eachdraidh | third arrow → VIDEO → both courts (forward dated a bit)

[When the screen flicks on, it focuses on Merida kneeling over a deer. A deer as white and pure as the snow, were it not for the blood under its neck tainting its silvery fur. Gingerly, she tugs the arrow from the muscle, reaching to close its eyes with her other hand, bow itself resting against a nearby tree. Merida murmurs something in Gaelic, retracting her hand from its face.]

Forgive me, Wilder One. It's been an honor.

[She had hardly been expecting to actually shoot the White Hart down, but hunting with Saber had gotten results and proper respects must be given in any case. Placing the arrow back into the quiver at her hip after washing off the blood in clean snow, she stands, fur trimmed dress folding out around her ankles, boots deep in the snow. Angus whickers and nuzzles her hair, causing her to turn and reach to run her fingers across his nose comfortingly. Her imp scurries about, muttering to itself as it steps around the corpse gingerly, as though it fears waking it.

Merida pushes hair from her eyes, reaching into a small pouch wrapped around her quiver belt for a hairband and tying it into a high ponytail. Stooping again, she reached for the White Hart's forequarters, taking hold of his hoofs and hefting him over her shoulder with a grunt, standing and, with a bit of maneuvering, gets him onto Angus' back. That done, she dusts her hands off, picking up her bow and her locket hanging from it, noticing it on.]

Well I suppose now would be time tae announce that I've shot th' White Hart, wouldn't it?

Now how am I gonna cart all this meat back?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Doesn't approve of me doin' much of anythin' that doesn't involve what she thinks a princess should do.

[The last bit falls into a slight bitterness in her tone, her nose scrunching up as she tilts her head to look away from her locket screen. She wonders what her mother would have thought about her now, were she here. Would she expect her to stay in Caer Scima? Probably.]

Dad was th' one who thought I should learn how tae fight. Mum was...less than pleased.

I'm sure she just wants to be sure you're safe. I know I worry about Emma sometimes, even when I am aware how capable she is. I'm not saying that your parents were wrong, Merida. I just think she was worried, more than that she didn't approve or hated you doing certain activities like learning to fight.

[Teenagers. That general rebellion. Snow missed out on helping Emma through all of this. Yet at the same time, this is perhaps almost another chance for her to help other children through this sort of thing. Snow can at least try, even if she has no real experience in this.]

third arrow → VIDEO → both courts (forward dated a bit)

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