The baby's wails filled their room, and Elinor quickly scooped Merida into her arms. She rocked her in her arms, gently humming to her. Fergus walked up behind Elinor and put an arm around his wife, nibbling lightly on the warm skin of her neck. In his eyes, there was infinite love for his beautiful Elinor and Merida. Elinor, rather than lean into his embrace as she usually would have done, sagged under his comforting weight.
"Fergus?" Came Elinor's soft, uncertain voice.
"Mmm? Wot is it, darlin'?"
"Do you love Merida?"
Fergus let out a disbelieving snort. What a question, he thought! "Of course I do, Elinor, what a silly question!"
Elinor turned around to look at him, still cradling Merida protectively in her arms.
"Are you disappointed that she isnae the son you wanted?" Fergus opened his mouth to speak, but closed it abruptly, lost for speech. Elinor seemed to take his silence for a yes. Her eyes grew unmistakably sadder in the candlelight and she turned away from Fergus. She pressed a gentle kiss to Merida's forehead and smoothed back her tiny daughter's red-gold curls. Tenderly. she put Merida back in her crib. Elinor walked to the bed she shared with Fergus and slowly sat down on the quilts. She looked up at Fergus, who stood, immobile, next to Merida's crib.
"I heard the lords the other day, Fergus," Elinor whispered. "Sayin' a girl was no good as heir. We need a son to follow in his Bear King father's footsteps..." Elinor felt tears well up in her eyes as she relived the moment when the lords hissed behind her back, scoffing that she was incapable of bearing sons. Fergus could not believe the lords dared to say such things about his beloved Elinor and Merida. His jaw clenched and he paced back and forth.
"Who said such a thing? Was it McIntosh? Or McGuffin? Dingwall always struck me as a pompous sort. I swear I'll clobber them to an inch of their-!"
Elinor gasped and hurried to Fergus' side. She clasped his hands to her heart and gazed pleadingly into his burning blue eyes. "No, Fergus, dinna do that. We canna risk another war breaking out...and I canna risk losing you."
Elinor sensed that Fergus was about to resume his tirade against the lords, so she quickly put her arms around him, hugging close to him, feeling his chest heaving from indignation. Fergus stiffened in her arms. "I am sorry that I couldnae give you a son this time, Fergus. I hoped, and prayed-" Elinor's voice broke, just the tiniest bit. "Please, dear...just give me...one more chance..."
Fergus finally snapped out of his trance and tilted Elinor's chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. His voice was firm but very gentle when he finally spoke. "Elinor, I would rather have a dozen daughters like Merida, than a son just because the lords say that. Merida is the most precious gift ye have ivver given me, and I thank the Wisps everyday for my good fortune."
"But I am not as young anymore, Fergus. Wot if I never give you what you need? A son to carry on the family name, and to rule in his father's footsteps?" Fergus shook his head and wiped the tears from Elinor's eyes.
"Elinor, listen to me. You and Merida are my whole world. Ye both are what I need. Wotever happens, I will be by yer side. We will face the world together."
Elinor smiled shakily and sniffed, rubbing her eyes. "Och, these hormones still get to me, Fergus..." She let out a teary giggle and caressed Fergus' chest. Fergus grinned at her and kissed her forehead. Elinor walked back to their bedside and got under the covers. She inclined her head in silent appeal for him to join her. Fergus peered into Merida's crib once more and gingerly petted his daughter's little head. Elinor let out a quiet chuckle, seeing her husband very carefully lean down to give Merida what must have been a scratchy kiss. Merida flailed her arms a bit when Fergus kissed her, managing to catch him on the side of his face. Fergus let out a yelp, surprised that a wee little baby could have such strength. Elinor watched from their bed and smiled, covering her mouth to muffle her giggles. Fergus stared down at Merida with amazement in his wide eyes. Merida settled down and her thumb managed to find its way to her rosebud mouth.
Fergus tiptoed to their bed and joined Elinor, pulling her close in his arms. Finally, Elinor let her guard down and snuggled next to his warm body. Fergus stroked her hair and let his hand trail down the back of her nightgown. When he began lifting the hems, Elinor shot him a shy but quizzical look. Fergus met her gaze with a cheeky, but reassuring glance. "We are in this together, darlin'," he reminded her.
Elinor blushed and averted her eyes, but allowed him to gently lift the soft linen away from her body. Fergus planted tender kisses all over Elinor's face and ducked under the covers to continue his task. Elinor gasped and reflexively cradled his head, pressing it to her bare stomach. Fergus massaged Elinor's sides, lifting his head out from under the covers to wink at her when she shifted slightly away, feeling ticklish.
"F-fergus..."
"Aye?" Fergus answered, positioning himself.
"I don't think...right now..." Elinor hardly had time to finish before Fergus gently thrust up into her. She whimpered, and Fergus immediately stopped his careful movements, afraid that he had hurt her.
"Eli, I'm so sorry! I thought ye wanted tae...do this?" Elinor pressed a slender finger to his lips, shushing him. "Aye, I do, but Merida..."
Fergus glanced over his shoulder, chagrined, but still Merida slept on, peacefully. Fergus smiled devilishly at Elinor. "We'll, then, mah love, we'll just have tae be quiet as a mouse." He punctuated each of his last three words with a kiss, starting at the base of her graceful neck down to the cleft between her breasts. Elinor arched her back and tried to remain quiet, bunching the sheets in her fists as she felt the familiar euphoric feeling of the two of them coming together. Pain started to mingle with pleasure as they went on, and Elinor felt a silky sheen of sweat begin to form on her forehead. Even though they had been married for years, Elinor still had yet to adjust to her imposing husband.
"S-stop, Fer-gus. Ahh...oh!" Elinor squeaked in surprise when Fergus nearly flopped down on her, though he managed to catch himself by propping on his elbows. His eyes were clouded by desire, though he could see Elinor's distress.
"I'm sorry, Elinor," he mumbled, looking abashed. He pecked her lips lightly and Elinor stroked his whiskery cheek.
"Don't be sorry, Fergus, it had to be done..." Elinor murmured, a slight twinkle appearing in her eyes. Then, simultaneously, they turned their heads in the direction of Merida's crib. A soft, snuffling snore came from the crib and both Elinor and Fergus chuckled.
"Merida sleeps just like ye, Fergus. As soundly as a bear."
"Aye," Fergus agreed. He couldn't be prouder of his wee lass then.
A/N: awww, I just love Fergus and Elinor's scenes with baby Merida. So much fluff! And yes, go me, I totally just wrote my (first) lemon. Hopefully the ending scene wasn't too bad... I deplore the scarcity of FergusxElinor M rated stuff, so how better to remedy the solution than to contribute some of my works? :) Please review!