Ok, I promise that these chapters will get not be so angst and emo. The king just got his leg bitten off so there is going to be a little drama. In the next few chapters I will also be developing more of Ilene's character, and putting more together. Thanks! Sorry this chapter took so long I hit a writers wall. Anyway here ya go. Please review :D

Chapter 4: New Home

Elinor and Merida just sat on the window sill for a while. Merida cried herself to sleep, while Elinor rocked her as if she were an infant. It had been hours and there was no word on her husband. She began to wonder if all hope was lost.

She began to ponder on what she would have to do next, when a sight in the distance stopped her thoughts dead in their tracks. Coming out of forest were a group of men. Slowly, they trudged over the small stone bridge.

Elinor wasted no time; she quickly set Merida down in bed and rushed down to the courtyard. Almost at the verge of tears she expected them to bring her the remains of what use to be her husband. A few horses past and revealed Fergus limply sitting on a horse with no leg and men holding him up on all sides.

"Fergus!" Elinor shouted as she rushed to his side.

After hearing his wife's pleading cry the King's eyes slowly opened.

"Elinor." He said quietly, reached down and touched her cheek.

Elinor smiled faintly, but quickly changed her attitude. "Get the king up to his room! Send every healer to attend him!"

"Wait." Fergus said faintly.

Elinor looked at him quickly as worry flooded her eyes.

"I want her, to be the healer." He said and pointed to a raggedy girl riding behind a warrior. The king then lost consciousness, and the men rushed him away.

During all the rushing about Ilene jumped down from the horse and wanted to make a run for it. But a firm hand landed on her shoulder. It took every ounce of strength and will power not to fight the man down to the ground with her bare hands. With her training, she could have done it. However she did not want the entire courtyard to see her secret. She was led to the queen.

"This young girl saved the king's life. We would have never gotten there in time."

Ilene slowly looked up at the queen; her eyes were full of pain and worry. Elinor then said "Take her to the maids, have her cleaned up and then brought to the kings room."

The queen quickly turned and rushed in the direction of where the king was taken.

Ilene was brought into the castle; soldier never lost his grip on her shoulder. The room he brought her in was dimly lit, she could smell meat cooking; her mouth began to water as the intoxicating smell pierced her senses.

She was lead to a small group of three women, one was rather large and had a cloth wrapped around her head, the other two were thin with frizzy blond hair. "Clean her up" said the solder" then bring her to the King's quarters."

The soldier marched out of the room with a slam of the door. The women quickly worked to prepare a bath, however Ilene noticed the quick glances that came her way. Could she blame them? No, she had tangled brunette hair, her clothes and hands covered in blood, and her old tattered uniform.

The maids quickly scrubbed her down, slipped her into a deep green dress, and finally they quickly brushed through her tangled hair. Once again it took all of her self-control to not attack those who were trying to help her.

"No time to waste," said the large one. She then guided Ilene up the stairs and though a large door.

…

Merida's POV

Merida slowly opened her eyes as she heard a crowd outside the castle. She jumped from her bed and ran to her window sill, climbed up and pressed her face against the window. She looked down and saw a cavalry of soldiers, and her father. A fiery smile spread across her face, she jumped from her window sill and bounded toward the door. The huge wooden door which was normally open was now closed and blocking her way.

She could not reach the handle since she was so small. She began tugging at the door, but it wouldn't budge. Determined to see her father, she tried once more, gripping the side of the door she tugged with all her might, the door creaked as it slowly inched its way inward. Finally the door was open wide enough for her to squeeze through.

She stepped into the hallway, maids, and servants were rushing past in both directions. Merida was bewildered at the sight and had no idea what to do.

The Queen soon appeared rushing up the stairs; worry was painted all over her face. She passed Merida without even giving her an eye.

Confused and shocked, Merida followed her mother not saying a word for she was afraid. She wanted nothing more than to see her father's smiling face. She couldn't understand why everyone was bustling about and acting queer. Then again, she was only five.

She quietly followed until they reached her dad's bedroom. Elinor rushed in while Merida just peered around the corner. She wanted to see her father and mother as if it was a night where she couldn't sleep. Where, Merida would lay next to them while her father told her many stories of the wilderness, and later her mother would sing her to sleep. However, things would never be the same.

She peered in to see maids, and healers flocking her father. Elinor was clutching the king's hand. Merida then noticed the red stump, and stain that laid on the bed. She starred at it for a few minutes, bewildered and in shock, for the first time she truly felt fear. Not the fear of a thunderstorm or the fear of riding a horse for the first time, but a fear, that panging fear of losing what is close to her.

"Dad?" she said softly. No one heard her "Dad!"

Everyone in the room turned, to see the little princess. For a brief moment no one knew what to do.

"Maudie, take Merida to her room, now!"

Maudie ran, grabbed Merida's hand and lead her back to her room. Merida wanted to fight, wanted to make a scene, but she was scarred of making her father and mother angry.

Merida was lead back into her room, the door closed with a thud that seemed to echo. She climbed onto her bed and for hours she starred at the wall. Confused and frail she didn't know what was to become of her family.