Somebody to Love
Author's Note:
-Thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed this story. I apologize for the long wait. I must have written this one chapter four different times, but thanks to repeated computer problems I had to start over again and again until I became so frustrated I just gave up altogether for a while. Each time I rewrote this chapter it came out different. I could not decide if I should spend time letting Snow White and Merida talk, progressing character development, or should I throw a bunch of new characters in the mix as we explore Camelot. I am pretty pleased with this final revision (if that's the right word for when your work keeps getting lost and not thrown out on purpose). Things are running along smoothly now. I've got a few chapters ready to roll out for you. I hope you enjoy them. The title song, One Short Day, is from Wicked.
Somebody to Love
by: Bourbon Cowboy
Chapter 5: One Short Day
Once, many years ago, Merida's parents had taken her down from the Highlands to the only real city in the land. To the Princess's young eyes, Edinburgh had been a huge sprawling mess - full to the gills with people. She had felt tiny by comparison to the auld palace on the hill. Merida felt she could get lost in the crowd on their way past the kirk on a foggy Sunday morn. The smoke and soot coming from the many blacksmiths' shops added to the gloom. There were printshops and booksellers, apothecaries, and potion masters next to flower sellers and artists. And oh! to see the massive ships in the harbor! Merida had spent a lot of time in Edinburgh Castle while being courted by Young MacGuffin, whose father never missed an opportunity to proclaim his territory's superiority based on its wealth of trade. Merida had to admit that Clan MacGuffin's Lowland city was a thing of wonder. Though she knew in her heart that the one true leader of the four clans would always be the one whose blood was tied to the magic of the land, as hers was. While she admired the progressiveness of Edinburgh, she wondered how her fellow clansmen could stand being separated from the land? As enlightened and progressive as that city had felt, next to Camelot, Edinburgh was a fisherman's village. Every way that Merida looked in Camelot there was something exquisite. There were building's tall as rowan trees, dress salons, and libraries, palaces and museums – a hundred strong! There were wonders like she had never seen. It was all so grand. She wondered if she could belong here? Regardless, she determined that just for that one short day she would wander and enjoy.
Walking beside Merida, Snow White tucked a smile into the corner of her mouth. She remembered all too well the feeling of awe when she and her husband had first arrived in Camelot. It is a city like nowhere else. The city consists of three separate rings, a trinity that overlap at one central point: the castle. Each ring has a different purpose. On the north side of the city, the Topmost Ring touches a river that brings goods and commerce to the city. That ring primarily houses the mercantile. Walking along the wharf one would find warehouses to store goods, quarters for the sailors and guards who work the ships, workhouses where raw materials are transformed into the everyday items people in Camelot may need such as clothes, shoes, tack for horses, weapons, furniture, etc. As you continue inwards, shops begin to emerge (the nicest ones with the highest prices being closest to the palace). The Eastern Ring primarily consists of The Village – cottages and small shops and what would be considered the peasantry live in the Eastern Ring. Snow White's own cottage was happily situated at the edge the forest at the outermost edge of the Eastern Ring. The Western Ring housed scholars, museums, libraries, schoolhouses, and all the other tools of learning. The place where the three rings overlap is where the palace sprawls, a magnet drawing all eyes. Even the sun seems to rise and set at the behest of the king.
Merida's head swiveled this way and that, her eyes wide trying to take it all in. It was still early morning and few people were out on the roads yet. Most all of the early risers seemed to be headed towards the village market. Snow White allowed the small crowd to sweep them along towards the market, keeping her arm looped with Merida's so as not to lose the young Highland Princess. The road from Snow's cottage joined with the central thoroughfare and headed straight for the center of town. They passed by a baker with a tray of sweet rolls and bought two, then stopped at a creamery and purchased two glasses of cold milk. The women sat on the edge of a fountain to enjoy their breakfast. Merida tried to eat demurely but was continuously distracted by the goings on around her. She noticed her mentor wave to a lady in a bookshop who was conversing animatedly with a short man in a brown leather apron and large glasses. The lady returned the wave with a smile but did not come over. Snow sighed and turned to Merida. "All right, dear, we have much to do. His Majesty, King Arthur, will expect me to present you at his court tonight. So we need to get your apartment settled, pick out furniture, order your trousseau, and still have time to visit the salon and be ready for court by the time the clock chimes seven tonight." Merida's wide eyes grew even wider and her pale eyebrows fairly disappeared into her hairline, but she just gulped and nodded her understanding. Merida was placing herself completely in Snow White's care, knowing the older woman would not lead her astray. Snow stood up and brushed off the seat of her pants. Merida frowned, remembering that Snow had said the fashion was different here but still having difficulty with the idea of women of class wearing form fitting pants in lieu of a proper skirt. All said, Merida liked the look of Snow's wardrobe. She wore a white collared shirt that buttoned down the front and tucked it into a pair of what she called blue jeans with a brown belt. The jeans were tight to her legs and flared slightly at the ankles to accommodate a pair of short brown leather boots. She left the top button of her shirt undone to show a small gold necklace that rested just below her collarbone, and pearl studs winked at her ears. Without the jewelry, with her short hair and pants Snow may have been mistaken for a boy from a distance. When Merida pointed this out, Snow White just laughed and said it would take some getting used to but Merida would probably enjoy the freedom of pants too. Merida scowled but declined to answer such a silly proposition. No one on the street seemed to bat an eye at Merida's traditional dress and wimple.
"We are going to stop by the apartment building first. I have sent word ahead to Cinderella and she is expecting us." Snow explained, leading them away from the market and down another street. Merida wondered if all the streets in Camelot were paved. It certainly seemed as if they were! A young boy pulling a rickshaw stopped and asked if the women would care for a ride. Snow White graciously accepted, telling Merida in an aside if they weren't in such a rush to get everything settled by tonight she would have preferred the walk. Merida agreed, feeling silly to sit in a seat and allow a child to tow them down the road. The advantage to not having to watch where she was going was that it allowed her to continue to take in all the sights. More people were out and about now. She had never seen such diversity! A tall copper-skinned woman with high cheekbones and beautiful long black hair stood conversing with a handsome white man with auburn hair outside a flower shop. She wore a short dress that left her arms and legs bare, but her partner did not seem embarrassed by her lack of coverage while he wore an outfit similar to what Snow wore. A little ways down the road an old black man with thick glasses and a short sleeved button up shirt with suspenders sat at a table playing chess with a young man with slanted eyes, whose long dark hair was tied up in a bun atop his head. Merida wondered what part of the world all these strange people had come from. What must it be like where they were from? What had turned their skin dark or slanted their eyes? Was it magic? She was still puzzling this over when the rickshaw stopped in front of a massive building.
Merida tilted her head back to see where the top of the building must have touched the clouds. It was taller than her castle in Dun Broch! The boy who had brought them here offered his hand to help Merida down from the cart. Merida shook her head and tried to recall her manners. "Thank you," she reached for her purse to offer the boy something for his trouble but he shook his head. "Your thanks is payment enough, miss." He winked a blue eye and headed off. Snow took Merida by the arm and led up the three short steps. A doorman held the door open and bowed slightly, "Your Majesty," he rumbled in a deep voice. Snow touched his arm in thanks and pulled Merida into a large open greeting room. A long low desk on one side was being tended by two women. Soft sofas and chairs around the room encouraged guests to sit and visit. One of the women behind the desk, upon seeing her visitors, hurried over. "Snow!" she cried and hugged the other woman. Merida studied the woman. She had short blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. She wore a soft-blue cotton tunic over black leggings with her feet tucked into black flats. The woman turned and offered Merida her hand to shake. "I'm Cinderella. Snow told me you were coming. I have your apartment all ready for you! Just finished cleaning it out last night so that was lucky. How is your first day in Camelot?" Merida was not sure how to respond. She had only been there a couple of hours and while she was excited, her overall feeling was one of being overwhelmed. Everything was strange and new. Snow White placed a hand on Merida's shoulder and squeezed. "Cinderella, Merida is very newly arrived. Perhaps she can tell you how she is finding things in a few days once she has settled in?" Cinderella nodded, pressing a button on the wall and turning to face Merida again. "Of course, Merida. While you are staying with us, if there is anything you need please don't hesitate to ask. We were all new to Camelot once. It is a bit overstimulating. Are there elevators where you are from?" She indicated the button on the wall and the doors in front of which they were waiting. Merida shook her head, bewildered. Cinderella and Snow White exchanged smiles. "Were you shocked or terrified your first elevator ride?" Snow asked Cinderella. Cinderella put a finger to her chin, "I think mostly shocked. Remember I had a Fairy Godmother, so the idea of magically moving rooms wasn't too far of a stretch." Merida looked from one woman to the other, wondering what they were talking about and not liking it one bit. A bell dinged. The doors in front of them slid open to reveal a tiny room. Cinderella stepped inside and Snow White gave Merida a nudge, indicating she should follow. To her credit, Merida didn't scream until the room started moving.
Cinderella took them to the eleventh floor, explaining each floor holds four apartments and all three other apartments on Merida's floor were currently occupied. Merida, still weak in the knees from the strange elevator ride, only nodded as she waited for Cinderella to unlock the door. The blonde woman did so, stepping inside and holding the door open for the other two women. "Welcome home, Merida. This is where you will live for as long as you are in Camelot." Merida stepped inside and gasped. A huge glass window looked out over the city with a stunning view of the castle. The sun was behind them, casting its soft glow on the waking city. Merida felt dizzy and then realized she had forgotten to breathe for a moment. She pulled her eyes from the window and looked around the room. Cinderella and Snow White were smiling gently. "Cinderella, why don't you walk her through the layout. Merida may be unfamiliar with this style of living." Snow White suggested. The landlady nodded. "This is your living room, we'll help you pick out a sofa and some chairs to make it comfortable. Over here," she indicated the far side of the room, "Is your dining room. There's room for a small table and chairs. Some folks just put bar stools at the counter there. Through that doorway is the kitchen. The kitchen is a good size. We've got an oven, an icebox, a sink with running water," Merida looked at her sharply. "Running water inside?" Cinderella nodded and lead the princess into the kitchen showing her all the appliances and explaining their uses. When Merida asked how all these things were possible the answer was simple: magic. Cinderella led her back thru the dining room and pointed out a small powder room just off the smaller bedroom. "The master bedroom is just off the front door," Cinderella explained as Merida opened and closed the closet door. "Would you like me to set this room up as a guest room or an activity room for you? What are your hobbies, Princess?"
"Just Merida, please. I - I um…" Merida stumbled. The proper response for a princess was that she enjoyed playing the harp, reading, and sewing. But Merida got the sense that the standard princess response would be met with disapproval. Or maybe disapproval was the wrong word. Looking at Snow White who was regarding Merida fondly with those big doe brown eyes, she felt that the other Princess would know she was not being true to her heart. So Merida took a breath and said, "While I do play the harp and a good hand at embroidery, I have always enjoyed the fighting arts, particularly archery. I'm afraid I do not know how to cook anything more advanced than fish, so that kitchen will likely see little use." Cinderella pondered this and decided that they would leave that room open for now and Merida could decide what she would like to do with it at a later time. "If you would like, Merida," Snow began, "I can take you to the North Ring later this week and you can purchase some archery supplies. I believe they have a practice yard in the North Ring and also on the castle grounds." Merida smiled from ear to ear but then paused. "Do you think….that is, I am not sure a man would want a lass who could outshoot him. Perhaps I would do better to leave off the archery for a time."
Cinderella had not asked what had brought Merida to Camelot. Judging by the blush on the young Highland Princess's cheeks after making that comment, Cinderella thought she knew. Cinderella placed a hand on Merida's arm until the princess looked up at her with those bright blue eyes. "To find True Love, you must be yourself. And if you're a warrior maiden, then don't try to hide it." Merida blinked back tears and nodded. "Thank you for your kindness." She wanted to say that she had felt like she was a foot trying to squeeze into too small shoes for so long that she wasn't sure how to be herself any more. She didn't want to sound silly though. A knock on the door distracted the women. "Did someone call for a house fairy?" A strong southern drawl accompanied a lovely young woman with a lot of dark auburn hair (perfectly styled) and dancing green eyes. The newcomer was wearing a short pink dress with a scalloped skirt, tall pink heels, and rose earrings. She winked at Merida as she stepped into the living room where the three women were once again standing. "Welcome to the neighborhood, sugar! Now I know y'all are under a bit of a time crunch so I'll be quick. Where are you from, honey?" Merida looked at Cinderella and Snow White then back at this big-haired, pink apparition. Snow White explained, "This is Rosetta. She's a fairy and very talented at decorating. She's going to help furnish your apartment. In fact, while you two are doing this we are going to step outside. Just let me know when you're done. So much to do today!" Merida nodded, thanking Cinderella again and wondering at what point everyone was going to start asking her to pay for things and hoping she had enough money!
"It's sort of like being caught up in a hurricane when you first get here," Rosetta giggled, "But it's a lot of fun too." Merida nodded. "You asked where I'm from. I am from Dun Broch, I don't know if you…" Rosetta waved her hand. "Of course I know it! I'm a garden fairy! Who do you think helps all that heather grow nice and thick back home?" The two fell into easy conversation. Merida was surprised by how open she was with this fairy, especially with the ominous conversation she'd had that morning with Snow White about what fairies get out of helping people find True Love. Regardless, Rosetta had such a warm personality Merida felt she could tell the other woman anything. After about twenty minutes Rosetta took Merida by the hands. "Okay, sugar, now I get the feeling that you and magic aren't exactly bosom buddies. What I want you to do is just close your eyes and think about something that makes you happy. It can be a place, a person, or an activity that you really enjoy – like gardening." She giggled. Merida complied. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift along until she had something that made her smile. She was imagining herself astride Angus, her Clydesdale horse, flying free across the meadows back home, her hair flowing behind her in the breeze. Rosetta was still talking in a soothing voice, but the words were meaningless. How long she stood like that, Merida did not know. Finally, Rosetta squeezed her hands and broke the spell. "Open your eyes, Merida."
Merida did as she was told and gasped. The entire apartment, empty moments ago, was completely decorated. She now stood on a burgundy and cream rug beside a deep velvet green sofa and a dark wood coffee table. Heavy drapes hung on either side of the window, with sheers now offering a layer of distance between the glass and Merida. Pictures hung on the wall with mystical forest scenes. She knew without being told the entire apartment was decorated just exactly to her tastes – soft and a little wild too. Merida flung her arms around the fairy. "Oh thank you, Rosetta! It's amazing!" Rosetta giggled and hugged her back. "I'm so glad you like it. Anytime you need me just give me a call," the fairy said as she pulled back and pointed to a dark mirror hung on the wall. Merida promised she would then hurried out to the hall to Snow White.
A short time later, after gushing over every minute detail of her new home and thanking her landlady and the fairy a hundred times over, Merida followed Snow White back out to the street. Their next stop was a clothing store just two streets over. Snow had told Merida she would need a trousseau, clothes to wear for every occasion as long as she was in Camelot. The sun was almost directly overhead as they stepped inside a shop whose sign read Andalasia Fashion. They were greeted by a cheerful young woman with long strawberry blonde curls in a soft flowered gown. "Good morning, Giselle," Snow White greeted the other woman warmly, "Hello Mary Margaret!" Merida was momentarily confused before she remembered Snow White saying many people in town would call her by this other more normal sounding name. "And who is this?" Giselle smiled at Merida. "I am Merida of Dun Broch. It's my first day in Camelot. It's lovely to meet you, Miss Giselle."
Snow White/Mary Margaret explained to the shop owner that they were needing a full wardrobe for Merida. Giselle clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh! I just love making new clothes for new people! Tell me, Merida, is this a traditional gown in Dun Broch? Is it a special occasion gown?" Merida replied that it was more of a gown for special occasions and permitted Giselle to run her fingers over the intricate embroidery at her sleeve and to feel the soft fabric. "I just love this! I am going to style your gown for tonight off of this. It's going to be amazing! You'll need other running around clothes too. Give me just a moment!" And with that she danced off, for there was no other way to describe the enthusiasm with which Giselle moved. Merida glanced at Snow White who just shrugged and said, "She's got a bubbly personality. It takes some getting used to." Merida chuckled softly but didn't say anything more on the subject. Instead she asked, "What am I to do while I am in Camelot, Mary Margaret? I cannot imagine myself just roaming the streets aimlessly, looking into the face of every man I see in the hopes that sparks fly." Snow White smiled, "No you certainly won't be doing that. Everyone who comes here takes a job doing something. I act as a mentor to young princesses. Giselle runs this shop. Cinderella is a landlord. There's lots that you can do, depending on your interests. But King Arthur will talk to you more about that tonight when we meet him." Just then Giselle came bustling back in pushing a trolley with so many suitcases piled on top they were in danger of toppling over. "Sorry that took so long!" she huffed, stopping in front of them. "I'll have the service take them to your place, but I just wanted to check if there was anything specific you wanted that I might have left out." She handed Merida and Snow White a three-ring binder with a list of all the items in the suitcases including color pictures of each item. Merida should not have been surprised after Rosetta's display of magic in decorating her new home, but she was still a bit shocked at the hugely long list of clothes, shoes, and accessories. "I can't see as I would need anything more," Merida said quietly, "This seems a little much. Are you sure I can't pay you?" Giselle waved her off. "Think nothing of it. If you think of something I have missed just give me a call on my mirror. Oh! I almost forgot." She pulled a wand out of her back pocket and waved it in front of Merida. In the next moment, Merida was standing in a pair of blue jeans and a cap sleeved green shirt, her hair out of the wimple but thankfully still braided down her back. Giselle placed a new bag on top of the tower of suitcases. "There's your gown for later. Welcome to Camelot, Merida! And Mary Margaret, I've been trying to get in touch with Emma to come get her gown for the ball but I think she may be avoiding me?" Giselle seemed puzzled as to why anyone would do that. Snow White promised to look into the matter, thanked Giselle again for her help, and led Merida out the shop and into the bright afternoon sunlight.
The women decided to stop for a bite of lunch at an outdoor café. Merida let Snow White order for her as most of the items on the menu were foreign. She ended up with a small salad and a cup of fragrant soup. While they ate, Merida asked, "Who's Emma?" Snow White sighed a little as she speared a piece of lettuce with her fork. "Emma is my daughter. She should be coming to the ball tonight, I want you to meet her." Merida sensed there was a tension between mother and daughter, but did not call attention to this observation. If Snow White wanted to talk about it with her then she would. Instead she asked, "Should I bring anything to court tonight? I don't really know the etiquette." Snow seemed grateful for the change in topic and they spent the rest of their lunch talking about court – the people, the clothes, the dancing. It all sounded…magical.