Warring Worlds (Mericcup fanfic) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 9

Merida rolled over in bed and was suddenly accosted by bright sunlight. She forced her bleary eyes to open and to take in the sight of her bedroom window. I'm home? Her gaze panned the room, taking in everything she saw that was so familiar to her. Am I dreamin'?

A startled gasp came from her right. Merida jerked her head towards a maid rising from a chair. The redheaded maid quickly curtsied. "Good afternoon, princess. It's good to see you up. Or at least awake." She smiled in a way that wrinkled her freckled nose before turning towards the door.

"Wait," Merida commanded in a raspy voice. The maid looked over her shoulder at her. "Where're you goin'?"

"I'm to tell the queen that you're awake. Her orders." She nodded at the princess before taking her leave.

Merida settled back beneath the covers. Now I know I wouldn't dream somethin' like that. She stretched but grimaced and quickly pulled her arms close to her. They ached, but then again, her whole body seemed to ache. She was used to such aching; she'd often wake up like this after a particularly hard day of riding or sword-fighting. With a contented sigh, Merida pulled the sheets up around her shoulders. Then she remembered her father and threw back the blankets. As she shot upright, her muscles protested and hindered her escape from the bed.

Without a knock, Queen Elinor swept into the room. "Oh, my darling." Tearing up, the queen came to her daughter and sat down on the bedside.

"Mum," Merida said gladly before her mother embraced her. They held each other for a few quiet moments.

Then came the scolding.

Queen Elinor held her daughter at arm's length. "What were you thinkin', runnin' off like that? In the middle of the night no less."

"Mum, it was for a good cause," Merida insisted as Queen Elinor continued.

"And your dress can't possibly be worn again. What in Heaven's name did you do? Roll down a cliff?"

"All but."

As Queen Elinor brushed back her hair, she said more calmly, "As you can see, the maids slipped you into a clean night gown, but, my dear," here the queen's nose wrinkled, "you are in desperate need of a bath." The queen stood and clapped her hands. "And lunch, of course. In that order." The redheaded maid appeared in the doorway. "Prepare a bath for the princess," the queen ordered, the maid nodded and left to complete her task.

"'Lunch'?" Merida asked still a little disoriented. "Isn't it breakfast?"

"No, Merida," the queen replied. "It's a little before lunchtime now, and after a proper washing, you may have some refreshments." Merida noticed her mother smile and tear up. "Oh, Merida." Elinor sat back down on the bed and grabbed Merida's hands with both of her own. "I have the most miraculous news!"

She went on to explain how Maudie had gradually poured the special tea with the Loki's Hearts' leaves down the king's throat. After an hour of this treatment, King Fergus had begun to breathe again. Queen Elinor couldn't help but cry a little at the retelling. Merida asked to see her father, but just then the maid returned to say she had prepared the bath. The princess begrudgingly allowed the maid to escort her to the tub.

During the bath, Merida was determined to see how her father was doing. However, as she quickly walked to her father's room, she met her mother in the hallway with the redheaded maid who held a tray of soup, oatcakes, and clapshot. Merida's stomach grumbled loudly just as it had done for her entire bath. Queen Elinor insisted that Merida come to her room and rest while she had lunch, but Merida was able to persuade her mother to let her sit in King Fergus's room. After all, it was closer than Merida's room, and she could just as easily eat and rest in both rooms. Her mother sighed and relented.