Prologue
"Merida! Wake up! You have to get ready for your party!" called out Queen Elinor from behind the door of the Princess's chambers. "I'm awake mum!" cried out Merida. Merida grumbled as she climbed out of bed. Birthday parties are for babies, why can't I just have a picnic and be done with it, thought Merida as she washed up and dressed. As she done so, her mother entered her chambers. "Oh for goodness sake, you're not going to wear that!" exclaimed Elinor. "What? What is wrong with my riding gear?" snapped Merida. As Elinor was about to protest of Merida's clothing, she quickly stopped.
"You're doing it again." said Merida folding her arms. "I'm sorry, daughter. I promised." said Elinor with a sheepish grin. "I just hope your father won't make an arse out of himself at the party, as well as his friends." said Elinor, as she helped Merida with her hair. "I won't guarantee anything, but he'll probably most likely do it anyway." said Merida. "There!" said Elinor, as she put a hair clasp in Merida's hair. "Where did you get the hair clasp?" asked Merida. "This was given to me along time ago, when I was your age." said Elinor.
"Its lovely." said Merida. "We better get going, or else we're going to be late." said Elinor. And the two of them attended the party. It was of course a rowdy party, and her father, most of all, being the loudest of all of them. Even some of the young men that his father's companions sons asked Merida to dance with them. And of course, she done so. She had been friends with many of them. "Hey, do ye suppose you and I can practice tomorrow?" asked one young man. "I can't. I have a meeting to attend to." said Merida. "Well, isn't that a load of rubbish? Is it me, or our little Merida has grown up on us?" joked another.
"Excuse me? I have duties you know." said Merida. "I thought ye didn't like bein' a princess?" said another young man. "I'm older now, and besides that my mother and father needs me. They won't be around much longer, and they need someone to take over." said Merida. After dancing and chatting with the men, she went and joined her mother and father, as they began presenting gifts to her. The best gift she received is a new bow her father just finished making for her. She loved it. Then she received a wood carving of bears, given her to by the witch, who also came her party.
Elinor had kept eying the witch suspiciously the entire evening. Elinor didn't trust this woman.
Especially after the incident of her being turned into a bed. Elinor also made sure guards had kept a close eye on the witch making sure she wouldn't do anything to harm herself, Merida, or anyone present in the Great Hall. Her mother gave her some gowns, some hair accessories, etc. When the party ended, the witch summoned Elinor. "You don't mind joining me for a stroll, Your Majesty?" asked the old woman. "Don't mind if I do." said Elinor, and she followed the witch out of the Great Hall.
"Where are you going mum?" called out Merida. "I'm just going for a walk! I'll be back shortly!" Elinor called out. "Your daughter is quite a little fire cracker." said the witch. Elinor chuckled. "That she is. She didn't get that from me, however." said Elinor. "You know she is ready." said the witch. "Ready for what?" asked Elinor. "To become Queen, of course!" said the witch. "But I haven't trained her yet into becoming Queen! Merida needs training." said Elinor. "No, she doesn't. She can learn all that on her own, trust me." whispered the witch, looking at Elinor.
"Where in the name of wonder are we going?" asked Elinor. "To a very special place, where I always go to. And it will be a good place for you to sit and think and relax." said the witch. Meanwhile, Merida continued talking with her father and the others most of the night.
As the evening progressed, Merida felt worried. Her mother had not yet returned from her walk. "Mother has not returned yet. She should have been back by now." said Merida. Angus stood up. "We should go and look for her. Normally Elinor would be back by now." said Merida's father. "It's that bloody witch! She's gotten her!" called out one of the men. "Lets go. We need to find her." said Angus. Merida reached for her bow. "I'm coming with you." said Merida. "No, Merida. You're staying here. Who only knows what is out there, they could go after you too." said Angus.
"I can take care of myself, ye know! I'm coming with you if ye like it or not!" snapped Merida. Her father sighed. "Very well. Lets start the search!" said the man, as they leave the castle. Merida knew the first place to look. She made her way towards the circle of standing stones. She prayed she would find her mother there. "Mother! Where are you! Mother!" called out Merida, as she walked. "Elinor! ELINOR!" called out Angus in the distance. Merida continued on, as she called out for her mother.
As she done so, she suddenly saw several blue lights appearing in front of her. The Wisps again! What do they want with me now? thought Merida. "Follow me! Come with us!" the Wisps hissed to Merida.
Merida continued to follow the blue lights. "MOTHER!" called out Merida. But there was no answer or signs of Elinor, as Merida kept following the blue lights. Suddenly, Merida slipped off a cliff nearby, as she screamed, and she crash landed in the ravine where she fell, and she fell into unconsciousness.