Author's Note: The bedding ceremony is a real thing that happened in several cultures in the middle ages. In some places people would even be in the room when they did the horizontal tango. I just decided to stick to them checking the sheets, which was also a thing in some places.

Italics are flashbacks

As always a special thanks to the fabulous MaidenoftheSummer on reddit for reading and giving me her valuable opinion. The flashbacks in this chapter would not be what they are without her (and Elinor's dads name!).

Culture Note: So there's a couple of different wedding traditions in Scotland that I tried to squeeze into this chapter. The quaich ceremony really was invented in the 16th century, so I wanted to take some of these traditions and make each clan unique.

Elinor could only watch as everyone was having fun except her. The crowd was merry and the guests already tipsy. She spotted Ryan Macintosh seducing a maid, Fergus cracking open another keg, and Maudie and a rather large man from clan Dingwall dancing cheek to cheek. Even her mother looked flushed with a beer talking to Lord Macintosh.

Instead she sat nearly in the shadows, people watching; a well trained eye on Merida and the triplets. They all seemed to be pretty happy laughing and dancing. Merida even shared a dance with Logan Dingwall as they laughed about something as Ian joined them.

Content she sighed, the wedding was beautiful as she could only reflect on her own.

Clan Dunbroch had its own traditional wedding ceremony details. Other than the exchanging of tartans which was widespread, they had a sword ceremony, right after the vows and the handfasting. If she was marrying into clan Macintosh he'd be lovingly (she'd hope anyway) rubbing blue woad onto her cheeks. If she married into clan MacGuffin they did something with swords as well. And clan Dingwall had a quaich ceremony.

Fergus stood with her on the makeshift stage in clan Cameron's castle. He looked so handsome standing there. His red hair looked like a fiery halo and his large husky frame didn't look nearly as intimidating. He cleaned up well, noting his combed beard and tied up hair. He may have been three years older than her at 18, but he radiated the energy and youth of someone her own age.

Outside the elements seemed to have a battle with each other as the castle was warm and cozy. Thousands of candles were lit in every nook and cranny making the room seem more dazzling then it already was.

She could feel her heart thudding in her chest as Fergus was staring at her, as if he had stars in his eyes. She glanced out at the crowd of people from each of the great clans and saw her parents standing proud.

Moira and Alec of Clan Cameron, the current king and queen, gave Fergus their blessing and she would be leaving with him at the end of the week.

The fifteen year old held her great grandfather's sword in her hand, which felt heavy as she apprehensively looked at the sword in Fergus' hand. The sword ceremony was part of clan DunBroch and Clan MacGuffin's wedding traditions and something about it didn't sit right with her. Maybe it was her mothers vehement disapproval of a woman wielding a weapon.

Sword pointed down with both of her hands she held the hilt out for Fergus. She had a shy smile on her face as he took it with a grin of his that she felt warmth in her belly almost instantly. He had that way of making her feel loved without his touch.

Just as Elinor expected, his sword was just as heavy. She had to use both hands to properly hold it.

They had accepted both of their families' swords as she saw her father wink at her.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride."

This would be her first kiss as she felt his beard graze her smile and then his mouth which tasted like whiskey. A wide smile crossed her face and didn't leave for the rest of the day. Even though she was leaving home, she was happy to be with Fergus. Even when her brother, Douglas, stepped on her feet dancing. When her mother told her she expected letters once a week, her smile didn't waver.

"Elinor, my little light," said her father, Alec, kissing her head as she met him in the middle of the dance floor. "I'll miss our late night conversations. Make sure he treats you well."

"I think he'll treat me exactly the way I want to be treated," she said, remembering his letters from their courtship.

Elinor looked out and saw Fergus and Merida doing a funny dance together as she shook her head. Her mother was shaking her head but grinning and Elinor sighed.

4 Hours Later

Merida found herself alone with her mum and grandmother several hours later as everyone was slowly getting drunker and drunker. She'd been married for four hours already and danced until her feet were starting to hurt.

About an hour before the next ceremony, her mother found her eating a fifth piece of cake.

"Oh finally," said Grandmother Moira as she was whisked away into an adjacent chamber. "My dear girl, you looked so flushed already."

"I think we need to talk to you since we haven't seen you in nearly two days," said Elinor with a slightly nervous laugh.

Next to her Grandmother Moira rolled her eyes.

"Yes, we let you have your hissyfit," she said sitting down next to her.

"Hissyfit?! I think seeing as I'm now married I have a right to do as I please since it's Ian who has to take care of me, not you. I stayed silent to show I'm still mad even if it is more about being petty than actual anger."

Elinor looked surprised and Grandmother Moira looked amused.

"You're not that mad anymore," said Elinor hopefully.

Merida deflated a little as she sagged in the chair.

"I'm more upset about leaving home and everyone here," she admitted. "Now why did I have to leave my own party?"

"The bedding ceremony," said Moira, getting straight to the point, "it's the last of the night. At least two people are going to make sure you make it to the wedding bed. This is our last chance to give advice before you lose your maidenhead-"

"My what," she said confused, looking between Grandmother Moira and her mother. They were acting strange about this.

"Mother, I really think this should be between Merida and I," said Elinor firmly to her. This was the only time she'd be alone with Merida. Ever since Moira basically told her to get married or risk death things have been tense. Plus, she wasn't exactly the greatest at explaining this. When she went through that her mother was very much not helpful.

"Elinor, Fergus is going to do something," she said, pausing and let out a long drawn out sigh. "That is a necessary thing. Let him do the work, all you have to do is lay there and look pretty."

"Mother, that can't be the only thing I must do," said Elinor, looking annoyed.

"Don't give me that look," said Moira raising an eyebrow. "If you don't then you have failed your duties and that means you have failed me and the rest of the clan."

Elinor sucked in a sigh as she straightened herself out. She was not afraid to defy her mother, but to fail the entire clan by not producing an heir was out of the question. Besides, she could raise any child better than her own mother could and she would prove it.

"Could you tell me what's going to happen?" asked Elinor steadily as Moira sighed.

"A man and a woman fit together like a lock and a key. You are the lock and he is the key and they fit together properly. Now I will make sure you get there with Lord Laith Macintosh. Please refrain from asking me any more questions."

"It's better she has two perspectives. If you want me to leave you two alone, you could have just said so," she said primly as if it was obvious. Then turned to Merida. "Your maidenhead is your loss of innocence and the way sires are made."

She nearly choked hearing that and if she was holding something she would have dropped it. Her maidenhead? Part of her scoffed There was no way she really had to do this tonight.

"I'm sorry," sputtered Merida, looking at her mother for confirmation.

"Yes, we've all been there," said Moira. "I'll leave you with your mother. My only advice would just be to lie back and let him do his job. You don't have to do anything else. It may hurt and you may bleed but just know that you've done your duty and this should be enough."

With that Grandmother Moira went to rejoin the party. Now Elinor sat alone with Merida. Merida just looked puzzled, did she hear that correctly? Just play back and let him do all the work? That sounded like an easy job as she shrugged and looked at her mum.

"Merida," said Elinor, smiling warmly and sitting next to her. "I'm really glad that we got a minute to talk. The wedding went off without a hitch and you did great."

Merida shifted in her spot and grinned. She was hoping to hear that she did well and she was proud of her. Tonight would be her last night in DunBroch before moving away. She looked hopefully up at her and Elinor was quiet.

"I guess I should tell you about tonight," she said, smoothing her skirt. "Your grandmother wasn't entirely wrong but it's more-"

"Wait that's it," she said, stumped, "that's all you're going to say to me? Besides, what to expect?"

"Merida, what else should I say?" asked Elinor, a little confused. She was hoping that their fight was behind them.

"Oh I don't know that you're proud of me. That even despite being the daughter you didn't expect, you still love me," said Merida tears threatening to escape her eyes. "Even Grandmother Moira said that I made the clan and everyone proud except you apparently."

Elinor flinched as she was sure she said it at some point. She had to have and Merida had to know before leaving tomorrow.

"Merida I'm sorry, I thought that-"

"It's clear you think more than you talk. I'm not a mind reader you know," said Merida bitterly, "I gotta go and get Ian for this bedding ceremony."

With a huff and a look of annoyance she turned on her heel and out of the room not looking back.

Elinor sat back and closed her eyes unsure what had just happened. She was so sure that she told Merida that she loves her and that everything she had done was for her to make her happy and an easy life. She gave her the education she didn't get, more freedoms than she had growing up, and so much more.

She didn't want to be like her mother who decided things for her and dictated much of her life. She thought back to helping prepare Merida for the presentation of the suitors. She didn't tell her then either when she should have. And right now she never felt more alone.

-Bedroom-

The noise of the party dulled the farther Merida walked from it. So far being married wasn't the worst thing she could do as she danced, drank, and nobody told her to stop eating so much.

As the moon was getting to its highest point Lord's Macintosh and Dingwall were more than happy to make sure they got to their marital bed taking the shortest route to their bedroom. She couldn't even bring herself to look at Ian's face to tell how he was feeling. Maybe it was all the alcohol and sixth piece of cake but her stomach flip flopped.

"Have fun!" hiccuped a very drunk Lord Macintosh as they entered one of the spare rooms set up for them. The bed was considerably bigger than her own and a window provided light from the full moon.

Behind them the door shut and she heard the click of the key in the door.

"Hey wait a minute," she said before she could hear them running away laughing like little kids who got away with something. She huffed and turned to Ian. "They weren't supposed to lock the door."

He was silent as she turned to him sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Not that I don't want to be locked in a room with you," she said quickly hoping that didn't offend him, her heart thudding in her chest nervously. "Ian?"

She watched him pull something out of his leather pouch. Then he produced a dagger as he held it.

"Ian?" she asked those knots in her stomach returning stepping back.

Merida watched him prick his own finger until the blood was drawn. She winced as he wiped it on the sheets in the middle of the bed.

"They're going to check," he said simply. "To make sure we did it."

"We're not?" she asked, a little taken aback.

"Not if you don't want to," he said, avoiding her eyes, shaking his head looking bashful. "I'd imagine you're just as nervous as I am with everyone out there. When we're back home where we would be most comfortable. Or whenever you're ready."

"Right of course!" she said agreeing with him, "that would be tomorrow night."

"The day after tomorrow," he said, giving her a small reassuring smile. "It's going to take all day to get there by boat and the wee hours of the morning. We don't have to until you're ready."

She nodded her head as she glanced at the blood stained sheet.

"Is it, well, will" she said hesitating on what to ask.

"It shouldn't bleed at all or hurt," he said hurriedly, still avoiding meeting her eyes, assuring that she'd be fine. "I believe my mum over Ryan MacIntosh. He was trying to tell me how to, uh… I'm not going to repeat those. But they're going to check for it and I want to make sure it's there."

She watched him mutter something in Doric. Merida would figure it out in two more days, maybe more if she could hold off, as she shifted in her spot. And judging by the little blood he did use it wasn't likely going to hurt much.

She stared at him long and hard before shrugging and going to sit next to him.

"So, if we're not going to right away," she said, putting her hands on her lap playing with the end of her new tartan.

"We could just sleep," he said with a nice but nervous smile.

"That works for me," she said as she looked for a place to change.

Which seemed to be a problem since there was no adjacent chamber for her to change in. Not that she had clothes to change into as well. Oh, well, at least she could wear her smock. She made sure he wasn't looking and Merida tried to reach around for a knot and tugged. Then tugged again. What the?

"Uhh would you mind helping?" she asked, a little frustrated.

"Are you sure?" he asked as she nodded.

She wouldn't have asked if she didn't need it. Merida froze a little when his hands grazed her back. She peered through her hair at him as he looked so serious unlacing the top layer that she nearly laughed. She felt her top wedding dress loosen and she sighed in relief. It was starting to get tight as she shrugged the under dress off as well. Finally, she was just in her smock as she turned to look at him.

"Good-night," she said, pulling the covers back.

"Merida," he said nervously, finally meeting her gaze, his face still pink in the twinkling candle light. "May, I, um kiss you good night?"

He sounded genuine and in a way it was touching and a little endearing as she blushed a little. It was forward, but she liked forwardness and grinned. She nodded as he reached over to her.

His fingers on the back of her neck, his palm cupped her cheek and his thumb stroked over her freckles. She giggled a little as he pressed his lips to hers.

This one felt nice, it was like the one that she'd see her parents share in stolen moments when they thought they were alone. Plus it was better than the one at the ceremony.

"Good-night Merida," he whispered in her ear as she laughed. That area was her tickle spot too as he made a note to remember that.

"Good-night Ian," she said simply.

He laid back as she laid next to him turning to her side to face him. Almost instantly she started to doze off falling asleep feeling comfortable and safe.