a/n: I love the movie, Brave. So, until I get my brain unstuck to continue my other fics, I came up with this little idea. I really liked Lord MacGuffin's son. (The one with the accent no one could understand) He was just so cute and awkward. That's why I thought he'd make a good friend for Merida. I will try to actually finish this one and hope you enjoy.

Merida was in the barn brushing her horse, Angus, when her mother came searching for her.

"You have a letter, my dear," she said, handing her a sealed parchment.

Merida studied it and recognized the wax seal. "Why would Lord MacGuffin be writing to me?" she asked.

"I think it is the young MacGuffin," said the Queen with a smile. "His handwriting is nicer." When Merida still looked confused, the Queen chuckled and said, "Just see what he has to say. Who knows what may come of it."

Merida rolled her eyes and sighed as her mother walked away humming. She sat on a hay bale and began to read.

Dear Lady Princess,

Greetings. Forgive the formality and awkward tone of this letter. I do not know where to begin.

I want to say how much of a pleasure it was to meet you. I think it was courageous of you to stand up to your parents about to wish of when to marry. You are also a fantastic shot with a bow. Perhaps you can give me a lesson one day? Pa still will not let me live down missing at the Games.

I do hope we can be friends. I confess, I am shy, thus why we did not speak much when we met.

I must close. It is time for lessons.

All the best,
Seamus MacGuffin

Merida stared at the note in her hand and found herself rereading it. She smiled. It was quite obvious he was shy. And he had such a heavy accent it was nearly unintelligible. But he seemed like a sweet boy and she had no one near her age to talk to. So, she bid Angus farewell and ran to her room to begin a reply to send out in the morning.

Dear Seamus,

I would enjoy very much to be friends with you. And I will gladly give you lessons in archery next time you are here.

It is fine that you are shy. We all were put in an awkward situation last time.

Do you have any brothers or sisters? If not, you can have mine, gladly. I was working out a sketch for a tapestry and they drew googly eyes on it. Yesterday, they thought it would be funny to weaken my lute strings in just the right place they would snap on my fingers. Happily, they will never bother my bow. I will kill them until they are dead.

What lessons do you have? Mother and I study history, trades, music, speaking in public, and etiquette. Father and I practice archery, hawking, and I have even been practicing sword fighting. I just had to promise not to cut Father's peg off again. It took ages to for a new one to be made that fit him right.

Time for me to close as well.

Your friend,
Merida