Authors Note: This is one of my favorite chapters and I reread it a lot even though it's been complete for a while. Merida's maternal grandmother gets introduced into this story! I wanted to explore how Elinor turned out the way she did but without making Grandma a complete villain. She was dealt a difficult hand in life and does what she can just like Elinor and Merida do.

As always a special thanks to the fabulous MaidenoftheSummer on reddit for reading and giving me her valuable opinion.

Culture Note: none for this chapter!

Her half-baked plan was exactly that as the other lords and their sons seemed to be playing nice with her mother. She never even got a chance to be alone with Logan Dingwall or Ryan Macintosh to ask them how they felt about the marriage. Her mother acted like they were attached at the hip.

Now she found herself standing in the middle of the sewing room with her arms outstretched getting measurements done. One of the maids muttered something about hip measurements and wrote them down.

Maybe the magical solution would have been better. Those wisps had to be hanging around somewhere. Anything had to be better than getting fitted for a wedding dress.

One of the seamstresses tutted about something or another. She just sighed and pursed her lips closing her eyes. Maybe, just maybe she could get the maids to go away to attempt talking to her mother again.

A knock on the door startled her from falling asleep on her feet.

"Yes," said Elinor, opening the door as she saw Ian peer into the room looking a little uncomfortable.

"What are you doing here?" asked Merida, her voice mixing with her mother's but she was asking if he needed anything.

"I, uh, well," he fumbled, piecing his words together flustered. "Merida, your dad wants to talk to you."

Elinor looked disappointed but nodded as she hopped down from the wooden stool. She gave the room a final fleeting look and hide behind Ian to use him as a barrier to keep anyone from following her.

"Where's my dad," she asked once they were a safe distance away.

Ian looked at her and shrugged, "I don't know," he said simply. "I could tell you just needed to get away."

"I could kiss you right now for that," she said all of a sudden despite knowing that she wouldn't. "But I'm not going to if that's alright with you."

He shrugged pink at the mere suggestion of kissing.

"I'm going to go get a snack then go shooting," she said happily going in the direction of the kitchen first. "Maybe talk to Logan and Ryan yea? If all four of us come forward, maybe something can be done about this."

Ian blinked ready to turn in the other direction to give her some private time. She whistled before stopping at the end of the hall and turned to see his retreating back.

"Do you want to come along?" she called, not wanting to leave him alone. Plus if she did happen to see the other Lord's sons, she did kind of need him.

She watched him shuffle his feet as he looked at the stone ground and shyly up at her. "Sure."

With that she led him to the kitchen not seeing Lord and Young MacIntosh staring at them for what seemed like a private moment. They didn't need to hear what she said to know they were going off alone together.

After dinner and finding Logan Dingwall, did Merida feel elated before her lesson. As it turned out he didn't want this just as much as his dad did. His dad was apparently attempting to do his son's matchmaking despite Logan's weak protests. Even if Lord Macintosh wanted to argue tradition or whatever, he was vastly outnumbered with two of the three protesting it. She felt proud and smug before pulling Logan into a hug. She wasn't a touchy feely person but her excitement won out in the end. She didn't even notice the black horses and the symbol of Clan Cameron joining the stables.

After her lesson and back in the sewing room a tall woman dressed in a black, yellow and red tartan dress, dark hair tied up in an elegant bun, and piercing brown eyes searched the room for her. Merida stopped and lowered her head for the stately woman. Grandmother Moira, her maternal grandmother whom she'd only ever see every three years or so growing up, demanded attention when she came into the room. Her real name was Moira of Clan Cameron but even the clan chiefs called her Grandmother Moira.

It wasn't clear how or why Elinor and Grandmother Moira became estranged but Merida never brought it up.

"Hello Grandmother Moira," said Merida, pulling down the sleeve of her new underdress. She was getting fitted for several new gowns as the seamstress excused herself to give them privacy.

"Merida," she said, nodding at her. "Elinor."

"Mother," said Elinor with a tight smile on her face. "How was your trip?"

"Tiring but fine, I've settled in a room and the triplets got their presents."

She always had gifts for them and as always very practical ones. The triplets usually got new tartan clasps and a pat on the head. Merida had new tapestry supplies and a side hug.

"I've heard an interesting story as I was coming in," said Grandmother Moira as she clucked in Merida's direction. "I heard you're not marrying the winner of the archery contest and shot for your own hand."

She squirmed under her gaze as she avoided meeting her eye. Her mother was strict and could be intimidating but she never came off as intimidating as her grandmother. There were the occasional moments of warmth but she never did openly talk to her. She wasn't sure if she was going to be expecting a fight, mild approval, or a lecture of everything she did wrong.

"It seems to me like you almost want a war between the clans," said Grandmother Moira as Merida stepped back before remembering that she was standing on a stool. So she had chosen the lecture.

"Mother," said Elinor, ready to step in.

"You switched your suitor for no apparent reason. Lord MacGuffin claims that you were more impressed by his son then Lord Dingwalls. Lord Dingwall is telling everyone that his son was just here to represent his clan and ok with switching. I hope you know just how fragile an alliance can be."

Merida kept her mouth shut. Elinor pursed her lips feeling a little hot under her dress.

"She seemed impressed by Lord MacGuffin's son. He's a good warrior and he'd be a strong provider," said Elinor. "It would be a good match and Fergus and I approve of it."

"Hmm, those seem to be the same words I said to you about Fergus 16 years ago," said Moira. "And you didn't want to marry him either, look how that turned out."

Elinor huffed as she appeased the other lords and there would be no wars. At the end of the week Merida would be married and the day after she'd be leaving with clan MacGuffin. She'd be gone far away from her and under Lady Vevina MacGuffin's guidance.

"I never thought you'd give up on tradition and give in to a simple temper tantrum. Tell me Merida, was this part of your plan to get out of the wedding? I'm trying to understand, you don't want a marriage and you tried to cause a rift yourself?"

"Merida, did you ask to switch your suitor just to get everyone fighting?" asked Elinor, surprised as Grandmother Moira just raised a brow as if this was a challenge.

She looked surprised at her as the air grew thick and tense.

"And to eventually call the whole thing off," she added. "It's not like it worked. It's not like I'm using Ian or anything. He didn't originally want any part of it either and I I've talked to Logan and he-"

"Even if they told you they wanted no part of this, you can't back out of the marriage," said Elinor tersely.

Merida was silent as if mulling it over. Like she could change the course of how this would go.

"Merida." There was a warning tone in her mother's voice.

"But what if it doesn't work out?" she asked, standing up and pushing away the fabric cut at her feet, nearly stomping her foot like a petulant child. "I just wanted my freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted. Why couldn't I choose from the beginning? Why now instead of five years from now?"

"Merida this is just-"

"Oh hush now the both of you," said Moira who was watching them squabble, her tone switched which Merida took notice of. "Elinor sit down, you're embarrassing yourself."

Elinor backed up until the chair hit her legs. Her stutter died on her lips as Grandmother Moira stepped toward Merida. She stumbled off the stool as her grandmother helped her back up and gave her a smile.

"Merida," said Grandmother Moira, pushing at her back for it to be straight and a finger under her chin for her head to be up. "I hope you know that getting out of this is out of the question. Do you know what your little act of defiance did out there? Do you know how it makes you and your family look?"

"Well…"

"Hush child," she said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "How do you think it makes you look if you announced the marriage was off? They come this far just to be turned away. If you're this kind of indecisive, what do you think you'd be like as a queen or even a clan leader. You embarrass and humiliate the three sons and then declare you wouldn't marry any of them. It's telling us that your mother and father can't even control their own daughter. In defying declared plans, you're undermining your right to rule, authority, and you made your own father look weak to the other clan leaders. You know what happens when a leader looks weak?"

Merida didn't look at her as she could pretty much tell where this was heading, and she didn't want to hear it.

"Your father could lose more than just a leg when the clans' rebel. How would you feel about getting married by force to the person who would kill him or even someone who would abduct you? This is just what they want: to take power for themselves. After all, they are so eager to fight."

Her voice was harsh and firm, there was a sense of urgency and the look in her eye said that she meant business. She was looking out for her future, the clan, and her family.

Merida felt her own face grow hot as she swallowed, not meeting her or her mother's eye. Now she knew why her own mother got married so young. She wished she never brought up the stupid marriage to the clans. This wasn't the kind of berating she was expecting and trained her eyes on the windows where she could see the woods. If she ran her father could be killed because of her. What of her own brothers and mother?

Merida remembered saying that she'd "expect their declarations of war in the morning" but it wasn't like she meant it.

She could feel her heart racing as Elinor stood up.

"Mother," said Elinor, finally pulling herself together. "I think you've made your point."

"Now hold on dear, I'm not done yet. Despite your blatant act of defiance and your utter lack of decorum which I only hope kicks in once you're in your new clan, I can forgive this," she said, pausing for dramatic effect as Elinor watched her. Merida glanced at her grandmother but still. "Which I will allow the suitor to change."

"Wait, what do you mean?" asked Elinor, stuttering her words.

"I've heard the talk and verified my sources. Liars, many of them trying to gain favor despite their bloodthirsty nature. The Romans, ha," she said, turning Elinor to face her. "Oh, your dress darling."

She straightened her collar for her as Elinor looked confused.

"What are you talking about mother? I am fully aware they exaggerate their accomplishments."

"And their reputations as well," said Moira, giving her a knowing look. "Wee Dingwall is nothing but a silly lad at fourteen and trained like a lap dog. He has no battle experience, and he hasn't even kissed a woman beyond her hand among other notes I could say about his family line. Young Macintosh will sully his father's good reputation unless he can clean up his womanizing ways. His skills with a weapon may look impressive but he's never seen a battle beyond guarding his castle walls."

Elinor could feel her temples throb a little hearing that a headache was growing. She was hoping as sons of the great clans they'd have their acts together. She didn't even realize that Wee Dingwall was barely out of boyhood, she just knew Brian Dingwall had a son around Merida's age.

"There is an exception to every rule, and you just saved your own skin. You have approved of a man who has killed Vikings even if it wasn't truly in the thousands and he is likely to provide strong sons and daughters in the future. I would have never approved of a Dingwall in our family; they are a rather simple, undignified lot. Merida, now, did any of my words strike the nerve I hope to hit?"

She nodded mutely.

"When I ask a question, I expect an answer."

"Yes ma'am."

She felt her stomach clench as she glanced at her mother who also seemed stunned.

"Now, Saturday you're marrying Ian of clan MacGuffin, is that clear."

"Yes ma'am, it's clear I'm marrying Ian."

Her voice was neutral and her eyes on the wall behind her rather than at her.

Grandmother Moira's speech was a dark turn she wasn't expecting as her stomach clenched. The odds of the marriage being canceled were pretty much zero now even with the majority of the vote. There was a crack in the foundation of their pact that she made by embarrassing them all. And by her grandmother's own admission made herself look bad. When it came time for her to take the throne that resentment breeds contempt.

What if Logan and Ian could talk to their dads out of it? Then by default if they did she'd be getting married to Macintosh, the one she disliked the most because both of them still wanted it. She had put her family at risk and she held back lashing out even with the approval she did get.

Merida could see how her mother turned out with Grandmother Moira as a parent.

"I'll get married," said Merida holding back tears, her resolve barely breaking, "I'll get married just to get away from you. I hope you're happy."

Then she bolted from the room to anywhere but that room. Not bothering to ask to be excused and slammed the door behind her. That went well, she thought as she ran almost up to her room before thinking better of it and going to see Angus. Or at least go outside as she could use the fresh air.

Not thinking of where she was going, she found herself walking along where the clans' tents were set up and beyond that the forest.

That was until she heard her name being whispered and a crunch from behind her. There stood Ian in the moonlight as he stared down at her.

"Merida fit are ye deein oot here?" he asked softly. He realized that she was in her underdress and felt the heat rush to his cheeks. Then he saw that she had tear stains on her face and wanted nothing to do but comfort her.

"I just… I don't want to be in there," she said shortly, not wanting to go into detail and kicked a rock. Her eyes still wandered to the line of trees.

"Ye shouldn t be oot here alane," he said softly.

"Does your land have a big forest?" she asked, her eyes still on the trees.

A bit surprised, he only stuttered out a small "A- Aye."

Part of her wanted to cry and the other wanted to seek her revenge and the other wanted to run away. None of them really was the option for her though.

"Ah can waak ye back tae yer room," he said shyly as she looked at him confused. A bit bold, he gulped and took her hand. Her blue eyes grew wide at how small her hand looked in his.

She wanted to pull away and run. In fact, she nearly did tug herself from him - friend or not. Ian held her hand and smiled softly at her, his ears pink as she relented.

Quietly and quickly, they walked back up to the castle. She only stiffened when she passed her mother in the hall. Elinor looked like she wanted to say something but stopped when she saw the young MacGuffin lord. Hmm, that gave her something to use to her advantage.

"Ian, would you want to stay with me?"

"In your bedroom?" he squeaked as Merida laughed while opening the door.

He said that as if something would happen. She never even thought about boys, much less romantically, to know what happens between a man and a woman in a bedroom. It was just too dark to go and visit the horses or spend time outside.

"We'd be watched anywhere else besides if you don't mind I know it'll make my mother upset. We could just get to know each other for a little bit."

He seemed to relax but still tense as she pulled up her chest for him to sit on. Since she didn't pursue tapestry making or other artistic pursuits, her room wasn't decorated to impress.

She threw herself on the bed in a very unladylike manor as she pulled her pillow to her chest. He awkwardly sat on top of her clothing chest after shutting the door behind them.

"Merida," said Elinor firmly knocking on her door. She wasn't going to let her leave, she needed to explain what Moira said and did and why. Elinor wasn't going to let Merida leave the kingdom on bad terms. She didn't want a repeat of the situation with her own mother.

"Merida please open this door."

The door creaked as relief spread through her that Merida wanted to talk. She stiffened when instead of her daughter, she saw young MacGuffin apologetically giving her a smile.

"She's a little occupied," he said as she looked confused and heard a sword hitting wood. Ah she must be taking her frustrations out on her bedpost. "Maybe at breakfast?"

"Not ever," said Merida from behind the door and shut it as she heard the click of a lock. Faintly Elinor put a hand to her head, leaned across the door and slid to the ground. There was a man in her daughter's bedroom and all of a sudden, she began to question her decision on the marriage. She'd have to come out eventually and young MacGuffin had to leave, and she was determined to talk to her.