Miracle, for the first time in weeks, rose with the sunrise. She could hear her sister in the room next to hers doing the same thing. Both quickly got dressed and grabbed their choice weapon. They quickly ran down the stairs together and through the kitchen to grab an apple or two, Miracle put one in the pocket of her dress. Once outside, both got on their trusty steeds and headed out of the castle walls. Merida rode to the forest where as Miracle rode to the fields. It was the same field they held tournaments in and the same field she practiced her sword play.
When the cold winds are calling
And the sky is clear and bright
Misty mountains sing
And beckon lead me out
Into the light
Shannon galloped with grace as Miracle unsheathed her sword. They were coming up on the first few scarecrows. Some holding shields, others holding swords. Miracle smirked as she slashed through the first one with ease. Same for the second one. And the third.
I will ride
I will fly
Chase the wind
And touch the sky
I will fly
Chase the wind
And touch the sky
Once she reset the scarecrows, Miracle and Shannon headed toward the edge of the field, where it dropped to a cliff. It was beautiful to watch the birds flying over the seas. As she lay on the ground, rolling in the grass and smelling nature all around her, she looked up and saw a falcon flying over head. She sighed with content, this was where she felt at home. Though she loved her mother, father and brothers, she felt so much more comfortable out in nature than locked up in a castle.
Where dark routes hide secrets
And mountain are fierce and fold
Deep waters hold reflections
Of times lost long ago
When she sat up, Shannon nudged her hard enough to knock her over. She laughed and hugged his muzzle, giving him a quick kiss on his forehead. She reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out the apple. She took one bite from it and gave the rest to the horse. Shannon gladly took the apple and ate it.
I would need every story
Take hold of my own dreams
Be as strong as the seas are stormy
And as proud as an eagle skeene
Shannon staid lying on the ground and Miracle was laying against him. She smiled as she watched the clouds float above her. She then pulled Shannon up and mounted him, taking off toward the other side of the field. There, she practiced riding the rough terrain. She loved learning this. She felt that it was in her blood.
I will ride
I will fly
Chase the wind
And touch the sky
I will fly
Chase the wind
And touch the sky
After hours of riding, Miracle had Shannon walk to a small pond so they could get some water. It was refreshing. Much to Miracle's annoyance, Shannon nudged her forward, making her fall in. When she stood back up, she could swear that her horse was laughing at her. She smirked and splashed the water at him, making him run into the pond to join her. Both laughed and had their own fun.
And touch the sky
Chase the wind
Chase the wind
The ride back to the castle helped dry them both off. It felt good to have fun for once. Once they entered the stall, Miracle saw Merida feeding Angus. "So, did you go to Falcon's Hanger like you said you would?" The older sister asked. The younger smiled and nodded. Not many brave soldiers would dare go to Falcon's Hanger. It was said that if you got too close, you'd fall off, no mater how far away you were from the cliff. This just proved how brave and adventurous Miracle truly was.
Touch the sky
Both princesses walked thought kitchen. Merida was quick to grab another apple and sneak off with a tray of sweet cakes for the boys. As they entered the dining room, they heard their father telling the boys the story of Mor'du. "And then, out of nowhere, the biggest bear you've ever seen. His hide littered with the weapons of fallen warriors. His face scarred, with one dead eye." The first two boys were bored from hearing this story, but Harris, who was sitting the closest to Fergus, was copying his father's movements by heart. "I drew my sword and-"
"WHOOSH!" Merida yelled from behind her brothers, making them jump. She stood between Harris and Hubert as she continued. "One swipe, his sword shattered!"
"Then *CHOMP!* Dad's leg was clean off!" Miracle added as she jumped between Hubert and Hamish, making all three boys jump again. "Down the monster's throat it went."
"Oh, that's my favorite part." Fergus whined. He always loved telling his side of the story.
Both princesses walked around Fergus to get to their seats. Miracle quickly sat in her seat closer to Elinor and put her sheathed sword against her chair. As she did this, Merida finished the story. "Mor'du has never been seen since, and is roaming the wilds waiting his chance for revenge."
She then snarled at her father as a joke, but he just shrugged it off. "Let him return. I'll finish what I guddled in the first place."
As Merida dropped her bow on the table, Miracle turned to her and mouthed what Elinor was saying. "Merida, a princess does not place her weapons on the table."
"Mum!" She whined. "It's just my bow."
"A princess should not have weapons in my opinion." Elinor muttered as she looked over a few written letters.
This caused both princesses to sigh. They believed Elinor was a little hard on them with what a princess should or should not have. But Fergus sided with his daughters. "Leave 'em be. Princess or not, learning to fight is essential."
Deciding to break the tension, Merida and Miracle changed the subject with Merida going first. "Mum, you'll never guess what Mirry and I did today. I climbed the Crone's Tooth And drank from the Fire Falls." The triplets gasped from hearing this.
"Fire Falls? They say only the ancient kings were brave enough to drink the fire." Fergus chimed.
Miracle smiled softly as she spoke. "Well, I rode Shannon to Falcon's Hanger, saw the sea birds flying over the ocean before I rolled around in the rye grass, and saw a falcon soaring over me." If possible, the boys' eyes grew even wider.
"Falcon's Hanger? It's told in folklore tha' if you spot a falcon flyin' over head on Falcon's Hanger, it'll watch over you for the rest of yer days, letting the gods of the Highlands know you were brave enough to reach the ocean." The king added. He was proud and believed both of his daughters. He knew they were brave enough to do these things. Granted, Merida's adventures were a little more dangerous, but that didn't make either of worth any less than the other.
"What did you both do?" Elinor asked.
Both princesses sighed before saying together, "Nothing, Mum."
Elinor then noticed the plate of sweet cakes that Merida took from the kitchen. "Hungry, aren't we? You'll get dreadful collywobbles. Oh, Fergus, will you look at what's on Merida's plate?"
Fergus glanced at the sweet cakes before saying, "So what?" Suddenly, Fergus's hounds ran up and jumped into his lap. They still often thought they were small pups.
Elinor was not pleased with this. She glanced over at her sons and saw them playing with their food. "Boys, you're naughty. Don't just play with your haggis. Now how do you know you don't like it if you don't try it? That's just a wee sheep's stomach." That made the boys gag. Maudie then came in and handed Elinor three letters.
Merida used her mother's distraction to show the boys her sliding the plate of sweet cakes under the table for them.
"Ah, from the Lords Macintosh, McGuffin and Dingwall. There responses, no doubt." After glancing at the opened letters real quick, she became serious. "Fergus?" The king stopped playing with the dogs to look at his wife. "They've all accepted."
The princesses were lost. "Whose accepted what, Mother?" Merida asked.
Elinor looked at the triplets and said, "Boys, you are excused." The boys were out of there faster than lightening.
This suddenly scared Merida. "Two questions. What did I do now? And is Mirry not going to be blame as well?"
"This has nothing to do with Miracle." Elinor stated. Said princess sighed in relief. That is until the queen added, "...yet. It will within two years. But for now, Merida, your father has something to discuss with you." Fergus choked on his ale and tried to clear his throat. This wasn't going to be easy. It was so difficult for him that his wife had to speak for him. "The lords are presenting their sons as suitors for your betrothal." The queen seemed excited about this. But the same couldn't be said for the princesses. "The clans have accepted."
Merida turned Fergus. "DAD!" She whined. This couldn't be happening.
"What? I-I...she...you...Elinor?"
"Honestly, Merida, I don't know why you're reacting this way." Elinor stated. Merida only groaned and let her head fall on the table. "This year, each clan will present a suitor to compete in the games for your hand."
"I suppose a princess just does what she's told?" The older princess snapped.
"A princess does not raise her voice." Elinor said. "Merida, it's what you've been preparing for your whole life."
"No!" Merida snapped. "It's what you've been preparing me for my whole life!"
Miracle was not comfortable being in between the two fighting, and Fergus saw it, so he motioned her to get up and stand next to him. And it was a good thing, too. Because not two seconds after she grabbed her sword and moved did Merida get up and stomp to her room. "I won't go through with it! You can't make me!" She screamed back.
Elinor gave Fergus a look that meant for him to go after her. He stood and went toward his eldest daughter. "Merida!" He called out. But a leg from the table was tied to his peg leg, tipping over the table. Everything that was on the table was now on the floor, going straight t the hounds. It didn't take a genius to know who did this. "BOYS!" Fergus yelled, his voice echoed through out the castle.
Miracle sighed and face palmed. One thing was certain. With the four clans together under one roof, the word "civil" was nonexistent.
