Linked (Big Four Fan Fiction) Chapter 13

    "I said, step away from the horse!" My father's voice carried over the now quiet square. The shoppers had all stilled once they heard the voice of their king. My blood ran cold at the thought of being discovered by my father in front of all these people. Panicking, I did the single most daft thing I've done in my life: I grabbed my horse and ran. I swung myself up on my horse easily and together we charged through the cobblestone streets and outside the palace walls. Shouts erupted from behind me as Angus and I pounded out of the square, and I turned to see my father giving orders, looking lost and forlorn. My heart shattered into a million little pieces and I wished I could pull my hood up and tell my father I was alright, but the guardians had forbade me from making any contact with my family. They said I should fully concentrate on my training.

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    "Oh, so you've come back to beg for my forgiveness, eh Merida? Well, you are going to have to do a lot of begging-" Wreav started proclaiming as soon as I led Angus into the training room but stopped abruptly when he saw my appearance. I'm sure I must have looked a sight, with my hood up and leading a large horse behind me.

    "Merida? Why do you have a horse?" Rapunzel asked quizzically from her position in the rafters, hanging from her hair. She swung down nimbly, practically flying from place to place. Haunted from the near encounter with my father, I said nothing and arranged targets at different levels and heights around the room in silence.

    "Mer? Merida, are you alright?" Jack asked, concerned. Only Hiccup stayed quiet, examining me as if I was a dragon for observation. Happy with all the targets, I grasped my bow tightly in one hand and once more swung easily up onto Angus. Giving him a soft squeeze with my legs, I urged him forward at a slow trot. I loaded my bow and took aim at a low target. I made sure that I was in position and I let the arrow fly. I didn't look back as I arched my back to shoot at a target slightly above my head. I urged Angus faster and faster, galloping around the room and shooting until every single target had an arrow in the center of it. Head spinning and heart pounding like my father's war hammer, I slowed my horse and sheathed my arrow. Leaping off Angus, I landed and turned towards Wreav, my previous fire had been dimmed. I felt numb.

    "I can do so much more," I began, looking into his green eyes, "and now you know." I turned on my heel and led Angus out of the room, fighting back tears. I couldn't identify the source of my tears, all I knew was that they were threatening to spill over. I wasn't very in touch with my emotions, so I kept racking my brain when suddenly my father's grief-stricken voice played itself again in my mind.

    "Merida? Merida, what's wrong?" Jack's voice came from behind me, ringing through the corridor. I quickened my steps, not wanting to deal with him. I didn't want to show him my tears. My shameful tears.

    "I'm quite alright, Jack. I just need to stable my horse." I fought to control my voice and keep walking without falling apart.

    "If you were really alright, you wouldn't say that you were." Jack floated in front of Angus and I. Angus gave a surprised whinny and I calmed him down quickly.

   "Were you-- crying?" Jack's tone was horrified, and my own head snapped up. I looked in his beautiful blue eyes and I saw the concern in there. His desire to help sent my eyes back to the ground.

   "Not yet." I sniffed.

   "Why are you crying?" He asked gently.

   "I said I wasn't!" I protested and when he shot me an incredulous look, I glared back at him. "This is my horse, Angus. I went back home to get him-- and I saw my father."

   "Did he recognize you?" Jack cut in.

   "No, I was in disguise. The thing was, he looked and sounded terrible. He was so worried-- about me." My tears were free now, cascading down my red, inflamed cheeks. "He was worried about me and I hadn't even been thinking of them! How selfish is that? I'm a terrible daughter and a retched sister."

   "Hey, come here." Jack opened his arms wide and pulled me close. His body was warm and inviting, but mine was stiff and cold. "You are a wonderful person, Merida Dunbroch. You left your family to come here and train to defend millions from a threat they aren't even aware exists. That is not the mark of a terrible person." At those kind words, all my resistance melted away and I lost myself in the hug.

   "You're not so bad yourself." I murmured tearfully.

   "Are you always going to bring back something from home every time Wreav's a jerk? Because you might as well just bring you're entire castle right off the bat."