25 Days of PolarBear

Day 20 - Sled

(somewhat based on this headcanon: post/36576551588/lost-colorful-socks-replied-to)

Within half a year of her departure of the North Pole, Merida was crowned Queen of DunBroch. She wasn't expected to find a husband just yet, although she knew the pressure would slowly build as she got older. Not that she'd let that bother her. Because it didn't.

Today was the first snowfall of winter. She sat at her bedroom window, watching the tiny flakes float down and dissolve on the glass. She fiddled with the chain around her neck, where the ring had been secured. It hadn't felt right to wear it on her finger, and yet she couldn't bear to let it leave her sight.

Why hadn't she accepted when she had the chance? She'd rebelled against the rules before, and things had turned out alright. Why had she decided to obey tradition this time? For all she knew, Arthur had forgotten about her. He'd probably found someone else by now, unaware of how much she…

"Merida?"

She sat up, turning to see her mother in the doorway. "Hello, Mum. Do you need me for something?"

"The boys want to go sledding, and your father's busy at the moment. Would you mind taking them?"

"Of course." Anything to get her mind off of…

"Are you alright, dear?"

"Yes. I'm fine." She forced a smile, grabbing her cloak from her bed. "Never better."

…

The nearest hill was steep and perfect for sledding. Merida hiked through the snow, feeling it run down into her boots and freeze her toes. She shivered, looking around for any sign of her brothers, finding none.

Why had her mother asked her to come out here if-

"Watch out!"

Before she could even turn around, she was knocked off her feet, landing headfirst in the snow. She felt someone land on top of her, smashing her face deeper into the snowdrift.

"Get off of me!" she cried. "I'm soaking wet, and-"

The hand that pulled her out felt familiar…but it couldn't be…

But…it was.

"Hey, Mer."

She didn't know if she should cry or laugh or scream or hug him. So she did all four, knocking him off of his sled and into the snow. She didn't even ask what he was here for, or how he'd gotten here without her knowing; he was here, and that was what mattered. But she couldn't fight her curiosity.

"What…how…why…"

"Missed you too much." He shrugged. "It's been a long year…that's all I'm going to say. And I was practicing our route when we stopped here, and I…I asked your mum for a favor." He gestured to the sled. "This is for your brothers, actually, but I figured I'd test it out first."

She didn't say anything for a moment, just hugged him around the neck and covered his face with kisses. "I've missed you, too," she said after a particularly long kiss.

"Your mum told me you haven't been yourself, not really."

She shrugged. "I suppose not. I mean, I've…I've made it work. But it hasn't been the same."

He nodded in agreement. "Steve said there's a way we can work around it…if we really try. My mum and your mum…they're good with this sort of thing."

She pulled him closer. "Can you stay for a few days?"

"Of course. My whole family's here. They want to help."

And for what must have been the millionth time that year, Merida cried. She'd cried at night, and during her reading, and sometimes at dinner, bitter tears of regret and loss. But now she was crying out of relief that he was back, that maybe things would turn out alright.