I'll be updating this every few days. It's a piece I wrote a long while ago, so I'm basically rewriting each chapter as I've improved since then. However I only made it halfway through chapter 4 before I gave it up. So come chapter 4, please be prepared for the chapters to be up a little later.
Prologue
A Modern Myth
Merida twisted around under the sheets, to face a irradiated beam of light illuminating her face. Her claymore - which she'd left in an optimised position leaning against the bedstead - reflected the moonlight ostentatiously and flooded the entire room in a silvery glow. In particular, the awe-inspiring tapestry her mother had crafted was explicitly visible in the pale glare, and still it hung on the wall next to her fire-place. As well as reminding her of the journey that she and Elinor had wandered collectively, it also made her doubtlessly wary of her previous attitude. Selfish, rash, stubborn - she'd taken those words straight from her mother's lips. But despite the memories floating around in her mind - there was little else the girl wanted now, but sleep. It surely wasn't too much to request, it was even still dark - despite the obtrusive gleam keeping her eyes active. Though, after a few minutes of silence, thunder cracked in the distance and Angus, the Princess' sturdy horse, whinnied outside in fear.
"Angus!" She shouted at him in response, turning her body away from the window. Her voice then shifted into a whisper and she grumbled through lack of slumber; "Shut it, ya wee baby." She was extremely tempted to get up solely for the purpose of shutting him up, in one of the many different scenarios running through her head currently.
However, the creature continued. Sighing, and heaving herself upwards, Merida tore the bed covers away from her, the cold of the room hitting her like a sword to the face. She stood still, shielding her eyes from the light and waiting for her body to adjust to the sudden change, swaying slightly from the rapid movements.
"I'll be beltin' ya if no other doesnae do it." She moaned under her breath while pulling on a plainly coloured, simple garb and comfortable black shoes. Then, silently as possible in shoes on stone, moved towards the heavy wooden door and grabbed the hooded cloak draped over the back of her chair, afterwards then grasping her bow and quiver from the lid of a chest, which sat at the foot of her bed. She then made her way through the maze that was Castle Dunbroch, and upon reaching the kitchen, found that Maudie was asleep in a chair. It was obvious she'd fallen into slumber while getting breakfast ready, so there was less to do in the morning. Merida chuckled and unlocked the door as silently as she could - opening it, however, was a different matter. Due to the wind, it swung open violently, turned over to smash against the castle's stone walls. She winced, but was fortunate it hadn't woken the kitchen maid; she'd only scream if it had. Gladly, the Princess shut the door behind her and made her way down to the stables.
"Easy lad; there's nay monster, it's tha wind, ya cuddie." She patted his neck tenderly, the wind ripping through his mane wildly to whip her in the cheek, it was irritating, but she was used to this kind of affair. She then secured her weapons and mounted the beast, urging him into a trot until the portcullis at the base of the castle stood before her. One of the guards called from above.
"Who goes thar?" He cried to her. Merida knew that he was doing his job - but it was pointless sounding so aggressive when she was already within the castle walls, logic dictated that she wasn't a threat.
"Jus' open the gate before I run ya through!" She retaliated, equally as combative. The guard immediately apologised then, obviously recognising the voice of his Princess, and rushed along the stone walls to raise the gate for her. Goading Angus forward, both horse and rider charged from the keep and onto the stone bridge which lead to the unforgiving Scottish wilderness; trepidation emerging in the corner of her mind. If her mother found out about this - which she probably would - there could be disastrous consequences. The thunder resonated across the valley once more, louder, and more pronounced in this second time. Curious, the redhead lifted her gaze towards the sky, but it was clear and cloudless - stars untouched by nought but black.
Wha's up with that? She pondered nonchalantly, allowing her thoughts to stray unrestrained. Though, her hands still wavered over the labyrinth of intricate carvings that spread across the length of the bow's limb. Despite the crystal night and silent surroundings - she couldn't afford to let her guard falter, and the concept brought her staggering back to normality from the complex system of her mind. As Angus slowed, Merida's eyes roamed the scenery before her, appreciating that the steed had brought her, without guidance once more, to the ring of stones: a place of great zest and anguish to her family. The collapsed pillar had been reinstated to its previous post, and the demon bear Mor'du's head now hung as a fearsome ornament in DunBroch's great hall. A wry smile grew on her lips at the memories, but she felt it urgent to press forward before any more began to burden her mind - less cordial recollections - her heels pressed on the Clydesdale's ribcage and spurred him onwards, leading him to the plains that sat below the Crone's Tooth and Fire Falls, overlooking one of the kingdom's many valleys.
"Birds?" She spoke aloud, unsure of the silhouettes that blackened the already dim night sky. At a further distance; maybe they would have appeared to be birds, but Merida knew more than to deny the existence of the supernatural. Whatever the bizarre shapes were, they were ascending rapidly and the girl felt her heart pounding vigorously in her chest. "Le's go, Angus." She murmured, leaning ahead in her saddle to play with the horse's ears for a free moment while spying a few last glances at the creatures. Her father, while he would be sullen about her midnight journey, must be informed about this event - if their home was in danger, surely he could overlook a few rebellious actions. At this, she pressed on the reins, shifting the body beneath her into the direction she desired: before willing him forward with a few sweet utterances and a touch on his sides.