AN: This chapter is really long, and I'm very tired. Enjoy!

NOTES: Talking is easy, Listening is hard, Understanding is almost impossible...

REVIEWERS!:

HanyouExorcistAlchemist48: Yes, and No.

Graceful Petals: Aw, thank you! Mulan is one of my favorites, too, and this chapter is the kick-off to the action that you've been waiting for! ;)

BrawlerGamer: I tried to make it as subtle as possible, but I just couldn't help myself because those three are so cute! They definitely share a special bond that will be extremely important later on in the series. And you're pretty much in the exact frame-of-mind I want everyone to be in for Year 4, so that's super exciting to me! Are you asking me to do character analysis? Because I will do character analysis on anyone you want! I literally overthought everything. Especially House placements. I really like character analysis :3

C: Thank you so much! Yeah, originally the scene was gonna be a bit different, but the flow of things changed it a bit and I think it turned out better this way. And, yes, the really cute interactions between Hiccup, Jack, and Emma were some of my favorite to write. As far as Hiccup and the other teens, that will have to wait until the fourth book, but your points are valid and will be covered in the (hopefully) near future. I can also see Fishlegs being in Ravenclaw, he's one of very few characters that I believe actually can fit well into two different Houses for different reasons, but, like you said, for this story Hufflepuff was more appropriate. You are onto me, my friend! Valka and the Guardians have, in fact, crossed paths before and you are correct to guess that Hiccup wouldn't recognize her. Valka is such a wild-card in this story, I could literally spill any little detail about her I want and it wouldn't spoil anything, which is why I'm more direct about her than most other characters. And thank you! It's not often that I get to spew analysis at people, so that was very fun for me! And I appreciate the extra long review! :)

kade32: Hello there, friend! You are one-hundred percent correct! The story Mrs. Frost told the kids was inspired heavily by the movie Song of the Sea. It's one of the many, many Easter Eggs within this story, and I hope you enjoyed it and are continuing to! :)


Music: "I Am Merida" by Patrick Doyle (Brave 2012)

Chapter 11: I Am Merida

Time passed, and with all of the festivities of Jack's Coming of Age and the Winter Holidays, fun and laughter filled every day. But, as the old saying goes, time flies when having fun, and the four students were of no exception to that.

They stayed with the Fa family for all of winter break, celebrating and giving each other gifts, but, eventually, the parties had to end and their bags had to be packed and train tickets had to be used. They thanked the Fa family profusely and said farewell as they boarded the train bound for King's Cross Station.

Merida felt bad for Emma as they left because the younger girl had fallen in love with the Great Moor and the endless ocean. Not to mention, she had been so happy to spend time with them, which reminded Merida that Emma was the only child at home when Jack was away at school and that must have been quite lonely for her, but once they returned to King's Cross Station they would have to part ways; Emma going back to Diagon Alley with Mrs. Frost, and the four of them going back to Hogwarts from Platform nine and three-quarters. Merida was certain she wasn't the only one who noticed the younger girl staring longingly out the window as the Great Moor grew smaller and smaller behind them because Hiccup glanced at her sympathetically several times, and Rapunzel frowned sadly.

It was Jack who finally eased his sister's mood by reminding her that next year would be her first at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They quickly joined in with Jack when they saw Emma's spirits lift a little, and soon they were having entire conversations about what classes she was most excited for, which ones worried her, and they all gave her various tips and advice for surviving in school.

The hours passed, and, sadly, the trip back felt much shorter than the trip there. Their party of six departed from the train, and Mrs. Frost insisted on going with them to the Hogwart's Express and helping them with their trunks.

Jack hugged his mom and his sister tight as he said goodbye, and Merida took a step back with Hiccup and Rapunzel to give the three some privacy. They boarded the train together, and they all waved goodbye Mrs. Frost and Emma as they watched the train start to pull away from the station. Emma even ran alongside the train until there was no more path for her to follow.

Merida felt bad for leaving the girl behind. She was very sweet, kind, and had the best imagination out of everyone Merida knew. Jack was right when he told them that Emma would do well at Hogwarts. She needed to meet some kids her own age, too, but until next year there wasn't much any of them could do to help her.

That, and Merida had her own troubles to worry on. If her plan didn't work she'd be married off to one of the Lords' sons, and she wasn't about to let that happen.

Their return to Hogwarts was exciting, relieving, and stressful for Merida all at once. As they finally got off the last train at Hogsmeade station, she was relieved that there wouldn't be any more heavy traveling until the end of the school year. She was also excited to be back at Hogwarts for magic and learning and the comfort of home. However, neither of those feelings could overpower the clouds of anxiety that billowed inside of her.

The evening feast that welcomed all of the returning students back from all of their trips and vacations was very large, as usual, and Merida managed to slip past her mother long enough to sit with her friends. Professor North gave a short speech to welcome them into the second half of the school year, and all too soon the evening came to an end.

Instead of climbing the stairs to the left with the other Gryffindors, Merida was pulled off to the right by her mother. Tonight she would sleep in her family's rooms, and in the morning her mother would pick out a dress for her to wear at the morning feast where the Clans would be gathered and everyone would expect her to announce the challenge for the suitors.

All of this because tomorrow was the first day of Spring.


Merida was seated in the throne beside her father at the morning feast. She wore the pale blue dress that her mother favored, and her hair was pulled so tightly it was a little painful. The suitors were at the ends of the Clans' tables, and passed them were her friends and the other Hogwarts students who, for Merida, felt worlds away from her.

She managed to spy Rapunzel's braid and Jack's flash of white hair every now and then, but so many people had gathered at the castle for that day. The first day of Spring marked the main event of the Games. Marked the day that the suitors would compete for her hand in marriage.

Commoners, nobles, warriors, maidens, farmers, and everyone in between had come from all over Scotland. Traders came from land and sea in the hopes of gaining a profit at such a high-class event. The set up stands and stalls in the fields and on the docks, peddling their wares to both the people and the Hogwarts occupants.

The morning feast buzzed with the energy of excitement as everyone awaited the moment when the Princess would be expected to announce her Chosen Challenge. Merida herself simply wished she could be anywhere else in that moment. Riding through the forest with Angus, perhaps? Or tossing a Quaffle around on broomsticks with Jack? Or swimming in the lake with her friends like they had last year? All much better options to her than what was her current situation.

All too soon, her mother rose from her seat, and the crowds of people hushed as all eyes went to the Queen. She stepped forward and then reached her hand out to present Merida who felt her stomach tighten into a ball of nerves.

The suitors stepped to the front of all the tables and knelt before the dais as Merida took her place beside her mother. She nearly threw up while standing up there, looking down at her classmates and friends as all eyes were on her. Merida had to remind herself that she had a plan and she was not going to be engaged any time soon.

"The time has come, at last!" The Queen announced, smiling brightly as the people cheered. "The Princess will now give the suitors their Challenge!"

Queen Elinor and everyone else in the hall turned to look at her, and for a horrifying second Merida felt as if her legs would give out beneath her. What she would give to have her bow with her in that moment. The feel of the wood, the weight on her shoulder, would have given her almost as much comfort as one of her friends standing beside her.

Merida noticed Jack, Hiccup, and Rapunzel standing on a ledge at the very back of the room, close to the door, so they could see over the taller people in the crowd. Rapunzel nodded encouragingly, but her mouth was pressed into a thin, worried line. Jack gripped his staff tightly and fidgeted on the ledge to the point where Merida thought he might fall off. Hiccup was a complete contrast to the other boy because he was almost completely still, his eyes locked on her with a worried expression.

"Archery." Merida managed to choke out. She swallowed as discretely as possible and folded her hands before her to keep them from shaking. "I choose Archery." She told them as calmly as she possibly could.

The people in the Great Hall cheered, happy that the decision had finally been made, and Merida had to bite her lip as her own anxious excitement threatened to spread across her face in a smile.

Most everyone started rushing out to the fields where the Games took place, but Merida excused herself from the Royal party with the explanation of needing to use the restroom and promising to meet them at the gazebo in a few minutes.

Merida ran off before her mother could protest, heading towards the closest girl's bathroom until she was well out of sight of anyone who might be suspicious of her. She paused to catch her breath, and then grinned and set off towards the Gryffindor tower.

It wasn't too long of a run, and soon she was bursting through the entrance to the common rooms. She ran through the main sitting room and straight to the stairs, veering to the right where the girl's rooms were.

The fell to her knees and skidded passed her bed because of the moment she had built up from running, but quickly crawled back over to the foot of her bed and opened her trunk that sat there. On the very top was her bow and quiver full of arrows. She scooped the items into her arms and the items were quickly followed by her cloak that she through over her shoulders. Once she was sure she had everything she needed, she slipped out of the Gryffindor common rooms as quickly as she had come.

She made it all the way to the moving staircases before she bumped into Jack, Rapunzel, and Hiccup when rounding a corner on one of the landings.

"Merida!" Rapunzel cried, throwing her arms around her neck.

"Where have you been? You disappeared after the announcement! And what's going on, I thought you were gonna convince your parents to call off the engagement?" Jack exclaimed, obviously very confused by the whole situation.

"My mom won't listen, so I'm taken matters into my own hands." Merida told them matter-of-factly as she glared at the floor. Hiccup noticed her armful of her bow and arrows and frowned.

"Merida," He said carefully, nervous and worried looking. "A-are you sure you know what you're doing? Marriages are a p-pretty big deal, shouldn't you be careful about offending the Lords?..." He trailed off.

"No." Merida said firmly. "I know what I'm doing, and I'm not backing down now. Just trust me."

Her friends seemed deeply concerned, but she didn't stay long enough for them to continue trying to talk her out of it. Her plan was already in motion. If she didn't end this today, she'd be engaged, and then married off within the next few years.

She couldn't let that happen.

Outside the festivities were already in full swing. There were caber tosses, hammer tosses, weight tosses for height and distance, tug-of-wars, dancing groups performed on stages, games of shinty were being played in the far-off fields by the Quidditch Pitch, musicians played endless strings of music on bagpipes, screaming children whacked a grass-and-twig weaved bear doll that a man held on a rope while roaring playfully for the delighted children, and Merida even spotted her own brothers up to their usual mischief.

The wee devils were on the roof of one of the tents, peering down at Maudie who held a platter of cakes in her hand as she flirted with an older man with a long neck and a fluffy looking beard.

Merida didn't bother to stay and see how the scene played out. She already knew that her brothers would get the cakes, one way or another, and she had much more important things to do at that moment.

Merida finally found the rectangular gazebo that had been set up for her and her parents on the edge of the largest field. She tucked her bow and arrows against the side of her throne here they wouldn't be noticed, and then covered them with her cloak. Looking out to ensure that no one had seen her, Merida's eye caught the sight of a small flag. Nothing special; just her family's crest on a small flag at the top of a post. Each of the suitors had one.

Merida smirked.

She made short work of moving the flag to behind the gazebo, which was good news for her, because her mother and father chose to arrive in that moment, just as the horn to announce the main event of the Games sounded in the distance. Everyone would be gathering to see what fate had in store for them.

Merida sat quietly, unable to remove the small smile from her face as the Lords appeared and made their way over. King Fergus and Queen Elinor stepped forward as the people gathered around. Merida spotted her friends who had climbed to the top of one of the larger tents to watch the games, her brothers next to them with a platter of half-eaten cakes.

"It's time!" King Fergus called as the crowds cheered and screamed their approval.

"Archers, to your marks!" Queen Elinor ordered.

"Aye! Archers, t-to your marks!" Fergus echoed quickly.

"And may the lucky arrow find it's target!" Queen Elinor smiled brightly, obviously pleased that things seemed to finally be going smoothly.

Merida only hid her smirk by biting her lip and kicked her bow back farther so no one would see it.

"Oi! Get on with it!" King Fergus commanded as he flopped back into his comfortable throne.

The first suitor, Young MacGuffin, only nodded shyly and slowly walked over to the starting line. Holding up his bow, he pinched the string with his too-large fingers and squinted at the target in the distance. He released, and the arrow struck the outer most ring of the target.

The crowd gasped and then dissolved into laughter as Young MacGuffin sighed in frustrated defeat, dropping his head back and closing his eyes, while his father smacked his own forehead.

"I bet he wishes he were tossing cabers." Merida muttered to her father with a devious grin as she hid her face from the people with the palm of her hand.

"Or holding up bridges." Fergus chuckled back as they both broke into uncontrollable chuckles, and even Elinor lightly slapping the King's arm couldn't make them contain their quiet giggling.

The next, Young Macintosh, took a deep breath, and then dramatically drew his bow in a flourish of a movement. He flicked his hair back, and the horde of ladies that seemed to follow him screamed excitedly, he looked back at the target and released.

The arrow struck just to the right of the red center of the target. The crowd murmured with appreciation for the shot, but Macintosh started screaming with rage.

"At least you hit the target, son!" Lord Macintosh called to him, giving Lord MacGuffin a smirk, but the young lord wasn't listening. Young Macintosh continued screaming, and continued to whack his bow against the ground in his fit of rage.

"Oh, that's attractive." Merida said sarcastically, and a small part of her wondered if Hiccup was starting to rub off on her, but didn't dwell on it because right before Young Macintosh collapsed to his knees in sobs, he threw his bow across the crowd.

"I caught it!" Someone at the very back of the gathering cried excitedly, and cheering burst from the people.

"Good arm." Merida pointed out, finding the whole thing rather amusing.

"And such lovely, flowing locks." Fergus drawled dreamily, waving his hand by his hair.

"Fergus." Elinor spoke warningly.

"What?" Fergus asked innocently in reply, and Merida couldn't help but smile.

Last was Wee Dingwall. He reached for an arrow, but couldn't reach, so he ended up walking around in a small circle as all of his other arrows dumped out of his quiver. The one he grabbed got stuck on the bowstring.

Lord Dingwall squeaked nervously as he watched his son struggle with the equipment. His son finally had his arrow and bow, but then couldn't seem to figure out how to hook the back end of the arrow to the string.

"Aw, wee lamb." Merida pouted, actually feeling a little sorry for the lad as the crowd behind him openly laughed at his struggling.

He finally pulled up, the bow poised and ready, but then the arrow floated away from the bow until it bumped against his chest. He nudged it back into place, only to have it float away a second time.

"Oh, come on!" Fergus growled, aggravated by how long the whole thing was taking. "Shoot, boy!" He shouted.

Startled from the noise, Wee Dingwall released the arrow, and it struck the target. Dead Center.

The crowd exploded, and Lord Dingwall whooped with joy. "Well done, kid!" He cheered as he started a jig in all of his excitement. He turned away from the other Lords and grabbed the back of his kilt, bending over, he said, "Feast your eyes!"

The disgusted gagging noises and crying children were all Merida heard because she decided at that moment to slip away.

"Well, that's just grand now, isn't it? Guess who's coming to dinner!" Fergus turned to his wife, utterly displeased by the turn of events.

"Fergus!" Elinor hissed.

"By the way! Hope you don't mind being called 'Lady Ding -'" He stopped abruptly and frowned when he turned and found, not his pretty lass of a daughter, but one of his hounds sitting in her chair.

Merida weaved through the crowds until she stood at the front of them all, and struck the ground with the flag pole of her Family's Crest. She walked forward until everyone could see her cloak-covered figure clearly, and then ripped the hood from her head, revealing her freed curls in all their fiery glory and with the pride of a lion shaking out it's mane.

The crowd gasped in utter shock, but Merida ignored them all.

"I am Merida." She announced clearly, for all to hear. "First born descendant of Clan Dunbroch, and I'll be shooting for my own hand!" She glared defiantly at her mother as the Lords gasped in disapproval and confusion, turning to the Queen for answers who could only look on, just as lost as everyone else.

Merida readied her bow, and went to draw, but the tightness of her drew refused to allow her the movement necessary for what she needed to do. She tried again, but the fabric resisted, and she growled in annoyance.

"Merida!" She heard her mother shout, but Merida was looking over herself in anger.

This stupid dress. She'd always hated this dress. It was too tight. She couldn't move in it, could barely even breathe! But, for some reason, it was her mother's favorite. This stupid dress was just another thing that kept her mother from hearing her. It wasn't going to ruin this day. This was going to be the day that her mother finally stopped and listened.

"Curse this dress!" Merida snapped, bending down and pulling as far forward as she possibly could. The fabric tore at the seams, ripping noisily and fray, but finally freeing her from the confines of the dress.

Realizing this, Merida pulled and started walking. As she passed MacGuffin's target, she released and the arrow struck dead center. The crowd gasped in complete shock.

"Merida, stop this!" Queen Elinor's voice registered in her mind, but Merida ignored her.

She passed Macintosh's target and released. Again, a perfect shot.

"Don't you dare loose another arrow!" The Queen commanded, but Merida blocked her out.

She came to Dingwall's target and pulled out another arrow from her quiver. She drew, and took a deep breath as she lined up her shot.

"Merida, I forbid it!" Queen Elinor hissed, spitting fury, but Merida wasn't going to stop. Not now. This time her mother was going to listen to her.

Merida released the arrow and it flew straight and true. Dingwall's arrow split in half as Merida's ran right through the center with enough power to go through the target and embed itself in the wooden support in the back of it.

Three perfect shots lined up. Pride couldn't be described in a better way as Merida's talent with her bow was finally recognized by someone other than herself in the privacy of the forest. The entire crowd, stunned to silence by the Princess's mastery of such a skill.

Something her mother would never want anyone outside the family to know about.

Merida turned and came face to face with Queen Elinor who was no longer calm and collected, but openly furious, and Merida couldn't help the sense of satisfaction that ran through her.


"I've had just about enough of you, lass!" The Queen said furiously as she threw Merida into the chambers the Royal family had been staying in at the castle.

"You're the one who wants me to- grr!" Merida couldn't even bring herself to say it.

"You embarrassed them, you embarrassed me!" Elinor snapped at her, pointing towards the door angrily.

"I followed the rules!" Merida retorted strongly, refusing to be at fault when her mother was the one who started this whole mess.

"You don't know what you've done!" Elinor told her, turning and slamming the door so that no one would be able to hear them shouting.

"You just don't care what I feel -!" Merida tried to talk to her, but the Queen's warning ran right over her voice, unwilling to hear. "There will be fire and sword if this is not set right!"

"Just Listen!" Merida begged.

"I am the Queen!" Elinor shouted. "You listen to me!"

"Aahh! This is so unfair!" Merida exclaimed, turning away and slamming her fists against the table.

"Ha! Unfair?" Queen Elinor scoffed incredulously.

"You were never there for me!" Merida cried, whirling to face the Queen with a sword off the table now gripped in her hand. "This whole marriage is what you want! Did you ever bother to ask what I want? NO! You walk around telling me what to do, what not to do! Trying to make me be like you!" Merida exclaimed, swinging the sword to release some of her anger as she paced back and forth. "Well," She faced her mother, The Queen. "I'm not going to be like you!"

"Ah, you're acting like a child!" Elinor sighed, refusing to hear what her daughter was saying. She placed her hands on her hips, looking away from the distraught girl before her.

Her reaction only made Merida angry.

"And you're a beast!" Merida retaliated, stomping over to her mother's precious tapestry and pointing the sword at it angrily. "That's what you are!"

The Queen gasped, horrified. "Merida!"

"I'll never be like you!" Merida growled, testing the give of the weave with the point of the sword.

"No, stop that!" Elinor cried.

"I'd rather die than be like you!" Merida exclaimed, swinging the sword up and then back down in one fluid motion that split the tapestry, separating the image of her from her mother with a long tear.

The Queen retracted instantly, horrified and devastated by the damage, but Merida raised her chin defiantly, too angry to care anymore.

Queen Elinor's expression suddenly darkened and she marched over to Merida, scaring the girl a little with how intimidating she suddenly appeared.

"Merida, you are a Princess!" Queen Elinor snapped, grabbing the sword and throwing it to the floor across the room. "I expect you to act like one!" She grabbed Merida's bow, hung safely on her shoulders, and yanked it off despite the girl's yelp of protest as it yanked on her hair painfully.

Queen Elinor turned away and threw the beautifully carved bow into the fire, and Merida screamed as if she, herself, had been burned, her hands flying to her mouth as she watched the delicate piece of wood burn.

Her bow. He beautiful bow that she had carried since she was small. The piece of wood that had become as much a part of her as Jack's staff was to him was now being burned to ash.

Her mother turned to her with no remorse, no sorrow at all in her features, and suddenly Merida felt her words were more true than she once thought. Her mother was a cruel beast who would never hear her.

Merida backed away, unable to stop the tears from spilling out of her eyes, and then turned and ran, throwing the door open and not bothering to close it in her rush to get away. To escape. To never see the horrible look of anger on her mother's face again.

She didn't stop when her mother called out to her, she didn't stop when Jack, Hiccup, and Rapunzel called out to her in the courtyard, and she didn't stop when she reached the stables. She threw herself onto Angus's back and kicked him into a full gallop away from the castle, heading straight into the Forbidden Forest as she sobbed into her horse's mane.