Young Macintosh's Perspective

Young Macintosh looked on and watched the princess pull Young Macguffin away from him. He saw the lad look back and he smirked at him. Once they were outside he excused himself for the night and had gone to bed.

He woke up the next morning before anyone else. He creeped through the castle and made his way to the stables. He borrowed a horse and rushed off outside the castle walls in search of a person who would ensure his fate.

He pushed his horse faster until he came upon the circle of standing stones. His horse would not step foot within the circle. Stupid beast he thought. He dismounted and walked to the center and waited. He sat down and proceeded to wait.

Young Macintosh felt like a fool.

"Come on" He whispered. "Show yourselves."

The mist was beginning to get thicker and there was a chill in the air. He sighed. He should have just stay back at the castle instead of coming here. Yet he couldn't help coming here not after what he confirmed last night. He had his suspicions about Macguffin and Merida and last night he had confirmed them. He had purposely insulted Macguffin to see if the princess would come to his aid. She had and on top of that had led him away as if she was declaring her decision.

Young Macintosh couldn't believe it at the time. She had picked Macguffin over him. He couldn't make sense of it. He was clearly the better choice for her and she had tossed him away like a piece of stale bread. He growled slightly.

Something whooshed past his ear and whispered.

Young Macintosh looked up. There! In the mist were the wisps he sought after. He smiled, there was still a chance for him.

Merida's Perspective

She had woken up a little later than usual. She peered out her window and checked the position of the sun. It couldn't have been more than a little before midday. Her stomach rumbled reminding her that she had missed breakfast entirely.

Merida got up and threw her closet door open. She rubbed her eyes trying to will the sleep away and drowsily reached for a dress. She yawned then got dressed and braided her hair.

Before leaving her room she grabbed her bow and arrow in hopes of getting in a bit of practice in today. Her mother hadn't woken her which meant she had the day off from lessons.

She opened her door and came face to face with Young Macintosh. She nearly screamed instead she opted for closing the door in his face.

"Princess!" she heard him yelling. She ignored him.

"I know you're mad from last night but I came to apologize."

She raised an eyebrow skeptically. Well that's new she thought. She never imagined Macintosh as the apologizing type, she always believed his ego wouldn't allow it. She opened the door and looked at him. He stared back obviously not sure what to say.

"Well?" she asked.

He looked at the floor then to the ceiling before settling his gaze on her face. "I'm sorry" he said through gritted teeth. "Would you perhaps like to take a walk with me today?"

"Ummm…. I'd love to but my mother might have some lessons prepared for me and I'd have to ask her if it was alright."

"I already asked her. She said it was fine." Young Macintosh said.

Merida smiled. "She did? Well then I'd be more than delighted to" she lied.

Young Macintosh smiled and held out his arm for her "Shall we?"

Merida linked her arm with his and they walked down the stairs. She could feel the servants eyeing them as they made their way outside.

"So is there any place you'd like to go princess?" he asked her.

Merida spotted the chance he'd given her and said "I haven't been to the training grounds in a good while. Why don't we head over there for a bit?"

Young Macintosh smiled "Good idea I can show you how talented I am with sword."

Merida smiled politely in return. Course you are you big show off she thought. Little did Macintosh know that Merida had purposely chosen the training grounds in hopes of finding Macguffin there.

"So princess, I know that we haven't really had a chance to get to know one another. Mostly because you're always rushing off to lessons and I admire your dedication. I wanted to apologize for my brazen behavior thus far."

Merida look at him taken aback. Two apologies in ONE day. This must be a prank or she might be having a dream.

"Don't look at me like that" he said turning his face away from hers.

Merida caught the faintest of red on his cheeks. A blush? An actual blush. Another surprise Young Macintosh had bestowed on her today.

"I know that I tried to kiss you the other day and I was wrong. I've been going about this whole courting business the wrong way. Instead of getting to know you I've been trying to impress you."

"You have? I hadn't noticed" she replied sarcastically.

He placed a hand above his heart and feigned hurt "Oh fair maiden your words strike grief here!" He said as he pointed his thumb towards his heart.

She laughed at his over the top display. "Must you always be so dramatic?" she asked.

"It makes things more interesting." He replied. They walked in silence for a few minutes. They reached the training grounds.

Merida looked around and spotted a few clans men sword fighting amongst themselves. She saw Wee Dingwall asleep by an archery target. She had to hand it to the lad for his bravery? She wouldn't have picked such a spot to sleep in…one stray arrow annnnndd….

"Princess." Young Macintosh said.

She looked at him "Yes?"

"Guid day (Good day)" Young Macguffin greeted them. He had snuck up on them during such a tense moment in hopes of breaking them apart.

"It is a good day! Wouldn't you agree Macintosh?" she asked him. Smiling a little to brightly for his liking.

"Just grand" he replied grimly as he sent a small glare to Macguffin. Macguffin only smirked in return.

"Well before I was interrupted" He looked at Young Macguffin. "I wanted to ask you something princess."

"Alright ask away" she said.

"I was wondering if you might have picked someone already? And if you hadn't….. I was also wondering if I had a chance to be chosen?" he asked without his gaze ever leaving her face.

Her eyes widen and her face colored. She panicked a bit. She wasn't ready to admit that she had chosen someone or rather her heart had chosen for her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and her a deep voice say "She haes (She has)."

She didn't think it was possible for her eyes to get wider or her face redder but they had. She looked down at her feet and then up at Macguffin and found him smiling at her. Damn him for being cute she thought.

Young Macintosh sighed and she whipped her head to look at him. He had his head lowered.

"I thought as much." He said.

"Wait what's that supposed to mean?!" she asked.

"You confirmed my suspicions last night when you defended your loved one over here." He said with a smile.

"I'm sorry." She said face nearly as red as a tomato.

He waved at her dismissingly. "Don't worry about it princess. This lifts a burden off my shoulders actually."

" Whit dae ye mean by that? ( What do you mean by that?)" asked Young Macguffin

"Well my father was pressuring me to win your heart and I not wanting to disappoint him did everything I could to win. Although I'm beginning to see that if I had been myself from the start I might have actually stood a chance."

"Maybe." Said Merida.

Young Macguffin looked at her and she looked at him. She laughed and winked at him. He turned his face away and pouted.

"Really?" asked Young Macintosh. He puffed out his chest and smirked at her. "It's not too late you know" he said as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She laughed at him and he joined in as well. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her middle and she looked up to find Young Macguffin glaring at Young Macintosh.

She got on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"Don't worry Macguffin! She seems fonder of you than me." Young Macintosh said.

He held out his hand and Young Macguffin took it. They shook hands and Macintosh said "Congratulations on winning."

"I'm not something to be won!" shouted Merida.

"Well congratulations on your future wedding then" he said teasingly.

Merida walked over to Young Macintosh and smacked his arm. "Oh be quiet." She said as she walked away in a huff of anger and embarrassment.

Young Macintosh turned to Macguffin and found him staring as Merida walked away. He smirked and asked him "So when are you going to ask her?"

"Ask her whit? (Ask her what?)" he asked.

"To marry you." Macintosh told Macguffin.