A/N: I felt like writing a little scene between Elinor and Merida reflecting on Aideen's life. I might write more from when she was alive. Let me know if you have any ideas for future drabbles! c:

Elinor slowly opened the gate to the cemetery one early fall day. With her was a small bouquet of flowers that she held while taking a very familiar path through the stones. Slowly she came to a stop in front of one particular grave, one she knew better than all the rest. "Aideen…" she murmured, her voice soft and quiet. "My girl…"

The grave belonged to Aideen, her firstborn daughter. She had been slain by Mor'Du at age seventeen. Fergus found her bloody and battered body in the forest, the demon bear long gone after killing her seemingly for sport. The kingdom had mourned the loss of their dear princess, but no one cried as many tears as Elinor had.

She swallowed a lump in her throat and sat down in front of her firstborn's grave, giving no thought to dirtying her skirts. "You… You would have been twenty-seven today, Aideen…"

Her breathing wavered and she held tight to the stems of the flowers. Today was her daughter's birthday. Ten years had passed since her death and each day was no less painful for Elinor. Not a day went by that she didn't think of her daughter. She was so wise, so playful, so beautiful… and she was taken away from her. Elinor often had nightmares of her eldest daughter alone and afraid in the woods, the grip of death taking her as Mor'Du sunk his fangs into her throat and a final, strangled scream came from her lips. She was her mother, and she was supposed to protect her.

"Ah failed you… Ah couldn't protect you…" She dropped the flowers and covered her face with her hands. "Ah couldn't save my miracle…"

It was true. Elinor and Fergus tried for countless years to have a child. Attempts turned to failures and never did she feel the gentle kick of a babe within her. But then along came Aideen, a strong and healthy baby that brought endless joy to her parents. Her little girl was perfect in every way. Aideen grew to be just like her mother, but of course inherited some of her father's goofy and stubborn traits. She was Elinor's miracle and her everything, and she was taken from her.

Elinor looked through her fingers and at the grave before her. Her daughter's name, date of birth and death were carved into the stone. There was also a message inscribed: 'Here lies Princess Aideen, firstborn of Clan DunBroch and one of the gentlest souls to roam our earth'. How could her baby—her child who was so gentle and pure of heart—be stripped of life so violently? What had she ever done to deserve such fate? Elinor cursed the very gods themselves for the tragedy they had allowed to take place.

Slowly her hands wiped the tears from her face and fell flat into her lap. She sniffed her nose and shook her head slowly. "Ah miss you, darling. Ah miss everything about you… Your laugh, your smile, the way you cared for your wee sister, how you were so passionate an' bold…"

Elinor released a shaky breath and reached a hand forward, her fingertips feeling the cool touch of the grave. "Ah killed Mor'Du." She looked up and smiled somewhat as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Ah… Ah just pray tha' maybe you are at peace… My baby girl…"

She paused as she saw a gentle shadow cast itself over the grave. The queen turned and gasped, for a few paces away stood her middle child holding her own bouquet of flowers. "M-Merida," Elinor murmured in surprise as she quickly looked away and wiped her face. "Wh-whot are you doin' out here, lass?"

Merida quietly sat beside her mother, her blue eyes looking over the gravestone solemnly. "Same as you."

The woman slowly glanced at her and saw her attention was focused elsewhere. "…How much did you hear?" she asked.

The princess looked down at the flowers in her hand absently. "Ah heard enough." She drew in a small breath. "Ah miss everythin' about her, too."

At this, Elinor shut her eyes tight and lowered her head. It was so rare for them to speak of Aideen anymore. She had meant the world to them both, and so much as mentioning her was like a punch to the gut that rendered them speechless. Elinor had always felt guilt in her heart; Merida was only seven when her sister was killed, and she—her own mother—hardly said a word to her about it. It killed the queen to so much as mention it, but she should have been there for her youngest. She should have said something.

Gradually she opened her brown eyes. "Aideen loved you so much, Merida…" she whispered, "She loved you from the very first second you were born. All she ever wanted was t' take care of you an' make sure you were safe an' happy. You were her everything."

Merida turned and looked at her mother in surprise. They had never spoken together of her sister like this in years. Slowly her eyes softened and a small smile upturned her lip. "Ah think the both of us were her everything. She always talked t' me about how much she looked up t' an' admired you. She always said, 'Mer, Ah swear Ah'm going t' try my hardest t' be as great a queen as mum is. She's the smartest, most wonderful, amazin' woman there is. Ah can only hope t' rule as great as she can.'" Merida could see her mother's eyes widen at the revelation. "She… she admired you more than anyone in the world an' wanted nothin' more than t' make you proud. She loved you so, so much, mum."

The tears were near endless at that point. Elinor wiped her face madly and quickly drew Merida in for a hug, holding her tight. Her breath and voice shook as she hid her face in her daughter's hair. "Ah miss her so much, Merida…" she sobbed, so guilty that she was acting like this in front of her.

Merida was taken by surprise, but wasted no time in embracing the queen back. "Ah… Ah miss her too, mum…" She closed her eyes and rested her head on her mother's shoulders. Never had they been so open about Aideen like this, not even after her death when the both of them were in desperate need for consolation but too unsure how to offer it to one another. "B-but think about whot you said: Aideen is at peace. An'… an' Ah think she's lookin' down at us right now."

Elinor held her tighter at those words. "Y-yes… She is…" She reached a hand back and caressed Merida's curls softly like she had done to her as a child. "Ah love you both so much…"

Merida smiled gently and closed her eyes. "We love you, too."