Chapter 3

Merida took her horse, Angus, and rode far from the castle. She eventually came upon a circle of large stones, there, in the grass, was a small, blue, flame-like blob floating a few inches above the ground. Suddenly it moved, and a trail of them was revealed. She followed them to a small cottage. She opened the door to find a large array of wood carvings and an old woman. After speaking to the woman, Merida noticed something.

"Your broom! It was sweeping by itself!" she gasped.

"that's ridiculous!" said the woman. "Wood cannot be imbued with magical properties. I should know, I'm a wit-whittler. Of wood." Merida found a small, stuffed crow sitting on top of a carving. As she reached out to touch it, it moved. She gasped and scrambled backwards. Suddenly, the broom smacked the crow on the head.

"you're a witch! That's why the wisps led me here!" Merida yelled. She suddenly had an idea.

If I can change that fishbone of a man, he won't be able to marry me!

"If you're not going to buy anything, get out" the old woman said.

"I'll buy everything. Every carving." Merida responded.

"And how are you going to pay for that?" the woman asked. Merida removed her mother's necklace and held it up.

"With this." The witch reached for it, but Merida jerked it back. "Every carving, and one spell."

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" the witch asked.

"I want a spell to change the man who is going to marry me. That will change my fate." Merida said.

"Hmmm." Said the witch, snatching the necklace. "Done!"