[And that's probably what will always separate Merida from others; she lacks the desire to kill simply for killing's sake. Whether or not Hiro deserved it, he's right; they should be theoretically trying to take each other's shard, not chatting over pizza. But she doesn't rise up to try to or smirk like a Saturday cartoon villain and gloat that he's fallen into her trap. She just sits there with her arms across her lap, listening with a little sympathy in her chest. She had at least known her limits back then, and even with her new weapons she didn't think she would still march into battle.
There's a small hint of laughter at the mental image of someone picking him up and throwing him over their shoulder, but she's glad. She's glad he didn't, because she might be sitting in front of a very different young man. Merida looked away, wondering what she should say about the battle.]
I left the month before it began. I knew I'd never be able to face some of th' people on th' battlefield an' come away with my life an' shard, so I left. I headed south, with a Seelie. [Here, her hand goes to the ring around her neck, glancing back at him. Did he think she was a coward?] I was still Unseelie then. Still sixteen but I knew my limits. I don't know if I'd participate in another one, should it happen, but I was survivin'. An' when I followed th' Jabberwock's trail north I only joined in for a little bit to save someone close to me.
[The way she says close indicates it's not friendship, if the way she twirls the ring is any indication. She knows what he's saying. She felt the Drabwurld's pull, knew now what the Shuck had meant when he said it had her, a year and a half ago. Whether her actions were subconscious or not, she remembered standing there in the cold, with her sword at someone's throat and Lancer bleeding behind her.]
I let th' Unseelie soldier go an' helped a Seelie. Even when he'd run his sword through his chest in place of mine I let him go. Even with all the anger I had built up from th' Jabberwock I still found mercy in myself to not kill him. I was aware of my actions enough to grant him a chance to run.
[She'd never told anyone this in so much detail, had kept what really happened between her and Lancer. She had no doubt he went back for the soldier later, because otherwise she would be in much, much more trouble. Merida looks back at Hiro now, eyes unsure. Would he hate her? She seemed to recall he'd started out hating Seelie. What about traitors?]
Do you think that was survival or somethin' else? Some other subconscious thought?
no subject
[And that's probably what will always separate Merida from others; she lacks the desire to kill simply for killing's sake. Whether or not Hiro deserved it, he's right; they should be theoretically trying to take each other's shard, not chatting over pizza. But she doesn't rise up to try to or smirk like a Saturday cartoon villain and gloat that he's fallen into her trap. She just sits there with her arms across her lap, listening with a little sympathy in her chest. She had at least known her limits back then, and even with her new weapons she didn't think she would still march into battle.
There's a small hint of laughter at the mental image of someone picking him up and throwing him over their shoulder, but she's glad. She's glad he didn't, because she might be sitting in front of a very different young man. Merida looked away, wondering what she should say about the battle.]
I left the month before it began. I knew I'd never be able to face some of th' people on th' battlefield an' come away with my life an' shard, so I left. I headed south, with a Seelie. [Here, her hand goes to the ring around her neck, glancing back at him. Did he think she was a coward?] I was still Unseelie then. Still sixteen but I knew my limits. I don't know if I'd participate in another one, should it happen, but I was survivin'. An' when I followed th' Jabberwock's trail north I only joined in for a little bit to save someone close to me.
[The way she says close indicates it's not friendship, if the way she twirls the ring is any indication. She knows what he's saying. She felt the Drabwurld's pull, knew now what the Shuck had meant when he said it had her, a year and a half ago. Whether her actions were subconscious or not, she remembered standing there in the cold, with her sword at someone's throat and Lancer bleeding behind her.]
I let th' Unseelie soldier go an' helped a Seelie. Even when he'd run his sword through his chest in place of mine I let him go. Even with all the anger I had built up from th' Jabberwock I still found mercy in myself to not kill him. I was aware of my actions enough to grant him a chance to run.
[She'd never told anyone this in so much detail, had kept what really happened between her and Lancer. She had no doubt he went back for the soldier later, because otherwise she would be in much, much more trouble. Merida looks back at Hiro now, eyes unsure. Would he hate her? She seemed to recall he'd started out hating Seelie. What about traitors?]
Do you think that was survival or somethin' else? Some other subconscious thought?