A/N: Greetings, first a major apology for not updating this fic sooner but apart from being super busy, I was struck down by the dreaded 'Writer's block' and any doodles have been put on the back burner, furthermore I decided to overhaul the entire fic and corrected some cringe-worthy typos although it shouldn't be too bad now, just ignore them if spotted ;)

Should mention that I own nothing, Pixar own everything, yadda yadda yadda!

If anyone does remember the previous chapters from the original content, I had to radically change mine as I didn't want to be accused of copying another awesome fics which had been uploaded way before mine and I should admit that (then and now), I'm a 'fly by the seat of your pants' doodler when writing fics so the original idea had no direction and while I was influenced and inspired by a few Brave fics, it was too obvious so hence the radical overhaul AND hopefully *touch wood* I now know where I'm taking this fic.

Anyways, I've rambled on long enough so if I've forgotten to mention something or someone then apologies, please be kind to read and review, overlook any typos and well...enjoy x

Chapter Eight – Reminiscing

"Something did happen..." repeated Elinor

Maudie conveniently occupied herself as she clumsily handled the soapy dishes that remained piled from breakfast. She vented her nervousness on a heavily stained pot and scrubbed anxiously.

Elinor sighed and sipped on the tepid herbal tea, "I would like to explore the castle, today."

"Would my queen prefer to have privacy?" asked Maudie as she placed an impressive stack of plates into the deep sink, to allow the stubborn breakfast stains to soften and dried her hands on her apron.

Elinor shook her head, "I would appreciate your company...without my memory," she paused, still not entirely comfortable with her diagnosis, "I am sure there are many tales to be told." She forced a smile

Maudie nodded in agreement, "Perhaps, the tapestry room would be the very place to begin." She suggested

Her eyes widened at the sight of the room which housed various pieces of tapestries, two were in progress. Elinor reached out; her fingers gentled caressed a giant bear that appeared to be holding hands with a familiar ginger haired girl.

Maudie groaned inwardly and silently prayed that no questions were asked regarding the story behind that particular tapestry which Elinor and Merida had began to work on soon after the bear incident and Maudie did not think it was her place to recount the tale of when Merida was responsible for transforming her own mother into a bear with the help from a witch in order to change her fate, and judging by Elinor's current state of mind that story alone may be considered rather far-fetched and inadvertently damage the image of family after all Fergus, Merida and the triplet boys Harris, Hubert and Hamish were nothing more than strangers who occupied the castle.

Maudie decided that at some point, she would have to approach the subject regarding the family to Elinor although how she would react was another matter.

"A bear...odd..." observed Elinor

"King Fergus is the bear king...there is a famous story about how he lost his leg to monster bear...Mor'du..." replied Maudie, slightly excitedly

"I did wonder about his leg."

"He fought Mor'du...you and Merida were there, nearly attacked but he protected you both however the beast took a souvenir...it was wee Merida's birthday," Maudie sniggered, "Fergus gave her a bow and as I remember you were not best pleased."

Elinor turned her attention from the bear on the tapestry to the girl with the untameable mass of ginger hear, "She is much like the king..."

Maudie nodded, "Yes...as are the boys but while they possess their father's strong traits, they also possess many qualities from you...their mother."

"Humor me...this question, am I a good mother?"

"But of course...the children adore you and granted Merida is a fierce wee lassie, I often imagine you to be like her when you were Merida's age," Maudie paused to ensure she had not caused offense by talking so liberally, "The boys have a sweet tooth and often up to mischief although never a messy trick has been successfully played on you, my queen..."

"Why is that?"

Maudie chuckled softly, "Oh! Believe me those wee troublemakers have tried but you have an uncanny talent of knowing...I suspect it's intuition that you possess as a mother."

Elinor walked over to an older and dirtier tapestry that had a younger royal family as the triplet boys were shown to be babies and a young Merida holding the hands of both parents. Her hand was immediately touched the repaired part of the tapestry which had been hastily mended and reunited the family.

"Did Fergus..." asked Elinor as she remembered his display with his sword in the courtyard

"No, it was Merida doing." Answered Maudie

Elinor turned to Maudie, "First a bow and now a sword...princesses should not have weapons."

Maudie felt her eyes widen, "You remember?"

She raised a confused eyebrow and glanced back at the family tapestry, "Perhaps...it feels very familiar...but I cannot place the memory."

"You spent some time, determined to complete this tapestry...your pregnancy with the triplets was difficult and troublesome for you, the king was concerned for you and the babies then you became gravely ill and required time to recuperate...my queen did not appreciate the order from the physician, confined bed rest this is when you completed the family tapestry."

Elinor placed her hands on her abdomen and closed her eyes, broken and chaotic fragments of memory resurfaced from somewhere deep within her consciousness.

"Oh! Fergus," complained Elinor, "Will you stop fussing, I am not fragile like glass, despite my enormous size, I am perfectly able to climb the stairs."

"Sorry dear...I just worry."

Elinor inwardly winced at her harsh tone after all, Fergus was merely concerned and attentive but this pregnancy was different to when she was pregnant with Merida, she found herself increasingly impatient and had reduced two of the castle maids to tears with a choice of words from her sharp tongue, Elinor apologized only to burst into emotional floods of tears in front of the maids who attempted to console her.

Her pregnancy entered its seventh month and she was not sure how much more she could handle of Fergus and his obsessive need to attend to her, Merida was beyond excited to be a big sister that she felt the need to decorate the castle with her toys which Elinor tripped over on more than one occasion, the physician with his harassing check-ups and useless advice to relieve Elinor of her painfully, swollen ankles and lower back, her inability to be comfortable no matter her position and new to the list was insomnia.

Suddenly, a sharp pain caused her to slide against the stone wall, she clutched at her side, temporarily stunned to call out for assistance. Elinor focused on her breathing, slowly through her nose and steadily out through her mouth, it was too soon for her to deliver.

"Fergus...Fergus!" she shouted

"Yes dear..." replied a weary Fergus as he braced himself for another hormone fueled barrage of criticism, regarding something he had probably forgotten to do or it was not done to his wife's standards.

"Fergus...please...I...I think the baby is coming!" Elinor cried as groaned through the pain, still unable to move

"What? Maudie...Maudie...get the physician...Elinor," he clambered upstairs and cautiously maneuvered his precious wife into his arms, "Come on lass...remember the breathing, Maudie will be here soon...she'll know what to do." Fergus reassured her and delicately placed her on their bed

"Cannot have baby, not time yet...what if something is wrong?"

Fergus cupped her face into his giant, trembling hands, "Remember the last time? Merida was late...a baby knows when it is time," he kissed her on the nose, "Soon, we will be a complete family...all four of us!"

Elinor smiled and looked up at Maudie, "Only it was not just the four of us...two more surprises."

"Pardon?" asked Maudie, slightly confused

"I remembered something...the boys, it was a surprise to have triplets."

Maudie gushed, "The clan was equally surprised...and when news spread to the clans MacIntosh, MacGuffin and Dingwall, it was rumored that Lord Dingwall was not best pleased by the news...after all his wife had recently given birth and welcomed twins into their clan...Lord Dingwall took the news personally as if yourself and King Fergus planned to upstage him."

Elinor turned back towards the family tapestry, "How is Fergus...as a father?"

"A very bold question, you ask of me...my queen but the fact is he adores the children although he is not overly fond of the boys playing practical jokes on him."

Elinor chuckled at the thought of his intimidating stature and how it was possible that three small boys were able to trick their father and so frequently, she assumed.

"Are you certain?" demanded Fergus

"Yes, our eyes do not deceive us...the emblem on the sword does belong to the Clan Dingwall."

Fergus turned to one of his most loyal men and lowered his voice, "So, Dingwall..." he started

"It is an impressive weapon, relatively fresh...do you not think?"

"Sire..." called a voice that interrupted further conversation, there was a sense of urgency in his voice

"Aye, lad." answered Fergus

The sword marked with the emblem which belonged to Clan Dingwall took three men to remove the weapon from the tree and allowed for a detailed inspection although it merely prompted more questions than it did answers for Fergus who now stood beside the teenage boy who looked slightly older than Merida, he pointed at the ground as King Fergus approached.

A torn piece of purple velvet material lay embedded in the wet soil, relatively close to the tree in which the sword had been freed.