The castle library was filled with scrolls and papers of legends. The legends included those of her people and brother clans. There were some about a monster living in the lake close by. Others included legends of wisps and fairies. But little Merida was interested in one legend in particular at the moment.
She opened the library doors and entered a room filled with shelves. Merida always liked the library. She would lie down on the floor when no one was around and listen...she listened as the stories whispers filled the room.
"Hello? Elder Mara?" She called out.
Upon hearing the name an elderly lady popped up from behind a table filled with scrolls. She was known as the eldest of the clan. Her hair grey with age, her face wrinkled and plump. Despite however old she was, she had the heart of a young lass. "Maybe...maybe she was one of the children that got to see Aster when he appeared?" Merida wondered.
"Oh my, you gave my quite the scare there young princess." Elder Mara stretched over to pick up her walking stick. "Now then, what can I do you for lassie?" She asked.
"I am looking for papers and scrolls of the Bunny of Easter." She showed Mara the small flag her mother gave to her earlier that day. "My mom told me all about him. But I want to learn more. I aim to meet him y'know." Merida stood proud and bold as she told the Elder. Mara stood and stared in amazement at young Merida.
A smile broke on her lips. "Well lassie, you amaze me. Not a lot of kids your age come in asking for stories of Aster." Elder Mara said.
"But I am! I want learn as much as I can about him... I hope that's enough for me to see him…. the Bunny of Easter." Merida said. "My mum says he brings spring though out the lands. Oh Elder Mara, imagine what more I can learn about him… " She clasped the Elders hand.
Elder Mara smiled at little Merida. She thought back in the day when she was as determined as the young girl...having the dream to see the legends of the land. "Alright my dear. I am convinced. Go wait at the table of there. I'll go see what I can find."
Merida ran to the table. She sat herself down and gazed up at the window. Sunlight still shun through, radiating her face. She felt as if it was smiling upon her. It made her feel confident and filled with hope. Moments passed when she heard the patter of slight foot-steps. She turned to see Elder Mara slowly making her way to Merida. She quickly got up and ran to the Elder.
"Please let me help you." Merida gently grabbed the scrolls out of Mara's hand.
"Oh you're so kind my dear. Now, these are just a few I found. While you're reading I can go see if I can fetch some more." Elder Mara said.
"Thank ye so much!" Merida ran and took her seat at the table once again. She dropped the scrolls on the table.
"Ok, tell me what you got on Aster…" She opened the scrolls.
"E. Aster Bunnymund...that's what mummy said his name was." Merida whispered to herself. She looked at the various drawings of Aster. There were some of him standing or kneeling with children. Merida continued to read. "...He lives in his warren, where it is spring all the time. He paints with the colors of spring...Aster was not born in these lands. He comes from far off, many a creature's there used to be, but now there is one. Aster is left to walk this Earth as the only one of his kind. Years pass, and Aster still lives on. Children see him, go to him. He cares for them, protect him...It is them who keep Aster alive" With that sentence Merida stopped. " 'Children see him...'. That means..." A smile stretched across her entire face. She went on. "Aster loves to dance to music of the folk. Some have heard a voice of silk humming the tunes throughout the forest. They believe it is Aster singing and humming the folk songs, for when they follow the voice, they find the greenest of grass, the most beautiful of flowers, and trees that touch the sky, they find Spring...Aster is a painter. Taking time to paint every egg for every child in the world. Notice how two eggs are never the same...He smells of spring, with eyes as green as the Emerald Plains... "
Putting down one scroll Merida picked up another one. Each scroll she read had a surprise...a new learning of Aster. "A warrior. He fights with boomerangs and is skilled at the bow...He fights for the good and protects the innocent..." Minutes passed, then the hours...scroll by scroll, Merida absorbed all that she could.
Day went to night. The sun faded and was replaced with the light of the moon...the moon. She gazed up and saw the bright moon shining through the window. "The moon...the papers mentioned something of the moon..." Her thoughts were interrupted by an elderly voice.
"My dear. I think it be time for you to head off to your parents. It's about supper time." Elder Mara said. Merida looked at her with sad eyes. She didn't want to stop; she wanted to know everything about Aster. She needed to know how she could meet him.
"I guess you be right Elder Mara." Merida gathered up the scrolls and neatly put them back in place. She stopped...then turned to the Elder. "Elder Mara...do you believe he's real?"
The elder woman looked at Merida with a stern face. "My dear...I believe in him with all me heart. The question is... do you?"
Merida smiled. "I do! I just get worried that...if people stop believing in him, he'll disappear, and I will never get to see him."
"Oh my dear, there are too many children in the world to let that happen. Keep hope my dear. That bunny can sense it like your father senses the food from the kitchen." Elder Mara said. Merida let out a small giggle and gave the elder lady a big hug.
"Thank ye so much! And when I see him, I'll mention you!" With that...Merida was gone.
"All tucked in now..." Elinor secured her daughter tightly in her quilts.
"Yes mummy," Merida said.
"There's my little bear, all ready for bed?" King Fergus said.
"Grr!" Merida scrunched her face imitating a bear.
Fergus let out a big laugh, "Now that's my girl." He knelt to give her a good night kiss and was out of the room.
"Elder Mara tells me you spent most of your day in the library..." Elinor commented.
"I did...I learned so much mummy! I learned so much about him!" Merida told her mother. She wanted to tell her mother all that she knew, how Aster was the only one of his kind, how loves to paint, to sing, to dance… and how he loves carrots. The scrolls never said, but he was a bunny after all.
Elinor smiled at her child's enthusiasm, "Well don't you forget what you learned. It may help get the chance to see him. Now my dear, time for bed... Good night."
"Good night mummy." Elinor kissed Merida's forehead and turned off the candle lighting her room.
Merida lay, staring up at the ceiling. She twisted over to get the little flag from out of her drawer. She unfolded and held up the flag...there was Bunnymund staring at her, protecting her.
"He be so lonesome...being the only one of his kind..." Merida stared out her window and at the moon. "I'll be your friend Aster...I'll be your friend..." She slowly drifted off into a sleep...then suddenly...she bolted upwards. "I have an idea!"
She fussed to get the blankets off her, shot for her door, and made her way down to the grand hall.