The Craftsman

After a few hours by herself Merida deemed it was time to return home. She rode Angus back to the main trail before following it back to her castle. The Castle of the Rowan Lands was an enormous structure composed of rock in built upon a grass hill. It was surrounded by forest on all sides.

Merida continued on toward it, no stopping as the gates were opened as she rode right inside. She rode past the village housed within the castle walls and up to the inner gates. Once in her home she directed Angus to the stables where she unsaddled, watered, and fed him before heading inside to find her mother.

She found her mother in the main hall, seated at the royal table and looking over some parchments.

"Mum," Merida said as she passed, intent on heading to her room.

"Merida," her mother said back, causing Merida to freeze. She suppressed the urge to groan as her mother's tone indicated a lecture was coming. The queen stood from her seat before walking to stand before her daughter. Queen Elinor was a beautiful faye woman. Tall and slender with long brown hair tied into two long braids that fell down her back. She looked a lot like her daughter, at least in the face.

"Where were you?" her mother asked sternly.

"Out riding mum. Not out of the ordinary," Merida said with a shrug.

"Aye. But I believe Ah remember telling you that the Lords-"

At the mention of the Lords of the nearby kingdoms Merida did groan. "Ugh. Mum the Lords," Merida said in annoyance.

"Yes Merida, the Lords. Our allies and your potential suitors," her mother pressed. "I believe I asked you to entertain them. Didnae I? Spend some time with them?"

"But mom!" Merida said, about to whine before her mother's look silenced her.

"Get upstairs and changed into something nice so we can at least have dinner with them," she ordered.

Merida let out a defeated sigh. "Yes mum." With that she obediently turned around and made her way upstairs to change. She stripped of her plain dress and went to her closet to select a shimmering blue one with golden trim. She laid it out on her bed before sitting at her desk and grabbing a brush. She began trying to fix up her wind blown hair as best she could, all while dreading having to stomach her suitors' company.

Were her potential suitors handsome? Sure. All fairy men were. But they were so damn boring! So damn haughty and arrogant. Talking about themselves nonstop and believing themselves to be the best thing she could ever hope for. Merida didn't understand her mother's insistence on finding a husband. Elinor herself ruled her lands alone.

Though it was said she'd had a human lover once, a long time ago which led to the birth of Merida and attributed to her red hair. But Elinor would never confess or deny when anyone asked her about so nobody pressed her.

Merida stood up, inspecting her hair and satisfied that it was presentable enough. She looked down at the rest of her body. Merida was shorter than most faye women. And curvier, with bigger and fuller breasts and wider hips. She guessed this was attributed to her possible human side, but she never dwelled on it. She was herself and apparently it was enough to draw men from miles around to her.

Merida put on her dress before walking to her door. She couldn't help but glance back, looking to the quiver of new arrows and smiling, anxiously anticipating the moment when she had time to herself and she could shoot till her heart's desire.


The next day Merida struggled to stay awake as she ate breakfast with her suitors. They were exchanging hunting stories. Talking all about the things and beasts they killed, playing it up for dramatic effect and exaggerating details as they puffed out their chests. Merida had her cheek resting on a fist, pushing the food around her plate and hoping beyond hope that something would break the monotony.

"Princess Merida," a guard suddenly said as he entered the room.

"Aye?" Merida said as she looked to him.

"You have a guest," the guard answered.

Merida wanted to scream. Not another damn suitor! She sighed, face blank. "Who is it then?"

"It's the Princess of the Rampion fields Your Majesty," he revealed.

Merida immediately perked up and smiled. "Send her in," she said quickly. The guard nodded with a bow as he shuffled out of the room. He returned, holding the door open for a young gentry woman to enter. The whole room seemed to brighten from the sunny disposition of the woman dressed in a lavender dress with a mass of golden hair tied into a thick braid running down her back with a myriad of colorful flowers in it.

The woman was barefoot and smiling at Merida with grass green eyes and waiting for the guard to rush to her side and announce her for protocol.

"Princess Rapunzel of the Rampion Fields!" he said aloud. The suitors and Merida all stood and gave her a bow in greeting.

With the formalities out of the way the woman smiled brightly before rushing to Merida with her arms outstretched. "Merida!" she said in glee as she threw her arms around her friend's waist and then pressed her lips firmly against the red head's in greeting.

Merida hugged and kissed her back, a common and casual greeting by the the standards of the faye. Such displays of affections among friends were considered insignificant among gentry, even between members of the same sex. Rapunzel pulled away to smile before reading the room, seeing the suitors and looking back to Merida whose eye were screaming Help!

Rapunzel clutched onto Merida's arm and let out a gusty sigh while pretending to sag in exhaustion. "Oh Merida! I'm so very taxed from my journey here! Would I be asking too much for you to lead me to refreshment and nourishment?" Rapunzel asked.

Merida smiled gratefully before looking to the suitors. "Apologies My Lords. But it appears that I must see to the well being of our guest and ally from the Rampion Fields," she said in a fake apology. She bid them farewell before walking arm and arm with Rapunzel out of the room.

The pair grabbed some water and a few pastries before leaving the castle. They didn't venture too far. Just outside the walls and too a distant hill where Rapunzel relaxed, laying her head back on Merida's lap as the redhead inspected one of her new arrows.

She admired the work. Staring at it in adoration, all while wondering...who could have possibly made them?

"Merida!" Rapunzel whined. Merida looked down at the blond who was pouting up at her. "What's so special about an arrow that you'd give it all your attention and not me?" she said in mock indignation.

Merida smirked. "Well it's a beautiful arrow Punz. I'd say it even makes your radiant beauty seem dull in comparison," she teased.

Rapunzel's mouth fell open and she gasped dramatically. The mere notion that an arrow could be more beautiful than her downright blasphemous. She frowned before sitting up and turning around. "How could you Merida!? You kiss me this instant or I'll never forgive you!" Rapunzel demanded. She puckered her pink lips and leaned in with her arms out.

But with a laugh Merida raised an arm and placed a hand over her friend's face to keep her back. Rapunzel leaned away and placed a hand over her heart to feign heartbreak. "You're so cruel!" she said, even managing to make her eyes wet with fake tears.

Merida rolled her eyes before grabbing her by the shoulder and pulling her close. She closed her eyes and gave her a kiss on the mouth. When she pulled away Rapunzel smiled, sated before scooting closer to lean against her side and look at the arrow in question. "But seriously, what's so special about this arrow? You've been staring at it forever."

"It's special to me," Merida said softly. Rapunzel blinked and cocked her head to the side in question. That's when Merida told her about the arrows. And her curiosity about their mysterious maker.

"Maybe it's gift from one of your suitors?" Rapunzel offered.

Merida frowned at the thought. "I doubt it. I've seen the arrows they use. And besides that they're always different every time," Merida said to dispel the notion.

"That and...well..." she paused, trailing off as she looked back to the arrow.

"Well what?" Rapunzel pressed.

"I don't ken. It's just...whoever makes it never reveals himself to me. And I'm not sure if they ever plan to," she explained. Her suitors weren't humble when bringing her gifts. They made grand displays, boasting the about skills of their smiths and the quality of the materials that went into the crafting of each one. But this person didn't, making her doubly sure it wasn't one of her suitors.

"And whoever does it puts a lot of work into it. Changing the heads and the feathers, finding the best woods and treating them with fine finishes while sharpening and polishing the point to a shine," she said in wonder. Sometimes the metal was even etched with designs.

No, whoever did this was no simple smith working under the direction of their Lords. These were labors of love, made especially for her. And she loved them. She loved the thought of someone devoting themselves to make things she would love, taking the time to craft each arrow by hand. Arrows that flew straighter, father, and true than she'd ever seen.

And she loved how they changed things up every time. The new head or shaft were always a bit different. And those miniscule changes forced her to adjust her technique, making her a better archer for it.

"Ooooh," Rapunzel teased. "I think you're in love."

Merida snorted and shook her head even as a blush tinged her cheeks. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't even know who they are," she said with a huff.

"Well why not find out?" Rapunzel stated.

"And how would I do that?" Merida countered. "The first Lord I asked would admit to their construction. And I can't just travel around to all the kingdoms and courts asking, 'excuse me, but did you make this arrow'?"

Rapunzel hummed, seeing Merida's point. But then she had an idea. "Oh! I have an idea!" she said. Merida looked to her. "My parents are having a ball in a few days and Queen Clarion is coming. There's a really talented fairy craftsman who will be joining her and maybe she can tell us who the craftsman is," she explained. When Merida arched a brow she continued. "Craftsman can recognize another's work. I see it with dressmakers and tailors all the time," she said.

"There will be other nobles and such there as well. If the fairy does not know maybe someone else will," she said with a shrug.

Merida hummed, smiling as the plan made some sense. It was more than she had at least. But her face fell as she remembered a detail. "Ugh. But my mum wants me to stay and spend personal time with the Lords. She'll never let me go if I ask her," she said with a sigh.

"What if I ask her?" Rapunzel chimed in.

Merida brightened. Her mother, and practically everyone else, adored Rapunzel. She'd been glad the Princess had made friends with her daughter. Mostly because she believed she'd be a good influence on her. Little did she know that the blonde could be just as free spirited as her daughter.

"That's a great idea Punz. I could kiss you," Merida said with a smile.

"Yes please."

"Come on you," Merida said as she stood and pulled her friend up.

"Queen Elinor," Rapunzel greeted with a dazzling smile as she stood before the Queen.

The Queen smiled. "Rapunzel. Nice to see you lass," the Queen said to the Princess.

"Thank you Your Majesty," Rapunzel said with a small bow. "I was hoping to ask your permission to bring Merida to my parent's ball in three day's time. I'm sure they'd love to see her and I would adore her company," Rapunzel asked sweetly.

Elinor was torn. While she liked the Princess and her parents and would hate to deny them, her daughter really should spend time with her suitors. "I don't know lass. Merida has suitors here and-"

Suddenly the air around Rapunzel began to sparkle and shimmer. It was faint, unnoticed even by the Queen. "Please," Rapunzel asked again. The Queen was mesmerised by Rapunzel for just a moment. And it was just enough.

"Well alright lass. But see to it that she behaves," the Queen said. Rapunzel smiled brightly before turning on her heel and meeting up with her friend in pride. "Done," she said with a nod.

"Did you have to glamour her?" Merida asked curiously. Rapunzel gave a tiny nod. Rapunzel was great at using glamour secretly. She could charm nearly anyone without being noticed. "You should really practice your glamour Merida," Rapunzel teased. Merida frowned and swatted her arm before going to her room to pack.

Rapunzel waited patiently, sitting on Merida's bed as watching her gather her things. When she was done they walked down to the stables. Once they were there Rapunzel placed a hand on Merida's shoulder so she could transport them to her home. But Merida shook her shoulder off.

"No magic. We travel by horse," Merida said firmly.

"But that will take forever!" Rapunzel whined. But she lost to Merida's will, eventually climbing on behind her and clinging on tight as the two of them began riding southward towards Rapunzel's home.


Meanwhile the craftsman of the arrows walked into a village. Most of the villagers paid him no mind. Or at least they outright ignored him. Refusing to meet his eye because of his deformity. The man swallowed deep as he made his way into the local smith's shop. The smith inside paused from inspecting his work to look at him.

The craftsman walked up to the counter, pausing when he reached it to clear his throat. "I need a hammer," he stated simply.

"What kind?" the smith asked.

"One for smithing," he stated. The smith nodded as he turned to browse his selection. A smithing hammer tended to be low on the list of these his customers bought. So it took him some time. But eventually he came back with a solid metal hammer. The craftsman picked it up, testing the weight and inspecting it for its durability. He nodded in satisfaction for setting soem jewels down onto the counter.

The smith had no objection to the trade and simply nodded, their transaction done. The craftsman turned around and left, hammer clutched in his fist. He'd been foolish enough to have not made a replacement, forcing him to come into town and get one so he could keep up his work.

But he preferred solitude, hating times when he was forced to interact with other gentry.

He passed by a few gentry girls, he kept his head down as they neared. But he didn't miss how they stared at him, disgust passing across their faces as they gave him wide berth.

The man's walk was awkward and made a squeak with every step. All due to the metal replacement where his left leg should be. The source of his woes. No woman would look at him. If they did it was out of pity or disgust.

The gentry were naturally beautiful. It was a characteristic stemming from their otherworldly heritage. It's why they could ensnare and trick humans so easily into lusting after them. So for beings who prided themselves on physical perfection, being incomplete, missing a part of you, meant you were ugly. Grotesque and unwanted.

He left the village, walking into the trees. He stopped in his tracks, looking up at the sky and wondering if he'd a woman who could love him, and not see the piece that he lacked.

He sighed and let out a bitter chuckle.

No.

Probably not.

In the next moment he was in the sky, far away from his problems and the one who could judge him. Back to his never ending mission to make the one he loved smile.


Merida smiled as she rode Angus over the land with her passenger. It was rare that she was allowed to travel so far from her lands. So she was eager to enjoy it as much as she could. They were nearing Rapunzel's lands. Within a few short miles they'd leave the red and green trees of the Rowan Lands and enter the vast fields of flowers that were the Rampion Fields.

After pushing Angus for a decent amount of time Merida let up, letting him maintain a slow trot as he regained his energies. She looked up to the sky, seeing birds and the clouds passing overhead and sighed.

"Thinking about finding your craftsman?" Rapunzel asked from behind. Merida glanced back and nodded with a slight blush.

"We'll find him. Promise. And when I make a promise-"

"You never break it. Ever," Merida finished, glancing back with a teasing smirk.

"Exactly," Rapunzel said with a nod.

Merida chuckled, glad to know her friend was so optimistic. Merida herself wasn't so sure it would be so easy to find this man...woman...person. And when she did she wasn't quite sure what she'd say to...them.

But she decided to take her friend's example and hoped for the best.

The hardest part about this whole thing would be surviving the bloody party.


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