Gentle Giant

Chapter three:

They cleared their throats taking their seats at a table near the three lords; Merida chose to sit with her new friends. Aria sat in between her and Baist while Nandag and Gregor sat on the opposite side of them. Aria smiled brightly as she and Merida talked about archery and their horses. Baist listened into their conversation not really paying attention to the other two boys as they talked. Lord MacGuffin got up from his spot with the other lords and walked over to where his niece was seated at. She looked up at him as innocently as she could.

"We still need tae discuss yer mischievous behavior young lassie, 'n' yer wee stowing awa' stunt." MacGuffin said to her gruffly. Merida looked over toward Baist as she saw movement from him out of the corner of her eye. Baist looked a little tense, as if he was ready to defend her.

' He must really love his little cousin. He acts so protective of her.' Merida thought smiling warmly at his protectiveness.

"Aye Uncle?" she said to him sheepishly.

Nandag and Gregor looked at each other than to the scene in front of them, Baist and Merida watching from either side of Aria. Aria tried to keep a cool demeanor about her but on the inside she was a bit scared for she knew she did something really bad this time.

"Whit in th' hell were ye thinking? sneakin' onto one o' our ships? what if something happened or thare wis a storm? yer could have bin lost or worse, 'n' ah know yer mum most be going nuts wi' worry richt now over wur ye are young lassie. Come mornin' we are sending a letter tae yer maw letting her know what's happened ye hear me? na arguing 'n' na buts." he told her in a stern grumbled voice his accent turning a bit thick like his sons, she looked down at her feet nodding her head yes.

Lord MacGuffin then smiled placing his large hand on her head ruffling her hair a little making her giggle and push his hand away. "Yer a wee devil, juist lik' me 'n' yer mum as kids."

Aria just grinned at him, he nodded his head to the rest of the group then went back over to the other lords and the rest of the royal family. Merida watched Baist relax as his father left their table. Aria turned to him and began talking to him about what just happen and how she got off lucky. Baist seemed to reprimanded her for what she did because she started to pout at him. Nandag and Gregor snickered at her which earned them a glare and a kick in their shins from an angry Aria. they both winced. Merida just giggled at the fiery blonde haired girl.

'I think me and Aria are going to be very good friends.' thought Merida as she watched Aria stick her tongue out at the two boys, Baist held his hand to his face seemingly to stifle his laughter at the threes antics.

'She seems tae be haein a guid time, a'm sae happy mah wee Aria is huvin fin. (She seems to be having a good time, i'm so happy my wee Aria is having fun.)' Baist thought watching the three.

As dinner went on the lords started a fight much to the queens dismay her husband joined in. Queen Elinor began rounding up her three sons when she looked over to the kids table. she smiled as she saw the boys using the table as a barricade to protect them and the girls. Aria and Merida were throwing food at the rowdy adults from behind the protective boys giggling and laughing together. The queen let a warm smile grace her lips as she watched her daughter having fun with another girl, even if it's unlady like fun. She and the boys left much to their protest, she took them to their room for bed.

"Ah dinnae think this is gaun tae halt ony time soon, mibbie we shuid a' git oot o' 'ere. We kin escape thro' th' door th' queen 'n' three princes juist gaed thro'. (I don't think this is going to stop any time soon, maybe we should all get out of here. We can escape through the door the queen and three princes just went through.)" Baist said to the others over his shoulder.

Aria nodded her head and gave them the short version of what he said. Nandag and Gregor said they'd cover them, Baist turned to the girls.

"Forgive me Merida." he said as he scooped up the two girls in his big arms, Aria nestled comfortably into his arms. Merida on the other hand gave out a surprised meep before she could stop her self, her face heated up as he held them both close to his chest dodging men left and right. Nandag and Gregor followed closely behind him trying to block attacks from the rough housing men around them.

'He's so strong. He's carrying us lik' we weigh nothing at all, 'n' he's bein' sae gentle while dodging th' men.' Merida thought blushing a bit more hoping no one saw her bright red face.

But some one did notice, Aria smiled as she watch Merida's reaction to her big cousin picking them both up and carring them close to his chest protectivly. Aria was use to it, since the day she was born he seemed to have become her protector.

'Hmm, interesting. Maybe there is hope fur mah cousin tae win Merida's hert after all. Maybe they juist need a wee push.' she thought grinning impishly as the five of them made it out of the great hall.

Baist gently set the two girls down both his and Merida's face held a slight pink color to them. "Boy that wis a fun skirmish. Ne'er a dull moment at th' castle." Gregor said with a bit of laughter in his voice.

The others nodded and laughed a bit. Nandag kept a close eye on Baist and Merida, he didn't miss their blushing faces moments ago or how they we're acting around each other. Nandag wasn't an idiot he may be friends with Baist but they were still competitors, both seeking to win Merida's heart and hand in marriage and he didn't plan to lose to the giant man.

'I will just have tae keep a close watch oan him, friend or nae I will nae lose tae anyone.' thought Nandag looking at the still slightly pinked faced Baist who was rubbing the back of his neck because of something Aria and Merida said.

Gregor laughed with the girls but really he kept a close eye on his friend Nandag knowing full well the young man didn't like to lose. Even though nobody else seemed to notice his off behavior or the fact he kept staring at Baist. After all the excitement of the day the decided it was time they all headed to bed. Aria was about to head back to the tents with her cousin but Merida stopped her and offered her to come stay in her room with her. Aria nodded smiling brightly, so the girls bid the boys a good night and headed up to Merida's room to clean up and go to bed. After saying their goodnight the boys headed toward their separate clans tents. Not long after the girls crawled into Merida's bed had they fallen into blissful dream land. The ruckus soon died down in the castle and before the queen joined her husband in bed she checked in on her three boys. The little devils were fast asleep dreaming of what trouble they can cause tomorrow. The queen stopped by her daughter's room opening it slightly, the sight of the two girls sleeping peacefully brought a warm smile to her lips. She quietly shut the door and went to join her husband in bed.

Well that's it for chapter three. i hope you all enjoyed. I would like to give a shout out to a very close friend of my on here who reviewed my story, MalachiteWolf. I gives you loves to wolfy! MalachiteWolf is also a great writer and personal friend of mine. thank you to every one who has been following and reviewed my story and favorite it. thank you all so very much. i hope to have chapter four written soon.