Merida had ridden back at top speed, searching frantically for the way back, her fear clouding her mind as she hurried. Finally, breaking free from the forest, the princess was met with the sight of a burning castle, rubble scattered everywhere. She slide down Angus, leading him down to the stables but only leaving him in his pen momentarily, she had a sick feeling she'd be back for him.
Quietly she crept into the grounds of the castle, hiding in the shadows. She reached the kitchen door, rushing in she searched for any other life but was greeted with an empty room. Sighing in relief, she straightens and notched an arrow into her bow, moving to the other door across the room.
Opening it with her back, she peeked though. Seeing nothing she rushed out, moving against the wall to hide her shadow. She came to a window that overlooked the large throne room where a din seemed to echo across the halls. Taking a deep breath she went to it, looking down to see hundreds a hatful bandits. Merida scowled at their seemingly merry making, as they smashed tankards of ale together and ate heartily from filthy tables that were smothered in grease and spilt alcohol. The jumble of booze, sweat and blood reached Merida's nose as she continued to search the room.
Finally her eyes landed on her mother, held by two robust and frightening bandits, who clawed at her face and arms as the held her, whispering in her ear as she struggled in their grip.
Across from her mother though, sat in her fathers throne sat a large man with a long, dark dreadlocks that were similar to his beard which had a few small coloured beads. He wore a black tunic tucked into a red belt and chainmail, over a pair of dark blue baggy pants that were tucked into fur boots. One arm was covered by a thick cloak whist the other held a large staff with a metal point at the end.
Merida glared at the mans face as he watched nonchalantly at the mess his bandits made. She instantly knew who it was.
"Drago." She whispered bitterly, spitting his name like it left a nasty taste in her mouth.
A noise from behind caused her to turn, three small shadows walked into the light, seeing it was Merida as they hugged her tightly.
"Hamish! Hubert! Harris! Whit are ye-" Merida whispered surprised as she hugged them tightly back.
"Where did you go!"
"We were worried"
"The man has ma!" They all cried.
"I know I-" Merida paused, turning back to Drago and her mother. Frowning, she would do something, even if she regretted it. She had to help her mother. Looking back to her brothers she held their faces so they were looking at her, their big blue eyes meeting hers. "Hide." She said. They stood, confused before doing as they were told.
Merida snuck down some stairs, hidden amongst the shadows. With her arrow notched still she turned though the large doorframe that led through to the throne room.
"Oi ugly!" She cried, an angry look upon her features. Drago looked up, scowling and standing when he saw her. Merida aimed her arrow a him. "This is fer ye!" And with that she released the arrow. However, she had not expected him to bat the arrow away like it was a pestering insect. Merida froze, inching backwards: that was not what she wanted to happen at all.
"Get her!" Drago roared, pointing to her with the metal part of his staff. With that, the bandits leapt up, brandishing filthy weapons and grotesque smirks. Merida felt her blood run cold.
"Merida!" Her mother screamed from somewhere behind the crowd of men. Notching another arrow, she pointed at the bandits as they swarmed her. She shriek as her hand, drenched with sweat, slipped and the arrow when soaring straight between a bandits eyes. She watched as he paused, looked at the arrow then howled out.
But that didn't distract the others for long. Soon her bow and quiver were snatched from her and she was led, her arms held behind her, towards Drago, who looked down at her distastefully.
She and her mother were led out of the castle, into the courtyard, where hundreds more bandits prowled. Merida struggled repeatedly, but the man held fast on her wrists.
"Get off of me ye filthy, horrible creature!" She cried.
"Merida!" Her mother tried to silence her, nervously looking between her daughter and Drago, who was visible irritated.
"No! Get off of me! Get off! Get off! Get o-" a loud slap resounded throughout the yard, many of the bandits leering rowdily. Merida stilled, the side of her face a painful red, her eyes watering. The queen gasped.
"Merida.." She mumbled, trying to get to her daughter. "How dare ye!" Elinor scowled, continuing to struggle as her motherly instincts screamed.
"Shut up both of you!" Drago's voice boomed, cowering the women. They watched him warily as he began to smirk and laugh, a cruel kind of laugh. "Where's the king?" He asked, his voice deceivingly gentle. The queen was hesitant. "Well!" He demanded, causing the woman to jump.
"He's not here." She said in a quiet voice, Merida watching her as she spoke.
"Well where is he?!" Drago slammed his staff down on the ground, creating a loud bang, startling both the females. They however remained silent. Drago sighed, cricking his neck to the side. "No matter, he will come eventually." With that he turned away from them. "Take them to the dungeon." He said with a wave of his hand. Once again, they both resisted and struggled as the men holding them began to drag them. All at once, Drago stopped as a noise reached his ear. The din grew louder and from inside the castle.
"What is that?" He growled, signalling for a bandit nearby to investigate. He went forth and opened one of the doors, only to be sucker-punched in the face by one of his comrades, knocking him back. Enraged, he fought back, disappearing into the crowd. Drago growled again. "All of you! Go stop the fight, now!" He screeched.
As if without thinking, the soldier holding Merida went with the group to stop the rampage, leaving her with a chance to escape with Drago's back turned as he walked away. Her mother noticed too, her guard distracted by the row, hadn't noticed what had happened with the princess.
"Merida run! You're our only hope! Run!" Her mother hissed. The girl paused, staring at her mother in disbelief.
"What?" She whimpered.
"Go. Go!" Elinor repeated. Apprehensively, Merida did as she was told, spotting a large enough escape route through the damage the bandits had created. Elinor gave a weak smile before facing forward once again, trapped in the grasp of the two enemy soldiers.
Merida skittered down a tight alley behind the wall, freezing up at the sound of a deep voice from above. Biting her knuckle to stop herself from crying out in shock, she hid in the shadows. It was Drago. He was atop the wall above her, talking to a bunch of his men, who had just arrived.
"Did you find him?" His rough voice demanded.
"Almost sir, we lost him in the forbidden forest..." A different voice trailed off. Drago growled before grabbing the throat of the man before him and throwing him to the side, where he landed with a yelp.
"Find him! He is most important in our plan!" Drago roared, knocking another soldier out of his way. One of the more braver soldiers stumbled forward and asked:
"What if he doesn't cooperate?" This appeared to be the wrong thing to ask as the next thing he knew, he was speared on Drago's staff. The man gasped and spluttered, before the staff was removed and he was shoved off the wall, his head smashing against a rock below, right in front of Merida.
Merida by now had started to slide along the wall unseen in the shadows, until she was safely hidden under an archway. She once again froze, squeaking as blood splattered up her dress, staining it. She covered her mouth, frightened Drago may have heard her, but he seemed occupied. Still, she stayed.
"The ice spirit is most important in my plan, do you think I care whether or not he cooperates!" It wasn't a question as spittle flew from him in his rage.
Merida made a dash for the stables; maybe if she reached Angus she could find this spirit and warn them. Checking the cost was clear, Merida ran out of the archway, down the hill towards the stables. She ran in, hidden in the darkness.
"Angus?" She whispered, receiving a whinny in response. Finding the horse, she climbed up onto his broad back ushered him out of his pen. He reared up onto his hind legs and smashed the wooden door down with his front. Once out, Merida guided him into a full speed sprint down the hill. She only just heard Drago cry out with a "she's escaping! After her!" before she heard men in armour behind.
"Come on Angus, faster!" She urged.
They ran across country, into a much emptier space. Suddenly, an arrow flew past her, burying itself in a nearby tree. Merida gasped, sparing a glance behind to see two soldiers on horse back, one firing arrows at her. She then turned back in time to see her path blocked by a fallen tree, deciding to turn Angus in to he direction of a slow paced river around the path, splashing water as he sprinted.
Onwards the chase continued, until it became darker and they neared the forbidden forest.
"In there Ang'!" Merida cried, but the horse abruptly stopped, spooked, sending Merida flying into the brush. She stood quickly, looking towards the horse.
"Angus! Whit in the world?!" She stopped when she saw the men gaining. "Angus quick!" The horse refused, trotting and digging at the ground. "If ye won't come wit' me, gae back to Ma!" She cried, pleadingly. However, seeing the soldiers nearing, she had no time to wait and see what the horse did, instead she turned and fled into the forbidden forest. She didn't see the men follow her in.