Not by best chapter, it´s just that I didn´t knew how to write this scene. Hope I did a decent job.
Richard woke up the following morning with a sharp pain in his side, he must have pulled something yesterday, after all it´s not every day you pull up 130 pounds in one arm. He longed for a bath.
He pushed the pain and discomfort out of his head as he headed downstairs, where breakfast was already taking place, in a scene very similar to the one he had witnessed yesterday.
He sat down among the men and women in the hall and peeped at some of the dishes that were set over the tables.
Actually he wasn´t hungry, but he pretended to eat, all the while looking at Mérida who had noticed him. They exchanged looks and smiles for what remained of breakfast and once most of the clansmen had left to their daily chores both headed towards the great hall´s gates.
They stand in front of each other, both smile, expecting for the other one to take the initiative.
It´s Mérida who does –Ehem…Richard, I´m going to practice, would you like to come?-
-I´d love to- He starts walking towards the courtyard but she doesn´t move –Is something wrong?-
-Well, shouldn´t you bring your bow?-
-To be honest, I don´t have one-
-You don´t have a bow! - She laughs –We´ll fix that right away, come on! - She drags him out of the castle to the forest. Richard is amazed contemplating the sea of green extending everywhere.
-Choose a tree- She instructs him. Together they do so and cut off a branch, they take of the bark and shape it, Richard even adds a series of pins over the arrow rest to act as sights; when Mérida asks what are they for he explains, finally they polish it and harden it with fire before stringing it.
After that they spend some time shooting and decide to go to the docks, where merely a month ago the Lords arrived. A small sculler waits for them and they ship.
Richard humming while he rows.
-It´s a beautiful tune, how is it called?-
Actually it´s "I don't want to miss a thing" By Aerosmith, but how could he explain that to her?
-It´s a nameless song from my land- He lies, smiling.
And the day goes on, the best day he has ever lived, the perfect day.
As they walk back to the castle holding hands Richard can´t contain himself much longer. Back at home this would seem terribly rushed, but this is after all, the tenth century, when marriages were decided and took place without the fiancés knowing each other, or barely doing so. Most of the times marriages were imposed by their parents.
And he knows which will her answer be, a special glow appears in her eyes every time they are together. "Just do it" he urges himself.
-Richard…- she begins doubtful, and he freezes, listening, could it be…? – I…wot I feel right now, it´s unlike anything I´ve ever felt before. I have lived without it my whole life and I´m sorry I couldn´t recognize it at first- She stops to take breath and the whole world seems to stop with her –Richard, would you marry me?-
In a single fluid motion he hugs her and lifts her of the ground, holding her close to him –Mérida! Of course I will! - And they share they first kiss, warm, sweet, too many things to describe.
They go back to the castle, both of them smiling. Now they need only to give the news to her parents and everything will be settled.
Once again they search the castle, but they are only able to find her mother. It´s Mérida who will give the news. –You wait here- she says when they are both outside her room. She goes in alone.
-Mom? Where is Da? - She asks, worried but happy.
-I´m not sure darling, is there anything you need to talk about?-
-It´s just that…- She begins smiling, not sure how to continue. She finally decides that the shortest way is possibly the best - Richard and I are getting married-
The Queen pulls her daughter to a hug and fills her with kisses, it´s a miracle.
-You have my blessing-
She then instantly begins to work in the preparations for tomorrow.
-Wot did she said?-
-She approves, we´ll be married tomorrow-
He couldn´t be happier, he can do it, it´s so close he can taste it; love.
Both of them walk up the stairs towards his room, he lies down on his bed and closes his eyes in happiness. He opens them again when he feels something warm and heavy on his chest.
It´s Mérida, who has cuddled next to him, the pain on his side has retunerd, something hurts him, cuts into his skin , going deeper because of her weight, but he wouldn´t interrupt this for the greatest pain on the world . He slowly starts caressing her hair, fiery, soft, beautiful, unruly hair; just like her.
-I love you- The words escape her lips before she even realizes.
-So do I- He says, caressing her cheek, maybe "I love you too" would have been better.
She closes her eyes softly, a silence follows, perfect silence that could last forever, but that he knows must end.
-The nameless song from my land…-
-Aye?-
-It has lyrics, would you like to hear it?-
She lets out a small giggle –I´d love too-
He clears his throat to tune his voice, he was never an amazing singer but he´ll try his best. He begins.
- I could stay awake just to hear you breathing- he sings it slower than the original song, trying his best to make it seem real medieval music.
-Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Where every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure- Mérida looks at him, wondered.
-I don´t want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Because I'd miss you- He intentionally omits the "baby" part, for the sake of everything.
-And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you
And I don't want to miss a thing-
And he keeps on singing, when the song finishes he notices Mérida has fallen asleep on him. He smiles and closes his eyes too, drifting to a dreamless, quiet sleep. Perfect, everything is… perfect.
Or so they think, little do they know that many miles away, King Fergus heads toward the Macintosh lands, minded on taking to the Lord and settle this matter once and for all.