all bears. Merida paled.

“W-what happened to them?” Merida panicked. Gothel smiled.

“Not to worry, Sweetling. Your family is still there—they’re just a little different now.” With Merida’s guard down, she grabbed the girl’s chin and turned her roughly to look at her. “Isn’t this what you wanted, Sweetling? You are free now. You are not a princess anymore.”

Merida growled, wrenching her face away and spat at the witch. She held the sword in front of her, hissing.

“I am Merida of DunBroch and I demand ye turn my family back before I slaughter ye like ye did to Mor’du.” She promised.

“Oh right, right. You thought that monstrous bear dead didn’t you?” Gothel spun dramatically, smirking in glee. She snapped her fingers and the bear appeared in black smoke, roaring at her through chains. Merida backed away and her family tensed, seeing the infamous bear, growling at the monster. Gothel snapped her fingers again and the bear disappeared. “It was easy to imprison the beast and use him to my advantage. I thought it would take longer to get to the palace but then you came right to me, Sweetling.” Gothel cooed mockingly at her.

Merida wanted to vomit as she remembered all the signs. Being trapped by the stones, the mist, the fact that Gothel could easily kill Mor’du when even her father and his men couldn’t, and her sweet words enchanting her into taking Gothel’s potion. She had played right into Gothel’s hands and didn’t suspect at thing.

With a battle cry, she flung herself at Gothel. The woman screamed as Merida managed to nick her side. Merida’s eyes were alit as a blue inferno and Gothel sneered back at her.

“You wretched girl! I’ll teach you to cut me!” Gothel brought out a bottle and drank it, and Merida and her family watched in horror as the image of Queen Elinor stood before them. The imposter opened her mouth, screeching in her mother’s voice. “Help! Please! The princess has gone crazy!” Guards burst through the doors at last, but it was too late. Merida paled when she realized they saw her brandishing a sword against the imposter Elinor. The fake Elinor was sobbing.

“My husband! My sons! She’s killed them all and now she’s trying to kill me!” Gothel cried in anguish. “She has branded herself with the mark of a Viking trinket! She’s a traitor to the crown! She’s a witch! She’s enchanted Mor’du and his bears to attack us all!” Gothel screamed.

The soldiers wielded their swords, intending to kill the traitor princess for harming their queen and killing their king. Merida felt her stomach drop and her heart burst.

“No! She’s lyin’! She’s not my Ma!” Merida cried.

“Enough, Witch!” one of the guards shouted, advancing on her. Before he could cut her though, the bears roared and charged through, the female grasping Merida by her dress in the bear’s mouth. Merida yelped as she was carried through the castle, the five bears running for their lives as archers and swordsmen chased after them. Fergus was aided by Hamish, Harris, and Hubert as he was missing a leg while Elinor carried Merida through the halls. Arrows barely skimmed them and the ones that came close Merida whacked away with her father’s sword, and they turned a corner luckily before any arrows could do some real damage.

“That way!” Merida shouted, pointing towards the window. Elinor gave her a dubious look but the sounds of weapons getting closer caused the five bears to throw caution to the wind and leap out the window into the moat below.

Merida burst through to the surface and coughed violently. She searched around frantically for her family.

“Da! Ma! Boys!” she called. Sounds of distressed bears caught her attention and she swam towards the bears struggling to swim in their new bodies. She went towards her father first, as he was the biggest and was missing a limb. Next, she grabbed the three cubs and Hamish and Harris held onto her back with her bow and arrows and Hubert on her head while her mother was the easiest to guide to shore. They all trekked to the shore, water-logged and despaired as they watched the castle above making sounds of panic throughout the stone structure. Merida watched as her home soon branded her as an enemy and pronounced her family dead at her hands. She gripped the sword close to her.

Merida was brought out of her stupor when her mother nudged her. She turned towards her family like she was looking at strangers. She couldn’t wrap her head around that her family were now bears. She was sure they themselves felt like strangers in their new bodies. She had did this to them. The princess bit her lip hard, causing it to bleed. How could she face her family after what she had done?

“We… We can’t stay here.” Merida said at last. She clipped the sword to her belt and readjusted her bow to make sure it was still there. “They’ll find us. They’ll kill us.”

The bears continued to look at her as she trembled, trying in vain to keep herself from breaking down. She couldn’t stop thinking about what she had done to her family. She was so selfish that she had ignored the signs of a dangerous person and sacrificed her family just so she could have what she wanted. She had betrayed them twice now—with freeing Valka and trusting Gothel. She looked at where her decisions have brought her: an arranged marriage and now a banished princess.

I truly am not fit to be queen. Merida concluded, her lips quivering. How could she be queen when she has just doomed her kin and her country to a false ruler? The lack of sleep and despair was starting to crack away at her sanity, and she grabbed her hair to try and steady herself.

Merida jumped when she felt wet snouts brushing up against her. Elinor, Fergus, and her brothers cuddled around her, staring into her.

Be strong. They conveyed to her, and she shook her head, wiping her tears away.

“We can hide at Firefalls. Not many known its location.” Merida explained. Elinor lowered herself and Merida climbed on top of her, the boys joining. Fergus limped beside Elinor and they began their journey to Firefalls.

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There’s chapter two. Hopefully should have next chapter up soon. Please let me know what you think!

Mo nighean priseil= my precious daughter

Also does anyone know any Old Norse phrases like "I love you", "My everything", "My cherished one", "My Beloved", "My world" ?