Chapter 4: My Sacrifice
Merida and Angus weaved through the trees, and jumped over whatever attempted to halt their progress. Wind whipped passed her face and stung her eyes but she doesn't mind at all. Then her horse suddenly throwed her away.
"Angus! Why dae ye keep on doing that tae me!"
Catching her breath, the princess sunk into the ground. She look around and found the reason why her horse thrown her accidentally. They are in the circle of stones. She smiled and memories of her mother went back. She remembered how her mother saved her from the monstrous demon bear Mor'du and this was the place wherein they mended their bond. She will never ever forget this place for the rest of her life. Tears dotted around the corner in her eyes and screamed in pain emotionally. Her sorrow echoed through out the forest. She looked up to the sky and keeps on pleading to the the will-o-wisp to appear in front of her.
"Please! Please! Please take me tae the witch house! Show me the way where I can find her! Please!"
She cried loudly and keeps on screaming desperately. Darkness still filled the forest and her cloak was blown away because of the heavy rain and strong wind. She was out of her mind that she just stared her favorite cloak blown away from her. All she cares for now is the witch. Her horse keeps on whining trying to say to her friend that maybe its time for them to go home but Merida just look at her horse sadly.
"I can't Angus. Ye can go if ye want but I need tae stay here as long as it takes. I need tae see her. I can't just give up right now Angus and ye know why." The horse approached her slowly, merely cocked his head, tail strands swaying and the princess smiled to him.
"Thank ye for understanding me Angus. Yer a very good friend. I know that ye'll always be here tae support me."
The princess waited, and begging the wisp to show up and help her to find the witch house. The waiting lasted longer. Hours have passed and still no wisp appeared to them. Tears streamed down from her face. She bites her lower lip in despair and sadness. Her body was now starting to shiver and get exhausted because of severe pain and coldness and her tired eyes were now starting to shut. She wanted to just lay in the grass and sleep but she can't. To regain her strength somehow, she holds her mother's gift to her when she was celebrating her 8th birthday. It was a small, round and gold necklace and engraved in there is the symbol of their clan.
Several hours have passed and she was about to give up and accept her mother's fate. She started to closes her eyes, Fingers dug furrows into the soil. Then suddenly she heard a childish voice.
"Angus! The wisps are already here! C'mon now we need tae see the witch!"
The princess withdraws herself from the ground and started to follow the wisp. Merida noticed that here black horse was just stood a way back and keeps on whining and stamping.
"Angus! C'mon! Don't be afraid I'm here! I won't leave ye!."
The horse can't do something so he just obeys the princess. After couple of minutes of walking, they were now at the witch house.
"Angus! We're already here!" Merida was so happy that she threw her arms into the black horse body and hugged it tightly. She was not feeling well but she doesn't mind at all. She screamed and say thank you to the will-o-wisp for helping her.
"Thank ye very much! Thank ye so much for helping me! I won't forget this!"
The wisp made a soft, lovable laughing sound and the princess took this as saying "your welcome dear."
The princess smiled and turned around to walk towards the door and knocked. Several knocked have made but no response at all. Frustrations grew and her eyes flew wide open in anger. She was about to ordered Angus to kick the door but then the door was finally opened and the witch was right there standing with folded arms across her chest in annoyance.
"OCh! Its ye again princess! wot dae ye want now! Dae ye knoe wot time is it?! I'm sleeping here an-"
The witch didn't finish what she has to say when the princess fell from her knees, begging and crying. The princess hands was at the witch legs and grip it tightly. The witch froze and just rolled her eyes. She invites the the princess to come inside.
"Let's have a talk inside, freakin cold in here. But yer horse should stay there." The with motioned her arms at the empty stable.
"Aye."
Merida grabs the reins of Angus and asks him to behave properly.
"Angus stay here okay? I know that yer very tired. Have a rest now boy. Thank ye for everything."
Merida put her hand on the horse long snout, nuzzled and kisses it. Angus just snorted and whined to Merida.
"Sit down there. I'll just grab a tea fer ye."
"Nae thank ye."
"Don't worry I won't put something on yer tea." The witch grins at the princess and went to her kitchen.
"Okay fine."
Merida chuckled and train of thoughts run from her mind. Her feet were repeatedly stamping on the ground in excitement and nervousness.
"This is it Merida! Mum's going tae be fine now! She's going tae be with us again. Nae Merida mum will be with THEM again."
The princess smiled sadly. The witch placed the tea on the table. And she notice that Merida was staring at her with a smile on her face like she was excited for something.
"Wot?"
"Huh"
"Wot are ye staring at?"
"Nothing."
"Drink this first before we have a wee bit talked."
"But I don't have time anymore! I need yer help."
"Here we go again."
"Nae! Please help me! I need yer help!" Merida stood up, her hands are waving in the air and walk towards the witch and gripped her shoulder tightly.
The witch blinked in confusion, eyebrows were raised and swallowed nervously. She stood up, waving her hands in distress and kept her distance from Merida.
"Och!Princess! Wot kind of spell ye want again! Haven't ye learned yer lessons? Who dae ye want tae change again?! Nae I won't help ye! I'm done with that!"
"Nae! I'm not asking ye tae change someone! I need ye tae make someone feel better!"
The princess sighed, walked towards the witch and holds her hand squeezing it tightly. She raised her head to meet the witch eyes. Her face was flashed with dismay, desperation and frustration.
"Please! Help me! I need ye tae make my mum feel better! She's in a state of dying right now and we dunno wot else tae dae. I want her back! Yer the only person that I can count on! Please! I'll dae anything, I'll give ye anything ye want just take the disease out from her body. I have a promise tae my brother that one day mum will be with them again. Just please. Heal her. That's all I want from ye."
The princess cried and the witch was in a state of shock. She doesn't know what to say to the red headed princess. She realizes how the bear incident changed her. At first She thought that the princess seeks her just to ask a stupid, selfish wish again but she was all wrong. She was not the stubborn, selfish princess she knew before. The witch sighed sadly and felt pity to her. She wanted to help her but she can't help someone without having an exchange.
"Despite of the heavy rain and wind, ye came along here for that wish?"
"Aye. My mum saved me from the demon bear Mor'du and now its my time tae return that tae her besides its all my fault why she acquired that disease."
"wot disease yer mother has?"
"They dunno. bright healers already went tae our kingdom but they can't identify wot kind of disease my mum has."
"Ye told me it was yer fault?"
"Aye"
"Lets have a seat again."
So the princess explained everything to the witch. Explained to her why it was her fault and the witch just look at the princess blankly for a moment without saying anything at all. Silence occupied inside her house.
"Nae it wasn't yer fault deary. Ye didn't know that she -"
"Nae! It is my fault! She already has a fever that day and I just ignored it! I followed wot she said not tae call Fiona and that's the result! I shouldn't followed her!"
The princess eyes were becoming reddish, wet and her voice was kinda cracked too. Her hands are clenched showing that she's really mad at her self. The witch sighed and rubs the princess arms and gazed her eyes with grief.
"But ye know that I can't help ye without an exchange deary. That's the rule."
"I already prepared myself for that. I don't care! I just want my mum tae be fine at all! I just want her back with my family! My dad grew dull now. He's always drunk and his world is being torn apart little by little and I don't want that tae continue! My brothers were still too young tae feel pain. I jut want my family, the kingdom tae be back tae there normal lives. Just please fix her. I know ye can dae it! I told ye I'll give ye anything ye want! Ju-st Just please! Help her!"
The witch rose from her chair, rubs gentle the princess back and nodded slowly.
"Okay I'll help ye.. I can absolutely heal yer mother but the prize will be quite heavy for ye. I don't know if ye can handle it."
Merida rose from her chair and turned back to face the witch and blinked in confusion.
"Wot dae ye mean?"
The witch explained the consequences of her action. She tried to urge the red headed lass to just accept the fate of her mother but Merida just yelled at her and told her that no one can stop her.
"Deary are ye really sure about this? I already warned ye."
"As long as yer sure that ye can absolutely cure my mother I will definetly dae it."
"Okay. If that's wot ye want."
They stared each other for a couple of minutes and the princess asked a favor from her.
"But can I ask a favor from ye for free?
The witch just chuckled and nodded.
"Please give me a little time before doing the thing that I have ask ye. "
"Okay."
The witch and the princess went out. The princess walked towards her black horse and rubs his long snout nose. Angus seemed to understand why her friend was doing that stuff to him.
"Angus, thank ye for staying with me tonight. Ye've been a good friend tae me since I was just a kid. I love ye Angus. I love ye."
Tears freely rolled from the princess eyes. Angus tail swayed and keeps on whining and stamping his feet on the ground again. Merida knew what her horse is trying to say to her.
"Angus look at me! I know ye know wot I'm planning tae dae. It's very hard for me tae dae this but I really need tae dae this one for mah family and for the kingdom! It is for the best Angus! I need tae change the way things are right now! If I won't , mum will just die and I don't want that tae happen because I love her so much! Please understand me for one last time Angus. I'm sorry and I love ye."
Merida hugged her horse and planted a lot of kiss on its face. She walked away from him and the black horse wants to get out from his stable and just grab Merida back to the castle but he can't because his other leg was tied and locked. The princess cried and just stared at him mournfully. The witch can't do nothing but just stare at the princess sadly. She saw the loneliness the red headed feels inside.
"Make him sleep."
"W—oot?"
"Nae just let him be, nae one would be able tae fnd us here."
"Just dae it! I just can't be- bear seeing him acting that way."
"As ye wish"
The witch motioned her arms to the horse and snapped her fingers. the horse slowly fell on his knees and went asleep.
"Thank ye."
"Ye punish yerself tae much deary. The stuff ye asked for is too heavy tae take."
"I can handle it. Don't worry about me. I'm all fine. I know it will be hard for me at first but I'm sure I'll get used tae it."
Merida look at the witch and smiled at her. The witch just raised her eyebrows in confusion and just made a smile.
"yer brave lass, yer very brave for doing this deary. But Yer mother will be heartbroken if she ever wakes up."
"I don't know if that word really suits me but my mother used to tell me that when I was a bairn. My brave wee lass. I know she will be saddened about this but I don't want her tae die either. "
"but wot ye are doing right now is yer killing her emotionally."
"If ye don't want her tae suffer emotionally, then give me the thing I asked from ye for free."
"Haha! Yer wise princess but I can't dae that because every spell written in the book has its own replacement."
"Then I don't have a choice but tae accept my fate."
"But yer mother deary?" the witch asked the princess with her eyes narrowed.
The princesslook up at the dark stormy sky and made a deep sad sighed.
"I know Mum's will not going tae accept it easily. But I'm sure she's going tae be fine. Besides my brothers and dad are always there for her. They'll help her to moved on and just accept the way things are. I love her so much. That's why I'm doing this."
Then suddenly she pulled the witch toward her. The princess face was tucked in her chest, her hands were clenched, and cried loudly. The witch froze for a moment and then she just closes her eyes, smiled and rubs the back of the princess to ease her sadness. She knows that this was a very tough decision for her but that's life. Sometimes you need to do sacrifices for your loved ones. Tears dotted around the corner of the witch eyes. She felt the pain the princess feels and it really stung her heart. They stay for that about a couple of minutes and gently the witch pulled the princess away from her.
"I wanted tae grant yer wish for free but I just can't dae that. I'm sorry. I'll just wait for ye inside. Ye can still hold back if ye wanted."
"I told ye no."
"Alright. I'll be inside."
Merida nodded and the witch left her outside. The princess takes step forward, raises her hands, look up at the dark sky and enjoyed the pouring rain. She was laughing loudly with tears freely falling from her big blue eyes. She decided to walked further more to the edge of the mountain then she noticed that there were some lights at their castle like there was a meeting being held at the courtyard.
"Dad its okay now, mum's going ta be okay soon. I love ye."
Merida holds again her necklace and she sunk to the ground weakly. The witch saw the princess sorrow through her window but there was nothing she could do to stop the pain she feels.
The princess stood up and walked towards the witch house and went inside. The witch was there standing and pacing around and murmuring something but Merida just ignored it and approached the witch. She stared at the princess and Merida just simply gave her and simple sad nod.
"Its time."
Whooo! That's chapter 3 and 4..hihi I'm starting to run out of words but don't worry I'll finish this story. =)) Expressing the things you wanted to write in different language is kinda hard for me so if there are some mistakes again sorry..=)) and again thank you for reading my story!=)) and to
CollieandShire: hey there! I really appreciated how you like the flow of my story! Hihihi..=))) hugs to you so much and of course to all of you! Hope you like these two chapters!=)))))))))