Wow! Thank you all for your reviews and critiques I really appreciate it J (hugs to all!) haha. And this story is only beginning J. Ok this chapter I decided to add at the last minute, originally I was going to have this a separate story all together, but after feeling Merida's emotions while writing I thought this would be a perfect mother/daughter chapter J. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: I Forgot My Bow

Merida could not fall asleep. For a while she stared at the wall thinking about all that happened. Today was supposed to be a happy day, her birthday a day where her and her parents could make memories, and be happy. Now her whole world seemed shattered.

Her mind was consumed with thoughts of her father. The way he smiled when he saw her first thing in the morning, his loud roaring laughter, his gentle arms holding her, the way he was instructing her on how to use her bow.."My bow!" she exclaimed as she sat up quickly.

The bow was left in the open field; the attack came so quickly that nearly all the supplies were left there. Merida didn't know how to react, that bow was a gift from her father, something that they could both love and bond over.

She wanted to make her father proud; she wanted to make her father happy more than anything. At that moment, getting the bow back was the most important thing. She jumped from her bed and ran to the window sill. The moon shined bright in the sky, and the landscape was glowing beautifully. That beauty brought energy, a determination in Merida. She's was going to get her bow back, and she was going to get it now.

She jumped from the sill, grabbed her little cloak and squeezed through the door. She looked both ways to make sure no one was watching. The halls were empty and silent. She ran down the stairs to the kitchen, again, no one was there. Merida figured they were all helping her father and she was grateful.

Merida snuck outside, closed the door, and ran to the horses. Merida decided to go and be back before anyone noticed, so walking was not an option. She had never ridden a horse by herself before; she would always ride with her mother. Being so tiny the horses seemed like giants. Merida walked over to her mother's horse, Gretchen the white fur glistened in the moonlight. Merida steadily walked tward her, unaware that the horse was asleep.

Merida quietly walked up to her front left leg, and gently touched her. The horse woke up in a panic, bucked, and neighed. Merida backed up quickly to the barn wall, but when the horse landed the hoof smacked her cheek. She fell to the ground, held her cheek, gasped for air, and tried not to cry. She pulled her hand away to look at it, thankfully there was no blood. However, her face felt warm to the touch and it began to swell.

Fortunately no one paid any attention to the kerfuffle that happened; most of the guards were used to hearing the horses make a ruckus. The horse immediately calmed down when she realized that there was no danger. Her ears twitched as she heard a soft whimpering from the little bundle on the stall floor. She bent down and gently touched Merida's head with her soft nose. Merida stopped crying, stood up, and hugged the head of the giant majestic creature.

With the horse calm, Merida thought she was ready to go. She carefully climbed on top of the feeding trough, and gently climbed onto Gretchen's bare back; clutching the main, and squeezing the sides with her knees. Having never ridden a horse by herself before, she didn't know how to make Gretchen move. At first Merida tried coaxing the horse. "Come on Gretchen, let's go." The horse stood there as if she didn't hear the princess "Please Gretchen, I have to get my bow." Again the horse stood there.

In frustration Merida kicked the horse with all her might. Like shooting an arrow, Gretchen dashed out of the barn, Merida's cloak flew off as the horse began to gallop out of the courtyard, over the stone bridge, and began to tear through the woods. All Merida could do was grip the main and hold on for her life.

….

Elinor's POV

"What do you mean she is gone?" Elinor stood up. Her face was flooded with emotions. This could not be happening.

"My lady I have looked everywhere she would normally be..she"

Elinor interrupted "Have every guard, search everywhere! The palace, the courtyard, the dungeon, anywhere! I want her found and brought to me!"

"Yes, my lady" said the maid and ran off .

Elinor put her hands to her face, trying to compose herself. This could not be happening. She was on the brink of losing her husband, and now her daughter is missing. This was all too much. She began ringing her hands and passing the room, after a short time a guard bolted into the room and nearly startled her.

"Did ye find her!?" she said as she ran

"We searched everywhere my lady, she's not in the palace, or on the palace grounds. In the stable, we found this along with your horse missing." The guard handed her Merida's tiny deep blue cloak.

Elinor reached out and took the cloak from him. For a moment she held the fabric running her fingers over the fabric. "She's ridden into the forest." She said with her voice shaking "Bring the herbal girl, here to watch over the king. Prepare another horse for me and have as many guards as you can to begin searching through the forest."

"My lady I would suggest that you.."

The queen interrupted "And I would suggest that you stop standing there and do as I say!"

"Yes my lady" he said and marched out of the room.

Elinor finally let out a few tears, she couldn't believe that all of this was happening. Her little girl, her baby, has gone into the woods, a place where they were just attacked, on an animal she had never ridden by herself. She put the cloak to her face and took a deep breath, inhaled her little girl's sent.

"My lady, ye wanted to see me?" said Illene as she entered.

"Aye, please watch over the king until I return."

"Yes, my lady"

Elinor left the room, still clutching to Merida's cloak. She was determined to find her baby, and bring her home.

….

For a while Gretchen tore through the forest. The green scenery whizzed past in a whirlwind. Slowly Gretchen became tired and slowed to a canter, then to a walk. Merida slowly sat up, and looked around; nothing looked familiar.

Being that she was only five years old she did not think about this plan thoroughly, she had no idea where she was going, what was going to happen, or the dangers that could lurk behind any tree, all she wanted was to get her bow back.

She rode for hours. Her eyes began to flutter from lack of sleep. Listening to the crickets chirping, the birds whistling, and the breeze gently caressing her face; for the first time she felt, free. All those times she thought the forest was calling her, all those times she longed to be among the green, and even though she faced danger earlier by a demon bear. She was not afraid.

Merida tried to lay her head down on Gretchen's mane, but quickly jolted up as pain shot through her cheek. He face was so swollen that one eye was nearly closed. She gently touched her cheek, it was burning up, and the pain was starting to rise again.

Soon Merida realized that she and Gretchen were truly lost. She didn't know where the field was, she didn't know how to get back to the castle, she didn't know if her mum even noticed she was gone. She'd been lonely before, by herself when no one would notice her, but she always felt comforted. Now, she was truly alone, tears soon formed in her eyes and stung her wounded face. She knew she had made the wrong choice.

Then as if lighting struck the earth near him Gretchen reared up, the force flung Merida off her back and then the glistening white horse bolted away through the forest.

Merida hit the ground hard on her left arm and side. She lifted her head "Gretchen!" she called out "Gretchen!"

She tried to get up by pushing with her left arm. Pain shot through so much that she fell to the ground and tears began to fall. Clutching her arm she sat up and rocked back and forth. She wished she'd never ran away, she wish her mum was there, she just wanted to be home.

Over her whimpering she heard a soft whisper. She looked up and saw a willow-the-wisp. Gretchen must have seen the mystical creature and bolted in fright. Merida remembered her mother's words "The willow-the-wisps lead you to your fate."

With all the strength she could muster, she got up and began limping after the wisp. She had never been in so much pain before. She wanted to sit, and cry, however she was also a fighter, and trudged on.

….

The queen had been riding through the forest for hours. Before they left each guard was given a horn. If the princess was found they were to blow the horn and all were to meet back at the palace.

Time seemed to have stopped as Elinor was worried sick. She tried to push every negative situation about her daughter out of her mind. However, she was a mother, worrying for her baby came with the job.

She cried out "Merida! Sweetheart, please answer me! Merida!"

She kept calling out; there was nothing in the entire kingdom, or the world that would ever stop her from finding her little girl. She heard galloping in the distance. Was it a guard? Was it a traveler? Could it be what she was looking and longing for?

Suddenly, Gretchen burst through the trees and reared up as she saw other beings in her way. The queen jumped down from her steed, and put her hands up "Easy Gretchen, easy girl!" After hearing the queen's voice the horse calmed down. The queen looked all around, there was no sign of Merida and she could only imagine the worst. Where was her baby girl?

"Merida!" she called out "Merida!" her voice cracked. Tears then rolled down her face.

…..

Merida kept limping after the wisps. It felt as if she had been trudging forever. She became so tired she had to sit down against a tree. Before sleep could take her over, a sound of hope ran through the air.

"Merida!" the sound echoed through the trees "Merida!"

"Mum?" she questioned

"Merida! Sweetheart where are ye?"

"Mum!" she got up and moved as fast as she could in the direction of the comforting voice "Mummy! I'm over here! Mum!"

….

Elinor began to wonder if everything was lost. Her husband, and now her girl, her baby girl who she when she needed her mother the most today, she turned away and ignored her.

She tried calling out again, and heard nothing; until hope rang through the trees.

"Mum!" Elinor was stunned "Mummy! I'm over here!"

Elinor sprinted in the direction of her daughter's voice. She past some trees and over a mini hill, then she saw her little girl limping along. "Merida!"

"Mum!"

Elinor sprinted down the hill to her daughter, dropped to her knees in front of her, and enveloped her baby girl in her arms, and never wanted to let her go. "Merida, I was worried sick about ye. What happened? Why did run away?" she slowly pulled away and saw her daughters condition "Oh my goodness? What happened? Honey, what happened?" she lightly touched her cheek and Merida winced.

"I forgot my bow." She said quietly

Elinor sighed "We will get yer bow later." She said calmly "Let's go home."

She scooped Merida up in her arms. Merida was in so much pain, both mentally and physically. She began to cry in her mother's shoulder. "Shhhhhhh, it's alright I got you. I'm here I'll always be right her." The queen whispered.

They began their long ride back to the palace.