Ack! I haven't updated in almost a month! D:
I'm also writing a story called "Rose and Raven" which is currently in the awfullest state of awfulness. When I get it published in my school's literary journal I might put it on FictionPress.
Princess Aurora smiled. "I always help show the new students around. What's your next class?"
Merida frowned at the schedule Lady Dove had given her. "Language, it looks like. Language and Articulation. Why do I need that? I talk just fine."
Aurora giggled. "Well, your accent is quite charming, but it's not a princess way of talking."
"What do ye mean it isna' a princess way o' talkin' ?!" She reminds me of mum and her elocution lessons. Merida's accent grew thicker and rougher with her increasing irritation.
The blonde shrugged elegantly. "I don't know. It's just what they tell us. " She cheerily linked her arm with Merida's and fair about dragged her through the crowd.
Merida had never seen so much wealth and beauty in one place as in the Merryweather Academy. DunBroch wasn't poor, but people weren't exactly encrusted with gems. Even her da wore sturdy wool in forest colors. The students here were arrayed in silks and satins. Their shoes were either dainty thin slippers or elegant heels.
Aurora noticed Merida's discomfort and patted her on the shoulder. "Don't you worry. You'll fit in like the rest of us in no time. " Merida wasn't sure whether that was a promise or a threat.
The blonde princess deposited Merida in a small, bright classroom. The dark-haired girl with the calligraphy brush looked up from her notes. "I see Aurora has been talking to you."
"Talking indeed." laughed Merida. "She didn't introduce me to you, though. I'm Merida of DunBroch, daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor?"
"I am Fa Mulan, but you can call me Mulan," she said, cleaning her brushes.
"So you're in this Language class too?" Merida said, flopping into a desk and leaning her elbows on the sides.
Mulan nodded. "It's supposed to be for newcomers, but they keep trying to change my accent."
"How's that e'en possible?"
"Enough meaningless chatter, princesses! You are here to learn and learn you shall!" The source of the exclamation points strode into the room. Her grey hair was twisted into a savagely neat bun, and her brown dress had been pressed so much that it had thick creases running down each sleeve.
It was worse than Lady Dove, worse even than Mum's lectures. "Ye" was apparently an entirely different entity from "You". "Not" had to always be pronounced with a very loud, unfriendly T. So "cannae" was canNOT, and waudnae was wouldNOT. It sounded awful.
Mulan was resignedly going over R/L exercises.
"Miss Fa! How many times must I tell you that glass and grass are two entirely different words?"
Just before Merida reached the brink of spontaneous combustion, the Language and Articulation teacher dismissed her unfortunate victims.
Racing to the door, Merida was the first one out of the classroom.
I'm totally not kidding about the whole Highland savage thing-many European cultures considered the Scottish Highlands savages well into the 18th century.