"How is little Ralphie doing this year?" Elinor asked her two guests, King Pavan and Queen Tanvi of Maldonia, before sipping at her tea.

"He's growing up so fast, Elinor!" Tanvi exclaimed happily, "He's eight years old now. Same as your boys right?"

"My brother are actually ten, ma'am," Merida said politely and with a small smile. The Queen smiled, laughed, and apologized. The three adults continued their small talk while enjoying their afternoon tea. Merida though was uncomfortable, but, put on a fake smile for her mother and their guests.

Her eyes also quickly glanced at the clock on the nearby wall and saw that it was almost time. Letting out a small gasp, she started to get antsy. This didn't go unnoticed by the visiting King.

"Would you like to go ahead of us?" he said with a soft smile. Merida smiled and looked at her mother. Elinor sighed and nodded. Letting out a cheer, Merida stood and ran towards the horse corral. Minutes later, a black and white shire horse with the red haired girl on top it galloped out of the corral and took off towards the nearby town, DunBroch (which was named after Merida's ancestors).

Getting angry, Elinor opened her mouth to call out to her daughter but was stopped by Pavan.

"Let her have her fun." he smiled.

"She'll only be young once, Elinor." Tanvi nodded.

Merida urged Angus, her horse, to gallop faster. Her wild red hair flew behind but it never straightened. Nothing could tame her hair and she didn't care.

This is who she really was. The somewhat obedient daughter she tried to be was just that.

An act.

She loved to gallop through the forest and practicing archery.

It only took her minutes to reach the town. Slowing to a trot, Merida made her way towards the docks where she'll meet friends she hasn't seen in over a year.

Once reaching the docks, she saw that the ship had already docked. A small crowd had formed around the docks, but, Merida needn't worry on top her horse. Once the boardwalk was down, she saw them walking down.

"Tiana! Naveen!" she called out to her friends. She had known Naveen her whole life. Their parents have been friends since they were kids. He was six years older than her but that didn't matter.

Tiana, even though they only met a year ago, they had grown close after their first meeting and later sending letters to each other over the year.

"Merida! How goes it!" Naveen held his arms out once the couple made their way towards her. Merida hopped off Angus hugged Naveen.

"Hello, Sweetie!" Tiana smiled at the younger girl and hugged her after Naveen let go.

"Naveen and Tiana!" The three were started by the loud voice of Fergus, Merida's father, "It's been too long!" Merida turned to see the large carriage with her whole family and Naveen's parents in it. There was greetings and hugs from everyone. Even her brothers behaved themselves to greet the young couple. A few minutes later, the large group was back onto the country to the castle Merida's family has lived in for generations. While Elinor, Fergus, the triplets, Pavan, Tanvi, Naveen, and Tiana rode in the carriage, Merida rode Angus alongside them.

"Merida," Elinor interrupted Merida and Tiana, "I want to talk to you after supper tonight."

"What about?"

"It's a surprise." Merida nodded. Lost in thought, she rode ahead of everyone.

What could she want to talk about? She probably wants to get me measured for a new dress or something.

Later that evening, the DunBrochs and their guests enjoyed their evening meal.

"Louis is the best trumpet player we've ever met!" Naveen praised his friend.

"He's also been a great help to the restaurant" Tiana smiled.

"How is the restaurant doing?" Paven asked with a kind smile. While they spoke, Maudie, the head maid, walked over to Elinor and gave her three telegrams.

"Thank you, Maudie." she nodded and left the room. Elinor opens the envelopes and was delighted to see the responses.

"I'll have to make my gumbo for y'all while I'm here" Merida nodded happily and then noticed her mother.

"What happened, Mum?"

"They've accepted!"

"Who accepted?" this peaked everyone else interest. All other conversation died down to listen in. Elinor clears her throat and sat up straighter.

"The three nearby lords have accepted to have their eldest sons play for your hand in marriage" Naveen almost chokes on his drinks at this news.

"What?! Why?!"

"Och, honestly, Merida, I thought you'd be happier to he-"

"Happier?! You're having me throw my life away!" With a huff, Merida stood up from the table and ran off to her room.

"Merida!" Elinor called to her daughter.

"I'll talk to her." Tiana said as she stood and followed the younger girl.

"Merida?" Tiana asked as she knocked on her bedroom door. "Merida? Sweetie?" she asked again as she opened the door. Standing in the middle of the room, Merida stood there and buttoning up a white long sleeve shirt. They both stood in the dark room, the only light coming in from the hall behind Tiana and what little moonlight streamed in from the window behind Merida. In the short time between them leaving the table and now, Tiana saw that all light and laughter had faded from her blue eyes. "What are you doing?" she asked as she stepped farther into the bedroom.

"I need to get out. Clear my head." Merida said as she tucked the shirt into her trousers.

"And the change of clothes?"

"I'm going into town. I don't want anyone going my mum and tellin' her they saw me walkin' around in the middle of the night." she then pulled a dark green vest form deep inside her closet and put it on over her shirt. Tiana sighs and sits on Merida's bed.

"You should go back and talk with your mother. It's the only way to fix things."

"I'm not going to...not now anyway." Merida said as she tied her nearly untameable hair into a tight bun on the top of her head.

"Merida, I know you don't want to, but, you need-"

"Just stop! I'm not going to talk to her!" Merida snapped, "What she wants in old fashion! No one does arranged marriages anymore! Not even Tanvi and Pavan had plans for a Naveen or Ralphie and they're royalty! If I want to get married, it'll be in my own time and it'll be for love!" with a sigh, she covered her hair with a cap and then looked at her friend. "I...I'm sorry for yelling, Tiana. It's just...just-" Merida didn't see Tiana stand until she pulled her into a hug.

"I know, Sweetie." Merida hugged her back.

"Could you tell everyone that I wanna be left alone for the rest of the night?" Merida asked in a small voice. Letting go of the younger girl, Tiana put her hands on Merida's shoulders.

"Just...get back safely"

"I always do." Merida said with a nod. With a wave, Merida climbed out her window and down the brickwork of her home. Once she reached the ground, she snuck her way to the corral.

After greeting Angus, she hopped onto his back and rode off until they were on the outskirts of town. Stopping near a small stream, Merida got off her horse and tied him to a tree near the water.

"I'll be back soon, Angus." she patted the horse's neck and then headed into town.

"Hmmm...interesting…" a dark haired woman whispered before taking a sip of her drink, "If it's not the young DunBroch girl." standing from her table at the bar, she threw a few coins down and walked out.

"Begging your pardon, Ma'am!" a young orphan boy said after riding into the woman. Seeing the boy run off gave the woman an idea.

"Boy," he stop and turned to look at her, "if you can lead that boy to the alleyway behind the pub, you be rewarded handsomely." the boy looked at the young DunBroch and then back to the woman and nodded.

Slowly making her way to the alley, she watched the boy run up the girl, steal her money, and was now being chased. Smiling, the woman walked into position. She only had to wait a few seconds till she heard running and the children rounded the corner,

"Thank you, my boy" the woman smiled as she handed him a small bag of money. The boy beamed and ran off.

"Get back-"

"Hello, Merida DunBroch." the woman greeted. Merida froze and turned to look at the woman. With a wave of the woman's hands, dark red light flew out and hit Merida in the heart and head. The girl fell to the ground, unconscious. The woman smiled, stepped over the unconscious Merida and disappeared into the night.