Thankfully, Merida knew a shortcut to the oceanside. They made it in time to see the final ship dock. The ships carried Lord MacGuffin, Lord Dingwall and Lord MacIntosh, along with their first born sons. As soon as the men disembarked, they greeted the royal family.
"I have to marry one of them?" Merida complained to herself, as everyone made their way back to the castle. "I'd rather marry myself!"
A grin came upon her face. She was the firstborn of her clan. She could enter the competition to win her own hand in marriage!
"I will declare myself as a contestant before the game starts tomorrow," Merida told herself. "And I know exactly which game we will be playing."
What she did not know was that Kylo was spying on her from a distance, He read her thoughts and was impressed.
"My fiery princess knows what she wants, and is willing to fight for it," Kylo said as he emerged from his hiding spot. "But she will see that I will fight harder for what I want. By this time tomorrow, Merida will be mine!"
Merida was forced to spend time with the Dingwalls, MacGuffins and Macintoshes. She hated every minute of it. She wondered where Kylo was. Did he leave Scotland? Her heart wanted to believe he didn't.
"I guess I was wrong about him. I thought he liked me, and would have..." Merida pondered, as she crawled into bed that night. "Oh well. It does not matter anymore. Tomorrow I will compete and win my own hand in marriage." She fell asleep, with a small smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Kylo arrived at the castle. He sensed danger for Merida and her family. No harm could befall his future queen, so he quietly snuck inside.
The first floor he walked along was the floor that the chieftains and their sons were on. As they slept, Kylo used the Force to read what was in their minds. What he saw in the elders minds infuriated him. They were conspiring against Merida and her family! Whichever son won Merida's hand in marriage was going to take her away, while her family members would be killed.
"You will not harm them!" Kylo hissed to himself. He thought about slaughtering the men, but thought better of it. If he did that, then there was no way Merida would marry him. Calming himself down, he continued to walk.
He reached a large bedroom, which Kylo realized was where the king and queen slept. They were still awake, so he listened in on their conversation.
"I can't believe by this time tomorrow, my lassie will be married," Fergus said to Elinor.
"I know. At least we will be able to see her get married," Elinor replied, before she started weeping.
"Please don't cry, my love. I hate to see you in pain."
"I can't help it, Fergus! I know Merida does not want to get married. But if we die before she does, she will alone!"
"What?" Kylo gasped silently.
"She won't be alone. She will have her husband, and she will have the boys," Fergus reassured his wife.
"I wish it didn't have to be this way!" Elinor moaned, as Fergus tightly embraced her. "Why did I have to get cancer?"
"Why did my infection spread?"
"This is so unfair!"
"I know. But our Merida is strong. Even if she does not get married..."
"She must! I fear what the other clans will do if she doesn't."
"They will not harm her."
"That is not true!" Kylo growled softly.
"By this time next year, we will both be dead. All I want is for my children to be safe and happy!" Elinor sniffled through her tears.
"They will be, Elinor. I promise you," Fergus vowed.
Kylo took a deep breath. Now it made sense! He wondered why Merida's parents wanted her to get married as such a young age. They were both dying, and wanted someone to take care of her and the boys after their deaths.
He arrived at the triplets bedroom. He peeked inside, and saw they were sleeping. Kylo sighed. No matter how much trouble they caused, they did not deserve to lose their parents at such a young age.
His heart began to beat rapidly as he approached Merida's bedroom. He slipped inside and approached her bed. She was in a deep sleep.
"I know you will hate me for what I am going to do," Kylo softly whispered. "But I can't leave you here to deal with these evil men by yourself, or to watch your parents die. So you will be mine, Merida. We will be king and queen, and I promise you that no harm will come to you as long as I live."
He placed a kiss on her forehead before slipping out of the room. He should not care what Merida thought about him, but he did. Kylo came to a realization.
"I have compassion for her," he admitted, before leaving. His conflict over Merida was so great, he was not able to sense a little red haired boy that followed him, that heard every word Kylo spoke to his sister.
Early the next day, Merida was awakened by her mother.
"Five more minutes!" the princess complained.
"No, Merida. It is time to get ready," Elinor insisted, throwing the blanket off of her daughter. "You need to look presentable for the game."
"I always look presentable!"
"Don't argue with me. Go take a bath. I will have a servant bring your dress in."
Merida gave Elinor a nasty look, before rising from the bed. As she bathed, she felt apprehensive. If she did not win the archery game, she would have to get married today to one of the clansmen. This thought scared her.
"I don't want any of them! I want..." she began to say, but stopped.
"It's too late, Merida. He is probably halfway to England," she sadly sighed. "I have to win today, at all costs!"
When she finished, she saw that her dress was ready. Along with a white headpiece that she could not stand.
"Do I have to wear this?" Merida complained when she sat down with her parents for breakfast.
"Yes," her mother sternly told her. "Later on tonight, when you and your husband..."
"Elinor, please! I don't want to lose my appetite!" Fergus groaned, not wanting to think about what his daughter and future son-in-law would be doing.
"Sorry, Fergus. After the game is over, we will go back to your room to talk."
"Great," Merida grunted. Her mother was going to have "the wedding night" talk with her. She noticed that her brothers were not at the table.
"Where are the boys?" she asked curiously.
"They will be confined to their room for the day. I do not want them to interfere," Elinor explained.
"What your mother means is that she does not want them to set your suitors on fire," Fergus quipped, giving his daughter a wink.
"Fergus, shame on you!"
"At least they will be useful, if they were on fire!" Merida giggled in amusement.
"That is not funny!"
Kylo entered the triplets room, and called out their names. When they stirred, they were surprised to see him. He put a finger on his mouth, indicating for them to be quiet.
"I need you to come with me," he whispered, as the boys got dressed.
"Why? Are you taking us to the game?" Harris asked.
"Yes. But I will need to hide you."
"Why do we need to hide?" Hubert innocently questioned. Before Kylo could respond, Hamish said,
"Because they will hurt us if we stay here."
Kylo looked at Hamish in disbelief. How did the boy know he and his brothers were in danger?
"Let's go, boys," Kylo instructed, still in shock by Hamish's admission.
After breakfast, Merida and her parents joined the other clans on the Highland. The archery competition to determine who would be Merida's husband was about to start.
"Wait! We have one more person that wants to compete!" Merida insisted, as her spare set of bow and arrows were hidden behind her back.
"I don't see anyone else," Fergus stated in confusion.
"The rules state that each firstborn of the clans can compete in the game. As firstborn of my clan, I am going to compete for my own hand!"
Merida removed her hideous headpiece and pulled out her weapon. Everyone was shocked by her words. Elinor was furious and tried to approach her daughter. Fergus held her back.
"You are not too old for a spanking, young lady!" Elinor snapped. Her eyes widened in horror as Merida took her bow and arrow and aimed it in her mother's direction.
"Don't even try it!" Merida gruffly warned her mother.
"They are crazy!" Lord MacGuffin thought to himself. "It is a good thing we are going to kill them!"
"Fergus, you cannot allow this!" Elinor begged for his intervention. His eyes met Merida's.
"I will permit it," he softly uttered.
"Fergus, are you crazy?"
"Elinor, the man that can best my daughter in archery deserves her hand in marriage."
"Thank you, Father," Merida grinned, as she lowered her bow. Ignoring the cold stare her mother was giving her, she turned to her potential suitors and asked,
"Are you ready to compete?" They could only nod their heads in silence. Suddenly, Merida's bow and arrows were grabbed by Elinor.
"Give them back to me!" Merida screamed furiously.
"You can't compete if you don't have them," Elinor stated smugly. She was about to toss the weapon into the fire when she heard a strange male voice shout,
"Don't!"