Holy cats it's been over a year since my last update… Hi….I'm not dead….just A REALLY BUSY COLLEGE STUDENT! Plus this past year had been kinda awful. Sorry the past few chapters have been a little boring. THE EXCITEMENT WILL PICK UP!. I want to try to do a weekly update for this story, please keep reviewing and giving me feedback so I have motivation to keep the story rollin'. Thanks for all the support and here ya go. ;)
Chapter 10: Rough Around the Edges
It had been nearly a year since the bear incident. Merida was fidgeting in her seat while her mother was giving her a lesson on the cultures and customs of their clan. Every day after her lessons Merida would go with Ilene to "collect herbs", this was kind of their code name for training. So far she's shot with a bow, starting sword fighting, and done some other training like running and climbing. It was extremely difficult for an almost six year old. But, Merida loved it.
She looked out the window to the forest more excited than she had ever been in her life. What was out there? What will she learn? Well she "Merida!"
Merida jumped up in her seat, then look up to her mother's disapproving scowl. "A princess is attentive to her surroundings. "
Merida didn't like her mother disapproving "Aye, I am attentive." She said shyly.
"Wut was the last thing I said."
"Um, I uh…. Dumbroch is the greatest clan?"
Elinor put her hand to her forehead in frustration and sighed. "Lessons are over."
Merida couldn't help the giant grin that spread across her face. She jumped out of the chair and ran toward the door.
"Merida." Merida winced and turned to face her mother
"Did you forget somethin?"
"Oh" she quickly curtsied "Good day mum." She then quickly turned and sprinted out of the room giggling.
Elinor sighed "We have a lot of work to do."
…..
"Keep your guard up" the wooden swords smacked together
Merida is huffing as she aimlessly swung the sword back and forth. Ilene was easily able to turn and hit the young princess in the stomach. Merida hunched over with an "Oof!"
"Come on princess, up you go."
Merida gets up coughing
"What am I doing wrong?" she spits
"Yer center is always open." Putting the tip of the wooden sword on Merida's abdomen "It's an easy target, and an easy kill." She removes the sword "And don't aim for the sword, aim for me."
"But, I don't want to hurt ya." Merida replied
"Then whut's the point of fighting. Now, start in yer stance."
Merida stood and held the sword in front of her. "Stand sideways to me, yer tiny and need to use that to your advantage. Always keep your center guarded, if you get hit their death will follow quickly." Ilene quote
Merida nodded and changed her stance.
"Good" Ilene said "Now attack." Merida yelled as she lunged forward. Ilene easily was able to dodge the attack and blocked the sword. Merida tried attacking again, but Ilene turned and hit her in the back. Merida fell down face first in the grass.
Ilene laughed "Well princess, I think that's the longest you've made it in a sword fight."
Merida sat up with a mouthful of grass and was not laughing. She spit and folded her arms. "I don't understand. I'm trying, and we practice every day."
Ilene sat down next to her. "Becoming a good fighter takes time, just like healing takes time. Yer father is walking now, and is able to rule the kingdom again."
Merida did not seemed convinced.
"Or look at yer home" Ilene said as she pointed to the castle "it stands tall, can weather any storm, and is a comfort to you and yer family."
"More like an elegend prison" Merida mumbled under her breath, she then angrily pulls up tuffs of grass and starts to rip them "I just want to be good at something."
"Princess….."
"Merida!" she shouted as she stood up "My name is Merida, not princess, not yer highness, it's Merida!"
Ilene was stunned throughout the year if Merida missed a target, got hit in sword fighting, or ran out of breath she would get back up and try again with a smile on her face. But this was different, this little girl was hurting, and sad. Ilene had always been taught to suppress her emotions and just keep fighting. But now she sees this little girl in front of her who wants to be a fighter, no, who is a fighter; and her emotions have to be kept in as well. From her own family.
"Wut's wrong." Ilene said
Merida sat down next to Ilene and leaned against her body. Ilene was not used to this behavior, but she instantly put her arm around the little girl.
"My birthday is next week." Said Merida
"Yes."
"I hate my birthday."