I didn't intend for this to take so long to be updated. Anyway, here it goes. Still not in chronological order. Enjoy!


Sacrifice

It was the night before the wedding, and the castle was bustling with activity, despite the cold weather.

Whether she had chosen the celebration to be set in winter on purpose, he would never know. It might only have been because she was aware that the family of the future prince of Dunbroch was used to cold; but the idea that it was for him made him smile; and sorrowful at the same time.

There she was, in the middle of the meadow, surrounded by her family, friends, and future in-laws, who had just arrived, smiling to all, laughing contently all the while.

She was not wearing her wedding dress, of course; but she didn't need that to look gorgeous. The simple green gown made her hair look like it had been set on fire, and her eyes shined. Not that he could see them from where he was; but it wasn't hard to guess. He remembered.

The entire kingdom and the clans surrounding it had been preparing for the event, and guests had been arriving from everywhere to witness the wedding of their future Ruler. Jack couldn't have been prouder.

That was, at least, what he thought, as his eyes settled on one young brown-haired boy, who looked as clumsy as kind. Her fiancé.

He had had the chance to witness it all from a distance. How they had met, on yet another troubled meeting between their fathers; no matter how much they talked, how much they fought, Scots and Vikings would never seem to get along, and their first conversation hadn't been very positive.

Despite that, and to everyone's surprise, they had ended up conversing more and more, laughing together. Her wild attitude made him smile, his awkwardness made her giggle. Her courage was respectful; but his selflessness was admirable. It didn't take much time before they had started feeling… different around each other. And their families never tried to make it easier. But it had finally happened.

Yes, Jack was proud. Together, they hadn't just formed an alliance between their clans: they had also gained the company of loyal dragons and, in his opinion the most difficult part, had made peace with their parents and forced said parents to make peace with each other as well.

And the more he thought about it, the most he thought that yes, the isolation and the tears had been worth it.

It hadn't been easy for Jack to leave her, to sacrifice their friendship; not for a second. Merida and her brothers were the first and only humans to have ever seen him, and being alone again scared him. But it was the best for her.

It had taken him some time to know where this was going; when he had met her, she was just a child, after all. But the more she grew up, the more time they spent together, and the more they liked each other.

It was only when she turned sixteen that he understood the feelings she was developing for him. And a few months more to get that he was feeling the same, too.

The reasons why this was wrong were easy to understand. Merida was growing up; he hadn't aged in all the decades since he had risen from that frozen lake. He had seen thousands of humans die; and all of them disappeared after their death. Not one of them had ever joined his world of magic; he doubted it was even possible. And there was no reason it would be any different for Merida.

He had acted as a real coward; that, he realized. Had left her with the promise to come back in less than a year; to never show up near her castle again. Not that he hadn't observed her. But he had never let her see him.

She had cried. Begged. Doubted. Interrogated her brothers for days, asking if they had seen something, anything, that proved he was still there; that he still existed. Nothing.

Two years after his abandonment, she had appeared on their favourite place next to the sea, had sat down in the cold snow, and had said out loud that she wouldn't leave until he showed up. She had repeated said action for two weeks; the time it took her to get sick.

That didn't stop her to repeat the same action the next year. And the next. And the next.

Until one year, when Jack had arrived to watch, to make sure it wouldn't snow on her, that she wouldn't get too cold, all he had seen was a note on the floor. Careful to make sure no one was around, he had left his hiding place to take a look at the piece of paper, where were written five very simple words.

I still believe in you.

It was the last time she had ever said anything about him.

And after six years, she had finally found someone else. Jack hadn't, of course; no one else had ever seen him (believed in him) since. But he was still glad. And happy, that her new lover was someone so kind and worthy of respect as the young one-legged Viking. Yes, he deserved her, he decided. And they would be happy.

"Jack?"

The sudden call made him froze more than he already was, to the point he was unable to turn around for a while. When he finally did, it was with a mix of flutter (no one had said his name for years) and pure fear. Fear that she had seen him. Fear that he had ruined it.

Before him stood a young man. It took Jack a while to recognize him as one of the triplets, even though he had no idea which one (he had never been able to tell). His expression was one of confusion and shock. Still troubled himself, Jack wondered for a second what was the most surprising: that none of his brothers was with him or that he was still able to see him.

"Is that you?"– the young man asked.

"You still believe in me?"

Despite the fact that he hadn't answered, the red-haired took it as a "yes", and he stayed there for a while, contemplating him. The wonder in his gaze was quickly replaced by anger, so strong that Jack couldn't repress a shiver.

"We all still believe in you, Jack. All of us." – he raised his head to make sure the young winter spirit wouldn't miss his dark look, nor his harsh words – "Especially her."

Jack swallowed with difficulty. He couldn't remember any of the triplets ever talking to him (while they did believe in him and played with him, before he had left they only talked between themselves, and exceptionally with their sister). Now, he wished it had stayed that way.

"I'm sorry…"

"Harris."

"I'm sorry, Harris… I had to. You don't understand. I had to."

"Yes." – he answered, in a lower tone– "Yes, I do understand."

And with that said, Harris directed his eyes under the castle's roof they were staying on. When Jack followed his gaze, all he found was Merida, one of her hands placed in her fiancé's one.

For the second time this night, he found it hard to swallow.

"She is happy." – he stated.

"I guess she is."

"Please, Harris." – Jack quickly begged, turning to face his old friend again – "Don't tell her I was here. Don't tell her you saw me."

This time, the look and the smile the second in line for the throne of Dunbroch gave him were ones of pure, simple sadness.

"On the eve of her wedding?" – he asked softly – "What good would that do?"

Yes. What good would it do?

"Goodbye, Jack."

It took him some time to understand what Harris was implying. And with one last smile, that perfectly matched his sorrowful one, he answered.

"Goodbye, wee devil."


Okay, back when I started this, here is when I really started to see where this story was going. So far I was just making up one-shots as I went.

Again, like and comment, and hope you liked it!