A/N: Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I know this isn't the most romantic chapter to be posting today, but I hope you all enjoy anyway! ;)

Chapter VI: The Council of The Queen

Merida was sitting at the grand table in the throne room again along with her parents. The situation she was in right now was glumly reminiscent of the dinner just short of a week before... minus the good food, the enthusiastic storytelling, and the company of her cheery but mischievous three little brothers. Their company was replaced by the that of the lairds, along with their wives.

It seemed that the MacIntoshes didn't want to be here any more than she did. Lord MacIntosh, a man as skinny as a twig with dark brown hair that stood out from his head like a lion's mane, leaned back in his chair as he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. Lady Maclntosh sat in the next chair and was examining her fingernails. She was a curvaceous woman with bright red lips and long chestnut hair adorned with gold cuffs. Around her neck was a gold necklace bearing the MacIntosh crest, and her wrists and fingers were amply adorned. Both were clad in the red tartan of their clan - he wore his usual kilt, while she sported a roughly woven cream colored gown with a leather corset and a plaid overskirt.

Across from them sat the MacGuffins. Lord MacGuffin's face was barely visible beneath his thick dark blonde mustache, beard, and eyebrows. Even so, it looked like he would've rather been somewhere else. Lady MacGuffin, a stout blonde who wore her hair in two long braids, sat by him with her hands neatly folded on her lap and her lips curled in a polite smile. Like Lady MacIntosh, she also wore her family crest around her neck - except hers was a golden medallion on a thick ribbon of leather. They too wore the tartan of their clan - an olive green accented with rust.

Between them sat the Dingwalls. Lord Dingwall, a short and wide man with a face full of character and white hair that stuck straight up from his head, leaned back in his seat with his hands folded on the table. His wife, Lady Dingwall, sat upright with her head held high, as if doing so made her look more important. The poor woman's nose stuck out from her face like a bird's beak, and she was so petite that the chair she sat in seemed to swallow her whole. Her fair hair was pulled tightly into a bun. A pale green tartan shawl draped over her sloped shoulders, fastened by a brooch engraved with the Dingwall crest.

Sick of the stifling silence, Queen Elinor rose from her throne and cleared her throat.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I am proud to say that our daughter Merida is now safe and sound. However, due to the unfortunate occurrences of late, we shall have to postpone the gathering for her betrothal."

"And I assume the purpose of this meeting is to set the new date?" Lady Dingwall abruptly inquired.

Elinor let out a heavy sigh.

"Yes."

"How is she faring?" asked Lady Dingwall.

Merida looked her directly in the eye.

"I am faring quite well, thank you very much."

Her tone was quite formal, though it was noticeably laced with frustration.

Lady Dingwall cocked an eyebrow at her before continuing.

"Well enough to be betrothed within a fortnight?"

Suddenly, Lady MacGuffin's eyes widened in surprise.

"A fortnight? Did you not hear what the queen has said? Give her more time, for pity's sake!"

Her words were hard to understand through her thick accent, though her husband nodded in agreement.

"I think I've heard our queen's words quite clearly," Lady Dingwall responded, shifting her gaze to Elinor. "And I shall gladly honor whatever she says."

Lady MacIntosh looked about as bored and frustrated as Merida was. The latter did her best to suppress a giggle as the former rolled her eyes in the same way she would have at the moment. That moment of comic relief, however, was short lived. A moment later, Merida's attention turned to her mother.

"Enough," she commanded in a calm, stern tone. "This council has barely started, and I'll not have my subjects squabbling over petty arguments before we have even begun the process of making a decision. Do you understand?"

Lady MacGuffin gave a quiet, polite nod.

"As you wish, my lady," replied Lady Dingwall. Her tone sounded quite measured- a little too measured for Merida's liking.

Lord Dingwall suddenly chimed in, seemingly amused by his surroundings.

"You'll have to forgive my wife, my ladies. You see, she's looked forward to this for quite some time, haven't you lass?"

He winked at his wife, although she clearly wasn't amused.

"Now, about the date of the betrothal," Queen Elinor continued. "The games for my daughter's hand were to be held two days from now. However, in light of recent events, I would like to come to a consensus with all of you on a new date."

Elinor eyed Lady Dingwall as she spoke again.

"Lady Dingwall had suggested that we hold the games within a fortnight. What say you?"

"Two fortnights, at least!" responded Lady MacGuffin.

"Settle it out amongst yourselves. I'll be happy with whatever the queen desires," commented Lady MacIntosh.

Lord MacIntosh grinned ear to ear at his wife's comment. The other lords were more cautious in showing their approval, though it was still quite apparent that they agreed. The fact that she happened to be the most attractive among the lords' wives only heightened their attention to her.

Queen Elinor spent a good while moderating the heated debate between Lady MacGuffin and Lady Dingwall over when Merida's betrothal should be. Meanwhile, it took every ounce of the princess' strength not to pound the table with her fists and scream at both of them- especially Lady Dingwall.

Who are they to decide my fate?! Why am I sitting here watching them plan out my life?

Her hands were shaking even though they were curled in tight fists. Her teeth were clenched behind lips that were sealed shut. She was on the brink of losing her temper when the voice she now knew all too well echoed in the back of her mind - along with the shadowy image of the handsome man she saw when she had awakened. She could almost feel that ghostly caress on her face again.

Her fists loosened. Her hands stopped shaking. She didn't realize how hard she'd clenched her teeth until she realized they ached after unclenching them. She blinked before setting herself back into the present.

The women were still arguing over her betrothal date. Merida just rolled her eyes. Her mother would have taken quick notice and rebuked her in some shape or form had she not been moderating the argument between Lady Dingwall and Lady MacGuffin.

Queen Elinor had about just enough of the bickering herself. It was just going in circles.

"Have you not been hearing me?! She needs time!" Lady MacGuffin exclaimed.

"Even a deaf man would have heard you by now," Lady Dingwall replied with venom in her voice. "You think she's a delicate little flower who can't handle marriage? My son deserves better than that - and I KNOW she's better than that." Her gaze suddenly shifted to Merida.

"Aren't you?"

Merida slowly rose from her chair.

"Yes. But if you don't mind, I would like to have a say on my own betrothal."

Her gaze shifted to Lady MacGuffin.

"As far as the date goes, I would say that two fortnights from now is reasonable enough," she stated. Her tone was masked, as though she were hiding an entirely different feeling altogether- which she was.

*At least MacGuffin's giving me more time.*

Everyone in the room could see the scowl on Lady Dingwall's face. Queen Elinor glanced at her daughter and took a deep breath before speaking.

"The princess has spoken. However, I would like to propose a compromise before we leave today."

She paused to ensure she had the attention of all in the room.

"I propose that the betrothal should be held in three weeks. What say you?"

Merida let out a heavy sigh and sunk back into her seat.

The ladies glanced at each other before answering.

Lady Dingwall was the first to speak up.

"I suppose I can settle for that."

Lady MacGuffin nodded.

"Aye."

Lady MacIntosh finally looked up and made eye contact with the queen.

"As you wish, My lady."

The lords breathed a sigh of relief and grinned at each other. Their wives may have done all of the talking here, but all three of them knew that their fun came on the actual day - especially with the games began.

Lord MacIntosh finally spoke.

"It seems you've come to a fine decision, my ladies."

"I agree," replied the queen. "Is there anything else you wish to address before we conclude this council?"

"I believe that'll be all," stated Lady Dingwall.

Elinor clasped her hands together.

"All right," she commented. "Thank you again for coming, and I wish you all good tidings until our next meeting."

The sound of shuffling filled the air as the lords and ladies rose from their seats and left the room. The doors boomed shut behind them. As if on cue, Merida stormed out and rushed straight to her room. Elinor stared in her direction and called out her name.

"Merida!"

It was no use though. She'd had enough of lords and ladies and the talk of her planned out betrothal for one day.

Merida slammed the door behind her and immediately collapsed on to her bed. The ghostly image of the man by the shore, along with his voice, flooded her semi-conscious dreams until she drifted off to sleep.