Chapter 9
Merida was the first to stir the next morning. Her hair was damp with morning dew and it made a slight shiver go through her body at the coolness of it. She sat up and searched the field for Angus. She spotted him a few yards away knelt in the grass and dozing. She smiled in his direction and layed back down on the bed of grass, pulling the dark cloak closer around her and snuggling into the arms of her beloved. She turned on her side and tilted her head up to get a better look at his face. The expression on his face while he slept was so serene and peaceful, such a drastic change from the worried and pained one that was more often then not worn on it. She was so close to him that she could count the long dark lashes on each lid and the handful of sun freckles that dotted his perfectly straight nose and high cheek bones. She frowned at the thin white line that cut through his left eye brow and reached his lower cheek, marring his otherwise unmarked face. She hadn't noticed it the day before, but he had been on the other side of the room when she first saw him. And last night, it had already been dark and the light of the fire washed out any discolorations on his face. She freed an arm from his tight hold around her and reached up, tracing the fresh scar. She was confused, hadn't this wound been inflicted no more than a week before? His face tightened at her touch and his eyes blinked open. She pulled her hand away, ashamed at touching his face so unabashedly while he slept.
"Sorry," she whispered. He grabbed her hand and put it back on his face, this time cupping his cheek.
"Don't be," he whispered back, "you're hand is soft." His eyes closed and he smiled as she gently rubbed her thumb over his cheek and the bottom of the scar.
"...did it hurt...?" she hesitantly asked, knowing full well it was her fault he had even came near the castle, near her vengeance-seeking father.
He opened his eyes again and half shrugged at the question. "A bit, but it's not as painful as when I transform. Imagine all your bones breaking then growing and forming back together. It's not a pretty sight...I've lost track of all the times I've turned now." He looked at her, the hollowness in his eyes returning for a second before they warmed up again. "That's a side effect of the curse, I suppose. No aging. I've been eighteen for quite awhile, longer than I can remember."
She traced the pale white line that ran up his face again. "And the scar?" she asked. "Didn't this happen recently?"
"Another side effect," he explained. "I heal faster and more efficiently than an average person. Without this...power, I'd have lost my eye for sure. Most likely my life, too, if I hadn't got away. I really thought I was going to die...there was so much blood." He clutched at his shirt where his heart was, scratching at the area.
"You had more than one wound?"
He met her eyes hesitantly before answering, "Yeah, on my chest. He got my eye first, then sliced at my chest. It's not that bad anymore, it's almost healed now."
"Show me," she told him.
He looked at her, eyes widened with shock, and lightly shook his head no.
"Show me," she insisted. He looked at her again and, seeing she wouldn't take no for an answer, sighed and sat up. He slowly undid the buttons on his shirt before pulling it halfway down his shoulders, exposing his toned torso. She gasped at the wound when she saw it. Sure it was almost healed but he had made a slight understatement when describing it. It reached from his left collar bone and dragged down diagonally, ending parallel to the right of his navel. It was red and raw, crusted with the last of the scabs that had to heal before exposing the pink tender flesh underneath. Her hand unconsciously reached to trace it but his own caught it before it could do so.
"Sorry, it's still kind of sore...I just took the bandages off yesterday," he shrugged sheepishly, releasing her hand. She instead settled for cupping his face and kneeling next to him, gently pressing her lips to the scar on his eye.
"To make it feel better," she explained, blushing at her actions. "My mom used to do it when I was little..."
He looked confused at first, then his eyes flashed with recognition. Then he swiftly leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers in a quick kiss.
Now it was her turn to look confused. "But...I'm not hurt?"
"Yeah, I just wanted to kiss you again," he shrugged and smirked. He leaned towards her again and began planting kisses up and down her cheek and neck, causing her to giggle at the ticklish sensation. Somehow they found themselves lying in the grass again with her underneath him. She gasped at the proximity, realizing his shirt was still open. She looked up into his eyes and noticed him making the same connection. "Perhaps it's time we headed back to the castle," he suggested. She merely nodded her head in agreement. He rolled off of her and stood up, buttoning his shirt. He offered his hand to her when he was done, but she ignored it and stood up on her own.
"I'm perfectly capable on getting up on my own, I'm not some helpless little girl," she told him coolly.
"I'm not saying you are," he raised his hands defensively, "I just thought I'd be a gentleman."
"Oh...well, thank you," she replied, her face flushing for what wouldn't be the last time that day.
She walked over to Angus who was now awake and grazing on the grass again. He stood up straight for her and she held onto his neck, swinging her body onto his back. They started trotting to where Roiben was standing and looking at the ground thoughtfully.
"Getting on?" she asked, breaking him out of his reverie.
"Oh, yes, it's just...maybe we shouldn't tell your father that I found you yesterday afternoon."
"Why not?" she asked, thoroughly confused.
He grimaced while answering. "It might not be a good idea for him to know we spent the night out here alone together...I'm barely healing from the last time we fought, and you're father is rather...intimidating," he admitted.
She laughed at his admission. "Alright, we'll just tell him that I came across you on my way back to the castle if that'll make you feel better." He nodded in thanks, visibly relieved, then promptly jumped onto Angus' back and wrapped his arms around her waist. She patted Angus' side when they were situated comfortably and he leapt into a gallop, headed to the castle that she and her horse called home.
When they were safely inside the castle walls Roiben jumped down from his seat atop the horse. "Well, here I go. And you're sure about this, right?"
She gave a smile nod and giggled. "Meet me in my room after?"
"Are you sure that's okay?" he asked, slightly hesitant to get on her fathers bad side...again.
She nodded once more, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Just don't get caught. It's up the stairs, second door on the left."
"Alright then," he smiled and grasped her small hand, giving it a kiss and bowing. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck!" she called to him as he briskly walked away in the direction of the throne room. She smiled to herself as she steered Angus towards the stables, looking forward to meeting him later. Her fingers brushed against her lips while she reminisced about the night before and she tried to suppress a girlish giggle. She was already addicted to the touch of those lips on hers, and she could feel herself craving more.
Hours passed and she sat on her bed patiently waiting his arrival. What was taking so long? She had heard a bout of shouting earlier and the slam of a door but she couldn't make out what the person had yelled or who it had been. She was getting antsy but she didn't want to interrupt the meeting and chance messing things up with that hot head of hers that made her speak her mind without thinking of the consequences first. It was times like these that made her curse inheriting her fathers temper and not the cool collected mentality of her mother. She felt helpless, something she despised. She was slowly losing it, and so she stood up and stomped to her door, ready to go down there and see what was going on. She gripped the handle as hard as she could, venting some of her frustration on the door and swung it open, but there was already somebody standing on the other side.
"All right there?" he asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. She looked at him, noticing the cocked eyebrow and smirk that he wore, and rolled her eyes. She stepped aside and ushered him in before anyone could see him standing before her room. She quietly shut the door and turned to watch him observe her room. His eyes lingered on the torn tapestry on her wall that portrayed the DunBroch family, her mothers figure torn off and messily sewn back on.
"We...ah...got in a fight," Merida explained with a shrug of her shoulders. "It was a long time ago." She blushed, embarrassed of her immaturity. He let out a hearty laugh, "I guess you could say I've done the same thing, except I can't fix mine since it was made out of stone and not cloth." She nodded and smiled, remembering the stone slab she'd seen in the ruins. He sat down and patted the spot next to him and she happily obliged.
"So...how'd it go?" she asked, eager to hear good news. He looked at her, then looked at the floor, a frown forming on his face. She felt her heart plummet.
"All I can say," he began, "is that I gave it my best." His eyes met hers again.
"What does that mean?" she asked, her brows scrunched together at his vague answer.
"Well, they've made a decision pertaining to your marriage," he told her, "but I'm not at liberty to say to who."
"Well at least give me a hint!" she said, fully exasperated.
"I can't, it's not my place. Your father is holding a dinner tonight for everyone in the castle where he'll make the engagement announcement."
"That's not fair! I hate those stupid dinners..." she grumbled.
He gave her a crooked half-smile that didn't reach his eyes, "That's one of the reasons I'm not allowed to tell you. They want to make sure you attend."
"Argh! I hate them!" she yelled and laid on her bed, shoving her face into her pillow and screaming. When she was done she turned her face to the side and lightly spoke to him. "I'll still be able to see you, right?"
He looked at her with sad sparkling green eyes. "I don't know..." he said, barely louder than a whisper. She felt her eyes well up.
"They can't stop me from seeing you. I don't care who they make me marry," she told him, and he sighed in response. His eyes flickered around the room, looking anywhere but her. They flitted over a familiar shade of blue before glancing back. His eyes lingered on the vase that stood on her bedside table, on the dry blue flowers that were inside it.
"You still have these?" he asked in a hushed voice. She raised her head to look at what he was referring to.
"Yeah...I couldn't just throw them away..." she mumbled into her pillow.
"You're too good to me..." he told her and pulled her up from the bed and into a hug. She clutched him back desperately and sobbed into his neck.
"I'll never forget you," she told him through shaky breaths. "No matter what happens."
"And I you," he said back. "You're more than I ever deserved in this dreadfully long life." He pulled back and pressed his forehead against hers. "I'll see you at the dinner?" She nodded begrudgingly, the only reason for her attendance being him. He smiled and gave her a swift kiss before getting up. "See you there, princess," he smirked, knowing she hated being called that.
"Bye," she rolled her eyes at him as he exited her room, then she shoved her face back into her pillow and sighed. She could rest a few minutes, she told herself, before she had to get up and dress for the damned party.
She groaned when she entered the dining hall. She hadn't realized how many people actually lived within the castle walls. It looked like literally everyone was here. And then there were also the men from the three neighboring villages here, too. She walked in the direction of the head table where she was expected to sit and saw two empty chairs next to each other. One would sit her next to the cocky brat and the other seat was next to the little nutball who was sticking peas up his nose. Yeah...she'd pass on that. Plus, she could mess with the pretty boy more like she did before. She sat down next to him and could see him lean away from the corner of her eye. She smiled and pretended to yawn so she could cover her mouth and make a farting noise. The look on his face was priceless. She continued with the noises while they ate until his chair was scooted as far away as he could get and his face was a sickening green. She hummed to herself happily as she scooped a spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth and looked around the room. Where was Roiben? He told her he was going to be here. Dinner was almost over and she still hadn't seen him yet. Was he going to get here in time for the announcement? The conversations around her quieted down and she looked to the head of the table to see her father standing, ready to make the announcement.
"I'm sure yer all wonderin' why yer 'ere, and the news I'm about to tell you is the cause fer this celebration," he looked around the room and beamed. Merida felt the empty chair next to her move and someone sit down in it, but she was too interested in her fathers speech to turn and look at who it was. "I'm pleased to inform the lot of ye that me oldest, me dear daughter Merida, is to be married. I'm going to be sad to let me little girl go, but she's grown up so fast." He looked at her with a watery smile. Yes, yes, keep going, she wanted to tell him. "I'd like to welcome me new son who will join our family soon. We 'aven't known each other long but I find 'im to be a great ally and someone who will continue the prosperity of this kingdom. I introduce me beautiful daughter Merida and 'er soon to be 'usband, Roiben DunMorith." She felt a large warm hand wrap itself around hers and bring her to her feet. The dozens of people in attendance erupted in cheer at the sight of the new couple that was to be their future King and Queen. She looked to her right and finally noticed who had sat next to her. He looked simply stunning in a forest green dress shirt that matched his eyes and his hair was down but kept out of his face with two locks that were pulled back from his temples into a small braid. He looked at her and smirked at her jaw that had dropped open. She promptly closed it and lightly punched his arm with her free hand.
"You knew this whole time?" she whispered to him furiously.
He grinned at her. "I'll tell you later," he promised, "First, let's give them something to really cheer about." And he leaned down to press his lips against her, causing the crowd to cheer even louder.
Finally, it was the end of the dinner and everyone had left. It had been exhausting for Merida, having to thank all these people as they came up to her and Roiben throughout the night to congratulate them. Thankfully he was a very charismatic person and did most of the talking. Merida didn't know what she would have done without him. She turned to him, finally able to ask him all the question she wanted answered. "So?" she began.
He sighed, "Yes, I knew. But really, teasing you is so much fun and so easy." He smirked. "I really wasn't allowed to tell you, though. Your father instructed me not to."
"Merida, I think it's time for you to go to bed," her mother called to her from the head of the table where she and the King sat, still drinking and talking to the other lords.
"Great," she groaned, "Supposedly I'm old enough to get married and yet I still have a bed time...yes, mother!" she yelled back.
Roiben laughed at her little remark, "Come on, princess, I'll walk you back to your room."
"You know," she began, as they left the dining hall and walked into the hallway, "you never told me how you proved your lineage to my father and got on his good side."
He chuckled before giving his answer, "I didn't. There's no way I could have, my family's been dead for too long and all of our books and records are either lost or destroyed. So I just told him I'd turn back into a bear and chew off his other leg if he stopped me from seeing you."
She burst out in laughter at his response, clutching at her stomach. "You're...joking...right?" she got out between breaths, wiping at the tears in her eyes.
"Nah, wish I was. Apparently he liked my sense of humor, though, because he gave the same reaction as you. And look where we are now? Good thing he doesn't hold a grudge anymore," he grinned. She shook her head and kept on laughing all the way back to her room.
A/N: No, you're not dreaming, I really did update twice in a week...hahaha! And with my longest chapter for this story so far! Don't expect it to be this often, though, I'm just really...inspired this week. Also, I'm starting school next Monday, although I'm going to be working less. *fingers crossed* So we'll see how this goes. This isn't the end of the conflict, there's more to come that's for sure. I'm so happy with all of your reviews! I'd like to give a shout out to Johonna Marie for being my 100th reviewer! Thank you all for sticking with this story! I hope this chapter comes as a pleasant surprise. :) As always, let me know what you think!
