Somebody to Love
Chapter 13 – Chase the Wind
By: BourbonCowboy
A light breeze ruffled the young man's hair as he and his companion idled towards the castle. Suddenly a deep rumble sounded from the depths below Camelot. The sound shook the foundation of the castle and the paved streets of the city. Passerby paused to share worried glances. Was that an earthquake? Would there be another? After a few seconds of calm, the people shrugged and continued about their respective business. All except one. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third was returning from the docks where he had taken himself off for research having more to do with his home on Berk than Camelot. Upon feeling the tremors, the Viking chief had a sinking suspicion he knew exactly where the disturbance was, even if he wasn't sure exactly what had happened. He glanced at his dragon companion. Toothless rolled his big green eyes and promptly showed Hiccup his tail as he slunk back off towards their shared quarters inside the castle. Hiccup watched his best friend go nonplussed. Then he hastened his steps as much as he could with only one good leg. Within minutes, the Viking was clanking down the cold stone stairs leading to one of the castle's basements and a laboratory full of mad scientists. Thick smoke was billowing out from below, causing Hiccup's throat to burn and his eyes to water. Hiccup coughed and waved a hand before his face as he continued down into the lab. Several scientists in their strange white coats coughed together in groups as they expostulated loudly on what could have gone wrong. Scanning the room quickly, Hiccup made his way over to a pair standing in the corner.
"Cornelius! Audrey! What happened?" Hiccup asked as he approached them. Cornelius turned and offered the Viking an embarrassed smile. Cornelius was an amazing inventor who claimed to be from the future. As for Hiccup, he had decided to just accept that there were things he was never going to understand about how Camelot worked. Cornelius had a lot of blonde hair that stuck straight up from his head giving him a permanently surprised look. Covered in soot as he currently was, his hair leant him the appearance of having been struck by lightning. Cornelius took his round spectacles from his nose and wiped the glass lenses on a spotted handkerchief he produced from his pocket.
"Well, Hiccup, I may have miscalculated on the appropriate coolant for the gathering apparatus," Cornelius explained sheepishly.
"Miscalculated?" the young woman at his side exclaimed angrily. She was short, even for a girl, with tanned skin and thick dark shoulder-length hair beneath a floppy blue hat. She was wearing a white t-shirt and coveralls with a mechanic's belt around her waist. At Cornelius's vague explanation, the young woman pulled a large wrench from her tool belt and waved it menacingly at the tall blonde man. "I told you that regular spring water was not going to be enough for the coolant. I told you that we are gonna need water from the Fire Falls but you didn't listen. Next time I'm gonna let you blow yourself up! You and your big dumb brain! You think you know everything!" she was really getting riled up.
"Whoa! Whoa! Audrey!" Hiccup grabbed the girl's hand that was waving the wrench around and stepped between her and the other inventor. "Look! We all know that you're the best mechanic we have. Sometimes the inventors just get…uh…carried away."
Cornelius stuck his head out from behind Hiccup and nodded enthusiastically. "I really need to spend more time researching the magical properties of the different water sources and how they chemically affect the other parts of the apparatus." He offered by way of apology. The mechanic did not seem mollified.
Audrey glared at the two inventors. She yanked her arm out of Hiccup's hold, pointed the wrench at both of them in turn before jamming it back into her belt and stalking off, muttering to herself in Spanish. Hiccup and Cornelius exchanged a look and sighed in relief.
"I'm having a hard time factoring in the magic," Cornelius admitted. "I want to find the scientific explanation behind all of the phenomenon here, but I suppose that will just have to wait."
"I hear you, buddy," Hiccup agreed. He crossed over to the drafting table where the plans for the invention they were currently working on lay. "Audrey mentioned that we need to add water from the Fire Falls to the coolant mixture?"
"Yes. I put an ad in the Guild Square for some but in the meantime, I thought I might try some other magical water source and well…you can see what happened." Cornelius gestured around vaguely.
"Well we should have some soon," Hiccup replied, "When I was at the docks earlier, the dock master mentioned that a ship was leaving with scouts for the Fire Falls. How long do you figure the journey will take?"
"Son, I can never make heads or tails of Time in this place!" Cornelius and Hiccup laughed and then bent to their work.
A strong wind filled their sails and the Legacy glided gracefully across a crystal blue sea. The scouts could not have asked for better sailing weather those first two days at sea. The sun was bright, the sky was clear, the sails and the nets were full. After her initial surprise as their unorthodox launch (during which the Highland princess was mildly worried she would lose her lunch), Merida had taken to seafaring like a fish to water. Something about the brisk ocean breeze in her hair refreshed the princess. She had hesitated for only a moment, thinking about what her mother would say if she knew that her perfect princess was stalking about on board a ship in breeches and cavorting with buccaneers. One look at her new friend, Rapunzel, and Merida felt the tension leave her shoulders. Here she did not have to be a princess. All she had to be was Merida. "Be true to your heart," Rapunzel said again when she saw Merida's concern. Merida was not so sure she knew how to do that, but she was willing to give it a try.
It was their third day at sea. The first two had been spent trying to stay out of the way of the experienced sailors and learning their way around their temporary home. Now though, things had relaxed. Everyone had fallen into their respective roles with relative ease and there seemed to be more time for leisure, at least for the scouts who had few ship duties. Rapunzel had an art easel set up on deck and was painting the dolphins that followed in their ship's wake. She took some poetic license with her painting and had added some beautiful wings to the dolphins and she quite liked the effect. Tapping her chin, Rapunzel decided what her painting needed was a blonde-haired water spirit riding astride one of the dolphins. Any similarity between her former flaxen-haired self and the water spirit was strictly coincidental. She giggled softly and rolled her spring green eyes at her own antics. She would give Frida Kahlo a run for her money! Nearby, Eugene napped on some coiled rope. Captain Hawkins stepped onto the deck from below, looking around him with interest. He stalked over to the former thief, who was snoring softly and gave the sleeping man's boot-clad foot a strong kick. Eugene did not even lift his arm from over his eyes.
"Yo." Eugene drawled.
"I think you mean yo-ho-ho," Jim smirked. Rapunzel offered a soft chuckle at his bad joke. "Where's Merida?"
"Hmm…what will you give me for such privileged information?" Eugene asked, still not moving his arm from his face. His smirk was the only part of his face easy to read in such a position. Rapunzel just ignored the pair, continuing her work on her painting. She was in the zone!
The captain, used to his friend's antics, was unconcerned. "I can find her on my own. It would just be a lot quicker if you already knew and were willing to say." Jim cast his eyes about the deck again. She was not by the helm or the astrolabe as he had initially suspected. She had mentioned wanting to learn how to navigate and Jim was more than willing to give her a lesson now that he had caught up on some of his routine paperwork.
"Oh alright," Eugene grumped, "Only because I need to get back to my beauty rest. She's, how do you pirates call it? Aloft?"
"We're not pirates…" Jim muttered, but his eyes were already searching the shrouds. Eugene muttered something about if Jim wasn't a pirate why did he have a gold earring, but the captain of the Legacy had his attention focused elsewhere and did not respond to the jibe. As soon as he caught sight of fiery curls high above him, the captain forgot his friend. Jim took a few steps back to better see the maiden who was sitting against the mast three-quarters of the way up at the lower main topgallant sail. She seemed perfectly content as she gazed out over the horizon. Her flaming hair was braided over her right shoulder and a few tendrils had come loose to frame her face. Her white cotton shirt was loose at the collar, showing skin that had already turned pink from her couple days at sea. She was resting her arms on one knee, bent up at chest level while her other leg hung down past the beam she sat on and kicked idly to and fro with the rocking of the ship. Jim had been a sailor a lot longer than he cared to think about. He had seen much in his lifetime as he trekked across galaxies aboard ships. Watching Merida now with the sun in her hair and the wind in her face, he thought that he had never seen a more beautiful sight. He could see her visage proudly displayed in wood upon the prow of his vessel, ever going before them as they danced upon the waves. Even in repose, the princess had a wildness about her. She was fierce and untamable, and he wanted her very badly at that moment. Rapunzel paused in her painting to observe Jim watching Merida. The princess noted with a mental squeal of delight how Jim's lips quirked up into a smile as he strode over to the rigging and began to climb. She thought to herself the two would make a great couple. 'They both have adventurous spirits,' Rapunzel thought. 'And they look good together!'
Jim climbed the sheets quickly and easily. Away from the port, he had switched into more comfortable olive slacks, maroon cotton shirt with a deep V that exposed a fair amount of his tanned, muscular chest. Over it all he wore a comfortable knee-length double-breasted coat with wide cuffs. He wore both a sword and a pistol in his belts, their weight familiar and comfortable enough that he did not even notice them as he climbed. His limbs remained loose to roll with the ship. He was a seasoned veteran of the waves. When he pulled himself onto the beam that Merida was perched upon, Jim paused and looked out over the horizon, taking in her view.
"It's so peaceful up here," Merida remarked quietly, "I can see why ye love it so."
"I've been a…," he stumbled thinking how she would not understand the term "spacer" which was how his career had started. "I've been a sailor for a long time. I think I was always meant to be one. Before I found the sea," he chuckled in a self-deprecating way, "Let's just say I was a handful."
"You?" Merida turned those bright blue eyes, round with surprise, on Jim. "But ye seem so," here her hands grasped about as though she could pluck the word from the air. It was an endearing trait, Jim thought, and one she probably was unaware of as the woman spent most of her time trying to balance being graceful and polite with her obvious desire to run free. "Ye seem so austere." Jim made a face and Merida tried again. "Stoic maybe? Or steadfast? Och! That's not what I mean. Your crew not only respects ye, they love ye. Ye seem a fair and decent captain, is what I am trying ta say."
"Thank you, m'lady," Jim smiled at her gently. He could not help but be enchanted watching the hot blush that rose up her face as she struggled to express herself. He chuckled softly again as he admitted, "You know I could listen to you talk all day? I'm completely enraptured by your accent."
"Accent?" Merida raised a pale eyebrow, "I know not of what ye speak, ye currrrr." She trilled her "r" in a wonderful burr. Jim shivered comically and offered a small laugh. Merida laughed with him, enjoying the man's company. "Anywho, ye were telling me tales of your misspent youth?"
"Ahh…was I? I don't recall," Jim chuckled again. Merida kept her gaze steady on the captain, blue eyes sharp. Jim relented easily and began to tell her an amazing story of how he had come by a treasure map and sailed across the sky to find fortune and fame. 'He spins a good yarn,' Merida thought to herself, watching Jim's face as he animatedly described being chased by pirates on a faraway world. 'I can see him swapping tales with my da before the fireplace on a cold winter's night.' While she still did not feel like she was ready to fall in love, Merida could admit to herself that she was attracted to Jim and wanted to get to know him better. Meeting the captain's eyes as he ended his tale, she felt a spark of something and felt sure that he returned her regard. That cold wind blew in her face again and Merida was forced to close her eyes briefly. She turned her head and stared back out across the waves again as she and the captain sat in companionable silence.
And just like that the two became almost inseparable. Jim taught Merida everything he had learned of the sea. In the cool of the early mornings, Jim would stand with Merida between his arms at the helm as he instructed her on steering. He laughed at her descriptions of the clansmen in their long boats, propelled by the strength of the men at the oars. When the sun was high in the sky and the deck felt as though it was radiating heat, they would duck off to Jim's stateroom. They would share a noon meal of fruit, cheese, and bread while prowling around his desk. Jim enjoyed the way Merida skewered her apples with a small knife she called a sgian-dubh. She had blushed and tried to go back to a more lady-like way of eating, but Jim had waved off her concern and proceeded to enjoy his food from the point of his own knife. During these lunches, Jim showed Merida his nautical maps with their depictions of the currents and land masses. Merida had commented that some of his maps were beautiful works of art that aught to be displayed. Following her suggestion, Jim hung one of his favorites by a cartographer called the Black Swan in a prominent place on his wall. When Merida joined him for dinner and saw that he had taken her advice, she flushed with embarrassed pleasure. In the late evenings, after the sun had set and the ship seemed to sleep, the pair would lie side by side on deck as Jim taught the princess and her friends to navigate by the stars. Two weeks into their voyage, the stars suddenly became much more familiar to the Highland princess.
The two princesses were enjoying a simple breakfast of porridge in Merida's room. Rapunzel was happily showing Merida her completely full sketchbook and waxing poetic about how the sunlight on the waves at different times of day inspired her.
"I can't wait to get to Dun Broch!" Rapunzel gushed as Merida passed her back the sketchbook. "The pictures you showed me before were amazing! I just know I am going to be so inspired. How long do you think until we get there?"
"The captain says we should arrive by sunset tonight," Merida responded. She stood to take their empty breakfast bowls to the basin to wash, completely missing the sparkle in Rapunzel's eye when she mentioned their dashing captain.
"Did he? What else did Captain Hawkins say?" Rapunzel teased lightly, watching the other princess for her response.
"What do ye mean, lass?" Merida asked idly. Whether she was distracted or being intentionally obtuse, Rapunzel was unsure. She decided to try again.
"What I mean is that you and Jim spend a lot of time together…" Rapunzel hinted.
"Oh aye. He's good company and a bonny story teller." Merida finished scrubbing the first bowl and set it to dry.
"You two must have a lot in common," Rapunzel wheedled. "You both seem to have adventurous spirits."
"Adventurous spirits?" Merida mulled this over as she washed the second bowl. "Maybe. Jim seems to have been just about everywhere whereas this is the farthest I've ever traveled from my home. I am enjoying the trip, but I dinna know that I would want to be forever gone from hearth and home." She set the second bowl aside and turned to dry her hands.
"I don't think you'd mind being gone long if you had the right companion," Rapunzel's not so subtle hints finally seemed to dent the red-head's thick curly head. Blue eyes jumped up to meet spring green.
"What are ye saying?"
"I'm saying!" Rapunzel stood, crossing the wooden planks to take Merida by the shoulders, "I'm saying you and Jim look good together. You seem to enjoy each other's company and you're a lot alike. You said you came to Camelot looking for love, maybe it could be…"
"No!" Merida spun away. She pressed her cool fingers against her round flaming cheeks. "No! It's not what ye think. I like Jim. James. Captain Hawkins. I like him well enough but it's too soon. I cannae fall in love right now! I just got here. This is my first mission as a scout. I have so much more to see and experience before I leave. I simply cannot fall in love at present."
Rapunzel watched her friend quietly for a moment, her eyes contemplative. Finally, she stepped closer and wrapped an arm around the other princess' shoulders. Merida seemed on the verge of frustrated tears and Rapunzel well understood the feeling.
"It's alright, Merida. I won't tease you about Jim anymore. I just want you to know that you don't have to leave as soon as you fall in love. Love might have been what you thought led you here, but I know that there's more. You are going to do great things!" Rapunzel shook her friend gently, "So let's not worry anymore about boys!" They both giggled a little. "You said we are going to be in Dun Broch by tonight. That means it's time for new costumes!"
The brunette danced away on bare feet towards Merida's dressing table and mirror. Merida followed curiously. "What do ye mean costumes?"
"Well, we can't go traipsing around your homeland in our regular clothes, now can we? Silly! What if someone saw us? Anytime we go scouting in a foreign land, we always try to dress the part of the locals."
"Oh aye! That's a good idea. Highlanders tend to be rather suspicious, especially of outlanders. But I don' think I brought my clothes from before."
"That's what magic mirrors are for!" Rapunzel sat in front of the mirror and clearing her throat she sang a few notes on an ascending scale. Merida was momentarily jealous, wondering why every other princess she met had such a lovely singing voice. Was there something wrong with her that she had missed out on that essential princess trait? Thoughts of perfect princesses fled her mind as the mirror on her dressing table shimmered and a familiar face suddenly filled the glass. "Hey there Giselle!" Rapunzel waved.
Giselle clasped her hands to her chest and giggled. "Hello there, ladies! How are you both?" Rapunzel exchanged a few more pleasantries, asking after Giselle's husband and daughter before getting down to business. She explained that they were on official scout business and would be needing clothes. The overly-excitable dressmaker was thrilled and promised she would send something right away. After the seamstress had disappeared and the glass was reflecting the two princess' own images back at them, Merida ran a hand thru her curly hair and let out a long breath.
"I don't know that I'll ever get used to magic like that!" she huffed. Rapunzel smiled warmly. "She said she would send it shortly. What does that mean? How is she going to…"
She was interrupted by a knock at the door. Confused, Merida crossed to the door and pulled it open. At first, she did not see anyone there. Then the jingling sound of bells alerted her to her tiny guest. With a twinkle and a sparkle, a tiny ball of light bobbed into the room. In a blink, the light transformed, and Merida was staring at an attractive young woman with wild auburn hair who was dressed in pirate garb.
"Did somebody order a package?" the fairy chirped. She deposited a small trunk on the floor in the center of the room then with a giggle and a wink she was gone. Merida and Rapunzel shared wide-eyed looks and then laughing dove for the box.
At sunset, the Legacy docked off the coast of Merida's homeland. Merida and the others decided it would be best to spend the night on board the ship and head to the Fire Falls first thing in the morning. So, as the first rays of dawn were peaking over the horizon, a small skiff was lowered into the water and a team of four rowed steadily towards the craggy shoreline. After pulling the boat up onto the sand, Merida stood back and looked out across her homeland with a warm smile…until Eugene quipped "Does this skirt make me look fat?" Rolling her eyes, she turned to address her friend's husband. "Have ye always been so verra vain?" she deadpanned. Rapunzel just giggled, holding her long skirts up to reveal her bare feet as she started up the bluff in the direction Merida had indicated earlier. Her bare feet were nothing new. What was new, at least to Merida, was Rapunzel's suddenly extremely long blonde hair. She had it braided intricately so that it did not trail on the ground, but the sight of it still confused and frightened the suspicious Highlander. Rapunzel had explained that her magic hair may come in handy on their adventure, which was why she had sat and combed it out to its current length the night before with a magic comb. Still, Merida was more than a little freaked out by its appearance. Apparently though, she was the only one. "Come on, Eugene!" Rapunzel called. The blond disappeared over the hill. Eugene just grumbled to himself and followed, carrying the frying pan Rapunzel had insisted they would need. As he drew even with Jim, Eugene leaned over and whispered loudly "Hey Jimbo, I figured out what a Scotsman wears under his kilt. In case you were curious." Merida caught Jim's startled eyes and they both blushed. The pair followed Eugene's laughter over the hill.
The group headed deep into the Highlands, following their guide. Merida had not been to the Fire Falls in years, but she could not forget the way even if she tried. Sometimes, lying in bed at night, she wondered if drinking from the Falls that morning had been what set the whole strange set of events into motion that led to her mother being turned into a bear. Or perhaps it was just another example of her selfish, headstrong ways which were the real source of all of her problems. Either way, she led her group confidently towards the Falls.
"Watch your step, Merida," Jim cautioned, offering his hand and assistance as Merida began to climb a small rocky outcropping. Merida waved off his assistance with a smile. Jim shrugged and continued past her. The redhead turned her gaze to Rapunzel, wondering if her friend had noticed Jim's umpteenth attempt to help her over some insignificant bit of ground. As though she were some pampered palace princess who could not fend for herself!
Around mid-morning, the group arrived at the base of the cliff where the Fire Falls resided. After some quick discussion, it was decided that they would make a small camp and enjoy a quick meal before making the climb. Depending on how long the climb took, they would maybe have time for some swimming. Merida began collecting wood for a fire while Rapunzel rummaged in their packs for the food.
"Here, Merida, allow me to help you," Jim's warm voice spoke from Merida's elbow, which he gripped lightly. Merida pulled her arm free, juggling the firewood slightly.
"Thank ye, Jim, but I can manage," she replied in a coldly polite voice.
"I'm not sure we even really need to make a fire," Jim held up his hands in surrender when Merida just raised a ruddy eyebrow at him. "Had you given any more thought to my suggestion from last night?"
Merida paused. A tiny gasp escaped her lips as she recalled their conversation the previous evening. They had been standing at the prow of the ship, watching the shadows overtake Dun Broch. Merida had felt her heart hammering in her chest then. Was it because he was standing so close she could feel the warmth of his body? Was it the way the wind had kicked up again, pulling at her clothes, tugging at her hair, as if begging her to run wild and free thru the heather of her home. She wondered idly if the wind affected Jim as strongly as it did her? As the thought crossed her mind, Merida had tipped her head up and her eyes had been caught by the expression in Jim's own. His heavy brows were furrowed as he studied her. Those hugely expressive turquois blue eyes were filled with an emotion that had Merida catching her breath. She found her gaze drawn to his full lips as she unconsciously wet her own with her tongue. Her body thrummed with electricity. This was no boy, trying to impress her with boasts of titles and lands. In all the years she spent trying to be the perfect princess, allowing the clan lords to woo her, Merida had never been so affected by just one look. Jim was a man who knew the effect he had on women. He was no stranger to the sins of the flesh and he could feel Merida's body responding to his own, as they stood so close but not touching. Looking into his eyes, Merida knew that if she wished it, she could allow this pirate to awaken her body. She could also tell that with him, she would not simply be a conquest, a notch on his belt or his bedpost. A part of her wanted that. In that moment, on that ship moored off the coast of home with the wind's insistent pull on her and her breath frozen in her lungs, Merida wanted to be with Jim. She could close her eyes and see them, pressed together with his hands in her hair and his lips scorching her own, moving towards his cabin. She could see it so clearly that it frightened her. Merida cleared her throat and stepped away from him, breaking the tension of the moment. Jim let it go, seemingly without argument. Then he had said something that made Merida's heart skip a beat. "After we finish collecting the water tomorrow from the falls, we could go visit your parents if you'd like. I mean, if you wanted to introduce me to them."
She felt herself blush anew at the memory. He had asked to meet her parents. No! Not to meet them. To be introduced to them! As what? Her friend the pirate? Oh sure he was a respectable captain in the service of his Majesty King Arthur, but her parents were sure to think him a rogue. That's not true, she thought with a frown. Her mother and father trusted her judgment. But they would all think, Jim and her parents, that if she was introducing him it meant that he was a suitor. It meant that she was allowing herself to be courted by him. Was that true? They had spent a lot of time together during this voyage and she had come to think of him as a dear friend. But what she had told Rapunzel was true too. Her adventure had just begun. She was still trying to figure out who she was now. If she allowed herself to fall in love, then she would marry. If she were to marry, she would be someone else all over again. She'd be someone's wife and no longer her own person. Was she ready for that? How incredibly selfish of me to wish for someone to love, then be given the perfect man and yet not want to be tied down! She berated herself in her mind. She opened her mouth to tell Jim that she would love to introduce him to her parents. That's when Jim reached over and took the firewood that Merida still held in a death grip. The princess blinked, startled. Jim chuckled and made a comment about how a woman should not have to carry firewood while a man was about. Merida felt her temper flare. She turned and stomped back towards their camp without answering his question.
Rapunzel was confused as she watched Merida huff and mutter under her breath during their light repast. Jim too seemed to be in a prickly mood. He scowled at Eugene's lighthearted joking where he would normally laugh. What could be going on with the new couple, Rapunzel wondered. Deciding she would get the truth out of Merida back on the ship, the blonde finished her meal and stood. She put her tiny hands on her small hips and studied the sheer rock wall in front of them. "Who wants to race me to the top?" she challenged. Jim guffawed loudly. Eugene hopped to his feet with an elated shout and Merida smiled as she too gained her feet. Merida raised a ruddy eyebrow at her blonde friend and asked: "Do ye think ye can beat me?" Rapunzel reached behind her and started tugging at her hair. "Oh, I think you'll be hard pressed to keep up with me!" With a fistful of the blonde locks, Rapunzel smirked at her companions. They stood all in a row at the base of the cliff. "Ready?" Eugene asked, "On my count. One…two…three!"
Eugene had a rope and a grappling hook which he employed to pull himself up the cliff. Jim had a pair of hooks that he held in his hands, a matching pair of blades sprouted from each of his boots helping him climb hand over hand up the rock wall. Rapunzel used her hair, throwing it up to catch on the rocks and climbing it like a rope. Merida laughed at loud at their antics and proceeded to climb bare handed, no rope, the same as she had that day long ago. The four laughed, joked, mocked each other and generally had a great time as they climbed. By the time they reached the top, tired and sweating and out of breath from both laughter and the climb, all early animosity had been forgotten. Jim had won the race, followed by Merida in second and Rapunzel and Eugene bringing up the rear. The couple had been so busy playfully sabotaging each other that they had lost their early lead. After a short rest, Eugene had stood and produced several stoppered glass vials from his bag. "Here you go, Red," he handed them to Merida. "As this is your first mission, it is only right that you do the honors." Merida had accepted the vials with a huge grin and turning she filled them with the water of the Fire Falls. After she stoppered the vials again and they were placed gently back in Eugene's bag, she cupped her hands and brought some of the cold water to her lips. When she stepped back, she grinned at her companions. "It is said that only the bravest warriors drink from these falls." The other three smiled and took their turns sipping from the cool water and then stood together looking out over the beautiful landscape of Merida's home, the wind dancing around them.
By nightfall, the four companions were back on board the Legacy. Jim had not asked again about meeting Merida's parents and Merida had not brought it up. The highlander did tell Rapunzel about the conversation that evening, alone in Merida's cabin. While Rapunzel didn't say anything to her new friend, she later confided in her husband that when it was True Love, one could not simply tell their heart not to fall in love. Eugene offered no comment on the matter. He held his wife close and kissed her head and thought about the different reasons people were brought to Camelot and what could still be in store for all of them.