Arrow to the Heart (Male Merida x Reader)

The Suitors

"Well, we better get going, you know your mother doesn't like to wait." (Y/N) says as she turns and makes her way for the door.

Meridan sighs softly and follows after her. He was not looking forward to this one bit.

———————

A large crowd is gathered together of all of the clans. Each is ready to present their daughters to the king, queen, and prince of DunBroch. (Y/N) stood to the left of Meridan's throne keeping her back straight and her hands folded. She was to be barely seen and unheard. Meridan sat in his throne glancing over at (Y/N) every once and awhile. He quickly looked to his father when he started to speak.

"So, here we are! The four clans! Uh...gathering...uh...for..."

Eleanor was exasperated by Fergus' slowness and gets up to finish for him. "The presentation of the suitors!"

Fergus quickly copies his wife trying to take charge again. "The presentation of the suitors!"

The crowd cheers in excitement. Meridan and (Y/N) share a glance before focusing on the action again.

Fergus motions forward. "Clan Macintosh!"

Lord Macintosh steps forward and bows. "Your majesty, I present my heir, who defended our land from the northern invaders by entrancing them with her beauty allowing our men to vanquish thousands more!"

The clan cheers as young Macintosh steps forward displaying her elegant dress and jewelry looking obviously vain and spoiled as she flirts with the men around her, Meridan looks unimpressed as he takes a glance at (Y/N). (Y/N) on the other hand looks away feeling self conscious about her own clothes. If only she could see how Meridan saw her.

Fergus motions to the next group. "Clan MacGuffin!"

Lord MacGuffin steps forward as well. "Your majesty, I present my eldest daughter, who seduced the Viking war ships and men with just a look. Vanquished two thousand more."

Lord MacGuffin's daughter steps forward and gives a wink and a soft, shy giggle. She looked genuinely nervous, but was doing what she had to just to please her father. The crowd cheers and some men faint at the sight.

(Y/N) felt slightly bad for the girl. She looked like she would rather be anywhere but there.

"Clan Dingwall!" Fergus calls out.

Lord Dingwall steps forward with a proud look on his face standing beside a stunning, thin, tall, well dressed, young woman. "I present my only daughter, who was captured by ten thousand romans and she escaped their whole army single handedly, with one arm. She was..."

Lord Dingwall glances over realizing his daughter was hiding behind another woman from their clan. He pulls her out to reveal a young woman no more then 5'0 tall with messy blonde hair that stuck out in every direction and her clothes were disheveled with some food stains on them. She looked like she had no clue where she was.

(Y/N) and Meridan shared a look of pure confusion. They both stifled their laughter as to not anger Queen Eleanor or to offend the clan. The two would definitely talk about this later.

Lord Dingwall continued, "With one arm, she was steering the ship, and with the other she held a mighty sword and struck down the whole attacking fleet."

Suddenly a voice in the crowd shouts out, "Lies!"

Lord Dingwall turns in an outrage and looks around the room for the owner of the voice. "What? I heard that! Aye! Say it to my face! Or are you a scared sniffling jackanape? Afraid to muss your pretty hair?"

Lord Macintosh steps forward with a smirk. "At least we have hair!"

"And all our teeth!" Lord MacGuffin adds in.

MacGuffin's daughter tries to add in to help, but her accent is so thick that no one can understand her.

Lord Macintosh says nothing for a moment in confusion before going right back into insulting Lord Dingwall. "And we don't hide under breeches, you grumpy old troll!"

The crowd laughs including King Fergus, whose wife did not look as pleased. Meridan and (Y/N) could tell this was going to get intense between all the clans.

Lord Dingwall was tired of the laughter. "You wanna laugh, huh? Wee Dingwall!" He shouts at his daughter.

Suddenly the young Dingwall jumps onto Lord Macintosh and with her big teeth bites into his arm. In the attack, a punch is thrown by Macintosh's daughter and a brawl breaks out, with everyone fighting each other. The bagpipes continued to play.

Meridan and (Y/N) gave each other a look as if they were considering sneaking off right then and there. They didn't have to say a word, but, just with their eyes, they made a plan.

Fergus laughs hard at the crazy brawl, but one look to his wife shows she's not impressed. He stands groaning. "Alllright."

"Shuuuuuuut iiiiiit!!!" Fergus yells out, his voice booming around the room, stopping the clans fighting.

Fergus sighs. "Now, that's all done! You've had your go at each other, show a little decorum. But no more fighting!"

While Fergus made his speech, the triplets snuck up from the floor. They lift their weapons and smash Lord Dingwall's toe. He screams out in pain he gets punched in the face. The fighting starts all over again, with Fergus jumping in to join the fight.

Meridan and (Y/N) share a look of concern knowing this wasn't going to end well for the men. The two look to their side directly at Queen Eleanor.

She held a face of disgust at the sight. She brushes her hair behind her as she stands and makes her way through the crowd of fighters. Everyone steps out of her way leading her to the center of the fighting, the four male clan leaders.

Eleanor grabs a hold of the four men's ears and leads them back to the front of the room.

The three men grumble to each other in pain at the Queen's grip strength and how it wasn't their fault, but they quickly knew that wouldn't solve anything.

Lord Macintosh quickly starts to apologize bowing. "My lady, Queen. I feel terrible. My humblest apologies."

Lord MacGuffin and Lord Dingwall start to speak over each other softly. "No disrespect. Sorry."

Fergus steps forward towards his wife as he speaks. "Sorry, love. I...I didn't.. b-but..."

Eleanor looks away from him in silence which makes Fergus feel worse.

"Yes, dear." He goes back and takes his seat.

Eleanor shakes her head slightly trying to get back on task. "Now then, where were we? Ah, yes. In accordance with our laws, by the rights of our heritage, only the first born of each of the great leaders may be presented as champion."

Meridan spoke softly aloud to himself. "First born?"

(Y/N) turns her head looking to him. "What are you thinking?.."

Eleanor continues her speech. "And thus, compete for the hand of the prince of DunBroch. To win the prince, they must prove their worth by feets of strength or arms in the games. It is customary for the challenge be determined by the prince himself."

Meridan quickly shouts out as he stands in excitement as his idea was coming together. "Archery! Archery!"

Eleanor looks back at Meridan slightly surprised at the outburst. Meridan clears his throat slightly then speaks gracefully. "I choose archery."

Eleanor turns back to the crowd with a smile on her face as she spreads her arms. "Let the games begin!"