Marked
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any ocs. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you thought.
The first time Merida truly looked at the intricate design that filled out her left side from ribcage to hip, she was just a wee lass of seven. It wasn't that she was curious. It was more that she didn't like not knowing something. She stood behind her changing screen, dress pooled at her feet as she stared into the large mirror, fingertips tracing the swirling lines that made the mark look unique. It was a bear, and that was something she understood. Her father was the Bear King, it was the mark of her clan. But it still surprised her, knowing she had a soulmate who bore her mark rather than her wearing his mark. She couldn't help but feel smug about that. She was filled with giddy excitement at that for the rest of the day, and nothing could ruin her mood, even her lessons with her mother.
The first time she understood what having a soulmate meant, she was nine years old. Merida knew that soulmates shared scars. Her ma had one on her leg from when her da fought Mor'Du and lost his leg. She had been chasing after the triplets when she heard Maudie gasp in shock, the woman's hand reaching out to grasp her shoulder and stop her for a moment.
"Queen Elinor!" Maudie screeched, hands flailing as she looked frantically for the young princess's mother.
"What's wrong Maudie?" the queen questioned, before turning her warm amber eyes to her daughter. Her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her.
"Merida! What happened?" she whispered, dropping to her knees and grasping her daughter's chin to get a closer look at the mark on her cheek.
"What are ye talkin' about? I'm fine Ma!" Merida practically growled, frustrated that no one would tell her just what happened for her mother and maid to worry so much.
"Merida, how did ye get this mark on yer cheek?" Elinor questioned, gently tracing the cut that marked her daughter's face.
"What mark ma?" Merida questioned, tilting her head in confusion.
"This cut on yer cheek," Elinor answered, worried before she started to realize just what the cut on her cheek meant.
"Oh, my sweet thing. I think yer soulmate is going through some training drills," Elinor whispered, pulling her daughter in to a hug.
"Do you think he'll be okay Ma? What if he gets really hurt?" Merida questioned, her ocean blue eyes widening with worry.
"Oh hush my darling. I'm sure yer soulmate will do just fine," she soothed, running her hands over her daughter's head gently. Merida could only nod, holding on tightly to her mother for a moment more before chasing after her brothers once more.
The first time Cothric MacIntosh truly saw his mark, he was just a wee lad of seven. His Da had been showing him how to apply the war paint when his Da glanced down to see the large, intricate bear that reached from his son's ribcage to his hip, most of it covered by his kilt.
"Say laddie, when did ye get this mark?" He looked down to see what his da was talking about.
"I've always had that Da," Cothric answered, wondering why his Da had stopped painting his arm.
"What do ye mean ye've always had it?" Lord MacIntosh questioned his son. Cothric frowned for a moment, confused by what his Da was talking about.
"Just what I said Da. I've always had the mark o' the bear on me," he shrugged his shoulders, watching his Da frown for a moment before releasing a heavy sigh.
"Do ye know what this mark means laddie?" Lord MacIntosh questioned his son, watching the young boy frown, obviously thinking over his father's words before shaking his dark curly head in the negative.
"Nay, Da, I don't," he finally answered, brows furrowing as he watched his father nod, setting the bowl of blue paint and brush aside before straightening his back and attempting to gather his thoughts.
"Legend says the three sisters of fate took pity on mankind and so they decided to give each and every human the perfect mate. However, the fates are tricky witches and decided they would make each of us mortals work for our perfect mate, our soul mates. To aid in our search, the fates marked us with a symbol, something that would tie us to our soul mate. For yer Ma and me, it was the very first thing we ever said to each other. Yer mark, I think is going to mean something to ye soul mate and ye," Lord MacIntosh stated, watching as his son took in his words.
"So I have some one who was made for me?" his son whispered, his cerulean blue eyes widening slightly, a pleased smile dancing on his lips as his father nodded his head.
"Aye, that ye do laddie. Now ye just have to find her," Lord MacIntosh stated simply.
The first time young lord MacIntosh knew what having a soulmate meant, he was a wee lad of nine and had just begun sword training with his Da. He had missed a step in his foot work and left himself open. His Da had exploited his opening and scratched his cheek with his blade, much to the disapproval of his wife.
"What did ye do wrong laddie?" Lord MacIntosh questioned, leaning his weight against his sword, waiting for his son to answer him.
"I missed a step in my footwork and left myself open to attack," he answered, head bowed as he waited for his father to reprimand him.
"Aye that ye did. Do ye know why I always tell ye to watch yerself? Keep yer defense up at all times?" Lord MacIntosh asked his son, watching as the young boy lifted his head, brows furrowed as he thought over his father's question.
"Nay Da, I don't" he finally answered, shaking his head as he waited for his father to explain his reasoning to him.
"Every mark landed on ye is reflected on ye soul mate laddie. If ye want to keep yer soul mate in perfect condition, ye need to guard yerself better laddie," Lord MacIntosh stated, watching as his son nodded his head in understanding before taking a stance that was perfect for offense or defense.
"One more time Da," he spoke, his voice fierce and his eyes alight with a fire the Lord MacIntosh knew very well. His son would do anything to be the best simply because that meant he would be able to protect a lass he had never even met yet.
A/N: So what did you think? I'm crap at accents and probably won't get the dialect correct most of the time, but I'm trying. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you thought.