Chapter 4: Merida' Decision

A short time later, Fergus came up and sat down next to her. Merida turned away. She didn't want to face the embarrassment she'd obviously caused him.

"My, my." Fergus said casually. "What beautiful blossoms we have this year."

Merida didn't respond.

"But look, this one's late." Fergus said, and Merida turned to look at a flower bud. "But I'll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful one of all."

Fergus then took the hair pin Merida had in her hands and put it back in her hair. Merida smiled and hugged her father. Just then, drums sounded, and the whole family walked out to see why someone from the Imperial City was coming to their small village.

"Merida, stay inside." Elinor said as she and Fergus walked out.

"Heh-hem." Gothi coughed slightly as she pointed at the fence. Merida smiled and rushed over to climb on. She looked out to see Emperor Johann's scribe, Drew sitting astride a brown stallion.

"Citizens, I bring before you a proclamation from the Imperial City!" Drew called out grandly. "The Huns have invaded China!"

Everyone gasped in alarm.

"By order of the Emperor, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army!" Drew continued, and Merida gasped. "The Dingwall family!"

A man a decade older than her father with wild white hair that stuck up at all sides walked up and accepted a scroll.

"Dada…" His son, who looked like an infant version of him cried as Mr. Dingwall's wife held him.

"The Macintosh family!" Drew went on as an old man was about to walk up when his son, slim with curly black hair, took the parchment.

"I'll serve the emperor in my father's place." Mr. Macintosh' son said simply.

"The Dun'Broch family!" Drew called out, and Merida watched in horror as Fergus prepared to march up to accept the scroll like a soldier, but his limp already told her that his chance of coming back in one piece was almost none.

"I am ready to serve the emperor." Fergus said calmly as he bowed down.

"Dad no!" Merida said as she jumped off the fence and stood between her father and Aknadin. "You can't go!"

"Merida!" Fergus reprimanded, but Merida didn't move.

"Please sir," Merida begged Drew. "My father has already served his country."

"SILENCE!" Drew snapped. "You would do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man's presence."

"Merida, you dishonor me." Fergus said with a grumble as he took the scroll.

"Come on, dear." Gothi said as she gently took Merida back to the house.

"Report tomorrow to the Mung Jong camp for retraining." Aknadin said plainly.

Inside the farm grounds, Elinor and Merida watched sadly as Fergus proudly entered the house without his walking stick, his limp being the only sign of weakness anyone could see.

()()()()()

Inside the house, Merida peeped in at Fergus looking at the cabinet that held his armor. He held the sword ready and thrust it forward. He did several elegant strokes until he gasped and clutched his side. Fergus dropped the sword as it clanged loudly on the ground. He used a pillar to pull himself up as he breathed heavily.

Merida looked away in tears. She knew her father's leg would hold him back, but he never fully recovered from his last stint with the army. His heart, mind, and body were all strong, but his body was damaged beyond any hope of successfully fighting against the Huns.

()()()()()

At dinner, Merida poured tea for everyone until she snapped and slammed the pot down.

"You can't go!" Merida called out. "You shouldn't have too!"

"Merida-" Elinor began, but Merida cut her off.

"There are plenty of men to fight for China, and you already did your part!" Merida continued.

"It is an honor to serve one's country and his family." Fergus responded simply.

"So you'll die for honor?" Merida asked angrily. There was more to life than that, and Fergus knew it.

"I will die doing what's right!" Fergus snapped back. Merida was well aware that she and her father shared the same temper.

"But if you'd just-" Merida began, but Fergus cut her off this time.

"I KNOW MY PLACE!" Fergus snapped. "It's time you learned yours."

Fergus sat back down as Merida felt tears in her eyes and rushed off.

Merida ran out and cried under the statue of the Great Dragon. Merida stayed out there for hours, even after it started to rain. She didn't want her father to die.

She looked through the window as Merida's figure looked away as Fergus held her close until she broke off from Fergus and walked away. After a few moments, Fergus blew out his candle.

Merida narrowed her eyes with determination. The only way her father could live is if someone took his place, and she knew who that had to be.

First, Merida went to the family temple and prayed to her ancestors for luck and guidance during her journey.

Next, she snuck into her parents' room and replaced Fergus's conscription notice with the hair clip Elinor had given her. She starred at her parents for a few moments. She longed to tell them that she loved them as only a daughter could love her parents, but if she awoke them, her plan would die with one simple grunt from either of her parents.

In the room that held Fergus's armor, Merida took his sword and cut her hair to shoulder length and tied it up in a top knot, the simplest boy haircut she could think of and the quickest. She then opened the cupboard and put on her father's armor. It was amazing how well it fit. After washing her face to remove any makeup she might still have on from her visit with Ruffnut, she walked into Angus's stable and heard him neigh in surprise.

"Shh." Merida said. "Easy boy. It's me, Merida."

Angus blinked then nodded. Merida jumped on top of him and rode off to the Mung Jong camp, towards the east of the village. She would protect her father, even if it meant she would die in his place.

Chaos dose not own Mulan, Brave or HTTYD but she owns Iris, Hikari belongs to WingBladeWeaver1357, and Drew belongs to RedDiEnd.