It was a dark, moonless night. The only light came from the windows of the castle as everyone inside prepared for the festival of All Hallows Evening. Reading for the begining of winter men carried wood and food outside as a preparation for the massive bonfire and maidens walked around holding turnip lanterns; laughs and happy conversations could be heard coming from every corner of the stone fortress.

Suddendly the night was pierced by an eerie cry, it sounded like a woman in terrible pain or the moan of an owl; a souless, godless whail that froze every heart and made the bravest tremble, the conversation and song died as everyone looked up from their chores, somewhere a woman dropped the lantern she was about to hang from a wall. Because eveyone knew that today the gates of the world of the spirits were wide open and such a scream could only belong to one being.

The unearthly whail climbed the stone walls until it reached the room where the queen and her young daughter were playing.

Merida was eight now and no longer did the sound of thunder make her scramble for her mother´s dress, but this? This scream made her blood run cold and sent a chill up her spine; she looked towards her mother with terror reflecting of her shiny blue eyes.

-Mum? Wot is that?-

The queen leaned forward and caressed her daughters fiery hair, the same color of the flame that now burned in the fireplace and proyected light over her benevolent face.

She picked up her daughter and pulled her closer .

-Ae don´t know if Ae should tell ye my wee bonnie lass- she said -ye will have nightmares later-

The princess quickly objected to this -Nae Ae won´t! Ae am very brave!-

-Indeed my Mhaighdean Bhan- The queen smiled - Well, where shall Ae begin?- The queen leaned backwards, making herself more confortable -Ye see, that sound is the voice of the most wicked of spirits, the Baoban Sith-

Merida looked at her mother, amazed -And wot is a Baoban Sith?-

-Ae am getting tae that lass- her mother answered and cleared her throat before continuing - Long ago...- She began using the same voice she always did when telling a story

-There were two brothers who wished tae be married, but they were very ugly and no maiden would accept them as husbands-

The princess cringed a bit, she still couldn´t understand this whole marriage thing.

-Et was All Hallows Evening just like tonight and two wicked spirits heard the brothers long for wives, so they took the form of beautiful lasses and went tae meet them. The brothers didn´t suspect a thing and the second they let their guard down the wicked beings revealed their true shapes. Their skin became withered and dry, their eyes glassy orbs of blackness and their teeth enourmous fangs...-

Merida pulled her mother´s dress up, covering her nose in fear.

-Their nails became claws and with a single bite- The queen pretended to bite Merida, causing her to squeal -They killed one of the brothers and drank his blood-

The princess was shivering, mabe she wasn´t so brave after all.

-The other ran and tried tae scape in his horse but those ghosts were swift as the wind and quickly catched up with him...-

-Did they get him?- Merida was now so deep under the emerald dress that only her eyes were visible.

-Nae lass, ye see; horshoes are made of iron, bane of all wicked things. The spirits circled around him but couldn´t get him as long as he remained on his mount. Dawn finally came and with et´s first light the monsters disspaeared intae the forest, their powers lost.-

-Were they gone?- The princess asked with a frightened whisper.

-Alas, not forever. Every year, exactly on the same date, they return tae drink the blood of the innocent-

The redhead squealed and hugged her mother tightly.

-Don´t ye worry Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal. Ye aresafe and sound here with me- the queen pulled her daughter away from the hug and looked her straight in the eye -Besides the Baobhan Sith does not attack little girls-

Suddendly a creak came from the other side of the room, it was the door opening.

-Big, strong lads like yer father on the other hand...-

Merida looked behind, the hulking figure of her father was peeking from the hallway.

-Da!- Merida rushed to him and hugged his leg, only to be picked up and put to bed. -Mum was telling me a scary story!- She called, now neatly tucked under the sheets.

-Ye where, uh Elinor?- The king laughed -Well, no more stories tonight lass we must go greet the lords-

King and Queen began to walk to the hallway -Wot story was et Elinor?- Fergus asked his wife.

-The legend of the Baobhan Sith- the queen answered simply.

All color drained from the kings face, it was obvious; even for his daughter, that he was afraid.

-Fergus? Are ye alright?-

Quickly recovering the king answered -Aye, aye. Ae am fine, let´s go Elinor, the bonfire is about tae begin-

Before he closed the door the king said goodbye to her daughter -Sleep tight my wee babby-

-Ae am not a babby!- The princess protested.

Her mother leaned forward and gave her a good night kiss.

-Mom?- the little girl asked with a doubtful voice -Will Da be alright?-

The queen understood she was still talking about the story and did her best to calm her down.

-Of course she will my wee lass, he is big and strong and brave. Now don´t trouble yerself further with those thoughts-

The queen followed her husband outside -Good night my Mhaighdean Bhan- and with that she closed the door and Merida drifted off to sleep.