And here we have chapter 2, letting you meet who were watching the crowd from the first.

The men trudged up the beaten path towards the castle. The king of Dunbroch was on his way down when he met the approaching clans.

'Oui 'bout time you lads made it. what were you all too busy messing your pretty hair you lost track of the time.'

'Well we know one of thus who couldn't say that.'

'Hey!'

Lord Dingwall cried out before delivering a sharp kick to Lord Macintosh's shin. The blue painted man attacked the smaller lord with hard punches with the wee leader returned. The bout was only broken when the large Lord MacGuffin and the surprisingly larger Fergus, Lord of Dunbroch pulled them apart. The three young lords erupted in laughter as the grown men still tried to punch and kick and pull each other's hair. Seeing how the bout could last longer than anyone knew, the three youths lead the caravan back on the path. The gate was in view as many of the men set about fixing their clothes before entering, the queen may have become more relaxed in the past few months but she was still a stickler for presentation as ever. Young MacGuffin was trying to pat down his wild blond hair when he felt a sharp cut threw the air. From the tree beside him stuck out a large arrow with a wild red banner hanging from it's tail. The caravan was silent as the men looked towards its cause. The four lords raced to position themselves between their sons and the dark looming pack that approached them.

Merida and her mother gossiped away at the prospects of the day when they finally came to her room. Merida saw the door ever so slightly ajar but thought that Maudie had simply forgot to close it all the way. She easily pushed the door aside as she entered, before her mind began spinning with her body. She felt a silk tie grab hold of her wrist and force her arm behind her back. her unseen attacker then kicked her legs, forcing the wrap to encase her as she fell to her bed, he arms immobilized and her mouth gaged. Merida was about to cry out with all her might…when she felt a slight pinch on her nose and a strange cry of 'boop'. Merida forced her eyes opened as she saw the familiar faces she had been eager to see since that morning.

'You're getting soft there girly, hope you haven't been too pampered since we were gone.'

Merida felt her restraints loosen as she rushed to embrace her previous attacker. Screams of delight rang threw the room, Queen Elinor stepping out to calm the servants to the lack of danger. When se looked back she saw the three young woman in her daughters room release their embrace and eagerly ask what had each been doing. As her red haired daughter sat she took note of the change in the two young women, one finding the need to hang upside down from her daughter's canopy rails, and the other stand proud as the various knives on her arm bands shined in the sun light. Her too lost daughters had returned home.

'What are you doing back 'ere, I thought you too were off sailing to some uncharted lands!'

'We were, we finished sight see'n and came back home for a bit.'

'Didn't you miss us? We brought presents!'

'Really? Anything for me then Pixie?'

'Of course and something for your new husband, which where is he and isn't it weird that you're married and still living in your old room.'

'Oh I didn't get married.'

'Oh great, you give her one task and Merida scares everyone off.'

Merida took hold of a near pillow and swatted the brunette sitting beside her. Riona could have easily dodged it but decided to give in to the game. It wasn't long till the room was filled with floating feathers, as the young blond name Pixie leapt from her perch to tackle the two girls below. Elinor gave a loud cough to get their attention, followed by a genuine smile to show her delight in seeing them so happy. Pixie leapt from the others as she welcomed the warm embrace from the Queen of Dunbroch. Riona was not far behind, giving a less childlike embrace.

'Oh my goodness, look at you two. It's only been a few months but look how much you've grown. Oh dear I'm about to start weeping like a wee babe. Having all my girls back home. Safe and sound.'

Pixie handed a bright pink handkerchief to the weeping woman who quickly blotted her eyes before returning to her official stance.

'Now then, we'll have time to catch up soon enough. The lords will be here soon and Merida needs to change. But since you are all here I have some lovely dress for you to'

'Sorry but how many clans are sappost to bed here?'

'Why the other three of course.'

'Well then we've got trouble. Looks like a clan of beast are about to attack the castle.'

Merida and Pixie ran to the nearest window where Riona was watching the clans standing off against another clan. Their banners were blood red with a spiral black dagger emblem created in the middle. Merida and Riona shared a look before racing out the door as Pixie crawled along the walls in pursuit. Elinor tried to follow but the three had the advantage of youth in their speed.

Fergus drew his sword as the great mountain of a man approached him. His face looked like it was chiseled from a mountain base, hard and sharp. He was the same size and built as King Fergus, but seemed to reek of anger and violence.

'What do you lot think you're doin 'ere!'

'Why we're here for the games of course. Aren't all the clans invited to join in.'

'Not yours! '

'Ai, fits that your kind would show up to stir trouble.'

'What right do you have to our games!'

'Truth be told, yer highness. We aren't here for just to humiliate you all in front of your men.'

'Then what do you want.'

The crown princess stood alone and tall in the break of the path. From a young age she learned the horror that the O'Dwyer clan left in their wake. She proudly walked till she stood in front of her father, confronting the new arrivals. She knew the clan would not die any time soon, she would have to spend the rest of her life standing up to them to protect her family and land. Her long wild hair blew behind her like a mighty cape, her small cherub face scowled as she stared down the man who was easily three times her size. To both his left and right stood somewhat smaller versions of himself, both men were strong and cut bit shared a darkness in both their coloring and features.

The one to his right, with long straggly hair that covered most of his features gave a greasy tooth grin as he stepped forward. He cupped the young princess' chin as his granite voice spoke.

'We came here for you little princess.'

The giant man felt a tight sting in his hand, a hook appeared from nowhere and griped his hand. The three points from the hook gripped into his skin as blood began to drip, the tied rope attached prevented him from moving his hand any closer to the fair princess. His eyes darted to find the fool who dare try to hurt him. He thought he would find a burly, brutal royal guard what he saw gave him a pleasant surprise. She couldn't have been much older than the princess in font of him but radiated a more mature and adult presence. Her chestnut hair trailed down her back as light blue eyes were locked on his form. Her skin was darker than the princess, no doubt caused from time in the sun, what also caught his attention was the various scars across her body. Thick and thin, deep and light scars were scattered across her arms, face and chest. There was a large scar across her left eye, twin scars around her neck and a very large, very deep scar star in the middle of her chest. Clearly someone had tried to kill this girl and clearly they failed. She was down in a most unlady like garb. A grey tank across her top, a short black skirt with detailed purple Celtic stitching across the bottom, dark grey stockings down her legs and thick mannish boots. She had twin wristlets and arm bands with various daggers, ammo and small weapons quick to her disposal. This young woman was clearly more interesting than the princess.

The great man tried to take hold of the situation, using his strength to grab his dagger from his side and planning to attack the knew threat. The young woman seemed to predict his motions, loosening the rope to give enough slack for him to grab his weapon without pulling her with him. Once the blade was in his had, she flipped the rope around his wrist and body, trapping his arms and pulling his dagger hand fearfully close to his eye. With a slight tug she could force his own blade into his eye, either blinding it or killing him in an instant. For the first time in many years the man was not only impressed but also afraid.

'Try not to make me mad friend. As an enemy to our land there would be no penalty for me taking you out here and now.'

'It's ok Riona, I doubt he'd be willing to take yer offer.'

Merida's words were in contrast to her actions, as she viciously tried to whip away his invisible lingering touch from her chin. The scarred vixen seemed to listen to the princess, but decided to leave an impression. Her eyes narrowed as she flipped her wrist to make the hooked rope obey her command. The rope was released, moved and tightened again in lightning speed the giant had little time to react. The blade was now pointed directly in the middle of his throat, one squeeze from her hands and he would die instantly. He began to feel light headed as the rest of the tightly bound rope around his neck was cutting off his precious air.

'I'll say thing slow so you can understand. Hands off our princess, you touch her again and I will slowly slice off all of your limbs with a dull dagger. Starting with you shortest.'

Riona flipped her rope as the motion released the man and returned to it's master. The giant crouched on all fours as he tried to regain his vision, he could see the other tribes dart out of the way as his previous captor made her way to the crimson princess' side. Some of the men found their hands travel in a protective manner over their most sensitive areas, childishly thinking she may take her threat out on them.

The leader of the O'Dwyer clan stared in disbelief. He heard the stories of how the princess was turning into a potential powerful queen, but was un aware of the allies she had at her side. If this was the girl he thought it was, then it truly changed his plans but potentially in his favor. He was so deep in thought it wasn't until his mind registered the sight of pink that his trance was broken. Another young woman, most likely the same age as the others, had suddenly appeared with a colored cloth for the princess' face. She was smaller than the princess by only a pinch but her frame was more petite and seemed from the fair folk. Her hair was cut in a choppy manner and splattered with various colors, the bottom giving him evidence it was actually a faint gold. She wore a common white peasant shirt with a dark pink corset across her front and a long lighter pink skirt with similar silver designs that matched the details in her corset. A strange combination that seemed to force the world to stop and stare. Her hazel eyes seemed focus on the princess, her concern for her well being. With the addition of this new female the leader have a yellow fanged grin, fate seemed to be more in his favor. The princess returned the cloth to the pink female as she return her attention to the giant before her. The taller woman stood close by, skillfully flipping a sharp blade between her fingers.

'Now then, back to your clan. The O'Dwyer clan was banished from our lands years ago. Yah have no right here on our land nor are yah invited to our games.'

'But does not the invitation extend to all the clans little princess?'

'My name is Merida and you will address me as such. The invitation is to the four clans that united against our enemies. If memories serves your clan was surprisingly missing from our side of battle, later found not far from the shore of our attackers.'

'You honestly think you can reflect on that manner little one, yah weren't even born yet. An in any matter this is a decision made by the king not his little brat of a spawn.'

'Oui! No one talks to my daughter like that, you bloated numpty troll of a man. If you think I'll let you get away wi'

'It's alright dad. It would take more from this troll to insult me. Now I will try to take the route of my mother and give you a chance to leave before any harm comes to yah.'

'Oh and what is a little one like you gonna do eh?'

'It's not what she's gonna do that you have to worry about.'

The taller female stepped between the arguing nobles, a few of the giant's men taking a defensive stance.

'And who might you be then, some great fighter to save the day?'

'My name is Riona, future leader of the armies of Dunbroch. The one who will decide how my men will kill yours on the battle field.'

The pack of giant men erupted in a fit of taunting laughter. The leader pretended to wipe a tear from his eye as he bent down till he was face to face with the young woman.

'And what would a wee pup like you know about battle. Oui what would a woman know of war or strategy?'

Riona gave a sly smile as a large eruption echoed threw the grounds. From above the trees, trails of smoke floated to the sky.

'The element of surprise for one thing.'

It didn't take long for the men to realize the explosion came from the beach were their ships were stationed. Man of the men did not wait for the order as they ran to save their supplies of food and weapons. The quitter giant helped the other back to his feet as they made their way back to their men. The leader looked back at the three young woman in front of the three clans. Each giving a cocky smile as they gave a lady like wave to their departure. These three had not only proven to be skilled in weapons but in diplomacy, in stealth, in surprise tactics and perhaps much more. The leader gave another confident grin as he silently turned to follow his clan. Oh yes these women would suit his plans perfectly.

The girls watched until the giants were out of sight before erupting in a fit of girlish giggles. Each laughing as hard as a schoolgirl at the events that just occurred. Young Macintosh looked towards the other young lords for some explanation, Young Dingwall shrugged his shoulders in confusion as Young MacGuffin continued to just stare. Clearly there were many things about women they still needed to learn. The older lords tried to form words as they approached the female trio. They had questions on questions for them but couldn't seem to decided what they should ask first. King Fergus seemed to be the only one in control as he joyfully plowed threw the crowd to scoop all three girls in his mighty arms and into a tight bear hug and placing a wet furry kiss to each of their heads.

'Oh yah that just really boosted our reputation to the men folk here.'

'Oui hush I can be as mushy as ah want to be, specially when it's been so long since you've all been together!'

'What are ye gabbing on about!'

'Who are these three?'

'Why were the O'Dwyer clan here?'

'Where did she learn that could rope trick?!'

'Hush boy….where did she learn her weapons?'

'Alright alright you lot simmer down. Let's get everyone back to the castle and Elinor can explain it better than I can. The short of it is this, not long before Merida was born we stubble on these two little ones and took them into the family. Meet Riona and Pixie, our other two daughters and future captain of the guard and healer to the crown.'

And there we have it. I really like these characters and can't wait to flush them out a bit more. You can tell Riona is strong and protective, and raises a few questions on how she got all those scars. I will say this, all of those kill scars over her eye, across her throat and in her chest were all from different events. Pixie does have a real name but because she's small in frame she reminds people of the fairy people and thus gets her name from the playful pixie. She is an artist and cares more for her work than her appearance so she ends up with a lot of color on her body. Because she has such light hair the paint and stuff tends to dye her hair for a long time. No one has seen her hair all in a normal color in years. She also has a habit of being very quiet and hanging from heights like branches and walls, unintentionally scaring people, because of her ability to just pop up makes people think she's more connected with the magic people.

Well let me know what you guys think on how I'm doing, if no one says I'm doing it wrong then I'll never know to fix it.