The triplets were running about, banging wooden swords on anything they deemed worthy. Merida rolled her eyes at them- sure, they were young, but did they have to be annoying all the time?

The answer was obviously yes, seeing as they tried getting her to play along, pulling at her sleeves and hands, whacking her legs to try and catch her attention.

"Stop it!" she yelled at her brothers, who giggled and ran off, creaming with delight. Her father grinned, laughing as his sons attacked him with glee. Elinor smiled, watching them play.

"Merida, don't yell at your siblings!" Elinor scolded her, "it's undignified!" Merida scoffed.

"Everything I do isn't dignified," Merida muttered. The sound of the ocean rang in her ears, soft and alluring. I wish we weren't on a boat! Merida thought, then I could hop on Angus and ride into the sunset firing arrows to my heart's content! Of course, like all her other belongings, her mother wouldn't allow Angus to board, saying that he would stink up the cabins to no end.

"A princess doesn't mutter under her breath, Merida," Elinor said bluntly, straightening her back- it seemed to Merida that she was always doing that, trying to make herself look taller than she really was (and she wasn't that tall to begin with.) Groaning, Merida leaned back in her chair, the rough wood splintering through the fabric of her dress.

"Hey, how come Da' and the boys don't get lectured day after day, huh?" Merida questioned, crossing her arms over her chest. The dress her mother had picked for her was not exactly her style- an emerald green satin with a white collar, a golden circlet woven around white hood that hid all of her hair, except for one curl she had pulled out when Elinor wasn't looking.

"They're only here for the boat ride, dear," Elinor said, looking out the window of the cabin, "besides, it would be best for you to have more female figures in your life!" Merida moaned, banning her head against the table in frustration.

"That is so not fair!" she complained. Elinor pursed her lips.

"Well, you'll learn dear," she said, "that even a princess can not have everything they want." Merida could hear her little brothers squealing and screaming, the clacking of wood being smacked against one another. Of course they got to hang out with Dad- he was the fun parent, it was quite obvious.

"Are we almost there?" she asked, her voice muffled as she spoke into the grainy wood of the table. Queen Elinor opened her mouth to answer, only to have the ring of the horn sound, a low rumble sent throughout the boat.

"I believe so!" Elinor capped excitedly, drawing herself to the window- a circular dent int eh wall, with two bars making a crude cross in the middle.

And so they were- everyone found themselves thrown about as the boat jambe itself at the dock, anchoring itself to the spot. The captain- a burly man with a ripped pair of shorts and an eyepatch over his left eye- grunted as he and Merida's father threw down a ramp, allowing her and Elinor to exit the boat.

"Have fun!" the king of DunBroch called after his daughter and wife, the triplets climbing all over him. Merida gave him a mournful glance before Elinor took her by the shoulders, guiding her downy eh ramp and off the pier, stone and sand crunching underfoot.

"Remember, Merida," Elinor said, "a princess always has a smile!"

"Alright, alright!" Merida said with annoyance as Elinor steered her in the direction of the castle.

If she wasn't so mad with her mother, she would have admitted that the castle in Arendelle was quite nice- possibly nicer than the one she lived in back home, but of course she would never admit that. Scotland was known for its pride, after all!

Flags of purple and green waved proudly, some decorated with a flower, others decorated with a profile of the queen. The castle seemed to have the same palette- pale purples and greens for the spires, the actual towers being stone white. A wooden gate was pulled open, revealing a bustling town- children were chasing each other, people standing at vendor booths for food or flowers- things that she had seen before back home, of course. Somehow though, it seemed different, as if she was looking at it for the first time in her life.

"Merida!" Elinor called, bringing the princess out of her trance. Merida saw her mother standing by a vendors booth with someone, beckoning her over. Reluctantly, Merida stalked over, shoulders hunched as she did so.

"Please don't daydream while walking, Elinor reminded her, "you could get lost!" Merida ignored her mother, instead noticing a wooden sled, styled with silver and red, small carvings decorating the front.

"Is that… maple?" Merida asked, suddenly sniffing the air. Elinor raised an eyebrow- what was her daughter talking about?

"Yep!" said a voice, making the queen jump.

"Sorry," said the man- tall and burly, with a mop of blond hair, "didn't mean to scare you." Elinor nodded, looking him up an down with what looked like uncertainty. Merida rolled her eyes.

"S' okay," Merdia answered for her, "we were jus' looking for the castle?"

"Merida!" Elinor sad, "a princess never slouches! Now straighten up!" The man widened his eyes in shock as Elinor propped her daughter up, pulling her shoulders back and dusting her off.

"Wait, what?" he asked, wrinkling his nose- which, in Merida's opinion, was quite big.

"Excuse me, sir-" Elinor coughed.

"Kristoff," he cut her off. Elinor narrowed her eyes at him, sneering. Merida smacked a hand to her forehead.

"Here we go," she said under her breath.

"Excuse me, but I don't think that is respectable in front of a queen!" Elinor chastised him. Kristoff widened his eyes as she glared at him, and it was quite a sight to see- a citizen of Arendelle towering over a queen by a good two feet or so.

"Don't mind me mum," Merdia shrugged, nudging Elinor with her elbow, "she likes things to be very exact, y' know?"

"Sure?" Kristoff said, unsure elf what to do. Standing in front of him was a princess with a mother who looked ready to rip him to shreds!

"Anyway, Kristoff," Merida said, "what is it ye do?" Kristoff jumped, looking form Merida to Elinor, who put a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Huh?"

"What is it ye do?" Merida repeated, "for a living?"

"Oh, right!" Kristoff piped up, "I, uh, I sell ice for a living!" Merida exchanged a glance with her mother- if they couldn't agree on things, this was one thing that would change that.

"Ice?" elinor asked, looking a tad uneasy. Kristoff shrugged, placing his ahdns on his hips.

"Yeah, ice," he confirmed. Merdia nodded.

"Well, who pulls the sled?" she asked, the maple smell wafting throughout eh air.

"Sven," Kristoff nodded.

"Sven?"

"My best friend," Kristoff said affectionately, "he's great- just give him carrots and he'll pull this baby all day!" He patted the sled lovingly, careful not to scratch any of the detailing. As soon as he said this, the three heard a whinny, and galloping towards them was a reindeer, hooves clopping against the cobblestone. Kristoff opened his arms as if to receive a hug.

"Sven!" he exclaimed, the reindeer crashing into him, "who's a good boy?"

"This is Sven?" Elinor said, putting on an uncomfortable smile. Merida chuckled- of all the things to see, this was probably one of the strangest things her mother had ever seen.

"Yep!" Kristoff laughed as Sven snapped at his sleeve, nostrils flaring, "been with me since i was a kid!" The two watched as Kristoff practically wrestled with the reindeer, even give him a voice ("Weird," Merida muttered to her mother, who could only nod in agreement)!

"Well, that aside Your Highness," Kristoff said after Sven had calmed down, "where is it you need to go?"

"Well, we were here for a visit," Merida said, the sole she had on her face moments ago wiped clean from her face. Elnor brightened up immediately- now things were getting somewhere!

"You mean visit the Queen?" Kristoff asked. Merida nodded.

"Yes!" Elinor answered, clasping her hands in font of her. The sleeves of her dress were so long though that they hid her hens completely.

"Well, the castle isn't far from here," Kristoff said, "do you need a lift? I can always take you int eh sled!"

"That isn't necessary!" Elinor barked suddenly, her face going pale, then, "I apologize fr snapping, Kristoff."

"Yeah, what she meant to say was that she doesn't exactly trust ye!" Merida joked, trying to stifle her laughter. Elinor sent her daughter a late, daggers digging into her back.

"Please, excuse my daughter," Elinor laughed nervously, "that is very kind of you, but we will have to decline." Kristoff shrugged, crossing his muscled arms over his chest.

"Alrighty then," he said as he then climbed into the sled, attached leather reins to a harness strapped around Sven's mid-section. The reindeer jumped with excitement, tongue lolling out of its mouth, "I guess it's time for this Master Ice Cutter to be on his way." Elinor nodded, then went o guide Merida int eh opposite direction when Kristoff suddenly called after them, "Wait!"

"And what is it you need, Master Ice Cutter?" Elinor calle back. Merida noted a hint of disdain in her voice- she probably didn't approve of the man's job, seeing as they didn't have such a thing back in DunBroch.

"Tell Princess Anna something for me?" he asked, clutching the reins tightly. Merida and Elinor exchanged glances. Who's Princess Anna? Merida thought as Elinor answered, "Alright! What is it?"

Sven had started to pull away as Kristoff yelled, "Trolls!"

Elinor scrunched her nose in confusion- what a trance thing to tell a princess!

"Mum, who is Princess Anna?" Merida asked as they turned around, walking towards the castle. Of course, Elinor had straightened herself out, looking regal as she strolled past citizens and various vendors, all vying for the visitors to buy something.

"We'll have to find out, dear," Elinor answered- she honestly had no idea either, "for now, chin up! A princess does not dawdle!"