"Jack whut are yoou doin'?" Merida stared up at him with a look of annoyance.

Jack was up in a tree, a playful smile graced his charming face as he swung upside down on a branch, "Having fun! You should try it, Princess."

"Whut are yoou sayin'? Ah have fun." She snapped quickly.

Jack simply laughed at her remark and said nothing more. As he laughed, his eyes closed and mouth wide, he failed to notice Merida aim her bow at him and let fly an arrow. The moment he heard the arrow shot, his eyes opened in shock and his laughter stopped abruptly. He struggled to look up, but he could see the arrow lodged into the branch right next to his left thigh. He looked back at the fiery redhead in astonishment.

"How's that fer fun?" She smirked.

Jack's expression melted into that lovely smile again. He chuckled lightly and pulled the arrow out of the branch and tossed it at her feet. Merida sheathed the arrow with its many others as Jack hopped down from the branch. He approached her, running his fingers through his brown hair, and holding his smile. The two walked together, and Jack could see something was troubling his friend. She appeared deep in thought and bore a solemn look. He didn't like it.

"What's wrong?" He asked, concern seeping from his lips.

Merida looked up at him and tried her best to make her fake smile genuine. "It's nothin' Jack."

He shot her a skeptical stare that let her know he wasn't buying it. She sighed, "It's my mum. She's forcin' me te marry someone frum one of the neighboring tribes. Ah don't want to. Ah want te be free."

"Marriage?" Jack thought to himself as the pangs of jealousy twisted in his stomach. Merida marrying some other man, he despised the idea.

He focused his attention on the frost covered ground, hoping to conceal his jealous rage, "Why would Queen Elinor force that on you?"

"Ah'm the first born. Ah'm s'pposed to inherent the throne. But not just that, if Ah don't marry a suitor there will be war. My 'ands are tied." Merida explained sadly. She didn't seem to notice Jack's change of mood to his relief.

Jack had nothing more to say so he nodded in sympathy. He glanced up at Merida and she at him. They shared a slow and quiet walk back to Angus who was in the meadow, grazing on grass that managed to avoid being buried by patches of snow.

"Marriage can't be all bad can it?" Jack cut the silence and gave a light smile, hoping to rouse her from her wandering mind.

To his dismay Merida said nothing. She walked up to her horse and stroked his soft, fluffy, muscled neck in silence.

Snowflakes began to float from the gray clouds to the cold earth, dancing in front of Jack's face. He looked up at the sky.

"Jack Frost's spreading fun." He mused, trying again to reclaim Merida's attention. But she was still lost in thought with that bland expression on her face as she petted Angus. He frowned. In no way was Jack Overland about to stand being ignored by Princess Merida.

With a smirk and a glint of mischief in his dark eyes, Jack stooped down, scooped up a handful of snow, and molded it into hard ball. Rising back up on his feet, he threw the snowball, knocking Merida in back of the head with a smack.

"'ey!" She turned, rubbing her head. She glared at Jack, but her expression softened at his smile.

"How about a game before you go?" He asked as he tossed a snowball up and down in his hand nonchalantly.

He could tell she didn't want to leave, and he didn't want her to. Truthfully, he never could get enough of her company. He watched her pretty sapphire eyes narrow and a slight smile curl on the corners of her rosy lips. His challenge was accepted.

The snowball fight didn't last more than an hour. Snow forts were built as they pelted each other, and they used the trees to hide and dodge the firing snowballs when their forts were destroyed. Neither won nor lost the game; it was all in good fun after all.

Merida had mounted Agnus, and Jack had grown more nervous than he'd care to admit. It was now or never, and he wouldn't be able to bear losing her. He sucked in the crisp air and mustered his courage as a carefree smile framed his face.

"Merida?" His heart fluttered with nervousness and excitement.

She turned to face him, her long curly red locks flowing over her shoulders and down her back. "Whut Jack?"

"Meet me here tonight." It was more of a question than a statement.

She nodded, "Ah'll try."

She then clicked her tongue and gripped Angus' mane, ushering him forward.

"An hour after dusk." Said Jack, smiling.

She nodded.

"Don't forget!" He called after her as she took off on Angus into the forest.

Merida returned to the DunBroch castle, stepping quietly, hoping to avoid her mother. She was in no mood to discuss her mother's future plans for Merida. She had no desire to talk about the life she doesn't want, no matter how narrow minded it was to deny her role. She knew her wish to be free was selfish, but Merida truly believed she herself wasn't fit to rule, that she wouldn't measure up to be the queen Scotland needed. And worst of all, she would be a disappointment to her family. She couldn't bare that, and the very thought made Merida flush with guilt.

But deep down, she knew there was nothing she could do. Her fate wasn't going to change no matter how much she wished it would.

She had made it to the hall that led to her bedchamber, and her heart fluttered in elation. There was absolutely no one around and no footsteps to be heard. She was in the clear! Sighing in relief she walked in and shut the door behind her. She hung her bow and arrows on the wall, smiling lightly to herself before collapsing onto her bed on her back. And then there came a knock on the door. Merida groaned and sat up as Queen Elinor walked in.

"Merida, we need to talk," said the Queen.

"Please Mum, can't it wait til morning?"

"No, Merida we need to discuss it now." Queen Elinor replied, trying I keep calm.

Merida groaned.

"Now Merida, a lady doesn't groan. Please try to reasonable." She waited for Merida to relax before continuing.

Queen Elinor walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, facing her disgruntled daughter. "Ah know yoou don't want te be married, but it's fur the well being of the kingdom. Without marriage all three clans will declare war. You know this."

"Ah know Mum, but isn't there any other way?"

"Then whut do yoou suggest?"

Merida blinked and was left surprised that her mother was willing to listen for once.

Merida then thought, racked her brain for another option, anything else that will avoid a war and a wedding. She bit her lip, having thought of an idea but sure it was going to be dismissed. Nevertheless she was going to suggest it.

"It's tradition te 'ave the first born wedded to a suitor." She said slowly.

"Yes."

Merida looked up at her mother, "What if we break tradition?"

Queen Elinor stood to her feet, her face twisting in rage, "Merida, generations 'ave followed this custom! We are not about to change just because of yoour stubbornness."

Merida glared at the Queen, enraged by such an insult, "All Ah want is control of my own life!"

"By runnin' off and abandonin' everyone who loves and needs yoou?"

For a moment-and she could not explain why-Merida thought of Jack. Ignoring the thought, she shook her head, "Ah don't want to abandon anyone. Ah just don't want te marry."

"It's only marriage. It's not the end of the world." Said the Queen sternly.

It feels like it te me, Merida thought miserably, angrily.

"Is all this because of yoour friend, Jack Overland?" The Queen asked.

Merida was left silent at Queen Elinor's words. Surely it wasn't for Jack. No, it was for her freedom and to avoid her family's disappointment. Not for Jack, she told herself.

Elinor then stood and headed for the door, her stern expression unyielding.

"Come down to the dinning 'all. Dinner is ready." She gave Merida one last look before leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.

In frustration, Merida grabbed the sword on the wall above her bed and swung it against both bedposts at the end of her bed, yelling in anger as she did. She then fell back on her bed, placing her hands over her face in aggravation. How could her mother force such a thing on her only daughter? Didn't her happiness matter? If only the Queen listened to her side. If only she understood.

Sighing, Merida glanced out the window. The sun was starting to set. Jack, she thought to herself. An hour after sunset, Merida smiled to herself. Jack would surely lift her spirits.