Leap 8: SECRETS

Ruby held her brother's hand tight, unwillingly to let go. Robert still had his eyes closed but she knew that he would be fine now. Merida too, sighed in relief. The witch stood to the side with a passive face, though smiling inwardly.

'Tell me something,' Merida directed her demand towards the witch. 'How did you get in here in the first place?'

The latter chuckled, visibly amused. 'Well, I have my ways. I am, after all, a fascinating conjurer of extreme potential. A beauty in the creation, an enigma. However, I will not tell you how I got in here.'

The crow jumped up, 'I will! I will! This old hag can – '

'Shut up!' The witch shouted as she struck the bird with her fist. The crow, dazed, flew out of reach of the old woman and started hurtling insults at her. 'Say what you will, you useless pile of feathers,' she jeered back.

Turning back she continued,' He'll be fine. Your brother, that is. Let him take his own time to recover. Now Ruby, my wee girl, remember this. You must protect your brother, always.'

Ruby dis not hesitate to reply, ' Of course I will.'

'Good,'said the witch. She then looked at Merida, her face more serious than the princess had ever seen.

'Darling, I know these two are strangers to you, nothing more than likely wanderers. However, I wish to make a request. You, me, everyone must trust in them. No one can afford to lose them. We need them, but just as important, THEY. NEED. YOU. Only you, and no one else, can do this. Be their shield and when the time comes, their sword too.'

Poor Merida, more confused now than ever, was at a loss of words. Her expression revealed that fact clearly. Her first thought was that the old witch had finally cracked.

'What's up with you suddenly?' she asked with a hint of a chuckle and amusement. Unfortunately, the witch saw it.

'You do not know the depth of the situation we are in, princess,' said the witch who practically jumped a bit. 'You would be wise to take the matters at hand more seriously.'

'Why, what could be oh, so serious?,' asked Merida .

The witch took a few steps forward and brought her face uncomfortably close to Merida's. 'Listen to me, close and clear,' she said, 'Understand that evil is always on the rise. So, Good must rise stronger.'

The witch, apparently pleased with the solemn silence that followed, smiled and took a few steps back to her former place. 'I wish I could explain more, but that is best left for when Robert wakes up, and since I cannot stay here for long as I have some things to do, I believe it would be good if the three of you came to meet me'

'How will we ever find you?' argued Merida.

'Can't you just come and meet us?' added Ruby, 'It might not be safe out there, if you know what I mean.' She looked at Robert lying on the bed and then to the witch, pleading with her eyes.

The witch understood what she meant. 'You must be safe at the moment. They probably believe that Robert is dead. They will not be as cautious now. It might feel like taking a risk but it must be done. This castle is no good to me. When you come, do not bring anyone along with you. Too many is a burden and I can only allow you three into my cottage. With swift horses, three will gather less attraction and more speed.'

She then answered Merida, 'As to the dilemma of finding me, I will have someone guide you. Don't worry. And now, I must leave. I have a lot to do while I await you arrival.'

Without another word, she walked across the room towards the wooden door. As she put her hand on the door handle, she turned back.

'And remember, travel only when dawn breaks. Do not even think about travelling at night. These are dark times but I believe that you three will make it if you avoid detection. I hope that tomorrow brings you well and fine to me.'

With that, she closed the door and was gone.

'Wait,' said Merida pulling the door open, 'Who is going to guide – '

The stony corridor outside the room was empty. The witch had disappeared.

'…..us,' the princess trailed off.

The night was long and cold, but fortunately, it was now bearable. Robert would be fine and the dead weight in the hearts of the teenagers were relieved. The two girls chatted along with renewed vigor. After talking for almost a quarter of an hour, Ruby finally brought the topic that was on the minds of both of them.

'One thing I still can't make out,' said Ruby, with more warmth in her voice, 'Are these wings'

Merida replied, 'I agree. I have never seen glowing pictures. Much less on a person's body. It looks so beautiful but it feels so foul.'

'That itself is strange on its own accord,' Ruby stated, 'What I meant was that I swear I've never seen those pictures on his back before. He never had them.'

'Yes, you said that before, but now, we have the witch to worry about. I doubt we should heed her call'

'I think so too,' said Ruby. 'But it might be important. Shouldn't we tell the King and Queen at least?'

'Aye, we should. I'll go tell them. They also need to know that Robert is fine.'

Merida was at the door, about to leave when she looked back. 'Oh, and umm, if he wakes up before I arrive, don't tell him how I slapped him when he was unconscious.'

Ruby smiled back, 'I won't.'

Merida found her parents in the dining room, eating. It was, after all, just about time for dinner. Queen Elinor, had before her, a modest amount of food but it still looked of rich quality. King Fergus on the other hand was feasting on his plate laden with roasted sausages, chicken, other assortments of meat, all of which could have easily passed for a feast. Merida noticed that her little brothers were present too.

Harris, Hubert and Hamish sat on one side of the long table, pretending to be forcing themselves to eat a dish that Merida did not like either. They were making a lot of noise, oblivious to fact of all that had happened during the day.

The royal couple looked up when the princess walked in, with a new air of joy.

'Mum, Da, come about. The boy is getting better,' said Merida, her voice ringing with excitement.

'I know,' said the queen, 'Quite un-natural, but the witch relayed the news just a moment before you arrived.'

'What? You met her? How?,' Merida, who was pulling a chair to sit on, looked up with a dumbfounded expression. 'Yer joking.'

'Yes,' Queen Elinor smiled, 'And as a matter of fact, this is not the first time that I have come in contact with her. I met her a long time ago, once.'

'When?'

'When I was just a wee lady. A few years older than you are right now.'

'What?,' said Merida pulling at her hair in a mixture of frustration and confusion. 'And you never told me!'

'Merida, calm down dear,' said King Fergus cautiously so as not to rouse her temper any more than it already was.

'Ugh,' exclaimed Merida as she slumped head first on the table, hiding her face behind her arms and her wild tangle of red hair. She then raised her head slightly so that only her pair of blue eyes could be seen behind the veil of red strands, and looked at her mother. 'Well I hope you have a good reason for not telling me about something like that.'

Queen Elinor didn't explain right then and there. Instead, she turned to her sons.

'Boys, you are excused,' she said.

The boys, who had their dinner untouched immediately ran for the door. However, one of them (I believe it was Hubert. No, perhaps Harris. Or was it Hamish? Dammit! I don't know. These three were identical to their last freckle and mass of red hair.) slipped on the way. From a secret hiding place in his tartan, a dozen or so sweet cakes spilled out. Out of pure guilt, he ran after his brothers without so much as a glance back.

The queen seemed not to notice anything, and if she did, she pretended not to.

'You father has something TO DISCUSS WITH YOU!,' said Queen Elinor, directing her statement more towards her husband than at Merida.

The king, who had been munching on a piece of chicken, subconsciously swallowed a large chunk of meat, apparently surprised by his wife. He would have choked to death had he not emptied his entire pitcher of water.

Once he was back to his senses, patiently (or not) waited on by Queen Elinor, he turned to his daughter. 'Merida, ummm ….It's…..aaahh….ummm…..'

The scene was obviously getting onto the queen's nerves as she rolled her eyes, 'I met the witch years ago during the time of my marriage to your father. She saved my life, as a matter of fact.'