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Mum?

[Somehow Merida's locket has jarred itself open when she hopped off of Angus, coming out from its resting place beneath her dress. Coming towards her is a beautiful woman, storming along the path in front of them, dress in her hands and a stern look on her face. Angus whickers in anxiety, prancing back and nudging his nose against Merida's head as though to tell her something but she's not paying attention to her faithful horse. She hasn't seen her mum in over a month, and the scene replaying out in front of her is too familiar.]

You embarrassed them, Merida. You embarrassed me.

You...I...mum...

[She seems to be stuck on words to say, as Angus bites his teeth down on her locket chain and pulls her back with it, tearing it off and causing it to fall to the side. The angle is haphazard now, but the view still the same. Merida visibly shrinks against him as Elinor comes to a stop a few feet from her, gesturing wildly and the expression on her face only becoming angrier.]

Turnin' me into a bear? What were you thinkin', lass? All I've ever done has been for you, Merida.

I know that...mum, I know that now, just...please, listen to me...

[Elinor shifts suddenly, her entire form lowering itself down to the ground as black fur sprouts over her body, snarls coming from her mouth that's now a bear's snout. She snarls, hackles raising and Angus scampers as she stalks forward, causing Merida to fall back now that she hasn't her horse to lean against. She scrambles out of sight of the locket, and the bear towers over her, roaring as she screams.]

[ooc: people are more than welcome to tag her, as I'll be having her answer messages after the conflict is done with :3]

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[Oh this is embarrassing, though Merida's gotten quite used to people's reactions about the bear thing by now.]

I...I followed some wisps when I ran off, an' I met a witch. [She gives a small shrug, glancing away from the locket. She feels ashamed about it now.] I asked for a spell tae change mum's mind about th' marriage, but I was so overwhelmed I didn't ask for that specifically.

And she took advantage of the lapse...

[Diarmuid's frown deepens, but it's not directed at Merida. It's more for the witch who took advantage of her.]

It's their way. Witches are just as frightening as the Fae when you come down to it. You never know if they are really taking advantage of you or actually trying to help you grow in their own very...special...way.

[Despite the time she's had to think about what happened and how she could have possibly done better than that, Merida's not so sure if the witch didn't just give her the spell because she wouldn't leave her alone about it. She chuckles a little at his assessment.]

Well, I cannae deny I haven't thought about my decisions since I came here. I'll admit I was...rash. [Her tiny smile drops.] Mother threw my bow into th' fire after I bested my suitors. I didn't stay to see what she'd do next.

[Diarmuid winces. The loss of a favorite weapon can cause even seasoned warriors to act up. He can't really blame Merida for acting in a rash manner herself.]

It sounds like everyone acted a bit like they should not have. Still that cannot be changed now. All you can do is fight until you find a way to return your mother to normal. And hopefully, your mother will have had time to realize just how badly she reacted to your actions. Everyone should learn from their mistakes. That counts for parents as well.

[She nods, pursing her lips together as she brings her teacup up to her mouth to take a sip and calm her nerves. She really thinks she has no idea of how a parent thinks, let alone her mother, though her worry upon her return makes her pause and think that she had regretted it.]

I've been looking here, but both Morla an' th' Black Shuck told me there's no way of it unless she comes. I'd...I'd rather that didn't happen. Not for anythin'.

I can't say that I blame you for not wanting her here. As much as I would love to see my children again, I don't really want them here. I don't want my father here either.

[Who knows the kind of chaos an Irish god of love would cause in this place?]

Perhaps you can focus on figuring out ways to change her back to normal once you get back home?

Nor I my brothers. They're far too young.

[She has enough trouble looking after herself rather than three little rascals. Her father on the other hand...gods she misses her father. Merida makes a small noise in the back of her throat.]

Th' witch left me a clue to how to break th' curse when we went back there. I've been mullin' over th' possibilities of it's meaning since I got here.

[That was one thing she was grateful for - the amount of time being in the Drabwurld gave her to think on things.]

Do you mind if I ask what she told you?

[Diarmuid could also ask what Merida has thought of so far, but it's possible he might think of something she hasn't if he hears what the the clue was before he hears Merida's ideas.]

Witch's clues are often just as confusing as they are.

[She shakes her head. She's already asked a couple of people since her arrival what their thought on it was, but much of the result was clear she had to think of it on her own. Still, another shot couldn't hurt.]

'Fate be changed, look inside, mend th' bond torn by pride'.

[The more she said it the more things seemed to clear up, though she was still confused by it.]

Edited 2014-11-20 22:23 (UTC)

'Fate be changed, look inside, mend the bond torn by pride'.

[Diarmuid repeats the words so that he has time to think on them. Part of it seems oddly straightforward to him considering what he knows about Merida and her mother, but witch's clues are never that straightforward.]

It seems to me that you and your mother resolving your differences would help fix things, but with your mother in a bear's form that makes things quite a bit harder...

[She waits for him to think on it, taking a sip of her tea as she does as well. There's been many a time in the last month and a half or so when she found herself thinking on those words, either unable to sleep or while doing something. When he reaches the same conclusion she has when running into a brick wall in her thinking, she bites her bottom lip, nodding.]

Aye. I keep coming back to that conclusion. Last I saw of my mother she was a bear...and home. That's why th' dogs were able to take me by surprise.

[Diarmuid nods. That completely explains why she was caught so off guard by the dogs. Add in the fact that it is still something she feels strong emotions about and it is no wonder she is so shaken.]

If you keep coming to that conclusion, I am sure it is part of the answer, but the problem is what part? There is no way the answer is as straightforward as it seems. Perhaps the witch wants less for you to talk to your mom, but instead wants you to show that you have realized your error through another way. Maybe something more symbolic?

[She purses her lips together in thought around the edge of her teacup, inhaling the scent as she leaned back against her pillows. Through another way... Merida nearly spills her tea on her bed as she sits up suddenly, feeling like an idiot for taking so long to realize.]

Th' tapestry!

Merida?

[Diarmuid is startled by her sudden exclamation. She obviously has made some kind of connection, but he can't figure out what from her few words.]

The tapestry? What do you mean?

I...

[She pauses, trying to gather her thoughts together as she sets the cup of tea aside, so she won't spill it. It's so clear now. Merida reaches up to rub the back of her neck, guilt stirring deep inside.]

When we were fightin'...an' mum said those words t'me, I tore her tapestry with my sword. She'd been workin' on it for years an' I just. Tore it. Right through where she'd stitched our hands. [She glances off to the side.] I must sound so selfish.

[Diarmuid shakes his head. He might be saddened to hear what happened, but he understands it too.]

You could say she was acting selfishly as well when she burned your bow. It meant a lot to you, just as the tapestry meant a lot to her. Do you think the tapestry can be repaired? More importantly, do you truly, deep in your heart, want to repair the bond between yourself and your mother?

[To be honest, he is sure she does feel that way. However, Diarmuid is positive that repairing the tapestry will only work if she repairs the bond in her heart as well, so she must be sure.]

More than anythin'.

[She looks down at her lap, wringing her fingers together in the blankets as her face falls.]

But I can't do that. Not from here.

No, you can't, but don't look so defeated.

[He gives her a gentle and confident smile.]

You may not be able to fix things from here, but you can plan the best way to fix them once you are home again. And once those plans are done, you focus on doing what must be done to get yourself back home. Be that winning this war or finding some other way.

[He personally favors the 'other way' option considering they are technically on opposite sides of the war.]

[Likewise, she has no desire to win anyone's war. She had many friends on the 'other side' of things, two of them having saved her just hours before and the one before her offering council. Did she have to fall into one of those sleeps like the one that had taken Jack hold for a week in order to return home? It seemed almost impossible with how sleepless she was.]

Aye. [Could she ask for the tapestry as a boon? She wasn't sure, and she wasn't sure she wanted something from home right now.] I've been seekin' a way from this end. There must be some kind of magic that can reach between worlds to her like th' likes of which brings us here.

Yes, there has to be some way. After all, we were brought here and considering they had a big meal set up for us when we arrived, they knew we were coming.

[He shuts his eyes for a moment and shakes his head.]

As much as I want to believe in the High-King and High-Queen, it is in their best interests to keep certain information away from us. We just have to do what we can to find whatever information we can and piece it together.

Aye. I was too famished to question it at th' time but it did seem a bit odd that they'd just have a feast waitin' there.

[She pauses, then tilts her head.]

I trust Morla even less. My mother always said Seelie weren't as blunt as Unseelie when it came to their words.

[Diarmuid nods in agreement, looking a little sheepish as he does.]

It's true. Those that make up the Seelie court tend to hide their truth behind pretty words. You have not seen a true insult match until you have watched two knights do it with pretty words and 'compliments.'

[It can be a funny thing to witness, but right now it just makes it all that much harder to find the truth.]

Unseelie can be more blunt, but their bluntness can be just as distracting as pretty words can be. One side hides unpleasant truths in pretty words and the other hides them by not telling all of the important details.

You've obviously never seen three lords an' a king go at insultin' each other, no holds barred. Seelie or not, my father would be lettin' them fly.

[Pretty words or no, it always made for a amusing gathering. Until her mother stepped in at least. She cups her hands together a little, smiling softly.]

I'm fortunate to have many friends in th' Seelie, so I hope you don't think I mean ill of ye.

[Diarmuid laughs, imaging the scene she describes, and then shakes his head.]

I don't. Seelie or Unseelie doesn't matter. They are only titles. I would rather learn to like or dislike someone for their own actions and views as opposed some title. Perhaps this view is naive, but it is how I feel nonetheless.

[She shakes her head, making a humming noise in the back of her throat.]

Nay, I think so too. An' I'm extra glad that I don't, because otherwise I might not have come away unscathed tonight.

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