Merida's Perspective

Merida sat next to her father in the throne room waiting for the lords and their sons to make their grand entrance. She really hadn't expected them to return so soon, she had thought that the lads would find love closer to home, not come poking around here. She sighed, she wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready for her heart to be won yet. She still had so much she would have liked to do, like take over the kingdom by herself...maybe or travel.

Oh, how she'd give anything to run out of the room, straight to the stables where she'd take Angus and never return. Aye, she would have liked very much to be selfish but given the last time she was resulted with a queen becoming a bear. She decided against running away. Who knows? Perhaps this time, things wouldn't seem so staged and awkward with the lords and their sons.

Before a guard could announce the arrival of the clans there they were. The way they burst through the doors reminded Merida that this would indeed be very awkward. Her eyes shifted to her mother. Elinor caught her daughter's eyes and gave her a small reassuring smile. This made Merida feel a wee bit better not that she'd ever tell anyone that.

Fergus was currently welcoming the clans and just as before was struggling to find the right words until his queen stepped in and saved him.

"My lords, I thank you for making the long and tiresome journey. As we all know, we've agreed to let the young ones find love on their own time. So for the next few weeks the young lads will take turns getting to know the princess. I wish the best of luck to them." Elinor said.

Fergus leaned close to his daughter and whispered "They'll need it." Merida rolled her eyes but smiled a bit.

Lord Macintosh stepped forward and bowed before speaking "My lady queen, that was beautiful and I thank ye for your blessing." He smirked and turned to his son "But we all know that my son will be victorious in his pursuits."

"He wasn't so victorious last time." Lord Macguffin replied.

"At least my son hit the target. Which is more than can be said about your lad." Lord Macintosh snapped.

"Well at least my son didn't throw a tantrum upon missing the mark." Lord Macguffin said as he patted Young Macguffin's shoulder.

Lord Dingwall raised his voice and proudly boasted "Well my son bested both your lads."

"Sheer luck" cried Lord Macguffin.

No sooner had the words left the Lord's mouth when a fist connected with it. Soon the entire room had broken out into a brawl. Merida knew this was going to happen, she should have left when she had the chance. She noticed her father had disappeared from her side and was currently engaged in a fight with Lord Dingwall. She looked over to see her brothers occasionally drop a weapon on someone's foot or trip them. Her mother sighed and looked annoyed and Merida could tell that she also found these fights pointless.

She spied Wee Dingwall scrapping around and letting punches fly. He wasn't someone she was interested in. The lad's mind seemed to only focus when he was fighting but other than that the blond wore a spacey look most of the time. Plus, he had made it very clear that he didn't want to be here last time and she was thankful for that.

She looked for her next suitor and her eyes landed on Young Macintosh. Her eyes met his and he smirked at her. She scoffed, He tried to impress her by showing her his strength only to be hit in the back of the head by a rival clan's member. Merida had to bite back a laugh, her mother wouldn't approve of her laughing at the poor boy's expense, no matter how full of himself he was.

Merida turned to her mother and asked "You're not going to stop them?"

"What's the point? They'll only start back up again." Elinor said. Merida sighed and slumped a bit in her seat to which Elinor said "With this mess going on, no one would notice you if you slipped out for some fresh air."

Merida seemed a bit shocked by this usually her mom would expect her to sit there until everyone had been greeted and formalities were taken care of.

Elinor sensed her daughter's hesitation and smiled at her "Go on then, I'll make up some excuse about how you couldn't stand the ruckus and needed fresh air."

Merida smiled gratefully at her mother and began to make her way to one of the exits. She had to step over a few bodies and weapons but she didn't mind, anything to get away from this mess.

"Princess look out!" yelled someone. Merida looked in that direction to see an axe flying towards her. She stood frozen. Everything seemed to slow down, she could hear her mother screaming her name telling her to move yet she couldn't.

She gave a small shriek as she was picked up and moved. She watched as the axe landed and embedded itself where she had been standing. She noted that she was still being held and turned to the stranger.

Blue eyes met blue. Red hair cascaded on top of blonde hair that was tied back in two braids. They were nose to nose. That is where Merida found her third suitor Young Macguffin.