Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or Brave. There'd be lots more lesbians in both if I did.
AN: This is my first multi-chapter fic. All mistakes are sadly my own. I hope you like this. Oh I decided not to write them with Scottish accents, I thought it would take away from the writing and would be kind of a waste of time since no one's going to read it anyway... This is an AU where it's been generations since Merida's been queen and the English to the South have become very influential to the Dunbroch kingdom. Now they have English/American accents and some Englishmen have joined the clans and even have become Lords.
The four clans of Dunbroch only gather for three reasons: one or more of them is threatened, the king or queen has a child, or this child becomes old enough to look for a suitor. It's always tense when one of the clans is threatened. All of the greatest warriors of the clans meet and discuss and plan. It's no place for the weak. But when a child is born to the royal family, only the clan leaders and their spouses come. They bring good wishes and tidings. It's subdued when it should be cheerful; they know it's a big deal but they try not to make it one in case the child dies prematurely. But when that child comes of age and begins looking for a suitor, everyone who can travel without risk to themselves or their clans comes and a great festival is held.
Today was the 16th birthday of Princess Rachel of Dunbroch. She's spent her whole life preparing for this day or more accurately, what this day will bring. Today, the clans would gather and she would begin looking for a suitor, someone to marry and rule the kingdom with, someone to spend the rest of her life with, someone she'd be meeting for the first time today. Needless to say, she was freaking out.
She was pacing in her bedroom, half-dressed and crazy eyed and haired, with her best friend and servant, Blaine. He was helping her get dressed, but kind of failing since she wouldn't stand still.
"Calm down, Rachel. It's going to be fine," he said.
"Fine? It is going to be fine? You are not serious right? Surely you are joking. Today is going to change my life. What if I do not find someone? Or worse, what if a Dingwall wins my challenge?" she whipped her face towards him, and her long brown hair hit his face. She stared at him, in his Dunbroch tartan, furs, and what was that around his neck? Why is it tied like a bow? You know what? Nevermind. She never really understood his style, but then again, no one ever really understood hers.
He was stunned for a second, but managed to pull himself together when he remembered that Rachel has been a Drama Princess all her life. "Rachel please, stop freaking out. You don't even have to decide yet, remember? Wasn't your dad a Dingwall?" He paused when he noticed her blushing, "who cares anyway, the challenge is just a formality. Just go and have fun. Today's all about just meeting and getting to know people," Blaine grinned as Rachel began to calm down and pull her dress over herself. "Please don't make Shelby have to come in here and tell us the legend of the old kingdom, again."
"Ugh god, not that again. Seriously if I have to hear that crap about Bear Prince Mor'du and Princess Merida and Bear Queen Elinor one more time, I'm gonna find that witch myself and turn Shelby into a bear!" Sugar exclaimed as she rushed into the room, bearing tea for the princess. The girl was dressed simply, in a plain yellow dress that clashed greatly with her lively personality. She seemed to know this as she went straight to Rachel's jewelry box after setting down the tea. She put on her friend's bracelets and necklaces until she seemed satisfied. "Dysentery," she said when she saw them staring at her with wide eyes. She looked at Rachel, who was wearing a traditional light blue dress with white and cream accents. "You look good girl, much better than your usual kilt, stockings, and fur sweater."
"Please Sugar, we all know that everyone love my outfits," the princess joked as she pulled her hair up into a bun and ignored how half of her jewelry box was now draped on her servant. "And I don't know why you say that legend is not real. I am certain that we still have relics from Elinor and Merida's respective reigns." Blaine looked like he was going to agree but was cut off by Sugar.
"I already told you it's dysentery," she looked at them meaningfully, "and the fact that Shelby always has to knock a chess board over and then make me clean it up when she's telling that story I mean seriously."
Blaine still looked like he wanted to say something, and so did Rachel really, but she just finished putting her hair into the matching headpiece of her dress and decided it wasn't worth it to argue with Sugar's "dysentery" logic. Once her crown was firmly placed on her head, Rachel led them out of the room without a word and headed to the kitchen for some breakfast before the clans arrived.
In the kitchen they passed the woman Sugar couldn't not complain about, Shelby, Rachel's nanny and birth-mother. Shelby appraised the princess and her friends when she saw them and handed each an apple. When she reached Rachel, she smiled and held the princess's face with both hands. "I am so proud of you, child. You've grown up so much," Shelby said and Rachel could see her eyes glistening with pride and unshed tears.
Rachel kissed her on the cheek and said, "Thank you for everything, Shelby." She wanted to say more, but for once in her life, words wouldn't come. As she pulled away, she looked back at her companions. Blaine was trying to pretend he wasn't crying, but failed, while Sugar looked absolutely bored as she played with the apple she was eating. Rachel smiled at them as she bit into her own piece of fruit.
Eventually, Shelby released the three teenagers to the throne room where they found Rachel's fathers, King Hiram and King Leroy, seated. Rachel always loved the way her fathers looked in their identical furs, paired with the Dunbroch tartan. Sometimes, they made it really hard to discern one man from the other despite differing facial features and hair textures.
Leroy looked up from his husband's loving face when he heard his daughter and her companions entering. The three were wide-eyed with excitement for today's events. Leroy remembered being just as excited , the day he met Hiram. He looked at his only daughter and smiled before beckoning her. He wanted to say something, to make sure she knew that he would love and support her no matter what, that she shouldn't feel pressured by anything that happens today. But when he looked into her eyes, he could tell that she already knew. So instead, Leroy kissed her forehead.
As the drums signalling the arrival of the other clans' ships became audible, Rachel sat in her throne on her fathers' left. Blaine and Sugar rushed to a corner of the stone room. The five of them were still as they awaited their guests and awaited the future.