Gentle Giant

*italic* memory, () translations

Chapter eight:

The next morning Aria and the triplets pouted that they missed dinner while their friends and families just laughed. A couple of weeks went by and Merida was beginning to get to know the boys better. Merida and Gregor had become great friends, he was more inightful than people knew. Aria and Gregor are good friends now too, they like to play tricks on his best friend Nandag. Nandag still was trying way to hard to impress Merida by showing off his muscles and skill but the more he tried to keep her attention only on him the more he pushed her away. Baist was a different story, Merida found she liked getting to know him and go on walks with him. They had a lot in common, and thanks to Baist's late night sessions with his cousin to work on his speech and the more time spent with him Merida was beginning to understand his thick accent with out help. Aria and Merida were the best of friends and almost inseparable from each other.

The young heirs decided to go for a ride through the forest that day. Nightmare and Angus lead the pack with their riders Aria and Merida smiling and laughing. Coming up behind them was Baist and Nandag, Nandag was trying to race Baist but he wouldn't let himself be dragged into Nandag's childishness at this time. And the ever watchful Gregor pulled up the rear smiling at his friends and the beautiful scenery.

They stopped in the clearing where Merida and Baist had their day out together. They let the horses rest for a wee bit. Merida and Baist blushed slightly when they looked at each other both remembering their fun day out. Aria just grinned at her cousin and best friend as she walked over to Gregor. Nandag on the other hand didn't seem to happy about how close they were getting.

"So is this whaur ye two were th' day I chased th' wee devils around" Nandag asked bitterly.

"Aye it is. Beautiful isnae it? Me 'n' Aria found it that day we went riding." Merida said cheerfully ignoring Nandag's attitude.

Aria grinned kicking off her shoes, she then walked toward a rock leading into the deep part of the river.

Baist turned to see his cousin near the deep water on a rock her right foot in the water testing it, "Aria whit urr ye daein'? (Aria what are you doing?)."

She just smiled big at him before taking a step forward jumping into the river. She resurfaced grinning like a child at him, her wet hair clang to her face. Merida just laughed kicking off her own shoes running to the rock and jumping off into the cold water, she splashed Aria causing the girl to laugh and splash Merida once she surfaced. Baist just shook his head laughing at the two girls, Gregor joined in the laughter. Nandag couldn't believe they just jumped in like that. Soon Baist and Gregor had their shirts and boots off running into the water to join the two girls.

"C'moan in Nandag! th' cold water is great on a hot day lik' th'day." Aria called to him cheerfully.

Nandag just shook his head no, "Yer a'll going tae catch a cold. 'n' what about dry clothes? whit are ye goin' tae wear."

"Oh c'moan Nandag, juist get in th' water. Stop bein' a pretty boy 'n' huv some fin." Gregor said annoyed, splashing water toward his best friend.

Baist and the two girls laughed at Nandag as he jumped back from the water, he grumbled irritably as he took his shirt and boots off. Nandag slowly waded out into the water, he finally swam over to where Gregor was glaring slightly at the shorter boy. They laughed and played in the water together, eventually Nandag relaxed. They even had a chicken fight, Merida choose to be on Baist's shoulders and Aria was on Nandag's shoulders. Since Gregor is the shortest male he choose to stay out of this and reffery the matches. Merida and Aria were about evenly matched in strength but thanks to Baist's added strength under her they were able to win the majority of the matches, Aria and Nandag won the others. eventually they got out to dry off. Once again Merida put Baist's under shirt on much to Nandag's protest and Aria was given Gregor's shirt which was like a short dress on her. It came to about an inch above her knees, it was short-sleeved which she liked. The three boys went shirtless, they put the wet dresses up to dry.

Aria and Merida sat together in the grass picking at the flowers. Nandag stood of watching the girls as he practiced his swordsmenship, Baist lay in the grass his eyes closed in blissful peace near the girls, and Gregor sat up on a low branch in the tree looking out at the scenery.

"So Merida ye seem tae be spending a lot o' time wi' Baist. Are ye starting tae lik' him?" Aria asked in a hushed voice so the boys wouldn't hear.

Merida blushed a little looking over to the seemingly sleeping Baist, "I dinnae ken Aria, I'm not sure if I love yer cousin but I ken I enjoy his company. 'n' we huv such wonderful talks, I can understand him a bit better now. But I juist dinnae ken if tis love i'm feelin' for him." Merida whispered back.

Aria smiled softly at her friend keeping to their hushed voices, "Theres na pressure mah friend, i'm juist happy ye two are gettin' along."

"'n' juist what are ye two whispering about over thare?" Nandag said swinging his sword around his back like he did when he was first introduced by his father.

"None o` yer business." Aria said sticking her tongue out at him.

Aria and Merida got up from there spot on the rock to go lay with Baist. Merida laid next to him at Aria's insistent, while Aria laid on the other side of Merida. Nandag watched as soon they both drifted off into a sweet little cat naps.

"She kin be a wee brat huh Gregor?" Nandag said to his friend, when he didn't answer Nandag called his name again,"Gregor?"

Nandag turned around to see why his friend wasn't answering him only to find Gregor leaning with his back against the tree still sitting on the low branch fast asleep. Nandag laughed at his friend before walking over and placing his sword down by the tree, he then made himself comfortable at the base of the tree and joined his friends in a wee cat nap.

As the friends slept peacefully the day seemed to tick away and the sun soon left the sky to be replaced with dark ominous clouds. A loud crack of thunder woke the teens with a start, Gregor fell out of the tree and landed on top of Nandag. Merida and Baist both sat up with a start at the sound only to realize they were hugging each other, Aria sat up looking to the darkened sky but inwardly giggling at the look on her cousin and best friends faces. They blushed a deep red quickly separating mumbling apologies to each other. Nandag and Gregor were getting up and he foamed at the sight of Baist holding Merida but Gregor elbowed him in the side shaking his head that now was not the time. They quickly gather their clothes and weapons before mounting the horses once again, as they started to race through the forest the sky opened up and poured down a heavy rain. The lightning lit up the black sky and the thunder cracked so loud they could feel it pound in their hearts. Suddenly a crack of lightening hit a tree in front of them causing the mighty tree to crash to the ground, Nightmare and Angus stop suddenly so as not to run into it since they didn't have time to jump it. unfortunately their sudden halt sent Merida and Aria flying through the air landing on the other side of the tree.

"Aria! Merida!" yelled Baist when he saw the girls go flying.

"Merida are ye a'richt?" Nandag asked his voice laced with concern.

Nightmare and Angus snorted and whinnied in worry as they backed up to get a running start then jumped the tree to check on their riders. Gregor gently kicked his horse signalling for it to jump the tree, once over he saw Merida and Aria covered in mud slowly getting to their feet as their horses nuzzled and tried to help them up.

"Aria! Answer me! urr ye baith a'richt? (Aria! Answer me! Are you both ok?)." Baist's anxious boomed over the loud thunder and wind.

"Aye, we are fine Baist." Aria's timid voice yelled back to her cousin, she and Merida were still little shaken from their rough landing. Baist and Nandag urged their horses forward jumping the tree just as Merida and Aria remounted their mighty steeds.

"We need tae hurry home, this storm is getting bad." Merida said worriedly.

They all urged their horses forward again racing as fast as they could back to the castle before another accident happened. Back at the castle the queen and king along with the three lords were searching everywhere for their children afraid they were caught out in this horrible storm. The queen paced back and forth in the great hall worried sick about her precious wee girl. The king and lords watched the worried queen afriad they could do nothing to easy her worry or their own for that matter. Their kids may have been trained to be warriors but this is a storm not a battle. Just then the doors burst open and the five teens walked in soaked head to toe. The parents rushed over to them, taking in their appearances. Merida and Aria were in the boys shirts not their dresses and covered in scratches and mud. Each of the boys still didn't have their shirts on and was soaked.

"Merida whia happened? what happen tae yer dress 'n' how come ye are covered in mud?" the queen asked her daughter worriedly checking over her scrapes.

" Aria ye knee is bleeding badly, what happened tae ye lassie? Are ye a'richt? Baist whaur did ye five go?" lord MacGuffin asked as he looked over his little niece.

The other two boys fathers had checked there sons and saw they were fine, the attention was on the two muddy and scraped girls.

"Aye, i'm fine mum. Our dresses got wet whin we went swiming 'n' Baist let me wear his dry shirt 'n' Angus threw me whin a tree fell infront o' us. I'm fine I promise." Merida said as her mother hugged her tightly.

"Gregor wis a true gentleman Lord Dingwall 'n' let me borrow his shirt since mah dress wis soaked from swiming. 'n' i'm fine Uncle, Nightmare threw me whin Angus threw Merida fur we wur up front 'n' th' tree fell. I'm braw, mah knee will heal." Aria said smiling softly than let out a small sneeze, her uncle hugged her to his body tightly then hugged Baist just happy they were both alright.

"Come now girls let git ye in a hot bath 'n' cleaned up before ye catch yer death a cold." Elinor said just so happy her daughter was alright, she ushered the two girls along leaving the men in the great hall.

The young lords went back to their tents with their fathers drying off and changing into fresh clean clothes. The lords were so relieved nothing had seriously happened to the young teens. Once cleaned up they all meet back up in the great hall for dinner just among them. Baist and Merida had quiet conversation while Aria kept bugging Nandag then ducking behind Gregor when he would try to get to her, the triplets were up to their usually trouble, the queen tried to do her paper work but the three lords and her husband kept getting into arguments and fights. The storm raged outside as they ate.

"Urr ye sure yer a'richt Merida? (Are you sure you are ok Merida?)" Baist asked Merida concern laced in his voice.

Merida looked into Baist's worried light blue eyes and smiled, "Aye, i'm fine Baist, thank ye. How's Aria's leg? I watched it git cleaned up 'n' it looked kind o'bad."

"It looks worse then it's mah da said, he gave it a wance ower. Ah wis sae relived, ah mist admit ah stairted tae pelter 'n' git protective whin a clocked she wis hurt. Bit mah da said tis hee haw tae git worked up aboot sae a'm trying tae keep the heid.(It looks worse then it is my dad said, he gave it a once over. I was so relived, I must admit I started to panic and get protective when I saw she was hurt. But my dad said it's nothing to get worked up about so i'm trying to stay calm.)." Baist said to her blushing slightly looking at his plate.

Merida giggled causing him to look up at her with a slight pout on his handsome face, "Well i'm glad yer trying tae stay calm, she is picking on Nandag so I think she'll be fine."

Everyone was having a good time when the door burst open to revel a worn out and rough-looking guard, he rushed over to the queen whispering something in her ear then into the king's ear. The queen stood with her husband, she requested the lords followed them to the tapestry room. The guard followed to tell what he told the queen and king to the others. The teens all looked at each other in confusion. Aria stood up and began to leave the room, Baist was at her side.

"'n' where dae ye think ye two are going?" Nandag called to them, they stopped and faced their friends.

"We're goin' tae find' out what's goin' on, are ye guys comin'?" Aria replied, the others looked to each other nodding their heads then got up and joined their two friends sneaking up the stairs to the tapestry room.

Merida's three little brothers helped them listen in on the conversation before heading off to steal pastries from Maudie again. As they listened in they couldn't believe what they heard.

"Ah swear mah king i'm not lying. Thae traitors huv th' strength o' demons, they let me live tae tell ye thair message that ye wouldn't be in power much longer." the gurd said shakly.

"We must tak' action, mah lords send word tae yer clans 'n' tell them tae be on guard for if an attack mah happen. Fergus we need tae git our men ready 'n' on guard incase they try tae attck us." the queen said trying to stay calm.

Everyone agreed and went to get everything taken care of, the teens quickly ran from the door back to the great hall so as not to be caught eavesdropping. Once back to the great hall they all had frowns on their faces.

"Warriors wi' th' strength o' demons? it cannae be true." Nandag said to his friends.

"Yer wrong, Mor'du asked a witch for th' strength o' ten men 'n' wis granted it." Gregor corrected his friend remembering what they learned last time from Merida about Mor'du.

"That's it! a witch, we need tae go see th' bear witch I saw whin I turned mah mum into a bear. She kin tell us whit's goin' on." Merida exclaimed.

"In this storm?" Nandag asked shocked since they just got back and dry.

"Aye, storm or na storm. We need help 'n' th' witch Merida saw might be able tae help us." Aria said, Baist nodding his head in agreement.

With a sigh Nandag gave in and they went to gather warm cloaks and supplies for the trip to the witch's hut. Once everything was gathered they went out to their horses getting them ready. with a bright flash of lightning and loud crack of thunder they were off racing through the forest toward the witches home. The harsh wind and heavy rain pounding down on them they rode through the woods in search of answers.

there's chapter eight, i'm so sorry it took so long to post another chapter. I have a lot of papers to write in my classes so I've only been able to write a lil bit here and there. I hope to have chapter nine up soon, and thank you everyone for your continued support. i hope you liked this chapter, thank you. please review.