When the swans start coming in from the south, Merida thinks nothing more of them than migrating birds returning to their roots after the cold seasons started waning, though it is rather odd that they come from the south rather than the other directions the birds returned from at the end of March. The swans were a marvel to watch...at least for a while.
It had been Tadhg who had discovered a small flock eating what crops there were outside of DunDealgan. Swans were vicious when provoked, and the old knight had accidentally pierced one he'd been fending off with his rapier when he struck gold - literally. The offending swan turned into a golden statue, leaving him a little gobsmacked. When he returned to the scene of the crime with Merida, an idea started forming in her mind.
"Get a couple of others," she said, motioning with her hand as she withdrew her bow from over her bust, loading it with an arrow and taking aim, testing it for herself. Sure enough, one of the remaining swans turned into gold with a squawk, and she grins, turning her head to look at him. "We'll go out an' help some of the farmers nearby."
Though she'd been feeling a bit uneasy about leaving the fortress in the last month, she blamed that on the harp she had found out had been playing tunes in her head and manipulating her emotions. Or at least that was what she told herself. And so off Merida and her little band went, saddled up and plenty of arrows in her quiver. The farmers were reluctant to let them help at first, for one due to the fact that there was a shardbearer or two among them, but once they showed how much more efficient they were in cutting the swans down, they agreed.
It quickly turned into a game, who could cut down the most swans. The knights laughed as their Lady beat them two, three times, though even in that laughter the competition was fair game. Merida eventually giggled and claimed she'd shot her fill, waving them off to the other farms and setting out on her own, eventually finding a settlement. She ran into Ben, making a game out of it again and encouraging the native children to take those swans she shot down, receiving their thanks. In an entirely different encounter, she comes across Gilgamesh, their own competition cut short by a rogue bandersnatch.
Merida camps, and sings, collecting herbs and game along with swans. By the time she returns to DunDealgan, her saddlebags are full, a beam of pride on her face as she trots Angus back into the fortress, laughter in her features.
For the first time in a couple of months, she feels absolutely comfortable in who she is.
MAY →
It had been Tadhg who had discovered a small flock eating what crops there were outside of DunDealgan. Swans were vicious when provoked, and the old knight had accidentally pierced one he'd been fending off with his rapier when he struck gold - literally. The offending swan turned into a golden statue, leaving him a little gobsmacked. When he returned to the scene of the crime with Merida, an idea started forming in her mind.
"Get a couple of others," she said, motioning with her hand as she withdrew her bow from over her bust, loading it with an arrow and taking aim, testing it for herself. Sure enough, one of the remaining swans turned into gold with a squawk, and she grins, turning her head to look at him. "We'll go out an' help some of the farmers nearby."
Though she'd been feeling a bit uneasy about leaving the fortress in the last month, she blamed that on the harp she had found out had been playing tunes in her head and manipulating her emotions. Or at least that was what she told herself. And so off Merida and her little band went, saddled up and plenty of arrows in her quiver. The farmers were reluctant to let them help at first, for one due to the fact that there was a shardbearer or two among them, but once they showed how much more efficient they were in cutting the swans down, they agreed.
It quickly turned into a game, who could cut down the most swans. The knights laughed as their Lady beat them two, three times, though even in that laughter the competition was fair game. Merida eventually giggled and claimed she'd shot her fill, waving them off to the other farms and setting out on her own, eventually finding a settlement. She ran into Ben, making a game out of it again and encouraging the native children to take those swans she shot down, receiving their thanks. In an entirely different encounter, she comes across Gilgamesh, their own competition cut short by a rogue bandersnatch.
Merida camps, and sings, collecting herbs and game along with swans. By the time she returns to DunDealgan, her saddlebags are full, a beam of pride on her face as she trots Angus back into the fortress, laughter in her features.
For the first time in a couple of months, she feels absolutely comfortable in who she is.