A/N: Hello, Everyone! I was hoping to have this chapter out about a week ago... I'm so sorry for the delay! Unfortunately, I've been rather busy as of late, so there won't be any updates on The Ringbearer and the Huntress this month. Hopefully I can get the next chapter in for that one uploaded in mid-late August! In the meantime, please enjoy the new chapter below! Hope you're all having a great summer!

- Diem Kieu

Chapter XI: A Quiet Young Lad

Maudie stammered as she tried to think of a place to find clothes for the man who Annis and Merida had just taken in.

She glanced over at the piles of laundry and suddenly started to scramble through them in order to find something decent. Annis did the same, albeit not nearly as frantically. An idea suddenly popped into her head as she spotted her son's spare shirt and kilt among the garments to be washed.

"Hey Maudie - can you go and get Fraser for me?"

Maudie nodded and ran off to find him.

...

"Fraser! Fraser!"

Maudie's voice could be heard from a mile away. The teenage boy she was calling immediately recognized it and sheepishly walked up towards her. The boy was awkwardly lanky and had the same mousy brown hair and hazel eyes of his mother.

"Your mum wants you," Maudie stated. "You'd better come with me to the laundry chamber."

"Yes, Maudie."

The boy made his way there with her, unsure of what to expect. He had no idea about what had just conspired. In fact, he'd been all but oblivious to the spectacle of Princess Merida coming in to the castle with a strange man on her horse. He wasn't even listening to the surrounding gossip that followed like flies to a plate of discarded food scraps.

...

"Ah, Fraser! There you are."

"Yes, mum. I'm here. What d'ya need?"

"We've got a new lad here, and he's going to need some clothes. Can you lend him your spare shirt and kilt?"

"Umm... sure. Who... exactly is he?"

"His name's Frodo. He saved the princess's life."

Annis was quick to pull out the said spare shirt and kilt from the pile of laundry. She neatly folded them and set them apart from all of the other clean laundry.

"Thank you for doing this, my boy. He's going to really appreciate this. The poor lad was wearing nothing but her cloak when he walked in here!"

Fraser cringed at the very thought.

"Sounds like he really needs these, then."

"Aye, he does. Now be a good lad and help your father with the stables."

Fraser sighed.

"All right, mum."

He walked out the door and headed for the stables. At least that was better than folding laundry.

...

Merida shut the door behind her as soon as she entered her room. She threw her bow and quiver of arrows on her bed and paced the floor, obsessing over what would be the most appealing pretense to introduce the handsome mute she'd brought in.

He'd saved her life. She'd be telling the truth, and that was a very legitimate reason. However, as she was painfully aware, castle politics always made things far more complicated than they needed to be.

What would she tell her mother? Perhaps that he was a new servant? No. That would be ridiculous.

A new suitor? No! That would be even worse!

A peasant in need of shelter? The story needed a bit of work to justify why he was staying in the castle - and dining with the royal family.

Ah, forget it! I'll just tell her the truth about him saving my life!

A light then flashed in her mind, and her eyes lit up on cue.

Perfect!

Her smile faded as quickly as it came as soon as her thoughts turned back to why she even needed to come up with the narrative in the first place. She sighed heavily, then wrinkled her nose. At least she was able to conjure a decent premise for her new friend.

Castle politics stink worse than a steaming pile of horse dung. I'd rather stick my nose in some of Angus' than deal with any more of it.

...

Merida was the first to sit at the dinner table. Maudie and Annis were setting the last few pieces of dinnerware when she took her seat, still obsessing over the final details of her pretense for introducing Frodo to her mother. She glanced over and noticed the extra place that had been set.

Good.

She'd placed her bow and quiver of arrows so that they were now leaning against the side of her chair.

No weapons on the table tonight. I've got a mum to impress and and someone new to introduce.

She'd even put on a dress that was a bit nicer than her usual blue-green one- a rarity despite the fact that she was a princess. This one was a dusty sage color with some gold embroidery at the neckline and the hem. She began twirling one of her curls between her fingers as she looked down at what she was wearing. She couldn't even remember the last time she wore it. She smirked and chuckled at herself.

Who are you and what did you do with Princess Merida of DunBroch?

She was snapped out of her thoughts as soon as her mother stepped into the room.

"Merida! You're here early - and you've changed your dress! I'm impressed."

She took a good, approving look at her daughter.

"You look beautiful."

Merida grinned ear to ear.

It was then that the queen noticed the extra place setting.

"Are we... expecting someone, dear?"

"Yes - Frodo."

Elinor's expression went from pleasant surprise to confusion.

"Frodo?"

"Um... he's new here. He's the one who saved my life when I was kidnapped."

"Really?"

"Yes... I think he was... about to go fishing when he saw me."

Brilliant, she thought sourly. That was totally convincing.

"Intriguing..." Elinor commented. "I'll be looking forward to hearing his side of the tale."

"Um, Mum - I think there's something else you should know about him."

"Hm?"

"He... doesn't speak. I mean, he can perfectly understand what you're saying, but he just can't talk."

"He's mute?"

"Aye."

"Well, that's very interesting indeed - although that is rather unfortunate for a conversation."

Fergus' jolly laughter announced his arrival. The triplets were clinging to him like barnacles on an old ship. Hamis sat like a mischievous little bird on his shoulder, tugging on his mustache. Hubert and Harris were clinging to either leg - well, in the latter's case, it was his wooden peg.

"C'mon, you wee devils - get off me!"

The little ones giggled hysterically. Hamis tugged on his mustache again.

For a moment, Elinor panicked. What kind of embarrassment would ensue if her daughter's guest showed up to this?!

"Fergus!"

Her husband continued to laugh and play with the clinging children.

"Fergus!"

He suddenly turned to his wife. The triplets also turned their gaze to her, their eyes wide - partly from their playful nature, and partly from their childish awe at their mother.

"A king does not enter his dining hall as though he were running into a child's playroom! Especially when he has a new guest!"

Merida almost chuckled.

At least I know I'm not the only one Mum lectures about royal decorum.

"Guest?! Who, dear?"

Elinor cleared her throat.

"Merida," she said, turning to her daughter. "Would you like to tell him about our guest tonight?"

Merida cleared her throat.

"His name's Frodo. He saved me when I was kidnapped."

"Sounds like a brave lad to me! Of course, I'm sure you could easily give him a run for his money."

She giggled as her father winked at her.

"I'm looking forward to hearing how he tells the story!" he remarked.

"It'll certainly be interesting to see him try..."

"What do you mean, lass?"

"Well... he's mute."

"Really?"

"Aye."

"Oh. You're right. This is going to be intere-"

He was interrupted by the sound of the doors finally opening.

For a moment, Frodo continued to quietly stand behind them. He looked almost timid.

Merida immediately stood up, eager to see how he looked when he was actually wearing clothes. Her little brothers seemed equally fascinated- and for good reason, since they hadn't seen him before at all.

Annis was close behind him.

"Go on, lad - don't be shy!"

Frodo stepped forward. He was wearing a kilt in the tartan of Clan DunBroch, along with a simple dark grey shirt and a brown leather belt. He was still barefoot. Annis had tried to get him to wear boots, but he just couldn't bring himself to put them on.

Merida quickly took in every detail as she scanned the length of him.

That's probably what I'd be wearing if I were a lad...

Elinor nudged Fergus and looked at the triplets, who were still hanging to their father.

"Boys," she whispered. "Places!"

The boys slumped off Fergus and marched to their seats sulking.

"Ah," Fergus remarked, turning to Frodo. "So you're the lad who saved my daughter's life!"

Frodo nodded hesitantly.

"That was quite a noble thing that you did," Queen Elinor chimed in. "I will ensure that you are rewarded handsomely for your noble deed."

Frodo took a brief but longing glance at Merida.

I don't need or want any reward aside from her.

"Come, sit with us," the queen stated with her usual poised, polite tone.

He obeyed and sat right next to Merida, albeit in a manner less suited for someone being honored for his heroism and more so for a little boy about to be lectured by his mother. The princess at his side was all too quick to notice this.

She nudged him and wiggled her nose at him in the same way she would if she were exchanging banter with her father. The corners of Frodo's mouth curled up in a smile at their own volition. That grin suddenly lit up his face as he chuckled at her antics, although no sound came from him.

He's even handsomer when he smiles.

Elinor cleared her throat.

"Frodo- is that your name?"

He nodded.

"So my daughter tells me that you were out... fishing when you saw her?"

Frodo raised a brow in confusion. Merida quickly chimed in for him.

"Umm... yes!" She smiled nervously. "At least, that's what I think he was doing."

"Ah, I see," Elinor responded flatly.

As soon she turned away, Merida turned to whisper into Frodo's ear.

"Sorry about that. I know you're not a fisherman, but I needed to tell my mum that in order to let you stay here. I'll explain more later."

Frodo looked at her and nodded. Merida leaned in again to his ear.

"I just need you to play along for now."

He nodded again, although he wasn't entirely sure of what to make of it.

The doors opened to servants carrying out the family dinner before anything more could be said.